The Meliorist Volume 46, Issue 13

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November 29, 2012 • 02

News Campus Beat Features Entertainment Top Story Procrastination Opinion Sports Lifestyle TLFs Students’ Union Classifieds The Meliorist: Mel-io-rism (meel’e riz’m) the doctrine that the world tends to become better or may be made better by human effort

4-5 6-7 8 -11 12 - 15 16 - 17 18 19 20 - 21 22 - 23 24 - 25 26 - 27 30 An autonomous body, separate from the U of L Students’ Union SU-166, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4 Phone: 4 0 3 - 3 2 9 - 2 3 3 4 www.themeliorist.ca

The Meliorist is the student newspaper of the University of Lethbridge, published most Thursdays throughout the academic year by The Meliorist Publishing Society, an autonomous incorporated body. Please address all correspondence to The Meliorist, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge Alberta, T1K 3M4, or drop it off at room SU-166.

Deadline for submissions is Friday at 4 p.m. The Meliorist appreciates and encourages the writing of thoughtful, concise, timely letters. However, the Meliorist will only consider for publication those letters that are signed by the author. Special arrangements may be made for those wishing anonymity, but absolutely no pseudonyms. Letters should contain the author’s legible name, address, telephone number, and student identification number.

The address, ID and phone number will not be published.

The Meliorist reserves the right to edit submissions and will not print libelous material. Letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, and legality.

Business Manager

Kelti Boissonneault Editor-in-Chief Opinions Editor einc@themeliorist.ca

Nelson Chin

b.manager@themeliorist.ca Creative Director/ Ad Manager/ Production Manager

Brandon Wallis

ad.manager@themeliorist.ca

Photo Editor

Jon Martin

p.editor@themeliorist.ca

Billy Davey

Features Editor f.editor@themeliorist.ca

Art Department Assistant

Sam Loewen Copy Editor

James Forbes Staff Writer/ Distribution Manager

Matt Baird Design Assistants

Travis Robinson

Sports & Lifestyle Editor s.editor@themeliorist.ca

Myles Havinga Nico Koppe Design Intern

Kenzie Ferguson Account Representative

Kristy Jahn-Smith

account.rep@themeliorist.ca Webmaster

Leyland Bradley

Chris Morris Printing

Campus Beat & News Editor Southern Alberta n.editor@themeliorist.ca Newspaper Group Contributors

Maggie Kogut

Entertainment Editor e.editor@themeliorist.ca

Andrew McCutcheon Greg Patenaude RJ Balog Camina Manychief Cartoonist

Ryan Kenworthy Cover

Jon Martin Brandon Wallis

Editor in Chief

Business Manager

Production Manager

Advertising Manager

Applications can be sent to einc@themeliorist.ca or dropped off at the Meliorist office (SU 166).

Please include a resume, and cover letter indicating what position you are applying for.

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November 29, 2012 • 04

Leyland Bradley News Editor

The latest NAFTA dispute between the United States and Canada is taking place over Quebec’s decision to temporarily ban fracking in the province. Quebec made the move to cancel natural gas exploration activity beneath the St. Lawrence River. American natural gas company Lone Pine Resources Inc. is likely to sue the Canadian government, stating that the moratorium was “arbitrary, capricious and illegal.”

Fracking is a process of extracting natural gas by injecting a mixture of chemicals and water into the ground, thereby creating fractures in the ground for gas or petroleum to migrate and collect in areas that are easier to extract from. Fracking has been highly controversial since the beginning, when the process was used more regularly to extract gas. Critics say fracking is dangerous due to the susceptibility of contaminating drinking water and many countries in Europe ban the process for this reason. But the oil and

gas industry says that only when done improperly does fracking pose a threat to the environment and local drinking water sources.

Lone Pine Resources Inc. is further demanding over $250 million in compensation after the business experienced major setbacks over Quebec’s fracking decision, claiming that they spent millions of dollars acquiring permits in Quebec between 2006 and 2011.

Lone Pine Resources Inc.’s stock value has decreased, which left the business to sell some of its Alberta assets.

The Quebec government is looking into an environmental review of fracking, with a decision to be made in 2014, before any fracking can take place.

Lone Pine Resources Inc.’s intentions to sue the Canadian government will be carried out under NAFTA’s chapter 11, which allows corporations to sue the United States, Canada, or Mexico when municipal,

state, provincial, or international law conflicts with the corporation’s ability to benefit from their investments.

Quebec insists that the welfare of the St. Lawrence River and the residents who rely on the river are of paramount concern.

According to Quebec’s official website, 80 per cent of the Quebec population resides near the Saint Lawrence River, and about 50 per cent of the province’s drinking water comes from this source. The Quebec government issued a water policy in 2002 to help protect the St. Lawrence by way of implementing management plans to help continue cleanup, understand the necessary sustainability of the St. Lawrence, and recognize its social and cultural significance.

Critics of Quebec’s decision to cancel the fracking permits say that the decision is “purely political,” and against the principle of protecting investors under NAFTA.

The North American Free Trade Agreement is a trilateral agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It was enacted on Jan. 1, 1994 with the intent to eliminate the barriers surrounding trade and investment between all three nations, allowing for job creation, lowering levels of poverty, and cheaper imports.

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November 29, 2012 • 05

Kelti Boissonneault with Leyland Bradley Editor-in-Chief with Campus Beat Editor

With rumblings from the Students’ Union this year about bringing in Mayim Bialik (better known for her role as Amy Farrah Fowler on Big Bang Theory) as an academic speaker, the Meliorist decided to take a look at past academic speakers, the SU representatives responsible for bringing them in, and ask about whether or not their presentations could be deemed a success.

Below we have listed in reverse-chronological order some of the speakers that have visited campus and their impact on the student population.

Possible speakers:

Mayim Bialik, Ken Jennings

VP Academic: Julia Adolf, 2012-2013

Julia Adolf and the Students’ Union are considering a choice between two celebrity academic speakers: Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings. Bialik holds a PhD in Neuroscience and participates in speaking tours throughout North America. Jennings holds the world record for longest winning streak on game-show Jeopardy! with a total of 74 consecutive games. This year, the SU also considered bringing in the Winklevoss twins (famous from the movie Social Network as the twins portrayed as behind the concept of Facebook) but they were disinterested.

When asked if she thought a precedent has been set for bringing in celebrity academic speakers over non-celebrity academic researchers, Adolf said, “…I see it as smart, as I would hate to bring in a 'nobody' per se and see a turnout of 15-20 people compared to bringing in someone with somewhat of a 'name' that not just our students would come and see, but the surrounding community as well. Just because someone can be called a 'celebrity' doesn't mean that they do not have amazing and engaging academic advice to share with our students.”

Adolf went on to say that while it is important for the SU to bring in speakers that can communicate with university students on an intellectual level, they should also remind students that while university is for learning, it is also for having fun and finding out who they [the students] are as people.

Bill Nye (The Science Guy)

VP Academic: Andrew Williams, 2011-2012

Bill Nye came to the university in January 2012 and spoke on climate change, pollution, and the green movement to a mixed audience of university and community members. While many students attending the presentation would remember Bill Nye from his popular 1990s television show, the science that Nye spoke on was raised to a level of academic understand-

ing appropriate to university-educated scholars. The event was attended by over 2,300 people including students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Andrew Williams, the coordinator of the Nye event, told the Meliorist that he sought to engage a broader audience and bring them into an atmosphere of engaged learning. Williams said, “In the past, academic speakers had brought in crowds of well under 100 and had a cost that was certainly in the same ballpark as the Bill Nye event, and so why not engage more students? Why not give them a reminder, transcendent of discipline, as to why they are here and how much fun they should be having while learning?”

Williams went on to say that while celebrities do draw larger crowds than traditional academic speakers, they do still need to be chosen carefully. “An academic speaker should engage students on an intellectual level and encourage them to continue learning,” said Williams. “We could spend $20,000 on a lecture about quantum physics that 15 people would attend and three would get, or we could spend the same, engaging hundreds of students in an effort to re-charge their batteries and get them excited about learning again. I think the better choice is obvious.”

Peter Mansbridge

VP Academic: Keith McLaughlin, 2010-2011

Peter Mansbridge, popular television news anchor for CBC’s The National, came to the university in the fall of 2010. Mansbridge spoke to an audience of over 700 university students, faculty, and community members on what it means to be Canadian in an ever-changing world. Mansbridge has been the long-time anchor of one of Canada’s most popular news shows, and offers a broad range of political, economic, and social insight.

Keith McLaughlin, the coordinator of the Mansbridge event, emphasized the balance between cost to bring a speaker in, and the value to the students. “You want to cast a wide net to engage the highest number of students. That's why you see celebrities booked,” McLaughlin said. Celebrities tend to bring in larger and more diverse audiences as evident in the attendance records for various speakers.

