INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 WHAT? CHARLYNN TOEWS Your questions answered HE LETTERS and cards asking my advice have been just pouring in. Here is but a smal] sampling. Dear What? Person: Can] get some sort of sickness from breathing interior latex or craft paint fumes? The reason I’m asking is because I fee] so tired all the time, just washed up and wrung out, plus one of my ears hurts a bit and my appelite is poor. This all began about six months ago, when | started painting in my house. Exhaustedly yours Dear Exhausted, Oh, you poor thing, ] know just what the trouble is, If you have been painting the interior of your house for the past six months, by now you must suspect you have /iome decoritis. Seek help immediately, in the following manner, First, get yourself invited out for dinner, which will improve your appetite instantly. Strength regained, next treat your ear by lying owie-side-up, comfortably, in a dim room. Place a light blanket over your ear and face, When you wake up, you will feel better. At this point, you may pursue any number of options. I recommend going outside to play, if you can avoid examining the condition of ex- terior paint. TO: C. Toews * RE: What? Sir: I am writing to inquire after the exact nature of your column. I find it irritating and boring at the same time. [ never read it. \ - A Disgruntled Reader Dear Reader, 1 apologize for the inconvenience. [ am cur- rently working on a piece entitled “All Things Explained Clearly to All People at All Times in a Concise Yet Warm Way.” P.S. Caught you! — Dear What? Do you believe in dincsaurs? Should 1? Just Curious Dear Curious, . Absolutely not. First, let’s look at the similarilies between: a Seca Serpent and Brachiosaurus. Dinosaurs called Brachiosaurus had long necks and round backs and big long tails and the poor dears were Loo fal to run away from encmics so they just stayed in the water. If you believe that fairy tale, ] have some genuine photographs of the Loch Ness Monster I can let you have for a good price. Secondly, let's look at the similarities between a dragon and a dinosaur. A dragon has wings and breathes fire, otherwise they are exactly the same. They both have lots of big sharp teeth, a long neck, little arms with sharp claws and big hind feet with more sharp claws. If | have to believe in dinosaurs, I must also belicve in Jabberwocky (‘‘Beware the Jabber- wock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!’’) which looks like the monster in Aliens, which looks like a dragon. Forget it. Dear What? Well, then, how do you explain the dinosaur bones? A Sharp Reader Dear Sharp, The fact is, ] don’t explain the bones, the scientists usually do, Paleontologisis say, “T ook! We found all-these tiny bits of bone and glued them together and — fa da — look at the glant monster we made. This proves this dinosaur existed, because we made it, and look, here it ist’’ , I don’t need to remind a sharp reader like you of the infamous Iguanodon, the second “dinosaur? ever discovered, The Victorian English loved it and flocked to see a life-sized statue of it. Unfortunately, a 100 years later, we know that the large horn planted on its hand- some nose never existed except in the imagina- tlons of those early paleontologists. I think if you took the bones of 17 saber- toothed tigers and broke them to bits, then glued them together again while you had a picture in your head of a dragon or sea monster, you would end up building a dinosaur. Dear What? Are any of these questions actually from readers? Skeptical Person Dear Skeptic, a me That’s all the time we have for this year, Happy 1998, and keep those letters pouring in. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 30, 1997 - B1 SECTION B CRIS LEYKAUF 638-7283 From Caledonia to fighter jets Terrace’s Brian Cox joins ranks of military elite as he prepares for last ten months of fighter pilot training. By CRIS LEYKAUF HURTLING through the air in a military jet trainer, Brian Cox regularly experi- ences intense G forces. “T's like a roller coaster, except more extreme,’ he explains. In fact it’s so extreme that the military teaches jet pilots special exercises in order to keep blood in their heads, and prevent them from blacking out. Cox, age 23, realized his dream of becoming a jet pilot this October when he was given his wings after completing five years of training. Cox has wanted to be a pilot since he was three. Now’s he’s part of an elite group of pilots and will soon hopefully be certified to fly the CF18 Hornet jets. As part of his train- ing Cox had to with- stand 6 G for thirty seconds in a centrifuge. Back in high school, when fellow Caledonia’ students were trying to figure out what to do with their lives, Cox was already starting his career. Before starting military college al age 17, Cox travelled to Toronto for a week of aptitude and medi- cal tests, plus simulator training. Out of 30 prospective pilots, Cox was ane of nine cust metre Trumpeter chosen f sclected for pilot training. He didn’t want to leave