Image
File
www.theotherpress.ca
OPINIONS.
Its up to us to
ensure our safety
as pedestrians
Aidan
=) Mouellic
j q Staff Writer
i
lose to Douglas College’s
New Westminster campus
is a pedestrian crosswalk that
crosses Eighth Avenue. During
a dark and rainy evening last
week, I was driving down
the street approaching the
crosswalk, when a large
number of students began to
make their way across. Like
everyone else on the road, I
consider myself to be a good
driver: J drive at safe speeds,
never use a handheld device,
and rarely have distracting
passengers. Because of this,
I was able to sort of see the
Looking both ways
people crossing the road and
stop to let them cross.
If I had been engaged
in sinful and illegal driving
habits such as texting, talking
ona phone, or applying
make-up, then perhaps those
pedestrians would have been
hit. In a scenario such as that,
around town, we all have the
right to be safe, but our safety
isn’t guaranteed. We all have
to take appropriate measures
to ensure that all road users
are safe.
For drivers, it’s pretty
simple. Drive at a speed that
will allow stopping in an
to make the roads safe. If not
using your cellphone while
driving will impact your social
life, just think about what
being dead will do to it.
For pedestrians, staying
safe while out walking is a
bit more complicated. During
the day, visibility is less of an
Pedestrian safety Is a two-way street. Its up to the road users and foot
trattic to ensure that both parties stay safe.
the driver would legally take
all the blame, but pedestrians
still need to take precautions.
The pedestrians I saw crossing
the road seemed to think they
were invincible. None of them
made eye contact with me, and
most of them were wearing
dark clothing underneath their
dark umbrellas. When walking
effective manner at all times
of the day; this is sometimes
below the posted limit when
the weather isn’t ideal. Also,
don’t use your phone while
driving. If you’re tempted to
take selfies or update Twitter
on the road, then please put
your cellphone in the trunk
during trips. The goal here is
issue, but it’s still crucial for
drivers to see you. Always
make eye contact with them
when crossing a road; it’s not
a guarantee that they'll stop. I
never cross a street until all the
cars have stopped. I’ve seen
distracted drivers fly through
reds too many times to take
the chance.
At night, things are
especially sketchy for
pedestrians: drivers have
limited visibility, are more
prone to fatigue, and are often
in arush to get home. The best
way to increase safety while
walking at night is to wear
bright and reflective clothing;
anything to get the attention of
drivers is paramount.
Pedestrian safety is a two-
way street. It’s up to the road
users and foot traffic to ensure
that both parties stay safe.
Drivers have a responsibility
to operate their vehicles in a
safe manner, and pedestrians
have the responsibility to take
care of themselves and not
trust drivers.
Together, we can help
keep each other healthy, safe,
and happy during these cold,
wet, and dark months.
Modern music stars as artists, not just marketing machines
A look at todays stars
with actual talent
Clive Ramroop, Contributor
hile some observers,
myself included, might
feel the music industry today
is short on standout acts
in a homogeneous crowd,
that doesn’t mean our era is
completely lacking in them. This
isn’t a complete list of every
mainstream act that I feel have
“it”; these are just observations
on three artists, so don’t feel
jilted if I haven’t named your
favourites.
At first glance, Adele doesn’t
resemble the prototypical pop
princess; but once her voice
erupts, image means nothing.
“Rolling in the Deep” premiered
in late 2010, going onto conquer
the airwaves with a seven-week
number one reign on Billboard’s
Hot 100 Singles charts—along
with other worldwide successes.
Without depending on repetitive
computerized loops, she delivers
a performance of classic soul in
a modern era, tapping into real
emotions. Her album 21 earned
six Grammys and sold over
20-million copies worldwide.
Putting that figure into
perspective, the second most
recent album to reach 20-million
albums sold worldwide was
Usher’s Confessions in 2004. Not
bad for someone who balked at
an executive's suggestion that
she lose weight. Given a proper
chance, an artist can flourish
without conforming to some
media-perpetuated cookie cutter
image.
Daft Punk certainly has
a unique look; their robotic
helmets are as integral to their
image as Kiss’s trademark
make-up. However, it’s difficult
to stand out sonically in the
electronic music realm, a genre
defined by repeating digital
loops of “four to the floor” beats.
And four studio albums and one
soundtrack album in 20 years
doesn’t sound like a prolific
output. Yet their current album,
Random Access Memories became
one of 2013's bestsellers and the
duo’s first number one album
in the US charts. This success
came despite assembling their
works using, unconventional
tactics; how many people of this
generation had heard of Nile
Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, or
Paul Williams? Collaboration
with older artists and a current
star, Pharrell Williams, and
working modern-day spins on
classic funk, soul, and disco is
what's given Daft Punk their
biggest commercial success to
date.
