New business section includes Sil Stock Challenge with $500 in prizes.
InsideOut checks out the bridges and beaches of San Fransisco.
see page C2
www.thesil.ca
see page C2
McMASTER UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER / THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
The Silhouette Est. 1930
Iggy on the campaign trail While Parliament is prorogued, Ignatieff visits 11 universities
VOLUME 80, NO. 16
Brandon Arsonist pleads guilty LILY PANAMSKY
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
FARHANG GHAJAR / SILHOUETTE STAFF
Even though Parliament is not in session due to Stephen Harper’s call for proroguing, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is still at work. LILY PANAMSKY
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
On Jan. 13, official Liberal Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition Michael Ignatieff made McMaster University his sixth stop of his 11-stop cross-country campus tour. The “Conversation with Michael Ignatieff,” as it was known in its Facebook group, featured Alex Sevigny, professor of communication studies and multimedia and French, as the host. The afternoon’s events consisted of a brief introduction of Ignatieff by Vice President and Provost Ilene Bush-Vishniac, a 10minute talk by Michael Ignatieff, followed by an hour-long question and answer period and finally conclusions and a brief meet and greet period. Convocation Hall — the site of the forum — was filled with students, staff, faculty, and community locals; sitting behind the podium where Ignatieff spoke was a group of students bearing McMaster sweaters and scarves. Ignatieff welcomed and received both Liberal and non-Liberal supporters. In his general speech, he stressed the importance of youth voting—citing that, in the last elec-
tion, only one out of five 18 year ed manner, gaining the approval of olds voted. He also criticized Prime the audience with his support for an Minister of Canada and Leader of increase of funding of Canadian artthe Conservative Party Stephen ists and of the liberal arts. Harper for his proroguing of parliaIgnatieff continually repealed ment on Dec. 31, 2009. Under the his image of being an elitist, adduapproval of Gov. Gen. Michaëlle cing to his years as a freelance jourJean, Parliament will remain shut nalist as justification and support down for two months, until after the for his claim. Vancouver Winter An accusation Olympics. was thrown at IgFollowing his natieff by pHD Stephen Harper brief address, Igancandidate Rebecca shut down tieff opened up Strung regarding Parliament the floor for queshis apparent support tions and answers. precisely because of torture in AfNotable topics covghanistan due to his we are asking ered included CanAmerican academic ada’s role in helpIgnatieff the questions that record. ing development swiftly dismissed were making in Africa, Canada’s the allegation by rethis government plying: “If you read torture allegations of Afghan detainThe Lesser Evil, if nervous...” ees, funding for you read my pubmature students, lished work on the Canada’s role in curtailing climate issue of torture and interrogation, I change, energy alternatives and think it is impossible to believe that policies, and policies regarding I defend torture in any form whatyouth unemployment. ever. I hope that’s very clear. There Leading the question period was can be no equivocation about it.” the Dean of the Faculty of HumanContinuing on the topic of torities Suzanne Costa—in French— ture in Afghanistan, Ignatieff reand referred to the financing of cul- ported: “Stephen Harper shut down ture and the humanities. Ignatieff Parliament precisely because we managed to answer the question— are asking the questions that were also in French—in a well-articulat- making this government nervous.
Best of the Decade: Andy’s list of the best films and albums Andy, D1
And they’re questions in my view about the government; they’re not questions about the conduct of Canadian military forces….What we’re saying is that the government of Canada has not done the due diligence necessary to make sure that Canada has no part in torture conducted by Afghan authorities.” The final question—when Canada should aim to return to a balanced budged—received overwhelming applause from the audience was. Ignatieff replied by talking about the importance of sustaining healthcare and lowering the current 17 per cent youth employment. Ignatieff managed to cater many of his answers to students by touching on the topics of education and youth employment. He received much applause from the audience in Convocation Hall along with a warm “thankyou,” and walked away sporting the token McMaster sweater that was given to him as a gift on behalf of the university. Ignatieff’s cross-country campus tour spans a week. The University of Toronto Mississauga and the University of Ottawa are the only other two Ontario universities being visited on the tour.
Former Mac student scheduled for sentencing Member of Toronto 18 plead guilty after arrest SELMA AL-SAMARRAI
Gaya was a part of the Toronto 18 between Mar. 1, 2006 and his arrest in May 2006. Former McMaster University sciAt the time of Gaya’s arrest, ence student Saad Gaya is sched- he was unloading 125 bags of amuled for a sentencing on the mor- monium nitrate, each 25 Kg, from ning of Jan. 18, 2010 in the A Gren- a truck into a Newmarket storage ville & William Davis Courthouse facility where he and Saad Khalid, a in Brampton. fellow participant in the Toronto 18 Gaya pleaded guilty on Sept. 28 group, were using the warehouse to to his involvement in the Toronto 18 store bomb-making fertilizer. terrorist group and had his hearing Federal authorities said that the from Dec. 21 to Dec. 23. members of the Toronto 18 were According to the Toronto Star, reportedly connected with a plot to SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Inside the Sil this week
Charity Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A3 Plastic bag ban . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A3 MSU Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 Fashion watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4
The Brandon Hall arsonist, Emerson Pardoe, has pleaded guilty to the charge of Arson Endangering Human Life, in connection with the Oct. 18, 2008 fire at Brandon Hall residence. He will be tried as a youth. He admitted to being under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the crime. A second count against him–Arson Endangering Property– has been dropped. According to this morning’s court readings, on Oct. 18, 2008, at approximately 2:45 AM, Pardoe and two other McMaster students had just left an acquaintance’s residence room and were walking down the hallway of Brandon Hall. Pardoe set fire to a poster with a lighter. His friends reprimanded him, extinguished the fire, and parted ways. The smoke alarms did not go off at that time. At 3:42 AM, Pardoe was returning, by himself, to his residence room on the third floor. He rode the middle elevator to the third floor, and, at 3:43 AM, set fire to a corner of a stack of Silhouette papers using a match and then retired to his room. At 3:45 AM, a student on the 10th floor called the elevator up and first noticed the fire. When the elevator reached the 10th floor, the smoke alarm went off, automatically sending all the elevators down to the first floor. The middle elevator was called back up to the second floor, where it remained opened and spread through the halls. All students evacuated the building. Four were rushed to the hospital. They were treated for smoke inhalation; one student re-
Sex and the Steel City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4 Wine 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6 Women’s volleyball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7 Men’s basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7
detonate a series of bombs in November 2006 in downtown Toronto, at an unnamed military base and at a few unidentified locations around Ontario. According to the Globe and Mail, in a post-arrest interview with the police, Gaya explained that the reason of his actions were, “To fix the situation right now, you know, in Afghanistan and stuff,” the bombs were to send a message to, “the Canadians there… tell them it’s not their job, they should leave.”
Women’s basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B9 Vladimir Nabokov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D4 Leap Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5 The Constantines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D12
A2 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
THE SILHOUETTE • A3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
McMaster takes a Charity Ball aims higher this year green step A plastic bag free plan took effect on Jan. 1
ing biodegradable bags for 15 cents a piece,” Taylor stated, “[but] we feel that we shouldn’t support bags On Jan. 1, 2010 McMaster Uni- whatsoever except for reusable versity went plastic bag free. The bags. This isn’t the first step MACmotion had been in the works since June 2009, when it was introduced green has taken to make McMaster at the McMaster Sustainable Steer- a more environmentally friendly ing Committee meeting. university. They have been encourMACgreen Director Derek aging the use of refillable water Taylor stated, “It’s a complete ban bottles as opposed to plastic bottles, [on plastic bags]. Currently the and, as Taylor explained, “We’re MSU [McMaster really pushing for a Student Union] ban or a reduction In previous years, of plastic bottles on services have no plastic bags for campus this coming there have been sale, however we about 8,000 plastic month, called the Tap-it Campaign— do have some rebags given out to [we are] encourusable bags, which we gave out during students during aging people to Welcome Week, refillable water Welcome Week. use bottles. We’re going which will be for sale in a short time This year McMaster to be pressuring the once we price them switched to giving administration to set and put them into for a ban out reusable bags. aontimeline our stores.” plastic bottles.” The motion MACgreen has became official towards the end of already implemented some prelimAugust and the MSU stopped using inary steps toward the banning of plastic bags as of Sept. 1, 2009. plastic bottles. “We’ve done some Taylor explained that the four work throughout the summer to months — September to January retrofit the water fountains with —were used to exhaust the stock the goosenecks that you can see on of plastic bags already on campus campus. That was our first stage, while placing a stop order on any because we figured we can’t just new plastic bags. jump into a ban without retrofitting In previous years, there have the old systems so that they’re funcbeen about 8,000 plastic bags given tional.” out to students during Welcome The plastic bag ban and hopeful Week. This year McMaster switched plastic bottle ban are yet two other to giving out reusable bags in com- ways MACgreen is attempting to pliance with their plastic bag ban. make the campus more environ“The university itself is sell- mentally-friendly. LILY PANAMSKY
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
AYAN DEY / THE SILHOUETTE
Last year’s Charity Ball event raised an estimated $30,000. This year’s coordinator Mizna Zaveri hopes to raise $37,000 dollars. LILY PANAMSKY
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Tickets for the 12th annual Charity Ball went on sale on Monday, Jan. 11. The event, which will be held on Feb. 5, 2010 at the Hamilton Convention Centre is named “The Curse of Amun-Ra” and follows an Egyptian theme. Charity Ball is an annual event that raises money for various charities and features dancing, drinking, performances, a silent auction, and a casino. This year’s coordinator for Charity Ball, Mizna Zaveri explained how the committee has worked diligently to distinguish and improve the event from previous years. “It’s going to be a much bigger event. Instead of having two performances, we’ll be having three, [and there will] be a lot more theme-related rooms, [so it’s not] just ‘oh there’s a dance floor, let’s dance.’” “We have our Title sponsor [Cogeco] and we’ve received $10,000 from [them] to give to
the charities …In the last couple of years we’ve always given back a projected $30,000, give or take $1000 -, but this year we’re hoping to give about $37,000 just because of Cogeco’s donation. That way it’ll be a lot more that we give back to the community.” Although “The Curse of AmunRa”, bears different story versions, Zaveri explained that the committee chose the modern version of the story which features a coffin of a mummy that was being carried on the Titanic and ended up sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, initiating a curse over the area. All proceeds from this year’s Charity Ball are going toward the McMaster Children’s Hospital, where a projected $20,000 will be spent in buying a specific piece of equipment called a bipolar coagulator for the neurosurgery ward. In addition, they will be providing funds for mentor training for the Big Brothers and Big Sister programs of Hamilton and Burlington, and for the Senior Class Gift Campaign, which will be given by the
McMaster University Alumni Association. Promotions Executive Kendra Wacasey listed a number of measures taken to promote the event, including “Nights at 1280”, custom T-shirts, a group on Facebook and simply word of mouth. “We did [sell out last year], but not until the last day. So we want to sell it sooner so that we’re not working.” Zaveri then explained the difference between promoting Charity Ball this year and previous years. “In terms of promotion this year, promotion is specifically catered to us now. It’s the first time we actually had a Promo Chair, otherwise it’s always been an MSU Campus Events person that does everything for us. That way it’s a lot more personal.” The expected number of attendants is 2000. “I’m just really excited to see it all come together, because right now it’s just all in pieces,” concluded Wacasey. Tickets for the 2010 Charity Ball are currently on sale at Compass in the McMaster University Student Centre for $40.00.
Pardoe awaits trial after pleading guilty Year-long case moving forward following trial stagnation estimated damage was $3 million, not including additional costs to remained in the hospital for four days. locate the students to several hotels All four students have since made across Hamilton. full recoveries. The second floor sustained fire Brandon Hall was closed down and smoke damage, while the rest for the rest of the fall semester, and of the building experienced smoke reopened on Jan. 4, 2009. The total damage. • CONT’D FROM A1
JONATHON FAIRCLOUGH / SILHOUETTE STAFF
Eliminating the distribution of plastic bags on campus has been the latest environmentally friendly move from MACgreen.
Student injury at Les Prince remains under investigation SELMA AL-SAMARRAI
Security did not provide the cause or the nature of the injury as the issue is still being investigated. The On the evening of Tuesday, Nov. student was taken to the hospital 24, the Hamilton Police Service for treatment and was released later and McMaster Special Constables that night. Les Prince Hall is the were called to the Les Prince Hall newest residence on the McMaster residence building due to a reported campus and houses approximately student injury. McMaster Campus 389 students. SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
Pardoe was arrested on Nov. 3, 2008. He has since admitted that his intentions were not to harm anyone. This was Pardoe’s third attempt at a trial; now that he has pleaded guilty, a sentence report has to be written about him. It will be presented on Jan. 26, 2010.
Queen’s U. homecoming decisions prompt further uncertainty precedented number of police charges, arrests, violent incidents and injuries,” as described in a letter Following Queen’s University’s from Williams to the University’s 2008 homecoming, the President alumni in Nov. 2008. and Vice-Chancellor Tom Williams Michael Ceci, president of decided to cancel the annual event the Alma Mater Society (AMS), for the 2009 and 2010 year. Patrick Queen’s University’s student govDeane Vice-principal (Academic) of ernment, explained that preventaQueen’s University tive measures were and the next Mctaken after the agMaster president These challenging gressive behaviour said, “I was heavily in homecoming of issues face every 2005. “After 2005, involved in the decision to cancel the many preventative university... We fall events before were put just have to find measures but it’s difficult, ulin place every year. ways to minimize The AMS in parttimately it’s the decision of the printhe causes of fric- nership with the uniciple.” ran various tion. It’s a practical versity The few home[attempts] to draw comings that pre- ongoing problem.” people away and to ceded that decision lessen the crowd… were marked by and to make the aggressive and disevent a more safe ruptive behavior by celebrators that atmosphere but that reached a point caused damage to cars, several ar- where it no longer was being effectrests, and a letter from the Mayor ive and the decision was made by of Kingston in 2006 asking the stu- the principle to curtail the event.” dents to not get out of control. Instead of the annual fall homeFinally in 2008, a gathering of coming, the University held a spring almost 10,000 students on a street reunion, which features events near the campus resulted in “an un- similar to the ones on homecoming SELMA AL-SAMARRAI SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
weekend. The University is scheduled to have another in 2010, in addition to 2011 and 2012, raising concerns regarding whether the University is planning to cancel the fall homecoming for another two years. When asked about this issue, Deane explained, “the best thing to say is that it’s tentative, the decision about what will happen is yet to be made and will probably be made in the fall. So obviously the people who set these date in the alumni office have to be planning ahead. This is probably evidence that they are tentatively imagining the current arrangements continuing for a few more years.” Regarding the McMaster student relations with Westdale residents, Deane explained, “These complex and challenging issues face every university in a significant sized community…we just have to find ways to minimize the causes of friction and those causes change year to year. It’s a practical ongoing problem. I don’t think there’s a single solution.” The Alumni is expected to decide whether fall homecoming will resume for fall 2011 near the end of 2010.
A4 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
THE SILHOUETTE • A5
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
A mid-year update with the MSU
The MSU executives talk to the Sil about their successes and strugges
A
s the New Year is kicked off, and students are returning to campus for the winter semester, some may be wondering what is going on upstairs in our student centre’s room 201 and what our McMaster Student Union (MSU) Vice Presidents (VPs) have been up to. MSU President Vishal Tiwari and the three VPs – VP Finance, Andrew Caterine; VP Education, Chris Martin; and VP Administration, Andrew Richardson – sat down with the Silhouette last week to talk about what they have accomplished so far, what they still intend to do this term, and what they will not be able to accomplish. The four spoke about projects and initiatives that they had originally set out to accomplish this year, and let us know what they have been able to do, what they have not, and some of the challenges that have got in their way. PAIGE FABER / FEATURES EDITOR
Some of the issues that came up in and server this year, but now that it government and lobbying that the they have corrected the main the next fiscal year – is electronic discussion were the challenges that is fixed it should be much easier for little money that the school receives concerns that caused Quarters to be purchase orders for all the different the VPs face in completing their them to upload files and it should be next budget should go to Student such a financial liability, including services of the MSU, which will goals, along with some concerns much quicker and easier, meaning Affairs because, according to him, the poor service and the food help the VP Finance to keep better that students had about MSU action that students can, “expect to see that is what creates successful quality. These two elements are track of the MSU’s finances. during first term, like going into [the SRA minutes] sooner.”Another students. causing Caterine to think that 1280 The President and each closed session more often in their reason for this, commented In terms of questions that is doing much better financially of the VPs very practically noted meetings, the untimely release Richardson, is that it is the Executive have been floating around about the than Quarters, although no numbers a few things that they have tried of SRA (Student Representative Board’s job to approve minutes budget and the campus bar 1280, have been published to indicate so. at this year, and will not be able Assembly) minutes, lobbying being that were posted and sometimes Caterine was expected to submit a Caterine also talked about to complete before their terms are focused at the federal level and the SRA meetings will be so large December budget review to answer the MSU budget as a whole and up. Tiwari noted that he wanted to questions about budget information that, “the minutes won’t get on the these questions. This review has if he would be able to balance the get rid of plastic water bottles on and 1280 (formerly Quarters). agenda.” Richardson also noted that just been started and students can books, in which he said it would be campus and will not be able to do First, Tiwari talked about there was an SRA resolution last now, “expect to see it in January.” “fully possible” to break even. He so, although he did help to push some of the goals and yearly plans year to get the minutes out quicker, Caterine said that, “there is no also noted that there are challenges water canteens and gooseneck such as working on all of their but that this is a work-in-progress budget review for December... associated with assessing the budget fountains on campus. VP Caterine projects together and placing an because these things “don’t happen December was the time we were because there are over 2800 budget wanted to complete a five year importance on “engagement and overnight.” going to plan the budget review.” lines and “trying to coordinate the budget, but will not be able to do so, visibility.” Tiwari noted that the four Another concern that was The reasons that this expected budgets from 30 different services although he still intends on creating had some plans that they wanted to finish but sometimes “things come up… which takes [them] away from [their] year plans.” Some of the challenges that got in the way of the VPs finishing some of their objectives for the year have been concerns dealing with Student Affairs, and internally in the MSU, and finding what can be done better and where there is room for more efficiency, noted Tiwari. One example of the internal efficiencies that Tiwari was referencing was MUSC (McMaster University Student Centre) occupancy costs. This is one of the areas, he said, where there needed to be more sustainability – “those are the types of things that we do that we didn’t really plan for,” Tiwari explained. Tiwari also commented that it is important to make sure that the MSU is running properly as an organization, and this was one of the main challenges that he noted. Closed session has been more prevalent this year with the Andrew Richardson, Chris Martin, Andrew Caterine and Vishal Tiwari work together on most of their projects. MSU Executive Board. The lack of public minutes by publicly-elected mentioned about last term was budget review was not ready is a very difficult thing to...explain.” a five year plan, which will be a officials has been a concern and that Martin was spending a lot of in December as initially it was About the budget so far, Caterine document of his ideas and where was discussed by the Board. Tiwari his time lobbying at the federal supposed to be is because Caterine noted that so far, “it is a very in- the MSU should be financially five noted that one of the reasons for level. Martin explained that this wanted to wait until the first term’s depth process; there are still a years from now. VP Martin hoped this is that they have tried to make is because this year the MSU has budget information was processed few questions, nothing is 100 per to be able to help create a regulation more long-term plans, which are joined CASA (Canadian Alliance before beginning, and they are still cent.” Although Caterine has hopes for the price of textbooks, but things that the Board wants to make of Student Associations) which has waiting on December’s numbers. and assures us that the budget is due to the current situation with sure that they have consensus on. made federal lobbying a part of the Once this is completed Caterine will looking better this year than the deficits in the university and the Another reason that was noted by VP Education’s portfolio. This is start work on his budget review, and last, there is still some uncertainty government he will not be able to because most of the he is currently waiting on a meeting until the numbers come in and are do so. Finally, Richardson noted Tiwari, Richardson, university’s money with the budget chair to start. solidified into a budget. To balance that although his job is more dayCatarine, and comes from the Many questions regarding the budget this year Caterine to-day and less project-based than Martin, is that often Tiwari also comCST (Canada Social the budget are about 1280. Caterine expressed that “you need to make the other two VP’s, he was hoping times the Executive mented that it is Transfer), which said he was releasing a report to the cuts. Not necessarily cuts.... but it’s to see a decrease in the cost of the Board goes into closed session important to make is money from the SRA on Sunday Jan. 10 which will prioritizing what we are going to student rate that we pay for the HSR when it discusses sure that the MSU federal government. help the financial committee figure do this year and what we are going (Hamilton Street Railway), but that employment issues, is running properly Martin mentioned out the strengths and weaknesses of to do next year.” One thing that is unlikely to be the case this term that when the their operation. Caterine said that Caterine is sure about is that they because of McMaster’s upcoming or human resource concerns. All four as an organization, g o v e r n m e n t “this will be a public document for have already saved $10,000 by not long-term plan, where things are not not focused students to see,” although it does not having to pay the Ombuds fee this yet solidified with the HSR contract. did not like the and this was one of is education, look like students will be looking at year. Caterine explained another One thing that he has done is helped negative stigma the main challenges on especially during it anytime soon, as the last set of key aspect of his approach and noted to make some of the busses on the that was attached that he noted.” difficult economic available approved minutes from that “it’s not like we need to cut 51 (University) route into 60-foot to closed sessions, times, the an SRA meeting are from Nov. 15, $300,000 from the budget. We have busses, rather than the 40-foot ones which they just see government wonders if the CST 2009, with Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 not already corrected a lot of these, and that we saw last year. as a part of their job. are making sure that we prioritize Through talking Another concern last term needs to be so big, and without yet available online. Caterine wanted to make and making sure we don’t lose track about Student Affairs, internal was that SRA minutes were not students lobbying there could be being posted as promptly as in past tangible effects on things like the sure that people were aware that of where we are spending money.” organization and efficiency, SRA years. On the topic, Caterine made amount of OSAP (Ontario Student 1280 was a new establishment, not Caterine also noted that, “[his] job meetings, lobbying, 1280, and clear that the minutes are not under Assistance Plan) that students just a facelift, although 1280 still is not to correct what happened last budgetary struggles, President their discretion, while Richardson receive. Usually the VP Education has the same manager and staff year, [his] job is to put [the MSU] Tiwari and Vice Presidents explained that what is part of their would find out the results of as did Quarters. The difference in a strong financial position for Caterine, Martin and Richardson job is reviewing and approving the his lobbying efforts during the between the two bars, aside from next year.” The “financial woes” have had some successes and minutes before release. Caterine provincial budget release, but Martin the aesthetics, being stressed by of last year were due to “specific some difficulties during their terms noted that the minutes were noted that this year, he has been told the VPs is that 1280 has a different problems”. “Obviously Quarters upstairs. With four months left it organizational and that the four to manage his expectations when it atmosphere and is tailored for the losing all that money was a problem executives were only a small part comes to what he can expect to see many students on campus that and the Marmor lost money and is clear that there is little more that of that, and expressed, “why the for students, which he believes is an cannot drink, along with a more we needed to pay additional fees students can expect to see finished minutes haven’t been posted, really unfortunate thing, especially along suitable study environment with to Ombuds,” said Caterine. As a from our MSU President and VPs I don’t know.” Quickly Richardson with the cuts that will be occurring wireless internet and electricity response, one thing that the MSU this year; they all have projects on explained that the MSU has been in Student Affairs next year. outlets, “like the student centre,” VP Finance is working on – that the go that can hopefully be picked having problems with their website Martin has been talking with the said Tiwari. The VPs feel as though will hopefully be implemented in up by next years’ executives. TERRY SHAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A6 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
EDITORIAL McMaster University’s Student Newspaper
The Silhouette TheSil.ca Editorial Board Executive Editor Jeff Green Managing Editor Bahram Dideban Senior News Editor Selma Al-Samarrai Assistant News Editor Lily Panamsky Features Editor Paige Faber Opinions Editor Peter Goffin Sports Editor Brian Decker Assistant Sports Editor David Koots Insideout Editor Lindsay Jolivet Assistant Insideout Phyllis Tsang Photo Editor Will van Engen Staff Photographer Terry Shan Multimedia Editor Ava Dideban Production Editor Katherine Marsden Web Editor Jason Lamb Health Editor Sarah Levitt Distribution Coordinator Jonathon Fairclough Business Editor Simon Granat Business Editor Santino Marinucci Ad Manager Sandro Giordano
Senior Andy Editor Grace Evans Music Editor Corrigan Hammond Entertainment Editor Myles Herod
Silhouette Staff Sam Colbert, Joey Coleman, Kevin Elliott, Noah Nemoy, Julie Compton, Jenifer Bacher, Michael Hewak, Christopher Chang, Lauren Jewett, Jacqueline Flaggiello, Natasha Pirani, Amanda Fracz
Contact Us Volume 80 2009-10 • McMaster University Student Centre, Room B110 McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, ON L8S 4S4 • Fax: (905) 529–3208 • E–Mail: thesil@thesil.ca • Production Office: (905) 525-9140, extension 27117 • Advertising: (905) 525-9140, extension 27557 • 10,000 circulation • Published by the McMaster Students Union
Write to us Opinions: Up to 600 words Letters: 100 to 300 words Submit via email by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before publication.
