FutuRéale Magazine June 2011

June 2011 vol. 4 issue 6

FUTURÉALE arts . culture . living

www.futuréale.com

RUSTED PYRE PG. 24

PYSCHRHYTHMS PG. 32

JESS SILVER POETRY PG. 18

FLITTERING PAGES PG. 8 BEST BURGERS IN T.O

PG. 14 LEFT TO RIGHT: LAURENCE COHEN, DAVID CORMICAN FRONT: DANIEL AUDET

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Note From the Editor FUTURÉALE

Dear FR Readers, We are pleased to present you with the latest edition of FutuRéale. We have invested a lot of time and effort into making the June edition a pleasure to read. We are grateful for this opportunity to have been able to lead our team in a positive direction.

We would like to thank all of our talented writers, support staff and committed readers for their participation and dedication to our enterprise. We would also like to acknowledge the collective effort of our team that helped us in making the issue a success!

This month’s issue features the new monthly column PsychRhythms, a co-written feature in Flittering Pages, and for the first time in FutuRéale, a controversial look at world issues.

We hope you enjoy our latest issue of FutuRéale that takes our readers on another innovative journey.

-Interim EIC: Anastasia Rokina and Jess Silver

Editor in Chief Shawn Shapiro

Online Content Editor Shawn Shapiro Executive Director Omar Murji Contact FutuRéale at: info@futureale.com www.futureale.com ISSN 1916-3215 FUTURÉALE FutuRéale Magazine is published by The Organic Press www.organicpress.ca FutuRéale Magazine is a proud member of the ONAMAP Network www.onamap.ca © 2011 ONAMAP Enterprises

Masthead Publisher Omar Murji Editor in Chief Shawn Shapiro Acting Editor-in-Chief Anastasia Rokina Jess Silver Layout Artists Michael Nguyen Rav Rawat Kelly Potter Layout/Tech Ankur Taxali GH Interns: Sarah Doktor Olena Protsiv Melissa Doyle Editorial Interns Anastasia Rokina Lindsay Romeo Olivia D’Orazio Jess Silver Kelly Potter Brian McLellan Jess Morton Olga Shugurova Contributing Writers Anastasia Rokina Lindsay Romeo Jess Silver Maxwell Wynter Cindy Ng Man Him Craig Wilkins Abby Plener Maryam Gordpour Jess Morton Chris Allaire Edward Landa

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Table of Contents

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04 Summer Savings Maryam Gordpour 06 Summerlicious Lindsay Romeo 08 Flittering Pages Jess Silver 10 Flittering Pages Part. II Jess Silver 12 Amy Matysio Jess Morton 14 Best Burgers of Toronto Chris Allaire 16 Review Hall Pass Edward Landa 18 Jess Silver Poetry Jess Silver 20 Father Anastasia Rokina 22 Rusted Pyre Intro 24 Rusted Pyre Cover Story Anastasia Rokina 26 Green Goddess Abby Plener 27 More Than Tv Craig Wilkins 28 Buying Your First Home Maxwell Wynter 30 Foreign Movies Craig Wilkins 32 PsychRhythms Anastasia Rokina

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Summer Savings For June

By Maryam Gordpour

Back by popular demand, grab your drinks, here’s to seeing the sun again. Summer season is filled with neons, stripes, and prints, this is where you hear the birds chirping and the breeze making your hair ready for the beach. Zara, H&M and Forever 21 have your essential needs at great prices.

First up to the plate, Zara has all you need to update your wardrobe for the summer. Scarves can seal the deal with any simple outfit, especially with forty different patterns to choose from, from thinner materials to slightly heavier for those summer night breezes. Bold tops are the fashion statement for this summer and stripes are the indication of true style. Take on stripes of black, orange and royal blue with loose material on the arms to feel the breeze in the air but not enough to see any under garments. Pair it off with white cotton pants for comfort and an outstanding outfit. If you’re hitting a night out with your girls or going on a special date, the sleeveless cheetah dress is a good choice. It has two pockets, a zipper back and a small neck, a perfect combination with nude heels. Before you leave the store remember to check out the funky section filled with casual t-shirts and jeans for mixing and matching.

Striped tank tops that come in white combined with either light pink, royal blue, yellow or forest green can add a dash of colour. Trendy stripes will look remarkable with jeans, skirts and shorts. Get the courage to not only wear stripes up on top, but also down below.

White fitted skirts combined with blue, black, pink, and green stripes can’t go wrong with a solid top to match.

If you’re looking for elegance at it’s finest, Zara has what you are looking for. Take the time to fit your personality with these trendy looks.

Next stop: H&M all aboard! Chic outfits from countries all over the world broaden your horizon and get you started on your summer outfits. At affordable prices you can spice up your summer wardrobe while saving money. Feast your eyes on a dreamy floral light pink dress that comes with an equally colored ribbon

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around the waist and neck. To top it off, add a white cardigan for those cooler summer nights. White organic recycled polyester dresses are selling like hot potato pies! Be sure to check them out. If you want to stay simple, wear a thin belt to your liking. Cheetah print is everywhere and is a simple way to boost your look. Thin, loose tops with fitted skirts or even with regular wash down jean shorts are a great way to style up your look. Cheetah print shorts also come in a loose fit for comfort. Make it an outfit to remember. You can rock any outfit - and be comfortable at the same time - to make days and nights much more memorable.

Feeling young? Feeling flamboyant? Forever 21 is the place to be with many fashion personalities. Neon mustard shorts already with a thin, black belt can make anyone’s head turn. Match it up with a solid tank top, tube top, or quarter length top to make them really stand out!

The most comfortable purchase that should be made this summer is a pair of woven pants. They come in a thin material in a wide range of colours and patterns. Woven pants are sweeping the high fashion nation all across the world and you can match them up with trendy heels, flats or sandals. It’s jungle fever season and African prints are in for the summer. There are lots of ways to mix and match with these patterns to make the perfect summer outfit. Try the bold African print maxi dress that would look great with plain sandals. Crop tops are back from the 1960’s with lots of colours, words and designs to inspire your 60’s era beauty queen. Worn with sport bras for laid back days, these crop tops can be worn with fitted spandex skirts and sandals. Be inspired, hit the heart of Toronto with style and colour.

Relax and enjoy the comfort of feeling good without losing all your savings. Aritzia is known to have outstanding outfits, but they come at a high price. It’s not worth spending a fortune on items that can be found for cheaper prices elsewhere. Fairview mall has a new relocated, remodelled Aritzia and the first things noted are the preselected outfits on the mannequins. They are nearly impossible to actually find in the store, so your safest bet is to shop online or find items that are similar at Forever 21, H&M and Zara at more affordable prices. Just remember to check out other places before settling on an expensive item. Red Talula button up material shorts come in different colours at Aritzia but Forever 21 has the same Red shorts for half the price . Some stripe tops were almost identical to the ones at Zara and again, half the price. Make the fun and smart choice when browsing with friends to find the perfect trendy outfit.

Summer essentials are a must even if they’re not broadcasted in fashion magazines. Tights are great for the summer and very easy to match with trendy printed tops. Jean shorts are always a great choice with flats, sandals, uggs, or even heels. A great way to style them up is with crop tops or tank tops of any color or pattern. Stock up on jean shorts as they are always a great piece of style to keep you cool. Forever 21, H&M and Zara are great for your essential needs this summer.

Don’t forget to use sun block and remember to keep yourself cool and hydrated!

Zara

H&M

Forever 21

Orange/blue/black top- $45.90

Floral Dresses- $39.95

Neon shorts- $21.90

Scarves- $19.90-$29.90

White cardigan- $34.95

Woven pants- $15.90-$23.90

Cotton white pants- $49.90

Organic dresses- $19.95-$59.95

Sandals- $8.50-$35.80

Cheetah dresses-$79.90

Thin belts- $12.95

African print dresses- $29.80

Nude heels- $99.90

Solid coloured thin belts- $6.95

Crop tops-$9.90-$21.80

Striped tank tops- $15.90

Cheetah dress tops- $34.95

Solid tank tops- $2.80

Striped fitted skirts-$19.90

Cheetah shorts- $19.95

Red button up shorts- $11.90

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Summerlicious

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By Lindsay Romeo

Summerlicious is in Toronto from July 8th to the 24th and there could not be a better way to celebrate summer! Being a student, I am always looking for the hottest deals and the biggest perks when spending money. I always heard of Summerlicious and Winterlicious in Toronto but I had never bothered to go until this past winter.

