T8N magazine March 2016

March 2016 t8nmagazine.com

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ADORKABLE WEDDINGS DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT What’s It Really Protecting?

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March 2016

Contents CONVERSATIONS 6 Is DRM Redefining

Ownership?

Why we should think about what we’re buying

ARTS & CULTURE 11 The Fine Art of Hard Work

Welcome to Paragon of Design 16 THEN & NOW

St. Albert’s Movie Theatres Then & Now

18 THE 8s

Bevvies for Bibliophiles 8 cocktails with a literary twist

LIVING 21 FOOD & GATHERINGS

Burger Time Get your buns over here!

May We Suggest Computer coding

27 TRULY DEEPLY MADLY 28 On Our Bookshelves Graphic novels

ABOUT THE COVER Special thanks to our “Super” cover model, Andre.

IMAGE BY BRENDA LAKEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Connect with us!

/t8nmagazine

CITY 30 MEET YOU THERE

Thunderground Comics & Collectibles Where collectors congregate and gamers unite

TRENDING 33 Say “I do” to Adorkable

Weddings Head down the aisle in geek-chic style

37 Fandemonium

Welcome to the world of fanfiction

40 Pysanky (n.)

A well-loved art form, rich in tradition

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From the Editor SOMETIMES, FIXING A problem is as simple as tak-

CARMEN D. HRYNCHUK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ing what you have and giving it a little… geek. No, we’re not making fun. For starters, how could I? As a bun-wearing, comma-slinging editor (with a loom in my basement), I am a very proud, card-carrying member of the nerd kingdom. And proud is the key word there. It’s also the inspiration for this month’s “geek-chic” issue. That’s right, we’re celebrating confidence—the type that tells you to follow your passions and to be geek-in-the-knees about it.

T8N MAGAZINE

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 3 March 2016 PUBLISHER

Rob Lightfoot EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Carmen D. Hrynchuk ART DIRECTION

Carmen D. Hrynchuk, Brenda Lakeman

To get things started, we’re exploring the hot topic of digital rights management and considering how it’s redefining ownership.

Also on our radar—the world of fanfiction, comic collecting, computer coding and a literaryinspired drink list we’ve aptly named “Bevvies for Bibliophiles.” But don’t whip up those Tequila Mockingbirds just yet. You’ve got burgers to try—and not just any, either. We’re talking French-onion soup that thinks it’s a burger, salmon sliders with tequila-lime coleslaw and veggie burgers with kalamata hummus.

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Intrigued? We hope so. Magazines, after all, are our geek-chic passion, and nothing makes us happier than sharing this one with you.

Amy Lightfoot

Happy reading.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Brenda Lakeman FOOD STYLING

Little Fire Creative PROOFREADING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Erin Cassidy, Amanda Muir CONTRIBUTORS

Debra Clark, Shawna Dirksen, Lucy Haines, Bruce Timothy Keith, Rhonda Kronyk, Michelle Stockal

Contributors

OFFICE MANAGER

BRUCE TIMOTHY KEITH

Having worked in the publishing industry for over 20 years, Bruce is an avid consumer of e-books and loves breaking (and fixing) all things digital. Primarily a graphic designer, he occasionally tries his hands at using words instead of pictures. Bruce is currently living aboard his sailboat in ­Victoria, B.C. DEBRA CLARK

Debra is a St. Albert-based freelance writer who believes in the power of words and that everyone has a meaningful story to tell. With formal education and extensive experience in media, communications and business, her desire to write inspiring, and thought-provoking copy has led to her work being published in a variety of local and regional magazines, newspapers and brochures.

SHAWNA DIRKSEN

Shawna is a freelance writer with a strong connection to St. Albert: she lived here for 8 years, and her first writing gig after earning her public relations diploma was with the Arden Theatre and International Children’s Festival.

Now in Edmonton, Shawna keeps busy writing for local publications and businesses. When she isn’t hard at work, she enjoys reading, running, skiing, live music and theatre.

LUCY HAINES

Lucy has been a freelance writer for about 25 years and a St. Albert resident for over 10. She regularly writes news, general features, business, style, health and entertainment articles for magazines and newspapers in the region and is a steady contributor—reporter/photographer for Metro News Edmonton.

RHONDA KRONYK

Rhonda is a freelance writer and editor who calls Edmonton home. Her current writing projects question identity, colonialism and Canadian history, and she’s contributed to an upcoming anthology called In This Together: Fifteen True Stories of Real Reconciliation. She’ll happily tell you all about it—if you dare ask.

MICHELLE STOCKAL

For over 16 years, Michelle worked in the television industry, writing and producing commercials. The highlight of her career was as a production manager with a nationally broadcasted television series Ribbons of Steel.

Currently, Michelle is a full-time student studying Architectural Technologies at NAIT. She has been a proud resident of St. Albert for nearly 25 years.

4 T8Nmagazine.com

Carol Dragich, Dragich Design Correna Saunders

Janice Lightfoot CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Images page 2, 33, 34 © studiostoks / Dollar Photo Club Image page 2, 18 © wollertz / Dollar Photo Club Image page 6 © Karen Roach / Dollar Photo Club Image page 8 © darkodozet / Dollar Photo Club Image page 8 © sveta / Dollar Photo Club Image page 18 © woe / Dollar Photo Club Image page 27,28 © valeo5 / Dollar Photo Club Image page 28 © littlestocker / Dollar Photo Club Image page 40 © kasadome / Dollar Photo Club

ISSN 2368-707X (PRINT) ISSN 2368-7088 (ONLINE)

For editorial inquiries or information, contact T8N magazine at info@t8nmagazine.com. Have something to say? Letters, suggestions or ideas can be sent to letters@t8nmagazine.com.

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Rob Lightfoot rob@t8nmagazine.com 780 940 6212 or visit t8nmagazine.com T8N magazine is published 12 times a year by T8N Publishing Inc. Copyright ©2016 T8N Publishing Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.

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Rob Lightfoot: rob@t8nmagazine.com Snailmail: #176, 311 Bellerose Drive, St.Albert AB T8N 5C9

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Conversations

Is

DRM Redefining

EVERYWHERE WE TURN, we’re sur-

rounded by digital content. From our music and e-books to the software in our cars, we’ve all bought and paid for “things” that don’t physically exist. But have you ever stopped to wonder what you’re actually getting for your money? The answer’s not as straightforward as you’d think.

Back in the day, most of us had shelves of books, stacks of CDs and boxes of computer software scattered around our homes. But today, in an age of faster and easier, many of us opt for downloading our games from Steam or buying the latest Adele single from iTunes. But somewhere along the way, we also came to accept a companion of that convenience: the understanding that if we want to sell our unread e-copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses, well … we can’t. Why? Because the creators of digital products have developed means, known as digital rights management (DRM), to protect their assets from the possibility of being copied.

