Jan 21 Issue of The Sil

www.thesil.ca

McMASTER UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER / THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

The Silhouette

VOLUME 80, NO. 17

Est. 1930

12 years.

Former McMaster engineering student, Saad Gaya, has been sentenced to 12 years for his guilty plea in association with the proposed ‘Toronto 18’ terror plot

ALEX TAVSHUNSKY / CBC

Saad Gaya, shown above, was one of the members of the ‘Toronto 18’ arrested between June and August 2006.

SELMA AL-SAMARRAI SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Former McMaster University student Saad Gaya was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in the “Toronto 18” terrorist plan in 2006.

Justice Bruce Durno acknowledged Gaya’s supplementary role in the terrorist plot on Monday January 18, explaining that he did not know the specifics of the bomb but he was aware that there would be serious bodily harm and damage to property. Judge Durno also read a psychiatric assessment of Gaya, which clarified that Gaya did not seem to suffer any major mental illnesses or anxiety disorders.

Gaya attended McMaster University for one academic year before being arrested in May 2006 while unloading 125 bags of ammonium nitrate, each 25 Kg, from a truck into a Newmarket storage facility with a fellow participant of the Toronto 18 group. The warehouse was used by the terrorist group to store bombmaking fertilizer.

As reported in the National Post, the terrorist plot involved detonating bombs in the following three locations in Ontario, the CSIS regional office on Front

LIFE: Zakaria Amara, 23, the

group’s leader, plead guilty and was sentenced to life in prison on Jan.18, and will be eligible for parole in 6.5 years.

7: Number of members who

were released after signing peace bonds and agreeing to participate in rehabilitation.

1 DAY: Amin Durrani entered

a surprise guilty plea on Jan. 20 and was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison but considering time he has already served in custody, he was released today.

Street, the Toronto Stock Exchange and a military base between Toronto and Ottawa.

Regarding the length of Gaya’s sentence, Judge Durno took into account the three years and seven months pre-sentence custody that Gaya has already completed on a two-for-one basis along with a small amount of extra credit given for the 14 months of solitary confinement he

All-Season Cycling:

We take a look at how you can get the most of your bike all year long.

Please see: B9

completed, and therefore Gaya has four and a half years left to complete. Gaya will be eligible for parole after one-third of that sentence.

Later on the day of January 18, the leader of the “Toronto 18” terrorist plot Zakaria Amara was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Durno, with an eligibility for parole in six and a half years.

On the morning of January 20, Amin Durrani, another former member of the “Toronto 18” terrorist plot suddenly plead guilty, and instead of awaiting his trial in March, now has one more day to serve in prison at the Maplehurst correctional facility.

This is due to the fact that Judge Durno ordered a seven and a half year sentence, but with pre-sentencing custody taken into account, leaves Durrani in prison for one more day. Durrani was part of another plot to be arranged by “Toronto 18” which involved storming into Parliament and beheading the prime minister to protest Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan.

According to Judge Durno’s reading prior to the sentencing, Gaya referred to his offense as a shameful crime and openly denounced the use of violence at a political cost and agreed to counseling.

Helping Haiti LILY PANAMSKY

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

3000 km away from the destruction, the violence, and the looting that is currently taking place in Haiti, McMaster University students are putting aside their differences and coming together to raise money for Latin America’s poorest country.

An earthquake of 7.0 magnitude hit Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on January 12, 2010 at 4:53 p.m. local time. With death estimates totaling between 50,000 to 200,000 and an aftershock quake hitting on Wednesday Jan. 20, this is the worst earthquake in the country in 200 years.

The international community scrambled to send out relief packages, troops, and police to Haiti in the days following the quake, but fourth year social work and sociology student Jones Musara felt that it wasn’t enough for him to sit around and rely on someone else to help Haiti pick up the pieces. “I felt compelled to organize and mobilize people because we believed that we could come in and make a difference.”

The “Help Haiti Campaign” was thus formed on Thursday Jan. 14 by a small number of students, with Musara acting as the Team Organizing Leader. Since then the group has expanded to over half a dozen organizers and more than 350 supporters. Jones and his Organizing Team are at their booth in the Student Centre at any free hour they have during the day. The booth runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“The response from people has been overwhelming,” said Musara.

By Tuesday Jan. 19—a week after the earthquake—the organization had reached $2000 of its $5000 target amount. In some cases, students donated up to $40 at a time.

All proceeds are going to Dove Missions, a grassroots organization that is currently working on the grounds of Haiti.

Some of the people donating have relatives in Haiti or feel a connection to the Caribbean, but Musara explained, “There have been people from all walks of life [donating]…like people of all colours…that has been very, very encouraging.”

Organizing Coordinator Siobhan Stewart expressed her pride in Musara’s quick mobilizing of students and in the McMaster community’s willingness to donate.

“It’s just amazing, because we’re a bunch of youth, we’re a bunch of students—those are our priorities—but people can really do great things.” Stewart also spoke highly of Chief Organizer Donata Ling, who was unable to attend the interview.

Other campus organizations that have contributed to the “Help Haiti Campaign” include Invisible Children, the McMaster Jewish Association, and the McMaster First Nations Student Association.

Musara and Stewart stated that there was interest from other groups on campus.

“We’re also looking into seeing if Walmart, even the LCBO…will match what we raise,” said Stewart.

When explaining how she managed to reserve so much time for this effort, Stewart boldly stated “I do believe that there are moments in life where you have to step up and you have to take action.”

More on Haiti: The McMaster community’s relief efforts and a timeline of events on page A3.

The end for Undercovers Book re-seller to shut down by march SELMA AL-SAMARRAI SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Undercovers, the McMaster Student Union Bookstore, is now in talks for a potential close. The suggestion nonetheless aims to maintain the service without using the space in the student centre by making it available

online. Undercovers re-sells students’ used textbooks for any price the student desires and collects a 20 per cent consignment fee.

John McIntyre, one of the six representatives of the faculty of science in the Student Representative Assembly (SRA) • PLEASE SEE UNDER, A5

A2 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

THE SILHOUETTE • A3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Hamilton’s part in Haiti relief Hamilton events, fundraisers, and a brief timeline of events of the disaster in Haiti

What is the City of Hamilton doing for Haiti Relief?

Jan. 30: “Hamilton Helps Haiti Fundraiser” at the Skydragon.

Tickets are $10, with proceeds going to the Canadian Caribbean Association of Hamilton

Jan 30: Westdale Secondary School is hosting a 10km/20km run/walk on Saturday Jan. 30.

Walkers and runners are asking for sponsors.

Jan. 31: “Hamilton for Haiti”.

>

At McMaster, the “Help Haiti Campaign” commenced last Thursday. So far $2000 has been raised, with a goal of $5000. Donations can be made in the Student Centre.

TUESDAY JAN. 12

• 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits Haiti at 1653 local time (21:53 GMT) • The epicentre of the earthquake was 15 km south-west of Port-au-Prince • Two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude followed

WEDNESDAY JAN. 13

• Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive stated that he believed over 100,000 people had died • First wave of Canadian disaster-relief effort lands in Haiti; 500 Canadian troops set sail from Halifax • Canadian Red Cross has received over $1 million in donations

THURSDAY JAN. 14

• U.S. cell phone users donate $4-million (U.S.) to the Red Cross in $10 increments

FRIDAY JAN. 15

• Relief efforts are uncoordinated, with many of the relief packages remaining in Port-au-Prince’s single airport • Hundreds of Haitians are without food and water

SATURDAY JAN. 16

• Rising fears of security in Haiti as violence and looting increase

SUNDAY JAN. 17

• 3000 bandits have escaped from prison in Haiti • International officials struggle to restore security to Haiti

MONDAY JAN. 18

• Violence and looting out of control in Port-au-Prince; aid is barely getting through

Mac profs fume over proroguing Conservatives

Profs and students organize protests against prorogation SELMA AL-SAMARRAI SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Harper’s recent decision to prorogue government has incited outrage among many Canadian citizens. Two major initiatives against proroguing have been carried through in the McMaster community. The first includes the involvement of many McMaster Political Science and Philosophy professors in the endorsement of the statement, “against the Prorogation of Parliament” which is headed by Daniel Weinstock, a Philosophy Professor at the University of Montreal.

David Hitchcock, a philosophy professor at McMaster University who has endorsed the statement, explained his position regarding the issue, “To the best of my knowledge, governments in parliamentary democracies around the world have not previously used the power to prorogue a parliament as a means of avoiding defeat on a non-confidence motion, as occurred in December 2008, or as a means of avoiding embarrassing disclosures of its activities, as occurred last month… They are thus on their very face suspect.”

“Today it is the Conservative government abusing its power to bring the consideration of legislation to a grinding halt. If this abuse is allowed to go unchallenged, if the people do not rise up and protest, tomorrow it will be a government of another stripe that does the same thing.”

The second major initiative, which has gathered the attention of the McMaster community efforts to denounce proroguing parliament, is the preparation of nation-wide rallies organized by a McMaster student on January 23. Shilo Davis, a fourth year Life Sciences student at McMaster, contacted Christopher White, an individual who started a Facebook group against proroguing govern-

Since Harper’s 2006 federal election win, he has prorogued government twice, the first time being on December of 2008 when he was avoiding a vote of confidence. ment, which has over 100,000 members. Using his group, Davis arranged to protests across all of Canada on Jan. 23.

She then helped create a group outside of Facebook to allow all the rally coordinators across the country communicate and share information, acting as a central coordinator.

Davis has proceeded to arrange a rally in Hamilton, which will be occurring a 1.00 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 23 at Gore Park,

and is expected to end around 4.00 p.m. The rally will include the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party and the Green Party speaking for a few minutes, a few McMaster professors speaking, and various other forms of entertainment. Davis’ nation-wide initiative demands that MPs return to work Jan. 25.

“My personal belief, which is shared by many, is that this prorogation was done out of self interest. First, so that Stephen Harper could stack the Senate for a Conservative majority, and secondly so that Stephen Harper could avoid the Afghan Detainee Inquiry which he has been clear [that] he has no intention of cooperating with. Our international reputation is at stake here,” explained Davis.

Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that he would be proroguing Parliament on Dec. 30, 2009 throughout the 2010 Winter Olympics until Mar. 3, 2010, arguing that it would allow the government to focus and improve the economy.

Since Harper’s 2006 federal election win, he has prorogued government twice, the first time being on December of 2008 when he was avoiding a vote of confidence.

As of today, 57 Canadian cities are involved in rallies against prorogation, from every province and territory except Nunavut, in addition to three international locations, and will all be holding rallies against prorogation on Jan. 23.

The Hamilton Spectator and Vibewrangler Studio are presenting a fundraiser concert called “Hamilton for Haiti” on Sunday, Jan. 31 at Hamilton Place’s Great Hall theatre. Tickets are $25. Proceeds will be split between three charities: The Canadian Friends of Albert Schweitzer Hospital, OMS Canada, and the International Child Care, which operates Grace Hospital in Port-Au-Prince.

Fiest and Finger Eleven are expected to perform.

TUESDAY JAN. 19

• Canada has contributed $135 million to Haiti relief • At least 12 Canadians have died in the earthquake so far • While 1,566 Canadian citizens have been located in Haiti, 699 remain missing • 1,206 Canadians have been evacuated so far

WEDNESDAY JAN. 20

• Large aftershock of 5.9 magnitude hits Haiti • Haitians still having trouble benefiting from the $1 billion global aid • Haitian Canadians urge Ottawa to loosen immigration rules as they attempt to bring Haitian relatives into Canada • 13 Canadian deaths confirmed • European Commission estimates 1.5 million homeless in Haiti

McMeekin odd man out in cabinet shuffle Aggelonitis to take over Minister of Consumer Services Portfolio

PAIGE FABER

FEATURES EDITOR

During this past week there was a shuffle in the Premier’s Cabinet and Ted McMeekin was replaced by Sophia Aggelonitis as Minister of Consumer Services.

McMeekin is the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) that represents the Ancaster-DundasFlamborough-Westdale riding in Hamilton and Aggelonitis represents Hamilton Mountain. Although the decision is not up to anyone other than the Premier, neither McMeekin nor Aggelonitis seem upset about the decision. “[We] have always worked as a team. We’ll get stuff done together,” said McMeekin of Aggelonitis.

The Hamilton Mountain MPP said that nothing will change between her and McMeekin and they will continue to work alongside each other and give Hamilton a voice in the Provincial Cabinet.

Although Aggelonitis has only been serving Hamilton for two years she is confident in her experience and her abilities that she will be bringing to her new position.

Aggelonitis said that she is, “honoured that the Premier shares this confidence with me.”

McMeekin also is fully confident in Aggelonitis’ abilities; “Sophia is very experienced…I have complete confidence in her ability to get important things done.”

For the future of Hamilton

McMeekin is seeking a “keener and greener job sector, protecting our environment, ensuring the innovation and education agenda, continuing to reduce health care and surgery wait times and or course the question to improve post-secondary education.” Aggelonitis’ plans to work on “all of the issues that fall under [her] ministry’s mandate, to protect Ontario’s consumers and ensure confidence in the marketplace.”

While McMeekin may have more time at home in Hamilton since he is no longer on the Cabinet, he still views this as a positive opportunity.

McMeekin, who is a Mohawk graduate and two time McMaster graduate, plans to spend more time reconnecting with his constituents, “which of course includes McMaster students.” McMeekin notes that, “McMaster still feels like home to [him] and [he is] looking forward to getting home more often.”

Both McMeekin and Aggelonitis are accustomed to the routine Cabinet shuffles that can be expected as a member of the provincial government.

McMeekin is looking to spend more time locally and Aggelonitis is looking to challenge her political career and to have some new experiences. Both seem to be looking at this as a positive opportunity for each other and for themselves, and most importantly, their constituents in Hamilton.

A4 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Mac survey shows support for rapid transit SELMA AL-SAMARRAI SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

C/O CITY OF HAMILTON

The city of Hamilton’s Environment and Sustainable Infrastructure Division conducted a survey aimed at the McMaster Community to determine the general consensus regarding the creation of a Rapid Transit System in Hamilton. The survey was available for two weeks, both online and in the McMaster University Student Centre. Over 1,500 participants responded, including McMaster students, administration and faculty. Of the 38.7 per cent of respondents who said they do not currently take public transit to school, 57.8 per cent said they would reconsider if Hamilton offered a rapid transit system alternative, and 29.3 per cent responded “maybe.”

The survey was available at the student centre in the form of a hard copy with the help of McMaster’s Public Relations and electronically through the website Survey Monkey.

Jill Stephens, Hamilton’s acting director of strategic planning and rapid transit, explained that they

are currently waiting for a response from the Metrolinx board following a review on February 19, which would indicate whether the board believes that Hamilton is ready for a rapid transit system. Metrolinx is a board created by the province of Ontario to create regional transportation plans. Pending on an affirmation from the Metrolinx board to proceed with the rapid transit plan, there will be a budget announcement from the province, which would provide the City of Hamilton with information on funding and timing.

Provided that approval and provincial funding are made available, Stephens explained that they would like the rapid transit system to be fully operational by July 2015 when the Pan Am games come to Hamilton, meaning that construction would have to begin in 2011.

“We’re very pleased with response that we got from McMaster.

It reflects students and faculty and staff. We had 1200 responses in 2 days and in the first hour we had 300 [online] which showed us that people were very enthusiastic about the survey.”

Engineering annual Toboggan Race to be hosted by McMaster LILY PANAMSKY

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

This year, McMaster University is the host of the annual Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) from Jan. 27 to Jan. 30.

The GNCTR, originating in 1975, involves 300-pound toboggans made entirely of concrete hurtling down a hill. It is also the largest engineering competition in Canada.

400 engineering students from 20 universities in Canada will be competing in the event this year, taking place at Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre in Milton, Ontario. Buses from McMaster to Glen Eden will be provided free of

charge.

Students will have the chance to view the toboggans on Friday Jan. 29 from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Hamilton Convention Centre, while the actual race will be on Saturday Jan. 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The event is open to the public and free of charge.

McMaster has two teams participating—the El MACadors and the McMaster Outlaws.

GNCTR Director of Public Relations Stephen Quinlan explained, “It’s going to be pretty cool because the teams all have themes. [They are] usually pretty funny themes and they come up with costumes and cheers all kinds of stuff like

that.”

“McMasters been involved with the competition for around 15 years and we’re definitely one of the most spirited groups out there…The McMaster team has consistently won the award for best spirit.”

The competition this year is run mostly by alumni and graduate engineering students, along with some current undergraduate students.

GNCTR is sponsored by a variety of organizations and companies. The platinum sponsor is the McMaster Engineering Society. Gold sponsors are Dufferin Construction, CIRCA, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, McMaster University Engineering, McMaster University Stu-

C/O STEVE QUINLAN

Pictured above are competitors from last year’s annual Toboggan Race. dent Affairs, Jackson Square. Silver sponsors are Aecon, Stuart Olson, Hamilton Street Railway, and the MSU. The money from sponsors is going toward food, buses, booking the hill, and the award gala on the

last day of the event.

This is the second time since 1975 that the competition is in Southern Ontario.

With files from Selma Al-Samarrai

THE SILHOUETTE • A5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Meet your 2010 Presidential ballot LILY PANAMSKY

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The annual MSU Presidential Election officially entered into full swing on Wednesday Jan. 20.

Seven candidates are competing to replace incumbent MSU president Vishal Tiwari.

The campaigning period will run for two weeks, at which point polling stations will be set up around campus for stu-

?

Questions

1. Nickname 2. Year 3. Program 4. Your dream car 5. First CD you owned 6. If you could be reincarnated, what animal would you be?

7. Title of your autobiography 8. Presidential slogan

mary koziol

1. Mar 2. Fourth 3. Arts & Science 4. Lance Armstrong’s bicycle 5. AQUA 6. A kangaroo.

They’re the only mammals that can pull off fanny packs.

7. Eat, Sleep & be Mary 8. Imagine more.

dents to vote. Important dates include the McMaster University Student Centre debate at 12 p.m. on Tuesday Jan. 26; the Coca Cola Referendum at 12 p.m. on Friday Jan. 29; and the Commons Debate at 6 p.m. on Tuesday February 2. For a full list of election dates, see the MSU website.

Last year, McMaster University experienced the lowest voter turnout in MSU history, with only 12.5 per cent of the student population voting.

Last year was also the first year that online campaign

was officially introduced, but there were several restrictions placed on the online campaigning tools. This year, however, online campaigning has been extended to include essentially everything possible, except for campaigning on ELM and LearnLink.

To better introduce the candidates, the Sil asked the following questions, with their responses presented in alphabetical order.

ALL PHOTOS CHRIS CHANG / SILHOUETTE STAFF

Kieran Alkerton

Ashkan Beigi

Tauseef khan

nnamedi ngene

Casey Park

aaron wade

1. Skin 2. Fourth 3. Political Science & Classics 4. The DeLorean 5. Big Shiny Tunes 3 6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 7. Under my skin 8. It’s our turn.

1. Namo 2. Fourth 3. Economics 4. Maserati Quattroporte S 5. Ricky Martin 6. Eagle 7. Patience is a Virtue 8. n/a

1. n/a 2. Fifth (or sixth depending on how you count my internship) 3. Engineering Physics & Management (Co-op) 4. Batmobile 5. Naveed - Our Lady Peace 6. Elephant 7. The man who saved the fudgesicles 8. Who can? Ashkan!

1. Parkahontas (It’s the hair, I know) 2. Fourth 3. Health Science 4. You remember that futuristic Audi that Will Smith drove in that crappy movie ‘I Robot’? Yeah.

NOT that one.

5. I got Aquarium

by Aqua and Third Eye Blind’s self-titled debut at around the same time.

6. The only animal I could see myself becoming is Ke$ha.

7. Memoirs of a Geisha 8. [Insert your campaign promise here.]

1. Bandito (There’s a backstory...it’s not what you’d think) 2. Fourth 3. Political Science 4. Any Mercedes S-Class (The most widely used headof-state vehicle in the world) 5. Puff Daddy and the Family- No Way Out (Also had a New Kids on the Block tape) 6. A tiger 7. The Chronicles of Mr. Khan 8. YES WE KHAN!

1. Socket 2. Fifth 3. Honours Biology (Biodiversity) with minor in GIS 4. Porsche Cayman 5. Aladdin Soundtrack 6. A Marauder.... what’s else?

7. Suit Up!

8. CHANGE IS COMIN

Undercovers closing, Student Centre space up for grabs • CONT’D FROM A1 and Commissioner of the SRA Services Committee, confirmed that Undercovers will not be occupying its current space in the basement of McMaster University Student Centre by September 2010.

In addition, a request for proposal has been posted on the MSU website where the MSU aims to garner ideas for new businesses and services. The form has been available for approximately two weeks and will be online until Feb. 17, 2010.

Regarding the issue of what

will be done with the newly empty space, McIntyre explained, “we have to consider [first] whether it’s useful and [second] how can we do it to minimize student costs.”

More specifically, some SRA members have had it in their platform to find a general space for prayer, and therefore the option has been

brought up in discussion for the soon-to-be unoccupied space.

“Some people have talked to religious clubs and some of them aren’t very keen on the way it would be presented because… they wouldn’t feel comfortable praying with someone of another religion or they don’t feel a general prayer space would be that effective for them… We need to consider: is this something people want?” explained McIntyre.

John McGowan, the business manager of the MSU, did not confirm that Undercovers will be closing, but does explain that the service, which opened in September 2007, has not been as “financially viable” as expected.

Regarding the requests for proposals being presented on the MSU website, McGowan explained it

was for the purpose of entertaining alternate options for the student service space.

The option of moving the Undercovers service online is further discussed by McGowan who explained that it would either be presented through an online market place where students could sell books and other miscellaneous items or a website where the MSU manages the process by receiving and maintaining an inventory of the books.

Regarding the decision-making process, the SRA is responsible for setting the direction of what would be done with the student centre space and the MSU executive board would be responsible for the assignment of the space.

McIntyre expects Undercovers to be closed by March of this year.

A6 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

EDITORIAL McMaster University’s Student Newspaper

The Silhouette TheSil.ca Editorial Board Executive Editor Jeff Green Managing Editor Bahram Dideban Senior News Editor Selma Al-Samarrai Assistant News Editor Lily Panamsky Features Editor Paige Faber Opinions Editor Peter Goffin Sports Editor Brian Decker Assistant Sports Editor David Koots Insideout Editor Lindsay Jolivet Assistant Insideout Phyllis Tsang Photo Editor Will van Engen Staff Photographer Terry Shan Multimedia Editor Ava Dideban Production Editor Katherine Marsden Web Editor Jason Lamb Health Editor Sarah Levitt Distribution Coordinator Jonathon Fairclough Business Editor Simon Granat Business Editor Santino Marinucci Ad Manager Sandro Giordano

Senior Andy Editor Grace Evans Music Editor Corrigan Hammond Entertainment Editor Myles Herod

Silhouette Staff Sam Colbert, Joey Coleman, Kevin Elliott, Noah Nemoy, Julie Compton, Jenifer Bacher, Michael Hewak, Christopher Chang, Lauren Jewett, Jacqueline Flaggiello, Natasha Pirani, Amanda Fracz

Contact Us Volume 80 2009-10 • McMaster University Student Centre, Room B110 McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, ON L8S 4S4 • Fax: (905) 529–3208 • E–Mail: thesil@thesil.ca • Production Office: (905) 525-9140, extension 27117 • Advertising: (905) 525-9140, extension 27557 • 10,000 circulation • Published by the McMaster Students Union

Write to us Opinions: Up to 600 words Letters: 100 to 300 words Submit via email by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before publication.

Legal The Silhouette welcomes letters to the editor in person at MUSC B110, or by email at thesil@thesil.ca. Please include name, address, and telephone number for verification only.

We reserve the right to edit, condense, or reject letters and opinion articles. Opinions expressed in The Silhouette are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, the publishers, university officals, or Ricter Web Printing Ltd.The Silhouette is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the McMaster Students Union.

The Silhouette board of publications acts as an intermediary between the editorial board, the McMaster community, and the McMaster Students Union. Grievances regarding The Silhouette may be forwarded in writing to: McMaster Students Union, McMaster University Student Centre, Room 201, L8S 4S4, Attn:The Silhouette Board of Publications.The board will consider all submissions and make recommendations accordingly.

thesil@thesil.ca

executive editor: extension 22052

Elections don’t matter to Mac In last week’s editorial (Look in my eyes…, Jan. 14) I asked that student government prorogue, to give up the sham government that they claim to be a part of, and just tell students that we’re paying them to do nothing. I asked it one week before the class-president elections for a reason: I wanted to take the pulse of the students of McMaster, finding out if they care about student politics enough to write a letter outlining why we need them. Why we need MAPS, the MSU and the SRA. One week later, and only one letter - and it agreed that student government should prorogue.

