1192: The Sex Issue by Vue Weekly

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#1192 / AUG 30, 2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SEP 5, 2018 VUEWEEKLY.COM

Crazy Rich Asians 14

Future Islands 15

ISSUE: 1192 • AUG 30 – SEP 5, 2018

THREE VIKINGS 6

DRIVE-THRUS 7

TELLING STORIES 8

THE PACK A.D. 16

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FRONT // 4 DISH // 6 ARTS // 8 FILM // 14 MUSIC // 15 VUE PICKS ARTS // 9 MUSIC // 19

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KARA GRAINGER 17

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COVER IMAGE Kiki Quinn and Beau Creep / J Procktor CONTRIBUTORS Junaid Jahangir, Gwynne Dyer, Miya Abe, Ryan Hook, Dan Savage, Matt Jones, Rob Brezsny, Stephen Notley, Fish Griwkowsky, Curtis Hauser, Charlie Scream DISTRIBUTION Shane Bennett, Bev Bennett, Shane Bowers, Amy Garth, Aaron Getz, Clint Jollimore, Michelle Lenihan, Dona Olliffe, Beverley Phillips, Choi Chung Shui

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QUEERMONTON

Last year’s Pride parade. / J Procktor

WHAT DOES ISLAM OFFER LGBTQ2S+ PEOPLE?

Faith Should Reinforce that Everyone Comes from a Higher Power Who Loves Everyone Not Just Straight Men

ny religion is known not by how it treats its most privileged and zealous practitioners, but by how it treats its most vulnerable adherents. It is easy to romanticize poverty when one basks in the comforts of life, but much more difficult to pontificate prescriptions when one finds oneself on the receiving end of things. The same holds on LGBTQ2S+ concerns. It is quite easy for cis-sgender males who enjoy heterosexual privilege to pontificate permanent celibacy to LGBTQ2S+ persons, but the situation would change drastically were they to find themselves in the other’s shoes. It’s not surprising that one of the chief Christian teachings is found in the Biblical states: “Whatsoever you do unto these the least of my people, you do unto me.” It reminds human beings about the significance of the least significant. Such an idea is echoed in a secu-

lar and economic context where the max-min functions suggest that societal welfare is optimized when the welfare of the least well off person is maximized. This leads to a question: what does Islam offer the LGBTQ2S+

frameworks means playing by the rules of the neo-traditionalists. Imam Daayiee is right. We cannot always define ourselves with respect to the standards defined by the neo-traditionalists. This means that an LGBTQ2S+ affirm-

Such a discourse starts from the recognition that Allah creates whatsoever He wills, and that Allah loves us all. This means LGBTQ2S+ persons are not a byproduct of divine accident, but have intrinsic value bestowed by Allah Himself.

“It’s not surprising that one of the chief Christian teachings is found in the Biblical states: ‘Whatsoever you do unto these the least of my people, you do unto me.’ It reminds human beings about the significance of the least significant.” community, especially when three schools of Islamic jurisprudence prescribe the death punishment for liwat (anal sex between men)? According to North America’s first openly gay Imam, Daayiee Abdullah, who was in Edmonton last Fall, perpetuating medieval

ing Islamic discourse does not always have to deconstruct neotraditionalist arguments. Given the freezing silence adopted by local Muslim institutions on LGBTQ2S+ concerns, it is important to nurture an alternative Islamic discourse in Edmonton.

In a time of immense choice shaped by technological access, when human beings are objectified for their physical attributes and easily discarded, Islam reminds us that the value of human beings is not based on rank, wealth, or beauty but rather taqwa (ethical consciousness).

It reminds human beings that superiority is not based on colour or race, but taqwa. It affirms that Allah is not bothered with physical attributes, but hearts, and that life partners should be sought on the basis of taqwa instead of acquiring them as trophies. Above all, Islam cautions against taking Imams, priests, Rabbis, and other custodians of morality as lords besides Allah. It zealously guards the relationship between the sacred and the individual from the encroachment of moral or religious leadership. An Islam like this affirms LGBTQ2S+ individuals without question, and empowers them to navigate through the vicissitudes of this trying life. It frees humans from the shackles of consumerism and facilitates them to go beyond fame, fortune and looks to nurture taqwa. Junaid Jahangir

VUE BRIEF Province Collects Voter Data from 16 and 17-Year-Olds for the First Time

The Alberta Legislature building. / Doug Johnson

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first for the province: Elections Alberta will be collecting data on 16 and 17-year-olds so they can be added to the list of registered voters in anticipation of them turning 18. According to a press release from Elections Alberta, a non-partisan group, the move is “simplifying the process of getting them on the voters list.” The information gathered from Canadian citizens will be used for the province’s election in 2019. Prior to the election, Albertans who have registered will receive personalized information on when and where to vote in the mail. Alberta’s provincial enumeration has just one week left in which residents can register to vote prior to Elections Alberta beginning to do door-to-door visits. The group hopes people will register

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

online through its website, or through one of its call centres, reachable at 1 877 433 8683. Registering online requires ID, while registering over the phone does not. The call centre is open weekdays 8:15 a.m. until 8 p.m.; and on weekends from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. After this first rung of registration, Elections Alberta will send out its 7,000 door-to-door enumerators from Sept. 8 – 30. “Even if you have voted previously, we need to verify that the information that we have is still current,” says Chief Electoral Office Glen Resler in the press release. For more information, visit elections. ab.ca Doug Johnson doug@vueweekly.com

DYER STRAIGHT

Ruins in Idlib / Adobe Stock

VUE BRIEF Outside the Startup Edmonton offices. / Doug Johnson

FEW ROADBLOCKS LEFT IN SYRIAN CIVIL WAR There’s an Easy Solution to the Mountains of Tension Surrounding Idlib, but Cooler Heads Rarely Conquer

“

Idlib Province is the largest al-Qaeda safe haven since 9/11,” says Brett McGurk, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS. So, you wouldn’t think that the United States would object to the Syrian government reconquering it. Especially since U.S. forces in Syria have no way of reaching Idlib, located in the country’s Northwestern corner, and neither do America’s Kurdish allies. But you might be wrong about the U.S. stance, because the Syrian regime’s troops attacking Idlib would have Russian bombers helping them. Turkey might also object, as President Recep Tayyib Erdogan was surreptitiously helping the al-Qaeda rebels in Syria earlier in the war, and has already posted Turkish troops at ‘observation posts’ inside Idlib province to protect the status quo. We’re going to find out which way Turkey and the U.S. jump quite soon, because Idlib is next on the list. Over the past two years, Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime has recaptured first the rebel-held part of Aleppo, Syria’s biggest city, then the Eastern outskirts of Damascus, the capital, and most recently the areas down South near Israel and Jordan where the rebellion began. Idlib is next. It has to be Idlib, because that’s where all the jihadi fighters who surrendered after those other defeats were sent. The influx of Islamist fighters and their families has virtually doubled the province’s population to two million in the past two years. Assad will want to finish the job while the Russian air force is still in Syria, so the offensive will probably start next month. It will require intense bombing, as the Syrian army is short on ground troops, and there are

bound to be anguished international protests about civilian casualties in the crowded province. That would provide an excuse for either Washington or Ankara to intervene and stop the attack if they want, but would they? Erdogan would have to pull the Turkish troops out of Idlib if he wants to avoid a clash with the Syrian army, which would be rather embarrassing, and he hates to be embarrassed. He is already having to eat a good deal of humble pie in the financial crisis that is crippling the Turkish economy at home, and this would be a second helping. On the other hand, Erdogan has already had to change his line once and accept that Assad will survive as Syria’s dictator. That makes it kind of hard for him to argue now that Syria cannot be allowed to take Idlib back, especially since the real power in Idlib is Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham, the many-times-renamed Syrian branch of al-Qaeda. Logically, Erdogan should not be getting involved in a foreign war when he is already in a shouting match with Donald Trump, and the Turkish economy is in a nosedive. But he is erratic, emotional and over-confident, so he might just dig his heels in. As for Trump’s own decision on Idlib, national interest decrees that he should just sit back and let it happen. What’s not to love about an event that destroys al-Qaeda’s only territorial base in the Middle East at no cost in American money or lives? But if Trump doesn’t intervene, America’s hard-right will complain that he is allowing a further expansion of Russian power in the Middle East, while his Israeli allies will protest again at the use of ‘Iranian troops’ (really mostly Iraqi, Afghan and Syrian mercenar-

ies paid by Iran) in the battle. And Trump, too, is erratic, emotional and over-confident. If the Idlib operation goes off without a major hitch involving Turkish or American military intervention, it will be the last major battle of the Syrian civil war. There would remain the task of persuading Turkish and American troops to leave the country, but that should not involve fighting. At that point, it will be all about the Syrian Kurds. Turkey wants to be sure that they do not get enough independence to set an example for its own Kurdish minority just across the border. It is especially concerned that an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria could become a base for attacks across the border by the PKK, the banned ‘terrorist’ organization that seeks independence for Turkey’s Kurds. The U.S., on the other hand, has made the Syrian Kurds its main instrument for fighting ‘Islamic State’ in the eastern third of Syria. ISIS has been beaten by this alliance and the U.S. army now effectively controls eastern Syria. It’s reluctant to just hand over the huge, sparsely populated region to Assad, and it doesn’t want to abandon its Kurdish allies to the tender mercies of the Turks either. There is a deal that could work. The Turkish and U.S. armies both pull out of Syria, and the Syrian army replaces them to ensure that is no comeback by ISIS, and no base there for Kurdish separatists seeking to break away from Turkey. The Syrian Kurds are rewarded with limited selfgovernment including control over education, language and local spending. And the Russians go home too, since Assad no longer needs their help. Gwynne Dyer

