The Ink — March 2
Dodging icebergs, Denim, 514-415, and more...
Welcome to The Ink.
Articles. Art. Music. More. The Ink is some stuff we found—or found interesting—recently.
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Upcoming Federal Election
Julian: In all likelihood, a federal election is just weeks away. If you’re a Canadian citizen, I strongly encourage you to vote! Whether you already intend to vote—and know who for—or you’re not sure where to begin, Elections Canada has a number of useful, important, and nonpartisan resources available online. I urge everyone to visit their Online Voter Registration Service to verify that you're registered to vote, update your address, or register to vote if you haven’t already. Then, refresh yourself on the different ways to vote on or before election day. Once an election is formally called, more information will be available on the specific candidates running in your riding. In the meantime, I recommend familiarizing yourself with the basics of the federal party platforms more generally! Get informed, get ready, and vote!
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Julian: On February 20th, Canada faced the United States in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off, a new tournament which marked a return to international best-on-best hockey after nearly a decade of the NHL effectively preventing its players from participating in international tournaments. The matchup came at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries: the United States government has spent weeks threatening Canada with economic warfare and annexation. Trump and other White House officials continued to insult Canadian sovereignty in the context of the game. With a fraught political backdrop and emotions running high, the final was set to be one of the most high-stakes hockey games in recent memory. And what a game it was. It was fast and intense, occasionally faltering into nervous, sloppy play. Both nations took turns in the lead. 60 nail-biting minutes later, the game was tied. In OT, Canada’s goaltender Binnington repeatedly salvaged his team’s hopes with outrageous saves. After eight strenuous minutes, the Americans made the fatal mistake of leaving Connor McDavid wide open in front of their net. He didn’t miss. Canada took the championship, and boy did it feel good. The whole story had stunning parallels with Canada’s 2010 Olympic gold medal victory over the United States: in both tournaments, the US had bested Canada earlier in the tournament, the final was tied 2-2 after hard-fought regulation time, and the star Canadian player—Crosby in 2010, McDavid this year—would clinch the overtime win (and redemption) with a heart-stopping goal. In many ways, it felt like a passing of the torch between two of the greatest Canadian players of all time. More importantly, it was a moment of national pride and unity—and it certainly shut certain American bullies up, at least for a few days.
Julian: I’ve been watching Alluring Arctic Sailing, a YouTube channel that follows Finnish sailboat Lumi and her small crew as they attempt to traverse the infamous Northwest Passage. Sometimes it’s hard to tell how much of their cautious pragmatism is due to their nature as seafarers, or their national character as Finns, but either way, the sense of adventure is undeniable as the alternating tedium and danger of life at sea are set against some of the most remote landscapes in the world. I particularly enjoyed this episode, as Lumi sails east from the Bellot Straight to northern Baffin Island, but you can also follow along starting all the way back at their departure from Alaska.
Julian: Motivated by a recommendation from my good friend Matt, and the hype around the launch of its second season, I recently started watching Severance. The show is great and I would highly recommend it to anyone, though that’s not what I really want to share here. While going down a Severance-related rabbithole, I ended up coming across the 1999 pilot of the never-realised sci-fi comedy series Heat Vision and Jack directed by Ben Stiller. Jack Austin (Jack Black), once an intrepid astronaut, now lives with the aftermath of a freak accident which made him the smartest man in the world—but only by daylight. When darkness falls, Jack reverts to his average self and drifts through the night on his roommate-turned-motorcycle Heat Vision (voiced by Owen Wilson). All the while, they are hunted by ruthless government agent Ron Silver (Ron Silver). Yep, it’s about as goofy as it sounds, but it's a fun watch if you’re in the mood for something light and silly. Since I came across this pilot in the context of the earnest achievement that is Severance, it’s really interesting to see how far Ben Stiller has come in his directorial pursuits (and perhaps, more generally, how the tone of the 2020s differs from that of the late ‘90s). Heat Vision and Jack strikes me as the kind of thing that, if not for the internet, would have eventually been relegated to the status of lost media. Instead, we get to enjoy it on YouTube in low quality!
Julian: During September’s televised US presidential debate, Kamala Harris hit the nail on the head when it came to Trump’s position on Ukraine and Russia. It’s a tough watch after the events of this week, but an important reminder that no one should be surprised.
Listen
A Democrat Who is Thinking Differently — The Ezra Klein Show
James: I have been reading the news compulsively lately which has only exacerbated a feeling not unlike that of being a chicken with its head cut off. I am also feeling frustrated with the Democrats for lacking a policy vision that can compete with Trump's by resounding with the American public. In this episode of the Ezra Klein Show, he interviews Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. I was moved by the episode, not because I agreed with all of the ideas of Auchincloss, but rather it was the first time I had heard suggestions like his. For example, he talks about housing and whether governors should create charter cities on decommissioned military bases that are now state property. Would that actually be feasible? I’m not sure—but at least it's a vision for what is possible. He also talks about social media corporations, their use of Section 230 to avoid liability for what is hosted on their platforms, and the potential role of the government in preventing the “attention fracking of an entire generation of American kids.” Whether or not you agree with Auchincloss or Klein, it is exciting to listen to someone speak with conviction on how we can improve life in America.
Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter
James: Ever wonder what it would sound like if a 23 year old Van Morrison had weird lyrics about conga lines of chickens? Boy… do I have the album for you. Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter has been a favourite of mine these past couple weeks. It’s a mix of piano ballads, old-soul rock sounds, and strange lyrics that’ll surprise you with how much they resonate. “Nausicaä (Love will be Revealed)”, “Love Takes Miles”, and “$0” are all songs that I have on repeat and maybe you will too!
“514-415” by Bells Larsen
James: My friend Bells just released the first single off his upcoming album Blurring Time. Walking bass line, laid back drums, and smooth harmonies between Bells and himself, this song is such a beautiful sneak peek at what’s to come in April when the album’s released. Beyond being a great friend, Bells is also such a talented artist who will be coming to a city near you soon if you’d like to see him live and in person! Tell him The Squid sent you.
“Denim” — Natan AK
Julian: It’s been an exciting week for independent music in our world! Last week, Natan AK, another friend of The Squid, also released a new single. “Denim” is a chunky alt-rock track that bristles with angst and tension, and marks the first taste of Natan’s upcoming EP In Your Denim. I’ve seen Natan perform this song live over the years as he honed in on the finished product, and it’s been amazing to watch his progression as an artist so far; no doubt it’ll be amazing to see where he’ll go from here! Beyond being a talented musician, Natan is also an enthusiastic audio engineer, and the passion for his craft and attention to detail are clear in the polish of this recording. Congratulations to Natan and our other impressive friends who collaborated on this release!
