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Month: October 2015

Comedy is coming to Manchester

Written by Elise Gallagher on . Posted in Theatre.

Women in Comedy Festival – Thursday the 15th of October to the 25th, Norther Quarter.
After two successful years producing Europe’s only Women in Comedy Festival, the 2015 Women in Comedy Festival UK will launch on Thursday the 15th at Manchester’s Frog and Bucket until Sunday the 25th of October. Over 50 shows will take place over 11 days in ten venues focused in Manchester’s Norther Quarter. Comedians include Susan Calman, Jo Coffey and Lara A King with actor Maxine Peake joining the team of patrons. “A festival filled with laughter combined with feminist principles taking place in the North… what’s not to support!” Of course, the festival is open to all genders.

Festival of the Spoken Nerd: Just for Graphs – Sunday the 25th of October, Lowry Theatre.
The science comedy phenomenon, Festival of the Spoken Nerd, is back with their show ‘Just for Graphs’, jam-packed with electrifying live experiments and statistically significant laughter. Experiments maestro Steve Mould (BBC1’s Britain’s Brightest) will perform stand-up based on data from the birth of his first child, geek songstress Helen Arney (BBC2’s Coast) sings an emotional tribute to the intrepid Philae lander, which travelled 4 billion miles only to run out of batteries on comet 67P, while Matt Parker (Discovery’s You Have Been Warned) will be “setting charts on fire” with the worlds greatest graph. The trio have racked up over a million views on YouTube for their experiments, songs and stand-up, as well as their material being one of the best reviewed at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

Michael McIntyre: Happy and Glorious – Thursday the 29th of October to the 31st, Manchester Arena.
The UK’s number one comedian, Michael McIntyre, is set to return to the stage in 2015 with his brand new hotly anticipated UK & Ireland Arena tour, ‘Happy & Glorious’. Michael’s previous tour ‘Showtime’ was the biggest selling comedy tour in the world in 2012, playing to over 640,000 people including a record-breaking ten-night residency at London’s O2 Arena matching the pop superstar Rihanna’s 2011 record. In 2013 he performed internationally; playing to sold out arenas in South Africa, Dubai, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. His show in Johannesburg was the largest ever comedy show in Africa and his Dubai shows won the Time Out Best Night Out Award.

Manford’s Comedy Club – Thursday the 5th of November, Bierkeller.
Why is local stand up comedy not high up on the list of what people think about doing when looking for a great night out? Differing from our nationally or even globally acclaimed line-up, Jason Manford wants to introduce us to the little known faces of the stand up strip. He is hand-selecting his favourite comedians to give his fans and audiences “a proper night out.”

Alan Carr: Yap, Yap Yap! – Thursday the 5th of November to the 7th, Manchester Apollo.
No stranger to yap, 2015 NTA winner Alan Carr will be yapping his way around the UK & Ireland with his brand new stand up show ‘Yap, Yap, Yap!’ The BAFTA and British Comedy Award-winning comedian, author and chat show supremo returns to his stand up roots with his hilarious take on life. Tickets will sell out fast so don’t miss the chance to get up close and very personal with one of the country’s funniest, most cherished and most unique comedians at the very top of his game.

Pam Ann – Sunday 22nd of November, Manchester Opera House.
Pam Ann, the world’s favourite International Air Hostess and Queen of the Sky, is back in the UK with a brand new show for 2015. Jet-setting in direct from sell-out tours in Europe, USA, Australia, and following a six week run at London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Pam Ann will arrive at Manchester’s Opera House later next month. Pam Ann is the comic creation of writer and comedian Caroline Reid. Together they sell out every stage they hit from New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Melbourne, Paris, Berlin and London, to name a few. In the UK, Pam Ann was the 4th best-selling female comedian of 2014 wedged between Dawn French and her long-time inspiration, Joan Rivers.

Review: Indy Man Beer Con

Written by Stanley Johnson on . Posted in News.

The Independent Manchester Beer Convention, or Indy Man Beer Con (IMBC), is the beer festival for those who aren’t so bothered about CAMRA, casks and beery heritage as well as those who would rather drink a third of a pint of extra-hoppy rhubarb IPA, brewed in a shed in the Peak District. Although there are some cask ales on sale for the orthodox drinker, the IMBC aims to showcase a more “progressive” side of beer.

Photo: Jack Pople

Last Thursday, I headed down to catch the convention’s first session at Manchester’s historic Victoria Baths—whose crumbling, Edwardian splendour is an unusual, but lovely place for sampling some deliciously tasty beer. The convention stretches across three main halls, and a warren of green-tiled rooms and hallways.

It was pretty bustling. My companions and I grabbed a table and got down to some beer tasting.

Photo: Jack Pople

I started off with a super tasty Black Widow Imperial Stout, from Ad Hop of Liverpool. Taste-wise, it’s a chocolate, coffee and malt explosion—dangerously drinkable at 9.3% ABV. The stouts and porters were out in force. Honourable mentions go to Ireland’s Galway Bay and their refreshing, crisp milk stout, Buried At Sea. And also, to Magic Rock of Huddersfield, and their Bearded Lady Stout (another boozy heavy hitter at 10.5% ABV), which had the smell of ripe apples—but upon tasting, it had a deliciously rich, but smooth coffee flavour, and a slight savoury finish.

The best kind of weird beer from that night, was the Tzatziki Sour from Merseyside’s Madhatter Brewery. It genuinely tasted like Tzatziki—a bit sour and yoghurty, with a definite cucumber edge. But somehow, it was still beer and it was absolutely delicious.

Less good, but also unusual, was the Ice Cream Pale (a collaboration by Buxton and Swedish craft brewers Omnipollo). Very pale, sweet with a vanilla finish, and a touch of creaminess. Sounds nice, but ultimately, it was a bit too sweet and tasted a bit too artificial, too.

Later, we went outside to grab some food from one of the many trucks and stalls which had been set up to feed the beery punters. It was all pretty expensive (£8 for pie and mash!). I didn’t go for anything more than a portion of chips, but my flatmate splashed out on a paneer kebab which looked tasty. Very generously, he let me try some, and I can indeed confirm that it tasted great.

If there was one thing I didn’t like about the IMBC, it was the pricing. Craft beer is more expensive, but IMBC prices are listed by the 1/3 pint. That’s not a bad thing, but there were very few beers for less than £1.50 a third. My maths GCSE tells me that’s £4.50 a pint! This might put a lot of these delicious brews out of the price range for many students.

Photo: Jack Pople

Finally, I ended the night in Manchester’s own Cloudwater Brew Co.—away from the main rooms, sipping on their crisp, refreshing and autumnal Red Ale (4.5%). By this point, the notes I was scrawling down were getting messy, so I decided to call it a night—it was last orders anyway.

Next year’s IMBC is on my calendar already. Maybe it’s not the cheapest place to drink. But the gorgeous venue, buzzing atmosphere and excellent selection of beers more than make up for it.

 

Stanley is a co-writer for specialbrewsmcr.com beer blog. Follow them on twitter @SpecialBrewsMCR

 

Correction: A previous version of this article referred to Ad Hop Brewery as Ad Hoc. This far wittier name has been amended within the article.

‘Purple and Proud’ – Women’s and Men’s rugby record stunning victories at Varsity 2015

Written by Toby Webb on . Posted in Sport.

The Varsity event was another successful evening for the University of Manchester’s rugby union teams. The Ladies recorded a spectacular 55-5 victory over Didsbury Ladies, while the Men’s team came through a tough match to beat the University of Sheffield 18-17.

The Ladies got the event off to a flyer, scoring four tries in just over 20 minutes, with Miguela Kerins and Georgina Palmer scoring once, and fullback Selena Lockyer scoring twice. Never looking like slowing down, the team ran in a further three tries before half-time. Palmer added to her tally, running down the wing to score. Emma Procter and Olivia Ball also got in on the action, Procter with a powerful run and finish and Ball completing a lovely backs move with a score. This resulted in the handsome half-time scoreline of 43-0.

The second half begin in similar fashion to the first, with Lisa Neumann handing off several players to score Manchester’s 8th try. However, the free scoring that characterised the first half did not carry over to the second and, for this, credit must be given to Didsbury Ladies for showing pride and competing, despite the score line being out of reach.

For a ten-minute period mid-second half, it was all Didsbury, stealing several line-outs and gradually building momentum through some Mancunian discipline. Towards 60 minutes, Manchester showed great determination to defend their try line, countering several waves of Didsbury pressure. Manchester eventually buckled and Didsbury scored, making the score 50-5 and thus avoiding an embarrassing whitewash.

