The Mike, September 26, 2012

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Editorial

THE MIKE

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

School struggles?

The Mike is here to cheer you up!

The first couple weeks of school are over. We are now resigned to the actual mechanics of school. Wake up, go to class, read some stuff, study some other stuff, work on a third kind of stuff, do something social, sprinkle in food and coffee, collapse into bed, rinse and repeat.

For everyone the stuff is slightly different, but the mechanics are fairly similar. Everyone wanders around dealing with their own ‘stuff ’ and getting through their days existing somewhere between unhappy and very happy.

This week at The Mike we have taken a look at things that will make you happier. The flagship herald of happiness is Scotiabank’s

upcoming Nuit Blanche, while the art installations can range from intriguing to mundane, there are always a good stories to take away.

The event is unlike anything else and is definitely worth the lost sleep. If you are already happy and looking for a new way to think about the world we have a review of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, as well as a preview of new albums on their way this season.

Conversely, if you are interested in other’s misfortune, we have bounds of coverage of all the labour turmoil going on, what with the teacher protests and the NHL lockout. If you are feeling in the dumps yourself, The Mike investigated the resources

Hall. These small gestures are able to completely change the emotional course of mine, and I’m sure the days of others.

A huge event like Nuit Blanche can be made and unmade by the people who flood the streets around you. Just as you can make or break it for others.

So here’s to hoping that as we all go around doing our ‘stuff,’ we realise that everyone has ‘stuff,’ and we all try to hold the door a little more often.

Micah Gold-Utting Editor-in-Chief

student leaders, such as your student council, Orientation coordinators, and club heads; act as a liaison between students, SMC departments, other colleges at U of T, and the U of T Office of Student Life; connect and refer you to resources and supports within St, Mike’s and U of T; develop programming and new initiatives to make your student experience as wonderful as it can be; am friendly face, a person to chat with, and a provider of candy.

Entering St. Michael’s College, you have (perhaps unwittingly) embarked on a journey of the Spirit, a journey of the Mind, and a journey within a very special Community. SMC doesn’t just stand for St. Michael’s College, it also stands for the journey of Spirit and Mind in Community. I am here to

enrich each of these aspects of your journey by working closely with you to support initiatives to improve the student experience at St. Mike’s.

Stay tuned because there are a lot of new exciting initiatives to come! Swing by the Campus Life office (the glass room on the south side of Brennan lounge) to meet me, chat, and grab some candy! Also stay tuned for the Campus Life website which will be your means of connecting and staying involved with campus life! I’m excited to be here and even more excited to work with you, for you at SMC! Now, can I get a Hoikity Choik On C?

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Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief Micah Gold-Utting

editorinchief@readthemike.com

Features Editor features@readthemike.com

available for students facing stress and depression.

Often one of the hardest things at this time of year is to keep the stress of school from creating stress throughout your life. The traffic is too slow, the subway too late, a friend is too rude, your parents are too demanding, and suddenly the frustration from your school is snowballing into your life and smashing down on family, friends, strangers, and yourself. It’s times like these that small gestures make a big difference for everyone.

Friendly conversation instead of cold shoulders. Particularly I’d like to thank everyone who has held a door for me coming in and out of Brennan

THE MIKE

Masthead

Vacant

A welcome from the Campus Life Coordinator Hello SMC! My name is Cristina and I am thrilled to be your inaugural Campus Life Coordinator! You are most likely wondering, “what exactly does a campus life coordinator do?”

The easy answer is “I help coordinate campus life”…but what does that even mean?

Campus life is everything from SMCSU, clubs, U of T programs and resources, student life, Orientation Week, the Commuter experience, community development, programming, referrals and counseling, and more… and I help coordinate it. What do I mean by “coordinate”? My goal is to act as the “connector” of all things campus life. I am your guide to navigating the world beyond the classroom. I: provide administrative support to

News

News Editor

Cameron Anderson news@readthemike.com

Arts Editor Lucy Coren

arts@readthemike.com

Opinions Editor Oksana Andreiuk

opinions@readthemike.com

Living Editor Annum Roshan

living@readthemike.com

Sports Editor

Sofia Rizzo (interm) sports@readthemike.com

Production Manager Alekzia Hosein

Senior Copy Editor Chelsea Misquith

Illustrations Editor Belinda Zong

illustrations@readthemike.com

Web Editor Nora Agha

Kelly's Korner Freshman Edition

4th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

The Feast of St. Michael

Harvest Fair

September 26

September 27

September 27

Mount Pleasant Village, 10am

Brennan Hall, 8:30pm

Yonge/Dundas Square, noon

Charbonnel Lounge, 2:30pm

SMC's almost-monthly open mic night is back and hotter than ever!

This installment promises to feature some new talent, but you can expect to see some old faces too.

This Kelly's Korner will be raising funds for Free the Children, so bring your spare change.

In support of the White Ribbon Campaign, Toronto men trade in their comfortably flat shoes for high heels for a mile. The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest organization of men dedicated to ending violence against women. To register, visit walkamiletoronto.org

SMC celebrates the Western observance of Michaelmas a few days early. Guest speaker, Professor Domenico Pietropaolo, will explain what the origins of the celebration.

Stick around after the speech for a miniature celebratory feast will fellow SMC students.

Do you love the crunch of freshly fallen leaves, the satisfying feel of carving an in-season pumpkin, and the smell of warm apple pie? Join members of the Mount Pleasant community in welcoming autumn, as this event brings some country charm to the middle of Toronto.

Music and Truffles

Black Math

September 30

Indieweek Canada 2012

Walter Hall, 1:15pm

October 3 Steamwhistle Brewery, 7pm

Thanksgiving Day Brunch October 7

This classical concert features TSO key players playing pieces by Schubert and Ludwig Spohr. The series lists children aged 6-15 as their target audience, but it's also great for adults looking to learn more about classical music. You get a free chocolate truffle at the end, and you don't need to bring a child.

As humans have conquered fear of the unknown by developing new formulae and ideas, the unknown becomes less intimidating. This mixed media exhibition uses these ideas to explore our complacence towards the undiscovered and the link between the natural and supernatural worlds.

October 10-14 Assorted venues

Casa Loma

Even if your family didn't invite you home for Thanksgiving, you still deserve better than what Canada Room can serve. Treat yourself to a lavish brunch in Toronto's most castle-like building.

September 29

Toronto welcomes over 175 musical acts as part of this independent music festival. Wristbands give access to all shows. Check out exclusive music industry panels, demo listening sessions and secret shows too!

Photos Editor YouNa Kim

Writers Mia Rose Yugo, Marsha Malcolm Mark Matich, Victoria Marshall

Copy Editors

Ellen O'Malley, Michelle Conklin, Najla Popel, Jo-Anna Pluchino, Jaclyn Didiano, Ramina Ghassemi, Josephine Tong, Christine Zelezny

Business Staff Business Manager Yasir Mustafa

Cristina Peter Campus Life Coordinator, SMC

business@readthemike.com

Ad Manager Vacant

ads@readthemike.com

Emma George | Contributor

Ad Execs Vacant

Board of Directors

Halifax

A cat running for mayor received a boost in the poll when Anderson Cooper bestowed his “unofficial endorsement” on the feline. The cat, called Tuxedo Stan, is running on a platform of controlling the stray cat population, reportedly out of control in Halifax.

Cairo

An Egyptian newspaper has started a campaign against the infamous Mohammed cartoons originally published by a Dutch newspaper. The cartoons, stated as fighting “thought with thought” are aimed at tackling the position the cartoons originally took.

