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China does not need the Occupy Movement

By
Peak Web
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2

July 8 2013 Option B edit copy

I’m not joking around when it comes to the betterment of my people. My point here is this: Instead of waiting for the global revolution to reach China, China should spark its own revolution, but without pledging absolute allegiance to the global revolution started by Occupy Wall Street.

My primary reason, drawn after so many years of being a social activist, is that not everything promoted by Occupy Wall Street is best for China. While this may sound disturbingly familiar with the Communist Party’s sour excuse for rejecting the division of power or universal suffrage, I’m merely trying to fight against the Communist Party over the power to speak.

Let me give you an example of how this breaks down categorically: I’m all about the division of power and universal suffrage, but the abolishment of state? Sorry, but no.

Many activists who grew up in China understand that, after 65 years of the Communist Party regime, the morals of the Chinese people in mainland China have been all but destroyed. Moreover, those good old virtues — like “saving a life is more powerful than building a seven-level tower of worship” — are now nothing but fragments laying in ruins.

That’s dominantly, if not entirely, why in China there’s Sudan Red in ketchups, Malachite Green in fish, gutter oil in cooking oil, “formula” powder with no protein, you name it.

Without a state to restore and re-establish the virtues that govern our people, even after the Communist Party regime is overthrown, the entirety of mainland China will fall into disorder rather than becoming a better place. This proves why the abolishment of state, strongly promoted by Occupy Wall Street, is no good for Chinese people.

Not only are many theories of Occupy Wall Street not suitable for China, but neither is its common practise of alienation suitable for China. For an activist, being arrested by the police may not scare you, but getting fired at by your supposed comrades breaks your heart into pieces.

Last week, Occupy Wall Street disheartened us again by saying: “If petitions changed anything, they would be illegal.” What this says is that all those who start and / or sign petitions are good-for-nothing wimps. True, protests are important, but do you absolutely have to do this to those who have their own legitimate concerns for attending protests themselves?

Activism is on a dangerous crash course, because activists are
firing at each other rather than at the 1 per cent, and this saddens me. But what saddens me more is that alienation by Occupy Wall Street is becoming such common practice.

Given that the most vital task for Chinese revolutionists is to unite the Chinese people, which have already been divided big time by the Communist Party — meaning a united anti-CCP force would die out before it could be formed — can Occupy Wall Street’s practise of alienation do any good for either the Chinese revolution or the Chinese people? Absolutely not.

I’ll stop here because I’ve made my point clear. Of course, if you’d like to help or join our revolution, feel free to do so and I’ll still request a blood chit on it for you. However, if you want to crusade into China with your Occupy Wall Street doctrines, please don’t. You don’t even know what you’re doing.

SFU Food Bank to undergo radical changes

By
EIC
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3

WEB-Food bank-Leah Bjornson

Over the past 20 years, the SFU Food Bank has provided undergraduate students with much-needed groceries and nutrition information in difficult times. However, recent challenges such as insufficient storage and lack of knowledge may bring an end to the current system.

The issue was brought to the attention of the SFSS by Student Services, which manages the administration and coordination of the Food Bank. Student Services cited problems such as issues of waste, inadequate cold storage which results in an inability to store fresh food, and a lack of knowledge of best practices.

According to the SFSS — which funds the Food Bank — Student Services would like to be out of the distribution business by Sept 1 this year. The Peak attempted to contact the Food Bank Coordinator, but received no reply.

Despite these concerns, neither group is looking to abandon the food bank program; instead, they are approaching the issue with enthusiasm. “We at the Food Bank Working Group like to see the proposed changes as an opportunity as opposed to a challenge, because there are definitely issues with current the food bank,” spoke Chardaye Bueckert, SFSS External Relations Officer. “There’s many challenges around accessing a food service, and that’s something we need to change.”

Currently, the Food Bank is accessible to any SFU undergraduate student in need; yet, it is only used by 75 students per semester out of a total population of 20,000. Bueckert feels that the lack of knowledge surrounding eligibility and accessibility is one of the biggest challenges that the SFSS and SS are currently facing.