Maybe many people didn’t read it – perhaps nobody read it (although that’s not the buzz that I got from select SRA members).

If the end result of this pulse experiment is that nobody cares; should we at the Silhouette even cover the MSU Presidential elections?

I’m sure the MSU would prefer that we didn’t, because if we did we’d have to remind them that the last three haven’t done anything worth noting, and that the job doesn’t necessarily require a large set of skills besides being able to get to work before noon and attending all home football games.

Only one in ten people come out to vote anyways, but let’s hope that one of those people read this too. But then again, in a school known for its apathy, who cares?

I’m asking the readers, the ones who pick up the paper week-in week-out, Should we cover the elections?

Just send thesil@thesil.ca a letter with two or three words to tell us what you think: “cover it,” or “don’t cover it.”

• Jeff Green <thesil@thesil.ca>

Haiti, and what you can do to help 200,000 people. Most people can’t even fathom that many people, let alone the black hole that most hearts find when upwards of 200,000 leave this world at once. In Haiti’s 7.0 earthquake, that’s exactly what happened.

It’s been over a week now, and successive aftershocks, including one on Wednesday that reached 5.9 on the Richter scale – remind us that aid will never arrive soon enough.

For a timeline of the events told through photos and small video clips, check out: www.dipity.com/timeline/Haiti-Earthquake Lily Panamsky’s article on page one outlines a McMaster group, “Help Haiti Campaign,” who has been accepting donations (from money to clothing) on behalf of Dove’s Mission. Look for them in the Student Center all week.

If you want to double your contribution, any donation to World Vision before February 12 will be matched by the Canadian Government. Just go to www.worldvision.ca.

Closer to home, a group from the Westdale area has been going to Haiti for 15 years to “bring a day of celebration” to the people of Haiti in the form of an annual run. “Haiti – Training for Solidarity” was on their annual flight over there when the quake hit. They have decided to hold a 10K/20K walk/race on Jan. 30 to raise funds for the nation in distress, starting at Westdale School. Contact the Runner’s Den in Westdale for more information, or go to www.runnersden.com.

Any help is still help. Events like this are tragic, and to some unimaginable, but you can do something. These are just a few of many examples. Choose to help, in any way you can.

• Jeff Green

Letters:

Re: Sports re-cap error Dear Silhouette, For the last 3 years, I’ve seen some interesting and factual articles come out of your newspaper. There is no doubt that I enjoy reading the different types of articles that are in within each issue.

However, your” 2000-2009 Sports Recap” section in this week’s edition was left with an error that tops of my thoughts of how you are a typical North American based media source that gives little attention to the game of soccer.

The Los Angeles Lakers HAVE NOT won the most championship titles than any other team in the decade as you noted. You claimed that their 3-peat plus one in 2009 was more titles that any other team, anywhere, in the last 10 years.

Without venturing into European basketball leagues, I can assure you that other teams in other sports have accumulated more than 4 championships.

Manchester United: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009 F.C. Porto: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Inter Milan: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Brazil: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009

the exception of some continental titles) in the last decade. Therefore, your statement is incorrect.

But with this error, comes the thought that the sport of soccerprobably the most cared about in the school-is overlooked greatly in your newspaper. There are little stories about the global game, and even the school soccer teams are reported on with incorrect information that was copied and pasted from the OUA website. There was minor justice done when the school soccer team was given a colour picture on the front page!

So, I never thought my procrastination would one day turn to be useful. But I guess it has. Your error has interested me to write to you and claim that this “Top 10” is clearly flawed. Do the sport some justice.

A. Costa

Re: Editorial I liked it. A lot.

But you were very wrong...

The queen mum would be completely unable to say anything because she’s dead.

These are soccer teams which Cheers, have one championships, either national or international (even with Jean Thompson

Worth Repeating:

Nova Scotia proclaims itself Canada’s university Capital

BIBLE HILL, N.S. (CUP) – With its 11 universities, the province of Nova Scotia has long been proud of its post-secondary opportunities.

This month, it’s gone a step further, officially proclaiming itself as the university capital of Canada.

On Jan. 11, the province launched the “Canada’s University Capital” slogan as the latest tier of its “Come to Life” marketing campaign, intending to shine a spotlight on the universities that dot the landscape of the eastern province.

Bill Estabrooks, Nova Scotia’s minister of transportation and infrastructure, said that the goal of the campaign is to increase enrolment in Nova Scotia’s universities and to “send a strong message to the rest of the country and to the rest of the world . . . (that) Nova Scotia is the destination for education.”

The campaign is a different approach to post-secondary educa-

tion marketing, as the province’s 11 universities have put away their rivalries to team up and market themselves as a group.

Other provinces may have grounds to challenge the slogan, however. Ontario, for instance, has twice as many degree-granting universities. Estabrooks has cited small class sizes, wide program options and strong research facilities as the reasoning behind the slogan.

Nova Scotia is home to some of Canada’s oldest as well as some of its most unique universities. The Nova Scotia Agricultural College, for instance, is Atlantic Canada’s only agriculture university, and St. Francis Xavier University has frequently been considered Canada’s top undergraduate university by MacLean’s magazine.

Nova Scotia is also home to Canada’s second-most expensive undergraduate tuition, though Estabrooks pointed out that the average undergraduate tuition cost in Nova Scotia fell last year by 3.1 per cent.

to mama k - that beef on a bun was da bomb. boom goes the dynamite.

to the m. (t.b. and s.b.) - don’t say it so loud if you don’t want it heard.

to ron johnson. wwrjd?

to no more moustache. my upper lip is so cold.

Shawn Loo The Golden Ram

Volunteer Want to get involved? Come attend one of our sectional meetings in the basement of the student center, room b110 News: Wednesdays @ 12:30 pm InsideOut: Mondays @ 1:00 pm Sports: Thursdays @ 2:30 pm Andy: Mondays @ 1:30 pm Photo: Fridays @ 3:30 pm Opinions: Tuesdays @ 11:30 am (all opinions can be mailed to opinions@thesil.ca, keep them 500-700 words)

Corrections

The Silhouette makes every effort to be accurate. If you discover a mistake, please notify us via e-mail at thesil@thesil.ca with the subject “corrections.” We will include the correction in the following issue of the Silhouette.

to roller coasters. in malls. to sleep.

to roller coasters backwards.

to drinking with your boss.

to my immune system. not now, baby, not now.

to linen closets. ew.

to the smallest pool ever.

to egypt.

to the city of edmonton and stabbings.

to whiskey but not vodka. to staff trips. aw.

to losing my hard drive, and my passport.

THE SILHOUETTE • A7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

OPINIONS

production office: extension 27117

opinions@thesil.ca

Forget ideology. It’s your mind.

AVA DIDEBAN / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

As parties and ideological leaders vie for the allegiances of the general public, remember that only you can choose what to believe in Peter Goffin

OPINIONS EDITOR

So I’m left-wing. I’m a small-l liberal, who often votes big-L Liberal and is wary of Libertarians and hates Neo-Liberals. And if I were American I guess I might vote for the Democrats, which means I would be anti-G.O.P., which for some reason means Republican. Right? Or, I mean, left.

But how do I know I’m a liberal? Well, I don’t discriminate against anyone, for one thing. I’m openminded and accepting of every way of life. And I’m certainly not some backwards, bible-toting, bigoted, ignorant redneck conservative hick.

Oh. Well, now that I say that, it sounds kind of discriminatory towards conservatives. And religious people.And rural communities. Hell, it’s even discriminatory towards racists. But wouldn’t discrimination against racists be a good thing? Yeah, but it would still be discriminatory and unfair. What if some of those guys are decent in other respects?

So maybe liberalism is intolerance of discrimination as long as

that discrimination isn’t against the discriminatory. Okay, dig it: I am a liberal therefore I will discriminate against all those whom I identify as discriminatory, but no one else.

And I’m a liberal because I believe in freedom of speech, and freedom of belief and freedom of politics.

But what counts as discriminatory? And if a group is equally discriminatory and discriminated against, like say, the Catholic Church, am I supposed to protect their right to worship freely, or denigrate their intolerance of other religions? And at what point does freedom take precedence over discrimination? If a person discriminates, does he lose his freedom of belief? I don’t think so.

But where do the two sides meet?

Shit. That’s a lot to handle.

So what is liberal? Well, it’s a label, created out of thin air to describe intangible, abstract qualities. Liberal is a dot on a continuous line, called ideology, which was also created out of thin air to describe the intangible.

According to the versatility of that ideological line, you can be a liberal Conservative or a conserva-

tive Liberal, or you can be fiscally liberal and socially conservative or the other way around. Or you can be a Neo-Liberal because you believe in having the freedom to do anything with money, or a Libertarian because you believe in the freedom to do anything you want at all.

Sounds kind of made up, kind of like borders on a map. And it is.

There’s no actual distinction. I’m a liberal, you’re a conservative, he’s a fascist, she’s an anarchist. And we know we are different because we carry different cards, we have different names for what we are. But it’s all fake and artificially constructed.And it’s all equally muddled and unclear.

The textbook definitions say that liberals promote change and conservatives hate it, but conservatives vote to change things like tax law all the time. Other people tell you that as a conservative you must oppose big government, because no one should ever be told what to do by an elected official. But tell that to anti-abortionists and the lobby against same-sex marriage.

I would define myself as liberal, I like liberals, I believe in liberal causes. But I’m also aware

that the only thing that makes me liberal is that I happen, by coincidence, to hold many of the same beliefs as other people who define themselves as liberal. I subscribe to a certain way of thinking which we have decided to call leftist, or liberal and sometimes Liberal.

I am also aware that liberalism, as an abstract institution, and especially Liberals, the political party, are not always going to further goals and beliefs that I share.

And that when that happens, I may cease to be a liberal and have to become something more radical.

You see, it’s not binding. I don’t believe what I believe because I am a liberal. Rather, I am a liberal based on what I believe. I’m the definer.

I’ve just settled on “liberal” as the most efficient way to summarize what I believe in.

The trouble is that everyone gets so caught up in these labels, these party lines that they no longer make their own decisions. It becomes a vote by allegiance. Because, we assume, if we identify with the general ideology of a political party, and that party supports a cause or movement,

it must be in our best interests to support it too. But that’s bunk.

The general population is not made up of politicians. We are individuals with our own individual ideas. And if those individual ideas don’t match up exactly to the ideas of the party we traditionally support, we should be able to switch allegiances or cancel them all together. We should, for example be able to say “I believe in the importance of fixing climate change,” or “I believe in free and accessible healthcare,” and still define ourselves as conservative. We just might not be Conservative. We should be able to make our own judgements.

We are defined by our actions and our beliefs, not our allegiances, and sometimes actions and beliefs aren’t so black and white. But if we really follow them, and not the dictum of a party, not the line that is assigned to us when we say that we are liberal or conservative or other, then the designations are worthless. Which they pretty much are anyway. They do not exist in the real world. There is no ideological physical state of being.

I’m not a liberal, I’m me.

What’s your money up to these days?

Cassandra Jeffery

spoiled, over privileged twentysomething because your parents can afford to pay your tuI’ve always been a grateful, independ- ition. It would be extremely ent individual, I think. I’ve grown hypocritical of me, seeing as I up with a family who supports me myself have my schooling paid for. both financially and emotionally, However, my weekend at Trent but I’ve always been independent opened my eyes to just how privin the sense that not everything ileged some students are. Living alwas handed to lowances of $100 per me by my parents. week in addition to My parents have $10,000 for a semesOver the weekend, I went ter of school is somehelped me out to visit a friend at that my parents financially... but thing Trent University in do not indulge me in Peterborough for they would never and, in my opinion, her 19th birthday. is a little excessive. dish out an She lives on resiMy friend for exdence so I had the exceptionally large ample, whom I love amount of chance to meet her dearly (although I friends and get a money for me to have to admit has little taste of life on bit of a shopping adrez. Although it was blow on something diction), racks up frivolous.” fun and her friends her Visa bills with were extremely “must-have” shoes welcoming, I realand halter tops saying ized how reliant she’ll pay it off with some people are on their parents for the money she’s expecting financial support while at university. from her parents.

Before you get the wrong imI’m sad to say, the infusion of pression, I would like to clarify parental money rarely reaches the that I am very fortunate because Visa account as the need for new my parents are able to help me jeans becomes more of a priority. out in financial situations, includOther students whom I met ing my tuition for McMaster. during my stay at Trent, will take I am not at all saying you’re a • PLEASE SEE LEARN, A9 SILHOUETTE STAFF

TERRY SHAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Some kids just get money handed to them by their parents. Bastards.

A8 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Learn the democratic process by doing This world needs more Mr. Smiths going to Washington. Or Ottawa.

Your face here

AVA DIDEBAN / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

If Jimmy Stewart could make a difference you can. Make the best of democracy.

Chris Erl

he tries desperately to make a small ripple in a vast pond called government, but runs up against a wall of In his iconic 1939 film, legend- corruption, falsities and bureaucracy ary director Frank Capra cast so unmovable, the task of destroythe humble Jimmy Stewart as the ing it seems impossible. bumbling, innocent and passionA testament to the will and ately idealistic Jefferson Smith, strength of the human spirit folappointed to the U.S. Senate lows, as he throws his body against through a coin toss. the gears of a machine that threatDuring the course of the film, ens not only the well-being of his OPINION

constituents, but of the whole structure of the democratic system.

And when democracy needed a hero more than ever before, Jefferson Smith rose to the occasion, smashing the machine and saving freedom for all America and for all humanity.

Seventy years have passed, and we now stand a full decade into the 21st century, slithering faster

and faster toward the precipice for council. from which we cannot return.

There’s a provincial election in Slowly, calmly, we are let- 2011, register as a candidate. Federal ting our democratic system die. elections happen at the whim of the We are neglecting this treasure, Prime Minister, stand for Parliament. this thing of beauty; this idea that Running, even if you don’t all people are free and equal and win, still gets a message across. have the opportunity to stand and I registered to run in the SRA be heard and make great change by-elections back in October. in the world. The dying cries of I ran a low profile, high idealthose who sacrificed everything ism campaign and got to talk to to create this system go unheard people about the issues I felt as we feel more and more dis- strongly about. I won 14 votes out possessed from our democracy. of 121, but I sparked debates about We look at fedthe issues I felt paseral government sionately about, got and see nothing but So here’s the chal- people involved in partisan bickering lenge: take your the process who and showmanship. wouldn’t idealism and run normally We look at provhave voted and with it. Literally. stuck my neck out incial government and see a system We’re all over 18, for what I believe in. lacking in even the we’re all big kids to Ifrunyoufor register most basic tools to Parlianow and, most complete their job ment, and focus your with ease. importantly, we’re campaign on how We look at muyou would change nicipal government eligible to vote, not our democratic to mentions run. system, you’ll win and see developers and businessvotes. If you run a men buying votes municipal campaign in exchange for permits. We look centered around preventing antiat student government and see student by-laws, you’ll win votes. a training ground for the career If you run an SRA campaign about politicians who will populate the fixing our apathy, you’ll win votes. legislatures of tomorrow, handiEach vote is a sign that somecapped by petty arguments and body heard you. Somebody foolish notions of superiority. agrees with you. Somebody reAnd this is where we go wrong. membered you. Somebody cares What did Jefferson Smith about what you care about. have that we’ve lost? What did You don’t need money or the suffragettes have that we connections or an intricate can’t fathom? What unites revolu- understanding of modern fitionaries worldwide, fighting for nance to run in an election. freedom from oppression that All you need is pure, unwe can’t even begin to imagine? adulterated, idealism. Show the Idealism. people that you’re willing to stand So here’s the challenge: take up for a system you believe in. your idealism and run with it. Lit- Show the people they can never erally. We’re all over 18, we’re all tell you it can’t be done. Show big kids now and, most importantly, the people what you believe in. we’re eligible to vote, not to menAnd now, when democracy tion run. There are elections all the needs a hero more than ever time on campus, run in them. This before, you can rise to the occasion. year is a municipal election year, run You can be our Mr. Smith.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

It’s not the bad “F-word” anymore

It isn’t hateful to want to learn about women’s rights

THE SILHOUETTE • A9

?

Feedback How do you afford your tuition payments?

Women’s rights movements have changed over the years, but many stereotypes remain the same.

Cassandra Jeffery SILHOUETTE STAFF

Feminism is, definition, the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights for women in an amount equal to men. It is an organized movement for the attainment of such rights for women. It is feminine character. Those who believe feminism is a frivolous, insignificant joke, studied by manhating “capital-F” Feminists who do not shave their legs, or wear bras, and sport socks with sandals need a serious reality check.

Since high school, I’ve always been considered a feminist, but the truth is I don’t exactly know what it means to be one. I believe strongly in women’s equality to men and that the oppression of women (whether it is through cultural norms, social structure, or male behaviour) is not meant to be the punch line of a joke. Do these views

on basic women’s rights automatically make me the person that I am?

More importantly, do they validate my general knowledge as a supposed feminist? I believe the rights of indigenous people are also important; does that imply that I’m a radical indigenous rights advocate as well?

The concept of feminism has been skewed by the media to the point where the definition is completely irrelevant to what society perceives a feminist as. In grade 12, I prepared a presentation for an English class. The objective of the presentation was to discuss a theme related to the course novels. I chose to do my presentation on the oppression of women in the work force. And no, I didn’t choose the subject because I consider myself to be a devout feminist. It just so happened to be a reoccurring theme.

So I gave my spiel and at the end of my presentation a guy raised his hand and asked, “So um, do you,

Dear Reader, I would like to take a moment to remember a dear friend of mine – facial hair – which this past week was shaved before its time, leaving me alone and naked and cold. It didn’t look good but I felt good. And now I have nowhere to turn.

I cross my eyes and look downward and see only my upper lip. I rest my face in my hands to weep but it’s too smooth, there’s no traction and I slip.

I have no hold.

Understand that this is not an easy time for me and that anything I may do which hurts anyone is done not out of disdain or malice but grief.

You were thin, you were reedy, you made me look deranged.

But you grew on me.

Literally.

like, hate men?” I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard at anything a man has said before. And, in case you’re wondering, the answer to this very intelligent and legitimate question is: I do not hate men, they are fine and dandy. Well, some of them at least.

But the point of the presentation was to explain that in some circumstances inequalities between men and women do occur.

It was not my purpose to convince my peers that I’m a radical feminist who despises all men. It is true that in some circumstances people can take the notion of feminism to an extreme. Ignoring, physically or verbally harming, manipulating, and hating men because your boyfriend broke up with you right before Valentine’s Day is probably not the way to go about such situations.

And blaming your social problems on men isn’t very justifiable.

It is assumed that women

SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO

such as myself, who are taking a Women’s Studies course, share radical views towards men. In reality, however, the course has yet to discuss any implications of men oppressing women. Feminism is often portrayed in a negative way, but the Women’s Studies course that I am enrolled in this term attempts to re-define these negative stereotypes and studies the perspective of women through multiple facets.

Class involves discussing the oppression of women as related to such subjects as the media, the concept of beauty, and gender roles. So as a result, I don’t consider myself to be a feminist if feminism is defined as someone who generally hates all men.

And I shave my legs so I guess I’m going against feminist ways. But I do consider myself a feminist in the sense that I believe that fair treatment is essential to both women and men.

Learn to use your parents’ money sensibly • CONT’D FROM A7 off to Toronto for the day, drop a grand in a couple of hours and call daddy the next day explaining how the much needed $200 pair of shoes was an essential match for the $250 coat also purchased.

It seems as though money is of no concern to some individuals. They have no concept of saving or planning for the future because money can be transferred into their accounts in a matter of minutes.

I actually envy those who have worked gruelling hours at McDonald’s to pay for both their daily lifestyle and their education.

They, however, may envy others who have everything paid for them, but in reality that money supply from the parental coffers will eventually run out. I consider myself to be in this predicament.

Growing up I had everything set for me, school was paid for, food was provided, and the necessities of a

16-year-old high school girl (clothes, make-up, shoes) were generally accessible through my parents’ funds.

Moving away from my financial support network when I started university really put money into perspective for me. I realized it was time to grow up, take initiative, and start putting my finances in order.

My parents have helped, and continue to help, me out financially and for that I’m eternally grateful. But they would never dish out an exceptionally large amount of money for me to blow on frivolous, materialistic items.

For that, I’m also grateful because it has instilled in me a certain sense of value, and a gratitude for just how lucky I am.

Working hard to save for something in life is a much more fulfilling and rewarding feeling than simply being given everything.

Independence doesn’t count if you still get a weekly allowance.

“My parents pay for it.”

Kelley Christopherson

“[The money comes] from my parents, scholarships and external funding.”

Suparna Sharma

“My parents pay.”

Evan Wilkinson

Earn a buck.

Work for the Sil. thesil@thesil.ca

“OSAP.” Mike Tran

Okay so we can’t pay our volunteers. But the first three people to volunteer will get a male deer. Hi-yo!

Compiled by Peter Goffin and Terry Shan

A10 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Campus radio deserves a boost Don’t buy Change

Medium could be great with a little publicity

the hype; can be food is ours if we great want it

Go ahead and Recognize the indulge yourself. need to get new You’ll thank me. leadership Katherine Marsden PRODUCTION EDITOR

Jason Lamb WEB EDITOR

SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO

Gather ‘round the old radio and have a listen.

Eric Williams OPINION

I’m sure I would think far more highly of McMaster Radio if I ever heard it. It has zero presence on campus. With all due respect to the hardworking individuals who are employed there, the only time I ever hear about it is when I talk with one of them.

Mac radio should be broadcast around campus. It should be in the concrete pad outside the library, inside the marketplace and food court, and outside of the athletic centre.

They should also get some kind of digital display that they can put

up information or notices, or ads to generate revenue, but mainly for info. My high school’s radio station had more presence. Can you name a single D.J. or McMaster radio personality? Neither can I. I like what I’ve heard on the radio driving to campus from time to time, but it’s always an afterthought to me.

The key to this vision is a symbiotic relationship between the Silhouette and McMaster Radio.When I go to the Silhouette’s website, I want to hear the McMaster radio playing.

It should be impossible to cut through campus without hearing a little of it, unless you are wearing earphones. The Sil can provide information and news content for

the radio people to broadcast. This cross promotion should build and culminate in the creation of a weekly student news TV/web program.

Both organizations should more actively recruit and take advantage talents in the Multimedia program.

At the University of Western Ontario, the paper and the radio have much more presence. Part of this is funding, but mostly it is organization. Right now, McMaster might have the best radio programming in the world, but most people I know are blissfully unaware of it. By integrating the radio and the newspaper, we will end up with an organization stronger than the sum of its parts.

Right four Oipnoins Get good at writitng and stuff. thesil@thesil.ca

Section meetings Tuesdays at 11:30 in MUSC B110

Food and I have always had a strained relationship; I’m always clinging to it, wanting more of it, while simultaneously being told time and time again that I should stop liking it so much because it’s eventually going to do bad things to me.

However, as much as the world (read: my mom) warns me that I ought to eat healthier, I can’t help but ignore these warnings and continue on with my horrendous eating habits. Maybe it’s because I lack the willpower to cut certain foods out of my life for good, or maybe it’s because after all these years I’m still not obese, despite the array of grease, starch, and fat that I eat on a weekly basis.

Part of it is also that I refuse to cut foods out of my diet that people have been eating for centuries (millenniums even!), without, at least I’m assuming, deleterious consequences. Butter, for example, is one of those foods that has been around since Mesopotamian times, and for some idiotic reason, people these days would rather slather their bagels and croissants with Becel – a great alternative to butter if you like consuming something that has the texture, taste, and look of plastic. Sure, butter’s loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol and (gasp!) salt, but at least it’s natural.

Obviously I’m not going to butter everything I put in my mouth, but I’m certainly not going to fret about buttering a piece of toast in the morning, or using it when I cook.

The same goes for milk. All this skim milk bullshit really grinds my gears. If you’re going to drink non-fat milk that is nearly transparent and looks like water with a murky tinge to it, why don’t you go ahead and just drink water instead. Milk is supposed to be creamy, and yes, fatty, and I’m inclined to think that no one in the world has died prematurely from drinking too much two percent.

So to all you health fiends out there, go to hell. Until the time comes that I keel over from obesity due to eating too much butter or too much milk, I will continue with my reckless eating ways. Try and stop me.

