The Ontarion - Issue #177.4

Issue No. 177.4

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Guelph Rocks

NXNE

The Folk Midday Swim Damage Over Time Philae awakens

After seven months of silence, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Philae comet lander has emerged from hibernation long enough to relay data back to mission control.

On June 13, 14, and 19 the lander successfully transmitted operational data via its mothership, the space probe Rosetta, to the ESA’s European Space Operations Centre, in Darmstadt, Germany.

On Nov. 12, 2014, the ESA made history by landing Philae on the surface of Comet 67P/Ghuryumov–Gerasimenko—no small task considering that Comet 67P is

SEE CENTRE

Pan Am Games 2015 roughly 308 million kilometres away from Earth. Unfortunately, the landing craft’s automated harpoon system did not deploy as planned during touchdown, and, as a result, Philae “bounced” into the shadows where it was unable to adequately charge its solar-powered batteries.

After only 60 hours operating on the surface of the comet, Philae was forced to power down. Seven months later, however, it appears as though Philae may be attempting a comeback.

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The 2015 Toronto Pan American Games are only three weeks away and over half of...

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NEWS

Elon Musk’s Hyperloop

COURTESY OF SPACEX

Elon Musk’s theoretical, revolutionary transportation model is quickly becoming a reality.

The world’s fastest train under development MEGAN SCARTH When inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk first proposed the idea to built a 760 mph train in August 2013, the idea seemed like something for a futuristic utopia.

After all, it would shrink the distance required to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco from six hours to a mere 30 minutes. That’s less than half the time it would take to fly by plane. However, the

project has made real progress since then. On June 15, 2015, it was announced that a test track for the train, called the “Hyperloop,” is currently being built in California.

The track is being constructed

by SpaceX, a company founded

by Musk. The test track will be one-to-three miles long and fourto-five feet wide, and will be built outside SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California.

In an official SpaceX document, it was also announced that, “in order to accelerate the development of a functional prototype and to encourage student innovation, SpaceX is moving forward with a competition to design and build a half-scale Hyperloop pod.” The competition will be judged as early

as June 2016, with further details being released this August.

Additional progress towards the overall aesthetic of the train has also been made. In June 2015, Argo Design became the latest company to release a potential design for the interior of the train.

The design has the interior of the Hyperloop resembling that of a luxury plane, with large screens and keyboards for passengers to interact with.

In Argo’s plan, the walls of the Hyperloop will also be lined with large screens.

“We developed a concept for digital wall screens, called Tripscenes, to create a feeling of openness and discovery during travel,” said Argo designer Chipp

Rachel Dolezal and racial identity A take on the resignation of a former NAACP leader KAODI MCGAW On Monday, June 15, R achel Dolezal, president of the Spokane, Washington branch for the Nationa l Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NA ACP), announced her resignation amid a furor of media coverage erupting from an interview with Dolezal’s parents.

They claimed their daughter, a civil rights activist and Africana St ud ies professor at Easter n Wa sh i ng ton Un iver sit y, ha s been pretending to beiliationto bttoooooonijbvvucdtrsear black for years although she is white.

Dolezal repudiated the accusation in an interview with NBC

news where she unapologetically maintained, “I identify as black.”

G ro w i n g up i n Mont a n a , Dolezal has expressed that she always felt isolated with respect to her identity for her entire life.

Bet ween the age of 15 and 17, her parents adopted four black children. She was immediately drawn to them, inspiring in her a “tremendous affinity with African-Americans,” according to Dolezal’s father. She felt responsible for being the “ link ” for her trans-racial siblings to their black heritage. She eventually became a graduate student in art at Howard University, producing work revolving around the black experience. Subsequently, she went on to teach Africana studies at North Idaho College, and at Eastern Washington University.

In the race-f ixated landscape of the US, the former NAACP leader’s decision to, “self-ident it y as black ” has st ir red an international debate over what constitutes one’s racial identity.

...decision to “self-identity as black” has stirred an international debate...

While some actually applaud her actions and strike up comparisons to the recent transformation of Caitlyn Jenner, a transgender female, others deplore her actions claiming them to be deceitful and misleading. Some concede that,

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Walters in an inter view with the Daily Mail. “In this way, we turned the limitations of the capsule space into a key part of the journey’s appeal.”

Additionally, the team at Argo decided that they wanted to give the Hyperloop the capacity to carry passengers, vehicles, and cargo. They designed the train to be customizable according to its contents.

“To that end, we developed the concept of a capsule jukebox, which would lift capsules off the Hyperloop Sled and onto the departure/arrival platform,” said Chipp Walters in the same interview. “There they could be changed, conf igured, loaded, and unloaded. A second platform would be used for maintenance and loading of vehicles.”

Currently, no date has been set for when the official design will be chosen.

Infor mat ion has a lso been released about how the train will work. In August 2013, Elon Musk and engineers from SpaceX released a document available to the public that provided a detailed description of the train’s design.

The document described the train as travelling through a nearly

airless, vacuum-like space. It will f loat on air above the ground to avoid interference from the surrounding terrain, and will be propelled by solar power and magnetic forces.

The train will travel at slightly less than the speed of sound to avoid harm to passengers.

At the time, Musk stated that he was too busy to tackle such a large project, so the document was open-sourced so that any company or engineer could work on it.

In the meantime, two companies, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies and Hy perloop Technologies were created for the task. Musk is not affiliated with either of these companies.

However, the companies are mak ing progress: last month, H y p e r l o o p Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Technologies announced that it planned to build a five-mile test track in California.

These plans come as welcome news to tired travellers. At a proposed cost of just $20 per person for a ticket, the Hyperloop could very well be the future of inexpensive, fast, and convenient travel.

With all these recent developments, progress towards the future is starting to accelerate.

while it is one thing to embrace and indulge in black culture, it is quite another to physically change one’s appearance to look black.

Ba z D reisi ng er, aut hor of “Near Black: W hite-to-Black Passing in American Culture” warns that Dolezal ’s darkened skin tone, “taps into all of these issues a rou nd blac k face a nd wearing blackness and that whole cultural legacy, which makes it that much more vile.”

It’s challenging for anyone’s sense of ident it y when t heir appearance does not match the person they believe themselves to be. Rachel Dolezal is a woman who, despite her advocacy for black rights, her magnetism to the black culture and her persona l identif ication w ith the black experience, will most likely never be seen as a member of the black community because she is white. Dolezal ’s identif ication with black culture should not mean she has to reassign her race,

darken her skin or change her hair to live this cultural identity.

Her decision to pose as a black woman does not make Dolezal a complete fraud, but rather, it is a poignant example of an individual ’s struggle for society to make the “right” assumptions based on their appearance alone.

A world where people will accept one’s cultural identity without assuming it must match their race will be the sign of true societal advancement. Hopefully, to quote Dr. Martin Luther King, we will one day live in a society where people are judged by the “content of their character” rather than the, “colour of their skin.”

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Issue 177.4 | June 25, 2015

Under the Philae wakes from hibernation Radar Comet lander New OVC Dean announced

Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) has appointed its newest dean. A June 12 news release welcomed Prof. Jeff Wichtel, alumnus of Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) in P.E.I. The mixed animal veterinarian and boardcertified theriogenologist brings a wealth of experience to the position, including a residency at Iowa State University, teaching stints at New Zealand’s Massey University, and North Carolina’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and an associate deanship of graduate studies and research at AVC. Wichtel earned both his BVSc and PhD at Massey, and specializes in trace element and vitamin nutrition in ruminants and horses. An associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, Wichtel himself has published over 150 papers, and has played a role in the attraction of over $2.5 million in grant and contract funding, according to the news release.

Describing himself as humble and excited, Wichtel says, “I am looking forward to working alongside the outstanding students, staff and faculty at OVC—a new dean could not ask for a better base on which to build.”

He replaces Dr. Elizabeth Stone, who has served as dean for the past ten years.

-Compiled by Carleigh Cathcart

Trudeau unveils new platform

Libera l par t y leader Justin Trudeau held a conference on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, outlining his new political platform. Under the slogan of “Real Change,” Trudeau announced a series of widespread revisions to existing Conservative policy, while also including a plan to do away with Canada’s first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting system.

Commonly referred to as “Winner-takes-all,” the FPTP system essentially guarantees political victory to the party or candidate that successfully captures the majority of the votes in an election. Critics of the system have raised issue with FPTP, because it essentially guarantees that the victor of a political race is not representative of the entire population’s desires.

For instance, if only 61.1 per cent of the total voting population cast a ballot - like in the 2011 Federal Election - and the victor claims 51 per cent of the vote, the winner of the election has actually only succeeding in winning the favour of 23.0 per cent of the population.

-Compiled by Sameer Chhabra

re-establishes contact with Earth after seven months PETER NOWELL After seven months of silence, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Philae comet lander has emerged from hibernation long enough to relay data back to mission control.

On June 13, 14, and 19 the lander successfully transmitted operational data via its mothership, the space probe Rosetta, to the ESA’s European Space Operations Centre, in Darmstadt, Germany.

On Nov. 12, 2014, the ESA made history by landing Philae on the surface of Comet 67P/ Churyumov–Gerasimenko— no small task considering that Comet 67P is roughly 308 million kilometres away from Earth.

Unfortunately, the landing craft’s automated harpoon system did not deploy as planned during touchdown, and, as a result, Philae “bounced” into the shadows where it was unable to adequately charge its solar-powered batteries.

After only 60 hours operating on the surface of the comet, Philae was forced to power down. Seven months later, however, it appears as though Philae may be attempting a comeback.

