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FIRST PEEK
July 21, 2014 · Volume 147, Issue 12
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CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2014
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FIRST PEEK
I suppose I am what we call irreligious, or perhaps a humanist, maybe even an atheist. I bring this up now to stress that I do not know whether my beliefs can be categorized, and also to make a point: it is easy to get lost in the semantics of religious debate, but we need to realize that by doing so we are avoiding the bigger questions. So, let us dispense with semantics and divorce this article from nitpicking and categorization and look at my beliefs for what they are. There are no gods, nor god, nor God. There are no beings that are capable of defining our way of living. Faith unnecessarily obstructs the lives of the faithful, and believers are reliant on a predefined way of living, one developed separately from their own experience. Thus, they live incomplete, unfulfilled lives, deprived of experiences because they were denied by faith. For me, life is about the totality of experience, and I see religious teachings as an obstruction to this goal. Experience should dictate the principles that bind you; you should discover what is right and wrong on your own. You will suffer. You might act immorally. But you will acquire
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a nuanced and more complete understanding of what makes these principles right and worthy of adherence. Observing the doctrine of faith might permit an agreeable life, one perceived as prosaically moral, but ultimately this morality exists only within the context of that faith. And thus is my belief summarized. At least, it was my belief. I believed strongly this way for a while, but have recently found myself to be hypocritical. Unravelling my own doctrine, I find myself in the same boat as the conventionally religious.
There are certain things that I do not need to experience in order to understand their moral content. I do not need to kill to know that killing is bad, nor do I need to be killed. To find a reason more basic than simply, “because life and experience have an inherent value,� is impossible, and ends in a circular logic. This makes me no different than the religious. For them, a god is worthy of devotion because they are god, just as I find life worthy of experiencing simply because it is life. My opposition to adhering to religious principles, because they are unnecessarily limiting, is also narrow-minded. To have structure and predetermined
responses where you do not have experience allows for an opportunity for internal conflict. To be faced with a choice where an external force, your god, has defined the supposed correct action, and to disagree with this action, allows for a striking dialogue to occur within you. I made the mistake of believing that the faithful do not struggle enough. But I believe that a truly pious individual will have faith in their principles, but sometimes struggle to respect them. These struggles permit an internal dialogue that allows for an even greater understanding of themselves and their faith. In short, religion provides a moral awareness and gives rules that you are meant to struggle against in order to eventually understand their roots. To sum up my thoughts, I realize now that those practicing religion seek the same totality of understanding that I seek, but with perhaps more structure. I do not find my way of living any worse than an individual of faith, nor do I find it any better. It is simply a different method of adopting a moral and virtuous way of living; ultimately, everyone is trying to understand life, and perhaps only differences of culture and birth define the way we go about it. Be kind and humble to other faiths, and be accepting of those without an institutionalized faith. You can follow Brandon Hillier
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NEWS
July 21, 2014
news editor email / phone
Leah Bjornson associate news editor news@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560
Melissa Roach
SFU biology professor Elizabeth Elle and PhD student of biology Kyle Bobiwash are currently studying Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley pollinators in order to help conserve the bee population and improve how they are used in agricultural practices. The two are especially interested in gathering information on wild bees, a species that is often left out of farmers’ consideration due to the lack of research that has been conducted on them. Due to increased pesticide use, there has been a recent decline in the bee population in North America. As Bobiwash explained, farmers often “only think of the crop and not at all [about] the free services we get from the bees.” Bees spend their time pollinating the crops we eat every day, creating honey, and ensuring that a large variety of foods continue to exist.
In order for bees to continue to survive in our changing agricultural landscape, many researchers, including Elle, feel that harmful practices need to be changed. Of special interest to the duo is a particular Abbotsford farm, which has a unique partnership with their black and yellow striped friends. Most farms, Elle explained, rely on the purchase
of honeybee colonies to pollinate their crops. Often, farmers will use two honeybee colonies per acre, with each colony costing them as much as $100. This farm in Abbotsford, however, is entrusting care of their crops to wild bees alone. These wild bees, most of which are wild bumblebees, not
only help free of charge, but are also often better pollinators than their expensive counterparts. At SFU, Elle and Bobiwash are working towards understanding which pollinators are important to different crops, what the species diversity has to do with the area and farm system in place, and how it all relates to the farm’s landscape and the pesticides it uses.
From this, they hope to enhance wild bee populations by creating alternative food and nesting sources for them, including ‘bee pastures’ to sustain them when crops are no longer in season. These pastures are areas of land planted with flowers where bees have access to nourishment in colder months. The two also plan to inform people of the key significance wild bees hold in our agricultural practices, and how we should be managing our lands if we want our practices to be sustainable in the long run. BC has approximately 450 different species of wild pollinators, and the goal is to ensure they all have as much assistance as possible, so that they might, in turn, assist us. This is a multifaceted project, explained the two, both at SFU and throughout the province in general; it is a project that will not happen overnight. However, there are ways people can encourage wild bee population sustainment and growth: The simple act of putting a pot out on your deck or balcony can provide food for a passing bee, who in turn might pollinate a plant in your vegetable garden. As Elle said, “When you provide food for the bees, they provide food for us.”
mobile validators to meet this standard before the next phase.
