Back Issues

Issue no. 48, November 1, 2014 : Cj’s “timely” review of the best films of 2013, Ryan’s similarly “timely” review of “The Lego Movie,” Nick’s political dissection of the differences between Hong Kong and China and the practicalities of the “One Country, Two Systems” ideology, Jason’s explanation of word-cue poetry and simultaneous presentation of 11 such poems, James’ realizations about the value of strolling and the hidden treasures waiting to be discovered at Finsbury Park, Leah’s semi-autobiographical disclosure about the highs and lows of being a sturgeon, Jess’ thoughts on the hardships of work in an Iraqi refugee camp and the allure of turning away, Suhail’s piece on the earliest documented photograph and the implications of the convenience and instantaneity of modern photography (as well as a few featured snaps), Joe’s poem which includes a beatific vision of pop tarts, Steven’s examination of the fear factors involved in five things (including the cover of Radiohead’s “The Bends,” crumpets, and a Sydney railway station), Alison’s fascinating essay on smog (and the ways it’s been demonized through art, rationalized through group-think, aestheticized in painting and fashion, and abandoned by way of travel), and Ali’s reflections about our modern inability to both know what leisure is and enjoy it.

Issue no. 47, January 26, 2014 : Ryan’s take on the best television episodes of all time, Suhail’s piece on the best films of 2013, James’ moving tale of kindness at a I Said Yes gig in London, Alison’s remembrance of taking a group of 14 high school students to China, Steven’s dizzying list of the top 100 (you read that right!) lyrics of all time and another piece on his top ten spoken word performances, Ali’s ruminations on mountains paired with some choice selections of mountain paintings, and Cj’s two-part instalment on the best actors and actresses.

Issue no. 46, October 9, 2013 : Ali’s reminisces of Friends and her favourite moments from each of the sitcom’s six iconic characters; Cj’s eulogy to one of television’s greatest shows aka his “it’s-never-too-late-to-watch-Breaking-Bad” post; Ryan’s second instalment in his quest to find out whether the cover of “Raptor Red” was misleading or not; James’ reflections on Stoicism, the British stiff-upper-lip, and the value of emotions in light of his grandmother’s passing; Steven’s chronicling of his ten favourite film directors (featuring such luminaries as Steve McQueen, David Lynch, and P.T Anderson); and Jess’ striking poem on the strength and nature of family ties.

Issue no. 45, September 16, 2013 : features Ryan’s dissection of a hologram dinosaur book cover and what it might suggest about the book’s contents, Cj’s second instalment of his favourite camera moments in film history series, Suhail’s piece on the story of his marriage, James’ bicycle trip to Canary Warf and subsequent reflections on the allure of power, Jason’s tale of love and trust featuring a girl named Christina, Steven’s self-disclosure of 100 (yes, 100!) film-related facts about him, and Jess’ (our newest comrade!) brave telling of some of the truths about her life and their relation to freedom.

Issue no. 44, August 27, 2013 : Suhail’s reminisces of seeing James Blake at First Avenue in Minneapolis this past May, Nick’s joke of piece (see if you get it), Steven’s thoughts on the pitfalls of telling children that they’re smart, and Joe’s observations of the current state of global sport.

Issue no. 43, August 12, 2013 : Ali’s piece on Michel Gondry’s heart-wrenching love story “Mood Indigo,” Cj’s reflections on film censorship and the art of cinema (all of which were aroused by a trip to an old haunt in Hong Kong where he first came in to contact with a certain part of Kate Winslet), James’ thoughts on the importance of touch and how it can be a bridge into someone else’s suffering, and Steven’s catalogue of films which “that will make you feel like you’re standing within them alongside the characters.”

Issue no. 42, July 15, 2013 : Ryan’s encouragement that we kill children (metaphorically) to better our powers of storytelling, Suhail’s reflections on how to successfully educate elementary summer school students, Ali’s ruminations on leaving Canada for Hong Kong and what the concept of home really means, Cj’s review of the best films of 2013 so far, James’ fantastic piece on the role of hope in terminally ill patients, and Steven’s fascinating report on Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) which is sure to blow your mind (not to mention your senses).

