I must be crazy
››Somehow the holidays were too much downtime for me Matthew Fraser Editor in Chief
am by no means a workaholic. In fact, I’m a late riser and disgustingly lazy all too often. More mornings than not, wild horses couldn’t drag me out of bed. Yet someway, somehow, a week or two into holiday downtime I was itching to get back to work. The weirdest thing is how strangely irrational I understand that desire to be. More than irrational, it was deeply unMatthew to itch to run around doing all of the somethings that clutter my schedule. In hindsight (that fabulous perfect vision that only shows up to illuminate your mistakes) I think I was just bored out of my mind sitting in my house. I watched some stuff on YouTube, discovered like a million things I want to buy but don’t have the money for, fantasized about all the cool little apartments that other people live in, and listened to music. The two days before Christmas saw me chain watching the Ringu series on my way to a sprint through Japanese horror history. But through all of that next to nothing, day by day squalor, I wished I could get back to work. Maybe it’s a strange creature habit, like how pets get random bursts of energy and sprint around seemingly uncontrollably. It’s like there is a minimum level of outside and moving that must be fulfilled or else you’ll be itching for that fresh air that your missing. It must have been the snow. I couldn’t get out and walk because the cold makes me miserable and Canada Post hates me and the boots they were supposed to
Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne
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deliver in November. (How the hell does a package shipped from Surrey get stuck in Richmond for like two months on its way to Burnaby??) Those glorious authorly walks were barred to me by my current boots being on death's door and a light freeze. So as a result, I wanted to work. Something to drag me out of bed and give my day a little purpose. Something to move my hindquarters from in front of my screen and into the outdoors. I couldn’t even go to the gym because Dr. Bonnie Henry hates it when people
sweat. That must be it; she doesn’t like when exertion causes perspiration and so she bans the activities that lead that way at the first opportunity. Never mind the perpetual pandemic, I can no longer care about such trivialities. Well, for better or for worse, I have things to do again. Now I can start the countdown until the days when I want the holidays to start so that I can go back to doing nothing again.
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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News
news // no. 3 • Coronavirus Update : Are we going back to Phase 1? • White Christmas sprawled into New Years chaos ...and that's everything!
Coronavirus update S
tarting on December 14, 2021, there were on average at least 400 cases of the Coronavirus in the province. In two weeks, it would significantly increase to at least 3000 cases mainly related to the Omicron variant. At that point in December, this was the highest number of cases in the province in a month according to CBC. Because of this surge of cases, some of the restrictions from the earlier days of the pandemic have returned to try to reduce the number of new cases, even though most of the country is fully vaccinated. As most of the country including BC is allowing more people to get a booster shot, some countries including Israel are already experimenting with a fourth dose to find out if it will increase the effectiveness of the Coronavirus vaccine which so far has been promising. The evidence from Israel thus far indicates that the booster shot can be effective against the Omicron variant. A lot of people who were travelling when the Omicron variant emerged, scrambled to rearrange their travel plans
after travel restrictions were put back in place and a shortage of flight attendants led to various flight cancellations. Also, the requirement to have a negative PCR test when coming back home was suddenly reinforced. Shortly thereafter, footage of passengers in a Sunwing charter flight to Mexico partying and not practicing social distancing leaked to the media. An increase in wait times for a Coronavirus test led to provinces accelerating the distribution of rapid tests to reduce the amount of time waiting in the car to get a test. While the rapid tests could produce a false negative result, they can indicate if an individual needs a test. Another way to find out if you got the Coronavirus is by doing the self-assessment test through the provincial government’s website and the BC COVID-19 app. In the province, there are currently no lockdowns, though a few capacity limits were put back in place. Not all places were at full capacity when the capacity limits were dropped two months ago, though a good example is Rogers Arena which operated at full capacity and now must go back to 50 percent capacity as well as all venues with a capacity of more than 1000.
Restaurants can still operate at full capacity except all patrons have to remain at their original table while gyms are closed until January 18. The first week back to school was delayed by a week for younger learners while many colleges had virtual classes
with limited open hours for on-campus college services. However, a month after the Omicron variant was discovered in South Africa, the number of cases was starting to go down. This is promising as many expect the number of cases to lower in the spring and maybe the pandemic will finally end.
The scenic beauty and road mayhem
››White Christmas sprawled into New Years chaos Matthew Fraser Editor in Chief
T
Photo by Billy Bui
Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist
Photo by Anna Machuik
››Are we going back to Phase 1?
he preceding few weeks have been marked by an unusual snowfall and the continued presence of snow throughout the Vancouver and lower BC areas. Beginning on Dec 14, snow began to coat the streets and scenery of Metro Vancouver and surrounding areas. A special weather statement had been issued by Environment Canada on December 13, warning of at least five centimetres of snow across the Metro Vancouver area. For many other parts of Canada, snow at this time of year is standard, however, in Vancouver, it is uncharacteristic with 2021 marking the city’s fourth white Christmas in the past 25 years. On Christmas Eve, the Environment Canada weather station at Vancouver International Airport had recorded 6.9 cm of snow. Yet the postcard winter wonderland on display has also resulted in several unfortunate events. CBC reported on January 5 that the low-pressure system causing the snowfall would also bring with it frigid temperatures. As a result, Environment Canada recommended that people avoid non-essential travel due to
the potentially treacherous conditions. Additionally, transit gaps and cancellations were announced, leading to an advisory for all transit passengers to prepare for extra commute time. Further reporting from Vancouver is Awesome noted over 200 hundred TransLink alerts on January 5. In turn, compacted snow and later rainfall formed ice on sidewalks and roadways, prompting multiple shutdowns across industries. CBC reports that B.C. Ferries was forced to cancel multiple sailing because crews were blocked by snow and unable to reach the terminals. Many schools, colleges (including Douglas) and universities. Additionally, Simon Fraser University faced a power outage as BC Hydro crews worked to fix damaged lines. Potentially even more telling in regard to the seriousness of the snowfall, is the fact that Canada Post suspended mail service in the Metro Vancouver area on January 6. Global News quotes the mail service as saying: “We encourage customers to clear the ice from their walkways, stairs, and driveways, to ensure safe access to the front door for both their visitors, as well as their mail carriers, when service resumes[.]”
