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Month: February 2018

Photo: StockSnap @ pixabay.com

UoM part of new government ‘Institute of Coding’

Written by Aliya Ismangil on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

The University of Manchester is amongst the 25 universities that are part of the new Institute of Coding, which also includes leading technology businesses.

These include IBM, Cisco and Microsoft, professional bodies such as the British Computer Society, Crest, and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

“A world-class pipeline of digital skills are essential to the UK’s ability to shape our future,” says Universities Minister, Sam Gyimah.

The demand for digital skills in the industry seems to be on the rise. In January 2017, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) released the results of a survey of more than 1,400 businesses in the UK.

It revealed that 84% of businesses are saying that digital skills are more important to their organisation now than two years ago. But as many as three in four businesses experience a shortage of digital skills in their workforce.

The Institute of Coding, announced by the Prime Minister at World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos, aims to address this gap and is part of Government’s Industrial Strategy.

“By working together, universities, employers and industry leaders can help graduates build the right skills, in fields from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence to industrial design,” says Gyimah.

“The Institute of Coding will play a central role in this. Employers will have a tangible input to the curriculum, working hand-in-hand with universities to develop specialist skills in areas where they are needed most.

“As we have outlined in the Industrial Strategy, this is part of our ambition to embrace technological change and give us a more competitive edge in the future.”

As part of this initiative, the University of Manchester’s School of Computer Science will develop industry-level software to improve the marking of student’s assessments and the feedback they receive.

Manchester’s lead researcher on the project, Dr Suzanne Embury, explains that the common process of students having to wait until after their submitted work has been marked to get feedback is an inefficient way for students to know where they went wrong and how to improve.

“Our systems will provide formative feedback and guidance to students as they complete the work. This will allow misunderstandings to be corrected early and frees up staff and Teaching Assistants to focus on teaching the more subtle, subjective aspects of software quality.”

Dr Caroline Jay, Co-Investigator and lead on the ‘Learning Analytics’ strand of the Manchester project, adds: “The Institute of Coding will enable us to pioneer a new approach to learning at The University of Manchester, through materials developed collaboratively by research software engineers and academic researchers.”

In other areas of the project, pilot programmes will test how best to reach and support people with regard to the cost of retraining. £30 million of funding has also been given by the Government to test the use of artificial intelligence and other educational technology in online digital skills courses.

Runescape will rise again in 2018

Written by chrisglover on . Posted in Games.

In 2007, aged eleven, I chanced across a free-to-play game called Runescape. It was my first real experience of online gaming; never before had I encountered a living and breathing world teeming with other players — real people — with whom I could talk, fight, and trade.

Before I’d even finished adding the obligatory ‘2k7’ to the end of my username, I was enthralled. Over the next few years, the game became such an addiction of mine that I genuinely feel shame when I look back on it — a sort of Runescape junkie, haunted by his dark past.

The unfortunate thing about addiction is that it never truly leaves you, which is why I received the news of Runescape Mobile releasing later this year with unbridled excitement – this time, I realised as I made a new account in preparation, I’ll be able to take Runescape with me everywhere I go. It can finally be played the way I always knew in my heart it was meant to be: everywhere and all the time.

Runescape, or Old School Runescape as it’s now called — a snapshot of the game in its 2007 form — is an MMORPG that became a worldwide phenomenon for its accessible and immersive gameplay. Because it had minimal performance demands and was played on browsers with no download needed, virtually anyone could play Runescape — and most, it seemed, did: the game won Guinness World Records for the most users of an MMO game, and the most popular free-to-play MMO.

The skills tab. Photo: Jagex
The skills tab. Photo: Jagex

For those who never played Runescape — a group I feel both pity and envy for — the question of “What do you do in Runescape?” is best answered with “Pretty much whatever you want”. Players have 23 different skills, all of which can be trained up to level 99.

There are combat skills — melee, ranged, magic, and prayer — which can be levelled up to wear better gear and fight monsters and bosses, and there are non-combat skills like fishing, smithing and woodcutting that allow you to make money by selling resources to other players. There is even a central trading system called the Grand Exchange which players use to buy and sell items from each other, creating a dynamic in-game economy where the prices of items rise and fall depending on supply and demand.

The real pull of Runescape comes from the way it provides a steady stream of rewards, keeping players hooked with a sense of progression and achievement. Levelling skills often triggers satisfying positive feedback loops; for example levelling up the mining skill comes with the slight increase to resource gathering (which provides money and XP) that every level brings, but also might unlock the ability to equip a better pickaxe which increases this speed further, or the ability to enter the Mining Guild which provides a more convenient location to mine.

You quickly become obsessed with these constant, incremental gains in wealth and power — especially as you are constantly surrounded by other players. Those sporting stats and equipment far beyond your current reach serve to tease what could be yours if you keep grinding, whilst the lower-level players that surround you are a satisfying reminder of how far you’ve come.

This brings me to the other addictive quality of Runescape — the fact that, whilst progression of skills is the name of the game, it is in no way easy. Like most games which feature a numerical progression through a skill, each level requires more XP than the last; though in Runescape, this increase is brutal. So brutal, that when reaching level 92 in a skill, in real terms you are only half way to reaching 99.

The Grand Exchange. Photo: Jagex
The Grand Exchange. Photo: Jagex

Runescape is undeniably a grind. To reach level 99 in all 23 skills would take – at a conservative estimate – over 6000 hours. I don’t think it’s unfair to call Runescape a game of time and not skill — in fact, you could replace the entire page of numbers each player has in their skills tab, and all the money they have in their virtual bank, with a single number: hours played. For ultimately, in Runescape, spare time is the only statistic that sets players apart.

This simple realisation was the driving force for my decision to quit the game all those years ago, but it’s also the reason I think it will thrive as a mobile experience. Old School Runescape Mobile will offer the quintessential structure of a mobile game — a simple and repetitive yet rewarding experience — situated in an immersive open world that offers a level of freedom and choice I don’t recall ever seeing in a mobile game.

Couple this with the nostalgia-factor that will surely bring droves of veterans back to experience the game in a fresh new way, and we have all the components needed for a Runescape renaissance this year.

The other day I saw a player walk through the Grand Exchange with a ‘max cape’ — a cape only attainable by achieving this 6000 hour grind to 99 in every skill, a cape that only 2,601 players worldwide currently own. As I watched dozens of players crowd around to watch him perform the emote that comes with the cape, I realised two things: that the Runescape subculture still thrives in 2018, and that I hadn’t spoken to my family or girlfriend for twelve hours.

Album Review: Songs of Praise – Shame

Written by Olivia White on . Posted in Music.

South London five-piece Shame have well and truly secured their reputation as Britain’s most potent post-punk force to be reckoned with, having just released their debut album Songs of Praise mid-January and announced a 13-date tour with 6 dates completely sold out and practically every other show low on tickets.

Having already built quite the status as an exceptional live band receiving a vast number of five-star reviews by various newspapers and critics for performance, undoubtedly there was a large presumption Shame’s first album would be superb.

