The Cascade Vol. 22 No. 18

Vol. 22 Issue 18

www.ufvcascade.ca

July 2, 2014 to July 15, 2014

Running out of toner since 1993

“We’re still here” UFV celebrates Aboriginal Awareness Day

p. 5 Abbotsford plants an edible garden for the homeless p. 10-11

Artisanal treats at the farmers’ market p. 13

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NEWS News

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Opinion

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Culture

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Arts in Review

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Sports & Health

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News

Briefs

Bawdy house found in Abbotsford After tips from December 2013 came in, Abbotsford Police Department’s major crime unit built a case concerning a home on Townline Road. On May 29, a search warrant was executed and officers found a brothel operating out of the house. The APD media release indicates a 54-year-old Vancouver woman is likely to be charged in the case, though the investigation is ongoing.

SUS heads to Lobby Week The Student Union Society (SUS) is heading to the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) conference July 6 - 10. The executives (Thomas Davies, VP internal; Dylan Thiessen, VP external; and Ryan Petersen, president) are advocating for youth unemployment initiatives, parental exemption from student loan assessment, consistent trades certification between provinces, mental health awareness, and female Aboriginal represention.

Transition house fundraiser on campus Nine UFV social work students are hosting a family friendly BBQ on campus to raise awareness and funds for local transition houses on July 12. Transition houses offer a safe place for women and children who have fled their homes in time of crisis. The event will be accepting household items and clothing and will run rain or shine.

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Let us know!

Email news@ufvcascade.ca or tweet at @CascadeNews

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Fossilized poop

A 50,000-year-old sample of Neanderthal excrement has given scientists a clue into their diet, which seems to have included more veggies than previously thought.

Modern masculinity has toxic elements Men in our society need to be encouraged to remove the mask and express themselves — UFV alumnus Chris Towler explains how hegemonic masculinity impacts violent events like the shooting in Isla Vista on May 23.

Style on campus As the summer semester waxes, campus style descends into sweatpants, flip-flops, and that shirt you wore all last week. Vanessa Broadbent scours UFV for a smart dresser with some wise tips on fashion, self-image, and how to choose feel-good clothes.

Bublé performs for home-town crowd

Michael Bublé showed off his crooning prowess to Vancouver, performing old favourites, new hits, and even covers. Check out Katie Stobbart’s concert review.

A sporty state of mind

Have you ever wondered about the psychology behind sports — both athletes and fans? Emily Rybak explains BIRGing, CORFing, and the two types of motivation for athletes.

Canada still struggles with identity issues KATIE STOBBART

THE CASCADE

By the time this paper is published, Canada will be 147 years old. We’ll have taken down our flags and closed the tabs with those listicles we read on all the things Canadians do — you know, to brush up in case we’re missing anything beyond maple syrup and saying sorry a lot. The post-fireworks haze will have long dissipated.

Even if you have managed to avoid sociology, history, political science, or Canadian literature courses, you’re probably aware Canada has some identity issues. The big questions — who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? How much is it all going to cost? — are difficult for us to answer with any kind of unanimity. Canada Day seems to be the one day (unless this happens at hockey games) when we can forget all that stuff, dress in red and white, and have a parade in weather that could melt an igloo in 60 seconds.

Otherwise, I worry that the defining feature of being Canadian involves a lot of apologizing, guilt, and burying our heads in the snow.

The word “patriotism” starts to feel a little disingenuous until we load it with beaver tails, moose, geese, maple leaves, beer, polar bears, a sailboat, the sea-to-sea thing, and a Tim Horton’s cup to boil it all down into something sugary but palatable — something we can drink so we don’t have to dwell on some of the unpalatable things we’ve done and said in the past.

There’s also, of course, the narrative of denial to fall back on when all that fails: “We’re Canadian because Volume 22 · Issue 18 Room C1027 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529 Editor-in-chief katie@ufvcascade.ca Katie Stobbart Managing editor valerie@ufvcascade.ca Valerie Franklin

Image: Aaron Bihari/flickr

“Ultimately it’s all coming back to beer, beavers, and good old Tim’s.” we’re not—” American. Pirates.

White-walkers.

One problem with defining Canada as a nation is geography. One of our big unifying symbols (sea to sea to sea) is also a threat to our unity. How much does someone from Vancouver really have in common with a citizen of Swift Current?

Drumheller? Montreal? Yellowknife? Fredericton? Sure, we could probably all carry a decent conversation about the weather (if you brought up pipelines, you might be there a while). But ultimately it’s all coming back to beer, beavers, and good old Tim’s.

But there are stickier divisions than imaginary borders at play in our identity problems. Another major obstacle to unity — and possibly a reason we keep changing the subject back to the merits of maple syrup — is the still violently purple bruise of colonization, railroads, internment, ships full of refugees — take your pick. Apologies are topical: they have made for some great photo-ops but seem to fail as balm for wounds that go right into the marrow.

In “What is a Nation?” Ernst Renan suggests a big part of nation-building is getting over

the strife that went into birthing the country in the first place.

“Forgetting, I would even go so far as to say historical error, is a crucial factor in the creation of a nation,” he writes.

Maybe Canada Day is our small annual foray into that process: if we can sit back together and just enjoy the fireworks, that’s not such a bad thing. But most of the time, I’m reminded strongly of the Dixie Chicks’ approach to forgetting: “Forgive? Sounds good. Forget? I’m not sure I could. They say time heals everything, but I’m still waiting.”

News editor jess@ufvcascade.ca Jess Wind

Staff writer breckles@ufvcascade.ca Taylor Breckles

Printed By International Web exPress

Opinion editor brittney@ufvcascade.ca Brittney Hensman

Production manager stewart@ufvcascade.ca Stewart Seymour

Culture editor nadine@ufvcascade.ca Nadine Moedt Arts editor sasha@ufvcascade.ca Sasha Moedt

Business manager joe@ufvcascade.ca Joe Johnson

Sports editor catherine@ufvcascade.ca Catherine Stewart

Online editor ashley@ufvcascade.ca Ashley Mussbacher

News writer katherine@ufvcascade.ca Katherine Gibson

Copy editor kodie@ufvcascade.ca Kodie Cherrille

News writer megan@ufvcascade.ca Megan Lambert

Art director anthony@ufvcascade.ca Anthony Biondi Production assistant shyanne@ufvcascade.ca Shyanne Schedel Contributors Vanessa Broadbent, Owen Coulter, Remington Fioraso, Jeremy Hannaford, Kier-Christer Junos, Riley Nowlan, Katie Tegtmeier, Tori Thistlethwaite, Ashley Thornhill, and Chris Towler Cover image Anthony Biondi Photos: Kier-Christer Junos, Stephen Bowler, Michele Bighignoli, Ruby Blossom, Anton Bielousov, Tim Hamilton

The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It provides a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a circulation of 1500 and is distributed at UFV campuses and throughout Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission. The Cascade is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national cooperative of 75 university and college newspapers from Victoria to St. John’s. The Cascade follows the CUP ethical policy concerning material of a prejudicial or oppressive nature.

Submissions are preferred in electronic format through e-mail. Please send submissions in “.txt” or “.doc” format only.

Articles and letters to the editor must be typed. 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. The writer’s name and student number must be submitted with each submission. Letters to the editor must be under 250 words if intended for print. Only one letter to the editor per writer in any given edition.

Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, Cascade staff and collective, or associated members.

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

If you build it, they will come Best bikes and best toss at UFV’s Bicycle Show ‘n’ Shine

MEGAN LAMBERT

THE CASCADE

“I feel like a winner,” said Rob Benson, winner of the bike toss competition at the UFV Bicycle Show ‘n’ Shine on June 24.

Students of UFV’s bicycle frame building program presented their finished products at their campus at the UFV Aerospace Centre. The competition for the best bike and bike toss was held to celebrate the students’ completion of the program.

Traditionally, after a mountain bike race, cyclists hold a bike toss — picking up a mountain bike and throwing it as far as they can. In this case, the students contributed $2 for a throw, and whoever threw the farthest won the pot.

In the best bike competition, the bikes were judged on rarity, aesthetics, and the coolfactor. Mike Freda won with a bright blue frame he designed to allow for suspensions three times the standard size.

Instructor Paul Brodie, owner of Brodie Research Technology Inc., teaches steel-frame bicycle building — from designing your model to tweaking the finished product.

“His stuff is very cutting edge,” said Dave Farmer from the Abbotsford Arts Council,

noting that Brodie is a “legend in the biking world.”

Students begin by learning a short history of mountain bikes, then they design the frames.

There are two ways of welding the frames: brass welding and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. Brass welding is done by holding a small brass cylinder over the intersection of the two metal pieces and melting it on top of them, acting as a kind of glue. TIG welding fuses together two pieces of metal, then filing down the residual bumps. Most of the recent class brass welded, giving the jointed pieces a smoother finish.

The class practised welding miniature frames before moving onto their larger projects.

Some had the frames painted by “Toxik Harald” Strasser, a specialist in bicycle painting.

He uses aircraft paint to give the bikes a durable finish with high pigmentation.

Freda said the course gave him the opportunity to build his dream bike.

“I had a bike in my head for years that I wanted to build but I couldn’t find it in stores, it was very unique ... I ended up making it, and it turned out way better than I thought it would.”

Image: Megan Lambert

Students celebrated their completion of UFV’s bicycle program at the UFV Show ‘n’ Shine and bike toss.

UFV removes vice president external position KATHERINE GIBSON

THE CASCADE

UFV is no stranger to funding cuts. Although recently these cuts have been seen in the removal of services like faculty reception and the Mission library, the tightening of funds has now moved to the school’s administrative staff.

Announcing the removal of the school’s vice president external position, UFV President Mark Evered notes that the choice to eliminate this position was made with reserve and caution, due to the relatively small size of administration at UFV. “We’re already one of the most lightly administered [universities],” says Evered, “[but] just as we look at everything we do, we have to look at the administrative costs as well.”

As Evered explains, although formally acting as a liaison between the university and the

community, the vice president external position had become a sort of “catch-all” for all sorts of tasks and projects.

While Evered sees value in the position, the choice to remove it was influenced in part by the university’s ability to logistically absorb the external vice president’s duties.

“You can’t give up the academic leadership position and neither can you give up the position of your chief financial officer,” Evered goes on, “but the vice president external …

I’ve had a person in that role in an acting capacity because for some time I’ve been considering how we might restructure in a more efficient and effective way.”

Due to this position removal, Evered has both shuffled the roles and responsibilities of current administrative staff and combined various departments.

Director of Marketing and Communication Leslie

Courchesne has taken over university relations, a new department that will encompass alumni relations, university advancement, and marketing and communications. Executive Director of Facilities and Campus Planning Craig Toews will take over the community liaison duties under the old position.

Although funding cuts played an undeniable role

in the positions loss, Evered maintains that with the changes to administration and the combination of departments will ultimately benefit the university.

“I don’t want this to be seen solely in terms of cost cutting — I have been thinking about this for a while,” Evered says.

“Our goal here is to break down the silos; [these departments] rely on each other for

work … so this is an attempt to bring this work together.” “[UFV’s] needs are changing dramatically,” concludes Evered.

“The world has changed; UFV has changed; UFV’s needs have changed; the opportunities have changed and you want to make sure that you have the team that’s in the best position to respond.”

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Science on Purpose

Caveman poop reveals veggie diet TAYLOR BRECKLES

THE CASCADE

Contrary to popular belief, Neanderthals did not sit around in caves roasting a hunk of meat over a fire (or not roasting it at all) all day, every day.

Scientists have discovered the oldest piece of human fecal matter in the world and settled a long debate.

“Our results are the first direct evidence that plants were ingested as part of the diet,” said Ainara Sistiaga, lead author of the study published in PLOS One. The coprolite (fossilized poop) sample came from a Neanderthal site in El Salt, Spain and was dated to be approximately 50,000 years old, which blows the former oldest coprolite (14,000 years old) out of the water.

