The Cascade Vol. 24 No. 22

SEPTEMBER 29 TO OCTOBER 4, 2016

VOLUME 24 ISSUE 22

Drinking coffee until we get heart palpitations since 1993 We drink and we know things since 1993

Changes at the Canoe

Coffee all over

pg.3

pg.9-11

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The Adventure Zone pg.15

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

EDITORIAL

Yes, we can support a family of four Humanities degrees may after all not be completely useless VANESSA BROADBENT THE CASCADE

When I started my education at UFV four years ago, I had no idea what I wanted to study. But after spending a semester taking a variety of courses from different disciplines, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I wanted to be an English major. I didn’t have any idea of what career path I wanted to pursue after university, but I knew that I didn’t want to be a teacher.

Interestingly enough, I’m asked if I want to be a teacher a more than comfortable amount of times when I tell people that I’m studying English. And when I say no, the response is even more awkward, sometimes even implying in a joking but subtly rude way, that I probably won’t find a job unless I’m willing to work at Starbucks.

Fortunately, not everyone has the same opinion on English degrees and the summer before starting my third year of university, I got my first writing job. It was only a temporary summer job, but I was more than excited to start building my resume and gain experience that would help me after graduation. Out of curiosity, I asked my employer if he thought having an English degree would help me get a permanent position after graduation, despite social stigmas surrounding studying English. Without hesitation, he answered, “Yes, because I know you can write.” He

went on to say that training people to learn how to do a job isn’t hard, but teaching them how to write is.

This opinion of English degrees, as well as other humanities degrees, is slowly spreading and The Wall Street Journal’s George Anders confirmed this in “Good News Liberal-Arts Majors: Your Peers Probably Won’t Outearn You Forever,” published earlier this month. Anders explains that the pay gap between humanities and social-science majors, and their math, science, and

“It’s easier to hire people who can write—and teach them how to read financial statements—rather than hire accountants in hopes of teaching them to be strong writers.” business-based colleagues is slowly shrinking. The article shares the results of a survey completed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which found that although only 10 per cent of employers said that they wanted to hire humanities majors, technical skills were at the bottom of the list when it came

to ideal resume traits. “Four of the five top traits were hallmarks of a traditional liberal-arts education: teamwork, clear writing, problem-solving aptitude, and strong oral communications.

Mindful of those longer-term needs, some employers end up hiring humanities and social-sciences graduates, even if such majors aren’t explicitly singled out when recruiting,” Anders writes.

And with many jobs requiring a larger variety of skills than ever, for some companies, English majors are almost becoming a hot commodity. Anders quotes head of talent acquisition at Chicago investment-research firm Morning Star Inc., Liz Kirschner, who said that “It’s easier to hire people who can write—and teach them how to read financial statements—rather than hire accountants in hopes of teaching them to be strong writers.”

While this information is great for those of us that are humanities majors and gives up hope for after graduation, it unfortunately doesn’t do much for the ever-present social stigma.

More than once I’ve shared my positive experiences as an English major with a first year student that I’ve met in one of my classes, and encouraged them to also choose the discipline if it’s something they’re interested, only to be responded to with hesitation. “Writing sounds fun,” one said, “but I want to study something that will get me a job.”

To this mentality I say: yes, writing is fun, but more than that, it will get you a job.

News

Opinion

Culture

Arts

Indigenous student transitions coordinator

Trump vs. Hilary

Yoga @ UFV

Blink-182

Betty Peters is the latest addision to the Indigenous Student Centre.

Honestly, we can’t wait until November so we can (hopefully) never have to speak of this election ever again.

Learn more about the UFV yoga club and their plan to increase health on campus.

The iconic 90’s group rocks out the Abbotsford entertainment centre.

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STAFF

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Broadbent vanessa@ufvcascade.ca

Opinion Editor Panku Sharma panku@ufvcascade.ca

Illustrators Amara Gelaude amara@ufvcascade.ca

Managing Editor Mitch Huttema mitch@ufvcascade.ca

Culture & Events Editor Jeff Mijo jeff@ufvcascade.ca

Multimedia Editor Martin Ranninger martin.r@ufvcascade.ca

Business Manager Jennifer Trithardt-Tufts jennifer@ufvcascade.ca

Arts in Review Editor Martin Castro martin@ufvcascade.ca

Advertising Rep Kayla Schuurmans kayla@ufvcascade.ca

Copy Editor Kat Marusiak kat@ufvcascade.ca

Production Manager Brittany Cardinal brittany@ufvcascade.ca

Staff Writers Emma Groeneveld emma@ufvcascade.ca

News Editor Joel Robertson-Taylor joel@ufvcascade.ca

Online Editor Tanya Vanpraseuth tanya@ufvcascade.ca

Michael Chutskoff mike@ufvcascade.ca

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Joshua DeSilva Klara Chmelarova Rachel Tait Harvin Bhathal Chris Towler Bruce Martin Joo-yung Kim

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Volume 24 · Issue 22 Room S2111 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 Front & Back Cover Design: Brittany Cardinal

The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It originated under its current name in 1993, and achieved autonomy from the university and the Student Union Society in 2002. This means that The Cascade is a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published in an entirely student-run setting. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds, and is overseen by the Cascade Journalism Society Board, a body run by a student majority. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a print circulation of 1,250 and is distributed at Abbotsford, Chilliwack (CEP), Clearbrook, and Mission UFV campuses and throughout the surrounding communities.

The Cascade is open to written, photo, and design work from all students; these can come in the form of a pitch to an editor, or an assignment from an editor. Writers meetings are held each Monday at 2:00 p.m. in The Cascade’s office on the Abbotsford campus.

In order to be published in the newspaper, all work must first be approved by The Cascade’s editor-in-chief, copy editor, and corresponding section editor. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous content. Letters to the editor, while held to the same standard, are unedited, and should be under 400 words. As The Cascade is an autonomous student publication, opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, The Cascade’s staff and collective, or associated members.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

NEWS

NEWS BRIEFS

Canoe drifts into cafeteria territory

Canadian Universities fall in global university rankings The Times Higher Education rankings have been released for the year, and the results aren’t favourable for Canada. Canada’s top three universities, the only Canadian universities included, and have each fallen two to four places on the list from last year’s rankings. The University of Toronto took the 22nd spot, while the University of British Columbia it at 36, and McGill University is at 42. However, China had better luck with the rankings this year, and two Chinese universities rose more than ten spots, beating UBC and McGill.

- The Globe and Mail Liberal government approves liquefied natural gas project The Liberal government has approved the Pacific NorthWest liquefied natural gas project, but with 190 conditions. The investment, which is worth $11 billion, will be one of the country’s largest resource development projects.

The conditions attached to the approval address human and wildlife health, as well as the environmental impact of the project and concerns of cultural heritage sites.

The decision was announced by three federal cabinet ministers in Richmond on Tuesday.

- CBC SUS begins hiring process for executive director UFV’s Student Union Society (SUS) is hiring to fill their executive director position. This fulltime paid position is responsible for the services wing of Student Union operation as well as working with the SUS Board of Directors and executive team to manage affairs and realized strategic goals and objectives. This will be the first time the job is posted to the public in order to hire specifically for the position, because the executive director position was originally created out of a General Manager position, and fulfilled by someone already employed by SUS. The job posting will be listed for a minimum of two weeks, and will remain up until the position is filled. SUS president Sukhi Brar has been designated as acting executive director by the SUS board of directors until the position is filled.

Photo: Mitch Huttema

VANESSA BROADBENT THE CASCADE

It seems as if every September comes with new changes at UFV, and this time, it’s the Canoe.

The Canoe, UFV’s campus restaurant run by the Student Union Society (SUS) has been revamped to be cafeteria-style, differing from its previous restaurant format.

“We no longer have front of house staff coming to take orders at tables,” SUS president Sukhi Brar explained. “Instead there is a host station set up at the entrance of the Canoe for customers to order at. This centralizes ordering and allows us to deliver faster service to students.”

With SUS’ food services being over budget on an almost regular basis in previous years, Brar saw the changes as way to prevent overages from happening again this year.

“These changes (front of house changes and restructuring of positions) should help reduce the food services subsidy in the immediate year with the long term goal of progressively reducing this subsidy until it can eventually be eliminated,” she explained.

In the 2015 / 2016 year both Fair Grounds and SUS’ catering services were under budget by

$117.55 and $5,900, respectively, but the Canoe was not. The restaurant, which brought in a total revenue of $108,600, was still $47,553.90 over budget.

This was only part of a larger trend. The 2010 / 2011 food services budget allocated for $20,000, but the actual amount ended up being $160,944 — over eight times the projected amount. This trend continued into the 2011 / 2012 year when

“These changes should help reduce the food services subsidy in the immediate year with the long term goal of progressively reducing this subsidy until it can eventually be eliminated.” $55,000 was budgeted but $140,263 was spent, and in 2012 / 2013 when the budget initially allowed $80,685 for food services, but then had

to be changed to $125,000 at an EGM to allow for Aftermath, the campus restaurant at the time to stay open, because the budgeted amount had been reached after only two months.

In the 2015 / 2016 year, the first year that both the Canoe and Fair Grounds were open, SUS continued the pattern of going over budget, and all of SUS’ food services brought in a total revenue of $247,600. But the totaled expenses, including employment costs, were $281,649.48.

Although the changes are still relatively new, Brar noted that she has already received positive feedback from students.

“So far, student feedback has been amazing,” she said. “Initially, it may have been a bit confusing for returning students to see a new system in place at the Canoe, but students have been responding positively to the changes that have been implemented because of the reduced cost to students and the faster service delivery.”

At this point, SUS is still adjusting to the new changes and doesn’t have any other plans in the works currently.

“We don’t have any other changes planned for the interim,” Brar said. “The Canoe is still a place for students to eat, lounge, study, and socialize.”

THE CASCADE IS HIRING A VARSITY WRITER

Applications should include a resume, cover letter, and a sample of your writing.

The deadline for applications is Oct 7th. To apply, or request further information, please email mitch@ufvcascade.ca.

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www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

NEWS Coordinator hired for Indigenous student transitions MICHAEL CHUTSKOFF THE CASCADE

The B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education provided UFV with a one-time grant for the purpose of hiring an indigenous transitions coordinator for the 2016-2017 year. The role of the coordinator is to assist Aboriginal students with admissions, academic and support services, peer support, and mentoring. The purpose of having this position is to ensure that Aboriginal students are provided with a fair chance to find success at university while combating the declining retention rate that the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) has experienced over the past years. This is where Betty Peters steps in.

Peters has been working in the ISC for the past six years, providing support for Aboriginal students and Elders alike. Before that, she served as an Aboriginal program teaching assistant in the Chilliwack school district.

Despite sharing a very similar title with Student Life’s student transitions coordinator Belinda Karsen, Betty’s job is unique. Unlike Karsen, Betty Peters has a vastly smaller pool of new students that she is responsible for.

Her goal is to establish contact with each new student and have some form of a personal relationship with them in order to help students find both academic and personal success in their first year of university.

“I think it’s an important position to have,” Peters said.

“I want to empower students.”

Not only is Peters responsible for being the front-line support for Aboriginal students, but she is also tasked with providing outreach to Aboriginal communities

and visiting local high schools to meet the fresh faces of potential new students.

Many freshmen face a culture shock to some degree during their initial months at university, but it can be even harder for an Aboriginal student. Challenges such as filling out grant applications for your band, homesickness, and for some, a sudden change in culture make the freshmen year out to be a daunting experience.

