Disengaging From Consumerism During Covid-19 

Disengaging From Consumerism During Covid-19 

We are flooded with corporate propaganda, everywhere we go or see online we find ads trying to capture our attention. Corporations stimulate and encourage us to buy and spend money on things we may not need; our brains are receiving information from hundreds of commercial ads. One can simply engage in social media, walk on the street or watch T.V. to come in contact with many advertisements. Corporative propaganda floods the internet and it expresses specific products or opinions in different ways, such as through videos, news, etc. Similarly, one may check on the cellphone or any technological device and spend hours on websites such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook Netflix, Tinder, Snapp chat etc. As such, social media and consumerism can extract much of our time, money and energy. This results, especially for people who may be emotionally vulnerable watching or reading information about Covid-19, in heightened levels of anxiety.  

Covid-19 has sparked fear on entire populations regardless of race, economic background, or country of origin. This is problematic because fear can trigger and block a person’s ability to think and even function properly. One need not research for too long to discover the negative effects fear has on the body and spirit; it is said that, “[n]o passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear”. Despite all this toxic environment of hate and fear, we may explore different options for our entertainment and education. 

Socialization is restricted during Covid-19, therefore we can ignore spending our money on items like wedding gifts, alcohol at the bar, or traveling outside Canada. These resrictions also mean that bill payments are done mostly online, and university is online as well -- almost everything is done online. Rather than see these as negative, the pandemic could help us disengage from the world of mass consumption since we may not socialize as much. Many items and services that corporations offered to consumers before the pandemic may be irrelevant during this time. Afterall, many advertised products and services require socialization for their promotion and consumption, such as tourism, dining in restaurants, concerts, or parties. Moreover, this could be the right time to focus our attention on different activities while ignoring consumerism culture for a while. A variety of activities exist that may disengage us from capitalism consumer culture. Cultivating the practice of mediation may help us disengage from fashion, politics, Covid-19 news, and work stress. Meditation helps to relieve the mind from stress, and it may connect with our inner self. Lockdowns during Covid-19 may provide us with new opportunities to craft new arts. We can master a new field, study new languages -- this is the perfect time to learn what we always wanted to but did not have time for. Human creativity is infinite just like the universe, it knows no limits. Improving ourselves may help alleviate the effects of not socializing much during Covid-19.

By 

Eder Leonel Torres, Reporter

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Old Movies to Re-watch now

Old Movies to Re-watch now 

By Kiersten Garbutt

Anyone up for a classic movie night marathon? Make the popcorn and get in your favourite pyjamas because all these movies you can watch at the comfort of your own bed, using Netflix of course. 

Up first we have Dirty Dancing, starring Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, and Jerry Orbach. This movie was produced in 1987. The movie starts with a family, two sisters, and a mother and father. They are driving to a summer resort for vacation. Young 17-year-old Frances meets a dance instructor and falls in love. A lot of the movie is dedicated to Frances and the bad boy dance instructor trying to nail a dance routine to save a common friend. If you love a good romantic movie this one is definitely for you.

If you are not into romantic movies, then this second movie is for you. An old-time comedy called Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Mia Sara.  This movie is about a group of high schoolers that decide to take a day off and skip school. The group of teenagers get in loads of trouble but still manage to have a great, funny, memorable day. 

To finish off your movie marathon, let's end it with a classic musical, Annie. This childhood favourite will have you singing “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow” all the next day. This movie stars Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney, and Carol Burnett. The movie begins with an orphan girl that catches the eye of a multi millionaire. The rich man begins the search to find Annie’s real parents, with a huge sum of award money attracts many bad guys, including Annie’s old orphanage houseparent.

I hope this movie marathon list helps you relax after mid-terms and creates a feeling of nostalgia.  

PS5 or Xbox Series X, which one to buy?

PS5 or Xbox Series X, which one to buy?

Hashim Farooq

Both Sony and Microsoft have been dominating the video console “game” for the last decade. Arguments always erupt when choosing the “better” console. There are many factors that people look at when deciding the “better” console; User interface, price, console specific games, power, speed and overall performance of the consoles.  Many of the consumers of video game consoles tend to choose preference on previous consoles owned and their loyalty, this is due to the business scheme of Microsoft and Sony. Microsoft has adopted their own environment (similar to what Apple has done), where owning an Xbox fits in with Microsoft services and allows you to play your Xbox games on your windows computer, this gives Microsoft a big advantage. This is where Sony has sort of a disadvantage, all of Sony’s attempts at building an environment have failed, but Sony has made up for that with their huge fanbase and their PS3 (one of the most sold consoles of all time) which allowed users to play video games online without a subscription (unlike Xbox). When the PS4 was released Sony opted for the subscription method (as it would make them more money). Now with the release of the Xbox Series X and PS5 in November the two pretty evenly matched, or are they? Let’s compare. 

Starting off with the Xbox Series X and Series S, that’s right Xbox released two new consoles. It seems like Microsoft is taking tips from Apple and Samsung as they built a cheaper more affordable version of their new flagship console, the Series S. Sony has also released two new consoles, the PS5 and PS5 digital edition. There isn’t much of a difference other than the optical drive and their difference in price; which is only expected to be around $100. All of these consoles have similar performance and speed, where they differ is the user interface, portability, resolution, price, and graphics. Right now, it’s hard to tell which console is going to be “better” based on what we know so far. 

