Spotlight: Indigenous Instagram › Four of my favourite Indigenous content creators on Instagram. Matthew Fraser Editor-in-Chief ike most people, I spend way too much time on my phone. Whether it's wasting time that I should be using to study or work, or destroying my sleep schedule by laying in bed with my phone in my hand, I know I spend an inordinate amount of time trapped in algorithm distraction. During my distracted journeys on Instagram, I have encountered a number of content creators and memers that make my daily existence more enjoyable; a number of them are Indigenous as well. Though I don’t have the space to share an exhaustive list, here are four of my favourites. First on the list is the most followed individual. With one million Instagram followers, James Jones AKA the Notorious Cree is amongst the biggest names in the online Indigenous content creator space. Hailing from the Tallcree First Nation, Jones rose to fame displaying traditional Indigenous dances accompanied by the songs of his culture. He was a finalist on the hit show So You Think You Can Dance Canada and he performed at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Jones has used online videos to both educate watchers and inspire indigenous people to proudly display their cultures. Though his videos are short, they serve to pointedly educate audiences and bring awareness to the ongoing journey to justice. Under the name Brettstoise, Brett Mooswa has enjoyed a pleasant rise to fame. Though he is likely more popular on TikTok, Mooswa has garnered over 90 thousand followers on Instagram. Born in the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, Mooswa has made a name for himself through his unique brand of Indigenous-centered comedy; choosing to frequently take disparaging stereotypes like the ‘stoic Indian’ and change them into short, intensely funny one-man skits. Skits like “Uncle Too Deadly” will have you cracking up and hearing voices in your head for weeks to come.
Photo by James Jones (notoriouscree) via Instagram
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With a more directly activist bend, there is Michael Shonie aka, thelandbackbitch. Most of their content is directly pointed at necessary political action and informing people about indigenous history and current events. They also post information reaffirming and educating people about the history and plight of two-spirit people. For those who want a more directly activist and political account to follow, there is thelandbackbitch. Local to the Vancouver area is Sierra Tasi Baker; an indigenous artist and designer whose work spans the family-
owned Sky Spirit studio to fashion design, modelling and art. She has also spoken at public events held by SFU and the Vancouver Art Gallery as well as being a featured speaker at the Horniman Museum in London. Her Instagram stories often feature important news and events happening in and around Vancouver but also highlight wider problems that need attention. However, Baker does balance these posts and stories with a number of feel-good posts for good measure.
matthew fraser
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news // no. 3 • Vancouver Police Department and City Council respond to the danger • Actor Alec Baldwin, involved in a tragic shooting on the set of 'Rust' ...and that's everything!
Rising violence causes concern › Vancouver Police Department and City Council respond to the danger Matthew Fraser Editor-in-Chief
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Illustration by Athena Little
he Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has announced an unsettling number of random and unprovoked attacks over the past year. In the timeframe between September 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021, the VPD received reports of over 1,500 random attacks. These attacks were unearthed after the findings of a recent review were reported. In a tweet thread beginning on October 20, VPD outlined some of the findings in this review. One conclusion was that four or more people are the victims of violent, unprovoked attacks every day in the city of Vancouver. The tweet thread explained that the victim and assailant must not have known each other previously, the altercation must have lasted less than 15 seconds and that the situation could not have reasonably led to the assault. In a statement to CBC, Constable Tania Visintin noted that the review was prompted by officers noticing an unusual pattern of attacks that seemed unprompted and where the victim did not know their assailant. Visintin also revealed that almost one-third of the suspects identified thus far suffered from mental illnesses and roughly one-quarter of the victims in these attacks identified as female. These attacks are matched by an increasing sense of danger in communities. CTV News reports that complaints to VPD and City Council were heard and that City Councillor Melissa DeGenova responded by putting forward a public safety motion. DeGenova would also take to Twitter, publishing a tweet saying: “People don’t feel safe in our city #PublicSafety won’t be fixed overnight but tonight #Vancouver City Council took a step in the right direction. Looking forward to staff working w/ community & small businesses and reporting back by end of the year on my motion [hand emoji] #VanPoli.” The tweet included what appeared to be two screenshots; one of the voting results of the motion, and the other a portion of the motion itself.
