WEB EXCLUSIVE: NFL Blitz with Jason Romisher

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September 8, 2016

keith-allison-flickr — Russell Wilson will be scrambling a lot this weekend against the Dolphins.

The first week of classes often means something far greater than the academic concerns of SFU students. That’s because it’s week one of the National Football League! This week and every week during the season, I will be predicting the outcome of each NFL game and giving you some insights on all the games to catch you up in between your study sessions and party plans.

Carolina at Denver, Thursday 5:30 p.m.

In a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl, the Panthers will still have no answer for the fearsome Denver pass rush featuring Demarcus Ware and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. Carolina will play better but Trevor Siemian does just enough to get the Broncos the win.

Prediction: Denver 24 Carolina 17

Minnesota at Tennessee, Sunday 10 a.m.

Who will start at quarterback for Minnesota — newly acquired Sam Bradford or journeyman backup Shaun Hill? Doesn’t matter when you have a great defence and Adrian Peterson.

Prediction: Minnesota 20 Tennessee 16

Chicago at Houston, Sunday 10 a.m.

Brock Osweiler is not good. The Houston defence is though. Houston wins in a close one.

Prediction: Houston 17 Chicago 14

Cleveland at Philadelphia, Sunday 10 a.m.

You heard it here first: the Eagles will be really bad this year. Losing to Cleveland at home bad.

Prediction: Cleveland 31 Philadelphia 3

Buffalo at Baltimore, Sunday 10 a.m.

The Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999. Joe Flacco has a Super Bowl Ring but little elite talent around him. It is Buffalo’s time to shine.

Prediction: Buffalo 38 Baltimore 14

San Diego at Kansas City, Sunday 10 a.m.

Kansas City is a really solid team with or without Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs will win convincingly.

Prediction: Kansas City 24 San Diego 16

Oakland at New Orleans, Sunday 10 a.m.

Oakland is a trendy playoff pick this season. Winning on the road in the Superdome against Sean Payton and Drew Brees; not yet silver and black faithful.

Prediction: New Orleans 31 Oakland 30

Tampa Bay at Atlanta, Sunday 10 a.m.

Tampa Bay made big strides in Jameis Winston’s rookie year and Doug Martin has the best nickname in sports: the muscle hamster.

Prediction: Tampa Bay 28 Atlanta 20

Cincinnati at New York Jets, Sunday 10 a.m.

Is this the year Cincinnati finally implodes? Oh wait, that happened last year in the playoffs against Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Jets 24 Cincinnati 20

Green Bay at Jacksonville, Sunday 10 a.m.

I know Jacksonville is trending upward but I cannot in good conscience pick a team quarterbacked by Blake Bortles to beat one led by Aaron Rodgers.

Prediction: Green Bay 27 Jacksonville 24

Miami at Seattle, Sunday 1:05 p.m.

Upset special! Sorry, Seahawks fans. Seattle has a remade offensive line and is facing a dominant Miami defensive front. Dolphins’ coach Adam Gase is a quarterback guru who will get the most out of Ryan Tannehill.

Prediction: Miami 20 Seattle 17

Detroit at Indianapolis, Sunday 1:25 p.m.

Boring. Two bad teams from a year ago face off with the most talented player on both teams sitting on the couch retired. Why Calvin Johnson, why?

Prediction: Detroit 19 Indianapolis 17

New England at Arizona, Sunday 5:30 p.m.

This would be the game of the week if Tom Brady was not suspended for the “deflategate” nonsense. Jimmy Garoppolo will demonstrate why Bill Belichick should only coach as long as Brady is his pivot.

Prediction: Arizona 24 New England 10

Pittsburgh at Washington, Monday 4:10 p.m.

Washington made the playoffs last year because they played in the worst division in football. The Steelers made it because that is what the Steelers do. This year Pittsburgh is better and once again a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 42 Washington 23

Los Angeles at San Francisco, Monday 7:20 p.m.

The last game of the week features two teams with very little hope of making the postseason in 2016. This game is worth watching to see how many players join Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem and what the crowd’s reaction will be if the backup quarterback is pressed into action.

Prediction: Los Angeles 17 San Francisco 9

Game of the Week:

New York Giants at Dallas, Sunday 1:25 p.m.

