Travis Magazine Vol. 4 Issue 6 by Josiah Gordon

WHAT’S NEXT

IN ART, FASHION, ENTERTAINMENT AND THIS MAGAZINE...

volume 4 • issue 6

AD ·TRAVIS WANTS YOU · · AND YOUR GRAPHIC DESIGN SKILLS · Send your best work to josiah.gordon1@sheridanc.on.ca Low resolution PDFs or JPEGs - Maximum 10 images

volume four – issue six – april 2010 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief

DESIGN Creative Director

Sheridan Student Union Inc. www.sheridanstudentunion.com

Ryan Bolton ryan.bolton@sheridanc.on.ca

Josiah Gordon josiah.gordon1@sheridanc.on.ca

PRINTER Chris Beetham

Editor at Large

Designers

Michael Burton michael.burton2@sheridanc.on.ca

Holly Doucette Tyler Doupe Mike Luciani Josiah Gordon Satesh Mistry Steve Sills

PUBLISHING Publisher

ADVERTISING & SALES Sales Team

Writers Ryan Bolton Michael Burton Blake Dillon Tyler Doupe Andre Guindi Anum Khan Jenn Mcbride Bryan Myers Richard Paul Marco Pelayo James Rubec G.P. Testa

Chuck Erman Josiah Gordon

EVENTS AND MUSIC COORDINATOR Chuck Erman

SPECIAL THANKS Clemente Botelho Dorthy Domba Rex Goudie Lawrence Hill Jamie Owen

Photographers Kevin Bryan Luis Mora

Illustrators Andre Guindi Satesh Mistry

Travis Online Ryan Bolton Michael Burton Blake Dillon Andre Guindi

CONTRIBUTORS

Holly Doucette

Mike Luciani

Jenn Mcbride

Kevin Bryan

Anum Khan

Design and adventure is the name of Holly’s game. What’s next for her? Well, graduation from Sheridan’s BAA technical and scientific illustration program. Then she’s off to face reality by pursuing a career in design. The journey from here is unknown, yet brimming with possibility as Holly heads to Spain. Having worked as a designer with the magazine for two years, we will all miss her. Story continued on p.56

Mike lives in Mississauga with his parents, dog and Malabar chestnut (money tree). He’s a graphic designer for Loblaw Brands limited, specializing in control brand packaging. A veteran designer with TRAVIS, Mike has been an asset to the team. If you’ve ever picked up a TRAVIS issue, you’ve seen his work. Mike designed the President Zabudsky spread for this issue. Story continued on p.20

After three years of drifting from program to program, Jenn finally landed in print journalism. She thrives in the presence and awkwardness of writers. When all this is over, she wants to work for a magazine, location to be determined. She’s a multi-tasker, so she’s thinking of writing a book, too. Because, why not? Jenn’s got some big plans ahead. For now, she wrote our student profile on Anna Lehman. Story continued on p.16

As a photographer for TRAVIS, Kevin Bryan has photographed a large variety of people and subjects at Sheridan. Not only has Kevin acquired skills that he will apply in his second year of applied photography, but also a gateway into what could certainly be a fine career in photojournalism, which can be displayed at kevinbryan.com. He again looks forward to being a part of the TRAVIS team in the coming school year. For this issue, Kevin photographed, well, a lot.

This year, Anum was the one to give you the details on trendy accessories and seasonappropriate cosmetics. She is currently working as an editorial intern with the Mississauga News, contributing to its arts and entertainment section. After graduating from the print journalism program, Anum will freelance for publications across the GTA. Here, Anum writes about the next ‘it’ fashion for women. Story continued on p.52

Photography on p.20

To contribute to travis please e-mail josiah.gordon1@sheridanc.on.ca. Merci.

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CONTENTS issue six Man, we’re at the end of the school year. What a solid year for this puppy we all call TRAVIS. Thanks to everyone that contributed—there’s way too many people to name. But really, it’s you that makes this magazine somewhat cool. We’re getting sentimental so we’ll leave it at that. Flip the page to find out what’s next in your life.

GADGETS

“Who The hell is?

words on culture

by andre guindi

by blake dillon

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by james rubec

WHAT’S NEXT

IN ART, FASHION, ENTERTAINMENT AND THIS MAGAZINE...

volume 4 • issue 6

cover story

STUDENT PROFILE

ongoing story

Congratulations to Nikola Odic. His image was chosen out of the 120 images submitted for this year’s Art Showcase. Nikola walks away with $200 and bragging rights. A great way to end the year one presumes. Out of all the submitted artwork, this image would not leave our heads. We have no idea what it’s about. Sometimes it’s nice to just leave it at that.

Illustration BY:Nikola Odic DESIGN BY: MIKE LUCIANI

by clemente botelho

by jenn mcbride

by blake dillon

Street fashion

President Jeff Zabudsky by michael burton

EDITOR’S RANT Introductory Diatribe

photograph by steve sills / kevin bryan

follow ryan on twitter at: twitter.com/travismag

Just In Case You Didn’t Know 1. lament [lament] verb to feel or express sorrow or regret for: to lament his absence 2. dolt [dohlt] noun a dull, stupid person; blockhead 3. Nostradamus [nos-truh-dey-muhs] name Michel de Nostredame, French physician and astrologer who wrote Centuries (1555), a book of prophecies

here are a number of routes I could take here. I could wax nostalgic. I could go get all philosophical and up my own ass. I could lament and expose. Truth is, I’m not sure how to sum up this issue. Or this magazine for the past couple of years. It’s damn hard. Of course I need to thank the Sheridan Student Union. It’s unbelievable that they have continued to give us full creative freedom on this student-run publication. To allow students to steer such an important vehicle and give a voice to the student body is unheard of. It doesn’t happen all too often. I, personally, have learned a lot from TRAVIS. This magazine has taught me more than the Internet has. This magazine has become part of me, part of my being, part of my identity. This magazine has cemented my desire in pursuing the badgershit-crazy world of magazines. This magazine has welcomed me to the strange and wonderful world of wicked-talented designers, illustrators, writers, photographers and helpless dolts. This magazine has literally made me bleed, cry and vomit. This magazine has been recognized on a national playing field—and on Wikipedia. This magazine has actually had more than 24 people read it. And this column alone broke the news to my parents that I crashed my red sports car. And that I wasn’t a virgin. I owe you one, TRAVIS. It’s with looking down the bumpy road of the future that we put together the What’s Next issue. As technology pushes forth at a headache-producing speed, what’s next with Google? As Avatar easily became the top-grossing flick ever and revolutionized the way we’re entertained, what’s next in movies? As Lady Gaga continues to wear cigarette-burning sunglasses and redefine clothing, what’s next in fashion? As Dr. Jeff Zabudsky takes the throne, what’s next for Sheridan? And as you graduate, leaving Sheridan’s training wheels behind, what’s next for you, dear TRAVIS reader? Doesn’t matter, you have a Sheridan diploma in your paws. Allow me to pinch your cheek and say, “You’ll be just fine.” Truth is, I don’t freakin’ know what’s next for this magazine. I’m no Nostradumas. Hell, I don’t know what’s next for me. (I do know that fame and David Duchovny-like status is in the cards, though. That much is clear.) I have a shitload of hopes for TRAVIS, of course. I hope that I continue to be involved with this art collective in some manner. I hope that more students note TRAVIS’ importance and continue to write polemics and paint the president’s face blue. I hope that it continues to grow, get better and push the envelope on what is expected from a “student-run” publication. Well, I know that last point is going to happen. But that’s all I got. So, you tell me, what’s next? Until next time, Sheridan,

4. polemics [puh-lem-iks] noun the art or practice of disputation or controversy: a master of polemics

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sound check

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE WORLD OF EAR CANDY

Amy Winehouse Album Title: TBA

Interpol Album Title: TBA

Lupe Fiasco Lasers

Late 2010

Sometime in 2010

Spring 2010

North Londoner and paparazzi-fodder, Amy Winehouse burst into prominence with her universally acclaimed multiplatinum-selling record, Back to Black. The album was powered by a stunning array of loosely strung, funk-infected joints including “Rehab,” “You Know I’m No Good” and “Me and Mr. Jones.” The album won countless awards, including five Grammy statues. Today, Winehouse is working on ideas for her third album, which is rumoured to release later this year. We don’t know yet how the songs will sound. But, possibly, it will once again make the world sit up and listen. Or maybe the drugs will have pushed her past her prime. It’s a coin toss.

Lupe Fiasco is retiring. When it comes to MCs, though, I am never clear what that means. (Note: Jay-Z, Eminem.) However, it has been made very clear that this retirement will coincide with the release of his third album. (Do you remember The Cool from 2007? Don’t worry, no one does). Soundtrakk is rumoured to be back onboard as producer, and Fiasco is trying to grab guest spots from Kid Cudi and Bun B. Several tracks have already leaked, or been performed live, but that’s not necessarily a clear indicator of the Laser’s sound. The project started out as a 3-CD set, so it is likely that it has been trimmed from 240 minutes of music.

Arcade Fire Album Title: TBA

N.E.R.D. Instant Gratification

Fleet Foxes Album Title: TBA

Summer 2010

Sometime in 2010

Summer 2010

This small indie army has been fairly static since Neon Bible was released in 2007. A concert-film of that album’s supporting tour, a re-recording of “Wake Up” for the Where the Wild Things Are trailer, and a whole lot of concerts, but nothing really new. This is sad because we all fell in love with the infectious all-star debut from these Montrealers’, Funeral. Luckily, the three years they’ve been taking between albums is up. Arcade Fire has been working for the past eight months with Markus Dravs (great résumé: Neon Bible, Bjork’s Homogenic and Coldplay’s Viva la Vida) on their newest effort due out this summer. They’re also set to headline big-time festivals like the Reading and Leeding Festival. But that’s in England. Sad face.