Madrid

Austerity protests in Spain turned violent when police forces fired rubber bullets at the unruly crowd. The movement, Occupy Congress, is protesting against the further austerity measures Spain is expected to announce on Thursday.

Taiyuan

Workers at the Foxconn factory producing iPhones rioted earlier this week after an employee was apparently severely beaten by a security guard. Production resumed on Tuesday, and the owners of the factory are investigating the incident.

Bulawayo

Residents of the Zimbabwean town participated in a synchronized toilet flush to keep the plumbing system working. The event, aimed at keeping pipes and sewers wet, was considered to be a success.

BOD Student Reps.

Adriano Marchese Nicole Rocha Dennis Amoakohene Christopher Sivry

BOD Alumni Rep. Andy Lubinsky

BOD College Rep. Steve Hoselton

@readthemike The Mike is the Official Bi-weekly Student Newspaper of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, publishing since 1947. The Mike has a circulation of 2000, delivered to over 40 newsstands across the University of Toronto: St. George Campus and is published by The Mike Publications Inc. The Mike is printed by MasterWeb Inc on recycled newsprint stock and is a member of Canadian University Press. Copyright: 2012 The Mike Publications Inc. All Rights Reserved. All editorial inquires should be sent to editorinchief@readthemike.com. The Mike reserves the right to edit all submissions

looking to contribute? drop us a line! editorinchief@readthemike.com www.readthemike.com 416-926-7272 • 81 st. mary st.

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THE MIKE

News

U of T and the “Broken Generation”

High school in crisis Tensions between province and teachers continue

What St. Mike’s is doing to combat mental illness

andres musta

/ flickr

Catherine Bredin | Staff Writer

Jetheriot / flickr Cam Anderson | News Editor On September 10th, Maclean’s magazine ran a cover story called “The Broken Generation.” It revealed startling rates of mental illness. Occurences of depression, anxiety, and anger were higher in university students than ever before. A shocking 51% of students were reported to have felt life was hopeless, while 87% felt overwhelmed. A shocking 7% had seriously considered suicide.

However, people exist in the post secondary system to help cope with these feelings At U of T there are a number of options for those in need of help—but students need to know where to go.

Students are encouraged to speak with counselors around campus if they feel any type of mental stress. No problem for them is too trivial to discuss: money problems, relationship issues, feelings of loneliness, stress from work—they want to help those who need it.

Students have two options at St. Mike’s. The first one is to see the campus life coordinator, Cristina Peter. She has training in counselling and always encourages students to talk to her.

She can also direct students to many of the resources on campus if they feel they want to receive long-term help. Her office is located near the front door of Brennan Hall, next to the doors of the lounge.

Another place to go is the St. Mike’s campus ministry. A prominent thought is that the ministry is for Catholic students only.

According to Father Francois Mifsud, this is not the case. Their doors are open to any student in need, regardless of their religious or spiritual background. Mifsud says that

they have helped many students, regardless of their beliefs or religious affiliations. They are located next to the Coop, by the rear doors of Brennan hall. “Everyone has the right to be heard.” Mifsud stresses.

In the greater U of T realm, students may want to consider looking into counselling and psychological services, or CAPS. It provides professional, personal councillors for students struggling with mental illness.

However, although CAPS has highly trained professionals, wait times can be long.

A second option may be to contact the faculty of social work. This service, which originated at St. Mike's, is an excellent resource for students who need to speak to someone quickly. Often times the counsellor you speak with will be a student earning a degree in social work—no doubt someone that can easily understand many problems students may have. Students have the option of receiving counselling face to face, or even online. They can be reached at (416) 9465117.

Students can develop mental illness for a variety of reasons. The Broken Generation cites program competition, academic stress, relationship issues, difficulty adjusting to university life, and a poor job market as some reasons for many of these shocking statistics.

The greatest challenge of all may be that at U of T, a school of thousands, it is easy for students to fall through the cracks than smaller schools. If you or anyone you know may be suffering from mental illness, it is critical to know where to turn for help—because at this school, you never need to be alone.

The new school year has brought much more than the usual back-to-school stress for Ontario's teachers. Teachers are still responding to legislation introduced this past summer (and which passed on September 11th) by Premier Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government. This legislation, devised in an effort to reduce the province's $15-billion deficit, consists of provisions that have dramatically altered teachers' contracts. These include a two-year wage freeze on veteran teachers (younger ones can still move up the salary ladder), three unpaid workdays next year, and a ban on strikes and lockouts. It also has halved the number of paid sick days teachers were allotted to ten, and limits their ability to bank sick days.

The "Putting Students First" bill has received a very negative response from teachers. The conditions of the bill were rejected by the two biggest teachers' union in Ontario, although it is based on settlements reached between the province and English Catholic teachers, as well as Francophone ones. The bill is currently being challenged in court by the unions, and they are calling on their members to refuse to participate in extracurricular activities.

The premier insists that he is sympathetic and understands where the teachers are coming from. "They've made plans to manage their own home finances and then this guy McGuinty comes along and says 'We've got to hit the pause button.'" The Liberals, he claims, remain the same party with the same principles.

"The only thing that has changed--we're the same government, we're the same people and

andres musta

/ flickr

the same leader absolutely devoted to publiclyfunded education--is that we've been hit by a terrible recession and we've got to eliminate the deficit."

The opposition has been quick to criticize the premier.

According to Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, McGuinty wants voters to forget the raises teachers and other public sector employees were given (since 2003 teachers' salaries have been raised on average by 25 percent) so that he can prove he's serious about cutting government spending. The opposition also insists that this was a ruse to help win two recent by-elections, which would have given the Liberals a majority government (this did not come to pass).

Nonetheless, McGuinty predicts the government's dispute with the teachers will blow over soon. "I think most teachers understand we've got to make a choice and we can either put more money into pay hikes or we can put more money into expanding full day kindergarten and keeping class sizes small."

However, many teachers are showing no sign of being mollified, as evidenced by recent protests at Queen's Park. Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation President Ken Coran referred to the passing of the new legislation as "one of the darkest days in the history of workers' rights. This government has now passed a law that tramples on the rights of education workers in Ontario and it appears that Premier McGuinty will be targeting other workers in the near future." The Liberals have already warned that the wage freeze will be extended to other parts of the public sector.

Sports

THE MIKE

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Winds of change

The OHL adjusts fighting rule for the new season Sofia Rizzo | Sports Editor In a continued effort to curtail what he believes to be dangerous on ice conduct, OHL Commissioner David Branch has tweaked a few rules. Effective for the 2012-2013 campaign, players will be given a ten-fight limit and will receive a two game suspension for every fight exceeding ten. Starting with a player’s sixteenth fight, the team will be fined $1,000 each time. The rule is tough on instigators, who will receive a four game suspension instead of two games. Situations where the other player in a fight is assessed an instigator penalty will not be counted against the ten game limit.

Further, fights occurring in the final five minutes of a game, staged fights, and fights where a player willingly removes his helmet will carry an automatic two-game ban. The instigator exception mentioned above applies here as well. "[This] is an area we have chosen to look at to hopefully create more opportunity for players to come into our league with fear of incidents of needless altercations," Branch commented at a media conference.

For Branch, the new rule does not remedy the concussion issue plaguing hockey. Rather, he believes fighting is an aspect of the game that can be controlled for and targets needless fighting.

"This rule was not solely designed to deal

with the concern about concussions," Branch told the media. "In fact, our statistics show us that fighting is about third or fourth in a list of factors that cause concussions. But it is there, and it is a positive in the area of head injuries. That whole issue of head injuries and concussion is No. 1 on our agenda moving forward. We just hope that all leagues, all levels would share the mutual discussion."

