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GRAPEVINES ARE BACK! THE Please recycle this Thursday, February 2, 2012 newspaper when you are Volume 49, Issue 18 finished with it. NUGGETYOUR STUDENT NEWSPAPER EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA GET READY TO VOTE Elections for student executives, story page 3 INSIDE: CONwisDOM: Page 22 Crossword: Page 21 Entertainment: Pages 14-26 Editorial: Page 5 Grapevines: Page 20 Photo by Laura Dettling NEST GOES COUNTRY Horoscopes: Page 18 Canadian country music star Aaron Pritchett rocks the Nest to a Hot Single: Page 24 sold out crowd last Friday. It was this semester’s first Live Music News & Features: Pages 2-4 Night at the Nest. See story, page 17. Sports: Pages 6-11 2 The Nugget Thursday, February 2, 2012 NEWS&FEATURES Piracy – a way of life? can only hope the result is the same this time around. The wording is intentionally vague, allowing for a wide spectrum of sites to fall under the watchful gaze of the government. A lot of people are worried about the implica- tions of a Canadian bill that would be simi- lar to SOPA. After all, this is Canada. We like to believe that we live in the freest country in BALJOT BHATTI the world (or at least Top 5) but things like Issues Editor C-11, and our now somewhat deceased Anti- The Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, Terrorism Act that show that we can some- as it is not so affectionately known, is now times rival even the Americans in their thun- somewhat dead in the water. While U.S. dering Old Testament-style draconian laws. legislators scramble to find a more effect- There’s a good chance that C-11, because ive and palatable way to control what Amer- of the recent drama with Google, Facebook, ccer.ca icans see on the Internet, another sinister and Wikipedia, et al in the blackouts on Jan. 18, murky bill may soon become law – and I will become a hot button issue in the House minor and I know that the currently vague However, with Bill C-11, were it to pass, think you’ll find it a lot more close to home. of Commons. The number of U.S. lawmakers Canadian legislation on copyright is some- I might have to start (gasp!) buying every- Bill C-11, as it is known, will be intro- on the side of SOPA swung dramatically after what on my side. thing. I know, I know, it’s a drastic measure duced in the House of Commons in the near Jan. 18 and I think a lot of them finally woke I can justify it by saying that Holly- but seriously, it’s what we might have to do. future. As it stands right now, many parts of up to the issue and realized what they were wood makes enough money – which is true. And I have no problem with that. the new bill are very similar to SOPA in their voting for. So maybe some protests actually Hollywood only saw one major downturn I do have a problem with any sort of wide wording, particularly how complainants in do work! in the last 20 years and that was because of sweeping legislation that might try to block Canada like the Canadian Independent Music At times, I have to wonder if the people 9/11. They can continue to claim that pir- our funny cat videos. Though that really is an Association or the Entertainment Software who are protesting SOPA or PIPA or Bill acy is putting a huge dent in their revenue unlikely scenario, they don’t call it a slippery Association of Canada can not only go after C-11 or whatever, actually care about the while they continue to rake in record prof- slope for nothing, folks. sites that they think contain copyright infrin- Internet censorship or if they care more about its and charge $16 for a 3D movie ($25 in The best advice I can give right now is ging material, but also sites they think are their ill-gotten pirated material. IMAX). In fact, over the last four years, writing some letters to your local members enabling pirating and copyright infringement. As a person who pirates something close revenues for the worldwide movie indus- of Parliament. Find out how they would vote Bill C-11 has been seen by the Canadian to every day (should I admit that in acol- try increased 25 per cent (that’s an increase on this bill and why they believe in their pos- Parliament before, just in different disguises. umn?), I understand that what I’m doing is of over $6 billion), with the total industry ition on Bill C-11. The biggest thing that Bill C-60, C-61, C-32 – each time these bills wrong. Despite it being wrong, I continue to growing 50 per cent in the last decade (the brought SOPA down was the rabid Internet were struck down, with enough public out- do it because I know that in the grand scheme peak of piracy). campaign that fought it tooth and nail, every cry to change the government’s mind. One of wrongs I can do, it’s comparatively pretty I still know that it’s wrong. step of the way. Still time to object to raises By MIKE MARSHALL some Albertans demanding public hearings on the thinking they are being heard. The CTF has asked that citizens who are still It seems that, in my humble opinion, when- issue. These hearings were scheduled, but effect- “This is really more about looking like you are wishing for their voices to be heard in the matter to ever everyday citizens from around our commun- ively cancelled due to poor registration to attend the consulting than actually doing the work necessary,” submit e-mails and claims addressing their view- ity are elected into positions of power they seem to meetings. said Glenn Taylor, Alberta Party leader. “They point to the commission, adding that Feb. 24 is the do battle. Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) spokes- should have used the full gamut of their communi- deadline for any submissions. Not with voter’s rights and the problems facing man Scott Henning says the reason for low number cations ability. They have one of the most prolific I suggest that if you find the above story silly their respective constituents, but with the almighty of registered attendees lay in the advertising of the communications departments in Canada.” or a non-issue, then ignore it. Put a smile on your dollar and their next pay period. Last week was no hearings in the media. The whole issue started back in 2008, when face and continue your day as if nothing happened. exception to this rule. “When you don’t tell anyone you’re putting on then-Premier Ed Stelmach was given a 34 per cent But if you’re tired of the leaders of this city, prov- Allison Redford may be the new premier of these sessions, no one is going to show up,” said wage increase and allowed ministers to take home ince and/or country using their positions of power Alberta, but she still has some of Ed Stelmach’s Henning. “No one is going to sign up and that is bonuses after earning about $184,000 in wages. as just a source of income, by all means make your issues on her hands. exactly what has happened.” Premier Allison Redford had wages frozen voice heard. The 2008 pay hikes that the Tory government The Alberta Party has other ideas, saying that when she entered office and initiated the public Being the future economy of this nation, I’m received came back to the forefront last week, with the Conservative motive is to lead the public into hearing process on the matter. sure they would love to hear from us. Thursday, February 2, 2012 NEWS & features The Nugget 3 The Nugget BIG TURNOUT Room E-128B A Chinese New Year 11762–106 Street Edmonton, Alberta celebration was held T5G 2R1 last Sunday at the Chin Production Office 471-8866 Yin Buddhist Society, www.thenuggetonline.com 12688 148 Ave. with a lion dance ceremony. Editor-in-Chief This welcomes in the Claire Theobald new year with prosper- [email protected] ity and good luck. Story, Issues Editor page 4. Baljot Bhatti [email protected] Assistant Issues Editor Bart Padjasek [email protected] Photo by Jonathan Liaw Sports Editor Patrick Knowles [email protected] Assistant Sports Editor Evan Degenhardt NAITSA election looms [email protected] By CHELSEA BIRD time management skills. reputation keeps going. Entertainment Editor You may have seen posters up around the It is up to students to make sure that the right The candidates will be campaigning from Feb. Christine Vu school advertising the elections for the execu- people get elected. Voting is made easy for students 1 to Feb. 16, so you can see how passionate and [email protected] tive council of the NAIT Students’ Association and can be done online for seven days or at poll dedicated they are, espcially on Feb. 3 (Friday) at (NAITSA) and details about nominations. How- stations situated on campus on Feb. 16. noon in the Shaw Theatre when they will be mak- Assist. Entertainment Editor ever, at a school as transient as NAIT, with some Even if your program is only a few months ing their speeches. Anika Nottveit programs only a few months long, it’s likely that long, consider that NAIT has a fantastic reputation You can cast your vote online from Feb. 10 to [email protected] many students think that this information has little as a school and choosing the right people to rep- Feb.