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

Hacking the Mainframe: New Partnership Links Edmonton with Startups

ackling civic challenges just got easier in Edmonton, the city hopes, thanks to a partnership between the local government and tech startups. Edmonton is one of the first Canadian cities to join the Startup in Residence program (STIR), joining the ranks of such United States cities as Las Vegas, San Diego, and Portland, OR. The 16-week program brings government agencies and startups together to create technology-based solutions for some of the issues that cities face. Past examples of this include the creation of smart sensors on trash cans, and chatbot programs that match volunteers with emergency response needs, according to a City of Edmonton press release. “After an intense application process, the City of Edmonton is proud to have been selected to participate in Startup in Residence,” Mayor Don Iveson states in the release. “The program will help us find innovative solutions to some of the challenges we face as a municipality while tapping into

the talent, knowledge and creativity of our local technology sector.” The project will “streamline” the development process, and in the next few weeks the municipal government will identify between 60 and 80 of its needs that can be addressed by STIR. Startups can register to apply their developments to these challenges starting Sept. 25, at startupinresidence.org. Applications are not limited to local startups. “Participating in STIR is a chance for us to strengthen our already vibrant startup community and foster a more entrepreneurial spirit within our organization,” Iveson says in the release. “It will also allow us learn about new trends in open data, procurement and civic technology to make us operate more efficiently and better serve Edmontonians.” So far, STIR, which was founded in San Francisco in 2014, has been adopted by more than 30 cities, counties, states, and regional transit authorities, the release says. Doug Johnson doug@vueweekly.com

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SCANDI-GRUB

Something’s happening in the old home of Daravara. / Supplied

KITCHEN TIPS Clean Out Your Sinuses with Chicken Biryani from Tiffin India’s Fresh Kitchen

can recall my first endeavour with Indian cuisine. I entered a small dark space with dramatic red and purple fabric draped about the room; the walls were adorned with pictures of elephants; water was served to me in a steel goblet. The faint sounds of 1950s Indian love songs played in the distance as the food came served to me in steel bowls, which seemed to match the water goblet. As innocent of a soul I was, I requested my food spicy, soon to learn that there was a white guy spicy and then there was Indian spicy! The server noticed my water seemed to be vanishing rather quickly and on his next visit to my table he insisted on leaving the entire jug of water, which, might I add, was also made of the same matching steel as my goblet and serving dishes. With the last few bites of my freshly baked naan bread, I absorbed all the savory curry sauce I could. No matter how yellow my fingers had been stained, or how my nose was running from the lingering spice, it was all worth it. This first Indian dining experience took place almost 20 years ago, and a lot has changed since then. You can find an Indian restaurant on virtually every corner of the city, where Indian food is no longer reserved for a special night out, but rather is a regular staple in peoples’ diets. Consumer’s tastes have become more adventurous, ordering more than just butter chicken. Whether you’re eating at that cool, hip, trendy fast-casual Indian restaurant with biodegradable containers, or at the mom-and-pop Indian joint in the strip mall, the same intoxicating aromas will always be there. No matter what Indian restaurant I visit, my go-to menu item to order is Chicken Biryani. Biryani is basically spicy rice. Below you will find our signature Chicken Biryani recipe. Enjoy! Ingredients: 4 tbsp canola oil 2 tsp ginger paste or minced

6 dish

fresh ginger 2 tsp garlic paste or minced fresh garlic 1 lb chicken breast, cut into 1.5 inch cubes 4 tomatoes pureed 3 onions boiled and pureed 1 green chili chopped 1 tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp ground coriander seeds ½ tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper ½ cup whipping cream (35 percent) 2 ¾ cups water 1 ½ cups long-grain basmati rice 5 cloves 1 cinnamon stick broken in half 5 cardamom pods ½ cup cashews chopped ½ cup raisins chopped cilantro for garnish Preparation: Heat oil in a medium saucepan on medium heat. Add ginger and garlic, and sweat for several minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add chicken and cook until it’s browned and slightly caramelized, roughly five to seven minutes. Add tomatoes, onions, green chili, turmeric, coriander, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Allow to simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes. Add cream and simmer for another 3 to 4 minutes on medium heat. While the chicken is cooking, cook the rice in a large pot. Combine water, rice, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil on high heat, then reduce heat, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, add cloves, cardamom, and the cinnamon stick, and fluff rice lightly with a fork. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. On medium heat, add chicken mixture to the rice, mixing thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Taste and adjust seasoning to taste. Top with chopped cashews and raisins. Add chopped cilantro for garnish. Field Pieterse of Tiffin India’s Fresh Kitchen

‘SCANDI-PUB’ TO TAKE OVER OLD DARAVARA SPACE Three Vikings, Opening in September, Will Carry on Old Danish Family Recipes

he building that formerly housed 124th Street favourite Daravara has a new tenant, and the aptly named Three Vikings Food and Drink has some family history behind it. According to co-owner Stephanie Moore, Three Vikings will aim to be a family-friendly neighbourhood pub. Mostly, it’ll offer the standard array of pub fare (burgers,

influenced; there will be some English pub favourites, and Canadian pub favourites and local craft beer.” Moore says they may also serve Touborg, which is kind of like the Danish Molson Canadian. She also hopes that Three Vikings will offer some import beers. This Nordic influence comes from Finn Mollegaard-Lauge-

for sure. They’re just helping their friends out with it now, but years ago they were quite popular.” Part of Moore and MollegaardLaugesen’s goals in opening the eatery is to carry on the recipes of the latter’s parents. “We’re going to be bringing it forward in a new way, and in a new atmosphere, but also [we’ll be adding] our own little touch to it as well,”

“We’ll definitely be using their recipes. They’re excited about this being another chapter for their influence.” et al), but with a few smatterings of Scandinavian-influenced, dishes here and there. “It’s sort of a Scandi-pub,” she says. Moore tries to pronounce one of the names of the foods, but can’t (no shade, Danish is hard), but the term refers to open-faced sandwiches, a popular meal in the region. “There are a lot of classic types, but there are a lot of modern ones as well. There’s a lot of popular Danish street food we’ll feature. We won’t be entirely Scandinavian-

sen, her husband and partner in the venture, whose parents come from Denmark. Mollegaard-Laugesen grew up with Danish food, Moore says. His parents ran a kind of informal catering company (it doesn’t have a name) that serviced some Scandinavian cultural events for years. “It’s largely within the Scandinavian community. Everyone knows them as Finn and Chris,” she says. “They’re on the retirement side of things, so it’s winding down

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

Moore says. “We’ll definitely be using their recipes. They’re excited about this being another chapter for their influence.” Moore expects Three Vikings to open by the end of September. They’re starting some renovations this week. Moore thinks the location, and the fact that Daravara had a large following, will help the business. “We’re really hoping folks will come and give us a shot,” she says. Doug Johnson doug@vueweekly.com

DRIVE-THRUS

Beep beep. / Doug Johnson

THROUGH WITH DRIVE-THRUS

U of A Research Shows Societal, Environmental, and Public Health Benefits from Tightening Drive-Thru Regulations

he number of Canadian cities with full or partial bans on drive-thru restaurants is shorter than the lineup of cars at an Arby’s. However, a team out of the University of Alberta found these municipalities, and reviewed their policies on the matter—the findings show numerous benefits to these regulations. Lead by Candace Nykiforuk, a researcher with the U of A’s school of public health, the researchers reviewed the policies of 27 towns and cities across Canada that have banned these kinds of restaurants—fully or in part, as of 2016. Two such places exist in Alberta: Calgary and Beaumont. “We didn’t start from a place saying they’re negative. We started from a place of being interested in what the municipalities thought of them,” she says. “For them, these bans were really important for supporting sustainability in the community, livability, putting people first over cars. For them, it was really about maintaining a high quality of life in the community.” In the case of Calgary, this means restricting the locations in which drive-thrus can be located. Mostly, the municipalities with the bans had the regulations apply to keep their downtown centres more people-friendly. Environmental and municipal planning aside, the municipali-

ties polled found there was a public health benefit as well. In short: drive-thrus usually offer hight-fat and energy-dense foods that have little nutritional value. Providing an easy way to access these foods contributes to both diminished physical activity and distracted driving. “There are these public health issues that are also nested in with community quality of life,” Nykiforuk says. “That’s what we’re interested in.”

these municipalities. That’s a really big number, and that’s encouraging,” Nykiforuk says. “If we are interested in sustainable, livable, walkable communities, then it is a viable option to consider.” The City of Edmonton didn’t make the team’s list, and according to Anne Stevenson, senior planner

with the municipality, a ban is “not something that’s on our radar.” However, the city is looking to update its main street overlays to better integrate existing drive-thru restaurants into places like 124th Street, Whyte Avenue, and 118th Avenue. According to Stevenson, if an existing drive-thru renovates in