news // no. 4
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Actor Alec Baldwin, involved in a tragic shooting on the set of 'Rust' Brandon Yip Senior Columnist
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ctor Alec Baldwin is used to playing movie roles where art imitates life. Unfortunately, art was overshadowed by a real-life tragedy during the filming of Baldwin’s latest movie, Rust, in Santa Fe, New Mexico (NM). On October 21, 42-year-old cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, died after being shot by a gun handled by Baldwin. Director, Joel Souza, was also wounded, though he survived. The incident appears to have been an accident. Media speculation has increased since the tragic shooting. However, with the plethora of media coverage surrounding the story it seems one question remains unanswered: why was a loaded gun pointed at Hutchins? The Los Angeles Times quoted a Santa Fe County, NM, sheriff’s detective’s affidavit on October 24. The document stated Alec Baldwin was told the prop gun was “cold,” meaning that it contained no live rounds, “But the gun discharged, striking Hutchins in her chest and Souza in his right shoulder…” In addition, the document provided more details about the handling of the weapon: “Aside from Baldwin, Souza said, two people were handling the gun for the scene: armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed and then assistant director Dave Halls, who handed the gun to Baldwin, the affidavit said.” There had also been safety concerns before the shooting and six crew members had walked off the set after complaining to the production company about lodging and payment. On October 24, BBC News reported a candlelight vigil was held in memory of Halyna Hutchins in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Two days before, Alec Baldwin posted his condolences on Twitter immediately after the shooting: “There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred…” Hutchins’ husband, Matthew, remembered his wife via Twitter following her death. “Halyna inspired us all with her passion and vision, and her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words,” he wrote. “Our loss is enormous, and we ask
that the media please respect my family’s privacy as we process our grief. We thank everyone for sharing images and stories of her life.” Hutchins’ father, Anatoly Androsovych, spoke about the shooting and stated he does not blame Baldwin for what transpired. But instead, Androsovych blames the crew members who prepared and handed the weapon to Baldwin. “We still can’t believe Halyna is dead and her mother is going out of her mind with grief,” Androsovych told the Toronto Sun. “But I don’t hold Alec Baldwin responsible—it is the responsibility of the props people who handle the guns.” On October 27, New Mexico police held a media conference to provide updates regarding their investigation. The NM authorities stated that a “lead projectile” was recovered and believed to have been fired by the gun used by Alec Baldwin. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said 500 rounds of ammunition were found while searching the set (mix of blanks, dummy rounds and live rounds). “Obviously I think the industry has had a record recently of being safe,” he said. “I think there was some complacency on this set, and I think there are some safety issues that need to be addressed by the industry and possibly by the state of New Mexico.” People Magazine reported on October 25 that a Change.org petition had started calling for a ban on all real firearms on television and film productions. The petition was created by director Bandar Albuliwi, an alumnus of the American Film Institute Conservatory—the same institution where Hutchins had also attended. “Halyna was a talented cinematographer and a good friend whose life was taken tragically due to a real firearm
Illustration by Athena Little
› Cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was establishing herself as a prominent filmmaker
being used on set," Albuliwi said. “We need to make sure this never happens again. There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century. Real guns are no longer needed on film production sets. Change needs to happen before additional talented lives are lost." On the evening of October 25, the petition had been signed by approximately 29,000 people out of the 35,000 requested signatures. Perhaps in the coming weeks, more information will be provided regarding how this tragedy occurred. Current
investigations indicate that proper safety procedures regarding firearms use were not being followed. The ongoing police investigation by New Mexico authorities will hopefully uncover why a prop gun on a movie set contained live ammunition. Sadly, the death of Halyna Hutchins leaves more questions than answers and provides no solace to the family of the talented and gifted cinematographer whose life was tragically cut short.
A tragedy revisited: the death of actor Brandon Lee The shooting on the set of Rust resulting in the death of Halyna Hutchins parallels the tragic shooting of actor Brandon Lee—son of late martial arts icon, Bruce Lee. Brandon was fatally shot during the filming of The Crow, in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was shot by a gun that was supposed to have contained blanks. According to an April 1993 article written by Mark Harris for Entertainment Weekly, Lee was filming his character’s death scene (Eric Draven). The scene entailed Lee being shot as he walked through a door while carrying groceries. As the cameras rolled, the scene went ahead as planned. But when the director yelled, “Cut,” Lee remained on the floor and was motionless. Crew members quickly discovered Lee was
bleeding from the right side of his abdomen. He was rushed to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where he died on March 31, 1993. Lee was 28. An autopsy later revealed that a .44 calibre bullet had lodged against Lee’s spine. No criminal charges were laid against the production company. In May 1994, Entertainment Weekly reported that in October 1993, Lee’s mother, Linda Lee Cadwell, reached an out-ofcourt settlement of a negligence suit she filed against Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation and 13 other defendants. On October 21, 2021, the family of Brandon Lee posted on Twitter its condolences after hearing the news of Halyna Hutchins’ death: “Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all
involved in the incident on [Rust]. No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period.” Lastly, Eliza Hutton, spoke publicly for the first time since Lee’s death. Hutton and Lee had planned to get married in Mexico, shortly after production on The Crow was completed. “Twenty-eight years ago, I was shattered by the shock and grief of losing the love of my life, Brandon Lee, so senselessly,” she said to People Magazine. “My heart aches again now for Halyna Hutchins' husband and son, and for all those left in the wake of this avoidable tragedy. I urge those in positions to make [a] change to consider alternatives to real guns on sets.”
Sports
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sports // no. 5 • Canada preparing for upcoming CONCACAF match against Costa Rica • NHL news from both sides of the border ...and that's everything!
