The Other Press - November 30, 2021

The community gathers at the market

› The Other Press speaks with Indigenous artists at the New West campus Matthew Fraser Editor-in-Chief

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n November 23 and 24, the Douglas college indigenous centre hosted an Ingidenious Artisan Marketplace at both the New Westminister and Coquitlam campuses; I had the opportunity to speak with a number of the artisans and hear their stories at New West date.

Located in the atrium of the New West campus, the eye-catching shapes of the designs and the vibrant colours displayed at many of the tables were given an opportunity to shine and attract the curious first-timer and the more informed viewers alike.

While there, I chatted with campus Elder Sandra Greene, who spoke to me about her role in welcoming international students, delivering opening prayers at events or conferences, and educating people through land acknowledgements. She joked briefly that much of her job over the past few years has been relegated to Zoom meetings but she was glad to be back on campus and offering dropin counselling or just the opportunity to talk with people in her shared office as part of the Indigenous Students Centre.

A Bella Bella, Heiltsuk Indigenous woman named Crystal Dixon had a table where her niece was helping her sell jewellery made from shells traded from the Haida Gwai peoples and cedar local to her area. Just behind her was a table run by the mother-daughter team of RaeAnne and Danialle, known through their brand as Decolonizing Daughters. Though originally from Saskatchewan, the two now work as intake councillors in the Vancouver area and promote spiritual and physical health through their products.

While I was speaking to Rae-Anne, she intimated to me that the concept was born out of a chance conversation over a meal with her mother. As they were talking the two began to realize that there were traditional answers to some of the needs and issues that faced women.

The two then began to make salves, candles, and massage oils on Sundays. The two women began to share and reconnect with traditional medicines and recipes passed down through

generations. Through their work, they have been able to celebrate their Indigenous heritage while also sharing their traditional knowledge to the benefit of the wider world.

At the table adjacent sat Darrell A. Thorne, nearly hidden by the various paintings, drawings, postcards and clothes he had for sale. As we talked, he recalled his youth in the Cowichan and Duncan area where he was always engaged in art, but seldom with the traditional works that surrounded him. Yet throughout his youth, he recalled his uncles and near community urging him to try the traditional ways. Around 12 years ago, he took up the path of his elders and he’s never looked back since.

With his daughter's help, he has made clothes in honour of Orange Shirt day and residential school survivors. Now he has aspirations of expanding opportunities into his community through a future company he has planned called First Nations (FN) Forge.

Through this company, he hopes to inspire youth while providing them with opportunities and guidance as they move on to conquer the challenges of the world. Thorne also hopes to use this company to help young people blend traditional and modern arts in a way that expresses themselves and keeps their ancestral ways thriving.

As I walked around the atrium speaking to the artists, I was drawn into an informative and rewarding conversation with Jennifer Mitchell, owner and proprietor of the IndigeUNITY brand. From behind her table, she proudly displays her assortment of handmade necklaces, masks, ornaments and textiles. Beside her, her son alternated between gravely watching the bustling people and playing on his iPad. Mitchell talked about the sense of community that she feels whenever she can attend in-person markets and gatherings. She spoke of the feelings of isolation that underlined the pandemic and the missed chances for connection. She recognized early that people often miss or lose track of the important things as they hurriedly swipe through Facebook, Instagram or any other social media. For her, the return to personal interactions began the return to the community.

She mentioned the indecision and selfdoubt she felt as an artist in her apartment at times without positive reinforcement. It led her to cherish the interactions, curiosity and appreciation that passersby show her at these markets. Her excitement was palpable as she related the time she saw someone wearing a ‘Saved by the Smudge’ shirt she had made shortly after purchasing it: "I felt like a musician who heard their song on the radio for the first time!" Mitchell was clear in how much these acts of community affirmation can lift up an artist.

As she looked across the atrium at her fellow creators, she mentioned the pride she felt knowing that her son could grow up seeing other members of the community working hard and being creative. The sight of positive role models in and around her community seemed to lend a sense of assurance and stability. In the moment her son seemed more interested in his iPad than the adults around him, still, the significance of a healthy community was not lost on Mitchell.

As our conversation came to an end, she touched on how people have their hearts in the right place when they purchase Orange Shirts to raise awareness for residential school victims, but that that goodwill can be more directly beneficial when it is shared with community artists rather than with corporations like Amazon. Here again, she touched on the importance of local markets and that they allow Indigenous people to share their stories and their history as an act of education and community building.

All in all, the marketplace was not just a moment for a few to sell and many to purchase, but an opportunity for community to be built.

It gave listeners a chance to hear stories and share in the humanity that surrounds them. In one way or another, every artist I met spoke of community and the people surrounding them; they spoke positively and unreservedly of the good that these gatherings provide and the future it helps them build. It was clear that this market was a success on many fronts.

matthew fraser

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Jonathan Pabico Senior Columnist

Athena Little Illustrator

Arnaldo Fragozo Staff Photographer

Udeshi Seneviratne Illustrator

Anna Machuik Staff Photographer

Ash Sabinin Emi Namoro Mo Hussain Tariq Ghanzi Contributors

CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writer

Jorge Villeda Staff Photographer

Cover and feature layout by Udeshi Seneviratne and Christine Weenk

Credit

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News

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news // no. 3 • VanDusen Festival of Lights returns: Annual lights extravaganza previously cancelled due to pandemic ...and that's everything!

VanDusen Festival of Lights returns › Annual lights extravaganza previously cancelled due to pandemic

Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

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Lights at Lafarge If you are unable to attend the VanDusen Festival of Lights, there is the annual Lights at Lafarge event in Coquitlam. There was no opening ceremony due to the pandemic. The event began November 27 and operates until January 31, 2022. Provincial health guidelines and protocols will be in place. The public will be attending the event as per usual. But this year, there will be two separate walking paths for the public to adhere to.

The City of Coquitlam website is proud to

Illustration by Athena Little

he annual Christmas lights festival at VanDusen Gardens will be held once again in 2021. It will look different from prior events, due to the pandemic. But if you are planning to attend this wonderful annual festival during the holiday season, it is best to dress warmly.

The event opened November 26 and operates until January 3, 2022, from 4 pm until 930 pm. The last entry time is between 830 pm and 9 pm. It is closed on Christmas Day. The official website states, “Experience a magical winter wonderland with more than one million lights decorating 15 acres of VanDusen Botanical Garden. Stroll along the lakeside, shimmering in the glow of northern lights, or wander into our lush Rose Garden—reawakened and illuminated for a spectacular winter replica through the artistry of our garden stewards.”

Public health protocols will be in effect. Proof of full vaccination is required upon entry for those 12 years and older. Masks are to be always worn indoors, except for those under the age of five.