Having seen Shame play Soup Kitchen, Manchester late last year without listening to any of their EPs prior to the gig, I have to admit I was completely overcome with every aspect of their performance: whether that be vocalist Charlie Steen sheer energy as he crawled on top of the crowd, guitarist Josh’s ability to throw his body all across the stage throughout the entire gig or even the crowd’s attitude to continue even when someone was punched so hard in the nose blood gushed out.

Perhaps these explosive, intimate gig settings breed an undertone of pressure that they must live up to their current position. Nonetheless, it’s fair to say that Shame certainly haven’t underperformed.

The five-piece have concocted a hotbed of loud, intense, and frenzied guitar licks, laced with unapologetic lyricism and perfectly unrestrained vocals to create a 10-track album which is nothing but precisely what you would have expected from such an impressive live act.

With songs like ‘Gold Hole’, ‘The Lick’, and ‘Tasteless’, Songs of Praise may be crude, angry, and even cause you to scrunch your face in wonder at whether the lyric you just heard was correct, but make no mistake, there is nothing superficial or flippant about how this record has been composed. It is clear just how serious Shame are about making their mark in 2018 and ensuring that every band planning to release music throughout the year reach the extremely high bar that they’ve set just 12 days into the new year.

Ironically named debut Songs of Praise is a perfect mix of faster, aggressive songs and slower, more thought-provoking themes with some tracks saturated in elements of humour, and others capturing those concepts you would most likely expect from a post-punk band; political and social inequality really being driven home as the focal point for lyrical inspiration.

Through Songs of Praise, Shame have captured exactly everything you could ever want from an avant-garde 21st-century punk band with an already tempestuous reputation.

10/10

Photo: Photos public domain @wikimediacommons

It’s not too late to kick start your 2018 resolutions!

Written by Amy Quach on . Posted in Sport.

One of the most popular new year resolutions every year is to lose weight and whilst this can be incredibly beneficial, sport and exercise is not just about losing a few pounds. Keeping your body active and healthy works wonders for your mind and overall wellbeing.

For many of us here at university, the new year truly starts when exams have finished at the end of January. Until now, many hours of 2018 have been spent slaving away at home or in the library, revising and working towards the final exams and assignment deadlines of the semester.

Despite the well-publicised benefits of exercise to de-stress and stimulate the brain, it can appear impossible to fit regularly around a revision timetable. Nevertheless, January is now over and with a new semester already underway, there are plenty of different ways to enjoy sport both on and off campus. Here’s a look at what you can get involved with!

Firstly, it’s not too late to join any of the AU University Sports Clubs. If you missed the refreshers fair last week, there’s still the opportunity to try out and join a team. Many clubs have recreational sessions as well as a competitive team so there’s no need to feel intimidated if you’re new to a sport.

From Canoe and Swimming to Athletics and Cross Country, a full A to Z list of clubs is on the UoM Sport website complete with further information and contact details.

At different sites across campus, Sporticipate is a free university programme aimed for complete beginners or for those wanting to try something new. With access to a broad timetable of sports and exercise activities, including women’s only classes, everyone is sure to find something that suits them.

You can register to Sporticipate at any time and is easy to do online at the UoM Sport website — just search “Sporticipate.”

Hall Sport is a similar programme to Sporticipate whereby a weekly timetable of classes is available across the Halls of Residence. You don’t have to be living in halls to take part though — anyone can go along and join in! More information and the full timetable is available alongside Sporticipate online.

Another great way to get out and keep fit is by taking part in Park Runs. These are free, 5 km timed runs available to anyone of any ability. Found in countries all around the world, there are 499 different park runs every Saturday morning in the UK.

Our nearest event is at Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield (called the South Manchester Parkrun), but you can search for other locations at www.parkrun.org.uk. Once registered, you are given a personal barcode which allows for the time and placing of each of your runs to be recorded. It’s a fantastic way to track your progress whilst running with the local community.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something a little different, how about heading over to the velodrome at the UK National Cycling Centre.

Pre-booked 1-hour taster sessions are available, including bike and helmet hire, for £20 (£17.50 for concessions) and you can register to book these online at www.nationalcyclingcentre.com. The nearest Bus and Tram stop, Sportcity, is easily accessible from Piccadilly Gardens.

And if you don’t mind the cold, how about a visit to Manchester’s very own indoor real snow slope Chill Factore? Opposite the Trafford Centre, this 180 m long slope is easiest to get to by car or bus — you can catch one from Piccadilly Gardens.

Both skiing and snowboard taster sessions are on offer from £27 per person or if you already have experience on the slopes, lift passes start from £21. Check out www.chillfactore.com for more information.

With such a range of keep fit opportunities on offer around Manchester, what are you waiting for? It’s not too late to get your friends together and try something new this year!

Image: Pam Brophy @ Geograph

Renters’ union Acorn could help students fight back against ‘rogue landlords’

Written by Tilly Gambarotto on . Posted in News.

On the evening of Tuesday of 30th January ‘Acorn’, a renters’ union and anti-poverty organisation, held its launch event for its new Manchester branch.

A Facebook event called for renters to attend the launch at the Friends’ Meeting House in Manchester, where over 100 attendees gathered to join the union. New members voted to make stopping Universal Credit evictions its first big campaign in the city and elected a committee.

Acorn was established in Bristol three years ago in response to rising rent costs, poor housing conditions and a rise in illegal evictions. It has since had success nationwide in helping private renters to stand up to their landlords against sub-standard housing.

According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester’s population is growing 15 times faster than the rate at which houses are being built: “It means house-building in Manchester is lagging far behind the growing number of people living in the city, and in fact it’s one of the worst discrepancies seen in the whole of England.”

In response to the national housing crisis, Acorn’s website calls for a crackdown on rogue landlords, rent control, longer tenancies and social housing for the masses.

Featured on the BBC’s show Victoria Derbyshire in November last year, Acorn’s co-founder Nick Ballard commented that “we thought there was a need for a community organisation that would represent local people on political issues without being tied to political parties.”

Although Tuesday was the official launch, Acorn has already had a number of successes in Manchester, including the resolution of a dispute with an estate agent where student tenants were reportedly left without heating for over three months.

Its methods are considered fairly “old-school” in that members engage in canvassing to promote the movement, barricade houses with picket-lines to prevent evictions and approach landlords directly to demand improvements.

The union has already put a stop to evictions caused by Universal credit in Newcastle and Sheffield, and an Acorn petition has halted Bristol City Council’s proposed plans to charge council tax to the lowest income households. Now, “in Manchester, our new group is ready to make the same impact” reads its Facebook event page.

Will, an Acorn representative speaking to The Mancunion, said “[the problem with the private renting sector] fundamentally comes down to the imbalanced relationship between tenant and landlord. It absolutely affects students.”

All of the Acorn branches have worked specifically with students. Most recently in Brighton, Acorn helped to organise a rent strike at the Kings Road Halls in response to the poor condition of the Sussex University student accommodation, resulting in shared compensation of £64,000.

Whilst student housing horror stories are often accepted as part of the university experience, it is claimed this might actually make students more of a target.

“Students are naturally preoccupied with their work and study, and usually only rent for a year at a time, so they are seen as easy targets for unscrupulous landlords to take advantage of,” Will warned.