Canada preparing for upcoming CONCACAF match against Costa Rica › Tickets for home games in Edmonton have sold quickly
Brandon Yip Senior Columnist he Canadian men’s national soccer team continues their quest to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Canada will play Costa Rica on November 12 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. Canada then faces Mexico on November 16 (also in Edmonton) in what will likely be another difficult match for Canada. The Mexican team is ranked number nine in the FIFA world rankings. Canada has moved higher to number 48 in the FIFA rankings; a remarkable achievement considering the Canadians started the year ranked at number 72. Canada’s last match against Costa Rica was on July 25, 2021, at the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. Canada won by a score of two to zero. The Canadians’ all-time record against Costa Rica is five wins, eight losses and nine draws. In contrast, Canada’s all-time record versus Mexico is three wins, 24 losses and 10 draws. In their last game on October 7, Canada and Mexico played to a 1-1 draw (CONCACAF final qualifying match). Based on the historical record between the two teams, a draw against Mexico would be considered a victory for Canada. Peter Montopoli with Canada Soccer is proud of what the Canadian men’s national team has accomplished. “It’s a team that’s ready, willing, and able to do everything they can for our country to qualify. You can see it on the pitch. It resonates every time they are together," he said as reported by CTV News Edmonton on October 19. “I hope you get to see that and everybody in the city of Edmonton and Alberta gets to see what we have to offer for [the] strongest men’s national team we’ve had.” Tickets for Canada’s two matches in Edmonton went on sale on October 19. Remarkably, over 13,000 tickets for each game have already been sold during advanced ticket sales. The Canada Soccer website outlines its public safety protocols for fans attending the upcoming matches at Commonwealth Stadium: “Notably, all fans in attendance will be required to demonstrate proof of full vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 test to enter the stadium and must follow City of Edmonton, Province of Alberta, and Commonwealth Stadium COVID protocols and guidelines.” Janelle Janis, director of the presenting partner, Explore Edmonton, told the Edmonton Sun on October 24, that the upcoming soccer games in Edmonton have generated a very positive reaction in the city. “We are so incredibly proud of Edmontonians for stepping up and understanding how big these games are for our city,” she said. “We know that Alphonso Davies and Team Canada need the fans behind them in what are massive games and the hope now is that the Edmonton fans come to the stadium loud and proud for our Canadian squad. And we hope this will send a very loud message about what Edmonton can bring to the table. Edmonton continually shows that it gets behind big events, so this just continues to prove the point. Our team at Explore Edmonton will be able to build on the momentum we’re seeing here to help attract more events to our city that will be key to the recovery of Edmonton’s visitor economy after the pandemic.” In other soccer news, the Canadian women’s national soccer team played a two-game international
Illustration by Athena Little
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friendly against New Zealand—as part of its Celebration Tour. The first match was held on October 23 at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa with the Canadians winning by a score of five to one. On October 26, the two teams played at Saputo Stadium in Montreal with the Canadian women winning the second match by a score of one to zero. Notably, the game in Ottawa was the first match for the Canadian women since winning the gold medal over Sweden at the Tokyo 2020 games on August 6, 2021. It was also the first time Canada has played a game on home soil since May 2019.
Canadian veteran, Christine Sinclair, stated after the first match against New Zealand that she was pleased to be playing soccer again in her home country and especially to see fans in the stands. “It’s great to be back home and some of us were joking that we couldn’t remember that last time we played at home,” she said to the media as reported by The Canadian Press. “To be able to celebrate this gold medal with the fans, it’s obviously a special moment and something to celebrate and to see the little kids in the stands, it’s pretty special.”
sports // no. 6
NHL news from both sides of the border
Photo by Jorge Villeda
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› Chicago Blackhawks under scrutiny for handling of 2010 sexual assault allegations Brandon Yip Senior Columnist
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he Vancouver Canucks played their home opener on October 26 at Rogers Arena against the Minnesota Wild. Unfortunately, the Canucks lost by a score of three to two. Notably, the game marked the first time since March 2020 that Canucks fans were allowed inside Rogers Arena—fully vaccinated of course. Before their home opener, Vancouver returned from a six-game road trip to begin the season (the record on the road trip was 3-5-1, for a total of 7 points). One player that is making an impact with the team and especially Canucks fans is Conor Garland. He was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes as part of the July 2021 trade that brought defenceman, Oliver EkmanLarsson, to Vancouver. Notably, the Daily Hive reported that Garland set a franchise record; becoming the first player in Canucks history to record a six-game point streak to start the season. Garland is also shown to be an agitator on the ice; à la Brad Marchand. The newest Canuck also got into an exchange with a heckler in Seattle on October 23. Garland stared down the heckler after scoring the go-ahead goal, allowing the Canucks to win the game by a score of four to two— spoiling the Seattle Kraken’s home debut. Canucks star player, Elias Pettersson, in seven games has one goal and three
assists. His plus-minus rating is poor; as Pettersson is a minus 3. Some Canucks fans and media have speculated why Pettersson has not been as noticeable. TSN and ESPN NHL Analyst, Ray Ferraro, offers some insight as to why he believes Pettersson is off to such a slow start. “I think back to his rookie season and you know what stood out the most to me was he played like Pavel Datsyuk,” Ferraro said during an October 26 appearance on the Donnie and Dhali show on CHEK. “When he didn’t have the puck, he worked like hell to get it back. He was inside the play. He would get the puck. He’d hold it and then he’d make his moves—show off his skill—his passing, his puck handling. I don’t see that same tenacity on the puck. I don’t see the Datsyuk part of the game as frequently as I did in his first year.” Canucks defenceman, Travis Hamonic, had taken a leave of absence as reported by Sportsnet on October 18. But eight days later, Jim Benning announced Hamonic had reported to the team and would be playing for the Canucks’ AHL affiliate team, the Abbotsford Canucks. Canucks still have several players out of the lineup due to injuries including Brandon Sutter, Tyler Motte, Brady Keeper, Guillaume Brisebois and Justin Dowling. In other NHL news, the Chicago Blackhawks are making headlines for the wrong reasons. General manager Stan Bowman and senior vice-president of hockey operations, Al MacIsaac resigned from their positions. Global News reported
on October 26 that the resignations occurred after the release of the findings of an independent investigation into allegations former assistant coach, Brad Aldrich, had sexually assaulted a player— then known as John Doe—in 2010. The Global and Mail also reported the findings revealed that during a meeting on May 23, 2010, senior executives, head coach Joel Quenneville and assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff were made aware of the accusations against Aldrich—but did nothing about it until three weeks later. The Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years on June 9, 2010. Aldrich left the Blackhawks organization after the 2009-10 season. On October 27, Kyle Beach identified himself as John Doe during an interview with TSN reporter, Rick Westhead. Beach is now 31 years old and plays professional hockey in Germany. When Beach informed James Gary (mental skills coach) and Paul Vincent (skills coach) about what Aldrich had allegedly done, Aldrich continued to remain as part of the coaching staff. After Chicago captured the Stanley Cup, Aldrich was photographed holding the cup—his name later inscribed on it. “I felt sick to my stomach,” Beach said. “I reported this and I was made aware that it made it all the way up the chain of command by ‘Doc’ [James] Gary and nothing happened. It was like his life was the same as the day before. Same every day. And then when they won, to see him paraded around lifting the Cup,
at the parade, at the team pictures, at celebrations, it made me feel like nothing. It made me feel like I didn’t exist. It made me feel like, that I wasn’t important and… it made me feel like he was in the right and I was wrong.” The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million for their mishandling of the accusations. In a statement, NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, expressed his disappointment regarding the inaction by the Blackhawks organization: “Today’s fine represents a direct and necessary response to the failure of the club to follow up and address the 2010 incident in a timely and appropriate manner. The report makes clear that senior management’s handling of the alleged incident included a failure to report the matter to Chicago ownership, both as to what was alleged and how it was being handled.” Sportsnet reported Bettman scheduled a personal meeting with Joel Quenneville on October 28. And theScore reported Bettman was also scheduled to meet with Kevin Cheveldayoff on October 29. The meetings are intended for Quenneville and Cheveldayoff to discuss their roles and handling of the allegations when they were first reported. Interestingly, Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay, had some wise words: “If you give people the opportunity to do the right thing, you’ll rarely be disappointed.” Unfortunately, the Chicago Blackhawks management in 2010 chose a lesser path.