Translink recently announced that the official rollout of the new compass card system is to be further delayed due to speed and reliability issues, with no firm date in sight. There are already 85,000 cards in circulation and the system just received its 25 millionth
tap, but since the system is being introduced in phases of consumer groups, it is not yet available to the entire public. The compass card is designed to be convenient and easy for transit users on the go, requiring only a quick tap in and out. However, some cardusers have experienced trouble with delayed card reading and failure to tap in or out. Card readers are reported to have an eight to 10 per cent error rate. Translink’s director of operational initiatives, Mark Langmead, stressed the importance of ensuring the desired level of speed and reliability before introducing the card to the next group: The compass card’s ideal scan time should be under half a second, he said. Translink is in the process of improving its
that point we’re going to be advising the timing for the next customer group. “We’ll know better [then] as to the exact timeframe in [which] U-pass customers will be receiving cards or able to get cards,” he explained. Langmead assured The Peak that the transition will not come without notice. Translink aims “to make sure that we have a good communications plan, we [will] provide lots of notice for people who are about to be able to receive the card, and we [will] give all the information about how to use the card. So, we’ll certainly give a lot of notice ahead of introducing the card for the U-pass.” He also mentioned some of the anticipated features of the card, such as the capability to
load the card via the Internet. “You can do it while you’re sitting in a lecture, or you can do it while you’re sitting at a bus stop. It just makes it a lot easier to facilitate your getting a fare product,” said Langmead. Other attractive features include a security element. “If you lose your card, you’re able to — if you’ve registered your card — have balance protection, where the card balance can be transferred to another card.” The card is also equipped for auto-loading. If the balance dips below a threshold set by the cardholder, it will automatically load itself. Langmead concluded, “We’re really excited to be offering this product and we’re confident that students will really appreciate the benefits of it.”
For the next phase, Langmead said that Translink plans to provide cards to people who use the West Coast Express and then to U-pass holders after that. “We’ve committed to providing an update in October. At
NEWS
University students may tend to focus their energies on courting romantic interests, but a recent column by an SFU graduate suggests that they should court career interests in a similar fashion. Adrian Papara, an economics graduate from SFU and current MBA student in Ottawa, recently wrote a column for The Globe & Mail describing how applicants need to approach the job market like they would the dating scene. In his column, Papara emphasized the need to stand out in interviews just like one would when trying to get a date. He wrote, ”When it comes to getting noticed at business or school-related networking events, I have adopted the habit of wearing vivid coloured neckties to make myself increasingly memorable and attract attention.” Much like dating, searching for a job can be daunting for students, explained Tony Botelho, the director of SFU’s Career & Volunteer Services. He explained, “There are a group of students who raise secured work before they graduate, [but] there is a percentage of students who are completely intimidated and find the whole job search process intimidating and absolutely frustrating. Then there’s a huge bulk in the middle.” Botelho, who helps students get “their best shot at ending up in employment in line with what they might want to be doing,” expressed the advantages of sorting out career priorities early. Botelho suggests students take into consideration the value they place not only on things such as income, travel, time-off, balanced lifestyle, but also believing in the work they do. “Students who start early and [are doing] activities and sort of thinking of things [. . .] tend to do better.” According to Botelho, there are three tiers of “any effective work search,” the first of which aligns with Papara’s arguments in his column. The first tier is what Botelho calls the “online portion.” Similar to how people search through online dating profiles, this
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includes searching for job postings through websites such as Craigslist. However, he cautions, “Very few people get career related jobs from job postings.” Papara upheld the importance of a well made Linkedin account which serves as a “digital resume,” saying that “crafting a well-thought personal description always helps you stand out among other users.” The last two tiers of Botelho’s strategies revolve around “you as a human being interacting with other human beings.” The second tier is making connections, whether they are through networking events or one-on-one meetings. Although Botelho agreed with Papara’s statement that standing out can be good, he noted that it has to be “in a positive way,” saying, “there’s no one thing; it is overall thinking and strategy.” He did warn against simply networking, saying, “Networking opportunities are just part of a strategy but the bigger point is getting into situations where you are interacting with people and the type of people you want to interact with and doing it in an authentic way.” This leads to his third tier, which he feels is perhaps the most important: making active connections. These include volunteering, serving on a board, internships, and co-ops. Botelho describes this as “put[ting] yourself into situations where people see you do something really well.
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Fall 2014 Courses GSWS 101-‐3: Gender Talk (B-‐Soc) Instructor: Lucas Crawford
Thursdays 17:30 – 19:20
It seems that “gender” is more and more knowable at our current moment: we have viral campaigns such as “slut walk” and #YesAllWomen; we celebrate transgender actresses such as Laverne Cox; Van-‐ couver is very close to requiring explicitly transgender-‐friendly signage on the locker room doors of ŝƚƐ ƉƵďůŝĐ ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͖ ^&h ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƵĚĞĚ ͞,ĂƌĂƐƐŵĞŶƚ ŽŶ dƌĂŶƐŝƚ͟ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ůĂƐƚ LJĞĂƌ͖ ĂŶĚ͕ ĞǀĞƌLJ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ĨƌŽŵ ,ƵīWŽ ƚŽ ƵnjnjĨĞĞĚ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƉŽŝƐĞĚ ƚŽ ĐƌŝƟĐĂůůLJ ĂŶĂůLJnjĞ ŐĞŶĚĞƌ ŝŶ ĮůŵƐ͕ ds͕ ƉŽůŝƟĐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŝŵĂƟŶŐ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ 'ĞŶĚĞƌ dĂůŬ ĂƌĞ ĚĞĐĞƉƟǀĞůLJ ƐŝŵƉůLJ͗ ŚŽǁ ĚŝĚ ǁĞ ŐĞƚ ŚĞƌĞ͍ tŚĞƌĞ ĞůƐĞ ŵŝŐŚƚ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ĞŶĚĞĚ ƵƉ͍ tŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ǁĞ ŚĞĂĚĞĚ͍ WĞƌŚĂƉƐ ŵŽƐƚ importantly: what are we missing? “When someone sees you do something or contribute, that raises their view of you even higher, and they’ll work harder for you, supporting you with other people or within the organization as well,” he said. In spite of all of the planning and preparation, Botelho says finding a job really depends on the mindset of a student, as a negative mindset can hinder any search for work. Botelho shared some advice that could be applied romantically, and professionally: “It’s important to stay optimistic, to be flexible, [and] open minded.”