Manchester residents are encouraged to become involved in the union by supporting Acorn on social media, joining a direct campaign or organising a movement in their local area.

A Facebook support group is also available for renters, with current posts requesting advice on issues ranging from discrepancies within their contracts, to mould and delayed repairs, and imminent eviction and homelessness.

You can join Acorn, donate or find out more at https://acorntheunion.org.uk/. Support for tenants is available at www.fb.com/groups/tenantsupport.

Photo: The Mancunion

LGBTQ+ history month launches at the Students’ Union

Written by Nicole Wootton-Cane on . Posted in News.

This February sees the launch of LGBTQ+ history month at the Students’ Union.

The month offers a wide range of events available to everyone, including film screenings, discussions and coffee afternoons. The month will also see the launch of LGBTQ+ club night ‘OUT’ at Manchester Club Academy.

The national campaign is using this February to commemorate two difficult anniversaries in the community’s history.

The first is the passing of Section 28 thirty years ago, which forbade local authorities from allowing any materials that “promoted homosexuality” in schools, and the second is the fortieth anniversary of the murder of Harvey Milk. Milk was the first openly gay elected official in California, and one of the first in the United States.

The theme for the campaign is ‘Geography: Mapping the World,’ celebrating the spread of legalisation of same-sex marriage, including in Australia.

If you are interested in finding out more about LGBTQ+ history month, the LGBTQ+ Society is hosting a presentation on the 5th of February, covering what the month is about and recapping understandings and attitudes in different cultures throughout history.

The full timetable of events can be found on the society’s Facebook page or on the Students’ Union website.

Not my President: how Donald Trump threatens the entire world – and what we can do to stop him

Written by Lily Sheehan on . Posted in Opinion.

20th January 2018 marked a year since Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States. Whilst he is deplorable in pretty much every category, Trump’s warmongering is one of his most shocking and dangerous qualities.

According to MSNBC, President Trump once asked his advisors about using nuclear weapons three times in a single foreign policy meeting.

It is difficult to watch a foreign country experience tax relief for the rich and fatal blows to their healthcare system, but it is quite another for the president of such a country to possibly endanger everyone in the entire world. The embodiment of American imperialism and interventionism, Donald Trump may be the death of us all — or our saving grace.

You may be thinking, or hoping, that Donald Trump is simply America’s problem. Even with the former reality television star in charge, the United States remains one of the most powerful countries in the world.

The US Military budget for 2018 is US$ 824.6 billion and the American nuclear arsenal is the second largest in the world. These facts, coupled with the Republicans’ unchecked political power, make the United States a credible threat to any country they so please. With Donald Trump’s tendency towards irrational rage, who knows which country may anger him next?

As Trump himself once said: “Good people don’t go into government.” Judging by his record so far, he’s right. Since becoming President, Trump has maintained a feud with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, causing an unprecedented rise in tensions between the two countries.

A spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said what we were all thinking: Trump is a “nuclear demon” and a “disruptor of global peace.” Describing the supreme leader as “short and fat” shows that Trump is willing to take a gamble with all of our lives.

Amidst their feud with the United States government, North Korea is in the process of testing nuclear weapons. Whilst I am hardly an expert on foreign policy, even I know that it is a terrible idea to personally attack the leader of the only country in the world that currently refuses to adhere to norms in nuclear weapons testing and proliferation.

Trump is capable of causing untold destruction, and it’s not clear if he even knows this.

Despite being the author of a book entitled ‘The Art of the Deal’, Trump has yet to negotiate any peace agreements. Last year, the Chinese government proposed the ‘freeze-for-freeze’ initiative. China advocates that if North Korea was to ‘freeze’ its nuclear weapons program, South Korea and the United States could ‘freeze’ their annual joint military exercises in return.

Trump refused to accept or even discuss the deal, saying that similar agreements “have failed in the past.” One Chinese newspaper said the US has “casually wasted” opportunities given by China to open up a dialogue with North Korea. Rather than explore peaceful solutions to the North Korean problem, Trump would rather take the aggressive route.

Not only has he ignored a potential diplomatic solution, he has now taken to aggravating the situation, calling the North Korean Supreme Leader “rocket man” whenever the opportunity presents itself. In typical Trump fashion, the President is more concerned with high-risk ‘negotiation’ strategies than the safety of his citizens and the wider world.

North Korea is not the only victim of Trump’s alleged business acumen. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a 2015 agreement that the US signed with five other countries, banning Iran from developing nuclear weapons in return for lifting sanctions.

The JCPOA worked well until October last year when Trump decertified it, declaring it “one of the worst deals” he’d ever seen. Whilst this did not put an end to the deal entirely, it certainly strained the American relationship with the co-signers.

In a rare joint statement, signatories (Britain, France, and Germany) condemned this decision and said it was not in their “shared national security interest.” Not satisfied with angering potential adversary states, Trump is willing to make enemies of the countries that should be America’s closest allies.

But how does all of this affect us non-Americans? It is the nuclear aspect of Trump’s warmongering that is particularly worrying. Consider the devastating effects of Hiroshima in 1945 — a typical modern weapon is 8 to 80 times larger than Little Boy.

According to Dr. Philip Webber, the Chair of Scientists for Global Responsibility UK, a study of two countries of comparable size to the US and North Korea using up to 100 warheads would be catastrophic for the victims.

Dr. Webber theorised that such an attack would cause “severe frosts, reduced growing seasons, drought and famine lasting up to ten years.” The attacked country would become “pre-industrial.” Even if your country is lucky enough not to be targeted, you are not safe.

According to the Atomic Archive, nitric oxides produced by nuclear weapons could reduce the ozone layer in the Northern Hemisphere by 30-70 per cent. This could potentially cause dangerous burns and other untold ecological changes. Our world as we know it could change all because one man in America picked fights and scorned deals.

Having read this article thus far, I wouldn’t blame you if you are feeling fairly panicked about the Trump presidency. Fear not. Whilst the US President’s actions have far-reaching, potentially devastating consequences, they could also have far-reaching, potentially beneficial ones.

Because he causes so much outrage across political lines, languages, and continents, Donald Trump is actually an asset to the peace movement. He is so controversial and detestable that even the most apolitical among us have been inspired to protest against him.

Donald Trump has essentially become a guide on how not to run a country. In this way, he is useful for increasing awareness of the dangers of political corruption, American exceptionalism, and nuclear weapons. He has forced other world leaders to show their true colours.

Upon his inauguration, the UK Prime Minister was keen to remind Trump of the “special relationship” between their countries, and she became the first foreign leader to visit Trump’s White House. The German Chancellor refused to kowtow to the President, saying: “We Europeans… have to know that we have to fight for our own future.”

Tellingly, whilst Theresa May was caught holding hands with the President, Angela Merkel was shunned when she went to shake his hand. If your country’s leader supports Trump, condemn them for this; if they don’t, show your support.

In the United Kingdom in particular, re-evaluating the “special relationship” is crucial. In light of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is likely that the UK will be dragged into any international conflicts that Trump starts.

Interestingly, it appears that opinions on British involvement on the world stage are changing. In 2017, Young Labour delegates voted in favour of a motion that called Trump a “fascist” and proposed that the UK withdraw from NATO.