Legal The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil.ca. Please include name, address, and telephone number for verification only. We reserve the right to edit, condense, or reject letters and opinion articles. Opinions expressed in The Silhouette are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the publishers, university officals, or Ricter Web Printing Ltd.The Silhouette is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the McMaster Students Union. The Silhouette board of publications acts as an intermediary between the editorial board, the McMaster community, and the McMaster Students Union. Grievances regarding The Silhouette may be forwarded in writing to: McMaster Students Union, McMaster University Student Centre, Room 201, L8S 4S4, Attn:The Silhouette Board of Publications.The board will consider all submissions and make recommendations accordingly.
thesil@thesil.ca
executive editor: extension 22052
Look me in the eye...
Letter:
Re: Elections don’t make the grade
Dear Editor: message that must be carried by In MSU elections don’t make the the candidates themselves and it is grade (Nov. 26/09), Tallulah Andrews the key to voter engagement. makes a constructive observation Student government is as good when noting that last term’s on-line as those who lead it --- a simple but survey would have been better if apt observation about any reprerespondents had also been asked if sentative body. There will always be they had voted in recent elections. room for improvement. My advice Perhaps there could have been to MSU members who believe that check-off boxes for each the MSU they can do better as agents of presidential (February), SRA gener- progress is to do what more than al (March), and Board of Governors 1,300 others have done during (October). the SRA’s 45-year history: stand Sadly, much of the balance of as a candidate, get elected by their the column was less constructive peers, and get to work. and in some cases ill-informed. She I’ve known hundreds of those posits that students may be inter- SRA members. The best among Nothing like starting the year off with a vacation. The stress of the holiday ested in electing some positions them have been articulate, dedicatrush was just too much; you couldn’t possibly go into work. And besides, more others. Perhaps so, but in ed servants of the public interest some people don’t like you, and you’re having a large party, and you don’t some cases --- such as the under- whose commitment to service was want other countries to see your domestic differences. If you were in graduate representative on the carried on in varied career paths Prime Minister Harper’s shoes, you’d do the same thing. How many PM’s Board of Governors --- an election and community involvement postget to be in power when their country hosts the Olympics? Is it too late is required under provincial law. graduation. to get a ticket to the gold medal game if you’re not PM? Low voter turnout is not new, In an age when it’s trendy to Why not? Nobody really cares about Canadian politics. Sure, you’ll but it was not always so. The first disclaim and disparage governments piss off Andrew Coyne, but he never really liked you anyways. three MSU presidential elections and elected officials in general, it’s Doesn’t anyone appreciate the job that he’s doing? It’s a tough job in which I voted had turnout in the easy to be an armchair critic firing being the Prime Minister of a country, you know. You have to make range of 39-40%. off indignant barbs about the irrelspeeches, create policy – even if that is a copy and paste of the nation to Voters, whether in student/ evance of candidates or voting. It the south. Who’s going to stop you anyways? It’s not like the Queen Mum university governance at Mac, or in takes more effort to roll-up sleeves or her lackie is going to say anything. They let me do what I want, so long municipal, school board, provincial, and be part of the solution. as I make a scene. And this time I didn’t even make a scene. I did it when or federal arenas, need to be pereveryone was watching the World Juniors. Aren’t I a good little boy? suaded that the issues are relevant Dave Moore ’00 But that is federal politics and this is a campus newspaper. Sure, the and that the candidates are sincere, President leader of the opposition made a stop here this week, but he declined an capable, and offering a program MSU Alumni Association interview with this paper – and any other student publication throughout worthy of their support. That is a the country as well (so much for the student vote). He claimed in a scrum that it was his communication director’s fault, but I know better. He was Worth Repeating: taking a page from Mr. Harper, pulled the steam whistle and peaced out. Maybe we should take a page from Harper’s and Ignatieff’s handbook. Welcome to the dark side Maybe I’ll take a break from publishing for a while. It’ll be fun. I’ll go to Michelle Gordon agreed upon. The bottom (the Motown on Wednesday nights. The Phoenix person to be giving up control) is Better yet, why doesn’t the Student Representative Assembly, likely to have a “safe word” they McMaster Association of Part-Time Students (MAPS) and the MSU’s Board of Directors all take a break. What could be different? Sure, just KELOWNA, B.C. (CUP) - There can say to halt activities at any time. like Parliament, some of them are trying really hard, but for the most part, are many alternative lifestyles that Many people frown uncomfortrange from mild to wild in our ably at the idea of BDSM lifestyles they’ve acted like conservative back benchers who are on holiday. I have a hard time following MAPS, simply because they don’t post any everyday lives. But are any of them and insist that it just an excuse to minutes of their meetings online. According to their website, they haven’t as overlooked as BDSM? This is a abuse others with no penalties. For multilevel lifestyle that encompass- the most part, the BDSM commundone a thing (worth posting to their constituents) since August of 2008. I can’t as much go into a Board of Directors Executive Board meeting es all that a person is – whether ity as a whole frowns strongly on without it being moved into “closed session” – apparently everything they they are a bedroom kinkster or a the idea of non-consensual cruelty. The community wants to see no talk about is an HR issue or is not ready yet. No updates on working full-blown pervert. projects, no updates on how the MSU is working for you, just blank The actual term BDSM is a layered one harmed emotionally or physacronym. The B and D stand for ically. The main point of the BDSM agendas and untimely minutes. Finally, the SRA has chosen to waste a meeting in an attempt to recall bondage and discipline, while D and lifestyle is for everyone to have a their House Leader, Casey Park. Why? He wasn’t making sure they were S stand for dominance and submis- comfortable niche while still being working. And the result? A pathetic tongue lashing that wouldn’t allow him sion. A commonly related acronym, an indulgent individual. Here is a S&M, stands for sadism and maso- fitting quote from an anonymous to be fired until after he returns from his presidential run. friend that explains this well: MAPS and MSU lack a shred of accountability, accessibility and chism. Many people attach a bad stigma “Have you ever felt the joy and transparency. It is truly a closed-door mentality that will not release how to the BDSM world and especially affection of resting your head on they are spending their money, and what they are working on for students. to the term S&M. This is due to the a man’s thigh with him stroking They are simply on vacation, on your dime, so why not prorogue the MSU and MAPS? Harper still collects a paycheque, so can the MSU and MAPS, fact that a sadist does enjoy watch- your hair? Or the peace and conbut you wouldn’t have to put a show on to students that you’re working. ing their partner suffer whether it tentment or having the man sleep is through sensation or pain. Any soundly with you in his arms? Or Tell them straight up. Look them in the eye when you’re fucking them. And just like federal politics, there are still many people working. reasonable sadist knows, however, the excitement and thrill when he Those people are in the SRA, and there are a good number working very that this must be done consensual- traps you between himself and a hard, and they shouldn’t go unnoticed. Unfortunately, you need two thirds ly. Hence, the BDSM catchphrase of wall and looks at you with lust in his eyes? Or perhaps the safety and of an SRA working hard – and together – to have a functional government. “safe, sane and consensual.” Within the BDSM community there assurance of when he holds you Something with a spine. Something that would stand up to a dysfunctional are a wide variety of subcultures. tightly in an embrace? It is these system and change it. Hooo-rah. Every person who chooses to live feelings that make me glad that I am Why would they do that when they can just run for MSU President in this lifestyle lives by a different a slave.” and change it next year? And that’s exactly what happens every year. That’s why you’ll see dynamic. There are groups who BDSM is often a misunderstood House Leader Casey Park and SRA Arts & Science Mary Koziol run on choose to live as a “family” with subculture, but with awareness we a campaign that they’re going to change the MSU. Bring it onto students’ a central head and counterparts; can beat unwarranted stigmas and radar and make it transparent. They know the system. They have the some just like to throw some kink educate the world. Know that the experience. But they did jack shit when they had the chance. And they’ve into their lives or into their bed- BDSM community practices the room scene. Others live by a 100 art of “safe, sane and consensual” stopped working for the second semester. They’re on vacation. So MAPS, MSU and SRA – just say it. Just say you don’t give a shit about per cent slave and master dynamic. play. Most of us don’t bite — unless Often before a scene or play ses- asked to, of course. students, their money, and that you’re here to hang out. sion is set up, limits and rules are Take a page out of Harper’s book; prorogue. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION C/O TERRY SHAN
Volunteer Want to get involved? Come attend one of our sectional meetings in the basement of the student center, room b110 News: Wednesdays @ 12:30 pm InsideOut: Mondays @ 1:00 pm Sports: Thursdays @ 2:30 pm Andy: Mondays @ 1:30 pm Photo: Fridays @ 3:30 pm Opinions: Tuesdays @ 11:30 am (all opinions can be mailed to opinions@thesil.ca, keep them 500-700 words)
Corrections
The Silhouette makes every effort to be accurate. If you discover a mistake, please notify us via e-mail at thesil@thesil.ca with the subject “corrections.” We will include the correction in the following issue of the Silhouette.
To some sucka buyin’ my Olympics ticket. Who pays 1200 bucks for a ticket? To anything?
To getting snubbed by Iggy. Why wouldn’t he sign my chest?
To Edmonton.
To going on a trip back to where you’re from.
To Dutch rudders and dutch ovens.
To salt fucking up my shoes.
Dutch Boy cleaning solution. I feel so dirty.
To shoes fucking up my salt.
To D.K.’s mom. Beef on a bun for 17 people? You’re the best mum ever.
4 a.m. wake-up calls. When the fuck did we start having 4 a.m.’s?
To dirty Freddy Mercury moustaches
To dirty Freddy Mercury moustaches. From girlfriends.
To proroguing my lecture. Michaelle Jean says it’s okay.
to J.G.’s passport photo. No-fly list here we come.
Maple-flavoured whiskey.
to satisfaction on other people’s faces.
THE SILHOUETTE • A7
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
OPINIONS
?
What was the defining moment of the 2000’s?
Feedback
“The 2006 Olympics when Canada didn’t win anything.” Andrew Anzenberger
“The fall of the Twin Towers.” Elyse Frisina
“I graduated high school and started university.”
? Compiled by Peter Goffin and Terry Shan
Kim Knox
production office: extension 27117
opinions@thesil.ca
The 2000’s were nothing new The next decade will be our generation’s to define
Peter Goffin
OPINIONS EDITOR
I get the feeling they have a different definition of the last decade than I do. I want to say that the 2000’s were a drag. But not the drag some people are saying it was. Because, man, it was kind of hard but more than anything it was disappointing. It was the ultimate “Me” decade, the self-servingest, hands-over-the-ears, “I’m not listening” decade. Here’s why: it was in the last ten years that the developed world as a whole became consciously aware that there were consequences to our actions. It was a ten-year hangover after a fifty-year party. Only we kept drinking the champagne. From A.D. 2000 to A.D. 2009 we saw definitive proof of climate change, but kept polluting, learned that stem cells could cure disease, and banned them, learned that intervention in other countries breeds contempt, and then kept intervening. We learned that our ivory tower of Western development was precarious and vulnerable and fallible but kept on consuming and wasting and discriminating and living the way we always have. So the 2000’s were not the decade in which the world changed forever, as some may say. Nor was it an educational time. The 2000’s weren’t any different an era than were the 90’s or 80’s or any other set of ten. They didn’t bring the death of naivety or the end of innocence, it wasn’t the decade in which our lives were irrevocably altered. It was the decade when things stayed, inexplicably, the same. Any major event, any tragedies that were supposed to have shaped us, didn’t. We may have new wars, new
As one decade passes into another, it’s up to us to make up for past mistakes. fears, new cultural landmarks but our general practices and the motivations for them are still all the same as they always were. We didn’t learn a thing. Were the 2000’s a disaster? Not really, no. At least not in the sense that they were prevailingly bad. Some bad things happened, but they didn’t really affect us all that much. They should have. We should have changed greatly because of them. But we didn’t. We stuck. And the world kept turning, and the time kept passing and people kept living, all in the same way they always have. So the 2000’s were static, un-progressive, a drag, but nothing worse. But now we have another ten years of blank canvas, clean white snow, unmuddied waters, the 2010’s. And they are ours to do with what we wish. And we
SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO
Here’s the rub, though: we had no power for most of the 2000’s. We, us, you and I. We were just babes, standers-by, voyeurs, invalids. But we’ve just recently become socially and politically virile. We may have new We’re in the game. We have the power. The next ten wars, new fears, years belong to us. They will new cultural be ours to take and shape landmarks, but our and mold and manipulate and guide. It’s us. It’s you. If the general practices 2010’s are going to be any are still all the same different than the 2000’s, if lessons learned through the as they always downfalls of the recent past were. We didn’t are going are to be put to use, it will have to be us who learn a thing.” do it. Because we’re smart enough to know the world we were in the 2000’s, which could be in better shape and is to say beset by a handful we’re smart enough to know of crises but still apathetic what our parents were doing and unmoved. No, man, we wrong and smart enough to should hope for the world to learn from their mistakes. capitalize on what it learned We’re smart enough to make over the course of the last it all better. Go! ten years. shouldn’t wish for the world to return to what it was. We shouldn’t want to be the way we were in 1999. The way we were then made us into what
Find success via collective action
Student body should be interested in elections Chris Erl OPINION
“The launch of the molecular accelerator.” Tiffany Mintah
“September 11.” Salman Saeed
Sabrina Cino will not be running for MSU President. Well, I’m not exactly sure, but from our conversation on the second floor of Mills, her enthusiasm over the suggestion was equivalent to that of a child informed of an impending visit to the dentist. It went something like this: “So the presidential elections are coming up,” I say, after noting the significant lag in conversation and desire to shift the focus onto something I’m more inclined to know about (Sorry, Sabrina, Modern Canadian Literature isn’t my area of expertise). “Oh cool,” she says, nodding and smiling as she does whenever I mention something of a political nature. “Um, for what?” is the follow-up. “The MSU! You should run,” I say, secretly hoping she’ll be flattered at the suggestion and give it a try. “Yeah…for sure,” she
CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SILHOUETTE STAFF
Not everyone concerns themselves with school elections. says, though I picked up on the lack of enthusiasm. “What if I said I had already filled out your papers?”
I reply, beating the proverbial dead horse with the equally facetious stick. “Great…I’ll be at the
Tuesday meeting or whatever,” she mutters, sliding back into Three Day Road. Sabrina isn’t a candidate, but she most certainly is a voter. Just as she did last year, she will read about the candidates, listen to the speeches and make an informed decision on who she wants as the next MSU President. There is a reason it is called “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. Despite this rather bold claim, we have all seen the dismal numbers showing that merely 2,496 MSU members voted in the Presidential elections last year. If we use the rough estimate of an undergrad population of 20,000, that’s less than 12.5 per cent of the population. It may be my Political Science background, but a government that was chosen by such a small fraction of the population it is supposed to represent doesn’t seem like it has much legitimacy to me. In fact, it doesn’t even seem • PLEASE SEE SIGN, A11
A8 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
Travel by plane is as safe as it ever was A single incident does not necesitate a full blown panic. Relax. Peter Goffin
OPINIONS EDITOR
So someone tried to blow up a plane. Big deal. Yeah, it would have been bad if the guy had gotten it right. But he didn’t. His bomb fizzled. Right there in his underpants. And it was one guy. How many years ago was the attempted shoe bomber? Nine? That was the last big airborne security risk. That’s not a war; it’s not even a real danger. And it certainly isn’t anything new. Dig: people have been hijacking planes for as long as there have been planes. I’m sure Wilbur and Orville would have had hijacking problems if they had been able to stay in the air longer than 13 seconds. People used to hijack planes to Cuba, back when going to Cuba was a politically relevant act. People blew up planes in the 1960’s for no reason other than psychopathy. And the Air India bombings, not so long ago, were acts of terrorism completely unaffiliated with Al-Qaeda or any currently existing risk. The point is that all the talk
about impending doom is a bit of an overreaction over this one incident. The September 11 attacks were a cause for alarm. If you lived in or were traveling to a major city in the United States. But they were large-scale, complex, well-orchestrated acts of global terrorism. A guy left sitting in a burned-out pair of jockey shorts is not. And, as harsh as it may be, the truth is that every five or ten years or so someone is going to try to take out a plane. And it may sound callous and it may sound short sighted, but we can’t go flying into a panic every time someone does. Planes are lucrative and easy targets. Alright, that’s a little sick. But it’s true. One attempted bombing every ten years is an average. Air travel is no more dangerous than it ever was. We just never obsessed about it this much. I think we sort of accepted terrorism as a (very) minor risk of air travel. Now we’re in phobia country. Do the security checks, X-ray the bags, listen for ticking groins and watch for sparks shooting out
Lawlerbone by Zach Ellis and Peter Hindrichs
of open fly zippers. But don’t cancel your trips or start taking trains, or sweat your upcoming flight to Winnipeg. Don’t say that the skies are unsafe, don’t say that global ter-
rorism has resurged, don’t call for strip-searches or invasive background checks of all Muslim travelers. That’s all crap. Pack your passport, check your
bags, know where your emergency exits are, then take a Gravol and relax.You’ll be fine. Oh, and pack an extra pair of underwear. Just in case.
SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO
We are in capable enough hands when we fly. Disaster is not imminent.
Volunteer for the Silhouette. Do it for Ma. thesil@thesil.ca
THE SILHOUETTE • A9
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
Today’s comedy is all bark, no bite
Humour can be meaningful and powerful if it is used properly Peter Goffin OPINIONS EDITOR
Television became a part of my life again when I got home for Christmas, and it was supposed to make me feel better. But instead of holiday classics like Total Recall and Rush Hour, what I got was a marathon of The Jeff Dunham Show, a now-blissfully-defunct vehicle for Jeff Dunham (surprise!), America’s favourite ventriloquist, of all things. The show has the perfect premise, I imagine the network suits say, because Dunham is the world’s first edgy ventriloquist. You can tell because he wears jeans and a blazer and is unshaven. And he talks about current events. But here’s my problem with Dunham and, more specifically, Dunham’s success: He’s a hack. Subjectively, he isn’t funny. I know that’s just my tastes at work but really; his act is puppets. Objectively though, he’s a fraud. He comes by his label and image falsely. He isn’t edgy at all. Not even for a ventriloquist. He’s a warm blanket of mediocrity for a demographic that is cold form thought and “coarse humour”. There’s a bit he does with a skeleton dummy called Achmed the Dead Terrorist, who wears a turban and a beard. He’s an ex-suicide bomber. And the audience loves this thing. He has catch phrases, and the bit survives on plays on the word boom and double entendres about Osama bin Laden and afterlife virgins and basically what you would expect from a ventriloquism act. And it’s not particularly funny. And it’s probably offensive to Muslims. But, worst of all, it’s empty.And I don’t understand why anyone would waste an opportunity like that. Because Dunham obviously goes as far as to raise the topics of terrorism and war, obviously goes out on the limb of dressing a dummy up like a suicide bomber, but then pisses it all away on weak cornball jokes about bombs. He gets right up to the precipice of imbuing his act with
Venriloquist Jeff Dunham is at the forefront of the new wave of weak and meaningless comedy. names and current events, pre- Because the move toward bland, brains, and then stops. It’s because he’s conservative. tending to be relevant. Whatever conservative, easy to follow, hardly His humour is conservative. Politic- his political views, whatever mes- offensive humour has taken North ally, I don’t know what his genes are, sage he wanted to send, he could at America by storm. People like conbut it’s not political conservatism least have the balls to send it. Even servative humour. Conservative we’re talking about. From a stand- if he and his dummies came out and humour plays. Again, not politically point of actually conservative per se. saying something, Humour now is gentle, it’s comfort food for the But conservative in being relevant, he’s that it isn’t criticmiddle road of the population, a highly conservaal, doesn’t chaltive animal. Belenge anything or who don’t want to be enlightened, cause he isn’t going anyone, isn’t about who don’t want to be challenged.” to say anything to change anyone’s that goes beyond mind about anywhat his audience thing, isn’t about to already consciously knows. There is made hideously ignorant and gener- make anyone do a double take or a war on, there are terrorists out alizing statements about terrorism think too hard. It doesn’t test any there, many terrorists are religious and religion and war, at least they boundaries, it doesn’t have a voice extremists, some of them blow would be saying something. At least or a conscience. things up. Rimshot! Laugh track! the bit would have a soul. It’s a uniquely American pheAnd I pick on Jeff Dunham, ven- nomenon. The Office, for example, That’s all folks. No message, no belief or ideology behind the words, triloquist extraordinaire, but he’s in its British incarnation, was the just cheap jokes dropping familiar just a symptom of a greater disease. bleakest, most disquieting sitcom
ever to grace the small screen. NBC has managed to make it a cutesy “this is your life, only cuddlier” 30minute exercise in banality. You can see Steve Carrell’s boss-from-hell character rapidly becoming more sympathetic as the show veers away from its dark roots. Even his hairline was made more flattering than in the early episodes. This year the producers of that show came up with Parks and Rec, the first comedy without any jokes in it. And of course, the current champion of prime time, Two and a Half Men, which, puts on a tough and risqué face, like Dunham, because it’s peppered with sex jokes, but ends up just being another slobby lout and prim pencil-neck odd couple pairing. This is the state of humour today. Comedy used to be censored for the words it used, the ideas it disseminated. Now it’s censored for its complexity and originality. And censorship comes in the form of public approval and disapproval. Sure, it’s just comedy, it’s just humour, it’s just a bit of fun. But humour can provoke, it can challenge, it has muscle. It has an incredible potential. We just don’t use it anymore. Humour can move mountains, intellectually, socially. Comedy has, for years been used as a weapon, as a rallying cry, by Lenny Bruce, by Mort Sahl, by the Smothers Brothers, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Bill Mahr, Jon Stewart. But that’s all gone. Publicly consumed humour, popular humour has gone impotent and voiceless. It’s a ventriloquist dummy without a hand in it to make it move. Humour now is gentle, it’s comfort food for the middle road of the population, who don’t want to be offended but easily are, who don’t want to be enlightened, who don’t want to be challenged, who don’t want to feel uncomfortable or want to put in any effort when they watch TV. And that offends me more than anything at all.
Do we really have to go to grad school? Bachelor degrees are becoming an insufficient qualification Cassandra Jeffery SILHOUETTE STAFF
Throughout much of the past, in order to become an adequate member of the working world, one had only to obtain a high school diploma. Developing the skills to work in the trades required little to no education on the works of Plato and other philosophical teachings. If by chance you did require post-secondary education, colleges and universities taught concepts and ideologies which became applicable in the working world. Beyond university we have the opportunity to further our education with Graduate school, a Masters, and a PhD. It is essential for students in certain fields, such as medicine to attend graduate school and obtain a PhD. But why has it become a priority today for students pursuing other fields of education to also become graduate students after four years of an undergrad degree? Most students apply to graduate school as a way to get ahead in the workforce. Having a Masters or a PhD under your belt looks great on a resumé even if the qualifications for
a particular job do not require one. I’m working towards is a career in I understand the benefits of journalism. Before applying to uniattending graduate school: a more versity I looked into college and specific level of research and focus found multiple schools that offered is applied to an area of study and a journalism courses, but I believed level of communireceiving a university cation and knowdegree would put me It seems that ledge is broadahead of other job ened. everyone comes applicants. However, the And I do not to the assumption doubt benefit that is that this most important that after university is true, but when to having a higher you must apply to spending thousands level of education of dollars on graduis that it boosts some sort of gradu- ate school to once ate program and again get ahead, it your chances of getting a job becomes more of a receive an even over the average financial matter than u n d e r g r a d u a t e higher education.” simply trying to furstudent. ther your education. It seems that It is true, in most everyone immediately comes to the circumstances, that if you have obassumption that after university you tained a PhD you are entitled to must apply to some sort of gradu- higher pay, but when you’ve had to ate program and receive an even take out numerous loans to pay for higher education. the education which led to the PhD, I am only in my first year of is it really worth the extra years of university and already have debat- schooling? ed the idea of working towards a For some people receiving Masters and eventually maybe even higher education is necessary, in a PhD. However, I do not want to which case hopefully the yearly become a doctor and although I’ve salary will pay off the loans in no debated the idea of teaching, what time at all.
And for others, who have the money to attend graduate school, why not further your education? However, for others it’s a matter of getting into the working world. I’m excited to start a career in a field that I love, and although the idea of learning really appeals to
me, I do not want to spend eight more years in school and countless sums of money I don’t have. On the other hand, maybe I will end up applying to graduate school. Standards have changed and everyone seems to be doing it now, so I guess that means I have to as well.
