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Month: October 2012

Ethical Craving and Saving

Written by Chloe Letcher on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Craving- Vivienne Westwood ‘Yasmin’ bag, £235.

Many might recognise Vivienne Westwood as the 71 year old, flame-haired eccentric, who even walked down the catwalk at her Red Label Spring/Summer 2013 London Fashion Week show dressed as a pirate. However, it isn’t all fun and games with the edgy designer. Westwood is known for raising awareness of worthy causes such as nuclear disarmament, climate change, and for saving the world in general. Her latest project, ‘The Ethical Fashion Programme’, has provided some of the poorest communities in the world with jobs. Through the production of her Africa Bags line, Westwood has helped over 7,000 women who live in extreme poverty. The collection, made by these women, and from recycled material, is ethically sourced and sustainable. My favourite piece from the collection is the ‘Yasmin’ bag. The bag is handmade in Kenya, and the lining of the bag is made from a recycled t-shirt. Priced at £235, it is a bit of a splurge. However, the Massai beading on the front of the bag is wonderfully authentic and unusual, whilst the trademark gold orb still echoes a sense of the iconic British style that Westwood’s brand encapsulates.

 

Photo: H and M

Saving- H&M jumper, £14.99.

Devoted to producing fashionable, yet sustainable and ethically sourced clothing, high street favourite H&M succeeds with it’s Conscious line. The company comments on its desire that all business operations should ‘be run in a way that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable’. It’s quite amazing to read what the brand has achieved through the sustainability programme; H&M are the largest user of organic cotton worldwide, 2.3 million of their garments are donated to charities, and the company has saved 300 million litres of water in denim production. Without wanting to preach (because I am as guilty of this as the next person), it’s easy to walk into a shop, pick up an item of clothing, and buy it, without giving a second thought to how it has been produced and where it has come from. However, it really does feel good to know that the line is created with the best interests of those who produce the clothes, and the environment, at heart. It also means that this jumper is both a bargain, at £14.99, and a guilt free buy. Made from 50% viscose and 50% recycled polyester, the pretty piece also comes in a pastel-mint green, black and white. If the conscientious don’t-spend-money voice inside your head tells you not to buy it- tell it to be quiet. It’s good for the environment.

 

Tartiflette

Written by Joanna Fox on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Tartiflette is a dish I was introduced to while in France; sort of their equivalent to the student pasta bake.

There is really no way to market this combination of carbohydrate, cheese, bacon and cream as healthy food so instead I shall suggest that this recipe is good for stomach lining. There is the risk of getting a food-baby but when it’s this good why not just leave the body-con at home, or even stay at home yourself and have a sneaky extra portion?

Serves 4
800g potato, chopped roughly into cubes
1 large onion
A packet of smoked bacon, sliced into small pieces
250g Reblochon cheese cubed. If unavailable, try Pont l’évêque or Brie (Sainsbury’s do a superb Basics one)
300ml double cream

Parboil the potato cubes in boiling water for 8-10 minutes, or until the potatoes start to soften. Meanwhile, fry the bacon and onion. Drain the potatoes and put in a baking dish (go on, you know your mum bought you one; dig it out from the back of the cupboard and give it a rinse). Mix in the bacon, onions, cheese and cream, season with salt and pepper, and bake at about 220 °C/ Gas 7/ fan 200°C until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Enjoy with a green salad.

Where did it all go wrong for Pro Evo?

Written by Shanda Moorghen on . Posted in Games.

Down the years, the battle between FIFA and Pro Evo has been considered to be an uneven one. Konami’s most famous game has often crushed the competition to take over the market as football’s finest.  However, in recent year the tables have turned.

There was a time, when Pro Evo could just make up the names of players and teams and it would still do the game to have. Pro Evo always had substantial changes in its yearly releases and it was so realistic and easy to play that FIFA just did not make the cut. Pro Evo 6 marked the widest gap between the two games. Things changed pretty quickly afterwards. As incredible as this seems, just as Konami slowed down its progress, EA saw its chance, and you can’t say they didn’t take it.

The strides made by FIFA the last 5 years have been stunning. First of all, FIFA has now matched and perhaps bettered Pro Evo in terms of fluidity and smoothness. The rapid flow of attack and defense is impressive as ever and the passing is crisp. At the same time, Pro Evo is not as slick as before with dodgy first touches and passing.

Because Pro Evo no longer has the cutting edge that it had, it might also be useful to reconsider their licensing agreements. It’s always nice to be able to control players who you have actually heard of, something that has always been a plus side for FIFA.

Originality was the primary force of Konami before. A good example of this was when they introduced “diving” into the game; something that FIFA would never do. That move actually sold me the game at that time and lead to some classic banter. Yet, nowadays, the only new thing about Pro Evo seems to be the player on the cover (FIFA has Messi while Pro Evo has Ronaldo, as if comparisons were lacking).

FIFA has moved on quite a bit in the last five years in terms of bringing in new content to the game. Even though the shift from FIFA 12 to FIFA 13 is not as mind-blowing as the previous years, it still gets the job done. The new skill games are fun and the Match Day option really spices up the matches.

The commentary on Pro Evo could not get any more dull with virtually no progress made over the last years while FIFA’s commentary is even more passionate than before, which is a achievement in itself.

To be fair, PES 2013 is actually better suited to the competition FIFA is providing. However it might be a case of too little too late. EA has the market dominated, and they don’t look like they’re getting complacent. Konami fans need to accept the glory days are not coming back for a while.

La Tasca

Written by Abigail Bennetton on . Posted in Food & Drink.

A few Fridays ago, a friend and I were invited to an event at the Trafford Centre celebrating the launch of La Tasca’s new autumn/winter menu. The night promised a Paella masterclass, sangria and nibbles. How could we refuse?

We found ourselves wandering around the Trafford centre looking for La Tasca, eventually stumbling upon the quaint and colourful tapas bar that looked as though it had been supplanted straight from Spain.

Glasses of Buck’s Fizz in hand, we were greeted with platters of olives, various breads, cured meats and cheese, before moving on to the main attraction – the paella. We were talked through the process of traditional Valencian paella by Antonio Bennetto, who is the executive chef for La Tasca. Into the dish went a host of fresh ingredients, including garlic oil, diced chicken, squid, black tiger prawns and mussels, with majestic langoustines as a garnish.  Admittedly, I’m not normally a die-hard fish lover, but I surprisingly enjoyed the paella. With squid as the one ingredient I couldn’t quite stomach, it can only be considered as a success.