According to Nykiforuk, these regulations can be a useful tool for any municipality, particularly if they’re trying to promote a “people-first” environment. Getting people out of their cars and onto the street improves engagement in a locale, she adds. From an economic standpoint, it creates a level playing field with other food and beverage-based businesses that cannot cater to people in cars. Admittedly, the municipalities the team spoke to were all fairly urban. As such, Nykiforuk can’t say how these findings apply to rural areas. Similarly, the municipalities involved never retroactively took down any of the restaurants. “Even though it’s a small number of municipalities, because there were several big cities included in this list, it’s about 24 percent of the Canadian population living in VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

one of these regions, they may be asked to change the side on which their drive-thru lineup exists, assuming the renovations are already quite extensive. In some cases, this could move the car exit a bit further from the sidewalk. Doug Johnson doug@vueweekly.com

a head of the pack

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Brad Necyk’s exhibit uses VR to create art that can’t exist in the physical world. / Supplied

3D, MENTAL HEALTH

U of A student Brad Necyk’s PhD Project Took a Toll on Him, After Years of Talking with Unwell People Until Sept. 22 University of Alberta Fine Arts Building Gallery, Main Floor 8807 112 St. NW Free admission 780 492 2271

s it art, or therapy? And, if it’s the latter, who is receiving said therapy? At face value, Brad Necyk’s exhibit’s name tells it all. The title of the work, Telling Stories Otherwise: A ResearchCreation Exhibition for PhD Candidacy in Psychiatry—on display at the University of Alberta’s Fine Arts Building Gallery—explains itself. However, for its creator, it’s also a treatise on mental health, and one that reflects his own— and others’—experience in that realm. Also, it relies on 3D technology. Telling Stories Otherwise was rendered in a program called Cinema 4D, and can only really be viewed while a 3D headset overlays the works in the exhibit’s sprawling four rooms—he has three of these headsets. Necyk developed the exhibit from research he performed with transplant patients, cancer pa8 arts

tients, and suicide survivors in the Arctic. The bulk of the inspiration for the exhibit came from his work at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. He travelled back and forth from Edmonton to the hospital out East, and, through his work with the latter’s patients, developed a series of photographs. These photographs appear here and there in the four rooms—the

A PhD student in Psychiatry, Necyk hopes that the exhibition will provide insight into the lives of people who live with mental health problems. He’s spent the past three years trying to learn more about this by co-creating art with these people. “It’s this really organic process,” he says. One piece in the exhibit, a particularly colourful spread across

Necyk only had a “cursory” understanding of Cinema 4D before embarking on this project—and he had never worked with VR before. But it excited him nonetheless. He recalls waking up in the middle of the night thoroughly enthused with the idea of creating these things in a digital space that exists—but also doesn’t. That the works in an exhibit about mental health don’t prop-

“I’ve always had this reflected practice that’s very personal. Being with ill people, and then becoming ill myself because I’m predisposed to it—there’s this play between other peoples’ stories and my story. It all gets muddled into this larger narrative.” whole main floor of the gallery— the exhibit takes up. “It was really an interesting experience,” Necyk says. “When I got back a few weeks later, I went manic, because I live with bipolar disorder … Over the next year, I tried to combine what I got from the research element and combine it with my own ailment, and create this exhibition.”

the walls of a room, came from Necyk’s experience working with the youth unit of a hospital. He had to recreate this from memory since he didn’t have ethics approval to take a photo of the original. He had to recreate the moment they had together, he says. Other pieces deal more with healing, and getting out of a hospital setting.

erly exist is no accident. While some of the digitally-rendered works are simply photographs or paintings, the fact that there’s a disconnect between reality and virtual reality gives them a different quality. The 3D headsets “hijack” the viewers’ visual cortexes, Necyk says. Also: Cinema 4D let him create things that can’t exist in the physical world.

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

“The photographs and the videos got me so close, but it was VR that was able to put me in there, to be able to experience it—to not have me tell you what to look at with my photographs and videos. You can move your head around and figure out what you want to look at.” Necyk has no medical training—he’s in psychiatry as a researcher, not a medical doctor—and he firmly considers himself an artist. He’s lived with bipolar disorder for the past 15 years, and was his own subject for much of his early work during his masters degree. It wasn’t until he began his PhD work that he extended this gaze outward. “You really can’t be with sick people—watching them die, and be in very difficult points in their lives—without being affected,” Necyk says. “I’ve always had this reflected practice that’s very personal. Being with ill people, and then becoming ill myself because I’m predisposed to it—there’s this play between other peoples’ stories and my story. It all gets muddled into this larger narrative.” Doug Johnson doug@vueweekly.com

MULTIMEDIA ART

What Have You Heard About Us? inlcludes a repurposed apartment that houses many of the art pieces. / Supplied

A NON-TRADITIONAL MULTICULTURAL MALL

A Multimedia Art Project, Titled What Have You Heard About Us?, Brings Immigrant and Indigenous Stereotypes Forward

anada is known on paper as this diverse, multicultural mosaic—a place where someone from a different country and culture can go and be welcomed with open arms. While this is usually the case, many immigrants are subject to stereotypes while adapting to Canadian society. So if you needed a metaphor to describe Canada, you could call it a multicultural mall. Perhaps this is why the location for a collaborative multimedia art installation named What Have You Heard About Us?— aiming to bring cultural stereotypes into the light and foster a conversation around the immigrant and Indigenous experience—is in fact, a mall. “We knew that we wanted to do an art project that created dialogue around the subject matter and we saw that there wasn’t much exposure or people didn’t really talk about these other communities,” says artist, curator,

and project designer Fren Mah. “There isn’t a lot of art around it and this way, people can be very open about their stories, but still remain anonymous.” What Have You Heard About Us? originally ran during last year’s The Works Art & Design Festival as part of the Canada 150 project focusing on dialogue. “The Works Festival was looking for a Canada 150 art project around dialogue,” says artist and curator Kristina de Guzman. “I’m really interested in intercultural storytelling, so my job was to figure out who in the community would be interested in sharing their story.” Along with Mah, de Guzman held six storytelling workshops throughout various Edmonton communities where immigrants were able to share their Canadian living experience. “I got the inspiration for these

story circles [from] this friend of mine who is a Métis artist,” de Guzman says. “It was a great way to explore ‘The Other’ and use it as source material.” “We started talking about stereotypes and those topics often branched off to their appearances in Canada or feelings of cultural appropriation,” Mah adds. “Everyone’s opinions were quite different, and I saw that immigrants might not have the same feelings as someone like myself who is Canadian born, even though we were all people of colour.” After the story circles portion, Mah, de Guzman and other Edmonton artists—including Emmanuel Osahor, Bushra Yousaf, Garett Strawberry, and Joseph Karaparambi—all began working on various art pieces inspired by the dialogue presented in the story circles.

“I made a papier-mâché piece called ‘The Beaver Dam the Chameleon Climbed.’ The beaver is at the top and chameleon is at the bottom of the ladder,” de Guzman says. “We heard that many immigrants had to quickly blend in with society, and the beaver represents the Canadian, and you can’t tell if the beaver is trying to assist or chew through the ladder.” Another piece within the exhibit consists of a repurposed apartment, which houses many of the other pieces of art, including a short sock puppet film called Should I Be Insulted?, community-made collages, paintings, sculptures, and more. “The apartment was mainly to create a non-traditional gallery space that wasn’t institutionalized,” Mah says. “We wanted to create a space that we thought would have looked like an immigrant home when they first came to Canada.

Until Sept. 3 (Millbourne Mall, Centre Court near TD Bank) and Sept 10–23 (Kingsway Mall) What Have You Heard About Us? Like maybe my parents had something similar when they came to Canada. It’s filled with repurposed furniture and we wanted it to look comforting, but at the same time we put salt in different places in the exhibit.” The salt is meant to be a metaphor for the immigrant experience and the reactions to the stereotypes many people face. “It can either burn you like words or you can take whatever stereotype you face and take it as a grain of salt,” Mah says. Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

VUE PICKS Skate Kitchen // Fri., Aug. 31–Thu., Sept. 6 (see showtimes at metrocinema.org) Starring skaters from an all-female skateboarding crew in New York playing fictional versions of themselves, Skate Kitchen follows the story of 18-year-old Camille (Rachelle Vinberg). She defies her mother to skate with the crew, who offer her a previously unknown sense of belonging, and falls for a skater boy (Jaden Smith). According to PR for the film, director Crystal Moselle spent a lot of time with the Skate Kitchen crew, lending the film a visceral authenticity. (Metro Cinema, Regular Admission Rates) // CN

Jaden Smith and Rachelle Vinberg / Courtesy of Mongrel Media

Creating the Paranormal: An Evening of Evidence, History & Spirits // Fri., Aug. 31 (6 pm)

Whether you’re a believer or just paranormal-curious, why not consider spending an evening with paranormal investigator and author Morgan Knudsen. She’ll discuss paranormal research, real cases, and even encounters in the Starlite Room. The evening includes dinner at River City Revival House on the Starlite’s lower floor. (The Temple at the Starlite Room, $65) // CN Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party // Sat., Sept. 1 (10 am–1 pm) Confession: I have yet to attend this event (the weekend a.m. and I are estranged), but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Kier-La Janisse curates a selection of cartoons from the 1940s to the 1980s, interspersed with vintage commercials and PSAs. Plus

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

sugary cereals no functional adult would call food. Meet you there. (Metro Cinema, $16 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, $12 for children 12 and under) // CN Bacon Fest // Sun., Sept. 2 (4:30 pm) I don’t personally partake, but for those who enjoy the anticipation of slabs of pig sizzling in fat, Bacon Fest will probably be a good time. Enjoy bacon dishes created by Edmonton’s finest chefs and eating establishments—including Destination Doughnuts, The Makin’ Bacon Truck, and River City Revival House—as well as comedy and music. There will even be a Johnny Cash Tribute band. And of course, there will be beer. (St. Basil’s Cultural Centre, $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $5 for youth seven-13, and free for children six and under) //CN

arts 9

STREET ART

Avo and Pichi—together they are PichiAvo—worked on the angel figure in their mural. / Chelsea Novak