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Interpol is slated to release a new album this year. Some people probably care about that; I, unfortunately, do not. When they marched out of New York in 2002, Interpol was genuinely exciting. The albums they made in the following years, however, continually lowered the bar. Interpol has stated that their new album will be a return to their debut, Turn On the Bright Lights. This can mean two things: A set of similar sounds, atmosphere, and any other superficial trappings that first album had. Or an album of strong, unified songs, each a necessary part of the whole. Let’s hope for the latter. Turn the bright lights back on, Interpol. Please.

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, alongside longtime friend and creative wunderkind, Shae, have done a lot for music over their decade-long career. Pharrell shared that their debut album In Search of… was an imaginative exploration of identities. Their second album, Fly or Die, sought out a range of genres and sounds that have influenced countless young artists. Their recent offering, Seeing Sounds grinds everything together, evoking a sound that is un-tethered by convention. With this album, who knows? The biggest news surrounding N.E.R.D’s upcoming album is the addition of female vocalist, Rhea, a Toronto-native. With Rhea’s classically-trained background, Instant Gratification is expected to be that much more genre-bending.

Robin Pecknold has been quite vocal about the Fleet Foxes follow-up to 2008’s eponymous debut. He felt their first album was a little too poppy and that the new one should be more mellow. That has me perplexed. He remarked the new album will be, “less poppy, less upbeat and more groove-based” than their previous, critically-acclaimed effort. More concretely, Pecknold is trying to record the album very quickly, hoping the urgency will contribute to the cohesiveness of the record, and produce something genuine with the flaws that will inevitably populate the songs. I don’t know if this will all turn out as planned, but he’s cited Astral Weeks as an inspiration. And, with such a well-received debut album, Fleet Foxes are the kind of band that could actually pull it off. by Tyler Doupe & Marco Pelayo

LITERARY LOVE

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE WORLD OF LITERATURE

Beatrice and Virgil Yann Martel

Ghosted Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall

Available April 6

Available April 13

Yann Martel has a knack for allegory. His debut novel, The Life of Pi—this bad boy sold seven million copies worldwide—was the story of a child on a raft with a selection of animals. His third novel, Beatrice and Virgil involves a monkey and a donkey on the crest of a man’s shirt discussing philosophy and the Holocaust. It’s kinda “out there.” Martel, a Spanish-born Canadian, writes with a vivid and colourful imagination. The names Virgil and Beatrice are borrowed from Dante’s Divine Comedy and lend a valuable inter-text to the novel. With the great surprise success of Life of Pi, which came out some eight years ago, Martel’s third novel is much anticipated within the literary world. B. M.

Mason Dubisee is at a standstill in his life. He drinks too much, gets high too often, and owes his best friend, the drug dealer, a ton of money. With such a bleak existence, along with the need to help others, Dubisee decides to make some money by ghostwriting suicide notes. However, this only creates more turmoil in his already troubled soul. Bishop-Stall has been described as an optimistic Chuck Pahlaniuk—the haunted guy that wrote Fight Club. BishopStall received various awards for his first novel, Down to This: Squalor and Splendour in a Big-City Shantytown so let’s hope we get more of the same. B. M.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest Stieg Larsson

The 9th Judgement James Patterson

Available May 25

Available April 26

We just like this title. Well, that’s a half-truth. Although best-selling author Stieg Larsson died in 2004, the Swedish journalist’s final installment of the Millenium Trilogy will be released soon enough. The series was slated to have ten books, but Larsson’s death left only three novels complete. In short, The Hornet’s Nest focuses on protagonist Lisabeth Salander awaiting the trials of three separate murders. Meanwhile co-protagonist Mikael Blomkvist works to maintain her innocence. Larsson penned the novels for pleasure while working as a journalist and began publishing them shortly before his death. Just in case you’re interested, he died of natural causes—a heart attack at the age of 50. No crazy conspiracy theories here. B. M.

James Patterson’s novels are widely regarded as thrillers, so there’s not much to add. Notably, the Morgan Freeman films, Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider were originally penned by Patterson. But back to the book. The ninth installment of the Women’s Murder Club series follows protagonist Lindsay Boxer, a detective, who is on the trail of a murderer who has killed a mother and infant as well as a famous actor’s wife. The book promises nothing profound or enlightening, but Patterson’s ability to write gripping and exciting mysteries is sufficient enough for a non-serious read. The 9th Judgement has the potential to deliver another quality thriller by Patterson. Or just another formulaic read that will be available at your closest supermarket half-price bin. B. M.

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teasers

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE WORLD OF CINEMATIC ADVENTURES

Toy Story 3

The Karate Kid

Release Date: June 18

Release Date: June 11

Anticipation:

Here comes more 3D craziness. This time

Yay! Our childhood’s return.

with toys.

It’s been too long since I’ve had the pleasure of watching a movie that featured Randy Newman on the soundtrack. There’s a sort of Twilight rivalry going on between Buzz and Woody in this new installment of Toy Story. I’ve always been undecided. Team Buzz argues cool gadgets, but behind the façade is Tim the Tool Man (Tim Allen). Team Woody has less fancy gadgetry, but makes up for it with heart and Tom Hanks. Pixar’s Oscar-winning reputation is only boosted by Toy Story’s animated excellence—and this time it’s in 3D. It’s been a solid decade since Toy Story 2, so let’s make way for the new addition as I line up with 9-year-olds. B. M.

Nothing fills me with more excitement than the word “karate” followed by “kid.” Add in Jackie followed by Chan and I’m already a little sweaty. The trailer to this childhood joyride of a film promises an hour and a half of ass-kickery interspersed with some cheap laughs. Without getting too in-depth, the movie is classic Karate Kid with a few simple details altered: California becomes China, Miyagi becomes Han, and karate becomes kung fu. Seriously. In the trailer, Han (Chan) is training the Kid (Will Smith’s son, Jaden) just like in the original nostalgic, Karate Kid, and he commands him to “Jacket off.” I spit milk and Fruit Loops all over my keyboard at this point. I just hope Cobra Kai makes an appearance. B. M.

The A-Team

Twilight: Eclipse

Release Date: June 11

Release Date: June 30

Anticipation:

Oh, hells yeah!

Here we go again. Nothing we can do to stop this.

When I was growing up, my uncle had A-Team bedsheets. I always thought they were pretty awesome and held some sort of quiet respect of Mr. T and the delicate art of fool-pitying. This film has been in development since the mid-90s, which suggests to me that this could be bigger than Avatar. (Yeah, I said it. Want to fight about it?) Liam Neeson (Taken) and Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) are the biggest names on the marquee, however, something tells me that the original Bad Attitude Baracus will make a cameo. Baracus’ Wikipedia entry reveals that character depth was taken very seriously in the ‘80s. If The A-Team lives up to the standard of campy remakes, you can expect a decrease in jibba-jabba worldwide. B. M.

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I can’t say I’ve really followed Twilight too closely. I’ve heard about it incessantly, of course, but never “indulged”—I think this is the right word. I know it has something to do with sparkling vampires, not wearing a shirt and some wolfboy character. Now onto the third installment of this strange teen fantasy world, but I think most people are more excited about the final chapter. You know, where Bella births some sort of alien vampire baby that starts eating her from the inside and then that werewolf boy rescues her or the baby or something, and then he falls in love with the demon baby. Apparently, there’s a quote-unquote steamy scene involving a sleeping bag in this one. That sounds, er, romantic? Erotic? Uncomfortable? Guys, take notes, impressing girls is as easy as being pale, aloof and using a sleeping bag erotically. What the hell. B. M.

waste time

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE WORLD OF VIDEO GAMES

Demon’s Souls 2010

Halo: Reach 2010

Heavy Rain 2010

Demon’s Souls is hard—like controller-throwing hard. First of all, you can’t pause. No matter who’s on the phone or who’s at the door, you’re not going anywhere. Real gamers have no friends, I guess. But that’s not all—not even close. There are no save points, so when you die, you’re sent all the way back to the beginning and all of the enemies re-spawn. If that’s not bad enough, each time you die, you return to life with only a half bar of health. The only way to get the full bar back is to play through an entire level and defeat the seemingly impossible boss at the end. A game that takes your health away and tells you that you can only have it back when you prove that you don’t need it, is a game that doesn’t mess around. That was a mouthful. In layman’s terms, Demon’s Souls will kick your ass. And it won’t be polite about it either. B. D.

Halo: Reach is the prequel to the legendry first-person shooter saga, Halo. In this new outing, (new as in the year 2552) you’ll be taking control of an all-new character, a Spartan-III. He is a member of the Nobel Six, a squad dedicated to fighting covenant forces on planet Reach. To answer the question that you’re all about to ask—no, you will not play as the Master Chief. It’s okay though; the new guy is badass, too. Not much else I can say here, you’re going to pick up the game no matter what. It should be out this fall. This is going to be epic. B. D.

Today’s forecast: Heavy Rain. The most important and intriguing part of this game is definitely its story. Without ruining anything, it’s difficult to say why. But, in a nutshell, it is a dramatic thriller that is centred around the lives of four people that get involved with the mystery of the Origami Killer. He’s a murderer who uses extended periods of rainfall to drown his victims. Weird? You could say that, but really, you don’t know the half of it. Each decision or action that your characters make will affect the outcome of the game in a different way. Neat, eh?—a game that never ends the same way. B. D.

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tech’d out

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE WORLD OF GADGETS

TRAVIS predicts Everyone will have a jet pack. Seriously. James Bond had one. Boba Fett had one. Soon, we’ll all have one. Hurray. Video games will play you. Artificial intelligence is becoming so advanced, games will be able to adapt to the player and think before we do. Microsoft and Apple will combine into one super company in their megalomaniacal ambitions. This will be futile, though, as Google will consume them whole. Space colonies. Astronauts live in space stations now and space tourism will be sky rocketing in no time (pun definitely intended). Holograms. George Lucas-styled portable holograms will be an everyday essential aspect of future technology. Wii Bowling will never be the same.

