The Other Press - Nov 3, 2020

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Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor  arts@theotherpress.ca

Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor  lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca

Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor  opinions@theotherpress.ca

Craig Allan CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writers

Position Open Entertainment Editor  humour@theotherpress.ca

Nhi 'Jenny' Vo Production Assistant

Billy Bui Arnaldo Fragozo Staff Photographers

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Position Open Staff Reporter Mo Hussain Sports Reporter

Timothy Easling Jerrison Oracion Jonathan Pabico Brandon Yip Senior Columnists Angela Frye Michelle Lim Contributors Cover layout by Lauren Kelly and Udeshi Seneviratne Feature layout by Nhi 'Jenny' Vo

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.

News

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

news // no. 3 • Newly renovated enrolment services is now a one-stop shop • Did Trump call all Mexicans ‘rapists’?

• Major risk, majority reward ...and that's everything!

Major risk, majority reward

Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne

› An interview with Douglas Professor Stewart Prest on the BC election

Craig Allan Staff Writer

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n September 21, BC NDP leader John Horgan—with a few months left in the NDP and a Green Party coalition government—decided to call a snap election during the pandemic to take a chance at consolidating power and claiming a majority. His gamble may have paid off, as the NDP (as of October 29) are projected to claim 55 seats (though many mail-in votes still need to be counted) and establish a majority government. To discuss the implications of this election win, the Other Press spoke with Douglas College Political Science Professor Stewart Prest about what this means for all the parties, and what British Columbians should expect in the next four years.

Prest says that now that the NDP may be controlling the legislature, they will be motivated to dispense the $1000 COVID relief benefits for families along with the advancement of $10 a day childcare. He points out that while the NDP had to work

with the Greens in the last government, most of the bills passed were NDP bills regardless of Green support. “They were not making a tremendous amount of concessions to the Greens.”

While election night seemed to be success for the NDP so far, as of right now it is a disaster for the BC Liberals, who saw themselves likely shut out of Vancouver Island and a majority of the Lower Mainland; this was their worst election showing in almost 30 years. When asked what the Liberals need to do to become effective competitors in BC politics again, Prest pointed out that they are already on that path by sacking Andrew Wilkinson.

“The leader sets the policy for the party,” so whoever they pick will set the tone for what the party will be in four years. He does admit though that the loss of urban parties is a big speed bump that the party will need to tackle in order to get back into power.

That may involve having to take on more progressive stands on issues like police brutality but do it without abandoning the social conservative members of the party

that still make up a big voting group.

When it comes to the scandals that plagued them during the election, Prest pointed out that these scandals were a real problem, especially the Laurie Throness incident, because that struck right at the centre of the divide between social Conservatives and progressive Conservatives in the party. “The socially Conservative members of the party likely did not take too kindly to Throness being removed from the party.” He also said the comments “reinforced the image of an ineffective leader” in regard to Wilkinson as someone who Prest says “was not in control of his party.”

When it comes to the Green Party— who maintained a projected three seats in the Legislature and won their first seat on the mainland—Prest said that while Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau proved herself an effective leader in the debate this election was not indicative of possible future success for the party. “They are making some inroads in other parts of the province and in the interior, which is a

good sign, but is not that important to the future success of the party.”

This election saw an all-time low in terms of votes. When asked if this is indicative of future degradation of the voting public, Prest pointed out that this may be more of an anomaly than an indication of a pattern since elections have gone up before this election. He chalks up the lack of turnout to the pandemic and apathetic Liberal voters resigning to defeat and not turning up to the polls. “I’m inclined to give the province a mulligan on this one.” Prest expects a return to a normal rise in voting when the pandemic is no longer a factor.

BC’s projected path could be set by the NDP for the next four years. Only time will tell how a potential majority NDP government will be viewed by the people.

For the Greens and Liberals, there will be building and rebuilding in the hopes that come time for the next election, they will have a secure base to challenge the NDP for control of the province.

news // no. 4

theotherpress.ca

New West campus gets another upgrade › Newly renovated enrolment services is now a one-stop shop Jessica Berget Assistant Editor

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a welcoming floorplan, new furniture (like softer seats for those long study sessions), custom millwork, and self-service kiosks.

There is also a testing centre where students doing assessment testing can write their exams in the newly dedicated space. The test centre will be able to hold up to 20 students and has individual exam

Photo by Billy Bui

hile the college remains relatively empty with few students walking its halls, many can look forward to seeing the newly renovated New West campus enrolment services when in-person classes

start up again.

The $10.5 million upgrade to the college’s enrolment office which started last fall will now be a hub for all students including services from financial aid, counseling, accessibility, career services, and student recruitment. The 25,000-square-foot area will now include

writing stations and other aspects to help maintain academic integrity, according to the Douglas College website. Funding for this project was due in part by the province of British Columbia (who donated $2 million) and the college’s capital reserve (consisting of $8.5 million).

This is the second major renovation of the college; at the beginning of the year, the college opened its doors to the four-million dollar library renovation. The enrolment services renovation follows the college’s goal of making accessible and responsive learning environments for students, which is part of their 2020 to 2025 strategic plan.

It was also designed to ensure there was a convenient space for all the needed resources to aid current and prospective students in using these services. The space was designed in mind of increasing visibility and easier access to these services.

Douglas College President Kathy Denton expands further on these responsive and easily accessible learning environments and how it helps students.

“The continuous enhancements being made to our facilities enable Douglas College to meet the needs of students now and for years to come,” said Denton. “By creating a learning environment that is adaptive, responsive, and forward-looking, we support our goal of graduating resilient global citizens with the knowledge and skills to adapt, innovate, and lead in a changing world.”

Did Trump call all Mexicans ‘rapists’?

Timothy Easling Senior Columnist

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t’s been commonly accepted in mainstream media that Donald Trump referred to all Mexicans as “rapists” during his 2016 presidential bid. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have both made reference to the quote in recent months and many outlets continue to do so—regardless of whether it is a neutral or anti-Trump piece.

The quote commonly referenced is this section: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you *pointing to the audience*.

They’re not sending you *pointing again*.

They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs.

They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”

Unfortunately, this is generally where most outlets stop. The very next line is: “And some, I assume, are good people!”

However, the important context comes as Trump continued: “It’s coming from more than Mexico. It’s coming from all over South and Latin America, and it’s coming probably from the Middle East. But we don’t know. Because we have no protection and we have no competence, we don’t know what’s happening. And it’s got to stop and it’s got to stop fast.”

As is obvious when more of the text

is revealed, Trump was referring to illegal immigrants who commit crimes—not Mexicans in general. Trump was not even referring just to Mexico, but rather, all the crime that was entering the country and the USA’s poor handling of the situation— something he later clarified: “The United States has become a dumping ground for Mexico and, in fact, for many other parts of the world. On the other hand, many fabulous people come in from Mexico and our country is better for it. But these people are here legally, and are severely hurt by those coming in illegally. I am proud to say that I know many hard working Mexicans— many of them are working for and with me… and, just like our country, my organization is better for it.”

As a note, the concern about incoming crime is well-founded based on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Fiscal Year 2019 Enforcement and Removal Operations Report. Assault—number four on the list of Criminal Charges and Convictions for ERO Administrative Arrests—accounted for 45,804 total offences. There are 28 other criminal categories listed by the report, including sexual assault, weapon offences, larceny, homicide, and kidnapping.

Have something you want fact-checked?

Send it in to us at news@theotherpress.ca!

Illustration by Anastasia Simonovich

› Fact-checking a popular claim

Sports

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sports // no. 5 • Loss puts the Whitecaps in a tough position • The doctor is out • Rays fall in classic ...and more

A deeper look into Lebron James vs Michael Jordan › Who is the best NBA player of all-time?

Mo Hussain Sports Reporter

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ne of the biggest debates that has been covered in barbershops and sports group chats over the past decade has been the debate as to who is the “better” basketball player—Michael Jordan or LeBron James? The debate particularly escalated this year after ESPN released a 10-part behind-the-scenes documentary on Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls in April, and James won his fourth championship with the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in October.

The answer to this question will never be plainly obvious; determining who is the better of the two is very much

a subjective argument with many varying considerations. In this series, we are going to take a brief look at the history of this particular debate and present both sides of the argument as fairly as possible. Who is the best? That’s completely up to you.

