U N I V E R S I T Y O F C A L G A R Y
V O L U M E 4 8 | I S S U E N O . 1 3 | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 | 2 0 0 7
WOMEN IN
POLITICS
MALE ALBERTA MLAS
FEMALE ALBERTA MLAS
PAGE 5
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY GAUNTLET | VOLUME 48 | ISSUE NO. 13 | SEPTEMBER 20 | 2007
contents
photo to the editor
“Rock it Out” by Chelsee Albo
G raffiti and breakdancing abound at
the One Up Graffiti Convention.
Spin like a devil, yo’! Spin! Spin! Spin!
Anyone can submit an original photo to the editor.
Drop off your high resolution photo along with your
name, contact information and a brief description
including type of camera (not exceeding 30 words)
to room 319 MacEwan Student Centre or email
photo@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
!!BREAKING NEWS!! news page 5 Hiyahhh! sports page 23
There aren’t very many women in politics, who knew? Also, a look into Calgary’s What does the wonderful world of sports hold this week? The men’s hockey team
growing homelessness and the proposed nuclear power plant to be built outside of made quite a procurement and the women’s soccer team was very rad on the
Peace River by 2017. weekend. Also, the awesomeness of Kendo!
Werd t’ yer moms, Opinions be Old-Skool Photography photo page 30
droppin’ bombs opinions page 15
This week film is king, as we return to the golden age of photography by shooting
on archaic rolls of black and white film. To prove our worth, we don’t even use
Yo yo yo, this be goin’ out to all me homeboyz in Poli299! Werd! Opinions this autofocus. How quaint!
week consists of an article about people having babies, people not having babies,
people voting, people talking about Britney Spears and people who will probably
complain because they didn’t read the entire article. Dutty bidnezz! Gummy Gauntlet features page 32
Gummy bears: friend or foe? I prefer to classify them as delicious, but you may not
after reading this in depth exposé. Flip to features and be prepared to furrow your
brow for several minutes of gummy concentration.
Punch the monkey to win a
thousand internets! w e b page 19
Voyeuristic joy! e n t e r t a i n m e n t page 35
This week, Web talks about those wiley wascals at MediaDefender who were
Find out about the wild world of local theatre, art, a look at a couple of films and
recently hacked. 700mb of emails were stolen and posted on BitTorrent, linking
the usual spread of quality cd reviews. Plus, the Entertainment Editor complains
them to being enormous douchebags. Dicks everywhere!
about how shitty the Emmys were. In a word, very.
editorial and letters
Where are all the feMLAs? September 20 2007
Editor-in-Chief: Chris Tait 220-7752
eic@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
In a province where women make News Editor: Katy Anderson 220-4318
news@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
up virtually half of the population,
having less than per cent of Entertainment: Ryan Pike 220-4376
entertainment@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
those women in legislature rings
far less alarm bells than it should. Sports: Amanda Hu 220-4376
sports@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
To be a true form of democracy,
our political spectrum should be a Opinions: Ændrew Rininsland 220-4376
aendrew@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
reflection of the society it was built
to represent. Features: Jon Roe 220-4376
features@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
When talking about the absence
of women in politics, all kinds of Photography: Geoff MacIntosh 220-4376
photo@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
startling facts can be brought up.
Not one of Canada’s premiers is a Production: Christian Louden 220-4376
christian@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
woman. In Alberta, only out of
cabinet ministers are women. Illustrations: Paul Baker 220-4376
Illustrations@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
Kim Campbell—our only female
prime minister—lasted in office News Assistant: Sara Hanson 220-4318
news@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
for just four months. Heck, women
haven’t even had the vote for a cen- Escapes And Pursuits: Jordyn Marcellus 220-4376
eandp@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
tury yet.
The United Nation has a lot of AP: Ben Hoffman, Kyle Francis, Garth Paulson 220-4376
ap@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
lofty goals, but I’m of the opinion
that having at least per cent of Three Lines Free: Sarelle Azuelos 220-4376
tlfs@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
representatives in national assem-
blies be represented by women isn’t Business Manager: Evelyn Cone 220-7380
evelyn.cone@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
one of them. In Canada, a nation
consisting of citizens privileged Advertising Manager: John Harbidge 220-7751
john.harbidge@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
enough to have the opportunity to
educate themselves, the importance Graphic Artist: Ken Clarke 220-7755
kdclarke@ucalgary.ca
of building a system that is at least
somewhat close to representing its Network Manager: Ben Li
citizens proportionately should be Contributors
not only apparent, but urgent. Chelsee Albo, Chris Beauchamp, Shelby Borys, Ken
Clarke, Jeff Clemens, Cam Cotton-O’Brien, David Crosby,
Despite minor transgressions, Jordana Daum, Marina Foo, Indrani Kar, Alex Khalifa,
we live in a place and time where Vivian Levny, Martin Lussier, John McDonald,
Robb Myroon, Derek Neumeier, Cam Cotton-O’Brien,
women have every opportunity to Daniel J. Pagan, Chris Pedersen, Mustaali Raj,
enter the political arena. Yet too Joelle Robichaud, Andrew Sedor, Kay She, Alyzée Sibtain,
Gina Freeman/the Gauntlet Darren Young, Nathan Wood
many women choose not to run.
There are a million reasons not to as a probable cause for the lack of Canada leader Stéphane Dion said but are an insult, promoting the idea Golden Spatula
To Jordana Daum for turning in some excellent first
choose a life in politics, but why are females in the political arena. Politics that one third of his national Liberals that women need handicaps in order copy..
women affected by these in such a is a scary game she explained, and would be ladies, but, for political have a fair shot. Take Your Place, a
Furor Arma Ministrat
disproportionate ratio compared women are less apt to do scary leaders such as Dion to fill their provincial Liberal campaign aimed Room 319, MacEwan Students’ Centre
to men? things. This may have some basis cabinet with women, they need to to get women to run in elections, University of Calgary
2500 University Drive, NW
When the discussion arises, many in reality, but citing women’s hor- have women to choose from. is a step in the right direction, but Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
reasons are cited, including influ- mones as the reason for the gross Despite the obvious need for it remains to be seen if small scale General inquires: 220-7750
http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
ences from old-fashioned parents, misbalance in our system seems more women leaders, our priority programs such as this can have a
influence of a media slanted towards like a cop-out to me. A democratic should be electing the most suited wide-spread impact. The Gauntlet is the official student newspaper of the University
of Calgary, published most Thursdays throughout the year by the
portraying women as experts of the system should be built to accom- candidate for the job. And if more To quote Canada’s famous wom- Gauntlet Publications Society, an autonomous, incorporated body.
Membership in the society is open to undergraduate students at the U
arts and social issues rather than modate the people it represents, and women don’t step up to the plate, I en’s right activist Doris Anderson, of C, but all members of the university community are encouraged to
contribute. Opinions contained herein are those of individual writers,
economics and security and—argu- if it doesn’t, it has failed. can assure you those candidates are “Do we need more women in poli- and do not necessarily represent the views of the entire Gauntlet
staff. Editorials are chosen by a majority of the editorial board.
ably the most common—woman’s Time and time again, election not going to be female. tics? Damn right we do.” The Gauntlet is a forum open to all U of C students but may refuse
any submission judged to be racist, sexist, homophobic, libelous,
genetic urge to nurture. promises are made to fill cabinets Getting more women in office Regardless of the details, women or containing attacks of a strictly personal nature. We reserve the
right to edit for brevity. Grievances regarding the Gauntlet follow
When speaking with Conservative with more women in last ditch shouldn’t be centralized; legislated must make up a higher percentage in a three-step process which requires written decisions from the
Editor, the GPS Board of Directors, and the Ombudsboard. The
MLA Alana DeLong, she discussed attempts to get women out to the quotas and reserved seats for women our electoral system, and soon. complete Grievance Policy is online at: http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca.
The Gauntlet is printed on recycled paper and uses incredibly tardy-
women’s low levels of testosterone polls. Recently, Liberal Party of are not only forms of discrimination, Katy Anderson based ink. We urge you to recycle/procrastinate with the Gauntlet.
News Editor Letter Policy
Letters must be typed, double-spaced and received by Monday at
4 p.m., and must include the author’s name, student ID number,
telephone number and signature. Letters will not be printed if
they include attacks of a strictly personal nature, statements that
discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or sexual orientation, or
libellous or defamatory material. All letters should be addressed
to “Editor, the Gauntlet,” and be no longer than 300 words. The
Gauntlet retains the right to edit submissions. Letters can be
delivered or mailed to the Gauntlet office, Room 319 MacEwan
Student Centre, or sent by e-mail to gauntlet@ucalgary.ca.
The Cover
illustration by Paul Baker, layout by Geoff MacIntosh
news GAUNTLET SEPTEMBER 20.07 5
Editor: Katy Anderson—news@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
Ladies in legislature
A look into why more women don’t take the plunge into politics
Kay She they find to be female issues, like arts,
Gauntlet News when it is economics that I have a
tremendous background in,” she said.
I
n a society where politics is often per- The Take Our Place campaign supports
ceived as a man’s game, numerous and encourages new candidates through a
Canadians are looking for more female mentor team of current and former female
players to help draw up the game plan. Alberta Liberal MLAs.
The Alberta Liberals publicly released “We have a number of qualified individuals
a campaign to promote more involve- including our program chair, and a num-
ment from women in provincial politics ber of researchers and assistants to provide
early September. The Take Our Place cam- that kind of first-hand political experience
paign was created to level out the gender needed,” said Chase.
imbalance that currently exists in the Alberta Blakeman clarified that this initiative began
legislature. long before it was released to the media.
Although women have always made up “Last fall, I sent a letter to every female
roughly half the population of Canada, they municipal counselor and school board trustee
hold, on average, only per cent of elected saying, ‘your elections are coming in October,
positions. In Alberta, only two of cabinet if you’re not going to run again, would you
ministers are women. consider running for provincial politics?’”
“What we are trying to do is encourage Blakeman is currently following up on
Katy Anderson/the Gauntlet Martin Lussier/the Gauntlet
women to be part of the political process,” DeLong. Chase. the responses she received with one-on-one
said Liberal MLA for Calgary-Varsity, Harry meetings. The mentor team hopes to identify
Chase. “We want women to have the oppor- barriers to political participation as well as
tunity to be in the front line of the direction Alberta Population Alberta MLAs Alberta Cabinet Ministers help reduce or eliminate these barriers for
our province takes.” new female candidates.
Take Our Place campaign chair and Liberal 14.5% 10.5% O’Neill voiced her skepticism regarding the
Edmonton-Centre MLA, Laurie Blakeman method of this program. While she agreed
stressed while the initiative intends to recruit mentors are very important for networking
more women to run in the next election for 49.5% 50.5% and discussion, she also wondered if that
the Alberta Liberals, the wider understanding alone would be enough to make a signifi-
being that all levels of government need to get 85.5% 89.5% cant difference.
more women running for political office. “To really increase the number of women
“The bigger problem right now is that in politics in Canada, we have to centralize
women aren’t coming forward,”said Legend
the process,” said O’Neill. “If you want half
Blakeman. Female men and half women, you have to have the
University of Calgary political science pro- Male
central party with the major list that decides
fessor Brenda O’Neill specializes in gender who gets to run. Otherwise, we have con-
and politics. While she also advocates for stituencies deciding separately, and while it
more female politicians, she noted it is not movement in Canada has hit a plateau and taking the easy way out for whatever rea- could end up half and half, we see more often
a matter of what women can do that men is struggling due to lack of funding and low son.” than not, it doesn’t happen like that.”
can’t. prioritization. DeLong acknowledged the factors that Blakeman disagreed.
“It’s a question of justice,” said O’Neill. As well, there is an ongoing cultural gen- may hinder a woman’s political ambitions, “I’m not in favor of the centralized
“Democracy involves people participating in der difference between how girls and boys but said she feels strongly that her gender has system,” she said. “I resent it on behalf of
collective decision-making, and if only are raised to think of politics as a career never been a weak point in her career. women, because it makes it look like women
per cent are women in the legislature, then option. Chase echoed can’t get there by
there is definitely an inequality.”
This inequality in representation extends
“One could say, there is nothing that this sentiment.
keeps a woman from running, and that “There is no “The bigger problem right themselves, and
they can. I know
not just to women, but to ethnic and religious
minorities as well.
is true,” said O’Neill. “Except we know doubt men and
that in political socialization, people tend women are equal now is that women aren’t they can.”
Instead,
“The disadvantage in societies that are less
than inclusive when it comes to women is
not to tell their daughters, ‘you should run in fortitude,” he
for office.’ They are more likely to tell their said. coming forward.” Blakeman rec-
ommended a
that their society is not working to the best son that.” “When I was compromise of
of their abilities,” said Conservative party Even today, women only make roughly elected, there -Laurie Blakeman, centralization
Calgary-Bow MLA Alana DeLong. “But – cents on every dollar a man makes, was certainly no Liberal MLA and constituency
what’s really more important is getting the according to O’Neill. The general female disadvantage for independence.
best person to do the best job. That’s way economic disadvantage combined with me being a woman,” said DeLong. “There “One of the criteria [in the Conservative
more important than having a balance of the traditional gender role of women being was no special hoop I had to jump over or central committee] that I did put in place
men and women.” responsible for the home are only a few factors anything.” is contested nomination and we would
The factors contributing to the undersized that drastically dissuade many women from In fact, DeLong found it interesting that it like to have at least one women running
representation of women in politics have seeking positions in public office. is not the politics, but the media that makes [for the Liberal nomination in each
been well examined. At the height of the “Going into politics is an enormous her very aware of the disadvantages or ste- constituency],” said Blakeman. “So we
women’s movement in the s, women’s personal commitment; it’s not an easy choice reotypes of her gender. were able to put that in place centrally
issues were a huge priority on political agen- in life,” said DeLong. “As women, we have “What I find with the media, is without impeding local decision-making
das, explained O’Neill. However, the formal to watch ourselves and make sure we’re not that they will ask me questions on things process, which is the best of both worlds.”
campus quips Why aren’t more women in politics?
“Women get critized “[It] might be because “It’s regarded as a “A lot of politicians
because they’re such a they don’t want to put more or less devi- are part of the old
minority in politics.” in the effort because ous occupation and boys club, so it’s
– Kourtney Graham, at the end of the day testosterone is more hard for women to
third-year fine arts they won’t get far.” condusive to [that].” break into it.”
– Malyuin Noor, first- – James Zylka, – Alen Wong, U of C
year general studies second-year urban IT department
studies
Interviews and photographs: Monica Rodriguez-Galvez
6 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET NEWS
Calgary’s crumbling core community
Homeless Awareness Week sheds light on Calgary’s homeless community
Cam Cotton-O’Brien
Gauntlet News
L
ack of affordable housing
takes a lot of the heat as
homelessness continues its
mercurial rise in Calgary. To educate
the public about the causes, conse-
quences and solutions of homeless-
ness, Homeless Awareness Calgary
launchedHomelessAwarenessWeek
Sep. –.
Since , the City of Calgary
has conducted a homeless count
every two years, documenting the
total number of people sleeping
in shelters and on the street on
a particular night. The last count
was done May and recognized
, homeless individuals.
“[Homelessness is] a very sig-
nificant problem in Calgary,”
said Alderman Joe Ceci, who has
participated in every homelessness
Vivian Leung/the Gauntlet
count undertaken. “Last time, there
were individuals who were sleeping Kennedy helped coordinate homeless week to raise awareness of the city’s homeless—of which 50 per cent are working.
in a facility shelter or in the rough
on that evening. We had about the largest dynamic that prohibits government has so far failed to ment has said they are not going re-designation for land use and it
volunteers come out. We used to these individuals—and families act satisfactorily to address the to restrict the market, but the reality goes to the city council meeting
just focus on downtown in the early —from being properly housed.” lack of affordable housing. One of is there have been no restrictions in November for ratification. Our
years, we now go pretty far. That’s Roughly per cent of the home- the key problems he indicated was and there has been no affordable next step would be to apply for a
because people are finding places less population are working, back- the government’s unwillingness to housing coming onto the market. development permit.”
to camp or live further and further ing the argument that homelessness institute rent controls. Even without the caps, affordable As this project is underway, it
from the core.” is often caused by lack of afford- “The government’s own afford- housing hasn’t been popping up remains important to make sure
While not the only problem asso- able housing. Indeed, there are a able housing task-force put out in a neighbourhood near you. that the homeless population will
ciated with homelessness, Calgary’s great number of currently housed recommendations to resolve the Chase explained the Alberta not be left on the streets through
lack of housing, affordable or oth- individuals and families in peril of problem, but unfortunately the Liberal Party has been advocating the harsh winter. The city is trying
erwise, is certainly one of the most becoming homeless. government rejected of them,” for temporary rent caps to stabilize to meet this challenge by open-
pressing. “Fifty per cent of the homeless said Chase. “Because the govern- the market. They also put forward ing a new shelter in the southeast
“There is a tremendous shortage population are working,” said ment rejected that reasonable rec- the idea of temporary rent caps to industrial area.
of housing,” said MLA Harry Chase. Homeless Awareness Calgary ommendation, there was no limit on stabilize the market. “We have agreed to set up a tem-
“We’re at a . per cent rental Committee co-ordinator Larissa rent increases, so what we’ve seen In the interest of providing more porary winter shelter in industrial
vacancy, so affordable housing is Kennedy. “[They] have some sort are increases anywhere from per housing, the Mustard Seed is in the SE Calgary,” said alderman Ceci.
an extreme problem.” of job where they are making a cent to per cent. The govern- planning stages of an affordable “It will provide temporary shelter
These comments were echoed by regular pay check. The Calgary ment, instead of putting the onus housing tower. for several hundred individuals,
alderman Ceci, who feels affordable Committee to End Homelessness on landlords to be reasonable, has “We are planning to build an many of whom will be working at
housing is the largest contributing published a report [indicating] come up with Band-Aid solutions. affordable housing tower on one manufacturing and warehousing in
factor to homelessness. , households are at risk of The government is big on temporary of our properties, located at th the SE. Without this SE industrial
“The problem is not the people, becoming homeless. Putting them solutions, but it lacks any kind of Ave. and Centre Street SW,” said shelter there would be a lack of
it’s the fact they have no place one pay check or one family crisis sustainability for its solutions Mustard Seed development offi- shelter, space in Calgary.”
to live,” said Ceci. “The lack of away from becoming homeless.” to homelessness and affordable cer Diana Schwenk. “The Calgary Homeless Awareness Week is
appropriate affordable housing is Chase stated the provincial housing. Basically the govern- planning commission approved our run each year by the Homeless
Awareness Calgary Committee dur-
Teach English ing the third week in Sep. It kicked
off with a BBQ and then launched
Overseas into a number of other events striv-
ing to educate Calgarians so they
can make informed decisions about
the issue and what can be done to
confront it.
