The Other Press - November 13, 2019 by Other Press

Still from “The Simpsons”

Lettitor

Ok boomer… Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief

have always identified more with the Gen Z generation instead of millennials. Now, with all these memes popping up making fun of baby boomers, I feel even more alienated by my own generation. It’s a stupid phrase that has been making its internet rounds lately. A New Zealand lawmaker has even uttered the term while dismissing a heckler. Some are calling it “the n-word of ageism,” which may be a bit much, but it is fairly rude to

write off baby boomers just because they are older. Older generations will always complain about younger generations and vice versa. Younger generations are always going to be more entitled, selfish, and lazy to the older generations—according to the older generations. There’s no point in trying to understand why they hate each other—they just come from vastly different points in history, so there’s obviously going to be a bit of a disconnect. Just because they made fun of your generation doesn’t mean you should do it back; you don’t fight fire with fire.

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People can learn from the older and newer generations, so it makes no sense to further create this divide. Each generation has a different culture and history. Baby boomers came from a time of war and the introduction of rock and roll—millennials come from the current era of convenience and student loans. There is obviously going to be some differences, but ultimately each generation has been through some major societal change and there are valuable lessons to be learned from each generation and the hardships they go through. There’s obviously going to be a difference in language, culture, and often music, but

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Cover and feature illustrations by Cara Seccafien

Cara Seccafien Illustrator

Cover layout by Lauren Kelly

Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter

Feature layout by James Moore

Craig Allan Tania Arora EG Manilag Michele Provenzano Staff Writers Billy Bui Staff Photographer Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

each generation is essentially the same, so what’s the point in fighting? On a similar note, I think it’s silly to blame baby boomers for everything that is wrong with the world or the economy today. They did whatever was cool and the norm in their time in history—just as we do today. Should we be blamed for the misgivings of our society 30, 40 years from now? Limes,

Jessica Berget Jessica Berget

The Other Press has been Douglas College’s student newspaper since 1976. Since 1978 we have been an autonomous publication, independent of the student union. We are a registered society under the Society Act of British Columbia, governed by an eight-person board of directors appointed by our staff. Our head office is located in the New Westminster campus. The Other Press is published weekly during the fall and winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. We receive our funding from a student levy collected through tuition fees every semester at registration, and from local and national advertising revenue. The Other Press is a member of the Canadian University Press (CUP), a syndicate of student newspapers that includes papers from all across Canada. The Other Press reserves the right to choose what we will publish, and we will not publish material that is hateful, obscene, or condones or promotes illegal activities. Submissions may be edited for clarity and brevity if necessary. All images used are copyright to their respective owners.

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N ews Elizabeth May steps down

news // no. 3 • Famous koi-eating otter returns • Regulation redesigns tobacco packing • Douglas Discusses: Who is affected by TransLink strike? ...and more

››May reflects on her 13 years as leader of political party Michele Provenzano Staff Writer

n November 4, Elizabeth May announced she will no longer be serving as leader of the Green Party of Canada. May has led the party for the past 13 years and became the party's first elected member of parliament in 2011. May had promised her daughter that the 2019 election would be her last as party leader. She looks forward to spending more time with her husband, daughter, and extended family. She’s not giving up her work with the party entirely: May will continue to act as an MP and will be the party's parliamentary caucus leader. What May truly finds rewarding in her career is what she has achieved as a parliamentarian— such as having been able to reunite families kept apart by our immigration system. In an interview with Global News, she admits that she loves the work of parliament, but that there is nothing she’ll miss about

political leadership. “As leader, I have to say there have been very few rewards,” May said in a Global News podcast. She believes the party is in a good place and is experiencing enough momentum that it makes sense for her to step down now. May also said that she is proud of the work the party did in this year’s federal election. For the first time, over one million Canadians voted for the Green Party. They achieved a recordbreaking three seats in the House of Commons. The Green Party’s achievements may not be considered drastic, but the 2019 election was their most successful to date. The Green Party's deputy leader, Jo-Ann Roberts, will take on the role of interim party leader until October 2020, when the Greens’ next leadership convention is scheduled to occur in Charlottetown, PEI. Roberts first ran for a seat in Victoria as a member of the Green Party in 2014. Previously, she worked as a journalist with the CBC; she has over twenty years of experience working in

the field of TV and radio. According to her campaign website, she left her job in hopes to “fight for social justice, protect our environment and start the transition to a green economy.” She ran in October’s election for a seat in her Halifax riding, but she lost to Liberal candidate Andy Fillmore. Polling from Ipsos last month revealed that nearly 30 percent of Canadians said that the climate is among their top three concerns when deciding who to vote for. The NDP and Liberals incorporated climate change plans into their campaigns this election. Kathryn Harrison, a political science professor at UBC says, “I think in part they stole the Greens’ thunder.” This is due to many Canadians feeling the need to vote strategically. According to Ipsos vice president, Sean Simpson, many people prioritize making sure that their vote counts. “In all but about half a dozen ridings in Canada, a vote for the Green Party isn’t very effective,” Simpson says. When asked what kind of leadership the Green Party needs, May said she is excited for women, indigenous, LGBTQ+,

Photo by Grant Neufeld via Wikimedia Commons

as Green Party leader

and racialized minority candidates stepping forward. “I think more diversity for this party is essential,” May told Global News. She also hopes the next leader will be fully bilingual—May points to her inability to debate in French as a weakness—and hopes they will have as much energy as she does. May believes building the Green Party is critical for the survival of our world.

Douglas sues roofer for damages Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter

n a civil case filed in Port Coquitlam Provincial Small Claims Court, Douglas College filed a “notice of claim” against a Lower Mainland roofing company. The “notice of claim” alleges that the company caused a flood in Building B of the Coquitlam Campus in August 2017. Douglas, through the law firm of Guild Yule Limited Liability Partnership, states that the total damages from the substandard roofing repairs cost the College approximately $35,216. Douglas also petitioned the court for filing ($156) and services fees ($60) related to the claim. The Other Press obtained a copy of the notice of claim, court file number COQ-P-C-17967, dated June 18, 2019 from the provincial courts electronic document retrieval system. According to the obtained documents, Douglas hired the company in question to perform roofing work at the Coquitlam campus in March 2017. The contract between the two entities stipulated that the contractor would be liable for any damages to the College’s property while completing the required work. Douglas College attests that nearing the completion of the roofing work, the company failed to seal a drain on the roof of Building B and “On or around August 14, 2017,” the unsealed drain allowed water to leak into the building and caused a flood.

An internet search of the Government of Canada weather data for the closest weather station to the Douglas College’s Coquitlam campus—Port Moody Glenayre (Meteorological Service of Canada Climate ID: 1106CL2)—showed that there was no recorded rainfall on August 14 2017, and only 10 millimeters of rain fell that month— all on August 12 2017. The case hinged on the definition of flood and the amount of damages incurred by Douglas. In the reply to the notice of claim, filed by the roofing company on June 28 2019, the company agrees to “[A] leak” and states that on August 15, 2017 the company and a Douglas College representative inspected the repairs and the water damage, and assessed the “minimal” damages due to the water leak to be below $5,000 dollars. The roofing company also states that photographs were taken and an agreement with the College was established where Douglas would repair the damage, and the roofing company would assume the cost. The two sides may have decided to honour their original agreement, as Douglas College withdrew their claim on September 20, 2019. Unfortunately, the document detailing the withdrawal of the claim was not available via the online public search; however, the Other Press visited the Port Coquitlam Provincial courthouse where the initial files were submitted and confirmed that Douglas College withdrew the claim on September 20, and did not provide the court with a reason for the withdrawal.

Photo by Billy Bui

››College blames local roofing company for flood damage two years ago

news // no. 4

theotherpress.ca

Cigarette packaging becomes drab brown Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter

ife for smokers at Douglas College is becoming increasingly difficult and uniform. According to the Government of Canada, statistically one out of every five Other Press readers, or 20 percent of young adults aged 20 to 24, use tobacco, as highlighted by the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS). Last year the Other Press documented Douglas’ strict no-smoking policy on campus property, limiting the geographical smoking options for smokers. Now, the Government of Canada is aiming to whitewash cigarette packages with the hopes of deterring youth from starting smoking. A new Health Canada regulation, which came into effect on November 9, now requires uniform packaging for tobacco products sold in Canada. The regulation, aptly named the Plain and

Standardized Appearance - Tobacco Packaging and Products regulation (SOR/2019-107) under the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, standardizes package design for all varieties of cigarettes regardless of the manufacturer. Under the new law, cigarette packages will feature a “drab brown” foundational colour (Pantone 448 C), grey text (Pantone Cool Gray 2 C), and a very simple design. Additionally, package sizing will be standardized. Moreover, in the most expansive measure to date, the size and appearance of all tobacco products—including cigarettes and cigars—will be uniform. The only package design holdout between pre-November 9 cigarette packages and post-November 9 cigarette packages will be the Health Canada pictorial health warnings that were initiated in 2001, and redesigned in 2012. The inside the package health messages and health insert will also stay. Canada joins a list of eight countries

(Australia, France, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand) that require standardized or plain tobacco packaging by manufacturers. Two more countries, Uruguay and Turkey, will be starting plain packaging enforcement by the end of 2019. Although the legislation came into effect on November 9, manufacturers have 90 days to sell their remaining branded inventory. The regulation aligns with The Government of Canada’s Tobacco Strategy, which aims to drive down tobacco use to five percent of the Canadian population by 2035. Thinking of quitting? If you smoke and you would like support with quitting, you can start a conversation with a trusted health professional— including your pharmacist—about ways to quit.