The impression we got from all of the food and atmosphere was one of total authenticity – with research carried out by executive chefs across the whole Iberian Peninsula, and many ingredients also direct from that source. We spoke to the manager, who estimated around 80% of their produce is imported from Spain.

The brand itself, which has been around for a while, seems to be gradually re-launching itself as delivering authenticated Spanish cuisine with traditional methods adapted to suit a wide audience, simultaneously promoting an atmosphere open to everyone. This is the message that came through to us, 100 per cent. The food was excellent, the new menu was full of delicious and slightly meatier winter warmers – needed through the grizzly Manchester weather – and they also boast a wide range of gluten free and vegetarian dishes. The staff were all lovely, without exception, and they were keen to tell us how good the place is for groups, including private areas and bookings.

Later on in the evening La Tasca had live music, for their night called ‘Fiesta Fridays’ (which apparently also run on Thursdays), perfectly illustrating the quintessentially Spanish love of combining good food with good company.

I hate to sound as though I was bought by an evening of complimentary food and drink, but overall the experience was wonderful. The atmosphere warm and inviting, with all the hustle and bustle characteristic of a real Spanish tapas bar, but none of the pretence you might expect from a chain restaurant.

FIFA 2013

Written by Shanda Moorghen on . Posted in Games.

It’s that time of the year again, EA and Konami resume their yearly conflict. However, this might be the most impressive battle of the last decade. A week after Konami released its gem, PES 2013, EA responded with a beauty of its own, the latest from a franchise soon celebrating 20 years, FIFA 2013. Even though this is mainly a review of the latter, it cannot go unnoticed that PES 2013 have taken huge forward strides.

Once again, FIFA has taken the next step in creating the most stunning piece of its franchise yet. The stadiums are vibrating, the chants are louder, the colours are brighter and the passion of the game seems to flow all around the world. But, this might not be enough to convince the real players of any change at all.  Has the presentation been improved? Yes! Has the interface been improved? Yes! Are there new game modes available? Yes! You notice the trend there. Lots of positives to be honest but no marquee change to be honest. But, is that such a bad thing? FIFA 2012 was after all the complete game.

Having a look at the teams, there might be some injustices, as always with FIFA. Juventus, the unbeaten Italian champions, are not impressive, Chelsea might be a bit too good (European champions I know, but still), Arsenal have been overestimated and some of the slightly weaker teams have been underestimated. Nonetheless, Barcelona and Real Madrid are still well above the rest, followed by the evenly rated Manchester United and Manchester City. This might spice up the games when playing online, even better with the Match Day option. If you look at the players as well, some ratings really make no sense. Along with the brilliance of Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi and Iniesta, it seems incredible that Ribery is on par with them. Same thing for Vidic; he’s a great defender sure, but after a whole season out and obvious signs of a decline, 88 might be a little too steep. But overall, the players are worth what EA have granted them.

Not much to account for in terms of gameplay either. Improved and much more fluid dribbling skills are a plus. First touch control is a bit harder so this bodes well for players who like a challenge and like the passing game. There appears to be an improvement in the artificial intelligence with smarter runs and better positioning. The franchise has also tried to show that even more than spectacle, realism has been preferred. So, you can forget about dribbling with Sylvain Distin or scoring a scorcher with Jamie Carragher. Talking about defenders, we’ll move to the main drawback of the game. The defense is very poor. Too many mistakes that might take out the fun of the game sometimes, even more during tight games. On the other hand, the online mode is as impressive ever.

FIFA 2012 was a revolution, the most complete football game ever made. FIFA 2013 is an improvement on that, no marquee changes but still it remains the best.

Manchester’s finest at Joshua Brooks

Written by Helen McCarthy on . Posted in Theatre.

Three Stars out of Five Stars

Who’d have thought that Joshua Brooks, the home of Moustache and Juicy, was also home to theatre? I certainly didn’t, so when I crammed myself into a room that’s usually dripping with sweat, I wasn’t sure what to expect. JB Shorts, which is simply described as ‘six short plays by top TV writers’ on its official flyer, is a surprising mix. It’s crude and explosive but also gentle and subdued at times. The only problem is there’s not much time to refresh between courses.

‘A Christmas Carol’, began with the sound of a barking dog so convincing that I thought I was going to be mauled right there in my seat, and Jenni Howarth Williams was so brash that she could easily have fitted into some kind of post-watershed version of Coronation Street. In the quiet moments though, when only her eyes flickered or her forehead creased, she stood out possibly beyond any other cast member. Ian Kershaw’s script was blissfully funny, but during the drama it left the audience lagging behind, still shuffling around and giggling from the line before. The next piece was in a similar vein and had similar shortcomings. Trevor Suthers’ ‘No Comment’ had such glowing comedic aspects that even when Colin Connor lunged across the stage at an accused child killer with violent conviction, it was mildly amusing.

In ‘Seeds’, Steve Mitchell charmed the pants off the audience as a priest going through a sexual crisis and Carole Solazzo’s script was such bliss that the audience was sent into a lull of appreciation. In fourth came ‘Maddie’, in which an ageing pop star waved a Rampant Rabbit around, a sight I did not expect to be treated to on an otherwise normal Wednesday evening. The physical comedy, courtesy of Chris Brett, was particularly striking but the plot was unsatisfying. It never seemed to really get going, but thankfully it turned into a delightful farce which saved it from being inconsequential.

Lucas Smith, a graduate from Manchester Metropolitan’s Theatre School, gave ‘The Bombmaker’ a wonderfully quiet beginning. Backstage, I learnt that during rehearsal he had ruled out the idea of putting on an ambiguously foreign accent for the sake of the terrorist role. The piece ‘played with stereotypes’ – when the audience saw Smith hold a backpack with the utmost care and walk onto the stage to the sound of an Islamic call to prayer, the majority will have no doubt assumed him to be a bonafide extremist, instead we were treated to a voice that would be at home at RADA.

And finally there was ‘Red’, what can only be described as the ballad of a disgruntled United fan. Writer and actor James Quinn prefers to think of himself as a ‘positive FC United fan’, but even a football novice could understand this ferocious loyalty to a football club that has been split into two polar opposites. The corporate United was played by a suited and booted Daniel Jillings, and the people’s club FC United, was played by Sinead Moynihan, an interestingly feminine choice. In Quinn’s words, ‘twenty years ago it would have just been two blokes’ arguing about football, but set against the exposed brickwork of Joshua Brook’s cellar and the backdrop of surprising theatre, nothing was safely assumable.

The JB Shorts runs until 20th October at Joshua Brooks

Bordering on insanity?

Written by Harriet Leitch on . Posted in Theatre.