Oh baby! The Cowboys drafted a hotshot running back fourth overall and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has sizzled in the preseason. Meanwhile, the Giants drafted another stud receiver in Sterling Shepard to play alongside standout Odell Beckham Jr. Prescott will show he is the real deal, but Eli Manning will lead another dramatic fourth quarter comeback hitting oft-injured receiver Victor Cruz for the winning score.

Prediction: Giants 34 Cowboys 31

SFU football loses to Division I Idaho State 47–3

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EIC

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September 8, 2016

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web-football-austin-cozicar — Ante Litre (#44), seen here in action last season, finished with six carries and two yards of offence

The beginning of a new season is supposed to be a fresh start for any sports team. Unfortunately, it was more of the same for Kelly Bates and SFU football in the beginning of their new campaign. The Clan lost 47–3 to the Idaho State University Bengals. The team is 0–1 to start the 2016 season.

“I think we showed that we are a very young team, especially on offence,” said head coach Kelly Bates to The Peak. “We fought hard to the end of the game, but eventually, our defence just gave way to injuries and the pounding in what was evident, which was they had a very large offensive line and defensive line.”

“Our run game isn’t where it needs to be, and a lot of that was execution.”

The team’s youth was evident in the penalties taken. Perhaps the most crushing one was the delay of game taken early in the second quarter. The score was still 7–0, and a touchdown there could have tied it up and made for an interesting game. Instead, SFU left points on the board and the Bengals scored 19 more points in the half.

Injuries and the running game also were issues during the game. Running back Ante Litre, receiver Tom Franklin, and defensive lineman Kyle Wilson all went down with injuries during the game and the team is waiting on reports from the team doctor according to Bates. The running game was stagnant, to say the least, as the team finished with -22 yards rushing, actually losing more yards running the ball than they gained.

“Our run game isn’t where it needs to be, and a lot of that was execution,” explained Bates. “I know the guys saw on film that if we carry out our jobs the way we know we can from a technique perspective, there were more yards out there.”

Positives from this game include the play of Miles Richardson. The new starting quarterback looked calm under centre in his first game with the team.

“He’s very good with his ball placement, when he goes through his progression of reads and decides to put it out there he puts it in a good spot most of the time,” said Bates. “[. . .] The other [thing] that was promising with Miles was his ability to make plays with his feet. His accuracy in throwing when he was on the run was pretty good. It’s still a learning process for him, [and] it’s a learning process for everyone.”

The other was the play of the defence. Despite giving up 47 points, their play impressed Bates and his coaching staff.

“I was very proud of the defence and the way they stuck in there, the way they played. They made some big plays, four turnovers is huge, [and] the sacks that we had. Our defence gives us tremendous hope going forward. Now our offence has got [to] start to pick it up.”

SFU’s first home game is September 17 against Humboldt State at Swangard Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

An unforgettable debut for forward Emma Pringle

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EIC

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September 7, 2016

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Simon Fraser University - University of British Columbia Women's Exhibition Soccer — Pringle scored two goals in the span of seven minutes in her first match for the Clan.

It was a night that won’t soon be forgotten by Emma Pringle and supporters of SFU women’s soccer. On her NCAA debut, the freshman from North Vancouver scored two goals to lead her team to a 2–0 victory over the Academy of Art. Both goals came in spectacular fashion.

“She was incredible, driving play all over the field,” head coach Annie Hamel told SFU Athletics. “When you have a freshman who can come in and give a performance like that, especially in her debut, you get excited. She has a very bright future.”

The first half was all SFU. They peppered the Academy of Art defence with an incredible 15 shots, eight of which were on target and had to be saved by the opposing goalkeeper. Despite all the pressure and dominance, SFU had no goals to show for it at the 45-minute mark.

Once the second half started, the Clan were finally rewarded for their efforts. In the 50th minute, Emma Pringle scored her first of two on the night. Picking the ball up 30 yards out, she dribbled a few yards before unleashing an absolute screamer into the top left corner, leaving the Academy of Art goalkeeper no chance to stop it.

She wasn’t done there. Just seven minutes later, a cross was lobbed in by Christina Dickson into the six-yard box. Waiting for it was Pringle, who was all alone and calmly headed the ball into the back of the net. SFU added another 10 shots after that, bringing up their total to an incredible 27 on the night.