Apathy, annoyance...anger.

Call it what you will, but with the MSU elections coming soon I just find I can’t give a good goddamn about it.

For all it’s worth it could be because in the last three years I’ve been here they’ve somehow managed to post a deficit twice.

They lost $241,000 in 20072008 and then lost another $356,089 in 2008-2009, despite assurances from then Vice President (Finance) Ian Finlay that he expected a balanced budget or even a small net surplus that year.

Yet still the MSU marches on, an unguided mess, continuously throwing money, our money, at the problem with the hope that the almighty dollar will solve their woes.

And then there’s the SRA, our Student Representative Assembly, who goes along with the game.

In April of this year, they, along with the MSU, approved $400,000 to renovate and re-brand Quarters into what now is 1280.

This after Quarters has lost almost $780,000 in the past two years and a total of $1.2 million since it’s opening in 2002.

Now I’m not a financial adviser, business man, or accountant of any type, but I know when you burn $1.2 million of student money in eight years it’s time to cut your losses.

You don’t go down in the flames of a sinking ship by throwing more money at it; you get the hell out.

And hey, what has $400,000 gotten us in the new 1280? The food’s (somehow) worse and the service is still (somehow) the same.

Unlike some, I won’t ask you to not vote in these upcoming elections.

No, that would be counterproductive. Instead I simply ask you to think of who you’re voting for.

Are they qualified to run a service in which 20,000 plus students pay into?

Are they the same goons who have been part of the problem these past couple years?

Just because the MSU doesn’t give an apparent damn about you doesn’t mean you can’t change that.

THE SILHOUETTE • A11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

The difference between shits and pricks The world needs more shits and fewer pricks. It’s for our own good.

Peter Goffin OPINIONS EDITOR

Now, it has been said that I am a shit. Let’s face it, I am a bit of a shit.

At least I can be when I want to.

A gen-u-ine pain in the ass shit. But I’m the best-intentioned shit you’ll ever meet. Granted, not all shits are good shits. The general rule of thumb is that there are little ones and big ones. Little Shits are weasels. You go “Man, that guy’s such a little shit,” and you say it with pure disdain. You’ve hated every Little Shit you’ve ever met. It was a Little Shit who knocked over your mother’s vase when you were kids and blamed it on your sister.

But I’m one of the good ones.The Big Shits. A shit like that, you might not want to spend a weekend with but eventually you’ve got to respect him. “What a shit!” you say, but you smile wryly and shake your head in admiring disbelief. It’s the “What a shit!” shits who draw acclaim. Let’s assume those are the true shits.

I’m proud to be one of them.

Big Shits get stuff done. But we have become a world of too many pricks and not enough shits.

Not to go too Freudian on you here, but shits are givers. Shit: it’s expulsive. Pricks are retentive. Pricks are all bundled up within themselves. They’re not givers. They’re only looking out for Number One. When the going gets tough they just pull out. Pricks try to get away with things. They’re the middle-management snakes, the self-important officials. Straight-laced, strict, uncaring. “What a prick,” you say and you get all enraged and curse him.

Revolutionaries like these are always shits. But the guys they overthrow are generally pricks. Isn’t history fun?

But shits, ah, shits are different. Shits raise hell. Shits get in the way. Shits affect change. Shits speak up and challenge authority, upset the status quo.

Every pioneer, every trailblazer, every revolutionary had to be enough of a shit to say, “Fuck you pricks and the way the world is ‘supposed to be.’ I’m doing my own thing.”

If nothing else, a shit’s got balls; balls that a prick doesn’t have.

Shits are the guys who fight for freedom, who startle the monocles off the noses of pricks. But they’ve weeded all the shits out of society. The school system does not tolerate shits in the same way that it tolerates pricks. Shits talk in class and make fun of the teacher and want to go out for recess an hour early. Pricks love tests and compare marks with everyone and volunteer to be hall mon-

itor. Schools like pricks. Pricks are rewarded. Children are conditioned to be pricks and not shits.

And pricks find success. Pricks go into politics, pricks become generals, pricks become captains of industry. The brand of stingy, frigid ruthlessness it takes to succeed in those areas calls for a prick.

And it’s precisely when pricks are running the world, and instituting unfair policies, and op-

pressing people, and generally acting prickish that we need for Big Shits to step in and mess things up. Right the wrongs. Give those pricks whatfor. Hit the fan.

Sometimes it’s important to be a shit. A big shit, gregarious and loud and obtrusive and menacing.

Because pricks have a tendency to take control. And when they do, they’re insufferable. That’s when you need a Big Shit to bring peace.

We need a better class of library ‘round here Technology has given librarying a whole new potential. Let’s use it.

Eric Williams OPINION

With all due respect to our hard working library staff, the McMaster Library system needs a shot in the arm. There are some exciting new virtual technologies, which allow for the ability to visualize data relations. For example, say you were doing a research essay on electrification.

A visual system might present a way of showing how the different available sources cite each other. So if everyone is citing a specific book, data visualizing makes it instantly obvious.

This is an exciting new area of Information Technology that creates interesting opportunities to combine media technologies with traditionally low-tech fields.

Think of it as a way to visualize book relationships in a manner reminiscent of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Google search uses a similar system to determine page ranking. We already use citations as the key method of ranking academic sources and scholarly prestige, but a more advanced data system would make these

The library is a cool place but it could be so much better. relationships easier to recognize.

Another key feature missing is student feedback. When I look at a source I want to see feedback information about it. Numerical ratings by faculty, graduates and undergraduates ratings would be

useful for clarity and usefulness.

Comments would also be relevant.

Something like, “Great read. I ended up reading the whole book when I only needed a chapter.” Also desirable would be information about how many times the resource was

SILHOUETTE FILE PHOTO

used and how recently. Amazon. com-style cross-referencing would also be great, showing us whether people who took out this book also looked at this other one.

All of these technologies are especially useful with online resour-

ces, which allow one to collect a days worth of reading in a few minutes – all in the comfort of your bathrobe.

Expanding such a system to include other universities would provide more useful feedback, and great new fields for social scientists to explore. Why are certain books more popular at certain schools? We could find out.

The key benefit is that we could capture and store important analyses about source quality, done freely by students every day, but currently not used in a meaningful way. Figure out a way to connect the system with Facebook, and we would have the makings of a new library system, which would go a long way towards postmillennial information overload.

Virtual technologies are great, but you should still go to the library. It’s a great place to meet (smart) girls, and I love the positive reinforcement of looking around and seeing other people studying.

Peer pressure works. That being said, the technology sophistication of our library system is far behind the times. The student body would really benefit from a more modern approach to Information Systems.

A12 • THE SILHOUETTE

SpeculatoR The Hamilton

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009

INSIDE THE SPECULATOR A6: B7: Q3:

Thursday, January 21, 2009 F Thumb goes on the outside.

Konservative Potato Gun Pandemic Hits Westdale Kraft Irish suspected Korner Duck Hemsworth The Speculator

This week: Kare Packages Emily Post III Etiquette Expert This week in Konservative Kraft Korner, we’re going to show you how to make a care package for Haitians in need after the recent earthquake catastrophe. Because even Konservative Kare sometimes.

First you’re going to need a box. A shoe box is good, but be sure not to use one that held a particularly expensive pair of shoes. It might make the less fortunate feel inferior. And if you’re not there in person to see it, there’s really no point.

Next you are going to want to decorate the box. Because poor people like pretty things. It’s a well-documented fact. Though not documented by me; I wouldn’t go near a poor person. Try pasting pictures from Forbes magaizine, things that show democratic capitalists having a good time. It’s at precisely a time like this that the Commies could infiltrate and pervert the entire population. You could also paste newspaper clippings about good weather onto the box. Power of positive thinking!

Most importantly you are going to need some things to put into the box.

We suggest these objects: 1 – A bible. Because in this time of need God is the best rescue worker around. Of course the earthquake was an act of God and I suppose part of His divine plan. Unless he didn’t mean for it to happen and those types of things are out of his control, in which case prayer wouldn’t really help. But it will keep the people busy.

Residents of Westdale are fuming over the latest fad that has a grip on students in Westdale. The “potato gun” has made a comeback, and has turned the streets of Westdale into what one Irish-Westdalian called, “just like me ma’s kitchen floor.”

No one seems to know why the fad came back into popularity, but Hamilton Sanitary Service (HSS) has called on three top members of their K-9 unit to clean up the mess.

“I don’t know if they’re up for the job,” said Jimmy McPhadden of HSS, “I mean, we starve these dogs, but that’s a shit load of potato plugs.”

The potato gun fad is nothing new for Westdale resident Eustace Briggs. “I remember the time when we had no potatoes, and then we had potatoes, and then we had potato plugs everywhere. Because the famine was so fresh in people’s memory, they started to eat the potato plugs. And not all of them were potato plugs.”

Other fads that have passed through Westdale since segregation was banished was the yo-yo, pogs, pokemon, reading and public masturbation. All ended in several deaths, but Westdale Mayor Lanny McDonald hopes this fad will end differently.

“This K-9 unit has done a great job, I just hope they don’t kill people like they did last time.”

Letter to the Editor: Trees and why they are ruining my love life.

2 – A French to Army dictionary. Canada is sending troops to help out. But even our boys in green-khaki-beige-brown, with their superb education and excellent diction are hard to understand sometimes so give the locals a list of phrases they may hear while talking to soldiers. Like, “expendable lives,” or “necessary force,” or “Yeah, we’re not staying here,” or “At least no one is shooting at us yet”.

3 Food. The entire country needs nourishment. And while picking which items would be best for the people of Haiti, try imagining what you would want to have at a time of crisis. Paté is always popular. And my husband swears by this little sushi place downtown which delivers. Of course there s cake. We should, by all means, let the people of Haiti eat cake.

4 – Letters of encouragement. Explain to them how nice a place Haiti is when it’s not falling apart. Remember, if the Haitians start leaving Haiti, they’ll probably start coming here.

Dear the Speculator, This is an open letter to the students and faculty of McMaster. I have a complaint that I think I share with several of you out there, you beautiful people, you hegemonics of Hamilton, kings of campus, woyalty of Westdale. But now I’m getting ahead of myself. And before I go making highly contentious assertions I would like to start off on a footing of universal agreement. And so I put it to you: cleavage. Cleavage, my friends, so simple a unifier it is a wonder that the United Nations hasn’t put it to use since the early days of the Korean war.

And now I present to you an entity which carries with it a nearly equal level of passion provoking potential: falling. The crux of my argument is this: There are holes in the highest traffic area of the student centre. Those holes are filled with tress which, granted, are nice and leafy and green. But the other nice thing that occurs in the student centre is cleavage. Lots of it. Scary amounts of cleavage leaping and bounding and frolicking and tumbling and grazing and roaming and just plain old existing free over there in the student centre.

And, not that I’m a guy with a problem or anything and not that I’ve got a wandering eye, but sooner or later there is a look, then a leer, then a stare, then I lock eyes with object of so much lascivious desire and can’t free myself. Yes, it’s been awhile for me. Mother says beggars can’t be choosers but I think I’m a catch, especially since they convicted those Toronto 18 guys and my thing got swept out of the papers.

Anyway, when I’m let’s say distracted, there is the looming likelihood that I am going to fall into one of those tree holes and get stuck and possibly ruin my shot with the charming lass before me. And that would be an awful shame, especially because, in my hypothetical situation anyway, I’d have a real good shot with this girl. So I say cut the damn trees down. It’s either us or them. And I say we get them before they get us by God. Cut them down and fill in their game-ruining holes.

Death to holes!

Sincerely, Solomon Ostero

“What Did You Learn This Week, Timmy?”

“I learned

that a man eating alone at McDonald’s at 4 a.m. is a force to be reckoned with. And respect.”

Disclaimer: Stories printed in The Hamilton Speculator are fact. Any resemblance to persons real or dead is likely intentional and done out of spite. Opinions expressed are those of The Speculator and if you disagree with them you are wrong. And stupid. Possibly ugly as well.

THE SILHOUETTE • B1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

SPORTS

production office: extension 27117

sports@thesil.ca

Olympics

Jesse Lumsden named to 2010 Olympic team DAVID KOOTS

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO C/O RICHARD ZAZULAK

The Marauders quest for a national championship will rely heavily on fifth year star and offensive catalyst Taylor Smith. Smith picked up her 500th career assist in Wednesday night’s 80-69 loss to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

Learning to be

Women’s Vball

Contenders BRIAN DECKER SPORTS EDITOR

The McMaster Marauders have a special player in Taylor Smith. Even with a solid young core and a menacing supporting cast, Smith is the team’s catalyst and the player who drives the bus.

On Wednesday night, Smith reached 500 assists for her career, a milestone that shows how much she has meant to this team over her five-year career, and how she is the Marauders’ best hope to make a deep playoff run this season. The milestone is a Marauder record, one she has held since third year when she surpassed Christin Dickenson’s total of 293.

As has been the case all season, Smith has done her best Steve Nash impression and proved why she is worthy of MVP consideration in her fifth and final season. Led by Smith’s creative playmaking and spot-on shooting, the Marauders boast the second best offence in the OUA. Flying under the radar this season, McMaster has surprised a number of teams with their balanced offence and stingy defence. After handing the Windsor Lancers their

first loss of the season, no one should be surprised with this team anymore.

Unfortunately for Marauder fans, on Wednesday night the team fell to the infamous ‘trap game’ and followed up their euphoric win with a disappointing 80-69 loss to the Laurier Golden Hawks, who came in with a meager 5-7 record.

A young core and a veteran leader characterize the Marauders, who will host this year’s CIS Tournament in March. Super rookie Nicole Rosenkranz and third year forward Taylor Chiarot give opposing frontcourts a handful every game, and experienced guards Rebecca Rewi and Lisa-Marie Iavarone have hassled opposing guards into making turnovers all season.

But with this team, everything starts and ends with Smith. Averaging a CIS-leading 6.8 assists per game and a team high 13.4 points per game, there is no doubt whose hands the ball belongs in when it really matters.

“We say it every game, she carries this team,” said Head Coach Theresa Burns after Smith’s second half heroics led Mac to a victory over the Brock Badgers.

As seen in the loss to Laurier, however, these Marauders have a long way to go before they are ready to win a championship. Fourth year guard Renata Adamczyk torched the maroon and grey for 29 points, and Smith’s game of 23 points and nine assists was not enough. Chiarot and Rosenkranz scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, but it was not enough to fly away from the Hawks.

The biggest moment of the team’s season came last Saturday, as Smith led the Marauders to a 66-50 upset win over the CIS No. 3 Windsor Lancers, their first loss of the season. The Lancers are

Weekend wins improve record to 12-1

the only ranked Ontario team, and all season there has been a perceived gap between them and the rest of the pack. Mac received just 19 points in the coaches’ vote, well behind the 98 votes afforded to the 10th place Memorial Sea-Hawks, and has some improvements to make if they want to become one of Canada’s elite teams.

Receiving an automatic buy into the CIS Tournament as hosts, a steady diet of good teams awaits the Marauders the rest of the season. Their 9-4 record is good for just third in the stacked OUA West, and the playoffs and tournament will bring nothing but solid teams • PLEASE SEE DUEL, B4

SCOREBOARD Saturday January 16th

WINDSOR 50

500

McMaster 66

207 43

Wednesday January 20th

McMaster 69 Laurier Next Game vs. Western Mustangs Saturday 1 p.m. Burridge Gym

80

25

20

McMaster graduate and former Marauder football star Jesse Lumsden will reportedly be named to Canada’s Olympic bobsleigh team on Jan. 27th. Lumsden’s name was submitted by Bobsleigh Canada to the Canadian Olympic Committee, along with teammates Pierre Lueders, Justin Kripps and Neville Wright.

Lumsden is expected to compete in both the four-man and twoman bobsled teams. Lueders, the pilot for both teams, is Canada’s most decorated slider and is a two time Olympic medal winner.

Lumsden was introduced to the sport of bobsleigh last year and saw immediate success with Lueders, winning the two-man event at the Canadian Championships as well as taking top prize at a Europa Cup event.

Despite having had a slow start to the season, which has been plagued by injuries and sickness, Lueders and company will compete for a medal in Vancouver thanks to Lueders extensive experience.

At McMaster, Lumsden was a star running back and a part of some of the most successful teams in recent years. Lumsden set several single season and career records for the OUA and CIS in rushing yards and touchdowns. In Lumsden’s final season, he was named the 2004 Hec Crighton Trophy winner and the 2004-2005 male CIS athlete of the year.

After leaving Mac, Lumsden had short stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins, both of the NFL, before settling in with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In Hamilton, Lumsden experienced success but had several seasons cut short due to repeated injuries to his shoulder.

Similarly, the current CFL star had his 2009 season cut short after reinjuring his shoulder in the first quarter of his first game with his new club, the Edmonton Eskimos.

The men’s bobsled competition kicks off on Feb. 20 in Whistler.

Number of assists for Taylor Smith in 5 seasons at Mac Number of assists between Smith and Mac’s 2nd career assist leader Points by Smith versus the Lancers and Golden Hawks this week Mac’s lead at halftime against the No. 3 ranked Lancers Turnovers commited in the loss to the Golden Hawks

FRASER CALDWELL SILHOUETTE STAFF

The McMaster Marauders women’s volleyball team continued their torrid pace atop the OUA West standings, bolstering their record with consecutive straight-sets blowouts of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (25-8, 25-19, 25-19) and the Ryerson Rams (25-18, 25-16, 25-15) this past weekend. The victories move the Marauders to 12-1 on the year, placing them in sole possession of first place in the OUA West standings. Now two points clear of their divisional challengers, the Waterloo Warriors, McMaster enters the final stretch of the conference season on fine form.

The Friday night home fixture saw the Marauders thoroughly outclass a struggling Laurier side, with the visitors completely unable to mount any meaningful challenge.

After a tight series of points to open the match, McMaster opened a lead when the Golden Hawks tipped wide to make the score 4-2. From here, the Marauders would only widen their advantage, entering the first technical timeout with the score 8-2 following a combination block from star setter Jennifer Holt and leading scorer Shannon McRobert.

After two brilliant tips from Holt left Laurier floundering at the net, the Golden Hawks would toss • PLEASE SEE WINNING, B5

B2 • THE SILHOUETTE Men’s Basketball

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

The good, the bad and the Marauders Saturday January 16th

Windsor 82 McMaster 77 Sunday January 17th

MCMASTER 80 laurier

72

Next game vs. Western Mustangs Friday 8 p.m. (Burridge Gym)

BRIAN DECKER SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO C/O RICHARD ZAZULAK

The Marauders are 6-0 against teams under .500, but have yet to beat a team in the CIS top-10 this season.

It was a new week, but the same story for the Marauders. Mac knocked off the Laurier Golden Hawks in Waterloo on Wednesday night, but fell earlier in the week to the CIS No. 8 Windsor Lancers at home.

The 1-1 week underlines the story that has charaterized the Marauders’ season thus far, with an undefeated record against teams under .500, but an 0-for showing against the elite teams of the OUA this year.

Mac now sits at 7-6 and fourth in the OUA West, 3.5 games back of the Lakehead Thunderwolves and three back of the Lancers, teams that have knocked off the Marauders in the past two weeks.

Those teams represent two of the five teams that have beaten the Marauders this season, and each one of those has a common trait: each has featured in the CIS top-10 this year.

Such an observation is not to conclude that the Mac boys cannot compete with the best the province has to offer. Each game has been close, including an overtime loss to the No. 6 Ottawa Gee-gees and a close game that was put out of reach by technical fouls against the No. 2 Carleton Ravens. Rather, it merely illustrates the level of play that the Marauders need to reach before the playoffs.

The expectations thrown upon Head Coach Joe Raso and his team

earlier this season haven’t been met, to be sure. Ranked as high as no. 3 in the country this season, Mac now verges on falling completely falling out of the coaches’ vote picture.

But there are signs of life and improvement from the team. Cam Michaud, who looked lost at times in the first semester, averaged 19.7 points per game over a threegame stretch the last two weeks, and Tyrell Vernon has regained his shooting confidence after a tough start to the year.

McMaster’s performance against Windsor illustrated its current state of affairs in terms of strengths and weaknesses. While the offence has depended heavily on Keenan Jeppesen to create shots all season, Michaud and Vernon torched the Lancers for a combined 44 points, adding a dimension a team that has struggled at times to put points on the board.

But once again, ugly free throw shooting plagued the Marauders, who went a frustrating 17-31 from the line, including a mystifying 5-14 performance from Jeppesen.

The trend of brick-laying at the charity stripe is startling. Against the no. 2 Carleton Ravens, Mac missed 12 heaves from the charity stripe in an 83-74 loss. Last week against the no. 6 Lakehead Thunderwolves, the maroon and grey shot 54 per cent in a 76-70 defeat. Mac shot just 62 per cent from the line against Laurier.

Jeppesen led the Marauders against the Golden Hawks, pouring in 22 points while grabbing eight rebounds and converting five steals. The supporting cast scoring more is encouraging, but there is no doubt who the Marauders’ first option is. Averaging 19.7 points per game on close to 50 per cent shooting with an uncanny ability to find open teammates, the Stoney Creek native’s skills will be invaluable if Mac is to make a charge.

While not out of contention by any means, The Marauders know they must convert the games against tough teams. When they do, they might not win a title, but they’ll be better than ugly, or bad. They’ll just be good.

THE SILHOUETTE • B3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Marauders rebound from tough loss a much needed timeout. a dumped serve from Josh Lichty, However, with the resurgence Laurier fired off the block to bring of the Marauder talisman Jeremy a 5-8 lead into the first technical Groenveld, the team managed to timeout. A clearly disorganized close the gap, before Laurier gifted Marauder squad continued to trail their opponents a point and the lead into mid-set, with Hudson entirely with another atrocious serve. A kill whiffing on a set attempt to extend from rookie hitter Kevin Stevens the Golden Hawk advantage to brought McMaster into the second 10-15. However, Laurier errors technical timeout with a 16-14 kept the score close, and allowed lead, which would permanently Paul Podstawka to almost singlewiden after a drilled attack from handedly swing momentum back in Groenveld and a typically muscular the Marauders’ favour. block from Tyler Santoni. After efAfter killing smartly off the fective tips from Stevens and veter- Golden Hawk block to close the an setter Ryan Hudson the Maraud- gap to a single point, the veteran ers clinched the set when Laurier hitter produced two consecutive served up another dud from the line. solo blocks to grab a 19-18 lead for McMaster would use the mo- McMaster. This fatally broke Laumentum they had won in the later rier’s fighting spirit, and with the stages of the first set to build an set nearing completion, the visitors insurmountable early lead in the proceeded to self-destruct. With second. After another typical ser- the match on the line, the Golden vice error from the Hawks mishandled Golden Hawks, a Marauder serve now noticeably before firing long, irritated by the indumping an attack With Sunday’s cessant taunts of into the net, and McMaster’s soccer effort, the defensive squandering service heroes, Santoni prostalwart now leads on match point. duced two more of Tyler Santoni was his vintage blocks the OUA in that cat- awarded the player to stretch the Ma- egory, wth a whop- of the game honrauder advantage to for McMaster, ping 62 blocks on ours 5-1. Laurier’s serwith 9 points on the season. vice continued to the night. Jeremy provide free points Groenveld led the for McMaster, and team with a total of after Shawn Bench 11 points, including blasted a kill off the Golden Hawk 9 kills. block, the home team’s lead stood Sunday’s tilt against the Ryerat 12-6. son Rams would have a similar From here, the rout was on for result, albeit with a bit more work the Marauders, and any attempt by required of the Marauders. Detheir opponents to mount a come- spite a spirited third set fight-back back was met by an increasingly from the Torontonians, which saw resilient McMaster defence. Ryan them take a tooth-and-nail period Hudson demonstrated this new 24-26, McMaster prevailed on the found stubbornness with an incred- afternoon, largely on the back of a ible one-handed save at 16-8, produ- dominating performance from Tyler cing a roar from the Burridge faith- Santoni.

The men’s volleyball team had a solid weekend, dropping only one set in matches vs. Laurier and Ryerson. ful. The remainder of the second set The veteran middle hitter Friday January 15th FRASER CALDWELL (10-1) and the Queen’s Gaels (10- proved to be smooth sailing for the chipped in a team-high 15 points, SILHOUETTE STAFF 2).

