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Day: 9 October 2016

Preview: Less Than Jake

It’s time to dust off your checkerboard suspenders, Floridian ska punk giants Less Than Jake are coming to Manchester as the headlining act of the Fireball —Fuelling the Fire tour. Less Than Jake will be joined by London reggae quartet The Skints, American mariachi-punk band Mariachi El Bronx and special guests The Bennies, who describe their sound as “Psychedelic Reggae Ska Doom Metal Punk Rock From Hell”. With punchy rock and plenty of up-tempo ska, this gig is set to be one hell of a party.

The tour was announced earlier this year, shortly after the release of LTJ’s album Live at Astoria which was recorded at the music venue in London in 2001. Fans can expect to hear the band’s biggest hits such as ‘The Science Of Selling Yourself Short’ and ‘All My Friends Are Metalheads’ as well as the trademark antics and fun-loving energy we’ve come to know and love.

Less Than Jake plays the HMV Ritz on Monday 10th of October.

For all remaining tickets visit the Ents 24 website here.

Manchester’s Must-See Monuments

Alan Turing

A pioneer in modern computing, this tribute to Alan Turing is situated in Sackville Gardens. Turing is commonly well-known as the ‘founder of computer science’. He is also something of an icon in the gay community, following his suffering during a time when homosexuality was illegal in Britain. Naturally, the memorial sits close to Canal Street, Manchester’s gay village.

Tree of Remembrance

Designed by Wolfgang Buttress and Fiona Heron, Piccadilly Gardens plays host to the Tree of Remembrance. Erected to mark VE (Victory in Europe) Day in 2005, the metal tree is a symbol for the civilians who lost their lives in the Second World War. Around the trunk are the names of said civilians.
Messenger of Peace

At the centre of the peace garden situated at the rear of the Town Hall near St. Peter’s Square, sits the Messenger of Peace. The figure marks Manchester becoming the world’s first ever nuclear-free zone in 1980. The statue was erected in 1986, created by sculptor Barbara Pearson.

Ishinki Touchstone

“Ishinki” meaning “form returning to its heart” was created by Kan Yasuda. Weighing an incredible 18 tonnes, this polished stone is made from Carrara marble, and rests in Barbirolli Square outside Bridgewater Hall.

Big Horn

Acting as the gateway to Manchester’s Northern Quarter, the Big Horn by David Kemp was completed in 1999. The horn appears to be wrapped around the remains of an old building on the junction of Tib Street and Church Street.

Life Cycle

Created by George Wylie, the Life Cycle is situated outside Deansgate Station. This huge metal bike was built in 1995. The bike is a symbol of the small things each of us can do to help ease the strain on the environment.

Review: The Girl on the Train

Paula Hawkins’ best selling novel is amongst the many book-to-film adaptations coming out this autumn, with Michael Fassbender’s The Light Between Oceans ;Tom Hanks’ Inferno and Lupita Nyong’o’s The Queen of Katwe all to yet reach our screens. The surge of book adaptations brings hope and expectation from both film and book lovers alike. However, often you find films collapse as they try too hard to stay true to the book, and the story is lost along with any excitement the film had. Surprsingly, as stimulating The Girl on the Train is, it is another victim of this, even with the director, Tate Taylor, who brought us the brilliant adaptation of The Help.

Emily Blunt plays the lead role of Rachel, a divorcee from former husband Tom (Justin Theroux) who had an affair with his now current wife Anna (Rebecca Ferguson). Now a paranoid alcoholic who commutes to Manhattan every day, Rachel spends her time on the train either vigorously sketching or looking out of the window, and fantasising about the lives of the individuals in the houses the train passes by. She has a particular liking for couple Megan (Haley Bennet) and Scott (Luke Evans), who remind Rachel of her past relationship. Rachel soon finds herself a part of their lives, as Megan goes missing and she might just hold key information on what soon becomes a murder mystery.

The Girl on the Train struggles to grasp a structure which engages viewers and sheds light to the thrilling aspects of the narrative. Ultimately, all events are shown through the perspective of the three main female characters—from Rachel spotting Megan in the arms of another man, to Anna’s changing domestic life. The alternation between the three prevents viewers from building any sort of empathy for either of them, and leaves the male characters merely ancillary to all the action. For a mystery/thriller it really isn’t that thrilling. The film fails to create adequate suspense and suspicion around what happened to Megan, and who could be to blame. A mediocre attempt is made to get viewers questioning the various suspects of Megan’s murder, but this is underwhelming. Little is shown to cast doubt over them, and so you are not truly captivated to solve the mystery. Although, Danny Elfman’s chilling score does help to alleviate the intense nature of the film.

What manages to rescue the film from being a complete disaster is the use of flashbacks. They reveal Rachel to be an unreliable narrator which provides an intriguing twist, as not all events pan out to be how they are seen at first. This uncertainty surrounding Rachel adds that edge of tension, which should have been present throughout the whole film.  In doing so, the end revelation is both gripping and satisfying enough. After being compared to Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train is very far from what director, David Fincher, had created. You cannot help but think of the film’s missed opportunity to become a must-see in the genre, despite its potential.

 

3/5

Album: Warpaint – Heads Up

Released 23rd September via Rough Trade

8/10

Warpaint had to pull something pretty special out of the bag in wake of their 2014 critically acclaimed album Warpaint; they seem to have done it. Warpaint’s signature breathy vocals, drowsy harmonies and muggy basslines persist throughout Heads Up, yet there are clear R&B influences that the band has soaked up during their two-year vacation.

‘Whiteout’ eases the listener into this change of pace, as it begins in the same slow, moody, guitar-led tone that the band became known for and builds up layers of instrumentation until Emily Kokal’s vocals change to a strained version of her norm: she is heralding a new era in her band’s creativity. The songs on Heads Up feel more distinct than before, a set of singles rather than one meshed-together entity. Based on Warpaint’s 2015 interview in NME, this was intentional, as they announced a mutual priority of writing individual songs rather than a cohesive album. It paid off as they slowly compiled this clever array of tracks, capturing the best of their past endeavours whilst making a move into electronic instrumentation and, most significantly, experiments in rhythm.

