Dux Magazine

DUX

The St. Michael’s School Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHY: HANNAH DILLON

Editor’s note Welcome to the first issue of DUX, St Michael's very own online magazine. Thanks to the all the people who contributed, especially Emilia Jarosz and Jasmine Wisdish for their photos, and congratulations to Hannah Dillon for winning the front cover competition. Inside DUX you'll find lots of features and news items, including beauty tips, fashion and culture updates, and an interview with best selling author Robert Muchamore of the CHERUB series. Don't forget this is your magazine, so we really welcome your contributions for future issues, and of course let us know what you think of DUX! -Florianne Humphrey DUX MAGAZINE EDITOR

The Team

Yeme Anjeli Olivia Ali Ndi Laura-May

Playlist I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor Arctic Monkeys Time is Running Out Muse American Pie Don McLean Hotel California The Eagles Since you’ve been gone Rainbow She Moves in Her Own Way Kooks Blowing in the Wind Bob Marley Seven Nation Army White Stripes What You Know Two Door Cinema Club Rolling in the Deep Adele Pumped up Kicks Foster the People Surfin’ the USA Beach Boys

Drunk Ed Sheeran Feel Good Inc The Gorillaz Underdog Kasabian My Girl Madness Rock Star Nickleback Pencil Full of Lead Paolo Nutini The One Love REM Pinball Wizard The Who

Designed by Clemy Humphrey

We caught up with Mr J. Ward to find out a little more about St. Michael’s next Head!

By Ndi Iwumene

ow do you feel about your recent appointment as St Michael’s next head?

I feel very honoured and privileged because I have spent a long time at the school, it’s a school that I love. It’s a big responsibility but I like challenges in my life and I hope to move the school forward.

What do you think you can offer as Head that none of your predecessors have done?

The most obvious thing is that I will be the first male head teacher. I suppose, most of what I want to achieve is to be more successful at all the things we are already doing. For example St Michael’s achievements in terms of its exam results, the provision of extra-curricular activities for students, and it’s standing in the Catholic community. All I want to do is enhance all of those.

If there was one thing you could change about our school what would it be?

I’d like to knock the school down apart from the sports hall. A lot of our buildings were designed for another era so our classrooms are small and our corridors are narrow. We do have one or two fit-for-purpose areas.

However we need larger classrooms, more laboratories to create a more modern environment

What do you love most about St Michael’s?

The pupils, I really enjoy working with fantastic, wellmotivated, moral young people. St Michael’s is full of those people and they are an inspiration to me.

What did you aspire to be as a school boy?

I wanted to be somebody who worked in industry. There was lots of industrial unrest in the early 1970s, I wanted to be the manager, who would sort out all the problems and make British industry great again.

What advice would you give to St Michael’s students who are uncertain about future careers?

The key is not to be too quick to make decisions about your future, you’re still very young.

In my own experience, up until the age of 22 I wanted to go into business but ended up going into teaching. So do what your good at and let the career choose itself, out of what your good at.

Imagine you’re stuck on an island and can only have two items with you what would they be and why?

I’d like a computer and radio. I really do enjoy listening to what is going on in the world and the analysis provided by Radio 4.

I like to know why things are happening and who is doing it. A computer for a bit of escapism; I quite like playing strategic war games.

What has been one of the toughest decisions you have had to make in your life so far?

Getting married. I don’t think you can jump into marriage without thinking very carefully about why you are doing it. I would say I got married for love and after thinking through the rational of why I love this woman so much and why I think this marriage would last forever.

What was the last film you watched and what did you think of it?

Warhorse, but I was very disappointed. I think Steven Spielberg concentrated too much on the fantasy element of the story, I’d have preferred it to be as realistic as possible.

Are you into social networking sites or strongly against it?

Strongly against, like most of my generation. I spend enough time socialising in reality without having to go talk to people in an abstract format. Also anything you put out on the internet is not as private as you think.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like gardening, spending time wife my wife and family. In particular we became grandparents almost three years ago, (laughs) I’m sure all grandparents will agree that it makes you soppy. It gives you the excuse to be childlike once again with your grandchild, like a second childhood.

Is there a lifelong dream you still want to achieve?

Professionally no. However I would like to see that after I have left St. Michael’s it is an even better school. Plus I hope that my three children and their children are fortunate enough to have a happy existence.

Recipes Jasmine Wisdish Mississippi mud pie

From the bourbon biscuit base to the fudge topping. This recipe for Mississippi mud pie is a chocolate-lovers delight.

Preparation method

For the base 300g/10½oz bourbon biscuits, crushed 75g/2½oz butter, melted For the filling 85g/3oz dark chocolate, minimum 70 per cent cocoa solids 85g/3oz butter 2 free-range eggs 85g/3oz muscovado sugar 100ml/3½oz double cream For the fudge sauce 150g/5½oz dark chocolate, minimum 70 per cent cocoa solids 150ml/5½fl oz double cream, plus extra to serve 3 tbsp golden syrup 175g/6oz icing sugar, sieved

Preheat the oven to 180C/365F/Gas 4.