“You don’t want to exclude anyone who needs [help] by establishing firm criteria, but when it’s very vague and open it’s also difficult to know who is eligible,” said Bueckert. “Some people may think that you need to be in dire straights, whereas if you only have a small grocery budget and you need to stretch it out, maybe it is appropriate to use it. We need to come up with some clear branding to let people know that it’s okay to go there if they are in need.”

Although both partners agree that change is needed, Student Services and the SFSS do not agree on which path to take. SS is hoping to switch from a distributive to an education and referral based model, where students in need would be referred to a food bank off campus. A similar referral-based model has recently been implemented at SFU Surrey Campus, with relative success.

In contrast, the SFSS does not feel that such promise would be found at SFU Burnaby; the closest community Food Bank is located in Port Moody, a 40-50 minute transit ride away. Instead, the SFSS is looking to pursue other logistical models to create “a high quality, accessible, stigma free service where any student who identifies as having a need to access a food service is able to do that,” according to Bueckert.

In this pursuit, the SFSS has struck a working group to consider the various options available, which include a voucher program and a food hamper system. Bueckert spoke to the benefits of the voucher program, saying, “We’re lucky to have a lot of food services on campus, even a grocery store, so that’s a huge benefit to students . . . they would have access ideally to fresh foods and hot foods, meat, dairy, produce, things we couldn’t provide under the current Food Bank.”

As an additional benefit, the SFSS and Student Services would not have to be involved in the actual food distribution and storage, relieving a huge administrative burden. Although a food hamper solution is also being considered, it would require coordination similar to the current system.

These are only some of the many solutions that are being considered by the SFSS working group. “We don’t want to narrow in too specifically before we get feedback from the community at large because there might be some really new, innovative things that could be presented so we don’t want to close the door to any of these possibilities,” commented Bueckert.

To facilitate this, the working group is organizing a feedback survey that will be distributed to the entire student population. Students will have a period of two weeks to reply, with responses coming in until the Food Bank Stakeholder Representative Focus Group takes place on July 19. The working group is confident that this event, which will be attended by representatives from SFPIRG, the GSS, SFU Health and Counselling, and various rotunda groups, will result in an SFU Food Bank solution.

Bueckert concluded, “No matter what, we want a food service on campus.”

Rolling in the steep

By
EIC
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0

CMYK-Tea001

On a day much like today, Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was casually drinking a bowl of hot water when, out of nowhere, a tea leaf fluttered into his bowl. He sipped this new brew and decided he could definitely get on board, subsequently ordering the mass planting of tea bushes.

Tea was introduced to the west at the beginning of the 17th century by Dutch and Portuguese sailors, then to North America about 100 years later.

Almost 5000 years since its discovery, the tea scene has changed a lot. Starbucks is cashing in and every other day we seem to be bombarded with new studies about how skinny you’re going to be if you just drink green tea. Hell, there’s even a political movement that’s all about the mighty leaf (that’s what the Tea Party is about, right?).

Tea leaves have been used in contexts from medicinal to fortune telling, and it is currently so popular that it is second only to water in world consumption. What is it that makes this beverage so popular?

Michael Menashy, co-founder of local company Tea Sparrow, has been drinking tea since childhood, but his passion grew when he was walked through a traditional brewing ceremony in China. Since then, he has made tea his life — and the man knows his tea.

“The biggest thing I would recommend is to experiment,” he says. “Once we discover a tea we like, we try brewing it several different ways to find the perfect cup. Take the etiquette out of tea and have fun. Personalize the experience and find your own love.

“It is totally awesome!” concludes Menashy. “The range of taste and flavours and the incredible benefits that come with tea crush the other daily beverages on the market.” Drink a type of tea you’ve never tried before or drink it over ice. Dress up and have a tea party — the Alice in Wonderland type, not the political movement. Menashy also suggests having fun with tea by pairing it with alcohol and making tea cocktails (my kind of a guy).

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Green tea has been established as being the healthy thing to drink. We all know that: it fights cancer, heart disease, lowers cholesterol, and the list goes on.

Black teas such as Earl Grey don’t get as much of a rep as their green counterparts, but they have a lot of the same benefits, not to mention immunity boosting. The caffeine provides more energy and less jitters than coffee.

Likewise, jasmine tea is derived from green tea and so it has many of the same benefits, but is also considered one of the best natural stress-reducers, and works to lower blood pressure. Maybe consider drinking that instead of Timmy’s XL coffees next exam period (a real “do as I say, not as I do” moment here). Its popularity is also linked to its benefits for the skin.