Sports
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sports // no. 4 • Vancouver Canucks mourn the loss of alumni players • Vancouver Canucks begins 2022 on a positive note ...and that's everything!
Vancouver Canucks mourn the loss of alumni players
Photo by RobVanDerMeijden on Pixabay
››Former Vancouver coach, Bob McCammon, also passes away at age 80
Brandon Yip Senior Columnist
T
he Vancouver Canucks entered the Holiday Season in a celebratory mood, winning six consecutive games bef0re Christmas Day with their new head coach, Bruce Boudreau. The team was in better spirits, displaying more confidence than had been seen before the coaching change. Sadly, the holidays instead became a sombre occasion. The organization is mourning the passing of alumni players, Curt Ridley and Jim Wiley—as well as former Canucks coach, Bob McCammon. Ridley passed away on December 19 at age 70. NHL.com reported Ridley was a veteran of 104 games, playing for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks
and Toronto Maple Leafs from 1974 till 1980. The NHL Alumni posted their condolences on Twitter on December 21: “Curt was the first goaltender to ever be drafted from Tier II junior hockey. We send our deepest condolences to Curt’s family, friends and former teammates during this difficult time.” Jim Wiley died December 26 at age 71. The Mercury News reported on December 27 that Wiley had been a coach with the San Jose Sharks organization for seven years in the 1990s. His professional playing career spanned seven seasons (1972 till 1980). This included 62 games in the NHL: playing 26 with Pittsburgh (1972 till 1974) and 36 with Vancouver (1974 till 1977). In 2017, Wiley was inducted into the Sault Ste. Marie Hockey Hall of Fame (player
category) as reported by SooToday. The Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association posted on Twitter on December 28: “#CanucksAlumni are saddened to hear the passing of Jim Wiley. Condolences to the family and friends of Jim.” Bob McCammon passed away on December 23 at age 80. He had two coaching stints with the Philadelphia Flyers (1978-1979 and 1981-1984). McCammon later was an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers (1985-1986), before becoming the head coach for the Canucks from 1987 till 1991. He led the team to its first playoff appearance in three years as underdogs, facing the highly favoured Calgary Flames in the first round in 1989 (Smythe Division semi-final). The Canucks forced a game seven in Calgary,
with the game going into overtime. But Calgary scored the winning goal to clinch the series—on a questionable goal by Joel Otto (Calgary later won the Stanley Cup). McCammon was later fired by president and general manager, Pat Quinn, in 1991 with Quinn taking over coaching duties. The Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association released a statement, expressing condolences over the passing of McCammon—as reported by The Province on December 24: “Bob will be sorely missed—[by] not just those who played for him when he was the head coach for the Flyers and the Canucks, but equally those in the hockey world including, most importantly, his many friends from the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association and Vancouver Canucks.”
The holidays became a sombre occasion as the Canucks mourned the passing of alumni players, Curt Ridley and Jim Wiley—as well as former Vancouver coach, Bob McCammon
issue 15// vol 48
sports // no. 5
Vancouver Canucks begins 2022 on a positive note
Photo by Billy Bui
››The coaching change has resulted in a resurgence in the team’s on-ice performance
Brandon Yip Senior Columnist
T
he Vancouver Canucks have been a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” team since the 2021-2022 season began. At the time of writing, the Canucks’ record is 16-15-3. They are seventh place in the eight-team Pacific Division and are three points out of a Wild Card playoff spot. During the first two months of the season, the Canucks played poorly. After losses began to accumulate, speculation increased with fans and media about the job status of head coach, Travis Green. The breaking point finally occurred after a home loss on December 4, 2021, to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Canucks fans showed their displeasure with a chorus of boos and chants of “Fire Benning.” As well, a Bo Horvat jersey was thrown on the ice. The next day, Travis Green and general manager, Jim Benning, were fired. Bruce Boudreau was hired as the newest bench boss with Jim Rutherford later hired as president of hockey operations. Also, Stan Smyl was promoted to vice president of hockey operations. Rutherford has had managerial positions with the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins, winning a Stanley
Cup with Carolina (2006) and two cups with Pittsburgh (2016 and 2017). Canucks owner, Francesco Aquilini, believes the hiring of Rutherford will help the franchise achieve their goal—to be competitive and win a championship. “It is time for a new vision and a new leader who will set a path forward for this team,” Aquilini said in a statement as reported by The Province on December 9, 2021. “Jim has tremendous experience building and leading winning organizations and I believe he will help build the Vancouver Canucks into a team that can compete for championships again.” Before Travis Green’s dismissal, the team worked hard under his watch—but they did not look coordinated and in many ways, they seemed to lack confidence. The Canucks played like a team that was waiting for something to happen, rather than being assertive and taking the initiative to make things happen. Many nights, it was apparent the team was not working as a unit. This was evidenced by the Canucks’ poor special teams, notably their penalty killing (worst in the NHL). A coaching change was the right decision to try to salvage the Canucks’ season. The Canucks recently had a sevengame winning streak with Boudreau behind
the bench. Vancouver eventually lost to the Los Angeles Kings on December 30 by a score of two to one in a shootout. However, the Canucks redeemed themselves two nights later in Seattle—defeating the Kraken by a score of five to two. Vancouver’s record of eight wins in their last nine games is respectable and commendable. And if the team maintains this type of consistent play, the playoffs may be realistic instead of an afterthought. Canucks fans will have to wait and see how the team performs during the last three months of the season; hopefully without any more postponements due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Vancouver’s next game was scheduled for January 5 at home against the New York Islanders, but the game was postponed by the NHL due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by provincial health authorities, limiting crowds at large events to 50 percent or fewer capacity in Canada. Sportsnet reported January 3 that the NHL has postponed over 90 games this season because of COVID-19 concerns: “As all seven teams in Canada are playing under various levels of attendance restrictions imposed by provincial governments—from as low as zero [percent] in Quebec to as high as 50 [percent] in Alberta.”
