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Month: October 2015

Why do you wear makeup?

Written by Millie Kershaw on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

For a lot of people, I can see that an interest in makeup could appear to be quite superficial, even narcissistic. It’s a billion-pound industry that feeds on your insecurities and lures you in with the new ‘cult’ product that will make you look even more fabulous than the products you’ve already got, supposedly. Some may find it all a bit silly. Why bother? Why do you wear makeup?

In response to this question, I would say that I have never had an agenda to appear attractive to others through the use of makeup. My interest in cosmetics started at a relatively young age, and way before teenage insecurities and hormones kicked in. Makeup was an outlet of creativity that I treated as a hobby, which made up for what I lacked in primary school art lessons. I could use whatever colours I liked, and there were generally very few guidelines. My face was not always the limit. My lipstick compositions were sometimes daring and avant-garde, with the wallpaper in my parents’ bedroom being one choice of canvas. Nowadays, wouldn’t they call that modern art?

The use of makeup at a young age is often frowned upon, used to prematurely age and ‘sex-up’ young girls. For me, it was just an extension of the universally popular childhood pastime of fancy dress; the cherry on top of a flamboyant, bizarrely-clothed cake. How could I have pulled off a Cruella De Vil get-up in my grandma’s velvety dress and faux fur scarf without pale powder and a blood-red lipstick? And my Egyptian pharaoh costume would not have been complete without a slick of bold black eyeliner.

Tutorial coming soon if you want to try this dramatic eye look at home. Photo: The Mancunion

An indication of someone’s relationship with makeup is how they feel without it. I would be lying if I said that makeup doesn’t contribute to my self-confidence. It is concealer and not coffee that helps me arrive at a 9 o’clock lecture looking and feeling more awake. I am not one to turn down the chance to dedicate an extra 20 minutes to my makeup before going out to ensure that my mascara looks great, and that the whole ensemble will not have smeared off altogether by the small hours of the morning.

However, I would not say that I am bothered by makeup. A makeup-free day is a regular occurrence, not a nightmarish concept. I do not treat makeup as a mask to be applied every morning before leaving the safe confines of my bedroom. Celebrity makeup artist and businesswoman Charlotte Tilbury has stated in an interview that she is never seen without makeup on, even by her own husband. She takes this to such lengths that she wears makeup to bed to “keep the mystery alive.” Aside from the fact that she must surely have perpetual conjunctivitis, her attitude is, sadly, quite common. The proof can be seen in the rising popularity of ‘makeup tattoos’­, such as getting eyeliner literally inked around your eyes.  Makeup in my opinion should not be treated as a second skin in which one has to permanently reside to have beauty and sex appeal, but simply a weapon at our disposal that can be wielded when it takes our fancy.

As you can see, I paired my baby pink eyeshadow with a statement hat. Photo: The Mancunion

What I love about makeup today still pertains largely to the creative aspect that I cherished in my childhood. I love the industry for its fast pace—makeup trends, like fashion, are constantly evolving and fascinating technologies enable us to achieve new effects. Makeup is itself undoubtedly a form of self-expression, and can complete your look or totally transform it, depending on how you feel on the day. The process of applying makeup has become, for me, a ritualistic act. There is something calming, satisfying and undeniably fun about devoting a bit of time to playing with beauty products; an attitude that has been widely held for generations and that I do not think is set to change any time soon.

Never too young to start. Special mention to the Harry Potter duvet. Photo: The Mancunion

Satellite Reign – Review

Written by Saboor Qureshi on . Posted in Games.

“User login… Password accepted… Establishing satellite connection… Initializing devices.”

From the get-go, Satellite Reign throws you headfirst into its rich art design and immerses you in a sea of neon lights straight out of your favourite dystopian cyberpunk fiction. In this dark and grimy world, you are a team of four Black Op agents working for a rebel company trying to bring down the tyrannical Dracogenics corporation, who have the technology to let the rich (and only the rich) live forever.

Satellite Reign is actually a spiritual sequel to the Syndicate series, which shared a similar premise and was truly groundbreaking in its day. Like in Syndicate, gameplay in Satellite Reign is a sort of tactical real-time strategy, somewhere between XCOM: Enemy Unknown and the likes of Starcraft 2.

Each member of your squad has a distinct set of abilities to help you complete different types of objectives and each has their own skill tree, allowing you to pick the upgrades that suit your style of play. Just like XCOM, kitting out your soldiers is a big part of the fun, though here you do not have to worry about the awkward inconvenience of death. Your morally grey company conveniently has access to a prototype version of Dracogenics’ tech, meaning that when your guys bite the dust their consciousness can simply be downloaded into a new clone body grown out of parts harvested from the general public.

It is little flavour details like this with the constant rain and dingy streets bathed in unnatural light that help transport you into a world reminiscent of Blade Runner or Ghost in the Shell. But Satellite Reign does not just look cinematic, it feels incredibly cinematic as you watch your meticulous plan fall apart because of the tiniest mistake. This will then snowball into a scenario entirely different from the one you imagined yourself in, just like the very best thrillers and heist films.

This is thanks to the vast open world the game lets you loose in, allowing you to pick and choose the jobs you take on by simply breaking into whichever facility takes your fancy. Within each compound there are multiple paths to each objective reminiscent of the Deus Ex franchise, another brilliant cyberpunk world.

The painting Satellite Reign paints for you is almost perfect, but there are a few niggles I could not help noticing during my play-through. The voice actor for Tag, your comms officer who guides you through the game, felt a bit wooden at times, breaking the illusion momentarily. The movement controls and myriad of keybindings you need to learn can also feel unfamiliar, even to those well-seasoned in RTS gameplay.

However, these issues are well worth living with, both for the rich atmosphere and brilliant emergent gameplay. You can buy Satellite Reign for £22.99 on the Steam Store and, in my opinion, it is worth every penny.

“Line disconnected.”

Album: Richard Hawley – Hollow Meadows

Written by Robin Davies on . Posted in Music.

Released 11th September 2015 via Parlophone Records

8/10

As with all of veteran musician Richard Hawley’s studio albums, Hollow Meadows draws its name from an area in Sheffield. Lying to the west of the city, this sleepy hamlet—according to the musician’s own research—is where the Hawley family had resided in the 14th century. Perhaps a fitting choice of title for an album that represents something of a return to a more familiar style for Hawley. The distinctive croon, not so present on 2012’s more experimental Standing At The Sky’s Edge, defines the vocals throughout–delivering a very delicate, personal collection of songs.

The record opens to the soft, shimmering guitar of ‘I Still Want You’, with the opening lyrics “Sorry I’ve been away so long / I needed just a little more time,” immediately revealing the tone of Hawley’s songwriting on the album. Measured pacing on many tracks, along with the use of lush textures, gives Hollow Meadows, for the most part, a very calm air, at times resulting in an almost melancholy tone, much like the musical equivalent of an early autumn twilight.

There is, however, a balance to be found on the album. The tracks ‘Which Way’, ‘Long Time Down’, and ‘Heart of Oak’, offer some contrast with their harder drum beats, distorted guitars, and faster tempos. They serve almost as punctuation marks on the album, breaking up the longer passages of more intimate music—sections that have a tendency to slip past given their often atmospheric nature.

