Redbrick - 24th January 2014

Redbrick

24th - 30th January 2014

Est. 1936

Vol. 78. Issue 1441. www.redbrick.me

Aitken Residents in Turmoil

Residents offered relocation to Jarratt Hall Electricity and water supplies affected Displaced students to have Meal Plan access disrupted News / Page 5

Cherona Chapman

Daisy Holden looks at the best ways to keep your New Year's resolutions

Charlie Moloney reviews Leonardo DiCaprio's new film 'The Wolf of Wall Street'

Liv Rafferty reviews Peace's homecoming gig at the Birmingham O2 Academy

David Morris interviews Izzy Christiansen about her call-up to the England squad

Life&Style / Page 23

Film / Page 21

Music / Page 16

Sport / Page 28

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24th - 30th January 2014

News Tweet of the Week

Ukip Weather @UkipWeather 'Council gritters are on high alert after a man in Peterborough went into a pub and ordered a glass of of white wine.'

Society Spotlight

Black Dragon Kung Fu Black Dragon Kung Fu aims to improve your health, fitness, confidence and flexibility as well as your overall self-defence skills through the traditional Chinese art of Kung Fu.They meet 3 times a week, with their 2 hour sessions either being in The Cadbury Room or the Worship Room in St Francis Hall. All levels of skill are welcome at all times, and the first session is free.

To contact Dragon Kung Fu - email blackdragon@guild.bham.ac.uk, tweet @uobBDKF and Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/uob.blackdragon

Online in Redbrick News

Annual Chaplaincy Lecture: Professor Mona Siddiqui News Editor Sabrina Dougall covers the University of Edinburgh's Professor of Islamic and InterReligious Studies at her talk plus Q+A on the effects of friendships on civilisations throughout history, as well as its role in modern, multicultural society.

Woman loses child after 2 hospital rejections Controversy surrounds a visiting Welsh mother who lost her premature baby shortly after delivery, following a delay in finding her a place in a maternity ward unit in two hospitals in Birmingham.

Yes 70%

Read more at http://www.redbrick. me/news/

Photos of the Week: 'Lost In Music' Emily Hickey-Mason

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor Josh Holder editor@redbrick.me

Comment Editors Julia Bayer Charlie Moloney Jonathan Simpson

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Deputy Editors Charley Ross James Phillips deputy@redbrick.me

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Film Editors Becky McCarthy Tom Lofkin Ben Jackson film@redbrick.me

Music Editors Lily Blacksell Susie Dickey Sam Dix music@redbrick.me

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Senior Editorial Assistant Isabel Mason Editorial Assistants Molly Garfoot Bethany Tilston Ellie Jarvis Ella Parsons Toria Brook-Hill Michael Smith Lucy Moseley Emily Trivette

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Birmingham City Council Cuts Services to Save £87m Duncan Kenyon News Reporter

@duncankenyon1

Birmingham City Council faces cuts of £87m from its 2014-2015 budget and must save £840m before the 2017-1018 financial year and is due to cut 1,080 jobs Birmingham City Council will be forced to shed £87m from its 2014-2015 budget in the move to tighten national spending. The council have been forced to save £840m before the 2017-1018 financial year. In order to do this, Birmingham council will cut around 1,080 jobs and try to renegotiate their Capita Service IT contract. The renegotiation will hopefully save at least £20m from the budget.

The council is looking to save money by cutting less essential areas of the budget. This will have a particular impact on the environment within Birmingham.

32 park keepers will be made redundant, as well as rangers and grass cutters. Thus parks will be less well maintained as they have been before. Additionally, the council will end free large waste collection.

This effort hopes to save £1m over the course of the year.

Councillors hope that if they work with the NHS, schools and other public services, they will be able to share resources. This will save money as the council will not have to pay for each of these public services to have their own resources, but will lead to a shortage.

Birmingham City Council is one of the worst hit councils in terms of budget

cuts. The council must reduce their expenditure by 14.5% over the year. The average council in the UK will be asked to cut 2.9% of their budget from 20142015. Birmingham is far above this average. Previously, the council believed these cuts would amount to 10%.

Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council declared this ‘the end of

"Its development, research and business output contributes £180 million to the regions economy" local government as I’ve known it’ in his media briefing at Birmingham’s Future and Budget Consultation 2014-2015 last month. He expressed fears that a time will come when services are decommissioned completely.

The leader was pleased to announce that despite budget cuts, the council were planning to invest £36m to build six new swimming pools in Birmingham, and an additional £10m in safeguarding children.