Sportsnet reported on January 6 the Canucks have five players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol: Brock Boeser, Phil Di Giuseppe, Justin Dowling, Jason Dickinson and Elias Pettersson. Bruce Boudreau told reporters that winger, Alex Chiasson, had tested positive for COVID-19 and had not been added to the league’s protocol list. Vancouver was scheduled to play the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena on January 8, but TSN reported the game was postponed due to capacity limits. The Canucks have had seven games postponed. The Canucks embark on a difficult fivegame eastern road trip. Then Vancouver returns home to play the Florida Panthers on January 21 (pending postponement due to COVID-19). Canucks’ schedule this week (all road games) • Tuesday, January 11 @ Florida Panthers (4 pm) • Thursday, January 13 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (4 pm) • Saturday, January 15 @ Carolina Hurricanes (10 am) • Sunday, January 16 @ Washington Capitals (11 am) • Tuesday, January 18 @ Nashville Predators (5 pm)
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Arts
arts // no. 6 • Reviews of two new CBC comedies • Will Sharpe’s colourful storytelling returns with a twist of dark humour in this grim true-crime story ...and more
Five concerts to catch this year
Photo by Anna Machuik
››Some of my favourite artists who are coming to Vancouver this year
Ash Sabinin Contributor
C
oncerts are the backdrops of so many amazing moments shared by so many different people who would never interact otherwise. It's a beautiful thing to have a large group of people in one place enjoying the same musical performance and for many people, those concerts are part of our most cherished memories. Here are five of the concerts I most look forward to going into the new year. Dodie Dodie is a 26-year-old artist from the UK, who was blasted into stardom when she began posting her songs and covers on YouTube and enchanted fans around the world with her beautiful voice, sweet charm, and loveable nature. I fell in love with her after hearing “Would You Be So Kind” and “In the Middle” back in 2017. Later in 2019, she released “Monster” alongside numerous covers and collaborations with other musical content creators. She’ll be performing at the Vogue
Theatre on March 18th with tickets going for around $30. K.Flay “High Enough” was released back in 2017 and it’s stuck around ever since, making appearances in recent TikTok trends and TV & movie scenes. K.Flay has so many good songs and some of my favourites are “Blood in the Cut,” “So What,” and “I Like Myself (Most of the Time).” Her song “Bad Memory” was featured in the movie Birds of Prey back in 2020. Outside Voices was released last year and is composed of five songs, with my favourite being “Nothing Can Kill Us” with “Weirdo” coming in as a close second. Her music always has excellent lyrics that really paint a picture carried along by her distinctive vocals. She’ll be performing at Hollywood theatre at 8 pm on March 10 with tickets going between $107-$182. Portugal. The Man If you listened to the radio in 2017, you've probably bobbed your head along to the song “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man at one point or another. It’s an amazingly
catchy song that still has a place on my driving playlist. “Steal My Sunshine'' with Cherry Glazerr and “Novocaine for the Soul” with Sir Chloe are their most recently released singles. In the past year or so, Alt-j has become one of my most played bands, with “Left hand free” and “Breezeblocks” constantly being stuck in my head, along with “U&ME”, which is one of their more recent songs. Alt-j and Cherry Glazerr will be performing with Portugal. The Man on March 30 at the Pacific Coliseum with tickets ranging from $50 to $100. Lord Huron I would be impressed if you can find a person who hasn't yet heard Lord Huron’s song “The Night We Met”. It can be found everywhere from TikTok to movie scenes to a million sad Spotify playlists. Their music is so beautiful it can make you feel heartbreak for a relationship you never even had. Their most recent album Long Lost is another beautiful collection of songs that are just perfect to listen to around a fire or on a long, slow walk by yourself. If you’re interested in that style of music,
they’ll be performing at the Orpheum Theatre on August 5 with tickets priced from $60 to over $400. half•alive half•alive was one of the bands that I became completely obsessed with in 2020 while in the first lockdown. “still feel” was the song that first introduced me to them and then “The Fall” and “ok ok?” All three quickly made their way onto my list of favourite songs. Their music overall is very catchy and makes you want to dance along but also can be played along in the background while chilling or playing video games. Last year, they released “Hot Tea” which is a mellow but groovy song that talks about wanting to experience life fully. The trio will be performing at Hollywood Theatre on March 27th with general tickets going for around $35. I missed concerts and am so excited to be able to go out and enjoy concerts again, they really are a special environment full of people who are all passionate about the same thing. Hopefully, this list gives you some ideas on different bands to check out and see live this year.