Three Stars out of Five Stars

 

I was greeted by a woman in a white lab coat in the lobby of the Holiday Inn at Media City, just a stone’s throw away from The Lowry. “Thank you for participating in Syntech Solutions assessment programme. Please wait until your name is called and you will be escorted to the testing facility”.  It was clear from the outset that this was not going to be your average night at the theatre.

 

Before I had time to comprehend what form the evening’s entertainment would take, I and several other audience members were whisked away to what looked like a disused office building, apparently ‘Syntechs’’ headquarters.

The evening was a bombardment of signs, symbols, gibberish and the occasional blast of the Rocky Horror shows ‘Let’s do the Time Warp again’.  Belongings are handed over in exchange for a lab coat with an individual identity number and some safety glasses. Then you are directed into one of three doors and here you enter fully into the mad and alternate world that is Borderline Vultures. This 360 degree immersive theatre experience was something like I had never experienced before and will probably never do again.

A man in a lab coat pointed a piece of chalk at me and spoke in an alien language. I was lead to another door and gestured to go down a dark and dingy corridor. I could hear occasional screams, an alarm sounded in the distance and as I tentatively wondered though the deteriorating industrial maze I wondered where all the rest of the audience had gone and what my fate would be.

You are left to interact with the cast and wonder around and the topsy-turvy rooms; some dark, some covered in newspaper. One had monitors where you could watch CCTV footage of all everyone participating in this exciting and weird theatrical experience. There is no explanation and no indication of what to do or what to think. This was almost like real-time piece of contemporary art of some kind which was undoubtedly unique and made me question the boundaries of theatre.

Once you have experienced the whole building, however, you are somewhat left unsure what to do next and there was certainly half an hour too long to wait for the ‘climax’ of the piece which had little continuity with the narrative of the piece thus far. Despite this I award points for the creativity and thought provoking nature of the experience. I was compelled to ponder the ‘big-brother’ nature of today’s society of Facebook, recorded phone calls and constant CCTV surveillance and the new found ways in which we communicate with each other in this digital age.

Think George Orwell’s 1984 meets a funfair madhouse. Within the world of Borderline Vultures the audience are completely free to explore the performing space and interact as much or as little as they choose where each audience member will have their own unique experience. Prepare to be apprehensive as you enter into this insane world. If you are looking for a theatre experience like no other, then this is the ‘performance’ for you.

Borderline Vultures runs until October 28th. See The Lowry Theatre for details.

Top Five: Scary Classics to prepare you for Hallowe’en

Written by Phillipa Moran on . Posted in Books.

It’s that time of year again, approaching fast. The most wonderful time of the year: costumes and parties, and Sainsbury’s running out of pumpkins and reading week. Whether you’re planning on staying at uni or going home for the week, and no matter your preferred genre of scary, we have a few seasonal classics to fill your lecture-less time that will definitely promise a scare!

1. The Gore Fest: American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis
This first-person narrative plays out through the eyes of the handsome and successful businessman, Patrick Bateman (immortalised by Christian Bale in the 2000 adaptation). He is obsessed with the details of his life, from brand names to business cards, and becomes increasingly obsessed with the details of his very dark, very gory fetish. And details are certainly what you get. This book is definitely not for the squeamish, faint hearted or easily offended. It was initially banned in many areas of the world due to the explicit level of its disturbing sexual and violent content, so read it if you dare…

2. Real Life Chiller: Helter Skelter, by Vincent Bugliosi & Curt Gentry
This true story is told through the eyes of its ensuing prosecutor, Vincent Bugliosi. It tells the notorious Manson Family’s story; the ‘family’ comprised a group of hippies led by Charles Manson who together committed no small number of gruesome murders. The vivid, descriptive nature of this book is visceral, truly brutal, and if nothing else will make you seriously question any form of drug use.

3. The Dystopian Scare – A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
You may have to persevere with this one, at first. Burgess writes in ‘nadsat’ (a made-up slang of his own creation that is mostly nonsense but vaguely based on Russian and Cockney rhyming slang), that is the narrator, Alex’s own register, which, as the reader grows more and more familiar with the language, has the effect of slowly reconciling the gaze of the reader to that of the narrator. You literally view the story through/as Alex. And, once you get over the first hurdle, the book is a real page-turner. Featuring more than its fair share of violence (and also transformed into celluloid magic, in 1974 by Kubrick) this book raises questions (and hairs) concerning how far humans can and will go in controlling each other, and how much free will makes a difference.

4. The Psychological Thriller – The Shining, by Stephen King
This is probably one of the best known of Stephen King’s novels, and for good reason. It’s about a small boy, Danny, who has a very special gift, a gift that begins to negatively impact his father when he starts a new job working in a hotel. This is one of those books that will completely engross you, and then not let you go.

5. The Supernatural Horror – Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill
Written by Stephen King’s son, this book is a spine-chilling story of an old rock star that becomes plagued by the poltergeist of an old lover’s father, in the form of an old suit. Yes, that is the premise. In trying to free himself from the rage of this spirit, he uncovers the true horrors behind the suicide of his ex-. It’s fast-paced, exciting and modern – and will make you think twice about buying things online…

Must see this week in Theatre: 22nd October-29th October

Written by Josephine Lane on . Posted in Theatre.

Light-Hearted Intercourse

Light-Hearted Intercourse has its world premiere this week after being unearthed from Bill Naughton’s (Bolton’s most famous playwright) archives and being brought to life by director David Thacker. The play looks at a young couple in the 1920s adjusting to married life whilst keeping secrets from their pasts from each other.

Runs until 3rd November at The Bolton Octagon. Tickets £9.50-£15.50

 

Borderline Vultures

An interactive, 360-degree experience taking place in a ‘secret Salford location’ , exploring communication where there is no common language. Performed as part of the InOnTheAct festival.

Runs until 28th October at The Lowry Theatre

Student Tickets £10

 

Orpheus Descending

Whilst being one of Tennesse William’s lesser-known plays, Orpheus Descending, still has plenty of what we love about him: a young male drifter, an unhappy Southern belle and lots of passion. Stars Imogen Stubbs as Lady Torrance.

Runs from 24th October to 24th November at The Royal Exchange Theatre

Student Tickets £10 and £5 on a Monday or Friday

 

ThickSkin: The Static

Physical theatre piece about a teenage boy who can move objects with his mind, developed by award-winning theatre company ThickSkin.

Runs from  24th October to 25th October at The Contact Theatre

Student Tickets £6

 

Obama The Mamba

Based on a true story, Obama The Mamba, introduces us to George Hussain Obama, the Nairobi slum gangster and half-brother to the US President. A story about fate, power and destiny.