“What we aim to do is raise
Intensive 60-Hour Program awareness; provide education and
Classroom Management Techniques the tools of education for Calgarians
Detailed Lesson Planning to get involved, become active and
Comprehensive Teaching Materials
encourage change in our commu-
nity,” said Kennedy. “We also
Internationally Recognized Certificate
want to provide understanding
Teacher Placement Service for what it is like to be home-
Money Back Guarantee Included less. The moment one person is
Thousands of Satisfied Students homeless is the moment that
requires action. We don’t want
to force people’s decisions, but we
want to provide the tools for them
to make an informed choice.”
1-800-779-1779 / 780-428-8700 For information on events visit
www.oxfordseminars.com www.homelessawareness.ca/events.html.
GAUNTLET NEWS SEPTEMBER 20.07 7
U of C uses housing to lure profs
New recruitment packages include funding for housing
Katy Anderson salary and money to get her research
News Editor started.
“Even in its original form, [the U of C’s
T
he University of Calgary has intro- offer] was the best offer I’d gotten,” she said.
duced housing perks to recruit new “Then I was able to negotiate and get a little
faculty in order to remain com- bit more.”
petitive in the market for researchers and Harrison explained starting salaries depend
professors. on which faculty a recruit is hired into.
New hiring packages traditionally include “[In] business, you tend to pay higher
a negotiated starting salary, funds to set up salaries starting than you do in classics,” said
an office and a lab and money for research. Harrison. “It’s just the nature of the market.
However, the competition of Calgary’s hous- There are other opportunities in business that
ing market has prompted university admin- there aren’t in some of the other areas and it
istration to organize ways for new recruits tends to push the salaries up.”
to get and manage a mortgage in Calgary. Hiring decisions are recommended to the
Schools in areas where housing prices are dean from an academic cluster and then for-
similar—like the University of Toronto and warded on to Harrison, he explained.
the University of British Columbia—already The University of Calgary Faculty
offer similar packages. Association does not play a role in the hir-
Vivian Leung/the Gauntlet
“As we were hiring new faculty, they were ing process, but was consulted about add-
asking questions about how we could help Both the mountains and the recruitment package brought Giovanni to the U of C. ing housing perks to recruitment packages.
with housing,” said U of C provost and vice- TUCFA president Anne Stalker explained they
president academic Alan Harrison. “The rea- “There is no doubt in my mind the thing mountains, the proximity of Calgary to the suggested that rental should also be covered,
son is, they looked at Calgary, [and] if you that really tips the scales for anyone coming Canadian Rockies was the biggest factor in because not every one is in a position to buy
got an offer from the University of Waterloo, to a university is ‘how good are the colleagues choosing the U of C, but not the only one. a house.
where the average house price may be half I’m going to be working with?’” said Harrison. “The opportunity to be a professor but not “We also suggested that the deans should
what they are here then that is going to be “‘How easily can I interact with graduate have the research pressure that other big uni- be permitted to offer it to people who’ve been
a big factor in your choice. It’s not the only students? What’s my teaching schedule versities have [was a factor],” said Giovanni. hired in the last couple of years because they
one, but it’s one.” like? What are the expectations in regards “I get to spend more of my time on teaching, may have been in the same kind of position
Harrison noted that despite the university to teaching? Will I get to teach courses I am which I’m really passionate about. That was and got nothing,” said Stalker.
administration’s best efforts to entice prospec- particularly well-prepared for?’” really big in the decision to come here.” The recruitment packages will be fin-
tive faculty, candidates look for colleagues who Recently hired geology professor Melissa Giovanni was also offered a housing alized for the next round of hiring,
are working within their areas of research. Giovanni explained that because she studies loan, moving expenses, a competitive which will take place Jul. .
Province donates money to create more MDs and nurses
Alex Khalifa undergraduates annually. Seven This was furthered by Calgary For now the CHR is working on Region to tap into the international
Gauntlet News more positions have been opened Health Region’s executive direc- many fronts to combat and solve health care workforce.
this year for graduate students in tor of workforce strategies Susan present concerns over the lack of “The needs in the health care
The provincial government the faculty of nursing and an addi- Cassidy. health care professionals in the sector are great and we can’t
stepped up initiatives to combat tional positions will be added “The Government is respond- province. get all our needs currently from
Alberta’s health care crisis with for the / year. ing to a great need in the health “There is no one solution to this local means,” said Cassidy. “The
funding for more positions in the “This shows the continuation sector by increasing seats in the situation,” noted Cassidy. “We are increase in funding for more
medical and nursing faculties at of the government working MD and nursing faculties,” said doing recruitment efforts, locally, positions in the post-secondary
the University of Calgary. with the university to meet the Cassidy. “This is a good start; nationally and internationally.” sector is a good start—how-
Last week the province needs of the students and faculty,” however they need to do more. This was exemplified by the ever these initiatives will meet
announced it had allocated said U of C external relations We need to work with the gov- Overseas Recruitment Campaign future needs, not present ones.
million to increase the seating director Colleen Turner. “[It] dis- ernment to persuade and influ- initiated by the Alberta Health see MOre spaces, page
availability to medical doctors and plays their recognition that there ence their further decisions for the
nursing students, thus allowing is a critical need in both present year which will be impor-
the enrolment of more MDs and future funding for health care tant for the furthered funding of
and upwards of more nursing in the post-secondary sector.” medical and nursing enrolment.”
GAUNTLET NEWS SEPTEMBER 20.07 9
Study shows pay is less important to this generation
Sara Hanson one compensation factor when directly from them would be a
News Assistant choosing a career. great way to develop your profes-
Cocolakis noted this information sional attitudes.”
W
hen choosing a career is not only important for students Cocolakis acknowledged the
path, money doesn’t making career choices, but also for importance of a career’s salary for
always buy happiness. prospective employers. young graduates; however, she also
According to a survey released by “We want to recruit here on stressed money is not the primary
RSM Richter—one of Canada’s largest campus,” she said. “If [a company concern anymore.
independent accounting firms—high is looking] to develop a meaningful “You don’t want to start a job where
salaries are less of a career draw for work environment [for graduates], you are being ripped off,” she said.
those entering the workforce today they need to know what it’s going to “Most companies are competitive,
compared with a generation ago. The take to make them stay there.” because they realize they have to be.
survey was conducted for the firm In the RMS survey, both genera- [Salary] is an important factor, but it
by Decima Research to find out if tions ranked career growth and pro- is not the deciding factor. Work-life
Katy Anderson/the Gauntlet
the factors involved in choosing a fessional development as the most balance is also very important to this
career path have changed over the Cocolakis said a balanced life is important to this generation. important factor when choosing a generation, which is a big switch from
years, explained RSM Richter human career. While Fusina agreed about previous generations.”
resources manager Lisa Fusina. too surprised by the results. number-one career goal for all stu- the importance of development Career Services assists stu-
“We do a lot of recruiting from the “Intuitively [the results] were not dents surveyed across Canada was opportunities within a career, she dents with resumes, interview-
university level and it was apparent a surprise because the economy is to balance their career with their was surprised that direct access to ing skills and job searches.
that we needed to target our recruit- different today,” said Fusina. “Being personal life. The top three preferred senior management—something she They also host six job fairs throughout
ing approach to our prime market for more white-collared type workers, industries for U of C students were sees as a key to career growth—was the year, which provide an oppor-
candidates,” said Fusina. “We really younger generations know that academic research, healthcare and not rated as an important factor. tunity for students to interact emp-
wanted to make sure that we knew money will come in time. Perhaps education/teaching, and students “There was no generational dif- loyers from different industries.
what it is [graduates] are looking they are not looking for it right at the across Canada all chose annual ference, but it was surprising to us,”
for in starting out their career. [We start and they realize that other fac- base salary over health insurance she said. “We believe that access to
For more information about Career Services visit
wanted to see] if any changes have tors like career growth and potential and paid holidays for the number- senior management and learning http://www.ucalgary.ca/careerservices
happened over the last few genera- will bring money down the line.”
tions and if we were aware of what Last spring, the University of
they are looking for now, then we Calgary received a survey from the
could appeal to their needs.” Canadian Association of Career
The survey asked a random Educators and Employers which try-
sample of Canadians under ing to understand what is important
and over across a variety of to Canadian undergraduates when
industries to rank what the most looking for a career. The survey
important factors were for them received , responses, ,
as university graduates enter- of which were from the U of C,
ing the workforce. Of the explained career services director
under- year-olds surveyed, only Voula Cocolakis.
per cent ranked high monetary “It’s neat to see where we sit on
compensation as the most impor- a national perspective and what’s
tant factor when looking for a career, important to our students,” said
compared to per cent of the Cocolakis. “We want to know where
under- year-olds. However, our students’ heads are at.”
Fusina noted RSM was not CACEE’s survey indicated the
GAUNTLET NEWS SEPTEMBER 20.07 11
Nuclear discussion
Proposed Alberta nuclear power plant creates controversy
Andrew Sedor don’t have the engineering product
Gauntlet News down pat enough in North America.
There are too many competing
S
ince , Alberta’s demand designs and too many design
for power has grown at the changes mid-stream. Private
same rate as it would add- financing looks for something
ing two cities the size of Red Deer that is high-risk with immediate
every year. payoff or something where the
As gas and oil prices rise along risk is diminished but growth is
with greenhouse gases, electricity assured. Most existing designs
companies are trying to find ways don’t lend themselves to this, if
to provide Alberta clean energy that only because they encounter
doesn’t restrain economic growth. unexpected turns in the regulatory
This summer Energy Alberta process.”
president Wayne Henuset Although nuclear power would
proposed to open the first nuclear be new to western Canada, accord-
power plant in western Canada ing to Henuset it makes up per
(photo) Daniel Pagan, (illustration) Paul Baker/the Gaunlet
by . The purposed twin-unit cent of the electricity generated in
CANDU reactors would be located A nuclear power plant could go up just outside of Peace River as soon as 2017. Ontario.
thirty kilometers west of Peace River, “It costs Ontario billions and
Alberta to support the expansion of Institute executive director Marlo are trying to emit less carbon dioxide subsidized, taxpayers will end up billions of dollars and taxpayers
oilsands development. The reactors Raynolds. by building nuclear power plants, paying for it. billions and billions of dollars,”
would produce , megawatts of Henuset disagreed, stating that but we’re building the nuclear power “The industry is not going to said Raynolds.
energy. per cent of the fuel can be refur- plant to increase extraction oil and charge you for waste disposal in Raynolds explained researching
Alberta Energy’s website states, bished for future use, claiming the gas,” said Daneke. your bill, but what this means is carbon capture and sequestration
“our mission is to provide clean, amount of waste produced after Besides being environmentally that they are not going to pay for CCS could cut emissions from coal
emission-free energy, utilizing years would only be the size of a friendly, Henuset suggested nuclear it either,” said Daneke. “It’s up to power plants by – per cent by
advanced and proven nuclear tech- two-car garage and would contain power is also the economical choice the government to subsidize waste , and suggested more research
nology to supply oilsands operators a minimal amount of radiation. for Albertans, providing a stable disposal programs.” should be done into solar energy.
and the province of Alberta with “The nuclear waste goes in cooling source of energy, noting that one In the July issue of Oilweek maga- “If we were to invest the money
a reliable flow of electricity at a pools and, after years, the radia- fuel bundle is equivalent to zine, U of C professor Michal Moore we have spent on nuclear research
competitive cost.” tion drops out of it,” said Henuset. tonnes of coal. suggested that it wouldn’t be pos- into solar energy research, we
University of Calgary’s chair in “After years you can handle it The nuclear would be much
business ethics Gregory Daneke and you won’t die.” industry generates “It’s a bit of a catch-22 because we are further ahead,” said
explained that although nuclear Henuset also mentioned the million each Raynolds.
energy does give off the least CANDU reactor has not caused a year in federal trying to emit less carbon dioxide by Daneke said he
amount of carbon dioxide, it still
poses a threat to the environment
single death in its history. income and sales
“, hundred were killed in tax, and contrib-
building nuclear power plants, but we’re believes nuclear
energy probably will
because of its by-product of toxic Chinese coal mines last year, and utes almost building the nuclear power plant to increase be implemented into
waste. that’s a lot worse than all nuclear billion annually to the oilsands due to
“No country on the planet has accidents that have ever occurred,” the GDP, according extraction of oil and gas.” high demand for oil
figured out a long-term solution said Daneke. to Alberta Energy’s -Gregory Daneke, and gas.
for nuclear waste,” he said. Emissions from the Alberta website. U of C chair in business ethics “If nuclear power
Spent fuel from CANDU reactors oilsands projects are expected to Although nuclear is safe, reliable, effi-
contains over deadly radioac- increase to – million tonnes power is cheap to cient and we have a
tive elements including uranium, per year by , compared with generate once you have everything in sible to privately finance a nuclear plan for disposing the waste, then
plutonium, cesium and strontium, less than million tonnes in place, the government has to power plant without government why don’t we already have it?” he
according to the Sierra Club of , according to a study by an subsidize the waste disposal and subsidies. asked.
Canada’s website. The by-prod- energy research group at Uppsala the building of the plant. Daneke “The insurance risk is too high,” Henuset claimed the province
ucts can have half-lives of up to University in Sweden. explained it may seem cheaper on said Moore in the interview. “The public dissidence rate is only per
. million years. “It’s a bit of a catch- because we your utility bill, but if the plant is variable costs are too high. We cent against local nuclear power.
“Passing that nuclear waste
onto future generations is not
responsible,” explained Pembina
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12 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET NEWS
Club me ’till I’m week
Ben Hoffman the philosophy driving the annual event. go to www.su.ucalgary.ca/services/student-
AP Editor “Each day clubs are able to set-up on assigned services/student-clubs/clubs-list.html to
tables, [and] on Friday there will be a free find a full list—it is a relatively painless
C
lubs. To some, the word instantly barbeque for all current club members.” endeavor to find some cause in which to
evokes the image of a baby seal, The Fri., Sep. barbeque is a take interest.
waddling contentedly with immi- celebrated event, but there are more rea- “[There are] over at this time with a
nent doom perched near by, his only pos- sons to join clubs than just the smoky and list of more applying to be sanctioned in the
sible salvation in the proximity of an angry, delicious joy of a hot, grilled weiner beneath coming weeks,” said Stuart. “Clubs range
irrelevant Paul McCartney. More likely how- the fall afternoon sun. from academic-focused the hobby-based to
ever, the first thing coming to mind is the “Clubs week is the first step in finding religious and everything in between.”
uncomfortably crowded MacEwan Student out what you’re really interested in besides If the clubs aren’t already around, it`s
Center in the third week of September, Clubs school,” said U of C Campus UNICEF a simple matter to start a new one. The
Week. co-chair Terry Wong. “Especially in a forms to do so are located at a few places:
“In joining or creating a club the benefits commuter school like the U of C, it’s a either online at www.su.ucalgary.ca/
are really endless, you get to meet people and great way to set people involved in the services/student-services/student-clubs.
John McDonald/the Gauntlet
get involved in great events,” said University campus.” html or beside the Stör at the SU
of Calgary Students’ Union vice-president Ha, ha. Indeed, it is Terry. With as Clubs office, but require a minimum Ballroom dancing is just one of the
operations and finance Fraser Stuart about many clubs as there are on campus—just amount of people to gain official status. many clubs on campus.
Leading environmental group names new CEO
Katy Anderson As I started to see those fall into that, collectively, we as a species previous jobs include a -year will be to ensure that the founda-
Gauntlet News place I thought I should look for need to address. stint as a park ranger in B.C., CEO tions message is listened to, that it
a challenge that would get me a Robinson explained human of a crown corporation and work is coherent, that it is understand-
One of Canada’s most respected little closer to what I think are the security issues are less apparent, with the Red Cross—both domes- able to a broad range of Canadians
environmental groups, the David big issues of our time.” but should be looked at in relation tically and internationally—on and that people can act on the
Suzuki Foundation, announced a Robinson explained he thought to the environment. human security and environ- information that the foundation
new CEO early September. the big issues of our time are the “In areas where human security mental issues. Robinson also has provides.”