issue 15// vol 48
arts // no. 7
Newfies and the suburbs Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist
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ne of the most important Canadian exports to the world is our comedy. The place to go for noteworthy and inventive Canadian comedies today is CBC. Some of these shows include This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Made in Canada, The Red Green Show, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Schitt’s Creek, and Kim’s Convenience. This winter, CBC expanded their offerings of comedies from the usual once a week on Tuesday to twice a week, adding Wednesdays. They added two all-new shows that will air during the winter. One shows the childhood of This Hour Has 22 Minutes host Mark Critch, and the other is a dream project of Kim’s Convenience star Andrew Phung. Based on the autobiography of the same name, Son of a Critch follows young Mark (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) during his first year of school in his home province of Newfoundland in 1986. The show not only shows the influences that made Critch one of the funniest hosts in This Hour Has 22 Minutes and a Newfoundland treasure but also a few aspects I can relate to from elementary school (though Critch himself went to a private school). It is in the vein
of prequel shows like Young Sheldon leading me to suspect that this show is a Newfoundland version of that. The first episode tackles bullying as well as what schools in Newfoundland were like during that time, including the use of straps as a punishment which would be unacceptable today. Critch himself is also in the show as his father who works as a traffic reporter at a local radio station. Then we have another show that I was highly excited for after its announcement in Run the Burbs. Andrew Pham (Phung), his wife Camille (Rakhee Morzaria), and their two children move to a suburb in Toronto. Other people move in the neighbourhood as well and the first thing that the Pham family does in the first episode holds a blockbuster block party. To try to convince a city inspector to allow them to do the party, the entire family engages with the rest of the neighbourhood to think of ideas for it including Camille organizing a street race with a gang. If you know Phung, you will probably recognize his interests throughout the episode including The Fast and the Furious; famed Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall appears as one of their neighbours and is coaxed into performing at their block party. The dialogue in the
Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne
››Reviews of two new CBC comedies
show is the type of thing that Phung does in his acting and it is kind of an autobiography of himself because he is also married and has two sons.
CBC’s new comedies this winter are still surprisingly funny and relatable. Also, they have the warmth and humour that you cannot find anywhere else.
‘Landscapers’: being on trial for murder certainly did not burst their romantic bubble ››Will Sharpe’s colourful storytelling returns with a Udeshi Seneviratne Illustrator
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have long been a fan of Will Sharpe’s directing, so after seeing that Olivia Colman stars in this true-crime murder mini-series, I was simply overjoyed and excited to see what their collaboration would produce. Previously, the two collaborated on Flowers, a BBC television series about a quirky, dysfunctional family, working through mental health issues. The all-capturing storytelling, remarkable cinematography, and gripping strings soundtrack that Flowers depended on, make an even more prominent appearance this time around. The exaggerated true-crime story surrounding Susan (Olivia Colman) and Chris Edwards (David Thewlis) portrays the execution of Susan’s parents as being provoked by years of abuse. However, their story does not sit well as we find out that immediately after the murders, the couple drained the parents’ bank accounts, absconding with roughly 285,000 pounds. They led lavish lives, left for France, all the while continuing a charade and keeping the murders of the parents literally under
wraps for 15 years. This all turned sour when Chris consulted his stepmother about their financial ruin, ultimately revealing the murders. On the investigative side of the story, we are introduced to three detectives, DC Lancing (Kate O’Flynn), DC Wilkie (Samuel Anderson), and DCI Collier (Daniel Rigby) who all have a rather comical dynamic, yet a large role in uncovering the murky doings of the seemingly helpless and innocent couple. While the storyline for these officers offers a new perspective to the characters and crime in question, the focus on these characters came off as lacking compared to those of Colman and Thewlis’. Sharpe’s famous camera trickery throughout the four episodes gave each scene a mystifying aura. Occasionally, the show would start in black and white and the colours would slowly bleed onto the screen. There are parts where the show breaks the fourth wall, has strange cowboy playouts from Susan’s imagination, sudden spotlights of characters we have never seen before, and random focuses on certain objects. All these aspects share underlying details to the story that encourages the audience to investigate to understand Susan’s tumultuous emotions.
Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne
twist of dark humour in this grim true-crime story
The show’s hauntingly fitting visuals will draw you in and keep you on your toes as it uncovers the peculiar case of the murders. The story also shares
little glimpses of an eerie beauty that is portrayed in the love Susan and Chris have for each other, leading to the story's dark circumstances.
Matthew Fraser Editor in Chief
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ast year, shortly after the January six riot (written from here on as 1/6), I wrote my thoughts on the insurrection. The MAGA horde storming the capital seemed to be a warning that the problems and failures of American antiquity had a lifespan and that it wouldn’t be long before those failures would be too much for the population to bear. So confident was I, that I ended my piece by saying: “… the next time the string breaks it may not be the neo-Nazis at the steps of the capitol. It could be the students and the working poor; it might be the indebted and exploited. It might be the people whose cause is just.” Yet it seems to me that what I saw was not seen by many, or at least those with power in the Democratic party. What they seemed to get—mostly from their media—was a completely different story that has allowed them to continue these catastrophes unabated. On one hand, it’s clear and justified to say that what happened on 1/6 was chaotic and disheartening. Anyone with eyes and a relatively untainted view of American politics could understand that those who stormed the capital that day were deeply misled and drawn blindly down the path of conspiracy theory. However, the responses that have come over the past year comparing 1/6 to Pearl Harbour and 9/11 are deeply and truly delusional. Something can be bad, horrifying even without necessitating a near-constant comparison to two of the most timelinealtering events in American history. To begin with, the scale of damage and consequences from 9/11 is almost unimaginably larger than those of 1/6. When the Twin Towers fell, America was spurned into a disastrous war with constantly shifting end goals (the few times goals were defined) and a series of manhunts with nearly anticlimatic results. Nearly one million lives were lost, the course of countless lives were irreconcilably shifted and many more ripples from the drastic expansion of the militaryindustrial complex are yet to be felt. The comparison to Pearl Harbour is all the more inane given that Pearl Harbour literally caused America to step in and fight in World War II. Certainly, the war machine response to 9/11 was drastic, but it did not
