Thursday, April 9, 2015
Issue No. 176.13
HELLO SUNSHINE, MY OLD FRIEND 5 0 T H I N G S TO D O T H I S S U M M E R I N G U E L P H
SEE CENTRE
WENDY SHEPHERD
CANADIAN FORCES PAGE 3
MARINES VIA CC BY-NC 2.0
KAZOO! FEST PAGE 9
MARCH MADNESS BRINGS APRIL CHEERS PAGE 11
JEFF TURNER VIA CC BY 2.0
NEWS 3 • ARTS & CULTURE 6 • SPORTS & HEALTH 11 • LIFE 16 • OPINION 19 • EDITORIAL 21 • FUN PAGE 22
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Issue 176.13 • Thursday, April 9, 2015
NEWS
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A look at Canada’s role in global conflict Is it time for a change? JACK HINDS As of late, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has found itself at the centre of a number of unfortunate scandals and an ensuing media frenzy, bringing the otherwise insular and largely ignored arm of our government into the public eye. In a democracy such as Canada, exposure of government arms is important for the voter base to make informed decisions on the direction they wish the country to take. The F-35 debacle, for instance, took an interesting turn when the Department of National Defense released concurrent reports in December of 2014 stating that the cost of procurement and future replacement was excessive, and that Canada has little need for an advanced stealth fighter. More recently, it has become obvious that Canada is participating in combat operations that target ISIS in a greater capacity than initially revealed to the Canadian public. This, and other government moves over the years, has shown a drift towards a closer alignment with the combative capabilities of the US than the UN. This creates an interesting space for Canadians to look at the country and take inventory of how they view Canada on the world stage. Canada is oft-renowned – even caricatured – for kindness and understanding. Over the decades, we have been instrumental in the organization and enforcement of peace treaties, cease fires, and truces in combat zones around the world. Lebanon, Namibia, Croatia, Rwanda, Northern Ireland, and
Bosnia have all seen Canadian blood shed in the interest of maintaining a prosperous and peaceful world. There is also the Canadian Armed Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), another silent hero of Canada’s military arm which is deployed upon request by either an individual nation or the UN to disaster zones around the globe. Made up of engineers, medics, military police, communications specialists, and support personnel, volunteers from the regular CAF join up with DART to risk life and limb in disaster and combat zones to establish power, basic medical care, clean drinking water, and reliable access to food for those affected. Yet, how often have they been in the news? All of this is not to say that there is no need for aggressive military force. Joint Task Force Two, the CAF’s mysterious Special Operations division, is by all accounts very proficient at executing their missions in a secretive manner. The Canadian Army and Reservist forces are also a force to be reckoned with. However, the question remains as to whether an alignment with the US and their policy of aggressive military action is appropriate for a country with such a small military, whose public favours government expenditures geared more towards social policies and improvements than those towards equipping military men and women with the latest and greatest. As with most things, focusing on small, well-defined objectives yields far better results than attempting to perform many different tasks simultaneously. More money and attention directed towards a few key elements of the Canadian military could see them better equipped, better trained, and more capable than they are right now.
SAMUEL KING JR VIA CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The development of the F-35A fighter jet sparked controversy in late 2014, when the Canadian government released reports of excessive cost for little benefit. The utmost respect is reserved for the men and women in the CAF who work day and night under unforgiving circumstances and through great personal peril. It would not be prudent, as civilians, to presume to know enough to tell them how to do their job. But like many of us, they work for an organization that answers to a larger group of people. In the corporate world, it may be shareholders or board members, but in this case, it’s the Canadian people. It is perhaps time for Canadians to re-evaluate what part this country should be seen playing in the great world drama of armed conflict. If, as civilians, we were suddenly thrust into the shoes of those serving the CAF, what role would we want to play?
Upcoming events April 9: • Nature Guelph Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the Arboretum Centre. “The Role of the Modern Zoo in Conservation” by Kevin Kerr. All welcome. April 13: • Exam Stress Busters in the Library all week April 17: • Last day of exams • Global Youth Service Day April 20: • National Volunteer Week begins April 22: • Earth Day
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Monday Is Rib-Night At The Wooly! $20 Half Rack & a Pint $25 Full Rack & a Pint woolwicharrow.ca
Plus $5 Featured Draft Pints All Night Long!
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NEWS
University of Guelph receives a portion of Monsanto’s grant money Monsanto pledges $4 million to support monarch butterflies EMILIO GHLOUM Monsanto, a large and prominent agrochemical company, announced a $4 million pledge set towards saving the monarch butterfly population. Based in St. Louis, Missouri and founded in 1901, Monsanto has truly been a titan of the agriculture business. Receiving vast amounts of criticism from environmentalists for practicing unsafe and unsustainable methods of agricultural production, the allocated funds provide Monsanto with the opportunity to demonstrate initiative and the ability to strive for change. The announcement of funding set towards restoring the monarch butterfly population comes as a reaction to criticisms placed upon Monsanto’s Roundup, a popular weed and grass-control spray. The introduction of Roundup
has coincided with a tremendous decline of the monarch population across the continental U.S., leading environmentalists and scientists to believe that there is a direct correlation. Milkweed plants are essential to the survival and growth of monarch butterflies. By using Roundup, or any other weed-control pesticides, milkweed plants have been detrimentally affected by harmful chemicals. “Monsanto is committed to preserving and protecting the biodiversity of our planet,” said Brett Begemann, current President and Chief Operating Officer of Monsanto in a news release. “While weed management has been a factor in the decline of milkweed habitat, the agricultural sector can absolutely be part of the solution in restoring it.” In an effort to support more biodiverse and ecologically sustainable practices, $400,000 of Monsanto’s entire commitment will be given as research grants for organizations and institutions aiming to improve the declining population of monarch butterflies. In the same news release, published on the Monsanto website, the company announced a list of institutions and research foundations that would be receiving a part of the allocated grant. “We’re proud to collaborate
JANETANDPHIL VIA CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The University of Guelph is set to receive a portion of a $4 million Monsanto pledge towards saving the monarch butterfly population. U of G’s grant will fund research specific to milkweed restoration. with non-profits, universities, researchers, farmers, and other to find ways to improve and protect monarch habitat across North America, “ said Begemann. “It is clear that sufficient progress cannot be made without action. Monsanto will work alongside others to address this important element of biodiversity.”
The grant received by the University of Guelph will be used towards gaining an understanding of key areas most suitable for milkweed restoration. Through identifying priority areas for milkweed plants to thrive and become restored, the monarch population will have the opportunity to find sufficient
Iran nuclear deal: another step forward Tentative agreement reached between Iran and P5+1 ETHAN PANKHURST After eight days of hard negotiation, a tentative agreement on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program has been reached. Negotiations were held between the P5+1 and Iran in Lausanne, Switzerland, to address the issue of stepping back Iran’s nuclear program. P5+1 refers to the five permanent members of the Security Council – the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France – as well as Germany. The P5+1, as well as many other states, perceived Iran’s
nuclear program as a grave threat to national security. In a statement, President Obama referred to the deal as “a historic understanding with Iran, which, if fully implemented” will prevent the country from obtaining nuclear weaponry. The threat of Iran obtaining nuclear weaponry has been a big issue for the international community, as Iran has engaged in aggressive rhetoric targeted at their neighbors and Israel, as well as proxy wars in an attempt to gain regional supremacy over Saudi Arabia. If implemented, the deal will work to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while also reducing and monitoring their nuclear program. First off, Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facility at Fordo – which was built after above-ground sites became targets for Israeli bombing missions – would be converted into a physics and technology centre,
and all nuclear material would be removed. Secondly, Iran would reduce its stockpile of low-enriched Uranium by 98 per cent to 300Kg. Another facility – a heavy water reactor in Arak – would be redesigned so that it could no longer create weapons-grade plutonium. This would directly affect Iran’s “breakout timeline” – the time it would take for Iran to build one nuclear weapon – increasing from two or three months to a full year, due to the level of conversion and reduction in the deal. The deal would also create a new program for monitoring all nuclear material through all stages of development to ensure its use is for energy and not weapons. Another committee would be created to examine Iran’s imports to evaluate their potential use in a nuclear program. In return, a series of UN implemented sanctions would be lifted off of Iran,
allowing the country to re-enter the international market and engage in meaningful trade. If, at any stage, Iran were suspected of breaking the deal – such as by carrying out a covert nuclear program off-site – the US would ask Iran for permission to examine the site. If Iran refused the request, the UN would intervene and decide if the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a right to examine the new site. Though the members of the P5+1 – especially the US – are promoting this deal as a historic step in bringing Iran back into the international community and creating more security in the region, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been extremely critical of the deal, saying that it does not go far enough to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Netanyahu suggests that the international community stay firm on their sanctions until a deal
nourishment on their migratory paths. Being the only Canadian program to receive a portion of the grant money from Monsanto, the University of Guelph is poised to contribute significantly to the restoration of the monarch butterfly population.
to further rollback Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and stop Iranian aggression in the region is plausible. Of course, keeping sanctions in place and taking a hard-line against any nuclear program may encourage Iran’s nuclear program to go further underground. Prime Minister Netanyahu is also critical of the reduction of sanctions, fearing it will open up financial support for terrorist organizations. Much of Congress also seems to share Netanyahu’s concerns over the deal – so much so that they broke regular convention and side stepped President Obama by writing a letter to Iran that basically says any deal made will be undone once Obama leaves his office. However, the deal does not need congressional approval, and any attempt to sabotage the deal –such as by Congress attempting to pass stronger sanction – could be vetoed by the President.
Issue 176.13 • Thursday, April 9, 2015
NEWS
Islamist extremists attack university in Kenya Garissa University College attack leaves 148 dead The Kenyan city of Garissa is in mourning after a shooting at Garissa University College on Thursday, April 2 left 148 students dead. This is the largest attack on Kenyan soil since the bombing of a U.S. embassy in Nairobi in 1998. The events at Garissa occurred early Thursday morning, during the university’s Morning Prayer services.
US ARMY AFRICA VIA CC BY 2.0
According to eyewitness reports and officials, who have given their statements to a variety of news and government services, the gunmen moved through the college, segregating Christian and Muslim students. The gunmen then proceeded to open fire on the Christian students. “We were sleeping when we heard a loud explosion that was followed by gunshots and everyone was running for safety,” said Japhet Mwala, a Garissa student, to Agence France-Presse. “There are those who were not able to leave the hostels where the gunmen headed and started firing. I’m just lucky to be alive because I jumped through the fence with other students.”
Under the Radar
Black man shot to death in traffic stop; officer charged
SAMEER CHHABRA
“This is the largest attack on Kenyan soil since the bombing of a U.S. embassy in Nairobi in 1998.”