Hollow Meadows is the first of Hawley’s albums to see all of its demos recorded at his own shed-based studio “Disgracelands”. Combine this with the fact that the title for the album was conceived during a period of being bed-ridden after a string of injuries, and it isn’t hard to see why the album feels so personal.

This is doubtlessly one of Hawley’s most introspective works to date, offering a very genuine experience. You need look no further than the lyrics on album closer ‘What Love Means’, “From North to South she flies / Child of mine bereft, I’ll never forget the day you left”, a touching reflection of Hawley’s experience of his daughter leaving home.

Taking the album as a whole, Hollow Meadows serves as a resumption of normal service for Hawley. It is a tender, intimate record revealing a lyrical maturity that resonates well with the musical subtlety throughout.

The Future of Mario Kart 8 DLC

Written by Josh Goldie on . Posted in Games.

In my opinion, Mario Kart 8 is the best Mario Kart game to date, and the DLC released alongside it is some of the best Nintendo have ever created (although to be fair, Nintendo are very new to the DLC market, unlike the majority of its competitors).

The Mario Kart 8 DLC is great quality content for an affordable price and has been well-received. Couple this with Nintendo’s hopes to continue releasing DLC for Super Smash Bros and Splatoon throughout next year (presumably to keep fans interested despite the lack of new releases scheduled), and suddenly Nintendo have future DLC planned for their most popular racing title. At the time of writing this article, Nintendo have not announced any plans to release new Mario Kart 8 DLC, and so everything from here on out is speculation from me.

I do feel like Nintendo needs to announce new DLC for Mario Kart 8 soon. I was expecting it to be announced last August, one year after the original Mario Kart 8 DLC was unveiled. As most Nintendo fans already know, we did not get a new Nintendo Direct this summer, unlike every other year previous, and this is most likely due to the upsetting passing of Nintendo’s CEO of both NOA and NCL: Satoru Iwata. He often hosted the Nintendo Direct events, and it is in one of these that something like Mario Kart DLC would have been announced. With rumours going around that a new Nintendo Direct will be revealed this week, this article may very well end up redundant. However, I feel it may still be fun to speculate on this next update.

We should look back at the past DLC to see the pattern that has emerged. In both DLC packs were: three new characters, four new vehicles and eight new tracks that form two cups. Both packs have been themed around a non-Mario Nintendo IP, and have each also included a track that pays homage to Nintendo’s other major racing series: F-Zero.

The first pack was Zelda-themed, and the second pack was Animal Crossing-themed. Both of these are major Nintendo IPs that do not differ drastically from the way Mario is presented. Link as a racer really was experimental, but they decided to go with his more cartoon-like Skyward Sword design in order to make him work. The cups involved in each DLC pack have differed from the norm by combining both returning and new tracks into the same cup. Lastly, any new Mario character included in the DLC has been a simple model swap of an already-existing character. Mario and his tanooki form, Peach and her cat form, and Bowser and his skeleton form.

Photo: Nintendo Corporation. Ltd.

Left in the games files were four unused icons for cups. As of now, only one of these icons has been used as part of the DLC, and that is the Yoshi Egg. This means that we could see three new cups coming as DLC, but I think that this is unlikely. The cups have always come in pairs and the last DLC was grouped into 2 packs; thus, I doubt that this new DLC will change that. For me, the Shine Cup is the most unlikely cup to make an appearance, and so this leaves us with the Boo Cup and the Spiny Shell Cup. As for which Nintendo IP we will see crossover? There are only really three that I think have a chance, but of these three, I believe Pikmin and Splatoon are the most likely (Star Fox is the third for those who wish to know). Pikmin for quite a few reasons: it is a franchise that is made by Miyamoto, just like Zelda and Mario; it has a new game pending release, as well as one already available on the Wii U platform, and it fits the Mario-theme better than Star Fox. Splatoon was chosen because it is Nintendo’s new and popular IP that also fits style-wise to Mario.

The Pikmin pack will come first and will introduce Captain Olimar and Alph from Pikmin as playable racers, while Captain Toad will be made to be the third. We know the creator of Captain Toad was in contact with the Mario Kart 8 team, requesting that the character be put in as DLC, and since he is a relevant Mario character, but can also be a model swap for the normal Toad, this makes sense. Two of the vehicles will be based on Pikmin elements: a Bulborb car and a Hocotate motorbike, while the other two will be a Minecart for Captain Toad and the Bumble V as a returning kart from Mario Kart 7. One cup will be the Pikmin Cup and will have a track based on the ‘Garden of Hope’, along with two returning courses and a new one. The other cup will be the Spiny Shell Cup, and will have an F-Zero stage based on ‘Port Town’, along with one new track and two returning. This mirrors the Animal Crossing pack intentionally. The F-Zero stage has been chosen both because it was in the original F-Zero, but also because it makes all of the F-Zero courses represented in Super Smash Bros.

Photo: Nintendo Corporation. Ltd.

The Splatoon pack will be second and will introduce the Inklings (both gender-forms as one character like the Villager), King Boo and Funky Kong. Funky Kong and King Boo are both veterans, and the former can be a model-swapped Donkey Kong, the latter from the Boo enemies found in some of the audience and tracks. The Inklings are the playable avatars, and will come in their amiibo colours. Orange for the girl and blue for the boy. There will only be one Splatoon-based vehicle, which will be an ATV based on the roller item. We will then get the Monster Car from another classic Nintendo IP called Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally, which also starred Mario & Luigi. The Mach Bike will return from Mario Kart Wii as a new bike, while, finally, King Boo will get a kart designed for him. The Boo cup will return and will contain Red Valley as its F-Zero stage and Luigi’s Mansion from Mario Kart DS will be another returning track. We will also get a track based on the previously-mentioned 3D Hot Rally game similar to the Excite-bike track we received. The final track will be brand new. The Squid Cup will have an Inkopolis-based level, where one drives around various parts of the city-based maps. Then, it will have two returning levels and one new track. This all intentionally mimics the Zelda pack and brings everything full-circle.

I never counted the 200cc, Mercedes-Benz or amiibo costumes as DLC because they were all free and separate from the packs. I do think that we will get more amiibo costumes, though.

It is also likely that an incentive for buying a season pass, just like before with the different-coloured Yoshi’s and Shy Guy, will arise. This time it will be Toads and Koopa Troopas, although they will come with less colours than the previous two.

With that, I think that the DLC will be finished for Mario Kart 8. With rumours of the NX to be ready for next summer or just after, the schedule seems tight.

Feature: Tarantino vs Netflix

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Film.

Is Tarantino wrong about digital film media?

“I like something hard and tangible in my hand. And I can’t watch a movie on a laptop.” This is a quote from Quentin Tarantino, voicing an opinion in opposition to the digital age of films. I disagree with Tarantino, because I believe that he is stuck in an iron cage of sentimentality, preventing him from seeing the ease and simplicity of modern day film platforms.

