ISSUE 2 - SEPT 17 2012 obiter-dicta.ca
Submissions are due at 2 p.m. on September 20, 2012. Please send your articles to: obiterdicta@osgoode.yorku.ca
“
If the Pentagon has its way, soldiers of the future will be genetically modified transhumans capable of superhuman feats.
”
‘The Definitive Source for Osgoode News’
The Next Frontier in Genetic Modification: Are Trans-Human Super-Soldiers A Good Idea? CHRISTOPHER FLEURY Contributor For those of you who remain skeptical of the potential hazards of genetically modified foods— even in the wake of the recent ‘anti-organic’ media-blitz prompted by a Stanford University study—the US Military is quietly unveiling the next frontier in genetic modification. On Aug. 13, 2012 the Daily Mail ran an » continued on pg 15
O-Week 2012: Osgoode is never going to give you up, never going to let you down, never going to run around and desert you JON O’KANE Contributor Special to the Obiter Dicta* Add one part nervous energy, a heaping pile of excitement, a dash of Ethical Lawyering, the finest hint of Dean Sossin and you’ve got yourself a recipe for Orientation Week 2012. The Class of 2015 came in with a bang – and I don’t just mean the thunderstorm on Tuesday, September 4th that greeted you at the door. With O-Week now behind us, I’ll use the last drops of my post-Orientation nostalgia to share some parting thanks. None of this could have been possible without the help of the many, many people behind the scenes. This year, roughly 60 leaders and 30 committee members made sure the week came together. We had a chance to recognize
the contributions of a few of our leaders during the Dean’s Welcome Gala. Here are some more highlights: thank you to the leaders who got hit in the head by hoola hoops, thank you to the leaders who went without lunches because you needed to choreograph epic dance moves, and thank you to the leaders who managed to hustle in on the early mornings, despite the late nights of programs, readings, and the occasional libations. This week couldn’t have come together without the support of the broader Osgoode community. Our generous staff put in countless hours of time to iron out all the kinks. The front line » continued on pg 3
Preparing for On-Campus Interviews That time of year is upon us. Second year students are in the process of preparing for the recruitment process generally and OCIs specifically. This piece seeks to provide some very high level advice for those participating in the process. A brief limiting statement is required before I start. OCIs are certainly an important part of law school for many students. It can be a source of stress and anxiety. With that said, OCIs are not the only means for finding a position with a firm. In fact, most students find articling and summer positions outside of OCIs. With that preface, here are some general pieces of advice to consider while preparing for OCIs. 1. Consult with Career Services The Career Services Office is dedicated to your success. I found their help to be extremely valuable, particularly the mock interview. However, students need to actively seek out assistance.
» continued on pg 10
page 2
OBITERdicta
“The definitive source for Osgoode news” Osgoode Hall Law School, 0014G York University 4700 Keele Street Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
editorial
Isolation of Iran
Tel. 416.736.2100 x77527 Fax. 416.736.5736 E-mail. ObiterDicta@osgoode.yorku.ca Website. www.obiter-dicta.ca Twitter. @obiterdictaoz
Senior Editor-in-Chief: Nancy Situ Editors-in-Chief: Thomas Mastoras, Travis Weagant Business Manager: Kristina Bliakharsky Features Editor: Cass Da Re News Editor: Nadia Guo Opinions Editor: Karolina Wisniewski Arts & Culture Editor: Max Paterson Sports Editor: Andrew Cyr Crossword: Emily Gray Contributors: Erin Dand, Christopher Fleury, Andrew Cyr, Mohsen Seddigh, Jon O’Kane Layout Editors: Julia Vizzaccaro, Harjot Atwal, Devin Santos, Max Paterson, Patricia Wood, Wendy Sun Photography: Harjot Atwal , Nadia Guo Website Editor: Nancy Situ, Ricardo Golec Social Media Manager: Ricardo Golec
Articles are due at 2 p.m. on September 20, 2012. The appropriate maximum length for articles is 1200 words. Please submit articles in Microsoft Word format via e-mail attachment to obiterdicta@ osgoode.yorku.ca. Please attach photographs separately; do not include them in your Word document.
IRANIAN EMBASSY IN OT TAWA
When the Canadian government is labelled racist by Iran, it follows that we have done something right. Quite apart from racism, the Canadian government has demonstrated principled moral leadership in its decision to close its embassy in Iran and expel Iranian diplomats from Canada. In response to Canada’s decision, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that “The hostile behaviour of the current racist government in Canada in reality follows the policies dictated by the Zionists…and the British.”
The Obiter Dicta is the official student newspaper of Osgoode Hall Law School. The opinions expressed in the articles contained herein are not necessarily those of the Obiter staff. The Obiter reserves the right to refuse any submission that is judged to be libelous or defamatory, contains personal attacks, or is discriminatory on the basis of sex, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Submissions may be edited for length and/or content.
There are cogent reasons for Canada to further isolate Iran. These include, among other things, Iran’s support of the capricious regime in Syria; its nuclear program; its reprehensible human rights record; its naked anti-Semitism and hostility toward Israel; and its support of terrorist organizations and activities across the globe. But there is a further reason why Canada’s closure is significant, and that is timing. Canadian policy on Iran is out front of the international consensus, and in acting based on principle, Canada’s policy may well shape a new international consensus.
The Obiter Dicta is published weekly during the school year, and is printed by Weller Publishing Co. Ltd.