The less popular white teas actually have more antioxidants than some of their other counterparts, mainly because the tea leaves are less disturbed when picked. They’re also nature’s Colgate. Or Crest. Or, if you’re a broke student, whatever no-name-brand toothpaste is on sale.

Sometimes we just can’t handle anymore caffeine so peppermint is the answer, really refreshing and comforting when you’ve had so much espresso you can’t hold a pen. It aids in digestion, helps headaches and pains associated with PMS, and lowers fevers — among other things. Basically, if something’s hurting, peppermint tea is the way to go.

Rooibos (roy-bos) is another caffeine-free option. I provide the pronunciation because I felt judged by the Starbucks baristas when I said “the one that starts with R,” and I would not wish this upon anyone else. This tasty bad-boy contains different antioxidants than, say, green tea, and it fights off the cardiovascular and liver disease that you’re probably bringing upon yourself in your university years. It is also known to lower blood pressure.

Yerba Mate is the new kid on the health nut block and is often cited as being a healthier alternative to coffee, controlling appetite, detoxifying blood, and boosting immunity.

Chamomile was always the go-to that my grandmother would suggest when I was feeling sick. Turns out, it’s not just an old wives tale — this tea is perhaps the most medicinal of all. Not only does it boost the immune system and fight off infections and colds, it also soothes the stomach, aids in muscle spasms and menstrual cramps, reduces inflammation, and relieves back pain. Not enough for you? It boosts liver function and is used as a sleep aid.

The craziest part? This isn’t even an exhaustive list of all the types of teas, or of their health benefits. As tea enthusiast Alice explains — while clutching a steaming mug of vanilla rooibos, “Tea will always be there for you. Whether you’re stressed, tired, upset, or just trying to kill time, tea’s got your back.”

CMYK-Tea002

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Green Iced Tea
1 Lemon Tea Bag (also try Lemon Ginger)
3 oz. fresh Cucumber Juice (or cucumber slices for the same refreshing results)
1 1/2 oz. Tequila
Splash of Lemon Juice

Steps
Steep tea with tequila for a half hour, then remove tea bag. Combine and stir ingredients. Serve on ice, garnish with lime wedge.

 

Hot Tottie
Okay, not a summer drink, but if you’ve got a cold, this will clear it up! 

3/4 cup black tea (e.g. Earl Grey)
1 ½ oz whiskey
Squirt of lemon
Teaspoon of honey
Cinnamon stick

Steps
Steep black tea. Add lemon and honey. Add whiskey last, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

 

Long Island Iced Tea*
Makes two drinks

2 cups ice cubes
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce gin
1 ounce white rum
1 ounce white tequila
1/2 ounce Triple Sec
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup Coka
2 lemon wedges

Steps
Shake vodka, gin, rum, tequila, Triple Sec, lemon juice, and ice in cocktail shaker. Pour mixture and top off with the cola. Garnish with lemon wedges. Serve.

*Not actually a tea. Whatever.

 

 

Five Rejected SUB Designs Revealed!

By
EIC
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0

Although Build SFU has already selected an architect for the university’s new SUB building, their encouragement for public involvement in its design has led them to receive a number of proposals and sketches from SFU students and other weirdos. Here’s a look at some of those designs.

 

1) The “Student Union Bunker” (by  Tom Bartowski)

bunker

Fearing a much darker world just on the horizon, Bartowski’s SUB proposal was intended to give students a central place on campus to just hang out, grab some food, nap, participate in recreational activities and escape the risk of being killed by the constant aerial attacks from our enemies. Bartowski envisioned the Student Union Bunker as a simple concrete structure that wouldn’t be flashy or over-the-top and would definitely fit in well with the school’s current architecture.

Features: 

– Food court with multiple non-perishable food options.

– Blast and nuclear radiation protection

– Air Conditioning

Projected Cost: 

$65 million (adjusted for WW3 inflation)

Reason it was rejected: 

The concept did not include a space for a Booster Juice location.