Issue no. 41, May 27, 2013 : James’ portrait of life at a hospital in England, Nick’s update about a comedy podcast that he and his friend Alex started, Ryan’s “Bird by Bird” where he chronicles lessons learned from writing 365 short stories in 463 days, Suhail’s thoughts on the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and highlights of a few films from this year’s Official Selection, Cj’s list about films featuring striking and glorious moments in cinematography, and Steven’s ruminations on the fact that home is more than a matter of bricks and mortar.

Issue no. 40, April 29, 2013 : Suhail’s meditation on the balancing act that is working in the social sector, Leah’s piece about the upsides of having growths on your rear end, Cj’s ruminations on leaving one home for another, Ali’s decision to rid her music repository (e.g. her iphone) of certain tunes to make room for some new ones, Ryan’s what-can-only-be-called a creative submission on various links (yes, links) you should visit, Steven’s amazing history lessons featuring the dropping of a whiteboard marker, and James’ disclosure about his somewhat peculiar morning routines.

Issue no. 39, April 4, 2013 : features Cj’s five most anticipated film’s of 2013 (including the new Superman, Hobbit, and what looks to be another classic from Nicolas Winding Refn), Steven’s (our newest comrade!) tale about attempting to watch 365 films in one year, Nick’s heartwarming childhood dream about lounging on a beach with two bears and imagining the possibility of flying, Ryan’s bone-chilling story about a helpless friend (who sounds a lot like Ryan… in fact his name is “Ryan” with a “B”) who was caught with his pants down, and James’ first book review ever (Sebastien Faulk’s novel “Engleby”).

Issue no. 38, March 18, 2013 : Joe’s commentary on Manchester United this year and their chase for the treble (Premier League, FA Cup, and the Champions League), Leah’s piece on how we’re all just like clouds, Ali’s thoughts on C.S Lewis’ “An Experiment in Criticism” and how it related to her viewing of Chan-Wook Park’s latest film “Stoker,” Cj’s final instalment in his best film soundtracks of all time series, James’ tender portrait of his brother Edward who has Down’s Syndrome, and Ryan’s thoughts on the difference between cheating and being a cheater and how it all relates to Monopoly.

Issue no. 37, March 4, 2013 : Suhail’s assessment of Ricky Gervais’ new dramedy “Derek,” Leah’s invitation to train our imaginations to imagine the best instead of the worst, James’ photographs of abandoned chairs from exotic locations such as Avignon and Barcelona, Nick’s piece on consoling himself by eating junk food which includes perhaps the best ever sentence written on this blog (speaking of eating healthily in regards to enhancing one’s sperm count so that “the little fellas [charge] up and down the pool like Michael Phelps”), Ali’s collage of images that reflect different facets of her moods this past winter, Cj’s first installment of his best soundtracks to movies series, and Ryan’s line-by-line dissection of the documentary “Forks Over Knives.”

Issue no. 36, February 14, 2013 : James’ thoughts on rest and why our worlds seem to be somewhat bereft of it, Suhail’s tongue-potentially-in-cheek reflections on this year’s Academy Awards with votes about who deserves to win and who’ likely to win, Cj’s thoughts on this year’s Academy Awards (didn’t I just write that?) and why the ceremony is a special one for various reasons, Ryan’s submission to the “Are You Truly Canadian?” committee with a piece on his first outdoor skating experience ever, Leah’s ruminations on the art of music composition, and Grace’s monolithic writing commentary on Cloud Atlas (in bullet form, naturally) and why Nicole Kidman’s botox is relevant to the film’s plotline.

Issue no. 35, January 28, 2013 : Cj’s appreciation of the craft of lyric-writing and several examples of some of his favourites (including The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and Death Cab for Cutie), Suhail’s second installment (featuring the year 2006) of every film he has seen every year since 2005, Nic’s reflections on the current state of English humour after having been away from London for several years, Nick’s milestone of finally working up the courage to indulge in some not-so-shameless self-promotion, James’ “tour diary” of visiting New York for the first time, and Ryan’s helpful rubric for discerning whether a film is a work of pure cinematic genius or not.

Issue no. 34, January 14, 2013 : Suhail’s first installment of every film he has seen every year since 2005 (concurrently demonstrating that having both Cj and him would essentially mean living in a theater), Mike’s experience of attending an Idle No More event in downtown Seattle, Ali’s five most favourite musical memories over the last years, Cj’s wonderfully compiled list of the top ten films of 2012 (not to mention an equally compelling case for the fact that he is responsible for the majority of film box office sales), Colleen’s review of Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s book “The Language of Flowers,” Joe’s comprehensive analysis of the first half of the Barclays Premier League season and his picks for team of the year so far, Leah’s scrutiny of her building’s security system (note to burglars) and some thoughts on what security actually is, and Ryan’s Sir David Attenborough moment where he saw a fox and (in a decidedly un-Attenboroughesque moment) deliberated the pros and cons of having it as a pet.