The critical variable in this line of analysis is influence. The relevant question
monday - sept 17 - 2012
is: in which capacity Canada can exert more influence on global affairs? Policy option one is keeping the handful of diplomats in Iran and continuing to engage with the rogue state directly. This strategy has had very limited effect. Option two is exiting Iran and undertaking to persuade like-minded countries to do the same in an effort to further isolate the regime. It is naïve—and practice tells us also wrong—to presume that Canada can exert meaningful influence on Iran directly. Canada lacks the leverage to accomplish its objectives. On the other hand, Canada’s decision to further isolate the Iranian regime is a principled stand and demonstration to others in the international community that Iran’s conduct should not be tolerated in the community of civilised nations. Canada’s audience, then, shifts from the Iranian regime directly to other states. Canada’s goal should be to influence those we can influence—and construct policy based on Canadian values. Our country’s stand on this issue functions as a precedent for other countries to follow. Canadians should be rightly proud of a government that exercises this sort of leadership on the international stage. the OBITERdicta
page 3
student caucus
A Belated Welcome from the Chair of Student Caucus THOMAS WILSON Contributor With the start of a new year at Osgoode, I want to take this opportunity as Chair of Student Caucus to welcome everyone back and to report on Caucus’ work over the summer. First, allow me to address an age-old question: how is Student Caucus different from Legal and Lit? Here’s the long and short of it … Legal and Lit is the overarching student government at Osgoode. It oversees an incredibly vast portfolio from orientation week, to student events, health plans, and clubs, Legal and Lit is your source of all things student-life at Osgoode. Student Caucus, on the other hand, has a more focused task. Members of Student Caucus represent Osgoode JD students as voting members of Faculty Council. Faculty Council is comprised primarily of full-time professors and is Osgoode’s main operative and decisionmaking body. Under the jurisdiction of the Senate of York University, Faculty Council (or “FC” as those partial to abbreviations often call it) determines a whole host of issues that affect the day-to-day operation and longterm direction of Osgoode. To give a taste of the work we do, Student Caucus members are involved with student admissions policy, faculty recruitment, and academic policy. In a nutshell, Student Caucus spends its time discussing various academic and student-life issues, all toward protecting and advancing student interests at the administrative level. With that exciting explanation out of the way, I’ll move on to what we’ve been up to for the past four months. This summer the Executive
of Student Caucus appointed six JD students to Faculty Council subcommittees: Yousaf Khan and James Stevenson (Academic Standing Committee), Lawrence Forstner, Fahad Siddiqui, and Yuxi Alexander Yu (Faculty Recruitment Committee), and Victoria Riley (Student Awards Committee). Unfortunately, with the Executive of Student Caucus familiarizing itself with its new role and the administration requiring a quick turn-around, student groups, particularly student groups representative of equity-seeking cohorts, were not contacted directly regarding the vacant positions. Instead, an email communication was sent to the student body at large regarding the committee openings. Given the incredibly strong applications we received, I’m confident that the appointed students will do a fantastic job. However, in our next round of appointments I will ensure that equity seeking club groups are contacted directly so as to abide by Student Caucus’ newlyminted Diversity Policy. Congratulations to the students appointed to committee! Student Caucus meetings are open to all students and if you are interested in hearing more about the academic issues of the day, please come by! Our meetings are held every other Wednesday, beginning on September 26th. Our website (www.studentcaucus.legalandlit.ca) will be updated shortly with meeting locations. In the meantime, however, please contact Oyinkan Akinyele (oyinkansolaakinyele@osgoode. yorku.ca) to receive additional information on upcoming meetings. Lastly, drop by any time at our office located on the basement floor next to Legal and Lit. Please remember that Student Caucus is a resource and advocate for the student body. We
need to engage in a dialogue with the student body to effectively act on your behalf. If ever you don’t know where to go with an issue, have an idea for improving academic life at Osgoode, or are curious to hear what we or the administration have been up to, please drop us an email at studentcaucus@osgoode.yorku. ca or contacted me directly at thomaswilson@ osgoode.yorku.ca. Hope you all make the best of your year at Osgoode. It is a true privilege to attend this school, count you as a colleague, and work on your behalf.
O-Week 2012 » continued from cover of Student Services and Admissions were a helping hand in a transition full of paper work. The staff members in the Executive Office are some the most detail-minded folks I’ve ever met, and they made sure every table, chair, and partition was in the right place. Osgoode IT worked round the clock to adapt to challenges that popped up throughout the week. Our alumni stepped up, giving of their time to connect with our first year class and give colourful tours of Old Osgoode. In fact, I had a lovely chat with a friend of Osgoode after he gave a tour. He spoke of the energy of the group he met and joked “I hope you’re all going to a pub afterwards.” That man was Justice Stephen Goudge. We followed his suggestion accordingly. Osgoode’s faculty was a champion for Orientation Week. Dedicated to making Osgoode an inclusive community, countless faculty members put their money where their mouths were and gave generously to ensure the Social Justice Social and the Dean’s Welcome Gala were sponsor free environments. When all is said and done, the Orientation Executive had an amazing time planning the week. We hope one message rings true for the first year class: Osgoode is never going to give you up, never going to let you down, never going to run around and desert you. *Jon O’Kane was the Orientation Week Committee Chair.
the OBITERdicta
monday - sept 17 - 2012
page 4
features
Summer Exchange: Arrivederci Florence! ERIN DAND Contributor It’s been three months since I first arrived in Florence and I still remember my days as a Monash University student like it was yesterday. I came to Florence with my travel-mates, who were also my to-be roommates and my future classmates. We had booked a fantasy 700-year-old Italian apartment over the internet and we were hoping (and praying) that when we arrived, the place would not only be just as we had imagined – but that it would exist at all. And we were not disappointed! Our new apartment had all the charm of a historic building coupled with the amenities we needed – we had an amazing huge kitchen and dining room (perfect for the many get-togethers we would be throwing to get to know our international classmates), spacious bedrooms, and two cute Italian-style washrooms. (Ok, so maybe the one bathroom with the shower over the toilet was a bit cramped for space, but hey – we were living the tourist dream!) And the best part of our apartment? We lived in the heart of Florence, in the historic Santa Croce area and we were close to everything we needed –an amazing sandwich shop, some of the most famous Renaissance architecture in the world (like the Duomo), the best shopping and nightlife, and most importantly, heaps of gelato. After getting settled into our humble abode, we began the trek out to Prato for classes. We decided to live in Florence after discovering that the small city of Prato was expensive and barren for students to live in – and since we were just as keen to socialize and travel, as we were to study, Florence was the perfect choice. With all choices in life there are compromises, and the 30-minute commute out to Prato was one of them. But call me crazy, that train-ride (which invariably took every single international student living in the city off to their class) was kind
of comforting. Sort of like childhood memories of seeing all of your friends on the bus on the way to school. The Monash University Prato Centre itself was located in a charming historic Italian building. Most of my roommates and I had opted to take International Commercial Arbitration, taught by a renowned arbitrator and professor from Université Paris-Sud in France. I love taking classes abroad. Not only do you get to learn about subjects from a global perspective – you get to live it. Most of our classmates, besides the other Canadian ones, were from countries from all around the world and had a unique approach to studying and learning. Also, as part of our assessment we had to work in large groups to prepare for a mock arbitration. There were times that I had to remind myself to speak slowly and with as little slang as possible – the students who spoke English as a second language often had this puzzled look on their face otherwise. (But to be fair, I had that same puzzled look on my face when I tried to show off my ‘amazing French communication skills’ with my French classmates – they’re only amazing until you try to practice with actual French people!) THE LOCATION OF THE BEST PARTIES IN FLORENCE – OUR SPACIOUS ITALIAN KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM
COPYING A FRIEND’S CLASSIC FLORENCE PHOTO – POSING ON THE STREET ON THE WAY TO A FABULOUS DINNER
Besides schoolwork, my roommates and I made the most out of living in Italy. We travelled as often as we could – I myself hiked in Cinque Terre (the best views I have ever seen), swam at the local beach hotspot, Viareggio, and trekked through other parts of Tuscany such as the medieval town of San Gimignano. Even when we stayed in Florence, we basked in la dolce vita of the city. Whether it was taking an Italian cooking class (ah-mazing!), strolling through the crowded winding streets in the evening, or watching the epic Euro 2012 matches with scores of loud cheering Italians, we were definitely taking advantage of all the city had to offer. Looking back, I am so glad that I chose to spend my summer completing exchanges abroad, particularly the Prato exchange. I made fantastic new friends from many different countries, I ate some of the most amazing food in the world (perhaps too much of the most amazing food in the world), and I had the time of my life living in a vibrant modern, yet historic city. My only regret? Not bringing back enough Italian goodies home with me!