reimagine the entire American economy the way that the response to Pearl Harbour did. Whether it is the drastic increase in industrial production necessary to fight Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, or the shifting role of women in the workforce, the economic effects of WWII alone outway the effects of 1/6. All this before we consider the way that America was catapulted into its now receding position as the dominant world superpower given its nuclear weapons and its industrial capacity. Again, this does not devalue the shock caused by 1/6, nor does it cheapen the rot that was exposed within the American psyche that day, but it should force us to reevaluate the anniversary more prudently and critically than the way that much of mainstream media has put forth their rendition of the event. I don’t doubt that for the capital police officers involved in the protection of the capital that day it was no less traumatizing than what was portrayed in this New York Times article. Nor do I think that the fear AOC and other members of congress narrated in the aftermath was overblown. However, it is increasingly unhelpful for us to understand, solve, and prevent the issues that led to 1/6 if we stay stuck on the fear of the moment. Worse still, is the way that various media outlets have insisted on making their reporters, correspondents, friends, and all too often, themselves the main victims of the event. As Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti of Breaking Points outline, the sob story is wearing thin and likely an attempt to jin up views. Rather than the media’s fearful and trembling recollections, there should be significantly more focus on the recent polling data that 1 in 3 Americans (surveyed) can see the justification for violence against the government. Even my anarchist heart must pause at the spectre of such widely shared belief simply because this feeling is not uniformly pointed at the government or focused in a singular direction. Rather, it’s diffuse and is pointed in no small part at the thought of what the other side may do with power. The Washington Post quotes a respondent named Anthea Ward who describes the world around her as “scary” before saying that: “It’s no longer a war
against Democrats and Republicans. It’s a war between good and evil.” Maybe I am too biased or I have taken the wrong lessons from history, but when people do not see themselves as part of the shared exploited class that needs to rebel, but instead as part of the “good” side in the war against “evil,” the potential danger in justifying political violence quickly begins to outpace whatever argument for the good that could result from an uprising of the people. Further, in the same Washington Post article, a man named Rob Redding expresses his concerns for the slipping equality in the American system. He explains his view by saying: “We are in a state where we’re going to have to arm ourselves, absolutely[…] I’m a Black man in America[…] I believe in protecting myself.”
Something can be bad, horrifying even without necessitating a near-constant comparison to two of the most timeline-altering events in American history.
An unsightly anniversary
Illustration by Athena Little
››Did Democrats manage to learn anything from January 6?
Now if there is one thing that I will not do, it’s downplay the fear of an African-American that arms may be the most necessary method to defending one's life against threats; I understand and resonate quite strongly with that fear. However, it is not lost on me that the racial groups of the poor working class are equally exploited though differently directed as to who their exploiters are. If any group should understand that the true crimes leading to 1/6 were the insatiable appetite of the capitalist class and the failures of the government to properly correct for this exploitation, it should be AfricanAmericans. It is long since time the white working-class understand this too. Yet the takeaway that has mostly absorbed the mainstream media and many on the left is the spectre of a second American civil war. The internet has been littered since 1/6 with tweets and articles reminding the world that Hitler failed his first attempt at taking power and was not properly punished for it, thusly leading the way for
his eventual successful later attempt. The logic of this idea is clear: the first time was a failure, but when they come back, they might succeed. However, if you focus on this line of thinking long enough, the only possible choices are war or a surveillance state. Focussing on preventing a second attempt means you must either crush them before they try again or so strictly monitor their (the other sides) behaviour that any and every attempt will be sniffed out and squashed before it can amount to anything. The possibility of a civil war is heralded by all too many unhinged rightwingers speaking their minds freely online and most unsettlingly, in public spaces. A recent Turning Point USA event saw a man stand up and ask openly “When do we get to use the guns? [...] That’s not a joke.” Before that, a woman identified as Jodie on TikTok threatened “You've got millions and millions of gun owners that are ready to walk out and just start a complete [f-ing] blood bath and we're beginning to wonder where our [f-ing] military [is].” The disturbing truth about these types of threats is that the right—and particularly those making the remarks—are capable and prepared to make good on these threats. Should America devolve into a war between two halves (roughly) of its population, it would be a short and gruesome day as the majority of left-leaning people are completely unprepared if not incapable of responding to armed violence. The blue-haired post-secondary students and graduates who shout that whiteness is literally violence are wholly untrained for real violence. Worst still, given the historic success that white nationalist and white supremacist groups have had recruiting within and from the military, it seems all too likely that there would be some troops electing to join the so-called “patriots” side. This leads me to ask, what has this new administration done to correct and address the ideas that led to Trump? Put in simpler terms: has Biden done what is necessary to fix even a smidgen of the problems that made Trump possible? Sadly, the answer is no. Biden has failed to address the issues that drastically weakened the middle class and riddling people with real economic anxiety. He has failed to address the worst
parasitic and anti-worker aspects of the capitalist machine that has so thoroughly disillusioned the working poor and the middle class. He and his administration have been so thoroughly browbeaten by Joe Manchin that radio personality Charlamagne Tha God was forced to ask VP Kamala Harris if Manchin was the true president of the United States. It seems like every moderate instinct in Joe Biden's frailing body has led him to capitulate, back down and seek bi-partisan approval for everything, even when it goes against the stated desires of his presidency. Joe Biden has managed to compromise himself into a position where no political observer (or potential voter) can name a single positive reason to vote for Biden other than he’s not Trump. Biden has failed to realize that the important part of not being Trump is providing to people what Trump failed to provide; doing this would create a legitimate reason for people to show up and vote in the 2022 midterms and ultimately in the 2024 election. 1/6 came, scared millions, provided ample evidence as to why the abject and historic ongoing failures of the American system needed to be addressed and were met with zero intelligent action from the Democratic party. Worse still, they managed to fail so consistently at providing anything that it is almost pointless for a previous Democratic voter to show up at the next election. Why vote Democrat when they will do nothing for four years except function as a placeholder until the next Republican president? All that has been guaranteed is that Trump will have a screaming good shot at re-election should he run in 2024 and that if he were to lose, the response would almost doubtlessly overshadow 1/6. It doesn’t seem to me like the Democrats got anything of worth from 1/6. Maybe hidden beneath the apparently unachievable Democratic agenda is a fatalist plan to so thoroughly fail America that Trump can step onto a debate stage and claim to be the more successful president, just so that they can run a comeback campaign four years later, promising nothing once again. Doing that must be easier than actually trying to address the problems that made Trump possible.