Alison Brooks, professor of anthropology at George Washington University, completed research on Neanderthal teeth in 2010. In an interview with the Montreal Gazette, she said a meat-dominated diet was previously suggested by the isotopes found in Neanderthal bones.

Now it seems they ate their vegetables, too.

“It confirms what we were arguing about Neanderthal diets and it offers a whole new way of looking at [them],” said Brooks.

After this discovery, scientists from MIT as well as the University of La Laguna analyzed the samples. They found that while the typical Neanderthal diet was dominated by meat, some plants were thrown in as well.

Image: Anthony Biondi

Neanderthals may have been eating a more balanced diet than we once believed, though perhaps not on purpose.

Hardly vegetarian, the Neanderthals at least started achieving more of a balanced diet, although Sistiaga said they had a long way to go considering the predominant traces of cholesterol.

She went on to explain why this discovery is so monumental.

“Except for the evidence of entrapped microfossils and organic residues in Neanderthal teeth, all previous paleo-

dietary reconstructions have been based on indirect evidence where preferential or selective preservation plays a key role,” Sistiaga reported in the study.

In other words, identifying meat proteins was always easier in previous coprolite samples. Though recent Neanderthal dental records suggested they might have eaten plants, nobody could be certain until the recent poop was discov-

ered.

The feces also revealed Neanderthals may have had an advanced digestive system not unlike our own.

Although Neanderthals are proven to have eaten vegetables, other studies suggest that they might not have been ingested for the nutritional value or taste, but were instead eaten via the stomachs of other animals, according to the Montreal Gazette.

It may have been an accidental ingestion while trying to get to the meat, reminiscent of hiding vegetables in food for picky children, but Neanderthals ate them instead of spitting them out, which must count for something.

Regardless of why Neanderthals consumed vegetables, Sistiaga confirmed that the waste discovery reveals a new way to study the biology of our ancestors.

SUS board meeting covers system errors, SUB advertising, and bad reputations MEGAN LAMBERT

THE CASCADE

The Student Union Society (SUS) met for their board of directors meeting on June 26, which includes representatives from four of UFV’s faculties, the SUS executive, and other representatives from UFV’s student community.

With issues like UFV system errors, the looming Student Union Building, and the upcoming Canadian Alliance of Student Association (CASA) conference on the agenda, the new board structure had much to discuss.

At the last general meeting, college of arts rep Greg Stickland proposed a motion requesting each SUS executive — VP internal Thomas Davies, VP external Dylan Thiessen, and president Ryan Petersen — draw up a goal plan to share with the board in order to remain focused on carrying out their initiatives.

Davies’ report included some of the inconsistencies in UFV registration regarding health and dental.

“We’ve been noticing some concerns regarding how UFV is applying student fees, par-

ticularly around the health and dental plan,” he said.

“If you’re a full-time student, you’re supposed to be automatically opted into the health and dental plan,” Davies continued. “What’s been happening though is the UFV system they use for registration isn’t properly picking up the difference; so some students thought they had coverage [but] it turns out they didn’t because of the system error on UFV’s end.”

Davies said they met with UFV’s assistant registrar to remedy the situation.

He also noted SUS is looking to change its financial management in order to increase effi-

ciency. Currently, SUS’s banking is handled through UFV finance; however, they plan to transition to an independent financial institution by the end of the fiscal year.

Petersen then opened discussion about advertising in the new SUS building. The building will not rely on outside sources of revenue — but posting visual advertisements, hosting vendors, or selling the naming rights are options to contribute extra funding to student functions.

“There are things we can do that benefit students,” said Stickland.

The board discussed ways to

make the advertising relevant to students. Some suggestions included advertisements promoting community events or public organizations, and partnering with businesses that offer discounts with the U-Pass.

“It should have a mandate to enhance student life,” said faculty of professional studies rep Jennifer Trithhardt-Tufts.

Advertising will remain up for discussion in the coming months while the SUS building is under construction.

Petersen also noted the upcoming CASA conference in July, advocating for youth unemployment initiatives, consistency in trades certification between provinces, mental health awareness, parental exemption from student loan assessment, and female aboriginal representation.

Petersen noted one of his goals is to get a thorough plan with the university for finances, after the latest board of governors retreat.

“The university has been put in a tricky situation with provincial government funding,” he said. The board met at Harrison Hot Springs, discussing the possibility of raising fees for campus residents and in-

ternational students in order to fill the financial gap.

Petersen also notified the board of a letter he sent to Mayor Bruce Banman and Council expressing concern regarding Abbotsford’s reputation at the last CASA conference, though he did not sign the letter as a representative of SUS. The manure incident last year involving the homeless had prompted negative comments about Abbotsford from other CASA members.

“I wish to address these concerns to the appropriate people, i.e. the mayor [and] the City Council,” Petersen said.

Thiessen listed various initiatives coming out of meetings with the advocacy committee, including the promotion of mental health awareness.

“We’re hoping to do this year-long advertising campaign on mental health awareness, focusing on people who deal with these issues but are also successful,” he said.

The committee is hoping to hold monthly events focused on ways to cope with mental health issues, featuring workshops promoting healthy lifestyle choices.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

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NEWS

UFV celebrates annual Aboriginal Awareness Day original awareness event to The Cascade. These days, approximately 400 UFV students “The intent of Can- identify as aboriginal, and the initial intent for the event was ada was to totally as- to bring UFV’s aboriginal stusimilate First Nations dents together.

Theresa Neel, also an elder people ... but we’re still in residence, talked about the here.” importance of bringing First Nations students to post-secStó:lō drums beat in celebra- ondary education.

“I was a student when Fraser tion of UFV’s new graduates, Valley College first opened in they beat at convocation as the registrar walked out, and they 1974,” said Neel. “I was a high beat again during the Aborigi- school drop-out. And the colnal Awareness Day event on lege changed my life. I never thought I would work in a unithe Green June 17.

Conjuring the Earth’s heart- versity — because of course beat in traditional First Na- it’s one of the highest pinnations song was only one of cles within the white society.” many things onlookers enjoyed Neel, whose lineage branches at the event. Métis and Stó:lō from prolific aboriginal artdancers jigged and twirled on ists like Mungo Martin, has rethe green, UFV elders blessed ceived an offer to lecture about the afternoon in their respec- her mother’s art at SFU. Besides celebrating First Native languages, and of course, organizers served food — ban- tions culture, the event highlighted another important asnock, most notably.

All these were part of an im- pect First Nations people want portant celebration that high- all Canadians to understand: reverence and responsibility lighted First Nations culture.

“The intent of Canada was to for the land. Few First Nations totally assimilate First Nations bands in BC hold ratified treapeople and bring them into the ties. With UFV’s campus sitting general body politic of Cana- on unceded Stó:lō territory, dian society — but we’re still First Nations people appreciate here,” said Eddie Gardner, one UFV’s acknowledgement.

“I’m a guest here, too,” said of UFV’s elders in residence Morris Prosser, fourth-year who works in the Aboriginal Access Centre. “As you can student and president of UFV’s see, on Aboriginal Day, we aboriginal student association. celebrate our culture. We cel- He identifies with a different ebrate our philosophies, our band. “I think that it’s great songs, our dances, our history, that the university is here, but our stories, and our languages. also that they also acknowlThere’s such a beautiful renais- edge that this is unceded Stó:lō sance of who we are as First territory. I think that’s a great concept and I applaud the uniNations people nowadays.” versity for doing that.”

The afterCanada is noon event “We hold some legal rich in natustarted with a prayer by grounds to make it nec- ral resources Gardner, fol- essary for government — the net exports of our lowed by a powwow and industry to consult c o u n t r y ’ s grand entry, with aboriginal people economy dewhere Mé- before they proceed pend on such endow ments. tis dancers with major developBut Canadians walked out — including onto the Green ments.”

First Nations bearing their flag. Later, the Métis dancers people — have been ethically encouraged attendees to join divided when it comes to hartheir dancing, and organizers vesting resources. Gardner conducted a door prize draw. explained how First Nations Aboriginal crafts and artwork people often spearhead efforts to protect the Earth (take last lay on tables for all to peruse.

Last year, Aboriginal Peoples year’s October protests against representative Ashley Camille fracking for shale gas in New explained the need for an ab- Brunswick, for example). When it comes to the major develop-

KIER-CHRISTER JUNOS

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR

Image: Kier-Christer Junos

Drums, food, dances, and traditional blessings brought an atmosphere of celebration to the Green. ment plans of governments and corporations, Gardner added that First Nations people have achieved more agency in how such plans are conducted.

“We’ve been able to establish ourselves in Canada by ensuring that our aboriginal rights are included in the Canadian constitution,” said Gardner.

“We hold some legal grounds to make it necessary for government and industry to consult with aboriginal people

before they proceed with major developments.”

This month, the Conservative government approved the Northern Gateway Pipeline Project, and First Nations people are “overwhelmingly opposed,” according to a release from the Assembly of First Nations on June 17. Gardner hopes governments and citizens will come to an epiphany; he wants people to reject a scorchedearth policy and ultimately

adopt an attitude of sustainability.

“My prayer is that we do share this territory with great reverence, and also great responsibility to take care of it,” said Gardner. “For that is what our ancestors have told us to do. We need to take good care of everything that belongs to us and we need to learn to live together in a good way.”

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OPINION

OPINION

SNAPSHOTS

Horoscopes aren’t for crazy people

Keep dogs safe

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Curtailed commentary on current conditions

Costly cat memes

Pricey flashback

Megan Lambert

Remington Fioraso

Valerie Franklin

Katie Stobbart

People are tolerant of the craziest things, but horoscopes seem to set this whole “openmindedness” thing back 50 years!

Astrology is an age-old study of the universe’s energy and how it impacts people.

We often forget we are just as sensitive to the movements of the planets as nature and the climate are. If the moon controls the ocean tides, what’s wrong with thinking different energies affect people’s attitudes?

There is way more to astrology than your daily horoscopes.

For example, your natal chart is a personalized look at the location of the planets when you were born. It provides a unique look at certain energies the universe was sending you at that time.

Each planet represents a different aspect of your life, depending on how close it is to Earth and which zodiac “house” it lives in at the time of your birth. It’s not simply saying “all Virgos are this,” or “no Scorpio is like that.” Of course, the degree of Mars in the house of Gemini at your time of birth won’t prophesy that you’re going to be a noncommittal warlord, but it can give you some insight to your instincts in a certain part of your life. The zodiac can be much more personalized and meaningful, if its given a chance.

I have seen countless drivers get pulled over for using their cellphones. However, using a cellphone is not the only way one can be distracted behind the wheel.

I’ve seen the art of multi-tasking in a vehicle: changing songs or CDs, eating, putting on makeup, and so on. But what truly bothers me is when people allow their dogs on their laps while in the driver’s seat. A living thing that can roam around freely is a big distraction.

I understand people want to bring their pets with them, because pets are often considered family. But if you got into an accident, what would be the consequences? Would the impact include the loss of the dog? If they are family, you should keep them safe. Having them in the driver’s seat with you does just the opposite.

Last week it was revealed that Facebook manipulated the news feeds of 689,003 randomly chosen people in January 2012, exposing them to either positive or negative posts to see how they responded. The survey successfully showed that our Facebook posts tend to reflect the emotions of others in our newsfeeds, whether positive or negative.

It also successfully pissed off a lot of people.

Now you not only have to worry about potential employers, your new girlfriend’s parents, and sleazy strangers from Australia creeping your personal profile — the number one threat to our Facebook privacy seems to be the corporation itself. They conduct psychological research on their users, advertise to us based on our Googling preferences, and turn our information over to unknown parties in marketing, law enforcement, and the government.

How much further is Facebook willing to go?