However he warns that from next year there front line services that will be forced to close down. Without further speculation as to what the budget cut figures will be for the 2015-2016 budget cuts, it is unknown how many services will be disbanded to make ends meet. The leader also did not mention any possible reductions in jobs over the next few years either. Budget cuts will continue throughout the financial year 2017-2018.

Katrin Busch

Opposition Against Tiverton Pool Closure Grows A number of students attend public meetings to save historic facilities Emily Hackett News Reporter

@emily_hackettt94

Opposition has been growing after Birmingham City Council’s announcement last year of plans to close Tiverton Pool in Selly Oak. Students from the University have been attending meetings throughout December and January in support of the Communities Against Cuts' campaign to keep Tiverton Leisure Centre open.

Tiverton Pool has been seen as a key resource to the local community due to its central location and discounted prices for concessions and students. The leisure centre is home to Birmingham’s oldest swimming pool, which opened in 1906.

If the planned closure happens, Tiverton Pool will be one of nine leisure centres and swimming pools across Birmingham that are proposed to be shut as part of the council's plans to save £6.8m.

As part of this overhaul, the council has planned to develop six new pools and leisure centres, built at a cost of £36 million. Others will be transferred to private sector operators, local schools or community groups, all under strict guarantees of community access and admission fee limits.

However, Tiverton Pool will not be one of the centres to be redeveloped.

Instead, it is believed that the new University of Birmingham Sports Centre and Pool will attract students and residents of Selly Oak and will provide an adequate replacement to Tiverton Pool.

Second Year Modern Languages and Business Management Student Sarah Gould says ‘I think that Tiverton Gym is a really good facility for students who can’t afford the costly membership prices of other gyms in Birmingham, including the University gym. All students should be encouraged to be active and I feel it is really important that this centre remains open.’

Despite the widespread belief that Tiverton Pool is a cheaper option for students, figures show that membership of the Munrow Sports Centre on campus works out cheaper for a twice-weekly visit. Annual gym and swim membership at the Munrow Sports Centre costs £233 for UoB students. This can be compared to Tiverton’s annual student Passport to Leisure membership card which costs £6 and provides a discount to gym and swim sessions. Costing an additional £2.40 (Swim) and £3.35 (Gym) per visit, a twice-weekly visit to Tiverton Pool would cost up to £281 based on a 42-week year.

The next meeting of the Selly Oak district committee is on Thursday 30th January at 11am in rooms 3 and 4 of the Council House.

Louise Warren

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24th - 30th January 2014

News University

Work due to commence on new £55 million Sports Centre Emily Hackett News Reporter

It has been announced that work on the University’s new £55m sports centre will start in April this year.

The sports centre will also include Birmingham’s first 50m swimming pool and is part of a £175m five-year redevelopment scheme for the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus.

The new sports centre, which will be open to students, staff and the wider community is being supported by a £2m grant from Sport England and donations from alumni and friends of the University. It will also include an arena sports hall with seating for up to 900 spectators, six squash courts, and six activity rooms for a wide range of sport and fitness classes, a 225 station gym and various other facilities.

Many students have been awaiting the announcement for the date of the commencement of construction on the sports

centre. Swimmer and Second Year Political Science student Tom Mills expressed scepticism about the development, saying, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’

It is hoped that the new pool and fitness centre will attract both students of the university and residents of Selly Oak. Swimmer and Second Year Geography student Guy Giles hopes ‘the new fitness centre will prioritise more pool time to the University Swimming Club rather than the general public in comparison to

the Munrow Sports Centre.’

The University’s Director of Sport Zena Wooldridge said, ‘this is a large and complex project, which is the culmination of many years of planning and design.

We’re very excited that construction is now about to start.’

‘The new facilities, and opportunities they will house, will be a game-changer for the University, both in raising its profile as a leading UK sporting university, and in its provision for the local and regional community.’

Eastwood highest paid ViceChancellor in UK Emily Hackett News Reporter

Students have criticised David Eastwood's increased salary, which makes him the highest-paid University head in the country It was disclosed last week that David Eastwood, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham has a declared basic salary of £400,000, the highest of all Russell and non-Russell group institutions.

Eastwood’s declared basic salary of £400,000 does not include pension contributions or performance-related benefits which bring the total package to £419,000.

Figures from the Times Higher Education magazine indicate an average income rise of 8.1% and a 5.2% rise in overall benefits for university chiefs, despite many lecturing and support staff having wages frozen and numerous courses being cut due to funding problems.