When asked about the precedent for bringing in celebrity speakers, McLaughlin said, “I really question the utility of the practice from a cost-benefit perspective. The goal is to provide students with an out-of-the-classroom experience that enhances the value of their education, perhaps something that moves them. In my experience, the best speeches I've heard have been by our own profs at the Last Lecture Series. They've been fantastic and the event itself is much, much cheaper to produce, and does a better job of bringing together the student community than any

big-name speaker I've seen. I think the ULSU should consider the Last Lecture its premier academic event and shuffle the tens of thousands of dollars it spends on speakers into student support programs…”

McLaughlin did acknowledge the pressure of wanting to do something “big” in “their year,” mentioning that most VP Academics are drawn to the celebrity speaker as a way of making their mark on their SU experience.

Michele Landsberg, Avi Lewis, and Dan Savage VP Academic: Jenn Prosser, 2008-2009

When choosing academic speakers to come in, Jenn Prosser chose to engage the university audience through the formation of two action weeks, each week dealing with a broad topic: community engagement and personal growth. Prosser brought in journalists Michele Landsberg, Avi Lewis, and Dan Savage, among others to speak on these topics. The events were hosted over separate weeks, and had mixed success in attendance. What the events did do, however, was bring together multiple services on campus including LPIRG, CKXU, and the SU. When asked about the success of the event, Prosser said, “Based on my past experience, there is always a dilemma with spending money on events. Is the event a success because it drew a ‘large’ number or can it still be a success even if it doesn't draw a huge audience but provided an opportunity not usually available? It is a hard decision to make and sometimes it is difficult to know why or why not an event was successful.”

When asked what an academic speaker should offer a university audience, Prosser described a professional who is also a successful critical thinker. According to Prosser, PhDs are not necessary, but neither is celebrity. “A good speaker offers something unique to the students. They bring something important to the table.”

University is a place where opportunities arise in a variety of forms from exciting new research to attending lectures designed to broaden perspective and challenge you to think critically. The challenge for VP Academics, whose role it is to provide these opportunities, is to balance the cost-benefit of creating and organizing events to accomplish these goals. As the Students’ Union trends more and more towards celebrity speakers, who still offer academic-level perspective, the Meliorist would like to know: who would you like to see come onto campus for a presentation? Let us know at einc@themeliorist.ca.

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November 29, 2012 • 06 Leyland Bradley Campus Beat

Can you tell me how much you expect to raise this year?

Our goal is $20,000.

How many teams do you have signed up already?

We have 15 teams registered including the PANiC Club team, PRIDE team, Delta Eta lota as well as a team from the faculty of management and from the biology department. We are still looking for more teams. Teams can still register online. We encourage registering before the event but we will be doing registration on the day of the event.

How many teams do you expect to have signed up?

Our goal is 20 teams. We encourage people to get teams together. The more people that are involved the more fun and successful the event will be.

Is there a theme for this year?

Each team is free to set a theme. For example, the SynBio team is planning to decorate their lab coats with their favourite science superhero.

Anything fun that volunteers can expect this year?

Volunteers and participants will be entertained by Riley deejaying again this year. We also have different activities planned such as Minute to Win It, Name that Tune, etc. We have different food sponsors that will be keeping the volunteers and participants fuelled with food and drink during the event.

Do you have a particular story yourself as to why you are involved in the CCS club?

Sonja's Story – I had attended the University of Lethbridge in 2010/2011 school year. In August of 2011, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. After having surgery I found out I had a stage-3 tumour, and it was cancerous. I completed two months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for groups like the Canadian Cancer Society putting on events like this to raise money to help fund research and support groups and services. I have since returned to the U of L to complete my management degree. When I found out there was a Canadian Cancer Society Club on campus, I knew I had to join and give back. I am strong enough now to help those that need it.

How many people are involved in the club currently? How long have you been in existence?

The U of L CCS Club is new on campus, having been ratified in September with over 90 members involved.

What kind of sponsors do you have this year?

B-93.3, Country 95.5, Save-On Foods, Tim Horton’s, Square Boys Pizza, 1st Choice Savings Centre, and the University of Lethbridge.

The U of L Relay for Life will take place at the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sports and Wellness starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 and going until 7 a.m. on Dec. 1. Contact Dee Goyal at 403-393-7687 for more information on joining Relay for Life or the Canadian Cancer Society.

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November 29, 2012 • 07

Camina Manychief

Campus Beat Contributor Christi Belcourt is a native Canadian artist who has a deep respect for the knowledge and traditions of her people. This can be seen in her work which explores and celebrates the beauty of the natural world. It has come to her attention that there are more than 600 native women who are missing or murdered with little attention paid by the police force, the media, and the government. This has spurred Christi to create a commemorative art installation for these women who are our sisters, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, cousins, and friends. It is Christi’s goal to inspire hundreds of caring people to create more than 600 moccasin tops for one large collaborative art piece that will be exhibited across Canada. This is a positive and very powerful way in which to gain awareness about this issue on a national level.

According to Amnesty International, if you are born a native woman you report three times the level of violent victimization, are five times more likely to be murdered, are five to seven times more likely to die as a result of violence, and your life expectancy is five years shorter! To bring these issues to light locally, members of the University of Lethbridge will be assisting Christi in her vision.

Through the help and generosity of LPIRG, we were able to secure funds that allow for us to supply some of the materials needed. An experienced beader from the Blood Reserve will be coming onto campus to give beading demonstrations for those who would like to participate but know nothing about bead work. Hide, beads, needles, thread, as well as an invaluable experience, will be provided for those who show up.

The first demonstration is scheduled for Dec. 3 in room W520 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be three more demos occurring well into next semester as well, but for now dates are still pending. Materials will be provided, but donations are welcome. This project is not gender or race specific; this is an open invitation to all who are willing to participate!

Please visit the page on Facebook as well. If you require any more information, please do not hesitate to call the Department of Native American Studies at 403-329-2635.

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November 29, 2012 • 08

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November 29, 2012 • 09

Billy Davey

Features Editor Most early silent films are now public domain, so anyone can find them on YouTube or for download with no legal repercussions. However, films from the silent era are different than modern pictures — digital storing and stable polyester-based film was not an option. The chemically unstable — and highly flammable — nitrate film that was used at the time is a reason that 90 per cent of silent films and 50 per cent of American sound films made before 1950 are now gone. They are referred to as “lost films” (www.lost-films.eu has over 3,500 entries of films thought to be lost and is in an ongoing search to find them).

This means that the version of a silent film you find online or buy on DVD may not be the film as it was intended — especially if a reduction, incomplete, or partially deteriorated film print is used.

While damaged and incomplete films are distasteful for obvious reasons, reduction prints can be especially frustrating. The standard film gauge was 35mm. But many 16mm reduction prints were made. The smaller film print was cheaper and received its popularity from home viewers and collectors.

However, the economic 16mm prints did not always get the same attention as the 35mm prints, so if a film was originally released with colour tinting (achieved by soaking black-and-white film in dye), it will not likely have it in the reduction print. Also, to fit the reduction prints on fewer reels, much unnecessary cutting was practised.

There are countless companies releasing budget DVDs using the cheapest film stock available. On top of using reduction, damaged, incomplete, and improperly tinted or cut reels, they usually compress the film digitally in a way that makes the image grainy and often use the wrong musical score.

Thankfully, there is a growing movement to preserve and restore silent era films. Preserving is as simple as transferring the film to a longer lasting

medium; but, before the film is ready for distribution, it must be as close to the original picture as possible. There are a few companies and organizations that are dedicated to gathering the best available source material and work to restore films.

To find a fantastic demonstration of restoration, search for The Gold Rush restoration demo on YouTube. This is done by The Criterion Collection, a company that is increasingly working to restore and release quality versions of world cinema classics. While anything The Criterion Collection releases is nothing short of excellence, Kino International is by far the most prominent distributor of quality silent films. From the comedic genius of Buster Keaton to German expressionist films like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Warning Shadows, Kino International ensures the best available quality and most complete run-times for these sometimes elusive films.

The website www.silentera.com has a list of silent films available on home video and also provides reviews of the various releases on DVD and Blu-ray, with the best releases always at the top of the page. While The Criterion Collection and Kino International always top the list when they release a film, it is still an important comparison of the different home video releases.

After a modern movie is premiered, we expect bonus footage on the home video format; but silent films are struggling to simply reacquire their original footage. Before you buy or download a film form the silent era, think of what you would like to see: a mutilated version or the film as close to its primer version as possible — would you settle for less in a modern movie?

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November 29, 2012 • 10

Billy Davey

Features Editor Give me a brief summary of your academic history.