More importantly, how much more are we willing to take? And what does it say about us when we’ll sell our personal information for a steady stream of cat memes?

The Conservative government wants to spend $4.5 million on new uniforms. The bulk of the expenditure involves ordering brand new jackets for soldiers and naval officers. There’s nothing wrong with the jackets they have; this change is purely cosmetic.

The reason for the change is to return to the style of uniforms from WWII. The defence minister’s press secretary Johanna Quinney told CBC “this initiative encourages esprit du corps ... and reinforces our country’s rich military history.”

Yet after a $2 million budget cut in January, cadets in Canada have been handing off and exchanging used uniforms — CBC reported earlier this year that this was due to cuts across the board for the Canadian Forces.

So where is the $4.5 million coming from to fund this frivolous endeavour? Federal governments past and present have been accused of skewed priorities, but this is more than a little ridiculous.

Caring for baby boomers shouldn’t threaten millennials BRITTNEY HENSMAN

THE CASCADE

Demographers predict our healthcare facilities will have their hands full. Banks are crunching numbers to figure out how we’ll finance retiring baby boomers. Some of us millennials are looking at our society and economy, fretting about how this will affect us in the future. Yet in doing so we completely disregard the generation before us.

The baby boomers came about when birthrates surged after WWII, and many of our parents tag onto the tail end of that generation. According to Stats Canada, those currently between 45 and 64 made up 42 per cent of the work force in 2011, filling much-needed positions. The concern is that they will be a financial and economic burden to our generation when they get old.

Those speculations may be valid, but perhaps we, gen Y, have a bad attitude about it. Have any of us stepped back from our tunnelvision worries and thanked baby boomers for the things they have done for us, or admired the different characteristics their generation possesses that we lack?

After the boomers’ parents lived through the Depression, there was a sense of economic liberty where frugality was no longer necessary — but they realized if they wanted to reap the benefits of this economic surge, they would need to work hard to get it, and that’s what they did.

They modeled hard work and how to go after something — this is why many baby boomers have been financially successful, and explains why many are still in the workforce. Not only do they work hard, but I believe many of them enjoy it.

Our generation has not experienced the need to work hard to the extent the boomers did: we have reaped the benefits of their hard work. Let’s face it, millennials, we’ve had it pretty easy. Not many boomers were drinking Starbucks every day and eating out regularly while pursuing an education over work. Nor did they spend hundreds of dollars on bridal showers, bachelorette and lingerie parties, and elaborate weddings. They worked hard so we in our young adult lives wouldn’t have to.

Baby boomers have also lived in this world a lot longer than we have, and have valuable insight

Image: Vase Petrovski/Flickr

The boomers are go-getters — and millennials could learn a lesson from them. on how the world works. They’ve lived both with and without technology, and know what it means to live simply — more than we do

today.

I have no problem conversing with friends and acquaintances in my age bracket, but often I

find conversing with their parents more substantial. People between 40 and 60 have a different approach to life that is refreshing.

They value the things in life that hold weight: quality time, relationships, and hard work. They also understand living life means more than seeking momentary, immediate pleasures. These are things we as a younger generation should learn while we are young.

When we complain there are no jobs out there for us, mope because we lack face-to-face relationships, or find ourselves resenting the generational differences between us and our parents, perhaps we need to change our perspectives.

If we too want to be successful in life, maybe we need to take some time to learn from the generation before us.

The boomers are not a burden to society; they have valuable input in our world. It will be our responsibility to care for them when they get old, and there will be a lot of them needing our help. But instead of seeing this as a burden, we need to view it as an opportunity to give back what they gave to us.

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

The mental health of our men is at stake Could the emergence of a “toxic masculinity” be contributing to recent mass shootings?

CHRIS TOWLER

UFV ALUMNUS

The Isla Vista shooting spree was a horrible tragedy that occurred on May 23, perpetrated by Elliot Rodgers. Rodgers killed six people in stabbings and shootings before exchanging gunshots with police while driving his vehicle through Isla Vista, and then proceeded to take his own life.

After his suicide, it was revealed that Rodgers left behind a 140-page manifesto and numerous YouTube videos detailing his life that led up to his plans for the shootings.

Unlike other mass murders, these remnants left open a window to the disturbed mind of the 22-yearold killer. In them, he divulged the ultimate source of his woes: his persistent virginity. Rodgers spoke about the “suffering” he had endured — due to his lack of a girlfriend — from the seat of his BMW, bought for him by his parents. This mirrors an aspect of masculinity society faces: entitlement. Though Rodgers was clearly mentally ill, I believe the emergence of toxic elements in modern masculinity are strongly to blame.

In our culture, men are brought up to believe the world is theirs for the taking, provided they are tough, determined, and dominant.

This unfortunately includes women (particularly their bodies) as part of the package deal. This process is referred to as “hegemonic masculinity,” a set of practices that ensure men end up in positions of social dominance. On a smaller

Image: Wikimedia

“Men benefit materially, politically, and economically from the patriarchy, but at the cost of their own mental health: the patriarchy normalizes violent behaviour in men.” level, hegemonic masculinity appears as men competing with each other and subordinating women into obtainable objects. What’s more, we teach men to place a gargantuan amount of self-worth on their “sexual conquests.” We lavish praise upon them for their sexual prowess, while women conversely are shunned and shamed for it.

This behaviour is echoed back to us through movies, television, books, and music. The hero does the thing that heroes do and he also gets the girl! It is a narrative that positively permeates our world.

But entitlement isn’t the only issue at play here — it goes deeper than that. There is also the way society forges the collective Western

Quebec’s new right-to-die legislation will ease suffering TAYLOR BRECKLES

THE CASCADE

People should be allowed to choose death if they feel truly committed to it.

At the beginning of June, Quebec passed new legislation which would allow sane adults with terminal illnesses the freedom to decide whether or not to end their lives. This legislation is a big leap forward in the human rights movement.

Assisted suicide and euthanasia are still illegal in Canada, and City TV News reports that Ottawa has no intention of changing that rule any time soon.

There’s always been a lot of controversy around this topic — often for religious or philosophical reasons — but I am all for it.

Moreover, our world is suffering a population crisis in certain areas of the world, so allowing people the right to die seems like a good idea. If someone I love were suffering, either physically or psychologically, and begging for death, I would want them to have the option to end their suffering.

Being in agony is no way to live.

City TV News also says patients who make this decision will have to inform their doctors on multiple levels, and will be clinically pronounced as mentally sane before the procedure. This is to prevent people from making hasty

decisions — so those who aren’t completely gung-ho on the legislation should find comfort in knowing a patient can’t choose this procedure rapidly, then die an hour later.

City TV News further outlines the three main features of the legislation: “it aims to expand palliative care; sets protocols for doctors sedating suffering patients until they die naturally; and offers guidelines to help patients who want to end their pain.”

I agree this shouldn’t be a one-day decision; people need to think before jumping into the waiting arms of Hades.

Each terminally ill patient requesting to die will have to meet an array of requirements, fill out a consent form, and have written permission from two doctors.

On reading the requirements each patient must fulfill, it is clear that the legislation will do a good job of weeding through the people who might not to want to die in order to find the ones that truly do.

Undoubtedly, there will be people who like this legislature and people who don’t, but hopefully Quebec can prove this will help people who would rather die than live in suffering, and create opportunities for similar change in our country.

male psyche.

We teach men from a very early age to “be tough” and “man up!” or to be stoic and unemotional. To be emotional is to risk the label of being effeminate — a highly effective tool for keeping men within this box of entitlement. In fact, it seems the only socially acceptable emotion for men is anger. When you combine this narrowing of the male emotional spectrum with hegemonic masculinity, you’ve got trouble on your hands. If we socialize men to believe their value is derived only from competition and domination, then you will always have men who do not meet those expectations. When they cannot achieve the narrative left for them by our culture, then they

are bound to fall back on the only options we’ve given them to express their masculinity: rage and anger. This is not a new concept — mass shootings and violence are overwhelmingly masculine phenomena.

But these ideas are not created in a vacuum. They’ve come from somewhere. This is ultimately the point that’s been so unsettling: these misogynistic and entitled viewpoints held by Rodgers came from a larger, misogynistic culture that breeds entitlement to women’s bodies, and these views are a lot more common than we’d like to think.

We need to be more aware of what we are doing to our young men. While feminism has been

at the forefront of social change for women, there has yet to be a similar push from men for greater social acceptance of a wider definition of masculinity. This is an issue feminism can address. Hegemonic masculinity and its associated behaviours are a symptom of a patriarchal culture that teaches strict gender binaries: one dominant and one subordinate.

Men benefit materially, politically, and economically from the patriarchy, but at the cost of their own mental health: the patriarchy normalizes violent behaviour in men.

Through dismantling the patriarchy, we can strive to fix our society and the mental health of our men. Both men and women have a role to play here: we can teach our young boys that their self-worth does not come from their sexual accomplishments. We can work to provide an environment where men do not feel like they have to compromise their masculinity every time they feel sad, are in need of help, or need to talk about their own emotions. Men are deserving of love and compassion just like anyone else. They need to be encouraged to remove the mask of masculinity by providing a safe environment where they can do this free from judgement. This will improve the well-being of not only men but society as a whole. If we cannot do this, how can we expect to let “boys be boys” if the cost of modern masculinity results in mass murder?

Should body modifications result in societal limitations?

KATIE TEGTMEIER

CONTRIBUTOR

They are almost everywhere you go, blending in as subtly as possible. They are among us. “They” are the individuals in our society with body modifications such as piercings and/or tattoos.

These people are just like the rest of us, yet society treats them as if they all have delinquent tendencies. Employers choose not to hire them, and communities teach their children to avoid them. Yet the only difference between them and us is the ink on their skin or the jewellery on their bodies.

So why does society insist on alienating a group of people based on their modified physical appearances?

Now, I will be the first to say that certain body mods are kind of messed up. I’ve seen people who have sewn their mouths shut, split their tongues in half, and have magnets surgically implanted in their fingertips. Those are not the people I am talking about, because those people have made conscious choices to make themselves purposely unapproachable in everyday life.

I’m talking about the average person you see in line at a coffee shop with a nose or eyebrow piercing, or a few visible tattoos.

This person will order a coffee, maybe sit down with a book, meet

a friend, and then go home just like everyone else. They are in no way a threat to society.

Here is the thing about people in this world: we are programmed to make judgements of others based on their physical appearances. It is human nature to do so.

So where do we draw the line when it comes to a person’s physical appearance affecting their opportunities?

I believe there are body modifications which hurt an individual’s chance of obtaining certain employment opportunities. If you think a full-face tattoo could go well with a job working the paediatric ward at a hospital, you’re completely nuts.

When you alter your body in any way, you need to consider the consequences that will follow. You can’t expect employers to change their company image to accommodate you. They have the right to present a unified company image to their clientele and they shouldn’t have to change it.

That being said, a person should not be denied an opportunity for employment based on their body modifications. If you are granted an interview, you can discuss the dress code regarding the acceptance of visible tattoos and piercings, and if you are looking for a job, you should be willing to work with your employer and remove or cover piercings or tattoos to ac-

Image: Bears of Toronto

“No one should be able to tell you how you can and cannot look.”

commodate the position.

This isn’t about stifling individuality. Yes, tattoos and piercings can be an outer expression of a person’s inner self, and that is great. No one should be able to tell you how you can and cannot look.

Unfortunately, the society we currently live in is not as accepting of body mods as we might hope. As the younger generation, we will set the standard for workplace acceptance of body modification in the coming decades.

And with more young people getting tattoos and piercings, the view our society has will drastically change the way we view differences in people.

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OPINION

OPINION

What do you think of baby boomers?

Feel like sharing your short-andsweet opinion? Keep an eye out for our whiteboard-toting pollsters roaming the halls.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

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CULTURE STUDY BREAK

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

SUDOKU PUZZLE

CROSSWORD In this issue

by KATIE STOBBART

ACROSS 3.

