Culture

Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard: the implications

By: Ivona Lu Latinovic

Photo: NBC News

Photo: Brendan Smialowski

We are all well aware of the infamous trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard that has been going on for the past 6 weeks, with the trending Tik Tok audios, viral court clips, and social media posts. However, where is this coming from? And what is the backstory regarding Depp and Heard’s relationship? What does this case mean for other victims of domestic or sexual abuse?

In 2009, Depp and Heard met while lming a movie called " e Rum Diary”. In 2012, according to court documents presented by Amber’s team, Depp and Heard began dating. In 2015, the two got married in a private ceremony, and just a year later, in 2016, Heard led for divorce, later accusing him of verbally and physically abusing her. In 2018, she wrote her infamous oped for e Washington Post about the alleged abuse she endured, where she wrote, "I became a public gure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out." Following this op-ed in 2019, Depp sued Heard for defamation seeking $50 million, claiming that even though Heard did not name him, the piece damaged his reputation and career as she was referring to the time period two years prior. A er Depp had sued Heard, she countersued him for $100 million. Soon a er, he claimed that the article was a ruse for Amber to gain supporters and positive press, and that she was not the victim of domestic violence, but instead the abuser. Since April, the defamation trial has gone viral on social media platforms with appearances on TikTok with trending sounds such as “My dog stepped on a bee”, “Were you there?”, “Did I read that correctly”, and many more.

What does this mean for other victims of domestic abuse? With this case being so heavily publicized, people did not realize the consequences that would follow for the hundreds and thousands of other domestic abuse and sexual assault victims. While some of us thought these videos were harmless, and maybe even funny, many did not stop to think about how other victims would react. e many opportunities for conversations surrounding domestic abuse were overshadowed by TikTok edits and trending sounds that made light of the trial. e response from the media gave us a perfect example of how patriarchal ideologies are so deeply rooted in our lives and society, with cases such as this one. e way that the media spun this case was unsettling and disappointing. Instead of creating opportunities to discuss abuse, this case has fueled negative stereotypes surrounding both women and men: the ideas that women are liars, and that men can never be victims of domestic abuse. e way the media responded to these allegations of abuse makes it hard for victims to come forward with their stories, fearing that the response might be the same as it was for this case. People have already started calling female victims of sexual assault or domestic abuse “Amber Heard” as a joke, accusing them of lying about their situation. is shows that the public's reaction to the Depp v. Heard trial was riddled with misogyny, and that this case has been used for campaigning the public to not believe women, which is the opposite of what should be happening. Instead, we should be nding the truth and serving justice.

While this trial may have had its negative components, there is still good that came out of this case: it showed the public that men can also be victims of abuse. Stigmas such as being “alpha males” and needing to hold power surround men in society, and when a case like this one, with the abuser being female, is so heavily publicized, it makes other men more comfortable with coming forward. It also pushes the public to be more comfortable in understanding abusive relationships where the man is the victim.

Overall, the outcome from this trial had both negative and positive outcomes, ranging from the consequences victims su ered from this trial to creating conversations about men su ering from abusive relationships.

Photo: Jim Watson

Culture

Staying active this summer

Photo: Peter Rudwall

Photo: iStock Photo

By: Hannah Wang

Panting and sweating uncontrollably as you continuously creak the oors of your room from jumping jacks; ah, the unpleasantness of following along with a workout video on YouTube where their “Beginner’s Workout” is inspired by non-stop military exercises. Despite all the terrible ways that people have brainstormed about getting t, there are many other, more enjoyable ways to get started on your tness journey, which are rarely talked about, that you can begin using this summer!

Looking into the free Planet Fitness Summer Pass with unlimited bene ts isn’t a bad idea. If you’re not the type to actually work out, enjoying your favourite sport with friends can always do the trick. Even then, nothing can ever be achieved without sticking to your plan, but no worries. at’s what this article is here for: to help you attain good health, participate in activities, and help you achieve your ideal version of tness this summer of 2022.

