Vol. 4 Issue 5

THE VOL. 04

WANNABEHIPSTER ISSUE

ISSUE 05 11.08.2011 NEWS AND CULTURE FOR THE STUDENTS OF KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

COOKIE DUSTERS GROSSING YOU OUT FOR A GOOD CAUSE

WHO’S THAT? ROGER DALTREY @ ROGERS ARENA PAGE 11

FIND US ONLINE

/

FEATURE

REPUTATION LITIGATION

AUGMENTED REALITY FESTIVAL PAGE 8

KSA DEFAMATION SUITS PAGE 4

WWW.RUNNERMAG.CA

/

TWITTER.COM/RUNNERMAG

/

FACEBOOK.COM/RUNNERPAPER

NEWS

page two | November 08 2011 | vol. 4 issue 05

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

CAMPUS NEWS

The Runner Roundup A brief run around the latest news from the world of Kwantlen and beyond.

Designing talent Kwantlen’s Faculty of Design has a brand-new dean.

The appointment of George Verghese was announced in a press release Oct. 21.

Verghese has taught for the last 13 years at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. Before that, he was Chair of the School of Interior Design at Ryerson University in Toronto. In 1996, he was a founding member of IDEA (Interior Design/Interior Architecture Educators Association).

Recently, he has been involved in trans-disciplinary research with a team of nurses and midwives, video ethnographers and designers looking at the re-design of birthing centres. He has also done research in colour and materiality as it relates to place-making. His newest research is examining a grounded theoretical approach to understanding the processes that designers engage in when looking at innovation in design.

Freshman 15 debunked

The infamous freshman 15 is only a myth according to new research from the University of Michigan and Ohio State University.

Webhealth MD reports that a new study shows that female students gained an average of three pounds during their freshman year while male students gained three-and-a-half pounds.

The study looked at the weight of more than 7,000 freshman students and found that 25 per cent of them actually lost weight during their first year of college.

Simplified debt The provincial government introduced legislation Nov. 3 that will supposedly make the process easier for students when they apply for and pay off student loans.

If passed, the legislation will integrate the federal and provincial systems so that students will only have to sign one loan agreement and make one monthly payment rather than two.

“I have met with numerous students and student groups and am pleased that we have been able to respond to requests for an improved student loan service,” said Advanced Education Minister Naomi Yamamoto in a news release. “Improving and streamlining our financial assistance system gives students more time to focus on what’s really important – their education.”

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

NEWS

vol. 4 issue 05 | November 08 2011 | page three

CAMPUS NEWS

Political ambition At the age of 21, former Kwantlen student and Surrey school board candidate Paul Hillsdon is no stranger to the campaign trail. An 18-year-old Hillsdon first ran for office three years ago, making an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Surrey city council. In that election he won over 12,000 votes, the most among non-incumbent, independent candidates.

This time Hillsdon has set his sights on the school board and hopes his age and recent experience as a high school student in the district will be an incentive for voters to endorse him.

“For democracy to be strong, it’s important to have a diversity of voices and I think having my perspective on the board would be quite valuable as somebody who was just in the system,” said Hillsdon.

He thinks that many young people stay away from politics because of the impression that government is a monolithic bureaucracy and that one person can’t make a difference. He credits his involvement to leadership opportunities given to him when he was a teenager. If elected, he wants to offer more avenues for students to get engaged with the school system.

In 2009, he received the Community Leader Award from the Surrey Leader. That same year, he co-organized a rally against gang violence in Central Surrey, attracting attention from major media outlets. In 2011, he helped bring together students, teachers, and parents to push the provincial government to build eight new schools in Surrey.

Currently studying geography and educational psychology at Simon Fraser University, Hillsdon is optimistic about his chances of winning.

“I’m running to create education for the future,” said Hillsdon. “For me that means moving from an industrial one-size fits-all model of education to a personalized learning agenda. That means enabling students to integrate their passions and interests into school, making it more exciting and engaging.”

Students get SASSY

Journalism student wins award

Kwantlen students John Davidson and Joseph Given received SASSY (Service Above Self Surrey Youth) awards in October for making a difference in their community.

Davidson, a criminology student, used sports to turn around his life after the death of his mother.

“I used to skip classes and never thought there was a point to school,” said Davidson in a press release. “It felt great to be recognized with a SASSY Award. I fought my way through hardship and came out stronger.”

Each winner received a $500 bursary plus $500 to be donated to the charity of their choice. Davidson will be donating to the Canadian Diabetes Association and Given will be donating to Free the Children.

John Davidson (back row, far left) and Joe Given (front row, far right) receive SASSY awards Oct. 24 2011.

Kwantlen student and Runner contributor Kimiya Shokoohi garnered some press of her own when she was awarded The Jack Webster Foundation Student Journalism Award, Oct. 24, 2011.

Shokoohi, a fourth-year journalism student and aspiring sports writer, was one of six students from across the province to receive this year’s award.

“I am so incredibly humbled to be recognized with this very prestigious award,” she said in a written statement. “It is an amazing feeling to know that what you’re doing is good enough to be noticed by some of the best in the business. I’m completely grateful.”

Shokoohi will receive $2,000 towards her university tuition as part of the award.