The motion stated that “NATO has been the lynchpin and institutional expression of American imperialism.” Through involvement in organisations like the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Britons can show our government how we feel about the “fascist” President.

At the time of writing, a Facebook event for a Trump protest in London currently has 96,000 people interested. Donald Trump is said to have cancelled his proposed February visit because of his fear of backlash. If we continue to protest and support anti-Trump organisations, what else can we pressure him into?

Many of us exist in a bubble. As our lives are not directly threatened by nuclear weapons every day, some of us develop the view that they are necessary, harmless, or even stand to protect us in some way.

Many people who support nuclear weapons believe that they are preparation for a worst-case doomsday scenario. I would argue that, with Donald Trump in charge of the world’s second-largest nuclear arsenal, we are living in this worst-case scenario. Ironically, nuclear disarmament would make us all safer.

Pixel Bomb Games: An Early Access story

Written by Jeremy Bijl on . Posted in Games.

My interest in Pixel Bomb Games and their title Beyond Flesh and Blood was first piqued by its premise: a Sci-fi shooter set in a post-apocalyptic Manchester and developed by Deansgate-based developers.

There are things the game does well. The gameplay is smooth, the environment looks great, and Pixel Bomb’s diligence in trying to make Beyond Flesh and Blood take place in a realistic (albeit post-apocalyptic) Manchester is admirable.

23rd Century Deansgate. Photo:PixelBombGames

There are also plenty of things the game does not do well. The character models look like they predate the environmental design by about a decade, the combat is generic and very basic, and the dialogue is weak.

Unfortunately, all of this is overshadowed by what has transpired since the first chapter of the game was released in June of 2016, and Beyond Flesh and Blood stands as an exemplar of Steam’s problematic ‘Early Access’ programme.

Beyond Flesh and Blood is currently in Early Access — Steam’s programme for allowing developers to release incomplete games in order to profit off them while they are still in development, as it has been since it first appeared on the market. Implicit in the Early Access programme is the idea that the game will eventually be finished.

What is worrying, however, is that it looks like Beyond Flesh and Blood will never be completed — Pixel Bomb went into liquidation in September 2017.

photo:CompaniesHouse.gov.uk

This is somewhat of a grey area for Steam. Steam do note on the game’s store page that “this Early Access game is not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development.”

In the Early Access guide for developers, Steam also write that “sometimes things don’t work out as you planned, and you may need to discontinue development of your game. If this happens, you should contact Valve to figure out the next steps.” Clearly, then, discontinuing an Early Access game is not prohibited.

However, Steam also say that “we take our relationship with customers seriously, so if you choose to cancel development of a game and retire it from the store, we will not republish it again later and we may offer refunds to any users who purchased it. Treating customers fairly is the most important thing to us.”

What is worrying is the fact that neither Valve or Pixel Bomb appear to have done anything about the liquidation or the game’s presumed discontinuation, and Beyond Flesh and Blood still remains for sale for £9.99 on the Steam store.

Pixel Bomb are continuing to profit off the implicit promise that their game — of which only one level is currently available — will one day be a complete product.

This seems negligent at best, fraudulent at worst. Either Pixel Bomb have failed to notify Valve of their liquidation, or Valve have failed to take action.

The Mancunion has been unable to reach Pixel Bomb Games for comment.

Photo: Brendan Mulcahy

‘Youthquake’ more anecdotal than fact, survey suggests

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News, Uncategorised.

A post-2017 general election survey published by the British Election Study (BES) have asserted that the ‘youthquake’ of 2017 was indeed more anecdotal than fact.

This follows after an apparent wave of youth support for the Labour Party in 2017, with Corbyn appearing popular among younger voters as presupposed by his appearances at Glastonbury festival, social media strategies and even the Oxford English Dictionary declaring “youthquake” as their word of the year.

The figures released by the BES, of which have assessed electoral behaviour in Britain since 1964, have asserted that there was indeed little change between the levels of youth turnout in both the 2015 and 2017 General Elections.

Instead, the study has shown the most noteworthy increase of participation to be those aged between 25-40, whereby turnout dramatically increased from the 2015 election.

Respectively, turnout amongst younger voters in both elections remained between 40 and 50 per cent, with elderly voters still reigning as the most prominent age-group in voter turnout.

This is despite post-election polling which suggested that turnout amongst voters aged between 18-24 during the 2017 election had risen by anything from 12-16 per cent percentage points.

Whilst the BES notes that the survey contains a small margin of error, and thus it would be impossible to dismiss a small rise, or fall, in the youth turnout, directors of the study have claimed that: “We can be confident, though that there was no dramatic surge in youth turnout of the sort suggested by some other surveys. In short, there was no ‘youthquake’.”

Commenting on the figures, Emma Atkins, Education Officer at the University of Manchester Students’ Union has suggested that despite the data, “it shows even more how students’ votes count: students were instrumental in the swing to labour in Bristol, Sheffield and Norwich, and even the historic defeat of the Conservative MP in Canterbury which hadn’t happened for 170 years.”

She said that this is without mentioning too that the “sample size was too small compared to YouGov.”

The 2017 face-to-face survey assessed 2,194 people, of which 1,475 had their votes validated. The study included 109 18-24 year olds.

Critics have also pointed to the fact that the survey’s definition of ‘young’ as between 18-24 is too narrow to use as a measure of change against previous elections, with the data in-fact referring to a ‘young-adult quake.’

 

https://twitter.com/liamyoung/status/957884453271072768

Labour’s share of the youth vote did increase during the 2017 election. However, the BES have suggested that an increase in popularity is not emblematic of a surge in youth turnout and that the unexpected success of Labour is as a result of an increase of popularity amongst all ages groups, excluding those over the age of 70.

Review: The Lowry Hotel – £15.95 three course Jan/Feb menu

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Situated on the banks of the River Irwell, just a stone’s throw from vibrant Spinningfields, is the Lowry Hotel, part of the prestigious ‘Leading Hotels of The World’. Upon entering, I whispered to my dining companion “I really shouldn’t have worn trainers”. We were absolutely blown away by the style and luxury surrounding us, our student bubble was certainly far from sight.

A glass staircase led us towards the restaurant via the bar that looked incredibly James Bond-esque; I did feel a hint out of place. However, this feeling of non-belonging was completely swept away as soon as we were greeted by our wonderful waiter for the evening, Daniel. Daniel, the most hospitable, attentive, and friendly character, at once made us feel completely welcome.

We were seated in a semi-circular booth surrounded by elegant décor, modern art, with a view overlooking the river against the backdrop of city lights. The slightly dimmed lighting added to the ambience and felt wonderfully intimate and far away from the chatter of the other diners.

For the starter, we opted for the beetroot buckwheat risotto and the salt and pepper calamari. The latter was cooked to perfection, however, the beetroot and buckwheat risotto tasted slightly acidic, but still, pretty tasty.

Salt and pepper squid
Salt and pepper squid

 

Beetroot and buckwheat risotto
Beetroot and buckwheat risotto

For the main, we went for the W H Frost grilled beef onglet steak and the Josper grilled bread of chicken with a parsnip mash. The steak melted in the mouth, it was succulent and was topped with a gorgeous basil sauce that added the perfect cut of sharpness. However, the chicken dish was overall just too sweet.