Current Mountain Equipment environment and human security, is low you actually get increased a varied educational background Robinson noted it was still too
Co-op CEO Peter Robinson will and how these two inter-relate. environmental degradation,” including a diploma in fish and early to have specific ideas about
begin the position Jan. . Robinson “People would have to be liv- said Robinson. “Where there are wildlife management, an under- where he wants to take the orga-
will stay at MEC until then to finish ing under rocks for the last little areas of conflict, or where there graduate degree in geography, a nization.
up his current projects. while not to understand that the might be weak governments, the post-baccalaureate diploma in “I’d like to spend some time
“I’ve done seven and a half years environment is at a particular rule of law doesn’t exist. You can community economic develop- with the folks there [first],” he
of the co-op and had come to the juncture of everything from cli- actually draw strong correlations ment and a masters degree in said. “Certainly I am aware of
recognition that all of the goals mate change to resource extraction between the two. Environment conflict analysis. their major messages around
that I had set for myself were and development,” he said. “All of affects people obviously and then Robinson stated he hopes his their desire to be a trusted
on their way to being fulfilled,” the big impacts we’re having are people with low security impact diverse background will be a and reputable organization as it
said Robinson. “I had set myself suddenly much more apparent to the environment. Both issues have benefit to the foundation. relates to science and environ-
a fairly rigorous agenda of things people. I don’t think there’s any to be addressed.” “I’m not a scientist,” said ment and that’s really what I want
I wanted to do while I was here. doubt the environment is an area As well as MEC, Robinson’s Robinson. “My role, essentially, to continue to help develop.”
GAUNTLET NEWS SEPTEMBER 20.07 13
News for the unnewsed More spaces,
Alberta’s boards too politically saturated cont’d from pg. 7
Sarelle Azuelos ship with George W. Bush. This is rate dropped . per cent to .
Gauntlet News Blair’s first stop in Canada and local per cent. The Canadian counter-
officials see this as positive recogni- part is now at . per cent, making
A
recent review of of tion of the city. foreign investment increasingly
Alberta’s various decision- attractive. Overall, the Canadian
making boards discov- CSIS questioned in India Air dollar has risen about per cent
ered that many consist of several fiasco since its all time low of . cents in
Conservative party members. Three Canadian Security Intelligence Jan. . Americans are experi-
of significant agencies, boards, Service was severely questioned in encing a decline in their housing
and committees were found to con- the India Air bombing hearing earlier market and growing credit con-
sist completely of Tory members, this week. Former B.C. prosecutor, cerns. In Canada, record oil prices
according to an Edmonton Journal James Jardine, testified that he asked are helping the dollar rise, but not
investigation. MLAs and other govern- for the phone call recordings of two without concerns. The Ontario auto
ment officials may be qualified for the major suspects immediately after the and B.C. forestry industries expressed
positions, but their party orientation accident happened. The phone calls concerns that a higher dollar may
could conflict with their work. Board took place three months prior to the hurt trade to the U.S. and result in
members are hired to make decisions bombing, but they were erased before more job losses.
that best reflect public opinion and are Jardine was able to get ahold of them Chealsee Albo/the Gauntlet
independent of political influences. in an act described as “unacceptable Monks hold mass protest Med students may study less now that there is more space.
Provincial boards are currently negligence,” according to a cbc.ca Nearly , Burmese monks
responsible for per cent of the article. Surviving transcripts state attended protests this past Tuesday. As a result, such actions as the graduate nursing education.
provincial budget. that the tapes contain information Four monks were arrested after pro- Overseas Recruitment Campaign SU vice-president academic
about a murder plot that may have tests over fuel prices Aug. were have to be taken.” Brittany Sargent explained the
Blair set to jet to Calgary led to a charge. During the trial, he forcefully ended. The monks gave Despite the need for a current nursing faculty has been working
Former British prime minister, described his struggles with acquir- the Burmese government until health care workforce, the fund- hard to become a leader in nursing
Tony Blair, is coming to Calgary ing information from both CSIS and Monday to release the captives and ing will introduce a new stan- education.
next month. the RCMP. Jardine believes changes issue an apology. When neither dard in the education of medical “Any funding for students is a
TD Canada Trust is funding the need to be made regarding commu- request was achieved, the Alliance professionals. This was seen good thing,” said Sargent. “We are
Oct. event, with , of Calgary’s nication between organizations. of All Burmese Buddhist Monks with the , contribution excited to see this initiative and
finest—and richest—who plan to arranged another protest with from the U of C Student’s Union hopefully more in the future.”
attend. Blair’s minute speech is Dollar countinues its rise over , monks in the Mandalay campus improvement fund. Because The announcement dis-
currently selling for per plate The Canadian dollar is quickly alone. Monks are urging bystand- of this, the U of C faculty of nurs- played the growing initiative to
and will focus on important politi- approaching American currency, ers not to get involved. The govern- ing is already en route to becom- educate tomorrow’s health care
cal issues such as the war in Iraq, rising as high as . cents U.S. ment is concerned because of the ing one of the country’s leading workforce noted SU nursing rep-
Albertan oilsands, and his relation- on Sep. . The U.S. Federal Funds monks popular political influence. post-secondary institutions in resentative Jenna Baumgartner.
opinions GAUNTLET SEPTEMBER 20.07 15
Editor: Ændrew Rininsland—opinions@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
Re-examining the nuclear family
Common law relationships make the jump from the fringe to the norm
a married couple or a common law
couple, with or without children, or
of a lone parent living with at least
one child in the same dwelling. A
Joëlle Robichaud couple can be of the opposite sex or
Gauntlet Opinions the same sex.”
With such a broad definition for
B
rad Pitt and Angelina Jolie family, it is difficult to say that the
are doing it. Over a million nuclear family is under attack. It is,
Canadian couples are doing however, easier to say traditional-
it. But socio-conservative critics ism is being questioned. Perhaps
have said this type of “behaviour” people are more secular-minded
is unacceptable. That is, getting than before, or they are now aware
pregnant without wedding bells that divorce costs more and more.
and a big ceremony. In order to avoid these road bumps,
Common law couples have always perhaps people are deciding more
made up a minority of families in and more against marriage.
Canada, but according to a And why is that such a bad thing?
Statistics Canada report, the num- A family can still function with
bers have increased by . per unmarried parents and common
cent since and now make up law is still a better situation than
. million families in Canada, single parenthood. This is not to say
or . per cent of the . million that being a single parent is “bad,”
families in Canada. Single-parent but rather that it is more difficult due
families are also on the rise and to living costs and median parent
now comprise nearly one fifth of all income—, for single parents
families, reaching almost . million. instead of , for couples.
Married adults, which have always Another thing to note is the age
made up the majority of the popu- which Statistics Canada determines
lation, now make up slightly less as the earliest for marriage, which
than per cent of Canadians for is years old. Although it may be
the first time since the first national legal for someone to enter into the
census in —a statistic gaining union of marriage at this time, it
increasing media buzz. should also be noted the number
The Calgary Sun published a of cases of marriage at this age is
story last week after Statistics declining and that marriage is now
Canada released the information. being chosen as an avenue later in
According to “Traditional family life for most adults. It was more
reigns here,” [Bill Kaufmann, Sep. common for younger Canadians
Gina Freeman/the Gauntlet
, ] we are living in “a country to be married back in than in
where the notion of the tradtional , years later. Something isn’t this picture just isn’t right... Oh!
family is increasingly under siege.” Common law unions may also
This message is melo-dramatic and be popular before people get mar- stages of their relationships. This the . per cent who did. understanding is achieved would
unrealistic as it does not take into ried, as couples move in together may also relatively skew the number All in all, the criticism of such simply make for too many things
account common law families and live with each other months, of common law unions reported in trends is unrealistic, poorly to enumerate. Perhaps those who
with children may have the same possibly years, before their mar- the census, as these couples may not researched and relies solely on believe in the nuclear family should
structure as married, or traditional, riage occurs. This, once again, is necessarily have children—Statistics the census. The census does try to review other socio-economic factors
families. Another important thing a phenomenon of the times, as it Canada also mentioned that . per describe such trends in detail, but it influencing the trends we are seeing
to note is Stats Canada’s definition is more and more acceptable for cent of couples under the age of can only incorporate so much—to and they would then see this trend is
of “family,” which is “composed of couples to live together at earlier had no children in comparison to conduct the census so that a full not really altogether that bad.
Oops, Britney failed to bring sexy back again
Spears’ shenanigans are just not cool anymore
Jordana Daum Cent, and even VMA host Sarah could be many reasons for this. She shaved her head and attacked a car In the end, whether you love
Gauntlet Opinions Silverman, have commented on has been a part of the entertainment with an umbrella all in one year? I’m Britney or hate her, you are still
her performance, along with it being scene forever. We all started noticing guessing not many. talking about her and will probably
Unless you have been hiding the top story on many news pro- Spears in as an up-and-coming Our obsession with Britney Spears continue to do so for the next few
under a rock for the last week, you grams. When you Google “Britney pop star in a school girl uniform for could also be caused by her very pub- months as she releases her new CD
have either seen, heard or talked Spears+VMAs” you receive ,, the video “Hit Me Baby, One More lic “personal life.” We were right and continues to shock and amaze
about Britney Spears’ “comeback” hits. Why are we still talking about it Time.” We really noticed her when with Britney as she dated Justin, us. This week alone, she has already
performance at the MTV Video and why do we care so much? she ditched the sweet and innocent made out with Madonna, married seen her single “Gimme More” rise
Music Awards. It has been a little Britney Spears is not the first image for one that is slightly more that guy in Vegas and yes, we were to number on the Billboard pop
over a week since Spears rocked our celebrity to find herself in a provocative, to make the under- right with her the day she married charts and been dumped by her
world with her obvious lip-synch- downward spiral. Many celebri- statement of the year. We have Kevin Federline. She has never tried management company. Whether
ing, lethargic dance moves, and ties (Michael Jackson, Whitney followed her life so intently for so to keep her private life private and or not Britney will bust out of this
questionable costume choice and Houston, Lindsay Lohan, and many years that it is only natural that we are constantly “exposed” to her current pattern remains to be seen.
we are still talking about it. Mariah Carey, to name a few) have, we continue to remain interested. life. If Britney ever attempted to Regardless, we will all be right there
Not only are we still talking at some point in their careers, fallen To be honest, how many of us can keep her insane private life a little with her the whole time with the help
about it, numerous celebrities from grace. Yet, we seem to be more say we have a friend who has been quieter we would probably all be less of US Weekly and People Magazine.
such as Kayne West, Akon, obsessed with Britney Spears. There divorced, gone to rehab (twice), inclined to gossip about her. After all, we are obsessed.
16 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET OPINIONS
Oil! P op-quiz time! Who benefits
from Alberta’s oil surplus?
Is it, a, the oil companies, b,
the provincial government, c, the
average Albertan, or d, the average
Canadian?
The answer is, of course, all of
shabby. Imperial Oil alone posted
profits of billion last year, without
any sign of slowing down.
Thus the recent threats by Imperial
in light of a royalty review panel
report—which argues the province
should receive an extra billion
Wed., Sep. , Imperial CEO Tim
Hearn implies the combined cost of
the high Canadian dollar, new carbon
dioxide levies and raised royalties
would cause a dramatic decline in
the Albertan oil sector. Using scary
words like “tipping point,” Hearn
Oh, please.
Exactly how much of the revenue
for Alberta’s energy surplus actually
stays in Alberta? And why should
Alberta grovel and plead for Big
Oil’s continued patronage when
they’re the ones clearly benefitting
the above. However, with oil selling annually in royalties from oil com- threatened that “there’s enough the most?
for over a barrel and with them panies—are not only patronizing, things working against us that if all That’s not to say we should be
Ændrew Rininsland posting record profits year after year, but downright offensive. this stays in place as is, there will be entirely careless and underestimate
Damn Dirty Hippie the oil companies ain’t doing too In a Reuters article published an effect in the industry.” the potential impact of increasing
the royalty rates. Alberta has to
remain competitive with OPEC in
order for oil companies to want to
come here, that’s unquestionable.
But even that logic is a little bit
laughable. Honestly, would you
rather live in the middle east or
Canada? Furthermore, even if the
provincial government does go for
the whole per cent increase,
Alberta’s royalty rates will still be
some of the lowest in the world.
And don’t try to tell me that all the
oil companies will uproot and flee
the country the second people start
talking about increasing royalties.
As a fellow editor commented to me
recently, “They’re in the oil business.
They’ll go where the oil is.” The oil
companies have invested too much
money and stand to make far too
much money for them to vanish in
a cloud of carbon monoxide like the
conservatives are arguing.
Anybody who has studied the
provincial Conservatives in even
the shallowest capacity knows that
Premier Ed “Steady Eddy” Stelmach
will likely not raise royalties at all
come Oct. when he makes the deci-
sion. If royalties are increased, it will
likely be by just enough for Stelmach
to seem like a populist without put-
ting even the slightest dent in Big
Oil’s beer budget. This isn’t neces-
sarily is bad thing; the quality of life
in Alberta will continue to improve
at the same rate it always has if noth-
ing is done. There’s no immediate
negative consequence in deferring
to the oil companies on this one,
and that’s likely why nothing will
be done: nobody wants to rock the
boat. However, it’s worth consider-
ing the possibilities of even a slight
increase.
For instance, the City of Calgary
(and Edmonton too, for that mat-
ter) might not need to beg and
plead for the barest provincial
infrastructure funding every year.
The fact Mayor Bronconnier was
perpetually in a media pissing-
match with Stelmach for the better
part of the summer shows how sad
this situation truly is. It’s ludicrous
the provincial government figures
it can send out cheques as a
political move demonstrating how
rich Alberta is to the rest of Canada
but think we should be grateful for
basic infrastructure.
Being able to cheaply extract oil
in a political environment as stable
as Canada’s is an utter boon to Big
Oil. Alberta’s resources are being
exploited by huge corporations
who are making sums of money
incomprehensible to the average
person. Albertans deserve more
than the pittance they’re currently
receiving.
It is their oil, after all.
GAUNTLET OPINIONS SEPTEMBER 20.07 17
Municipal politics are important!
Stoked about the October 15th municipal election? We sure are!
because municipal government
actually does have an important
role to play in your day to day life
(unless you are not a Calgarian, in
Cam Cotton-O’Brien which case they have less influence
Pidgeon Talk on you then a chicken sneezing in
Hong Kong; feel free to take your
T
here are very few things chances). For students, one of the
involved in the world of poli- most important issues is surely
tics which can be counted transportation. Remember the tail
on to cause such a dramatic lack end of last winter semester when
of interest as Calgary’s municipal the Gauntlet had to keep run-
elections. ning stories on the potential for
Voter turnout in the last few years a Calgary Transit strike? A strike
has been dismal and there doesn’t that threatened to shut down the
seem to be any particular reason system while we were all scrambling
Paul Baker/the Gauntlet
why that should drastically change around writing exams? That could
by Oct. . Indeed, there are actually have hindered our ability to pick about it. Emergency services fall administering aid in matters of life for homelessness are both tasks left
two less individuals () running for up booze to deal with the shock within the powers of the municipal and death, so the administration of up to the city. This problem is on
the jobs of mayor, alderman, and of receiving the grades from those government, and by extension, so those services should not be left up the rise and, taking into account
school board trustee than at the last exams? That falls under the jurisdic- does the ability to deal with most to some hack simply because you the aforementioned cold weather is
election three years ago. Of these, tion of municipal government. That crime. It is hard to emphasize just couldn’t find your mittens and it about to become even more trou-
two aldermen have already been means if an incompetent political how important this role is. The hir- was cold outside. If for no other bling. In a city as rich as ours, it is
acclaimed, since there was no one to cadre is voted into office we could ing and training of the emergency reason, vote because of this. irresponsible to ignore the plight of
run against them. Another forebod- be left with an incredible mess of personnel is without doubt one of The other heavyweight issue— this segment of the population. Not
ing sign for a poor election turnout transit when the new deal expires the most vital roles occupied by the particularly poignant during voting in an election that so heavily
is the already-dipping temperature in Jul. . city. It is imperative that elected Homeless Awareness Week—is influences their lives is exactly that:
gauge which—let’s face it—probably Crime, too, is a huge issue in our members of government be able to that of homelessness. While the ignorant.
goes a fair way to deterring people clean city. There is a growing feel- function in this task at an extremely care of the homeless falls under the All that said, remember to bring
from voting at the last-minute. ing crime is on the rise in Calgary high level. Emergency Services deal mandate of the provincial govern- a piece of valid photo ID. It’s the
This is really a sad state of affairs and something needs to be done with the frightening responsibility of ment, the prevention of and cure only way they’ll let you vote.
18 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET OPINIONS
Too bad it won’t help against Godzilla
these tests already have concern for their
child and therefore probably don’t need
to take the quiz. Also their questions are
a bit off target: “who played the father in
Robb Myroon the movie Kramer vs. Kramer?”
Gauntlet Opinions The idea, however, is a good one.