The last time I used VHS was in 2004—to watch Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, which is a very sentimental memory. One thing that definitely comes across from Tarantino is his saccharine affection for using VHS, which is known to be a huge influence on his film career. But I doubt anyone else aged 20-something remembers using VHS. It is outdated, clunky and painful to use. On the flip-side, digital copies of films are extremely convenient. With one legally-purchased download of Legally Blonde, I can watch it on my laptop in bed. I can watch it on my phone in the walk-in centre whilst waiting for treatment. I can start watching it in bed, load it up on my phone and continue watching while cooking.

Why go through the effort to watch something for its sentimentality when the alternative is so much simpler? On the one hand, one may comment that this is evidence of modern day youth being glued to their screens. They are unable to do the most mundane tasks with nothing but their thoughts. On the other hand, one may also comment about how this seems to be a futuristic lifestyle in our time, so why not embrace it? The image is crisp, and rewinding to watch a character’s line in a previous scene doesn’t take 14 minutes and you don’t have to commit to one location to watch a film.

Who knows, maybe in a couple of years, people will go on about how “cool” VHS films are, just like with film cameras and typewriters today. But, right now, unfortunately not everyone currently agrees.

 

Or does he raise an important point?

I’m hardly qualified to agree wholeheartedly with Tarantino—as a regular user of Netflix and an enthusiast for digital film-making, it would be difficult (as well as a tad hypocritical) for me to say that we should all abandon the use of internet streaming, DVD and Blu-Ray and go back to recording our evening’s entertainment on clunky VHS tapes. As far as home media goes, I cannot foresee any way in which digital is not the future.

This is not to say that Quentin doesn’t raise an important point, though. As great as it is to be able to watch a film at the click of a mouse (and a £5.99 per month subscription fee), it is nothing when compared to the experience of watching a movie projected on the ‘big screen’. As everyone knows, it is easily possible to view the very latest cinematic releases for free on various streaming sites. With cinema ticket prices soaring to outrageous highs in recent years, it is understandable that so many people resort to this option.

These people are missing out, including those who are watching these films legally on Netflix and Amazon Prime. If I were to appeal to cliché, I would say they are losing the ‘magic’ of cinema. Try watching Alfonso Cuarón’s sci-fi masterpiece Gravity on your laptop. You’re not going to come close to the raw physical experience of seeing it as intended: On the big screen, in breathtaking IMAX 3D. There’s simply no comparison.

This is where Tarantino and I see eye to eye—both people who care about movies, as well as casual film-goers, should get out here and support their local cinema. Perhaps they could start with Tarantino’s upcoming feature The Hateful Eight, which is due to be shown in beautiful 70mm film in cinemas everywhere. Digital home media is a no-brainer, yes, but it cannot come at the expense of the true cinematic experience.

Craving and Saving: Lipstick dupes

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Now, I don’t know about you, but my favourite thing in the world is lipstick. I mean, it’s so useful. You wear it on your lips, on your cheeks as a cheek stain, and even on the eyes as an eyeshadow. You can buy ones that are moisturising, glossy, matte, and even simple lip stains; everything a girl needs in one product!

I know that if I wasn’t a student I would spend the majority of my wages on MAC’s products—specifically, their wonderful lipsticks. Their range of colours, formulas, and packaging blows me away every time I enter a MAC shop, and although all of this captures my attention, the pricing definitely does not. Who can seriously justify spending over £10 on a lipstick? Definitely not me! But that doesn’t mean you have to do without. Listed down below are my top three MAC lipstick dupes, so that you can enjoy your favourite lip product without destroying the bank.

If you’re a lover of dark pinkish nudes like me, MAC’s ‘Craving’ will be one of your go-to lipsticks. It’s a ‘your-lips-but-better’ kind of lippy that glides onto your puckers smoother than the softest butter—or for us more girly-girls: silk. If it’s the colour and formula you’ve fallen in love with, then look no further than Maybelline’s Colour Sensational in ‘Party Pink’. Not only is Maybelline affordable, but the luxury and feel of the product makes your lips feel loved, energised, and looking flawless.

Craving – MAC in ‘Craving’ £15.50
Photo: MAC Saving – Maybelline in ‘Party Pink’ £6.99
Photo: Maybelline

 

This next lipstick is perfect for those crazy nights out. MAC’s ‘Impassioned’ will leave any girl feeling confident and sexy. But what if you want to feel confident and sexy… on a budget? Rimmel’s Kate Moss Lasting Finish in ’06’ has your name written all over it. Not only is the colour nearly identical to ‘Impassioned’, but the packaging is just as fancy and leaves you feeling ‘impassioned’ and ready for anything.

Craving – MAC in ‘Impassioned’ £15.50
Photo: MAC Saving – Rimmel London in ’06’ £5.49
Photo: Superdrug

 

My last dupe is probably my favourite. The first time I set my eyes on MAC’s ‘Honey Love’, I swear I felt a tear dripping down my cheek. Not only was it the most perfect nude for my skin tone, but it also looked as if I wasn’t wearing anything on my lips. Result! Since I first received this lipstick as a gift, I was astonished when looking at the prices. I quickly realised that I needed to find the perfect dupe to stop the ‘Honey Love’ withdrawals, which were coming on strong. L’Oréal’s ‘Fairest Nude’ quickly became my saving grace. Although it took me a while to find, once I had, I never looked back. I wish ‘Honey Love’ was permanently in my collection, but ‘Fairest Nude’ is definitely a nude colour I’d settle for. And so if you, too, are worried about missing your favourite MAC nude shade, you no longer have to be. L’Oréal has your back… and your lips.

Craving – MAC in ‘Honey Love’ £15.50 Photo: MAC Saving – L’Oréal Paris in ‘Fairest Nude’ £6.99
Photo: Drugstore

Instagram’s biggest beauty trend: Contouring

Written by Sarah Kilcourse on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

I can’t profess to be a makeup artist, but I would like to think that I’ve got a pretty good grasp of the basics. Recently however, a new trend has come along which is testing my abilities, and probably yours as well. I’m referring to contouring. The fundamental idea is to reshape your face, to give the ideal symmetrical proportions, using darker and lighter shades of makeup.

In an article devoted to contouring, it would be impossible to ignore the high priestess of contouring herself—Mrs Kim Kardashian West. She first brought the trend to public attention when she began sharing selfies of herself mid-contour. The makeup artist who helped to create the infamous sculpted look is Joyce Bonelli, who claims to have learnt to contour from the drag community and then altered the intensity to suit her female clients.

Beauty enthusiasts everywhere have admired the skill and effect of this technique, then attempted to replicate it—easier said than done. I love the effectiveness of contouring when celebrities wear it on the red carpet, in an editorial, and especially on Instagram. But in real life? Not so keen. Contouring can easily become very heavy handed. Troops of women are now walking around with a triple-striped cheek: highlighter, blusher, and bronzer. In my opinion, reshaping your face is supposed to be subtle, and walking around with tiger stripes defeats the object of contouring. Until Kim K revealed her secret, no one was aware that she was even attempting to enhance her face shape with makeup.