No tickets will be sold on-site, as tickets must be purchased online in advance. Also, capacity is limited and people are advised to buy tickets early.

Unfortunately, some activities have been removed to reduce close contact between people.

The carousel, photos with Santa Claus, dancing lights show, and live entertainment will not be offered this year.

Notably, Vancouver Is Awesome reported on October 25, the VanDusen Festival of Lights is continuing its partnership with the Make-AWish Foundation for the 20th consecutive year.

The garden’s candle grotto donations, alongside sales from the glow star necklaces, have raised over $523,000 for Make-A-Wish since 2001.

And while you are outdoors taking in all the sights and sounds the VanDusen Festival of Lights has to offer, take lots of pictures—if your hands are still warm enough. People are encouraged to post their photos on Instagram using #vandusenFOL. More info about the VanDusen Festival of Lights can be found on its city of Vancouver page.

welcome the event again for the public to enjoy: “Lace up your walking shoes (or slip on your rain boots) and embark on the 1.2 km lake loop. New this year is a second walking loop that takes walkers through the Inspiration Garden and by the new concession plaza in Town Centre Park.”

People interested in volunteering can join the Light Brigade. It is organized by the Park Spark team, who are leading workshops in November

for individuals and community groups. The workshops involve making pop bottle tulips, hosting an evening during Lights at Lafarge and helping install various light displays. The public can email parkspark@coquitlam.ca for volunteering opportunities and to obtain more information. More info about Lights at Lafarge can be found on the Coquitlam city page.

If you are planning to attend these wonderful annual festivals during the holiday season, it is best to dress warmly.

Sports

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sports // no. 4 • Proceeds from 50/50 raffles at Rogers Arena have gone to aid BC flood relief • The Royals sweep the Bearcats in the final home game before winter break ...and more!

How the metaverse will change the way you watch sports › How would it feel to be at an arena with thousands of other

Photo by Jorge Villeda

people, from the comfort of your own home?

Mo Hussain Contributor

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hen Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the metaverse was announced, it showed how it can impact a lot of different areas of everyday life. The metaverse will change work meetings, video games, digital tourism, and more. An underlooked aspect is the impact the metaverse will have on how live sports are consumed.

What if someone wanted to feel present at a Vancouver Canucks game, but lived in Spain? It’s one thing to watch a game on a television screen, but drastically different to be immersed with the actual environment of what it would be like to attend a game.

The NBA is the most recent sports organization intending to broadcast its games through the metaverse. On November 9th, Oculus (owned by Meta) announced that basketball fans can tune into NBA games through the “Horizon Venues” app starting November 14th.

Horizon Venues is essentially a virtual platform where users can watch live events together. As of right now, there isn’t any recorded footage for the general public of what watching NBA games in Horizon Venues is actually like.

However, the metaverse isn’t the first platform that’s intended to broadcast immersive live sports through VR. NextVR was a company that offered that exact experience, before being acquired by Apple in 2020. The company had partnerships with the NBA, WWE,

various Boxing promotors, and ICC Soccer to offer an immersive broadcast experience for their viewers with VR headsets.

Three years ago the company released a YouTube video showing what it would be like to watch an NBA game courtside through virtual reality. The experience looked quite engaging. Users could watch games with a courtside angle while sitting next to their friend's digital avatar. However since NextVR was acquired by Apple, there haven't been any updates on where the company is headed moving forward.

Although NextVR seems to be the company closest to having offered that kind of experience at scale, they aren’t the only ones in the market. The NFL has experimented with broadcasting their games in virtual reality through its own “NFL Immersive VR” platform. The NFL

also previously released numerous VR compatible highlights of games a couple of years back.

Fox Sports also has an application on Oculus named “FOX Sports VR,” which allows users to watch Fox’s broadcasted games in VR. A unique feature is that users can watch games in a virtual lounge.

Similar to NextVR, FOX Sports VR seems to also offer users the choice of switching to different angles of the game while watching. That application was powered

by VR company “LiveLike” who also focus on the intersection between broadcasting sports games and virtual reality.

The metaverse will take years for it to truly develop but do not be surprised if digital live event attendance skyrockets in the next couple of years. VR technology is growing at an unprecedented rate.

sports // no. 5

issue 13// vol 48

Remembering the 1919 Stanley Cup Final Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

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he arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 has altered our lives significantly. Professional sports were not immune as several sports leagues postponed their regular seasons, later restarting their seasons in “playoff bubbles.”

But over a century ago, the outbreak of Spanish influenza resulted in the cancellation of the 1919 Stanley Cup Final between the Montreal Canadiens (National Hockey League) and Seattle Metropolitans (Pacific Coast Hockey Association). Five games had already been played (series was 2-2-1); with all games being played in Seattle. It was the only time in NHL history where no champion was crowned. Two years earlier in 1917, the Metropolitans defeated the Canadiens to win the cup— becoming the first American team to win Lord Stanley’s mug. It was also the same year Montreal became a founding member of the NHL. Game six was scheduled for April 1, 1919. But numerous players from Seattle and Montreal became seriously ill and the game was cancelled. Sadly, 37-year-old Montreal defenceman, Joe Hall, died from pneumonia-related to his influenza on April 5, 1919. Manager George Kennedy was also stricken with the flu and died two years later in 1921. The Vancouver Sun wrote a tribute about Hall, published a day after his death. These excerpts were included in a March 2020 article about the 1919 Stanley Cup Final published in The Guardian: “Joe Hall loved hockey so

much that his death, practically in harness, would, without a doubt, have been the death he would have chosen were it within the power of human beings to so choose.”

The Sun described Hall as a gritty hockey player, who often played through pain: “Whenever Joe Hall played a game of hockey he played it for all he was worth.

Though not a big player physically, the severest knocks never dampened his ardour. As recently as in the recent world’s series he was hit on the face a terrific crack with the puck, and though it could be seen that he was suffering he kept right on as if nothing had happened.”

Writer Gare Joyce, in his feature article about the 1919 Stanley Cup Final published on Sportsnet, states the coverage of Joe Hall’s death in the Montreal newspapers was minimal. “The details of the influenza that claimed Joe Hall’s life and ended the hockey season that spring are slight because the old newspapers gave it far less play than you’d imagine a century later,” he wrote. “The postponement of the series ran in the middle of the Seattle Times sports page, under the long shadow of a report of the Seattle Purple Sox signing an outfielder from the New York Giants and a cartoon lampooning heavyweight boxing champion Jess Willard.”

Kevin Ticen, a writer and sports historian, says there are parallels with the current pandemic and the outbreak of Spanish influenza that cancelled the 1919 Stanley Cup Final. “I think one of the biggest points of fear is, you know, that we’re in uncharted waters, right?” he said in a March 2020 interview with wbur.org.