MAKING PASTA BY HAND AT AN ITALIAN COOKING CLASS – A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SKILL TO HAVE ACQUIRED
monday - sept 17 - 2012
the OBITERdicta
page 5
features
Closure Of Embassies: The Ultimate Panacea? MOHSEN SEDDIGH Contributor On the eve of the release of Ben Affleck’s Argo, Canada has closed its embassy in Iran and declared personae non gratae all remaining Iranian diplomats in Ottawa. It was a sudden announcement that did not come as a colossal surprise as relations between the two countries have been shaky during the past few years, in particular since the death of an Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer in a Tehran prison cell in 2003. There seem to be several reasons for the decision. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird’s statement of September 7 mentions a few reasons, which I quote here. According to the statement, “[t]he Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist antiSemitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide; it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups.� There is also the argument that the Iranian embassy in Ottawa spied on Iranian-Canadians. And finally, Canada says it was concerned for the safety of its charge d’affaires and six other diplomats in Tehran. The latter concern might be well-founded given what happened to the US embassy in Tehran 33 years ago (which happens to be portrayed in Argo) and
also the state-sponsored mob attack on the British embassy in Tehran last year which led to the closure of said embassy and severance of diplomatic relations between Iran and the UK. Meanwhile, Canada’s announcement has received mixed reactions ranging from joy to grief. Ironically, most of the grief seems to be felt within Canada while most of the joy without. While there can be no questioning the legitimacy of a decision aimed at protecting Canadian diplomats, there are other considerations as well that need to be taken into account when making a decision that potentially affects tens or hundreds of thousands of Canadians. A balance needs to be struck if the decision is indeed for the purposes that it is claimed to pursue. The question is whether the government’s rationales are sufficient to adopt such a measure, or whether any rationale is enough to abruptly end diplomatic relations; it would also be reasonable to ask whether cutting all diplomatic connection to Iran will effectively punish the regime in Tehran for the reasons that the Canadian government has put forward. Firstly, there seems to be some sort of confusion over maintaining diplomatic and consular relations on the one hand, and granting legitimacy by so doing on the other. The mere fact that two states maintain diplomatic relations does not connote that they agree on anything except that they consider one another as states that are in diplomatic relations. The fact that throughout
Š 2012 Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. All rights reserved. | 416 869 5300
the OBITERdicta
Cassels Brock 2012/2013 season
Obiter Dicta student ad “Doodle - School Kid� 4B Prestige, b&w
Contact: Heather Murray hmurray@casselsbrock.com 416 869 5782 -Â fax 416 642 7137
Please PRINT a hard copy of the
EMAIL it back to me, thanks!
the Cold War the United States and the USSR had embassies in Moscow and Washington with relations at ambassador level did not automatically signify that they approved of one another, nor that either thought the other to be legitimized by the sheer existence of diplomatic relations. Moreover, cutting diplomatic ties has not proven to be the most fruitful strategy. For instance, the United States has not had diplomatic relations with Cuba for decades without that having an impact on the way Cubans rule their island. It goes without saying that the inexistence of USCuban diplomatic relations has made life difficult for Cuban-Americans who have family and relatives in Cuba. The United States has also not had an embassy in Tehran since the Hostage Crisis of 1979-1980 but that has not changed things in Iran either. Chances of Canada’s decision giving fruitful results seem to be even slimmer as Canada’s economic interactions with Iran are not remotely similar in quantity and quality to that of the United States prior to the Hostage Crisis. In fact, Canada currently has close to zero trade or economic relations with Tehran, and thus cannot cause any genuine economic shock in oil-rich Iran by blocking the channel of diplomacy. Therefore, those who are most adversely affected are not the Iranian Theocracy but several hundred thousand Canadians of Persian origin. Thus, the decision to cut ties and close down embassies punishes Persian-Canadians and countless Iranian students in Canadian universities who have nothing to do with the regime in Tehran. For instance, one of the grievances of Canada has been Iran’s unwillingness to take a step toward releasing the Iranian-Canadians who are being held in Iranian prisons. Now, however, that diplomatic relations are completely severed, these Canadians, and those who will find themselves in a similar situation in the future, will have little chance of receiving aid or protection from Canada even if things were to take a turn, however small, for the better. Also by further antagonizing the Islamic Republic, Canada has exposed Iranian-Canadians to greater risks of retaliation which might potentially land more of them behind bars over unfounded allegations. Last but by no means least, Baird said after announcing the decision that “Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security today.� Similar as this is to the rhetoric we heard before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, one cannot help but look at Iraq today (9 years of war and hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties later) and one is bound to wonder whether shutting down the route of dialogue and opting for easier but far costlier solutions is the wisest idea. Like Iran and its nuclear program, Iraq was also once said to be the most significant threat to global peace and security because of the weapons of mass destruction that it turned out not to possess. monday - sept 17 - 2012
page 6
features
The Unreasonable Man’s Totally Scientific* Olympic Retrospective TRAVIS WEAGANT Editor-In-Chief Once upon a time, in France, my roommates and I got drunk and watched the Olympics. The end. Or, at least, that could have been the end. That should have been the end. But it wasn’t. It’s common sense that just because the United States wins the most medals at the Olympic Games doesn’t mean they’re the most gifted athletic nation on Earth. It’s also clear that Afghanistan’s lone medal of the London games (a bronze) is not a good indicator of how much athletic talent has been suppressed or destroyed by that country’s years of violent conflict. So, we wondered, just who is the best? And thus occurred a nerd explosion rivaled only by that guy in the front row who put his hand up on the first day of Ethical Lawyering. So, when it comes to who really won the Olympics, needless to say, we found a winner. Totally Scientific Methodology We began by assigning 3 “medal points” to a gold medal, 2 points to a silver medal, and 1 to a bronze. This gave each country a “medal score” reflecting the difficulty of winning the types of medals it won.
KIRANI JAMES
ity. Similar to what we did with the population figures, we obtained a medal points per dollar of GDP figure for each country. Theoretically, countries that score better need fewer resources to win. Once again, we calculated the world average and a subsequent performance score.
that every time the IMF and World Bank make enquiries for the figures, they receive letters in response containing only comical taunts and profanities, and that employees of both organizations are “just tired of being disrespected, man.” I suppose I could disqualify them both, in which case congratulations are in order for Belarus.
Next, the methodology accounts for population differences. Each country’s medal score is divided by its population, giving the number of medal points per capita. This figure theoretically reflects each country’s relative athleticism, with generally smaller countries appearing in the top ten. However, what we really wanted to know is which countries were outperforming expectations. This is where it gets tricky.
Finally, we averaged the two performance scores. In theory, a country with average athletic talent for its population size utilizing its resources with average effectiveness would receive an overall score of 1.
As proof that using two variables instead of one was statistically valuable, it is worth noting that after adjusting the overall scores for GDP, Slovenia, Lithuania and Denmark all dropped from the top ten, and Cuba jumped 8 positions.