Provoked by the Didsbury try, Manchester upped their game for the last 10 minutes. Manchester outside centre Olivia Ball put in a thumping tackle on 73 minutes, and finally, following several waves of quality backs play that couldn’t quite be finished off, Selena Lockyear went in at the corner to score Manchester’s 9th try. Ball, again, crossed the gain line, sucking in defenders, leaving space out wide for ball to go through the hands and Lockyear to score.

The match ended 55-5, with Megan Grant-Harris converting 5 of the 9 tries scored. The result was topped off by a celebration in front of the fans, with the team leading them in song. The Men had a lot to do to emulate the Ladies.

Manchester Ladies’ team vs Didsbury Ladies:

15. S Lockyer, 14. G Palmer (Capt), 13. O Ball, 12. M Kerins, 11. L Neumann, 10. M Grant-Harris, 9. O Westmacott; 1. R Haywood, 2. E Procter, 3. Z Childs Ford, 4. S Hodge, 5. G Forbes, 6. C Shilladay, 7. E Alexander, 8. L Muddiman.

Subs used: 16. N Wragg, 17. A Harris, 18. S Floyd, 29. J Pieri

SPORTManchester: The Women’s Team are all smiles

The Men’s game, while lacking the try-scoring, was an equally thrilling affair. The Manchester team were under the cosh from the beginning, Sheffield not fazed by the fervent varsity atmosphere. The away side showed great attacking flair; neat footwork and pace from the Sheffield fullback showed they were here to play. A Sheffield penalty in opposition territory resulted in a kick to the corner rather than an attempt at goal. This ambition was rewarded: the line-out resulted in another penalty, with a subsequent scrum, and on 9 minutes the Sheffield 14 finished a brilliantly-executed backs move in the corner. This took the score to 0-5.

Manchester looked nervy following the try, aware of the capability of the Sheffield team. James Carding converted a penalty in the 18th minute to claw back to 3-5, and yet, the home team found themselves immediately back under pressure again. The Sheffield back 3 were again causing havoc, making several line breaks. On 22, Sheffield scored again, this time utilising the weight advantage in the pack to cross the line with a rolling maul.

With the score at 3-10, and the Varsity crowd almost silent, Manchester had to respond. A Harry Wakefield interception try on 29 minutes was the answer. Wakefield anticipated the Sheffield pass, intercepted it, and showed a clean pair of heels, running nearly 40 metres to score. With score back to 8-10, both the team and the crowd were energised.

For next 10 minutes it was all Manchester, with Jack Smith the scrum-half marshalling his troops to continually get over the gain line. A knock-on close to the Sheffield line denied the home team a second try. The first half finished with the match delicately poised.

The second half began positively, Manchester putting together the phases, getting a rhythm to their game. They were awarded a penalty on the 47th minute, which was crucially missed. Sheffield, whose application and desire couldn’t be praised enough, again chose a deep line-out over a kick at goal. In similar fashion, they were rewarded for their intent, putting together a powerful maul which left the field open for the backs to run in another try. 8-17, Manchester had a mountain to climb.

A quick was response was vital, and this was achieved when Charlie Read, taking on the kicking duties, converted a penalty in the 57th minute to make it 11-17. 10 minutes later, the comeback was completed. Probing play from substitute Hanoba Etomi had resulted in good field position for the home side. A well-executed line out gave the foundation for a strong rolling maul, with Steve Bryne scoring. Read added the extras, making it 18-17 to Manchester.

The final 10 minutes were hectic, Manchester erring on the side of caution, playing conservative, territorial rugby.  This was teamed with some heroic rear-guard action, with several penalties being earnt in defence. The team were almost there, and could’ve sealed the victory in the 78th minute had Will Simmonds had the support following a line break. With the tension unbearable, the game going past 4 minutes of overtime, the victory was sealed. Hysteria ensued. The traditional pitch invasion was that extra bit sweeter following such a match.

Praise must go to Sheffield for showing such intent on an occasion when it would’ve been easy to submit. However, the ultimate praise must go to the home team for coming through adversity and recording a truly stunning victory.

Manchester Men’s team vs Sheffield:

15. J Edwards, 14. A Jones, 13. W Simmonds, 12. J Barton, 11. C Read, 10. J Carding, 9. J Smith; 1. H Wakefield, 2. J Mowatt, 3. F Kelly, 4. H Wooles, 5. E Matthews, 6. J Bruns, 7. W Harrison, 8. S Bryne.

Subs Used: Replacements: 16. W Sheridan, 17. A Saleh, 18. W Shephard, 20. Will Carter, 22. H Etomi.

Album: Le Butcherettes – A Raw Youth

Written by Madeleine Jones on . Posted in Music.

Released 18th of September via Ipecac Records

8/10

It’s only been a year since Le Butcherettes’ last album, Cry Is For The Flies, was released. During that time the band, led by Teri Suarez a.k.a. Teri Gender Bender, have been constantly touring with the likes of The Melvins and Antemasque, as well as writing and recording their third album A Raw Youth, produced by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez.

Upon the album’s release, Teri told Noisey that it was an “ode to rebels” and that much of the inspiration for this album—and the band in general—finds its roots in the history of Mexican culture. Le Butcherettes have also seen a change in aesthetic—they are now dressed head to toe in red, to replace Teri’s former onstage image of being covered in fake blood and raw meat (a statement on the treatment of women in society).

A Raw Youth kicks off with the band’s signature garage-punk sound in ‘Shave The Pride’. This song feels like the musical equivalent of having a shot in your arm and is a basic rallying call of “wake up, look around, and do something”. This head on approach continues with ‘Mallely’ and ‘Reason To Die Young’, which sees the band firmly in arena-rock territory. Things slow down when the album reaches fourth track ‘La Uva’ (‘Grape’ in English) with Iggy Pop, in which he sounds like some kind of monster from a fairy tale over a clumsy but entrancing psychedelic backdrop.

Teri explained the subject matter in ‘Sold Less Than Gold’ in the album’s press release, stating it “reflects the story of women who are sold into marriages or into sex slavery and how resilient their spirits are.” She told MTV News this inspiration came from her visiting Iran and meeting women that were “blacklisted for being widows or single mothers.” It’s a delicate topic to be dealing with and runs the risk of generalising and stereotyping certain women. Doubly controversial is that Teri takes on the perspective of one of these women, deliberately singing in a somewhat tired and weak voice. Isn’t this song meant to be portraying these women as resilient?

‘Stab My Back’ is easily the grooviest and most addictive track on the album with a punchy, explosive chorus. “Stab my back when I’m my strongest/your steel knife’s gonna make no red settle down,” Teri sings sultrily over a beat so hypnotic that you never want it to end. But unfortunately it does end quite abruptly and ‘They Fuck You Over’ is shoved in your face before you have time to let the previous track sink in. It’s another straightforward garage-punk with a direct no-bullshit message. Teri’s distorted, screechy vocals in the chorus are simply brilliant. “Come fuck me over!” she dares to whoever “they” is—presumably the powers that be.

‘Witchless C Spot’ echoes back to the power-rock vibe at the beginning of the album but its quiet, tense verses juxtaposed with a loud, dynamic chorus makes for a very satisfying song. Things get delightfully weird again with ‘The Hitch Hiker’, which tells the story of a female hitch-hiker being picked up by a male driver with intentions to take advantage of her and kill her. Teri’s voices alternates between the two characters, making for a fun song which perhaps distracts from its serious storyline.

‘Lonely & Drunk’ has a disjointed and somewhat ugly feel. But I can only assume that this reflects the subject matter of lost, lonely and drunk writers, who Teri has always credited as an influence, most notably on debut Sin Sin Sin (2011). ‘Oil The Shoe If The Critter Knew Any Better’ taps back into her playful vocals and jumpy keyboard. It’s one of the more lyrically ambiguous tracks with one hell of a catchy chorus designed to get crowds belting it out with their fists up. End track ‘My Half’ featuring John Frusciante is a decent enough song but not much of a closer, although there doesn’t seem to be any other place for it on the album, so perhaps it should have been left for an EP or B-side.

Le Butcherettes are still the same eccentric, challenging, noisy in-your-face band. But now they sound more layered, more ready to conquer and more curious about the outer world as opposed to just the inside of Teri’s head. They remain uncompromising, and downright strange—what’s especially great is that all the same elements of their bizarreness are there on every record, but in a new and exciting way.