“We are still examining the housekeeping in for mat ion… but we can already tell that all lander subsystems a re working nominally, with no apparent degradation after more than half a year hiding out on the comet’s frozen surface,” said Dr. Stephan Ulamec, Philae project manager at the Lander Control Center (LCC), in a statement issued by the ESA. “The lander is ready for operations.”

As Comet 67P moves closer to the sun along its elliptical orbit, the sunlight reaching Philae is

DLR VIA CC BY 3.0

The ESA’s comet lander reawakens after months of inactivity. expected to increase. In fact, data from the recent transmissions have already indicated that sunlight conditions are improving.

“At present, the lander is operating at a temperature of zero degrees Celsius, which means that the battery is now warm enough to store energy,” said Micheal Mailbaum, deputy operations manager at the LCC, in a June 19 press release. “More solar panels were illuminated; at the end of [the most recent] contact, four of Philae’s panels were receiving energy.”

A lt hough commu n icat ions between Philae and Earth have been brief so far—the longest transmission lasting only 19 minutes—the lander, it turns out, has been intermittently powered on and collecting status information since May. Although “Philae was already awake at this time, [it] could not contact us,” Dr. Ulamec e x pla ined in t he sa me LCC release.

The goal for mission control, now, is to maneuver Rosetta into a position to optimize the signal bet ween Philae and the space probe. “ We need a long and stable contact time to conduct research

with Philae again as planned,” said Maibaum, in the same press release.

Ideally, project engineers would like to bring the t wo craft to within 180 km of each other; however, that may not be an easy task.

A s Comet 67P approaches perihelion, the point along its orbit in which it is closest to the sun, the comet will begin to release greater amounts of gas and dust as its surface warms.

This debris field has the potential to damage Rosetta, and although the increased sunlight will be good for Philae, controllers will have to be careful to avoid placing Rosetta in undue jeopardy.

Once a stronger connection has been established bet ween the t wo spacecraft, engineers will test sensors that require relatively little energy and have few moving parts—instruments such as cameras and temperature sensors—before the lander resumes the use of any of its more complex scientific instruments. Eventually, the ESA hopes that Philae will be able to drill into the surface of Comet 67P to investigate the chemical composition of the comet’s nucleus. If successful, the

results of Philae’s analyses could provide detailed information on some of the oldest material in our planetary system and have far-reaching implications for our understanding of the origin of both the solar system and life on Earth.

Philae has already sent back incredible scientif ic f indings.

During its initial 60-hour operating period in November, Philae was able to detect organic molecules in Comet 67P’s atmosphere, using its Cometar y Sampling and Composition Experiment (COSAC) instrument.

For those interested in the origins of life on Earth, these f indings may lend credence to the hypothesis of panspermia— the idea that all life on Earth, or at least the building blocks of life, is extraterrestrial and was first brought to Earth on comets.

While it remains to be seen if Philae will ever fully recover from its dormant slumber, members of the LCC will be ready and waiting for the next transmission as part of this already ground-breaking feat.

NEWS

Bill C-51 granted royal assent Controversial anti-terror bill officially signed into law SAMEER CHHABRA The controversial anti-terror legislation, Bill C-51 passed the Senate on June 9. In spite of heavy opposition from both the Liberal and New Democratic parties, as well as vocal criticism from the press, senators voted to pass the bill with a 44-28 vote.

Since it was first revealed to the public several months ago, Bill C-51 has been constantly on the lips of the nation’s politicians. Liberal party leader, Justin Trudeau, and New Democratic Party (NDP) leader, Thomas Mulcair, have both raised their voices in opposition to the legislation drafted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.

Understandably, Conser vative representatives have been ardent supporters of Bill C-51. After news was announced that the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015—the bill’s formal name—was passed, Liberal Senator Jim Munson declared a stern condemnation for the senators who had stood in support of passing the bill into law.

“Proud to stand today with 25 Lib Senators against Bill C51,” said Munson, in a tweet published shortly after the Senate voted. “But the Con majority passed the bill which will affect [Canadians’] rights.”

Canadian politicians have been joined by public citizens, whose disapproving voices are united in a chorus against the anti-terrorism legislation. In addition to the approximately 243,000 Canadians who have spoken out against Bill C-51, writers like Margaret Atwood have also raised their voices in concern.

“Senators should not be fundraisers for any political party,” said Atwood, in a quote for the

National Observer. “Trudeau had the right idea in uncoupling them from caucus. Senators are paid by the public and should serve us, not shill for politicians on the rubberchicken circuit. They should work to protect us from authoritarian tendencies and dictatorial aspirations, such as power grabs like C-51, the clear intention of which is to undercut and circumvent the

...Bill C-51 has been constantly on the lips of the nation’s politicians.

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Charter [of Right and Freedoms].”

A day after the Senate voted, Bill C-51 received royal assent on the afternoon of Thursday, June 18, 2015. Those who f louted the legislation’s benefits were excited to discuss their understanding of the bill’s numerous social and cultural protective plans.

In addition to politicians and members of the public, online advocates have stated their disapproval for Bill C-51. Objections have been raised by the so-called Internet Majority on a number of forums, and many threats have been made by a gaggle of anonymous online users.

Though suspects have not been revealed, Government of Canada websites suffered a cyberattack on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Politicians connected to Government of Canada servers, including Conservative party MP Tony Clement, explained that Government of Canada websites were under attack.

“Conf irmed today that Govt of Canada GC servers have been

Pope’s ecology encyclical released Pope Francis wades into climate debate ALEX PETRIC Pope Francis made waves last week by wading into the public discourse on the current climate crisis. His statements come from his second encyclical, a document addressed to the entire Catholic Church and beyond, which was released by the Vatican on June 18. Titled Laudato Si, the encyclical was highly anticipated due to its focus on ecology, even spawning the hashtags #LaudatoSi and #PopeForPlanet.

In the 184-page text, Francis calls on all peoples to work together in taking substantial steps to care for the Earth and combat climate change. He draws attention to current concerns, such as biodiversity loss, pollution, and rising temperatures, writing that the planet “is beginning to look

more and more like an immense pile of filth.” At the same time, Francis appealed for action on moral issues like poverty, water scarcity, global inequality, and unjust economic systems.

Noting the interrelatedness of these diverse topics, the pontiff proposed that many of these problems stem from a “throwaway culture” expressed in irrational consumerism, addiction to fossil fuels, blind faith in technology, and stark individualism.

T he Pope ca st ig ated bot h obstructionist attitudes that deny scientific evidence, and resolutions that seek to control the population without changing the structural causes of the problems faced by the impoverished, writing that the proper response must hear “both the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.” Instead, Francis suggested an “integral ecology” which recognizes the connections both among peoples and between humanity and the natural world.

Francis stressed the need for people of all faith and backgrounds

to work together in healing the Earth. In the document, subtitled Care for our Common Home, Francis wrote, “The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.”

While previous pontiffs have espoused care for the Earth in their teachings, Francis is the first to emphasize the moral imperative to do so in such a public way.

He is also the first to connect climate management to other issues, such as poverty and even income inequality and pro-life issues.

Francis’ environmental stance is not entirely unexpected. The title “Laudato Si” is lifted from St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, from whom the Pope at the time, Jorge Bergoglio, took his Papal name. The phrase is Latin for “be praised,” and comes from St. Francis’ Canticle of the Sun, which praises God through different aspects of nature, such

...the first to connect climate management to other issues, such as poverty...

as Sister Moon and Brother Fire.

Also in line with Francis’ style is his focus on the poor and marginalized. Since rising to the Papacy in 2013, Francis has made numerous headlines for his emphasis on tangible acts of charity and public advocacy for the less-fortunate.

Laudato Si is not without its

cyberattacked,” said Clement in a tweet on June 17.

Clement also directed concerned members of the public to contact a toll-free number if they required governmental attention.

It is important to recognize that sources under investigation are sparse, but it is evident that the directed denial of service (DDoS) attack was carried out with malicious intent.

Bill C-51’s controversy stems from the loose manner in which it ascribes the charges of terrorism. The legislation’s critics have attempted to argue that the bill’s language allows the federal government to unlawfully charge outspoken citizens—who are well within their Charter rights—with charges of terrorism. However, Bill C-51’s advocates claim that the legislation is a necessary step in the ongoing battle against terrorism.

TheON

detractors, however. Some politicians, notably from the U.S. Republican part y, have taken issue with the religious leader’s comments on a scientific—and at times, political—subject. Even before the encyclical ’s release, former Senator Rick Santorum, a Catholic himself, remarked that the Church was “better off leaving science to the scientists and focusing on what we’re good at, which is theology and morality.”

Senator James Inhofe, a noted climate change denier, took issue with Francis’ comments on the poor. Inhofe predicted that the encyclical will advance climate change legislation, but argued that “[the poor] will be the ones to carry the heaviest burden of such onerous policies.”

The real impact of the encyclical remains to be seen. In addition to challenging citizens to be more env ironment-conscious, Pope Francis also hopes the text will inf luence those involved in the U.N.’s 2015 Climate Change Conference in Paris later this year.

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NEWS

Issue 177.4 | June 25, 2015

Charleston church shooting Shooter allegedly identified, claimed he wanted to incite a “Race War” SAMEER CHHABRA

For almost 200 years, the church has been a shelter...

On the evening of June 17, 2015, a historical church in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, was attacked by a single shooter. The chief suspect in the investigation is 21-year-old Dylann Roof, who is allegedly responsible for the deaths of nine church-goers, as well as injuring one other.

According to witnesses at the scene, the shooter was participating in the church’s weekly Bible study meeting, before removing a gun from a fanny pack he was wearing, and carrying out the shooting.

Witnesses reported to police and news sources that, when asked why he was attacking churchgoers, the shooter responded: “I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go.”