Believe it or not, this debate dates to the early 2000s, when James was still in high school. James attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio where he broke out as one of the best high school basketball players in the country in just his junior year due to his unprecedented abilities at such a young age; this, in addition to Sports Illustrated putting James on the cover of the February 18 edition of their magazine in 2002 (dubbing him as “the chosen one”), put the spotlight on

James as the potential next big generational star after Jordan, who was nearing the end of his career at that time.

However, as many of us know, there are plenty of people across many different fields who look very promising in one way or another—whether it’s the next big athlete, actor, politician, innovator, etc.

Many have seen people with potential come and go, but for someone to actually fulfill that potential and narrative surrounding them? Not very common.

But James somehow managed to do just that. From that Sports Illustrated cover and on, he and his team played exceptional basketball in his senior year.

He was selected number one overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft,

headed into arguably the most anticipated rookie season for any athlete in any sport, and capped it off by winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2004.

James’ mercurial rise, in addition to him wearing the same jersey number as Jordan, pretty much confirmed to the basketball world that he would be the guy who was going to potentially challenge Jordan’s status as the best player to have ever played in the NBA. But before we get too caught up in the buzz surrounding James, we’ll have to consider the other side of the coin and take a look at who the so-called “chosen one” is up against. Stay tuned for next week!

Many have seen people with potential come and go, but for someone to actually fulfill that potential and narrative surrounding them? Not very common.

sports// no. 6

theotherpress.ca

Whitecaps playoff hopes dip after loss to the Timbers

› Loss puts the Whitecaps in a tough position Mo Hussain Sports Reporter

Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo

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he Vancouver Whitecaps’ playoff chances took a drastic fall on Saturday after losing 1-0 to the Portland Timbers.

The club’s postseason hopes will now depend not only on their own play but outside factors as well.

The lone goal came from Timbers midfielder Yimmi Chará in the 61st minute with the help of a cross from teammate Jorge Villafaña. The Whitecaps then had a couple of chances to tie the game after that goal, but unfortunately none of them got past the goal line.

The Whitecaps needed to at least tie the game in the second half, as after Whitecaps and Timbers wrapped up the first half, the Colorado Rapids had defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-1, putting the Whitecaps under a certain amount of

pressure to keep their playoff chances alive.

“It was a close game and unfortunately some details like the goal they scored made the difference,” said Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos in a press conference after Sunday’s loss. “We were disappointed because we needed to get out with at least with a point. We still have a chance but we depend a lot on the results of Colorado and San Jose right now.”

In order for the Whitecaps’ playoff hopes to somehow come to fruition, the Whitecaps now need to beat the LA Galaxy on Sunday afternoon, and hope the MLS reschedules the postponed matchup between San Jose Earthquakes and LAFC, and for San Jose’s final two opponents to beat San Jose. If the league does not reschedule the matchup between the Earthquakes and LAFC, San Jose will clinch the final playoff spot.

The doctor is out › Legendary broadcaster Mike Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

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n October 19, one of the most notable broadcasters of NHL hockey games hung up the microphone: Mike “Doc” Emrick retired after a 47-year career. He had been the main hockey play-by-play voice for national broadcasts on both NBCSN and NBC. Notably, Emrick’s list of games announced is prolific and impressive. He announced 22 Stanley Cup Finals and 45 Stanley Cup Playoffs/Final game sevens.

Also, he has done the play-by-play for six Olympics, 14 NHL All-Star Games, and 19 NHL Winter Classics and Stadium Series games. In total, Emrick states that he has announced approximately over 3,750 professional and Olympic hockey games.

Importantly, it should be noted that while Emrick has retired, he will still be a member of the NBC Sports department by doing occasional work for its NHL coverage in the future. Emrick plans to write and provide voice narration for special video essays.

Emrick had his own unique style to calling a hockey game. He had a flair for the dramatic, knowing exactly when and how to elevate and project his voice appropriately at the right moment.

When a big goal was scored during a playoff game or a cup final, you could count on Emrick’s voice to make you stop whatever you were doing—and just watch and listen.

Emrick has received numerous accolades and awards during his long and distinguished career. In December 2011, he was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame—having the distinct honour of being the first media member inducted. Emrick also

won eight national Emmy Awards for sports broadcasting excellence, making him the only hockey broadcaster to be awarded with even one. In 2017, Emrick was named

by Sports Illustrated as the greatest sportscaster of all time.

In an interview posted on the NBC Sports website in October 2020, Sam Flood (Executive Producer and President, Production for NBC and NBCSN) said Emrick’s legacy in hockey broadcasting is unparalleled: “Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick is a national treasure—simply put, he’s one of the best ever to put on a headset in the history of sports broadcasting. Doc’s love of the game and his unmatched style produced true artistry, engaged new fans and quickly became the soundtrack of hockey [….] Doc always found the right words to meet the moment. It’s impossible to put into words the impact Doc has had not only on the game of hockey, but for anyone who has had the distinct pleasure to work with him.”

Emrick was very proud of his accomplishments as a broadcaster.

He has been thankful and humbled by the praise he has received—as he stated in an interview with the New York Post shortly after announcing his retirement: “I’m not proud of myself, necessarily, but I’m thankful that I was healthy during all that time despite the cancer scare in 1991 and the surgery that resulted. I’m very grateful that I’m healthy, and I guess I’m proudest of the fact that fans still invite me to their Fan Club meetings, and I like either going or attending vicariously, because the fans are the backbone of the sport.”

Photo by Bruce C. Cooper via Wikimedia Commons

Emrick hangs up the headset

issue 9// vol 47

sports // no. 7

LA Dodgers take home seventh championship › Rays fall in classic

Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

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nlike COVID-19, the World Series is over. Much like the Stanley Cup and the NBA Finals, baseball’s Fall Classic was like no other. The LA Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on October 27 by a score of 3-1 in game six to win the World Series 4-2. Due to the pandemic, the World Series was held in a playoff bubble at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas—with limited inperson attendance.

In game six, the Rays had a 1-0 lead with starting pitcher, Blake Snell, having a dominant game. Then Rays manager, Kevin Cash, removed Snell from the game to bring in a reliever. The decision would backfire on the Rays as the Dodgers scored two runs in the sixth inning, with Mookie Betts later adding insurance with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to seal the Dodgers’ victory.

Notably, it was the Dodgers’ first championship in 32 years (when they defeated the Oakland Athletics in five games in 1988). It was the Dodgers’ seventh

championship in franchise history. For the Rays, it was their second appearance in a World Series since 2008—when they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, also in five games.

Unfortunately, the celebrations were only temporary when it was revealed that Dodgers’ third baseman, Justin Turner, had tested positive for COVID-19. He was removed from the game following the seventh inning after Major League Baseball was informed that he had the virus.

Dodgers President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, stated that Turner was in quarantine inside a doctor’s office located to the side.

Turner refused to listen to instructions from security to immediately leave the field. He was later shown celebrating on the field with his teammates wearing a mask.

However, Turner later removed his mask before taking a team photo. Major League Baseball stated the behaviour displayed by Turner risked the safety of his teammates and other staff of the Dodgers.

On October 28, MLB released a statement regarding the incident involving Turner: “Immediately upon receiving

notice from the laboratory of a positive test, protocols were triggered, leading to the removal of Justin Turner from last night’s game. Turner was placed into isolation for the safety of those around him. However, following the Dodgers’ victory, it is clear that Turner chose to disregard the agreedupon joint protocols and the instructions he was given regarding the safety and protection of others.”

“While a desire to celebrate is understandable, Turner’s decision to leave isolation and enter the field was wrong and put everyone he came in contact with at risk. When MLB Security raised the matter of being on the field with Turner, he emphatically refused to comply.”

Nevertheless, the World Series had some interesting and wild moments. In game four, with the Dodgers leading by a score of 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth, Tampa Bay had two men on first and second base. The Rays’ Brett Phillips hit a single towards centre field—bringing in the tying run. Then a crazy sequence of blunders occurred that would have made The Three Stooges envious. Centre fielder

Chris Taylor, while trying to glove the ball, had it hit his foot while Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, kept running from first base. Taylor recovered and threw the ball to first baseman Max Muncy, who then relayed it to catcher Will Smith. Arozarena, while running around third base, tripped and fell—and was going to be out by 30 feet. However, Smith dropped the ball and it went several feet behind home plate— allowing Arozarena to dive home with his hands touching home plate—securing an 8-7 victory for Tampa Bay. Finally, the Dodgers’ Corey Seager won the MVP Award. He was the eighth player (and first player since Madison Bumgarner in 2014), to win both the MVP of the World Series and League Championship Series in the same season. Seager batted .328 in 18 playoff games for the Dodgers.

