Most of us have heard of Salman Rushdie. It may be no more than remembering a Seinfeld episode in which Kramer is convinced that he met Rushdie in a New York health club, or no more than knowing that he is a highly controversial writer. Who is Salman Rushdie, though? What has made him such [...]
The Manitoban
The Students' Newspaper of the University of Manitoba
Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category
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The nature of time and ‘now’
We all know that we cannot change the past, and the future is yet to come. As a consequence of what happens today, and what happens now, we can alter the course of events happening in the future. But what exactly is “now?” Are we really a sum of our experiences, as Tennyson said, “a [...]
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The springs of Springfield: Jimbo Jones
It seems like a cliché now that bullies, while aggressive and cruel, are really sad, pathetic individuals with little to no self esteem. Jimbo Jones typifies this cliché, but since his character is never overused, it comes off as subtle and clever rather than hackneyed and corny. Jimbo is regarded as the leader of the [...]
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Sex and the campus
We all know that people act strangely in certain situations, but why is it that an almost impossibly dramatic change occurs when we go on a date? It seems that someone who is incredibly kind and wonderful to their friends becomes an entirely awful and mean person when on a date. While these people are [...]
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An infected trio of swine and the huge, horrifying canine
Another major flu epidemic may well be underway. We all remember the disaster of SARS a few years ago, West-Nile virus has made many headlines in recent years and recently there was worry over Avian flu. A new disease shows up left, right and center nearly every year, including this one. The people are being [...]
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Hirsute, heroic, and hot
War! Yes! Like most children of modern privilege, I’ve always had a naive fascination with war and, even more so, her heroes. Yes, those rugged men who were men, and weren’t afraid to let the blood and beards flow unabated. If you’re anything like me, then you probably lose hours gazing upon photographs of handsome [...]
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Archetypal fairy-tales
“Once upon a time, in a faraway land . . .” This is the beginning of all fairy-tales. The stories told to us when we were children, our first encounters with the “art of story-telling.” But how do these fairy-tales actually influence and shape our day-to-day lives? All of us have a “life story” we [...]
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Yore lore: The Mexican Revolution
Mexico is the land of incredibly beautiful women, gorgeous and charming men, and exotic Latin dances. There is an exotic beauty to the country’s culture. Yet, to truly know a culture, one must understand its history. What historical events occurred to set the stage for the creation of the Mexico’s current political infrastructure? In 1910, [...]
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The springs of Springfield: Dr. Nick Riviera
Dr. Nick Riviera Also known as Springfield’s “other doctor,” Dr. Nick Riviera seems to represent everything that Hibbert does not. He will take on nearly any medical procedure, even ones that Hibbert rejects. In “King Size Homer,” after Hibbert calls Homer’s ambition for obesity “monstrous” and that he’ll “have no part of it,” Dr. Nick [...]
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The springs of Springfield: Dr. Hibbert
Dr. Julius Hibbert, MD Dr. Hibbert is arguably the most competent doctor in Springfield, and with good cause. His (mostly) friendly demeanour and bedside manner make him the go-to MD in Springfield, for a price. His Cosby-like sweaters don’t hurt either. This MENSA member and MD has the personality “quirk” of chuckling at the most [...]