Illustration by Athena Little

››New Government of Canada regulation redesigns tobacco packing

Also, Fraser Health Authority—the local health organization that deals with both Douglas campuses—has several services and resources to help you quit, including QuitNow, BC Smoking Cessation Program, and Quit4Life, a resource directed at teenagers.

How does this strike you?

Photos by Billy Bui

››Douglas Discusses: Who is affected by TransLink strike?

Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief

n October 28, TransLink announced that their workers are going to strike for better wages and working conditions, effective November 1. With the strike in full swing of its first phase with some bus and SeaBus cancellations underway, the Other Press asked the students at Douglas College if they had yet been affected by the strike and these ride cancellations. With both Douglas campuses being within walking distance of SkyTrain stations, it didn’t seem that many people were negatively affected by the strike. One associate of science student, Abhishek,

mentioned he didn’t even really notice the strike was happening. “I can see only TransLink strikes on the internet, but in real life it’s not like […] that big a deal,” he said. Another science student, Akul, has seen some bus cancellations, but nothing that affects him majorly. “No problems,” he said. “Some buses are cancelled, like I take the 144 [to SFU], sometimes that cancels. Like one bus in three hours.” According to Douglas College Quick Facts for the 2017-2018 year, the majority of students come from Surrey (29 percent), Coquitlam (16 percent), Burnaby (13 percent), or the Vancouver and New West area (both 10 percent). The college is

easily accessible by SkyTrain from these locations, so it didn’t seem that many students would be concerned with the bus strikes. However, people outside of these areas may see some bus cancellations in the near future as the strike escalates. Noah, a music major at the college, says he hasn’t seen any effect of the strike but thinks it’s only a matter of time. “Not yet. I think I will soon because I bus and SkyTrain here from Fleetwood everyday,” he said. “I have the alert thing on my phone and I’m seeing more buses being cancelled due to mechanical issues, so I see it, but I haven’t actually been affected by it…yet.” Some other students have not been affected by the strike yet, even if they do

take the bus to school, but have noticed the drivers not wearing uniforms. “All my buses have been coming on time and everything,” says Saffron, a math major at the college. For now, it seems people who bus to the college are safe from the impact of the TransLink strike. Since both campuses are accessible by SkyTrain, Douglas students will be happy that they’re not at SFU or UBC this term which are urging students and faculty to car-pool, cycle, or car-share to school. According to The Canadian Press, the union has said that the overtime ban could be extended to drivers and could affect up to 15 percent of the bus service in the region.

issue 11// vol 46

news // no. 5

Photo by Michelle Lim

The famous koi-eating otter of Vancouver returns ››Updates and after-effects of the latest otter-koi saga EG Manilag Staff Writer

year ago the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden pond in Chinatown, Vancouver, was closed for a week due to a hungry river otter that killed 11 large koi, including a 50-year old one. After the incident, the otter was never found again. The remaining koi were then relocated into the Vancouver Aquarium for safekeeping. Six months later, the remaining koi—together with 344 new baby koi—were returned and the pond was “otter-proofed.” The pond had live traps, gate barriers, and grates in underground pipes installed. However, this year on November 2, another otter managed to get inside the garden and eat six koi. Numerous theories were brought up as to how the elusive otter evaded all the traps and barriers set up. According to Howard Normann, Vancouver Parks Director, the pond was already fully secured—it’s a mystery how the sneaky creature got in.

“We know for a fact there’s no entrance points like a sewer or water line or drainage line into the garden that isn’t sealed,” he said. “I’m assuming it either climbed over the gate, or somebody left it ajar and it just managed to get in.” Otter expert, Dave Rosen from Vancouver Aquarium, also said that otters are skilled when it comes to hunting their prey—making them difficult to catch. “It is very difficult to keep an otter out or into something where it doesn't want to be. They are good climbers. They can go through drains. They can fit through small spaces,” he said. According to The Star, wildlife experts say the otter in question is the same one from last year’s koi chaos. This troublemaking otter is a Northern River Otter. This species usually spends their time living and hunting alone, but they can form groups like most other species do. Compared to sea otters, who usually spend their time in saltwater and rarely on land, river otters frequently venture on land. They are mostly found here in Canada and the

US. According to a Vancouver Park Board biologist, Nick Page, there could be 15 to 30 river otters in the Lower Mainland. Now with koi, they are no doubt one of the most expensive pet fishes in the world. According to Business Insider, a koi fish, who won the All Japan Koi Show in 2017, was sold at $1.8 million—the most expensive koi fish ever sold. Altogether, the otter had slain 17 large koi. Those koi may or may not be in line with the expensive show-quality breed, but considering their size and age, this otter has cost the garden a pretty penny. This news went viral last year, with people taking sides as #TeamKoi or #TeamOtter. On Twitter, a parody account by Team Otter (@ChinatownOtter) has now gained more than 2,600 followers, and the newly created Team Koi account (@ ChinatownKoi) has over 220 followers. A local non-profit organization also initiated an event where they sold Team Koi and Team Otter buttons for $2 each. According to Daily Hive, the proceeds were initially planned to be donated to the garden pond

to compensate for the loss, but the staff there have refused, and want the money to be given to a wildlife preservation organization instead. Now, t-shirts and mugs are being sold online. The division of this showdown served to spark cultural awareness of the Chinese. The koi in Chinese culture symbolizes good fortune, prosperity, perseverance, and longevity. The death of those koi, according to Chinese communities, may mean a loss of an important cultural symbol in Chinatown. One musician was inspired by this saga to compose a Chinese rock opera. Shon Wong, who wrote an opera called “Tale of the Eastside Lantern,” believed that this event was the perfect metaphor for his next opera. “The koi fish represents the traditions of the Chinese, and the past, and the history,” he said. “The otter kind of represents the gentrification of Chinatown, which is happening right now with a lot of redevelopment.”

First come, first serve, first aid ››DSU hosts first aid courses for Douglas College students Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief

o you know how to give CPR if an emergency situation arises? On November 16 and 17, you can learn how! The Douglas Students’ Union (DSU) will be hosting Red Cross Emergency First Aid courses. There will be three different first aid courses available, each with three different price points and duration times. The first one—Emergency First Aid/CPR-C will be an eight-hour course with a $50 fee. It will teach the basics of first aid—such as what to do if someone is choking, bleeding, having a heart-attack, having a breathing emergency, or having a stroke. It also includes automated external defibrillator (AED) certification. The second, Standard First Aid (SFA)/ CPR-C is a 16-hour, two-day long course for a $115 fee. It will cover everything the first course covers as well as the skills to handle life-threatening emergencies and traumatic injuries, such as head or spinal injuries, fractures, burns, or poison. Finally, Emergency and Standard First

Aid/CPR level Basic Life Support (BLS) is a 17-hour two-day course costing $125. It will teach everything in SFA, but the CPR is on a basic life support level—meant to help participants feel confident that they are performing CPR at the highest level of skill. These courses are held on a first come, first serve basis and are available for current Douglas College students or DSU fee paying members, with a portion of the fees subsidized by the DSU. Students who are interested are asked to register online at vital-link.ca. Douglas College itself has an Occupational First Aid (OFA) program which adheres to WorkSafeBC regulations. All contracted security officers are trained in level 1 or 2 OFA in support of the college and can administer first aid to students, employees, and campus users. A level 2 OFA trained officer is on duty at the college during campus hours. There are first aid rooms in every Douglas College Campus (yes, even the Anvil Centre) and are equipped with first aid kits, AED’s, Naloxone Nasal Spray, and other required emergency supplies. According to the Douglas College

website, to summon first aid attention, it is recommended to either call local 2400 from a college landline phone, call campus security, or go to the security campus kiosk. In the case of a life-threatening

situation, you must call 911 first and then advise campus security. If you have to call first responders, provide as much information as you can and don’t hang up until they hang up first.

