Thursday, February 5, 2009
Obama is in and the crowd goes wild!
The Semantic's Second take on the American Inauguration of last week.
January 20th was a momentous day for the United States and indeed for the rest of the world.
Where was I when Obama gave his inauguration speech? I was sitting at the bar at the Wave looking on past a dusty Molson Canadian Beer Tap drinking one of Mr. Keith’s finest. Truly a magical moment in my personal history.
It was a wonderful ceremony full of lots of pomp and circumstance and lots of other stuff too. John Williams composed a piece that was played by some of the world’s greatest classical musicians. I was really excited when it started because I always loved montages with his best themes. Lord of the Dance is great and all but I was pumped for ‘The Raiders March’ (The Theme from Indiana Jones) or perhaps a rift of some Superman or Star Wars. It was good, but it could have been better John, seriously...
Aretha Franklin sang a tune in their as well. ‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee’ which is a rewritten version of ‘God Save the Queen’ set to 1800s America, which was ok I guess, but I was totally hoping for ‘Respect’. That would have been awesome! I mean why she wouldn't just cover Triumph (the greatest band EVER) is past me. Which brings up the question of why people even bother making music once Triumph hit the airways? Seriously folks, it is not necessary, you’re wasting everyone’s time.
Obama’s speech was great! It was the first time I noticed him being really hard hitting and powerful against terrorists and America’s enemies. While I was watching I couldn’t help but think about ‘Team America: World Police’, “America, F**k Yeah!” It was a powerful speech with some great lines. But seriously why he didn’t just sing an excerpt from ‘Freedom Isn’t Free’, which is most definitely the greatest song about Freedom in America ever written. “Freedom isn’t free, now there’s a hefty f**king fee... and if you don't throw in your buck 'o five. Who will?” Powerful stuff.
Ok so Obama is in Bush is out. That’s all done with, but honestly folks this is all overshadowing the fact. The fact is that the new Indiana Jones movie was terrible. Honestly... George, Steve WTF? Aliens? Leave those for James Cameron.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
arts cuts profoundly annoying
Editor:
I am writing in response to the cuts to the Political Studies department. As you know, the university administration has decided to cut the tenure track position that was to replace Dr. B. Bartmann in his retirement. The Administration, in the past, has offered a replacement ten month teaching contract; this time the administration did not even do that. With the financial times troubling the world currently, I can understand their position and I would fully expect the university to make due with an increase in sessional lecturers to pick up the slack. In this case, the university did not even meet my expectations—sessionals have been cut back.
The actions of the university administration have left the department with only three professors, one short of its previous compliment and leaving it unable to adequately teach the discipline. What is forgotten in the slalom to a balanced budget is the first responsibility of a university. Every Canadian has the right of Good Government, and rights entail duties. It is the requisite of a good society for a good government, and the key to a good society is a well educated population. The university has a duty to educate those who enter its walls, and I am at loss to see how cutting a department's resources is achieving this goal.
There are solutions to this problem, I empathize with the position of the university, money is tight currently, and everyone has to tighten their belts, but it is in this case that the university must find additional sources of funding, the annual collection campaign seems to do well for itself. New buildings, some even gilded in copper, have popped up on campus. Perhaps if the university spent less money on buildings and more on funding for each department (not each faculty) then things wouldn't be so bad.
UPEI's ranking, according to Macleans, has risen one place since last years rankings. This is an admirable trait, but surely with the cuts to departments across the board, and a weakening in the course offerings at the university such a place cannot be maintained.
The money has to come from somewhere, this I do understand. Between the massive donations that UPEI gets every year and the revenue from the provincial government, the university should be able to pay its staff to teach its students. If this means that the university runs at a loss for a few years, then so be it. The education of the students comes first and foremost. That is the duty of a university; to teach.