The shooter quickly f led the scene after carrying out the shooting. Roof was later named as the primary suspect by the FBI, after his father and uncle contacted police to identify him once they saw photos of him in the news.

In the time since June 17, a number of culture- and law-makers have spoken out against the alleged violence carried out.

U.S. President Barack Obama released a statement on June 19, condemning the shooter’s actions,

and linking the events in Charleston to America’s lax attitudes on gun control.

“As much as we grieve this particular tragedy, it’s important to step back and recognize that these tragedies have become far too commonplace,” said Obama. “[Gun violence] costs this country dearly. More than 11,000 Americans were killed in 2013 alone.

If Congress had passed some common sense legislation after Newton, after a group of children had been gunned down in their own classroom, reforms that 90 per cent of American people had supported…we might still have more Americans with us. We might have stopped one shooter. Some families might still be home.”

Roof ’s persona l manifesto, found on a website maintained by him, revealed potential insight into the mind of the killer. Roof believed that it was his responsibility to insight racial violence, arguing that recent events, like the case of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, indicated white Americans’ need to fight for

their racial superiority.

“I have no choice,” reads an excerpt from his manifesto. “I am not in the position to, alone, go into the ghetto and fight. I chose Charleston because it is [the] most historic city in my state, and, at one time, had the highest ratio of black to whites in the country. We have no skinheads, no real KKK, no one doing anything but taking on the Internet. Well, someone has to have the bravery to take it to the real world, and I guess it has to be me.”

Emanuel A frican Methodist Episcopal Church, the house of worship that was allegedly attacked by Roof, is a historical site in South Carolina, and is closely associated with the hardship endured by black Americans in the state. For almost 200 years, the church has been a shelter and haven for those persecuted during the slavery era and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, as well as the more recent Black Lives Matter movement of the 2010s.

T he unemployed Roof has been charged with nine counts of murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The murder charges were delivered by the chief magistrate of Charleston County, who set Roof ’s bond at $US 1 million. No bail was set for the weapon’s possession charge.

At the bond ruling, families of some of the victims rose to deliver statements to the court.

“You took something very previous away from me,” said the daughter of Ethel Lee Lance, a 70-year-old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother allegedly killed by Roof. “I will never talk to her again. I will never get to hold her again. But I forgive you.”

JALEXARTIS VIA CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/MODIFIED

A historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, was the sight of a mass shooting on June 17, 2015.

Felecia Sanders was also present on the night of the shooting.

She pretended to be dead to survive. Sanders was also the mother of 26-year-old victim Ty wanza Sanders.

“We welcomed you Wednesday night in our Bible study with open arms,” said Sanders. “Every fibre in my body hurts and I’ll never

the same. Tywana Sanders was my son, but Tywana was also my hero.”

Though lawmakers like President Obama have ref used to condemn Roof as a domestic terrorist, members of the public have begun to advocate that charges of terrorism are appropriate for the 21-year-old.

ARTS & CULTURE

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The Weekly Scene: Life Itself (2014)

COURTESY

4 stars out of 4 SAMEER CHHABRA Roger Ebert died on April 4, 2013, at the age of 70. I distinctly remember where I was—in a firstyear sociology class, checking my phone instead of paying attention to the lecture—when I learned the news. I’m not the sentimental type, but I felt devastated at the loss of Ebert, whose work as a film critic, writer, and journalist informed much of my criticism. In the first ever “The Weekly Scene”, I explained why I review films out of four, instead of using a fivepoint or 10-point scale; it’s because Roger used four stars.

Directed by Steve James, based on Ebert’s biography, Life Itself is an ode to Roger Ebert and everything he did for movies. The film’s title is decoded in several scenes:

Roger Ebert simply loved movies more than life itself.

He did more than love them, however. He made them. He saw them. He reviewed them. He tore them apart. He built them up. He catapulted them to the forefront of popular culture. He made sure they always remained in the Pantheon of art.

Roger Eber t was a pa r t of the movies in ways unlike any before—or after—him.

James’ film begins with footage captured from Ebert’s last few months. Roger was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid and salivary glands in 2002. He lost the ability to talk and eat when treatment forced surgeons to remove his lower jaw. He returned to the hospital frequently over the next 11 years, until 2013, when he was hospitalized due to a fractured hip that proved to be cancerous.

As James so earnestly details, losing the ability to speak only made Ebert’s voice louder. In this film, we don’t see a man on the precipice of death, we see a man preparing for the next chapter of his life. Roger Ebert was 70 when he died on that April afternoon. In the film, even in his last few days, he looks like he’s not a day over 50.

Interspersed between Ebert’s hospital footage are scenes from Siskel & Ebert and interviews with the people whose lives he affected. James interviews filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, whose f ilms were reviewed by Ebert and whose career was revitalized by Ebert’s contributions.

James meets w ith journa lists from Ebert’s early years in Chicago. They explain that Roger was always a big man, whether in personality, appetite, or sexuality.

Finally, James interviews Chaz, the woman who changed Roger’s life—the woman he proudly, perhaps even boastfully, called the love of his life.

Chaz’s heavy inclusion in Life Itself should come as no surprise for Ebert’s biographers or his fans.

Meeting her was a pivotal moment in Roger’s life—one imagines the coda swelling and the strings taking f light in the scene where Roger, eyes awoken after years of alcohol abuse, enters the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where fate would intertwine his life with Chaz’s.

However, James’ decision to feature Chaz in the film is a result of Ebert’s own involvement in the production of Life Itself. Due to his relative inability to leave his hospita l room, Ebert—tr ust y Macintosh computer by his side –answered emailed questions sent

by James. On a good day, James received a comprehensive thesis.

On bad days, James received indicators that Ebert’s life was quickly coming to an end.

Roger Ebert has always been meticulous about his expectations for documentaries. He expected documentaries to do more than document the lives of subjects.

Films about people were to be about people, as well as their history, philosophy, and ideology.

David Gelb’s Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Roger Ebert changed the way we all look at movies.

(3 stars out 4) failed to secure that final star because Ebert was disappointed in Gelb’s failure to capture Jiro’s life beyond his work.

“The existence of his sons are an indication that he has a wife, although we never see her,” criticized Ebert. “He must have a home, although we never visit it.”

Through James’ camera, we see Ebert for the man he was: his volatile relationship with fellow critic Gene Siskel, the inner dwellings of his Chicago home, the interaction between Roger and his close friends, and—most importantly—the existence, indication, and presence of Chaz. Life Itself, though directed by James, is a testament to Roger Ebert’s expectations for the movies. Filmmakers take heed: this is how you make a documentary about people.

Throughout ever y scene that James meticulously pieces

together—alongside co-editor David E. Simpson—we get the impression that Roger Ebert was every bit the man we saw on television and in his writings. He was powerful, loud, impassioned, and in love with the movies.

Roger Ebert changed the way we all look at movies. He made us see that movies are more than moving pictures—he made us see that every frame of every film contains a story of no less than 1000 words. In his expansive time reviewing films—for his television program and for the Chicago Sun Times—Ebert captured the essence of cinema and dragged it to the forefront of his readers’ and viewers’ minds.

In short, thank you Roger—for the movies.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Issue 177.4 | June 25, 2015

E3 2015: A great year for video games Highlighting key announcements from the conference EMILIO GHLOUM On June 16 to June 18, the 21st annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) was held in the Los Angeles Convention Centre. The event, which hosted a variety of exhibitors and vendors, provided video game fans with a number of incredible announcements that are sure to propel the video game industry forward into a new age of excitement and technological advancement.

Without a doubt, Bethesda Softworks, the video game production company behind the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series’, s tol e t h e s h o w a t E3 2 015 .

Bethesda was one of the f irst presenters at the event—unsurprisingly, they did not disappoint fans in the slightest. Bethesda announced Dishonored 2, The Elder Scrolls: Legends, Doom, and Battlecry among other smaller titles.

The biggest announcement from Bethesda was Fallout 4, a sequel nearly five years in the making.

The crowd roared with excitement as incredible gameplay footage displayed the game’s stunning visual graphics and immersive build-engine which allows players to create shelters, manipulate environments, and customize

... stunning visual graphics and immersive build-engine...

weaponry to their liking. It is highly likely that Fallout 4 will become the must-buy game of the year once it is released in early November for PC, Xbox One and PS4.

Microsoft’s presentation was not quite as impactful as Bethesda’s.

Nonetheless, Microsoft stood true to its roots by announcing Halo 5, Gears of War 4, and Dark Souls III, games from three of its flagship franchises. The biggest announcement from Microsoft, however, w a s not a n upcom ing v ideo game. Microsoft announced, to the pleasure of many Xbox 360 owners, that the Xbox One will have backwards compatibility.

Players are urgently hoping that developers will follow in the steps of Microsoft and adopt backwards compatibility for other consoles.

Sony also made an enormous splash at this years E3 conference. The long-standing electronic

RICK R .1 VIA CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/MODIFIED

The 21st annual E3 conference announced a wide variety of highly anticipated games, giving video game fans worldwide a reason to cheer. giant announced an incredible list of games that fans have been requesting for nearly a decade.

Announcing titles such as Shenmue III, The Last Guardian, Star Wars: Battlefront, and a remarkable high-def inition remake of Final Fantasy VII, there a variety of upcoming games that will have fans buzzing for a long time.