Trena Point, an Aboriginal student, has been at UFV a little over two years. She has completed upgrading her courses and is ready to tackle more schooling.

“It took me a few attempts to learn what works best for me. Only now have I found a successful strategy for studying,” said Point.

She has been a part of the ISC since its old location in A building, and has often found herself there between classes, whether it was to eat, learn about resources, or even nap on the couch.

Point has found that the ISC has played a role in helping her transition into university.

“They helped out with my grant applications, as I was so unsure what to do,” she said. “Without them, I wouldn’t likely be applying for grants, or learning about different resources. They helped me settle in.”

As the fall semester carries on, more and more Aboriginal students can be seen in the ISC that is located in the Student Union Building (SUB), and Peters has big shoes to fill this year to provide the much needed support to Aboriginal students.

“Welcome to the Indigenous Student Centre,” Peters would often say to new students. “You’ll be seeing me more than your family while you’re in university!”

Photo: UFV Flickr

Pilot coding program receives one-off funding JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR THE CASCADE

UFV is developing a short-term, skills-focused coding program for students studying physics and computer information systems (CIS). Though still in the early stages of development, the program is expected to focus on the training of third- and fourth-year students looking for employment in the technology industry.

The funding for this program comes as a one-time grant from the B.C. government of $500,000 divided among nine post-secondary institutions.

The government, through their BCTECH Strategy has proposed to grow and invest in British Columbia’s tech sector.

The reason for the funding is to address a problem commonly expressed by local employers, that they cannot recruit skilled workers, especially those directly out of university. B.C.’s technology industry is currently growing faster than Canada’s overall economy and wages for these jobs are 60 per cent higher than B.C.’s industrial average.

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As the tech sector grows and evolves, more trained workers are needed to fill the growing demand.

Each institution involved is able to use the funding to develop programs as they see fit to serve the needs of their respective communities.

While some institutions developed their courses with no prerequisites so that anyone could enroll, UFV’s focus will be to work with already experienced students looking to join the tech industry in order to provide them with the experience necessary for employment.

Liana Thompson, UFV’s director of continuing education, expects the program to be a non-traditional, roughly six-week program incorporating hands-on work training and classroom learning.

“We want our students to have long-term sustainable employment,” said Thompson. “Our hopes, our end goal is that this short, focused programming will give them the skills to be immediately employable in a tech industry position.”

Because it has largely been local tech industries expressing the need for more skilled workers, UFV will

Photo: UFV Flickr

be working closely with employers in order to develop the program, integrating representatives from tech companies as well as faculty into the program working group.

“They’re not only going to help us write the curriculum, they’ll tell us exactly the skills they would be looking for in prospective employees,” said Thompson.

Additionally, some tech representatives have agreed to get involved with the program itself through guest-speaking

arrangements. Liana also hopes that students will be able to work within some of these partnered tech companies to gain real world work experience and potentially finish the program leading into a job.

Currently, the short-term program is expected to take place from May to June next year. “We want to give students a bit of a break after exams in April but then get them right in there.”

It is not yet known if the pilot program will continue after it first

takes off in 2017 because of the government’s one-time funding approach. Although this kind of funding works well to get new programs started, if often fails to address the need to continue the program. Despite this, UFV hopes to continue the program to better equip students for employment.

“We’re super excited,” Thompson said. “This funding will provide potentially employ for our students right out of university.”

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

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OPINION Crossword Across 1: Europe's largest mountain range 3: Naval cry for help (SOS) 4: A goopy food made from bacterially fermented milk 7: Top-selling female musician of all time 8: An empty space in a solid object, possibly a tooth 9: Abbreviated term for a web address 10: British mothers, or common flowers.

Down 1: I, Robot and Foundation author 2: A word that shares a meaning with another word, and a valuable tool for writing crossword clues.

3: The quickest hedgehog around, who's "gotta go fast" 5: A planet: seventh from the sun, but first in name hilarity 6: An internet agitator or bridge-dweller Made by Jeff Mijo

Horoscopes

Astrological mysteries interpreted by Master Moji

Aries — Mar 21 to Apr 19 You will learn a new word literally minutes before the perfect opportunity arises to use it.

Taurus: It's a cool place, and they say it gets colder. You're bundled up now… wait 'til you get older!

Leo — Jul 23 to Aug 22 Thirst is the dragon that lurks deep within us all, so slay it with the mighty sword of hydration!

Sagittarius — Nov 22 to Dec 21 Someone close to you will tell a lie this week. Not to you, though.

To someone you kinda hate.

Virgo —Aug 23 to Sep 22 The Danny DeVito dreams are coming back, and they're weirder than ever.

Capricorn — Dec 22 to Jan 19 Running regular backups on your important files is always smart, but make sure to be extra thorough this week.

Gemini — May 21 to Jun 20 You'll do fine.

Libra — Sep 23 to Oct 22 If you complete the crossword, good luck will follow you this week.

Pisces — Feb 19 to Mar 20 When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie go see your optometrist ASAP.

Cancer —Jun 21 to Jul 22 This week will go exactly like you expect it to. Not just close. Like, eerily accurate. Please don't start writing horoscopes, or I'll be out of a job.

Scorpio — Oct 23 to Nov 21 A pickpocketing attempt will lead to some an unexpected connection.

Aquarius — Jan 20 to Feb 18 You seem like someone who needs a prophecy, so here it goes: in your life, you will achieve something that changes the course of human civilization. But in a kind of niche way, so that in a hundred years you'll come up on one of those "random weird history" things.

Taurus — Apr 20 to May 20 Get a pizza tattoo, and eat tacos for the rest of your life. No ragrats.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS!

We are looking for an illustrator to use either digital or traditional mediums to create original illustrations each week for the opinion section.

Contact mitch@ufvcascade.ca for more info and to apply.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

OPINION

Are we having a good time yet?

JOEL ROBERTSON-TAYLOR THE CASCADE

After nachos, intoxicating conversation, an interpretive dance to an unknown 80’s power-pop song (think Kevin Bacon, warehouse scene, Footloose) in the middle of Moxie’s, and having dropped Kyler off at his house, I had nothing better to do than take myself home. Like a bat out of hell and following post1:00 a.m. unwritten driving rules, I was driving really fast. The goal was to make it home before 1:30 a.m., a reasonable prospect given the distance and early morning empty road conditions. I was a little late, I made it home just after 4:00.

I could have been in bed by 1:30, slightly earlier even. All that would have been required different of me would have been to swerve around what was probably once a Subaru and ignore the petite white girl, dressed for a good time but having a really bad time bleeding out on the asphalt.

I do understand why someone would drive drunk, I get that, it’s not unknown to me. It’s not a wise decision, but wisdom isn’t one’s driving faculty when drunk. Many of us have been there.

What I don’t understand is how overpriced country cabaret tequila and laxatives cut with blow and whatever else is on the bathroom counter at Gabby’s can apparently turn you into Ken fucking Block. But it seems like the even more expensive alcohol and driving cocktail too frequently ends the same way. I’ve heard more stories of friends walking away from rolled vehicles than I’m interested in remembering, and some stories of friends not walking away that I can’t forget. Awareness isn’t the issue, and I don’t know what is. I imagine it’s quite unlikely that I or any of my loved ones will be struck by a carelessly drunk driver, but I refuse to think about what I’d do if that ever happened.

So after tearing through my trunk looking for a first aid kit and a flashlight and remembering I recently relocated the first aid kid -as we typically do to things shortly before needing

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them- I introduced myself as someone who, sorry, doesn’t have cigarettes but can still help you if you’d like while we await the paramedics. Evidently the cigarettes would have been more useful. Well no one asked if the paramedics had smokes but they seemed to know what they were doing regardless. They sauntered on over, asked a few questions, casually inspected the female and determined that she’d need a stretcher. The detached routine essence that these paramedics portrayed, I’m not sure if it was assuring or if it should have been distressing.

Because if television has taught me anything it’s that there were supposed to be two really attractive ladies and one well built man racing against time and workplace drama to get this poor girl onto that stretcher, all while talking about Lisa who is pregnant with Jeremy’s child. Not two exhausted looking men, eager for nothing, thirst quenched by one coffee to many.

According to a National Post article, Canada is ranked worst, amongst the 19 richest countries in the world for drinking and driving related deaths. It was noted that while fewer people die from motor vehicle accidents, the percentage related to alcohol is much higher. MADD estimates that in Canada, 2,541 individuals were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2010 with at least 1,082 of those fatalities impairment-related. Apparently the rates of impaired driving “crime” in Canada are dropping, but they’re dropping much too slowly. Perhaps the rates are dropping because reoffend rates tend to be low when offences so regularly end the offender. MADD contends that more 19-year-olds die or are seriously injured than any other age group. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among 16 to 25 year olds; the leading cause. Alcohol and/or drug impairment is a factor in 55% of those crashes; just a factor.

The world of numbers and factors and stats might help paint a scene, but it doesn’t step into the picture and say “bro, you’ve had too many.” As unnecessary or silly as those or as any words might seem in the moment, in the final act everything becomes more

meaningful. In the epitaph, it all was meaningful; was. It was upsetting to hear, and completely irrelevant after the fact, that Mr. back-seat-passenger told Mr. driver to slow down 30 seconds before they lost control. Or relinquished control, submitted control, completely surrendered control, gave up control without even a fight, whatever most accurately describes the ordeal. The many and unknowable events that lead up to a final event are the ones that you give permission to, the ones you submit to.

So why does it keep happening? It all seems like an issue of decision making to me, nothing else. I don’t believe laws are the answer, as some might say. Laws give people an excuse; they remove the morality from decision making. I’ll agree that the current impaired driving laws are absolutely and unequivocally pathetic and in dire need of rethinking, but problems like this can’t be legislated away. Truthfully, the system is functioning.

The firefighters, the RCMP, the paramedics, they all showed up for work and upheld their end of the bargain. Some kid might pay a fine, say he’s sorry and he’ll probably mean it. No one died, no major property damages were inflicted. The system functions, but it’s not working. We know it doesn’t work because the same thing is going to happen this weekend. Everyone will show up for the same show, run through the same motions, they’ll lift a hysteric 19-year-old into the back of an ambulance, looking at her and me with burdened, struggling to be empathetic, eyes.

Another, dismayed kid trying to control the story his face tells, balancing the appearance of concern with the obvious fears consuming him, he’ll be cuffed and wait for another ambulance.

This time, everyone gets to go home, not bad.

Whoever it was that I stopped for -post-gaming the club, pregaming the hospital- might have something different to say, and that’s okay. I’m not speaking for them I’m not speaking against them, I’m selfishly speaking for friends, my family, and myself.

Some problems are self-righting, they solve, remove, or consume themselves, but people problems tend to have collateral damage.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

www.ufvcascade.ca

OPINION

The vote between Satan and Lucifer JOSHUA DE SILVA CONTRIBUTOR

On September 9, Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, took to Fox Business to tell his fellow Republicans this message: “[If you are] going to stay neutral, you might as well vote for [Hillary Clinton] because your lack of vote for Donald means she’s going to get elected anyway.”

Ignoring the false dilemma, Marcus reminds America of the main argument to support Trump: Hillary is a corrupt, pathological liar, and therefore we need to vote for Donald to make sure she does not obtain more power than she already has.

Nearly all Republicans and Conservatives, including myself, can agree on the premise.

From the ardent Trump supporters of Sean Hannity and Hugh Hewitt, to the Never Trumpers Glenn Beck and Ben Shapiro, we all agree Hillary is a terrible person. What we cannot agree on, however, is whether supporting Trump would be better for America.