7.

10.

11.

12.

This Canadian duo just brought out a new album called White Women. (7) Keep clicking with this powerful YouTube workout. (10) The Olde Farmhouse Vintage Markets can be found here. (6, 11) This administrative position was recently eliminated at UFV. (10) The winner of UFV’s bike toss competition. (3,6)

Answer keys Last week’s crossword

Sudoku solution

ACROSS

DOWN 1.

2.

4.

5.

6.

8.

9.

Quebec has brought in controversial new legislation that permits this for patients. (10) It turns out eating breakfast has no effect on this. (6) This animated show features women named after gemstones. (6, 8) You should think about a silicone-based lubricant if you’re going to do this. (6, 3) The discovery of this ancient matter led to new insights into neanderthal biology. (4) Michael Bublé kissed his fair share of these, once upon a time. (6) If objects in outer space can affect these, why not our personalities? (5)

2 TURQUOISE 4 SLATE 7 COBALT 9 ROBINSEGG 10 ULTRAMARINE DOWN 1 PERIWINKLE 3 ROYAL 5 LAPISLAZULI 6 INDIGO 7 CERULEAN 8 BABY 11 NAVY

The Weekly Horoscope Aquarius: Jan 20 - Feb 18: Justin Timberlake doing whatever he’s doing is not news, as you’re well aware.

Pisces: Feb 19 - March 20: In the next little while, try to avoid the foods you’re allergic to.

Aries: March 21 - April 19: When they yell “DUCK!” they are mostly likely actually talking about a duck.

Taurus: April 20 - May 20: Nothing will be as boring as your first class next semester.

Gemini: May 21 - June 21: If you shut your windows, no rain will get in.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22: Persuasive talking animals will probably leave you to your own devices this week, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful.

Leo: July 23 - Aug 22: Happiness can be found elsewhere.

Virgo: Aug 23 -Sept22: Your only option is to master tai chi.

Star Signs from Sybil la Clair

Libra: Sept 23 - Oct 22: Your project will be fine as long as you smear cheesecake all over it before you hand it in.

Scorpio: Oct 23 - Nov 21: May the wings of your eyeliner always be even.

Sagittarius: Nov 22 - Dec 21: If you organize your Skittles this week, make sure it’s by colour.

Capricorn: Dec 22 - Jan 19: Caution: very hot!

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CULTURE

Community volunteers picked up their shovels and set to work planting AbbotsImage: Katherine Gibson ford’s first edible garden on June 22.

The edible garden that will grow here will function just like a forest: the plants will grow in collaboration ­— no fertilizer necessary.

Image: Katherine Gibson

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

The edible garden will take up a two-acre portion of the site proposed for a Image: Katherine Gibson “Dignity Village” by the Abbotsford Dignitarian Society.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

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CULTURE

Proposed Dignity Village breaks ground with edible garden planting

By Katherine Gibson

T

hings are looking up for Abbotsford’s homeless population.

Building on the momentum gained by the Abbotsford Dignitarian Society’s proposal for a “Dignity Village” just off of the Abbotsford-Mission Highway, volunteers began planting an edible garden on the proposed piece of land.

Volunteers ranging from Valley Permaculture Guild and members of the Abbotsford Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists to homeless individuals themselves spent the better portion of June 22 working together to plant and begin cultivating the site.

The edible garden, which gained $4,000 in funding through a Valley Permaculture Guild grant proposal, will give homeless individuals living on the site the opportunity to create a sustainable food source for themselves and those around them.

“Self-sufficiency is a big deal,” notes Valley Permaculture Guild member Banning Symington. “To actually be involved with their own self sufficiency and food security, they’re going to be involved with feeding themselves.”

Rachel Symington, his wife and the co-founder of the Valley Permaculture Guild, shares this sentiment, further noting that the garden will also help create a “sustainable community” for those living on the site.

“We’ve consulted a lot of the [homeless individuals] who will be living here … and one of the things that they want is to be a sustain-

able community,” she notes. “It isn’t just about feeding people; it’s about teaching people how to feed themselves too.”

Rachel also notes that planting an edible garden will give individuals access to fresh fruits and vegetables that are often missing from other food sources, such as the food bank.

“One of the problems that I run into at food banks is that they always want root crops because those always last the longest, which is great, but what about the fresh lettuces, and strawberries, and cherries?” she goes on. “The root crops are really good, but you need something more diverse than that.”

Beyond simply satisfying the nutritional needs of the homeless, both Banning and Rachel note that the garden can potentially have a long-lasting holistic effect, positively impacting mental health just as much as the physical.

“For people living on the streets, the stats are pretty clear that often it is because of mental health and addiction issues, so it’s not about just giving [homeless individuals] a place to live and that’s it; we’re creating support networks,” says Banning. “The food satisfies the feeding of people, but it also becomes a medium for learning, communication, and interactions with others.”

And while the edible garden will only be a two-acre portion of the proposed site, Banning maintains that the garden’s ability to satisfy the needs of those living on the property will give homeless individuals and the community strength.

“This is a situation of empowering people who have been the least empowered peo-

ple in our society. This is the area that needs the most focus in our society and food security,” Banning goes on. “You need to satisfy the fundamentals and then you can start working on gaining ‘dignity.’”

The edible garden functions much like a forest in that the nutrients from the various plants work in collaboration with each other, sustaining themselves rather than relying on chemicals or outside fertilizers.

Interestingly, this will be the first edible garden of its kind in Abbotsford, a fact that Rachel believes makes this project an opportunity for growth not only for the homeless but the entire permaculture community as well.

“To my knowledge, this is the first food forest of its kind happening in Abbotsford that deals with more of a polyculture. You have trees and shrubs and the nutrients from one plant help with the nutrients for another plant, so you don’t have to be adding fertilizer,” she says. “This is something that the Valley Permaculture Society has an incentive to stay involved in because we want to use this as a learning opportunity … if we can do it here, we can do it elsewhere.”

Currently, the City of Abbotsford has not given the project any official zoning permits to begin construction on the proposed housing units themselves.

However, the land is already zoned as agricultural, which makes planting the edible garden

completely within the City’s laws.

As volunteer and Abbotsford Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists member Jeff Gruban notes, planting the garden marks an important step towards creating a feasible solution for Abbotsford’s homeless population.

“It’s our step towards a solution for the homeless. It’s a step towards it. It means that this project is going forward,” notes Gruban. “There’s still some work that we have to do with the City, and we are doing that. We don’t want anybody to think that we’re pushing ahead without the City’s approval. This [land] is actually zoned ‘agricultural’ and we’re planting, so we’re not breaking any city laws.”

While Gruban recognizes that the Abbotsford homeless situation is complicated, he maintains that continuing work on projects like the proposed “Dignity Village” will ultimately benefit the city.

“All these problems that we’re trying to tackle are very complicated and no one solution will solve it, but this is one solution that’s been tried in many other cities in the United States for years and years — ­ it’s a proven model,” Gruban concludes. “You can say the ‘homeless problem’ is a problem for the homeless, but the way we look at it, the people in Abbotsford who are homeless are our residents; they’re our neighbours, so it’s an ‘Abbotsford problem’ … This is a positive solution and we’re all excited about it.”

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

How To

Mini-scrapbooks make cute, compact keepsakes KATIE STOBBART THE CASCADE

At least from the giver ’s perspective, the perfect gift is personal, affordable, and easy to put together. This little project fits the bill for birthdays, going-away parties, graduation, weddings, and almost any other occasion you can think of. It’s also a nice thing to make for yourself as a memento of a summer holiday.

There is plenty of room for customization. This mini-scrapbook is also way easier than putting a regular-size book together, and a lot cheaper.

What you’ll need - Three 8½ x 11 sheets of plain (but good quality) paper - One or two pieces of patterned scrapbook paper — though depending on your project, you could also use wrapping paper, comic book pages, magazine clippings, or whatever strikes your fancy - Ribbon, about 50 cm long, but give yourself a little extra length to play with — I have also used a few pieces of raffia - Two pieces of thin cardboard, each about four to five inches square — I just cut these out of the side of a box - Scissors - Tape — double-sided is best, but I’ve even gotten away with duct tape for lack of craftier options - Pen or pencil - Photos, quotes, stickers, or other content for your scrapbook Steps 1.

Cut the three sheets of plain paper into 8½” squares.

You can use the short edge of one full sheet to measure the width.

2.

Take one square of paper and fold it in half. Open it up and fold it in half the other way. Then, flip the paper over and fold it in half diagonally.

You should have three folds, dividing the white space into two squares and four triangles.

3.

Flip the paper back over.

Match the two square spaces to-

Image: Katie Stobbart

Image: Katie Stobbart

After making the initial folds, fold in the triangle faces. (Step 3)

Tape the raffia into the middle of the inside back cover. (Step 8)

Image: Katie Stobbart

Image: Katie Stobbart

Use one cardboard square to trace the other. (Step 5)

Fit the three folded squares together. (Step 10)

gether, allowing the triangles to naturally fold into the centre.

4.

Repeat steps two and three for the remaining pieces of plain paper. You should now have three small, folded-up squares.

5.

Cut the cardboard into squares a little larger than your folded squares — you can use the paper squares to give an approximate measure. The perimeter around your paper square should be about 0.5cm wide.

Trace the first cardboard square to make the second, as you want them to be the same size — these

it in place. Spread out the edges of the ribbon flat so it doesn’t interfere with the next step.

9.

Tape the external face of one of your paper squares in the centre of the back cover, on top of the ribbon.

10. Slide a second paper square into the first one by matching the inside face of the top square to the inside face of the bottom square. Put a piece of double-sided tape (or a loop of single-sided tape) between the two faces. Make sure they fit together tightly. Do this again to fit the third paper square into the

will form the cover of your scrapbook.

6. Cut your scrapbook paper (or whatever you are using as a cover pattern) using the cardboard as a guide. Give yourself a little more paper than you think you need, but aim for a perimeter about 3cm wide.

7.

Fold the edges of your scrapbook paper around the cardboard and tape into place.

Do this for the front and back cover.

8. Position the centre of your ribbon at the middle of the back cover on the inside and tape

second one.

11. Tape the inside of the front cover to the outside of the top paper square. By holding both covers, you should be able to open the book accordionstyle, and close it again so that all the pages fold back into the square.

12. You can now pull the ends of the ribbon up around the front cover to tie it closed.

13. Now you’re ready to fill your scrapbook with small photos, stickers, or quotes to personalize the gift or keepsake.

Anonymous art show highlights diversity in the Fraser Valley NADINE MOEDT THE CASCADE

Summer finds the best of the Fraser Valley as the Abbotsford Arts Council hosts a wide variety of creative endeavours. Weekly events ranging from parades of vintage hot rods to artisan markets featuring live music make Abbotsford an exciting place to be for every admirer of the arts.

The Anonymous Art Show Fundraiser kicked off on Saturday, showcasing the work of secret Fraser Valley artists at the Kariton Gallery. Art created from a wide variety of media — ranging from string work on canvas to watercolour — is displayed on 12x12 canvases and sold. Diverse themes and subject matter highlight the patchwork quilt of backgrounds that make up Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley, as

Mount Baker and familiar scenes from the valley hang beside the foreign and exotic.

The show, modeled on an anonymous show put on by the North Vancouver Arts Council, works in part as a fundraiser for the Abbotsford Art Council, an organisation that funds exhibition space for up-and-coming artists as well as other free community events. Each piece is priced at $100; the profits are evenly split between the artist and the Abbotsford Arts Council.

According to the Abbotsford Arts Council’s website, the show “enables the community to support emerging artists and provides an opportunity to purchase an artist’s work at an affordable price.”