Their logic is that without protecting their digital assets, the creators and rights holders won’t make money. And without making money, they will have no incentive to create more products. As Glenn Rollans, President of the Book Publishers Association of Alberta and Vice-President of the Association of Canadian Publishers, puts it, “DRM is about facilitating use within the bounds of the sales agreement. It creates a kind of moral handshake on the transaction.” What that means is that we share an understanding that if I sell you a digital copy of my song, you agree not to redistribute it. DRM simply ensures that everyone complies.

WHERE DID THIS AGREEMENT COME FROM? Did

You K

J. K . n R e -bo owling ow? re t a ok r Pot t in e d ight e s not r series to the her , ch to r H ar el oo ry in a d i g i e a s e a n s in g ( i ni t ia t al f h ow y o f th orm lly) e ve r e a of t he s , when t. In 20 books eri e 07, t a rd e s w a h e la s t n volu s re purc t fans l e me l in h as e d D e a a s e H a e d up , thly rr y P to H all 24 h ot te o o r a n e ur s , m w s a n d an d th ad e , e - bo ok b it av within or s c an y a i e l a ith ning bl all 7 er ret y e as p in g 84 p ag e s.

6 T8Nmagazine.com

The idea behind this implied sales agreement originates with the idea of copyright itself.

Originating in 1710 as a way to protect London publishers from illicit copying of their works, copyright (literally the right to copy) became entrenched in our legal systems to protect the rights of creators.

But with the rise of digital material, it became obvious that the law wasn’t enough.

Digitized intellectual property proved too easy to copy in an increasingly computerized world. While it was impractical to mass copy things such as vinyl albums or paperback books (both of which suffered quality

©

Ownership?

BY BRUCE TIMOTHY KEITH

loss when duplicated), computer software (the first mainstream digital product) was infinitely easier to duplicate with no loss of functionality or quality.

To combat that, software companies began to add in hidden files or deliberate errors to prevent copying, but this was to no avail, and the relentless struggle between the owners of digital content and would-be copiers was on. So as each form of intellectual property became digitized, it adopted some form of copy protection to protect its rights holders.

This evolved into what we now know as DRM. Sometimes, that protection is as simple as the enforced Interpol message on a DVD. But increasingly, DRM has become complex.

In fact, it currently exists in so many forms and in so many products that it is sometimes impossible to recognize.

Take DVDs, for example. They contain regional locks so that they can’t be played on players manufactured in different regions.

Music can also be locked to a specific number of devices, and computer software can be required to “check-in” online before it will run. The computer chip in your car contains proprietary code so that only authorized people can service it. Even the current issue surrounding Netflix and geo-blocking is a form of DRM that allows rights holders to control how and where people watch movies. And

Why we should think about what we’re buying

now, some 300 years after the invention of copyright to protect book publishers, e-books are a reality, and publishers are not content to rely on the law for copyright protection.

DRM can prevent us from copying our e-books from one device to another and forces library e-books to “expire” after a certain number of days. And in some ways, publishers find themselves a test case for the reach of copyright and DRM.

online that it will damage the market.” But he points out that there are other interests at play as well. “The other agenda is on the retail side: big retailers (like Amazon, Apple, Kobo and others) seem to be using DRM as part of a larger technical architecture aimed at enforcing customer loyalty; to prevent book purchasers from being able to take purchases outside of the original reading system.”

WHOSE INTERESTS DOES DRM PROTECT?

SO WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU JUST BUY?

It is important to ask who really benefits from DRM and what those benefits are. To answer that, you have to understand the players. In book publishing, authors and publishers are generally the rights holders. They produce the product and move it through a supply chain that puts it in the hands of consumers. To produce more books (or music or games), publishers and creators need to make money. For them, DRM ensures that, so the prevailing wisdom is that it’s a benefit to creators and consumers alike.

Because DRM originates with distributors and retailers, not the creators, big retailers are increasingly able to gain influence and control the terms of their agreements with publishers—agreements that, by the way, are confidential; none of the publishers I spoke to were allowed to discuss them. The nature of these agreements means retailers have domain over DRM and they use it to set— and enforce—the terms of the transaction with the consumer.

But John Maxwell, a professor at the Publishing Program at Simon Fraser University, doesn’t believe that DRM, in the book world at least, is that simple. He agrees that, “Publishers seem to be motivated primarily by a fear of piracy, or that unprotected content will be shared on a massive enough scale

To use digital products, consumers have to agree to those terms. For example, when you make a digital purchase, you usually “agree” to a set of terms and conditions or to an End User License Agreement (EULA).

Chances are also likely that you don’t read that agreement. And that’s not surprising. No one I asked while researching this article has.

T8N March 2016 7

have stored them on and does not have to refund your purchases.

These terms are where the answer to “What we are actually purchasing?” lies. Let’s look at the terms and conditions of the big three e-book retailers: Amazon, Kobo and the iTunes store.

At first glance, the terms initially read as a way for the retailers to protect themselves from hackers and black hats out to damage their systems, but these agreements also restrict what users may do with their purchases. Terms to the effect that users may not modify, publish, sell or copy any of the digital content are common to all three retailors.

By clicking “agree” you have, in a sense, simply leased—licensed—the right to use the product. Amazon actually makes this explicit: “Kindle Content is licensed, not sold, to you by the Content Provider.” This is the same

DOWN ON THE FARM With modern farmers essentially driving giant computers outfitted with harvesting blades, gone are the days of fixing and maintaining your own equipment. Troubleshooting requires proprietary software to which farmers aren’t allowed access. Even if farmers had the right software, calibrating an ECU (engine control unit) often requires a factory password. No password, no changes—not without the permission of the manufacturer.

8 T8Nmagazine.com

fine print that led to Amazon’s infamous (and ironic) 2009 deletion of George Orwell’s 1984 from customers’ Kindles without their knowledge or permission. Amazon mistakenly sold a product they had no right to sell, so they corrected their error by simply removing the book from purchasers’ devices. This incident now stands as the classic example of how DRM is changing the concept of ownership.

OKAY, SO WHERE’S THE RUB? All this begs the question of why some people have an issue with DRM. The issue is twofold. All three retailers reserve the right to terminate the contract if you breach any of their conditions. A breach might be as simple as not keeping your customer data up to date (as per Kobo’s terms). That means you no longer have access to products from their systems even though you paid for them.

Amazon demands that if they terminate the contract, “you must cease all use of the Kindle Store and the Kindle Content.” That is, you are no longer legally allowed to read any of the books you have acquired, and Amazon has both the right and the ability (through DRM) to remove them from any devices you

But control over the product is not the only problem. Not only are you paying for a product you don’t ultimately control, but all the data you generate using a DRMed product—such as whether you finished reading the book or playing the game—becomes a potential source of revenue for whoever controls the DRM. Beyond books and games, DRM can also ensure that your car is serviced only by authorized, licensed mechanics and can track your usage patterns. It eliminates competition from resellers, enforces brand loyalty and guarantees a future market while potentially generating even more income through licensing fees.