Looking at Lady Gaga,
I can’t tell if I’m looking at a
future pop music legend or a
hyper-amped one-person freak
show. I don’t need to recap her
publicized antics or her concerts,
which often reach a spectacle
comparable to Michael Jackson’s
tours. Many of her hits often
fall under the commonly heard
electro-pop style played today.
So despite not being a major
Gaga fan, why am I naming
her here? Believe it or not,
although she’s known for pop,
she really has a legitimate arts
background, and earned her way
into the industry not by going for
instant TV
exposure like an American Idol
wannabe, but the hard old-
fashioned way: working bar
shows while living in cheap
apartments, then becoming a
songwriter before launching
her solo career. To reinforce her
legitimacy as an artist—rather
than a mere performer—listen
to her album track “Speechless.”
Strip away the gimmicks and
blingy bullshit, give her a simple
piano, and she can still play and
sing without auto-tune. Try that
with Miley Cyrus and she’d
get her ridiculous tongue stuck
between the piano keys. While
some may accuse
Gaga of ripping
off stars like
Madonna, well,
remember that
even
MUSE AZ UY
the King of Pop wasn’t shy about
borrowing from James Brown.
There are several others
whom I haven’t mentioned,
who stand a chance to be future
legends by forging their own
paths with music that actually
sounds like music. I just wish
that more of them—and a new
innovator—would be allowed
more prominence in the
business.
15
OPINIONS.
Its up to us to
ensure our safety
as pedestrians
Aidan
=) Mouellic
j q Staff Writer
i
lose to Douglas College’s
New Westminster campus
is a pedestrian crosswalk that
crosses Eighth Avenue. During
a dark and rainy evening last
week, I was driving down
the street approaching the
crosswalk, when a large
number of students began to
make their way across. Like
everyone else on the road, I
consider myself to be a good
driver: J drive at safe speeds,
never use a handheld device,
and rarely have distracting
passengers. Because of this,
I was able to sort of see the
Looking both ways
people crossing the road and
stop to let them cross.
If I had been engaged
in sinful and illegal driving
habits such as texting, talking
ona phone, or applying
make-up, then perhaps those
pedestrians would have been
hit. In a scenario such as that,
around town, we all have the
right to be safe, but our safety
isn’t guaranteed. We all have
to take appropriate measures
to ensure that all road users
are safe.
For drivers, it’s pretty
simple. Drive at a speed that
will allow stopping in an
to make the roads safe. If not
using your cellphone while
driving will impact your social
life, just think about what
being dead will do to it.
For pedestrians, staying
safe while out walking is a
bit more complicated. During
the day, visibility is less of an
Pedestrian safety Is a two-way street. Its up to the road users and foot
trattic to ensure that both parties stay safe.
the driver would legally take
all the blame, but pedestrians
still need to take precautions.
The pedestrians I saw crossing
the road seemed to think they
were invincible. None of them
made eye contact with me, and
most of them were wearing
dark clothing underneath their
dark umbrellas. When walking
effective manner at all times
of the day; this is sometimes
below the posted limit when
the weather isn’t ideal. Also,
don’t use your phone while
driving. If you’re tempted to
take selfies or update Twitter
on the road, then please put
your cellphone in the trunk
during trips. The goal here is
issue, but it’s still crucial for
drivers to see you. Always
make eye contact with them
when crossing a road; it’s not
a guarantee that they'll stop. I
never cross a street until all the
cars have stopped. I’ve seen
distracted drivers fly through
reds too many times to take
the chance.
At night, things are
especially sketchy for
pedestrians: drivers have
limited visibility, are more
prone to fatigue, and are often
in arush to get home. The best
way to increase safety while
walking at night is to wear
bright and reflective clothing;
anything to get the attention of
drivers is paramount.
Pedestrian safety is a two-
way street. It’s up to the road
users and foot traffic to ensure
that both parties stay safe.
Drivers have a responsibility
to operate their vehicles in a
safe manner, and pedestrians
have the responsibility to take
care of themselves and not
trust drivers.
Together, we can help
keep each other healthy, safe,
and happy during these cold,
wet, and dark months.
Modern music stars as artists, not just marketing machines
A look at todays stars
with actual talent
Clive Ramroop, Contributor
hile some observers,
myself included, might
feel the music industry today
is short on standout acts
in a homogeneous crowd,
that doesn’t mean our era is
completely lacking in them. This
isn’t a complete list of every
mainstream act that I feel have
“it”; these are just observations
on three artists, so don’t feel
jilted if I haven’t named your
favourites.