Focussing on preventing a second attempt means you must either crush them before they try again or so strictly monitor their (the other sides) behaviour that any and every attempt will be sniffed out and squashed before it can amount to anything.
Have an idea for a story? lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca
Life & Style
life & style // no. 10 • Jewish people eating Chinese food on December 25 has been a unique tradition • Little Christmas Gifts Showcase ...and that's everything!
An unusual pairing
››Jewish people eating Chinese
Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo
food on December 25 has been a unique tradition
Brandon Yip Senior Columnist
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ewish people eating at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day has been a longstanding tradition. It has been parodied on Saturday Night Live and has been the subject of academic papers. Even US Supreme Court Justice, Elena Kagan, referenced it during her 2010 nomination hearing—as reported by Newsweek in December 2016. When Senator Lindsey Graham asked the nominee where she had spent the previous Christmas, Kagan paused, then quipped, “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.” The origins of this unique tradition began after the arrival of Chinese and Jewish immigrants in the New York borough of Manhattan in the late 1800s. Both groups settled in the Lower East Side neighbourhood, living adjacent to each other. So, it was apropos Chinese and Jewish people would interact and develop a civil kinship in their respective communities. According to a December 2019 CTV News article, Jewish people do not observe
Christmas as a holiday. As a result, many Jewish families are usually free to go out for dinner on December 25 and Chinese restaurants are the only restaurants open that day. Jennifer 8. Lee, author of The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food, provides further insight—as reported by PJ Grisar in an article for forward.com: “The Jews and Chinese were the two largest non-Christian immigrant communities in America. They didn’t keep a Christian calendar, so their restaurants were open on Christmas.” In addition, Adam Chandler offers an interesting perspective in his December 2014 article, published in The Atlantic: “For many Jewish Americans, the night before Christmas conjures up visions not of sugar plums, but of plum sauce slathered over roast duck or an overstocked plate of beef lo mein, a platter of General Tso’s, and (maybe) some hot and sour soup.” According to Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut, author of A Kosher Christmas: ‘Tis the Season to be Jewish, the earliest known documentation of this tradition was revealed in a New York Times article in 1935, when a Chinese restaurant owner
travelled to Newark, New Jersey, bringing chow mein to a Jewish children’s home on Christmas Day. Plaut states another reason Jewish people enjoy eating at a Chinese restaurant is that they feel it is a safe place to gather with their families. “There are no Christian symbols on the walls,” he said to forward.com in December 2021. “There’s no mixing of meat and dairy, and the pork that is evident is hidden. Hence the phrase ‘safe treyf.’ You can’t see it when you eat it so it’s OK. And the steamed pot sticker looks to be the equivalent of kreplach.” Interestingly, Plaut says Chinese food is the perfect food choice for Jewish people because the ingredients used in Chinese cooking adhere to strict “kosher” dietary standards. Plaut, in a December 2020 interview with vox.com, elaborates: “In terms of kosher law, a Chinese restaurant is a lot safer than an Italian restaurant. In Italian food, there is [a] mixing of meat and dairy. A Chinese restaurant doesn’t mix meat and dairy, because Chinese cooking is virtually dairy-free.” Plaut also notes that Christmas Day is the only national holiday where American Jews feel uncomfortable because of the
religious underpinnings—stating in the same interview with forward.com: “That’s why people, rather than staying home and perhaps sulking or feeling idle, say ‘it’s a day off. Why not get together with family and friends?’” Jewish people eating at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day has become a unique tradition that has been embraced by the Jewish and Chinese communities. According to PJ Grisar, each year before Christmas, a unique handwritten sign goes viral on Jewish Facebook: “The Chinese [Restaurant Association] of the United States would like to extend our thanks to The Jewish People. We do not completely understand your dietary customs…But we are proud and grateful that your GOD insists you eat our food on Christmas.” Plaut says the handwritten sign is not authentic, yet he admits that it is the perfect embodiment, revealing the truth about Jewish peoples’ love of Chinese food on Christmas Day: “We have found no evidence of this being authentic or not. It’s urban folklore. But it doesn’t matter because the message is funny, and it just goes to show you this is a real phenomenon.”
life & style // no. 11
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Little Christmas Gifts Showcase ››What I got for my 12-day advent calendar
Nhi ‘Jenny’ Vo Layout Manager
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hristmas—the biggest holiday of the year— comes with lots of joy, presents, and probably turkey. Personally, for all the holidays, I enjoy the anticipation leading to the event more than the holidays themselves. Hence, I love the countdown! Nope, not the type where you spend hours standing in the freezing weather waiting for some unimpressive fireworks. I’m talking about advent calendars. I spent a lot on my Harry Potter advent calendar for Christmas 2020, so I decided to do something different for Christmas 2021. I’m a part of the International Geek Girl Pen Pals Club (IGGPPC). This Christmas, I joined an event called “12 Days of Cheer.” I was assigned a swap partner named Josie. We exchanged emails on what we would like to receive for Christmas. We discussed treats, hobbies, likes and dislikes to make sure the other person would actually like their gifts. The budget was around CAD 30. It was totally different from a normal Christmas shopping experience: I actually knew exactly what I needed to shop for, stayed within budget, and I only needed to wrap 12 small packages. Fortunately, Josie was located 10 minutes away from Douglas college. Instead of mailing out the presents, I went by her place to pick up my package and left hers on the front porch. Look at me saving money during the holiday season! I enjoyed putting together a calendar for Josie as much as I enjoyed slowly opening my calendar. Here’s what Josie got for me: 1. Strawberry: I mentioned in my emails that I like anything strawberry. Josie got me a cute mini strawberry notepad and some adorable stickers! I love stationery too so this is gold.