This power may be fundamentally shifting how and why products are created. Rollans believes the ongoing drivers of DRM will create new models for businesses. Instead of selling large numbers of product for small margins, it will become a race to come up with the next big thing, to try to make their money on a “techno-lottery win.” He concludes, “If you are going to have something to sell in those scenarios, probably it is audience rather than product. And digital rights management is as essential for tracking your audience as it is for restricting the proliferation of the product.”

AND WHY DOES THIS ALL MATTER? For those who are savvy, hacking DRM has become fairly widespread. In 2012, however,

Lundberg knows a thing or two about rice.

It’s been a part of their lives since 1937.

in response to international treaties, Canada made it illegal to crack or alter digital rights management systems. In his book Information Doesn’t Want to Be Free, digital media guru Cory Doctorow argues that the problem with DRM is that it turns consumers into criminals. Without a satisfactory way to use or even repair their possessions (in the case of vehicle electronics), people feel forced to break the law. As a result, there is a healthy, albeit grey, community that continues to seek methods for managing digital controls and the now illegal practice of removing DRM. So now we find ourselves in possession of a wide range of products that, by law, we are restricted from using outside the terms set by the people who sold them to us. Is that really an issue? In most cases, other than the frustration of trying to move files from one device to another, it really isn’t. But the true implications are vast, and many people find the increasing degree of control held by companies determined to make more and more profit problematic.

It behooves us then to remember, as Rollans put it, “If I’m a system that applies DRM, I want to be in a relationship with you where I can find you and where I know what you’re doing.” Because the real value in a DRM-filled world is not control over the product—it’s control over the consumer. And now all we can do is simply be aware. We need to establish our personal comfort zones about how much control we are willing to exchange for our personal pleasures. And that takes a well-informed populace. t8n

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THE FINE ART OF HARD WORK Welcome to Paragon of Design PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN

A

RS LONGA, VITA BREVIS (Art is long,

life is short) . It’s a sentiment that many have read and contemplated but that few have taken to heart. Artists Amy and ­Tanner Skrocki are among those few. And heart is exactly what they pour into their partnership.

Much like their work, their history is a story of transformation.

When they met 16 years ago, Amy was a high-school student and Tanner was a writer working in a music store.

Amy, appreciating Tanner’s CD recommendations (and his music magazine), sent him an email telling him so.

Tanner, flattered and intrigued, sent his “fan” a few more samples of his writing but admits that he hadn’t a clue who he was emailing. Today, Tanner’s far more sure, and Amy’s not only the most talented person he knows but also his mentor in the studio and his partner in work and life.

Together they are the multi-talented team behind Paragon of Design—a design house featuring wearable art inspired by artifacts, fantasy and passion.

On the day we visited, we had the pleasure of witnessing just how talented they are. Holding the titles of metal smith, leather smith, sculptor, bookbinder, etching specialist, writer, composer and historian—this dynamic duo gave us a glimpse into the fine art of hard work and the hard work of fine art. Take a look.

T8N March 2016 11

“When we travel, we go to all the museums and historic sites we can to get inspiration. And we’ll just take our journals and start writing and drawing and adding photographs or postcards we find along the way so that we can ‘document’ what we’ve seen and imagined while we were there.

When we get back, we use it to come up with characters we think would have lived through that time period and then write little stories about each of them—who they are, what they’d do and wear. Amy does most of the dreaming and comes up with the ideas, and then we go away and bring them to life.”

–Tanner

12 T8Nmagazine.com

“I never get tired of watching Amy design. It’s not that she just sketches or designs—she draws with wire, and I can actually see the ideas coming from her. It’s rare and my privilege to work with her.”

–Tanner

“Tanner is the one who always keeps me going. I run all my ideas past him. Sometimes he’ll think I should change something, and I’ll be all, ‘No!’ (laughing), but mostly he says, ‘I think you should just do it.’ Everyday, he just keeps saying it. I wouldn’t be able to do the stuff we’re designing now without that support—without him. He also puts all our ideas into words, which is amazing and something I could never do. We really work together as a perfect team.”

–Amy T8N March 2016 13

“The career is a lot about saying yes and then figuring it out later.

A fashion show is something I’d been wanting to do for years but was too afraid because there’s no book on how to do this. Eventually I was just like, ‘life is too short. I’m just going to do it.’ Then all of a sudden, we’re there at the fashion show costume competition, and our first piece wins, and we’re given our own show and it hits you—‘Oh my God, I have to make 12 pieces, and how am I going to do this?’ And I don’t know how it happened, but it did (laughing).”

–Amy

“I think art should make you feel something, and that’s the biggest compliment we get from our customers.

We hear it all the time at the St. Albert Farmers’ Market.

Someone will buy a ring or a journal and come back years later and say ‘This is still my favourite piece of jewellery because I bought it at a key point in my life, and it just spoke to me.’ That means so much to us.”

–Tanner

14 T8Nmagazine.com

“The future? We’d love to have a great big studio some day with all sorts of artists working there with us. A place where we could further cultivate the community and even be apprentices to people who want to learn the things that we’ve struggled to learn.”

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Then & Now

ST. ALBERT’S MOVIE THEATRES THEN & NOW

SOME OF OUR most vivid memories

1912

growing up revolve around movie theatres—fresh popcorn, sticky floors and, best of all, time spent with loved ones. There was, and still is, nothing quite like watching a story unfold on the big screen. A trip to the theatre transports us to another dimension where the line between reality and make-believe is blurred. It’s a place where, even for a few hours, all of our troubles seem to fade away. It’s entertain ment, pu re a nd simple.

And with advancements such as 3-D glasses and, ah, reclinable seating, St. Albert moviegoers have even more to get excited about—except maybe for the fact they have to travel outside city limits to watch mainstream Hollywood blockbusters. It wasn’t always this way though. Here’s a look back.

The early 1900s were a time of great advancement for film and motion picture technology. While the silent film era lasted until the late 1920s, filmmakers pushed into new creative territory with exploration into editing and backdrops. One of the earliest and most famous movies created during this time was The Great Train Robbery in 1903.

Did You Know?

In 2015, the City of St. Albert Economic Development Division conducted a study to identify needs and opportunities for entertainment.

One of the recommendations called for the development of a seven-to-nine-screen movie theatre complex in the city’s downtown.

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Soon, motion pictures became escapist entertainment for only a nickel. Parlours, lecture halls and storefronts were often converted into nickelodeons, the world’s first real movie theatres, where films were usually accompanied by other entertainment, such as piano playing, sing-along songs or vaudeville-type acts.

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pany, the first real form of entertainment for youth in the city and only the third drive-in business in the Edmonton region. Following the end of the Second World War, the drivein concept became more popular as people placed an acute emphasis on family. Parents particularly loved it because kids could play in the playground built in front of the screen until darkness fell and the film began.

Considered ultra-modern for the time, the drive-in boasted over $100,000 in the latest projection and sound equipment, the largest screen in the Edmonton region, spots for over 550 cars, as well as seating for people without vehicles.

Located near a slough off Grandin Road, the drive-in remained a popular local attraction until it closed in 1990.

Did You Know?