Now I can hardly wait until Summerlicious!

How it works:

It is important to make reservations of course, because crowds of people will always take advantage of opportunities like these. I choose to go later at night around 9pm because the dinner rush would have been over and the service would be better. The candle lit romantic setting of the restaurant, the fixed low prices of the meals, the friendly and warm hearted wait stuff, and a beyond superb meal full of vibrant flavours, all in the beating heart of the Yonge and Eglinton scene in Toronto made for a delightfully sweet evening.

Summerlicious and Winterlicious have a fixed menu where you usually have three choices of appetizers, main entrees, and desserts. The idea is that you can mix and match your favourites at a fixed price, so it’s a lot of food for your dollar. Depending on the restaurant, the fixed prices for lunch range from $15, $20, or $25, with $25, $35 or $45 for dinner.

So mix and match your favourites and let your taste pallet thrive!

This Summerlicious:

How it started:

Alice Fazooli’s:

I was wondering, ‘how did Winterlicious and Summerlicious take place?’ These events started as an act for survival. When SARS broke out in 2003, the restaurant industry was worried that it would collapse due to the fear of contamination. Nobody was going out and the industry had to take action. This is where Winterlicous unfolded and brought business back into participating restaurants. By creating a package for customers to get a lot for their dollar, people eventually came around. On that same token, the restaurant industry saved themselves from a complete demise. Since this method was so successful, Winterlicious and Summerlicious now takes place in periods of slow business. This way, restaurants can still make money when not in their peak season. A fair bit of money is made during the Winterlicious and Summerlicious events due to the large volume of people that attend.

Everyone wins. Customers save and restaurants make money.

This is a fun and casual Italian restaurant that each guest should find satisfying as there is something here for everyone to enjoy. They are constantly bringing in new flavours to classic Italian dishes, so try out some of their new spins on your favourites.

Although the list for the 2011 Summerlicious restaurants is still in the works, there are already many restaurants on the list. Here are some of the hottest restaurants from different cultural cuisines that I am looking forward to the most once Summerlicious makes its way to Toronto:

My experience: My first experience with Winterlicious was at Quince, a casual yet classy bistro in the Yonge and Eglinton scene. The Yonge and Eglinton vista has a vibrant community: ‘A city within a city’. Quince brought the best of both worlds; casual and classy. That exceeded my expectations. I always had the motto: ‘You get what you pay for’, so I had assumed that the meal was not going to be nearly as superb as it was, seeing as they had a Winterlicious menu where meals were at a fixed price. But I will have to re-evaluate my motto now that so many other people agree as well. Quince provided a succulent, scrumptious, golden dinner and service. Winterlicous and Summerlicious really are wonderful in their exquisite cuisines and excellent service.

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Big Daddy’s Crab Shack and Oyster Bar: This is for you seafood lovers. This seafood is not your typical seafood, but they add the authentic tastes of the French, Spanish, African, Creole and the Cajun. Try this worldly experience of sea food platters.

La Maquette: Travel to southern France as you explore and indulge the fine French cuisine of this classy restaurant. The culinary is great with sounds of a soft guitar in the background. Have a night of classy French dining.

Fuzion Resto Lounge & Garden:

Fred’s Not Here: This modern restaurant is beautiful with its elaborate warm mural and its contemporary foods. This will excite your taste buds. It is in the middle of the entertainment district so make a night out of it! 

Experience wonderful food while in the exotic retro-chic sophisticated atmosphere. Indulge the exquisite food among the lively atmosphere.

You can even stay a bit later at Fuzion and enjoy the nightlife.

Ouzeri: Enjoy Greek cuisine in a romantic atmosphere. Ouzeri is right in the middle of Toronto’s Greek town so explore the Greek culture of the city and dine with the authentic, delicious tastes and textures of fine Greek food. 

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Flittering Pages The written word earns its rite of passage: How best-selling authors made their word count when all odds were against them By: Jess Silver Fame and fortune are two words that run synonymously with one

another in the North American lexicon. It is difficult to understand the two as divisive from each other when one envisions Kobe Bryant wowing the crowd in his purple and gold basketball frenzy. Same goes for names like James Cameron whose latest science fiction flick Avatar had everyone weary of the condition of the world as we know it. What about the countless pages that sit so neatly bound on the bookshelf fit for a home library? Has anyone ever thought of how the written word earns its rite of passage and how the name penned on the cover made it from back to front? It is not a journey that often goes from front to back as one seems to think. Glistening covers make it seem like an easy art glossed over by the lackadaisical eye that never had a shadow of doubt that J.K Rowling travelled ‘the long and winding road’ before even dreaming of crossing platform 9 ¾. Truth be told, many, if not most best-selling authors had the difficult task of making their word count when it seemed like all odds were against them. This reality continues to lurk in the shadows of confused minds that forget about having to work in order to taste the savory flavor of success.

“You must write your first draft with your heart. You must re-write with your head. The first key to writing is to write, not think”. Sean Connery had it right in Finding Forrester (2000) when he told his protégé that true talent is reflected in the initial act of writing and not in its polishing.

The best selling books that readers now consider as household names started by scrunching countless balls of white paper and testing to see if their throwing arm could make a major league team. The writer’s journey is overlooked once he or she has attenuated status like Ms. J.K Rowling with the creation of her Harry Potter series. The fact is that before she became known as the masterful creator of wizardry and levetative arts Rowling was “formerly an unemployed single mother who wrote her first book during her baby naps” (Harry Potter Hoopla Canada.com). Background information on where writers lives then begs the question, what does it take for writers to go from nobody to somebody with a well- established reputation? The answer is long and has multiple layers to it just as a good book with multiple layers of character development does, but the key is loving the words you stand behind. An article from Bookish. org followed writers that were celebrated for their success in the release of a book published by Farar, Straus and Giroux in November that took place at the 92nd Street Y Tribeca. When an audience member asked

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David Bezmozgis, author of Natasha and Other Stories and most recently, The Free World how a writer stands up from rejection he said, “Writers need to understand that it’s a peculiar thing that you’re doing and that other people don’t get rejected as often”.

A writer ventures down his career path because his heart is vested in the written word and in a world that is different from the one he finds himself circulating in every day. More often than not someone who chooses to become a writer does so realizing that it is a difficult but rewarding job and that money is not an easy catch in the literary world. Many aspects of the industry had to change in order for literary moguls like Stephen King, J.K Rowling and most recently Contemporary Fiction writer, David Bezmozgis to flourish. The first of these aspects is Copyright and its laws. Copyright was first established in Britain in the 18th century with the advent of the printing press. Jason Edward Kaufman, author of In View: On Art and Culture in his article “Authors Guilds Muddy Argument For Copyright Law” says, “They begin by recalling the emergence of commercial theater in Elizabethan London and the flurry of great playwriting

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that ensued – their point is that writers write best when paid. They further note that in the 18th century both Britain and the U.S. established copyright laws to promote intellectual creativity. They warn that if we do not police and strengthen copyright law there will be poorer incentives to create”.

The issue of Copyright is most important to a writer as it grants him ownership to his work and stipulates the rights that a publisher has once an agreement is signed with the writer. What many do not understand is that Copyright is enacted based on the country’s social standards and the amount of money and importance allocated to the Arts as an enterprise. In Canada, The Copyright Act came about in 1985. There are various myths concerning issues of copyright that have been misunderstood by both the writing and non-writing public. Registration of one’s work through The Copyright Office does ensure added protection for the writer and his work in case of a legal challenge but is not necessary. Under current laws an original written work is automatically covered by copyright laws once it exists in its written form. It is important for the writer to be consciously aware of the fact that each publisher may have different requirements and standards. Copyright laws exist as long as one wishes they have them, but they are never inflexible and permanent. Each publishing house has different requirements. Although they do fall under the same umbrella of ethics and standards, it is most important to develop a strong rapport with the one who has promised to back your name. It is because the changes that have occurred in the arts as an enterprise that authors that were thought of as rejects at one point in their lives have now made their words matter.