According to the OHL, thirty-one players reached double-digits in fighting majors last season while only five exceeded sixteen fights.

Three players stand out-- Windsor's Ty Bilcke (37 fighting majors), Erie's Johnny McGuire (23 fighting majors) and Peterborough’s Derek Mathers (22 fighting majors)—exceeded 20

fights last season.

It was Branch who espoused the ten game limit and eventually convinced the OHL’s board of governors to adopt the policy.

"There was some discussion of lowering it but we thought let's start it here, this is an evolutionary process and let's see where this takes us," Branch said.

According to Branch, ninety-two per cent of players in the twenty team OHL are involved in less than ten altercations per season. Sixtysix per cent of players are involved in less than two fights per season. Clearly, Branch is trying to be proactive in increasing the later statistic.

The OHL should be applauded. It is tremendously difficult to institute change

when it comes to fighting—something that is contentious because fighting is ingrained within the culture of the sport. Implementing measures such as this one is unpopular to say the least. However, Branch is committed to extinguishing (where possible) and/or alleviating serious threats to players’ safety.

Here Branch is sensitive to both the interests of the players and hockey purists that support fighting. By setting a limit, the OHL acknowledges fighting as a part of hockey and retains a role of police officer. Players should not police themselves entirely—there is too much for them to focus on during one shift.

That responsibility should rest on the league.

Colin Campbell, NHL senior vice president and director of hockey operations said that the NHL has talked about a similar rule and how to apply it.

"They talk to us when they make rule changes like this," Campbell told ESPN. com. "We’ve discussed the aspect of fighting over the years. We had a couple of initial discussions about this last spring. They were thinking about implementing some sort of quota. I mentioned to [Branch] that we had debated that internally in hockey operations at the NHL level."

The OHL will serve as a litmus test for other leagues. If the policy proves effective, expect the OHL to serve as a catalyst for change in the hockey world.

Buying the best

Middle eastern money dominates the future of european football Stefano Tesoro | Staff Writer Over the preceding transfer window, several teams reliant on foreign direct investment have seen their rosters welcome new million dollar talent from across Europe and beyond. Though buying the best talent isn’t a new strategy, as we’ve seen such teams as Real Madrid do it for years, squads like Manchester City and Paris SaintGermain represent the new breed of football clubs that are now backed by billionaire capital. In chartering the spending habits of PSG for example, one will note that this French club is determined to secure not only the Ligue 1 trophy, but the Champions League crown as well. Financially backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, PSG was able to secure the services of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the summer break. Such additions were thought to end any speculation regarding a closely contested domestic title race.

Unfortunately for PSG, that hasn’t happened yet. At this time Les Parisiens are tied for third place with FC Lorient. Though there remains little doubt as to the domestic title success of Paris Saint-Germain, the concept of a readymade soccer team should instill a degree of concern among the footballing faithful.

While the clubs with the

deepest pockets are not necessarily guaranteed a victory, a cache of international talent ready to support the wildest of 4-5-1 formations increases the chances of a win. One need only look to Manchester City to confirm the correlation between purchasing power and success. The Citizens’ Premier League title win in 2012 suggests the acceptance of the Emirati petro dollar as the main force behind such a victory. In adding such players as Mario Balotelli and Sergio Agüero to an already competent squad, Manchester City sought to improve its chances of securing domestic and international titles. Such a statement is not meant to denigrate the club as an overnight success story. Rather, in securing world class talent through the aid of Middle Eastern capital, teams such as Manchester City make the conscious choice of buying a firstrate squad rather than building one from the ground up.

Though billionaire playboys like Roman Abramovich seek to ensure the success of their footballing ventures by guaranteeing a steady flow of funds, a special look must be paid to those financially reckless few who fail to balance their books.

Silvio Berlusconi’s AC Milan is a key example of those fiscally irresponsible clubs that must part with essential talent in order to emerge from debt. After seeing the

‘

... teams such as Manchester City make the conscious choice of buying a firstrate squad rather than building one from the ground up.

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likes of Silva and Ibrahimovic sold to PSG and other notable players like Rino Gattuso and Alessandro Nesta “retiring” to the Swiss Super League and MLS respectively, AC Milan has its work cut out for it if it plans to challenge current champions Juventus for the Serie A title. Though it may seem right to believe in an organically grown squad capable of cultivating first-class players through a fully developed youth program, individuals with the financial resources to guarantee a victory don’t have that kind of time.

It remains far easier to buy the best and hope they bring your club the domestic and international success their paychecks suggest.

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THE MIKE

No deal, no hockey

Sports

Living

THE MIKE

Feel good in your skin

NHL and NHLPA collective bargaining talks remain at a standstill leaving the 2012-2013 season in jeopardy

How to improve your workout, without changing the workout itself

Stephanie Posocco | Staff Writer

Here are some great tips to tone up your body, leaving you happier and more optimistic each day. Combining exercise and eating right is one way to handle weight, and it’s not as hard as it seems to find time for a workout. Keeping a progress journal and taking a friend along is also valuable!

As September arrives and school begins, so does the anticipation of a new NHL season. Unfortunately this year, the excitement of the upcoming season has been overshadowed by the NHL and NHLPA’s inability to reach a decision on the players Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Commissioner Gary Bettman stated after a lengthy meeting with the NHLPA September 13th that there would be no season without a new agreement. Regrettably, the two sides were unable to reach a compromise, and as of 12:01 am September 16th, the NHL went into its 4th lockout in the last 20 years – delaying and possibly cancelling the entire 2012-2013 season.

Here’s how the hopes of an NHL season began to fade: Talks between the league and the players began in late June and continued into July and August, at headquarters in both New York and Toronto. More than 200 players, including superstar Sidney Crosby, were in attendance

for several meetings. Many issues were discussed including players’ health, supplemental discipline, ice conditions, training camp and retirement benefits. The most contentious issue was put on the table by the NHL in mid-July as the league demanded the players’ share of hockey-related revenue (HRR) be reduced from 57% to 43%.

In mid-August, the NHLPA stated that the players were willing to give up a portion of their future hockeyrelated revenue for a three year period. The new salary cap would then start at $69 million for the 20122013 season and year 4 would mark a return to 57% of hockey-related revenue going into the players’ pockets.

The NHL’s counterproposal in late August proposed year 4 HRR earnings being reduced from 57% to 46%. As August came to a close, the players were not able to engage the NHL into further talks of compromise on the HRR issue.

September 12th and 13th marked

the last meetings between NHL and NHLPA honchos prior to the impending September 15th deadline.

When asked about the talks, Bettman stated: "If you're dedicated to the negotiating process, you can move this along quickly… if, for whatever reason, you're not interested in making a deal, you drag it out."

NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr has said the players made significant concessions in the last CBA that resulted in a dramatic rise in revenue for the league. For this reason, Fehr wonders whether it’s reasonable for the owners to request further compromises from the players.

Sidney Crosby has also chimed in stating, "I think our mindset and the direction we're [the NHLPA] going in is one that seems a little bit fairer for both sides."

The week before the deadline, teams and players were in a mad scramble to close deals before the current CBA was officially void. Dallas Stars’ goaltender Kari Lehtonen, Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic and Phoenix Coyotes Captain Shane Doan, are players successful in closing major deals before the lockout. Additionally, there’s an ongoing labour discussion in Quebec looking to decide whether the union in that province actually has legal grounds to lockout its

players.

Players are also willing to look overseas as the lockout permits many to sign with other professional teams.