Mike Dunn
I am writing in response to the cuts to the Political Studies department. As you know, the university administration has decided to cut the tenure track position that was to replace Dr. B. Bartmann in his retirement. The Administration, in the past, has offered a replacement ten month teaching contract; this time the administration did not even do that. With the financial times troubling the world currently, I can understand their position and I would fully expect the university to make due with an increase in sessional lecturers to pick up the slack. In this case, the university did not even meet my expectations—sessionals have been cut back.
The actions of the university administration have left the department with only three professors, one short of its previous compliment and leaving it unable to adequately teach the discipline. What is forgotten in the slalom to a balanced budget is the first responsibility of a university. Every Canadian has the right of Good Government, and rights entail duties. It is the requisite of a good society for a good government, and the key to a good society is a well educated population. The university has a duty to educate those who enter its walls, and I am at loss to see how cutting a department's resources is achieving this goal.
There are solutions to this problem, I empathize with the position of the university, money is tight currently, and everyone has to tighten their belts, but it is in this case that the university must find additional sources of funding, the annual collection campaign seems to do well for itself. New buildings, some even gilded in copper, have popped up on campus. Perhaps if the university spent less money on buildings and more on funding for each department (not each faculty) then things wouldn't be so bad.
UPEI's ranking, according to Macleans, has risen one place since last years rankings. This is an admirable trait, but surely with the cuts to departments across the board, and a weakening in the course offerings at the university such a place cannot be maintained.
The money has to come from somewhere, this I do understand. Between the massive donations that UPEI gets every year and the revenue from the provincial government, the university should be able to pay its staff to teach its students. If this means that the university runs at a loss for a few years, then so be it. The education of the students comes first and foremost. That is the duty of a university; to teach.
Mike Dunn
...
Editor,
I would like to thank Matt MacKay for discovering the childhood obesity problem and subsequently solving it. Maybe next Matt can explain to the Isrealites and Palestinians how he decided not to fight with his little sister anymore
Sincerely,
Ben Gates
I would like to thank Matt MacKay for discovering the childhood obesity problem and subsequently solving it. Maybe next Matt can explain to the Isrealites and Palestinians how he decided not to fight with his little sister anymore
Sincerely,
Ben Gates
CSJ offends
Editor:
I have been a fan of the Semantic since the first issue hit the UPEI Campus. At first, I enjoyed it a lot more than I have enjoyed reading the Panther Post the last couple of years. But thanks to Craig St. Jean's article in issue 7, I am a fan no more. His article was rife with profanity and bad mouthed Paige Matthie. Now, I really only read his reviews because I found them humerous, I never took his article seriously and I find it hard to believe that he thinks that he was ever taken serious. Half the time I can't tell if he is serious about the food he is writing about or if he is just mocking it and making a joke of the places he choses to dine at. Paige Matthie on the other hand is someone that I take seriously. She has yet to steer me wrong. And best of all, she's willing to talk about the prices and how the average student would fare.
I honestly can't take anyone serious when they feel the need to take a piece out of a rival reporter. There's no pride in that. In fact, it only results in making the paper look ridiculous. Thanks Semantic, you've proved to me again why I should only take you at face value.
"So let's get to the reason why you picked up this paper in the first place: to find out WHAT CRAIG ST. JEAN IS EATING." Nope. I've never picked up "this" paper for that reason -- and thanks to St. Jean, I'll never pick it up again.
And oh, St. Jean, you spelled Matthie's name wrong.
Respectfully,
Ashley McLellan
Ashley,
Respectfully,
Ed. (& CSJ)
I have been a fan of the Semantic since the first issue hit the UPEI Campus. At first, I enjoyed it a lot more than I have enjoyed reading the Panther Post the last couple of years. But thanks to Craig St. Jean's article in issue 7, I am a fan no more. His article was rife with profanity and bad mouthed Paige Matthie. Now, I really only read his reviews because I found them humerous, I never took his article seriously and I find it hard to believe that he thinks that he was ever taken serious. Half the time I can't tell if he is serious about the food he is writing about or if he is just mocking it and making a joke of the places he choses to dine at. Paige Matthie on the other hand is someone that I take seriously. She has yet to steer me wrong. And best of all, she's willing to talk about the prices and how the average student would fare.