2. Mini lights: You can’t have a proper holiday without colourful lights. I can’t put these 20 lights on my tree because they are too short. Instead, I used them to backlight my work monitor, making me feel a little more festive when I was overwhelmed with hundreds of emails. 3. DIY ornament kit: I know these kits are supposed to be for 5-year-olds but I couldn’t help myself. It was a bit tricky putting it together because I’m the clumsiest person in the world. Josie also got me some scented stickers that smell like floral fragrances. 4. Pocky: You can fight me but Asian snacks are just 500 times better than Canadian ones. You guys only have chips, popcorn, and sweets with an alarming amount of sugar. Pocky is my favourite Asian snack. It comes in so many different flavours. Matcha is hands down the second-best one, after strawberry of course. I also got some crackers but again, Canadian snacks are just below average. No offence! 5. Penguin: Who wouldn’t love a plushie? Look at this cute little guy. My creative juices are no longer flowing so I named him Mr. Penguin. Let me know if you have a better suggestion. I have no idea how to use the headband that came with Mr. Penguin. It wouldn’t stay on my head!? 6. Powder puff: I’m clueless about makeup and skincare so I thought this was a mini microphone! *facepalm* On the bright side, it’s a Spiderman powder puff! No spoilers please, I haven’t gotten tickets to the movie yet! 7. Tea: Coffee itself tastes like bitter water unless you make it a double-double. Tea by itself, on the other hand, tastes just fine. I prefer adding a little bit of sugar or honey, but tea just has a better taste for me. I mentioned I loved green tea and Josie didn’t disappoint me.
8. Dinosaur: I’m crazy about Lego and have fond memories of building them. However, this dinosaur was too difficult for me. It’s a different type of building block. The blocks are super small so I kept breaking the mouth and feet apart. After 90 minutes, I finally completed the mini-challenge. 9. Socks: Getting just socks for Christmas probably sucks. Socks are great Christmas presents if they come with something else. They are also a great solution for Secret Santa or White Elephant. How can you say no to cute festive socks? The only drawback of having Christmas socks is that people might think you’re quite drunk if you wear these in the summer. 10. Lego: Actually Lego! Even though this tiny set is nothing compared to a 2000-piece set that I spent half of my paycheque on, I still love it! At first, I thought I could only build one out of the four models (duck, snowman, bush, and sheep). It turned out I could build all four of them! They make a great addition to my Lego collection. 11. Golden Snitch: In the Harry Potter books, if you catch this shiny golden ball, you get 150 points and likely end the Quidditch game with a win. Even though I’m not a Seeker or in Gryffindor, I felt like I won Christmas having this as one of the presents. 12. Colouring book: Sorry Josie but this is my least favourite present out of the whole calendar. I’m a huge Schitt’s Creek fan, but colouring is my weakness. I’m not sure why people think colouring can be a fun pastime. I mean have you looked at adult colouring books? They are more complicated than the Sistine Chapel ceiling. I would like to thank Josie for scoring A+ on this “12 Days of Cheer” event. I was feeling magical and excited like a kid on Christmas day, for 12 days in a row! The experience also taught me how to be more patient and not rip open all 12 presents in one day!
Photos by Nhi 'Jenny' Vo
issue 15// vol 48
Opinions
Have an idea for a story? opinions@theotherpress.ca
opinions // no. 12 • Brooks Nielsen’s new single is egocentric and tasteless • Some small habits that you can change for the better this year ...and that's everything!
Brooks Nielsen’s new single is egocentric and tasteless
Cover of 'All That You'll See Is Everything' by Brooks Nielsen
››The Growler’s lead singer highlights the wrong elements of why he was cancelled in his new track
CJ Sommerfeld Production Assistant
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rooks Nielsen—better known as the lead singer of the now-cancelled band The Growlers, has recently released three new singles. Among them, exists a track titled “All that you’ll see is everything” which undoubtedly outlines how he has been coping with his 2020 cancellation. The tune’s undisguised lyrics operate as if being read directly out of Nielsen’s diary—but while they are raw, they do not showcase any charm, but instead, egocentrism. Aside from the initiation of the Coronavirus, 2020 will forever be remembered as the year in which social injustices were brought to light—notably in the United States. Those signed to the independent record label Burger Records were a tornado of musicians who collapsed after a myriad of sexual misconduct allegations came forth. (L.A.-based shoegaze band Dayton Swim Club wrote a great track about this mass-cancellation of
Burger Records artists.) One of the label’s most prominent bands The Growlers were some of the star players of these accusations; following which, the troupe was rightfully cancelled. While these surf rock bandmembers essentially split following their cancellation, this did not stop co-founder Nielsen from continuing to make music. The first singles of his solo project were released in late 2021. One titled “All that you’ll see is everything” overtly ignores any wrongdoing on his end, and instead pouts about having lost social networks and adoration from the public, while repeatedly affirming his resiliency. “Nobody cares about me when I’m down / Especially me, so I get right back up / There ain’t no use in lying around / All that you’ll see is everything.” Nielsen can frame the situation as nobody caring about him when “he is down,” but frankly, what he and his band members had orchestrated and taken part in was not okay. When a person harms another, there is a good reason why others
separate themselves from the abuser. This natural aversion that people have to someone who has done something wrong is conducive to a good society as it acts as a sort of operant conditioning. Those who perform behaviours such as sexual assault—as was the case with Nielsen, are naturally punished by their peers. In the case of Nielsen, his fan base and social networks did not seem to stick around after everything blew up. In theory, this undesirable consequence should be one piece of the puzzle that encourages Nielsen to not repeat the behaviours for which he was punished. But we will have to see about that—according to his new tune: “There ain’t no use in lying around”. His advice: “When it gets quiet come up for air / Don’t get upset that no friends are there.” He seems to be so caught up in pitying himself over losing his friends that he has lost sight of why they are gone. Regardless of Nielsen being bummed that the public stopped caring about his music and that no one had come to his aid
during said time, what has been completely brushed under the rug is any awareness of the harm which he, his ex-band members and his ex-label caused a multitude of girls and women. And at its roots, that he did something wrong. The track’s spotlight shines on him—how the repercussions of his actions negatively affected him, and how he is rebounding, leaving the source and origin of all this uproar, in the shade. It is tasteless and lacking in judgement for Nielsen to emerge back into the public with a song victimizing himself without a drop of admission for the actual victims or acknowledgement that he had done something wrong. According to this track, pitying himself for having lost fans, friends and a record deal were the most paramount components of the sexual misconduct and orchestrated sexual assault events in which he had played key roles. Sorry Brooks Nielsen, regardless of your pity song I do not feel sorry for you, and I hope that others do not either.
