Student Eye
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haircut for every reader!
Rough guide to Greece
Spring 09 Issue 19
LIVE RPO OL Y PRO OUN G MO TER S Problems answered in our new problem page!
Contents
Page
A word from your editor...
3
Hello and welcome to the spring 2009 issue of Student Eye!
Holidays
4-5
Healthy eating
6-7
Short story
8-9
For this issue extra effort was put in to let the writer’s have free reign with their pens. Although this was no session of automatic writing, it did allow the writers to let their imaginations and ideas run free.
Subject overload
10
Match report
11
Student rant
12-13
Learner Voice Conference
13
Problem page
14-15
Oxfam worker
15
Liverpool Young Promoters
16-17
Reviews
18-20
College news
Look out for your star sign characteristics! Front cover image: Student volunteers from across the North West. Liverpool Community College learners, through Enrichment, help to improve the environment at Beacon Park.
The result was exactly what we needed to make the necessary improvements to the type of articles in the magazine. So, with little more to say, have a read of the magazine, with articles ranging from the Liverpool Young Promoters, to a randomly entertaining, but surprisingly meticulous rant from one of our very own Student Governors. Don’t forget that we’re always looking for new writers for the team. Whether journalism is a particular interest of yours, you’re looking to improve your personal statement, or even if you want it to just be a bit of fun. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via the Enrichment team and become part of the next issue. Student Eye Team... Editor: Emma Edwards Writers Team: Cheong Lau, Adam Scovell, Lauren Mudd, Holly Lockhart, Steph Simmons, Laura Cole, Josephine Montford, Sam Garlick, Gary Clark, Kerry Dodd, Jamaan Deng, Carolann Walsh, Sarah Owens, Yawah Thomas & John Glascott. Design & layout: Lee Carter & Alison Cottenham
Steph ord, amaan awah
College News Young ESOL Learners set sail to explore the city - March 2009 Greater Merseyside Connexions is working with a group of young people on an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programme at Liverpool Community College. The course is designed to help break down language barriers and assist those settling into life in a new country.
The group were taken on a cultural trip around Liverpool and on a Mersey ferry to help build confidence about their surroundings and learn team working skills. ESF team manager, Caroline Swarbrick, said: “One of our aims is to get young people engaged in learning and cultural activities across Liverpool. There are so many opportunities and events happening locally at the moment but because of the language barrier these young people don’t always get to hear about them; they can feel pretty isolated in the city. But they are doing really well at Liverpool Community College, developing their language skills and preparing to live independently. A couple have recently taken on
voluntary work, working two days a week for a local charity, which is a real achievement.” The project is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).
Hairdressing at the College The NVQ level 2 barbering students at Liverpool Community College are looking for volunteer models to get their haircut in order to help with the course. They are looking for adults of all ages and any hairstyle. Please come down to the college off Duke Street and present the voucher for a free haircut on any Tuesday night between 5 and 7pm. To arrange an appointment please call 0151 252 4514.