Whilst each song differs from the others, within particular tracks their lyrics are minimalist and often enclosed in repetition – usually successfully, although the curse of repetitive pop does prevail on one track in particular. ‘New Song’ overuses this method of songwriting to the extent that it quickly becomes bland and tedious, giving its overly-poppy chorus an artificial feel. Thankfully, this is the exception within the album: the sultry ‘So Good’ and ‘Don’t Wanna’ stand out on Heads Up, despite being the least verbal, with the former enveloping apt lyrics with reverberating mystery as Kokal and Theresa Wayman murmur “Can’t you tell me all your secrets? I’ll tell you all mine”. It is no secret that the girls took inspiration from their favourite hip-hop artists on this album; their tentative experimentation with R&B elements is apparent in most tracks and they give a nod in particular to one of their influences on the song ‘Dre’.

Heads Up takes us on a journey of nostalgia for Warpaint, as they clearly have fun merging their tried-and-tested (and popular) sulky style from their previous endeavours with that of their adolescent favourites from the 1990s hip-hop scene. This is an exciting progression for a band that weren’t doing much wrong to begin with.

Preview: Manchester Science Festival

Manchester Science Festival is the biggest science festival in England, with a huge variety of events, performances and workshops to get involved with. The festival, produced by the Museum of Science of Industry, will return with its unique combination of science, art, music, literature, food, and more. This year the festival has chosen to focus on “surprising, meaningful science”, with a goal of inspiring and encouraging future generations of scientists and inventors.

The Mancunion was lucky enough to be invited along to the launch of the festival, held at MSI, where guests were given the opportunity to try ‘tasters’ of upcoming events such as the Chronarium sleep lab, virtual reality, and Manchester megapixel. The latter is an event that is running throughout the weeks festivities, where participants can “help build and colour in a giant megapixel display”, that will be a staggering 15 feet tall, and will be unveiled on the closing Sunday of the festival at MSI.

Speaking at the event, Sally McDonald, Director of MSI, spoke of the 120,000 visits MSF had last year, making it “by far” the largest science festival in the country. However, she continued to say that, “it isnt just about being the biggest, it’s about being the boldest, and the most creative and the most innovative”. Acting as the flagship event of Manchester’s reign as European City of Science 2016, this year’s MSF has inspired them to “make the city become alive with science not just in the period of October but throughout the year”.

The festival aims to be appealing to all. There are events that cater specifically to different age groups, as well as inclusive events for all ages to enjoy. Adults can enjoy delving into the science behind casinos, learning about sustainable eating or taking a whiskyology class. There is also an event performed by Rachel McCarthy called ‘Elements: Poetry in molecular motion’, which will be exploring the science behind poetry. This event promises to combine visual, smell and audio stimuli alongside some of McCarthy’s acclaimed poetry collection.

If you fancy something active, there are plenty of tours run by the festival, such as the cycling solar system tour around Fallowfield. You can also literally walk a mile in the shoes of inspiring scientists; the ‘John Dalton: Father of Science’ tour walks through places important to the life of Dalton, who is regarded by some as Manchester’s first great scientist.

Now in its 10th year, MSF will also be throwing a ‘birthday party’ to commemorate the festival’s run, because as Antonio Benitez, Director of MSF, correctly pointed out, “if Manchester knows how to do anything, it’s to party”. The event will still appeal to everyone’s inner-geek as you can find out the psychology of hating clowns, the secrets behind magic tricks, and the mathematics in cutting the perfect slice of cake.

Whilst the majority of events are free, some do require pre-booking or a fee, so it is worth checking on the website for additional information and a full timetable of activities.

The England problem

Whether we like it or not, Big Sam is out of a job. With a 100% win record that will never be topped, Sam Allardyce was fired from being England manager after being caught out by The Telegraph doing some dodgy dealings. Allardyce did not just dent his own reputation with this though, the FA have been left trying to tape the pieces back together of this broken England team. With this in mind, the FA went for the complete opposite of Big Sam when selecting their new manager. They have moved on from the car salesman look, and gone for the IT technician look, opting for squeaky clean Gareth Southgate. Southgate has a good record in the England set-up, as he has managed the under-twenty-ones since 2013, and seen relative success with them. However, his first act as England manager looks a little like he’s struggled to find said tape, in order to stick this national team back together.

Southgate’s first England team was revealed for the upcoming qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia, and was met with a strong reaction from the public. Mothers dropped their children, vicars swore, and dogs went rabid. Everything was pretty much the same except from the inclusions of Glen Johnson and Jesse Lingard. I have no problem with the inclusion of Jesse Lingard—he deserves his call up—but the problem is with Glen Johnson. Johnson last played for England in 2014, and last played well for England in 2010. He has been playing pretty well for Stoke City of late, but calling him up for the national team highlights England’s biggest problems: living in the past.

We need to get over the “golden generation” of Gerrard, Beckham and Lampard. We need to stop comparing current players to them and trying to fit them into this mould of an excellent game-controlling midfield style of play, we have a very different squad now. We have a young pacey side and we should run with that idea. I’m not going to sit here and tell Southgate how to work the tactics for his team, but bringing back players far past their peak, because of prestige that they once had is simply ridiculous.

An argument in favour for the inclusion of Glen Johnson would be that such a young team needs experience. I do agree, especially with a relatively unexperienced manager now at the helm, but if his dose of experience is coming from Glen Johnson, then things are far worse than we ever though. Joe Hart, Phil Jagielka, Gary Cahill, and Wayne Rooney already offer that bit of experience that the team need. There is a difference between a side with experience and an experienced side. Our English players aren’t good enough to have an experienced side.

Ironically, Glen Johnson pulled himself out of the England squad with an injury, to be replaced by Michael Keane of Burnley, who entirely deserves his place.

I don’t want to complain too much about Gareth Southgate though; he’s not managed a game in charge yet and it’s completely unfair to stick the knife in before there is any evidence. However, I’m going to completely ignore that last sentence and tell you who I think should replace him.