“Nobody’s seen this before. It certainly has never happened in our lifetime, but it has happened.

You know, there are a lot of lessons that, you know, our government and the health department and our sports leagues, you know, can draw from that experience.”

The 1919 Stanley Cup Final with no winner declared occurred during unprecedented times and that coincides with our current era of uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellation of the 1919 cup final revealed the frailty of human life. Sports became secondary.

In 1948, the unfinished 1919 cup final was inscribed on the Stanley Cup: “Montreal Canadiens [&] Seattle Metropolitans [.]

Series Not Completed.” Thirteen years later, Joe Hall, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Notably, 102 years after the 1919 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal would once again play Seattle—the newest NHL expansion team whose new name is the Kraken. On October 26, 2021, Seattle would

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

› The series was cancelled due to the Spanish influenza outbreak

win at home by a score of five to one.

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, during Spanish influenza between 1918 till 1919, approximately 20 to 100 million people died—including 50,000 Canadians. Life would eventually carry on, including the NHL—who resumed play in the 1919-1920 season. And with the current pandemic in 2021, life will gradually carry on, for us, as well.

The Royals sweep the Bearcats in the final home game before winter break › The men and women continue to shine atop the PACWEST

Royals then secured the game in the third set, winning it 25-15.

Mo Hussain Contributor

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MATCH RECAP In the women’s match, the Royals held the Bearcats to no more than 15 points per set.

The beginning of the first set was quite close as the Royals only led 11-10. The team then managed to go on a 9-2 run, which helped them take the first set 25-15. That momentum then carried straight into the second set as the Royals started off leading 7-1, with two aces from Outside-Hitter Lauren Attieh and three hits from OutsideHitter Ava Bosa. The early lead then showed to be too much for the Bearcats to come back from as the Royals would take the set 25-14. The Royals would then ice the game in the third set as a 15-6 run in the latter half of the set would secure it 25-15 The men performed at a similar level to the women in their match. The first set between the two teams was quite close. The

Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo

oth the Douglas Royals men’s and women’s volleyball teams swept the Columbia Bible College Bearcats in their last home game before the winter break.

Bearcats led 20-19 at one point. However, the Royals managed to rally back, scoring four unanswered points to lead 23-20.

They then secured the set 25-22 after a Bearcats attack error and a tip-in from Royals Outside-Hitter Matthew Shand.

In the second set, the Royals managed to incrementally widen the gap. After leading 11-10, the Royals scored back-to-back points and the Bearcats were not able to catch up after that. The Royals outscored the Bearcats 12-9 to take the set 25-19. The

WHERE THE ROYALS PLACE The women have played excellent thus far as they are atop the PACWEST standings.

They have a 6-1 record and are six points ahead of the second seed Camosun Chargers. First-year Middle Blocker Abbie Smith currently leads PACWEST in blocks and aces per set. Outside-hitters Grace McGillivray and Talia Attieh are among the league’s top five leaders in kills. McGillivray is the third with 3.38 kills per set, and Attieh follows closely in fourth place with 3.33 kills per set.

The men are also atop the PACWEST standings with a 5-2 record and are four points ahead of the second seed Camosun Chargers. Outside-hitter Matthew Shand currently leads the league in kills with 3.84 per set and is the second leader in aces with .63 per set.

The Royals will have one more stretch of back-to-back games against the Camosun Chargers, before returning to their home floor in late January. The team will take on the Capilano Blues on January 22nd.

sports // no. 6

theotherpress.ca

Canucks continue to struggle on a five-game road trip

› Proceeds from 50/50 raffles at Rogers Arena have gone to aid BC flood relief Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

he appropriate comparison to describe the Vancouver Canucks’ current plight would be the sinking of the Titanic.

And like a sinking ship, the captain is usually held responsible. Similarly, with the Canucks, who are not making steady progress, head coach Travis Green is the captain of his ship. He must be held accountable for a team that is sinking to the bottom of the Pacific Division.

At the time of writing, the Canucks are in seventh place in the Pacific Division, followed by the eighth place, Seattle Kraken, who trail the Canucks by only one point. The Canucks were on a five-game road trip, with a record of 6-12-2. Vancouver has only two wins in their last 10 games (November 5 to 24). The Canucks have only 14 points in 20 games played. They are seven points out of a playoff spot.

The Canucks restored faith with the fanbase, for one night, with a home victory against the Winnipeg Jets on November 19. The victory ended a fivegame losing streak. In the game against the Jets, Vancouver was leading by a score of three to one in the second period.

The Canucks' special teams have been very poor, especially the penalty killing.

But Vancouver scored two power-play goals from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland. The Canucks’ other goal was scored by Vancouver native, Kyle Burroughs—his first NHL goal. The Jets’ Pierre-Luc Dubois scored a late goal to make it interesting. But Thatcher Demko would make a big stop off Nikolaj Ehlers at the final buzzer to seal the 3-2 victory.

Demko finished the game with 37 saves.

After the game Canucks coach Travis Green was relieved to end the losing streak.

“I liked our composure,” he said as reported

by The Province. “We didn’t give up a lot of [good] chances from inside. That’s a big strong team over there.” Green also joked about the penalty killing, which is the league’s worst: “The penalty kill was awesome.” Note, the Canucks did not take a single penalty during the game.

Unfortunately, Vancouver could not build on their one-game winning streak, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks on November 21 by a score of one to zero. The Canucks then opened their five-game road trip with another loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 24 (Penguins won by a score of four to one). And back to the sinking ship comparison, the Canucks’ ship is sinking fast.

Canucks GM, Jim Benning, spoke to the media on November 17. He has been at the centre of heavy criticism from fans and media about the Canucks’ poor performance. Benning was accountable, stating he feels responsible for the team’s current struggles. “Of course, I feel responsible; I’m the leader of this group,” Benning said as reported by Sportsnet.

“The moves we made this summer, I would have never envisioned we got off to this start. But we have. Now we have to deal with it and we’ve got to figure it out. You know, it’s hard. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not hard. It’s really

Photo by Jorge Villeda

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hard. But you know, with what’s going on in [BC] right now with the people out in Abbotsford and the floods that they’re dealing with, that’s not easy, either. This is what we call life.”