I’m not sure this album would be considered an “ode to rebels” in everyone’s eyes, but that’s not the point. Teri has made her statement about certain power structures that exist in all societies and I struggle to think of many artists in a similar league to her. Le Butcherettes have once again proved themselves to be one of the most inventive and intriguing bands around—and not to mention having one of the best band names in the business.

BEST TRACKS: ‘Stab My Back’, ‘They Fuck You Over’, ‘Shave The Pride’, ‘Witchless C Spot’, ‘Oil The Shoe If Critter Knew Any Better’, ‘La Uva’

The art of telling a story through tea

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in News.

On the 28th of September, I had the honour of being invited to Bernadine Tay’s exclusive Quinteassential tasting event, where ingTEAdients had been sourced from all around the world and collected, to adorn the shrine that was the tea blending station set up in The Wyvern Room of The Midland Hotel, Manchester.

As I arrived, expecting to be greeted by a room full of old ladies drinking English breakfast, I was delighted to see a small table in the centre of the suite that was laid out exclusively for six loose-leaf drinkers, bloggers, and food writers. Each place had a mysterious envelope on its table mat, marked with the guest’s name.

As our intrigue grew, Bernadine introduced herself as creator of Quinteassential, the passion in front (in no way does she take a back seat) of the brand and its design.

Bernadine went on to explain how she loved to drink tea from a young age, with her Mother steeping black tea and oranges in a tin kettle, while her family sat around for cakes and conversation. As she travelled, Bernadine noticed the almost ritual-like practice of tea that was present all over the world.

Each place to which she ventured had its own unique way of brewing, flavouring and serving the beverage as a means of lubricating the vocal chords and creating smooth, flowing conversation. Holiday gifts would come as hot-red Rooibos from Africa; smokey Lapsang Souchong from China, and musky floral Oolong from India.

Passing around the various boxes for us to view and smell, we all eagerly awaited the revelation of the connection between our envelopes and the blending table. Introductions over, Bernadine divulged: “The moment you’ve all been waiting for; you can open your envelopes.”

Now, before the event, every attendant had received an email from qtea’s Cassie & Amy, asking for a little bit about their personality, including one word in a tweet and a few facts. I had replied with the description that ‘I always like to try something new, am creative, friendly, warm and open-minded’;  with the word ‘enthusiastic’; and that I was studying at university. I didn’t think anything of this question, until it all clicked into place when I opened my envelope.

Bernadine had designed individual tea recipes for each of the attendants at her event based on the information that we had given her. She had thoughtfully taken the time to predict our respective personaliTEAs.

I couldn’t believe how accurate Bernadine’s concoction was from this brief sum up of my character. The tea recipe in my envelope sounded magical, and I loved that it was also open to interpretation, meaning that I could try a little bit of everything from the blending table. It was like a dream come true: potions class but with tea and without Professor Snape.

 

“FUN”

“For nights of midnight oil burning, partying yet still staying fit, Ellie’s blend is healthy and fun. South African Rooibos, fennel seeds, pomegranate seeds and a spray of flowers is a blend that is hydrating and bursting with antioxidants.

Caffeine-free and calming, Ellie’s blend is beautiful hot or cold, and one that is made for sharing.

____________________________________

RECIPE

A scoop:

Rooibos with hint of Seville Orange

A sprinkle:

Fennel seeds

Pomegranate seeds

Heather flowers

Red safflowers

Amaranth flowers

Sugar stars

 

I followed the recipe and surely enough, before I had even mixed it, it cast a spell on me. I was overcome with elation, asking tireless questions about the history of tea, the origin of the mint leaves—what were safflowers? Was this blending table available to purchase?

Being urged to shake my blend so that the components could infuse, I rotated my jar like an hourglass full of sand, watching the multicoloured grains combine and intersperse to form a beautiful new compound.

We were advised to wait a few days before trying our teas, so that the flavours would have time to brew in their transparent cauldrons.

Meanwhile, we sat down to enjoy an exclusive afternoon tea laid out by The Midland Hotel, which consisted of traditional cucumber sandwiches, warm sultana and plain baked scones, various cake selections and the modern twist of Vimto jelly with a vanilla panna cotta lid.

This was served, instead of on the customary three-tier plate tower, on an abstract wooden structure that did, admittedly, look a little like an upturned drawer. Manager James will be pained to see that description, but it honestly adds to the charm of the re-styled English convention.

The chocolate-orange Opera cake was smooth and soft, with its fine layers of alternating sponge and buttercream topped with a rich ganache that was almost mirror-like in surface. This stood alongside a perfectly moist square of cinnamon carrot cake, the infusion of warming spices making contrast to the sweet and tangy cream-cheese frosting. The scones were kept warm and snug inside a blanket of thick cotton cloth, which made the butter melt and sink pleasingly into the depths of the cakey bread.

Alongside the food, I drank an accompanying Quinteassential loose leaf brew: British Mint and Caramel. This twist on a classic brings me to the description of the products themselves.

It was in 2010 that Bernadine became inspired to nurture her passion for exploration and taste to form her own brand, one which would encompass all ranges of tea from the finest gardens around the world: Quinteassential.

Not only does the product itself taste incredible, but it is also clear that the designers understand the relation of taste to all the senses; sight, sound, smell, and touch.

The boxes are beautifully designed to illustrate the colours that correspond with each tea. For example the ‘Jewel of Africa’, that takes rich rubies, golds and ambers to reflect the resplendent moment in the evening sky when the sun meets the horizon.

The back of the product comes complete with an individual QR-code that when scanned plays a piece of music designed to conjure images of the Serengeti plains; its melody lasts for the exact time that it takes for the tea to brew.

Redcurrants, rooibos and sandalwood make up the aroma of this tea, and the earthy scents evoke the atmosphere of a warm Saharan night, with fire in the air and life bursting in its midst.

Even the packaging is tailored with the luxury experience in mind. Like a drawer to its dresser, the box slides over its base to create that inexplicable pleasure that comes from a perfect fit.

It was so enlightening to hear someone speak with the same passion and excitement about travel, sound, senses and smells to that that I am normally met with a raised eyebrow when unleashing. This day left me feeling invigorated, with a renewed sense of love not just for tea, but for flavour combinations and the relation of food and taste to happiness and the soul.

The brand does everything with finesse and accuracy, making a polished product that I am proud to have had the honour of viewing so exclusively.

Like when Bernadine said, “when I work at The Midland, I’ll know I’ve made it,” I concur, but for Quinteassential.

 

Accompanying music: Feist: The Reminder

Use the code “Quintea” to get 15 pe cent off

quinteassential.co.uk

Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ to hold open auditions in Manchester

Written by Elise Gallagher on . Posted in Theatre.

Disney’s award-winning musical ‘The Lion King’ is due to be holding open auditions in Manchester for roles in the West End production that is celebrating 16 triumphant years at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Auditions for male/female singers and dancers will be taking place on Sunday the 1st of November at The Dancehouse Theatre, Oxford Road. Morning registration is at 10am and it is advised that auditionees arrive early. The afternoon registration is at 1:30pm.

Now in its 16th successful year at London’s Lyceum Theatre, ‘The Lion King’ has been viewed by more than 80 million people across six continents. Since the UK premiere in London on Tuesday the 19th of October 1999, ‘The Lion King’ has entertained over 12 million theatre-goers, and remains the West End’s best-selling stage production. It also recently became the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time. Nine productions are concurrently running across the globe.

Disney’s casting team are looking for male and female singers with strong soulful or gospel style voices who also have good movement skills. Singers should be of excellent ability and be able to dance well in order to make up the ensemble. The casting team is also looking for strong dancers with a modern dance background; any acrobatic skills are keenly desired. Performers of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds are strongly encouraged to attend.

Singers should be prepared to sing a contemporary pop or rock song and should bring the sheet music. There will be no backing tracks; however, a pianist will be provided. Dancers must be warmed up and ready to dance in jazz shoes or bare feet. Dancers may also be asked to sing and should therefore prepare one rock or pop song that showcases their voice and vocal range.

Open auditions will also be held in Birmingham (31st of October) and London (singers on 7th of November and dancers on 21st of November). Attendees must be 18 years or older and must be eligible to work in the UK. All hopefuls must be prepared to stay all day and should bring a copy of their CV with a photograph stapled to it.

For more information see here.

Vegetarianism in our meat-orientated culture

Written by Georgia Welch on . Posted in News.