Southgate was the best available choice for the England job in my opinion. Eddie Howe is not—despite popular belief— yet ready for challenge, and Steve Bruce in charge of England would upset the nation. Therefore Southgate was definitely the obvious choice for England. However, we must ask ourselves: why are we looking for an English manager? If there’s a fantastic English choice available then yes, this should work in the candidates favour, but there is no reason at all why a foreign manager would be a problem; it works in our league.

The majority of other big national sides have all hired a man of their own nationality—except Belgium, who should act as a reminder to all England fans that it could be worse, as they hired Spanish Roberto Martinez—but this does not mean that England should settle for sub-standard, we need just to adopt this mindset.

The perfect choice, of course, would be Arsene Wenger. The country has pretty much adopted the Frenchman as one of our own, and experience has been fantastic. Also, if he left Arsenal for the England job, it would mean that all Arsenal fans would finally realize how good a manager they had when Tony Pulis took over.

Despite all this, I will watch the game and hope that Gareth Southgate and his men go on and do well! Partly because I love my national side, and I always want them to improve, and partly because I can’t be arsed hearing any more about who the next manager will be.

‘Killer Clown’ craze hits UK soil

Recent sightings of ‘killer clowns’ jumping out of bushes and chasing members of the public have been reported all over the UK. One police force reportedly received six reports in five days.

These clown hoaxes originated on college campuses in the US, when people dressed in horrifying clown costumes and scared pedestrians walking by. Officers in the UK are warning that these antics could land pranksters in serious trouble.

Newcastle was one of the areas to first report clown sightings in Britain. A spokesperson for the Northumbria Police said a teenager from Blakelaw was arrested in connection with a ‘clown’ incident. He then added that a “bladed article” was found on the teenager.

Schoolchildren across Newcastle have so far been the target of the clown pranksters, leaving them traumatised and “distressed”.

So far, no one has been attacked or injured, but the police force has received numerous reports of clowns chasing passers-by down local streets.

Inspector Stephen Wykes of Central Area Command said: “The people carrying out these pranks may think they’re being funny but it’s leaving a number of young people incredibly distressed.”

“Parents of the children affected, and teachers at our local schools, are understandably concerned and we are working closely with them as this is not something we want to see happening in our local community.”

“There have only been a handful of these incidents, which we think have been inspired by a trend in America, but we are keen to stop them before they cause anyone else further distress.”

“We are keen to identify those people who are dressing up as clowns so we can speak to them about their conduct and establish whether any criminal offence has taken place.”

A spokesman for the police commented on the arrest of the Blakelaw teenager: “This arrest should act as a clear warning to others who are actively seeking to cause distress and potentially harm others.”

“This behaviour will not be tolerated and extra officers will be on hand to offer reassurance and catch those responsible for any criminal offences which have taken place.”

This sinister craze has now reportedly arrived in Manchester. There has been a flurry of panic on social media, but no incidents have been reported—yet.

Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2016

Last Thursday saw the opening of Manchester’s 2016 Food and Drink Festival in Albert Square. Due to my rather relentless obsession with all things food, I had to get down there on opening evening and scope out what this years’ stalls had to offer. When I arrived, I was rather let down by the lack of people evident in the square, but, dismissed this to be down to it only being the first night.

My friend and I entered and immediately headed to the well signposted wine truck (yes, there’s a wine truck!) and grabbed a rather small glass of white wine. With this in hand, we had a quick wander around to gain an overview of what cuisines were available, before committing to any firm decisions.

Drawn in by the stall owners’ friendly smiles and enthusiastic waves, Bakchich was my first food-van destination. For £5, we gained a jam-packed box full of Middle-Eastern treats. With some of my favourite disco songs playing in the background, we devoured the little pockets of chicken shawarma, fresh humus, falafel, and pickles. My favourite part of the box had to be the chicken, it was succulent and flavoursome. Unfortunately, the falafel didn’t rival that found on the Curry Mile.

Next, we decided to head to Cau’s South American truck. I was disappointed to find out they had run out of their steak option, so, decided to grab two empanadas instead– a pastry I fell in love with in Spain. The first was filled with chorizo and cream cheese and the second was vegetarian friendly, filled with spinach and dates. Although both flavours were extremely impressive, the veggie one stood out due to its creamy inside, mixing perfectly with the accompanying spicy chipotle sauce.

Already feeling rather full, we decided to give ourselves a break and explore the other drink options. We headed over to the main Festival Bar and fancied a pint. There are much more glamourous options such as Prosecco and Gin cocktails available too. It was obvious the festival had the clear motive to cater for all kinds of tastes, and it was delivered.

From here, my eyes were drawn back to the food stalls, and in particular Tampopo’s colourful Asian booth. We decided to go for a katsu curry, some may say the obvious choice, but I love comparing this dish in Manchester restaurants. The friendly gentlemen handed us over a classic street food box and also offered us a box of Thai spicy noodles that somebody else had not come back for. We gratefully obliged, and sat on a nearby bench to tuck in. I was impressed with both dishes, the noodles had the classic taste of a Thai green curry, spicy but not overpowering, and the chicken katsu curry was rich and tangy.

Last but not least, we felt we had to try a wood fired pizza. The only option for this was Proove’s stall. Already open as a restaurant in Sheffield, the chatty staff told me they are soon to open here in Manchester. They kindly customised our pizza, throwing on extra garlic, and even did my favourite trick of having half-and-half toppings. We had one side covered in mixed peppers and the other with olives— both were delicious.

For days ahead, I felt the festival had to ensure that some of its best sounding menu options were all in stock, and to hope more people ascended to the Albert Square arena. Overall, though, we did not mind about these details, as it was the ideal destination to reap the rewards of the city’s continuously developing food scene.

Grand Theft Auto V: The game that just keep giving?

Rockstar Games first released the latest instalment of the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto franchise back in 2013, to almost palpable anticipation, and they certainly did not disappoint. With sales in excess of 60 million copies across multiple platforms, GTA V’s success rivals that of the King of Pop and his 1982 album Thriller.

But how do the team over at Rockstar alleviate the insatiable hunger of their enormous fan base and keep GTA V relevant? With a ton of FREE downloadable content, that’s how!