Despite the Canucks struggling on the ice, off the ice, the team has made a positive impact with their initiatives. On November 18, the Canucks for Kids Fund announced that proceeds from the 50/50 raffles (home games against Colorado, Winnipeg and Chicago) went towards flood relief efforts in Abbotsford, the Fraser Valley and throughout BC. The

Abbotsford News reported on November 24 that $1 million had been raised. “We are very proud of the collective efforts and contributions of all fans who purchased tickets during the past three games, as we surpassed our $500,000 jackpot goal on each of the last two occasions,” said Paolo Aquilini, president of the Canucks for Kids Fund. “Thanks to the extraordinary support from the community, we are delighted to be able to donate the remainder of the proceeds required to raise a total of $1 million towards flood relief for our neighbours who need it the most.”

This week the Canucks return home to play the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 4, followed by the Los Angeles Kings two days later. If Vancouver continues to lose more hockey games and drop further out of a playoff spot, expect a new captain to be taking over the sinking ship.

Canucks schedule this week • Wednesday, December 1 @ Ottawa Senators (430 pm) • Saturday, December 4 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (7 pm) • Monday, December 6 vs. Los Angeles Kings (7 pm)

Arts

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

arts // no. 7 • Chloé Zhao deserves credit for experimenting with the Marvel formula even if it doesn’t connect.

• Adele’s ‘30’ Review ...and that's everything!

A lover once again out of luck

Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

    

A

fter the release of Adele’s previous Grammywinning album 25 in 2015, many people were wondering if she was going to make another album.

I was worried that if she released another album, it would not be as great as her earlier albums, and she would become a gimmick. To be fair, I think she’s probably the greatest singer of all time and still sounds the same on 30—the highest-selling album of this year so far.

In the past six years, Adele went through a lot and probably suffered from success like DJ Khaled.

She had a short three-year marriage, got involved in a cultural appropriation controversy, and as a surprise to many fans, she lost a lot of weight— hopefully for positive reasons. Also, she changed record labels from independent XL Recordings to

Columbia Records which may be the reason why the vibe of this album is not the same as her earlier albums. But, it still has the subject matters that she talks about frequently in her music.

As I said in my review of her first album, 19, she is a diva now and as powerful as Taylor Swift. The album must be heard in its entirety and in order; this led to Spotify removing the shuffle button for all album pages at Adele’s request. I get what she wanted when I listened to the album. Also, it was unusual for me to listen to it on a wireless speaker instead of a CD player since it is a digital release compared to back then where Adele’s albums were not available in streaming services.

The tone of the album has a whimsical sound while paying tribute to Judy Garland including the first song “Strangers By Nature.” The song is a love letter to all her former boyfriends and ex-husband kind of like the To All the Boys I Loved film series except less cheesy.

Then we have the hit single from the album, “Easy On Me” which felt like “Hello: The Sequel.”

Even the music video of the song was also directed

by Xavier Dolan and filmed in Québec; however, it's set in New Hampshire. Next, Adele slow jams the news in “My Little Love” where we hear a conversation between her and her son, Angelo, to whom she dedicates the album.

Another reason why the album should be heard in its entirety is that that song and some of the rest of the songs were long. They also tackle her being lonely and depressed like in “I Drink Wine” and “Woman Like Me”. The songs “Oh My God” and “All Night Parking” felt like the type of songs that Ariana Grande would make, as “Oh My God” was produced by one of Grande’s collaborators Max Martin.

The album ends on a happy note with “Love is A Game” where she says she will love again at some point; this closer sounded like it could have been done by Gladys Knight and the Pips.

I think 30 might get Best Album in the Grammy Awards in 2023 and while it is not Adele’s best album, she still sounds brilliant vocally.

Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne

› Adele’s ‘30’ Review

arts // no. 8

theotherpress.ca

‘The Eternals’ review

› Chloé Zhao deserves credit for experimenting with the Marvel formula even if it doesn’t connect.

Craig Allan Business Manager

     or 13 years now, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been chugging along, making film after film with its style of heavy action with a liberal amount of comedy throughout. This has served the franchise well, with every film in its run getting at least a fresh rating on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. Plus the MCU has continued without a single box office bomb to its name.

However, for me, the MCU has been getting a little stale. This was evident to me in their recent film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, released only two months ago. I thought the film was okay, but it felt very cookie cutter.

Something produced by the Marvel machine that didn’t feel like it was taking chances. That’s one reason why, The Eternals, was an interesting turn because it felt different than the standard Marvel fare. But different can often be a challenge, and while recent Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao does deserve credit for making something different, it does not hit the mark every time.

The Eternals are a team of 10 heroes, each with a different skill set. They were sent to Earth 7000 years ago to protect the people of the planet against a race of monsters called The Deviants, at the behest of a large mythical figure called The Celestial. After 500 years without a Deviant sighting, newer, more powerful Deviants begin to appear, along with earthquakes and other natural disasters. With the Deviants back and the Eternals scattered around the world, they must get back together to defeat the Deviants. Little do they know, The Deviants are the harbinger of a much greater threat to the Eternals, and the people of Earth.

The highlight of Zhao's film is the third act.

The action is big, the characters dynamic, and the emotion at its height. The fact that you can see it all, as the setting is on a deserted volcanic island is also appreciated, as action scenes with CGI are often done in a shroud of darkness so as not to expose the rough elements of the CGI. There are also a few twists and the introduction of Marvel’s first gay character, with the relationship actually shown on screen and not merely mentioned in passing like in other Disney films.

However, getting to the third act can be quite the slog. I personally have never been a fan of the “getting the band back together” style of movie storytelling, and this film spends about 66 percent of its runtime on this aspect of storytelling. These parts also highlight how focusing The Eternals as a film may not have been the best idea. With a story as expansive as The Eternals with each character having a different skillset, and the storylines they are

Illustration by Athena Little

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trying to tell, it can be quite hard to understand what is going on in the movie if you have not read the comic. Considering The Eternals is one of the least successful comics in Marvel’s library, this is a problem. With as detailed a story as this is, Eternals feels like the kind of adventure that maybe would have been better served as a Disney+ show.

The movie also suffers from a long-running MCU problem. The villains in this movie are once again poorly put to screen. The Deviants seemed to be there only as a manufactured conflict and diversion. You never get to understand The Deviants, and when you do, you don’t understand why the movie keeps going in the same direction after learning it. The movie also suffers from the fact that it is telling this story in the already

established MCU. With so many stories established in this world, Eternals kind of breaks the world and makes it a little more insignificant.

I would give this film a soft recommendation just for the fact that it was ambitious and Zhao deserves credit for at least shooting for the stars.

However, I am not that interested in seeing more stories from these characters. I know Marvel loves to interconnect and continue on their characters but this feels like a case where this one film experiment should just stay as one film. I just hope that Marvel does not feel that it needs to give up trying to make films that do not conform to their already established brand in the future, even with Eternals being the first MCU film to not fully succeed with critics.

If you are planning to attend these wonderful annual festivals during the holiday season, it is best to dress warmly.