The Jack Webster Foundation was created in 1986 to recognize and encourage excellence in B.C.-based journalism.

page four | November 08 2011 | vol. 4 issue 05

NEWS

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

KSA

KSA files second defamation suit Student association sues SFU Peak newspaper; gets court order to find out identity of KSA Truth website owner.

I

MATT DIMERA NEWS EDITOR

The Kwantlen Student Association (KSA) has filed a second defamation lawsuit, this time against the Simon Fraser University student newspaper, The Peak.

Notice of a civil claim was filed in the B.C. Supreme Court Oct. 21 on behalf of the KSA and president Harman “Sean” Bassi, alleging The Peak “falsely and maliciously printed” defamatory statements about them “with the intent of increasing sales of the Peak newspaper” and to increase the prominence and further the career of reporter Sam Reynolds.

The suit claims that a Sept. 19 story in The Peak falsely alleged, among other things, that KSA president Harman Bassi “channels Moammar Gadhafi,” and by way of innuendo meant to say that Bassi is a dictator, is guilty of abuse of power, and is not of good character.

It further alleges that The Peak made no effort to verify the accuracy of the allegedly defamatory statements and that they did not contact the KSA or Bassi for comment.

The suit also claims that The Peak falsely claimed that Bassi and the KSA are corrupt, consolidate power, are involved in drug trafficking and misuse funds.

None of the claims made by the KSA and Bassi have been proven in court, and those named in the claim have yet to file a statement of defence.

The suit seeks an injunction “restraining the Defendants from further writing, printing or broadcasting or causing to be written, printed or broadcast or otherwise publishing of the Plaintiffs the alleged or any similar defamation.”

According to the suit, the KSA’s lawyers demanded a retraction and apology on four separate occasions from The Peak, but the apology published by the newspaper wasn’t published with the same prominence as the original allegedly defamatory statements.

Reporter Sam Reynolds, features editor Kelly Thoreson and the Peak Publications Society are all named as defendants.

It also claims that Bassi and the KSA have been “greatly injured in their reputation, and have been brought into public scandal,

odium and contempt.”

The KSA and Bassi are also seeking general, special, aggravated and punitive damages and costs.

––––– The Kwantlen Student Association made news earlier this semester when they filed a defamation suit against the ksatruth.ca website.

A court order was issued Nov. 1 ordering Go Daddy Canada Inc. to disclose the identity of the account holders associated with the ksatruth.ca website within seven days, including any IP addresses, names, and physical addresses.

The KSA and director of finance Balninna Sandhu filed a notice of civil claim in B.C.

Supreme Court Sept. 1 against the unknown publisher or publishers of the ksatruth.ca website. That suit was amended Oct. 13 to include 19 new pages from the website that were added after the lawsuit was first filed.

The amended claim now also alleges that the website falsely accuses Sandhu and the KSA of being petty, vindictive and mean, being bullies, lacking ethics, living the high life as a result of theft from students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, being liars, having no regards for rules or regulations, being secretive and being immature.

Sandhu said she was unable to comment on the case.

“I can’t tell you the official stance, like what’s going on in terms of the proceedings,” she said. “But it is moving

along and it is before the courts now.”

The claim is also seeking general, special, aggravated and punitive damages and costs.

It refers to the website publisher as John Doe, stating that the KSA does not know their identity.

None of the claims made by the KSA and Sandhu have been proven in court, and those named in the claim have yet to file a statement of defence.

The original suit seeks an interim and permanent injunction preventing the operator of ksatruth.ca from publishing the allegedly libelous statements online or in print and also preventing any other parties from “publishing or causing to be published any material on the internet or otherwise from the Defendant which pertains directly or indirectly to the Plaintiffs.”

The original claim further alleges that the website falsely accuses Sandhu and the KSA of being dishonest or crooked, corrupt, thieves, incompetent and unaccountable, lacking transparency, stealing money receive from students at KPU for personal gain, mismanaging funds received from students at KPU, being outrageous and scandalous in their actions and having deliberately set out to obfuscate and hide monetary transaction for their own personal benefit.

The claim also alleges that the unknown publishers of the website have defamed the KSA and Sandhu in online postings, and conversations or emails.

It also alleges that the website is “dedicated to lowering the way the Kwantlen Student Association and its directors, including Sandhu, are perceived by society by exposing it to contempt and ridicule.

The claim alleges that the domain name for ksatruth.ca was registered Feb. 11, 2011. and began publishing allegedly defamatory material Aug. 22, 2011.

The suit also claims that the KSA and its directors including Sandhu “have been greatly injured in their character, credit, and professional reputation, and have suffered damage.

The claim further alleges that the alleged defamation was “part of a deliberate campaign to defame the Plaintiffs to as broad an audience as possible.”

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

SPORTS

vol. 4 issue 05 | November 08 2011 | page five

SOCCER

Eagles reach provincial championships Shanay Sangha named Women’s Player of the Year; men’s and women’s teams both qualify in the same season for the first time.

The Kwantlen Eagles soccer teams came away from Kelowna with disappointing losses in the 2011 PACWEST Provincial Soccer Championships last weekend, but four Eagles left with AllStar rankings.