NHL heavyweights Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar and Alexander Ovechkin have turned to the Kontinental Hockey League as have many other fellow Russians.

The season was set to begin October 11th with training camp opening September 21st. However, given the current state of the league, pre-season games in the month of September have been cancelled.

As no further meetings have been scheduled, it looks as though NHL fans may have to endure another long, cold, hockey-less winter.

Christine Zelezny | Contributor

Cardio vs. Resistance Training Cardio exercise allows your body to use its large muscle groups at a sustained rate. There are two options: a short workout with interval training, or a longer workout at a constant pace.

By the end, both will total to the same calorie count. Hop on the bike for 30 minutes to work those quads and break a real sweat.

Similarly, resistance training encompasses either few very intensive repetitions or many reps with lighter weights. Just be sure to take little rest in between. Shake up that gym, don’t be shy to show off your strong will! Pushups can be done in your dorm room, or with some weights (which you can buy at Winners)! Then, all that is left to be done is to search for a YouTube video for some exercises.

The Myth on AM vs. PM Workouts Exercising in the morning provides the benefit of your body continuing to burn calories throughout the day. Your body’s

metabolic state is elevated for a longer time, so after your workout, you’re still burning away that cheesecake you sneaked in!

On the other hand, it is proven that athletes who exercise in the evening, like Olympic athletes, tend to break world records because their body is warmed up after an entire day. A thirty-minute cardio or weight session will get you ready to get into deep fat frying.

Grub Food is the best; don’t leave it out! Breakfast is key, and you can eat early, and exercise an hour after your meal, or, just make a protein shake. Research in Brain Training for Runners states that athletes perform better when they consume a carbohydrate/protein powder. A pre-workout breakfast includes: bananas for potassium, apple for fiber, and almond butter on a slice of toast as a wholesome grain.

In addition, balance your meal portions.

The more you train, the more you need to nourish your body. Post-exercise, protein is really important; fetch a chicken! A snack one hour prior to exercise is also recommended, like fruits, yogurt or a power bar.

from going ‘all-out’ in your workouts, so take a few sips only when needed. The American College of Medicine suggests drinking two to three cups of water post-workout.

Finally, when exercising for more than an hour, electrolyte powder will replenish the lost sodium and other minerals that help prevent injuries and add energy.

Now that you know what can produce some good results for you, take a friend, and get moving. Exercise will make you feel good, allowing you to be optimistic and overall more healthy.

Water/Electrolytes Water is extremely important in hydrating the body. Research shows that during exercise, you should only drink when you are thirsty. Excess water will make you feel full, preventing you

Your 2013 automotive fantasies

Micah Gold-Utting | Editor-in-Chief

NFL

Monday night’s matchup between the Seahawks and the Packers resulted in one of the most controversial calls in all of sports, as an offensive pass interference was ignored and an unclear position in the end zone was ruled a touchdown. However, on Tuesday the NFL came out in support of its replacement referees, reinforcing the on field decision.

Darrelle Revis will likely be out for the rest of the season with a torn ligament. As the best defensive player for the Jets, and one of the best in the league, New York will have to begin looking at its options.

NHL

What NHL?

MLB

The Blue Jays have resigned to their absence from the post season, and are now playing the role of spoilers.

The Jays took a game from Baltimore on Monday and will look to force the Yankee’s into the wildcard race in their upcoming series.

Meanwhile, the National League remains fairly stable, as the divisions begin to lock up.

NBA

The Brooklyn Nets unveiled their new home at Barclay’s Stadium. The new stadium is a futuristic monolith, with an intentionally rusted exterior and an abundance of glowing lights and cool blues. The move of the team heralds the first professional sports team in the borough since the Dodgers left in 1957.

As the Raptors begin to finalize their roster, the question of their offensive output begins to loom. Will new guard Lowry and rookie Jonas Valanciunas be able to put up numbers worthy of earning a playoff berth?

The Hot Corner

1. Canada defeated Germany 11-1 in the final round of their World Baseball Classic Qualifier, in order to qualify for the tournament next spring.

2. Seattle has approved a huge budget to build an arena and bring both a NBA and a NHL team to the city.

The Oiler’s are currently in discussions regarding their arena, and ownership has met and discussed the possibility of the team moving to Seatle.

3. Gio Gonzalez has been on fire lately becoming the first pitcher of the season to reach the 20 win mark after defeating Milwaukee on September 22.

4. Canada’s women’s soccer program continues to be strong, as the under 17s seek to make the quarterfinals of the U17 world cup after defeating Colombia on September 25th.

Cars to watch out for in the coming year Joe Mangiapane and Franco Recchia | Contributors The month of September doesn’t just mean the beginning of a new school year, it’s also when major car companies like BMW, Ford, and GM all start rolling out brand new 2013 models for car enthusiasts to salivate over. Forbes has just released their top 15 hottest cars list of 2013, and for car enthusiasts out there, if this doesn’t increase your heart rate, nothing will.

In 1st place, we have Acura ILX; this luxury vehicle has quite the lavish interior and appeals to the tech-savvy with the ability for smartphone connectivity.

Up next is the BMW Grand Coupe. This sports car comes in two models, the 640i that comes

with a 3.0 litre 315 horsepower turbocharged 6 cylinder engine, and the 650i equipped with a 4.4 litre V8 that comes with 445 horsepower.

Oh, and it comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission for real drivers to enjoy. This four door coupé definitely impresses- yes, you read it right, it is a four door coupé.

I was also confused.

We’re not quite sure how the Chevrolet Spark got on this list, but this mini-delight boasts a 1.2 litre four cylinder engine that will get a whopping 85 horsepower. For those of you that are good with numbers, that’s 25 less horsepower than what Lance Armstrong gets when he’s riding his “bicicletta” as the Italians

would say.

To anchor our review the Infiniti JX, a seven-passenger luxury crossover that will catch you staring.

Apart from its elegant exterior and exquisite interior design, this SUV could very well have its own brain.

Drive Mode Select to tailor the vehicles response and shift points for a smoother drive, all wheel drive, and a new backup collision intervention system that will engage the breaks to help prevent a collision while driving in reverse.

So whether you’re looking for a new car, or just want to add a few to that never-ending wish list, make sure to take a look at these engineering masterpieces.

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Arts til Dawn Ditch your Converse for a pair of heels and paint the town red!

Despite it being only 2 weeks into the school year, the reading lists are getting

unbelievably long, and the lecture recordings are calling out to you in Gollum’s voice, saying, “Listen to me, my precious!” At times like these, everyone needs a break, and considering the frugal lifestyle of students, what better way to get some TLC than a free, all-night event that spans all across Toronto? I’m sure you’ve all heard about Nuit Blanche; in case you haven’t, it is an annual event that was started by the founder of the Research Centre for Cultural Development in Nantes, France, and then was carried on by different cities around the globe including Toronto, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires.

Zone B

Made it Then, Make it Again: Can you recall the last time you looked at something and thought, ‘Hmm, I wondered how they made this’? Well, if watching “How It’s Made” is too bland of a show to watch for your taste, you might want to check out this exhibit.

An independent project, which is a collaborative effort by four different Canadian artists, Made combines performance art with the technical and mechanical process of mass production. So watch as the technical process of making screen-printed wallpaper is recreated into something magical.

The event features the handiwork of different artists, performers, and dancers.

