The Other Press - April 14, 2020

And now for something not about coronavirus Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief

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o give you all a break from your daily readings about coronavirus and all the anxiety, fearmongering, and frustration it produces—and in theme with our nonCOVID related feature story this week—I want to talk about something that’s not the thing that’s forcing us all to stay inside.

I’d like to transport you now to a mere two to three months ago when the only thing on people’s minds were Kobe Bryant’s death, the controversial pipeline, and the Hong Kong protests. Many people have since forgotten about the protests in the face of a global pandemic, but many others have never stopped protesting. Just because the public demonstrations have

stopped doesn’t mean the fight is over.

About a year ago, the Hong Kong protests were triggered by a extradition bill introduced in China that would allow criminals suspects to be sent to mainland China under special conditions. The people of Hong Kong protested this because they believed the bill would give China more power over Hong Kong and put people in risk of unfair trials and violence and could potentially be used against journalists and activists. The bill was eventually withdrawn in September, but that wasn’t the end of the demonstrations, nor did it meet all of the protestors’ demands. Asking for the protests not be considered riots, an investigation into police brutality, freedom for protestors who have been arrested, and universal suffrage are the demands

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protestors are still making—and are the demands some people have died for.

Just recently Animal Crossing: New Horizons was banned from China’s game stores as people were using the game as a platform to stage pro-democracy protests.

The game was not officially released yet as video games in China go through censors before being released. The only three Nintendo Switch games available in China are all Super Mario titles. “Animal Crossing is Fast Becoming a New Way for Hong Kong Protestors to Fight for Democracy,” reads popular Hong Kong activist and student Joshua Wong’s tweet.

However, as a result of the protests seen on the virtual platform, the game may now never be released in China.

Players have made banners and designs

Brittney MacDonald Business Manager Athena Little Udeshi Seneviratne Illustrator

Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief  editor@theotherpress.ca

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Jon Nicholas James Wetmore Erik Wilkins

Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter Craig Allan Tania Arora EG Manilag Staff Writers Billy Bui Staff Photographer

Brandon Yip Contributors Cover layout by Lauren Kelly and Udeshi Seneviratne Feature layout by Christine Weenk and Udeshi Seneviratne

via Joshua Wong's Twitter

Lettitor

with words like “Free Hong Kong Revolution Now” as well as photos of the Chinese President and Hong Kong Chief Executive.

Despite the video game ban from Chinese censors though, players have been able to buy foreign copies from the internet.

While we all stay inside and worry about this virus, Hong Kong protestors must grapple with the current pandemic while also worrying about the future of their country.

Limes,

Jessica Berget Jessica Berget

The Other Press has been Douglas College’s student newspaper since 1976.

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News

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news // no. 3 • COVID-19 cancels convocation • The province’s reaction to COVID • The news on fake news ...and more

The alternative teaching methods of Douglas College instructors ››How are profs responding to the pandemic?

Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief he shift from in-person classes to strictly online classes has not been easy for us students, clearly. But, how have the professors been handling it? The Other Press asked Douglas College instructors from various fields and study on how they have dealt with the transition, what resources and tools they are using for their online classes, and what they miss the most about face-to-face teaching.

When asked about what alternatives he has taken, English Department Professor David Wright stated that he cancelled all classes quick. “Even back when we were meeting face-to-face as this was emerging, I didn't want students to be stressed about losing marks if they were sick—I wanted them to stay home.”

“I've found it very challenging to pivot to an online format,” said English Professor Noëlle Phillips. “I very much prefer face-toface instruction. I've tried to approximate some of our workshops and discussions through the limited use of Google Docs and message boards, which does allow students to share ideas—but isn't quite the same as a classroom conversation of course.

I'm also essentially dropping deadline requirements and giving all students whatever extensions they need.”

English classes are one thing—it’s arguably easier to share documents and essays over Blackboard and email but teaching classes online that require consistent assignments and accumulative learning like Maths and Sciences is a challenge.

“Firstly, I teach mathematics—not ideally suited to online delivery,” said Professor Wesley Snider. “I spent a couple of anxious days trying to decide what would be the best way to deliver my lectures remotely with minimal disruption to the students. Every extra day I spent was another day my students’ classes were delayed (my courses are all prerequisites for other courses, so skipping material is problematic). I felt it was best just to make a decision and go with it,” he said.

Many online classes have been carried over to the popular group video chat website Zoom, or have their lectures filmed and sent to the students. This is how the professors of Douglas are dealing with online courses.

“I am using Blackboard and email. I set up some office hours on Blackboard Collaborate and gave weekly folders with audio lectures and screencasts where I would work through materials,” said English Professor David Wright. “I also subscribe to the philosophy of ‘two simple things.’ I have taught in online environments for many years and I always remind myself that the simplest possible option is often the best one. I made

Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne

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discussion boards available, but didn't set expectations around them,” he said.

“I opted for a variation of what is sometimes known as the ‘flipped classroom’ model,’” said Snider. “I do an abbreviated version of my lecture essentially as a talking hand, narrating my written work. Instead of doing these ‘live,’ I decided to simply record these sessions and post them on Blackboard.

I then hold several on-line office hours per week” he explained.

One question still rings in every students’ mind—“what about our final exams?” Since in-person exams have been suspended, these are the ways some Douglas College professors have done their final assessment.

“I usually offer take-home exams, so this wasn’t an issue for me,” said Wright.

“That said, I think times like these and any sudden shifts in learning contexts really push our learning requirements. If a student doesn’t need to recall information under pressure, or meet particular curriculum standards, there are lots of other ways to assess learning than a sitdown, timed, in-person exam,” he said.

“For quizzes and exams, including the final, I post a fairly traditional—though shorter—version of the evaluation on Blackboard. It is timed.” said Snider.

“For the courses that have a final exam, I have given students the option to write the final (which is a single essay) or not to write it. Students that choose not to write it, because not everyone is able to focus right now to be honest, will have the grade percentage of the final exam reweighted into two other previous completed essay assignments. Doing the final can give students the chance to boost their grades, but I have decided not to make it mandatory. Students’ mental health is important right now, and their college courses won’t be their top priority,” stated Phillips.

Disappointed is what many students felt about in-person classes being cancelled, and professors share those woes.

“What I really miss is being able to give students a space to ask questions and clarify things. This is especially true in a situation like the one we’re in, where anxieties are already super high. Instructors like me need to remember that students are out there doing their part in all this too... working, helping relatives, and who knows what. I miss being a space where they can escape from that and pursue things that are important to them. I kept telling my students just to ‘land the plane,’ and I think that's the right direction for where we

are now, but it’s not why I got into higher learning” said Wright.

“I miss everything about face-to-face classes. There is no real replacement for it.

I cannot interact with students in the same way, see who is there and who is not, see the expressions on faces, develop the same level of engagement, latch on to the ‘teachable moments,’ deal with impromptu comments, etc. All I am doing now is the best I can with the situation we have. I can’t wait until we are back on campus,” said Snider.

“I recognize that students will not be able perform to their usual standards, because none of us can. With that in mind, I am more flexible in my marking criteria in recognition of the fact that it’s amazing students have managed to complete and submit assignments at all. This is a public health crisis and students are affected in all sorts of ways,” said Phillips.

Wright also gave props to his students for dealing with our current pandemic so well. “I tried to keep them informed and communicated my own flexibility as things changed. It’s a scary and anxious time. It was important to me that I not be another source for fear and anxiety, so I was pretty quick to tell students that we would figure out solutions together and that I was there to support them, not act punitively,” he said.

news // no. 4

theotherpress.ca

Douglas furthers allowance of withdrawal notation ››College asks for Request for Exception application if ‘W’ sought Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter

Photo by Billy Bui

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s the end of a turbulent winter 2020 semester draws closer, the college throws a wrinkle into the provision of final course grades for students.

“Students who believe their final grades have been negatively affected by the changes in [the] mode of instruction will be able to request to withdraw from a course with a ‘W’—after final grades have been assigned,” stated an answer in the Douglas College COVID-19 Frequency Asked Questions webpage “by submitting a Request for Exception to the Office of the Registrar by May 1, 2020.”

The decision marks the second change in academic policy for an institution dealing with providing postsecondary instruction during a pandemic.

The first change in policy in the context of mitigating the impact of COVID-19 for students was extending the official withdrawal date to April 9.

In essence Douglas’ new change farther extends the withdrawal deadline until after final grades are issued, giving students the ability to assess their academic standing after the end of a class; however, students must submit an application to receive the “W” notation— adding extra work to a stressful time.

Currently, the Request for Exception process at Douglas College is nested under the “Appeal of Educational Decisions Policy.” Requests for exceptions are solely for late withdrawals under certain circumstances including medical, compassionate, death in the family,

personal/family issues, and employment, as outlined in the policy.

Douglas College did not provide what circumstance that COVID-19 application would fall under.

Students desiring to pursue the request for exception process need to submit an application and appropriate supporting documentation. Additionally, students need to contact the instructor for each course that they are requesting an exception to complete the application.

Completed applications are then forwarded to the Registrar at either main campus.

Typically, request for exception applications are reviewed; however, no other information about the process after submission was supplied by the college via their announcement.

British Columbia’s largest public degree granting institution continues to lag behind other post-secondary institutions in terms of providing grading alternatives for students during a historic pandemic.

Recently, the senate at Capilano University vanquished grades for the spring 2020 semester. Capilano provided students the option of accepting their final grade as calculated or receiving no grade but the associated number of credit hours towards their degree.

