Medium Magazine 2010

COVER PAGE

FIND OUT HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT DINNER PARTY AND IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS

CONFESSIONS OF A STANLEY CUP CHAMP HOW ADVERTISERS LURE US

MEDIUM ONLINE AD The art of bargaining at Karachi's night markets.

An exploration of sexuality — a girl eyeing another girl.

A game of Tetris — played with frozen cats and dogs.

Read these stories and more in the latest issue of Mindwaves, the Professional Writing and Communication Journal. Mindwaves contains nonfiction works by ten talented UTM student writers.

Volume Four, Issue Six of Mindwaves launches in March at the MiST Theatre, with readings by the authors.

For more details about the launch and Mindwaves, check out www.mindwavesjournal.ca

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 1

WELCOME

welcome to the first-ever medium magazine

editor’s note

As far as I know, The Medium never had one before, although other university papers do. Nor has there been a demand for it—try as I may, I can’t hear students clamouring for a Medium Magazine outside of this office.

So why did we do it? Why now?

For all the work I put in it, along with Matthew Filipowich, The Medium’s Photo and Layout editor, and Michael Di Leo, The Medium’s Arts and Entertainment editor, I found it surprisingly hard to come up with an answer. And work we did.

We juggled our regular jobs and school and romantic lives (not with each other, I should say) along with The Medium itself, that paper we still crank out every single weekend. We despaired at times, and we fought and we feared the whole project would crumble, exposing us to boos for the rest of the school year. And yes, we even thought we’d have to put in our own money to make it happen.

But it still took me a while to figure out why we put ourselves through all that. Maybe, I thought, we did it to promote ourselves, to expand our portfolio and to be able to stroll into a future employer’s office, brandishing a copy of this magazine and saying, “I founded a magazine. Yeah.”

Or maybe we did it just so we could amuse ourselves.

Which we did. I know that one day, maybe twenty years from now, we’ll all meet for drinks and cry tears of laugher as we remember the time when I slipped into the bathtub for a photoshoot that thankfully didn’t make it to the magazine, or the time Matt kicked an office chair in despair, hurting his toe so badly his mom had to take him to the hospital, or when Michael ended up cutting his finger instead of an onion for our dinner party article.

Maybe we did it to promote UTM. Sometimes it feels like it needs a little help. I know some people who look down their nose at UTM, people who prefer the clout and history of St. George. I resent that a little bit, especially after we failed to secure an interview with Michael Ignatieff when he came to UTM, only to watch him talk to The Varsity a few days later. So maybe we put together this magazine to show what UTM students can do, to improve our own clout and

to add to our own history.

In the end, all these answers are true. We did it to promote ourselves and to promote UTM and to amuse ourselves. But there’s one more reason why we did it, the most important one, the one I knew about all along without really knowing it.

We did it because we could.

I know what it sounds like. It sounds daring, but not in a good way, and it sounds pretentious and it sounds provocative. It’s none of these. The belief that we can all do much more than we think we can, that so many opportunities lie before our eyes, happens to be a core belief of ours. I spent four years at UTM before I realized it’s not up to anyone to promote me or sell me or make me a top student. It’s up to me.

It’s up to me to grab the opportunities, of which I’ve missed too many. It’s up to me to do what I can.

So, in the end, this magazine is a self-allotted assignment.

It’s for all the profs who gave us a bad mark, and also for the ones who have us a good one. It’s for all the students who wished they could do more, for those who complain that UTM doesn’t teach them enough or that it doesn’t give them an opportunity to showcase their talents. Let this magazine be proof that you can use UTM to showcase you, rather than the other way around.

Isn’t that how it is in life?

ALAIN LATOUR Editor-in-Chief

cover photo / welcome photo / matthew filipowich

This magazine probably comes as a surprise to most of you.

2010

coNtENts

EDItor-IN-chIEf Alain latour MANAGING EDItor Michael Di leo crEAtIvE DIrEctor Matthew filipowich

DINNEr for foUr Ever needed to prepare a formal dinner and had no idea where to begin? michael Di leo breaks it down for you.

20

photoGrAphy EDItor Matthew filipowich

rIch AUcoIN spEAks Be careful, rich aucoin is here, and he might just steal Christmas. Either that, or he’ll blow you away with his killer tunes.

AlbUMs for whEN..

You just saw your crusty old professor at a bar.

Quick—what do you do? put on some music, of course. melissa horn tells you what to listen to when.

18

AssIstANt photo EDItor Edward cai DEsIGN Matthew filipowich copy EDItor su lyn liew coNtrIbUtors Andrew tysiak Mr. Amir Ahmed su lyn liew Nives hajdin stefanie Marotta william robertson katherine luczynski Ali kasim Melissa horn kjartan hewitt

12

ADvErtIsING MANAGEr Michael Di leo

covEr story

00 AND yoU’rE All sEt let Medium Magazine plan your next movie night.

07 bEst of thE NAtIoN 17 so yoU wANNA bUy A cAMErA? andrew tysiak lists the best Canadian The Medium’s photo Editor draws out athletes of the decade. what you should buy.

01 how MANy Uofts? one...two...tell us when to stop.

08 thE cool fActor the science behind advertising.

02 thINGs yoU NEED to hAvE (in)expensive things that will make your life better.

10 thErE’s AN App for thAt if you have an iphone, this is the guide for you.

04 froM North to soUth an insider’s guide to Utm.

11 how to bE AN INtErNAtIoNAl stUDENt Straight from malaysia, Su lyn liew 06 coNfEssIoNs of A stANlEy cUp shines some light on surviving as an chAMp international student. the holy grail of hockey.

26 tElEDUcAtIoN watching tv instead of studying? maybe that’s not so bad.

28 books yoU’vE NEvEr rEAD bUt probAbly shoUlD. mr. amir ahmed throws down 5 books you need to read.

bUsINEss MANAGEr romano bergic spEcIAl thANks Arthur Di leo Neill Dixon johnson Ngo heather friesen james sutherland rosà Martir Nicole Green that guy at the pizza store copyrIGht All content printed in medium magazine is the sole property of its creators, and cannot be used or reproduced without expressed written consent.

DIsclAIMEr opinions expressed in the pages of medium magazine are exclusively of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Medium II publications.

MEDIUM II pUblIcAtIoNs 3359 Mississauga road, room 200, student centre, Mississauga on, l5l 1c6 www.MEDIUMoNlINE.cA/MAGAZINE

AND You’re all set

let medium magazine plan your next movie night—trust us kjartan hewitt

You’ve somehow established the flimsy pretense of “watching a movie.” Don’t blow it by throwing on Schindler’s List. Now, it’s important to differentiate between a “make-out movie” and a “date movie.” “Date movies” are meant to be engaging, at least for one party. If you put on Garden State you might end up watching and enjoying the movie in its entirety. None of that is making out. What you want is something innocuous and ignorable. A film that you’ve both seen already works best—and you’re all set.

Stoner Movies Avatar. Gross sales were at $551,741,499 after 38 days. Half of that is from the sales of jumbo Twix bars at concessions.

Movies to drink to

Movies you can turn into a drinking game work well. Take a shot every time Mitch Kramer (played by Wiley Wiggins, the most unfortunate name in Hollywood) touches his face in Dazed and Confused. That will get you right messed up. Alternately, there are a bunch of movies that just make you want to drink. Beer Fest, Animal House and

Strange Brew all work, for obvious reasons. I guess Mad Men isn’t a movie, but it does make me want to drink Scotch and congratulate women with ginger bum-taps.

Hangover Movies Binge drinking affects memory, cognitive functions, mood and memory. Consequently, you’re better off taking it easy on yourself, so maybe leave Synecdoche, New York for another day. Comedy is the route to take. The Hangover is a given. I like to re-watch my favorite Judd Apatow. Alternately, classics like Billy Madison or Wayne’s World are the perfect fit for slipping in and out of hangover naps. Your best bet is to just turn on TBS—Ferris Bueler’s Day Off is bound to come on eventually.

Date Movies

Here’s your opportunity to really show your true depth, by presenting a piece of art that you have nothing to do with, and taking some ownership for the sake of getting someone else to like you. Don’t go overboard with the documentaries or art-house nonsense. You want to portray yourself as intelligent, but you don’t want to bore/ scare away your date. Having said that, Who Killed the Electric Car and Antichrist can wait

until the sixth or seventh date. Sometimes obscure films are obscure for a reason. Just try something with a tangible plot, without a huge mainstream following. Charlie Kaufman’s Adaptation or Rian Johnson’s Brick have that kind of appeal. Going foreign or classic are other great ways to pretend that you’re smart. If you can find a copy, Francis Veber’s Le Dîner de Cons is excellent, or even Casablanca in a pinch. If you really want to feign sentiment, just put on Amelie.