At first glance, Adele doesn’t
resemble the prototypical pop
princess; but once her voice
erupts, image means nothing.
“Rolling in the Deep” premiered
in late 2010, going onto conquer
the airwaves with a seven-week
number one reign on Billboard’s
Hot 100 Singles charts—along
with other worldwide successes.
Without depending on repetitive
computerized loops, she delivers
a performance of classic soul in
a modern era, tapping into real
emotions. Her album 21 earned
six Grammys and sold over
20-million copies worldwide.
Putting that figure into
perspective, the second most
recent album to reach 20-million
albums sold worldwide was
Usher’s Confessions in 2004. Not
bad for someone who balked at
an executive's suggestion that
she lose weight. Given a proper
chance, an artist can flourish
without conforming to some
media-perpetuated cookie cutter
image.
Daft Punk certainly has
a unique look; their robotic
helmets are as integral to their
image as Kiss’s trademark
make-up. However, it’s difficult
to stand out sonically in the
electronic music realm, a genre
defined by repeating digital
loops of “four to the floor” beats.
And four studio albums and one
soundtrack album in 20 years
doesn’t sound like a prolific
output. Yet their current album,
Random Access Memories became
one of 2013's bestsellers and the
duo’s first number one album
in the US charts. This success
came despite assembling their
works using, unconventional
tactics; how many people of this
generation had heard of Nile
Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, or
Paul Williams? Collaboration
with older artists and a current
star, Pharrell Williams, and
working modern-day spins on
classic funk, soul, and disco is
what's given Daft Punk their
biggest commercial success to
date.
Looking at Lady Gaga,
I can’t tell if I’m looking at a
future pop music legend or a
hyper-amped one-person freak
show. I don’t need to recap her
publicized antics or her concerts,
which often reach a spectacle
comparable to Michael Jackson’s
tours. Many of her hits often
fall under the commonly heard
electro-pop style played today.
So despite not being a major
Gaga fan, why am I naming
her here? Believe it or not,
although she’s known for pop,
she really has a legitimate arts
background, and earned her way
into the industry not by going for
instant TV
exposure like an American Idol
wannabe, but the hard old-
fashioned way: working bar
shows while living in cheap
apartments, then becoming a
songwriter before launching
her solo career. To reinforce her
legitimacy as an artist—rather
than a mere performer—listen
to her album track “Speechless.”
Strip away the gimmicks and
blingy bullshit, give her a simple
piano, and she can still play and
sing without auto-tune. Try that
with Miley Cyrus and she’d
get her ridiculous tongue stuck
between the piano keys. While
some may accuse
Gaga of ripping
off stars like
Madonna, well,
remember that
even
MUSE AZ UY
the King of Pop wasn’t shy about
borrowing from James Brown.
There are several others
whom I haven’t mentioned,
who stand a chance to be future
legends by forging their own
paths with music that actually
sounds like music. I just wish
that more of them—and a new
innovator—would be allowed
more prominence in the
business.
15
Edited Text
www.theotherpress.ca
OPINIONS.
Its up to us to
ensure our safety
as pedestrians
Aidan
=) Mouellic
j q Staff Writer
i
lose to Douglas College’s
New Westminster campus
is a pedestrian crosswalk that
crosses Eighth Avenue. During
a dark and rainy evening last
week, I was driving down
the street approaching the
crosswalk, when a large
number of students began to
make their way across. Like
everyone else on the road, I
consider myself to be a good
driver: J drive at safe speeds,
never use a handheld device,
and rarely have distracting
passengers. Because of this,
I was able to sort of see the
Looking both ways
people crossing the road and
stop to let them cross.
If I had been engaged
in sinful and illegal driving
habits such as texting, talking
ona phone, or applying
make-up, then perhaps those
pedestrians would have been
hit. In a scenario such as that,
around town, we all have the
right to be safe, but our safety
isn’t guaranteed. We all have
to take appropriate measures
to ensure that all road users
are safe.
For drivers, it’s pretty
simple. Drive at a speed that
will allow stopping in an
to make the roads safe. If not
using your cellphone while
driving will impact your social
life, just think about what
being dead will do to it.
For pedestrians, staying
safe while out walking is a
bit more complicated. During
the day, visibility is less of an
Pedestrian safety Is a two-way street. Its up to the road users and foot
trattic to ensure that both parties stay safe.
the driver would legally take
all the blame, but pedestrians
still need to take precautions.