I’m from Red Deer and did a year at Red Deer College, then my undergrad at the U of A where I did an honours degree in anthropology. Then I took a year off and learnt Spanish in Guatemala, kind of knowing that I wanted to continue in anthropology, so I did that — learnt Spanish and traveled a bit. I started my masters in, I think ’95, and that was also at the University of Alberta, and I finished that in ’98; that involved more research in Guatemala… After that I took a year to learn K’iche’ Maya, which is one of the 20 or so Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala. I then started my doctoral program in ’99 at the State University of New York at Albany.

What do you teach at the U of L?

Mostly I’m kind of the go-to guy for the anthropology of religion. I teach courses on that as well as ritual. I also teach linguistic anthropology, and pop culture is another one I’ve been specializing in, as well as methods. I’ve taught, besides intro to anthropology, a number of seminars — stuff like globalization and migration.

What are your research interests?

Pretty much since my undergrad, I’ve been interested in religion — specifically the borders of religion, where you see things which seem to make you ask, for example, “is this Christian or something else?” Stuff that seems to emerge from popular religious traditions. So, there are a range of terms that anthropologists and academics have used to describe this sort of thing, like religious syncretism: how different religions seem to blend. So, specifically in Guatemala, I became interest-

ed in this with the cult of San Simón, who’s this popular saint venerated in a range of different communities, but he’s different from the official saints, and he’s different from the official Saint Simon because he smokes cigarettes, he wears sunglasses, he drinks. He’s an image, but they do these sorts of things to him. He’s also associated with a Catholic or Christian figure, Judas Iscariot — the one who betrayed Christ. So, it seems an odd character to make into a little god… A lot of folks think that this particular thing is actually a survival of an old Mayan deity. But the whole process of combining different practices and ideas into new traditions has been interesting to me, and I studied that for my doctoral research as well.

More recently, given the fact that the place where I did my research — San Andrés Xecul in Guatemala — while they are very interested in religion and that’s certainly an important part of their lives, I also realized very quickly that they were interested in getting out of San Andrés Xecul and finding their way to places like San Diego, California; Trenton, New Jersey; or Chicago, working, usually illegally, to send money back to their community, to build houses and thing like that. I realized that’s sort of transforming the whole culture of the town — a culture of illegal migration mostly. So, recently I’ve changed a bit of my focus. I’m still interested in things like religion and ethnic identity, but I would like to see how that gets reflected or refracted through transnational processes like migration. I’ve done some field work as well with mostly undocumented workers from San Andrés Xecul in San Diego county — that’s been quite an eye-opener as well, to figure out how they re-constitute their lives in this different context and how religion does or doesn’t work into their daily lives.

What can you tell me about your research methods?

The standard research practise for cultural or social anthropologists is called ethnography and it’s kind of a grab bag of lots of different methods, but I suppose the one big one is that you go somewhere and you stay there for as long as you can to get a sense of really what’s going on. So, it involves, to a degree, some formal interviews along the way, informal interviews, conversations. I did do a full-on survey after a year or so in the field. But basically it’s about learning the languages and being there as people live out their lives.

You start with a number of research questions and these are very quickly shaped by what you actually see going on, and they get changed and reformed. I had no idea I’d end up working in San Diego after I went to a tiny village in Guatemala but that’s just what happened. Now I’m going back to Guatemala because I realized something with my work with migrants in San Diego. I started by thinking, “this whole trip up north must be a really big thing for you; this must be the biggest thing in your life.” But when I talked to a lot of them they described their early life in Guatemala or in Xecul as defined by a lot of movement — by working on costal plantations as children, or working as itinerant kinds of travelers with fiestas and things like this (basically the equivalent of a carnie here). This has led me to think about the history of this in Xecul, so I’m going to be, hopefully, in the next year or so doing another research project, which asks people in this little town what their experience is with living and working outside of their community.

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November 29, 2012 • 11

Greg Patenaude Features Writer

Since the publication of the first known cocktail book, How To Mix Drinks: A Bon Vivant’s Companion, garnishes have evolved… a lot. As I mentioned in my last article, garnishes were mostly used for aesthetic reasons. Today, garnishes are still used aesthetically but they are more-often-than-not functional too. What I mean by this is that the garnish plays a role in the flavour of the cocktail. We say that the garnish is for colour and flavour. Everything and anything has been used as a garnish: fruit, vegetables, bitters, candy, edible flowers, herbs, spices, chocolate, caviar, etc. In the past, the type of garnish used could give two seemingly identical cocktails different names. Take for example a martini and a Gibson. Both are identical drinks except the martini is traditionally garnished with an olive while the Gibson is garnished with a cocktail onion. Fortunately, these shenanigans are no longer tolerated.

The key to any garnish is freshness. No one wants wilted, brown mint in their mint julep or a hard, desiccated lemon wedge in their gin and tonic.

Garnishes are usually chosen to compliment or highlight certain flavours in a cocktail. A cucumber makes a great garnish with a cucumber-infused gin. A sidecar, which uses Cointreau, an orange liqueur, often has an orange twist for garnish. Another consideration is the style of garnish. Are you going to use a twist? A spiral? How about a zest or a wedge? What exactly are the differences? Well, keep in mind whether you use a twist or a zest is purely a personal choice. In fact, there is no “right” answer. Use whatever you think works

best, as long as it is fresh and enhances the flavour of the cocktail.

A twist is nothing more than a strip of fruit, which is twisted over the cocktail to express the essential oils on the top of the drink. A standard fruit peeler works great. Cut a strip of zest (with as little pith as possible) and using a sharp paring knife, trim the sides so that you end up with a strip that is ~½ inch by ~2 inches.

A spiral is a long thin strip of zest which, when coiled around a stir stick, has a spring-like appearance. The spiral is made using a channel knife. Again, you want to cut the spiral from the fruit overtop the drink so that the expressed oils will cover the top of the cocktail.

Zests are oval or loonie-sized circles cut from the side of the fruit. Zests are pinched over the drink to express the oils and usually rubbed on the rim of the glass before dropping it into the drink.

A wedge is… well, a wedge of fruit. To make a proper wedge, first cut the nubs off the lemon or lime. Then cut the fruit in half lengthwise (through the poles) and lay the two halves face down on a cutting board.

Holding one half, make two cuts lengthwise at 45° angles. This will give you three wedges. Do the same for the other half.

There are of course many other styles of garnishes but these are the most common.

The drink for this article is the Toronto cocktail. To me, this cocktail borders on perfection. Why? Well, besides containing the greatest spirit ever made, rye, it also uses Fernet-Branca, a hard pipe-hitting bitter. But the main reason I chose the Toronto is to showcase its

garnish. Instead of using a standard orange zest, it calls for a flamed orange zest. To flame a zest, hold it by its edges (careful not to pinch prematurely) between thumb and forefinger with the skin facing over the drink. Bring a lit match between the zest and the cocktail. Sharply pinch the zest, propelling the oils through the lit match onto the surface of the drink.

Drop the zest, skin side up, into the cocktail. When properly executed, the pyrotechnic display of a flamed orange zest is one that will surely impress your guests.

Toronto cocktail

2 oz rye ¼ oz Fernet-Branca ¼ oz simple syrup 2 dashes Angostura bitters Stir the ingredients in a mixing glass with large ice until well chilled and strain into a chilled coup glass (or cocktail glass). Garnish with a flamed orange zest.

A note on the ingredients: Despite it carrying the name of a Canadian city, you will want to use an American rye. This is actually possible now that American ryes have become slightly available north of the border. If you cannot find American rye, then stick with Alberta Premium rye. Fernet-Branca is scarce, very scarce, but well worth the hunt. Finally, while this cocktail is great with a regular orange zest as garnish, it absolutely sings with a flamed orange zest.

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November 29, 2012 • 12

Maggie Kogut

Entertainment Editor

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November 29, 2012 • 13

For the Strumbellas, the show at The Slice marked their second one in Lethbridge, having gone on a tour of Western Canada earlier this year. To add to the exciting year beheld by the Strumbellas, they released their debut album My Father and the Hunter this past February; but not only that, the Strumbellas have also released a video game. As far as I know, it is not common for bands to have their own video games, of all things, so this is pretty cool.

My Father and The Hunter, The Video Game was designed by the band’s own Dave Ritter. The game features 8-bit versions of songs from the band’s debut album, scored by drummer Jeremy Drury. In this platform-style game, you get to choose your own Strumbella character and travel through Ontario to reach Toronto for a gig. Along the way, your Strumbella character has to fight off sheriffs, birds, and other characters from My Father and the Hunter by shooting music notes from your instrument at these various fiends. The game’s landscapes of Lindsay, Ontario (the band’s hometown), the Ontarian countryside in desert form, and Toronto were drawn by violinist Izzy Ritchie. Considering I can’t say much more about this game because my

video game skills aren’t up to par, and I didn’t get very far into My Father and The Hunter, The Video Game, you can check it out for yourself at thestrumbellas.ca/game.