Once sold, the art is immediately removed from the wall

and given to the purchaser. The price tag is removed to reveal the name of the artist. According to the Abbotsford Arts Council website, over 100 works are displayed and a wide range of artists are showcased; works from artists aged five to 95 hang side by side. Picking out the Picasso from your niece’s work makes for an interesting perusal, even if you don’t intend to buy.

At the fundraiser ’s opening reception, Kariton Gallery offered live music from the Miranda Lambert/Shania Twain-esque Kristal Barrett and food trucks.

A small crowd — including a popular leashed rabbit named Coco — gathered on the lawn, watching buyers walk out of the little red gallery with new artwork under their arms.

For artists wishing to participate in the fundraiser, applica-

The show is also a fundraiser for the Abbotsford Arts Council. tions for artwork are being considered until July 13.

The show will continue until July 22. Kariton Art Gallery is nestled in front of Mill Lake on

Ware Street, and is open Tuesday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Farmers’ market helps grow community KATIE STOBBART

THE CASCADE/IMAGES

For me, the farmers’ market is one of the highlights of the season. As summer stacks those sunny days, I get an itch to see the wares on offer, fill a bag or basket with fresh produce, and smell the freshly baked loaves of bread. However, the past few weeks have seen some epic, Saturday snooze-button battles instead of trundling out of my apartment to the market downtown.

This past Saturday reminded me how much of a pick-meup the market can be. The day started out sunny despite the forecast, and at 9:30 a.m., I was walking down Montrose Avenue in my sandals, sans umbrella.

The moment I reached the intersection across from the twin lines of white tents, the sky opened up. It was actually a fortuitous — and thankfully shortlived — deluge, as it drove me under one of the first tents in the market lineup. Safe from the threat of drowning, I had the opportunity to chat with Val Dobie, whose husband Dave makes the pottery at her table.

Bowls of varying sizes, mugs, and jars with lids were set neatly along the tabletop. Some were smooth with pearly hues and others deep rich blues with flecks of iron. Still others had a rough, sandy exterior texture with a smooth interior bowl. Dobie explained these were made with a red clay called “Rod’s Bod,” which can give that gritty texture or, when glazed, cause iron flecks. Dave Dobie also carves some of the designs, waiting until the clay is semi-hard then painting a slip to give the design a positive/negative effect. Other patterns are made with clay stamps.

I skimmed past tents offering berries and cherries to linger for a moment by the music tent, where a pan flutist played.

Across the way, a florist sold beautiful bouquets with lupines, peonies, and other colourful garden flowers. There was honey at one table, homemade jam at another. I stopped at a display of handmade soaps by Mountain Farms, which I could smell from a couple tents away, and marvelled at the fine details: tiny soap raspberries sculpted along

The Saturday market was bustling on June 28 despite the spontaneous morning downpour.

Locally grown currants and gooseberries were set out on display.

Organic produce is just one of the things on offer at the market.

the curved edge of one bar, others decorated with swirls and flourishes of colour. All the soaps are paraben-, sulfate-, and petroleum-free. The seller explained that while basic soap-making is not so tricky, it takes time to learn the special techniques and designs. She also noted the milkbased soaps are harder to make because the milk reacts differently with the lye.

I also checked out the Farmacy, an organic farm at Yarrow’s eco-village. One of the farmers, Marcel Koppejan, had helpful answers to my questions about kale — they had a few different

After that, I followed my nose to the Gesundheit bakery and bought a piece of German apple strudel. At the nearby Ivy Oven tent, I added an asiago scone and a brownie to my baked purchases, then had a few samples at Golden Ears Cheese — the cumin gouda was a winner, incredibly creamy and flavourful.

The last stop was the Apple Barn tent; I couldn’t leave the market without a small bottle of apple cider.

The best part of the market is not just the pottery or the snap peas. It’s feeling like part of the community, even just for a

morning. Unfortunately, higherdensity living doesn’t always mean heightened bonds with the people who live, work, and grow food right next door. The farmers’ market is a little about the products and a lot about the people you talk to, the people who smile as they pass you in the street, and the people who care about your well-being. That’s a little mood-boost I can’t get from hitting the snooze button.

The Abbotsford Farm and Country Market is located on Montrose Avenue every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until October.

unfortunate luck to be caught in the rain. My number-one tip for any shopping adventure: if you don’t love it, don’t buy it. You may love the thrill of spending in the moment but once you get it back to your house that piece you only sort-of liked will be neglected.

A perk of this particular vintage sale was that many of the vendors offered workshops where you could learn to paint and restore furniture for yourself. Do you have a piece of furniture in your home that makes you cringe every time you look at that colour that was so in style when you bought it? Or do you have old jars that would be per-

fect for holding kitchen utensils or makeup brushes if only they were a little more decorative?

It’s an easy skill to learn if you have a free afternoon and a bit of creative energy, and it could do wonders for adding a bit more style into your house. Many vintage-style stores — such as Spruce Collective in Abbotsford — sell paint and accessories like doorknobs for do-it-yourself traditional home décor.

Unlike the modern décor of days past, vintage furniture and smaller items create a space I want to spend time and be comfortable in.

types available. It struck me then how valuable it is to be able to talk to the person who grew the food, or made the soap you’re buying, whereas your opportunity to do so in a grocery store is limited. You also always get good service at a market — in a store it can be difficult to find anyone at all, let alone someone who can answer your questions about products. To my excitement, there were also fresh snap peas for sale at another produce tent, some of which I ate fresh and some I added, sliced, to a chicken and alfredo sauce for dinner.

Vintage is the new modern RILEY NOWAN CONTRIBUTOR

A few years ago, the most stylish homes were those that displayed the most modern décor. However, the sleekest of surfaces and the sharpest of edges in these modern homes simply work to create the appearance of a home that is constantly styled but never actually lived in.

The Olde Farmhouse Vintage Markets at the Albion Fairgrounds held a vintage sale last weekend, which gave me hope that home décor is changing, and for the better.

The Maple Ridge barn was filled with vintage furniture,

jewellery, and knick-knacks — all for sale at reasonable prices that could be bargained even lower, if you were in the bargaining mood. Nowhere in sight were uncomfortable chairs that no one would actually want to sit in, or strange miniature sculptures whose meaning no one really knows. From previously-cherished kitchen tables and chairs, beds and coffee tables, to smaller items like mirrors, chalkboards, mason chairs and jewellery, the barn was filled with striking pieces that would add character to any room.

Some of my favourite pieces were those that had been repainted in white, lavender or

tiffany blue and had then been distressed to further add to that vintage feel. As nice as it is to be able to find a piece of antique furniture to add to your home, it’s also great (and more affordable) to find a newer piece that will withstand any drops or bumps and to then do a little makeover in order to achieve vintage status.

A few tips for shopping at vintage sales like this one: don’t be afraid to bargain or make deals with the vendors. Lots of places love to give you a deal if you bundle a few different items together. Make sure you bring old shopping bags or tarps to cover furniture in case you have the

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Below the Belt

Roxy Nova’s quick and clean guide to shower sex ROXY NOVA SEXPERT

Faced with sticky summer weather, the last thing anyone wants to do is get hot and heavy in between the covers. A little sweat can be a hot addition to sex, but buckets of the stuff tend to drown out any attractive attributes. But luckily for the sexually active everywhere, the arrival of summer and a lack of air conditioning doesn’t have to mean an end to our favourite skin-on-skin activities. If it feels too damn hot for sex, the simplest solution is to transform the down and dirty into the quick and clean: hop in the shower.

As with everything, there are a few pointers to keep in mind with shower sex.

The condom and lube rundown The first and most important thing to note is that condoms are more likely to break when you use them in water. If you plan to chance it, it’s more important than ever that you both get tested for STIs first and back yourselves up with another form of birth control.

As for lube, you’ll want a tube of silicon-based stuff rather than water-based, to make sure it sticks around long enough to be useful.

If you don’t want to swim through the hassle of making sure condoms and lube are close to hand, remember that the shower is also a great place to just fool around. With all that scrubbing and slippery soap, it’s only natural that hands wander to a variety of tender spots — you might find that hands and mouths are more than enough for your shared shower.

Positioning If you are bent on having fully fledged intercoursal action, there are a couple of ways to get the best bang for your bucking.

If you have a shower stall with built-in handrails, use it to your full advantage; any leverage is good leverage.

The easiest (and arguably best) position is with one partner to

bend forward, bracing against the shower wall with their partner penetrating from behind.

This will work with varying degrees of success depending on the height difference between you and your partner; play with angles and the depth of knee bends to find a combination that works for you. As with any other location, experiment.

Finally, a safety precaution: double-check that you have some sort of anti-slip mat in place, because slipping and falling shouldn’t be on your shower sex menu.

Don’t get hot-headed Make sure you don’t overload your body; if the water is hot and you’re standing directly under the shower head while your partner, ahem, attends to you, you stand a higher risk of getting light-headed or (worst-case scenario) fainting. This effect will be compounded if you’re low on sleep, haven’t eaten recently, or have been drinking.

Everybody’s body will react differently, so keep an eye out and know to spot the difference between “this feels really good” tingling and “I’m about to pass out because I’ve overstimulated my body” tingling. Take turns under the shower head and step out if you feel like getting hotter and/or heavier in a different direction.

Non-multitaskers beware Showering with your partner is always, always nice. Someone else scrubbing that hard-toreach spot in the middle of your back and giving you a scalp mas-

sage? It’s the best bathroom addition for bodily goodness since the invention of the removable shower head.

On the other hand, always being in the mood to shower together and always being in the mood for shower sex are completely different things. Example: if you’re trying to have a quick shower before work in the morning, taking your partner into the tub with you is an easy path to tardiness.

There are also times when all you want is a shower, a whole shower, and nothing but a shower, so help you god. Maybe you’re tired after work, or have just woken up, or are awfully hungover. Depending on the state of your partner ’s libido, it might be easier on you both to leave them in a different room while you clean yourself. If they’re rarin’ to go and you’re rarin’ for a nap, you’re going to have a bad time. Try for showering purely for the sake of shower sex, or hitting the tub in the middle of the afternoon when you’re both (you can only hope) at peak wakefulness.

Try a facial The shower is an excellent place to try something new, and that something is not worrying about cleaning up afterwards.

What’s the worst that can happen? You’re already in the shower!

This can go in one of two directions. We’ll start with edible spreadables: think chocolate, Nutella or whipped cream. If you want to try fooling around with taste as well as touch,

Upcoming spend some time outside of the shower while things get steamy on multiple levels — you and your partner kick up the sexy by licking deliciousness off each other while the shower gets hot and provides a bit of a sauna atmosphere at the same time. Turn down the temperature when you’re ready to step in and wash off, and everything else is already laid out for you. No muss, no fuss, and plenty of sexy. Try ice cream bars for a delicious temperature juxtaposition to get your heart racing.

In the other direction, the shower is a good place to experiment with facials — and I don’t mean an avocado/shea butter blend to improve your complexion. If your partner has a penis, there is a possibility he fantasizes about coming on your body and/or face. It might sound gross, but if you’re ever willing to try it, the shower is the place to start. The process is pretty simple; it will work best if you kneel in front of him, with the shower pointed at his back, as you work with hands and/ or mouth to get him going. As he approaches the point of no return, you’ll want to make sure your hair is at least mostly out of the way and your eyes are closed. After that, use soap and water to get it off your skin right away; any forgotten patches will dry in a crusty, snot-like layer. It gives a whole new meaning to “egg on your face.”

Rinse, repeat Finally, even if you’re not that interested in getting it on in the tub, the shower is a good place to cool down and clean up together before doing the dirty elsewhere. Sex feels mighty good when clean skin meets clean skin, no matter where it is, and you only have an hour or so to take advantage of that mutual just-washed feeling before it wears off. Wash off, duck into bed for a bounce or two, and pop right back into the shower to wash off again. It’s a foolproof system for even the stickiest summer, so don’t be afraid to use your shower in all the ways the manufacturer intended.