Josper Grilled Breast of chicken
Josper Grilled Breast of chicken
W H Frost grilled beef onglet steak
W H Frost grilled beef onglet steak

Desert was the sticky Medjool date and toffee pudding and a cheese board. The sticky toffee pudding was “heaven and hell in a mouthful” and the cheese board was put together with skill, matching each cheese to its partner chutney.

lowry cheeseboard

Sticky Medjool date and toffee pudding
Sticky Medjool date and toffee pudding

The wine, although not included in the menu, is definitely worth mentioning. We opted for the New Zealand Pinot Grigio which was exquisite and complemented each course. Although slightly dear for the student purse, the whole meal is still pretty reasonable working out at £30 per head for half a bottle of wine and a three course — luxurious — meal.

Each course wasn’t rushed, the waiters gave us plenty of time to savour every mouthful and catch up on one another’s tales. We started at around 9:00pm and didn’t finish until 11:30pm, stumbling out of the restaurant with rather large food babies. The service made the meal an absolute delight and compensated for the sweet chicken and acidic risotto. Overall I would 10/10 recommend this menu, it is incredible value for money, the perfect spot for Valentine’s Day or a special occasion.

Photo: stefuhnee_kayy @flickr

Wins for UoM Water Polo

Written by Charlie Benny on . Posted in Sport.

UoM Men 14-8 Northumbria          UoM Women 15-7 Liverpool

After ending the last semester on a high, following an emphatic 19-3 win against Leeds, the girls showed no signs of slowing. They put on an excellent, professional display on the 31st of January, on home turf, showcasing exactly why teams so far have found them impossible to stop. Most impressive perhaps was the aggression and desire to win on show, which proved the foundation for another valuable victory, this time 15-7 against Liverpool.

In the early exchanges, Manchester began the brighter but the opening goal was somewhat unspectacular, after fantastic and persistent play from Llilians Calvo Gonzalez, which forced error in the Liverpool defence. The next goal, from Kathryn Fowler, was quite possibly the goal of the game, only rivalled by a later effort from the same player. Taking the ball in the pit level with the left post, a ferocious backhand slammed the ball into the top right hand corner. The quality unmistakeable-not just to have the technique to execute such a difficult shot, but the awareness to sense the opportunity.

The first quarter ended 4-1, with Manchester allowing controlled attacks and solid defending. As the second quarter began, Gonzalez grabbed two more goals in quick succession, before Dora Roughan scored either side of an effort from Hattie Burnell. In amongst a whole host of excellent performances, Roughan gave a stellar showing in both attack and defence. Manchester went into the break 9-2 to the good, and after half time continued to impress. Liverpool refused to give the game up, but Manchester reacted equally, and maintained their 7 goal advantage going into the final quarter, goals coming from Ellie Stewart-Dodd, Gonzalez and another screamer from Fowler-this time a long range effort finding it’s way past a helpless Liverpool goalkeeper.

Even in one of the closest games of the season so far against a strong Liverpool team, Manchester’s athleticism and team chemistry proved the difference between the two sides. The win was secured thanks to two penalty saves from Jenny Robbins, the first being the better of the two, tipping the powerful effort onto the post. 4th quarter goals coming from Rebecca Noël and Heather Lawson, after Gonzalez added her fifth goal. Vice Captain Anna Wynne was happy with the result, reflecting: “It’s the perfect way to start back. It was a tough game, but we have our coach to thank as we were prepared and able to show our ability”.

The men were equally impressive, running out a 14-8 winner against Northumbria. However, it was a well-contested start to the game, with both teams exchanging goal for goal. Edoardo de Caro opened the scoring, with Aiden O’Reilly and James Warman both getting on the scoresheet early on after being pegged back by Northumbria through the quarter. Manchester did end the quarter with the lead-Freddie Pearson’s precise effort making it 4-3.

It was only as the second quarter got underway, that Manchester managed to exert their quality and take control. After goals from Christoforos Vossos and Adam Sperry, a key moment in the match arrived. James Warman with a goal saving challenge with the score 6-3, showing strength and composure to avert the danger, and ensure a clean sheet was kept in the second quarter. This proved important as Manchester grabbed two more goals before half time, giving themselves a cushion and freedom going into the second half of the game.

After the restart O’Reilly scored again before Warman added a brace, the first of which an exceptional team goal-impressive chemistry so soon into the new semester. Harry King also found the net as Manchester continued to score consistently, restricting a Northumbria side to limited clear opportunities. The lead 12-5 at the end of the 3rd quarter, Northumbria had it all to do as the game neared its conclusion.

Despite facing a spirited response from their opponents, Manchester remained relatively resolute, though relying on goalkeeper Kieren Poland to make a string of spectacular saves. First tipping over from a powerful effort with the score still 12-5, he then did brilliantly to retrieve the ball in the very next attack, under the attention of two attackers. He followed this by going one better with two minutes to go, making a fantastic save facing a man-down attack. The game was rounded off with two goals from Harry Prestwich and a classy backhand from King, his third of the game. Certainly the men’s Firsts can be happy with their winning start to the Semester, a good enough performance but even more pleasing, the right result.

Reddit and weep: the influence of the forum

Written by Danny Jones on . Posted in Games.

17,574,855: as of the 29th of January 2018, that is the number of subscribers to ‘/r/gaming’. Safe to say, the gaming community has quite the presence on what is one of the most savage and unforgiving social media platforms. Reddit.

Better still, whilst it may be the primary location for users of the site to give their two cents on the latest titles and gaming news, this is by no means the only subreddit interested in video-games.

‘/r/Games’, though sounding rather all-encompassing, is a smaller, more critical and industry-focused thread, which despite being dwarfed by its older sibling up there, still clocks in at just under a million regular readers. We must not fail to mention either, the likes of the humorously named, ‘/r/pcmasterrace’, which represents an elitist subculture of gamers – around 1.3 million strong on the site.

There are hundreds more specific communities within communities. There are dedicated subreddits for League of Legends, Overwatch, even Pokémon GO, all of which compile and generate a swarm of social media around a single game, with the sheer mass and variety of users, resulting in some of the most unfiltered and thoroughly informed opinions you could hope for. Or does it?…

Now, I am not saying that Reddit isn’t a great place for spreading real fan opinion, but the issue I am proposing is that rather than giving fellow gamers a very honest and matter of fact review of a game — positive or negative — the worry is that this feedback often hijacks the opinions of others before they have even had a chance to play it themselves.

In 2010, NBC gaming writer, Winda Benetti, wrote an article on a recent study by Electronic Entertainment Design and Southern Methodist University, which detailed the extent of just how influential gaming reviews are on others experiences of a game after the fact.

Photo: NBC (on behalf of SMU & EEDAR)
Photo: NBC (on behalf of SMU & EEDAR)

Whilst the study focused on primarily positive reviews, noting that 91 per cent of players exposed to positive reviews of Plants vs. Zombies would similarly approve the game and recommend it to friends after playing through it themselves, those exposed to negative reviews were conversely swayed by preceding opinions of the game, with only 65 per cent offering their recommendation.