Thankfully, makeup companies have jumped on the success of contouring and now offer an array of different products to help you achieve the perfect sculpt. From lower price point palettes like Maybelline’s Mastersculpt, to the more high end options like Charlotte Tilbury’s Film Star Bronze and Glow, and many other options in between. All of them offer shades that make contouring easier, and should hopefully prevent striped cheeks. The one key part of contouring which is often forgotten is blending. If you blend your bronzer and highlighter you are one step closer to looking like the sixth Kardashian sister.

Review: The Intern

Written by Alasdair Bayman on . Posted in Film.

Normally, when an actor walks out on a press junket it forebodes just one thing—the film in question must be below par. The actor most recent to this shameful walk away from the media, is none other than Robert De Niro. His interview with the RadioTimes shone some coverage onto his latest release, The Intern. Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, this fluffy comedy flick follows De Niro’s Ben Whittaker and Anne Hathaway’s Jules Ostin on their unlikely road to friendship. There is, however, a slight plot twist—The Intern is surprisingly not that bad.

Opening in the picturesque Central Park with De Niro’s Ben participating in yoga classes, the film is instantly upbeat on life—even though Ben is a widower. He seeks a fresh challenge after growing tired of the mundane and depressing nature of being retired. Noticing an advert at his local shop for a senior citizen internship at an online fashion start up company run by Hathaway’s Jules, he decides to give life a new approach and applies instantly. De Niro goes through the rigorous interview system to comical affect—suited and booted with the most suave suits you will see this year—maybe Bond will claim this mantle soon.

Numerous employees of the firm crack jokes about his age and hearing ability, which, like the gentleman the he is, he takes with little offence. No surprises when he is given the job and is assigned to the CEO of the company, Jules. At a similar time in the narrative, Hathaway’s character is introduced as liberating and sentimental; she is the epitome of a strong modern day woman. Her proactiveness extends to riding a bike around the office to maintain intangible energy throughout her manic day. Their development of a mutual relationship follows a fairly stereotypical plot, but what does unfold on screen is loving and caring.

Meyers enables the script, written by herself, to take on feminist and anti-ageist themes. The whole premise of De Niro’s character is centred around the rejection of ageist notions towards senior citizens being lesser than those who are below the pension line. Her perspective adopted is one of wealth and luxury—a reflection of the perfect American life; realised in her 2006 film, The Holiday, as well as this release, too. Fundamentally, the film doesn’t pretend to be anything else, unlike a lot of Hollywood films in this modern day and age. A refreshing approach is adopted where the two leads do not hook up—their portrayal of mutual respect is verisimilitude.

There are clear messages in the contemporary world that surround us in Meyer’s piece, but they never develop into any serious commentary or statements of praise or criticism—a missed opportunity in my book. As with the director’s previous work, the main character development takes place with the leads; no other actors really get a look in. One or two subplots run beneath the belly of the overarching story, but they don’t add any substantial flesh and bone to the latter. A fundamental story about the ability of the human race to endure, adore and respect one another, The Intern is great to watch on a winter’s evening, to retreat from the arctic weather, with a cup of your favourite hot beverage, and a cosy blanket.

Not bad but neither amazing, it is worth your time to gaze in awe at the life of these well-lived characters—plus De Niro, obviously.

3/5

Cleanse, tone, and moisturise: It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…

Written by Josh Arnold on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Opening a book for the first time after summer is always a shock to the system. The air is filled with the sound of coughs and sniffles as we put the takeaway menus in the bin, brush off our student recipe books and settle back into the routine.

And that includes your skincare. But don’t panic just yet because we’re going back to basics with a loan-friendly, daily routine to keep your face looking as fresh as a fresher on their first day of lectures.

 

Photo: Boots

1. CLEANSE

First things first, you need to clean off the grime, sweat and makeup that can block pores and causes spots. That means morning and night.

Cleansing wipes only push dirt around your face, so look for a non-foaming cleanser such as the Rose Hydrate Cleansing Cream by Una Brennan (£7.99, Boots) and massage a big blob into dry skin before removing with a clean flannel soaked in warm water. You wouldn’t clean a table with your hands, and the same goes for your face. Plus, the extra exfoliation will only add to your inner beauty. Get enough for a fortnight for around £5 at Primark so you can use a clean one every day.

 

Photo: Marks & Spencer

2. TONE

When it comes to toning your skin, avoid astringents and alcohol as these will dry out your skin and amplify the effects of tiredness and cold. Instead, look for something with glycolic acid (don’t be scared, acid = good) and get twice the effects for the price of one: While the toner tightens the skin, the acid will work through the day to gently remove dead skin, leaving it looking fresh and restoring its radiance.

If you’re such a BNOC that you don’t have the time to pour out the toner onto a cotton pad, go for the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads for an ultra-convenient shot of glycolic. Otherwise, saturate a cotton pad with the Pixi Glow Tonic (£18, Marks & Spencer) and sweep across your whole face and neck. One bottle lasts for months and months.

 

Photo: Boots

3. MOISTURISE

Finally, your best friend during party season and cold weather. For any nay-sayers who claim that you don’t need to moisturise, look at Beyoncé’s skin. We’re pretty sure she moisturises. Look for something super simple such as the Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream (£7.69, Boots).

 

3 pampering products for the morning after:

Lansinoh HPA Nipple Cream (£7.87, Boots)

Long nights lead to long days with dry, dry lips and for that you of course need nipple cream. Yes, nipple cream, like this one from Boots. Try it. It will change your life.

 

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment (£20, Selfridges)

Prevent dark circles and bags with an eye cream. Apply to your orbital bone (much lower than you think) before moisturising morning and night.

 

REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial (£32, ASOS)

Finally, for grey-tinged, hungover skin, try this face mask that literally takes one minute. Apply to dry skin before moistening with fingertips and feel the potency of vitamin C activate. Wash off after a minute and see a whole new (more sober-looking) you.

Manchester Creative Writing Society 2015

Written by Yasmin Mannan on . Posted in Books.

It’s a new academic year, and Manchester Creative Society is back and as fresh as it has ever been. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get feedback on your work and find people who have similar interests to you. Roma Havers, the chair of this year’s society, explains why this year, Manchester Creative Society society is better than ever:

“This year Manchester Creative Writing Society aims to connect writers together from across the University. Whether you enjoy writing poetry, short stories, novels, plays, screenplays or even just enjoy hearing and reading other people’s work—there will be something this year that will be of interest for you. We run weekly events, from the likes of socials, and workshops where you can share your work, take part in writing challenges and improve your form and style.

“Additionally, we get involved with spoken word events across the city and are running our first Creative Writing Society Spoken Word Event this November. This semester, we are running extra sessions for those wishing to take part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), an international event where writers attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. These sessions will aim to support those taking part and encourage them to continue.

“This year, we hope to use our connections with other societies to run inter-society events, such as the Drama Society, Filmmaking Society, Ravel and the History Society. We want to get people together in a space where you feel comfortable sharing your writing and continuing to write, feel inspired and supported. If you are interested please join our society on the Students’ Union website, and join our page on Facebook, Manchester Creative Writing Society 2015.”

The society now boasts its own blog which is currently taking submissions. https://manchesterwritingbees.wordpress.com/

Please email [email protected] with anything you’d like to be shared on the blog.
You can contact Roma with any queries at [email protected].