The play of SFU’s defence was equally impressive. The combination of Allyson Dickson, Emma Lobo, Carli Grosso, and Teagan Sorokan only allowed two shots the entire night, making life easy for goalkeeper Priya Sandhu.

Looking towards the future, Pringle brings some much-needed attacking prowess to the Clan. Outside of Christina Dickson, SFU did not have a player who could be counted on to score goals for the team. Pringle, at least very early on, seems to be doing that. In a previous interview with The Peak, coach Hamel noted that she was looking for Pringle to “complement Christina [Dickson] and Monnie [Heer],” but after this performance, she may become the focal point of the SFU attack.

The Clan’s next home game is September 24 against defending GNAC champions Western Washington. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m.

Album Reviews

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Peak Web

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September 6, 2016

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By: Max James Hill, Courtney Miller, and Justin Stevens

Blonde by Frank Ocean

Don’t believe anyone who tells you Channel Orange is better than Blonde. Where the former was bombastic and groovy, Frank Ocean’s latest is quiet and melancholy, more of a bedroom record than a dancehall one.

As it turns out, it’s a good look for Ocean. Blonde’s subtle charm and layered musicality reveal themselves on multiple listens. It’s the most experimental album the singer has ever released, but it’s also the most nakedly emotional, trading the upfront politicality of records like Lemonade and To Pimp a Butterfly for smaller, more intimate stories of love and loss. Standout tracks like “Ivy” and “Solo” show a side of Ocean that we’ve rarely seen, and recall some of the best moments from his previous records, like “Novacane” and “Bad Religion.”

Blonde may not have been the album that fans anticipated, but in a way it’s the one we needed: a beautiful and understated masterpiece in miniature. It was worth the wait. –MJH

The Name by SonReal

The latest album from artist SonReal is nothing short of a stimulating ride for the senses. At just five songs with a 15-minute runtime, the Vernon native makes the most of his time on the mic with an EP that’s short, sweet, and delightfully entertaining.

The Name starts guns blazing with “Can I Get a Witness,” a jovial diddy that hypnotizes with an addictive singalong chorus. Jazzy tracks “No Warm Up” and “Hot Air Balloon” dabble in a CeeLo Green-esque style, but still remain distinctive.

The album is not without its hang-ups, though. SonReal loses gas midway through with a love song that neither dazzles nor bores. It also concludes with “Soho,” a stylistically jarring track that doesn’t belong — even as bonus track.

But at $4.99, it’s definitely worth the purchase and the listen. –JS

Home of the Strange by Young the Giant

Young the Giant’s alt-indie rock is back for another round on their third album Home of the Strange. “Amerika” is a strong opener, simultaneously showcasing the talent we’ve come to love and stating that there are still many great things to come from this band.

My favourite track is “Something to Believe In.” Sameer Gadhia’s vocal range is elegantly showcased in an anthem about the struggle of finding anything to become invested in. In combination with the poignant guitar harmonics, it’s everything you want in a song: talent, rhythm, and meaning.

“Silvertongue” is a close second because it’s a little different than their usual style — a little less rock and a little more R&B — but is amazing nevertheless. And if you want something a little sultrier that builds back to an uptempo track, “Elsewhere” is your song.

Overall, Young the Giant has a beautifully crafted tune for any mood, and turning Home of the Strange up anywhere is a good call. –CM

Your awful summer romances as Pokémon

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Peak Web

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September 6, 2016

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Magikarp

When you were 16, you spent a whole month at summer camp being felt up by the kid with headgear because you understood that he was a secret babe. You knew that beneath that metal prison was a flower waiting to blossom into a hunk with a set of perfectly aligned teeth and a great jawline. Once his headgear was removed though, he realized the superiority of his evolution and stopped flailing around with you and started flirting with other people. On the plus side, though, you are pretty sure he’ll never forget your Dragon Rage — not with a scar that big.

Snorlax

There was that sweaty summer, the one where you and your boyfriend snacked hard. The two of you dared to explore a whole world of cheesecakes, a universe of candy, and a motherfucking multiverse of chocolate. You quickly gained 60 pounds. Your boobs were awesome that summer. Even though your food-based love was essentially perfect, it eventually dawned on you that sleeping an average of 16 hours per day was pretty unproductive. Also, you were pretty sure your heartbeat was becoming audible.