issue 15// vol 48
opinions // no. 13
Irritating habits that need to stay in 2021
Photo by Hans Vivek on Unsplash
››Some small habits that you can change for the better this year
It's coming up on 2 years of dealing with Covid and social distancing has been required in most places, yet some people still think it’s ok to stand so close that people can feel their breath. Ash Sabinin Contributor
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any people make New Year’s Resolutions and often choose lofty, vague or hard-to-reach goals like “Be healthy” “Give up drinking” or “Travel more;” I think a better approach would be choosing small, manageable habits to work on throughout the year. Instead of setting potentially unattainable objectives and then getting discouraged when it doesn’t play out the way you envisioned, it’s better to find a few little things in your daily routine that you want to change. Below are a few bad habits that I find irritating and hope that everyone will leave behind in 2021. To begin, this is a bad habit that I, myself, am also guilty of (but working hard to kick): leaving items in the wrong aisle in a store. We’ve all done it at least once in our lives, we pick up something and then at some point we realize we don’t actually want to buy the item and then comes the
moral debate: do we make the trek back across the store to return the item to its rightful home or do we just tuck into one of the nearby shelves and walk away quickly. More often than not, people choose to just hide it amongst some other items and leave before anyone notices. Then some poor employee must find it and return it to its proper place when they probably have enough to deal with as it is. It may take a few extra moments so unless you’re really in a rush, just go put the item back. A habit that I cannot stand is applying too much perfume or cologne. Since the implementation of masks, it hasn’t been as much of a problem, but the real issue is when I’m fully masked and yet, somehow, someone’s cologne is still so overwhelming that I feel the need to get some fresh air. How many pumps must they be spraying each morning for it to affect others so strongly despite wearing masks and social distancing? Also, how do they not notice? This is just one of those things that grinds my gears and if you notice people giving you a wide berth after applying your
perfume or cologne maybe try scaling it back a bit. This often goes hand-in-hand with the pet peeve listed above, but I find it astounding how many people still stand way too close to others in public. It's coming up on 2 years of dealing with Covid and social distancing has been required in most places, yet some people still think it’s ok to stand so close that people can feel their breath. It’s a pet peeve of mine when people don’t respect my personal space but also just something I believe all people should have a common understanding of. Another habit that needs to stay in 2021 is leaving your bag on a separate seat on the bus or SkyTrain. If we’re on a pretty empty bus or SkyTrain car, it’s not a big deal at all honestly, I do it too when I don't want people sitting right next to me when there are other seats available. However, if the bus is crammed like a sardine tin and you’re sitting there with your bag on the seat next to you, you have essentially told everyone else standing that their comfort is a lower priority than your bag. Of course,
there are exceptions to this but, as a general rule, just put it on your lap. This is a more specific pet peeve in certain situations but when people start trying way too hard at singing well while hanging out with friends. Obviously, this doesn’t apply in some situations, like karaoke or concerts but this happened to me while celebrating new years day, where we were all listening to music and playing video games when one of us decides that this is their time to audition for The Voice and starts harmonizing with the song. Now not only do we now feel compelled to quiet our conversations to be respectful but also it completely changed the vibe and dynamic from just a chill hang-out to a performance with an (unwilling) audience. While changing these small habits may not magically improve your life overnight, they will help you become more courteous and respectful of other people who are sharing the same space with you, which will, in turn, help you become a better person.
Comic by CJ Sommerfeld
Comic
The Other Playlist
Ain't nothing changed any year Tariq Ghanzi Contributor very year right after Christmas people get really excited for the New Year. They make resolutions, they promise things and they make these weird “New Year, New me” posts. Two weeks later, they're the same person they’ve always been. Now that I think about it, most of the time we all listen to the same music we have always listened to anyways. I might just dislike a new artist out of reflex even if their music isn’t horrible. So with that in mind, I have created a shortlist of old and exceptional songs for you to keep playing as you go into this year largely unchanged from the last. It’s all rap and it starts out pretty rowdy, so if that’s not your thing you may have to wait for the next one.
1. I’m a soldier- Silkk The Shocker 2. Who want what- Beanie Sigel 3. What’s my name- DMX 4. We gonna make it- Jadakiss 5. Down and out- Cam’Ron 6. Overnight celebrity- Twista 7. Stay fly- Three 6 Mafia 8. Child of the night- Ludacris 9. Politics as usual- JAY-Z 10. Famous- Curren$y Illustration by Anna Machuik
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