Mix the biscuits and melted butter together in a bowl. Press the mixture into the base and sides of a 23cm/9in springfrom tin. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.

For the filling, melt the chocolate and butter together in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. (Do not let the base of the bowl touch the water).

Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and sugar together in a bowl for 5-6 minutes, or until thick and creamy.

Fold in the cream and melted chocolate mixture. Pour into the chilled springform tin and bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes, or until just set. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.

Meanwhile, for the fudge sauce, heat all of the fudge sauce ingredients in a saucepan, stirring regularly, over a medium heat until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.

Spread the sauce over the cooled pie and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes. Serve with double cream.

Salmon burgers with basil and lime mayonnaise These tasty salmon burgers are a healthy barbecue option. Skip the bun if you want to be super-healthy.

600g/1lb 5oz skinless salmon, cut into chunks 75g/2½oz white breadcrumbs 1 free-range egg white 1 shallot, finely chopped 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil salt and freshly ground black pepper 2-3 tbsp vegetable oil, for frying For the basil and lime mayonnaise 200g/7oz mayonnaise from a jar 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil 1 lime, juice and zest only 1 garlic clove, crushed to a paste salt and freshly ground black pepper To serve 4 ready-made focaccia buns, griddled lightly to toast 1 Webbs lettuce, leaves separated 2 tomatoes, sliced

Preparation method Place the salmon, breadcrumbs, egg white, shallot and basil into a food processor and pulse until combined, but not purĂŠed, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Divide the mixture into four portions and shape each portion into a burger shape. Place onto a plate and transfer to the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then add the burgers and fry for three minutes on each side, or until golden-brown all over and completely cooked through.

For the basil and lime mayonnaise, place the mayonnaise, basil, lime zest and juice, and garlic into a bowl. Mix together well and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

To serve, place the lettuce and tomato slices onto one side of each focaccia bun, top with a burger and a dollop of lime mayonnaise, then add the lids to the buns. Serve on plates with a portion of chips alongside.

The Beauty Page Tip of the week Eyes L’Oreal Super Liner

We’ve all had a liquid eye liner disaster at some point in our lives- some of us even avoid it completelyhowever I have found one which will never let you down and seems to be immune to shaky hand syndrome. The L’Oreal Super Liner which you can pick up at your local boots for only £6.49 is a felt tip pen-like eyeliner which allows you to do as thin or as thick a line as you want and is also smudge proof. My personal favourite is ‘Carbon Gloss’ but there are 4 different ones in this range so you have the choice. It’s quick, easy to use, durable and relatively cheap so if you’re looking for liquid eyeliner, this is the one

If you’re going out and you’ve decided to put on some eye shadow but don’t have a primer just dab some Vaseline or chap stick on your eye lid before you put it on. It works just as well as a primer and your eye shadow will stay on all night.

Lips MAC Crème sheen Gloss In my opinion this is one of the best lip-gloss collections on the market at the moment and for those of you who wear lip-gloss on a daily basis, you’ll know how hard it is to find the perfect one.

The MAC Crème sheen comes in 14 shades ranging from baby pink to dark brown; it stays on for a long time but most importantly it isn’t sticky.

Unlike the Clarins lipgloss collections, which feel like spreading honey on your lips, the MAC ones are really smooth.

The only downside is the price (£16) but if you don’t mind spending money on lip-gloss, I recommend it.

Skin Care Neutrogena all the way I’ve been searching for the best spot treatments for a long time and I have to conclude that Neutrogena beats every other brand hands down. Their deep cleansing wipes and 8 hour spot treatments really do dramatically reduce redness and though I was a bit weary of the strong chemical smell coming out of the wipes, it got rid of my breakout so whatever they are putting in their products is magical.

Unlike the Clearasil products, which contain bleach (yesbleach! If you don’t believe me, squeeze some on to a black t-shirt and watch it go yellow), the Neutrogena face washes don’t dry out your skin too much. As for their creams, I think you can get the same result from most other brands but in all other categories, Neutrogena does what it says on the box.

Your London A guide to London’s best-kept secrets Places of interest Old Operating Theatre: near Borough Market, it is one of the most unusual museums in London and one of the oldest hospital theatres in Europe. Open every day from 10.30pm-5pm. http://www.thegarret.org.uk/ The Old Bailey: Oscar Wilde and Peter Sutcliffe were amongst those tried in the most famous courthouse in Britain and it is open to the public to watch trials, which may benefit those interested in law. You have to be aged 14 and over, and 14 to 16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

London Walks: Experience a two-hour trip around London for just £6 for students, £8 for adults, and children under 15 are free, with different themes, including Harry Potter, ghosts and Jack the Ripper. http://www.walks.com/ Ghost Bus Tours: Ride in a classic route master redesigned (and painted black) to look like the 19th century Necropolis Buses. Actors, sound effects and a creepy conductor combined with stories of haunted locations, unmarked burial grounds and skeletons in the capital’s cupboard make this one of the scariest bus journeys you will ever go on! http://theghostbustours.com/index.html

Theatre

Art Workshops

The Globe offers £5 tickets for “groundlings”.