Bulbasaur

The summer you spent travelling alone through Europe was the summer you met that guy in Amsterdam with whom you smoked a lot of grass. After a month with him, you found yourself becoming a Grass type yourself. You two would do a Petal Dance each night in the sweet and soft light of his lava lamps. After leaving Europe, though, you noticed a strange itching on your own petals — yipes! You didn’t know that he was a poison type!

Slowbro

You hit puberty the summer you turned 13, and your huge boobs made you the most popular girl in school (because misogyny is deeply rooted in the constructs of society). With this newfound power you obtained because of your breasts, you decided to date that dumb beefy jock with the pouty lips because he was older and you assumed older guys were sophisticated. Oh, were you ever wrong. He once asked you what a Burn Heal did, and believed you when you jokingly said that it healed paralysis. When you ran into him again after years had passed, he told you that he recently joined Team Instinct and thought it was the best team of the three. Poor dumb bastard.

Lickitung

Actually, that was a great summer.

BrainDead puts a funny sci-fi twist on American politics

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EIC

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September 6, 2016

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Aspiring documentarian Laurel Healy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) gets mixed up with mind-controlling space ants in *BrainDead*.

By: Vincent Justin Mitra, Peak Associate

Politics in the United States have been rather extreme lately, and it is because mind-controlling space ants have eaten the brains of members of Congress. At least according to BrainDead, a show which premiered in mid-June of this year.

BrainDead, a political science fiction horror dramedy created by Robert and Michelle King (The Good Wife), follows Laurel Healy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an aspiring documentarian, forced to work for her brother, Democratic Senator Luke (Danny Pino) in Washington, D.C. to fund her film. The show also follows Republican Senator Raymond “Red” Wheatus (Tony Shalhoub), who is initially incompetent but, after being infested by the space bugs, is focused, driven, and serves as the primary antagonist from then on.

Things grow even more complicated when Laurel begins a relationship with Gareth Ritter (Aaron Tveit), Red’s chief of staff. The characters also include Rochelle Daudier (Nikki M. James) and Gustav Triplett (Johnny Ray Gill), two scientists investigating the string of head explosions caused by the space bugs.

The show is, at its heart, optimistic. It criticizes extremism on both sides, advocating bipartisanship and cooperation. Both party heads are depicted as satirically extreme after being infested with the bugs: Red is constantly calling for war and encouraging citizens to take up arms, while his Democratic counterpart is shown as caring more for the welfare of cute animals than people.

BrainDead is able to maintain a light-hearted tone despite its horrifying subject matter of politics and insect invasions. Yes, there are brain explosions and paranoia, not to mention the threat of a costly and unnecessary war, but the space bugs also seem to all really enjoy listening to “You Might Think” by the Cars, and every episode begins with a musical recap sung by singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton.

The show’s relevance, in addition to its frequent use of clips, quotes, and homages to the current American election make BrainDead one of the best political satires on television today.

BrainDead airs its season finale on September 11, on Global TV and GlobalTV.com

Woohoo, Boohoo

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EIC

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September 6, 2016

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Woohoo: Gay club

I recently had the fortune to check out a gay club in Vancouver, called the Junction. Going in, I assumed that it’d be like any other Vancouver club, besides a slightly different clientele. However, as I received a stamp on the arm from the topless man at the coat check, it dawned on me that this place was unique.

It wasn’t just the nearly seven-foot-tall drag queens, or the half-naked men on the dance floor sucking face with a passion I wanted to take notes on; it was the utter joy on people’s faces. It was seeing everyone be who they were without compromise. Young, old, straight, gay — the binaries disappeared and partying hard was all that mattered. Security personnel seemed almost ornamental: the space’s safety never felt compromised.

Gay clubs are a beautiful microcosm of love and passion that other nightclubs could stand to emulate more. Not to mention, the one place where you’re guaranteed not to get dry humped without consent.

Boohoo: Nightclub

Looking to spend your hard-earned pay cheque on watered down booze and a night you’ll probably forget? Grab some comfortable kicks and a shirt you don’t mind staining with sweat: it’s time you hit the club.

You’re only one arm-and-a-leg cab ride away, if you can get past the velvet rope and the self-hating bouncer. It’s smooth sailing after that, and all that’s left to do is fork over an overpriced cover charge and coat check fee to get into a club that couldn’t reach maximum occupancy if it tried. But, hey, you’ve thrown $100 down the drain without even trying — you might as well go all the way. Start bumping and grinding to a mix that your 10-year-old cousin on Froot Loops could have mastered better.