Katie Hudson, second year Political Science student asks, ‘How can we justify paying the Vice-Chancellor so much when lecturers’ wages are being frozen? These staff are ultimately responsible for the university’s high ranking in various league tables and therefore deserve more recogni-

tion.’

Liz Lawrence, Vice President of the UCU, said that university staff have ‘lost 13% in the value of earnings since 2008.’

Many staff are not paid the living wage of £7.65 per hour, the amount deemed necessary in order for workers to cover the basic costs of living.

Ben Jackson, third year English student and participant in Birmingham's recent protests, said, ‘when we hear that our ViceChancellor is being paid £419,000, whilst so many staff are not getting the living wage this information is what mobilises people and makes everyone, not just the minority, stand up and say this is wrong.’

However, Ed Smith, Pro-Chancellor of the University has previously said (2011) that Professor Eastwood was the head of a ‘complex and successful organisation’ contributing more than £780m to the local region.

He added: ‘He is recognised both by his peer group and internationally as an outstanding leader of his generation in the higher education sector. The University is a very significant enterprise with around 28,000 students, 6,000 staff and a turnover of over £460m. It is also worth noting that he is a generous donor to the University.’

24th - 30th January 2014

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Chamberlain Construction Causes Havoc Aitken residents offered the opportunity to move to the newly completed wing at Jarratt Hall, following months of disruption due to the construction work at Chamberlain.

Adam Rowe News Editor

Vedika Bahl News Reporter

@adamrowe93

@itsmevedika

Last Thursday (16th January), all residents in Aitken Hall A and B blocks, on the Vale Village, were offered the opportunity to move to the new wing of Jarratt Hall. This was due to be completed for the current first year undergraduates, but suffered delays and has only recently been completed. Due to the new wing having only just been completed and therefore vacant, LIVING (the University’s accommodation service) decided to utilise this new, unused facility and offer the new rooms, in Selly Oak, to residents currently living in the Aitken Wing.

The optional move follows the deconstruction of Chamberlain, one of the first halls of residence built in 1962 on the Vale, which has caused much disturbance to the Aitken residents who have complained of severe noise due to the close proximity to Chamberlain.

However this sudden optional relocation has given the Aitken residents a dilemma, as they are forced to choose between staying in disruptive living conditions or moving midway through the year to accommodation in Selly Oak. LIVING emailed students saying that ‘it will be possible for students to transfer in groups to ensure established flats & friendship groups are not disrupted’, yet goes on to say that ‘the majority of flats in the new development accommodate five students’. On the other hand, Aitken generally accommodates 6-8 students. As put by an Aitken resident, ‘we’ve just begun to get to know each other and now we’ll have to be split up’.

Reports from students claim that the dinner table has vibrated whilst eating due to the deconstruction. Since the deconstruction began over Christmas, Aitken have suffered an electricity outage, according to students, for 7.5 hours and no water supply for two days.

Students told Redbrick that they were supplied with water in containers from regular visits from a

"This 'solution' of alter-

native accommodation is just as inconvenient as the current situation" truck. In addition, residents were left with a lack of usable pathway access from Aitken to the rest of the Vale, the Hub and Infusion, forcing them to travel via muddy routes. There has since been a tarmac path put in place. Internet and signal issues were also a key problem.

Students have enquired about any compensation that they may be entitled to due to the general disruption, and also asked if they would receive compensation for their Meal Plan. The offer of relo-

cation clearly stated that the students would still be able to use their Meal Plan. As Meal Plan students usually eat their meals on the Vale, the distance from Jarratt Hall would mean that students would need to travel to the Vale every day to eat, as campus food outlets close at 4.30pm. The walking distance from Jarratt to the Hub is approximately 30 minutes each way.

It is not known how many of the offers of rehousing have been taken up at present, as the applications are currently under consideration, however the decision has not been welcomed by everyone.

Shiva Sapra, first year International Relations student and Aitken Block C resident, said: 'Because only Blocks A and B were asked to move, 24 of us in Block C will still be living next to a construction site. It's just as difficult for us to stay here - I don't really see why they can't relocate everyone'.

Regarding the Meal Plan, he said: ‘We have paid over £1000 for Meal Plan which we would not be able to use properly’.

"We have been

mistreated and repeatedly ignored by the Vale Management and Accommodation services"

Henry Cowling, one of the Aitken RAs wrote: 'We feel we have been mistreated and repeatedly ignored by the Vale Reception and Accommodation Services.