To return back to real life from the Strumbellian 8-bit world, the band opened their show at The Slice with great songs from their debut album including “The Sheriff,” “Sailor’s Blues,” “Pistol,” and my personal favourite, “Left For Dead.” The Strumbellas have an upbeat sound accentuated by Ritchie’s violin melodies. Although upbeat, the Strumbellas do not allow the fast-paced rhythms of their songs carry away the individual musicality of the various instruments in the band, and they retain a rawness and intensity in their music that does not relinquish even for slower tempo songs like “Left For Dead.”

After the Strumbellas, the Tom Fun Orchestra filled the stage with seven members and seven instruments including banjo, accordion, and trumpet along with the customary drums, bass, electric, and acoustic guitars. Originally from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the Tom Fun Orchestra has two full albums, their latest one being Earthworm Heart released this year. The band played with such

ferocity and passion that soon many were up on their feet dancing as though it wasn’t a Monday.

With interesting and often hilarious commentary in between songs, the group played a variety of songs including a song about “the trials and tribulations of growing up in post-industrial Cape Breton Island,” “what your childhood would sound like,” said band front-man Ian MacDougall, as well as a “Monday kind of song with a Saturday kind of attitude.”

The band has a knack for storytelling through their lyrics and they made their own story when, at the end of the night, the band invited the entire audience up on stage to join them in their final song.

Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever been to The Slice – if you haven’t been, you should – but they don’t have the biggest stage in the world. With a lot of people packed onto a small stage, all singing (or yelling) with band members playing among them, it was the most unique of Monday nights. Super cool.

The Tom Fun Orchestra has been to Lethbridge three times, and hopefully they’ll be back again.

People need more Monday nights like the ones that the Strumbellas and the Tom Fun Orchestra make.

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November 29, 2012 • 14

RJ Balog

Entertainment Writer Greetings, true believers. It’s been a while since my last article and, truth be told, I’ve been busy. But something big happened this week in the comic community and it’s shaken me out of my homework-induced isolation. So I figured I’d take to print to vent my grievances and while I’m at it I might as well look at some of the other things shaking this last week in comics. Let’s get to it.

DC: Justice League 14

This issue is the conclusion to the Secret of the Cheetah two-part arc. This is the second issue drawn by Tony Daniel, whose art is actually quite good, but there isn’t much that can follow up Jim Lee. Two issues isn’t much of a storyline, but this arc really just serves to re-introduce the Cheetah into the New 52, and more importantly to lead into next month’s Throne of Atlantis crossover arc with Aquaman.

I’ll be the first to support anything Geoff Johns does, but the last few Justice League issues have been a little lackluster. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great that a Wonder Woman villain is getting the front stage in a Justice League story, but it’s not very believable.

Last issue, Cheetah snuck up on the entire Justice League just after Superman and Cyborg explained that they could hear things across the jungle; then Cheetah out-powered Superman and out-ran Flash.

I don’t know. But again this issue is better served as

an in to December’s Throne of Atlantis, and having Johns write both titles I’m more than confident that he’ll deliver. He has proven himself as a big event writer (Blackest Night, Flashpoint) and with Johns’ Aquaman being one of the titles of the New 52, a crossover with DC’s flagship title is just what it deserves.

Marvel: Amazing Spider-Man 698

Okay, so this is the one. This is the issue that sent the comic community into flustered fits of rage, horror, and outright depression. Since it was announced a couple months ago that The Amazing Spider-Man would end with issue 700, there has been much speculation as to how it will end. Long time Spidey writer Dan Slott has been saying for months that with the closing issues he would have to “go into hiding” from mobs of angry fans; based on some of the buzz in the local comic shop and in the Twitter-sphere, it’s true. People are pissed. You might be wondering what the fuss is about anyways because in the end doesn’t everything go back to normal?

Comics certainly have a reputation for almost always bringing back recently killed characters, and setting things back to status quo, but I think the real concern here came when it was announced that the new series titled Superior Spider-Man (that would be taking Amazing’s place) would feature a character that was not Peter Parker. That puts events into

a more certain, definitive sense. It means that whatever happens here at the end of Amazing will, for the immediate future at least, be solidified into the future of the character. Whether this change lasts for a couple months or a year, the prospect that it could be ultimately the new direction of the character is terrifying. Now before you say it, yes change is good. You wouldn’t want to see the same stories constantly replaying over and over. There would be no point; it would be boring. It’s a tricky situation.

Fans complain when things are the same, and fans complain when things change, but it is especially so when the change involves such a beloved character like Spider-Man. With this being the 50th anniversary of The Amazing Spider-Man, we as fans expected something big. We didn’t expect the entire future of the character to be perverted in a way that just leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. I think what makes it so aversive is that if it really is the new direction, it isn’t really one people can root for, or if it is something that’s going to be reverted as quickly as it happens, it just seems like a cheap ploy to toy with fans and keep them on their toes. I’m not going to say what happens because the impact hits a lot harder when built up in the issue, and you should really experience it for yourself.

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meliorist

November 29, 2012 • 15

Andrew McCutcheon Entertainment Writer

Andrew Martin

Let me be absolutely clear up front. I do not approve of hitting women. In fact, one might say that I am against hitting women.

Now, I know this is a very easy stance to take. I’m not making any enemies doing so.

I do not believe there are a lot of “anti-woman” lobby groups in Western society. I just want to be very clear about that for what I am about to say.

We should not judge the music of Chris Brown based on the fact that he (most assuredly) beat the ever-loving shit out of Rihanna. We can completely and utterly judge him as a human being to be a despicable misogynistic son-of-a-bitch, but I do not believe we can judge someone’s art based on their actions outside of the art itself.

That being said: Chris Brown’s music is unoriginal over-produced tripe. But I do not connect the previous statement on his character with the value of his music. The two are inherently separate, but I see the same sort of logic being used time and time again to justify the dislike of an artist.

Whenever someone asks me who some of my favourite artists are, I invariably and eventually list Kanye West somewhere within the top 20. This is usually met with eye-rolls, scoffs, or even full blown dirty looks (which, as a Canadian, I was taught from a very young age to be the most heinous social sanction). People usually will respond to my appreciation of West with something along the lines of how much of an asshole West is, how ridiculously he behaves, and how obnoxious he seems. Well. That is all fine and dandy, but even the most obnoxious of Twitter feeds won’t disprove the fact that West is easily one of the most innovative currently-producing hip-hop artists and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is nothing short of a magnum opus. He can continue to interrupt whiny teeny-bopper Kennedy-obsessed country pop artists for the rest of his life and nothing will change that.

This is why we cannot hold art accountable for the actions of the artist.

The only legitimate argument against this idea is that someone may not want to financially support an artist if they disagree with their actions or politics. I agree. But thankfully, in our age of internet piracy, most people don’t support artists with their wallet regardless! So even if you think West is an asshole or thought it was weird when Clint Eastwood yelled at a chair during a Republican convention, you can still torrent Million Dollar Baby without guilt.

But let’s say you really don’t care about what I am saying. You will hate an artist and whatever they do depending on their actions. Well. Allow me to ruin some famous artists: 1. John Lennon beat his wife.

2. Ditto for James Brown.

3. And Ike Turner.

4. Most members of The Foo Fighters threw their weight behind various organizations that deny a link between HIV and AIDS (yeah, those sorts of things actually do exist).

5. Bing Crosby (best known for his recording of “White Christmas” in 1941) is also guilty of domestic violence.

6. Actor Harry Morgan of MASH fame faced charges of beating his wife.

And biggest of all, come on, let’s face it: Michael Jackson, one of the greatest pop artists to ever live, was accused of molesting children. Regardless, this doesn’t change the fact that Thriller is probably one of the best pop albums of all time. It’s time for a divorce between the way we view an artist and the way we view their art.

However, having said that, allow me reiterate just one last time.

Chris Brown is a shitty person.

And he makes shitty music.

But these things aren’t necessarily tied to one another. Regardless though, his shit sucks.