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A rts TV that makes you think different

• Watching Wall-E for the first time • Death of the movie theatre • ‘Jojo Rabbit’ Review

...and more

Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

pple has historically made products that—with their intuitive designs— encourage creativity. Two weeks ago, they launched their new streaming service, Apple TV+— beginning the streaming services wars. There was a lot of hype for the streaming service after an Apple announcement last summer. It was revealed that the service will be $5.99 per month in Canada, making them cheaper than Netflix. Surprisingly, I found out that if you have an Apple Music student subscription, Apple TV+ is included with it. While they said that it will be available on all platforms, it is currently only available through a few ways—the Apple TV app and through their website on PC. Only original Apple shows are available on the platform and that’s a big downside. That might be the reason why the website looks simple. It has a great design, but they put all the shows on one page—and if you like a specific show, you have to scroll down all the way down

to it. Also, there is no list section on the website—though there may be a more full interface available on the mobile version through the Apple TV app. At launch, they released a few shows intended to be ongoing, including Oprah’s Book Club and the Sesame Street spinoff, Helpsters. The unusual thing about their shows is that the number of episodes in a season is very small. For example, I thought that The Morning Show would have 10 episodes at launch, but it only had three episodes at that point. This was in line with their statement that some of their shows will follow the Netflix approach of releasing the entire season, and some will do their new approach—they will initially release three episodes, and then once a week afterwards. I watched three of the shows: The Morning Show, Dickinson, and Snoopy in Space. The Morning Show involves a morning show working on damage control due to one of the hosts of the show, Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell), being removed from the show because of sexual misconduct claims. His co-host, Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston), tries to maintain the show’s reputation. When a reporter named

Promotional image for 'Snoopy in Space' via Apple

››Apple TV+ Review

Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon) goes viral and is interviewed on the show, a game changing moment happens. The end of the first episode sets the stage clearly for what will happen in the rest of the season, and also shows that only decent person in the show is Bradley. Dickinson tells the untold story of famous poet Emily Dickinson, with a focus on the revelation that she liked women. It looks like a teen drama in a historical period, and Hailee Steinfeld is great at portraying Emily Dickinson. If you’d like to see a funnier depiction of Emily Dickinson, watch the Molly Shannon film Wild Nights

with Emily. Snoopy in Space is very fun and educational. Because it has four episodes with each episode is eight minutes long, it is a special I watched in its entirety. In it, Snoopy tries to pursue his dream of going to space with the help of the Peanuts gang. It is very informative about space, has the classic humour that you would expect from Peanuts. Apple TV+ has legitimately enjoyable shows that could be the rival of channels, and they have more big shows to offer to come

sounds like “stirring creamy mac ‘n’ cheese” or “a recording of a political speech so old, it’s unintelligible.” Even when a status quo is established, remember the name of the show—Reich loves mixing things up as soon as contestants get comfortable. Given its constantly-changing format, the quality of Game Changer can vary from episode to episode, though they’re more often hit-than-miss. The aforementioned “Make some noise” episode is a sound battle royale between three very talented comedians, and the pilot episode “Lie Detector” is wildly entertaining, with a particular twist about 1/3 way through that

truly does change the game. Sometimes the show falls into a rhythm after the game’s rules have been established, such as the case with the “Whodunnit” murder mystery episode, but the cast and premise are usually entertaining enough to carry through to the credits. Of course, the glue holding everything together is first-time gameshow host Reich. Consistently funny and charming, Reich delivers the hell out his newfound role, and he perfectly toes the line between all-knowing host and giddy participant. Thankfully, it was recently announced that a second season of Game Changer is in production, so he can continue to perfect the stoic, shifty eyed role he was born to play. Game Changer is a goddamn delight. It’s absurd, it’s hilarious, and it gives us more Sam Reich, which I will take any day of the week. If you enjoy gameshows, comedy, or watching three men in their 30s make weird sound effects for half an hour, then Game Changer is the show for you.

Tune in and Dropout: Sam Reich scraps the rulebook with hilarious, unhinged gameshow Jacey Gibb Distribution Manager

     The jokesters over at CollegeHumor launched their own comedy streaming platform Dropout TV. I’m here to tell you if their exclusive content is worth the subscription fee.

ince CollegeHumor’s infancy in the early 2000s, Sam Reich has been an overarching presence. He’s the Nick Fury of the CH Cinematic Universe, popping up in sketches or even replying to comments on their YouTube channel. And while he’s often relegated to playing the “boss” character, Reich’s day of reckoning has finally arrived à la the new Dropout gameshow Game Changer. Hosted by Reich, Game Changer is a wonderfully twisted take on televised gameshows. Each episode features an entirely different game, complete with different rules, stakes, and prizes. The only common thread throughout are Reich, and a revolving door of CollegeHumor cast members to stand at the contestant podiums. To raise the stakes even higher, all of game’s rules and stakes are kept

hidden from the players. “The only way to learn is by playing, the only way to win is by learning, and the only way to begin is by beginning,” Reich announces at the start of each episode, which sums up the confusing nature of Game Changer. Part of the fun is guessing the rules alongside contestants, though even when the game’s nature is established, it’s still a blast. For example, in episode two, the contestants quickly catch on that their task is to make the sound of whichever animal appears onscreen; however, the game becomes increasingly unhinged throughout, where they must impersonate

Still of 'The Game Show Where Nobody Knows the Rules' by College Humor on YouTube

››‘Game Changer’ television review

You can watch clips of Game Changer on CollegeHumor’s YouTube page, but season one’s five episodes are only on Dropout.

issue 11// vol 46

arts // no. 7

Death of the movie theatre

››Streaming services like Disney+ could spell the end for movie theatres Craig Allan Staff Writer

y relationship with movie theatres is complicated. I have worked in a movie theatre for 10 years, and it has not been a fun 10 years. No one likes making minimum wage for this long and watching people you started with move on to better things as you remain stuck. However, there is one thing that has remained a constant love for me that has never wavered. Throughout these 10 years, I have been lucky to be able to go to my theatre, get a bag of popcorn and a drink, and settle in top row centre to be awed by films like Joker, Room, and Logan—or laugh myself silly at movies like This Is the End, Vacation, and Movie 43 (replace “laugh myself silly” with “watch the horror that is” for Movie 43). These times may be withering away though, as on November 12, movie production and distribution behemoth, Disney, will be debuting Disney+: a new streaming service which may have the main goal of landing a critical hit to the old movie house. For the last few years, Disney has been building to launch this platform. It influenced one of the biggest purchases in film history, being that when Disney bought almost all of the film and TV assets from 20th Century Fox to the tune of over $70,000,000,000. This purchase includes classic TV and movie hits like The Simpsons, X-Men, and the Planet of the Apes franchise. When it comes to Disney+, the Walt Disney Company is not messing around—research firm MoffettNathanson has predicted that the company will possibly lose almost $9,000,000,000 in the first two years alone. According to an article in the Hollywood Reporter, one of

Illustrations by Janis McMath

the reasons for the predicted loss is due to the budget of the shows they are going to run. With shows like the Star Wars spinoff, The Mandalorian, predicted to cost $15,000,000 an episode—amongst other shows like Marvel’s WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier also coming with high episode budgets, being as much as $25,000,000 per episode. With such an investment, it is clear that Disney is betting that the future of the entertainment industry is streaming. This bet could put competitors, traditional media outlets like television and movie theatres, in Disney’s crosshairs—with movie theatres especially in danger. Some may wonder why Disney would want to give up the movie theatre model for streaming. After all, if someone goes and buys a ticket at a theatre for $12.99, that’s money going straight into Disney’s pockets. Instead, streamers get thousands of hours

of content for the price of Disney+—only seven dollars (in the US). The answer is twofold. According to the Wall Street Journal, movie theatres get a cut of movies shown in their building, equating to about a 60 to 40 percent split from distributor to theatre. Along with this, Bloomberg reports that in 2017, US and Canadian theatre admissions hit its lowest point since 1992. Disney can get those same people to give them seven dollars, 12 months a year, that is a higher profit which Disney keeps 100 percent of. While the end of the big movie theatre chain may not seem so bad, as other entertainment businesses like video stores went by the wayside for more convenient entertainment options, the way Disney is operating has been especially vicious from the view of independent movie theatres. For years, independent movie theatres have been making a sizable portion of their sales

passionate boy who dreams about serving his country and his leader Adolf Hitler. When Jojo gets frustrated about something, he gets advice from his imaginary friend— Hitler himself (played by Waititi). After an injury in training camp, he temporarily gives out propaganda while recovering. When he goes back home he finds out that his mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), is hiding a Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) in their walls. Jojo interviews Elsa to learn more about Jews in hopes of writing an exposé on them, but soon after he begins to question the actions of the Germans and his relationship with Hitler. There are a lot of lines in the film that reference serious topics for which you must hold yourself and try not to laugh at. Waititi’s portrayal of Hitler is great, and he initially makes Adolf look like a fatherfigure in Jojo’s mind—yet he also acts in Hilter’s signature way, with an example being him making a negative reference to Jesse Owens, the real black American track-and-field star who showed Hilter and his Aryan regime up at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. McKenzie also did a great job

portraying Elsa. In the beginning of the film, when Jojo feared her, she looked and acted fittingly creepy. As the film progresses, she becomes friendly instead of scary and menacing. While everyone speaks in a German accent, their own accents come out as well. An example is when Stephen Merchant plays a Gestapo leader, Deertz, searching Jojo’s house—he is trying to sound German, yet he speaks in a British accent. There were a lot of fun moments from Jojo’s captain, Captain Klenzendorf, played by Sam Rockwell. Rebel Wilson plays the captain’s assistant, Fraulein Rahm, and she also did a good job. The soundtrack has songs from the 1960s, in a way implying that the heyday of Germany in the 1930s had some similarities