GSWS 204-‐3: Sex and the City Instructor: Lucas Crawford
dƵĞƐĚĂLJƐ ϭϰ͗ϯϬ ʹ ϭϳ͗ϮϬ͕ ,ĂƌďŽƵƌ ĞŶƚƌĞ
tŚĂƚ ĚŽĞƐ ŝƚ ŵĞĂŶ ǁŚĞŶ ǁĞ ƐĂLJ ƚŚĂƚ ƐĞdžƵĂů ĂĐƚƐ ͚ƚĂŬĞ ƉůĂĐĞ͛ ŝŶ ŽŶĞ Žƌ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ Ă ĐŝƚLJ͍ /Ĩ sex and gender are phenomena that ‘take place,’ how does architecture also ‘place’ these acts? This ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ǁŝůů ƐŚŽǁ ƚŚĂƚ ƵƌďĂŶ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ŵĞƌĞůLJ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ŐĞŶĚĞƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞdžƵĂů ďĞŚĂǀŝŽƵƌ ďƵƚ ĂƌĞ ŝŶ ĨĂĐƚ ŐĞŶĚĞƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞdžƵĂů ďĞŚĂǀŝŽƵƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ƌŝŐŚƚ͘ ,Žǁ ĚŽ ƐĞĞŵŝŶŐůLJ ŶĞƵƚƌĂů ƉŝĞĐĞƐ ŽĨ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĂů ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ;ŽŌĞŶ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞͿ ŶŽƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ŐĞŶĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƐĞdžƵĂůŝƚLJ͍ ,Žǁ ĚŽ ĂĐƚƐ ŽĨ ƉƵďůŝĐ ƋƵĞĞƌ ƐĞdž ďŽƚŚ ĨŽƌŵ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĨŽƌŵ ŽƵƌ ĐŝƟĞƐ͍ ,Žǁ ĂƌĞ ƐĞdž͕ ŐĞŶĚĞƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ĐŝƟĞƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ ĂƐ ŵƵƚƵĂůůLJ ĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ǁŚĂƚ ĞīĞĐƚ͍ dŽ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ǁŝůů ĐŽŵďŝŶĞ Įůŵ͕ ƉŽĞƚƌLJ͕ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ŽĨ ƵƌďĂŶ ƐƉĂĐĞ ĚĞƌŝǀĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ĚŝƐĐŝƉůŝŶĞƐ ;Įůŵ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ͕ ŐĞŶĚĞƌ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ͕ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ͕ ƉŚŝůŽƐŽƉŚLJ͕ ĞƚĐ͘Ϳ͘
For full course outlines and a list of all GSWS courses available in the Fall 2014 semester, please go to: www.sfu.ca/gsws
6 NEWS
From July 15 to 20, SFU cohosted Mathematics Education at the Edge, which brought together participants from 48 countries to discuss the future of mathematics education research. Some of the topics included the relationship between gestures, language, and diagrams for bilingual math learners, the ‘flipped classroom’-style of teaching in undergraduate calculus classes, and emphasizing thinking classrooms.
A conference titled The Frankfurt School: The Critique of Capitalist Culture, posed questions on July 17 to 19 about the capacity of Frankfurt Critical Theory to explain the cultural landscape of contemporary capitalism. SFU’s Institute for Humanities worked in conjunction with Douglas College, UBC, and SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement to explore the helpfulness of the concept of the “Culture Industry” in the context of global neo-liberal order.
SFU PhD candidate Iris Lesser is currently conducting a study on the health benefits of Indian bhangra dance in postmenopausal Southeast Asian women. Lesser said of the study, “We were originally interested in seeing whether physical activity improved the women’s cardiovascular health. We wanted to make
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SFU health sciences professor Julian Somers recently released new findings that demonstrate the effectiveness of supported housing in assisting those with drug addictions and mental illness in Vancouver neighbourhoods. Conducted by Somers along with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the five-year study provided apartments to participants throughout Vancouver. Results showed that the situation of formerly homeless people improved both in a financial sense and in overall health. These improvements included fewer emergency department visits, reduced time spent in institutions due to criminal convictions, improved quality of life, and less time on the streets. Overall, these indicate an across-the-board improvement caused by the new interventions that were introduced by the study in Vancouver. The research showed that the costs of providing these individuals with housing and support versus leaving them on the street where they may end up in shelters, emergency rooms, and jails, were roughly equivalent.
sure that the activity was something that they wanted to do.” Although the results are not yet conclusive, women who have completed the 12-week session bhangra program say it is having positive mental effects, Lesser told the South Asian Link. The study is being conducted by SFU’s Community Health Research Team (CoHeaRT), an organization composed of researchers who are developing communitycentered strategies to improve disease management and residents’ physical activity levels. The women are participating in this program as part of the South Asian Exercise Trial (SAET), a project that tests the effectiveness of various exercise programs for South Asian women. This
For every $10 invested in providing housing, there was an average savings of $8.55 in avoided use of social services. In discussing the overarching research program, Somers stated, “We conducted some experiments to try to discover effective housing and support models for people who had been excluded from existing services.” The study looked at 500 participants who had been homeless for roughly 10 years — people that were chronically homeless and oftentimes experiencing mental illness. Analyzing each individual’s mental status, Somers said, “The most common diagnosis that people met criteria for was schizophrenia. The majority also had significant problems with substance abuse.” Somers described the living conditions for the participants of the study: “The housing itself is market housing. It isn’t the house that is built for homeless people or anything of that sort. It is just regular housing from the existing stock. And in order to make that work, people are provided with support.” Somers continued, “[That support can manifest as] a team, individuals with different expertise, or, if individuals do not have needs that warrant that, they could be a case manager.” A large aspect of the research was giving people some choice in their circumstance. Somers explained, “It is client-centered in the sense that it gives people choices in [. . .] getting involved in health or mental health treatment.
population’s physical activity levels are generally quite low and have been shown to contribute to more than 20 per cent of heart disease deaths within the population.