That conversation is for another day. What I want to discuss is the disgusting politics that have infected the two-party system in America.

The lesser of two evils mentality is flooding the minds of voters on the “Trump Train” and the “Hillary Express.” As Marcus indirectly pointed out in the interview, vote for Trump because Hillary is bad. Hillary supporters say the same thing about Trump. If you are with her, you support a crook, and the only first lady to ever be fingerprinted by the FBI. If you want to make America great again, you support a lifelong Democrat who only decided three weeks ago to start acting like a human being, probably thanks to his new campaign CEO Steve Bannon (of Breitbart fame). But hey, at least you do not support that other person!

The problem with this logic is that it can justify literally any bad behaviour, because someone else did something worse. Let us use Trump’s tax returns and Hillary’s medical records as an example. Everyone is upset the candidates will not release those documents to the public for us to know. We are upset

because it is not fair. What if Trump is actually hiding something sinister about his returns? Or perhaps he is not really worth what he claims to be. Same goes for Hillary: what if she dies two months into the presidency of God knows what, and America is stuck with Tim Kaine, whom the people did not actually vote for?

Perhaps she will make a decision while sick, and her judgement will be impaired for it. In any case, supporters could justify for any candidate saying, “Well, the other candidate won’t release his / her records, so why should mine?”

If Trump were to hit a woman with a car and kill her, it would not make a difference to at least some supporters. After all, Ted Kennedy drove a car off a bridge, leaving a woman inside to drown, reported it nine hours later and still became Senate leader, and ran for president in 1980. The Trump Train did the exact same thing when he went soft on the KKK. All Trump supporters could say was Hillary saw Robert Byrd, a former member, as a mentor.

Like I said, any bad behaviour is justified because you can just say someone else did it, and then stand on your imaginary moral high ground. Whenever Barack Obama is criticized, I anticipate someone to suddenly mention George W. Bush. After Stephen Harper’s monarchy, I cannot wait to see how long it takes for Conservatives to finally rid the stain of his legacy. I can already hear his name echo in the Rocky Mountains whenever I complain about Justin Trudeau taking long vacations.

Now we all know about the dangers of thinking in terms of lesser versus greater evils.

If you take away anything from what you have read, it should be this: voting for Lucifer because Satan is worse will still bring a terrible outcome. Lucifer may be better than Satan, but stop settling for someone bad to avoid someone worse. With 330 million Americans, they are left with a former Democrat turned Republican, a corrupt establishment Democrat, a Libertarian with few libertarian values, and a Green Party. That is what the lowest common denominator looks like.

So here is my solution: do not vote against people, vote for principles. It is childish to vote

for someone to ensure their opponent’s failure.

If Hillary truly supports your principles, and you believe she will do a good job of running the country, by all means vote for her. I neither align with her principles and policies, nor do I think she will run the country effectively, and I think she will tear down the constitution the first chance she gets. Same with Trump, but I think that he only cares about himself, and I think he will smear Republicans through the mud while perverting Conservative values.

Also, when debating on the effectiveness of policies and administrators, do not take the easy

road screaming Bush or Harper. All you’ll hear back is Trudeau; Obama, Woodrow Wilson, or Abbott; what is the relevance? You want to talk about those people, you can, but focus on the topics in front of you first.

If we throw away the relativistic idea of good and bad, we can stop voting for terrible candidates, and get someone good in the next election cycle. Otherwise, the candidates get a message saying they can do anything unacceptable, so long as they can point across the aisle.

Clinton’s AI update adds smile and shimmy dance functions PANKU SHARMA THE CASCADE

If I’m part of Hillary Clinton’s campaign team, I think after that 90 minute debate last night I’d breath a tentative sigh of relief. This was absolutely her night to lose — not only did she have to appear healthy and alive, but she also had to do more than squeak out a victory on policy and substance. The only expectation we put on Trump was if he didn’t literally vomit on himself he would have shocked audiences and commentators.

She had a sound strategy, but there were also missteps along the way. I’ll forgive gaffes and bad wording; it can’t be easy to keep completely coherent on that stage with that amount of pressure. So I won’t dock points for her early brain fart where she awkwardly said hello to Donald, or Trump almost celebrating his ISIS endorsement.

He took that bait she presented every time, that is obvious. Her jabs at his treatment of workers and shady business practices, taking advantage of the housing crash, not paying taxes, and wild temperament are all moments

that should stand out in viewers mind. While both of their answers on the economy were vague and weak (at least to me; I’m bad at money) and her statements regarding no flight lists being used to block gun sales incredibly troubling (we can talk about that another time), she had much better talking points and language during the race segment. If he’s trying to break into minority votes, celebrating stopand-frisk might not be the best move. However, debates like this aren’t 100 per cent concerned about policy and facts, but rather the way candidates can present themselves.

Trump was off the handle, but too often Hillary was stiff and robotic, which plays into his narrative of her being a typical uncaring and remorseless politician. When she was off the script was when she was strongest, in her natural reactions to the tirades of the man beside her. Her team should work on bringing out her personality and humanity more, she needs an emotional depth like her husband had if anyone is going to trust her. Otherwise we’ll continue to see her like a bottle of Buckley’s.

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www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

OPINION

S Curtailed commentary on current conditions

Why do we eat what we do?

Martin Ranninger

What if we could Snapchat Snapshots?

Klara Chmelarova

Any idea? Being a vegan has taught me that no one will question your eating habits until the moment you proclaim your veganism. Suddenly everyone has a PhD in nutrition and will throw health advice your way while snacking on food-like products and drinking fluorescent liquid #stayhealthy.

We eat because food gives us energy, right? But do you know what and how much (nutritionally speaking) you should eat? Nowadays we’ve come to the point where most of the time we eat because of our taste preferences, cultural habits, or out of boredom. Our bodies are fascinating and when supplied with healthy food they thrive. But what is healthy? Is that a personal choice because our bodies are different? Finding the answer to what is healthy seems to be the ever-increasing topic for nutritional specialists and scientists. With the rise of nutritional science in the late ‘60s we have seen theories of what is and isn’t healthy come and go.

We’ve tried the low-fat formula. Then we cut our carbs. Where are we today? Go to the supermarket and options are countless: high-protein, low sugar, fat-free, extra fibre, etc., and even bigger is the list of all the amazing new stuff we throw in food to prolong its shelf life. Try looking at the ingredients list of a cookie box, you’ll barely know how to pronounce them.

“Millennials are the demographic cohort between Generation X and Generation Z. Researchers typically use the early 1980s as starting birth years and use the mid-1990s to the early 2000s as final birth years for the Millennial Generation.” That’s what Wikipedia says about Generation Y: us. We are the first ones to be born into the Digital Age, children of computers to put it melodramatically.

Older generations (parents and grandparents) usually have a hard time understanding our symbiotic coexistence with technology. “Put the controller down, Justin, and go play outside instead. Don’t stare into that phone, Monica. At 8 p.m. you’re shutting your computer off, Peter!”

Surely most of us can remember a moment in our childhood we heard something like that. Today the straight up prohibition changed into disapproving looks when we check our (insert any social medium here) during (insert any family occasion here).

According to Generation X, we are too dependent on new technology and “things are not as they used to be.” This of course means disaster in the eyes of many elderly folk. It amuses me, because recently I read book about a Sto:lo man born in 1905 and he had the same perspective on people born into the mechanical age: our grandparents. Every generation thinks the younger one is worse because novelty feels dangerous. My plea, therefore, is next time you’re about to scold younger sibling about something new and unfamiliar to you, try and remember what it felt like when grandpa unplugged the power cord from your Macintosh.

I don’t hate all of you Panku Sharma

Life In Dorms at UFV Anonymous Baker House Resident

Unfortunately the Canadian healthcare system does not provide proper coverage or medical options for RBF* syndrome. Since my youth I’ve struggled with this affliction; it has cost me countless opportunities to engage within my community, develop proper academic relations within my program, and proved an obstacle for countless friendships. On one tragic and unjust occasion it even caused me to be demoted at a place of work.

I wish people could be more understanding, that they wouldn’t judge a book by its cover. I’m a nice book, full of whimsy and sarcasm, a deep concern for the emotional well-being of those around me, and the continued growth and development of the places I call home. I can’t help that my face looks like that. Even though I’m as sweet as a caramel macchiato, it’s been poured into a real mean mug.

My fiancé says the anger rests in the brows. I also don’t like showing my teeth. Whatever the case, short of a Joker-esque knife scar this is the face I’ll live with. If I’ve ever come off as standoffish or intimidating, please give me another chance. If you are under the impression I hate you, I promise you I probably don’t. And if I do I won’t show it on purpose, because I believe in being polite to a certain extent and I don’t wanna make things awkward in the SUB. I’ll confirm if I hate you after I graduate. *Resting Bitch Face*

Living in Baker House is not exactly what you would picture when you think of the university dorm experience. It is a great place to live but there are certain things that make it very awkward. I have nothing against international students, and in fact I have made friends with quite a few of them, but it seems that the ratio of Canadians to international students its highly outnumbered by international students. This tends to make it hard to get to know your neighbours when you don’t speak the same language and don’t have any intention in learning the others. I find it odd that many international students live in a Canadian community but still speak their language and stay within their culture groups. Of course, this is understandable in the fact that it brings a sense of home and comfort, but it puts up walls before making new connections.

Again, I have nothing against international students and I am happy they chose Canada to get their post-secondary education, but at the same time it’s hard to even feel Canadian living in Baker house.

Illustrations: Amara Gelaude

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

www.ufvcascade.ca

OPINION

Coffee Interviews

By Klara Chmelarova

Melissa Koyanagi For home student Melissa coffee means “Sitting at home in the middle of the night studying and coffee is a warm substance keeping me alive.” Despite that, she hardly ever drinks coffee. “I don’t really have a go-to place, but I won’t go to Tim Hortons,” she said. “I usually get coffee from Starbucks, because I tend to study there.” If she would have to pick, however, her favourite is Blacksmith Bakery in Fort Langley, because “They sell coffee from Republica Roastery and their croissants are to die for.” Being a noncoffee drinker, Melissa’s consumption still spikes during exam weeks. “I tend to drink more coffee when heavy assignments are due, even then I am still not drinking that much,” she said. Regarding coffee culture, Melissa thinks that “People drink more coffee than they should. But just culturally speaking, across Canada, we still don’t drink nearly as much coffee as some other countries. For instance, my mom’s Finnish and my relatives drink a lot of coffee.” No surprise, as Finland has the biggest coffee consumption per person in the world. In her opinion, coffee drinking became more like a status symbol. “You know it matters where you get your coffee, how much you know your coffee, how pretentious you are with your coffee. It became a thing like wine and winespeak,” Melissa explained. Despite all that (or maybe because of it) her coffee punchline is: “Coffee is life.”

Holden Milne Holden sees his cup of black liquid as “reliant, keeping [him] through the miserable existence [he] is currently living.” His favourite go-to place when urge rings is a roastery in Fort Langley called Republica Coffee. “The flavours they develop are the most pretentious thing, and it’s so good,” he said. Another favourite coffee shop of Holden’s is a small place on Mayfair and McCallum Road in Abbotsford called The Polly Fox because “They have lots of vegan goods and the owner of it lived in Paris for a while (so coffee there is really good).”