The pedestrians I saw crossing
the road seemed to think they
were invincible. None of them
made eye contact with me, and
most of them were wearing
dark clothing underneath their
dark umbrellas. When walking
effective manner at all times
of the day; this is sometimes
below the posted limit when
the weather isn’t ideal. Also,
don’t use your phone while
driving. If you’re tempted to
take selfies or update Twitter
on the road, then please put
your cellphone in the trunk
during trips. The goal here is
issue, but it’s still crucial for
drivers to see you. Always
make eye contact with them
when crossing a road; it’s not
a guarantee that they'll stop. I
never cross a street until all the
cars have stopped. I’ve seen
distracted drivers fly through
reds too many times to take
the chance.
At night, things are
especially sketchy for
pedestrians: drivers have
limited visibility, are more
prone to fatigue, and are often
in arush to get home. The best
way to increase safety while
walking at night is to wear
bright and reflective clothing;
anything to get the attention of
drivers is paramount.
Pedestrian safety is a two-
way street. It’s up to the road
users and foot traffic to ensure
that both parties stay safe.
Drivers have a responsibility
to operate their vehicles in a
safe manner, and pedestrians
have the responsibility to take
care of themselves and not
trust drivers.
Together, we can help
keep each other healthy, safe,
and happy during these cold,
wet, and dark months.
Modern music stars as artists, not just marketing machines
A look at todays stars
with actual talent
Clive Ramroop, Contributor
hile some observers,
myself included, might
feel the music industry today
is short on standout acts
in a homogeneous crowd,
that doesn’t mean our era is
completely lacking in them. This
isn’t a complete list of every
mainstream act that I feel have
“it”; these are just observations
on three artists, so don’t feel
jilted if I haven’t named your
favourites.
At first glance, Adele doesn’t
resemble the prototypical pop
princess; but once her voice
erupts, image means nothing.
“Rolling in the Deep” premiered
in late 2010, going onto conquer
the airwaves with a seven-week
number one reign on Billboard’s
Hot 100 Singles charts—along
with other worldwide successes.
Without depending on repetitive
computerized loops, she delivers
a performance of classic soul in
a modern era, tapping into real
emotions. Her album 21 earned
six Grammys and sold over
20-million copies worldwide.
Putting that figure into
perspective, the second most
recent album to reach 20-million
albums sold worldwide was
Usher’s Confessions in 2004. Not
bad for someone who balked at
an executive's suggestion that
she lose weight. Given a proper
chance, an artist can flourish
without conforming to some
media-perpetuated cookie cutter
image.
Daft Punk certainly has
a unique look; their robotic
helmets are as integral to their
image as Kiss’s trademark
make-up. However, it’s difficult
to stand out sonically in the
electronic music realm, a genre
defined by repeating digital
loops of “four to the floor” beats.
And four studio albums and one
soundtrack album in 20 years
doesn’t sound like a prolific
output. Yet their current album,
Random Access Memories became
one of 2013's bestsellers and the
duo’s first number one album
in the US charts. This success
came despite assembling their
works using, unconventional
tactics; how many people of this
generation had heard of Nile
Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, or
Paul Williams? Collaboration
with older artists and a current
star, Pharrell Williams, and
working modern-day spins on
classic funk, soul, and disco is
what's given Daft Punk their
biggest commercial success to
date.
Looking at Lady Gaga,
I can’t tell if I’m looking at a
future pop music legend or a
hyper-amped one-person freak
show. I don’t need to recap her
publicized antics or her concerts,
which often reach a spectacle
comparable to Michael Jackson’s
tours. Many of her hits often
fall under the commonly heard
electro-pop style played today.
So despite not being a major
Gaga fan, why am I naming
her here? Believe it or not,
although she’s known for pop,
she really has a legitimate arts
background, and earned her way
into the industry not by going for
instant TV
exposure like an American Idol
wannabe, but the hard old-
fashioned way: working bar
shows while living in cheap
apartments, then becoming a
songwriter before launching
her solo career. To reinforce her
legitimacy as an artist—rather
than a mere performer—listen
to her album track “Speechless.”
Strip away the gimmicks and
blingy bullshit, give her a simple
piano, and she can still play and
sing without auto-tune. Try that
with Miley Cyrus and she’d
get her ridiculous tongue stuck
between the piano keys. While
some may accuse
Gaga of ripping
off stars like
Madonna, well,
remember that
even
MUSE AZ UY
the King of Pop wasn’t shy about
borrowing from James Brown.
There are several others
whom I haven’t mentioned,
who stand a chance to be future
legends by forging their own
paths with music that actually
sounds like music. I just wish
that more of them—and a new
innovator—would be allowed
more prominence in the
business.