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148 students were left dead in the April 2 shooting at Garissa University College – the largest and most deadly attack on Kenyan soil since the U.S. embassy bombing of 1998. Once Kenyan military and police began to move into the Garissa campus, four of the possible 10 gunmen were killed. Five people have thus far been arrested in relation to the attacks – including a Tanzanian national found hiding under a bed in the school. Kenyan officials believe that the shooting at Garissa College was the work of the Al-Shabaab (meaning “The Youth” in Arabic), a Somali terrorist group that pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in 2012. Al-Shabaab have been responsible for a number of other attacks on Kenyan soil, including a shooting at Westgate Shopping Mall in 2013 that left 67 dead and numerous others injured. According to The New York Times, Al-Shabaab released a statement early on Thursday explaining that the separation of Muslims and Christians is an “operation against the infidels.” Shortly after the shooting, the official Twitter handle for Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government released an image of a man identified as Mohamed Mohamud. No other information was released, although it is speculated that Mohamud is somehow related to the Garissa shootings. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta responded to the attacks
by commissioning almost 10,000 police recruits to active duty. “I take full responsibility for this directive,” said President Kenyatta in a statement. “We have suffered unnecessarily due to a shortage of security personnel. Kenya badly needs additional officers, and I will not keep the nation waiting.” As of Sunday, April 5, one of the gunmen has been identified as the son of a Kenyan government official. The gunman, Abdirahim Abdullahi, is the son of a chief in Mandera County. Mandera is almost 600 kilometres away from Garissa College. According to a source for Reuters, Abdullahi had been a Nairobi law student. “He was a brilliant law student,” said the unnamed source. “But then he got these crazy ideas.” Abdullahi, who had been missing for almost a year before the university attacks, was feared to be in Somalia by his father. By the time that the Garissa shootings were carried out, Abdullahi’s father had already begun working with police to track his whereabouts. As a result of Abdullahi’s disappearance and involvement in the Garissa shootings, Kenyan authorities have begun to urge
citizens to report the disappearance of their loved ones as soon as possible. Furthermore, Aden Duale, a member of Kenyan parliament, emphasized that the youth of Kenya must be prevented from becoming victims of extremism. “Some of our youth have fallen victim to this evil ideology of AlShabaab,” said Duale. “We will embark on an immediate, massive, and sustained campaign to win back the hearts and the mind of our youth within our constituencies and the countries as whole. We recognize that some of our religious institutions have had some role in radicalization and propagation of this ideology.” The Kenyan government has responded to the attacks by launching airstrikes against Al-Shabaab camps on Sunday, April 5, and Monday, April 6. Kenyan warplanes targeted the Gedo region of Somalia, according to Col. David Obonyo of the Kenyan military, who spoke to the CBC. However, Obonyo clarified that Kenya’s military actions are part of continuing operations in Somalia. “This is part of continuing operations, not just in response to Garissa,” said Obonyo.
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Walter L. Scott was shot to death on Saturday, April 4 in North Charleston, South Carolina, after being pulled over with a broken taillight. Scott, 50, fled from Officer Michael T. Slager, 33, who had pulled him over. The victim’s brother, Anthony Scott, believed that Scott ran under the assumption that he had been pulled over for failing to pay child support for several months. In police reports filed immediately following the incident, Officer Slager claimed that he had “feared for his life” because Scott had taken his stun gun before fleeing. It was this fear, Slager claimed, that led him to use deadly force on the fleeing victim, which would fall under the Supreme Court holding that an officer may do so when a suspect “poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others.” Moments afterwards, Slager reported: “Shots fired and the subject is down. He took my Taser.” A video, taken by a bystander, shows a different story, however. The video begins in the vacant lot, where Officer Slager has pulled over Scott. It appears that Slager has fired his Taser, as wires from the stun gun appear to extend from Scott’s body. Scott then turned to run, and something – presumably the Taser – is dropped to the ground between the two men. Officer Slager draws his gun, and when Scott is about 20 feet away, Slager fires eight shots, with five hitting his target and at least one entering Scott’s heart. The shooting follows other high-profile cases involving lethal force at the hands of police officers in New York, Cleveland, and Ferguson, among others. With results different than several of these other cases, the North Charleston mayor announced that Officer Slager has been charged with murder on Tuesday, April 7. “When you’re wrong, you’re wrong,” said Mayor Keith Summey in the announcement. “If you make a bad decision, [I] don’t care if you’re behind the shield or just a citizen on the street, you have to live by that decision.” -Compiled by Alyssa Ottema
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ARTS & CULTURE
The Weekly Scene: Haute Cuisine [French title: La Saveurs du Palais] (2012) 2 Filling-butbland-dishes out of 4 SAMEER CHHABRA Short stories, much like scenes in a film, are often more enjoyable to discuss than novels because there is little additional context to consider. Characters act and engage with their environments in individual, simple settings, and though history, philosophy, and the real world may often provide insight into characters and their actions, the plot is only affected by what happens in the moment. Similarly, film scenes are analyzed for their ability to provide information regarding events occurring at a precise moment – or moments – in time. What does the camera’s movement suggest? Why does an actor move their body in a certain way? How does the interplay between light and dark suggest a more complex reading of the scene? Scenes are like paintings brought to life by a camera – all that matters is what’s onscreen. It’s often that films created by talented directors – individuals whose artistic merits cannot be questioned – fall apart because they consist of a small handful of interesting, powerful, moving scenes, instead of a collection of connected moments. The forces
that bring together a strong movie, and the circumstances that contribute to a powerful scene, are often antithetical to each other.
“...a small handful of interesting, powerful, moving scenes...”
Director Christian Vincent’s Haute Cuisine is an often interesting film comprised of gorgeous scenes, but an overall narrative that is otherwise dull and flavourless. Vincent’s film tells the story of Hortense Laborie, a renowned country chef who is picked up from her roots and thrust into the hustle-and-bustle of the city. This French film of a woman’s journey towards empowerment is firmly rooted in the cinematic offerings of the American Lifetime Channel. Over the course of the film, Hortense is underestimated by no less than six individuals in positions of greater power, but her resilience and devotion to cooking always leave her critics eating their words.
Written by Christian Vincent and Etienne Comar, Haute Cuisine’s main plot of Hortense in the city is framed as a flashback. In the present, Hortense works at a research base, cooking delicious food for a hungry staff of scientists. The film promises its audience an explanation for Hortense’s displacement from the Elysee Palace to the base; while the films’ script eventually delivers on its promise, the story lands with a decidedly dull thud. Indeed, much of the film fails in a similar manner. Situations are set up with the promise of a climactic delivery, but scenes stick their landings in the stalest of manners.
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Much of my problems with the film have to do with Hortense’s personality. When Hortense is faced with conflict, her default
reaction is to be as prickly and unapproachable as possible. The film suggests that Hortense’s personality is a result of working alongside sexist chefs in restaurant settings – by having her chief critic serve as the head chef of the Elysee Palace’s central kitchen. His all-male staff welcomes Hortense with crude reminders that her cooking has no place in the French capital. Their behaviour is often framed as childish and impetuous, but Hortense’s responses are equally juvenile.
“...her resilience and devotion to cooking always leave her critics eating their words.” Yet again I wonder: why are French chefs always portrayed as so unsympathetic? Why do filmmakers insist that French chefs are unapproachable, pretentious, self-absorbed children? Would a chef – or any artist, for that matter – not be more suited to produce great art if they open their minds to new possibilities? Haute Cuisine offers no opinion on the matter, as Hortense decidedly wins each of her conflicts by convincing her
Jim Guthrie: Who Needs What by Andrew Hood Short story writer branches out with bio of local musician WILL WELLINGTON Jim Guthrie: Who Needs What, Andrew Hood’s new biography of a game-changing Guelph singer-songwriter, is a fun and foulmouthed portrait of an artist, a community, and a period of huge transition for the music industry. Stained with feces and doused in gasoline, it’s as touching, liberating, and irreverent as the music it chronicles, and it’s a serious oral history to boot, drawing on extensive interviews with Guthrie and his contemporaries. After releasing
his 2003 album Now, More Than Ever, Guthrie struggled with writer’s block and eventually moved into composing for movies and advertisements, striking gold with the catchy “Hands in My Pocket” jingle for Capital One. Andrew Hood’s other books are the short story collections The Cloaca and Pardon Our Monsters. I spoke to Andrew in early March. Will Wellington: Your fiction is often about characters who are disillusioned, upset, and bitter. But that’s not necessarily reflective of you as a person. Andrew Hood: Well, for the most part it is. But I guess I never thought of that as a bad thing. My favourite thing to hear about a person is the thing they’re worst at or the thing they’re most embarrassed about or the things they struggle with, because I feel that’s what everybody has in
common. You present yourself as a functional person, but I sort of assume, and for the most part get confirmation, that most people are terrified to be alive.
“...a fun and foulmouthed portrait of an artist, a community, and a period of huge transition.” W.W.: Is this why you’re so interested in blood and shit in your writing? A.H.: I think for the most part, but the other part too is that it’s just funny.
W.W.: Of course, Jim Guthrie signs his letters “poopy pants.” A.H.: He did in the past. As I was starting to talk to him, he would sign off, “Ok, I’ve got to go poop now.” That honesty is remarkable to me. It’s weird to me that people are that open with their lives. That’s something I’ve never been able to do. W.W.: The book’s about Jim, but it’s also about taste, economics, and whole Canadian music scenes coming and going. Was that the initial vision or concept? A.H.: I basically wanted to look at 20 years of music and technology and economics with Jim Guthrie as a lens. There is no central character. All of these scenes are built out of relationships and chance. The idea was to make this family tree and, when I realized I didn’t have 500 pages, I thought I should probably zero-in on Jim a little more. Jim
critics of her cooking’s superiority. As a result of the character, Catherine Frot plays Hortense with haughty despair. From the beginning, Frot makes it clear that her Hortense is in no way interested in pursuing meaningful relationships with any of her cohorts. Her chief intention is to cook delicious food, and nothing will stop her from achieving this single, weak motivation. Alongside Frot is legendary writer Jean d’Ormesson, who plays the unnamed President of France. Though his delivery and dedication to the role are admirable, Vincent and Comar give his character very little to work with. More often than not, d’Ormesson plays the idea of a man rather than the man himself. There are valid reasons why I chose to conclude this year’s column with Haute Cuisine – chief among them is the fact that this year’s reviews have featured more food films than ever before. However, an auxiliary reason is to highlight the fact that weak films are not always comprised of weak content. This movie earns the title of “full-length feature” based purely on the fact that it is a series of scenes strung together to form a coherent, 95-minute narrative. Those scenes, created by director Vincent, cinematographer Laurent Dailland, and editor Monica Coleman, are stunning. It’s a shame that Haute Cuisine does so little to rise above being a dull literary offering, whose actors and plot are far too restrained to offer their audience an affective connection.
was like Forrest Gump. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time. W.W.: Has your research into Jim Guthrie’s career prompted any reflection on your own career as a writer? A.H.: Yeah, it became a weird self-help book halfway through. In some ways, it feels like writing this book is the equivalent of writing a song for a commercial. I mean, it’s something that I put a lot of time and a lot of myself into, but it’s something made for mass consumption. I think what I found really freeing looking into his career is how easy it is to get pigeonholed, especially when you are successful or well received early on, which I was to a certain extent. It’s easy to think, “Ok, this is what people like and so this is what I’ll continue doing.” You forget that that’s not the point.