GOOGLE NEXUS ONE $530 Odds are you’re no longer clenching onto that prehistoric RAZR. Odds are you are well aware that cellular telephones have evolved at rates so accelerated it would make Darwin throw-up all over his trousers. And odds are your celly is currently loaded with apps that allow you to do anything from finding parking spots in your urban surroundings to popping virtual bubble wrap. So what makes Google’s Nexus One so darn significant? Besides eerie foreshadowing of being an android named Nexus that would give Harrison Ford the heebee jeebees (that’s a Blade Runner reference), Google is slowly amassing the planet’s industries like The Tyrell Corporation (again, Blade Runner). This phone’s greatest feature is its advancements in voice recognition; you can say what you would normally type. Speech works while searching the web, using maps, even writing e-mails—what keyboard? And if you still think this is “just a phone” by Google, every time someone makes an obscure reference to a Sci-Fi flick (say, Blade Runner) odds are, you’ll Google it. A.G.

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by andre guindi | illustrations by satesh mistry

MICROSOFT SURFACE $12,500 There is nothing more amusing than corporate one-upmanship. So what if Apple just released its offensively larger version of the iPhone, the iPad? Microsoft’s tenacity has shepherded us to a revolutionary new way of interacting with computers, and more extraordinarily, how computers interact with us. Advancements everywhere seem to be making similar strides to eliminate tangible portions of a computer like your mouse and keyboard, but what’s really avant-garde about the Microsoft Surface is its ability to recognize objects you place on it. Keep your USB plugs and cables at home; put your phone, camera or mp3 player on the Surface to wirelessly sync contacts, photos and music just by waving your hands across the multi-touch receptive screen. Today, we have a computer on every desktop. Tomorrow, every desktop will be a computer. And you won’t even need those stupid-looking gloves à la Minority Report. A.G.

SONY 3D TV $3,500 - $6,500 You did it. You purchased your tickets days in advance, arrived at the cinema early and waited in line so you could sit elbow-to-elbow in a soldout theatre just so you can witness the spectacle that is Avatar. Despite the fact that you’ve essentially absorbed Pocahontas in space with the U.S. Army, the technological impact this film has on the way we think about entertainment is immeasurable. Hand it to Sony to take that magical experience and bring it into the comfort of your home. Not only does Sony prophesize about giving you that three-dimensional experience with Blu-ray’s, they claim incorporating it with your TV, VIAO computer and PlayStation 3. Your peripherals will have you dodging cadavers as you slash away at deities playing God of War, but this also means your little sister will be reaching for the screen to touch her beloved glittery Edward. A.G.

THE LOOKING GLASS Concept Sure, technology rocks. Yet multiple corporations working exclusively to be the vanguard of the future is intense. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was one device that incorporated the object recognition of the aforementioned Microsoft Surface, wirelessly transfered digital content from any gadget you can get your mitts on and utilize voice recognition? What if this portmanteau of a contraption could search the Internet by simply being held up to an object? Or give us the nutritional value—or lack thereof—of that Big Mac just by holding this miraculous device to it? Yeah, it sounds like something out of a H.G. Wells novel, but award-winning designer Mac Funamizu is working on bringing this fiction to reality. A.G.

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Where Have You Been, Rex Goudie? ON WHAT’S NEXT by ryan bolton

Rex was the runner-up on Canadian Idol a little while back. He quickly joined Kalan Porter and Jacob Hoggard as Idol alum that made a name for themselves. After recently getting back from Afghanistan where he performed for the troops, Rex is ready to head back to the studio to work on his next album. Here’s what the quick-talking Rex Goudie is up to. 14 travismag.com

TRAVIS: Let’s begin, Rex. What’s next? Rex: I finally got approved for Factor funding. And now, to be honest with you, as soon as the JUNO’s are over, I’m in the studio and recording the next record. Well, the JUNO’s are actually back home for you in Newfoundland this year, right? Yeah, I’m actually looking forward to it. There will probably be a couple nights a lot of people won’t remember, but definitely won’t forget. Right on. Going back to that, it’s actually been four years since your last album. You said you’re going to get back in the studio, so this new record is what’s next then? Yeah, that’s the next big thing for me. For the last three years, I’ve been writing songs for this thing. I figure I’ll keep the best and I’m just going to go for it with a full head of steam.

And what should we expect from this record? It’s a little bit all over the place as I’ve been writing different things in the last three years. But regardless, it’s going to be me. I wrote everything on it besides two songs. I mean, co-wrote or wrote. And I’m really excited for it. I released a single called “Undone” this [past] summer, just to test the waters with my writing. And I was lucky enough for it to hit No. 1 on the east coast. That’s a little kick in the pants to go and make a record. Let’s go back to the past. How did your showcase go at Canadian Music Week recently? I loved it. We did a little acoustic thing at the Hard Rock Café. I just like to say that I played at the Hard Rock Café. It’s cool that it’s at Yonge-Dundas square or whatever, but to say I played the Hard Rock Café, I love that. That show went over really well. I was surprised. After coming back from Afghanistan my voice was doing things that I didn’t want it to. I kept hacking up sand and whatnot. But I was happy to play well. That’s a good segue there with Afghanistan. A big part of what you recently have done was over in Afghanistan. What happened there and how did to go? It was definitely the deepest experience I have ever had in my life to go over there and play for the troops. I can’t really say where I played exactly or someone will show up and kill me, but things are different there. We actually got into the base and talked with the soldiers—that was the most fun for me. Just having a new face over there that they can talk to makes it good for them. I got a good chance to see what they do building the bases, working with the Afghanis to help rebuild their country in their own way. That was pretty surreal. I got a chance to sit down and talk with a few Afghanis with the translators. The heart and soul of the country is on you. I mean, the patriotism is great as they are risking their lives every day just to help save their country. Well, on the what’s next theme, and talking about Afghanistan, in your opinion and what you saw, what is next for over there? It’s a bit of a somber mood. People that are directly on base don’t go out and service the forward operating bases. Because really it’s a dust cloud and the air is 70 per cent fecal matter. They’re burning camel dung over there, the Afghan Nationals. Areas that are so mountainous, places like Kabul, and

you’re in a bowl and this cloud of—for lack of a better word—shit-smoke is just hovering around. And it never moves because there’s no wind. But the people that are working on the forward operating bases, they want to help out in more ways. But it is going really well, according to the soldiers. Well, looking back at Rex Goudie, tell us something that no one knows about you. Oh boy. [Pause]. I guess what I could tell you is that I recently took up curling. I started dating a girl from St. John’s who is a curler; she curled in the world cup for a few years. I’ve kind of taken a fascination with it. It’s not so easy as it looks. It’s a hell of a lot of fun, though. Let’s go back to Canadian Idol. Some Canadian Idol contestants get out there and make a name for themselves. Kalan Porter did, for instance. But what’s the main difference between you and Jacob Hoggard of Hedley? Well, for one, he’s got a lot of money behind him. He’s got Universal Music behind him— good for him, though. And they have a good sound, you can’t complain with that. I think the difference is my attitude towards music. I’m just going to work my ass off and get as far as I possibly can. I’m not looking for fame, not looking for a fortune, I just love to do it. Know that Jake does too. But I don’t care whatever awards and stuff I get, that’s just kind of a bonus. As long as I’m making a living making music, I’ll be the happiest guy in the world.

And as the industry moves so fast, any predictions on any up-and-coming bands that you think will break in the next year? I think Hail the Villain is going to be huge. I mean, people don’t expect me to talk about a metal band, but that band has it going. They got a lot of really great songs, they got a good management team, they got a good agent going for them. And they just have a good overall buzz. Well, I might be a little bit biased, he’s my manager too. I mean, there’s a lot of little things that are going to happen that people are going to be surprised with. I think you’re going to see a resurgence in not Queen West indie-style stuff, but you’re going to see a lot of indie rock bands pop up all over the place.

After coming back from Afghanistan my voice was doing things that I didn’t want it to. I kept hacking up sand.

Just honest music, right? Yeah, just honest Springsteen-style shit. It’s the stuff that I enjoy to make. What’s next for the music industry, man? I think very soon, well, we are already seeing it, but the decline of any CD sales and any kind of labels. It’s so easy to make music now and you can make it sound good for relatively cheap. So the big money from the labels you don’t really need. You can make a record now in a basement and it will sound just as good as if Tom Morrell produced it. You mean more singles? Yeah, I think so. I think in the next two years you’re going to see more of an emphasis put on those singles. Really, it’s a complete turnaround; because that’s the way it was back in the ’60s. There was no one that was releasing 13-song albums on little 38s and 45s. You made one or two songs per side and that was it.

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WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEXT FOR TRAVIS?

Mike Burton sits down with Ryan Bolton and Steve Sills to talk shop photography by kevin bryan / interview by michael burton

left: steve sills

right: ryan bolton

aving been around for five years now, TRAVIS has become a staple at Sheridan. With countless people contributing to the publication over said years, we look to the future by talking with the two guys that tirelessly pushed it forward. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a conversation with Ryan Bolton, the editor, and Steve Sills, the creative director, about the past, present and yeah, the future of this magazine.

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“WHEN WE STARTED THIS THING, A LOT OF PEOPLE DOUBTED ME, SAYING STUDENTS WOULDN’T GIVE A SHIT.” - steve sills, creative director

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“YOU CAN’T CREATE A MOVEMENT WITHOUT PISSING SOME PEOPLE OFF.” - steve sills, creative director

So, what’s next for TRAVIS Magazine? Bolton: What an appropriate question. Well, TRAVIS will live on as a part of this college’s culture and within the social fabric of this school. TRAVIS has been a part of my life for the past three years and I hope it continues to be an essential part of this school.

passion, the one thing that you’re actually proud of at the end of the day. And no matter what happens to this magazine, there will always be kids out there that will keep it going, because they care about it. It’s more than caring, its part of their lifeblood, because it does affect people.

I like how you used the words “social fabric.” Fancy. Sills, same question. Sills: I hope to be a part of this magazine down the line. For me, I want to see TRAVIS exploring different things, and just have a lot of fun with the magazine. Maybe try some things that the Internet really can’t do, and take advantage of this print medium. I want to add more students to the magazine and have more of our content student driven and keep on showcasing students. Also, I’d like to see TRAVIS have more of a web presence.