Runs from 23rd October to 27th October at The Lowry Theatre

Tickets £10-£16

 

42nd  Street

Musical about small-town girl, Peggy Sawyer in her rise to Broadway fame. Set during the Great Depression and includes songs like ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ and I Only Have Eyes For You’.

Runs from 23rd October to 27th October at The Palace Theatre

 

The Mousetrap

The world’s longest-running play ever, Agatha Cristie’s The Mousetrap comes to the Manchester Opera House this week on a tour marking its 60-year anniversary. Come be apart of theatre history in this classic murder-mystery play!

Runs from 22nd to 27th October at The Manchester Opera House

Tickets £10-£29.50

 

 

 

 

Grease is the word… of the past

Written by Jessie Cohen on . Posted in Theatre.

Two Stars out of Five Stars

The story of Grease is not a savory one and yet it is an enduring tale that continues to allure and entertain. Director David Gilmore’s rendition of the teenage love-story affirms that Grease is a reactionary tale in which protagonist Sandy, played by Carina Gillespie, undergoes a radical transformation from naive virgin to willing sex object. When probed on the message that this gives to young women Gillespie is uncritical of her character’s trajectory: ‘Sandy’s shift is a dated idea but this is a period piece. I try play Sandy as feisty throughout, as stronger than the Pink Ladies as she doesn’t give into peer pressure like smoking and drinking. The peer pressure she gives into at the end is different because that’s for a man.’ According to Gillespie, Grease explores timeless gender dynamics and that is why it is an enduring tale. I feel less comfortable with the idea that this 1950s story that draws on gender stereotype can be so easily accepted and even celebrated in the name of ‘innocent good fun’.

 

Although the Palace Theatre was less than half full, the stalls were buzzing with Grease enthusiasts. The show kicked off with a medley of tunes from ‘We Go Together’ to ‘Grease Lightening’ while the crowd waved in unison and the singer high-fived the keyboard player.

 

Danny Bayne, winner of ITV’s Grease is the Word, plays Danny Zuko with limited aplomb, imitating Travolta’s famous cackle from the film: ‘ahar, har … har’. The production taps into audience nostalgia – there are minor changes made to characterisation and the script clings closely to that of the film. There are some original features, however, that deserve divulging. In a hilarious locker-room scene, three tonk men in very tiny towels jiggle about to ‘50s tunes while the T-Birds sit around musing about their ‘sweethearts’ – its funny, but it makes no sense. Later, Russell Grant plays a camp guardian angel to one of the Pink Ladies while performing ‘Beauty School Drop Out’. Unfortunately, as in the film when Olivia Newton John was famously sewn into her skin-tight trousers, Grant was strapped into a rather too-tight silver suit which split at the crotch half way through his performance and while his trousers steadily unstitched he had the audience in uncontrollable stitches.

 

All considered, this production was a underwhelming experience jazzed-up by the sprinkling of a few camp performances which only accentuated the starkly non-ironic heteronormative nature of the production. Gender stereotypes are engaged in a reactionary way as women wait on the sidelines to be asked to dance and men appear in the form of angels to advise lost teenage girls who are too hung up on their looks. Grease explores the situation of a young woman under social pressure to ‘loosen up’ and who gives in at the end. Perhaps, forty years since the first Grease performance in 1972 it’s time to revise this narrative or at the very least exhibit some self-reflexive irony when re-staging it.

Grease ran at The Palace Theatre from 9th to 13th October

 

Come Have Dinner With Me – Rachel

Written by Jessica Hardiman on . Posted in News.

As we made our way eagerly to Rachel’s house, the guests described their thoughts on the menu. Nobody seemed entirely sure as to what to expect, Catherine admitting that she felt Rachel was a “dark horse.” The menu certainly didn’t give much away, with basic terminology for each course that left everyone guessing, including chicken satay skewers for the starter and for the main, the mysteriously named mixed paella.

The starter signaled controversy for Ollie, who became convinced that they would be the product of Sainsbury’s. Once again, Will had never had chicken satay before, saying “I’m excited. I’ve no idea what to expect.” As we walked through the door, however, Ollie firmly declared, “I stand corrected. I can smell the saaah-tay.” The scents that wafted over to our intrigued nostrils could be no effort of a supermarket.

As soon as the guests were ushered into the kitchen and seated, the aforementioned chicken satay was placed in front of them – possibly the quickest turnaround from front door to starter we’ve seen on Come Have Dinner With Me.  Catherine was impressed with the little skewers with which the chicken pieces had been impaled and the boys were won over by the marinating process, as Rachel proudly stated that it had been an overnight affair.

Ollie ate his words after seeing the homemade chicken satay skewers

Post-starter interviews, however, revealed that the guests did have some niggles with the dish. What was generally well-received due to intense flavour, was also accompanied with beliefs that a third skewer may have made the dish even more well-received. Ollie yearned for a “stupid salad” or some equally pointless but beautiful garnish.

Starters consumed, Rachel announced that there would be “inter-course entertainment.” After quite a substantially awkward pause, she added, “it involves straws.” The game did, indeed, involve straws, as well as a bowl of salted peanuts and a lot of sucking. That’s right, Rachel had her guests sucking nuts. Ollie was declared the winner, with Will losing by just one nut. The boys came up with their own theories as to why they had completely annihilated the girls, with Will saying, “I reckon it’s the testosterone levels”, and Ollie chiming in that they had been engendered by society as men.

Everyone was nuts about the sucking straw game

Rachel then served up the mixed paella main. The sparse wording had left the guests well and truly stumped. No one could ascertain what “mixed” paella would specifically comprise, but the consensus seemed to be that no one would be keen on a surf ‘n’ turf orientation. Will was “excited” once again. As mounds of golden yellow rice were slopped onto the plate, flecks of both seafood and meat could be seen and everyone looked at each other nervously. As Rachel dashed upstairs to fetch something, Catherine began to frantically flick her pieces of chorizo onto Ollie’s mound, admitting that she wasn’t a fan of the spiced meat.  This tactical flicking meant that everyone had near-clear plates, apart from the singular prawn that Ollie left on his – a leftover that he could not quite understand himself.

 

The paella, complete with the offending meat and seafood combo

After dinner, conversation was centred on Catherine’s aspirations for a career in digital marketing, before they all started reminiscing nostalgically on their time with each other. As the penultimate night of Come Have Dinner With Me was drawing to a close, Ollie noted that talk had gone from “lewd to actually quite civil.” Were our diners… maturing?

