Lettitor
Dream on love sleeping. Bed, cat, through the entrance to bleary- situation. Many share in this a life that has it all. Kudos. weight in the process. At some I pillows, blankets that go on eyed co-workers tires quickly. disturbing desire to deprive These words sound insane. point, that imaginary badge for days—no need to ask me And you’d think, so would the oneself of necessary rest; many An archaic thought process superimposed on your chest twice. However, as with most ceaseless questions of, “You got take the surprise, shock, and more likely to be shamed becomes very trivial indeed. things in life, what we want, how much sleep?” and, “How sometimes horror of those nowadays than praised. So don’t let the sandman what we need, and what we get are you even on your feet?” around them to be pats on the Sleep is no different. be a mythical creature in your are three very different things. and a few comments along the back or even silent admiration. According to the National life. And don’t allow yourself My Sunday to Tuesday lines of, “I don’t know how you This mentality needs to stop. Sleep Foundation, adults to be “impressed” by those stretch is usually the toughest do it,” but they don’t. Fact is, Glorifying unhealthy between the ages of 18 and who fail to get their required part of the week. Edits and in a weird way, I had always lifestyles is a completely 64 require between 7 and 9 rest. You need sleep to be emails take up most of my taken them with a severely backward way to go about hours of sleep every night. Not the best person you can be, day before culminating in a misguided sense of pride. It’s things. This is supposed to be every other night. Not split and in order to be healthy, glorious descent to whatever like the marathoner pushing the 21st century—an age of between two. Every night. you need to think healthy. flat surface first appeals to me hard for the finish as bewildered realizing what’s best for our How unhealthy is it? when I drag myself through spectators marvel at the sheer bodies and not encouraging Sleep deprivation leaves one the door at two in the morning. determination on display. destructive behaviour. An at risk of heart disease, heart And then I’m generally up But day-to-day life isn’t easy parallel would be a model attacks, heart failure, irregular again by 5:00 a.m. for an early a race. It’s no marathon. At suffering from bulimia. How heartbeats, high blood pressure, shift at the beloved other least it’s not supposed to be. amazing, how remarkable, that strokes, and diabetes, to touch job serving coffee to patrons I know for a fact that the someone can eat whatever they on a few. You’re also not as equally as surly as myself. egotistical bags under my want and then suffer none of the sharp mentally, can see a The wearied act of shuffling eyes are not unique to my fattening consequences. Truly reduced sex drive, and gain
Davie Wong Rm 1020 – 700 Royal Ave. theotherpress.ca Sports Editor Douglas College [email protected] New Westminster, BC Eric Wilkins Chitwan Khosla V3L 5B2 /theotherpress Editor-in-Chief Features Editor [email protected] [email protected] 604.525.3542 /DouglasOtherPress
Lauren Kelly Brittney MacDonald Assistant Editor Life & Style Editor OO The Other Press has been Douglas College’s student [email protected] [email protected] newspaper since 1976. Since 1978 we have been an autonomous publication, independent of the student Mercedes Deutscher Elliot Chan union. We are a registered society under the Society Act News Editor Opinions Editor [email protected] [email protected] of British Columbia, governed by an eight-person board of directors appointed by our staff. Our head office is Adam Tatelman Chandler Walter located in the New Westminster campus. Arts Editor Humour Editor OO The Other Press is published weekly during the fall and [email protected] [email protected] winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. We receive our funding from a student levy collected Angela Ho Ed Appleby Senior Columnists through tutition fees every semester at registration, and Business Manager Illustrator Lauren Paulsen from local and national advertising revenue. The Other David Manky Press is a member of the Canadian University Press (CUP), Jacey Gibb Jony Roy Distribution Manager Social Media Coordinator Columnist a syndicate of student newspapers that includes papers Ayanda Gatsha from all across Canada. Cara Seccafien Aaron Guillen Layout Manager Staff Reporter Contributors OO The Other Press reserves the right to choose what Jake Wray we will publish, and we will not publish material that Joel McCarthy Staff Writers is hateful, obscene, or condones or promotes illegal Graphics Manager Rebecca Peterson Cazzy Lewchuk activities. Submissions may be edited for clarity and Elizabeth Jacob Jamal Al-Bayaa brevity if necessary. All images used are copyright to their Production Assistant respective owners. Have an idea for a story? [email protected] OO Renovations underway at New West campus OO Conserve water, save money OO Number of at-risk women in Coquitlam on the rise News And more! Image via huffpost.com via Image Coquitlam student charged with animal cruelty Dog near death after student allegedly starves it
Mercedes Deutscher identified Lin in their of the BC SCPA to CTV. “He has found abandoned in Maple with gravel in her digestive tract, News Editor investigation shortly after clearly demonstrated a lack of Ridge last January. She was which veterinarians suspected Willow was found in January ability to care for an animal.” 11 kilograms underweight was eaten by Willow to try to stay hree animal cruelty 2015, charges have only Lin will make his first and struggling to walk. alive. She could not lie down due Maple charges have been laid recently been laid. The Crown court appearance on March 1. In an interview with to pain caused by the gravel. T Ridge News against Yu Lin, a 24-year-old has been working through Should Lin be convicted, , Lorie Chortyk of the Thankfully, Willow was former Coquitlam resident a large number of animal he will likely receive a lifetime local SPCA described Willow as: able to make a speedy and and SFU student who allegedly cruelty charges and cases. ban from owning animals, “assessed with a score of ‘one’ on full recovery within six weeks, abandoned his starved pet “This wasn’t a situation a fine of up to $75,000, and the canine body conditioning and was adopted by a Maple Husky, Willow, in Maple Ridge. of finances, intelligence, and two years imprisonment. scale of one to nine, meaning that Ridge family last March. While the SPCA had ability. It’s just neglect and Willow first made local she was severely malnourished.” cruelty,” said Marcie Moriarty headlines when she was Willow had been found Fentanyl drug bust includes New West townhouse Millions of dollars’ worth of property seized
Aaron Guillen charges have been placed against alongside the VPD, rolled out Staff Reporter 6 people. The accused, all in their an awareness campaign focused 30s and 40s, each hold multiple on the dangers of fentanyl. In ack in the fall of 2014, the counts of possession for the an effort to educate those who BVancouver Police Department purpose of trafficking, with four know little to none about the (VPD) had suspicions of drug of them charged for possession of drug, police simply want users to trafficking to residents in the a restricted or prohibited weapon become more cautious with their Downtown’s Eastside with with access to ammunition suppliers and the possibility of potential shipping to Vancouver without a license. lethal doses. Island and Alberta, and began an The items seized included “Project Trooper is another investigation known as Project “$575,000 in cash, 19 kilograms example of the alliance between Trooper. Little did they know of cocaine, 1.7 kilograms law enforcement agencies in the that the seven month-long of heroin, 12.5 kilograms of Lower Mainland,” said Vancouver investigation would open up a methamphetamine, 23,763 Police Superintendent Mike treasure trove of drugs, guns, fentanyl pills, 228 kilograms Porteous in a press release. “We and money. Thanks to 11 search of phenacetin, 6 handguns, 2 have a common goal, and that is warrants spanning multiple cities shotguns, 4 rifles, 8 vehicles (4 to target violent and dangerous from Vancouver to Maple Ridge, with hidden compartments), and criminals and take them off the Image winnipegfreepress.com via the investigators were able to an estimated $3.78 million in street.” begin to place the pieces of the property including a Downtown On a similar note, VPD 5, well above the average of are sleepiness, slow heartbeat, puzzle together. Eastside apartment building, a officials have been notified of 3 deaths a week. Fentanyl is shallow breathing, clammy skin, By April 2015, the VPD had New Westminster townhouse, high numbers of drug overdoses suspected to be the cause. and trouble walking and/or finally cracked the case and and a Coquitlam home,” since the end of January. Police Thanks to the initiative talking. If a person chooses to use brought a sophisticated drug according to the VPD’s media have counted 11 deaths due to KnowYourSource.org, civilians fentanyl, the organization advises distribution network to its knees. release. overdoses in the Downtown’s have no excuse to be unaware of the user to be sure to use only a Nearly 10 months later, Last year, a group of Eastside neighbourhood in the the deadly consequences. The small amount and never to do it provincial health organizations, past 16 days preceding February symptoms of a fentanyl overdose alone. news // no. 4 theotherpress.ca National Sweater Day video spurs negative reaction from faculty Video has been called ‘offensive’ and ‘inappropriate’
Max Hill now I see it much differently. and YouTube account. The Peak (Simon Fraser University) “Now I feel the harm it Joanne Curry, Vice President does, and not just to Miss External Relations, sent an email video posted on SFU’s Pinkham, but also to her male via University Communications AYouTube page and student who is encouraged to apologizing for the video. distributed by SFU Facilities relate to half the population on “As the video was produced Services has been removed such a limited level, and who by an external vendor, I had following negative reactions from himself then is defined by his not seen it. When I did watch faculty members and students. heterosexual desire for women.” it, I immediately agreed with The video, originally released in Chenier also claimed that the feedback we had received 2014, promotes National Sweater “the collective outrage of female that the video is inappropriate, Day, a yearly observation meant faculty resulted in the video being sexist, and not in keeping with to promote energy conservation. removed from the SFU website.” our equity commitment,” Curry It depicts a casual exchange Many took to Twitter to wrote. “We took steps to remove between a female instructor express their outrage at the the video as quickly as possible and a male student. videos, including SFU faculty and have followed up with In an entry on her members Esther Verheyen, the group who produced and personal blog, Department of Jeremy Snyder, and Kevin Morse. distributed the video to ensure History faculty member Elise When the video was first it will no longer be used.” Chenier criticized the video at released in 2014, it did not receive Curry detailed plans length: “When the very place you the same negative feedback on to review University Image via www.the-peak.ca work promotes the kind of sexism Twitter, with one commenter Communications’ policy on required to undergo appropriate adding: “We plan to investigate that your intellectual work seeks referring to it as “clever.” reposting videos and other training to ensure an equitable how this video was posted and to contest and ultimately, destroy, However, The Peak was unable content, noting that “future and safe work environment for plan to put into place additional you feel like you are being eaten to find any positive comments requests to share information everyone in the SFU community.” procedures to ensure that this will from the inside out. There was towards the video from this year. by email to the SFU community An official statement posted not happen again in the future. once a time when I would have SFU has since sent several will be vetted by leaders within on SFU’s website, also penned “We appreciate your seen the video is simply outdated, apologies via their public University Communication,” by Curry, echoed many of her patience in this matter.” idiotic, and yes, offensive, but Twitter account and deleted and “staff of the department statements from her email, the video from their website responsible for this video will be Renovations underway at New West campus Growing student population calls for upgrades Image via www.douglaspresident.ca via Image
Aaron Guillen “This will be the largest Foundations Certificate and potential construction fencing. by this six-month project. Will Staff Reporter renovation at New Westminster Engineering Essentials program. Students should expect single- new students be able to access campus since its opening in There will be 22 new classrooms lane traffic along the road the new and renovated spaces ince February 8, construction 1982. The project will include and lab spaces by the project’s and periodical closures to the by Fall 2016? How much will this Shas been taking place in classroom upgrades such as end. parkade during major renovation renovation cost, and will that the 0600/1600 area of the New energy efficient lighting, HVAC Tentatively on course days. affect the ever-rising tuition Westminster Campus, the long systems and state-of-the-art for completion by August, “As with any construction, rates for the next few semesters? hallway to the left after passing AV technology for instructors,” students should be cautious there will be occasional noise Douglas College has yet to through the Bookstore. College states the school blog. along Victoria Street, the hub and minor disruptions. Some confirm the estimated price tag, officials announced at the Covering around 3,000 of construction preparation classes will be moved to new although one could speculate beginning of the month that square metres, the renovation and demolition. For safety rooms to ensure the expected there will be a reveal during they were planning to renovate promises to improve students’ reasons, Douglas officials warn noise does not impact students the college’s Annual General the lower area of the campus. learning experience and place pedestrians to avoid the street, or teachers.” Meeting on February 24. priority on an Engineering due to closed sidewalks and Many questions are raised issue 20 // volume 42 news // no. 5 Conserve water, save money New West suggests water metering for homes