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meliorist

November 29, 2012 • 18

Crossword

ACROSS 1. Compatriot of Joshua (Bible) 6. Felines 10. Controlling leg strap on a captive bird of prey 14. Liquid mammalian waste 15. Found in skin lotion 16. Parental sister 17. Beer maker 18. Area around an altar for clergy 19. Intercollegiate athletic organization 20. Forcibly expressive 22. Semi-liquid fluid 24. ____ the Terrible 25. Truck engines 26. One who phones 29. Yield 30. "Inter ____" = among other things 31. Immovable assets 37. Territories

39. Choose 40. _____cenia = genus of pitcher plants 41. Japanese city in northern Kyushu 44. Precipitation 45. Electrical engineering group 46. Brief look 48. Ingenuous 52. Actor ____ Ladd 53. Capital of Saudi Arabia 54. Computer game controller 58. Goddess of fertility (Egyptian mythology) 59. Helicopter inventor ____ Sikorsky 61. Small boat 62. Dispatched 63. Immense 64. River marking the Biblical southern boundary of Israel 65. Units or energy 66. Region 67. Coarse files

DOWN 1. 6-sided solid 2. Plant with arrow-shaped leaves 3. Speech affectation 4. Rolled filled tortilla 5. Exhibit proper conduct 6. Hut or lodge 7. Actor Sir ____ Guinness 8. Former NBC News anchor ___ Brokaw 9. Beachfront 10. Two-faced god of gates (Roman mythology) 11. Card game played with 32 cards (variant spelling) 12. Growl 13. Remains 21. Waterproof covering 23. Ogles 25. Deepness 26. Make watertight 27. Jai ___, sport 28. Fluff 29. Undergrowth 32. Drunkards 33. Fanfare 34. Modern day

Sudoku

Persia 35. Singer ____ Clapton 36. Rational 38. Slalomed 42. Jewish religious school 43. Not pretty 47. Indian sailor 48. Get up 49. Front part of a stair 50. Equalizing a score 51. Persists 52. Heart artery 54. San ____, California 55. Hotels 56. Chicken pen 57. Scottish for "Knows" 60. A fish resembling a pike

Hard

Easy

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meliorist

November 29, 2012 • 19

Our truth and effort

Since when is “same” a four-letter word?

Kelti Boissonneault Editor-in-Chief If you didn’t pay attention to the coverage of the last U.S. presidential election, you probably missed a lot of discussion regarding equality and equal rights for minorities. Fortunately, this editorial doesn’t revolve around the who-said-what of the election in regards to equal rights – it revolves around the debate of equal rights itself.

The concept of human rights is not a new one.

As Canadians, many of us have enjoyed a life relatively free of human rights problems. I’m not saying they don’t exist in Canada; there are still some rough edges that need to be smoothed out, but I will adamantly stand by the fact that Canadians are better off than most when it comes to the adherence to basic human rights.

Therefore, as a Canadian watching the rest of the world, I find myself growing more and more disgusted with what I see.

Over the past several months of the presidential election, the extreme faction of the Republican Party continuously aired anti-homosexuality ads that cited same-sex love as a blight on American culture and its reputation. Recently, more light has been cast on the Ukraine, where a draft law against “promotion of homosexuality” recently passed the first of two readings, and Uganda, where homosexuality isn’t just frowned upon, it’s actually illegal. Some homosexual acts in Uganda are even punishable by death. The extremity of these cases, and the ongoing pursuit of marginalization closer to home, has me very worried.

Since when are basic human rights up for debate? I consider it my right as a Canadian woman to choose who I want to enter into a marriage with — something entirely unheard of several hundred years ago. In Canada, we are

fortunate enough to have realized that any sanction against homosexual marriage is a complete disregard for, and intrusion on, basic human rights that any and every member of the species is entitled to. That’s what makes it a right: you’re human, therefore you are entitled to this.

It’s not selective based on your sexuality, your gender, or your skin tone.

Human rights are essential to the continuance and vitality of our global society. Not only are they deserved by everyone, they actually work to improve the global society greatly.

Those opposed to human rights are those who feel threatened by the impending peril that rights pose to their power. In the Middle East, the right for education is undermined by a necessity to control the female population based on religious practices. In the United States, the sanctity of marriage (nothing more than a secular union contract between two individuals) is said to be “under attack” from the gays who want only what heterosexual couples enjoy: the right to a unified household under the law.

It boggles my mind that any educated person would not agree that the basic human right of marriage is a right that belongs to all living humans regardless of whom they choose to enter into the contract with. It has nothing to do with “tradition” as the tradition of marriage has changed dramatically over the past several hundred years. Citing a religious text in a human

“

rights debate is useless — not all parties subscribe to the same faith, and no one faith of an individual has a right to dominate another person’s faith.

Since when is equality a bad thing? Since when is “same” a four-letter word? How does allowing more people to participate in the joy of marriage diminish its meaning or spirituality in any way?

When you get down to the grass-roots of the problem, the only opposition to human rights is bred of ignorance and is grown from a desire to retain the illusion of power. It comes down to the basic human need to dominate and control; but how do you justify controlling billions with the principles of a few?

You can’t. Someone will always disagree.

Some would say the debate is tiring — we’ve won, we have it, it’s over, let the problem lie. But it isn’t over. Not even in Canada does equality mean equal. There are still hidden things, little things that everyone who believes humans deserve rights will have to fight for. Each right we enjoy now was gained through years of hard work, trouble, and fighting. It was not given: nothing in this life is ever given. It must be demanded, argued for, and protested for. It must be earned, so that it may be given to the future – then the struggle must be to keep the rights we have already won. Yes, the battle is tiring, but is it worth it? Absolutely.

...the only opposition to human rights is bred of ignorance...

”

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meliorist

November 29, 2012 • 20

Travis Robinson Sports Editor

The food market for athletes is saturated in gels, bars, powders, and beverages that are oftentimes good in training but do not constitute the proper dietary intake for any high-performance athlete.

Luckily, the American duo of Chef Biju Thomas and physiologist Dr. Allen Lim has written a comprehensive nutritional cookbook entitled The Feed Zone: Fast and Flavourful Food for Athletes Cookbook.

Lim and Thomas became known in the sports community through their associations with several professional cycling teams in the early 2000s. The duo observed that many cyclists fuelling their bodies with gels and bars were slowly running out of energy over the course of a gruelling race despite continually eating these so-called performance foods. With their combined knowledge on foods and proper nutrition, the duo created homemade snacks that substituted the place of bars and gels in the riders’ grab bags. A particular favourite amongst the athletes were Chef Biju’s honey cakes. These home-

made snacks fuelled the athletes properly, without the sluggish after-effects that the bars and gels brought. Their homemade creations became so popular that rival teams began wondering if these foods possessed performance-enhancing qualities.

What were really present in Thomas’ treats, however, were whole foods, made from scratch, and not containing any extracts or multi-syllabic boosters.

The duo brought this holistic and comprehensive approach to The Feed Zone.

The book itself is a marvelous read, containing fresh and new recipes for any level of athlete. The pages are lushly illustrated, the recipes themselves easy to follow and ultimately prepare. The duo emphasizes viewing food as a whole, and not the combination of many different molecular entities.

The recipes range from portable snacks like those used by cyclists to sit-down meals, all while emphasizing an aggregate picture of food. As well, the book places a second emphasis on simplicity, meaning one does not need to be a professional chef to dupli-

cate the meals depicted in the book. Athletes are not expected to be chefs, and as such, the duo have pared down the recipes to just the essentials, while retaining the nutritional benefits of such recipes.

The recipes have been field-tested in the kitchens of some of the world’s finest endurance athletes, thus giving authentic testimony to the recipes at hand.

Most importantly, the recipes are tasty, unlike the bland and outright bizarre flavours of the gels and bars that dominate the market. The diversity in the 150 recipes featured in the book is truly remarkable, as many recipes can double as training food or simply meals on the go. Durability is also key for the busy athlete, and these recipes hit the mark with the ability to be stored and preserved for later consumption. The Feed Zone is unlike any other sports-based nutritional cookbook I have encountered, and is surely a must-read for any competitive athlete wishing to fuel their bodies as nature intended it.

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meliorist

November 29, 2012 • 21

Travis Robinson Sports Editor

ESPN has released yet another gem in its 30 for 30 series with the film The Best that Never Was. This documentary details the tragic story of high school football hero Marcus Dupree, who rose from obscure beginnings in rural Mississippi to become the most highly touted (and highly recruited) high school player in history. He was a man among children, with the size of a linebacker and the speed of a wide receiver. Dupree dazzled high school and national audiences alike, and became the most hyped football player in history. Dupree took a chance to attend the University of Oklahoma and play under college legend Barry Switzer as a Sooner.

After a series of disagreements with the coaching staff at Oklahoma, coupled with ill-advised chatter from relatives and associates in his hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi, Dupree left school after his freshman year, only to fade into the oblivion and become the most disappointing football prospect of his era.

The film features interviews from relatives and friends in Philadelphia, Mississippi, along with conversations from coaches, scouts, teammates, and others privileged enough to see Marcus Dupree run in the early 1980s. The 6’2”, 220 pound running back was Herculean in his football talents, able to

run through, or around, his opponents. Although his skills flourished in college, the film made it clear that greedy acquaintances from Dupree’s hometown wished to market the young man and exploit his talents for financial gain. The film is not mawkish in its portrayal of this, and even Marcus Dupree himself is rather magnanimous upon reflecting about his torrid past. The young man with incredible ball skills was clearly not making his own decisions, and this puppetry cost him a shot at professional glory. Upon leaving Oklahoma, Marcus was selected to play in the short-lived United States Football League, which was a competitor to the National Football League in the mid ‘80s. A knee injury cost Marcus Dupree this job, and at the age of 22, he was out of football completely.

