Open Space: Rethinking ProtestsThe first time I went to a protest on the lawn of the parliament buildings was a waste of time. My first real act of civil disobedience, I fully expected to be pepper sprayed, sucker-punched, and arrested by truncheon-wielding cops. I even had a 50/50 mix of Maalox and water in a spray bottle for […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: Rev up the idling feministA Facebook chat on a popular Idle No More site started innocently enough. Various people were coming to grips with an attempt by one woman to place misguided blame. It was her pain speaking, but her argument was so provocative, and so poorly researched, we couldn’t resist weighing in. Within a dozen or so comments, […] Continue Reading |
20 years ago in NexusI remember you: Wait, that’s Skid Row. Remember Toronto sleaze rockers Slik Toxic? No? Back in 1993, they were hot stuff, as evidenced by our January 11, 1993 issue, which featured an interview with guitarist Rob Bruce. The band briefly were on top of the world, with gold records on major labels, limo-related dust-ups at […] Continue Reading |
Last-minute shopping the only wayDoing holiday shopping ahead of time is so overrated. Leaving the gift-getting to the last minute will be sure to get your creative juices, and your adrenaline, flowing like rum and eggnog. In the back of every Christmas gift-giver’s mind there’s a little voice that whispers, “Maybe you should start thinking about shopping for gifts,” […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: On firewalls and diving helmetsIn four weeks, and against odds that would drop Lance Armstrong, I will complete my Associate Degree in creative writing. Not bad, considering for most of it I was also suicidal. My secret? I used a magical, invisible diving bell helmet, of course. Depression had stalked me for years; wanting to die was just the […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: Entertainment industry stiflesSo often I see people shying away from things because they think they aren’t good enough to show their skills in public. This is a tragedy, and it’s the fault of the entertainment industry. Whether it’s playing sports, dancing, singing, wearing certain clothing, having their photo taken, or presenting something they have created, people stifle […] Continue Reading |
20 years ago in Nexus: October 17, 2012 issueWow: In our October 19, 1992 issue we featured a small interview with a 19-year-old singer from Toronto named Amanda Marshall. She talked about her yet-to-be-released debut album, and what it was like balancing schoolwork with being a singer. Seems like one of those little profile pieces of a forgotten Canadian musician. But cut to […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: Slutty costumes? Yes, pleaseSlutty costumes are a rite of passage into womanhood. Wearing a provocative costume is something all women do at some point in their lives. And why not? The other 364 days of our lives we’re forced to conform and wear what’s generally acceptable in society. Halloween is supposed to be an escape from that. It’s […] Continue Reading |
Todd bullied even after her suicideAfter the tragic death of Amanda Todd, a young BC girl who recently committed suicide after being bullied, many have claimed that she deserved it based on some of her alleged actions. This is a logical fallacy and it’s time for people to reevaluate their current perspectives on what justifies bullying, as well as how […] Continue Reading |
Open Space: White washedMy sociology textbook covers a touchy subject, maybe the touchiest yet for social beings: the question of what whiteness is, and the emergence of white-as-race. We are beginning to get a grip. It really bothers me that we continue to blame the “white” man for rampaging his way across the globe. I had hoped when […] Continue Reading |
