The Cascade Volume 17 Issue 4 2009-02-05

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. TIT v TI)JE TJIMJE~ Encouraging the deficit since 1993 Vol. 17 Issue 4 U-Pass Offers More The Implications of a Shoe Toss Album Review: The Empyrean

LocalNewsBriefs

Editor Michael Long Culture Editor H.A. Hogeterp

Copy Editor A.M Bois Sports Edi,tor Terry Singh

I, for one, welcome this pro-life group with open arms, not because I am prolife-In fact, I am quite openly pro-abortion and have no reservations about women choosing to terminate a human life in the womb. I welcome this pro-life group because we should encourage students to start thinking about the world we live in and contribute to the marketplace of ideas outside· of class. The organizers of this group are taking such a step, and for that I commend them. What does concern me is that there will be those that aren't interested in discussion, but will use issues such as these to ignorantly push their agendas down another person's throat. This is a problem that afflicts people in all political spectrums.

Nominationsinvited for U FV honorary degrees

The conference helps the SWSA students network with other Social Work students, and gain a better understanding of the line of work they are pursuing.

DAVIDMILLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It usually goes like this, a pro-life group erects crosses on campus and then some idiot vandalizes them, or a zealous pro-lifer harasses students with pictures of aborted fetuses. Events like these tend to overshadow and discourage the constructive dialogue and debate that should happen. Another issue that is likely to arise is one of student union funding. Other student unions have tried to deny funding for pro-life groups, yet doing · tha't 'doesn't really spe<1kwell' for respecting free-speech and encouraging debate. If this campus group applies for student union funding then they should be given it, and so should opposing groups.

Staff Wrfters Paut Falardeau Suzanne Kittell RomiChan Sarah Welters

Printed By Coastal Web Press 'Ille Cascade is UFV's autonomous student newspaper.It providesa 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 Cascadeis ·publishedevery Thursday with a circulation ;of2000 and is distributed at UFV campuses f and throughout Abbotsford,Chilliwack, i and Mission.The Cascade is a member of the Canadian UniversityPress, a national cooperativeof75 university and college newspapersfrom Victoria to St. John's.The Cascade followsthe CUP ethical policy i concerning material of a prejudicialor oppressivenature.

Submissionsare preferred in electronic format.either through e-mail or on CD. Pleasesend submissionsin ".tict"or ".doc" format only. Articles and letters to th.eeditor must be typed. The Cascade reservesthe right to editsubmissio,nsfor clarity and length. The Cascad~willnot print any articles that contain ratjst; sexist,homophobic or libellouscontent. The writer's nam; and student number must be submitted with ;'each submission.Letters to the editor must be under 400 words if intended for print Only one Jetter to the editor per writer in any given edition. Opinions expresseddo not necessarily , reflectthat ofUliV, Cascade staff and col'. lective, or associated members.

Nominations will close by the end of February. For more details and a full list of selection criteria, as well as a listing of recipients to date, visit www.ufv.ca/hondegrees

Jaspreet Singh, author of "Chef" nominated for the 2008 Hugh Maclennan Prize, and "Seventeen Tomatoes: Tales from Kashmir," which won the 2004 McAuslan Best First Book Prize. He recently finished writing Speak Oppenheimer, a play for Montreal's Infinite Theatre, and he is one of the contributors, along with Kiran Desai, Vikram Seth, and Salman Rushdie to the anthology of essays, Aids Sutra: Untold Stories from India. He will be reading in the bookstore on February 13th, from 24pm. 33844 King Roag Abbotsford, 13C V2S 7M8 cascade.news@ufv.ca Editor-in-Chief David Miller Managing Editor Rebekah Duprey Production Manager Randona Conrad Production Assistant A.M. Bois News & Opinions

Volume 17 • Issue 4 RoomC1027

EDITORIAL When the Culture War Comes to Campus

We all go to university to learn and engage our intellect. Whether you believe that women have the unrestricted right to choose to terminate life in the womb, or if you assume that human life should be protected from the moment of conception, if you can't reason your arguments, listen to someone who disagrees with you, or if you can't challenge your own assumptions then I have no sympathy for you if you lose your head. If you think you could be one of these people then might I suggest the university isn't the best place for you.

Pizza and Pop Fundraiser Happy Birthdayto Charles Darwin Writer in Residence

The Social Work Students Association is having a fundraiser to help the students in their program who want to attend the Canadian Association of Social Work Education conference.

Thurs, Feb 12 2pm Mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin with birthday cake and celebration in the rotunda of the learning commons on the UFV Abbotsford campus. View a new exhibit of stunning photographs taken by biology faculty member Dr. Debbie Wheeler on her recent journey to South America in the footsteps of Darwin and hiscontemporary Alfred Russell Wallace. The UFV library is also showcasing a literary display on Darwin throughout the month of February.

Do you know of someone who has contributed to our society in a major way, either in the Fraser Valley or further afield? UFV is seeking nominations for its honorary doctorate degrees, to be conferred at convocation ceremonies in June 2009. UFV offers honorary Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, and Doctor of Technology degrees and confers several each year at its convocation ceremonies.

The Pizza and Pop sale will be on February 9th in the Great Hall in B Building on the Abbotsford Campus (just outside of Registration) A pizza and pop can be purchased for $2.

Angela Ostrikoff

Contributors '"" Kurtis Smejkal Alan Bittner Sarah Walker Dale Cory Staff Photographers Randona Conrad Suzanne Kittell

This week, a ne.yly formed pro-life group invited a speaker to speak on campus about abortion. Some in the institution are nervous about an active pro-life group on campus. This is not because of any liberal bias, but because culture war' issues such as abortion can poison the campus environment iri a divisive sea of bad rhetoric and poor critical-thinking.

ews

So, if we do disagree with one another, let's keep it at that Let's not dehumanize and stereotype someone because they hold a different position. Let's be civil and courteous in debate, and most importantly, let us resist those that aren't.

PAULFALARDEAU STAFFWRITER

Pat Harris of the UFV library says Noreen Dragani. The program has traditionally been quite a closeknit community. "Our last reunion, we were able to locate all but one of our 109 alumni." Noreen doesn't want the experience of being a part of the LIBIT program to change, but she's excited about the prospect of the department increasing. Often students joining the LIBIT program have had some post-secondary education already, and are looking to expand their horizons. Sometimes they are actually working in the field. Noreen estimates that approximately half of the students in the program are already working or find a job before they graduate. Currently the LIBIT program fits into the Bachelor of General Studies, and provides a useful skill set for the true generalist. Those interested in the program would do well to remember that information specialists have knowledge at their fingertips, and knowledge is power. and the local taxi companies, where the members will be able to count on a safe ride home by calling the partner taxi company Central Valley Taxi in Abbotsford and Chilliwack Taxi and giving them the MSRH membership number." "That number," the press release it's owner may use taxi services up to •$45 but whatever remains on the card will not roll over." This type of card is not to be confused with prepaid cards that are commonly used as gift cards, which are multi use and refillable. Brown explains that the university will 'fill up" your card for you as a part continues"guar- of the UPASS program. Although antees they are put at the top of the queue for taxi service and a ride from "We work with the wherever they are to the registered MSRH aduniversity through the MSRH program. Members will get a prepaid card with a certain amount of money on it, say $45. The students will then be able to use that to get a ride wherever they the exact amount that cards will initially hold is as of yet undetermined, Brown says he expects dress"the need to go," "How it -----------------amount to works, it's a prepaid card," explains Paul Johal, general manager of Chiliwack Taxi & Imperial Limousine, "We work with the university through the MSRH program. Members will get a prepaid card with a certain amount of money on it, say $45. The students will then be able to use that to get a ride wherever they need to go," Johal explains that the card is a one time only use, so if there is $45 on the card likely be $20-$25 dollars. However, once you use that initial card balance you will be required to fill the card again yourself which students who take taxis are encouraged to do since they will then continue to receive priority service. There is no word yet whether SUS plans to refill the cards at the start of new semesters when UPASS fees are recollected, although it is a possibility.