 

2) The “MR. SUB SUB” (by MR. SUB)

mrsub

Promising to heavily fund the building’s construction if their design was selected, MR. SUB’s SUB design was pretty much just to build a giant version of a MR.SUB restaurant. According to MR. SUB, their SUB would be a central place where SFU students could hang-out and do everything university students love, including and limited to eating MR. SUB sandwiches.

Features: 

– Assorted Cold Cuts

– Maple Baked Ham

– Meatball

Projected Cost: 

$49.99 million or $79.99 million for SUB/Stadium Combo (includes free medium drinking fountain)

Reason it was rejected: 

Build SFU’s long-standing feud with MR. SUB.

 

 3) The “Student Union Stargate” (by the ‘Students for Sci-Fi TV Show Filming on Campus Now’ Society)

stargate

Hoping to inspire the return of the Stargate franchise to TV and make sure SFU is a key filming location, the SSFTSFCNS’s design was to be built an exact recreation of the show’s central plot device, an actual Stargate. According to its designers, the SUS would reduce the CGI costs for any potential Stargate reboots, making SFU an even more desirable filming location and would also allow students to be instantaneously transported to other universities light years away and go to their SUBs instead of building our own.

Features: 

– Wormhole area

– An information plaque about Stargate: SG1

– Our very own Richard Dean Anderson

Projected Cost: 

65 million Shesh’ta (Read: Joke Submission)

Reason it was rejected: 

Build SFU just never really got into Stargate.

 

4) The “Trump SUB” (by Donald Trump)

Trump

With a new tower on the way in Vancouver, the Trump corporation’s SUB proposal hoped, to expand the Donald’s power in Vancouver. The buildings actual dimensions or content were unclear however, with Trump simply writing that it would be “bigger and taller and fancier than any other SUB in the world.”

Features: 

– Giant “TRUMP” logos on every wall

– Solid gold foosball tables

– Instead of a football stadium, a 7,000 meter 18-hole golf course will be built after the destruction of all trees and other buildings at SFU

Projected Cost: 

“More expensive than any SUB in the world”

Reason it was rejected: 

Trump refused to allow Build SFU to see the long-form version of his blueprints.

 

5) The “Studunt Unin Bilding” (by Josh, Age 6)

Kidsub

The concept by the youngest designer and also most likely person to actually get to use the completed SUB building, was intended as a place where “kids culd go hav fun” between classes. Along with the sketches, the proposal also included some of Josh’s absolute favourite rocks.

Features: 

– Ice cream ferris wheel

– Video games

– Meatball

Projected Cost: 

$5 (Kids say the darndest things)

Reason it was rejected: 

Josh backed out of a potential deal after a lengthy debate concerning the “ice cream ferris wheel.”

SFU rises in world university rankings

By
EIC
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0

Screen shot 2013-07-05 at 12.19.33 PM

SFU is now ranked number 26 in the world among 100 worldwide universities under 50 years old, according to the recently released 2013 Times Higher Education 100 Rankings.

The 26th spot marks a four spot jump from 2012, when SFU came in at number 30. The rankings for younger universities allow those institutions that aren’t as well established or known to be evaluated separately from their older cousins. According to the Times Higher Education website, the ranking “provides a glimpse into the future, showcasing not those institutions with centuries of history, but the rising stars which show great potential.”

On a national scale, SFU was the third highest ranked among Canadian universities under 50, with the University of Calgary at number 23 and the University of Victoria the highest ranked Canadian university at the 20th spot. The top ranked American university on the list the University of California, Irvine, in fifth place. First place was given to a South Korean institution, the Pohang University of Science and Technology.

Times Higher Education, a U.K. based ranking system, uses the same 13 performance indicators as the World University Rankings, with the methodology revamped to reflect the characteristics of the younger universities. Namely, the ranking for younger schools puts less weight on academic reputation and more to research volume, income, and reputation.

In the World University Rankings, the weighting given to the reputation of an institution is given a third of the university’s overall score, but the Times Higher Education has reduced that to just over a fifth, and given the largest chunks to research, citations (research influence), and teaching, all three at 30 per cent of the overall score.

The Peak spoke with Dr. Norbert Haunerland, SFU’s Association Vice-President of Research, about the significance of the shift in methodology.

