ews & features EDITOR JAMES GOLDIE THE DAILY VOICE, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 7 Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice ... What? Again? People have distinct preferences when it comes to April Fool’s Day | Lz By MICHAEL LYLYK recent survey conducted by In- sights West revealed that fewer people admit to pranking than being pranked. Around 75 per cent of B.C. residents said that someone has fooled them on April Fool’s Day, while 58 per cent ad- mit that they have been the one doing the fooling. Some people seem to be afraid to ad- mit that they like being mischievous. Clownin’ Around Magic on Granville Island is a store that sells novelty items for kids. Quincy Li, an employee of the store, said that their gag items are es- pecially popular this time of year. “Every year when it’s April Fool’s day, lots of people come in, local and {from] far away,” he said. “Our most popular gags are the whoopee cushion, fart machine and snake in the can.” Li often plays gags on customers to engage with them. “Every day the kids try the whoop- ee cushion,” he said. “So many times I show the people myself, the kids know it’s all for fun.” Some Langara College students seem to be past the idea of April Fool’s Day. Artur Gutman, a business student at RAPHAEL BINGKINAY Langara student . TONY SU photo illustration No matter how cruel or innocent the joke may be, many pranksters prefer to remain anonymous when it comes to April Fool’s Day tricks. Langara is pretty careful on April 1. “No, I never want to talk to anyone on that day, and if I want to prank someone, I would choose another day,” he said. “On this day, everyone expects it. What’s the point?” As to why people might not admit to pranking, Gutman said if you fess up people will come to expect it from you. “When you prank someone, you want it to be a surprise,” he said. Raphael Bingkinay, a general arts student, said it’s something he’s never experienced himself or been a part of. “T feel like pranking is just a douchey thing to do,” he said. “Most pranks that people find enter- taining will go way to far.” 66 ... prank- ing is just a douchey thing to do. Most pranks ... Will go way too far RAPHAEL BINGKINAY STUDENT Microbeads are bad news From the federal level to the local level, officials dis- cuss potential eco-impacts By XIAO XU has introduced a motion to ban the use of plastic microbeads in cos- metic products, as they are a potential hazard to the environment. Environment Canada is conducting research on the environmental impact microbeads. . According to the non-profit environ- mental organization Surfrider Founda- tion Vancouver, the non-biodegradable plastic particles found in body wash, face wash and toothpaste are not fil- tered out by wastewater treatment. “TThe microbeads] will end up in our oceans where fish confuse them for food,” their media kit said. Microbeads are not the only solid wastes found in the B.C. water sup- plies. . David Robertson, supervisor of envi- ronmental protection branch of City of Vancouver, said the City has been aware of the problem of people flushing problematic wastes and the govern- ment is trying to deal with the prob- lem. “The sanitary sewer system is con- nected to the Iona Waste Water Treat- ment plant located near the airport,” Robertson said. “The treatment plant removes solids from the waste water and discharges the waste water to a deep outfall in Georgia Strait.” Robertson also added that the city has legislation already on the books— the Sewer and Watercourse Bylaw—to prevent people from flushing garbage into waters. Adam Kelliher, head the Langara Earth Stompers at Langara College, said that though cities have treatment plans, they sometimes skip secondary- stage treatment because these treat- ments usually cost a lot. “Never put anything down the drains except toilet papers and human wastes,” he said. T: federal New Democratic Party SCOTT EHARDT photo via Wikipedia Like cosmetic products, some tooth- pastes contain microbeads too. A new study connects lesbian residents to area gentrification Lesbian population has “surprising” impact on property values in U.S. By ANNA DIMOFF within Vancouver are attracting the city’s lesbian population, re- flecting a study by a UBC sociology professor about queer communities in the United States. “Like gay men, lesbians also have certain cities, neighbourhoods, and small towns in which they are more likely to live,” associate professor Amin Ghaziani wrote in the study, Les- bian Geographies. Lyn Hart, an agent with MacDonald T: culture hubs and hot spots Realty, was not surprised by the study’s findings. “Any neighbourhood where clients buy into that part of the community, they’re usually looking at uwp-and-com- ing neighbourhoods,” she said, adding that, “something like Hastings-Sunrise or Commercial Drive is going to be building into that kind of trendiness that is spreading in Vancouver far and wide.” Commercial Drive, home to the an- nual Vancouver Dyke March and Festi- val, is popularly known as the lesbian community of Vancouver. The Vancouver Lesbian Centre, now home to the Electro LadyLux tattoo studio, is also located on Commercial Drive. The study states that “lesbians exert a surprising influence on cycles of gen- trification. The idea that gay people initiate renewal efforts is widely known but imprecise” to which Hart, who lives in the Hastings-Sunrise community, said she agrees. She has seen the area change over the eight years she has lived there, watching offices, condos and coffee shops replace the old stores. “T think it helps to [increase proper- ty value] but I don’t know how much of a direct impact it has,” she said. “I think because of the openness of Van- couver people see it as a positive thing, if its attracting lesbians and [trendy] kinds of people then it’s an up and com- ing area and I think people are recog- nizing that.” DUSTIN GODFREY photo Commercial Drive is a Vancouver neighbourhood tra- ditionally associated with the city’s lesbian community that today is experiencing rapid gentrification.