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Arts
arts // no. 7 • lyrical school’s newest album goes back to the 1990s • The Sentimentality of Adele’s new single ‘Easy On Me’ ...and that's everything!
The Sentimentality of Adele’s new single ‘Easy On Me’ › Adele navigates the world after a divorce
Cover of ‘Easy On Me’ by Adele
streams assisted by downloads and radio play, the singer's longawaited comeback track sits at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles list. Heartbreak is the content of several of Adele's best songs and it's no different with "Easy On Me." The music video for the song is a cinematic masterpiece within itself. The film begins with a black and white scene of Adele moving out of her house, which sets the tone for her upcoming album's message of divorce and letting go. She regrets her failed marriage as she drives away, enviously watching a couple celebrate their engagement. Adele recalls how her relationship with Simon Konecki had reached a breaking point in the first verse of "Easy On Me." Adele confirmed her marriage to Konecki at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017, after six years of dating.
Win Pyae Pyae Phyo (Hazel) Contributor
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dele continues to astound the world with her new music's profundity and authenticity, even after years in the spotlight. The singer recently evoked her emotionality and vulnerability about the most turbulent moments in her life through her new song. With 54 million
Her team, on the other hand, informed the Associated Press of their split in 2019. Adele reveals in the first lyric that the ‘river,’ which is a metaphor for her love, no longer holds significance for her. The ‘river’ could also be a reference to her life, as she stated in an interview with Vogue that the album is about "Divorcing myself." Despite her persistent efforts to make her married life work and remain positive, she no longer felt worth in her life in that state. Notwithstanding her difficulties, Adele says she did not want to give up hope. She tried to save her relationship, but the couple drowned in silence in the end. Adele sings to her son, Angelo Adkins, in the chorus section, referring to her recent divorce from his father. She begs him to "go easy" with her, acknowledging that she is in a tough and unfortunate circumstance and that explaining these things to someone his age is difficult. In other words, she's pleading with her child to forgive her for abandoning his father. She could also be directly addressing her ex-husband, pleading for forgiveness and affection. But, she may also be talking to herself, reminding herself not to feel guilty or blameworthy. In the second verse, Adele sings directly to her ex-husband. Despite her undeniable attempts, she describes how their relationship was "stuck" and beyond recovery. In 2019, the couple filed for
divorce. Adele discusses how she had to change herself for her marriage with Konecki to work. Adele sings directly to her ex-husband and son in this verse. She "changed" herself as a mother, prioritizing her husband and son since she lacked the strength to disrupt her son's life. She knows, however, that she has had enough and that she must prioritize herself. The music video changes from black and white to colour throughout this line, representing her evolution and growth in finding happiness for herself. In the bridge, Adele tells her son (and herself) that she married and had a child with "good intentions." She never imagined that she would have to leave him one day, causing her child sorrow in the process. Those "good intentions" and "highest hopes," she realizes, would most likely go unseen by her son. In a separate interview with British Vogue, she discussed how she dealt with her son's bewilderment, admitting that she didn't have all the answers herself. Ultimately, “Easy on Me” is a phenomenal narration that comprises an insightful emotional journey, in my viewpoint. Being able to turn your difficulties into a masterpiece is not a simple process. Adele, however, has done it yet again! She's a phenomenal performer. If you haven't heard this song yet, I strongly urge you to do so.