Aaron Guillen metering delivers that. People the City of North Vancouver Staff Reporter only have to pay for what they made almost 40 per cent of use under a water-metering homes “meter-ready” for future pricing system,” Murray said. universal system plans, but left his past summer, BC “The evidence clearly the remainder on their own. temperatures reached all- T indicates that for those who The City of Richmond has been time highs, fires lit up across are prudent with their water a frontrunner in the reach for BC, and water restrictions use on water meters, they complete water metering, aiming were imposed. Strict laws were Mark and Wickens Image via @womenvotersca on Twitter save a considerable amount to implement mandatory water announced via television screens of money on their water bills meters in every home by 2018. and newspaper headlines annually. Frankly, the savings Unsurprisingly, the reminding civilians to avoid using are in the hundreds of dollars controversy over the cost for unnecessary amounts of water. Coquitlam-Burke in some examples. That’s the water metering remains. With Now, the City of New problem with a flat-rate pricing an estimated $1,000–1,500 price Westminster has decided to system—it doesn’t reward tag for each installation, many approach this situation from Mountain and those who conserve water.” cities are swayed to look for another angle, in hopes to Steven Renzetti, an other conservation methods. convince residents to be more economics professor specializing Mayor Jonathan Cote Vancouver-Mount watchful of their water usage. in water at Brock University, said to the New Westminster New Westminster spoke to the Globe and Mail Record that although the city Environmental Partners have Pleasant elect about the benefits of this briefly looked at metering back been encouraging the city untapped money-saving scheme in 2008 and decided against to adopt a voluntary water for many across the country. it, the recent events over the metering system for homes. new MLAs Renzetti argued that those who past summer has made the Andrew Murray, a member used a meter versus those who council reconsider the project. of the environmentally aware did not were separated by a “Water meters are the wave of By-election leads to historical organization, explained to the 40–45 per cent in water usage. the future,” testified Renzetti. “In New Westminster Record that a appointment According to the Globe and areas with growing population, metering program is substantially Mail, Vancouver’s introduction pressure on water resources, better compared to the current Cazzy Lewchuk the education they deserve.” of mandatory water metering anticipated challenges in meeting flat-rate pricing system in the city. Staff Writer Material from her website for new and renovated homes future demands, metering is “We are looking for water also asserts her dedication, left over 85,000 homes with going to be part of the equation.” conservation, and water n February 2, two which stems from having two the flat-rate system. Similarly, Onew members of the children in the school district. legislative assembly were Coquitlam currently receives elected in the Lower Mainland the lowest education funding following a by-election. per student in the province. The seats were held Born and raised in the Number of at-risk women until last year, when both Mount Pleasant area, Melanie occupants stepped down to Mark has a long history of run in the federal election. volunteering and working in Coquitlam on the rise Jenny Kwan, the former with organizations that help Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Aboriginal people, particularly youth. She herself grew up in Recent shelter opening shows increase of female users MLA, was successful in her run, and is currently an NDP social housing and foster care MP for Vancouver East. Former among Vancouver’s Downtown statements by Tri-City News, shelters and services for Mercedes Deutscher Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Eastside, part of the Mount and while they were willing to women all throughout the News Editor MLA Doug Horne ran under Pleasant riding and one of give a statement, they asked Lower Mainland. They operate the Conservative Party despite the poorest neighbourhoods for anonymity due to safety. The Vivian and The Budzey, here has been an influx of being a BC Liberal. Horne’s in Canada. Mark is Gitxsan, Those who have used the both of which are women’s women utilizing a recently- run was unsuccessful. Ojibway, Cree, and Nigsa’a, and T shelter have given it glowing shelters in Vancouver. The opened shelter at 3030 Gordon Jodie Wickens and Melanie a single mother of two children. reviews. One anonymous woman organization also provides Avenue in Coquitlam. Mark, the newly elected Mark’s victory came in said to Tri-City News: “The shelters for at-risk LGBTQ2S Whereas Coquitlam’s shelters MLAs for Coquitlam-Burke a landslide, elected by over staff and management let you persons and for minorities. have mainly been used by men Mountain and Vancouver- 61 per cent of the popular do your own thing, but they RainCity Housing hopes to in the past, the ratio of men Mount Pleasant respectively, vote, compared to Green keep an eye out.” Another said: carry on the goals of the now- and women using the shelter are both members of the NDP. Party candidate Pete Fry at “It’s an open door, it’s good.” defunct BC’s Missing Women has nearly reached parity. Both of the women’s elections 26 per cent. Wickens’ win Joy’s Place is another shelter Commission of Inquiry, which The shelter on Gordon mark historical significance. was much narrower at 46 per in Port-Coquitlam, exclusively was established in 2010 to Avenue—which opened its Wickens, 33, is now the cent, compared to Liberal for women and their dependent bring closure to the dozens of doors last December—has youngest provincial politician candidate Joan Isaacs’ 38 per children. They provide housing, missing and murdered women proved a popular choice both for in British Columbia. Mark, cent. The victory in Mount as well as counselling and support from the Downtown Eastside, Coquitlam’s at-risk women and 40, holds the distinction of Pleasant continues the NDP’s services for their tenants. of which anywhere from 6–49 overall, as the shelter provides being the first woman of First hold of the riding since its The Gordon Avenue shelter, were murdered by Robert meals, counselling services, and Nations descent elected to inception in 1991, whereas run by RainCity Housing, has Pickton. The commission security through several security the BC Legislative Assembly. the NDP win in Burke- been keeping attendance of was closed in August 2013. cameras and private dorms that Wickens, who has a Mountain is the first since the those who are regulars at the Prior to their closing, the can be locked. Those needing son with autism, is a former riding’s creation in 2009. shelter for safety. A policy of Commission outlined several to stay for longer may qualify to Executive Director for the A finalized count was the shelter is to report a regular ways that Lower Mainland live in a transitional, semi-suite Autism Support Network—a released by Elections BC missing should they not appear communities could keep at-risk housing unit; may be moved BC organization that provides on February 9. Due to these for three days. While it is women safe. For example, the into a transition house; or be resources for children and results, the BC Liberals now important to ensure that all of commission suggested liaisons prepared for permanent housing. their families with autism. As hold 46 seats, with the NDP Coquitlam’s at-risk population and protective actions for It is suspected that many stated on her website, Wickens holding 35, and 2 spots held is safe, there have been extra Aboriginal women and women of these women-in-need have “is a strong advocate working by independents. The next BC efforts to prioritize the safety involved in the sex trade, as arrived at the shelters as a result to ensure that our kids get provincial election is currently of violent and abusive situations. of women in the community. well as more community service scheduled for May 7, 2017. Some of them were asked for RainCity Housing provides from the local authorities. Have an idea for a story? [email protected] OO Chairman of the Board: Back to basics OO Taking a ‘Gaycation’ OO The art of war Arts And more! Some style, but no substance ‘Carol’ review
Brittni MacKenzie-Dale this makes sense, but it also makes The Phoenix (UBC Okanagan) it harder to feel anything for these two women as they never quite he eponymous Carol meets read as nuanced, real people. Tyoung photographer Therese A promising first third Belivet in 1950s Manhattan in leads way to a disappointing Carol, a film based on Patricia middle act and climax. Carol is Highsmith’s ground-breaking simultaneously on-the-nose (an lesbian romance The Price of early dinner scene between the Salt. Director Edward Lachman two women seems like a parody gives us a wonderfully nostalgic of subtext) and subtle to the look at post-war New York. As point of catatonia. Moments a slow romance builds between that should feel flirty, sexy, and the two leading women, moving read like a checklist: it’s dastardly consequences arise all stage play and no grit. The within their personal lives. As costumes are stunning and the social commentary, Carol works women are breathtaking, but to a degree—when the novel there is little character study and was published in the late 40s, plot progression. The one sex the subject matter was more scene, a welcome reprieve from risqué and thus the plot was the dull flirtations throughout, comes too little too late. more honest—but in terms of www.telegraph.co.uk via Image narrative, the film is a bore. The best moments in Carol Romance is forfeited for unfortunately don’t stem from nonstop tension. Therese and the main conflict, but from end—are memorable and wooden performance. Her skills script, but with poor character Carol spend little time building the subplot between Carol and hard-hitting. Thankfully, these are underutilized, ostensibly by development and little chemistry on-screen chemistry through her husband. Two powerful moments are strong enough to no fault of her own. The great between the two leads, this is an humour or fun—instead, we see scenes—when her husband help keep audience attention. Cate Blanchett and the even almost impossible task. Gorgeous them nearly solely struggling with believes, rightfully, that Carol is Unfortunately, the usually- better Kyle Chandler do their but largely vacuous, Carol guilt. Given the temporal context, being unfaithful, and a moving fantastic Rooney Mara delivers a best to save Phyllis Nagy’s flimsy never lives up to its potential. child custody scene near the Marvel’s funniest anti-hero ‘Deadpool’ film review Lauren Paulsen the cover as sexiest man alive, Senior Columnist contrasting his horribly scarred appearance as Deadpool. Reynolds did an amazing job of portraying Deadpool’s character. His sarcastic, macabre, think Deadpool is my new and dirty humour was a riot. I Ifavourite Marvel movie. I knew thought the jokes might get old going into the movie I would partway through the movie, but enjoy it, having seen the trailers, they managed to stay fresh for but I didn’t know that I would the duration of the film. The enjoy it this much. I honestly makeup crew also did an amazing knew very little about Deadpool job of making Reynolds look outside of what the trailers had ugly—who knew that was even shown. I’d heard his name before, possible? I also really enjoyed but he wasn’t a Marvel character the fight scenes. They were I was familiar with, so I went choreographed quite well. into the movie fairly blind. Now The movie never takes itself I can’t wait to see more of him. seriously, and that works. There Deadpool’s humour is are many times when Deadpool its greatest selling point. I pokes fun at his own film’s lack of haven’t been to many movies budget, such as explaining why that elicited so much laughter there were only two X-Men in the from the audience. Just the movie. Some of the CGI wasn’t opening credits set the tone, all that great, but that might and Deadpool’s breaking of the have been another meta-joke. fourth wall only added to it. Compared to other Marvel
Even his incessant pop-culture films, I really liked the movie’s Image via Twentieth 2016 Century Fox Film Corporation references never seemed out of unconventional content. It definitely has an “R” rating laced superhero movie I have If you like comic books and getting into. I will never look at place. A memorable one for me ever seen. But let’s not forget, crude humor, I recommend avocados the same way again. was a shot of Time with Deadpool for a reason. It’s probably the most violent, gory, profanity- Deadpool isn’t really a hero. He you go see Deadpool. Just make portrayer Ryan Reynolds on says so himself many times. sure that you know what you are issue 20 // volume 42 arts // no. 7 Flawed By Design: Graphical infidelity How the graphics race changed gaming