A completely free gym membership with unlimited access to machines, equipment, huge mirrors, and much more. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, signing up for a free student membership at Planet Fitness is the best way to go. You can head over to their website for more information. It’s de nitely worth trying the gym out at least once in your life, as it brings a whole new atmosphere to your resolutions. Maybe your idea of working out has been in uenced by the boring and dull routines that are done at home, but I assure you, at a public gym, the sight of people working out all around you will motivate you and make you feel like hopping on the treadmill or sitting at an abdominal machine. Additionally, having access to equipment around the gym is very helpful if you’re looking to achieve a speci c result. ere are machines that can work out almost every part of your body! If you’ve always been scared to go to the public gym, you have an opportunity to give it a shot for free this summer. However, if it’s not up to your standards, keep reading to nd out other ways you can achieve similar results.

Do you enjoy a particular sport or are you a part of a school sports team? During your free time, do you tend to enjoy standing up and having fun while staying active? If so, a wonderful way to become more t this summer is to pursue your favourite activity more o en! is doesn’t have to mean going to the gym and performing a certain exercise. It can be simply enjoying your favourite sport while also receiving long-term bene ts from it. On the other hand, if you’ve never really been into sports, there’s no harm in trying something out, like swimming in the summer heat or bumping a volleyball to a fellow friend. Whether you’re biking around your neighbourhood; skipping ropes; or walking, jogging, or sprinting through the perfect forest trail, try to set aside some time for these activities as they contribute a lot to your health! Regardless of which activities you feel the most passionate about, doing them as much as you can this summer will really fuel your body. Getting t can also mean having fun — it’s not all about sweating and enduring exhausting torture like you would in a beep test.

Nevertheless, exercising your will is just as important as exercising your body. I know it can o en be di cult, but staying consistent is the absolute key. Becoming unmotivated can happen in the blink of an eye; one day, you could be jumping up and down with a smile on your face, and the next day, you could be complaining about how you think it’s all useless. If you’re interested in going to the gym, setting a schedule and a workout plan is a good start. If you’re leaning towards activities, maybe set a time with a few friends who are interested in the same sport and agree to meet then! Regardless of what you pick, make sure to continue your journey for the duration of the summer, whether it’s heading to the gym, picking up a racket, or something else entirely.

Culture

Fast Food Around The World

By: Ashwin Kailayaruban

Fast food is quick and e cient. It allows us to get in a meal during a busy schedule or as a guilty pleasure. However, there is a lack of variety in Canadian fast-food franchises. It seems that most places simply serve the usual options of burgers, fries, tacos, pizza, shakes, or cake. However, not all countries are limited to such a basic menu. e world is made of many di erent cultures, and food is re ective of that. Due to such di erences, many nation-speci c fast food chains incorporate various cultural cooking techniques or ingredients into traditional fast food meals, or create completely new items inspired by their native culture.

Creating items for the menu takes a lot of thought, and it can be a tedious process which could require years to complete. Panda Express, a popular fast food franchise that specializes in Americanized Chinese cuisine, starts with an idea. After an idea has been selected, the culinary team will take the time to create an illustration of the product and a list of potential ingredients, along with a rough creation of the product, which is then presented to a small group of consumers known as a focus group. For Panda Express, the creation of products is heavily inspired by traditional Chinese dishes, to which they add an American air. rough a series of consumer tests, the product is revamped until the culinary team thinks it is ready for sale.

But how does this relate to cultural fast food items? Product localization is the act of customizing a product to cater to the target market in a speci c region. is is evident in the menus of big franchises in other countries. An example of this is the McDonald’s Poutine available on the Canadian menu. Canadians know this dish as one of the best comfort foods available, which McDonald has realized and capitalized on by bringing it into the Canadian market in 2017. However, poutine is not available on the regular menu in the United States, and it is only occasionally on the international seasonal menu.