The film showcases the vortex that was the college recruiting of Marcus Dupree. College scouts took up full time residence in Mississippi to capture the attention of the prodigal Dupree. This devotion to one player was never seen before in high school sports, and in the Deep South, where football is a religion, it caught the attention of an entire nation.

Scores of coaches came to see Dupree during practice, and his sleepy town was lit up by the attention. Even racial boundaries present in the town

were sewn up in light of the talents of Marcus Dupree.

Dupree himself reflects back on those days without a hint of nostalgic glow, talking more as an unbiased observer to the situation than the player himself. The only emotion Dupree shows throughout the film is when the filmmaker brings up his younger brother Reggie, who was Marcus’ biggest fan despite being stricken by polio. In a truly touching scene, Marcus bursts into tears when he is questioned about Reggie. For a man with such disappointment in his life, Marcus Dupree remains reflective throughout the film, never once wondering what could have been or lamenting those who may have steered him in the wrong direction. The testimony from Marcus Dupree is the highlight of the film, as it comes in stark contrast with those coaches, family, and teammates who saw such potential in the young man. Now 48 and a professional trucker, Dupree appears content with his life and choices, despite the potential he so squandered.

He does not point fingers or blame others, which is remarkable, considering the circumstances of his life. Dupree is the true centerpiece of this film, and his testimony makes this film not so much a tragedy but a display of contentment in the face of despair.

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meliorist

November 29, 2012 • 22

Travis Robinson Lifestyle Editor

Fashion has once again been turned upside down as a new type of model graces its haughty catwalks.

Andrej Prejic has the lithe body and chiseled face of any female model, yet his traipsing across the catwalks of female shows has been met with some uproar. He has been featured in the haute couture showings of Jean Paul-Gauthier, and recently walked as a male model for Marc Jacobs. The Bosnian native has been titled an androgynous model, due to his versatility in modelling the garments of both sexes. His blonde locks, which he wears long, are certainly striking, so much so that designers and fashion writers alike are unable to tell what sex Prejic actually is. With his features and his dimensions, Prejic possesses the proper attributes to successfully model both categories of clothing.

The gender-bending fashion community has seemingly seen it all, but Prejic possesses a whole new dilemma. Although he is statistically right for both jobs, questions have arisen as to whether or not the 6’2� stunner should be permitted to model androgynously.

Models have always been regarded as walking coat hangers, and this phenomenon has outworn its

welcome in recent years. Young girls who have the right cheekbones and altitude are scouted based solely on their physical attributes to appear as a walking shadow. The clothing is meant to be shown, and the model is simply a backdrop for this. Thus, it has become the norm to see rail-thin girls walking catwalks, appearing not outwardly female but assumed to be so based on the clothing they are donning. This has created a bigger problem in the BMI of these girls, which constitutes starving in some cases. Non-breasted models often walk sans top in haute shows without any commotion from commentators, and yet uproar has been created in the bare-chested Prejic posing on the cover of a magazine. In past decades, the androgynous looks of girls like Twiggy brought admiration from both sides of the modelling world. High fashion has never been one to shy away from boundary pushing, and its treatment of female models reflects this.

Girls can be adorned in next to nothing, yet when an anatomically incorrect model makes an appearance, the relentlessly liberal fashion world turns puritanical. The designers seem to revel in this controversy, while the rest in the community are left scratching

their heads.

Fashion is admittedly dominated by femininity.

The fashion world caters to females, and the ticket to admittance in this world is either possessing the right parts, or in the case of male designers, projecting a feminine persona. Many of the top male designers are openly gay, and their business sectors are often run by females. The staffs of top fashion magazines are largely female, and many modelling agencies are now run by women. Male designers seem to be the only opposite sex individuals allowed into this feminine clutch. The fashion world undoubtedly takes pride in being a beacon of femininity, and having a male in the female-dominated modeling world has turned some sour. The same social boundaries that the fashion world usually loves to manipulate are now being enforced here, and while the irony is apparent in such hypocrisy, it still comes as a shock to many.

Prejic hopes to change the clique of feminine inclusivity in the fashion world, and with his proportions and face, combined with a fearless personality, he will undoubtedly do so.

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meliorist

November 29, 2012 • 23

Travis Robinson|Lifestyle Editor

The birth of the profession. Haute couture founder Charles Frederick Worth enlists his wife Verna Worth to model his radical designs. Although Worth is very successful, the modelling profession is still in its infancy, and is considered by some to be depreciating and raunchy.

Lisa Fonssagrives stumbles onto the scene. This raven-haired Swede catches the attention of photographers and fashion publishers alike, and she is soon featured in the likes of Vogue. Fonssagrives collects high paychecks and high praise for her appearances in print, and her looks enamour the revolutionary fashion photographer Irving Penn. Considered by many to be the matriarch of modeling, Fonssagrives turns the profession mainstream.

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Buxom Dutch model Wilhelmina Cooper lands a gig with new-found modeling agency Ford Models, who themselves come to change the modelling industry into a proper business. Cooper and others are renowned for their curves, and double as pinups. Their measurements are only matched by their paydays, with some demanding as much as $25 per hour for their services.

The contemporary model is born. The slat-thin Twiggy, who is more boyish than buxom, comes out of England to the applause of the rest of the world. With a changing fashion scene emphasizing the silhouette, models are recruited for their lack of bodyweight and unconventional appearance. American Cheryl Tiegs complements Twiggy’s gaunt appearance with her own bombshell look, and fees for models on both sides of the Atlantic continue to swell. The term “supermodel” is coined, and the modelling industry reaches a fever pitch.

Changing times call for changing models. The self-proclaimed “first supermodel” Janice Dickinson brings an inflated ego with her voluptuous body and demands to be treated like royalty. Ford Models realizes the potential to discover models in foreign places, and begins to scout heavily.

American Beverly Johnson breaks the colour barrier in high fashion, while California beauties like Christy Brinkley appear in the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Fashion modelling grows in popularity, with teenage boys and girls alike gawking at the beauties on both sides of the fashion coin.

This era becomes known as transitory period of modelling. As the fashion world attempts to rediscover itself, so too do its models. The first half of the decade is dominated by the baby-faced Gia Carangi, who appears on virtually all fashion magazine covers for half the decade. The troubled Carangi is plagued by drug abuse, and infamously appears on the cover of Vogue with track marks from her heroin addiction visible. Carangi passes away from AIDS-related complications in 1986, the same time that the supermodel becomes reborn. Australian Elle McPherson is highly sought after for her eye-popping measurements (36C-25-35) and statuesque height (6’0”). McPherson makes her debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which becomes a breeding ground for models. The model of this era must be both high fashion and mainstream, as the payouts for both are astronomical. Diversity is the key for these girls, as they must possess the right body and the right face in combination to be a model.

Brigitte Bardot meets her doppelganger in the German Claudia Schiffer, and this blonde bombshell appears on nearly 500 magazine covers on her way to bagging a magician husband.

The most important year in the history of modelling. Two beautiful Americans, a striking Canadian, a saucy Englishwoman, and a colourful German bring the modelling world to the height of its popularity. The race car curves and movie star faces of Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington bring adoration from both sexes and commercial appeal, while the exotic looks of Naomi Campbell and Tatjana Patitz cause the top designers to foam at the mouth. Linda Evangelista drops the infamous, frequently misquoted “We don’t wake up for less than $10,000” in the pages of Vogue, and this comes to symbolize the power, popularity and wide-reaching influence of these Amazonian goddesses.

The year of the waif and “heroin chic.” The undersized Kate Moss displays her ghoulishly trim figure in a number of highly publicized underwear ads, sending shockwaves through the modelling world. The waifs appear hollow, underfed, and utterly stoned. President Clinton denounces the “heroin chic” era, prompting modelling to further augment the sedated and skinny appearances of their models. The publicity brings payola, and despite not eating, Moss et al are engorging themselves with cash.

The waif craze dies down and the modelling world returns to its roots. Brazilian Giselle Bundchen reaches the stratosphere with her earnings, bringing designers to their knees with her lioness mane and nuclear body. The modelling world is divided between the curvier girls like Bundchen and the slimmer, more high fashion girls from Eastern Europe. The decade patches this divide with the emergence of girls like Natasha Poly, who bring curves to their East-Bloc appearance. The industry is plagued with allegations of forced starvation and the anorexia-related deaths of several models, prompting some designers to set weight limits for their models. The plus-sized world is given a boost from crossover success story Crystal Renn, who escapes anorexia to bring stardom to the industry.