Adam Tatelman the face of gaming forever. Arts Editor To explain what a “bit” is in computer parlance would be extremely boring, so suffice it to hat’s uncanny about the say that it’s a way of expressing advancement of graphics W how much information your in games is the way it has both console can process. The NES spurred and restrained game and Master System were 8-bit design. Early on, the push for consoles, and their graphics better looking games resulted were very primitive. As such, in more powerful machines that they had to rely on abstract could process more complex ideas and imagery to express and interesting mechanics. their visuals. How did we know Graphics didn’t just change Mario was a human? Well, he the way games looked—they looked like a blocky person. The helped change what games animated blocks illustrating could do, and the way they were Mario are called pixels; together, marketed. However, relatively they are called sprites. These little has changed in terms of are the very building blocks of gameplay over the last three everything we call graphics today. generations. While games In the fourth console may look better, the ideas and generation, Nintendo and Sega Image via Doom copyright Bethesda Softworks mechanics on hand have barely moved from 8- to 16-bit consoles changed since the early 2000s. It began with the Sega CD, the Saturn was edged out by the Sony industry is what happens when with the Super Nintendo and Most people think that first home console with CD- PlayStation, which improved presentation is prioritized above the Sega Genesis. This allowed Nintendo was the first company ROM support. Unfortunately, on many of the ideas that the all else. Rampant sequelization for a higher pixel count and to market a home gaming the game library was small and Sega CD flubbed. This transition and market oversaturation more detailed and colourful console. That’s not exactly true. obscure, and the CD disk space to 3-D as the gold standard becomes inevitable, because graphics, smoother animations, The very first home console for was mostly clogged by full for graphics sparked off a new a sustainable quality apex has and forays into experimental television was the Magnavox motion video cutscenes with generation of console wars, this been reached, and the race for realms like multi-layered tile Odyssey, released in 1972. It awful resolution. The Sega 32X time between Nintendo, Sony, graphical quality no longer brings backgrounds and pseudo-3-D was later licenced to Nintendo promised the first 32-bit games and the newcomer Microsoft. technical innovation with it. scaling. This advancement in 1974, and was beat out by in full 3-D. Though its transition Three generations later, the Consider the printing press allowed for a commercial the Atari 2600, which reigned from pixels to polygons laid games industry as we know by way of analogy. The first text explosion the likes of which as the sales king of the second the groundwork for future 3-D it had come into being. ever printed was the Bible. For had never been seen in gaming. console generation. The NES games, Sega’s technology was Most are quick to cry years after, the presses made Gaming companies started to wasn’t released in North America not yet advanced enough to “gameplay over graphics” without advances in print quality, but market themselves on the power until 1983, inspiring rival make those games look good. realizing that graphics have the most commonly printed text of their consoles, in addition to company Sega to release the The release of the Nintendo been a part of the driving force was still the Bible. The solution their extensive game libraries. Master System two years later. 64, the first 64-bit console behind innovation in design. for games is to stop inventing In their zest to outpace This was the beginning of a free offering decent-looking full 3-D But it is also important to realize prettier new fonts for the Bible to Nintendo’s graphical advances, market arms race for even better games, marked a turning point when a limit has been reached. be printed in, and start printing Sega engineered a number of graphics technology that changed in the graphics race. The Sega Like the 32X, the modern things other than the Bible. poor add-ons to the Genesis. Arcade from hell ‘Ghosts ’n Goblins’ video game review
Lauren Paulsen This is not from lack of Senior Columnist trying. My brother and I have tried again and again to beat this game. It is so notoriously hard that we would rage-quit and not touch it again for here are many games that long periods of time. I don’t Tgive me a fond sense of think I’ve ever come across nostalgia for my childhood. The such a difficult arcade game. original Ghosts ’n Goblins is What makes the game so one of them. This side-scrolling brutal is that you can only take arcade game may be older than damage twice before you die. If me, but that doesn’t diminish you get hit once, you lose your its entertainment value. suit of armour and have to run Ghosts ’n Goblins has a around in your underpants until thin plot, but you can’t expect you get another. Once you’re hit much from a 30-year-old game. a second time, you’re dead. To You play as a knight named Sir top that off, you have to restart Arthur on a quest to save his every level at the beginning, lover, who has been kidnapped or, if you’re fortunate enough, by Satan. You must defeat many a midway checkpoint. And monsters along the way, carving you have to do it all under a a path through six different time limit. If you run out of Screenshot from the arcade version of “Ghosts ‘N Goblins” stages before you have a climactic time, you instantly lose a life. excuse that I was a child, because oldie as a gem for avid gamers, Someday I will get through all of battle with Satan. At least, I I’m usually very good at video I’ve played Ghosts ’n Goblins as although some will be turned those levels. I hope you can too. think that’s what happens. I’ve games, yet I find this one very challenging. I can’t even use the an adult, and I still find it just as off by its extreme difficulty. You never gotten past level four. challenging. I’d recommend this can find it online to play for free. arts // no. 8 theotherpress.ca Chairman of the Board: Back to basics ‘Stone Age’ board game review Ed Appleby of points or resources acquired Illustrator per task. In Stone Age, once workers are sent out to harvest magine, if you will, that every resources, a dice roll is used to Iday you have to take down a determine the level of success. giant mammoth with a sharpened One die is rolled for each worker stick in order for you and your committed to the task, and tribe to survive. Bet that puts your then the dice are divided and job at Starbucks into perspective. rounded down based on the Stone Age is a worker difficulty of the task. Hunting placement game for 2–4 players and gathering, as the simplest, designed by Bernd Brunnhofer are divided by 2, while panning and published by Z-Man Games for gold is divided by 6. in 2008. Players place their The game is solid and the prehistoric workers to hunt, random element helps give gather, breed, make tools, build new players a fighting chance. huts, or trade. The first player, Like most Eurostyle games it called the chieftain, rotates employs a point-salad scoring every round. Play continues system: points are added up until either the building or at the end of the game so you trading deck runs out. have no idea who is actually Stone Age adds a novel winning until the game is over. element to the worker placement Stone Age is a wonderful style of gameplay. Most worker base game to build a group placement games, such as around. It is good for almost Carcassonne or Lords of all ages and skill levels, with Waterdeep, provide a set number just enough chance elements
to keep everyone interested. Illustration by Ed Appleby Taking a ‘Gaycation’ Viceland launches with LGBTQ-themed travel serial
Rebecca Peterson Staff Writer
wo years ago, Ellen Page Tgave a speech at the Human Rights Campaign’s “Time to Thrive” conference in Las Vegas, where she publicly came out as gay. The Canadian actress has always been politically vocal, supporting many charities and activist organizations. On March 2 she will be combining her performance career and her social activism to produce the new travel serial, “Gaycation.” Vice.com released the trailer for Gaycation January 26 with the following description: “...Ellen and her best friend Ian set off to explore LGBTQ cultures around the world. From Japan to Brazil to Jamaica to the USA, the two meet some amazing people along the way and hear their stories.” This series has been a long time in the making, with a few Screenshot from ‘Gaycation’ Trailer articles coming out over the past “Would you use that argument in LGBTQ people, an incident during EllenPageDaily.Org, Page met with and Daniel engaging in pride year hinting at its production. segregation?” which she said she feared for her teens Trey and Nae, both aspiring events, discussing LGBTQ lives Most notably, Gaycation was Vice stated that Page also own safety. At a panel for Viceland performers who lived on the in different cultural settings, being filmed as Ellen Page encountered “an evangelical during the 2016 Television Critics’ streets of Los Angeles for a month and showing the struggles and debated US Senator Ted Cruz Christian band called the Association’s winter press tour, before moving to Italy. There they triumphs of members of the gay last August at the Iowa State Bontrager Family Singers—a she discussed the incident, with discovered the Teen Project’s community. It’s both a celebration Fair. Page asked Cruz his opinion family of 12 that had come to Des her costar Ian Daniel adding: “A PAD in Venice, where Page spent and a deep examination of the on LGBTQ people being fired Moines to perform, that night, person who is standing in front of the day last September while good and the bad of life in a fringe from workplaces in the States, at Cruz’s Rally for Religious you is saying I’ve killed people like shooting the series. Thanks to this section of society. “It’s about and he responded: “What we’re Liberty.” According to an article you, I’m going to do it again, and organization, they’ve since been people being able to live,” one seeing right now, we’re seeing from The Wrap, however, some of there are other people like me who placed in transitional housing. person states in the trailer. “Not Bible-believing Christians being Page’s interactions were less than are killing people like you... It’s As Page states in the trailer: just exist.” persecuted for living according to entertaining. scary, in that it’s just hard to hear.” “I’m on a journey to explore Viceland will launch this their faith.” Page and Daniel apparently The series isn’t entirely what it means to be lesbian, February 29, with the premiere “You’re discriminating against came face-to-face with a police about Page taking on anti-gay gay, bi, or trans, all around episode of Gaycation airing March LGBT people,” Page replied. officer who bragged about killing activists, however. According to the world.” Scenes depict Page 2 at 10 p.m. issue 20 // volume 42 arts // no. 9 Image via 4thletter.net Comic Corner: The fame machine ‘The Wicked and The Divine Vol. 1: The Faust Act’ review Brittney MacDonald yet complex at the same time. believe their very existence is a together. As such, the end of emotion for the plot when the Life and Style Editor In a fantastical modern world, hoax. Throw in a murder mystery the novel doesn’t really feel plot itself fails to pause and 12 people claim their place as and the ultimate fangirl, and the justified. Instead, it becomes a acknowledge its own characters. reincarnated gods, granting stage is set for an all-out war. convenient plot device to explain I, for one, will probably them limitless fame and power. The idea for the narrative is everything that preceded it. read the next volume with But there is always a catch. In compelling, but the execution Art-wise, this book is the hope that the current this case, all that esteem comes is a little lacklustre. Things beautiful. Gifted to us by the narrative issues will be fixed. ver hear the term “idol at the cost of their lives, as the move too quickly, so nothing hands of Jamie McKelvie, the As for my recommendation, worship?” The Wicked E reincarnated gods only live for really stands out as a key art actually left me wanting I would encourage people and The Divine by Kieron two years. Machinations come moment. As you read through to read the next installation to read this if they want Gillen brings that idea into play as each of the gods it you constantly feel like of this series. To put it very something a little different to a whole new level. compete for power with one you’re missing something bluntly, it is perfect. Both and appreciate beautiful art The plot is rather simple, another and the world. Some because elements blend epic and intimate, it conveys in their comics off the wall. The art of war Martial arts and entertainment
Adam Tatelman and artists, even undergoing Arts Editor similar training. Some martial traditions, like Chinese any people think of the Wushu, even have exhibition Mterm “martial arts” as an tournaments, which are decided oxymoron. After all, the purpose on the basis of technique, of martial arts is to dedicate one’s just like dance or acrobatics. body and mind to a discipline The primary difference is that evolves through combat, that no dance tournaments both simulated and actual. One are decided by submission or would think that this makes TKO, because dance was not martial arts inherently violent, created for self-defence. and yet many civilizations across Art, however, is not the globe celebrate traditions evaluated through either of these of martial arts as performance methods. When an audience and competitive entertainment. goes to see a show, they will This paradox raises a number typically call the performance of interesting questions about good, bad, or sort of okay. This the martial arts in relation is not the same as evaluating a to other arts, and even their win or loss, even though there status as arts in the first place. Image projectyourself.com via are many rules of presentation. First, it is important to put to fighters. This resembles any the contrary, it is quite noble for of training, victory, or loss. This is the arena in which martial bed the idea that martial arts are organized sport, all of which athletes to push their physical Sport can be the subject of art, arts finally become artistic: when only a sport. While it is true that could be charitably described as limits and build camaraderie but not the medium. That is they are practiced for their own they have a sport application, forms of make-believe combat for the sake of entertainment purely a matter of its function. sake, and others are permitted to the focus is not solely on the ritual organized under a different and self-improvement. But it Compare martial arts with be entertained by that practice, athletes in competition. In set of rules. But this is only must be recognized that sport another hybrid of sport and art: or not, at their leisure. Sport arenas like televised boxing, one aspect of martial arts. It is not necessarily art. There dance. While there are martial statistics are an objective goal. wrestling, or MMA tournaments, would be an error to judge an is a reason why “artist” and traditions which evolved out Whether or not I am impressed more attention is certainly paid ancient tradition by its modern “athlete” are not synonyms. An of dance (and vice versa), their by a painting, a song, or a martial to things like win/loss ratios, commercialized incarnation. artist must be actively trying to origins make them very distinct. exhibition is totally subjective to sponsorships, and fan-favourite This is not to say that sport express some idea larger than Practitioners of either style me, and the people watching with is somehow inferior to art. On merely an individual experience may be called both athletes me. That is the distinction of art. Have an idea for a story? [email protected] OO Smooth sailing OO Weekend split OO Royals Preview Sports And more!
