Month: December 2003

A painful, must-see event

By Daorcey Le Bray

Some items can be left off one’s resume. Two weeks of burger flipping, mowing the neighbour’s lawn, drug running… In the same vein, the CBS Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) is surely not included in Harrison Ford’s authorized filmography. Neither is it in James Earl Jones’, nor Carrie Fisher’s, nor Mark Hamill’s… well, Hamill could… Continue reading A painful, must-see event

DVDs march onwards, from the store’s shelves to your bloated collection

By Alan Cho

It reminds me of Chernobyl–but in a good way. The roaring bonfires of COMS 363 textbooks across campus mark the beginning of the holiday season and the end of an oppressive school term, as useless theories and obtuse assignments turn to ash waiting to be swept away by finals. Once those are done, though, it’s… Continue reading DVDs march onwards, from the store’s shelves to your bloated collection

Ten Years Gone: Frank Zappa 1940 – 1993

By Ken Clarke

Ten years ago today, Frank Zappa, according to his family, “left for his final tour.” Although I never met the man, it was a sad day for me. Prostate cancer had prematurely claimed a musical genius who turned rock music upside down and inside out by effectively combining such unlikely elements as classical, jazz, doo-wop… Continue reading Ten Years Gone: Frank Zappa 1940 – 1993

Local holiday jamming

By Peter Hemminger

It’s that time of the year again, when critics put their collective minds together to select the best of the best, the absolute creme de la creme of the year. Not here at the Gauntlet, though. We, your favorite quasi-literate music junkies and editorial flunkies are far too disorganized for that. No, you won’t find… Continue reading Local holiday jamming

Words for Warmth

By Lawrence Bailey

‘Tis the season, or so they say. As the holidays come and go, people are more taken to generosity as their thoughts drift to those less fortunate. However, good intentions alone rarely make a difference. "The idea was always there, it’s all just a matter of getting up and doing it," explains Jordan Dack, also… Continue reading Words for Warmth

A night out

By Jeff Kubik

It’s an opportunity for a night to yourself–if you have kids, leave them at home. Breathe the crisp night air, step confidently between twinkling city street lights and enjoy a night out at the theatre. Check your coat, take your seat and watch as a woman is sold at an auction while two prostitutes advertise… Continue reading A night out

Family, love and everything in between

By Stephanie Shewchuk

Bleak, theatrical, Quebecois. A sparse, dimly-lit set opens to tell the story of a young French Canadian’s struggle with his family. Michel Tremblay’s Bonjour, La, Bonjour explores the obstacles Serge (Kevin MacDonnell), an only son, encounters while interacting with his difficult family. After spending three months in Europe, Serge returns home to the troubling realization… Continue reading Family, love and everything in between

Free Software for the masses

By Вen Li

Some of the best software in existence is available freely. Software developers and other computer enthusiasts have used programs distributed under Free and Open Software licenses for years, not for the programs’ aesthetic qualities, but because they were technically solid and easily extensible by any and all programmers. These programs, including Apache which serves most… Continue reading Free Software for the masses