This ‘solution’ of alternative accommodation is just as inconvenient as the current situation, and cannot have been fully thought through as a viable alternative.

The worst thing about all of these problems is that I have sent numerous emails, and they must have not been passed on to the appropriate people or have been ignored. There are many examples of where I have been told ‘a member of management will get back to you’ and they never have'.

On Saturday evening, there was a ceiling in Block A, Flat 1’s bathroom that gave way. A resident of this flat emailed Redbrick: ‘We have had a leak in our bathroom since before Christmas and informed the Vale management team, they said they would fix it.’

The student then went on to say that contractors confirmed that the flat was safe. 'Luckily no one was hurt’.

LIVING told Redbrick: 'A number of residents of Aitken were concerned about the building work being disruptive, and, as the University has just taken receipt of the new wing in Jarratt Hall, we have offered Aitken A & B block residents who wish to move to alternative accommodation the chance to move to Jarratt. Anyone who wishes to stay at Aitken will be able to remain there.

'The new accommodation at Jarratt Hall is more expensive than Aitken, but we have informed

those Aitken residents who choose to move that there will be no additional rent or a transfer fee and their accommodation fee will continue at the same level, including access to the meal plan.

'It will also be possible for friendship groups and existing flatmates to move together if they so desire.

'There has been some unavoidable disruption to utilities in Aitken as a result of the building work.

Residents have been kept informed at every stage. This includes a weekly newsletter from the University and its contractors, and regular email updates.

'Where we have known about disruption in advance, residents have been informed of the exact times and dates of loss of supply ahead of time to allow them to make alternative arrangements. On one occasion recently, the heavy rain meant that some areas of the site flooded, which led to the water supply being off for approximately an hour longer than indicated.

Residents were kept informed.

'A temporary footpath has been laid from the Hub to Aitken and the University has not been informed of any students falling as a result. Residents are also able to use the route along Church Road or the path around the far side of the Vale lake which are not affected by the building works.

'The University and its contractors are committed to minimising disruption from construction to students living around the site, and we apologise if students have been disturbed by these necessary works.

'The ceiling which collapsed in a bathroom at the weekend was as a result of a leak from a room above and was completely unconnected to the building work. Estates have repaired the leak and the ceiling is being repaired this week.'

Dave Charles, VPHC also made a statement: 'The Guild was made aware of the issues as a result of works to Chamberlain Hall and the proposed move to Jarratt by residents in Aitken Hall.

We have since engaged in continuous contact with Hospitality and Accommodation Services (HAS) and will ensure this matter is placed at the top of the University’s agenda, particularly should situations arise where residents’ health and safety is of concern.

'We are currently working with the Aitken RA to appropriately deal with residents’ complaints, and encourage the RA and residents to actively engage with Site Managers. This process was used by the VPHC and previous RAs during the building work surrounding Jarratt Hall and led to successful outcomes for inconvenienced residents.

'We encourage RAs, as elected representatives, to channel residents’ voices via the most appropriate and effective avenues in order to ensure these issues are resolved. It’s my hope that as this article goes to print, successful discussions between Aitken residents and LIVING will have concluded at the open meeting organised for Thursday 23rd January.'

Charley Ross

Cherona Chapman

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24th - 30th January 2014

Comment

Nuc-fear Power Jonathan Simpson Comment Editor

Approaching the three year anniversary of the Japanese Tsunami, memories of cars, houses, and those being washed helplessly away by the torrential body of water still remind us that no nation, yet, has the power to overcome the same basic natural phenomena that our ancestors have fled for thousands of years. Intriguingly however, the lasting legacy of the disaster is the core meltdown at the Fukushima power plant and not the tsunami itself. Why? Fear and ignorance.

As a student of Theoretical Physics for several years I count myself as part of a rare and privileged group who understands in any kind of detail what happened in the nuclear meltdown, and grow weary of the media speculation which misinforms viewers as to the true nature of the disaster. I’m not sure why, I suppose for viewer ratings.

Regardless of the incentives, the whispering and rumouring surrounding nuclear power has led to a society which is distrustful of and bias against nuclear power, when in reality it’s (moderately) clean, efficient and cost effective. It’s also most likely what’s going to tide us through a century of energy scarcity, and I wish everybody would get on board.