Cascade News • ThursdayFebruary5th 2009 News 3

UFV is one of only two institutions in BC that offer the Library and Information Technology Diploma, and it's the only university in the province to do so. Our program is distinctive, even across the country, for it's guarantee that every single course will be cycled online in a four-year period. "We make sure that our online students have graduates have been employed within eight months of earning their diploma, and many of those not employed were continuing their education. Jobs are available in a range of fields, and graduates with the LIBIT diploma find themselves working everywhere from law firms and hospitals to archives and government departments. Department head the same course selections as our students here on campus." says Noreen "This makes us very popular for distance learners." Approximately UFV is one of only two institutions in BC that offer the Library and Information Technology Diploma Christina Nigel is often contacted by employers in seek of information and organizational specialists, and the program unofficially posts and alerts stu14% of students currently enrolled in the program are out of province. A practical, employment-centered program, LIBIT provides students with a wide base of knowledge in the information field, and LIBIT grads have proven to be incredibly successful. Over the past 10 years, 94-97% of de~ts to more jobs in various fields and areas than are filled each semestei. "Our grads are in demand," Noreen points out, "the retirement curve is high in this area, there's no shortage of work." "[The increased enrollment] really means a change in our mindset"

Jack Brown, the current Vice President of Finance, , pointed out that many more people should run, and get involved in the SUS, for two simple reasons. The first being that "you pay for it," meaning student funds go toward the SUS regardless of who is in office. More people getting involved in the electoral and nominative process means there will be greater student involvement and attention paid to where student funds are being spent.

Trades International Students Students with Disabilities Students in Residence Aboriginal Students Furthermore, there will be 9 Representative at Large positions

The University of the Fraser Valley's Student union society held a press release at Casey's pub on Tuesday January the 27th. This unusual arena for a press briefing was perhaps ' fitting because the release marked the ' addition of another service that SUS plans to provide to the Fraser Valley's fledgling university. The press release states, "Getting home will be even safer for University of the Fraser Valley Students once their UPASS is in place next September." In the fall of 2008 UFV's student body showed up in big numbers to vote for SUS to pursue a universal transit pass for students in the Fraser Valley. Although the vast majority of students voted for the UPASS, there were those who said "NO". These students were reassured by SUS that there would be several "valueadded" products and services such as access to the Fraser Valley's gyms, polls and rec centers with more to come. Last Tuesday SUS announced its first additional service. That is "My Safe Ride Home", a taxi service which UPASS holders will have access to. Jack Brown, SUS Vice President Finance, explains that it is "a pre-paid taxi fare with priority pick up and direct delivery to the cardholder's home." '"My Safe Ride Home' is the brainchild of MMC Software principle stockholders Terry Johnson, Stephen Paul a_ndAlex Stuart," says the SUS press release. "The 'My Safe Ride Home' card represents an agreement between the card-carrying members

UPASSHoldersWillGetMoreBenefits

MICHAELLON6 NEWS& OPINIONEDITOR

Vice President Academic: responsible for monitoring and addressing academic issues faced by the SUS membership, as well as acting as a liaison with local, provincial, and federal representatives on educational matters.

President: the main spokesperson for the SUS, and the chair of the UFV SUS's Board of Directors

REBEKADUPREY MANAGINGEDITOR The Library and Information Technology program here at UFV has often been overlooked, but those days are ending. There's been an enrollment explosion in our relatively modest program. New student intake has nearly doubled in the past year, from 36 students last year to an impressive 68. Our becoming a university has no doubt boosted awareness of our programs and instructional Assistant for the LIBIT Department, Noreen 'Dragani, attributes this demand for enrollment in part to the impressive online course selection provided by the program, and in part to the job market success rate and appeal of our graduates.

SUS ElectionsComing Soon

Vice President East: responsible for representing the Mission and Chilliwack campuses, and for promoting SUS activities on those campuses. There are also currently positions for representing:

Information,Technicians Love UFV

Vice President Social: responsible for planning and implementing events and activities for the enjoyment of UFV students. This includes events on any UFV Campus, in Casey's on Campus, or off campus events.

Secondly, "citizenship requires democratic involvement." The SUS is in place to represent the students of UFV, the more students get involved in the SUS, the more the SUS can address issues concerning students. Anyone who attends UFV is affected by the SUS, if students feel that the SUS affects them negatively, participating in the election is the strongest way to change that influence for the better. Nomination Packages can be picked up at the SUS office, or online at http://ufvsus.ca/susfiles/2009 SUS-ElectionPackage.pdf. The Nominations period closes February 16'\ so anyone interested in campaigning will need to start the process soon.

Vice President Internal: The VicePresident Internal is responsible for the administration of all SUS Stuc dent Organizations. The Vice-President Internal chairs the Governance Committee, sits on the SUS Development Committee Vice President Finance: responsible for overseeing and monitoring the SUS's budget, and sits in on the Governance Committee, as well as the Development Committee.

SUS Plansto Give Studentsa Safe Ride Home

The Student Union Election is soon to be upon us once again. The actual voting days are March 17th to March 20th , but anyone interested in getting involved in the Student Union Society (SUS) is encouraged to act now. As of February 2nd nominations have opened for anyone wishing to run for a position with the Student Union.

SARAHWELTERS STAFFWRITER T he Canadian Government has recently released a budget that would leave the country with a deficit of $34 billion dollars in the 20092010 fiscal year, with at least another $30 billion dollars tacked on the year after. This leaves many people in an uproar who don't want to see Canada going into serious debt for the first time in over 10 years.

4 News

In particular, because the cichlid species were close relatives and were also gathered from the same lake, the differences in their mating behaviours could be identified as the most important factor influencing sperm capacity.

Gore-endorsed Scientist Spe·aks on Climate Change at UFV

"The results of our study could be much more widely applicable," said Balshine. However, more in-depth research needs to now be carried out to understand precisely what machinery makes one sperm swim fast and another swim more slowly.

Cascade News• Thursday February 5th 2009

DAVIDMILLER EDITORIN CHIEFN oted atmospheric scientist, Dr. Andrew Weaver, spoke at UFV last week about how simplistic and sensationalistic media reporting can undermine public understanding on the issue of global warming. "People don't know who is an expert and who isn't," said the University of Victoria professor and author, to a packed audience at the Abbotsford theatre. Dr. Weaver talked about how newspaper editors, lacking a scientific background, can't tell whether an expert speaking on climate change is credible or not. This leaves them open to quoting 'experts' who have no real scientific credentials, or have associations with corporate-funded groups wishing to challenge the current consensus on climate change. The Victoria Times Colonist published an article that quoted an expert saying, "a rise of five meteres [in sea level] by Christmas is a very real possibility." Compared to the prediction from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of a rise between .22-44m by 2090, this prediction is patently misinformed.

Promiscuity Leads To Faster Sperm

Tighteningthe Belt to create jobs and keep dying industries alive. With over $1 billion dedicated to small rural or remote towns that depend on a single industry to survive, this makes the difference between thousands of Canadians losing their jobs or not. With funds set up to help industries such as Forestry, Agriculture and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivers the new budgetary proposal Manufacturing, the government will also be setting up funds to help smaller causes, such as contributing $52 million to a research and development group in Atlantic Canada, $6,400 to a Music Festival in Medicine Hat and funds to help fix up a horse racing track in P.E.I. Funds used to help the dying industries of Canada will not only aid in keeping jobs, but also facilitate the development of technologies in these industries while promoting them

While the budget means a deficit for the country, it means a lot of funding for areas that are in dire need of it. Social Housing is to receive $2 billion in funding, which will in turn be going to social housing renovations, on-reserve accommodation for aboriginal people, seniors' housing, and housing for people with disabilities.

The species studied varied in their mating behaviours from strictly monogamous to highly promiscuous. This occurred in both in males and females. After over 300 fish were collected, their sperm was carefully observed using a microscope, allowing the team to measure both the size and quantity of sperm. In addition, a digital video camera was able to capture the swimming speed in real time.

The intensive data analysis that followed using computer simulation techniques led to the eventual conclusion that the sperm improved in speed, size, quantity, and longevity in the context of promiscuous species. Alternatively, the monogamous species of cichlids produced sperm that were poorer in quality and quantity.

"Female fish mating behaviour influenced sperm traits," said Balshine, emphasizing the importance of mating behaviour on the evolution of male traits. Furthermore, sperm competition is evident across different species.