Whereas Langara College has opted to allow students to receive a “No Grade (NG)” notation on their academic record “as a result of the incredible pressure on students enrolled in Spring Semester 2020,” according to the Lastest Updates release on the Vancouver college’s website.

COVID-19 cancels convocation Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter

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fter the 2020 Summer Olympics, Burning Man, and the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Douglas College’s summer 2020 graduation can officially be added to the list of events upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the summer 2020 semester is scheduled to go ahead as planned, the college announced its plans to suspend its summer 2020 graduation ceremonies.

“We understand many of our graduates have been looking forward to celebrating this moment with family and friends; however, the safety of our students, faculty, and staff is a top priority,” read the press release posted both to the Douglas College Student Services website and the COVID-19 information and resources webpage on April 9.

The move to suspend graduation may not come as a surprise to graduating students, as the first step in the Provincial Health Officer’s recommendation to fight

against the planet’s newest coronavirus was cancelling large gatherings. One week earlier, one of Douglas’ partner institutions, Simon Fraser University, cancelled their spring 2020 convocation ceremonies “to ensure the safety of the SFU community.”

SFU invited spring 2020 graduates to celebrate with their fall graduates in October, and also gave the members of the spring class of 2020 the option of celebrating online in mid-June, although no details were provided as to what a virtual celebration would entail.

Several American post-secondary students from different institutions have found new ways to celebrate the major milestone that college or university graduation brings. University students have created replicas of their respective postsecondary institutions in Minecraft—a multiplayer video game where players are able to build a 3D world—and are holding an “in-game” ceremony for the class of 2020 from hundreds of different universities. Currently 706 students from 278 institutions have signed up.

The college of New Caledonia in

Prince George is hosting a virtual graduation on June 28, complete with personalized graduation messages, videos, or photos for students. The University of British Columbia has also taken to hosting a virtual ceremony for their spring 2020 graduates.

Douglas may provide graduating students with similar options, as the college mentioned that they were seeking alternative ways to recognize Douglas grads and would share more information at a later date.

Students who are eligible to receive a graduating award this summer have until April 15 to apply for graduation online by completing an application and sending the PDF to grad@ douglascollege.ca.

The college states that they will mail parchments to students who meet the requirements of their programs.

Illustration by Morgan Hannah

››Douglas plans to look for alternatives to celebrate students

University students have created replicas of their respective postsecondary institutions in Minecraft

news // no. 5

issue 26// vol 46

The province’s reaction to COVID Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief

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n March 17, the province of BC declared a state of emergency due to the COVID epidemic. We’ve all heard about the various methods of how to stop the spread of this virus—washing our hands, staying inside, avoiding social interactions, etc. We are responsible for our own health and safety, but what is the BC government doing to ensure that the general population is safe and supported during this pandemic?

To help stop the spread of the virus and possibly many more deaths, the BC government has issued health regulations for everyone to follow and bylaw officers have been recruited to help enforce these new regulations. The Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, and other businesses as well as any gathering with 50 or more people. People caught breaking these provisions can be fined up to $25,000 and suffer a six-month jail term under the BC Public Health Act. According to Global News, the Vancouver city council has already approved fines up to $50,000 for people caught breaking these rules.

Besides ensuring social distancing

rules are taken seriously, the BC government has also provided some aid for housing, transportation, financials, and employment for its citizens and businesses.

In terms of rent, the BC government offers assistance to those who have lost income or struggle with their bills because of being laid off. According to the BC government website, The Residential Tenancy Act is made to support renters and landlords who have been affected by COVID and are in effect until the state of emergency is finished. The website iterates that tenants should still pay rent on time and in full wherever possible, but with some exceptions. “The state of emergency temporarily suspends a landlord’s ability to end a tenancy if a tenant does not pay the rent in full and on time. A tenant who has not paid rent could face eviction once the state of emergency is over,” reads the BC government website.

However, there are still support for people who are still struggling. Temporary Rent Supplement will provide $500 per month available to low to moderate income renters who face financial struggles in the face of COVID. The supplement will be paid directly to landlords. Applications are now open on the BC housing website. The BC emergency benefit for workers supplies workers a one-time $1000 tax free payment

Illustration by Athena Little

››Aid for citizens of BC—and big fines for rulebreakers

for people whose ability to work has been affected by COVID. Information about this benefit has yet to be updated. The Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), who provides $500 a week to people affected by the virus, has also been supplied to those who fall under the requirements.

Rent aid is not the only thing BC is doing to help the population. ICBC and BC Hydro customers can defer their payments

with no penalty. The BC government froze student loan payments until the end of September with no accrued interest. BC transit fares and passes are also no longer required at this time.

Since April 13, there have been 69 coronavirus related deaths in the province, making the total cases in the province nearly 1500. More than half of the deaths have been sourced from senior care facilities.

THE NEWS ON FAKE NEWS ››A review of some misleading headlines from COVID-19 Jon Nicholas Contributor

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eadlines are not always the truth.

Nor are articles. How has the media done in its coverage of COVID-19 and Donald Trump?

Travel restrictions When Donald Trump initially imposed travel restrictions on January 31, he was met by outraged media. Cries of xenophobia and racism abounded.

The Atlantic in a February 18 article was critical of his actions: “Much of what he’s said publicly about the virus has been wrong, a consequence of downplaying any troubles on his watch.

He has long stoked fears that foreigners entering the United States bring disease. Now he may double down on xenophobic suspicions.”

Other publications toed the party line; many featuring a popular quote from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, saying that the restrictions would increase “fear and stigma, with little public health benefit.”

Vox posted the headline: “The evidence on travel bans for diseases like coronavirus is clear: They don’t

work. They’re political theater, not good public health policy.”

The Washington Post was also skeptical in many articles, such as one that quoted Ali Khan, former director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at the CDC: “These are extraordinary measures to be implemented at this point. We’re a global economy, people move, and if you have excellent public health and you are able to combine port-of-entry screening with follow-up of people, there should be no reason to put undue burdens on people around travel.”

The tide has turned though.

Suddenly the New York Times was reporting not racism, but “Trump's Slow Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic.” In an April 7 piece reviewing the COVID-19 timeline, The Atlantic seemed to reverse course also, “On January 31, the Trump administration at last did something: It announced restrictions on air travel to and from China by non-U.S. persons.”

Was he too slow to respond? Or was he racist? Mainstream media has become less reliable than Democrats think Trump is.

Kung-flu origins “This morning a White House official referred to #Coronavirus as the ‘KungFlu’ to my face. Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back.” The preceding tweet was posted by CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang on March 17. Kellyanne Conway responded to the quote by saying, “Of course it’s wrong,” before proceeding to ask Jiang who the culprit was. Given the opportunity to expose a racist, Jiang refused, saying “I think you understand how these conversations go.”

Conway stood her ground: “I don’t know how these conversations go and that’s highly offensive. So, you should tell us all who it is.

I’d like to know who it is,” eventually adding that her husband is Asian, to which Jiang acknowledged that she had not done her research on and was unaware.

In a similar attempt with Trump, Jiang failed again to name her racist source of the offensive term. In the

press conference, Trump directly asked her who said “Kung-Flu” and Jiang replied with, “I’m not sure the person’s name.” Given two opportunities to name a racist, Jiang refused and could not even keep her story straight. Do we, “understand how these conversations go,” or was she “not sure the person’s name”? Not a single news outlet reported any truth to her suspect claim.

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Arts

• Peach Pit’s ‘You and Your Friends’ album review • Scrub in • ‘Harrison Bergeron’ short story review ...and more

Media learns to improvise ››New ways content is presented during COVID-19 Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

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ore than a century after the Spanish flu of 1918, the coronavirus pandemic is a major event that no one expected to happen. It has affected our daily routines since we stay at home as much as possible.

While everyone tries to get updates on the pandemic and stay entertained, even the media has been affected by it.

When the pandemic began, the hosts of The National, Adrienne Arsenault and Andrew Chang, were in the studio as usual. The following week, they were two meters apart on opposite sides of the desk. As the weeks went by, Arsenault had to do the show from her house—outside of the studio while Chang was still inside the studio. Similar procedures happened on other news shows and specials where Global News’ Kristi Gordon did the weather from her house, CBC News’ Susana da Silva did reports from her backyard instead of the newsroom, and CNN anchor Chris Cuomo (who is the brother of New York

Governor Andrew Cuomo) tested positive for COVID-19 and did his show Cuomo Prime Time from his apartment.

While some news organizations still complain about President Donald Trump’s response to the pandemic, they are not complaining as much they were before the crisis really ramped up. Along with complaints, they were previously talking more about the impact of the pandemic and shared positive messages that we will get through this together. TV is now in disaster mode and almost every channel shows updates on the health crisis 24/7. This type of coverage is typical for a natural disaster.

Everyday, I go back and forth between Global News: BC 1, CBC News Network, and the cable news channels in the US to get all the essential information about the pandemic. The commercials are serious and have the same production value as a Super Bowl commercial. They remind us that if we all practice social distancing, we can go back to being together again. They even made up some fun ways to convince us to take action and thanked all of the

essential workers for keeping us safe.

While some shows were still on during the pandemic, it will affect summer TV this year and even go beyond that. The production of many shows are suspended and the next seasons of these shows are probably going to be delayed. Reality shows are especially going to be affected by this in the case of this season of Big Brother Canada ending early. Despite the delayed films, a lot of movies were released straight to digital. This may suggest that these films would not have done very well if the pandemic did not happen.

Though, the surge of live streaming and social media brings an unlimited amount of content that is still entertaining and spreads the word on social distancing.