Starting at 7:03 pm on Saturday the 29th of September, the event will go on until dawn the next day. Featuring a mix of both local and international artists, there will be a total of 158 art projects across the city. To help plan your night with the utmost sensibility and as little damage to your feet as possible, the event has been divided into three zones according to their geographical location- Zone A, B, and, C- and all locations are easily accessible by subway. All you need is the $10.50 TTC pass that works all day Saturday, up to 9 am Sunday.

Zone A Zone B Zone C

Zone A: South/West Downtown Subway Station: St. Patrick – Number of Exhibits: 57

Zone B: Central/East Downtown Subway Station: Dundas – Number of Exhibits: 62 exhibits

Zone C: East Downtown

Subway Station: Queen – Number of Exhibits: 29

An artistic experience that, according to Shauna McCabe’s curatorial statement, “transforms architecture and landscape in ways that highlight the expansive entropy of such spaces, and the blend of memory, history and imagination that converges in our everyday experiences. Among glass towers and concrete surfaces, other histories and rhythms emerge in the constellation of installations.”

Annum Roshan | Living Editor

Zone A

Another must-see, especially if you’re a social media geek, is Faisal Anwar and Siobhan O’Flynn’s +city, an interactive installation that brings posts on Twitter (with the hashtag #pluscityTO and #snbTO) alive into a series of dynamic improv sketches.

The sponsor project includes artist Thom Sokloski’s interactive piece, Green Invaders: This unoriginally named exhibit includes a Space-Invaders Fun House (No, it’s not full of evil clowns). A performance that is meant inspired light show, Green Invaders, which combines the 80’s game and the to capture the essence of a classic carnival, while making the observer high technological accomplishments of the past decades into one entertaining, experience the primal emotions of both fear and excitement. The artist yet nostalgic event. has constructed a sculpture large enough for a car to pass through, and the car rides come by every five minutes.

It also includes several movie selections from TIFF, a video installation by US based artist/environmentalist Matthew Moore featuring time-lapse photography For those interested in the art and construction of graphic novels, the (Lifecycles), and most interesting of all, Skylum, an inflatable structure that independent project StripArt is a must see. Also an interactive installation, combines interactive illumination with the behavior of those around it to create StripArt will give comic-book enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a light/music/movement phenomenon by British artist Andrew Kearney. to experience the amount of detail that goes into making a graphic novel.

Transformative Motion: For somewhat of an “Alice in Wonderland” experience, visit this massive installation at Spadina Museum Gardens. Six acres of luminous sculptures, colorful paintings, and installations by multiple Canadian and American artists are yours to admire.

merges both science and art in a multifaceted, interactive exhibit that sings out in sine waves and uses fingerprints to generate art.

The High-Five Championship: High Five, Bro! Van Gogh might not have liked the exhibit, but Barney Stinson sure would. Behold! An independent Whorl: Anybody with scientific inclinations- performance art piece that turns high-fiving into such as myself- will most likely be enthralled a sport, is definitely something that would elicit by the Whorl exhibit. Based on the concept a few giggles [or manly chuckles] after all the of particular physics, it is a project that pretentious deconstruction of art.

Zone C

The QR Poetry Project: an anti-capitalism effort by Canadian artists to eliminate the marketing pretext of QR codes, is an interactive painting/poetry exhibit in which viewers scan the code on paintings and get poems right on their Smartphone. A seamless blend of modern technology and classic art creates a hybrid that is both entertaining and memorable.

Creature World:View this amazing exhibit through the eyes of those with impaired hearing. Located in the Distillery District, a collaborative venture involving both visual and performance art gives a view of the world, as it would be to someone with hearing impairment. Expect graceful dance performances and incredibly spiritual paintings in mixed media surrounded by water.

Our Lights Are On!: Forget about Paris being the city of lights, and tell U2 to change their tune. Watch this interactive show of lights at Regent Park, which includes shadow puppetry, interactive music, theatre, and dance.

With different projects from several schools of music and art, there is sure to be enough to watch for a group with varied interests.

A celebration of art, culture, and the city itself, watch as Toronto comes alive as you’ve never seen it. It will no longer be the place where you only study or work, and according to Program manager Julian Sleath, “is the one event in the whole Toronto calendar that gives everyone permission to stay up late at night, to explore all the nooks and crannies of the city and to experience a truly extraordinary range of art projects.”

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Need some new music?

The new school year has crept up, and many of you are running low on new tunes to crank up for motivation as the going gets tough and the assignments pack on. Victim of the September blues? Fear not! September 25th alone marks the date of three new album releases in Canada that are sure to draw great applause amongst new listeners and the bands’ regular followers and enthusiasts.

Fellow music admirers, do listen with caution: professors and other university officials will surely be questioning the repeated humming and desk tapping.

English alternative folk group Mumford and Sons release their second album, entitled Babel. The band’s single ‘I Will Wait’ has already taken over Canadian radio stations.

The song possesses a familiar “Sons” feel, with the banjo a strummin’ and Marcus Mumford’s sweet, melodious voice filling your happy ears.

The band’s rural, or “rootsy”, modern folk resonance is a breath of fresh air from the generic, barely-thought-out songs often found in popular music today. The band’s previous album, Sigh No More, topped USA Billboard music charts and came to a whopping second

on the UK Albums Chart in February 2011.

A spiritual, emotion-filled album with songs of genuine lyricism and three-part harmonies?

No problem at all for the Mumford crew.

Closer to home, American punk band Green Day releases “¡Uno!”, the first album of a trilogy called ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tres!, all to be released individually in September, November, and January. Their new approach is a surefire

way to supply fans with a school year’s worth of listening material, guaranteed to ward off boredom. The album’s first single “Oh Love” appeared in July 2012, and is described by the band’s front man Billie Joe Armstrong as “power-pop” with “old Green Day energy.”

The song immediately reached the US Rock Songs Billboard summit, placing at number one. Green Day woken up before the end of

RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition showcases some timely short films

September? In that case, the album is sure to be a success.

And for all you world music fans out there, Copenhagen natives Efterklang unleash their record Piramida. A mix of both indie and electronic genres, the band’s music calls for some serious daydreaming, which is precisely what Efterklang’s music provides its audience: ambiguous, dream-like qualities.

According to the group’s official website, the album in its entirety was inspired by a trip the band took to an abandoned town on an island called Spitsbergen, where they were captivated by mundane objects left behind

by Russian miners in January 1993. The experimentation with noises from arbitrary objects such as a fuel tank, blocks of concrete, and lampshades, agglomerated with regular musical instruments, represents a sound that is unique to Efterklang.

Whether you prefer the rhythmic stylings of Mumford and Sons, the edgy tunes of Green Day, or an eerie, orchestrated sound like Efterklang’s, you will not be disappointed with their devotion to their craft, the honesty of their lyrics, and abundant musical talent on display in their albums. Musical interest piqued yet?

Liked, but not well liked Soulpepper takes on the a challenging play and creates a performance worth watching Lucy Coren | Arts Editor I remember reading Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman at the end of high school, and hating it. It had nothing to do with the quality of the play, but rather its theme: while about to graduate from the comfort of adolescence into the uncertainty of adulthood, the last thing I wanted to be reading was a text which reminded me of the dangers of illusion and the pitfalls of refusing to marry hope with reality.

In Death of a Salesman, Miller dramatizes the precariousness of investing in the “American Dream”, that is, the false belief that everyone is entitled to a self-prescribed happy ending.

Perhaps it’s because I’m older now and have a more exercised perspective, perhaps it was just the excellence of the production, but after seeing Soulpepper’s recent venture into Arthur Miller’s masterpiece I fell completely under its spell.

Willy Loman is an average salesman who lives in an increasing state of penury with his two sons, Biff and Hap, and his wife, Linda.