"[This study] provides some of the first strong comparative evidence based on lots of species that sperm swimming speeds have been shaped by female mating patterns," said Sigal Balshine, the senior author of the study, as well as the associate professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. The research tested the effects of competition on sperm evolution. Where female species are more promiscuous and tend to mate with multiple partners in quick succession, competition exists between males for whoever could reach the egg first. In this race, the faster and more numerous sperm wins the egg. Without this competition, there is no requirement for superior sperm, so there would be no need to expend energy on creating sperm of better quality or higher quantity.

A more in depth analysis will be in next week's issue, including the effects the budgetary changes will have on students.

"Ninety percent of people who read this say, 'what a load of rubbish,' and the rest panic," said Dr. Weaver. This misinformed sensationalism, according to Weaver, can be exploited by corporate-funded groups masquerading as grassroots organizations (dubbed 'Astroturf' groups by Weaver) to promote the idea that there is a controversy over global warming. This problem is exacerbated, says Weaver, as journalists try to stay objective and in doing so over-represent the opposing view about climate change. This gives the false impression that there is a lack of consensus in the scientific community over climate change. In his lecture Dr. Weaver tackled the issue of sunspots, often raised by climate change skeptics as responsible for climate change. Dr. Weaver displayed a1990 article that contains a graph, often put out by 'Astroturf' groups, showing the correlation between sunspots and temperature change. While the correlation appears "striking," says Weaver, the graph stops at 1980. Since then, global temperatures have risen while sunspot activity has declined. As an example of how science has been misrepresented by some groups, Dr. Weaver provided an example of the graph being falsely edited to show that sunspot activity has been increased in line with temperature increases. While maintaining that warming is going to be a reality that mankind has to deal with, Dr. Weaver advocated that the international community adopt a "contraction and convergence" framework to lessen the mankind's effect. Under such an agreement, the international community would set a year to become carbon neutral (eg. 2100), and countries would then work to bring emissions, per capita, to equal levels (convergence).

Following the Keynes economic model, the Canadian government is creating a budget based on this model in order to create and keep jobs for the average Joe. The Keynes model basically states that a government may need to go into debt in order to boost their economy. No jobs equals no money equals no spending, which in turn equals a crashing economy. So, what does this mean? It means that the Government is going to be running a deficit of $34 billion in order overseas.

The study, which began in 2004, made use of 29 closely related species in the cichlid fish family found in Lake Tanganyika, Africa. Most fish participate in external fertilization, whereby sperm must swim through the water in order to reach and penetrate the eggs. This allowed the researchers to closely investigate the competition occurring between sperm in a biologically relevant fashion.

What does this Budget mean for Canadians? While it does mean that the government will be putting funding into dying industries that need help desperately, it also means that there will be some "permanent tax measures" that the government has said will be "manageable" and "affordable in the long term". While Canadians don't know what these permanent tax measures are, they are coming soon. However, this leaves some debate as to whether or not the budget is even a good idea. The Conservative government promises that the deficit is temporary, but there are no promises that can be guaranteed. This new budget comes with warn ings from multiple experts. Kevin Gaudet, provincial director for the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation wrote in a recent online posting, "The government would be wise to listen to the voices of the past and future. Those of the past know the harm caused by systemic government deficits. Those of the future surely don't want to pay for yesterday's and today's financial imprudence." Analysts and macroeconomists agree that this type of budget is tricky to make work.

SYLVIAGUORGIUS THESILHOUETTE Recent research at McMaster University has confirmed a long-held theory that competition between males results in more competitive sperm.

Noting that times were changing, Dr. Weaver encouraged people to hold governments to account: "People are changing. Young people are fed up. What bugs me is we need people to go up to the ballot box," said Dr. Weaver, "You want change, you got to get up and vote for it." Dr. Andrew Weaver's new book is entitled, "Keeping our Cool: Canada in a Warming World."

MICHAELLONG NEWS& OPINION EDITOR M untadar al-Zaidi: A name you are most likely not familiar with, but his actions became international news quite quickly. Mr. Zaida is the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former President George W. Bush, and called him a dog as he did it. In our North American culture, the incident has been laughed off, and more note has been taken of Mr. Bush's quick reflexes than of the thrower. In the Muslim world, largely due to the intrinsic un-cleanliness of shoes, the incident has been far from humorous. Even showing the bottom of your shoes to someone is considered an insult. In that context, throwing shoes at Mr. Bush was one of the most insulting things Mr. Zaidi could have done. Mr. Bush's response was that no real harm was done, and that the fact that the man was able to voice his political opinion was encouraging. Noble as his statement may be, Mr. Zaidi is facing serious repercussions for his actions. Since he was taken into custody, Mr Zaidi has reported being beaten severely, citing "a broken arm, broken ribs, and internal" according to the BBC. He has also been charged with aggression against a foreign head of state, which carries with it a potential sentence of 15 years in prison. Let's take a step back here shall we. This man, who just before throwing the shoe said "This is from the widows, the orphans, and those who were killed in Iraq", was deliberately and specifically voicing his political opinion. Granted, that opinion carried with it the Intent to cause harm, or at least humiliation. Unless Mr. Zaidi has the shoe throwing skills of "Random Task" from Austin Powers, little more than a bruise could come of a connected hit. Mr. Bush stated that he "didn't feel the least bit threatened by it" and that the man was expressing his opinion. Great, and how does the U.S. backed Iraqi government respond to that opinion? With a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Well done boys, you're sending a wonderful message there. What exactly would the rehabilitative process look like for that man? "Muntadar, you've been in prison for twelve years now. What have you learned?" "Don't throw shoes." "That's right, very good Muntadar. You've come a long way. Three more years and you'll be fit to re-enter society. You will have to register any future footwear with your parole officer though." If this is the sentence for a projectile penny-loafer, we should really start charging protesters who throw pies with harsher sentences. After all, cholesterol is the leading killer in America, so a pie has far greater health risks than a shoe. Also, any future news conferences with foreign politicians should enforce a strict "Croes and slippers only" policy. The man was voicing an opinion. Yes that opinion was aggressive, but given the motivation for his anger the belief that the US's involvement in Iraq caused the needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people his response seems timid at best. Give Mr. Zaidi a fine, keep him from attending news conferences involving foreigners in the future, and let him go. If the current Iraqi government and the United States claim to encourage free speech, their policies should reflect that.

Cascade News· Thursday February 5th 2009

Who Throws a Shoe, Honestly

ANGELAOSTRIKOFF STAFFWRITER

Cascade News· Thursday February 5th 2009

In retrospect however, I have realized that it is not this man who I should be mad at, rather it is the ridiculous coffee corporations of the world that encourage childlike behavior in adults with their obscene "just say yes" policies. When this man has been trained to be this way by my own employer, I cannot be mad at him, but rather be angry with the ridiculous policies created by people who never have to actually follow them because they've never actually helped a customer before. So from now on, if I am serving you at the unnamed coffee shop where I work, I promise you that I will not follow "The Customer is Always Right" customer service philosophy. I will in fact tell you, "No."

The three brothers, James 23, Jarrod 26 and Jonathon 28 have been causing trouble in the Fraser Valley for over a decade. They have been connected with various Vancouver gangs over the years and have been charged with more crime connected to firearms, drugs and gang activity than you could shake a stick at. Their parents maintain that their son's are innocent. Really? That is like when your mom told you that all the cool kids at school were just jealous of you not buying it. It may be well intentioned but it is a lie nonetheless, or it may have something to do with the fact that the Bacons' parents live in a house that is over $600,000 in value somehow bought on the salary of a special needs teacher and a facilities operator. Not to mention the six luxury vehicles that are parked at the Abbotsford home, which the Bacon Brothers name as their place of residence. That's right kids; despite the Bacon's attempts to be "baller" they still live with mom and dad. At the moment, the Bacon's are very closely associated with the Red Scorpions, a drug trafficking gang that operates in the Fraser Valley. The Red Scorpions are believed to be responsible for the murders of six people in Surrey in October of 2007. And in case any if you crazy co-eds are planning on doing some of your own sleuthing, the gang members all have tattoos of "RS" located on their wrist, neck or shoulder. Impressed with their originality? I know I am. In June of 2008, James and Jarrod appeared before court in Surrey on multiple gun charges. Some gang specialists speculated that they were only brought in as a form of protection for the brothers. There were more than two dozen firearm charges from a police related incident more than a year ago. There had been several death threats on the Bacons' lives and it seems as though the police were trying to extend security for the brothers. A hit is suspected to be on youngest Bacon, James. In May of 2008, a man was shot to death while driving a red Porsche that was owned by the Bacon's. And more recently, January 20, 2009, James was driving his Mercedes in Abbotsford, when he was shot at. The drive-by took place at the intersection of South Fraser Way and Sumas Way, in broad daylight during rush hour traffic. Aside from the Mercedes, another car was shot, but luckily no one was injured. James was wearing full body armor, to which he owes his life. After being shot at repeatedly, he ended up crashing into the cement stairs in front of the keg. He then tried to flee on foot. Abbotsford mayor, George Peary states that, "This family of three boys seem intent on wreaking havoc." All three of the Bacons are still facing a myriad of charges for weapons, drugs and violence. As far as Bacon goes, these guys are definitely not kosher. All we can hope is that the next time we hear "Bacon" mentioned in the news it will be because they have found a worthy vegetarian substitute, or at the very least about Kevin Bacon.