Dance when you are free Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

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o matter what race you are, everyone is the same. Everyone has likes and dislikes, and everyone must face problems in their lives. In this era of fake news, misinformation is floating around. Fake news was not invented today though— Germany used propaganda to portray Jewish people negatively during World War II. This topic is at the heart of Jojo Rabbit, a film by Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi, which has a colorful and comedic commentary on misinformation and racism. The film, also written by Waititi— based on the much darker book, Caging Skies by Christine Leunens—won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival this year. It had a sold-out screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival this year as well. The movie takes place in Germany during World War II, with lead 10-yearold Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) as a

Promotional image for 'Jojo Rabbit'

››‘Jojo Rabbit’ Review

showing old films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room to adoring crowds. These interactive experience films combined with older classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Pulp Fiction have been a staple of midnight movie houses and independent theatres for years. For many, 20th Century Fox films were a stable group of films for these screens. But with Disney’s purchase of Fox earlier this year, those movie theatres have started to see these once reliable films disappear—with Disney moving them into the “Disney Vault.” The vault is a strategy by Disney to limit the showing of films in theatres in order to keep their nostalgia value strong. (However, with Disney+ being released, this tactic of driving up artificial value will end.) This has led some theatre owners to feel that the streaming revolution could leave them in the cold. Without old films—the stable money maker that props theatres up on slow evenings—historic movie houses like The Rio in downtown Vancouver could find themselves struggling to pay the bills and being forced to find new revenue streams. No one knows what the future may hold for the entertainment industry, but it would be disappointing if the movie theatre experience was lost for future generations. There is something special about sitting in a theatre and turning off the world for two hours. Streaming is fine, and there are many movies that work for streaming—but there are just as many movies that need to be seen on a big screen and made a collective experience. It would be saddening if this phrase was uttered in the future: “When I was your age, we saw movies together in a theatre!” Hopefully future generations will not be subjugated to watch movies—meant to be on a larger than life screen—on tiny phone or computer monitor.

to the Beatlemania craze. The score includes the German version of The Beatles song, “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”—called “Komm, gib mir deine Hand.” Dancing is important in the film and we see a lot of unusual dancing throughout it. The scenes where Jojo interviews Elsa convey that everyone is doing the same thing, and that there is no good reason to hate people enough to declare war on them. There is also a scene near the end of the film that is like a scene in the Terence Davies film The Long Day Closes. Jojo Rabbit is a very important history lesson about why propaganda is misleading, why genocidal wars are not going to solve problems, and that hate should not be part of humanity.

arts // no. 8

theotherpress.ca

Watching Wall-E for the first time

Illustration by Athena Little

››‘Wall-E’ review

Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor In this column I review movies that are hugely popular in the Western world— ones which I haven’t seen before. This is a fresh and unbiased take on those classic films, without the rose-coloured glasses of childhood nostalgia influencing my perspective.

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“F

our out of five!” you yell angrily at the newspaper in your hand. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. “But—but—WALL-E is so cute! The movie is so good! It’s totally a five!” I hear you pal, but I disagree. Hear me out. If you don’t know the film WALL-E, for whatever reason (maybe we’re the same person), then here’s a quick rundown. Little robot, WALL-E, is the only robot left on Earth. Originally built in hopes of cleaning up the dystopian planet yet is left for 700 years after humans learn that the planet is no longer habitable. He falls in love with EVE, another robot from the “Axiom,” a large spaceship that the rest of the humans are on. EVE’s mission is to search for any indicator that Earth is habitable once again. It’s a children’s movie so it’s a bit hard to pick apart and denounce, because any issues I have with the movie can be

Consumed by the allure of the laziness of automation, this post-apocalyptic world defines what humans would be worth if they could always live in a hedonistic state. brushed off since it’s made for kids anyway. It’s easier to analyze if we don’t look at the film as simply a kid’s movie, and instead look at the commentary in the film—one which analyzes and criticizes society in a way that is extremely relevant… perhaps more so now than when the movie came out in 2008. Starting with what really impressed me, the film portrayed emotion incredibly. The two main characters have no dialogue past saying each other’s names, and even then, WALL-E incorrectly calls EVE “Eva.” Yet, even then there is a lot of great story progression between these two. Their process of falling in love was shown through actions instead of words, which is romantic! They constantly fought for each other, and though they didn’t always agree with the others’ actions or beliefs, they never forcefully tried to stop one another from fighting for what they believe in. Weird how robots can have such healthy relationships.

I do, however, think this romance storyline took priority in way more of the movie than it needed to. Sure, they’re cute, but there’s no hiding that the real focus of the story of WALL-E was about the humans—which is a typical narcissistic human thing to say. There isn’t as much of a delving into the mechanics of this world as there should be. The Axiom contains all the humans to have had survived thus far. They don’t walk at all. They move around in hovering lounge chairs and communicate with other people through hologram screens… never once communicating with the world outside arm’s reach. They only have meals in drink form and only wear colours that are announced to be trendy on the PA system. It’s terrifying and yet, a pretty accurate representation of how we live right now and may possibly become more literal in the future. Consumed by the allure of the laziness of automation, this postapocalyptic world defines what humans

would be worth if they could always live in a hedonistic state. As the robots on the Axiom put it: the humans are able to survive on the Axiom, and it is inferred that they could do so forever. However, the Captain of the ship replies to this sentiment, saying “I don’t want to survive! I want to live!” That single sentence wraps up a big fear shared by humans—we never want to be worthless. We want our lives to mean something. WALL-E was uncomfortable to watch because, honestly, the humans didn’t even do a whole lot to save themselves from their lifestyle. None of them paused their lounge chair entertainment for a second to ask if there was anything more possible for their lives. The captain only really started fighting to go to Earth after the robots were already fighting for him. So, is WALL-E even a happy story? I think, despite the happy conclusion, the ending could not have been achieved hadn’t it been for the very nice robots. It is an eerily pessimistic film. If our society ever becomes the world displayed in WALL-E, and there were no nice robots around, the negative view of human morality and ambition portrayed in WALL-E suggests there may not be such a happy ending. I don’t hate that the movie conveys that, however. If anything, Pixar film WALL-E serves as a warning—one needed much more now than ever before.

Have an idea for a story?  lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca

L ife & Style What’s

life & style // no. 9 • Facial hair fads and facts • How to become a karaoke god • How I met my best friend on Tinder ...and more

Happening ››November 11 to 17 Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor Emotions Open Mic November Edition • Date: November 12, with monthly showcases • Location: 1240 Thurlow Street, Vancouver • Time: 8 to 10 pm • Price: $8 per ticket

Vancouver’s freshest open mic is back, featuring loads of local talent! With a night hosted by Teon Gibbs, come on down and enjoy comedy, song, dance, and spoken word! If you’re feeling brave enough to perform, email emotionsopenmic@gmail.com to sign up! Curry Fest Vancouver • Date: November 13 • Location: Davie Dosa Company, 1235 Davie Street, Vancouver • Time: 6 to 10 pm • Price $60 per ticket Are you a spicy food addict? Well, come get your fix at Curry Fest! Flavour from cuisines from all over the world—include Thai, Vietnamese, and South Indian. Tickets promise a taster plate at each restaurant and some beverages, drink inclusion depending on location. Other participating restaurants: • Bob Pochana Thai: 1660 Robson Street, Vancouver • House Special Modern Vietnamese: 1269 Hamilton Street, Vancouver • Indian Delicacy: 1130 West Pender Street, Vancouver Eastside Culture Crawl • Date: November 14 to 17 • Location: Various Venues • Time: 14 to 15: 5 to 10 pm, 16 to 17: 11 am to 6 pm • Price: Varies depending on event Four days. 500 artists. 80 buildings. Vancouver’s Eastside neighbourhood is bursting with intimate, vivid, and inspiring art. Exploring the heart of Van, where art happens, Eastside Culture Crawl is a celebration of the visual arts, design, and crafts—featuring chainsaw carving, glassblowing, and blacksmithing demos. For a complete list of venues, visit culturecrawl.ca CARNAGE • Date: November 15 • Location: Harbour Centre, 750 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver • Time: Doors at 10 pm • Price: $35 to $57 per ticket 19+

New West Craft Fall Market • Date: November 16 • Location: River Market, 810 Quayside Drive, New Westminster • Time: 11 am to 4 pm • Price: Free Before Fall ends, stop by and check out New West’s handmade community artisan market. Showcasing the work of local artists, this fair has lots to offer. Support over 30 vendors selling handmade goods. Great for getting a head start on gifting for the holiday season coming up! Paint Nite: Magical Winter Discovery • Date: November 27 • Location: Dunn's Famous Restaurant, 827 Seymour Street, Vancouver • Time: 5 pm start • Price: $40 per person 19+ Grab your friends and spend an evening unwinding with host Randii Andii. Chill out while being creative in this two-hour long paint night. Event begins promptly at 7 pm, so show up just a bit early if you’ve got a big group and bring your appetite. Promo code for $13 off your tickets is GOPAINT19!