15
OPINIONS.
Its up to us to
ensure our safety
as pedestrians
Aidan
=) Mouellic
j q Staff Writer
i
lose to Douglas College’s
New Westminster campus
is a pedestrian crosswalk that
crosses Eighth Avenue. During
a dark and rainy evening last
week, I was driving down
the street approaching the
crosswalk, when a large
number of students began to
make their way across. Like
everyone else on the road, I
consider myself to be a good
driver: J drive at safe speeds,
never use a handheld device,
and rarely have distracting
passengers. Because of this,
I was able to sort of see the
Looking both ways
people crossing the road and
stop to let them cross.
If I had been engaged
in sinful and illegal driving
habits such as texting, talking
ona phone, or applying
make-up, then perhaps those
pedestrians would have been
hit. In a scenario such as that,
around town, we all have the
right to be safe, but our safety
isn’t guaranteed. We all have
to take appropriate measures
to ensure that all road users
are safe.
For drivers, it’s pretty
simple. Drive at a speed that
will allow stopping in an
to make the roads safe. If not
using your cellphone while
driving will impact your social
life, just think about what
being dead will do to it.
For pedestrians, staying
safe while out walking is a
bit more complicated. During
the day, visibility is less of an
Pedestrian safety Is a two-way street. Its up to the road users and foot
trattic to ensure that both parties stay safe.
the driver would legally take
all the blame, but pedestrians
still need to take precautions.
The pedestrians I saw crossing
the road seemed to think they
were invincible. None of them
made eye contact with me, and
most of them were wearing
dark clothing underneath their
dark umbrellas. When walking
effective manner at all times
of the day; this is sometimes
below the posted limit when
the weather isn’t ideal. Also,
don’t use your phone while
driving. If you’re tempted to
take selfies or update Twitter
on the road, then please put
your cellphone in the trunk
during trips. The goal here is
issue, but it’s still crucial for
drivers to see you. Always
make eye contact with them
when crossing a road; it’s not
a guarantee that they'll stop. I
never cross a street until all the
cars have stopped. I’ve seen
distracted drivers fly through
reds too many times to take
the chance.
At night, things are
especially sketchy for
pedestrians: drivers have
limited visibility, are more
prone to fatigue, and are often
in arush to get home. The best
way to increase safety while
walking at night is to wear
bright and reflective clothing;
anything to get the attention of
drivers is paramount.
Pedestrian safety is a two-
way street. It’s up to the road
users and foot traffic to ensure
that both parties stay safe.
Drivers have a responsibility
to operate their vehicles in a
safe manner, and pedestrians
have the responsibility to take
care of themselves and not
trust drivers.
Together, we can help
keep each other healthy, safe,
and happy during these cold,
wet, and dark months.
Modern music stars as artists, not just marketing machines
A look at todays stars
with actual talent
Clive Ramroop, Contributor
hile some observers,
myself included, might
feel the music industry today
is short on standout acts
in a homogeneous crowd,
that doesn’t mean our era is
completely lacking in them. This
isn’t a complete list of every
mainstream act that I feel have
“it”; these are just observations
on three artists, so don’t feel
jilted if I haven’t named your
favourites.
At first glance, Adele doesn’t
resemble the prototypical pop
princess; but once her voice
erupts, image means nothing.
“Rolling in the Deep” premiered
in late 2010, going onto conquer
the airwaves with a seven-week
number one reign on Billboard’s
Hot 100 Singles charts—along
with other worldwide successes.
Without depending on repetitive
computerized loops, she delivers
a performance of classic soul in
a modern era, tapping into real
emotions. Her album 21 earned
six Grammys and sold over
20-million copies worldwide.
Putting that figure into
perspective, the second most
recent album to reach 20-million
albums sold worldwide was
Usher’s Confessions in 2004. Not
bad for someone who balked at
an executive's suggestion that
she lose weight. Given a proper
chance, an artist can flourish
without conforming to some
media-perpetuated cookie cutter
image.
Daft Punk certainly has
a unique look; their robotic
helmets are as integral to their
image as Kiss’s trademark
make-up. However, it’s difficult
to stand out sonically in the
electronic music realm, a genre
defined by repeating digital
loops of “four to the floor” beats.
And four studio albums and one
soundtrack album in 20 years
doesn’t sound like a prolific
output. Yet their current album,
Random Access Memories became
one of 2013's bestsellers and the
duo’s first number one album
in the US charts. This success
came despite assembling their
works using, unconventional
tactics; how many people of this
generation had heard of Nile
Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, or
Paul Williams? Collaboration
with older artists and a current
star, Pharrell Williams, and
working modern-day spins on
classic funk, soul, and disco is
what's given Daft Punk their
biggest commercial success to
date.