1980s & 1990s

Canada was the first country in the world to have a two-screen theatre.

In 1957, the Elgin Theatre in Ottawa became the first venue to offer two different films simultaneously.

While the 70s marked a creative high point for the US film industry with mind-blowing action movies, such as Jaws and Star Wars, the 80s were less experimental and designed more for mass audience appeal. Blockbusters like E.T., Back to the Future and Ghostbusters made their way into theatres around the world—including here at home.

City records show that even though St. Albert’s population hovered modestly around 600 people in 1912, a movie theatre called Empress Hall/Théatre Empress opened that year along Mission Avenue. Operated by David Joyal, the theatre not only served as a movie hall but also hosted other meetings and events.

1950s In 1953, Stan Hauptman and his family opened the St. Albert Drive-In Theatre Com-

With a population lingering around 30,000 people, St. Albert Cinemas, our city’s first movie theatre, burst onto the scene in the 80s. The seven-screen cinema, officially named Cineplex Odeon Village Tree Cinemas, was located along Gervais Road in Village Tree Mall.

In the late 90s, residents welcomed a second movie complex when Grandin Theatres opened its doors in a struggling mall called

Did You Know?

The origin of movies and motion pictures began in the late 1800s with the invention of various contraptions designed to trick the eye into seeing an illusion of motion from a display of still frames in quick succession.

Grandin Park Plaza. Now, in case you weren’t in St. Albert 35 years ago and wondered why the theatre looked suspiciously like an abandoned Safeway—well, it was. The independently owned theatre kept ticket prices low by sticking with 35-mm movie projector technology instead of going digital.

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2000s & Now The new millennium was a turning point in the history of film with the creation of everything from jaw-dropping special effects and IMAX theatres to cellphones that could play movies with the click of a button.

In 2003, Cineplex, one of Canada’s leading entertainment companies, opened its massive 14-screen cinema just outside city limits on 137 Avenue and St. Albert Trail. The theatres at Village Tree subsequently closed down, with Grandin Theatres following suit in 2014.

Alas, today with a population of over 60,000 people, St. Albert finds itself without a movie theatre complex. But for how long? Only time will tell. In the meantime, residents can get their big-screen “fix” locally with Reel Monday movie screenings (thanks to The Friends of the St. Albert Public Library) the Arden Theatre’s new Cinema Series and drivein movie nights presented a few times each summer by St. Albert Centre. t8n

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T8N March 2016 17

The 8s

BEVVIES FOR BIBLIOPHILES 8 Cocktails with a literary twist

LOOKING FOR A new take on drinks

1. TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD

2. DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON

with friends? Here’s one with a literary twist—fiction’s favourite cocktails. Some were sipped by classic characters, others were inspired by authors and book titles, a few are just an excuse to giggle. So grab a shaker, and gather your favourite bibliophiles. It’s time to celebrate great books, bad puns and the last of the mojitos.

This southern sipper is, of course, inspired by Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960. Bursting with summer’s brightest flavours, this delightful cocktail is its own modern classic.

Inspired by Hemingway’s 1923 novel, Death In the Afternoon, this cocktail is a nod to both his affinity for absinthe and his meditations on mortality.

Muddle 1 1/2 cups of cubed watermelon in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Next, fill the shaker with ice, and add 2 ounces of silver tequila, 1/2 teaspoon green-mint liqueur, 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice and 1 teaspoon agave syrup (one part agave nectar, one part water).

Shake until ice cold, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint, and sip responsibly.

To a fluted champagne glass, add 1 1/2 ounces absinthe, 1 teaspoon simple syrup and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Top with a generous amount (5 ounces) of icy-cold, dry sparking wine (such as cava) or champagne, and serve.

3. THE OXFORD COMMA This one’s for your favourite grammar geek— the one you love but loathe emailing. True to form, the list of ingredients is perfectly punctuated with big flavours, a perfect finish and, of course, a curly twist.

To a chilled cocktail glass, add 2 ounces of gin, 1/2 ounce of dry vermouth, 1/2 ounce of green Chartreuse, 1 teaspoon maraschino liqueur, and a dash of celery bitters. Garnish with a curly comma of lemon peel, and serve.

4. ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARITA Okay, this one’s really just a cute excuse to drink margaritas. But if you have fond memories of Margaret, raise your first glass in Judy Blume’s honour.

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1 1/2 ounces of Reposado tequila, 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon orange liqueur, 1/2 ounce of triple sec, 1 tablespoon of simple syrup, and shake until ice cold. Pour into a chilled glass rimmed with salt and lime zest, and enjoy.

18 T8Nmagazine.com

5. OLIVER’S TWIST If you’re going to toast an 1837 novel by Charles Dickens, you had best be serving a proper martini. This one’s a classic and sure to have you saying, “Please, Sir. I want some more.”

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 1/2 ounces gin, 1 ounce vodka, a squeeze of lemon juice and a squeeze of lime. Shake until ice cold, and pour into a chilled martini glass.

Top with 1 ounce of lemon-lime pop, and garnish with an olive on a skewer.

6. HOLLY GOLIGHTY If you have a taste for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this 1958-inspired cocktail is for you. Like Holly herself, this drink’s sparkly, indulgent and strikes quite the pretty pose. A perfect choice for brunches or for lazy afternoons.

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 ounces of lemonade, 1 ounce of vodka, 1 tablespoon pomegranate juice, and shake until ice cold. Pour into a sugar-rimmed champagne flute, and top with sparkling wine (or lemon-lime pop). Garnish with cherry, and enjoy.

7. PAN GALACTIC GARGLE BLASTER Fans of The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, unite! This glass of wickedness is for you.

A sipper—for sure—this tribute to Douglas Adam’s 1978 cult classic is sure to make an impression.

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1 ounce of Tennessee whisky, 1 ounce peach schnapps, 5 ounces orange juice and a splash of Blue Curacao liqueur. Shake until ice cold, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon, and watch out for large gold bricks.

8. THE CATCHER IN THE RYE Say hello to a very dry and very memorable sherry cocktail. Inspired by its literary namesake, this drink is a wink to both J.D. Salinger and the 1950s. Be forewarned though: in terms of potency, teenage rebellion has nothing on this bevvie. A definite nightcap.

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1 1/2 ounces rye, 1 ounce sherry, 1/4 ounce Torani Amer, 1/4 ounce Grand Marnier and a dash of vanilla-bean bitters. Shake until ice cold, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a thin slice of orange peel. t8n T8N March 2016 19

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Food & Gatherings

Burger Time Get your buns over here!

THERE ARE DAYS when nothing but

a burger will do. And not just any burger, either. The kind with A LL the fixings: garlic-kissed bread, fullfat cheese, balsa mic- ca ra melized onions—and, oh yeah, tequila-lime coleslaw. We’ve even got a veggie burger to swoon over. So get your buns and taste buds ready! It’s burger time. And a good mood starts here.

T8N March 2016 21

Kalamata Hummus Hummus and tapenade, together at last. The only pairing more perfect? A dollop of this on a chicken or lamb burger.