To conclude your night of dancing (or a poor excuse of drunken shuffling, whatever), try procuring transportation back home. Have fun forgetting that it’s the taxis with the lights on that are available.

Our student society sucks. Join a club anyways

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EIC

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September 6, 2016

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involved_engage — How could you not listen to a dog as cute and extracurricularly involved as this?

As an SFU tour guide, I give every potential student I meet this piece of advice: join a club. It’s the first tip I got as a new undergraduate, and I firmly believe in it — despite how naïve that may sound to anyone who’s dealt with the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS).

You may be familiar with the failings the SFSS suffered over the summer, but not everyone realizes how consistently they botch even their organization’s most basic functions. As a longstanding executive of the SFU Choir, I’ve seen countless examples of their blunders. One must ask how an organization meant to help clubs continually makes it harder for them to exist.

As six former presidents of the choir can attest, the SFSS has made several, and often reoccurring, mistakes that hindered club experience.

“I have watched dozens of events unfold where the SFSS [. . .] have caused us problems that range from minor annoyances and inconveniences, to major issues that inhibit our operation and our growth,” wrote former president Jennifer Pollock in a compiled letter to SFSS executives.

They don’t update clubs’ contact information in their records. Processes like approving room bookings stall for weeks, despite the actual work taking minutes. Once that’s completed, further complications appear: you’re only given the space for half the semester until you make yourself a big enough nuisance that they’re magically able to give it to you for the full term, or the SFSS neglects to inform you that an exam study session is occurring during your practice time.

We at the choir hoped the upcoming Student Union Building, supposedly a space for clubs, would solve some problems. When the SFSS was collecting student input, we requested rehearsal space (which requires a room for 120+ students). Imagine our disappointment upon discovering that our designated rehearsal area won’t seat half of that. We’ll never be able to use it.

Every semester, we face the same issues from an organization that should be helping us, not wasting our time and money. Yet despite all the problems my club and I have faced, I still believe getting involved on campus is a worthwhile endeavour.

Initially, coming to a school with over 30,000 students can be more than a little intimidating. Even if you make friends in lecture, there’s no guarantee you’ll see them next semester, and that can make a 500-person class feel utterly lonely. Getting involved can change that. The best proof I have is personal experience.

I started getting involved in my first year, and since then, I’ve felt like part of a community. Joining a club means meeting people who share your interests. I’ve gained some of my best friends through clubs.

I’ve had a lot of benefits academically and professionally, as well. Some of the best courses of my degree were suggestions from clubmates, and I’ve gained over three years’ worth of enjoyable job experience by being part of the choir’s executive team — experience that has led to multiple career opportunities.

I can’t say university has been the easiest thing I’ve ever done, but knowing I had friends waiting for me every Thursday night helped me get through even the most stressful midterm seasons. Joining a club made SFU more than just a school to me: I’ve had experiences I never would have encountered otherwise. It hasn’t always been ideal, but goddamn, it’s been worth it.

Why Harambe memes are less harmless than they seem

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EIC

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September 6, 2016

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OHIO-GORILLA/ — The site of Harambe's memorial, where mourners left flowers and other tributes.

You’ve likely seen your fair share of memes involving Harambe the gorilla: images that relegate his death to a glamourous source of amusement. These memes, and those who create and share them, make light of what happened to Harambe simply to have fun at the expense of his death. It’s wrong, and it exacerbates the zoo staff’s grief.

The story began when a child got into Harambe’s enclosure and encountered the gorilla. For the sake of guaranteeing the child’s safety, Cincinnati Zoo staff put down Harambe before he could do any harm to the child. Anaesthetic agents weren’t an optimal response, as staff were unsure if the drugs would activate in time.

The death of Harambe was deemed unfortunate — but the Internet saw it as an opportunity to make a new meme.

The memes initially spread as criticism of the child’s family, whom many found irresponsible for not watching their kid properly. However, these critiques were soon corrupted by people embedding meaningless, offensive phrases into them and drawing attention away from what happened to Harambe; people trying to be witty to gain attention.

Some use “3dicks out for Harambe.” Others praise Harambe because “he died for our sins,” and isn’t a regular gorilla. A few have even ignited racial controversies, by comparing retired Australian Aboriginal football player Adam Goodes to the gorilla, reinforcing racist stereotypes of his community.