As someone who has previously consumed meat on a regular basis, the process of going veggie in our meat-orientated society was testing. Not only is the transition of cutting out meat difficult, but concocting vegetarian recipes that are convenient, healthy and tasty can be a challenge—particularly when you’re a busy student on a budget.

Over the summer I gradually phased meat out of my diet, to the point of total vegetarianism. So far, the process has been rewarding, but certainly not without its difficulties. As any student reading this can relate to, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Keeping on top of your studies, carrying out household chores, exercising, socialising with friends, having time to yourself and preparing a satisfying meal from scratch is no mean feat.

It’s a common stereotype that students live on takeaways and convenience food, their culinary skills barely surpassing the ability to boil pasta—yet this definitely isn’t always the case. I, for one, relish the satisfaction of cooking a delicious meal for myself and friends, but often struggle with finding the time and patience to do so.

In my pledge to become vegetarian, I have found that the secret to success is in planning ahead. Cooking meals in bulk and freezing them means I spend less time in the kitchen and don’t find myself settling for convenience food too often. And leftovers can go in the freezer, so I waste less food, too.

One of the biggest struggles of becoming a vegetarian is the scepticism you will likely encounter from friends and family. It doesn’t take long before you grow weary of people donning their pseudo-nutritionist hats, telling you how hard it will be to consume enough protein and iron as a vegetarian. But believe it or not, it is possible to eat a balanced diet as a vegetarian and get all the right nutrients. Beans, eggs, cheese, lentils and yoghurt are all high in protein, and are just as readily available as meat. So take that, cynics!

“But we were designed to eat meat!” is another argument I’ve been faced with. Vegetarianism might not be for everyone, but assuming that everyone should eat meat because “it’s natural” is a poor argument to oppose vegetarianism. Why should what is considered natural outweigh personal values?

Despite the adjustments I’ve had to make to my diet during the process of cutting out meat, I really haven’t missed it as much as I imagined I would. Not only do I feel healthier, but I’ve also become increasingly more creative in the kitchen now that I’ve been experimenting with meat-free dishes. If you’re thinking of going vegetarian, or even just fancy the idea of trying it out, I’d highly recommend it. I’m sure you’ll find it far easier than you first anticipated, just as I did.

The Problem with the NFL

Written by James Lack on . Posted in Sport.

Last Sunday, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady made his 213th appearance in the NFL against the Dallas Cowboys in Texas. Two weeks before, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Brady threw his 400th career touchdown pass to Danny Amendola to give the Patriots a 19-3 lead, and became only the fourth player in NFL history to reach this milestone (they went on to beat the Jaguars 51-17). While this historic moment was widely celebrated by NFL fans worldwide, it is worth bearing in mind that Brady wasn’t meant to start this game, nor the two preceding it, nor in Dallas.

Roger Goodell, Commissioner for the NFL, gave Brady a four-game suspension, along with a $1 million fine for the New England Patriots, and the loss of two draft picks, in the aftermath of the Deflategate scandal, where it was found that the Patriots were playing with balls below regulation pressure in their 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in January, to win the AFC championship game and take them to Superbowl 49. Brady’s suspension was awarded on the grounds that there was “substantial and credible evidence to conclude” that he was “at least generally aware of the actions of the Patriots’ employees involved in the deflation of the footballs.”

This seems a vastly excessive punishment when you consider that just two weeks before, Dallas Cowboys Defensive End Greg Hardy received the same suspension after being criminally convicted of domestic violence, with his charges including strangulation, physical abuse, and death threats toward an ex-girlfriend. Brady’s own conviction was only later overturned—after multiple appeals—in federal court by senior judge Richard M. Berman, and even then it was only on the grounds that the original trial lacked “fair due process.” Berman declared that the NFL’s campaign against Brady lacked “fundamental fairness” and “evident impartiality.”

In other words, the NFL was out to get him. And it’s easy to see why. After the scandal, Brady and the Patriots were very unpopular, with fans worldwide vying for their blood; as far as they were concerned, the Patriots had cheated, and they deserved to be duly reprimanded. The trouble is, the NFL isn’t just a governing body, it’s a franchise, and its commercial success is dependent upon support from its fans. Failure to properly convict Brady would’ve likely seen a drop in revenue, representing a poor business decision by Goodell. So right from the start, NFL’s board of conviction had a vested interest in the outcome of the trial, making for hardly a fair conviction.

The fact that any NFL hearing is less of a trial and more of a business meeting all but defeats the purpose of any disciplinary action—the board stands not to uphold decent behaviour, strict morals, and the creation of good role models for the numerous young people who follow the sport, but to make the most commercially-savvy moves that it can, regardless of what it has to do with fairness. Many players convicted of assault, DUI, domestic abuse or theft receive limp-wristed, token suspensions of just one or two games, simply because of the lack of any real disciplinary board.

September 2015 marked the first full calendar month in which an NFL player hasn’t been arrested in more than six years. The poor behaviour regularly demonstrated throughout the league is symptomatic of a sport in need of an upheaval. Until discipline and good personal conduct become a priority over results, and more to the point, money, the NFL will remain a league with a very real problem.

Depression in sport: Defeating the stigma

Written by Will Kelly on . Posted in Sport.

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was one of the great England all-rounders in cricket, and one of the outstanding players of the dramatic 2005 Ashes win against Australia. Before the 2005 Ashes, Flntoff’s bat provider (Woodworm), were on the brink of liquidation. It speaks volumes that after his performances in the series, Woodworm were saved by the fact that everyone wanted a replica of Freddie’s bat. Sales soared as every kid in the country wanted to be the next Andrew Flintoff.

Throughout his England years, Flintoff fell foul of the tabloid newspapers in regards to alcohol and battles to control his weight. People thought he was an idiot who was throwing away his career. The press slated him.

A few years ago, Flintoff led a BBC documentary exploring depression in sport. He had battled depression throughout his career and developed a severe dependency on alcohol. In the program, Flintoff spoke to many sporting heroes, who know all too well the struggles of depression, such as football hard man Vinnie Jones, England Cricket teammate Steve Harmison, boxer Barry McGuigan, and Neil Lennon amongst others.

Flintoff described the negative experiences he had with the tabloid papers at his lowest point for the very first time. The hurt that no one seemed capable of understanding what he was going through. Or simply refused. The documentary brought a rather interesting conversation with former tabloid editor, Piers Morgan. Flintoff began by asking if the media reported sport responsibly, to which Morgan replied rather bluntly “No, not really”. Sports journalists in his eyes do not think about the consequences of their stories on others: “sport is visceral, it’s raw, it’s live, it’s dangerous, it’s exciting, the rewards are massive and the downside is you occasionally get a headline you don’t like”.

One must think that this is the media in a nutshell, but it was Morgan’s comments on depression that were rather haunting. Commenting on depression in sport, Morgan stated that “if you’re called to play for your country at sport, then it’s such an incredible privilege and honour that to actually claim to be depressed because you’re having to stay in a five star hotel while you’re playing cricket for England to me seemed ridiculous”. When it implied that he couldn’t possibly be depressed, Flintoff asked “clinically you cannot be depressed?”, forcing Morgan to admit he “couldn’t grasp it”.

The ignorance showed by Morgan is appalling, but unfortunately, he is not alone in this view. My criticism does not lie in the media, but rather the lack of knowledge that people have about depression. That is the most painful thing that haunts people suffering with depression. For Clarke Carlisle, the former footballer who attempted suicide in 2014, many sportsmen and sportswomen worry about “losing pride” if they discuss their mental health, or that it will have a “negative effect” on their prospects, because many do not understand what they are going through.

Fast forward from Piers Morgan’s interview, the football world was sent into shock when Robert Enke, the German International Goalkeeper who was going to be going to the World Cup in South Africa, committed suicide. Enke had been battling depression for six years when he stepped in front of a train near Hannover in 2009. He had struggled to overcome the death of his daughter Lara, who died at the age of two in 2006 of a rare heart condition.

Enke’s widow, Teresa Enke, believed that he also had difficulty coping with the intense scrutiny of professional football. “Pressure can become a sickness. Being part of the national team also had a big effect, always being in the public eye both negatively and positively. It really got to him”.

The writer Ronald Reng, who was a friend of Enke’s and took on the task of recounting his story in the exceptional book, A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke, spoke of how Enke hid his depression because of his role as a goalkeeper: “In our achievement-oriented society a goalkeeper, the last bastion in defense, can’t be a depressive. So Robert summoned up a huge amount of strength to keep his depression secret. He locked himself away in his illness.”