“Increasingly, those rankings look at some objective indicators as well,” Haunerland explained. “Research funding is one thing, research output, number of papers . . . but particularly Times Higher Education started looking at what you do with your research, what impact you have, and one way to measure impact is how many people read your paper and cite them in other publications with citation analysis, and that counts a lot in Times Higher Education.”

Research is something that SFU does well. While a smaller institution and fairly young in the scheme of things — we’ll be celebrating our 50th birthday in 2015, the same year UBC turns 100 — Haunerland went on to say that SFU’s research and number of citations (the number of times an SFU publication is cited in another work) are impressive.

“We’re certainly on the right track,” Haunerland said. “I think over the last decade we tripled our research income and we are certainly doing well in terms of publication output and impact, like citations. Even in non-medical disciplines in terms of research dollars per faculty member, [we’re doing] better than some of the U15 universities.”  The U15 is a group of the 15 leading research-intensive universities in Canada, headed by the University of Alberta, UBC, and the University of Calgary.

Haunerland speculated that SFU’s high impact and influence as an institution may be because of the university’s focus on working with the community. “We are among the Canadian universities who take a different approach towards knowledge translation, [putting knowledge into practice],” said Haunerland. “We work very intimately with industrial and community partners, much more than other universities. The engaged university is not only a university, it’s something we mean.”

Word on the Street: Roberto Luongo

By
EIC
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0

Really insulted, they basically just told him that they have no confidence in him as their top backup goalie . . .

Cliff Connors, Grew up idolizing Corey Hirsch

I’d just try to keep my head above water, I mean, at least I’m not playing in Calgary . . .

Diane Clarke, Optimistic but terrible person

Rich, I guess.

Sam Moore, Currently not rich

Pretty stupid, I wouldn’t even know how to pronounce my own name!

Ernie Smith, Currently not Italian

I’d feel like I need a haircut.

Norman Peters, Not seeing the full picture

Victory Square hosts Stop Harper Rally

By
EIC
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0

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

This past Canada Day, not all was patriotic fireworks and maple leaf face tattoos. The Stop Harper Day Rally took place in Vancouver’s Victory Square, between noon and 2:00 p.m., with several speakers taking the platform to talk about why they find celebrating the national holiday difficult.

The peaceful protest was organized by SmartChange.ca and emceed by Mathew Kagis. The opening address, which lamented what had become of the Indigenous people’s land and home, set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, with special attention to whose Canada was being celebrated.

The first discussion centered on trade unions and the history of worker’s rights. “If [unions] have the life blood cut out from them . . . we will start to live in a very different society,” said Garth Mullins, a long-time social justice advocate and shop steward at Canadian Association of Professional Employees Local 301. “Although a lot of us aren’t in trade unions, or unions of any kind, the trend cannot go further in the other direction. Let’s not race to the bottom.”

Following Mullins was Joey Hartman on behalf of the Vancouver and District Labour Council. Of contemporary labour issues, Hartman said, “We need to find new ways of organizing together, because when we are together we are strong, and the labour movement is our responsibility.”

The podium was graced next by Sofia Lin, 16-year old Vice President for Fair Vote Vancouver, National Liaison to Fair Vote Canada, and co-director for the BC Electoral Project. She outlined what she believes are the problems with our current voting system. “Our parliament is more notably known as ‘male, pale, and stale’ than our society. The lack of diversity, whether age, ethnic interest, gender, or social or cultural affiliations makes our government myopic and unable to think in our best interests.”

The speeches were followed by a poem reading by Slam poet R.C. Weslowski, titled “Why Stephen Harper Hates Funding FFF for the Arts aka FFF Flatulence.” His verses echoed around the city square: “I love sucking on Stephen Harper’s kronk, it tastes like America. Is that a pipeline in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

Weslowski was succeeded by another poet: Stephen Collis, an English literature professor at SFU, who said, “I for one find the nation a problematic idea or category at the best of times.

“The Harper government and its new policies are the leading edge of the new normal,” Collis continued. “We can expect democratic freedoms to continue to be in retreat . . . more austerity, more cuts, more privilege for the elite, and a continuing open season on this country’s natural resources and the Indigenous peoples traditions.”

His poem, titled “13 Ways to Stop Harper,” included lines like: “When the robots call you, know that this is the synthetic voice of creeping totalitarianism, just give the tin can a yank and snap the string.”