So Bad it’s Funny Movies

M. Night Shamalan’s The Happening was so incredibly bad that I think it needs to be celebrated. In the same way that Tommy Wiseau’s The Room is still shown in theatres across North America since its release in 2003, just so people can make fun of it. I almost feel the same way about Lady in the Water. The only difference is that I think the actors in Lady in the Water might have been attempting to make a real movie.

Zooey Deschanel and Mark Wahlberg in The Happening don’t even look like they’re trying. If neither of these tickle your fancy, watch Show Girls. If not comically poorly acted, you at least get to see the girl from Saved by the Bell topless. Like, a lot.

photo / matthew filipowich

Make-out Movies

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 01

HOW MANY UofTs? ali Kasim

Like the 900 or so University of Toronto Mississauga Frosh students at the Hart House field during Frosh Week, I was silenced by the chant of “St. George rejects” that the downtown students hurled at us. How many of us, I wondered, are truly St. George rejects, dumped at the suburban Mississauga campus because we didn’t have a high enough GPA? More significantly, aren’t we all students of the University of Toronto with equal standing?

This has been a topic of debate since the inception of the two suburban branches of the University of Toronto. The degree attained at graduation is the same throughout all campuses, but the stigma exists that St. George is the actual “U of T.” “Nobody says U of T St. George, people just say U of T. For the other two campuses, people usually say UTM or UTSC,” says third-year St. George student and frosh leader Katie Ross. Commenting on the traditional “rejects” chant, Ross adds, “I guess there’s this stigma attached that if you apply to U of T [St. George], and you don’t get in, you go to one of the other two suburban branches.”

Is this really the case?

“Not anymore,” says UTM academic advisor Doug Leeies. “Certainly there was a time when [UTM] was a dumping ground.

[However,] this year we reached full parity.

We had 21,000 applicants and reached our maximum intake of 3,000 students.”

But is that statistic down to the fact that UTM has a lower intake requirement?

“We used to have a lower cutoff. But it’s not much of a gap anymore. You tell me the difference between a 77 and a 78,” says Leeies.

The Mississauga and Scarborough branches are supposedly mere extensions of the same eminent institution—the main ini-

tiative of the tri-campus model established in 1965. As far as academia is concerned, do we need to compare ourselves with, well, ourselves?

Perhaps not, especially since the programs and courses offered differ from one campus to another. At St. George, the Faculty of Arts and Science encompasses all humanities, science, social science, and business courses. At UTM, each of the four is separated and stand as a faculty on its own. Across the three campuses, there are specific streams and specialists for programs like psychology.

But along with the varying academic disciplines, there’s also the dichotomy between the student experience.

“I actually came [to Canada] hoping to go to St. George, because that’s the U of T that I knew of from back home in Saudi. But they didn’t have the CCIT program which I wanted to get into,” says UTM third-year international student Afsoun Basheer.

Basheer’s elder brother is a 2001 graduate from the St. George campus. According to her, their experiences were vastly different.

“I couldn’t identify with so much of what he [described]. His student life at Trinity College sounded nothing like my time at UTM. It’s like we went to different universities altogether,” she says.

When asked which “campus life” she preferred, “St. George” was the resounding reply.

Not all UTM students, however, share that opinion. Many prefer the park-like atmosphere of UTM to the hustle and bustle of downtown. As well, the close-knit UTM community is what makes many feel at home.

“At the end of the day, we get the same thing written on our degree,” says fourthyear Professional Writing and Communica-

tions (PWC) major Rafay Agha. “I like not being just a number. As I go on in my years [at UTM], class sizes become smaller, and I get to know my professors, and they get to know me.”

Preferences aside, UTM does hold its own in terms of student life and academia. And if you wonder whether students from the suburban branches get the same standard of education, just look at the long list of important people that have either graduated or lectured at UTM. There’s Robert Reisz, who recently uncovered and described the oldest fossilized dinosaur embryos in known existence, and Ashley Monks, who developed a new breed of mice that will aid researchers investigating the causes of Kennedy Disease. David Blackwood, Roberta Bondar, John Percy— the list goes on.

While it’s inevitable that students draw comparisons on what each campus has to offer, Leeies is adamant that “here or there does not make a difference.”

“To draw such comparisons would be to draw short the totality that U of T has to offer. I’ve been [at UTM] for thirty-nine of the forty years and sure, there have been many ups and downs, but now I can safely say that we are the University of Toronto in all of its many facets.”

This article by former The Medium editor-in-chief Ali Kasim was first published in The Medium on January, 2008. A shorter version was also published in The Varsity Magazine.

02 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

thINGs yoU NEED to hAvE.

medium magazine brEAks DowN, ItEM by ItEM, ExActly whAt yoU NEED to hAvE to GEt throUGh yoUr DAIly GrIND. thE I.soUND AUDIo vAUlt, AMAZoN.coM, $19.99 Allows you to blast your music while protecting your iPod. The Audio Vault’s universal design makes it compatible with all models of iPod. Two built-in drivers, bass boost and an alarm function make the i.Sound Audio Vault the safest way to carry, play and protect your iPod.

tEAl sUEDE oxforD shoEs, UrbAN oUtfIttErs, $48 Low-pointed oxford in rich suede with tonal laces and a short-stacked heel.

Comes with cushioned footbed so your feet will be soooooo happy.

MolEskIN, chAptErs, $20-$50 The perfect notebook. Get it ruled, blank, gridded or even as a calendar. Picasso and Hemingway used one.

We’re sold.

opINEl kNIfE, kNIfEZoNE.cA, $12.65 Why do you need a knife?

You may think you’ll never use it. But trust us, one day you will.

When that happens nothing beats an Opinel knife—cheap, reliable, and time-honoured.

frEsh bAGUEttE, ANy GooD locAl bAkEry, lEss thAN DollAr A fresh baguette? Yes, we’re serious. Sometimes all you need is a good fresh baguette. Go Italian style and pour some extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, some chili peppers and salt to a dish and rip a small piece off your baguette to dip. You can thank us later.

MADIsoN bAG froM lEoNtINE hAGoort, UhrcENtEr.DE, $170 A refreshing change from all the ubiquitous Chanel bags out there.

cAshMErE scArf, thE bAy, $75 We don’t care if you’re a guy or a girl. Girls will be warm. Guys will have women all over them. Get this scarf.

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 03

boDUM frENch prEss, EsprEssoplANEt.coM, $30 The Medium’s HeadHoncho Editor-inChief Alain Latour is obsessed with this little contraption. A French Press makes some of the richest and most delicious coffee you‘ve ever tasted. Your friends will wonder what kind of expensive barista set up you have, when it was just a cheap, hundred-year old French invention.

wool socks, $8 Wool socks are better for your feet than cotton socks. They let your feet breathe, meaning no stink, no sweat.

That, and they look like your grandfather’s socks, which is cool. Either way, you need to get a pair.

blAck rAsbErry GrEEN tEA, rEpUblIc of tEA, $10 Sometimes a nice cup of tea is all you need after a long stressful day of midterms and essay-writing. If you’re feeling adventurous, throw in some vanilla syrup.

sNUGGIE, As sEEN oN tv storE, $29.95 Yep, we went there. The snuggie could well be the most publicly hated, yet most privately loved product of all time. You know you secretly have one, you’re just afraid to admit it. If you don’t, you need to get one now. Who doesn’t love a blanket with arm holes?

scotch.

Scotch is the manliest of liquors. The Medium firmly believes that everyone must try Scotch at least once in their life. If you don’t like it, fine, more for us. We reccommend Laphroaig. Smokey as hell. And just as fun.

shUrE EArbUDs sE115, bEstbUy, $130 The headphones that come with your iPod or cell phone are usually not that great.

Let the audiophile in you come out and splurge on a pair of good earbuds. You might think that spending over $100 on a pair is a little much.

We thought the same thing—until we tried them.

lEvI’s 501 shrINk-to-fIt-jEANs, lEvI’s storE, $50 The best straight leg, button fly pair of jeans. Actually, second best: ideally you would go for the 1947 501s. But seeing as those can go for up to $300, get these ones instead. They are simple, stylish, and made out of tough denim. Plus, nothing beats sitting in a bathtub to make them fit just right.

