On March 14, Stephen William Hawking, physicist at Cambridge University and international best-selling author of A Brief History of Time, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of revolutionary discoveries spanning the past five decades.
At the age of 21, Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes an individual to lose control of their nerve and muscle function over time. While doctors gave him only two years to live, he defied their prognosis by surviving for 55 years with the debilitating, incurable condition. Hawking was a prolific writer, contributing to the field of physics up until the end of his life.
To celebrate his extraordinary life, below are three immense contributions that Hawking made to the field of physics.
Black holes
Hawking pioneered research on one of the greatest mysteries of our universe. Black holes, the remnants of the collapse of supermassive stars. In the 1970s, by applying quantum theory to these intangible facets of our universe, Hawking proved that they were not completely black at all, but in fact radiate energy over time, emitting a faint glow. He also discovered that black holes would eventually leak radiation, and disappear, which opposed the idea that they absorbed everything and would continuously grow larger. The discovery that a black hole could radiate particles was a turning point in modern physics—leading to a stream of fresh findings and research based around this discovery for the next 40 years. In 1974, Hawking introduced the concept of Hawking radiation to the physics world, explaining that black holes thermally emit sub-atomic particles until they exhaust their energy and evaporate completely. Hawking took such pride in his work that he wanted the formula for Hawking radiation to be engraved on his tombstone.
A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, Hawking’s most well-known book published in 1988, explored Hawking’s study of cosmology—the laws that predict how things work in the universe, or simply how the universe exists. The book, which has sold tens of millions of copies, caters to non-scientists and answers basic questions on the universe’s origins, its projected fate, its structure, and whether or not it is infinite. Through the general relativity and quantum mechanics theories, Hawkings explores theories of space, time, matter, and gravity. The scientific community reveres A Brief History of Time as a in powerhouse non-fiction literature that provides deep insight into the large scale structure of the universe.
The theory of everything
The “theory of everything,” is an idea in the scientific community that there is a single, all-encompassing theory that can describe the physical world. Although the scientific community has yet to come up with the theory, Hawking came up with a formula that unified quantum mechanics and classical physics. The groundbreaking aspect of this formula was combining both classical and quantum mechanicswith classical physics to describe the motion of tiny particles that make up large bodies.
Hawking’s discoveries will remain relevant in the years to come, and his legacy will continue to inspire further pursuit of understanding the mysteries of the universe. The world will forever be indebted to Stephen Hawking’s brilliant mind.
Rowan Stringer was a 17-year-old high school athlete from Ottawa. She picked up rugby in Grade 11, when her high school offered a varsity girls team, and grew to love the sport so much that she joined a club team that summer. Later, in May 2013, Stringer was hit hard during a rugby match. She thought that she may have been concussed, but wanted to compete in her next match, so she ignored her symptoms and played anyways just two days later. She suffered another concussion.
Experiencing repeated head trauma in such quick succession leads to Second Impact Syndrome (SIS), a condition that can occur when a person is concussed for a second time before their brain has recovered from the initial concussion. Even a minor hit can immediately cause the pressure in a person’s brain to increase and must be treated within minutes. In Stringer’s case, SIS led to her death on May 12, Mother’s Day, four days after the second concussion.
After her passing, Dr. Charles Tator, a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto who studies spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury, requested access to Stringer’s medical documentation. Tator was searching for ways to prevent such tragedies in the future and researched the case for several months before delivering a report at the inquest held in an Ottawa court in June 2015. Based on his report and testimony, as well as statements from Stringer’s friends, family, and fellow members of the rugby community, the jury came up with 49 recommendations to improve concussion awareness and treatment in Ontario. The first of these recommendations was to enact “Rowan’s Law”—an initiative intended to inform young athletes and their guardians on the seriousness of concussions.
Rowan’s Law, formally known as Bill 193, is a huge step in the right direction for protecting young athletes and changing how concussions are perceived in youth sports culture. Better education will help kids more effectively identify when they are concussed and understand the serious consequences of playing with concussions. Coaches and parents will know better when to keep an athlete out of the game and when it’s safe to let them back in.
Specifically, Rowan’s Law defines protocols for when an athlete should be removed from play and when they should be allowed to return. It also requires parents and coaches to learn about concussion identification and management from online resources. It’s often difficult to diagnose a concussion, especially for people who have little to no understanding of the symptoms, so these new protocols will have an important impact on protecting youth athletes.