S: When we started this thing, a lot of people doubted me, saying students wouldn’t give a shit. Back then there was only three of us. And then all of a sudden you take all these like-minded people and jam them together with this vision and goal. And you give something to a student that connects our community. Not many schools have that. I think the beauty of this magazine is that it brings all these social groups together. And I hope this magazine continues. I hope the Student Union keeps pushing it to be that medium that draws everyone together. You have to get involved; I owe every opportunity in my life to getting involved in TRAVIS.

How long have you been involved with the magazine? S: Five years. Yeah, ever since the two journalism students started it. But back then it was more of a newsletter. Favourite magazine? B: Esquire. S: IDN (International Design Network).

B: There needs to be a shout-out to the Student Union, because they are the ones that let a bunch of creatives run wild without any sort of agenda behind it, and create something about student life. We’re really grateful. We had freedom. That ability to create something untarnished is a blessing.

Bolton, tell me about the first time you and Sills met. B: Wow. S: It’s like listening to The Beatles. B: Well, I looked like Dallas Green. S: You still do. B: It was in Steve’s office. He screwed up on my article in one of the issues three years ago. So I went in and we sat down and talked. It was mainly Steve apologizing at first. And then we clicked. We hit it off with that three-hour discussion. S: And our hearts connected.

What do you want students to take away from the magazine? S: The goal really is to keep everyone entertained and informed—to keep people engaged in the Sheridan community. It’s so easy to show up every day, go to class, and go home and just not give a shit about anything else in your community. We’re all distracted by everything, and we are all just so busy, but yet were on Facebook three hours a day. But to actually be a part of something bigger, that is what’s important. This magazine is open to anybody, you could be in music theater and want to contribute, and we will let you. I think a lot of students don’t realize this is open to everyone at Sheridan.

Steve, what did you think of Bolton on that day? S: I told him I didn’t know Dallas Green was going to walk into my office and talk about his article. After reading his piece though, I thought I made a huge mistake. It’s tough to find good writers and he seemed pretty talented. So, by slapping one of the best writers in the face, I thought he was going to come and put his foot in my ass out of anger. But it turned out to be one of the best conversations I had with a student all year.

B: I think this is kind of a lifestyle; it’s a culture magazine. A little bit of everything that we think is interesting is tossed into the folds. We want to showcase everything in our school and put together an art collective. The purpose of this magazine is that when a student picks it up, we want them to tell a friend and spread the word without shoving it down their throats. It’s almost in the same vein that social media works, but with print. If we are successful simply by using that old school style of word of mouth, then we’re happy.

Favourite book? B: Um, probably Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs. S: Tuesdays with Morrie made me love reading again.

Bolton do you have a favourite word? B: No, I’m a boy that plays with words. I just can’t pick one.

Do you have any messages you would want to give to students? B: Find that passion, that’s the one thing you have to do. It doesn’t matter what your parents say or anything like that. Just find that

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Do either of you have a favourite quote for students before we wrap up the interview? B: “You can never finish writing your own autobiography.” S: “You can’t create a movement without pissing some people off.”

by jenn mcbride, photography by kevin bryan

This young textile artist is armed with a simple, yet eccentric mantra: Re-mend, refashion and reconstruct. And here’s why that little maxim is pushing the artist into good company in the art, fashion, thrift and textile world. Welcome to Anna Lehman’s attic full of junk. The whole what-do-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up question always brings about the same response. A pucker of the lips, a twirl of the hair, a scratch of the head, followed by a low-pitched “hmm.” “A millionaire,” she says. “No, make that a billionaire.” Good enough, but here comes the real stumper: How? On the surface it looks like she’s got it all figured out. She’s got that whole blonde hair, blue eyes thing going on. She’s also equipped with a smile that I’m sure is some orthodontist’s greatest creation to date. But really, the Wasaga Beach native and soon-to-be-graduated textiles student, Anna Lehman is just as confused as the rest of us. She holds a presence in her typical student apartment. The living room is a mishmash of things she considers good finds or “purchased” with a five-finger discount. A nostalgic goody bag of secondhand whatnots twice removed, a wall-mounted fish plaque and period-inspired seating. All that’s missing are the shrink-wrapped lampshades and you’ve got yourself grandma-approved digs. She’s boastful of her latest acquisition of a four-foot wide McNugget poster from an undisclosed bus terminal. To some, this would seem like an unnecessary misdemeanor, but when you discover her love for fine crafting, you could justify such an act as simply scouting for materials. Lehman laughs it off when I ask her to define herself in one word. When I push, letting her know I’m serious, her roommate jumps in on the thought process. A word like this must not be decided in haste, apparently. “Zany” is what they come up with. “The fact that I would use the word zany to describe myself gives you a pretty good idea of who I am,” she remarks. With the basics covered, I try my hand on the topic of the future. A clichéd word that is usually answered with nothing more than a shoulder shrug. Having never met a thrift store she didn’t like, Lehman’s future in textiles will forever be closely linked to her aforementioned weakness for yard sales and 50 per cent off days at Value Village.

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“In my life, textiles and my thriftiness are interwoven. There is so much clothing out there that is considered garbage just because it has gone out of fashion. Why not create something new with it? That is my aim: Re-mend, refashion and reconstruct,” she says. “As long as it’s sanitary, or has the capability of becoming sanitary, I’ll buy it.” It’s a valiant revelation and a bandwagon motto to hop onto, indeed. It’s a sign of the times; craft is once again a trend. The reconstruction of all things vintage is what’s smizing (Tyra-talk for smiling with your eyes) its way down runways. Although Lehman admits to not following fashion trends, her creations touch on some of this season’s most popular muses: Ornamentation, military and texture. Just to verify her reduce, reuse, recycle catchphrase, she once turned paint rollers into a chandelier. Not a big surprise coming from someone who plays CDs out of a toaster. You can take that literally. “I like to take existing things and make them into something totally different from their intended use,” says Lehman on the topic. If all else fails, a career in reengineering household appliances could prove successful.

She’s the kind of girl you could imagine elbow-deep in a discount bin armed with a coupon book. And with that comes her style. She’s as fashionable as it gets, and it’s all seemingly effortless. Hanging out in her apartment, she’s sporting blue corduroy pants, a leather aviator-inspired vest, and if it weren’t for us being indoors, I imagine she would be wearing some pretty killer boots to tie it all together. Come late April, Lehman and the rest of the crafts and design crew will show off their work down the runway at Toronto Alternative Fashion Week, a show where up-and-coming designers introduce their work to buyers, fashionistas and get a little face time with the media. As a first-time designer, Lehman hopes to pique some interest in the Sheridan textiles program and fill up her own little black book with job prospects. To say she is wrapped up at the moment is an understatement. She is also preparing for her final showcase at Toronto’s underground art collective, Whippersnapper Gallery. She’s showcasing an independent installation piece combining fashion and heirlooms. “I have more hopes for future career prospects at that event. It’s more my style, combining real history with my own version. Fashion is only one route textile artists can take, and I’d rather get into gallery exhibitions,” she says referring to what she kinda, sorta, maybe wants to get into. So, while her professional future lies in a hazy state of obscurity, she’ll concentrate on something a little more of what she calls concrete. “What’s next? My dream is to find an attic full of junk. That fantasy alone defines me.” That seems about right.

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by blake dillon, photography by kevin bryan i travismag.com

Who the hell is Mountain Man? Damn, that’s a good question. Ever since the first time the TRAVIS team sat down to muse the possible candidates for our “Who The Hell Is?” segment, one name consistently arose—“Mountain Man.” It’s the friendly, somewhat true-to-life moniker that we dubbed the long, whitehaired, fully bearded, mystery man that has been roaming our hallways for many years. And damn, he’s evasive. Although everyone has caught a glimpse of him—he is hard to miss—catching up with him was tougher than expected. We have been tracking him for almost a full year now. Trouble is, we had zero information—no name, no number, no e-mail, no occupation. No nothing. If it weren’t for the random sightings, I would be convinced that he did not exist at all—a Sheridan myth, or something kinda cool like that. Well folks, as you’ve probably assumed by now, we’ve struck gold. We’ve found him. Turns out, his name isn’t quite “Mountain Man” after all. It’s a pity, really. He goes by Jamie Owen, and he is Sheridan College’s gallery designer. “You probably experienced such difficulty in finding me because I do not have a phone number or an e-mail account,” Owen said between cryptic laughs. “I like being eccentric,” he justified. Very well. I begin with a simple question that resulted in one of the most interesting conversations I’ve ever had. “Jamie Owen,” I begin. “Who the hell are you?” Owen is a Sheridan College art graduate who eventually went on to become the school’s technologist of printing. It was here that he was given the opportunity to

become the gallery designer. “Sheridan needed somebody who knew how to display work,” he said while fiddling with his X-Acto knife. “I know how and I enjoy doing so.” Make sure you caught the operative word there—enjoy. Just by sharing half an hour with Mountain Man, I got the vibe that he does, indeed, enjoy his work. He is a powerful and engaging speaker, energetic, and most of all, excited. Owen puts it best, “I’m a child with wrinkles.” His artwork is reflective of his attitude. It shows enthusiasm, it shows passion, and it shows his biting satire. He focuses on the “stupidity of our world,” critiquing topics such as pollution and violence. “I like to make people laugh with my artwork. Then, I like to make them feel guilty for laughing.” When he isn’t busy maintaining the gallery, or satirizing society, Owen has his hands full with his extra-curricular hobbies.

in art since I was really little,” says Owen. “My father took notice and asked me if I wanted to take some private landscaping and oil painting classes. From there, I developed a lot of skills to which I still use today.” At this point in his life, Owen feels that he has done “everything under the sun,” as he likes to put it. Drawing, painting, photography, illustration, animation, furniture design, ceramics, textiles. You name the art form, he’s done it. My time with Owen was winding to a close. The majority of our chat consisted of him discussing his life, interests and chosen evasiveness. However, he decided to finish on a bit of an original note. “I would just like to say that TRAVIS is a good magazine. You guys are doing great things there.” Wow. Jamie Owen, you’re making us blush. I hope this means we can continue to refer to you as Mountain Man.