You have to stand, but you are right by the stage. http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/

V&A’s youth programme, Create!, includes workshops, courses, career-focussed events, festivals and projects. http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/ab out-create/

If you are between the ages of 16 and 25, you can apply for a free pass that reduces the cost of National Theatre performances to £5. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/39323/entry -pass/are-you-16-25-years-old.html The Unicorn Theatre holds performances aimed at young people. http://unicorntheatre.com/

If you are between the pages of 13 and 18 you can attend Somerset house’s Studio Days, where there are regular workshops exploring various art skills. http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/learning/ young-people

London

Weekend There were plenty of cute

vintage cafes and cupcake shops within the shopping area and a great sitting area outside where you could style spot with a coffee in the sun. Somerset House has a gorgeous balcony from which you could see some brilliant views of London, and was used for many photo opportunities throughout the day.

London Fashion weekend is a four day shopping event held in either September for the Autumn/Winter season and February for the Spring/Summer season. It’s a chance for everyone to get their hands on much coveted designer and high street

brands at up to 70% off. We went on Sunday 26th February, a beautifully sunny day for February, perfect for a day at Somerset House, the home of London Fashion week and one of the most beautiful buildings in Central London for a designer shopping experience.

When you enter Somerset House, you are struck by a large screen displaying the highlights of London Fashion

Week, showing you the trends of the season and all of the celebrities that attended with their opinions on the shows. There was also a catwalk

area, of which an editor has chosen the best looks from all of Fashion Week, allowing everyone to have a taste of what it is like to actually be at a fashion show.

The shopping area had bargains from iconic British designers such as

Vivienne Westwood and Twenty8Twelve, Sienna Miller’s fashion label. This was the perfect place to buy a signature or statement piece for your wardrobe, as almost every item was on sale! If you’re into vintage clothing, there was the vintage boutique, which had a huge range of London’s very best vintage sellers’ collections and top vintage entertainment acts and DJs to get you in the retro mood.

There was something for the men too, as there was one area stocked full with mens

clothing from Marc Jacobs, Viktor &

Rolf and Valentino. There were plenty of pampering opportunities, with a Benefit brow bar offering the perfect eyebrows and

Toni & Guy showcasing the seasons hair trends whilst cutting and styling your hair for a special fashion week price.

Elizabeth Arden were sharing make up secrets and giving makeovers, teaching you how to recreate looks you may have previously thought you couldn’t do at home, at no charge!

I would seriously recommend visiting London Fashion Weekend if you appreciate designer goods and want them at a more accessible price. Its a fabulous day

out for friends who love to shop and for those who want to find clothing thats different to what everyone else has. Tickets start at £12.50 a ticket, which is not too expensive, if you consider the amount of money you’re going to be saving!

For more information: http://www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk Anjeli Caderamanpulle

On Wednesday the 8th of February, I was able to attend one of the Hammersmith Apollo auditions for Britain’s Got

Talent with friends. The snow had half melted but the wind was still incredibly icy, and as we queued I slowly began to lose feeling in my toes. But the queuing and discomfort was worth it when we entered and saw just where we would be seated.

We were only a few rows behind the judges, with an excellent view of the stage and the panel- it was a random stroke of luck! It was weird seeing Ant and Dec in the flesh, but they were just as funny as per usual; although we only saw them briefly as they were introducing the acts in the wings.

When the judges made their way slowly down the aisle the crowd went crazy.

Cameras were flashing, people were screaming and outstretched arms were wildly grabbing and high fiving. First came David Walliams (he was my favourite judge), next was Alesha Dixon.

in an eye catching vermilion trouser suit, then angel

faced Carmen Electra and finally, bringing up the rear (the screaming escalated a little more at this point) was Simon Cowell, lazily flashing his Hollywood smile. After a short announcement from Simon (and a quick touch up from an ever alert team of make-up artists) the auditions began.

The handful of acts that we saw were really varied and diverse, so that definitely kept things interesting. The very first act consisted of an enormous burrito being made- hurried along by the rapid strumming of a sombrero wearing band There was a sweet old man, clutching his dog close as he sang. Simon voiced what I think most of the audience were thinking- “why isn’t the dog doing something too?”. But it turned out that the little guy was merely there for moral support- subsequently drawing a collective “Awww!” from the crowd.

We also saw the colourful Jesus (pronounced “Hayzeus”) who performed a memorable carnival inspired routine.

Two acts that were met with rowdy applause and cheering were a girl in her late teens who belted out a powerful and beautiful rendition of Prince’s ‘Purple

Rain’ and a dance trio who performed a fantastic twist on Labrinth’s ‘Earthquake’. There was also that one act, which isn’t particularly talented, but who comes across so likable and funny that the audience are on their side- I don’t remember his name, but he wrote his own song and the phrase “What A

Geezer!” was repeated a lot! Two Italian girls rolled on stage in large plastic balls filled with petals to carry out an unusual but graceful routine. It was a little on the long side and consequently they were met with low boos and cries of “Off! Off! Off!” but I’m still not entirely sure if they could hear this reaction from inside their plastic bubbles.