Rowan’s Law includes a code of conduct for athletes and mandates an advisory committee to consult with Ontario’s Premier. The code is a set of in-game rules tailored to each sport. Meanwhile, the committee helps to implement the rest of the jury’s recommendations into provincial law. It’s made up of medical experts, youth sports leaders, athletes, and Stringer’s father, Gordon. The committee first convened in 2016 and met several times before proposing concussion legislation in December 2017. The final hearing for the legislation took place on March 6, 2017—when it passed with all-party support. In passing Rowan’s Law, Ontario lawmakers are making a bold and long-overdue statement: They are ready to lead the way on big legislative and cultural changes needed to fight the damage concussions do children every year.
Similar laws have been passed all across the United States, but Rowan’s Law is the first of its kind in Canada. Gordon Stringer hopes that other provinces will follow Ontario’s lead and enact what could be life-saving legislation.
“The heavy lifting has been done here in Ontario, but this is not something that’s an Ontario issue,” Mr. Stringer said in an interview with the CBC. “This is something that needs to be addressed across Canada.”
Rowan’s story is heartbreaking—but there’s a light at the end. The new legislation will likely save many young athletes from sustaining irreparable—even fatal—brain damage. Using Rowan’s Law as an example, other provinces should act before preventable tragedy strikes again; lawmakers across Canada must learn from Rowan’s story and make concussion legislation a priority.
But laws are only the beginning. A concussion needs to be accepted as one of the most dangerous injuries in sports by all Canadians. Athletes should never even consider playing after potentially being concussed, nor should they be given the chance to. People should understand how to treat concussions and respect the recovery time needed after one. At the end of the day, it’s not what the legislators do that’s going to have the greatest impact; the change that we make in our attitude will be most important.
I am having trouble finding an internship for this summer. I’ve applied for a few, but have been rejected from some and haven’t heard back from others. My friends are starting to get acceptances, and I can’t help but compare myself to them. I’m worried it’s now too late to apply for any new positions. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Anxious About Internships (AAI)
Dear AAI,
First of all, don’t worry! It is not too late to be applying for summer internships. Although you may feel stressed, know that many students are in the same situation as you. It’s easy to compare yourself to the people who landed star internships this year, but remember that they probably got a few rejections themselves before receiving an acceptance. Many companies are still searching for summer interns into April and May, so keep looking.
First things first, it’s important to learn efficient and effective ways to search for an internship to save yourself time you can use to work on your CV. Start your hunt on a job search engine likeIndeed or idealist.org. Narrow down your options by putting in your specific field of interest and preferred location. While it’s advisable to keep an open mind in searching and not limit your results too much, figure out what your deal breakers are, and weed out results accordingly.
I’d also recommend checking your personal networks for possible opportunities. Ask your friends or family if they know of any job availabilities where they work—if you have a friend who did a cool internship last summer, see if you can get their employer’s email, and ask them personally to express interest. In the same vein, consider reaching out to your previous employers; they may know others looking to hire within the same field. Keep an eye out for networking events around campus—such as program-specific Wine and Cheese nights—since these are held to help students get to know professors and professionals in their line of work.
Once you’ve found an internship and are ready to apply, the most important thing to do is to make sure your CV is up to date and that, along with your cover letter, it is suited to the position for which you’re applying. If you aren’t sure how to do this, McGill’s Career Planning Services (CaPS) or your faculty’s career office can be a great resource to help get you started. They holdinformation sessions as well as provide comprehensive online guides on all things job and internship-related.
If you’ve already applied to summer internships but are not receiving any acceptances, worry not! It’s important to remember that some of the most successful people are those who have also been rejected the most, but kept their chin up and kept going for new opportunities anyway. Think of job rejection the way you would romantic rejection: If a job doesn’t want you, you don’t want that job. It’s likely that another position that you’d be even better for will come along in the future, and you’ll be glad you didn’t get distracted by subpar internships in the mean time.
If you end up job-less this summer, there are still plenty of meaningful ways you can fill your time and boost your CV. Consider taking an intensive course in a valuable skill, like coding, that will make you more employable in the future. Reach out to local non-profits to volunteer your time, or consider getting a part-time job to save up money for the future—you never know when you’ll be offered a great job in an expensive city, and you’ll be glad to have rent money saved up so you can take it without hesitation.
Whether you’re finding it difficult to land a job or an internship for this summer, or have yet to begin the search, don’t worry. Continue to apply and you’ll see that there is always an opportunity waiting around the corner—you just have to go out and look for it.
The most recent estimates of the number of species world-wide, according to Science Daily, suggest that there are around 7.8 million animal species on Earth of which only about one million have been described and catalogued. Fortunately for aspiring field biologists, a staggering 87 per cent of animal species may be still unknown.
Here some of the most extraordinary new animals discovered just this past year.
Synalpheus pinkfloydi : Rock band meets killer shrimp.
The next time you plan on attending a rock concert, consider going to the Pacific coast of Panama, where you can find this tiny sonic killer shrimp.