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

Life & Style

life & style // no. 9 • How best to resell your old clothes • New audio series about famous gorilla studies shows unusual sides to the history of animal science ...and more

A podcast that speaks our language

Official artwork for "A Show About Animals” via vice.com

› New audio series about famous gorilla studies shows unusual sides to the history of animal science

Jonathan Pabico Senior Columnist

I

f animals are your passion, then consider listening to the new podcast series A Show About Animals. The show is headed

by Arielle Duhaime-Ross, an experienced podcast host who covered topics from climate change to science for VICE News and other media platforms. Their podcast is an engaging program that enjoyably educates listeners about the weird side of wildlife studies.

Duhaime-Ross primarily explores the iconic study about Koko the gorilla from the 1970s and how the ape’s ability to learn sign language raised questions about whether language is what truly separates humans from animals. The study was started by Stanford University student Penny Patterson who taught sign language

to Koko while observing her growth with communication. However, the study ignited debates and controversies that still affect animal research in the scientific community today.

The podcast weaves through documentary clips, old audio recordings, as well as old and current interviews to produce a well-edited story about Koko.

Duhaime-Ross is a caring and informative narrator with an open-mindedness to learn as they unpack every curious detail of their research. Their narrations are backed by a dreamy soundtrack brilliantly evoking how backwards and surreal science was in the 1970s while reflecting the trendy culture of the era.

The series skillfully balances the heartwarming bond between Patterson and Koko with the weird happenings and controversies of this study. The podcast

provides a delightful tone to its story as it dives into Patterson’s parental role in the gorilla’s life. At the same time, DuhaimeRoss doesn’t shy away from discussing Koko’s odd quirks like being able to lie.

The show also addresses several issues that threatened Koko’s place in animal science. From the study’s arbitrary criteria to Patterson fighting for the gorilla’s ownership, Duhaime-Ross depicts the harsh realities of what it means to practice science in a turbulent world. The podcast is unapologetic in immersing you in the ripple effects that came with this study.

Take note that Duhaime-Ross’s podcast has only four episodes so far.

While the first two episodes deal with the Koko study, the next two focus on the absurdly bizarre Nim Chimpsky study.

The Chimpsky episodes add some worldbuilding and historical context for the

decade since this study competed with the Koko study at the time. However, there are not many connections made between the studies, so the podcast so far does feel abrupt in shifting the story lens from Koko to Nim. Though, I happily recommend you focus on the Koko episodes as they help you get invested in the podcast before new entries are added. The Koko episodes have more fun and riveting findings about animal language worth tuning into.

Overall, Arielle Duhaime-Ross’s newest podcast A Show About Animals provides plenty of surprising insight into famous ape studies. Duhaime-Ross presents a captivating picture of what it was like for scientists to explore language as the benchmark for humans and apes. If you’re into the strange history of animal science, then this podcast is worth your time.

Fifty years later, Bruce Lee is still ‘The Big Boss’

› Lee’s first Hong Kong feature film made him a global superstar Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

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he definition of a meteor according to the Cambridge Dictionary is “a piece of rock or other matter from space that produces a bright light as it travels through the atmosphere.” That description perfectly describes Bruce Lee. He was like a meteor that arrived and shone brightly in the public’s consciousness. But it would only be brief.

This year marks 50 years since the release of Lee’s first Hong Kong movie, The Big Boss (aka Fists of Fury). The movie premiered in October 1971 in Hong Kong. The film, shot on location in Thailand and directed by Lo Wei, catapulted Lee to superstardom as he became akin to the “Elvis Presley” of Hong Kong. The film also stars Maria Yi (Chow Mei), James Tien (Hsu Chien), Tony Liu (Hsiao Chiun, Big Boss’ son) and Nora Miao (drink stand owner). The Big Boss was the first of a two-picture contract Lee had signed with Golden Harvest, whose founder was Raymond Chow. Lee was paid $15,000 (US dollars) for both films. The second film, Fist of Fury (aka The Chinese Connection) was released in March 1972 Notably, Lee’s success would occur during an era when Asian-American actors endured discrimination in Hollywood. In the 1960s, Lee had difficulty securing prominent film roles in Hollywood. But he did land the role as Kato in the TV series, The Green Hornet, in 1966 (cancelled after one season). In addition, Lee had recurring appearances in the TV series, Longstreet. Apart from those roles, Lee would only secure minor parts in Hollywood. He would have to leave Hollywood in order to realize his dreams of becoming a movie star.

Unfortunately, during the 1950s and 1960s, many film roles given to Asian actors lacked substance and character depth. The roles were superficial and demeaning, reinforcing negative stereotypes. A further indignity to Asian-American Hollywood actors was having Asian-American characters portrayed by Caucasian actors. Examples are Mickey Rooney as the character named I. Y. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961); and Marlon Brando plays the character, Sakini, in The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956). Bruce Lee’s arrival as a movie star in Hong Kong would be the antithesis.

In The Big Boss, Lee plays the character of Cheng Chao-an. He moves to Pak Chong, Thailand, to live with his adopted family and work at an ice factory. It is later revealed that the ice factory masks as a drug-smuggling operation. The owner is Hsiao Mi (The Big Boss), played by Han Ying-Chieh.

The Chinese workers are treated poorly by the Thai foremen (supervisors), who are verbally and physically abusive.

Bruce Lee’s character would also be subjected to abuse during a scene after he began working at the ice factory. Lee places an ice block on the conveyor belt. As the block travels on the belt, it suddenly crashes onto the ground. A manager then approaches Lee, who is apologetic, and punches him in the face. Lee is incensed and is ready to retaliate. But he refrains due to a vow he took with his family—promising never to fight—symbolized in a necklace Lee wears.

However, Lee would not adhere to his vow for non-violence. In a later scene, a large brawl occurs between the factory workers and Thai managers.

Later a gang of hired thugs arrives in a red bus; to help the managers. Lee’s chain is removed during the mêlée. And it was here, audiences witnessed Bruce Lee’s first fight sequence. His face is wrathful as he proceeds to defeat each villain one by one, with his lightning-fast kicks and punches. Lee utters to the bullies, “Alright, hold it! You get out of here, I’m warning you! You bastards can’t push us around. You wanna fight? I’ll take you on.”

Another fight scene has Lee in a memorable battle against the Big Boss’ henchmen in the ice factory. Lee displays his martial arts skills, as he proceeds to annihilate everyone who steps in his path. Afterwards, Lee is horrified to discover his relatives had been brutally murdered by thugs hired by the Big Boss. The next scene shows Lee sitting near the local river, holding knives in each hand.