I honestly can't take anyone serious when they feel the need to take a piece out of a rival reporter. There's no pride in that. In fact, it only results in making the paper look ridiculous. Thanks Semantic, you've proved to me again why I should only take you at face value.
"So let's get to the reason why you picked up this paper in the first place: to find out WHAT CRAIG ST. JEAN IS EATING." Nope. I've never picked up "this" paper for that reason -- and thanks to St. Jean, I'll never pick it up again.
And oh, St. Jean, you spelled Matthie's name wrong.
Respectfully,
Ashley McLellan
Ashley,
Respectfully,
Ed. (& CSJ)
An Ode To Nightlife in Charlottetown
by Monica Thibaudier-Ness
We’ve all done it. Gone out in downtown Charlottetown. There is the Wave, for the social University academic-atmosphere, Olde Dublin Pub for the Irish gig dancers, Baba’s Lounge for those who enjoy the more intimate atmosphere of a smaller bar, and Hunter’s Ale House for those who desire more of a bang for their buck so they may have more beer in their mug. There is also Velvet Underground, or ‘The Dirty’ as some prefer to call it, for the gyration of the hips and neon lights and also for those who enjoy staring themselves down in the mirrors on the club’s dance floor. Then there is the Gate for anyone that likes a more ‘mature’ environment. And then there are the seasonal bars that revive in the spring time at the rate of flowers blooming such as Fishbones and Peakes Quay. When it comes down to it, there is choice for everyone. So where is the appreciation?
As a bartender, I find myself far too often serving folks who lack appreciation for the bar they are dwelling and I hear complaints: “Euuuuuuugh… what am I doing here?”. What are you doing here? I often want to ask but I don’t because I want to make money. Seriously. What are you doing at a bar if you are going to complain the whole time? This happens far too often, and many complain that there is no where good to go in this town. Okay, so maybe we’re not in Berlin or New York City and our selection of places to go out are not vast like they are in larger cities but who cares! But bars and clubs are meant to be fun! Far too often, I find myself watching people, admiring the fact that they are out for the wrong reasons: 1) To be drunk and disorderly; 2) To find love in the club, or maybe to pick up would be the more honest way to put it; 3) To forget your problems and complain about life in general. There are far better reasons to go out to bars, and they go beyond inebriation, fornication, and depression.
As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I am a bartender at one of the local taps in Charlottetown, therefore I don’t get many opportunities to go out. But when I do, I make the most of it. I don’t like to feel rushed, so I tend to take my time getting ready. Hair, nails, makeup. Boys, I guess you’d resort more to a good shave or trim or whatever and maybe a slick of gel and squirt of cologne. Then, I lay out my best duds; dress, jeans, shirt, shoes, whatever. Some people don’t enjoy this part, but I think most do. It’s fun, and it makes you feel good – not only good, but sexy! Most of the time, I meet with friends before I go out. Some like to call this “pre-drinking”, I like to call it “Hour of Diplomacy”, we get together, we mix our drinks and discuss all things delicate in our lives with some good background music. Most of the time, individuals prefer the get-togethers before the bars, but I also love going out for that whole social atmosphere of meeting people. You can meet plenty of interesting people when you go out with your friends. I mean, most people complain because they never meet anyone new when they go to bars in Charlottetown, but are you honestly going to meet anyone new if you go to the same bar every weekend? No. Open your horizons! And if you are not into the whole social aspect, then there are plenty of other things to do at bars too such as dance and or listen to music. It just requires venturing to different hospitable accommodations.