If you follow to this point, congratulations! Give your iron ring a kiss. Even if you don’t follow to this point, the next part is the most exciting.
We added up the populations of all medal-winning countries to get a “medal world population”; and obtained a universal medal points per capita figure. This is the world average, meaning that any country whose per capita figure is higher is outperforming, and any country’s that is lower is underperforming. We divided each country’s score by the world average to obtain a final performance figure.
Results
As far as the home team goes, Canada – with just a single gold medal – still outperformed overall with a score of 1.26, falling just behind the USA at 1.27. I’d say that’s within the margin of error, wouldn’t you?
Usain Bolt strikes again. In second place, Jamaica, outperforming expectations by a factor of 40. In a distant third are the Bahamas with a score of 18. The next countries are a mixed bag, with Georgia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Cuba, New Zealand, Trinidad, and Hungary rounding out the top ten, all with scores above 10.
Since I mentioned it earlier, Afghanistan, oddly enough, winds up with a score of 0.97, a score largely helped by its GDP performance rating. However, with a score of 0.09, in third-from-last place, trailed only by Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, the country whose rating most demands social science research is India.
Of course, relative population does not, by itself, tell the whole story. The other major factor influencing Olympic success, apart from latent athletic talent, is availability of resources for training. So, we decided to use nominal GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to account for relative prosper-
As a disclaimer, Cuba’s score is somewhat unreliable because a firm GDP figure is not readily available online, so we had to make do with estimates. I chose not to disqualify them, as that would have removed them from the top ten and bumped up number eleven: North Korea. Their figures are equally unreliable. I understand
But the most surprising placement of them all is the overall winner. On August 6, Kirani James won Grenada’s only medal in history – a gold – and outperformed his country’s expectations by a factor of 130. Take that, Usain Bolt.
monday - sept 17 - 2012
*Read: extremely unscientific. the OBITERdicta
page 7
features
The Happiness Project: Happy Food CASS DA RE Features Editor
of mood, cognitive function, memory retention, and learning. Serotonin friendly foods include nuts, avocados, and salmon. When eating nuts such as almonds, which are an excellent source of protein and healthy fats, be sure to eat the raw, unsweetened and unsalted kind.
Are you having one of those slow, dreary days? Maybe you stayed up too late doing readings, and are now regretting it. Or, you stayed up too late not doing readings, and are regretting that. Either way, law school students are by no means known for their persistently perky and positive personalities. We are much more known for studying, late night coffee runs, and those deliciously delightful baked goods in the cafeteria. Who can blame you, you; the overtired and the overbooked, for snacking on something sweet every once in a while? It is a small momentary escape from the world. And you may rationalize that the sugar will give you more energy; therefore, this little venture into the land of silky smooth cream or fruit filled danishes and croissants sprinkled with a fairy dusting of icing sugar, is in fact a good choice. At the very least, it will make you happy, right? Wrong. While I’m sure, law student logic is regularly infallible; the sugar rush has gone to your head. Although indulging in dessert foods in strict moderation is part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle; snacking on sweets is not conducive to everyday happiness. A recent article published in the Public Health Nutrition journal and a study conducted in Spain both report that people who regularly consumes commercial baked goods and fast food are at a much higher risk of depression. Nutritionists and health experts are constantly researching different components of food that strengthen the mind and body against physical and mental illness. Since the 1990s, spethe OBITERdicta
cialists have been honing in on the world’s top super foods for one’s health and well being. Super foods are packed with various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants at levels that supercede other healthy options. Super foods such as broccoli, blueberries, salmon, wheat germ, and almonds offer extraordinary health benefits. Eating healthy is obviously a factor in one’s life happiness. Strong physical health decreases stress levels, fortifies one’s immune system, improves appearance, enhances disease prevention, and ameliorates the mind-body connection. Researchers also suggest there are happy foods, food that produces specific moodenhancing benefits. Nutrition can affect the structure and function of brain cells. Certain foods encourage better communication within the brain, thus effecting moods and acuity. Osgoode, your happiness challenge is: Eat Happy. Try to incorporate at least one of the following happy foods into your daily dietary regime. Mental health and physical health are intricately connected; accordingly food is an integral part to your happiness. 1. Whole Grains Whole foods in general are happy foods. Wholegrains such as whole-wheat bread, pasta or rice aid to stabilize blood sugar. Extreme levels of blood sugar are correlated to mood swings and sadness. Eating whole grains at breakfast helps keep you full and energized for the day. Other whole-grain options include steel-oats, quinoa, kamut and spelt. 2. Fat is Good; if it is Good Fat In addition, foods that contain healthy fatty acids help regulate serotonin. Serotonin has a number of functions, some of which are the regulation
3. Sweets are Good; if they are the Goods Sweets Don’t despair, not all sweet treats are off the table. Dark chocolate is an excellent source of iron, antioxidants, and minerals. Chocolate with a high cocoa content also has a low glycemic index, which will not cause one’s blood sugar to spike, unlike other types of chocolate. Dark chocolate is a very complex food, containing over 500 natural chemical compounds. Some of these compounds have been identified as moodenhancers and pleasure-inducers. For example, the phenylethylamine in chocolate sends a message to the brain to release endorphins, the feelgood hormone. If you pick up a bar between classes be sure the chocolate is at least 70% or higher. As an added bonus, dark chocolate contains caffeine for an extra afternoon energy boost. Who isn’t happy about making chocolate a fortified health food? 4. Switch out Coffee for Tea Try to switch out one cup of coffee for tea in your day, if you are currently consuming more than one cup of java a day. While coffee contains more caffeine than most teas, the latter is much more gentle on the body. Tea holds numerous medicinal properties that are beneficial to your physical and mental health. Like most super foods, tea contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The antioxidants in tea boosts the body’s immune system, prevents cellular damage, reduces the risk of coronary disease, decreases the likelihood of skin disease and damage, and may protect the brain from developing memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. Particular herbal blends are renown for specific health benefits such as ginger, green, peppermint and rooibos. Choose your blend, and raise a mug to health and happiness.
monday - sept 17 - 2012
page 8
orientation week 2012
LEADERS DANIELLE, LOUISE, KRUM WITH NEW SECTION C-ER SERENA SECTION A WAITS FOR THEIR CHANCE WHILE SECTION B RUNS OFF IN CHEER
O-WEEK CHAIR JON AND COMMIT TEE MEMBER CATHE
CLASS SECTION B LOOKING READY SECTION D SURE KNOWS HOW TO PASS THEIR SPONGES
monday - sept 17 - 2012
the OBITERdicta
page 9
orientation week 2012
ERINE SHOW US HOW IT’S DONE
OF 2015 WATER BALLOON TOSS!
LEADERS SANDRA AND ROXY PREPARE FOR THE HOOP
Great mentors require great students. Our highly regarded and growing Intellectual Property Department assists companies in virtually every business sector in the acquisition, commercial exploitation and protection of IP. We are known by clients for our “excellent character and cohesion” with “the strength and the team to deliver results” (Chambers Global 2011, and MIP 2011). We are praised by our opponents as “serious litigators,” who are “winning cases” (MIP 2011).