any- thing to luck though, and took a few flying lessons in Terrace so he wouldn’t be totally lost in the simulator, After that success Cox went through six weeks basic training and then spent the next four years in milita- ry college, getting a degree in mechanica} engineering. Part of each summer was devoted to additional train- ing — and more weeding out of prospective pilots. Cox took French courses, primary flight training and survival training. During summer holidays in Terrace Cox completed his private pilot’s licence, learning to fly civilian airs- craft. Cox finished his degree at' the Royal Military College of Canada in 1996. Afier college Cox was made a commissioned officer — second Licutenant. That’s when the real schooling be- gan and Cox was posted to Moose Jaw to start basic flying training. He spent 10 months flying the CT114 Tutor, a twin seat single engine jet trainer. “Every pilot in the milila- ry flies that plane,’ says Cox. Cox did 96 hours of Aying training, going solo after Shad ame cae 5 BRIAN COX crouches in front of the CT114 Tutor, a jet plane each military jet pilot trains on, Cox was given his wings in October and must complete ten months of additional training to become a fighter pilot. only 13 fights. _ “I got through that. It was The Tutor goes a maxi- quite tough though,’” he mum of 412 knots.ornearly says, 500 miles per hour. It can Your body can stand im- take over 7 Gs of force, but mense amounts of pressure most missions only subject for about five seconds, but pilots to about 3 G. after that, unless you've As part of the training Cox taken steps to counteract it, had to withstand 6 G for the blood drains from your thirty seconds in head. centrifuge. In order to prevent that ; COURTNEY PREYSER will ba putting in a lot of practice ti me ‘on the trumpet, gatting ready for an honour band she was chosen for. Preyser was among 50 students selected for the band, out of thousands of applications across B.C. from happening jet pilots are taught special breathing and muscie exercises. Now. that Cox has com- pleted the advanced flying course, he'll do another four month course maneuvers and air combat on the Tutor. He’s one of just two grad- uates of a class of eight jet in fighter, pilot students this year to go onto fighter training. Provided he passes that next test Cox will spend an- other six mouths training on the CF18 Hornet And once that’s done he'll find a spot on one of Canada’s fighter squadrons. “Tm planning to give it all ] got,’’ he says. or honour band GRADE 12 trumpet player Courtney Preyser is one of just 50 students across the province chosen to play in a prestigious honour band Thousands applied to take part in the honour concert for the BC Music Educators Association conference, The con- cert takes place in Vancouver Feb, 20-21. This isn’t the first honour band Preyser has played in. She also travelled to the Univesity of BC in November to play in their honour band this fall. The 17-year-old Caledonia student had been recommended by her band teacher Geoff Parr. But this concert in February is by far the largest she’s ever been invited to play at. Presyer took up the trumpet five years ago when she was asked to choose which musical instrument she wanted to play. "I picked the tumpct because I thought il looked easy because it only had three keys,’’ she says. Her theory wasn't a good one, “T?’s actually a pretty tough instrument to play,’’ admits Preyser. But once she started playing, she was hooked. About four years ago Preyser decided she'd like extra instruction, and Started going to music camps in the suramer on Van- couver Island. ‘{ picked the trumpet because I thought it looked easy because it only had three keys.’ —- Courtnay Preyser on how she wound up play- ing a difficult instrument. She also practices every day — even on weekends, “You have lo be really dedicated to what you’re doing,” she says, OF course she occasionally skips practice, but for her playing isa't something that she’s forced to do. “T really enjoy playing — it’s not like homework at all.” Her stepfather has also been very supportive. He’s a member of the Terrace Symphony Orchestra and plays cello and guilar. He helped convince Preyser to join the TSO two years ago. : TSO conductor Jim Ryan has been a big help to her, and her band teacher Geoff Parr bas also given her extra in- struction. ‘It’s been really nice to have that support,” she says. In order to apply for the BC Music Educators’ honour band, Preyser and olher applicants had to send in a record- ing of the same selections of music on tape. The judges didn’t look at the names of the musicians; _ they just Listened to the taps. Preyser is looking forward to playing in the concert. Coincidentally, school principal Geoff Straker will be in Vancouver at that time, so he’ Li also be in the audience. Aficr she graduates Preyser plans to go to the University of Victoria and continue in music, As for what type of music she likes to listen to when she’s not playing, Preyser says, ‘everything except coun- , try.”