Op-Ed

Ottawa might maintain the outwardly appearance of a well-disciplined princess, ably welcoming foreign diplomats with dignity and decorum, but the great thing about Ottawa is that this little princess hides special brownies under the floorboards and blasts angry, rebellious metal in her bedroom late at night when all the public servants have gone to bed.

In an ideal world, our expectations and depictions of each other would reflect equality. I realize we have quite a long way to go before that ideal becomes a reality, but videos like “Defined Lines” will get us there faster. Videos like “Blurred Lines” will only keep us stuck in the same harmful pattern we’ve become far too familiar with.

There is something truly wonderful about enjoying the rain instead of worrying about whether or not my assorted electronics will get ruined. I also feel a sense of freedom when I go exploring and see things through two original lenses—my eyes—instead of an Instagram filter.

This summer I’m saying fuck it to slaving away and missing all the fun. If I want to take the full 12 days of Bluesfest off, I’m doin’ it.

No summer job = free time, but no money. Summer job = money, but no time. It can be hard to strike a balance. No matter where you fall on this spectrum, a few penny-pinching tips can’t hurt—so here’s a list of activities to do in Ottawa fo’ free.

But as much as the Idle No More movement received press coverage, and as much as Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike got people talking about issues facing Canadian indigenous people, nothing changed. It seems like the majority of Canadians have been comforted by a return of silence.

What made me the most confused about all this was that I had no intention of replacing her as my best friend; we still talked on the phone and video Skyped so I could show her my new digs. But when I would miss a call she would accuse me of neglecting her, and I soon became sick of it. Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? This was fast becoming one.

If Ross had come out and said, “put LSD all in her champagne,” I doubt the song would have even made it onto the shelf. The term “molly,” another word for ecstasy, explains why some people not well-versed in slang might miss the date rape reference.

Magazines like Essence and Ebony, both of which are black female interest publications, were created because of the lack of black representation in mainstream media. The articles found within the pages of these magazines are completely different from those in Glamour and Cosmo, and for the right reasons. Who else will report on the specific minority issues faced by black women if not black women themselves?

In his book, Gray attempts to break down gender differences in simplistic and non-scientific ways; for example, he says, “Men need to learn to listen” and “Women deal with stress by talking with each other.”

Sounds simple, right? But science wouldn’t be so quick to reduce gender to a simple catchphrase or rudimentary rules of thumb.

There are many who believe that romance novels are the trashy reality TV shows of the literary world, and that may be—but just like Honey Boo Boo draws in millions of viewers weekly, a good Harlequin will keep most anyone coming back for more.

I’m not trying to imply that the guy selling you your bag of chips and chocolate milk is corrupt and untrustworthy; after all, corner stores have been selling tobacco products for a long time and they seem to be doing fine at that. But taking the power out of the hands of a regulated liquor control board seems to me about as smart an idea as taking the police off a case they are the best qualified to solve.

I would lament to others what a bad job our school did at promoting school spirit and how little unity there was on campus. I wanted U of O to break through my better judgment and inspire a passion within me that no “Hung like a Gee-Gee” T-shirt ever could… I don’t feel that way anymore

IT’S A QUESTION that never seems to get answered: Who should have the right to bear arms? The question is hotly contested on a near-nightly basis by some of the big-name newsmakers in the United States, but many Canadians have weighed in on the topic as well. Here, two writers with very different opinions share their thoughts on the right to bear arms.

With quality TV programming like Full House and YTV’s Hit List; dial-up modems; music from Nirvana, Alanis Morissette, and Britney Spears; and fashion greats—who needed a belt, when you had a sweater to tie around your waist?—the ‘90s were years like no other.

“If nothing else, supply prospective students with all the information they need to make their education decisions—and let that information guide university policy. Graduates will be best able to service the needs of the labour market if we can be confident we are earning degrees in high-demand fields, and program selection and admissions should reflect those realities.”

Unfortunately, the art of daydreaming has long been considered a trivial pursuit for time-wasters. But by analyzing daydreaming from a different perspective, it becomes evident that mentally checking out is not just something slackers do—it’s a proactive and healthy activity.

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