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL INSTITUTION CONF PTS VIU 16-2 32 DOUGLAS 16-2 32 CAPILANO 13-5 26 QUEST 9-9 18 LANGARA 8-10 16 CAMOSUN 5-13 10 CBC 5-13 10 KPU 0-18 0
MEN’S BASKETBALL
INSTITUTION CONF PTS VIU 18-0 36 QUEST 15-3 30 LANGARA 12-6 24 CAPILANO 10-8 20
Photo by Davie Wong DOUGLAS 9-9 18 CAMOSUN 6-12 12 CBC 2-16 4 KPU 0-18 0
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL One won and one lost INSTITUTION CONF PTS VIU 18-4 36 Win streak ended with loss to rivals CAMOSUN 13-9 26 with the game. The Chargers was the Royals with a safe 32-26 Ayanda Gatsha CAPILANO 13-9 26 came out of the half looking lead. Columnist refreshed, and they pushed the Once again, the break was DOUGLAS 12-10 24 Royals much harder than they did not kind to the Royals, and they n Friday evening, the Royals UFV 9-13 18 in the first half. The Douglas team came out looking noticeably women’s basketball team O struggled to match their intensity slower. COTR 9-15 18 took on the visiting Camosun but despite that, they ended the As the last phase of the Chargers. Douglas came on CBC 4-18 8 quarter up 60-45. game began the game had drawn strong to start the game, resulting The last quarter was bad to a thrilling 46-46 draw. A re- in a commanding lead early on. for the home team, as Camosun invigorated VIU squad resulted Offence dictated the first quarter turned the pressure on by going in an end score of 66-55 for the of action as the Royals scored 27 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL on a 15-5 streak, closing the lead visitors. points in the first quarter while to just 5 points. Coach Courtney While this game could hardly surrendering 19 to the Chargers. INSTITUTION CONF PTS Gerwing used one of her timeouts be classified as an upset, it didn’t It was back to business for to settle the team and refocus. stop it from feeling like one. CAMOSUN 19-3 38 both teams in the second as The tactic worked magically, as After the game, coach Gerwing the pace of the game slowed DOUGLAS 18-4 36 the Royals came surging back, spoke regarding her team’s loss. dramatically. Douglas’ stalwart limiting the Chargers to just 5 “We didn’t shoot the ball very VIU 13-9 26 defence made their re-appearance points while scoring 14 of their well in the second half. We went and the team kept Camosun to UFV 12-10 24 own to close the game out, 79-65. cold for too long. Our shooting only 9 points, giving the Royals Saturday’s game against percentage in the second half was COTR 9-15 18 the lead heading into halftime, Vancouver Island University 17 and that’s not how you win a 41-28. CAPILANO 5-17 10 started out tighter than the game. We’ll probably continue The halftime break was not previous, despite the Royals to work on some fundamental CBC 2-20 2 kind for the Royals, who looked looking marvelous offensively. defence, but I’d rather play like we like they were ready to run away But by the time the half ended, it did now, than during playoffs.” issue 20 // volume 42 sports // no. 11 Smooth sailing Volleyball teams cruise through UFV
Davie Wong set 25-13, and close the game on a 25-22. decisive note. From there, it was all about Sports Editor The aftermath of that game momentum. The Royals were able carried onto Saturday, as the to come out in the third and close he trip to UFV was supposed rematch quickly turned into a the game without issue, sweeping to be an easy one for the Image via independent.co.uk via Image T rout. Having been sloppy in the the home team in the first of two men’s volleyball team. Six sets first set the day before, the Royals games. The second game was and done. That must have been ensured that their mistake was quite the contrast. the mindset as they opened up not repeated. They took apart the It wasn’t long after the start their first of two games against UFV team, one point at a time, of the game that the Royals UFV on the weekend, because taking the first set 25-14. The found themselves 2 sets down that’s definitely how they played. Player etiquette? second set was no different as the and in dire need of three in a The home team made a home team struggled to find an row. With their backs against the Was Cam Newton right to leave? showing for themselves as they answer to the crushing pressure wall, and the odds against them, unloaded on the unsuspecting the Royals were applying, but the ladies knew it would take a Davie Wong ensures the whole world knows Royals in the first set. Much to could not, surrendering the set mammoth effort to salvage their it. The fact that his team only the surprise of the visiting team, Sports Editor 25-15. early mistakes. But they proved lost once in the regular season UFV showed deadly precision as As the Royals moved to the that they were more than up to did not help his seemingly they dismantled the Royals on uper Bowl mayhem is finally finish and brought out their the task. inflated ego. That being said, it the court in the first set, taking it Sramping down, and as the brooms, UFV made their final In a statement of a third would be hard to argue against 25-12. dust settles, we look at what stand against their powerhouse set, the Royals demolished the Newton’s dominance this Fortunately, that was more remains relevant. Ironically, rivals. In a valiant effort, the hopeful UFV team, who were season. The man earned every than enough for the Royals to it isn’t any of the winners that home team showed heart as they looking to return the sweeping second of his short-lived media snap out of it and get back into people are talking about. Is Cam attempted to claw their way back favour, taking the set 25-12. With fame. But does that justify his the game, which, unfortunately Newton a sore loser? into the game. But the Royals the push stopped, it was a relief, actions in walking away from his for UFV, meant that the Royals’ Well the simple answer would have none of that, closing but the pressure was still there. press conference? unstoppable offence was about to to that is, yes. Newton has out the game 25-20 and sweeping The team came out in the fourth Many people feel like he get going. previously admitted to media their opponents. to ravage the home team’s side of wronged the entire league by The second set showcased that he is a “sore loser,” but is it Meanwhile, the women took the court with scorching finishes, disrespecting the culture of the just that. In dominant fashion, that simple? Nothing is ever as their shot at the struggling UFV leaving little doubt of their post-media press conference. To the visiting team unleashed well- simple as it seems in the world squad. However, unlike the men, comeback intentions. that, I have to say, so what? If placed shots that gave UFV little of sports, and the same goes for the women came dialed in and With their lead gone, and the anyone put themselves in that to no chance to react, snatching this. ready to play. They opened their last two sets a smoldering ruin, position, having lost a maybe back a set 25-13. The third set was Newton, who was named weekend with a strong first set, UFV had little to push back with once-in-a-lifetime game, I’m a testament to UFV’s iron will to MVP of the league this year, taking it 25-19. as the Royals team came barreling sure that few people would want fight, but the Royals proved that is in a lot of hot water for his The second was harder as the towards them in the fifth and to face media questions asking the Cascades needed more than behaviour after his team’s loss UFV squad rebounded from their final set. The momentum proved them why they played so poorly. just will to overpower them, and in the Super Bowl. Traditionally, earlier difficulties and challenged too much for the home team On top of all of that, took the second set 25-22. when teams lose, they are still the Royals much more. But as the Royals finished their consider the fact that behind That set proved to be the expected to be available for a crucial mistakes made by the comeback in style, taking the last Newton, they were conducting backbreaker for UFV, as the post-game press conference. squad allowed the visiting team set 15-9. an interview with one of Royals surged to take the fourth This year, Newton appeared to capitalize and finish the set, at his conference, apologized the players on the winning to his fans for the loss, and team, and discussing how the abruptly left. His actions caused opposition’s defence was able to an uproar amongst fans, who overpower the league MVP. It were quick to call him out on was audible to Newton during his behaviour, labelling him as a his post-game conference. child playing a grownup’s game. To lose the championship This wouldn’t be the first game, and then hear the other time that Newton has received team bragging about it while negative attention for his being expected to answer behaviour this season. Newton questions from a hungry media? is known as one of the more It’s no wonder Newton left colourful personalities in the abruptly. I don’t know many league. When he wins, he people who would be able to stay in that situation. Player of the Week Grant Campbell: Men’s Basketball Davie Wong Sports Editor
rant Campbell was the Gheart and soul of the men’s basketball team this week as he led them to a 1-1 weekend at home. He tallied a total of 40 points over the weekend, with 28 of them Grant Campbell being during his spectacular Photo by Davie Wong singular effort in the team’s loss to the team on January 22, having against VIU. He also recorded 8 recorded at least 25 minutes in 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, and of his last 7 games with the team, 1 block along the way. Grant has while contributing at least 12 been on a tear since coming back
points each of those times. Photo by Davie Wong A coffer of comedic riches: Your crash course introduction to the Vancouver comedy scene By Jacey Gibb, Distribution Manager
s much as people love to Acomplain about Vancouver’s weather and economy, this city has a lot of things going for it. Easy access to world-class nature, an extensive transit system, and one of the best clusterings of musicians in the country, and yet one of Vancouver’s shiniest features is also one that often goes unnoticed: its bustling and constantly evolving comedy scene. The truth is, we’re spoiled in Vancouver and we don’t even realize it. On almost any given night, you can go out and see a hilarious comedy show for less than a six-pack of your favourite locally-sourced microbrew. And the city’s about to get even funnier for the rest of February, as Vancouver welcomes the Just for Laughs Northwest 2016 comedy festival from February 18–27. While a large percentage of the performers listed come from an international scale (including Lewis Black, Wanda Sykes, and Trevor Noah), there’s a plethora of local talent also sharing the roster. In honour of the upcoming Just for Laughs festival, I offer to you a crash course of some of the different aspects of Vancouver’s comedy scene by going over some of tWhe different forms of comedy you see, some of the best places to catch local talent, the best comedy podcasts based out of our city, and even how you can get started in comedy yourself. Types of comedy you’ll encounter
This might be an obvious one for some readers, but there’s a wide range of different comedy to salivate over in Vancouver, including three common types. Improv: Ignore all the Agent Michael Scarn jokes you may have been exposed to, or the “improv as a cult” plot from last season on Bojack Horseman. Sure, like almost anything, when A coffer of comedic riches: Your crash course introduction to the Vancouver comedy scene By Jacey Gibb, Distribution Manager
improv is bad, it’s bad, but when improv is good, it’s unbelievably good. The shortened term for “improvisational theatre,” improv involves a group of performers combining games and scenes with suggestions from the audience. The s much as people love to result is a generally fast-paced, not-always-sensical barrage of complain about Vancouver’s A comedy that you’ve often had a part in creating. Improv troupes usually include weather and economy, this city joined two or more members. has a lot of things going for it. by an Easy access to world-class nature, Stand-up: Whereas improv is more group-based and in-the-moment, stand-up usually equally funny an extensive transit system, and involves a single comedian at a time performing a “set” of jokes they’ve told previously. guest, with topics one of the best clusterings of There’s an element of spontaneity that comes with stand-up, as comedians have to gauge including, well, just about musicians in the country, and yet the crowd as their set goes on and adjust, but often most of the jokes are decided on anything. ahead of time. one of Vancouver’s shiniest features Retail Nightmares: Because is also one that often goes unnoticed: Sketch: If you’ve ever seen an episode of Saturday Night Live or Portlandia, you’ve almost everyone has served its bustling and constantly evolving seen sketch comedy in action. Actors take on different characters depending on the a stint in the nightmarish world of retail, comedy scene. sketch and perform in a predetermined way, with a general direction already in place. “co-ghosts” Alicia Tobin and Jessica Delisle are here to find the The truth is, we’re spoiled in Vancouver Sometimes the sketches are performed in-person and sometimes these sketches are humour in an otherwise bleak part of humanity. They are also joined by a weekly guest— and we don’t even realize it. On almost prerecorded and released online, but often live shows will feature a combination of the usually a musician or comedian—and they all share past retail nightmares, provides any given night, you can go out and see two. advice during the Alicia’s Self-Help Corner segment, and fawn over adorable animals a hilarious comedy show for less than a Other: It would be impossible to group all comedy into just a handful of categories— and things through the Puppy of the Week one. six-pack of your favourite locally-sourced though a large percentage fall under one of the above three—so this fourth category is Become a comedian yourself microbrew. And the city’s about to get even for all the unique outliers. For example, Paul Anthony’s Talent Time is a monthly variety funnier for the rest of February, as Vancouver show held at the Rio Theatre where Anthony brings together an assortment of acts Thanks to this feature, you’re essentially a connoisseur of Vancouver comedy, welcomes the Just for Laughs Northwest 2016 ranging from child protégés to standard stand-up comedians. There are a lot of fun and but now you’re craving a piece of that laughter for yourself? Every comedian comedy festival from February 18–27. While a unique shows around Vancouver. was a beginner at some point, so why not take the comedic plunge and check large percentage of the performers listed come from out one of these companies yourself? Who knows, maybe one day it’ll be an international scale (including Lewis Black, Wanda Best places to laugh your ass off your name being mentioned in a college newspaper’s article profiling Sykes, and Trevor Noah), there’s a plethora of local talent There’s fantastic comedy everywhere in Vancouver, ranging from concert venues to the local comedy. also sharing the roster. straight-up comedy clubs like The Comedy Mix and Yuk Yuk’s, but some of the best Improv Comedy Institute: Run by Vancouver Theatre Sports League In honour of the upcoming Just for Laughs festival, I offer to you and most original acts I’ve witnessed took place outside of those spaces. These are a few and located on Granville Island, the Improv Comedy Institute offers a crash course of some of the different aspects of Vancouver’s comedy of the staple locations in the Vancouver scene, though keep in mind that there are new introductory courses on things like environment, character, and scene by going over some of tWhe different rooms and weekly nights popping up all the time. spontaneity, and more advanced levels for people wishing to further forms of Little Mountain Gallery (LMG): Dubbed an “independently operated art gallery, their improv skills. They even have a performance-only Rookie comedy you theatre, and community space” on their website, LMG is one of the most reliable sources League people can audition for, though we might be getting ahead of see, some of of comedy in Vancouver. In the month of February, there’s something happening every ourselves. the best places to night aside from Sundays and Mondays, including