The women’s team finished in fourth place and the men’s team lost in the quarterfinals. Both men’s and women’s soccer teams qualified for the provincial championships in the same season, for the first time ever.

The women’s team played against the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners in the opening match of the tournament.

First-year mid-fielder Kathleen Ehman scored first. Secondyear forward Kathleen Gratz followed with another goal to create a 2-0 lead. First-year forward Chelsey Lal scored the final goal.

The game ended in a 3-0 win for the Eagles, sending them to the semi-finals against the UBC Okanagan Heat.

Four Kwantlen Eagles were named as All-Stars. Third-year mid-fielder/forward Shanay Sangha was named as Women’s Player of the Year and 1st Team All-Star. Also named were fourthyear defender Brittany McNeill and second-year midfielder Yvamara Rodriguez who were placed as 2nd Team All-Stars. Secondyear defender Hussein Abu was named a 1st Team All-Star in the men’s rankings.

With files from Kwantlen Athletics

UPCOMING EAGLES BASKETBALL GAMES Basketball Season Opener Friday, Nov. 11 @ Camosun 6:00 p.m. - Women 8:00 p.m. - Men Friday, Nov. 25 vs. Columbia Bible College 6:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Kwantlen Gymnasium, Surrey Thursday - Saturday Dec. 1-3 Pat Dooley Memorial Tournament Kwantlen Gymnasium, Surrey

Kwantlen Eagle and 2011 PACWEST Women’s Soccer Player of the Year Shanay Sangha earlier in the season. PHOTO COURTESY VANCOUVER SPORTS PICTURES

Eagle Jake Starheim in a game from earlier in the season.

PHOTO COURTESY VANCOUVER SPORTS PICTURES

page six | November 08 2011 | vol. 4 issue 5

ADVERTISEMENT

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

Exclusive Surrey Mayoral Debate Coverage

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

We’ll be live-tweeting the action.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #sryelxn

twitter.com/runnermag | runnermag.ca

EDITORIAL

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

vol. 4 issue 05 | November 08, 2011 | page seven

PROSTATE CANCER

The Runner is student owned and operated

by Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, published under Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society.

Arbutus 3710/3720 12666 72 Ave. Surrey, B.C. V3W 2M8 www.runnermag.ca 778-565-3801

HUMOUR

Movember mane

Vol. 4, Issue no. 05 Nov. 8, 2011 ISSN# 1916-8241

I

EDITORIAL DIVISION: Co-ordinating Editor / Jeff Groat editor@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3803 Culture Editor / Kristi Alexandra culture@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3804 News Editor / Matt DiMera news@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3805 Production Editor / Antonio Su production@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3806

CARLIE AUCLAIR/THE RUNNER

Media Editor / Matt Law media@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3806

I

SENIOR WRITERS:

Do you want to show the world you are serious about combatting prostate cancer?

Or perhaps you just want an excuse to adopt the appearance of a 70s porn star, or a village person for a month, or just plain pissing of your girlfriend. Either way, the month of November has come, which is the time when men all around the world come together to grow a little hair over their upper lip.

Movember, which Wikipedia elegantly refers to as a “portmanteau of the words ‘moustache’ and ‘November’” (which strikes me as a bit ridiculous, because the idea that anyone who couldn’t put that together without the aid of Wikipedia’s overly wordy explanation would have any clue what the hell a portmanteau is, is laughable), began in 2004 in Adelaide, Australia as a way to raise awareness about men’s issues, most notably prostate cancer. Simply put, Movember is the hairy equivalent of those pink breast-cancer ribbons.

The event has since caught on worldwide, and its effects can be seen on the faces on men everywhere, from professional athletes to college students. Locally, Granville Island Brewing is offering a portion of sales from its seasonal brew Lions Winter Ale to support prostate cancer research. While moustaches were once reserved for silent movie villains, civil war re-creationists and dudes named Leroy, Movember has proved

Senior Culture Writer / Chris Yee Senior Entertainment Writer / Mike Shames Senior Features Writer / Lliam Easterbrook CONTRIBUTORS: Brendan Tyndall, Matthew Bossons, Jacob Zinn Featured Art: Ivy Ng, Ryan Lee, Roxanne Charles, Susan Livingstone Cover Photo: Matt Law BUSINESS DIVISION: Operations Manager, Ads, Classifieds / DJ Lam ops@runnerrag.ca / 778-688-3797 Office Co-ordinator / Victoria Almond office@runnerrag.ca / 778-565-3801

Funds are collected by the university and channelled to PIPS via the KSA.

RCMP arrest Bush, because that’s how politics works

BRENDAN TYNDALL CONTRIBUTOR

that all men can get in on the hairy action.

The only guidelines for Movember are that men must make some attempt at growing a moustache and keep it for the entire month. For myself it will be easy, as I usually wear a beard, it will just be a matter of getting rid of the rest of it. Others will have to go through the awkward experience of growing a stache from scratch, which is never a pretty sight. Unless you happen to have the blood of Tom Selleck or Burt Reyolds running through your veins, or you happen to be someone’s dad, chances are you are not going to look good with a moustache.

Movember also brings up the risk of alienating those who already sport a ‘stache.