Like free concerts, live chats, and group

conversations (especially on Zoom which I usually use when I do surveys). Trends also including the “wash your hands” challenge and the 6 PM sing The Tragically Hip songs including “Courage” and “Bobcaygeon.” I am even a regular watcher of a YouTube show called No Idol No Life where I discuss and comment on how the pandemic is affecting Japanese female idol groups.

For us at the Other Press, we are still online to keep you informed about COVID-19. If we all take action, fun times will be back.

The band that sounds like a distant cousin of Mac DeMarco ››Peach Pit’s ‘You and Your Friends’ album review James Wetmore Contributor

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from the style they cultivated on their 2017 debut record Being so Normal; they still embrace garage rock sounds and aesthetics meshed with modern indie rock and emo

stylings. The production is noticeably cleaner and studio effects like panning are used more often (which is probably the bonus of some extra studio time now that

his album sounds like those warm summer days where you and the boys get some foldable lawn chairs, a couple cold ones, and sit in the garage with the door open. I’m not sure what that means, but the woozy guitar and softly sung vocals on this record paints that picture in my mind. Most of the album is about feeling alienated from your friends and breakups, so maybe I'm weird for visualizing it that way. The music does carry a sense of strange nostalgia, which seems to be a common theme for similar-sounding bands. Something about the surf-rock / psychedelic guitar and laidback vocal performance just resonates with warm summer nights and memories of late-night antics.

Peach Pit’s sophomore record You and Your Friends was released April 3. It reminds us of past adventures—while also referencing the social isolation many are feeling right now amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a bittersweet record that I feel will be heavily played through the “summer” as people gradually get more antsy and quake at the thought of spending another second away from friends—strange considering the subject matter of some songs.

Peach Pit hasn’t moved too far away

You and Your Friends' album cover

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they likely have some extra cash kicking around). The main difference between this album and their first is the level of polish; songs sound more thought out and there are more intriguing harmonies between the two guitars.

There are two standout songs on this album, with “Thursday” being the first. It sounds like a standard cut, complete with the normal lead guitar melody throughout the song and lyrics dealing with the fear of being a burden to your friends. “Black Licorice” is the second hit on this album; it is a vibey song opening with a piano drenched in reverb and vibrato, building up to a wall of sound in the chorus carried along by an avalanche of drums.

There isn’t a bad song on the album, although there’s not something mind blowing or completely foreign in any of the songs either. No songs break any new ground for the band as they stick to the formula of guitar-driven melodies and soft-spoken vocals—which they do very well. It can, at times, feel like you’re listening to the same song on repeat—but Peach Pit manages to keep it sounding just new enough that you keep on listening.

Overall, You and Your Friends is a definite improvement from their debut record that manages to keep their music fresh and entertaining while giving a timely shoutout to the social isolation and lust for summer that many of us are experiencing.

arts // no. 7

issue 26// vol 46

Artsy fartsy fun that you can eat!

Photo by Morgan Hannah

››The origins of fruit art

Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

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ave you ever wanted to impress your friends in an artistic, fresh, and

childishly charming way? Have you ever wanted to stand out and be avant-garde?

Have you ever wanted to play with your food... in a meaningful way? If you said yes to any of these questions, you need to grab

yourself a handful of ripe—but not too ripe—fruits and a paring knife pronto! It’s time, ladies and gentlemen, to bring back fruit art.

What is fruit art? Fruit art is the practice of carving fruits (and veggies) and is a well-known technique—especially in Asian countries. It is particularly popular in Thailand, China, and Japan. Many fruits are used in this form of art—the most prominent being watermelons, apples, strawberries, pineapples, and cantaloupes.

Like the majestic pumpkin from the once-a-year spooky season of Halloween, carving faces and funky designs into the flesh of a pear or the classic navel orange is a fantastic way to have your fun and eat it too!

There are many stories fighting to be the origin of fruit art, the most popular being that of the Loi Kratong festival in 14th century Thailand. Rafts were decorated using several objects including banana leaves, flowers, and thanks to one particular woman, fruit! She carved a vegetable flower using a real flower as a template, she then carved a bird and placed it next to the flower. Using these

carvings, her raft stood out among the rest.

The king loved the fruit art so much that he declared her raft the winner.

However, it has been said that this unusual form of art dates even further back as well! Nowadays, despite the uncertainty of the origin of fruit art, it is a unique, beautiful, and highly circulated form of art that can be found all over the world.

Whether in the form of fruit bouquets, art exhibits, shows—or simply at home to impress guests, fruit art ranges from easy to masterful and is deliciously exciting art… that you can eat!

going for it, why is it not remembered or celebrated as fondly as other shows?

One reason I can think is that the great comedies that are still popular today like Seinfeld, Friends, and The Office are all shows that were extremely popular during their initial runs. Scrubs however was more of a niche show with a small fan base. Because of that, the show holds the same status as shows like Community and Malcolm in the Middle. The shows are good, but the fanbase just isn’t large enough to keep it in the zeitgeist.

Another problem may stem from the fact that the cast has not been able to find game changing success after the show’s run. While star Zach Braff did direct an Oscar winning film with Garden State in 2004, today he is more known for his

(unfairly) controversial dating life as he is dating up and coming actress Florence Pugh who is 20 years his junior. Others like Donald Faison, John C. McGinley, and Sarah Chalke have appeared on other programs, but no one in the cast has seen prolonged success that could really draw people into watching Scrubs and seeing what the actors were like back then.

In the end though, Scrubs is still one of the best comedies of the 2000s. A zany program that showcased some stand out comedy which strived and succeeded in becoming a truly unique show. If readers have the time, especially if there is some sort of reason that you can’t leave the house due to a social distancing ordinance or something, considering searching out this gem of a comedy. Doctor’s orders!

Navel orange flower tutorial Slice a navel orange in half, then cut it into fourths and continue until you have small slices. Then cut half of the fruit away from the peel carefully. Make two incisions in the separated side of the peel like fish fins.

Then tuck the end of the separated slice underneath the attached fruit side. Do this with all the orange slices and put them together in a circle.

Scrub in Craig Allan Staff Writer

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hen asked what some of the greatest comedies of the 2000s are, many will likely mention The Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm. But, one that is not mentioned often is a comedy that broke the mold for broadcast television and went on to be called the most accurate scripted medical show on television. That show was Scrubs; a medical comedy that chronicled the life of John “JD” Dorian as he went through his medical career at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital.

While Scrubs was a show consisting of many zany characters and over the top jokes propelled by the star character’s overactive imagination, the show was very capable of tackling the serious nature of the sad reality of watching people die.

Ending in 2010 after nine seasons, the show does not seem to be remembered as the landmark of 2000s’ television as it should be. With the show going off the air 10 years ago, and two of the members of the show beginning a series rewatch podcast this month, now is as good of a time as any to talk about what made Scrubs great.

A great comedy lives and dies by its cast, and Scrubs had one of television’s best casts. Whether it was the lacking in self confidence Elliott Reid, the over the top rebel and rant dispenser Perry Cox, or the vengeful annoyances of the vindictive (and at one point possibly imaginary) Janitor, the Scrubs cast was filled with creative characters that consistently delivered for the show’s entire nine season run. Along with this, the show also had a bevvy of side characters including the inappropriate surgeon Todd “The Todd” Quinlan, sad sack lawyer Ted Buckland, and battle-

axe wife of Dr. Cox, Jordan Sullivan, who gave the show a feeling that the hospital wasn’t just a hospital, but a town of unique characters.

While Scrubs is often remembered for its humour brought on by JD’s overactive imagination leading to flashbacks, the show’s most beloved episodes are often ones that deal with serious drama. Like the episode “My Screwup,” which many fans view as the best episode in the series.

It revolves around the character of Ben Sullivan, Jordan’s brother and Dr. Cox’s best friend, who comes in for an evaluation of his leukemia. And, spoiler, it is revealed that while Ben has been hanging around Dr. Cox and having fun all day, in truth Ben had died earlier in the episode. The event that Dr. Cox was looking forward to, which was disguised as his son’s birthday party, is actually Ben’s funeral—which Dr Cox was suppressing due to his unwillingness to deal with the loss of his friend. Despite being given clues throughout the episode, it was a shocking reveal that highlighted the show’s ability to perform dramatic moments, and also showed the emotional nuance of its characters.

One episode that I have always loved is “My Last Words” where characters JD and his “guy love” surgeon friend Turk are counselling a dying man who is set to pass away on the night they are going to a traditional celebration they call “steak night.” While the episode contains the zaniness that Scrubs is known for— between JD and Turk’s steak night dance and a fantasy in which JD daydreams that he gets himself stuffed when he dies so he can be with Turk forever—the episode is a very sweet and somber look at death and the fear that doctors must suppress.

With all the great things Scrubs has

Illustration by Janis McMath

››Looking back at the 2000s most underrated show

arts // no. 8

theotherpress.ca

Want an equal society?

Be careful what you wish for ››‘Harrison Bergeron’ short story review

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ccording to American journalist Dick Feagler, “Equality of opportunity is freedom, but equality of outcome is repression.” In our society, equality is often widely regarded as the ultimate goal for the common good; yet, in its purest form, equality is not desirable. And often times, it can be corrosive.

In Kurt Vonnegut’s book, Harrison Bergeron, he passively argues that the true equality that many protest for actually harms people’s creativity and uniqueness— ultimately concluding that it’s not worth wishing for. The narrative first sets in a dystopian future society where the whole population was “equal every which way.

Nobody was smarter than anybody else.

Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else.”