American Kate Upton possesses a vintage appearance that brings her enamour from fashion critics and sports fans alike. The anorexia scare dies down with other plus-sized models gaining mainstream success, and the ice queens of fashion are even receptive to healthier, fuller models.

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meliorist

November 29, 2012 • 24

** Submit your TLFs at www.themeliorist.ca. All TLFs must be submitted via a valid uleth e-mail account. Keep in mind that libelous or offensive TLFs may be edited or omitted.

The TLFs do not reflect the view or opinions of The Meliorist Publishing Society.

Pick up a sweet Meliorist T-shirt for only $15! Support your independent student newspaper!!

Dear random guy who said his nipples were “so hard they could cut through glass”. You should probably get that looked at. And specify the reason they are hard.

-Concerned Stranger.

Girl who alternated between giggling and coughing packs up and leaves– the quiet section of the library be like YYYYEEEEEESSSSS! dedicated to the man that once said “look at those future puck bunnies” referring to a group of 10 year old girls … this month you now look perverted enough to have said that.

To the people talking about aborition in Galileo’s Lounge, you have no idea what you’re talking about! Please quiet down. Take your conservative opinions else where.

I love London fogs!

Ignorance is not bliss, knowledge is empowering.

To the guy who took my bag today in the mens lockeroom, I know who you are. Thanks for turning an otherwise good day into a frustrating one. PS I’ve reported you to security.

1: Pronghorns athletes in the library are insufferable. 2: Have you noticed the swim teams diet? If

they never win a meet I won’t be surprised. 3: Library girl…run I think therefore I am, a thinking thing that thinks I am -CareBearStare Would anyone be interested in starting up a Girl Guiding Club at the U of L? #Links? dear “non-feminist”, just because you have never experienced misogyny doesn’t mean that most women on the planet haven’t. nor does it seem you have any idea what feminism is about.

distraught over the fact that Martin Lalumiere is leaving in December? I don’t have use for psych classes anymore.

Dear beautiful RA Anthony. come swimming on november 28th with the c-sec & de-3 boys & girrrls for our floor event! ive gotta rockin’ bikini better see you there xoxo love c-sec Dear short blonde girl who talked to me in line at CJ’s on Wednesday the 21st are you single? – sincerely guy in purple shirt who picked the right line

L Word Lover, thats great, Im happy to have finally found another L Word fan! Lets make this marathon happen!

to the girl in the red shirt and glasses who let me in front of her at the coffee company, you have an amazing smile. Just thought you should know.

To the brunette in white outside of CJ’s on the bench Wednesday around 11, you’re stunning. Coffee sometime? =)

Hey, girl on her cellphone on level 9 of the library for the last ten minutes not even bothering to try to keep your voice down, shhhhhh!

Girl, with 2 friends, Wednesday, cafeteria, lunch, grey toque, eye contact with me, red plaid, I got nervous, wanted to come talk to you, failed. Date?

To the two girls in PSYC 1000-B, who sit in the third last row. Don’t stand in the aisle and giggle about shit we don’t care about. People are trying to get to their seats!

Thank you to all the facilities staff who keep the university operational!! – An appreciative student

To whoever found a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses and has yet to turn them in, I hope karma rewards you with a big bag of cancer. Sincerely, do the right fucking thing.

To the girl with the need to yell, there are better ways to say hello; perhaps learn to use your words.

Am I the only one that’s emotionally

At U of L, mustaches in November are like Sasquatch’s. You always hear about them but never see them. Come on guys, everyone

should be rocking a stash!

Dear Brady, You are awesome.

Love Brady.

Dear girl with the curly brown hair in Chem 1000 on MWF, you are absolutely drop dead gorgeous and are the reason is still go to that class.

Love, guy in love If inconvenient, come anyways. -SH To the girl who likes the 3000 biology student. I am sure many of the guys are curious. Maybe add some details? (maybe what two classes you share with them?)

The tlf ratio of girl mentioning boy to guy mentioning his need for fellatio is completely out of whack. Also look up anti-oppressive practice and feminism you ignorant dick. ‘you’re way too good for me?’ gurrrrl you need some self respect.

Mmhmm Oh NO she didnnn What kind of pants does super mario wear? – DENIM DENIM DENIM I’d love to stay and chat but I really moustache! …(think about it).

YOLO… there must be something funnier that fits this acronym.

Girl in the pool viewing gallery singing along to every. stupid. song: your performance is not nearly the gift to others that you think it is.

Sincerely, about to rip my hair out.

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November 29, 2012 • 25

To me in that mgt class the other day. Looookin Gooood! -SpiderSean

Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position. Just a friendly heads up.

Number 11, great game this weekend. Loved you in those white shorts. Look for me in class.

I was told to make a tlf. So I did.

Dear girl in blue sweater, I wore a green tank top on Saturday… Can I get a name? – possible guy in green tank

OMG! Eclipse drivers are sooo cutie <3 Thanks for the ride home, you guys really saved me. Blonde in the red dress:)

Dear library girl, Im glad to see you in the library again. I thought my tlfs scared you away. You are looking beautiful, please dont ever stop smiling. Distracted guy

Anybody else absolutely loathe the library’s new search engine? I’ve been meaning to write a TLF about it since September . . .

Damnit, where are all the lesbians on campus? Feelin’ like the only one lately!

To the RAs who don’t know their residents, Talk to us! Our floor would be a lot more fun if you did.

Sincerely, Treated Like a Stranger to the cute brown girl in HR, I hope you have a great birthday on Monday!

Dear Girl-with-higer-sex-drivethen-her-boyfriend, Drop the zero and get with the guy with equal or higher sex drive then you.

Sincerely, Guy-with-equal -or-higher-sex-drive.

To the person looking for a place to rent for December: Come join the excitement at this house. joycewam@hotmail.com Signed a person looking for a roommate If you’re looking for nutritional value in feminists, you’re eating them the wrong way.

Thank you for the compliment, I’m very flattered. I hope to catch you around. -X Hearted Girl

In response to the tlf. I thought it was obvious who I was talking about but the dark haired library girl seems to work a bit on every floor.

Distracted guy Dear non-feminist female, I can’t decide what’s worse: being ignorant to inequality, or knowing and not caring. Either way you have no valid case. Sincerely, we deserve better.

dear tall people, definitely start a club. then you can help us short people get shit off of high places. and we’ll help you to start seeing eye to eye to all the non-art majors who show their love to us art kids, it’s soo appreciated. our classes/work are totally undermined…and it’s nice knowing that our hard work is loved!

“That’s What” -She

The requirement to work at the liquor store by pops west is clearly that you have to be rediculously goodlooking. Eyecandy everytime I go in there. check out the UofL’s 3rd Relay for Life Nov. 30th.

Dear man in blue vest walking into PE 250 Tues/Thurs at 4:20… We always make eye contact outside the classroom. Say Hi?

To that beautiful brunette member of the Dance Team; you are amazing out there! I wish I knew your name. . Keep up the great work!

Hey non-feminist female! How are you enjoying post secondary education? If you don’t catch why that question is funny then I feel bad making fun of you. Enjoy earning less money

To the confused anti-feminist. I’m sorry, what don’t you like about feminism? Is it the voting or the sexual assault laws? What about getting paid equally in the workplace?

Why does the Library bother with ‘quiet zones’ when they have the loudest keyboards on the fucking planet?!

Good hard tenacious play wins ball hockey games…not steroids, a marshmellow goalie, and a bad attitude.

To the pretty, tall, blonde girl in the library, thank you for retrieving the book from the top shelf for me and being a gem about it – Hobbit Sized Girl now I understand why we shouldnt chew gum at a job interview: it is very annoying, gross, & distracting, and Im sure I am not the only student who thought this in Anth1000.

Need some volunteer hours? The Canadian Red Cross wants you to come help volunteer! Contact us here in Lethbridge 403-327-7117.

We’re on the WESTSIDE! Just wanted to say thanks again to the nice guy who bought my lunch last Friday when I forgot my debit card!!!

Meliorist Podcasts avalible online at: themeliorist.ca/podcast

Have a pressing topic or question?

Send it in to the Meliorist podcast! p.editor@themeliorist.ca

Year in Review, and Thanks to All of You!

Origins of the U of L In the 1962/63 academic year, Lethbridge Community College began offering university transfer credit courses through its newly created university section. At the time, Lethbridge Community College instructors began providing curricula which addressed the academic criteria required for the science at the Universities of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

The University of Lethbridge itself was formally chartered in 1967 by the Government of Alberta. It was a time of university creation right across the continent and the late 1960s saw the establishment of almost half of all universities in Canada - the University of Lethbridge, University of Calgary and Simon Fraser University among them. university in Lethbridge can be highly credited to intense community boosterism. The City of Lethbridge wanted economic development, parents wanted their kids to be educated closer to home

and faculty and students wanted to further their studies in the very place where they started them. In the spring of 1967, the Province of Alberta created the University of Lethbridge, housed in the Cousins Building at Lethbridge Community College. The summer of 1967 saw the expansion of hiring to augment academic programs so that the University of Lethbridge would have a full slate of arts and science courses to provide for three and four year degrees and honour professional transfer programs in law, medicine and education.