Events July 5 Artisan Market at Mill Lake Park

A free concert featuring blues band Big City Soul, hosted by the Abbotsford Arts Council. Bannock and gypsy-fare food trucks will be present, alongside a medley of various local artists.

Concert runs from 6-8 p.m.

Check out the anonymous art show at Kariton Gallery while you’re there and finish off the night with a walk around Mill Lake. Just watch out for any overly aggressive ducks.

July 5-6 33rd annual Berrybeat Festival/Jam in Jubilee Enjoy everything from magicians to mini-doughnuts as Abbotsford comes alive with street performers, buskers, a carousel, and bouncy house. Start your morning with cheap pancakes at Legal Grounds Coffeehouse, then head over to hear the local musical talent on two stages.

Check out the times and musical line up at www.downtownabbotsford.com for this entirely free event.

July 12 Mill Lake Cruise-in A parade with room for 700 muscle cars, street machines, classics, veterans, hot rods, vintage cars, trucks, low-riders, and many more! There will also be live entertainment, food trucks, a silent auction, door prizes, and 50/50 tickets.

Event runs 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and entry is by donation, with all funds raised going to the MAS Museum Society and the Abbotsford Arts Council.

Style on Campus

Seeking fashion wisdom from UFV students VANESSA BROADBENT CONTRIBUTOR

The last day of classes before summer reading break proves to be a difficult time to search for fashion on campus. An aboveaverage amount of overly relaxed sweatpants and flip-flops can be seen on the students trailing through the university.

With only one day of classes left, no one had time to worry about fashion. However, I found Richelle Hylkema, a first-year student of UFV’s social work program, who was willing to answer a few questions about her fashion choices.

Hylkema was wearing a black and white striped maxi-skirt, with which she paired a white

tank top, denim vest, and a silver statement necklace. When asked where her ensemble was from, she shared that her skirt, as well as a large portion of her clothing, was not actually her own but belonged to her sisters.

Hylkema explained that she and her sisters shopped together and split the cost of items that they knew they would be sharing, as is prudent on a student budget.

Hylkema describes her style as comfort-focused: rather than worry about what’s in style, she wears whatever makes her feel good. She may not be a risktaker when it comes to fashion (mixing prints has never appealed to her) but her outfit still stood out.

“The best accessory you can have is confidence,” Hylkema

explains. “You look your best when you wear what you want because that’s when you feel your best.”

For Hylkema, the biggest statement one can make is in the way they carry themselves.

Having good posture is just as important as having a good outfit. When you walk in a room, the way you carry yourself and the confidence that you portray is noticed before your outfit. An amazing outfit can lose its effect if it is paired with poor confidence and posture, just like an average outfit can make a person look amazing if she acts like she is.

While Hylkema admitted to wearing jeans and a T-shirt regularly, she said she does not like to dress down. The usual last

July 12-20 week of class attire (sweatpants and sweaters) that most students don just doesn’t appeal to her. She believes in looking presentable at all times; this doesn’t mean always wearing a full face of makeup or fancy clothes, but simply taking pride in looking good.

Hylkema says that a preoccupation with fashion is unnecessary. While trends change seasonally, your personality is constant. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the changing styles, especially on a student budget, but a wardrobe built on what you actually like and want to wear will always look flattering.

Harrison Festival of the Arts Harrison’s 36th annual Festival of the Arts promises a huge variety of entertainment to satisfy any lover of the arts: music on the beach, art markets, children’s entertainment, and various workshops.

Look for a UFV presence in the Bhangra team, a series of one-act plays courtesy of the theatre department, and writers from UFV’s talented faculty and student body reading a selection of their work at the literary café. Tickets range from $2 for the music on the beach, art exhibit, and workshops to $25 for select concerts. Check out the list of times, events and prices at www.harrisonfestival.com.

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Television Review

Film Review

Egos and music collide in Jersey Boys

Steven Universe: the perfect summer show

JEREMY HANNAFORD

SASHA MOEDT

CONTRIBUTOR

Clint Eastwood has been in the film-making business for decades, dipping into drama, comedy, and the occasional musical. The 84-year-old director has never let his age get in the way of doing what he loves, and while his best may be behind him, he still puts great effort into his works. Jersey Boys is one of those works.

Turning a musical into a film is usually a standard transition: keep in the musical numbers, make the choreography extravagant, and let the tunes drive the story. Eastwood takes a slightly different approach and turns it into a musical drama of the likes of Ray or Walk the Line.

Since it is about kids from Jersey, he adds the flair of Goodfellas with narration from each of the four members. The characters emit the Jersey attitude and style, and sometimes great humour peeks through the drama.

Bob Gaudio’s comment on Liberace’s mannerisms being “theatrical” was both a great joke as well as eye-opening about the gay community back in the ‘50s.

Their colourful producer Bob Crewe, played by Mike Doyle, adds even more uplifting flair.

The language of the film isn’t overwhelming either; there are some conflicts between the band members which would have felt hammy or out-of-place if a few curses weren’t tossed around.

Breaking the fourth wall to narrate was interesting at first, but washed out by the end.

Each character tells his own side of the story, but the narrative doesn’t flow together. Characters appear and disappear before their importance can be fleshed out. The timeline also has a few hiccups, with a flashback that is out of order with other events. This isn’t a major

THE CASCADE

issue but is only one of the many cracks as the story goes on.

These complaints are due to a lack of running time, as the film is trying to squeeze in as much of the Broadway production as possible. The passage of time is not clear, and you are left trying to figure out the year by judging the costumes. The pieces are there, but they just weren’t all put in their proper place.

Clint Eastwood loves flawed characters and the members of the Four Seasons are no exception. While the film’s narrative does vary in quality at times, the performances from the main cast are exceptional. The wayward egos and constant deception unravel as the group’s rise to stardom becomes their kryptonite. The fact that the four main characters are all played by novice actors is an interesting gamble on Eastwood’s part.

John Lloyd Young, who won a Tony for playing Frankie Valli in the Broadway production, brings a disparaging look into the life of the singer. While the man possessed great talent, his need for codependency in the band would lead to falling out with his friends and family.

While the infighting and drama are compelling, it’s the music everyone really cares about.

The vocal performances by the cast of the Four Seasons are topnotch. Young is able to truly capture Frankie Valli’s iconic sound and stage presence. Erich Bergen also provides fantastic vocals as the group’s writer and pianist Bob Gaudio. A wide collection of classic tunes also play in the background. Other than one flat performance of the Angels’ “My Boyfriend’s Back,” everything from a musical standpoint was top-notch. After the film ended, I had a kink in my ankle from tapping it throughout the show.

While Jersey Boys has issues with its narrative structure, the acting and music are fantastic.

Despite lack of experience in big film productions, the cast of the Four Seasons all bring captivating insights to one of the most loyal and self-loathing bands of the ‘60s. Great drama and great tunes prove Eastwood still has what it takes to make quality entertainment, and I hope he tries again in the future. The music is the main course; the drama was the dessert.

I am at a stage where I have to be coaxed into watching new TV shows — especially cartoons. I don’t like the idea that I could be wasting my time staring at something I end up hating. I have the same problem with films.

It took two things to convince me to start watching Steven Universe: the creator of the show, Rebecca Sugar, was Cartoon Network’s first solo female creator, and was a former storyboard artist, writer, and composer for the cartoon that started it all for me, Adventure Time.

Steven Universe is about a boy who lives in Beach City with the powerful Crystal Gems — Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl, who are intergalactic female warriors.

The Crystal Gems summon their power from gem stones embedded in their bodies.

Steven also has a gem, but has no idea how to use it. He inherited it from his mother, Rose Quartz, who died before Steven knew her. Besides that, Steven is an average boy. He likes playing video games, eating doughnuts, and going on adventures to save the world with the Crystal Gems.

One thing that I love about Steven Universe that carried over from Adventure Time is the amount of downtime given to the characters. Steven is just a kid. He lolls around and does nothing, just like any other kid.

The episodes are only 11 minutes long, but the pacing isn’t the constant bam-bam-bam of a lot of other cartoons.

The episodes are clever. There is a constant dichotomy between the Crystal Gems’ battles in other realms — and in Beach City — with evil, and Steven’s mundane world. For example, when Steven stumbles across a dark, powerful tool that can only be used for one power, Steven uses

it for really good witty comebacks.

The Crystal Gems love Steven like a family, and watching these goddess-like figures get sucked into Steven’s problems — problems that a 10-year-old boy would have — is funny. Steven’s father is an irresponsible beach bum who drifts in and out of Steven’s life. He tends to mess things up more than help, but he can throw a great beach barbeque, and Steven doesn’t notice the incompetence. Steven has no mother or father figure — the Crystal Gems are more like friend guardians — but he gets along just fine. When Steven gets lonely, there is always an adventure in a dangerous universe to go on. School doesn’t seem to exist, as it’s apparently perpetually summer in Beach City. That fact makes it the perfect summer show.

Steven Universe’s first season began in November 2013, and ended this spring with 26 episodes under its belt. It is renewed for a second season.

Steven Universe is well worth watching. Its animation is very cartoonish, but the content is worthy of any university student, especially during the summer. Give it a watch on a rainy day!

Cascade Arcade

Valiant Hearts is a vividly interwoven story of WW1 experience JEREMY HANNAFORD CONTRIBUTOR

Released just a month prior to the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the WWI, Valiant Hearts: The Great War isn’t another run-of-the-mill war shooter.

Instead, it offers an emotional and uplifting story about a time in history that was shrouded in despair.

For a game about war, it’s ironic that you never fire a rifle.

This refreshing take is the beginning of how the game shapes itself. It isn’t a war game but a war journey. You play as five different characters, each of whom have intriguing tales to tell that ultimately culminate together.

The unique characters all show different viewpoints of the war.

While they may fight on different sides, they all share a collective goal of survival. Whether it’s Karl’s forced exodus from France for being German-born or Anna’s desire to help those in need, this game isn’t about two sides fighting each other, but

men and women fighting to survive.

Valiant Hearts is as much a history lesson as it is a game.

Besides offering the visuals of historic locations and battles, there is a plethora of additional content that would make one think this game was made by the History Channel. Diary entries, historical notes, and items all give detailed accounts about life during the war.

While some of the battle summaries are quite common knowledge, there are many nods to lesser-known historical facts: the involvement of different nations of the British Empire whose participation contributed to their own future independence, the conglomeration of the Paris taxi system to carry troops out to the front lines, the voluntary involvement of Americans prior to their official participation. All these, and many other pieces of history, create a much deeper connection to the game’s narrative. Valiant Hearts’ entire concept was based on several letters

written from soldiers who were on the front lines. Some of the letters used in development are featured in the game as hidden items.

Learning about history is something I truly enjoy, and I appreciate a game that can articulate good gameplay alongside respectable re-enactments. Valiant Hearts has a solid gameplay style that is composed of different puzzle-solving scenarios that are intricately entwined into the battlefields. While the basic formula gets repetitive, the manner in which they appear is always different. Seeking and cleaning socks in exchange for a well of ink is one of the many ways of displaying the tasks and troubles of soldiers who lived in the trenches. There are extra segments, however, that offer some good humour; driving through Paris and avoiding obstacles that are appearing in accordance to the tune of Jacques Offenbach’s Galop Infernal was a cheerful surprise.

But as norm with a war drama,

these moments of happiness are few and far between. The evolution of the game begins to reflect on the drama as it becomes more grudging to continue the story.

Most of the narrative revolves around Emile and his close friends and family. Through his eyes, he sees friends die needlessly in a war he never wished to be a part of. He writes to his daughter Marie about the recent battles and losses, but hangs onto the hope of finding his sonin-law Karl and having them both return to their farm.