Please present this voucher to the hair and beauty reception in Liverpool Community College to receive your free hair cut. 3
Holidays In Greece By Lauren Mudd, Holly Lockhart & Steph Simmons
After what feels like a long and stressful year, many of you will be looking at booking a holiday abroad. Greece has been a popular destination for years and still is. It has a rich culture and places to go if you fancy partying, relaxing beach breaks, and cultural city breaks, for families, couples and groups of friends. If you are planning your first holiday with friends this year, you will find your perfect destination in Greece. Greece is a Christian country, with the Greeks very proud of their traditions; one of the most popular is to celebrate Name Days. Each Greek name has its own special day,
and all the people with that name celebrate the day like a birthday, with presents, parties and extravagant nights out. Greeks love any excuse to party so this is a perfect one! The Greek islands (and of course mainland Greece) have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world with a variety of watersports, boat trips and beach bars on offer, wherever you choose to go you will not fail to be impressed by the fabulous beaches. If you like a beach holiday then Skiathos is your place. Skiathos is believed to have 65 beaches! Koukounaries beach is one of the most popular. Half a mile of fine yellow sand and as clear as can be water, this beach will blow you away. The perfect spot to do nothing but soak up the sun! If you prefer to be more active then try one of the various water sports they have to offer. Banana Beach or Krassas as it is known by locals also has beautiful golden sand and clear water but this beach is smaller and some say more hip with more character. Just next door Little Banana has quite a different feel with everyone
being nude! Yes if you’re not feeling the whole bikini thing then go for it! Lalaria is small and tranquil it is on the north east coast of Skiathos and you can only get to this sneaky beach by sea. It’s very stylish with the smooth pebbles and sea-formed rocky arch. This is quite a chilled beach without any facilities but excursion boats fill the place up in seconds. Boats go there from the Old Port in Skiathos Town. The fun-filled island of Corfu is known as the Emerald Isle of the Ionian Sea. Its blend of pine-covered hills, lively resorts, whitewashed villages and cobbled streets make this stunning island a Greek classic. Crete is a large island split into two areas, Heraklion and Chania, both have their own airport and a wide range of resorts offering everything you could want in a holiday including the extremely popular destination of Malia. Kos is an exciting island which mixes culture, fun-filled resorts and pretty little beaches, charming little
harbours, historic sights and a cool night-time scene. Zante is a true treasure of an island and is everything a Greek holiday destination is meant to be. Beautiful scenery, laid-back beaches, a taste of history and brilliant nightlife, Zante has it all underneath radiant Greek sunshine. If you are looking for an exciting destination for young people Laganas in Zante is the place to go. For pretty beaches, traditional sites and charming hotels, Halkidiki in Mainland Greece is a clear winner. It has a lively resort and quiet retreats scattered along the cost line. Every Greek island has at least one resort which focuses on fabulous nightlife, Malia in Crete, Falaraki in Rhodes and Kavos in Corfu are amongst the most well known.
Taurus: keywords = endurance, security, patient, self indulgent, routine.
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Healthy Eating Do you eat healthily? Or more importantly, can you afford to eat healthily at college? The canteen staff, as lovely as they are, serve us pies, pizzas, pasties and plenty of chips, however I bet most of us are feeling the pinch in our wallets as well as our super-skinny jeans! Moving from a school that had been recently attacked by Jamie Oliver and his health food army, the food that the college had to offer was a lovely change, but after some careful consideration, I began to think – is it right for me to survive on £1.25 chips and gravy each day? And why is it double the price for a cheese and ham Panini? We are students, we aren’t made of money! The drinks are expensive, bottled water should be cheaper to encourage us away from fizzy drinks, which we can buy for 50p a can!
that d is nice, I think o fo e th h g u o h “T p”. wn is pretty stee ro b h s a h a r fo 35p On the other hand, another student praised the meal deals, saying that they were good value for money and a generous size. Many of us students have a job, but once you have covered the bare necessities such as bus fares, stationery 6
By Laura Cole
and weekends out, it’s rather expensive to be paying £3 for an apple and a butty.
“They should have more fru it. I bought a banana from the vending machine, but it wa s so cold that it turned out to be hard !” So what are our options? Well we can bring food from home, which will require preparation and time, but will definitely save you money. This can also ensure that you’re not left hungry due to lack of choice in healthy foods. It’s also convenient because you can eat it whenever and wherever. Maybe you could pop down to the local Tesco or Sainsburys to see if they have any ‘buy one, get one free offers’, so that you could split the bill with a mate. They also sell fruit and veg, so you can swap your choccie bar for a banana or carrot sticks!
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The Healthy Eating Response
By Chartwells
You can eat healthily and at affordable prices within the college.
vegetarian dish of the day, low fat yoghurts, fruit salad and fresh fruit.
We at Chartwells, the contracted caterer for the college, are committed to providing a wide variety of safe, high quality, wholesome offers that delight the senses and allow our customers to eat healthily.
This year, we have launched our corporate responsibility framework, outlining how we will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the society and environment around us. To that end all our bananas and hot beverages are Fairtrade products, and we also offer Fairtrade orange juice. This shows our commitment to supporting communities across the developing world.
Prices are bench marked against other colleges in the region and local businesses to ensure our prices are competitive. For example, we offer a range of sandwiches from £1.10 to £2.40, bottled water starts at 55p and a butty and an apple typically costs £2.45. Meal deals, which are proving popular with learners, are aimed at providing an affordable, value for money choice.