Square Enix, best known for their production of the Final Fantasy series, provided a powerful list of upcoming games, building on the success the company has seen in recent years. By announcing games such as Kingdom Hearts

Album of the Week Artist: YUKA Album: World of Hayao Miyazaki World of Hayao Miyazaki is a 2008 album full of beautiful instrumentals from some of Miyaki’s greatest films, including Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbour Totoro and Laputa: Castle in the Sky. Amongst many of Studio Ghibli’s albums, this one definitely puts most of the fans in a state of no return, COURTESY because the unity between the piano and violin could not sound any better even with such talented skills. YUKA definitely did an amazing job compiling the two instruments and choosing some of the best original soundtracks for the films. Whether you’re studying or feeling sad, or even wanting to sit in your room and imagine you’re in your own animated world, this album fits many scenarios.

III, Just Cause 3, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Hitman, it is evident that Square Enix has once again established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the video game industry.

Nintendo once again outdid themselves. With ever y thing from a wacky puppet show, to an emphasis on the integration of Amiibo into current games, Nintendo announce a vast array of unique games, while still holding true to its flagship franchises.

Nintendo proudly announced Super Mario Maker, Fire Emblem: Fates, Hyrule Warriors Legends,

Metroid Prime: Federation Force, and, with an immense roar from the crowd, Star Fox Zero. While many fans were disappointed by the Metroid Prime gameplay demonstration, Nintendo’s constant ability and commitment towards creating artistic and enjoyable video games overshadowed any feelings of resentment or disdain.

As always, E3 proves once again why it is the definitive conference for the latest announcements in video game design and innovation. At E3 2015, it is safe to say that all 52,000 attendees left with something to be happy about.

CFRU Top 10 Album Chart: Rank Artist Album (Record Label) 1) Henry Threadgill Zooid—In For a Penny, In for a Pound (pi) 2) Metz—II (Sub Pop) 3) Unknown Mortal Orchestra—Multi-Love ( Jagjaguwar) 4) The Young Novelists—Made Us Strangers (self-released) 5) The Weather Station—Loyalty (Outside) 6) Blonde Elvis—On Vanity (Pleasance) 7) Renny Wilson—Punk Explosion/Extension (Mint) 8) Thee Oh Sees—Mutilator Defeated (Castle Face) 9) No Joy—More Faithful (Arts & Crafts) 10) Elliot Maginot—Young/Old/Everything.In.Between (Indica)

ARTS & CULTURE

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An evening of slam poetry The poetry slam took place June 20 at eBar CALUM FERRALL On Saturday, June 20, I was happy to f ind myself at the monthly Guelph Poetry Slam. The event is hosted on the third Saturday of each month at eBar. It began with open mic poetry, then, it was followed by a poetry competition where poets prepared exclusively original poems to be judged by randomly selected judges in the audience. The winner of the competition received $100 in cash.

This was my first time attending the Guelph Poetry Slam—or any poetry event for that matter— and it was certainly worth the time. Ascending up the long, steep stairs of the eBar entrance was the perfect transition from daily life into a poetic environment. It was a welcoming, safe place where people were encouraged to share ideas and express t hemselves. Ever yone in t he room was friendly, whether they were performers or just audience members. The atmosphere was filled with good vibes; the organizers even had their own chant.

When someone would say “GPS”

(Guelph Poetry Slam), everyone else would reply, “Where you at!?”

The event began with the open mic portion, which started the night off powerfully. With heavy social issues and political commentary rhythmically expressed, the crowd was left in silence, but that was the point. The poets were able to unify a whole room with a single collective thought. All the open mic performances were enjoyable.

Afterwards, they had the first half of the poetry competition.

During competition, poets perform their poems without the accompaniment of any outside props, music, or costumes. Each performer had three minutes and ten seconds for their poem with a deduction of points if they went over the allotted time. Each of the five judges would give a score out of 10 for each performance.

The performances themselves took on a slightly different tone than that of an open mic event.

The poems of the competitors, on average, were more personal and revealing than politically fueled. Due to the nature of slam poetry, all of the poems were, in some way, socially charged. Each expression had a purpose and both ways were equally engaging.

As an intermission act, they had a feature guest from Toronto. Her name was Sabrina

Inside Out review Pixar’s emotional return DANA BELLAMY If there is one thing that the creators at Pixar know, it is how to tug on the ole heartstrings.

Although the company was built upon the kind of technological advancement that is often seen as cold or unfeeling, from day one, Pixar has thrived on the mantra “Story is King”. This is the mentality that has helped to create the origina l concepts behind many beloved classics such as Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo. In recent years, however, we have seen a slew of sequels and prequels coming out of Pixar headquarters. With the release of Toy Story 3 came Cars 2, and Monsters University, leaving movie fans wondering if that primary spark of originalit y had been lost to the world of franchising and money-making. All of this has changed with Pixar’s latest, Inside Out. Conceptually, Inside Out is nothing short of a thematic

masterpiece, digging deep inside the makeup of the human brain and touching on everything from the loss of imagination to the conception of abstract thought.

Though this may not sound like a film aimed at children, it is very much a film for anyone who either is a child or who as been a child at some point in their life.

The story focuses on Riley, an 11-year-old girl dealing with the struggles of growing up while her family is rerouted from their home in Minnesota to San Francisco. During this transition, Riley’s emotions run wild, leaving her confused and detached.

Each emotion is personified as a colourful character who inhabits Riley’s brain. Her primary emotional makeup is comprised of Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader), and Anger (Lewis Black). From the moment Riley was born, Joy has been the driving force behind Riley’s personality, which is portrayed in the film as a series of islands and life events meticulously archived in a library of memories. When her world is flipped upside down, her

MIDO MELEBARI

The Guelph Poetry Slam, held at eBar every month, showcases a diverse set of poetic performances by some of Guelph’s finest young writers.

Benaim—a poet who recently had one of her videos go viral on YouTube. Popularized by her poem “Explaining my depression to My Mother,”she is currently working on getting her poems published in an anthology. She was energetic, fun, and active on stage. Benaim was able to lead the audience along through a myriad of emotions, never missing a beat.

After the competition resumed from a short break, the next set of performances were also entertaining. In the end, the winner of this months competition was Beth A nne. She is an active member in the Guelph Spoken Word community and delivered a fluid and gripping delivery—definitely deserving of first place. The Guelph Poetry Slam is a unique

experience filled with passionate people expressing themselves. It is a place where people are accepting and able to share ideas in a safe environment. As a first time visitor, the poetry slam was something I can happily recommend people to attend at least once—it really is something refreshingly different than the usual Saturday night out.

COURTESY

Pixar’s Inside Out provides viewers with an unique emotional experience that is rich and fulfilling in a variety of ways. emotions are thrown into a whirlwind of trouble.

At the end of the day, Inside O ut i s a mov ie a b out emo tions, and it sure did make me

emotional. It is a gorgeously animated, brilliantly scored film that allows the viewer to become selfreflective and remember exactly what it feels like to grow up. It

reminds us that, as we get older, sometimes feelings change, sometimes memories are forgotten, and sometimes you can’t have Joy without Sadness.

NORTH BY NORTHEAST PHOTOS BY DANA BELLAMY AND DANIELLE SUBJECT

BORN RUFFIANS

PANG ATTACK

MISE EN SCENE

MOST PEOPLE

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

GUELPH takes The stage AT

NXNE Midday Swim From Toronto, Midday Swim has been all over Exclaim! for their hit track “Summer Eyes,” off of their self-titled EP. Made up of members David Krygier-Baum (vocals, guitar), Stephan Ermel (keyboards, vocals), Sebastian Shinwell (guitar, vocals), Craig Saltz (bass, vocals), and Max Trefler (drums), the band played a gig in this year’s NXNE. David Krygier-Baum, a U of G alumnus, represented Guelph in Toronto’s music festival.

The Ontarion had the opportunity to find out how Guelph impacted Krygier-Baum as a musician.

“I have vivid memories that I often kind of revisit, of going to the Arboretum and walking the dog,” explained Krygier-Baum. “You know, figuring out a few things and what I’d like to do after school. And really, once again, just taking in that kind of removedfrom-the-big-city feeling to just stay nice and calm and relaxed in such a beautiful place.”

Krygier-Baum also explained that Guelph brought his band members closer together.

“So I lived in Guelph when I was a student,” said Krygier-Baum. “Yeah, I lived all over. First-year, res.

Second-year was Cedar Street. Third-year was in the South end, and fourth year... the nickname was the Slanty Shanty. That’s the white house that used to have a big barn behind it near downtown. So when I was in Guelph, the guys came up to visit me and so we all actually kind of bonded in Guelph. When I was in my fourth year of university, my dog, Jack—the dog that’s in the music video for Summer Eyes—he actually came and lived with me in Guelph and I worked at a group home just outside of Guelph and he came and worked as a therapy dog.”

Midday Swim currently has a self-titled EP available, which they recorded in a cabin in the backwoods of Canada.

“The mellowness of being up at the cottage and being able to relax – not having the delay tasks of all the things happening in the city distracting us,” explained Krygier-Baum. “By getting out of the city and going up to the cottage we were able to really sink deep into the music and make sure that we were taking our time with recording, experimenting, seeing what works, seeing what works better, and just having a good time as a band up north.”

The band had a blast during NXNE this year, and plan to continue recording and performing in the GTA.

The Folk The Folk is more than just a weekend side project, it is a collective of passionate and talented musicians putting everything they have into their craft. Formed out of Guelph and Toronto in 2009, The Folk has been hard at work taking the Canadian independent music scene by a storm of psychedelic synth grooves. They describe their sound as “fuckpop… a distorted vision of digestible music,” and it really is something that needs to be experienced to fully understand.

The Folk’s core membership is comprised of twins, Sara (vocals, guitar, keys) and Emma Bortolon-Vettor (guitar, keys), Liam Magahay (bass), and Mark Ferrari (vocals, guitar, keys), with the recent addition of Simon Thomson (drums) and Alex Howard (sax). The band opened the bill for Montreal’s No Joy at this year’s NXNE festival, tearing up one of their regular Toronto haunts, the Silver Dollar Room.