Ottawa 2013 Summer Law Student IP Recruitment: We welcome applications from students with science or engineering undergraduate and graduate backgrounds, who want to specialize in intellectual property litigation. A summer with Osler in Ottawa gives you the opportunity to receive invaluable mentoring and guidance from lawyers who are acknowledged leaders in their fields, and who share a passion for intellectual property law. Please apply by Friday, October 12, 2012
Contact Information Lisa Nicastro, Student Programs Coordinator Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP Tel: 613.787.1040 Email: lnicastro@osler.com Learn more at oslerstudent.com oslerstudent.com | Ottawa Toronto Montréal Calgary New York
the OBITERdicta
monday - sept 17 - 2012
page 10
features Preparing for On-Campus Interviews » continued from cover Being passive in this process is not conducive to succeeding. Interviewing is an art, and practice helps. Use these resources. 2. Consult with upper year students Upper year students, particularly those who have worked at the place you are considering, are a very useful resource. They have recent insight and can often speak candidly about their experiences. Soliciting their counsel is strongly encouraged. 3. Network The value of networking prior to the OCI or subsequent interview is paramount. Meeting with lawyers, summer students or articling students that you may know can be very insightful. It helps students understand what the firm or organization does on a day to day basis. This sort of information is key to making a good impression at the interview stage and also to evaluate whether the firm or organization is a place you could envision yourself working at.
4. The firms are not all the same To varying degrees, the firms are different. But if this is not detectable after the OCIs and again deeper into the process, you probably have not done sufficient diligence. Repeat steps 1 to 3 and reassess. With that said, do not base your assessment solely on the OCI. You may end up liking a place where your OCI was average, and disliking a place where your OCI seemingly went well.
in detail in preparation for the process. In closing, good luck to all those participating in the process! Be sure to reach out to friends, colleagues and Osgoode resources for advice and support.
last week`s crossword
5. Do independent research It is essential to research, independently, some of the matters the firm you are interviewing is working on or has worked on in the past. Applying to a litigation boutique? Read a recent judgment in one of their cases, or a factum before the courts. Applying to a full service firm? Look into the deals they have recently announced. The simple point here is to engage with the work the firm has done beyond a cursory glance at websites and press releases. 6. This list is not exhaustive Much ink has been spilled on the topic of OCIs, and I don’t intend this list to be exhaustive. There are numerous other resources available to students. Those resources should be consulted
sports
Staying Active At Osgoode ANDREW CYR Sports Editor
as you might hope (particularly north of the 401). Running Whether training for a marathon or just staying in shape, running is a fantastic way to get some quick, easy exercise. Building a few kilometers a week into your schedule is easy, and all you need is a good pair of shoes. For the more ambitious among us, the Toronto Waterfront Marathon is coming up in October and registration is still open at www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com. Strength Training While running and cycling are great ways to get cardiovascular exercise, strength training is an important aspect of a balanced exercise regime. While it may conjure up images of burly men doing bench presses, there are in fact many forms of strength training catering to all audiences, including weight training, circuit training, and crossfit programs.
Greeting Sports Fans! The OHAA would like to thank everyone who came out to the Clubs Fair and signed up for intramurals. If you didn’t make it, don’t fret; you can still join a team by e-mailing osgoodeintramurals@gmail.com. We are currently registering teams for hockey, soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball, Ultimate frisbee, and inner-tube water polo. Players of all skill levels are encouraged to sign up! Intramural sports are a blast, but they are not the only way to stay active throughout the school year. There are a variety of ways to lead an active, balanced lifestyle which accommodate your busy life.
monday - sept 17 - 2012
For example: Cycling Cycling is a great way to get an aerobic workout while enjoying the many sights of this fair city. The beauty of cycling is that it is a quick, environmentally friendly method of transportation in addition to a great workout. Consider dropping your monthly Metropass in favour of a shiny new set of wheels. The bike will pay itself off within a few months and keep you in shape in the process! The city’s many bike lanes make cycling around town a breeze, although it is important to be aware that not all motorists are as willing to share the road
Yoga Not into weights and smelly gyms? Yoga is an excellent way to build strength and flexibility in an atmosphere that encourages spiritual reflection and relaxation. Yoga is offered at Osgoode every Monday through the Student Success and Wellness Program, and there are hundreds of yoga studios catering to all goals and skill levels throughout the city. I hope these suggestions inspire you as you seek out a healthy, active lifestyle this school year. Join the OHAA Facebook page for updates on athletics throughout the year! Enough talk, it’s time for sports!
the OBITERdicta
page 11
arts & culture
TIFF Review: Comrade Kim NANCY SITU Editor-In-Chief It’s not every day that a Western-financed North Korean fiction feature shows in a Yonge-Dundas theatre on a breezy Tuesday night. It’s not even every day that North Korean fiction films can be Western-financed. In fact, Comrade Kim Goes Flying was the first ever. The “lighthearted romantic comedy” is about a perky young Korean coal miner/construction worker who dreams of becoming a circus acrobat in the big city. Directors Anja Daelemans (Belgium) and Nicholas Bonner (United Kingdom) swear that Comrade Kim was born out of a bottle of whiskey and wasn’t meant to make a statement – but I don’t think anything out of North Korea can be devoid of politics, least of all a film that was at least 60% propaganda. With dialogue like “we, the working class, can do anything if we put our minds to it”, gratuitous shots of food and drink at every turn, and characters with eerily chipper dispositions, I felt like I was watching some bizarre combination of anime, the first half of Mulholland Dr, and a puff piece for the North Korean government. Granted, the filmmakers were walking the fine line between explicit irony and straight up propaganda to be compliant with North Korean regulations. The government would only approve a script that (I’ll say this euphemistically) reflected their cultural values. Not only did this mean an unnerving adoration of grueling hard labour, it also meant that this “roman-
tic comedy” displayed about half the amount of passion I have for my favourite notepad. “There has never been a kiss in the history of North Korean cinema,” said Bonner. “Except once, but they did it behind an umbrella.”
THE HAPPIEST MINER YOU’VE EVER SEEN
too busy to make it to Toronto After Dark next month. It’ll be the scariest movie you’ll see all year.