There was not a stitch of foam on that bad boy which, if you've ever steamed milk to 190 degrees, you know is a very hard thing to do. When I handed it to the customer smiling and reciting its paragraph long name, they ignored me. Oh well, this I can move past. It was when the customer came back in and told me, yes told me, to remake the drink because his milk was burnt that I stared at him like a deer caught in headlights. I couldn't believe the nerve of this man to order milk steamed at 190 degrees and then complain that it was burnt. Let's look at this from the science perspective. Milk boils at 214 degrees and burns at what temperature? That's correct all you people out there who passed grade nine science or know how to use the internet. Milk burns at 190 degrees. But working at the unnamed coffee shop where I work, I smiled -at the man, took his cup to the back room to dump it's contents, silently scream a few curses, and then remade is drink with him breathing down my neck. I gave him his drink and he was on his way, leaving me fuming over this ridiculous scene.

The other day when I was at work, I had a customer order a half-caf, triple, 5 slow pumps, whole milk, 190 degree, no foam, no whip, double cupped with a sleeve, white chocolate mocha with three slow pumps on the side, with a stir stick and a receipt, (I just want to point out that this person's drink is nearly impossible to say in one breath) and I almost laughed. Who actually orders this? But I pulled up my socks (not literally) and smiling, asked if they "Would you like that for here or to go?" but they were already talking on their blackberry about an important business meeting that they were late for, so I figured that it was to go. I made the drink and, I must say, I made it perfectly.

Recently, the Bacon brothers have been making the headlines. And no, I don't mean Kevin Bacon nobody's really heard from him since Footloose. I am referring to the three gangsta's that Abbotsford is oh so proud of.

SARAHWELTERS STAFFWRITER W hat is one thing that large coffee corporations encourage in the world? Some would say that it would be the ethical treatment of coffee farmers and pickers. They would be wrong. Others would say that they are important because they create a "third place environment" that people just love to be at. They would also be wrong. If there is one thing in this world that certain unnamed coffee corporations encourage, it is a culture of selfish, horrible, people who want what they want their way, and they want it now. Working for one of these said corporations, I have come to realize that people just really like to complain about things. Which I guess is exactly what this is, but oh well.

6 Opinion Prosti-tuition

SARAHWELTERS STAFFWRITER W hat do Raman, Accord cigarettes, and debt have in common? They can all be found in the life of a university student. With the rising costs of tuition in this world, not to mention the absurd price of textbooks, I've come to the conclusion that one basically needs to sell their soul in order to pay for a post secondary education. Most students wouldn't be able to attend post-secondary education without the help of student loans. I mean come on let's face it, unless you're driving Daddy's beamer to school or go to Trinity Western (and you only go there if your parents pay for it), you have student loans. Not many of us were smart enough to save our summer earnings for the big picture. More likely you spent it on slurpies and gummy worms, or whatever the hell you bought when you were a kid. This leaves us with only one solution: Student Loans. Forty percent of university students incur some form of student debt. In Canada, during the 20052006 school year, 350,000 students borrowed at least $5,631 dollars for the year, a number that is only increasing as years go by. While this number is designed to include the cost of tuition, books, housing, and food as well as other expenses, you are expected to add to this through contributions that you make from your own pocket. Upon graduation, the average bachelor student has approximately $20,000 dollars in debt, but through Canada Student loans, one is able to borrow up to $50,000 dollars over the course of 340 weeks (six and a half years for all you non-math students), that is unless you are a doctoral student, or a student with a permanent disability. This however isn't taking into account the continuing rise in the cost of education, or the fact that we are forced to pay the highest possible price for the latest edition of textbooks that, to be honest, we probably won't even read, but won't be able to resell. So I have devised a plan. I call it Operation Prosti-tuition. I currently live at home, work and go to school but still don't have enough money to pay for parking (at three dollars and One Large Coffee, Hold the Bullshit

fifty cents a day, going to school four days a week, that's $14 a week that I just don't have), and this is something that I just find not right. Not to mention the fact that you have to show up four days early in order to find a parking spot, but that's a whole separate issue. My soul is currently on e-bay .... and has yet to get any hits (something that I find quite rude'). I just don't see how one can possibly afford to go to school without selling their soul, or their body, to the highest bidder.

Bacon Brothers Not Welcome In Abbotsford

In one sentence, tell us about yourself. As an art student, I am always looking past boundaries so I will take more than one sentence. I am Taiwanese, I have been studying at UFV for 5 years, I love to travel and I like to watch for the weird and unusual aspects of life. My dream job is to become a world traveler and create photographs and illustrations of my weird style for children's books. I think its very important for children to learn about countries and cultures other than North America.

If you were to purchase a piece of work from another student, whose would it be?

Profile 3 H.A. H06ETERP ARTS&LIFEEDITOR

My mother told me: Every divine tree comes from a small seed, so we must be patient and cultivate our talents. Also, I have learned when problems come and attack you, you can book a time with your advisors. I have found that they are very helpful.

It is getting there and will be finished in another few months. I love having our own building, but I would like to have some cafeteria facilities and am disappointed that our funding has been cut.

The Camera; in fact, I have six differ- What do you think of the new visual arts ent kinds of cameras. studios in C-Building at UFV? What do you like about art. I love to create my own art work because I am the owner of myself. What do you dislike about art? When bankers get together, they talk about art. When artists get together, they talk about money. I don't know whether I will be able to earn a living after my graduation.

Name: Cybil Lee Age: 23 Program: BFA Year of Study:

This is a difficult question and it depends on Describe your trademark style: what kind of style I am looking for. For something realistic and classical, I would buy from Ken; for Eerie. graffiti stlye, I like Eddy's; for art with emotion, I love Ray's; and if I want a delicate and sensitive What's your favourite medium? painting, I will buy from Tyler.

What's your dream job for after graduation?

Do you have any words of wisdom for the student body?

& ife Cascade News • Thursday January 29 th 2009

Above: I LoveYouBaby(2007) Left:Depressed(2008) Below:TheEyeintheSky(2007)

8 Arts & Life RestarauntReview: Oonairo's

Robert Downey Jr., the love of my life, was nominated this year... for Tropic Thunder. Oh yes, friends, the movie that had Tom Cruise dancing like the idiot he is, and Ben Stiller eat-

Survivor b SUZANNEKITTELL STAFFWRITER

W ell, the Oscar season is upon us again ai;i.dthe academy. has recently released its list of this year's nominations. None of them are very surprising, aside from Hellboy II's nomination for Make-up. The academy has rounded up its usual suspects, from Philip Seymour Hoffman to Meryl Streep, but there are a couple interesting nominations that I didn't see coming.

GreatDonairsandMoreontheGo

D onairo's restaurant in Abbotsford serves up freshly made Middle Eastern food that tastes authentic and delicious. Their menu is simple and easy, but there are no bad choices. This is a place to grab something to eat. That is to say that it isn't a sit-down kind of place, although you can if you like. It kinda' has the feel of take-out, but without the negative connotations that title can hold. However, it is clearly a place where you can go to get a quick and tasty bite when you need one. The atmosphere is somewhat lacking and could use some Middle Eastern flair to make the customer feel the experience is more genuine, but the owner and cook looks like the kinda' guy I would trust to make me a great donair and that feeling happened to be dead on. The menu is very simple and includes Donair with either chicken, beef or lamb, falafel, Pita, hummus, Samosas and a few other dishes. The choices are few but this allows the proprietors of the restaurant to ensure easy, fresh food that tastes great. Donairo's make their breads and pitas fresh before your eyes, the meat is slow roasted and you can see them shaving it off the bone. It's neat to see and this also reassures you that you food is made fresh.