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Elizabeth Arden (neé Florence Nightingale Graham), 1939 (b/w photo) / Creator(s): Fisher, Alan, photographer / [Public domain], via Library of Congress
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ARTS & CULTURE
Tyson and the Trepids – 130 King EP Tyson Brinacombe waxes on defunct DIY space in poppy new album ADRIEN POTVIN With an unmistakably tall, longlocked stature, Tyson Brinacombe is a man of many modes and a staple of many local bands. All this granted, he is, above all, a traditionalist in the best sense of the word. This isn’t meant to say he’s stuck in the past – rather, Brinacombe mines the history of pop music for his own ends with an archivist’s ear and a forward-looking DIY heart. After taking three years to self-produce his 2014 album Casio Fiasco, he made 130 King with The Trepids (members of Hinindar and Esther Grey, among others), a band once based out of the Trepid House, a Waterloo DIY performance venue that
has since been boarded up and gone to the dogs (i.e., condo developers). While not a woe-is-me lamentation or overtly positive sentimentalizing of a place important to them, The Trepids’ EP strikes a balance by alluding to the loss of the building instead of preoccupying itself with it. The seven-track EP comes not only in perfect time for Guelph’s Kazoo! Fest, but also for the long-awaited warmer weather – the sunny, hazy tunes presented here evoke the unabashed good time that marks Brinacombe’s many projects, from Tyson and his Gameboy to his Casio Fiasco LP. With its Kinks-informed pop sound (most notably in the outstanding minor-key track “Leave Your Arms”), 130 King is packed with well-written, evocative songs that work well in tandem with the rest of the Guelph music auteur’s catalogue. I spoke with Tyson about the record in his apartment, which doubles as his studio, Little Room Labs. The frantic, guitar/book/synthesizer-laden living rooms evoked the image of a guy with a ton of ideas and the drive to get them all into recordings, come hell or high water. This is how DIY music should be made – well-read, driven, and with
an honest work ethic. “That band [The Trepids] lasted a couple years. We all moved out, and the house kinda turned derelict and got shut down and boarded up recently. They have plans to build a condo there, it’s gonna be torn down, and it got me thinking about all of this stuff again. […] Everything just sent me back to finishing up these recordings we started in that house four or five-years-ago, and polishing them up. After playing with a machine for three years, I’ve been yearning for human contact again, so this worked out. I signed us up to play Kazoo! and we got in, so I finished up the record and asked the band if they wanted to play some shows again, and they were all happy. It’s sad that [the Trepid House] is gone, […] in Guelph lately, I feel like we just need a good house venue. It makes me a little sad that the music community in Guelph is so strong, and it feels like we have so many venues, but there are so little spaces open to, you know, you and your friend doing a weird one-off project, or something that might not have a draw. Or even like, bands in the 60s would have a residency somewhere. […] I feel like it’s a little sad right now
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Chameleonic Guelph musician Tyson Brinacombe revisits his old band The Trepids, based out of a now-defunct Waterloo DIY venue called The Trepid House, with the new EP 130 King. that bands don’t have those spaces and time to develop and become an amazing live band.” These frustrations notwithstanding, the nostalgic but not-too-nostalgic memories present in 130 King seem to
support his case for more DIY spaces within community music scenes, while offering a fun, 60s pop-drenched pop EP. Again, it’s an album rooted in pasts both personal and historical, but sounds refreshingly new.
Silence
Narrator/actor Ron Gaskin provides a poetic description of “Rub Out the Word”:
MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION
Rub Out the Word was performed April 2 at Silence, honouring the centennial of William S. Burroughs. Created by composer Glenn Hall (sax, electroacoustics), who performed alongside Ted Phillips (electroacoustics), Matt Miller (laptop), and Ron Gaskin (voice).
Album of the Week
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MILES DAVIS - AGHARTA Miles Davis known to explore the boundaries of Jazz music released Agharta which was recorded live on February 1, 1975 at the Osaka Festival Hall in Japan. With its eclectic improvisational vibe Agharta infuses elements across different genres to be known as Jazz–Rock fusion. The stellar lineup was comprised of Davis (trumpet /organ) along with Sonny Fortune (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute), Al Foster (drums), Michael Henderson (bass), Pete Cosey (lead Guitar), Reggie Lucas (rhythm guitar, synthi, percussion) and James Mtume (percussion, water drum, rhythm box). Take your ears and mind on a ride and check it out!
grey fingers find a vein need talks says, “Rub Out the Word” last stop, Silence, 46 Essex audio ‘needle’ injects electroacoustic Venusian mindmeld cut-ups, juxtapositions of images, sounds, sirens, insects, Moroccan Pan pipes, low vibrating hum Bill Burroughs speaks through hat, suit and cane enrobing Ron Gaskin at table with dim light above text Ted Phillips, with insect’s unseeing calm, peers over corpus on the viewscreen Matt Miller surveys the keys: this technician knows which buttons to push Glen Hall shoots the Burroughs message in the main line: Silence, Silence to Say Goodbye. Doctor Glen Hall Sabbah accompanied by three ghost shadows interzone hashishin riding horseback smoke infusing the perfect blank canvas
blue screen jungle market place for ears for space for time for no fear a movie emerged in the theatre of white chairs fragmentary visioning silent writing of space cpu’s seduced into a shortwave of the world, Mongol instruments, African drums, Arab bagpipes induced telepathic sensitivity solo saxophone wailed into space forever intimate spontaneous three piece reconverting the blues, the heavy metal gimmick with black noise round red Christmas tree ornaments cut like a knife on a windy street spitting blood purple dusk of Lima William S. Burroughs’ type written words bug juiced by radio faced invisible man woken with the taste of metal in his mouth words kept falling lingual shifting breaking through in Grey Room waiting for a live wild boy for a naked lunch there is no thing in space out of the body there is no word all out of time and into space forever we were Rubbed Out.
Issue 176.13 • Thursday, April 9, 2015
ARTS & CULTURE
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In conversation with: Kazoo! Fest 2015 Beach Bodies – Swimmer Young Band Explores Murky Waters on Debut EP WILL WELLINGTON
VANESSA TIGNANELLI
Guelph’s annual Kazoo! Fest kicks off this week, with an abundance of live performances, art installations, workshops, and a DIY print expo.
Brad McInerney, founder of Guelph’s Kazoo! Fest DANIELLE SUBJECT This year, Guelph’s Kazoo! Fest is taking place from April 8 to 12, and Guelphites can expect a wide variety of events from music to visual arts. Founded in 2006, Kazoo! Fest has been an ongoing Guelph tradition that celebrates Canadian independent musicians and artists. Not just a festival, Kazoo! also puts on year-round shows for the Guelph community. The Ontarion had the chance to chat with Brad McInerney, one of the original founders of Kazoo! Fest. Brad chatted about Kazoo!’s values, his personal involvement, and how Kazoo! Fest has changed since it first started. Danielle Subject: What can fans expect of this year’s Kazoo! Fest? Brad McInerney: It’s quite a lot larger than in previous years, and one of the things that we kind of focused on this year was really geographically and culturally and genre-wise it’s really, really diverse. There will be people coming in from all across the United States, from all across Canada, and genre-wise there’s a bit for everyone. And that’s one of the best things about the lineup, every time I talk to someone they say “oh I’m really excited
for this” and then someone else is completely excited for something else. D.S.: Why do you continue to be involved with Kazoo!? B.M.: Really it’s about what it does for Guelph’s independent music community and arts community. It’s kind of a chance to bring everyone together and have some fun and experience some amazing bands and art. Everybody who works on Kazoo! is a volunteer, so everyone that’s doing this is really in just for the love of it. D.S.: How has Kazoo! progressed over the years? How has it changed since it first started? B.M.: Every year we build a little bit. We get a little bit larger and are able to do more exciting things. Every year there’s more and more interest in the festival, and I think that gives us a certain amount of freedom to do more of what we want to do without having to worry about the financial decay of that – we can take more risks, because audiences are willing to trust that when they go to Kazoo! Fest or when they go to a Kazoo! show, that we’ve really thought about what we’re presenting and that we think it’s something really worthwhile to showcase, so that’s something that I think has gradually progressed. Every year we see a lot more opportunity for unique collaborations. The Short and Sweet performance is a great example of that kind of collaboration. D.S.: Do you see a lot of students coming out to Kazoo! Fest events?
B.M.: It’s a great mix of people. Every year, we try to get more students involved and engaged in Kazoo! shows year-round, but also during the festival, but we’ve been finding a lot more people know about it, which is great. We do have a lot of interest from people outside of the city. This year we’ve seen a lot more people purchasing tickets in advanced outside of Guelph, so we’re thinking this year is probably going to be our biggest year in terms of reaching audiences. D.S.: How do you think it benefits the festival to incorporate an all-ages aspect? B.M.: We think it’s so important. It’s been one of our core mandates since we founded Kazoo!. I remember when I was a teenager, I was always upset that I couldn’t get into shows and bands that I wanted to see because they were in bars. I think it’s so important that people under 19-years-of-age can get into shows. It just makes everything more accessible, and really it’s an important part of independent music to be open and accessible to everyone. We’ve also made sure that financial accessibility is a really important thing, so a lot of our shows are, we think, really affordable. There’s a lot of free or pay-what-you-can events, so if people are tight on cash, there’s ways to experience Kazoo! Fest without spending a lot of money.
Guelph is nowhere near the ocean, but in the 21st century, that doesn’t matter. Images of sand, surf, sky, and sex suffuse our landlocked dreams and shape the vistas of our collective imagination. Perhaps that’s why Spring Breakers, Harmony Korine’s 2012 beautiful mess of a feature film, affects me so profoundly, even though I have never set foot in the Atlantic. The beach, where earth, air, and water meet, is a breeding ground for our dreams and nightmares. This might also explain the impact of Swimmer, the debut EP by local band Beach Bodies, which mines seaside imagery to great effect. Released on their Bandcamp in late March, Swimmer is a record of surprising substance and power. If it was any longer, it might be an ordeal, but at 20 minutes, it provides a potent and memorable high. Like Korine’s Florida, frontman Jamie Gibson’s Guelph is haunted and dangerous. In his songs, royal city residents drift about like shadows, ensconced in the “glow, draw, and awe” of their personal electronic
COURTESY PHOTO
devices, drunk on longing. His lyrics, surfacing through layers of fuzz and reverb, demonstrate dexterity with cadence, rhyme, and metaphor, and the rest of the band rises to the occasion. Brock Bourgeois’ sinewy bass lines, Matt Morgan’s textural guitar licks, Corben Grant’s blazing synths, and Isaac Grant’s accomplished drumming create a sense of total immersion. There’s a political bent to these tunes, most explicitly in the pulsing opener “All Perfect and Shimmering,” which attacks the “brand new religion” of social media. But Swimmer never feels preachy. Instead, Gibson evokes moments of personal devastation, like the internecine lovers’ quarrel detailed on the snarling “Vacant.” It’s heavy stuff, but another track, “Mess,” hints at the possibility of transcendent connection through the social static: “Believe in this beautiful mess,” begs Gibson. Listen to Swimmer and you will.