The interesting point the directors made was that this film was not really made for us i.e. a Western audience. For North Koreans, Comrade Kim is not ironic, has no political agenda, and isn’t any kind of social commentary. But I don’t know if I can comfortably attribute that to cultural differences rather than the thoroughness of North Korean brainwashing. I’d recommend Comrade Kim to those who are
DIRECTORS ANJA DAELEMANS AND NICHOLAS BONNER AT THE Q&A
TIFF Review: Seven Psychopaths MAX PATERSON Arts & Culture Editor As TIFF progresses and the stars drift in and out of the Toronto social scene, it was hard for the Obiter to ignore a chance to rub knuckles with Hollywood’s finest. We were fortunate enough to be invited to the premiere of Seven Psychopaths, the new feature by writer/director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Six Shooter). Although, it was amusing to hobnob with the likes of Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, and Woody Harrelson (who ended up hitting on my date while I was getting a drink) the real entertainment was watching publicists fly around the room sprinkling false pleasantries on all in their wake. As for the movie, Seven Pychopaths seemed to resemble a Seagal flick more than a Scorsese. There was lots of unnecessary vulgar language the OBITERdicta
(the last quarter of the movie was inexcusably and unnecessarily riddled with homophobic slurs), gaudy gore scenes (a lot of throat cutting), and the dialogue seemed to border on useless extravagance. The movie was best summed up by my companion who said “it was like this movie was made by a 14 year old boy, it’s got lots of blood, swears, and explosions, and every female shows her boobs and then dies.”
blame me if you don’t like it. If the argument above does not help you make a decision then I will leave you with a final thought: there were several dogs in the movie and only one was cute. CHRISTOPHER WALKEN WAS NOT NEARLY AS TALL AS I HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE
I’d recommend at best renting this movie, because at least if you don’t like it you will have the option of turning it off and watching curling. Despite the blown-out nature of this film, the structure of it is actually something to applaud. To its benefit, the use of cut scenes and stories within stories is quite captivating and entertaining. However, it is always followed by disappointment when you cut back to the regular story line. Overall, see this movie if you want, but don’t
monday - sept 17 - 2012
page 12
arts & culture
Festival Review: “Riotfest” Lived Up To Its Name MAX PATERSON Arts & Culture Editor
clothes and scream out harmonic gold.
devoted punk icon.
To begin, the music festival was called “Riotfest”. With a name like that, It’s hard not to draw up visions of crusty punks and black clad anarchists throwing garbage cans through windows and burning copies of the Constitution. In terms of the lineup, it was the musical equivalent of that vision. However, since Riotfest was held on a Sunday, the crowd reacted more like “Hungover-fest”.
Although the set was heavy on songs from their most recent album David Comes To Life, F-ed Up tickled the crowd by sprinkling in some deep cuts from albums past. The two highlights definitely were “I Hate Summer” (which couldn’t have been more appropriate, given the setting), and the song that was most likely to cause a riot, “Police”.
NOFX were fast, mean, and generally disgusting. I don’t think anyone would have them any other way.
Below is a rundown of the main acts of Riotfest: Andrew W.K. There is no sense in denying that seeing Andrew WK was the main force that got me out of bed and down to the event last Sunday. Armed with only one backup singer (more of a screamer) and a keyboard (no backing band at all), Andrew WK transformed the muddy grounds of Fort York into a triumphant celebration of all that is ‘party’ and all that is good. If you know anything about Andrew WK you know that his main objectives in life entire revolve around two things: 1. partying; and 2. piano solos. I can tell you with complete sincerity and honesty that there were plenty of both. After his set I polled the people around me and every single person agreed that our party messiah had returned, and that our messiah was wearing a dirty t-shirt and acid washed jeans. Less Than Jake I don’t write about ska. I leave that to people with thick side burns who wear fedoras and checkered belts. No thanks.
I was so compelled to join the mosh pit during “Police” that I completely ruined my new pair of shoes. Needless to say it was worth it, I got to sing onto the mic during the chorus, got a high five from Damian, and only got elbowed in the face once. NOFX According to unverified Internet facts, NOFX has over 400 songs and 31 albums. That may seem like a lot, because it is. By far NOFX was the biggest act on the bill. They attracted the biggest crowd, which was diversely made up of people ranging from 14 to 50. Fueled by this crowd, NOFX played hard, had hilarious banter, and generally were the crass unapologetic alcoholics they portray in their albums and lyrics. The highlight of the NOFX set was the song “She’s Nubs”. The song is about a woman with no legs or arms named Nubs, who actually is a real Torontonian. In fact, she was on stage when they sang the song. Her name is Talli and if you spend any amount of time in the punk scene you will most definitely run into her. Although the song states that “she’s got no funny bone”, the look on her face clarified that the song amuses her and is an homage to a fantastic fan and
The Descendents The Descendents are really old. Having formed in 1978, The Descendents played a big part in laying the foundation for modern day punk and hardcore music. After getting off to a rocky start by breaking a string after the first song, and taking the time to replace it on stage, it was clear that the big crowd amassed by NOFX had started to migrate elsewhere. The only people that stuck around seemed to be on the later end of the age spectrum, as it was clear that The Descendents were outside of the collective punk memory shared by the younger generation. Whereas most youngsters choose to associate with the iconography of Black Flag and the noise of Minor Threat, The Descendents can be categorized more as ‘your favourite band’s favourite band’. As an example, Fat Mike (of NOFX) was clearly visible in the wings of the stage mouthing every word (and guzzling down cups of vodka). Overall their set was solid. However, I found it more suitable as exit music so I left. Soon the thoughts of rioting and old punk bands living like teenagers drifted away, and the reality of the morning class I had the next day settled in its place. As I walked away from the non-riot that was Riotfest I concluded that it was a Sunday well spent and that I was going to have to get a new pair of shoes. DAMIAN INSTIGATES A RIOT (PHOTO BY NEIL RIMMER)
Hot Water Music I had never really listened to Hot Water Music before…they were alright, I guess. They definitely put some effort into what they were doing, however when you are sandwiched between Less Than Jake and F*cked Up you have to bring a lot more to the table than head banging and matching Orange stacks. I did like their logo, and they did have the best merch at the festival, but you needed another line of credit in order to afford it. F*cked Up These local favourites definitely stole the show in my mind. In light of lead singer Damian Abraham’s wedding anniversary, he brought his whole family on stage and then in true F-ed Up fashion he proceeded to take off most of his monday - sept 17 - 2012
the OBITERdicta
page 13
arts & culture
A Not-So-Ordinary Recycling Project TYE IT UP OR TUCK IT DOWN