This means that true equality has ultimately been attained. However, this form of equality was achieved through making all people wear handicap gears— especially those people who are smarter and better looking than the average individual. Those who have qualities below the average are left untouched.

The people in this futuristic society are all controlled by the government’s Handicapper General, who is more likely to be the controller of equality and a punisher to those who defy it. The story progresses around George and Hazel Bergeron.

George has to wear a handicap because he is a very smart guy, smarter than average,

while Hazel does not. Their son, Harrison Bergeron, is like his father but is more talented, sporty, and strong. He also has to wear handicaps, but he removes them in order to retaliate against the government.

Harrison was later incarcerated, but because of his skills, he breaks loose and

Because of the handicaps, Harrison’s father, who watched his son suffer live on television, was unable to remember anything that had happened. Since Hazel was the average person, she wasn’t able to understand the situation either. After that, everything was back to how it was… equal.

enters a TV show where ballerinas are dancing. There, he passionately preaches the beauty in the freedom to be unique by freeing the masked ballerinas and handicapped musicians. But unfortunately, the angry Handicapper General arrives and punishes them.

I get it. Everyone wants an equal society but let us not forget that equality limits our freedom and diversity. The author may have made this story to target the ideals of socialism and communism— whose constructs are more on equality of outcome and the idea that everyone

Image via Medium.com

EG Manilag Staff Writer

should get what everyone has. It seems that Vonnegut prefers equality of opportunity, where everyone gets the same chance to climb the ladder of success.

But the central idea though is to be skeptical of true equality because whether or not we like it, this story perfectly describes true equality and the logical conclusion of that ideology. But why preserve uniqueness, creativity, and diversity, though? How is it a priority in the face of ensuring that everyone has food on their table?

Well, these attributes help society break through traditional norms that were once corrosive and discriminative, like slavery. Because some people deviated in thought and stood for what they uniquely saw as true and fair, freedom for those who were enslaved was achieved. New ideas always need room to grow and a society of equality does not allow that. Take this other scenario for example, you worked hard on an assignment and got the highest score, but your professor wants to be fair— so he averages all the students’ scores. The result would then be applied to all, leaving you with a lower mark but saving those who failed, even those students that failed because they did not do any work.

Ultimately, it is important to first understand how equality works—desiring it without comprehending it is very dangerous. It is like making a deal with the devil. Vonnegut’s book has a lot to offer, may it be political or social, so make sure to read the whole short story. It’s definitely worth your time and effort!

Trapped in the house with TV characters ››Bottle episodes to enjoy while self-isolating

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f you’re feeling stuck inside due to social distancing and self-isolating recommendations, maybe it’s time to stop binging shows that feature worldly adventures and try something a little closer to home—like the “bottle episode” TV trope. This type of episode usually contains the show’s main cast confined to a single location for a specific amount of time.

Some shows use the bottle episode trope as a way to save on budget, while others use it as a writing challenge to tell a gripping story with minimal locations and cast.

Here are three shows that used the bottle episode trope to keep their characters trapped at home, a feeling many people are becoming familiar with these days.

1. “Older and Far Away” Season 6, Episode 14 — Buffy the Vampire Slayer What could be more of an at-home bottle episode than the story of a lonely teenager wishing her family would stay home with her, only to have her wish granted by a magical being? Dawn’s wish turns Buffy’s birthday party upside down when she

and her friends discover they can’t leave the house. Their trapped state forces the group to confront their inner demons and pour out their deepest feelings to one another—a common reaction for characters in bottle episodes. While the episode does feature new characters outside of the main cast, they quickly fade into the background when things get serious and the main characters need to come up with a plan to save the day.

2. “The One Where No One’s Ready” Season 3, Episode 2 — Friends For all of you trying to work from home and struggling with household chaos, this bottle episode about trying to get ready amidst everything going wrong will probably feel like your new Monday.

As usual, Ross is up against a deadline that his friends don’t seem to appreciate.

Monica obsesses over an old phone message, Joey and Chandler fight over a chair, Phoebe fusses over a stain on her dress, and Rachel can’t find anything to wear. Each character breaks down at some point, cracking under the pressure of trying to get ready in less than 30 minutes.

Still from 'Community'

Cheryl Minns Senior Columnist

3. “Remedial Chaos Theory” Season 3, Episode 4 — Community Although house parties obviously aren’t happening these days, a bottle episode like this one can make that seem like a good thing. When the seven members of the Greendale study group get together for Troy and Abed’s housewarming party, Jeff suggests they decide who will get the pizza by rolling a six-sided die. With each roll, a new timeline is created in which a different character leaves to get the pizza

and the other characters get into all kinds of trouble. This episode style—where the same scenes play out in slightly different variations—also makes it a reference to the film Groundhog Day, a film where the main character repeats the same day over and over again. Somehow amongst all of the comedic antics, the episode still manages to explore each character’s personal life and discover something new about them—a reoccurring theme in many bottle episodes.

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

Life & Style

life & style // no. 9 • Battling boredom during COVID-19 • Goat cheese recipes • Taco Bell’s new wrap and Dairy Queen’s new burger ...and more

Seven o’clock noise hour ››The latest in

quarantine fun

Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor he sun is just starting to set when British Columbians from all across the province get outside and onto their balconies, front steps, porches, and backyards to bang pots and pans, howl like wolves, sing loud and proud, and play musical instruments. This is your local seven o’clock noise hour, brought to you

by Italy—the first country to get press coverage of citizens breaking the silence to cheer up residents in quarantine. And a special thank you to all medical workers and those on the front lines of this battle against an invisible enemy.

Thanks to the contagious COVID-19 that everyone is getting to know quite intimately, most events and outings have been cancelled or postponed—but making some noise can’t be cancelled. A virus cannot take that away from the cooped up and intrepid. Each province in Canada has its own time of day and its own way of taking part in this new-found wave of fun and entertainment during quarantine.

Even the iconic Vancouver 9 o’clock gun fires at 7 now! This trend is spreading fast!

In Italy, former emerging artist from the Calgary Opera Nofar Yacobi uses her beautiful voice to liven up her neighbourhood—doing what she can to keep the positive vibes going while in isolation. This singer encourages other vocal artists and musicians to collectively

Photo by Billy Bui

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create something wonderful during a time when it feels like everything is being taken away from us. “I thought why don’t we […] do something really beautiful together because all this crisis is about distancing and isolating from each other, but we actually need to be […] connected."” said Yacobi in a Skype interview with CTV News Calgary.

We’re still gathering members for this long-distance band, but every day I hear

more and more participants playing with what they got. There are multiple meanings behind this memorable movement; the previously mentioned thank you to medical workers; a form of entertainment; and a resounding fuck you to the virus that has taken away our freedom to go out.

Many have chosen to use this time to come together—fighting for fun in a safe way that still helps flatten the curve

and keeps everyone safe. We are thinking outside the box rather than sealing ourselves inside the box. Though we can’t be close in our connections right now, we can still connect through the power of making a little noise. And besides, it’s fun to have an excuse to bang some pots and pans together.

Interesting food finds during the pandemic ››Taco Bell’s new wrap and Dairy Queen’s new burger

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ecause social distancing is currently in place, many restaurants and fastfood places are still open—but only for takeout, drive-thru, and delivery. Some of the major fast food places are entirely closed for carryout and only available at the drive-thru. Even though it will still be a few months (maybe more) before I can

get back to eating in a restaurant, there were a few interesting new food products that I wanted to eat when I was watching commercials in between coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

As a disclaimer, I want to mention that I made sure that I got the food products safely. I did not use public transit; I was instead was driven to the fast-food place or I would walk to it if it was nearby. And I made sure to practice social distancing

Photos by Jerrison Oracion

Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist

when inside the fast-food place. After that, I quickly got back to my house to eat the delicious food. These are my thoughts on what I bought: Taco Bell is currently offering a new wrap called the Grande Stacker; it’s filled with a lot of seasoned beef, cheese, rice, and optional chipotle sauce. The item is all folded up neatly and shows off its stacks of ingredients and grilled tortilla well. I ate the Chipotle Grande Stacker version of the wrap and it is very filling. The beef is quite flavourful as well as the cheese, while the chipotle sauce is not very spicy but still has a kick. The wrap is very big and easy to eat—as long as you’re holding it properly and making sure that the beef does not fall out.

I like steak and I also like to eat it in a burger. There are a few steakhouse burgers that I have eaten in the past couple of years—I especially enjoy the ones from Burger King. When I saw a commercial for Dairy Queen’s Loaded Steakhouse Burger, I had to have one. It is like a steak dinner in

a burger and has delicious toppings that I, conveniently, like to have on a steakhouse burger. This meal has two beef patties with crispy onion rings and bacon on top.

It additionally features cheese, and two steakhouse sauces—including an HP-style sauce and peppercorn sauce. The beef patties are a bit dry but still have the taste that you would expect from a steak in a classic steakhouse. The onion rings do add a bit of crunch to the burger and the steakhouse sauces make the beef patties more flavourful. I especially appreciate the HP-style sauce. The peppercorn sauce is strong but does not overpower the taste of the burger.

If you would like the burger to be just as filling as an actual steak dinner, you can add another beef patty to the burger— which also comes with more steakhouse sauces to make it juicier.

While some of your favourite food products are currently not available during the pandemic, these interesting new food products can still wow your taste buds.

Terry Fox: Canadian Hero Brandon Yip Contributor

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erry Fox had a dream to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. His dream was doubted by many—including his family.