Issue no. 33, December 17, 2012 : Cj’s due diligence in dissecting the question “Did you like the Hobbit?” as well as his thoughts on the latest Peter Jackson-adapts-J.R.R Tolkien motion picture bonanza, Ryan’s joyful celebration of Sir David Attenborough’s joyful celebration of the natural world and why his documentary narration is to die for, Joe’s razor-sharp bullet-points (is that a mixed metaphor?) on the ironies and consequent pitfalls of democracy, Alison’s encouragement that devoting a mere 10,000 hours to something will yield genius-level expertise (and her new year’s resolution), Suhail’s stock-taking of 2012 and his annual film and album best-of-the-year lists, Nick’s audition to become Australia’s new Foreign Press Secretary and 8 PR lessons (including how to be sure you are hating the right Chinese) Australia can learn from Hong Kong, Leah’s (our newest comrade!) take on how the use of metaphor and nuance may be a more empathetic approach to writing, and James’ rumination on why we seem bent on determining the quality of life based on one’s activity or busyness.

Issue no. 32, November 26, 2012 : Suhail’s review of Bat for Lashes’ stellar new album “The Haunted Man” and why Natasha Khan ticks a good many of his boxes, Nick’s disclosure of his days as an extra on famed Australian TV show “Neighbours” (as well as several oscar-worthy performances as Frog Number 4 in a local Melbourne pantomime), Cj’s reflections on what it means to be Canadian as well as some juicy thoughts on Steven Spielberg’s new film “Lincoln,” Nic’s admonitions that our readers stop reading this blog (our lawyers will be speaking to him about this) in order to actively pursue the value of face-to-face interaction, Grace’s poem on city life, and Ryan’s routine visits to a local coffee shop called “The Chartreuse Moose” and how five dollar lattes are really nothing in relation to establishment’s less tangible offerings.

Issue no. 31, November 5, 2012 : Cj’s fantastic piece on some of the best line-delivering actors and actresses around (which much to the surprise of our editorial committee includes Michael Cera in the same breath as Jimmy Stewart), Nick’s bold-faced rebuttal of Teddy’s Roosevelt’s belief that taking the easy way out is as odious as as something terribly odious, James’ bold-faced rebuttal of Nick’s bold-faced rebuttal of Teddy Roosevelt and why taking the difficult way is as commendable as something terribly commendable, Suhail’s ostensible review of Propagandhi’s show at Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre and why it’s bad policy to trust phone ticketing services, and Ryan’s review of DC Comics’ company-wide reboot (thank you “The New 52”) along with some choice selections that’ll be sure to make your eyes pop right out of your sockets.

Issue no. 30, October 23, 2012 : Lisa’s troubling addiction to Dr. Who and her newfound delight in all things celestial and star-like, Cj’s some-might-say-gushing piece on Coheed and Cambria’s newest album and lineup, Nick’s if-you-thought-Cj’s-piece-was-gushing-wait-till-you-read-this declarations about his newborn son Monty, Suhail’s dissection of Kanye West and Jay-Z’s song “New Day” and what it reveals about their feelings about fatherhood, Colleen’s new perspectives on Sofia Coppola’s excellent film “Lost in Translation,” James’ notions on what the Apostle Paul means when he admonishes people to “be transformed by the renewing of your minds,” Ali’s desire to have a new outlook on life, and Ryan’s reflections on turning 30 (which, incidentally, he did one day prior to the publishing of this issue in what can only be viewed as a hostile attempt to steal the spotlight).

Issue no. 29, October 1, 2012 : Cj’s piece on what makes a good teacher and which movies to watch to get inspired as you enter the world of pedagogy, Suhail’s disclosure of a troubling rite he engages in every time he buys a CD and why he’s never going to kick the habit, Ryan’s hello-my-name-is-Ryan-and-I’m-an-addict moment vis-a-vis reading books and why IKEA is making a killing from his inability to get through them quickly enough, Nick’s worst comedic moment ever or Guilt 101 (how to contract it, how to deal with it and for heaven’s sakes, the supermarkets to avoid if you want to avoid it), and Grace’s reflections (!) on lunar solar panels and why the moon may someday resemble the gaudiest disco ball in the universe.