ANGIE SHEEP Contributor The summer may be vanishing before our eyes and glowing tanned skin, but it leaves behind something untouched: its wardrobe. Oh if only it could take that away with it too and let fall deliver its spectacular fashions! But if you’re like me - a poor law student with only a few cents to spend on the luxury of clothing - then you have to make do with what you have and recycle, recycle, recycle! It’s great for the environment, and trust me, great for your savings account; so you can drop another $500 on next term’s textbooks. Hooray… Fall 2012 focuses on modifying your current wardrobe with some simple tweaks to attain that coveted autumn look. The bright colors that dominated the past months are still very present. So keep on wearing those hot red pants! And don’t forget about the oversized clutches! Jam your thousand-pound course packs into your huge, extravagant lockers and take a simple handbag to class. These are only a few tips on how to transform into your fabulous fall self. I, for one, am definitely not ready for the bright sunny days to end, so I am taking as much of it with me as possible! We’re tucking it down (or tying it up) It may not be the exact words of the Lincoln Park song but I’m sure they had this in mind during production...And no, not the way your mom used to shove every inch of your blouse into your pants, making you an immobile mummy. This fall trend speaks to effortless, asymmetrical tucks and ties. Examples are, having your shirt in only at the front, only on one side, or only one flap of your blouse. Remember, this mainly applies to tops; so girls, don’t go walking around Osgoode with one side of your skirt in your bright pink underwear. I would totally love all that Lady Gaga hotness, but I don’t know about everyone else. For first years, our lovely orientation tees can be modified by making a slit in the front and tying it up. Plus, the tees are already in those bold colors so it fits perfectly. 50 Shades of Color* The layering trend is simply inevitable every fall/ winter. This concept is as old as Jesus; it is specifically written in the Bible that Jesus wrapped his sexy toga round and round to create the illusion of layers.** A great way to tone down your brights for fall is to put darker sequined, tweed, metallic, or leather outerwear over them. These materials have overtaken runways and magazines everywhere. A good leather jacket is definitely worth investing into; it is versatile, edgy, the OBITERdicta
50 SHADES OF COLOUR
and in style almost every year. I have my sights set on a special piece on Etsy. Tights, Nylons, Pantyhose Whatever you want to call them, they are incredible in “fall-izing” any summer look. Well, except if you wear them under pants where no one can see them. But why? What is that? Please. Throw them on under skirts, dresses, or shorts and immediately you are an autumn goddess.*** Tights are relatively cheap and there is a great selection at the Bay of colors, designs, lengths, etc. Switch them up regularly to give your outfit a new look. Other Business to Look Out For Denim has been spotted everywhere this summer and will continue to be ever-so-present. So throw a jean jacket or vest over those blouses to edge them up. Horizontal stripes have also become very popular, especially blue stripes over a white background. For a slimming effect, opt for stripes that are thin, because big ones will simply chunk you up. I have highlighted only a few of the countless
pieces that are loved this season, and since most of us do not have the time to go out and explore every option, I hope this will be a good overview to what’s going on in the world of F-F-FFashionistas. *EDITOR’S NOTE: We realize this is a black and white spread, just use your imagination. Or tell Osgoode to give us some money. **EDITOR’S NOTE: The Obiter does not guarantee that Jesus actually dressed in this fashion, or that this statement is actually in the Bible. This sentence is included in the article as merely an enthusiastic rhetorical statement. The Obiter has no particular religious affiliations or firm stances on fashion in general. If you have any concerns or wish to opine about religious garb or fashion as a whole, consider visiting the Obiter office or writing us an article. ***EDITOR’S NOTE: Once again, The Obiter does not endorse nor side with any particular Gods or Goddesses, fashion or otherwise. monday - sept 17 - 2012
page 14
opinions
A Handful of Opinions from Your New Opinions Editor KAROLINA WISNIEWSKI Opinions Editor We’re a sassy bunch here at Osgoode. If there’s one thing we have no shortage of (apart from maybe readings-induced panic attacks) it’s opinions. And they’re often well-informed opinions, communicated with a precision that facilitates educated debate. This is one of the reasons why I’m so excited to be the Opinions editor this year. I’m looking forward to a front row seat to all the discussions and having a chance to see the debates played out across the pages of the Obiter. This being my first Opinions piece, I found myself in a familiar position, to which I’m sure many of you can relate. When choosing a topic on which to write, I found I had so many opinions, I couldn’t pick just one. Hence, this is going to be somewhat of a roundup of all the things that matter to me this week, and hopefully it underscores to all our readers the breadth of topics that can be covered in an Opinions piece. If any of you are ever unsure if you’re stretching the boundaries of an “Opinion” piece too far, fear not, for what I’m about to cover runs the gamut from fall nail polish trends to the Instagramming world of teens. Michelle Obama is the Best I may be entirely unoriginal and hopelessly delayed with this sentiment, but after the DNC this year, I was left with an overwhelming sense of “OMG I love Michelle”. I had always, of course, been keenly aware of the fact that she was widely admired, but it occurred to me as she began her speech, that I had never heard her voice before. So as not to be redundant in light of all the articles that have already been written about her speech and accounted for its brilliance, I’ll stay away from a close analysis of it – but I will say that it entirely subverted my expectations of a First Lady address. Of course it contained some rhetoric, and of course it was carefully crafted so as to present the Obama’s relatable and down-to-earth. Every speech at a convention such as the DNC has its own part to play in the grand narrative they’re attempting to write, but this is neither the point, nor does it take away any of the authenticity of Michelle’s words. Her superb oratorical skills and genuine belief in what she was saying lent her address an honesty and sincerity that made it impossible not to connect with her. Her poise and elegance helped too, of course. If half of politics is strategy, the other half must be passion; in order to be persuasive (or, for that matter, successful in your campaign), you need to convince people that you abide by the ideology you espouse. Michelle Obama’s speech moved me to monday - sept 17 - 2012
MICHELLE OBAMA IS PRET TY GREAT, 50 SHADES OF GREY ... NOT SO MUCH
tears not because she told me something I didn’t know, or because I’m a patriotic American, but because she connected with audiences on a human and personal level, without descending into over-wrought emotionality. She was earnest and made us feel like she was projecting genuine emotion – something Ann Romney could never do, no matter how much she yells about loving women (in other news, men don’t matter). The usual scrutiny of every aspect of Michelle Obama accompanied her address. Perhaps the most amusing, though in retrospect, unsurprising, was the uproar her grey-lilac nail polish seemed to have caused (a Google search turned up almost 3 million results). I think we can all agree that it’ll be a pleasure to see ultrapatriotic left-leaning women trading in their red-white-and-blue themed manicures for something a little classier. Also, side note: did anyone else catch the look on Sasha’s face when Barack Obama told his daughters they had to go to school the next morning? It’s practically begging to be made into a gif. Read This, Not That Ok, so that heading is a little misleading, because I’m not asking anyone not to read anything (except maybe 50 Shades of Grey). But I am going to sing the praises of the most fascinating and thought-provoking book I’ve read in recent memory. Spoiler alert: it’s not the 2013 Martin’s Annual Criminal Code (I know, I was surprised too). Why Nations Fail, by Daron Acemoglu and Chris Robinson (Crown Business Publications, 2012) tackles the difficult question of how we account for the tragically overwhelming amount of poverty in our world. In essence, they set out to examine why the whole world is not prosperous and economically stable. Along the way,