A spEcIAl thANks to oUr “thINGs yoU NEED to hAvE” coNtrIbUtors stEfANIE MArottA & NIvEs hAjDIN

04 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH Remember your first day at UTM? Remember feeling like you’d never find your classes when you realized they took place in more than one building? Here’s your guide to finding your way around utm.

Katherine luczynski edward cai UTM is a fun place. Don’t believe it? Try grazing with the deer, grooving to the soft hum of a jackhammer, or sprinting from your parking spot in the tennis court of lot 4 to your class on the second floor of the North Building. Try and tell me those aren’t fun activities. Yep, UTM sure is an interesting place once you get used to it.

WHERE AM I GOING? UTM has six main buildings, not including the residence buildings or the Erindale Theatre (which are both very important, but not for our purposes today). There’s the South Building, which you might also like to call Home Base, the Big Cheese, or the building with all the offices (such as the T-Card office, Registrar’s office, the Meal Plan office, and the Career Centre). The South Building also houses a Tim Horton’s (no need to look for it; the lineup will give you a clue), the RAWC gym, lecture halls, and an eating area called the Meeting Place, where a popularity contest always seems to be taking place. Lastly, this is also the place where all you lucky OSAP students get to fight over the limited amount

of cushioned chairs and wait at least 2.2 hours before having your number called.

Next is the CCT building, the one with UTM’s largest lecture hall, room 1080.

Look for the wall with green lights, you can’t miss it. The CCT Building is the home building of the CCIT program, though a lot of psychology classes also take place here.

If you have a class on the second or third floor, I suggest packing a tent and bottle of water—you’ll need to rest and rehydrate after climbing all those stairs. Waiting for the elevator is no solution: it often takes even longer.

CCT connects to the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, better known as the Library. Lots of books, not enough computers and far too much loud-talking. Beside it lies a Starbucks, where the lineup can get almost as bad as the one for OSAP. Speaking of which: bringing your own coffee from home

might just save you enough money to pay for your tuition, but hey, to each their own.

Mike the hotdog guy.

OK, this is not really a building, but it has become something of an institution at UTM. Unlike the aforementioned places, you’ll never see any profs here. Mike has been selling hotdogs at UTM for many years; he began with a little cart and now has a big trailer, electricity, a radio, and his own employees. Talk about business savvy. Mike probably doesn’t even know what a recession looks like.

Close to Mike stands the Kaneff Building, which seems to contain more lockers than classrooms. Management classes are taught here (hence the earnest air of most students and the high ratio of suits). A quiet alternative to the South Building, Kaneff is unique in that it barely has any seating or rest areas.

The Student Centre is located close to the Kaneff Building. It is the place to hang out between classes, buy tickets, meet friends, make new ones, or enjoy chicken at the Blind Duck Pub. The Student Centre also houses most of the clubs on campus. This is the place where you’ll find S.E.C., UTMSU, OUT@UTM, and yes, The Medium—the people who bring you the news on campus (you’re welcome!). You can also rent a locker, find used books, get your UPass, do your oncampus advertising, buy transit tickets, and pick up an ISIC Card (International Student Card). Not to mention you can buy tickets at the Info Booth for Cineplex Odeon or AMC at $8 each,

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 05

as opposed to the usual $12 per movie.

If the Kaneff Building is quiet, the North Building is in a coma. Language majors and deer know it well; everybody else has probably heard of it but never been there. If you must go, pull out a tank top and bring a gallon of water—the classrooms feel like saunas. Many students have been known to fall asleep during the pivotal moment of Shakespeare’s Othello.

06 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

CONFESSIONS OF A STANLEY CUP CHAMP Bruce Driver is one of the lucky few WHO realized his dream of making it into the NHL. we asked him about it.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Driver played junior hockey for the Royal York Rangers before he was recruited to the University of Wisconsin, where the Colorado Rockies promptly drafted him. He got his first taste of NHL action in the 1983-84 season after the Rockies relocated to New Jersey. At just 21, he represented his country at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, where Canada finished just short of a Bronze medal.

During his 15-year career, Driver gained a reputation as a strong defenceman with a great point-shot and poke-check. His leadership skills were so strong that he was given the Captaincy of the Devils in 1991, then Assistant Captain in 1992, under Scott Stevens.

During the 1994 playoffs, Driver played 17 games and scored seven points. The Devils swept the Red Wings to capture the Stanley Cup. Following that season, Driver signed with rivals New York Rangers as a free agent.

He played three seasons and retired in 1998 after a 15-year career.

What was your most memorable goal?

I would have to say the goal that I scored in game three of the 1995 Stanley Cup final was probably my biggest. We had a two games to none lead in the series against the Detroit Red Wings and to win game three would put us in a tremendous position. My goal was

one of five straight that we scored to take total control of the game and series. In all honesty though, it was probably the passes that I made to teammate Sean Chambers for his two goals in the Cup winning game that stick more in my mind.

They were huge goals that helped us win game four and sweep the Red Wings.

or a bad goal he gave up change his focus.

He worked extremely hard in practice, which made him very tough to beat in games. Off the ice, Martin is very approach-

As an ex-NHLer, what is your opinion on headshots and fighting in the game today?

The headshots need to be penalized to the fullest extent to help control the number of concussion injuries that we are seeing today. Players are bigger, stronger and faster then ever before. There needs to be more responsibility placed on each player to give more respect to the opponent. It’s one thing to hit a player legally when they have their head down but it’s another to go looking to intentionally injure a player who is in a vulnerable position.

What was it like to play with future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur? what was he like off-ice?

When I had the pleasure of playing with Martin Brodeur, he was very young. He was extremely poised for a young goaltender and you could see that he played very calmly for one. He never let a mistake a teammate made

able. He is always willing to take time to speak to young kids and give them encouragement.

What was it like to be on the ice and skate around with the Stanley Cup? Winning the Stanley Cup was like a dream come true. As a young boy growing up in Toronto, I can vividly remember pretending to play in the Stanley Cup Finals. Whether it was playing street hockey or fooling around

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 07

on the man-made outdoor rinks in winter, I was always thinking about one day playing in the NHL and winning the Cup.

BEST OF THE NATION andrew tysiak

How did your family feel about you being on the road all the time?

It took time for my wife to get adjusted to our travel, but she was always very supportive and quickly understood the amount of work that goes into being a professional athlete.

My children were young and often didn’t really understand why daddy was traveling a lot, but after 15 years and winning the Stanley Cup, I think even they began to understand how important that was to me.

As we enter a new decade, The Medium Sports Editor Andrew Tysiak takes a look back and recaps the top 5 Canadian athletes of the 2000s. Andrew swears he based his list “solely on the athlete’s abilities, accomplishments, performances and accolades from during the past decade, not on the popularity of the athlete.” We believe him. Kind of.

Who was your favourite team to play against? Why?

5 Daniel Nestor

I think my favorite team to play against was the New York Rangers. They are the closest team in proximity to the New Jersey Devils and the rivalry has always been real intense.

A few playoff match-ups will do that! I’d say my second favorite team to play was the Toronto Maple Leafs because it was my hometown and I knew there would be lots of family and friends attending those games at the old Maple Leaf Gardens.

Why did you sign with your rival team over the Devils?

My decision to sign with the Rangers was strictly a family move. I wanted a no-trade clause in my contract to stay with the Devils and they told me that they wouldn’t be able to accommodate me. I wanted some control over my own destiny and a no-trade clause would do that. As a group, our defensive core was beginning to age and the Devils had a lot of good young talent that needed to start playing. I felt that since I was the oldest defenseman on the team at the time that I may be the first to be traded to make room for the young guys.

What do you think you would be doing if you didn’t make it to the NHL? Had I not made it to the NHL, I was working in college toward a degree in physical education with the desire to become a physical therapist. I enjoyed learning about how the body can heal itself with the help of doctors and therapists.

This may be the most surprising pick on the list. Not many people, after all, recognize Nestor’s accomplishments on the tennis court. But he has been one of most accomplished doubles competitors since he turned pro in 1991. Nestor sports a mere 85-119 record, which means he doesn’t exactly excel in singles matches. But in doubles? That’s a different story. Holding an impressive 718278 career record in doubles matches, Nestor has won 65 titles, including five grand slams and a gold for Canada in Sydney.

4 Hayley Wickenheiser When discussing national hockey, most Canadians will mention the men’s team and how they won that gold medal in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, overlooking the women’s team entirely. Yet they are the more consistent of the two, winning two Olympic gold medals in 2002 and 2006 and nine Gold medals in World Championships.

And who was the most integral part of these award-winning teams? Savvy veteran Hayley Wickenheiser.