The idea of a standardized parent-
Y
ou need a license for everything ing test is not as an absurd notion
nowdays. One needs a license as it may seem. Almost all of human
to go hunting, a standardized activity which puts others at risk requires
test is required to operate a motor one to obtain a license of some sort,
vehicle, and they don’t let any old so why isn’t parenting including in
person jump into a plane and fly this mix?
around. All these activities, as you We should pick up where those guys
may have noticed, require a great deal in Tokyo left off. The test should prob-
of responsibility, and involve holding ably be a bit longer. I can hardly imag-
other peoples’ lives in the palm of one’s ine fifty questions is hardly sufficient
hands. Everyone agrees; any activity in determining the ability to parent a
which entails such accountability child. It should also have a field test so to
should be regulated. speak, perhaps a week in length. The test
This brings us to one of the big- should also be for both genders. Sure,
gest tasks in the world today in which females have an edge on us guys in the
the largest liability is held: being natural parenting world, but this does
a parent. Laugh at first, but not leave them exempt by any stretch
when seriously considered, of the imagination.
the duty to raise a child is The most important change, though,
one not to be taken lightly. At any rate is making the test mandatory for all par-
while so many other activities that bear ents. The exam’s purpose should not
equal or less responsibility to raising a be raising awareness about parenting,
human require one to seek permission but an evaluation regarding if these two
or pass a test, parenting requires few people are capable of raising a child in
prerequisites. a healthy manner.
Take a moment to review what exactly The icing on the cake for the test
is necessary to become a parent. First, would be the time one would need to
there are the required body parts, which wait to re-take the examination if they
always seem to be around when needed. failed. One to two years seems reason-
Secondly, there’s a need to feel really able, and this would discourage the
good for a brief period of time, rang- young’uns to go in there and wing it,
ing from ten seconds to over an hour hoping to pass. People who are serious
depending on those involved. Lastly, one about it would take the time to prepare,
needs someone else who also wishes for and that is exactly the goal the test would
the first two things mentioned to hap- hope to achieve.
pen. All in all, not a difficult recipe to The system cannot be perfect of
bake up buns in an oven. course, but would work much like
Not to fear though, the innovative driving a car. You don’t need a license
Japanese have rescued us again. Yes, in to actually get the car to run, but trouble
Tokyo, Fathering Japan has designed a is a brewing if the police find out you
quiz of questions to raise awareness don’t have a license. The same would
about becoming a dad. The director of be with parenting, although I’m not
the non-profit organization Tetsuya exactly sure how the penalties would
Ando sums it up by saying, “there just be handed out. That issue can be left
isn’t enough information about parent- for future debate.
ing for fathers.” Parenting is not a job to be taken
Taking nothing away from the lightly, and it’s time we all recognize
Japanese, they’ve only provided one step, that this sort of activity needs some
although it is in the right direction. Their sort of regulation. The “daddy quiz”
test is geared directly at fathers and is is a step in the right direction, but this
voluntary. Really, those who are taking needs to be taken further.
Paul Baker/the Gauntlet
web GAUNTLET SEPTEMBER 20.07 19
Editor: Christian Louden—christian@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
a series of tubes
MediaDefender walks the plank. Yarrrrr
Hackers post anti-piracy agency’s internal e-mail on ThePirateBay.org
Christian Louden
Captain Soggy-Beard
Editor’s Note: In this article, several e-mails were copied directly without
major editing. This was done to ensure that the original content remains
without bias. This includes mispellings, poor use of grammar, et cetera.
For purposes of maintaining the privacy of those mentioned in the e-
mails, personal information has been removed. Beyond that, all relevant
information has remained as it was in its original writing.
I
n recent months, Internet piracy prevention company MediaDefender
has been accused by BitTorrent weblog TorrentFreak of launching
websites to entrap Internet users into uploading and download-
ing copyrighted material illegally. MediaDefender denied any such
conspiracy, claiming that the MiiVi.com domain was intended for an
internal project that they had forgotten to password-protect.
Red flags were initially raised in Jul. when a blogger reported that
the whois records for MiiVi had MediaDefender contact information
E-mail #1.
on them. Upon further investigation, TorrentFreak announced with
confidence what the perceived purpose of the MiiVi website had been:
a trap laid to catch people in the midst of piracy.
MediaDefender continued to deny all accusations despite the foul
taste left in the mouths of tech websites and the blogosphere.
Without solid proof, there was nothing more that could be reported,
and the issue calmed down a bit over the following couple of months.
That is, until last week when a group calling itself MediaDefender-
Defenders hacked and leaked several months of MediaDefender inter-
nal e-mail onto the Internet through MediaDefender’s most hated foe:
BitTorrent.
In the description of the torrent on ThePirateBay.org, MediaDefender-
Defenders had this to say,
MediaDefender-Defenders proudly presents 9 months worth of internal
MediaDefender emails[sic]
By releasing these emails[sic] we hope to secure the privacy and per-
sonal integrity of all peer-to-peer users. The emails[sic] contains[sic]
information about the various tactics and technical solutions for tracking
p2p[sic] users, and disrupt p2p[sic] services
A special thanks to Jay [Mairs], for circumventing there entire email-
security by forwarding all your emails to your gmail account, and using
the really highly secure password: blahbob
So here it is, we hope this is enough to create a viable defense to the
tactics used by these companies, also there should be enough fuel to keep E-mail #2.
the p2p[sic] bloggers busy for quite some time.
The contents of the e-mail proved to be indeed very interesting.
After MiiVi had been exposed, damage control had been enacted as
MediaDefender scrambled to get into contact with tech news agency
Ars Technica to publish their side of the story.
“MediaDefender was working on an internal project that
involved video and didn’t realize that people would be
trying to go to it and so we didn’t password-protect
the site,” MediaDefender’s Randy
Saaf said. “It was just an oversight
from that perspective. This was not
an entrapment site, and we were not
working with the MPAA on it.”
Despite MediaDefender’s claim
that MiiVi.com was intended for
internal use, according to the
leaked e-mail, great effort was
put into disassociating MiiVi with
MediaDefender (see e-mail #1).
Another e-mail further cast
aside any doubts one may have
as to the nature of MiiVi (see
e-mail #2).
Again contrary to the state-
See Media Defender, page 20
20 SEPTEMBER 06.07 GAUNTLET WEB
Media defender, cont’d from page 19
E-mail #3. E-mail #4. E-mail #5.
ment made to Ars Technica, in another e-mail internal ment by many in the P2P community, according to excerpts
MediaDefender folks even seemed to be overjoyed that people from MiiVi’s End User’s License Agreement as reported by
had begun signing up with MiiVi (see e-mail #3). TorrentFreak, there are a few troublesome clauses users
When the news finally broke, MediaDefender promptly killed agreed to prior to the use of the web application.
the MiiVi site, likely to prevent the onslaught of spam and These clauses essentially absolved MiiVi of any entrapment
server abuse that would likely soon follow (see e-mail #4). charges by forcing the user to agree that it was perfectly all right
Internal MediaDefender e-mail shot quickly back and at MiiVi’s discretion to report any relevant data or information
forth as the employees of the company watched the story to the proper authorities should it appear as though you
begin to unfold on the blogosphere and nice tech websites were involved in piracy of copyrighted materials.
(see e-mail #5). While this massive breach of security comes as a great
Despite this massive embarrassment of being caught red blow to MediaDefender, the outcome will likely be a growth
handed, MediaDefender wasn’t ready to give up on their MiiVi in the anti-piracy business. Now more than ever, anti-piracy
project just yet. Plans were put into place to begin rebuilding agencies, the MPAA and RIAA, will begin to realize the P2P and
MiiVi as viide.com. The e-mails also revealed several spoof piracy communities are not to be underestimated in their
BitTorrent and P2P websites that had the potential to be resourcefulness and desire to continue the free flow of these
developed and used for the purpose of distributing the wide materials on the Internet.
array of decoys the anti-piracy company used to misdirect To those in the know, news of the underhanded attempts by
Though the Gauntlet does not endorse the practice of piracy (apart
Internet users trying to download pirated music, movies and agencies to disrupt piracy comes as no surprise. To the rest, from rum-drinking, cursing, general belligerence and parrots), the
software. let this serve as a cautionary tale. MediaDefender may have e-mails might be found by the resourceful few who searched for “Media-
Although the MiiVi incident has largely been seen as entrap- lost this round, but they will most certainly be back. Defender E-mail” in the right places.
three lines free
Have something (relatively short) to
say? Desperately need more atten-
To TRAN, UBST, ENCI students, join
the U of C ITE. Speakers, Trips, and
Be careful young lovers, spooning often
leads to forking.
GAUNTLET SEPTEMBER 20.07
Fun couple seeking couple friends for
den Thursdays. (no swingers.) Say bye
21
Healthy lifestyle video competition.
First prize: $1000.
tion? Give me lots of chocolate many perks. Check www.uofcite.ca -Bbaj to those annoying single friends... -www.shopvitaminscanada.com
or cupcakes! And drop off your for details. [Just because there are two of you,
TLF to MSC 319 or e-mail them -U of C ITE When I get rich and famous, I’m just doesn’t mean you get six lines To: 3K Alum: I love you all!!
to tlfs@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca. All going to be fatter and shittier. -BoogeymannEd] -Luke
submissions must include your name, Soy un estudiante en la Facultad de
ID number, phone number (although it Educación con un certificado de TEFL.
can’t be printed) and signature. Sub- Quisiera intercambiar la conversación
missions judged to be sexist, racist, española para la conversación
homophobic or attacks of a personal inglesa. ¡Soy un principiante!
nature will not be printed. -calutzma@ucalgary.ca
To the girl that I did meet in CHEM 331, To 101 groups 104 & 708, hope your
yes the teal spandex is for you. Den? first week went well, only 12 more ‘till
Join a sorority! We may stand out but winter break!
we never stand alone. -<3 M
-ucalgary.ca/panassoc
Join Phi Gamma Delta
History 371 students: don’t want to “Just Do It”
spend $130 on books for one class? -Philip Knight, Founder of Nike (Oregon
Email scathcaitsith@hotmail.com and 1959)
get them for $90, yay!
-Book hater Meep Meep.
-Road Runner
Ahoy thar y’scurvy lubbers! Prepare
yer titilations and are ready to weigh Come watch the Grand Final of Aussie
anchor, sarvy? Sep.,19 be International Rules football LIVE on big screen at
Talk Like a Pirate Day! Aarrr! Dicken’s Pub. (1000 9 Avenue S.W.)
-Pirate Fri,. Sep. 28. Doors open at 6p.m.
[Too bad that was yesterday... -www.albertafooty.com
-BoogeymannEd]
To anyone who has ever sprawled their
Calgary Pagan Pride Day 2007 lifeless limp corpse arcross 3 or more
Sep. 22 11am-4pm, Westgate seats upstairs in Mac Hall. Don’t.
Community Hall. Map & Details: -DSR & K
www.calgaryppd.com.
Roomate wanted to share 2 bedroom
Étudiant d’échange français recherchant apartment in Ranchlands. $475 a
des amis. Préférez des filles belles qui month. Available immediately.
parlent seulement Français. Je ne parle -jecroft@ucalgary.ca
pas Anglais.
-vive la France To all first-year burnouts: you can eat
fruit loops at any time of the day... and
FOUND: One set of headphones they do have seperate flavours!
outside Mac Hall. Contact -Kiwibird
kdclarke@ucalgary.ca
-K Help build a solar-powered home! Join
the Alberta Solar Decathlon Business
I want to become a Spartan. Any Kines. Team. FMI email info@albertasolarde
students need a guinea pig? cathlon.ca or visit www.albertasolard
-downandwelded@gmail.com ecathlon.ca
22 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET TLFs
Nursing Jungle Safari Cab!! Sat., To TRAN, UBST, ENCI students, join Jesus’ moon base is under attack by a Dear Wendy, 2 Textbooks and student notebook with
Sep. 29 at The Den. Tix $5 in advance, the U of C ITE. Speakers, Trips, and viking shooting laser beams from his I will miss our COMS and Info com- notes for ES 760 A found Sep. 19 near
$7 at the door. Tix for sale at table in many perks. Check www.uofcite.ca awesome guitar! Warn the masses! mons humour. Blueberry pancakes Confederation Park (NW Clagary).
Mac Hall. Nurse Bachelorette Auction... for details. -The Madcircle and Woodpigeon on Sunday. Please -smcdonag@ucalgary.ca
get a hot date for a good cause!! -U of C ITE don’t trade me for a fit Brit.
Passionate about marketing and event -Love, your accomplice My beautiful love
I know you won’t be reading this, but I Looking for excitement and travel? promos? Does having a rad time, being You ripped my heart at the core
just want to thank you for your sincere BustLoose.com is hiring a full time into campus life and earning coin tickle Join WISE for social settings that create And now I’m broken
friendship over these many years.” product advisor! Check out the web- your fancy? opportunities to network your peers -Fritzy
-Boy Techie to Girl Techie site for contact info. -uofcsbmgmail.com who have your academic interests!
-www.ucalgary.ca/~womense Best of luck to Nikki for her knee surgery
People with Alzheimer’s are of no use to Doreen: The Dweez is coming! The Dear Maintenance: please fix third floor next Tuesday. Recover quickly!
society. I say we forget about them. Dweez is coming! Mac Hall washroom sinks of doom. Like live music? Come to the Out of the
-thedrewskii - Suzy Creamcheese To all frosh-haters:just because you Garage CD release party on Sep. 21. I really think that “orderable” should
are inadequate losers doesn’t mean 622 8th Ave. See you there! be a word.
Patience, child, and soon the world will Stop fantasizing about your cell phone we all suck. [Yes, and so should “alot.”
become a pie. at night and pay attention to me! -The Frosh I’m hongry! -BoogeymannEd]
sports GAUNTLET SEPTEMBER 20.07 23
Editor: Amanda Hu—sports@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
Aulin is all in for the Dinos
Dinos recruit ex-NHLer Jared Aulin for the 2007-08 season
men’s hockey The new Dino is one of only nine
players to return to CIS play after
being with an NHL franchise and
Amanda Hu the latest since Washing Capitals
Sports Editor player Eric Calder, who left the
professional hockey world in
T
he University of Calgary to attend Wilfrid Laurier University
Dinos men’s hockey team and play on their team, the Golden
has a new trick up their Hawks.
sleeve that may translate into a Aulin’s professional career
winning season. showed promise as he scored
The team announced the recruit- points in the – WHL season.
ment of former NHL player Jared When he got to the NHL, Aulin was
Aulin for the – season. Aulin drafted in the second round th
comes off an impressive professional overall by the Colorado Avalanche.
career spanning four different He also played for Team Canada
AHL league cities and three NHL at the World Junior Hockey
franchises, including his highlight Championship, garnering the team
season with the Los Angeles Kings silver and making him even more
in –. of an asset for Calgary.
Though head coach Scott “On the ice, he’s just a complete
Atkinson is excited about his newest skill-package, particularly in our
recruit, he noted that there are still league,” said Atkinson. “He can
Chris Albinati/the Gauntlet
expectations on Aulin as he heads skate, he can shoot, he can handle
into his fifth year of CIS eligibility. The Dinos jersey looks good on Aulin as he shakes hands with coach Atkinson. a puck and he uses the ice really
“We just expect him to bring what well.”
you expect out of any good player,” a good job that way. The other thing dedicated and very enthusiastic.” of his fellow teammates know him Aulin was involved in an incident
he said. “With his experience, he’s is we have high expectations for him Many in the Dinos’ camp are tak- from their time together in the during a recreational hockey game
going to have a lot of ability to lead off the ice as well. We expect him ing a cautious optimism with Aulin’s Kamloops Blazers, including fourth- that resulted in him sustaining a
our players and we expect him to do to do well in school, and he’s very membership on the team. Several year forward Ryan Annesley. see Aulin’s in, page
24 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET SPORTS
Kendo:
the art of
hitting people
with sticks
Photos
by Geoff
MacIntosh
I
n its continuing quest to seek The idea of Kendo is that they needed an important and integral part of the battlefield hacking away at each mum rank to compete and ranks
out the under-appreciated and a safe way to practice swordplay the culture, learning the way of other. What we’re taught through have minimum age limits. You have
little-known sports, the Gauntlet and make contact with a person the sword, because it had value. the rules is to have good posture to actually compete to gain a space
got ahold of the Calgary Kendo Club without killing one another or get- We have a sword implement that and spirit and that you didn’t make [on the team]. The people you see
to talk about the elusive Japanese ting seriously injured. You wore is very similar to the ones they used a lucky hit. You saw the opportunity on team Canada are at least but
martial art. Club member Darren your armour and swung a wooden then and have armour very similar and you took the opportunity. [The probably a little bit older.