Issue no. 28, September 17, 2012 : Ryan’s (our newest comrade! hooray!) travel tips for road trips in British Columbia including such gems as how important tetris skills really are, Cj’s disturbing tale of being in a cinema with a bunch of girls hooting and hollering (and jumping up from their seats) for Matthew McConaughey and why he just may be the hottest actor in Hollywood right now, Suhail’s five literary postcards from Barcelona, Alison’s reflections on her grandmother’s rather humble residence in Hong Kong and how it compares to her current experience of living in Portland, Nick’s dissection of the helpfulness of Hong Kong’s Escalator Safety Crew and their public service announcements, Colleen’s fascinating insights into the issue of domestic sex trafficking (contextualized in Sunnyside, Washington), Ali’s current reading list, Bryn’s tender love story with cameos from stars and parents and cars and places of work, and James’ disclosure about why he loves a little known album called Mosely Shoals by a little known band called Ocean Colour Scene.

Issue no. 27, August 27, 2012 : Bryn’s poem about the socio-economic origins of American loneliness and alienation (written on a recent trip to Chicago), Cj’s piece on the top five (actually six) film triologies of all time with quick-witted reviews of each individual film therein, Suhail’s film review of “Sarah’s Key” (the movie adaptation of the eponymous international best-selling novel by Tatiana de Rosnay), and Nick’s interview with Ben Pobjie (a writer, comedian and poet who writes satirical articles for ‘The Age’ and New Matilda’ and is also a successful and prolific tweeter, with around 10,000 followers and over 100,000 tweets to his name).

Issue no. 26, August 6, 2012 : Suhail’s shocking public declaration about the London 2012 Olympics, Nick’s thoughts on Jerry Seinfeld’s latest comedic outing (and its highly ambiguous title) “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” Bryn’s pseudo-liveblog of Lollapalooza 2012, Joe’s review of two new metal albums, and the mathematically confusing second installment of Cj’s top ten movie scenes of all time.

Issue no. 25, one year annivesary issue, July 23, 2012 : Suhail’s ruminations on the year his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, Alison’s dissection of what happens the year after you do something adventurous and unhinged, James’ psychological examination of what a year means at various stages of human development, Joe’s foray over the last year into contemporary literature (including the likes of Jennifer Egan, Roberto Bolaño, and Haruki Murakami), Cj’s case for 2012 being the best year of his life and how recent events revealed the profound irony of this fact, Nick’s reminisces about being a young pre-pubescent and his accompanying guide on everything you need to know at the age of 13, Nic’s historical overview of what things Hong Kong people got up to on various modes of transport over the last four decades, Bryn’s participation in a modern Winnipeg tragedy whose denouement he discovered this year via a crappy bike purchase, and Jason’s reflections on the past year of his life and how it may be better to enjoy the journey rather than clamor up the ladder.

Best of Year (I) issue, July 9, 2012 : an exhilarating retrospective chronicling some of the best pieces from our 24 issues over the last year. Each writer who has ever contributed to this humble collective is featured and there is plenty to peruse. Why such indulgence, you ask? Aside from continually aiming to fulfill our “pleasing the masses no matter what” mantra, Checkerboard Collective is officially a year old, and really there is no better way to celebrate the occasion than with a retrospective.

Issue no. 24, June 25, 2012 : Suhail’s “brilliant” (word used loosely) idea for a phone application that will help you discern the “hate rating” of any situation and five answers to some hot racist conundrums, Joe’s scintillating roundup of the arguably not-so-scintillating action at Euro 2012 so far, Nic’s self-disclosure about his post-match behavior when his father beat him at chess and what he learned as a result, Nick’s pilot comedy podcast that finally sees the light of cyberspace and that is sure to send your belly into jiggles of laughter, Bryn’s (our newest comrade!) take on this whole Alt Lit mvmnt where he examines the “brilliance” (word used loosely) of “Tao Lin” and his “Muumuu House” cronies and “a” couple other things including but not limited how we people experience this little thing Re meaning, and James’ ruminations on the modern role of digital photography and how perhaps it is a hindrance as opposed to a help when it comes to memory-making and its associated magic.

