Local store removes controversial window display
TRIVIUM, A STORE located on the ground floor of the Rideau Centre, decided to take down its Halloween display last Friday after it created a considerable amount of controversy amongst mall patrons. The display featured mannequins dressed as doctors and nurses—some holding weapons such as a chainsaw—in an attempt to evoke the concept of a pulp-horror mental institution. There was also a dismembered mannequin strewn on the floor wearing red heels with fake blood splattered over it and its head placed in a plastic bag.
The store, which sells gothic- and medieval-type clothing, took down their display on Saturday morning and replaced the torn up mannequin with a coffin.
“Every single person who works here is a female. We, a bunch of females, made the window. It’s not promoting violence against women in any way,” said the store’s assistant manager, who refused to give her name.
Shoppers in the Rideau Centre didn’t feel the same way.
“I think the marketing strategy was way off on that one,” said Jessica Kaling a 22-year-old student.
“I don’t know if their intent was to put a lot of focus on it so that people would come in and cause a reaction, but I think it was wrong of them to put it up in the first place.”
—Sofia Hashi
Bicentennial anniversary of war honoured through TV movie
A TWO-HOUR-LONG DOCUMENTARY produced by PBS aired on Thanksgiving Monday in celebration for the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. The film, titled The War of 1812, takes a different perspective of the historic battle that saw British Canada fighting the United States by focusing on the defeats the countries’ indigenous people suffered throughout the war.
Although the winner of the war is disputed, the losses of Native North Americans are not.
“The tragedy for [Aboriginal people] was that the hope had been to form a native buffer state that was rejected in peace negotiations,” said Peter Twist, Canadian military historian.
The federal government has spent millions of dollars upgrading heritage sites related to the war and to commemorate the 200 years of peace.
—Sofia Hashi
U.S. state bans minors from using tanning beds
LOS ANGELES GOVERNOR Jerry Brown has signed a new bill that prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using tanning beds. The law, which will be enforced as of January 2012, is part of legislation aimed at improving the general health of Californians. The state had previously prohibited children under the age of 14 from using the beds, but permitted teens between the ages of 14 and 18 to use them with parental consent.
“I praise Governor Brown for his courage in taking this much needed step to protect some of California’s most vulnerable residents—our kids—from what the ‘House of Medicine’ has conclusively shown is lethally dangerous: Ultraviolet-emitting radiation from tanning beds,” said Ted Lieu, California state senator.
Currently in Canada, minors under the age of 16 need parental consent to use a tanning bed.
—Sofia Hashi
New book celebrates 20 years for a Canadian record label
VANCOUVER (CUP)—RANDY IWATA AND Bill Baker, two former University of British Columbia students, founded Mint Records 20 years ago. The creative force behind such acts as the New Pornographers, Neko Case, The Evaporators, Hot Panda, The Smugglers, and The Pack A.D. finally have the chance to tell their story in the new novel Fresh at Twenty: The Oral History of Mint Records.
The nearly 400-page book details every step—and misstep—Iwata and Baker took along the way, and illustrates what a unique and revolutionary musical force they have become.
“Mint Records never really should have stood a chance. Both Satanists and art legends alike would have found the notion to base an indie record company out of Vancouver frankly stupid,” wrote Nardwuar the Human Serviette, who wrote the foreword of the book.
“But Mint Records is still in the game after 20 years and 160 releases.”
—Will Johnson, the Ubyssey