Synalpheus pinkfloydi may only be 5 millimetres wide, but it packs a loud punch. This crustacean creates a high pressure bubble by snapping its bright pink, enlarged claw at rapid speeds. When the bubble pops, it produces a sonic blast that can reach up to 210 decibels—that’s louder than sound produced at a rock concert. The imploding bubble also produces temperatures up to 4,400˚C, nearly as hot as the sun’s surface.
Aptly named after the rock band Pink Floyd, the pistol shrimp uses its sonic energy to stun or kill prey—usually small fish—and drill burrows into solid basalt rock.
Geckolepis megalepis: A new twist to “jumping out of your skin”
This newly discovered species of gecko—native to Madagascar—iis characterized by its unusually large scales, each of which can range up to eight per cent of the gecko’s total body length. These scales are dense and highly mineralized, creating a mottled brown-grey camouflage for the reptile to hide in its natural limestone habitat.
The most unusual feature that this species exhibits is its unique defensive strategy. When Geckolepis megalepis is grasped by a predator, it quickly sheds the layer of skin beneath its scales. The predator is left with the empty, scaly shell, while the gecko escapes—pink, shiny, and scaleless, but unharmed.
Remarkably, these unscaled geckos show no blood or scarring, and their scales can regrow at unusually fast rates. Currently, scientists are studying the species for medical purposes, with the aim of discovering ways to eliminate scarring during skin repair procedures in humans.
Dendrocerus scutellaris: Cutting edge discovery
Dendrocerus scutellaris is a new species of endoparasitoid wasp—a type of parasite that lives inside another animal before ultimately killing it—that comes equipped with a saw-like structure on its back.
This 2 mm-long insect’s life cycle begins as it hatches inside of its host. The larvae feed on the living organism from the inside out before maturing into their adult form.
Its adult form, only 3 millimetres long, sports a series of jagged spines along its back called mesoscutellar combs. These combs act as a built-in saw, which the wasp can use to cut its way out of its host’s body.
Thankfully, parasitoid wasps are harmless to humans—so there is no need to fear being sliced apart from the inside by a wasp. Typically, their hosts include pest insects like aphids, making these wasps useful for controlling pest populations in agriculture.
Neopalpa donaldtrumpi: Ancestral relations
This newly discovered species of micro-moth bears an eerie resemblance to Donald Trump. It sports a tuft of yellowish-white scales on its head, similar to the unique coiffe sported by the 45th President of the United States.
Social media users, however, were quick to focus on the other ironic features of the micro-moth, including its Mexican-American habitat and its especially small genitalia.
Evolutionary biologist and systematist Vazrick Nazari, who named this new species of moth, hoped that naming the new moth after President Trump would bring attention to the new species and highlight the crucial need for further conservation of fragile habitats from the threat of urbanization.
The seven candidates for positions in the 2018-2019 Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Executive Committee convened on March 13 for a debate hosted by Elections SSMU. Candidates for each of SSMU’s six executive portfolios presented their platforms, fielded student and press questions, and gave closing statements. Although the event was meant to be a structured debate between opposing candidates for the same positions, all five Vice President (VP) portfolios are running uncontested. The polling period begins March 19 and closes March 21 at 3 p.m., after which results will be announced.
VP Finance – Jun Wang
SSMU’s VP Finance manages the Society’s human resources and finances, which involves preparing a budget report and signing off on SSMU expenses.
Jun Wang, U2 Management and the sole candidate for the position, is running on a platform promising to restructure SSMU’s finances to promote the efficient allocation of funding, make funding more accessible, and improve transparency in the office.
“I believe [being a good] VP Finance is to understand student groups and to tackle the certain costs and inefficiencies in the system [in order] to streamline [and] meet student needs,” Wang said in his opening statement.
Wang aims to make the Executive Committee more transparent by introducing performance evaluations for each position. Wang also plans to share the VP Finance’s agenda in weekly memos posted on SSMU’s Accountability webpage.
“The weekly memos [would be] on simple activities like, ‘what did you do this week, who did you meet with, is there any projected funds that you talked about?’” Wang said. “Having this transparency on what people actually do posted on SSMU website […] will really show the student body what [SSMU is] actually using their funds for.”
VP Student Life – Cody Esterle
The VP Student Life acts a liaison between SSMU and clubs, services, and independent student groups, in addition to working closely with SSMU’s mental health services and McGill’s Student Services.
Cody Esterle, U2 Arts, who is running for the office uncontested, heavily underscored the role of the VP Student Life in promoting and collaborating with McGill’s mental health services in their platform.
“We need to be able to touch individual students who are suffering with mental health [ailments] directly, and so that is why […I would like to] have some counsellors that would be available to go to residences […or] at least have sharing sessions where students can talk about their mental health problems in residence,” Esterle said in their closing statement. “That would help destigmatize mental health [problems] because people would realize that the students around them are suffering too.”