Violence on the Left: The Great Eggs-aggeration

Written by Ed John on . Posted in Opinion.

From a marginalised and relatively unknown back-bencher to the new rockstar of the Left, Jeremy Corbyn’s unprecedented rise to political stardom has undoubtedly ushered in a level of debate, and for some, a feeling of hope, that has been absent in politics for decades.

With The Independent recently reporting that the number of people that have joined the Labour party since the leadership election has reached 183,658, higher than those in the entire Conservative party who clock in at around 150,000, it is beyond doubt that something huge is happening in British politics.

However, it isn’t only growth of the party itself that has been making headlines. With Corbyn’s success, and the rise of an arguably truly egalitarian and representative form of politics, has come an even larger and more promising grassroots movement. This movement not only boasts hundreds of thousands of supporters, including Billy Bragg and Coronation Street’s Hayley Cropper, but one that has been mobilising and gaining momentum continuously since the election result.

It is a movement that promises, as its leader does, to fight for a future of change, equality and an end to Tory avarice. It is a movement that far from being a passing trend, represents the reinvigoration of a previously disillusioned left, tired of Blue Labour and the remnants of a Blairite past. It is a movement that has seen the streets of British cities, including our own, become the marching ground for optimism, hope and a brighter future under the leadership of a man who symbolises an exciting side to politics that many haven’t previously witnessed in their lifetime.

Last Sunday saw the streets of Manchester become the centre stage for such a march against the Conservative Party Conference. With an estimated 80,000 protesters in attendance, it acted as a true representation of the support and solidarity that Corbyn has managed to muster since his rise to prominence.

But, it isn’t such support and optimism that is portrayed throughout our mass media. Likewise it isn’t the 80,000 taking to the streets in order to show solidarity for numerous causes that they believe in. Nor is it the 8,000 in attendance at the Communication Worker’s Union and People’s Post rally the following day. It is instead the actions of a minority that were heavily reported and led these people to be, in the words of the CWU’s Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger, “all tarred with the same brush.”

Of course, the actions and behaviour of said minority are in need of reporting. Without such representation, we would arguably be looking at politics through a rose-tinted lens and, after all, spitting at a member of the press is undoubtedly deplorable behaviour. However, what was interestingly lacking from the coverage by news outlets was not just the remaining 70,000-plus families, disabled activists and peaceful protesters in attendance, but also the brutish and terroristic tactics employed by those policing the event.

In regards to the protestor who spat at Huffington Post journalist Owen Bennett, he of course deserved to be punished for such an act of malice, but did he deserve the attention and wrath of over ten police officers that descended on him in such a manner that resulted in his loss of consciousness and subsequent convulsions on the floor? Did he deserve then to be denied paramedic attention by an arresting officer, who proclaimed that it was not his job to call for help? Most would argue that he did not.

Presumably, most would also dispute the use of skewed and fabricated statistics regarding the number of arrests throughout the protest. With a reported four protesters taken into custody, it seemed as though a small number had indeed let down the majority of a generally ‘family friendly’ demonstration. However, as it transpired later, two of those arrests were for unrelated offences committed by members of the public not in attendance of the protest. Yet the same people who would arguably dispute such tactics used to misrepresent those involved would also be unable to do so, as they would be wholly unaware and oblivious to any of it occurring.

Just as most would be unaware of the numerous members of the Greater Manchester Police force choosing to cover their shoulder ID numbers, behaviour that when questioned was met with hostility or a brief shrug and, in one case: “I’ve done it because I wanted to.”

On the other hand, were those same people aware of the young Conservative whose brandishing of a picture of Margaret Thatcher, a woman who’s policies helped destroy numerous communities represented at the protest, was met with an egg to the face? They were indeed, thanks to numerous media outlets choosing to run this as headline news. Again, such violence towards those expressing their political opinions is condemnable behaviour and, to some, has no place in politics, but the over-exaggeration of the issue represents a wider and inherently problematic side to our news and media outlets.

We seem to have allowed the existence of a media machine that is solely interested in perpetuating the ideologies of its shareholders and owners, whilst systematically ignoring the wider issues affecting and, in some cases, killing those looking to them for news and information.

It is this same monopolised media that has yet again overshadowed an important, peaceful and impressively large protest with news of the few who, although not agreed with by the masses, seem to have become the archetypal poster boys for the media’s assault on the left wing of this country’s political sphere.

Crumbs! Yard and Coop certainly know how to keep abreast of the competition

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

In the Northern Quarter, (the ‘arts hub’ of Manchester), tucked behind rows of artisan coffee shops and jewellers, two friends are making a craft out of something more unexpected: fried chicken.

Situated on Edge Street, just a short hop from the Manchester Craft Centre, is Manchester’s first speciality fried chicken restaurant. Yard and Coop is a quirky yet modern, minimal yet imaginative new restaurant.

Diners can sit in wooden huts, while caged lights illuminate the stripped concrete floor, their rays fluttering down through the copper bars.

Yard and Coop is the kind of place where even the plastic chairs have a story—they were originally used in a church down South; the kind of place where diners eat at tables made by the co-owner’s father.

The menu is simple, offering a host of filled baskets. Salads, wraps, and burgers; all with a choice of deep fried chicken breast, chicken thigh or halloumi. Each comes with options of the spiced honey dip, a bourbon BBQ relish, or Blue Cheese sauce.

We chose a chicken breast with a Moroccan-spiced crumb, accompanied by bourbon BBQ sauce; we also selected the original crumbed chicken thigh in the Bees Knees Sauce. Although perhaps too sweet for some palates, this was a stand-out sauce, uniquely comprising cayenne pepper, honey and lime.

When our buttermilk chicken arrived—resting on a bed of well-seasoned chips—it was so tender that, underneath the deep sienna-brown crumb, it had relaxed into strands of deep fried ambrosia.

Photo: The Mancunion

We were told that the secret to succulent chicken was to take good care of the fillets before crumbing them. Our chicken fillets had been well-pampered indeed. The Cleopatras of the chicken world, they had been given a salt scrub before being left to soak in a buttermilk bath. On emerging, they were plump and juicy and, of course, the perfect pair for a Caesar, whether that be the Yard and Coop salad or a Roman Emperor.

Fried chicken is one thing, but fried chicken with a side of battered, salty jalapeños and a couple of pints of Yard Pilsner and Coop Wheat Beer is another entirely. The jalapeños were just the right side of greasy, and as pungent and sweet as a jalapeño should be. Of their draught beers, the Coop Wheat Beer was the real winner; its fruity, tangy liquid really cut through the richness of the fried chicken.

To finish, we indulged in a warm Bailey’s-flavoured brownie topped with vanilla ice cream. The Bailey’s brownie was standard comfort food. It was perfectly warmed, indeed, it was practically molten. However, it was hard to identify the Bailey’s in the brownie. Luckily with Yard and Coop’s extensive range of beers and cocktails, no guest will be left craving alcohol.

This restaurant has successfully revamped fried chicken to posh nosh level. And if, as students, we have become all-too-familiar with takeout chicken in styrofoam boxes, well, Yard and Coop is here to provide us with an alternative.