Yes, people died from the events of Fukushima. But they died in what should be called a “nucfear” disaster, not a nuclear one. Not a single person died from radiation poisoning. Consider that statistic. Not one person. The World Health Organisation states that radiation doses were so low that any health impacts are below the detectable levels. More radiation is absorbed by the body when X-Rayed. People died after they were evacuated- mainly from homelessness, an inability to adequately treat injuries from the tsunami, hunger and thirst, pitiable or closed hospitals and disease. The safe zones, I’m afraid, were wrongly signposted.

Approximately 1,600 people died during an

evacuation which was ill-conceived and unnecessary, because people panic when they hear the word nuclear.

An educated majority is the tool which can be used to prevent a similar tragedy occurring in the future. People have to understand that radiation is natural- far more natural than cigarette smoke or alcohol.

Thousands more people die every year in the oil and coal industries than the nuclear industry, and only in large quantities is radiation dangerous, otherwise we will continue to wreak havoc amongst ourselves fighting to flee “radiation areas”, which in reality are perfectly safe.

I am not arguing that nuclear is completely infallible, there are risks associated with it as there are with anything else, which the events at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island remind us. But we have to move past, as Roosevelt put it, the fear of the fear itself.

We need to embrace nuclear technology, and stop falsely associating nuclear power with nuclear weapons, because it’s the only way we are ever going to accommodate for an increasingly energy craving, exponentially exploding population.

The entire debate may well pail into insignificance in the next 50 years anyway as we move from nuclear fission to the (dramatically) more powerful and perfectly clean age of nuclear fusion- the same process which powers the Sun. Nuclear fusion uses Hydrogen and Helium instead of Uranium and Plutonium, which may eventually render the heavy elements completely useless in energy production. At least then there will be no unnecessary plague of trepidation.

It’s important to remember the people who lost their lives in the 2011 tsunami, remember the awesome power of the tectonic plates and of the sea and that as humans we don’t yet have all the answers.

But I think it’s almost more important to remember that fraction who died from fear of a radiation leak which didn’t exist and learn from this experience so that we can save lives in the future.

Where now for a post-Sharon Israel?

George Reeves Commentator

The recent death of Ariel Sharon has brought the stark divide in public opinion over the Middle East back into the spotlight. Sharon was a truly polarising and divisive figure, with many Israelis mourning the loss of the man they viewed as their greatest and bravest leader. However, to Palestinians and their supporters across the world, Sharon was a war criminal and a murderer who sought to expand Israeli settlements and suppress any hope for an independent Palestinian state.

Indeed, one Palestinian leader called on his followers to actively celebrate Sharon’s death. But who was Ariel Sharon, and where does his death leave a highly tentative and fragile Middle East?

The incidents which gained Sharon the majority of his notoriety occurred before his colossal political career. He was a soldier and a warrior who was at the forefront of conflicts during the 1960s and 1970s, and it was this military pedigree which helped to propel him to the fore of modern Israeli politics. However, whilst he gained much adulation and praise for defending his homeland against terrorism and the threat of invasion, Sharon was known amongst Palestinians as ‘The Butcher’ who sieged Beirut and turned a blind eye to the murder of over 800 civilians at Lebanese refugee camps.

Moreover, his uncompromising political career only added to the views of the Arab world that Sharon cared little for the wellbeing of Palestine and its people. However, a

closer look at his career suggests that, far from being an uncompromising Zionist, Sharon proved to be one of Israel’s most pragmatic and flexible political leaders.

Upon coming to power in 2001 as Israel’s Prime Minister, Sharon soon aggravated Palestinians through his controversial visit to the Temple Mount, a holy site for both Jews and Muslims.

However, he dedicated his premiership to the pursuit of peace, disengaging from Gaza despite heavy opposition from Israeli hardliners and leaving the conservative Likud Party in order to found a new, moderate party dedicated to peace and compromise. His engagement in peace talks and co-operation with Palestine’s moderate leader, Mahmoud Abbas, may well have heralded a new era of hope for Israel and the Middle East.

However, in 2006 he was sent into a coma after suffering from a stroke, a state he remained in until his death this year.

So with Sharon gone and Likud back in power under the hardliner Benjamin Netanyahu, where does the Middle East go from here? Israel remains an oasis of freedom and democracy within an otherwise aggressive Middle East dominated

by Islamist regimes hostile to the West, but until the Palestinian people are granted their own state, violence will continue. In Ariel Sharon, Israel was gifted with a farsighted and realistic leader, the like of whom may not be seen again. Let’s hope for the sake of world stability that his legacy is fulfilled. .