Jokes Please stand-up every Thursday Blind Tiger Comedy: Founded by members of two of Vancouver’s most catch local talent, and Little Mountain Improv on Tuesdays. They also have hilarious monthly shows, such prolific comedy groups, Hip.Bang! and The Sunday Service, Blind Tiger the best comedy as Rapp Battlez Wezt Coazt and The Lady Show. Comedy operates out of Little Mountain Gallery, and offers a range of stand- podcasts based out of up, sketch, and improv courses. our city, and even how you Havana: Commercial Drive cornerstone Havana is a theatre that plays host to a can get started in comedy revolving door of plays, but also a wealth of improv, ranging from the long-form Instant Theatre Company: You’ll quickly realize how expensive comedy lessons yourself. Cagematch Improv on Friday evenings to the 10-person free-for-all Streetfight Improv! can be, but Instant Theatre offers an affordable introduction to the world of improv on Sunday evenings. There is also a ton of other Instant Theatre-run evenings happening with a once weekly three-week class for only $59 if you get early bird pricing. They Types of comedy you’ll at Havana, which you can stay on top of by visiting their website. also offer stand-up and sketch courses at their East Broadway shop. encounter The China Cloud: Somewhat hidden on Main Street between Pender and Keefer Street Stray advice that didn’t fit in the above categories This might be an obvious one for is The China Cloud, another gallery space that frequently hosts musicians, visual artists, some readers, but there’s a wide and comedians alike. It’s also the home base for monthly regulars like The Hero Show Always check before you go: With something as nebulous as comedy in range of different comedy to and its spinoff Sidekicks. Vancouver, it’s constantly shifting—by the time this article hits stands, it’s entirely possible that some regular shows may have ended. A lot of the salivate over in Vancouver, Hot Art Wet City (HAWC): While the name itself is almost a reason enough to include more popular shows also sell out well in advance, so keep your eyes on including three common this gallery on this list, the impressive roster of regular shows is what seals HAWC’s fate social media and the ’net to avoid future heartbreak. types. as a local gem. Vancouverite: A Comedy Show has comedians take a humorous look Improv: Ignore at life in our fair city, Kyle Bottom’s Comedy Bucket combines riffing with audience When is it appropriate to heckle at shows? all the Agent suggestions (drawn from, you guessed it, a bucket), and new addition Teenage Dirtbag Michael forces comedians to drudge up memories from their youthful years. Trick question, and the answer is never. Even if it’s a more experienced comedian and they can hold their own against a heckler, that doesn’t Scarn jokes Vancouver-based podcasts that bring the funny to you you may make it okay to actively work to sabotage the performer. No one is paying money to hear you talk, so whenever someone’s onstage, make sure the only have been Not all comedy in Vancouver requires you to leave the comfort of your own home. Avoid thing coming out of your pie hole is guffaws. exposed to, or crowds and the need to put on a pair of pants by staying in and diving into any of these the “improv as a homegrown podcasts. There are dozens more venues, comedians, shows, and projects that also cult” plot from last deserve your love and admiration, but the laws of the word count bind me. My Stop Podcasting Yourself: To have over 400 episodes of anything, you have to be doing season on Bojack hope is that you don’t take this feature as an exact guide, but rather a jumping off something right. Since 2008, co-hosts Dave Shumka and Graham Clark have been Horseman. Sure, like point on your journey to discovering Vancouver’s comedy scene. After all, there’s a gracing the podcast universe with their banter and hearty laughter. Each week the pair is almost anything, when bustling community only a bus or SkyTrain ride away. sports // no. 14 theotherpress.ca Weekend split Men’s basketball goes 1-1 Davie Wong found themselves watching the Sports Editor Chargers shoot foul shots every time Douglas misplayed. The he last couple of weeks have home team could do little as Tbeen generous to the Royals, their lead was whittled away, one gifting them opportunities to basket at a time. However, the play against lower ranking teams team was able to just hold on and attempt to make up for their going into halftime with a score rough season opening. Brilliant of 32-28. play from the team and strong Coming out from the break, performances from key players the Royals looked much better has allowed them to capitalize on on the offensive side of the court. those chances and brought their However, their problems on the record back up to even. defensive end still persisted, On Friday, the Royals faced resulting with them once again off against the eighth place being pushed by the Camosun Camosun Chargers, who were offence. The difference this looking for redemption. The last time was that the Royals could time these two played, the Royals afford to give the Chargers commanded the game and those chances because they had dominated the Chargers in their converted on their own chances Photo by Davie Wong own court. Now the Chargers on the other end. were looking to return the favour. The swift scoring Royals had the size advantage, the the lead going into halftime. the Royals’ 66 points, the home That thought was quickly were eventually able to outshoot host Royals were able to run all In the third quarter, it was team became another victim of erased as the home team came the Chargers, routing them over them in the first quarter, immediately obvious that the VIU Mariners, who remain out with speed. Camosun in the fourth with 24 points, outscoring their opponents 30-11. nothing was going to change. The undefeated. struggled to match the intensity and closing out the game for a But the Mariners would Mariners came out and danced After the team’s difficult of the Royals and turned the convincing win. not go down so easily, and they all over the Royals’ defenders, defeat, coach Denis Beausoleil ball over several times in the With that game in the came back swinging in the nearly doubling their score in a talked about what were the first quarter. The resulting plays books, the men could focus on second, showing everyone just single quarter. biggest factors to his team’s loss: allowed the host Royals to climb the main event of the weekend: why they are rated the best team There was little the home “Rebounding has been the theme to an early lead going into the their date with the number one in Canada. They were quick team could do as the country’s all year. We were also unable to second quarter. ranked team in the country, the to flip the roles and took their best team went out of their way press. When we can press, our But the Chargers persisted VIU Mariners. turn running all over the Royals’ to ensure their victory, scoring synergy is a lot better and our yet. Their ability to drive the The Saturday afternoon defence, thrashing them for 23 another 21 points in the fourth, offensive flow is a lot better. In net was evident in the second as game did not disappoint. The points while only surrendering ending the game with a total of the first quarter, our press was they caught the Royals’ defence Royals once again, started the 12. 86 points. Despite a magnificent good. After that, it was hard to sleeping on multiple occasions. game with their foot on the Beaten and bloodied, individual effort from Grant get consistent pressing for the It wasn’t long before the Royals gas pedal. While the VIU men Douglas was able to hold onto Campbell, who scored 28 of remainder of the game.” Royals Preview A look at this week’s upcoming games opener, and the results could not season against the sixth place Davie Wong have been tighter. The two split Capilano Blues. Sports Editor games on Capilano’s court going It is likely that coach Brad he month of February 5 sets in both games. But that was Hudson will play his entire Tcontinues to fly by at an a long time ago, and since then, rotation but put much of the extraordinary pace. Teams are both teams have seen dramatic emphasis on resting his veterans gearing up for that final push into improvement for the coming weekend. The last playoff weekend and this week Look for momentum to be time the two teams played, it was that will be especially evident. the decider this weekend. The not at all in favour of the Blues, Here’s a look at this week’s games. story of the season for the Royals as the Royals dismantled them. has been their inability to shift Nothing should change this time Women’s Volleyball: momentum. When the team around as the Royals have done This week’s Royals matchup drops two sets, they have had a nothing but improve this year. of the week features the most history of being unable to contest heated competition in the the deciding set. However, things Women’s Basketball: women’s volleyball PACWEST look to be much better in that Last week was a hard week conference. The ladies are coming department lately, as the team for this Royals team. They split it home to end their regular season, showed signs of brilliance last 1-1, but came out looking shaky. and who better to end their week, coming back from being Specifically, their defence was season against than the Capilano down 0-2 to UFV. much worse than it has been Blues. This week’s games will be all season. This week, they have Photo by Davie Wong The matchup will determine played on Thursday at 6 p.m, matches against the Langara who has control of third place. and Friday at 6 p.m at the New Falcons and the Quest Kermodes, Men’s Basketball: display now. This position is so important Westminster campus. on their respective home courts. The men have tough Facing off against the going into playoffs as the third It should be a time of matchups as they face two of the Langara Falcons and the Quest seeded team will play the sixth Men’s Volleyball: readjustment for the Royals as league’s better teams. Coming off Kermodes, two teams that have seeded team, while the fourth It’s been nothing but playoff they look to toughen up on the of a devastating loss to the VIU previously beat them, the Royals seed plays the fifth. The Royals prep for these men as they have back end. While the matchups Mariners, the men are faced with will need to be on-point. Their will need to sweep the weekend sweeping the bottom of the this week are exciting, the Royals adversity as they seek to prove rebounding, which was a huge 2-0 if they hope to clinch that conference for the past couple of have shown that they can be themselves. They have more than factor in their loss against VIU, third seed. weeks. They find themselves in a more than dominant against any shown their ability to beat bad will need to be the best it’s been The last time these teams similar position this week as they team in the league. teams, but their ability to win all season. met was during the season come home to end their regular against good teams will be on Have an idea for a story? [email protected] OO Roosh V, Return of Kings, and neomasculinity OO Hey! VINA OO How to combat procrastination Life & Style And more!
Sexism and sportsball Why are people mad at a town filled with Ryan Reynolds? Screenshot from ‘Ryanville’ Hyundai commercial
Brittney MacDonald advertising. But the cherry on Unfortunately, advertising has a Want to sell to men? Make from his daughter. However, Life & Style Editor top of the cake came from an rather nasty history of systematic them feel like your product will commercials that are specifically unlikely source—Hyundai. female oppression in order to somehow improve their chances targeted towards men still tend ’m not going to lie, I don’t know Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I appease patriarchal society. If of conforming to the masculine to be heteronormative and, Imuch about the Super Bowl. am referring to the commercial that still sounds like mumbo- ideal. Want to sell to either men more often than not, sexist. I care very little for football as now known as “Ryanville.” The jumbo to you, consider this: or women? Create a scenario So what does this mean it does not have the grace and premise is simple: two people are when was the last time you saw where one gender is proven for “Ryanville?” Outside of prestige of soccer, and I generally driving through a neighbourhood a beverage company with a man superior to another in some way, the context of the Super Bowl, only watch the halftime show. As and are constantly distracted by drinking out of a bottle on the such as a car commercial showing the commercial itself comes such, I never really see any of the the fact everyone looks like Ryan side of their truck? Those that women as terrible drivers. The off as amusing yet slightly famous Super Bowl commercials Reynolds. Innocent enough, right? do have them are pretty few reverse of this is also true— dated—meaning that if it was that everyone goes nuts for—so, Here’s the subliminal issue and far between. The reason commercials with bumbling played during regular airtime when I read about all this drama that you might not have caught for this is because society as a husbands trying to do laundry or the problems with how it is going around on the Internet on to. Both the people in the car whole finds women drinking braid their daughter’s hair show constructed would probably regarding this year’s round of are women—not surprising, a out of bottles more aesthetically men as incapable caregivers as a be more apparent. However, marketing masterpieces, I didn’t lot of women probably love Ryan appealing. Why, you may ask? means of endearing the product insulated within the plethora Sex in Advertising really understand what all the Reynolds (I know I do). However, According to , to a female demographic. of testosterone that is NFL fuss was about. To remedy this, it is now speculated that the it is reminiscent of fellatio, which Recently, there has been programming, it doesn’t come I did what any sane, Internet- commercial is actually insinuating is more socially acceptable for a surge in advertising that is off as strange because it is savvy woman would do—I that distracted driving is only women to do as opposed to men. trying to fight against this surrounded by images that googled the f*** out of that shit! a problem for female drivers as The important thing to marketing norm. A Campbell’s are also specifically directed After watching the a means of endearing itself to a remember is that all actions and Soup commercial shows two towards a masculine audience. commercials I understand some mostly male viewership. Now to choices made in advertising and/ homosexual men successfully Hopefully seeing the of the confusion surrounding people who have never taken a or marketing are very deliberate. caring for a child together, and difference in these two situations that weird birth one for Doritos, marketing or psychology course People study for many years to another commercial shows a will force all viewers to be more and whatever the hell that this might sound like a big leap know exactly what will appeal single father cleaning up his aware of how they interpret creepy monkey thing was or a ridiculous assumption. to any given demographic. house in preparation for a visit advertising on a grander scale. Stiletto Security never looked so good Brittney MacDonald Security apps that can be activated automated system will give Life & Style Editor on your phone when you feel your location to the 911 operator threatened play a big role in with a request for immediate thwarting many attempted assistance. Otherwise, you can riginally developed by assaults—however, a large simply cancel and the system Florida company Secure O majority of these apps are not will inform the operator that the Couture, Stiletto is a charm that available in Canada. Those apps situation has been resolved. can be attached to a bracelet, are also designed to send a text or Perhaps most impressive necklace, or any other piece call to an emergency contact, who of all, all of this is done through of jewelry. Its intent is to offer is then responsible for checking a few button presses. a discreet way of contacting in with you. This creates a weird The intent when creating emergency lines, friends, or third party dynamic where your Stiletto was to make it as discreet family when you feel threatened.