A unique social and intellectual development at this time was the outpouring of much faculty (and student) talent from the United States as fallout of the Vietnam War. This provided the entire Canadian education sector with activist faculty members at the very time that colleges and universities were on a hiring spree. Tens of thousands of Americans who considered themselves intellectual refugees (faculty) or outright draft-dodgers (students) made

their way north of the border in an exodus which has dramatically coloured both countries â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the USA having lost many center-left intellectual activists and Canada having gained them. The University of Lethbridge inherited its share of these activists and they have left their mark on the place in the form of its liberal arts and undergraduate emphasis. time was that the General Faculties Council and Board of Governors set up the University of Lethbridge as a liberal arts university, focused on a broadly-based curriculum which exposed students to breadth in their program.

This was intended to distinguish itself against the larger universities which were trending towards increased specialization early in a studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studies. Entire degrees could be had, until the mid 1980s, which consisted of a very heavy emphasis on non-traditional educational styles with a heavy emphasis on independent study.

Year in Review, and Thanks to All of You!

Employment Opportunity The Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 academic year. This position is a paid position to commence immediately.

The CRO is responsible for all ULSU general elections, by-elections and referenda during the academic year. For more information on the position visit www.ulsu.ca.

To apply for this position, please send your resume and cover letter to Cheri Pokarney, ULSU General Manager at su.manager@uleth.ca or drop it off in

#argos @The_Meliorist

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November 29, 2012 • 30

Jobs, jobs, jobs!

Let us introduce you to CES (Career & Employment Services).

CES is a student service office dedicated to assisting you with your career and job search needs. We’re within the Career Co-op Services office in AH154, along with Applied Studies and the Management and Arts & Science Cooperative Education programs. CCS office hours are 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

– 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Go to our website for more detailed information on our services: www.uleth.ca/ross/ces.

Upcoming information sessions: Municipal Internship Program Thursday Nov. 29, 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

AH100 – Andy’s Place Workshops to Dec. 14 (to see full schedule and sign up go online to www.uleth.ca/ross/ces/w orkshops) CES resume/cover letter workshops: * Thursday, Dec. 6, 9:30 a.m.

– 12 p.m. * Monday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

CES interview workshops: * Thursday, Nov. 29, 1:40 p.m.

– 4 p.m. * Thursday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

CES how to network with employers workshops: * Tuesday, Dec. 4, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. * Thursday, Dec. 13, 9:30 a.m.

– 10:30 a.m.

Career planning 101 workshops: what can you do with your major? * Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. * Tuesday, Dec. 11, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Job search & networking workshops: * Friday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. * Wednesday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m.

– 12 p.m.

Visit our website www.uleth.ca/ross/ces to find the CES online job board!

Full time • Management Trainee ~ Guillevin Internation Co (Dec. 31) • Agribusiness Assistant, Various Locations ~ Richardson International (Nov. 30) • Addiction/Mental Health Students & New Grads ~ Alberta Health Services (Jan. 2) • Account Executive, Edm ~ Patron West Equip Finance (Nov. 30) • Registered Nurse, Banff ~ Covenant Health (Nov. 30) • Office Manager; Executive Assistant, Cgy ~ Alltech (Dec. 31) • Business Analyst, Leth ~ Lethbridge College (Dec. 1) • Franchise Manager ~ University First Class Painters (Dec. 31) • Field Sales Representative, Edm ~ Saint-Gobain Abrasives Canada Inc. (Dec. 2) • Community Disabilities Services Worker, Leth ~ Peak Vocational & Support Services (Dec. 2) • Centralized Intake/Referral Coordinator, Leth ~ Canadian Mental Health (Dec. 19) • Financial Accountant, Drumheller ~ Canalta (Jan. 1) • Territory Sales Rep ~ Alltech (Dec. 31) • Articling Student, Fort McMurray/Estevan/Weyb urn ~ MNP (Dec. 5) • Accounting Manager, Brooks ~ Orion LLP (Dec. 31) • Accounting Technician, Brooks ~ Orion LLP (Dec. 15) • Sun Life Financial Advisor ~ Sun Life

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Financial (Dec. 8) Reseller Sales Representative, Edm ~ Daktronics Inc. (Dec. 9) Field Sales Representative, Cgy ~ Mondelez International (Dec. 12) Centralized Schedule Coordinator, Cgy ~ Boys & Girls Club (Dec. 13) Sales Representative, Leth ~ Ricoh (Dec. 15) Intermediate Reclamation Specialist, Med Hat ~ Tera Environmental (Dec. 15) Environmental Planner, Med Hat ~ Tera Environmental (Dec. 15) Technical Writers – Vegetation, Cgy ~ Tera Environmental (Dec. 23) Junior Vegetation Biologists ~ Tera Environmental (Dec. 23) Intermediate Vegetation Biologists, Cgy ~ Tera Environmental (Dec. 23) Labour Relations Manager, Edm ~ Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (Dec. 14) Events & Facility Coordinator, Leth ~ SAAG (Nov. 30) Sales Management Program, Leth/Cgy ~ Enterprise Holdings (Dec. 20) Claim Representative (Bodily Injury), Cgy ~ State Farm Insurance (Dec. 20) French Immersion Teachers, New Westminister ~ School District #40 (Dec. 20) Family Resource Worker, Carbon/Acme/Linden ~ Kneehill Regional FCSS (Dec. 14) Sales Representative, Trochua ~ Viterra (Dec. 7) Environmental Planners, Cgy ~ Tera Environmental (Dec. 21) French Immersion Teachers, Okanagan ~ Schl District #83 (Dec. 12) Business Underwriting Specialist, Cgy/Edm ~ State Farm Insurance (Dec. 22)

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Youth Worker, Cgy ~ Boys & Girls Club (Dec. 22) Overnight Youth Worker, Cgy ~ Boys & Girls Club (Dec. 22) Child Care Provider, Leth ~ YWCA (Dec. 7)

Temporary • Basketball Officials ~ SABOA (Nov. 29) • Aboriginal Engagement Facilitator, Cgy ~ Tera Environmental Consultants (Nov. 30) • Recruiter, Edm ~ ATCO Electric (Nov. 30) • Term Developmental Meat Inspector, Leth ~ Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Dec. 7) • Administrative Assistant, Leth ~ Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Dec. 7) • Grade 1 Teacher, Lloydminister ~ Lloydminister Public School Division (Dec. 3) • Human Resources Advisor, Taber ~ Summit Motors (Dec. 31) Summer postings • Agribusiness Student, Various Locations ~ Richardson International (Nov. 30) • Research Assistant/ Tutor, Deep River/Chalk River ~ Deep River Science Academy (Jan. 30) • Production Technician, Leth ~ Hytech Production Ltd. (Dec. 15) • Credit Management Summer Student, Regina ~ FCC (Nov. 30) • Agriculture Research Assistant, Taber ~ Ag-Quest (Jan. 31) • Hybrid Canola Seed Production Assistant, Leth ~ Dow AgroSciences (Dec. 14) Part time • Field Artillery Soldier/Officer ~ Canadian Forces (Nov. 30) • Online Teaching Job ~ Hiknow English (Dec. 31) • Care Giver, Leth ~ Care.com (Dec. 12) • Tutor, Leth ~ Tutor

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Doctor (Dec. 31) FSCD Behavioral/Development Educator, Leth ~ Family Ties (Nov. 30) Sales Associate, Edm ~ Express (Dec. 15)

International • English Teacher ~ EF Changchun (Dec. 31) • Math/Science/English Teaching Position, England ~ Engage Education Canada (Dec. 31) • Internships in China ~ InternChina (Dec. 31) • Teach English in South Korea ~ Avalon English (Dec. 28) • Assistant Language Teachers and Coordinators of International Relations, Japan ~ JET Programme (Nov. 30) • English Teacher, Various Locations ~ EF Changchun (Jan. 22) • Teach English in Japan ~ International Education Services (Dec. 28) • Youth Ambassador, Ghana ~ Youth Challenge International (Dec. 7) • Au Pair; Children’s Camps, US ~ Scotia Personnel (Dec. 8) • Internship in Chinese Wine Company ~ InternChina (Dec. 12) • Travel. Teach. Save!

Forget boredom! Teach English in Korea ~ Adventure Teaching (Dec. 4) • Youth Ambassador, Zanzibar ~ Youth Challenge International (Dec. 17) For details of the postings and information on the application processes, go to www.uleth.ca/ross/ces/jo b-board.

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