Significantly, no one was more proud of the Dodgers’ World Series victory than legendary retired Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who posted on Twitter: “’55, ’59, ’63, ’65, ’81, ’88, and now 2020. What a year. What a season. What a team.

Congratulations @Dodgers.”

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

Arts

• Unforgettable jingles and ads from childhood • ‘American Utopia’ Review • Finding my husband’s lover with dad ...and more

You can’t have an Indian wedding without these songs › Everyone will leave (seriously)

Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor

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“Amplifier” – Imran Khan This song sucks so bad now it’s the best. I could probably recite the dance moves in my sleep, and I can assure you, every other brown person you know is the same. Fake driving with one arm, pumpin’ those bhangra arms for the amplifier boomin’ music—it’s simple. The lyrics are easy and catchy, the meaning is just dumb enough to laugh at together, and just overall a classic.

“Chite Suit Te” – Geeta Zaildar If there’s anything a woman in a suit

loves while dancing, it’s a song about wearing a suit. Again, easy and fun lyrics, a little silly, but so many action words to conjure up dance moves. If nothing else, just open-palm point to the person opposite to you in the dance circle and you’re set.

At this point you may have realized that the song itself matters less than how good it is for dancing in a ring. It’s all about expression. No one’s trying to awkwardly do gidha in a circle to songs they don’t know.

Where’s the fun in that?!

“Dhol Jageero Da” – Panjabi MC If there’s a banger in Punjabi music, this is the one. We’ve got a sick dholi

banging it out; the beat is as hard as it gets so pack it up, gidha hips, and get ready, thighs, for it is bhangra time with this one.

Extra points if you’ve got a dholi at the party, or if there’s dhols floating around the dance floor.

Warning: some drunk uncle is going to be lifted on someone’s head. They usually defy gravity but keep a first aid kit on hand (or the bar fully stocked since both will work the same).

little slow for a song about being drunk, so depending on your party guestlist, I do suggest seeking out a remix (there’s a pretty cool trap one on YouTube) but the DJ might just take this one to do their own thing.

Play this one later in the night, because as mentioned, it is about being drunk. Then again, I suggest playing it in the middle of the dance portion of the night because this one’s good for the people who are buzzed and ready to take some party shots.

“Main Hogaya Sharabi” – Panjabi MC Panjabi MC is out here with the bhangra songs. This one may be a

“De De Gehra” – Balbir Baporai This song is very energetic and while the last two tracks have high bhangra energy, this one’s pure gidha and it’s fantastic. The male and female vocal back-and-forth makes the perfect song for trading off with the rest of your group!

Photos by Sonam Kaloti

ndian weddings bear the brunt of high pressure—for being the absolute best. It’s a weeklong hell… for the parents of the couple, anyway. If you’re a cousin, however, you’re in luck! It’s about to be a week of fun, food, drinking, and dancing. Emphasis on the dancing, because if the reception is good, that dance floor will be packed until the usual 2 am kickout.

For those couples who just don’t know which songs to tell the DJ to play (then again, if they don’t play these on their own, they probably shouldn’t be DJ’ing an Indian wedding), here’s a compiled list of the universally loved (and simultaneously hated due to overplaying) necessities.

“Rail Gaddi” - Chirag Pehchan The absolute last song you should play. This one comes at 1:55 am as the last hurrah before the banquet hall party is disbanded. Everyone connects, forming a chain by holding onto each others’ shoulders, and choo choo train dance around the hall. It’s super fun, and most comfortable when it’s just the immediate and closer extended family (but a longer train is always really fun too).

Hopefully, these songs will bring your wedding playlist more up to speed. Whether you’re Indian or not, some of these songs surpass any language barrier.

issue 9// vol 47

arts // no. 9

Making connections face to face is better › ‘American Utopia’ Review Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

    

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on Saturday Night Live in February, I thought that the band was reuniting; instead it featured the musical, American Utopia, that he made and was performing on Broadway. The musical—which is based on Byrne’s recent solo album of the same name—had a limited run and ended a month before the coronavirus pandemic began. While the musical may possibly be performed again next year depending on what happens with the pandemic, Spike Lee was able to film a performance of it and the film version of the musical aired on HBO last month on October 17.

I do not know a lot about the history of Talking Heads but watching it was like watching a Paul McCartney concert after he abandoned The Beatles, like Byrne may have abandoned his band. The musical is a lecture where Byrne talks about connections as well as the major events that are happening right now—especially on Donald Trump and African Americans. It has Promotional image for 'David Byrne's American Utopia' via HBO

alking Heads are being heard a lot in the year 2020. Earlier last summer, I watched the concert film that they

made—Stop Making Sense directed by Jonathan Demme—showing the band at its peak and how they might have inspired Arcade Fire. The band’s songs were also heard in various commercials for shows on Amazon Prime Video.

When I watched David Byrne (the former lead member of the band) perform

a contemporary dance look, and the set is almost empty with just him, two dancers, and his band.

All of them wear the signature suit that Byrne wears in his concerts with Talking Heads and the entire cast is diverse: one of the bongo players in the band, Stephane San Juan, is from Toronto.

Byrne is also a naturalized citizen who immigrated from Scotland. The musical additionally has songs from the band, Byrne’s solo career, and a cover of a song

by Janelle Monáe. The band’s songs as well as Byrne’s solo music have an alternative sound combined with a Caribbean beat, much like world fusion music.

At times, the cast would perform in a chorus line before suddenly stopping and then dancing with no music. There were sections in the musical which tackled topics that were powerful and I will delve deeper into them in a future story.

In Stop Making Sense, the set of the concert is being built as it progresses— slightly similar to American Utopia where the drapes are lifted near the end of it. There were moments in both films where Byrne would stumble and sing near a lightbulb.

Before and after performances, Byrne and the rest of the cast would cycle to and from their apartments to the theatre.

American Utopia is available on HBO Max and Crave.

Finding my husband’s lover with dad › ‘On the Rocks’ review Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

     y favourite film of all time is Sofia Coppola’s 2003 Academy Award winning film Lost in Translation. It got me interested in going to Tokyo with its shots of the city. Additionally, Coppola’s screenplay has moments that are smart and well-timed if you are patient. The film is also the beginning of her collaborations with Bill Murray; both of them would work together again in the 2015 Netflix Christmas special A Very Murray Christmas and on her next film On the Rocks—which was first a limited release and later made available to everyone on Apple TV+.

Rashida Jones, who was also in A Very Murray Christmas, is in the film as well. If you did not enjoy A Very Murray Christmas since it has Christmas-special-type moments, you may not enjoy the humour of On the Rocks—though older viewers will get some of Murray’s jokes throughout.

Laura Keane (Rashida Jones) is happily married to Dean (Marlon Wayans) with their two children living in New York City.

When Dean starts to get very successful at his job he begins working outside and seeing more people including women; thus, Laura is not sure if her husband is dating one of his co-workers. She asks her rich father, Felix (Bill Murray), to help her investigate in a search that leads to Laura questioning if her father is helping her to

Promotional image for 'On the Rocks' via Apple

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find out what Dean has been doing in his job recently. The film takes place through a period of a week and every day begins in a similar way, which can be repetitive.

It does have moments where a serious conversation is occurring and then, unexpectedly, something funny happens.

We do see a lot of scenes that take place with Laura and Felix drinking martinis in a restaurant or a bar—and they are typically darkly lit. This style is seen frequently in Coppola’s modern films. There were

a lot of beautiful shots of New York City throughout the film and some of them showed places that were also shown in A Very Murray Christmas.

Coppola’s use of the music of Phoenix in her films and her collaborations with the French band (who also did the score of the film) show that Coppola is a big fan. Because this film airs on Apple TV+, there is a lot of product placement of Apple products throughout the film where all of the people in the film use iPhones, Laura

uses an iMac at work, and Coppola likely edited the film on a Mac. Compared to Lost in Translation, where Bob is a father figure to Charlotte, Felix is more like an investigator to Laura than a father figure.