2 cups canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained 1 cup chopped parsley 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives (black olives if you prefer) 1/4 cup tahini

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves of garlic, peeled 1 lemon, juiced 1 tbsp water 1/2 tsp salt Place all the ingredients in your food processor, snap on the lid and puree until the hummus is smooth and creamy. Taste, and adjust the salt to your liking. Use as a condiment for burgers, or devour with your favourite flatbread or cracker.

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Tequila-Lime Coleslaw with Cilantro

Crispy Baked Parmesan Green Beans

Few things pair better with a burger than a classic coleslaw. This one knows its way around the bar.

Every burger needs a salty side dish, and these beans are it. Crispy, cheesy and— almost—bordering on healthy.

1 1/2 cups shredded green cabbage 1 1/2 cups shredded purple cabbage 1 cup shredded carrots (or carrot curls, shaved with a potato peeler) 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced into matchsticks 3 scallions, chopped 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 1/3 cup mayonnaise 4 tbsp fresh lime juice 1 tbsp silver tequila 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground cumin (optional) Place the green cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots, apple, scallions and cilantro in a large serving bowl, and toss. To make the dressing, combine the mayo, lime juice, tequila, sugar, salt and cumin in a small bowl, and whisk until smooth.

Pour the dressing over the coleslaw, toss and serve alongside (or atop) your favourite burger.

1 egg white 1 tbsp yellow mustard 1/2 tsp sriracha sauce 1/2 tsp garlic powder 2 large bundles of whole green beans, ends removed 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Salt and freshly cracked pepper (to garnish)

Preheat your oven to 415˚F, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In large mixing bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy. Add the mustard, sriracha sauce and garlic powder, and whisk again. Add the beans, and toss to coat. Add the Parmesan, and toss again.

Spread the Parmesan-coated beans onto the prepared baking sheet, and place them in the preheated oven for about 7 minutes, and then give them a 2-minute blast under the broiler to crisp them up. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

T8N March 2016 23

The Perfect Bean Burger

Salmon Slaw Sliders

A veggie burger doesn’t need to be a compromise, and this one’s the perfect example.

Crunchy on the outside, soft in the centre and—delicious—first bite to last.

For those times when only a showy appetizer will do, break out these sliders and watch the compliments fly.

2 cans (3 cups) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled 1/3 cup chunky salsa (medium heat) 1/2 cup chopped parsley 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tbsp olive oil 1 medium zucchini, grated 2 large carrots, grated 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper 1 large egg, beaten 2 tbsp yellow mustard 1/2 cup crushed garlic and Parmesan croutons 2 to 3 tbsp grapeseed oil (for frying) Tomatoes, lettuce, purple onion and sprouts (to garnish)

Place your kidney beans in a large mixing bowl, and roughly mash them with a potato masher. Stir in the cooked quinoa, salsa, parsley and garlic, then set aside.

Warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat. Add the grated zucchini and carrots, and season with salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 3 minutes, then transfer to a dinner plate and let cool.

In a small bowl, combine the beaten egg with the mustard, and then stir in the crushed croutons.

Add the egg mixture to the kidney bean mixture and combine. Add the cooled zucchini mixture, and mix again. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 3 hours (or up to overnight).

Form the chilled burger mixture into patties, and fry them in a pan with grapeseed oil over medium-high heat. Once a crust forms on the bottoms of the burgers, flip them, reduce the heat to medium and cook until the burgers are hot through to the centre. Serve on your favourite bun, and garnish to your liking.

24 T8Nmagazine.com

.5 kg salmon, skin removed 1 egg 2 tbsp mustard 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger 2 tbsp soya sauce 1 tsp freshly cracked pepper 2 tbsp freshly chopped dill Zest and juice of 1 lime 1/4 cup bread crumbs Olive oil (for brushing the burgers) 2 tbsp grapeseed oil (for frying) Slider buns, toasted Coleslaw, to garnish (see Tequila-lime ­Coleslaw recipe)

Coarsely chop the salmon, and set it aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, mustard, ginger, soya sauce, pepper, dill, lime zest and lime juice. Stir in the bread crumbs, and let sit 5 minutes. Add the chopped salmon, and gently mix just enough to marry the ingredients.

Form into mini patties, brush them on all sides with olive oil and place them in the fridge to chill for 10 minutes.

Heat a frying pan with grapeseed oil to medium-high. Place the chilled patties in the pan, and leave them to sear and firm up 6 or 7 minutes before turning. Carefully flip the patties, and let them finish cooking on the other side. Remove them to a plate, and assemble on the toasted buns. Top each patty with coleslaw, and serve.

French Onion Soup Burgers with Caramelized Onions Onion-soup lovers, unite! This juicy ­number’s for you. .5 kg lean-ground beef .5 kg ground pork 2 tbsp Dijon mustard 3 tbsp Worcestershire 2 tsp onion powder 2 tbsp chopped thyme 1 tsp salt 1 tsp freshly cracked pepper 2 tbsp grapeseed oil (for frying) 1 small loaf of French bread, cut into 2-cm thick slices 1 clove garlic, peeled 1 tbsp olive oil (for seasoning the bread) 4 slices Gruyere cheese 4 slices fontina cheese Caramelized onions (see Balsamic-Caramelized Onions recipe)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, mustard, Worcestershire, onion powder, thyme, salt and pepper. Gently mix until combined, and then form into patties. Set your oven to broil.

Add the grapeseed oil to a large frying pan, and heat it to medium-high. Add the patties, and let them cook for 4 minutes before flipping.

Reduce the heat to medium and let the second side cook slowly until the burger is cooked all the way through. Top the hot burgers with slices of Gruyere and fontina, and transfer them to a cutting board to rest.

Toast your French bread slices (2 per burger) on each side under the broiler. Slice your garlic clove in half, and rub the cut side on the toasted bread.

Brush the toast with olive oil, and season with salt to taste. Assemble your burger between 2 slices, beginning and ending with caramelized onions.

Dig in.

Balsamic-Caramelized Onions One taste of these caramelized onions and you’ll be adding them to everything. May we suggest you start with a burger.

3 medium-sized purple onions, peeled and sliced into 2-cm thick circles 3 medium-sized Vidalia onions, peeled and sliced into 2-cm thick circles 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp beef broth 2 whole heads of garlic, with the tops sliced off to expose the cloves 2 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp freshly cracked pepper 3 tbsp chopped thyme

Preheat your oven to 315˚F, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Drizzle 1/4 cup of olive oil onto the prepared baking sheet, and

spread it out evenly. Arrange the onion slices on the oiled pan, and then flip them over so that both sides are oiled. Place the prepared heads of garlic sliced-side down among the onions.

In a cup, mix the balsamic vinegar with the beef broth. Using a spoon, drizzle the mixture over the onions. Sprinkle each slice with salt, pepper and chopped thyme. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil, and place in the preheated oven to roast for 1.5 hours. Remove when soft and caramelized. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins, and toss with the onions. Serve warm atop your favourite burger. t8n

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SUGGEST… COMPUTER CODING

NEXT TIME YOU search Expedia for

WHAT IS COMPUTER CODING?