POLITICS

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@JPoynter91: Heard a rumbling outside and thought it was the stampede of Romanians and Bulgarians. Turns out it was someone moving a bin. #FalseAlarm

Is Southeast European immigration really swallowing the UK? Kristine Bagdassarian Commentator

On January 1st, a long anticipated nightmare took place. The media released the scary statistic that up to 50 000 Bulgarians and Romanians arriving per year to invade, rob and deprive the hardworking Brits of their bread. The media bombarded the poor, intimidated population with statistics on how they’ll lose all their money thanks to the removal of the work restrictions for the aforementioned nations. Back home for the holidays, I was torn between being offended and highly amused by the whole mass hysteria. I tried to imagine what could be going through the heads of those who actually believed what they were hearing on the news; were they imagining that the planes were so overfilled by passengers that random individuals would have to stand and wobble like commuters jammed in a bus?

Did they picture newcomers arriving equipped with compressed tents and sleeping bags to survive the next few months of their unplanned journey? Perhaps they envisioned these strange people arriving on horseback or with exotic pets, hungry to destroy the British economy.

It was all great food for thought. I even watched with delight the cover material that came out on the Bulgarian national television regarding the highly exaggerated crisis. In spite of all frightening forecasts, the flights to UK were not overbooked and nobody was trying to conquer London, flanked by a mule. In truth most of the people travelling to the island in the week after 1st January were returning, not arriving. They were students, or people who’d had a job in Britain for years but had returned to their motherland over the holidays.

Curious. Curious, and very unsettling.

Perhaps the true plans for invasion were brewing unnoticed in underground headquarters, and these aliens would only

opt to strike the moment that the British government let down its guard? I somehow didn’t think that the Prime Minister was having similar bone-chilling concerns keeping him awake at night.

People on Tumblr shared my humorous take on the ‘uproar’. I saw some common sense there for once – jokes like ‘Can’t find a place in the pub due to the nine million Bulgarians and Romanians’, and other things that made my day – by the time I was finished browsing through comic gibberish, I felt better. Even a little bit hopeful.

Interesting fact: on the global scale of best achieved results in IELTS (International English Language Testing System), Romania ranks third, Bulgaria ranks fourth, people with first language English being second and Germans holding the top scores. I don’t know about you, but to me that shows that Romanians and Bulgarians are hard working people. The majority of the immigrants will be students, who will likely study higher education in the UK before they return home or stay here to work and pay off their loans.

Considering the number of British people who live off benefits and enjoy a pretty serene existence in Britain, I fail to see how an influx of motivated and ambitious youths would be harmful.

DAN

"Can't find a place in the pub due to the nine million Bulgarians and Romanians" On a more personal note, I find it strange that a country that prides itself on tolerance and acceptance, which not long ago permitted gay marriage and fiercely supports

integration, would so shamelessly spread propaganda against people of a particular nationality. It’s not just about Bulgarians and Romanians coming over to UK – it’s about deliberately igniting a very much ungrounded paranoia and having public figures fan the flame of something that suspiciously resembles xenophobia. Having an opinion is one thing, voicing it on the TV or the radio is another. Repeatedly coming back to the point out a non-existent issue, a threat which truthfully would have never come to anyone's mind if it hadn’t been so meticulously brought up time and again, to

"Is it alright to go out of ones way to kindle hatred just to suit your own purposes?" me is simply outrageous. The question that comes to my mind when I think of these things is: what is the aim of such behavior?

Is it ‘alright’ to go out of one’s way to kindle hatred just to suit your own purposes? How is it possible that David Cameron and so many other well-known people can go to such lengths to cause a scandal where it is unnecessary?

If the whole idea of this furor is to establish that Bulgarians and Romanians are not good enough for the UK, then where is this fear about them stealing ‘job places’ coming from? If we are so bad and so undeserving, then there is nothing to worry about, surely? Be the better candidates. Be the first choices. At the end of the day, we come here to work, study and, if you let us, pay some taxes before we head back home for the holidays. The rest is frankly, just a big fat commercial trick.

Student Views Comment Editor Charlie Moloney discusses YODO We've all heard of YOLO. We're confronted with it constantly. It calls to us as we think about our 9am starts, or that we can't really afford another drink. It's an abstract philosophical concept, which many people have interpreted to believe that if you don't push yourself into all sorts of ludicrous situations then you'll have missed your one chance at leading a fulfilled life by the time you're twenty. It's a complicated idea, and you can see where YOLO is coming from. We should be daring, courageous and thrill seeking, particularly in our youth.