All the bars I mentioned in my opening paragraph offer an amazing array of entertainment in Charlottetown, which is great! St. Jame’s Gate and Olde Dublin Pub offer more traditional jams by their live bands. Olde Dublin also is much more Celtic in their vibe but their very own website says it is “Foot Stompin’ Fun!” and it’s true! Nothing like letting out your Celtic roots. Make your ancestors proud! Then there is a great selection of venues for local bands and live music such as The Wave, Baba’s Lounge and Hunter’s Ale House. I am sure many of you who have friends in a band have frequented these spots to listen to your pals strum their instruments and belt out some original lyrics.
The Wave and Baba’s Lounge, as well as The Velvet Underground, are also great for cutting some rug! Velvet Underground offers a lot of Top 40 recent favourites one may have, and the DJ is always ready to take requests, and sometimes they come out with some surprises with old classics ranging from Snoop to Michael Jackson. Baba’s Lounge has Indie Pop Night every few Saturdays where DJ Bones will pump out songs that people can come up and request. Got a CD with your favourite jam on it? Come to Baba’s during IPN and request your song. Dj Bones will play it. I said I wanted to hear Kid Sister once and he said he couldn’t play it because he didn’t have the song on his computer but if I had the CD there with me, he would of played it! And then I would have danced my rump off to Girlierock (which is, by the way, a great tune).
So you see, nightlife in Charlottetown offers a lot more than one would expect, as there is much to do. Ranging from gyrating with your pals in your best dancing shoes, to simply lounging with an ol’ wobbly pop in hand with a good friend while listening to some mellow tunes, to simply lingering on the bar ordering drink after drink from the bartender. My only message is, is that there a lot of things that you can do rather than simply retorting to just getting fucked up and attempting to score. There is the social and cultural part to going out: you get to dress pretty, meet new people, and listen to good music, and even get a dance workout! Life is not just about double rum and cokes and black outs, with the next morning topping off your night laying next to a swamp monster you went home with, but don’t recall. That can get old after a while, so appreciate what is offered.
We’ve all done it. Gone out in downtown Charlottetown. There is the Wave, for the social University academic-atmosphere, Olde Dublin Pub for the Irish gig dancers, Baba’s Lounge for those who enjoy the more intimate atmosphere of a smaller bar, and Hunter’s Ale House for those who desire more of a bang for their buck so they may have more beer in their mug. There is also Velvet Underground, or ‘The Dirty’ as some prefer to call it, for the gyration of the hips and neon lights and also for those who enjoy staring themselves down in the mirrors on the club’s dance floor. Then there is the Gate for anyone that likes a more ‘mature’ environment. And then there are the seasonal bars that revive in the spring time at the rate of flowers blooming such as Fishbones and Peakes Quay. When it comes down to it, there is choice for everyone. So where is the appreciation?
As a bartender, I find myself far too often serving folks who lack appreciation for the bar they are dwelling and I hear complaints: “Euuuuuuugh… what am I doing here?”. What are you doing here? I often want to ask but I don’t because I want to make money. Seriously. What are you doing at a bar if you are going to complain the whole time? This happens far too often, and many complain that there is no where good to go in this town. Okay, so maybe we’re not in Berlin or New York City and our selection of places to go out are not vast like they are in larger cities but who cares! But bars and clubs are meant to be fun! Far too often, I find myself watching people, admiring the fact that they are out for the wrong reasons: 1) To be drunk and disorderly; 2) To find love in the club, or maybe to pick up would be the more honest way to put it; 3) To forget your problems and complain about life in general. There are far better reasons to go out to bars, and they go beyond inebriation, fornication, and depression.