Upcoming events April 9: • Crosss/New Fries/BSHC at Jimmy Jazz, 9pm. Free. April 10: • Making Do (Or, How to Turn Lead Into Gold) – collaborative art exhibition by Patrick Cruz, Victoria Day, Juliane Foronda and Samuel de Lange. My Gallery (Wyndham Convenience, 117 Wyndham Street North). Free. April 11: • Kazoo! Print Expo, Mitchell Hall, 11am-4pm. Free. • Black Spirituals/Lido Pimienta at Heritage Hall (83 Essex), 8pm. $10. April 13: • Black Spirituals workshop – experimental music and educational workshop. Heritage Hall, 7:30 pm. Free. April 15: • Garbageface/Noah 23/Skweezy C/Savvy C – hip-hop show at Silence, 8pm. PWYC. April 17: • Bare Claws at Jimmy Jazz, 10pm. Free show. • The Galacticats album release, with Fast Romantics and Torero. eBar, 10pm. $8 at door. May 1 to 3: • The Elora Festival Singers’ 27th Annual Giant Book Sale 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Elora Curling Club, 60 David Street West.
TheOntarion.com
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ARTS & CULTURE
Remembering Frankie Knuckles Looking back at the career of “The Godfather of House” one year after his death CADEN MCCANN On March 31, 2014, Frankie Knuckles passed away from complications with diabetes at the age of 59. Though not enormously well-known in life, the DJ/producer had been one of the most influential pop artisans of the past 35 years – streamlining the disco genre into the electronic permutation of house that continues to be hugely popular today. With a documentary and posthumous album down the pipeline, the one-year anniversary of Knuckles’ passing makes it high time to commemorate the musician’s legacy. Born in 1955, the black and gay
Knuckles grew up in Brooklyn, with initial aspirations to be a fashion designer. In the mid-1970s, a side hobby of spinning records would start to take precedence over Knuckles’ first career, however, as Knuckles began getting regular gigs DJing at local hotspots, like Continental Baths and The Gallery. By the end of the decade, word-of-mouth would lead club promoter Robert Williams to offer Knuckles a residency at Chicago club, The Warehouse. Knuckles subsequently packed his bags for the Windy City. By all accounts a disco DJ, Knuckles’ genre of choice would hit hard times at the dawn of the 1980s, as an inherently bigoted backlash aimed at the genre’s gay and black roots (see Disco Demolition Night) saw disco lose serious commercial momentum. Looking for ways to make the music he spinned more novel, Knuckles would vary up classic disco cuts in his sets with then-contemporary synth-pop and Euro-disco cuts, and set the music to a drum machine to give it a more electronic pulse. Chicagoans would go wild for Knuckles’ “Warehouse”
music, with a generation of young black kids-turned-DJ/producers creating the “Chicago house” scene, which would subsequently be co-opted by the British music press before going global. Following his formative New York and Chicago days, Frankie Knuckles took a backseat as an elder statesman in the world of pop and dance music. Performing DJ residencies in Europe, Knuckles would also be a heavily indemand remixer throughout the 1990s and 2000s – doing high-profile club edits for the likes of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Hercules and Love Affair. In 2004, his importance to pop culture would even be acknowledged by the likes of current US president and then-Illinois senator Barack Obama, who renamed a street in Chicago “Frankie Knuckles Way.” Frankie Knuckles’ legacy ultimately transcends a superficial listing of achievements. After disco’s gay and black roots led it to be marginalized from the mainstream by bigoted white rock fans, Knuckles re-imagined disco as a subversive new form of electronic music, before once again penetrating the mainstream – signalling the
Exam
Stress Busters ...events schedule *All events take place in the Library
Monday April 6
Tuesday April 7
Wednesday April 8
Thursday April 9
Friday April 10
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
SNACK GIVEAWAY
SNACK GIVEAWAY
SNACK GIVEAWAY
SNACK GIVEAWAY
SNACK GIVEAWAY
STRESS BUSTING
3:00 PM
STRESS BUSTING
STRESS BUSTING
Wellness Education Centre Student Support Network
Wellness Education Centre Student Support Network
COFFEE WITH A COP
Campus Community Police
Wellness Education Centre Student Support Network
ROOM 384
3:00 PM
COOKIES & MILK
Co-Op & Career Services ROOM 384
Monday April 13
Tuesday April 14
Wednesday April 15
Thursday April 16
Friday April 17
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
SNACK GIVEAWAY
SNACK GIVEAWAY
SNACK GIVEAWAY
SNACK GIVEAWAY
SNACK GIVEAWAY
STRESS BUSTING
12:00 PM
STRESS BUSTING
Wellness Education Centre Student Support Network
ICE CREAM with the CSA
STRESS BUSTING
Wellness Education Centre Student Support Network
Wellness Education Centre Student Support Network
ROOM 384
COLOURING CONTEST ENTRIES Due by noon
www.recruitguelph.ca
STRESS MANAGEMENT AND HIGH PERFORMANCE CLINIC
COURTESY PHOTO
A year has passed since the death of influential Chicago house DJ Frankie Knuckles, and his legacy lives on through countless electronic music producers and the overall culture of electronic music. triumph of black, gay expression. In a modern age where Steve and Chris play on daytime television, and Disclosure and Sam Smith get mainstream
pop radio-play, we have Knuckles at least partly to thank, and, for this reason alone, his music must continue to be heard.
volunteer for the
ontarion this summer
The new production year begins in May 2015! We have four Spring/Summer issues out on stands May 14, May 28, June 11, and June 25. Our volunteer meetings will continue to be held Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in UC 264. Volunteer meetings will be May 7, May 21, June 4, and June 18.
Issue 176.13 • Thursday, April 9, 2015
SPORTS & HEALTH
Food for your brain During exams, it’s important to feed your brain LARA HAINES-LOVE Don’t you wish that all that course material would just flow straight into your brain and stay there? We all know a magic potion would be needed for that, but wouldn’t it be great if we could learn those chapters easier and more effectively? Well, through our diet, we can. The brain, like every other part of the body, requires nutrients, but without a proper balance, its functioning declines. The majority of foods contain nutrients that the brain needs, but some foods contain higher levels of substances that diminish stress, and improve memory and concentration. Skip the two-o’clock chocolate bar Neurons in the brain don’t store glucose like other cells, yet they need a constant supply to keep operating. The best way to get that glucose to the brain is through eating carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, whole
grains), not sugary junk food. Glucose is the basic building block of carbohydrates. As the body digests the carbohydrates, glucose is released at a steady pace. Drinking pop or eating that Mars bar causes an immediate influx of a large amount of glucose into the body, raising blood sugar levels quickly. The pancreas reacts by going into overdrive and injecting large amounts of insulin into the body to try and balance the blood sugar levels. This is what causes the grand “crash” afterwards. Blood sugar levels fall on the low side due to the pancreas’ emergency reaction. During the “crash,” your neurons are literally starving and memory and concentration will suffer. Repeating this roller coaster will eventually cause damage to your brain cells, so stick with carbohydrates instead of refined sugary snacks, and your brain will thank you. Eating carbohydrates also stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps people focus in stressful times. If you eat carbs with low-fat protein (soy milk, low-fat yogurt, legumes) and fiber, tryptophan, a neurotransmitter famous for making us sleepy, is prevented from being released. Avoid high fat protein foods such
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as cheese and peanut butter, as digestion of these foods slows the production of dopamine and norepinephrine, which can leave your brain foggy. Norepinephrine and dopamine are known for helping with clarity of thought, attention, and concentration. Fats Did you know that 60 per cent of your brain is made up of fat, and that your brain needs fat to function? Well, it’s true! But that doesn’t mean eating a Big Mac is a good idea. Research has linked diets full of saturated fat with having a sluggish brain. The brain, however, loves healthy fats. Stick to a diet full of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) by eating nuts, coconut, avocados, fish, and seeds. They have been shown to enhance brain function, mood, and memory. Tea and Coffee In moderate amounts – two to four cups per day – the caffeine in these beverages acts as a stimulant improving alertness and concentration making memories more likely to form. However, limit the amount of added sugar, as this will diminish the effects of the caffeine drastically. Also, too much caffeine will make you
MARJU RANDMER VIA CC BY-NC 2.0
During stressful times such as exams, the most influential and significant start to doing well and staying healthy is feeding your brain properly. jittery and unable to relax and concentrate, so stick with it in moderation. Dr. Simon Gadbois, professor of neuroscience at Dalhousie University, urges students not to put their diet on the back burner during
exams. It may take time away from studying to go grocery shopping and to make a good meal, but the payback your brain will provide when you return to studying will be totally worth it.
NCAA March Madness recap Duke University takes the crown and wins NCAA title EMILIO GHLOUM Fantasy NCAA bracket players, rejoice! Finally you can get back to your normal lives, either repressed with the frustration of Kentucky’s loss, or overjoyed at your Wisconsin Badgers pick. This year’s tournament has been phenomenal, filled with solid, fundamental basketball and rising stars poised for an NBA career. March Madness is a time of year when people can come together, place friendly and responsible wagers, while enjoying good-quality basketball from gifted young players. This year was no exception, once again proving why March is debatably the favorite month of every basketball fan. The opening round of the tournament, featuring 64 teams, was hectic, exciting, and extremely
entertaining, to say the least. While there were a lot of one-sided games, including Villanova’s 93-52 rout of Lafayette, and Kentucky’s 79-56 victory over Hampton, many of the games were closer than expected. Baylor’s early exit from the tournament had many followers questioning their bracket picks, while Louisville looked very impressive with a win over UC Irvine. Moving towards the Sweet 16 round, many viewers were shocked at NC State’s hard-earned victory over heavy favorites Villanova. Picked by many to advance to the finals, Villanova’s strong team will have to recover and remain focused on next year’s tournament. Some incredibly exciting matchups from this round included Michigan State’s upset over Oklahoma, and Kentucky’s too-close-for-comfort win over a poised Notre Dame team. The Final Four saw Kentucky’s powerhouse, undefeated squad take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Seemingly flying under the radar, Wisconsin had a phenomenal team, filled with a core of talented young players under the leadership
of veteran coach Bo Ryan. In the biggest upset of the tournament without a doubt, the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats fell to Wisconsin in a 71-64 thriller (sorry, Obama). On the other side of the Final Four, a humble Michigan State team fought their way forward to take on the heavy favorites in Duke. The consistent Blue Devils line-up proved to be too much to handle, handing Michigan State a 81-61 loss. The much anticipated championship showdown took place on April.6, with the Wisconsin Badgers taking on the Duke Blue Devils. With the NCAA Championship title on the line, both teams came out of the gate determined, and poised for glory. Duke’s core of young freshmen, including Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor, and Grayson Allen, helped Duke push past the difficult and fortified Wisconsin defence. After Wisconsin held a decisive lead for a majority of the game, Duke ended the last nine minutes of the game with a 16-9 run, with 37 combined points coming from the freshman of Duke’s team in the second-half. After a hard-fought battle, the Duke Blue Devils cruised to their fifth
PENN STATE VIA CC BY-NC 2.0
The Wisconsin Badgers fell to the Duke Blue Devils in a 68-63 final to earn their fifth NCAA Championship under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. NCAA Championship under the reign of legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski. There was no shortage of excitement in this final matchup
– the Blue Devils will celebrate their victory and will continue to look forward towards the development of their young core of rising stars.