We offer our customers a wide choice and are committed to providing great tasting food that contributes to their own well-being.
Our healthy food offers include the salad bar (or boxed salads), a range of baked jacket potatoes, a
Recipe idea...
Some learners recently took part in a Taste and Cook healthy eating project as part of the Enrichment programme, here’s one of the ideas: Meatballs - Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 mins Cooking time: 20 mins What you need: - 1 small onion, chopped - 450g/1Ib lean minced beef
- 5ml/1tsp dried mixed herbs - 15ml/1 tbsp tomato puree - pepper What You Do 1. Finely chop the onion. 2. Add the beef, herbs, tomato puree and seasonings. 3. Shape mixture into small balls. 4. Cook in a small amount of oil in a non-stick pan, or under a hot grill for approx 15 mins.
Aries: fire sign. Keywords = self-expression, forcefulness, coverage, leadership, passion.
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Now or Never By Josephine Montford
There is a saying that goes like this: “Strike the iron while it is still hot.” This saying holds so much truth for Aba because she believes that having wasted her youth in riotous living, she has to seize every opportunity to fulfil her dreams, especially at this moment when age is not on her side. Aba sat in front of the dressing table, took a long, hard look at the lines on her face and whispered to herself, “I guess it’s got to be now or never.” Then she remembered with an overwhelming gush of emotion how life could have been if she had been a little more serious in school. Aba was born into a lovely but poor family. Although they were not “well to do”, her mum ensured there was always a meal on the table. With three other siblings, mounting school fees and an unbearably jealous husband, Aba’s mum was exceptionally wonderful. She was a teacher and her motto was: “Design your future by education.” Aba looks back with so much regret. She soliloquised, “My mum did everything she possibly could, and more, but I let her down.”
She remembered how often her mum borrowed to employ a private teacher to support her falling grades and the many times she invested in expensive text books to help her study. In the midst of all the difficulties, Aba’s mum secured a place in a prestigious private school for her. All Aba was interested in was clubbing, sleeping and getting into trouble. Despite all the embarrassment Aba caused her mum, she still stood by her side. However, lo and behold, Aba graduated from secondary school without a single pass in her O levels. Even this grim situation did nothing to sober Aba: she went from bad to worse. Aba eventually married a “nice” man. Life was all right for a while. She had her first child, but the stress of married life began to take its toll; cracks began to show. Firstly, money was tight and it wasn’t long before Mr Nice Man became Mr Nasty Man, always taunting her. Reality dawned when Aba realised she couldn’t secure a job of her dreams because she had no qualifications. After being turned down a record twenty times, her confidence had taken a battering. The once sunshine girl, who was
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With the marriage almost on the rocks, her highly educated husband’s constant insults, especially his favourite one of “You don’t have an academic mind,” drove Aba to take drastic action; she decided to attend night school. Unfortunately, not being able to study, she could not complete any course she started.
If you have a goal to reach but you’re struggling with work or finding the build up to exams stressful I’m sure you’re not the only one!
After a long bout of depression, she booked herself in for counselling. It was a long, hard struggle, but she came through the other side stronger. Aba has now completed law school, her childhood dream. She is sitting in front of the mirror getting ready for an interview. Oh, how she wishes her mum was alive to see her. She turned out all right in the end. Thanks, mum.
Here’s some advise to help you and keep your mind fresh as the final term of the year begins... • • • • •
Drink plenty of water to keep refreshed Take time out: go for a walk / visit friends Seek advice: tutors / Learning Mentors Set a work timetable, and stick to it! Work in a work friendly environment i.e. the LRC • Set time aside for checking Facebook/ Myspace and focus on your work • Set goals and reward yourself!
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Gemini: Air sign. Keywords = communicative, sociability, two-faced, fickle, cunning.