Now, let's look at some of the most unique fast food menu items in existence. Firstly, KFC Philippines offers customers a Shawarma Rice Bowl which consists of rice, pieces of Colonel Sander’s famous chicken, garlic yogurt sauce, diced tomatoes, and cucumbers. Altogether, it makes for a unique fusion dish that may seem to give Lazeez and Osmow’s a run for their money. McDonald’s Spain o ers macarons in six di erent avors: strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, and button pistachio — all of which pair perfectly with a cup of McCafe co ee. Pizza Hut India o ers a pizza which uses vegetable kebab, a dish that is made by stacking vegetables and/or meat, as a topping, with the kebab almost acting like a substitute for the pepperoni. Accompanied by a tandoori sauce, it is a unique take on Canadian veggie-lover pizzas. Burger King Japan sells an all-black burger called the “Kuro Pearl Burger”, which consists of the typical lettuce, tomato, onions, and patty. But what really makes the burger unusual is the color of the bun and cheese. e bun and cheese slice is dyed in bamboo charcoal to turn it black, and it doesn’t stop there: e onions and ketchup are infused with squid ink as well. It is truly something Darth Vader would devour. e nal dish available originates from McDonald’s South Korea. It is a chocolate pie, and it is a great way to end a meal at the Golden Arches. Most fastfood restaurants, like Popeyes, sell apple pie, but imagine biting into a hot chocolate pie, whose crispy chocolate outer layer conceals a warm chocolate sauce. is could seriously put Domino’s already-amazing lava cakes to shame.

Fast food is so vastly di erent in di erent regions. Di erent cultures prepare, cook, and consume food di erently, and this can be seen in some of the fast-food items available around the world. So, the next time you travel to a destination outside of Canada, try and visit a fast-food restaurant. You can use it as an opportunity to try a unique dish that re ects the native culture.

Photo: Shutterstock Photo: Rachna Venkatesh

DB Cooper: What Ever Happened?

By: Riya Piryani

On November 24, 1971, an unassuming man named Dan Cooper approached the Northwest Orient Airlines desk in Portland, Oregon. What happened next shocked the whole nation.

Beginning one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in FBI history, Cooper used cash to purchase a one-way ticket on Flight #305 to Seattle, Washington. He was described as a calm man in his mid-40s dressed in a business suit with a black tie and a white shirt. As the ight was about to depart, Cooper ordered a bourbon and soda. To calm his nerves? Maybe, but no one actually knows.

A little while later, the hijacking began. Cooper delivered the stewardess a message mentioning he had a bomb in his briefcase and requested that she sit with him, shortly a er 3:00 p.m. He then opened the attaché case, including various cables, red sticks, and a battery. Soon, she delivered a new message to the plane's captain, demanding four parachutes and $200,000 in twenty-dollar bills (approximately 1.2 million dollars today).

When the plane touched down in Seattle, the hijacker traded the money and parachutes for the 36 passengers. Cooper retained numerous crew members, and the aircra took o again — however, this time heading towards Mexico City. A little a er 8:00 p.m., somewhere between Seattle and Reno, the hijacker accomplished the unthinkable: he leapt out of the back of the plane with a parachute and the ransom money. e pilots landed safely, but Cooper vanished into the night. is caused great controversy over the years. What ever happened to the man calling himself "Dan Cooper"? His fate is still unknown to this day. e FBI initiated NORJAK (Northwest Hijacking), which would become "one of the longest and most extensive investigations" in its history.

Many people assumed Cooper, dressed in a business suit, trench coat, and loafers, did not survive. e winds were more than 322 kilometres per hour at that altitude, and the parachute he was using could not be guided. Furthermore, he would have landed in a mountainous, highly forested location. A er years of following dead ends, detectives got a break in 1980 when a kid discovered a rotting box containing $5,800. It was discovered near the Columbia River north of Portland, around 32 kilometres from the approximate location of his fall. e serial numbers on the money (all $20 notes) matched those of the ransom. However, despite a thorough search, nothing else was uncovered.

Photo: FBI

However, it is possible that DB Cooper survived. e FBI said that it investigated 800 suspects in the rst ve years, with nearly all of them being dismissed. Some were ruled out based on DNA obtained from the tie Cooper removed before jumping. One prime suspect was Richard Floyd McCoy, who was arrested for a similar crime several months later. However, he was dismissed as a suspect, mainly because he did not t the descriptions o ered by two ight attendants. (While serving his sentence, McCoy made a fake gun and escaped but was killed in a shoot-out with police).

Although the FBI continued to receive tips, in 2016, the agency formally discontinued its investigation, citing that its resources could better be used on other investigations. However, if DB Cooper was to be found today, he would be indicted under the Hobbs Act.

Many questions have been posed throughout this case. Where did the initials "DB" come from? What happened that one night? But for now, the daring hijack and disappearance remain an intriguing mystery for law enforcement and amateur sleuths alike.