safety is completely dependent as possible, so that possible Image via www.stiletto.is The inspiration behind the on whether your friend or family attackers won’t be alerted to charm was the realization by the member reads their text message you contacting the police and You activate Stiletto by Another added security company co-founders, brother in time. Stiletto streamlines either turn violent or halt your pressing the jewel in its centre feature is that the charm will duo Alexander and Daniel the process by contacting your ability to do so. The charm itself to send out the initial texts and also create an audio recording Gladstone, that oftentimes when emergency contacts, as well comes in a variety of styles that call. If the threat continues, you once activated, making it even people, women especially, are as 911 to put them on alert you can customize so it’s nearly press the jewel two more times more useful as it can then be under threat, the security of a cell to a possible situation. If the impossible for it to be recognized to request immediate assistance. used as proof of verbal assault. phone is not immediately at hand. situation progresses the Stiletto as a security precaution. At any point in time you can hit Right now you can pre- Logically, it makes sense. the jewel once to cancel the call. order the system for $179–220. life & style // no. 16 theotherpress.ca Roosh V, Return of Kings, and neomasculinity
A brief overview of what all the fuss was about www.lenallure.com via Image Rebecca Peterson Staff Writer Beauty on a Budget ust over a week ago, the JInternet experienced a E.l.f. Studio Blush and Studio Blush Duo minor explosion. This time, Lauren Kelly four different colour pairs, each it was over the organization Assistant Editor with one blush and one bronzer. of supposed “pro-rape rallies” “St Lucia,” the most popular worldwide, a product of a choice, is said to be a dupe for ’m not someone who uses large neomasculine online Nars’ famous “Orgasm/Laguna” many blushes, as I have trouble community called Return of I duo. However, when comparing applying most colours I’ve tried Kings. Further investigation them myself as I use the Nars and having them look natural. I revealed that these were not palette daily, I found that the wanted to write about blushes for rallies, but rather “meet-ups” E.l.f. blush was lighter and pinker, this column, and I also wanted to of like-minded individuals while the bronzer was much discover a good blush for spring. (strictly heterosexual men), deeper. Although the blush was So after doing a bit of research who referred to themselves as a very pretty colour on me and I decided to test some of E.l.f.’s belonging to “tribes.” one I’ll be wearing in the spring, more popular blush options due According to Roosh V, the bronzer was much too deep to their favourable reviews and founder of Return of Kings, and pigmented for me to use as a cheap prices. The colours I chose neomasculinity can be defined Illustration by Ed Appleby convincing contour. It would be are the Studio Blush single in thusly: “[A combination of] perfect for people with deeper skin “Tickled Pink” and the Studio traditional beliefs, masculinity, rigid. The site states: “A man’s This may immediately strike tones than mine, though. It could Contouring Blush & Bronzer and animal biology into one value significantly depends one as a little backwards, but also be lightly brushed on to the Powder duo in “St Lucia.” ideological system. It aims to on his resources, intellect, Roosh V elaborates further: face to warm it up for spring for As someone with a very light aid men living in Westernized and character.” Thus, there “Without daddy government those who want a bit more colour skin tone, I found “Tickled Pink” nations that lack qualities such is a large focus in the Return to protect her, a girl would coming out of our dreary winter to be an incredibly natural colour as classical virtue, masculinity of Kings community on self- absolutely not enter a private months. The “Fiji” duo would on me, and it will definitely be in males, femininity in females, improvement to build oneself room with a man she doesn’t be better for people with lighter something I’ll be using often. and objectivity, especially into the ideal “masculine” man. know or trust unless she is skin, as the bronzer is a softer It’s a very warm, neutral pink concerning beauty ideals and As well, there is a held absolutely sure she is ready colour than the other palettes. that blends out well. It does human behaviour.” Under this belief in the community to sleep with him. Consent is I’m happy with the “Tickled have some shimmer, but I didn’t statement on their official that “men will opt out of now achieved when she passes Pink” blush, and with the product find it very noticeable on my website is a long table of monogamy and reproduction underneath the room’s door quality in general. However, I’ll skin. It had fairly long wear contents with subsections if there are no incentives to frame, because she knows definitely be going back for a time as well. The E.l.f. blushes describing the “principal engage in them.” To counter that that man can legally do different colour in the duo. Either come in four neutral shades doctrines of neomasculinity,” this, the community holds a anything he wants to her when way, I would recommend the that range from peach to pink, some of which are “Traditional dedication to the traditional it comes to sex...” products to anyone—just make two pretty deep mauves, a bold sex roles,” “Sexual marketplace family unit for the betterment Many have found this sure you find the right shade! Both bubblegum pink, and white and value,” “Feminine beauty of society. sentiment to be alarming, the single and duo are available gold shimmer highlight colours. ideals,” and “Understanding So how did all of this and the idea of gatherings of at London Drugs for $3.99. The contouring duo comes in the true nature of women.” translate online from “tribal people who think this way What is the “true nature of meet-ups” to “pro-rape rallies”? less than ideal. Because of women?” Again, to quote the Well, among their base the public backlash, official website, “Women are skilled at belief system, there is a meetings of the Return of using the structure and rules political movement to Kings groups were canceled #DOUGLIFE of the local environment to dismantle domestic violence by Roosh V, though it is fulfill their goals, which is to laws in an effort to stop sexual worth mentioning that many Tweet us using the hashtag #DougLife, for a chance to be secure the highest possible assault. went forward and took place featured in the paper! value male, gain as much In an article titled “How to regardless. Surely, with the material resources as possible, Stop Rape,” Roosh V explained emphasis on self-improvement, pursue the female primal need his concerns about sexual patriarchal importance, and for pleasure and vanity, and assault, and his strategy to self-sufficiency, the members compete successfully against solve the frequency of such of Return of Kings have to other females ... A woman’s crimes (in the specific context formulate themselves as nature is therefore not static, of men assaulting women): independent, strong men that and takes the shape of the “By attempting to teach own their own homes and container of her environment men not to rape,” he wrote, are capable of providing for ... Elimination of traditional “what we have actually done their families as a traditional sex roles and the promotion is teach women not to care patriarchal figure—that is what of unlimited mating choice about being raped, not to founder Roosh V would expect in women unleashes their protect themselves from easily of them, given his strong promiscuity and other negative preventable acts, and not to opinions on the matter. behaviors that block family take responsibility for their According to The Province, formation.” actions ... I thought about this Roosh V was last seen at his The expectations that problem and am sure I have mother’s house in Maryland, Return of Kings has of its the solution: make rape legal if as he currently lives in her male members are also quite done on private property.” basement. This week’s tweet is by Maureen Mackey issue 20 // volume 42 life & style // no. 17 Indie fashion feature: Blackmilk Nerd chic comes at a steep price Brittney MacDonald Life & Style Editor
lackmilk is a name that has Bbecome synonymous with indie fashion success. I mean, it’s pretty hard to be a frequent peruser of the World Wide Web, and not have seen at least one of their products. Based in Australia and best known for their detailed graphic print leggings, Blackmilk has risen to success on the idea that building up your social media
presence and providing a wide Image via www.vina.io variety of products is essential to finding success with today’s young adult demographic. But what Hey! VINA are you really buying when you make a Blackmilk purchase—a Find me a friend! quality product, or a name? Brittney MacDonald not the same thing as infamy. I will admit, I have been Life & Style Editor All jokes aside, when I taken in by Blackmilk designs actually sat down and looked more than once. I mean, come on! into Hey! VINA’s mission o you ever scroll through They have multiple collections statement, I found that it Tinder and wonder: devoted to Star Wars and Mass D made a lot more sense than I “what if this was for finding Effect! But all that fan-love comes expected it to. Basically, the meaningful friendships, and at a pretty steep cost. Their app is meant to be used as a not just for random late night leggings will run you about $80 means of connecting women hook-ups with sketchy Dairy USD, which is bad enough but within metropolitan areas to Queen assistant managers?” becomes even worse when you avoid the social isolation of Well now there’s Hey! VINA, factor in that any shipping to relocation, career change, or an app devoted to finding Canada is international. I can lifestyle change. To put it into you platonic female friends! also inform you that, due to the perspective, if you move to a I’m not going to lie, my fact they are so expensive, you new city, the app can help you immediate reaction to this will be charged an additional fuckyeahblackmilkclothing.tumblr.com via Image find friends, or if you decide to $50–60 CAD per package or item app was the same one I have leggings are some of my best. They petite-chested, go about 1–2 sizes live a healthier lifestyle, the app because of duty taxes. Normally, when I find Tinder present on are extremely durable and made of smaller than you normally would. can help you find likeminded duty taxes don’t apply because one of my friends’ phones—I thick spandex. I really like them, I’m 5’8” and vary between a B and friends that will support companies will enclose their laughed… loudly. I mean, let’s but they are kind of a pain in the C cup, and the medium I ordered you as you support them. receipts in the package to avoid be serious, when you market ass to care for because you have to was so big I had to give it away. When you think of it that theft. Blackmilk doesn’t do this, yourself as the Tinder of female wash them by hand and air-dry If you want my advice, save way, an app like this is actually so it remains the only company friendship you’re going to have them. That said, the quality of Blackmilk for when you really very useful. Being a member that I regularly have to pay extra some problems. Tinder in itself the print work is amazing even want to treat yourself, or when of the digital generation, if to get my items shipped from. has become a social joke, but when the leggings are stretched. they come out with a collection you can find love online, why Pro tip: if you are making a unfortunately no one told the The dresses on the other hand fit from your favourite fandom. not fill out the rest of your Blackmilk order, do so in bulk or ad reps this and they seem to really strangely. It’s almost as if Don’t shop there for their normal social circle with friends too? combine your order with a few assume that Tinder’s notoriety Blackmilk assumes everyone is clothes, because believe me, you I mean, what’s the friends so that you can split not is something to be aspired to. If either incredibly well-endowed can find them way cheaper at alternative—go to the nearest only the shipping cost but the cost you’re studying marketing at all, or has had a boob job, because American Apparel or Romwe. Starbucks and actually of the duty taxes, which makes you might want to pocket this the bust size is often ridiculously Blackmilk clothing is available at strike up a conversation it all a little more bearable. little piece of wisdom: fame is out of proportion to the size of their website www.blackmilk.com with someone? Gross. Quality-wise, my Blackmilk the rest of the dress. So if you’re How to combat procrastination Some simple tips to get you going Lauren Paulsen But motivating yourself procrastinate is because they treat yourself to something big. Try to make it into a Senior Columnist to work is harder than are overwhelmed by a large Also, make sure that you work game. Challenge yourself to giving in to something fun. undertaking or with the number on those important tasks first. beat those deadlines as fast rocrastination. Unfortunately, So how do you do it? of things that they need to do. According to the 20/80 Rule, as you can, while still doing Peveryone gives in to it at One of the biggest reasons The easiest way to deal with this only 20 per cent of your tasks are your best at those tasks. some point. But it’s time to stop that people procrastinate is is to make lists. List everything really important. Most people It can be really hard to get listening to it and kick it out of because they don’t want to do that you need to do and break tend to spend their time working over procrastination, but when your life. It is not your friend. whatever it is they need to do. the larger tasks down into smaller through the 80 per cent that are you start working you will often Procrastination can be so The best way to get over this is ones. Work on your biggest not as important. Don’t confuse build momentum. Whenever tantalizing at the time. Why to take care of those unwelcome tasks first, and whenever you activity with accomplishment. It’s you complete an important task, not give in to the temptation of tasks first thing during your day. complete a task, cross it off your not the number of things you do, your brain releases endorphins, playing that video game now? Of everything you have to do list. Seeing the progress you but the quality of those things. making you feel good. You can Or going out with your friends? that day, do the thing you dread make is a great incentive to keep Think of the consequences actually gain a positive addiction Maybe you’ve been itching to most first. This not only takes going. Lists are your friends. if you should succeed in to this feeling of success, and binge that show you just have to the overhanging dread of doing If you are finding it hard to finishing this task, or should you’ll want to complete more see. You can always do that other the task away for the rest of the find the motivation to start, then you fail. These positive and and more tasks. All you have thing later, right? Usually when day, it will also give you a sense set up rewards for whenever you negative consequences can to do is take that first step to someone thinks like this, later of accomplishment that will last finish a task. Just make sure that both be powerful motivators to begin. Now, stop reading and always becomes the last minute. and make your day brighter. the reward always equals the task help you get started on those go get those important things Another reason people done. If it’s a small task, don’t tasks and get them done. done! Take that first step! Have an idea for a story? [email protected] OO Video games are a terrible alternative to exercise OO How to live with Big Brother OO Speaking for groups you don’t represent contributes to oppression Opinions And more! Image passivehousevancouver.ca via Flipping the bird and the house Take the corrupted business out of house owning