The afternoon can best be summarized in Collis’ own words: “Resistance is a matter of daily life; change is something that comes with every step, every breath, and every word. We are the real government and we can govern ourselves just fine.”

Edward Snowden continues to be published by WikiLeaks after yet another rejection from Rolling Stone

By
EIC
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0

SnowdenRollingStones

MOSCOW —  Former NSA worker and notable whistleblower, Edward Snowden, has continued to release top-secret documents about American mass-surveillance through wikileaks.org and has no plans to stop; unless of course he can get something in his favourite magazine, Rolling Stone.

According to Snowden insiders, the young fugitive on the lam has been sending all his writing including top-secrtet security leaks to Rolling Stone, but they’ve all been rejected and he’s had to go to his back-up plan.

“It’s been his life’s dream to write for Rolling Stone but he’s just not getting published there,” explained one anonymous insider close to Snowden. “He’s been settling for WikiLeaks and they’ve been pretty successful, but Rolling Stone still won’t give him the time of day.”

Although Rolling Stone has admitted that they see the value in Snowden’s writing and appreciate his passion, they say they “just don’t publish that kind of content,” and also added on his other submitted writing that “his album reviews just suck.”

Album Reviews: Run the Jewels, Austra, and a throwback to Michael Jackson

By
Peak Web
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0

run-the-jewels-cover

Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels

El-P and Killer Mike have reason to celebrate. The rappers each released knockout LPs last year: El-P’s Cancer 4 Cure (featuring Killer Mike) and Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music (produced by El-P). Their symbiotic relationship is further explored on Run the Jewels, a lushly produced and entertaining collaboration that’s light on the social commentary and heavy on the witty lyrical boasts.

Run the Jewels only runs about 30 minutes — a blip in the world of hip-hop LPs — but its relatively short running time is one of its biggest advantages. Each track on the album is made up of non-stop lyrical flow. El-P and Killer Mike’s emceeing styles have converged over the course of their careers, and the verse-swapping heard on Run the Jewels is as organic as any big-name collaborations of late; I’m looking at you, Watch the Throne.

The cuts on Run the Jewels are as close to classic hip-hop as these rappers get: El-P’s panicky vocal barrage and Killer Mike’s politicized rants are both toned down in favour of old-school bombast. El-P’s production is all percussion and nasally electronics, but he lets the lyrics do the talking.

The duo do allow themselves a moment of sober reflection on album closer “A Christmas Fucking Miracle,” where they wax poetic over their childhoods and offer a fuck-everyone-else message to their listeners. Lines like, “The most impressionable minds get molested and informed by manipulating forces / Don’t fret little man, don’t cry, they can never take the energy you were born with” tell us what El-P doesn’t want us to know: that he’s a big softie.

But by the end of Run the Jewels, the duo deserve to break character. It’s certainly not the strongest effort in the duo’s repertoire, but it is a whole lot of clever, cheeky fun from two of the most talented emcees working today.

 

austra

Austra – Olympia

Olympia is boring. Torontorian electro-pop outfit Austra have never been interested in the subtle approach, and with their sophomore effort they’ve capitalized on a formulaic, no-risks-taken brand of synth pop that suits them well. Their all-too-familiar sound allows for songs like “Home” and album opener “What We Done?” to become instantly recognizable to listeners old and new.

The only aspect of Austra’s sound that sets them apart is singer and songwriter Katie Stelmanis’ booming, Florence Welch-meets-Karen Andersson vocals. Stelmanis is the album’s focal point: entire songs seem custom-fit to her operatic vocal delivery, and her melodramatic croon fits songs like “Fire” and single “Home” perfectly.

But the band overplays its hand: Stelmanis is constantly in the mix, to the point where moments without her feel like much-needed breathing space. Sadly, they also serve to reveal that the instrumentals behind her are uninteresting and contrived.

Olympia has an air of anonymity that the band likely didn’t intend: very little besides Stelmanis’ distinctive singing differentiates Austra from their myriad contemporaries.

The album’s strongest moments often come at a given track’s opening, but these promising introductions — more often than not — give way to plodding, repetitive verses and bland choruses that make three minutes seem like 10. Even the occasional strong riffs, like that of the Depeche Mode-influenced “Reconcile”, quickly become monotonous.