Jones’ and Wayans’ acting in the film is great, and Wayans was surprisingly funny. On the Rocks is the father-anddaughter film that can be surprisingly funny if you are patient, and you may even get some of the jokes in it. On the Rocks is available now on Apple TV+.

arts // no. 10

theotherpress.ca

Unforgettable jingles and ads from childhood › Popular commercials and ads ranked

#4 DrugsNot4Me The meaning of this ad isn’t light whatsoever. You’re taken through the journey of this teenage girl falling into addiction. It’s not pretty, but it is reality for a lot of people. The song is the most terrifying aspect, being a play on “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” by Barney, with lyrics changed to narrate the downward slope of what’s being shown on screen. Many comments on the YouTube video describe the ad as having scarred them while also having scared them into never touching drugs.

Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor

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o, these products and services may not have won me over, but they definitely caught my attention—for years. Which one is the best, and which is the most reluctantly liked? Let’s see. #10 Marineland The song is fun and great and catchy—sure—but we can’t just ignore the implications of Marineland being exposed for poor conditions for animals. There’s magic up on the mountain high… and secrets hidden below the water, apparently.

Sorry not sorry, Marineland!

#8 Speedy Glass I thought this jingle was more of a bop than it is. It’s also really short. Loving the rhythm guitar, but let’s be real, it deserves a drum break.

Still of 'DrugsNot4Me TV ad 'Mirror'' on YouTube

Still of 'prevent-it.ca' commercial on YouTube

#9 Prevent-It.ca I’d really rather I didn’t remember this one, but the ending scene is burned into my mind (no pun intended). It feels too real and close, but of course that’s a positive for the message which is intended. Then again, it’s more nightmare fuel than a helpful reminder to be safe.

#3 Alarm Force Now that’s what I’m talking about! Heavy music, heavy vocals; it just makes you want to scream. I’m suddenly so excited about home security! #2 House Hippo The house hippo will always haunt me in a positive way. I’ve always wished they were real, and ironically, as a kid I thought they were. I didn’t hear the woman at the end say they aren’t real… selective hearing as a four-year-old I suppose. This isn’t number one because it still makes me sad that they do not exist.

#7 itravel2000.com “Call 1-866-WOW-DEAL!” Oh yeah, that one’s staying with me. Then again, I did confuse “866” for “886” and didn’t remember it being a travel jingle so looks like there’s a pretty big flaw. #6 Sprott Shaw Community College “She doesn’t even go here!” I hear as I sing the jingle driving by.

It’s fun and happy and makes me wish Douglas College had a jingle. Here, I’ll make one right now: “Douglas College… who cares when it was made! Have fun tripping on the stairs!”

Still of 'House Hippo' commercial on YouTube

Still of 'Yop - Me Mama' commercial on YouTube

#5 Yop Me Mama The song is great and funky. Unsure of how the drink tastes, but I am lactose intolerant so I won’t be the one to tell you. The video is a little alarming with all the CGI mouth movements, but that’s likely one of the reasons to why it’s unforgettable. Something just feels a little too off for such a happy song

#1 Sleep Country Why buy a mattress anywhere else?

A bunch of Canadians are packed in a car and this jingle comes on—who isn’t singing the “ding?” Trick question: everyone is singing the “ding.” Now, for who actually owns a mattress from Sleep Country, that one might be a little harder to answer!

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

Life & Style

life & style // no. 11 • The end of video rental services?

• Desk exercises to keep you active • A conversation about Día de Los Muertos ...and more

Dinguses and Dragons: the great campaign debate › Should you purchase a premade campaign or ‘homebrew’ your own?

Welcome to Dinguses and Dragons, a weekly column aiming at demystifying and introducing the game of D&D to new and potential players

F

rom the moment you step up to the proverbial plate and tell yourself, “I want to try Dungeon Mastering (DMing),” you’ll be faced with one important question: should you purchase a premade campaign or “homebrew”—AKA come up with your own?

In D&D a campaign refers to a series of sessions, usually sharing the same characters, setting, or overarching plot. D&D campaigns can be as short (anything longer than one session, which is referred to as a “one shot”) or as long as you want (the London Free Press ran an article in 2019 about a campaign that has lasted 38 years). I like to think

of campaigns as a season of a television show, where some of the characters or themes may return next season/ campaign, but the story shifts. Defining your game with a specific timeline also helps keep the narrative concise, whereas open-ended campaigns might drag on.

One of the biggest factors for deciding between a premade and a homebrew campaign is how much spare time you have. Homebrewing your campaign and starting from scratch can be a huge commitment, and the work truly never feels complete. (Speaking from a DM who often scrambles together details mere minutes before a session begins.) There’s no golden ratio of how much time and prep work goes into a single session; I’ve heard one hour of prep leads to one hour of gameplay, which sounds reasonable to me. The party might also completely sidestep or ignore what you’ve prepared, so that ratio is never consistent.

When you’re homebrewing, every single aspect comes from you. What are the villains’ motives and plans? Where will the combats take place? What are the nearby cities or locations the party can visit? If this blank slate sounds exciting, you might want to dive right into your homebrew campaign; if it’s nerve-wracking just reading about it, then you should definitely start with a premade campaign.

“But Jacey, where do I purchase a premade D&D campaign?” Literally anywhere on the internet. Give Google the ol’ tap-tap and you’ll have a bounty on your hands within seconds. The great thing about 2020 is almost anyone can write their campaign and make it available online. DnD Beyond is a great starting point, but I also suggest researching the campaigns before purchasing them to make sure they’re a good fit for your group. (For example, some campaigns are geared towards newer players at lower levels, whereas

some campaigns are for advanced, higher-level players.)

Now, let’s talk about the Benjamins. There are plenty of free premade campaigns available online, and some of them are even decent, but keep in mind that you get what you pay for though, so there will probably be less juicy content. Fortunately, most premade campaigns only cost between $5 and $20, which split between your group should be inconsequential.

(Another good point: never ever assume that the cost is yours alone; share that burden among your friend group and have them e-transfer you. Some people even argue that the DM shouldn’t have to pay for things, since they’re already putting in countless hours behind the scenes, but we’ll save that for another column.) On the other hand, homebrewing your own campaign won’t cost you anything except your sweet, sweet free time and energy.

And while purchasing a premade adventure seems like a shortcut, it doesn’t completely exempt the DM from doing more work. In fact, once a DM gets their hands on a premade campaign, they’ll have to read through it and familiarize themselves enough to know the story enough that they don’t have to constantly look things up in the middle of a game.

Homebrew campaigns don’t have lore to follow aside from the one you pick for it.

The short answer here is no campaign is better than the other.

There are times in your DMing career where a premade campaign just fits your schedule/ life better, and there are times where you’ll want to flex those creative muscles and homebrew your own.

The important thing is you have fun and kill your friends’ characters the appropriate amount.

Happy DMing!

Photo by Michelle Lim

Jacey Gibb Distribution Manager

The uncertain vict › America’s next president will be

Matthew

Opinion

N

ovember 3 is fast approaching (though you may be reading this after that day has come and gone).

The strange and violent turmoil of this past summer may come to a head as some ballots are counted while others continue to pour in. Here in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already said that no matter the results, Canada will continue to work with whomever is chosen by the American people. However, the unique dynamics driving this election cannot be overlooked: the disastrous shouting match that both men put forth as the first debate, the shocking announcement of the President’s contraction of the coronavirus (and subsequent quick recovery), the fear of violence that may follow the election, and the economic pain that has been the story for millions of Americans throughout the pandemic—and lest we forget the continued spectre of police violence and racial tensions that looms over the American image and internal dynamics. Both men have been eager to castigate the other as the hand that will destroy the nation while portraying themselves as the hand that will rebuild, yet is it debatable how much good is in either of their legacies or future proposals. Still, here we are, a world as one watching an empire trapped in hysterics elect a leader to either correct its course or hasten its downfall.

Thus far, most predictions in mainstream media have Biden set to win the election; everyone from Politico to US election predictor Alan Lichtman are favouring Biden to return to the White House, only this time as Mr. President (granted almost every single poll got the 2016 election wrong).

However, we are where we are in our world today because the Teflon Don has already achieved what seemed to be the impossible: in the 2016 election, although he lost the popular vote by 2.9 million votes, he was able to secure the electoral college and climb from The Apprentice’s high-backed chair into the world’s most powerful office.

Which winds will blow and land a septuagenarian in the office this year?