Marauders, and despite a brief re- including an incredible total of 10 On Friday night, McMaster surgence, the Golden Hawks wilted solo blocks. With Sunday’s effort, LAURIER 0 After stumbling in their return to took advantage of an error-prone under the pressure of their constant the defensive stalwart now leads the conference play a week ago, the Golden Hawks side to eke out a win miscues. After Paul Podstawka fired OUA in that category, with a whopMarauders men’s vol- in straight sets. The match began down a mammoth cross-court effort ping 62 blocks on the season. Shawn MCMASTER 3 McMaster leyball team got back on track with with both teams struggling to find to bring up a set point, Laurier pro- Bench and Jeremy Groenveld folSunday January 17th consecutive wins over the Wil- their form, with Laurier taking a duced another mistake to gift the lowed close behind with identical frid Laurier Golden Hawks (25- slender 6-8 lead into the first tech- period to the Marauders, spilling an tallies of 11 points.

MCMASTER 3 18, 25-16, 25-20) and the Ryerson nical timeout after a fortuitous attack harmlessly wide.

The Marauders now take a cruRams (25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 25-21). bounce saw their serve roll decepDespite running rampant in cial road trip to Kingston, where With the victories, the Marauders, tively over the net. The low level the second set, McMaster proved they visit their fierce divisional RYERSON 1 ranked sixth in the country, enter of play would continue into mid- to be lacklustre to open the third, rivals in the Queen’s Gaels on a three-team tie for top spot in the set, with McMaster embarking on a giving hope, however temporary, Friday night, before meeting the Next Game vs. Queen’s Gaels OUA with the Western Mustangs shocking run of errors before taking to the Golden Hawks. Following lowly RMC Paladins on Saturday.

Friday 8 p.m. (away) PHOTOS C/O LARRY SKELLY

Alcohol and athletic performance just don’t mix TIEJA MCLAUGHLIN THE CORD

WATERLOO (CUP) – Every athlete knows that in order to excel in any sport, a high level of commitment, responsibility and sacrifice is required. The body must be in peak condition both physically and mentally in order to perform at a high level of competition.

The effect of alcohol on athletic performance is often underestimated, but if one takes the time to examine how much it actually alters the body, it’s staggering.

Alcohol is a toxin.

It destroys the body’s ability to heal itself, erases any positive effects of working out and practicing proper nutrition and lessens brain

function and mental capacity.

The University of Notre Dame has reported that if one consumes five drinks in a given night, it can take three days for one’s body to fully recover.

The 100-150 calories per drink is converted directly into fatty acid, comparable to three hamburgers from McDonald’s.

“I’ve talked to all of my players and they understand the negative effects (of alcohol) and how long it takes to leave your system,” said Lynn Orth, head coach of the Wilfrid Laurier University women’s lacrosse team, which implements a 48 hour no-drinking policy before game days.

The policy has clearly been working for Orth, who has coached

her team to seven straight Ontario University Athletics championship games.

Most athletes should recognize that quick recovery time, whether post-injury or post-workout, is essential.

However, the consumption of alcohol, completely erases the benefit of training. The muscles’ source of energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), is reduced, lowering endurance and making one weak and tired.

Protein synthesis also diminishes, resulting in impeded muscle growth. Testosterone and the human growth hormone (HGH), essential hormones in muscle growth and tissue repair, are decreased by as much as 70 per cent, not to men-

tion the body becomes severely dehydrated.

“Our practices are so physically demanding that you don’t need the effects of alcohol compounded on top of that,” commented Gary Jeffries, head football coach and manager of football operations at Laurier.

Not only physical performance is affected – a player’s mental game is thrown off after alcohol consumption. Brain cells are killed; therefore, the ability to learn, store and retain information, such as plays, is altered. Sleep patterns can be disrupted as well, affecting one’s memory formation, among other things.

“You can probably only hit a 60 per cent performance level,” said

Erik Kroman, captain of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks men’s volleyball team. “It’s obviously detrimental to your performance when you’re hungover and tired from drinking.”

While some athletes flirt with a fine line between partying and competing, successful individuals and teams are ahead of the pack, outworking their competition and tweaking their bodies into top shape.

“Players know they’re not supposed to be drinking,” said fifthyear Laurier baseball player Elliot Shrive.

“As a varsity athlete and a responsible adult, you should respect your teammates and want to play enough not to do it.”

B4 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Women’s BASKETBALL

TRACK & FIELD

Duel with Western awaits this weekend

Runners take spots among country’s best BRIAN DECKER SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO C/O RICHARD ZAZULAK

Rookie forward Nicole Rosenkranz (above) is averaging 11.2 points per game and is a big part of the Marauders’ supporting cast. to Hamilton. Led by Amanda Anderson, another MVP candidate, the their way.

Mustangs have followed a similar One of those solid teams comes season trajectory to the Marauders to the Burridge gym this weekend, and exceeded preseason expectaas the 11-2 Western Mustangs come tions. The Mustangs knocked the • CONT’D FROM B1

Marauders out of the playoffs last season, defeating Mac 69-61 in the OUA West semi-final game. While Western star Bess Lennox has graduated, the ‘stangs have shown they also want to catch Windsor.

Questions over Danton’s return KYLE IRELAND DORIAN GEIGER THE SHEAF

SASKATOON (CUP) – Mike Danton, a former NHL player currently on parole after a five-and-ahalf-year stint in prison, is looking to get back into the game of hockey, and he could be lacing up soon for the Saint Mary’s University Huskies in Halifax.

In a bizarre series of events, Danton was arrested in the spring of 2004 for his role in a murderfor-hire plot, with the alleged target to be his agent David Frost. Other speculation has cited Danton’s estranged father Steve Jefferson as the supposed target of the assassination conspiracy.

As to why Danton resorted to such action is unclear, but it has been rumoured Frost’s over-manipulative conduct was to blame.

Danton pleaded guilty to the charges and after being granted parole in September 2009 from a Kingston, Ont. prison, announced his plans to play hockey once again.

The possibility of a 29-year-old ex-convict with NHL experience joining a university hockey team has been the subject of much debate since the announcement.

Drafted 135th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2000, Danton played 92 NHL games with the Devils and the St. Louis Blues and collected 14 points over his career.

Danton should be able to adjust to the level of play fairly easily but it remains to be seen whether he

will prove a distraction in the locker room. How might his future teammates react to the controversies in his past?

The issue at hand becomes interesting because of Danton’s extensive background in the spotlight and the current media exposure surrounding his return to hockey. This kind of attention is something university athletes are not used to.

There is a good chance it will irk some St. Mary’s players that Danton will get more media attention in a Huskies jersey than some of them have received their entire lives. One thing is for sure, Danton will be a hot topic of discussion over the remainder of the season should he be given permission to play.

St. Mary’s athletic director Steve Sarty said Danton left a message on head coach Trevor Stienburg’s phone last week about the possibility of lacing up for the Huskies.

Sarty doesn’t think Danton will have a distracting influence in the dressing room and emphasized that education is Danton’s primary focus right now.

“Every single one of them wants him to be part of the hockey club and not necessarily for his skills on the ice but more the fact that the players (who) are on the team – they get to be involved in something much bigger than themselves – so much bigger than hockey, actually,” said Sarty.

“And they’re thrilled about that opportunity so right now they’re anxiously awaiting Mike to be on

the team because they want to surround him in that network of support that they can offer,” he said.

Danton would be joining a Huskies team who are ranked seventh nationally and are third in the standings of the CIS’s Atlantic conference.

However, it is unlikely that Danton will find approval until the latter stretch of the season. Danton may find a spot on the Huskies roster in coming weeks, but Sarty was apprehensive in saying when exactly that would be.

Another criticism surrounding Danton’s re-emergence in the hockey world is his age.

The 29-year-old Danton could be playing against opponents as young as 18, as there are no age restrictions in the CIS, but a teenaged CIS hockey player is a rare sight.

Danton, by playing in the NHL, has used up two years of eligibility and under CIS rules has three years of eligibility remaining.

This all means that Danton could potentially compete in the CIS until the age of 32.

“That’s certainly not the norm,” said Sarty. “But there have been people who have participated in CIS sports right up to the age of 47 years old. There is no age limit so it’s entirely within the rules of the CIS.” Even if things go well for Danton, his return to the NHL will likely be impossible due to his criminal record, which prevents him from crossing the border to the United States.

The game represents another chance for the Marauders to take down a loaded opponent and make a move in the standings. If they win again, however, no one will be surprised.

Following a successful first meet of 2010 last week in Toronto, the Marauders made the trip down the 401 to Windsor for the Can Am Invitational meet last Saturday. And like last week in Toronto, two McMaster runners ran away from the competition and took home top honours in their respective races.

Veteran runner Noah Fleming overtook Guelph Gryphon Robert Jackson in the final stretch of the men’s 1000m event, finishing in 2:30.51 to take home the top prize, while second year Marauder Katie Anderson built a substantial lead with one third of the women’s 1500m event and held on for the victory with a time of 4:43.85.

Standouts Jill Wyman and Sara Giovanetti took home second and third place finishes, respectively, with Giovanetti missing second by .27 seconds in the 1500m race Anderson won. Wyman’s time of 2.52.90 in the women’s 1000m was the 4th fastest in the country this year, putting the Dundas native in good position to return to the CIS championships, where last year she took home bronze in the 1000m.

Third year kinesiology student Jimmy Tat ran the 600m for the first time rather than his usual 300m, and came away successful, placing 4th in the race and posting the 10th fastest time in Canada this year.

The women’s 4x800 relay team also posted a solid time, coming in at 9:35.50 and claiming the 3rd fastest time in the country this season.

Head Coach Rory Sneyd continues to express confidence in his teams, calling the event a “tremendous success.” Sneyd’s squads will continue their season two weekends from now at the McGill Team Challenge in Montreal.

While there is room for improvement for Mac’s top racers to catch up to CIS standards, the season is young, and there is plenty of time for Wyman, Tat and the stars of the McMaster track teams to prepare and qualify for the CIS championships.

THE SILHOUETTE • B5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Women’s VOLLEYball

Winning streak reaches ten games

PHOTO C/O LARRY SKELLY

Second year libero Meagan Nederveen and company have been on a tear since November, losing just two sets in the new year as part of a 10 game winning streak.

Friday January 15th

LAURIER

0

McMaster 3 Sunday January 17th

MCMASTER 3 RYERSON

Next Game vs. Lakehead Thunderwolves Friday 1 p.m. Burridge Gym

0

• CONT’D FROM B1 an abysmal serve to stretch the McMaster lead to 12-4. Quickly, the visitors from Waterloo were sinking without a trace, and a strong solo block from Sarah Kiernan gave the

Marauders a 14 point advantage.

The set was mercifully put to rest when Kiernan followed a Larissa Puhach ace by hammering a kill down the centre of the court.

The second frame opened to erratic play from both squads, with Laurier managing to grab the lead briefly before once again submitting to the Marauders dominance. The short-lived Golden Hawk advantage would reach a two point zenith at 4-6, when McMaster’s rookie hitter Lauren Skelly sent a wild dig off court. However, Laurier’s own choppy efforts gifted control back to the Marauders, and they would enter the first technical time out with the score 8-6 after a McRobert serve was mishandled.

Despite committing a bevy of errors themselves, McMaster held

on to a slim lead throughout the set, and began to widen the gap when McRobert fired a precise effort down the middle to make the score 18-14. Further Laurier mistakes brought the Marauders to set point before Puhach slammed a kill off the helpless Golden Hawk block to seal the frame.

The third, and ultimately final set, proved much the same as the second, with low-level volleyball from both teams giving way to a superior McMaster effort. Miscues from each squad kept the period close if not competitive, and Laurier would take a rare lead into the first technical timeout after a botched play at net from McRobert. The unimpressive set continued to be neck-and-neck until Larissa Puhach provided the attacking spark Mc-

Master so badly needed, reeling off three consecutive aces with the score levelled at 12.

This proved to be the catalyst to reawaken the Marauder attack, and the squad would stretch their lead through massive kills from McRobert and Puhach. After the latter produced another rocket to bring about a match point, Laurier fittingly floated an attack wide to end a dominant match in McMaster’s favour. Shannon McRobert landed the player of the game award for the Marauders on the strength of 9 points, including a team-high 6 kills. Puhach led the team with 10 points, 5 of which came from the service line.

On Sunday, the red-hot Marauders travelled to Toronto to take on the Ryerson Rams, who would succumb to the same fate as the

Golden Hawks had before them, being consistently outplayed on route to a straight sets defeat. Shannon McRobert and Larissa Puhach once again proved to be the stars of the show, leading the scoring charts by leaps and bounds. The power hitting Puhach had a gamehigh 10 kills, finishing with 11 total points on the night, while McRobert posted 13 points on 9 kills, 2 aces, and 2 solo blocks.

With the weekend victories, McMaster stretches its winning streak in conference play to 10 games, and overtakes the Waterloo Warriors for first place in the OUA West. The squad will look to extend their impressive form this Sunday, when the women take on the visiting Lakehead Thunderwolves at Burridge Gym at 1 p.m.

B6 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

THE SILHOUETTE • B7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

INSIDEOUT

Recipe, B11 e-mail: insideout@thesil.

production office: extension 27117

Helping youth help each other Upcoming Soupfest hopes to raise $50,000 for Living Rock youth outreach program “Youth don’t need handouts, they really love to work to earn for what they get.” ~Karen Craig, Living Rock Ministries

RACHEL HARVEY THE SILHOUETTE

PHOTO C / O LIVING ROCK

If you’re heading to the Hamilton Convention Centre on Tuesday Feb. 2, don’t forget your spoons. It’s Soupfest VIII and this year’s event features 24 local restaurants, showcasing their brothy and pureed masterpieces as part of a competition that aims to please taste buds and raise funds. Participants choose delicious soups to sample and vote for their favourites, while contributing to a worthy cause: Living Rock, a youth outreach centre located on Wilson and Hughson Streets in Hamilton.

Living Rock Ministries is a non-profit outreach program for youth, established in Hamilton in 1985. Founder Al Craig is an ordained minister, trained chaplain, and musician whose personal experiences with life on the street have given him a passion for helping troubled street-involved youth.

Collaborating with her husband is Living Rock Co-Founder and Program Director Karen Craig, McMaster University alumnus (class of ’83) and registered social worker with a specialization in youth and addictions. Karen said the following about the youth they serve: “We always like the term street-involved because a lot of them find their identity on the streets. It’s not that all of them are sleeping on sidewalks, some of them do have apartments or are in shelters, but it’s the concept that they are finding their identity on the streets and are trying to help each other.”

For a majority of the youth who turn to Living Rock, things have broken down in their families and schools, and they do not trust the faith community or social service organizations. Karen further explained, “They come from all over the city and surrounding area and they frequent the core of the city, and our challenge is, if you don’t reach them effectively in Hamilton, then Toronto’s the next major destination, and there’s more exploitation, more problems.”

Living Rock’s goal is to build relationships with street-involved youth aged 13-25 in Hamilton and the surrounding area by speaking their

A photo of youth used for the cover of Al Craig’s Book “The Living Rock: Between Me & A Hard Place”

• PLEASE SEE HELPING, A8

Thread Count

Jacket: Forever 21, $100 Jeans: Guess, $150 Boots: Steve Madden, $200

Jenny Ghottra

B.Comm 4th yr.

How would you describe your personal style?

What do you look for in a significant other?

Laid back, trendy

Funny, outgoing, taller than me

Favourite song/band:

Coldplay

B8 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

An expedition to Edmonton A trip for both outdoor adventure and a true city life experience

BAHRAM DIDEBAN / MANAGING EDITOR

The Silhouette team on an arctic expedition in a residential neighbourhood in Edmonton, marching single file through snow and over hills.

LINDSAY JOLIVET

lovely city with just over a million people in the metropolitan area and 752,412 in the city proper. However, Edmonton, ho! Yes, there really is a their huge population is spread over pirate ship in the mall and yes, the an area larger than Toronto, making capital of Alberta is truly a memor- the city feel less like a crowded meable city. tropolis and more like a convenient At 7 a.m. on a misty Thurs- prairie city—in fact that’s exactly day morning, with glassy eyes and what it is. Grocery stores, liquor ruffled hair, the Silhouette staff stores and just about any shopping boarded an airplane headed for Al- needs were not difficult to find, berta. We envisioned oilrigs and the even from the Radisson hotel at the frightening city people that must south end of the city. come with the biggest mall in the A note on the hotel in case country. Edmonton is nothing like you haven’t stayed at a Radisson that. before—this one is beautiful. There Okay, so maybe that was just is a pool, hot tub, wet and dry sauna, me, but the few Albertans we and a pub on the main floor. Rooms brought with us certainly tried to are spacious and well-equipped and trick us into believing this illusion. the prices range from just over a Within the first hour of our ar- $100 a night to $150 a night. Howrival we saw a large red puddle in ever, there are a number of other front of an ATM. We were told, hotels in the area and the city as a “Oh, probably a stabbing, that hap- whole that might be worth looking pens all the time in Alberta.” It was into. motor oil.

Beware when navigating the Albertans’ sense of humour city by foot in winter, as the sideaside, Edmonton is actually a large, walks are barely plowed. We spent INSIDEOUT EDITOR

most of our travel time trekking through snow banks. Since the weather was barely below zero all weekend we always arrived unscathed, but it sometimes felt like we were on an arctic expedition as we marched single file through snow and over hills. Wear your boots.

The mission of the 17 staff members who embarked on this voyage was to attend the Canadian University Press Conference, a yearly event hosted in a new Canadian city each year. This was the Sil’s second year in a row in the prairies, but our former excursion to Saskatoon certainly leaves room for comparison.

While they are both the capitals of their provinces, Saskatoon is itty bitty compared to Edmonton and it certainly feels that way.

It had a warm, fuzzy feeling that helped us overcome the weather. But meal options were few and far between in Saskatoon, so few that we visited the same little pub

for lunch twice.

Although lacking in neighbourly fuzziness, Edmonton had an overwhelming number of restaurants immediately surrounding our hotel, including one that was not available in Ontario. This was a burger place named White Spot, a Western Canada chain with an all-encompassing menu. From the classic burger to the bacon cheeseburger deluxe, White Spot’s Triple “O” sauce had us satisfied with our decision—and got us a few laughs too.

We also ate at a restaurant called Earl’s, an American and Western Canada chain with one brand new location in Mississauga. The food is a little pricey but very good. Recommendations include Californian pizza and Turkey Brie.

Enough about food.

Without further delay, we must get to the main attraction.

There are rumours, stories, legends even, of everything the West Edmonton Mall has to offer.

And they’re true. It may seem impossible to fit a roller coaster into a mall, but once you’ve seen everything else they crammed in there, the roller coaster is nothing. We raced mini ships on the indoor river and watched figure skating lessons before shopping in Forever 21.

Finally, we went back to our hotel nauseous from rides and feeling like we hadn’t even seen half of the mall.

Other local attractions include the Great Divide waterfall and Fort Edmonton Park. The city also has a booming art community with our continent’s largest alternative theatre event and the Edmonton International Fringe Festival.

Even without its tourist attractions, Edmonton has its own culture that makes it a must-see Canadian city. If you’ve seen one prairie city, you haven’t seen them all. Edmonton, Alberta is proof of the astounding variety of cultural scenes, atmospheres, and landscapes within Canada’s borders.

Helping youth by bowls of soup Eighth annual Soupfest to support Hamilton youth ministry • CONT’D FROM B7 cultural language, with a focus on the arts. They hold concerts and offer an art program, in addition to providing over 20 practical programs which focus on day-to-day supports. These include serving meals, providing educational assessments, housing support and referrals, running a food bank and clothing exchange shop, providing an opportunity for youth to “work to earn” bus passes and other items, and connecting youth with potential employers in the community. Karen emphasized, “Youth don’t need handouts, they really love to work to earn for what they get.”

Living Rock is Christian-based, but their staff and volunteers are from various religious and nonreligious backgrounds. On Wednesday afternoons at The Rock, they have what they call “Gathering,” where youth are served lunch during a spiritually based presentation. Karen explained that the spiritual aspect of The Rock works well particularly in crisis situations, like when a boy was stabbed to death in Hamilton.

“When there’s a crisis on the streets, the spiritual support that they get at Living Rock…is really important to some of them. So they know that there’s that piece of The Rock, and they know Al [Craig],

they really respect Al.” Living Rock relies on funding from outside sources to stay afloat.

Their biggest fundraiser is Soupfest, which has been running since 2003. Karen shared, “You get little donations and little bits of money from different foundations, but how do you sustain it?” Soupfest has become their sustaining fundraising event.

Hamiltonian poet Gary Kristiansen originally pitched the Soupfest idea to Karen. At the time, she had two staff with backgrounds in the hospitality field that encouraged her to pursue the idea. Karen met with the Hamilton Spectator, who said they would stand with her as

long as she could get quality restaurants to participate in the event.

The rest is history. Soupfest was held for the first six years at Liuna Station in Hamilton, but due to its rapid growth, moved last year to the larger Hamilton Convention Centre.

The biggest change with this year’s Soupfest is the addition of a title sponsor, local financial institution FirstOntario Credit Union.

Mandy MacPhee, Director of Marketing Strategy and Communications at FirstOntario, describes how the partnership with Living Rock originated with their company’s casual Fridays.

“Every employee donates $2 for dressing down on Fridays… our employees chose Living Rock as the place they wanted to commit those funds to.”

Those funds amounted to $3,000. However, the donation laid the groundwork for what would become a two-year commitment from FirstOntario to support Living Rock. In addition to being Soupfest’s title sponsor, FirstOntario sent 15 employees to renovate The Rock’s reception area and community room.

A partnership motivated by shared value, Living Rock and FirstOntario pledge to focus on building up the Hamilton community specifically through supporting its youth.

In its first year, Soupfest made $4,290. Last year, they raised around $38,575. When asked what Living Rock’s financial goals were for Soupfest VIII, Karen excitedly replied, “Now with title sponsorship, I mean, in theory, I guess we could raise [$50,000]. That would be amazing!” She explained that the costs of Soupfest are entirely cov-

ered for the first time by FirstOntario’s sponsorship. “Soupfest is expensive, they’re basically covering all our costs, and so, it really is a huge boost to us.”

Soupfest has also been good for local restaurants, something that Karen did not think of at the event’s inception. Patricia Roque, owner of restaurant Acclamation on James Street North confirmed this, stating “It gives me the opportunity to speak to 500+ people about our restaurant. Word of mouth is the best advertising for any restaurant so I take it very seriously.”

When asked about the festival’s favourite soups, Karen replied, “It’s really hard, I mean, one girl said to me yesterday ‘I remember soup from four years ago.’ Sometimes you’re [going to] taste something, and [say] ‘I cannot believe this.’

I remember a few years ago I had curry parsnip pear, it was amazing.” Coconut Thai is a flavour that stands out in my mind from a visit to Soupfest a few years ago.

In addition to the food, Soupfest is also a contest where the public votes for the best soup, best display, and most creative soup. Trophies are awarded to winners at the festival’s closing ceremonies at Hamilton Place from 7:30 – 8:00 p.m., followed by a concert.

With 24 participating restaurants, day-long entertainment, local celebrity servers, and an art show put on by Living Rock youth entitled “Taking stock of what the soup does,” Soupfest does not sell its title short. Tickets are $10 for four 4 ounce bowls of soup, and can be purchased through Living Rock (www.livingrock.ca), FirstOntario (www.firstontariocu.com), or at the doors, which open at noon.

THE SILHOUETTE • B9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Pedaling through the winter Cold weather tips to keep commuters on their bikes Barrier Skull Cap under helmet $32 Soft shell, hybrid jacket $230 Thermal wool blend tights $140

Extra layers under jacket

Neo-fleece mask $32 Waterproof, insulated gloves $99

Long johns underneath $20

Old beat-up bike from garage Warm, winterworthy bike shoe covers $72

Used knobby tires Ice Spiker tire $99.50 each

PHYLLIS TSANG / ASSISTANT INSIDEOUT EDITOR

PHYLLIS TSANG

ASSISTANT INSIDEOUT EDITOR

Winter biking can be intimidating.

Icy ground, narrower roads, and memories of bikers who slipped and fell often keep us from pedaling in winter. However, there are preventive measures which can better our chance of safe and enjoyable rides in the snow. The director of Macycle Jesse Bauman offered some wisdom on this topic.

Two keys to remember are winterizing your bike and yourself.

“I’d suggest not riding your good bike,” said Bauman. “I have a winter bike, which is basically one that you don’t really have a lot of respect for anymore.”

Bauman suggests staying away from road bikes in winter. At least replace the skinny tires with knobby ones, if you are really attached to yours.