But whatever challenges he was faced with, his mental strength pushed him to hyper focus on achieving his goals. He would succeed no matter what. Fox spoke about his resolve during a 1980 television interview for the program Real People: “I always say to people and it’s true. You can take my other leg away and I’d probably be even tougher than I am right now with one.”

THE ORIGIN STORY

He was born in Winnipeg on July 28, 1958, to parents Rolland and Betty. His siblings include oldest brother Fred, younger brother Darrell, and younger sister Judith. The family later moved to Port Coquitlam where Fox attended Port Coquitlam Secondary School (which no longer exists). After high school, he attended Simon Fraser University studying kinesiology from 1976 to 1979.

In March 1977, at age 18, Fox was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma—also known as bone cancer. His right leg was later amputated 15 cm above the knee. The night before his operation, Fox was given a copy of Runner’s World magazine by his high school coach, Terri Fleming. The publication featured Dick Traum, an amputee who ran in the New York City Marathon in October 1976. Traum’s story provided a source of inspiration for Fox. But in the 2005 documentary, Terry Fox Remembered, Traum would disclose that when he met Fox’s mother years later, she told the truth of how Fox really felt about the marathon runner. Traum recited Betty’s story: “her story is that [Terry] sees this picture of me and he looks at it and he says, ‘If this old guy can run a marathon, I could run one every day!’” This truly reveals his competitive nature and spirit.

After his operation, Fox would have follow-up treatments for 16 months. During his treatment, the suffering he witnessed at the cancer ward would have a profound effect on him. “Kids my age and younger, and you just can’t leave something like that and forget it,” Fox said in a 1980 television interview with the CBC. In February 1979, Fox began training for the “Marathon of Hope” run, accumulating over 5,000 km (3,107 miles) in running distance.

The Marathon of Hope began on April 12 1980, with Fox dipping his right leg into the Atlantic Ocean near St. John’s, Newfoundland.

He was accompanied by his best friend, Doug Alward—the driver of their van. The run had very little publicity in the beginning. But when Fox entered Ontario, there were more public appearances that generated more media coverage; people had now become aware of the courageous young man from Port Coquitlam.

But on the first day of September in 1980, after running 18 miles, Fox began coughing and complained of chest pain. He saw a doctor and it was discovered that cancer had now spread to his lungs. He was forced to end the Marathon of Hope outside Thunder Bay after 143 days and having run 5,373 km (3,339 miles).

You can take my other leg away and I’d probably be even tougher than I am right now with one.”

- Terry Fox

IN THE FACE OF DEATH

Shortly after arriving back in Vancouver, Fox held a press conference at Royal Columbian Hospital—where he would begin chemotherapy treatment. Fox was asked by a reporter if he felt bitter, and remarkably Fox refused to be angry about his fate.

“No, I don’t feel bitter. I’m not surprised by anything anymore. This is the way life is. I’m not the only one who is in this situation. There are a lot of people in worse situations […] I’m not bitter at anybody.” On September 18, 1980, Fox became the youngest recipient of the Companion of the Order of Canada. The ceremony was held at City Hall in Port Coquitlam. Fox died at Royal Columbian Hospital on June 28, 1981, with his family at his side. He was 22 years old.

REMEMBERING TERRY AND CONTINUING HIS LEGACY

Fred Fox, manager for Support Relations at the Terry Fox Foundation, says he is proud to be carrying on his brother’s memory. “It’s Terry’s selflessness, his determination, the never give up attitude that Terry displayed,” Fox said in an email interview with the Other Press. “In 1980 and still today, people recognize Terry’s honesty and integrity, that what he was doing was for all of the right reasons. It’s the next generations that continue to see Terry as an example that you don’t need to be the best. Terry would say he was just average, but hard work helps you achieve your goals.”

Steve Hanson, head coach for the SFU men’s basketball team, says Fox’s legacy remains a significant part of their basketball program.

The team has dedicated a locker stall in their team room in Terry’s honour, as a reminder of his strong work ethic and determination. Another reminder is Fox’s number 4 jersey which is retired and inside the gym the team practices in everyday. “So, I feel it is my job to keep Terry’s legacy at SFU alive and talk about his inspiring story in relation to basketball,” Hanson said in an email interview with the Other Press. “If any student-athlete in my program does not know his story, I have not done my job. We have many things named after Terry Fox at SFU, but it is more important to share the ‘why’ he started the Marathon of Hope and telling our students that he was the same age.”

Jay Triano is a former Canadian men’s national basketball player and former SFU player (from 1977 to 1981). He became friends with Terry Fox at SFU as students. Today, Triano is an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA, and he reflects on his friendship with Fox. “As you know, Terry was a friend of mine, but more importantly he was an inspiration for generations of Canadians,” Triano said in an email interview with the Other Press. “A true hero, who I was able to watch as he transformed from a regular student athlete to becoming one of the greatest Canadians of all time. […] His drive, motivation and caring for others still motivates me to this day, and I know he has had the same affect on others. I was just lucky enough to be friends with him and watch him become a hero and one of the greatest Canadians of all time.”

Rick Hansen, Founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation, says Terry Fox also inspired him as a prominent advocate for people with disabilities. “He was indirectly shifting attitudes from pity and limitation to respect, ability, and potential,” Hansen said in an interview with the Other Press. “This became a motivating and inspiring factor for me as I considered my long-time dream of wheeling around the world. My goal was to demonstrate and create awareness of the potential of people with disabilities, to help remove barriers and to make the world accessible and inclusive. Terry and his story remind us all that people who have varying disabilities are people first.”

A STATEMENT FROM THE PRIME MINISTER

No, I don't feel bitter. I'm not surprised by anything anymore. This is the way life is.

I'm not the only one who is in this situation.”

- Terry Fox

Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne

Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, states Canadians should never forget what Terry Fox accomplished. “40 years ago, Terry Fox ignited a movement of hope across Canada,” said Trudeau through his press secretary in an email statement to the Other Press. “His determination and perseverance showed Canadians that there are no limits to what anyone can do and inspired so many to help fight the disease that took his life and has taken the lives of far too many. […] I encourage all Canadians to do their part in Terry’s name, so we can continue what he started.”

At present, over $750 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run which is held in numerous countries worldwide. In the end, Fox remained humble as the Marathon of Hope was never about him. Speaking with reporters after receiving the Companion of the Order of Canada, Fox reflected on his marathon and uniting the country during that memorable summer of 1980. “I’ve always demanded a lot from myself and expected a lot,” Fox said. “When I ran across Canada, [or] attempted to, the attitude I had in doing my very best was something I’ve always done. And to me, it wasn’t a special thing because I knew the effort I was putting in.

That’s why it’s hard for me to understand how I could be a hero.”

life & style // no. 12

Screenshots of Daniel Currali's YouTube videos

theotherpress.ca

Socially Distant Duets connect local actors with home audience ››Actors perform split-screen musical duets on YouTube Cheryl Minns Senior Columnist

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ocial distancing has seriously impacted the Greater Vancouver theatre community, causing the cancellation of upcoming productions everywhere. But some local theatre actors have taken to YouTube to entertain those stuck at home.

They showcase their talents in a new series of videos called Socially Distant Duets.

The videos feature split-screen performances by young adult actors, who film their parts of the duet separately and then splice the videos side-by-side to create the final production.

“It’s such a great use of time while we’re stuck in this quarantine and a lot of things have been shut down,” actor Daniel Curalli said to the Other Press in a phone interview.

“There are so many artists from our little amazing community who are being creative and adapting to this really scary situation we’re in,” actor Joscelyne Tamburri said to the Other Press in a phone interview. “The kind of art we’re going to make from this situation is going to be historic.”

Socially Distant Duets began when actor Emily Matchette posted on social

media that she wanted to continue doing performances, even though all shows had been cancelled and social distancing limits were in place. This became a great alternative.

“I started doing them because Emily posted that she missed performing and singing with people and I was just in a show [Royal City Musical Theatre’s Crazy For You] that had been cancelled and I really missed my friends, so we decided to do our favourite songs and sing them together,” Tamburri said.

Matchette and Tamburri performed “Somethin’ Bad,” a country duet by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.

With Curalli, Matchette did a cover from The Addams Family musical called “Crazier Than You,” a song about how similar Wednesday Addams and her normal boyfriend Lucas Beineke are.

“I’ve never seen The Addams Family, so I had to find the song, look at its context in the musical, and do research. That was a really cool experience because I learned something as well as getting to sing,” Curalli said. Curalli and Tamburri then collaborated on their own duet, “Only Us” from Dear Evan Hansen.

“My favourite one is ‘Only Us’ from Dear Evan Hansen with Daniel,” Tamburri

said. “I actually auditioned for the North American tour of Dear Evan Hansen, so I had worked on the stuff.”

Following Matchette’s lead, Curalli began inviting friends and former costars to join him for Socially Distant Duet videos. Curalli and Thomas Chan posted “The Other Side” from The Greatest Showman and raised the bar for what can be performed in a Socially Distant Duet.

Instead of just singing to the camera, they use duplicate props to pass things to each other.

“It’s nice to try passing things from frame to frame or looking out one side of the frame to your partner, who’s on the other side of the screen. There [are] just so many different things that you can try and do,” Curalli said.

“It’s kind of evolved really quickly,” Tamburri said.

Tamburri’s upcoming performance will be her biggest Socially Distant Duet production yet, a six-person ensemble piece with other Socially Distant Duet performers: Matchette, Amanda Lourenco, Chantelle Ward, Danica Kobayashi, and Megan Greenwood.