The art style of Valiant Hearts mimics that of the 1920s children’s story with a common-day steampunk flair. The cinematics unfold like a comic strip, often miming propaganda posters used during the war, such as an Allied soldier tearing apart the German flag with strength and fury. The lack of eyes on the characters creates an abstract unity with everyone the characters come across. This artistic choice holds greater meaning to the game as a whole: hiding your

eyes from the horrors of war does not make the image false or make you any different from someone else. The use of such an art style doesn’t dampen the seriousness of the war. Instead of showing the war in all its brutality, it touches it with a gentle, kind hand that still conveys the message without resulting to disparaging images. Along with a sombre and poetic score, the artistic side of Valiant Hearts is well thought-out.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is both a respectful retelling of one of the most captivating times in our history as well as a compelling journey game. While it tones down the reality of the war, its intentions are not disrespectful.

Its childlike art and storytelling are similar to that of Steven Spielberg’s 2011 film War Horse.

It gives a factual account of the events that unfolded without displaying images that would disturb players. And with a great story to accompany it, this game is already one of my favourites for this year.

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Wicked defies gravity once again TAYLOR BRECKLES THE CASCADE

Mini Album Reviews

SoundBites

Wicked did not disappoint when it returned to Vancouver. Full of laughter, music, friendship, and a dash of sadness, the adventures of Elphaba and Glinda are — in short — a whirlwind.

The tornado began before the show with a stampede to the merchandise booth. Of course, I was one of many that made the mad dash to have the best selection of the evening. I was attracted to the most expensive items, but the merchandise was good quality, so it was easy to convince myself to suck it up and pay the price.

Upon entering the theatre, the scenery changed dramatically as guests were greeted by the upper body of a dragon hanging from the top of the stage accompanied by a large map of Oz acting as the curtain. This exact set was used the last time I saw Wicked, but it was no less captivating.

The real magic started when the lights dimmed and the show began. Although not akin to Idina Menzel (or Adel Dazeem, depending on how Travolta you are) and Kristin Chenoweth, Laurel Harris (Elphaba) and Kara Lindsay (Glinda) were very

Image: The Western Sky

Wicked dazzled the audience with energy and emotion. good. Lindsay was my favourite, simply because of her energy and ability to entertain; I got tired just watching her bounce around while dancing and singing (very nicely, I might add) throughout the show.

As the song “Defying Gravity” came to a close, the lights signalled intermission.

The audience sat in a stunned silence for

a few moments, unable to process how the time had passed so quickly. Once the initial shock wore off, many were out of their seats scrambling for the facilities and refreshments.

After intermission, the show continued on without any hiccups or slip-ups, apart from a prop accidentally rolling back on

stage after it was thrown off by Glinda.

She handled it well, simply re-tossing the object in a comedic way which entertained and didn’t draw attention to the malfunction.

Naturally, the performance grew more sombre as it progressed, as anyone who knows the story remembers; yet, judging by the cheers and sound effects, the audience remained captivated and moved by the display until the unfortunate end.

The applause carried on for a few minutes as the final curtain was lowered after the cast took their respective bows. In a sudden rush people tried to leave the theatre, as per usual, apart from the few like myself prefer to enjoy sitting back and taking everything in for a final time, allowing the crowd to disperse a little bit.

More people flooded the merchandise booths after the show, unable to resist the temptation after seeing the performance.

All-in-all, I would rate Wicked as a sublime show definitely worth watching.

Hedley Wild Life

Luke Bryan Spring Break 6 ...Like We Ain’t Ever

Chromeo White Women

After the Canadian release of every Hedley album, I have always been hesitant on variations of their sound. Yet, they manage to leave a lasting impression every time. Their latest album, Wild Life, is no different. The release includes the singles “Anything,” “Crazy for You,” and “Heaven in our Headlights.” There are tracks that are extremely catchy, such as “Anything” and “Dreaming’s for Sleeping.” However, there are slower songs that are reminiscent of their previous release, Storms, like “Wild Life” and “All the Way.” Being a big fan of the drummer, Chris Crippin, it was slightly disappointing that synthesizers were heavily utilized in place of drums. However, lyrically, the tracks are phenomenal. There has been significant growth from their first release, Hedley in 2005 to Wild Life. After seeing some of the songs performed live at their show in Abbotsford, I’m reluctant to say the album is amazing. The studio productions do not do the live performances justice, yet it is still worth listening to. I am anticipating what the band comes up with next.

Luke Bryan is to country as Justin Bieber was to pop in the days of “Baby.” After listening to him on the radio for the millionth time, I decided to actually pick up some of Bryan’s releases. Included in this was the Spring Break 6 ...Like We Ain’t Ever, an EP released on March 11, 2014. The extended play is in the line of annual releases commemorating spring break. As suggested by the name, Spring Break 6 ...Like We Ain’t Ever is Bryan’s sixth EP to date and features the single “She Get Me High.”

Although it is not the best lyrically, the songs featured are catchy, upbeat, and fun to listen to. I was most drawn to “She Get Me High” and “Good Lookin’ Girl.” Compared to Bryan’s previous releases, Spring Break 6 ...Like We Ain’t Ever is similar in nature. Other than the title designating it for spring break, the tracks can easily pass for being on one of his full-length studio albums. Overall, it is a solid EP. I can understand the hype around Luke Bryan — he is good at what he does.

After not releasing an album in four years, this Canadian duo brings their electro-funk beats back with White Women. The first track, “Jealous (I Ain’t With It),” is refreshingly upbeat and honest. “I get jealous / but I’m too cool to admit it / when the fellas / talk to my girl I ain’t with it” is the main hook in the song. It gets stuck in your head, mostly because of how repetitive it is. The album in its entirety sounds extremely similar to the old Sonic the Hedgehog game soundtrack. “Fall Back 2U” is one of the most unusual songs on the album, with great instrumental breaks that make the song memorable. Unfortunately — with the repetitiveness of the lyrics throughout this album — if it weren’t for the instrumental ingenuity of their songs, this album would be a complete flop. Even though the genre itself is based around relying on the instrumental aspects instead of the lyrical, to really set this album apart from any others in its category, there would need to be a much stronger meaning to their lyrics. All in all, White Women is a fun, easy-listening album.

REMINGTON FIORASO

REMINGTON FIORASO

KATIE TEGTMEIER

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Concert Review

Bublé charms the home-town crowd

1 2 3

Shuffle

CHARTS

Greys If Anything

JOE JOHNSON

THE CASCADE/CIVL DJ

Stamina Mantis Hondo

Cowards World Champions of Male Chastity

Host of Everything Indie in CIVL Radio and also The Cascade’s Business Manager, Joe Johnson focuses on creating an eclectic playlist. Here are five tracks that hold a special place for him and fit nicely with the summer months.

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Weezer “My Name is Jonas” The first track on Weezer’s selftitled debut album, this album is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. While it came out in the mid ‘90s, it transcends time and stands up to modern hits, and even modern Weezer. It’s so outstanding that the band has returned to the album’s producer for their upcoming release that’ll be coming out some time later this year, or early next.

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I’m From Barcelona “Get in Line” Now here’s a band out of Sweden that’s extremely eclectic and certainly a necessity for the summer season. While they can be a little too saccharine at times, this band boasts 28 members, is incredibly pop-heavy, and is just generally upbeat and fun. It’s lead singer Emanuel Lundgren’s vocals that truly add the strength and weight to the sugary instrumentals and brings them home.

weird candle weird candle

Les Chaussettes Bunky

Cult Babies Cult Babies

Zebra Pulse Live On Big A, Little a Fountain Fountain Warpaint Warpaint Betrayers Let the Good Times Die Various PIXXX4 Cool Paint Role Mach Holy Shades of Night Diamond Mind Fake Tape

Acid Mothers Temple & Melting Paraiso UFO Astrorgasm From The Inner Space

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Shearing Pinx/ Lunch Lady Take That, The Devil!

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Shonen Knife Overdrive Destroyer

Five Spanish Songs

Joel Plaskett “Our Place in the Sun” Joel Plaskett has been one of Canada’s more prominent musicians.

Five years ago he released the experimental album, Three. Plaskett had a fixation on threes, and this track fell on the third disc. Without sarcasm, and with lyrics like “I’m 33 and a third”, what a song this is. It’s got the slow, summery, altcountry twang. And it’s really just an amazing song to shape some chill summer memories.

Gaslight Anthem “Meet Me by the River’s Edge” There is no contemporary rock band that can capture nostalgia and emotionally connect like Gaslight Anthem. While they have a new album, Get Hurt, slated for an August 19 release, I’ll always come back to this track as one of my favourites for its driven storytelling and hot, late summer atmosphere.

Covering the story of a small town, and the yearning for escape and renewal, it’s highly reminiscent of Springsteen.

Phoenix “Rome” Phoenix and the track “Rome” mark my early ventures into indie music. It has a personal melancholic feeling when I listen to it because of that. The band has a number of other killer tracks such as “1901,” “Lisztomania,” and “Lasso,” but it’s “Rome” that is the actual cornerstone to this synthpop band. It maintains a content, easy listening, melody that is perfect for a calming summer day.

Image: Ted Van Pelt/Flickr

Bublé turned up the heat for Vancouver, interacting with the audience between talented sets.

KATIE STOBBART THE CASCADE

A soft smoky haze in the air promised fire in Rogers Arena.

It’s not the element I would have associated with Michael Bublé, who was born close to the coast, literally kissed his fair share of salmon as a professional fisherman in his youth, and whose vocal fluidity courses through my head regularly. But after seeing him in concert, I can definitely say fire fits the Burnaby-born singer.

The opening act for Bublé was an a capella group, Naturally 7.

I’m fascinated by a capella — it’s hard to believe the human voice is capable of making all those instrumental sounds, including a deep, heart-grabbing bass beat.

They definitely lived up to their promise to “see how far we can take the human voice.”

It was my first concert, and I found myself astonished at the way the music rolls through you, like standing shoulderdeep in an ocean wave. Naturally 7 selected pieces which showed off the incredible range of their vocal powers, as an ensemble and one by one, so the audience could see how the strands of music wove together into a powerful whole. To my

delight, they also did a cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You,” which was well-suited to the a capella style. Then, before they left the stage, they got everyone up on their feet dancing to prepare the audience for the main act.

Unfortunately — this may be a feature of my lack of concertgoing experience — the opening act was followed by a rather long intermission, which I suppose makes it possible for nearly half the arena to clear out in search of drinks and bathrooms, but which felt underwhelming after being so pumped up. I twiddled my thumbs, stretched a little, and went in search of a lemonade (I had seen someone else drinking it) but was doomed to disappointment: the only lemonade available was the Mike’s Hard kind, which I enjoy, but not enough to pay $9.50 before tax for a small cup of it.

The concert was bound to be good — it’s his home performance, and Bublé was indeed worth the wait. He entered through a space in a magmalike curtain as if emerging from the mouth of Aladdin’s cave.

The special effects throughout the concert were stunning: columns of fire whose heat I could feel from my seat some distance away; moving panels that rose

up from the floor, almost alluding to piano keys, and divided the stage either to include or conceal the full band; and a series of projected images and patterns fitting to the theme of each song selection. Bublé’s set ranged from his newer music to fan favourites to covers (among them the Beatles’ “All You Need is Love” and Elvis’ “Burning Love”).

Bublé easily shifts from slow, elastic moments to climactic crescendos with absolute control over intensity. He also demonstrated a charming, approachable stage presence, frequently interacting with his audience and cracking jokes. He also pulled fans up onto the stage: first a group of girls holding a sign with electric lights that declared their hope to get a selfie with him, then two young boys who sat up onstage and sang “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” along with Bublé.

My favourite number was toward the end of the concert: the so-catchy, smile-inducing “It’s a Beautiful Day,” which Bublé sang before a brightly coloured backdrop of clouds, rainbows, shooting stars, and hot air balloons reminiscent of a childhood day at the fair. I came out of the concert grinning.