Hogwarts Hoopla, Potter Mania and Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry are familiar slogans that signal into

the phenomena that has become J.K Rowling’s claim to fame. The Harry Potter series that started out as an innocent story of a boy wizard brought up in a world of wizards and fantasy has “possibly become the biggest pop culture phenomenon to come out Britain since The Beatles”.

The books have sold more than 325 million copies, they have been published in 63 languages worldwide and were the start of a cultural frenzy that not only is a genius marketing tool for book retailers like Chapters/ Indigo, but it is one that has created a re-insurgence in the appreciation of the written word. Chief executive of Indigo Books affirms that, “it is not just the sales of books themselves –the interest in reading that this has sparked is so significant”.

One can compare the kind of literary phenomenon that Rowling has become to that of Stephen King who has been writing novels that are never short on shock value. King, a writer and literary genius, has a similar story of how he trudged down the long road of scribbles before becoming a bestseller. His first full length novel that he published in college entitled The Long Walk was submitted to Bennett Cerf/ Random House and rejected. Rejection for King was not an easy flaming hoop to run through, he was bogged down by it, discouraged and he filed the book away. Like Rowling and Bezmozgis, he was once a nobody and was happy to make a $35 profit from his first short story, The Glass Floor.

For Latvian- born Canadian author, David Bezmozgis of Natasha and Other Stories, The Free World and numerous plays and films including The Last Waltz, success amounts to “talent, quality of work and connections”.

The rite of passage for the written word is a challenge for the writer but the sweet smell of success that comes when one has his or her name on a cover is both rewarding and refreshing. Writers like Rowling, King and Bezmozgis have defied the odds- the odds of those who once said their way of thinking didn’t matter. Writing makes words matter, whether through the evocation of laughter, tears, fanciful worlds or scary truths.

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Flittering Pages Part II The novel as a window into the human condition: literary giant Nino Ricci opens up A writer’s journey is like that of Lemuel Gulliver in Jonathan Swift’s famed Gulliver’s Travels. You start out

small and then venture to the bigger questions just as he went from being lost in a minuet world with Lilliputians to then facing the giants. Canadian writer and winner of the The Governor General’s Award, Nino Ricci remembers his journey to becoming a literary giant as one that started out very small and did not have a clear-lit path.“ I remember writing my first story as a child in second grade and I always knew that I wanted to be a writer but I did not how I was going to become one”, he said. He went on to say that “they didn’t have a lot of information in the guidance office on what it took to become a writer but they did have information on what it would take to become a lawyer.” In high school he thought that would be how he would finance his work.

Writing for him is about exploring the world that is familiar to humankind in unfamiliar ways. Being told that he should go down another route by writer F. Lee Bailey when he took a writing course with him in university, is what decided him and told him that this exploration of the new was not to fear, rather it inspired him.

To reach a level of recognition one must not be afraid to challenge social construct. It is through the writing of the novel that the boundaries and definitions of life as we know it are challenged.

Writers lay the groundwork of their endeavors in what they know but as Ricci points out, “it is important to push the boundaries of what you know in order to create new understanding and so that the euphoric feeling of writing never wears off. It is writing that “allows for a synthesis of human experience that is unlike any other.

“Other mediums are more concrete, definable and science based— Fiction allows you to make connections that you cannot make in

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any other way.” In the same manner that a telescope brings you closer to the stars and astronomical wonders, the novel is a window into the human condition. It not only deals with the evolutionary process of life and death but more so addresses questions of good

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versus evil and human behavior. The job of a writer is not only to engage in the word game and the designing of the fantastical; but it is to help his reader make sense of the uncomfortable or illogical. As one is both acquainted and confronted with the truths of human life, he begins to be less fearful of dark realities and is able to come closer to the beauty of their essence.

The notion of addressing the ‘bigger questions’ parallels Ricci’s personal fearlessness of borrowing from mythological and

scientific titles in history. He looked me candidly in the eye saying, “I am a shameless thief when it comes to matters like that, it seemed natural to me” when asked if he was at all intimi-

dated or afraid of borrowing from the Darwinian work entitled Origin of Species for his novel entitled, The Origin of Species published in 2009. Ricci’s novel attempts to answer the difficult questions that trouble humanity by having his protagonist, Alex Fratarcangelli, come in contact with people from various backgrounds and walks of life. It is through his journey to the Galapagos Islands that Alex not only learns information useful to his writing of his dissertation, but he learns things about himself as a person that help him accept his idiosyncrasies. Nino Ricci commented on all of his characters as extensions of himself and his own beliefs. When asked how he develops his narrative trajectories he said, “By cobbling together my own experience and the experiences of those close to me, I was able to write about Italy in my first novel, Lives of the Saints for example.

His novels always attempt to answer the more complex and troubling questions. In fact he says, “I am always trying to understand the relationship between fiction and real life to better understand its complexity, while most of my characters are composites and I feel that it would not be interesting to meet them in real life, I would probably say Jesus from my novel, The Testament would be the most interesting of the group to reincarnate and have a conversation with in person. Answering questions of human behavior and cultural evolution are important and recurring themes in his works. The novel as a medium is capable of creating a synthesis of very different ideas to bring one closer to appreciating their environment. While it is valid to say that each person has a new and different experience reading a text because every person understands and brings his different beliefs to it, it is important to recognize that by metaphorically being like a window into one’s essence, the novel creates a unity of human experience. One individual shares his perspective with another and a kind of emotive synthesis is brought to life.

The author was hesitant in saying that the advent of technology like the e-book has yet revolutionized the way that one appreciates a novel with. He did say that he believes it will in the future but it is difficult to determine the extent of the change because things are in constant flux. He quotes Marshall McLuhan, who said “the medium is the message”, Ricci reasserted the idea that the way one is presented with something shapes his conception of it. It may seem easily explainable that a writer is responsible for simply writing the words that surround and continually come at us every day through differing media but what is most rewarding and compelling about the job is that a writer has the ability to challenge and create new perspectives. In his latest work Ricci writes of a man facing a midlife crisis, one who is in search of the answers and is led throughout Canada and parts of the USA on his quest for meaning. Every novel that he has written is an embodiment of his search for the difficult answers.

Essentially, humanity is comprised of searchers, searching for the unanswerable.

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Interview With Amy Matysio

By Jess Morton “I do a lot of comedy. That’s definitely one of the things that’s been the most recognized in my work. Definitely over the past ten years because of the improv that I do. And just having done a series in comedy obviously that is something I naturally gravitate towards. I think that I chased really good roles, that’s something that’s really important to me – whether its comedy or drama I just have to really love the project and I have to really love the script and I have to really like the role to dive into it. With doing theatre and film it depends on what I’m doing – it all depends on the project.”

Q: How did you start writing?

Amy: For long time I just did it and didn’t show anybody, which I think a lot people probably do. I just wanted to have a record of the things I was thinking about and all the characters that I’ve been doing. You’re always sort of thinking ahead or thinking of things you want to be doing that’s what was fueling my writing. Roles that I wasn’t getting to play or roles that I really wanted to play or things that I’ve been thinking about. I just started doing it, and I just started putting them down.

It’s a great way to flesh out those ideas.

Q: Is it something that you see yourself doing throughout the rest of your career?

Amy: Yeah definitely. As a writer I also weigh in on emcee scripts and I host a lot of things and I have so many different things that I do and a lot of my writing skills I’m able to use during those. I think I will always continue to write. I try to write something every day, even if it’s just a sentence to just keep my brain moving.

The versatile artist Amy Matysio has acted in film, television and theatre, she has done over ten years of improv,

works as an emcee and host, and does her own film and TV writing.

I managed to get in touch with Amy Matysio on May 1st while she was in the Prairie Scenes Festival in Ottawa. Amy was there acting in a musical based on the life of Joni Mitchell.

“The show is called Songs of a Prairie Girl. It’s a look at Joni’s life all based in text that she actually said through interviews. There’s six of us and we all play Joni at different ages. I play her in the fifties when she was a teenager.”

The Prairie Scenes Festival in Ottawa only scratches the surface of what Amy Matysio has been up too over the past few years.