“We’re doing the ‘Ex-Wives’ number [from Six]. We’re all going to learn the choreography. We’re all making at-home

costumes. We’re going to edit it all together to make one big group number,” Tamburri said. “It’s very ambitious and it’s going to take a little extra time than these usually do.”

“I like the DIY aesthetic that the social distancing has brought together,” actor Daniel Cardoso said to the Other Press in a phone interview.

Cardoso has posted a few Socially Distant Duets to his YouTube account, including one with Curalli and one with Tamburri.

“My favourite was probably ‘You’re Nothing Without Me’ [from City of Angels], which I did with Daniel,” Cardoso said.

“Crazy For You would’ve been our third show in a row together. We collaborate well, so it was fun to take that into a song.”

For anyone interested in recording their own Socially Distant Duet videos, there are a few things to keep in mind.

“It’s not about whether you’re a good singer, or performer, or anything like that,” Curalli said. “It’s a way to connect with people and not feel isolated.”

“You just have to have the courage to do it and know that it’s going to be great,” Tamburri said.

“The most important part is to have fun and enjoy it,” Chan said.

It’s not about whether you’re a good singer, or performer, or anything like that,”

life & style // no. 13

issue 26// vol 46

Battling boredom during COVID-19 ››A variety of ways to freshen up each day Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

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Photo of Morgan Hannah by Morgan Hannah

t feels like the 3,259th day of quarantine.

During these uncertain and scary days, it is not only important to be kind to those around you—it is also essential to show yourself a little kindness. Whether that be taking a hot bath, making your favourite

meal, doing an art project, diving into your favourite book, or FaceTiming with your bestie; self-care is truly vital. Validate your feelings and realize that it’s okay to feel whatever you are feeling. Whether that be scared, worried, sad, anxious, frustrated, exhausted, nothing at all, or BORED. Let go of the expectations you had for this summer, because baby, it ain’t happenin’ how you thought it would. But that’s okay!

Here’s how to combat being bored during quarantine: Change your outfits up Despite what you may have heard elsewhere, don’t give yourself permission to spend each day in your PJs. Get up every day, wash your face (and hands!), and get dressed. Pick out your daily outfits carefully—the same way you would if you were going out into the world to impress. Add a couple of accessories that you’ve been craving to wear—maybe even try on that bold piece in the back of your closet that you hadn’t found the courage to wear.

Now’s the time to build up that “I don’t give a fuck” attitude for when the world is ready to reconnect. Not only will getting ready in the mornings every day help with reestablishing lost routines, it’ll be fun to experiment and, essentially, play dress up. #Goals Ever heard of “Quarantine and Chill”?

Well, how about “Quarantine and Create”!

That’s right, instead of loafing around watching Netflix and snacking all day— which we’re all guilty of, don’t even try to deny it—take a step in the right direction and start something new! Something big! Something exciting and long term!

Watch some MasterClasses for example, pay for the advertised package at the end, then actually DO it! Learn a new time consuming skill, create an online business, build a line of luxury clay earrings—you catching my drift? Do something with your indoor time so that when you’re allowed back into the world, you’re upgraded.

Become the 2.0 version of yourself!

Surveys Take as many online surveys as you can and rack up those PayPal dollars! Each survey won’t pay that much on its own.

But, if you’re gonna spend all day sitting on the couch, cozy in bed, or outside on the balcony—you may as well crack a cold one and scroll through the various survey websites to make some passive side dollars.

Just really read that fine print before signing up for anything.

Writing Everyone’s got a story to tell, so why not pitch in and tell yours? Write a daily journal, then add some fictional elements if you dare. Create something fun and fantastical that you’re proud of. You’ve definitely got the time for it, so give it a shot! Maybe even try your hand at publishing when this virus clears out and life is a happening again. You might get hooked.

Sidewalk art Ever heard of those Buddhist monks that make mandalas out of sand? If you haven’t, they create these intricate designs—spending days and days on every detail. Then, when they’re done, they brush it all away and start again. This is a practice of appreciating the “temporary,” which is what this time of quarantine is in our lives. Similar to the monks, why not take some sidewalk chalk and make a masterpiece that any passersby can enjoy?

Then, when the rain comes and washes it all away, you’re left with a blank canvas to start again. Maybe you’ll even make a name for yourself or your neighbourhood.

Additionally, your sidewalk art could become a sidewalk gym if you design mini courses! From hopscotch, “follow the line,” “walk like this,” to “hop like that,” there are many ways to create some interactive fun that members of your community can take part in. It’ll be a great way to keep away the “Quarantine 15.”

Goat cheese recipes Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

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h, goat cheese. A delicious allergensensitive substitute that is healthier than many of its counterparts. In fact, some people can find it easier to digest goat cheese than cow cheese. Additionally, to me at least, the cheese has more flavour and versatility. Speaking of which, here are some fun and unusual recipes to give a try!

Goat cheese “cheesecake” bites Silky, smooth, sweet, and not too bad for ya—these cheesy snacks will have you reaching for more.

Ingredients: • 1/3 cup powdered sugar • 1/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (substitute dairy-free yogurt as an alternative) • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 ounces goat cheese, softened • 15 thawed frozen mini phyllo pastry shells blueberry or strawberry preserves Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine powdered sugar, yogurt, vanilla, and goat cheese in a medium-sized bowl. Then beat with a mixer or a fork until smooth.

Spoon about 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of filling into each phyllo pastry shell. Spoon 1/2 a teaspoon of blueberry or strawberry preserves onto each. Put in oven for 10 to 12

minutes. Let cool for 3 minutes.

Honey-orange whipped goat cheese spread Versatile, easy to make—and delicious!

This spread is a crowd-pleaser as much as it is a guilty pleasure.

Ingredients: • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (substitute dairy-free yogurt as an alternative) • 2 tablespoons honey • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 1 teaspoon grated orange rind • 2 ounces goat cheese, softened Method: Mix together yogurt, honey, olive oil, orange rind, and goat cheese. Beat with a mixer or a fork until light and fluffy—it takes about 1 minute. Then serve on top of pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, or toast.

Bacon and goat cheese jalapeño poppers How can you say no to bacon and cheese with a little heat? I am a huge fan of jalapeño poppers and making ‘em dairyfree makes them even better!

Ingredients: • 2 ounces goat cheese, softened • 1 tablespoon grated red onion • 3/8 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder • 8 medium jalapeño peppers (halved

vertically and seeded) • 3 centre-cut bacon slices (cooked and crumbled) • 2 tablespoons red pepper jelly • 1 teaspoon water Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine the goat cheese, grated red onion, salt, pepper, and onion powder in a medium bowl. Stir well to mix. Arrange pepper halves on a pan and divide filling among peppers. Bake for seven minutes or until peppers are tender and beginning to brown. Sprinkle with bacon. Combine jelly and water in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave for 30 seconds (or until saucy) and drizzle evenly over peppers.

Goat cheese and cremini oatmeal In Indonesia, oatmeal is eaten savoury.

It shocked me the first time, but then I thought “why not?” Oatmeal is such a versatile base for meals!

Ingredients: • 3/4 cup water • 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats • 1 teaspoon olive oil • 1/2 cup sliced cremini mushrooms • 3 tablespoons crumbled goat cheese • 2 tablespoons half-and-half (substitute dairy-free creamer as an alternative)

Illustration by Athena Little

››Something unusual and tasty to try

• 1/8 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme • salt to taste Method: Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan and stir in oats and a dash of salt. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat—then add mushrooms to pan and sauté for four minutes. Stir in 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of crumbled goat cheese, half-and-half or a nondairy alternative, about 1/8 teaspoon of salt, and thyme into warm oatmeal. Top with mushrooms and 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of crumbled goat cheese.

Opinions

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

• Poutine with cheese sauce is superior • Why do I have to pay my landlord?

• The slide that COVID-19 couldn’t halt ...and more

This pandemic is only a short breather for nature Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor

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hey say there is a silver lining to every cloud or a little bit of good in anything that’s bad. Clichés like “smile through the rain” or “always look on the bright side of life” are in full effect during times like these. Shortly after everyone was relegated to their quarantine abodes, memes began to abound about mother nature putting her most unruly species in a timeout. No Instagram scroll was safe from the “nature just hit reset” post. But is COVID-19 actually beneficial for nature?

Has the confinement of humanity to the comfortable cages of our own design really been beneficial, or is it just a naïve attempt from a few to console the many?

Stories littered social media in no time about the miraculous recovery and reinstatement of nature as the human race was locked down. Videos of mountain goats investigating Llandudno, North Wales, produced “oohs” and “aahs;” pictures of animals let out to meet their zoo cellmates brought smiles to faces young and old. Then came the stories of swans returning to the canals of Venice and drunken elephant parties in Yunnan, China; unfortunately, half of the above were hoaxes.

In a National Geographic fact check, Natasha Daly explains that those elephants are a common sight in Yunnan and that the clear waters and swans “returning” to

Venice are actually pictures from Burano and quite common there in fact. Even the best of news, like the return of fin whales to Mediterranean waters or the decreased CO2 levels in China, are but temporary postponements for our embattled planet.

Once boats return to the marinas, the serene whales will retreat—and as the Chinese population returns to health and its inevitable work, so will CO2 levels return to their previous stations. Human adaptation and greed have once again outpaced nature’s ability to reform and recuperate.

Worse still is the damage that the pandemic has done to the climate change effort. We have been told time and time again that climate change requires a global effort to avert the slow slide that could imperil the future of humanity.