Lesser currently has 75 women enrolled in the program, after calling for participants via radio and TV ads in the South Asian community.
It also gets them involved in places around their home.” Somers spoke to the importance of the study, but mentioned its limitations in a population that can often find itself trapped. “Homelessness includes a diverse group of people, most of whom, fortunately, will find their own way out of homelessness, but there is a subset [. . .] who don’t find their own way,” Somers said. Somers said that one of the biggest challenges to homelessness is the stigma surrounding
mental illness. “Stigma concerning mental illness is profound. It is evident, not only among members of the public — it is evident even among health care providers. “Neighbours being able to welcome people into their mix, accommodate people who happen to have been homeless. That is an example of the stigma of mental illness being overcome. [. . .] Simple and straightforward acts like talking to people.”
The program was made possible in part thanks to Lesser’s connections with the Vancouver International Bhangra Festival (VIBC). One of the emcees of the event, Mandeep Patrola, serves as the fitness instructor for the program’s bhangra classes. According to Lesser, it is an activity that the women really relate to. “The women are drawn to it,” she explained, “because there is something culturally significant about bhangra that brings them together. The [positives] extend beyond obvious physical benefits they are receiving from their exercise, as they develop a sense of community and friendship as well.” Before starting the program, Lesser and her colleagues measure
a participant’s eligibility via a health assessment, monitoring their cardiovascular risk factors and their muscle mass. The participants then go on to bhangra classes three times a week for three months, before they are taken back to the lab and monitored for changes to these aspects of their physical health. While the exact results and conclusion of the study are still being analyzed, they are expected to be available to the public by early 2015. Lesser said of this involvement from media outlets and community members, “We [. . .] expect the translation of knowledge from this study to be fluid because of our partners, and to find ways to start increasing physical activity in the community through interventions like this one.”
OPINIONS
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is currently reviewing its policy which accords doctors the right to refuse to treat a patient based on religious or moral grounds in non-life threatening situations. While at first I was in favour of this re-evaluation, I have since come to realize that this situation is not a simple one. I initially thought that this policy change could stop a doctor from denying a woman contraception or an abortion, and stop any discrimination based on homophobia, racism, or sexism; it seemed to allow for more respect and equity toward everyone. But there is a question lingering in the back of my mind: have we forgotten the rights of the health professional? And if so, could that make them less effective at their work? Forcing someone to undertake a task that they find to be incompatible with their moral beliefs
opinions editor email / phone
July 21, 2014
Joel MacKenzie opinions@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560
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doesn’t seem to be the right course of action. Carolyn McLeod, a philosophy professor at the University of Western Ontario, is part of a research team studying conscientious objections in health care — the team plans to submit their work to the CPSO as a part of its review. She explained to The Globe and Mail, “We argue that [doctors] need to provide referrals for health services that they morally object to, [and] we talk about the importance of not demeaning or humiliating a patient while they’re refusing to provide the service the patient seeks.”
She has the right idea here. By denying the right to refuse treatment, we could prevent some doctors from doing their jobs to the best of their ability. Furthermore, doctors, regardless of their decision to treat the patient themselves, should be responsible seeing have that their patient receives the proper care. To force a doctor to do something they don’t agree with is to
It is easy to label the erupting crisis in the Israel-Palestine corridor as a meaningless tragedy; in many ways, this is correct. What began as a small Israeli incursion into the West Bank to rescue three Jewish teenagers from a suspected kidnapping by Palestinian radicals has quickly escalated. Palestine’s influential Hamas faction has sought vengeance for the heavy-handed tactics of the Israeli incursion, responding with a hail of largely ineffective rocket attacks. Israel has responded in kind, and now, has initiated a ground
make many situations too methodical, to take the humanity out of the situation. A textbook or machine can outline what’s wrong with you and what the possible solutions are, but there is a reason we don’t completely rely on that kind of objective discretion. There is comfort in knowing that you are being handled by a person who cares about their decisions and the outcomes. If a doctor is biased by beliefs that are against what the patient desires, then their treatment options will be made under that
invasion, targeting the rockets’ epicenter in the Gaza Strip. Negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israeli state have been cast asunder, optimism forgotten. But, there may be a silver lining to this mayhem. With peace negotiations dead for the moment, it may be a long time before trust between the two sides is sufficiently rebuilt for peace negotiations to begin again. By then, Israeli settlement into West Bank will have likely expanded extensively, leaving the possibility for neatly separating Jews and Arabs cleanly into two states much more doubtful. The longer negotiations wait and settlements continue, the more impossible a two state solution will seem. Indeed, even now the prospects are dim. Israel, with a decisive military advantage, has little reason to offer Palestinians
shadow of doubt. Medicine is a science and in the end a medical decision should be based on scientific reasoning, not on the will of God or any other belief system. Doctors should feel obligated to think beyond this, and give a referral if they don’t agree with a procedure. All doctors should be aware going into the profession that they will be working with all kinds of people, and that sometimes they will have to make decisions that they may feel uncomfortable with. If it is going
anything more than a territorially gutted rump state. Under such circumstances it is difficult to imagine the entirety of Palestinian society being left satisfied enough to give Israel the peace it desires. Still, both sides cling to the prospect of two states. Many Palestinians, hardened by conflict, remain nationalistic — hardly enthusiastic to take up the passports of their archenemies. And many Israelis neither want to make territorial concessions nor have to deal with diluting the Jewishness of the Zionist project their ancestors worked so hard to create. However as hopes for a two state solution continue to wane, perhaps hopes for a one state solution may wax. This would offer a far more meaningful path forward for the region. For if Palestinian political forces were to embrace Israeli annexation and abandon aspirations for
to be a common problem, then maybe they should consider another profession. Doctors need to care about the outcomes of their choices in order to provide their patients with confidence. And while they should have the right to do so, any doctor should be very careful about denying treatment to a patient. We put ourselves in a position of vulnerability with our doctors, and they shouldn’t forget that. They are, after all, there to provide medical aid, not judgement.
independence, they could further the interests of their own people far more significantly than their current course. For the Palestinians, official Israeli annexation could offer access to participation in the labour markets of one of the region’s most advanced economies, and relief from Israel’s robust welfare state. Israelis, too, could benefit from such a path. Given access to meaningful economic opportunities that Israeli citizenship would afford them, Palestinians would likely become less receptive to the seductions by violence advocates. Israelis seek security. Palestinians seek a future. The status quo does not offer this, but nor does the two state peace plan both sides currently aspire to. However, as each successive crisis crumbles hope in these aspirations, the peace discourse may veer toward a healthier direction.