Reng added: “The last wish Robert had was to write this book. At least there is an understanding of what someone suffering depression goes through. Through Robert’s death, there is in Germany a higher understanding that this is an illness, and that people need help.”

Recently, a Fifpro survey indicated that depression in football is widespread. 38% of 607 players interviewed reported symptoms at some stage, especially those who had suffered serious injuries. Former professional footballers reported more mental health problems than current players. Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge, the Fifpro Chief Medical Officer in charge of the survey, said professional football is littered with psychological pitfalls for the players. “Once the players stop with intensive physical activities they lose their structured life, their social support by trainers and team mates diminishes, they need to find their place in ‘regular’ society, and find another occupation. Consequently, they are likely to experience some mental health problems during this period.”

Perhaps with this recent survey, it reveals the impact that Enke’s death has had. Certainly this is the view of his widow, Teresa, who has spoken of how people are “a lot more open about depression”.

Dr. Gouttebarge has made a rallying call to football, that everyone has the “collective responsibility to remove the stigma associated with mental illness. All players, whether active or retired, can learn optimal behaviours and coping skills to manage the symptoms of mental illness”.

It is not only in sport that we need to remove the stigma associated with mental illness, but also in society itself. When Clarke Carlise attempted suicide by driving into a lorry, I could not believe some of the comments that I was reading on facebook. “He’s been selfish. He should have found a nice attic to hang himself.” Are people prepared to simply let others give up? We need to move forward and encourage people to acknowledge their symptoms, to act upon them and take a step in the right direction towards recovery. With further support to people and their families, we will hopefully begin to understand further why depression occurs, and take an important step towards prevention.

Hard times for the kings of European football

Written by Davide Cappelli on . Posted in Sport.

They might still have their crowns, but they have lost their thrones. The kings we’re talking about are the crowned champions in three of European football’s biggest realms—England, Italy and Spain—where this year there has been an unexpected change in hierarchy. Despite clearly winning their respective championships last year, and being the undisputed favourites going into this season, the three kings – Chelsea, Juventus and Barcelona—have faced a turbulent start to their seasons, which has caused them to fall, perhaps only temporarily, from their thrones. Two months into the season, and ahead of the international break, it’s time to sum up what has happened to these kings without thrones.

Feeling Blue(s)

Let’s start with Chelsea, whose fall is probably the most painful among the three. The Blues have collected just eight points in eight matches (same as first-time promotees Bournemouth), and, rather than challenging for first place with Arsenal and the Manchester clubs, they are now trying to escape from the relegation zone, which is just one spot below them. Last week’s home defeat against Southampton was the fourth of the season for the Blues, who, in the whole 2014/15 campaign, just suffered three KOs in total.

What happened to Mourinho’s army? Fragility is probably the right word to describe the ongoing saga at Stamford Bridge. Not only from a defensive point of view (the “bus” has broken), but also in terms of mentality, since many players have lost their confidence, such as 2014-15 PFA’s player of the year Eden Hazard and assist man Cesc Fàbregas. The only person who hasn’t lost his self-belief is José Mourinho, who, despite the poor performances from his team and the controversial management of the Eva Carneiro episode, said after the game with Saints: “If Chelsea sack me, they sack the best manager this club has ever had.”

Poor Old Lady

The “Chelsea phenomenon” is not an isolated case. Let’s take a plane and fly to Turin, Italy, the home of Juventus FC. The “Bianconeri” experienced an almost perfect season last year, winning the “Scudetto” (their fourth in a row), the Italian Cup and reaching the UEFA Champions League final. Therefore, nobody would have expected a poor campaign this year from the Italian kings.

However, summer departures of Massimiliano Allegri’s side’s spine—Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez—have caused the Old Lady to have a terrible start. Just two victories in the first seven matches (the first at Juventus Stadium arrived just last weekend against newly promoted Bologna).

Meanwhile, Fiorentina—who, under new coach Paulo Sousa, have managed to win six of their first seven encounters—have surprisingly reclaimed the throne of Serie A after 16 years of waiting. Despite the situation for Allegri’s team being darker than anyone could have expected (ten points off the top), some signs of light are starting to appear: Juventus’ new signings, such as Argentinian sensation Paulo Dybala, Germany international Sami Khedira and striker Mario Mandzukic, have started to contribute significantly to the team. The “Bianconeri” are also top of their Champions League group, having beaten Manchester City at the Etihad, and Sevilla at home, in the first two matches of the competition.

Leading Yellow Submarine

Sevilla link us to the third fallen lord of our journey. Neither treble winners Barcelona, nor Real Madrid, and not even Atletico Madrid are top of the table in Spain. Indeed, a “Yellow Submarine” is leading La Liga.

The reference is not to the Beatles’ song, but with Villareal CF, who are nicknamed the Yellow Submarine (“El Submarino Amarillo” in Spanish), because of the team’s full yellow kit. What makes this story even more special is that Marcelino’s team only managed promotion to La Liga three years ago, after experiencing a disastrous season in 2012. Five consecutive victories, including defeats of Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid, have surprisingly pushed them to the throne of the Spanish championship.

Barcelona have been through some difficult weeks, with two defeats in the last three matches. The main problem for Luis Enrique’s boys is the absence of their number ten, Lionel Messi, who has been ruled out since the end of September because of a knee injury. Captain Iniesta is also sidelined.

However, the mission to reclaim their throne might seem more achievable for the Blaugrana given their wealth of talent and tactical abilities than it could prove to be for the other two, Chelsea and Juventus.

Currently, Villareal are only one point ahead.

The battle for the title is still long, but, if it keeps surprising us, fans should be prepared to enjoy a fantastic rest of the year. And who knows, perhaps some new kings will be crowned.

Sport in the City: The 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

Written by Adam Selby on . Posted in Sport.

Over the course of the academic year, as well as paying close attention to, and prioritising the progress and successes of, our university’s very own societies, teams and campus sports, let our new Sport in the City feature tempt you into a very different sporting day out. Whether it’s a new sport, a team about whom you did not know, or just an event that interests us, we hope that we will be able to entice you to explore the wide sporting variety that the city has to offer during your time studying at the University of Manchester.

In the spotlight this week: The 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

Well… what is it?

If a visit to Hyde United to view some non-league football or a trip to the National Cycling Centre to watch some BMX cycling wasn’t quite your thing, maybe my third instalment of Sport in the City might just be the kick you need to venture out and watch some local sporting activity. There is no specific art to getting out of bed, and it surely wouldn’t take much to marshal your flatmates to turn off Netflix, get their shoes on and make this weekend different to any other spent chilling in Manchester.

Between Friday 16th and Sunday 18th October, Manchester opens its arms and welcomes to the city the biggest event in the Taekwondo calendar: The 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix. Recognised as an Olympic sport since the year 2000, Taekwondo is a Korean martial art form that was developed during the 1940/50s, blending indigenous fighting forms such as taekkyeon, gwonbeop, and subak with an influence from foreign martial arts, too. The sport has since developed to become one of the most popular and widely-practiced martial art forms in the world, with some of the finest fighters in the field flocking to Manchester for this prestigious event.

How do I get there?

The Grand Prix will take place at the Etihad Campus at the Manchester Regional Arena, which is exactly two miles away from the student union. Therefore, from Manchester Piccadilly Gardens, there are several options of public transport that you can use to get to and from the Etihad Campus safely. With this event, I would advise the Metrolink tram service from Manchester Piccadilly, with fast and frequent services running on a regular basis. However if you’ve forked out for a UniRider, or simply just prefer to catch the bus from the city centre, the 216 and 231 services saunter directly to the Etihad Campus, again on a frequent basis. Please, however, do plan extra time for your journey, given that Manchester City, who are also based at the Etihad Campus, are at home on Saturday the 17th of October.

But how much does it cost to get in?

Sadly it appears that concessionary tickets are not for sale for this event, but given that the crème de la crème of the Taekwondo world are performing, we do not think that adult tickets priced from £10 upwards will leave a noticeable dent in your student loan. Standard adult tickets are available at £10 for Session One on the Saturday afternoon, with other sessions available and costing marginally more with standard seating. Group and weekend passes are also available, with a full price listed on the official event website here.

What are the facilities like? 

Housed next to the 55,000 seater Etihad Stadium, the Manchester Regional Arena has been developed and modified since its original use in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. As well the indoor athletics hall and modern sporting facilities where the Grand Prix will be held, the outdoor stadium attached to the venue is regularly used by local schools and societies for both educational and community events. The stadium itself, which holds up to 6,500 spectators, was previously the former home of the Manchester City reserve football team shortly after it was altered from its original state as the official warm up track for the 2002 games.