The combination of home-brewed beer and gourmet-esque chicken is really not to be missed. And thanks to Yard and Coop’s ‘Big Student C(H)ook Off’ on October 14th, you can enjoy their buttermilk chicken for free.

Yard and Coop
37 Edge St,
Manchester,
M4 1HW

yardandcoop.com

Top 5: Lipstick essentials

Written by Kassi Allcock on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

‘My-Lips-But-Better’

MAC in ‘Syrup’
Photo: The Mancunion

Every one needs a nude shade in their make up bag—it’s an absolute must have. Whether you’re heading out for a night on the town, or on the hunt for an easy everyday lipstick, nude will be your best friend. The Kardashians have popularised this look in the past few years, but a natural-looking lip is timeless. Personal recommendations include MAC in ‘Brave’, MAC in ‘Syrup’ (pictured), and for a drugstore alternative, Rimmel London in ’48’ from the Kate Nude Collection.

 

Classic Red

Maybelline ‘Siren in Scarlet’
Photo: The Mancunion

You can never go wrong with a strong red lip! It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, or what your plan is for that day—a bit of red lippy will always put you in a poised and sassy mood. Complete the look with a bold black cat-eye flick and a volumising mascara and watch your confidence levels rise. The top three red lipsticks in my collection include MAC in ‘Ruby Woo’, Maybelline in ‘Siren in Scarlet’ (pictured), and Rimmel London in ‘Kiss of Life.’

 

Blushing Pink

Estée Lauder in ‘Pink Parfait’
Photo: The Mancunion

Definitely more of a summer favourite, pink lipstick tends to be quite seasonal. Regardless, it is an essential for everyone’s collection, and there is quite a variety of different styles to choose from. A matte pink can look flawless—just be conscious of dry, chapped lips! My go-to is MAC in ‘Pink Plaid’. There is also the shimmery pink, adding a bit of sparkle to your everyday make up. I tend to opt for Estée Lauder in ‘Pink Parfait’ (pictured), when I need a bit of a pick me up. Oh, and don’t forget lipgloss!

 

Deep Berry

Collection in ‘Prohibition’
Photo: The Mancunion

Moving onto a slightly more season appropriate shade, a deep berry is an essential for autumn and winter. There are many to choose from, both from the drugstore and high end, but my all-time favourite is one of the cheapest on the market. Coming in at a mere £3.99, Collection in ‘Prohibition’ (pictured) is an absolute dream to apply, gliding over my lips effortlessly. Top tip: Combine with a burgundy nail and a plaid scarf for optimal styling potential.

 

Daring Vamp

MAC ‘Up The Amp’
Photo: The Mancunion

This one is for the more adventurous and fearless lipstick wearers—the vamp purple. Although it probably couldn’t be classed as an everyday shade, you could certainly get your use out of it deep into the winter. I am not usually brave enough to pull off a purple lip, only opting for it when wearing an all black outfit and in need of a burst of colour. The one that will have a permanent home in my lipstick collection is MAC’s ‘Up The Amp’ (pictured)—but Topshop’s lip bullet in the shade ‘Get Me Bodied’ works a charm too.

No pain, no gain

Written by Perisha Kudhail on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Eyebrows seem to have become an obsession. Whether they are big and beautiful or trim and shapely, getting your eyebrows to look like perfection doesn’t always have to feel like surgery. Here are a few sure fire ways to neaten up those brows and make you feel awesome.

 

1. Threading.

You may have heard some horror stories about threading—but fear not. Threading is a great way to catch all those pesky hairs that tweezers just can’t quite seem to grab. Threading originated in India and a cotton thread is used to pull our multiple hairs for a precise finish. Because threading pulls hair from the root, this treatment should last you a while, and you can pluck the one or two hairs that grow in between. Try Zara’s on Curry Mile. For ladies only and cheap prices, you can be sure to come out knowing your eyebrows are doing you proud.

 

2. Waxing

Waxing is a brilliant way to shape up those brows, sharpish. A layer of wax is used to catch all those pesky hairs, and rips them all out in one go. Although waxing isn’t as precise as threading, it still gets the hair out by the roots ensuring that your eyebrow game will stay strong. The Brazilian Waxing Company offers a great eyebrow wax service and you can get your nails done after!

 

3. Plucking

This can be done DIY style, or from a professional beauty salon. Plucking is a great way to top up an already established eyebrow (via waxing or threading). Using tweezers, individual hairs are gripped and pulled from the roots, a great way to get those pesky spam hairs.

 

Once your eyebrows are beautifully shaped—by any one of these methods—keeping them neat and tidy is a doddle. Invest in an eyebrow comb and you’d be surprised at how much difference it could make, particularly if you use an eyebrow pencil. After you’ve had your treatment, be sure to make sure you keep the area clean and chemical-free for at least four hours. This will give time for the pores to close and prevent you getting any nasty pimples. Finally, never get your eyebrows done if you plan to go somewhere soon after, your choice of hair removal may result in your skin going slightly red and you don’t want to put makeup only to agitate the area. Don’t worry, the pain is all worth it in the end. Trust me.

MCR Student Night Out

Written by Kathryn Murray on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

On Tuesday 29th of September hordes of students flocked to Manchester city centre to see what bargains were on offer. Students, shopping, and fresh student loans go together hand-in-hand and MCR Student Night Out proved it.

Manchester Arndale and Manchester’s business improvement district collaborated to host MCR Student Night Out, in which over 200 stores were involved. The event went on from 4pm – 9pm, giving students access to a range of exclusive one-night-only offers as well as live music and freebies.

Shops including Topshop, French Connection, Ted Baker and Office all got involved offering students a discount of 20 per cent. The night spanned from the Arndale Centre, to House of Fraser, St. Ann’s Square, Market Street and Exchange Square.

Shopping wasn’t the only activity available with St. Ann’s Square offering an inflatable game zone and House of Fraser having a Cash Cube where students could catch a golden ticket and win a prize.  Manchester’s Travelling light circus performed Fire Spinning and Pyro Trickery. It’s safe to say there was entertainment all around as well as a good night’s shopping!

David Allinson, Centre Director at Manchester Arndale, said, “students are extremely valuable shoppers in the centre and we are proud to offer everything in one location for them to kit themselves out for term time.”

I had the pleasure of experiencing what Manchester has to offer on the Student Night Out. Obviously there is the Arndale which is great for shops. I visited Oasis and Warehouse to see what kind of trends were knocking about. 70s is still massive this season, with flares, suede and tassels everywhere. Dark greens, reds and navy seem to be dominating the winter palette, although Monochrome is still as stylish as ever. If Oasis and Warehouse are anything to go by, I would highly recommend investing in a coat with fur trim, a checked kilt style skirt, and a roll neck top.

Photo: The Mancunion
Warehouse shop floor Photo: The Mancunion
Oasis shop floor

Lush in the Arndale were also offering students a chance to make their own facemasks. Fashion isn’t just about clothes you know; beauty is also a massive part of a fashionista’s life.