A10 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
I’m going to be the Governor-General! I don’t like real work and I can’t think for myself. I’m a shoo-in. silly old things. Yes, you’re right, I’ve never been very interested in, or knowledgeable about politics. But Mommy, Daddy, when I grow up, I that shouldn’t get in my way. The girl who has the job now want to be the Governor-General of Canada. Yes, I know it’s a lofty is some pretty-bird television and goal. Yes, I know I’ll have to be very radio personality who, of all things, lucky to get it. But if I did get the introduced documentaries for the CBC. job, I think I would Well, I suppose be great at it. And it I’ve never been there would be would be such fun! For 11 months very interested in, downsides to the Like the one and 29 days I would or knowledgeable job. day every year that sit on a throne in Ottawa eating bon- about politics. But I might actually have bons and pleasuring that shouldn’t stop to do something. Like if the Prime myself (figuratively, I assume, but who me. The girl who Minister asked me knows?), stopping has the job now is to prorogue Parliaevery so often to cut some pretty-bird TV ment, say. Fortunately, I could just a ribbon or inspect a personality.” follow the lead of troop of Boy Scouts our current Govor something. ernor-General and I would have to dress up for those occasions and just do whatever the PM asks, even walk in a straight line, which would if it is grossly undemocratic. Well I’ll tell you what I mean. be strenuous, but I think I could be good at pretending to understand And thank you for asking. Prowhatever it is I would be honouring. roguing Parliament is like calling a Qualifications? Oh no, no, no, no timeout. It stops everything and lets I don’t have to worry about those the Prime Minister, and his party, rePeter Goffin
OPINIONS EDITOR
group. It’s supposed to be used only when things are most dire, in case of emergency and as rarely as possible. Kind of like in hockey. But Stephen Harper is calling prorogues like this is basketball, like we have a whole bunch of timeouts and we can call them even if we don’t really need them. He already got the GovernorGeneral to call a prorogue last winter, when his minority government was in danger of falling and now he’s orchestrated another one, just because he’s starting to get pressured about dopey little things like not doing anything about climate change, and how much he may have known about prisoners of war being tortured. Peanuts, really. And here’s the best part of this job, Mommy and Daddy: there’s bound to be an opening soon. Because now that Michaëlle Jean has prorogued Parliament for the second time in a year, she is clearly the most useless “are you in bed with the Conservatives or just ignorant?” dead weight in the entire country and keeping her on as Governor-General would be the crook-
I must be at least as useful as Michaëlle Jean. edest staffing job the government’s ever done. Of course, it should also show that the position of Governor-Gen-
SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO
eral is just a bunch of ceremonial horseshit, but I doubt anything will come of it. Conservatives usually like stuff like that.
THE SILHOUETTE • A11
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
Web networking isn’t real life Sign the social Try talking face-to-face. You might like it. contract. Vote. Cassandra Jeffery SILHOUETTE STAFF
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, I-Chat, and the daily blogs detailing the items consumed over breakfast (assuming your life is that important), have become the main networks on which our technological based world depends. These social networks have become a great substitution for class readings and foster our skills of procrastination. We’ve become a generation transfixed by wall-posts and tweets; a generation that seems to believe there is a momentous need to relay every aspect, in full detail of course, of the happenings of daily life. Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved reading your list of “100 things to do before I die,” and the tweet about taking your cat to the vet was simply inspirational. I’m now thinking of buying a cat. Twitter: “I’m considering buying a cat, good or bad idea? Mmmm, such big decisions, will discuss over non-fat, soy latte with Cathy.” However there is a benefit to pointless wall-posts, they double as a weather report. No need for the news, we have Facebook. The first snow fall of the season encouraged, I’m sure, half the population of Mac to excitedly comment “SNOW!:)” Thank you for the update, dedicated Facebookers. I suppose the hype on global warming has lead me to believe it no longer snows in Canada. Facebook can even allow us to make relationships and friendships “official” because you’re obviously not dating someone until you’ve accepted their relationship request. It seems as though the idea of “social networking” through groups such as Facebook and Twitter puts our generation at a disadvantage. For some people, their entire life is available at the click of a button. Employers, parents, and friends acquire the information needed through Facebook to make a general assumption on a person’s lifestyle or personality before physically meeting them. What fun is it to meet someone when you already know
CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SILHOUETTE STAFF
People are getting a little carried away with their on-line habits. everything about them? Thanks to Facebook, you can skip telling a new friend that your interests include reading, biking, and cliff diving because your profile already details the book you read last month. Apparently Oprah Winfrey gave it five stars. Despite all of this, though, I must admit that I too am complicit in the Facebook/MySpace generation. I tend not to expose all aspects of my life however I do find myself, at times when I should be writing my ten-page English essay, instead creeping pictures of last night’s crazy party. I do not feel overly guilty in my confession as an occasional Facebooker as my intentions usually consist of responding to invitations or wall posts, which should only consume 15 minutes of my time. But somehow, 15 minutes turn into 45. It’s then that I realize I
too have become a victim to Facebook. Most of you reading this article can probably relate to my dilemma. Perhaps a comment caught your eye and you chose to investigate it, or a picture of your boyfriend or girlfriend has been tagged and you innocently want to see how their night went. My favourite is the parental excuse. Countless times parents lurk your Facebook, insisting it is “only to check up on you dear.” It’s an invasion of privacy, but it seems to be what our generation longs for. We post our pictures and write our blogs, but in reality the contents of a Facebook page are not what make an individual interesting. However, secretly we do enjoy the “Nice hair!” comments we receive on our mirror-reflection self-portraits.
Be an okay guy.
Write for Opinions. opinions@thesil.ca
Section meetings every Tuesday at 11:30 in MUSC B110
• CONT’D FROM A7 like a government to me. The MSU is our voice in the community and our front for collective action on issues concerning our place in this society. If most of us refuse to even select those who will be speaking for us, what does that say about who we are and where we stand as a group? About 218 years ago, the Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau developed an ingenious way of describing our society. The gist of his idea is that humanity, to accomplish more and move forward from a primitive state into rational, thinking, progressive beings, enters into a “Social Contract” with others. We all forfeit natural liberties and impose laws on one another so that we can all achieve what we could not as individuals. Within societies, we are meant to put aside our individualism and indulge in a “general will” that will decide what is best for people living in a society and what will help us progress. It may be a sign of the times or just a symptom of overwork, but on McMaster’s campus today, very few of us respect Rousseau’s ideas. Our Social Contract has given way
to apathy, antagonism and antipathy. Individualism runs free, as many in our midst have latched to the myth that, alone, we can accomplish more since the group only holds us back. But the truth is that collective action doesn’t hold us back. Together, we press forward valiantly, and though we move slowly, we go farther than any one person can alone. Student government will only work if we participate in it, and it will only be able to make the change we want to see if we push it to. Not voting will not change the system, nor will it make the “self-serving” politicians go away. If you want to see the system changed, file your papers and run on a reformist ticket. Don’t have the time or the will to do so? Get informed and select a candidate who best represents your views. Can’t find one? There’s an “Abstain” box for a reason. During this Presidential campaign, don’t fall for the false promises of individualism. Engage in our Social Contract so that we may move forward as a collective group. Run, educate yourself, and most importantly, vote. Hopefully, Sabrina and I will see you at the polling booth.
The MSU needs to be more communicative Rohan Nair OPINION
Most McMaster student politicians run campaigns promising increased communication with the student body.The MSU’s Board of Directors promised to keep the dissemination of information as a top priority within the MSU. The sad truth: none of this ever happens. Public Relations spins are dominating the MSU’s communication strategy and the students do not hear the important information. For example, every year the MSU hires an auditing firm to publish a report on the MSU’s finances, which is usually delivered to the Vice-President Finance by August. This year, the MSU chose to make the audit public only in the Sil’s last issue of first semester, in order to control the inevitable backlash that accompanies the report of a $300,000 fiscal loss. The audit isn’t a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. It is a report of what has already occurred. The problem is that MSU politicians are covering up information about current issues. For example, the VP Education, Chris Martin, has not informed anyone about OUSA’s (Ontario Undergrad Student Alliance) rise of membership fees by $0.50 a head, which increases the amount paid out by the MSU by $10, 000. OUSA is a provincial lobbying
organization comprised of seven Ontario student unions. OUSA uses a research-based model of lobbying, and tend to get a lot of face time with MPPs and the Ontario government. In the past three years we have seen a retraction of the Textbook and Technology Grant to non-OSAP students, a lack of OSAP funding increases in light of post-secondary enrollment increases and the government announcing increases in tuition. OUSA is supposed to be our voice in these matters, but they cannot show anything more than tangential evidence of their involvement. The MSU is still part of OUSA because it benefits those in charge. It furthers their political careers, while providing them with many opportunities to experience the nightlife of various cities hosting OUSA meetings. This is the issue. We pay for things that offer the average student nothing, and our representatives don’t tell us about increases in the costs.The MSU is full of random unbeneficial costs, which do not help the majority of us. Why is it that nobody says anything about what goes on? Simple: it benefits those in the SRA to misinform students so that their jobs are made by unhindered politics. This is your Student Union and this is their idea of communication.
A12 • THE SILHOUETTE
SpeculatoR The Hamilton
WEATHER
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009
HIGH:
What is indecent exposure, existentially speaking?
LOW:
Wait, maybe that was a low. How low is low? And how low is low compared to high?
Thursday, January 14, 2009 F I missed you. Did you miss me? Or it?
Editors offend one person We awe vewwy, vewwy sowwy.
Editor’s Note: This is a semi-sincere apology. We done bad. But you didn’t have to yell at us. Shoot. Nobody likes us. You’re not our real mom, you can’t tell us what to do. We’re going to live with Dad in Idaho.
It has come to the attention of us, Misters Buck Horowitz and Duck Hemsworth, that an item printed in the most recent issue of the Hamilton Speculator, way back in November of 2009, was highly offensive to at least one of our readers. We know this because this one particular offended reader telephoned us over the Christmas break and left a voicemail detailing what it was exactly that she did not like (honest to Christ, this is not a joke. A lady really did leave a perturbed message on our answering machine). It seems that, in the course of producing our last issue – which was by all accounts our magnum opus, a really beautiful piece of work – we used the term “dick joke”. In fact, we printed it conspicuously in rather large font on the back cover of the section. First of all, Misters Horowitz and Hemsworth would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the diligent message-leaving reader. It is always nice to hear from a fan. Especially one with such an alluringly stern voice. Secondly, however, we would like to extend our deepest regrets that someone was offended by our usually respectful and reverent publication. It was the assertion of that fine-voiced reader that the term “dick joke” does not belong at an “institution of higher learning.” And we couldn’t agree more. We understand that the term “dick joke” is crude and boorish. We also understand that the term “Dick Joke” has no place in a newspaper of any kind. “Dick Joke” is not something that you, the readers, students, should have to read or be subjected to. Because “DICK JOKE” is a foul phrase. “DICK JOKE” is ugly. “DICK JOKE” is unkind. “DICK JOKE” is inappropriate. “DICK JOKE” should never be transcribed on paper again. DICK JOKE! We would also, however, like to express our disappointment over this reader’s complaint. For one thing, there was a four inch by four inch picture of a naked ass on the front cover of the section, which is apparently unworthy of criticism. The content of that particular issue of the Speculator included an orgy of married people described in a metaphor about a pig being roasted on a spit, a weather report involving a sado-masochistic tryst with a car mechanic, and a photo-essay about a man who has athletic sexual intercourse with a desk lamp. A lot of people worked very hard to disgust readers with that filth, and all that bothered anyone was a plainJane old Dick Joke. Furthermore, if we had known people were paying attention, we could have been so much more offensive. There was not a single mention of necrophilia, or sodomy, or incest, or regicide. There was no blasphemy of any kind. Things can get much worse than a Dick Joke. Thirdly, there is the Dick Joke itself. It was a picture of a kosher pickle pointed towards a picture of a pink-lined cave. Misters Horowitz and Hemsworth would like to humbly point out that it was as much a vagina joke as a dick joke. If anything we should be apologizing for not including the female sex in our description. Shame on you for not realizing our mistake. Maybe you are a little bit of a sexist. Lastly, and we cannot stress this enough, while we did use the term “dick joke” to describe the image depicted on the page, sometimes a pickle is just a pickle. And if your penis looks anything at all like a pickle, you should seek medical attention immediately. It should not be green, mottled with bumps, or oddly curved (sorry Bill Clinton). And by no means should it smell like brine. Lots of love, Bucky and Ducky
“What Did You Learn This Week, Timmy?”
“I learned
that in certain nomadic societies my kind of bullshit would be tolerated.” Disclaimer: Stories printed in The Hamilton Speculator are fact. Any resemblance to persons real or dead is likely intentional and done out of spite. Opinions expressed are those of The Speculator and if you disagree with them you are wrong. And stupid. Possibly ugly as well.
THE SILHOUETTE • B1
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
INSIDEOUT
After rough weekend in Thunder Bay, Mac takes down Brock at home, B7 insideout@thesil.ca
production office: extension 27117
San Francisco on a whim experiencing the city without a guidebook
PHYLLIS TSANG
ASSISTANT INSIDEOUT EDITOR
An airline gave me a little surprise this Christmas. It sent me an email to notify me that my Air Miles were expiring soon. I had enough to fly to anywhere in North America and I chose San Francisco. When December came, I was swamped with papers and exams. Prior to stepping onto the plane, the two things I did to prepare for the trip were booking the first week in a hostel and packing my bags. San Francisco was formerly known
as Yerba Buena, meaning “good herb.” The good herb refers to a minty plant that is native to the bay area that grew most notably on Yerba Buena Island. The town of Yerba Buena changed its name to further identify itself with the San Francisco Bay in 1846, after the American seized control of the area in the American-Mexican war. When I arrived at the hostel, the reception handed me the key to my dorm room and a map with advertisements on all four sides of the paper. The most notable point on the map of San Francisco is Market Street, the main artery which penetrates San Francisco diagonally, separating two gridding systems and creat-
How-to-do-it
Dispose of a dead JEFF GREEN
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
You’re probably reading this for one of two reasons: someone had a terrible “accident” and you don’t know what to do next (planning has never been your thing), or you’re working for the RCMP and I’m on a watch list. In both cases, you’ve got a dead body and you need to get rid of it. Not that this has ever happened to me, and if anyone tells you different, tell them to go suck on a lemon. Cement shoes are so 1930s, and the East River is too far of a walk. You do, however, have a large plot of government owned land on McMaster’s back door, Cootes Paradise. The lake is too shallow to dump a body into, and there isn’t
ing distinctive intersections. However, what this map doesn’t show is the peninsula’s dramatic topography. I learned my lesson the hard way the next morning. As I looked up the slope vanished into the sky. According to the city Bureau of Engineering, five of the steepest hills have a slope larger than 25 per cent gradient and one of them even reaches 31.5 per cent—more • PLEASE SEE MORE, A3
body
much ground coverage to hide anything with much success. You need that body to disappear, and your best way is to let it naturally decompose. You’re going to want to find a tree with a weak root structure, something half dead that you could push over. Dig out a hole to dispose of your body into, a cocoon of sorts, and push the tree back upright. This is the best place for a body to decompose, and the least likely place that a passerby will look. Who looks under a tree? A science degree gone wrong. Thank you McMaster.
AVA DIDEBAN / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
JaclynGugelyk Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, 3rd year
Togue: $8 H&M Backpack: $30 West49
Scarf: gift Coat: $100 Suzy Shier
How would you describe your personal style: Feminine, Artistic What do you look for in a significant other? Creativity Favourite quote: I saved Latin. What did you ever do?
AVA DIDEBAN / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Jeans: $40 F21 Boots: $60 Limeridge Mall
ThreadCount
WILL VAN ENGEN / PHOTO EDITOR AND TYLER HAYWARD / THE SILHOUETTE
B2 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
THE SILHOUETTE • B3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
More than the Golden Gate Bridge
Unexpected discovery of San Francisco through places and people
PHYLLIS TSANG / ASSISSTANT INSIDEOUT EDITOR
A beautiful December sunset at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco. • CONT’D FROM B1 than triple the safety accessibility standard of 10 per cent gradient. This is the result of extending the original grid in city centre to the hillside without regards to peninsula’s dramatic topography. That was done in 1847 and the practice was carried forward to subsequent planning of the city. San Francisco has over 100 neighbourhoods. The two earliest among them are the Presidio and the Mission. The Presidio was the home of the native Ohlone people until the Spanish arrived in 1776, according to the National Park Service, establishing their northernmost outpost of their empire in western North America. The U.S. Army took control of it in 1846, after falling under Mexican rule for 24 years. The Presidio continued to be an eminent military post of the U.S army until
it became a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In October 2009, the Walt Disney Family Museum opened in the Presidio. The museum is not the happiest place on earth, but a time capsule of Walt Disney’s life. It took over one of the military housing units—humble in appearance, but magical inside. The exhibition begins with the stories of his ancestries, his childhood, and his early days as an illustrator, then moves onto capturing his passion, his dreams, and the risks he was not afraid to take to bring dreams to life. The gallery ended on a sad note. A collection of reactions to the death of Walt Disney on December 15, 1966 shows Mickey and his friends saying farewell to their creator in sadness and tears. The other oldest settlement in San Francisco is the original site of the Mission.
There are 21 missionary establishments along the coast of California. Originated in San Diego, the intent of the Franciscans missionaries is to share their faith among the unreached and to civilize the Indians. Parallel to the “sacred expedition” is the Spanish military decision to establish a chain of forts along the coast to defend the lands against colonization by the Russians and incursions by the British and French. On an expedition to discover Alta California (Upper California), Lieutenant Jose Joaquin Moraga led a group to march north, arriving in the Mission area in 1776. The site was chosen because beside a stream, which Father Pedro Font considered sufficient to operate a mill. The mission is popularly known as Mission Dolores (sorrow in Spanish) because it was found on a Good Friday, a day of Sorrow. Record shows that Indians often seek shelter in this white adobe building completed in 1791. Outside of Mission Dolores is the vibrant Mission neighbourhood. Despite gentrification, “where wealthy people are steadily buying the houses out from under the people who have lived here for years,” said Murphy-Hoffman who observes the changes in his neighbourhood, “the culture still exists in the Nortenos (a coalition of Latino gangs in Northern California) and the old Mexican bakeries, and everything and everyone is always moving.” Adding to the list is the mural found on many of its building and alleys, initiated by the Chicano Art Mural Movement of the 1970s. On a bright Sunny day, I biked to the Golden Gate Bridge. It is the world’s largest suspension bridge and its size will make you gasp. However, when I found out that the Bay Bridge on the east shore connecting San Francisco and Oakland is the one bridge being used by
local commuters, carrying 270,000 vehicles per day according to California Department of Transportation, my sympathy goes to the much overlooked Bay Bridge. Though short on the world’s largest list, the Bay Bridge spans over 2.8 km, consisting of two spans, the East and West span. The West Span consists of two suspension bridges along with three shorter truss spans while the East span features a double-tower cantilever span, five medium-span truss bridges, and a 14-section truss causeway. “Commuter families like mine double San Francisco’s population during daylight hours,” a high school student noted in Seeing Through The Fog, a collection of student essays about San Francisco from their eyes. I urge everyone to pay homage to the true everyday hero—the Bay Bridge. My turn to get a glimpse of another side of San Francisco came a couple of days before Christmas. In an early morning, I walked a couple blocks to serve breakfast at Glide. Glide, named after Methodist philanthropist Lizzie Glide, is a Christian community that seeks to “create a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization.” At 7 a.m., I saw dozens and dozens of people forming a line up that snaked around the building, waiting for a red paper shopping bag. Later, I found out it was the annual Christmas grocery bag giveaway. The first 1,500 bags came with a frozen turkey, plus other grocery items like spaghetti, rice, and canned goods. People started to line up 8pm the night before, 4 hours earlier than the usual line-up time from previous years. “Time was hard this year,” San Francisco Chronicles reported. A few staff members thought I
was a reporter when they saw me with my camera, and gave me the privilege to walk in and out the line and into the building effortlessly. Inside the building was pile of boxes with two assembly lines in the middle. It started with unfolding the paper bags. As the bags pass through the line, each station filled them with different kind of goods and they are ready to go out the door. Later that morning, I assumed the bread supplying position in the assembly line. For the next two hours, I moved boxes of bread and unloaded them for stuffing. 6,500 bags were handed out that day. It feels great to know that I have helped some to have a better Christmas and it also opened my eyes to the needs of the city, which often escape the tourists’ eyes. The Union Square, the shopping district and the financial district were as splendid as they could be. One could find any major brand names in San Francisco. All the stores were adorned with sparkling Christmas lights and glittering decorations. Despite their effort, nothing attracts consumers more than a simple S-A-L-E sign. As I saw flocks of people rushing in and out shop after shop, what I saw in Glide reminded me that Christmas was not about buying more. I thank Glide for keeping my wallet intact. I also went to a lot of museums, including the California Academy of Science designed by Renzo Piano, the Jewish Contemporary Museum featuring an exhibition on Maurice Sendak, and the Museum of African Diaspora, took BART (Bay Area Railroad Transit) to Oakland, had crab cakes at Fisherman’s Wharf, and ventured in the tranquil Golden Gate Park. However, as my adventure ends, what is engraved in my mind are the joyful and thankful faces of people receiving a simple bag of groceries.
CommunityEvents Now till January 16, 2010 Natalka Husar: Burden of Innocence at McMaster Museum of Art The exhibition showcases works by Canadian artist Natalka Husar, as she takes her lifelong obsession with painting and with Ukraine, her ancestral home, into new territory. January 14, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Natalka Husar: Artist’s Talk at McMaster Museum of Art Canadian artist Natalka Husar will talk about her work in this public lecture. This talk is presented as a complement to the Husar’s exhibition, Burden of Innocence, on view at the Museum until Jan. 16, 2010. January 14, 2010 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Health and Poverty in Canada: CMA President-Elect Speaking at Mac at Health Sciences Centre - Room 1A1 (Ewart Angus Centre) Join Mac for Medicare for an opportunity to hear Dr. Jeff Turnbull, the next president of the Canadian Medical Association share his experiences working as a physician with homeless people and his views on the role of our medicare system in improving the health and lives of the impoverished. January 15, 2010 @ 6 p.m. Hamilton FreeSkool Birthday Potluck at Jamesville Community Centre (209 MacNab St N), Hamilton Hamilton FreeSkool invites everyone to join them for food, for playtime, hangin out, and celebrating the past, present and future of freeskool. It is also an opportunity to meet facilitators and organizers and learn about new classes. Bring friends and a dish to share if you can. January 15, 2010 @ 8 p.m. Augustin Hadelich & Ian Parker (Violin & Piano) at Convocation Hall - University Hall, Room 213 Celebrity Concert Series presents Augustin Hadelich, a rising star among the new generation of violinists and the Gold medalist of the 2006 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. Performing with him is pianist Ian Parker, who was the receiver of the Sylva Gelber Career Grant, awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts to the “most talented Canadian artist.” January 17, 2010 @ 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. “Triage, Dr. James Orbinski Humanitarian Dilemma” Film and Discussion at Burlington Baptist Church This film is based on the experience of Dr. James Orbinski who was the President of the Doctors Without Borders organization and his reflections on the dilemma he faced in countries like Rwanda, Somalia, and the Congo. Following the film, the Director of the film, Patrick Reed, will lead a discussion. January 18, 2010 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Fearsome Particles at Brantford Club, Brantford, ON McMaster Alumni Association is hosting a discussion surrounding The Fearsome Particles, a compelling story about the widening cracks in a family’s picture-perfect veneer, by Canadian Writer Trevor Cole. The Fearsome Particles was short-listed for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction, long-listed for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, adapted for radio and optioned for film.
B4 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
FashionWatch
S E X AND THE STEEL CIT Y
Defined by sexuality If we stop writing columns and talking sex, stop placing importance on sexuality, it might seem like we’re taking a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to the subject.” LINDSAY JOLIVET INSIDEOUT EDITOR
AYAN DEY / THE SILHOUETTE
This furry number isn’t real, but it still looks hot and keeps her warm.
