Pipe hype Recounting Douglas’ Scottish music tournament and what's to come By Kyle Wallis New Westminster campus at some point on November 12, you may have seen or heard something suspiciously Scottish in nature. That’s because a number of Scottish music competitions were taking place at Douglas that day. This particular event was the B.C. Pipers’ Association Mini Gathering and Knockout Contests, and they will be held again in February. The day started with a set of amateur bagpiping and drumming contests called the “Mini Gatherings”; these were held throughout the campus. They are primarily for younger bagpipers and drummers to hone their skills during the winter competition season. Players of various skill levels compete against each other for the grand prize, the Mini Gathering Grand Aggregate. The Grand Aggregate is won by the competitors from each level of competition (of which there are five) who accumulate the greatest number of prizes over the November and February contests. The professional competition portion of the day, the “Knockouts,” started at 6 p.m., in the cafeteria. A total of 11 bagpipers competed, with six moving onto the next round in February. Of the 11, two were invited amateurs who achieved a top-five placing in the previous competition season’s Grand Aggregate standings (cumulative from all the competitions taking place from April to August). These two invited amateurs, Scott Wood and Joe Stewart, both proceeded to the semi-final, knocking out two professionals—an excellent achievement for both players. The other nine competitors were all from SFU’s highly accomplished 6 I you wandered around the grade one pipe band. Although only bagpipers were featured in this Knockout, snare-drummers will be playing at the next one, adding another dimension to the professional competition. All bagpipers and drummers competing in the Knockouts hope to make it through to the final round in March. This contest is held at the Annual Dinner, a somewhat swanky occasion to celebrate the end of the winter contest season. It is held at the Scottish Cultural Centre in Vancouver. Having been a snare-drummer in Scottish pipe bands for about 10 years now, it’s very exciting for me to have a collision like this involving my college and the band scene. If you are reading this and have something of an idea about what I’m talking about, I congratulate you. You are probably a member of the almost one per cent of people I have met at this institution that knows what a bagpipe band is. If the past 400 words have flown right over your head like a haggis at a highland game, I would encourage you to check out the next Mini Gathering and Knockout day in February. The date is February 11, 2012 at the New Westminster campus. The Mini Gatherings will be held throughout the campus in the afternoon, and the Knockouts will be held in the cafeteria during the evening. All over the world, bagpipes haven't made the greatest name for themselves. It is very difficult to play them well, but I assure that when they are, you will be hard pressed to find a more powerful sounding instrument. These contests are a great way to experience Scotland’s national instrument the way it is meant to sound. If you attend, you will surely not regret it. Silver bells, silver screens Need some holiday cheer? Head on out to the movie theatre! By Angela Espinoza, Arts Editor “Tis the season, so I suppose I should write something about said season. I can’t offer much of a holiday gift guide, as the only thing on my somewhat narcissistic “If you love someone...” list right now is Skyrim. But really, the holidays are about spending time together, either at home, on a trip, or at the | movies. With that, I present to you the greatest gift of all: the 2011 Christmas movie guide! A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (November 4) We reviewed the film in last week’s issue of The Other Press, so I'll just offer a quick opinion. It appears we've kicked off the Christmas movie season with something not-so-traditional. Booze, weed, sex, and of course Neil Patrick Harris may not offer the most conventional holiday movie experience, but even Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) deserve to have a merry, albeit different, Christmas. Best viewed with: Roommate Happy Feet Two (November 18) When I saw the first Happy Feet (2006), I wasn’t sure what all the hype was about. I’m glad everyone got excited about environmentalism (and penguins), but like 2004’s Crash (yes, this is relevant), I’m just not moved when someone throws an obvious issue in my face. But it appears the “subtle message” has changed this time around, as has the goal of our new protagonist, Erik (Ava Acres), Mumble’s (Elijah Wood) son. Erik is reluctant to dance, opting instead to learn how to fly; meanwhile, “powerful forces” have thrown Mumble’s world into disarray, requiring him to achieve his greatest feat yet. Best viewed with: Romantic partner, family Arthur Christmas (November 23) Arthur Christmas (James McAvoy) is your average good- hearted klutz, except for one minor detail: he’s one of Santa Claus’ (Jim Broadbent) two sons. With another Christmas upon them, Arthur finds that one child on Santa’s list has been forgotten. Now he’s literally going to the ends of the earth to deliver one little girl her present before Christmas morning. Cheesy but heartfelt, it appears we’ve found the perfect Christmas movie for 2011... that is, unless our last pick isn’t as epic as it’s been hyped up to be. Best viewed with: Family, friends who understand your fixation with kid’s movies Hugo (November 23) Directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the Brian Selznick novel-of-sorts The Invention of Hugo Cabaret (2007), this star- studded holiday flick follows the young orphan Hugo Cabaret (Asa Butterfield). Hugo’s resided in a Paris train station all his questionably long life, but when he is tossed into the ultimate adventure, his secrets threaten to be revealed. Part whimsical journey and part love letter to film, Hugo is anticipated to be one of the year’s best movies. Best viewed with: Anyone!