You probably experienced such difficulty in finding me because I do not have a phone number or an e-mail account. “I collect things,” he says through a perpetual smile. “Do you know what Paint By Numbers is?” he asks. I nod. “Well, I have one of the largest collections in the country. I have something like 2,000 kits.” Impressed, I nod again. He also collects furniture, lamps, vacuum cleaners, vases, drapes, televisions, doors, clocks and rust. In a sense, he is his own archive. “It’s funny,” he says. “I never really look at myself as weird until I talk about my life.” We don’t find that too odd—we are an arts school after all. Peculiar, weird, strange, what-have-you is what we come to expect. Owen attributes much of his success and involvement in art to his father. It was his Dad that noticed his passion and nurtured the blossoming skill. “I have been interested

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Hey, Pres,

There’s a new sheriff in town. TRAVIS goes one-on-one with Sheridan’s head honcho, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, a.k.a. Sheridan College’s (new) President. We wanted to get a feel for Zabudsky and his future plans for our school, so we painted his face Sheridan blue. Turns out he has a lot planned—and social media has something to do with it.

What's

Next? By Michael Burton

Photos by Kevin Bryan

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offee?” she asks me. “I, uh, um, ab—” I stumble over my words, and stare back at her with a lengthy awkward silence. I call this the deer in the headlights look. “Oh, no thank you.” The receptionist just offered me coffee, but I was barely able to get a sentence out. This is going to be good, I thought to myself as I walk into a large, intimidating office. I’m nervous—I’ll just go ahead and admit this—as I’m about to sit down with the new Sheridan president, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky. I’ve never met him before. He’s only been around for a couple of weeks. But make no mistake; he’s the new sheriff in town. He’s a true Sheridan Bruin. “The president will see you now,” the receptionist says to me, probably laughing to herself. Zabudsky, a dark haired, suit-wearing man with an inviting face, takes my hand and shakes it. “Coffee?” he asks. “Oh no, thank you,” I say quickly. Maybe a little too quickly. Coffee seems to be popular in these woods. By now everyone in this office thinks I’m afraid of coffee. “So, TRAVIS Magazine,” he says, stirring his coffee. And that sets everything in motion. We begin our chat discussing his career leading up to Sheridan. Zabudsky, 46, graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism some years ago. From there, he worked in radio for 10 years at CJRT 91.1, which plays jazz and classical music. You can tell as you listen to him go on in his radiofriendly voice. He’s affable in person, hardly intimidating like his title at Sheridan might suggest. President, that is. Throughout his radio career, Zadusky worked heavily with college-produced radio programs that focused on distance education. He helped create the materials to complement distance learning back in the day. He’s been involved with out-of-classroom learning since the start. Before the Internet, before all those fancy bells and whistles were put on your MacBook. Back when distance education utilized the radio and when materials were sent out in the mail. Over his career, Zabudsky saw every corner of Canada. He worked in Nova Scotia as a distance education specialist. He was vice-

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president of academics at Sault College in northern Ontario. Then onto president of Red River College in Winnipeg. A post he gave up in January to take the reigns at Sheridan. “I think Sheridan is lucky to have him,” Catherine Rushton says, now interim president and CEO of Red River College. “Here, he was very good at linking the college to the

If you don't test yourself, you won't know what you love

community and increasing the college’s profile with the city of Winnipeg. He’s extremely energetic, personable, dynamic, positive and very committed to college education. He will bring all those things to the table.” Along with all his experience, Zabudsky also brings a healthy dose of know-how with his Ph.D in educational policy studies from the University of Alberta. “You learn different perspectives on things,” Zabudsky says, reflecting on his travels across Canada. “Different ways of looking at the world, different provinces do different things with education. You learn from it. It was a great experience. But it’s nice to come home.” Zabudsky is home—his family lives in southern Ontario—and was blown away by the warm embrace from the Sheridan community. Signs were draped across both campuses welcoming him to his new stomping grounds. Not bad for his first day on the job. “Sheridan has a fine reputation, not just in Ontario, but right across the country,” he says through a smile. “I wouldn’t have come back to Ontario to just any college. It had to be the right place. I’ve come to many new jobs, and I really have a feeling that this is the perfect place for me, at the perfect time of my career.” So the big question, which he must have anticipated: What’s next for Sheridan? Upfront, it sounds like Zabudsky has quite a plan. “Sheridan will be a much larger institution in the coming years,” he says first in the macro sense. “We’ve got to grow.” With the addition of the downtown Mississauga campus, Sheridan is going to get bigger, more diverse in both its programs and students. There will also be demographic changes as Sheridan is seeing an aging

student body. There will be more programs offered, particularly more degrees. Students will be continually integrated into the workforce and there will be more applied research. Distance education is a big point in Zabudsky’s strategic plan for Sheridan. There will be more of it. He also plans to make it more effective for as many prospective students as possible. “I want this organization to be one of the leading edge technological facilities in Canada. I need to set that compass and say that’s the direction we’re going in,” he says. “You can’t have good education without a good teacher,” Zabudsky further notes. “People think you can take materials, put them online and suddenly you don’t need a teacher anymore. Nothing can be further from the truth. Good education to me is about a strong relationship between faculty and students. Everyone who recalls the best experiences in their education was about those interactions between the teacher and the student.” Zabudsky faces a big challenge ahead of him—students are becoming even more integrated into social networking tools. We, students, are a complicated breed, but we are the future regardless of how distracted and networked we are. “I think there is something to be said for the multi-tasking nature of today’s emerging students. Technology can be a distraction, but we have to figure out together—faculty and students—how we make this new world of technology work,” Zabudsky notes. Yup, we’re talking about the lovely world of Facebook. We’re talking about how students can’t seem to get through a lecture without doubleclicking their news feed. But I’m only basing this on personal experience.

So what’s the answer? We can’t close the laptops—we paid for this technology; it’s integrated into our learning. Are we really learning as we Tweet, Stumble and update? “There’s a certain point when you’re not learning, just because there is so much going on,” Zabudsky admits. “I think people who grew up without technology are pretty linear in our thinking.” “We have to acknowledge that technology may have changed how people are learning. It’s a bit of give and take with the traditional faculty saying, ‘This is how you learn.’ But we have to adapt to how the next generation learns.” It’s all about the big picture. By working with technology and things like Skype and Facebook, Sheridan’s learning experience will become even stronger, even more current. “Students are going to be solving problems of tomorrow. That’s going to be a big deal and we need to work together. We will be viewed across the country as a leader with technology. We will be innovative and looked upon as an institution by industries that want to work with Sheridan.” A scary thought, graduation. Growing up, getting a job, entering “the industry.” But that’s Zabudsky’s aim; to make it an easy, successful transition into the workforce. But just in case, he has some advice to spread as graduation looms for much of the student body. “Follow your passion,” Zabudsky says. “Say yes to everything, get as many experiences as possible. Embrace everything. Immerse yourself, run for student government and get involved.” This isn’t the first time someone suggested that I say yes to everything. It’s good advice. “If you don’t test yourself, you won’t know what you’ll love.” t

THE CLASSROOM GETS A

SECOND LIFE by richard paul

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In the near future, classrooms will be seeing a world of change. Simulation programs like Second Life are already being viewed as promising teaching tools. Here’s where video games meet the classroom. or too long I have been waiting for my Jetsons’ car or my personal android. Here it is, the 21st century, and I have observed 3D technology change the way we view the world. We don’t have to dream about Star Trek anymore—it’s pretty much here in various forms minus the light speed. Everyone has a Captain Kirk communicator, or some kind of sci-fi data device for keeping themselves up to speed. (See: smartphone). And now the classroom itself is going the way of virtual video games. Enter Wendi Jollymore, a professor from Sheridan’s Applied Computing and Engineering Sciences department, who started to talk about Second Life in class. Originally, I thought, Yeah, yeah… just another one of those silly little computer games that eats up all my time. My perception was that this was another fad to herd others onto a train called The Future. As I learned about Second Life, I came to realize the classroom of the future is going to surround more simulation in lieu of physical interaction. This could represent significant cost savings over traditional resources. Pretty hard to build a physical bridge as a school project, but as a simulation, it becomes feasible. Jollymore, the driving force behind Sheridan’s Second Life project, puts it best, “Even people in the tech field can be reluctant to change. My colleagues have either been skeptical of the ability of Second Life to improve upon or enhance the learning experience or they're just too busy to participate. I've always believed that when you're passionate about something, you'll find the time for it. So I find the time for Second Life. The challenge is to get others to find the passion in it also.” With passion glaring, Jollymore has been using Second Life to create scenarios and presenting them to the school’s faculty and management. She’s also showing how other institutions are already implementing such teaching methods. She wants them to be jealous. To feel behind the curve. Jollymore is making progress within the school and turning some heads. “It must be working. We now have our own region and I don't have to pay for the mainland anymore.” I learned you can buy, sell, work and play in this virtual community. To do this, you can rez (a slang term for create) 3D shapes called primitives (prims for short) and animate them using software scripts. The in-world building tools are limited, but there are free third-party software tools like Tatara and Rokuro that

allow you to create complicated prims called “Sculpties.” Essentially, you can build your own mini-world using this software. As time passes, I can see how this technology can be used as a tool to engage students. Matthew, a colleague of mine, expressed his thoughts this way: “I feel that Second Life has potential to educate and maybe make certain information available in a way that has usually fallen on deaf ears. That being said, Second Life is probably going to end up a timewaster much like most software ideas.” I contemplated this perspective. Is Second Life doomed to be another fad? I caught up with Sheridan professor, Dan Zen, who coordinates the curriculum for IMM (interactive multimedia) and is known for his innovative thinking. He knows what he’s doing. In 2008, Zen was awarded Educator of the Year at the Canadian New Media Awards for his work with gesture technology and interactive surfaces. On virtual classrooms, he says: “Sheridan now has its own island in Second Life and I would encourage all Sheridan students and staff to enter this new world. Think of it like you would have an opportunity to go to the moon. Virtual worlds will become very important in the future. Be a pioneer, come to our island in this new world.” After I introduced myself to Second Life, I realized this wasn’t so much a game as a means to connect with others in a whole virtual world. In that sense, Jollymore’s aim is to use all effective methods to bring Sheridan’s campuses together into a single collective that can share, teach and inspire. Second Life makes virtual classrooms available now. Today, Sheridan is looking at simulation tools, which will open up a whole new way to impart knowledge. Tomorrow, the classroom as we know it might be online in a whole new world. In other words, the classroom will get a second life.