I paid a visit to Selfridges where I sampled some of the services they offer. I managed to drop by the new Braid bar kiosk downstairs in Selfridges where I got three cornrow style braids. There are 12 braid styles to choose from; however the girls like a challenge so you can always bring a picture along for inspiration.

Braiding is quick; I went for the “Eva” which only took about five minutes, but most of the braids won’t take more than ten minutes to complete. Choose from feathers, beads or a little brush of colour if you’re getting ready for a night out. If you want a different look but don’t want the permanency of bleach or perms then the Braid Bar is a great alternative!

With braid prices ranging from £15 – £25, the Braid Bar has plenty to offer, including hair glitter, chalks and jewellery. Braiding is the perfect accessory for any outfit and at these prices it is well worth the professionals doing it, instead of your half-drunk housemate trying to French plait your hair at pre-drinks.

Photo: The Mancunion
The Braid Bar

Selfridges also offered Henna tattoos by Pavan. With prices starting at £18 you can get a glitter, coloured, or traditional henna tattoo. Alternatively you can buy a tube of henna for £5, although you will need some practice to get those intricate details offered by the artist’s at the Pavan bar in Selfridges. I went for glitter henna on my hand which I loved! Although was slightly disappointed when it started peeling off later that day. However, it looked amazing; I might try and start a new going-out trend of glitter henna-ing myself from head to toe. I’m not sure if it will catch on though!

Photo: The Mancunion
Pavan Henna Photo: The Mancunion

After Selfridges I visited Harvey Nichols, where the lovely ladies at Bobbi Brown transformed my “barely there” make up to a great smokey eye. This party season smokey eyes are going to be bigger than ever before with a glittery sheen topping your look off with a playful sparkle. Bobbi Brown may not be student-loan friendly, but I would highly recommend their concealer if ever you want to splash out.

After having my hair braided, hand henna-ed, and make-up done I was ready for a night out! Manchester has some great services available, often with student discounts. What a great place to live and breathe fashion and beauty!

Review: La Mélancolie Des Dragons

Written by Hannah Foy on . Posted in Theatre.

An exclusive performance of La Mélancolie Des Dragons premiered at HOME last night, giving the audience a multimedia production of music and visual art. Directed by the artistic director of Nanterre-Amandiers Theatre in Paris, Phillippe Quesene, the production seemed to exhibit his stage design background, entrancing the audience with the amusement park design and the intimacy of the cast.

Any show that is able to hold an audience for the first 20 minutes through visuals and background music alone is a marvel, and this opening reveals an intricately choreographed cast. They work together seamlessly, never really leaving the stage but blending into the set as required.

It’s a production that seems to challenge many of our stereotypes, questioning the world around the characters as time no longer matters. It is Isabelle who fixes the car, or at least requests the new part. It is also Isabelle who is the first to break the silence of the production. She appears to have a quality to her the boys surrounding her are immune to, a gift to break the quiet stage and subsequently bring the show the life.

Yet the character of Isabelle brought many questions to the front of my mind. I couldn’t work out her relationship within the group, she certainly appears maternal in her care and interest in what the boys say. Especially with the eager quality each character has to please and present a new aspect of the amusement park to her. Likewise, Isabelle is the only character to have a name; at least a name so many times repeated it’s impossible for the audience not to identify her.

As the only female, Isabelle holds the stage and appears the pivotal character to the production. I felt she linked the audience to the show itself, being shown the various elements of the amusement park, so that we too, could view everything for the first time.

The amusement park holds many interesting qualities; it’s repetitive and simple, over explained and exaggerated—yet surprisingly funny at times. It holds a darker humour to itself, a realisation of the over simplified elements. The unique quality the amusement park brings has to be the physical theatre—each element takes over the stage, spilling into the audience, whether this be smoke or bubbles, or the overriding sense of pleasing and showing the audience what it has to offer.

But, for me at least, this seemed quite repetitive to the extent where I almost wished Isabelle would say “no” at least once. Each attraction had multiple options, whether this be the font, shape, size and colour of the projectors text or the library holding picture books, children books, fiction books and 3D books. Everything was explained in such detail, I was able to predict the next line.

Des Dragons may not have been at all what I expected, but it includes some clever dark humour, which the audience chuckled to throughout the show. The use of physical theatre and set design was vital and an impressive addition to the production, allowing much movement and interpretation.

La Mélancolie Des Dragons ran at HOME until Saturday 3rd October.

A year of change for the LGBT community

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Lifestyle.

For LGBT communities across the world, 2015 has undoubtedly been a hugely significant year. With both Ireland and the United States finally making the long-awaited decision to legalise same-sex marriage early in summer, these past few months have been flavoured with a wonderful sense of acceptance and equality.

From international media coverage, to personal blogs, to a new Facebook feature of adding a rainbow background to your profile picture, people have taken the opportunity to rejoice in this remarkable step forward, and to encourage others to do so with them. Noticeably, one of the greatest tools in helping to spread the message of LGBT equality—especially amongst the younger generation—has been the immense community surrounding video-sharing giant, YouTube.

The sane amongst us know that diversity is a magnificent thing. If everyone was the same in terms of looks, beliefs, and sexuality, surely the world would be a thoroughly boring place? We are learning to celebrate the differences among us, and platforms such as YouTube play a large hand in giving individuals a place to express themselves.

As well as catering to the Average Joe, the California-based corporation has managed to produce a somewhat new-fangled form of celebrity: A handful of content sharers have managed to accumulate followers numbering into the millions, and thus found themselves thrust into the spotlight. Refreshingly, some of these up-and-coming celebrities have used their fame to share their personal stories with an aim towards helping viewers in similar situations, who may have previously felt alone.

In June, this year, beauty and fashion vlogger Ingrid Nilsen posted a video to her 3 million-plus followers revealing that she had chosen to publicly come out as a lesbian. The twenty-minute clip, entitled ‘Something I Want You To Know (Coming Out)’, shows an honest and emotional Ingrid explain to her fans that her sexuality had been a fact she had struggled to come to terms with for years, but was now something she felt comfortable sharing.

Nilsen’s video (which has amassed over 12 million views to date) was met with a whirlwind of applause from members of the LGBT community and heterosexuals alike, with many praising the 26-year-old for her encouragement of others to accept their own identity and be proud of it: “Being a lesbian is part of who I am.”

In recent weeks, it has been revealed that Ingrid has begun a relationship with fellow internet sensation, Hannah Hart (of My Drunk Kitchen fame), and fans of both are overjoyed. To see such a positive response to two high-profile lesbian women openly expressing their identity as a couple is heart-warming; a jubilant contrast to the ignorance of previous decades.

Ours is a generation of change. Now is a time to celebrate and forget the social constraints of the past. It is becoming an increasingly accepted understanding that prejudice towards people of a different sexuality is unfounded and pointless. There is no right and wrong when it comes to love—how can there be? To believe so is to defeat the very meaning of the word.

The right to personal identity is flourishing, and more and more people are being encouraged to accept themselves for who they are. As students in the city of Manchester, we are beyond lucky to have places like Canal Street and events like Manchester Pride that allow our LGBT community to share their happiness and confidence in their own identities. We are a city and, of course, a university that does not judge, as judgement is for the narrow-minded (and who wants to be friends with those kind of people anyway?)