The Saskatchewan native has contributed to 11 gold medals for Canada at the four Nations Cup tournaments and been named by Sports Illustrated as one of the “25 Toughest Athletes.” Deserving? I think so.

3 Steve Nash The British Columbia native may come from a country that produces little basket-

ball talent, but he sure has made the most of his opportunity in the NBA. Since he was selected 15th overall by the Pheonix Suns in the 1996 draft, Nash has won two NBA MVPs and is a seven time all-star as well as winning Canadian accolades such as the 2005 Lou Marsh Trophy and a two time Lionel Conacher Award winner for best Canadian male Athlete. Not bad for a guy who only started playing basketball in the eighth grade.

2 Cindy Klassan Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Klassan is the most decorated Olympian in Canadian history, winning a Canadian-first five medals at the 2006 Turin Olympics. Her speed skating career began when she failed to crack the 1998 Canadian Women’s National hockey team. Seldom has a career change turned out be such a blessing in disguise.

In the world championships, she has collected 16 medals, four of which were gold, and all occurred in the 2000s. She holds the world’s record for fastest time in the 1,000m, 1,500m, and 3,000m events.

1 Martin Brodeur Quite possibly the greatest goalie in the history of the NHL. Enough said.

Don’t believe it? Brodeur holds the records for the most regular season NHL wins, most shutouts, most 40-win seasons, most consecutive 35-win seasons, and most games played by an NHL goaltender, and is the only NHL goalie to ever score a gamewinning goal.

The most amazing part? He’s done it all while with the same team, the New Jersey Devils. Guaranteeing himself a nomination into the Hall-of-Fame, Brodeur has proven to be the best at what he does. Nobody from any previous generation comes close to his career accomplishments. His status as the number one Canadian athlete of the 2000s should come as no surprise.

8 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

thE cool fActor AlAIN lAtoUr

They won’t do it because Adidas is better than Nike, or an iPhone better than a BlackBerry, or an Armani dress better than a Hugo Boss dress. They’ll do it because advertising persuaded them that that specific product would make them cool.

Many an Apple fan (a group that I belong to) would likely disagree. They would point to a Mac’s ease of use and to its ability to work without crashes. And they would be right, in my opinion. Still, there’s no denying that Apple has marketed itself as a cool brand, although a cool factor, objectively speaking, should carry little weight in deciding which computer to buy—or, for that matter, which sneakers.

bE cool Advertisers love the cool factor. It’s hard to define and easy to exploit, which comes in handy when promoting the subjective qualities of a product instead of its objective qualities. All objects (and all prod-

ucts) have a symbolic value and a functional value. Advertising used to be about the functional value, that is, about the concrete reasons why you should buy a specific product. Over the years, however, the emphasis switched to providing products with symbolic connotations. The reason is that symbolic connotations help sell products, whose truly relevant features are almost indistinguishable from one another. Advertiers do this by creating a subjective difference in your mind between a product and the competitors’.

Let’s take cars for example. They all have four wheels and work fairly well at transporting people from point A to point B. Yet how many of us would hesitate to proclaim a BMW a better car than a Toyota? More importantly, how many of us would choose to buy a BMW over a Toyota, if money was no object? The answer is, I suspect, a number far lower than those would acknowledge that a cooler and faster car doesn’t equal a mechanically better one.

photo / EDwarD Cai

soMEwhErE IN thE worlD A boy wIll oGlE At A pAIr of ADIDAs sNEAkErs, A GrowN MAN At AN IphoNE, A GIrl At AN ArMANI DrEss, AND thEy wIll All wIsh thEy hAD It.

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 09

This is partly why many ads try to sell expensive products—products that are not really essential for us. Wristwatches, for instance, are convenient, but not really essential, especially today, when digital clocks wink at us from computers screens and microwaves and cell phones and subway displays. Yet many people pay thousands of dollars for a Rolex, even though a $50 digital Timex is actually more accurate than any Swiss-certified chronometer. In their mind, the cool factor justifies the high cost of the Rolex (although in this case “exclusive” is probably a better word than “cool.”) In fact, the Rolex’s high cost has become one of the main reasons why it’s cool or exclusive to own one.

Nowhere is this phenomenon more prominent than in the fashion world. Consumers lavish on brands just because a celebrity wears them (or is paid to say they do) or because they have been persuaded that that brand will make them cool (think of the little green crocodile).

Run for cover We are being bombarded with ads. In 2006, US $391 billion was spent worldwide on advertising. The industry may be suffering, what with declines in TV-viewing and newspaper sales, but it is also fighting back, embracing the Internet, which it initially saw as its enemy, and studying market segments more closely than ever.

I’m not suggesting that advertising is inherently evil. In fact, it has allowed many products to come to us for free—from radio stations and web applications to iPhone apps such as Shazam. This very magazine would not have happened if it weren’t for the ads you’ve flipped through. And now that advertising in the media is compromised, many newspapers, including the venerable New York Times, will likely have to charge readers for online access. Ironically, some of them will no doubt be the same ones who had downloaded browser extensions to disable ads.

Some experts doubt that advertising will survive in the long run, when consumers will get most, if not all, of their entertainment from the Internet. That is beyond the scope of this article. One thing is clear:

while mass advertisement may fade, there will always someone trying to persuade to buy something. This is how they do it.

HOW ADVERTISERS LURE US Implications Advertises do a lot implying. Implying things rather than outright stating them allows advertisers to make people believe their product is cool, or better, or healthier, or faster without actually saying so.

More importantly, it allows them to do so without violating regulations for making unsubstantiated claims.

One of the most effective ways to create an implication is by juxtaposing phrases, like “Get a good night’s sleep. Get [insert sleeping pill name] nighttime.” Another (trickier) way relies on presenting the same information in another way. For example, studies show that for products with a fairly large amount of an ingredient perceived to be unhealthy, people think the whole product is healthier when the good ingredient is advertised first (“75% fat free” rather than “25% fat”). Thus the ad implies that the product is healthy without actually saying so.

Advertisers also use bare comparatives, for example, “shampoo X gives you shinier hair.” But shinier than what? And how much shinier?

but neglect to mention it uses more gas. They could also say a blender has 15 speeds—but is that better than just three?

As for non-facts these are statements that sound good and imply a certain quality but are completely unverifiable, such as “timeless appeal.”

Word Play This is often an easy puzzle. Solving it gives the audience a sense of accomplishment.

Other times it’s simply a rhyme, which makes the ad easier to remember.

John Kuraoka, a freelance advertising copywriter, argues, “If your headline can be used for a different product, but it is still clever, then it is probably word play.”

By that token, “Some explorers insisted on the best navigation systems,” an ad used by a Swiss watch company, would qualify as word play.

It could refer to a navigation system (whatever that is) or to the watch they are advertising. Another example: a nail polish “Puts beautiful nails at your fingertips?”

Yet another trick is to use words with luxurious connotations. “Suite” for room, “generous” for “large,” “appointed” for “decorated.”

Yet how many of us would hesitate to proclaim a bmw a better car than a toyota? more importantly, how many of us would choose to buy a bmw over a toyota, if money was no object?

Non-facts, selective facts and minimal facts Advertises carefully choose which features to promote. They may say a car is fast,

Associations In a luxury watch ad, connotational meaning was tweaked to make readers associate the watch with luxury: “Satin-finished screws” (do they mean shiny?), “finely worked champagne dial,” “diamond treated applied indexes,” “deployante buckle.” Simpler words might have been chosen, but they would not have made the product seem as luxurious or exclusive.

10 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

thErE’s AN App for thAt AlAIN lAtoUr

it only so that they would look cool.

(Why else would you get it without a data plan?)

I don’t mean to compare iPhones with BlackBerrys or other smartphones. The fact remains, with so many users out there, developers rushed to their computers and created over 100,000 apps that are now available in the iTunes app store— making the iPhone the most versatile tool you can have. Here’s a list of apps that students will likely find useful (all are free, unless otherwise noted).

coMMUNIcAtIoN skypE in your pocket.

Enough said.

frING lets you chat from your MSN, Yahoo, and Google Talk accounts. For free. What else is there?

MANy lAUGhED whEN thE IphoNE wAs fIrst rElEAsED. No kEypAD? ApplE’s GoNE MAD, thEy sAID. Things look quite different today. In the final three months of 2009, Apple sold almost 9 million iPhones, just over twice as many as it sold in the same period the year before.

Sure, many people got

Twitter user? Download twEEtIE 2.0. It costs $2.99, but it’s hands-

down the best Twitter app out there.

And what else can $2.99 buy you anyway?