Issue no. 23, June 11, 2012 : Eric’s (our newest comrade!) trip down memory lane via a six year old musical playlist he found and then evaluated real-time, Cj’s self-disclosed love of new HBO TV series GIRLS (not to be confused with his self-disclosed hatred of real, human girls), Joe’s concert review of stoner-legends Sleep and how the show ironically made him an insomniac who stares at plants, Colleen’s love for all things socially peripheral in the work of George R. R. Martin’s The Song of Ice and Fire series and HBO TV series Game of Thrones, James’ not-so-guilty pleasure of sipping a cup of coffee in an English square during the holidays, Grace’s review of Snow White and the Huntsman in which she mentions in no uncertain terms the word “testosterone,” and Suhail’s pontifications on the practice of psychotherapy as featured in the now-concluded HBO TV series In Treatment.

Issue no. 22, May 27, 2012 : Suhail’s exercise in overachieving with two pieces – one on the Cannes 2012 film festival (and which cinematic treasures to watch for) and the other on his perceptions of Beach House and their new album “Bloom,” James’ first installment in a series of stereotypes of some of the kind folk in the medical profession, Colleen’s tender portrait of church work and some of its challenges vis-a-vis friendship, Cj’s reflections on war, boldness, and faith distilled from what sounds to be a rather profound game of paintball, and Joe’s cheery review of some of the latest and greatest in doom metal.

Issue no. 21, May 14, 2012 : Suhail’s distillation of the greatest of life’s social principles through an experience of playing a particularly special game of football, Cj’s survey of record-breaking blockbusters and whether the entire enterprise of record-breaking has anything to do with the real value of a film, James’ examination of the experience of an NHS hospital in England from the varied perspectives of a doctor and a visitor, Joe’s live minute-by-minute commentary on the final day of the Barclays Premier League, Grace’s portrait of Aung Sang Suu Kyi and how she has kept the faith on the subject of democracy in Burma, and Nick’s comparison of The Office (UK) and The Office (US) in an attempt to reconcile the age-old comedic rivalry between England and America.

Issue no. 20, April 30, 2012 : A 20th anniversary issue celebrating the number twenty. Grace’s piece on the personal significance of the number twenty (as well as a glorious bit about how she kicked ass in basketball), Lisa’s (Our newest comrade! What celebration! What pageantry!) philosophical discussion about how ending up in a Snow White costume at a friend’s birthday party is a sure sign that the friendship will last 20 years, Ali’s poignant social commentary on youth of today via 20 of Google’s hottest searches, Nick’s ode to Ogden Nash (an actual person) via 20 light servings of verse which illustrate some of his most profound life lessons, Cj’s chronicling of his life through a 20-song playlist that will make you smile proudly as you imagine his transformation from boy to man, Joe’s tribute to our 20th issue by being in attendance at The Warfield for (one of) Refused’s historic reunion (shows), and Suhail’s list of 20 foreign films to turn even the most ardent of fuddy-duddies into a truly glowing cinephile.

Issue no. 19, April 15, 2012 : Grace’s pocket guide to the top ten literary gems she discovered this past year, Suhail’s ode to his grandfather’s vintage camera through a miniature photographic showcase (in both monochrome and technicolor), James’ enjoyment of literature from the 1800s and why there is nothing new under the sun, and Nic’s philosophical treatise – nay, magnum opus! – on the existential implications of the Facebook “like” button.

Issue no. 18, March 31, 2012 : Suhail’s regrettably long-winded discussion of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief, Alison’s lessons learned about football and the American ethos from a little television series we like to call Friday Night Lights, Grace’s wrestling with the age old question of what the folk is folk (as well as some hot tips on how to make sure you don’t marry your cousin), Nic’s thoughts on the state of modern Christian music and why a certain J.S Bach is (is not rock and) rolling in his grave, Nick’s homage to his grandfather for paving the way for a truly acute fashion sense (as well as what sort of apparel to wear to enhance a stand-up routine), and Cj’s review of new tween sensation The Hunger Games and how he ought to develop more sophisticated literary habits.