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Q: Out of all the different kinds of acting you have done voice, stage, screen, which one is your favorite?

Amy: “I have to say, last spring I did The Syringa Tree, a one-woman show. There are twenty-four different characters and fourteen different dialects. I played children and men in their eighties, and black and white, the show was extremely intense and a huge undertaking. I was absolutely terrified to do it and I taught myself a lot about what I was capable of while doing that. I honestly didn’t believe I could do it while I was doing it. I remember thinking when I came off stage the first night I sort of just dropped to the floor. It was so overwhelming that I had actually achieved what I wanted to do. Its by far the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. It was such an emotional journey along with it. The material itself was hard, but to take that on over and over and to learn what I was capable of was fascinating.”

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“I think you can be doing what you’re doing and you can good at what you’re doing and you can find little ways to challenge yourself but you need those big challenges and those things that terrify you to take you to a new place. Otherwise you’re just coasting along. I think that’s the only way you’re gonna get truly better is by really taking on those kinds of roles.”

Amy will also be appearing in a new coming-of-age comedy series on Showcase. She plays Spenny’s best friend Chelsea who helps him with his dating pursuits.

“Single White Spenny is going to be airing this summer and its with Spenny from Kenny vs. Spenny. Its going to be interesting to see what plays out from there. I’m excited to definitely see it. It was an incredible experience working on that show and we shot that last winter in Toronto.

The way that I got onto that show was by having some of the writers having seen something that I wrote. I was just doing my own thing and my own thing had got recognized as something they were looking for which I think is awesome.”

Amy Matysio is incredibly ambitious and doesn’t hesitate to find herself new projects, but her ultimate goal is have a project that’s completely her own.

“I really want to eventually have my own show, that I’ve been a part of the creative process as a writer and actor and be someone that produced it with a creator on the show. I think that will happen. I’ve always had that goal.”

“I do just have to go by the ‘as long as I’m enjoying what I’m doing then I am doing the right thing.’ There is no wrong way to do it. Everyone

has a completely different path as an actor. You try to mimic people’s careers or you try to look at what they do. You sort of have people that you look up to and I definitely do have that but you also to be aware of own journey because that’s the career you have to be living in is yours, not somebody else’s.”

“The cancer PSAs that I do are also really important to me. With the Canadian Cancer Society I do a series of comedic PSAs for them.

They’re for men’s health month, we’ve done them three years in a row and I basically ambush people on the street and talk to them. The first one we did was for prostate cancer, and the second one we did was colorectal cancer, and just did one this year for testicular cancer.

We also did the one this year with the Calgary Stampeders and it was phenomenal. But its really great because it’s a great way for men to sort of think about their health because they’re not expecting it to come out of my mouth that’s for sure.

Its getting men to talk about things that they think are embarrassing. So we’re talking to them about getting to the doctor and being seen and early detection and all those things that’s why the campaign started. The campaign is called Real Men Screen.”

You can watch Amy’s PSAs here: http://www.youtube.com/realmenscreen Amy has had an excellent couple of years and she’s being recognized for it. “I am nominated for YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in the Arts. I have comedy award nominations, and Lieutenant Governors Award nomination and things like that, but I’m really excited. I think it’s really cool to be recognized as a young woman making waves in the arts and having other people look up to that – I’m very proud of that. I think it’s a huge honor.”

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Best Burgers of Toronto Getting to know more about Toronto’s best burger shops By: Chris Allaire With the hot summer months quickly approaching, Toronto is preparing for numerous locals and tourists looking for that perfect BBQ meal. From amazing rooftop eats to hidden gems, Toronto has plenty to offer, especially when it comes to the world of burgers.

Big, small, juicy, vegan – the city definitely has it all. For a quick tasty bite, an amazing view of the city, or just an all-around-great burger joint, be prepared to drool at the mouth.

Big Smoke Burger Known as one of the best in the city, ‘Big Smoke Burger’, previously known as ‘Craft Burger’, is a tiny joint nestled on King Street, just off of Brant Street.

It can hold about 10-12 people, boasting about 5 two-seater tables that rung along the skinny, narrow restaurant.

For what the restaurant lacks in size however, it makes up in décor and cleanliness. The décor is sleek and modern, and all tables are cleaned immediately after having been occupied.

The service is quick – on the spot.

It looks as thought most of the clientele orders takeout, as about six different people came in to pick up orders while a friend and I ate. Popular 14

place for lunch breaks I presume.

Let’s get to the food. The Red Burger comes with a hefty patty, Gorgonzola cheese, red peppers, rosemary garlic, lettuce and tomato.

The Spicy burger also comes with a hefty patty, caramelized onions, chipotle spice mayo sauce, lettuce and tomato and a side of onion rings.

The burgers were delicious - made on the spot and very fresh. Highly recommend is the Spicy Burger. The chipotle sauce gives it just enough bite to give it some kick without overwhelming.

The fries are given in a generous amount (very generous) and have some skin left, giving it some crunch.

Big Smoke Burger is ideal for a lunch break or quick meal. It’s delicious and quick. The prices are a little higher than expected, with burgers coming in at $6.95 and fries at $3.25, but it’s well worth it.

Dangerous Dan’s This is not for the faint of heart nor the upscale crowd. The building is old, the booth seats are made of actual old van seats, and they offer a Quadruple ‘C’ burger which is 24 oz of pure gluttony. That’s right- a 24

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oz patty. That is the size of a baby’s head! Dangerous Dan’s also offers poutines; a specialty that is hard to find.

Fries, gravy and cheese curds all mixed together for a match made in heaven.

The burgers are ridiculous, and in that, amazing. Whether you fancy yourself a normal 8 oz’er or a 24 oz’er, Dangerous Dan’s has it all.

It seems as though their burgers aren’t the only things that are supersized.

The quantities at this restaurant are exaggerated: a small is a large and a large is a heart attack waiting to happen. If you like quantity, then this place is for you.

Burger Shoppe Burger Shoppe is a restaurant best recommended for vegans or organic enthusiasts. Promising to make their burgers with transfat-free oil, this restaurant has plenty of healthy alternatives while still providing delicious, juicy hamburgers.

Organic beef and veggie burgers are both offered, as well as all-white-meat chicken burgers, which are a nice alternative.

Don’t be fooled though – the place offers some greasy decadence as well.

Try some hand cut fries, poutine or onion rings – classic side dishes that should be in every burger joint.

Drake Hotel Going to the Drake is like going to the Empire State building – you go for the view. Proving to be one of Toronto’s best - if not the best - rooftops, the Drake is perfect for those hot summer days to just chill on a patio.

Food-wise, we recommend the Drake Burger. Accompanied by white cheddar, Perth bacon, Russian dressing and pickles, this burger is perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner.

Try it with fries or switch it up and go for a fruit salad. Their menu includes many delicious salads. Iceberg + Blue Salad (cherry tomatoes, walnuts, bacon bits, blue cheese dressing) is a perfect size and accompaniment.

From rooftop dining to secret treasure chests, Toronto proves to have it all.

Burgers are definitely a uniform classic, but here in the city, there is nothing classic about them. The word for it is unexpected.

Strolling along your favourite areas, whether it be Queen Street West or upper Bloor Street, makes it easy to stumble on hidden gems. Some of the best places are the ones off the radar.

So gear up for an amazing dining experience, and even more amazing food.

Splurge once in a while. Sure some burgers are pricey, but they are well worth the buck. Your taste buds will thank you.

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A Review of Hall Pass

By Edward Landa On June fourteenth, Hall Pass hits the shelves on DVD and Blu-Ray, but should that disc make its way to your shelf? The answer is a simple no.

The fact that a movie is not worth owning should never exclude it from your ‘to-watch’ list. There are hundreds of films that warrant nothing more than a one-night stand, and who’s to say that amongst them can’t be one great watch? Well, simple logic dictates so. For if the movie delivered a night of unsolicited joy it would no longer be a ‘one-watcher’ but a memorable addition to your ever expanding library. So in accordance with such sound principles, what comes to light is a category of films stuck in between “watch it!” and “don’t even think about reading the title”. Hall Pass is right-smack in the middle.