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10 OPINIONS
July 21, 2014
Send your BULL$#!+ to opinions@the-peak.ca.
Considering Instagram’s conception and birth happened in modern society, it baffles me that their nudity policy is archaic and works hard to strengthen classic double standards concerning female bodies. In recent news, celebrities such as Scout Willis and Rihanna have had their Instagram accounts suspended for posting topless pictures. Willis’ major Instaindiscretion came in the form of a sweatshirt that depicted two topless women, while Rihanna’s fatal
post featured her topless magazine cover for Lui. In response to the punishment, Willis tweeted out a photo of a man showing his nipple, posted by Tracy Morgan, one that passed Instagram’s merciless “no nipple” clause, contrasted by Rihanna’s magazine cover with the caption “This….. but not this…. Pardon my confusion.” As a defense, the CEO of the popular social media app was quick to proclaim, “Our goal is really to make sure that Instagram, whether you’re a celebrity or not, is a safe place and that the content that gets posted is something that’s appropriate for teens and also for adults.” Perhaps if, like Instagram’s CEO stated, the app enforced policy with an even and fair hand, I would not be writing this article. Unfortunately, that is not the case. While Instagram’s vigilantes continue to suspend and ban
photos of art, photos of those who are or were battling breast cancer, and photos of new moms, popular accounts like billionaire Dan Bilzerian’s, who has over three million followers, go untouched. Apparently photos of barechested women, hugging guns and draped on Bilzerian’s bed wearing nothing but a thong is what Instagram considers content that contributes to an appropriate and safe environment “for teens and also for adults” . . . as long as Bilzerian graciously blurs our their nipples with a cute blue star! Or how about his photo of a girl covering her lower half with a plaque that reads “Dan Bilzerian Pulls The Bitches” while her companion crouches down and covers her nipples with her hands? If you ask me, parents can sleep soundly knowing that Instagram has banned sexually explicit baddies (like breastfeeding moms) while allowing Bilzerian’s mild and almost pious content to perforate this safe Insta-environment. Frankly, I don’t believe Instagram’s nudity policy has much to do with creating a safe and appropriate experience for all ages. Instead, it seems to me like a thinly veiled reincarnation of enduring double standards with one important lesson: sex sells, ladies and gentlemen, while reality does not. Either Instagram steps up to the plate and cracks down on those who violate the principles of their nudity policy with an even hand, or they should do themselves a favor and leave all the Insta-boobs alone.
It’s been highly debated in the psychological associations, but Internet addiction disorder (IAD) isn’t officially classified as a mental disorder (seriously. Wiki it.). Though one can be addicted to computer gaming, cyber relationships, and sex, and other net-related compulsions, IAD is uncertain — possibly just a term or category of disorders. So, how can someone — let alone a nation — treat such a disputed disorder with one concrete method? Earlier this year, a Youtube video called “China’s Web Junkies” was released about people apparently afflicted with such a disorder. One word comes to mind upon viewing: disturbing. Addictions are harmful and should be treated with supported networks — not in environments where you’re heckled by an officer-like facilitator who wakes you up before the sun rises in a
I am so done with eating. I can’t count how many times in the day I wish I wasn’t hungry so I could keep doing whatever I was doing. I wasn’t always like this. Years ago, I remember explicitly thinking that someone who considers eating a chore (Anderson Cooper) was insane. Eating was the best. Eating was magic. Everything else sucked because it stopped me from eating, from feeling completely chalked-full of energy, from fulfilling one of the
dingy bunk by shining a red laser into your eyes. Some of the boys in the video are shown in tears, traumatized –— one even having been drugged by his own parents and taken to the facility. It’s ridiculous: this country uses a borderline abusive method that tears down emotions to treat a disorder that isn’t even professionally defined yet. At facilities like the one in a suburb of Beijing, the attire is head-to-toe in camo as if preparing for routine militant training: walking in straight lines with synchronized steps through locked cell doors. Facilities to treat individuals with harmful disorders are essential to the safety of patients and those close to them. But, honestly, when it’s an extreme and disturbing method to cure someone of a disorder that isn’t even established, the entire thing is ridiculous.
most basic drives in life, to attain energy, to live, to thrive. But I fought that desire. I wanted to know that there was more to life than being full. Outside of school, I found passions: I filled my mornings with exercising, but that only lasted an hour, tops. I took up Chinese, writing, and music. And now I’d be completely content being fed by IV lines so I could keep working all day. There’s more to life, and I’m gonna find it.
ARTS
Bard on the Beach almost never presents plays that are not written by the bard himself, but when they do, it is for good reason. Bill Cain’s tale of art and politics is a masterpiece of suspense and humour played by a cast of six talented actors. It is presented in partnership with the Belfry Theatre in Victoria, where it premiered this spring. The story is set in Jacobean England in 1606 as Robert Cecil (Anousha Alamian), King James’ Prime Minister implores Shagspeare (Bob Frazer) to write a play titled The True Historie of the Gunpowder Plot. Shagspeare explains that he writes histories and plays based on events that happened in the past, but he does not do current events. The gunpowder plot was a terrorist plot led by Guy Fawkes to assassinate King James I and blow up Parliament, and Cecil is adamant that Shagspeare be the playwright to bring the story to life at the King’s request. Shagspeare has no choice but to agree and accepts Cecil’s payment.