The small venue allowed for an intimate experience that showcased the raw energy and emotion emitting from the stage. During their extremely tight and dynamic performance, the band’s organic chemistry was hard to ignore. With a chorus of voices, heavily distorted guitars, and driving rhythms, The Folk presented a hard hitting “wall of sound” that has evolved along with the band’s experiences and influences. They took the opportunity to present some new material at NXNE that will be included on their full-length LP, Every Colour, Present Wonder, later this year.

Although the band members came together in Toronto and spent some time writing and recording their new album in Montreal, they still consider The Folk to be a Guelph-based band. Sara, Emma, and Liam grew up playing music in Guelph.

“There is a lot of creative and familial history here,” Sara explained. “There is a huge community in this city that values teaching and fostering creative expression.”

The Folk’s next show will take place at Jimmy Jazz in Guelph on Saturday, June 27. Come prepared to kick back, rock out, and dance along.

Written by Dana Bellamy and Danielle Subject Courtesy photos (below)

Damage Over Time Damage Over Time, a punk-rock group from Toronto, recently got back together as a band and began performing around various venues in Toronto. With a few covers and an original song, “Cat Scratch Beaver,” the band is composed of members Alisha Trigatti, Christabel Syed, Lauryn Kronick, and Pam Sloan.

Trigatti, a U of G alumnus, represented Guelph in this year’s NXNE festival.

When asked if Guelph affected her at all as an artist, Trigatti replied, “Yeah, it totally did. I saw a lot of live music in Guelph – Guelph was a great town for small acts. I remember seeing Tegan and Sara, before they were super famous, they played at Van Gogh’s and made us sit on the floor, it was really weird, and we talked to them and stuff. That was cool, now they’re super famous [laughs]. I remember seeing a lot of people who went on to be bigger Canadian acts. It was cool.

I saw a lot of cool bands [at Hillside] every year, too.”

Unfortunately, being an all-girl band still seems to be a rarity in the indie music industry, though Trigatti agrees that it still stands out, but that it’s not as uncommon as it used to be.

“I think being an all-girl band is this weird novelty thing [laughs]. We get a lot of people that want to book us, like ‘oh wow an all-girl band that’s not very common’, which is unfortunate because I know a lot of girls that play music,” said Trigatti. “It’s just that having an entire band full of girls is a rarity. In a way it’s kind of working for us because it’s unusual, but I do definitely think it’d be great if more girls started their own bands—I think that’s coming back, though. I see that in indie music and stuff there’s a lot of girl bands starting out.”

Issue 177.4 | June 25, 2015

12

SPORTS & HEALTH

Weak public response to Pan Am Games 2015 Toronto’s organizing committee criticized for low ticket sales KAYA FIRTH The 2015 Toronto Pan American Games are only three weeks away and over half of the 1.4 million available tickets remain unsold.

Teddy Katz, a spokesman for the 2015 organizing committee, told CBC last week that only 400,000 tickets have been sold so far. Tickets have been on sale since September 2014, almost a year in advance of the Games.

Katz told CBC that the low ticket sales do not necessarily ref lect lack of interest and that it is common for major sporting events to see a surge in ticket sales in the weeks immediately preceding the games. He also said that the organizing committee does not expect to sell out all events, especially considering the massive seating capacity of some venues.

The most popular tickets have been medal rounds and Opening Ceremonies. Tickets are sold out for the Opening Ceremonies on July 10, which will feature performances from Cirque du Soleil.

Tickets for the games are marketed on the Toronto 2015 website as very affordable, with 75 per cent of tickets priced at $45 or less. There are also discounts of 50 per cent for seniors and children under 16, and all ticket

JASON HARGROVE VIA CC BY 2.0

The Pan Am Games provides the city of Toronto with the opportunity to witness world-class athletes competing head-to-head. purchasers can access public transit to and from the event for free. Some events, such as the cycling road race on Aug. 8 and the Closing Ceremonies for the Parapan Am Games, are also free for spectators. These significant discounts, while making the games more affordable and likely increasing attendance, reduce the total revenue from ticket sales.

In addition, many of the events surrounding the games are free of cost. The plan in Toronto’s 2009 bid included escalating the hype for the games in 2015, which they have done through programs like Panamania, and offering free concer ts and cult u ral events throughout Toronto. Again, the low cost of these events will

likely see a large turnout, but Toronto will not make any money off of this attendance.

In Toronto’s initial bid, the anticipated ticket revenue was $38 million, accounting for only 10 per cent of the total anticipated revenue of the games. With approximately 45 per cent of the tickets sold so far, the organizing committee has seen less than 5 per cent of their total anticipated Games revenue and has already adjusted their budget from $1.5 million to $2.5 million.

T h is leaves ma ny, i ncluding Progressive-Conser vative Member of Provincial Parliament Todd Smith, asking where the money will come from at the end of the Games. Smith expressed

concerns to Michael Coteau, the Cabinet Minister responsible for the games, that the burden would be placed on Ontario taxpayers if the Games did not bring in enough revenue.

I n M a r ch , t he or g a n i z i ng committee faced criticism for suspending ticket sales for a month in an effort to shine a spotlight on the Parapan Am Games and boost ticket sales for these events.

Smith referred to this strategy as “ridiculous,” particularly in light of low ticket sales for the Pan Am Games. Smith publicly criticized Coteau during question period for this approach at the time.

One of the priorities for the 2015 games is to integrate the Parapan A m Games into the

overall Games plan, according to the Vision and Values statement for the Games. However, separating the ticket sales seems to work against this goal of integration, which is the strategy that Smith does not u nderstand. Coteau stated to the Toronto Sun that the reason behind the suspension on Pan Am ticket sales was to ensure the “right type of attention” for the Parapan Am Games.

The Parapan Am Games are regional qualifying competitions for the Paralympic Games, providing a platform for competition between athletes with disabilities.

The Toronto 2015 Games will be fully integrated and are set to be the largest Parapan Am Games ever, according to their website.

The Rio 2007 Parapan Am Games were the first to hold events in the same city as its Pan Am counterpart, with only one organizing committee. The 2011 Guadalajara Parapan Am Games had 1,300 athletes from 26 countries compete in 13 sports, and the Toronto 2015 Games aim to surpass this benchmark.

The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place from July 10 to July 26, followed by the Parapan Am Games from Aug.7 to Aug.15. The events will be held across 16 different host municipalities around Toronto.

Follow us at @theontarion

SPORTS & HEALTH

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Canadian Blood Services celebrate World Blood Donor Day Recognizing volunteers worldwide ANDREW SHURE June 14 was World Blood Donor Day, and Canadian Blood Services, like so many other organizations across the planet, celebrated the lifesaving gifts that blood donors continue to provide. This past year there were over 420,000 blood donations in Canada, with each donation giving a leukemia patient, car accident victim, or other person in need an opportunity to continue living.

“We are extremely lucky to have a safe and reliable blood supply that ensures Canadian patients receive blood products whenever and wherever they need them,” said Mark Donnison, vice-president of Donor Relations, in an off icial statement. “On World

Blood Donor Day, we would like to remind Canadians of how precious each blood donation is, and to encourage new donors to book their first appointment.”

Mr. Donnison continued to add that during the summer many

...hopes to encourage people from all nations to donate blood voluntarily...

donors are unable to give, producing extra emphasis on boosting the current inventory.

World Blood Donor Day was created by the World Health Organization (WHO). With the slogan of “Give freely, give often,” the WHO hopes to encourage people from all nations to donate blood voluntarily, while acknowledging those who have already donated.

The WHO accepts over 108 million donations each year, with 73 nations obtaining greater than 90 per cent of their blood supply from unpaid donors. They have set 2020 as the target to have all nations receive 100 per cent of their blood supply through volunteers.

The theme of the 2015 campaign is “Thank you for saving my life.”

Blood supply and usage can greatly vary across the globe. In high-income countries, blood donors are more common and tend to be proportionally older.

There are a median 36.8 donations per 1,000 population, compared to 11.7 donations for middle-income,

and 3.9 in low-income countries.

In high-income nations 76 per cent of blood transfusions are for patients older than 65 years of age, while in low-income countries children less than five years-old receive 65 per cent of the transfusions. Additionally, low-income areas more frequently import plasma-derived medicinal products, including immunoglobulins and coagulation factors, and have a higher prevalence of transfusiontransmissible infections in blood donations (HIV, Hepatitis B & C, etc) than do more affluent ones (e.g. HIV prevalence of 0.85 per cent compared 0.002 per cent).

However, the WHO Blood and Transfusion Safety program has helped created and improve blood standards worldwide.

Canadian hospitals are also becoming bet ter at uti l izing available blood resources. The Toronto Star recently reported that improvements in hospital procedures and blood conservation have led to some clinics and

The 2014-15 NBA Finals Recap A historic battle between two powerhouses MARC BERNARDO Cle v e l a nd ’s Q u ic k en L oa ns Arena would be the last stop for the 2014-15 NBA Season, as the Golden State Warriors wrapped up the playoffs with a victory over the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. Game six ended the best of seven series by a final score of 4-2 in favour of the Warriors. Golden State secured their fourth NBA Championship and their first title since 1975.

The t wo teams produced a brilliant series that had many storylines, and great star-power.