FUN FACT

sun destination deals, download the latest Bieber track or ask Siri what the fox says, take a moment to thank the talented computer coders of the world.

Hadn’t considered that? Well, you’re in good company. Though most of us rely on computer-coding technology, few of us understand what it actually involves. To change that, we’re decoding coding. Here’s the what, why and who’s doing it.

Also called computer programming, computer coding is what makes computer software, apps and websites possible. Computer code is written in programming language—basically a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do.

The first computer programmer was a woman from the 1800s. Ada Lovelace, a talented mathematician, wrote the algorithm for the world’s first computing machine (which existed only on paper) in London in the 1840s.

TYPES OF CODE Computer codes are not one size fits all. Far from it, actually. Expressed in programming languages, different types of codes are meant to accomplish different tasks. For e­ xample, web languages (such as HTML, XML and JavaScript) are used to create and edit website pages. On the other hand, software languages (such as C, C++, and Visual Basic) create executable programs (a.k.a. programs that run).

Programming language has evolved over the years, and today there are five generations of programming language. First-generation language, or 1GL, is known as machine language, which is a series of 1’s and 0’s

that the computer understands. With each generation, programming language becomes easier to understand: symbols were added to the numbers in second-generation language, and actual words and commands were added in the generations after that.

WHY IS CODING IMPORTANT? Reading, writing, arithmetic… and coding?

Computer sciences are the way of the future.

Think about it. Everything from simple calculators to complex satellite-tracking systems need code to run. In a world where computer technology is front and centre, it only makes sense to pay attention to how this ­technology

HAVE FAITH IN YOUR DEGREE KINGSU.CA T8N March 2016 27

Truly, Deeply, Madly

On Our Bookshelves

Graphic Novels actually works. Sure, most of us aren’t planning to build the next space station, but learning even basic computer programming skills means we can create and maintain our own websites, build a new app or turn a brilliant software idea into a real-life product.

And imagine all the hours waiting on hold with the IT helpdesk you’d get back.

CODING AS A CAREER Once shrouded in Matrix-like mystery, the coding world is now out in the open. Office buildings are filled with real-life Neos coding up a storm to create modern technology. And the demand for coders is only increasing.

With more open coding opportunities than qualified coders in many cases, the career outlook is excellent.

DID YOU KNOW? A couple of the world’s most famous computer programmers happen to be Canadian. James Arthur Gosling created the programming language Java, and Brian Wilson Kernighan helped develop the Unix operating system.

In the past, technology companies primarily hired coders, but things have changed. Every field—from finance to fashion—is now driven by technology. That means every industry needs to employ its own coders.

There is no shortage of ways to train for a career in coding. Some coders are self-taught.

Some swear by computer-programming workshops or boot camps. Some take courses on-line, and some learn in a traditional college or university setting. Depending on the job, company and industry you want to work in, a diploma or degree in computer sciences may or may not be required.

WOMEN WHO CODE Traditionally, the technology field has been male-dominated, but in recent years, more women and girls are taking interest in the field. In fact, non-profit groups such as Ladies Learning Code and Women Who Code have created a kind of coding craze and are working to inspire more women and girls to consider careers in computer programming. These organizations offer female-only coding workshops or meet-ups, which create supportive environments for women and girls who want to train to be computer programmers.

ASK ANY TWO people to define the

term graphic novel, and you will ­l ikely get two different a nswers.

Some will dismiss them as comics, while others will herald them as art forms. What’s widely agreed on, however, is that they are not in fact a genre—they’re a format. And a spectacular one at that. From fiction to nonfiction, history to fantasy, horror to erotica—graphic novels leave no genre or topic unturned. Here are a few that might inspire. Happy reading.

La Perdida, by Jessica Abel, Pantheon Books Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City,

by Guy Delisle, Drawn & Quarterly Pyongyang: A Journey to North Korea,

by Guy Delisle, Drawn & Quarterly Letting It Go, by Miriam Katin, Drawn & Quarterly The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and ­Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer, by Sydney Padua, Pantheon Books Stitches, by David Small, McClelland & ­ Stewart The Property, by Rutu Modan (translation by Jessica Cohen), Drawn & Quarterly The Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale (25th Anniversary Edition), by Art Spiegelman, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group Shortcomings, by Adrian Tomine, Drawn & Quarterly t8n

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Meet You There

Thunderground Comics & Collectibles Where collectors congregate and gamers unite

FANS OF The Big Bang Theory might

say Roy Kim is St. Albert’s very own Stuart Bloom: a helpful store owner who makes sure our city’s Sheldons, Leonards, Rajs, Harolds and Pennys get their ­weekly science-fiction and superhero fix. Kim owns Thunderground Comics & Collectibles, a retail store that has cornered St. Albert’s comic book and board game market for over 20 years.

THUNDERGROUND COMICS AT A GLANCE Location: 31 Fairview Blvd Owner: Roy Kim Specialties: Comic books, games, apparel and collectibles.

Interesting Fact: Thunderground Comics & Collectibles is St. Albert’s only specialty comic book store.

30 T8Nmagazine.com

Kim opened his 1100-square-foot store in 1993 with two other partners, who have since left the business. “My partners and I met through common interests. We knew each other from conventions and Comic Fever, a comic store on the north end,” explains Kim. “We all wanted to open a store but couldn’t do it on our own, so we made a business plan together.”

Today Kim runs the store with help from five part-time employees. About 15,000 comics line Kim’s shelves, with new releases arriving weekly. With so many options, Kim offers a subscription service to customers; he explains that customers tell him which titles they want to collect, and he holds them. Subscribing customers simply drop into the store and their comic books are waiting. “Customers have something to look forward to each

week and don’t have to worry about their favourite titles selling out,” says Kim. Although the retail side of his business is important, Kim does much more than sell product, hosting regular meet-ups and tournaments for the games he features in store.

For example, customers meet at the store each week to challenge each other at Magic: The Gathering, a strategic card game with a global following. “People come out to trade cards, test out their deck, meet new people and just have fun,” says Kim. “They play in our tournaments to put their skills into use or even just to practice.”

Kim says all kinds of people frequent his store, including teenagers and kids, “There are seven schools in walking distance, so a lot of students come in.” Kim knows many of his customers by name; many have been coming to the store since it opened. “I’m

Did You Know?

The first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day! Publishers send free comic books to local retailers to give out to customers. Free Comic Book Day is a big event at Thunderground Comics & Collectibles; it appeals to kids and adults alike.

FUN FACTS Classic comic-book characters Spiderman, Batman and Superman are still popular today; new storylines and plot twists keep these titles flying off the shelves.

Like the series The Walking Dead?

Check it out in comic book form.

Also written by Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead comic series is just as intense and dark as the TV series.

super grateful for my customers and the game community. I wouldn’t be here without them. I’m so appreciative.”