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Under the direction of Richard Burbage (Gerry Mackay), Shagspeare and his Globe Theatre company (Anousha Alamian, Anton Lipovetsky, Shawn Macdonald) attempt to translate the story to the stage. As they delve further into the plot, they realize that the King’s version of the story might not be true; they are forced to decide whether they can perform a story that they know to be false and damage their artistic integrity, or risk their lives by revealing the truth.
Bob Frazer is outstanding in the starring role of Shagspeare, and the relationship he has with his daughter Judith (Rachel Cairns) is so poignant. Judith has a beautiful soliloquy in which she laments about her disdain for soliloquies and plays in general, and I loved the moment when Shagspeare can finally look at Judith without grieving the loss of her twin, Hamnet. Anton Lipovetsky as a young King James, with his high-pitched voice as he called for his “Beagle” (Robert Cecil), was hilarious. Lipovetsky also played Sharpe, one of Shag’s actors who needs plenty of encouragement. Alamian as
Cecil was also very impressive as he immediately switched from the limping, humpbacked Prime Minister to his other role as one of the actors. Directed by Michael Shamata, Equivocation is full of references to the bard’s plays and humorous lines from Cecil about his work lasting at least 50 years. He also remarks that Shagspeare has the unique ability to make fun of a group of people during his plays, but have them laughing by the end. The construction of the play’s scenes is quite complex as they are interwoven and involve many quick character changes for the actors, but this cast seemed to pulled it off with ease and it was not difficult to follow. At its core, Equivocation is about posterity and how to tell the truth in difficult times, and it tackles these themes with intelligence, humour, and plenty of intrigue. According to Shagspeare, “We are all fools, we are all noble, we are all royal.” He tells his company of actors that they can play any role because they have it inside of them already. It was wonderful to get this glimpse of what it might have been like as Shakespeare directed his actors and dealt with the realities of being under the rule of the King.
Tessa Perkins arts@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560
For many of us, the word “couture” brings to mind a bedazzled velour tracksuit, an exposed middrift, and a chihuahua popping out of a fake Louis Vuitton bag. We flashback to 2006, when The Simple Life of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie was a trendsetter for us pre-pubescents, and an eyebrow wider than two millimeters was a cry for help. This Throwback Thursday is over, but the misconception of couture still remains. Well, buckle your seatbelts and unzip the Juicy because you are about to be shown the world of true haute couture. Close your eyes and imagine a woman. She is the uberwealthy heiress to a French something-or-other empire and has just seen the Chanel Haute Couture collection at the Grand Palais in Paris. She wants one of the dresses, but one does not simply walk into the Chanel store and pick one of these garments off the rack. Those garments (that most of us are familiar with) are known as prêtà-porter or ready-to-wear. For couture, she first has to make an appointment with a woman known as a vendeuse, a specialized sales person who knows the exact details of each client’s taste, figure, and budget. Once the dress is selected, meticulous measurements are taken and the work begins. On average it takes a team of pattern makers, seamstresses, embroiderers, and other craftsmen 120 to 150 hours to complete a couture garment, and the work is all done by hand! The most astonishing aspect of couture is the fit. Feeling like a second skin, couture garments are fitted a minimum of three times to ensure a perfectly snug and sensual silhouette. The garments are so well-fitted that all of the seams, buttons, and hems are adjusted to the exact proportions
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of each body. With the hand stitching, the fittings, the finest fabrics, a simple day suit with blouse can start at $10,000 to $15,000. Adding embroidery, laces, and 800 hours of manual labour (required for many of the finest dresses) can increase the price to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week took place this past week and did not disappoint. Couture has always been a fine and delicately embroidered balance between the Golden Age of Hollywood fashion and the constant nuances of modern style. One designer to note this year is Marco Zanini of Schiaparelli. What most love about Zanini is his unsuspecting rise to couture creating fame at the helm of the house of former surrealist couture giant, Elsa Schiaparelli. This 40-something, with a Smiths tattoo and rugged looks, brings a rebellious and electric edge to his creations, which hasvebeen setting the trend for the rest of the couture world. Zanini is all about the mixing of things that traditionally wouldn’t go together. To give you an idea, the opening look featured a loose fitted cheetah print coat that sported sculpted mink sleeves — a distinct cross between glamour and the Michelin Man. Another favourite was from the seasoned house of Chanel and their quirky kaiser, Karl Lagerfeld. This most ‘un-couture’ couture collection was based off the apartment of visionary Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier who was a true pioneer of modern architecture. Generally, sandals, bike shorts, and concrete don’t come to mind when thinking of couture, but it was these words that Lagerfeld used to concoct his collection, and what a sumptuous feast it was. Couture: it is a jacket for the rich or a dress for the Prince of Monaco ball but, more importantly, it is the epitome of craft, care, creativity, and beauty — even if we can only afford to admire from afar. It reminds us that looking good is an artform and that wherever you are in life, there is always room for beauty and fantasy.