Culture

New Zealand man brings an emotional support clown to a work meeting

By: Sophia Zhang

One day in 2019, Joshua Jack, a copy writer at the media company of FCB New Zealand, received an email from his workplace. It was not a regular work email — this email was from his agency employer, and its contents featured a serious letter expressing the need for a meeting to be held between Jack and his employers to discuss Jack’s role in the company. In the email, the human resources department even suggested bringing a support person to the meeting, which is an option that is obligatory by law in New Zealand.

For those of you who don't know, this New Zealand law mandates that every employee has the right to have access to a support person in a variety of di erent occupational settings. ese settings can range from disciplinary meetings to other formal meetings, and the support person can be a family member, a friend or even a lawyer. As long as this support person can help reduce the employee’s stress and assist them through their di culties, they are allowed to attend meetings alongside the employee.

When Jack read of the support person o er, he thought that the meeting would either be about his promotion, or worse, his dismissal. Either way, he thought it would be best to “bring in a professional” to help provide him with emotional support in case his fear turned into a reality, which is why he hired Joe the clown for roughly 200 New Zealand dollars. In Canadian dollars, that would be approximately equivalent to $166.

On the day of the meeting, Jack arrived at his workplace with the clown in tow. Unfortunately, as soon as the meeting commenced, Jack’s employers let Jack know that the worst case scenario had come into fruition. Jack was going to be dismissed due to redundancy.

At the news, Joe the clown nodded his head sadly and mimed crying, as if he too was going to lose his job. "Professionalism at its nest, really," Josh remarked in an interview with BBC news. roughout the rest of the meeting, the clown performed his clown duties. While Jack’s bosses and Jack discussed the logistics of Jack’s lay o and lled out paperwork, Joe the clown made balloon animals. Joe’s cra ing speed was hindered due to the loud squeaking noises associated with the art, and according to Jack, “We did have to tell [Joe] to be quiet from time to time.” In the end, Joe only managed to create a balloon unicorn and a balloon poodle.

Fortunately, the meeting concluded on a high

Photo: Funny Clown Photo Editor

note. Jack’s bosses were amused by Joe’s antics, and said that they were thankful that Jack decided to “spice up the meeting” and “could see the humorous side.”

From his experiences, Jack would highly recommend bringing in a clown as a support person. "If you've got family, friends, step mums, step dads, step kids, bring them by all means," Jack said. "But if there's a clown available, especially Joe, I'd de nitely recommend it."

How Amazon is expanding their business

By: Krisha Veera

Today, the brand Amazon makes us envision a dominant online marketplace with thousands of products for all uses. However, what many are unaware of is all the ways that Amazon has grown. e company has been able to break through several sectors such as streaming services, cloud computing, and even grocery and everyday household items.

Like many tech companies, Amazon began in a residential home when Bezos realized that the Internet would become a massive hit. In 1995, Amazon was an online bookseller; it provided buyers with books that were inexpensive and convenient to buy. Nowadays, buyers aren’t restricted to brick and mortar retailers and Amazon rapidly became known as the “Earth’s Biggest Book Store.”

Over the years, the company's e-commerce dominance allowed for other products such as clothing, toys, and sports equipment to be added on. Today, Amazon’s ambitions extend far beyond retail.

Amazon Prime & Prime Video

To pull in regular shoppers, Amazon Prime was added. Over the years, this 2-day shipping membership evolved to include Prime credit card and Prime Video. Today, Prime Video contains hundreds of TV shows and lms, which are accessible on pretty much every device you can get your hands on.

Amazon Web Services

rough AWS (Amazon Web Services), Amazon has entered the world of cloud computing. Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources such as data storage and computing power. Originally, this eld was dominated by Microso through its Azure platform. However, Amazon's cloud computing has managed to make major deals with Disney, Net ix, and Spotify.

Groceries and Household Supplies

In 2014, Amazon started the AmazonFresh program to stock and ship groceries. rough this program, Amazon started a competitive relationship with big-box retailers like Walmart and Target, and new delivery apps like Instacart. Along with AmazonFresh, Prime Pantry was also launched. With this addition, Amazon began competing with superstores by giving their Prime members an easy way to collect and purchase household supplies. e more well-known retail move was Amazon's purchase of the Whole Foods grocery chain. Rather than starting from scratch and struggling to compete with larger, more well-established superstores, Je Bezos decided to purchase the chain and use their grocery pick-up, delivery perks, and in-store discounts as rewards for their Prime subscribers.