50 THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER
1. Spend a weekend camping and leave your devices at home
27. Take drop-in dance lessons at Flying Dog downtown
2. Revamp your resume
28. Hop on a random bus and go on an adventure – in or out of the city
3. Volunteer with a local organization that helps to better your community 4. Visit the Guelph Farmers’ Market
29. Hang a hammock in your backyard and spend an afternoon reading peacefully outside
5. Go fishing in Speed River
30. Spend quality time with yourself – find something you enjoy doing alone and make it a part of your daily, or weekly, routine
6. Play Frisbee on Johnston Green
31. Read one book a month for pleasure
7. Explore Guelph’s conservation areas
32. Write in a journal everyday
8. Visit Guelph Lake
33. Try out a new hobby
9. Throw a BBQ party in your backyard
34. Bike around the city, or even plan a bike trip to a nearby village
10. Visit the Donkey Sanctuary
35. Spend a day wandering around Elora – it’s beautiful
11. Drink patio beers in Downtown Guelph 12. Explore the University of Guelph Arboretum
36. Take a weekend trip alone and get in tune with yourself again 37. Host a wine and cheese night
13. Get ice-cream at The Boathouse
38. Do something that will take you out of your comfort zone
14. Tour local breweries
39. Reflect on the past, and get ready to move on
15. Visit the Boarding House Gallery 16. Bike or walk along the Eramosa River
40. Spend some time reconnecting with friends from long ago and family
17. Eat a foot-long at Rocky’s, the best hot dog joint in the city
41. Be a pen-pal to a loved one that lives far away
18. Volunteer at and/or attend the Hillside Festival
42. Create a positive routine for yourself to stick to
19. Take a bike trip out to Rockwood Conservation Area
43. Get outside each and everyday for at least an hour
20. Read a book you didn’t get around to during the semester
44. Help someone in need
21. Canoe down the Speed River
45. Reevaluate your budget
22. Go to a Blue Jays game in Toronto
46. Go see a movie in Market Square
23. Organize a DIY house concert (be sure to obey noise bylaws!)
47. Go to one of many music festivals happening around the country
24. Go camping, even if only in your own backyard 25. Restaurant-hop downtown – have apps, main courses, dessert, and late-night snacks each at a different place
48. Go antiquing at the Aberfoyle Antique Market 49. Redecorate your place
HELLO SUNSH
26. Join a recreational sports league – there are a few to choose from
50. Relax
UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SPRING & SUMMER TO WATCH OUT FOR
Kazoo! Fest – April 8 to 12
April 8 marks the ninth annual Kazoo! Fest. Kazoo! Fest showcases a unique blend of different artistic mediums.
Guelph and district Multicultural Festival – June 5 to June 7
Many activities will be held in Riverside Park, including international cuisine, performances, fireworks, and more.
2 Rivers Festival – June 10 to 14
This festival is held along the Speed River, and teaches the importance of our rivers in the community. The river clean up will be happening on June 13.
Alumni Weekend 2015 – June 12 to 14
The U of G hosts an alumni weekend every year to bring people back to the university and celebrate.
10th annual Taste Real Guelph Wellington Local Food Fest – June 21 A delicious day-long celebration of the local food industry.
Canada Day at Riverside Park – July 1
STACEY ASPINALL
Riverside Park hosts Canada Day celebrations each year. This day-long event is filled with activities for people of all ages, and a firework display in the evening.
13th annual Art on the Street – July 11
This day-long festival showcases the best of what local artists have to offer – Quebec Street closes for the day.
32nd Hillside Festival – July 24 to 26
The ever-popular summer music and arts festival is entering its 32nd year and is an enjoyable time for people of all ages.
Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games – Aug. 7 to 9
Celebrating Scottish heritage and culture, Fergus hosts its annual festival at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Riverfest Elora 2015 – Aug. 14 to 17
COURTESY GUELPH & DISTRICT MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL
It’s the seventh year for Riverfest, held at Bissel Park in beautiful Elora – another great local music and arts festival in the area.
18th annual Ribfest – Aug. 28 to 30
Riverside Park hosts Ribfest with live music, a classic car show, and food trucks serving up some delicious BBQ. All proceeds go to local charities.
Guelph Jazz Festival – Sept. 16 to 20
An annual event held in locations around downtown Guelph to showcase talented jazz musicians. An excellent way to begin the fall!
SEAN RICHARDSON VIA CC BY-SA 2.0
HINE,MY OLD FRIEND
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SPORTS & HEALTH
Storm advance to second round
Greyhounds. The Greyhounds, finishing first overall in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) through the 2014-15 regular season campaign, are a favourite to not only down the Storm, but to go on to contend for the OHL Championship.
Defending champions move on to Western Conference Semi-Final
After eliminating the Owen Sound Attack in a 4-1 series, the Guelph Storm advanced to the Western Conference Semi-Final against the first overall Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
“If there’s a team that knows what it takes to emerge as underdogs over a Goliath-like squad, it will be the Guelph Storm.”
one more to force overtime, but it would be overage forward Chris Marchese emerging with overtime heroics just less than three minutes into the extra frame. In Owen Sound, for Game’s Three and Four, the Storm would pull out two more victories to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, as both games were decided with one-goal differentials in 2-1 and 3-2 wins respectively, including a second overtime result. Game Four would have the young guns on full display, with sophomore Garrett McFadden – playing close to hometown Kincardine, Ontario – tying the game with less than two minutes remaining in regulation to force overtime. The goal would
coming up with incredible saves, including a two-pad-stack, and an absolute robbery on Owen Sound’s Zach Nastasiuk in the dying minutes to keep his team up by one in an elimination game for the Attack. Eliminating the Attack with their fourth consecutive victory in a 2-1 result, Nichols was named the game’s second star with 28 of 29 saves, while Pius Suter received first star recognition with a goal and an assist. Suter’s goal would be registered shorthanded, and would be the eventual game and series-winner for the Storm. Guelph now looks to the Western Conference Semi-Final – a series that heavily favours their opponent, the Sault Ste. Marie
Wearing the underdog label is something the Storm certainly aren’t used to, following the magic of the 2014 Playoffs en route to a championship. Nevertheless, in the 2014-15 regular season series, Guelph held the Greyhounds to three one-goal results, with one game requiring overtime, and a second needing a shootout resolution. If there’s a team that knows what it takes to emerge as underdogs over a Goliath-like squad, it will be the Guelph Storm. The series begins April 8 and April 9 for Game’s One and Two in Sault Ste. Marie, while Game’s Three and Four will be played in Guelph on April 12 and 14 respectively.
to remove him from the board altogether. The ex-mayor insists his “experience in the hockey world” was the tell-all factor in the decision made by the City of Toronto. Ford also explained that his desire to promote the sport among children played an important role in the decision. “When people call me, they know they’re getting someone that’s experienced,” Ford said in an interview with The Globe and Mail on April 4. “I’ve got season tickets to the Leafs, and I’m obsessed with hockey […], hockey’s my number one sport and I’m going to try to just keep pushing it.”
Ford also added that he grew up playing hockey, and he would do anything in order to support the game throughout the country. Ford already attended his first meeting with the board on March 25, and explained that it his intention to attend as many as he can, really emphasizing his involvement. “Some people like the prestige of it, I like the action.” Ford said. “What I don’t like is when people sign up and want to go to these boards and commissions, and they don’t show up.” “I like rolling up my sleeves and showing up to meetings and getting it done.”
STEPHANIE CORATTI It took five games. This time, however, was a little bit different. The Guelph Storm – the defending OHL Champions – eliminated the fifth-place Owen Sound Attack in a 4-1 Quarterfinal series, the Storm’s fifth consecutive playoff series victory that took just five games. In this match-up, the Storm fell 6-1 to open the postseason, a performance that earned them a few more skeptics than they started out with. Nevertheless, two days after Game One on March 29, the Storm rebounded in dramatic fashion – a fashion that would be on display through the remainder of the series – downing the Attack 5-4 in overtime. Guelph came out of the gates quickly, earning a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Tyler Bertuzzi and Jason Dickinson. The Attack, however, would climb their way in front with three straight second period markers. The Storm would respond in the third period, grabbing their second lead of the game, as Bertuzzi scored two more for the hat trick. Owen Sound would add
MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION
be McFadden’s first career-OHL playoff marker, and he would score it on a shorthanded rush, following up his own rebound with a waist-level baseball swing. McFadden would also initiate the overtime winner, firing a point shot on net with rookie Givani Smith making no mistake for the game-winner. Storm netminder Justin Nichols, who evidently rebounded following a tough showing in Game One of the series, earned the game’s first star with 48 of 50 saves. Nichols would add another outstanding performance to the playoff resume in Game Five, not facing as many shots as in the previous contests, however,
Ford appointed to HHOF board Rob Ford making headlines in hockey STEPHANIE CORATTI Ex-mayor Rob Ford has been appointed to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s (HHOF) board of directors, a decision that falls in line with the majority of everything else involving Ford – controversial. The appointment was not a decision made by the HHOF,
rather a decision made by the City of Toronto. The board of directors has no say in the selection process for annual nominations, and is, instead, an illustration of the partnership the city holds with the prestigious hockey museum. The HHOF nominations, instead, come from a group of 18 members who are, for the majority, members of the media and already-inducted hall of famers who vote separately. In turn, the city gets to swear in three representatives to the board, a committee made up of 18 individuals. In contrast, the National Hockey League (NHL) nominates seven. The process dates back to 1961 when the HHOF first opened
at Exhibition Place, marking the beginning of the connection made between the NHL and the City of Toronto. Ford, who is currently a city councilor and battling cancer, holds the decision to stay with the HHOF for as long as he so chooses after being appointed to the board. The HHOF, who has not released an official statement on the decision, does not have the power or authority to remove a director once appointed. In fact, the only way for Ford to be removed from the board is to resign himself, or have the City of Toronto (the official place of nomination) make the decision
Issue 176.13 • Thursday, April 9, 2015
SPORTS & HEALTH
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Top Ten: baseball movies STEPHANIE CORATTI On April 6, Major League Baseball (MLB) kicked off the 2015 season with the always-anticipated Opening Day action. In honour of one of summer’s greatest pastimes, we take a look at the top 10 baseball movies of all-time. 10. Trouble with the Curve (2012) Looking at the struggles of an aging, renowned baseball scout, Gus Lobel – played by the esteemed Clint Eastwood – this modern-day story dives into the relationships baseball builds off the field, including Lobel’s troubled connection with his daughter Mickey, played by Amy Adams. It seems through the rough father-daughter history, baseball is the only thing keeping the two together. 9. Mr. 3000 (2004) Stan Ross, played by Bernie Mac, retires after making it to 3,000 base hits. However, nine years later, Ross finds himself having to chase the milestone once again after a technicality called back his original accomplishment. On his second go-around, returning to professional baseball now as a 47-year-old, Ross goes on to capture more than the number 3,000.
focus on the smarts in building a potential championship squad. The movie is based off the book, “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game” written by Michael Lewis.
the new-owner Rachel Phelps (played by Margaret Whitton) puts together a team comprised of an almost-blind pitcher, injury-prone catcher, and various other less-than-capable players. However, instead of tanking the season, along with ticket sales, the Indians turn into a contending squad. 3. Bull Durham (1988) Susan Sarandon, playing the Bulls’ minor league baseball loving-groupie, Annie Savoy, acts as an inspiration to a washed-up professional Crash Davis (played by Kevin Costner) to guide upand-coming pitcher Ebby Calvin Laloosh. As Davis guides Laloosh – coined as “Nuke” – to control his talent, the love of baseball and the lessons of life itself are on full display.