The Farrelly Brothers are no strangers to gut-wrenching comedy, having conducted many a symphony of laughter. Their filmography includes titles such as Dumb & Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, and Shallow Hal. With such a portfolio one could only expect something that is, at the very least, comparable. From the first scene these expectations fly out the window. The audience is catapulted into a poorly made soup of a film. All the ingredients are there, but they are in the wrong amounts, not to mention it’s over-salted.

On the one hand you have a clever concept, a few good jokes, and a star-studded cast. Whilst on the other hand, you’ve got a script that’s all over the place with a severe case of over-acting. The principle of the story is how the lives of two average suburban husbands change when their wives give them a ‘hall pass’. The fabled ‘hall pass’ grants the two freedom from any and all marital obligations allowing them to do whatever they please without a penalty. The wives intended on giving their husbands a ‘hall pass’ in order to dispel any notions of macho-superiority they may have; to ground their hormonal longings for other women by allowing them to discover their shortcomings for themselves.

The two husbands in possession of the ‘hall pass’ are Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred ( Jason Sudeikis). The two characters represent

two distinct types of husbands. Rick is faithful, kind, and cares for his wife deeply, though he does have a wandering eye. Fred suffers from a god-complex and takes his wife for granted. Both of them share the delusion that they can have any woman they wish if only they were free from marriage. It is this set-up which delivers most of the laughs in the film as well as earns it some points because the concept at work offers itself as a great basis for comedy. Unfortunately the fresh talent of Pete Jones along with the guiding touch of the Farrelly brothers was nowhere near enough to build on the foundation laid out by the premise. The jokes tossed about are of the Saturday Night Live variety which, these days, isn’t saying much at all; they were crude, random, and at times quite idiotic. You could see what they were going for, and that was just it. The path they chose was predictable and even then they failed to deliver, leaving the audience only sensing the intentions at work without actually ever seeing them come to fruition.

Hall Pass treads upon that all too familiar path of comedy pictures; cheap laughs. They figure that if they throw something disgusting or just plain idiotic on the screen it is bound to make someone laugh.

Sadly, they are right. But, a moment of laughter is not all that there is or ever should be to a film. The story of Hall Pass is a buttress, supporting the entire film; the blueprint that it lays out offers a rich environment with many possibilities for laughter. Contrary to the possible satisfaction of its audience the promising story is used only as a plain set up for a week’s worth of shenanigans. Simple as that. The dialogue cannot go by unmentioned as it plays such a pivotal role in not developing the characters and filling the void of awkwardness with randomness. With weak dialogue comes weak character, and no amount of over-acting could ever rescue a character drowned in the absence of depth. Like many movies of its day, Hall Pass slaps together a promising storyline caging the characters in two-dimensional roles via dialogue. It attempts to compensate for the stunted growth of character with meaningless moments of complete idiocy. Hall Pass earns a five out of ten, with six being the first indicator of the ‘shelf-worthy’ status. That being said, Hall Pass definitely deserves a watch if you’re either a fan of any one of the actors involved, or just looking for a few cheap laughs pasted over a promising concept.

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J E S S S I L V E R P O E T R Y 18

Mountain Jess Silver

A pillar standing freely with the sky overhead dark as the ground that is walked on each day; or beautiful like a glacier, blue as the ocean, dolphins dance.

Life follows this pattern – rocky, smooth and unpredictable.

It stands alone, free in the world.

A creation of nature and its complexities whether it was planned, or emerged through a volcanic explosion.

Fragments of rock and ice speak of powerful names.

Nature has created these jewels but like the gold discovered by fools, there is a deeper meaning hidden beneath nature’s treasure.

Mountains signify operation of a typical journey.

Nothing is laid out simplistically and perfect or there would be no thrill to living.

A mountain serves the similar purpose, similar to a fountain that can hydrate the thirsty and empower the weak.

It satisfies a skier, inspires the ambitious, and is an escape.

A mountain not only paints vividness into the panorama of life but gives a person something to ponder and fight for.

Its colour of gray can block someone’s way, instill fear in the heart sending messages to the mind that signals the impossible.

A pelican stares down at the lake wondering how much longer it will take before he reaches prey.

A person does the same wondering what words he needs to say to make life better.

Things need to be done, places need to be explored, chances need to be taken despite the fact that there may be harm.

Pillars and weight lifters of nature, mountains lift the watcher up and can be there to ground.

The dichotomous nature finds its way in Humanity telling us that we are active members of this adventure only through a long, hard journey will we understand the true glory and beauty of a mountain.

From Lake of Bottomless Waters (2009) Jess Silver

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Water Drops, oceans, nourishment: water has many purposes. quenches the thirst of a child, trickles from the window of a person.

An element, essential to the picture of the universe like the canvas to a painter.

The endless array of colours changes anytime.

Blue, green, indigo, violet and red.

This complicated staple operates in strange ways.

Like a mood ring, it reads a person depending on the weather.

In beautiful weather the water sparkles a light blue.

In ugly weather the water roars, waves wash away all signs of paradise. darkness stares nature’s glory in the eyeengulfing its beauty.

Water can heal, and water can kill just like the human race.

Waves wallop up and down echoing the rhythm of a heartbeat.

From Lake of Bottomless Waters Jess Silver (2009).

Writing Thoughts are flowing through my ink with pride.

My emotions I do not want to hide.

Do not dismiss the value of the pen.

I shape the expression and thought of men.

The blood of pen is flowing through my vein.

These words I am writing to keep me sane.

Language like jewels glisten for all time.

The beauty of words can’t be measured by dime.

A story grabs you and will let you hide.

The characters stay close always at side.

The colors written revive my imagination.

The art of writing will create realization.

Beauty of words inside a pen forms a writer’s vacation.

From Lake of Bottomless Waters (2009) Jess Silver FUTURÉALE

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Father by Ana Part I Perhaps it isn’t right, but it isn’t wrong.

Two worlds differ in everything but title.

Both worlds loved each for reasons unexpressable, but one explainable.

Years but a something, years everything else.

Uncomparable sides, yet after wonder and imagination, a revelation of all only in thoughts and unclearly answered questions before was known.

Whence unseperable, now ununitable.

Will isn’t of being factor, for it brought what united in the beginning.

Now manages a better life a man, other of not such luxuries.

To speak, not meaning measurable things, but values unseen and invisible to the greedy.

What is of differ? The fought.

One for efforts to keep, not so much tried the second.

For second was first, and first, in time, was second.

The first created.

Unconditionally so gave his soul for giving.

But troubles proved too much for such soul could bear and feared loss, immobile so left him.

Second quite the indifferent, But fear instead drove him to a bare soul unconditionally given.

What of it?

A title can only to one, But two sides even to the title, branch emotions already confused to logic.

To turn one’s back cannot, But one has a right to choose, a choice.

A choice is of all decisions, and so puzzles together life.

Pieces not always fit to each, but replace them cannot with fitter.

To roughly pull together a glimpse of an image is together to piece the given, then maybe clearer a picture of the whole.

Choose cannot we the pieces, but of that choice lies in our hands, both the hold and best fit, put we in their places.

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astasia Rokina Part II Fate curiously drove apart.

Perhaps test of will.

Then let the curiousity question why to drive such lengths, when past with present still back again.

Lesson or not, to play hearts such games is not of reason.. ..fate itself is not of reason.

To blame fate is but to joke for a laugh.

Life takes, without but the unknown, and gives all the same.

Understand is never, but to hurt to such extent is left with no alternate route to unknown destination.

Foggy to perhaps hope, or not, but back disappears as forward close in front becomes clear.

Not enough to see far what may predict to mend or protect that which is not.

Again, wonder leaves unsteady souls, with no options but the knowing, that the only given road we walk blindly, is with not but a glimpse.

Without choice, forward into foggy pains and wonders.

Come what may, but really point is none, for what may, will, as permission is non-existant to what cannot be seen.

Part III For each of any, a mirror divides, Reflecting two sides of which again, first to second order in good and needed.

Good only comes a soul to thoughts, regardless unspoken.

Yet needed itself is a mirror.

Forgetably, mirrors only doth immitate.

Reality’s difficulty breaks more than two in pieces.

Needed falls hand in hand to logic, yet many of which opposite.

Truly no need such explanations, fully never can be.