“A lot of people don’t really change anything,” according to Bauman. However, in severe conditions, “tires with hardened steel spikes and a wide tread pattern,” also known as studded tires, “will clear snow and increase traction on packed snow and ice,” according to Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC).

“They are pretty expensive but they work really well and they are safer,” said Bauman.

Small details make the difference. Choosing the right parts,

like brake pads with curves which scrub away mud, and fenders which protects you from water, snow, and mud kicked up by the wheels, makes pleasurable rides.

Snow, slush and salt corrodes steel bike frames and components and “take a few years out of the life of a bike” if it is not maintained properly.

Touching up and repainting scratches and dings, waxing the underside of the frame, applying rust-resistant aerosol lube once a week, and cleaning your bike and chain set regularly are steps to keeping your bike in good condition.

The idea of winterizing yourself is to protect your body from cold, snow, and wind.

“It shouldn’t really cost you more money.” If you are like Bauman, who simply wears a tuque and an extra sweater. Optionally, you could also spend well over $800 for water-proof, fully insulated gloves, caps, shoe covers, tights and jacket.

“Well-layered clothing is the easiest way to regulate body temperature and stay dry,” according to MEC. In addition, cover your head, face, neck, hands and feet as much as you can.

“If you bike more than five to 10 minutes, you are going to warm up really quickly,” Bauman ensures.

Riding slow, steady, and smooth is the rule of thumb to winter riding.

Even though roads are generally

cleared by the time we go to school, Bauman warns against snow and ice on bridges that doesn’t melt and narrower roads due to snow banks.

The best way to deal with winter conditions is to choose a route based on road conditions and riding skills. MEC tips commuters that high traffic roads tend to have the least amount of snow and ice but requires skills to ride confidently in traffic. Roads less travelled and bike paths are safer but tend to be covered with hard packed snow and ice. In case of losing control, aim for diving into a snow bank rather than sliding into an intersection, a stream of traffic, or a parked car.

If you’re not ready to park your bike for winter, why bother?

B10 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

The art of belly dance Former Mac grad finds fame CASSANDRA JEFFERY SILHOUETTE STAFF

JEFF JEWISS / THE SILHOUETTE

Love isn’t always better on television. Look around.

Sex on television SEX AND THE STEEL CITY NEILA BAZARACAI SILHOUETTE STAFF

Are you looking to find true love?

Are you sick of conventional dating methods and just don’t know where to find that man/ woman of your dreams? Well, fret no more, because finding your perfect other half is as simple as filling in a questionnaire and sending in 5-15 pictures to the fine folks at ABC. If you’re deemed charming, stylish, and interesting enough for primetime television, you can soon be one of 25 women vying for the affections of one lucky young man on the long-running television show, The Bachelor.

This packaged and ready dating experience is part of the incredibly successful reality TV genre, meaning that even if you aren’t watching, you too can enjoy true love through the screen. Despite the oxymoronic nature of using ‘reality’ to escape life, the genre has taken off in recent years, with everyone and their dog being given their own fifteen minutes of network fame. Most recently, MTV’s Jersey Shore has taken reality—not to mention dating and sex—to a new level on the small screen. But that’s another story.

Many appreciate the sheer entertainment value of these shows, particularly when they can be enjoyed as postmodern and tongue-in-cheek. However, The Bachelor presents a simplified, even formulaic solution to romance that could lead to a skewed version of reality—ironically.

Let’s ponder this for a moment.

There is a group of twenty-five attractive strangers, chosen for one person by a group of network executives, out of whom this person must select one to marry.

How genuine can these encounters really be, when there are

constantly cameras trained on you, millions of viewers seeing you at your most vulnerable, and 24 other competitors just waiting for you to make a mistake?

Janet Ross, former professor of the wildly popular Religious Studies course, Love in Western Civilization, encapsulated the essence of the shows. She said, “The love in these shows is indeed oversimplified as it is based on external factors of competition and controversy, which ultimately are designed to attract viewer ratings rather than provide either a realistic view of life or an environment to deepen internal connections between people.”

Ironically enough, this approach to dating, despite its modern nature, seems like it would have fit in better a few decades ago. As Dr. Ross explained, “the past 10-15 years in Canada have brought about a more unique feature of love: the idea that people can be in love with the actual person, rather than what that person may seem to represent, for example, one’s race, status, religion, or even sex.

In other words... loving another for his or her specific personalities and ideas (who they ‘are’), rather than loving someone for who/what they might appear to be.”

How can you really get to know someone given such little time, so many distractions, and so much pressure? The ads touting this season’s ‘bachelor,’ Jake Pavelka, all focus on his good looks, his charm, and his illustrious career as a pilot. The girls who fall in love with him at first sight have certainly not taken the time to get to know his values, ideas and the quirks that make him unique.

Obviously, dating shows are not a likely way to meet people.

Still, before you beat yourself up that 25 men or woman aren’t fawning all over you at first sight, it’s important to keep in mind the absurdity of quantifying love in this formulaic way.

Things change once the cameras are off.

Former McMaster student, Eshe embodied energy, creativity, and stamina through the art of belly dancing at the Casbah Lounge, Wednesday Jan. 13, 2010. Eshe, who graduated from Mac in 2004 with a BA in Sociology, has become a world renowned belly dancer, performing everywhere from Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Canada, and Australia.

In 2002, while studying full time at McMaster, Eshe struggled to make ends meet. She decided to take advantage of a job opportunity in Japan teaching English.

While abroad in Japan for a year, Eshe was introduced to belly dancing. “It was intense and crazy but compelling. I felt a kind of awakening happening in my body and spirit,” described Eshe, “It’s an accessible and welcoming art form.

There aren’t any age, sex, size, shape, race, or experience restrictions.”

To Eshe, belly dancing represents many things. “Belly dance is art,” she stated, “It means something different to everyone. Some find it a physical release, some enjoy the often female camaraderie, some are seeking body confirmation, some are drawn to the For Eshe, belly dancing represents art and religion. artistic or performance element and others experience religion.”

All of these things contribute to formance at the Casbah Lounge tic life, persecution, injustice, and her love of this unique art. captured a range of these emotions race.” says Eshe. Furthermore, Eshe spent December 2009 and also portrayed a cultural and Eshe has taught dance students in Istanbul where she completed spiritual aspect of the dance to her from around the world in a group a month of in-depth belly dance audience. As she travels through- called Navah. To date Eshe has study. Before this, she spent a out the world, Eshe is grateful for trained 15 students for professional month in Cairo studying private- the opportunity to engage with her engagements. ly where she learned that the art audience in a way that transcends Although belly dancing has form is multifaceted, and complex. language. offered Eshe numerous opportun“Once you have decided which Through her busy perform- ities, the art form can fall under branch of belly dance to study you ance and travel schedule, Eshe has particular stereotypes, especially must then learn the basic moves found time to help others who are assumptions about it being highly for that style. After that you’ll need interested in pursuing belly dance. sexualized. In response to this, to learn the rhythms, the history, She started the Afet Collective, Eshe believes “all art…has the opprops, costuming, makeup and the which is “a chance for friends portunity to be misunderstood but list goes on. I’ll be learning for the who attended different belly dance it’s the artist’s responsibility to rest of my life.” studios to create art as a group.” continue being open, to keep shar Eshe has been belly dancing Later, members of Afet Collective ing and to keep loving the audifor seven years, but even before took initiative to improve the lives ence.” her career took off she was inspired of other women, performing to One can tell by Eshe’s perand influenced by her family’s benefit a women’s shelter in Tokyo formance that she loves everything passion for dance. Her grandpar- called Housing in the Emergence about the art form and her open ents are “Scottish Country Dance of Love and Peace. The group minded personality allows her to teachers” and their love of dance also contributed towards efforts in pursue her studies, despite stereohas been a powerful example for helping women forced into sexual types. Joy, confidence, and pride Eshe. are just some of the emotions Eshe slavery.

Belly dance is unique because “It’s rewarding to me to be able conveyed throughout her performit “encompasses the entire range to send these charities money from ance and certainly, belly dance is a of human emotions - it’s about these events. But it’s also gratify- major contribution to her personalexpressing longing, joy, passion, ing to be able to start dialogue on ity. Said she, “I can’t explain why grief, desire, hope, or any profound the issues these charities touch on I breathe or why I dance, it’s just feeling,” explained Eshe. Her per- such as women’s rights, domes- natural. It’s me.”

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SILHOUETTE STAFF

THE SILHOUETTE • B11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Interactive

Crossword Across 1- Pursue 6- 100 dinars 10- With the bow, in music 14- Judges’ garments 15- Old Dodge model 16- Sharp bristle 17- Golf clubs 18- Group 19- Busy as ___ 20- Decoration at the top of a chair leg 21- Universality 24- Body of retainers 26- Dodges 27- Agt.’s take 28- Business accounts 30- Lake in the Sierra Nevada 33- Lump of chewed food 34- Yes, in Yokohama 37- Ancient Athens’s Temple of ___ 38- Tears 39- Metrical foot 40- Casino area 41- Haunted house sounds; 42- Navajo dwelling 43- Spacious 44- Attach by stitches 45- Declare 48- Leading 52- Supple arms and legs 55- Actress Balin 56- Della’s creator 57- “East of Eden” director Kazan 58- Destined 60- Env. notation 61- Bank deposit?

62- Free laces, say 63- ___ accompli 64- “No Ordinary Love” singer 65- Big cats; Down 1- Old newsman 2- Goddesses of the seasons 3- Cancel

Sudoku

(CUP) – Use your logic to fill in the boxes, rows and columns with the numbers 1-9.

By Sandy Chase / CUP Graphics Bureau Chief

Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (http://www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission.

4- DC bigwig 5- Spirit 6- Scoundrel 7- Muslim elder and prayerleader 8- Actress Heche 9- Woody 10- Calculating device 11- Violently intense 12- Minotaur’s home 13- Follows orders 22- Director’s cry 23- Sorts 25- Wall St. debuts 28- Attractive 29- Auto pioneer 30- Faucet 31- Jackie’s second 32- Riled (up) 33- Ray of light 34- Crone

35- Doc bloc 36- Son of, in Arabic names 38- Like vagabonds 39- Caucus state 41- Additional 42- Attentive 43- Take as an affront 44- “____ loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah” 45- Shake like ___ 46- A bit, colloquially 47- Conductor Georg 48- Become less intense, die off 49- As before 50- ___ a million 51- Loses color 53- Bones found in the hip 54- Temperate 59- Black bird

Solutions Solution to last week’s crossword and sudoku

Incredible 6 2 7

1 8 9

4 9 5 6 3 4

3 1 8

5 7 2

8 2 9 3 6 5

7 4 1

9 4 5

7 2 3

8 3 1 5 6 7

6 9 2

4 8 1

5 1 7 6 4 9

2 3 8

1 3 8

4 5 6

7 2 2 8 9 1

5 4 7

6 9 3

3 8 1 7 2 4

9 6 5

4 1 5

7 6 8

2 5 3 2 9 1

8 7 4

3 9 6

1 6 4 5 7 3

9 8 2

8 6 3

9 2 4

7 4 1 7 5 9

5 3 6

2 8 1

6 1 9 4 2 8

3 5 7

7 9 2

5 3 1

6 3 8 6 4 8

2 1 9

4 7 5

8 9 5 2 3 7

1 4 6

CommunityEvents All week

Haiti relief fundraiser

McMaster University Student Centre Help Haiti Campaign is collecting monetary donations in the MUSC Atrium this week until Friday. Clothing donations can be brought to room 215 from 12:30-4:30 everyday this week and next week. Funds raised go to Dove Missions, an organization that will send 100 per cent of the money towards the Haitians.

Jan. 21, 2010 8:00p.m.

Mac Amnesty Charity Concert The Casbah Lounge

McMaster Amnesty is hosting its annual concert at the Casbah lounge in support of Warchild. Performers include Robyn Dell’unto, Matt York, Mandippal, Sean Phinchin, and Joe Boudreau. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door.

Jan. 22, 2010 5:30p.m. to 7:30p.m.

The ultimate Super Bowl nacho dip

Very addictive low-fat nacho dip that’s incredibly easy to prepare Instruments -1 carton (16 oz / 500 g) low-fat cottage cheese -1 package (8 oz / 250 g) light cream cheese, softened to room temperature -¾ cup chunky-style salsa -2 cups shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce -2 medium tomatoes diced -1 cup (packed) shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz / 113 g) -¼ cup chopped green onions Tortilla chips Lyrics In a medium bowl, combine cottage cheese and cream cheese. Mix well.

PHOTO C / O BRENT GARELL

Spread mixture evenly over bottom of a 9-inch pie dish. Spoon salsa over cream cheese layer and spread evenly to all edges. Top salsa with lettuce, followed by tomatoes. Sprinkle shredded cheese and green onions on top. Serve with your favourite tortilla chips and dig in before it’s gone.

Volume: Makes 12 servings Hip Cooking Tip Use a combination of shredded jalapeno flavoured cheese and cheddar cheese to add a little spicy kick to this dip. Also don’t let the cottage cheese scare you. Most people (including those who dislike cottage cheese) don’t even know it’s in the dip but it’s the secret ingredient that gives this dip its addictive flavour.

The song “My Generation” by The Who would be a solid choice to listen to while preparing this recipe since The Who are this year’s halftime performers. Plus just about every generation loves nacho dip.

•

Submitted by Brent Garell from his book The Cook-a-Palooza Experience, Cooking That’ll Move, Groove & Inspire You!

“Eyes in Gaza” with Dr. Mads Gilbert Togo Salmon Hall B106

Doctor Mads Gilbert from Norway, who witnessed the Israeli bombardment of "Operation Cast Lead," speaks on the human casualties of the attack and what he witnessed and experienced as a medical professional and solidarity activist.

Jan. 27, 2010 6:30p.m.

Media Myths on Iran Chester New Hall 607

Activist Phil Wilayto discusses “Media Myths on Iran.” Wilayto has lectured extensively in the United States on the topic of U.S.-Iran relations, and is a member of the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran [CASMII]. He will argue that pernicious myths have been promoted by the North American media about Iran.

Are recipes, sudoku, and crosswords your calling in life? Well then maybe you should read the rest of the section.

Write for InsideOut InsideOut@thesil.ca

B12 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

HEALTH

production office: extension 27117

in partnership with SHEC

Junk food is wasted calories Massage soothes A healthy diet requires us to lay off the Lays

the body and mind

STEPHANIE O’NEILL THE SILHOUETTE

M

MICHELLE NG / SILHOUETTE STAFF

We are evoluntionarily attracted to the taste of sugar and salt in junk food, but not their volumes.

Long days on campus, studying in the library, and drunken late nights give most people cravings that only junk food can satiate.

In this article, Stephanie O’Neill examines how this habit affects our health.

STEPHANIE O’NEILL

THE SILHOUETTE

W

hen we think about items like chocolate bars, potato chips, hot dogs, pizza, cake, deep-fried foods, cookies, candy, or soda, the term “junk food” almost immediately comes to mind. The title conveniently, yet sometimes annoyingly, reminds us that we should eat these foods in moderation, if at all.

A chocolate bar, on average, contains about 250 calories and 13 grams of fat, most of which are saturated. A medium serving of French fries from McDonald’s contains about 300 mg of sodium, 16 grams of fat and 450 calories, half of which come from fat. Half of a box of Kraft dinner, once prepared with milk and butter, provides about 700 calories. A quarter of a bag of potato chips contains about 20 grams of fat, 300 mg of sodium and about 250 calories. To put this in perspective, one chip is usually about 10 calories each. Consuming one or

more of these items on a daily basis adds up to an unhealthy diet.

In these foods, the amount of calories, fat, carbohydrates (sugar) and sodium (salt) is usually way higher than what is healthy for consumption. Evolutionarily, sugar and salt were scarce and humans developed an affinity for foods in which the taste reliably predicted these two nutrients. This adaptation ensured that the food we were eating contained enough energy (from the sugar) and essential minerals (from the salt) for us to survive.

Now, however, we live in a world of evolutionary lag: sugar and salt are readily accessible and we are faced with such an overabundance of the two substances that we must become conscious of our consumption of foods containing them. Often, our bodies say “yes” but our minds must say “no” in order to maintain a healthy diet.

The amount of each type of nutrient a person should be getting each day depends on many things, not the least of which are height, gender, age, fitness level and metabolism. Calories are a measure of the energy content in food, which is essential to all bodily functions. On average, women should be getting between 1400 and 2000 calories a day, and men should be getting between 1800 and 3000.

Thus, when a bowl of ice cream is 700 calories, it is a substantial percentage of both sexes’ daily caloric allowance. In order to maintain a proper weight, one needs to ingest the same amount of calories that are burnt by exercising and regular daily activity.

assage therapy is a form of manual soft tissue manipulation that relieves muscle tension. When cells use energy to perform their daily functions, lactic acid waste is produced.

In a perfectly efficient situation, all this waste would be flushed out of the body, but often this removal does not occur. Chronic muscle contraction prevents blood circulation and causes a buildup of lactic acid and irritation of nerve endings.

This phenomenon can happen after periods of stress or too much or too little exercise and massage can help remedy this tension.

Massage focuses on “trigger points,” which are areas where pain, weakness or numbness is felt, or that induce pain in another areas when touched. The procedure decongests the buildup, consequently relieving tension. Though it feels good most of the time, massage can be painful. However, the relief felt in the muscles as well as the greater range in motion acquired (due to freed muscles) are very beneficial, making the hurt worth it.

Though the underpinnings of many psychological disorders are unclear, massage therapy sessions have been shown to decrease depression and symptoms of anxiety.

Massage can also be helpful with body posture, arthritis, lower back pain, diabetes, immunity problems and high blood pressure.

Massage is also usually relaxing, providing a method of countering stress, a mental affliction that many scientists believe is related to innumerable physical illnesses. It can improve the functioning of the lymphatic, cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory and excretory systems, as well as rejuvenate the skin.

Sleep, important for good cognitive functioning, concentration and memory consolidation, is positively affected by massage. Some people also believe that massage improves social relationships and connections. For instance, a focus of some types of massage is on spiritual awareness. One of Sigmund Freud’s students, Wilhelm Reich,

believed that massage was a way to tear down the shield the body creates in everyday life; a shield that he believed to create depression, and other mental and physical problems.

Massage techniques can include kneading, stroking, vibration, compression, tapping, rocking, friction and pressure, and the use of lotions and oils. There are many different types of massage. For example, Swedish massage soothes the muscles and nervous system and increases blood flow using kneading and long strokes. Deep tissue massages aim to release tension in the deeper layers of muscles. The Trager approach uses light touch to relieve pain, and Watsu is a massage technique done in the water.

Visceral manipulation is designed to relieve tension throughout the whole body through the internal organs comprised of the heart, liver, and intestines. Pre- and post-event sports massage draws from other types of massages in order to help an athlete perform better or recover faster.

For those with heart, liver or kidney problems, massage therapy is not recommended. Those with an infection are also advised against getting a massage, since the increase in fluid flow created by the process could increase the likelihood of the spread of infection. Painkillers should not be taken before a session, since the altered sense of pain created by these drugs leaves you powerless to alert your massage therapist to the pain he or she might be causing you inadvertently.

How long a massage lasts and how often you get the treatment varies depending on what the massage therapist is trying to treat.

Chronic conditions need to be addressed more frequently, whereas massage for non-chronic conditions do not need to be performed as often. Even for minor tension, getting a massage once a week will provide more relief than getting a massages more rarely; therefore, frequent massage sessions are a great decision for the health of body and mind. So get a friend to rub your back and enjoy the relief.

Salt is an essential electrolyte; it is needed in small amounts and is important for the regulation of the balance between the intracellular and extracellular space. Too much or too little salt affects body hydration, nerve and muscle function. Specifically, too much salt could cause high blood pressure, reduction in bone density, water retention and muscle cramps. An intake of about 1500 mg of sodium is recommended for people from age 9 to 50.

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are considered “good fats.” They are essential for bodily processes, such as the creation of hormones and fatty acids that protect against heart disease.

Saturated fats, mostly found in animal products, contribute to the creation of “bad” cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease, and decrease the amount of “good” cholesterol that is produced by the body. Trans fats (hydrogenated fats) are artificial, created by turning liquid fat into solid fat, and contribute to the creation of “bad” cholesterol. About 20 to 30 percent of your caloric intake should come from monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and very little saturated fats.

Even though you may know that eating an entire bag of potato chips is a bad choice, having more specific knowledge about junk food nutrition could allow you to make more informed choices about food that might not seem, at first, to be unhealthy. Ultimately, it is still healthy to indulge every once in a while, but beware of integrating junk food into your daily diet.

Different types of massages act as therapy for a variety of ailments.

MICHELLE NG / SILHOUETTE STAFF

THE SILHOUETTE • C1

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

BUSINESS

Silhouette Stock Challenge! $500 in Prizes See C2 for details production office: extension 27117

Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec kicks off at DeGroote

Legal grow ops?

SANTINO MARINUCCI BUSINESS EDITOR

Do you think that you could sell water to a fish? Are people always wondering how you make a profit at grandma’s yard sale? Are you unnaturally good at future planning and advertising? If so, Canada’s Next Top Ad Executive is the competition for you.

With over 30 participating schools across Canada, it is one of the largets competitions of its kind in the country, and boasts the largest payoff for the winners. A pair of Chevy Cruzes are up for grabs for the top two, valued up $35,000 each.

How’s that for some motivation? All contestants must do to win is come up with the best marketing strategy for Chevrolet’s new Cruze, and beat out 249 contestants along the way.

“The contest itself runs exactly like a business case competition,” said Mandeep Malik, professor of Applied Marketing and Sales Management at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business.

The contest is broken into three phases over a period of as many months. The first phase begins when applications are due on Jan. 22 with the competition eding Mar. 30, 2010.

In the first phase the contestants are required to submit a two page summary outlining what their ideas are and how they are planning on marketing the Cruze.

The second phase reduces the contestants from 250 to 25, and asks for a 15 page comprehensive strategy report that details their proposed advertising campaign and how they plan to reach their target market.

The last phase of the competition is where things really get revved up. The number of applicants is reduced down even further from 25 to 10. These 10 are required to prepare a 30 minute long presentation of their marketing strategy to judges.

When asked why the program was instituted at McMaster, Malik made it clear that this competition was a great opportunity to help business students gain real world experience in the field of advertising and marketing through applied methods.

Malik explained; “Even though the occupational groups they [the students] will choose after graduation will include a lot of applied hands on learning. Within the safe domain of the school, we wanted to give them the opportunity to apply what they learned in the classroom and develop belief and trust in the these principles and practices” Malik also emphasized how large this competition was in comparison to other competitions cur• PLEASE SEE WILL, C2

Urban Barns Food Inc. wants to take hydroponic technology and revolutionize Canada’s agriculture, or at least save it from a potential crisis SANTINO MARINUCCI BUSINESS EDITOR

Hydroponic technology is useful for growing more than just illegal drugs. It is environmentally friendly and may revolutionize the way we think of agriculture.

Urban Barns Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: URBF) has taken the concept of grow operations from the basement to the field. The company foresees an agricultural crisis and they are trying to cash in.

Their strategy differs from traditional farming.

Instead of growing produce outdoors or in a greenhouse they utilize hydroponic technology to increase agricultural efficiency, and give the ability to harvest crops even the most desolate areas of the world.

For those not familiar with hydroponics, it is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil.

This allows plants to reach maturity indoors without any need for sunlight, soil or even rain. In addition, all plants grown by Urban Barns are organic.

Gerald Fitzpatrick, Executive Vice President of Urban Barns sees the future of agriculture take shape in these “Urban Barns” which are essentially retrofitted inner-city warehouses. According to the company’s website, they are “high-tech, low-energy, windowless growing facilities” that Fitzpatrick believes are adaptable, profitable and environmentally friendly.

So what can Urban Barns grow? The items on the menu include fruits, vegetables, herbs and other spices. Fitzpatrick found out how delicious this venture was when he and his friend, a botany student specializing in hydroponics, began testing how hydroponically produced foods compared to those grown outdoors. Ultimately

Fitzpatrick found that fruits and vegetables grown inside had a higher nutritional content and tasted better.

Preliminary nutrient tests performed by Urban Barns revealed encouraging results.

Compared to conventional farming techniques the results are “off the scale,” Fitzpatrick said.

The VP claims that the technology is not favourable for either fruits that grow on trees, or root vegetables. So what does this mean for the agriculture business?

In terms of investment opportunities, the concept of Urban Barns is defiantly one that will revolutionize agriculture. If implemented properly, the technology could ensure that even the most arid desert could cultivate a sustainable food supply.