Now if you haven't seen Dark Knight, I refuse to acknowledge your existence as a human. If you have, you know damn well that the Joker made that film. When Batman came on screen, you were entertained, but you'd be lying if you said you weren't waiting for the Joker's next scene. He was phenomenal. His Joker is being called one of the scariest movie villains of all time, right up there with Hannibal Lecter. That's impressive. Now a lot of people are grumbling about Heath getting a posthumous Oscar. Some think that giving the award to a dead man is just not going to happen, and some think he'll get it just because he's dead. Blasphemy, I say. Watch his performance again and ask yourself when the last time was that you saw someone dive so deeply into a role. If he doesn't receive the award, a terrible injustice will have been done to a great actor. Ledger isn't the only one to receive a nomination for Dark Knight; the film has eight nominations, including Editing and Make-up. It did not, however, receive a nod for Best Pie-

Palahniuk has a distinctive style. It would be no difficult task to pick his writing out of a crowd. Some find this repetitive, others find it endlessly enjoyable. Some of his novels will stand alone as great works of art. Others however will shadow themes and characters from previous stories, and therefore strip themselves of their ability to truly speak to the reader. Survivor is one of Palahniuk's shadow puppets. It is an interesting read, and a page-turner, but Palahniuk's ability to shock the reader while also delivering philosophy is simply not present. Survivor tells the story of Tender Branson, a character who will later lend some of his traits to Victor Mancini of Choke. He is the last living member of a religious cult, and as the pages move backwards, he tells the ing parts of Steve Coogan's spleen, received a nomination. I will definitely hand it to Downey, he played a very convincing black man, but he had better not win. In the category of Best Supporting Actor, there is only one choice: Heath Ledger.

Survivor is a very exciting read, and it keeps the reader engaged; however, it does not remain as a ticking time bomb in the reader's psyche as do many of his other works. It seems as though Survivor was the awkward transition between two great books. It clings to the ideas of destruction behind Fight Club and foreshadows the sexuality and narrative of Choke. When choosing between reading Survivor and passing it by, I would recommend reading it. It's full of satirical humour that makes the reader laugh in the face of tragedy. But between reading this novel and reading one of Palahniuk's other works, I would point the reader in the direction of Fight Club, Haunted and Choke instead.

BookReview

SUZANNEKITTELL STAFFWRITER

ture. Many have been complaining that this is only due to the fact that Dark Knight, at the end of the day, is a comic book film. I disagree. Burn me at the stake if you will, but I thought that the film was too long and should have cut Two-Face off at the beginning of his leap into villainy. Overall, although there were aspects of the film that were magnificent, the film probably should not have received the nomination that many think it should. It got nominations where nominations were due, which is great for a comic book film. The Oscars, though they seem to be, are not the be-all and end-all of film appreciation. The Academy plays between a take-out and a sit-down affair. However, the excellent Middle Eastern fare will have you coming back and asking for more. This is a great place to stop by for a quick meal. Just thinking about them makes me hungry! favorites and you all know it. Certain people will continue to win and others will get a placating nod, but never an award. Johnny Depp will continue to get nominations, if he smartens his ass up and stops making Pirate movies, but he will never win. This is an awards ceremony for Hollywood and those who love it, not for those who break out of convention. Try to remember that when you're throwing your martini at my T.V. on Oscar night, cursing the Academy for snubbing your picks. Oh, but you are allowed to be extremely pissed if Heath Ledger doesn't win. That's a given.

Chuck Palahnuik story of his life to the little black box on a doomed airplane. His rise from rural nothingness to fame and his loss of everything important along the way is not a novel concept. In fact, it seems to be the plot of Fight Club turned upside down. Whereas we see a plummet in materialism and a gain in self through Palahniuk's first novel, Survivor takes the opposite route. Our protagonist, a true Palahniuk anti-hero, is soon sidekicked by Fertility, a character hauntingly reminiscent of Fight Club's Marla Singer. With her death-embracing, clever one-liners, the reader will often find him or herself forgetting which novel is being read.

The writing, as usual, is sharp, cutting and concise. However, it is among those Palahniuk novels that can be paired off in terms of narrative. Whereas with Snuff, we see a narration incredibly similar to Haunted, Survivor sets the tone for Palahniuk's next book, Choke. Although Choke comes later in Palahniuk's career, he has arguably taken some of his ideas from Survivor and put them to better use.

SURVIVO.R

PAULFALARDEAU STAFFWRITER

Cascade News• Thursday February 5th 2009

The beef donair I had was very enjoyable and easily a meal unto itself. They are huge and contain a lot of meat (although for vegetarians, you can choose the equally delicious falafel to have in your donair). They also have a tasty sauce and feta cheese and fresh cucumbers and other veggies. The whole thing is very satisfying both in terms of taste and hunger. The only draw back is that, because of Here Come the Oscars, Again

their size and amount of fillings they are messy. You may have to stop and consider exactly how to attack your donair before biting into it. My advice: get lots of napkins! Overall, the service leaves a bit to be desired. Donairo's feels trapped

The Barenaked Ladies "The Old Apartment" I guess some of us are old enough to remember when we used to love this song for its poppy appeal. Looking back though, it's surprisingly deep and dark, especially for a band like The Barenaked Ladies who, until things like their drug arrests came to light, I had always seen as a goofy joke band. This song involves breaking into and entering an old apartment, presumably once shared with a lover, and being confronted by the ghost of that past relationship and how things have inevitably changed. That repetative, heavy, melodramatic guitar part just helps to drive home the feeling lines like "Why did you plaster over the hole I punched in the door?" create as they pummel the listeners ears with unanswerable questions.

"The Empyrean was recorded on and off between December 2006 and March 2008," says Frusciante on the Red Hot Chili Peppers site. "It is a concept record that tells a single story both musically and lyrically. The story takes place within one person, and there are two characters. It contains a version of Tim Buckleys "Song to the Siren" and "the rest of the songs are written by me I'm really happy with

As cool as this song is, it's better live. Battles are one the most exciting bands to see live out there because they really live up to their name. Watching them is like watching every member of the band fight for the audience's attention, yet somehow they still are coherent as a band. Pieces like "Tonto" are usually all instrumental and there are times when it sounds electronic. It's not, these musical wizards conjure up all these sounds with their own instruments and blood, sweat and tears. I would emphasize the sweat part. When I saw these guys live at Bumpershoot last September, the drummer kept a steady beat on his high hat for over twenty minutes. Ask any drummer out there, that's a feat.

Album The Empyreanby John Frusciante

Review:

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Bruce Springsteen "The River" Through a haunting harmonica which lists through the song like a fog, "The River" tells the story of young lovers in love in a town of predetermined fates. The couple accidentally gets pregnant, and are forced into marriage at a young age. What was once love turns to bitterness and regret. Themes of working class America's struggles are there, like a shadow at the edge of your vision. The real tragedy is that through all the bitter hate the couple eventually feels they still love one another, but neither can find it in themselves to let it happen again. This is a powerful song that I couldn't capture properly in so few words, but one that needs to be heard. Try to find the live version where Bruce introduces the song with a story about him and his father that sets the mood of loss, love and American families.

Redefining'ConceptAlbum'

FiveTracksThatYouNeedtoHear

The Beach Boys "Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)" I'm sure there's lots of people out there who would dismiss this song, sighing at its "oldies" sound, but there's a damn good reason people like me are still listening to it 43 years later. The beautiful harmonies, the innocence in the voices that are being broken by lines like "I can hear so much in your sighs/And I can see so much in your eyes/There are words we both could say/But don't talk, put your head on my shoulder". The song is timeless because it perfectly captures an incredibly intimate moment and makes it accessible to everyone who has experienced something like it.