SPANISH STREET ARTISTS CREATE EDMONTON’S BIGGEST MURAL T

Rust Magic Brings PichiAvo to 106 Street for Pop-up Mural Painting

wo artists from Spain put the finishing touches on Edmonton’s largest mural over the weekend—and their piece is just one of 10 in this year’s Rust Magic Street Mural Festival. The duo call themselves PichiAvo, and have been working together since 2007. Their style is characterized by bright colours, and influences from both contemporary street art and classical sculpture. The Edmonton mural on the Southside of the Jefferson Lofts at 10331 106 St. is no exception. Bringing the duo here has been a longtime goal for Annaliza Toledo and Trevor Peters, creative directors and co-founders of Rust Magic. “It was always kind of on our wish list of artists to bring, we just never knew if it would actually happen,” Toledo says. It is the first time PachiAvo has painted a mural in Canada, and Toledo says the trip came together at the last minute. Toledo and Peters had been in touch with the duo for a while,

10 arts

trying to nail down a date that would work for all parties. When they finally did, it was only two weeks before PichiAvo arrived, leaving little time for fundraising—which, as a result, is still ongoing.

pictures and express their appreciation for the artwork. But Pichi and Avo weren’t the only street artists hard at work last Thursday. Another duo, Nelson and Xochitl Garcia-leal

“Welcome to the Black Rainbow Lake” at El Cortez on 83 Avenue, Jill Stanton’s “No Beginning/No End” at Apple Dental Care on 124 Street, and Nasarimba’s Matisseesque mural at Habesha African Market on 107 Avenue. Toledo

“It’s a global arena—why put ourselves in a bubble where we can’t enjoy international talent?” “At the moment, this wall has been 100 percent, entirely funded by the public and through our business [Fresh Canvas Art Co.], so we’re really relying on public support for this one,” Toledo says. She watched PichiAvo work at the mural site last Thursday, at which point they were nearly done. Plenty of passersby stop to take

from Vancouver, were finishing up their murals before heading back West. The first is on the east side of Track ’N Trail at 10148 82 Ave. and the other is behind Acajutla Restaurant at 11302 107 Ave. The three murals bring this year’s mural count up to six so far— including Okuda San Miguel’s

says there will be 10 in total, but wouldn’t give any hints about the other four. “We’re kind of just releasing as we go, and making them a surprise,” she says. Whereas in previous years Rust Magic brought 10-20 artists together at once for seven to 10 days of painting and orga-

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

nized events, this year they took a different approach. “This year we wanted to just take a little break from the events and the chaos that happens over seven to 10 days, and just concentrate on mural projects and kind of do pop-up murals all over the city throughout the summertime,” Toledo says. The format allows Toledo and Peters to spend more time showing visiting artists around the city. “We are better hosts, we have more time, and we can give them more attention,” Toledo says. As for the criticism that Rust Magic should be working with more local artists, Toledo points out that they work with local artists, like Stanton, all of the time, but says there’s also value in bringing in international artists. “It’s a global arena—why put ourselves in a bubble where we can’t enjoy international talent?” she asks. Chelsea Novak chelsea@vueweekly.com

Cuddle parties aren’t just a chance to cuddle with strangers. They’re also an opportunity for learning and growth. / Adobe Stock

CONSENT AND COMMUNICATION

Cuddle Parties Provide Consent and Communication Skills, Emotional Growth

he idea of getting together with a bunch of strangers to cuddle is off-putting to some, but cuddle parties—events put on by facilitators trained by Cuddle Party, a non-profit based out of the United States—can provide numerous benefits to those who attend. One of the benefits is socializing and potentially engaging in human contact, but the other is learning consent and communication skills that have applications beyond the cuddle party. Angela Bladon, who lives and works in Calgary, is the only Cuddle Party Facilitator in Alberta. Though she mostly facilitates parties in her home city, she says she does receive requests to attend festivals or facilitate in other towns. She has been attending cuddle parties for four years, and has been facilitating for three. She says what first attracted her

to the events was community. “When I … went to my first cuddle party, it was about the idea around a bunch of people that were aware enough about consent, about communication, and wanting touch that they would attend something like this,” Bladon says. “I was really curious about what kind of people get called in to come to an event like that, and just to meet like-minded people … that would be open to having really conscious communication.” Cuddle parties are three-hour, non-sexual workshops that teach communication as it relates to giving and receiving consent—and saying and hearing no. “The first hour of the event, we go over the rules of Cuddle Party. There are 11 of them and it’s largely about consent,” Bladon says. “And it’s about asking for what you want, and how to hear

a no, and honour that no and honour that person for taking care of themselves.” Following the sharing of the rules, people have an opportunity to leave if they like. Bladon says she encourages people to leave if they’re uncomfortable with the rules for any reason. “During the first hour I tell them, ‘You know what, if you don’t agree with the rules, or if this is an event that you didn’t think was going to be this way, then you’re absolutely encouraged to leave. No harm, no foul,’” Bladon says. “Because I want to make sure that everyone that stays is a yes. That is a yes to those rules, and that everyone’s on the same page.” The next two hours allow people to practice what they’ve learned, get to know other people in the group, and do some consensual cuddling.

Though the workshops aren’t about sex, the skills learned throughout are obviously transferrable, and Bladon says it’s common for couples who want to work on their communication skills to attend. “A lot of people come specifically for that,” she says. Attendees include both couples and singles, an equal mix of men and women (events are open to people of all genders), people of all sexual orientations, and range in age from around 25 to 45 (events are 18+), according to Bladon. She mentions that some people assume cuddle parties are about sex, or feel weird about cuddling with strangers and what wanting that might say about someone. Bladon attributes these assumptions to our society’s tendency to pair touch with sexuality.

Facebook.com/ CalgaryCuddles “People sometimes come with an assumption and a curiosity of ‘What is this actually going to be like?’ because they can’t even imagine a world that doesn’t allow those things to be paired together,” she says. Bladon also stresses that the parties are an opportunity for emotional growth. “It is a lot of fun, and we have a great time—there’s lots of laughter—but it can also be a really emotional experience. A lot of people have the opportunity to work through some stuff that’s been there in their life around rejection, and exclusion, and belonging,” she says. “And that’s a piece a lot of people don’t even realize is there that’s actually really beneficial for everyone.” Chelsea Novak chelsea@vueweekly.com

YEG Pornhub stats

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sex 11

OUCH

PROTECT YOUR JUNK: TRAVELING TICKLE TRUNK Legacy Sex Shop on Whyte Advises Caution When Buying Adult Products Online

-commerce sites like Amazon have disrupted countless businesses—and the sex toy industry is no different. Just how much the internet affects each sex shop’s business is on a case-by-case issue. Some of the old school shops that seemed somewhat seedier may have taken a larger hit because their clientele prefer how convenient and clandestine getting— for example—a fleshlight delivered to their door in a nondescript brown box is compared to walking out of a building with blacked-out windows, wearing a metaphorical trench coat. Not every shop got hit this way, though. For example: The Traveling Tickle Trunk, a fixture on Whyte Avenue—which sits

Buzz, buzz, buzz. / Adobe Stock

Consent is mandatory. Sex is optional. Listen. Believe. Support. sace.ca

If you or someone you know has questions or needs support around an experience of sexual violence - or something that just didn’t feel right - call the SACE 24-Hour Support and Information Line, or visit sace.ca/help. We’re here for anyone who has been affected by sexual violence, including supporters.

somewhat hilariously next to a comic book shop—still has a local following, and hasn’t seen much of a lull in business postinternet, says Brenda Kerber, the shop’s owner. “It depends on the business model of the store. We are a store that really focuses on customer service and sexual health, so we provide a service that, of course, you can’t get on Amazon,” she says. “It doesn’t affect us a lot, but it certainly does have an impact.” Some of this comes down to the shop’s appearance—it looks more like a cupcake shop than anything particularly R-rated—but, Kerber says, the rest comes down to reliability and outreach. Stores that focus more on cheap prices, for example, will get hit harder. There are also some problems with ordering these products online—and those problems can be compounded when you’re putting those things on, in, or near your junk. The big-name, really popular products like the Hitachi Magic Wand, for example, can be found at both the Traveling Tickle Trunk and Amazon. However, Kerber cautions people to make sure what they’re buying is what

they’re looking for, and not a knock-off. “The biggest issue, for me, is ... how it affects the consumer. There are a lot of counterfeit products being sold online. There’s no customer service. If something goes wrong with it, you’re probably not going to be able to return it, and there’s not going to be someone you can talk to about it,” she says. “You run a really high risk of buying a fraud that’s not properly made, and is not safe ... It’s much more common than people would think. We’ve seen it. We’ve watched it happen.” Some online vendors will sell things marketed as well-known and respected brands, but they are, instead, cheaper versions. In some cases, these cheaper products can be harmful in a variety of ways. The biggest risk, Kerber says, is that the toy could be made out of material that isn’t body safe. “You think that you’re buying something that’s going to be safe ... but then it turns out it’s made of PVC or some other kind of vinyl plastic that’s going to degrade. There’s no standards around that,” she says. Doug Johnson doug@vueweekly.com

YEG Pornhub stats EDMONTON’S

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sex 13

Constance Wu plays Rachel who finds out her bae is super rich. // Warner Bros.