Fur roars onto the fashion scene Activists demand faux
Winter collections despite ongoing protests. To make matters worse, some organizations against animal From time-to-time fashion struts cruelty have resorted to dramatic off the runway, and we discover displays for attention. Both Alexan equally comfortable and stylish ander McQueen and Donna Karan item that we can embrace and wear have been notorious victims of until it fades into the back of our runway crashing from members of organizations like PETA. closests. These rowdy and messy paintBoth cozy and glamorous, the trend right now is the highly stained protests are often ignored controversial fur. We’ve seen fur- and ineffective in gaining listening trimmed hoods and boots spike power from designers. The message in popularity over the last few however, does prompt fair questions to shoppers about years and now purchasing fur we’re seeing a revival of the 70’s While some design- and other animalbased products. hippie fur vest ers like Stella While the choice and extravagant McCartney have is individual, your fur bomber of the 80’s. Real or fake, been fur free since fashion purchases show where you this style is totally conception, many will stand. Celebrities winter-proof as it of these brands who have remained guarantees warmth and glamour. have been continu- silent in their words loud in their However the fur ing their transition but style are: the Olsen debate goes on as designers and up until fall 2009.” twins, Nicole Richie and Rihanna, who retailers prepare all continue to wear for the rush of consumers looking to decide fur despite being on PETA’s worst whether to “go faux” for this winter dressed lists. However, in a more positive effort to persuade others to season. Leading in the pro-faux team are take a stance against animal-based top brands like Vivienne Westwood, fashion, PETA recently launched Lacoste, Calvin Klein, the BCBG their “Fur-Free and Fabulous” Max Azria group (including BCBG campaign with influential figures Max Azria, Max Azria and Hervé like Oprah and Michelle Obama. Whatever the reason – celebrity Léger), Ralph Lauren, and of course Stella McCartney. While influence, passion for luxury, ethical some designers like Stella McCart- beliefs or a love for animals, the ney have been fur free since con- choice remains personal. Fashion ception, many of these brands have is and always will be an expression been continuing their transition of one’s self, of art and of the up until fall 2009. Prompting this imagination. But for many, being conscious transformation in many cases have been organizations who promote of the way we live and the effect of cruelty-free fashion such as PETA our actions precede even the most impulsive shoe purchases. Only the and the Humane Society. This dispute remains a difficult fashionista beneath the clothes will and unfriendly conversation. Many know where the items come from luxury labels from Chanel, Prada, and what they are made of—faux Fendi and Marc Jacobs continue fur is quite believable, and often to use fur in their latest Fall/ very cheap. LEANNE MARK
SILHOUETTE STAFF
Hey you Frost week is over; do something with your life. Write for InsideOut. Come to our section meeting Mondays at 1:00p.m. or email a piece of your writing to insideout@thesil.ca
During a discussion in a lecture for Theories of Gender and Sexuality Tuesday afternoon, we discussed the issue of sexuality as tied to identity. We discussed the possibility— argued by theorists such as Michel Foucault and Eve Sedgwick—that much of what we believe makes us individuals is tied to our sexuality. But are we really defined by our sexuality? The idea seems plausible, at least in a basic sense. Sexual identities such as homosexual, bisexual, abstinent or sexually active inform, at the very least, our sexual activities and those involved with them. On a deeper level these labels could influence who our friends are, which bars we go to (if any) and ultimately how we perceive ourselves. However, is this sexual identity secondary to the belief that our sexuality affects our identity? That is, when I categorize myself as a straight, white female, haven’t I already assumed these things are important, and therefore made them important? Foucault rejected the concept of a defined identity, arguing that an ever-changing discourse defined the self. The way people communicate to you about themselves changes the way they see themselves. Sexu-
ality fits naturally into this conception because at least some relationships and encounters in one’s life are sexual. At the risk of sounding annoyingly philosophical, I believe these considerations are important to understanding how we look at sex and ourselves—understanding why some of us consider the sexuality of those around us offensive, some think it’s necessary knowledge, and some think it’s irrelevant. Unfortunately, things don’t get much more complicated than the writing of Michel Foucault. If we placed less importance on sexuality maybe “inappropriate” or “weird” sexual acts would become less weird. Individuals that are marginalized because of their sexuality might not be grouped together so definitively if sexuality was not an imperative part of identity. On the other hand, a lack of discussion on these matters might be construed as censorship. If we stop writing columns and talking sex, stop placing importance on sexuality, it might seem like we’re taking a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to the subject. Like Foucault, I sometimes worry that we have backed ourselves into a theoretical corner where we’ve discussed in detail everything we have failed to discuss throughout history. After having berated our ancestors for their prudishness and declared that we will not be like them, we may have become obsessed with observing, monitoring and understanding the sexual activities around us. This behaviour is not unlike the practices of those who tried to control sex for religious and social reasons in the past. On a simpler level, if we have moved from liking someone despite certain sexual preferences to liking them because of these choices, isn’t the focus still the same?
Lifestyle Tidbits Canada is fat, but so what? A recent study by Statistics Canada stated that Canadians in all age groups and categories are getting fatter and less fit. This is the first country-wide study in 20 years. However, a recent study at Oxford stated that extra weight around the hips and buttocks prevents heart and metabolic problems. The lesson? Just make sure you’re fat in the right places, and you’re good to go.
Prostitute tax evasion? A prostitute in Poland was fine 820, 000 dollars for failing to pay taxes on her hefty income. She said she had many “generous” customers. Maybe I’m in the wrong industry. Prostitution is legal in Poland, but the operation of brothels is not.
No pants in New York Jan. 10 marked the date of New York’s annual no pants subway ride. Hundreds of commuters jumped on the subway without their pants on, possibly to the shock of their fellow train riders. The tradition began in 2002 when seven people decided to strip it down for the subway. In 2006, eight of the pantless riders were stopped and given summonses for disorderly conduct.
Oldest duck in the world dies 22 year old family pet Edwina died on Dec. 30 from old age. The duck was rescued from her family by a couple in Hampshire, U.K. just before they pecked her to death. She was the runt of the litter. Originally named Edward, the couple discovered her female sex when she began to lay eggs and changed her name to Edwina. They were very sad to lose their unconventional little friend.
THE SILHOUETTE • B5
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
Crossword Across 1- Iron hook with a handle 5- Angered 10- Beat up 14- Like some history 15- Digression 16- A shivering fit - often a precursor to malaria 17- Reticent 20- Aquarium fish 21- Agt.'s take 22- Open to bribery 23- AOL, e.g. 25- Milo of "The Verdict" 27- Anthracite 31- Jackal headed deity 35- Inter ___ 36- Adjusting a musical instrument 38- Sick 39- Like some ears 40- Georgia, once: Abbr. 41- Summer drink 42- Large body of water 43- Nav. officer 44- Rifts 46- Exactly 47- Sound again, again 49- Temporary inactivity 51- Chopper topper 53- High hit 54- Bendable twig, usually of a willow tree 57- Ballet step
BreadBin
Banana bread fun
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Banana Bread Two memories come to mind when I make banana bread. The first is of elementary school bake sales where some kids brought in freshly baked banana bread their moms made, while others brought little baggies of grocery-store-fresh cookies. I won’t say which I was, but I thought banana bread looked amazing. The second memory is of continuous reminders through my childhood not to waste food since long ago when they were children, my parents had eaten every grain of rice from their bowls. We’ve all come across bananas that were yellow when we bought them but magically turned spotty on the outside and bruised on the inside. It turns out these bananas are the perfect ripeness for banana bread! This recipe makes a great banana bread that is moist, not too sweet, and it has an unforgettable crust. Be prepared for requests for more if you share with others! By Sandy Chase / CUP Graphics Bureau Chief
Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (http://www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission.
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method 52- Musical drama 54- Lubricates 55- Agitated state 56- ___ boy! 58- Editor's mark 60- Corona fruit 61- Islamic call to prayer 62- Adventurous exploit 64- CD forerunners 65- Numero ___
Solutions
Ingredients 3 ripe to over-ripe bananas 2 eggs 1/3 cup of buttermilk* 1/2 cup of oil 1 ¾ cup of flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp of salt 1 ¼ cup white sugar
REBECCA ANG / BREADBIN CO-DIRECTOR
Preheat oven to 325o F. Prepare a 9x5 inch loaf pan by lightly coating with oil and then flour. Mash the bananas. In a bowl, beat eggs and oil together. Mix in bananas and milk. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until they are just combined. Over-mixing the batter will give the cake a tougher texture. Pour the batter into the pan and then sprinkle a light layer of sugar on the surface. This gives the crust a tasty crunch. Bake for 1 hour and 20 min. or until a toothpick or knife inserted into the centre comes out clean. *Substitute for buttermilk: Mix 1/3 cup of milk + 1 tsp of vinegar and let sit for 5 min. before adding.
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In other solutions, a foolproof solution to school coming next week. Get A+ in all of your courses. Stay tuned.
Rebecca Ang, Mac Bread Bin Co-Director
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responsibilities slouching under weight of pout; massive pile of homework; Bags under eyes; unhappy/stressed AVA DIDEBAN / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
B6 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
A wine for everyone and everything
Grapes & Hops manager helped InsideOut get cultured about wine their product on site. Clients choose their wine, often with trust in Kallsen’s advice, and in three to four From the ritzy restaurants of New weeks, they return to bottle their York to quaint European eateries, product. But how does one begin wine is more than an alcoholic choosing a wine? “The possibilities are endless,” admitted Kallsen, but drink—it’s a culture. Despite its public reputation, she maintained that it was possible wine doesn’t have to be for nights to keep it simple, especially when out only. “It’s nice to bring it into pairing wine with food. In a simple online search, I the home,” said Marie-Louise Kallsen, manager of local wine and beer found an alphabet with over 125 making company Grapes & Hops, types of wine – from your Amarafter describing the incredible one to a Zinfandel. But for the wine-serving venues her and owner new wine drinker, or one who does Joe Thivy visited on a recent trip to not make wine drinking a priority, there are a few Miami. Nonethego-to choices. The less, for those of us without much But how does one owners of Grapes & knowledge on the begin choosing a Hops usually have about seven popular subject, telling the wine? “The pos- options available at difference between sibilities are end- all times. Kallsen a Cabarnet from kindly overviewed France and one less,” admitted the frequent names from Australia can Kallsen, but she on this list and deturn preparation for maintained that it scribed their quala nice dinner into a ities. chemistry exam. As was possible to She began with a one of these highly keep it simple...” list of white wines, uncultured indistarting with Charviduals, I sought to donnay. A wine deunderstand what lay behind the fancy names. Although scribed as containing grassy notes I may never be able to tell a 1982 or tasting like green apples. Kallsen Merlot from a 2010, knowing one noted that she avoids oaking her type of wine from another can en- Chardonnay, because the market has hance a meal, make for a conversa- abused this strategy. Winemakers tion, and make drinking an experi- use oak as a natural preservative and to bring out the flavour of the ence rather than, say, a goal. Kallsen took an experiential ap- wine. Originally, it came from the proach inspired by her upbringing oak barrels wine fermented in, but in Europe. “Wine, we try to pro- now many in the industry simply mote it as a lifestyle, not a binge use oak chips. Sauvignon Blanc is a sister drinking…and that’s a European approach to it. You know, drink to wine to chardonnay, but its notes be civil, drink to have fun, drink to are crisper and lighter than the former. An even lighter wine than engage, but drink responsibly.” Although not a sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc is Pinot Grigio, Kallsen knows the ups-and-downs which is great for new wine drinkof choosing a good wine, which ers because of its sweetness and low made the cozy Westdale shop a per- alcohol content. This wine complements many fect place to start my exploration into the basics of wine drinking. foods, especially spicy foods beGrapes & Hops is licensed to sell cause its sweetness counteracts the wine by the batch and they ferment kick of spices like curry. LINDSAY JOLIVET INSIDEOUT EDITOR
Riesling, another white wine, was originally produced as a very sweet wine in Germany, although now drier versions are available worldwide. This wine is fruity in taste. The classic table wine which most have heard of is Merlot, a soft French wine with fruity notes. Merlot is medium bodied and easy to drink, making it great for large events because it appeals to most people. Wine is an acquired taste; therefore while an avid wine drinker may enjoy a dry red wine like Italian Amarone, some may find it too strong. Kallsen herself noted that she has developed a taste for drier wines over time. She maintained that many younger people prefer sweet tastes, but as they age this tends to change. Of course this is a general rule, not the truth for everyone. Popular red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The former was originally made in France and is now appreciated worldwide for its richness and complex flavour. Cabernet Sauvignon, like its eloquent name suggests, is a fine wine. Shiraz, on the other hand, has a peppery finish and full-bodied flavour that Kallsen called a nice change from the basics. She said, “I enjoy Shiraz, but I might not want to drink it all the time.” If you’ve already forgotten the properties of each kind of wine, fear not. Most bottles will have a number from 0-4, 0 being the driest and 4 the sweetest. It will also say either full-bodied or medium-bodied, which helps determine the amount of Tannin, a naturally occurring preservative found mostly in red wine that contributes to flavour. When matching wine with food, Kallsen recommended not going past a two and avoiding full-bodied wine with lots of Tannin. Alternatively, the dry coating Tannins leave in your mouth can be counteracted by high protein foods, which means a nice steak and full-bodied red wine will
JESSIE CHAU / SILHOUETTE STAFF
A full-bodied red wine goes nicely with high-protein foods like steak. go nicely together. Kallsen shared a few more fool-proof methods of matching wine with dinner. One method is to match the sweetness and richness of the wine with the meal. If there are oranges in your sauce, a sweeter wine will match. You can also put some of the wine you’re serving in the sauce, which ensures their compatibility. Another easy trick is if you’re making Italian food, choose an Italian wine.
One more lesson Kallsen shared was not to judge a wine by the first sip. Cleanse your palate before trying, or take more than one sip to ensure it is the only taste in your mouth. “I’ve learned that I have to have three sips in order to truly get the flavour,” shared Kallsen, “Three bottles, then you’re done.” This humorous note might be smart to keep in mind as you begin your taste testing adventures in the complex world of wine.
THE SILHOUETTE • B7
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
SPORTS
sports@thesil.ca
production office: extension 27117
Florida trip keeps Marauders hot Puhach, Holt leading the way as Mac rolls over Windsor, Western
PHOTO C/O LARRY SKELLY
The Marauders have used the powerful spikes of Larissa Puhach (above) and creative setting of Jennifer Holt to win 10 of the seasons first 11 contests. FRASER CALDWELL SILHOUETTE STAFF
Coming off an eventful holiday break, the McMaster women’s volleyball team once again displayed its killer instinct this past weekend in a return to conference play. Following a successful December trip to Florida in which the Marauders ran the table at the Innisbrook Invitational tournament, the squad stormed back to the OUA West to dish out four set defeats to the Windsor Lancers (25-16, 25-18, 18-25, 25-17) and Western Mustangs (25-14, 33-31, 15-25, 25-16). The impressive victories move the Marauders’ record to a near-perfect 10-1, squaring them with the Waterloo Warriors at the top of the
OUA West charts with 20 points, but with the advantage of a game in hand. The weekend double-header began in fine style on Friday night, with McMaster sealing the first set comfortably. The initial points of the match were closely contested, and the Marauders would squander an early lead when a defensive miscue brought the score to 5-4. However, after Genevieve Dumas (North Bay, ON) thundered an effort off a Windsor block, Mac caught fire, stretching their advantage to 10-6 following an authoritative block from Sarah Kiernan (Hamilton, ON). The trend continued into the second technical timeout, with the influential rookie Kailee Stock (Newmarket, ON) finding the
corner paint with a well-aimed kill before a Windsor error brought the score to 16-9. McMaster rolled on with the help of typically powerful play from Larissa Puhach (Burlington, ON) before ending the set on an intelligent tip by Jennifer Holt (Hamilton, ON). The second frame followed a strikingly similar formula, with a competitive opening giving way to a McMaster lead which would only widen as time went on. The two teams remained deadlocked until Kaila Janssen (Oshawa, ON) sent a rocket down the center of the court to give the Marauders a 13-12 lead. This proved to be the turning point, and after another emphatic effort from Janssen, Mac entered the second technical timeout in control.
Their dominance remained largely unchallenged, and Stock would end the frame after rolling a hit off the block for 25-18. After two rather routine sets, McMaster would turn dangerously complacent in the third. Errors dotted a decidedly sloppy set, in which the sparse pieces of skill were provided by the ever-impressive Stock. With the Marauders languishing at 13-19, the rookie found the back line with a stunning swing. Stock would come to the fore again with the score 16-23, when she produced a textbook ace down the wing. However, Stock’s heroics could not save her squad from a third set thumping, and they would drop the frame 18-25 after a tricky Lancers tip.
It looked as if the lacklustre Marauders would be forced to a fifth set when their struggles continued into the fourth. A disastrous opening saw Mac fall behind 1-7 while being thoroughly dominated at net and thwarted by the stubborn defence of the Lancers. However, after a combination block from veterans Holt and Shannon McRobert (Whitby, ON), the hosts slowly began to claw back, and they would finally take the lead after McRobert followed her own block with a kill to bring the score to 18-15. The Marauders would not look back from there, and the absorbing contest was brought to an end when Puhach provided a final emphatic kill. • PLEASE SEE 10-1, B10
Men’s hoops halfway outlook Guelph stuns Mac with four-set win
Men hit speed bump on road to CIS Nationals FRASER CALDWELL SILHOUETTE STAFF
TERRY SHAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Keenan Jeppesen has met all preseason expectations by spearheading the Marauder offence. BRIAN DECKER
SPORTS EDITOR
So often in the sports world, the acquisition of a new player brings preseason hype and raised expectations. And sadly just as often, those expectations come crashing back to earth for a reality check to reassess the situation. For men’s basketball at Mac, the addition of veteran star Keenan Jeppesen and athletic rookie Ryan Christie fuelled preseason speculation that a return to the upper echelon of CIS teams was imminent. I myself pegged Jeppesen (Stoney Creek, ON) and Christie (Hamilton, ON) as a dichotomy of veteran presence and youthful power that would make the Marauders a powerhouse. And 10 games into the conference season, four consecutive losses leave McMaster in need of reflection on what propelled them to no. 3 in the CIS rankings earlier this season. The Marauders sit at 6-5 in conference play, fifth in the OUA West and staring up a number of quality teams. Those six wins have come against teams with a paltry combined record of 17-46, with the Ma-
rauders unable to come out on top in a number of close games against ranked teams Carleton, Lakehead, Ottawa and Toronto. While Jeppesen, an MBA student at Mac after spending time at Brown University and Western, has fit seamlessly into the Marauder system, the Ryan Christie project has officially failed. Last week, after spending some of the winter break in Florida, the 6’6” rookie was cut from the team by Head Coach Joe Raso. “If our team was to move forward, that was the best decision at the time. It’s not one of those things you want to do, but it was at a point where we had to do it,” said Raso of releasing the raw but promising rookie. Christie was visibly upset on the bench a number of times this season, and as the season progressed it became evident he was unwilling to do some of the things Raso needed. Though Mac is battered and hasn’t posted the desired results to this point, the season is not lost by any stretch of the imagination for a team that ran over a number of quality squads in a 9-0 preseason.
Led by Jeppesen’s 21 points per game and a veteran supporting cast, the team feels it is capable of contending now. “We’re prepared to go with what we’ve got. Our goal is to win the conference,” said Raso after Christie was cut. While Christie’s absence leaves a gaping hole at centre with no real post players to fill his place, the Marauders may be better off without him. Christie sat out three games in the fall for disciplinary reasons, and the team responded with three victories. The Marauders hope a rotation of smaller, perimeter-based players up front, including Matt Wilusz (Stoney Creek, ON) and Cam Michaud (Grimsby, ON), may help space the floor rather than bog down the offense with the ball in the post. An answer to the situation may also lie in a chance for forward Terry Licorish (Toronto, ON) to return to the Marauder lineup. A former player at Mississippi State, the 6’9” forward has redshirted with the team this season after a year off last year. In 2007-08, Licorish posted averages of 13 points and 8.5 • PLEASE SEE DIVISIONAL, B11
Once the kings of Canadian university volleyball, the McMaster Marauders men’s squad hit another snag this past weekend, dropping a shock four-set decision to the Guelph Gryphons (25-23, 19-25, 17-25, 20-25) on Saturday night. The setback sees the Marauders drop to 8-2 on the season, placing them in a tie for second in the OUA with the Queen’s Gaels, and moving them down to the sixth spot in the national rankings. Early indications were positive for McMaster, who jumped out to a quick 12-7 lead in the first set after a combination block from Shawn Bench (Hamilton, ON) and Ryan Hudson (Winnipeg, MB). Guelph enjoyed a brief recovery mid-set, but would go into the second technical timeout down three points after Jeremy Groenveld (Welland, ON) hammered a kill off the Gryphon block. An effective tip through the centre from Josh Lichty (St. Catharines, ON) and another Groenveld smash brought the McMaster advantage to 21-17, all but sealing the set for the Marauders. Despite a spirited Guelph fight-back, which saw them close the gap to a single point at 24-23, Mac would close out the first with a powerful swing from Tyler Santoni (Kingston, ON) and another deflected kill from the pace-setting Groenveld. However, after the narrow victory of the opening set, it would be all downhill for the Marauders, as the surprising Gryphons began to assert themselves. The second set saw both teams commit errors in bunches, and after McMaster opened a 7-3 advantage to start the set, they seemingly imploded, allowing Guelph to tie the proceedings at 8 when they failed to play a Gryphon serve.
From here, the typically fearsome Marauder attack fell apart, unable to penetrate the perfectly timed blocking of their opponents. Luckily for McMaster, Guelph’s service throughout the set was atrocious, allowing the Marauders a glimmer of hope when one such attempt flew desperately long at 14-17. However, the combination of the Gryphons continuously stiff defence and McMaster’s offensive predictability won the set in Guelph’s favour, ending after a deflected Gryphon kill made the score 19-25. The third frame proved to be even more disastrous for the Marauders, as their opponents took an early lead and never looked back. The Gryphons had caught on to McMaster’s attack rhythm, particularly on the left side, where the combination of Groenveld and veteran transfer Paul Podstawka (Ancaster, ON) were repeatedly frustrated by stellar Guelph blocking. The Marauders’ few attempts to mount a comeback were stifled by their untimely errors, such as Bench’s costly dumped serve with his team surging at 6-8. All of this translated to a dominant set for the visitors, who would widen their lead to 8 points down the stretch, before ending the set with an impressive cross-court kill. With momentum clearly on their side, Guelph entered the fourth frame as strongly as they had ended the third. While McMaster would make things interesting mid-way through the set, the outcome was never truly in doubt. The Gryphons built a healthy 5-10 lead after once again stuffing the despondent Podstawka, and they would maintain it despite a booming solo block from Santoni. With McMaster closing the gap at 12-14, Bench produced a huge kill which threatened to swing momentum in the Marauders favour, • PLEASE SEE MAC, B9
B8 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
THE SILHOUETTE • B9
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
Mac looks to rebound after loss Women earn split in Thunder Bay BEN ORR
SILHOUETTE STAFF
PHOTO C/O LARRY SKELLY
Mac’s fearsome attack was stifled by the Gryphon’s defence all night long, leading to the team’s defeat. • CONT’D FROM B7 20-22, moving them to match point. points on the night. and stirred a previously subdued They would seal the result on the In the wake of their weekend Burridge crowd. However, despite very next rally, when the stifled Ma- defeat, McMaster drops from third their best efforts, Mac could only rauder Groenveld fired his effort far to sixth in the CIS rankings, and hang tough for so long, and the beyond the backline. moves into a tie with the Queen’s Gryphon advantage would be fatal- The victorious Gryphons were Gaels for second in the OUA standly stretched once again when the led by a game-breaking 22 point ings. The Marauders will look conspicuous Podstawka bobbled a performance from left-side hitter to rebound this coming weekend Guelph serve at 15-18. Andrew Bartram (Aurora, ON). when they host the Laurier Golden The Gryphons destroyed any Jeremy Groenveld bagged the Hawks on Friday night at 8 p.m. in doubt that they would pull off the player of the game award for the Burridge Gym before visiting the upset with back-to-back kills at Marauders in a losing cause with 16 Ryerson Rams on Sunday.