The world’s best player, Lebron James, squared off against the

world’s best team. In this case, the team prevailed. Led by league MVP Stephen Curry, and eventual Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, the Warriors were able to win a war of attrition against Lebron’s Cavaliers. The Warriors won three consecutive games to overcome a 2-1 series def icit. Golden State finished the NBA season with the best regular season record, and subsequently collected the Championship jewellery last Tuesday.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this year’s Finals is the story of Lebron James and his inability to secure his third NBA Championship. Lebron was once again the centre of attention in the Finals, which has been the case for the last five years, with him appearing in all five. Lebron James highlighted a broken down Cavaliers team, that lost all-star guard Kyrie Irving in game one to a fractured knee cap. Irving’s

injur y added to the l ist that already included superstar Kevin Love, and Anderson Varejao, who were ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs with signif icant injuries. One could argue that Lebron was really doing it all on his own.

Lebron’s performance was legendar y; averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game, just short of a triple double.

Lebron’s excellence throughout the Finals and the NBA playoffs had basketball fans questioning his ranking in terms of all-time great players; it was a magical run that ended with another type of brilliance. Golden State’s talent and team play simply took over the f inals, as it had appeared that Lebron James had nothing left to give. Cleveland’s injuries simply forced them to rely on Lebron as an individual, a plan that was eventually exploited by

Lebron was once again the centre of attention in the Finals...

collaborative efforts of the Warriors team.

Small forward Andre Iguodala was pivotal in the series, providing Golden State with a secondary option alongside Stephen Curry.

bloodmobile programs being shut down. Last year there was a four per cent decline in the need for red blood cells, and because of improved efficiency, the national blood collection goal will be reduced by 40,000 units this year.

Canadian Blood Services facilitate other t y pes of lifesaving donations as well. The OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network allows volunteers to register and potentially help the 75 per cent of patients who are unable to find a match within their families. Stem cells from umbilical cords can also be collected for similar purposes.

They provide links to provincial registries for organs and tissues.

Excitingly, a new Highly Sensitized Patient (HSP) program was launched on May 22. This national initiative is designed to improve the chances of kidney disease patients with high levels of sensitizing antibodies being connected with suitable donors and the organs they need.

Iguodala contributed 25 points in the final game and was effective on both sides of the ball, given the task of guarding Lebron James.

Iguodala was a difference-maker, and was thoroughly deserving of the Finals MVP; he now joins an elite company of players who have previously won the award.

Lebron James, who was guarded

by Andre Iguodala throughout the finals, nearly won the Finals MVP himself. James would have become just the second Finals MVP winner from a losing team in the history of the NBA. The NBA Finals between the Cava l iers a nd Wa r r iors a lso sported the highest TV ratings for a Finals series since 1998, when Michael Jordan won his last title with the Chicago Bulls.

It was a series to remember, and one that may eventually be looked at as the first instalment in a special basketball rivalry.

SPORTS & HEALTH

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Issue 177.4 | June 25, 2015

Mental health & wellness: Meditation How meditation can cultivate consistency EMILIO GHLOUM The ability to create and maintain good habits is crucial skill that remains relevant throughout our daily lives. Whether it is limiting your coffee intake to one cup a day, or reading for an hour before bed, creating consistency through routine can become a tremendous benefit during the upcoming year.

Students are not the only ones who can relate—the constant presence of routine in our lives is evident in the way we think, speak, and act. Consistency and routine can often be mistaken as boring or static; however, building a healthy routine or regimen can create a huge boost in self-esteem. One of the most prominent examples of cultivating a healthy habit is apparent in meditation.

Meditation is an ancient practice that has been adopted for modern use by many. In the hectic and stressful environment created by contemporary society, it is quite easy for an individual to get caught up and tangled in the messiness of the world. Meditation is a way to

separate yourself from any physical or mental stress you might have through an emphasis on inward thoughts and emotions.

The act of meditation itself, in general terms, involves a focus on posture, breathing, rhythm, and mindfulness. Having a set amount of time dedicated towards meditation can be extremely beneficial—not only will you feel more relaxed, but you are also reflecting upon your thoughts, emotions, and challenges that are prevalent in your own life. Even if it is for only 10 minutes a day, establishing an attainable habit that promotes health and mental vitality can dramatically alter your life.

That being said, you are not expected to become an expert of meditation after a week. Practicing meditation is unique to everyone, and each individual who tries might have their own certain way of doing it—mental flexibility and openness is key towards creating a lasting habit.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman, a well-known practitioner of meditation, said, “Meditation is all about the pursuit of nothingness. It’s like the ultimate rest. It’s better than the best sleep you’ve ever had. It’s a quieting of the mind. It sharpens everything, especially your appreciation of your surroundings. It keeps life fresh.”

MITCHELL JOYCE VIA CC BY-NC 2.0

The daily practice of meditation initiates routine and consistency, often leading to a greater sense of self.

After reading Jackman’s quote, it is evident that from his performances as the angry and powerful Wolverine, to his depiction of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, there is a constant awareness and control of emotion.

In a way, meditation can become an outlet to convey your emotions in a controlled environment.

Reflecting on the events that have

occurred during the day can allow you to situate yourself appropriately to a specific moment. Instead of letting a bad day at work or a poor mark on your assignment affect you, creating the habit of meditation can help you move past the stressful events of daily life.

Through practicing meditation on a daily basis, you are creating a long-lasting habit that encourages

U.S Open 2015: Jordan Spieth takes historic win The 21-year-old wins his second consecutive major EMILIO GHLOUM The 2015 golf season is well underway at the Chambers Bay course in University Place, a city just southwest of Tacoma, Washington. One of the largest tournaments in golf, the U.S. Open, took place last week, and it was nothing short of incredible. History was made

when 21-year-old Jordan Spieth proved himself to be among elite company, taking first place in a dramatic finish. While there are seldom opportunities for golf tournaments to be decided by a single shot, Spieth took advantage of the situation and calmly birdied the final hole (an amazing feat in itself).

Dustin Johnson, a 31-year-old American golfer who has seen success at this tournament before, held a comfortable lead for a majority of the tournament until the 18th hole, where he threeputted from 12-feet out. These three unfortunate and untimely putts placed Johnson in second

place at the tournament, tied with South-African Louis Oosthuizen. The tension and drama filled the air—Spieth’s victory will be remembered as one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the U.S. Open.

Nu mb er one r a n k e d R or y McIlroy was poised for a comeback after trailing throughout the entire tournament. While playing some astonishing golf in the back half, McIlroy finished on par by the end of the round.

Australian-born Adam Scott was another favourite who also placed highly in the tournament.

Scott has won nearly 27 professional tournaments and has proven

himself to be among the best in golf today. However, Scott finished in third place after being outshined by the young, up-andcoming Jordan Spieth.

Spieth, who also won the Masters tournament earlier this year, became the first player to win the first two legs of the season since Tiger Woods in 2002. Not only is Spieth now considered one of the best current golfers, but he is also one of the youngest players to have major success. With Spieth turning 22 in July, he became the first male player to win multiple majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922.

“I’m still amazed that I won, let alone that we weren’t playing

consistency, stability and routine—things that are often sought after in the midst of our fast-paced society where actions and motives are typically dictated by exterior forces. Whenever your schedule starts to become hectic, remember that building a habit out of meditation has the ability to put you, the participant, in control of your emotions and wellbeing.

tomorrow,” Spieth told reporters after his win. “So for that turnaround right there, to watch that happen, I feel for Dustin [Johnson], but I haven’t been able to put anything in perspective yet.”

For Spieth to perform so well on one of the most difficult courses shows his talent and dedication to the sport of golf. With continued hard work and consistency, Spieth has a chance to go for a grand slam by winning all four major tournaments. With the Masters and now the U.S. Open already under his belt, Spieth is looking forward to the British Open to be played later this July.

Science Avenue: CRISPR A closer look at bacterial immunoresponse SAMEER CHHABRA What is CRISPR? I love w riting Science Avenue because it’s a learning process from start to finish. Even if I’m writing about things that I’m familiar with—like 3D printing or solar energy—I still find things I don’t know, or learn about the constant leaps and bounds happening in modern science. In short, thanks to the trend in science to move forward in favour of advancement and progress, even the simple act of web-searching a subject reveals an endless trove of new information.

The beauty of science is its adaptive nature. Science forces even its most ardent practitioners to confront new facts and to look at the wonders of our universe through a different, more focused lens.

For a tourist like myself, studying science is like learning about the ingredients in my favourite recipes. I assume most of what I know about my ratatouille based on its flavours alone, but I know nothing about the specific herbs, spices, and seasonings used to prepare the meal. Of course, Google is not nearly the only place to find surprises. I often find myself in learning moments where I’m told

about something that—f irst of all—I’d never think to look into, and—second of all—I’d probably never find on my own.

I didn’t stumble across Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs) in a reading binge. Quite the contrary, I learned about CRISPRs thanks to a friend whose research regularly utilizes these short segments of prokaryotic DNA. Then another friend told me about them.

And then another. It turns out that everyone knows about CRISPRs, and I’m the only one in the dark.

For the population who, like me, doesn’t know, CRISPRs are short segments of DNA belonging to single-celled organisms lacking membrane-bound organelles (prokaryotes) that contain base sequence repetitions. CRISPRs are part of the prokaryotic immune system, and they protect prokaryotes from external genetic elements. According to research published out of the University of Paris and research published

by BioMed Central, CRISPRs are found in 40 per cent of bacteria and 90 per cent of archaea—a separate kingdom of prokaryotes.

How does CRISPR work?

Cas9 (CRISPR associated protein 9) is an enzyme associated with the CRISPR immune system in a number of prokaryotes. In eukaryotes (certain unicellular organisms with membrane-bound organelles, as well as all multicellular organisms), the RNA interface mechanism performs a similar task

The joy of the open road Rules of the road PETER NOWELL Well, it’s officially summer. For some, that means beach-side cottages, seemingly endless festivals, and sizzling-hot BBQs. Others may prefer to spend their time on the soccer pitch or under the starry night sky next to a roaring fire. For me, however, nothing can supplant the road-trip as the quintessential summertime experience. There’s something both exhilarating and liberating about hitting the open road that you just don’t get with a plane, train, or bus.