Linda is devoted to Willy and tries to protect him from the devastation of disillusionment, while Biff is the catalyst through which Willy’s illusions live. That is, until Biff and his father have a falling out, the reason for which becomes increasingly clear as the play progresses.

Directing a play which is so thoroughly fragmented, as it skips between the present and shards of memories, is an onerous task. Who better to meet it than Soulpepper’s artistic director and founder, Albert Schultz. Schultz entirely captures its nuances, accentuating certain lines that devastate the listener: “you have to break your neck to see one star around here”. The set design similarly pays due to

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THE MIKE

TIFF after TIFF

New album releases to look out for this week Alexandra Beamish | Contributor

Arts

Mark Matich | Staff Writer As an organization, the TIFF Cinematheque does a whole lot more than simply screen films for the international film festival once a year.

The inner workings of TIFF include a Talent Lab where young filmmakers hone their skills and are able to learn from and discuss film with four professional mentors. Several filmmakers from the 2011 Talent Lab went on to participate in this year’s RBC Emerging Filmmakers Festival.

Finally, after all the hours spent learning about (among other things) how film can bend, meld, condense, expand or otherwise manipulate time and space, they got a chance to put their own slant on the medium’s malleability by making a five minute short film on the topic of “time”.

The three eventual winners were Jordan Canning for his film SECONDS (overall winner), Johnny Ma for DEC 23 (honorable mention) and Nimisha Mukerji for THE ARRIVAL HOUR (fan favorite).

Canning’s film is an endearing, effervescent montage about the fleeting moments we remember fondly and those heartrending ones we regret in life, bookended by a comic shot of a character choking (a near-death-experiencetype moment which triggers the reveries). The film is a nice piece of work, with a lot of attention given to the individual experiences that the choking fellow remembers.

The sensuality or materiality of each moment (in one case a hilariously self-referential stoppage of a watch at a “favorite time”) come across beautifully and is probably the most pleasurable aspect of the movie despite the overt comedy of the

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sssteve.o

opening and conclusion. And the choice of memories certainly strikes a chord. If you’ve ever messed with a sibling’s candy supply, or made a girl cry (or relished a girl’s laugh), you’ll identify with some of the snippets. Wistfulness and low-budget filmmaking (in a short, no less) don’t often go well together but Canning certainly has made it work here, and his prize is deserved.

Johnny Ma’s DEC 32, an eerie and ultimately cathartic comment on how media hysteria can affect a domestic space, is also an engaging short, where the perspective of a small boy reveals a family’s preparation for the worst as time stops directly before New Year’s Eve, a moment strikingly delivered by a slow zoom onto the face of a clock. The film’s domestic setting is nicely realized in terms of set design and the props that appear in the young protagonist’s room. Juvenile thespian Asher Lindgren is also good

/ flickr

as the boy, who is confronted with ‘Coast to Coast’ style apocalyptic ramblings on the radio as well as the general unease of the rest of his family, especially his sister. I liked the way the film incorporated news stock footage, which is unobtrusively inserted throughout (no mean feat), an example being the opening New Year’s footage segueing into a commanding shot of a TV blaring in the house’s living room as the boy watches (an image that may conjure up similar scenes in The Shining and Poltergeist). Overall the film is impressive in how it establishes an intense yet intimate tone on a small scale.

The third film was voted “fan favorite”. THE ARRIVAL HOUR, is distanced from the other two films in its more sociological and cultural themes, and as such is a different animal altogether in not dealing with time in as literal and immediate a manner as the other two. The

movie has a foreign protagonist who arrives in Vancouver and is accosted by a group of hoods before being escorted to her living quarters by a benevolent stranger.

The dialogue spoken by the thugs is a little overwrought at times (it begins with the not-that-farfetched yet odd line “I just got a VD test, straight up”) but their harassment of the girl is depicted realistically, utilizing handheld camerawork well. The film is certainly the most unnerving of the three in its realism, and has its own nice visual moments; a great example of this realism being director Nishima Mukerji’s capturing of one of those impromptu aboveground tunnels that divert around construction, complete with source lighting from the overheard lamps in it. The lack of closure at the resolution of the film as the Spanish woman grimaces over her bad experience entering the city is arresting.

I was quite impressed by these offerings, and if anyone doubts whether TIFF is training filmmakers well these three films, which in turn offer lyricism, a mini-apocalypse, and realist social commentary are evidence that it is. I look forward to next year’s crop of RBC Emerging Filmmakers.

...they got a chance to put their own slant on the medium’s malleability by making a five minute short film on the topic of “time”.

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Also from TIFF Cinematheque:

The Free Screen

The Free Screen is a series at the Bell Lightbox dedicated to media that is free of both cost and creative restrictions. The series showcase avant-garde and experimental film and works to connect film to other media. It always seeks to ask the question "what is cinema?"

Next Showing: Jordan Belson: Films Sacred and Profane Wednesday October 24 7:00 PM

the text, creating an impoverished house for the Loman’s with three levels creating texture and depth.

Joseph Ziegler and Nancy Palk, husband and wife in reality, return to the stage as Willy and Linda Loman. I had seen them only last season perform together in Tennessee William’s masterpiece, A Long Day’s Journey into the Night—it seems to me very brave to take on such broken partnerships as a real-life couple. Joe Ziegler delivered a heartwrenching performance, absolutely inhabiting the character. I literally saw audience members clutch at their chests in utter distress as the

action and words of Willy unfolded before them. Nancy Palk played a wonderful Linda, oscillating beautifully between being a quietly supportive wallflower around Willy and a fierce defender of him around anyone else.

Ari Cohen is our Biff. I saw Ari perform in Soulpepper’s recent production of David Mamet’s Speed-the-plough and, admittedly, I wasn’t massively keen. I thought that the pace of Mamet escaped him at various times.

However, in Death of a Salesman, Ari was entirely believable as the frustrated, selfeffacing eldest son of Willy. Perhaps it’s the staggering dimensions of the character that

Arthur Miller has created, but Ari Cohen delivered the role genuinely. Willy has projected his own desires on his eldest son, unconsciously emotionally blackmailing him into entering the business world which is illequipped for; indeed, Biff would rather work with his hands and run a farm. In a cast of accomplished actors, Ari Cohen held his own and drew from the audience his own quota of pathos.

It’s a difficult play to get through, there’s no getting around it. Even so, Soulpepper masterfully delivers once again and I would prompt you to see it before it ends.

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David overshadows Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Hart House puts on a quality play but has little to offer beyond the text

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...the very attempt to find inherent value in life is blatantly questioned and ultimately rejected as an absurdist quest destined to fail.

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Mia Rose Yugo | Staff Writer Performed at the majestic Hart House Theatre, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is a 1966, Tony-award winning absurdist tragicomedy written by acclaimed British playwright, Tom Stoppard. Utilizing Shakespeare's Hamlet as a backdrop, the plot follows around the two curious courtiers, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as they question the meaning of their existence, and ours for that matter.

Much like Samuel Beckett's characters in Waiting for Godot, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or if you prefer, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, are merely two parts of an uncertain whole. Bearing interchangeable names and strikingly similar thought processes, the two companions are undoubtedly two sides of one coin. And speaking of coins, this

particular production, directed by Matthew Gorman, makes repeated use of the tossing of a coin as indicative of the "random" nature of man's existence. With every "heads" that Guildenstern turns up, Stoppard takes you further and further into the existentialist's realm of uncertainty. Indeed, the very attempt to find inherent value in life is blatantly questioned and ultimately rejected as an absurdist quest destined to fail. Having said that, the coin bit, although effective in that sense, is overdone, much like a number of comedic bits throughout the play.