Suddenly, Rachel gasped and brought over a strange bowl, inside of which were four lemons that were meant to adorn the paella with their glorious juices. The guests’ analyses of the main indicated that the lemon could have brought the overall taste up a notch, but it was generally received well.  The combination of seafood and meat surprisingly went down a treat, despite everyone’s slightly irrational fear of the marriage. Luckily, the lemons still went to use, as Ollie had a firm belief that the inter-course entertainment would also work on the weighty citrus fruit. Needless to say, it didn’t.

Ménage à quatre as everyone tries to help Ollie lift the lemon

After another dose of inter-course entertainment – this time involving straws and Maltesers – Rachel served up the dessert, a chocolate ripple cheesecake. Once again, Will had told us that he found the idea “quite exciting… I’m excited.” Rachel placed it onto the table, and everyone began to discuss what they could see in the patterns on top – Will said that he saw a dove. Woah man. All fun and games over, the cheesecake was devoured. Will had two slices, but double-portion veteran Ollie wasn’t on top form – he felt a bit delicate after getting drunk with his Granny the day previously.

The Come Have Dinner With Me Rorschach test

Multiple portions later, Will even said he could have eaten more. Ollie described the experience as “entirely delicious”, even though he had to leave the thick white rim (inebriation with Granny really had left him in a bad way). Catherine wasn’t entirely convinced, saying that the “base could have been crisper”, but ultimately, the soggy bottom didn’t hinder her enjoyment too much.

Overall opinion: Rachel’s food seemed to be a hit, guests noting that any criticism they mentioned were mere niggles. Catherine longed for some atmospheric music, as had been enjoyed on previous nights, and Will said that the entertainment would have worked better with more rules: “Organised fun is the way forward.”

Scores will be announced when everyone has had a chance at hosting!

Interview with John Whaite from The Great British Bake Off

Written by Alexandra Williams on . Posted in News.

With this series’ final of the BBC 2 Great British Bake Off fast approaching, we have a quick chat with the cheeky chest-baring finalist and former Manchester University student, John Whaite, to discuss his experiences in the competition famous for its excellent crumb formations and instilling fears of the dreaded soggy bottom.

How did you get into baking?

I got into baking when I was 5. My parents got divorced and I used to bake with my mum and sisters so it was always a really inherently comforting thing for me to do with my family.

So what made you decide to enter the Great British Bake Off?

My partner and flatmate from last year kept telling me I should apply, and I’ve always been baking along with the show and I just thought I should go for it. So I did!

Baking’s becoming a lot more popular with younger people, is it becoming more fashionable to bake?

I don’t think it’s necessarily fashionable, but it’s always been entrenched in English tradition and I think younger people from my generation used to bake with their parents so it’s really starting to re-emerge now – and good on it! I think it’s a really good thing that younger people are interested in an older tradition.

A lot of thought clearly goes into your ideas – how do think up all of your bakes?

Everything I do is very symbolic and I like it to say something about me, I want it to be a statement. I want to portray a thought through my baking, not in a contrived way, but just always make sure the bake is achieving something.

Do you have a favorite bake?

People always ask me this but I rarely bake something more than twice; I don’t have a signature dish. I like to build up a repertoire and move on, I don’t want to stay stagnant with a few things. If someone says something was amazing, I’d obviously do it again for them though.

Is there as much camaraderie on the set with the other bakers as there appears to be on the programme?

When you have something in common with somebody, you find comfort in chatting with them about that interest. On the show we all obviously had that one thing in common so while we might not be able to go out with each other every night of the week, we all still had that reference point to each other so we automatically click. Not only that but we were all under the same pressures, James was doing his degree, Catherine had a family, collectively we were doing 15 hours a day and we all had that to consider.

How about with the judges – is there a lot of pressure because of Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, two iconic bakers?

It’s difficult because you not only put so much effort into every bake, but you also project yourself. If Mary and Paul said oh “that’s poor” you interpret that as you yourself are poor. It’s very personal, but to be a successful baker it has to be personal. As a baker I wear my heart on my sleeve. They are brutally honest, but always constructive and I know it’s a terrible cliché but I learnt more in the 10 weeks than I have learnt in my 23 years of life.

You mentioned in the penultimate episode you wanted to further pursue baking, tell me about that?

I want to be a baker, definitely. I want to go to ‘Le Cordon Bleu’ where I would learn French patisserie and cooking or I would love to open a bakery to retire in if it was the right time. As long as it’s with baking! I always say that my life path, wherever it takes me, is littered with cake crumbs.

Building up to the final, did you do anything different to the usual?

Well we had to practice a lot, obviously. Every day I had wake up and bake the same thing  over and over and that’s what I found most difficult. It’s like looking at a spreadsheet for a whole week everyday, and when you come to reinterpret the bake it can be very stressful. I prepared as much as I could and I think I probably spent every waking hour in the kitchen.

Any specific high points for you?

Winning Star Baker in week two obviously was amazing and just clinging on for dear life every week and progressing through the show!

And, of course, any lows?

Salt in the rum babas wasn’t a highlight, and then of course slicing my finger and not being able to finish the showstopper in week six was a definite low. Any time the judges disliked anything was always really difficult because you project yourself into each bake.

Finally and most importantly, what happens to all the food after filming?

There are about 60 production staff and they just get devoured by them!

 

The Great British Bake Off final airs on the 16th of October where the series’ best baker will be crowned culinary champion, but you can catch up with the grand finale and see if John can put the icing on the cake and take home the top prize on BBC iPlayer.

 

National Football Museum: rekindle your love for the beautiful game

Written by Matthew Barber on . Posted in Freshers' Guide, Sport.

In the current climate, it’s easy to be despondent about English football. The country has never been so out of love with the perennially-underachieving national side, while the ethics of the domestic league are under intense scrutiny in the wake of the Olympics. Thankfully, there is a cure to the media doom and gloom and a way to feel good about football again: a visit to Manchester’s fantastic National Football Museum.

The museum, previously housed at Preston North End’s Deepdale stadium, moved to Manchester in July in a bid to attract more visitors and display more of its some-140,000 collected exhibits. Urbis, a unique and elegant building that has previously hosted many artistic and cultural exhibitions, is now its permanent home; sleek and modern, it is the centrepiece of the picturesque Cathedral Gardens.

Like many British museums, admission is free, though due to the quality of the experience I was persuaded to leave a donation. On entering the museum, I was greeted by the friendly staff and given a quick overview of the ascending tier layout. Inside, the building is just as impressive as on the outside, but the exhibits are what make the trip truly worthwhile; highlights include Maradona’s shirt from Argentina’s infamous 1986 ‘Hand of God’ tie over England, the world’s only remaining replica of the Jules Rimet trophy and a ball used in the 1966 World Cup final, to name just a few. A particular favourite of mine was ‘The Art of the Game’, a brilliant, if bizarre, Renaissance-style painting in homage to Eric Cantona, with Beckham, Butt and the Neville brothers sprawled in adoration at his feet.