they dispel some of the commonly held assumptions as to why this is the case, namely theories grounded in cultural or geographical reasons. Acemoglu and Robinson suggest the massive disparity in the wealth of nations is entirely a matter of institutions. On their account, legal, political and economic arrangements can either spur sustainable economic growth, or initiate a seemingly irreversible downward spiral of economic stagnation and poverty. Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the book is its discussion of incredibly abstract and complex ideas, which is rendered completely intelligible and accessible thanks to the brilliant writing contained within. To illustrate the strength of their theory, the authors trace these ideas through history, detailing exactly how Venice went from being a progressive, prosperous hub of trade to a floating museum and a shell of its former glory. They explain why the Lele people who live along the western bank of the Kasai (a tributary of the River Congo) have always been more prosperous than the Bushong on the eastern bank – a difference which cannot be attributed to cultural or geographical idiosyncrasies. They even illustrate how the emergence of the Neolithic Revolution is relevant to musings about world poverty. If your schedule only permits for one book of leisure reading, make it this one. Toronto’s Fall Music Forecast It’s not even fair how many amazing concerts are scheduled for the next three months. Not fair because the constraints of a student budget and schedule dictate that I’m destined to miss a majority of them. Though this is an incredibly subjective roundup of the concerts I’m most » continued on next page the OBITERdicta
page 15
opinions » continued from previous page looking forward to, the multitude of live music set to grace Toronto this fall is so diverse, there’s sure to be something for everyone. Wild Nothing hits The Great Hall on September 18th, coming off the high of an amazingly reviewed sophomore album. Grizzly Bear are at Massey Hall just a few days later, on September 26. But it’s moving into October that things really get exciting. Niki and the Dove kick things off on October 2 at The Drake Underground. They’ve managed to surprise everyone by following their sporadically released (though excellent) singles, namely DJ, Ease My Mind, with a beautifully executed and cohesive album. No small feat, considering the record took two years to pump out. The same night, A$AP Rocky will be performing at the Sound Academy. It’ll be interesting to see how he fares, considering his unenthusiastically received collaboration album, which threatens to bode poorly for his upcoming major label debut. Thankfully, the concert is an all ages event, because who doesn’t love sixteen-year olds Instagramming pictures
Trans-Human Super-Soldiers » continued from cover article titled, “Army of the future: Soldiers will be able to run at Olympic speed and won’t need food or sleep with gene technology.” The article gives some indication of the work currently being carried out by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) scientists. For those of you who are out of the loop, DARPA is the American Military’s research arm whose responsibility is to maintain American technological superiority on the battlefield. Some of DARPA’s past accomplishments include radar evading ‘stealth’ technology and many of the early internetwork protocols which became the precursors to the modern internet. As the article suggests, much of DARPA’s current research is focused on improving soldiers themselves. If the Pentagon has its way, soldiers of the future will be genetically modified trans-humans capable of superhuman feats. These include: the ability to run faster than any human, super-strength beyond what any human is capable of, going without food or sleep for days by living off of efficiently used fat stores, and even the regeneration of lost limbs. DARPA refuses to disclose what stage of development any of this research is in, as well as whether or not human-animal hybrids currently exist. Given that the use of stem cells and legalized abortions are still a major source of debate and controversy, it is safe to say that the NorthAmerican public is not ready to hear about these types of technologies. Perhaps this is why the the OBITERdicta
of their glow-in-the-dark nail polish, aptly captioned “~so fly~”? Diplo will hit The Hoxton on October 4th, followed closely by Two Door Cinema Club, who play the Sound Academy on October 5th. TDCC have never received an overwhelming amount of critical acclaim, but their energetic and infectious melodies lean them towards a surprisingly pleasant brand of pop-rock, which will likely make for a good live show. Ellie Goulding will be promoting her new album, Halcyon, at the Sound Academy on October 14th. Darlings of music critics everywhere, Beach House, will perform at Kool Haus
ARE WE HEADING FOR A REAL LIFE GAT TACA?
mainstream media has been silent on the issue. Despite coverage on RT, PressTV, Al Jazeera, as well as a plethora of mainstream blogs including wired.com/, North American broadcast media have remained totally silent. These technologies will undoubtedly create social and economic benefits beyond just warfare. If even a small part of these technologies actually manifest, they have the potential to drive a new wave of economic innovation and growth. However, it is difficult to not remain highly skeptical of allowing this kind of technology to remain in the hands of those responsible for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and the deception and deceit associated with each. National security has been the justification for much in the last 11 years, but it seems a stretch to say that the creation of trans-human supersoldiers is a necessary part of America’s national security strategy. If you are like me and remain skeptical of genetic modification (food or otherwise), and are especially skeptical of the US military’s control over it, there is much to be done. Although I do not find myself in agreement with Kentucky Senator Rand Paul on many issues, prior to his primetime speech at the Republican National Convention Paul stated that he would use his time to urge republicans who have supported the ‘audit the Fed’ campaign to now turn their attention to auditing the Pentagon. For one reason or another, this subject was left out of the speech entirely. Nevertheless auditing the Pentagon, much like auditing the fed, appears to be
on October 15th, while The Weeknd will play the Phoenix on November 2nd and 3rd. Tame Impala will also grace The Phoenix with their presence on November 12th. While their neopsychedelia may not be to everyone’s taste, enthusiastic reviews of their first release coupled with a commanding stage presence suggest they won’t disappoint their fans. Finally, Rye Rye will perform at The Hoxton on November 18th with – get ready – Kreayshawn. Though Rye Rye’s long anticipated studio debut has failed to wow critics, I remain convinced an occasional MIA collaborator has a few tricks up her sleeve.
an issue that could gain bi-partisan support. Unfortunately the Pentagon is not the only institution to be worried about. This summer the Russian Duma voted overwhelmingly in favour of the establishment of a multi-billion dollar Future Research Fund (FPI)—their DARPA equivalent. To be clear the FPI has not made any public announcement of human genetic modification research. Nevertheless, in the context of this this new arms-race, it is difficult to imagine that stopping the Pentagon will stop the development of this technology. In my humble opinion, what this issue really needs is publicity and the democratic discourse that follows it. As I have mentioned, the mainstream media have been holding the mute button on this issue. I encourage anyone who is reading this to do their own research, find out for yourselves exactly what DARPA and others are involved in (there is plenty that I have left out), and talk to everyone you know about it. It is my hope that this article generates fruitful discussion among the Osgoode community and beyond. Finally, take advantage of the Obiter’s slick new online layout which makes liking, Tweeting and sharing a lot easier. As someone who doesn’t use Facebook, Twitter (or even a computer in class) I feel a little odd saying this, but it might be an effective way to spread the word beyond the Osgoode community. What is over the next horizon in genetic modification has both enormous potential and enormous risk. So, let’s talk about this stuff before Pandora’s box is a flat piece of cardboard with military equipment rolling over it. monday - sept 17 - 2012
page 16
crossword By EMILY GRAY
ACROSS 1 Sam of “The Maltese Falcon” 2 Beyonce’s alter ego Sasha 6 Of its own kind 7 First female SCC 9 2004 film “Hotel ______” 10 Cour of mock justice? 13 Dutch host of the UN 16 Founder of Manitoba 17 Levy 18 Cross Swords 20 Nocturnal birds DOWN 2 Inferior, as in judges 4 Lord Black, to his friends 5 “The Good Wife” star Maguiles 8 Lawyer-regulating organization 11 What dogs do 12 Belgian detective Poirot 14 “The Devil’s Advocate” star Reeves 15 God of war and civil order 19 The “U” in CUPE
monday - sept 17 - 2012
the OBITERdicta