The Storm in ‘Wonderland’ › lyrical school’s newest album
Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist
goes back to the 1990s
Cover of ‘Wonderland’ by lyrical school
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he Japanese rap group lyrical school brought back the spirit of old school rap while adding a bit of cuteness to make it fun. Throughout the pandemic, the group did web freestyle rap sessions on the group’s YouTube channel and released an EP called OK! alongside a summer mixtape. After many delays because of the lockdowns that happened in Japan earlier this year, the group released their new album Wonderland. In the group’s 2019 breakthrough album Be Kind Rewind, they brought the nostalgia of the 1980s. However, in Wonderland they transition to the 1990s and have a more modern sound that is still enjoyable to listen to. The album is also a metaphor for the pandemic which is a storm in a way but has some bright spots along and that is how the album begins. The album uses a lot of synths throughout it and shares vibes with their contemporary female rap group chelmico. In fact, Risano’s vocals in the album sound a lot like one of the members in chelmico. The music videos accompanying the hit singles “OK!” and “Time Machine” show what a day in the life of the group looks like. The unity of the group shows when all the members sing in the chorus as well as in “Bring the Noise” which is an optimistic and cheerful type of song. They have a bit of
excitement in “OK!” near the end of the song when they say “Okie Dokie”. Hinako adds the cutesiness to the songs especially in “Danger Treasure” while Minan, Yuu and Hime have their moments as well. “Yabai Summer (Yabainatsu)” does sound like summer which makes you want to jump which is why I wish it had a music video. There is a surround effect in “Shark Fin Soup” where Minan whispers from the right speaker to the left speaker. The song in the album that sounds most like chelmico is “Fantasy.” Its music video has a lot of imagination and visions that mimic a hallucination. The heavy use of electronic music in “Five Shooters” makes it the most electronic song that the group has made which made it sound dope. It gets more epic in the album’s climax “Curtain Fall” as the storm ends and the orchestrations in the song sound brilliant. The album ends with “See the Light” which is a hopeful song that creates optimism that things will get back to normal soon. It does have the vibes of the music of the late rapper Biz Markie. The songs in the album will sound great when they are performed live in concert. I was hoping to watch the group perform at Tokyo Idol Festival this year, but their concert was cancelled due to the typhoon that happened last month. Wonderland highlights the bright moments during difficult times with the fun that you would expect from lyrical school.
Can cryptocurrency become everyone’s cash? › Though El Salvador went down the path, I am still skeptical
Matthew Fraser Editor-in-Chief
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very year something is announced that is supposed to turn the world on its head and bring us closer to the future. From technological innovations in electric vehicles, to screen technologies like organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), something somewhere is being heralded as the soon-to-be future of the planet. In some ways, all of these products really do bring us further into the future envisioned in sci-fi. The advent of the smartphone truly did bring the world forwards into a new era, while advancing humanity's steps towards digital integration. However, some innovations are more speculative and centre around nearly incomprehensible mathematics and ideas. Such is the state of cryptocurrency. Though it has been discussed ad nauseam over the past decade, crypto has yet to cross over into being the world changer that it was announced to be. It is often looked at incredulously by the wider population and many of its most ardent supporters are viewed as nerds or castigated as unwashed, basement-dwelling “crypto-bros.” But could a single or even multiple cryptocurrencies see a massive increase in popularity, driving it towards global use and upsetting the current financial pecking order? I’m sorry to inform all the crypto enthusiasts of the world (washed or unwashed) that this is extraordinarily unlikely.
Now, the savvier reader may point at El Salvador as a potential indicator of cryptos real-world application. Indeed, in early September, the small Central American country announced that it would be adopting Bitcoin as a legal tender. It seemed to some of the blockchain's most ardent believers that this one small step would reverberate and create a giant leap forward towards independence from the traditional financial world. Though the people of El Salvador did not express such outward enthusiasm, the underlying logic behind the move was reasonably sound. For one, El Salvador had already long abandoned its own currency in order to do the majority of its legal tender in American dollars. This had the effect of further devaluing the Salvadorean Colón while also increasing the countries reliance on the US. As their currency was no longer printed and minted by their own government (America would never allow another country to print US dollars and risk massive devaluation), they had to constantly purchase US dollars on the global market. This was easier as roughly 2.5 million El Salvadorans live and work in the United States and send money home in the form of remittances. According to Reuters, these remittances make up nearly one-quarter of the countries GDP at six billion dollars. Through happenstance, the country was literally able to use its ex-pat community to funnel much need currency back to the country.
If a preceding factor to making cryptocurrency work is widespread violence and economic peril, it's probably not a good idea that we move in that direction.
However, there was a slight issue with this circumstance. For one, sending money internationally always incurs a transaction fee via bank or credit union charges. In this way, the El Salvadorean community was losing millions of dollars in fees per year. Bitcoin provided a way to solve this. By using Bitcoins, a Salvadorean abroad who had converted their money already could transfer money online at a much lower rate than what was charged in banks. But does that mean that this transfer could work for the rest of the world? For starters, El Salvador had to be unfortunately poor while plagued by violence (though it has been decreasing) and corruption for there to be enough flexibility to even attempt this. Foreign investor confidence was so low that it was possible to take this risk without losing investors, simply because they had so few to begin with. It’s also not an exaggeration to say that the El Salvadorean economic system was in dire straits before they switched to the US dollar and was deeply troubled before they added Bitcoin. If a preceding factor to making cryptocurrency work is widespread violence and economic peril, it's probably not a good idea that we move in that direction. But there are other reasons as to why the cryptocurrency is unlikely to fell the global giant that is our current financial system. Simply put, the widespread adoption of cryptocurrency is hampered by barriers to entry and the comparative unattractiveness of the new money substitute. Cryptocurrency is plagued namely by three things: volatility, lack of common use or adoption and ultimate control. The first thing that hinders the adoption of Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency is the fact that it is not widely adopted and is frankly, not that attractive for adoption. There has to be a good reason for the common person to get into crypto for it to gain traction in the public sphere. For instance, it is important to ask why your local supermarket or grocery store would adopt bitcoin in addition to or in lieu of the current Canadian dollar? After that, you have to ask yourself what the likelihood of your landlord adopting bitcoin is. This is an important problem to consider as there is little point in holding a currency that you can’t spend anywhere because no one has adopted it. Even though crypto is tremendously popular within its circle of adherents, it is not at all popular with the wider public and therefore has limited use.