The majority of downloadable content (DLC) is restricted to the online element of the game, which was developed in tandem with the single-player mode, to create a world that is continuously developing. So what is on offer in the dynamic open world of Los Santos for you and up to thirty others to enjoy?

Rockstar have so far released a plethora of content ranging from the ‘I’m Not a Hipster’ and ‘Beach Bum’ updates, to special holiday themed offerings such as the ‘Festive Surprise’ or ‘Valentine’s Day Massacre Special’. Apart from adding new weapons, vehicles and outfits, such updates have remained relatively superficial.

However, that all changed with the release of Online Heists. This feature allows you and three friends to prepare and pull off a set of audacious robberies and line your pockets with some much-needed cash at the same time.

Yet what does a kingpin of the criminal underworld do with all that new-found wealth? Buy an attack helicopter of course! The ‘Lowrider’ DLC quickly succeeded online heists, allowing players to cruise down Vespucci Beach listening to West Coast Classics in their very own custom 1964 Impala.

Or, if you are under the impression a crime boss deserves a little more luxury, the ‘Executives and Other Criminals’ update might be for you. Stroll the deck of your own super-yacht or hire other players to escort you around in an armoured limo with a mini-gun on top; the possibilities are endless.

This begs the question, how does Rockstar follow up on such a prestigious lineage of DLC? Two words: Biker Gangs. That’s right, the latest update for GTA online allows you to establish your own motorcycle club of up to eight fellow bikers. Members have their own roles and responsibilities ranging from enforcer to president as they burn rubber and terrorise the streets of Los Santos.

However, the Biker update is much more than a range of new bikes and weapons, it is an opportunity to create your own criminal enterprise, expanding on the earlier ‘Finance and Felony’ DLC.

You can buy one of twelve clubhouses dotted around sandy shores to act as your base of operations while you expand your organisation and battle rival clubs. There are also numerous business opportunities such as money counterfeiting and document forgery, or you could turn your hand to arms smuggling and large-scale narcotics distribution.

The Biker update adds features the game has been crying out for since its conception and Rockstar certainly do not disappoint with this new DLC. This really is the game that just keeps giving, expect many more great things on the horizon.

Album: Solange – A Seat at the Table

Released 30th September via Saint/Columbia

9/10

“I’m weary of the ways of the world,” sighs Solange Knowles on Weary, the second track off her third album. As well she might be: not long ago, she took the time out to write about her experiences at a Kraftwerk gig in New Orleans where four white women lobbed half-eaten limes at her. It is symptomatic of the ghastly racial tensions, to put it politely, currently engulfing the United States; as scenes on the news doubtlessly reveal, the America of 2016 resembles more the America of fifty years ago, rife with civil rights marches and police brutality.

As such, A Seat at the Table comes imbued with the anger and agony of post-Ferguson America. Strangely, what you’d expect on paper to be a gritty, harsh artifact on par with the polemic of the Black Lives Matter movement turns out to be soft, balmy and gorgeously furnished. Weary is littered with fantastic arrangements: restless electronic bleeps, jazzy piano, doleful chords and rumbling percussion. A Seat at the Table has an illustrious supporting cast: Q-Tip, Dave Sitek, Kindness’ Adam Bainbridge, serial Solange cohort Devonte Hynes of Blood Orange, Kwes, Sampha, Questlove, Kelela, Rostam Batmanglij, David Longstreth, and then some. It goes without saying that it’s cheering to see so much British songwriting talent here.

It’s certainly an angry, passionate album – the fittingly titled ‘Mad’ is a pickled retort to those misguided souls inquiring why black people are so incensed nowadays, as if they didn’t know. However, the music contained is delightful, gossamer-light and inviting: this isn’t the gnarled angst of To Pimp a Butterfly. ‘Don’t You Wait’, in particular, is beautifully gauzy. Like Hynes’ Freetown Sound, the preponderance of luscious pop songs is staggering, though it is infinitely more refined and cohesive than that album. ‘Cranes in the Sky’ opens with strings and hip-hop-accented drums and soars, with help from Raphael Saadiq’s popping bass.

Everything from the itchy electro-funk-soul of standout track ‘Junie’ to the earthy brilliance of ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ to ‘F.U.B.U’s woozy, undulating vapour (“For us, this shit is for us,” it begins and goes about wryly dissecting American race relations) translates a deeply personal and honest expression of blackness. In some respects, the album forms a relatively more leftfield counterpoint to her sister Beyonce’s Lemonade, the latter, on reflection, slightly underwhelming. As it stands, A Seat at the Table is uniformly excellent R&B-pop as digestible and uncomplicated as its message; a bold, important and immensely enjoyable document of empowerment and black identity.

Brexit: Article 50 to be triggered by March 2017

On Sunday 2nd October, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she would trigger Article 50, to stimulate Britain’s official exit from the European Union, by March 2017 at the latest. She had previously only stated that she would not trigger Article 50 this year.

Once triggered, Britain will have two years to negotiate a deal before a full departure from the EU, meaning Britain could fully leave by March 2019.

In a speech at the Conservative Party Conference, May laid out her plans for full British independence. She promised a ‘Great Repeal Bill’ in the next Queen’s speech, undoing the 1972 European Communities Act and thereby allowing Britain to cancel any unwanted EU legislation.

Although a full repeal will not come into effect until Britain has officially left the EU, May’s plans signal the end of the jurisdictions of the European Court of Justice as well as EU laws.

Despite stating that it is too early to say what the exact outcome of Brexit will be, May appeared to favour a ‘hard’ Brexit, in which Britain would be in control of its own immigration laws, even if that means forsaking access to the EU single market. She criticised those demanding a second referendum, arguing that the wishes of the country to leave the EU would be respected, as there is no opt-out option.

May also reiterated her wishes for informal preparatory talks with Brussels, to aide a smoother negotiation before the process is officially triggered, despite their insistence that no negotiations will take place before Article 50 is used to notify the EU Parliament formally.