It is only a reflection best immitating first and second, both never on the same branch.

For invisible the unmeasurable, so the title remains only six letters.

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Rusted

By: Anasta

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Left to Right: Laurence Cohen, David Cormican Front: Daniel Audet

d Pyre

asia Rokina

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The Trio, Rusted Pyre, set to premiere a After being awarded the National Screen Institute’s 2010 Drama Prize, Rusted Pyre is due to premiere at

the Worldwide Short Film Festival (WSFF). A group of three men teamed up to create the story that follows two girls in a powerstruggle for popularity; a common teen dilemma. From a verbal idea to the big screen, this talented trio brings Rusted Pyre to life.

“I was trying to come up with something that would work for a short script” explains screenwriter Daniel Audet on how he materialized the idea. “I wanted something very contained.” As he reminisces about a myth he heard as a kid of an abandoned car apparently haunted, he explains that the disappointment in it’s falsehood was what triggered the idea. “A friend of mine had tried to say it was haunted, and as we sat there inside the car, he lacked any conviction or suspense and I remember being disappointed at the lack of scares” he continues. “That disappointment was the first seed of the idea.”

He further notes that our interest in witnessing scary events is what intrigues audiences to watch these types of films. “I think part of us want to experience the terrifying in some kind of safe and consumable way, especially when we’re younger. We search out dark spots in the world, like abandoned cars or haunted houses, but there is almost always a sense of disappointment when these places turn out not to be so.” With that came Rusted Pyre.

“It is my revision on that disappointment; an exploration of what happens when two teens go looking for the darkness and actually find it.”

With the help of producer David Cormican and director Laurence Cohen, the story came to life on the big screen. “Collaboration is a tricky thing” says Daniel on working with the team. “Everyone has their own histories and experiences which they use to relate to a project so the key is to find some place of common ground where everyone can try and combine their visions into something greater than the sum of the parts.” Adds producer David Cormican “I found that there was always a little give and take, but at the end of the day the best idea won when re-writing. Then it all changes again once you get on set and are faced with realities: the limitations of the locations, the interpretations of the actors and so on.”

Director Laurence Cohen stresses the importance of the thematic aspects of a film as it goes into production. “The most important step is to find a theme that will keep the creatives embedded in the material for what can be a year to two years of production and post production. Whether you’re working

“Everyone tests their courage as they a

haunted place, to peer into the closet w or to play Bloody Mary in their mirror a at the root of Rusted Pyre that make i 24

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at the Worldwide Short Film Festival alone or with a group, a strong theme acts as a filter through which all other ideas are argued.”

The team’s collaboration resulted in the film being chosen to premiere at the Worldwide Short Film Festival and inspired excitement. “It’s a great honor to be a part of such a well received festival” says Daniel Audit. Director Cohen encourages writers to envision their own works on screen. “I’m excited for the writers in the audience to imagine their short scripts being actualized and projected onto the screen.”

The film conveys a message that is universal to today’s youth, however it still has its Canadian roots. “I think high school is rough no matter what part of the world you’re from, but the film is definitely set on the Canadian prairies. There’s no mistaking those snowed over wheat fields for anything but home” says producer Cormican.

Director Cohen agrees. “There is definitely an underlying element of small-town Canada.” Writer Audet adds that although the film is undoubtedly Canadian, the overall message is global. “Everyone tests their courage as they are growing up; to spend the night in a haunted place, to peer into the closet when they’re sure a monster is inside, or to play Bloody Mary in their mirror at a sleep-over.

These are the themes at the root of Rusted Pyre that make it identifiable to a large audience.”

These talented filmmakers not only create. They inspire. Producer David Cormican emphasizes that although ideas are important, they aren’t of much use if they aren’t pushed for production.

“Don’t plague yourself with only thinking, planning and dreaming. Those steps are important, don’t get me wrong. But at the end of the day, week, month, year, millennium... if you’ve never done anything tangible or had anything produced/screened, then how much further ahead are you?” Director Laurence Cohen suggests good footwear and preparation. “Comfortable shoes... and a desire to run marathons for your projects.” Writer Daniel Audet encourages writers to focus more on the idea than worrying about it’s reception. “Tell stories that you want to hear instead of telling stories you think people want to hear.”

With that the film industry was given Rusted Pyre: an original and unique idea directed wonderfully in a production made possible by smart team work and creativity. It wasn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t possible.

are growing up; to spend the night in a when they’re sure a monster is inside, at a sleep-over. These are the themes it identifiable to a large audience. ” FUTURÉALE

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Green Goddess

Reflections on Ecotourism By Abbey Plener Throughout my time with this column, I have delighted in

dropping alliteratively-friendly terms like “eco-chic” and “eco-conscious consumer”, whose rhythm thoroughly resonates with my inner geekiness as a writer. The reason I share this endearingly dorky tidbit with you is because I think it is example of how I too have become complicit in the very eco-conscious consumer complex I have sought to critique through this column (again, sorry for revelling in that delicious alliteration).

Allow me to explain. I use these terms because I read them so often in the research I do for these articles. And of course the reason they are so prevalent in this literature is because they are catchy, expressive, and describe eco-friendly purchasing in a way that it is easy to digest for potential customers. Part of my goal with this column has been to challenge myself to see beyond the clever marketing schemes employed by green products and businesses and understand the environmental issues which are really at stake. When I use terms like “eco-chic” I make this project sound as fun and simple as buying a new dress. But it’s not. But I so badly want it to be. I want there to be easy, practical ways for me to make sustainable choices. And though these alternatives definitely do exist they may not always be the best option – economically, environmentally, or ethically. While researching for this column, I have often felt that much of the information available to green consumers underestimates its target audience, explaining these issues in the simplest way possible without challenging consumers to question these messages. Publicity for green products makes consumers feel like their doing good, but perhaps we should not always be afforded such a luxury.

It is for these reasons that I find ecotourism a particularly difficult topic to discuss. I could simply synthesize the information available in a way that’s easy to absorb, but it seems that such simplification would be an injustice to the many layers and ethical questions involved in this issue.

What is ecotourism you ask? Well first of all, it’s the fasting growing sector of the tourism industry in Canada including the Rocky Mountains and the Cape Breton Highland among its most popular sites. It often boasts natural landscapes or wildlife viewing as its main attractions while cementing itself within local communities. More importantly it often promotes the conservation of such scenery and wildlife, and hopes sustain local economies by contributing to their tourism industries. Such tours often include an educational component, fostering an appreciation among their participants for these natural sites and the local communities surrounding them, while emphasizing the importance of their preservation. Ecotours insist that they are more environmentally-friendly than other forms of travel, adopting sustainable practices into their own business policies while aiming to curb the impact tourists have on their surrounding environments rather than encouraging tourists to indulge in excess during their vacation.

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But for critics, the whole concept of ecotourism is a bit of an oxymoron. The infrastructure needed to sustain tourism along with the population influx that comes with it cannot help but disrupt the ecosystems and wildlife these industries are supposedly conserving. The way in which these tours are marketed suggests that these natural sites need tourists’ financial support in order to be conserved, but the truth is that the only way for these environments to remain in tact is to leave them alone entirely. Perhaps if these tours were not so profitable these sites would not be preserved at all. But tourists should not fool themselves into thinking they are actively contributing to the well-being of these ecosystems. Tthey are simply not harming them as badly as they could.

Ironically, ecotourism has inspired the evolution of “doomsday tourism” in which travellers pay for expensive greenhouse gas-emitting flights in order to catch a glimpse of disappearing coral reefs or melting glaciers before they are destroyed by global warming and climate change. These natural sites don’t need us to survive – they would actually be better off without us.

Ecotourism also aims to create a more “authentic” experience for travellers by connecting them with local communities both through direct financial support and by creating volunteer opportunities in which tourists may participate. Though tourists believe they are helping these communities by contributing to their local businesses, there is always the danger that these communities may become too dependent upon tourism while failing to develop other sectors of their economy. Moreover, the contributions tourists make through volunteer efforts are somewhat misleading given that their role could easily be filled by local employees. Many critics reject ecotourism because it imagines these local communities and their cultures as a new kind of commodity for tourists to consume. Specifically, it is criticized for belittling the culture for local indigenous peoples while ignoring how these groups are impacted by tourism. All over the world, tourism is a source of conflict between indigenous communities and the industries and governments who want to benefit from the use of their land. For nature and wildlife reserves surrounded by indigenous populations, there is often a story behind these sites involving efforts to relocate that population along with disagreements in terms of land rights and profits. It is these issues that caused such an outcry by human rights organizations in 2002 after the UN declared that year the International Year of Ecotourism.