Kim encourages anyone who wants to venture into the world of comics or games to stop by the store. “With comic books, the medium is so creative and so visual. They can do things in print that they can’t in movies.

You see the characters’ facial expressions and read exactly what they’re thinking,” says Kim. “As for games, we offer an open environment. People will come to an event just to watch the first time, then will play the next time. Everyone hangs out afterward. People have gotten to know each other.”

So, whether you want to know what Bruce Wayne is doing these days or want to see if you’ve got the Magic touch, Thunderground Comics & Collectibles just might be the place for you. t8n

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Adorkable Weddings Head down the aisle in geek-chic style

MARRIAGE MIGHT NOT be a fad-

COMIC BOOK CAPERS

ing institution, but the same can’t be said of the traditional ceremony.

Today, more and more couples are approaching their nuptials with a signature sense of playfulness. And one of the trendiest themes emerging is a style that’s affectionately known as “­ adorkable.” These weddings celebrate not only the happy couple’s love but also their shared passions: comic books, board games and reading. From save-the-date bookmarks to Marvel martinis, here are a few wedding trends to inspire.

For many of us, comics harken back to our youth and our sense of adventure. For enthusiasts of the genre, that symbol of adventure is the perfect theme for a day when two people unite to become a dynamic duo.

Inspiration Points What better way to begin your wedding story than by announcing the date with a personally designed, graphic novel. A four-panel strip or mini booklet will certainly set the tone, but for a little extra fun, why not leave the ending a cliff hanger and have the final dialogue balloon read: “Will they, or won’t they?” RSVP to attend and find out.

For the ceremony, continue the theme with boutonnieres and bouquets made from comic book pages, and use the colour palette of a favourite character for the decorations and linens.

At the reception, leave paper and pens at each table so that guests can sketch keepsakes for the happy couple. Gather these notes to “publish” a Reception Edition.

To toast the matrimony, don’t forget to raise a specially named cocktail—perhaps a Marvel Martini and a DC Daiquiri to playfully evoke the rivalry between those two publications.

THE GAME OF LIFE Adults who remember to keep a playful spirit find fun around every corner. And no matter what our age, playing a board game can make us feel like light-hearted kids again. What a wonderful way to share your wedding day.

Inspiration Points To kick off the theme, design your invitations to look and read like playing cards from your favourite board game. To go all-out, deliver the invite in a miniature game box, complete with a folding game-board invite that

T8N March 2016 33

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER Before you say “I do” to your photographer, be sure to ask these important questions: 1. Can my family take pictures while you are filming?

2. Will you be shooting digital and/or film?

Colour and/or black and white?

3. Are there extra fees for overtime or travel?

4. Who owns these photos after the wedding?

5. Will I receive hard copies and/or digital downloads?

Once you know the answers, ask yourself if that photographer matches your style and expectations.

includes playing pieces or monogrammed dice.

For the reception, set every table with playing cards and board games. And instead of opting for traditional place cards, spell out your guests’ names with Scrabble letters. If your signature board game has characters, such as in Clue, hire local actors to portray them and mingle with your guests.

The menu provides another opportunity to knit in your fun theme. Perhaps an offering of Pennsylvania Avenue Pie or Rock’em Sock’em Chicken Satay is in order. For a signature drink, simply rename your favourite cocktail—perhaps a Cranium Cosmopolitan or a Say Anything Sidecar.

A NOVEL CONCEPT Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “What’s a book? Everything or nothing. The eye that sees it all.” The same description is true with love. Lucky for bibliophiles, it is quite easy to mix their love of literature into their wedding celebration.

Inspiration Points Begin with invitations designed like Dewey decimal cards from the library, for example, or send out “save the date” bookmarks. Continue the theme and nostalgia by including RSVP cards that look like library sign-out slips, complete with a pocket envelope and a note that urges guest to reply by the specified “due date” to avoid late fees.

To walk down the aisle, the wedding party can each carry a favourite book wrapped in ribbon as an unconventional answer to the traditional bouquet or boutonniere. For wedding or shower gifts, the couple could register at a bookstore or ask that donations be made to their local library.

At the reception, divide a short story into multiple parts, and leave only a few pages on each table. It will encourage guests to go on a small journey of their own in order to read the whole narrative. You can also leave blank pages and encourage guests to weave in their own narratives of love and life journeys.

For a signature drink, how about an Old Fashioned Novel or a Tequila Mockingbird? t8n

ALTERNATIVES TO FLORAL BOUQUETS Buttons, Bottle Caps & Brooches—A little floral wire can transform vintage gems into oneof-a-kind bouquets. Borrow from friends and family, or rummage through thrift stores.

Lollipops—Lollipops wrapped with ribbons make the sweetest bouquets, and the colour palette is limitless.

Paper—Create origami flowers for an everlasting bouquet, being sure to add a few paper cranes to represent good luck and longevity.

34 T8Nmagazine.com

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FANDEMONIUM

FANDEMONIUM Welcome to the world of fanfiction HAVE YOU EVER watched a televi-

WHAT IS IT?

sion show or film and wanted to rewrite a scene or ending? Or maybe you loved a book so much that you wanted the story to continue. Well, there’s a world of online platforms where you can do just that. And if you’re willing to write a story around existing work, you just might find an audience for your interpretation. It’s called fanfiction, and it’s never been more popular.

Fanfiction, often shortened to fanfic, is derivative work inspired by published poetry, songs, television programs, movies, novels, animation or celebrities. Often considered the black sheep of writing genres, it has long lived in the shadows of the literary world.

Today, however, those stigmas are changing, and fanfiction is finding its place in the mainstream. A book that’s helped steer that change is an unexpected success story called 50 Shades of Grey. Its British author, E.L. James, originally developed the story as fanfiction inspired by the Twilight series. To date, that reworked novel (and the 50 Shades book series it spawned) has sold over 250 million copies worldwide.

TALKING THE TALK

Fanwork: is derivative work based on any genre (it includes fanart, fanfic and fanmix).

But fanfiction can be traced back to long before 2012 and 50 Shades of Grey. The Oxford English Dictionary indicates that the first modern usage of the term began in the mid 1970s. The art itself, however, is much older, reaching all the way back to Shakespeare, whose work is described as heavily influenced by Greek literature and mythology. Romeo and Juliet is even considered a narrative poem by some, as is said to be based on the poem Giulietta e Romeo, by Italian poet Luigi da Porto.

Squick: is similar to a trigger warning—a statement that warns readers that the content contains elements that may offend.

Some of our most revered fictional characters have also been rewritten countless times. Recent Superman, James Bond and Sherlock Holmes movies are based on the original publications, but the stories have

To navigate the fanfic community, it helps to understand its lexicon.

Canon: refers to the elements from the original story.

Alternate Universe (AU): settings that are different from the canon.

been changed and expanded. And although Gene Roddenberry did not write the Star Trek spinoffs, each one has been based on his stories.

ONE WRITER’S EXPERIENCE Edmonton author Andrea Plain has been writing fanfic for 12 years. She had always wanted to be a writer, so when some characters in a television show behaved out of character, Plain rewrote a scene. She published her story on the FanFiction website and found an active online community: she’s been writing ever since.