Despite right-wing commentators like Ben Shapiro describing Joe Biden as a “Potemkin village of a candidate,” Biden is not at all popular with the left; in fact, Biden has gone out of his way to remind those on the left that he put down Bernie Sanders in the primaries and has supposedly closed the door— albeit gently—to people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Though some may think Biden better than Trump, the fact that he will not support Medicare for All in the midst of a global pandemic wounds him in the eyes of the poor and downtrodden. And though Democrats tell workers they fight for them more than Republicans do, Biden has not managed to shake the stigma of NAFTA sucking jobs out of America (as former presidential candidate Ross Perot predicted).

While older voters tend to lean his way, Biden is nowhere near as popular with young POC, the group that many thought would be most alienated

by Trump. According to polling data from Democracy Fund and UCLA Nationscape, Biden and Democrats struggle more with the young black voter; and it’s not surprising if you consider that this is the man who infamously authored the 1994 crime bill, who spoke highly of his segregationist

coworkers and declared to radio host Charlamagne Tha God, that, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.” And the Latino youth who came out to support “Tio Bernie” have not been drawn to Uncle Joe and his strangely hairy legs. Florida and Arizona, both states with large Latino

populations, have shown increased support for Trump amongst Latinos. Not exactly a good sign for dear ole’ Joe. If Trump won in 2016 due in no small part to the fact that he ran against

ameowrica!

The unfortunate reality is that fe Joe Biden; many who are voting fo

tory of an old man the oldest ever, but who will it be?

w Fraser

ns Editor

Biden are voting against Trump.

Trump’s previous high approval rating of 49 percent has been washed away by the selfinduced beatings he has taken in the form of his COVID approval ratings which fell to 43 percent in October.

Though many won’t admit it, it seems to be a reasonable surmisal to say that had coronavirus not dragged our world to a standstill, Trump may have been comfortably ahead in public support.

Indeed, Democrats as a whole, and Joe Biden in particular, will be riding what may prove to be the largest rejection vote in American history. It is not for the policies Biden has proposed that will open the oval office doors to him again; it’s not for his radical, hope-filled campaign messages that Americans have braved a pandemic to line up for hours in order to vote; for many, the cold, horrified opinion that four more years of Trump might be impossible to survive—coupled with a disgusted rejection of what may be created if nothing is changed—is what makes Biden’s name on the ballot viable.

However, alongside his loyal contingent of dedicated and unshakeable supporters, Trump has managed to pull rappers like Lil Wayne, Lil Pump and 50 cent (though 50 is now saying he never liked him) into the fold. Granted many are minimally motivated by stars on either side, and celebrity endorsements of Trump may be meaningless, Trump’s support amongst Black and Latino men—like the aforementioned rappers—has grown.

On top of this, anyone voting for Trump is motivated to cast that ballot for him.

Despite his unique unpopularity, Trump may be able to wiggle out a win simply because too few people want Joe Biden compared to those who really do want Trump.

Though I mentioned that the left does not see Biden as a man from their ranks, Trump’s and the Republican party’s efforts to paint Biden as such

ameowrica!

ew are likely motivated to vote for or Biden are voting against Trump.

may actually land with some Americans.

As much as he has done anything, Trump has tried to paint Biden as a destroyer. His claims that Biden would “indoctrinate our children […] abolish the suburbs,” or the strange accusation that Biden “hurt God […] guns […] energy,” may find a home amongst some voting blocks. More accurately, Biden’s “return to normal” rhetoric is a thinly coded promise to continue the very policies and disregard for the working poor that made Trump possible in the first place. Though it is probable few people see Biden as the anti-Christ hellbent on annihilating suburbia, he is rightly recognizable as the embodiment of all that failed or broke and led to Trump’s demagoguery; 47 long years in politics for Biden and nary a feather for his cap. Obama may have chosen Biden as a symbol to the establishment that he was not too radical and that he would not shake up the system too much. Trump may not be running against a radical like Bernie Sanders, he may not be opposing an Alice Cooperesque anti-Christ, but he is facing the old rock that stood against real progress.

So, what is to be made of all of this? Well, the first thing is that it is not impossible for Trump to recapture lightning and get re-elected.

The second is that neither of these two historically old candidates are particularly desirable for their benefits to the world at-large. Dr. Cornel West said that he would rather a Joe Biden neoliberal disaster than a Donald Trump neofascist catastrophe. Which would you rather have?

Photos via Airbnb

Hillary Clinton (the most beatable woman in modern politics), Biden’s potential victory may come on account of Trump’s tremendous ill-repute.

Nothing could be a bigger godsend for the seemingly senile saviour than Trump’s behaviour. The unfortunate reality is that few are likely motivated to vote for Joe Biden; many who are voting for

life & style // no. 14

theotherpress.ca

The last Blockbuster Brandon Yip Senior Columnist

G

oing to the video store to rent movies was a pleasurable form of leisure in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. Then the arrival of streaming movie services—such as Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video—was a game-changer. People no longer needed to leave their homes to rent movies. Thus, video stores in North America eventually became obsolete, and thousands of video stores would close.

Notably, one video store franchise that had great success was Blockbuster.

During its peak in 2004, Blockbuster had over 9,000 stores worldwide, with over 60,000 people employed. The company had revenues of $5.9 billion and its market value was $5 billion. Unfortunately, the company lost significant revenue in the 2000s and later filed for bankruptcy in 2010—with over $900 million in debt.

This led to the closing of a plethora of Blockbuster stores. In March 2019, a Blockbuster location in Perth, Australia closed its doors—leaving the Bend, Oregon store as the last remaining Blockbuster open on the planet.

Sandi Harding is the store manager at the Bend location. She has been with the store since 2004 and has seen the peaks

and valleys of the business—especially having to adjust business operations when other Blockbuster stores began closing.

Notably, when the pandemic arrived in March 2020, the store closed down for a month before reopening on April 17 with reduced store hours.

Harding says the pandemic has affected their store operations. Only a few customers are allowed into the store at a time with social distancing markers on the floor. Also, there is a curb-side pickup service available. People can call the store to either purchase or rent movies. Staff will wear masks and gloves while sanitizing the movies, and then place them inside a Ziplock bag—before bringing it out to the customer. Interestingly, after the store had reopened, Harding noticed the most popular movies customers had requested were Outbreak and Contagion—along with other pandemic-themed films.

In August 2020, Harding converted the store into an Airbnb. The space was only available for three individual onenight reservations on September 18, 19, and 20. Harding said she wanted to create a nostalgic throwback to the 1990s for customers to enjoy and reminisce about— reliving the experience of watching videos at home. The cost to stay inside the store was only $4 for one night. The rental

Illustration by Athena Little

› The end of video rental services?

allowed for a maximum of four people and recommended groups to be from the same household. Customers who stayed overnight were provided with a sofabed, a VCR, a giant television, and free snacks.

They were free to watch a pre-selected list of movie titles from the 1990s—or anything else they discovered in the store.

Particularly, Harding recalls a memorable encounter with a recent Airbnb customer, during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show on October 12: “The best part was there was a couple that came in here. And [they] brought their home videos on VHS that they could not watch because they didn’t have a VHS player at home. And they got to spend the evening watching those. And that was probably one of the sweetest things.”

Finally, Harding hopes to continue

running the last Blockbuster store on the planet. Despite the pandemic which has posed many challenges, the store remains open—and to the delight of loyal customers. Harding says the store has been steadfast and resilient in lasting for so long. She and her staff have no plans to go anywhere, telling VICE in May 2020: “At first, I think I was more nervous about people getting sick, or if even one person gets sick. I was more concerned with that than the business. The longer it goes on, the more stress there is for everyone, and the more I’m like ‘Oh gosh, can we really sustain this?’ [...] But we’re still making plans and pushing forward and we’re the last one for a reason. We don’t go down without a fight. So, we’re going to keep fighting for a while.”

Hit the gym on the job in your seat › Desk exercises to keep you active

A

s a student and a modern world worker, you might find yourself often sedentary—socializing, travelling, studying, and working in office-type environments are all done in a seated position. Sitting down limits the number of calories you burn per day, increases your risk of weight gain, and increases the risk of illness and disease including high blood pressure and diabetes.

People who work on their feet all day have an unexpected perk of being more

active than those of us who work desk jobs. Working at a desk or other sedentary positions requires a little more effort and creativity to keep active and in shape. Now is the time to make better use of slower days at the office! I’ve stumbled across a couple of exercises that work well in the work day, and the best part is there’s no startup cost or props beyond the desk and office chair.