Holding onto his mug of ink black drink a bit too much, Holden also recalls a serious overdose: “It happened when I was around 14-15. I chugged two big cans of Monster Energy right after I had a lots of coffee, which forced me into the overdose. Its symptoms are essentially the same as overdosing on cocaine,” he explained. When asked about coffee culture and popularity of coffee brands, Holden said that “It’s an interesting shift because on one hand we have more people drinking coffee. It’s more common and you can’t really go anywhere without finding some place to get coffee. But on the other hand people have stopped caring. It’s a lot less of the niche market now. It’s not about quality or the background of it anymore.”

Rhys Cornell To exchange student Rhys, coffee represents something opposite than to most of us. He sees it as a time to relax. “For me personally, considering how my mother is a big coffee drinker, she usually drinks it to calm down as my household was very stressful. So for me coffee is like people assume tea,” he explained. Despite all that, the U.K. native drinks it occasionally. Saying that “My household is very health oriented, so for that reason I try to limit it, but if I drink coffee it’s usually during evening time while doing an assignment or something really not interesting.” When asked about his favourite brand Rhys replied: “In England there is a rival chain to Starbucks called Costa. So I always go there.” This led to the question if Costa is perceived as Starbucks in culture terms. “It depends on what part of the U.K. you are in,” he said. “We have a lot of independent cafes, but Costa is definitely biggest in the U.K. and so it’s sort of a brand for the British culture.” His conclusion on coffee culture is: “Consume something up until the point that it starts to consume you.”

Alissa Les “When I hear the word ‘coffee,’ first thing that comes to my mind is Timmy’s (Tim Hortons),” laughs first-year student Alissa Les. The future teacher enjoys her mug properly chilled. “I drink frappuccinos, but not regular coffee that much,” she said. Still, once in awhile she succumbs to the steaming cousin of the frapps. “Its pretty rare though,” Alissa said. For that reason she does not see herself as part of the coffee culture usually connected with the life of university students. With all the exams yet to come, however, she’s heard that there is no way making it through without some help from the drinkable gold. “I think that my consumption will definitely go up if there are assignments and I am not getting enough sleep; I will reach for coffee,” she said. Except for that, Alissa does not see brown liquid as part of relax time.

Considering her favourite brand, she said, “I usually go to Tim Horton’s, because it’s cheaper, but generally I prefer Starbucks.” In terms of coffee and culture, Alissa believes that our growing obsession with steaming mug is connected to way we tend to socially interact with others. “Usually when you want to meet up with someone you use the ‘Let’s go for coffee’ phrase, even though you might not end up having coffee at all,” she said. “It became a common phrase in culture.”

Mandy Fung When UFV student Mady hears the word coffee, her immediate thought is: “I want some, I love coffee.”

She considers herself part of the “Coffee Cult.”

“I am like one of those people who need their cup to even start the day,” she said. When it comes to brand, Mady is not too picky, but is not a Tim Horton’s fan. “Any sort of local coffee shop is what I am really into,” she said. “All the ones that are in Abbotsford are amazing.” Though supporting small coffee businesses, she fancies a steaming cup of Starbucks every once in awhile.

Being a self-confessed coffee fan, Mady’s consumption surprisingly doesn’t skyrocket during the exam weeks. “I actually tend to drink less coffee when I am not focused,” she explained. “I know it’s weird, because most people drink it more when they get stressed. I just switch to water and it helps me think quicker.” The main reason being that coffee is more a thing of enjoyment for her than energy booster, Mady noted: “I think that’s why a lot of people are starting to talk about coffee as an actual drug.” Thanks to this new trend, Mady goes on non-coffee detox every few months. “I don’t wanna end up fully addicted to it,” she said.

With all that said, her description of inky Elixir of Life is: “Hug in a mug.”

Jacob Curren First-year arts student Jacob sees coffee as energy, “Like a shot of strong espresso.” He doesn’t consider himself a heavy coffee drinker, but says that he’ll “still go it get sometimes as there are two coffee shops on campus. It’s easy access.” Other than that he adores Starbucks. “I enjoy the variety they offer. There’s a lot of different options for everything,” he said. Being in his first semester of university, Jacob can’t tell if his coffee consumption will go through the roof or not. “But since starting university I already definitely drink more coffee than during summer,” he explained. On topic if our culture is becoming more addicted to coffee not just as a drink, but an actual gadget he answered: “I think we are for sure becoming more addicted to coffee as a whole, the drink itself and the brand. More so, some people are pretentious about it.” Jacob’s overall opinion of coffee is that “It will make you stay awake and pass.”

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How brew you?

By Martin Ranninger Layout by Brittany Cardinal Celebrating annual International Coffee Day, or rather an ode to the known-by-all beverage, was the main reason why I wanted to write an article about coffee. While sipping on freshly brewed cup of Joe, ideas started popping in my head. I could write about the benefits and impacts on our health from drinking coffee, sometimes too much, or the environmental impacts and issues related to child labour. Various coffee methods on how to prepare you favourite cup seemed like a good idea too. Cultures around the world are built around coffee. Countless songs and poems celebrating the beverage have been written. But the question that bothered me the most: how do I introduce coffee to my peers? They all know what it is, and many of them are drinking it right now while reading this.

We’ve all had our liquid breakfast when there wasn’t simply enough time. Or lunch. Okay, sometimes even dinner. I am guilty of this too.

As a heavy coffee drinker, mostly for its allegedly stimulating qualities, I gradually decreased my consumption. I rarely drink coffee these days to give me the morning kick or as a tool to meet the deadline on time.

A couple years ago at grammar school, when all my classmates had already been enjoying the magical beverage, I began to like the taste. At first what seemed as a drink only for busy adults, black as night and bitter as the darkest chocolate, slowly found its place to be on my menu. Every day.

And then there was Bean

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According to an old myth, stimulating effects of coffee were discovered by goats prior to humans, as explained in “Commodities: High Finance in Coffee,” by Bernard Colodney. “An Arabian goatherd noticed that his charges were unusually frisky. He observed them carefully for a few days, and discovered that whenever they ate the bright red berries of a bush that grew wild in the area, the goats would dance and frolic,” Colodney writes. The goatherd tried some himself, liked their taste, and spread the news around.

Increased ability to work longer and increase energy are examples of modern coffee usage. However, coffee was primarily used as a social drink during ceremonies and helped transcend the material world and find peace during the long-lasting night religious rituals.

Interestingly, coffee was first sold in apothecaries as it was considered to be a drug, hence the prohibition by some religions in the early days of coffee.

Since the independence from Portuguese colonial rule in 1822, Brazil has been exporting million bags of coffee each year. In 2005 more than 25 million bags were exported, giving Brazil the biggest coffee producer and exporter worldwide status.

As the most commonly used psychoactive substance today, coffee may induce a mild euphoria. Overconsumption may result in a dysphoric and depressive mood. Admit it, how many times you drank too much and had that funny feeling in your stomach?

Coffee Changing the History Popularity of coffee can be attributed to its caffeine content, which is the world’s most popular legal drug. Well known rituals, such as “wake up and smell the coffee” or a “coffee break,” make coffee a social drug.

Rise of coffee houses’ popularity in Arab countries was questioned

by Orthodox Muslims as they saw coffee houses as a threat to mosques, which were the centres of sociability.

Trade, diplomacy, war, and immigration all contributed to arrival of coffee in Europe. First rejected by the Catholic Church, based on the argument of Muslim popularity of the beverage, it became popular after the “reconciliation” with the Pope.

Coffee became popular and considered as a luxury good from the Orient. North Europeans enamoured the beverage the fastest, probably because of the heating properties the African bean brought to cold northern climes.

What caught my eyes while reading on the history of coffee was the relations to Brits and tea. Because of the English East India Company, Indian colonies, and high taxes on coffee, Brits turned to tea as their national beverage. Five o’clock tea, anyone?

During the 1980s adding flavours to coffee and rise of popularity among coffee-like drinks such as cappuccinos or lattes have rapidly changed the coffee industry.

Starbucks transformed coffee to a mainstream consumer good and its marking is noteworthy. Nevertheless, Starbucks has been criticized for a variety of reasons, for instance, for cultural homogenization, predatory intentions, using dairy products containing RGH, or over roasting its beans, which may result in destroying its essential parts.

Fueling the Cultures The coffee production industry not only employs more than 25 million people and is the world’s second most traded commodity, but it has inarguably become part of our culture in so many ways.

It has become part of social construct. We all know and have used the “Let’s grab a coffee” phrase many times. The fast paced environment of our wired 24 / 7 world accepted coffee as a tool through which we adapted our bodies to the unnatural biorhythms of artificial light.

The golden age for coffee began at 18th century with over 2,000 coffeehouses located in London, as well as the one penny admission fee and frequent visits from intellectuals, writers, and poets, to which customers could listen to. Later known as “penny universities,” it quickly became popular across Europe.

This could have partially been the reason why politicians throughout Europe imposed high taxes, tariffs, and duties on coffee. This has resulted in English coffee houses becoming private clubs, the French houses becoming restaurants, and the consumption of coffee fell off sharply. Only in Vienna did the coffeehouse culture continue pure in its bitter form.

Popularity of coffee on the old continent spread to its colonies overseas. The Boston Tea Party was organized in a coffee house, which caused a rise of coffee consumption across the New World. Surely John Adams, James Otis, or Paul Revere enjoyed a cup of brain juice.

Symbolic separation from anything English followed, making a tea drinking practically treasonable.

Tale of Thousand and One Cups As the Turkish say: “Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love.” But not everyone might enjoy their cup so dark, hence the opinion on how to drink coffee properly varies across culture.

Apart from enjoying ancient sites in Rome or falling in love with the sunlit Tuscan valley, Italy is definitely a good place to get espresso or a cappuccino. It is a common sight to see older men with tiny cups, discussing the meaning of life in the streets after work. La dolce vita!

Although not a cigarette smoker, I could always appreciate the romanticized scene from a black and white movie set in Paris: coffee shops, beautiful men and women smoking and browsing newspapers while jazz-like music plays in the background. But lattes and fresh croissants have treated me many times during lazy Sundays, and you don’t have to live in Paris for that.

Spice it up! If you fancy coffee with a taste of the Orient, then the Turkish way of preparing it is just for you. Traditionally boiled in copper pots known as Jezvas over open fire, Turks add cardamon, masala, clove, and cinnamon to the bean-blend mixture, along with a hearty amount of sugar. The Jezva is then left to boil three times. The final drink is poured into beautifully painted glasses with iron embroidery.

There’s nothing better to treat yourself with while coursing through stony streets of Istanbul. Iyilik!

Just don’t try Turek while visiting my home country, the Czech Republic. We simply pour boiling water over ground beans and drink it. Yuck. Enjoy your cup!

Coffee types and brewing methods

By Michael Chutskoff

Espresso Machine Cappuccino

The cappuccino is the one of the most misunderstood drinks in the world of espresso. People who are new to coffee often try a cappuccino only because the name gets thrown around in pop culture, only to be repulsed by the flavour. A cappuccino is a strong drink, as it contains less milk to soothe out the boldness of the espresso shot. It consists of an espresso shot in a cup, followed by a dash of steamed milk, and the rest of the cup is filled with steamed milk that is all foam. If you order a dry cappuccino, you are ordering a drink with an espresso shot and only foamed milk — an acquired taste.

Espresso shot

An espresso shot comes to being by the use of an espresso machine. The machine forces a small amount of hot water under pressure to flow through finely ground espresso grinds to create an espresso shot. Espresso shots have very strong flavours, and serve as the base for many other beverages.