ROMCOM

FRI, AUG 31– THUR, SEPT 6

THE LITTLE STRANGER

FRI: 6:45 & 9:15PM SAT: 1:00, 3:30, 6:45 & 9:15PM SUN: 1:00, 3:30, 6:00 & 8:30PM MON: 3:30, 6:00 & 8:15PM TUES TO THURS: 6:45 & 9:00PM RATED: 14A

The Adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s Novel Delivers on All the Romantic Comedy Tropes

THE BOOKSHOP

FRI & TUES TO THURS: 7:00PM SAT: 3:45 & 7:00PM SUN & MON: 3:45 & 6:15PM RATED: G

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU FRI & SAT: 9:30PM SUN: 1:15PM MON: 8:30PM TUES TO THURS: 9:15PM RATED: 14A, SC, N, CL

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SATURDAY MORNING ALL-YOU-CAN -EAT-CEREAL CARTOON PARTY SAT @ 10:00AM – ADMISSION INCLUDES CEREAL

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METRO MOVIE PARTY! / 20TH ANNIVERSARY

THE BIG LEBOWKSI SUN @ 9:00

CIELO FRI @ 7:00, SAT @ 2:00, SUN @ 7:00, MON @ 4:00

MUSIC DOCS

SKATE KITCHEN FRI @ 9:00, SAT @ 7:00, SUN @ 4:30, MON @ 7:00, TUES @ 9:30

JAPANESE & ENGLISH WITH SUBTITLES. W/ A LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE BY K. BURWASH AT 6:30PM.

SPANISH, ENGLISH, & FRENCH WITH SUBTITLES

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TICKETS INCLUDE ADMISSION TO A SCREENING OF DEBBIE DOES DALLAS AT 10:00PM. 18+ NO MINORS

Metro Cinema at the Garneau: 8712-109 Street WWW.METROCINEMA.ORG

14 film

umble ceonomics professor Rachel Chu is dating Nick Young. Played by Henry Golding, we don’t know much about Young aside from that he is very charming, close with his grandmother, and is expected to run his family’s business someday. Nick invites Rachel to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore, which she assumes will be your

trying on dresses, a disapproving mother, and huge misunderstandings. But due to grounded, irresistible characters, I cared deeply about how this story transpired. Rachel (played by Constance Wu) is genuine and strong in the face of nasty gossip and criticism. Nick’s mom, Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh), is teeming with steely prowess. Awkwafina is hi-

Crazy Rich Asisans Directed by Jon M. Chu Now playing  gapore. The affluence depicted is sometimes laughable in its excess and is pure, escapist fun. The film is certainly not perfect

“The romcom tropes in Crazy Rich Asians are as excessive as the Young family’s wealth …” average wedding date. When she steps into the opulent plane cabin, she learns Nick comes from extraordinary wealth. This seems like the stuff of fairytales, but anyone who’s seen a romantic comedy—whether or not they’ve read the Kevin Kwan novel upon which the film is based—knows how this trip will probably go for Rachel. The romcom tropes in Crazy Rich Asians are as excessive as the Young family’s wealth: the wisecracking BFF, a montage of

larious as quirky best friend Peik Lin. Really, this is a tale of smart young women and powerful matriarchs, and the film’s men take a back seat. Crazy Rich Asians is funny, but its humour emerges from relatable situations and witty dialogue, not cheap physical gags—or worse, jokes at the expense of one-dimensional stereotypes like many of its romcom predecessors. The film is beautiful to look at as well, with candy-coloured parties and sweeping scenes of Sin-

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

in remitting stereotypes. We only see glimpses of Asian culture North American audiences might recognize such as prayer groups, making dumplings, playing mahjong, and eating street food. But Hollywood is an industry that may always cater to the majority and in this case, it has produced a movie with an all-Asian cast that is sure to be a timeless romcom classic. And maybe that’s the best we can expect from Hollywood for now. Miya Abe

Wed., Sept.5 (8 pm) Future Islands w/ Guests Union Hall $32.50 via ticketfly.com

SYNTH POP

The Future Islands Frontman Discusses the Band’s Origins, His Crazy Dance Moves, and Link to Nature

eflecting on growing older is an aspect every human being can relate to, and it’s something Samuel T. Herring, the frontman and lyricist of Baltimore’s synthpop group Future Islands, has recently been thinking about. Now 34, Herring isn’t that old, but Future Islands is coming up on its 13 year anniversary in a few months, and that is a long time for a band. It could also be considered the band’s 16 year anniversary as Herring and his bandmates bassist/guitarist William Cashion and keyboardist/programmer Gerrit Welmers had a group called Art Lord & the Self-Portraits before Future Islands took off. “We were this Europop style art dance band in this crazy party town in North Carolina, but we were actually writing meaningful personal stuff,” Herring says. “We were young, and it was that time when you don’t know what you’re doing right and you just do it. I kinda miss that part of my brain. Now I’m constantly like ‘What’s the best way to do this? Where am I?’” Since adopting the Future Islands moniker in 2006, Herring and his bandmates have been picking up traction with every release, but it wasn’t until the performance on Late Show

With David Letterman that they became a worldwide name. The video on YouTube became the show’s highest watched, and everybody started talking about the dance moves—which consisted of untamed head bobs, Shakespearean ‘alas poor Yorick’ hand gestures, and slippery electric slides—and energy of the synth-pop frontman with a tucked-in black shirt who was giving it his all.

(L-R) William Cashion, Samuel T. Herring, and Gerrit Welmers. / Henry Gorse

After Future Islands music slowed down to a steady 120 bpm, Herring continued to adapt his one-of-a-kind stage performance. “Our Singles album was the first time I had space in a dance song. So I was trying to figure out what to do when I wasn’t singing. For me, I want to hold people’s attention and tell the story in the best possible way. How do I make them feel what

it came out a year ago, Herring (someone who considers himself a writer before a musician) is a guy who is always writing the next batch of songs. “I’m working on some really good songs right now that the guys have given me and I’m trying to write really intense lyrics to these amazing dance songs and it’s hard man,” he says. “There’s this amazing palette the guys are giving me that

“When we first started Future Islands it was like super fast synth punk at like 180 bpm ... I went from performing on a mic stand to being a feral animal on stage.” – Sam T. Herring “My dance movement since the Letterman performance has become part of who they [the fans] think we are,” Herring says. “When we first started Future Islands it was like super fast synth punk at like 180 bpm. We had a drummer that could only play fast, so it added this whole new dimension to our writing style. I went from performing on a mic stand to being a feral animal on stage.”

I’m saying?” he says. Herring’s live persona is not the only aspect that will hold the attention of a listener. His lyrics are brutally honest and usually quite melancholic. Those lyrics, combined with the ecstatic synth pop from the band, make Future Islands a pretty imitable experience. The newest album The Far Field is also the band’s most compelling to date. And even though

could be this amazing dance hit, and it’s hard for me to write the vapid lyrics that could go with it. When you’re writing dance music, you’re not trying to make people think too much. So much of what you hear on the radio is like ‘We’re all gonna die young so let’s just dance one more time.’ That where we’ve gone to in pop music. This really crazy fatalist ideal.” Instead of jumping on the fa-

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

talist train, Herring would rather sing about past experiences thats have shaped him into who he is. Nature also plays a huge role in his lyrical inspiration. “I grew up a two-minute walk to the shore in North Carolina and that’s a big part of where nature strikes your imagination as a kid and it’s something I really held onto as an adult,” he says. “Being in a place like Baltimore, it’s something to really reflect on. The first poet that really struck me, past Carl Sandburg, was Theodore Roethke, which has been a huge influence. We have albums named after his poems [like The Far Field]. He’s someone that showed me the beauty of nature in a new way with words. He’s the kind of poet that when he’s speaking about the beauty of the flower he’s not speaking about the colour or petals. He’ll speak about the dirt and the worms that make the flower.” It’s what Herring does in a song like “Cave,” a song about letting go of your beliefs. He plants an idea and sings about what makes up that idea. “That’s beauty to me,” he says, “speaking to what creates beauty instead of what’s beautiful.” Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

music 15

LAST CHANCE TO ROCK

The Pack A.D. are taking a hiatus, so you better catch them! / Supplied

YOU BETTER CATCH ‘EM WHILE YOU CAN

Thu., Sept. 6 (7 pm) The Pack A.D. Station On Jasper $19 at stationonjasper.com

The Pack A.D. Retires the Van and Band ... For Now

From humble beginnings with a more blues-inspired garage rock sound, a foray that Miller says was “natural” to their level of playing at the time, to a more psychedelic-fueled rock and roll with Dollhouse, The Pack A.D. has evolved. But one thing always stays true, as Miller says, “The only thing I know for sure is that we end up sounding like ourselves.” With a visceral and renowned live show and an unwavering work ethic, the break is well deserved. The band has been a great Canadian success story for anyone that doesn’t shy away from passionate and poignant lyrics; their dedication to the craft has made them a must-see. “I often wonder, if we started now, what it would be like. I think part of the reason we’re around is because of the touring and our live show; it’s a big part of who we are,” Miller says. “That’s what has kept us going. This is what happens when you put us in a room together. This is what comes naturally.”

he rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle is a persistent one, requiring dedication to the craft, dedication to sharing, and sacrificing one’s own livelihood, and dedication to yourself for the sake of the art. The Pack A.D., a duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Becky Black and drummer Maya Miller, are a band that have become a mantle for that hard workin’ rock ‘n’ roll life, and doing it with grit and grace. This latest tour, aptly called the “Catch Us While You Can Tour,” has the duo packing up their van for one more tour before a wee hiatus. Drummer Maya Miller reflects, “We’ve been doing this a while now; we’ve driven from one coast to the next so many times, and while we don’t know what the future will hold after the tour, we’re both excited.” In a year celebrating a new album, Dollhouse, and a 10 year anniversary of their first album Tintype, The Pack A.D. has laid their mark as one of Canada’s most hard-working bands.