Each new Urban Barn costs $1 million to build, however Fitzpatrick is not put off by the cost. If operating at full capacity, each barn has the potential to earn around $1 million profit per year. Urban Barns Foods Inc. plans to build around 25 barns in the next 2 years, starting in British Columbia.

This is a large financial task to undertake considering they have yet to raise the first barn. Furthermore, their stock lingers at a mere $0.90 per share, making Urban Barns an unimpressive buy for potential investors.

So how does Urban Barns’ ingenuity stack up against the tried and true methods of mother earth?

Their focus seems split. According to their website, they boast that they will help generate an agricultural revolution. On the other hand, they focus on organic produce as a means to generate revenue.

As organics become increasingly popular Urban Barns may see a drop in the profitability of their crop. If competition recognizes the niche market and the agri-

business@thesil.ca

Urban Barns sees the future of agriculture take shape in these “Urban Barns” which are essentially retrofitted innercity warehouses.

According to the company’s website, they are “high-tech, low-energy, windowless growing facilities” that Fitzpatrick believes are adaptable, profitable and environmentally friendly.

• PLEASE SEE FARM, C2

Ground for success: American coffee roaster’s stock climbs over 300% in one year SIMON GRANAT

BUSINESS EDITOR

The origin of coffee is shrouded in legend. The brew is rumoured to have been discovered by goat herders. The herders realized that when their goats ate coffee beans they became excited. Legend states, that somehow the herder got the idea to roast the beans, and brew them to make coffee.

Whether or not you believe the legend, coffee is not only delicious, but can be a very lucrative business.

There is quite possibly no better example than Green Mountain Coffee Roastery (NASDAQ: GMCR).

In the past year, this Vermont based company has been all the buzz. Share prices have risen over 300 per cent, from around $25 (USD) in Jan. 2009 to $80 per share

this past week.

Equally as impressive, the company has posted a double digit increase in net sales for the past 28 consecutive quarters.

Green Mountain has branched out and owns and operates wholesale supplier, Tully’s Coffee, Canadian retailer Timothy’s Coffees of the World, and coffee machine manufacturer Keurig.

It is the Keurig K-Cup single shot coffee machine that has stimulated Green Mountain’s sales. It is estimated that out of the $193 million in quarterly sales that 85 per cent was generated from single cup brewer, and portioned single cup coffee sales.

The sales model for Keurig brewers and K-Cups is simple.

They sell the brewers close to cost, but offset that by increased margins on the cup sales.

This model has proven effect-

ive. Cup sales are easier to estimate than brewer sales.

In addition, Green Mountain also supplies McDonalds with Coffee and in April 2009 reached a deal with retail giant Walmart (WMT). Green Mountain will sell its coffee brewers in at least 3,000 stores across the United States.

Analysts are split on the future of Green Mountain. While corporate deals will bolster sales, many remain sceptical and doubt they can continue to grow.

Sales of both Keurig brewers and K-Cups have slowed as of late. In addition, many analysts are put off by the company’s sudden growth. Many of which fear that the stock has climbed too high, too quickly and fear share prices may drop off.

There is also concern that the company will lose market share when their patents expire sometime

this decade.

On the flip side, some investors believe that Green Mountain will continue to grow. In 2008, they opened a new 334,000 square foot plant in Knox County, TN. This may signal to investors that Green Mountain is confident that their success will continue.

The company has also raised its first quarter 2010 outlook from a 45 to 50 per cent increase to a 50 to 55 per cent increase in total consolidated net sales, reported Reuters.

Furthermore, as sustainability and the fair trade coffee movement gains steam so does Green Mountain. They currently buy fair trade coffee, and offset 100 per cent of their green house gas emissions.

In 2009, they announced that they would construct a 100 kW solar array on the roof of their Waterbury distribution centre.

Green Mountain’s success hinges on the green shift. As consumers become more conscious of environment, fair trade and sustainability they may turn to coffee providers that embody these characteristics.

Green Mountain Coffee acquired Canadian Timothy’s Coffees of the World in Nov. 2009 for approximately $157 million dollars.

They are currently attempting to acquire all outstanding shares of gourmet coffee retailer, Diedrich Coffee Inc. This would add to the company’s share in the single shot coffee cup market.

Has Green Mountain grown too quick? Despite recent acquisitions investors should be cautious.

Trouble may be brewing for this coffee company if investors get jittery over high share prices and the threat of future competition.

C2 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

around the globe China

China`s round-the-clock auto factories still cannot manage to meet the growing demand for cars. Nissan Motor Co`s (NASDAQ:NSANY) factory in central China has reported that they cannot meet the high demands for their vehicles despite operating almost 24 hours a day.

Foreign automakers are beginning to expand their assembly lines as buyers in Beijing and Shanghai benefit from government subsidies of at least 732.5 million dollars to help keep up with the growth.

United States

Walgreen Co (NYSE: WAG. US) plans to offer fresh foods and prepared meals to draw “timestarved” shoppers to its more than 7,000 stores, taking on retailers such as Target Corp (NYSE: TGT). and Kroger Co (NYSE: KR). The goal of the program, along with the sale of beer and private-label wine, is to boost revenue, Pugh said.

Same-store sales declined in November and December as 10 per cent

Raging bull unemployment and falling home values blunted consumer spending.

European Union

European exports declined for a second month in November as the euro`s strength made goods from the region more expensive abroad.

Exports from the euro area dropped a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent from October, when they decreased 0.1 percent, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said on Jan. 15. The euro’s 10 per cent advance against the dollar in the past year is threatening to undermine the region’s recovery by making exports less competitive.

Haiti

Canadian businesses are feeling the shockwaves of the recent earthquake that devastated Port-auPrince Haiti. Canadian companies like Glidan (TSX: GIL) and Scotia Bank (TSX: BNS) are extending their help by donating money to their damaged periphery offices and factories located in the devastated city.

Farming without soil • CONT’D FROM C1 culture sector floods with organic farmers, then oversupply may drive the price down. This could spell bad news for Urban whose future financial forecasts are based on current market values for organic produce.

No matter the investment, sustainability or profitability, hydro-

ponic farming will always face one problem.

Why not plant it in the soil?

Maybe the old ways are the best ways.

Forget hydroponic farming, we should go back to the basics, shovel in hand with some good ol’ natural sunlight and restore the bond between humans and earth.

Last week, everywhere I turned, everyone asked me the same question, “have you heard about Google?”

Believe me, I have. In fact, I might even know more than you.

I would like to dispel two myths about Google. The first of which is that students, or anyone for that matter, should buy Google stock.

Secondly, that Google’s fifteen minutes of fame in the market this past week was anything more than a couple of well timed PR stunts.

Let me tell you a story of a trusty business student who is always looking for a way to get rich quick by investing money.

Our student looks at Google’s high share price, their presence in our everyday lives and the new products they have slated for release.

Somehow, the combination of all of these factors adds up in our student’s brain, who with no money, gets the bright idea that it would be a good idea to buy stock in Google.

I, as a student, wouldn’t buy Google, and I don’t think that anyone should. Although, if I had it, I might hold it. I say these things for several reasons.

First and foremost, Google’s

• CONT’D FROM C1 recently happening on campus.

“The things I have noticed is that it [CNTAE] probably gets participation beyond any other competition. If I were to use last year as an example, there were over 30 business schools, students from as young as year one and year two of business studies, to students just finishing up their MBA who were participating. So really it sort of pitches you against the best and the brightest across the country.”

This competition can also help students to grow and further develop their marketing skills,

improving grades; while making their resume more impressive at the same time. Lastly Malik stressed that.

“I think it would be fair if a student is trying to make a career in marketing, this particular competition could give them a head start.

“In terms of putting them in touch with some of the most influential marketing minds in the country, and giving them exposure to how marketing really works and plays out in terms of getting them face to face in presentation mode with senior marketing managers, [this would be] giving them a great career start.”

Writers and Warren Buffetts, if you are interested in writing, analyzing, or predicting the future of the business world, e-mail business@thesil.ca • Weekly meetings held Mondays at 1:30 p.m. in the Sil office, MUSC b110

companies with a history of dividend growth.

In order to buy stock in a company you should know who they are and what they do. It is also important to understand how your investment works. Do you know what an ETF is? If not, then steer clear.

If you are considering your first foray into the markets stick with some safe, dependable companies like, Proctor and Gamble, Canadian Banks, or Johnson and Johnson—even though they might be receiving kick backs.

Secondly, you may have read about Google’s PR stunt where it threatened to pull out of China because the country was ‘spying’ on activists. The truth is that the search engine gone technology super goliath is only trying to look good in the eyes of Western Democracy.

The situation makes me uneasy; it’s just a little too Big Brother for my liking.

Besides, it took Guns and Roses 15 years to come out with Chinese Democracy, what makes anyone think that Google could do it any quicker? Personally, I would not put too much stock into either Google, or its proliferation in the news last week.

• Simon Granat

The leader of the pack You’re going to end up working in a team, so you better be good at it Santino Marinucci Business Editor

Will McMaster students make the cut?

share prices are quite expensive, weighing in at around $600 (USD) for one flipping share! That’s a lot of money to invest for only a small return in equity. What you would pay to own one share in Google is money that can be better spent on other things, like paying rent.

I think that it is good to invest in the market, but to pay Google prices is bonkers. Sure, you might be able to scrape together enough money to buy three shares, but what good is that? They don’t even pay dividends. To me this means that Google is uncertain of their future.

They should be. With Microsoft’s Bing, and Apple’s iSlate soon to be released, Google is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Google may be bigger than Jesus and the Beatles (combined), but not bigger than Microsoft or Apple. They will not overtake Microsoft the way Nazi Germany took over Poland. Any conflict the three companies will have will be long and drawn out. It is as difficult for Microsoft to break into Google’s market with Bing, as it is for Google to break into Microsoft’s fortress of solitude.

There are better places to invest your money in the market. Try buying bank stocks, or investing in

For most of our lives we are taught to do things by ourselves, such as passing exams, getting a place at university, finding a job, and securing a promotion. Basically, we get used to pursuing our personal agenda.

To get results in a team you need to create conditions where success or failure depends on the team as a whole. If the outcome of the project only benefits one individual, the team will always come second. This slows down the team and reduces the chances of overall success.

We have all been there, the inevitable group project that gets thrown on top of that seemingly insurmountable pile of work. We all loathe that moment in which we have to coordinate, meet and pull everything together so it works.

Yet, teamwork is one of the most valuable skills in the workplace today, and it does not have to be a challenge.

Let’s start with the basics, what is a team?

A useful definition of this can be broken down into three parts.

The first component is a well defined goal that is made clear among all group members. This is essential for managing a team because when

Think you’re a business guru?

Strut your stuff in the

you have a visible objective it is easier to lead an effective and organized team.

After you have established your goal, it is essential that the group of people who are working with you wish to jointly achieve the goal with you. This is important because if you do not have everybody onboard with the idea, there will be less interest as a whole among your members.

Lastly there must be a shared understanding of the roles between each individual as they work towards their objective.

T h i s designation of roles between each person helps delegate tasks to each member.

When you are working on a team, individuals must set goals together and assume roles that will work best for the team, while reaching consensus and working through disagreements. You should respect one another’s talents and time while behaving responsibly.

You will also find working within teams, conflict is inevitable however, this is not always a bad thing.

What is important is that conflict be productive rather than destructive. Used well, conflict can be channelled to stretch the boundaries of what is possible, encourage creativity and ultimately achieve a better outcome.

Another way to successfully manage a team is to make sure that those who are participating on your project do not become detached with the task at hand. This is probably the number one killer of most groups because some people hold back their ideas or views, becoming disinterested.

Other team killers to look out for when completing a project include not being clear on what you want to achieve, and why you want to achieve it. As the leader of a team, it is important that as a collective there is clarity on the outcomes and why they are so important.

This will help create solidarity among your team and align your focus to have the most productivity and success.

Having the ability to successfully work within a group can help ones chances greatly when looking for a job anywhere.

This is because the chances you will be working with groups of people will be high no matter where you work, especially in the business world.

So just remember, when placed in a position of leadership, one must act assertively while respecting other opinions and ideas within the group. This will create more solidarity among your members while reducing overall conflict.

$500 in Prizes! • Free to Join!

Silhouette Stock Challenge!

Are you convinced that you are the next Warren Buffet? Do you look for high payouts and dividends like it is your job? Here is your chance to prove it. We are looking for students like you to participate in The Silhouette’s Stock Market Challenge.

The challenge will be hosted online by Wall Street Survivor. Traders get $100,000 in fantasy money to buy any common stock, preferred stock, or ETF listed on NYSE, NASDAQ, or AMEX exchange. The trading is done with a 15 minute delay and all prices and commodities are identical to the ones you see in the paper every day.

This is your chance to get you and your

friends together to duke it out for bragging rights on who is the best trader. On the site there are friend lists and posting functions similar to Facebook. You can taunt, trade tips or ask questions about what stocks are hot or not, whatever will increase your chances winning.

The trader with the most money at the end of the competition will win $300 at Best Buy, with the next two receiving $100 each.

Only registered McMaster students may play. The Silhouette Fantasy Stock Challenge will take place from Tuesday January 26 to Monday March 1 2010. So be sure to have your account registered by the 26th of January to get you best chance. Let the games begin.

$300 Best Buy Gift Certificate for 1st place $100 Best Buy Gift Certificate for 2nd and 3rd Follow your portfolio weekly in the Sil Business Section!

Steps to join: It is pretty easy to sign up, just follow these simple steps and you’re on your way to making cold hard fictional cash.

Go to the Wall Street Survivor website: https://www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/Public/Members/Register.aspx Fill out your personal information in the boxes provided; choose Canada as your country and Hamilton as your city.

You must register with a valid McMaster email address and handle.

You must enter ‘silbiz’ as the promo code. Otherwise you will not be able to compete.

You will then be sent an email confirming that you have set up an account, from here click the, “confirm registration” link.

From here you will be able to start trading immediately, making you one step closer to the sweet smell of a $300 gift certificate.

If you have any questions, send us an email: business@thesil.ca.

THE SILHOUETTE • C3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

EXECUTIVE SILHOUETTES

Making Microsoft tick

An Interview with Microsoft Business Division President and Mac Alum, Stephen Elop

the water cooler

Compiled by Simon Granat & Santino Marinucci

Top risk in 2010: Sovereign defaults The risk that deteriorating government finances could push economies into full-fledged debt crises tops the list of threats facing the world in 2010. This concern is brought on by the ballooning deficits attributed to the government stimulus packages, leading to an increased risk of sovereign defaults.

“Revenge Tax” enters Wall St. The incensed U.S. President vowed Thursday to get back every dime of taxpayer money spent on bailouts. The vow comes in the form of a $90-billion (U.S.) tax – to be levied on about 50 companies for up to a dozen years to help pay back the 250 billion bailout money.

The industry has already paid back $162-billion, plus $11-billion in interest and dividends.

H1N1 affects economy (This little piggy stayed home) According to Statistics Canada almost 1 in 10 workers called in sick because of flu related illnesses in November. The `Swine Flu` cost the Canadian economy $21 million in lost work hours, with the majority of them being in the 30-44 age range.

Simon Granat: As president of Microsoft’s Business Division, what do you do?

Stephen Elop: Microsoft, obviously you’re familiar with us as a company. Within the organization there are five primary divisions.

And I lead the largest of those divisions. It’s called the business division.

So for example, the most well known set of products, Microsoft Office; Word, Powerpoint, Excel and One Note, that’s an important part of the work that my division does.

SG: How did you get to where you are today?

SE: Well, I started by getting a degree in computer engineering and management at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. And essentially I went through several phases in my career.

For a number of years, I was a management consultant where essentially I was helping people to apply technology, to figure out how to take technology that existed and use it in their businesses.

And then I was a Chief Information Officer or different companies. Essentially, being the person applying technology within businesses. And then I shifted into the technology business itself. Working first for a company called Macromedia, I ultimately became the CEO of Macromedia, [and] led Macromedia into the sale of that company into Adobe.

And then after a period of time there, I spent, a brief period of time at a company called Juniper Networks as the Chief Operating Officer. Then I got a call from Redmond, Washington and the folks at Microsoft were interested in talking with me and one thing led to another and I became the president of this division almost exactly two years ago.

SG: Looking back, do you have any fond memories of your time at McMaster?

SE: Engineering at McMaster is quite the experience. Actually I was talking to my son just last night who is a first year engineering student at McMaster, and he was describing the classroom environment and you know some

of the things he described are remarkably unchanged.

But I also had quite a remarkable set of experiences at McMaster because while I went to school there, I also worked [there] part time, helping the faculty of engineering to take advantage of technology. I worked on a program to make it possible for incoming engineers to buy and own a computer as a part of their onboarding into the engineering program. It was the very first program like this in the country.

I was also able to work on a project that ultimately led to the campus wide deployment of Ethernet networking. I, literally on the end of a stepladder, put in the first Ethernet network in the engineering building, that network that has evolved into what everyone is using today in the classrooms and dorms to connect to the internet.

SG: To many students Microsoft Office programs are as valuable as the pen. Where do you see the technology going in the near future?

SE: Well, I think that a lot of what’s happening with the technology is the way in which you will enjoy the experiences. And so for example, the versions of our products which we are just introducing you’ll see people using Word and Powerpoint, not only on their PC with software, but also, in the context of the browser. So you’ll be able to be out on the internet somewhere and take advantage of Word, Powerpoint and Excel right in the browser. And that’s a good example of how the world is changing.

SG: What should graduates expect from the job market and look for from their employers?

SE: I think that’s a very good question, it’s a tough time, obviously from an employment perspective. It’s sometimes hard to be picky on some of these things. But the types of things you should look for from any job in any economic environment, is try and asses the degree of commitment that the employer has to the future of its workforce.

I, literally on the end of a stepladder, put in the first Ethernet network in the engineering building, that network that has evolved into what everyone is using today in the classrooms and dorms to connect to the internet.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering and Management Degree

You know, I’ll use Microsoft as an example here, out of the number of the companies where I’ve worked, Microsoft is more committed to development and lasting careers of its employees than any place I’ve ever been.

There are companies out there that do not take that nearly as seriously. And I think ultimately it shows in terms of frustration of employees, or lack of a career or whatever.

Looking at the degree to which the company takes care of its employees, is I think really important.

SG: What qualities would you look for when hiring a recent grad?

SE: It’s a range of things. Certainly, you’re interested in understanding their educational background; where they’ve studied, what their interests are and so forth. There are some more innate qualities that I certainly look for, for example, the degree of passion an individual exhibits, for their particular interests. In other words, do they really want to do what they say it is that they want to do? Because that passion translates into enthusiasm and action. And I certainly look for the degree of incite, critical thought, the degree to which an individual looks at the world around them, questions it, tries to make it better, [and] contributes to that process. Are they engaged in the world around them? Are they thinking in new ways?

What you’re getting from my answer, I think, is not what is the grade point average, or which courses they took, or what was their specific summer job, but it’s getting a better understanding of who a person is.

SG: Is there anything else that you’d like to say to McMaster students?

SE: That’s the hardest question of them all. I think that the thing I would say is that I have just continued to be impressed by the progress McMaster has made. So a part of my message to the folks at McMaster is that you’re at one of the finest schools in the world, and from there you can go anywhere you want.

06/2010: Release date for Microsoft Office 2010

14 Versions of Microsoft Office by 2005: sold Macromedia to Adobe June 2008: Recruited as President of $4.56 billion Revenue for MicroMicrosofts Business Division $159.99 Price of Microsoft

Office Home and Student 2007

Bear: Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) This week, Tylenol users have to worry about more than just liver damage. One of America’s largest and most trusted brands had a very bad week. Johnson and Johnson was accused of paying kickbacks to large pharmaceutical supplier, Omnicare. Who, in exchange would exclusively push the sales of J&J’s medication in old folks homes. Then, the FDA criticised Johnson for not responding quickly to a recall of products that customers reported smelled funny. A little later on in the week, they expanded their recall to several brands of products. Among them, Tylenol and Motrin. The good news is that investors really don’t care. These announcements hardly affected J&J’s share price.

Probably because they are confident that company sales will not be affected. The bad news is that if J&J continues to taint products, they won’t have any customers left.

soft’s Business Division in Q4 2009

-13% decrease in revenue for the Business Division since Q4 2009 Bull: Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) Chances are that you have “Intel Inside” more than you think. Their processors are found in just about anything electronic, from coffeemakers to computers. On Jan. 14, 2010 Intel released their fourth quarter figures, that will make even the most sour stockholder smile. Intel reported a net income of $2.3 billion, a colossal increase of 875 per cent year over year.

The increase can be partly attributed to two factors, the retail release of Windows 7 in October and slow sales in Q4 2008 driven by the economic recession. Intel further gave investors a reason to buy when they released their new product line on Jan. 7, 2010. Keep Intel’s success with a grain of salt. It isn’t hard to be good when you don’t have any competition.

Earl Jones cries in courtroom Earl Jones, disgraced money manager, sobbed in court today while pleading guilty to defrauding over 50 million dollars from investors. Jones was charged with bilking 158 customers out of their money and is expected to serve 11 years in prison.

Wealthy Homeowners help Chubb Chubb Corp., the insurer of high-end houses and corporate boards, may rise 10 per cent or more this year as wealthy homeowners pay more to protect their properties.

Chubb may benefit from the growth of its Masterpiece coverage, for which homeowners pay relatively high premiums due to Chubb’s reputation for fair and generous claim settlements.

Digital Imaging Battle Eastman Kodak Co. is suing Apple and Rim for infringing on patents related to digital imaging in iPhones and Blackberries. Kodak has filed with the US International Trade Commission, asking them to stop the import of any iPhones or Blackberries with this technology.

Samsung Electronics Co. is currently paying Kodak for technology in the South Korean based company’s camera phones.

Scotiabank showing its true colours VANOC, the company that owns exclusive sponsorship rights to the Olympic games, is accusing Scotiabank of misleading consumers with their Show Your Colours Campaign. They argue that consumers will think that Scotia is linked with the games, when in fact they are not. This encroaches on RBC’s sponsorship of the games.

Scotia has been urged to postpone the campaign.

More Apples The California based giant is expected to announce Apple’s version of the tablet. It is expected to be priced at $750, between the iPod ($399 at max) and the lowest MacBook ($999). Analysts have played that down low tablet sales to the lack to tablet-based content. With iTunes backing, it is expected that Apple’s tablet will accompany a push of new content available for subscription (magazines, books, etc.) with the new slate.

C4 • THE SILHOUETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

cut your hair and get a job

No promises for summer employment

YOUR MONEY

Score big on your credit rating

Summer won’t be so bright, but not as bleak as last year’s race for jobs

REMESLAW DEBSKI THE SILHOUETTE

Student employment this summer may not be much better than 2009.

With January coming to an end, students in universities and colleges across Canada have two things on their minds – reading week, and post semester employment.

The summer of 2009 saw the highest student unemployment rates in over 30 years. Rates peaked 20.9 per cent in July, according to Statistics Canada.

A quick search on Workopolis, a website designed to match employers and employees, reveals just over 300 student positions across Canada. Drill that search down to Ontario and that number is quickly cut in half. Then you weed out the jobs you don’t want, the locations you don’t want to move to, if you plan to come back to school next September and you’ll have to ignore the postings that are more then just summer work positions.

What’s left? Not much. Obviously, this is not the only website offering job search services. There are countless Workopolis like services sprouting daily so it would be safe to assume that there are more than 300 jobs in Canada available to students.

But how many jobs are there?

Are they enough?

A report released on Jan. 8, 2009 from Statistics Canada showed that the unemployment rate remained steady at 8.5 per cent through December. After seasonal adjustment, it also revealed that unemployment increased by 357,700 in Canada between December 2008 and December 2009.

While for 15 to 24 year olds the unemployment rate in November 2009 rose only by 3.2 per cent, it was high to begin with at 15.9 per cent.

Furthermore, student unemployment rose compared to the Canadian Workforce. Between November and December 2009 the youth unemployment rate rose by 0.2 per cent; whereas the unemployment rate of the Canadian population decreased by 0.1 per cent in the same time. This problem is compounded as full time students are not considered unemployed, even if they do not have a job.

Students must face this frightening reality when looking for work. No matter why they need a job. Whether they are looking to start a career or need to make some cash over the summer to pay for the next year’s tuition, books, rent or

food.

The sectors with the highest employment decline over the past year have been natural resources; manufacturing; transportation and warehousing, business, building and other support services.

The areas that did see employment growth were finance, insurance, real estate and leasing, construction, health care and social assistance, professional, scientific and technical services, and educational services.