Credit Photo by Judie Ponto via Eastside Culture Crawl on Facebook

The supreme CARNAGE comes once again to Vancouver! Flames, bling, and music!

Survivin wit hout s

Caffeine addiction and effects on the s Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief

Drinking lots of caffeine has been linked to insomnia, irritability, anxiety, high blood pressure, and elevated heart rates.

o many students, coffee is a best friend. It wakes you up for the day ahead and can also give you that extra jolt you need to finish whatever work you’ve put off until the last minute. However, as much as students think coffee is a great chum, the drink may actually be their worst enemy. College students have a unique relationship with coffee. With so much to do—and so little time to do it all—many students spend sleepless nights peered over their laptops finishing up their assignments with a large mug of coffee at their side. I know this because I am currently writing this at 3:30 am doing exactly that. Unfortunately, for many students, this means that they won’t get the recommended amount of sleep they need each night. The obvious solution to this? Drink more coffee. Drinking copious amounts of coffee or any other caffeinated drink is something many Canadian college students know all too well. In fact, according to the president of the Coffee Association of Canada, Sandy McAlpine, Canadians love their coffee—over 65 percent of people over 18 consume it everyday. This should come as no surprise to Douglas College students; we’ve all seen how long the Tim Hortons line-up gets, and the high number of coffee cups in classes. Due to staying up all night and trying to stay awake and focused all day, students need that little boost of energy. Unfortunately, this lifestyle leads to many forming a dependence or addiction to caffeine. I know this because not too long ago, I had developed one myself. A couple months ago, I was a coffee drinking machine. I would drink up to two to three cups a day, and sometimes even a couple espresso beverages (curse the free coffee drinks at my other job). After noticing how anxious it made me, how tired I became in the middle of the day, and how groggy I was before my morning cup of joe, I knew I needed to cut my daily coffee intake down entirely. To test these limits and the affect copious amounts caffeine had on my body, I decided to stop drinking coffee for a month. They say the first week is the hardest, so I documented the changes I noticed during the first few days. On the first day, the first thing I did when I woke up was start to make myself a cup of coffee. As I began boiling the water, I remembered my goal of cutting it out for the month. Frustrated, I opted for a cup of Earl Grey tea instead… but it’s not the same. A cup of coffee has nearly 95 milligrams of caffeine, while a cup of tea has about 22 milligrams. A significant difference to someone who drinks at least two cups of coffee everyday. I felt sluggish all day and couldn’t stop thinking about how much I missed coffee. The second day was a true test of my will: I had a 5 am opening shift at my bakery job. I had to resist my aching tiredness and the free coffee I get on shift. I drink Earl Grey tea again to replace the need for coffee, but it doesn’t do anything in terms of waking me up. One thing I notice after going just a couple of days without coffee is that I’m less jittery. My thoughts aren’t racing through my mind as much as they did when I drank coffee, but that could just be because I was too tired from caffeine withdrawal. The third, fourth, and fifth day all ended up the same. I drank tea instead, didn’t crash by midday, and was able to go to bed at a reasonable time because I didn’t have my afternoon cuppa. The longer I went without drinking coffee, the more I realized I didn’t need it. I felt better and more awake in the morning, which was a nice change

ng one mont h sweet, sweet coffee

student brain

from the usual morning daze I had before my first coffee. Maybe I should have cut it out sooner. Douglas College Psychology Professor, Nicole Vittoz. explains the effects of caffeine on our brain and bodies to the Other Press. She says caffeine is a molecule similar to Adenosine, a neurotransmitter that produces calming effects in the brain and body. Caffeine binds and blocks receptors of Adenosine, which prevents the calming effects and instead produces a more excitable set of cells in the body and brain. This contributes to the effects of caffeine we feel in our body—such as feeling jittery, an increased heart rate, heartburn, urination, etc. In our brains, it makes us more alert and improves mental focus. Vittoz also explains that dependence relies on the individual and how much caffeine they are putting into their body each day—dependence is usually found in people who drink a lot of it. “The more we use a drug, the more our body and brain adjusts to the presence of the drug. This process is known as tolerance. Over time, with repeated use of the drug, our systems begin to compensate, and respond less and less to the drug. In response, the user will tend to increase their dose, going from one cup of coffee each morning to requiring two to three [to] feel its usual stimulating effects. Once caffeine dosage escalates, we are at greater risk for experiencing those unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when we have less caffeine or no caffeine at all,” she said in an email interview with the Other Press. Consuming caffeine may have some perks, but there are some downsides, especially if one forms a dependence or addiction to it. In fact, according to Beth Doxsee—a peer health outreach coordinator at Queen’s Health—drinking lots of caffeine has been linked to insomnia, irritability, anxiety, high blood pressure, and elevated heart rates. She also says it has a major affect on one’s mood and can exacerbate anxiety for those who get anxious. This is something I noticed in my experience in drinking coffee, and the stress of going to both school and work probably doesn’t fare well for students who also consume lots of coffee or caffeine everyday.

his? tion to t u l o s s u o The obvi fee. more cof k n Dri I lasted almost a whole month without coffee, but since student life is so damn demanding, I had to search for other means to fulfill my forceful caffeine craving for a perk-up on those especially hectic days. On some occasions I settled for Monster energy drinks, but the amount of sugar in them made me sick. After going a few weeks without the comfort of coffee, I developed a love for a morning cup of tea. I found it made me much calmer in my daily routine and didn’t give me the mid-day crash that coffee usually does. I still do love my coffee, but now I avoid making it a habit of drinking it every day— saving it for days when I am truly exhausted. For my everyday caffeine fix though, I’m sticking with tea—and that’s the tea.

life & style // no. 12

theotherpress.ca

How to become a karaoke god ››These four useful points will help you achieve musical enlightenment EG Manilag Staff Writer

he holidays have arrived, and with them come seasonal parties. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other nondenominational parties often have one main thing in common: Karaoke. If you want to be the star of the show in front of your co-workers, family, or friends, the Other Press has you covered with this essential guide on becoming the deity of that small dimly lit stage you’ll be performing on.

1. First, always prepare a lot of songs. It doesn’t matter how you do it—whether you memorize the numbers of the songs in the karaoke book, list the songs in your smartphone, or even write them down on a piece of paper—the choice is yours. However, don’t forget to be versatile, remembering that you need to entertain your friends and family as well. It’s best to pick the songs that suit their interests— they should be able to jam to your song choice. 2. When you’re completely locked and loaded, the next thing to do is vocalize. It doesn’t hurt to try. Amateur or not, it’s always good to know if you’re at your best vocally. Just sing a few bars before hitting the stage. It can help break the tension in your vocal cords. 3. This last step is a very crucial one. Seriously. Many have tried this, but few have survived. You always need to memorize and finish the songs you sing.

Illustration by Athena Little

Prepare your arsenal Preparation is the best thing you could ever do to step your karaoke game up.

Don’t just mumble the verses then perfect the chorus. That is not only weird, but it’s highly contagious. Almost everything— with few exceptions, such as high notes— must be consistent and clear. This is so the audience can appreciate your full performance. Be egoless We all know that one friend who sings like Beyoncé or Bruno Mars every karaoke

night. We can’t help that from happening… that’s just the way it is. It’s their forte. Get this though, we can help ourselves to not to get eaten by insecurities in those moments. Instead of feeling overpowered, focus on yourself. Don’t be afraid to sing and have a good time. Don’t stop even if your voice cracks, if no one claps at the best parts, or if no one claps at all. Just remember this: it’s karaoke, not a paid gig. So, leave the ego at the door.