The McMaster women’s basketball team knocked off division rival Brock 71-65 on Wednesday night to improve to 7-4, earning their third win in four games. The Marauders also rebounded to beat the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday after falling in Thunder Bay on Friday. Following a 60-49 loss, the Marauders came away with an 87-73 win and a split at C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse. Mac is now tied with Brock for third in the OUA West and in position to chase the no. 2 ranked Windsor Lancers, who lead the division at 10-0. As she has done all season, veteran guard Taylor Smith (Hamilton, ON) led the way in both victories, pouring in 28 points against Lakehead and making a number of key plays down the stretch in a 20 point game against Brock. Smith’s value to an otherwise young team has not been lost on head coach Theresa Burns, who was effusive in praising her team’s leader after the Brock win. “I called a couple of [plays] for Taylor Smith, because if we thought someone was going to pull it out for us, it was going to be our fifth year leader… we say it every game, she carries this team.” The weekend began on a sour note as the Wolves shut down the Marauders, including a defensive display that led to only six fourth quarter points for McMaster. The Wolves were led by Lindsay Druery, (Smithville, ON) who blitzed the McMaster frontcourt for 16 points and a dominating 16 rebounds. Not to be outdone, Lakehead forward Sarah Gordon (Halifax, NS) had a hot hand, scoring 15 points, including four three-pointers. Also impressive for the Thunderwolves was senior point guard Tasia McKenna (Timberlea, NS), who was on the verge of the triple-double, with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, as well as Corina Bruni (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) who had a strong second half off the bench. “Lindsay was a force tonight and although Tasia didn’t shoot the ball well she nearly had a tripledouble,” said Thunderwolves head coach Jon Kreiner. “Corina played huge for us in the second half as
she collected six assists to two turnovers, four steals and (shot) 2-2 from the free-throw line in 12 minutes of play.” McMaster guard Rebecca Rewi (Ancaster, ON) led the Marauders with 18 points in the losing effort. The game was characterized by poor shooting, as both teams struggled from the field and shot below 30 per cent. Lakehead looked for the weekend sweep on Saturday, but Smith (Hamilton, ON) had different plans, scoring 28 bounds and adding nine assists as the Marauders handed the Wolves an 87-73 loss. Also posting strong outings for Mac were Taylor Chiarot (Hamilton, ON) with 19 points and seven rebounds and Jakilynn Nimec (Binbrook, ON) and Nicole Rosenkranz (Niagara Falls, ON), who both had 12. “McMaster played with more energy and were much more physical than us tonight,” said Kreiner. “Smith played a great game. She got to the foul line and made things happen offensively.” The Marauders enjoyed 22-27 free throw shooting on the night, compared to the Wolves 64 per cent effort, an aspect the Wolves’ coach felt made the difference. “Early foul trouble by both of our posts really hurt us tonight on the boards and it hurt our interior defence. I was happy with our second quarter and in fact the start of the third but when McMaster got physical again we got frustrated, something we need to continue to work on. In the end, foul shooting cost us the split, another area we need to improve,” the coach remarked. The Wolves were led offensively by Tasia McKenna, who again was successful from beyond the arc, with four three-pointers and 22 points. The Marauders are now tied with Brock at 7-4 on the season, good for third in the OUA West. The Marauders’ next action takes place against the No. 2 Windsor Lancers on Saturday. Coach Burns knows it will be a tough test, but says the team is ready to seize the opportunity to knock off what is clearly the team to beat in the OUA. “We’ve got to put a little streak of our own together here, and what better way to do that than knock off number one.”
PHOTO C/O RICHARD ZAZULAK
The Marauders improved their record to 7-4 with the win over Brock.
B10 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
10-1 start puts Mac Nothin’ but net: notes from in first place tie a week of Marauder action • CONT’D FROM B7 Jennifer Holt would be named the player of the game for McMaster on the strength of a masterful 34 assist performance. Kailee Stock led the scoring charts by leaps and bounds with a final tally of 21 points. Saturday’s encounter with the Western Mustangs would see the Marauders triumph in four sets, after a classic second frame required 64 points to settle. The match opened with a dominant McMaster thoroughly outclassing their London rivals. Led by the top-notch Larissa Puhach and aided by Western’s many errors, the Marauders streaked through the second technical timeout and took the set by an 11 point margin. However, the second would be an entirely different proposition, with a surging Mustangs squad grabbing an early lead. The visitors were enjoying newfound defensive prowess, and managed to cling to a 14-16 advantage at the second technical timeout. But after a McRobert kill closed the gap to a single point, Western was called on a four touch infraction to knot the set at 21. What ensued was a tooth and nail struggle, with Puhach, Janssen, and first year hitter Lauren Skelly (Whitby, ON) producing superb kills to keep the Marauders alive. Finally, after Janssen and McRobert came up with a combination block to give McMaster a set point at 32-31, the former would win the set with an effort off the Western block.
Despite having lost the epic second, Western proved to be the stronger side in the third frame, using its consistent defence to force errors from the hosts. Tight early play gave way to mid-set dominance for the Mustangs, who entered the second technical timeout with an 11-16 advantage. They would streak to the finish, sealing the set when Jenna Thomson (St. Mary’s, ON) thumped a kill into the backcourt. Fortunately, the loss of the third proved to be the tonic for the Marauders’ struggles, and they would easily take the fourth set and the match as a result. Where McMaster had been error-prone and disorganized in the previous frame, it was the Mustangs who stuttered in the fourth. A particularly telling bobble from the London squad brought the Marauder advantage to 17-8, and Western would never fully recover. After the Mustangs tipped wide to bring the set to the brink, McRobert produced a hard kill down the center of the court to seal the win for McMaster. Kaila Janssen would be named the player of the game for the Marauders with 16 points on the night. However, it was Larissa Puhach who led the team with a stunning haul of 23 points, including 19 kills. Now on the verge of the OUA West summit, the Marauders enjoy another busy weekend, hosting the Laurier Golden Hawks on Friday at 6 p.m. in Burridge Gym before traveling to Toronto to meet the Ryerson Rams on Sunday.
PHOTO C/O LARRY SKELLY
Larissa Puhach spiked home 19 kills in a win over Western.
brock
67
McMaster 89
Next Game: vs. Windsor, Saturday 3 p.m.
BRIAN DECKER SPORTS EDITOR
• Mac may have found their answer in the starting lineup. Cam Michaud has started at centre the last two games, and has responded, averaging 18 points, including a 26 point explosion over Brock. The 6’6” sophomore has helped space the floor with his outside shooting range, and looks very much at home amongst the starting five. • Nursing a five-point lead near halftime, the Marauders exploded for a 14-0 run that effectively locked up the game. Michaud, Victor Raso (Hamilton, ON) and Brett Day (London, ON) all hit threes in short succession to close the half and open the third quarter. • Teams have found some success in stopping the Mac offense when letting Keenan Jeppesen (Stoney Creek, ON) get his offence and taking away the other Marauder weapons. This was something Brock did not do, with a number of Mac shooters knocking down threes from deep early on. • Jeppesen still posted impressive numbers, throwing down two early dunks on the way to 18 points and eight rebounds. • After going with a subdued hairdo for the first half of the season, Matt Wilusz (Stoney Creek, ON) has gone back to his trademark highlights, sporting a platinum blonde look. • Mac’s 89 points was their highest output since putting up 94 against RMC on Nov. 6. • With 20 assists on 30 made baskets, the Marauders shared the ball and gave the Brock defense a lot of different looks to handle. • Paul Hart (Ancaster, ON) looked comfortable handling the ball in the second half. Between the speedy
Hart and the 6’4” Jordan Tew (Dundas, ON), Mac has myriad options and depth for a third guard to come in and spell Tyrell Vernon (Hamilton, ON) and Jermaine DeCosta (Hamilton, ON) • Windsor comes to Hamilton next, and their athleticism will be one of the toughest assignments this season. Nigel Johnson-Tyghter (Brampton, ON) and Isaac Kuon (Mississauga, ON) should be a handful for Joe Raso’s defence. The Marauders had trouble staying with Brock star Didi Mukendi (St. Catharines, ON), and Kuon should create similar match up problems. • Brock Head Coach Ken Murray might be the only coach in the OUA who yells louder and more frequently than Raso. • The game marked the third annual Shoot For a Cure fundraiser event, which was developed by the CIS and the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association. The events include both the men’s and women’s basketball games as well as the volleyball games this weekend, with all proceeds supporting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Said Raso, “the fact that we’re participating in it and helping in anyway is good. It’s good for our guys to get involved.” The event raised over $142, 000 in its first two years, with another $100,000 expected this year.
McMaster 72
(Friday, Jan. 8)
LAKEHEAD 80 McMaster 70
(Saturday, Jan. 9)
LAKEHEAD 76
• The Thunderwolves, affectionately known as the “Great Group of Dudes,” now sit at 8-1 and atop the OUA West. The team is the only
squad to beat CIS no. 1 Carleton this season, and can no longer be ignored as a threat to take home the OUA title. • Three point shooting was the story of the weekend, with Lakehead shooting a blazing 53 per cent on the way to 27 threes for two games. To close out each game, the Thunderwolves knocked down threes like a lumberjack with a lisp, thwarting any Marauder comeback • Led by sophomore standout Yoosrie Salhia (Toronto, ON), Lakehead succeeded in doing what no other team has this season by shutting down Mac forward Keenan Jeppesen. Averaging 21.7 points per contest this season, Jeppesen was held to just 10 in the second contest after pouring in 24 the night before. • Salhia hit one of seven Lakehead three pointers to fall in the final three seconds of the shot clock. Hardly a three-point specialist, the shot was the 6’6” forward’s first of the season. • Day’s hot hand off the bench in Game 2 gave the Marauder bench a much-needed lift. With Michaud and Wilusz shifting from the perimeter to the paint, another threat from beyond the arc will help space the floor. Day hit four threes and had a season-high 13 points. • The occasional rough night from the charity stripe continues to plague McMaster. After shooting 80 per cent from the line in game 1, Mac went just 13-24 in game 2. • Mac’s poor offensive showing (30.8 per cent shooting) came despite one of their best nights taking care of the ball. The Marauders committed just nine turnovers, improving what has been somewhat of an Achilles’ heel in the past. • Lakehead’s 14 threes in game 1 and 13 in game 2 blew away the previous season high for a Marauder opponent (Toronto and Laurentian with eight) • All five Marauder losses this season have come against teams that now appear in the CIS top 10. No. 7 Windsor comes to McMaster this Friday.
THE SILHOUETTE • B11
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
Divisional match-ups await Mac • CONT’D FROM B7 rebounds in 13 games for McMaster. His return depends on fulfillment of academic requirements, but he may return in January. In order to climb their way to the top of the division, Raso says defensive pressure will need to be a focus of Mac’s game plan. “It’s not a time for change, it’s a time to reassess and make sure you’re doing things right. There’s some concern, but we’ve still got the same players we had at the beginning of the year. We’ve just got to get back – defense was our key, and that’s what we have to get back to.” The Marauders play strictly within their division for the winter months, and the Marauders will get a chance to see just how good the loaded OUA West is. Lakehead and Windsor have just three losses combined, but any team will have a tough time dealing with Mac’s experience. Raso has tasted OUA victory himself four times, and Jeppesen was a vital component of a Mustang team that was
a Carleton buzzer-beater away from reaching the CIS Championship game. Still, looking ahead to make up some ground isn’t at the forefront of Raso’s worries as the stakes get bigger and bigger. “You have to take it game by game… the fact that you play everybody twice here, you can make up a lot of games on your schedule. This is a league this year where anybody can beat anybody, so there’s no score that’s gonna surprise you. You have to worry about your opponent and that’s it.” If Mac is looking for a test, they will get it on Saturday when they host the No. 7 Windsor Lancers. Any dreams of a juggernaut march to the CIS tournament have been squashed for the Marauders. And yet, an assessment of the team’s strengths and weaknesses still leaves Raso and his team with cautious optimism. Each game that comes and goes will serve as a reality check for McMaster’s aspirations of an OUA title. Head Coach Joe Raso will look to veterans like Jermaine DeCosta for tough defence.
TERRY SHAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
2000-2009 sports recap Mac opens track season with promising results Matt Lee The Peak
BURNABY, B.C. (CUP) - It seems like the past decade has come and gone with its fair share of decadence, successes, and scandals. If this decade was any indication, we’re in for another wild ride in the world of sports, so it’s time to count down some of the moments that stood out in the first decade of the 21st century. 1. Steroids in baseball taints the sport’s reputation: It was, without a doubt, the most-talked about story in sport the last decade. No other story became synonymous with a sport quite like steroids and baseball. As fans grew up idolizing Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Roger Clemens, little did they know the ugly truth: steroids were being used and baseball players were far from pure athletes. The story evolved into such a debacle that United States Congress even called baseball players in to testify. As investigators delved deeper into the scandal, it became known that steroids had been used in the sport for decades and league officials, owners, and players did little about it because of the increased popularity of the sport and all the money that was being raked in. Everything baseball embodied was in question. 2. The NHL Lockout: Hockey fans in North America were deprived of professional hockey in 2004-05 due to a labour dispute that cancelled the whole season, the first time one of the four major North American team sports lost an entire season. Players and owners pitted themselves in a fight to the death until the players succumbed to the owners’ demands of a salary cap. Amazingly, salaries are seemingly as high as ever. 3. Patriots fall short of making football history: In the 2007-2008 NFL season, the New England Patriots almost accomplished something done only once in NFL history: achieve the perfect season. Tom Brady’s crew broke records and steamrolled competition. Seemingly destined for immortality, the Pats lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl in one of the most memorable championships in history. 18-1 was the worst feeling any sports fan could have and their perfect regular season amounted to nothing. 4. Lance Armstrong beats cancer and everyone else on a bike: Whether you consider cycling a sport or not, Lance Armstrong overcame tremendous odds to dominate his ‘sport’ in the past decade. In 1996, the legendary cyclist was diagnosed with cancer and given only a 50 per cent chance of survival. He didn’t just beat cancer, he beat everyone in the Tour de France – seven times in a row (1999 to 2005).
5. Michael Phelps swims into the record books: It takes a rare kind of person to win an Olympic gold medal, but swimmer Michael Phelps won an eye-popping 14 in the 2000s. He won a record-breaking eight gold medals in his eight events in the 2008 Games in Beijing to add to the six he won in 2004. Perhaps his name has been surrounded by the smoke of a certain green plant, but you don’t need to be high to know just how great he was in 2008. 6. Team Canada wins Olympic Gold in 2002: The Team Canada Olympic men’s ice hockey team had gone 50 years without winning the gold but finally reached the top of the podium in Salt Lake City. Burnaby’s Joe Sakic was named the most valuable player and it was the catalyst towards Canada reclaiming worldwide hockey dominance for the next few years. 7. The Lake Show returns to the NBA: The Los Angeles Lakers won more championship titles than any other professional sports team in the decade, registering the elusive “three-peat” after winning in 2000, 2001, and 2002 before winning the NBA Championship once more in 2009. Before their friendship turned sour, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal had the kind of dominance which is so rare in basketball outside of Michael Jordan. 8. Barry Bonds breaks baseball’s most hallowed record: Steroid allegations aside, there’s no denying there was something magical about Barry Bonds’ 2001 season as he shattered the homerun record with 73, doing it in fewer than 500 at-bats. Just to be clear though, anyone with half a brain knows that any record attached to Bonds comes with an asterisk. 9. Michael Vick goes to the dogs: From 2000 to 2006 when he was with Virginia Tech and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, Michael Vick changed everything that entailed the quarterback position as he was one of the fastest pivots in the game and talented to boot. In 2007, however, Vick pleaded guilty to running a dog-fighting ring and served 23 months in prison. He has since returned to the Philadelphia Eagles but is now on the short leash of football fans. 10. The rise and fall of Tiger Woods: For the majority of the decade, Woods was not just the superstar of golf, but the superstar of sport itself. He won 12 major championships and while dominating his sport, kept a quiet confidence while maintaining a squeaky clean reputation. But in the last two months he has taken an indefinite leave from golf, admitted to problems in his personal life, and has been ditched by many of his sponsors. Suddenly this Tiger has earned some pretty bad stripes.
BRIAN DECKER SPORTS EDITOR
Winning CIS bronze is career highlight that most athletes would envy. But for McMaster’s Jill Wyman, that achievement is just another goal to be bested in another track and field season. Wyman (Dundas, ON), a third year science student, finished first in the women’s 1000m at the Sharon Anderson Memorial Meet last weekend, posting a time of 2:54:26. The time, which could qualify her for the CIS Championship this season, is the second best in the CIS this season, but Wyman and Head Coach Rory Sneyd know that this is just the beginning. “ [Jill] will no doubt run faster but she has started the season well,” commented Sneyd, the 2009 Coach of the Year for McMaster cross country. While Wyman’s finish in the 1000m was impressive, so was the second place showing of Katie Anderson (Exeter, ON), who crossed the line in 2:57.26. “Anderson was very impressive and she
will be looking to get back to the CIS final where she placed sixth last year,” said Sneyd of the 2nd year Medical Radiation student. On the men’s side, Jeremy Walsh (St Pauls Station) took top honours in the 3000m with a time of 8:50.47, while Andrew Douglas (Bright’s Grove, ON) finished just under a second behind Guelph’s Dustin Gamble in the 1000m event with a time of 2:33.33, both of which were personal bests. Other impressive finishes at the event included Rachel Lamb placing third in the women’s 3000m and Graham Bowers (Kanata, ON) finishing third in the men’s 3000m. Mac also kept busy before the break with a good showing at the Western Season Opener. Jimmy Tat (Oakville, ON) took home top honours in the men’s 300m with a time of 36.35, while Matt Carrejola (Mississauga, ON) placed ninth in the 60m with one of the school’s fastest times in recent years. On the women’s side, Mac took the gold in the 4 x 200m relay. The Marauders will travel to Windsor next week for the Can Am meet.
B12 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
HEALTH
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2010: The year of keeping resolutions JESSICA LYDIATE THE SILHOUETTE
As the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, someone might have asked you about your New Year’s resolutions. Many people make them, and many people break them. People often make goals towards being more successful, controlling debt, taming bad habits, making more time for family, friends, and fun, helping other people, and being more organized. Improved fitness is also often a common theme among New Year’s resolution, consequently making January a very busy month at The Pulse. However, continuing to attend the gym past early January takes both commitment and clear goal setting. Keeping New Year’s resolutions is not an impossible task. Do not be scared to set New Year’s resolutions and do not make them with the expectation that you will break them. After all, it is a new year and, even if you did not commit to your resolutions in the past, now is the time to begin doing so. Try to make a few focused goals, rather than setting multiple resolutions or trying to capture all types of objectives. Rather than trying to revamp every aspect of your life, pick one or two areas to work on. Once you have picked a couple of objectives, make attainable goals within those categories. For example, do not say you will complete an Ironman challenge within a year if you have no experience training for long distance cycling, swimming or running. Instead, make a
more realistic goal like running a 5km or 10km circuit by the end of the year. Make sure your goals reflect your true interests and desires. Do not set goals just because you think other people want you to or expect you to. Self-motivation is very important for sticking to New Year’s resolutions and you might not be able to muster a lot of determination if your heart is not really in the resolution. Try to break down your goals into manageable milestones. One system of making goals is called SMART goals, which stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. An example of a specific goal is “study in the library for one hour four nights a week”, whereas a general goal would be “do better is school”. To make your goal measurable you could set up a timeline, or criteria to determine when the goal has been completed. When considering if a goal is attainable, think about whether you have the time, financial resources, and skills to achieve the goals. For example, if your goal is to go to Mexico during spring break you need to consider if you have enough money to pay for the trip, or if you have enough time to work to make the money before the middle of February. To determine if your goals are realistic, consider if you have the willingness and ability to achieve them. Also, consider if meeting the goal is within your control. For example, making a goal to find a job
MICHELLE NG/ SILHOUETTE STAFF
Setting realistic and attainable goals is the key to committing to and completing New Year’s resolutions. Make sure your resolutions are of your goals. in finance by the end of the summer Reward yourself when you may not be within your control, as healthy. For example, deciding to the job market plays some role in lose fifty pounds in two months is achieve your goals. Knowing there determining the availability of jobs. probably not healthy. Likewise, de- is an added bonus upon the compleYou could instead decide which ap- ciding to increase your iron levels tion of your New Year’s resolution plications you want to complete and by only eating red meat and spin- offers further incentive to commit to ach may be bad for your health. your objectives. It may just be what submit. Making a goal timely involves Running your goals by a friend can you need to keep your 2010 goals. setting a clear schedule for when help you determine if your goals are Resolutions are easy to break. the goal can be completed. It may healthy. Sharing your resolutions Make some guidelines to help keep also involve setting up timely check with an outsider is also helpful be- your self on track. Keeping your points along the way to help keep cause they can offer a more object- resolutions might not be easy, but it ive perspective on the attainability will certainly be rewarding. yourself on track and accountable.
Laughter really is the best medicine RANDAL DESOUZA
their problems with acts as simple as giggling, chuckling, and encouraging a great sense of humour. We could all use a bit more laughter. Although laughing off your most A little extra something to brighten pressing problems might not seem up our day and restore that twinkle like much, scientists have discovin our eye or spring in our step. ered that a good chuckle can boost Maybe we could even extrapolate one’s spirits – and immune system. and say that a little bit of laughter Weekly laughter sessions will often can go a long way, and have some begin with a rumbling, deep belly rather interesting and very medic- laugh, which releases good feelally relevant applications. ings, or endorphins. These bodily This brings us to the topic of feelings act as natural painkillers laughter therapy, which applies and help make you happy. laughter to help people laugh away Studies done in the past have THE SILHOUETTE
shown the benefits of laughter to stimulate the immune system and make it more effective at fighting diseases. Popular variants of modern therapy such as yoga are increasingly being combined with laughter with impressive results. Known as Hasyayoga, this concept was developed by an Indian guru, Jiten Kohi and is a combination of laughter and yoga breathing in order to bring more oxygen to the body and to the brain. It has been popularized for its physical and psychological benefits, and the emergence
JESSIE CHAU / SILHOUETTE STAFF
A daily does of laughter makes us happier people as well as boosts our immune system.
of several ‘laughter clubs’ which meet for their daily dose of funnies across India. Hasyayoga’s popularity makes sense, as everyone loves to laugh. Laughter may have a genetic component to it (as a result of identical twin studies), and might very well be derived from a common origin and subsequently shared by other primate species. In this vein, laughter has been observed in orangutans, gorillas and obviously all human cultures. Given its evolutionary background, and immune system benefits, one wonders if there would be any more positive benefits to laughter. Holistic medicine has quite a tradition of using laughter therapy, as laughter brings in positive emotions that can enhance, not replace the conventional treatments by reducing pain and aid the healing process. Some clinical benefits of laughter include muscle relaxation, reduction of stress hormones, immune system enhancement, pain reduction, cardiac exercise, lower blood pressure (women benefit more from this one), and better respiration (those who suffer from respiratory ailments will appreciate this effect). Laughter, then, helps us to feel better overall in a general sense. Some of these effects of laughter were discovered by Drs. Lee Berk and Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California. To date, their published papers have successfully applied the scientific method to the study of something we are all capable of doing—laughter—in order to determine its effects
on our well being. So far we have clearly established that there are several benefits to laughter. If there was ever a universal language, you have it in laughter – it is communicated on every surface of the planet, by every person. Despite the fact that not all jokes may be funny to different people as a result of views, there is always some common ground which can break the ice and lead to some hearty laughing, which then restores balance to an otherwise tense and overtly unfriendly situation. One little known fact would be that loneliness is best tackled by laughter, as it aims to bring people together in the mutual spirit of hilarity and removes isolating invisible barriers between individuals that make such people feel alone. It is estimated that a child laughs approximately 400 times a day while an adult engages in the same humorous behaviour only about fifteen times. It is troubling that we do not laugh as much as we used to. Laughter may indeed be the best medicine for us, and we should laugh as much as possible. You never know what benefits may be in store for you, be it improved health in old age, or even longevity – both of which are rumoured to be connected to laughter. With no known side effects, laughter has only positive benefits. So, go tell someone a joke, read the comics section of your newspaper, or chill with one of your more humorous friends. Let the infectious humour that surrounds you seep into your system and improve your well-being.
THE SILHOUETTE • C1
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
BUSINESS
Silhouette Stock Challenge! $500 in Prizes See C2 for details production office: extension 27117
business@thesil.ca
Smartphone competition heats up Staying A peek at the top 4 smartphones to look out for in 2010
30 years ahead
Simon Granat Business Editor
iPhone 3Gs- 32gb ($299) Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has managed to capture the majority of the smartphone market with its inception of the famed iPhone. But does the release of its new 3Gs phone really mean that it will come out on top as one of 2010’s must-have cell phones? Well, the new iPhone shows its might with an upgraded 32gb of space giving you more room for apps that you probably won’t use. It also has a faster processor.