There are many interactive exhibits; surely the hallmark of a modern (and non-boring) museum. These include a ‘You are the Ref’ game, a video feature where you can record your opinion on goal-line technology, and lots more quizzes and challenges. The style of the museum advocates a personalised visit; as a Middlesbrough fan I was able to listen to snippets of commentary from our Carling Cup win and European comebacks, whilst also learning more about the club’s history. There is enormous capacity for both nostalgia (who could forget ‘fat’ Ronaldo’s wedge haircut) and learning, with much to discover about the beautiful game. The essence of football is captured perfectly – you laugh at the linguistic stylings of Robbie Savage and feel humbled by the fitting tributes to the tragedies of Hillsborough and Bradford.

I found the museum’s most impressive quality to be the spotlight it shone on England’s role as the birthplace of football and its part in the fabric of our culture. When I visited the museum, it was crawling with Borussia Dortmund fans, who had invaded the city centre in preparation for their Champions League tie with Manchester City that evening. But even they must have been overwhelmed by the passion we have for the game. This feeling is accentuated by the current exhibition, Stuart Roy Clarke’s ‘The Homes of Football’, a photographic catalogue of the beauty to be found in the often decrepit stadia of days gone by. A poignant video experience displays the point in ways that words never could. Football isn’t about six-figure wages or flash endorsements; it’s about 11 players, in the park, having a kickabout.

As my visit drew to a close, I viewed exhibits on the advancement in footballing technology, the changing kits, the revolutionary tactics and thought about how much the game has changed. But then I saw this quote, from the Manchester Lete Roll of 1608, mounted on the wall. “There hath been great disorder in our towne of Manchester, a companye of lewd and disordered persons using that unlawfull exercise of playing ffote-ball in ye streets.” Then, I thought, how little football has changed at all.

Bizarre Sports #5 – Wife Carrying

Written by Finlay Donaldson on . Posted in Sport.

Whilst many men around the world cherish going off at the weekend, spending a few hours away from the wife and enjoying some leisurely pursuits, a few creative souls from Finland got together and decided that the wives should be more involved.

As a result, the sport of wife carrying was born. As the title suggests, the sport involves a man carrying his wife, or another woman (if he is that way inclined), through an obstacle course in the fastest time possible.

Bizarrely, wife carrying appears to have originated as a joke, supposedly reminiscent of a past in which men courted women by running to their village, picking them up, and carrying them off. In many countries that would be considered kidnapping, but who’s to judge?

As well as laying claim to inventing the sport, the World Championships are still held in Finland every year, in the small Eastern town of Sonkajavi. Understandably, the Finns are very proud of their history and have won the Championships numerous times. However in recent times, Estonia have established themselves as the top country for wife carrying.

Not content with finishing second, the Finns persuaded a man by the name of Taisto Miettinen to start competing. A jack of all trades and winner of many competitions, Taisto’s record of achievements reads like a list of obscure Scandinavian sports. Not content with being a national champion in water running, iron bar walking, snowshoe running and winter swimming, he has won the prestigious wife carrying championships for the last four years. What a man.

Those not in the know would wrongly dismiss this sport as a caveman-esque activity, requiring little intelligence. However, there is more to wife carrying that meets the eye. As the sport has developed a number of different carrying techniques have evolved.

The most common style used is the standard piggyback whilst the fireman’s lift is also popular. The most creative style has to be what is known as the ‘Estonian-style’ and involves the wife hanging upside-down with her legs around the husband’s shoulders, holding onto his waist.

UK Universities ‘face collapse into global mediocrity’

Written by Michael Williams on . Posted in News.

Top UK universities are on the brink of a “collapse into global mediocrity”, warns Phil Baty, editor of Times Higher Education.

Baty’s comments come after the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, published this week, reveal that leading universities in the UK are being overtaken by Asian institutions.

Despite an increase in overall score of almost 5%, the University of Manchester dropped one place in the rankings from last year – coming 49th. The University has also increased their score in every judging criteria but one: teaching, research, citations and industry income. The only area the University has slipped in is international outlook – down 2.5%.

The University of Manchester declined to comment, stating “the University measures itself by the Shanghai Jiao Tong Index, the only indicator the University refers to in benchmarking against other institutions”.

Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield and Newcastle, amongst others, have also fallen down the rankings. Three UK universities made the top ten – Oxford (joint second), Cambridge (seventh) and Imperial College (eighth).

“Outside the golden triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge, England’s world-class universities face a collapse into global mediocrity, while investment in top research universities in Asia is starting to pay off”, said Baty.

Korea’s four universities in the top 200 have all climbed this year, with Pohang University of Science and Technology at number 50. China and Singapore have two universities apiece making the top 200, all of which have, too, ascended the rankings.

“We cannot afford to slip further behind,” warned University and College Union general secretary Sally Hunt. “The UK and other Western nations have seen their reputations slide as they cut funding and the East invests in higher education. We are particularly concerned that, as we struggle to keep pace with our global competitors, the government continues to pursue policies that can only further harm our standing on the world stage.”

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, pointed to public investment as key in ensuring the UK is not left behind.

“Cuts in public investment have seriously weakened some US public universities,” Dr Piatt explained. “If we are serious about staying on top, the government must concentrate investment where it will have the most impact: in our world-class research-intensive universities.”

David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, proposed another possible reason for the slide. “I think that the quality of the teaching experience is the biggest challenge going forward”, Willetts told The Mancunion. “We’re actually increasing the cash going to our universities.”

Last month Dame Nancy Rothwell, Vice Chancellor of the University of Manchester, told The Mancunion she believed “we’re under-spending on higher education in this country”.

Dame Nancy continued, “I appreciate that we’re in difficult times at the moment and there have been cuts across the board, but education is critical for the future.”

Police seize estimated £1m in drugs and drug money

Written by Jonathan Breen on . Posted in News.

Police seized hundreds of thousands of pounds of suspected drugs money and drugs in Stockport last week.

Greater Manchester Police officers and the Force Drug Unit executed drugs warrants at 13 addresses across the Stockport area, and one in a North Wales holiday park, seizing an estimated £1million on the morning of Wednesday 10 October.

“This is a significant recovery and has come about as a result of months of investigative work and planning,” Inspector Steve Dix said.

Approximately £250,000 to £500,000 was seized from one address, and a further £150,000 and £7,000 from others.