Elliot Chan investments more impactful make money. Many people think willing to take advantage of that intending to tax the house Opinions Editor than real estate. But above all differently. Many people would for a profit. That is the prime flippers not just through property else, a house should be a home. consider me a schmuck for living reason for house flipping, rich tax but also a capital gains tax, However, there are many— in an affordable neighbourhood. people trying to get richer. but that does not solve the moved many times when I especially in Vancouver—who In a recent announcement Greed fuels the market problem, it just makes house was growing up. It has always I are trading real estate like from BC Assessment, since 2014, in Vancouver and the people flipping a legitimate business. been a bittersweet memory. Pokémon cards, another 368 single-family (detached) nourishing this corrupted form Yes, you can blame it on those Those experiences of packing bittersweet childhood memory. homes have swapped owners of business are the realtors, who don’t flip houses, saying all my belongings, changing But I digress. House flipping, twice or more. These houses, who are knowingly selling the that they have zero business schools, and saying goodbye the act of buying a house and not surprisingly, are set in high- properties for more than they acumen, but just because you to old friends still make me re-selling it over a short period profile neighbourhoods: Dunbar, were previously sold for. This can do it doesn’t mean it is reflect, wondering what life I for profit, is a worrisome Heights, Point Grey, etc. But let’s way, the realtor and the brief ethical or good practice. could have had if I stayed in that obstacle for young people be honest: every neighbourhood owner make a profit. Here’s A house is a home, and many neighbourhood. I never blamed entering the housing market. in Vancouver now is high profile, the kicker—it’s all completely people of my generation will my parents for moving, because For me, I see the place I since nearly all single-family legal in BC. While the asking go through most of their lives I can be certain that moving live as a space where I spend homes are valued in the millions. price is visible, the sale price without having owned one. This wasn’t their first option either. my days relaxing, entertaining Not only are these homes remains private, hidden from is a tragedy. This is especially true They were doing it for financial friends, and living my life. I don’t worth a lot, they are also in the public. This is one reason when we see millionaires making reasons, not to punk me. think of it as a denomination of high demand. People are why it is a corrupted market. easy money while overvaluing My family, like many, a fluctuating market. Perhaps willing to pay more to live in If there is no transparency, the market, and creating an took their financial wellbeing I should, but I don’t, because I Vancouver. So savvy—and there cannot be any trust. unstable place for all of us to live. seriously, and there are few never want to derail my life just to rather despicable—people are The province of BC is now issue 20 // volume 42 opinions // no. 19 Why the money in your pocket is as outdated as religion The fallacy of the monetary system Ayanda Gatsha Columnist
o, it is not because new Nprinted money is more counterfeit proof or capable of stimulating a deflated market. The reason paper, polymer, or whatever they make money out of nowadays is comparable to religion is because, like religion, it has been a tool for bartering for a long time. This is not a shot at religion or a mockery of the rich person’s accumulated wealth; it is strictly an observation. You may decide whether a better way of distributing our resources can be formulated, or remain content with systems that disadvantage the unprivileged. When we say outdated, we usually mean something is clearly past its prime. Philosopher Image via thinkstock William James and his colleagues contested several ideas relating as they were careful not to get to a more useful function. What Society needs to critique when it is not all it can be? to “truth” and its usefulness. close to the edge and fall off. As could our community be, if only its own traditions, a statement The first thing a person on The more an idea was useful, the technology and vision expanded, we reconsidered the customs and constantly repeated by several a stranded island asks a genie more truth was evident about the “truth” of our flat world traditions we have inherited at scholars and philosophers, for is food, water, friends, and it. The notion of a flat Earth is became outdated. This doesn’t birth and critiqued them? Would yet there is a perpetual taboo animals, not $100,000. Wealth my favourite example, as that mean it is complete garbage. we find a new way to ensure against this. Maybe it’s because is not equal to the contents assumption—based on a narrow If you are a scientist, you take everyone isn’t caught in the we want to be polite. Some of your wallet and any system perspective—served civilization what was once assumed, revise trap of poverty, so people aren’t of us were raised that way, that convinces a person of that to map out the landscape so long it, test it, and make a new and forced to ask for change every but does being a part of a should be critically revised. improved truth, which serves day outside of a Tim Hortons? society mean challenging it Video games are a terrible alternative to exercise Norwegian high school now offers eSports class in place of gym class
Tatum Miller May in a video game competition. The Peak (Simon Fraser University) Many universities and colleges across North America now offer eginning next August, scholarships for eSports. Students BNorway’s Garnes High should absolutely learn about School will be offering students these opportunities while in gaming classes in place of gym high school. Who doesn’t want class, including only 90 minutes to get paid to play video games? of exercise optimized for their Garnes High School says favourite game. This is not the that these classes will train first time a school has made “[young] eSports pros bodies this decision, as other schools as well as their minds.” They in Norway and in Sweden also will learn teamwork, sharpen offer eSports classes. However, reflexes, as well as build focus and this decision shows an unsettling endurance for long tournaments. shift away from the obvious Truly, a training session purpose of gym class: exercise. for video games would likely One thing cannot be aid in all those categories. denied—eSports are a large, However, the issue here is that growing industry expected you cannot substitute video to be worth about $2 billion games for physical exercise. dollars by 2018. If schools mean The benefits of gym class to prepare our young people simply cannot be taken away for the future, then it makes from students. Just 30 to 45 Image via JGI/Jamie Grill, Blend Images, Getty Images sense that we teach them about minutes of moderate exercise per of time playing Call of Duty, Age maintaining a healthy body, and, when it has the potential to new, emerging industries. day has been shown to enhance of Empires, and numerous Fallout sadly, sitting does not contribute earn them scholarships. However, eSports are simply not memory, concentration, mood, games. I enjoy them as much to health maintenance. The fact of the matter is an appropriate substitute for cardiovascular endurance, and as the next person. However, Perhaps, it would be better that the benefits gained from traditional physical activity. self-confidence. These are things it doesn’t seem right to allow to offer eSports training as an the two different types of classes Some eSports players take that teenagers probably will not students to opt out of gym class extracurricular opportunity, so as are not identical, or even similar. home six figures in earnings, get out of an eSports class. in order to play video games. not to diminish the importance A healthy body as well as a or competition earnings and I’m not intending to bash The entire purpose of of physical exercise. Students healthy mind is vital to ensure sponsorship. UBC’s eSports team video games. Personally, I have physical education is to teach deserve the chance to pursue that students live a good life won a $180,000 scholarship last logged an embarrassing amount students the benefits of their interests, especially during and after high school. opinions // no. 20 theotherpress.ca How to live with Big Brother Understanding why privacy matters Elliot Chan in a group, or with Sauron’s eye watching you. It happens Opinions Editor independently, not on Facebook hile it isn’t necessarily and not while Googling. I’m Wthe government that is not talking about education or tracking all your activity, the improving your business skills combination of all the data or finding online romance, I’m accumulated in day-to-day life talking about the growth that is enough for them to know occurs when you are allowed you better than your parents room to breathe. This is the do. We can almost be certain type of growth that has no that, although there is nobody deadlines and no guidance. This watching us on a screen, our in essence is the life you’ll live. every action is recorded, filed We have become so obsessed away, and capable of being with sharing our experiences on pulled out and evaluated by social media, telling everything those with the credentials to we do to Big Brother, that we do so. Most often those people are forgetting the real point of aren’t people at all, they are just our pursuits: to create memories marketing algorithms designed that aren’t saved on any hard to match your queries and daily drive, except the one between behaviours with advertisements. our ears. We are scared of people Now, Google isn’t out to listening in on us, but we have embarrass you by exposing stopped listening to ourselves. your search queries. TransLink The season is changing. It’ll will not send a message to your be a warm summer, I predict. girlfriend if you decide to make This is an opportunity to get a mysterious trip out to Surrey. away from the information Bell is not going to let your boss highway and do something know that you’ve been trash nobody on the Internet will talking him with your friends. Ilustration by Ed Appleby know. Big companies are These things don’t benefit the constantly collecting data, lose or gain money? If your There is no way around it; away. See, privacy matters. and so should you. The good company, so don’t be paranoid. behaviour continues to benefit we need to trust companies to Without privacy, you’ll lose It’s hard to trust the thing is, you get to decide the business you get the service use our information ethically. control of your own life. The what information you want to motives of big corporations, from, you can keep going merrily However, we need to also be companies will own it. but I always bring it back to store: what’s spat out to you by—as long as you are not conscious of what information Any sort of meaningful self- by those online or what you one question: Does such and committing any heinous crimes. we are haphazardly giving development does not happen such action cause them to discover yourself. It’s up to you. Speaking for groups you don’t represent contributes to oppression The value of shutting up and listening Cazzy Lewchuk discussing their own experiences. Staff Writer Members of marginalized groups are able to speak up t’s a point of contention that for themselves just as much as Iwe live in a world where many outsiders are. In fact, they are people experience oppression: much more able to properly those living in poverty, people speak up for themselves. of colour, LGBT+ people, Speaking up for someone, instead disabled people, women. Anyone of with someone, is a habit that who isn’t a straight cisgender occurs much too frequently. white male (like myself) is to Minorities are intelligent, some degree discriminated rational, and capable of making against in our society today. their own decisions and knowing The importance of speaking up what is best for them. for specific issues, along with Representing a group you standing up for the rights of are not a member of takes away the marginalized, cannot be power from these groups and emphasized enough. As a person gives it back to the factors that with a large degree of privilege oppress these groups in the first and, by extension, power, I have place. Although many of us with a duty to speak up for equality. said power have nothing but the However, it is as important best intentions in speaking up, it to let members of these groups is very easy to dominate an idea Image via thinkstock speak up for themselves. Because and discourage viewpoints from I am not part of the group, I in agreement when defending women themselves. They are community needs, it silences the first-hand perspectives. Being should not act as if my opinion is equal rights, but not at the risk contributing to a society in which voice of said community. When a in solitude is great, and helping more valid than theirs, because I of undermining the ones who are men make all the decisions, person who has not experienced to fix the power imbalance is don’t have the same experiences specifically seeking the equality. including having control over mental illness declares great. But often, the best thing as they do. ’ Certainly, members When men say what is best what a woman does. When statements and opinions about we can do to give power back of privileged groups should be for women, they are actively a straight person declares mental health, it discourages is to shut up and listen. undermining advocacy led by what a member of the LGBT+ those who actually do suffer from Have an idea for a story? [email protected] OO Four out of five dentists agree fifth dentist is insane OO BREAKING: Nice guy gets girl OO Greatest winners of this year’s Super Bowl Humour And more! Douglas student on fourth day of holding third floor door open A peek into the life of one of Douglas College’s human doorstops
Rebecca Peterson learn, right? So I could go off and have a career? Sure, there’s Staff Writer not gonna be a piece of paper his week, the Other Press showing that I got a degree in Tspoke with Stanley Plat, 19, ‘door-holding,’ or whatever, but it’s a Douglas student who has been practical, hands-on experience. confirmed to have been holding I was gonna be a PR rep for some open the door between the tech company, but now? I’m main commerce and the third thinking doorman.” floor hallway for the past four In fact, given the frequency days. A Communications major, of students being left in such Plat was surprisingly cavalier positions, there have been when discussing his current whispers among faculty members predicament. of opening a trade school of sorts “The first hour was the offering an associate’s degree in hardest,” Plat said, leaning back doorstop management. According against the door to allow room for to one professor who preferred his late students to go bolting through identity to remain anonymous: the doorway. “I mean, when you “We’re not entirely ruling it out.” hold open a door for people, you So there may be an academic expect there to be a lull in the future for the human doorstops crowds at some point. I should of Douglas College after all. Either have known.” way, Plat seems content to stay
It all started when Plat was Original graphic illustration where he is. “You really see the broad intercepted on his way to class are notorious hazards for people grateful. I’ve even had people decent.” spectrum of human kindness, by a door swinging shut in his with ingrained politeness. It is start handing off money, like tips? Despite the optimism, the here,” Plat said. “People bring me face. Without thinking of the not unusual to see people such as So I’ve made more in the past threat of being dropped from food, water, copies of the Other consequences, Plat pulled the Plat acting as a human doorstop, few days than I’ve made in the classes due to absenteeism looms Press. Personally I’m more of a door open only to realize there was allowing classmates to escape past month working weekends large, given Plat’s inability to Metro guy, but, you know, beggars a large group of students behind through the doorways while they at Safeway. I’m actually starting attend his courses because of can’t be choosers and all that.” him, needing to go through. are left to languish. to think about opening a savings his new position. Plat remains Finally, we asked Plat how he “I’ve been here ever since,” “It wasn’t so bad,” said Plat. account, maybe invest a little. unconcerned. was able to relieve himself while Plat said with a shrug. “I mean, like I said, maybe at You can do that on your phone “I mean, think of it this way,” stuck at his station. He declined to Often called “Canadian first. But everyone’s been pretty these days, and the Wi-Fi here is said Plat. “I came to Douglas to Traps,” the doors off the commerce comment further. Vancouver’s real estate market pricier than ever How much would you pay to live in the city?