Esterle also proposed creating a search engine on the SSMU website to help students find SSMU clubs and student groups that match their interests.
VP External – Marina Cupido
The VP External manages relations between SSMU and various non-McGill actors including the municipal and provincial governments, community organizations, and provincial student federations. The office is also responsible for organizing and mobilizing students for a variety of political causes.
At the debate, Marina Cupido, U4 Arts, whose bid for VP External is unopposed, explained her perspective on SSMU as a political institution.
“The reason I am running for this position is because, after spending four years reporting on SSMU and student life at McGill[for The McGill Daily] […] I both developed a deep appreciation for what SSMU can and does offer to students and a deep frustration with all the ways in which […] SSMU is often inefficient and isolated,” Cupido said in her opening statement.
Cupido’s primary objective is to promote accessibility at many levels at McGill, with particular regard for Francophone students, Indigenous students, and students who require financial assistance. She also plans to devote resources to improving relations between long-term residents of the Milton-Parc community and McGill students, many of whom are temporary renters in the neighborhood.
“I would like to organize […] an event at which members of the community and McGill students could come together and […] become aware of all of the work that has been done, is being done, and can be done to facilitate relations between those communities,” Cupido said.
VP Internal – Matthew McLaughlin
SSMU’s VP Internal is in charge of communication between the Executive Committee and SSMU members as well as managing planning for large-scale events including Frosh, SSMU and MUS’ Halloween Party, and various other events including Faculty Olympics.
Matthew McLaughlin, U0 Management, who is running unchallenged, described his plans to improve a number of the committees within the VP Internal portfolio, including increasing training for members of the Students’ Society Programming Network and reforming First Year Council.
McLaughlin also expressed his commitment to finding alternative spaces for SSMU events in light of the impending closure of the University Centre.
“I think […we] can collaborate more between faculties,” Mclaughlin said. “We can use [the closure] as a chance to use the spaces in different faculties by fostering those relationships and leveraging them [….] Also, engaging with the Montreal community more broadly [is important]. This is a chance […] to connect with them as SSMU and use [Montreal] spaces to plan events as well.”
VP University Affairs – Jacob Shapiro
The VP University Affairs acts as a representative for undergraduate students in the McGill Senate and many of its committees, and is consulted by the administration regarding matters of academic policy and equity complaints.
Jacob Shapiro, U3 Arts, who also lacked a competitor, explained that his passion for teaching and learning motivated him to run for the office of VP University Affairs.
“Most people that know me know that I am animated and have a passion for education,” Shapiro said. “I think any position at SSMU […] is really about thinking about […] how [SSMU can] reduce the barriers so that we can have fairer, kinder, and more accessible education. That prompted me to run.”
Shapiro plans to maintain efforts by the current VP University Affairs Isabelle Oke to refocus the office’s mandate through constitutional reform.
“We need to have a system that is designed to represent students and that reminds itself it’s a student union,” Shapiro said. “I think the idea of having town halls and forums where people can engage with each other is on point.”
Although advocating for Open Educational Resources at McGill will be his top priority, he clarified that he hopes that reforms to the office’s mandate will allow him to advocate for a plurality of initiatives.
President – Corrine Bulger and Tre Mansdoerfer
SSMU’s President is the chief officer of the Society, a member of the student Senate Caucus, and the chair of both the Board of Directors (BoD) and the Executive Committee. The President also represents students at a number of administrative bodies, including McGill’s Board of Governors (BoG) and two committees of Senate.
Corrine Bulger, U2 Arts, is running on a platform of increasing the number of SSMU community spaces, following through with incumbents’ projects—including creating a SSMU sexual violence policy and improving relations with the Milton-Parc community—and making SSMU governance more accessible by incorporating multimedia.
Tre Mansdoerfer, U2 Engineering, wishes to develop closer relationships with faculty associations and increase their participation and representation in Senate, re-establish students’ trust in SSMU’s governance, and advocate for initiatives including a Fall reading week, improvements in mental health services, and redressing McGill’s Sexual Violence Policy.
Both Bulger and Mansdoerfer agreed that, as chair of the BoD, the President should be stripped of the power to vote and that the BoD’s membership should be broadened. However, while Mansdoerfer believes that the BoD should add an alumni director, Bulger contended that SSMU should add a non-McGill director with expertise in governance.
“We are a bunch of 20 year olds at the end of the day,” Bulger said. “We do not have the extensive experience [of] someone who has been in law, or who has been in banking as an accountant for years.”
Mansdoerfer noted that his experience serving in a variety of SSMU offices distinguishes him from Bulger.