Large amounts of what are believed to be Class A drugs and Benzocaine – which is used to `mix drugs’ – were also seized, including around 3kilos of cocaine from one address, which has an estimated street value of £500,000.

Police arrested seven men and three women on conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, who remain in custody for questioning, and confiscated several cars, including a Renault Laguna and BMW X5.

Inspector Dix said, “We are searching addresses right across the borough as part of this investigation and have already seized vast amounts of cash and drugs.

“Bringing to justice those who blight our communities by peddling drugs is an absolute priority for officers across Stockport and today’s seizure will significantly dent the activities and ambitions of those involved in such activity.”

Police are urging anyone with information about the sale or supply of drugs to contact them.

Investment pays off for Asian universities

Written by Antonia Jennings on . Posted in Opinion.

The release of both the QS World University Rankings in March and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings this month has shown the steady rise of Asian universities, at the expense of British and US institutions.

Campuses across the world have been rated by close to 18,000 academics, showing that the quality of British Universities is second only to those of the US. The rankings were a sobering read for American academics however, as they saw 51 US universities drop in the top 200.

Asia has not only just started pouring money into its higher education institutions; the last decade has seen the continent trying to ‘Westernise’ its educational and research methods, alongside much government and private investment  in its universities.

So while the rise may be surprisingly speedy, it’s not completely unexpected. Universities in China, Singapore and Australia made the biggest gains in numbers of universities moving upwards, and South Korea saw all of its universities get a higher place. Seoul National University was one of the biggest risers, moving from 124th place in 2011 to 59th this year. Speaking to the New York Times, editor of the Times Higher Education rankings Phil Bary commented “We’ve been talking for years about the rise of Asia… But this is the first solid empirical evidence.”

Asia’s population demographic is also playing a part in its success, as its increasing numbers of young people are demanding a higher quality of education. Youth is clearly on the march in Asia, with four of the continent’s top 10 universities less than 50 years old. The continent boasts thousands of universities, with many new ones opened each year. In the 2011/12 QS survey of young universities, Asia fill four of the top five places. The more recent figures included in the specialist Asian rankings published today suggest that they will make an even bigger mark this year.

Perhaps surprisingly, the University of Manchester has not been one of the many British universities seeing their place fall. Ranked 32nd in the 2012 QS league table, Manchester sees itself above Durham, St Andrews, LSE and Warwick. Just a few weeks after the National Student Survey showed Manchester’s student satisfaction levels are among the lowest in the country, Manchester is shown to be steady climbing the world league tables.

The President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said “Manchester is now tantalisingly close to realising the vision mapped out by my predecessor, Professor Alan Gilbert. Although we are already planning well beyond 2015, this is an important milestone in our continuing journey towards becoming one of the top 25 universities in the world, and it is a tribute to the outstanding staff here at Manchester.”

However, the future of British universities outside the ‘golden triangle’ (Oxbridge and London) is uncertain at best. The increase in student fees only covers what was subsidised by the government before, and does not result in the universities actually receiving any more money. Many predict that if British universities do not manage to generate some extra income in the following years, there is a danger of a real slippage in standards. “Outside the golden triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge, England’s world-class universities face a collapse into global mediocrity, while investment in top research universities in Asia is starting to pay off,” rankings editor Phil Baty told the Guardian.

What is also interesting about the league tables is the nature of the universities that have been big climbers. The QS table has put Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the number one spot, which is a science-focused, networked and translational university. Other universities which have these qualities have also been big climbers, possibly revealing a trend that may be a pointer to what the role of higher education is to be in the future. While the classical, ancient blue-skies reach institution may not quite be on its way out yet, it may soon be seen as equal to specialist technical universities and colleges.

Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, speaking to The Telegraph said “Our institutions already do more with less, beating many key rivals despite lower expenditure. But as these tables show, cuts in public investment have seriously weakened some US public universities. We cannot afford to take this path. If we are serious about staying on top, the Government must concentrate investment where it will have the most impact: in our world-class research-intensive universities.”

As the university of the future attempts to establish itself, the success of the investment schemes in Asia should be noted in Britain. At a time when every British economic policy has the aim of maintaining the country’s global competitiveness, trebling tuition fees and cutting university funding does not seem the right path to take.

My Political Hero: Dr Swee

Written by Khalil Secker on . Posted in Uncategorised.

Dr Swee is the most highly-achieving yet deeply humble person I’ve ever met. As a 4ft 11 Singaporean doctor who came to study orthopaedic surgery in London (a speciality dominated by 6-foot rugby players), she was sneered at. She ignored them and became the first female orthopaedic surgeon ever appointed at St. Bartholomew’s hospital.

Growing up she was a strong supporter of Israel, until they invaded Lebanon in 1982. “I could not cope because I just could not believe it. To say you wanted to flush out some terrorists was not good enough for me. If Lebanon had maybe a hundred terrorists, are you telling me that you have got to kill hundreds of thousands of people just to get those people?”

She went to work for Christian Aid treating the war-wounded in Lebanon. Around 3,000 Palestinian refugees lived in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila where she was put in charge of an orthopaedic department. Christian Phalangists – a right wing group in Lebanon who openly modelled themselves on Hitler’s facists – moved in and slaughtered everyone in the camps over a period of three days.

She spent three days and nights operating round-the-clock in a basement shelter. After an exhausting struggle to save every life possible, she was ordered out of the basement and onto streets which were littered with bodies.

The foreigners were all put before a wall where there were bulldozers. They were made to take off their overalls and put their belongings in a pile. Later she was told that this was a mock execution, but she had been so angry at the time that she didn’t realise. She’d been too busy loudly telling off the officer in charge, shouting, “How dare you go into my hospital? What are you going to do with my patients? If any of them lose their lives because of your soldiers, you just watch it!”

400,000 Israeli citizens demonstrated in Tel Aviv, angry because Israel was meant to be overseeing the refugee camps.

As a result of this public pressure, Israel called a Commission of Enquiry to identify who was to blame at which Dr Swee was asked to testify. Later she wrote the award winning book ‘From Beirut to Jerusalem’ about what she had seen and set up the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians. That was 30 years ago and she’s still going strong.

“I might not be a good surgeon but I have got the loudest mouth in town, and a rather effective one!  In 1986 I was critical of some of the military policies in Occupied Gaza and West Bank, and made my views known publicly”

When the Commissioner General told me, ‘You are upsetting quite a few people. If you are going back to Gaza, you will create a lot of problems for some of the colleagues you are working with.’ I assured him I was not important enough so that was when I said, ‘Fine. I will leave!’”