Is Second Life doomed to be another fad?

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APRIL AT SHERIDAN

BRUIN BLUE PUB April 8th @ Connexion 10 p.m. Chance to win a PlayStation 3. Ladies wear your Sheridan Athletic Blue and no cover until 11:30 p.m. Last Class Bash April 21st @ Rec Room 9 p.m. With Scratch from the Roots. Chance to win home theatre system. Variety Night April 6 @ Connexion 9 p.m. With Darrelle London and Robyn Dellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;unto.

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All dates are subject to change. For more event info visit www.sheridanstudentunion.com

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ART THAT’S WHAT’S ON THE NEXT PAGES

I understand I’m in the minority on this one, but some weeks I rarely use my cell phone. Less frequently do I enjoy its more “exotic” features. So, in trying to decipher a text message from a friend, I pondered the abbreviated language of the medium, and, of course, obsessively rearranged the NVM’s, RME’s and L2G’s forming alternate narratives. They were no more revealing or less ambiguous than the original message. All of which led me to consider the perpetual shorthand of many of our shared interactions. In the name of speed and convenience, I wondered what inevitable conclusions we might be racing towards. And why the race? Abbreviations aren’t all bad. The act suggests a selection; an editing process and interpretation of form. Matched with an insightful bit of perception, abbreviations might reveal a broader understanding of the bloated idea. The 20th century Italian painter, Giorgio Morandi was a master of abbreviation. Never a joiner, a young Morandi flirted with surrealism and metaphysical painting— two predominant vernaculars of his youth—before retreating into a monastic rhythm of painting bottles and boxes. He did the latter again and again. Morandi edited form slowly, precisely. Almost imperceptibly, using the self-imposed limited subject matter of his still life creations, to create an intimately personal visual language.

Because that’s what artists do. They abbreviate, enunciate and illuminate the matter of culture When I look at Morandi—and his paintings demand you look at them—I sense surfaces in the mid-afternoon sun across a barren piazza. His bottles line up incongruously like towers of a medieval city. They emulate the mesmerizing rhythms of the arcades that define every café and residence of his native Bologna. The objects embody simplification, devoid of any particular identifier. They stand majestically solid, yet appear ghost-like and ephemeral. Morandi’s methodology might be fixed in his time, but his condensed language reveals infinite possibilities for association and meaning— and the joy of seeing. Because that’s what artists do. They abbreviate, enunciate and illuminate the matter of culture. They take known forms and push and pull, trimming away the fat to reveal the essence of our shared experiences. In the following pages, we have an opportunity to observe young artists molding new patterns of visual language. It’s here that they tap into exploring the substance of the here and now, but also hint at what’s to come. Here’s a glimpse at what’s next in art. by clemente botelho, professor, illustration

T twitter.com /travismag 29 Joel Hustak

Michelle Yoon Emily Soden

Elizabeth Sherry

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Jessica Dwyer

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32 travismag.com Michelle Yoon

twitter.com /travismag 33 Nikola Odic

Tim Barton

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Paul Chou

Mike Culhane

Kate Noyes

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Satesh Mistry

Holly Doucette

Phil Jarvis

Palina Klimava

Olga Popova

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Katie Kavanagh

Ami Moore

William Scott Forbes

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Ami Moore

Dei Gaztelumendi

Thierry Chow

Writing The Next Chapter With

lawrence hill by blake dillon

We take a seat with one of the hottest Canadian authors of the past couple of years. Lawrence Hill is more than acclaimed for his engrossing take on the slave trade in The Book of Negroes. What we wanted to find out from Hill is two-tiered: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next for the big-time wordsmith.

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Want this book? Swing by the fuse first to get it!

“Why did they pick the coldest and shortest month to celebrate Black History?” Yeah, the famed, multi-award-winning author, Lawrence Hill raised my eyebrow with that counter-question, too. “That’s a joke,” he chuckled. “Sort of.” Hill is the product of an interracial marriage. He is the son of a black father and a white mother; just like Barack Obama come to think of it. His parents came to Canada in 1953, shortly after they wed in America. His mother was a graduate of Oberlin College in Ohio and went on to become a civil rights activist. His father is from an educated family and was heavily involved with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. And it’s this unlikely family tree that has inspired Hill to become passionate about Black History Month. He exerts his interest and passion into his evocative writing. He is the man behind a line of critically-acclaimed books such as Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black and White in Canada and the recent longstanding bestseller, The Book of Negroes. Although it was published in 2007, it still sits out-front on Chapters’ display cases. Some are calling it an instant classic. But Hill doesn’t seem to share this interest and passion with the rest of the country, he believes. “The sad truth is that most Canadians either know extremely little or nothing at all about the history of black people in their country. It is a history that seems to be ignored, swept under the rug, or completely forgotten,” says the novelist. “I am thankful that at least Black History Month can help bring some of that history out from beneath the rug and make Canadians more aware of the fullness that Canada really is.” But, as any good author knows, there are two sides to every true and proverbial story. “On the other hand,” he says, “it can be a bit ridiculous that these issues are seemingly only discussed in the month of February. There is no reason why we can’t talk about, think about, or incorporate these issues into curricula.” Though it has seemingly faded out of headlines, the catastrophic earthquake that shook the foundations of Haiti is still tormenting day-to-day life there. Hill felt that the message of his novel should become the message of suffering Haitians. It’s a bold claim, but Hill is one of those guys that can make such a pronouncement.

“The biggest message that you may pick up when reading The Book of Negroes is a message of courage and of fortitude— simply having the strength to carry on when your life is literally falling apart around you,” Hill says. “The thing about the book is that it celebrates a woman’s courage in the face of momentous difficulty, the courage to just continue living; not just to survive, but to love, and to live lovingly.” “The people in Haiti have been completely insulted with this horrible time of calamity and indescribable suffering. However, even though many have died, I know that many others will survive, and show great courage in doing so.” This so-called “courage” that Hill speaks of, he not only writes about it, but also lives by it. He’s a man of words and a man of his word, so to speak. “Growing up, I think that the desire to racially make sense of myself in a largely white suburb showed tremendous amounts of courage,” he says. “That desire and courage is what has ultimately given

Unfortunately, the writer is at the bot tom of the totem pole in the hierarchy of film. me the impetus to become a writer. For that, I am thankful for any ambiguities that I may have.” Okay Lawrence Hill, we’ve heard your story, read your book and noted your advice. But, before you go, let me ask you, “What’s next?” After slight hesitation, he proudly exclaims, “A movie!” Oh, look out Hollywood, you might have to deal with an actually well-done book adaptation. “The Book of Negroes has been optioned for film development,” Hill further explains. Clemente Virgo, a Canadian filmmaker purchased the rights to turn The Book of Negroes into a feature film. Hill has been co-writing the treatment with Virgo. He plans to co-write the script as well. Something he’s done before; he penned the screenplay for Seeking Salvation, a documentary about a black church in Canada. “It’s an extremely exciting and unique

opportunity,” he says, before throwing in a hint of reality about his role. “Unfortunately, the writer is at the bottom of the totem pole in the hierarchy of film—it’s the director and the producer that call the shots.” Nonetheless, Hill is allowing Virgo and his crew to venture forth in the transitioning of book to film. He feels that the film will be a great method to get more of the community actively involved with black history. “Sometimes, using fiction or drama is a really exciting way to draw people into history,” he says. “I used to think that history, Canadian history especially, was completely and colossally boring. However, history truly is an alive and fascinating beast.” “Hopefully someone—student or faculty—at Sheridan College will also find a way to step into history by means of fiction, theatre or drama and help bring it to life.” So yeah, you’re what’s next Sheridan.

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❧ What’s Next ❧

Sheridan Fashion photography by luis mora & rodrigo daguerre

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1. Elissa Parente 2. Illustration, 3rd Year 3 . “ S pe n d i n g t he summ e r working on developing my painting skills at my co-op placement and developing my portfolio. I hope to eventually teach at a post-secondary level while working as a freelance illustrator and exhibiting artist. I’ d also like to fit in as much travel as possible.”

1. Trevor Nicholls 2. Photography, 1st Year 3. "So what next in my life? To start, I plan on selling some of my artwork through my website (www.trevornicholls. com) as well as in a few galleries. However, the big thing that I am l ooking forward to this summer, is that I will be interning with top commercial photographer Mark Zibert, which undoubtedly will take up a great portion of my time. I have worked with him once before in studio and cannot wait to do it again."

1. Chrisann Hessing 2. Media Arts, 1st Year 3. “I’ve made so many connections and new friends thi s yea r that I h ope t o continue to network with. I want to apply everything I’ve learned and take it out to the real world this summer. I plan to get some experience on sets and do what I love—make movies!”

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1. Arthur Porte 2. Media Arts, 1st Year 3. “I'm going to be working on film and music productions.”

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1. Alex Gorodskoy 2. Illustration, 3rd year 3. “Summer: Find an internship, maybe a summer art show, skateboard. Next year: One more year. Work hard, be a keener. After school: Be an artist and illustrator, catch some west coast calamities.”

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1. Kaley Ross 2. Photography, 1st Year 3 . “Af t e r s c hool I pl an to travel and start my career as a photographer.”

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1. Abe Hutton 2. Animation, 1st Year 3. "I'm not a exactly a person who makes any future plans. I tend to just meander on whatever tangent presents itself. The most I can say is that I’ ll be staying here for the summer and probably resuming a life of bartending and binge drinking. Next year, I’ ll be right back at Sheridan for animation... and my career. Well , I’ ll be happy as long as I'm in a new place and in the field I've worked so hard to be a part of."