Thirty years ago there were no computers, cell phones were only depicted in science fiction movies, and Sean Connery had hair. In the world of business, e-mail was years away and the relation between worker and employer was very different. What will the world of work look like thirty years from now? The DeGroote School of Business in partnership with the Strategic Capability Network is challenging students to predict what the working world of 2040 will look like. Focus 2040 is a competition that is partly an experimental learning exercise. It gives students a chance to envision what the workforce of 2040 will look like and explain what factors they think will shape it. Competitors will have a chance to win a four month internship in France. “Focus 2040 is an opportunity to tap into the creativity of students by getting their views on how the world of work will evolve into the future, reflecting their values and priorities,” said Ezra Rosen, chair of the Strategic Capability Network in a press release to the Silhouette. The aim of the competition is to challenge the organization of contemporary business. “Current organizational models and values reflect the thinking and values of the baby boomers who entered the workforce more than 30 years ago,” said Rosen. Consequently, one of the competition’s goals is to foster new ideas of how to organize work and to provide students with a soundboard of people in business that they can present their ideas to. Focus 2040 will be a three phase competition. It will span five months from January to March. Entry to the first phase of competition is now open. The deadline is Jan. 23, 2009. In 750 words applicants must submit a story of their vision of the future. There will be 25 applicants that will be chosen to compete in the second round. Here students will design a blueprint of the workplace 30 years from now. Finally, 10 people will be chosen to compete in the third and final stage. Students will have to design a system that will effectively engage employees. They will also give a 20 minute presentation of their design to a board of professionals. The contest will conclude in the end of March 2010. The first place prize is a four month internship in France with
• PLEASE SEE SMART, C3
• PLEASE SEE FOCUS, C2
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION C/O BAHRAM DIDEBAN / MANAGING EDITOR
The smartphone market is getting even more clustered with the addition of Google’s latest project: the Nexus One. SANTINO MARINUCCI
BUSINESS EDITOR
Google Nexus One Smartphone ($529) Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) has managed to create its own smartphone, the Nexus One, and it’s been dubbed the ‘iPhone killer of 2010’. The Nexus One touts its new open source operating system named ‘Android’. The system is expected to enable users to experience fast processing speeds when it comes to simultaneous application usage and internet browsing. What does this mean for Google? Essentially this is Google’s first official launch into the retail market. They will be competing with technology juggernauts like Blackberry and Apple to create the ‘smartphone to buy’ in 2010. This may prove to be disadvantageous to established smartphones and eat into Apple’s market share since the Nexus One software provides developers with more freedom in creating new applications and customizing the phone’s interface. With the creation of more applications, the Nexus One may attract the users from Apple’s ‘artsy’
crowd and boast better reliability than Blackberry to create one of the top smartphone’s of 2010. Pros: The Nexus One is 11.5 mm deep, slightly thinner than the iPhone 3GS at 12.3 mm. It is also slightly lighter than the iPhone at 130 grams compared to 135 grams. The Nexus One boasts a gorgeous 3.7 inch 480 x 800 OLED capacitive touchscreen giving it the best mobile phone display on the market today. Lastly, the new Google Voice option will allow users to speak into the phone to spell out text messages and emails. This option is exclusive to the Nexus One. Cons: It has a shorter battery life compared to other smart phones currently on the market. This is due to all the hardware applications present on the phone. The Nexus One is only available for purchase online and as of now, not available to Canadian buyers. There is also no current Canadian release date, so those eager to buy it will have to be patient. Blackberry Bold 9700 ($599) Research in Motion (TSE: RIM) has released yet another product
to captivate the smartphone world with their new Blackberry Bold 9700. So why should a starving student go out and justify spending so much money on something that will be inevitably dropped, scratched or lost? The new Bold boasts 3G and Wi-Fi capabilities allowing users to browse the Internet faster and get reception virtually anywhere. Social networking applications such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace have been made more user friendly. One of the features is that messages in all these applications get sent ‘live’ to your phone. This is ideal for the student who likes to be constantly connected. The new 9700 is also smaller and lighter than the gaudy 9000 version that we have all come to love. The new bold 9700 boasts faster processing speeds and a track pad instead of a track ball. Blackberry has always managed to keep their customers happy and their phones at the top of their class. However, where does Blackberry stand in 2010 with the launch of the Android O.S. and the continuing dominance of the iPhone among smartphone users? Research in Motion, maker of
Blackberry had strong fourth quarter revenues, up 83 per cent compared to the same time in 2008. Blackberry’s recent integration into the Chinese consumer market also seems promising. Pros: New track pad technology replaces Blackberry’s infamous track ball. Hopefully the pad will break down less. It is lighter and slimmer than the old Bold 9000 with faster processing speeds and better reception everywhere. Cons: The Blackberry browser is outmoded compared to the other phones. The handset’s compact size results in a smaller display and keyboard, but they aren’t deal-breakers.
Canadians perk up for lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret plans on opening 4 stores in Canada by Spring 2010 Simon Granat Business Editor
Sexy, lucrative and soon to be Canadian, what is Victoria’s Secret? The American temptress of women’s lingerie, clothing and accessories, Victoria’s Secret, has gradually started to enter the Canadian market and it could be bad news for La Senza. Limited Brands, Victoria’s parent company and owner of Canada’s La Senza, opened up four Victoria Secret “Pink” outlet stores in Burlington, Mississauga, Waterloo and Vaughn this past October. The company has also announced plans to open four traditional Victoria’s Secret outlets in Canada in spring 2010. Locations have not yet been announced. Coming to Canada poses more problems than just fifty dollar bras, and gawking teens in the mall. There is some fear from some analysts that by bringing Victoria’s Secret to the Great White North, Limited may cannibalize sales from their Canadian sister chain. Limited does not see a problem bringing Victoria’s Secret to
Canada. “La Senza currently holds about 15 per cent of the market share so there is plenty of room for both brands,” said Jenifer Ortiz Brown of Limited Brands in a interview with the Silhouette. The solution? La Senza will sell less expensive lingerie to a younger demographic, whereas Victoria’s Secret will cater sexy styles to a mature demographic with more money to spend. “We think of the brands as sisters. We all know Victoria is the sexy supermodel big sister, sophisticated, forever young, with fashion that ranges from good to better and definitely to best. La Senza is the little sister - youthfully flirty, impetuous, generally more interested in good prices on now fashion,” Brown said. This would not be the first time a company split market share and remained profitable. Canadian Tire currently operates both an automotive department in house and externalized, specialty auto part stores. Clothier Reitman’s (Canada) Limited also operates Smart-Set, Pennington’s as well as others. Some analysts speculate that
existing La Senza stores will be eventually converted to Victoria’s Secret outlets. However, no such plans have been released by Limited Brands at this time. The Canadian underwear and nightwear market is alluring. The market is considered to be worth $2 billion, and has grown over the past five years by 29 per cent. Assuming that going commando will stay out of fashion, the market is forecasted to grow 39.3 per cent by 2013 according to researcher Euromonitor. La Senza’s same store sales fell second quarter, by 11 per cent. The chain has struggled since the death of co-founder and president, Laurence Lewin in 2008. There are currently over 300 stores operating in Canada with franchised outlets established internationally. Limited Brand’s sales were up last quarter compared to competitors such as Abercrombie and Fitch, who saw their sales drop by 17 per cent. Macy’s sales also fell 16.1 per cent last quarter and Target also took a hit by 1.5 per cent, missing the mark of analysts’ expectations of a drop of only 0.5 per cent.
La Senza was purchased by Limited Brands in 2007 after they lost a lawsuit over a new style of wireless push up bra.
By spring 2010 Canadians will know what Victoria’s Secret is, but will La Senza be lost in the cleavages of stiff competition?
SUPPLIED PHOTO
When Victoria goes North La Senza may feel the pinch.
C2 • THE SILHOUETTE around the globe
United States: Goldman Sachs to Blame for Collapse of Big Bank Hank Greenberg, former chief executive officer at American International Group Inc (NYSE: AIG). said Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) is responsible for the collapse of the insurer during the economic crisis, the Wall Street Journal reported. China: China Takes a ‘Big Step’ Invesco (NYSE: IVZ) one of the largest investment management companies in the United States reports that China opened its capital markets this month by approving stock index futures. This will pave the way for increased investment in the world’s fastest growing major economy. Sweden: Potential bidder for Saab Bernie Eccelstone, the Formula One racing mogul has emerged as a po-
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 tential savoir for Saab Automobile after teaming up with Genii Capital, a Luxembourg-based private equity fund to purchase the company. The Potential bid would compete with one from Dutch boutique car maker Spyker Cars (AMS: SPYKR). United Kingdom: Watchdog criticizes ‘puerile Ryanair on fees Last Monday Ryanair, one of the large discount airlines in Britain rejected strong criticism from Britain’s top business regulator. Europe’s largest airline was accused of “puerile” tactics in the way it adds credit card fees on to advertised fares without advertising it as such. Saudi Arabia: Lending slowdown hits Saudi banks Three Saudi banks posted fourthquarter earnings below forecasts, hit by a slowdown in lending growth and higher provisions, with one bank posting quarterly losses.
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Focus 2040 could land you a 4-month internship • CONT’D FROM C1 Verity International, a third party career management firm. Focus 2040 started when founder of The Strategic Capability Network, Ezra Rosen spoke to professors at McMaster about a similar competition he himself participated in. “[My professor] divided the class into teams of 5 and challenged us to predict what management would be like 30 years out, in 1997”. The quality of the challenge was a great learning experience. “It worked. It was one of the best learning experiences of my stay in
California. I kept the final report and pulled it out in 1997. Our predictions while conservative were in the range of what did unfold.” Rosen said on Focus 2040’s website. It was Rosen’s positive experience while in school that would eventually create Focus 2040. The Strategic Capability Network provides strategic capability, leadership and organizational practice. There are chapters in Toronto, Calgary and London. Information, rules, regulations and full contest details for Focus 2040 can be found online at focus2040.com.
Raging bull
It is finally 2010, the end of a decade and the start of a new year. Trends will come and go, new innovations will make our lives easier, and of course there are New Year’s Resolutions, those things that we make every year, only to break a few weeks in. For most, when the ball drops and Dick Clark’s countdown ends the start of a new year starts. It signifies a new beginning, a time when we can lose that extra 10 pounds we have been meaning to every year. It might just be an excuse, or maybe when you really think about it, it sounds silly? In my opinion, we perceive the entire notion of “the new year” as a time to procrastinate, put things off, until we get hold of enough initiative to get things done. That’s if we even get them done at all. You hear it all the time, usually
around September. “Come January I’m going to finally get that membership to the gym and start acting healthier,” says the business man with no time or intention of actually using the membership. Or the student who promises, “I’m not going to leave any assignments to the last minute this year.” Then there’s my personal favourite, “I’m going to try and make it to every 8:30 a.m. lecture this semester.” We may fail and our resolutions might fall through, but they serve a purpose. To help us feel better about our bad habits. If you ask me, setting goals and planning ahead is definitely not silly. You’re probably thinking right now that I am a hypocrite because I can’t wake up before noon to save my life. You might be saying, “who is he to slag my resolution? I will
go to class early!” Well you would be wrong because I have big dreams for 2010. We have created and produced the Silhouette’s first business section. My resolution to you, the reader is to provide informative, sexy, and cutting edge business news for students. We will be the only paper asking where your money is being spent. So even if you have a resolution or life changing epiphany the second the clock hits 12:00 a.m., just make sure that what you resolve is more realistic than going to the gym three days a week in January. We all know how cold that walk to your car is after your shower, so do not kid yourself. Instead, spend it inside with a warm drink reading about your business in the Silhouette. • Santino Marinucci
Shake your way to the top
Soft skill tips to shape up your shake
FARHANG GHAJAR / THE SILHOUETTE
Simon Granat Business Editor
The handshake is the most elementary social skill in the business world. Nothing can tell more about the person you are about to deal with, or sour an interview faster. A good, firm handshake will impress anyone and put your best foot forward. Most of all, a handshake says a lot about someone personally; in a very short time it tells about a person’s character. But while the handshake is undeniably important, for many it is a lost art; especially for students whose social lives are increasingly becoming dominated by text messages, emails and iPhones. There is no app for the perfect handshake. But there is hope. Here are a list of tips to guide you to shake your way to the top. First and foremost, be confident. This is probably the most important thing to remember. Employers look for confidence, which is not to be confused with arrogance. There are many ways to be confident, but above all if you know where you stand it will show in your shake. There is a difference between a
Think you’re a business guru? Strut your stuff in the
firm grip and a strong grip. A good shake has a firm grip. A handshake is a greeting, not a test of strength so if your grip is too strong, it can seem aggressive or overeager. It can make the other person feel uncomfortable or worse yet, it can hurt them. On the other hand, nothing is as disappointing as a soft shake. Let’s face it, I love my aunt Mable, but I do not want to hire her for a job at the box factory. Stand with your shoulders back and squarely face the other person. Confidence is not limited to your grip; it reads from your whole body. Also, facing the other person is respectful. it shows that you are making time for them. It is a good idea to make eye contact throughout the handshaking process. It’s another way that you can be confident without having to feel like you need to grip too hard. The length of the handshake is also important. A proper handshake should consist of two to three pumps, or last for two to four seconds. There are solid handshakes out there with no pumps. While it might be acceptable, it just is not a handshake. Also, letting go of the
other person’s hand prematurely can feel awkward or rude. Otherwise, holding on too long may be uncomfortable for the other person, who may just want it to be over. The shake should come from the elbow. Think: Mr. Roboto. Keep your wrist and shoulder firm. The web of your hand should meet the web of their hand. Use your whole hand. Do not shake with just your fingers, you are not the queen. Sweaty palms are not preferred but acceptable. Both people should avoid drawing any attention to them. Use one hand. Two hands seems phony, something that your friendly neighbourhood MP might do. It should be avoided at all costs. If you shake hands a lot wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer because nobody wants The Swine. Above all it is important to be yourself. It will help you relax. This is important because while you want to appear professional, you do not want to appear stuffy. A handshake can be as unique as a fingerprint. Find what works for you and just go with it.
$500 in Prizes! • Free to Join!
Silhouette Stock Challenge! Are you convinced that you are the next Warren Buffet? Do you look for high payouts and dividends like it is your job? Here is your chance to prove it. We are looking for students like you to participate in The Silhouette’s Stock Market Challenge. The challenge will be hosted online by Wall Street Survivor. Traders get $100,000 in fantasy money to buy any common stock, preferred stock, or ETF listed on NYSE, NASDAQ, or AMEX exchange. The trading is done with a 15 minute delay and all prices and commodities are identical to the ones you see in the paper every day. This is your chance to get you and your
friends together to duke it out for bragging rights on who is the best trader. On the site there are friend lists and posting functions similar to Facebook. You can taunt, trade tips or ask questions about what stocks are hot or not, whatever will increase your chances winning. The trader with the most money at the end of the competition will win $300 at Titles, with the next two receiving $100 each. Only registered McMaster students may play. The Silhouette Fantasy Stock Challenge will take place from Tuesday January 26 to Monday March 1 2010. So be sure to have your account registered by the 26th of January to get you best chance. Let the games begin.
$300 Best Buy Gift Certificate for 1st place $100 Best Buy Gift Certificate for 2nd and 3rd Follow your portfolio weekly in the Sil Business Section!
Steps to join: It is pretty easy to sign up, just follow these simple steps and you’re on your way to making cold hard fictional cash. Go to the Wall Street Survivor website: https://www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/Public/Members/Register.aspx Fill out your personal information in the boxes provided; choose Canada as your country and Hamilton as your city. You must register with a valid McMaster email address and handle. You must enter ‘silbiz’ as the promo code. Otherwise you will not be able to compete. You will then be sent an email confirming that you have set up an account, from here click the, “confirm registration” link. From here you will be able to start trading immediately, making you one step closer to the sweet smell of a $300 gift certificate.
THE SILHOUETTE • C3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
EXECUTIVE SILHOUETTES
From cheers to charity: Teresa Cascioli Mac grad and former Lakeport CEO goes beyond the brew
Compiled by Simon Granat & Santino Marinucci
Unemployment Stagnates: In December the Canadian unemployment rate remained unchanged from November at 8.5 per cent. It remains below the October 2008 peak of 10.4 per cent. Jobs decreased the most in business, warehousing and transportation sectors. Notably, construction is up 30,000 jobs since March.
SIMON GRANAT BUSINESS EDITOR
As the former CEO of Lakeport Breweries, Teresa Cascioli made her name as a hometown Hamilton hero coining the Lakeport slogan “24 for 24.” The words quickly became the anthem of the city. In about 2 years from June 2005, the time of Lakeport’s first public offer, to its sale to the John Labatt Brewing Company Limited in March 2007, she took the struggling brew company from the brink of bankruptcy to holding a 30 per cent share of the Canadian beer market. A native Hamiltonian, Cascioli has spent her life giving back to the city that gave to her. Cascioli’s parents were from Italy and had to work very hard to provide for the family. “They were really the best entrepreneurs,” Cascioli said in an interview with the Silhouette. They did not have a prestigious title, or a corner office. They had to work, “hard to make a mark on their own”. Cascioli credits her parents as her best influence and admits that seeing their hard work and determination helped inspire her. At the end of the day Teresa admits that she is driven to “do the best job no matter what I do”. This is a mantra that has followed her from her days as a McMaster student working three jobs to her days in the corner office. She admits that doing her best gives her a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day. When Cascioli attended McMaster students did not have black- party every night. While she admits berries or laptops. Technology was that books and lectures are a very limited, and students had to use important part of the learning propunch card readers. cess, for her, these skills are what Cascioli was only 17 years old students really learn from univerin her freshman year. Her youth sity life. made the freshman experience awkTo be successful, Cascioli exward, “it was difficult for me”. She plained that to her, what was most admitted that her age made it feel important, was the attitude of like she had some catching up to do. recent graduates when they enter But it was all for the best. Call- the workforce. She stressed that ing it a, “wonderful experience” students have to realize that they she looks back have to start at the fondly on her time bottom to work We started years their way up. That at McMaster. She described how they must guard ago and people being in a univeragainst the pitfalls said, ‘Hey let’s sity atmosphere of entitlement. make things more and being in the She explained midst of educated efficient’ and they how students who minds made her the work force really didn’t care. enter feel unique. She do not know much. said that it makes Only in the past five They will learn, she people feel like years or so have we mentioned, but also they are in an elite stressed that, “edubuilt this.” group. cation is the beginFor Cascioli ning of the future”. the university experience is not It will get your foot in the door, but just books. It is, “the things you to make your way up the corporate learn while getting your education”. ladder you have to be, “hardworkNamely, to prioritize, multitask and ing and considerate”. become disciplined. A student has Sacrifices come with success. to learn that they cannot go out and It takes hard work and time. She
the water cooler
Bank of Canada Refuses to “Tinker” The Bank of Canada refuses to raise interest rates to try and curb the boom in the housing market. Instead, they prefer to leave the job up to the feds who have not yet confirmed or denied that they will take any action. CanWest to Sell off Newspaper Assets CanWest Global Communications Corp (TSX: CGS-X) is attempting to sell off its newspaper division, CanWest LP. The company’s newspaper assets have become insolvents and are expected to sell for around one billion dollars. Some of the papers owned by CanWest are the Montreal Gazette, the Vancouver Sun and the Calgary Herald. Obama to Tax Banks Large CEO bonuses from American banks have prompted speculation that Obama will levy a tax or a fee to try and payback the bailout money the government provided them. The government spent $205 billion (USD) to help banks. $122 billion has been repaid. SUPPLIED PHOTO
emphasized that students need to go into the workforce with the right frame of mind and to understand that it is for the long haul. They will not get a corner office right out of school. Cascioli has no regrets in life. Admittedly, she has made mistakes, but those are different. She explained how mistakes are just, “experience”, it is how students and people deal with their mistakes that help them learn. There is a danger to succeeding in life. It is forgetting where you came from. She has tried to stay grounded. “It’s all about giving back and remembering where you came from,” Cascioli proclaimed. Lakeport’s success is in large part due to Hamiltonians. They reacted well to beer and to Lakeport. This is one of the reasons why whenever they could, Lakeport would donate to charity or give back to the community. To her it is a mutual relationship. If there is no customer, there is no business. It is a kind of partnership. Cascioli’s first major donation since establishing the Teresa Cascioli Foundation, whose focus is to give back to the Hamilton Community, was made in March
2007 to McMaster University. It established the Entrepeneurial Chair of Business at the DeGroote School of Business. It is important that all people “never forget where you came from,” Cascioli said. Despite the foundation’s focus to help Hamiltonians, Cascioli has also been changed by it. She explained how people who reach a high profile in the business world may take things for granted, something she believes it is important to guard against. The charity has made her realize the importance of staying grounded. She emphasized hat it is important to give back to the city that gave to you, “when you give back, you get more than you give”. Hamiltonians may remember Teresa Cascioli’s legacy for a number of reasons: for her work ethic, Lakeport, or for her charitable attempts to make the lives of Hamiltonians better. Whatever legacy Cascioli leaves, or citizens conjure for her, she will not forget where she came from. It is her history that drives her to support students and citizens. To give back to those who need it most.
Canada Bread Co. to move factories Canada Bread Co (TSE: CBY-T) maker of Dempster’s Bread plans to close three Toronto bakeries and move production elsewhere in Ontario. The company hopes to find jobs for all 435 employees when they move in 2013. Cadbury Hungry for more Cadbury turned down the bid for a $17 billion hostile takeover by Kraft Foods. Cadbury stated that they rejected the offer because it did not have a “significantly increased cash component.” TD sued in U.S over debit fees Toronto Dominion Bank’s (TSE:TD) U.S retail unit has been accused of gouging debit card holders by charging loan fees to overdrawn accounts. TD has been processing debit card transactions that exceed available balances on accounts, providing “courtesy” loans. As if it wasn’t enough! Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks (SBUX-Q) plans on a price increase in ‘certain’ drinks by 10 - 25 cents, but maintain that one-third of drinks will stay the same.
Google shakes up smartphone market with new OS U.S. iPhone sales in 2010 will be around 16 million, and global sales The biggest up and coming phone of will reach 36 million. This will 2010 is the Nexus One. This means dwarf Google’s Nexus One, which that as long as Google and web ap- is expecting around 5 and 6 million plications continue to improve at units sold by year’s end. the rate they are, Apple is the only Even though the Nexus one company with potential to retain its will come on as a strong competicurrent user base. tor in the Smartphone market Apple This also means that in 2010 will be tough to beat. Apple’s major competition for market share will be against the Pros: The 3Gs has twice the storNexus One and their new Android age and is significantly faster than software. This is primarily based on the iPhone 3G. It also has a built-in the growing market of users looking camera for basic photography, with for apps. zoom capabilities with the added But will this affect Apples bonus of video recording, someoverall sales of the iPhone? Prob- thing the iPhone 3G didn’t have. ably not. Analysts Piper Jaffray and Gene Munster estimate that Cons: Battery life may be insuffi• CONT’D FROM C1
cient for heavy users. In many countries the iPhone is only available with an expensive multiyear contract. Some competitive mobile phones offer superior cameras and additional features. Motorola DROID ($599) Motorola (NYSE: MOT) has generally disappointed users when it comes to competing in the Smartphone market. The Motorola DROID may be the exception for 2010. It will run completely off Google’s brand new Android platform. This means that users will supposedly experience faster web browsing and excellent call quality. Top it all off with a sleek new
Bear: Abercrombie and Fitch (NYSE: ANF) For most retailers January is a slow month. And then there is Clothier Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF). In December they posted “worse than expected sales.” Stores open longer than a year saw a 19 per cent drop in that month. To make it worse, analysts lowered their estimates of A&F’s fourth quarter and full year profit outlook. So what happened? Shareholders spanked the preppy clothes retailer as share prices fell almost $4 per share from $36 to the $34 range between Jan 4 and Jan 8. Stay tuned to see if Abercrombie & Fitch can keep its head above water when the fourth quarter and 2009 earnings will be released on Feb. 16.
design and what’s not to like? This means that for the first time since the Razr, Motorola may be competitive in the mobile market. By running the DROID on Google’s OS, Motorola will be at the forefront of smartphone technology. Motorola has slimmed down its phone operations considerably during the past few years and under Sanjay Jha the current CEO, who joined from Qualcomm 18 months ago, has refocused its research and development operations on the Android platform. Although Motorola has placed itself in a positive position to reclaim its place in the smartphone market by implementing the Android OS
Bull: Ford (NYSE: F) Who knew that there was such a thing as a profitable American car company? Ford (NYSE: F) had a successful 2009. They were the only one of the big three that turned down government funding and managed to be profitable by the end of the year. They even increased sales in China by 440,000 vehicles in 2009, up 44 per cent from 315,791 units sold in 2008. It doesn’t hurt when your competition goes bankrupt, and has a revolving door of CEOs. At this week’s Detroit Auto Show, Ford also plans to unveil the new Focus. This new compact’s globally standardized design will increase production efficiency and should mean big bucks for Ford.
into the DROID, there does not seem to be enough redeeming factors present in Motorola’s DROID to make it competitive. Pros: The DROID boasts fast processing speeds, a 5.0 megapixel camera and an exciting, new operating system. Cons: The phone design needs work. The keyboard is too flat making it hard to type. There is no call, mute or hang-up buttons for phone use making the phone more complex than it has to be. The vibrate function is also weak, making one of the simplest and most needed functions not present.