He pledges that he will avenge the murders of his family. Lee mutters to himself, “They must be made to pay for this, and pay they will! Even if I die, they will pay!” Lee then turns into Michael Myers (if he knew martial arts and was faster in his reflexes); and proceeds to the Big Boss’ mansion. He kills the remaining associates of the Big Boss.

The movie ends with the famous battle between Lee and the Big Boss. The fight is well choreographed; especially the slow tension and build-up are captured magnificently. However, during a pivotal tense-filled moment, all of it dissipates with a blooper—as vehicles are seen in the background.

The Big Boss opened in Hong Kong in October 1971. The movie became a box office success, grossing $50 million worldwide. The budget was only $100,000 USD. The Big Boss is an action film that contains superb martial arts choreography; highlighted by Lee’s strong screen presence, good looks and charisma. The movie also contains some nudity and shows scenes at a brothel. Bruce Lee’s character is even shown getting intoxicated at a dinner after drinking several glasses of Hennessy.

The Big Boss is also a very violent film for its time, as there are several death scenes involving the use of knives.

Bruce Lee gave an interview to noted Canadian author, Pierre Berton, in December 1971—two months after the release of The Big Boss. It is one of the only surviving on-camera interviews that Lee ever gave. Lee refused to be bitter about his struggles in Hollywood where he was unable to secure more prominent roles. “They think that business-wise it’s a risk, and I don’t blame them,” he said. “I mean, it’s the same way in Hong Kong, if a foreigner came in and became a star, if I was the man with the money, I probably would have my own worries of whether the acceptance would be there. But that’s all right because if you honestly express yourself, it doesn’t matter.”

The Big Boss received many positive reviews.

Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie 69 percent on its “Tomatometer.” Nicholas Bell praised the film in his review for IONCINEMA.com, “Efficiently paced, well-choreographed and full of entertaining moments featuring Lee, The Big Boss is the prototype for the template Lee would use over his next three features.” Matt Brunson, in his review for Film Frenzy, stated, “Rough in spots and rambling in others, it nevertheless benefits from Lee’s effortless charisma and, of course, some rousing fight scenes.”

On the other hand, Mike Massie was not impressed, writing in his critique for Gone With The Twins: “The story is largely pointless, full of irrational decisions by unthinking, broadly drawn stereotypes, and ultimately used as a meager setup for grand melees.” Nonetheless, Ed Travis, in his review in Cineapse, praised the movie in displaying the talent of Bruce Lee: “It’s clear why The Big Boss became a smash hit...the unprecedented furious star power of an unleashed Bruce Lee.” Bruce Lee’s widow, Linda Lee Cadwell, remembered sitting in the audience with Bruce during the premiere of The Big Boss in Hong Kong.

Alright, hold it! You get out of here, I’m warning you! You bastards can’t push us around. You wanna fight? I’ll take you on.

-Bruce Lee

“When the film was over, it was perfectly quiet,” she said in the 2009 documentary, How Bruce Lee Changed the World. “You could hear a pin drop in that theatre. And Bruce was like, ‘Oh my gosh! Do I make for the exit right now or what?’ And then all of a sudden it started, the clapping, the cheering.

They loved it! They were thrilled and Bruce was thrilled; it was wonderful.” Also, in attendance was a 24-year-old assistant film director, who had not yet directed his first feature movie: John Woo. Significantly, the release of The Big Boss helped Lee break down cultural and racial barriers.

He was successful in demonstrating that an Asian actor can be a bankable movie star in a leading role. His onscreen charisma and ability to obliterate opponents using his martial arts skills made him a hero to the people of Hong Kong. But what Hong

Kong audiences seemed to love the most about Bruce Lee was that he was not only an action star who kicked some serious ass, but that he was an Asian actor who kicked some serious ass.

Sadly, Lee died in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973, at age 32, one month before the release of Enter the Dragon—his first starring role in a Hollywood film. On the strength of four feature films (the fifth film, Game of Death, was released posthumously in 1978), Lee helped create the martial arts genre in motion pictures. His death inspired a worldwide phenomenon and interest in martial arts. Lee opened the doors for future Hollywood martial arts superstars: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Bruce Lee was a goal setter. He accomplished so much in his short life. His writings, philosophies

and teachings of Jeet Kune Do are revered and practiced worldwide. In January 1969, Lee wrote a letter to himself, revealing his inner drive, perseverance—and high standards he set for himself: “I, Bruce Lee, will be the first highest paid [Asian superstar] in the United States. In return, I will give the most exciting performances and render the best of quality in the capacity of an actor. Starting 1970 I will achieve world fame and from then onward till the end of 1980 […] I will live the way I please and achieve inner harmony and happiness.” Lee would achieve those goals he had set in his letter. And it is unfortunate that he did not live long enough to see the rewards of his dedicated, hard labour.

Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne

What Hong Kong audiences seemed to love the most about Bruce Lee was that he was not only an action star who kicked some serious ass, but that he was an Asian actor who kicked some serious ass.

life & style // no. 12

theotherpress.ca

How best to resell your old clothes

Photo by CJ Sommerfeld

› Don’t contribute to the gentrification of used clothing

CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writer

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lothing resale apps and vintage popups are no longer a niche aspect of aesthetic expression. Buying and selling used clothes seems to be replacing fastfashion. Worst of all, greenwashing or not, even fast-fashion megastores are cashing in on this ethical trend. Why not put your own two cents into saving the planet and making some side cash while you are at it?

However, before jumping on the vintage side-hustle train, there are some things to consider. But first, I’ll tell you about my own vintage trek.

I started buying and selling used clothes around grade nine before the term side-hustle had become mainstream. It began as a way to both make cash from the clothes which I no longer wore while speeding through the thrift shopping process by swiping through an app.

Growing up in a large family that did not have plenty of cash, I was used to sorting through racks at Salvation Army and Value Village for unique pieces, resell apps were simply a digitized and streamlined version of this.

I continued doing this through my teen years but had stopped when adulthood approached. Despite having quit selling my used pieces, I remained faithful

to the thrift shop, continuing to accrue a lot of great, one-off pieces—many of which I wound up selling later on. Around 2016, tons of gentrified flea markets and vintage shops popped up on my block. Buying used clothes had quickly transitioned from something which people did out of financial necessity into the mass market.

In these shops were thrifted goodies which were selling for a hefty amount more than what the sellers had purchased them for.

Part of me felt happy for them that they were making great profits on their pieces.

Another, larger part of me, however, felt annoyed at their monopolization of used clothes. I didn’t appreciate this new shift in the market from people who were poor and

creative buying these pieces, to those who had the financial means and were jumping on a trend.

I love clothing as means of expression, and I do not believe that this aesthetic art form should be available only for those who have the financial means to do so.