I usually wear a beard, and it always irks me in playoff time when some rube asks me “is that your playoff beard?” oblivious to the fact that the beard has been in existence since well before hockey players decided to appropriate it as their own, to the chagrin of bearded folk everywhere.

Whether you can only muster a whispy caterpillar, or your robust soupstrainer can conjure the air of former Calgary Flame Lanny McDonald, Movember provides men everywhere with an excuse to don a righteous stache — for the good of men everywhere.

After all, prostate cancer claims the lives of one of every six men, and researchers could always use help combatting the disease. So ditch your razor, and let that stache grow wild. It’s for the good of us all.

GARY LIM THE PEAK (SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY)

BURNABY, B.C. (CUP) — Bowing to an overwhelming grassroots campaign of several thousand people, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have spent the last several months working in conjunction with Amnesty International to secure the necessary jurisdiction warrants for the arrest of George W. Bush. Mr. Bush was slated to speak at the Surrey Regional Economic Summit on Oct. 20, but instead was led away in handcuffs to the jubilant and apprehensive cheers of the crowds of protesters.

Many protestors were eager to explain why Bush needed to be arrested by Canadian authorities.

“Have you ever heard him speak?” asked Larry Halwell, a protester. “He was president of the United States. President.

And he once said, ‘The French don’t even have a word for entrepreneur.’ Seriously.

President. It’s unbelieveable.”

SFU professor of political science Peter Halwert described the situation as “a great victory for human rights, one that that will in no way negatively affect Canada’s international image and ward off any potential future diplomats from visiting.” He added, “It also probably won’t deeply violate the good relations with Canada’s southern neighbour, largest trading partner, and creator of 51 per cent of its economy.”

Many political analysts have noted that the arrest of Bush, although a momentous one, is only the first step of many. Bush will still need to stand trial in front of a UN tribunal to answer for his crimes — a trial that will not likely happen for anywhere from two to three years from now to never, although most agree the tribunal itself will be a relatively quick and straightforward procedure. That is, unless he were to have access to immense momentary funds, have close personal ties to multiple foreign diplomats and world leaders, and a disarming southern accent.

The Peak reached out to Bush’s various allies and cronies, but has yet to hear back from any of them. Former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney could not be reached at press time, as he was “too busy slapping his knee and wiping the tears of laughter out of his eyes.”

FEAT

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

ARTS

local

Eyes

I

Augmented Reality festival co

KRISTI ALEXANDRA CULTURE EDITOR

Last issue, we featured a second-year digital media arts class who were experimenting with augmented reality. The class created 2-D art pieces that trigger an overlay of information when hovering an iPad, iPhone, tablet or android phone over the image.

The technology works by downloading a free app called Junaio, which, when connected to

Chief Dan George by Roxanne Charles Channel: Chief Dan George

the right channel, shows the overlayed information on a print or static image – thereby becoming a multi-media experience.

The festival kicked off on Oct. 27 with an opening reception and demonstration that had instructor Paulo Majano and his students showcasing their work with the Junaio app.

Among others, these four images are still featured in the Surrey campus library atrium for students to enjoy.

To view the augmented reality on these images, follow the intructions on the next page.

Your CPU by Ivy Ng Channel: Your CPU

TURE

vol. 4 issue 05 | November 08 2011 | page nine

ntinues in Surrey library atrium

Fireball by Ryan Lee Channel: Fireball

Try Augmented Reality yourself with these images: 1. Download the Junaio app for iPhone, iPad 2 & iPod touch or Android/smartphone/tablet.

2. Open the app and SEARCH for the correct channel.

3. Click on the channel and select SHOW IN LIVE VIEW 4. Point your phone camera to the image, and enjoy.

Jeune ďŹ lle Ă la mandoline by Renoir Augmented Reality by Susan Livingstone Channel: Susan

CULTURE

page ten | November 08 2011 | vol. 4 issue 05

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

POP CULTURE

Culture Roundup Your bi-weekly revue of pop culture – from the amusing to the irreverent

Beavis and Butt-head redux NUMB3RS

MTV has decided to revive Beavis and Butt-head, the outrageously un-politically correct, satirical animated series about two metalhead teen deadbeats.

The show, known in the early ‘90s for making fun of current music videos on the then-music network, relaunched on Oct. 27, reportedly bringing in 3.3 million viewers. Now the show focuses, mainly, on slagging other programs (rather than videos) on the network – namely taking a bite out of Jersey Shore’s JWoww in the premiere episode. Beavis and Butt-head airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on MTV.

Biebs ain’t the babydaddy

Occupy Vancouver occupies Santa Mainstream media all over Vancouver are hilariously calling the Occupy Protesters at the Tent Village downtown “Christmas Grinches.”

The annual Santa Parade will be rerouted to avoid the tent village, and a certain fabulously rightwing paper is saying that it’s time for protesters to “move on” and perhaps “get occupations.”

See what they did there?

Huh? What a great pun.

Obviously, the working poor have NO IDEA what it’s like to work hard.

Anyways, the point here was: mucking up the Santa Parade? What better a chance to give the middle-finger to useless capitalism? Don’t you think?

CREATIVE COMMONS

WAVELAB.BE/FLICKR

Well, this is certainly the highlight of my journalistic career.