But does YOLO give us an unrealistic expecttion of life? With our limited years to reflect on, it can certainly seem as though if we're not living life to the max right now, then we never will.

Many of us will lie awake at night dreading that their one and only life isn't up to scratch. After all, it's inevitable that we will go through time periods where we aren't really getting much 'living' done.

One of the biggest problems with YOLO is that it tends to be used to glamorise and endorse intense self indulgence in alcohol, sex and drugs.

It's hardly surprising to me, coming from the Skins generation, that Channel 4 fed us an intoxicating aesthetic of nihilistic hedonism. Meaning was found in a spliff on a hillside watching a sunset after a big night out, an intensely drug fuelled sexual relationship, and the chaotic angst of adolescence framed with an indie soundtrack.

Now, I'm not suggesting that this is what people think that life is about, but people definitely tend to value the exciting and the reckless over the 'boring' and the stable. It's easy to see why, after all there's a lot more to life than playing it safe. But at the same time, we have our whole lives to look forward to, if we're not stupid.

This was emphasised for me by the emergence of YODO: You Only Die Once. This emerged on Twitter amongst people who wanted to banish the taboo of discussing death in our society. If you think that there isn't a taboo of discussing death, then consider what happened the last time you saw someone who was told to put out their cigarette because it was bad for them, or to do some exercise because it reduces the risk of heart disease.

For young people, its almost like we don't believe in the future, or in the reality of death. We don't care where we are by the time that we're fifty, or even if we're dead by then, as long as we're assured a fantastical youth that will glow in our memories as we fade into our twilight years.

Of course we university students tend to be forward thinking (hopefully),but still the "live life while you can" battle cry is prevalent among us.

All of our role models are obsessed with their insane youth. Even though Russell Brand suffered for his drug taking, he's emerged relatively unscathed and 'better' for the experience. Justin Bieber is willing to risk his successful career and playboy lifestyle by piling Cocaine in his house.

Miley Cyrus' new repetoire encourages us all to be stupid and immature, which is fine for her because that's her job.

What bands like One Direction don't seem to realise as they demand of us to "live while we're young", is that how long you are "young" for is not necessarily written in stone. If you look after yourself properly your wellspring of youth may not dry up until you are in your late forties, or even early fifties. It's not like the middle aged magically stop going to parties or having fun because they're "too old". If anything, because what we do at this stage in our lives is paramount to our future success, and not vice versa, we may all be better off reigning it in until we're a bit older. Obviously you're not going to do that, and neither am I, but it's food for thought none the less.

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redbrick.me/comment

24th - 30th January 2014

Comment

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures Deputy Editor James Phillips explores the extraordinary extent of our national crisis A 99p store in Wrexham had to call in police backup when their store was bombarded with shoppers seeking to make the most out of a rare half price sale at the bargain store.

People will laugh and cry ‘what is this world coming to?’ but the sad reality is that, in these times of austerity, for some any chance of a saving cannot be missed.

With the shop’s lease expected to come to an end on January 28th, the store had made the decision to mark down all products to fifty pence, causing a surge in customers.

However, following last-minute negotiations, the lease was extended and managers made the decision to return products to their normal prices. Stupidly, the management put this into effect in the middle of their opening hours, doubling their prices at midday, and understandably angering customers who had been queuing for nearly two hours.

When people are willingly squeezing themselves into a shop that has already exceeded its maximum safe capacity in order to get their hands on doubly discounted goods, it’s hard to disagree that something has gone wrong. It is far from the fault of the shopper, however. The Government’s programme of austerity is forcing people into harsh economic difficulties, resulting in the need to look for the cheapest way of financing their lives. If that means forcing yourself into an overcrowded shop, well, desperate times call for desperate measures. Anything that makes the money last a bit longer is something that should be pursued.

Besides, it was a poor decision by the store’s management to decide to increase their prices in the middle of the day. It’s logical, for any customer, that if your shopping doubles in price from the moment you pick it up from the shelf to the moment it passes by the till scanner, then you’re going to be angry. You’ll feel cheated and lied to – your ten pound shop has suddenly become twenty pounds. This sale has been adver-

"the sad reality is that... for some any chance of a saving cannot be missed" tised for days and yet, after battling with other customers and patiently queuing for an inhuman amount of time, you’re being told that the terms have changed. I find it completely incomprehensible that any person could go through that situation and not be enraged.