Before I venture into the disappointing aspects of this production, I must first and foremost note that there was one breathtaking performance, surprisingly not by either of the main actors. David Tripp, a graduate of the Guelph Drama Program, pulled off a remarkably genuine portrayal of the Player, the leader of the clumsy acting troupe, the Tragedians. Captivating, exciting and authentic, his performance of the smoothtalking Player is more than worthy of gracing the stage at Hart House. Hats off Mr. Tripp! Equally impressive was the stern portrayal of Polonius and the distant and

self-centered depiction of Gertrude, played

by Jamie Johnson and Marlene Matos-Jones, respectively.

Moving on, whilst the nature of the script is obviously not meant to "thrill" spectators (it has been around for nearly half a century!), it is undoubtedly meant to kickstart your philosophical thought process in an attempt to make you question the existence of a universal grand design. With this in mind, it must be said that the acting on the part of the main characters was not quite up to par.

Guildenstern, played by Andrew Knowlton, spoke in such a hasty manner that it was often difficult to follow. Although it is true that Stoppard's character is, by nature, the inquisitive type, Knowlton's performance was more akin to a speedy and nervous recital than an authentic portrayal of a well-known figure.

Perhaps this can be attributed to opening night jitters, but considering that Knowlton is a seasoned performer, it seems a bit of a stretch, especially for a theater as established as Hart House. Jim Armstrong, who played Rosencrantz, was none the better. Though calm in manner, his comedic spirit often fell flat, lacking both vibrancy and enthusiasm.

For a production that runs nearly three hours, there seemed to be a general lack of creative spice, the kind of spark that Stoppard's work requires to keep the audience interested.

The set, designed by Stephan Droege, was comprised of a raised walkway resembling a sort of intersecting road, with various projected colour-schemes in the backdrop. All in all, it was a rather bland design. So too was the sound design, which largely consisted of pre-recorded folk music, a choice that could have been much more effective had it been sung by a live performer.

Be warned, the production is exhaustingly long. If you're not a fan of deep philosophical inquiry, or if you expect to see a new creative interpretation varying from the movie produced in 1990, this probably isn't your cup of tea. That might explain why yours truly witnessed a number of audience members leave during both intermissions.

The show plays at Hart House September 21st through October 6th.

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Smartphone wars

Opinions

Move over BlackBerry, HTC is Apple’s new competitor Damian Alexander Smith | Contributor The production of mobile phones has been an ever-changing and unforgiving industry. Surely, consumers, as well as network operators and device distributors, rarely hesitate to abandon smartphone manufacturers when new models disappoint or simply fail to measure up to the hype of seemingly more innovative mobile phones. Consider manufacturers such as Research in Motion (RIM), HTC, and Nokia, all of which are biting back at Apple as they fight to stay competitive in the game. However, the pressing question at hand is not whether these manufacturers will return to prominence, but rather if they are even capable of competing with Apple and achieving the comeback that they each hope for at this stage.

RIM, HTC, and Nokia are all deteriorating in sales, experiencing extremely sharp falls in their market shares and share prices in the past year. Apple, on the other hand, is sitting comfortably at the top of the industry, generating over $5 million in sales during its first three days of

dropping the long anticipated iPhone 5, despite the prediction that it would generate roughly double that figure.

Many smartphone critics have made the contention that - out of RIM, HTC, and Nokia - HTC has the best chance of rising to the occasion of competing with Apple since it has historically manufactured stylish handsets at a speedy pace. HTC is expected to shortly release three new devices that will use Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 8 as their operating system, as opposed to the Android.

But HTC certainly is not the only one hoping to make a comeback with Microsoft’s new software – Nokia is too. Nokia and Microsoft have been working closely together in an attempt to compete with Apple through strengthening the viability of Windows Phone 8. Furthermore, Samsung has recently released new smartphone models that run on Microsoft Windows 8 despite its success with the Android. HTC and Samsung’s Windows adoption is due, in part, to the issues that the Android has experienced during recent and ongoing patent litigation against Apple, which was awarded over 1 billion dollars in damages after a jury

in California examined the striking similarities between the iPhone and Samsung’s smartphones.

However, if my long-term memory serves me correctly, the once popular line of Palm smartphones (which, by the way, ran on Windows) quickly and eventually became passive and irrelevant in the digital industry. Who is to say that Windows will not bore us again and successively fall off the smartphone wagon?

Conversely, less hope exists for RIM since it tenaciously continues to develop its new and latest platform, the BlackBerry 10, which will run an entirely original operating system entitled the BB10. This is a bold risk that BlackBerry is taking. Loyal RIM consumers, like myself, are hoping that this new initiative will skyrocket with success; however, a totally new operating system is very likely to alienate previous consumers who would essentially have to relearn how to operate a BlackBerry. Because of this plausibility, I realistically expect RIM to fail to compete with Apple, Microsoft, and Nokia over the ensuing months.

But we, the consumers, seem to get pickier and pickier by the

minute. We are totally content with the once highly esteemed BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) one year, and then totally “meh” with it the next as other smartphone manufacturers like Apple heavily market their convenient applications, cool functions, and other lavishly intriguing knick-knacks. Sure enough, Apple implicitly took the strategic route of marketing its iMessage application as something similar to BBM. Having used both applications, however, I quickly discovered such speculated similarities to be absolute hogwash.

I believe that ultimately, the BlackBerry is more business-oriented while the iPhone is more fun to use.

If consumers could get the best of both worlds wrapped up into one sleek itsy-bitsy device, then perhaps they would be a lot more content and fixed in their choice of smartphone – I sure would.

With Apple leading the smartphone industry and with other popular manufacturers stepping up to the digital plate – not to mention the damaging repercussions of the BBM outage in 2012 – RIM must prepare to engage in relentless

Opinions

Did you order your new and improved iPhone 5?

THE MIKE

Apple releases a new phone, defining the market for the coming year Natalie Krikorian | Contributor

combat in order for consumers to regain confidence in the BlackBerry and related devices. RIM must seek inspiration from where it impressed the world to begin with and focus on how it can impress again. Is it too late, though? Will BlackBerry embarrassingly wither away in popularity just as the Palm smartphones did? Well, only time will tell.

Surprise, surprise. The Apple geniuses have created a new monster, the iPhone 5. Apple said that it received over more than two-million orders for its new iPhone 5 in the last 24 hours after it began pre-sales online on September 14.

However, some sideline critics rate it as nothing special. Sure it has a larger display, a faster chip, ultrafast wireless technology, and 8MP iSight camera, and its ability to be confused with a toothpick, since it’s so thin. However, aren’t these all characteristics that the old “new” iPhone had? Does this mean society will keep running back to never-ending lines, knowing that there will be a newer addition of it this time next year?

Many critics fell madly in love with the iPhone 5; however some were disappointed with some of the new features. For instance, Apple Maps is getting mixed reviews. Waze CEO, Noam Bardin, states that the local data is weak and the navigation might get people lost.

Also, because of the change in size, the iPhone 5 is no longer compatible with previously made iPhone accessories, which means that a new adapter, and a new phone case must be purchased again. However, these complaints do not seem to be damaging Apple’s income.

I can almost guarantee there will be an iPhone 6, which will have an even bigger screen, an even faster chip, a super-ultrafast technology, and a 10MP iSight camera, and it

will be so thin that it will almost be invisible.

It is obvious that Apple will keep releasing the new and improved version of their products, with the idea of making money on their mind.