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Madonna in A League of their Own.
7. The Natural (1984) Shot as a young baseball prospect on his way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, Roy Hobbs (played by Robert Redford) gets back into professional baseball 16-years-later with the New York Knights, who are in a last place standing. Nevertheless, Hobbs makes a mark as one of the best players in the league, as the Knights turn their season around – only to the dismay of their owner, who wants nothing but games lost.
2. The Bad News Bears (1976) Morris Buttermaker, a once minor-league hopeful with a drinking habit, unhappily agrees to coach a Little League team, only to quickly realize the squad is compromised of misfits. Buttermaker attempts a solution with talented pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer (played by Tatum O’Neal) to lead the team, but needs to learn some patience to help the process.
6. Fever Pitch (2005) Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore play a couple that falls in love, despite having a severe lack of things in common. Baseball is one of the many things the two don’t share a love of, yet, Fallon – playing Ben Wrightman – has two loves: Lindsey Meeks (Barrymore) and the Boston Red Sox. The latter ends up being a serious threat to the relationship.
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Brad Pitt, in Moneyball.
8. Moneyball (2011) With Brad Pitt starring as the Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, the most compelling aspect of this modern day baseball tale comes in a smalldog organization outsmarting the big and rich ball clubs, such as the New York Yankees, with predicted maneuvers behind-thescenes to, avoid the cliché of the “magic” of baseball, and instead,
5. A League of Their Own (1992) Starring names such as Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O’Donnell, and set during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league is born as men are the foundation of the war effort. Hanks, playing a has-been coach named Jimmy Dugan, deals with overly competitive sisters, among various other obstacles for the untraditional league. 4. Major League (1989) In order to close a deal to move the Cleveland Indians to Miami,
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Major League Baseball (MLB) is in full force following Opening Day on April 6. With that, a recount of some of baseball’s greatest movies of all-time was necessary – including that of The Natural starring Robert Redford, as pictured above, coming in at number seven on the list.
Upcoming events • Turf League Sports | Adult Coed Soccer | 6 vs. 6 and 11 vs. 11 leagues available. Visit turfleaguesports.ca to learn more. Spots are limited. Don’t delay… Register now! • The LiveOutThere.com scholarship is a $2000 student award that supports any undergraduate student who is passionate about the outdoors. Details and applications at liveoutthere.com/scholarship COURTESY PHOTO
“If you build it...” Costner delivers in Field of Dreams.
1. Field of Dreams (1989) A farmer named Ray, played by Kevin Costner, hears a voice in his cornfield one night exclaiming, “If you build it, he will come” and acts on the instruction by building a baseball diamond on his farm. Once built, the ghosts of baseball legends of the past emerge to play, quickly teaching Ray that his “field of dreams” is about a lot more than the game
• Female fastball players wanted! KW women’s recreational league is seeking players for the 2015 season. Part-time players welcome, pitchers needed. kwladiesfastball.com
TheON
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LIFE
To plan, or not to plan? It depends on your frame of mind JACK HINDS There are lots of websites out there trying to sell you the “perfect getaway.” While trips like these may satisfy the majority of those out there looking to get away from it all, that doesn’t mean that you need to conform to what others are doing. The key to successful trip planning is to do exactly what you feel will result in your enjoyment and peace of mind. Unplanned vacations are very popular amongst young folk, and have been for some time. They make up the majority of the stories that you’ll hear at dinner tables and on bar stools. My mother entertained us with stories of backpacking across Europe, living under bridges and in people’s backyards, hopping trains, and bumming lifts from strangers. Trips like my mother’s are characterized by the growing of long facial hair or dreadlocks, a general avoidance of any personal hygiene products outside of baby wipes and travelling toothbrushes, and a pressing need to inform anyone even remotely associated with you immediately, in the event that something sketchy happens. Recommended accessories for a trip like this are seflie sticks, GoPros, a backpack big enough to carry the population of a small Polynesian island, and enough cash to bribe your way through a Kazakh border crossing.
ÉOLE WIND VIA CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Whether you are a pre-trip planner, or are taking off without one – travelling can be exhilarating and stress free…it just depends on your mindset. In all seriousness, these types of adventures are lauded as being life-changing journeys of personal improvement, and a culture has grown around subtly shaming those who haven’t travelled in this format. If you’re thinking you really should, bear in mind that, to accomplish this kind of travel, you really need to be of a certain constitution, and in a certain frame of mind. I have a friend who did just this, travelling around Europe, southeast Asia, and New Zealand for six months. She’s a hyper-smart, hyper-competitive law student and debater – the last person I’d see travelling like this. But then, one night, she and her fiancée split,
and her mindset changed. Within a month, she was off, and, six months later, she was back, with a new outlook on life, four new tattoos, and an entire hard drive of pictures to help her remember her experiences. She couldn’t have done it before the breakup, but, after, she almost couldn’t avoid it. Similarly, the meticulouslyplanned trip is favoured by control freaks and families with young children. Every minute of every day is accounted to maximize fun and minimize relaxation. Activities are booked months in advance to get the best deals and beat the lineup, hotels are only booked on special rates, and any transportation
should either be affordable rental car or air conditioned tour bus, complete with that distinctive, barely-tolerable scent of BO and flop sweat. Typically, vacations of this nature are not immediately shared with friends and family through social media, because, frankly, you look pretty miserable in most of the photos. As with the unplanned trip above, these types of trips do have their place, and can be a lot of fun when pulled off right. Again, relating it back to my family, when I was younger, my mother planned all our trips down to the finest detail – in strange and stark contrast to her free-wheeling trips as a rebellious
youth. All of it meant to ensure that the rest of us had a great time, while she worried non-stop about all that could possibly go sideways. The benefit was, with that meticulous planning, rarely did anything ever go awry. To the point that we were able to travel to places that would otherwise have been quite difficult or dangerous to get to, but we were spared the drama thanks to my mother’s on-point planning and execution. We travelled to the Middle East during the winter of 2001, and we made our way into Peru and Chile months after a violent coup and some cross-border territory disputes. All these experiences were made possible (and cheap!) by my mom’s phenomenal attention to detail. Both these types of trips have worked for my family and friends, because they’ve both been applied to appropriate situations. When life demands that you embrace your wild side and admit that you do indeed live only once, an unplanned trip to an unknown destination will return you revitalized, rejuvenated, and with a whole new pocketbook full of friends and travel companions. If your life demands a carefully scripted experience designed to achieve a specific adventure-related goal, planning is the way to go. When execution is paramount to your enjoyment of an experience, there is no substitute. Whatever you choose, travel is never a bad choice. And things can always change. So do what you’re comfortable doing, and try to absorb the advice of others with their past and present mindsets as context. And them’s the facts.
Simply authentic: diary of a local foodie Utilizing whole, fresh foods – strawberry sunshine salad EMILY JONES With this being my last food column in The Ontarion for a while – but likely not forever – I have decided to talk a bit about the importance of making the choice to cook with fresh, wholesome ingredients when cooking for yourself. Something that I have noticed over the years is that a beautiful and delicious meal is only as tasty
as the ingredients you decide to use while cooking. With the warmer months upon us, we are so lucky to live in the community we are in. The city of Guelph has a great farmer’s market, and, soon enough, it will be filled with lots of fresh foodie goodness. Take the time to stroll downtown, and fill up your reusable bags with fresh ingredients. The summer is a great time to take advantage of all of the locallygrown produce we are given the opportunity to buy. Not only will your meals taste better, but you will also be helping the people in our community prosper. This week, I am going to share with you one of my favourite summer salads that I make each year in the summer using only the
freshest local ingredients. It’s sweet and colourful, and hits all the right taste buds; it’s my strawberry sunshine salad. This salad is very easy to make, and can be made using fresh and ripe ingredients that can be found throughout the summer at the Guelph Farmer’s Market. There aren’t many ingredients, but the tastes blend together effortlessly. Like always, you can find the shopping list at the end of the article, but, right now, I am going to instruct you on how to build this mouthwatering salad. First, wash the locally-grown spring mix. If you like a bit of a peppery kick, add a handful of baby arugula as well. Then, slice some red onion, and cucumber finely. Next, slice approximately
10 fresh, local strawberries. These are all of the fruit and veggies you will need to build the salad. Next, sprinkle some sliced almonds, and crumble goat cheese on top of the salad. For a dressing, I recommend combining olive or grape seed oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and cinnamon. I personally don’t own any store-bought salad dressings because I’d rather make my own – they taste better and I know what goes into them. So, I highly recommend making your own – it’ll only take a few extra minutes and will make all the difference. This is a salad that is great anytime, but is best in the summer when local strawberries are available – they just taste so much better. Enjoy!
Shopping list: - Spring mix - Arugula - Strawberries - Cucumber - Red onion - Sliced almonds - Goat cheese - Olive oil - Honey - Cinnamon - Apple cider vinegar
Issue 176.13 • Thursday, April 9, 2015
One pan, one recipe
LIFE
On this day...