Tell me something I didn’t already know…

Unless you’re an active follower of competitions and events in the Taekwondo calendar, or perhaps somebody with an interest in the sport, it’s highly likely that there is very little you do actually know about the sport (myself included). Therefore it’s worth noting that at the upcoming Grand Prix, there will be at least 8 different Olympic gold-medal-winning individuals competing, including two time Olympic Champion Steven Lopez of the USA and British athlete Jade Jones, who reigned supreme in London 2012, winning the gold medal in the 57kg division. With regards to a wider view of the sport, the World Taekwondo Foundation are unable to say where in the world the sport is at its most popular, but suggest that there is a high demand for the sport in Iran, Mexico, Canada, China, USA, the United Kingdom and of course Korea.

Finally, when can I see this in action?

The 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix takes place between Friday the 16th and Sunday the 18th of October from 9am – 10pm on both Friday and Saturday and until 8pm on the final day of action. For more information please visit: http://taekwondogp.com

If you have any requests for local teams, sports or events taking place in Manchester, or if you wish to be involved, please contact: [email protected].

Dark lipstick: Purple is the new black

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

Wearing dark lipstick shouldn’t be reserved for just Hallowe’en; you can rock dark colours no matter your skin tone. Don’t be scared—dark doesn’t have to mean black! We have some great lipstick picks that you can show off this Hallowe’en.

First up, we’ve got Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in ‘Va Va Violet’.

Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in ‘Va Va Violet’
Photo: Superdrug

This is a great all-nighter lipstick, so you won’t have to worry about topping up too much. This lipstick is perfect for darker skin tones, paired with some gentle contouring and simple eye make-up.

You can grab this for just £7.99 in Superdrug, and with 3 for 2 on lipsticks, why not jump on the lippy bandwagon?

TOP TIP: To check how a lipstick colour will look on you, use the skin in between your thumb and palm to test. This will be a closer match to your face than using the back of your hand.

 

Next up is Mac’s Heroine Lipstick.

MAC’s Heroine
Photo: Selfridges

This is fab for that extra oomph in your autumn makeup, with the purple shade especially matching with pale tones. This dark lipstick can speak for itself; just a few coats of mascara will be more than enough of a supporting act for this number.

Get down to Selfridges and grab this must-have for just £15.50.

TOP TIP: Try outlining the Cupid’s bow with a white lip liner to add ‘two tone’ to your lips.

 

Barry M’s Burgundy Lip Stain is a great date choice.

Barry M’s Burgundy Lip Stain
Photo: Boots

Have as many drinks as you like and not worry about your lippy disappearing. This pick is great for people with dark eyes, to further unleash the colour. Team up with burgundy nails and you’re good to go.

At only £4.49 from Boots, you can’t deny it’s an essential this season.

Treat yourself to both the nail colour and lipstick for £7.00 with Boots offers.

TOP TIP: Why not try using a slightly darker lip liner to accentuate your lips.

 

Our next contender, Rimmel Kate Lipstick in ‘107’, is great for most skin tones.

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in ‘107’
Photo: Superdrug

It is the perfect shade and formula for all year round. Try to mix this up by experimenting with different lip pencils for fill-in and outline. For a stand-out dark lip, try a dark purple outline filled in with this dark red.

A great buy for a superb look at only £5.49 from Superdrug.

TOP TIP: Make sure you blot glossier lipsticks so you don’t get unnecessary shine.

 

And finally, how could we do Hallowe’en right without the classic Black – Barry M’s Lip Paint in ‘Black’.

Barry M
Photo: Superdrug

Even if it’s just for one night, use Hallowe’en as an excuse to whack out those dark smackers.

Experimenting seems reasonable for only £4.49 from Superdrug. Barry M’s Lip Paint in ‘Black’ is a unique addition to your makeup box.

TOP TIP: Always outline and fill in the lips with lip liner to make a dark colour last for longer.

Manchester Students’ Union adopts the Living Wage

Written by Jack Howell on . Posted in News.

All employees and contracted staff at the University of Manchester’s Students’ Union will now be paid a minimum of £7.85 an hour, a measure which means the Union is now a Living Wage Foundation accredited employer.

In accordance with government policy, the move also includes provisions that pay will continue to increase annually alongside the cost of living.

The measure was pushed through following an extensive and long-running campaign, and has again raised questions about the wage policies of the university.

The University of Manchester Living Wage Campaign said: “We are thrilled that the Student’s Union has now become officially accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, enshrining the rights of its workers to a living wage now and in the future.

“As one of the biggest employers in Manchester, we hope the university will follow suit, in line with its aims of social responsibility.”

The campaign has been pressuring for this change for some time.

Headlines were made and university chiefs were slammed last year after it had emerged that catering staff were being paid through a backdoor subsidy which allowed them to be paid less than the living wage. 217 of this subsidy’s 500 employees were working on zero-hours contracts, with 262 being paid less than the enhanced rate.

The university had promised that all of their employees would be paid the living wage in 2012, and the paycheques of top officials had risen by some 20 per cent by 2014.

University chiefs responded to the criticism by arguing that although workers employed directly by the university are paid the living wage, greater flexibility was needed for catering staff.

Campaigns and Citizenship Officer Hannah McCarthy praised the fact that the move came as a result of student-organised pressure, saying “this seals an extra layer of protection for permanent, temporary, casual and student staff—and represents a step forward in combatting the unjust and endemic rates of poverty pay in Britain today.

“While this is a great achievement in symbolising what students can achieve through organising, the work doesn’t stop here. As Campaigns Officer, I’ll be working tirelessly throughout the year to empower students and workers to be able to fight for better pay and working conditions across campus and the local community.”

The decision by the Students’ Union to pay all of its members the living wage has been estimated to add £80,000 to the organisation’s annual bill.

Both the University of Salford and the University of Bolton are Living Wage Foundation accredited.

UoM Careers Service: A critique

Written by Anon on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Take a quick visit to the Tin Can (otherwise known as University Place or ‘the giant bog roll’) and you’ll find it hard to miss the university’s proud adverts. The ones insisting that, if you book an appointment with the Careers service, you’ll probably walk out with a £30,000 a year salary and the keys to a company car (maybe a white Lexus?); and to be fair, if you think you’re likely to get a 2:2 in your sports management degree, they’re your people.

One quick glance at your degree subject and the results of an ‘online skills test’, and they’ll ascertain that, indeed, you’re destined for… you guessed it… Sports Management.

They can read you like a book.

Unfortunately, if your degree involves actually reading the odd book, you might not be so lucky. My experience of visiting the Careers Service as a Humanities student is markedly different from that described above (how I yearn for sports management). I walked in armed with a laptop, my ‘online skills test’ results, and even a mind map of all the things I did and didn’t want to do for a career.

“Right,” said the careers advisor, “so you don’t want to be a teacher or a journalist. How about advertising?” My heart sank. I’m no Don Draper. “How about working in Heritage?” Again, I’m not being some bloody boring museum curator. “Okay, I know you said you weren’t interested in this… but how about journalism?” I grimaced and thought about getting up and leaving right then and there. I may as well have done.

Their insistence on journalism (“because you write essays”) has, admittedly, led me to get back into writing for The Mancunion, something I had previously dismissed (after an enthusiastic spell for the Music section in first year) as ‘pointless’ if you don’t have your heart set on becoming Editor-in-chief of The Times. However, despite reminding me that even writing the odd piece for the Lifestyle section can be entertaining on a wet Thursday morning when you’re meant to be in a seminar about Erotic Poetry, it hasn’t been all that helpful—just sent me off on a tangent.

It’s at this stage that I think it’s important to point out that there are many merits to the Careers Service at this university. They’re highly organised, have a huge amount of resources such as the skills test I mentioned above and can point you to their own version of Milkround, where you’re most likely going to find a graduate scheme that suits you (unless you’re a belligerent Humanities student like me).

They’re also based in The Atrium, that great expanse of space in the middle of University Place, which is a haven if you’re sick of the Library/Ali G and just want a quiet place to do some work in for a while. Admittedly, once they realise you’re not waiting for an appointment, they’ll kick you out, but you can probably bag a good two hours in that lovely peaceful waiting room before that.