Of course, this study operated on a much broader scale, after all, reviews existed long before Reddit and the likes of us lot! The findings were in light of a combination of the player’s experience of the game and their response to 5 mainstream reviews; so, the question is how would the results look if we were just talking about Reddit?

As I mentioned previously, the general vibe of a Reddit review is a much more brutal and unadulterated in how, say, an IGN reviewer approaches a game they weren’t a massive fan of; and to be fair, there is a gulf even in positive reviews, with a Redditor’s approval of a game often spiralling quickly into fandom.

For example, if you look at a game such as No Man’s Sky, which despite having deep-seated issues from top to bottom, still managed to get generous 6s and 7s from the big media outlets. Turn to the Reddit community’s reaction to the game on the other hand, and things get uglier rather quickly. Take this post which sums up the consensus of those who played the game:

Screenshot: reddit
Screenshot: Reddit

The point being is that the culture of those on Reddit tends to be one in which highly passionate gamers feel a strong sense of obligation to deliver what they see as the truth about the latest games. As a community, I’d like to think we’ve gone beyond taking a mainstream review as read, and that our Spidey-senses get a’ tinglin’ when we see a game hit a 6 or 7.

With that being said, I postulate that the same influence gamers take from reviews by IGN or Gamespot, can only be greater when it comes to Reddit, given how the straight-talking spirit of its community is held in such high regard.

This esteem is built on the basis that those behind gaming subreddits are gamers just like you or me, and therefore, we are more likely to trust their words than, perhaps, an “interested” mainstream media outlet.

This is all speculation of course, at the end of the day, I’m sure most reviewers would consider themselves a gamer. However, if gamers are indeed more likely to believe the opinions of a Redditor and fellow player, then whether they love a game or absolutely berate it — and given the pattern of the academic study holds up —, we usually take it on board.

Point being, reviews are all well and good, but nothing beats experiencing a game first-hand. So even if you’re avid user of Reddit, or any gaming media site for that matter, don’t let yourself be part of the statistic that doesn’t make up their own mind up.

 

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Once in a ‘super blue blood moon’

Written by Aliya Ismangil on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

On the night of the 31st of January, Australia, Asia, and some part of the United States of America witnessed a lunar event that has not been observed in the western hemisphere for 150 years.

This rare astronomical event is the combination of a lunar eclipse, a supermoon, and a “blue moon” — an appearance of two full moons in one month, occurring every two and half years or so.

A lunar eclipse happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned. A shadow is cast over the Moon by the Earth, with only traces of sunlight refracted over the Earth illuminating it. This gives it a red appearance, which has lead this phenomenon being informally coined a ‘blood moon’.

A supermoon is when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit. This means the moon appears 7 per cent larger and 15 per cent brighter.

The coinciding of these three lunar events has lead to the name ‘super blue blood moon’ being coined and last week saw many excitedly anticipating the event. However, in an article for The Conversation published on Monday last week, the University of Manchester’s Professor of Astrophysics, Tim O’Brien, shared a more reserved sentiment with regard to this rare lunar event.

Professor O’Brien writes: “the trouble is that a supermoon in itself is not really all that special.” The moon follows an elliptical, oval-shaped, orbit around the Earth, so the distance between the two bodies can range between 360,000km to 406,000km. The moon is at its closest to the Earth more often than we think. It is only when this coincides with a full moon that a ‘fuss’ is made.

Professor O’Brien goes on to explain that even though the moon will appear larger at its closest point to the Earth in comparison to its furthest point, the increase in size is often exaggerated. The moon can appear larger just through an optical illusion and most people will have observed a larger moon on occasions that aren’t a ‘supermoon’.

Scientists know that the moon appears larger when closer to the horizon than high in the sky, although the exact reasons why this happens are still not understood.

But Professor O’Brien also goes on to say that a lunar eclipse is a valuable event for scientists to observe and can still learn a lot from: “The details of how the sunlight we see reflected from the moon during eclipse has been altered, scattered and absorbed on its way through our atmosphere, and how this is affected by, for example, volcanic eruptions or even meteor showers, are still being studied.”

The world is set to further lunar exploration in the near future. India’s space agency, ISRO, plans to launch an exploratory rover to the Moon later this year. In December, US President Donald Trump commissioned NASA to plan a manned mission to the Moon’s surface, the first since 1972.

Lunar scientist from the University of Manchester, Dr Katherine Joy, hopes that the revival of lunar exploration interest will set the scene for human space exploration and perhaps even a lunar base. “That’s what makes the Moon ideal – it’s only three days away,” says Dr Joy. “You can do all of those things and plan ahead for where you would go next, but retain that infrastructure around the Moon.”

Five tips for eating vegan as a student

Written by Calypso April on . Posted in Lifestyle.

It’s a common misconception that a vegan diet is unaffordable and inconvenient, especially on a student budget. Whilst it’s true that specialist vegan products can cost a fortune, you certainly don’t need them to create balanced, easy and delicious meals. Here are a few tips that I learned from taking part in ‘Veganuary’.

Keep it simple

Don’t get sucked into buying pricey vegan substitutes like plant-based cheeses and meats. They are expensive, not particularly healthy and often disappointing. Instead, opt for recipes which don’t require meat or dairy products, or substitute them with vegetables. For example, make a bolognese with lentils and minced mushrooms, rather than a mince substitute.

Check the label

A surprising amount of foods that you would assume contain meat or dairy can actually be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. Both ‘Veganuary’ and PETA have compiled lists of ‘accidentally vegan’ foods that you wouldn’t necessarily think could be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet.

This ranges from the weird, such as Sainsbury’s chicken flavour instant noodles, to the wonderful, including original Oreos, original and chocolate chip Hobnobs, Bourbon biscuits, Jus-Rol Bake-it-Fresh pain au chocolats, Co-op Jam doughnuts and many, many more.

It’s always worth checking the back of the packet to see if your favourite snacks contain dairy products or eggs, which will be listed in bold and don’t forget to check for gelatine too. Doing this can help save a lot of money on buying speciality vegan products, and, hopefully, allow you to keep eating some of your favourite foods!

Choose dried

Opting for dried rice, lentils and beans over their convenient pre-prepared counterparts is a massive money saver. Undeniably, pre-seasoned microwaveable sachets of rice and lentils do save time. On the other hand, learning to cook them for yourself is very easy, and you can get a vast amount more for your money.

The same goes for tinned beans, which are significantly cheaper if bought dry. However, a certain amount of organisation must go into the preparation of dried beans, which achieve the best results when soaked the night before cooking.

Go Local

Shun the big supermarkets and head to local grocery stores, such as those on the Curry Mile, for the best deals on fruit and vegetables. Not only are the prices cheaper, but these shops allow you to buy the amount of produce you need, rather than a predetermined packet size, which reduces both cost and waste.

In order to save more money, avoid buying pre-chopped packs of vegetables which are timesaving, but much more expensive than doing it yourself. For those interested in reducing their carbon footprint, try to choose vegetables that are in season.

Supplement B12

Most people worry that a vegan diet is deficient in protein or even calcium, which should not be a problem as long as you are eating a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Plants and grains provide an excellent source of most macro-nutrients.