The Prime Minister has tried to ease concerns regarding the effect of Brexit on the national economy, arguing that leaving the EU will allow the creation of a global Britain, with the benefit of Britain having the freedom to make its own decisions.

Combatting Freshers’ Flu

It’s your first night out with your flatmates during Freshers’ Week, and you’re absolutely loving life. The night passes, and you do it all over again for several days. But then, the worst happens: the dreaded Freshers’ Flu. Your head is pounding, and not just from all the alcohol you’ve consumed. Your nose is runny, your throat is sore, and you just want to hide away from everyone and everything under your duvet.

Having the flu is inconvenient, what with all the new people you have to meet and the parties you have to attend. Here’s a guide on how to take care of yourself during this rough period.

1. Keep tissues with you: make sure you’re always around a tissue, whether you’re in your room, on the bus, or at university. Nobody wants to be sat next to someone in a lecture theatre who keeps coughing and sneezing into their sleeve. Use a tissue; you’ll make more friends that way too.

2. Eat healthy: this is pretty much common sense! You need to eat your fruit and vegetables; not only will you make your mum proud, but you’ll be getting loads of vitamins and minerals into your diet. Ditch those ready meals for a change, and eat fresh foods.

3. Drink lots of water: you need to keep yourself hydrated and flush out those Freshers’ Flu toxins from your body. This doesn’t include drinking alcohol though, so perhaps cut that out until you’re feeling better!

4. Go outside: you’ll start to feel the benefits of being outside and getting some fresh air, and you’ll be able to explore your new home for a while—it’s a win-win situation!

5. Take a bath/shower: the hot water will make your muscles relax, and the steam will help your sinuses.

6. Get some sleep: tuck yourself into bed and go to sleep. You might be missing one or two nights out, but this just means you’ll be able to go on for that much longer.

7. Make your room cozy: nothing makes you feel better like being at home with your mum, but if it isn’t possible for you to go back, you’ll need a thick blanket, some fluffy cushions, a hot water bottle, and pictures of your loved ones all over the wall. This will make you feel better almost instantaneously.

Everyone knows how stressful it can get to be ill at university and feel like no one is there to help you. Just know that you aren’t alone; a study by Kleenex revealed that Freshers’ Week is when students most often call home complaining about their symptoms to their parents.

Their research also shows that in the first three weeks of university alone, there were over 10,000 mentions of Freshers’ Flu on social media. 75 per cent of all conversations about the flu came from females, who are most likely to suffer the most from it.

Social media data from individual universities last year tells us that students at the highest risk of catching Freshers’ Flu are in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, and Newcastle. Use these tips if you are unlucky enough to catch the flu, and fight it!

Microbeads: the truth the beauty industry is accepting

If you’ve been following the news recently, you may have heard something about the recent ban on microbeads. Microbeads are small, plastic beads found in beauty products such as exfoliators, shower gels, and toothpaste; you may even have something which contains them in your bathroom. Celebrities such as Dougie Poynter (of McFly) have campaigned for cosmetics lines to discontinue the use of microbeads in their products, but why? Microbeads have been found to cause extreme damage to marine life, a fact widely spread by Greenpeace, who have been central to the campaign in the UK.

Why are microbeads a problem?

Most commonly made from plastic, polyethylene, these beads are specifically defined as being smaller than 5mm, which has allowed them to become a toxic part of our oceans. Due to their small size these beads are able to travel through plugholes and pass straight through water filtration systems. In this way, they find their way into the sea. Fish are commonly mistaking them for food, of course, harming them. We are all aware of the issue of waste pollution affecting our oceans, right? This is the same thing on a micro scale. Microbeads have become an avoidable addition to the plastic already damaging marine life. In order to diminish the amount of plastic already in our oceans, the decision has been made to ban this substance from beauty products throughout the UK.

What is being done about this?

Firstly, big-brand companies have begun to pledge that they will stop using microbeads across their lines. For example, L’Oréal has promised to phase out the microbeads used in their scrubs, cleansers, and shower gels, while The Body Shop has already cut microbeads from their products. Secondly, the distribution of microbeads in cosmetic products has been banned in particular countries, thereby forcing brands to either comply or have their products withdrawn from shelves. America and Canada have already signed the bills to ban the distribution of microbeads in their respective countries, and equally, the UK has also banned microbeads. The government has promised that they will be phased out by 2017, which will hopefully decrease the amount of pollution entering our oceans. Environmentalists are hopeful that the discontinuation of microbeads in cosmetics will help to tackle the damaging effects of waste.

Alexander McQueen: the tragic genius

Before tragically taking his own life, Alexander McQueen was one of the most sought after British designers of the mid-nineties through to the late noughties. While his legacy and brand live on through the direction of McQueen’s current artistic director Sarah Burton, the fashion house’s days of controversy are a distant memory. McQueen was criticised but also much adulated for his controversial yet innovative fashion shows. He was a designer who was unafraid to shake the boundaries of the fashion industry and in doing so earned a legion of admiring fans from Kate Moss to Sarah Jessica Parker. His unparallelled passion, skill and pioneering take on fashion, has cemented McQueen as one the greatest designers to have ever graced the fashion scene.

Not one to shy away from controversy and the publicity it brings, here take a look back to some McQueen’s most exciting and inspiring collections.

Autumn/Winter 95

McQueen debuted his memorable collection ‘Highland Rape’ which saw models take to the runway wearing tartan, torn lace — which later became his signature with the iconic ‘bumster’ skirt.  The ‘bumster’ skirt was created to elongate the body and draw attention, to what McQueen considered the most erotic part of the body; the spine. The models adopted different personas when walking the runway, some anxiously checking the length of their skirt while others stormed aggressively down the catwalk. This combined with the torn clothing and seemingly battered appearance of the models caused many to deduce what McQueen was displaying was abuse and struggle. In fact, McQueen stated he was commenting on the persecution and ethnic cleansing the British army conducted in the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. Nevertheless, McQueen was instantly bombarded with criticism over the presentation and connotations of his collection. His defence, however, was his choice to display the way woman are treated in this society.The unveiling of this show ensured that McQueen was the name on everyone’s lips.