However, espresso shots have an extremely short lifespan of around 30 seconds before they “die.” A dead shot means that the flavour of the espresso becomes extremely bitter and unpleasant.

Drip coffee Nothing beats the convenience of a drip coffee machine. Throw some grinds into a filter, flip the on switch, and in a matter of minutes, freshly brewed coffee is ready to go. While its flavour profile compared to the other methods is debatable, it’s an easy and convenient way to produce coffee for decades.

Latte

A latte is the go-to drink for many people because of its simplicity and diversity in flavour profiles. A latte consists of espresso that is poured into a cup, followed by perfectly steamed, velvety milk to create a sweet and creamy concoction. Baristas often show their flair by creating latte art when pouring the milk into the espresso shot. For a flavoured latte, flavour shots are added to the cup with the espresso shot, but before the milk is poured in.

Mocha

The mocha is one of the go-to drinks for those who despise the taste of coffee, but need caffeine to function, and for those who can’t decide between coffee and hot chocolate.

The mocha, and its popular brother, the white mocha, both are excellent choices as the sweetness of chocolate masks the taste of coffee goodness. The mocha begins with chocolate sauce (or “mocha sauce”, looking at YOU, Starbucks) added to a cup, followed by an espresso shot, and finished off with creamy steamed milk, no foam. Top it off with some heavenly whip cream and you’ve got yourself some “coffee”.

French press The French press method is often revered as one of the simplest and best ways to make coffee. It allows for the most diversity for a cup of coffee as users can control the temperature, the brew time, and the grind type. What sets the French press apart from other methods of brewing is that there is no filter or other type of inhibitor that steals the essential oils from the bean, creating a fuller, more vibrant flavour, and makes the coffee feel silky smooth

Macchiato

Depending on where in the world you order a macchiato, you can get vastly different drinks. In Italy, a macchiato consists of an espresso shot with just a tiny bit of steamed milk that is more foam than liquid, and adds just a touch of sweetness to the bold flavours of espresso. However, most coffeeshops in Canada and the U.S. take a vastly different approach to the macchiato. Instead of a small, simple drink, many coffee chains have opted for larger, more extravagant creations. These macchiatos consist of steamed milk poured into the serving cup, followed by the espresso shot, and topped with foamy milk. Having the espresso shot poured into the milk instead of into the cup first gives the espresso less time to sit and create more of a bitter flavour. However, most macchiatos are not that simple. The caramel macchiato, which is considered one of the most popular flavours for this drink style, turns a simple drink into a sugary delight.

Caramel syrup is added to the cup, followed by the steamed milk, espresso, foam, and then a delightful cross-stitching pattern of caramel sauce; the perfect drink to satiate your sweet tooth.

Moka Pot

Single-use pod machines

The moka pot is a two-chambered coffee machine that originated in Italy. Its funky design has made it iconic in Europe, and has seen variations of it land in modern industrial art museums. It works by boiling water in the bottom chamber.

As the water begins to boil, the pressure from the steam pushes the hot water to the upper chamber.

Before it completes its journey, it first must push its way through coffee grinds where it extracts the oils from the drinks. The end result is a strong flavour that is reminiscent of a mild espresso flavour.

Single-use pod machines have recently been sweeping across the market, as they can create a large variety of drinks in seconds, often forsaking flavour for efficiency.

Keurig K-Cups, Tassimo discs, and Nespresso pods fit into their respective brand’s machines, and are only compatible with said machines, creating fierce competition. However, their convenience is now facing heavy criticisms as most of the plastic pods are non-recyclable, and are slowly starting to plug up landfills and bodies of water.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

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CULTURE & EVENTS SippChai Café welcomes local artists to their open-mic night HARVIN BHATHAL

CONTRIBUTOR/PHOTO

Once a month, one of Abbotsford’s finest cafés hosts an open-mic night where local artists with differing levels of experience open themselves up in front of a small crowd of strangers and either sink or swim. At September 23's open-mic night there was definitely far more swimming than sinking.

The event was scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., but the evening began slowly, with the first wave of performers starting to trickle in towards the latter half of the hour. As the clock struck 8:00 p.m., host Saint Soldier warmed up the attendees for the first performer, who goes by the name of Jared, from the band Jared and the Social Worker.

Out of the three songs he performed, a cover of Poison Oak by Bright Eyes was by far the best. It was bone chilling and emotional, and one could feel the pain echoing through his voice and words.

Throughout the night, the live DJ played an excellent variety of songs, ranging from ‘90s hip-hop to ‘00s R&B, from house to EDM, as well as a few indie-rock songs. He did his job

well and tied the event together when artists were not performing.

Though the night began serious, there were many lighter performances such as an original song on the ukulele, and an acoustic version of The Weeknd’s Can’t Feel My Face, where the artist sung a slower version of the song that was tied together by his mature and heavy voice.

Besides the music itself, the best part of the performances were when the artists would interact with the crowd. A singer who goes by the name Saveena was a prime example of that. She was a minute into her performance of Stay by Rihanna, and then threw a curveball by saying that “she wasn’t feeling it” as she was off beat. The song began again and she certainly delivered, with her performances of Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri and Hallelujah

by Leonard Cohen showcasing her powerful voice and presence.

A case in which an artist sank was a cover of a Pentatonix song Light the Hallways. He had a good voice but he was unprepared and it was clear he needed more practice. However, that is the beauty in open-mic nights. People only gain confidence and experience through performing in front of live audiences, but more importantly, they are a chance for the

community to get together and showcase local talent. It is a definite boost for people both different and alike to come together in one place and do what they love: perform.

There were a range of different performances of songs such as a raspy cover of Jeremiah’s Birthday Sex, and an original Hindi song Mahiya, which the artist delivered with a beautiful and confident voice.

Open-mic nights are not just for singers, as there were a few poets who got the crowd going as well. One of them performed satirical takes on tramp stamps and flamenco dancers, which the crowd thought were a delight. Another performed a series of poems detailing the racism against people in their own country, in particular Indians in Canada, and the police shootings of unarmed African Americans in the United States. Her poems were powerful, evocative, and truthful, yet harsh.

SippChai Café’s open-mic Friday was the first open-mic night I have ever experienced, and it is safe to say it will not be my last. If you’re looking for a good time, definitely go to SippChai next month (or any other time really; their selection of teas is to die for) and be a part of the community.

Free yoga classes, right here on campus MARTIN RANNIGER

THE CASCADE

What started as a spontaneous yoga session on the green during the summer of 2014 is now UFV’s well-established yoga club. Apart from hosting regular weekly sessions, students can look forward to “glowga,” a yoga session with trance music and light in the Great Hall of the Student Union Building (SUB), which was a major hit last semester.

The yoga club wants to highlight the importance of taking care of yourself. This will be a joint effort with the mental awareness club, which the yoga club has partnered and will collaborate with. Students are encouraged to attend the club’s weekly sessions during midterms to reduce their stress levels and get a fresh perspective on things.

Yoga club members Emma MacMurdo, Nicky Rai, and Catherine MacMurdo sat down with The Cascade to talk about the club, its plans, and what yoga means to them.

What does a regular session look like?

We start by introducing ourself, sharing bits about what we are studying and then the instructors take over. It is free drop-in, open for all students, teachers, and staff too! We even provide yoga mats.

No matter what your skill or ability is, everyone is definitely welcome to join us.

Who leads the sessions?

It is always student-led and at the beginnings we figure out what the students want to focus on.

Sometimes it is more focused on hips, sometimes more abs.

What would be the main message you want to send out to the UFV community?

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That we organize free, inclusive yoga sessions, making it accessible as well as both respecting yoga’s cultural roots and the land we practise on, which is equally important to us.

Do you practise any particular yoga school?

One of our instructors loves hatha yoga but mainly it is usually relaxing, kind of flow-type of yoga.

Can you tell us about benefits of practising yoga?

It is great for your body. Not just in a physical way but with so much stress and things happening around us your mind will benefit too. We tend to forget to take care of us but yoga is a great tool exactly for that. Come and see for yourself, you will feel energized. We believe that body, mind, and spirit are all interlinked and for 1,000 years yoga has been practised to bring all three together.

Stress is, for example, carried not only mentally but it can be stored in your neck or back. Without regularly taking care of yourself it will add up and result in problems later on. It’s a great release for all that tensions that’s built up!

Wow, that’s great! I should become a regular member then. Any other reasons why people should pop in?

We like to think of it as an outlet on campus for physical activity, but also for socializing. You can make friends here, have fun, and meet likeminded people.

What are some of the bigger events you plan to host this semester?

We’re all very excited about the upcoming Halloween-themed yoga session in October! We wanna put up decorations and have spooky music going on. It would be great if people showed up in their costumes as well. Just be mindful of your costume choice. We also hope to organize a joint

Photo: UFV Yoga Club

event with the mental awareness club and dark chocolate as the main star! It has lots of benefits for your brain and in spirit of that we want to talk with students about mental health.

It seems that yoga and dark chocolate are a great match. For anyone else who wants to join, the regular sessions pop up either on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or on Wednesdays

from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. in the SUB Great Hall.

The sessions vary depending on the week, so check the UFV yoga club Facebook page about the exact time. Namaste!

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

www.ufvcascade.ca

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

CULTURE & EVENTS Falun Gong Art Show in the Great Hall JEFF MIJO

THE CASCADE

From now until October 1, an exhibit called The Art of Zhen Shan Ren is showing at UFV. The works were created by practitioners of Falun Gong, a heavily persecuted Chinese spiritual practice. The show has toured around the world, with the originals housed in New York. Several dozen large paintings detail the stories of practitioners who were jailed in China for their beliefs, sometimes leading to death and organ harvesting. The exhibit is open for free viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Student Union Building.

Cutting snack costs with homemade cookie day JEFF MIJO

THE CASCADE

The start of fall can be a depressing time. The days are getting shorter, the sun shows up less and less, and toques are starting to sound like an increasingly wise investment.

But there’s also a strange sort of nostalgia to the fall. School is feeling like a routine again, the leaves are changing colour, and Halloween is lurking just around the corner. The candy displays are towering over store aisles, tempting us as a perfect snack to throw in a backpack at the last minute. But when we do, we feel guilty because that big box of Kit Kats isn’t cheap, and it’s even less healthy. So how’s a poor student supposed to satisfy their sweet tooth, at least until those post-Halloween sales?

A lesser-known holiday on October 1 provides the perfect answer, with Homemade Cookie Day. The event’s origins are unclear, but really, we shouldn’t need an excuse to indulge in a bit of baking. Homemade cookies, in addition to delivering a taste that no mass-produced baking has ever matched, can also be a smart choice for your wallet.

To make my point, I’ll first have to share a recipe with you, directly from the master of homemade cookies: my grandma.

Now, taste is a hard thing to measure, but cost certainly is not. I took a look at prices for the ingredients at Superstore, breaking down the costs of the cheapest options to the precise amounts needed for the recipe. If you use margarine instead of butter, the largest expenses are flour and chocolate chips, at around $1.25 each. Obviously your actual costs will vary since it’s hard to buy just two eggs, for example, but there’s also a decent chance you have some of these already.

The total cost came out to $4.38 for a batch. On average, that’ll be around 42 cookies, so $0.10 per cookie.

Compare that to $0.15 per cookie for a package of President’s Choice Decadent Chocolate Chip cookies, or around $0.12 per piece for a box of Halloween chocolate bars. It may not sound like much, but over the course of months or years, it can certainly add up. The savings are far more dramatic if you compare them to buying snacks on

campus, where a single (admittedly larger) item could cost several dollars.