Choosing which console to buy is based on you, do you prefer a cheaper console? Then the Xbox Series S is for you, do you prefer 4k and better graphics? Then the PS5 and Xbox series X are for you. When it comes down to it price, games available and user interface play a big role in choosing the perfect console, but loyalty is the protagonist. 

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Cobra Kai - A Review 

Cobra Kai - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently watched the Netflix show Cobra Kai with my parents, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But, before I go any further, I want to mention that this review will contain spoilers, so SPOILER ALERT! I also want to set some trigger warnings, for: alcoholism, violence (in general, the show is about karate), child neglect, smoking, snakes (it is more imagery, not real snakes), bullying, fatphobia, sexual harassment, car crash, underage drinking, and persistent drinking and driving. Cobra Kai is a sequel to the Karate Kid movies, and stars Ralph Macchio (The Outsiders, The Karate Kid), William Zabka (The Man in the Silo, The Karate Kid), Xolo Mariduena (Goodnight America, Twin Peaks), Courtney Henggeler (Into the Dark, Do Not Reply), and Tanner Buchanan (The Fosters, Chance). 

To enjoy the show to the fullest extent, it does require minimal Karate Kid knowledge. In the show, Lawrence (played by William Zabka) and Larusso (played by Ralph Macchio) have a rivalry from the past which I liked at first, but it eventually got old. I loved all the flashbacks that they included to the original movies! The show is very easy to binge, with 10 30-minute episodes per season, with a lot of cliffhangers. It was interesting to me how opposite Larusso and Lawrence are. I loved how in the show, the Cobra Kai dojo started out to teach kids self-defense, but at the end it went too far. I really liked all the romance, especially the forbidden love trope with Miguel and Samantha. I loved all the 80s references and found it funny how Lawrence did not know modern slang and how to use a cell phone. There were some jokes and references that I did not get because I have not watched the Karate Kid movies in a long time. Throughout watching the show, I was torn about which side of the rivalry to support (and I still am). My overall rating is 9/10, because I wished the rivalry was sorted out and I did not like that season 2 ended on a cliffhanger, but I am very excited for season 3! 

Chess Puzzle

J. Blackburne V. W. Steinitz

Vienna 1882

“I guess I should have checked that twice”

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White to play

Y. Vilner, 1st Pr. Problems and Studies, 1929

White to Play

Answer: 1. Re2! With the silent threat of Re3 and Nc2# The most challenging line for white to solve after 1. Re2 is 1…Qxa6 2. Qa7 Rb6 3. Bc6# If instead 1…Rxh6 2.e5 Qg6 3. Be6#

Chess Puzzle

Y. Vilner, 1st Pr. Problems and Studies, 1929

White to Play

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#3 13+11

W. Shinkman, 1st Prize

Huddersfield College Mag. 1877

White to Play and Mate in Two

Answer: 1. Bh4! Kxd5 2. Bb3# If 1. Bh4 d6 2. Nbc7# If 1. Bh4 e4 2. Qxe4# If 1. Bh4 f6 2.Ndc7# If 1. Bh4 f5 2. Qe7# 

Taylor Swift folklore Review 

Taylor Swift folklore Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Taylor Swift announced via her social media accounts that she was releasing a surprise eighth album, titled “folklore” at midnight the night of Thursday, July 23rd. The announcement was made  early Thursday morning. I was shocked and super excited all day long. My Four Town Journal readers may remember from previous articles, that I am a huge Taylor Swift fan. It was eleven months to the day since she released her seventh album “Lover.” I listened to the album in my room, in the dark and with my airpods in for the full experience. When I went to listen to it on Apple Music (which is the streaming service I use), the release was delayed for 20 minutes and I was angry. The slowed down acoustic/folky sound surprised me but I love it, it sounds like an album that would be played at a coffee shop. It reminds me of “Fine Line” by Harry Styles, “Golden Hour” by Kacey Musgraves, “Sing To Me Instead” by Ben Platt, and “Wasteland, Baby” by Hozier. As of the time I am writing this, my top three songs are “Betty,” ”Seven,” and “The Last Great American Dynasty.” I was shocked when I found out that the album was explicit - this is Swift’s first explicit album. Explicit means the album contains some swearing. The storytelling on this album is absolutely beautiful and is perfect for a more slowed down sound. The album was mostly written in quarantine this year. ”Folklore” feels like a warm hug on a cold day. There is one collaboration on the album, and it is the song “Exile” featuring Bon Iver, and I love it. There are some references to her older songs, for example in the song, “Invisible String” she says, “Bad was the blood of the song in the cab on your first trip to L.A.” which refers to her song Bad Blood. The song “My Tears Ricochet” (which happens to be the fifth track on the album, which have been known to be her saddest songs) is self written by Swift only. The album feels haunting and poetic and atmospheric. It feels like a more mature version of her third album, Speak Now. The lines from ”Epiphany” that say, “Something med. school doesn’t cover” and “holds your hand through plastic now” hit hard during COVID-19. The song “This Is Me Trying” feels brutally honest and relatable. The songs, “Illicit Affairs” and “Epiphany” remind me of Hamilton. Some songs remind me of fictional couples that I love. My official overall rating is 10/10, and I highly recommend listening to it! 

Chess Puzzle

W. Shinkman, 1st Prize

Huddersfield College Mag. 1877 

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White to Play and Mate in Two

Answer: 1. Bh4! Kxd5 2. Bb3# If 1. Bh4 d6 2. Nbc7# If 1. Bh4 e4 2. Qxe4# If 1. Bh4 f6 2.Ndc7# If 1. Bh4 f5 2. Qe7#