Battles "Tonto"

PAULFALARDEAU STAFFWRITER Devendra Banhart "Seahorse"

JUNKOHANHEROC-KASETTI 2002_ it," Frusciante exclaims, "I've listened to it a lot for the psychedelic experience it provides. It should be played as loud as possible and it's suited to dark living rooms late at night." The Empyrean continues the overarching allegory that starts in "Before the Beginning" with the aforementioned "Song to the Siren" which can be interpreted as man's message to his creator. "Unreachable" and "God" are the answer. The conversation continues between creator and creation, good and evil, deity and mortal, master and servant, God and mankind. However, there may be characters at play more sinister as well, listen carefully to "Dark/Light" and "Central." As Frusciante said, this is all within one person, who that person is is up for debate; I would say it is none other than Frusciante at first glance. For those that think they may be put off by the obvious religious themes, don't. No one is pushing anything and there may be as much criticism as there is overt faith. My advice is to listen for yourself and find out. Of course, amid all these heavy thoughts of gods and men there is the importance of music, which plays an equally big part in telling the story; there are instrumental passages that convey as much information as any lyrics. You'll have to take my word for it, but it's amazing. John Frusciante is known for his excellent emotional guitar but in the past his voice has been an issue, seeming over extended in some cases, beautiful in others and sometimes just plain bad. That is not the case here. It's really well balanced with the music and Frusciante, though he is constantly testing the bounds of music, does not try to stretch his vocals too far for their own good. As for music, it's a fantastic mix of alternative guitar wizardry, electronic elements, layered sounds that befit its gospel theme, acoustic and electric jams and some good ol' rock and roll. Musicians joining Frusciante include The New Dimension Singers, Josh Klinghoffer, and Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr who supplies guitar to "Enough of me" and Central." Frusciante sounds best however when he is teamed with his Red Hot Chilli Peppers band mate Flea who slings bass on "Unreachable," "God," "Heaven," "Enough of Me," "Today," and "Ah Yorn." Their chemistry is something that should be envied and aspired to by other musicians. This album, undeniably Frusciante's greatest solo work to date, and in contention for his greatest overall, is a concept album of the highest grade. Like albums before it such as Dark Side of the Moon, Psyence Fiction (by UNKLE), Quadrophenia, OK Computer or All Things Must Pass, The Empyrean manages the delicate balance of an album that creates an overarching story or theme while developing these ideas further through sound and words. Frusciante manages to create music that dissolves into emotion.

Cascade New Cascade News • ThursdayFebruary5th 2009

Arts & Life 9

This is a trippy eight minute long psych-folk song about getting stoned and wanting to be a seahorse. I think the fact that I need to write more than that shows just how badly our post secondary education is failing students. Still, if you aren't convinced, give it a listen, for the length of the song it's still as catchy as any two minute bubble-gum pop with the depth of a Santana guitar freakout. Devandra, for looking like a scary cross between Marylin Manson and Tommy Chong has a very calming, charming voice. Perhaps that's how he seduced Lindsey Lohan, or maybe she's just really

PAULFALARDEAU STAFFWRITER W hat should you expect from the John Frusciante's newest solo album The Emphyrean? If you expect it to be in any way like his work with The Red Hot Chili Peppers you're in for a surprise. It's nothing like that, and really nothing like anything else on the market today. If you have heard his solo work you will have an idea of what is going to happen here. Startwith his drug addled days which produced albums like Smile from the Streets that you Hold or his electrofunk grooves on To Record Only Water for Ten Days to his more recent activity a five album blitzkrieg in 2004, beginning with Shadows Collide with People Frusciante has proven time and again he is more than just the punk-funk maestro behind "Purple Stain," "Under the Bridge," and "Californication," among other chili peppers hits. Not that that's a bad place to start. Think of the laid back, almost ambient, guitars that prevail throughout "Californication." Their laid back forgiving attitude was a perfect foil for a song that was about the unchecked, uncontested deteriorisation of western society. John Frusciante plays with emotion, which is not to say he can't pull off some crazy stuff on his axe too, even the solo that ends "Californication" is subdued genius (if often overshadowed by Anthony Keidis and Flea). That's what you will get here: brilliant guitar work that conveys magnificent emotional stories. This is art, people. The scope Frusciante is aiming for is huge. The title of the album, The Emphyrean is a word that is from the Medieval Latin empyreus, an adaptation of the Ancient Greek, "in or on the fire." Properly, the Empyrean Heaven is the place of the highest heaven, which in ancient cosmologies was supposed to be occupied by the element of fire (or aether in Aristotle's natural philosophy). So we can already see that this is going to be heavy/heavenly. This is definitely a concept album and Frusciante says as much himself. Its content is clearly of a divine nature, with song titles like "God," "Heaven," and "Dark/Light." The album is book ended by tracks called "Before the Beginning" and "After the Ending" which seem to frame the story being told, possibly as one that simply has endings and beginnings, but more likely as a story that stretches throughout creation and across the lifetime of the heavens and the earth. "Before the Beginning" is worth the price of admission alone. It features Frusciante, bare, with nothing but very minimal percussion that invokes the image of God creating the heavens and the Earth. The playing is absolutely phenomenal, leaving me to wonder whether there has been some sort of divine influence or, well, this is rock so perhaps it is influenced from the man downstairs?

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UF,r SHUFFLE

Nik Sheehan's documentary film, Flicker, follows the story of the Dream Machine, a Beat-era contraption that flickers light and triggers the brain so that it produces shapes, colours, images, and for some, full-blown hallucinations.

The Dream Machine is a rotating cylinder with slats to reveal a bright light inside, spun so as to achieve a pulse of light that matches the frequency of Alpha waves in the brain the brain waves associated with dreaming and creativity.

10 Arts & Life Movie Review Flicker

The Dream Machine was to replace radio and television in the homes of millions, to bring about an end to art, and a genesis of the individual artist. People would stop consuming culture, and begin creating their own spiritual movies by achieving the machine's drug-free high.

For a city that saw an increase in murders accompany an increase in gang warfare, and that plays home to Canada's Prince of Pot himself, it's difficult and probably even problematic to take in a movie about counterculture drug paraphernalia without a little reflexive analysis.

The Curious Case of Ben·amin Button

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V ANCOUVER (CUP) Drug culture is the stuff of everyday conversation in Vancouver.

Sheehan defends his subjects. His film is about "people trying to explore what's in their heads and just becoming a little more conscious that we are individuals," he said. "We're so keen to glob on to social units, friends, to be part of something it's a scary place, to kind ofbe aware of your own individualism." Therein lies Vancouver's lesson. Social policy, for obvious reasons, focuses on the practical responsibilities of keeping the social whole in peace and order. Social programs that consider the experience of the individual (think, Insite safe injection) are on the whole, on the down and out. As we peek into the desires and motivations of people to explore the world through drugs, we might actually be able to create solutions that work for people who find that world closing in on them. Sheehan corrects me. His film is "not about drugs, or narcotics it's about finding transcendence." Fair enough. But it's the part of this story about the quintessentially human longing to discover and to connect to something bigger than all of us, achieved in just this way rather than through religion, or nature that makes Flicker much more than exploration in a surprisingly inar- just another beatnik art film. i. I

Cascade News• Thursday February 5th 2009 la•e

DEANNEBEATTIE THEPEAK(SFU)

This explanation is as old as Friedrich Nietzsche, who pitted social control against blissful indulgence in his story of Apollo and Dionysus. "We need both in our lives, but if one overwhelms the other, we're in trouble," said Sheehan. "The film is really about a Dionysian streak in art, and how that gets tamed." What's interesting to me about the film is not this old-as-the-hills rebellious art frame, but rather the insight that the film has into the raw desires of artists, junkies, and mystics to explore themselves and the universe through experiences of altered-state.