Quick and easy recipes using only one pan
April 9, 2009 Protests in Georgia
FATEMA RAHEEMI Unleash your inner chef with three simple recipes. Create delicious, low-cost meals, or try out a new popular dessert. Upgrade your cooking skills for that year-end get together, or just because. The following recipes are made using only one pan. This helps reduce clean up and saves time. RECIPE ONE Layered Dip Serves four or more -Sour cream -Two medium ripe avocadospeeled, cored, mashed. -One tablespoon lemon juice -Pinch salt-and-pepper -Salsa or diced tomatoes -Small can of black beans -Small can of black olives -Block of marble cheese grated -Green onion chopped Using either a deep glass bowl or baking dish, begin the layering process. Begin with a layer of sour cream on the bottom. Next, a layer of grated cheese, followed by more sour cream and then salsa or a layer of diced tomatoes. This is followed by another layer of sour cream, and then a layer of black beans. Next, add mashed avocados that are tossed in lemon juice. The final layer consists of chopped green onions and sliced black olives. Substitute – beans with grilled chicken seasoned with sweet thai chili sauce
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SAMEER CHHABRA In Tbilisi, Georgia, up to 60,000 people protested against the government of former President Mikheil Saakashvili. The country of Georgia has a habit of inciting large-scale political action on April 9. Not only is April 9 the country’s independence – gained from the Soviet Union in 1991 – it is also the day that the Tbilisi Massacre took place in 1989. On April 9, 2009, the people of Georgia were not attempting to secede BRANDON WARREN VIA CC BY-NC 2.0 from a failing Communist state, nor Cleaning up after cooking dinner can be tedious - check out these one pan recipes to minimize were they victims of a brutal Soviet cleaning! response to a peaceful protest and hunger strike. Instead, the people of Georgia were protesting the governRECIPE TWO glass. Using a bowl, mix eggs, milk, -A bag of tri-colour vegetable pasta ment created as a result of President Cinnamon toast rollups cinnamon, and sugar. Feel free to -One can of pasta sauce Saakashvili’s second term in office. -One bag sliced whole wheat bread skip the sugar in the recipe as you The controversy surrounding Saa-Two eggs are adding sugar on the outside. You In the pot, pour some vegetable oil -1/2 cup milk can skip the milk or use soy instead, and simmer on medium heat. Add kashvili’s second term can be traced -1/3 cup sugar or less if desired. Spread the filling on one washed spinach and cook until leaves back to his primary term in office. - One teaspoon cinnamon side of bread and roll up. Lightly shrink. Once cooked, place pale As a result of the bloodless Rose grease the pan with oil over a low- in bowl. Take half of a red onion, Revolution, that culminated with Filling of choice – cream cheese/jam, medium heat. Dip roll ups in the chopped, and cook until soft. Then, the resignation of former President cream cheese / Nutella, peanut butter mix, and fry until golden brown all place onion in the bowl. Repeat Eduard Shevardnadze on November /honey, almond butter/agave nectar. over. Once they are cooked sprin- for mushrooms, garlic, and chop 23, 2003, the people of Georgia held You could even try putting some kle cinnamon and sugar as needed. jalapeños in rings. Add the pasta an election that resulted with a stagcream cheese and sliced deli meat or sauce to all cooked vegetables and gering 96 per cent of citizens pledging bacon. Try tuna or other spreads that RECIPE#3 stir. Mix seasoning of your choice. their votes to Saakashvili. Promising will be welcomed by your tastebuds. Rainbow pasta Fill the pot 2/3 with water and bring an end to corruption and an increase If you are trying a non-dessert roll, Serves five or more to a boil. Once boiled, add pasta and in wages for all, Saakashvili was seen just remove the sugar from the dip. -One bag of spinach cover lid. Let it boil for about 12 min- as the obvious choice. Saakashvili’ next few months, and Cut the crusts off the bread and -1/2 large red onion utes or until the pasta is soft. Drain roll flat with a rolling pin or round -Three medium jalapeños the pasta and put the pasta back in indeed years, in office proved to be -Pinch of pepper the pot. Mix the vegetable sauce highly successful, and his government -Four large white mushrooms mix together; add feta cheese on top was able to deal with a number of from bulk if desired. Enjoy your recipes! Bon local and foreign crises to wild public approval. As a result of growing unrest -Four cloves of garlic appétit. in the opposition government, as well as key members of his government raising questions regarding his power and intentions, Saakashvili was forced to hold early presidential elections to appease his critics. Saakashvili was once again elected as the President of Georgia, but his time in office was still marred with political turmoil and disagreement with his opposition. The tension culminated in the April 9 protests when members of the opposition demonstrated against Saakashvili’s elected position. While the protest was eventually disbanded, members of Volunteer with the police claimed that the opposiThe Ontarion tion not only attempted to incite an Meetings held armed mutiny, but that they had the Thursday @ 5:30 intention of assassinating President in UC Rm. 264 Saakashvili. The opposition vehemently denied these claims.
your life... your opinion... they matter.
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LIFE
Science Avenue: Human Factors and Ergonomics The best way to find to the best way SAMEER CHHABRA What is Ergonomics? The beauty of human thought – indeed, intelligent thought of any kind – is that great ideas and actions exist well before any one person has given a name to a concept. For the ancient Babylonian worker tilling the fields who was introduced to irrigation, the word meant nothing – all that mattered was that there was an easier way to guarantee a fruitful harvest. To the surgeon who realized that stitching up his patients could prevent further infection, the word suture didn’t contribute to his actions. Indeed, to anyone who has had a revolutionary idea that was then discovered to have already been branded, names meant nothing. All that mattered was the application of an idea. As a result, human factors and ergonomics – the study of optimizing user and object performance – have existed as philosophical, metaphysical, and literal constructs since the dawn of intelligent thought. Indeed, the desire to make a task easier by reducing the amount of effort an individual must exert is at the core of every intelligent species. Animals are remarkably lazy, and if there is an easier way to accomplish a task, it is an absolute certainty that we will find this way. How does Ergonomics work? If one has ever sharpened a pencil instead of taking a knife to wood and lead, if one has ever used a
disposable razor instead of using a machete, if one has ever bought bread instead of growing wheat and baking mixtures in an oven, they have taken advantage of ergonomics.
“ if one has ever bought bread instead of growing wheat...they have taken advantage of ergonomics.” It is true that our modern societies are obsessed with the notion of reducing stress and effort, but the desire to make life easier has existed since life began. However, the modern idea of ergonomics has existed for only the past 200 or so years. At one point in time, designers focused on creating objects utilizing the most extravagant, ostentatious, and conspicuous design languages. Now, they are more concerned with streamlined applications that reduce the overall strain exerted on a system. For example, cars from the 1950s were built to the same rigorous standards as tanks. Hard angles, boxy frames, and gaudy amalgamations of rubber and steel were smashed together to form the cars that our grandfathers and greatgrandfathers drooled over. Today, cars resemble sleek starships from the pulp era; aerodynamics reigns supreme as we attempt to create vehicles that move with the least resistance.
Modern ergonomics is divided into three categories: physical, concerned with human anatomy; cognitive, concerned with mental processes; and organizational, concerned with socio-technical systems like offices and governments. Each category seeks to move towards ideal optimization. For instance, workers at desks should sit at precise angles in order to avoid back pain, neck strain, and carpal tunnel. Astrophysicists should keep their minds sharp with puzzles. Governments should be structured to account for inappropriate uses of power. Why is Ergonomics important? Earlier, I opined on the notion that names are irrelevant so long as ideas exist. The truth is far less optimistic. The human species names things for the same reason that we attend to ergonomics; giving something a name makes it more real, and working on optimizing user-object interactions ensures that we are reducing the wear-and-tear associated with such interactions. For a simple answer, however, ergonomics is important because it enables us to optimize the way we live our lives by reducing the amount of time and effort we need to spend working on a task. Why bother with constructing a car using organic workers when a robot can do a better – and safer – job? Why bother hunting with bow-and-arrow when guns work so much better? Why bother lugging around a briefcase-sized mobile phone when an iPhone is more appealing? The simple truth is that, for every one step humanity takes forward, there are 100 ways that humanity can better itself. Therefore, we must study ergonomics to find the ways to better ourselves.
NASA’S MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER VIA CC BY-NC 2.0
Ergonomics is really the perfect metaphor for science; constant betterment and never-ending improvement. What is the future of Ergonomics? I want to end this year’s final Science Avenue by addressing my excitement for the future of Planet Earth. There will come a time when we look to the stars and no longer wonder what lies in the distance. We will think on the atom, recognize its potential, and realize the wonders trapped within each electron. The
human species – indeed, all species – are only bound by the limits of their own imaginations. It is when we choose to accept our place in the universe – when we look at ourselves and gleam with pride – that we truly begin to face our limits. The future of ergonomics is the never-ending march towards perfection. As always, I’m excited for the absurd possibilities.
Issue 176.13 • Thursday, April 9, 2015
Life 101: taking a break
Finding calm in stressful times EMILY JONES
Right now is a stressful time for everyone – exams are beginning, papers are due, and everyone’s moving on to new things. I hope this article will help some of you who are feeling overwhelmed. These are some of the things I try to do when I get overwhelmed, or feel a stressful situation coming on. Just walk away In times that I feel stressed out, or times when I feel a stressful
situation coming on, I think it is best to just walk away to give yourself a break. Obviously, you are not going to do this in the middle of a presentation, or an exam, but you can do it beforehand when you are feeling overwhelmed. Going outside to get some fresh air and going for a brief walk will reduce stress and calm you down before returning to the task at hand. So, lace up your shoes and get out there! All it takes is a few minutes to have you feeling refreshed again. Breathe Don’t just breathe, breathe deeply. Try breathing in through your nose and out through nose,
Historical nostalgia
LIFE and breathe into your belly. By breathing deeply like this, you will be able to relax your body and then your mind. This also requires some concentration that will help distract you momentarily from whatever it is that is stressing you. If you have time, try to partake in activities that make you focus on your breathing, such as yoga or pilates – both will help to relieve stressors. Sleep well It can be difficult to sleep when you have so much on your mind – whether it be that essay that’s due in two days, the exam you are worried about, where you are going to find a job, or where
you will be living next month. However, sleep is still necessary for you to function throughout these busy days, so find time for it. You may need to do a little extra preparation to ensure you get to bed at a good hour – and stay sleeping for the entire night – but it is doable! Find something that helps you relax before bed and stick to the routine as much as possible, until your sleeping habits are back to normal. Talk it out Sometimes you just need to talk it out. I don’t recommend spending all of your time discussing your stressors with others, but it is good to confide in people whom you trust,
RACHEL VAN ZEUMEREN
COURTESY PHOTO
At one point or another, most people desire to be a part of a different time period. There is something nostalgic about the past that creates a romantic feeling about a time we have never experienced ourselves. movements that have improved the lives of many. Psychologists have studied nostalgia through Woody Allen’s film Midnight in Paris. They come to the conclusion that the film uses historical nostalgia to tell a story about coping with the present. In the film, the main character Gil, played by Owen Wilson, leaves the unsatisfying present and travels to 1920s Paris, where he spends time with his artistic idols. “It was Gil’s journey through
when you are dealing with a stressful situation – whether it be in regards to school, work, or your personal life. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone close to you, then look to book an appointment with a counsellor to discuss what is going on – it really helps when you are looking for an unbiased perspective and a way to clear your head. These are just some of the tips I think are beneficial when dealing with stressful situations, I hope they help during this time of year!