Ultimately, Harambe was just an ordinary animal whose innocent life was taken because someone couldn’t keep an eye on their child.

Unfortunately, people have been blindly sharing memes without actually thinking about the significance of what happened. People bombarded the Cincinnati Zoo through social media with these memes and jokes until zoo director Thane Maynard had to address the problem.

“We are not amused […] Our zoo family is still healing,” Maynard told the Associated Press. “[T]he constant mention of Harambe makes moving forward more difficult for us.” The zoo’s social media accounts closed in August because of these jokes.

These jokes continue to resurrect talk of the incident, adding to the guilt that the zoo staff suffer. It revolves around dragging out pointless discussion of an animal’s death for an unreasonable amount of time. Would anyone do that to their own pets?

If not for the risk he posed to a child’s well-being, Harambe could have lived a happy life. While I believe that the zoo did what was best in the interest of saving their patron’s life, if the child was properly supervised and the barriers were more inaccessible to visitors, this situation wouldn’t have been created in the first place.

These memes were never funny in the first place, but absurdly enough, they have survived and grown. Yes, everything can be a meme, but there should be a basic boundary drawn in popular social media: we shouldn’t promote and glorify the pain of animals.

This meme has contributed nothing of value to anyone, and it hurts people’s feelings. The best thing we can do is stop sharing it.

Be careful with who you’re blaming for government mess-ups

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Peak Web

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September 6, 2016

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Remember that Christmas holiday Justin Trudeau took with his family in the Caribbean? Cute photos, nice weather, tabloid coverage, et al.? If the answer is “no,” that’s OK, because it’s not actually as big a story as you might think — unless you’re a Conservative MP, that is.

See, the recent gossip is that some of the Trudeaus’ travel companions had their names redacted from the flight manifest. As it turns out, the Trudeaus were joined by nanny Marian Pueyo, as well as Sophie Grégoire Trudeau’s parents, Jean Grégoire and Estelle Blais.

Controversy surrounding the new prime ministerial clan has already blossomed over the discovery that the public’s taxes are paying for things like nannies for Justin and Sophie’s children, and the extra security plus specialized flights required for their vacations. The redaction, followed by such a seemingly innocuous revelation, has set many political figures on edge. Some, such as MP Blaine Calkins in an interview with CBC, have gone so far as to say that it “smacks of a coverup.”

I understand the frustration. A lack of transparency is bad enough; an unnecessary lack is even more so. But this fuss is about minutia that Trudeau’s opponents are taking advantage of: championing “honesty” not because of any serious breach, but because they want an excuse to criticize the prime minister. It’s time to put down the “controversy” surrounding this undying adventure.

It’s not like Trudeau personally dived into the records and illegally destroyed information; the redactions were a decision made by national security, and I assume he has every reason to trust them to do their jobs correctly. That their judgment slipped in this case is hardly a bad reflection on him.

As for Trudeau overspending on his holidays? He doesn’t have much choice. Canada’s prime minister isn’t allowed to take ordinary commercial flights when he travels, because of the security risks. Sure, maybe losing out on exotic vacation destinations is a first world problem, but punishing his family for his job still seems unreasonable.

Besides, Trudeau actually did personally pay out quite a bit for that trip. While taxpayer dollars cover some expenses, the PM and pals still pay the equivalent to economy-class fare. Relax, guys — he’s not using you to gallivant across the land for free.

As for non-family member Pueyo? Of course the government paid her travel costs: she’s their employee, and it’s totally legal for them to do that for a residential staff member. Frankly, why would anyone see a job that requires you to pay enough money for a Caribbean visit as anything but counterproductive? Who would willingly take a job like that?

None of this is new procedure, either: Harper was doing it too. His New York weekend with his family in 2011 for baseball and Broadway expended $45,000 in taxpayer money.

I’m not saying that these are invalid concerns; there’s definitely merit to arguing against this, and critically analyzing your country’s leadership is important. But if you’re fighting for better allocation of your money and better transparency, stop blaming the guy who’s been in office for under a year. Political issues like this typically don’t trace back to just one person, and the problems people have come from long-standing policies and institutions.

That’s what we should focus our energies on challenging — not the three people you didn’t know were flying with Trudeau’s family.