Looking at Lady Gaga,
I can’t tell if I’m looking at a
future pop music legend or a
hyper-amped one-person freak
show. I don’t need to recap her
publicized antics or her concerts,
which often reach a spectacle
comparable to Michael Jackson’s
tours. Many of her hits often
fall under the commonly heard
electro-pop style played today.
So despite not being a major
Gaga fan, why am I naming
her here? Believe it or not,
although she’s known for pop,
she really has a legitimate arts
background, and earned her way
into the industry not by going for
instant TV
exposure like an American Idol
wannabe, but the hard old-
fashioned way: working bar
shows while living in cheap
apartments, then becoming a
songwriter before launching
her solo career. To reinforce her
legitimacy as an artist—rather
than a mere performer—listen
to her album track “Speechless.”
Strip away the gimmicks and
blingy bullshit, give her a simple
piano, and she can still play and
sing without auto-tune. Try that
with Miley Cyrus and she’d
get her ridiculous tongue stuck
between the piano keys. While
some may accuse
Gaga of ripping
off stars like
Madonna, well,
remember that
even
MUSE AZ UY
the King of Pop wasn’t shy about
borrowing from James Brown.
There are several others
whom I haven’t mentioned,
who stand a chance to be future
legends by forging their own
paths with music that actually
sounds like music. I just wish
that more of them—and a new
innovator—would be allowed
more prominence in the
business.
15
OPINIONS.
Its up to us to
ensure our safety
as pedestrians
Aidan
=) Mouellic
j q Staff Writer
i
lose to Douglas College’s
New Westminster campus
is a pedestrian crosswalk that
crosses Eighth Avenue. During
a dark and rainy evening last
week, I was driving down
the street approaching the
crosswalk, when a large
number of students began to
make their way across. Like
everyone else on the road, I
consider myself to be a good
driver: J drive at safe speeds,
never use a handheld device,
and rarely have distracting
passengers. Because of this,
I was able to sort of see the
Looking both ways
people crossing the road and
stop to let them cross.
If I had been engaged
in sinful and illegal driving
habits such as texting, talking
ona phone, or applying
make-up, then perhaps those
pedestrians would have been
hit. In a scenario such as that,
around town, we all have the
right to be safe, but our safety
isn’t guaranteed. We all have
to take appropriate measures
to ensure that all road users
are safe.
For drivers, it’s pretty
simple. Drive at a speed that
will allow stopping in an
to make the roads safe. If not
using your cellphone while
driving will impact your social
life, just think about what
being dead will do to it.
For pedestrians, staying
safe while out walking is a
bit more complicated. During
the day, visibility is less of an
Pedestrian safety Is a two-way street. Its up to the road users and foot
trattic to ensure that both parties stay safe.
the driver would legally take
all the blame, but pedestrians
still need to take precautions.
The pedestrians I saw crossing
the road seemed to think they
were invincible. None of them
made eye contact with me, and
most of them were wearing
dark clothing underneath their
dark umbrellas. When walking
effective manner at all times
of the day; this is sometimes
below the posted limit when
the weather isn’t ideal. Also,
don’t use your phone while
driving. If you’re tempted to
take selfies or update Twitter
on the road, then please put
your cellphone in the trunk
during trips. The goal here is
issue, but it’s still crucial for
drivers to see you. Always
make eye contact with them
when crossing a road; it’s not
a guarantee that they'll stop. I
never cross a street until all the
cars have stopped. I’ve seen
distracted drivers fly through
reds too many times to take
the chance.
At night, things are
especially sketchy for
pedestrians: drivers have
limited visibility, are more
prone to fatigue, and are often
in arush to get home. The best
way to increase safety while
walking at night is to wear
bright and reflective clothing;
anything to get the attention of
drivers is paramount.
Pedestrian safety is a two-
way street. It’s up to the road
users and foot traffic to ensure
that both parties stay safe.
Drivers have a responsibility
to operate their vehicles in a
safe manner, and pedestrians
have the responsibility to take
care of themselves and not
trust drivers.
Together, we can help
keep each other healthy, safe,
and happy during these cold,
wet, and dark months.
Modern music stars as artists, not just marketing machines
A look at todays stars
with actual talent
Clive Ramroop, Contributor
hile some observers,
myself included, might
feel the music industry today
is short on standout acts
in a homogeneous crowd,
that doesn’t mean our era is
completely lacking in them. This
isn’t a complete list of every
mainstream act that I feel have
“it”; these are just observations
on three artists, so don’t feel
jilted if I haven’t named your
favourites.