Spring/Summer 99

McQueen’s show-stopping finale of this collection is what earns Spring Summer 99 (SS99) collection as one of his most memorable shows. Not just your average fashion show, SS99 was a spectacle of performance art. Supermodel Shalom Harlow made her way to a rotating turntable in the centre of the runway surrounded by robotic paint guns. She wore a plain white, strapless dress and as the table began to rotate, Harlow was sprayed with paint, creating a unique and original piece of fashion in front of the audience. Mesmerising, brilliant and, most importantly unforgettable. McQueen produced one of the most show-stopping and unique finales in fashion history.

Spring/Summer 10

The final completed collection before his death, McQueen’s Plato Atlantis show was staged in Paris. It debuted as one of the first runway shows to be live streamed — until Lady Gaga tweeted about it and promptly crashed the site before the show began. The collection was a combination of reptile meets alien and was the first time that McQueen’s iconic notoriously high ‘armadillo’ heels were unveiled. These heels later went on to be associated with the then pop star of the moment Lady Gaga, who wore them in her 2009 hit ‘Bad Romance’. The heels raised a lot of questions. How tall are the heels? Where do the toes go? Is there any storage space in the platforms? And are they appropriate to wear for drinks on a Saturday night? I’m still yet to find the answers to these questions. However, McQueen’s final collection was as memorable as those preceding it. From the armadillo heel to the compilation of alien and reptile print, this daring collection secures its place as one of my favourites.

Through his collections, we have a lasting glimpse of the creative genius that was taken much too soon. Alexander McQueen has left behind a legacy that has affirmed him as one of the greatest designers of all time.

Review: The Emperor

A moving soliloquy on the ridiculousness of total power, Kathryn Hunter’s The Emperor is a shocking piece in many ways. Based on Ryszard Kapuściński’s 1978 book of investigative journalism regarding Haile Selassie’s reign in Ethiopia, one would be forgiven for assuming that this is a heavy going show. However, the opposite is true. Kathryn Hunter showcases exceptional talent and originality in her portrayal of the servants in Selassie’s court and navigates a still contentious story with humour, respect, and honesty. Whilst the script used is not verbatim to the published book, Hunter portrays the characters with such chameleon-like fluency that one can hear the original interviews through her voice.

Of course, the most shocking thing of all is that it is just Hunter acting — a musician and lighting director the only addition to the cast. Whilst Ethiopian musician Temesgen Zeleke obviously adds a second dimension, the show would lose a great deal of impact without Mike Gunning’s fantastic lighting. The interaction between Hunter and Zeleke is not crowbarred into the piece to lend an ‘authentic’ tone, but is rather a necessary plot device, not only used to indicate different characters in the early stages of the piece, but also to create the necessary tension later as we approach the rebellion and revolution of 1974.

I will admit, when I saw there was no interval, I was sceptical. However, I did not notice an hour go by, due to Hunter’s truly engaging performance. The characters created were bizarrely all sympathetic, despite the heinous acts of cruelty committed by several, including the deluded Minister of Information, whose own son was killed in the Civil War that began in 1974. An example of the excellent balance between humour and thought-provoking material came from this character, whose monologues regularly ended with the question “why do you keep asking about my son?” This line, followed by an immediate black-out and silence, was one of the many lines that left a huge impression on the audience, and could be heard being discussed in the bar.

Hunter’s will to force us to see the ridiculousness of our obsession to create was evident in Kafka’s Monkey, but here it is even more desperate. The only moment that felt a little forced was as the desperately daft concept of ‘internationalism’ in a starving country was being ridiculed by Hunter, dancing in front of a white satin curtain, and an audience member was dragged up to dance with her. Whilst audience participation can advance a piece, it didn’t seem to here.

This minor gripe was of course offset straight away by Hunter’s sudden transformation into an old, painfully shuffling servant bearing witness to the dethronement of his master. We felt sympathy for this faithful valet, whilst never knowing the true character of his emperor, as every voice seemed to hold bias of some sort. An exceptionally challenging ending simply displayed the future of Ethiopia, and the statistics of the bloodshed of the civil war, and left the whole audience questioning; is Western progress really what everyone needs?

You can watch the trailer for The Emperor here.

To knee or not to knee?

The NFL’s sustained collectivist approach is what has made it such a success in America, bringing the whole population together through the allure of cosy patriotism and tradition .

In the words of iconic NFL coach Vince Lombardi “Football is like life—it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and a respect for authority.” These words have acted as a guiding mantra for American Football which prides itself on players acting as transient cogs serving to power a greater machine.

Indeed it is noticeable that in a country that suffers from such regular turbulence as America, how little of it seems to affect its most popular sport. The NFL’s sustained collectivist approach is what has made it such a success in America, bringing all of its population together through the allure of cosy patriotism and tradition .

However when San Francisco 49’ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick elected to sit during the national anthem which he claimed oppresses black people and people of colour, this tradition seemed threatened. Within minutes of this statement being made the carefully maintained bubble of political neutrality, maintained by the NFL, had been popped. What followed has been a flurry of diverse responses which has risked breaking the delicate bonds which keep NFL teams together.Yet in spite of these disruptions it is worth asking the question whether Kaepernick’s protest is having the effect he intended.

The Kaepernick scenario highlights some of the unspoken tensions which are perennially in the background and conveniently ignored.Most polls cite that the majority of players in the NFL are black, making up 68 per cent of the league, whereas 77 per cent of the Fans are white.

This gulf in demographics is unspoken, unacknowledged but also unavoidably present and was exposed in the aftermath of the Kaepernick incident. Indeed most of the players regardless of race supported their right to protest even if they did not agree with the message or the methods.

Whereas 44 per cent of NFL fans stating in a Yahoo Sports/YouGov that they were likely to stop watching NFL games if these protests were sustained. This has also been reflected by the withdrawal of endorsements from players such as Brandon Marshall who had opted to protest.

This tension in views amongst players and fans should alarm the NFL who are walking a tightrope in their attempts to enable their player’s freedom of expression whilst also reassuring fans that they do not actively support Kaepernick’s view. Indeed the NFL’s current policy of enabling the protest’s while not endorsing them has currently been effective  in satisfying both sides.