The obvious concern here is the time required to bake.

However, if you can find half an hour to throw together the ingredients, it’s not difficult to put them in the oven and then study while you enjoy the fresh cookie smell. You might even be able to download that book you’ve been putting off reading as an audiobook to listen to while you work.

A few parting tips: it’s not hard to double the ingredients and keep yourself stocked for weeks (or days, if you really like them). Or maybe the big draw is that fresh baking smell.

You can get that every day by freezing the dough once it’s been formed into cookies, then baking as many or as few as you want at any time. If that takes too long, bake them all at once, freeze the leftovers, and you can thaw them out almost as good as new.

So on October 1, consider doing something for both your tastebuds and your wallet. I promise, my grandma knows how to make good cookies. They’re worth your time.

Grandma K’s Delightful Chocolate Chip Cookies of Goodness

ANCILLARY SERVICES PRESENTS

CUSTOMER

DAY

1. Cream butter, sugar, and

Join us for a special day to celebrate you: our customer.

vanilla in a large bowl.

Add

eggs,

beating

for

1

minute.

UFV Bookstore invites UFV students, faculty, staff, and alumni to come and have some fun at our 5th annual Customer Appreciation Day.

1 cup butter or margarine

2. Combine flour, salt, and

1 cup brown sugar

baking soda; add to creamed

1 tbsp vanilla

mixture.

2 eggs

3. Stir in chocolate chips.

2 cups all-purpose flour

4. Drop by spoon onto cookie

Bookstore UFV Abbotsford campus 33844 King Rd.

1 tsp salt

sheet.

ufv.ca/customer-day

1 tsp baking soda

5. Bake at 350 for 8 – 10

1 cup chocolate chips

minutes for chewy or 11 – 13 minutes for crisp cookies.

Cookies will appear moist, do not over bake.

Wed, Oct 5

Prize giveaways all day!

9 am: Free Coffee 10 am: Smoothie Demo 12 pm: Fashion Show 2 pm: Talent Show

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Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet.

6. Finish cooling on rack.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

www.ufvcascade.ca

CULTURE & EVENTS FASHION

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fashion on campus: the ankle boot RACHEL TAIT

CONTRIBUTOR

SEPT.29

Sustainable UFV Waste Audit @ Green 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Shauna Singh Baldwin book launch @ Centre for Indo Canadian Studies 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Games Night @ Global Lounge 4:30PM - 6:30 PM

SEPT.30

OCT.1

Culture Days @ Mission Campus 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Envision Concert Fall Series: Now’s the Time @SippChai Café 7:00 PM

As of this week, The Cascade's fashion column is being rebooted to involve UFV students on campus who are enjoying the fall styles this semester. Say hello to Emily Cantera, who has been attending UFV for five years now. She is currently majoring in marketing with a minor in communications. When first observing Emily, one cannot help but approve of how well put together she is, and the way she carries herself is enviable. Wearing a teal jewel-toned blouse underneath a charcoal grey blazer and skinny black dress pants, Emily was the perfect candidate for the new fashion column. The items that stood out the most on her ensemble, though, were her cute brown, laser cut high heeled boots.

When asked how she would describe her style, she didn't hesitate. "I like to be comfy, but I also don't like to look like I just got out of bed," Emily said. A typical outfit for roaming around campus includes a flannel shirt, leggings, pull-on sweaters, and of course, her ankle boots. She found them online and made her purchase through Amazon. "I saw these booties on Pinterest and thought, ‘Those are the most adorable things ever! And I want them …’ I love them, so I bought them," she said.

The boots Emily wears are an excellent example of the growing trend for fall boots.

Easy to dress up any outfit and incredibly comfortable, ankle boots are not new to the fashion market, but have been revamped in new looks such as jewel tones, flat or high heeled, with suede and leather being the most luxurious option. The word “boot” simply means to cover the feet and lower leg. They have come in various lengths and heels, such as wedge, stiletto, flat, riding, etc. Through their various shapes and forms, boots have prevailed as a long staple for fall and are reminiscent of English riders and aviators during both World Wars, and are perfect for keeping your feet dry when it rains (which happens constantly here on the “wet” coast).

A staple since ancient times, the boot has grown into a fashion statement that is still standing strong today.

When asked what advice she would give to students who shared a similar fashion sense and style, Emily had a few things to say: "Honestly, I recommend looking up styles that you like and taking that. I do a lot of online shopping because I find it's easier to look at everything because I get overwhelmed in stores … I miss a lot of things I would have loved wearing." She also pointed out that doing research is crucial to finding out what will suit your body shape the best. And with her effortless chic style, it is easy to see that online shopping is paying off in spades.

Photo: Martin Ranninger

v HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

OCT.3-7

Student Peer Leaders Appreciation Week Various locations and times

OCT.5

Bookstore Customer Appreciation Day @ Bookstore 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Movies for Mental Health @ Great Hall 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

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Sleep: Curing stress, emotions and physical ailments EMMA GROENEVELD

THE CASCADE

While sleep may not be a cure-all, getting the correct amount can really help boost anyone’s physical and emotional health. Too often sleep is pushed aside in order to finish the tasks that were left uncompleted during the day. In a spiteful relationship with coffee, bright lights, and energy drinks, people skip the sleep their brain so desperately needs to finish that last task of the day. Lack of sleep is an immensely stressful thing, as the brain doesn’t receive the break it truly deserves. The brain is such an important thing, give it the rest it requires, or your everyday life will pay the price. Here are some things you can do to combat the urges to stay up past midnight and later.

1. Stay far away from electronics. It is tempting to go on social media sites for hours on end, but do not get sucked into this void! Lights from the electronics decrease the production of melatonin in the brain, and this keeps you wide awake when you should be getting quality shut-eye. The same goes for television. That Netflix binge can wait for another day, Narcos isn’t going anywhere.

2. NO STUDYING. Nothing is going to stick in your brain if you can barely keep your eyes open. Studying for that final that you avoided all day is detrimental to your final score; you might as well just rest up and allow your

brain full thinking capacity for the following day. Lacking sleep will only slow down your brain process, giving you and your grades a bad time.

3. Keep all distractions away from the bedroom. Your bedroom is for one thing right now, and that is sleep. Keep your room and bed tidy to allow full comfort and minimum stress from your surroundings. Keep that laptop far from your reach, and that phone plugged into the wall farthest from you.

4. Sleep in the nude! This one is kinda odd, but sleeping without clothes on helps regulate temperature and keep you much more comfortable. If sleeping nude is too weird for you, wear loose, cotton clothing to allow movement and comfort in sleep.

5. Sleep on your left side. Sleeping on the left side of your body has proven to be beneficial for getting a better rest and help body functions. The lymphatic system is dominant on the left side of the body, and allows draining and transport of the needed fluids around the body. Sleeping on this side can also help blood flow and circulation, which is a positive in many ways. More oxygen through the body, better sleep.

While changing habits can be a regular pain, nothing feels better than being healthy. Sleep can really add years to life, and help maintain proper health. Getting the right amount of sleep can help control dizziness, anxiety, depression, and lower angry, sleepy-induced emotions. So stop what you’re doing, put down this paper, and hit the hay! You can thank me later.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

www.ufvcascade.ca

ARTS IN REVIEW PODCAST REVIEW

Shuffle

CHARTS 1

Angel Olsen My Woman

2

Blessed Blessed

3

Aleem Khan Urbana Champaign

Bline Melon No Rain “No Rain” was released in 1992 on Blind Melon’s debut self titled album. The track charted at number one in Canada and the US, garnering Blind Melon a platinum record. Bassist Brad Smith wrote the song before forming the band while he was dating a girl who was going through a depression, stating that “she would sleep through sunny days and complain when it didn’t rain.” You might however know the song better by its music video, which features a young girl dancing around in a bee costume, coke bottle glasses, and pigtail braids. The “bee girl” was so renowned that she would later reappear as the character in Weird Al Yankovich’s “Bedrock Anthem.”

4

Preoccupations Anxiety [single]

5

The Pack A.D. Positive Thinking

6

Jessy Lanza Oh No

7

Dan Mangan Unmake

8

Anvil Anvil Is Anvil

9

Majid Jordan Majid Jordan

Bob Dylan A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall Hey! Alright, one that’s not about depression. This seven minute long song is one of three social protest songs recorded on his 1963 The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, this one reportedly being about anti-nuclear war as it was written during the Cuban missile crisis. In the liner notes Dylan states “Hard Rain is a desperate kind of song. Every line in it is actually the start of a whole song. But when I wrote it, I thought I wouldn’t have enough time alive to write all those songs so I put all I could into this one.”

10

Tricky Skilled Mechanics

11

Duke Robillard Blues Full Circle

12

Cheap High Picture Disk

13

Brendan Canning Home Wrecking Years

14

Rae Spoon Jump With Your Eyes Closed

15

The Albertans Legends of Sam Marco

16

Allah-Las Calico Review

17

Tough Tits Hairless

18

Glass Animals How to be a Human Being

19

PandaTooth Undertake Melody (single)

AUDREY MACDONALD MUSIC DIRECTOR AT CIVL

Fall is here and that can only mean one thing. Rain.

Eurythmics Here Comes The Rain Again “Here Comes the Rain Again” was released on the Eurythmics third studio album, Touch in 1983. By the time Touch was released the Eurythmics had already achieved international success with their hit single “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” released earlier that year on the album of the same name. Dave Stewart explains the song in an interview, saying that “Here Comes the Rain Again’ is kind of a perfect one where it has a mixture of things ... And the whole song was about that undecided thing, like here comes depression, or here comes that downward spiral. But then it goes, ‘so talk to me like lovers do.’ It’s the wandering in and out of melancholy ... and capturing that in kind of oblique statements and sentiments.”

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Aesop Rock The Impossible Kid

Dungeons and Dragons and... Dads?

CHRIS TOWLER CONTRIBUTOR

There are few things in this life that bring me joy like finding diamonds in the rough when it comes to my pop culture consumption habits. Performed by the McElroy brothers (of My Brother, My Brother and Me fame), The Adventure Zone is a comedy Dungeons & Dragons podcast that features three brothers — Travis, Justin, and Griffin (the Dungeon Master) McElroy — and their father Clint, sitting down every two weeks to play Dungeons & Dragons. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be into Dungeons & Dragons to enjoy The Adventure Zone. What started out as primarily a comedy podcast has, over the past three years, evolved into one of the most compelling, heartfelt, story-driven shows I have had the pleasure of experiencing in a long, long time.

The adventure itself stars Magnus (played by Travis), a human fighter known for his battlecry and combat philosophy “Magnus rushes in!” Merle, a dwarf cleric played by Clint, and Taako, an elf wizard (played by Justin) searching for the secret arcane ingredients to his namesake.

Together, they embark on an epic quest to reclaim the grand relics — artifacts of unbelievable power, but especially temptation (as none who have attempted to reclaim them, aside from our intrepid heroes, have been able to resist the impulse to use these relics for their own gain) being sought after by the Bureau of Balance, who intend to seal away the artifacts so that they may never be used for evil ever again.

What starts off as a relatively straightforward quest, however, quickly transforms into an adventure that takes us across an epic fantasy landscape from an old country western town doomed to repeat the same day over and over, a Crystal Kingdom, a Mad Max-esque fantasy drag race, and even a murder mystery aboard a speeding locomotive.

But these things alone are not enough to set The Adventure Zone apart from any other Dungeons & Dragons podcast.