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Enduring the wonderful

Get your head in the game: a look at sports psychology EMILY RYBAK

CONTRIBUTOR

Spectators are often envious of professional athletes. The player has gotten to make a living out of doing something they love, and they’re also getting way overpaid for it! However, they may now groan at doing what used to be something they loved in the morning after their routine sawdust-flavoured power shake. This is what we call intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation occurs naturally by doing something simply because you love it and are passionate about it, like becoming a volunteer coach as your way of giving back to the community. When you are only willing to do something while compensated for it, you are motivated by an external source, such as money, and are therefore extrinsically motivated since there is something in it for you.

A problem occurs once extrinsic and intrinsic motivations cross paths. A basketball player may sign on with a team for all of the right reasons: they love the sport, are passionate about it, and have potential. After long enough, if their compensation is retracted, they will likely no longer enjoy their once-beloved sport. At least not nearly as much as they once did. What they were once motivated to do by passion has been influenced externally by money. It is difficult to find it enjoyable once the extrinsic motivation is gone.

Ever notice after a victory, your uncle won’t stop saying “we won” and “that was a great

torture that is POP Pilates Image: Robert Bejil Photography/flickr

CATHERINE STEWART THE CASCADE

“A sport always has been — and always will be — more than just a game.” win for us?” This is called BIRGing: basking in reflected glory.

A fan will personally identify themselves with a team of their choice and hold themselves personally responsible for the team’s success. They associate themselves with triumph without having to do any of the work, leaving them to bask in their unearned glory. BIRGing is an impression-management technique personally designed to protect one’s distended selfesteem to counteract any threats toward it. The downfall of the mechanism occurs once a person realizes that they play little to no role in their cherished team’s victory.

Now, heaven forbid, your

uncle’s favourite team loses, it turns into him saying “they lost,” and “they did terrible last night!” This is CORFing: cut off reflected failure. Suddenly a dedicated fan doesn’t want to be considered as a part of a losing team. They suddenly use words like “they” instead of “we.”

Whether or not a person participates in CORFing exposes either a true or a fickle fan. Using both BIRGing and CORFing, a person’s behaviour over a victory and / or failure may be understood. A true fan will buy all of the memorabilia and will wear the team jersey the day after an embarrassing loss, or even during a losing streak.

A CORFer may go as far as to

Image: University of the Fraser Valley/flickr

deny they watched any of their team’s games.

When your voice starts to give out in the final quarter, ask exactly who are you cheering for.

If they lose, slightly or exponentially, will it change how you feel about your beloved team?

Will you quietly remove that bumper sticker, or feel proud when you see another person with the same one? Whether you’re a team or fanclub member, adrenaline and score are not the only things that matter, because a sport always has been — and always will be — more than just a game.

Free fitness classes at UFV

Zumba is a fun, easy way to get your minimum 30 minutes of daily exercise in.

TORI THISTLETHWAITE CONTRIBUTOR

Fitness is something we should all make time for, and UFV thinks so too. Have you ever walked out of the library and seen people doing yoga? Or heard a catchy beat vibrating the walls while you were sitting in AfterMath or walking by the gym? Join in! These classes are available to all students for free.

I know a lot of us would rather take a nap or grab some lunch, but these classes are a great way to get active between classes or break up your day.

I attended a Zumba class on Tuesday and was extremely worried about my lack of dance moves, but everyone around me was having a blast and moving without inhibition to great music. The instructor was amazing and, at the end of the class, rec-

ognized I was new and complimented my efforts.

There are people of all levels of fitness and ages participating in these classes, and there are scaled moves for new attendees.

These classes are here to benefit students and faculty, and it would be great to get more people involved and working on their fitness in a fun (and free) way!

There is a schedule on the

Image: JeffPioquinto, SJ/flickr

UFV website for all the available classes, which include yoga and Pilates. All you have to do is click on the Human Resources link on the homepage, and under Health & Wellness there is another link that will direct you to all the fitness classes UFV has to offer for both Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses.

Try a class out and have some fun! Maybe you’ll even see me there!

I was once perusing YouTube (probably looking for videos of my favourite TV show couples, not going to lie) when I found this horribly wonderful channel called Blogilates, which would quickly come to destroy my life.

Blogilates is run by Cassey Ho, who turned to Pilates 10 years ago as a “fun way to tone up.” It wasn’t long before she came up with the idea to create something called POP Pilates, also known as a legal way to commit murder. POP Pilates is exercising to upbeat music in order to convince yourself that, although your legs may be about to fall off, this is your jam, so the pain is worth it.

At first I figured it would be like yoga. Except when Cassey made a pose, she would then start moving. Let me tell you, she made it look easy. Each video is usually from three to five minutes long, and at first you may think that that’s not nearly enough time. Trust me, it is.

Each video includes a wellknown, upbeat song to motivate you to move your body. Cassey’s instructions are clear and she shows you how to correctly do the moves, instead of just jumping into it and hoping you’ll catch on. She encourages you every step of the way. At some points she will even complain about her own fatigue, as you lie on the floor, motionless and wondering why you thought this was a good idea. But she never lets you give up. She seems to know just when you’re about to throw yourself to the floor and wave your white flag.

This makes her push you further to finish those last three reps.

Along with the YouTube videos, Cassey has her own website for Blogilates. There you will find meal plans to help keep you on track, recipes, and before and after pictures to show you that your goal is possible.

One of the things I admire is how Cassey is always putting her viewers first. She’s involved in their lives and truly cares about how they’re doing. “Transformation Tuesday” on her blog is when she will post pictures of one person’s progress so far. She rejoices with those people at the same time as motivating the rest of us to keep on going.

With a great instructor and good music, it’s easy to get sucked into the four minutes of excitement. By the time the song ends, you’re exhausted and making plans on how to access food without moving. But after a cool-down period, you’ll click another video, and another, and before you know it, you’ll be hurting so good that you won’t know what hit you.

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UFV wrestler radiates passion for his sport KIER-CHRISTER JUNOS

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR

It’s a tournament morning. Domestic happenings in the Phulka household are quiet as usual.

Chanmit Phulka wakes up, eats breakfast, and mellows out. His family gives him space. Then his father will walk into the room.

“No one trains as hard as you do,” he’ll say. “You don’t just wrestle hard. It’s not about winning and losing — it’s about performing at the best of your abilities.”

Phulka’s wrestling career started at age 13 at Eugene Reimer Middle School. Now, at 22, Phulka is a decorated athlete; he’s competed internationally and has the gold medals to prove much more than just a worldly career. But he knows he wouldn’t be pulling his weight — and the gold around his neck — if it wasn’t for his passion for wrestling.

Phulka’s blood pumps for wrestling. Other than working at the family nursery, he doesn’t live as hard for anything else.

Naturally, he’s enthused that Canada West recently accepted UFV’s wrestling team for what will be our inaugural wrestling season.

Image: Ano Lobb/Flickr

“ . . . you’re gonna dig deep and you’re going to win the match.”

“I just can’t wait to get on the mat,” said Phulka. “I can’t wait to represent UFV, I can’t wait to wrestle in CIS, and I can’t wait to win the gold medal.”

According to a team newsletter, the team’s roster currently has twelve men and three women, and their pre-season exhi-

bitions before Christmas break saw the team compete in several tournaments across Canada. The team also performed against top-ranked US wrestling programs, including the programs at Stanford University and Oregon State University.

After the holidays, the team

competed in the Golden Bear Invitational Tournament. Phulka medalled with a gold without a single point scored on him.

“Chanmit Phulka competed for us last year, and is expected to be a leader on the team for us again, in the 100kg weight class,” says UFV wrestling coach Arjan Bhullar.

Freestyle wrestling, while being a team sport, is inherently singular in nature. Responsibility to meet weight class, practice techniques, and compete belongs to the athlete. But Phulka believes that the team dynamic in wrestling is stronger than in any other team sport. He believes this is because his team members acknowledge each other’s ethics in personal training.

“Sometimes, you break emotionally and physically in practice, and the only people that know are your teammates,” said Phulka. “When you get through that moment of vulnerability, teammates see you through that moment.”

Hungarian psychology professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi proposed the notion of flow: a mental state where a person is completely absorbed in their activity — being in the zone. In wrestling, Phulka feels that a wrestler finds flow in the death

throes of a match, literally in the last minute or two.

“That’s when you know you’ve got to turn it up when you’re winning or losing,” said Phulka. “That’s when a person’s character is revealed. If you’re losing, you’re gonna to put your ass on the line and just bust your balls and try to win the match, or you’re gonna break and give up. If you’re winning, you’re gonna dig deep — even if you’re tired, even if you can’t breathe — you’re gonna dig deep and you’re going to win the match.

Or you’re gonna give up late, take down, and lose. I think that’s what the flow aspect is in wrestling.”

Phulka said that wrestling coaches condition their teams for a match’s final moments by embattling them in practice. Beyond mental and physical conditioning, as well as the support he receives from coaches, teammates, and family members, Phulka knows that his successes wouldn’t have been possible without being passionate. And he believes that philosophy will always be paramount to being successful in life.

Skipping breakfast doesn’t make you fat after all VALERIE FRANKLIN THE CASCADE

What’s the first thing you shove into your mouth when you wake up? Bacon and eggs? Cereal?

Are you one of those virtuous masochists who start their day with chia seeds and buckwheat groats? Or does your day start by desperately clawing at the snooze button, sacrificing breakfast for a few extra minutes of sleep before class?

It turns out it actually doesn’t matter whether you eat or not in the morning — at least, not when it comes to your weight.

For years, doctors, dieticians, and weight loss gurus have hypothesized that skipping breakfast will put one’s metabolism in a “fasting” state, causing the body to store fat despite the calorie deficit caused by missing a meal.

Although several studies over the years have shown a correlation between eating breakfast and having lower levels of body fat, that doesn’t mean that there’s a causal relationship between the two — and a new study coming out of the University of Alabama’s Nutrition Obesity Research Centre has provided even more evidence that breakfast has no direct connection to your weight.

“We thought it was important to test this commonly held assumption,” lead study author Emily Dhurandhar told Forbes.

“Since short-term studies suggest that eating breakfast may help regulate appetite and metabolism, it has often been assumed that this would translate to breakfast enhancing weight loss.”

In the study, 309 overweight

Image: malias/flickr

Eating breakfast just because you’re afraid of slowing down your metabolism? Don’t worry -- a new study suggests that’s just a myth. or obese adults were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group was instructed to eat a meal before 11 a.m.; the second group was instructed not to eat before 11 a.m.; and the third group was only given a pamphlet on healthy eating habits, which did not mention breakfast. Over the four months of the study, there was almost no discernible difference in weight loss between the three groups.

The participants lost about one to two pounds on average each, whether they ate breakfast or not. Although the study didn’t

take the participants’ food choices or caloric intake into account, other health factors such as metabolism and cardiovascular health were also found to be similar between the groups.

Another study — conducted

by James Betts, PhD at the University of Bath — earlier this year, measured and compared the health of 33 average-sized people, some of whom ate breakfast and some of whom didn’t.

Like Dhurandhar, Betts found that the breakfast-eaters and the breakfast-skippers stayed at about the same weight. How-

ever, those who did eat before 11 a.m. maintained stabler blood sugar levels throughout the day and were also more likely to be physically active.

While we can finally say goodbye to the myth that skipping breakfast will make you fat, it’s still true that running on empty isn’t the best way to start your day. Skip breakfast and you’re more likely to be tired and cranky throughout the afternoon, and more likely to reach for a bag of M&Ms instead of eating a real lunch. As Betts’ research shows, eating

in the morning tends to lead to healthier choices later in the day, which can help you stay focused and more productive — a serious advantage, especially for students.

So yes, it’s still a good idea to eat breakfast — even if the snooze button is calling your name.

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