So, what are you waiting for? Roll your neck, stretch out your arms and legs, touch your toes, and get at it! There’s literally no excuse to not get moving.

Triceps dips This exercise works well with a stationary chair, not a wheeled one! Place your hands on the front edge of the chair, facing forward and palms flat. Bend your elbows straight back and lower yourself straight down several inches, making sure your back is as close to the chair as possible.

Straighten your arms to pull yourself back up. Do this 25 times.

Arm circles As simple as it sounds, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, arms extended in a ‘T’ shape. Move your arms in small circles, 20 times forwards and 20 times backwards.

Desk push-ups Start by making sure your desk will support your bodyweight! Place your hands on the surface of your desk at shoulder-width apart, palms flat. Take a couple of steps back to ensure you will be able to lower yourself successfully. Remember to keep your core tight when lowering yourself

down to the desk, then push back up until your arms are straight but not locked. Do 25 reps.

Wall push-ups If your desk does not support your weight—hopefully, you figured this out without injury or damage to the desk— then try the same thing against a wall!

Chair squats The perfect between clients, meetings, or during phone calls exercise! Easy to do and definitely a butt-shaper! Simply stand up from your chair and lower yourself back down as if you’re about to sit, but stopping just shy of the seat of your chair. Keep your weight in your heels to work those glutes!

Repeat this 30 times—it’s an easier one, so why not?

twisting your body down towards your knee, then return to a seated position and repeat with the other knee and opposite elbow. Do 30 twists. For an added exercise, bring a yoga mat to work and do some crunches on the floor.

Lower-abs leg lifts This exercise is so subtle you can do it anytime! Sit straight up with both feet flat on the floor, lift one leg up off the floor at a time, keeping your core tight. To make the move more challenging, lift both legs up at the same time. Do 25 reps. To make it even more challenging, balance a weight or paperweight on your feet.

Calf raises Stand up behind your desk, holding onto it for support. Raise up onto your toes and back down repeatedly. Try going slower or faster to get a different work out. Do 40 of these.

Wall sits A classic! Find a wall, slide your back down it pressing flat against the wall. Make sure your hips are at the same height as your knees, which should be at a 90 degree angle with your feet together. Hold this position for 30 to 60 seconds then release, stand up, and shake it out. Repeat.

Seated bicycle crunches Sit with your feet flat on the floor, position your hands on the back of your head and lift your knee towards the opposite elbow,

Photos by Billy Bui

Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

issue 9// vol 47

life & style // no. 15

Aztec holiday following Halloween offers new perspective on death › A conversation about Día de Los Muertos

T

he spookiest time of the year has just passed, and yet zombies, graves, and other deathly ideas still loom in the air. But have you ever thought that our gloomy association with death is simply a cultural construction? Some societies commemorate the loss of life, such as Mexico and their Día de Los Muertos.

To many, death connotes melancholic emotion. We frequently believe that when someone has physically left, it is unlikely that we will ever see them again. Día de Los Muertos—what many may know as the Day of the Dead—is an Aztec tradition that instead celebrates the time which individuals spent alive. This celebration is still practiced in Mexico to the present day. The Other Press spoke with Mexican-born Luis Fernando Santana Andrade on both this festive night, and the commemorative perspective in passing.

Día de Los Muertos occurs on November 2 each year, and although its date is close to Halloween’s and their themes appear similar—the two holidays contrast greatly. Santana Andrade notes that while Hallow’s Eve focuses on the frightening components of spirits and fictional characters such as Frankenstein, Día de Los Muertos instead honors and memorializes the spirits.

Families do this by embellishing ofrendas (alters) and graves with cempasuchíles (marigolds), dulces (candies), Calaveras (sugar skulls), tequila, pulque, and an assortment of their favorite foods from when they were earth-dwelling. The purpose of decorating the alters and graves this way is to entice the spirits to return to Earth during this evening. It is believed that the returning spirits do eat the food, although the food still physically remains. It is also said that no nutrients within these foods endure the night.

Photos of the deceased are placed atop the alters and graves; the paths are outlined by candles and more marigolds. All of this is done to aid in leading the spirit’s way after their long journey from the Aztec afterlife, Mictlán. It is known to

be a long trip back to Earth and it is for this reason why sugar water and candies are left out for them to indulge in when they do arrive.

Mexico was being colonized by Spaniards by the 1600s, however, Día de Los Muertos is rooted in the country’s early Aztec roots. With the Spaniards being Christian—a religion whose views of the afterlife differ greatly from those of the Aztecs— components of such has washed over the indigenous celebration. It is this version—a hybrid of Christian and Aztec tradition that people celebrate present day. Fortunately, one thing that has been preserved is their enlightening view on death.

Santana Andrade notes that while crosses are used to embellish the alters and prayers are sung, the original essence of Día de Los Muertos remains. He reminds us that the church has not accepted a heaven that would allow spirits to return to the material world as they are thought to do on this night, demonstrating that the Aztec’s beliefs reign victorious.

Andrade explains the differences that he has noticed in the perception of death in those who celebrate Día de Los Muertos and those who do not. He notes that those who did not grow up in Mexico and have not experienced this tradition first-hand do not like to mention death—Western culture tends to exclusively experience torment and loss when dealing with the notion. He contrasts this view with those who practice Day of the Dead traditions: “Celebrating Día de Los Muertos shapes the way you perceive death as only another step through existence and not as the end of it.”

Halloween’s notions surrounding demise are often associated to fear. The tone of the holiday can easily initiate feelings of gloom, so why not adopt this tradition’s heartening view to veer from the murky emotions that result from the way many of us have been conditioned to perceive loss.

Illustration by CJ Sommerfeld

CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writer

How colour shapes our world › Health benefits of living a colourful life

olour is everywhere—from the blue sky up above to the green grass below our feet, and everything in between, everywhere we go and everything we do, colour is there. It permeates all aspects of our lives and shapes how we see the world.

Colour is an essential part of individual identity and interestingly enough, benefits our health.

associated with femininity and frivolity, which is why it is easy to contrive a picture of a girl playing with a Barbie or wearing a pink skirt, but it might be more difficult to picture a boy covered head to toe in pink.

The nature of pink, however, is shifting—more men wear the colour now.

Businesses such as Pink in London and the pink polo shirts of Ralph Lauren have made it a rather common colour among men, including musicians Drake and Tyler, the Creator.

Pink

Purple

Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

C

Some shades of the colour pink has been found to calm those experiencing violent outbreaks and is often why prisons in the United States and Switzerland used to paint their cells pink (although the validity of the colour calming people’s violent tendencies is still argued). Pink is also at the heart of gender as it is strongly

According to NASA, purple was the colour of the earliest life forms on Earth, a purple-pigmented molecule called retinal is thought to predate chlorophyll and radiate a hue that can be seen from space.

This information might help scientists and astrologists find life on other planets.

Orange

Orange is comfort. It is a combination of the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. Envision a frustrating day at the office and the pleasure of coming home to a book and the warm orange glow of a fireplace—or a drink in the magnificence of a breathtaking sunset. That is the energy of orange. Orange is also a colour of confidence, you don’t wear orange if you want to blend in.

Green

Different shades of green have different meanings and effects. A dark green, for example, is thought to represent ambition, greed, and wealth; yellow green is associated with sickness and jealousy; and olive green is peaceful and balancing.

Green is soothing and relaxing and often youthful; it is directly related to nature and exudes energy and stability.

Yellow

The colour of sunshine, yellow is happiness, warmth, energy, playfulness, and all-around good vibes. On the other hand, yellow can be an agitating colour for some.

Hospital wards were painted yellow during World War I to cure shell-shocked troops. The mental-state-improving properties of yellow have been considered to aid with seasonal affective disorder.

Another tactic for combating seasonal affective disorder is to wear yellow-tinted glasses or to try out light therapy.

Opinions

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

• Science fiction future is near • Defending dark humour • Do movie ratings serve a purpose anymore? ...and more

We should embrace autonomous cars › Science fiction future is near

envision a world where there are no more human drivers, just selfdriving cars. While autonomous cars haven’t quite arrived at a Jetsons-like future of flying yet, they are getting closer and closer to becoming a viable widespread mode of transportation.