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ALAN BITTNER CONTRIBUTOR Created under unusual circumstances, this film delivers an experience that causes you to view the world a bit differently. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a story of a man that was born old and grows young as the years go by. The tale is read through an old journal by a lady to her mother. It's a story that contains enough laughs, thought provoking scenes, and oddities that keep this 2 ½ hour film from seeming to drag on. What really made me enjoy this movie was the odd continuities, the things that were shown earlier in the movie and keep on coming back to bring thing in perspective. The one that will stick out in the mind of the viewer would be the stories of an old man in the senior's home. This man has been struck seven times by lightning and tells them one by one as the movie goes along. The story starts off with him saying like "I've been hit by lightning seven times. One time it was when I was " and then would state a scenario. The movie would then show the events in a short clip as an old black and white movie with a lot of scratches and dust. When this first happens it seems odd and doesn't make much sense, but as the movie progresses these little breaks help relieve some of the emotional tension that had been building up. What really brought everything together was the main character, Benjamin Button. Brad Pitt played this character perfectly, expressing the different level of maturity and innocence associated with age. What really makes this interesting is that Benjamin Button actually has seven different actors associated with Benjamin. Six of them attributed to acertain age of Benjamin, with Brad Pitt being credited with actual character. Needless to say, the special features on the DVD will be interesting when it's finally released. When it finally comes down to it, does this movie deserve all the attention it has been getting? It currently is up to grab a possible thirteen Oscar Awards on Feb 22nd, with some of the nominations being, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Art Direction, and Best Picture. I say "it sure does." With a combination of amazing acting, not only by Brad Pitt but also by the rest of the cast, excellent writing and art direction this film helps the 2008 movies collection end with a bang. It can still be found in theatres, and it's a highly recommended watch if you're looking for a good way to end an evening (or start one for that matter).

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nonsensical or artful order, Gysin made a lifestyle out of disrupting and confusing the prevailing social order. His Dream Machine was to be similarly provocative and exploratory, but was never mass-manufactured, as he had hoped it would be. Sheehan offers up an appropriately counter-culture explanation for the machine's failure to launch, maintaining that such a device that painted people outside of the lines was dangerous for the status quo. "Anything to do with altered consciousness, or exploration of the mind, I mean, that's dangerous to the control systems," said Sheehan. "If you're off exploring with your mind instead of punching into a time clock and making your widgets, that's disruptive to society."

·•·

"It's one of the great untold stories of the '50s and '60s counter-culture," said Sheehan. The story centres on the inventor of the Dream Machine, Brion Gysin, a forgotten Beat-era artist who was a close contemporary of the famed William S. Burroughs and creator of the cut-up technique. Like his literary cut-up, whereby text is cut-up and rearranged into a Movie Review

Sheehan interviews singer Marianne Faithfull, Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo, and singer/ artist Genesis P-Orridge, among others, as they talk about the experience of the Dream Machine and the influence of Brion Gysin on their own art. The haggard, loopy stars talk about their dreams for freedom and ticulate way. Sheehan never casts a critical eye on his subjects a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it. On one hand, he doesn't betray his kooky cast of counter-culture hooligans, leaving his audience with a rare, unfussy exploration of the exclusive culture. On the other, it could be argued that the film achieves little more of note than an overly simplistic stab at achieving a cult following.

Capricorn (December 21st January 19th) No-warning for you Aquarius (January 20th February 18th) You will be Q-tipping your ear a little too vigorously. I hope I don't have to spell it out for you any more than that.

Cancer (June 21st July 21st) You will be using that hand sanitizer that smells like vodka at the advent of another SARS-type outbreak. Unfortunately, you use is with such frequency that it ultimately strips your hands of all the "good" bacteria as well as the "cootie" bacteria making you more vulnerable than you would have been before. You will be among the first to die and many others will follow in your wake.

Sagittarius (November 22nd December 20th) You're one of those people that was terribly taken with novelty of the electric toothbrush. Despite the fact that you need to consume more batteries and go through those tiny toothbrush heads at a rate of once a month for something you could have done manually, you think it's worth if it makes your teeth cleaner. Unfortunately for you, your electric toothbrush has become a self-conscious entity and understands how ridiculous its existence is. It also knows how ridiculous you are for buying into its shabby marketing ploys presented by people with toxic-white smiles. With a bold two-birds-one-stone mentality, your toothbrush will decapitate itself and kamikaze down your throat causing you to choke to death.

Pisces (February 19th March 20th) You have a nasty habit of clipping your toenails hither and thither upon your whim. The bad news is you will step on one and your foot will become infected. The worse news is that because of your ability to whip up a five course meal without a single natural ingredient, your toenails have developed the. highest toxicity rating known to man. The infection will spread and you will die a deteriorated mass of yellow gravy-skin textured flesh.

Leo (July 22nd August 21st) You will be vacuuming the astroturf that you pass for a front lawn when the until then blue sky dumps buckets of water on you, and the plug. You will be electrocuted, ridiculously, on your front lawn, holding a vacuum and smelling of too much perfume.

Virgo (August 22nd September 21st) You will be in the shower when you notice a bit of dirt on your abdomen. You will scrub vigorously at it and as it finally comes off it will be followed by a dirty red fluid. You will attempt to wipe that off, digging deeper and deeper into your abdomen. By the time it occurs to you that the brown spot was a mole and the red fluid which followed it was your blood, you will be too fragile to do anything for yourself and bleed to death at the bottom of the shower.

Cascade News • Thursday February 5th 2009

Scorpio (October 23rd November 21st) You will over-use your pool chemicals in an attempt to make your recreational puddle cleaner. You will only succeed in making it terribly acidic and die a most burning death.

Taurus (April 20th May 19th) Your horoscope will be vague and frustrating this week.

Libra (September 22nd October 22nd)

SHALOM THE ERUDITE LLAMA SMELLINGGOOD H ello dear puppies. Since the collapse of your relatively brilliant ancient Greek, then Roman, societies you have prized hygiene as a device that not only allows you to appeal to the opposite sex without burning their olfactory bulbs, but of keeping you alive in bigger numbers than was common in periods without hygienic awareness. Somewhere after the collapse of the Roman Empire you allowed yourselves to get sloppy. again and were consequently confronted by the bubonic plague unfairly blaming the spread of the illness on my dear quadruped brothers. This history lesson is put here to demonstrate one of the most detrimental aspects of your human brain extremist tendencies. Making the connection between filthiness and the bubonic plague, you humans have worked avidly t6 become the cleanest things that have occurred in nature to the extent that you are now the least natural thing that has sustained a presence on this planet. Earth, being both subject to, and wholly comprised of the natural, is heartily displeased and now seeks your eviction. To ensure that the lesson doesn't fly by your bulby little craniums entirely unnoticed, the earth will do away with you as you groom yourselves.

Gemini (May 20th June 20th) You will be cleaning out your toilet when it gurgles up at you. Confused by this, you will stick your thrice-gloved hand further in. Something will bite you and tug. In a panic you will yank your hand out which will be promptly followed by a little toilet waste monster. He was created by means of the chemicals you stick down the toilet to ensure its cleanliness, and he will eat you alive.

A Comic:

Aries (March 21st April 19th) You have always been fond of the refreshing smell of Zest soap in the morning. Allow me to pause here pine trees smell refreshing, wet grasses are refreshing, the salt-brine bite of the ocean is refreshing, chemical compound in bar form is not refreshing it is cancerous. Being one of those daily shower folks, the cancer will cause you to degenerate with a greater rapidity than has ever been seen before.

tuff

You will decide to try a new type of laundry detergent because while your good old Tide works just fine, you feel you could do with something even cleaner. You decide to pick up "Uber-Maxo-Hyper-Clean" the latest chemically modified triumph being promoted by the hygiene authorities. Unfortunately, it doesn't limit its cleaning to clothes and registers your natural bacteria as filth. You will die struggling against your own clothing as·it attempts to scrub you clean. Unfortunately, the harder it scrubs, the dirtier you become.