Jake Wray “I didn’t think I could I kept looking out at that Contributor afford to live in the city, but damn shed. I figured I barely buying a shed was a nice way to use it, why not sell it for a he red hot real estate market compromise basic necessities handsome profit to some poor Treached new extremes like heat and running water schmuck,” said McIntyre. last month when a decrepit for the sake of affordability.” He added that he backyard shed in Vancouver’s He also said the community- was very pleased when Dunbar neighbourhood oriented neighbourhood Mendelson delivered payment sold for $2.4 million. was a huge selling point. for the shed in cash. Jonas Mendelson, a 32-year- “I need to feel like I really “I was running out of money old software developer, paid belong where I’m living, so the to wipe my ass with, and I didn’t $200,000 above asking price for warm reception here has been want to have to make a trip down the run-down storage unit. It has amazing. The students who to the ATM,” said McIntyre. no heat, insulation, plumbing, live in the shed across the alley Not everyone is pleased or electricity. He said the price left their Wi-Fi unsecured for with the transaction, however. was steep, but totally worth it. me, and the raccoon family Mendelson and McIntyre’s in the bushes next door have neighbour, Helena Fletcher, “I know I’m just a millionaire, Photo by Erica Cooper via flickr but I really wanted to live in only bitten me maybe two, said some incoherent, racist Fletcher. “This used to be a good “They’re just puppets, I tell Vancouver. I just love it here— three times,” said Mendelson. shit that didn’t really contribute neighbourhood, I tell ya.” ya! Those Chinese are behind it’s so close to the mountains The owner of the property to the discourse about real When reminded that everything these days, pulling for outdoor activities, and on which Mendelson’s shed estate in any meaningful way. both Mendelson and McIntyre the strings. They’re trying to the ocean, and the dating sits, Steve McIntyre, said “It’s those goddamn Chinese. are both white Canadian take over this country from the scene here is so lively and the shed had become too They’re coming in here with men of European descent, inside out,” she maintained. genuine,” said Mendelson. valuable to hang onto. their foreign money and driving “As prices kept soaring, this city to the ground!” said Fletcher was unfazed. humour // no. 22 theotherpress.ca Illustration by Ed Appleby Four out of five dentists agree fifth dentist is insane Court action taken to revoke fifth dentist’s licence Chandler Walter dentist from both the toothpaste of the courthouse by security dentists over two weeks, and the cavity creeps take us all.” Humour Editor recommendation committee and when he made a move to now he has finally been given The Gang of Four spoke the practice of dentistry entirely. physically attack the fifth the time to fully speak his case. privately before the official ver the past two weeks, a “How mad must a man be…,” dentist, screaming: “YOU’RE “I know why you stand judgement was cast, and returned Oriveting court case has been said the fourth dentist, in the DESTROYING THE ENAMEL against me, brethren,” the fifth to call off the entire case. The in the spotlight of America’s eyes first of many court appearances, OF AMERICA!” This incident dentist stated to the court, first dentist spoke to media and ears. The renowned “Fifth “To not recommend the use of occurred shortly after a heated though he seemed to speak only vaguely about “the balancing Dentist Debacle” has pushed Crest Oral-B Fluoride healthy debate regarding the number to the other four dentists in the of the brushes” and how the all other news coverage aside as teeth solutions! It is obviously of times an average person room. “You fear for your craft, as prophecy must not come to it enters its final day at court. a healthy part of a healthy should brush. All four dentists do we all in this doomed time. fruition. The four dentists left Four prominent dentists mouth.” To that the other three agreed that a brush after Look not to me for answers, I am without saying another word in the industry, also known as dentists nodded in agreement, every meal was mandatory, only the balancer of the scales. to the fifth dentist. He had the “Gang of Four,” have come while the fifth dentist looked on, while the fifth dentist insisted You need me as much as I need disappeared before the media forward to end the career and silently, from the witness stand. once a week would suffice. you, for no brand of toothpaste had an opportunity to interview incite the expulsion of the fifth One week ago the second He has been attacked time must ever reach a five out of five him, though no one states that dentist had to be escorted out and again by all four other dentists recommendation, lest they saw him leave the room.
by Eric Wilkins, Editor-in-Chief issue 20 // volume 42 humour // no. 23
Greatest winners of this year’s Super Bowl Image via galleryhip.com Many cashing in on abnormal bets Chandler Walter taken advantage of this year’s goal Ovechkin would achieve in Humour Editor expansive prop betting options game that same night. Ovechkin and put a small fortune down placed his entire fortune on he grand and gluttonous on the over under on “how the under, and played his most Tritual that is the American many times the TV would show selfish game of hockey that
Image via thinkstock Super Bowl came and went someone in the stands eating a night, tripling his overall net this last weekend. While many hotdog.” Lemmings braved the worth. Word has it Ovechkin yards were run, great throws glaringly skewed odds and, with then retired from hockey were tossed, and chicken wings each viewing of an American and fled to northern Russia BREAKING: Nice were eaten, there were only a chowing down on meat and to avoid any illegal gambling select few true victors that came buns (five times in total), he charges laid against him. out of that glorious Sunday. grew richer by roughly $10,000. Kevin Richards—Portland, guy gets girl Sports betting has always been Jessica Tupple—Cheyenne, Oregon: Richards is a part-time a large and important part of Wyoming: This lucky lady barista, part-time actor, and one Local man breaks free of friend-zone the festivities, and this year was secured a hefty sum by placing who had no plans of watching no different. Though, if caring an all or nothing bet on the football last Sunday. He had, that he was right.” What Chandler Walter about what actually happens exact number of chicken wings however, planned on watching Luth said she likes best Humour Editor in the game is not exactly your that would be sold by Buffalo the halftime show, as he is a huge about her new boyfriend is cup of beer, the powers that Wild Wings during Super Bowl Beyoncé fan. Under pressure from all his little quirks: “It was n an exciting turn of events be have seen fit to incorporate Sunday. She hit the chicken his father, he placed a small bet always so cute how he would this past weekend, local pretty much anything about the right on the pecker by rightly on the choreography of Beyoncé’s I creepily half hit on me yet Vancouverite Jim Brant broke game into an opportunity to guessing 13,873,213, and went background dancers, just so he never have the courage to free from the tantalizing take your money. Here are the home with the same amount could tell his father that he had actually say how he really felt. prison of the friend-zone lucky few that kept their hard- in cold hard American cash. “totally bet on the game, pops.” All the little—but obvious— he was in, and convinced earned dollars, and then some. Alexander Ovechkin— Lucky for Richards, he happened hints that he was the best long-time friend Natalie Clive Lemmings—Los Washington Capitals: Alexander to predict the exact movements guy for me, and way better Luth to begin dating him. Angeles, California: Lemmings Ovechkin, the sharp-shooting of every dancer’s feet, down to the than all my ex-boyfriends. What was once cashed in big time this past NHL star, heard wind that there two and a half missteps. Richards Even when I was obviously considered impossible by Sunday as he gathered around was a prop bet this year pitting walked away with $50,000 and a dealing with problems of my many self-proclaimed nice his flat screen TV with a few the number of touchdowns newfound respect for the truly own, it was almost genius guys has become a reality for select friends. He had ironically scored at this year’s Super Bowl American game of football. Brant, and he says that all it how he managed to make it against the number of shots on took was a little patience. “All somehow about him, and how I had to do was wait it out,” I should let him bang me.” he said in an interview. “Every Luth said that a large by David Manky, Senior Columnist time some asshole guy would part of how the happy couple be mean to her, or cheat ended up together was due to on her, or anything really, I convenience. “I mean, we’re would be there. It was easy already comfortable around enough to pretend to care. each other, plus his house is And hey, it worked out. Look really close to mine.” Another at me now!” Brant explained factor that led to the merry that his strategy of being the union, according to Luth, shoulder to cry on was all a was that the alternatives were part of his plan to eventually beginning to look worse and begin dating Luth. “I mean, worse. “It’s easy enough to after all this time, I deserve it. find a guy online that I’m I sat through so many chick like, actually attracted to, flicks, and listened to so many but after a few bad hookups breakup stories, that now, I’m I think it’s just easier to reaping my reward. I’m being play it safe. I know for a fact given what is owed to me, that Jim doesn’t have any because I am such a nice guy.” STDs. I’m sure I’ll come to Luth explained how it find him somewhat sexually came to her that Brant could attractive eventually. Until be seen as a possible love then, lights off I guess.” interest. “I guess it was just “After all this time, it was his relentless whining that worth pretending I was okay slowly won me over—all those with being just friends,” Brant passive aggressive little jabs explained. “It’s really nice to about him being in the friend- finally have a nice guy win zone. Eventually I realized for once. About time too.”