There are many benefits and points worth arguing for the acceptance of autonomous automobiles, such as drastically cutting the time it takes to get anywhere (largely because of the elimination of delayed human reactions), cars communicating with each other leading to predictive, safe driving, and much more! And while there is some resistance to this evolution, there is also a lot of good data and evidence to entertain and possibly sway the critics. With all of that in mind, here are five reasons to embrace autonomous cars: Safer Roads How many car accidents are caused by human error? People tend to speed, swerve, lose focus, and drive under the influence of substances or emotions—all of these variables lead to the possibility of an accident. I think if you remove the human aspect, you remove the risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 1.35-million people die annually because of traffic accidents and another 20 to 50 million people are seriously injured because of car crashes.

In 2018, 22.7 percent of accidents were a result of one car crashing into another. Based on a range of sensors located in various parts of the vehicle, self-driving cars build and maintain a map of their environment. The location of nearby vehicles is tracked by radar sensors. Surveillance cameras identify traffic lights, watch for road signs, and look out for pedestrians.

Advanced software then analyses all of this data, plans a route, and sends the information to the car which controls acceleration, braking, and steering. This means self-driving cars can eliminate traffic accidents and human error.

Time Saver According to CBC News, the average Vancouverite spends about one hour commuting to and from work. This time can be increased by traffic and road construction. Imagine having that time given back. Imagine how productive one could be with a personal, quiet, commute where the car does all the work.

Passengers would be able to sit back and relax with a book, shoot off some emails, or organize for

Environmentally friendly Studies suggest Canadian cars are the world’s dirtiest cars. With emissions equivalent of 206 grams of CO2 per kilometer, Canada ranks number one in climate pollution specifically from the average car. A good visual of what 206 grams of climate pollution looks like is tossing 400 plastic straws out of the car window every kilometer. A study on behalf of Natural Resources Canada found that setting cruise control at 80 KPH instead of changing speeds every couple seconds saves 20 percent less fuel.

Money Saver The average cost of a car in Canada is about $33,400, according to a 2018 Automotive News Canada article, and the average cost of insurance in BC is around $1800.

This makes for an expensive investment that has continuous upkeep costs too. Self-driving cars are safer so accident-induced costs could be lessened and possibly eliminated—and everyday wear and tear costs won’t be much of an issue either. Autonomous cars do not floor the gas pedal or slam on the breaks unless an emergency is detected, and autonomous cars are more fuel efficient with their planned routes (less stop and go).

While the startup cost of a selfdriving car may be on par with a brand-new car, the little savings will add up and help reduce costs in the long run.

Efficiency If we reach a future where there are no more human drivers and, instead, just self-driving cars—intersection lights and stop signs will become a thing of the past. Drivers spend so much commute time either slowing down, speeding up, or stopping at lights, which also eat up the car’s fuel. With autonomous cars comes autonomous intersections, which would result in a perfectly efficient roadway and faster road travel altogether. Humans aren’t aware or quick enough to reliably take turns when travelling through intersections, but I think the selfdriving car is. All in all, I’m sure that self-driving cars will improve the lives and commutes of everyone on the road.

Illustration by Athena Little

I

that big early morning meeting without the disruptions of public transportation. Commute time is largely wasted but with self-driving cars, people can get work done or check their phones safely on the go.

Illustration by Morgan Hannah

Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

issue 9// vol 47

opinions // no. 17

Many people are misusing the term ‘free speech’

Illustration by Athena Little

› The misconstrued notion of this ideology has caused outcomes that were originally shielded from it

CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writer

F

reedom of speech is a political ideal that grants individuals personal liberty in expressing themselves. The principle affords persons full freedoms of speech as long as it does not promote hate. I think that this bit is often brushed aside when people throw around this principle to excuse their discriminatory words, however. Free speech does not mean full freedom in speech to me.

This ideal allows autonomy in both expression of opinions and liberties in seeking information regarding one’s views.

This aids in a Liberal society, as the views of the people are not curated by politics, nor religion, or any other over-arching groups, but instead the beliefs of each individual are truly their own. This expression, however, is subject to the restrictions mentioned above; while free speech outlines the liberty to speak and source knowledge without censorship, I think this knowledge barricades all forms of hate propaganda.

The world has witnessed the repercussions of hate speech ten times over. One such recent example is Trump’s

radical-right promotions, and the meme that is said to have aided in the man’s 2016 presidential election: Pepe the frog. While this cartoon amphibian was originally a non-political character in the comic “Boy’s Club,” it was adopted and used as a face for what some call right-wing extremists. In proliferating such, many people swear that by disseminating these memes during the 2016 election, Trump was “memed into the Whitehouse.” I believe Pepe the frog is one such example of large-scale consequences which hate propaganda can manifest.

Despite the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) including Pepe as a hate symbol in their database, meme creators and sharers were never stopped from spreading their racist glee and other bigotries that align with the alt-right movement. Although the first amendment in the United States Constitution safeguards freedom of speech, this right allows people to share their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions up until they promote hate or attack individuals and groups. One cannot disseminate hate speech nor hate propaganda and excuse it by saying that it is their freedom. Hate speech does not coexist with freedom of speech. Unfortunate, many of these neoNazis expressed that they were using the

frog’s face as a symbol of free speech.

Just as Pepe became a face for the alt-right movement, something similar can be said about JK Rowling transforming into a face for transphobic persons. I wrote a piece regarding this topic a few weeks back. Similarly, Rowling uses free speech to cover her what some deem as transgender views; in an essay she wrote: “I’m interested in freedom of speech and have publicly defended it[…]” Some believe her self-assuming freedom of speech has created harmful repercussions against transgender people—regardless of if that was her intention or not. Some say that anti-trans believers have clung to her name as a face to perpetuate their views. One such example is the “I <3 JK Rowling” sign that was set up in Vancouver this September. While not everyone agreed that erecting a sign to propagate the author’s seemingly anti-transgender views was considered hate speech, perhaps the commissioner’s succeeding actions may reinforce his transphobic views and the manifested by-products of Rowling’s speech.

This billboard commissioner attended a Green party campaign for transgender Green party candidate, Nicola Spurling. To it, he wore a sign that read “I <3 JK Rowling”

on the front, and “Gender ideology does not belong in schools” on the back. After being arrested for antagonizing, he wrote on social media that he would be back the next day. Although there is no way to prove direct causation between this and Rowling’s Twitter posts, I think it is seemingly another consequence of her discriminatory words against this group of people.

Hate speech and propaganda are not isolated actions, as they often manifest consequences. In an ADL international leadership award speech, Sacha Baron Cohen (also known as Borat) acknowledges the bigotry and prejudices that occur globally and explains that it is because of these forever-happening discriminations that lead him to create the characters which he had. In this speech, Cohen shines light on the bigotry that many of us are so conditioned to, the verbal dispersal of prejudices further perpetuates these norms.

Again, free speech does not mean full freedom of speech to me. This political ideal was created to give individuals liberty while simultaneously protecting them, we should veer from the outcomes that occurred from both Pepe and Rowling propaganda.

Free speech does not mean full freedom in speech to me.

opinions // no. 18

theotherpress.ca

Defending dark humour

› Especially during a pandemic, jokes have great value in restoring mental health Janis McMath Editor-in-Chief

I

n preparation for Halloween, retailers always offer topical costumes. Perhaps predictably, the year of 2020 featured many a coronavirus costume. Markets in Mexico were reported to have sold a very popular COVID-19 costume with a scary face and fluorescent green skin, and Amazon retailers tried the same with similar mask— until some of those retailers were banned from the platform after critics slammed the costume as a “terrible lapse in judgement.”

While I understand the offense taken—as the topic is related to serious tragedy— there has not been enough consideration to the value of gallows humour.

The term gallows refers to the often wooden structure used to hang people sentenced to death. Gallows humour is used to describe comedy that is dark and uncomfortable—but all the while hilarious.

Studies have repeatedly found that dark humour serves as an effective coping mechanism for those undergoing extreme stress. Seeing the reputation humour has in combating anxiety, it is not surprising that it is often used by those in psychologically draining professions such as those in medicine and the military.

Dark humour is one of the most common methods in dealing with high pressure careers; a study by flight paramedic Victoria Corum found that of 608 emergency-health service workers, nearly 90 percent stated that they used gallows humour to cope. In comparison, the study showed that discussing issues with coworkers; enjoying family time; and working out as coping methods respectively earned 37, 35, and 30 percent.

Additionally, through observation and interviews, the study “Integrating Dark Humor and Compassion” finds that hospice workers report using dark humour as a coping mechanism against “stress, emotional burnout, and dissatisfaction with work.” Using such humour helps change disturbing experiences into bearable ones.