I would just like to take this opportunity to say: this kid is definitely not old enough to even be capable of impregnating someone, contrary to the allegations by some teenager, somewhereville, U.S.A. HE AIN’T THE BABYDADDY. Case closed.

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

CULTURE

vol. 4 issue 05 | November 08 2011 | page eleven

WHO?

Daltrey runs vocal marathon at Rogers Arena

Singer Roger Daltrey didn’t take kindly to the amount of marijuana smoke on Oct. 27 at Rogers Arena when he came to play The Who’s Tommy in its entirety. “Next time you come, please bring brownies,” he said to the crowd.

JACOB ZINN/THE RUNNER.

I

JACOB ZINN CONTRIBUTOR

It might be named Rogers Arena, but on Thursday, Oct. 27, Roger Daltrey made it all about the Who’s Tommy.

Daltrey, 67, performed the 1969 classic rock opera in its entirety, going non-stop for 23 songs straight, including “See Me, Feel Me”, “Do You Think It’s Alright?” and “Pinball Wizard”. He brought the essence of rock ‘n’ roll with microphone-swinging theatrics, and unlike other frontmen of his day who have gotten fat or out of shape, he can still get away with leaving his shirt unbuttoned.

The live composition of Tommy was originally done for a one-off charity event, but its success turned into a 28-date tour of Canada and the United States.

“This has proved that it’s a classic,” said

Daltrey of the 42-year-old double album.

At times in the show, his voice wavered, and it seemed every other song was led by the backing vocalists.

There’s a reason for that: after a few successful surgeries to his larynx (the voice box), Daltrey has developed a severe allergic reaction to smoke.

That’s bad news, considering Vancouver is the marijuana growing capital of Canada. Twice he seriously threatened to walk off if people didn’t quit smoking.

“Next time you come, please bring brownies,” he said. “I don’t want to spoil anybody’s fun. Eat the bloody stuff!”

By the end of Tommy, the crowd gave a standing ovation, and stayed on their feet into Daltrey’s 13-song encore, mostly of Who tracks.

He started with the classics “I Can See for Miles”, “The Kids Are Alright” and

“Behind Blue Eyes”, during which fans put their lighters in the air, not to their mouths.

He sang “Days of Light” from his 1992 solo record, Rocks in the Head, then brought out a harmonica for “Going Mobile” and “Naked Eye”.

The crowd got up again for “Who Are You”, and to give his voice a rest from all the high notes, Daltrey followed that with a medley of Johnny Cash songs, including “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Ring of Fire”.

He kept the tone low with “Young Man Blues” and a slow, drum-and-bass version of “My Generation” before lighting up the middle-aged wasteland with “Baba O’Riley”.

He closed the show with 1980’s “Without Your Love” and 1975’s “Blue Red and Grey”. At the end of the vocal marathon, the show clocked in around two-and-a-

half hours and 36 amazing songs.

Low ticket sales may have forced the show to use theatre seating in only seven sections of the lower bowl and less than a third of the overall floor.

There were no pyrotechnics or strobe lighting to up the visuals, but what was really missing was the showmanship. Pete Townshend’s absence meant no powersliding, windmills or broken guitars, and the late Keith Moon left a gap for destroyed drum sets.

But it made for a strangely intimate performance, with low lighting and ambient sound overtaking half of the stadium.

Daltrey did say that, despite his voice problems and Townshend’s hearing loss, they’re working on a tour for next year, though nothing’s confirmed.

Who knows?

page twelve | November 08 2011 | vol. 4 issue 05

CULTURE

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

ALBUMS

Vinyl Dust-off: Blue Oyster Cult’s Blue Oyster Cult Lliam Easterbrook – sonic archaeologist – brings you his latest finds from excursions into ancient record bins. Every week – only on Vinyl Dust-off.

I

LLIAM EASTERBROOK SENIOR FEATURES WRITER

According to music critic Sandy Pearlman, Blue Oyster Cult was supposed to be America’s answer to Britain’s Black Sabbath. Simply put, such expectations were lofty, and would only serve to pigeonhole the band in a similar category. Although

their riffs weren’t as heavy, their lyrics not as dark, their hooks not as jagged and menacing, BOC found their stride. Instead of becoming another notch on the sledgehammer of early 1970s metal, the Cult worked hard to find their own sound, a blend of metal, psychedelia, pop, rockabilly, blues, and folk. And they were the first band to adopt the umlaut. A band with a workhorse ethic, BOC toured relentlessly and gradually gained notoriety from an increasingly devout fan base.

Hailing from New York City, BOC began in the mid 1960s, touring small bars under the name Soft White Underbelly. After a slew of monikers — Oaxaca, Stalk-Forrest Group, and the Santos Sisters respectively — the band settled on Blue Oyster Cult, inspired by a poem by (then) manager Sandy Pearlman.

Part of his “imaginos” poetry, the Blue Oyster Cult was “a group of aliens who had assembled to secretly guide Earth’s history.”