This leads us to consider how widely adopted these currencies are. If you can’t pay your rent in Bitcoin because your landlord can’t pay their mortgage in it, it hurts the potential for you to adopt that currency. Even if one would argue that you can hold bitcoins and then trade or sell it for another currency, the question becomes, why would the average person go through this trade process when they could just hold the most widely accepted currency to begin with? If you must do a separate transaction before you can go buy yourself some Starbucks, you’re likely going to avoid either the Starbucks or the thing that is forcing you to have this other, unnecessary transaction. Next is the volatility of these cryptocurrencies. Though some are certainly more stable than others, they are all on average less stable than the US or Canadian dollars. The presence of stability is important because it promotes market confidence. Let's say that someone works at a bakery and their hourly wage is $16; at the end of every shift, they know how much money they made, and they have approximate knowledge of how that will be valued today, tomorrow and next year. Even if a larger than normal amount of inflation were to occur, they would still be relatively secure in how much money they had and how useful it would be. Now let's say that this same person working at the same bakery is now being paid in Bitcoin. Let's say that their hourly wage is one 56th of a coin. Given that the value of Bitcoin has swung in the tens of percent in a single day, it would not be impossible for someone's daily wage to be six percent higher on Tuesday than it was on Monday, but eight percent lower on Friday than it was on Monday. Given the widespread anger and dissatisfaction with even a two percent annual
inflation, it's hard to imagine people being confident in trading in crypto let alone holding their entire life savings in it. Finally, there is the argument about control. Many crypto supporters claim that crypto can free the population from domestic banks, government treasuries and the IMF or world bank, yet the people who are most likely to control the majority of cryptocurrencies are going to be the phenomenally wealthy corporate heads and a few innovators. In a sense, this would make our current world into even more of an oligopoly (an economy run by the wealthy for their benefit) than it currently is. A currently poor Amazon warehouse worker does not have the ability to gain a large number of coins through mining given the expense of the necessary equipment; a poor person in El Salvador may be able to use a smartphone and an app-based e-wallet but that does not put them in a position to gain crypto-based wealth and prevent them from being exploited by the new financial overlords and exploiters. Whether it’s the internet infrastructure that underlies access or the actual ability to generate crypto for oneself, the working class and the global poor are already cut out of the race and cannot hope to catch up to the Elon Musks or even the average ‘crypto bros’ of the world. This reality nips the altruistic argument for crypto in the bud. With all that being said, I don’t think cryptocurrencies will decrease in popularity at all. I think they will become strange wealth-gathering tools that are heavily favoured by an overwhelmingly young and male fanbase. They may change the world in the sense that they make a few people fantastically wealthy, and they go on to implement change, but I doubt anyone will be paying for their next haircut in Ethereum. At least not in Canada.
Illustration by Udeshi Seneviratne
If you can’t pay your rent in Bitcoin because your landlord can’t pay their mortgage in it, it hurts the potential for you to adopt that currency.
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Life & Style
life & style // no. 10 • Tips and Tricks for your next thrifted wardrobe • Podcast spotlight: ‘The Last Archive’ by Jill Lepore ...and that's everything!
Podcast spotlight: ‘The Last Archive’ by Jill Lepore
Official artwork for 'The Last Archive-Podcast' via helastarchive.com
› The radio drama uses audio to study the strange facets of knowledge throughout America’s history
Jonathan Pabico Senior Columnist
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f you’re seeking to immerse yourself into something other than movies or TV shows, look no further than Harvard historian Jill Lepore’s history podcast, The Last Archive. The two seasons of audio content see Lepore examining how forces, from racial politics to conspiracy theories, defined America’s history of knowledge, truth, facts, and doubt that still affects today’s times. Weaving through the nooks and crannies of every episode, Lepore’s series will make you love learning and inspire you to look at history with a newer lens. The podcast is designed to sound like a 1930s radio drama that mixes multiple media sources with re-enacted scenes recorded by actors Lepore calls her “Foolproof Players”. Lepore chose this audio style to show her love for radio shows, such as Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre on the Air, and the classic sci-fi TV series, The Twilight Zone. Working with an incredible production team, Lepore also scoured many archives to assemble the most diverse
collection of cassette tapes, old sound effects, and other materials for her podcast. Lepore is a brilliant storyteller that knows how to utilize the limits of her medium to craft a narrative you can only experience with your ears. Her style choice to design The Last Archive as a 1930s radio drama makes it stand out among the massive wave of podcast series already out there. She pushes how creative she can be with podcasting to inform her audience in a really refreshing way. Each episode urges you to tune into a world of intriguing and puzzling events through weird yet suspenseful theme music that feels straight out of The Twilight Zone. Lepore’s fascination with America’s absurd past is made abundantly clear as she pieces together some of the strangest stories from the country’s history. The narrations are skillfully paced and backed by incredibly in-depth research, rivalling a documentary. Lepore’s insight is enjoyable to listen to through her youthful curiosity that will inspire you to stay keen on every detail. What also draws you into each episode are the chills you feel from whatever story Lepore pulls from
America’s confusing times. The podcast expertly edits Lepore’s concise dialogue with archive audio, sound effects, musical scoring, and impressive reenactments. These recordings shine an unapologetic light on how shockingly easy it is for beliefs to easily shape human thought in dark or odd ways over the centuries. I haven't heard a podcast this inventive with its sound design since the Blockbuster series about famous film directors. A unique part of the podcast is that its website even offers teachers useful guides on how to include The Last Archive in their schools and classes. This adds so much more avenues to Lepore’s work since her project has the potential to be a fun educational tool for kids. Jill Lepore’s smart direction keeps you hooked so much that by the time you realize it, the episode is over, and your inner detective is just begging you to click the next entry. If you’re more interested in podcasts involving interviews between the host and celebrity guests, you won’t find that here. However, if you’re eager to learn about history while cozying up to an avant-garde audio series, then The Last Archive is perfect for you.