That being said, selling clothes that you no longer wear for a reasonable price, is an ethical side-hustle. Around 2018 I did resurge my vintage shop on Depop, listing the hoard of clothes that had succumbed to my closet over the years. Currently, I sell about one item a week, providing a bit of weekly grocery cash while freeing up space in my wardrobe. I always tell my friends to open up a shop of their own.

TIPS FOR MORALLY SETTING UP YOUR VINTAGE SIDE-HUSTLE. • In order for something to be vintage, it must be at least 20 years old—so, 2001 and older. Y2K—our newest era of vintage—is hot right now, but items made any more recently than that should not be labelled vintage.

• Sell unique pieces relative to what’s out there. I know when I am out vintage hunting for myself, I usually purchase pieces that I have not seen anywhere else.

That's one magic of buying used clothes, having original pieces.

• If an item is not in the best condition, make note of it.

If you are selling on an app, note the condition in its description, and if you are selling at a pop-up or other

vintage spot, note the flaws on the price tag for the potential buyers to see.

• Do not raid a thrift store and haul a hoard of items to sell—this is my #1 resell pet peeve. Be mindful that there are some people who thrift not because they think that it’s rad, but because that is all they can afford. Anything cheap that is being snagged for resale profits is taken away from people who only have the financial means to buy second-hand. For this reason, I always recommend to mostly sell items out of your own closet which you no longer wear.

• If you are shipping items, use recycled mailers. That is, anytime you receive something in the mail, save it and reuse it to ship your items in. Not only does this cut down on shipping costs by not having to purchase new packages, but it is also environmentally friendly.

• Lastly, do not be an asshole with your prices. Vintage and other preloved pieces should not only be available to those who have the financial means to spend $100 on a tee. If you can take anything from this article: don’t be that vintage seller.

life & style // no. 13

issue 13// vol 48

Soups, stews and snow › Three hearty recipes to keep you warm and happy indoors

Ash Sabinin Contributor

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Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo

ome people love winter, some people hate it, but we can all agree that there's nothing better than a nice bowl of hot soup on a cold day. Here are three soups and stews to test out while hiding out from the brisk wind and seemingly constant rain. These hot, hearty, satisfying soups and stews will help you snuggle up and enjoy this winter while hunkering down and avoiding the cold.

Blizzard-Ready Beef Stew I present you with your new go-to beef stew recipe, only one pot is required and it’s perfect for a lazy winter day!

Comfy & Cozy Chicken Noodle Soup Chase off the chill with this classic take on chicken noodle soup!

Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil 1 yellow onion 2 celery stalks 2 large carrots 4 cloves of garlic 1 tbsp fresh ginger 8 cups chicken broth 1 tsp fresh rosemary 2 bay leaves Pinch of salt Dash of black pepper 1 tsp fresh thyme (with stems removed) 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts 2 ½ cups preferred pasta noodles 2/3 cup frozen peas 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp dill 2 tbsp fresh parsley Pour oil into a large pot and bring to a medium heat then dice onions, celery, and carrots. Add them to the pot once the oil is hot and allow to cook for 4 minutes while stirring frequently. Mince your garlic and grate the ginger and add both to the pot, give them a minute to infuse and develop and then add and mix in the chicken broth, rosemary, bay leaves, salt n’ pepper and thyme. Cut then add the chicken breast and make sure they’re fully covered by the broth; bring the pot to a boil then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Add peas and your choice of noodles, cook until pasta is El Dante (6 or 7 minutes). Top off with lemon juice, chopped dill and parsley.

Serve hot and enjoy!

Squash Soup for the Soul Here’s a simple and delicious soup that’s completely vegan, making it a great choice for dinner parties and sharing with friends.

Ingredients: 1 butternut squash 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 yellow onion 2 cups vegetable stock 1 can of coconut milk 2 tsp cumin Begin by preheating the oven to 375, then peel and cut the squash into small cubes. Place the cubes in a bowl with half the olive oil, salt and pepper and mix until fully coated then transfer to a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until tender. In the meantime, chop and sauté the onion in a pot with the rest of the olive oil. Once the onions are translucent, place them and the squash in a food processor; cover with vegetable stock and blend well until pureed. Transfer the puree back to the pot and add the coconut milk and cumin, heat and share or save in the fridge for a quick meal.

Ingredients: 3 tbsp all-purpose flour ½ tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper 2 pounds stewing beef 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp paprika 1 bay leaf 1 tsp dried thyme 2 celery stalks 2 white onions 3 large carrots 2 garlic cloves ½ cup red wine 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce ½ cup tomato sauce 5 red potatoes 1 cup vegetable stock or V8 3 cups beef broth 1 cup frozen peas Fresh parsley Start by placing the flour, salt, pepper and beef into a large plastic bag, make sure to seal it well and shake until the beef is completely coated. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium to high heat, add in half the beef and cook until all sides have browned and transfer to a plate.

Repeat with the rest of the oil and beef and then place the cooked beef into the pot and add in the paprika, bay leaf and thyme. Cut the celery, onions and carrots into thin slices, crush the garlic, add it all into the pot and give it a good stir.

When the onions are almost translucent, pour in your red wine and Worcestershire sauce and cook for 5 minutes or until it thickens. Next pour in the tomato sauce, vegetable stock and beef broth. Bring the soup to a boil then reduce the heat, place a lid on top and cook for an hour. Slice your potatoes into quarters and add them to the pot, bring it to a boil once again and then again reduce the heat and cover and cook for about 35 minutes or until potatoes reach preferred tenderness. Finally pour in the peas and cook long enough to allow them to heat up before fishing out the bay leaf, garnishing with fresh parsley and serving.

Opinions

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

opinions // no. 14 • Sign language should be an option for the mandatory language classes in public schools • Sad clouds can still be nice ...and that's everything!

Give communication a helping hand Ash Sabinin Contributor

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ign language is used amongst people in the deaf and hard of hearing community; however, it is less common in the hearing community. I believe American Sign Language (ASL) should be taught to everyone to ensure that there’s no limit to interactions or self-expression. The current lack of knowledge of sign language amongst the general public creates a divide between the hearing and hard of hearing communities. It is so important for hearing people to learn how to use sign language to talk with people who are hard of hearing or deaf; not only does it allow them to communicate with each other more effectively, but it also promotes understanding and compassion between the two groups. By teaching young people to sign, you’re giving them the ability to converse and create life-long intercommunity connections.

My sister, who currently attends New Westminster Secondary School, had an interest in learning sign language and ended up taking a class through a Burnaby school district because there were no options available in her own district. She applied for an introductory course and was placed on a waitlist for months, so I asked for her thoughts on the experience.

