Archive

Love is Blind | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Lovebirds

Jake GyllenhaalWhile slurping at a tepid cocktail of one parts Boredom and three parts Lagging Social Life, I decided it might be fun to sign up for Critic’s infamous blind date. This was my first miscalculation. Arriving at di Lusso entirely too early (second miscalculation), I sat down with Read more...

Too Much Screens | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Sam Fleury

In Treatment's structure was an unusual formal experiment. Each week, five episodes would air on HBO, with each weekday corresponding to a weekly session with one of therapist Paul Weston's patients: On Mondays he sees Laura; Tuesdays, Alex; and so on, until Friday, when he sees his own Read more...

Queer Eye | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Sir Lloyd Queerington

“I’m coming out … I want the world to know, I’ve got to let it show!” Ah, Diana Ross, you captured how fantastic it is to burst out of the closet in a few, fabulous song lyrics. Unfortunately you missed how bloody scary it can be and how potentially dangerous it can be. To understand coming Read more...

Science, Bitches | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Elsie Jacobson

I know being a teenager was a hard time for a lot of us, but imagine going to your mum’s funeral then waking up the next morning to find your family jewels had been replaced with, well, lady bits. Think your teenage identity crisis was bad? This is the life of the clownfish, which makes for a bit Read more...

President's Column | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Ruby Sycamore-Smith

Voting is open! Have you walked past the libraryrecently? Go out and cast your vote! Hello to you all, and thank you to those nationwide who have had a new found interest in my column! I enjoyed a formal letter from the Southern Young National Party who have completely misread my previous Read more...

Bouncing off the Halls | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Staff Reporter

This week begins with some shocking behaviour from Cumberland College, earning its reputation for being the most disgusting and depraved dungeon of degenerates Dunedin has ever seen. Cumberland residents are continuing to make reports of human faeces “smeared” around the toilet block Read more...

Defending the Kingdom | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Sarah McGaughran

There is no doubt that being a conscious consumer is a tough task these days. Animal testing is a problem that often slips our mind when reaching for items on the shelf. We “like” and “share” posts on Facebook showing cute bunnies and beagles, disgusted that harm is inflicted upon them, yet each Read more...

Editorial | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Zane Pocock

Students at Otago are exceptionally lucky this election, considering all of the opportunities they have to be informed before voting. After a couple of speed-humps, Critic and the OUSA NZ General Election Drive have finally launched the website studentvote.co.nz – here you can find a succinct Read more...

Love Is Blind | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Lovebirds

Critic’s infamous blind date column brings you weekly shutdowns, hilariously mismatched pairs, and the occasional hookup. Each week, we lure two singletons to Di Lusso, ply them with food and alcohol, then wait for their reports to arrive in our inbox. If this sounds like you, email Read more...

Too much screens | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Sam Fleury

It's the 1980s, and prolific (if not actually talented) horror author Garth Marenghi is at the height of his fame. Naturally, he makes the move to the small screen. But his envelope-pushing scares are, for whatever reason, pulled from the schedule before airing. Until now. The network has uncovered Read more...

Defending the kingdom | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Elisabeth Larsen

For all of us over at the Law School, the Honourable Michael Kirby requires no introduction. He served as a Justice of Australia’s highest court from 1996 until 2009. Though he is well into his 70s, Michael is now chairing the UN Human Rights Commission of Inquiry, investigating human rights abuses Read more...

Queer Eye | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Harlequin

Warning for graphic surgical trauma/abuse The first words that will have been heard by most of the people alive on this planet today — statistically, about 99.95 per cent — are a triumphant “it’s a boy!” or “it’s a girl!” But what about the others: that one child in 2,000? Intersex is Read more...

Science, Bitches | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Hannah Twigg

So why would I bother talking about the naked mole rat – a pink, hairless, toothed rodent from eastern Africa? Perhaps you better know them as the species that charismatic sidekick from your child/teenhood was (Kim Possible, anyone?). Have you ever Google image searched for a naked mole rat? If not, Read more...