A s the saying goes, you can never go to the well too many times. The well, in this case, is the Chilliwack Secondary high school basketball program. Al Tuchscherer's University of the Fraser Valley women's basketball team has dipped into the 'well' for another highly touted Grade 12 player. Nicole Wierks, in her senior year with the Storm, has agree to attend classes at UFV in September of 2009 and will become a member of the Cascades basketball program at that time, following in the footsteps of current Cascades players and Storm alumni Alexa McCarthy, Alyssa Gaukel and Brooke Verschuur. "In Nicole, we are getting a very athletic and versatile forward. She is an exceptional scorer and rebounder and will immediately challenge for minutes at the forward spot," stated Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer. "What excites us most about having Nicole join the Cascades are some of the intangibles that she brings to the table, she is a player that always seizes the moment and has proven over and over that she embraces playing when the stakes are the highest. In addition, her understanding of the concept of 'team' is very advanced. When you talk to Nicole, she always talks in terms of team development, and she is excited and eager to start developing that with her new UFV teammates." Nicole Wierks certainly has impressive credentials. She was an AllStar at the Fraser Valley Champions the past two seasons, and was selected a First Team All-Star at the 2008 B.C. High School Girls Championships last March. Chilliwack finished fourth at that event. In the game to decide the bronze medal, Wierks suffered a complete tear of her left ACL. After a speedy and full recovery, Nicole amazingly took part in the B.C. High School Girls Field Hockey Championships last November. Her current stats with Chilliwack on the basketball court: 17 ppg (points), 10 rpg (rebounds), 4 spg (steals). "I like the idea of taking my next step in basketball with a team that isn't necessarily one of the 'big guns' in the CIS right now. I especially like the fact that I can see so much potential in the team UFV is going to be," said Nicole Wierks. "There are a lot of girls that I am looking forward to getting to know and play with in the following years, and I think that Al is the coach that will help me become the best possible player I can be. I'm eager to see what I can contribute to the team and what we as a team will be able to accomplish. I have high expectations. In addition to the basketball program, I like the school itself and am very keen on going to university with the environment that the small classroom sizes creates."

For the past two summers, Ian has coached at the Super Y League level for the Abbotsford Soccer Association, and has successfully qualified for two consecutive National Championships in Tampa, Florida. "Firstly, I was delighted to receive the offer from Alan, to join him as his assistant coach at UFV. I look forward to working with Alan and the players during the season and hope that my accumulated personal experiences, both as a professional player and coach, over the past 25 years, will assist the exciting, on-going developments within UFV soccer," said Knight. "Additionally, I am grateful to Chilliwack FC for allowing me to become involved at UFV, which allows me to bring an even greater understanding of the 'next level' to the aspiring youth players within the club." The Cascades are coming off a 4-55 season which saw them eliminated from the Canada West playoffs on the final weekend of the regular season.

Cascade Women's BasketballAdds Another Recruit

ports & ealth------~C~a=s=c=a=de~N=e~w=s~·~T~h=ur~s=d=a~y~F~e=b~ru=a=r~y~5~ th~2=0=0=9

Source: Dale Cory, UFV Athletics

CascadesBasketballRound-Up

Errington and Knight will join forces to get the Cascades into the Canada West playoff picture in 2009-2010.

Cascade's Men's Soccer Team Inks New Assistant Coach Cascades Volleyball Round-upDALECORY UFVATHLETICS

DALECORY UFVATHLETICS U niversity of the Fraser Valley volleyball teams were weekend road warriors in British Columbia Colleges' Athletic Association action on Vancouver Island. On Friday in Nanaimo, the Fraser Valley Cascades stunned the Vancouver Island University Mariners for the second time this season. Back on November 16 at Envision Athletic Centre, the Cascades rallied from two sets down to knock off the Mariners in five games. Over the weekend in Nanaimo, the Cascades trailed 2-1 in games, took the fourth game 26-24, and won the fifth and deciding set 16-14 for the huge victory. Saturday in Victoria, the

Nicole Wierks has been an A-Honour Roll student throughout high school, and has been recognized as Student of the Month by the Chilliwack Rotary Club. She volunteers her time at Chilliwack General Hospital and with an African Relief club. "Not only is she an outstanding basketball player, but she is an outstanding student-athlete," added Tuchscherer. "She is one of Chilliwack Secondary's most outstanding academic students and she has spent a significant amount of time volunteering in the Chilliwack community, all things we value greatly in our program." The Cascades will welcome Nicole Wierks to University of the Fraser Valley in September.i

W ith both the Cascade men and women out of playoff contention in the Canada West standings, it is a matter of pride and playing the role of spoiler as the season winds down. This past weekend, the Cascade men and women were on the road, as they both took on the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and University of Alberta Golden Bears. On Friday night, the Cascade men were unable to play the role of spoiler as the University of Saskatchewan Huskies notched a 92-54 victory. The Huskies jumped out to a nine point advantage after one quarter and by half they held a 45-26 advantage, limiting the Cascades to only nine points in the second quarter. The Cascades shot just 26.9 percent from the floor, including just 25 percent from the three point line. The Huskies on the other hand shot 43.1 per cent from the field, including 40 percent from the three point line. Furthermore, the Huskies out rebounded the Cascades 62 to 35. Tristan Smith led the way for the Cascades recording 16 points, followed by Sam Freeman with 11 and Gurjote Jhaj with 10 points. On Saturday night, the University of Alberta Golden Bears used some hot shooting to register a 97-85 win over the Cascades. The Cascades shot 48 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three point line, but the Golden Bears hit shots when it mattered. Both teams slogged their way through the opening twenty minutes with no rhythm on offence, no attention to defence, and a propensity for fouling. In the second half, particularly in the third quarter, the momentum changed in favour of UFV. It took the Golden Bears four minutes to score their first basket of the second half as the Cascades drew to within two points. Dwayne Harrison of the Cascades was the game's top scorer with 26 points. Sam Freeman finished with 13, while Kyle Grewal had nine points and seven rebounds. On Friday night, The University of Saskatchewan Huskies clinched first place in the Canada West Central Division with an 86-48 win over the Cascade women. The Huskies quickly jumped in front of the Cascade women with 31 points in the first quarter, holding the Cascades to just nine points. The Cascades didn't score until the four minute mark when Megan McAlister hit a jump shot from the top of the key. Despite outscoring the Huskies 16-7 in the second quarter, the Cascades came crashing back to earth with a straight-set loss to Camosun College. The Cascades are fourth in the BCCAA standings with an 8-4 record. The Cascade women also split weekend games on Vancouver Island, although in reverse of the men's results. Friday at YIU, the Cascades lost the first two sets 25-19, took the third game in thrilling fashion by a 29-27 count, and lost the fourth set 25-19, falling to the Mariners in four games. Saturday in Victoria, Fraser Valley had its A game on the floor against Camosun, beating the Chargers in three-straight games by scores of 25-18, 2515, 25-21. The Cascade women are also fourth in the BCCAA standings with an 8-4 record.

Cascades still found themselves down eight at halftime. In the second half, the Huskies dominated, outscoring the Cascades 48-23. Megan McAlister and Jennifer Bridgeman led the Cascades with 11 points a piece. On Saturday night, the University of Alberta was able to notch a 66-49 win over the Cascade women. Alberta was able to secure an 1811 lead after one quarter and a 2820 lead at half time. Despite edging Alberta 19-18 in the third quarter, the Cascades comeback attempt was shortlived as Alberta doubled up the Cascades in the final quarter 20-10 for the 66-49 victory. Megan McAlister led the Cascades with 14 points while Alexa McCarthy added 10 points.

DALECORY UFVATHLETICS

The University of the Fraser Valley is pleased to announce that Ian Knight has agreed to come onboard as the Assistant Coach for the UFV Cascade Men's Soccer team effective immediately. The Cascades, who will return all but graduating players Simon Crocker and Jordan Langelaar (a 2008-09 Canada West Second Team All-Star defender) to the team next season, will now receive leadership from two of the most-qualified instructors in British Columbia.

Cascades Head Coach Alan Errington's coaching experience spans all levels of soccer, from the professional ranks to amateur teams. He spent eight years (1992-98) with Canada's World Cup and Olympic teams as Bob Lenarduzzi's assistant. On the professional side, Errington was an assistant coach with the Vancouver 86ers Soccer Club from 1987-98. With the 86ers, Errington won four consecutive Canadian Soccer League Championships. From 2000-03 Errington served as head coach of the Abbotsford Soccer Club where he clinched back-to-back provincial and national club championships in 2002 and 2003. Errington is very excited to have Knight's experience alongside him to dissect opposing Canada West teams. "Ian brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience at the highest level," stated Errington, who will enter his sixth season leading the team when the Cascades take to the pitch at Bateman Park for the 2009-2010 season in August. "I am looking forward to working with Ian and I am sure that this will be another step forward in the ever-improving program here at UFV." Ian Knight is the currently the Head Coach/Technical Director for Chilliwack FC. For a five-year period (1998-2003) he served as the head coach of the Youth Training Program at Grimsby Town of the English Football League. Knight played professionally for Sheffield Wednesday FC and Grimsby Town FC, as well as representing England's under 21s, before injury curtailed his career.

TERRYSINGH SPORTSEDITOR

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