Make gestures This is my all-time favourite. I don’t know about you, but I’ve naturally developed this awesomely weird gesture—or whatever you call it. Whenever I try to hit some relatively high notes, my neck just turns to a 45-degree angle (or more, depending on how high the note is). I think it’s cool, but my friends used to laugh at me because thought it was weird. But gradually—after numerous karaoke sessions—their perception changed, and they became fascinated with my “technique.” Since then, it has become my signature move. Ultimately, what I want to impart is that when you sing, especially at a karaoke bar, you should develop some "moves.” If nothing works, you can always play with the microphone. Start by using your hairbrush at home—works like a charm. Be a fan According to author Mark Twain, “The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up.” The message is clear: it’s all about mutual relationships. In karaoke, we should always cheer and clap for our friends whenever they’re singing. It will not only boost their confidence, but also their performance. A social psychology textbook on OpenTextBC reports that “The presence of others can increase performance on many types of tasks, including jogging, playing pool, lifting weights, and working on mathematics and computer problems.” Researcher Geen and colleagues stated this of their social psychology study. It’s always better to be a good sport. After all, you’re going to find yourself up there eventually.

How I met my best friend on Tinder ››Honestly, I had no plans in mind when joining the app Tania Arora Staff Writer

wo years ago, I landed in this city. Miles away from home and in a different land, I had no family or friends around me. Since I was jobless, I had nothing to do apart from my studies from school. The time difference made it difficult for me to talk to my family or friends back home— they were asleep whenever I was wide awake and free. I will be honest, when it comes to intimate matters, I am one of those “old-school” people. When I downloaded Tinder—an app which is well-known for casual sex—I had no plans of getting laid. When I reflect on that time, I still am confused why on earth I even installed Tinder if I did not want to get laid. I was just looking for reasons to go out, meet new people who knew more about the city, and just have a companion for dinner or lunch at a place I wanted to try. It sucked eating all my meals by myself with no one around to

talk to—or complain with about the ingredient measurements that went wrong. My friend was the fourth guy I met. The first three dates were kinda okay-ish. I was, as usual, running late. Guys have their ways of trying to impress girls, and the same applied to him too. He was on time. When I met him, he got out of his car, greeted me with a hug, complimented me on my look, and opened the door for me. First impression: 10/10. We met at 8 pm. The entire night we drove from one end of the city to the other, exploring every part. Long walks at the White Rock pier, glowing lights in Gastown, Stanley Park, and North Vancouver. Even Granville to Burnaby Mountain Park. It wasn’t any sort of sexual desire that led us that far. We had so much to talk about, and because of that the entire sprawling night felt short. I have always been an extrovert; I can go hours talking about my experiences. This guy was an introvert. But he found

his comfort zone—sharing his thoughts, dreams, and past. We shared as much as we could in the night, never shying away from any detail. It wasn’t liking or loving at all—it was pure friendship. It was a night in which we both realized we had found someone that we could call at night to share anything or everything without getting judged. We realized that we found a friend we must hold on to. Miles away from our families, we made a new family. It was 4:30 am when I got back home. We shared a warm hug as we parted and there was no “three day” rule that we bothered following. We knew what we shared and both of us valued it. I can never explain to anyone my intentions of downloading Tinder and I don’t want to. I never explained our meeting to anyone and never would (until now). It has been two years now, and our bond has grown, and we are as thick as thieves. Two years ago, I’d call him my Tinder date, but today I call him my best friend.

issue 11// vol 46

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life & style // no. 13

#DOUGLIFE

Share your photos with us on Instagram using the hashtag #DougLife, for a chance to be featured in the paper!

A story about scruff ››Facial hair fads and facts Michele Provenzano Staff Writer

Illustrations by Janis McMath

This week’s photo is by studentlifedc

n the past week or so, you may have noticed more beards and moustaches around than usual. Each November, many folks with a gift for hair follicles grow out their facial hair to support the Movember movement. This event has been running since 2003—over a decade. The Movember Foundation aims to raise awareness and support for often overlooked men's health problems: Prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's mental health issues and suicide prevention. Moustaches are grown to start conversations surrounding men’s health and to fundraise for these causes. Movember is an example of society influencing the hairy decision many must make—to shave, or not to shave. Throughout history, facial hair has had many meanings attached to it. Perceptions of facial hair have fluctuated throughout the eras as well as between different regions of the world. Christopher Oldstone-Moore, the Senior Lecturer of History at Wright State University and author of Of Beards and Men, insists that beards serve as an index over time to the evolution of what it means to be a man. Let’s visit some notable points in world history that reveal the significance of facial hair or lack thereof. In 17th century Russia, Peter the Great banned beards and implemented a beard tax. Men had to pay up to 100 rubles annually to acquire a medallion which served as a license to sport a beard.

A late version of the medallion had the phrase “the beard is a superfluous burden” inscribed on one side. Police could forcibly and publicly shave those who had a beard and had not paid the tax. Peter did so because he traveled all over the world, and after going to Western Europe, wanted to bring his perception of the modernity of a shaven face in hopes of enriching Russia. In ancient Egypt, shaving one's facial hair was the norm. Yet pharaohs—both male and female—often wore false metal beards because they were a sign of sanctity. A gold chin strap was held in place, attached to a ribbon tied over the head. This was done for religious reasons, as the Egyptian leaders wanted to look like Osiris—God of the underworld. Confucius, the influential ancient Chinese philosopher and teacher who lived around 500 BC, believed that since one’s body was a gift from their parents, one should not alter it in any way—including the alteration that is the removal of facial hair. Beards have also served as a motif of wisdom and knowledge. In ancient Greece, Rome, and other societies, philosophers went without shaving and grew out large beards. They believed that wisdom was achieved through understanding and following the rules of nature—beards being a sign of that obedience. Alexander the Great made the men in his army shave, as he saw beards as dangerous in hand-to-hand combat—the issue was that enemy could easily grab onto one from behind. However, when their facial fur grew back, soldiers began to keep them—displaying confidence in their own abilities. A beard symbolized a knight’s dignity and virility in the Middle Ages. Beards were regarded as significant. Touching another man’s beard was a highly offensive gesture that could result in a duel. Beards rose in popularity in the midVictorian period in Europe as facial hair was believed to have a medical benefit. Doctors would prescribe patients to grow a beard as a remedy for common maladies such as a sore throat. A beard was believed to be a sort of natural air filter, and capable of preventing illnesses. As part of his 1973 study on beard trends, US psychologist Robert Pellegrini stated that "Inside every clean-shaven man, there is a beard screaming to be let out.” With all these scruffy facts in mind, it is interesting seeing where our perceptions on beards have arrived now. Movember is a pretty noble use of beards—better than many of their past roles. For more information on the Movember movement including ways to get involved, visit ca.movember.com

Opinions

Have an idea for a story?  opinions@theotherpress.ca

• Only certified instructors should help new and developing drivers • Stop calling yourself old at 25 • Let people appreciate Christmas in November ...and more

Let people appreciate Christmas in November Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor

pon writing this article, I’ve consumed a peppermint mocha and chestnut praline latte in the same day— and I’m here to tell you to let people enjoy things. Now that November is here, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. However, most people would love to tell you off, if you even try to say it. Truth be told, Christmas embodies an all-around happy atmosphere that most people would like to partake in as soon as possible during these dark and cold months, so what’s the big deal? There are a few types of people in the world: those who can’t wrap their head around Halloween being over, those who put up their Christmas tree on November 1, and those who believe we should wait until Remembrance Day to begin celebrating Christmas. I’m all for the spooky season—but there’s no “Halloween” in November. It ends October 31 and that’s the end of it—no arguments. As for those who believe we should wait until after Remembrance Day, I don’t believe celebrating a festive holiday takes anything away from honouring those who have fought for us. There’s not really any music or decorations to swap out for Remembrance Day anyway. It’s a much more introspective holiday, and it’s not like having a few different things going on at once is impossible for the human brain to process. Besides, Christmas is such a loving holiday that highlights spending time with family and the people you love, which, if anything, complements Remembrance Day nicely.

What gets my goat a little bit about celebrating Christmas early, though, are the decorations. I’m not entirely sure why—maybe I’m just jealous of the energy you’d need to have to take down your Halloween decorations and put up an entire tree and all things Xmas within the same week. I love festivities, but man, am I tired. What better way to get energized than Hallmark movies? Honestly, these are now a family tradition to watch every Christmas season. They’re God awful… but perfect to be joked about. What’re you going to do? Tell people not to watch movies with their family? Try again, buck-o. Finally: Christmas music. It’s beautiful, it’s fun, and it’s in every genre—what more could you ask for? Well, you could ask for more and I’d happily oblige, but here we are, getting angrily yelled at from across the classroom for playing Bing Crosby’s “Mele Kalikimaka” while soldering cables. The music is genuinely good listening too; it’s not like we’re playing “Monster Mash” over and over again. It may be totally understandable to be mad if it was “Last Christmas” by Wham! though. I listen to Christmas music in the summer because it’s just that good. Usually it isn’t the case that the people hating on celebrating early don’t enjoy the festivities—they just don’t like them being celebrating in November, but you know what? Time isn’t real, so I rest my case. Your only choice, really, is to be a grinch, or join in on the joy. So, choose wisely this year… I promise the latter is more fun for everybody.