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Do not overload yourself with subjects I wish someone had told me about overloading myself with too many subjects. From my experience you can try to study too many GCSEs or A levels. For example you might get confused with your courses, like getting the facts of Physics mixed up with Biology. Time could be wasted as you really want to pass but you have too much revision and there could be subjects that you end up dropping. The next person this could happen to could be anyone, even you. An example of the danger of overloading is that I picked five subjects thinking I would pass with at least a grade C but I did not. I chose to study Humanities to try it out and to make new friends; it turned out to be one subject too many. Another consideration of studying too many subjects is that, obviously your bag could be heavy and you will have to decide what books to put in it to take to college. As well as books there are lots of handouts from teachers, especially for the science subjects and you will also need to carry these around. Borrowing books can be a
pain unless you really like reading because there is a lot of reading and revision involved for most subjects.
Of course if you are sure you know what you are doing and you like the subjects, then can carry on. Last year I picked five subjects: English Level two, GCSE Biology and Physics, Level one French and Humanities. Unfortunately I failed because the work load was too much for me, and I could not cope. When picking what subjects to study in September think‌can you handle the work load?
Cheong JENG Lau If you need help and advice with courses for next year visit Learner Services and discuss your options.
Capricorn: earth sign. Keywords = discipline, patient, narrow-minded, responsibility.
Post Match Report Liverpool Community College Vs Tameside
With some good results this season from Liverpool Community College there were high expectations for the game against Tameside. The team was brought down to earth when they were two goals down before the half hour mark and 3-1 down before half time. The dull and overcast weather seemed to reflect the dull performance from both sides, the constant rain caused a waterlogged pitch; the game was barely playable.
Throughout the first half LCC had most of the possession but could not take advantage of the opportunities. Tameside capitalised on this by taking early lead inside 17 minutes with a good pass out wide to the right midfielder which was chipped into the box to be met by a towering header from the big number 10. Five minutes later they had doubled their lead, forcing manager Matty Hughson into a tactical change by bringing right back Chris Muies into the centre of midfield and changing the back four. Out of nowhere at 37 minutes Ryyan Nasser received the ball on the edge of the box and hit a speculative effort at goal which went straight down the middle and past the on-looking goalkeeper. Hopes of comeback looked unlikely when on the stroke of half time Thameside once again
won possession in the Liverpool half and scored. Half time brought some inspiring words from Hughson and saw left back Vinny Murphy being replaced by Ibby Benali. The second half saw an instant improvement with a goal from LCC. 56 minutes saw a foul on midfielder Patrice Kwofie; Daley Gibiliru took the free kick which eluded the defence and goalkeeper landing in the bottom right hand corner. LCC didn’t wait long to take lead with a goal from Josh Hale followed by some good saves and failed attempts from Tameside to push for the equaliser. In the 89th minute Ryyan Nasser completed his hat trick with a superb chip over the goal keeper from outside the penalty area. The ‘Man of the Match’ award went to Jordan Coker for his outstanding performance winning every ball in the air and on the floor. He kept LCC in the game when they were 2-0 down; making some goal saving challenges and keeping the moral of the team up with his leadership qualities. Despite the performance on a whole, Liverpool Community College managed a 5-3 victory and a well earned three points. . Gary Clark
Cancer: water sign. Keywords = moody, touchy, manipulative, ambition.
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Student Town is full of vultures on a Saturday night…never offend a tramp… A night with Russell Brand… Student Governors are all weird, mad, or both…Men should not wear Ugg boots…Selling the house to get a Lyle and Scott jumper! In all honesty my last articles were pretty rubbish. Apologies to all those whose eyes were offended. Though I was thinking which real student would read about the credit crunch anyway? Though there are those select few who probably did and scoffed at it. Probably the same people who like to know Pi to two hundred places and eat boxes of after eights for lunch.
who you are, you will get asked for money, a drink, or a cigarette. I’m nice but people in town are total vultures, and if you can’t be the walking, living bank/bar/cigarette vending machine they want you to be, you are officially “THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD”. I was hurt deeply. And to top a good Saturday night off you can’t beat offending a tramp (I refused to give him change as I had none). A surprisingly scary moment. Surprising mainly because he was clearly unable to walk and could only speak in pirate. Though even with his alcohol induced disability I was still sure he would give chase.