ODT Watch | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Kristen Stewart

Why has this never happened to Dan Carter?! “Error” of epic proportions: TVNZ aired a raunchy condom advertisement during a TV movie about New Zealand’s most high profile rape trials. Sometimes unfortunately placed advertisements can be hilarious … not so much in this case. Anything Read more...

Editorial | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Zane Pocock

The great Oil spill of 2014 has spread to the students, with recent email conversations released by the anonymous Twitter account @whaledump indicating a conspiracy by Cameron Slater and his buddy Aaron Bhatnager (who is inextricably tied up in Judith Collins’ latest of many headaches) against an Read more...

Love Is Blind | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Lovebirds

Critic’s infamous blind date column brings you weekly shutdowns, hilariously mismatched pairs, and the occasional hookup. Each week, we lure two singletons to Di Lusso, ply them with food and alcohol, then wait for their reports to arrive in our inbox. If this sounds like you, email Read more...

Too much screens | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Sam Fleury

The Larry Sanders Show is set in a very particular time and place, namely the world of US late-night talk shows between 1992 and 1998, when the show was airing. The formula has remained largely unchanged for decades now: a man (it’s always a man) wears a suit, and sits behind a desk for an hour, Read more...

Queer Eye | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Sir Lloyd Queerington

I like to think that I give a crap about people living in poverty. I give monthly to charities, I sign petitions, I educate myself and try to help educate others. I am pretty much a saint, but I don’t know what to do to help queers in poor countries. I sometimes wonder what motivates me to Read more...

Science, Bitches | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Elsie Jacobson

A fish splashes around a saltwater marsh in California, its silvery flank flashing like a mirror in the sunshine. An ant quietly slips away from its colony in the canopy of a Thai forest. And a mouse in New Zealand suddenly loses its fear of cats. All of these animals are the victims of mind Read more...

Defending the kingdom | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Christian Hardy

From 4–8 August the University of Otago chapter of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) hosted “Animal Law Week 2014.” You may have noticed some of our posters around campus, especially in the vicinity of Richardson Building. You may even have gone to a few of our events. But who exactly Read more...

ODT Watch | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Kristen Stewart

Seriously? It appears the ODT has got reoccurring beef with Kim’s large frame. Only 30 minutes? That definitely doesn’t give enough time to fully convey the complex procedure that is hand-washing. On first glance, we wondered how someone could look so happy when holding a Read more...

Te Roopu Maori column | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Te Hau White

The New Zealand general election is fast approaching and there are an abundance of storylines and sideshows regarding it. On 20 September everyone over the age of 18 who is a New Zealand citizen can have a say in whom they believe can represent them in our parliament. As a politics major I often Read more...

Bouncing off the halls | Chronicles of Castle

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Staff Reporter

Due to the great success and controversy of last week’s Bouncing Off the Halls, Critic is back with more stories of booze, boobs and bodily fluids. This time we’re moving away from the stomping grounds of Dunedin’s filthiest freshers to the drunk, disorderly, disgusting and Read more...

Editorial | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Zane Pocock

It has always intrigued me that you can receive a barely-passing mark for an assignment and have no idea what you did wrong. I recently got such a report back. The “Discussion” section had only ticks – with a mark for the section of 13/30. Yet another section not only had the same saturation of Read more...

Love is Blind | Issue 19

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Lovebirds

Critic’s infamous blind date column brings you weekly shutdowns, hilariously mismatched pairs, and the occasional hookup. Each week, we lure two singletons to Di Lusso, ply them with food and alcohol, then wait for their reports to arrive in our inbox. If this sounds like you, email Read more...

Too Much Screens | Issue 19

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Sam Fleury

Review stars Andy Daly as Forrest MacNeil, a man whose job it is to review life experiences. The context (not to mention the reality) of this job is uncertain. We know that he has a production team around him, and that what we are watching is the finished product, but his family and friends from Read more...