Ultimately, I have to come back to my central argument: Olympia isn’t necessarily a terrible album, but it’s an overwhelmingly boring one. Its sound seems recycled and plagiarized, and its highlights are awash in a sea of unrelenting mediocrity. There are a whole lot of albums that sound like Olympia. Listen to one of those instead.

 

MICHAEL-JACKSON-Thrillerfrontal

Michael Jackson – Thriller

 

How strange it must have been to grow up as Michael Jackson. Having been in the public eye since the age of six as a member of The Jackson 5, MJ grew up under the draconian rule of his father and manager Joe Jackson. Through whippings and name calling, Jackson was taught that failure comes at a price.

His obsession with success carried on well into his solo career, when his debut Off the Wall — despite selling over 20 million copies — failed to make Album of the Year. “It can never happen again,” he told his manager, John Branca. He was determined to make an album that would launch him into superstardom.

With the help of Quincy Jones, his producer and a fellow perfectionist, he banked countless studio hours recording and re-recording take after take. The diet rock-and-roll of “Beat It,” the horror-movie pastiche of “Thriller” and the not-quite-disco of “P.T.Y. (Pretty Young Thing)” are anything but spontaneous: each vocal tic and glossy instrumental is meticulously crafted to appeal to the broadest audience as possible.

In this sense, Thriller can be read as the work of a master salesman. Jackson’s androgynous persona, likable R&B-infused pop and cinematic music videos quickly turned Thriller into a cultural phenomenon.

The nine tracks on the album — seven of which charted on Billboard’s Top 10 — never seem to coalesce into anything more than a singles collection. But this does little to undermine the album’s legendary status: Jackson’s flawless vocal performance and Jones’ squeaky-clean production make Thriller an enjoyable and occasionally brilliant, if a little dated, pop album.

MJ got his wish: Thriller is still the best-selling album worldwide, and will preserve Jackson’s reputation long after his endless lawsuits and PR missteps are forgotten. Its highlights might be overstated and its hits overplayed, but Thriller still has the charming, alluring quality that once made it so significant.

Peak Week July 8 – 13

By
Peak Web
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0

Totoro2

Eats

The Mighty Oak is a little neighbourhood grocery store, located on West 18th Ave. They carry various grocery items like J.R. Liggett’s Old-Fashioned Shampoo, jars of mustards and oils, tomato sauces, pasta, pounds of coffee beans and more. They’re also a cafe, so you can grab an espresso and almond croissant while grabbing things for dinner. Also be sure to check out their supply of local provisions, like Earnest Ice Cream and The Pie Hole.

Beats

Looking for something to do Friday night? Check out East Van Soul Club at the Biltmore on July 12. The night features soul-obsessed two-man DJ crew Slim Roy and Jonny Was, with their legendary vinyl-only dance party. Dress nice and get there early, as these nights tend to fill up pretty quick. You’re guaranteed a night of cutting rugs, plus tickets are only $7 at the door.

Theats

Studio Ghibli is back at the Cinematheque this summer! The world-renowned anime studio was founded in Tokyo in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. The studio has produced well-known films such as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle. This week, catch Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Only Yesterday, My Neighbour Totoro, or Kiki’s Delivery Service. The Studio Ghibli films will be showing until August 5, so you’ve got plenty of chances to catch a few screenings. Check out thecinematheque.ca for the full schedule.

Elites

Upcycled Urbanism: A Design+Build Project for Everyone, as part of Granville Street Build Day, is coming July 13. Hosted in part by the Museum of Vancouver, the project invites students, artists, designers, makers, and anyone else interested in reimagining Vancouver’s public realm. Design teams have been working on new “environments” made of polystyrene blocks and will come together on July 13 in downtown Vancouver for a combination workspace, street celebration, and public art installation. For more details, check out museumofvancouver.ca.

Treats

On July 13, Aloe Designs will be hosting a yard sale at their Pender St. studio to support the Richmond Schoolyard society, which helps teach children about gardening. The garden-themed yard sale will feature gardening books, hand and power tools, outdoor furniture, lawn toys, and decorative accessories. They’re also taking donations prior to the sale, so contact them if you’ve got something you’d like to contribute. Check aloedesigns.com for more info.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us:
[email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024