They also run an abundance of careers fairs and organise visits from representatives of the big names in each industry. It’s great that they’re doing this, and doing it so much, but I remember one gloomy Friday afternoon sitting in a Careers talk given from an advertising representative who clearly didn’t want to be there. As much as I hope this isn’t the case for all of the events that they run, who on earth would want to essentially recite their job description to a bunch of students, before being shot down with unnecessarily aggressive and unrealistically difficult questions about their industry?

I hate to rubbish a service run by the university, because it’s stuff like this that we’re all paying (read: the government is paying) £9,000 a year for. However, for all the plush waiting areas and internship search engines, where it’s seemingly as easy as typing your degree into a box and choosing your lifelong profession from the results, the Careers Service could probably be a little more personal, perhaps a bit more involved in actually helping you to work out what you want to do with your life. I, along with many others in Manchester, will spend most of my university life soul-searching, trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do with a 2:1 straight outta Samuel Alexander, and the Careers Service doesn’t seem to be able to help me.

Russia’s impact in the war in the Middle East

Written by Alexander Lovatt on . Posted in Opinion.

If you cast your mind back to the haughty days of 2011, there are a few world events that immediately come to mind. The wave of uprisings against previously invincible Middle Eastern regimes was in full swing: Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and—with a little help from the British military—Libya all witnessed rapid, violent regime changes that unseated despots febrile with power.

Suddenly, they were being dragged from their palaces and hauled before the gallows in what could only be described as a very vindictive form of justice. Meanwhile, in the corridors of power, the leaders of the Western world could hardly believe their luck. Finally, it seemed that there would be no more rogue states, a few less bloodthirsty warlords, and maybe a return to sanity for a region that had been ravaged by instability since time immemorial.

When Syria began to show signs of uprising, the west rejoiced, the call for the international community to supply arms and support for the rebels was almost deafening.

Then, along came Russia.

While America and Britain had been watching the events in the Middle East with jubilation, the Russian mood was decidedly sombre. Libya and Egypt had been large buyers of Russian arms, and their opposition to western interference had been a key aspect of Putin’s foreign policy. And so, when the US and the UK began discussions about supplying aid to the rebels fighting the Syrian government, Russia began implementing measures to preserve its dwindling list of friends, and promised to veto any attempt to interfere in Syria through the UN.

President Obama could only simmer in frustration and supply small amounts of arms to the Syrians whom he supported, while Putin sat back and did the same, and it looked like the Syrian civil war would devolve into another nation of superpower-sponsored warlords. But of course, the story of Syria took yet another twist with the rise of IS—an international, ultra-violent, radical militia, bolstered with a new generation of radicalised European and American fighters, and armed with captured US weapons.

In the Russian media, Obama has been derided for his debating and posturing, while Putin has been lauded for co-ordinating with both Iraq and Iran to launch missiles over their skies towards Syria. In short, Putin has portrayed himself as the man who acts, who can be tough on terrorism and who can solve problems.

But all is not quite as it seems.

The Russian airstrikes, while undoubtedly effective against IS, have also injured alarming numbers of civilians; the cruise missiles launched from the Caspian Sea have not only been hitting IS targets, but also wreaking havoc upon the free Syrian army and any other rebels still fighting against Assad’s government. While Putin laps up the headlines with his grandstanding, the Russian army is moving massive battalions of troops and equipment to bolster Assad’s forces, and is rumoured to be deploying large numbers of special forces into Syria to support Assad’s army.

Russia is doing far more than fighting Terrorism. Russia is crushing the Syrian insurrection, and by the way things are going, it is clear that preventing collateral damage is not a priority for the Russian military.

What does it all mean for the future of Syria? There’s no way to be sure, but there are some outcomes that seem probable. In terms of IS, the combination of airstrikes and a Russian-equipped Syrian military will certainly give them problems, but as we saw in Iraq, air power alone will simply drive the IS militia into hiding or across borders where they can’t be followed.

To cause lasting damage to the would-be Caliphate would require a multinational response across several borders in the region. Russia has signalled that it is willing to work with a coalition to defeat IS, but with all other potential allies stating the removal of president Assad from power as a condition for support (something Russia is unlikely to compromise on), an alliance seems unlikely as Russia seeks to protect its Mediterranean naval base in Syria and the client state itself.

The Russian intervention is both a blessing and a curse for different Syrian groups. On one side, it holds the promise of a possible end to the fighting and fanatical insanity that has plagued their country for the last three years, plus some stability in Assad’s territory; on the other side, that peace involves the continuing reign of Bashar al-Assad, a dictator who has committed war crimes against his own people in a desperate bid to cling to power.

How to eat like the French

Written by Eva Katz on . Posted in News.

With their notorious appreciation of good food and apparent admiration for garlic, the French have always left me in wonder of how they manage to maintain such fine physiques with an excess of beautiful gastronomy.

In order to find out (amongst other reasons) I travelled to France. Over the course of my year on the continent, I observed many secrets firsthand and developed an appreciation of the finer—and unfortunately more expensive—delicacies, too.

Firstly, every meal in France is a show. Eating in front of the telly or beside a computer is unheard of, even for students.

Food is there to be enjoyed; to say that the French “live to eat” rather than “eat to live” is an understatement.

Mealtimes are a leisurely affair. The rushed and slightly disappointing sandwiches that plague Britain’s lunch boxes are replaced by a sit-down meal among friends, with wine, laughter, and plenty of bread. Most professionals are given the minimum of a full hour for lunch, hence why shopping around “midi” (midday) is a rather unsuccessful activity.

Secondly, the French just know when to stop. My friend’s French mother has always preached “l’art de degustation.” Although there is no direct translation, the phrase essentially means that one should savour every mouthful. The idea of “too much of a good thing” is also ingrained into the psyche of les Francais.

It was the lack of this mindset that resulted in me unintentionally gaining a little more than a fondness for freshly baked croissants during my time abroad. Portion control is key and often an aromatic espresso accompanied by a single square of dark chocolate can fill the same hole as a pain au chocolat and hot chocolate.

Last but not least, the Holy Grail of the French’s formidable secret is only eating the crème de la crème. So many of us have resorted to eating that burnt dinner through sheer laziness and scoffing that less-than-average take away because it was just easier than cooking something healthier. The French, however, would be horrified at the thought.

One does not buy macaroons from just anywhere, after all! If you’re going to splurge out, it makes sense to spend a little more time and money for a truly heavenly mouthful rather than something “assez bon.”

It’s safe to say that their attitude to food is an enviable one, and one that many of us Britons could most certainly learn from.

Review: Golem

Written by Rob Paterson on . Posted in Arts, Theatre.

As I exited the theatre, it was hard to tell if I had actually left the absurd world of ‘Golem’; the scene that met my eyes was one that could be replicated in any given room in 2015. It was a wash of identical glass rectangles attached firmly to human thumbs and glazed-over stares. This snapshot of how we live now could have been lifted straight from a satirical cartoon, and was exactly the kind of image that pioneering company 1927 had sliced up, warped and smudged into the terrifying collage of consumerism that I had just watched.

I can hear my readers flickering off like the touch screens that your’re probably reading this on, and I don’t blame you; the whole Black Mirror thing is done to death. But ‘Golem’ is far cleverer and more appealing than metaphors hastily thrown together by a pretentious journalist. Directed by Suzanne Andrade, ‘Golem’ is one of the most visually and theatrically stunning pieces I’ve seen in a while. Performed by five multi-rolling actors against a giant projection screen, the characters interacted with, and integrated into, a multitude of fantastical environments. From actors walking on the spot and having the street unfurl ahead of them, to Annie Hall-style subtextual subtitles appearing above characters’ heads as they speak, there’s barely a moment without surprise and ingenuity.

The projected animation itself is far from instrumental to party tricks, but serves an integral role in their meticulously-thought-out aesthetic. It features cut-outs of 1920s style photographs, which hark back to the golden age of consumerism. This is compounded by a jazzy soundtrack and noir style spotlights erasing backdrops. Most of these backdrops are cartoons, with which the actors meld seamlessly due to their nuanced performances, where every movement is stuttered and exaggerated. After 20 minutes in I had forgotten that the screen and the actors were separate.

Despite 1927’s relentless intelligence (in one scene a bathroom attendant is reading Sartre, for Christ’s sake), their sense of humour is decidedly crass. One particularly outrageous moment came when one of the actors stuck their face through a hole in the screen to have the body of an overweight stripper projected on to them, which proceeded to perform ridiculous contortions. Film animator and designer Paul Barritt’s creation, the comedic tone, and the 90-minute run time make big ideas easy to swallow.