Queer Eye | Issue 19

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Sir Lloyd Queerington

across all hook-up apps. This column will not tell you how to get the finest cock or tit from Tinder but will instead dispense advice on staying safe. That might not sound like as much fun, but it has the potential to save you from life-threatening diseases and those creeps out there who want to do Read more...

Science, Bitches | Issue 19

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Laura Illston

If you live fast you will probably die young, and one day the universe will come to an end. Both of these facts are examples of science telling you things that you didn't want to hear. But science wants to make it up to you! This week it will attempt to cheer you up with some good news: you know all Read more...

Defending the Kingdom | Issue 19

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Elisabeth Larsen

“But, it can’t be that bad if it’s legal!” We irritating bleeding hearts hear this quite regularly in regards to Factory Farming and its continued legality in New Zealand. We even do stuff like rally against it – like we did a couple of weekends ago in New Zealand’s five biggest cities. Read more...

ODT Watch | Issue 19

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Kristen Stewart

Woo! it’s about time they provided some choice on Andersons Bay road in South D. A new Wendy’s is opening for times when you don’t feel like McDonalds. Or Burger King. Or Subway. Or KFC. Or Hell Pizza. Fatty Lane, you have a serious rival. See, ODT, you can come up with Read more...

Editorial | Issue 19

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Zane Pocock

As reported by the ODT on Friday 1 August, Dunedin city councillor Lee Vandervis has called for video surveillance of Scarfie-ville to “prevent vandalism.” There is a huge problem with this, and it’s because of how much students have improved their behaviour recently. Largely driven by a Read more...

Love is Blind | Issue 18

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Lovebirds

Critic’s infamous blind date column brings you weekly shutdowns, hilariously mismatched pairs, and the occasional hookup. Each week, we lure two singletons to Di Lusso, ply them with food and alcohol, then wait for their reports to arrive in our inbox. If this sounds like you, email Read more...

Too Much Screens | Issue 18

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Sam Fleury

Before Mystery Incorporated, the Scooby-Doo franchise had the dubious honour of being much loved, but without any real examples of greatness. The previous series had a lot to love about them, but they firmly existed in an episodic world, designed to keep kids entertained on a parent’s bleary Read more...

Queer Eye | Issue 18

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Sir Lloyd Queerington

The other week there was a piece in The Press about the homophobia faced by a young man called Jay Claydon when he was playing semi-professional rugby. Jay’s story, and others’ like his, highlights the entrenched issues we have in our society in relation to masculinity, sexuality and gender Read more...

Science, Bitches | Issue 18

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Hannah Twigg

OK, so how many of you have joked about sleeping with your textbook under your pillow? How many have actually tried? In moments of desperation before tests and exams, we’ve all hoped for some kind of overnight understanding. Well, it turns out that this kind of wishful thinking isn’t worth ruling Read more...

Defending the Kingdom | Issue 18

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Oska Rego

Last month the University of Otago’s Veganism and Animal Rights Society hosted a screening of Earthlings, a 2005 film exploring shocking displays of speciesism in industries built on pets, food, clothing, entertainment and science. Standard practise exploits animals without regard for their Read more...

ODT Watch | Issue 18

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Kristen Stewart

This article begs the question: WHY, ODT, WHY!? Taking pointless and ridiculous reporting to a new level, the article describes how an intoxicated Irish woman broke into an apartment, where she then locked herself in a cupboard and proceeded to urinate throughout. Adding insult to Read more...

Bouncing off the halls | Issue 18

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Staff Reporter

It’s been a while, but Critic has decided to return with a full lowdown of shenanigans going on at your favourite Halls of Residence. To kick off, a Senior Resident at Selwyn has lost his job after beginning relations with a fresher. The 24-year-old was given an ultimatum to either break off Read more...