But perhaps it is unfair to dismiss ecotourism entirely because of its potential to benefit these communities. In Canada, Aboriginal-owned businesses play a huge role in ecotourism. The Cree Village Ecolodge in Moose Factory, Ontario has been listed as one of the top ten ecodestinations in North America by Natural Home Magazine. Like other Aboriginal-owned industries, ecotourism can be a means for these communities to develop their local economy on their own terms.

Needless to say, it really ain’t easy being green. These issues deserve far more consideration than a simple slogan can ever provide.

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It’s More Than TV, It’s Excitement!

Since the age of technology, electronic manufacturers have

constantly innovated and produced newer and better technology to appeal to today’s consumers. Movie industries, for example, have recently produced countless 3D movies as oppose to their 2D counter-part, and the gaming industries have also begun creating 3D gaming consoles, such as the 3DS. But why is that? It’s because 3D has always given movies and games that extra oomph needed to spark one’s interest.

Watching movies and playing video games have always been a great pleasure, but having that feeling like your part of the movie or game increases the consumer’s interest, and thus makes for better sales.

and specialized 3D ready TV channels.

But with all this excitement, consumers do have to keep in mind that not everything is perfect. Putting glitches aside, there are many health issues surrounding the 3D TV. It has been reported that some viewers have complained of headaches and visual problems after watching 3D TV and films. This is especially true for the elderly. Moreover, a small percentage of those who have a variety of medical conditions are unable to properly see 3D images processing from the television.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that this is due to long exposures to the 3D experience. If 3D TV is viewed in moderation, then there shouldn’t be much of a problem.

Gaming industries have introduced in the past the idea of controlling the main character through a first-person point of view and giving the gamer the option of making certain decisions that may affect how the game is played. And yet despite the interest it created in the past, some consumers like myself, don’t really like the first-person point of view control because it makes them dizzy or they have a hard time controlling the main character. So this is where the 3D format comes in handy.

Not only does it bring the game to life but it also provides a more comforting feel as you play through the plot of the game.

Now with all of this mention of 3D games and movies, wouldn’t it be better if there was a way to watch 3D movies and play 3D games all in the comfort of one’s own home? Not too long ago, such a technology never existed. It would have been too expensive to create and too complicated to make. But with today’s technology, such a feat is no match.

Though the introduction of a 3D television is still in its early days, it is possible to watch TV shows, movies and play video games in 3D. The only exception, however, is that you still need those 3D glasses.

When it comes to 3D television, there are three different types of 3D glasses: anaglyph, polarized and stereoscopic.

Anaglyph glasses are the old two coloured glasses we receive in DVD boxes to view the 3D movies. If you’re looking for a low budget 3D movie enjoyment, then these glasses are perfect. The only downside is that they can’t be used for gaming consoles, PC games, non-anaglyph 3D movies or 3D Ready TV’s.

Polarized glasses are currently being used in theatres to watch big budget 3D movies such as Avatar and Harry Potter. Unfortunately, these 3D glasses only work for polarized movies in cinemas and not for home entertainment.

Stereoscopic glasses are shutter glasses that give the consumer that RealD experience. They are especially made for 3D ready TV’s, which are televisions that operate in 3D mode with a box set, and can also operate in 2D mode as well. Though these glasses are quite expensive, they work well with PC games, gaming consoles, 3D Blu-ray movies

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Buying Your First Home – A Step–by-Step Guide to Buying Real Estate in the GTA

By Maxwell Wynter © 2011 (all rights reserved)

Your Mortgage Broker This is the third article in a series designed to take readers through a step by step process toward home ownership. In our last article we looked at the captain of the team (your real estate agent) that you will need working for you as you go about finding and buying your first home. This time we will focus on one of your key players, your mortgage professional.

Unless you have a couple hundred thousand dollars lying around you will need to borrow money to buy your house. Not to worry, there are many banks, financing companies and even individuals who are willing to lend you the money to do so. It’s like renting a house. You lease a house from the owner, the landlord, and you pay the landlord rent.

You borrow money from the bank (lease the bank’s money) and you pay the bank another type of rent, except that this type of rent builds equity and helps you to have more money in your pocket at the end of the day. Here is how this works.

Banks are in the business of borrowing money from people and lending it to other people. They charge more money for the money that they lend out than they pay to the people who lend it to them; this is called their spread. This spread is where banks make their profits (also from charging a host of other fees but we won’t get into that here).

People buying homes make great customers for banks and they compete with each other for the business of home buyers. They want to lend you the money for a number of very good reasons. Here are two.

• The money that they lend you is secure. When they lend you the money to buy your house you will be entering into a special agreement with them promising to pay a certain amount every month. If you do not pay the bank has the security of your house for protection. In other words if you do not make your loan payments the bank can take your house away from you and sell it to recover the money that they loaned you. The money they loaned to you is secured by the value of your house.

• You have a good record of paying your loans back on time.

The first reason is why the bank will typically not lend more than about 80% of the money needed for a mortgage. i.e. if you are buying a house for $200,000 the bank will not normally lend you more than about $160,000. This is because, if you default on the loan, the bank knows that it can sell your house quickly for at least 80% of what it is worth.

Now, most people cannot find the 20% needed for the rest of the purchase price. So we have insurance companies such as the Canadian Housing Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) that will insure the balance

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of the purchase price up to 95%. In simple terms this means that, if you qualify, you can typically borrow up to 95% of the value of the house you want to buy and the bank is guaranteed to get its money back if, somehow, you default on the loan.

The second point, your record of debt payment, is obtained by the bank from a credit bureau. Every time you borrow money (on a credit card for example) a record is kept of how much you borrowed and whether you paid your loan repayments on time. If you have a good record then you will have a high credit score. An excellent credit score is typically higher than 720.

Let us stress here that the bank does not want your house. Banks are not in the real estate business. Banks are in the business of lending out money for a fee. When a bank has to repossess a house it means more work for them and less money earned on the money that they loaned to you. Banks force a sale as a matter of last resort. This is why they will do everything necessary before they lend you the money, to ensure that you will repay it as agreed.

So if you have a good credit score, have a good job and do not have a lot of debt the banks will be fighting with each other for the privilege of lending their money to you. But banks have many different types of mortgage, some are open, some are closed, some are fixed and some are variable. In addition there are combinations of these as well as other instruments, such as lines of credit, that will be offered by all of these banks. Figuring out which offer is best for you is a difficult job.

In addition, not all people are perfect candidates for all banks. Many people need to consider other lenders with higher interest rates and more flexibility in considering credit scores and employment history.

After that long introduction we finally come to the second member of your team, your mortgage specialist. This person can be a mortgage broker, licensed to help you to find the right mortgage, or they may be a mortgage manager with a financial institution such as a major bank.

Here is what your mortgage specialist will do for you.

• Look up your credit report and check your credit score • Ask you questions about your income, and other financial obligations • Look at all the financing products offered by all the financial institutions that they have a relationship with • Determine what product and institution will best fit your financial needs

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• Get you pre-approved for a loan • Finally, tell you how much you can afford to spend to buy a house If you do not qualify for a loan your mortgage specialist will also outline a plan of action for you so that you can be qualified within a reasonable period. This could mean cleaning up errors on your credit report, saving for the down payment or waiting on that promotion that you’ve been expecting at work.

Perhaps we should say a few words about the down payment. As stated earlier, banks will not normally lend you 100% of the value of the house (although some do get pretty close with a 5% cash back incentive to try to get your business). So you have to find the rest, somewhere between 5% and 20% of the value of the house that you are buying. This is called your down payment. For a first time home buyer, as low as this 5% can be, it is often more than they have saved. You may be surprised to know how much help might be available here.

Option 1. Borrow from your RRSP. The government of Canada allows a first time home buyer to borrow from their RRSP for the purpose of buying a home.