“Bring him back!”- Simon’s hand discreetly

The audience were generally a supportive bunch though- particularly in the case of a breakdancer who prompted a mixed reaction amongst the panel. But with the audience chanting (myself included)

Olivia Nwabali

encouraging us from behind his seat- the dancer was given another shot. There were about another seven acts- all maintaining the diversity of talents. I won’t say which of the aforementioned acts got through and who fell just short of qualifying (although you can probably guess the outcome of a few already) but simply conclude that it was a really good experience! The camera was constantly swooping over the audience, and knowing my luck if I do appear for a brief moment on the television it will be the precise moment that I was choking on my water...or jumping out of my seat in shock at how loud the buzzers were. However, I wasn’t the only one doing this- the noise really was deafening!

If like me, you only watch Britain’s Got Talent for the often comical and sometimes amazing audition phase, then I can promise, at least from the brief selection that I saw, that you will not be disappointed!

Good Reads reviews by Yeme Onoabhagbe

The Knife of Never Letting Go,

by Patrick Ness

It’s amazing how Ness captures Todd’s emotions and thoughts with barely any words. It’s the way he writes and what he writes.

This is definitely an interesting one, partly because of the plot idea and also because of the way it was written. Set in the future, the story is about Todd Hewitt, the

last boy in Prentistown, a little settlement in New World where all boys become men at the age of 13. In this reality, all men have Noise – which means that they can all hear each others thoughts. The Women didn’t have it. They were killed during the war by the ‘germ’ that had caused the Noise, released by the

Spackle (aliens).

Todd begins the story with this knowledge certain in his mind but then things happen, and Todd begins to doubt and it is soon clear that no one has been telling him the whole truth, something he now desperately wants. But then when things

are revealed and Todd discovers

how dangerous the truth is, he wishes he’d never found it. And all the while he’s running from it.

This fast-paced book is written cleverly in Todd’s own voice and captures the young boy’s fears, worries, and excitement and general feelings of frustration in wonderful flair. I remember myself feeling straight away in the first chapter, at least, that I was definitely going to like Todd and this book.

You don’t get all the answers at the beginning, but you don’t need them.

Some people who are naturally impatient may not like this, but you get to feel the frustration,

longing and desperation to finally understand. You do it with Todd and the fact that I needed to know, the fact that he made me want to know so badly the truth, makes Ness remarkable. The book was genuine and straight after the book; it felt like I had lost a friend.

At the end of the book, I wouldn’t say I was satisfied, as in I’d had enough, because there was more to the story (it’s a trilogy) but then again I was definitely full and

contented in the sense that Ness couldn’t have done anything more to make this story perfect, as, in my opinion, it already was.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Before I even read this book, I knew it was going to be something special. It all goes around the idea of a future reality, a post-apocalyptic world in a country called Panem where there are 12 districts and

by Michael Grant

the Capitol which has complete power over the rest of the country. The Hunger Games is an event held annually where one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18 are chosen at random to compete in a televised battle where only one

In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears – Gone. Except for the young - anyone under the age of 15. It’s every child’s dream, right? No parents to tell you what to do; no teachers to bore you; no rules and regulations to prevent

person survives.

Collins introduces the main character of

Katniss Everdeen with outstanding flair and as we watch her develop and grow as a character, she becomes someone that you root for her and worry for when things become dangerous. What was especially great about the book was how I couldn’t seem to get it out of my head. I was reading it and unable to stop, it was just that gripping. I needed to know what happened next. We experience the ordeal through Katniss’s eyes and it felt truly real. I think that the fact that I was literally sucked into the story shows the true mark of an excellent writer.

The plot is both rich and satisfying, the author’s style both innovative and captivating and the obvious link to the real world is so good that it brings out emotions for the reader. It is definitely a must-read and a book which should be shared around the world for all to enjoy.

Let’s just hope the film, does the book justice.

you from your freedom. But when it’s discovered that there is a dome trapping the children in Perdido Beach, things don’t seem as great. A new terrifying world emerges and it begins to dawn on the children that they are all stuck. Now there are no parents to look after them; no teachers to keep them occupied during the day; no rules and regulation to keep them safe; because there are no rules.

Michael Grant introduces Sam Temple, the main character, straight away as the hero, the one who repeatedly saves the day. It’s hard not to love Sam, and he really is a lovely character but with enough flaws and mishaps to seem human. I enjoyed reading the story and following his journey as things grew worse and worse for the children of Perdido Beach. The book essentially follows many different characters and we get to watch how they cope differently to their predicament – a little like Lord of the

Flies, some do become monsters, some just can’t cope, some unexpected people triumph and some just survive.

There is never a moment when the plot looses its

momentum. You are always on your feet.

The tension builds so much that just when you think the story can’t get any more astonishing and bizarre, something crazy happens and your left wide-eyed.

Gone is a book that I would recommend to fans of suspenseful, adventure-type fiction.