I was f irst introduced to the road-trip by accident. It was July 2013 when I found myself in

Cairns, Australia, sitting behind the wheel of what was quite possibly the smallest car on the planet.

I was about to embark on a journey that would see me cover over 4,000 km in little more than three weeks.

A couple days before this, I had no intention of driving anywhere—of course, that was before I realized how expensive intercity transport is in the Land Down Under.

Which brings me to my first rule of road-tripping: Don’t plan for it.

Hear me out. The first thing to understand about road-trips is that they aren’t about the destination, they’re about the journey. Cliché, I know. But it’s true.

Leave the GPS at home, grab a map, and pick a destination. That’s it. Plan too much and you’ll eliminate adventure and spontaneity

LIFE

15

as Cas9/CRISPR and all of the other CRISPR associated proteins.

The CRISPR/Cas mechanism works by identifying chunks of foreign, unwanted, or harmful DNA present in prokaryotes. Once identified, cas genes—like Cas9— interrogate these foreign chunks, and the CRISPR/Cas mechanism removes them from the prokaryote by cleaving them out.

Why is CRISPR important?

When harmful, unwanted, or foreign DNA enters a prokaryote, it mixes into the organism’s normal genetic sequence. If normal bacterial DNA contains no foreign genetic material, infected bacterial DNA contains sequences of foreign genetic material. However, the CRISPR/Cas mechanism activates in the presence of foreign genetic material. During the integration process, Cas proteins insert foreign DNA between CRISPR segments. This results in foreign DNA that can be easily identified to ensure successful removal.

For prokaryotes, the CRISPR/ Cas mechanism is simply geneticbusiness-as-usua l. A f ter a l l, bacteria have been around for almost 3.5 billion years—they’re not really too fascinated by the intricacies of an ancient, but startlingly efficient, method of immune response.

Instead, t he CR ISPR /Ca s mechanism is exciting for modern researchers for its use in gene editing. In laboratory settings, CRISPR/Cas allows for relatively straightforward gene identification

from your expedition. I argue that getting lost is a requisite part of any successful road-trip for two reasons. First, you’ ll meet the kindest, most interesting people while asking for help. Second, you’ll be amazed at how many fascinating sights lie down inconspicuous backroads right across Ontario and further afield. Second rule of road-tripping: Be flexible.

If you’ve followed my advice and hit the road without a concrete plan, you’re going to need to be prepared for the unexpected. On multi-day road-trips, you may find yourself searching for a campsite well after the sun has set. At other times, you’ll have to deal with flat tires, a broken windscreen, or an unanticipated dearth of gas stations. Don’t sweat it. This is the

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SNRE VIA CC BY 2.0

With advancement in gene editing technology like CRISPR, the human race is one step closer to achieving the goal of mastering disease. and editing. Ever ything from inser t ing genes to remov ing genetic material can be accomplished through the application of the CRISPR/Cas mechanism.

What is the future of CRISPR? A lthough the presence of CRISPR/Cas has skyrocketed in recent years, the mechanism is not the only available tool for genetic biologists. Zinc finger nucleases are artificial enzymes created to target and restrict DNA sequences.

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) are also

artificial enzymes created to target and restrict DNA sequences.

Alongside CRISPR, zinc finger nucleases and TALENs are currently the most widely-used gene editing tools in the scientific field.

I’m typically excited for the absurd possibilities. However, I struggle to think of something more absurd than using a natural prokaryotic immune response to protect our species—and countless others—from the very same bacteria that would otherwise prove to be our downfall. The irony is almost genetic.

part where you’ll learn a lot about yourself and your companions.

When the road throws you unexpected challenges, innovate, get creative, and persevere. You can do this, I believe in you.

Third rule of road-tripping: Choose your passengers wisely.

The road-trip is best experienced with others, and since it’s difficult to swap travel companions once you’re on the road, you’re going to want to pick them judiciously.

Don’t worry too much if they can’t read a map (see getting lost above), just make sure you won’t want to strangle each other after spending eight hours in close proximity. This is especially important for couples.

If your relationship can survive a 4,000 km car ride, chances are it can survive anything.

Now, before you set off on your grand adventure there are some practicalities to consider. You’re going to need a few things, namely, a car, a solid playlist, picnic supplies, gas money, a bathing suit (togs if you’re Australian), and, perhaps most vital, a sense of adventure.

Even if you can’t commit to a multi-day jaunt, take a day-trip to somewhere you’ve never been before. You’ll awaken your sense of curiosity, feel more creative, and gain a new appreciation for all that your backyard has to offer.

So, what are you waiting for?

Grab a friend, pack your bags, roll down the windows, and let the sweet summer air carry you away.

Oh, and if you do go, could you save me a seat?

Issue 177.4 | June 25, 2015

16

OPINION

Toronto “Random” Carding Random police checks may not be entirely based on race MERCEDES BAIR Carding is “the act of recording information received during community engagements, allowing officers to routinely stop people in the street and collect information about them,” according to City News. Deputy Police Chief Peter Sloly reported to CBC News that the intent is for police in Ontario to have the right to randomly stop people in the streets to perform “street checks” or to record personal information for future use.

Sloly elaborated, stating that the choice to stop an individual is based on appearance and behaviour—anything suspicious gives police a reason to stop a citizen.

Regard less, genera l belief in Toronto sees carding as an attack on minorities. Concerns are linked

to the fact that the stops are based on racial stereotyping. The word “stereotyping” itself has no negative connotation on its own.

Originally the term was created to describe “casting of multiple papier-mâché copies of printing type from a papier-mâché mold... to produce duplications of printed images,” according to the article “Breaking the vicious cycle of gender stereotypes and science.”

The problem, however, is that prejudice often follows stereotypes, as shown with slavery and the treatment of Aboriginals during early North American settlement. It is this prejudice that causes harm and gives stereotyping a bad name.

Early on, the brain learns to cope with all the objects it is presented with by categorizing them into groups. For example, a stool, armchair, bench, and couch all fall under the category “chair,” to some extent. In her article in Psychology Today, Annie Murphy Paul explains that this is how a person makes sense of the world around him or her in order to survive. Paul went on to point out that a child often inherits certain beliefs before

...general belief in Toronto sees carding as an attack on minorities.

they are old enough to make their own opinions. Therefore, children do not question their early beliefs.

The brain separates and organizes what it comes into contact with into groups—natural assumptions occur based on experience.

For example, a baby assumes “dogs” as a group are dangerous, because the baby was harmed by dogs in the past. These assumptions are a way of predicting how

to interact with the world: dogs are dangerous, so the baby will avoid them. This is the basis for stereotyping.

When police pull over people of minority, it is because of their experience and the probability of the person being questionable. This is termed “profiling” in investigations and allows a professional to make assumptions about a person’s appearance and behaviour in order to predict their actions.

Individuals are categorized based on common observations. According to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service’s article on stereotyping and profiling, “stereotypes and profiles are used to create rational categorizations that are part of human nature and that it is appropriate to use them in law enforcement applications as long as they are used without bias or prejudice.” This is stereotyping at its best; predicting and preventing crime by understanding criminals.

Stereot y pica l ly, minor it ies are greatly featured in the crime department, however, this says nothing about race. When it comes to groups of people generally

behaving a certain way, society is to blame. A black man has no more violent tendencies than a white man. A black man who is treated as a criminal and denied his rights because of prejudice may commit crimes to survive or rebel and therefore encourage the stereotype that black men are criminals. This vicious cycle is the creation of society’s rigid expectations.

“When racial profiling happens, neighbourhoods become places of distrust and fear,” reported t he Onta r io Hu ma n R ights Commission.

The idea that carding is racist continues a vicious cycle that helps no one.

In the end, it would seem that the goal of carding is to aid in future investigation and the reality is that minorities are being targeted. This is not of importance.

The important question here is whether the focus on minorities is validated and is helping fight crime, or if the police are wrong in their racist assumptions and are abusing their rights?

University students are almost as dumb as the elderly An investigation of intelligence in the modern age JOHN C. COMO The above headline refers to most of the world’s 155 million college students and 600 million seniors.

Maybe it doesn’t apply to you or your grandparents. Is it fair or accurate, though, to generalize widespread ignorance when both categories think they’re so smart?

I think so.

Most students around the world consider themselves intelligent, having reached a higher level of formal education, eventually passing a set of exams because of a fair-to-excellent memory which, in fact, is generally mistaken for intelligence. In my opinion, students lack not only experience, but general knowledge about almost everything that matters.

First, however, let’s take a look at the elderly: Despite having been around longer t ha n most people on Earth, they’re more stupid, basing

much of their reasoning on personal experience. For instance, an old couple is treated badly at a Quebec City hotel. For their remaining years, they complain about French-Canadians. When the husband was younger, he was a prisoner of war in a German concentration camp. Today, he has no use for Germans, dismissing all of them as “square heads.” He also uses the N-word when talking about African-Americans because he was once mugged by two black people.

The following questions are a test of memory: • Can any senior explain: • The distance measurement of uncertaint y of Ty pe 1a supernovae?

• In Canadian dollars, how much Vincent van Gogh was paid for The Red Vineyard, his one and only sale, while identifying the buyer?

• Why the countries that would benefit most from genetically modified (GM) foods are benefitting the least?

• W hy has the Ruy Lopez opening lost its popularity among strong chess players?

• The major differences between

Christians and Muslims?