Guest Editorial | Issue 18

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by The Rt. Hon. General Gold Bastard

For those who don’t know me, allow me to introduce myself: I am the Rt. Hon. Gold Bastard, supreme leader of Critic’s four editorial goldfish. My days start unpredictably. I drive my harem to go nuts when the first of our giant pet nematodes walks in, but they’re good at ignoring us despite Read more...

Love Is Blind | Issue 17

Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Lovebirds

Critic’s infamous blind date column brings you weekly shutdowns, hilariously mismatched pairs, and the occasional hookup. Each week, we lure two singletons to Di Lusso, ply them with food and alcohol, then wait for their reports to arrive in our inbox. If this sounds like you, email Read more...

Defending the kingdom | Issue 17

Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Elisabeth Larsen

“BUT I BUY FREE-RANGE! LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU DIRTY STINKING HIPPY!” At some point in the near future, you may well find yourself saying this to some random in New World. He may or may not be wearing hemp pants. With the chia seeds and quinoa in his basket, he peers dubiously at the “free-range” Read more...

Too much screens | Issue 17

Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Sam Fleury

Hijinks ensue when six friends try to navigate the complicated world of relationships ... Happy Endings’ premise is not unique, but its execution is. Beginning with the breaking up of Alex and Dave’s wedding, Happy Endings follows them and their group of friends as they try to figure what comes next Read more...

Science, Bitches | Issue 17

Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Elsie Jacobson

From the honeybee waggle-dance, to the moonwalking red-capped manikin, to your dad’s awkward shuffle, everyone loves a boogie now and again. It’s hard to resist tapping your feet when a groovy tune comes on, but what is it about certain songs that make them so danceable? Imagine, for a Read more...

ODT Watch | Issue 17

Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Kristen Stewart

Poor Dent students, their beloved Medical Library is being moved to make way for animal testing facilities! Hang on a minute … is it just us, or is anyone else concerned about how animal testing is deemed a lesser concern than dentistry students missing out on a study space that isn’t even Read more...

Guest Editorial | Issue 17

Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Loulou Callister-Baker

Buried in 15-year-old documents, receipts and eccentric handwritten art proposals, I try and identify the junk from the historical documents at the Blue Oyster Art Project Space. I have been going through these archival documents for two months. At times it feels repetitive but, more often than not, Read more...

Love is Blind | Issue 16

Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Lovebirds

Critic’s infamous blind date column brings you weekly shutdowns, hilariously mismatched pairs, and the occasional hookup. Each week, we lure two singletons to Di Lusso, ply them with food and alcohol, then wait for their reports to arrive in our inbox. If this sounds like you, email Read more...

Too much screens | Issue 16

Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Sam Fleury

Idiosyncratic shows have to train their viewers how to watch them. But as television seasons get shorter, there is less time to do that. At 10 episodes, this year’s Fargo cuts right to the idiosyncratic chase. So, without giving anything away, here are some things I think you should keep in mind Read more...

Queer Eye | Issue 16

Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Sir Lloyd Queerington

So it’s election year, they tell me, and that means we need to prepare ourselves for an onslaught of bullshit. This will come in the form of empty promises, pithy soundbites and accusations flying left, right and centre! Often the right of politics (Act, National and the Conservatives) will accuse Read more...

Science, Bitches | Issue 16

Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Laura Illston

Most of us are familiar with what it feels like to be running out of time. We know what it is like to power walk to a lecture or feel the self-loathing associated with pushing an assignment to the last minute. But what exactly is this thing we want more of? Will we ever be able to control it? Let’s Read more...

Defending the kingdom | Issue 16

Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Elisabeth Larsen

A few months ago, animal lovers all over the country rejoiced at the news that the notorious Brougham Park egg farm (just over the hill at Mosgiel) was to be closing down. However, the new owner of the property did not wish to keep the farm, and so all the laying hens were to be culled (killed, for Read more...