At first glance, Adele doesn’t
resemble the prototypical pop
princess; but once her voice
erupts, image means nothing.
“Rolling in the Deep” premiered
in late 2010, going onto conquer
the airwaves with a seven-week
number one reign on Billboard’s
Hot 100 Singles charts—along
with other worldwide successes.
Without depending on repetitive
computerized loops, she delivers
a performance of classic soul in
a modern era, tapping into real
emotions. Her album 21 earned
six Grammys and sold over
20-million copies worldwide.
Putting that figure into
perspective, the second most
recent album to reach 20-million
albums sold worldwide was
Usher’s Confessions in 2004. Not
bad for someone who balked at
an executive's suggestion that
she lose weight. Given a proper
chance, an artist can flourish
without conforming to some
media-perpetuated cookie cutter
image.
Daft Punk certainly has
a unique look; their robotic
helmets are as integral to their
image as Kiss’s trademark
make-up. However, it’s difficult
to stand out sonically in the
electronic music realm, a genre
defined by repeating digital
loops of “four to the floor” beats.
And four studio albums and one
soundtrack album in 20 years
doesn’t sound like a prolific
output. Yet their current album,
Random Access Memories became
one of 2013's bestsellers and the
duo’s first number one album
in the US charts. This success
came despite assembling their
works using, unconventional
tactics; how many people of this
generation had heard of Nile
Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, or
Paul Williams? Collaboration
with older artists and a current
star, Pharrell Williams, and
working modern-day spins on
classic funk, soul, and disco is
what's given Daft Punk their
biggest commercial success to
date.
Looking at Lady Gaga,
I can’t tell if I’m looking at a
future pop music legend or a
hyper-amped one-person freak
show. I don’t need to recap her
publicized antics or her concerts,
which often reach a spectacle
comparable to Michael Jackson’s
tours. Many of her hits often
fall under the commonly heard
electro-pop style played today.
So despite not being a major
Gaga fan, why am I naming
her here? Believe it or not,
although she’s known for pop,
she really has a legitimate arts
background, and earned her way
into the industry not by going for
instant TV
exposure like an American Idol
wannabe, but the hard old-
fashioned way: working bar
shows while living in cheap
apartments, then becoming a
songwriter before launching
her solo career. To reinforce her
legitimacy as an artist—rather
than a mere performer—listen
to her album track “Speechless.”
Strip away the gimmicks and
blingy bullshit, give her a simple
piano, and she can still play and
sing without auto-tune. Try that
with Miley Cyrus and she’d
get her ridiculous tongue stuck
between the piano keys. While
some may accuse
Gaga of ripping
off stars like
Madonna, well,
remember that
even
MUSE AZ UY
the King of Pop wasn’t shy about
borrowing from James Brown.
There are several others
whom I haven’t mentioned,
who stand a chance to be future
legends by forging their own
paths with music that actually
sounds like music. I just wish
that more of them—and a new
innovator—would be allowed
more prominence in the
business.
15
OPINIONS.
Its up to us to
ensure our safety
as pedestrians
Aidan
=) Mouellic
j q Staff Writer
i
lose to Douglas College’s
New Westminster campus
is a pedestrian crosswalk that
crosses Eighth Avenue. During
a dark and rainy evening last
week, I was driving down
the street approaching the
crosswalk, when a large
number of students began to
make their way across. Like
everyone else on the road, I
consider myself to be a good
driver: J drive at safe speeds,
never use a handheld device,
and rarely have distracting
passengers. Because of this,
I was able to sort of see the
Looking both ways
people crossing the road and
stop to let them cross.
If I had been engaged
in sinful and illegal driving
habits such as texting, talking
ona phone, or applying
make-up, then perhaps those
pedestrians would have been
hit. In a scenario such as that,
around town, we all have the
right to be safe, but our safety
isn’t guaranteed. We all have
to take appropriate measures
to ensure that all road users
are safe.
For drivers, it’s pretty
simple. Drive at a speed that
will allow stopping in an
to make the roads safe. If not
using your cellphone while
driving will impact your social
life, just think about what
being dead will do to it.
For pedestrians, staying
safe while out walking is a
bit more complicated. During
the day, visibility is less of an
Pedestrian safety Is a two-way street. Its up to the road users and foot
trattic to ensure that both parties stay safe.
the driver would legally take
all the blame, but pedestrians
still need to take precautions.