Experimental Retail Stores

While Amazon is attempting to enter the retail market, they have also opened up some experimental retail stores in Seattle, Chicago, and New York City, known as Amazon Go stores. ese stores replace cashiers with a computer vision system that automatically detects when a customer takes products o the shelf and checks the products out as the customer leaves the store. By increasing the number of Go stores opened, Amazon will be able to compete with local pharmacies like CVS and convenience stores like 7-Eleven.

Looking towards the future, Amazon is also beginning to encroach on the pharmacy industry. Currently, pharmacy chains are seeing retail revenues su er because of Amazon’s convenient “everything stores.” In 2016, Amazon received its licenses to sell pharmaceutical products and drugs from various state boards across the United States. As the process of lling a prescription at a local pharmacy is o en ine cient and time-consuming, Amazon's decision to move into the pharmacy sector could be met by many happy and frequent patients.

Global

Summer bucket list: fi ve fun activities for you to do in the summer!

By: Zerina Bakrac

There is something about the summer that brings out the life in us, isn’t there? Getting away from the cold, snowy weather of winter and entering the sun- lled, warm, breezy days. You’ll probably be looking for some fun activities to do this sunny season, and I have 5 fun things that you and your friends could try. Besides going to the beach or summer shopping, here are several activities for you to do: e rst fun activity on the list is going to an amusement park! You can go to an amusement park with either your friends, or a signi cant other if you wish. For example, Canada’s Wonderland features many exciting rides! It’s a very memorable experience as you can ride roller coasters such as the ‘Leviathan’ or ‘Yukon Striker,’ and if you don’t really like to go on roller coasters, they have many other rides for you to try out such as “Viking’s Rage,” which is a ship that rocks back and forth in the air! Don’t forget about the food and drinks they have to o er (though it can be pricey). If you and your friends get hungry or even begin to crave a snack, you can always purchase some food or drinks at their featured restaurants. Last but not least, Canada’s Wonderland also features a very cool water park! In the hot weather, you and your friends may go cool yourselves o in the water as you make your exciting memories.

You may also choose to attend a concert this summer! Concerts are a great way to see your favorite artists live while having a lot of fun. ey can help you release a ton of adrenaline and of course, give you some of the best memories of your life. ough tickets can be pricey sometimes, depending on the artist, there’s nothing wrong with going to a concert of an artist that you don’t even know! You could research them for a bit and then deliberate with your friends on whether you’d want to attend or not. Taking risks is fun if done safely, and who knows, maybe you’ll end up liking the artist you see. Concerts are also a great place to meet new people and really expand your friend group if you’re looking for some friends who like the same artist as you. Concerts also feature some merchandise from the artist, food, and even drinks most of the time, so if you need to hydrate, you can simply go purchase a beverage. Concerts are an amazing way to make unforgettable memories with your friends or family, and it’ll be one of those stories that you can tell almost everyone you meet.

Going stargazing is a beautiful and serene activity for you to do with your friends. You could travel up a little hill, go to a park, or even just sit near a school to look up at the stars and see the beauty that lies within our sky. Stars are very luminous and stunning sights to see, and we are very blessed to be able to look at them and really take in their beauty. Stargazing reconnects you with nature, sparks your creative mind, and it is a perfect stress reliever. I personally love stargazing because it provides me with inspiration when I'm writing new poems or songs. Going stargazing with friends can be a very enjoyable experience and it is an activity that you should try.

Mini-Gol ng with your friends can also be a very fun experience. Even if you may not be good at getting the golf ball into the hole, it can make the experience even more enjoyable as it will inevitably cause some laughs to occur. It can also help you develop a range of new skills! So go to a golf course, grab a golf club, a golf ball, and go mini-golfing with your friends! e last activity on the list is having a water balloon ght with your friends. We all know how humid it can get during the summer, and if you’ve been outside lately, we’ve already had some pretty humid weather. Hosting a water balloon ght with your friends is guaranteed to make you all feel cool and refreshed during the summer weather, and of course, seeing who can hit the most people with water balloons is loads of fun.

So get out there and try any one of these 5 activities. I guarantee you’ll have a great time. Have a good summer!