From the big screen…

500 Days of Summer, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel

The film is about Tom Hansen, an average 20-something a desperate romantic who believes in destiny and true love. He falls for Summer; a girl who does not believe in love or fate but falls for Tom nonetheless; however always making clear that they have not got a ‘serious relationship.’

The soundtrack is just

mesmerising; there are songs on it that I had never previously heard of but now am literally obsessed with – especially the two songs Hero and Us by

Regina Spektor which were pretty perfect for this particular film.

I chose this film to review because it

isn’t ordinary or predictable. It was captivating to me because it isn’t a love story. It isn’t the normal Boy meets Girl, Boy loses Girl and then Boy gets Girl in the end. It’s a story about love, and a beautiful portrayal.

In simple words, this film needs to

be watched because it is a rarity. And when people years from Throughout the film we see their relationship develop until Summer breaks up with Tom and we wonder if it was really true love. Tom can’t get her out of her mind, but was she really right for him? Tom really grows as a character, especially in his job and his understanding of love, and you feel proud of him for facing up to reality in the end instead of living on the

hopes of his expectations.

It’s not a hugely funny film, rarely any rom-coms are, but there are moments when you have to laugh – to which I give a thumbs up to the great

writers. But then of course it doesn’t need to be funny to be a good film.

now talk fondly about that film called 500 Days of Summer, I’ll be proud to say I had watched it, and I really hope that you’ll be able to say that as well. reviewed by Yeme Onoabhagbe

What’s on the

Being Human (on BBC 3)

The idea of Being Human is the struggle of

supernatural beings living amongst Suits (on Dave) Mike Ross is a clever college dropout who, with his natural intelligence and eidetic memory, makes a living taking tests for other people.

Harvey Spector is one of New York’s top attorneys who recently becomes a senior partner at his firm and is forced to hire an associate.

After a chance interview with Mike, Harvey is amazed by Mike’s amazing knowledge of law and genuine desire to be a lawyer and so he hires him. They pretend that he has a Harvard degree so that Mike can get into the firm.

It takes a new and unexpectedly good

spin on the typical law and crime sitcom. It’s useful to anyone hoping to become a lawyer because it shows you what being a lawyer really is like - dealing with the clients, the paperwork, the colleagues, and the general

pressure. Mike and Harvey have great

chemistry and it’s interesting to watch them when they collide. This original show is a lot of fun and I admit it’s probably not for everyone but I would recommend it to law/crime/suspense lovers.

humans. It is about a werewolf, a ghost and a vampire all living in a house together. They are constantly threatened with exposure and

persecution and the problems caused by their attempts at being human. George is the reluctant und cautious werewolf, Mitchell the rugged and regretful vampire and Annie the

animated and over talkative ghost. Toby Whithouse, the creator, produces a beautiful balance between the riveting drama of the series and beguiling humour. I believe, that’s what makes it so special: the fact that at a huge peak in an episode you find yourself smiling as well. I admit, every so often, to crying and laughing at the same time.

Happy Endings (on E4) Happy Endings, similar to Friends, is about six

friends living in Chicago - formerly engaged Dave and Alex, married couple Brad and Jane, and single friends Max and Penny.

The series first begins with the group dealing with the breakup of the couple that first brought them all together, Dave and Alex. After they decide to stay friends, the series kicks off. We get to see the individual characters grow and develop and shine. Alex is a bubbly cute women who owns a boutique with typically no customers; Dave is slightly unconventional mainly because he is a child trapped in a man’s body; Jane is a control

freak, competitive, a perfectionist and deals with her problems by drinking loads of vodka; Max is an openly gay, sarcastic, lazy man who nonetheless is my favourite character and the one I’d most like to meet; Brad is romantic, overenthusiastic and tries to please; he is straight but acts surprisingly gay at times; Penny is the groups’ desperate single friend, who is more than a little eccentric and bizarrely funny to watch.

It’s a relaxing, comical show.

It’s nowhere close to the funniness of Friends, and I really doubt anything will be. Although, you’d think that the whole six-friend concept is out-dated, it’s a great show. I’d recommend this of course to fans of Friends, but also fans of funny shows, interesting shows, and sometimes unpredictable shows. all reviewed by Yeme Onoabhagbe

Don McCullin Exhibition Don McCullin exhibition at the Imperial

War Museum: (runs until April 15th) “I want you to look at my photographs. I don’t want you to reject and say: “No, I can’t do that. I can’t look at those pictures. They are atrocious pictures.” Of course they are!

But I want to become the voices of the people in those pictures.” Don McCullin I ended up visiting two of Don McCullin’s photography exhibitions. The first only showed a small selection of his pieces.

There was a focus on social problems such

as homelessness and 12 photo prints of the conflict in Berlin during the beginning of the Cold War. These were shown at The Tate Britain as part of the BP British Art Displays collection. I looked specifically at the Berlin ones as I had chosen to do war as the topic for my AS

Level art project. It was weird seeing these photos as 7 months prior I had been standing on the same streets of Friedrichstrasse. I had visited Berlin in the summer holidays for 5 days, and I automatically compared in my mind the two scenes. Back in July I had seen a large Starbucks, an apothecary and several delicious smelling bakeries- in these photos there were tanks and austere, grey buildings. Impressed by his work I decided to visit his official exhibition at the Imperial War Museum for further artist research. It was called ‘Shaped by War:

Photographs by Don McCullin’ and was a testament to his lifetime of documenting war.