They probably have the iPhone 10 planned out, but obviously they will not release the best and final edition, because that would mean an end to their economic boom. They just keep on laying out mouse traps for us, and we keep

falling for them.

However, with student loans, and a minimum wage job, I could care less about keeping up with the newest phone trends. I do not need a bigger screen, or faster technology, or a thinner phone. I am perfectly satisfied with my iPhone 4, and I would rather not destroy my pride and bank account just to fit in with the latest technological movement.

Legislating from above

Once again the MPs sit down to make decisions on things they don't understand

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Michael Chwalek | Contributor

...they should not be passed simply by default, or simply because they were a part of a bill that was just too long to read.

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As our federal legislators head back to the House of Commons after a summer recess, the major focus of the fall agenda will be yet another budgetary omnibus bill – similar in nature and scope to the controversial, 400page bill that was passed back in June. In fact this new one may be more than a spiritual successor, since we will probably see many of the amendments that were struck from the first bill return for this second round. Many of these proposed changes have nothing to do with the budget but deal instead with diverse topics such as immigration laws or antiterrorism legislation. So why are they there?

The official line is that a single bill will increase efficiency and productivity – even if this were true, does efficiency really supercede analysis, comprehension, accountability, transparency?

However, that is what we are losing with these massive omnibus bills. Even Conservative MPs admit that they cannot read through the entire document, much less digest what the

proposed changes entail, in time for voting.

They are basically voting “yes or no” on the whole bill without getting the chance to analyze many of the items specifically. This is legislating wholesale: with several budget and non-budget items mixed in, we basically get law in bulk. The real danger is that these omnibus bills allow controversial, non-budgetary items to sneak past with little or no debate (the last omnibus bill, for example, gave the cabinet control over employment insurance rules through regulation instead of legislature).

The government is putting its agenda ahead of that of the public right for clear and informed decision-making. These bills represent a refusal of the responsibility that the government has in treating the populace as equals in the legislative process: if they are meant to be our laws – obeyed by us and legislated by our representatives – then they should not be passed simply by default, or simply because they were a part of a bill that was just too long to read from start to finish.

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THEMOCK

Crossword (CUP) — Puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com. Used with permission.

Across

1- Mother of Ares; 5- Birthplace of Muhammad; 10- Actor Tamiroff; 14- One of the Baldwins; 15- Sign up; 16- Get up; 17- Letter opener; 18- List of candidates; 19- Narrate; 20- Large wine bottle; 22- Donates; 23- Prefix for small; 24- Neighbor of Cambodia; 26- The cruelest month?; 29- Affluent; 33- Salivate; 34- Evidence; 35- For each; 36- Long time; 37- For _ (cheap); 38- Room in a casa; 39- Precious stone; 40- Become less intense, die off; 41- Bay; 42- Costume; 44- Deputised group; 45- Polite address; 46- Amoeba-like alien: The _ ; 48- Rescues;

51- Capital of Queensland Australia; 55- Banned apple spray; 56- Encore!; 58- Native Nigerians; 59- Pealed; 60- Actress Taylor; 61- Antitoxins; 62- Joint with a cap; 63- Sailing hazards; 64- Prefix with sphere;

Down

1- Pilgrimage to Mecca; 2- Gen. Robert _ ; 3- Back; 4- Part of the shoulder joint; 5- Subatomic particle; 6- China's Zhou _ ; 7- Jam-pack; 8- Portable bed; 9- Draft choice; 10- Painter, e.g.; 11- Capital of the Ukraine; 12- Wight, for one; 13- "Alice" diner; 21- Beak; 22- Ball game; 24- Sierra _ ; 25- Sleep like _ ; 26- Saying;

27- Primp; 28- Chambers; 29- Penned; 30- October birthstones; 31- Strikes out; 32- Take to the soapbox; 34- Sacred song; 37- "Dancing Queen" quartet; 38- Haughty; 40- Latin I word; 41- Wall St. debuts; 43- Come out; 46- Lasting a short time; 47- Queues; 48- Cutty _ ; 49- Astronaut Shepard; 50- Windmill blade; 51- Cause of ruin; 52- Busy as _ ; 53- "Cheers" regular; 54- Morales of "La Bamba"; 56- Part of ETA; 57- "Fancy that!";

Horoscopes

Poetry Corner Lucy Coren

A great urn etched with ancient rune Stands centered in a basin’s pensive gloom.

Thorned nettles intertwined ward lovers from its shadow; Piercing wind strives to awaken long inert leaves that blanket frost-bitten cobbles.

Merriless waters turn cold and touch your heart, it shall harrow.

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I weep you no more sad fountains

Libra | September 23 October 22

Aquarius | January 23 February 22

Gemini | May 21 - June 21

Take up gardening or something.

You could get one of those gnomes like in Amelie, or a flamingo and then your garden is sure to be the creepiest on the block. I assume the ultimate goal of gardening is to creep people out with nature. Why else would you make trees look like animals?

Momofuku is open. Toronto just got so much more relevant.

Don’t go for a while though, the wait is really long and I don’t need you making it any longer. I hate lines.

Now that the horror of TIFF is over, Toronto can return to being quiet and somewhat dull. If you’re the kind of person who loves crowds of pushy people and you miss TIFF, try going to one of the clubs I keep hearing about!

You can pay $15 to have ugly boys touch your bum while robot music destroys your ear drums!

Scorpio | October 23 November 22 Positive thinking, Scorpio. That’s what it’s all about. For example, I once wrote a horoscope about Cash Cab and how if you were on it you might have fun, and then I WAS ON CASH CAB. I don’t believe in fate, but I do believe in telekinesis. Trust me, try it.

Sagittarius | November 23 - December 22 One of the greatest parts of Halloween, which is coming up by the way, is the candy that goes on sale the next day. Seriously, it’s incredible. Obviously you could just get free candy on Halloween, but really, if you’re reading this, chances are it’d be creepy to go trick or treating at your age.

Capricorn | December 23 - January 22

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Victoria Marshall Future Seer

I really don’t like when cyclists run red lights. It’s great that you’re biking, I love biking, but for the love of God, please stop trying to kill me with your bicycle. I hate it. And put on a damn helmet.

Pisces | February 23 March 22 Take it slow this month. Don’t make rash decisions; they will almost definitely end horribly.

Instead, draw them out. Stare at shoes for an hour before buying them. Take your time with menus.

Everyone will hate you, but you’ll know you made the right choice in the end.

Aries | March 21 April 19 Dear Aries, do you have your Halloween costume ready? If you don’t, start thinking! And don’t go as a shark, because I’m doing that. I’m not sure how yet. If you have any ideas, please write in. I don’t know where to, but you’ll figure it out.

Taurus | April 20 - May 20 You still have time to see The Dark Knight Rises in theatres. I recommend it. I personally rewatched both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight beforehand, but I wouldn’t suggest you watch Batman Begins because it’s boring.

Cancer | June 22 - July 22 What could be lovelier than sleeping in on a Saturday morning? I’ll tell you! Tiny candy bars! That’s right, Halloween is back!!

Leo | July 23 - August 22 One time I went to the ROM on a Tuesday and it was free because I’m a student! Next time you’re bored on a Tuesday, grab your T-Card and the museum shall be your oyster! You can sit in a teepee, and dress up in costumes, and pretend to catch bugs, and hang out with dinosaurs. Sometimes all at the same time! FOR FREE!

Virgo | August 23 September 22 Having recently celebrated your birthday, you’re probably experiencing a renewed fear of your own mortality, but don’t worry, everybody dies eventually!