“I wanted to learn ASL because it's a really beautiful language, but also because I believe it has the ability to diversify my education and allow me to be able to communicate with a larger range of

people.” She feels it's necessary for more people to learn ASL so everyone can better interact with sign language users who try to accommodate our language.

“When I finally decided to take ASL as my language course, I was disappointed that it wasn't offered at my school, and I ended up taking it through Burnaby online. Although I had a great teacher, I found that trying to learn a language by myself, especially one like ASL, discouraged me and consequently made it much more difficult.”

We need to make learning sign language more accessible for everyone to prevent others from having this same experience. The lengthy process deters many people who have an interest in learning to sign and even if they do wait the months before joining the class, the environment is often isolating and not conducive to learning. Had sign language been offered at her school, the chances of her becoming discouraged would have been significantly lower.

Most students were required to take language classes throughout high school and yet, most of them would struggle considerably to ask someone for help in the language they studied. A friend of mine took the required French classes, but when asked if she could ask for help or say there's an emergency, she laughed and said the only thing she remembers is “Une bibliothèque.” Obviously, students are not really learning the language, which I suspect is caused by both a lack of interest and a lack of practice.

According to the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, 1 in 10 Canadians experience hearing loss. So the chances of encountering someone who uses sign language are very high. Not only would it prepare students for the inevitable times they need to communicate with a sign language user, but it would also create a plethora of job opportunities for hearingimpaired individuals.

In our current society, people who are deaf or hard of hearing face a multitude of challenges finding good, steady employment. There is a lack of stable, well-paying and appropriate jobs for sign language users. Making sign language classes available in public schools would create many new, consistent and well-suited jobs for those who struggle to get a job due to hearing loss. Not only would it create many new teaching positions but also curriculum creators and other opportunities. There really are no drawbacks to making sign language classes more accessible to people.

It is difficult to find any logical reason to not offer sign language classes in public schools and there are so many benefits to making it more accessible for everyone. There is already great public

Photo by Billy Bui

› Sign language should be an option for the mandatory language classes in public schools

interest in learning to sign, we just need to make it more readily available for people and implementing it into public schools will help increase the range of people being given the chance to learn. Overall, I think making sign language classes available in all public schools will only help strengthen communication within our society because hearing people can learn to sign but hearing-impaired people cannot learn to hear!

Sad clouds can still be nice Emi Namoro Contributor

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ou know what marks a true Vancouverite? Beanies, soaked socks, and perpetually losing your umbrella.

I grew up in the sunny Philippines until my family immigrated to Vancouver when I was nine years old. Growing up, I had initial thoughts and dreams of what it would be like to live in North America.

Not once did I ever imagine living in “Raincouver” where nearly every day is as rainy as it possibly could be.

As much as we all like to complain about the weather, I do need to admit that there’s something so profoundly deep about it. Let’s be honest, living in British Columbia is so great. We have beautiful mountains, rivers, and oceans. We have diverse cultures found in nearly every corner of the city. There is beauty that can be found wherever you may look. Not

to mention, we also have great natural drinking water. Compared to the other places that I’ve visited in North America, that fact alone brings us and this city above the rest.

So, the fact that our city may have one downside (one of many, although I won’t go there) makes sense to me. In the same way that people aren’t perfect, neither are cities. We all have our benefits and our downsides. Vancouver’s current downside is its perpetual rain, and all that comes along with it.

As you can probably tell, I like the rain. It’s not everyone else’s cup of tea, but it calms me down. Something about the clouds having a good “cry” makes me feel that it’s okay if I have those moments too.

It is as if the sky is giving me—and all of us—permission to feel the way we do. If the sky can do anything it wants to, why can’t we?

Photo by Billy Bui

› Raincouver, how I learned to love you so

As the weather changes in this city, I hope that we can all find the comfort that rain provides. Having soaked socks, jackets, and clothes clearly isn’t ideal, but when you’re inside while the rain immerses the city, it is quite the experience.

What do I like to do when it’s raining outside and I’m warm inside? I like to have a cup of coffee or my trusty hot chocolate while reading a book. I absolutely love the experience that the rain provides when I’m at home relaxing. Of course, it isn’t the same when you’re outside, but it’s one of the small joys in life that I enjoy.

Not everyone is going to like the rain, and that’s completely understandable.

Everyone is free to have their opinions and I respect that. Personally, I have always loved the rain for the comfort that it provides me. It wasn’t what I expected when I first moved here, but I learned how to love it.

The rain gives us permission to let go, to feel the emotions that we do, and the rare moment of solitude when you’re warm inside while it pours on the city.

Comics

Comic by CJ Sommerfeld

Atmospheric reverb

Creative Works Saved by the oven bell

› The glories of my toaster oven Tariq Ghanzi Contributor

I never liked microwaves Whatever you put in comes out soggy and cold Well, except the plate Why is that so hot?

In my little apartment, in the corner that is the kitchen There lives a lifesaver A tarnished saviour, capable of reheating for eating.

My toaster oven Mundane you might think But it keeps me fed and sane It makes food crispy, it makes food hot It goes fast enough, A little beep when it stops I can cook tater tots I can heat pie Frozen pizza, oh my I can reheat I can even cook meat Who needs a microwave when Black and Decker makes these?

No hot plats covered in cold food for me

Photo by CJ Sommerfeld

The Other Playlist

A soundscape to equip you for upcoming Vancouver shows (and gear-up for Christmas) CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writer

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fter nearly two years of less-than-satisfying live streams, live music is finally back—or almost.

Anyone who has purchased tickets lately has probably experienced a cancelled show or rather a string of cancelled shows. The few live performances which have gone forth, however, remind us how heightened live music sounds and feels.

If the excitement of live music is not enough— why not throw a Christmas tune in? Halloween was about a month ago, so that means that it is time for holiday music, right? This week’s Other Playlist consists of some artists who are expected to play in various venues in December and a Christmas track also makes an appearance. Feliz Navidad!

Can you smell the gluhwein? Can you feel the hangover that follows? Before that arrives, tune in to our potpourri of genres and be receptive to the perfect doozy of a soundscape to beret all your festive activities.

Why not spend some time being enveloped in a tracklist of bands who will soon be playing live locally?

1. Kassi Valazza—Johnny Dear 2. Dead Soft—Step Out 3. Dougie Poole—Cancun Christmas Morning 4. Gold & Youth—A Strange Night at the Madonna Inn 5. Yukon Blonde—Fickle Feelings 6. Courtney Barnett—Rae Street 7. Benny Sings (ft. Mac DeMarco)—Rolled Up 8. BADBADNOTGOOD—Speaking Gently 9. John Craigie—Hustlin' 10. Beach Bunny—Oxygen

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