Even though the temporary drop in CO2 levels was good, the unfortunate reality is that CO2 stays in our atmosphere for centuries. The small breather looked good on Facebook, but it was all but meaningless to the world at large. While some decry the return of China to its old polluting ways, they are certainly glad that the country has returned to producing two thirds of the world's solar panels. For all of its expulsion of greenhouse gases, China is the leading producer of wind turbines, lithium ion batteries, and the solar panels that underlie any great climate activist’s dream.

More importantly than the production of clean energy devices is the clearly

tenuous nature of global alliances; the EU wasted no time in blocking out Italy and Spain from its resource sharing as their death tolls rose. Unlike in our favorite blockbuster movies, global leaders could not in fact put aside their differences long enough to face down the existential threat. As a matter of fact, this pandemic may have driven many countries even further from cooperation. The nasty spat between Taiwan and Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO is certainly an example.

The WHO, despite Taiwan’s stellar health care record, refuses year after year to permit the eager country entry into the organization. Tedros has accused Taiwan of permitting attacks against his person. The blustering exchange of threats between Venezuela's Maduro and Donald Trump is also an example. We may be even further from the united effort necessary to curb global warming than we were in December when the UN COP25 ended in shambles.

Like so many unruly children, political leaders have managed to confuse the pandemic response and even reversed some of the forward progress of the years gone by. Many leaders are doing so in an effort to further nationalistic goals that could prove

Photo by Billy Bui

››The slide that COVID-19 couldn’t halt

worthless if the global economy crashes or if the temperature rises.

Just the other day, I saw a picture joking that dodos had returned to Mauritius after humans had disappeared; the unfortunate reality of extinction is that once gone, there really is no way back. Whether it’s extinction by a new and currently unknown zoonotic disease, or the widespread inability to set aside difference and self-interest for the greater good, humanity has its work cut out before it can celebrate some free running penguin videos.

A few revelations that COVID-19 has to offer ››Working for home is simple and billionaires haven’t donated enough Tania Arora Staff Writer

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ince COVID-19 has unfolded, it’s great to see the way governments around the world have worked together and various business organizations everywhere are handling it. There are many silver linings to look to.

China is now beginning to recover from the outbreak and resumed regular life, and hopefully our norm is near too. It is still a question as to whether the virus originated in bats or if it was artificially created; it might take months or even years for the truth to be unraveled. Regardless of the uncertainty this outbreak has wrecked, we have been gifted with numerous revelations: 1. A 2015 study conducted by Tammy D. Allen, Timothy D. Golden, and Kristen M. Shockley showed that remote work was worse for team cohesion and productivity.

There have been tons of similar research and reports released stating that productivity would decreased if people were to work from home. However,

businesses have been forced to attempt it, and luckily they are running mostly without any hindrances. The pandemic has given a clear message to human resource teams and business owners: it is possible for people to work from home and can be granted if required.

2. The government needs to build up a greater medical system which can accommodate people. Our current medical system has been exposed as inadequate, and it is clear now that it is in dire need of expansions. We need to strengthen our medical force and further medical research and funding in order to create a more efficient system.

Not only that, we need to properly compensate our critical medical staff and even the frontline workers of our supply chains. It took this entire ruckus for us to realize that nurses, doctors, and even grocery store employees are undercompensated.

3. Is every billionaire actually a billionaire?

In early April, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey pledged $1 billion to vaccine research in order to “disarm the pandemic.” Later, Bill

Gates donated $100 million towards the fight—prompting Jeff Bezos to do the same. Many other wealthy individuals have committed to the fight, yet the amount of money generated seems woefully inadequate given the billions of people alive today. Where are the others hiding with their money?

4. From the largest of countries to the smallest of nations, the coronavirus response has been different. From varying levels of testing to complete economic shutdowns, the world community has shown that not one method can perfectly attack this problem. However, the importance of quick thinking, decisive decision making, and a well-informed population has proven to be the greatest marker of good results.

Though methods practiced in Russia may not fare as well in South Korea, the end result has been good.

5. Lastly, if we compare Canada to the rest of the world, the country lies in the list of developed countries. But our home is still not perfect if compared to the states

or the rest; the reasons for which could be myriad. Though Canada is a developed country it is clear that much work needs to be done for our future.

I think that our taxes should be better funneled into medical care and other emergency services without the stunning levels of bureaucracy that we currently face. It should take days—not months or even years for needed fund allocation to go through. Though Canadas population is aging, we can see that our health care system has some bloat. It instead could be as efficient as the systems employed in other developed countries.

opinions // no. 15

issue 26// vol 46

Why do I have to pay my landlord?

Erik Wilkins Contributor

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s the world deals with COVID-19 (originating in Wuhan, China—not Italy or from the US military as some papers are starting to “report”), it’s disappointing to note how many on social media have decided now is the time to question the workings of capitalism. Cries for landlords to be guillotined, all countries to switch to universal healthcare, and business made to bear the financial brunt have reigned supreme. It’d be amusing if the speakers had done any homework. To break it down, it’s essentially those who have less wanting more from those who have more. It begs the question: what is equality? How much does your neighbour have to have before you’re entitled to her hard work? Or how much do you need to have before she’s entitled to what you have?

“I pay $800 a month in rent. So does every other person in my 30-unit building.

That’s $24,000 a month for the landlord.

I never even see him. Just that building manager who fixes things once-in-awhile.

The landlord isn’t doing a job. Why do I have to pay him?”

It’s crazy that questions such as “Why do I have to pay him?” get any play. It’s crazy that people will pay for a service for an agreed-upon sum and then question the right of the person selling it to them.

What? The landlord owns the building.

You want to rent there. You’re paying for the right to live there. The difficulty is hard to spot.

The issue with the emerging generations is that many have (an idealistic, not practical) socialistic-leaning thanks to post-secondary, but none of the history or fundamental understanding that needs to come with it. We want everything to be readily accessible without struggle, and, as a point-of-principle, have extreme disdain for any with an advanced position

in the existing infrastructure.

We all talk of how it’s impossible to buy a house due to the high cost of real estate and living, yet it’s forgotten that landlords have to buy the apartment complexes they run. These people didn’t appear out of thin air to steal your hardearned dough. You think a house is expensive? Try putting up the capital for a 30-unit building.

To put things in real terms, a listing site (point2homes.com) currently has a 69-unit building for $28,500,000 (43 studios / 26 one-bedroom suites). A bit of digging reveals that studios go for about $1250 a month. Average for the area for a one-bedroom is approximately $2000 a month. That’s $1,269,000 a year. Even if the down payment was just a cool $5million, the landlord will spend more than 20 years paying off the building. And that doesn’t include repairs, tax, the manager’s salary, etc. Suddenly student loan figures don’t seem so bad.

So, no—you don’t have to pay a landlord. If you’re happy to put up several million dollars and take on the financial risk, go ahead. If you want to run your apartment complex or small walk-up like you feel it should be run, do it. Have every person just pay what they can. Don’t worry about the mounting debt. Don’t worry about the bank threatening to take your property if you default on your mortgage.

Banks are nice. It’ll be fine.

It’s sad that post-secondary education has become so left-leaning that we’ve started to have conversations about restricting fundamental capitalistic procedures based on social ideals. If you’re the one behind the 8-ball for the cash, you’re the one who gets to call the shots.

It’s frustrating that there’s any issue with that concept. Current generations want to call the shots and not take on any financial responsibility.

It’s similar to how there’s a growing

Illustration by Athena Little

››When a generation forgets how capitalism works

clamour for minimum-wage employees to share in the profits of large companies.

Take your local McDonalds: does the employee pay for the burgers? The buns?

The hydro for the building? The rent?

The benefits package? The insurance?

Anything? If the store gets sued for a few million dollars, is the employee going to help pay off the lawsuit? What if the employee made a snafu and was the reason the company got sued? The answer to all of these is a resounding “no.” The company is taking on all of the risk and the employee is the one who has chosen a minimum wage job—a job and wage they took willingly and of their own accord.

“But I’m working hard and deserve to share in the profits!” Then buy shares.

Literally no one is stopping you. A job is not a financial investment. A job is a personal investment of time that has already been accounted for financially by the agreed-upon wage.

Ever notice how most only want to apply their arguments to large corporations? The narrative disappears when we relate it to small business.

Principles are principles because you can apply them across the board.

They shouldn’t change based on the circumstances; any who disagree with this should immediately look into the world of flip-flopping politics.

While people will have an issue with McDonalds not sharing profits, they’ll magically lose their train-of-thought when it’s about their best friend who’s toiled at their home business for five years.

Eventually that friend hires one person to help take some calls. Should that person get a share of the profits? Your pal started $50,000 in the hole and built the company from nothing. Your friend stayed up night after sleepless night scraping enough money together to stay in KD for the week.

And now that things are starting to get more comfortable, should the very minimal profits be shared with this minimum-wage worker? This worker who has none of your friend’s experience, credentials, or personal investment? And if the worker is worthy of sharing in the profits, should not they also contribute to the costs and losses that were incurred before their arrival? Should the employee only share in profits once your friend is making some decent bank?

Of course not.

Poutine with cheese sauce is superior ››My hottest and most controversial take

Craig Allan Staff Writer

Illustration by Anastasia Simonovich

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ccasionally when I am online, I’ll come across a thread where people are asking any version of the same question: “What is your hottest take?” My take is one that I’ve had for many years and every time I bring it up, I have to justify my view on it. When hearing it, people have called me many names like “wrong” and “American.”

Substituting cheese for gravy is still poutine—and, in fact, is better!

Let me explain my thoughts around this. I am not a fan of gravy.

I just don’t like it. I feel it is either too thick and tastes bad, or it’s too runny and makes the food soggy.