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Late in his life, Shakespeare seemed to get a bit sentimental, writing plays that don’t fit neatly into one of his usual categories. Cymbeline is not exactly a tragedy, although it involves war; it’s not exactly a comedy, although it ends happily, and it’s not exactly a history, although it is about a king. The play is really a modern drama with elements of each and a happy Hollywood ending. Director Anita Rochon makes her Bard on the Beach debut with this small cast of seven who play multiple roles. The setting is ancient Britain where King Cymbeline (Gerry Mackay) is being threatened by the Romans. To Cymbeline’s dismay, his daughter, Imogen (Rachel Cairns), has married Posthumus (Anton Lipovetsky). Cymbeline had ordered her to marry his new wife’s son, Cloten (Lipovetsky), and he banishes Posthumus to Rome. In Rome, Posthumus meets the manipulative Iachimo (Bob Frazer), who makes a bet that he can seduce Imogen. Imogen is one of Shakespeare’s best female leads, and Cairns plays her with subtlety and elegance. Iachimo fails to seduce Imogen with his charms and resorts to hiding in a trunk to gain entry to her bedroom. Bob Frazer was perfectly cunning in this scene as he slinked out of the trunk and around Imogen’s bed. He takes a bracelet from her wrist that serves as
July 21, 2014
evidence of Imogen’s infidelity, and Posthumus orders his servant, Pisanio (Anousha Alamian), to kill her. Pisanio leads Imogen into the mountains, but doesn’t plan to carry out his orders. Instead he tells her to go in search of Posthumus disguised as a boy named Fidele. She meets Belarius, a banished lord who has also disguised himself, and his two sons who are the King’s kidnapped sons. These three cave dwellers provide much of the comedy as they sing and go about their work. Cloten, doting on Imogen and offended by her witty remarks, also provides many laughs. He disguises himself as Posthumus in order to try to win her affections, and seeing that Lipovetsky also played Posthumus, it was quite the feat to keep everything straight and make sure the audience wasn’t confused. Along with Benjamin Elliott, Lipovetsky also played one of the King’s sons, and I lost track of how many times they ran across the stage to quickly throw on a costume piece and instantly assume their other identity. These rapid-fire costume and character changes added another level of humour that Cymbeline wouldn’t normally have. Another added element to this production was the music by Benjamin Elliott. With a few instruments and relatively simple vocal harmonies all performed by the actors, this was the perfect final touch. Dealing with themes of forgiveness, hope, love, and the power to change, Cymbeline is a well-rounded story played by a small, talented cast. Although it is a lesser-known work of Shakespeare’s, I think it is among his best and deserves to be seen more often.
The long awaited sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, has finally hit theatres nationwide, and this ardent fan had the opportunity to watch the premier. Set 10 years after the events of the previous installment, the deadly virus known as the Simian Flu has spread and killed much of the human population. Only pockets of immune humans survive and try desperately to rebuild their lives in the hope of returning to the lifestyles they enjoyed before the outbreak. The genetically modified apes, meanwhile, managed to escape into the forest, and while the humans were dealing with the virus, these apes built their own society, religion, literacy, and traditions without interruption or further conflict.
Their uninterrupted peace comes to an end when a group of humans looking to revive a dam for their potential energy stumble upon two hapless apes. The events that follow throw into havoc the human and ape communities. Caesar, the leader of the apes, tries
desperately to maintain peace, but his efforts are thwarted by a human-hating ape known as Koba, who usurps Caesar and declares war against the humans. This sequel provides an action packed, suspense filled thrill ride to complement its predecessor. This viewer was on edge the entire movie, as every moment of the film provided a unique experience into how these apes lived. As human society deteriorated, the ape society thrived, providing a unique parallel between these two communities. Appropriate attention was also placed into understanding why these apes might hate humans. The captivity they endured and the cruel animal testing that they suffered has irrevocably scarred them; as a result, their reasons behind wanting to live in isolation and only
with other apes resonates with the audience. As the movie progresses, however, the viewer sees just how similar these two species are. Despite all the praise, there is an issue with this movie, but it is not specific to this one franchise. As Hollywood has moved into the trend of seemingly endless sequels to generate as much profit as possible, this franchise has fallen victim to this mode of thinking. Its simple plot and small advances from one movie to the next make this viewer question if this franchise will ever come to an end; and if it does, it might be from a jaded audience and not from a well thought out story. Nonetheless I do recommend this movie to fans and to the general audience. The movie on its own will not disappoint, and you will come out wanting more.
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HUMOUR
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July 21, 2014
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. A group of local college-aged youths are reportedly excited to spend the upcoming weekend at their friend Joe Fresca’s cabin, where there will be drinking, plenty of sexy escapades, and positively no serial killers picking them off one by one. “The next three days are going to be all about chilling with my best friends and not getting murdered in an elaborate fashion,” Fresca told The Peak. “It’s going to be a blast!”
Fresca’s family cabin, which may or may not have been built on an Indian burial ground, includes such amenities as three bedrooms, a full steam room, a 12-person hot tub, and a dimly-lit cellar from which mysterious noises sometimes emanate. “Yeah, I’ve heard Joe’s cabin has this really freaky cellar,” said dumb
9. 10. 11. 12.
cheerleader Catherine Williams, one of the weekend’s young and attractive attendees. “I’ll probably check it out late at night when everyone’s asleep, just so I can enjoy it all to myself.” The cabin, which has its own attached tool shed full of sharp things to murder unsuspecting victims with, is located deep in the British Columbia interior and is notorious for having unreliable cellphone reception, meaning the group can relax knowing they won’t be bothered by bosses calling or emergency operators. There are also no neighbours within a 20-mile radius of the cabin, meaning any attempts to run for help will likely end in the sexy teen being murdered in the woods. Perhaps least excited for the trip is self-described bookworm Rachel
Auburn, a level-headed and fastthinking friend of Fresca’s who is planning to remain sober for the whole weekend, is a former track star, and also has some kind of tragic flaw that audiences will find sympathetic and/or relatable. It has been speculated –— but not yet confirmed –— that Auburn will likely have to face her inner demons at some point during the weekend if she’s going to defeat whatever supernatural evil probably won’t be waiting for her and her friends at the cabin. “I’m sure it’ll be a fun weekend but I can’t shake the feeling like something bad is going to happen,” said Auburn. “As long as everyone steers clear of any mysterious Latin inscriptions and doesn’t try to read it out loud, we should be good!”
Brad McLeod humour@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560
HUMOUR
July 21, 2014
technique and she cools it down for just the right amount of time. I’ve tried to replicate her technique at home, but I just can’t do it. She won’t tell anyone her secret. I think it’s got to be the temperature settings and how long she keeps it in the oven. She’s figured out the perfect time in between 14 and 17 minutes, I know that, I just don’t know what it is!