Barar indulged us and explained thing at people. Doing that, they to that of what they used then as rules] all embody traditions. There G: What is the significance
a little about the sport he knows could determine how good one’s well. There was a change in the sport is also a world Kendo federation of the katas and how are they
and loves. technique was without anyone of Kendo during the Second World encompassing many member coun- sequenced?
getting injured. That went on for War during the Allied occupation tries with their own associations and DB: The katas come from the time
Amanda Hu hundreds of years until it became where they took some of the more federations. Canada has a national of swords also. At the same time they
Sports Editor more sport-like and people would violent pieces out of the sport, but governing body that associates with started dispensing with the sword
actually compete in these fenc- it is still very aggressive. The move- Japan as well as a national team that culture, they started to firm up the
Gauntlet: Tell me a little about ing duels. At the end of the Edo ments of Kendo, which are meant to competes in the world champion- rules for what Kendo is. Out of the
the history of the sport. period, they decided to westernize, remind us [of the history], are done ships every year. hundreds of different sword arts,
Darren Barar: Kendo stems from [meaning] no more swords, no more in such a way so that they look good. G: Is there age range for the they chose encounters with an
the ancient sword tradition in Japan samurai class. The wearing of swords What you’re trying to do is replicate national team? opponent that would embody the
up to the late s to early s. was over but they still thought it was [the situation] that everyone is on DB: You have to have a mini- art of swordplay. Unlike many
other martial arts, the katas we
learn are against an opponent. The
lesson is taught in each one is done
in a slow, methodical fashion. As
you get more experienced in the
sport aspect of Kendo, you start
to realize that the artistic aspect of
it is held in the katas. With “battle
experience,” if you will, you learn
fine points as you learn the kata
that you can then turn around and
re-apply, giving you the ability to
make it more real.
G: What are the swords made
out of?
DB: There are two types of
swords: there is the one that you
use for Kendo and the one you use
for kata. The ones you use for Kendo
are made out of bamboo or carbon
fibre. They’re both constructed the
same way, but carbon fibre is much
more durable than the bamboo. The
kata sword is made out of a solid
wood of some sort.
G: So it’s more blade-shaped?
DB: Yeah, exactly. You can see
that there is a difference in lengths.
[The kata sword] is more the length
of a real sword or a katana. It has
a curve to it and a noticeable blade
with a sharper side and a more dull
side and a pointy end. It teaches you
GAUNTLET SPORTS SEPTEMBER 20.07 25
a little bit about what it would like if you will—we’re not Buddhists or subjective. When we’re practicing
to actually use a real sword. For anything—is the same in some ways. with each other, we kind of have
the sake of manufacturing ease, You have to respect somebody that’s a dialogue going back and forth
the Kendo swords are made more going to fight you. We don’t believe [between members] like, “Do you
round. that we’re killing people or that we’re think that was hit?” “I don’t know.
G: The training regime seems kind samurai or anything. We don’t live What do you think?” In other cases,
of confusing to the on-looker. How to a higher code or things like that such as a real tournament, there
do people know what kind of move- but everyone is here to work hard. are three referees that all vote on
ments to make? We respect that and if you have whether what they saw was a point.
DB: It can appear that we’re just respect, you can have the luxury of And they have a series of flags and
standing there hitting each other, reaching within yourself and trying stuff. So, you’re fighting a guy and
but there’s a method to the mad- a little harder. It’s odd what you can you hit him but the action doesn’t
ness. Because Kendo is not a self- get out of hitting someone on the stop because the referees will con-
defence sport, we wear equipment head with a stick. tinue deliberating [during play]. So
that provides us with protection [in G: I guess it’s kind of confidence- they’re looking at five, six, seven or
vulnerable places]. We train to hit instilling, then. eight points of [things like] did he
these spots because in battle, these DB: Yes. In a minute, I can initiate correctly, did he strike the
places are not protected. So we [train tell you everything you need to target cleanly, did it sound good, did
to] strike the deadliest areas. [For know, but when you do it, versus his foot hit the floor as the same time
example], we hit the wrists to cut off when someone with many years of he hit [his opponent], did he yell at
the hands of our opponents because experience does it, it will look very the same time he hit that and after
it makes it a really difficult day for different. Like golf or tennis—that the hit, did he continue with spirit
them to hold a sword if they haven’t is a very simple game with very few and in the prescribed fashion with
got a hand. We strike the top of the technical points—people can spend his sword pointing in the correct
head, because it’s [obviously] a very a lifetime mastering it. direction and other things.
bad place to be hit. We also strike the G: There seems to be a lot of G: That seems like a lot of things
throat with a sort of stabbing thrust, yelling in conjunction with move- to consider.
again making for a bad day. The last ments. DB: They have all of this stuff from
thing is a strike against the abdo- DB: Yeah. Like pool or billiards, the sword tradition to let you know
men. We have a shiny breastplate in you say something like, “four ball that you’ve followed what has been
practice to protect that area. in the corner pocket,” and everyone prescribed. They will say, “yes that
G: There is a lot of literature that knows it’s not an accident when it is a fatal strike. That is a point.” It’s
suggests ties between Kendo and goes in. Part of the construct is, we a really hard job, with all of those
Zen Buddhism, it seems, in terms say the name of the thing before things to consider.
of an historical tendency to disre- we hit it, so it kind of serves that G: Are the referees at the same
gard one’s own life on the battlefield. purpose. Plus, it gets you breath- level as the competitors or are they
Are there still a lot of connections ing and yelling stuff like that. Once at a higher level than that?
to that mentality in the modern-day you actually start doing it for a long DB: Officially, they have to be at
Kendo? time, you start saying those words a very high level. There are non-
DB: Everyone is here for a differ- less formally. It does happen every black belt level degrees. The first are
ent reason. Some people might be now and again where someone will for kids, usually, and adults would
here for the spiritual aspect, perhaps. hit one thing and call another. start at eight, going up to one. Then
There’s a saying that goes, “To fight G: Do you get penalized for that you get to your first black belt and
without respect is just violence.” Part in competition? there are eight of those. So, you’re
of what Kendo teaches by the ritual, DB: No, The judging is all pretty not considered to know a whole hell
of a lot until you have your black
belt and even then, all you know is
the basics, really. That might take
two, three, four years depending on
who you are. Then they can start
training you as a referee when you
get to your second degree of black
belt, but you can’t officiate over any
matches until you’re at your fourth
or fifth level.
G: What is it like being part of
the Kendo community?
DB: We pick up a lot of begin-
ners but many tend to give up
right away and then we keep one
or two. The groups are usually
smallish. To actually go to a tour-
nament, like in Vancouver, there
are sometimes around people
there from many different groups.
So, as someone who’s used to being
in a small group to go to realizing
that you’re part of something much
bigger is kind of neat.
G: There must be a great sense of
community there.
DB: Yeah, it’s just like if you’re
into, say, scrapbooking and go to a
scrapbooking convention all buying
the same rubber stamp you are. We
get to talk swords. There’s a lot of
camaraderie at those events. And
you get to talk to the world-class
athletes, because he’s sitting right
beside you. You get to fight the coach
of Team Canada and, likely, get your
butt properly kicked. It’s great being
part of a smaller community like
that. It’s like being a little-league
baseball player getting to play on a
major-league baseball team.
26 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET SPORTS
Aulin’s in,
cont’d from
pg. 23
concussion and swollen carotid
artery last July. The experience
jarred the player in many ways,
almost pushing him to give up the
sport he’d become so involved in.
“This guy and my teammate were
having a little altercation and then
he tomahawk-chopped my team-
mate over the head with his stick,”
he explained. “I gave him a shot to
the chin with my glove—nothing
that’s going to hurt anybody—and
asked him what he was doing
and next thing I know, I was get-
ting slashed across the neck and
knocked out.”
Despite the injury and its fallout,
Aulin is excited to start playing again
in a markedly new environment.
“I know a lot of guys on the team
and knowing the coach, Scotty
Atkinson, is going to allow me to
play the game I want to play which
involves being creative and skilled
and working hard,” he said. “Right
now,w I just want to have fun, play
with the Dinos, try and win a cham-
pionship and get an education. Right
now, I’m just focusing on playing
here and seeing what happens.”
With Aulin’s enthusiasm and
experience, many hope to see great
things from the Dinos this year.
“We expect him to be the best
player in the league,” said Atkinson.
“We’re going to be looking at him
running the powerplay, for sure.
It’s not just that he’s a really good
hockey player. He’s a really great
guy.”
Aulin is currently an open stud-
ies major with plans to attend the
Haskayne School of Business.
The Dinos have also recruited
several other notable players with
WHL experience to join the team
for the upcoming season includ-
ing Teegan Moore, Reid Jorgensen,
Jeff Weber, Dan Ehrman and Drew
Campbell.
With these experienced new play-
ers, the Dinos are serious contenders
for CIS play this season.
The regular season home-opener takes place on
Sat., Sep. 29 against the Horns at Father David
Bauer Arena at 7 p.m.
GAUNTLET SPORTS SEPTEMBER 20.07 27
Gauntlet Sportspinions
Rider-priders put the fan in fanatical by going way over-the-top
victory for the past -or-so-odd like the Rider-priders, am a proud, choice of sport to be interested in. Rider fans in Calgary already chal-
years—or so I’m sure it feels like to red-blooded Saskatchewanian, born For those who hail from lenges the number of Stamps fans
the Roughrider faithful—the fans and bred. I know how to drive a Saskatchewan, that option is lost for popularity dominance and some
Derek Neumeier remain unwaveringly dedicated and combine, I spent most of my high to you. However, that doesn’t stop actual success would surely put the
Sports Columnist optimistic that every passing year school weekends at bush parties, Roughrider fans from assuming that Saskies well ahead.
will be “their year,” regardless of and damn anyone that disagrees, you share their limitless devotion While I remain steadfast with my
how badly the on-field performances it’s called a bunnyhug and always because of your provincial heritage belief that the Riders will eventually
T
hey are the many, the proud resemble the Shrine Circus. will be. I’m also a devout sports and belittling you when you don’t. blow it down the stretch like they
and the blindly faithful. Case in point is Saturday’s – enthusiast. It would seem like the A Rider-hater from Saskatchewan do every year, part of me is worried
Dressed head-to-toe in any- defeat at the hands of the home- two things would go hand-in-hand like me is about as common as that the – start isn’t just a fluke.
thing and everything green, more town Calgary Stampeders. Judging to make me a Roughrider fan but, an Albertan NDP supporter and I’ve made my distaste for the Cult-
outspoken and intoxicated than your by the McDonald’s and the bar by unlike my provincial brethren, I much more likely to be burned at riders no secret in the past and just
average sports fan, which is saying a McMahon Stadium I visited right refuse to don the green and white the stake for football heresy. It’s barely escaped from Saskatchewan
lot. Their devotion is unhindered by after the game ended, you never in support of that comedic troupe like an authoritarian sort of cult, with my head intact because of it.
logic, reason, or even the inability would have been able to tell the disguised as a sports team. really, and I for one don’t want to I found a semi-safe haven here in
to speak sentences more articulate Riders lost, because both buildings Why? Firstly, the franchise is just drink any suspicious green Rider Calgary ever since, but the current
than a simple, “Woo!” Love them were engulfed by a sea of laughing, awful and always has been, and sec- Kool-Aid. CFL season has the potential to
or hate them, you sure as hell can’t happy green-goers. I also had no ondly, because I like choice. I don’t The scariest part is that the Riders drastically increase the number of
ignore them. Yes, you all know who luck engaging in reasonable discus- want to cheer for a team just because are actually doing really well so far Rider-priders and expose me once
I’m talking about: they are the fans sion with them, as my arguments there’s a local lack of competition this year. The team currently has a again as the provincial traitor that
of the Canadian Football League’s about the Stamps’ dominance and to cheer for. Albertans are lucky: – record, one point behind the I am. Until that happens though,
Saskatchewan Roughriders. hard-earned victory fell upon deaf, Edmonton-Calgary rivalry aside, B.C. Lions for leaders in the West I’m going to continue keeping a low
There is no fan-base in Canadian ignorant ears. It was frustrating, to you still have four celebrated sports and seems to have all the tools to profile with my fingers crossed and
sports more notorious than that of say the least and I can’t imagine how teams—Flames, Oilers, Eskimos, make a strong playoff push. If the pray that hockey season—and the
the Rider-priders, which is almost it would have been if Saskatchewan and Stampeders—within the bor- Rider-priders remained dedicated city-wide support of the Flames tak-
baffling, considering the team’s would have actually won. ders of your province to root for and through years of mediocrity, imag- ing priority over the Stamps, Riders,
consistently awful play. Despite Now, before I go any further, the choice to support the ones that ine what will happen if the team and even God—comes much sooner
Saskatchewan’s lack of a Grey Cup let me clear something up here: I, you enjoy best. One even gets their actually does well. The number of than it normally does this year.
Field hockey-ers face defeat in season opener weekend
field hockey The Dinos came out strong, keep-
ing heavy pressure on the experi-
of the goal that was converted by
Amanda Collison.
gritty defensive effort with hustle,
holding off the UVic forwards.
The Dinos are starting relatively
fresh this year with new coach Jenn
enced UVic players, forcing multiple The Dinos started the second half Goaltender Breanna Strong looked Swaggar and rookies, many of
Robyn Luff turnovers. The girlsaurs had some determined to hold off Victoria’s nearly unbeatable throughout the whom were selected by Swaggar for
Gauntlet Sports early offensive pressure too, includ- offence. Tanis Bartolome provided game, stopping hard strikes and div- their offensive abilities.
ing a short corner opportunity that strong stick handling and passing ing all over to trip up breakaway “I wanted to start this year with
The Dinos field hockey team resulted in a shot that ran just wide abilities in the midfield, leading to Vikes. She had an incredible diving a fresh slate,” says Swaggar. “The
played their season opening series of the goal. more goal-scoring chances for the stick save to stop a penalty shot in players have strong skills, they just
this weekend against reigning The Vikes rallied to pick up steam Dinos, including another short the second half. The game came have to learn to believe in their
CIS champions the University of midway through the first half with a corner. to a close with two quick Victoria abilities.”
Victoria Vikes. The young Dinos flurry of pressure in the Dinos end, Calgary prevented the Vikes from goals—a wide shot converted by
team lost a disappointing – on finally resulting in their first goal by scoring again until late in the second Natalie Wise and a high flick off a The Dinos next play against the University of
Saturday, and improved by only one Courtney Low, who drove on the half. Rookie Lizzie Hutchins led a short corner by UVic star Ali Lee. Alberta Pandas in Edmonton Sep. 29 and 30.
goal Sunday for a – loss. Though right and snuck in a wide shot. The
the score was lopsided, there were first half ended on a short corner
still some highlights for Calgary. goal by UVic, a skirmish in front
28 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET SPORTS
Lady soccersaurs take all the weekend’s wins
women’s soccer
Amanda Hu
Sports Editor
T
he University of Calgary
women soccersaurs claimed
a big victory over two oppo-
nents at West Varsity Soccer Pitch
Sep. and .
Saturday’s game against the
University of Saskatchewan Huskies
kicked off with a strong effort by the
Dinos, as they maintained posses-
sion for most of the first half.
Morena Ianniello dominated the
pitch, scoring the first of Calgary’s
five goals, the only to hit a goal in the
first half on either side. The Huskies
goalkeeper had some impressive
stops, ruining a scoring chance by Shelby Borys/the Gauntlet
midfielder Jennifer Crack, aided by
Katie Blundell. Violent play on the pitch resulted in several serious injuries over the weekend.
The Huskies made a valiant
attempt at a comeback in the and Lindsay Burrowes brought remained unchanged at – going Aggressive play was very notice- injured player come in and end up
second half, noticeably taking a Calgary’s lead to –, making the into halftime. able throughout the game, as meets scoring goals. We definitely played
greater command of the ball lead- match a big win for the team. The second half saw the Dinos between players resulted in several with heart.”
ing to one goal and a strengthen- The Dinos’ Sunday match against take control of the game, making a injuries on both sides, includ- Knowles’ confidence was echoed
ing of their own defensive efforts. the University of Alberta started off hard push for Alberta’s goal. After a ing Ianniello and Panda Lyndsay by many of her teammates.
Saskatchewan’s Elizabeth Hudon noticeably slow as the Pandas man- pass from Blundell, Krista Shepard Stewart. “We played much more aggres-
made several scoring attempts aged to keep the ball in Calgary’s made a go at scoring, finally putting Knowles was noticeably pleased sively than last weekend, that’s
stopped by Dinos ’keeper Alana end for most of the first half. the score at – for the Dinos. The with the Dinos’ victory in both for sure,” said midfielder Jessica
Knowles. Shots on goal stood at Alberta firecracker Keshia Wallin lead was nearly unchallenged for the games. Bush.
– for Calgary, with Knowles led the charge as the Dinos couldn’t rest of the second half, as efforts by “This was our first shutout of
making six saves over the course get ahold of any offensive initiative Pandas Sarah Smyth, Caitlin Milne the season,” said Knowles. “It was
The team heads off to away games against the
of the game. until later in the game. Both teams and Lauren Kruper were all thwarted a big turnaround from last week- University of Regina and University of Manitoba
Continued efforts from Ianniello maintained a stalemate as the score by Calgary’s offensive strength. end, for sure. We actually had an Sep. 22 and 23.
GAUNTLET SPORTS SEPTEMBER 20.07 29
Dinos footballers can’t find the elusive win
f o o t b a l l Bisons, currently ranked fourth.
“You cannot be satisfied with the
end result,” said Dinos head coach
game in a row. First-year Dinos
quarterback Jordan Flagel com-
pleted six of passes for yards
a two-year mission for his church.
“We’re playing the guy who
gives us the best chance to win,”
way and score, that’s fine.”