Tired of your BlackBerrybrandishing friends and their constant blabbering about their ability to pin each other for free, regardless of long-distance or data charges?

Download pING!, a free app that lets you do exactly the same thing with other iPhone users.

fINANcIAl I’ve tried using different money-management apps before, but they all had the same problem: they required you to input data from different sources. Bought a latte for $2.50? Took $40 out of the ATM? You had to write it down, then type it at home.

wEsAbE solves this by linking to

your bank account. (Yes, I know.

More on that in a sec.) That way, whenever you buy anything using a credit card or debit card, it will automatically show up in your Wesabe account, leaving you to manually enter only cash transactions. Wesabe gives you the ability to categorize your spending, set financial goals, and has forums where you can compare your expenses and savings to the user average. Another plus: you can access that info from either the Wesabe website or its iPhone app.

On the downside, many people hesitate before giving a third party access to their financial info.

It took me a while to make up my mind. But with its impressive record of customer satisfaction, positive reviews, astringent privacy policy, and its own Data Bill of Rights, I found it hard to resist Wesabe.

wrItING AND rEADING DocUMENts to Go is another app that’s not free

($9.99). And another app that’s worth its weight in gold. For writers, journalists, and students who frequently work with written documents, there is nothing more convenient than being able to edit and create Word and Excel documents from your iPhone. And yes, you get used to the tiny keypad.

It’s also possible to read a book on an iPhone—just download stANZA first. You can change the font, size, page colour, and even earmark pages.

orGANIZAtIoN EvErNotE equals ubiquitous capture.

Evernote lets users create text, audio, or picture notes from either its PC and Mac clients or its iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android apps. It also features a nifty handwriting-recognition software that lets users snap a pic of handwritten note or Powerpoint slide (anything, really, including the wrinkled paper napkin that the cute stranger gave you with their phone number) and upload it to their Evernote account, where you can later search for the text written in the note by typing the same word in Evernote’s search bar.

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 11

HOW TO BE AN INTERNATIONAL su lyn liew

You just got off the plane from Islamabad or Paris or, even more remote, Newfoundland.

It’s your first year at UTM and it all seems confusing. But fear not, UTM is ready to help you. And so are we: here’s our firstever guide to UTM’s resources for international students, compiled by Su Lyn Liew, our own copy editor imported directly from Malaysia.

Use the University’s resources.

No, really. You pay roughly three times the school fees domestic students pay. You might as well get your money’s worth. The International Student Resource Centre is UTM’s hub for international students. (Your next best bet is to check the International Student Centre, which caters to all three U of T campuses despite being located on the St. George campus.) Look out for cultural gatherings, stressmanagement workshops, info-sessions and the ever-popular trips, such as apple-picking (in November) and day trips to Niagara Falls (year round).

UHIP and hospital visits.

We know, you’re never going to get sick.

You’re young and invincible. Except when you’re not.

Your University Health Insurance card doesn’t even look important. It’s flimsy, purple, and doesn’t even contain your photograph. This flimsy purple thing, however, allows you to claim health insurance, so make sure you get it in September or October and carry it with you at all times.

About hospitals: If you are not bleeding or visibly dying, you are better off skipping the emergency room. Wait times (if you are not in critical condition) may last from two hours

to upwards of eight hours. Keep comfortable, and either try visiting a doctor or head to the Health Services on campus the next morning.

If you are at any general hospital and the person at the reception gives your UHIP a blank stare, insist that it is valid, and ask to speak with their supervisor or manager.

UHIP is recognized at all major hospitals— you don’t need to pay the bill. If you go to smaller clinics, however, you will need to pay and seek reimbursement later.

Shopping.

You don’t have to buy everything brand new.

Sure, you may want to splurge on certain things to make your home-away-from-home as comfortable as possible, such as a thick comforter or some posters for your room. But a dollar store (where most things actually sell for a dollar) is the best place to pick up inexpensive knickknacks. I buy simple photo frames, inexpensive cups and bowls for when friends visit, envelopes, a measuring cup and a million and one other nonessential things.

Storing your stuff for summer.

choice in September, and a 5’ x 8’ x 7’ box.

Working on and off campus.

International students are allowed to work on campus without much hassle, but if you want to nab that off-campus bartender position, you’ll need to apply for an off-campus work permit. This permit will usually last you until the last year of your studies.

International graduating students are now allowed to apply for a work permit without a job offer, which takes the slack off students whose student permits have expired after graduation, but wish to stay in Canada.

This postgraduate work permit ranges from a duration of eight months to three years after graduation. Keep in mind that if you are working, you will need to apply for a Social Insurance Number. Check the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for more details (www.cic.gc.ca) Good luck trying to reach them by phone.

If you are not bleeding or visibly dying, you are better off skipping the emergency room.

Unless you rent your own place or stay in Canada for the summer, chances are that you’ll have to pack up your belongings and move out for the summer. Store Your Dorm (www.storeyourdorm.ca) is a good option if you don’t have much stuff—the rates are for packing boxes and suitcases.

If you do have a lot of things to store (like furniture or electrical appliances), you might want to go with All Canadian Storage (www.canada-storage.com). Tell them you’re from UTM and they’ll give you a student flat rate of $495 for storage from April to September, insurance, a lock, delivery back to your residence of

Filing your tax return.

Oh yes, infamous taxes. As an international student, you are entitled to get a small chunk of money back simply by virtue of those exorbitant international fees that you pay to U of T. If you live or work on campus, you might get more. ROSI has a nifty tab for your T2202A tax forms.

Print those out, take them to your nearest tax clinic (I recommend the ones at the ISC on St. George campus since they are geared specifically to international students) and fill out the correct forms. If you have a SIN, you can use the e-filing system; if not, you’ll have to mail your documents in. This page (www.cra-arc. gc.ca/internationalstudents) will definitely help you out.

12 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

LAST CHANCE FOR ROMANCE Also kNowN As

HOW RICH AUCOIN STOLE CHRISTMAS MIchAEl DI lEo

MAtthEw fIlIpowIch

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 13

14 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

the backstory rich aucoin started out doing this and that. now he’s getting in trouble with dr.seuss and having a good time.

he waitress brings the drinks to the table. Two beers and a coffee. Rich Aucoin looks up and smiles.

“Thanks,” he says, before getting back to the conversation, leaving his beer untouched.

“I’d always like to play with a band, but it’s easier just to have to fly one person somewhere. That’s why there are so many more successful solo and two-piece bands now.” He casually glances over at Matt, our Photo Editor, who is asking the waitress for some milk for his coffee. “Unless you’re doing really well as a band, you’re not going to make enough money to move yourselves around.” The waitress brings over some creamers and places them on the table.

“Two summers ago I flew over to Victoria and biked back [to Halifax]. I ended up playing about 45 shows

along the way,” explains Aucoin, waiting patiently.

Matt finishes stirring his coffee and picks up the mug. “Cheers,” says Aucoin, and begins to drink.

This isn’t a lesson in etiquette. This is what a refreshing change feels like.

AN OFFERING “I like to keep charity and my music inseparable,” explains Aucoin, referring to the cross-Canada bike trek where he raised money for childhood cancer research as well as recorded with hundreds of musicians. “When you go to a show and pay cover, you’re out there having a good time, but you’re also doing something productive. It goes well with the feel-good style of my music.”

That’s not what independent musicians are supposed to say. And after meeting Rich Aucoin it’s not hard to understand why the Personal Publication EP, his first and only album released to date, con-

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 15

tains very little indie-sentiment. You won’t find anything remeniscent of what’s usually played on CBC Radio 3—no abrasive synth solos or reverbed clanging guitars. Instead, as his iTunes page so succinctly puts it, it is a true “alternative.”

An alternative to the alternative, to be exact. Aucoin forgoes all the bleak imagery and three-chord nonsense we are so used to when discussing generic “alternative music,” instead replacing them with winding piano melodies and songs about kings in faraway places. And yes, this is all synched to the film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

“Did you ever see The Dark Side of Oz?” asks Aucoin, referring to the cult-film phenomenon where The Wizard of Oz is played in synch with Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. “It’s like that. I watched the Grinch about 100 times, and by that point had written out how long each track had to be and when it had to change moods.” The resulting effect is epic, to say the least. That is, if you can watch it.

“Dr. Seuss sent me a cease and desist,” explains Aucoin. The video gained an online following, but after Dr. Seuss Enterprises caught word of the copyright infringement (possibly through an unintended tip from Aucoin himself), they were not happy to say the least. The video has since been removed from the Internet—though if you search hard enough, you may be able to find one of the few remaining links. Regardless, you can catch a bit of the synch action if you check out Rich Aucoin in concert.