The symbol for Kronos — a sickle underpinning a cross – was featured on their first LP, and has become synonymous with the band, having been featured in the artwork for all fifteen of BOC’s studio albums. Also called the “cross of confusion,” the symbol takes many meanings, including an anti-religious and anti-authoritarian function. According to BOC’s website, the cross was adopted by the band for its “metaphysical, alchemical and mythological connotations . . . [which] gave it a flair of decadence and mystery — perfect for rock and roll, and perfect for the kind of music Blue Oyster Cult was creating.”

BOC’s eponymous first album was released in January of 1972, but failed to garner commercial success despite favourable reviews, forcing the band to tour extensively in support of the album. Beginning with the psychedelic “Transmaniacon MC” (a song that would later inspire John Shirley’s novel under the same name), BOC quickly sets the tone for an album of dynamic highs and lows. From the upbeat rockabilly-influenced “I’m on the Lamb But I Ain’t No Sheep” to the ambient blues of “Then Came the Last Days of May”, BOC effortlessly craft a first side that commercially rivals anything of the era.

But it’s the album’s second side that really shines. “Screams” is an airy psychedelic whir, foreshadowing the sound the band would later master on its most well known song, 1976’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper”. The song’s final notes continue into the album’s most eclectic track, the hypnotic “She’s as Beautiful as a Foot” — a too-short ethereal oddity that seamlessly evokes the dreamscape image of the album’s cover. Next is the hardblues of “Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll”, the loose jam of “Workshop of the Telescopes, and finally the stripped down folkiness of “Redeemed”.

Blue Oyster Cult is a strong, cohesive album that relies on Donald Roeser’s solid lead guitar and Eric Bloom’s throaty vocal delivery and strange and poetic lyrical syntax. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but what it may lack in ingenuity, it makes up for in earnest, straightforward rock and roll.

Play it loud. Play it proud.

COLUMN

Stuff your Dad likes: Sitcom Dads Jacob Zinn can’t give you fatherly advice, but he can forget to pick you up from soccer practice.

I

JACOB ZINN CONTRIBUTOR

Do you make jokes at your dad’s expense? Do you ridicule his baldness, beer gut or dumb moments? Do you cue the laugh track every time he walks in a room?

If your pops is anything like a TV dad, prepare for a lifetime of embarrassment contrasted by subtle, redemptive qualities and love. He likes TV dads because he thinks they make him look smart (they don’t).

Usually, the stereotypical situational comedy father is the main character, but he’s also the butt of most jokes.

And, odds are, there’s one TV father who your dad relates to the most. If he’s a handyman, it’s Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor. If he’s a single parent, it’s Danny Tanner. If he wears ugly sweaters (or is a gynaecologist), it’s Dr. Cliff Huxtable.

My dad relates to Al Bundy, played by Ed O’Neill, from Married... with Children. He’s not a shoe salesman and he doesn’t stick his hand in his pants when he watches TV, but he has that same, stubborn work ethic and nostalgic desires.

Day-in and day-out, Bundy drives to that shopping mall in his rusty beater and puts up with his 40-hourper-week job, then comes home with no money to show for it, and all he asks is to be left on the couch in peace.

Also, I refuse to believe that my dad feels nothing but indifference towards sex.

With the fall TV line-up in full swing, your dad has

dozens of primetime papas to choose from to offset his poor parenting.

Sunday nights on Fox, the two most idiotic cartoon fathers compete for that Father of the Year coffee mug.

Homer Simpson tries to top 22 seasons of stupidity while Peter Griffin lowers the bar on Family Guy. On ABC, Phil Dunphy, played by Ty Burrell, leads the Emmy Award-winning third season of Modern Family. Coincidentally, Ed O’Neill plays his father-in-law, doubling the paternal comedy.

You’re dad’s not that stupid, right? So let him relive the glory days of scoring four touchdowns “in a single game.”

And take it easy on him the next time he does something stupid. There’s a bit of Homer in everybody. Maybe a bit more in your dad.

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

CULTURE

vol. 4 issue 05 | November 08 2011 | page thirteen

ALBUMS

Tom Waits’ Bad as Me shows he’s still pretty good I

BRENDAN TYNDALL CONTRIBUTOR

Tom Waits has assumed many identities over his career: beatnick jazz crooner, bard of the barroom balladeer, junkyard bluesman, demented circus leader and dustbowl poet, among others. Waits’ songs tell the stories of the downtrodden; those rough-around-the-edges misfits and rogues who live their life on the wrong side of the tracks. It’s because of Waits’ incredible diversity and flexibility that he has continued to evolve as an artist, putting out consistently good work into his sixties.

Bad as Me, Waits’ 17th album in a four decade career, is no exception. Right away, it’s obvious that Waits’ voice is in its best shape now. While recent albums have seen his perpetually gravelly, cigarette and booze soaked voice evolving into a guttural bark, more a percussion instrument rather than a melodic one, Bad as Me sees the singer exploring many different textures and subtleties. Over the course of the album Waits shouts, hollers, croaks, moans and croons, while his able backing band –– consisting of son Casey on drums, longtime session picker Marc Ribot, and guests Keith Richards, Flea and Les Claypool –– switch effortlessly from trashy blues to dirty funk and everything inbetween.