In many ways, I was reminded of the last play I saw at HOME; Kneehigh’s Dead Dog in A Suitcase. It too was crass, stylish and visually stunning, but ‘Golem’ triumphs in a way that many plays of this nature fall flat. Where many of the scenes in ‘Dead Dog’ did little more than dazzle and delight the audience, ‘Golem’ avoids becoming a circus and puts story and message first. This is not to say it comes across as preachy; the parallels drawn to modern life are subtle, but expansive. It’s the kind of theatre that sticks with you, and makes me shudder on recollection, despite having me in stitches at the time.

My criticisms are few; the live music seemed redundant given that you couldn’t audibly distinguish it from the soundtrack, and the rapid scene changes often slowed the pace. Overall, an impressive case of high concept and ambitious direction coming together to their full potential.

‘Golem’ ran at HOME until Saturday the 17th of October.

The Gum List

Written by Henry Scanlan on . Posted in Food & Drink.

1.  Trident
A loose, perky gum, perfect for easing the jaw into action. The 2012 ‘Cinnamon’ batch has a rough viscosity, making for excellent mastication. The 2013 ‘Splashing Fruit’ incarnation, meanwhile, makes for a light, summery chewing gum.

2. Wrigley’s Spearmint
A full-bodied gum. Recommended for adding to a tired ball of Trident for a sharp injection of reinvigorating spearmint. Suitable with red meat.

3. Fisherman’s friend
A fabulous vintage chewing gum with a thick, minty accent. A dry, taut chew. Additionally useful as a rugged throat lozenge for the throes of winter. Serve chilled for best results.

4. Juicy Fruit
Gentler on the mandibles than more robust brands such as Wrigley’s or Extra. Dry and unoaked, with a fragrant character, though the overbearing fruitiness may be a little crass for more refined tastes.

5. The inside cheek
There are moments—in which one loses all sense of time, place, and chewing gum—when one must simply chew something, be that as it may the inside of one’s own face.

Review: The Importance of Being Earnest

Written by Joel Culver on . Posted in Theatre.

One of the big issues that seems to face many theatre companies at the present, is the desire to keep old classics fresh, and to present them in a novel way. The Lowry’s current production of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ is a decent attempt at this. This production seeks a departure from the somewhat clichéd performances by introducing the play in illusory dress rehearsal—a play within a play. This enables the genius of the comedic content written by Oscar Wilde to be enjoyed along with the actors, as they argue over end-of-act winks and other issues. Still, though, I lamented the addition of the material slightly. I did not feel that the added material was of sufficient quality to render the experience better overall. While there was originality, I felt that the changes left me less able to immerse myself within the world of the play.

The story focuses on two friends, Jack Worthing (Martin Jarvis), and Algernon Moncrief (Nigel Havers), who both use an invented character in order to escape from their respective spheres and social responsibilities. For country dweller Jack, his wicked (and fallacious) brother, Ernest, provides regular excuses to jolly off into the city. Jack’s engagement to Gwendolen is not acceptable to her mother, the ‘gorgon’ Lady Bracknell (Sian Phillips), because Jack is a foundling. The engagement will remain unacceptable unless he can “’produce at any rate one parent, of either sex, before the season is quite over,’.

The ‘play within a play’ aspect was thoughtfully done, and the concept of watching a rehearsal of an amateur production was quite convincing. The stage design, in particular, enforced this concept, because the room did not change in-between acts, but rather the furniture was moved around. This initially came as a disappointment, but I warmed to it since it is firmly grounded in the context of this modified version. Additionally, the use of the older actors to play these young characters worked well. When Jarvis declared – in an almost mocking way – that his character was 29 years of age, the house erupted with laughter.

The production was, however, a little too serious for what is clearly supposed to be a mockery of the attitudes of the aristocracy of Wilde’s time. Many of the lines were not delivered to maximum comical effect. Compare this production, for example, to the recent London production with David Suchet as Lady Bracknell, and it is hard to come to the conclusion that this one is superior. The lack of affirming comedy was perhaps due to below-par performances in some places; partly due, perhaps, to the calibre of the actors being over-specified.

Lucy Bailey’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ continues to tour the UK until the end of November, with added dates to be announced. For further information, see here.

China, America, and the future of Afghanistan

Written by Tristan Parsons on . Posted in Opinion.

New and old Islamic militants. New and old superpowers. A great game is being played out in Afghanistan, and it is just getting started.

The only comfort in this depressing tale is the nostalgic familiarity of an old name—the Taliban are getting back up to speed. Their capturing of the city of Kunduz is the cherry on the cake for their recent military campaign, a campaign that now sees them as controllers of around half of the nation. Kabul still stands, though, supported by 10,000 US officials.

But relations with the new superpower, China, are crucial. Afghanistan’s President Ghani has recently talked of plans to engage in closer relations, since his country has been somewhat left out recently. Although Afghanistan shares a border with China, unlike many other nearby nations, it is not yet prominent in China’s schemes for outward investment.

Firstly, the proposed new Silk Road—a trading route including a series of pipelines and rail networks that will further link the economies of Europe, Central Asia, and South East Asia (a project worth around $40 billion)—mostly avoids Afghanistan. Secondly, the Pakistani Economic Corridor is key for China, but again, there is little talk of that extending to Afghanistan.

There is some possibility that the Central Asian Network (branches of the Silk Road within Central Asia) will eventually be extended into Afghanistan, and China is by far the biggest player in resource extraction investment in the country. For example, Jiangxi Copper Corporation and the Zijin Mining Group Company have jointly won a recent bid of $3.5 billion for the largest undeveloped copper field in the world, estimated to contain $88 billion of copper.

Afghanistan also has large reserves of iron, oil, gas, and gold. However, investment becomes more risky in times when The Taliban are becoming a stronger presence. There is IS, too. The growth of the group prompted the US to add another 1,000 soldiers to their current force, even though the last forces are suppose to be out some time in 2016. China has given training to just a few hundred police, but perhaps with IS and Taliban presences, and competition with the US, it may want to step up its military role.

 

Consider the people of Afghanistan, though. How would they react to a growing Chinese influence? They may well celebrate. Their poverty and their past and current oppression, as well as their political instability, are key causes of desperation, and there is demand for, at the very least, a stable government. There is a long history of broken promises to the people of Afghanistan: the British, the Mujahedeen, the USSR, The Taliban, the US, and the British again.

But China will be a fresh face; and the recent accidental NATO attack on Kunduz Hospital, as well as the failure of the US and UK to remove The Taliban, will provide an extra narrative for any potential Chinese involvement.

China has another advantage, too. Their firms may bring employment and desperately-needed economic development. Prosperity may follow, although, based on historical and current cases, prosperity from overseas investment is usually locked up within the corporate and political elite. Out of 174 countries, China and Afghanistan sit 80th and 174th respectively in the Transpacrency.org ratings (Afghanistan shares 174th with North Korea and Somalia). Any kind of investment is not likely to greatly benefit the average Afghan.

However, a look back into history shows us two things. Firstly, that Afghanistan is one of the most fought-over nations in the world, and therefore its people have a long memory of war and occupation. Secondly, that military success in Afghanistan has never come to anyone other than local guerrilla forces.

With this in mind, a Chinese military policy might, at first, involve sending small concentrations of troops to protect infrastructure and investment projects. If more soldiers proved to be required—which they probably would be, judging by the advance of militant Islam across the Middle East—then China would have an opening for further influence. However, although Afghanistan has plenty of resources to exploit, it is by no means the jewel of the region. China’s true desire, and its true efforts, still lie in Central Asia and its links to the markets of Europe and Russia.

The true design of China’s future expansion is impossible to foretell. Arguably, they have a potential greater than the USA had in the wake of the Second World War, with a far larger population and a greater amount of land borders. They are emerging in both a quickly-developing region, and a better-connected world. They have a dubious government and harbour substantial inequality within their own borders. Both internally and externally, China’s capacity for damage to humanity is just as large as its potential for economic growth.

Thus, does the future of Afghanistan hinge on the investment proposals, boardroom meetings, and auctions of the Chinese corporate and political elite?

No, not quite. The Taliban and IS provide a growing threat (which China could utilise to justify intervention), and there is the US, too. They have spent just over $104 billion on ‘reconstruction’ in Afghanistan. That’s a little higher than the Marshall Plan, adjusted for inflation. The total cost of the war is estimated at around $1 trillion. America will not let that money go to waste. With The Taliban and IS on the rise, expanding Chinese interests, and a panicked US government, expect a troublesome future for Afghanistan.