Yet Kaepernick’s protest has not fizzled out in perhaps the way the NFL and its fans would have hoped. Instead it has prompted a flurry of political communication and expression not previously seen in America’s most popular sport.

Other NFL players have expanded on Kaepernick’s initial protest and interpreted it in their own distinctive ways. Marcus Peters, of the Kansas City Chiefs, raised his fist in solidarity, emulating the gesture performed by John Carlos and Tommy Smith in the 68 Olympics, while the Seattle Seahawks locked arm in arm in a promotion of unity.

It has also prompted some soul searching amongst white NFL players with former marine Nate Boyer reaching out to Kaepernick in an attempt to understand his perspective on sitting out the anthem. Indeed Kaepernick’s stand has filtered down into different sports as demonstrated by support lent to his movement by female US footballer Megan Rapinoe, who knelt in solidarity with Kaepernick. Therefore Kaepernick’s protest has seemed to have prompted the discussion of racial injustice on a more public platform.

Still it is hard to ignore the defiant blast of opposition which has faced Kaepernick. A bunch of grizzled NFL veteran players and coaches have repeatedly criticised his gesture as self seeking, naive and downright stupid. Furthermore he has not escaped reaction from high profile figures outside of sport with Donald Trump suggesting that he ought to find a new country and Obama being prompted into a cagey response.

Yet all of this discomfort and vitriol has only succeeded in proving Kaepernick’s point. The strength of criticism evoked in the criticism of Kaepernick has only sustained his protest and has magnified how increasingly polarised different sections of American society are.

Furthermore the criticisms levelled at Kaepernick that his form of protest is fundamentally hollow and has no substance have also been dispelled.

Since gaining such large publicity Kaepernick has pledged to donate a million dollars of his own money towards charities that aid deprived communities as a result of the sharp rise in sales of his own jersey, further reinforcing the popularity of his own movement.

This impact is manifesting itself in an outpouring of support from the majority of the Afro American community. It has resulted in a number of trickle down protests where mainly Afro American high school football teams have emulated him in taking a knee. It is difficult to conclude that without such a public form of protest that this would have happened.

Therefore Kaepernick’s protest has become a divisive lightning rod for the NFL which has risked polarising players and fans along divisions of race and politics. It has served to risk the popularity of the NFL through creating an unsettled an uncomfortable fan base.

Yet this is the intention of Kaepernick’s protest; in unearthing a stiff wall of opposition towards his protest his point is being made for him that America remains a divided and polarised country in 2016.

Feature: Louis Theroux; A force to be reckoned with

In the build-up to Louis Theroux’s upcoming Scientology film, set for cinema release on 14th October, it’s hugely interesting to reflect on the work of one of the UK’s most prolific, revered, and widely-watched documentary filmmakers. Taking into account the scale of his ever increasing repertoire, it’s hard to predict Theroux’s next step, with his impressive back catalogue spanning nearly two decades and covering a plethora of rarely approached topics—from the porn industry, to UFO hunters, to neo-Nazis. Preceding the hotly anticipated My Scientology Movie, however, was the recently aired BBC Two documentary, Savile, a follow-up to 2000’s When Louis Met Jimmy, in which Louis Theroux entered the personal world of the late entertainer, long before the truth surfaced about his extensive history of sexual abuse, rape, and paedophilia.

Savile is an uncomfortable and, at times, downright unpleasant viewing experience, as victims meet with Louis to speak candidly and honestly about the horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of a man who was, for a time, considered a national treasure. Indeed, Theroux himself in the documentary reflects on his own personal guilt at having trusted Savile and even considered him a friend during the time they knew one another. At one point, one of his interviewees, Sam, turns the discussion around and asks Theroux if he felt he too was ‘groomed’ by Savile, to which he hesitates and suggests that ‘groomed’ is too strong a word. However, it is definitely clear from his response that he feels deceived, much like the rest of the world, by Savile’s poisonous façade, which adds an interesting new facet to the documentary which isn’t present in his other productions. His involvement and self-described ‘friendship’ with Savile, and the subsequent examination of his own conscience and the suspicions he held at the time of their encounters with one another, help to create a documentary in which the spotlight falls upon its creator just as much as its participants.

The continued success of Theroux and his insightful, boundary-pushing documentaries is a credit to both his meticulous, inquisitive style as a writer and—perhaps more importantly—his consistently respectful and unbiased approach when reaching out to various groups and individuals within society. This naturalistic, human, and agenda-free attitude with which Theroux approaches those who feature in his films provides viewers with a refreshing and often shocking look at a whole range of unconventional lifestyles, strange pursuits, beliefs, and ideologies; it is surely one of the key factors behind his popularity. His uninhibited and unrelenting questioning style most definitely adds an element of intrigue and exclusivity which simply isn’t seen in most other documentaries.

Looking back at his various exports, from Weird Weekends, BBC Two specials and his When Louis Met… series, to his current spate of standalone documentaries, there are very few taboo topics Louis Theroux hasn’t yet ventured into. It’s hopeful, and likely, that the sense of ambition and relentless curiosity which underpins his filmmaking will inspire the next generation of exciting documentary makers. After the harrowing, yet eye-opening experience of watching Savile, Louis Theroux is once again a name on everyone’s lips, particularly with trailers circulating for the imminent release of My Scientology Movie. It is no easy task to document a religion so shrouded in mystery and confusion, yet followed by some of the world’s most influential celebrities. But, if anyone is capable of producing something compelling and illuminating, it’s undoubtedly Louis Theroux.

 

Freshers’ Guide: Societies 101

With over 400 societies at the University of Manchester, it can be tough to know where to start. Maybe competitive sports isn’t your thing, and you’d rather melt than appear on a stage. Don’t worry, there are still loads of ways to get involved! We’ve taken some of the more general interest societies and broken them into different groups. Take a whistle-stop tour through what else the Students’ Union has to offer, and you’re sure to find something to suit you!