Time is on the Dinos’ side. The
team doesn’t play until Sep. and
Jon Roe Blake Nill. “It’s not what you strive against the Bisons. said Nill. “The other kid is just a there are still five games left in the
Features Editor for as a coach or as a program. [But] Though the troubles of the passing raw -year-old. He’s working hard, season to make up the ground lost
I’ve always said I prefer to play the game are a concern for Nill—the but it’s never entered my mind to in the last two weeks. The hated
T
he University of Calgary best teams, win or lose, because Dinos currently are last in the change the quarterbacks.” Bears from the north are first up
Dinos football team may that’s how you get better. I think league in passing offence—he notes Though he hasn’t thrown a pass- on the Dinos plate, and though they
be – after three weeks of we’ve gotten better the last two the Dinos are still recovering from ing touchdown since the destruction haven’t won a game yet, the Dinos
play, but, if such a thing is possible, weeks doing this.” losing both of their experienced QBs of the Clan in the first week, Flagel aren’t taking them lightly. Nill is
it’s a good –. The Bisons beat the Dinos in during the pre-season. doesn’t mind taking a smaller role using the time off to prepare and
The team started the season Winnipeg, –, after the Dinos Casey Brown, a third-year import in the Dinos’ offence as long as the to rest his sore players.
with a – obliteration of the led – at the start of the fourth from the U.S., tore his ACL in an exhi- team is getting touchdowns on the “We’ve got a lot of guys that are
hapless Simon Fraser University quarter Sat., Sep. . The Dinos sur- bition game against the University ground. banged up and this week is a good
Clan, but dropped their last two rendered points in the final of Alberta Golden Bears and Ben “All I want, in the end, is to win,” week for them to rest a few days,”
games. However, those two losses minutes, the second straight game Davies, a backup quarterback last said Flagel, who has attempted about said Nill, hopefully. “Overall, we
came against the University of the Dinos dropped a lead in the year was unhappy with the Dinos’ passes this year, about half the want to come out of the week hav-
Saskatchewan Huskies, ranked fourth quarter. situation at quarterback and left. total of every other team’s starting ing accomplished something, even
second in the nation and, most The Dinos also failed to get a Last year’s starter, Dalin Tollestrup, quarterback in Canada West. “As if it’s just something little. You don’t
recently, the University of Manitoba passing touchdown for the second left the team in the summer to go on long as we move the ball in some want to take a step back.”
Men’s soccer team continues losing ways
men’s soccer Jerson Barandica-Hamilton took
advantage of confusion close to
on goalkeeper J.P. Crescenzi.
The Dinos made a stronger
Though the team is, at this point,
very young, Gibbs is hopeful about
anymore because we’re already two
weeks into the season.”
Calgary’s goal and scored again attempt in the second half, trying building on this year for future Crescenzi added the team needs
Amanda Hu for his team. Both goalkeepers were desperately to score on the Bears’ seasons. to be more competitive going into
Sports Editor formidable throughout the game as Jas Gill. Calgary’s David Bird made “We’re willing workers and we try their games.
shots on goal stood at – for the their only goal of the game, assisted very hard, but I don’t think we’re “I think we definitely won the
The Dinos men’s soccer team Huskies, with their ’keeper making by Fernando Di Capua and Tanner competitive this year,” he explained. second half [against Alberta],” he
sipped from the cup of bitter six saves. Farenik, at minutes, unfortu- “Next year, we have four returning said. “The first half, we were a little
defeat after losing to the University The Dinos had another opportu- nately too late to give the team an [players] and six new recruits and slow but we came out and won the
of Saskatchewan and University of nity to break their unlucky streak opportunity to even up the score. I think there is a lot of potential second half, scored a goal and came
Alberta Sep. and . when they faced off against the Coach Andy Gibbs has a challenge there.” a little closer but unfortunately, it
Saturday’s game against U of S U of A Golden Bears Sep. . in front of him with this year’s team. Crescenzi is still hopeful about the wasn’t enough to come back and
saw a quick goal from the Huskies The game was tight through- The Dinos are currently fielding team’s chances this season. win.”
in the first minutes from Duncan out, with Alberta asserting pos- rookies out of the team’s mem- “We were prepared but we’re just The team now stands at –– and
McDougall. Calgary fought back session control in the first half. bers, causing a noticeable block in a little young,” he said. “We’re a little will need to step it up in order to save
with a penalty-kick goal from Ryan J.R. Castrillon-Rendon led a strong their winning momentum. immature. We’ve got eight or nine face for the rest of the season.
Holbrook. It would, unfortunately, go at the Dinos net, resulting in the “We’re naïve and young and it’s rookies on the team now. They’re
be their only goal of the game. team’s first goal. Their domination costing us goals,” he said. “We don’t prepared to play but they’re just
The men soccersaurs battle Fraser Valley and
The second half was another continued as John Konye pushed understand the arena yet because not quite ready to play at this level. Trinity Western on the West Varsity Soccer Pitch
opportunity for Saskatchewan as through Calgary’s defence to score it’s too competitive.” We can’t be using that as an excuse on Sep. 22 and 23 at 2:15 p.m.
30 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET
Editor: Geoff MacIntosh—photo@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
This week’s photo
spread is devoted
soley to photographs
taken with black and
white film. It’s a no-
digital week. If you’re
looking for more
quality photography,
check out the photo
to the editor on page
3, and while you’re
there, discover how
to submit your own
photo to the editor.
by Ken Clarke
“Albert Collins”non A1 on Kodak 400
Ca
mp
ris Beaucha
g” by Chel on Fuji Neopan 1600
“Swin Canon Reb
“Angel” by Katy Anderson
Lomography Fisheye on Ilford HP5 400
“Tied Tre
es” by Na
Nikon F8 than Woo
0 on Kod
ak CNBW d
400
photo 31
“Dance” by Katy Anderson
Lomography Supersampler on Ilford HP4 125
“Kart” by D “Café” by John McDonald
aniel Paga
Nikon F2
on Kodak
BW400NC
n Canon AE1 on Ilford FP4 125
N
“Elevate” by k BW400Ce
da
Jon Ro
N
Nikon F2 on Ko
32 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET FEATURES
Petroleum:
T hough the original purveyors of the candy, Haribo, doesn’t use
any in the making of the Gold-Bear, according to its website, par-
affin wax is used in many candies to make them look shiny. Paraffin
wax is a petroleum product and would be used to help the cute little
bears from becoming too attached to each other inside the bag.
Beeswax:
I n the place of paraffin, Haribo uses beeswax to keep the bears from
hibernating in clumps. Though the idea of consuming petroleum
is unappealing, remember bees make wax by eating honey, sitting
around the colony for a day, secreting the honey from their glands
and then chewing on it to make it soft enough to use to make honey
combs.
Gelatin:
I f you like chewy candy and hate eating animals, you might be in
trouble. Gelatin, the main ingredient in gummy products, like the
bears and Jell-O, is made from grinding, treating with acid and boil-
ing of the hooves, skin, bones and tendons of animals, like pigs and
cows. If you’re looking for a cheer to go with your next Jell-O shot,
“moo” might be appropriate. Haribo-brand bears are made with pig
gelatin.
Pectin:
P ectin is another agent used in the manufacturing of gummy
candies, often to replace gelatin for vegetarian-friendly variety of
gummy bears. Pectin is made from fruit and is often found in jams.
Apples and orange peels have high pectin content.
Glucose Syrup:
A sweetener derived from various vegetables like wheat, rice,
potatoes and corn. According to an article on Spiegel Online,
the online edition of the European magazine Der Spiegel, the rise
of popularity of bio-fuel caused glucose prices to rise 30 per cent
in 2006 which may result in an increase in prices of products, like
gummy bears, that use large amounts of glucose in their production.
Damn you, Al Gore! Now you’re ruining candy!
Colouring:
T he various colours of the
candy bears aren’t the results
of genetic manipulation or selec-
tive breeding but rather the effects
of food dyes. All approved by the
United States Federal Food, Drug
and Cosmetic Act, blue dye num-
ber one, red dye red number 40,
and yellow dye numbers five and
six are derived from coal-tar, a
by-product of the carbonization
and gasification process of coal.
All of the aforementioned dyes
are allowed in Canadian foods
as well. Another coal-tar prod-
uct, Amaranth, a red/purple dye
banned in the u.s. since 1976, is
currently allowed in Canada as
well. Delicious.
GAUNTLET FEATURES SEPTEMBER 20.07 33
Gummy candies dissected
Story: Jon Roe, Photos: Chris Tait
hings weren’t so rosy in the Weimar Republic. After 1918,
T Germans were fairly bummed out after being on the wrong
end of an armistice after World War I and needed something
to bring sunshine back into their lives. Along came Hans
Riegler, owner of the Haribo candy company, and his timeless
creation of gummy bears, or as he called them, Tanzbären,
in 1922. Now the world feels nothing but fondness towards
Germany and their delectable gummy creations.
The Haribo gold-bears, as the Tanzbären became known
as in America, were introduced stateside in 1982 and since
then have been slowly digesting in the hearts and minds of
children, the elderly and scavenging birds.
Though the contents of most foods these days are a mystery,
the gummy bear can be broken down into a recognizable
mix of products—with a little investigation. Here are a few
products that could be found in a Tanzbären near you.
entertainment GAUNTLET SEPTEMBER 20.07 35
Editor: Ryan Pike—entertainment@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
Sneaking up on Downstage
A r m ’s L e n g t h E m b r a c e thread. I [also] felt it was important
to offer a degree of narrative that
t h e a t r e p r e v i e w trickles through it as well so it didn’t
become a series of separate installa-
Ryan Pike tions. That was the concept I came
Entertainment Editor to the team with, the production
concept along with the fact that
T
heatre has been around for I wanted it to explore the way we
quite some time. Given the communicate with each other and
sheer number of perfor- seek community in our contempo-
mances taking place, it’s difficult rary environment.”
for theatre-goers to find any- The Downstage team spent nearly
thing new. Luckily for them, the two and a half months transforming
Downstage Performance Society the idea into a full-fledged produc-
has crafted a performance, Arm’s tion. The first presentation of the
Length Embrace, that’s sure to be company’s fourth season, Arm’s
vastly different than what most Length Embrace continues the
Calgarians have experienced. Dog From the Machine series of
Downstage’s Artistic Producer original works the company began
Simon Mallett had an idea that performing when it formed in the
eventually blossomed into a full- fall of . Mallett is pleased with
fledged show. the rapid growth the company
courtesy Tim Nguyen/Citrus Photography
“I saw a show in Toronto a few has seen since its formation.
years ago,” says Mallett. “You went “We’ve been around for three Having a filthy home is creepy. Peeping in on people’s filthy homes is creepier.
in and walked around the space and years now,” says Mallett. “We’ve
didn’t even sit down. You looked grown tremendously as a com- “What was great about the process a very organic process, which I think be a passive observer of the show,”
through peep holes and things of pany in a really short period of is that the design team has been part is a very neat way to work because says Mallett. “It’s to make your
that nature. It was a really interesting time, because certainly a show of of the creative team,” says Mallett. it allows the total collaboration of own experience. You may find
experience because all these char- this scope is beyond the means of “Quite often, in a theatrical pro- a team of artists who all have really there’s a particular character that
acters had their own environments most small production companies. duction, the designers will meet different experiences.” you want to watch throughout the
and that sort of thing. You could Certainly, we never imagined being with the director outside of the Theatre-goers trekking out to see entire show, a particular location
see people doing things when they where we are now and doing this rehearsal hall and they’ll come in Arm’s Length Embrace are likely to you want to stay in and just watch
weren’t aware of being watched.” kind of a show back when we were and watch just to see what’s going experience a show unlike any they whoever comes through that loca-
Mallett was drawn to the voyeuris- doing the absolute bare-bones origi- on, but they don’t really have much have experienced in Calgary. The tion or you may find you want to
tic element of the concept, which nal creations we did and that’s only communication with the rest of the unique design of the show, multiple move around and see little bits and
involves a series of set pieces spread in a few years time. It’s been a really production team. With our produc- locations and characters to experi- pieces of everyone’s different story.
throughout the Studio at Vertigo quick evolution.” tion, the actors have all contributed ence, allows the audience members That’s a choice that’s entirely up to
Mystery Centre. He sought to find a The provocative nature of Arm’s to the design in some way because to “choose their own adventure,” the audience, which is why it’s such
way to combine it with Downstage’s Length Embrace also provided we’ve developed the character and as it were. There will be some seat- a unique thing, because every single
longstanding mandate of bringing a series of challenges for the talked about their environment, ing provided, but Mallett believes audience member’s experience of
social and political issues to the Downstage team. In particular, where they live and that sort of the fun of the show will be in the the show will be different.”
forefront. crafting a series of unique set pieces thing. The design team has been exploration.
“I wanted to try to create some- tailored to a variety of characters. on board from there and taken the “You don’t want it to be an Arm’s Length Embrace unfolds at the Studio at
Vertigo Mystery Theatre Sep. 22–22 and 25–29
thing like that,” Mallett shares. “But Mallett says the design team was ideas that come out of rehearsal and uncomfortable experience, but at 8 p.m. and Sep. 23 and 29 at 2:30 p.m.
along some sort of socially engaged more than up to the challenge. applied them to the design. It’s been the point is not to sit down and Tickets are available at downstage.ca.
Rabbit Hole brings Broadway brilliance to Calgary
play demonstrates how Becca with her witticisms and hysterical
(Annette Loiselle) and Howie (Curt natural charisma. Johnson, a recent
McKinstry) struggle to carry on with Mount Royal College graduate, plays
their lives. Becca and Howie aren’t the part of the awkward teenager
the only the ones drastically affected almost a little too well, but neverthe-
by the tragedy as Becca’s mother, less portrays the necessary emotions
Nat (Nicola Lipman) and sister, Izzy and actions to a tee.
(Vanessa Holmes) walk on egg shells The cast brings the script to life
to avoid inflicting further misery on extraordinarily well, however, the
the couple while baring the grief as script itself brilliantly expresses the
well. The latter characters also face heartbreak, joys, anger and humor
issues in their own lives that are still that we constantly face everyday
directly impacted by the loss. Izzy is in our lives. The sincerity of the
faced with a new burden in her life play is accentuated with the use of
while Nat is still mourning the loss of common slang and profanity, the
her own son. The driver in the fatal honesty after a few drinks and a
accident, Jason (Jon Johnson) is left desire for sexual release.
to cope with a guilty conscience. Let’s not forget what’s behind the
courtesy Trudi Lee/Alberta Theatre Projects
At the beginning of Rabbit Hole, cast as well. Narda McCarroll did a
Rabbit Hole is a play about grief, but neither of these people look that sad. Weird. the audience attempts to piece marvelous job in making the set as
together Izzy and Becca’s causal the audience feels right at home. The
R a b b i t H o l e Projects. The Broadway version was
directed by Daniel Sullivan with Sex
Director Bob White proudly pres-
ents the play to audiences sure to
conversation in the kitchen. Holmes
seems nervous as Izzy initially, how-
minute details allow for the cast to
truly convince the audience they are
t h e a t r e r e v i e w and the City’s Cynthia Nixon and shed a few tears during the breath- ever, by the end of the scene she at home. The most astounding part
Judging Amy’s Tyne Daley among taking performance, and director is the character audiences learn to of McCarroll’s set is the staircase
Marina Foo the cast. Although the cast a little Glenda Stirling is certainly one of love. Loiselle and McKinstry’s per- leading to a cutaway portion, which
Gauntlet Entertainment closer to home doesn’t have the same the main causes behind those wet formances are astonishing, as their was Danny’s bedroom. The Rabbit
household names as the Broadway Kleenexes. characters are convincing enough Hole production team truly deserves
Coming from Broadway, David production, they did a phenomenal Taking place eight months to induce occasional sniffs among of a round of applause.
Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole opens job bringing the heartfelt story to the after the accidental death of their the audience during the emotive Rabbit Hole runs until Sat., Sep. 29 in Martha
the th season of Alberta Theatre Martha Cohen Theatre. ATP Artistic four-year-old son Danny, the scenes. Lipman steals the show Cohen Theatre. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
GAUNTLET ENTERTAINMENT SEPTEMBER 20.07 37
Mike Relm will not spin at your party
M i k e R e l m problems describing what I do, just
imagine what they go through—
ent demographic. Relm has often
catered to college crowds and had to
m u s i c i n t e r v i e w ‘okay, so we’re painted blue, and slightly revamp his show because of
we play these instruments… But the amount of younger ears present
Darren Young they’re pipes.’” at the new shows. Still, he remains
Gauntlet Entertainment If the Blue Man Group and Mike positive and content with the results
Relm have one thing in common, it is of his new and altered set.
T
hough he appreciates the that they are both hard to categorize. “The range of age in the audi-
offer, Mike Relm is not They also collaborate on stage for ence is a different thing [for
interested in DJ-ing your a song called “Your Attention” on me],” admits Relm. “There’s more
wedding, birthday party, bar mitz- the current tour. Unlike Dr. Tobias families that come out. I was able to
vah, or kegger—he’s not that kind of Fünke, however, Relm does not have go and change things a bit, making
DJ. Furthermore, it is doubtful you to blue himself when on stage with a set with kids in mind.”
would ever be able to accommodate the group. The shows themselves, For an innovator such as Relm, age
his gear. Equipped with turntables, according to Relm, are some of the is only a small obstacle in creating a
several large screens and projectors, biggest and most exciting he has spectacular performance. His ability
Relm is much more than any wed- ever done. to adapt to such situations is what
courtesy Mike Relm
ding DJ. “These shows are the largest audi- will definitely earn him recognition
“When people describe what I Mike Relm uses fancier equipment than this in his shows. ences I play for on a regular basis,” for what it is he does, no matter how
do, it’s easy to confuse me with a says Relm. “It’s like a festival, but hard it is to define. Mike Relm may
lot of other things,” explains Relm. Relm caught the attention of the on YouTube, and he was invited every night. Sometimes we’ve had not have his doctorate in turntabling,
“People say ‘can you do my party?’ Blue Man Group and landed a gig to come on tour with them. , people and I’ve had to look but he is already prescribing beats
and I’m like, ‘no, it’s not that kind as the opening act for their cur- “Chris Wink, one of the found- up to see all of them.” for all ages—as long as he does not
of thing.’” rent tour. One of the members of ing ‘Blue Men,’ saw my video on The Blue Man Group crowds are have to play your party.