According to Plain, one of the most important parts of fanfiction is the fandoms (communities dedicated to specific source material): “It’s always great when you find someone who has similar interests as you and wants to stay up until four in the morning thinking about possible plot lines and driving your story forward,” which is also why much of her writing is based on community feedback.

It’s no secret that fanfic writers face stigma about “originality” and the idea that you have to create your own worlds and characters from scratch. Plain disagrees: “Nothing is original anymore. Just because my work is based on other stories doesn’t mean I haven’t agonized over it and done hours of research and worked hard to write it.”

Plain also believes that the genre offers new writers a chance to improve their storytelling abilities: “You gain a deep u ­ nderstanding

T8N March 2016 37

of characters, interactions, scenery and world-building because you have to ­understand how the world is built so that your work feels like a proper homage.”

writers even more opportunities to write fanfiction stories. Unlike other platforms, stories written through Kindle Worlds can be sold on the Kindle platform.

WHERE TO FIND IT

LEGALITIES

The 21st century surge in fanfiction is primarily a reflection of the way we consume writing. Fanfiction has taken advantage of digital outlets to make stories more accessible to new readers.

Fanfic often falls into a legal grey area, so always do your research before publishing.

Copyright laws are designed to protect the original author from infringement on their work. Fanfiction based on copyrighted work cannot be sold for profit.

There are dozens of fanfiction websites with stories that appeal to many people. Plain posts most of her work on Archive of Our Own and enjoys the fanfiction communities she has found on Tumblr. In addition to general sites, there are platforms for different fandoms, such as Twilight, Star Trek, Star Wars and Harry Potter.

Kindle Worlds, a branch of Amazon, is a new platform that allows writers to legally sell fanfiction. Writers can choose from a list of licensed worlds, such as Vampire Diaries, G.I. Joe and Pretty Little Liars. The list of licensed worlds will continue to grow, giving

Work that is no longer under copyright protections is in the public domain and can legally be rewritten. There are many factors that go into determining if a work is public domain, so you must research each story you want to work with. Popular characters such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo are all in the public domain.

Some authors are happy to allow fans to build upon their work. J.K. Rowling, for example, encourages fans to write Harry

Potter stories—as long as they do not include pornography. Other authors, such as Anne Rice, send out take-down notices when fanfiction based on their work is published online. Part of Plain’s research is to determine what elements of a story can be safely used.

She hasn’t had an author send her a takedown notice, but says it has happened to friends.

The primary caveat for fanfiction is that the work must be transformative. That is, you must tell a completely new story in a way that does not diminish the value of the copyrighted work. Prior to publishing 50 Shades, James removed all elements that were subject to copyright. Always be prepared, however, for the original author to send a take-down notice.

The next time you watch or read something that you think could be done differently, why not give it a try? As fanfiction continues to move into mainstream writing, the number of platforms will grow, allowing people to read your twist on a classic story. And who doesn’t like having the last word. t8n

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PY•SAN•KY (n.)

A well-loved art form, rich in tradition and symbolism Fun Fact IF YOU CAN pronounce it, c­ hances

The practice of decorating eggs is said

are you’ve made one. Pysanky (a.k.a.

Ukrainian Easter eggs) a re intricately decorated ovals, steeped in religious and cultural traditions, as well as symbolism. Pysanky, how­ ever, aren’t just a Ukrainian tradition or the domain of children looking to fill an Easter basket. This storytelling art form is practiced by Slavs, young and old, around the world w ­ herever Easter is celebrated and where the cultures of Eastern Europe look to demonstrate the meaning of their faith.

to have started around 5,000 B.C. when

TRADITION Pre-Christians prized eggs as a sign of hope and new life, decorating them to honour animals and Nature with symbols of passion, fertility, health, prosperity and protection against evil. While drawings of deer, wheat and the sun on egg-shaped clay might have been the precursor, it was the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine and other Slavic countries that ushered in the pysanka we’re familiar with today: a blend of ancient tradition celebrating Nature’s rebirth, with new beliefs focused on Christ’s resurrection.

Did You Know?

Eggs can be dyed with products found right in your kitchen—beets and onion skins, for example, turn the white egg shades of red, brown or purple.

40 T8Nmagazine.com

ancient Ukrainians—the Trypillians—marked swirls, spirals and symbols on pottery.

SYMBOLISM An artist uses colours and designs to tell a story on each pysanka, working with melted beeswax and dye in a step-by-step process to reveal a finished story, religious or otherwise.

The circular shape of the egg itself is a symbol, that of eternity in a never-ending circle.

The colours, too, have meaning: white stands for purity, birth and innocence, while red signifies happiness and passion. Green indicates spring and hope, while blue refers to the sky and good health. Yellow represents youth, orange is strength and black symbolizes the “darkness before light” aspect of eternity and the quiet and solemn time that Jesus lay dead in the tomb, before rising again.

DESIGNS Many Ukrainian and Polish childhoods are rich with memories of Easter traditions—preparing baskets filled with eggs, Easter bread, kielbasa, salt, butter and more for blessing at Church. Children decorated eggs on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, using everything from crayons and markers to traditional writing tools, beeswax, a flame and dyes.

Drawings of leaves and flowers (love, charity and goodwill), animals and fish (prosperity, health) or ladders, rakes and wheat (for a bountiful harvest) were supplemented with squiggles of religious significance: fish and nets, a cross, triangles (for the Trinity —Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and drops (Mother Mary’s tears for Jesus).

TOOLS OF THE TRADE Chicken eggs are generally the egg of choice for making pysanky, but artists will also showcase their work on tiny quail eggs or large goose or ostrich eggs. Some artists even make pysanky that are beaded, crochet-covered or etched with cut-outs to resemble lanterns. The traditional writing tool, a kistka, is packed with beeswax, which is warmed over a candle so that the wax will flow through the writing tip, allowing the artist to draw delicate patterns. The drawing is done in stages, dictated by the colour scheme of the chosen pattern. Lines that are to be white are drawn first, and then the egg is dipped in yellow dye. Lines and shapes that are to be yellow are drawn next and then dipped in orange dye. The process is repeated—more drawing followed by dips in increasingly darker dyes until a multi-coloured pattern is built up. To reveal the pattern, the wax is melted over a candle and gently wiped away with a cloth. While children often work on boiled eggs, artists favour raw eggs and use a tiny pinhole to blow out the yolk once the wax is removed and the pattern is revealed.

Pysanky are often varnished to preserve the vibrant colours and add shine.

KEEPING ART ALIVE Those with children attending elementary school in St. Albert might be familiar with the art form, as it’s often part of the city’s Grade 3 curriculum accompanying studies in world cultures. Artists from the Edmonton region regularly facilitate sessions through schools and in community craft classes, too. Art instructors at the Art Gallery of St. Albert, for example, will teach over 500 Grade 3 students how to decorate eggs this season alone. t8n

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