The only exception to this is vitamin B12 — although certain foods are fortified with B12, such as non-dairy milk and marmite, it is much more reliable and advisable to take a supplement a few times a week, in order to prevent deficiency.

All ‘accidentally vegan’ foods were correct at time of going to print and sourced from the PETA and ‘Veganuary’ websites.

For more ‘accidentally vegan’ foods head to Veganurary Why’s ‘accidentally vegan’ website.

 

Photo: Album Artwork

Album Review: Fall Out Boy – M A N I A

Written by Ciaran McLaughlin on . Posted in Music.

I have somewhat fond memories of Fall Out Boy. ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down’ was one of the first songs I learnt to play with my mates, and I remember the hype when returned in 2013. But since that comeback, their new material hasn’t sat well with me.

With this in mind, expectations were pretty low for their 7th album, M A N I A. So call me surprised when even I come out disappointed. Pretty much everything that could go wrong, has.

The last thing anybody Fall Out Boy wanted to do was EDM pop. It seems to be a recent trend for rock bands to drastically change their sound to stay in the limelight.

This band formed 20 years ago and they’re still trying to remain ‘relevant.’ But instead of achieving this goal, the album comes off as a desperate effort, with them not only doing an awful job of it but also chasing dead trends.

The change feels forced and heavy-handed. Loud bashing electronic beats dominate throughout and with little variation. It all begins to mush together as the songs follow the same structure: a build-up verse followed by a chorus that has a cheap beat thrown over it, then repeat.

There are some chiptune vocals here and there, maybe a piano if they’re feeling adventurous, but who cares? It has been done to death now, and their attempt at it is a weak one.

The biggest problem lies in the production; it’s so chaotic and compressed. The electronic beats are far too overpowering and completely destroy the structure of the songs. Songs like ‘Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea’ or ‘Champions’ have these beats slapped over the chorus, dominating over everything else.

And these are just some of the worst offenders — every song suffers the same fate. I’ve seen defenders of the album claim that “it’s meant to be that way, it represents the title of the album” which I find absurd. Remember, if you’re doing a bad job intentionally, then you’re still doing a bad job.

This becomes even clearer as some songs start with promise, like ‘The Last of The Real Ones,’ before also disappointingly following the formula, destroying any potential. Because why have any good ideas when you can lazily throw a dumb beat over everything. That’s what the kids like, right?

There are some decent performances here and there, Andy is great on the drums and Patrick Stump still has some impressive vocals, but as a result of the production they are thrown into a dizzying mess and get lost.

The only remains of the old Fall Out Boy are the lyrics. Don’t worry; they still sound like an edgy 14-year-old emo’s tweets. “I’ll stop wearing black when they invent a darker colour” is repeated throughout the chorus of ‘Wilson (Expensive Mistakes.)’ It just sounds like a parody — but then again, they were never known for being master wordsmiths.

Any trace of the old Fall Out Boy has been cleansed and what remains is a rotting corpse of not only the band but music trends of five years ago. Previous works seem like masterpieces compared to M A N I A.

This is a disgrace to Fall Out Boy, pop rock and music in general. Don’t even bother with this. Please. It’s not even funny.

 

2/10

Photo: Album Artwork

Review: Craig David – The Time Is Now…?

Written by Imogen Doyle on . Posted in Music.

Rising to fame back in 1999 when he featured on the Artful Dodger’s single ‘Re-Rewind,’ he has had a number of successful years in the industry.

During this time he has managed to obtain two number-one singles and had his Born To Do It album not only reach number one, but stay in the Top 40 for 71 weeks.

All this happened, and then he disappeared for a number of years. Six years on he returned with sub-par music — firstly with the album Following My Intuition, and now with The Time Is Now.

The music he has created in the past couple of years isn’t bad, but it isn’t good either. None of his new stuff can be compared to the likes of ‘Fill Me In’ or ‘7 Days’ — it couldn’t even be classed in the same league.

Those songs are classics, staples which people still listen to now. I can’t imagine any of the songs from this album having the same effect and being able to withstand the test of time.

The two singles released pre-album offered a promising glimpse of what was to come. ‘Heartline’ has an incredibly catchy beat, making it difficult to forget once stuck in your head.

Once you find out that the song was produced by Jonas Blue, this fact is completely understandable. But even though the song’s beat is incredibly current, I don’t think this is one that will make lasting ripples.

‘I Know You’ is another track which was released pre-album. Just one of the many tracks on this album which feature another artist, this surprising collaboration with Bastille’s Dan Smith works well; Craig David’s vocals combined with a deep bass drop and a simple chorus makes for a good song, and it’s been propelled to number seven in the Top 40.

Throughout The Time Is Now it appears as though Craig David is grasping at straws to stay relevant, and as such, he appears a little behind the times.

This is further shown by the number of guest appearances on this album. With just under half the songs featuring another artist, from the likes of JP Cooper to Chase & Status, it appears as though he isn’t even the main focus of his own album. Not the desired effect I’m sure.

Rating is a 5/10 — for me, The Time Is (no longer) Now for Craig David.

Photo: Pixnio

UoM study finds sandwiches have same environmental impact as cars

Written by Becca Windsor on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

Rarely do people think about the environmental impact of buying a meal deal, but University of Manchester researchers have done just that. A study carried out at the university has looked at 40 different sandwich types, recipes and combinations and discovered that the British penchant for sandwiches generates, on average, 9.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This is roughly the same amount as 8.6 million cars in one year.

According to the British Sandwich Association (BSA), around 11.5 billion sandwiches are eaten in the UK per year. Half of which are made at home and half are bought in shops. This means there is an estimated total national expenditure of £8 billion a year on this student lunch classic.

Professor Adisa Azapagic from the School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Sciences, and head of the Sustainable Industrial Systems research group who conducted the study, says: “given that sandwiches are a staple of the British diet, as well as their significant market share in the food sector, it is important to understand the contribution from this sector to the emissions of greenhouse gases.”

The study focused on both home-made and pre-packaged sandwiches, considering the whole production process, including sourcing of ingredients, transport, packaging and eventual food waste. The largest contributor to a sandwich’s carbon footprint was found to be the agricultural production and processing of its ingredients.

Alarmingly, keeping sandwiches chilled on supermarket shelves contributes to a quarter of their greenhouse gas emissions. However, extending their shelf life and using less conservative sell-by dates could greatly reduce their impact on the environment, possibly by as much as half. The BSA estimates that doing so could lead to an estimated 2000 tonne reduction in food waste annually.

Out of the 40 sandwich types considered, the one with the largest carbon footprint was the “all-day breakfast” sandwich consisting of egg, bacon and sausage. It was estimated that this sandwich generates up to 1,441 grams of CO2 equivalent, comparable to driving a car for 12 miles.

The sandwich with the smallest carbon footprint was a classic ham and cheese. Pork meat (bacon, ham or sausage), tomatoes, prawns and cheese were considered the most carbon-intensive ingredients.