On a positive note, Russell Brand was at the Echo Arena on the Monday and he was hilarious. Though I am appalled at a new craze that seems to be sweeping the world of men’s fashion, like a mass plague of sheepskin-covered locusts. Men’s Ugg boots. To all the fashion students, I apologise for my clear lack of understanding, but seriously, they’re daft and every guy at the Russell Brand gig On saying that, I would have preferred to seemed to be wearing them. Madness. hang with those after eight munching creeps Then a few days later I had to go to Stoke than the people who appeared in Liverpool for a conference designed to train student town on Saturday night. It’s quite shocking governors. I am, whether you know it or not really the people you see. There are the or even like it or not, one of your student usual people like the lads in shirts, jeans governors. It freaked me out a bit how and white shoes who probably start off in a much some of the others were really into it. Yates somewhere and end up sleeping on All the want to be politicians were there and the street at end of the night. Then you can one guy had got a Mac simply because he get the real cool people who hang in Korova had given himself so much to do. and think Miles Kane is their best friend because they’ve met him once. The one Scary stuff. Though he was clearly rich, thing you can guarantee is that, no matter and his wardrobe was probably full of Paul 12
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Smith suits and Lyle and Scott Jumpers. Just one last thing. Lyle and Scott jumpers are stupidly nice but they are under no circumstances worth the money and under no circumstances should you take out a loan just to get one. Though it is very tempting...
Adam Scovell
Learner Voice Conference Equality and Diversity On Tuesday 2nd December, I attended the Learner Voice Conference at the Glaxo Neurological Centre. I wanted to go to this conference as I am always keen to get involved in things that go on around the college. Also, as I am disabled and bisexual, I thought it would be in my interest to find out what support the college has in place for students with these, and other, needs. Prior to the conference, my understanding of equality and diversity was that we should accept people no matter what their age, sex, background or religion and we should
treat everybody the same. After taking part in activities, discussion and questionnaires, we learnt that equality and diversity actually means understanding, awareness and appreciation of people’s differences. Instead of treating everybody the same we should be seen for the individuals we are and all be able get support and access to anything we want in a way which suits our individual needs. I had a great time at the conference. It was great to meet people from other centres and other courses and learn different methods of working. By using a variety of work methods, including games and group activities, the day seemed to pass very quickly and I had lots of fun. My favourite part of the day (besides the fabulous lunch provided!!) was working with a small group of fellow students on the subject of gender. (Other groups looked at disability, sexuality, religion, race and age). Our aim was to create a questionnaire on our given subject that could then be taken back to our respective centres. By working as a team, we were able to create the best questionnaire possible. We then went out and asked other students who hadn’t been at the conference to complete the surveys so that their voice could also be heard (over 200 surveys were returned!). I would definitely attend another conference like this if I was given the chance. The only thing I would have changed about the day was the location. Whilst the room itself was a bit on the small side our thanks go to the staff at the Neurological Centre who were very hospitable. Kerry Dodd
Pisces: water sign. Keywords = confusion, dreamer, imagination, receptive.
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ye E t n e e d g u a St p m e l prob This page of the Student Eye magazine is dedicated to helping our fellow students solve and understand common everyday problems and worries. We have asked the college counsellor to give us professional responses to your concerns. By Carolann Walsh and Sarah Owens
Work Lately I have lost interest in my courses and have begun doing very bad. I don’t want to fail but I am so far behind with all the work I don’t know how to catch up! Can you help me? Have you discussed this with your tutor? They need to know so they can decide how best to support you. There are Learning Mentors at every centre who will support you with your studies. You just need to ask. Call into your LRC to arrange a time to meet with them. Life throws things at us from time to time which can knock us off track for a while. Has something happened that you have lost interest? Would it help to talk this over with the counsellor? You can succeed. Get help, and get that qualification.
Relati Money Dear student eye I am finding it hard to get a part time job and I am not entitled to E.M.A. My mum and dad refuse to give me money and I am afraid I may not be able to afford to stay in college. What should I do? Have you spoken with the college financial advisor to see what other options might be available? You can e-mail her: askann@liv-coll.ac.uk Getting a job will give you financial independence and strengthen your self esteem, provide good work experience which will look good on your CV and your UCAS application if you plan to go to University. I think it would be useful to talk to Connexions (your local Learner Services can make an appointment for you). They have lists of job opportunities and can offer you some interview practice.