Overall the services-producing sector enjoyed slight growth at 0.3 per cent versus a decline of 6.9 per cent in the goods-producing sector between December 2008 and December 2009.

Students looking for seasonal employment over the summer might struggle. With the exception of construction, a common favorite among students, the sectors which saw the largest declines are manufacturing and natural resources.

They dropped 9.8 per cent and 11.4 per cent, respectively.

Employment may be getting better for students who are graduating and looking for permanent full time work in the services-producing sectors. The majority of those sectors saw growth with the exception of transportation, warehousing, business, building and other support services which also declined.

It is worth noting that the accommodation and food sector only declined 0.8 per cent over the last year. Looks like employees in serving, bartending, and similar jobs are retaining their employment. These jobs may be worth considering if your other summer job falls through or you’re having trouble landing that out of college dream career.

Student jobs will come back, just not as quickly as would be hoped. Although the recession is over, GDP is growing much slower than forecasted.

Getting an early start on job hunting will probably serve students well. Holding out for that perfect job may not be the best approach. Take what you can get, even if it may only be seasonal employment. Obviously, graduates can be more picky, but only if they can afford to wait.

There is still some time left before students have to search for summer jobs. Canada’s economy is emerging from the recession, albeit slowly. However, students, who wait too long to look for jobs may find themselves scrambling for work this summer just as much as they did last summer.

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SILHOUETTE STAFF

Simon Granat Business Editor

Quite possibly, the most important part of a person’s finances is their credit rating.

In fact, I’m willing to wager dollars to doughnuts that the vast majority of students, don’t know what exactly a credit rating is, how it is measured, or why it is important.

Credit reports came into popularity in the 1960s. They are an equitable, factual representation of someone’s borrowing (or credit) history.

It is important to know that credit reports do not tell the possible lender whether or not the applicant can borrow money. Credit reports only provide information. It is then up to the lender to make up their mind. It is a snapshot of your financial well being. Credit reports constantly change, and carry information for seven years.

Think of a credit report like the results of a hockey game. Sure the Leaf’s sometimes lose 4 to 3, but it is up to you to decide whether or not they suck. Just as it is the lender’s prerogative, after looking at your credit report, whether or not to loan you money.

Nothing can sour someone’s life quite like a credit rating. For most students, there are two things that influence their credit rating: credit cards and OSAP. That’s not

to say that some students may have other things that impact their credit.

Students who live away from home will have more contributing to their rating.

Here are some of the best steps to take to salvage, or keep your credit rating clean.

First, pay all your bills on time and in full. Late payments will sour a credit rating quicker than milk left in the hot sun.

Bigger is not always better: Do not borrow too much at any given time. Borrowing more than 50 per cent of your limit will look bad. For best results, borrow below 30 per cent of your limit.

Do not apply for more credit than you need. Racking up your available credit will definitely raise some eyebrows from lenders. For most students, this means no more than two credit cards.

Credit reports are made up of seven different sections. Your personal identification information, a consumer statement (if you choose to add one), credit information (your payment history), bank information (bank account statements), public record information (secured loan and bankruptcy information), third party collections and inquiries (who has looked at your credit rating in the past three years).

Credit ratings are different from credit scores. The “credit information” portion of your credit

rating is your credit score.

Credit scores are calculated in as many different ways as there are fish in the sea. Your credit score is a statistical representation of how safe it is for you to pay back your loan. Typically, the higher your score, the better.

Your credit score is calculated based on the money you owe, how you are paying it back, the length of time your account has been open (also known as credit experience), how much of your credit you use, how often you apply for credit, and what different types of credit you owe.

Worried? You can check your credit report online. Equifax and TransUnion are Canada’s two major credit reporting agencies.

Check them out online. Equifax charges $15.50 to pull your report online.

It is best to know where you stand. Since credit inquiries only make up a small portion of your whole report, it probably won’t hurt your credit rating to check it out once in a blue moon. Just don’t do it too often, or you might eventually find it has an impact.

Ultimately, the golden rule when it comes down to credit is only spend what you can afford to spend. When used responsibly, a good rating will pay off in the long run, giving you peace of mind, and financial flexibility when you need it down the road.

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA

Canadian employment declined by approximately 300,000 as the unemployment rate rose nearly 2.5 per cent between December 2008 and 2009.

muchmusic sucks george clooney • southern souls mother mother • andy’s best of the decade

index

D2 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine

thursday, january 21, 2010

Senior Editor: Grace Evans Entertainment Editor: Myles Herod Music Editor: Corrigan Hammond Contributors: Josh Parsons, Chris Hoy, Robert Evans, Trevor Roach, Kevin Elliott, Dan Hawie, Harrison Cruikshank, Roxanne HathwayBaxter, Derek Hung, Almira Kamaluddin, Caitlin McKitrick, Josh Parto

Cover: Michelle Ng

this week

what’s inside

in the hammer

feature

Jeff The Brotherhood The Casbah 7:00 p.m.

Classified 1280 9:00 p.m.

Grasshopper Absinthe 9:00 p.m.

feb. 7

Guns N’ Roses Copps Coliseum 8:00 p.m.

feb. 15

Threat Signal The Casbah 10:00 p.m.

feb. 23

Lioness Absinthe 9:00 p.m.

Woodpigeon The Casbah 8:00 p.m Wilco Hamilton Place 8:00 p.m

art

theatre

musc b110.

White Christmas

By Ron Ulrich Theatre Aquarius 190 King William St. 1-800-465-7529 boxoffice@theatreaquarius.org

andy’s pick

when you can drink two dollar whiskey responsibly... write for andy.

Crude Landscapes Art Gallery of Hamilton 123 King St., Hamilton 905-577-6610 info@artgalleryofhamilton. com

sept.26-jan.17

jan. 22

p.12

jan. 23

Mother Mother: “Stretched across the wide stage of Hamilton Place with flashing lights behind them, Vancouver’s Mother Mother delivers a razor sharp set to a full audience.”

p.10

jan. 23

Much Music: “MuchMusic seems to be confused.

The word “music” takes up half of its name, yet it has forgotten how to air actual music. When MuchMusic launched in 1984, it was “the nation’s music station.”

p.8

From Hamilton to Haiti Lincoln Alexander Center 12:00 a.m.

jan. 23

Southern Souls: “What once was a vibrant scene full of weekly shows in every Southern Ontario venue, pool hall and basement available has since been reduced to a “scene” of obscure Euro-synth playlists, but that’s my opinion.”

Stereos Hamilton Place 8:00 p.m.

jan. 24

music

music

jan. 28

p.4

George Clooney: “You cannot make him up. Yes, George Clooney, Hollywood’s grey bearded lothario may appease the hungry eyes of women and gay men abound, yet he is also one of the industry’s highest risk takers.”

jan. 29

film

Westdale Theatre Up in the Air Thu, Fri, Sat: 7:00, 9:15

Basia Bulat Casbah 8:00 p.m.

sept.24- jan.3

playng

p.6-7

Legion Tooth Fairy Extraordinary Measures

now

opening

film

feb. 5

andy’s best of the decade: “Welcome to the second week of Andy’s countdown to the very best of film and music from 2000 – 2009. We feel it’s our obligation, as McMaster’s premier arts and culture bible, to provide a certain standard in taste to the student body.

certainly not medallion. happy birthday david lynch. the olive garden. edmonton. bonding sessions.

andy cover art contest illustrate/ collage/ photograph your own design and have it featured in andy’s january 28 edition deadline is january 26

submit to musc b110

column

thursday, january 21, 2010

f.u.b.a.r.

piracy problem.

The eReaders that have most recently been on the market have been big, bulky, editorial column impractical and ugly. corrigan hammond Starting at the low price of just $259.99 (US) for Have you ever wondered what the Kindle Reader, you could do happened to all those record label one thing and one thing only with executives that lost their jobs a an eReader — read a book. In an decade ago after that whole big age Blackberries and Google Smart NAPSTER-gaff? Well it’s worth Phones, when your cell phone can speculating that they probably all double as an MP3 player, personal found work managing the likes computer, GPS and (depending of Penguin Books or Random on which brand you pick up) a House’s novel transition from microwave oven; such single use-edthe printed page to the digital ness is way behind the times.

The current speculation age. Next Tuesday Apple plans to launch their new iSlate tablet- according to sources like cultofmac. reader. While no one really knows com is that the iSlate (or Apple for sure exactly what this brand Tablet) will, alongside the iPod and new piece of tech-wizardry will do, iPhone, serve as another platform the general consensus (on the basis for the Apple App Store. That’s of a distribution deal that Apple the difference between the iSlate has just reached with publishing and the Kindle — Apple is going giant Harper-Collins) is that it will to load it chock-full of all the probably primarily function as an nifty gadgets that the increasingly tech-savvy public simply salivates eReader.

This is going to a major over. Once the iSlate hits stores, problem for publishers, who, despite due to the immense difficulty of the lackluster success of devices trying to secure digital content, the like Amazon’s Kindle Reader, are publishing industry will suddenly currently dealing with a budding face the sort of piracy problem that

has plagued record labels and movie studios for over a decade now.

Unlike the music, film and television industries though, publishers were in a relatively good position at the beginning of this decade. In order to illegally pirate a book, you had to physically put it online page after page. Then you had to endure the headacheinducing task of reading the book on your computer screen. As a result, very few people pirated books. Thankfully however the lobotomized drones running the major publishing houses intervened and began throwing their catalogues online one title at a time. Suddenly pirating a book was as simple as cutting and pasting the text.

You can almost imagine the board meeting where this idea was championed — as, probably the only folks anywhere with a piracyproof product began plotting out there own demise: sitting there, watching the internet devastate magazine after magazine, newspaper after newspaper, record label after record label, and asking ‘gee whiz gang, how can we get in on this action?’ Even though people like to think that digital-piracy was bound to hit the publishing industry

the big tickle compiled by michelle ng

“yes, for the convenience.” kevin morley

greg barkans

sooner or later, they are wrong. At the start of this decade, there was simply no infrastructure for the mass digital distribution of books.

Sure, you had some authors like Stephen King flirting with the idea of publishing e-books, but because reading them was so tedious, the concept never really caught on.

However, the reality is, that by being compliant partners in the development of eReader technologies, the major publishing houses have all done their bit to get in on the piracy action that has devastated industry after industry.

The fundamental mistake that publishers have made, much like their peers in the newsprint and music industries, is that they assumed that people simply like to read books on paper too much to ever fully embrace ‘gadgets’ like the iSlate. Remember when major record labels all thought that their customers would never embrace digital music formats?

NAPSTER should have taught publishing houses a valuable lesson — namely, one about the speed at which your once valued customers will stop paying premium prices for physical content once it becomes easily and readily available

for free online. With the Kindle Reader, this has already begun to happen to the world of books.

Indeed, thus far the publishing industries have only been spared a digital piracy onslaught by virtue of the fact that hardly anyone actually owns an eReader.

Once that changes, they are going to learn very quickly just how hard digital content is to secure. After all, despite a decade of trying, movie studios, record labels and television networks have done everything in their power to quash digital piracy — they’ve encrypted their content, they’ve sued their costumers, they’ve aired corny commercials and lobbied heads of state for comprehensive copyright legislation but nothing ever really works.

Once something goes digital, it simply vanishes off into cyberspace beyond the control of any lawyer or lawmaker. Indeed, after Swedish police raided Pirate Bay’s offices, the staff simply moved their server offshore. Problem solved. This time next year, those offshore servers will probably be offering up free copies of Tolstoy, Hemmingway and Dr. Seuss for your reading pleasure.

q: would you download an e-book?

& christopher chan

“no, i want a book.”

the silhouette’s art + culture magazine • D3

“probably not.” kya williams

“i hate reading on a computer.”

kearon roy taylor

“i would because it’s cheaper.”

diana tran

D4 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine

film

thursday, january 21, 2010

the last great movie star?

philanthropist, thespian, risk-taker: george clooney is hollywood’s preeminent leading man

You cannot make him up. Yes, George Clooney, Hollywood’s grey bearded lothario may appease the hungry eyes of women and gay men abound, yet he is also one of the industry’s highest risk takers.

True, an actor of unlimited charisma and an undeniably handsome façade faces extraordinary limitations of being typecast yet coyly he evades the uninspired clutches of casting directors to play against looks and choose interesting, if not great projects.

At age 48, very few have his intuition.

Many actors today have the disadvantage of aging without their artistic integrity. A decline in relevance and script offers, where reaching a plateau is sometimes the perception between starring in a straight to DVD rental or, more drastically, altering your face via Beverly Hills finest plastic surgeon. Not Clooney though. Comparable to the studio royalty of Gable, Bogart and Grant in the 40’s and 50’s, George’s naturally effortless appeal transcends almost every male actor working today, a throwback to the golden age decorum of Louie B. Mayer and Jack Warner’s Hollywood.

An evaluation of George’s career first conjures up a pedigree of stardom—a family with a famous Aunt (Rosemary Clooney) and a father, Nick Clooney, who’s many occupations included: journalist, anchorman, game show host, and politician for the state of Kentucky. Yet, to truly appreciate, consider the evolution of George

himself: the misfortune of starring in the hilariously-title Return of the Killer Tomatoes; the fifteen TV pilots he starred in that never aired; the career breakthrough with ER; the abominable Batman movie – nipples and all; the fist fight on set of Three Kings with director David O. Russell; the Oscar win; the Italian Villa where at any time guests may include Brad, Angelina, or Matt (Damon), and most recently, organizer and host for the global telethon “Hope for Haiti Now.” 2009 was his year. The release of three pictures, all within the time span of months, all comedies, yet all individualistic in style and execution. While two of the three pictures faired worse than expected at the box office, his third, Up In the Air, a hit, encapsulated the zeitgeist America’s economic downturn of the concluded decade; a tale of a travelling downsizing expert who’s eluded love and lived throughout the anonymity of America’s endless hotel franchises and airlines. That’s not to say that his other two films were bad though, quite the contrary. The Men Who Stare Goats has this certain editor convinced that mainstream filmgoer’s missed a true gem. Let it be said here, that in 20 years it will attain a certain cult status. While it not only brought about Jeff Bridges who played a variation of his now infamous ‘The Dude’ from the Coen Brothers The Big Lebowski, it opted for an existential narrative structure which followed Clooney as a grizzled,

steroid injecting ‘physic solider’ pursued by a desperate Ewan McGregor in need of a story to jolt his floundering journalistic career. The result is a subversive journey through the middle east of drug-induced philosophies met to an unbashful soundtrack of Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.”

The Fantastic Mr. Fox on the other hand seemed like it was destined for success from the get-go. What happened?

Bad marketing? Wes Anderson’s labour of love, with its painstakingly unique animated approach may have suffered from its intelligence. Armed with a cleverly whimsical plot which had Clooney voicing Mr. Fox, a wildly popular animal amongst his other furry friends, Anderson constructed a world that unfortunately had no bearings amongst millennials transfixed on gaming consoles and unaware of references to Jean-Paul Sartre. It too will grow with age.

While movie star may be a term thrown around too loosely, Clooney earns his moniker with a versatility that remains pervasive. In 2005, he not only took home the Oscar for a supporting role in Syriana, but was also nominated in the categories of Best Screenwriting and Best Director for an entirely different film, Good Night, and Good Luck.

Above his persona and financially successful work, George Clooney remains an artistic commodity—a proponent of character-based storytelling and offbeat material. His 2002 directorial debut,

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, dramatized the actual life of Chuck Barris, host of the 1970’s “The Gong Show” and selfproclaimed CIA hit man, alleging to have killed 33 people. Backed by a first rate cast (Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell) Clooney created a surreal, darkly humorous tone with the help of Charlie Kaufman’s screenplay, adapted from Barris’ own biography. Neglected upon release, it inhibits all the traits of a classic waiting to be rediscovered while it quietly established its director as a wildly underestimated talent, even if no one took notice at first.

Now here we are. Feted by fans and tabloids, endless queries of his love life, yet wielding an unabated genuine authenticity that makes him who he is. With two of People magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ titles to his name, it’s no wonder why women love him and men want to be him. Having befriended and worked with Hollywood’s creative elite, the Coen Brothers and Steven Soderbergh to name a few, Clooney has certainly learned from his peers, setting a high water mark in terms of acting with Up in the Air. There’s no doubting that it’s one of his greatest performances and come Oscar time he’ll be contending as the favourable front-runner.

And even if he doesn’t win he’ll always have 2009, the year that saw him release an unprecedented three films that were funny, intelligent, and most of all, original.

• Myles Herod

short fiction contest The theme of the short fiction contest is quarterlife crisis, and student life in general.

In recent years, the idea of the quarter-life crisis has been circulating rapidly. People in their twenties are faced with more pressure than ever before, entering a competitive job market and dealing with a rotten economy and high expectations. In the foreword to It’s A Wonderful Lie: 20 Truths About Life In Your Twenties, Alexandra Robbins writes: “It is more difficult to be twenty-something now than it was 40 years ago. We face the most competitive hiring pool in history, with increasing numbers of college graduates. Furthermore, the age at which older generations expect us to succeed is rapidly plummeting… we’re made to feel that if we haven’t achieved something monumental by age 25, then we’re already over the hill.

Regarding marriage, we are heavily influenced by that legendary 50 per cent divorce rate. We do not want to make our parent’s mistakes. The truth is, we’re not averse to growing up; we simply want to grow up responsibly.”

submission guidelines

Stories should be 2,500 words or less.

Include your name, student number, email address, phone number, submission title and word count on the cover page. Do not include any of this information on the following pages.

Typed, double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman.

To submit you must be a full or part time McMaster student.

Submit a hard copy to the Silhouette office (MUSC b110).

The top five stories will be published in a mini anthology of andy fiction.

The first prize submission will receive a $50 Titles gift card and a copy of the anthology.

The second and third prize submissions will receive $25 Titles gift cards and a copy of the anthology.

Two honourable mentions will also be published and authors will receive a copy of the anthology.

contest closes february 22.

andy’s best of the decade

D6 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine

the movies

Welcome to the second week of Andy’s countdown to the very best of film and music from 2000 – 2009. With two top 20 lists pertaining to the past decade, we feel it’s our obligation, as McMaster’s premier arts and culture bible, to provide a certain standard to the student body, undeterred by venal propositions. Yes, although our tastes may seem highbrow, don’t be fooled, they were mostly chosen by our volunteers. Over the remaining three weeks, our selections will be revealed, choices we considered thoroughly amongst numerous heartbreaks and temper tantrums. This week features

thursday, january 21, 2010 • D7

the music

Quentin Tarantino (sorry no Inglourious Basterds), Martin Scorsese’s over-the-top revision of Asian cinema, an apocalyptic Clive Owen gem, and a Spanish film that will forever make me fearful of wine bottles. As for music, groove to the psychedelic pop of The Flaming Lips, the Latin flavour of Mars Volta’s cryptic trip of progressive rock, electro hip-hop princess M.I.A. and the eclectic swoon of singer songwriter Regina Spektor. Do you feel we left something out? Well, we don’t want to hear about it. You can go and make your own list. For the rest, please enjoy.

The Flaming Lips

M.I.A.

Mars Volta

Regina Spektor

Explosions in the Sky

15. Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 (2003-2004)

14. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

13. Children of Men (2006)

12. The Departed (2006)

11. The Royal Tennenbaums (2001)

15. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)

14. Kala (2004)

13. Frances the Mute (2005)

12. Far (2009)

11. The Earth Is Not a Cold Place (2003)

Revenge is a dish best served by Quentin Tarantino. With trademark nonlinear storytelling and stylistically excessive use of violence, his two-part story of messed up, bride kicking vengeance certainly transcends the typical mainstream action film.

The entertaining bloodshed and throwbacks to countless genres coupled with the witty and often-dark dialogue earns Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 a spot on any best movie list of the decade. Mixing satire with drama, sadistic with sarcastic and simplicity with complexity, these films are just way too much fun to simply watch, you experience them. Countless one liners and over the top fight scenes remind us why Quentin’s undeniable flair for dialogue and cinematic passion is so revered, creating a badass bride that keeps us watching til’ many bloody deaths do us part.

•Trevor Roach

Winner of three academy awards, this Spanish-language film written and directed by Guillermo del Toro managed to take the American market by storm. Set in 1944 fascist Spain, the movie primarily follows a young girl, Ofelia, who escapes the harsh reality around her into fantasy, a fantasy well established thanks to beautiful art direction and surrealistic makeup. But the story is not a whimsical fable. Terrifying at times, the fantastic monsters Ofelia encounters are nothing compared to the cruelty man is shown to be capable of. A scene involving a wine bottle and a bludgeoned face will live on in infamy as the films most shocking set piece. In the end, it is up to the viewer to decide if what happened to Ofelia was truth or mere fantasy, and either way you will surely have your heart broken watching it unfold.

•Harrison Cruikshank

Children of Men was definitely one of the best sci-fi dystopia films of recent memory. Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, it depicts a near future where all humans are infertile and society has broken down. Part action and part road movie, Owen’s Theo, an ex-activist, has to protect the first pregnant women in decades from both the authoritarian British government and refugee terrorists.

The film’s strength comes from its realistic simulation of a dying, childless society, a warning of what the world may be like if the 00s major issues of terrorism, illegal immigration, xenophobia, and the securitization of society, aren’t solved. Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men, is simultaneously a suberpbly excuted piece of filmmaking and a jarring examination of social commentary, all combined into a unique sci-fi concept.

•Noah Nemoy

Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of the Hong King crime drama Infernal Affairs did more than just cement Leonardo DiCaprio as his next Robert De Niro. It was a return to the genre Scorsese had practically reinvented twice already with Mean Streets (1973) and Goodfellas (1990)—but this time focusing on the principle of go big or go home. Could you possibly expect anything less? Scorsese’s nifty camera tricks, Jack’s crazed mobster, the cat a mouse games between Leo and Matt, Alec and Marky Mark’s biting one-liners, and Marty Sheen’s comforting, trademarked Martin Sheen-father role (remember Wall Street). With all of the deception, all of the tormenting tension, there’s a love triangle for good measure.

The silent phone call of Billy and Colin nervously exchanging the sound of breathing put you on the edge of your seat, and the film’s near-unprecedented shootout finale almost threw you off of it!

•Kevin Elliott

This 2001 Wes Anderson film is the story of a reunion, a broken family reunion, deceived by an estranged father, Royal, (Gene Hackman) who coyly has his family believe he has weeks to live. The Tenenbaum children, Chas (Ben Stiller), Margot (Gwenyth Paltrow) and Richie (Luke Wilson), once-renowned child geniuses, now grapple with an array of personal issues. The film is shot in an impossible to place time-period, where everything looks antique at the same time as being modern.

The dark humour and affecting story line is punctuated with an articulate soundtrack, including artists like Elliott Smith and Nico.

The impeccable acting, cockeyed whimsy, and visual beauty all come together to make this inarguably Wes Anderson’s best film to date.

•Roxanne Hathway-Baxter

The Flaming Lip’s Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is one of the most moving records ever, simply put, let alone for this past decade. At first it all seems so simple, until you realize the intricate melodies woven together, the soundscapes backing each track, the timing and the structure of each song so carefully put together. And it all sounds like an organic force of love. Then there is the subject matter.

The songs tell stories of robot love (“One More Robot/Sympathy 300021”), of black-belt defenders of people (“Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1”), and then there is the heartstopping beauty of “Do You Realize,” in which Wayne Coyne sings about death and acceptance with an almost frightening clarity. The absolute gorgeousness in this album may not satisfy those who prefer 1999’s The Soft Bulletin, but Yoshimi is an essential experience for anybody with a heart.

MIA’s second album is smashing, electrifying, knock your socks offand jump around, kind of music.

The title Kala was named after her mother and is the successor to her first album Arular, which was named after her fallen militant father. This album will definitely be remembered as one of a kind for her hardcore, politically charged lyrics and colourful combination of African beats and Eurovision strings. Kala stretches her musical tent to include clips from classic Bollywood movies like “Jimmy” and old school raps such as “Mango Pickle Down River.”

“Paper Planes” was the only single that topped the Billboard charts but every song has something innovative to say with her clever lyrics and sarcastic wit. Albums like Kala give hope that music will continue to push the boundaries into the next decade.

In 2005, Frances the Mute came as the masterpiece song-writing duo Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala had clearly been trying to write for over a decade. The Mars Volta’s sprawling, adventurous numbers twist like a maze, folding over themselves repeatedly and sometimes beginning again from the very start. Nearly 80 minutes of music is split into only 5 monstrous tracks with the Volta’s 27-minute magnum opus, Cassandra Gemini, closing it off. These marathon tracks explore multiple dynamic shifts, which succeed as a result of Lopez’s keen decision in blending a powerful horn section with his guitar-based sound. Another key component is the band’s ability in drawing equally from genres such as punk, funk, Latin and prog without allowing one particular style to dominate.