And the military certainly has a reputation for dark humour—look no further than VetTV, a streaming service made by and for veterans. It’s described as an offensive show that deals with a wide array of controversial topics, including the high suicide rate among ex-military. The suicide rate of veterans is one and a half times that of non-veterans; additionally, veterans are at-risk of depression and substance abuse. The job comes with weighty stressors, so clearly the value of

their commonly used coping method should be taken seriously.

Comedy in the face of tragedy allows a person to change their focus—this is called cognitive reappraisal. This method is revered for helping prevent depressive symptoms and also as a very adaptive coping method. For those who often are faced with traumatic events, a comedic perspective can be crucial in preventing debilitating symptoms.

Trauma from horrific events like the Holocaust have also been survived with the help of a little laughter. A 1998 study

by Ostrower included this testimony from a Holocaust survivor: “When I was interviewed […] and they asked me, what I thought was the reason I survived, they probably expected me to answer good fortune or other things. I said that I thought it was laughter or humour.”

Another survivor of the Holocaust, Antonin J. Obrdlik, wrote an article detailing the value of gallows humour during every phase of the horrific historic event. He speaks of dark humour as a morale booster to those facing the pressing threat of Hitler’s army. Obrdlik also argues that it is “destructive for the oppressors” as it undermines their morale in their conquest for power.

This pandemic has yielded a lot of research on mental health—and the common conclusion is that stress is on the rise. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) reports that “50 percent of Canadians reported worsening mental health since the pandemic began.” The situation seems to have hit workers harder, as 81 percent of Canadian workers report that COVID-19 has put a big dent in their mental health.

Canadians are suffering and are looking for methods to cope—and for example, may find comfort in a Facebook group that shares dark humour coronavirus memes. Psychologist Lori Day has created such a page and of it she says “Humor like this might rub some people the wrong way. But everybody’s different […] There are people in the group that are COVIDpositive, and they’re literally laughing from their beds or their hospital rooms.” And while of course there are lines to consider in what dark jokes are moral and sensible— and which ones go too far—I feel it is important that society looks to understand the value in dark humour. As research and culture has shown, gallows humour has several important (and scientifically proven) purposes. We should not be quick to assume that those who make dark jokes have poor intentions.

Do movie ratings serve a purpose anymore?

Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo

› Every generation has a new R-rated movie to sneak into

Angela Frye Contributor

W

hen my mother was a teenager, she saw a movie called The Beast with Five Fingers. I know this because it scared her so much that she never stopped talking about it as my siblings and I grew up. When I was a teenager, I saw Halloween starring Jamie Lee Curtis and it scared me so much that I hated walking alone at night. I was permanently convinced there was a man with a knife following me. Now, my son is a teenager who has seen a lot of horror films and does not seem to be fearful at all. It seems that we all have followed the time-honored tradition of sneaking into an R-rated movie while young.

Long ago, there was the Hollywood Hays Code which strictly dictated “proper” movie etiquette, such as women having at

least one foot on the floor in love scenes. After the Hays Code came the modern grade codes, and these offered more freedom to the studios—and some guidance for parents.

This rating system was put in place November 1, 1968 (the day after Halloween I might add) by the Motion Picture Association of America. This was done to control the growing artistic and moral risks taken by directors as the studio system fell apart. In order to avert controversy, a rating board will suggest edits for a more lenient rating and studios, knowing that a PG can garner more summer movie dollars than an R-rating will comply. Some films have famously gone ahead with the director’s vision.

Last Tango in Paris earned a controversial X-rating initially (it was reclassified as

NC-17 in 1997) and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover starring the future dame Helen Mirren, stands at an NC-17, disregarding any suggestions that may have been offered. ­ Obviously, it isn’t just sex and nudity that makes for an R-rating, violence and horror are big contributors as well. But not all horror is created equal. The prerating The Beast of Five Fingers may have been petrifying in the 1940s but is only melodramatic now. And while I have been thrilled with certain films, like Ridley Scott’s original Blade Runner or Alien and shocked by Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, I

wouldn’t recommend them to everyone seeing as they certainly deserved their R-ratings. These ratings do well to act as a guideline for parents and to begin a discussion about appropriateness (Get Out, yes; Zombieland, maybe not) but they have never been a replacement for actual parental discretion nor have they discouraged a person from sneaking into a movie underage. Unfortunately, they can’t predict how scary they will be to the viewer.

For instance, I saw the rated PG Jaws in the theatres when I was a kid and am still scared to this day.

Humour

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

humour // no. 19 • Going undercover • COVID-19 PICKUP LINES • Watching baking videos ...and more

COVID-19 PICKUP LINES

Illustration by Athena Little

› For those who spread their legs faster than the disease can spread

Richard Dick Senior Columnist

N

othing helps a lockdown like getting dicked down. It’s a depressing lonely time and your heart may be empty—but your holes needn’t be. And don’t take my word for it—listen to the government. As the BC Centre of Disease Control (BCCDC) said, “People can, will, and should continue to have sex during the COVID-19 pandemic.” So, here are a few pickup lines sure to go viral with the ladies!

1) Hey baby, are your hands sterile? Cause I’m not ;) 2) Are you a vaccine? Because I want you in me.

3) Thank god threesomes are fewer than six people, am I right?

4) Damn girl, are you unprecedented times? Because everything just got a lot harder for me.

5) After I’m done with you, you’re going to wish you had personal protective equipment.

6) Did I take your breath away? Or was that just COVID-19?

7) Case numbers aren’t the only thing growing here ;) 8) Carry-her? But I’m asymptomatic!

9) 15 days? It wouldn’t take me more than 15 minutes to flatten into those curves.

10) If you’re having trouble measuring six-feet, know that my schlong would gladly assist.

11) Life without you is like supermarket shelves these days. Empty.

12) Do you know the difference between you and my webcam? I sincerely wanna turn you on.

13) Are you a Zoom meeting? Cause I don’t feel like wearing pants around you.

14) Please go do a COVID test. You look much hotter than the average body temperature.

15) You and lab tests are so much alike. I gotta do both in-person.

16) Wanna know what you and government orders have in common? I’ve been following both all the time.

17) I’d love to be the economy and go down on you.

Photo by Агент Дженни

Comic by Udeshi Seneviratne

Comics

Going undercover

Crossword

Weekly Crossword: It’s mightier than the sword

ACROSS 1. Type of marinade 6. Former body of water in Central Asia 10. Not right 14. Mountain-ash 15. Wall, en español 16. Winglike 17. Tennis tournament held in Paris 19. Seep 20. Wide-ranging North American deciduous tree 22. More organized 25. Prince Valiant’s son 26. Summer hrs. in Toronto 22. Mediterranean or Baltic, e.g.

28. Single-player mode abbr.

31. “Gross.”

33. Philadelphia resident 38. Teeter 39. Feel bad 40. Very short length of time, for short 42. Inevitable 46. Gun rights org.

47. Airport abbr.

48. Exist 1 49. Poetic tribute 52. Abbr. for additive colours 54. Currently active 14 57. Venues with coinoperated machines 61. Sicilian spewer 62. It comprises fencing, 17 swimming, show jumping, shooting, and cross-country 66. Thoroughly defeat 67. Roman road 68. Hockey great Gretzky 69. Angle between a leaf 22 and stem 70. Jazzy James 71. Post on a certain social 27 media site DOWN 1. [Bark!]

2. Val-__ 3. Be in the red 4. Game also known as Half Chess 5. At the right moment 6. Uncontrollably 7. Poet Kaur 8. Sports venue 9. Far future 10. Southeast Asian nation 11. Wed on the sly 12. Startled 13. Reznor of Nine Inch Nails 18. Half-woman, half-bird of Greek mythology 21. Type of chest pain 22. Select 23. Bon __ 24. Star in Cygnus 29. Ruler known as “the Impaler” 30. Many a digital request 32. Lock part 34. Gas in signage 35. Sludge 36. Many 37. Himalayan nation 41. Actor Michael

43. Bush baby 44. First Nations people of the Northwest Coast 45. Napoleonic marshal 49. Show at La Scala 50. Cleanse, informally 51. Boredom 53. Justice Kavanaugh 55. Meas. found on much food packaging 56. Exclamation of disbelief 58. Countrywide, for short 59. Tech review website 60. Trade name in razors 63. Soapmaking need 64. Singleton 65. Butterfly catching implement

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