If you want some help or advice with any of your problems please do not hesitate to contact the college counsellor on 0151 252 3333.
Aquarius: air sign. Keywords = dispassion, brotherhood, rebellion, humanity, objective.
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Relationship My boyfriend of two years has become very aggressive towards me and has recently begun hitting me and making threats. I still love him but I am worried about what he might do to me How dare anyone treat you that way! It is never right to be physically, verbally or sexually abusive with a partner. It is a big clue that something is very wrong if you are being treated this way. You are right to be worried. True love is not violent or aggressive. Do you believe that you can change him if you love him even more? Wrong. Believing you can change others is a false hope; you can only change how you are in relation to them. You might want to explore this further by talking with a college counsellor. They will help you to figure a way through this. Call them on 0151 252 3333 to arrange an appointment or just drop–in during the advertised times at your centre. You are worthy of being treated well. A popular book easily available at most bookstores is ‘Women who love too much’ by Robin Norwood. Boys take note. This may help you too.
Interview with Oxfam worker by John Glascott As most people know, the Oxfam charity works tirelessly to help prevent poverty in less fortunate countries, our very own Oxfam shop situated on Bold Street is one of the many shops dedicated to the cause, I decided to interview one of the workers in order to see what volunteering has to offer.
Q How Long have you been volunteering for
Oxfam? I’ve been working here now for almost a year, every day is different though, you never know what sort of things are going to turn up on our shelves. Q What sort of rewards does working for a shop like Oxfam offer? Aside from the experience of working in a shop and around people, it’s been a great way for me to make many unforgettable friends, also as I said before every day can bring a different experience, plus there’s always the added extra that you know what your doing is playing a part in making other people’s lives better. Q Would you ever consider working for another charity? No, not right now. I’m enjoying my time in Oxfam for the time being. Maybe one day I’ll want to try different things. Q Do you have any advice to any students who may want to start volunteering? I’d just tell them to go and give it a go. You never know until you try. Besides the experience is great on CV’s and are highly valued by any future employers! Hopefully this interview will have cleared things up for any students who want to spend their weekends volunteering, it can be a great way to make a difference!
Leo: fire sign. Keywords = pride, enthusiasm, generosity, drama, pompous.
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Liverpool Young Promoters Finally, there is more to look out for in Liverpool with the Liverpool Young Promoters, a group of young people who have captured the minds of up and coming artists within the city. The Young Promoters was formed 4 and 1/2 years ago by a group of 16 and 17 year olds, under the patronage of some like-minded people. The brains behind the magic derive from different musical backgrounds, races and cultures, all aspiring to provide a stage for young artists to perform in nonalcoholic venues. The aim is to usher the young talent onto the stage for the first time. By holding creative sessions every Tuesday at MPAC, Liverpool
Young Promoters plan workshops that embrace and develop the minds of all teens and provide them with the confidence to realise that they all have potential talent. For example, a workshop held last year provided participants with the chance to learn about and get involved with street dancing, graffiti art and dj-ing. They have run Street Waves for the past two years, where the winning bands got a chance to tour Europe. They put on gigs for both urban and rock music around Liverpool in The Cavern, Zanzibar (under the famous logo TOAST and URBAN WORKS), Barfly and The Hub Festival.
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They take time out of college and school to assist the youths involved with their projects. It is heartening to observe that they expect nothing in return for using their abilities towards helping others. It is also a chance for everybody to have fun and meet new people. They have a shared belief that they are solely responsible for their success. They take pride in welcoming anyone under 19, including bands, rappers and those who want to get involved in any promotional aspects. Since day one, Liverpool Young Promoters have gone from strength to strength. It has been widely acknowledged that they are doing something in the community by encouraging fellow youths to keep off the streets and out of trouble. It has also been said that Liverpool Young Promoters are, “a tool empowering the young people of Merseyside to begin developing and promoting future mega stars. The world is their oyster.� This article is just a noble gesture but their commitment is a monument to reckon with.
You can check the Young Promoters out at; www.myspace.com/ liverpoolyoungpromoters www.liverpoolyoungpromoters.co.uk
Alternatively, you can drop in at MPAC where they hold regular meetings every Tuesday from 4pm. All are welcome.
by Jamaan Deng
Virgo: earth sign. Keywords = purity, narrow minded, submissive, modest.