The first thing that differs is the McElroy’s synergy and comedic chemistry. They are, if nothing else, just straight up hilarious. No strangers to comedy and showmanship, having done many years performing My Brother My Brother and Me and many other podcasts on the Maximum Fun network, they possess a certain kind of authenticity, charm, and bond with one another that allows for humorous, fast-paced riffing on the events as they unfold. These digressions can range from one-liners to entire parodies, one such example being the recurring “Fantasy Costco” visited by Magnus, Merle, and Taako in between adventures, which is hosted by none other than Garfield, the Deals Warlock, who is happy to make you a deal you can’t refuse, even if you don’t have enough gold … So long as you depart with just a tiny drop of blood, for reasons that you probably, definitely should not be worried about at all, whatsoever. Or perhaps when Merle the cleric casts Zone of Truth to compel truths from

all non-player and player characters alike, so that when one non-player character asks our heroes if everything is going to be okay, Merle responds: Merle: “I know you’re worried about your friend. But just trust us …”

Clint (breaking character from Merle to speak directly to the Dungeon Master): “Is Zone of Truth still in effect?”

Griffin, the Dungeon Master: “No.” Merle (back in character): “… everything is going to be just fine.”

But there’s more to it than just humour. Griffin’s ability to weave a complex and flexible narrative that adapts to his players, and a compelling story as the podcast evolves is just astonishing. There have been multiple times where the story has been so heartfelt, so poignant and emotional that I have experienced genuine shivers listening to this podcast (and several embarrassing tearful moments). The Adventure Zone manages to be more than just the sum of its parts, and this is why I think it is an enjoyable experience for anyone: the show is really about the three brothers playing and spending time with their father. Unlike the brothers, Clint (a former radio DJ) has little to no experience with role-playing games outside of video games like Fallout, so the podcast is as much about the brothers teaching their father the rules of the game as it is about the story. And in this, I think, the charm of the series is found. As we grow into adults with ever-growing responsibilities, we naturally find we have less and less time to spend with the ones that we love. But such fundamentally social gaming experiences like Dungeons & Dragons find ways to bring family and friends together and share in a common experience, compelling us to cast aside the beckoning of the real world if only for just a little while, to share in the very personal adventure and bonding that can only be brought about by such gaming experiences, strengthening those bonds and familial ties.

I can prattle on forever about the virtues of The Adventure Zone, but it really is something you have to experience for yourself. As a former graduate student, the McElroy’s and The Adventure Zone have been my constant companions for over two years now, providing both comedic relief to my life, and heartfelt, emotionally resonant stories that have in turns brought me from fits of laughter to fits of tears.

But in addition to that the show is about family bonding, and how games can serve to bring us closer together even when we are distant from each other (the McElroys often record the podcasts over Skype), showing us that even in adulthood, there is always room for family, friends, and a little adventure. I implore you: give The Adventure Zone a chance. I recommend it to any student looking for a little escape in between stressful study periods. You won’t regret it.

You can find The Adventure Zone podcast at tiny.cc/ theadventurezone

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

www.ufvcascade.ca

ARTS IN REVIEW ALBUM REVIEW

Days after the rodeo A review of Travis Scott’s Birds in The Trap Sing McKnight JOO-YUNG KIM CONTRIBUTOR

After gaining success from “Antidote,” Travis Scott’s highly anticipated album Birds in The Trap Sing McKnight gives his fans and the new age of hip-hop an album to remember. Birds in The Trap is jam packed with prolific producers, as well as Travis Scott himself, showing he is not only a rapper and performer, but also a producer.

This album is very different from his previous album, Rodeo, as critics did not enjoy it as much as the mixtape Days Before Rodeo. Rap fans and listeners will enjoy this album, as it brings plenty of typical Travis Scott, and for those who don’t enjoy rap or any sort of hip-hop, this album can prove how enjoyable the popular genre can be.

Birds in The Trap Sing McKnight isn’t any other rap album.

It doesn’t have the flashy and gangster vibe to it, but it gives a vibe only Travis Scott can give out. The vibe and feeling you would get while listening to this album, is something comparable to trying a new drink from Tim Hortons, and actually enjoying it, making it your go-to drink until you find a new favourite drink.

This new wave of rap, the mumbling and auto-tuned voice, as bad as it may sound, is actually enjoyable to listen to. You don’t have to listen to the lyrics carefully, or listen to the song over 10 times to actually remember the catchy parts properly. Travis Scott and his album take you on a trip, making you want to party, or just enjoy the car ride with your new favourite album blasting on your car’s speakers.

What makes this album so great? It could be the high quality studio production the album brings, the catchy and very “different” verses and phrases that Travis Scott throws out throughout songs just to name a few. Tracks “outside” and “through the late night” show what Travis Scott is highly capable of; instrumentals are incomparable, and his lyrics are catchy. Too catchy. Catchy and absurd lyrics that you’ve never heard before, but you will “get those goosebumps every time.”

Birds in the Trap was greatly anticipated and it was no surprise when Travis Scott added the songs, “wonderful” featuring The Weeknd, and “pick up the phone” featuring Young Thug and Quavo. Both songs were extremely successful. “goosebumps” is the most popular song on the album, followed by “beibs in the trap.” Each song has a very distinctive melody and Travis Scott gives each song life. Birds in The Trap Sing McKnight gives you that raw image of Travis Scott, in his “rockstar skinnies,” loose-fitting shirt, and some Vans Old Skools, but it’s the image that makes you realize no other artist is as human. It’s the authentic vibe you can’t get from any other artist, and it’s what makes Travis Scott’s album great.

Listen to the album, but don’t expect the gangster rap or the subtle and soft rapping from Drake, as you’ll get an album with over 100 per cent of effort put into it, giving you that rap music you cannot get from anyone else. And if you don’t listen to rap, but are into enjoying good music, give Birds in The Trap Sing McKnight by Travis Scott a try. You won’t be disappointed.

ALBUM REVIEW

Keaton Henson goes naked in Kindly Now HARVIN BHATHAL CONTRIBUTOR

A lyrical masterpiece that’s effortless in swaying the listener with the desolate tone of the album, British folk singer Keaton Henson’s Kindly Now examines the anxiety that haunted his past and nearly crippled him, and reflects on the love, lust, and ego that went into his career, all in 12 bittersweet songs.

Throughout the album, Henson’s falsetto and trembling voice is the primary focus; it’s what makes his music distinctive.

However, his quavering croon is his downfall as at times, it overshadows what he is trying to get across with his songs.

The record’s beautifully played piano and violin, in addition to the lyrics, add to a tearful experience; be prepared to let the gates of your body overflow with sorrow.

“March” transports the listener to the beginning of Henson’s journey in his career. The song gives a preview to elements that are ever-present in the album. “NW Overture” is comparable in the sense of its focus on the violin shifting the mood. While the presence of violin in “Holy Lover” is common to the record, its purpose is different as it depicts his struggle to overcome the anxieties that plague him. In “Alright” Henson bids farewell to the child who wrote his previous two albums so he can move on and reach his full potential. Time stands still as the atmosphere is barren, much like Henson himself throughout the album. The somber piano and the tear-jerking lyrics make the song one of the many heartbreakers in the album.

A change in direction, “The Pugilist” depicts a sorrow that

16

has a not-so-hidden tone of anger, which, in comparison to rest of the record, is sorrow in its truest form. Henson’s anger is towards the relationship between the artist and the part of the brain that makes an artist an artist. What makes Henson a compelling artist is that more often than not, he transports the listener into the atmosphere of a song. In addition, his pauses often say more than words; the silence is deafening. In “No Witnesses” sound bounces off floorboards and walls as if they were made of aged oak. Henson himself is maudlin.

With “Good Lust” and “Comfortable Love,” Henson recounts his past loves that did not amount to much more than sorrow due to his apparent restlessness and an inability to trust others. In “Old Lovers in Dressing Rooms” he describes a chance encounter with an ex and the uncertainty that follows, while “Polyhymnia” depicts a violent battle between himself and his muse. What ties these three songs together is how his lyrics emit an aura of emotional grief that embodies the entire album. The instrumentals in each song are excellent in tying lyrics together well. Out of the four instrumental tracks of the album, “Gabe” is easily the simplest as it is a break of synths and bass clarinet for the listener after four consecutive heavy songs that are unrelentingly remorseful.

To complete the album, “How Could I Have Known” is Henson’s pining for his love, which encompasses the purpose of the entire album. In his career, one of the largest factors has been his history in love and its failures. Kindly Now is an album for a heartbroken soul, but if you are one without heartbreak, I guarantee you will feel Henson’s heartbreak as he gives us a look into his wounded soul.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

www.ufvcascade.ca

ARTS IN REVIEW

Attention, bankrupt students!

A fresh foray into cheap eats opens a stone's throw from Abby campus

MITCH HUTTEMA

THE CASCADE/PHOTOS

Bankrupt Social Spot (read as student budget haven) opens its doors officially on Saturday, October 1 as a food-primary licensed establishment, but November 1 is when the real party starts. November 1 they switch to a liquor-primary licence, allowing them to have live bands and entertainment, stay open past their current midnight close, and their pool table will be open for business for $2 per game.

Inspired by The Hastings Warehouse in Vancouver known for its $4.95 menu, Bankrupt Social Spot aims to produce restaurant quality food with fast food prices.

I need to start with $1 tacos. Every Tuesday, the restaurant serves unlimited chicken and beef tacos for $1 each. The beef and chicken tacos aren’t life changing for their taste — they are still pretty stellar — but for their price that might just be a possibility. They also serve two mouthwatering, market-fresh battered cod fish tacos with a side of fries or salad as a regular entrée which I have returned for twice. On Wednesdays, they serve 25¢ wings and any day of the week any of their entrées or appies are $5.95 each. What you pay for is not what you can expect.

According to our news editor, Joel, their poutine rivals that which he had in Montreal: the motherland of all that is cheese curds and warm gravy. The fries are the key to its goodness, thick cut and well cooked with a blend of mellow spices.

They don’t feel as greasy and artery clogging as some fries do (I’m looking at you Costco food court) and for $6 the portion that you receive feels like a stellar deal.

Any place that ever expects to attract students

must have a decent plate of nachos to hold them down once they get in the door. In Bankrupt’s nachos, the chips are only a vehicle for the abundance of toppings. The small $6 plate is enough to feed four people easy, and they even offer a larger size that is advertised to serve four, which makes me nervous. You likely won’t come here for the just nachos, they’re a little dry, and they serve them on wax paper on a plate — a no-no according to Joel — but they are definitely a bonus considering the price.

Our former opinion editor, Alex Rake took a stab at the burger, which according to him, tastes like something you’d eat at your friend’s house that was made by their mom. Again, $6 for a burger and fries that tastes homemade is a pretty sweet deal.

As for the calamari (another student staple), Joel notes that they include deep fried banana peppers in the mix with a great result. I tried the calamari myself and it actually has flavour. Most deep fried squid retains the same chewy, tasteless texture, relying on the batter to give it shape, but this squid is somewhat doughy tastes like what I would assume is squid and is huge for its portion size.

As of yet, Bankrupt has no vegan or gluten-free options, and the only veggie burger according to our current opinion editor, Panku Sharma, is not something he will be returning for. In general, the food is quite tasty. There are a few menu items that aren’t superb, but when you pay $6 for them any complaints you might have fade away. Their tagline is: “We're #goingbankrupt so you don't have to,” an attempt at bringing their brand to social media.