An important conclusion highlighted was that making your own sandwiches can reduce carbon emissions by half, compared to shop-bought or ready-made sandwiches. Using plant-based ingredients, rather than meaty alternatives, could greatly reduce environmental impact, reduce calorific intake and would be a major step towards a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Photo: Millie Nettleton @ The Mancunion

Review: Drake & Morgan

Written by Millie Nettleton on . Posted in Food & Drink.

January rolls around and the eternal struggle presents itself afresh: sticking to resolutions. The likelihood is, you’ve made some arbitrary promises to drink less, eat better and keep fit.

But as we students flock back to uni, once again leaving the warm comforts of home cooking and laundry that magically does itself, university in January always feels like a shock to the system; the warm duvet of festivity is ripped off, and there you lie, naked, exposed, facing exams and deadlines alike.

That daily run looks a lot less appealing when it’s still dark at 8am, and drizzling constantly. You try to warm up with multiple servings of pasta. You push the guilt to the back of your mind, you’ve always got Chinese new year…

Well fear not, young and sleep deprived. If you can spare an hour or two from your daily schedule of revision and scrolling through Facebook, the Drake and Morgan has your back.

Yes, you can shun the guilt while going out for a dinner less than 500 calories, and it includes some of God’s greatest creations: steak and seafood.

For just £9.95 you can enjoy steak, prawns and a glass of prosecco, clocking up under 500 calories on your my fitness pal. And not the dieting type? Bulking? No problem, upgrade to steak, lobster and chips with a glass of champagne for £19.95.

Of course, to review, I had to try both, which included forcing my boyfriend to share his lobster and chips with me.

The Drake and Morgan in Spinningfields is a cool-looking establishment with a classy vibe; perhaps that was the work party going on, but it was packed with corporate suit-wearing types which certainly gave the shabby chic interior a sophistication.

Sitting down, my man and I ordered straight away; we had a game plan after all. Drinks arrived first, the prosecco was okay, a little tart perhaps, but the champagne was undoubtedly a step up. To my amazement, our food arrived in less than ten minutes — definite brownie points there.

The food looked gorgeous too, though unfortunately no amount of presentation could have made the prawn and steak option look like a plate full.

Being carnivores, we’d both asked for our steak to arrive rare, and it was gorgeous, pink in the middle, but seared nicely on the outside, if a little small.

The prawns were bursting with flavour, a good sign of both well-cooked and fresh produce, but there were only two. I personally felt the lobster was a little wanting, but my date insisted that it was delicious. The chips were great too, crispy on the outside, soft in the middle. The salad, undressed, might as well have not been there.

All in all, especially with the cheaper portion, it just wasn’t enough. Perhaps it was my stomach used to gorging Christmas dinner style portions, but I finished the meal wondering where my food had gone, and desperate for a dessert.

Their dessert menu suddenly felt overpriced considering the bargain of the meal itself. Instead of getting a £6 crème brûlée to share, we swung by Sainsbury’s on the way home and bought a £3 cheesecake for 6.

In short, though the food was excellent, don’t expect it to save you calories, as you will probably end up eating later (possibly even three people’s worth of cheesecake).

Photo: masao_nakagami @ Flickr

Live review: The Charlatans

Written by Jack Greeney on . Posted in Music.

Old time UK band The Charlatans performed at the O2 Apollo on December 2nd. The alternative rockers had come to Manchester on a nationwide tour to celebrate the release of their latest album Different Days.

And it has been happy days for the band so far, with the album highly acclaimed by both critics and fans alike.

The Manchester date surely holds some special significance for the band, having been associated with the city for decades, and with lead vocalist Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins hailing from the Greater Manchester area.

Even the freshly released album contains Manchester in abundance, featuring contributions and collaborations from members of New Order and Johnny Marr.

They survived the rise and fall of Britpop, and so too the ephemeral Madchester scene. In fact, it seems like this band will outlive any of the fleeting musical trends to which they have often been assigned. Despite a music career fast approaching 30 years, The Charlatans are keeping material fresh and fans happy.

Some might say the act are even experiencing a renaissance of acclaim gone by. Their newest album, 13th in number, and its equally revered predecessor have entered them into what could be a second golden age of production — and to think that most bands who experience early success spend the rest of their careers playing out their first album onstage.

No such early-work homogeneity here. During the performance the band pinballs between different ages of their long recording history with ease. This recent emergence of a creative high allows them to play songs from the new records alongside the well-loved classics without the feeling that they are included as part of an advertising campaign, as they are equal in quality.

The crowd seemed overwhelmingly pleased over the course of the two-hour set, despite some of the slower songs not appearing to grip the audience as comprehensively as the energetic pieces preceding them.

On the vast majority, however, the audience was treated to a great onstage performance from the plenty-experienced act. It’s clear they know how to make an entry that will grab the audience by the ears.

Perhaps it is the energy and seemingly permanent youth of Burgess too, baggy jumpers and moppy hair looking like he rolled straight out of bed from the 90s, that brings a great positive energy to the show throughout, his voice still as good as his snake hips. Get our kid on Strictly.

It is clear too that the band respect live performance as an art form, to the benefit of all watching on. Burgess may say “everything sounds better live,” but it is clear that additional effort has been put into rendering this show a particular example.

An expansive lighting show, at times impressive and others blinding, takes a good stab at supplementing the overall performance. Among the highlights were a recorded spoken word performance from fiction writer Ian Rankin and old footage in tribute to passed keyboardist Rob Collins and drummer Jon Brookes.

The last couple of songs in the main act, the original hit ‘The Only One I Know’ and ‘Let The Good Times Be Never Ending,’ particularly got the crowd moving, providing a well-planned climax to the show. A two-song encore including the great ‘Sproston Green’ left the crowd appearing satisfied.

Whilst many fans in the music world mistake nostalgia for relevance, The Charlatans are no such case.

8/10

Formula 1: Pre-Season News and Gossip

Written by Jack Greeney on . Posted in Sport.

You’re Going to Lose that Grid Girl

‘Grid Girls’ will no longer be used in Formula 1 races from the start of the 2018 season in March.  Director of Commercial Operations Sean Bratches said the change comes after the Formula One Group “looked at a number of areas which we felt needed updating so as to be more in tune with our vision”. Last week the Professional Darts Corporation also said female promotional models would no longer be used at their events, in a move which received the applause of the Women’s Sport Trust.

Formula E Plans Daring Overtake

The founder of Formula E, Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, is confident his series will overtake Formula 1 as the biggest racing championship in the world within 20 years. A shift in government attitudes against combustion engines in favour of electric cars could be pivotal in the growth of the Formula E series in years to come. “Formula E will be the main motorsport championship because it is the championship that is connected to the industry”, says Agag. The Formula E season continues in Mexico City on March 3rd.

Bottas Admits Overthinking Hurt Form

Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas has admitted that overthinking hurt his form in 2017, his first season with the Mercedes team. While teammate Lewis Hamilton battled with Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel for the championship last year, Bottas fell off the pace. “You can easily overthink things and then it becomes less natural driving”, said Bottas in an interview with Motorsport. Bottas also says he “learnt massively from those difficult races”, and believes he will be “a much more complete, much quicker driver” in 2018.

The 2018 Formula 1 Championship season starts in Australia, March 23rd – 25th.