life & style // no. 11
issue 9// vol 48
Tips and Tricks for your next thrifted wardrobe › From your friendly neighbourhood thrift shopper
Emi Namoro Contributor hen it comes to fashion, it seems that anyone and everyone is an expert. There is always a brand-new trend to follow or that’s viral on the latest social media platforms. I don’t know about you, but I am completely exhausted trying to keep up with it. Not to mention, items that are high in popularity are usually overpriced, too! My solution? Thrift shopping. Yes, I am one of those people. The ones that like to spend their time visiting old and strange thrift stores just to find their next fit. I started thrifting a few years ago, and I’ll be honest with you, it was so intimidating at first. But once I found my groove and understood my style a little more, it became one of my favourite hobbies. So, let me share a few of my tips with you, and anyone looking to start their own thrifting adventure. 1. Go alone. This is the number one tip that you’ll hear from people who like to go thrift shopping. There is absolutely nothing worse than going shopping with a friend with a similar style as you, and they find a few items that you liked, but now it’s too late because they picked it up before you. Take it from my personal experience. Ever since that happened to me, I’ve always gone to thrift stores alone. Besides, there’s nothing more comforting than being able to take your time and find styles that you like without worrying that someone else might get the good stuff first. 2. Give it a chance. So, if you’ve never been thrift shopping before, chances are, you’re a little skeptical of the clothing there. I totally don’t blame you. I wasn’t the biggest fan of thrift shopping at first because it’s second-hand and who wants to wear clothing that someone else wore before?
Photo by Christine Weenk
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So, what changed my mind? First, my budget as a broke college student, and second, the fact that I’ve found the cutest items at such a low price. Honestly, it’s such a miracle that others literally give their clothes away in such gentle conditions and that I’m able to buy them at a fraction of the original price. Not to mention, some places have sale days too. Take advantage of those! 3. Go at your own pace Thrift shopping is just like the lottery. You won’t always find your best items at every store you visit, and that’s normal. I’ve visited several different stores before I’ve found my favourite ones, and it may take you a while too. My advice? Go to your nearest local thrift store and look around. Start walking around the different aisles and see which ones catch your eye. From there, you’ll start to put a few things in your shopping cart. Try on a few items and go from there. Next thing you know, you’ll be visiting more stores soon. Trust your gut and know that this is a process that takes time.
Now, I hope you take these tips with a grain of salt. The beauty of thrift shopping is that it is different for everyone, and your experience will be uniquely yours. There’s something comforting about that, you know? Knowing that in a few short hours, you’ll be immersed in a world where you’re giving old items a brand-new life, all while saving money and helping out the environment, too. Not only that, but you’re able to make a small difference while also learning a bit more about yourself along the way. Of course, I can’t promise that you will be an expert thrift shopper overnight, I certainly am not. What I can guarantee you is that you’re in for a wonderful journey ahead. One that involves digging through different racks of clothing that may or not fit your new style, finding random knickknacks that you’re not sure why people bought in the first place and learning that some people donate designer clothing just because they can. It’s such a weird place, trust me. Thrift shopping is such an underrated hobby, and it’s one that I hope more people would consider. I wish you luck on your new adventure ahead, friend!
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Opinions
opinions // no. 12 • Rant Corner: Ugh, we must ban this food immediately! • What’s next for the COVID-19 pandemic? ...and that's everything!
What’s next for the COVID-19 pandemic? › Is it finally going to end?
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his time last year, the province was still going through the second wave of the Coronavirus Pandemic. A vaccine was not yet found, many places were still closed, there were no public gatherings, and classes were online. People were wary of the impending increase in weekly cases. Today, there is now a weekly average of 500 cases, many in-person settings are open almost at full capacity, and almost the entire province is fully vaccinated. At this point, it might be a sign that the pandemic is about to end. But I fear there might be a surge of cases again if there is another variant of the virus and the reopening of travel is too quick. Canada is currently in the fourth wave of the pandemic while other countries including Australia went through a fifth wave and had to do lockdowns again. Even countries that had early success in the pandemic are now experiencing a surge of cases including New Zealand. If Canada does not lift all the safety precautions that are in place, keeping social distancing and masking policies in effect, it could prevent a fifth wave and the situation would be under control. When there is a surge of cases outside of the country or a new variant, the government could put travel restrictions on those affected countries. The surge of cases
right now is mainly from the delta variant though there is news that there might be a new variant that is more transmissible. There might be a variant that the vaccine may not have protection for and would require a booster shot to increase the effectiveness against it. About booster shots, the government of British Columbia announced that by the summer of next year, everyone 12 years and older can get a booster shot which is optional but can increase the protection from getting the virus. The FDA in the United States currently approved them but there still needs to be more research from other countries to find out if the booster shot will help. The capacity limits of public gatherings in the province are now at full capacity and require a BC Vaccine Card to get inside them. However, these places are not obligated to increase the capacity limits and can do them slowly depending on comfort levels and what happens with the pandemic. For example, The Cinematheque is currently operating at 50 percent capacity and beginning November 12, they will operate at 75 percent capacity. Ontario has plans to fully reopen the province and lift all safety measures by this spring. As we learned in Alberta and Saskatchewan, opening too early will lead to a surge of cases and hospitals overflowing. If more people get vaccinated, cases remain stable, and everything is opened safely, the pandemic could end officially in the province but still happen in the rest of the world. But if there is another variant we can prepare for a continuation of the pandemic world.