In addition to drawing from his usual assortment of outsiders and desperate characters, Bad as Me continues to explore the

political aspect of Waits’ songwriting, first hinted at in 2004’s Real Gone. “Talking at the Same Time” is a slippery minor key jazz number punctuated by whining steel guitar, in which Waits takes aim at a U.S. economy racked with corporate greed and a growing disparity between the rich and poor.

“Hell Broke Luce” is a thundering rocker in which a wartorn soldier struggles to comprehend his role in a fruitless war, numbing himself with drugs to erase the memories.

How does Tom Waits propose to deal with a world enshrouded in chaos and turmoil? Listening to “Bad as Me” reveals that maybe his solution is as easy as packing it up and hitting the highway.

The album’s opener, “Chicago”, starts off with a jarring burst of blaring horns, Dixieland banjo and snarling blues guitar while Wait’s hollers like he’s possessed by ghost of Howlin’ Wolf. “Get Lost”, finds Waits eager to grab his girl, get in the car, turn up the radio and hit the road and escape.

In “Face to the Highway”, Waits has seems to be troubled with traveler’s remorse: “I turn my face to the highway, and my back on you,” he sings over a sombre western backing.

At 62 years old, Waits has managed to do what many of his contemporaries cannot: his songs remain timely and rife with poignant social observations, yet they have a timeless feel that harkens back to better days in American history.

We should be glad that Waits is still putting out great music after all this time. Now all we can hope is that he decides to tour the album and find his way over to the West Coast.

BRENDAN TYNDALL/THE RUNNER

FILMS

Real Steel steps into the ring I

MIKE SHAMES SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

GRADE: B+

Who remembers Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots? Ever thought there should be a movie that combines those with Rocky?

Well, Real Steel is the answer.

Unlike a certain trilogy, there are big bots bashing each other, and — more importantly — it’s good. It doesn’t pander or talk down to kids, and many people will enjoy its story.

Hugh Jackman stars as Charlie Kenton, a former boxer trying to make it in Robot Boxing who’s down on his luck.

In debt to loan sharks, he tries to get a new robot to fight with when his son Max (Dakota Goyo) is dropped into Charlie’s life.

After losing yet another fight, he raids a junkyard where Max finds a complete robot, names him Atom and convinces his reluctant dad to train the bot. If you’ve seen the Rocky movies, this is starting to sound extremely famil-

iar. It’s a boxing movie cliche, but we love it, so Real Steel doesn’t lose too many points.

Jackman is wonderful as Rocky — er Charlie –– making him both despicable and redeemable. The delivery of this character draws you into the world. Charlie starts out as cold but he does have a passion for what he’s doing, and sometimes his dreams are beyond his reach. So enters Dakota Goyo as Max Kenton, a son Charlie walked out on. This kid is awesome as an actor, not just a child actor.

At first it’s impossible to believe he is Charlie’s kid, but through some scenes, both subtle and a little obvious, you start to see parts of Charlie in Max, making it believable.

And Max is no saint, like his father he’s smart but stubborn to the point of blindly chasing his dreams. He’s also a troublemaker, not only manipulating his own father into bringing him along, but also dragging Atom into fights it was never designed for and against increasingly tougher and bigger opponents. And so the other cliche enters the ring: a compatible interest/passion begins healing years of separation.

For whatever reason these combined cliches make a very

enjoyable movie. Like Rocky, the audience cheers for the underdog. The fight scenes can be enjoyed by all ages, and it treats the audience as grown ups – not sparing anything scary or brutal. The robots themselves are wonderfully designed, going from backyard-brawlers, put together with scraps to sleek, high-tech prize fighters. And each robot’s persona reflects their operator’s, while still being individuals. The script is well-written, using both silence and the unspoken to make the father-son bond show and grow.

Problems? Well, as mentioned before this is a cliché story, and while the audience gets deeply invested, upon reflection some might feel a bit duped. The supporting chase is clichéd as well but again also fairly solid.

This well-loved cliché has found a way to tug at our heartstrings and give us a wonderful movie. Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo play off each other well, and throw themselves into their roles with everything they have. The enthusiasm is infectious as you will find yourself cheering for Rocky — er Atom — to win. Take your family too, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots are always a thrill.

page fourteen | November 08 2011 | vol. 4 issue 05

CULTURE

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca

TRAVEL

A Chiang Mai lake monster I

Writer Matthew Bossons poses with his big catch. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY MATTHEW BOSSONS

MATTHEW BOSSONS CONTRIBUTOR

The reel screamed loudly as the clear polyethylene line was pulled from it with amazing force.

I picked the rod up from beside my chair and tightened the drag, the rod immediately keeled over.

“I got one,” I yelled to John, the old British man fishing from the next bench.

“At you do!” he shouted back. “Looks like it’s a big one, too.”

John stood up and made his way across the dirt shoreline toward where I was now standing.

The white-haired foreigner was not the only one to make his way to my location.

Within a minute of the fish grabbing my bait, a large group of local Thai fishermen began to circle up. Talking amongst each other. Watching in anticipation.

I let the fish run. Line flew off the reel, and it screeched loudly like an injured feral cat. There was no way I was going to lose this fish –– not with such a large audience.

The minutes drew on and I had made little progress. For every inch of line I reeled in, the giant catfish would pull out a foot more.