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The Pack A.D. have kept that passion burning, and while the world outside seems to literally be burning, Miller hopes to be making a better world, whether in The Pack A.D. or not. Miller genuinely says, “I just try and do my bit, and hopefully contribute to fewer problems.” Beyond the modesty, The Pack A.D. has in fact contributed to fewer problems. Whether it’s providing the platform and space for people to express frustrations at a live show, to speaking on mental health like in their last album Positive Thinking, to showing women that rock ‘n’ roll is not just a boys club, the band’s success is no mistake, and their hard work has been recognized on many Canadian fronts. As the band gets prepped for us to catch ‘em while we can, Miller is excited, reflecting on the touring lifestyle. “You can feel really small on tour. Sometimes you get on tour and it gets crazy; it’s an insular experience, until you get to the show.” And even after all these years touring, Miller says she’ll still feel compelled by a tour. “I feel a glow about it [the tour] and I am excited for the opportunities; I’ve got that 80s T.V. show glow now.” So while The Pack A.D. takes a break, a break that will still be filled with respective solo projects between both Black and Miller, know that this isn’t the end of the band. Miller assures me, that it’s rather, a new beginning. Ryan Hook

BLUES/AMERICANA

GHOSTS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT Kara Grainger Talks Living With Ghosts, Blues Inspirations, and Austrailian Roots

Wed., Sept. 5 – Sun., Sept. 9 Kara Grainger Blues On Whyte General Admission

Kara Grainger found a new home in Los Angeles / Tony Byrd

o one chooses to love a specific style of music. It chooses you, and the blues chose Kara Grainger. Coming from Balmain, a small suburban neighbourhood in Sydney, Australia, Grainger frequently visited the community’s blues/Americana pubs. “People were playing Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, and Americana stuff like The Band. I’d hear this every week and learn it myself to play the pub,” she says. After a few years of covers, Grainger became confident

apart. The population of 300 million [in the U.S.] as opposed to 20 million in Australia, that means in each genre, you have many more people into that style of music. You don’t have to be a pop artist to gain a following.” Now, Grainger is touring her Living With Your Ghost album, her fourth and biggest album to date. Mixed by Stuart Sullivan— a producer who has worked with Willie Nelson and founded Wire Records—Living With Your Ghost is an Americana blues epic from

sonic spaces. The lyrics (as the title suggests) talk literally and metaphorically about living with an apparition that Grainger feels she almost took for granted. “It started off about being somebody who was personally close to me and then it developed—and this is often how I write—into a situation that I’ll start relating it to a broader idea,” she says. “Initially, it was about somebody who I was constantly thinking about and you think about them so much that you think they’re right

I never really know what the true meaning of my album is going to be when I’m writing the songs, but I really learned a lot about myself, I can tell you that much.” enough to play her own tunes, and people started to take notice of her killer voice and dynamic guitar chops. She got picked up by Australia’s Craving Records who later sent her to Los Angeles to record her Grand and Green River album. After its release, Grainger looked for more musical options and contacts in L.A. and ended up staying indefinitely. “I thought it would be one or two years doing that and here I am 10 years later,” she laughs. “I was kind of ready for a change and the band I was in had recently fallen

start to finish. Grainger’s lyrics are poetically honest and open, reflecting on her roots and past. “Being in the States for almost 10 years, it was a bit of looking back on where I come from. I never really know what the true meaning of my album is going to be when I’m writing the songs, but I really learned a lot about myself I can tell you that much,” she says. The title track sets the mood instantly with rock ‘n’ roll soul as Grainger’s smoky voice harmonizes with itself, filling the empty

there with you, y’ know? It can be people who have passed away or any troubling time where you feel like that person is right with you.” An impressive slide guitar lick arrives at the crescendo giving you a taste of the kind of musicianship that will be featured on the rest of the album. It’s the perfect album for a live setting, filled with various instrumental solos and Grainger’s euphonic vocals that pull you in like the moon pulls the tide. Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

UPCOMING LIVE: 22 - ARETHA FRANKLIN TRIBUTE 28 - PUNCH DRUNK CABARET 30 - THE GRAPES OF WRATH 31 - THE DUDES WITH FUNKAFEELYA 1 - FUNKAFEELYA 6 - PACK A.D. 7/8 - THE HIGHLITES 9 - JJ SHIPLETT 12 - JOHNNY MCQUAIG BAND 14 - LEEROY STAGGER 15 - THE ODDIBLES 6 - PRAIRIE STATES - SUNDAY COUNTRY NIGHTS 21 - BC/DC 22 - MOURNING WOOD 28 - PUNCH DRUNK CABARET 29 - WHYTE BRONCO

CO M I N G U P OCT 12 - THE SKYDIGGERS OCT 13 - THE EAST POINTERS OCT 20 - DELHI TO DUBLIN NOV 3 - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

WEEKEND

B R U N C H E S

B RU N C H E S A R E B E TT E R W I T H L I V E M U S I C . FA M I LY ST Y L E S E RV I C E . FA R M E RS ’ M A R K E T B RU N C H O N SAT U R DAY & FO L K F E ST S U N DAY B RU N C H , 11 A M – 2 P M .

S TAT I O N O N J A S P E R . C O M music 17

UPCOMING

EVENTS

SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON AUG 30

CHAD VALLEY W/ GUEST TERRACE

SEP 2

SIGHTLINES W/ ALLOYS & BRUTAL POODLE

SEP 7

SNAK THE RIPPER W/ GUESTS

FOLK

A CHANGE OF HEART (LITERALLY)

After His Aorta Burst, Laurier Tiernan Changed His Tune and Formed Nature Airliner

WEST EDMONTON MALL AUG 30

SONIC LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: IAMHILL

SEP 1

SUMMER SEND OFF W/ DJ DEPHBOY

SEP 7

LIVE BAND KARAOKE W/ THE NERVOUS FLIRTS

Tickets and full listings TheRecRoom.com The Rec Room® is owned by Cineplex Entertainment L. P.

As featured on Graham Norton’s BBC Adele Special

Laurier Tiernan (R) started Nature Airliner with his wife, Eiko. / Supplied

here’s a fine line between losses and gains, enemies and T friends, and blessings or curses: Laurier Tiernan, from folk duo Nature Airliner, teetered this line almost his whole life.

At 14, Tiernan was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome—which is characterized by a possible abrupt aorta bursting in one’s heart. Marfan syndrome kept him arm’s length from near death his whole life. So naturally, Tiernan turned to punk as a means of expressing an angst warranted by the sudden impending death that could have happened at any moment.

‘Brilliant’ Adele

‘Katie has a lovely voice’ Sharon Osbourne

September 7th Tickets $34.95 plus gst

Some conditions may apply. Promotion subject to change without notice and AGLC approval.

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18 music

anger and confusion into his music and after a few minor successes, including airplay on Radio Canada and CBC, Tiernan still couldn’t find his bearings in Canada as a musician. But during a low point, a friend of Tiernan’s started a record label in Japan and agreed to release his first EP. Tiernan took the opportunity to start anew and the EP was relatively successful. Not long after moving, at the age of 34, Tiernan’s nightmare came true and his aorta burst. After a gruelling eight-hour surgery, thanks to Dr. Sunao Watanabe and a team of

Tue., Sept. 4 (8 pm) Nature Airliner Shaker’s Roadhouse $15 (All Ages) wife Eiko joining him on his musical endeavours, Nature Airliner was born and the positives started to grow. With a sponsorship from Taylor Guitars and Levi’s Jeans, a U.K tour under its belt and offers to play festivals overseas, Nature Airliner embraces the demons and now translates them into something a little more digestible. “My music as a solo career was steeped in misery and anger,” Tiernan says. “But since Nature Airliner formed after my heart surgery, it’s completely different; it’s no longer angry or miserable songs, and

“Since Nature Airliner formed after my heart surgery, it’s completely different; we want to play music that urges people towards their ideal happiness no matter the odds.” – Laurier Tiernan Tiernan was angry, which persisted in his professional and personal life, and he was plagued with bouts of depression that only furthered his descent. “I was faced with an early death, if not, a sudden death, since my aorta could rupture quite unpredictably, so I was struggling with depression, and the side effect of the drugs they had me on gave me depression and suicidal thoughts,” he says. “I could feel the weight of this existential angst, even with the help of five therapists in five years.” Regardless, Tiernan translated this

five other doctors at St. Luke’s International Hospital, Tiernan’s life was saved. With his nightmare finally faced, Tiernan had a new outlook: his attitude changed, his music relaxed, and he found inner peace. “Before my surgery I was always negative, because of my impending death, and from that I had negative things happening, I just attracted it. After the surgery, I had such a change of heart, literally. My actions became more positive, my thoughts became positive, I was just so grateful to be alive.” With a new perspective, and his

VUEWEEKLY.com | AUG 30 - SEP 5, 2018

instead we play music we want to say inspires or encourages people. We want to play music that urges people towards their ideal happiness no matter the odds—that’s our message—we want to uplift against all odds.” This change of heart has also given him a new perspective on his former self, which has Nature Airliner revisiting some of Tiernan’s older, angrier songs too. Tiernan says, “In a sense, I’m reconciling with my past to build a greater future.”