The exhibition was incredible, and I must have been in there for about an hour and a half, taking down all my project notes and experiencing his journey though the imposing black and white photographs. I cried a couple of times, but mostly I was just shocked.

Everyone knows the atrocities, the tragedy and the loss that war spawns. But the photographs on show connected

with

the viewer on a different level. I felt so sad and frustrated as I looked into endless eyes; some were haunted, others shell-

shocked, but most filled with despair.

We are a country at war: in the loosest sense maybe, but it is still true, despite it not taking place on our own soil. I truly understood the sacrifice and bravery of our troops in that moment, but also the sheer monstrosity and often pointlessness of war. Don McCullin no longer photographs war - he was born into the Second World War, describing himself as “like all my generation in London, I am a product of Hitler...born in the 30s and bombed in the 40s” and it is all he has known for a large part of his life. He now photographs serene and paradisiacal Somerset scenery.

You won’t leave the exhibition feeling happybut it does give you food for thought. You do leave feeling blessed though and entirely thankful for all that you have. Don McCullin’s art may be raw and uncut: but that is what fuels the power and impact behind it.

He has simply captured reality, and although it may not be our own reality, it doesn’t make it any less true. So, I entreat you, whether you visit the exhibition or not, to say a little prayer for all the innocent lives claimed by war, and also for those still suffering for peace.

Olivia Nwabali

An Exclusive Interview with Robert Muchamore Religious cults, drug lords, crazed terrorists, murderous motorbike gangs, animal rights activist…. all in a day’s work for best selling children’s author Robert Muchamore It’s nine o’clock on a Monday morning.

You’ve got a mound of uncompleted homework and you are a hundred per cent sure that there is a test next lesson that you haven’t revised for. So far this is a situation that we are all familiar with.

That is, until you are summoned to Miss Morrissey’s office and she announces that you are to go undercover to infiltrate the secluded outback headquarters of a religious brainwashing cult in order to overthrow an eco-terrorist group that are responsible for hundreds of deaths worldwide. Welcome to the world of CHERUB, a secret branch of the British intelligence that works on one basis alone: adults never suspect children are spying on them. Take Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider and times him by three hundred for a school of child spies, and send them all off on life-threatening missions to foil human trafficking, drug lords, crazed terrorists, murderous motorbike gangs, animal rights activists…and don’t forget that history essay due the next day.

The mastermind behind this fantastic series is Robert Muchamore, whose ambitions include becoming the fourth Powerpuff Girl,

setting up his own mafia and becoming a godfather and melting Jacqueline Wilson’s head with a giant space laser.

Just like his main protagonist James

Adams, Muchamore is an avid Arsenal fan, but also loves Vanilla Coke, Jackass, the smell of emulsion paint, Monster’s INC Mike Wazowski and of course CHERUB fans! His hates include ketchup, getting chased by cows, romantic comedy movies and getting dragged around women’s clothes shops.

His preferred CHERUB character is Lauren Adams, James Adams’ tough younger sister, and told Dux Magazine in our exclusive interview

“she was a great character to write, in particular the scenes where she winds up her brother James.”

He is “less

sure” about his least favourite: “it’s probably Lauren’s mate Bethany Parker, who was always just a pain both as a character and in terms of finding interesting storylines for her.”

Robert Muchamore’s top children’s book is

“Asterix in Britain” however he wish he had written “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” because “that book was first published in 1963 and has been in the top 50 selling children’s book every year ever since. So basically, Eric Carle wrote a 10 page picture book almost 50 years ago and he’s been coining it ever since!”

Robert Muchamore was born on December 26th 1972 in Tufnell Park, North London, and was educated firstly at St Johns Upper Holloway, and then at Acland Burghley.

Although he said he was always clever, he

“was the type of kid who used to get bored easily and mess about.

All my school reports basically say, ‘Robert will do better if he stops mucking around and works harder!’” By the age of fourteen he decided to be a photographer, a writer or an architect. However, gave up on the former when he found out it required seven years’ training, and his first Saturday job at Jessops put him off photography. He then became a private investigator, and only started to write the CHERUB books because he twelveyear old nephew complained that there was nothing interesting to read. In April 2004 The Recruit was published (having previously been named Kids Novel One and CHERUB 1.0), and won the Red

House

Award in 2005. In the same year he quit What about his books? Which one out of those is his favourite?

“All books have scenes that are fun to work on and scenes that are tricky to get right. I think the most fun was probably the Escape, because it was the first time I did an historical storyline and after writing eight CHERUB books the first Henderson’s Boys felt like a breath of fresh air.”

his job as a private investigator after having thrown a box of wet wipes at his boss and calling him a very rude name. CHERUB is now published in over twenty languages, with over five million copies sold.