Trying to define what exactly the group actually stumbled upon YouTube and called me up,” says bigger than Relm’s usual audiences, Mike Relm opens for Blue Man Group in the Corral
Relm does is certainly no easy task. a video of Relm performing live Relm. “I thought I had issues and and they are also of a very differ- Thu., Sep. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
He uses samples, he makes beats and
he does plenty of scratching, but
he also weaves videos together in a
specific manner to go in time with
the music and scratches the images
on screen with his fingertips. To
people who have never heard of or
seen him before, though, it is difficult
to understand what exactly this all
means. Relm is inclined to say he is
a DJ in an extremely specific field of
turntabling.
“When you say someone is a doc-
tor, there’s thousands of doctors you
can be,” says Relm. “Your pediatri-
cian is a doctor, your pharmacist
is a doctor, Bill Cosby is a doctor,
Dr. Phil is a doctor. Thinking of
DJ-ing, there’s a thousand ways to
do it.”
While Relm may not be a certi-
fied “Dr. DJ” just yet, it must be
pointed out that he is definately
a specialist. His performance is
an almost theatrical experience as
opposed to a regular musical per-
formance. Due to his unique style,
GAUNTLET ENTERTAINMENT SEPTEMBER 20.07 39
The Emmys: the awards show nobody cares about
2007EmmyAwards when you consider the networks
that air the Emmys rarely broadcast
going Everybody Loves Raymond
winning just about every award
Katherine Heigl besting both
Sopranos gals Lorraine Bracco and
Rings film won everything—but
the lack of any internal coher-
t e l e v i s i o n r e v i e w made-for-TV movies or miniseries imaginable two years ago. The Aida Turturro in the Supporting ence made the Emmys a hodge-
and that very few viewers have seen biggest head-scratcher may have Actress race. A three-hour awards podge of bad jokes, long speeches
Ryan Pike Prime Suspect or Bury My Heart at been Boston Legal’s James Spader show can be made bearable by a and plugs for shows that will
Entertainment Editor Wounded Knee. upsetting Sopranos star James storyline emerging throughout be off-the-air by Thanksgiving.
Ignoring the vast number of Gandolfini for the Lead Actor in the night—as it did at the Oscars At least it was better than
T
his past Sunday, the th awards handed out, this year’s a Drama statue or Grey’s Anaomy’s in when the last Lord of the the MTV Video Music Awards.
Primetime Emmys arrived Emmys were an exercise in near-
with all the pageantry and masturbatory self-indulgence on
hoopla typically reserved for a - the part of the television com-
year-old’s birthday party. Odds are munity. Whether it was Ryan
that unless you watched much tele- Seacrest making ill-advised
vision over the past week and a half, age-of-consent jokes to Heroes
you didn’t really know about the star Hayden Panettiere, an exces-
Emmys. Even if you did know, you sively long monologue by Ray
probably didn’t care—early ratings Romano or a reunion between
numbers peg this year’s awards as Daily Show host Jon Stewart and
one of the least-watched ever. alums Stephen Colbert and Steve
Despite efforts to make the Carell, everyone involved with the
show snazzier than in past years show seemed to bend over back-
—including a “theatre-in-the- wards to pat themselves on the
round” style stage—the Emmys back. The tone of the broadcast
were rather long and tedious. seemed out-of-place given the
Hosted by American Idol emcee Oscars’ latest string of tongue-
Ryan Seacrest, the Emmys ran in-cheek efforts, particularly the
head-long into their single biggest one hosted by Stewart himself
problem: There are far too many two years ago. That said, Stewart
awards to hand out on a three- and Colbert making fun of Al Gore
hour show, resulting in either was hilarious.
the presenters rushing through Worse yet, the new-fangled
the presentation of nearly balloting system adopted by the
awards or the broadcast dragging Emmys—equally weighing the
late into the night. The simplest nomination committee and the
solution would be to move the general member vote—resulted in a
awards for made-for-TV movies lot of upset winners. Most surpris-
and miniseries to the preceding ing was that the final season of The
weekend’s non-televised Creative Sopranos lost in most categories,
Arts awards ceremony, especially quite a departure from the out-
THE WINNERS
If you forgot to watch the Emmy MINISERIES/TV MOVIES
Awards, don’t fret. Check out this Outstanding Miniseries:
handy list of winners. Feel free to brag Broken Trail
to your friends that your favourite Outstanding Made for TV Movie:
shows won awards or complain that Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
they didn’t. Lead Actress:
Helen Mirren
DRAMAS (Prime Suspect: The Final Act)
Outstanding Series: Lead Actor:
The Sopranos Robert Duvall (Broken Trail)
Lead Actress: Supporting Actor:
Sally Field (Brothers and Sisters) Thomas Haden Church
Lead Actor: (Broken Trail)
James Spader (Boston Legal) Supporting Actress:
Supporting Actor: Judy Davis (The Starter Wife)
Terry O’Quinn (Lost) Directing:
Supporting Actress: Prime Suspect: Final Act
Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) Writing:
Directing: Prime Suspect: Final Act
The Sopranos
Writing: VARIETY, MUSICAL
The Sopranos OR COMEDY
Outstanding Series: The Daily
COMEDIES Show with Jon Stewart
Outstanding Series: Outstanding Special: Tony
Rock Bennett: An American Classic
Lead Actor: Individual Performance:
Ricky Gervais (Extras) Tony Bennett (Tony Bennett: An
Lead Actress: American Classic)
America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) Writing: Late Night with Conan
Supporting Actor: O’Brien
Jeremy Piven (Entourage) Directing: Tony Bennett: An
Supporting Actress: American Classic
Jaime Pressly
(My Name is Earl) OTHER
Directing: Achievement in Interactive TV:
Ugly Betty Current network
Writing: Outstanding Reality-Competition
The Office Program: The Amazing Race
40 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET ENTERTAINMENT
Chris Pedersen/the Gauntlet
A splash of
colourful art
GeoffreyHunter sentation of music as inspiration in
painting or the visual arts at large.
a r t r e v i e w “How do you take away the emo-
tional hand of Jackson Pollock to
Indrani Kar make a painting more reproducible,”
Gauntlet Entertainment muses Hunter. “While also knowing
within yourself there are pieces that
G
eoffrey Hunter’s new work, that just feel right, and ones
works at the Paul Kuhn that aren’t quite as good.”
Gallery at first resemble Within this experiment of
colourful and random chaos, objectivity and expression Hunter
technicolor swirls and scribbles discovers a certain satisfaction
seemingly without meaning. But in projecting doodle-like images
with more careful attention to from his computer onto a screen
the shapes, colours and lines, one and meticulously reproducing
quickly finds the work is imbued them on canvas with paint, fol-
with layers of stories and at the lowing each line and dot with
same time, nothingness. As a result, precision, not unlike the mandala-
it gains a Zen quality, a testament to making monks.
the mandalas meticulously drawn “Perhaps it’s just an exercise in
with sand by Buddhist monks, only futility,” explains Hunter. “But for
to be erased as a transient represen- me it’s a process that allows for evo-
tation of all life and our existence lution in my work over time.”
in this plane. Often, is it said the journey is
There is in fact an ephemeral more important than the destina-
quality to the work while it stands tion. For many process-oriented
out and demands to be noticed. artists, the product is secondary,
Hunter excludes no colours from though still important. The multi-
his work: from muted earth-tones, layered pieces in particular, are
black, grey, and white, to a panoply representative of the evolution of
of bright oranges, blues, and reds. the exhibit, both in terms of the
Needless to say the paintings are a artist’s evolution from previous
conscious exploration—an experi- work as well as within this exhibit
ment, as it were—with colour. itself, where it is evident that the
Some of the paintings are actu- paintings made later on are a depar-
ally reincarnations of older paint- ture from those made earlier in the
ings, sometimes even exhibited in collection. Hunter is more content
Hunter’s previous shows. If a piece to allow the paintings to appear or at
didn’t work before, it has a possi- least come out naturally, rather than
bility to have a new life and—with have a particular goal or too much
literally more depth as a result of control of them while he paints.
new paint layers—a new story to They are almost entities themselves,
tell. Hunter does not premeditate visual alchemical expressions that
which paintings will be painted echo of the Harry Smith’s gargan-
over or not, it’s more like an intui- tuan “American Magus” collec-
tive understanding that seems to tion of folk music, much of which
present itself. spans time, countries and styles.
The exhibition is loosely inspired This compilation of music is also
by the Leonard Cohen song one of Hunter’s influences in this
“Everybody Knows.” Hunter infuses exhibit or a visual representation
several themes into his work: ideas thereof. Just as Smith’s collection
of community, conformity, com- is a celebration of the diversity
modity, responsibility, the tension of folk music, Hunter’s exhibit
between easily reproducible art and is a celebration of discovery and
judgements about what constitutes expression of colour.
original, “good,” or “bad” designs
The Paul Kuhn Gallery is at 724 11th Ave. SW and
and accessibility of the untrained “Everybody Knows” will be shown until
to make art themselves and repre- Sat., Oct. 13.
GAUNTLET ENTERTAINMENT SEPTEMBER 20.07 41
All the little monsters
love going to camp
Film explores live-
action role-players
M o n s t e r C a m p show the very real worries about
their own lives and the lives of
courtesy Hyrax Films LLC
f i l m r e v i e w their character in the game. One
-year-old, a person whose This gentleman is all decked out in costume, but it is not Halloween. At all.
Jordyn Marcellus character is a mechanical dwarf
Gauntlet Entertainment called “Tinkerstouch,” worries
about university in the real world
W
e’ve all seen them; and ensuring his character doesn’t
the weird and wacky permanently die in the game world.
people huddled over Dave, the head writer for the NERO
a tabletop together playing video Seattle crew, has a daughter and
games, rolling dice, or trading must balance his time between
cards, talking in terms that are family, playing World of Warcraft
mystical in their incomprehensi- and plotting entire campaigns that
bility. We laugh at their activities make the live-action games fun for
illustrated on YouTube—wearing others.
shabby renaissance-faire-reject One of the constant themes
costumes, hitting each other with throughout Monster Camp is the
padded swords and throwing foam power and prevalence of escap-
balls at one another while scream- ism; these men and women get
ing, “Fireball! Fireball!” Monster away from their lives through
Camp is a movie that humanizes their role-playing, and find a
the so-called freaks and geeks of the common world in which they
world that try to escape the bor- can socialize with one another.
ing reality of work and school for That point is driven home beau-
the rich fantasy life of live-action tifully with a wheelchair-bound
role-playing. woman who admits that, while
Shot over the course of a year, she doesn’t even role-play much
Monster Camp details the exploits or fight against the monsters, she
of the role-players in NERO Seattle, can still escape into a land where
both the mighty adventurers and she isn’t in the wheelchair and
the witless monsters who partake interact with people—something
in the game. The film’s major set she lacks at home.
piece is an unnamed Washington Monster Camp also shows that
state park, where the NERO events through this escapism, people can
take place. The film follows NERO affect real meaningful changes in
owner, Shane, and organizers of the their lives. People who are shy,
event at three major events, with a unsure or awkward become
special focus on the people who are someone else when they adopt a
the monsters for the event—called character and through their char-
non-player characters in the NERO acter they take on those qualities
vernacular. One of these NPCs, in themselves. From the girl whose
Brittney, is new to the event character helped her to learn
and through her the audience is social skills and gain friends
introduced the rules of this role- through NERO, to J.P., who got
playing universe. rid of his crippling shyness by
While the perspective is mainly playing the flirtatious Sir Gregor,
from the monsters, the adventur- we see people who are using their
ers are given screen time as well. experiences in the role-playing
J.P., a -year veteran in this type games to help themselves in the
of role-playing and known in- real world.
game as “Sir Gregor,” allows us to The power of imagination
understand the experience of the and escapism is at the heart
adventurers and the deep levels of of Monster Camp. Though the
interaction present through- costumes are rarely impressive
out the NERO game. J.P. also and the make-up is incredibly
shows the unusual and at times amateur, there is a heart behind
paradoxical relationship dynamics each of the people who partake in
that can arise within the game, J.P. the role-playing activities. These
being involved in a five-year-long are real people, something most
out-of-game relationship with forget in our casual mockery of
one of Sir Gregor’s most bitter their activities.
in-game rivals.
The film makes an effort to Monster Camp is playing at the Calgary
International Film Festival on Sat., Sep. 22
show the lives of the role-players at 9:30 p.m. at the Globe and again
from a sympathetic view—and to on Sun., Sep. 30 at 1 p.m.
42 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET ENTERTAINMENT
spun ALBUM REVIEWS
F ans of shitty, derivative pop-punk rejoice! Yellowcard has put out another
album! Boring and unimaginative, as always, Yellowcard’s welcome in
the music scene is wearing dangerously thin. Unfortunately, it’s the sappy
type of music to cry alone in the basement to—so it’s going to sell copious
amounts of copies.
Yellowcard’s formula has always been pretty simple: make a generic pop punk
song, and then toss a violin in it. Thankfully for fans—but not for the rest of
us—the formula is followed slavishly. The only exception to this formula is the
title track of the album: it’s a generic pop punk song with a children’s choir at
the beginning! Such wowing originality is what makes Yellowcard one of pop
punk’s most mind-numbing acts
Paper Walls is an album full of banal, uninteresting and overly saccharine music
meant for unhappy 14-year-olds whose two-week relationship has just been
torn asunder. The album is garbage, meant to cash in on a rabid fanbase, but
trite and unexciting for anyone who isn’t a fan of soppy melodrama.
Despite these numerous complaints, fans of Yellowcard will enjoy Paper Walls.
Yellowcard The only difference between previous albums and Paper Walls is the fact that
Paper Walls Yellowcard grew a set of testicles and every song goes balls-to-the-wall—it
(Capitol Records) doesn’t save the album, but it will allow the teens who actually like Yellowcard
to mosh without looking like a bunch of idiots.
..Jordyn Marcellus
When most of us were young children, nothing new on this album to distinguish it
we learned bragging about something from any other 50 Cent album other than the
was wrong—that challenging the smarter fact that it really has no stellar singles. The
kids in class to a game of trivia would be collaboration with Justin Timberlake and
a bad idea. Apparently 50 Cent didn’t Timbaland on “Ayo Technology” sounds
learn this lesson or he’s forgotten despite like someone took old music from a bad
his numerous bullet wounds. On his lat- Nintendo game and rapped over it. This will
est album, 50 Cent challenged rapper be a popular song simply because it’s catchy
Kanye West to sell more records than him, but it’s definitely not up to the standard set
claiming if Kanye sold more in the first week by previous albums. Timberlake definitely
he would quit writing solo albums. This is not left his sexy at home for this effort.
a stellar final album. This album is not garbage, but after all the
50 Cent This album had all the makings of a hit but hype, it’s a disappointment. Fans of previous
Curtis somehow missed the mark. With amazing albums will enjoy this as it is basically just an
(Aftermath/Interscope) guests like Justin Timberlake and Timbal- uninspired rehash of everything he’s done
and it seems as though that album should before. It’s hard to believe that this is the final
be a hit but it just falls flat. 50 Cent seems to album from the man who created hits like
have released an album with the hopes that “Hate It or Love It” and “In tha Club.”
his name would generate sales. There is ..Jeff Clemens
In the age of digital manipulation and pitch histrionics. On songs like “Laser Beams” and
perfect pre-manufactured pop, it’s almost “Murderer,” Murphy’s understated delivery
impossible to find an album as emotion- is intense and personal, like the greatest of
ally evocative as Welcome to the Night folk singers, but instead of a lonely acoustic
Sky. Musically, the album is reminiscent guitar, there’s a band performing some of the
of a night spent alone, staring at the mid- best instrumentals on a record in 2007.
night starry sky—and like those nights, Welcome to the Night Sky is a rarity in
Welcome to the Night Sky is a quiet and the burgeoning and increasingly
introspective experience. mediocre field of indie rock—an album
The album is a masterpiece of melancholic that doesn’t beat you over the head with whin-
pop, raw and emotional. Solemn, swirling ing or seem over-indulgent in it’s attempt to
guitars are the centrepiece of the albums best provide an epic listening experience. Instead,
Wintersleep moments like in the album opener “Drunk on Welcome to the Night Sky provides an earnest
Welcome to the Night Sky Aluminum.” Vocalist Paul Murphy’s voice is listening experience, full of moody pop perfect
(Labwork Music) expressive, but not overwrought and whining, for an evening at home.
a rare combination in the days of indie rock ..Jordyn Marcellus
Way back in 2002, Victoria’s Hot Hot Heat seen on previous releases. On their debut,
burst onto the scene with an energetic— singer Steve Bays and the group presented
sometimes clumsily so—debut album called a tremendous lack of finesse, but the album
Make Up the Breakdown. The pop quartet worked on a whole because of it. After the
boasted fun, danceable singles that lacked band’s big-label break, it seems as if their
in production flourishes but made up for fearless nature has been replaced by a self-
in panache. The group’s big-label debut, consciousness that makes Happiness Ltd. feel
2005’s Elevator, traded some of the group’s a little too planned-out. Only “So So Cold”
awkward charm for slick polish. Hot Hot retains some of their earlier attitude.