Let me start out by making things completely clear. This pizza you served me is wonderful and I really appreciate it. You are not a bad cook at all. The way you slid this pre-made dish in the oven was outstanding, but I’m just saying that my Nonna unfreezes pizza like no one else. Honestly, she’s from the old country (Edmonton) and they just know how to do it better there. She has a certain je-ne-sais-quoi to her broiling
17%
Numbed the pain of rejection letter from clown college
1%
Enjoy the taste
21%
Wanted to play some sort of Pong, didn’t have any Ping
Don’t get me wrong, your pizza was unfrozen pretty well but it’s just like comparing an authentic Safeway-brand frozen vegetable bag to a Save-on-foods frozen vegetable bag. Yours just isn’t the real deal, you know? You’ve really got to come over and try her pizza sometime.
She buys the thin-crust version, just like they thaw-out in Italy! It’ll change your life, seriously it’s that good. Oh, and for dessert she might even make her famous Dr. Oetker Tiramisu. She follows the instructions on that package like no one else! I’m telling you, the best! I know a lot of people might think this about their grandmother’s cooking but my Nonna really does make the best food. No one heats up a Hungryman quite like she does. I could study the culinary arts for my whole life and I still wouldn’t be able to toast an Eggo waffle like she does. I’ve got to say the only cooking of hers that I don’t enjoy is when she makes something from scratch. God, her ‘Spinelli family rice casserole’ tastes awful. But still that pizza she unfreezes is like nothing else. I’m telling you, it’s just the best. There’s nothing quite like it.
7%
The situation called for a Carlsberg, it was out of my hands
23% Needed help to work up courage to finally throw up on crush
31%
Had too many unwanted brain cells
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16 LAST WORD
Sitting with my roommate on a Saturday night while having dinner, I decided to join her in one of her favourite activities: watching reality TV. That night, it was The Kardashians. As I quickly realized, this may not have been the best place to jump into the strange, convoluted world of reality television. Every time someone had a happy moment or broke down in tears, cameras would appear, zooming in on people’s faces while dramatic music swelled. Something about this seemed about as far from ‘reality’ as anything. I had two choices: either I could burst my roommate’s bubble by arguing that all of this had to be elaborately staged, something I’m sure she’s aware of, or I could just quietly step away. I chose the latter. The promise of a reality TV show is a view into people’s private lives: unscripted situations, real life drama, and uncoached stars. However, a little research regarding the genre proves this is pretty far from the truth. Recently, entertainment writer and former reality star Anna Klassen wrote a firsthand account of her experience with reality TV and, suffice
features editor email / phone
Max Hill features@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560
it to say, it’s about as bad as you would imagine. From fake dressing her dog to transforming her entire personality to better suit the reality TV genre, nothing about Klassen’s experience rings as true as TV producers would have you believe. As Klassen tells it, she wasn’t being filmed as a real person: “I was playing a version of myself — a character — and with a nudge here and a shove there, it was clear what character the producers wanted me to play.” This is exactly what reality TV is: a cheap, reproducible format where actors are told to appear as ‘normal’ as possible, with enough glitz and glamour thrown in here and there to keep viewers interested. It reminds me of my older cousin, snapping at my wrestling-obsessed younger brother: “You know it’s all fake, right?” My brother, too young to know better, simply denied it and continued to watch it as if it didn’t bother him. Sitting with my roommate waiting for The Kardashians to end, I eventually confronted her with a similar reality check. Why, I asked, did she still insist on watching these
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barbie dolls play out fictions of their lives on national TV? “I don’t know how to answer that, honestly,” she replied. “I watch The Bachelorette, for example, because it has a fairytalelike concept with a pinch of reality thrown in, and that just makes it believable. It’s fun to watch, and it’s still more realistic than Cinderella!” To be clear, my roommate isn’t dumb. She knows this is all fake. But there’s still that level of wish fulfillment — of suspending one’s disbelief long enough to believe that shows like The Bachelorette are about real people — that keeps her and countless others glued to their screens night after night. Film producer and television director Gavin Polone, writing for Vulture, spoke about how he was sure of the fact that the finale for The Real Housewives of Orange County was staged — the plot, camera angles, and dialogue were too perfect to not be written, he said. His experience in the industry suggests he knows what he’s talking about, and it helps to know I’m not the only one who has a hard time believing any of what I watch in these shows is real.
Polone goes on to write about a discussion with a top TV executive, who told him that “reality characters self-produce, knowing that they need to be a heightened version of themselves [. . .] Sometimes we’ll leak information to them [meaning things each character wouldn’t know that the other characters said or did, which may instigate a conflict], but we won’t tell them what to do.” This recalls what Klassen wrote about her experience with reality television; she was told to be a more glamorous version of herself, one that appealed more to the camera and to the audience. In the past decade, reality TV has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the Western world. But if we know it’s all staged, why do so many still watch it? Polone suggests it may have something to do with the
spontaneity of the form: though most reality TV shows are at least partly scripted, their use of untrained actors in semi-real situations can still result in some genuinely surprising and unex-
whatever I was doing. The minute you put a camera in front of me and press “record,” I’ll still alter my behaviour and actions accordingly: to look good, to be more camera friendly. This, to
pected moments. Others, like my roommate, are willing to pretend what they’re watching is real, even if they know deep down that it isn’t. And, in a sense, we do this no matter what we’re watching. Otherwise, how would we be able to connect with characters we know are fictional? It reminds me a little of my childhood, when my parents would start recording me and I would instantly change the way I was standing, sitting, or doing
me, is a little like being on a reality TV show, except that, in the latter case, the camera is rarely off. Ultimately, reality shows are cheap and formulaic enough to ensure that, as long as people are willing to watch them, producers will be willing to make them. And as long as we’re well aware that what we’re watching is not as real as it seems, what’s the harm in a little drama or a happy ending once in a while?