As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I am a bartender at one of the local taps in Charlottetown, therefore I don’t get many opportunities to go out. But when I do, I make the most of it. I don’t like to feel rushed, so I tend to take my time getting ready. Hair, nails, makeup. Boys, I guess you’d resort more to a good shave or trim or whatever and maybe a slick of gel and squirt of cologne. Then, I lay out my best duds; dress, jeans, shirt, shoes, whatever. Some people don’t enjoy this part, but I think most do. It’s fun, and it makes you feel good – not only good, but sexy! Most of the time, I meet with friends before I go out. Some like to call this “pre-drinking”, I like to call it “Hour of Diplomacy”, we get together, we mix our drinks and discuss all things delicate in our lives with some good background music. Most of the time, individuals prefer the get-togethers before the bars, but I also love going out for that whole social atmosphere of meeting people. You can meet plenty of interesting people when you go out with your friends. I mean, most people complain because they never meet anyone new when they go to bars in Charlottetown, but are you honestly going to meet anyone new if you go to the same bar every weekend? No. Open your horizons! And if you are not into the whole social aspect, then there are plenty of other things to do at bars too such as dance and or listen to music. It just requires venturing to different hospitable accommodations.
All the bars I mentioned in my opening paragraph offer an amazing array of entertainment in Charlottetown, which is great! St. Jame’s Gate and Olde Dublin Pub offer more traditional jams by their live bands. Olde Dublin also is much more Celtic in their vibe but their very own website says it is “Foot Stompin’ Fun!” and it’s true! Nothing like letting out your Celtic roots. Make your ancestors proud! Then there is a great selection of venues for local bands and live music such as The Wave, Baba’s Lounge and Hunter’s Ale House. I am sure many of you who have friends in a band have frequented these spots to listen to your pals strum their instruments and belt out some original lyrics.
The Wave and Baba’s Lounge, as well as The Velvet Underground, are also great for cutting some rug! Velvet Underground offers a lot of Top 40 recent favourites one may have, and the DJ is always ready to take requests, and sometimes they come out with some surprises with old classics ranging from Snoop to Michael Jackson. Baba’s Lounge has Indie Pop Night every few Saturdays where DJ Bones will pump out songs that people can come up and request. Got a CD with your favourite jam on it? Come to Baba’s during IPN and request your song. Dj Bones will play it. I said I wanted to hear Kid Sister once and he said he couldn’t play it because he didn’t have the song on his computer but if I had the CD there with me, he would of played it! And then I would have danced my rump off to Girlierock (which is, by the way, a great tune).
So you see, nightlife in Charlottetown offers a lot more than one would expect, as there is much to do. Ranging from gyrating with your pals in your best dancing shoes, to simply lounging with an ol’ wobbly pop in hand with a good friend while listening to some mellow tunes, to simply lingering on the bar ordering drink after drink from the bartender. My only message is, is that there a lot of things that you can do rather than simply retorting to just getting fucked up and attempting to score. There is the social and cultural part to going out: you get to dress pretty, meet new people, and listen to good music, and even get a dance workout! Life is not just about double rum and cokes and black outs, with the next morning topping off your night laying next to a swamp monster you went home with, but don’t recall. That can get old after a while, so appreciate what is offered.
Patio vs.Carver: Life Solutions
Q: I am going to the Farmer's Market for the first time this Saturday. What should I get?
P: Whoa. Whoa. Dude. What is wrong with you? Are you the same guy that keeps asking what the meaning of life is? Knock it off with the hard questions, you're making us look bad.
C: Buy a Chocobanana Smoothie and then hit up a chicken shawarma. After all that time in the line you will need another smoothie. Purchase one. Now we're off to what I call Farmer's Market blitz time. Take a $5 and buy as much as you can in three minutes. Get a Propeller root beer, blitz four more times, and your paycheque should be down to about nothing. Go home. Nap. I have a detailed map if you would like to know how to fully experience the farmer's market.
Q: I spent all my student loan money on books. I can't afford to heat my apartment. How do I stay warm on a student's budget?
P: In a situation such as yours, all you can do is ask WWSD. What would Survivorman do? "Gots ta do what it takes to survive!" Even if it means burning your precious books.
C: You, me, a portable heater, Ed MacDonald's "If You're Stronghearted" and a bag of cheezits. Let the fires ignit. We will be selling Patio Patent WWSD bracelets bracelets Tuesdays and Thursdays in Main 125 during my Moran history class. 25 bones.
