March 29, 2024

OPINION: Minimum wage increases, but it’s not enough for single living expenses

When we graduate high school, most dream of seeking a higher level of education to discover themselves and achieve their dream jobs. But for some, this type of education is not possible, resulting in them seeking either part-time or full-time employment that pays only minimum wage. On April 5, the Ontario government announced that the minimum wage will increase to $15.50 per hour from $15 per hour beginning Oct. 1, … Continued

Audio Review: Thus Owls ‘Who Would Hold You If The Sky Betrayed Us?’

Thus Owls is back with their seventh project. The married duo of Erika and Simon Angell, originally from Sweden and based out of Montreal, have been set to prove just how far their combination of jazz, improv and alternative indie could persevere project upon project. With ‘Who Would Hold You If The Sky Betrayed Us?’ they aspire to bring another whirlwind of continuous sound in 66 minutes, but does the … Continued

OPINION: Does Ryan Reynold’s character in The Adam Project feel a little too familiar?

Beloved actor Ryan Reynolds stars in his first Netflix original film, The Adam Project, which released earlier this month on March 11. The movie is an action-packed sci-fi adventure featuring time travel, high-tech equipment, and an interesting take on where the future of science and physics might lead us in our technological developments. Apart from Reynolds, the cast is star-studded with other household names like Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. … Continued

VIDEO REVIEW: Shatter Me will shatter you using all the words imaginable

Reading is a great way to relax, but it can also improve your mental health. You can put your current world behind you and dive into one that will sweep you off your feet; you can meet new and interesting people along the way. Shatter Me is a dystopian novel written by Tahereh Mafi. Mafi uses exceptional writing and description that will transport you into a world that could potentially … Continued

Review: Turning Red is a heartwarming love letter to Canada

Spoiler warning: Article may contain spoilers for the film Turning Red. What is red, white, and furry all over? The adorable red panda Meilin “Mei” Lee in Disney Pixar’s latest movie Turning Red. The coming-of-age film, set in Toronto in 2002, follows the story of 13-year-old Lee, a Chinese-Canadian girl who discovers that she turns into a giant red panda when she experiences intense emotions.  Turning Red is Pixar’s first feature-length film to … Continued

OPINION: Makeup for men shouldn’t be “normalized” – not for the reason you might think

Men using makeup has become more common, especially once public figures like James Charles – the first Cover Boy for Covergirl – popped up. While self-expression should be celebrated, normalizing makeup for men is a slippery slope into pressuring them to uphold yet another beauty standard. It also contributes to the division between men’s and women’s products. On Feb. 28, Stryx, a skincare company for men, posted a TikTok video … Continued

‘Darkness and Light’ concert aims to bring a late composer’s work to life

Arms swung vigorously across the empty space between each stringed instrument, never for the audience to predict. Row on row of heads, eagerly following their direction on both sides of the podium. No, this isn’t a sports commentary track, it’s the latest show from the Kitchener–Waterloo Symphony (KWS).  The ‘Darkness and Light‘ show, curated and conducted by Andrei Feher and performed by the KWS and ‘The Elora Singers,’ aimed to … Continued

“Holy reviews, Batman!” (The Batman spoiler-free review)

Riddle me this, what’s dark, dreary, and makes you have to pee?  With a runtime that is four minutes shy of three hours, The Batman feels longer than it needs to be.  The runtime of this movie has been met with some support from die-hard fans who suggest that it needed to be this long, but the die-hard fan within me tells me it was not necessary. Both Seven (David … Continued

REVIEW: Montreal and poutine, the most Canadian combination ever

Chicago is known for its famous deep-dish pizza, Italy is known for handmade pasta, and France is known for macarons. Here in Canada, poutine tops my list of famous Canadian food. Poutine originated in the 1950s in Quebec; a French-speaking province located in eastern Canada. It is fried with a distinct flavoured gravy that will melt in your mouth. Oh, and don’t forget those fresh cheese curds on top. But … Continued

REVIEW: Teens in hit series Euphoria are too cool for school

Spoiler Alert and Content Warning: This article discusses graphic/explicit content, including substance abuse, domestic violence, and body image. Euphoria is back and with it comes more dark and shocking drama than ever before. Every Sunday night since the season two premiere on Jan. 9, viewers have tuned in to watch as the show pits young teens against the gruesome realities of the world. But, despite the anxiety-inducing content, millions of viewers like … Continued

REVIEW: This Is Us is a well-crafted show that leads you down a path of emotions

At some point in our lives, we will experience some sort of loss or traumatic event that will change us. In NBC’S This Is Us, you will experience those losses in every way possible. This Is Us follows the Pearson family; Rebecca Pearson (Mandy Moore), Jack Pearson(Milo Ventimiglia), Kate Pearson (Chrissy Metz), Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley), and Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown), as they work their way through life and … Continued

OPINION: I’m unsure of where I stand on the convoy, but I’m not convinced it’s a white nationalist movement

What was once labelled as a “small fringe minority”  with “unacceptable views” by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the “Freedom convoy” has evolved into a large-scale movement with independent protests across Canada, including Waterloo Town Square last weekend. There were some legitimate concerns on both sides of the political spectrum, but there’s been one commonly cited criticism that seemingly dismisses the movement as a whole. The blanket statement that the … Continued