1. Meg Graham 2. Print Journalism, 2nd Year 3 . “ I h a v e a n i n t e r n s h i p at a fashion and lifestyle public relations firm called Faulhaber pr in Toronto. So, af ter I graduate this year, I plan to either get a job with the firm, or move on to another pr firm or fashion magazine in either Canada or the U.S. This summer, I’m turning 20, so I’m planning on having a big birthday bash since I won’t be a teenager anymore. Other than that, enjoying the (hopefully) warm weather."

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1. Tim Hutchison 2. Media Arts 3. “Well, what's next for me at Sheridan College is more movie making. Working on a big project for the end of the year, and just trying to make it through without going insane from the workload. For the summer, I'm heading down to California for a week or two to hangout, then road tripping it back with my best friend. And, as for after school, I might be working down in California as a creative arts pastor at a new church movement in SoCal, and being the director of creative arts at Convergence College! But that's just a back-up plan.”

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The Next ‘It’ Look:

by anum khan If there were a few things in common between the Oscars and New York Fashion Week this year: Bright lips, contoured cheeks, dark eyeliner and feminine, flirtatious dresses were among them. We have always admired Marilyn Monroe’s dark red lips and peachy-bronze cheeks. Audrey Hepburn’s cat eyeliner look made us stare. But when singer Katy Perry appeared in the spotlight back in 2008 with her hit “I Kissed A Girl,” the fashion industry was shocked to see someone that had reinvented the classic pin-up look. Coco Chanel once remarked, “A girl should be two things: Classy and fabulous.” The fashion scene is finally leaving obscurity and cheap style behind for women to embrace bright colour, feminine prints and delicate fabrics. For a while, the runway was looking dull with long, mono-coloured, strapless gowns, croc-style flats and oversized handbags that were meant to fit a woman’s whole life inside. All of these trends didn’t make young women look stylish, but rather haggard with the excess. The gown would clash with the handbag and the shoes made a woman’s figure look flat and unnoticeable.

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After watching the newer, more dominant women of music as of late—this being Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry— fashion designers began styling with a certain celebrity in mind. This helps the audience relate to the pieces more, which then turns into the trends we wear today. Everyone—especially the media—was blown away by Lady Gaga’s style when she premiered her video, “Just Dance.” There you had lavender leggings, platform booties, and black and silver paired dresses with winged eyeliner and glossy lips. The ’70s and ’80s clearly influence many of Gaga’s insane looks, which include everything from flashy neon colours, checkered prints and cigaretteburning sunglasses. Her album cover for Just Dance had her dressed in a royal blue top with old-fashioned collared frills, sporting a teal lightning bolt on her left cheek. Both styles were originally seen in the ’70s, she just quasi-modernized them. Today, leggings of all colours and patterns are available for purchase at your local H&M or Urban Behaviour. Taylor Swift made country music popular and trendy again. By wearing funky hats and authentic cowboy boots, she brought

back the phenomenon of faux leather. When Katy Perry appeared in her music video dressed in a short corset top attached to a frilly skirt paired with black lace leggings and gold bangles, nobody knew that was the next ‘it’ look. But here we are. Those lace leggings that used to be $2 are now $12 because of Perry. Much of the trends that we will be seeing this year have previously been done, but they are being brought back with a different approach to them. Like that phrase goes, if history tells us anything… yeah, you got the drift. If Marilyn Monroe was wearing bright red lipstick with a white halter dress, women today are sporting the same coloured lips but with floral-printed dresses and platform booties instead of the typical silver stilettos. Are you in the season to reuse your mother’s ’70s garb? Yeah, we’re predicting the fishnet stockings, headbands and bows the size of your face will return as well. Recycled fashion has been attempting to come back, and with celebrities being the impetus for fashion change, that’s where we’re heading. It’s going to be a hot summer.

by g.p. testa Before we eyeball what’s next in men’s fashion, we have to know where we’re coming from. Let’s retrace our steps from the past few seasons and see how we’ve progressed from Escalade-yearning yuppies to single-speed bike-riding hipsters. If you rewind a few seasons to before the word “recession” was being tossed around like a beer pong ball, the clothes that draped us guys were mostly the overly baggy, unlaced chunky sneaker types that everyone seemed to think looked appealing. Sure, we can go ahead and say it was a mirror image of the good-old heavy spending days, but, damn, you have to admit, it looked a little sloppy at times. Then it hit us. “Recession… depression… obsession… confession.” You know the story. The tightening of the belt, the foreclosures and layoffs that came with the end of a gluttonous era. The turn of economic events really affected the styles and clothes that we bought, whether it was subconscious or not. We began scouring stores that we were once embarrassed to be caught inside. We started raiding Dad’s closet for looks that we thought we were revolutionizing.

But then “that style” got a bad rap. We started ruining the look that so many smaller-framed people actually looked comfortable in. From squeezing and jiggling our asses into jeans and shirts that only looked acceptable on the ectomorph, the rest of the wannabe hipsters gave the whole trend a bad name. I guess what I’m saying here is that the whole hipster trend doesn’t have to be as bad as we’ve made it. Sure, all forms of “cool” are trying their hand at looking hip with oversized spectacles, flannel shirts and painted on jeans, but the problem is that everyone’s approaching it with a “one size fits all” attitude. We are, however, on the right track. And now it’s only natural to think about what’s next for men’s spring wear. And to be honest, there’s not a whole lot. Slimmer, fitted items are going to be the look once again this season, but it’s up to you to make it look proper and appealing. We’ll be seeing the boat shoe-slash-loafer look once again this season, but my prediction is that it’s going to be the last hurrah, along with the whole nautical look. Sad face. Sneakers, on the other paw, will be in, as they always are, but they too

are taking a slimmer form. Don’t believe me, look at how much slimmer sneakers have progressively become over the past few years. That’s not a coincidence. For tops, you can be sure to see the return of simplicity. No more overillustrated, hypnotic-looking, Ed Hardyesque shirts that hurt the eyes. Open, buttoned, tucked in/out, whatever way you want, just make sure it fits you properly. And last but not least, the V-neck. Wait, wait. I know what you’re thinking, but let’s be honest, it’s a staple T-shirt. If we can loose the nipple exposure and spandex-esque fit, everyone wins. Let’s build on what we’ve destroyed. The hipster look was ruined by many of us. But by rebuilding with what remains of the disaster, we not only learn to be resourceful, but more importantly, we’ll put value and save face of the “true hipster” who so very much deserves to have what is rightfully theirs.

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Fashion:

What’s Hot Now by anum khan

Faux Leather Cowboy Boots If you thought the boot trend died with the winter, you’re wrong. Designers at New York Fashion Week heavily emphasized the cowboy trend, specifically faux leather cowboy boots in light brown. They look good with anything, literally—you can pair them up with a floral printed dress or a pair of fitted, dark denim jeans. You will look fab either way. Most looks on the runway for the current year include a printed dress suited up with grey leggings and buckled cowboy kicks. To top off your look, wrap a thin, braided belt around your waist that matches the colour of your boots. This adds that extra touch of femininity and ties your outfit together, somewhat literally. Decent cowboy boots range anywhere from $100–$400, or you can setlle for the cheaper versions at Forever 21 or H&M. And although you have to hunt, the thrift store is always a solid option.

Rimmel London – Lasting Finish Pro Nail Enamel – Steel Grey Dark nail polishes are in. Go dig your sparkly navy blue and jet-black nail lacquers out of your old cosmetic bag. If you have never tried a dark colour on your nails, try Rimmel London’s Lasting Finish Pro Nail Enamel in steel grey. This nail polish is true to its word. Each bottle says that it can last up to 10 days and I guarantee it. It is a much cheaper version of OPI or China Glaze, but works just as well and dries instantly, so you don’t have to worry about dents or smudges. Steel grey will look bold on your nails. The best part about this colour is that it goes with any outfit. If grey isn’t your colour, you might want to try purple rain or midnight blue. Either way, you no longer need to worry about saving up for the Sephora by OPI collection.

MAC Viva Glam Lady Gaga Lipstick If you haven’t noticed already, Lady Gaga is everywhere, including cosmetics. She recently collaborated with MAC to create a lipstick for the Viva Glam collection alongside Cyndi Lauper. These lipsticks have their signatures engraved on the inside applicator and look quite classy. Both lip colours are hot this year and will blend in with almost any eye look. MAC lipsticks are known for and have a smooth and creamy consistency. Plus, they are not as expensive as other MAC products. This summer, let your lips look fierce. After all, you’ve been working so hard to keep them healthy and moisturized throughout the winter, so why not apply a light pink or bright red colour and let your lips speak for themselves? They will deserve to be in the next Gaga video.

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A RANDOM NUMBER OF WORDS ABOUT CULTURE The FUTURE IS GETTING CREEPIER by james rubec

A quick stroll into the world of Chatroulette, Pleaserobme.com, GPS phones and why the future can freak you out if you pay too much attention. Welcome to the brave new (virtual) world.