Q: I go to all the totally amazing, sold out Absolute Glow Dance Parties at The Wave on Saturdays. I take part in the outstanding price drink specials, dance to DJ Singles (5th Year Psychology Student/UPEI SU President's moonlight job) but I can't pickup a fine shorty. Have any advice? Signed, D.J. TooSingle
P: Well, fine sir. I'm not a huge fan of the really short women. But what I suggest is you dedicate a lovely ballad or love song to the shortest girl in the crowd. May I suggest, "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You", made famous by *NSYNC. Or maybe that song from Titanic? She's really look up to you for that.
C: You've made the first step in the right direction for you by not going to the dirty (VU's streetname). I think you need to stare down the ladies for a good hour before you approach. Not too long though or people in white shirts will remove you from the establishment. But just long enough so the interest is known.
Q: I just got a car last week and I already have five tickets! Is there any way to make parking on campus easier? Signed, Loading Zone.
C: I have spent sixteen years mapping out the Parking Ticket Person (PTP as I like to call them), and yes, in sixteen years I have yet to come up with a better name for them. This year has been especially difficult to avoid tickets due to the PTP receiving Ice Cube's repo'd ride.
P: Screw it, just tell 'em.
C: Use my map or never register your car with UPEI and they'll never be able to send you a bill for the tickets. PTP can't ticket what don't exist in the database, y'all!
P: Whoa. Whoa. Dude. What is wrong with you? Are you the same guy that keeps asking what the meaning of life is? Knock it off with the hard questions, you're making us look bad.
C: Buy a Chocobanana Smoothie and then hit up a chicken shawarma. After all that time in the line you will need another smoothie. Purchase one. Now we're off to what I call Farmer's Market blitz time. Take a $5 and buy as much as you can in three minutes. Get a Propeller root beer, blitz four more times, and your paycheque should be down to about nothing. Go home. Nap. I have a detailed map if you would like to know how to fully experience the farmer's market.
Q: I spent all my student loan money on books. I can't afford to heat my apartment. How do I stay warm on a student's budget?
P: In a situation such as yours, all you can do is ask WWSD. What would Survivorman do? "Gots ta do what it takes to survive!" Even if it means burning your precious books.
C: You, me, a portable heater, Ed MacDonald's "If You're Stronghearted" and a bag of cheezits. Let the fires ignit. We will be selling Patio Patent WWSD bracelets bracelets Tuesdays and Thursdays in Main 125 during my Moran history class. 25 bones.
Q: I go to all the totally amazing, sold out Absolute Glow Dance Parties at The Wave on Saturdays. I take part in the outstanding price drink specials, dance to DJ Singles (5th Year Psychology Student/UPEI SU President's moonlight job) but I can't pickup a fine shorty. Have any advice? Signed, D.J. TooSingle
P: Well, fine sir. I'm not a huge fan of the really short women. But what I suggest is you dedicate a lovely ballad or love song to the shortest girl in the crowd. May I suggest, "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You", made famous by *NSYNC. Or maybe that song from Titanic? She's really look up to you for that.
C: You've made the first step in the right direction for you by not going to the dirty (VU's streetname). I think you need to stare down the ladies for a good hour before you approach. Not too long though or people in white shirts will remove you from the establishment. But just long enough so the interest is known.
Q: I just got a car last week and I already have five tickets! Is there any way to make parking on campus easier? Signed, Loading Zone.
C: I have spent sixteen years mapping out the Parking Ticket Person (PTP as I like to call them), and yes, in sixteen years I have yet to come up with a better name for them. This year has been especially difficult to avoid tickets due to the PTP receiving Ice Cube's repo'd ride.
P: Screw it, just tell 'em.
C: Use my map or never register your car with UPEI and they'll never be able to send you a bill for the tickets. PTP can't ticket what don't exist in the database, y'all!
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