The pedestrians I saw crossing
the road seemed to think they
were invincible. None of them
made eye contact with me, and
most of them were wearing
dark clothing underneath their
dark umbrellas. When walking
effective manner at all times
of the day; this is sometimes
below the posted limit when
the weather isn’t ideal. Also,
don’t use your phone while
driving. If you’re tempted to
take selfies or update Twitter
on the road, then please put
your cellphone in the trunk
during trips. The goal here is
issue, but it’s still crucial for
drivers to see you. Always
make eye contact with them
when crossing a road; it’s not
a guarantee that they'll stop. I
never cross a street until all the
cars have stopped. I’ve seen
distracted drivers fly through
reds too many times to take
the chance.
At night, things are
especially sketchy for
pedestrians: drivers have
limited visibility, are more
prone to fatigue, and are often
in arush to get home. The best
way to increase safety while
walking at night is to wear
bright and reflective clothing;
anything to get the attention of
drivers is paramount.
Pedestrian safety is a two-
way street. It’s up to the road
users and foot traffic to ensure
that both parties stay safe.
Drivers have a responsibility
to operate their vehicles in a
safe manner, and pedestrians
have the responsibility to take
care of themselves and not
trust drivers.
Together, we can help
keep each other healthy, safe,
and happy during these cold,
wet, and dark months.
Modern music stars as artists, not just marketing machines
A look at todays stars
with actual talent
Clive Ramroop, Contributor
hile some observers,
myself included, might
feel the music industry today
is short on standout acts
in a homogeneous crowd,
that doesn’t mean our era is
completely lacking in them. This
isn’t a complete list of every
mainstream act that I feel have
“it”; these are just observations
on three artists, so don’t feel
jilted if I haven’t named your
favourites.
At first glance, Adele doesn’t
resemble the prototypical pop
princess; but once her voice
erupts, image means nothing.
“Rolling in the Deep” premiered
in late 2010, going onto conquer
the airwaves with a seven-week
number one reign on Billboard’s
Hot 100 Singles charts—along
with other worldwide successes.
Without depending on repetitive
computerized loops, she delivers
a performance of classic soul in
a modern era, tapping into real
emotions. Her album 21 earned
six Grammys and sold over
20-million copies worldwide.
Putting that figure into
perspective, the second most
recent album to reach 20-million
albums sold worldwide was
Usher’s Confessions in 2004. Not
bad for someone who balked at
an executive's suggestion that
she lose weight. Given a proper
chance, an artist can flourish
without conforming to some
media-perpetuated cookie cutter
image.
Daft Punk certainly has
a unique look; their robotic
helmets are as integral to their
image as Kiss’s trademark
make-up. However, it’s difficult
to stand out sonically in the
electronic music realm, a genre
defined by repeating digital
loops of “four to the floor” beats.
And four studio albums and one
soundtrack album in 20 years
doesn’t sound like a prolific
output. Yet their current album,
Random Access Memories became
one of 2013's bestsellers and the
duo’s first number one album
in the US charts. This success
came despite assembling their
works using, unconventional
tactics; how many people of this
generation had heard of Nile
Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder, or
Paul Williams? Collaboration
with older artists and a current
star, Pharrell Williams, and
working modern-day spins on
classic funk, soul, and disco is
what's given Daft Punk their
biggest commercial success to
date.
Looking at Lady Gaga,
I can’t tell if I’m looking at a
future pop music legend or a
hyper-amped one-person freak
show. I don’t need to recap her
publicized antics or her concerts,
which often reach a spectacle
comparable to Michael Jackson’s
tours. Many of her hits often
fall under the commonly heard
electro-pop style played today.
So despite not being a major
Gaga fan, why am I naming
her here? Believe it or not,
although she’s known for pop,
she really has a legitimate arts
background, and earned her way
into the industry not by going for
instant TV
exposure like an American Idol
wannabe, but the hard old-
fashioned way: working bar
shows while living in cheap
apartments, then becoming a
songwriter before launching
her solo career. To reinforce her
legitimacy as an artist—rather
than a mere performer—listen
to her album track “Speechless.”
Strip away the gimmicks and
blingy bullshit, give her a simple
piano, and she can still play and
sing without auto-tune. Try that
with Miley Cyrus and she’d
get her ridiculous tongue stuck
between the piano keys. While
some may accuse
Gaga of ripping
off stars like
Madonna, well,
remember that
even
MUSE AZ UY
the King of Pop wasn’t shy about
borrowing from James Brown.
There are several others
whom I haven’t mentioned,
who stand a chance to be future
legends by forging their own
paths with music that actually
sounds like music. I just wish
that more of them—and a new
innovator—would be allowed
more prominence in the
business.
15