Photos by Billy Bui

››It’s the most wonderful two months of the year

issue 11// vol 46

opinions // no. 15

Stop calling yourself old at 25 ››You still have so many years ahead of you Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief

hey say you’re only as old as you feel. With the number of young, twentysomething adults who lament about turning another year older, I’m concerned some people are feeling older than they actually are. Many people become depressed about getting older. To some, getting closer to the 30s is a big cause for anxiety because they may feel they should have your life figured out by then. Yet, you have years ahead of you to worry about getting older. Let’s be honest, no one has their lives completely figured out by age 30, or by any specific age. Being in your 20s is hardly old at all to most standards, unless we lived in the Middle Ages where 30 was the average life expectancy—thankfully we are past that point of history. If you think about it, being in your mid to late twenties is not old at all. The average life expectancy in Canada is 82 years old. For the purpose of this argument, let’s say that everyone lives to this age. By 25 you still have more than 50 years ahead of you. That’s like turning 25 again twice plus five more years. Putting this in perspective, your mid-twenties don’t seem so old, does they? Mid-twenties may seem old to some people, but that’s only because the teenage years are not far behind. It may sound

It’s not you that’s old, it’s your mindset. depressing to think back on these days and realize that they’re all past you now, but instead of being sad about leaving the past, we should look toward the future. Some people might see getting older as the end of their youth, but one should look at it as the beginning of middle age— and being middle-aged has its perks. You’ll

most likely be further in your career path than you are now, you may be getting out of school (or going back into it, depending on what you plan to do), you could be getting a house or apartment soon, getting married or having kids, or at least planning to do so. It also means you’ll have more responsibility, you’ll be wiser, have more

experience, and possibly more power. Doesn’t that sound like fun? By calling yourself old at such a young age, it implies you’re ready to settle with life. It’s not you that’s old, it’s your mindset. It suggests that being old isn’t fun or not something to look forward to, but it should be. Why not be excited to see where life will take you in five, ten, or even twenty years? We should all look forward to getting older and seeing where our lives take us. Complaining and worrying about getting older is not productive. I think some people have the notion that the older you get the more boring you become, but this is hardly the case. I also think that people feel the older they get the more they should have figured out. The responsibility they assume they need to have adds to their age anxiety, but these things take time. You can still be fun and childish when you’re older and you can still fuck up and make mistakes. Your 20s are not the only time in your life to learn valuable lessons and make mistakes, so don’t worry about getting older and feeling you need to be more responsible. Stop complaining about being old— you have so many more fulfilling years ahead. Just think about when you’re 40 wishing you could be in your 20s again. Appreciate and have fun with being a young adult while you can—because you aren’t getting any younger.

Friends don’t let friends ask friends to practice driving with them ››Only certified instructors should help new and developing drivers Jacey Gibb Distribution Manager

riends are the best. They stick by us through thick and thin, celebrate our victories, and pick us up when we’re down. They help when we’re feeling self-conscious or tell us when we’re being jerkfaces. Friends are confidants, wing-people, partners-in-crime, and support systems. One role a friend should never fill, though, is the role of driving instructor. I get it. Driving lessons cost upwards of $90 an hour, and everything in this stupidly beautiful province is stupidlyexpensive, but asking a friend to help you practice driving is problematic for everyone involved. For starters, if you’re still in the early stages of getting behind the wheel, then you likely don’t own a vehicle yourself. You’re probably reaching out to a someone who does, but what happens if you get into an accident, and that vehicle is how your friend makes their livelihood, or how they get to school everyday? Transit in Metro Vancouver is decent—excuse the current transit strike—but 15-minute commutes by car can suddenly morph into hour-long transit rides. Some people also use their vehicle directly for their jobs, when they work at multiple job sites or for delivery purposes. In this sense, all of the risk is

being placed on your friend who relies on their vehicle. You should also consider the legal implications. Previously, if a person got in an accident while driving someone else’s vehicle, the vehicle owner’s insurance would be affected, meaning they’d end up paying more each month. In 2019, ICBC changed their policies so drivers themselves are at fault, rather than the vehicle owner. However, this relies on the owner going to an insurance broker and changing their policy ahead of time, and listing someone as a driver. ICBC’s website states that “If an unlisted driver causes a crash in your car, you could face a financial consequence,” which rightfully sounds ominous. Regular vehicles can also be a risky option when learning to drive. If you enroll for driving lessons, most vehicles provided have safety devices installed, such as a secondary brake on the passenger side for the instructor. This minor detail could really make a difference in serious situations, and I doubt your friend’s car comes equipped with the same features. Your friend, ICBC, and everyone else on the road aside, asking someone to help you practice driving also shortchanges yourself. Just because a person’s a good driver and they’ve been driving for a long time doesn’t mean they’re good at teaching

someone to drive. Driving a vehicle is a complicated balancing act, where you’re simultaneously doing a dozen things at once. A lot of these habits become autonomous after a while, and they’re not something you’d necessarily think to teach a new driver. Actual instructors know how to introduce these nuances in a step-bystep manner so that nothing important is left out.

If you truly believe someone would be willing to go through the hoops of helping you to drive, and you’ve taken lessons and have a confidence behind the wheel, that still doesn’t greenlight you to ask. Instead, drop hints that you could use more practice, and leave it up to your friend to offer. If they do, then the best of luck to you; otherwise, leave it to the professionals.

Humour

Have an idea for a story?  humour@theotherpress.ca

• The ultra-budget gift guide for the ultra-thoughtful • Craig’s Book Review • The ways people react when they don’t tip ...and more

The ultra-budget gift guide for the ultra-thoughtful

Illustrations by Janis McMath

››You might break your friendships, but at least you won’t break the bank

Caroline Ho Web Editor

he Christmas party invitations are rolling in, the Black Friday flyers are proliferating, and the mall Santa’s are suited up and ready to indoctrinate small children. Holiday shopping season is definitely here! However, your paycheck is not. Let’s be real, you’re a broke-ass student who has no money or emotional energy for holiday gift-buying, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still share in the gift-swapping spirit—otherwise how will you reap anything in return? Instead of buying presents, consider creating them out of what you already have, giving your gifts an unmistakably personalized touch. Your loved ones will be speechless at your thoughtfulness and creativity! If anyone accuses you of being a cheapskate, just accuse them right back of being consumerist sheeple. FOR THE COCKTAIL-LOVING FRIEND: A single can of Coors Light Well, it’s not like you or anyone else was ever going to open that can that’s been in your fridge since your first year. Tell them that it’s a testament to their skill as a mixologist that you think they can make something drinkable out of it. They should be flattered, truly.

FOR THE OUTDOORSY FRIEND: A garbage bag You know they’re very conscious about picking up garbage every time they go for a hike. With this gift, you can show them how much you care about the planet too! If you’re really feeling fancy, wrap your garbage bag in… a second garbage bag. FOR THE SOCIALIST FRIEND: Your moral support I.e. give them a card that says “F*** CAPITALISM” written on the back of a communist newsletter that someone handed you at the SkyTrain station. FOR THE KIDDOS: A stick Younger siblings, niblings, and all other child-folks in your life will love this retro, old-fashioned form of entertainment. It’s a relic of your own youth spent poking things with sticks while wandering the desolate streets of suburbia. Teach those spoiled, technologically dependent tykes that it’s still possible to have fun without such bougie crutches as fancy electronics and disposable income. FOR GRANDMA: The sweater she knitted you last Christmas How thoughtful—a present that shows you’re truly thinking of her! It’s made out of her favourite materials

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and you figure it must be already in her favourite colour… because it’s not like puce is your favourite colour. Plus, even if she does get upset, she’ll probably just mix you up with your cousin again anyway. FOR YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Your old toothbrush Nothing could be more personalized! It tastes like you, it smells like you, and it’s obviously not a last-minuteemergency present because you’ve been working on it for months in advance. Now, when you guys make out, your partner will be so reassured knowing that you have (or had, at least) good dental hygiene. FOR MOM: An all-expenses-paid, all-inclusive guilt trip A trip with you, her favourite (or at least second favourite, right??) child, down the path of self-reproach. One free opportunity for her to guilt-trip you about literally anything—including not calling home often enough, forgetting her birthday that one time, and not making it into Harvard. You promise that this time you’ll nod along meekly and not protest that your sibling, who is more financially and socially successful than you, doesn’t get treated this way.