Photo by Billy Bui
Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist
Rant Corner: Ugh, we must ban this food immediately! › I hate all onions! Craig Allan Business Manager
Photo by Billy Bui
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couple of years ago I let out what I believe to be my biggest food hot take: poutine without gravy, or replaced with a cheese sauce is still poutine, and in fact is even better poutine. I have expressed this before and have been attacked for it, saying that this stance is sacrilegious and even antiCanadian. I still hold this take and stand by it strongly, but I have another food hot take that may insight displeasure. My hatred for this other food though is stronger, and unlike the poutine where I am just substituting one thing for another, this food is one that no matter what or how it is done, I hate it every way. This is a food that needs to be stricken from the Earth. The food I speak of is the dreaded, the horrible onion! I saw a video where someone pranked a person by giving them a candy apple that was actually an onion covered in caramel. For someone to not only drench a disgusting onion in sweet, delicious caramel but also give it to someone as a prank is a crime against humanity! When I say I hate onions, I mean that I hate all onions. Red, white, yellow, and green. Chopped and sautéed. In fried onion ring form, chip, and Funyuns. I hate them all! I hate the taste, the texture, the
flavour they add to the food. I hate them in all forms. The problem with hating onions is that it seems like there is no way to get around them. Onions are everywhere. I feel like they are on every burger, in every salsa, in so many soups. Even at a place like Chronic Tacos where I think I can get away from the onion menace, I can’t stand to eat either the ground beef or the steak, as both have onions in them. No other vegetables, just onions. They are inescapable! I always said that if I ever opened my own restaurant, I would call it ‘No Onions’ so that people know what they were walking into. I’m sure that would illicit people bringing in onions or throwing onions at the store to annoy me, but I would still stand by the name. To me, onions are not just terrible. They are a crime against the world. The 2003 Shia LaBeouf movie Holes is horrible because, by the end of that movie, the thing that saves the father’s business is figuring out that onions cure bad smells. The villains win in that movie! And by villains, I mean the onions, not the actual villains played by the great Sigourney Weaver and Jon Voight. I hope that one day we can rid ourselves of this cursed weed, or at least stop putting it in everything. It’s time we stop the tears and the sour tastes and send the onion back where it belongs. The compost bin!
Comics
Comic by CJ Sommerfeld
I wanna be serrated
Need Cat for Mouse Removal › Experience is not necessary but will be considered Craig Allan Business Manager
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ooking for a cat aged three to seven to come to stay at my house for mouse removal. Must be spry and able to reach into tight spaces. Will be paid in kibble and catnip. Employment should be no longer than three months. I have been dealing with a nuisance of a mouse in my house for the last couple of months. Traps have not worked and neither has sticky tape. I need a cat who can
catch this mouse and eliminate the threat. A bonus in extra cuddles will occur if the mouse is caught within a week of employment. The employee can keep the mouse if caught. I will also be considering barn owls for this job as well. As a matter of fact, I will not discriminate against any species; if you love mice and can catch them from high up, then this job might be for you. Prior hunting work experience is an asset as on-the-job training will not be provided.
Creative Works An ode to spicy food › Thank goodness it's hot Joseph Astana Contributor It's so hot and so tasty There will be sweat dripping down my brow My tongue will tingle My eyes might water It doesn’t matter, I still love it George Costanza once said that “George likes his chicken spicy” So does Joseph That’s why I can’t understand people who fear the spice The people who wince at black pepper The people you could murder with a jalapeno Joseph doesn’t understand those people. But the important thing here is the ode The ode to spicy food Spicy curry, I want that Spicy Korean food, give me another plate Hot peppers, just one more and I’ll be happy Make my Pad Thai extra hot while we are at it.
Photo by Jorge Villeda
It’s so hot and tasty I might sweat more than a little My mouth will burn I might even cry It doesn’t matter because I still love it
Photo by Christine Weenk
The Other Playlist
Everything is going to be ok? Christine Weenk Layout Manager
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emember when everyone seemed to be under the impression that 2021 was going to be great a year of hope and happiness? That didn’t happen for me. I made this playlist last week when I was feeling great; this year I have overcome the loss of many friendships, nursed my partner back to health after he had spine surgery, spent hundreds of dollars on my dog’s tendonitis, and sorted through my past trauma in counselling. Wow, so great that I got through all that right? Well two hours after creating this playlist I got laid off at the best job I have ever had due to budget cuts. Although I felt resolved when creating this playlist, I am now back in shambles. However, this
delightful mix of old and new has a sense of hope and resolution that has helped me get through this setback and might help you too! 1. Goodbye To A World - Peter Robinson 2. Sangria - easy life, Arlo Parks 3. Distractions - Wild Painting 4. Moon River - Frank Ocean 5. Piano Man - Billy Joel 6. Washingtonsquarepark - MOZIAAH, Ms White 7. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Doris Day 8. Rasputin - Majestic, Boney M 9. Like You Do - Joji 10. Happy Days Are Here Again - Barbara Streisand 11. Empty - Kevin Abstract 12. Ghost Town - Kanye West, PARTYNEXTDOOR 13. Maybe This Time - Liza Minnelli
is hiring! PRODUCTION ASSISTANT WRITERS ILLUSTRATORS Interested? Send relevant samples of your work to editor@theotherpress.ca