It took twenty minutes before I began to make progress with the beast. At this point my arms felt ready to fall off, so I handed the rod to John to have a go at it. He had let me play a fish he had hooked a short time earlier, and I needed the help.

He set to pumping the cheap Thai rod high in the air, then steadily lowering the rod, reeling in the slack as he went.

Ten minutes later the rod was back in

my hands. John was spent.

“At’s a big fish,” he said confidently.

“She ain’t given up easy.”

He was right. The fish was not going to leave it’s watery lair willingly. And we didn’t see its silver head break the surface of the water for another five minutes.

When it did our assumptions were confirmed. I had hooked a big one.

I had heard stories that catfish in this region of the world, specifically the Mekong Catfish, can grow well upwards of 200 pounds. Although, I was certain the fish was not that large.

Regardless, I was having fun.

And, as the clock approached the 45-minute mark, the fish was brought onto shore.

John, along with a small Thai man, ran to the murky water’s edge and grabbed hold of the monstrous fish. They pulled the catfish onto the dry, brown earth by the waters edge and I set my rod down by my chair.

“Haha!” exclaimed John, “you got’em!

“Would you just look at the size of this thing! It oughta be 50 pounds strong!”

I ran to my backpack to grab my camera, this was something I simply had to have a photo of. John snatched the camera from me and told me with a laugh to hold the fish up. That wasn’t happening. I tried.

The Brit snapped a few photos of the beast and me, and a moment later I slid the fish back into the greenish water and out of the blistering Chiang Mai heat.

I have always been an avid fisherman, and anyone who shares my passion and finds himself or herself in northern Thailand should definitely make an effort to catch one of these monster catfish.

Exclusive Online Content

Brendan Tyndall’s article on Sodexo vs. Grassroots Jared Vaillancourt’s Latest Shifting Ice chapter Matthew Bossons’ blogged Travel Adventures

runnermag.ca

PROCRASTINATION

www.runnermag.ca | The Runner

STARS

vol. 4 issue 05 | November 08 2011 | page fifteen

SQUEALIN’ JIMMY - DINGER.CA

SCORPIO Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

Give encouragement to the hopeless dregs that idolize you.

Try to answer every phone call before the first ring finishes. Success will follow.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Name your sexual organs after old-time TV characters.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

SMART ZONE

What you see as a talent, others see as a sign of weakness.

CANCER June 21 - july 23

You’re not the only one depressed by your failures.

Truth may be perception, but you’re just a freaking liar.

AQUARIUS Jan. 21 - Feb 19

A drinking problem would make you more interesting.

PISCES Feb. 20 - March 20

LEO July 24 - Aug. 23

That favourite coworker of yours secretly hates you.

(CUP) — Puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com.

Used with permission.

VIRGO Aug. 24 - Sept. 23

Your aura is dim. Have it checked.

Eat out more, but eat less when you’re out.

ARIES March 21 - April 19 There are bodies in your trunk.

LIBRA Sept. 24 - Oct. 23 The police are listening.

Across 1- Winglike parts; 5- Actual; 9- Exile isle; 13Pelvic bones; 15- As a result; 16- Bottom of the barrel; 17- _ nous; 18- Carson’s predecessor; 19- Hard to hold; 20- Summer drink; 21- Civil disturbance; 23- Pamper; 25- Cushions; 26- Birthplace of St. Francis; 27- Plant-eating aquatic mammal; 30- Howe’er; 31- Long for; 32- Esemplastic; 37- Apex, pinnacle; 38- Camera setting; 40- Zeno’s home; 41- Antidote; 43- Dens; 44- Hit sign; 45- Ancient Egyptian king; 47- Yellowish color; 50- Belonging to us; 51- Surroundings; 52- Capital of the Ukraine; 53- Cad or heel; 56- Getting _ years; 57- Masked critter; 59From the beginning: Lat.; 61- Prison; 62- Romance novelist Victoria; 63- Alleviates; 64- Compassionate; 65- Epic narrative poem; 66- Hang around;

Down 1- Between ports; 2- Ground; 3- Entr’ _ ; 4- Be human; 5- Sleep; 6- Part of Q.E.D.; 7- Turkish title; 8- “Your _ “; said to a British judge; 9- Nicholas Gage book; 10- City in West Yorkshire; 11- Attorney Melvin; 12- _ sow, so shall...; 14- Add fizz; 22- Chemical ending; 24- Beginning; 25- Street machine; 26- _ extra cost; 27- Future doc’s exam; 28Flatfoot’s lack; 29- Appoint; 32- “Respect for Acting” author Hagen; 33- A long time; 34- Bones found in the hip; 35- Emperor of Rome 54-68; 36- Deep cut; 38- Fierce; 39- Flat-bottomed boat; 42- Archipelago part; 43- Immature insects; 45- Indicates a direction; 46- Color; 47- Biblical mount; 48- Set straight; 49- Covered on the inside; 51- Deride; 52- Serbian folk dance; 53- Damage, so to speak; 54- Eye layer; 55- Cheerful; 58- Alley _ ; 60- _ -relief;

page sixteen | November 08 2011 | vol. 4 issue 5

ADVERTISEMENT

The Runner | www.runnermag.ca