However, I like the concept of poutine. Fries with cheese curds on it sounds delicious, but still, I don’t like gravy. I’ve tried it without gravy and for that I have been ridiculed. I

remember once ordering it this way at the Spud Shack in New Westminster Station. When the server gave it to me, he said “why are you getting it without gravy—is it an allergy thing?”

I wanted to tell him that it was a “none of your fucking business” thing, but I restrained myself and just told him “no.” Poutine without the gravy isn’t really poutine though. It’s just fries with some cheese balls around it.

That’s when I had the idea of cheese sauce instead of gravy.

The cheese sauce is the same kind you would find on nachos at a movie theatre, but a little less thick. I put it on fries—and it is sooo much better. It’s two kinds of cheesy goodness on fries.

The fries do have the potential to get soggy, but not as soggy as if they were covered in gravy.

Though I have loved this wonderfully cheesy combo, it has sparked no less than indignation amongst foodies and regular eaters

alike. I have never been able to turn anyone on this point. Some have conceded that while it is not a traditional poutine, it could still classify as a poutine. But there are others that have steadfastly disagreed with my point. They are adamant that poutine is fries, cheese curds, and gravy. I defend this by saying that a burger with a chicken patty is still a burger, a salad with olive oil over ranch dressing is still a salad, so why can’t poutine with cheese sauce instead of gravy still be poutine?

I have become resigned to the idea that my view of poutine will likely never be accepted by the public, but I will still defend it. After all, there has never been a person who has said that something had too much cheese on it.

Next time order poutine, ask for cheese sauce instead of gravy—you’ll thank me for taking you on the wonderfully cheesy journey that is the best version of poutine.

Humour

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

• The difficulty of being womanly • The 'Other' Other Press • How to stay safely grocery shop during a pandemic ...and more

Unmasking the struggles of quarantining ››The difficulty of being womanly Tania Arora Staff Writer

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was lucky that I stopped at the right time and did not pull out my eyebrows either partially or completely when I tried cleaning the extra hair using wax. Men might think that it is not really a struggle, but I am sure almost every woman will agree to the difficulty of life without a salon or a spa.

Considering the situation, it is in the best interest of everyone to stay at home… but that doesn’t stop our hair on our body from growing, cuticles from appearing, or our nail paint from getting chipped. My makeup vanity is crying because I’m not playing with her every day. But, what is the point of using it when I don’t have to step out? I am sure we are not sad about the restaurants or businesses being shut down. The pain of spa and salon closure is real. The following list elaborates on the look many will have to endure without this vitally important service.

1. Bushy & lushy brows: Your eyebrows won’t flourish as much as they usually do if you decide to pluck them out or wax them—if you are bold like me.

And even if you pull out one, or both, who

cares? You have got all the time to grow it back.

2. Witchy nails: I appreciate women who are able to fashion lengthy nails and I bow down to those who have enormously long ones. Not that I haven’t got them done before; peer pressure is the term. But honestly, I was not even able to adjust my pants or touch my head without actually getting seriously scratched with those acrylics. So post-quarantine, you’ll be able to actually see women’s real fingers. Till then, all the best practicing witchcraft.

3. Unleashed fashionable desires: Quarantine has sucked every reason for dressing up and getting ready out of me. But it has also given me the time to try every possible makeup look I have ever thought of, or any dress I wanted to wear and get “clicked on” in. I like black, therefore, I painted myself in black everything. Makeup, clothes, wigs—you name it. I wanted to chuck wine in my panties in that look, and I did it.

for the next six months, then you are safe.

But if you do not lie in that category, then god bless your forsaken soul. Be ready to come out hairy as a horse. The body hair growth for many of us women is a real challenge… and don’t get me started on the maintenance. Also, any hair cut you have been thinking to get but feared how it would look, try it out now. No one is going to judge you if you those bangs look cute or ugly.

4. Full hair growth: If you are someone who used to shave your body parts everywhere you possibly could and have no laser appointments lined up

5. Lashes like never before: I am grateful that I never got eyelash extensions and am able to see myself

The 'Other' Other Press ››In the news this week...

Erin Meyers Senior Columnist

with my natural ones irrespective of their length. I wonder what the beauty queens are doing with bald eyelashes and no refills possible anytime soon.

The situation has given me an opportunity to do all those things I would dream off but wasn’t able to do it. I can paint myself like a money heist character or dress like Harley Quinn. Right?

And, if you wish to see which character your girl is playing at home, or what lies underneath the mysterious 50 pounds makeup, video call her at an odd time. Boom!

Comic by Morgan Hannah

Comic by Udeshi Seneviratne

Comics

Creative Works

The Creative Process Equal parts instant coffee

A glosa poem Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor

The Carpet And The Storm excerpt from “The Reason”:

Soft patterns of white and blue Beneath my feet, Hard streaming lines of grey and blue Above my head, And silence permeated by rolling thunder Inside my ears— These are the sounds before the fall Of the world and everything we know And everyone we loved and everything that’s small, These are the sounds that we wait for, but why wait at all?

I’ve cleaned the soft patterns of white and blue, I’ve ran them over with a vacuum Over and over, I’ve painted the streaming lines of grey and blue— The sky that never changes From within my hive, And the rolling thunder takes a tumble down the sidewalk And into the valley and down the street, The sound that is almost enticing because it’s one that thrives The sound of life, of when hope springs alive.

Illustration by Sonam Kaloti

“Why wait at all?

Hope springs alive, Good may befall I yet may thrive.”

- Stevie Smith

I begin to conjure the worth we see, beyond our eyes past shows, the stars, to where only darkness lies. the edge— is it real? how does it stop? can we make it beyond? then tell me, if weSonam can’t, what is it all Kaloti expanding from?Arts Editor let’s say we opened the opportunity to reach the edge whipped coffee mugs on let’s say we go past it sun-drenched afternoons. let do my friends exist? us my memory's drawn say blurry behind fumes that there is absolutely nothing, but in the midst of lists by now we know that nothing, in terms, is something, of grocery runs so long as we have a word for so long as andit,anxiety we know what ittopping is. the stress so, let’s say we make there facediteveryday. tongues and with despairchase sobriety come to terms with only blank space, though then stop. I digress. with nothing we can make something to create something with our minds and moldparts it from nothing equal sugar create something that doesn’t exist, a nonexistent equal partscolour, water per se, but we, as a species, cannot conjure up anything new.

Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor

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n clusters, like some horrific science experiment… what I can only assume are people, writhe and twist. They look like a species somewhere between myself and the creature that led me here.

Moaning, clicking, and gasping for air, their skin bubbles and pops— there’s a green hue underneath the first couple of layers of flesh. They are mangled together in a hellish way, like melting metal and it’s enough for me to bring up all the water I had consumed earlier. Loose and fast, the liquid dribbles down my chin and the front of my shirt with each heave. My fists grip at the fabric across my torso, squeezing it tight until it hurts. All around me, stalagmites and stalactites emerge from the rough, wet stone, like teeth in a cancerous mouth. Torn t-shirts, boots, and splintered helmets litter the uneven ground, pale and drenched. A crack way up high in the cavernous space sheds light down on the equivalent to the pits of hell.

Illustrations by Sonam Kaloti and Morgan Hannah

Space Geographer Part 11

And I’ve found comfort in the soft patterns of white and blue Beneath my feet, And in the hard-streaming lines of grey and blue Above my head, I’ve found comfort in waiting in between beats of rolling thunder, The silence no longer too thick to breathe, too thick to survive In and out from inside Under and over Even though I am one of many who must live with deprive I’ve found comfort that I yet may thrive.

Illustration by Morgan Hannah

But for now, my feet remain planted In soft patterns of white and blue, And my head remains below the clouds— Streaming lines of grey and blue, And silence is permeated by vacuums and Rolling thunder, down the street it will sprawl Living still happens, Breathing in and out from inside, But living is now so very small And as long as we keep on breathing, good may befall.

Crossword Caroline Ho Web Editor ACROSS 1. Dark mineral 5. IV 9. Corporate bigwig, for short 12. Excellent review 13. __ diem 14. Gun the engine 15. Swiss capital 16. *Mediterranean in origin, poached in tomato sauce 18. US workplace safety org.

20. Many an Eastern European 21. Final, for short 24. Nintendo console 25. Shakespearean fairy king 29. Newspaper adherent 31. Silly one 33. Philosopher Descartes 34. Otolaryngologist, in part (wd. + abbr.)

35. *Beaten and with fillings 37. Previous night 38. A hint to each of the starred clues 39. Rowing need 40. *Whipped whites and sugar 43. Like much experimental cuisine 46. Pitcher Hershier 47. Suffix for “station” or “diction” 48. Capital of Saudi Arabia 49. Pandemonium 51. “’__ the season…”

52. “Ha ha,” online 53. Isle of Napoleon’s exile 55. Throw, in slang 57. *Cooked in water, shellon (2 wds.)

61. Poet Pound 65. Id counterpart 66. Arm bones 67. Very long time 68. Fresh 69. Civilian planes no longer in use (abbr.)

70. Make a scarf, perhaps DOWN 1. Sphere 2. Scottish denial 3. Vancouver Int’l Airport code 4. Prefix meaning “foreign” 5. US air traffic regulator 6. Warhammer40,000 creatures 7. Positive trend 8. Where to break an addiction 9. Vineyard 10. “A mouse!”

11. *Scientifically 13. Spiced drink 16. *Bake in a dish 17. *Fried, flipped, and cooked briefly (2 wds.)

19. Stockholm’s nation 21. Vase

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Weekly crossword: Easter

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