Eating and drinking: We all have to eat, so what better way to meet new people than by doing something we can all enjoy? Manchester is full of great bars and restaurants, and this is a great way of exploring what the city has to offer. You can also pick up some extra skills, whether it’s how to make a bakewell tart or how to pick the best wine for your meal. As Julia Child once said, “people who love to eat are always the best people.”
Societies to join: Baking, Cheese and Wine, Coffee, Craft Beer, Veggie/Vegan

Keeping active: Ready to get stuck in and do something different? Look no further! We know that not everyone likes to sweat it out at the gym, but there are lots of other ways to keep your energy levels up, get out and about and meet new people. You might break a sweat, but you’ll be having fun doing it!
Societies to join: Swing Dance, Yoga, HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts), Ice skating, Folk and Ceilidh, Hiking

Adrenaline junkie: If your tastes are a little more adventurous, there’s lots of groups to choose from. Whether you want to scale the skies or burrow deep into the caves, there’ll be a society that gets your heart racing and the adrenaline pumping. Just don’t forget your harness!
Societies to join: Expeditions, Karting and Motorsport, Skydiving, Speleology, Sub Aqua, Mountaineering

Beyond the classroom: University is all about learning, and if you’re someone who likes to challenge themselves outside the lecture theater then there’s lots on offer. These groups offer a chance to explore original ideas and meet people who share your passion for what’s new, interesting and thought-provoking.
Societies to join: Book Club, Pint of Science, Board Games, Socionics Society, TedX, Debating

Arty: Whether you’re good with your paintbrush, your pen or your needle, these groups are for you! There’s lots of ways to explore your creative side and get involved with the artistic scene around campus! Don’t be put off if you’ve not tried something before; give it a go, you might find a hidden creative talent!
Societies to join: Comic Collective (MUCC), Blog Soc, Creative Writing, Craftivism, Film Making, Whitworth Young Contemporaries

Design Manchester 2016

2016 marks the fourth year that the annual Design Manchester festival invades one of the most innovative cities in the UK, the theme this year being ‘Design City.’ Aimed at encouraging inclusivity and diversity within art and design, this year the non-profit organisation will hold 37 separate events over a 12-day period — running from the 12th-23rd October. With venues ranging from bars and clubs in the Northern Quarter to the London Road Fire Station, the accessibility of the festival for everyone is key to promoting design as a collaborative art; it is not a field merely restricted to the artists and inventors of the world. Design Manchester is focused on encouraging everyone, from emerging designers to industrial workers, to both discover and celebrate the work done within the Design industry.

Established in 2013, primarily by Manchester School of Art, the festival has gained greater popularity over the years, with this year promising to be the best yet. 2015’s event saw over 20,000 visitors, from architects to educators to families, coming to the 17 events available. With 37 events this year, including the ones below, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Women in Print Exhibition: Taking place from Thursday 13th October to Sunday 23rd October between 12-6pm, this free event is an exhibition presenting the work of local designers and printmakers that focuses on celebrating of the contribution of women throughout Mancunian history. The exhibition, taking place in both the Co-op HQ and Northern Quarter’s PLY, will showcase the involvement and input that iconic female figures have created the City of Manchester that we know today.

Street Art Tour: Running on both Saturday 15th October and Friday 21st October, this event will educate its visitors on the history of the alternative Northern Quarter, demonstrated through street art. Costing only £7.50, the tour, hosted by well-known writer Hayley Flynn, tells of the artists of the area’s oldest street art, and how art drove the redevelopment of the once-deteriorating Northern Quarter. The event will run each day between 11am and 1pm, showcasing both the historical and current influence of art within the city.

City ID: The Grand Debate: On Wednesday 19th October, between 6:30-9pm, a well-informed and design-orientated panel will discuss topics from transport innovations to the controversial subject of Brexit. The debate, however, is not limited to panel members, which includes Peter Mandelson, former Cabinet Minister and EU Trade commissioner and Emer Coleman a digital pioneer, but rather requires audience participation. The latter half of the session will provide a few glasses of wine hopefully encouraging further opinions and discussions.  This is a free event at Old Granada Studios, providing you have pre-registered, it plans to let loose opinions and encourage debate, provoked by, but not limited to the well-known panel members.

The above events are merely a sample of the possible activities you could get involved in over the 12-day period. An amazing opportunity to discover more about the city in which you live, as well as perhaps unleashing the creative potential hidden within you. This festival will be both fun and informative. It will not only will give you a greater insight into the contributions of design in Manchester but further gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded people and possibly continue to hone your creative energies long after the festival has finished. For more details and information on the remaining events, see the website here.

How to combat ‘freshers’ face’

As we welcome the new first years to the University, they are thrown into a lifestyle where drinking a high quantity of alcohol throughout the week is the norm, particularly during Freshers’ Week. Late nights, sugary alcoholic drinks and drunk food all have an impact on your skin—with an increase in spots, dry and dull skin, as well as increased pigmentation (such as a red flush). Alcohol dehydrates your entire body so it’s so important to drink a lot of water the next day after a heavy night. If you can, drink a glass of water before you go to sleep after a night of drinking as well to help fight the effects.

For girls, taking your make-up off before you go to sleep is key to avoid spots, blocked pores, and skin redness. Maintaining a good cleanse, tone, and moisturize system will also aid with clearer skin. Eyes can lose their brightness and the late nights, lack of sleep, and overall alcohol consumption can cause puffy eyes. To help eradicate these symptoms without altering your sleeping pattern, splashing your face with cold water, or putting fresh cucumber or tea bags over your eye area will improve this (the tannin in tea is particularly effective at eradicating puffiness and discoloration).

Investing in good exfoliators, cleansers and moisturizers, consuming more fruit and vegetables and less sugary, fatty foods as well as introducing some light exercise to your routine will mean you can enjoy your nights out with reduced consequences.

Obviously limiting the amount of alcohol you consume, choosing a purer alcohol such as good quality gin or vodka (these typically leave your body quicker), and drinking water in between your alcoholic drinks to promote a diuretic effect will not only help with hangovers but will help with freshers’ face. No one wants to decline a night out, especially in first year, so utilize these tips and party without completely sacrificing your youthful and fresh appearance.