Ryan Hook

ALBERTA-WIDECLASSIFIEDS

VUEPICKS Mastodon w/ Dinosaur Jr., and Netherlands // Sat., Sept 1 (7:30 pm) Mastodon has become adept at taking painful, dark memories and experiences and turning them into delicious, heavy, prog metal concept albums. The band’s latest venture Emperor of Sand follows the story of a desert drifter who has been sentenced to death by exile. The theme of mortality runs rampant in the songs, inspired by the band members’ familial dealings with cancer and death. Supporting Mastodon is Dinosaur Jr., led by the freaky guitar whiz, J Mascis. Netherlands are opening the show, and they also seem prety heavy and whacky. (Northern Alberta Jubillee Auditorium, From $52) // SB Dead Fibres w/ Dead Friends, and Holy Void // Fri., Aug. 31 (9 pm) Local psych warriors Dead Fibres have been touring nonstop, and are back home. Dead Friends are going to be taking a little break from live shows to focus on writing some epic material, so you should check out this show to catch them one last time. And then there’s Holy Void, which sounds like the trippy lovechild of The Pixies and Jesus and the Mary Chain. (The Sewing Machine Factory, $10) // SB

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Mastodon are ready to crush the Jube. / Jimmy Hubbard

John Wort Hannam // Fri., Aug. 31 (8:30 pm) John Wort Hannam is one of those artists that makes you proud to be Albertan. Fan are eagerly awaiting the release of his seventh studio album, Acres of Elbow Room due Sept. 7. Hannam crafts songs that tell stories of old flames, the plains, love, and despair. He’s a bit folk, roots, and blues, and he’s got something for everyone—you just have to find it. (Blue Chair Cafe, $25) // SB

NEW SOUNDS Erin Mulcair Rise & Fall Self-Released Erin Mulcair’s optimism takes you on a trip. An album with strings, impeccable singing, and optimistic themes, Rise & Fall is a lesson in perseverance and learning. This is Mulcair’s first album— written on maternity leave—and her stories, catalogued from years of pondering and reflection, teach varying lessons of strength and optimism. In songs like “My Habitat,” an admiring love song, the narrator says “your habitat is in my head,’ which seems like Mulcair’s romanticism is sometimes an ache that’s more often a reflection than a reality. Mulcair’s calm demeanour is on display throughout the release, and mixed with this smooth neo-jazz and folk fusion, it comes off naturally. “Knock Knock” exemplifies some beautiful horn playing and lyricism that ooze confidence in love and life. Rise & Fall adds texture to the sentiment with lines like “… I want to go back to believing without seeing, when waking was for dreaming.” Mulcair adds to the playfulness of childhood with a dreamy sense of maturity. The album often finds itself cutting into the same grooves that are ubiquitous with folk—wavy guitars, a simple backbeat, and predictable harmonies— though the added horns and jazz-fusion give a lot of

VUECLASSIFIEDS 1600.

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these songs a discernable sound, much like the title track. While most of the album is full of songs one could lie back and sip wine to, there’s a few faster paced songs like “You and Me” and grittier tunes like “Mine” that are sure to add to the dynamic of Mulcair’s live show. Erin Mulcair’s first album is a learning experience in not just her professional musicianship, but also in the form of her own lyrics and human experience. Perhaps this is the type of optimism some of us need in these downtrodden times.

Ryan Hook

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We have positions available for many different skills & interests. Come work with marvelous people on fun teams, get a sweet festival tshirt, and other fabulous perks! If you have any inquiries or questions you can email our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@kaleidofest.ca We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our crew on September 14-16, 2018!

2005.

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ART CLASSES FOR ADULTS, YOUTH, AND CHILDREN Check The Paint Spot’s website, paintspot.ca/events/workshops for up-to-date information on art classes for all ages, beginner and intermediate. Register in person, by phone or online. Contact: 780.432.0240 email: accounts@paintspot.ca

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ADULTCLASSIFIEDS

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SAVAGELOVE BLOWJOBBER

This woman has gone down on me (I’m a man) more than half a dozen times in the last three months. Each time seems to be better than the previous! She does not want reciprocation. She has also turned down all my offers for intercourse. As far as I know, she is heterosexual just like me. What’s with that? I am getting a bit frustrated. Also, without going all the way, am I considered a friend with benefits? JUST CHILLING You’re benefiting here—think of all those blowjobs—and if she’s a friend, you can certainly regard yourself as a friend with benefits. As for why she won’t allow you to eat her pussy or put your dick in her pussy, JC, well, a few things spring to mind. She could be one of those women who love to give head and that’s all she wants from a casual partner. Or she could have body-image issues. Or she could have a sexually transmitted infection, and she’d rather blow than disclose. Or she might be unwilling to risk pregnancy. Or she could be intersex or trans and not ready to open up. If you enjoy those blowjobs—if you’re enjoying the benefits—focus on what you are getting instead of what you’re not.

SWINGIN’ LOW

My husband and I occasionally go to swingers clubs. I don’t want to inadvertently fuck any Trump supporters, but I hate the idea of bringing up politics and killing everyone’s collective boner. Any suggestions would be appreciated! OCCASIONALLY SWINGING At the risk of killing your boner forever, OS, the organized swinging scene “leans right,” as pollster

Dan Savage

Charlie Cook would put it if Charlie Cook polled swingers. Easily half of the couples I met at a big swingers convention I attended in Las Vegas told me they were Republicans. One man—a swinger from Texas—told me he was a “traditional values” type of guy and that’s why he opposed samesex marriage. Fun fact: His wife was off fucking someone else’s husband while we were chitchatting in the hotel bar. Good times.

BE THE BOSS

I’m a happily married 35-year-old mom. I have a loving and devoted husband. Recently, I started a job to get out of the house more and interact with more people. Well, it turns out my new boss is a real hottie. I have a crush on him and often find myself fantasizing about him. While I know these feelings can be normal, I tend to fixate/obsess. I’m basically looking for advice on how to move past this crush or maybe find a more productive outlet. NEWBIE FANTASIZING Here’s a more productive outlet: Turn out the lights, climb on top of your husband, get him hard, then sink your pussy down on his cock and ride him while you fantasize about your boss. (Perhaps this is better described as a more productive inlet?) Bonus points if you and your husband are both secure enough in your marriage and cognizant enough of reality to regard crushes on others as normal and, so long as they remain crushes, not a threat to your marriage or commitment. Because then you can talk dirty with your husband about your boss—he can even pretend to be your boss—while you ride your husband’s cock.

ROULETTE MAN

The other night while my wife and I were watching porn and

masturbating together, I suggested we masturbate in front of DirtyRoulette. I briefly explained what the site is about. She asked me if that’s what I do—if I get on DR when I masturbate. I replied yes, sometimes—and she was so taken aback, she ended our masturbation session to process it. We’re fine now, but do you think this is “cheating”? DIRTY ROULETTING

idea how to go about using it. My life is work, children, activities related to the children, and a few solo hobbies to keep myself fit and sane. I rarely meet new people, except at work, and I can’t start a relationship with anyone I meet there. In fact, my career means I am subject to a fair amount of social scrutiny and discretion is paramount. Do you have any suggestions? HALL PASSING

Keep it casual and keep it brief, PP. A quick drink before you and your husband head to a sold-out show you have only two tickets for. If your husband has an unexpectedly emotional reaction to meeting your boyfriend in the flesh—if it dredges up jealousy issues—you won’t be putting him in a situation where he has to bottle that up for hours or, worse yet, for a weekend.

I don’t think it’s cheating, DR, but you aren’t married to me. In other words, if your wife regards you masturbating with strangers on the internet as cheating, then it’s cheating. There are, of course, some people out there who regard too many things as cheating—fantasizing about others, looking at porn, even non-webcam-or-pornenhanced masturbation. People who think this way usually regard cheating as unforgivable and, consequently, their relationships are doomed to failure.

Remember Ashley Madison? The hookup site for married people looking for affair partners? The site that did a terrible job of protecting its user data? The site that got hacked? A hack that outed millions of adulterers and ruined lives? According to a story at the Outline, Ashley Madison is back, baby, and lots of women—real women, not the bots that plagued the site pre-hack—are using it. “Once the dust had settled and other scandals entered the headlines, many people largely forgot about Ashley Madison,” Stephanie Russell-Kraft reports. “This might explain why Ashley Madison’s user numbers have shot up in recent years.”

VISIT A DOC

BIRDS N’ BEES

I’m a gay woman in an open marriage. I have met some women I am interested in who are bi and have husbands or male lovers. While I’m into being with these women, I have a concern. I know that sperm can’t live outside the body very long, but it can still be alive and kicking inside a woman for several days. If a woman fucks a man, and hours or days later, I fuck that woman with fingers or toys that are later inside of me, can I accidentally get pregnant? ACTIVELY LOOKING

NEW BOY

Any etiquette tips or best practices for introducing my husband to my boyfriend? POLY PROCESSING

Hey, Dan, you missed an opportunity in your response to Afraid To Bleed. She wrote that she bleeds whenever she has sex, and she was concerned about her partner’s aversion to blood, which you did address. But women should not bleed after vaginal intercourse. There are many reasons why they might—so it needs to be investigated. Please encourage ATB to visit a doctor. CONCERNED READER Big oversight on my part, thank you for writing in! On the Lovecast: Finally! A sex-advice/rabbit-care podcast mash-up! savagelovecast.com. mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage on Twitter ITMFA.org

No.