Issue no. 17, March 13, 2012 : Nick’s thoughts on leaving, Michael’s (our newest comrade!) thoughts on Alia Malek’s book, A Country Called Amreeka: U.S. History Retold Through Arab-American Lives and the US’ gas problem, Cj’s idolization of Christopher Nolan and his high expectation of the final installment in Nolan’s Batman trilogy, James’ discussion of tuberculosis and the curiosity of how several resistant strains are found commonly in the UK’s poor and marginalized, Suhail’s thoughts on the Kony 2012 social media phenomenon and why longevity is a better standard than a trending tweet or two, Grace’s longing for a more community-oriented experience of television (as well as her secret desire to watch the entirety of Friends unencumbered), and Joe’s review of the happenings that made sporting news over the last two weeks.

Issue no. 16, February 27, 2012 : Nic’s ruminations on Valentines Day, Nick’s primary school insult guide and how Greek mythology might be more useful than you ever imagined, part one of Joe’s memoirs (aka the best shows he ever attended), Alison’s hatred of white people who think they changed those who hate black people (aka her disdain for the buzz surrounding The Help), Colleen’s pilgrimage to the American Pacific Northwest to attend The Justice Conference, Suhail’s pseudo-academic history of Hollywood’s Golden Age and his particular take on The Artist, and Cj’s first installment on his favorite film scenes.

Issue no. 15, February 13, 2012 : Nic’s tabloid-esque rehearsal of many an evening spent in the company of one Steven Patrick Morrissey, Joe’s hostile takeover of things with not one but TWO pieces (one where he reviews the happenings in the world of sports over the last two weeks and another where reminisces and rants about the much-loved Swedish punk outfit Refused and their imminent reunion shows), James’ take on doing a Robinson Crueso in rural England (or taking a Sunday afternoon stroll without a phone) and what he learned as a result, Nick’s confessions about being so last year with a kicker of a surprise about his intimate knowledge of all things Gotye, Grace’s disclosure of the best social hangouts in Hong Kong (if you want to meet grannies selling used items) and how Dickens foretold the state of the world, Suhail’s recent passage to India and how Bollywood-like dancing brought him to his senses, and Jason’s existential ruminations about the first time he shaved.

Issue no. 14, January 24, 2012 : Cj’s reflections on the good, bad, and ugly of 2011, Grace’s deceptively titled post about Chinese New Year, the second installment of Joe’s much-lauded sporting bucket list, Nick’s entrance into the world of serious film criticism, and James’ (our newest comrade! hooray!) thoughts on the “c” word – cynicism.

Issue no. 13, January 10, 2012 : Nick’s eloquent how-to-guide about making a decision, Grace’s poetic treatment of the European debt crisis, Nic’s self-confessed expertise in matters relating to surfing the interweb, and Suhail’s ostensible review of Lars Von Trier’s latest film Melancholia.

Issue no. 12, December 20, 2011 : Nic’s review of The Rum Diary and Hunter S. Thompson, the first installment of Joe’s sporting bucket list, Jason’s wrestle with the successes of Stanford graduates, Grace’s public and bold declaration of whom she first fell in love with, Suhail’s cunning Best of 2011 list, Nick’s exhortation for people to – in the words of Justin Bieber – “quote correctly,” Alison’s musings on David Bazan (from the legendary Pedro the Lion) and his existential journey of faith, Colleen’s review of “Van Gogh: The Life” and about Mr. Starry Night’s particular relationship with Christmas, and CJ’s final installment on his favorite films from 1991.

Issue no. 11, December 4, 2011 : Nic’s Nostradamus-like foretelling of Singapore’s spiral from capitalism to ennui, Grace’s commentary on China-Zimbabwe relations, Suhail’s coming-of-age interest in Buster Keaton and the film “Seven Chances,” Cj’s reminisces about The Fellowship of the Ring, and Joe’s dissection of modern consumerism (ironically written on a macbook whilst ignoring calls on his Blackberry).

Issue no. 10, November 17, 2011 : Joe’s uncharacteristically positive and moan-free musings about five of his favorite sporting events, Suhail’s hodge-podge pontificating about Hong Kong’s downward spiral into madness, Cj’s “not many might care about this but me” piece on the alleged return of Coheed and Cambria’s drummer, Grace’s transformation into a true Chinese yum cha super granny, Jason’s political ruminations which might throw him into the upcoming 2012 US presidential race, and Nic’s explanation as to why he can’t find his mojo in Hong Kong (sorry ladies).

