Print Edition: February 18, 2015
Shut up and take my money!
Summer is almost upon us, which means that music festival season is almost upon us, which means that I should start saving up every last penny I make because festivals are about as expensive as anything short of a car or a house. The price for one ticket to Sasquatch Music Festival this summer is $350. This doesn’t include gas money, sleeping arrangements, food, booze, and everything you promised yourself you wouldn’t forget but still did. Having been to festivals before, I know that the end price will be closer to $500. Knowing full well that my wallet can’t take the hit, I still made my decision to buy tickets to either Sasquatch or Pemberton long ago. Why? Because I’m a sucker for music, and because these lineups are to die for, and because what’s $500 in additional credit card debt next to tuition and reg fees?
MARTIN CASTRO
Wait for it … encore!
Why, oh why, does it have to happen at every show with more than 25 people at it? The band leaves, and then returns after the crowd screams and shouts long enough to lose their voices and their dignity. While they yell, the band does some sort of secret pow-wow backstage which is never mentioned afterwards. Do they take the time to stroke their egos as their fans beg for them? Or, do they use the screams as a confidence booster so they can return and do the same thing they were just doing? I just don’t understand why it’s necessary every time from every band. It’s probably some sort of rite of passage when a band has fans that are passionate enough to call them back out after they leave, but, however sentimental it may be for the band, it often comes across as cheap and overdramatized. Down with the encore; bands should do their best and kill it the whole show.
MITCH HUTTEMA
Anti-terror or pro-control?
In the wake of two terrorist attacks on Canadian soil, the Conservative government has set an anti-terror bill before parliament. Bill C-51 gives the Canadian Security and Intelligence Agency (CSIS) a trove of new powers to seemingly use at whim. Many Canadians will agree that there is a threat of terrorism, but the main concern is whether this threat justifies these new measures. Are we as citizens willing to compromise our individual freedoms for the potential of disrupting terror-related ploys? CSIS would be changing from an organization strictly focused on information-gathering into an active force to disturb and interfere with possible terrorist activity. This is all very subjective for security officials, who could now detain suspects for little to no reason. At the very least we should be concerned with the police-like powers being given to CSIS. At its worst, our individual rights will be severely compromised.
RAYMOND KOBES
Punctuality equals respect
Everyone knows at least one person who can never be on time. No matter what the occasion — whether it’s a shift a work or a date, they seem unable to make it within a reasonable time-frame. I’m probably not the only person bothered by this, especially if it’s a frequent occurrence.
When I arrange a time to meet with someone and they are late, it tells me that they believe their time is more valuable than mine. In other words, they do not respect me enough to be punctual.
Being on time is a commitment, and one that many people seem unable to make. Being late speaks to an inability to manage priorities. Ultimately, it is disrespectful.
ASHLEY MUSSBACHER