“I think I’ve seen [SSMU] a bit more and I have a bit longer history [with] it,” Mansdoerfer said. “I [also] think I meet outside my faculty a lot more, and engage with a lot of different student groups on campus. I have strong relationships in most of the faculties through my work as student Senator and Council member.”
Above his home bar hangs Dan Tranquili’s most prized possession: A nine foot long, $10 swordfish that normally sells for hundreds of dollars. If one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, Tranquili, the owner of vintage boutique Pionnier Rétro, is making the most of it by buying second-hand.
“It’s the collecting part [of thrifting] that I like,” Tranquili said. “I shop for the shape, the look [….] You get to meet all kinds of different people and look through their stuff.”
Tranquili is one of eight antique dealers who joined the Marché Underground (MU), a vintage shop collective located at 3731 Notre-Dame Street West in Saint-Henri. The unassuming store, which shares a building with a hair salon, has catered to antique enthusiasts since its official opening in November 2017.
The floor at its entrance is lined with Pac-Man-themed tiles, welcoming shoppers into the shop’s six warmly lit rooms highlighting the trendiest fashions, gadgets, and novelty items of yesteryear.
Each room belongs to a member of the cooperative and features products including endearingly kitsch furniture from Tranquili’s own boutique as well as eclectic items from Quebec vintage stores Retro Barjo, Esprit Vintage, Cheeky Bam, Caribou Vintage, Fringuez Vous, Kapharnaüm, and MU founder Valerie Lalonde’s Mixx Authentik.
“Vintage pickers, we’re kind of bohemian,” Tranquili said. “We’re a hard bunch to get ahold of to get down to business, but [Lalonde] was able to do that.”
Persuading owners to donate their belongings and then resisting the temptation to hoard items are the two biggest challenges Tranquili encounters in his line of work. He recalled how an 85-year-old woman who was moving to a retirement home reluctantly gave him her small, pink, boudoir chair.
“[The woman] started crying,” Tranquili recounted. “I’m not sure if [the chair] meant something to her or more that is was at that moment that she realized that she was moving out of where she lived for the past 65 years [….] Those times are hard [….] You’re looking through the things with them, and they [have memories]. Sometimes, it gets emotional.”
Delphine Prieur, owner of vintage clothing store Cheeky Bam, credited her mother, Marie-Line Briens, owner of Retro Barjo, for sparking her interest in collecting vintage fashion pieces professionally. In her late teens, Prieur scoured church basements in search of unique decorations from the 1960’s and 1970’s until she eventually found her calling.
“I would find objects with a lot of flamingos and florals, things that were really ugly that others didn’t like at the time,” Prieur said. “After a while, I realized that there was a term for [these] things, ‘kitsch’. My mother also had a lot of antiques around the house when I was growing up, and that’s how I became more intrigued about those years.”*
While kitsch fashion is by definition gaudy, Prieur insists that anyone with a good sense of humour can pull off the style tastefully.
“[To wear] kitsch clothing, you have to really own the look,” Prieur said. “You can’t take yourself seriously. If not, you’ll worry about what others think. Kitsch clothes are a statement that says, ‘I’m going to wear whatever I want.’”*
From its wide array of vintage cameras to its collection of 1960’s mod sunglasses, MU offers novelty items for all tastes. In addition, the collective holds seasonal four-day “MEGA” sales, during which a sizeable number of goods cost $15 or less and are restocked after each day. Cégep Saint-Laurent student Jorge Garduno, who discovered the store through social media posts, attended the March 7 mega sale to find secondhand objects with a story.
“It was pure luck that I found [MU],” Garduno said. “We tend to base objects’ significance on their price and shipping costs, instead of the object itself, which is bit of a shame [….MU’s] name is a good reference to older, underground items, in the sense that the store is trying to give [these old objects] a new life.”*
Due to the significant outrage sparked by our previous “Oscar Snubs” list, and the end of Oscar season forecasting a barren eight months for movie thinkpieces, TheMcGill Tribune is proud to present our latest innovation in the Oscar-related content you crave. Welcome to The McGill Tribune’s Oscar Snubs Snubs. The snubs from our original snubs list. “Snubception,” if you will. We haven’t published any Paddington 2 content yet and this fills that gap.
Supporting Actors – 2018’s Mount Rushmore of best supporting fathers
Gabe Nisker
Meet your new founding fathers. I know there’s already a long list of towering patriarchal figures in film–from Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972) to Marlin in Finding Nemo (2003)–but it’s this year’s Oscar-snubbed crop that has me up in arms and ready to start a Movie Dad Hall of Fame.