Option 2. Borrow from your parents or relatives. You may be surprised to know that the same people who turned you down for the loan to buy that Honda Civic or to go to your BFF’s wedding in Cuba will happily lend you money for a down payment on your first home.

Options 3, 4 and 5. Talk with your mortgage professional, you may be surprised how many ideas they have on this subject; after all, it what they do for a living. If there is a solution out there your mortgage specialist will be able to help you to find it.

Our team hosts free seminars for first time home buyers from time to time. Some attendees at our last seminar have been pre-approved for mortgages and one has already bought a home. To find out about the next seminar and to register visit this website www.remaxhomeworkshop.com.

Next month we’re going shopping for a house.

Maxwell Wynter, B. Sc., MBA is a Real Estate professional working in the GTA. He and his team have helped many first time home buyers realize their dream of owning a home. For more information Max can be reached anytime at info@themaxatremaxteam.com.

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Foreign Movies By: Craig Wilkins

Foreign films take our love of movies and make it global. It seems a little intimidating to think of all the classic

foreign films many never get around to watching. On a list of the top 100 foreign films ever made, there were a number of titles I’d never even seen before.

There are three different self-directed foreign film courses that can be taken this summer; six movies per course with nothing too hard to find. Many films chosen are Criterion collection releases and come with wonderful commentaries that can turn an appreciation course into a real study course.

101: An Introduction to Foreign Film (getting our toes wet) Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai ( Japan 1954) is number 13 on IMDB’s top 250 movies of all time. It is what has been called by some “the classic Eastern”. A small town is being besieged by bandits and a poor, out-of-work Samurai (Toshiro Mifune) is hired to protect them. He gathers six samurai, all of whom teach the villagers to protect themselves as they prepare for battle. No better way to start our studies than with a classic from Japan’s greatest film maker.

201: Masters of Foreign Film (Classic movies with legendary directors) “The Seventh Seal” is about “a man seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the grim reaper during the black plague” (IMDB). This 1957 Swedish film directed

by Ingmar Berman, starring Max Von Sydow and Bibi Andersson, was one of his own personal favourites.

Federico Fellini’s 1963 masterpiece 8 ½ is better known to most now as the movie that inspired “Nine”; sad as it is to classic film junkies. It might lure some into watching this Italian masterpiece however.

“La Femme Nikita” is a 1990 French action movie from Luc Besson, starring the beautiful Anne Parillaud as a death row inmate.

She is given the chance to live as long as she becomes an assassin.

This movie comes from the mind that penned “The Transporter” and “Taken” in recent years but has much more depth and a subtler touch, without losing any grit.

Another Italian movie named “The Bicycle Thief ” is considered one of the great classics of all time; a beautiful example of what was called Italian Neorealist filmmaking. Director Vittorio Desica’s 1948 film follows a father and son on the search for his stolen bicycle; a mission whose importance lies in the keeping of his job in postwar Italy.

Already remade into a pointless American movie, 2008’s Swedish thriller “Let the Right One In” is one of the best vampire movies ever made. It shows a side of being a vampire that we don’t often see; a relationship with the familiar. There is a fair amount of blood and gore, but it is balanced with a thoughtful script and sensitive direction.

Jean Renoir’s 1937 French film “Grand Illusion” was the first foreign language film to also be nominated for an Oscar for best picture.

Like many Renoir films, and set in a POW camp during WWI, it is a study of people and how class distinction separates them.

Amelie turned Audrey Tautou into an international sensation. From director Jean-Pierre Jeunet we get a delightful comedy filled with wacky characters and strange situations, all held together by an incredible performance by Tautou.

Fritz Lang’s first talkie was 1931’s “M”. Peter Lorre plays a sick and twisted murderer who is being hunted through the streets of a German city. Not only is he being chased by the police, but other criminals who find his attacks on children repulsive. “M” grabs you by the throat and leaves you breathless.

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“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is one of those foreign films that everybody has seen. The 2000 movie from Ang Lee won four Oscars and introduced the western world to flying warriors and a beautiful Ziyi Zhang. Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh play rival warriors searching for a special sword. A wonderful action film and beautiful love story, this is a great movie to see a second time, especially if you’ve purchased a big screen TV since your last viewing.

1960’s “Breathless” introduces us to French New Wave filmmaking.

Legendary director Jean-Luc Goddard also directed the film “Contempt”, which was very stylized and very hipster-cool. “Breathless” sounds even more so.

“The Passion of Joan of Arc” is quite simply one of the greatest movies ever made. It is legendary Danish director Carl Th Dreyer’s crowning glory and features one of the most devastating performances by Maria Falconetti ever caught on film. Shot in France and released in 1928, this movie is not only foreign, but silent. It now comes, via the Criterion Collection, with a wonderful score imagined by Richard Einhorn for the film making the experience even

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more beautiful and intense.

301: Continuing Education in Foreign Film (Classic, but lesser know films) I had to put “Children of Heaven” on the list. It’s a 1997 Iranian film nominated for an Academy Award.

It depicts iranian adult relationships using children.

It is beautiful and uplifting.

Shown at French culture fairs, the Truffaut film “Wild Child” is a strong recommendation alongside “Jules et Jim” and “The 400 Blows”. The 1960 film “Shoot the Piano Player”, starring Charles Aznavour, is also one to see.

It is a must to see the 1972 film “Aguirre: The Wrath of God”. It is a brutally realistic fictional retelling of the search for El Dorado. If what is written is truth, the actors reacted to what was happening to them as much as they propelled the action forward, making it a frightening mixture of realism and fantasy.

Akira Kurosawa’s movies certainly deserve their own summer self directed foreign film course. “Ran and Rashomon” is a hit, and his 1957 retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth set in feudal Japan, “Throne of Blood”, is also recommended.

“Black Orpheus” is a retelling of the Greek Orpheus and Eurydice legend set in Brazil during Carnival.

This 1959 film won an Oscar and features a bossa nova soundtrack from legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim.

What better way to end our study of foreign film than with a wonderful Italian movie from 1988 that is, in itself, a celebration of film. “Cinema Paradiso” was recently named the best foreign film of all time by the Guardian readers in the UK. While this is a stretch, it does tell that this little film is loved.

The world is big and there are so many great films from cultures all across the globe. So why not visit a foreign country tonight? You won’t even need you passport.

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Welcome to P a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

By Anasta

In a world full of subconscious bias, experimentation and research sided with abnormalities, ailments and extraordinary conditions, there is an abundance of controversy and discovery that will weigh heavily on our perceptions of the world.

Every month, PsychRhythms will explore an aspect of the mind, whether familiar or not, to contemplate its credibility, vulnerability and value. It will attune itself to explore the cracks and crevices of controversies and discoveries, and it will question any and all gaps where possible. PsychRhythms will further pry into curiosities while carefully examining them.

It is encouraged that any and all suggestions and feedback be mailed to psychrhythms@futureale.com.

In 1879, psychology branched from philosophy to become an independent discipline. Since then, the study of psychology has grown into a vast, interdisciplinary study. The same year, German doctor and psychologist Wilhelm Wundt established the world’s first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany

The word schizophrenia is only about 100 years old, but the first accounts of schizophrenia go as far back as ancient Egypt in the Pharaonic era. Disturbances of the mind, including unfamiliar voices and severe memory loss, have been recorded in the Book of Hearts, a chapter focusing on mental illnesses in the ancient book of medical recordings called the Ebers Papyrus.

Since this is the first edition of PsychR

world of p

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PsychRhythms!

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

asia Rokina

Agustine D was the first person to ever be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 55 years old.

Trichotillomania, a disorder in which one has the impulse to pull out their hair, was not an official term until 1889, conceived by Francois Henri Hallopeau. The first mentions of trichotillomania, however, date back to 101 AD in Epictetus’ The Discourses.

The first ever reported case of split personality disorder was in 1791 when a 20-year woman living in Stuttgart, Germany went from being a regular German citizen one day, to a French woman the next. She would speak french fluently, have “french” mannerisms and speak german with a french accent. When she would return to being a German citizen, she had no recollections of this “other french woman”.

Rhythms, let us explore other firsts in the

psychology.

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