Issue no. 09, November 1, 2011 : Suhail’s rather humble photographic homage to Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alison’s race to be the next expert on the subject of race, CJ’s top 5 scary films and simultaneous bemoaning of the fact that he was never allowed to celebrate Halloween, Joe’s conjectures about how sports results conspire amazingly to ruin his life, Nick’s take on going all camp-like and “finding himself,” Grace’s guilty literary pleasures, Ben’s classic (and downloadable) emo (the real stuff not the pathetic crap that parades itself around as such these days) mix, and Nic’s shocking post-shower rituals which, incidentally, will make most of you think twice about inviting him over. Ever.

Issue no. 08, October 17, 2011 : Joe’s review of the recent documentary on the life of Ayrton Senna through the frame of Joseph Campbell’s thousand-faced hero, CJ’s second installment of his 1991 film retrospective trilogy, Ben’s downloadable tribute to 90s post-emo/indie rock, Colleen’s film-trailer-inspired journey into the world of dragon-tattooed heroines, Ali’s commentary on the need for children to experience failure, Grace’s look at the death of an iCon, Nick’s insight into the art of cheering others up, Suhail’s birthday wishes for The Man With The Desmond Tutu, Nic’s reflection on homesickness, Englishness and the concept of home, and Jason’s careful rationing of toiletries.

Issue no. 07, October 3, 2011 : Joe’s experience at the Oakland Raiders’ first home game of the 2011 NFL season, Suhail’s overview of the State of Palestine’s current existential crisis at the UN, Nick’s metamorphosis into “the next best artist to Picasso” or “the artist who will never formerly be known as Prince,” Nic’s coming-of-age as a lover of period dramas and paternal fashion sense, Jason’s comparison between charitable and philanthropic impulses and what’s really at the heart of the matter, Grace’s commentary on how wearing expensive watches does not make you George Clooney, CJ’s review of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s film After Life and his subsequent travels down memory lane, and Ben’s feel-good and downloadable (!) music mix of 60′s sunshine, psych and baroque pop.

Issue no. 06, September 19, 2011 : Jason’s reflections in a Greenwich Village Cafe, a review of some of Nick’s favourite film lines, Suhail’s memorable moments from the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, Alison’s build-up of mussels on the Oregon coast, Grace’s insights on Gaddafi’s second son Saif al-Islam, Nathan’s experiences on a special trip to Cambodia, and Jon’s musical mix of “back to school” tunes to listen to for those of you young enough for that phrase to be relevant.

Issue no. 05, September 5, 2011 : Joe’s dissection of the beginning of the football (in the real sense) season, CJ’s review of 20 years of Terminator history, and Ali’s paralysis without an iphone.

Issue no. 04, August 17, 2011 : Joe’s proof of the American-ness of cricket, Nick’s involvement with tsunami relief work in Tono Japan, Alison’s dilemma in a Hong Kong H&M store, Collen’s review of Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, Suhail’s metamorphosis into a homeless man, Jon’s reflections on Brian Wilson’s song God Only Knows, and Grace’s analysis of whether Chinese men or women save better face for Chinese sport.

Issue no. 03, August 2, 2011 : Nick’s retelling of his rise to stand-up comedy stardom, Cj’s ruminations about a possible cage match between Jesus and Gandhi, Ali’s reflections on Yayoi Kusama’s installation Narcissus Garden at Edinburgh’s Fuirtmarket Gallery, Suhail’s attempt to be “the next Roger Ebert” as he reviews the film Of Gods and Men, and Preston’s nauseating experience at a Judith Butler (whoever that is) lecture.

Issue no. 02, July 18, 2011 : Jon’s photo diary of Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, Alison’s life lessons on the Transiberian, CJ’s seven year odyssey with Harry Potter, Preston’s experience of deconstruction at the Egypt’s Zamalek Fish Garden, Nathan’s comments on the US debt ceiling, Joe’s search for entertainment in the summer football lull, and Suhail’s review of reading Equus in Istanbul.

Issue no. 01, July 1, 2011 : Jon’s analysis of R. Kelly’s sexuality and spirituality, Alison’s encounters and realizations at the Footprints Play Village in Johannesburg, Suhail’s first taste of Palestinian hospitality, Joe’s take on the 2011 European Grand Prix, Nathan’s life lessons from Pixar, Colleen’s life-altering impressions of Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World, and Grace’s film review of Crazy Heart.