In Call Me By Your Name, Elio’s father, Samuel Perlman, plays unintentional matchmaker in bringing the lead couple together—and Michael Stuhlbarg is brilliant in the role. When he ‘challenges’ Armie Hammer’s Oliver on etymology, you pay attention. But then he proceeds to stomp all over your heart with an all-time monologue—a beautiful message of love and acceptance, saying all the right words Elio needs to hear from his dad—and that is the moment you realize that he deserves an Oscar nomination.
While the mother-daughter centered Lady Bird soared on the shoulders of Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts delivered a scene-stealing performance in the wings. He cracks good jokes, helps Lady Bird apply to her dream school, and has an excellent character arc all his own. Most of all, he deserves to take home this year’s award for the the best declaration of intent to buy Doritos.
And, finally, legendary sitcom father Ray Romano makes his return to fatherhood in The Big Sick. Delivering dad jokes and some nonsensical pseudo-philosophy with heart and wit, Romano handles his character’s emotional development beautifully.
Best Picture – Una (dir. Benedict Andrews)
Christina Stackpole
In Una, Benedict Andrews’ adaptation of David Harrower’s play Blackbird (2004), Rooney Mara stars as the titular young woman who confronts her childhood neighbour and abuser, Ray (Ben Mendelsohn). Set almost entirely in an empty factory warehouse, Una plays out like an intricately choreographed dance between Mara and Mendelsohn, wandering through a labyrinth of corridors and storage rooms as they revisit the painful and murky past. Andrews avoids reinforcing stereotypes of the helpless victim and remorseless predator, instead crafting a believable and heart-wrenching–albeit toxic–relationship between the two characters.
In a year when sexual abuse has been at the forefront of popular discourse, Una is potent and relevant, making a bold statement about blurred lines of consent, healing from abuse, and reclaiming one’s self-worth.
Best Actor – Hugh Jackman in Logan
Avery Warkentin
Although Logan already made Oscar history as the first superhero movie nominated in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, the word “comic book” remains an Academy taboo. Hugh Jackman gives the performance of his career as a decrepit version of the iconic Wolverine–a role which he has been playing for close to two decades. Jackman’s brutally honest portrayal in Logan is emotional and mesmerizing, telling a mature story about regret, sorrow, and death that should be commended. Logan transcends typical hero-fantasy clichés, and Jackman’s performance in particular redefines the meaning of “superhero”—an achievement that merits recognition, regardless of genre or source material.
Best Director – Sean Baker for The Florida Project
Maxime Scraire
More so than almost any other film that came out this year, The Florida Project succeeds because of the way it is shot. To tell a tragic story about Florida’s very real and hidden homelessness problem, Baker boldly chose to adopt the point of view of Moonee, a precocious six-year-old. The camera almost always stays at her eye-level, often completely leaving too-tall-adults’ faces off-screen. This technique allows audiences to see the world as she does, and Baker’s camera turns rundown motels into a colourful Disneyland. Adopting this childlike perspective makes the movie, transforming its tone while forcing audiences to decipher the drama unfolding in the background. If the best directors are indeed those who know best where to put the camera, then Sean Baker feels like a no brainer.
Best Supporting Actor – Hugh Grant (Paddington 2)
Katia Innes
Hugh Grant was robbed. Often relegated to the affably-charming romantic interest, in Paddington 2, Grant steps out of his comfort zone into multiple disguises (including dog, nun, and pirate) as Phoenix Buchanan, a dastardly failed thespian. Historically, the Oscars have overlooked comedic roles in almost all categories—and that’s a shame. Grant plays Buchanan with such chutzpah and charisma that it’s impossible to look away. This turn earned Grant a BAFTA nod for Best Supporting Actor, which makes his exclusion from the Oscar ballot all the more disappointing.
Best Original Screenplay – Brigsby Bear (Kyle Mooney & Kevin Costello)
Luke Sarabia
Although original and entertaining comedies have become increasingly few and far between over the past decade, 2017 brought two (The Big Sick and Lady Bird) deemed worthy by the Academy for their clever and heartfelt screenplays. However, Brigsby Bear, likely the year’s funniest and most inventive comedy, was sadly overlooked. Written by SNL star Kyle Mooney (who also stars) and childhood friend Kevin Costello, Brigsby Bear is the story of a man-child thrust into a terrifying new world with who longs only for a new episode of his favourite TV show. It is thoroughly heartfelt without bordering on cliché, and absurdly hilarious without being vacuous. Mooney’s superb performance steals the show, but the film is anchored by its surprising and intelligent script, offering commentary on pop culture obsession, the complexities of family, and countless laughs.