And whether or not you plan to advertise them on your social accounts the idea is definitely easy to agree with.

anxious? blue? stressed? depression, anxiety, and risky drinking information and screening

free, anonymous, confidential, drop-in

University of the Fraser Valley 33844 King Road, Student Union Building (Building S) by the gym October 6 10am–4pm

for more information: www.heretohelp.bc.ca

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

www.ufvcascade.ca

ARTS IN REVIEW

S undBites

The Head and the Heart

Madeleine Peyroux

Signs of Light

If you, like me, have heard of The Head and the Heart from their two hits "Lost in my Mind" and "Rivers and Roads," then this latest release from them will be nearly indistinguishable to you (and me). The 13 new tracks sound nothing like the oldcountry singer-songwriter tunes they used to produce. Signs of Light is reminiscent of Walk off the Earth, the YouTube acapella sensation that became a globe-touring, feelgood indie-pop group. This is the first album that The Head and the Heart have produced since signing with a major label, and it is something more in the realm of marketable than any of the more niche material that they have produced in the past. The indie-pop

Secular Hymns penetrates every corner of this album. They maintain some of the same elements as their pre-label, foot-stomping, barn-singing days, but much of the spaces between their simple singing and strummings have been filled in with a plethora of electronically produced sounds ranging from drum beats and echoes to the keyboard. The violin peeks out here and there but it is heavily shielded by digital altering that makes it sound something more like a synthesiser. Now there's nothing wrong with moving onwards and upwards, and the group had no allegiance to their mostly analogue methods of before, but such an odd and sudden shift in genre is sure to be alienating to their fans (and me for sure).

Mitch Huttema

“More Time,” which honestly have more in common with R&B in the vein of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me” than they do with jazz or blues, are upbeat, crisp, and sublimely funky in a subdued kind of way. They are also, unfortunately, vastly outnumbered by the rest of the material on the record.

If you’re going to sing religious music in an unreligious context, do what Nina Simone did, take that hymn (strip it of its religiosity if you want), but add something. Add pain, add anger. Otherwise you get a record essentially destined to be played softly in the background of a coffee shop in an attempt not to offend anyone, noncommittal in nature — kind of like a double-double.

Martin Castro

El Viaje

The Sun’s Tirade

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Sometimes you’ll get an artist that’ll fill an album with blues standards, stuff like “St. James Infirmary” and “John The Revelator,” and, you know, they might play these songs well (and they are good songs), but it’s more than likely that that album is destined to be periodically displayed in coffee-shop stands.

And even that practice is being phased out.

By any rate, that’s essentially the kind of album that Madeline Peyroux gives us with Secular Hymns, the exception being that these aren’t standards. Also, they blur the line between jazz and blues, which might sound interesting, except that it’s already been done and it’s called swing.

This isn’t swing. If anything, it’s boring.

But it didn’t have to be. Songs like

Harold Lopez-Nussa

Isaiah Rashad Top Dog Entertainment (TDE) is led by its most well-recognized artists Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. With those huge names at the top of the label it’s easy for some of its other artists to get eclipsed, but TDE’s Isaiah Rashad is making waves with his latest album, The Sun’s Tirade. This being his second major release, Rashad delivered a consistent soundscape which was, in a way, a refreshing take on the modern state of hiphop. Straying away from heavy bass drops and repetitive lyrics, Rashad takes a much more soulful approach with his production and lyrics as his use of elongated basslines and variety of instruments give it an almost jazz-like quality. We saw Kendrick dabble

Mini album reviews

in this style on untitled unmastered., his latest record, but Rashad approached this in a more subtle and easygoing way. Rashad covers different spectrums in this album as we explore a reserved, yet catchy sound along with sincere lyrics that make for a record that flows very well together. Some standout songs include “AA,” “Silkk Da Shocka,” “4r Da Squaw,” and “Wat’s Wrong,” which features Zacari and Kendrick Lamar.

Rashad did an exceptional job with this project and for anyone looking for a change of pace from a summer filled with exciting and high-paced music, The Sun’s Tirade is a great fall album to get into.

Bruce Martin

Harold Lopez-Nussa’s El Viaje is a jazz album that blends the blues-based piano licks of artists like Thelonious Monk with a rhythm and horn section clearly influenced and informed by Cuban music, and the result is a record that’s altogether surprising and yet accessible, energetic in its occasional outbursts from a resplendent horn section, and still meditative enough to allow the keys (which, strictly speaking, are the star of the show here) to shine among an environment that’s all Latin horns and an infectiously hyperactive rhythm section.

It’s a perfect mix of more structured American jazz influences, like the Davis-

flavored trumpet that rings out during the eponymous track, balancing and giving weight to an otherwise gently optimistic track.

Tracks like “Inspiracion en Connecticut” are an odd little meeting of the worlds, as a straight blues backing piano and fouron-the-floor rock drum kit give backing to an ambitiously escalating piano melody that continuously elevates the track’s momentum.

If you want a record that’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that done right, this one’s for you.

Martin Castro

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

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ARTS IN REVIEW CONCERT REVIEW

Thank God for punk rock bands Blink-182 rock the Abbotsford Centre to prove they are kings of the weekend KAT MARUSIAK THE CASCADE/PHOTOS

Sunday night saw the Abbotsford Centre sold out and full of fans from as far as Vancouver who had come to see Blink-182, The All-American Rejects, and A Day to Remember. Most of the crowd consisted of fans from Generation Y, reliving a bit of our teenage years, but I was happy to note many new, younger fans also rocking along.

Down below, as the crowd began to file in, DJ Spider played clips from many old ‘90s / ’00s hits that had most people laughing and singing along. Smoke was hanging rather thick in the air as The All-American Rejects took the stage.

They put on a great show, and lead singer Tyson Ritter was hilarious. At one point he mentioned how nice it was to be playing in Canada, especially with the state of the U.S. right now. He jokingly apologized in advance for whatever goes down in November, since they’ll be choosing between a “pile of crap or a giant douche” as their next leader, then added how lucky we Canadians are, because “that Justin guy is the shit!”

Ritter then went on to ask if any of us had ever wished we had a time machine, declaring that was what the evening was going to be like: a mother-fucking time machine! Their short set included several old favourites including “Move Along,” as well as some of their newer music, such as the song, “DGAF.” They teased the crowd that they were done and heading off before breaking into probably their most famous track, “Gives You Hell.”

A Day to Remember played next, and though I admittedly wasn't very familiar with their music, they definitely helped make it a night to remember, with a slightly heavier rock / metal vibe that had the crowd

head banging along. Screens in the back of the stage flashed with colourful images and had an almost video game-like motif. At one point the band encouraged a mosh circle, and people began running around in a conga-style circle in the middle of the pit. They began to throw random items into the crowd, including inflatable beach balls, toilet paper, colourful streamers — even a man in a large plastic bubble.

Finally, the centre now fully packed for the main event, a large black curtain hid the stage. People started chanting "Blink!” as more smoke filled the air, the curtain dropped, and the band arrived to the enthusiastic screaming of the fans.

While the large screens in the back continued to switch between visual effects, two flat screens on either side of the stage displayed close up camera angles of the band and images of the cheering crowd. Their performance was full of energy: lots of running around the stage, jumping, sometimes throwing things. Not to be out-done by the opening bands, there were pyrotechnics including flames and fireworks which flashed and blazed, and more toys were thrown into the crowd, including an assortment of blow-up dolls.

There was some crowd surfing and other excitement, but overall the crowd was well-behaved and no one got hurt.

At one point during the performance, the fire alarm was set off somehow and the house lights came on. Not sure exactly what was going on, when assured it was not an emergency, Blink simply powered through it, with lead vocalist Mark Hoppus joking that the lights would just let them see how beautiful the crowd was.

The lights lasted for about two songs before the arena was finally dark again.

Their set list was a wonderful combination of a lot of their most notable work, as well as a selection from their new album, California. I found myself misty-eyed

with nostalgia more than once, singing along to tracks such as “Rock Show,” “All the Small Things,” and “What's My Age Again?” Since many of the newer songs feel so akin to their older music, they could transition between them easily. Among those played were the popular “Bored to Death,” “Los Angeles,” and “Kings of the Weekend.” Towards the end of the night, a giant confetti gun was fired, filling

the air and covering the stage and the front of the crowd with the colourful confetti.

Sadly there was no encore, but of course, like the weekend, all good things must come to an end. All three bands did a wonderful job; the night definitely felt like taking a ride in a time machine, while also enjoying the revival and new era of music being made by the artists.

MOVIE REVIEW

The Magnificent 7 comes out guns a-blazing KLARA CHMELAROVA THE CASCADE

The newest iteration of The Magnificent 7 definitely falls into the category of guilty pleasure movies. A reboot of the 1960s remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 Seven Samurai, this new installment entered the cinema with blazing guns and the smell of tobacco. The story (like in the previous movies) is a fight of seven brave men, be it roughed-up cowboys or code of honour following samurai, against oppressors of the innocent. The 2016 version revolves around mining town Rose Creek, where evil landlord Bogue usurps his workers and their families. The terror escalates when his men burn down the local church and kill several inhabitants. Not to spoil the entire plot, the adventure is about seven men (surprise) of different stories who get recruited by a member of the unfortunate community and promise to rid the place of Bogue and his cohorts.

The biggest — and in my opinion best — difference was the change in the layout of the group. The original was composed solely of the archetypical cowboys, while the reboot brings a pretty colourful bunch together. A woman, Emma Cullen (although she is marginal), drunk Irishman Josh Faraday, black ranger Chisolm, traumatised gunslinger Goodnight Robicheaux, Mexican outlaw Vasquez, grandpa-with-a-hatchet Jack Horne, Mohawk’s younger brother Red Harvest and prairie’s Jackie Chan Billy Rocks. It is quite refreshing that not only is every character diverse and unique but their cooperation is believable and not just an attempt to shut us up about equality. Maybe it’s because their characters are not overscripted for the fairly straightforward storyline. Moreover, Chris Pratt shines in his character of Faraday. His knack for situational humour puts lightness to this slice of nostalgia you will silently indulge in.

Another thing (and one your inner five-year-old will love) are the high resolution shootouts. Like when Vaquez literally nails a guy to

a coffin with bullets. Or when Josh lights a stick of dynamite with his cigar while having one last smoke. That said, the whole movie is full of cheesy moments, from long hard stares between men, to a tough guy agenda that just doesn't hold water anymore. Worst of all was the ending, where it felt quite obvious that the authors ran out of ideas and just needed some filling before credits roll out. But you will readily forgive those misfortunes.

This movie is not trying to pretend it’s anything other than what it is, and thus it earned my sympathy. The verdict is simple, if you are fan of the western sun and enjoyed the original Magnificent 7 or Clint Eastwood in The Good the Bad and the Ugly, this movie is not going to ruin the classics for you. It will not become another classic either. Rather, it will remind you of the good old times in the best way possible. So strap on your colt and into the saddle, fella, we’re burnin’ daylight. Yeehaa!

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ART

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

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OF THE

MONTH Submissions & questions can be sent to jeff@ufvcascade.ca

Submissions are due Friday, September 30th Limit of three submissions per person, per month Submissions must have been created since June 1st

Accepted mediums: painting, drawing, print, photography, digital art, sculpture, 3d work

Include a 50 word bio, 150 word artist statement, and image list with titles, mediums, sizes, and dates of creation

All images must be in CMYK format, 300+ DPI,in Zip file, less than 5 MB total. All files must be in PDF format.