TheON
OPINION
An interest in the past or rebellion against the present? Many people are particularly attracted to the past, and, for some, the feeling is so strong that they feel as though they were born into the wrong generation. Historical nostalgia is a yearning for a time in the past that you have not actually experienced; but is it the allure of the past that causes nostalgia, or is it a result of dissatisfaction with the present? It is common to be intrigued by the past. Fashion trends almost always come back in style, usually to older generations, dismay. Perhaps your celebrity crush is old enough to be your parent or grandparent, or they have already passed away. Maybe you have acquired a record collection bigger than your parents, it is easy to wish that concerts were as cheap as in the 70s, or that candy was still a penny, and to forget about the more dismal aspects of the past. The past tends to be romanticized, and perhaps, when one longs for another time, they forget about the technological, medical, and civil rights
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the past that helped him identify what was missing in his present and that gave him the courage to take steps to correct it,” said Dr. Krystine Batcho, a professor at Le Moyne College in New York. Jennifer Yalouf, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, thinks nostalgia can be interpreted as a type of fantasy, and fantasy is generally thought of as a defense mechanism that allows
someone to block out the bad in the present. For Yalouf, historical nostalgia is a form of escapism, because people turn to the past to escape in many ways, from participating in historical re-enactments to reading books, listening to music, or watching movies from bygone times. Woody Allen often uses nostalgia as a theme, as seen in Manhattan and Radio Days, but the films come to a realization that the good old days were not
as good as one might think. In Midnight in Paris, Gil realizes that the past was not that golden, the future may not be that bad, and that it is up to him to live up to his full potential. Feeling disconnected with a generation and thinking you were born in the wrong era can be seen as a rebellion against the modern idea of time, history, and progress. We live in a generation when people are extremely critical of youth. With books like, The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future, Mark Baurlein argues that cyberculture is turning young people into “know-nothings.” We are painted as narcissists who tweet, take selfies, have lost our social skills, and can’t live without the internet. Technology isn’t inherently bad though, and more and more young people are using it for social activism. Craig Kielburger, co-founder of the youth development charity, Free the Children, works with socially conscious young people everyday. Kielburger says that this generation is tremendously engaged and intelligent. We are inheriting another generation’s daunting economic and environmental problems, and it’s up to us to fix it. It’s easy to be dissatisfied with the present and to long for another time, but we might as well try to change what we don’t like, because time travel has not yet been perfected, and we have the intelligence and ability to bring about change.
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OPINION
Changing the Subject : Feminism
Tracking feminism’s progress and setbacks DANIELLE SUBJECT Firstly, it’s difficult to completely track feminism, as there have been many feminists that existed before the 19th Century. The first wave of feminism is said to have started during the mid-to-late 19th Century, though feminists such as Mary Wollstonecraft were active much earlier and basically set the foreground for first-wave feminists. Medieval women such as Christine de Pizan greatly contributed to the feminist movement, though they are not included in the first-wave. The first-wave was heavily focused on women’s suffrage, and also coincided with the abolitionist (anti-slavery) movement. In this wave, we can see Sojourner Truth as an abolitionist, and her famous speech entitled “Ain’t I a Woman?”
“...feminism is a complex movement that is interrelated with race, sex, class, religion, and ethnicity.” The second-wave of feminism hit in the 1960s, and the world saw a much more radical depiction of feminism. Though this is the movement that has caused many people to criticize feminism as being too radical, this movement also accomplished great change for women. Second-wave feminism coincided with the Civil Rights Movement, which resulted in the Black Power Movement, the Sexual Revolution, and also brought about the rise of the New Left. Not to mention anti-Vietnam protests were also actively going on.
MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION
This article provides a brief history of feminism and discusses why education is such an important part of moving forward. Second-wave feminism fought for reproductive and sexual rights for women, equal pay and equal opportunity, and overall equality in women’s social and economic status. Thanks to the work of second-wave feminists, the Civil Rights Act not only banned discrimination based on race and religion, but also on sex. Strong feminist thinkers inhabited the space of the second-wave feminists, and this era also established the difference between sex and gender. Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique was widely used by feminists of the second-wave, especially in terms of fighting for sexual freedom. Second-wave feminist thinkers also used Simone de Beauvoir’s, The Second Sex, and Mary Wollstonecraft’s, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, heavily in feminist theory. The second-wave also brought us Gloria Steinem, who became famous as a journalist for going under-cover as a Playboy Bunny. The emergence of third-wave feminism is more difficult to pinpoint. It started around the mid 1990s, and is often known as postmodern feminism, though many theorists question its existence. Feminism is often criticized for being racially and socially exclusive. There are all sorts of socioeconomic factors that contribute to this setback, and, as
we begin to see a larger dialogue in terms of intersectional feminism, we can only hope that feminism can learn to become intersectional. As far as I’m concerned, as gender becomes increasingly diverse, we need feminism now more than ever. We need the ideas of queer theorists and fellow feminists, such as Judith Butler and Gayle Rubin. We need to realize that feminism does not mean fighting for the rights of an exclusive group of women – feminism is a complex movement that is interrelated with race, sex, class, religion, and ethnicity. With feminism comes a fight not only for gender equality, but also a fight for racial and social equality. We need to take the work that our foremothers of the first and second-waves have accomplished, and build on that to morph feminism into something that fits the issues of our time, right now, in 2015. Yes, the movement has been notorious for fighting for an exclusive group of women’s rights, but first and second-wave feminists brought to this country women’s suffrage, sexual and reproductive rights (how many of us take the pill? You can thank our second-wave feminists for that), and the right for equal economic opportunity. We’ve had the opportunity to not only view the successes of
previous feminists, but we’ve also had the privilege of being able to see their flaws through an outsider’s lens. We can see that race and class are still systems of oppression that have yet to be dealt with. We can see that we still have a long way to go in terms of queer theory. We can see that feminism needs to be adjusted to fight for the needs of LGBQTA+ women. This means we need more education, more dialogue, and more voices to be heard.
“We need to take the work that our foremothers of the first and secondwaves have accomplished, and build on that.” The setbacks of education play a role in impacting feminism. Only a limited fraction of this country has access to
post-secondary education, and that is largely dependent on socioeconomic status. A variety of universities, including the U of G, have cut women’s studies programs altogether. Tuition fees are constantly on the rise, leaving people to decide between falling into student debt or finding a job out of high school. How can we expect feminism to reach its potential, when only a small fraction of this country’s population has access to learning about feminist theory? And within that fraction, as the arts become increasingly defunded, what will happen when women’s studies programs slowly become unavailable? Knowledge is power – in order to fully understand the movement, we need to have access to the intellect behind it. Have a question, comment or complaint? Send us a letter to the editor at ontarion@uoguelph.ca. Deadline is Monday at 4 p.m., 300 word max.
TheON
Issue 176.13 • Thursday, April 9, 2015
EDITORIAL
Change – your future begins now
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
Moving on from your comfort zone EMILY JONES My time as Editor-in-Chief of The Ontarion is coming to an end, and I hope that my final editorial will shine some light on the excitement that comes from change and getting out of your comfort zone. Right now, thousands of people are in the same place as you. You are not alone in this scary, yet exhilarating, journey that is life. Growing up, we are led to believe that life begins when we are set free in the real world, after we finish our academic journeys. The truth is, finishing school can be a nerve-racking experience. We are searching for jobs, and we’re unsure of what will come next. The thought of leaving the comfort that we have known for so long can be a terrifying experience. Walking out of that final exam, or finishing a contract position that we have grown to love, to move on to other things can be frightening – but it is all in how you perceive it to be. Everything you have done up to this point in your life has been planned. Now it is time to make a different kind of plan – it is time to plan what you really want out of life. Sure, this may not be an easy task, as many do not know what they want. It is important to recognize that what you want out of life changes often; unexpected opportunities arise, and you may not know where to turn. That’s okay. Life is a continually changing whirlwind of ideas to explore, and an endless amount of opportunities to engage in. It is scary, but it is also the most free you’ll ever be. It’s time to move on to bigger and better things, and to be thankful for everything you have learned along the way. Getting an undergraduate degree is something everyone should be proud of; you have worked hard to get here, so take a minute and let it all soak in. Congratulate yourself for all of the long hours of hard work you have put in and wallow in your success. You have gotten yourself to this point – now, you can get yourself wherever you want to go. Don’t ever allow anyone to tell you otherwise. Your undergraduate degree here at the University of Guelph has likely taught you a lot of things.
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Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief Emily Jones Associate Editor Emilio Ghloum News Editor Alyssa Ottema Arts & Culture Editor Adrien Potvin Sports & Health Editor Stephanie Coratti Copy Editor Sameer Chhabra Web Editor Danielle Subject JAKE MELARA VIA CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Accept today for what it is – the start of something new. Go on, take chances, and embrace change freely. It’s the beginning of something magical – live fully. For starters, it has taught you how to be an organized being – or, at least what you need to work on to become more organized in the future. It has allowed you to make contacts with people who will always be a part of your professional circle. It is here that you have made lifelong friendships with people who by now feel like family. It has prepared you for what else is out there. These are only some of the important things you will take away from this experience.
“you have worked hard to get here, so take a minute and let it all soak in. ” Now, it’s time to move on. It can be overwhelming at times, but it’ll all be worth it in the end. I want to share some things that I think are important for moving on in both a professional and personal sense. Reintroduce yourself to yourself The likelihood that you have changed from the time you first moved here for school is quite high. You are likely not the same as when you first arrived – you have grown into an adult, your mind has developed, and you are stronger. The people you have
met have made a lasting impression on you, and the knowledge you have gained has transformed your view of the world and your place within it. Take a bit of time to reflect on these changes and to appreciate the person you have become. This will help you decipher the person you want to be in the future. Introduce yourself to others After taking some time to accept and get to know yourself again, it is time to introduce yourself to others and to the world. Take time to update your online profiles and get them ready to show off – make yourself known! Filter through your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts – revamp them, because you are ready. You want to be sure that you are showing off your best professional self. Perfect your resume Whether you have completed your degree, or are working towards the end of it – it is time to work on your resume. An update is likely in order from the time you last time you looked at it. Finding a more permanent job, or a job that is in line with your discipline and future goals, is different than applying for a part-time position you don’t plan on doing for an extended period of time. Take some time to think about it, ask someone to look it over, and make sure it is ready for when you see a position you’d love to obtain. Hit the pavement running Set aside some serious time to put yourself out there – network with people in your field, and find a mentor. There is no better place to
find advice and guidance than from someone who is where you want to be in five to 10 years. It isn’t as scary of an experience as you may think, and it is well worth the effort and time. You may not have held a position in your field yet, but you will, and, whether you always feel it or not, you are ready for that next step. Embrace change Embracing change is likely one of the hardest things to do, especially if you have felt comfortable where you are now. Try and remember that with change comes growth, and remember that you are worth it. The world is ready for you whether or not you feel comfortable. One of the most important skills you can develop, especially in today’s society, is the ability to adapt to different situations. There are a lot of options out there that you never would have expected coming into university as an undergraduate student. Your degree does not lead to one particular career – it is all about you and the skills you can bring into your future career and life. Change rarely comes without being uncomfortable for a short period of time – you need to endure those moments and know that you will come out stronger on the other side. Life is what you make of it – nothing is for sure. You have the ability now to create your own destiny – it’s time to break out of your comfort zone and live the life you have always wanted. It may be a scary experience, but it will be worth every moment of it.
Production Staff Photo & Graphics Editor Matthew Azevedo Director of Layout & Design Carly Jenkins Office Staff Business Coordinator Lorrie Taylor Ad Manager Al Ladha Office Manager Vanessa Tignanelli Circulation Director Salvador Moran Board Of Directors President Alex Lefebvre Chairperson Patrick Sutherland Treasurer Anthony Jehn Secretary Sasha Odesse Directors Melissa Chong Ah Yan Bronislaw Szulc Zina Bibanovic Patrice Manuel Erin Knight Shane Liquornik Meghan Tennant Contributors Lara Haines-Love Jack Hinds Matthew Lawson Caden McCann Ethan Pankhurst Fatema Raheemi Wendy Shepherd Rachel Van Zeumeren Will Wellington
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 Editorin-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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