ASHLEY IS MAD...ISON

I’m deep in the grips of a run-ofthe-mill midlife crisis. My marriage is in a slump, and I’ve been sexless longer than at any time since I was a teenager. My wife has granted me the DADT “hall pass,” but I have no

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at the back 21

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

Matt Jones

“Can I Get Your Digit?”

Across

1 “The Simpsons” character with a crossword episode 5 Waldorf (but not Statler), for one 10 Flim-___ (swindle) 14 Some are fine 15 Actress Menzel of “Frozen” and “Wicked” 16 Jared of “Panic Room” 17 Webster of dictionaries 18 Hebrew letter on a dreidel 19 Atop 20 Bug with formic acid 21 Show with a protagonist known as Number Six 23 Early fruit sampler? 25 Olympics chant that must annoy every other country 26 Came up 27 Copper finish 30 Small flashes of light 31 Where to use a No. 2 pencil 35 Cartoonist Avery 36 Pained sound 37 Half of Bennifer, once 40 Movie with a robot called “Number 5” 44 Jill who played Captain Stubing’s daughter on “The Love Boat” 47 Bald baby? 48 In better health 49 Midsection muscles 52 IX’s opposite, on a clock face 53 YA fantasy hero who combats No.1 56 Frazier’s “Thrilla in Manila” opponent 59 Horse race pace, sometimes 60 ___ Lama 61 “___ Artist’s Studio” (Christina Rossetti poem) 62 “You and ___ going to get along” 63 Cheeses in red wax 64 Semiprecious stone used in cameos 65 Not barefoot 66 “GymnopÈdies” composer Erik 67 “The Untouchables” agent Eliot

Down

1 Actress Condor of Netflix’s “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” 2 Element that sounds like the middle two letters should be switched 3 Paycheck deduction, perhaps 4 Wildfire side effect 5 “OK, whatever” noise 6 “Later,” in Lourdes

22 at the back

7 Walks with a cane, perhaps 8 “It’s the end of ___” 9 “The Persistence of Memory” artist 10 Put the pedal to the metal 11 Ono’s love 12 Be a witness to 13 Mandy and Dudley, for two 21 Place that’s not fun to be stuck inside with mosquitos 22 Pizzeria in “Do the Right Thing” 24 Diesel who got to say “I am Groot” in multiple languages 27 Calif. winter setting 28 Blackjack card 29 Gas used in light tubes 30 “Aladdin” character 32 Former Boston Bruin Bobby 33 “___ if I can help it!” 34 Tic ___ (candy brand) 37 Moore who won an Oscar for “Still Alice” 38 Perjure oneself 39 Baseball Hall-of-Famer Mel 40 Came down pretty hard 41 “First, do no ___” 42 Racetrack boundary 43 Special effects that look real but aren’t, briefly 44 Start of many a “Jeopardy!” response 45 Palindromic Reno casino founder William 46 Bull-themed tequila brand 49 Carne ___ 50 A sharp equivalent 51 “Likewise” 54 “Beware the ___ of March” 55 Sagacious 57 Ruffles rival 58 “Listen Like Thieves” band 61 Charged atom ©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, our heroine encounters a talking caterpillar as he smokes a hookah on top of a tall mushroom. “Who are you?” he asks her. Alice is honest: “I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.” She says this with uneasiness. In the last few hours, she has twice been shrunken down to a tiny size and twice grown as big as a giant. All these transformations have unnerved her. In contrast to Alice, I’m hoping you’ll have a positive attitude about your upcoming shifts and mutations, Aries. From what I can tell, your journey through the season of metamorphosis should be mostly fun and educational.

Everyone in the world has a dark side. Can you intuit the nature of each person’s dark side? Is it tolerable? Is it interesting?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Juan Villarino has hitchhiked over 2,350 times in 90 countries. His free rides have carried him over 100,000 miles. He has kept detailed records, so he’s able to say with confidence that Iraq is the best place to catch a lift. Average wait time there is seven minutes. Jordan and Romania are good, too, with nine and 12 minute waits, respectively. In telling you about his success, I don’t mean to suggest that now is a favourable time to hitchhike. But I do want you to know that the coming weeks will be prime time to solicit favours, garner gifts, and make yourself available for metaphorical equivalents of free rides. You’re extra magnetic and attractive. How could anyone resist providing you with the blessings you need and deserve?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Romanian philosopher Emil Cioran loved the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. “Without Bach, God would be a complete secondrate figure,” he testified, adding, “Bach’s music is the only argument proving the creation of the Universe cannot be regarded as a complete failure.” I invite you to emulate Cioran’s passionate clarity, Virgo. From an astrological perspective, now is an excellent time to identify people and things that consistently invigorate your excitement about your destiny. Maybe you have just one shining exemplar, like Cioran, or maybe you have more. Home in on the phenomena that in your mind embody the glory of creation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): While a young man, the future Roman leader Julius Caesar was kidnapped by Sicilian pirates. They proposed a ransom of 620 kilograms of silver. Caesar was incensed at the small size of the ransom—he believed he was worth more—and demanded that his captors raise the sum to 1,550 kilograms. I’d love to see you unleash that kind of bravado in the coming weeks, Leo—preferably without getting yourself kidnapped. In my opinion, it’s crucial that you know how valuable you are, and make sure everyone else knows, as well.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): One of the big stories of 2018 concerns your effort to escape from a star-crossed trick of fate—to fix a long-running tweak that has subtly undermined your lust for life. How successful will you be in this heroic quest? That will hinge in part on your faith in the new power you’ve been developing. Another factor that will determine the outcome is your ability to identify and gain access to a resource that is virtually magical even though it appears nondescript. I bring this to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that a key plot twist in this story will soon unfold.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I foresee the withering of a hope or the disappearance of a prop or the loss of leverage. This ending may initially make you feel melancholy, but I bet it will ultimately prove beneficent—and maybe lead you to resources that were previously unavailable. Here are rituals you could perform that may help you catalyze the specific kind of relief and release you need: 1. Wander around a graveyard and sing songs you love. 2. Tie one end of a string around your ankle and the other end around an object that symbolizes an influence you want to banish from your life. Then cut the string and bury the object. 3. Say this 10 times: “The end makes the beginning possible.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Potential new allies are seeking entrance to your domain. Existing allies aspire to be closer to you. I’m worried you may be a bit overwhelmed; that you might not exercise sufficient discrimination. I therefore urge you to ask yourself these questions about each candidate. 1. Does this person understand what it means to respect your boundaries? 2. What are his or her motivations for wanting contact with you? 3. Do you truly value and need the gifts each person has to give you? 4.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If a man treats a life artistically, his brain is his heart,” wrote Oscar Wilde. I’ll translate that into a more complete version: “If a person of any gender treats life artistically, their brain is their heart.” This truth will be especially applicable for you in the coming weeks. You’ll be wise to treat your life artistically. You’ll thrive by using your heart as your brain. So I advise you to wield your intelligence with love. Understand that your most incisive insights will come when you’re

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Rob Brezsny

feeling empathy and seeking intimacy. As you crystallize clear visions about the future, make sure they are generously suffused with ideas about how you and your people can enhance your joie de vivre. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “My tastes are simple,” testified Sagittarian politician Winston Churchill. “I am easily satisfied with the best.” I propose that we make that your motto for now. While it may not be a sound idea to demand only the finest of everything all the time, I think it will be wise for you to do so during the next three weeks. You will have a mandate to resist trifles and insist on excellence. Luckily, this should motivate you to raise your own standards and expect the very best from yourself. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Russian playwright Anton Chekhov articulated a principle he felt was essential to telling a good story: If you say early in your tale that there’s a rifle hanging on the wall, that rifle must eventually be used. “If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there,” declared Chekhov. We might wish that real life unfolded with such clear dramatic purpose. To have our future so well-foreshadowed would make it easier to plan our actions. But that’s not often the case. Many elements pop up in our personal stories that ultimately serve no purpose. Except now, that is, for you Capricorns. I suspect that in the next six weeks, plot twists will be telegraphed in advance. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Would it be fun to roast marshmallows on long sticks over scorching volcanic vents? I suppose. Would it be safe? No! Aside from the possibility that you could get burned, the sulfuric acid in the vapours would make the cooked marshmallows taste terrible, and might cause them to explode. So I advise you to refrain from adventures like that. On the other hand, I will love it if you cultivate a playful spirit as you contemplate serious decisions. I’m in favour of you keeping a blithe attitude as you navigate your way through tricky maneuvers. I hope you’ll be jaunty in the midst of rumbling commotions. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): People will be thinking about you more than usual, and with greater intensity. Allies and acquaintances will be revising their opinions and understandings about you, mostly in favourable ways, although not always. Loved ones and not-soloved ones will also be reworking their images of you, coming to altered conclusions about what you mean to them and what your purpose is. Given these developments, I suggest that you be proactive about expressing your best intentions and displaying your finest attributes.

CURTIS HAUSER

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at the back 23

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