The result is a wholly unique sound that will continue to be celebrated by far-out minded individuals.

A brilliant pianist, singer and songwriter, this latest album shows just how diverse Regina’s talents are.

Her piano work ranges from playful staccatos to deeply moving legatos, from almost childish to transcendent chord progressions. A beautiful and broad vocal range adorns each of her songs often, and this is in conjunction with vocal sounds, which probably would not be out of place in a hip-hop album or a Bugs Bunny cartoon. For someone who never aspired to be a songwriter, Regina Spektor has knack for writing lyrics, which accompany her music perfectly. They are usually narrative, they are often silly or obscene, and they are always touching. To choose only one song as the best of this album would be unfair as they are so diverse, but if you put a gun to my head and asked me, they would be “Blue Lips,” “Laughing With,” and “Dance Anthem Of The 80s.”

Chances are you’ve heard at least a portion of a song off of The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place; the music has been used in a long list of films and television shows. But don’t be fooled, this is not background music. This quintessential postrock album uses of guitars, bass and drums to create enchanting wordless melodies that catch and keep your attention. The five songs featured on the album, blend into one another to create a musical concoction that guides you through the album. Unlike the band’s previous albums, The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place won’t overwhelm you with distortion or exceedingly loud instrumentals. Stand out tracks on the album include “Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean” and “Your Hand in Mine.” Postrock has never sounded so good.

Notable track: “The Widow” •Josh Parsons

Notable track: “Your Hand in Notable track: “Blue Lips” •Harrison Cruikshank Mine” •Caitlin McKitrick

Notable track: “Do You Realize” •Derek Hung

Notable track: “Paper Planes” •Almira Kamaluddin

D8 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine

music

thursday, january 21, 2010

cue southern souls

andy talks to local videographer and musician mitch fillion

What once was a vibrant scene full of weekly shows in every Southern Ontario venue, pool hall and basement available has since been reduced to a “scene” of obscure Euro-synth playlists, but that’s my opinion. This decline may have left a mass of pseudo-hipsters glued to their iPods, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the talent has vanished. Cue Southern Souls, the project of videographer/musician Mitch Fillion aimed at rejuvenating and revamping local music through an interestingly unique approach: stripping away all things technical, and filming the artist in the most out-of-character environment possible.

“Every street, park, or city bus is a potential venue,” he explained to me, “I take big inspiration from La Blogotheque’s Take Away Shows, they really started the whole idea.”

Fillion, of course is no stranger to the music community; having filmed and documented a number of local shows and bands, taking on Southern Souls was simplyanother outlet for exposing Ontario’s unsung sirens.

“I filmed in venues for about two years before I started this project – the lighting is terrible, the sound is always hit or miss, and it’s not very intimate at all. There are [also] thousands of recorded videos online of bands playing in venues, and I’m sure every band I’ve filmed already has a few. I wanted to offer something different,” he explained. The result is a project that has expanded

its repertoire to over 60 musicians (and counting) of all backgrounds and genres performing in some of the most obscure and organically unique settings imaginable.

Picture this: A backroom of a thrift store garnished with knickknacks and costumes both surrounding and worn by Peterborough’s The Burning Hell. Or an archaically dark hallway, eerily illuminated by the harmonies of Toronto’s The Wilderness of Manitoba. Or even a jaunty little barbershop while the vocalist of Brampton’s Beekeepers Society gets a haircut. Or a market, library, elevator, subway, under a bridge – you see where I’m going with this? The language of Southern Souls is diverse and completely unrefined, as the settings speak for themselves.

Fillion’s impromptu method of capturing the artist in unusual surroundings is certainly a fresh new way of exposing local music, and as a result has lead to a fair share of musicians contacting him from all over Ontario – including the likes of Ohbijou, Great Bloomers, Ages, The Rest, Ben Somer, Matt Paxton, Sandman Viper Command, and much more.

The success of Southern Souls has also snowballed into a full time gig for Fillion, yet what’s most interesting is that he still offers to film every artist for free: “I know bands don’t have a lot of money, especially the touring bands I film. I’m just happy to hang out with them and help them get some more exposure,” he explained.

The resulting payoff for Fillion has been the ability to spread his project outside of the province towards artists touring through – which is slowly becoming a trend for those playing Southern Ontario: “Expanding to bands from outside of the province has been great, [and] at some point I’d also love to travel to places like Montreal, or Halifax and document some bands there for a week or so.”

For now, Fillion has had the pleasure of filming “other souls” featuring the likes of Vancouver’s Mother Mother, Fredericton’s The Slate Pacific, Brooklyn’s La Strada, and many more. As for the future of Southern Souls, Fillion plans to stay true to his roots in showcasing every bit of active talent hidden in the nooks and crannies of any music scene: “In the coming months I plan to do some traveling to other cities where I’ll spend a few days and capture as many artists as I can. I’ve also tossed around the idea of adding another director to the project.”

The message of Southern Souls is simple, yet completely unique in altering how we connect with our local music scene, as Fillion notes: “[I]t aims to show that music and its makers are everywhere.” Whether or not you’re familiar with the amount of talent Ontario has to offer, or even if you’re guilty of having anything entitled “remix” or “remixed remix” on your iPod, Southern Souls is definitely a more enlightened way of finding new (and local) music.

•Dan Hawie

thursday, january 21, 2010

eating out

Hamilton Harbour Diner 486 James St. N 905-523-7373 With a décor that looks like a mismatched assortment of second hand finds and a quaint atmosphere, the Hamilton Harbour Diner, quietly located along James Street North is one of the Steel City’s hidden gems. The food is always deliciously prepared fresh and doled out in giant portions — particularly the pasta dishes like their crab and lobster macaroni – which is a plentiful offering of cheesy pasta abound with fresh seafood. Other excellent meal choices include their hearty and moist meatloaf and their shepherd’s pie. Because, unlike the many generic chain restaurants that have been cropping up in the past few years, Hamilton Harbour Diner is a oneof-a-kind local establishment, with its own distinct quirks and recipes, all of the food has a fun, home-style taste.

Their desserts, an assortment of freshly baked pies, cobblers and crisps, varies from day to day. This is another wonderful twist on what has become on the usual restaurant experience — where generic restaurants offer up generic desert menus in

under the radar anticipation that their diners won’t veer too far from their expectations.

We tried the peach crumble, and just like everything else on the menu, that particular dessert also comes highly recommended.

The best part of the Hamilton Harbour Diner experience however comes after you’ve finished eating, and, inevitably have just requested your leftovers to go.

Now, normally doggy bags are pretty straightforward — either a surprise free Styrofoam or plastic container. Because such standardized fare wouldn’t do service to either the décor or the food, at the Hamilton Harbour Diner they personalize your doggy bag, wrapping your food in a tin-foil sculpture of different animals like a crab or a swan.

That’s a perfect conclusion to a wonderful and unique meal served at an even better price.

Open from 8a.m.-8p.m. on weeknights and 10p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, for students on a tight budget looking for an intimate, low-key evening out, Hamilton Harbour Diner is probably the restaurant for you. Nearly every item on the menu comes in at under $10 (with the exception of their $20 16oz steak and eggs combo and a pair of $12 and $15 pastas). The dining atmosphere is relaxed, the staff is friendly, the serving is quick and the food is exceptional. Bon appetite.

•Corrigan Hammond

the silhouette’s art + culture magazine • D9

off the web

‘Bird’ featuring Miles Davis ditty. No. I now have grooveshark.com, a free and nearly unlimited catalogue of music featuring every song I could possibly fathom hearing.

•Corrigan Hammond lamebook lamebook.com

simply recipes simplyrecipes.com This recipe blog is like an online archive of Elise Bauer and her family’s recipes. All of the recipes on the website have been tested and improved upon by Elise and her family, so she asks readers to “keep in mind that what you see here is a work in progress.” Voted “Best Food Blog Overall” in the 2006 Food Blog Awards, the site is a labour of love from the Bauer family, and the recipes read easily and clearly, with beautiful food photos, family snapshots, and anecdotal introductions.

Having tried Dec.’s 5th “Gingerbread Man Cookies” recipe with great success, I’d say that this site is an excellent, reliable resource for both the timid and experienced chef.

•Grace Evans grooveshark grooveshark.com Move over iTunes. I neither need you nor your well exceedingly comprehensive library of Warren Zevon tunes and Deadly Snakes b-sides. Never again shall I be a slave to your limitations like not having that rare Charlie

“The funniest and lamest of facebook” reads lamebook.com’s banner. Enough said. Have you ever gone on Facebook, uncovered soul crushing uses of English like: “Trippin. my boi lockd up” and then said to yourself, ‘I’d like to die inside faster?’

But you meant ‘die inside’ in a good way. Then my friend, I give to you all the lamest of Facebook condensed into one convenient web site.

•Corrigan Hammond fail blog failblog.org If you don’t know about failblog.org, then you fail. And for that matter, the previous line also failed. Failblog.org however, as a ridiculous blog featuring viral video footage of people quite literally failing at life, does not fail. Every video featured on the failblog, whether it be of a TV weatherman making an on air penis joke or an NHL-er getting his jersey stuck between the boards, is hilarious schadenfreude at its best.

•Corrigan Hammond

D10 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine

music

i want my muchmusic back

andy intern finds muchmusic lacking relevant music coverage MuchMusic seems to be confused.

The word “music” takes up half of its name, yet it has forgotten how to air actual music. When MuchMusic launched in 1984, it was “the nation’s music station.” New, independent bands were covered passionately and regularly, while VJs weren’t afraid to improvise jokes or delve into politics. Flick the channel on during primetime today, and you’ll find American dramas and dance competitions.

Since when does The Vampire Diaries fall under the category of music television? There’s music in the show’s soundtrack, but labeling it as music programming is quite the stretch. These days, even American music television does a better job of showcasing Canadian music. It’s a shame that what was once a vital component of Canada’s music scene now airs reruns of One Tree Hill three times daily.

The truth is MuchMusic has morphed from a cuttingedge music resource in the 80’s to today’s vapid pop culture hub, content with mediocrity.

One of the main problems with MuchMusic is that the majority of programming is hilariously unrelated to music. MuchMusic’s schedule is dominated by American dramas, including (but certainly not limited to) Gossip Girl, which airs three times a week. Dance competitions are given excessive screen time by MuchMusic: eleven hours of So You Think You Can Dance airs weekly, with a similar amount of time allocated to America’s Next Dance Crew. The channel has also made a habit of importing American reality shows that pander to the lowest common denominator; programs such as Paris Hilton’s My New BFF were broadcast last year. More recently, MuchMusic has taken to creating its own reality shows.

Homegrown dating programs My Date With... and Love Court air four and five times per week, respectively.

With all this fluff, it’s easy to assume there’s little room left in

the schedule for music. The reality isn’t far off: according to the Toronto Star, “40 per cent of MuchMusic’s core programming” is U.S.-made entertainment programming.

Admittedly, MuchMusic does air some music, but it’s all too often influenced by the American Top 50 music scene, and is aired at times when potential viewers are unlikely to be watching TV.

Due to MuchMusic’s musical broadcast license, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) mandates that at least 50 per cent of what the channel broadcasts is music videos.

MuchMusic complies by airing blocks of music videos during times when people are either at work (9am–1pm on weekdays) or sound asleep (3:30am–6am). These “Video Flows” air uninterrupted (excluding commercials) mainstream pop music videos, similar to the tween-skewed fodder found in MuchMusic’s music video chart Countdown, on twice a week. For example, one of the top songs on the past few weeks’ Countdowns is called “One Less Lonely Girl.” The title phrase is sung no less than thirty-eight times

by Justin Bieber, who is a Canadian signed to an American record label as Usher’s protégé. The video ends with Bieber uttering “only you, shawty” and walking away.

Believe it or not, MuchMusic televises quality music at times – but if you blink, you might miss it. French Kiss is a program featuring French-Canadian music and interviews, and is aired weekday mornings at 7am for a total weekly airtime of 2.5 hours. Surprisingly, this is more time than is allocated for another quality program called The Wedge. It is similar to the aforementioned “Video Flows,” but exclusively features independent (and often Canadian) bands and artists. It is broadcast for one hour at 12:30am and 2:30am on Saturday mornings. Meanwhile, underground and genre-specific

programs Rap City, The Punk Show and Loud air together early Sunday mornings. MuchMusic clearly has a special talent for hiding quality music deep in the bowels of its schedule. Furthermore, the long-running interview program NewMusic was cancelled in 2008.

Despite MuchMusic’s mindless reality shows and antimusic scheduling practices, perhaps the most telling sign of the channel’s musical incompetence is that an American television station does a superior job of contributing to Canada’s music scene. MTV Canada, the Canadian arm of the network owned by media conglomerate Viacom, shows eclectic music videos and features live performances on “MTV Live,” its daily talk show. All this coming from a television channel that technically isn’t allowed to air music, according to CRTC restrictions that attempt to avoid competition with Canada’s major music network, MuchMusic. Ever wondered why MTV Canada’s logo doesn’t have “Music Television” underneath it? Now you know.

Legally, MTV Canada isn’t a music channel, and yet it still seems to try harder than MuchMusic.

Why has MuchMusic bothered to keep its musicbroadcasting license when even an American channel can do better?

For most music lovers, watching MuchMusic stopped making sense a long time ago. Luckily, Canadians have another option: AUX is a newly launched digital channel that calls itself “Real Music Television.”

Tune in and you’ll likely be greeted by a stream of independent Canadian music videos, or an interview with an underground band. But as AUX breathes new life into Canadian culture, MuchMusic has given up. Its 25th anniversary was in August, but there was no on-air mention, and certainly no celebration. Perhaps MuchMusic is just as ashamed of its reinvention as the rest of us are.

•Josh Parto

thursday, january 21, 2010

thursday, january 21, 2010

classic review

in stereo

the silhouette’s art + culture magazine • D11

featured review

than thirty years of releasing music, the album often unsurpassed in its praise is 1985’s Rain Dogs.

The majority of Rain Dogs’ praise is directed towards its Tom Waits unpolished and unplugged sound Rain Dogs (1985) that provided an escape from the increasing digitization of popular music of the time. Conceived, Tom Waits lengthy career not only written and recorded in less than boasts an enormous discography, two months, Rain Dogs is loosely but is also highlighted by a number based on a theme that follows of successes as a critically acclaimed “the urban dispossessed” of New actor and playwright (most recently, York City. Over 19 tracks, Waits’ including The Imaginarium of Doctor demonstrates a phenomenally broad Parnassus). Just as with his films, array of musical influences that, Waits’ musical work always displays while shifting in tone dramatically an ambitious and experimental never loses the overall unity of a style that complements his well-constructed album. Rain Dogs emotionally charged, rougher-than- presents as many musical styles rough persona. And while Waits’ as it has album tracks. The album may not be as musically prolific succeeds as a result of its flexible in recent years, he spent a large instrumentation (which includes portion of his career releasing banjos, trombones and accordions, music at a stunning rate. Over more among many other instruments).

What most holds the album together though, is Waits’ unmistakable howl (which frequently soars between a painfully soulful croon and nearly-incoherent bark).

It is the amount attention paid to capturing a compelling representation of New York City’s darkest corners though that really makes Rain Dogs such a coherent work. Waits layers the album with tape recordings taken directly from the streets, mixing and recording it in, what he has described as, a “kind of rough area, Lower Manhattan between Canal and 14th Street”.

His adoration for combining prerock genres such as blues and vaudeville allows for uniquely rich songs that are so incredibly characteristic of Waits that they can be compared to nothing else.

•Josh Parsons

Fall of Efrafa Inlé

Bidiniband The Land is Wild

Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures

Bless the Fall Witness

HHH

HHH

HHH

HH

The notion of a concept album nowadays seems cliché, tired and pretentious. However, English band, Fall of Efrafa, turns this on its head with their ambitious new record, Inlé, the third and final chapter of The Warren of Snares Trilogy, a dark interpretation of the mythological and political themes of Richard Adam’s Watership Down.

Although this record crawls at an unapologetically slow pace, it still rewards patient listeners.

Droning post-rock landscapes delicately layer ideas in anxious anticipation of crushing climaxes of thick, sludgy guitars in this meticulously composed tale of epic post-hardcore. While musically, Fall of Efrafa are not reinventing the wheel, their thorough, intelligent composition in combination with an intriguing interpretation of this classic novel certainly makes this one of the most interesting releases of the past year.

• Chris Hoy

This album doesn’t really provide anything special or significant. At best, many tracks feel mediocre – having some good qualities that are overshadowed by elements that don’t fit the song (such as tune changes for the worse during choruses, or weak lyrics). Although some tracks start out sounding good, with a nice beat accompanied by pleasant guitar chords, the songs suddenly change and become awkward. The main problem here are Bidini’s vocals. “The Land is Wild” is the only track where I enjoy them as they are. This album could definitely be improved by a different vocalist.

While a few songs are worth a listen, The Land is Wild is not a compelling album. Missing out on this one is no real shame.

• Robert Evans

Them Crooked Vultures may just be a little bit too crooked. The much anticipated super group consisting of Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones, and Queens of the Stone Age’s guitarist Josh Homme released their debut self-titled album in November 2009. The album has moments of greatness drawing you in until the awkward timing, apathetic vocals, irritating guitar, or a combination of all three (such as on the track “Spinning With Daffodils”), have you searching for some straighter scavengers. Don’t get me wrong, these are some seasoned musicians that certainly know what they are doing, yet together there seems to be something a bit off. Even with the genius of John Paul Jones adding depth to the recordings with slide guitar, clavinet, and of course bass, the musical stylings of Josh Homme seem like they have this bird bent too far out of shape.

•Trevor Roach

One of my favourite things about getting a new CD is putting it into my computer and opening it up on iTunes to see what genre is listed next to every song. I couldn’t wait to pop in Witness, post-hardcore darling Bless the Fall’s new album.

“Alternative & Punk.” What? Nah, they’re clearly disco, you turkey!

Don’t worry, these screamo boys don’t disappoint with a breakdown only twenty-four seconds in. The guitar riffs are obnoxious and the screaming is annoying. The good news is that new non-screaming vocalist Beau Bokan (formerly of Take the Crown) has amazing range.

If they had built upon their last disc, Witness could have been Bless The Fall’s masterpiece. Unfortunately they forgot to improve on anything.

•Kevin Elliott

HHHHH

Vampire Weekend Contra

HHH

Any new-aged, indie-pop-loving fanatic has undergone a period of infatuation over New York’s college prep quartet, Vampire Weekend.

Their self-titled 2008 debut made serious waves in revitalizing the mainstream with its signature breezy falsettos, spastic rhythms, and snarky wordplay.

Now take every bit of praise and worship that the band has rightfully deserved since then and do the following: pack it neatly onto a ship, and set it adrift on some never-ending ocean.

The result is Contra, the band’s heavily anticipated sophomore album, which seems to have already wandered off the radar despite hitting shelves last week.

Starting off with “Horchata,” the album pulls you into what feels like a Little Mermaid sing-a-long – at this point, anyone would be psyched to float into (or under) the sea. But just as that initial excitement begins, it gradually declines with the album drifting further away from the band’s upbeat style that we all know and love.

I’m seriously rooting for these guys though, and the album does have a few gems scattered about. “Holiday” maintains that classic Vampire Weekend calypso rhythm, while “Cousins” proves most successful at showcasing a more sporadic yet controlled sound. Let’s all hope that the band raises anchor and steers home with its next album.

•Dan Hawie

D12 • the silhouette’s art + culture magazine

o my heart

music

thursday, january 21, 2010

vancouver’s mother mother tour with their newest album Stretched across the wide stage of Hamilton Place with flashing lights behind them, Vancouver’s Mother Mother delivered a razor sharp set to a full audience. While the crowd was anxiously awaiting Matt Good’s headlining set, the band played with incredible energy and power.

Mother Mother is Ryan Guldemond, Molly Guldemond, Ali Siadat, Jeremy Page and recent addition Jasmin Parker. It’s nice to see that Parker’s vocals blend seamlessly into the band’s older songs like “Touch Up.” The live rendition of the band’s newest album, O My Heart, is so vigorous and cutting that it risks inducing heart palpitations.

I first saw Mother Mother when they visited Hamilton’s Underground in 2007. My brother and I were among the four audience members there, however the fivepiece filled the space with their rockabilly pop with one of the highest energy shows I’ve experienced to date. In Andy’s interview with the band’s Ryan Guldemond, he remembered the poorly attended show and said, “You can never take that privilege for granted, you hear about bands being signed to major labels because the one guy in the bar works for Sony or whatever. It’s always good to have that mind that you don’t know who you’re playing for, and also the idea that one fan means a lot, the people, and it’s a catalyst.”

When asked what it was like working with Matt Good, Guldemond praises Good: “Harmonious. Fun. Humourous…musically inspiring, great musician, really fun guy to be on the road with, and [the] great fan base that Matt has accumulated for himself. One that is receptive to what we’re doing as well, so that’s really nice to discover.”

As an opening act for Matt Good, the band has gotten to experience large-scale arenas for the first time, but Guldemond maintains that small venues are exciting for different reasons: “They both are great for different reasons, playing in ornate theaters that were built for acoustics is truly idyllic on a musical level. But being in a smaller space

and looking your fans right in the eye and feeling their breath while you play music they love is really meaningful and celebratory, and it’s yours. I mean you really own that experience as a headliner. There’s an emotional superiority to headlining and being with your fans.”

While less romantic than intimate bar sets and small venue shows, opening for Matt Good is an opportunity for Mother Mother to gain fans, and Guldemond is optimistic: “This tour is helping a lot, like we’re playing to thousands of people each night that wouldn’t hear us usually. So I think we’re going to make a lot of new fans, hopefully that will ignite a new spell of growth and momentum.”

The majority of Mother Mother’s songs are written

by Guldemond, who cites the Pixies, Radiohead and the Beatles as some of his biggest influences, as well as songwriters Gillian Welsh, and Nick Drake. “I like melodically-driven music, and I like catchy music, but catchy with a certain level of abstraction and oddness to it,” Guldemond says.

The songs on O My Heart are sharper, more concise and dynamic than that of the band’s previous album, Touch Up. Title track “O My Heart” is sharp, pulsing and perfectly timed, with complicated harmonies and driving bass. “Body of Yours” is composed of slinky bass and soft back-up vocals from Parker and Molly Guldemond (Ryan’s sister), while Ryan Guldemond’s precise vocals easily float over the grinding rhythm of the song.

“Ghosting” is the prettiest, most haunting song on the album, beginning softly with a twangy guitar part that then coasts through into soft vocals and fevered violins, before percussively coming together like a symphony with the lyrics: “Would it be so bad if I stayed? / I’m just a ghost out

of his grave / and I can make love in my grave.” It one of the songs Guldemond said he most enjoys performing: “It has a fun arc, a bit of a journey, and it’s easy to sing, and the crowd usually responds to it as well.”

“Hayloft” is an upbeat song with precise, shrill vocals winding in and around the rapidly wavering guitar, the voices almost manic as they sing about ‘Young lovers with their legs tied up in knots.’ Guldemond summarized this “manic” quality to some of Mother Mother’s music nicely when he said: “All of the high energy ones are fun, like ‘O My heart’ and ‘Hayloft,’ they take care of themselves, you just press go and get led along for the ride, so to speak.

Those are always fun and reckless in a sense.”

While Guldemond maintained that none of the songs on their new album are very anecdotal, he did speak to the songwriting he did for “Ball Cap” on the album Touch Up: “That was a special song for me at the time because it was kind of the first song that I wrote right when the idea of starting this band was forming… I was at music school, I was learning all about music theory, and jazz and classical and… getting a little fed up to be honest. I wanted to write simple lyric-driven songs and that was the first song that came out of the phase.” “Ball Cap” is an accurate sample of the band’s previous album, Touch Up, with its dreamier intro and varied vocals, and lyrics that concern a consciousness of the outer world. “There’s a certain element of birth in that song, the birth of the idea of this band, I really hear that in this song,” Guldemond explained.

Not only are they incredible performers, but the band that delivered O My Heart has a heart: Mother Mother has donated their song “Hayloft” to Project Haiti. The song is available for download on the The Province’s website (www. theprovince.com), and all proceeds go to the Red Cross’ Haiti relief fund.

•Grace Evans