University is a place of personal growth that opens doors to a freedom of identity that might not have seemed previously possible in a school or college environment—here you’re free to carve your own pathway, regardless of your ‘differences’. In speaking of her gratitude towards the university’s accepting nature, third year student Amy professed that: “University has given me a confidence I never knew I could have—not only academically, but sexually.

“I always felt ‘different’ and I never had the courage to be the person that, deep inside, I knew I was. Now I do: I’m a lesbian.” Maybe we should all take a leaf out of Amy’s book: These are your university days, it’s the time to be free in who you are and express your identity regardless of whether you’re gay, straight, bisexual—or anything else! You’re you. You’re loved.

In the words of Ingrid Nilsen, “We all deserve our best chance.”

PDA: A hot topic

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in Lifestyle.

PDA. It’s a bit like marmite really—you either love it or hate it. Although many of us (being quintessentially British) are left disgusted at the sight of others locking lips, there are a select few who can coo at the cuteness of a couple sharing a moment.

But when and where is PDA really acceptable? In some countries, an act as simple as a quick kiss could result in imprisonment. In numerous Middle Eastern countries, kissing is considered a public indecency, punishable by jail time. A young British couple were sentenced to “a month in prison with subsequent deportation” in 2010 following mere reports of them having kissed in a restaurant.

To us, the Middle East’s laws on public affection may seem a little farfetched, especially since even our twee society permits couples to demonstrate their love in subtle ways, such as hand-holding and hugging in public. Latin culture, on the other hand, celebrates passion in such a way that would make most Britons blush. You only have to enter a bar in Madrid to see that “embarrassment” or “shyness” are words that are seldom used.

“Who” is also a pretty important factor: Different people, different rules. In the presence of mutual friends, you can push out the boat a little; just make sure that you’re not making anybody feel left out. Rubbing your relationship in the face of a recently single friend is never a wise idea and will most likely result in some hostile feelings towards you and your lover. Acquaintances, on the other hand, are a big no no. Girls, especially, are often guilty of PDA when their other half is talking to an unknown female. Sure, it’s a quickfire way to fight off any competition, but it can often just result in some poor girl who was innocently trying to make friends at a party feel deeply uncomfortable.

At the end of the day, there are certain things that should remain confined to the bedroom; a couple expressing their mutual comfort and desire in public shouldn’t be shamed but rather celebrated. It’s a free country, after all. Just don’t be too surprised when an 80-year-old grandmother scowls at you both as if you’ve just been caught shoplifting.

Sharing is caring

Written by Alice Williams on . Posted in Lifestyle.

With many second years now moving into their own houses, many feckless students are finding themselves faced with actually having to deal with the adult tasks that come with renting your own house for the first time. Holes in the oven, dodgy smoke alarms, and a surprisingly common problem of mattresses covered in shit, lead to many students curled up on their doorstep, locked out because the landlord gave them the key to the garage, not the front door.

While these kinds of harrowing tales will keep you going at a good few awkward pre-drinks, you might want to consider ways in which you can make things easier for yourself in the coming year, and not upset your housemates.

If you haven’t already, make sure that you and your housemates are very clear how you are sorting out all of your bills. A lot of houses that are rented through agents offer ‘bills included’, and since you will have signed the contract before summer, you should have been aware of this before you moved into the house. If you’re not ‘bills included’, decide on how you will be splitting the bills between you.

Another thing you will have to consider on top of this is wi-fi. With the majority of us students now treating a constant internet connection as a basic human right, chances are that you were in such a rush to set up the wi-fi box that you forgot that you’d actually have to be paying for it monthly.

Whether you’ve done the sensible thing of setting up a joint direct debit account between all of you or you’ve assigned one person to be the debt collector, make sure it’s clear early on in your tenancy. Matters can quickly descend into uncomfortably passive aggressive Facebook messages, and for the sake of £5.75 a month it’s really not worth falling out with your housemates.

Another thing to clarify early on is how generous you’re willing to be with your kitchen utensils. This is quite an important one, as people quite often fall strongly into two different mindsets. To some, sharing a house brings shared meals and shared cutlery. Of course, this also brings prematurely empty cereal packets and the possibility of broken favorite mugs.

For these reasons, others decide that they want to keep both their food, crockery and cutlery separate from their housemates. Both have pros and cons; just make sure everyone is clear on what they are doing. Also, decide on some kind of bin rota to avoid the inevitable argument when you’re faced with rotting carcasses in the corner of the kitchen.

Finally, it might be worth gaining an awareness of who needs to leave the house first every morning in order to keep arguments over who’s in the shower to a minimum, and don’t steal toiletries that aren’t yours!

Your time at uni is fleeting, and while it may seem crucial to establish who’s been wiping themselves with the cardboard tube to avoid buying more toilet paper, ultimately you’re better off being reasonable, picking your battles, and concentrating on more important things.

Move it

Written by Aj Mal on . Posted in Lifestyle.

With the mania of gym and fitness sweeping the nation, it is no surprise that many of you will be signing up for those sweaty hours on the treadmill this autumn. However there are alternatives for those of us who dread the thought of another aerobics class, the claustrophobic environment of a gym, or who just simply can’t be bothered.

The university’s huge range of sports societies offer something for everyone and are a great way to get in shape and socialise at the same time. Alternatively, outdoor activities can be a fun and free way to get fit fast. Running is more popular than ever, and for those of us who don’t want to run alone there are fantastic running clubs which cater for all levels of fitness and provide a safe and social way to hit the streets. Run Wild, the university’s very own running society, caters for all abilities: whether you’ve never done more than a fast stroll or you’re an experienced runner looking for a way to integrate your passion into your social life!

For those of you who move at a slower pace, walking and hiking can be great ways to get moving and enjoy the fantastic countryside around Manchester.  Some of the best walking routes in the country are within easy reach, with Saddleworth, the Lake District, Peak District, Wales and Cheshire nearby, all full of breathtaking scenery–—and great country pubs to enjoy after! A well-deserved pint and roast at award-winning pubs such as The White Hart in Lydgate, and The Cross Keys in Uppermill, can make a long country walk worthwhile.

If all that still seems like too much effort, incorporating a bit of exercise into your daily routine isn’t too much of a challenge. Simple changes such as taking the stairs instead of the lift, or walking instead of taking the bus can burn a few extra calories. This advice will be especially beneficial for those students who are often tempted to take the bus from University Place to the Students’ Union!

Believe it or not, a little romance can go a long way in kick starting your health: even the sight of someone we are attracted to can get the heart beating faster. What’s more, kissing can more than double your metabolic rate! Whilst most of us don’t need any more encouragement, the increased calorie burn is yet another reason to get intimate. Sex is said to burn up to 300 calories per hour, and any activity between the sheets is going to get the heart rate up; after all, you’re going to need to burn off those chocolate-dipped strawberries somehow!

However, the best of the fat-busting late night activities has to be dancing. There are styles, beats and venues to suit everyone. Concerts at the Academy, ballroom dancing with the University’s own Dance Society, and Manchester’s amazingly diverse club scene leave you with no excuse not to dance the night away!