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Reviews
Music: Haunts-Haunts
Formed late 2006 in London, Haunts are a band that deliver dark and theatrical music with an edge. After quickly gaining critical attention after their tour with Lostprophets, they put together their self titled (the originality really shines through) debut album, which is packed with black humour, larger-thanlife hooks and mixes scorching guitars with harmonic backing vocals. My main criticism of this album is the production, although not awful, it doesn’t match up to standards of the bands’ peers, meaning an almost flat sound can occasionally dull down a hook that had a vast quantity of potential. This minor imperfection can easily be overlooked by the song writing skills on display here-especially in the stand out track ‘Underground’, where the band’s style real finds substance. Marching rhythms and off-beat synths back the singer-Bank’s enthusiastic verses, as he recounts the ‘virtues’ of being buried. Although songs like ‘Breaking Up’, may not suit
willing to experiment at the risk of alienating fans to achieve new music ground. It is the gleaming delight with which Haunts deliver their vision of a doomed London that sets their sound apart from all generic modern punk bands. Banks’ vocal style is evocative of a late 1970s Iggy Pop, his performance is especially convincing when he screams hooks such as “Killing me will only stain your dress”, emphasising the band’s black humour. Which is what Haunts are about, keeping things both fun and sinister, without acting too pretentious at this stage in their game. By Sam Garlick
Haunts’ bouncing and infectious style, they do show a band Sagittarius: fire sign. Keywords = optimism, extravagant, idealistic, quest.
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Film: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Unlike David Fincher’s earlier work (Fight Club, Seven), … Benjamin Button is an epic and deeply emotion affair, offering the audience not only rich story telling and romance, but also some of the most advanced visual technology ever shown on film. As I’m sure you know, this is a movie about an individual who is born an old man and ages backwards, the usual generic storyline of falling in love/separating/ becoming broken hearted follows. However the most interesting aspect of this film are the characters involved and their development, although not breaking new ground, their contrasting personalities along with differing backgrounds really makes you believe as though these characters are living, breathing people that are full of sorrow and joy with a story to tell. This is a film not to be taken skin deep though, the subliminal meanings are sometimes the ones that impact the most, as the metaphor of a life lived backward is strangely haunting, showing us that Benjamin’s saga is singular yet universal.
The film this has most been compared to is Forrest Gump, this is an inaccurate analogy though. Although the two films may be focused on the story of outcasts of society, Gump reflects on the zeitgeist of the mid 20th century and how the protagonist deals with exclusion. Whereas in Fincher’s
film, the protagonist is merely a means of telling an ambitious story, without indulging too much into self sympathy. Sure, its not hard to dislike Brad Pitt and his typically ‘Hollywood’ personality, however I recommend you to take the bullet and endure his face for 166 minutes, as this is a diverse and rewarding film, one that deserves all the attention it gains. by Sam Garlick
Libra: Air sign. Keywords = harmony, determined, perfectionist.
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Book: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas This was a book I was given as a birthday present. With no previous knowledge of the story (I’d somehow missed the trailers for the movie!) what made this book intriguing from the start is that there is no description given on the back other then to tell you that you aren’t going to be told anything! The reason for this is that the story is so short a tale that to tell you too much would give away the whole thing. How therefore do I write a review of this?...Briefly! What I can say, without spoiling this for those of you who haven’t seen or read it, is this… It is a tale built around part of history we’ve heard so much about in so many different ways. A story from War World II time but like none I have come across before. A vision of the world going on around a naïve 8 year old boy ‘Bruno’, who simply wants to make some friends like the ones he left behind. He can see so many children across the fence who he could play with but can’t get to. The story goes on to explore the friendship Bruno does manage to make, and which ultimately changes the course of his life.
This is not the in depth day to day story that we see from the eyes of Anne Frank, but a brief snippet of a life very different. From a perspective of what war was perhaps like for other children and young people at that time, who simply could not understand the magnitude of what was happening around them but just see the changes which were affecting their own lives. My final point is…read this book, see this film. It packs a punch and will leave you winded!
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