Over the past year his live show has transformed from a near perfect cut-for-cut rendition of Personal Publication to a more danceoriented experience. “You will recognize the songs,” explains Aucoin, “but now it’s way more sample-laden.”

The waitress brings the bill. We pay and leave the joint. As we walk out the door, the bright afternoon light hits our eyes, and it takes a second before we start to feel the cold. We are standing on Queen Street West, the heart of Toronto’s entertainment district, and no one is around.

We start walking along the freshly seasoned sidewalk, pausing to check out some interesting features on buildings. Aucoin mentions some ideas he has for his live show in the future—including a plan to run his music through a Rock Band setup, where members of the audience play parts of his songs. “They’ll know if they mess up, the crowd will make sure.”

16 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

rich aucoin at the horseshoe tavern january 30, 2010

A CLOSING Rich Aucoin doesn’t have to worry about messing up. His recent show at the Horseshoe Tavern—as the opening act for Everything All Time and Lioness—was doomed for success.

Aucoin made it on stage at 10 p.m.—relatively early for Horseshoe shows—yet the crowd was full. Some people had heard about the spectacular audio/visual Grinch synch and brought their friends along to witness. But there was something different about the venue that night. It all seemed more easygoing than usual—the bouncers were more pleasant, the girls more friendly, and the drinks, well, slightly tastier.

And there it was. The piece of white fabric, draped across the left hand side of the stage with a projector pointed directly at it.

The music started, and so did the visual accompaniment. For the first half, Aucoin weaved in and out of old and new songs—from both Personal Publication and soon to be released Public Publication—denoted by their video pairings (Grinch footage among other

public domain clips).

Lyrics flashed across the screen, beckoning the crowd to sing along.

Some did, hesitantly at first, and with more enthusiasm as the songs progressed. Aucoin worked as the conductor, directing parts of the crowd to sing backing harmonies while others sang melodies, as he made his way from instrument to instrument. The backing band was exceptionally tight, seamlessly moving from track to track. By the time the group had made it to the final song, “10,342 Cuts For the Us,” the audience was in a state of collective effervescence, still high from the Daft PERSONAL PUBLICATION RICH AUCOIN Punk sing-along a few tracks earlier.

SELF-RELEASED The band geared up, Aucoin with a keyboard strapped to his shoulder.

A few girls nearby waved frantically at him. “I know his friend!” screamed one of them into the other’s ear. “Oh my god—really?”

Rich Aucoin looked over the crowd, smiling with confidence as he prepared them for more harmonizing. “I know we’re going to kill it,” he said, reassuredly. But they didn’t need to hear him. It was bound to happen anyways.

to view more photos of rich aucoin in concert, or to listen to “10,342 cuts for the us,” visit mediumonline.ca

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 17

so you wanna buy a camera? matthew filipowich

NIKON d3 $5549

18 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

9 AlbUMs for whEN...

MElIssA horN

whEN A sItUAtIoN ArIsEs AND yoU DoN’t kNow whAt to lIstEN to, look No fUrthEr. wE hAvE thE ANswEr.

whEN yoU’rE wAtchING aVaTaR I enjoyed looking at Avatar. I did not enjoy listening to it. If I could have just looked at the cool 3D graphics while enjoying my own soundtrack, the whole experience would have been a lot better. Should you get dragged along to a matinee, smuggle in Life After Death by Notorious B.I.G.—it will up the epic factor.

Who knows, maybe it’ll sync up, Dark Side of Oz style. (Although I think “Ten Crack Commandments” might be playing when some freaky Na’vi sex goes down, so maybe not.)

...whEN thE powEr GoEs oUt I hope you have either an iPod or a battery-operated boombox (see page 3), because without it, it’s going to be a long night.

The good news:

Ragged Wood by Fleet Foxes will make you feel like the lights went out for a reason. Turn it on and go into your bedroom: there’s probably a glowing light emanating from the magical land inside your wardrobe. Dripping with

sentiment, the album evokes the hidden life in a forest not meant for human eyes. Light a candle, listen to the harmonies, and try to enjoy going electricity-free for a night.

...whEN yoU sEE yoUr crUsty olD profEssor IN A bAr Oh my God. Is that him? It’s totally him. You’d recognize the neck hair sticking out of the back of that turtleneck anywhere.

What is he doing out this late? It has to be past his bedtime. Maybe he didn’t get tenure? At any rate, this is your chance to make a good impression on the grumpiest man in the department. If I were you, I’d ask the bartender to play Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool. If he ever went to a hip bar in his youth, it was probably playing. Nostalgia + Alcohol = A+ for you.

photoS / larpErS.worDprESS.Com / oUtNow.Ch / BoSKolivES.worDprESS.Com

lIstEN Up

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 19

...When you’re having a classy dinner party (see next page) The best dinner party music, as everyone knows, is something that will make your guests feel classy. There is only one album that can guarantee a classy evening regardless of food quality: Getz/Gilberto by Joao Gilberto and Stan Getz. This bossa nova twosome are so smooth they’re unctuous.

They’re smoother than that 2003 Cab-Sauv you just uncorked, and smoother than the bleu cheese crumbled on top of your poached pear and walnut salad. Don’t worry about what’s in the oven. Sit back and let Getz/Gilberto do all the work for you.

...When the night was a bust Hey girl. It’s cool. We’ve all been there.

Sometimes the night seems so promising, and then all of a sudden it’s 4 a.m. and you find yourself crying salty, drunken tears into your McNuggets. Don’t just sit there and wallow! Put on Edith Piaf’s Greatest Recordings.

If Edith were alive today, she would probably be wiping fry grease off her American Apparel tube dress and losing her phone in the cab every single night, but I can guarantee she wouldn’t regret one minute of it.

sounds like she has a mouthful of marshmallows when she sings.

...When you’re LARPing The truth is, if you know what LARPing is, you’re probably going to go LARP right now, and you’ve already made a kick-ass playlist. For the uninitiated: LARP stands for Live Action Role Play. It’s like Dungeons and Dragons, except you dress up and act out that you’re actually in that dungeon, slaying that dragon. Prepare for an emergency LARPing situation by bringing along the Blue Album by Weezer, the only band I can think of who might appreciate a good LARP. Strap on your plastic sword, grab your dice, and LARP freely. Rivers has your back.

...When you’ve gotten your wisdom teeth out

...When you’re about to travel back in time

I’m assuming at this point that you’re loopy from the Tylenol-3s and you just dribbled water all down your numb chin. For the next several days you will be bored as hell. Instead of watching reruns of Maury all day, switch it up and listen to Joanna Newsom’s Milk-Eyed Mender. It’s probably the only thing you’ll be able to sing along to: girl

Okay, let’s think logically for a minute. If you’re going backwards in time, you should listen to something that would sound unbelievably cool when played backwards. Given that criterion, Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Axis: Bold As Love seems like a no-brainer.

First, it’s already awesome forwards, which would bode well for its backwards-awesome

capacity. On an even trippier level, much of “Castles Made of Sand” was recorded backwards and then flipped around. So that’s backwards, then forwards, then backwards again. !seog ti woh wonk em teL

...When you’re breaking the law I don’t know what it is you’re doing, and I don’t want to, but I’m not going to judge you. I’m just going to suggest an album that will give you the cojones to go through with it and not bitch out in the middle of the act. Fire up your iPod and put on the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet. The Stones are notorious for having the ability to justify pretty much any crazy, debauched behaviour by spinning it into a prime example of badassery. Plus, the opening song is “Sympathy for the Devil.”

It’ll feel right, even though it’s probably wrong.

I know it seems like I’m not finished yet. Why are there only nine albums, you ask, and not ten? Well, it’s one of those teach-a-man-to-fish situations. I won’t always be there when, say, you bump unprepared into an old flame, or your cat eats last night’s takeout and you need an appropriate soundtrack while you’re riding to the animal hospital in your mom’s van (or, horribly, both at once). I gave you the tools. Now it’s your turn.

DINNER FOR FOUR 20 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

MICHAEL DI LEO

PoRt-braised lamb shanks with toasted orzo and seasonal vegetables

MATTHEW FILIPOWICH

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 21

On the menu three Classic Cocktails simple butternut squash soup easy warm spinach salad port-braised lamb shanks with toasted orzo and seasonal vegetables

Making your way down an unplowed road in a snowstorm is difficult. Even more so when

you’re walking. The powder blows up into your eyes, the deceptively shallow pockets of snow are only a few unsuspecting steps ahead of you, and worst of all, the constant, bitter cold wraps around your entire body, leaving you with only the memory of warmth.