C4 • THE SILHOUETTE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010
Your money
Digging out from seasonal credit card debt Simon Granat Business Editor
The holiday season is over and it is time to get back to school. ‘Tis the season for credit card debt. January is the month where students may be in a financial pickle as the bills pile up. Many students find that after holiday spending, textbooks and tuition have forced them to carry a balance. There are ways to deal with, reduce and manage credit card debt. But before you try and curb your spending habits by skimping on textbooks, students should try and deal with the root of the problem—the balance owed. Spending less will not help your credit rating, or stop interest rates. It is better to pay down your card as quickly as possible. There are about 74 million credit cards in Canadian wallets. The average interest rate falls somewhere between 17 to 19 per cent. Consumers should be careful. Interest rates can make debt rise quickly. First and foremost, the best way to deal with credit card debt is to pay it off. In the long run it will actually save you money. Say that your average McMaster student spent $300 for textbooks, and $150 on holiday gifts. Their balance would total $450. If that student only pays $50 toward their next payment they would owe 18 per cent on a balance of $400. For those of you with calculators in hand, our student would owe $72 in interest for that month. Making minimum and marginal payments are just not enough. Minimum and missing payments can sour your credit rating, and potentially destroy your self esteem. If you have savings, now is the time to use them. Your money will have a greater impact paying off your plastic before it accumulates. Some may be hesitant. Spending your savings can be scary. There is a bright side to all this – you potentially have another eight
months before the next school year. There is plenty of time to work and stash your cash. Of course, this only happens if you are not paying interest over those eight months. There is still hope if you are strapped for cash. One option to try and lessen your debt is to shop around for a better interest rate. Take the time to talk to your bank and explain your situation. Often you can shift your money to a card with a lower interest rate. Even a difference of 0.5 per cent will make a huge difference in the long run. If you transfer your balance, just make sure that you look over everything. Are there any additional fees? There is more to look at than just the interest rate. Of course, always talk to a banking professional before making any financial decisions. “You’re richer than you think.” There are many ways students can spend less and stretch that loonie even further. How? For some, alcohol is a great place to cut out nonessential spending and save money. A pint of beer at an average bar is double the price you would pay for the same product at the LCBO. Try and either drink less or stay in more. It is probably better than going to 1280 anyway. Finding places to park off campus for free, and taking the bus may take a little longer but it will save you hundreds of dollars a year. Also, cell phone providers change their plans frequently. Check out your carrier’s website or contact them and see if there are ways that you can trim your monthly bill. Finally, cooking at home can save you money. Even something as simple as making coffee at home and taking it to school can save you upwards of five or ten dollars a week. Learn your lesson and control your spending habits. Even after your debt is paid off, make sure you keep it that way. Just be sure to spend responsibly or you may find that you’ll end up in an even worse spot come the next holiday season.
Market watch from the GTF ANDREW VRANA
MAC INVESTMENT CLUB CFO
World equity indices began 2010 higher than 2009. While the rate of gain may have slowed, markets continued their rise on the back of commodity prices driven by growth in the emerging markets. In Canada, jobless numbers unexpectedly grew by 2,600, surprising economists and prompted downward pressure on the S&P/ TSX Composite Index. There was also renewed activity in the metals, mining and energy sectors, prompted by high commodity prices. Oil ended the week firmly above $80 a barrel. This provided the impetus for the TSX to close is at its 52-
week high. South of the border, American economic figures were more positive overall. Mortgage applications grew at a rate greater than expected by surveyed economists. The 0.5 per cent increase is thought to be an indication of a leveling-off in the country’s troubled housing sector, and signals towards a continued recovery in the overall American economy. Wholesale inventories increased, defying all expectations proving that the economy is recovering. Several measures of economic health continue to cause concern that the American recovery will continue to be both drawn out and difficult. Payroll numbers con-
tinue to shrink, and consumer credit shrank a whopping $12.5 billion (USD) more than expected. It will be quite a while before ordinary Americans feel the recovery in their wallets. In the United States, the shift towards cheap Chinese goods will likely be shown in the widening of the country’s trade deficit, from $32.9 billion, to $34.6 billion. America’s month-over-month inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), decreased from 0.4 per cent to 0.2 per cent. While year-over-year inflation, measured by CPI is expected to have increased from 1.80 per cent to 2.80 per cent. Resulting from monetary expansion and rising commodity prices.
Mac Investment Club trains students for the future ANDREW VRANA
MAC INVESTMENT CLUB CFO
With a rocky economic recovery, stalling stock markets, and a new term just starting the Mac Investment Club is halfway through its second year. The club pools together members’ money to invest, giving them more buying power than they would have individually. Since October 2009 when the club began trading, it has managed to turn a modest return of almost 6.5 per cent. Founded by Arunan Sridharan and Jason Lui, with the goal of helping students learn about the markets. The MIC is over 180 members strong and manages approximately $50,000 in student-donated assets. The future of the Mac Investment Club looks bright, with the majority of the members looking to continue in the club next year.
Despite tough economic times, the MIC has successfully grown its membership from 68 people last year to 183 this year. The assets they manage have also grown from approximately $20,000 to nearly $50,000 in the same time. Members take an active role. They come out to meetings where they discuss their portfolio’s holdings. Senior Trader and club technical analysis expert Paul Zogala explains the recipe to the club’s success, “never fight the trend, if stocks are going down there is a reason for that.” Zogala prioritizes his investment strategy. “Successful investing can be broken down into a few steps. Find financially strong companies with a catalyst to push up the price and follow proper risk management procedures. No investor is right 100 per cent of the time.”
The club follows certain rules when trading stock. First they are limited to holding onto stock, no short selling, or use of any options. Industry analyst teams present the stock picks to the club. Members then vote on them via email. If the majority of the voters choose in favour of the stock, then it is added to the portfolio. All the club’s members were required to buy slots at the beginning of the year for $250 each. The club then uses these slots to buy its holdings in addition to a $10 membership fee. Mike Inksetter, one of the club’s Fund Manager’s and a returning member explains why he joined the club. “The club offers the opportunity to learn about how to manage a large portfolio in a way that most of us could not with our limited amount of cash. For $250 we can play with the big boys.”
Our resident experts say it best.
“Ross University was the only medical school I applied to. It has a great track record and I’m just one of thousands of success stories.” – Armin Kamyab, MD '08 Toronto Surgery Resident
“I learned an appreciation for veterinary medicine and have been inspired every day to be the best I can be.” “I am who I am today because of Ross University. I’m a doctor, I attained the residency I wanted, and I made friends for a lifetime.”
– Priti Karnik, DVM '01 San Diego Small Animal Surgeon
– Paola Portela, MD '07 Chicago Pediatrics Resident “Ross gave me the opportunity to pursue the profession I have always dreamed of. It was an experience I’ll never forget.” – Michael Higgins, DVM '01 Vancouver Veterinary Neurologist
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE S C H O O L O F V E T E R I N A RY M E D I C I N E Ross University has graduated over 9,400 successful physicians and veterinarians who are practicing throughout Canada and the U.S. • We
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index
D2 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine
thursday, january 14, 2010
Senior Editor: Grace Evans Entertainment Editor: Myles Herod Music Editor: Corrigan Hammond Contributors: Simon Granat, Caitlin McKitrick, Dan Hawie, Jemma Wolfe, Katherine Snider-McNair, Roxanne Hathway-Baxter, Kevin Elliott, Aaron Joo, Ben Small, Phil Wood, Chris Hoy, Catherine Brasch, Rachel Harvey,
Cover: Will van Engen
this week
what’s inside
in the hammer
culture
Stereos Hamilton Place 8:00 p.m. Lioness Absinthe 9:00 p.m. Guns N’ Roses Copps Coliseum 8:00 p.m. Classified 1280 9:00 p.m.
feb. 7
Kevin Kane This Aint Hollywood 9:00 p.m.
feb. 15
jan. 15 jan. 15 jan. 16
p.12
jan. 21
Constantines: “The past ten years have been good for the Constantines. And last December’s brief eleven-day Tenth Anniversary tour...was a testament of just how far they’ve come during the past decade.”
p.10
Grand Analog Absinth 9:00 p.m.
jan. 22
Nilla: “Dubbed by the Ottawa Citizen as a “rap poetess,” McMaster alumni and local Hamilton talent Nilla has taken it upon herself to challenge the popular stereotypes and preconceptions that surround women and their role in the hip-hop community.”
p.8
Nilla The Casbah 10:00 p.m.
jan. 23
Susan Boyle: “On Apr. 11, 2009, she appeared on the first round of the television show Britain’s Got Talent and performed ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Misérables to a ten million strong audience. The YouTube of the performance video currently has more than a staggering 85 million views.”
Wax Mannequin Absinthe 9:00 p.m.
jan. 24
music
music
feb. 23
p.5
Leap Year: “The problem with Leap Year is, the plot did nothing new for the chick flick genre; it merely recycled what has already been done and redone and done again.”
Woodpigeon The Casbah 8:00 p.m Wilco Hamilton Place 8:00 p.m
art Crude Landscapes Art Gallery of Hamilton 123 King St., Hamilton 905-577-6610 info@artgalleryofhamilton. com
sept.26-jan.17
film
Westdale Theatre Up in the Air Thu, Fri, Sat: 7:00, 9:15
Basia Bulat Casbah 8:00 p.m.
theatre sept.24- jan.3
playng
p.6
The Spy Next Door The Book of Eli Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil
White Christmas By Ron Ulrich Theatre Aquarius 190 King William St. 1-800-465-7529 boxoffice@theatreaquarius.org
andy’s pick now
opening
film
jan. 29
andy’s best of the decade: “With the help of our exquisite volunteers, and some alcohol, we have compiled two top twenty lists pertaining to the very best of film and music from 2000 - 2009.”
rip jay reatard and eric rohmer. new roommates. modern family. my mom because she is so nice.
the fifth daughter on the twelfth night told the first father... write for andy. musc b110.
andy cover art contest illustrate/ collage/ photograph your own design and have it featured in andy’s january 28 edition deadline is january 26
submit to musc b110
thursday, january 14, 2010
f.u.b.a.r.
adulations from white audiences, its popularity now seems reduced to vague recollections of a nauseating visual editorial column assault from the myles herod ghettos of Mumbai. Only weeks later, on Mar. 6th, comic fans, What did the final year of the double mostly of the middle aged, still living zeros provide in terms of cinema? Well the best thing about 2009 was in their parents basement-type, that it bookended a decade where flocked to midnight screenings of style and acting achieved some of Alan Moore’s long awaited graphic its greatest highs, while screenplays novel turned three-hour epic. Yes, suffered, save for the inventiveness Watchmen, directed by Zack Synder, of Charlie Kaufman. While 2007 may be the boldest superhero film was arguably the artistic apex ever, somehow bypassing the studio of the past decade, 2009’s lack with no apparent ‘name’ actors, a of distinct successors made up blood soaked R rating, and the for it in terms of quiet diversity. inerasable sight of Dr. Manhattan’s male appendage. It was a hodgepodge of glowing Comedies came fandom and bravado, bolstering an ostentatious sci-fi resurgence, sporadically, few being memorable, an overwhelming acceptance of many acquiring the distinction zombie and vampire chic, WWII of crass and witless duds starring rewritten by Hollywood’s premier the likes for Gerard Butler or poser, a searing tale of an Iraq bomb Jennifer Aniston. The good? Well squad in the dessert heat, and a Michael Cera’s doppelganger, trio of films released by George Jesse Eisenberg, starred in two: Clooney. The year regrettably Zombieland and Adventureland. began with Slumdog Millionaire While the prior displayed a taking home best picture at the brilliant cameo by Bill Murray and Academy Awards. Yielding copious the American emergence of the ‘zom-com,’ the latter prevailed as
column
something truly special. Director Greg Mottola, also of Superbad fame, deserves the comparisons to the late, great John Hughes. With Adventureland, he not only creates a sincere portrait of the vulnerable Eisenberg finding love over a brief summer but also infuses his film with the sounds and appreciation of Lou Reed, Yo La Tengo and The Replacements. Similarly, Taiwanese director Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock also conjured up a coming of age story in 2009, containing obviously great music and a fantastically poignant LSD trip. What about the summer? Well besides Transformers: Rise of the Fallen and GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra, which I’m only going to mention once, District 9 proved to be the most impressive. Made for 25 million, its thinly guised story of apartheid is told through aliens, technology, and visceral action ala David Cronenberg-esque. A true winner. Sure, everyone was talking about Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds. Frankly, besides watching Christoph Waltz marvelously chew the scenery, it came across as boring and misleading. Where were the basterds? While couples related to 500 Days of Summer with its Annie
the big tickle compiled by michelle ng
“avatar.” aisha goraya
the silhouette’s art + culture magazine • D3 Hall imitation, and Knowing proved Nicholas Cage is interesting even if the film isn’t, Star Trek came blazing, with its cool reinvention and good ol’ fashion fun. Oh, and let’s not forget The Hangover, which made a star out of Zack Galifinakis and Bradley Cooper or the delightful Up, with those heart tugging opening moments. On the opposite side, fall indeed brought the heavy hitters. Anti-Christ, the film with genital mutilation, hardcore sex scenes and mainstream actors Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg was like taking an involuntary punch to face. A Single Man, directed by fashion designer Tom Ford showed incredible visuals, as did Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are, even if both scripts weren’t the most sound. Blair Witch knock off Paranormal Activity predictably scared with its midnight screenings, while Oprah’s TIFF discovery, Precious, scared for entirely different reasons. Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker showed the harrowing life of bomb diffusers and the insanity of the Iraq war in general, even though it should’ve ended in the grocery store and not with slow motion
and a guitar riff. While The Coen Brothers quietly released A Serious Man, some declaring it better than No Country for Old Men, Jeff Bridges strums his guitar in Crazy Heart as a washed up country singer. Can you say Oscar nomination? Hollow glamour ran rampant with Nine, an unnecessary musical remake of 8 ½, while the 12 year wait of Avatar was even more disappointingly peculiar. James Cameron may know how to spend 300 million dollars, but does he remember how to write an adequate screenplay that can live up to his grandiose appetite? Finally we come to Up in the Air, a film that streamlines the economic downturn of America into an accessible, albeit bitterly realistic affair. Director Jason Reitman’s wonderful touch embodies the balancing act of light comedic nuances juxtaposed to factual hard times, a trademark of Frank Capra and Preston Sturges pictures of the 30’s and 40’s. Quite honestly, this may be my favourite, no flash, just quiet honesty, with a splendid performance by Clooney. Then again, I did enjoy Men Who Stare at Goats, oh, and The Fantastic Mr. Fox too!
q: what is your favourite film of 2009?
& corrigan hammond
“inglorious basterds.” jeremy forsyth
“avatar.”
“avatar.” khurum shafi
“500 days of summer.” kestrel gibson
farai mudereri
D4 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine
literature
thursday, janruary 14, 2010
an unfinished masterpiece?
thirty-two years later, vladimir nabokov’s final novel is posthumously released
Vladimir Nabokov, arguably one of the most talented and acclaimed writers of the twentieth century, was in the process of writing The Original of Laura at the time of his death in 1977. Knowing his health was failing him, he began to fear that he would not live long enough to finish his final work, so he gave explicit instructions to his wife Véra to have the manuscript burned in case of such an occurrence. Woefully, Nabokov succumbed to severe congestive bronchitis before ever completing the first draft, and of course Véra, and her son Dmitri, could neither bring themselves to incinerate the one hundred and thirty-eight handwritten index cards that comprised the manuscript, nor publish them. Torn between respecting her husband and his father’s dying wish and the increasingly scrutinizing demands of the literary world, their resolve was to dismiss the cards into the mystical confines of a Swiss bank vault. Upon Véra’s death in 1991, Dmitri became Nabokov’s sole executor, inheriting an intense and piercing pressure. The term “Dmitri’s dilemma” had entered the university and literary vernacular as a metonymy for the tension between the art world and the rights of the artist. To
whom does great art belong to: the public or the artist? Thus was Dmitri’s dilemma. Dmitri shared the manuscript with only a few scholars, and short excerpts were scantly allowed for publication; he himself only dared, at least initially, as he admits in his introduction to the book, to read the index cards but a handful of times, and mostly only for editing purposes. Three decades had produced a magical aura of The Original of Laura; those mere one hundred and thirty-eight shabby and elementary index cards had become the subject of deified wonderment by too many. For Dmitri, the cards were a “disturbing specter.” Hence his announcement in 2008 to finally publish the manuscript — in full. The BBC’s Newsnight declared that it was “likely to be the literary event of 2009.” On November 17, 2009, The Original of Laura (Dying Is Fun): A novel in fragments, almost thirty two and a half years after Nabokov’s death, was officially published for the first time. An abomination! How could Dmitri do this? Alas, I cannot help myself! How could he not? Nabokov, ever the lover of language, is perhaps matched only by the likes of few as one of the greatest literary wordsmiths of all time. Naturally, only his
ecstatic and playful prose could produce the horrid pedophiliac incest abound in Lolita and have it applauded as “the only convincing love story” of the twentieth century by Vanity Fair. Surely Nabokov would have regretted denying the world something written so rapturously. If he really wanted the manuscript burned, he would have done it himself. Such was Dmitri’s defence in his introduction. He reaffirms Nabokov’s own claim in the afterword to Lolita that he almost tossed a draft of the novel into his incinerator before Véra intervened — and, worried “the ghost of the destroyed book would haunt” him, and he was glad she did. As Dmitri asks, would the ghost of Laura not also have haunted his father? I am not prepared to go into any length summarizing the plot. Some chapters are complete; others are merely scattered paragraphs interspersed with Nabokov’s notes and research. As far as I can tell, the middle-aged Dr. Philip Wild is married to the young and unfaithfully promiscuous Flora, who reminds him of a woman he had once been in love with, Aurora. A novel within the novel, My Laura, written by a once rejected admirer of Flora’s, depicts his affair with the girl. I think Laura is Flora, but the coy
Nabokov conflates the matter, even using the hybrid FLaura at one point. Is the original Aurora? Or is it some variant of FLaura? In any case, it seems to drive Wild mad, as he becomes obsessed with death and a kind of metaphorical suicide of selferasure. Extended passages that read like a Freudian case study portray his attempts to expunge himself through meditation, “a mounting melting from the feet upward.” When reading, expect a mixed reaction of frustration and confusion because of the novel’s fragmented incompleteness, with exulting jubilance over rich wordplays that almost reflect vintage Nabokov. The book was published using thick pages, a photograph of each index card per page, perforated so they can be removed and rearranged as actual index cards—something which I think is both interesting and insultingly trivializing. Below each card is a typed transcription. Ultimately, despite the lively prose, part of me was saddened (aside from being perplexed) to read Nabokov’s work so incomplete and unpolished. But anyone who criticizes Dmitri’s decision, I daresay, is a hypocrite.
•Kevin Elliott
thursday, january 14, 2010
film
the silhouette’s art + culture magazine • D5
take a leap into thin air with leap year 2010’s hyped-up chick flick falls short, yet still entertains
Leap Year Directed by: Anand Tucker Starring: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode
One thing is for sure, there was no expense spared in the advertising budget for Leap Year, the latest chick flick to start off the new decade. The movie opened last Friday, and in the weeks leading up to its release there were a plethora of television and Internet ads that promised movie-goers a warm-and-fuzzy experience complete with a typical chick flick dilemma: city guy, or country guy… which one will the heroine say “yes” to? Yes, Leap Year pledged itself to be one of those delightful yet predictable, feel-good-by-beingmindlessly-entertained romantic comedies that would, well, make you feel good. So it was with this feel-good expectation that I walked into the theatre, and in that sense, I did not leave disappointed. However, the movie on a whole did leave much to be desired,
particularly where the plot is concerned. Leap Year begins with Anna (Amy Adams), a seemingly materialistic, independent young woman from Boston who is certain that her cardiologist boyfriend of four years, Jeremy (Stepbrother’s Adam Scott), is “the one.” She is quickly disappointed when he gives her a pair of diamond earrings instead of the solitaire ring she so desperately desires. Frustrated, Anna decides to take matters into her own hands. The rest of the movie is based on a ridiculous old Irish tradition, which states that a woman can only propose to a man during a leap year on February 29th. As luck would have it, the timeline in the movie directly coincides with this tradition, and Anna flies to Ireland to secure the elusive Jeremy (who is coincidentally attending a medical conference in Dublin) once and for all. With only a few days to find Jeremy, Anna must overcome many obstacles (including a strapping young man named Declan, played by handsome British actor Matthew Goode) that come her way in
order to pop the question before the 29th deadline. However, as the ads for this film so graciously hint at, fate may have other plans. Strapping plans, perhaps. The plot is extremely predictable and certainly fills the typical chick flick mould: girl in her 30’s feels incomplete, must get guy to commit, goes from city to country setting in a chase for guy’s affections, meets a new guy along the way, lets loose with some wine on a dance floor, experiences numerous clumsy moments in six inch heels, and somehow comes out of it all a “better” person because she’s finally engaged. It reminded me a bit of Sophie Kinsella’s cheesy novel turned chick flick Confessions of a Shopaholic. Only Anna is shopping for a lifetime of wedded bliss rather than the latest Gucci bag. The problem with Leap Year is, the plot did nothing new for the chick flick genre; it merely recycled what has already been done and redone and done again. The acting in this film is difficult to evaluate, mostly because the actors really had nothing to work with. For the fluff they were
given, it is safe to say that Amy Adams and Matthew Goode did the best they could. She was sunny yet sassy, he was surly yet sexy, and they had a fair amount of chemistry. Blah. Yet, despite the lack of depth in the plot and consequently the actors’ performances, Leap Year has one aesthetic plus. Namely, the film’s scenery. Set mostly in the Irish countryside, scenic mountains, lakes, fields and cliffs are much of the backdrop for this film, making even the most ludicrous scenes visually enjoyable. In fact, the landscape promotes a more believable romantic feel in several key scenes between Adams and Goode. Although the Irish locals are stereotypically portrayed (drunken old men and a Catholic couple who own a quaint B&B), viewers can still appreciate the natural sentiment of the Irish land. To leap, or not to leap? All in all, this chick flick is no different from others I have seen. I did not expect to be wowed by its laughable plot or the actors’ performances – I just went to be mindlessly entertained. •Rachel Harvey
feature
D6 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine
the movies
20. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) While it may not be your favourite movie, there’s no denying that Lord of the Rings belongs somewhere in the top twenty. This film trilogy was based off of the famous trilogy by the same name written by JRR Tolkien. One film was released each year from 2001 to 2003. Collectively the film won seventeen academy awards including Best Picture and Best Director in 2003. To top it off the visual effects, namely but not limited to the creation of Gollum revolutionized the decade. Not to mention, it is the highest grossing film trilogy in history, grossing around a billion dollars after you factor in box office and home video sales. For some it was epic, for others not so much. There’s no denying that hobbits haven’t been this cool since Led Zeppelin. •Simon Granat
So the decade has come to the end and ANDY wants you (the reader) to be fully aware of what we liked from the past 10 years. With the help of our exquisite volunteers, and some alcohol, we have compiled two top 20 lists pertaining to the very best of film and music from 2000 2009. Over the next four weeks we will slowly reveal our selections, forging a consensus of our writing staff’s varying tastes to provide a list of immense credibility, a reference point that will be revered for decades to come. And if you don’t agree with our choices, too bad. With
19. Memento (2000)
18. WALL-E (2008)
17. Superbad (2007)
16. Almost Famous (2000)
Memento is a film about a man who is set on avenging the murder of his wife. Simple enough, right? Not quite. Leonard, the vengeful husband, has no short-term memory, the result of an injury suffered during the attack that killed his wife. He keeps track of the world around him with Polaroid pictures and tattoos all over his body, hardly the ideal situation for tracking a killer. The audience is made party to this confusion by the way in which the film is presented. It is shown backwards, in segments, each as long as Leonard’s memory lapses. Completely unique, thoroughly enjoyable and a little confusing, the film constantly keeps you guessing as to what will happen next, or rather what has already happened. •Caitlin McKitrick
Not only does WALL-E appeal to kids for its use of Pixar classic animated magic, but it also connects with adults by whisking them into a cosmic story about love overcoming a consumer driven society. The most impressive part of the film is that the first half takes place with minimal to no dialogue. It’s like 2001: Space Odyssey with robots falling in love. Dark imagery of a futuristic Earth plagued with desolate barren lands and garbage skyscrapers lead one to believe that human emotions are just as archaic as the parts of WALL-E, a curious ragtag robot. Yet the arrival of EVE, a modernized probe that seems like an Apple product from the future awakens WALL-E’s emotions, as he embarks on a galaxy-crossing quest to win over her circuits. The visual magnificence of WALL-E allows it to cross all language barriers in connecting with a huge audience – and is therefore worthy of its success. • Dan Hawie
Superbad, released in August of 2007, follows one night in the lives of high school friends Seth (Jonah Hill), Evan (Michael Cera), and Fogell (Chris Mintz-Plasse). The guys are on a mission to get booze for a graduation party that night, and to lose their virginity by the rapidly approaching end of the school year. All of their plans go awry, and a hilarious night of mayhem involving fake IDs, wayward cops, period-pants, hobos, and a frantic sing-along of “These Eyes.” The film’s bold humour and originality undoubtedly make it one of the best films of the decade, and arguably the representative teencomedy of our generation. Quotable lines like “I am… McLovin!” and unforgettable moments such as the scarring montage of phallic drawings have raised the characters of this film to nearly iconic status and helped launch the careers of many of the movie’s young stars. •Jemma Wolfe
With the new millennium came the resurgence of “classic rock,” where it seemed as though every other adolescent boy was “getting into” Zeppelin and stopped cutting their hair. Almost Famous was part of this, providing glimpses into the era so many of us romanticize. The film’s protagonist, William Miller (Patrick Fugit) is a teenage journalist trying to write for Rolling Stone magazine when he gets an opportunity to follow the fictional band Stillwater. With the help of influential Creem music editor, Lester Bangs (Philip Seymore Hoffmann), William is swept up into a world of sex, drugs and rock and roll. He parties, falls in love and manages to teach his rock heroes a bit about life. This feel-good, comingof-age take on the 1970’s shines so brightly because of writer and director Cameron Crowe. Basing actual experiences of his wide-eyed, precocious youth writing for the very same publication, the film creates a personal journey so accessible that your time invested into the characters feels like a beautiful road trip that you never want to end. •Katharine Snider-McNair
thursday, january 14, 2010 • D7
the music
this weeks picks, youth triumphs with appearances by such coming of age fare as Superbad and Almost Famous, to the wordless visuals of Pixar’s brilliant WALL-E. With music, indie folk presides with the presence of Bright Eyes and the enigmatic Bon Iver, while hip-hop emerges and Baltimore/New York neo-psychedelic’s Animal Collective are represented by Merriweather Post Pavilion— not my personal favourite, but nonetheless a playful feast for the ears. Anyways, stop listening to me and proceed onto the list. Enjoy.