When I was six years old, I had a knights-and-princesses-themed birthday party. I remember seeing my mom dressed up as a fortune teller to ensure that my best friend and I would have an authentic and magical medieval experience. As a kid, I wholeheartedly believed that there was some kind of magical future-predicting force out there. I was mesmerized by the crystal ball, a decorative mantelpiece repurposed for the party, and I asked her to tell me if I would survive the workload required of the second grade.
As a 21-year-old university student I now understand that my mother was not, in fact, a psychic with unique insight into my scholastic performance, but my sixth birthday party stirred a long-held interest in the supernatural.
Diviners and the practice of divination originated in ancient times across the globe, when supernatural practitioners often held roles in government to advise the highest-ranking authorities. From the augurs of ancient Rome to the oracles and seers of ancient Greece, psychics served as conduits through which the gods communicated with humankind. Les Propheties, a collection of prophecies divined by French seer Michel de Nostredame and published in 1555, was interpreted to have predicted major world events like the French Revolution, the Second World War’s deployment of the atomic bomb, and even the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The popular press and his supporters have hailed de Nostredame—celebrated under his more popular title, Nostradamus—as the original, authentic psychic. While his predictions were characteristically vague and, in some cases, intentionally mistranslated, his posthumus fame still reigns almost 500 years later, a testament to a fervent and scandalous interest in the supernatural.
However, even if they were once considered pivotal to the functioning of ancient societies, modern-day psychics with supposed extra-sensory perception (ESP)—better known as a sixth sense or supernormal awareness—are shrouded in doubt and claims of fraudulence from the skeptical contemporary public. Cases of psychic fraud have even made headlines in Canada and the United States: Last month, a Maryland county court convicted psychic Gina Marie Marks of felony theft with damages amounting to $340,000. Five former customers accused her of stealing from them to cure them of “curses” they purportedly carried. Last August, Soriba Camara, a Montreal con artist, convinced a man to give him $80,000 under the pretense of increasing his client’s odds at winning the lottery. Camara was posing as a psychic and advertised his ability to solve customers’ financial or romantic problems in a local newspaper.
Stories of fraud aren’t the only things that make us wary of having our fortune told: The scientific community routinely publishes studies that reinforce public skepticism by putting psychic claims to the test. Even déjà vu, a mystical feeling familiar to most people—and probably the most eerie occurrence that even skeptics experience—has recently been debunked. Déjà vu is a memory phenomenon that occurs when an individual is presented with a scenario that is similar to an original memory that they are unable to recall. On March 1, researches at Colorado State University created virtual reality scenarios using the The Sims 2 (2004) video game to explain the phenomenon of déjà-vu. In the game, the team at Colorado State University were able to prompt déjà-vu by showing people scenes that differed slightly but were spatially similar to ones they had seen before.
Despite a wealth of publications vehemently disproving psychic abilities, it is difficult to completely extinguish doubt. A burning curiosity encourages us to wonder: “What if it could still be real?”
The popular image of TV-special psychics charging exorbitant prices for an unmethodical, fake service has shaped public perceptions of psychics. Sam Mathews, U3 Chemical Engineering and psychic denier, expressed his disinterest in consulting a psychic.
“I would not visit a psychic because it’s [a pseudoscience],” Mathews said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “Way above the level of psychics, I like to think I have more of a free will [than they say]. They also give very general [advice] like you will have success three years from now, and you fill in the gaps [yourself.]”
The run-of-the-mill, homogenous, and generic advice offered in many supernatural readings is one reason why people choose not to consult psychics. Alanna Miller, U3 Pharmacology, agreed that visiting a psychic or a mystic goes against her inclination that actions shape the future.
“I don’t think I would go,” Miller said. “Mostly because as a science student, I’m founded much more in science than in [mysticism.…] I’d like to believe I have some control over what happens to me and that there’s some sort of spontaneity [and] that my actions dictate what happens to me, not a set of cards.”
Yet, curiosity is a popular motivation for many. Maël Mauchand, a first-year master’s student in Neuroscience, admitted that he would visit a psychic out of general interest.
“I would go, mostly out of curiosity,” Mauchand said. “I think as soon as you get told something about your future, it will influence your future.”
Montreal, a vibrant and diverse city that has space for just about anything and anyone, is a hub of ESP activity. The city hosts numerous psychics, offering a variety of services ranging from tarot readings, to fortune telling, to palm readings, and reaching out to spirits beyond the grave. The community includes practitioners who work part-time and full-time as psychics.
Dominique Arganese is a medium and psychic, meaning that she both mediates communication between spirits and humans, and identifies hidden information such as another person’s thoughts using ESP. She offers services in clairvoyance, spirituality, and esotericism—a rather vague body of knowledge that describes mystical and spiritual points of view as part of a movement toward a world-view that negates the disenchantment of natural phenomena through frameworks like science and embraces enchantment as an alternative. Previously featured on MTL Blog for her work as both a psychic and model, Arganese has a strong social media presence with close to 6,000 Instagram followers, uncharacteristic of most mediums.