You pass a few houses along the way. The motion-sensor bulbs shine light upon the otherwise darkened windows. You see a glow in the distance. Several cars are parked outside the red-bricked house, still warm from the drive over. From the outside you see a dining room, lit by a chandelier and filled with people laughing, drinking. You step inside, and are immediately filled with warmth.

There is something indescribable about the way a home smells when you cook a delicious meal. You can feel how the heat from the oven has made its way around into every nook, and you can see a tangible result—people are happy when they eat together.

The dinner party is primal. It’s instinctive.

And it’s a blast.

It’s a way to meet new people, to reconnect with old friends, and to satisfy your hunger—literally. Take the time to make

it an unforgettable experience. We’ll show you how.

COCKTAILS Nothing screams classy dinner party like some classy cocktails. Unfortunately, the art of making a good cocktail has been muddled (no pun intended) over the years. What passes for a cocktail today (fruity “martinis,” vodka-based juice mixes) are the exact opposite of what a cocktail was originally intended to be.

There are three main rules when designing a cocktail. First, it should whet the appetite. That means it should not be sweet or syrupy, and should not contain too much mixer. Second, cocktails should always be dry. That means you should be able to taste the alcohol in them, and it should be smooth to drink. Lastly, cocktails must be well-iced.

This doesn’t necessarily mean there has to be ice in the glass, but, as is the case with the Martini and Manhattan, they can be iced, then strained.

FIRST COURSE The introduction. This is the first impression you make on your guests, so don’t blow it by heating up some President’s Choice hors d’oeuvres. Make it fun and personal. Try playing with a common dish. Chicken noodle soup? Make a chicken consommé and add in

22 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

some fresh pasta. Cheeseburgers? Make them mini. Use ground veal brisket and top with sautéed mushrooms and Stilton cheese.

Don’t want to go through the extra effort or expensive ingredients? Try serving smaller portions in novel ways. Serve your soup in shot glasses or Asian soup spoons—we made a simple butternut squash soup.

SECOND COURSE The intermediate. You totally impressed your guests with that first course, now you have to feed them something to tide them over to the main. Our advice: go for a salad. Something a bit savory works well, but again, try to keep the portions down.

THREE CLASSIC COCKTAILS Old-Fashioned Technically known as an Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail, the Old-Fashioned is the original cocktail. The simplicity and well-roundedness of its ingredients lead to a truly exceptional drink. Don Draper says so.

Ingredients 2-3 ounces bourbon 1 dash Angostura bitters 1 cube sugar (or 1 dash simple syrup) Twist of lemon/orange peel

This is it—what everyone’s been waiting for.

Your chance to shine and impress that cute girl/guy you’ve had your eye on all night. We suggest making something foolproof. It should be delicious and look like you’ve spent all day preparing it, but we both know it was easy as pie. Don’t mess around, braise something.

In the bottom of an old-fashioned glass (tumbler), muddle the sugar with a few drops of water and a dash of Angostura bitters (or mix a dash of simple syrup and bitters). Add half of the bourbon and enough ice cubes to fill the glass halfway. Stir with the lemon/orange twist and leave in the drink. Pour in the rest of the bourbon and fill with ice.

TIP: For a nice take on it, try using rye whiskey for its complex flavour.

DESSERT

Manhattan

You did it. You made it through the night and no one got violently ill as a result. Now it’s time to lay back and eat what other people brought. Yeah, that’s right. Traditionally, people bring the desserts to a dinner party— you can make something if you’d like, but it’s more fun to have everyone else bring some random sweets and mix it all up.

But be sure to provide the after dinner drinks. Espresso and tea, only. If anyone orders something else, tell them to take a hike, this is your classy dinner party.

Named after the area of New York it was invented in, the Manhattan is also known as the “King of Cocktails.” This was the Rat Pack’s drink of choice.

MAIN

Ingredients 2 ounces rye whiskey 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth 1 dash Angostura Bitters Stir the ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Martini Winston Churchill once quipped that the way to make a perfect Martini is by pouring gin into a glass, then looking at a bottle of vermouth. How awesome is that?

Ingredients 1 1/2 ounces gin 1/2 ounce dry vermouth 1 dash bitters Stir with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with either an olive or a twist of lemon (“with a twist”).

TIP: The cocktail glass is commonly mistakenly referred to as the “martini glass,” due to the popularity of the drink.

FIRST COURSE Classic Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients 2 butternut squash, halved lengthwise, seeded 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 bunch fresh sage 1 onion, sliced thin 4 cups chicken stock Pinch of grated nutmeg [6 servings] Cut squash lengthwise and remove seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and roast, cut side up, in 375F preheated oven. Remove when tender. Scoop squash into bowl when cooled.

Heat olive oil in large pot. Add in sage. Remove sage when crisp and set aside. Sauté onion in pot until it starts to brown. Add in squash, nut-

easy warm spinach salad

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 23

THE STARCH Ingredients 500g orzo 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter 1 cup braising liquid from lamb shanks 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves 8 cups of combination chicken stock and water at a boil

espresso with pistachio macaron meg, and half of chicken stock. Blend (easiest with an immersion blender). Continue adding stock until desired consistency is reached.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh chives, reserved sage, and a drizzle of olive oil.

SECOND COURSE Easy Warm Spinach Salad Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 shallot, finely chopped 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar (can substitute with red wine vinegar) 2 teaspoons honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 cup pine nuts 6 loosely packed cups baby spinach and/or baby arugula [4 Servings] Toast pine nuts. Mix into greens.

Melt butter in pan. Add shallots and cook until starting to brown. Add olive oil, vinegar, honey, and mustard. Mix well. Pour overtop greens.

TIP: The classic warm spinach salad has hardboiled eggs and bacon as well. Try adding those, or substitute the pine nuts with pieces

of bacon, and the butter with the rendered bacon fat.

THE MAIN Port-braised lamb shanks with toasted orzo and seasonal vegetables THE PROTEin Ingredients 3 tablespoons olive oil 4 lamb shanks 2 stalks celery, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 1 onion, chopped 2 cups Port wine 1 cup red wine 4 cups chicken stock 4 cloves garlic [4 Sevings] Season lamb with salt and pepper and let rest for a few hours.

Heat olive oil in dutch oven and brown lamb on all sides. Remove lamb from pot and add in carrots, celery, and onion. Stir until vegetables are browned and add in port and red wine. Reduce liquid by half. Add chicken stock, garlic, and lamb shanks to pot. Bring to boil. Turn off stove and cover pot.

Move pot into 350F preheated oven. Let cook for around 2 hours.

Begin this recipe after you remove the shanks from the oven. Be sure to keep the lid on though.

Take half of orzo and put in large pan at medium heat. Toast until brown.

Reserve pasta.

Heat butter and olive oil in large pan. Add in onions, cook until tender. Reintroduce toasted and non-toasted orzo.

Mix well. Add boiling water/stock in increments until pasta is almost cooked through. Add in braising liquid (from lamb shanks) and mix.

Top with cold butter and chopped parsley. Mix and plate.

GREENS Find the freshest vegetables you can, season with salt, pepper and olive oil, and roast or cook in pan. We went for asparagus (as they were in season), seared in a pan.

FUN FACT The combination of celery, carrots, and onions is known in French cooking as a mirepoix—a common flavour base for many dishes.

Though this is adapted from a Bobby Flay recipe, it is essentially a simple braise.

You can choose to use whatever ingredients you want (any cheap, tough meat will turn out beautifully—ask your local butcher which fresh meats he recommends), and any flavours you want. Try making a whiskey braise by substituting whiskey for the port. You don’t need as much, but increase the volumes of the other liquids to make up for it.

24 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

$

1099 D & D Special

Each Dinner & Delivery special includes a bowl of steamed rice, side order of steamed vegetables, and one thai spring roll, and your choice of one entrée listed below:

• General Tao Chicken • Fresh Lemon Chicken • Sweet & Sour Chicken • Royal Green Curry Chicken • Coconut & Peanut Chicken • Chili & Cashew Beef • Crispy Ginger Beef Lemongrass at Square One Mall 100 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, ON Unit 123, 2nd Floor

905-270 8424

• Orange Beef • Breaded Lemon Fish Fillet • Blackbean Vegetables • Szechuan Tofu & Cashew Dinner & Delivery [D & D] Special is only available for delivery orders. a minimum purchase of $20.00 before tax is required for delivery service.