To explain why, I’m going to set a point of reference: Avatar. In the world’s top-grossing film, giant blue aliens can literally plug into the world around them. At the end of their pony tails they have a weird looking Ethernet tendril. These bad boys are multi-functional; allowing them to link with animals, trees, spirits of their long-dead ancestors and each other for what I assume is some sort of sex act. Besides the fact they are all fooling around with animals and trees, this sort of interconnectivity is brilliant. What makes it important is that we are beginning to embrace this connectivity with each other, albeit it’s more technological and less bestial. Where Avatar went wrong is how daunting it can be to allow the world to know what you’re doing and thinking—at all points of the day. For instance, in the near future, new technology will make facial recognition possible using only your cell phone. Through Google’s Picasa or Apple’s iPhoto, users can already run a function that will automatically tag and sort pictures by a person’s unique facial characteristics. Not a far leap to imagine that Facebook will sort our photos for us based on facial recognition software. But don’t get too scared, because this technology could have its advantages. If you forget someone’s name, don’t worry ‘bout it. You will be able to scan them before they say “What up?” See a pretty face and want to make a good impression? Check out her Facebook while she’s walking down the street—or don’t, because that’s creepy and brings a new meaning to the term “cyberstalking.” It won’t be long until you can point your cell phone at someone and automatically get a brief overview of his or her life. The amount of information already available online is staggering: Where you work, your cell phone number, your address, previous addresses, girlfriend(s), family members, ex-girlfriend(s), and your school history. It won’t take long for someone to design a program using Google search tools to scan through public information and aggregate a person’s life into bullet points, in only a second—and without your authorization. While we should all be terrified of people claiming our digital souls with their camera phones, a new website offers a spin on video chat. Chatroulette is a brave new world where you are randomly matched with another person via webcam. You can see and hear the other person, just as they can see and hear you. They made this because we need more reasons to talk to complete strangers. Strangers that are flashing their little guys to the world. Fortunately, you aren’t forced to sit and chat with the person you are paired up with; you can hit the “next” button and get a new partner. The problem is, you’ll most likely be paired up with another fetishist playing with himself. I wonder what would be creepier than Chatroulette? Why not just cybercast your home address, and the fact that you’re out of your home all at the same time? Wait, the internet has that, too. Welcome to Pleaserobme.com. Almost all of our phones have GPS. Some of us use a service such as Google Latitude, which lets us share where we are currently located. Twitter has options for this, so when you tweet, there is an automatic location stamped to your tweet. Pleaserobme.com filters Twitter and organizes the tweets so you know when someone is away from home, where they live, and where they will be going. It would be as easy as hitting the “Follow” button to track this person’s movements. So when you tweet that you are on your way to your aunt’s for the weekend, your GPS will announce to the world that you’re not home and the 60-inch plasma television you just bought is all alone and ripe for picking. Now, if talking to strangers and inviting people to rob your

house wasn’t wild and crazy enough, try Blippy.com. Blippy ties onto your credit cards and tweets what you buy. Not only can you be immortalized by 140-character announcements about how wonderful your last bowel movement was, you can actually account for what exactly came out of you, what type of toilet paper you used and how much all of it cost while sitting on the throne.

I wonder what would be creepier than Chatroulette? Social networking peels back the layers of privacy that we have with the world. It is hard to speculate on what layers will be shed next. Maybe we’ll be able to publish our genetic code and compare who we’ll be most compatible with to produce the best possible offspring. Or by using publicly broadcasted security footage and facial or gate recognition programs, a website could automatically make a movie of a day in your life. No matter what comes next with social networking, it will connect us on deeper levels. While the Orwellian possibilities are muddled, here are a few things to consider. When was the last time you used a map in lieu of Google Maps? How many times in the last two years have you opened a phonebook? What’s your third best friends’ cell phone number? When last did you send some photos in the mail instead of using Sendspace? As these services become available, we’ve allowed ourselves to become dependent upon them. Not always a good thing. While we enjoy how simple our lives have become digitally, and how easy it is to use these services, doing so has created massively powerful monolithic corporations. I’m certain that for many, Google has more power over our day-to-day lives than our own governments. What if we didn’t have Google Maps or search tools? Gmail, Google’s web-based e-mail service, is the most popular and is widely considered the best in the world. Google itself is so large that when a competitor has a good idea, Google simply buys the company. I guess it’s a form of self-defense. It’s not hard to see that Google’s only competition is itself. As Google roams the world collecting more technology startups, Apple has calmly gone about its business of branding itself as the best platform for, well, everything. Its hardware supremacy is assured and its products are damn pretty, but we should still be leery. As we live in an Apple world, Apple is making inroads by controlling what we see and how we use the Internet. In February, Apple went ahead and banned risky applications to its iPhone and iTouch products. Phil Schiller, a representative of Apple, told the New York Times, “It came to the point where we were getting customer complaints from women who found the content getting too degrading and objectionable, as well as parents who were upset with what their kids were able to see.” This is disturbing because who is Apple to decide what is and what isn’t offensive? What if they did the same with Safari, their web browser? Where is the line drawn as to what Apple can decide to let us see, or more importantly, not see? Fortunately, unlike our Na’vi friends over in Pandora, we haven’t evolved to actually need to physically plug into the Internet—yet. It is a personal choice to go online and share yourself with the world. So choose carefully, because you aren’t representing a giant blue alien, you are representing yourself.

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The Ongoing Story Parental Guidance is Advised Pt. 5 by blake dillon

Here it is. The conclusion to the epic, crime-smeared saga surrounding our protagonist, Frank. The whole journey rife with corruption, bullet casings and a black briefcase takes a final bow. Let the final chapter begin.

“Frank. Frank. Wake up, Frank,” repeated the doctor. Frank’s eyes begin to open like a long-closed coffin. “Ah, Frank,” the doctor exhaled, stuffed with relief. “It’s about time you came around. I have news. Some good, some not so good.” Frank nodded, giving the doctor the go-ahead to deliver. “To start, you’re alive,” the doctor said, watching a grin grow slowly across Frank’s face. “However, the same cannot be said about Liana.” Frank’s grin vanished. “I’ve never performed surgery with a gun to the back of my skull before. I was under pressure. She died during the procedure.” He pauses briefly.

Frank’s EYES BEGIN TO OPEN lIKE A LONG-CLOSED COFFIN “Your buddy’s cold, threatening breath was running down the back of my neck the entire time. He kept saying, ‘It’s your life.’ Who knows what that meant, though. Liana gave her life to save yours, Frank.” The room was silent. “I didn’t even know her,” Frank tried to exclaim, but the anesthetic was still in affect, so it was more of a faint cry. “She didn’t even know me.” Frank sat up. Looking around the room, he noticed the key on the desk beside him. He noticed the attractive nurse across the hall. Better yet, he noticed that Jimmy wasn’t in sight. Upset over the loss of his niece, Jimmy went to grab a cigarette and some fresh air. “He did seem a little tense,” said the doctor. The doctor then left the room, assuring Frank that he would be back in few moments to check on him. In the meantime, Frank moseyed over to the window. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and all that nice joyful crap. He was alive. Jimmy wasn’t around. Things were finally looking up. Frank lifted his medical gown and began to drag his fingers up and down his newly acquired stitches. “Don’t touch!” Doris called from the hallway. “And get back in bed!” “Yes, mam,” Frank said, as he hopped back onto the gurney. Some time passed. Frank began drifting back to sleep. “Tired already?” a voice asked as the door swung open. The doctor was finally back. “Frank, I want you to spend the night here. You should be able to go home as early as 2 p.m. tomorrow.” Frank nodded. “Hey, Doc!” called a voice from the hallway, followed by quick, vigorous footsteps. Even though he wasn’t in sight, Frank knew it was Jimmy. That bloody voice. “Congratulations on a successful surgery,” he called, laughing hysterically. Jimmy, once again brandishing a pistol, burst into the room. His head hung lower than usual, but still high enough to stare at the doctor. The doctor looked nervous. Just as he was about to speak, Jimmy cut him off. “You killed my niece, you son of a bitch.” Before the doctor could react, Jimmy again raised his revolver and shot him between the eyes. Blood spattered the room, Frank, and Jimmy. “You son of a bitch,” Jimmy repeated as he squeezed three more bullets into the doctor’s carcass. Jimmy started that frenzied laugh again. He slammed the door, turning his glare towards Frank. Frank knew this wasn’t good. Jimmy began creeping in Frank’s direction— step by step. He made his way to the night side table, picked up the key and put it around his neck. He bent over, swinging his head towards Frank’s, stopping with his lips just millimeters from Frank’s ear and whispered, “You’re a dead man, Frank.” Surprise, surprise, Jimmy was drunk. Frank could smell his rumstained breath. Standing upright again, Jimmy resumed with the hysterics.

illustration by andre guindi

“Where did you get this, Frank?” he asked, still laughing. “You didn’t have to kill the doctor,” Frank stammered. “He didn’t plan for Liana to die.” Jimmy loaded his gun. With each click that it made, a lump in Frank’s throat magnified. “Ha, ha, ha. Where did you get the key, Frank?” Frank stuttered. “S-S-Sofia.” Jimmy smiled. “Thanks, Frank. I can get my case now. All of this, what’s happened here, it really was fun.” Frank’s eyes widened. “Good luck with the book,” Jimmy said. He shot, and walked out. Hanging onto a thread of his life, a soft, comforting voice continued to repeat Frank’s name. “Frank. Frank. Frankie.” Frank figured it was angel. Frank shot up, gasped, and opened his eyes. “Frank?” It was Cindy. “You’re clearly a little tired, how about some more coffee?” “Sure,” Frank said, hesitantly, confused. Cindy walked off. Frank looked around. To the right, a cute teenaged couple sat cuddling and chatting over coffee. To the left, the older suit-wearing man was still scribbling on his crossword. In the distance, Cindy was pouring another cup of coffee, conversing with the kitchen staff. In front of his face, a blank screen. Under his shirt, there were no stitches, not even a scar. His full blown, untrimmed beard had reverted back to it’s usual five o’clock shadow. Frank wasted no time and immediately began typing. “Waking up to an unsettling mixture of sun, a bad dream and the smell of cockroach droppings combined with stale beer, and his dog, Possum, licking his face.” By the time Cindy returned with his Ethiopian blend, Frank’s next story was well underway. He began telling Cindy about his new book concept—she thought it was inspired. Or maybe she was just saying that. “Well, Cindy,” said the suited man to the right, “I’m heading home.” “Okay, catch you tomorrow, Jimmy,” she replied. Frank chuckled, noticing the attaché case in his hand. Frank spent the next few weeks breathing in familiar air, stale with cigarettes and day-old coffee at Tuesday’s Special. The clear, white abyss that was his computer screen no longer mocked him. He filled the screen ad infinitum with words. A non-stop litany of words. The best part, he bumped into Rebecca and told her about his next novel. She loved the idea, or maybe she was just saying that. She said she realized that she missed Frank, our beloved protagonist. She and Owen were again playing centerfield in Frank’s life. Frank was back, once again, hitting it to the fences.

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SO, LOYAL READER... WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEXT FOR YOU?

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