• In ancient China, the similarities between Confucianism and Taoism?

• T h e I n c a n r e l a t i o n s h ip between Inti-Guauqui and Apu-Inti (the Lord Sun)?

• W hether there’s any such thing as universal good or bad?

• W hen sleeping with your spouse/partner, why your side of the bed is more important for a good night’s sleep than his/her snoring?

• Why you would eat a Thai dish of deep-fried tarantula rather than the Chinese fruit Durian?

Now it’s the universit y student’s turn to explain, again from memory: • How an advanced form of life in the cosmos may exist without water?

• What determines the difference bet weeen good and great Art? • The easiest method of eliminating world starvation?

• In Chess, which Sicilian variation is currently most popular among Grand Masters, and why?

• The major differences between Sunnis and Shi’ites, Hutu and Tutsis?

• The philosophical cornerstones of Vaishnavism and Shaivism?

• In politics, which aspects of a benevolent dictatorship are far better than democratic government?

• What “freedom” means in the real world, and why it remains an unfulfilled dream?

• T he fact t hat evolut iona r y change is sometimes unfavourable?

• T he neu rosu rg ica l tec hnique used to treat craniopharyngiomas?

It’s improbable that anyone on Earth can answer all these questions, without referring to various websites on the computer. My intention in posing them is to show you know-it-alls that you simply don’t know it all.

Sure, you’re familiar with a superficial little-about-a-lot, but when it comes to applying logic and reason to what is going on all around us? You’re out to lunch.

The vast majority of people have an opinion about almost

everything, based on something they read or saw on TV, a computer, or cellphone. They simply are not interested in what’s really going down, preferring instead a sugar-coated version of the past, present, and future.

And yet, there’s still hope for some students who may mature into contemplative, intelligent human beings. As for the elderly, forget it! Too many years have cemented their biases and crippled their sense of reason.

Mind you, there are exceptions.

I’m 80 years of age.

OPINION

17

Journaling and the Importance of Self-Reflection The benefits of keeping a daily journal ALEX PETRIC Online social networks, in their short history, have mainly been concerned with breaking news and the latest events in one’s circle of friends. Yet, as generations emerge that spend larger portions of time on these networks, some websites are now becoming treasure troves for the past as well.

Case in point: Facebook’s new “On This Day” feature, which shows photographs and posts in one’s newsfeed from the day’s date in previous years. We no longer use Facebook simply to keep up with friends, family, and our favourite singers, but also to look back at old photos, videos, posts, and conversations.

Gone are the days of photo albums and VHS tapes. Our nostalgia now comes from Instagram and Vine. This is not necessarily a problem; while I may enjoy flipping through an album of faded pictures, others might one day have the same feeling as they swipe through old photos on a

tablet. However, I would contend that, in moving our lives online, we are diminishing our capacity for self-reflection. This is perhaps best illustrated in the art of journaling. Whether we call it a diary, a journal, or a log, periodically putting one’s thoughts and feelings on paper is a healthy practice to maintain. It has no clear analog in the digital world. Websites like WordPress and LiveJournal do offer blogs and journals of sorts, but these are by their very nature public, and are thus written with an external audience in mind. Similarly, Tumblr posts and Facebook notes often end up commenting on outward phenomena rather than looking inward.

Journaling is an opportunity to face one’s true self...

In contrast, keeping a private log offers a healthy mode for introspection. Having the privacy of one’s writing guarenteed allows one to be as open as possible in exploring experiences and feelings, which is key to self-development.

Journaling is an opportunity to face one’s true self without fear of external judgment.

Even the simple task of regularly making note of observations can form fertile ground for new ideas.

Some parts of the creative process are not meant for the public, yet they are integral to the final product. Keeping a log offers an outlet for these drafts.

There are other benefits as well: in addition to developing one’s hand at prose, consistent journaling helps the writer see his or her life as something more than a series of random events. Pausing to reflect on a daily or weekly basis helps to contextualize experiences and draw connections between them. Seeing life in a macroscopic view can give a person a greater sense of purpose and conviction. It should be no surprise that many key figures in history and the arts—like Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain—kept personal journals.

Keeping a portion of our lives to ourselves where we can reflect

WALT STONEBURGER VIA CC 2.0

Writing daily in your journal can help you keep track of important events and experiences in your life. on our own needs and growth is a healthy discipline. We need places where we can retreat from others to focus on who we are.

As well, it is important to have “sandboxes for our ideas” where we can reflect on experiences without the whole world watching. I have kept journals on-and-off over the

years, and whenever I return to them, I f ind myself wondering why I had ever stopped. As we spend progressively more time on screens in a fast-paced world, I hope we do not forget the value of time spent with a pen, a pad, a cup of tea, and most importantly, with ourselves.

Aliens, and Pawn Stars, the once highly educational channels now provide viewers with dim-witted humour placed alongside eight to nine minutes of commercials.

Don’t get me wrong, there are still programs that provide stimulating and intelligent information to the viewer, however, it seems that reality TV programs, such as Keeping up with the Kardashians and Jersey Shore are increasingly overshadowing them.

If cable television wants to remain relevant, something has to change. In between the seemingly endless commercials followed by

five minutes of mindless reality television, streaming services such as Netf lix are offering viewers a much more rewarding experience.

I predict that cable television subscriptions will drastically decline once Net f l i x f inds a way to integrate lives sports and news broadcasts. Until then, viewers will have to look past the bombardment of ads and reality TV of large cable companies and instead try to find the small doses of highquality television that hasn’t been cancelled yet.

EDITORIAL

The state of cable television How ratings have trumped quality EMILIO GHLOUM With the emergence of Netflix and other streaming services, having cable in your household is becoming less and less necessary. Netflix gives the viewer an opportunity to watch a variety of movies, documentaries, and sitcoms—all you need is a good internet connection and nine dollars a month.

Surely, services like Netf lix will

not overtake cable television and programming, right? I mean, it is evident cable offers something that Netflix can’t; access to live events, sports, daily news broadcasts, and up-to-date viewings of the newest episodes of your favourite TV show.

It’s been years since I’ve had cable television at my disposal, and, if anything, my appreciation for good quality television has increased as a result. Recently, NBC announced that they will be cancelling the show Hannibal after two successful seasons, but what determines the success of

a show? Ratings. Hannibal has gained a large fan base, mainly due to its unique storytelling, stellar acting, and thrilling, psychologically driven plot. While Hannibal might not be every viewer’s cup of tea, the quality of the show is evident. However, NBC’s decision to cancel Hannibal signals a larger problem in television.

The problem of sacrificing quality for ratings is evident when looking at the kind of programming that has been adopted by the Discovery Channel and History Channel. With shows like Gold Rush, American Loggers, Ancient

The Ontarion Inc. University Centre Room 264 University of Guelph N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca Phone 519-824-4120 General: x 58265 Editorial: x 58250 Advertising: x 53534 Accounts: x 53534

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Issue 177.4 | June 25, 2015

18

FUN PAGE

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COMMUNITY LISTINGS July 7: Dragonflies & Damselflies at the University of Guelph Arboretum, with Arboretum Naturalist Chris Earley, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Early bird fee: $75. After June 29: $85.

SUBMIT A COMPLETED CROSSWORD TO THE ONTARION OFFICE, UC 264, NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, JUNE 30th AT 4PM FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TWO FREE BOB’S DOGS! 57- Words of denial 59- Legal right 61- From the U.S. 62- Thick-soled shoe 63- Shouts 64- Exposed 65- Aggregate of fibers 66- Swank

26- Batter’s position 27- Sharply 30- Occupational suffix 31- Reduce gradually 32- Proves beyond doubt 37- Get one’s ducks in ___ 38- Flora and fauna 40- Kiln for drying hops 41- Female ballet member 43- Persona non ___ 44- French pronoun 45- Krypton, for one 47- Bugs 50- Zeno’s home

51- Richards of “Jurassic Park” 52- “Cast Away” setting 53- Hit the slopes 56- Campus mil. group ANSWERS FROM 177.3

The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since the Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontarion Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit of refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2015 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify the Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by Thuroweb.

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Across 1- Tombstone name 5- Starch used in puddings 9- ___-Japanese War 13- Lure 15- Former Russian ruler 16- Alka-Seltzer sound 17- Pontificate 18- 90 degrees from norte 19- Ethereal: Prefix 20- Cal. pages 21- Senate position 23- Sullage 25- Stern’s opposite

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3- Some DVD players 4- Cooking container 5- Passionate 6- Type of D.A. 7- Gangster’s gun 8- Aeschylus trilogy 9- Give rise to 10- Pertaining to the small intestine 11- Norwegian name of Norway 12- Mayberry lad 14- Past prefix 22- Moray 24- Bring home the bacon

25- Crockpot concoctions 26- River sediment 27- Not very much 28- Irene of “Fame” 29- Knowledgeable about 32- Runner Sebastian 33- Chick of jazz 34- Dutch name of The Hague 35- Como ___ usted?

36- RR stops 38- Power to float 39- Wife of Osiris 42- Prince William’s school 43- Avaricious 45- Yield 46- 100% 47- Fragrance 48- Fertilizer ingredient 49- Mother of pearl 51- Show horse 52- Like ___ not 53- Recital piece 54- Brick baker 55- ___-bitsy 58- Slangy suffix 60- Like Gen. Schwarzkopf

Rate Card 2015/2016 Facts & Stats: • The University of Guelph, established in 1964, is ranked as one of Canada’s top comprehensive universities • The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s official independent student newspaper which targets the students, staff and faculty here at the University of Guelph plus the broader City of Guelph community. We began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. Since then we have operated as the number one resource for on-campus events and issues relating to University of Guelph students.

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