Heat’s third album, Happiness Ltd., contin- Hot Hot Heat has come a long way since their
ues the trend. initial bow, transforming from energetic indie
Anchored by singles “Give Up?” and “Let darlings into a polished opening act for the
Hot Hot Heat Me In,” Happiness Ltd. combines the band’s Killers. Keeping in mind their career progres-
Happiness Ltd. danceability with a maturity not seen on previ- sion, Happiness Ltd. is precisely the album
(Sire Records) ous Hot Hot Heat albums. The songs are all they should be producing at this point: effort-
deftly-constructed and the album well-paced. lessly listenable but disappointingly safe.
However, it lacks the sense of spontaneity ..Ryan Pike
GAUNTLET ENTERTAINMENT SEPTEMBER 20.07 43
MORE ALBUM REVIEWS
C asting a shadow over the latest disc from Pennsylvanian pop-punkers
The Starting Line is their much-publicized departure from Geffen and
defection to Virgin Records. After Geffen outright refused to promote 2005’s
Based On A True Story, the group managed to opt out of their contract and
found a new home that was willing to support their next release properly. The
result is Direction, a relatively straightforward but catchy disc in which The
Starting Line navigates familiar territory.
For the most part, Direction exhibits musical growth within The Starting Line.
The songs, still around the three-to-four-minute mark, are pretty basic in for-
mula, but the group is able to do a lot with very little material. There are plenty
of layers and the production is slicker than ever, making the band sound more
comfortable and mature. While the band sounds musically more mature on
Direction, they are still extremely lyrically adolescent. Resident vocalist and
bassist Kenny Vasoli has been penning lyrics for The Starting Line since he
was 14 years old and does not sound much wiser nine years later. Lines like
“If this is worth your while/ Then you’re making me smile” in “Somebody’s
The Starting Line Gonna Miss Us” or “I was growing my hair/ And I could not care/ What they’d
Direction think” in the title track only lend to embarrassment and sadly diminish the
(Virgin Records) quality of the music.
Direction is a promising step forward for The Starting Line, and maybe on their
next record label Kenny Vasoli will finally have mastered his lyrical chops.
..Darren Young
Too often, female singer/songwriters fall into are not as smooth. The opening of “Open
the trap of having a tremendous voice and no Lashes” is awkward, pushing Esmaye’s voice
clue how to construct an album. As a result, to its limits. The partitioning of the album
they’re praised for having tremendous pipes into four parts is a clever idea, but is largely
and then immediately forgotten. Newcomer ignored throughout the album. A listener
Esmaye attempts to combat this common without a track listing will be unaware of
folly by constructing Elements in Me with which of the four elements a song is supposed
four parts, each tailored to an element. The to be influenced by.
results are mixed. Esmaye’s debut is adequate, marred by a few
Esmaye is blessed with a fine voice and an bad decisions but providing effective show-
ability to construct a song. She exhibits a case for her vocal talents. One can only hope
great deal of range through the album, shift- that she can find a better way of exhibiting
Esmaye ing from vulnerable to sultry without miss- range than institutionalizing it.
Elements in Me ing a beat. Unfortunately, some of her shifts ..Ryan Pike
(Black Hole)
On his third album, Kanye has done what is at the top of the rap game. In a rare move
many of us should do and graduated. After Kanye shows a humble side in the song “Big
producing his first two stellar albums, Kanye Brother” in which he bows out to Jay-Z
has come back with his best effort to date. This the man who gave him his big chance.
album gives the man with the biggest ego in While Kanye shows on the album that he
music a reason to gloat. The bragging is not is extremely competent on his own, it is
just because he’s produced an amazing album the featuring artists that make this album a
but also because he’s managed to do what masterpiece. Keeping himself as the center of
everyone thought was impossible, beating attention, Kanye uses artists such as T-Pain
50 Cent in album sales. This put Kanye on and Coldplay’s Chris Martin to strengthen
top and effectively silenced his rival in both an already strong album.
solo rapping and bragging. On this third album, Kanye comes back with
Kanye West The first single from the album is pos- his best work yet. This is Kanye’s version of
Graduation sibly the most interesting and entertain- the Chronic, only hopefully unlike the Dre
(GOOD Music) ing collaboration combining electronic he will follow this up with something even
masters Daft Punk with some of Kanye’s better. Kanye has managed to prove who the
best rhymes. The quality of the produc- real “Wanksta” is.
tion on this album shows why Kanye ..Jeff Clemens
If fun pop-rock was a meat product, Two The one standout track has got to be “Heat-
Hours Traffic would be the best butch- seeker” which starts off with a country-ish
ers on the block. The sound is clean and sound, complete with a chiming steel guitar,
there’s a certain peppy, almost manic, beat and soon melts into distorted rock, blowing
to the record that guarantees the hipsters your mind in the process. A close second
will shake around like zombies and the would be the opening song, “Nighthawks,”
pop aficianados will shake their booties. buzzing along with “whoo” exclaimations
The vocals seem to have the soft croon of as any good pop song should.
Thomas Yorke without the whine and the Easily one of the better CDs of recent
guitars—even the acoustic—seem to memory, but it shouldn’t be too surpris-
have the intensity of a caravan of 18- ing when Joel Plaskett is producing it.
Two Hours Traffic wheelers barreling down a highway. This album won’t change the world, but
Little Jabs The only knock against the recording is the it may be a welcome addition to most
(Bumstead) obvious use of a click track, because they collections.
would sound fantastic without one. ..David Crosby
44 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET ENTERTAINMENT
The boys are back in town
BoysN i g h t O u t the latter is a conceptual album
based on the story of a man
m u s i c i n t e r v i e w who experiences violent night-
mares and murders his wife in his
Darren Young sleep, Boys Night Out speaks more
Gauntlet Entertainment from the personal experiences of
the group and band lyricist Connor
B
oys Night Out are taking Lovat-Fraser. The band is also feel-
a step back and getting to ing more connected at this point in
know the men in the mirror time due to the return of drummer
better. Following some intensive Ben Arseneau to the fold. Arseneau
touring and a couple changes in was one of the original members
the band lineup, the group recently of the group, of which there were
released a self-titled follow-up to five and are now only four.
’s Trainwreck. The record “While we were writing, we
by name alone has garnered the were in a really good mindset,”
band plenty of attention, leaving says Davis. “We were really com-
many fans scratching their heads fortable, the songs were coming
why Boys Night Out would issue naturally, and we liked the sound
a self-titled disc after releasing we were putting out. This is the
one of the most impressive con- most comfortable we have been
cept albums ever made. Jeff Davis, as a band.”
guitarist for the group, explains the Not only is the band feeling
band simply needed to get back to more comfortable recently, they
courtesy Hype Music
being Boys Night Out. are generally excited to be around
“We knew that [releasing a self- one another. The term “family Ironically, the members of Boys Night Out prefer to go on day trips.
titled album] would be a chance for reunion” has been tossed around
us to really get back to ourselves,” frequently in band descriptions of formula was not exactly working out of the band, but her departure towards Dupuy. Psychiatrists say
says Davis. “We kind of stepped their current tour. This is all a part while she was in the group. was very well-timed.” that one is incapable of love until
away from ourselves for a period to of settling in to the new lineup, “Touring with Kara was very Accepting a new member into a one is willing to love oneself and
write Trainwreck. The new record which was established after the different for the reason that she’s family can be a difficult thing, espe- Boys Night Out are just taking
is very personal, lyrically.” departure of keyboardist Kara a girl and we’re a bunch of stinky cially amongst such a tight group their time getting to know and love
Boys Night Out is lyrically a Dupuy from the group last year. boys,” says Davis. “It wasn’t work- of friends. Still, the band remains Boys Night Out.
gigantic leap from the twisted While her resignation was volun- ing out for all of us the way we comfortable in their current state Boys Night Out play the Underground
storyline of Trainwreck. Whereas tary, there is reason to believe the had intended. She was not kicked and harbours no hard feelings Wed., Sep. 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
GAUNTLET ENTERTAINMENT SEPTEMBER 20.07 45
Cronenberg’s Promise is kept
EasternPromises
f i l m r e v i e w
Jordyn Marcellus
Gauntlet Entertainment
W
ith A History of Violence,
David Cronenberg
moved into the main-
stream film community. With
Cronenberg’s latest film, Eastern
Promises, he has finally cemented
himself as not just a b-movie hor-
ror director but as a true genius of
cinema. Eastern Promises is both an
atypical mafia movie and an atypi-
cal Cronenberg film: zero gunplay,
little in the way of violence and a
set in the dark corners of London,
England.
The film tells the story of two
wildly different characters: Anna
(Naomi Watts) is an innocent mid-
wife dragged into the murderous
courtesy Alliance Atlantis
world of the Russian mafia when
a young -year-old girl named Viggo Mortensen is quite jealous of Naomi Watts’ motorcycle. He has to walk.
Tatiana comes into her hospital
and gives birth to a baby girl, dying of by a callous group of men who genius scene in the entire film is at shooting violence and that shows
soon after. Finding a small card for a use her body to slake their lusts and the climax; a fight in a steam house forcefully in the few moments of
restaurant in the young girl’s diary, the eventual pregnancy that led to where Viggo Mortensen battles carnage throughout the film.
Anna goes to get the diary trans- her death. Although she does die two attackers completely in the Each moment of violence comes
lated from a Russian cook—and at the beginning of the film, she buff. Yes, Viggo Mortensen fights at just the perfect time, short and
runs into the hard body driver ends up being the most important completely naked. It shows a real sweet—the camera doesn’t flinch at
Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen) and character in the movie. Her story visual panache and to describe it in the attacks and lets you see the hor-
his bug-eyed lush of a captain Kirill is the crux of the plot and while at any more detail would be to spoil rible gory details and consequences
(Vincent Cassel). From there, the the beginning it seems like nothing one of the greatest action scenes in of each brutally violent attack.
story branches off into two direc- more than a start point for some- any mafia film. Eastern Promises is a fascinating
tions: Anna’s quest for an answer to thing larger, it provides the main Famous for his gross-out pictures film, one that doesn’t attempt to
Tatiana’s death and Nikolai’s quest thrust for all subsequent events in like Videodrome, Shivers, and Naked tell a moral tale or try to beat you
for acceptance into the mafia that the film. Lunch, Eastern Promises is starkly over the head with a simplistic
is now his home. The intersections Of special note is Mortensen’s different from Cronenberg’s previ- story. The movie ends ambivalently,
between the two stories make up performance in the film. There is ous work. Unlike the grungy and and the last scene is one that stays
some of the most exciting and tense a frightening duality to Nikolai’s industrial landscapes of previous with you. Eastern Promises proves
parts throughout the movie. character and Mortensen pulls it films, the scenery is beautiful and Cronenberg has finally shown
Throughout the film, narration is off handily. Carefully balancing varied; from the stark antiseptics of his skill at making movies to the
provided by the character Tatiana between playing the émigré driver the hospital to the dark lacquered majority film market. Hopefully,
and reveals the copious tragedies with a heart of flint, Mortensen browns and reds of the Russian he’ll no longer be known as “the
that led up to her death. In a fragile, shows a vulnerable side to the man Mafia’s restaurant, the colour pal- dude who makes those creepy
quavering voice, she tells the story who can so casually strip a body ette of the film just shines. The film’s b-movies” and finally given the
of eking out an existence in the clean of any identifying marks score is understated, a surprising credit he so richly deserves.
Russian countryside, immigrating and brutally beat a man to death and pleasant choice for the movie.
to London, being taken advantage with his own two fists. The most Cronenberg has always been skilled Eastern Promises opens in theatres Fri., Sep. 21.
46 SEPTEMBER 20.07 GAUNTLET
Editor: Jordyn Marcellus—eandp@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca escapes & pursuits
THEATRE The Paperbacks, The Grass, and The Rocketaco and The Pine Tarts blast THINGS TO DO
Pack swing into Broken City on off into Broken City on Mon., Sep. 24 1 Volunteer for the Gauntlet! Gauntlet
The Rabbit Hole continues at Martha Fri., Sep. 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets at for a free show at 8 p.m.
volunteers have been scientifically proven
Cohen Theatre, Sep. 20–26 at Sloth, Megatunes and Melodiya.
to be 10 times as cool as the next average
7:30 p.m., except Mon., Sep 24. Matt Good plays the Jack Singer
Tickets are $15 to $52.50 at The Blue Man Group blow into the Concert Hall on Tue., Sep. 25
person.
Ticketmaster. Corral on Fri., Sep. 21 at 8 p.m. at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.50 to (Note: Most Gauntlet volunteers are actually
Tickets are $50 to $85 at $34.50 at Ticketmaster. lizard people)
The Downstage Performance Ticketmaster. 2. Student Appreciation Night. If you love
Society’s Dog from the Machine: All That Remains and guests roll into beer, the cheaper-than-usual pitchers are like
Arm’s Length Embrace begins this Dance the night away with Marco V the Warehouse on Tue., Sep. 25 manna from the heavens.
week at the Vertigo Theatre Centre. and guests at the Underground at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19 at Sloth 3. Visit the library. There’s a big tower full of
Shows start Sep. 20–22 and 25–26 at Fri., Sep. 21. Tickets are $15 at Records or Megatunes. books in the middle of the campus. They
8 p.m. with a show on Sun, Sep. 23 Giant 45, Underground Clothing and
yearn to be read—by you.
at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $20 at Ticketmaster. Doors are open from The Calgary Burlesque Collective
4. That Empty Space! Free concerts, three-
www.downstage.ca 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. the next morning. play with Tara Lee Combs at the
Hi-Fi Club Tue., Sep. 25 at 8 p.m.
dollar cans of beer, and contests where you
Theatre Calgary’s The Wars occupies Greg MacPherson rocks the Liberty can watch your fellow students embarrass
the Max Bell Theatre Sep. 20-26 at Lounge on Fri., Sep. 21 at 9:30 p.m. Boys Night Out take to the themselves. It doesn’t get any better.
7:30 p.m. Tickets are $33 to $60 at Tickets are $5 at the door. Warehouse stage on Wed., Sep. 26
Ticketmaster
Local boys The Dudes, and Hot
at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15.50 at Sloth
Records and Megatunes
MISC.
CONCERTS Little Rocket play the Warehouse Every Thursday at the Den is The Alpha Kappa Psi Boy/Girl Bands
Dave Simpson and guests play a on Sat., Sep. 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets are SPORTS Student Appreciation Night. Beer Gone Wild Cabaret is at the Den. on
free show at the Liberty Lounge, $14 can be bought at Megatunes or The Dinos male soccer team play pitchers are cheaper, and alcohol Fri., Sep. 21. Proceeds are going to
Thu., Sep. 20 at 9 p.m. Sloth Records. this weekend! On Sat., Sep. 22 runs freely. charity, so you can legitimize your
the Dinos take to the West Varsity drinking problem!
Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers Headbangers delight as the Metal Soccer Pitch at 2:15 p.m. against the If you’ve joined a club in the past
and The Smokin’ 45s roll into Broken Blade 25th Anniversary Tour shreds fearsome fighting fiends from week, then check out the Clubs Garfield doesn’t like the Mondays,
City at Thu., Sep. 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets its way through MacEwan Hall on Fraser Valley. They play against the Week BBQ at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Your but he’d love Mundane Mondays
at Sloth, Megatunes and Melodiya. Sun., Sep. 23 at 6 p.m. wicked Trinity Western Sun., Sep. new club friends will be there, and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in That Empty
Headliners include Cannibal 23 on the West Varsity Soccer Pitch you can watch the Young Liberals Space. Get your brain ready and
Greg MacPherson and Brock Zemon Corpse, Black Dahlia Murder and at 2:15 p.m. Both games are free for and the Young Conservatives bitch engaged with free coffee and free
and The Dirty Hands will you wash Goatwhore. Tickets can be bought at students, so go cheer on our Dinos! at one another. newspapers.
away at That Empty Space, from Ticketmaster for $29.50.
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Cheer for the Calgary Flames as they Come to a Gauntlet Volunteer Cinemania continues with the skull-
Jethro Tull takes to the Jubillee take on the hated Edmonton Oilers Meeting in Mac Hall 319 on crushing 300 in Science Theatres
Burning Borders and Cold Drive rock Auditorium stage on Mon., Sep. 24 in the Battle of Alberta, on Sat., Sep. Fri., Sep. 21 at 2 p.m.! Meet the 148 Mon., Sep. 24 at 6:30 p.m. and
the Underground Fri., Sep. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.50 to 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $245 people who make your favourite 9:00 p.m. Free with student ID, and
at 9 p.m. Tickets at the door. $79.50 at Ticketmaster. at Ticketmaster. student paper! two-dollar bags of popcorn!