I have been a fan of the CHERUB series since the first book was published, and am the proud owner of every one of Robert Muchamore’s books – including a sighed copy of my favourite, Divine Madness.

The appeal of these books is that they are accessible to both girls and boys across all age groups, with an original idea and a cleverly written plot. So if, like me, you are in need of fast-paced adventure with excitement and thrills and a generous helping of witty humour, then pick up a CHERUB book and start reading!

Florianne Humphrey

If you’re ever browsing YouTube and looking for new channels to subscribe to, have a look at our spotlighted St Michaels YouTubers!

MayLaura900 Over the years you may have seen her performing in our yearly talent shows but Laura-May Nardella (Year 12) has gained considerable fame on YouTube since winning ‘Buck Factor’ (on Michael Buckley the famous YouTube gossip blogger)’s channel. She does covers as well as writing her own music and has recently hit 100,000 views and 2,500 subscribers.

Go check her out! www.youtube.com/MayLaura900

Undecided 300

Marjolened As well as singers, we also have some YouTube vloggers in our midst.

Marjolene D’Almeida (Year 12) vlogs about things ranging from a disastrous bus journey to problems with the TV show 90210. She is refreshingly honest and very funny.

Go subscribe and check out her blog as well! www.marjolene.blogspot.com www.youtube.com/marjolened

Although she’s only been on YouTube for a year and a bit, Alexandra Purpura (Year 9) has been putting up some great covers and even some originals on her channel.

Give her a listen! www.youtube.com/Undecided300

eReader versus book: the showdown My New Year’s Resolution of 2012, apart from the rather mundane exercise plans and sugar rationing, is to be more accepting of this new technological advancement known as the eReader. This is going to be near impossible because, in the printed book versus eReader battle, I am fiercely fighting for the side of good old-fashioned paper-and-ink. To make it clear, I am not the sort of person who abhors anything that has an “on” button, or who thinks “phishing” is a relaxing past time, yet I cannot bring myself to accept the eReader.

But I must try.

So, Resolution Number One: I must not equate the invention of the eReader to that of the 1933 Nazi book burning campaign. By no means does digitalisation mean annihilation, and I am sure the creators of Kindles do not sport tiny moustaches. Resolution Number Two: if my friend is reading her Kindle, I must not plot the ways I can throw it out the window and make it seem like an accident.

Machines are not known for their suicidal tendencies, albeit Marvin the Paranoid Android. Resolution Number Three: present people with the facts about eReaders, and then let them form their own opinions.

As with all unbiased arguments, I cannot say: “books are better, and eReaders must be destroyed”, but weigh up the pros and cons and come up with a conclusion that is both sensible and measured in a way that any English teacher would be proud of.

Firstly, the primary advantage of a paper book, in my opinion, is the experience.

An eReader is just a lifeless block of plastic and wires, whereas nothing beats the pleasure of crisp, wafer thing paper between your fingertips and the light swish as you turn page after page of perfectly

printed text. Then there are the many varied and exquisitely beautiful book covers, from leather bound to gold embossed, velvet and richly coloured cloth. If you want to buy the perfect book, there are the new editions of Penguin classics, with covers that are almost as enchanting as the words inside.

Then there is the size of the books. I, personally, adore the heavy tomes of Encyclopaedia proportions, but there are also the slim little novellas that fit snugly in your pocket; or the hardbacks that are robust enough to tuck under your arms, or the paperbacks that are pliable enough to flick through like flipbooks.

Finally – the smell. Have you smelt a Kindle? You might as well sniff your fridge. Whereas, I am a self-confessed Book Sniffer, a lover of inhaling that musty smell of aged paper and the sharp tang of printing ink, one that evokes images of warmth and comfort and familiarity. As novelist George Gissing said: “I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things.”

Books can also be recycled. My friends and I constantly lend one another books, and if there is one we all want, we will split the cost instead of wasting money on a book each. There are also second hand books shops – you can donate books to Oxfam, or buy them for less than a pound, and all the money goes to charity, and recently I purchased a 1912 edition of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey from a bookshop in Telford. You can also buy second hand books online – for my English A level, I bought a copy of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love off Amazon for a penny, which meant I was less reluctant to annotate it. The system of lending and borrowing