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issue 11// vol 46

humour // no. 17

The ways people react when they don’t tip ››Would you like an awkward social interaction with that order? Tania Arora Staff Writer

t has been two years since I started working in the food and beverage industry. It is a job where I met a 100 different people each day. Still, I come across a new category of weird people every night. I might be able to write a book on reactions people have when they don’t tip and try to either save themselves from the embarrassment or walk away shamelessly not knowing about what they did. I will try to summarize it briefly for those of you who don’t have the same pleasure I do to meet so many of these people. First category would be “I don’t need my receipt.” This reaction is similar to a cat pooping in a corner of your garden, and then trying to cover up the poop before anyone sees it. The “I don’t need my receipt” bunch knows that the minute their partner or friend or the person they are dining with sees that they haven’t

tipped, they will be judged or in some case questioned if the other person is genuine. They just ask you to keep the poop, they don’t need it, “thanks.” The second group is the “trying to hide the machine” non-tippers… as if we think they have millions of dollars in their bank account and the server will personally hunt them down after they leave to rob them of their wallet and steal the money. On a busy night, servers have many other things to do aside from money embezzlement and identity theft. Third sample of the human population is the cash payers. Sometimes people try to show their smart moves by paying in cash and handing it over in the bill book. I am not saying it is wrong to make payments by cash. But… people do use it as a way to tip less or not at all. I can sub-categorize further this into two more groups. Either people give you the book and proudly say “keep the change,” or they just leave it on the table and

quickly walk out. The latter is a perfect example of the silent treatment. Fourth would be—you guessed it—the “weeny” type. They eat all the food and clear the bowl, as if it had nothing in it, and then complain about how the good wasn’t good at the end while paying. It is a strategic move designed to give justification to not tip the server, using the food which they did not even cook as a reason to not pay them for their service. There is always an option of taking food to-go, but people dine-in for the experience. Yes, it is a server’s basic job to take your order and bring out your food. But, when they do it all with a smile and pass on the warmth to you, checking upon you constantly and being at your service at a blink of an eye—

they deserve your capitalist appreciation and not embarrassment. People who try to escape obviously are the kind who know they did something wrong and want to save themselves from the guilt. So, the next time you wish to not appreciate someone… don’t.

Craig’s Book Review ››My journey to find the perfect book Craig Allan Staff Writer

s your modern day millennial burdened with work and endless array of entertainment choices like TV and streaming, I don’t have a lot of time to just sit and enjoy books. Books are important, so I should try and get down to enjoying them. Since I can write a review for the paper and get some money out of it, it’s an easier way to make some money than trying to come up with something new. If you’re my editor, you didn’t hear that. First, I thought about submitting something from my childhood, but I realized that I already did Baby’s First Alphabet Book for one of my English classes last semester, so I should try to do something new. I went down to the store to see what books they had and one caught my eye. The book had no title on a red cover. What mysteries must this book hold?! It even had a blank space on the front of the book. Maybe it’s one

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of those “choose your own adventure” books. I bought it and took it home. I set up my lamp and my posterior for hours of reading delight. This book had a lot of blank lined pages in it. I was wondering when I was going to get to the story. About halfway into the book I realized that I had bought a blank journal. They say don’t judge a book by its cover, well I should have taken that to heart. I also probably shouldn’t have looked for a book at the dollar store. Undaunted, I decided to look elsewhere for my reading adventure and gave Value Village a try. I needed to get a calendar from 2008 to use next year because I’m not paying those jackbooted calendar thugs, so I figure why not combine the two missions. I strolled through the book area until I found one that I thought would be great: Pride and Prejudice. I mean its got pride and prejudice in it. That’s like two books in one! I bought it and brought it home along with my “Hang in There Kitty”

calendar from 2008. Those little kitties have probably let themselves go by now— they’re most likely real chonky. Back home, I decided to try and read the book at my dining room table. I sat down with Pride and Prejudice or P&P as I’m sure the cool kids say. It had a woman on the cover. I’m not sure if this woman is Pride or Prejudice, but I guess I can never know. The book has 345 pages, and when I flipped through them, they all did that tisk tisk tisk flippy thing that pages do. The book had a really nice spine. Not weathered at all. The book was weighty, but not too weighty. As I opened the book and settled down, I put my elbow on the table only to have the table move under me. I forgot my dining room table has a really wobbly leg. That gave me an idea. I put the book underneath one of the legs and it evened out the table perfectly. In conclusion, I review the Pride and Prejudice book as a strong and sturdy book that will stay with me for a while… because I’m not getting a new table anytime soon.

E R E H T R A R YOU

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Creative Works don’t leave don’t leave don’t leave Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor "I wanna be with you all day when I wake up and fall asleep," oh dear, we're falling off the deep end. I continue to downplay my feelings. "Can't wait for Monday," lay me down, backseat of your jeep. "I wanna be with you all day when I wake up and fall asleep," the floor is red, now. You don't say? The knife was cheap—one single sweep tang of metal, heart in one piece. Sorry... just wanted you to stay; I wanna be with you all day.

My parents ››A fictional story, part two Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

ands down, my parents prepared me for adulthood better than anyone else ever could. I learned to not talk back, to eat all my vegetables or I'd never be a grown-up, and that a bottle of wine makes the best gift for every occasion—including recovering alcoholic Aunt Agatha's birthday—and if the lawnmower cuts off my toes, don't come runnin' to mama. I learned that I wasn't born in a barn, I just lived like it—and that the Purple Death was not a plague, but rather an unusual rough-as-guts wine with the distinctive bouquet of horse shit and old train tickets… best drunk after you're already drunk and with clenched teeth, so as to prevent the ingestion of foreign bodies. My friends were always jealous that I didn't have to go to church, because my parents could teach me everything I needed to know themselves. My lesson on receiving from my mother, “You're gonna get it when we get home,” and communion with my father at the Bavaria Haus—we'd break bread, dip it in oil and vinegar, and partake of the blood of Christ that way. It tasted like old tea leaves and burnt cat hair, and left us singin' “Je-e-esus Christ.” Girl Guides were a breeze with my father's help. He educated me on how to deliver the best sales pitch: “Dark as David Fincher, this beautiful fair-trade chocolate unwinds waves of hovercraft oil and notes of bramble, blackberry, boysenberry, Don Cherry, and Franken Berry from a mountaintop parcel of land in the coast. A brooding mistress of devilish wonder. Good with pork and pancakes, or as an evening treat, this chocolate bar will make you wonder what you're doing with your life.” Yes, growing up with my parents, I felt loved. I really did. They would always tell me the nicest things and make sure I knew just how lucky they felt to have a kid like me, like the time my mother said “one day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you, then you'll see what it's like.”

Comics & Puzzles

Weekly crossword: Mythical creatures

Weekly crossword: Mythical creatures By Caroline Ho, Web Editor

Caroline Ho Web Editor

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Silent flyer 4. Consumed 7. Indigenous people of New Zealand 11. Compete 12. Ref. work (abbr.) 14. Bugged 15. Off-road traveller, for short 16. Birdlike 18. Border 19. Mythical half-eagle, half-horse 22. Mamma __! 23. Gallery piece 24. Mythical bird that’s reborn 26. Directs 29. Old name for Tokyo 30. “__ bin ein…” 31. Station 34. Give off 38. Wander 40. Mythical Chinese hooved beast 42. Frilly material 43. Sicilian volcano 44. Canines 46. Profits minus expenses 47. Martini ingredient 50. Summer clothing item 52. Mythical hybrid 56. Japanese romanization for “blue” 57. Your, archaically 58. Mythical roosterheaded serpent 62. AM/FM device 64. Buenos __ 65. Raw material 67. Late actor Flynn 68. IX 69. Led 70. Get up 71. “Raggedy” doll 72. Airport abbr.

1. Eggs 2. Accompanying 3. Mythical giant sea monster 4. Modified to fit 5. DVR pioneer 6. Vape, briefly 7. In a snit 8. Stereotypical pirate’s exclamation 9. Mythical wolf spirit of Japan 10. New version of a song 11. Concept 13. Waterproof covering 17. US biomedical research agcy. (abbr.) 20. Prefix meaning “before” 21. Enemy 25. Christmas song 26. __-free 27. Necessary, for short 28. Saliva 30. Anger 32. Triumphant exclamation 33. Binds 35. Mythical beast with a man’s head, lion’s body, and scorpion’s tail 36. Decorates a cupcake 37. Vietnamese holiday 39. Sorcerers 41. Uncountable degree 45. Wear one’s voice out 48. “Brrr!” (2 wds.) 49. Ultra-modern prefix 51. Louis XIV, par exemple 52. Graph 53. Mythical multi-headed serpent 54. Former US electronics co. 55. Identical 57. Un + deux 59. Operatic solo 60. Nashville’s state, for short 61. Part of QED 63. Charged particle 66. Conclusion

Previous solution

Weekly crossword: Canadian politics By Caroline Ho, Web Editor

A L S

E C

16 19

6 13

34 41

46 51

42 45

49 54

44 47

29 32

14 17

56 59

61 65

69 71

15 10

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