Arganese works as a psychic part-time, and focuses the remainder of her days on her esoteric—meaning symbolic or mystical in this instance—online ring business. Arganese’s specialty is reading tarot cards.
Although she didn’t acknowledge her abilities until later in her life when she foresaw the death of the father of one of her friends, Arganese says that clairvoyance is a gift that runs in her family.
“It’s a family thing from my Italian side,” Arganese said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “My grandfather was a healer and his brother is still a psychic in Rome. At first I didn’t really know about that, so [my sister and I] were doing the cards when we were young, and everything we were saying was [coming true].”
Arganese’s client base is mostly female aged from 17 and 65. While she works primarily through referrals from her established customers, Arganese also attracts clients through her online boutique. She delivers thorough readings in person, which differ from the stereotypical call-in programs that people tune into on long highway drives.
“I was asked to do my own TV programme,” Arganese said. “[But] when I saw the show, I was like, ‘that’s just not how it works.’ You can’t talk to 10 people on the phone within 20 minutes. It’s impossible. And you can’t say stuff that’s really going to help [people].”
In the psychic business, the divide between financially-motivated psychics and those driven by a sense of vocation makes it difficult for customers to experience a standard quality of service across the board. Finding a good psychic, according to Arganese, is akin to pulling a needle out of a haystack.
“Psychics are misunderstood because I think that at least half of the psychics just want to make money, and the other half actually want to help people,” Arganese said. “I don’t think that I’m like other psychics. I don’t read the future, I don’t sell dreams, [and] I don’t say that things will happen if I don’t feel them. It’s more philosophy, using my cards, [it’s] a spiritual awakening in people, this is what I do. With the tarot cards I can add visions of the future, but you can change your future at any time you want.”
While tarot cards are common practice across the board, a number of psychics specialize in alternative healing techniques for their clients. Offering her services in both Montreal and LaSalle, Nora Love and Light is a specialist in Reiki—a Japanese healing technique that reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Although she has worked as a psychic, certified Reiki master, and energy healing therapist for the past nine years, it had never been a part of Nora’s plan.
“This is not what I did all my life,” Nora said. “It’s been nine years, doing [this]. But was that ever my dream? No. Never in my life I would have thought that I would be reading tarot or [working as a] psychic.”
Nora worked in market research prior to opening up her psychic business. She received what she described as a calling to practice Reiki and to help people.
“I had a big job but then life changed […] and then in 2009 I lost everything. Everything,” Nora said. “I started becoming very religious [and] was guided to do Reiki. It was like a calling.”
Nora’s goal as a psychic is to guide her clients toward their true potential through tarot readings, personalized coaching, and workshops, in an attempt to help them manifest their ideal life.
“My clients are mostly people [who] are in the state of awakening,” Nora said. “Mostly the clients [who] come just want messages on what to do next, where to go next. I don’t tell people they’re going to get married. I teach people that they create their life through the law of attraction. As I’m doing the guidance, I see where they’re blocked […] and I can help people manifest what they want.”
Nora sees her role as one of providing guidance rather than predicting fortunes. She prescribes her clients exercises and activities to foster their spiritual growth even after their appointments.
“My catchphrase is, ‘let me help you help yourself,’” Nora said. “I can help people guide [themselves,] but it’s up to them to take [my guidance] or not. The message is more advice. I trust that the clients that need to see me will come and see me. They listen to their intuition and they come here. I don’t want regular clients, because they come back for the same answers.”
Ultimately, there is no reconciling the wealth of disparate opinions and knowledge regarding ESP. In the age of mass media and misinformation, psychic believers can find articles that claim to prove the paranormal. While many psychics hold a negative reputation for their work as scammers and con artists, lumping all practitioners into a single category is unfair and ignorant.
Though I may not be a believer in mysticism or paranormality, I am not a complete skeptic either. I can appreciate that there are outliers who really are trying to help and guide their clients, similar to life- and wellness-coaches. Psychic work joins homeopathy under the larger umbrella of the pseudosciences. And while pseudosciences may not be considered true sciences or grounded in reason, people still feel that they work and that they can derive peace of mind from the comfort they provide.
So maybe visiting a psychic won’t tell you whether you’ll have a spring or a winter wedding, or if you’re going to nail that job interview, or even if you’re going to pass the second grade—but you might leave the services of someone like Arganese or Nora with a greater sense of self-confidence and an idea of what step to take next in the face of hardship.
And whether or not you’re planning on visiting a psychic in Montreal, the consensus among students and psychics alike is that the individual ultimately manifests what’s in their own cards.