and buying second hand books is so much more EReaders, also, are not very robust: if you spill a exciting than deleting a read novel off a Kindle, beverage on them they may malfunction, where it becomes just another cloud of crushed they could break if dropped (something to bear data in the vast and empty void of cyberspace. in mind if you are on an anti-eReader campaign), The main problem with books is and the screen could get scratched. Paper books they can be expensive, with a paperback can endure a bit of battering, whereas eReaders averaging at six pounds, a hardback at least ten if are skinny models that scream when the wind not more. Although there are libraries, they do ruffles their carefully ironed hair. not always have the book you want, and you EReaders are, despite the popular have to wait a few days for an Amazon delivery. belief, not better for the environment – Of course, books are bulky and heavy, and there surprisingly, the carbon emission to make 40 to is the problem of baggage limits on flights, which 50 books is equal to that of one eReader. is where the lightweight, I-can-store-3500Most importantly, as is the eBooks-on-one-harddrive eReader comes in. problem with all electronics, technology is “I know every book constantly renewing – of mine by its smell, people spend a fortune “I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put trying to keep up with new and I have but to put my nose between my nose between iPhone trends, and VCRs the pages to be reminded of all sorts of the pages to be are practically obsolete, so reminded of all sorts things.” how long will it take of things.” until the current eReaders are George Gissing George Gissing just the fossils of a Admittedly, the forgotten past? vastness of the eReader’s storage space is As long as the supply of eReaders impressive and, for someone who always carries and printed books remains balanced, and the a book in her bag and needs to bring five books printed book is not swallowed up by big bad new on holiday “just in case”, a thin tablet would gadgetry like the LP record, then I will remain certainly free up my luggage. Furthermore, as content. In fact, when people buy eReaders, only an English and foreign language student, the 15% actually stop purchasing printed books and, extra applications on the eReader are appealing. as some books have not been digitalised and If you click on a word you do not understand in a never will be, you cannot rely solely on an foreign language book, the eReader will give you eReader. You would need to mix-and-match a translation, and for an English book there is a between an eReaders and a printed book, built-in dictionary. The classics are also free and anyway: you can impress people with the cover you can easily purchase foreign language books of your printed book, whereas using a Kindle without the added premium, which, again, would would hide any embarrassing content. benefit my A level studies.

Writing on material is an enduring On the other hand, one must not tradition: the first printing press was set up in forget that eBooks are electronic, so they have 1450 by Johannes Gutenburg and, before that, the same flaws as a computer or mobile phone. there was the Chinese tradition of writing on silk, The older Kindles are not backlit, which could the Roman wax tablet and stylus, and the lead to Repetitive Strain Injury and, every time Egyptian papyrus scrolls. It would be unbearable you turn a page, the flashing screen is enough to to see this practice disappear with the elicit a fit. The power lasts for only seven hours, technological age, but I am convinced that, the device can be affected by software bugs and, despite the eReaders, future generations will still due to their price of £89, and there is always the delight in the journey of reading, paper page by risk of theft. paper page.

Horoscopes Star sign: Aries Star date: 21 March - 19 April Pants, socks, t-shirts, sweaters. These are all parts of your wardrobe. Remember this.

The stars predict rocky times for you and a loved one. Chocolate may be necessary.

Star sign: Libra Star date: 23 September - 23 October Speeling mestakes are'nt god. Sort it out or you’ll have the grammar Nazis on your back.

Star sign: Scorpio Star sign: Taurus Star date: 20 April - 20 May Heavy drinking can lead to a certain number of social problems. Jail sentences between 5 and 10 years may be applicable to your situation today. You have achieved what most of us only dream about - you are a star.

Star date: 24 October - 21 November Danger, excitement, thrills. Even spills. So just don’t shake that bottle today. Literally and metaphorically.

Star sign: Sagittarius Star date: 22 November - 21 December Your tendencies may land you in trouble today. A red note is on the horizon…

Star sign: Gemini Star date: 21 May - 21 June Your package will arrive today, delivered by an expected person.

Star sign: Cancer Star date: 22 June - 22 July Giraffes are one of nature’s most bizarre creatures. Whilst this may seem like a "fact" out of the blue, we suggest you watch out.

Star sign: Leo Star date: 23 July - 22 August Try painting the inside of your mouth to change who you are on the inside.

Everyone is getting annoyed at you lately so you may as well…

Star sign: Virgo Star date: 23 August - 22 September DO NOT – I repeat- DO NOT do that thing you are just about to do. Something will happen.

Star sign: Capricorn Star date: 22 December - 19 January Avoid the temptation to change your ways, lest you become half the person you are today. You may or may not encounter the person of your dreams today. The stars aren’t clear.

Star sign: Aquarius Star date: 20 January - 18 February It all used to be so much easier, but with age you're finding certain things much more difficult. Don’t take anyone’s advice this week because they know just as much as you. And let’s face it, that’s nothing.

Star sign: Pisces Star date: 19 February - 20 March If you own a fish, beware. That is all we can say.

Laura-May Nardella

Quotations “The most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well.” ~Pierre de Coubertin

“Everybody dances to their own boom boom.” ~Effy Stonem “Who, being loved, is poor?” ~Oscar Wilde “Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt “Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.” ~ J.K. Rowling “It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” ~J.K. Rowling “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” ~J.K. Rowling “A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.” ~Douglas Pagels

“You can get all A's and still flunk life.” ~Walker Percy “Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know.” ~Daniel J. Boorstin “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” ~St. Augustine “A passport, as I'm sure you know, is a document that one shows to government officials whenever one reaches a border between countries, so the officials can learn who you are, where you were born, and how you look when photographed unflatteringly.” ~Lemony Snicket “Don't live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable.” ~Wendy Wasserstein “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.” ~Ralph Marston “The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.” ~Aristotle

compiled by Olivia Nwabali