Medical Aid for Palestinians is a charity that combines humanitarian medical aid with human rights advocacy, which may perhaps seem like an awkward mix at first.

Consider the fact that out of 470 essential drug items in Gaza, 253 are out of stock. Consider the fact that bombings have destroyed Gaza’s sewage system, causing widespread infection and bloody diarrhoea – particularly amongst children. Medicine, like pretty much everything else in Palestine, has become extremely political.

 

Are sexed-up club night themes damaging women?

Written by Becky Montacute on . Posted in Opinion.

Female students are constantly under comment and scrutiny for the way they dress and the way they act. Am I wearing enough? Am I wearing too much? Am I having enough sex? Will someone think I’m a slut? External forces are constantly pulling us to and fro, telling us what is deemed acceptable and what is not. Themed student nights now come under inspection: are girls being overly sexualised at these events? (Is there a ‘right’ amount of sexualisation?) Are they being coerced to dress too provocatively and act too sexually? To be both sexually available but not a ‘slut’?

Let us begin with an example from right inside our own rainy city. At ‘The Bop’ recently, a group of girls on a bar crawl were encouraged to lick the chocolate off of a Kit Kat Chunky from between a guy’s legs. Boys were not required to perform any such task. And so the story repeats itself up and down the country, with girls being encouraged on bar crawls to remove clothing and perform sexual acts, whilst guys are left to sit back and enjoy the show. In Sheffield, protest resulted after the company Carnage held a ‘Pimps and Hoes’ themed bar crawl, leading many to question whether it’s right to hold themed nights encouraging girls to dress provocatively. Comment on over-sexualisation of student nights is rampant.

‘Pimps and Hoes’, ‘Vicars and Tarts’ and ‘Geeks and Sluts’ are all recent student event themes with one thing in common. They encourage females to wear very little whilst allowing males to dress in, what is perceived at least, a humorous fashion. But before we criticise the organisers of these bar crawls too much, think about your average student night. The majority of girls will be wearing fairly little, many in the thought that sexy is only possible with a large amount of flesh on show. This is down to societal pressure, a pressure that men do not feel, but this isn’t simply because of themed bar crawls. The bar crawl could be ‘Vicars’ only, and I can guarantee you there would be some dog collars teamed up with some very short skirts. Wider societal pressures are telling girls sexy means less, and whilst these bar crawls are reinforcing those stereotypes, they are not the root cause of them.

So if banning – or at least massively frowning upon these patriarchal bar crawl themes – isn’t the answer, what is? Firstly, it’s important to remember there will always be girls out there perfectly happy to wear hot pants with their bum cheeks spilling out, and there will always be girls who manage to make even the most mundane fancy dress outfits sexual (I’m thinking sexy pumpkin). I say, all power to them. The problem with saying certain nights aren’t acceptable is that this allows other people to tell girls ‘sexy’ dress up isn’t okay, that they’re wearing too little, being too slutty. Girls should have the choice to participate in these themed bar crawls, not be told it’s not okay by external voices. I want all women, and all men, to be happy to wear whatever the hell they want to wear on a night out. The only effective way to do this is for girls and guys to tell societal norms they aren’t happy with to sod off, and go out in whatever they want to go out in. Girls and guys, wear t-shirts and jeans if you want to, wear absolutely nothing if you want to. A little reminder in case anyone’s forgotten, but female vicars and geeks exist, male ‘sluts’ and ‘tarts’ exist, and you’re free to make all these outfits as sexual or non-sexual as you want. Go on these bar crawls, but do what the organisers aren’t expecting. The problem isn’t over-sexualisation, but a forced ‘over-sexualisation’ of just one specific gender, and the expectations and judgements forced on that gender. The only way that will change is if we change our attitudes, not if a bar crawl’s theme tells us to do so.

‘Pimps and Hoes’ is however an entirely separate issue, and I understand the concerns of the protestors. Women are still today being forced into prostitution here in Manchester, in Sheffield, all over the UK and the world. Men still hold these power positions over incredibly vulnerable women, and getting people to ‘act out’ such a power relationship as ‘just a bit of fun’ is disrespectful to the women in these situations. But a little bit of perspective is needed here. I do not for one second think that Carnage wanted to belittle the suffering of these women when thinking of its theme, I also don’t think that any participants on the bar crawl will suddenly think that it’s okay to sexually exploit women. It’s also important to remember that just because something is distasteful, that alone cannot warrant censorship. So whilst I agree with the aims of the protestors, and am certainly glad their protest has led to increased awareness of the issue, I can’t help but think there are much better targets to protest against than a bar crawl that, whilst misguided and stupid, was not meant in malice.

And as for those Kit Kat Chunkys? Absolutely fine. But only so long as such exploits are not only aimed at the sexualisation of women. If I’m going to lick chocolate out from between a guy’s legs, or a girl’s legs, I damn well expect them to return the favour. A big part of student life is sexual exploration, and I’m fine with bar crawls providing an outlet, whilst having a bit of fun, for people to explore their sexuality. But bar crawls need to stop only sexualising young women but also encourage guys to get down and dirty. It is, after all, only fair for them to get a go too.

ODEON Cinema Listings

Written by Nihal Tharoor-Menon on . Posted in Film.

LOOPER (15)

DIRECTOR: RIAN JOHNSON

STARRING: JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT, BRUCE WILLIS, EMILY BLUNT

RUNNING TIME: 119 MIN

GENRE: ACTION, SCI-FI, THRILLER

SHOWING: 13.10 15.00 16.00 17.50 18.50 20.40 21.40

ON THE ROAD (15)

DIRECTOR: WALTER SALLES

STARRING: SAM RILEY, GARRET HEDLUND, KRISTEN STEWART

RUNNING TIME: 124 MINS

GENRE: DRAMA

RELEASED: 14.25 17.25 20.25

 

TAKEN 2 (15)

DIRECTOR: OLIVIER MEGATON

STARRING: LIAM NEESON, MAGGIE GRACE

RUNNING TIME: 91 MIN

GENRE: ACTION

SHOWING: 13.05 14.05 15.25 16.25 17.45 18.45 19.30 20.15 21.00 21.45

 

OUT THIS WEEK: MADAGASCAR 3

DIRECTOR: ERIC DARNELL

STARRING: BEN STILLER, CHRIS ROCK, DAVID SCHWIMMER

GENRE: COMEDY, ANIMATION

RELEASED: 19/10/12

 

OUT THIS WEEK: PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4

DIRECTOR: HENRY JOOST

STARRING: KATIE FEATHERSTON, KATHRYN NEWTON

GENRE: HORROR, THRILLER

RELEASED: 17/10/12