Lemongrass on Islington & Bloor 3300 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON 416-231-8288

Our locations all offer: l Dine-In &Reservations l Take-Out & Delivery l Catering Services l Private Functions l Gluten Free items available l Vegetarian items available So come visit Lemongrass.

FRee caNS OF pOp* *D & D specials and soft drinks!

When you and your friends purchase four or more D & D specials in a single delivery order, each D & D special will receive a can of pop of your choice.

Please call us to request a specific change, or inform our kitchen of any allergies. This promotion can not be combined with any other promotions of Lemongrass. For a list of Gluten Free items, vegetarian selections, and a wonderful variety of other choices, please visit www.lemongrass.ca to see our online menu or call any of our locations for more information.

Lemongrass at Square One Mall: 905.270.8424

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MEDIUM MAGAZINE 25

26 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

Teleducation nives hajdin

Alright, maybe not Jersey Shore. Still, most shows succeed in teaching us the very things that school is teaching us (if only on a basic level). To make life easier, Medium Magazine has done its homework and matched up this season’s newest TV shows with some popular programs of study. You have our permission to use television as a studying substitute.

If Forensic Science gets your blood pumping, watch THE FORGOTTEN

If Theatre and Drama sparks your inner passion, check out GLEE The hype surrounding Glee was unprecedented. Nominated for all sorts of awards, the musical comedy-drama has made waves with the cast’s renditions of current chart toppers, all of which become available on iTunes after each week’s episode. The show follows the lives of high school “glee club” members and remotely draws from 90210-esque drama, but without the pretentiousness. If you get hooked on this show, you must from this point forward refer to yourself as a “gleek.”

If you’re always talking about Sociology, tune into MODERN FAMILY Human interaction cannot get any more dysfunctional than in the relationships featured on Modern Family. A man leaves his wife for a much younger woman, while his gay son is raising a Vietnamese baby and his daughter is married to a man who has a crush on his father-in-law’s new wife.

In a comedic mockumentary style that reminds us of The Office, family members address the camera, acting out the answers to questions that were posed at the beginning of each episode. Though most recently the show lost out to Glee for the Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Modern Family has received numerous other nominations. This is one family that you won’t be able to get rid of anytime soon.

photo / matthew filipowich

Whoever said “television should be educational” was on to something.

Hoping to avoid another series flop, Christian Slater (whose 2008 show My Own Worst Enemy was canned after only nine episodes) is the head honcho of a group of volunteer detectives who are determined to ID the countless number of bodies that go unidentified after a crime. The Forgotten presents a unique premise, as it gives ordinary people the chance to experience the gruesome nature of forensic work in the hopes of solving a number of otherwise dismissed crimes. Though from the same creators of the immensely popular CSI and Cold Case, only time will tell whether or not the show will become synonymous with its title.

MEDIUM MAGAZINE 27

If you think Physics is the answer, watch FLASHFORWARD Loosely based on the 1999 novel by Robert J. Sawyer, FlashForward is a sci-fi drama in which the entire world looses consciousness for 137 seconds and experience flashforwards of what their lives will be like. But don’t worry—there is some real science behind this. In the novel, much of the plot surrounds the explanation of what triggered the flashforward (a physics experiment gone wrong in which a collision of ions results from the search for the Higgs boson particle, to be precise) but who wants to see that? Take out the unintelligible physics jargon, blame the phenomenon on “mysterious circumstances,” create lots of problems for the characters, throw in

some natural disasters, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

If you’re a History buff, check out PAWN STARS There’s no denying that Antiques Roadshow is kind of lame. Yet if you change the setting to a Las Vegas pawn shop run by a family of historically savvy appraisers, who also happen to resemble members of a butch biker gang, the premise becomes much more entertaining. Pawn Stars is raw and unfeigned, often featuring people who will sell off their antiques just to make a quick buck, only to have the appraisers refurbish these seemingly worthless items and make a fortune off of them. The show also focuses on the interpersonal relationships of the

THERE’s no denying that antiques roadshow is kinD of lame.

store staff (such as the father charging his sons a dollar every time they swear) and offers hilarious narrative segments by the family members when someone tries to pass a fake off as an original. Interesting historical insight and nonstop laughs? Sold.

If you love Crime, Law and Deviance, tune into THE DEEP END Don’t get me wrong, Law & Order is great, but it gets kind of depressing at times. The Deep End somewhat minimizes the serious nature of courtroom procedure, incorporating more playful situations between aspiring young attorneys in their pursuits for justice as they represent a highflying law firm. The portrayal of unprofessional relationships and inaccurate legal procedure could be the show’s downfall, as it often fails to capture the authenticity of legal drama. I still prefer Law & Order by a landslide, but The Deep End might have some surprising twists up its corporate sleeve.

28 MEDIUM MAGAZINE

books yoU’vE NEvEr rEAD bUt probAbly shoUlD Mr. AMIr AhMED a varied reading list is vital if you want to come across great fiction or impress cute English majors. after all, you’re not going to understand the shape of world literature by reading Star wars novels (or even by reading the western canon). Below is a list of five great books that you’ll enjoy reading.

a COnFedeRaCY OF dunCeS johN kENNEDy toolE The novel’s name comes from Jonathan Swift: “When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”

The “genius” in this case is one Ignatius Reilly, an obese, verbose, self-aggrandizing egoist who lives with his mother in New Orleans. With the mindset of a child and the brain of a stereotypical D&D nerd, Reilly wanders the streets of New Orleans, causing trouble to friend and foe alike, bursting with flatulence and brimming with righteous indignation. The novel tells the tale of Reilly’s search for a job amidst pornography rackets, undercover police officers, and fabulous bohemian parties that intermingle in a tight, beautifully wrought plot. Whether Reilly is a true genius is up for debate, but the genius of Toole’s novel is certain.

STORieS BY RYunOSKe aKuTagaWa ryUNoskE AkUtAGAwA Ryunoske Akutagawa (1892-1927) is one of the most influential modern Japanese writers. His stories are taught in school, enjoyed by the masses, and today the Akutagawa Prize, run by his family,

is one of the most prestigious awards for young authors.

Akutagawa focused on the short story format. Perhaps the most evocative of these are the author’s autobiographical stories.

Afraid of an inherited neurological disorder and suffering from hallucinations, Akutagawa’s mental state deteriorated rapidly as he entered his 30’s. His later story, “Cogwheels” reveals his altered perceptions, and the tiny sparks in his perception that would set his world askew, while another late one, “Kappa,” viciously satirizes the society he felt so apart from.

THe BROTHeRS KaRamazOV fyoDor DostoyEvsky The Brothers Karamazov has been called the world’s best novel. It takes sex, murder, and courtroom drama and wraps it in a fierce debate over the existence and nature of God. The novel centers on the murdered Fyodor Karamazov, and his three sons Alexei, Ivan, and Dmitri. It looks like Dmitri was the one who killed his father: he has the motive, and he was observed at the scene. Dmitri says he didn’t do it, but all the evidence he says he has has vanished. An exploration of faith and reason follows as Alyosha and Ivan learn the truth of what has happened.

THe THeBan PLaYS sophoclEs A lot of us studied Oedipus Rex in high school, but reading the saga of Oedipus and his family for enjoyment rather than for a grade is an entirely dif-

ferent experience. The plays portray Oedipus and his family, doomed for three generations. Oedipus was the biggest man in town—a king who had it all before he realized the horror of what he had unknowingly done. Over the plays, Oedipus is torn between human law and natural law, where both decisions are right and both will destroy him. Sophocles knows how to screw his characters over; don’t let them suffer in vain by not reading about them.

THe ePiC OF giLgameSH Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, the greatest city in the world.

He’s twothirds god and still All MAN in big, capital, muscular letters. The people of Uruk can’t keep up with his demands though—how can you please someone like that? So the gods create Enkidu the wild-man to be Gilgamesh’s friend.

With their equal strength and drive, the two become like brothers and, as Arthur Brown puts it, they learn to be human from each other. Gilgamesh teaches Enkidu civilization—and gives him a prostitute that he uses for weeks at a time—and Enkidu teaches Gilgamesh sympathy and kindness, something he’d been lacking as a king. It’s a heartwarming tale—until the real story begins. It involves Enkidu dying, which leaves Gilgamesh alone to ponder his own mortality and leaving his home, overcome in sorrow, to save himself from the same fate as his friend. That is, to become immortal.

Do yoU hAvE A book yoU thINk wE MIssED or DIsAGrEE wIth Us coMplEtEly? joIN thE DIscUssIoN At MEDIUMoNlINE.cA/MAGAZINE

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