Jay Z
Stars
Bright Eyes
Animal Collective
Bon Iver
20. The Blue Print (2001)
19. Set Yourself On Fire (2004)
18. I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (2005)
17. Merriweather Post Pavillion (2009)
16. For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)
Stars’ Set Yourself On Fire is an indie pop triumph. Stars are storytellers and this can be seen throughout the album. The theme of love dominates the songs in many different forms, ranging from happy beginnings to dark endings. The lyrics paint interesting pictures and there are a variety of instrumental techniques used in the songs. Upbeat guitars and piano lines, larger than life string arrangements and well written lyrics saturate the album and successfully bind the tracks into one strong entity. Top tracks off the album include “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” and “One More Night,” but this is a difficult decision to make. Set Yourself On Fire solidifies Stars’ position as one of the best bands in their genre and while listening to the album your heartstrings will be plucked as much as the strings of the violins and cellos.
No one who has picked up an acoustic guitar in the past decade has fully escaped the influence of Conor Oberst and his moniker Bright Eyes. Oberst was already hailed as indie-rock’s darling — the next Bob Dylan — with Bright Eyes’ fourth full-length release, 2002’s Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground. The ambitious Oberst responded to high expectations in 2005 with a double release; including the primarily acoustic-driven I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. The album represented a stripped-down, naked version of Oberst’s genius. It’s not just another frustrated guy-with-aguitar bit; from the introductory remark of what life is really like under capitalist ideologies in the opener “At the Bottom of Everything,” to the tales of (fleeting) love and hopeless discontent that follow, concluding with the angry ode to Beethoven’s “Ode,” Oberst not only redefined guy-with-a-guitar, he rendered the original null and void.
Named after an outdoor venue in Maryland, Animal Collective’s most recent album, released last year on Jan. 6, was well received by the media and fans alike. The temporary departure of their founding member Josh Dibb (aka Deakin) in 2007 drove the other members to rely significantly on electronic mixing, loops, and samples, to compensate for the lack of guitar which surprisingly resulted in their most clean-cut album yet. Merriweather Post Pavilion sounds like a multidimensional, kaleidoscopic collage of summer days, thus keeping true to their experimental roots, but also possesses the structure of pop music making it easier to be accepted by a larger audience. Critics have called it “a landmark in American music” and, rightly so, the album reached number 13 on the US Billboard 200.
Bon Iver’s debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, is beautiful in its sadness. It was created during multiple months of self-imposed isolation by lead singer, Justin Vernon, after the break-up of his previous band. The album traces the path of anger and heartbreak, to acceptance with both eloquent lyrics and stunning instrumentals. Vernon’s vocals, backed by haunting guitars, have a way of making you feel like he is singing to you alone. The undeniable feeling of hurt in the album is made clear in songs, “Skinny Love” and “Blindsided,” but relief comes from the hopeful concluding (and possibly best) track, “Re: Stacks”. The thematic continuity of the album adds to its strength and it should be listened to from beginning to end to fully appreciate this. For Emma, Forever Ago is utterly moving and truly one of this past decade’s masterpieces.
The first plane crashed into the World Trade Centre less than an hour and a half before Jay Z’s The Blueprint hit retail shelves across the North American continent. Despite suffering from unfortunate timing, Jay Z’s sixth studio album (recorded in just two weeks) was about to become one of the most critically applauded and influential hip-hop releases of all time. The Blueprint, thanks to the production techniques of fresh newcomers Kanye West and Just Blaze, favoured samples over then-preferred method of constructing hip-hop beats via keyboard. Sampling had gone out of style a decade earlier — The Blueprint however brought that now once again common technique back into vogue. Notable track: “Izzo (H.O.V.A)” •Corrigan Hammond
Notable track: “Reunion” •Roxanne Hathway-Baxter
Notable track: “Lua”
•Kevin Elliott
Notable track: “Summertime Clothes”
•Aaron Joo Notable track: “The Wolves (Act 1&2)” •Roxanne Hathway-Baxter
D8 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine
music
thursday, january 14, 2010
reality tv reaches a boyle-ing point
andy’s ben small tries to comprehend britain’s latest export
www.salahtoon.com
I was planning to begin writing this article with an apology. As an ambassador on this continent, a representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, I felt some responsibility for Susan Boyle’s worldwide domination of the music charts. Her debut album, I Dreamed a Dream, is forty-three minutes of mediocre covers that could have been churned out by anyone with a high quality singing voice. Granted, the style is not exactly what you would call my cup of tea, but no one can deny that her success is entirely based upon her appearance, media representation and accompanying tales of hardship. The album has peaked at number one in ten countries (including Canada) and been featured in the top ten of 13 other countries. The music simply does not justify such success. However, it is not Susan Boyle that I feel I should apologize for. SuBo (as the British press like to refer to her as) simply capitalized on the opportunity that the media presented to her. My anger and resentment falls with those that molded her into this worldwide sensation, from the tabloid newspapers that blazon her across the front cover five days out of seven in the week; the general public that buys into this crap; and, most fervently, the record companies and television production companies that are transforming the music industry into a completely inorganic process that is nothing but a popularity contest. For anyone who has been living under a rock for the last year, Susan Boyle is a 48-year old Scottish woman. She lives alone with her cat, Pebbles, after her mother, whom she lived with and cared for, died at the age of 91 in 2007. She is reportedly a virgin, never even having kissed a boy, a victim of bullying at school and has learning difficulties. Essentially, she has all the sob story boxes ticked and her hands firmly gripped on all the strings connected to the heart. On Apr. 11, 2009, she appeared on the first round of the television show Britain’s Got Talent and performed ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Misérables to a ten million strong audience. The YouTube of the performance video currently has more than a staggering 85 million views. As it turned out, she didn’t actually win Britain’s Got Talent, losing out to the very impressive dance act called Diversity. Nonetheless, her popularity only accumulated through every peak and trough in her tumultuous rise to stardom.
Now that Simon Cowell’s pockets have been lined enough to ward off nuclear fallout we can take a step back and ask ourselves, ‘is our global music scene so stale that this is what we are resorting to?’ Let’s be honest: conventionally attractive, conventionally talented, conventional idol contestants generally don’t sell even a fraction of albums that Susan Boyle does. It’s not just Susan Boyle either. Year after year multiple reality television shows across the world churn out another characterless, generic drone with a pretty face and a pleasant voice. The public, by the millions cast their votes religiously whilst the record company executives sit atop their ivory towers cackling evilly to themselves, as the records sell themselves regardless of how stale and relentlessly passionless they are. You can imagine my overwhelming sense of optimism when the annual task that British reality TV show The X Factor has set itself upon for the last six years failed in 2009. ‘The task’ is that of coercing the British public into buying the winner of the show’s single and, thus, making it the Christmas number one; the most important chart position of the year. An online campaign fought against this trend, pleading with people to buy Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name that week in order to secure its position as number one. Unbelievably, the campaign succeeded and RATM outsold Joe McElderry (The X Factor winner) by 51,834 sales, much to the derision of all our grandmothers. The irony itself was in the fact that Sony owned both singles and thus profited whoever was the winner. Yet, this was beside the point. It’s not an exercise about money but about principle. It shows the public standing up and rejecting this passive, spoon-fed attitude the music and television industry thinks its audience should have. Rage Against the Machine’s now festive anti-establishment anthem seems like the most apt song to carry this cause as Zach de la Rocha screams out at the end of the song “fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.” It gives those that feel suffocated by the endless drivel churned out by these programmes a semblance of hope that will ultimately amount to nothing, but hope is something. In short, I would like to apologize for my country for creating the formula for these kinds of talent shows that have spread across the world like a parasite. I would also like to congratulate Susan Boyle for releasing the best selling debut album in British history, whether she deserves it or not. •Ben Small
thursday, january 14, 2010
zine beat
Unemployment Aaron Lake Smith, 44 pages, $2, microcosmpublishing.com Unemployment is a hot topic, given the global economic climate, and Aaron Lake Smith uses his recent tussle with said joblessness to write a 44-page zine of his pessimistic and largely depressing outlook on life and the United States of America. The zine is split into seven sections, the bulk of which is principally biographical. He discusses the monotony of being unemployed, the longing for routine and the hardships of living hand-to-mouth. The way that he explains how unemployment should be seen as an opportunity to do all the things that you couldn’t do whilst employed, and not as a burden, is particularly poignant. His unemployed life longs for this attitude but is stricken with the need for a social sense of belonging and freedom from the anxiety of having no income. His earnest desire to not feel this requirement to get a job, and to instead enjoy the free time he has, is clear as he laments his anarchistic teenage years when he rebelled against what he is now a firm part of. Despite this, he still sees no hope in the jobs that he is applying for, quoting the
under the radar relevance of Morrissey’s famous line “I was looking for a job and then I found a job, and Heaven knows I’m miserable now.” He touches on other cultural references, most interestingly, the implications of Peter Parker’s decision to follow the life of Spiderman instead of a freelance photographer, relating this to our own decisions in life. The zine does not leave me with much hope or any semblance of a smile on my face about the current economic crisis or the state of the world’s most powerful nation. Aaron writes as if he is already kneeling, defeated by life and any concept of hope. Nevertheless, everyone loves a good rant and there are some very amusing anecdotes and metaphors conveyed in exceedingly captivating prose that convey his feelings in an entertaining manner. If you are feeling the need to vent any disillusionment with modern life, then Unemployment is a good place to start. •Ben Small
the silhouette’s art + culture magazine • D9
off the web nick cage as everyone niccageaseveryone.blogspot.com Some of you may admire him for his work in the Cohen brother’s film “Raising Arizona,” others for his role in “The Wicker Man,” while some may be wondering why anyone admires him at all. The fact is, Nick Cage is a viral sensation and some genius has taken it to great new heights. Both disturbing and hilarious these images provide us with a view of what the world would be like if everybody was Nicholas Cage. •Katharine Snider-McNair
photoshop disasters photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com This blog compiles graphics, posters and advertisements among other images that have been tampered with to the point of no return. Vanishing hands, models with legs that bend in the wrong direction and products that fail to produce a reflection on the gleaming surfaces they rest upon make up some of the air-brushing disasters compiled here. Some of the latest disasters feature a Burberry ad showcasing an amputee Emma Watson, or a plus-size clothing store ad that has clearly shaved down the stomach of the model – despite the plus-size qualification. •Grace Evans
D10 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine
music
thursday, january 14, 2010
rap poetess
hamilton mc nilla chats with andy about the state of hip-hop Dubbed by the Ottawa Citizen as a “rap poetess,” McMaster alumni and local Hamilton talent Nilla has, following the release of her début album, From The Ground Up, taken it upon herself to challenge the popular stereotypes and preconceptions that surround women and their role in the hip-hop community. “[Hip-hop] is a very male dominated industry,” she explained to me, “so not a lot of females [get the respect they’re due.]” “I don’t take that as a hit or anything,” Nilla continued, “I just take that as, you know, [a recognition] that I’m an MC first and a female second. … As a female [MC] you will always get looked at initially like you’ve got to suck, or you’re not as good. I think that it’s a lot easier for guys to get their foot in the door. If you look at any record label like UrbNet, Kae Sun’s on that, Myles Jones who also went to McMaster is on that, the only female on that whole label is [Toronto based MC] Eternia. Everyone else [is] a man.” “There probably is more pressure [as a female MC], but I don’t really put it into my mind. I think I’m already just feeling the pressure anyways, just to rock out, and to just try and make [my set] the best it can be. I’m not really mindful in any of my performances of ‘oh I’ve got to be better than that person’ or ‘I’ve got to do more,’ I’m just there to contribute and to do the best [I] can do. At the end of the day, it’s all just about the music,” she explained. “[That’s] something I stay mindful of the most in my music life [and] in my personal life. … I find that conceitedness will just draw people away. I used to joke years ago when people would say ‘oh, you’re an MC, are you good?’ That what kind of question is that? ‘No I suck.’” She paused — “what are you going to say: ‘I’m the best rapper out there?’” “I’m a hip-hop musician. I’m an MC and also a producer. I produced ninety percent of [my] album [From The Ground Up,]” she told me. “[My music is] like hip-hop, triphop but more in a conscious tip — it’s not like the really annoying hip-hop, auto-tune [hip-hop] we keep being berated with,” Nilla continued. Indeed, an integral part of Nilla’s M.O. is her emphasis on musicianship
rather than, like so many other current hiphop artists, a reliance on overly produced, excessively clean, bland studio-wizardry. “You can put effects on your voice to make it sound like anything — I mean, I’ve put effects on my voice to make it sound like a guy, I’ve done that, and listened to my verses and it’s quite hilarious — I just think that it probably takes away from your genuine quality, [and] from what your voice actually sounds like. All auto-tune is doing is saying that you can’t sing on tune and that [your producer] is going to put you on key. And that’s why it sounds all funny,” she told me. “When I was recording [my album], the studio engineer, Jason Jaknunas, tried to put auto-tune on one my [tracks] because I was off key. He didn’t tell me that he did it, but then I heard it and I said ‘wait, wait, wait, roll that back — I’m just going to re-record it.’ I mean it sounds cool and everything. But I just think it takes away from the genuine quality. And here and there sure, [but] whole songs, or [basing your whole artistry on] auto-tune, or that people say Lil Jon and think ‘auto-tune’ right away, that’s not a good association. You want to know that artists can sing, or rap, or do something of a genuine nature,” Nilla continued. “It’s important that the album and the live performance are just as strong. Maybe [they] don’t sound the same, but both [should be] kick-ass performances, because its pretty often that you’ll get the album [and then] you’ll go see [the artist] live and there’s this huge disconnect. It’s like ‘is this even the same band?’” she laughed. Indeed, on her début album, Nilla brought in many of the strong-voiced cast of Hamilton talents that often accompany her during her live sets — including MC’s like RaSoul. “Hamilton’s musical community is solid,” she told me. “And I don’t think that Hamilton really gets looked at enough, with [everything] that’s happening here.“ Nilla’s début album, From The Ground Up, is available from indiepool.com. She has two upcoming local shows, on Jan 15. at the Casbah and Jan. 16 at Club Absinth. •Corrigan Hammond
thursday, january 14, 2010
classic review
in stereo
the silhouette’s art + culture magazine • D11
featured review
The Black Crowes seemed to come out of nowhere with their 1990 release “Shake Your Moneymaker.” The eighties were mostly known for hair bands and synth bands, although AC/DC and later in the decade Guns N’ Roses were holding down the hard rock end of the business. The Crowes though seemed to resurrect an early seventies sound that was compared to the Rolling Stones when this album first appeared. To me, it reeked of Humble Pie and its precursor The Faces. Of course there is a strong Stones influence, but equally strong is the Stax Records
soul music influence. Indeed, The Crowes cover the Otis Redding song “Hard To Handle” on this CD. The Black Crowes are essentially the Robinson brothers, Chris and Rich, with a varying supporting cast. Chris became well known when, in 2000, he married Kate Hudson. The Crowes were formed in 1984 and by 1990 had perfected their blues/rock soul sound. “Shake Your Money Maker” is essentially a greatest hits album with several outstanding cuts. The CD starts with “Twice As Hard” and “Jealous Again” – with dual guitars and some nasty licks. “Thick ‘n Thin” revs up with squealing tires and then breaks into a guitar boogie, a track that wouldn’t have been out of place in the sixties. The best slow tune is “She Talks To Angels.” For their efforts, the Crowes were named ‘Best New
Mudvayne Mudvayne
Triodes Chunked
Sea Wolf White Water, White Bloom
A Wilhelm Scream A Wilhelm Scream
Nu Metal is the light beer of the heavy music, not as polarizing to mainstream taste buds as real metal, and lacks the real substance and body that makes it so delectable. Since their impressive debut album, L.D.50, Mudvayne have continued to brew increasingly bland radiofriendly metal. The bitter kick of harder metal ingredients and the sophistication of expanded guitar work make this release a stiffer listen. However, portions of this album are still watered down, and hold true to the opening metaphor of this review. The acoustic closer drinks like that flat bit of beer still left at the bottom of the bottle, and leaves the listener with nothing memorable, but hey, at least it’s not a Coor’s Light. • Chris Hoy
I could not get half way through this album without practically skipping every song. The Triodes are an instrumental group whose sounds are reminiscent of r&b, funk, and jazz. The horn section in this album became annoying very quickly. I couldn’t get past the overcrowding of so many different instruments, melodies and effects that were used on the tracks. It seems like Triodes was trying to pack so many different genres into this album that they maybe should have just stuck with one, or maybe they should have refined the way in which they fused all these different genres together. •Catherine Brasch
Sea Wolf’s White Water, White Bloom is at first enticing because of its interesting cover art, but isn’t as interesting as the packaging would lead you to believe. While it contains a sense of whimsy, nothing really sticks out in the brief forty minutes. There isn’t a great deal of variety between the ten tracks, but nevertheless the style is solid. “O Maria!” is upbeat and catchy, “The Orchard” is adorable, but “Spirit Horse” seems needlessly repetitive. There’s nothing terrible about this album, it’s just that it has been done so many times before. White Water, White Bloom is worth listening to, but not necessarily an album to fall in love with. •Roxanne Hathway-Baxter
“Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Anarchy in the UK,” “Rise Above,” hell, you only need three chords to write a punk classic, right? Forget everything what you know about punk rock because A Wilhelm Scream throw the rulebook right out the window. On their self-titled EP, AWS shred through five songs at breakneck speed with blistering fret board acrobatics most metal bands would be jealous of. Catchy vocal hooks neatly complement the flashy guitar and bass pyrotechnics, but never obscure this refreshing and dynamic effort. In a genre that places so much importance on the past for influence and credibility, AWS are not afraid to defy the old guard and break the norm, which in the end, is really the most punk rock thing they could’ve done. •Chris Hoy
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The Black Crowes Shake Your Money Maker (1990)
American Band’ by the readers of Rolling Stone while Melody Maker hailed them as “The Most Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World.” Whatever the case, it was downhill from there on. Their follow up LP, 1992’s The Southern Harmony and Music Companion was more of same and although the group added a keyboard that year, the band’s changing sound never seemed to attract major attention as their initial debut record. •Phil Wood
Norah Jones The Fall
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Ever since the release of her début album, 2002’s Come Away With Me, Norah Jones has been making a gradual transition away from the soft-jazz and adult-contemporary sounds that initially brought her international fame, and begun work on increasingly experimental projects geared as much towards hipsters and the alt-rock crowd as her original, more conservative audience. Part of this can probably be attributed to her choice to release the disc not on jazz label Blue Notes Records, but rather with their parent company EMI No longer bound to the jazz and Americana music produced by Blue Notes, The Fall, borrowing heavily from her 2008 side-project and foray into the world of indierock, El Madmo, is the closest release that Jones has made yet to a standard rock album. While remaining soft and jazzy, by shifting much of the instrumentation away from the piano sounds that have defined all of her previous efforts, to the electric guitar, Jones’ crafts The Fall into an album that is both fresh and familiar. Jones borrows many of the lessons that she learned on her 2007 disc Not Too Late on The Fall. She subdues the Americanastyling’s of Not Too Late here though — preferring to hide them beneath subtle jazz-pop arrangements. The Fall, straddling the dividing line between rock, pop and jazz, is Jones’ strongest album yet. • Corrigan Hammond
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music
ten years going strong
D12 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine
thursday, january 14, 2010
andy shines a light on indie heroes the constantines
The past ten years have been good for the Constantines. And last December’s brief eleven-day Tenth Anniversary tour, both a celebration of that success, and an opportunity to pay homage too their many long time fans across Southern Ontario, was a testament of just how far they’ve come during the past decade. “Our first show was in September of 1999 at Call The Office in London, Ontario opening for The Muffs,” Constantines front man Bryan Webb recalled last month prior to their performance at the Casbah. “We didn’t have a name at the time, but that was the first show we played. So we got into celebrating that at this point and just revisiting all the cities that we played on our first trips out of town when we were a young band. A lot of the people that are booking the shows [for] this trip, booked those shows for us,” Webb explained. “We just kind of gave ourselves the occasion to go see those friends again and [to] go say hi,” he chuckled. The band’s return to the various small clubs and venues that (despite having now outgrown) they started their career playing, produced an atmosphere of jubilation among fans reminiscent of the excitement that they generated three years ago after signing with Toronto’s Arts & Crafts record label. Previously they had been with Seattle based Sub-Pop
records. Indeed, their triumphant return to Canadian representation became an occasion of immense national pride for the indie rock crowd. Signing to Arts & Crafts, Webb explained, “[It] didn’t really change much at all, except [that it] gave us access to some good grant money that we didn’t have before being on an American label. That was a big help to relaxing in the studio and being able to figure out how best to play the songs, and how best to record them.” “There [are] conditions in the grant system where, if you’re on an American label, it negates the whole grant thing — which is fine. Granting is meant to get bands out there, you know, and I’m all for that. So we had our American label, and we were really happy with Sub-Pop. It was a wonderful time, we just kind of needed [something different.]” Webb explained. “[The] thing that was difficult with Sub-Pop, was that it was based in Seattle and we were in Toronto and Montreal,” he continued. “It was just so far away from the people that we were doing business with that it just seemed like we needed to consider something else. [Then] the Arts & Crafts thing came up. They were interested, so we decided to try something new.” After signing with Arts & Crafts in 2007, the band completed their fourth
studio release, Kensington Heights — a highly anticipated critical success for the group that, following in the wake of albums like Shine A Light and Tournament of Hearts, cemented them alongside acts like Broken Social Scene, The New Pornographers, Feist and The Arcade Fire, as integral participants of a “Canadian Indie-Rock Invasion” of the American music market during the later half of the past decade. As Webb explained to me, because of the financial stability that signing with Arts & Crafts offered the group, while recording 2008’s Kensington Heights, they were able to for the first time focus on the music without having to worry about money. “That was fortunate,” Webb recalled. “We took our time and we figured out what worked, what didn’t work — we added things and took things away,” he continued. “But [that grant situation that we’d never had before] was the biggest way [that] the Arts & Crafts thing influenced [the album].” Since then, the Constantines have also capitalized on opportunities to work with some of the other talented artists also signed to Arts & Crafts. In the spring of 2008, they realeased a cover version of Kenny Roger’s classic single “Islands In The Stream,” that featured a duet between Webb and their chart-topping label mate, Leslie
Feist. “Oh it was great,” Webb recalled. “We’ve known Leslie for a long time through our old label Three Gut Records. … [She] is a long time supporter… and we [had] talked about this sort of on and off for a little while, but the Arts & Crafts thing definitely helped it come to fruition. Leslie came in and we recorded it all in one day.” “Leslie was in town, so she came down and we whipped it off and it worked nicely I think. It was a fun experiment trying to figure out how [to record it] in an un-ironic way. It’s a pretty song, so we just sort of try to make like a morphine kind of version of it or something.” Despite a nasty breakup rumour that suggests that the group may be capitalizing on the opportunity of their tenth anniversary as a sly way to wish farewell to their fans, Webb insisted that the group has big plans for their second decade: “We’re going to keep going, keep plugging away until we get our big break one of these days. I’ve heard that rumour, and it’s not true. There’s no truth to it. As far as we know,” he chuckled, “maybe someone’s conspiring [against us] — but we’re not worried about it.” The Constantines are currently exploring the possibility of releasing a recording of a live set they played last month at Lee’s Palace in Toronto. •Corrigan Hammond