So, what is this world coming to? A financially squeezed population trying to be economically sensible and save every penny they can, whilst the Government continues to make their situations harder and shop managers are solely concerned about how much money they make in a day. I think it’s pretty obvious what’s not right about this state of affairs.

Time for teachers to take some tests?

Samiha Sharif Commentator

Plans have been revealed for teachers to require licenses, which would need to be renewed every few years under a future Labour government. This proposal may pull Labour out of political oblivion; as the opposition party they have been scrambling and tumbling to find some semblance of policies. They’ve constantly stated that they will pull our country out of economic difficulties in a way that the Conservatives can’t, or won’t. However, being typical politicians, they have no concrete plan to achieve these ends. But licensing teachers is an intelligent proposal which will resonate with any parent. In fact the dismal scores in the PISA exams demonstrate there is a definite concern with the basic level of education in this country.

England is a top investor among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which runs the PISA tests. Embarrassingly we’ve been exposed by our own investment as a country having a crisis of education. In comparison Poland only spends a fraction on education, less than the OECD average, and yet their students perform remarkably well, attaining high scores. Polish students were in the top 10 in both English and Science. The UK students did not achieve the top 20 in any

subject.

Teachers should be held accountable; TV shows such as ‘Educating Yorkshire’ shows the best that education has to offer.

Unfortunately, many children are taught by such sub standard teachers, who choose their star pupils and shower them with attention and praise while neglecting others.

Some teachers simply instruct students with the bare minimum of information, without taking account of students’ differences. It is not say all teachers are alike. Some exert exceptional effort to aid their students to perform to the best of their capabilities.

However, many simply need some encouragement or punitive action to perform their jobs.

Most astonishing of all, teachers in England earn more than the teachers in other OECD countries in almost any category.

And yet teachers don’t face any of the same checks and balances which other professionals do. People in other professions such as doctors and lawyers can be struck off, or private firms can replace workers if they are seen unfit. Teachers should face the same regulations; they are taxpayer funded jobs, if they are not providing the adequate service than their jobs are irrelevant.

Globalization has increased the contest for jobs. As more firms are looking further afield for employees, without the ability of students to compete on the world stage, the UK will continue to lag behind.

WHAT DID YOU DO IN 2013?

THISIS ISWHAT WHATWE WEDID...

DID: THIS

WE’RE DELIGHTED OUR WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY HAS ACHIEVED POSITIVE CHANGE FOR YOU. OUR OURCONSTRUCTIVE CONSTRUCTIVERELATIONSHIP RELATIONSHIPHAS HASRESULTED RESULTEDIN INTHE THEUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITYAGREEING AGREEINGTO...

TO:

...INSTALL MORE WATER COOLERS ON CAMPUS

...INTRODUCE MORE ESSENTIAL TEXTS AND E-BOOKS TO THE LIBRARY

...PROVIDE PRINTER CREDITS FOR ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

...KEEPING THE MAIN LIBRARY OPEN 24/7 (FROM 10TH MARCH)

We’d love to hear what you think about these changes, tweet @guildofstudents or post your thoughts on facebook.com/guildofstudents

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24th - 30th January 2014

Comment

Feed the homeless if you must, but keep it far away from us Julia Bayer

Comment Editor

Social divisions are ever increasing, but are the wealthy still prepared to play their part, or has image become too important?

The ‘not in my back yard’ concept has existed worldwide for many years now.

People recognise that there is a problem and that it needs a solution, but they want that solution kept as far away as possible from their hometowns.

In the US this ‘not in my back yard’ concept has begun to form around a slightly different issue - soup kitchens. Affluent areas around the country such as Santa Monica and Hollywood have started to protest about the soup kitchens in their areas, claiming that they bring down the ‘prestige’ of the neighbourhood and are a threat to society, because many of the citizens who are using the facilties are drug addicts and mentally unstable. Consequently these neighbour-

"People recognise that there is a problem and that it needs a solution, but they want that solution kept as far away as possible from their hometowns" hoods are requesting a closure and a want to move them to the poorer neighbourhoods, which are already ‘damaged’.

According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, there are 1,750,000 homeless people in the US. 44 % of them were shown to have done paid work in the last month, suggesting they have a desire to live without help from the state.

Moreover 20 % of the soup kitchen clientele are children, however 12 million children are said to be living below the poverty line, which means this number is most likely going to increase.

In addition to children, college/university graduates are starting to make up the

"By closing the shelters and soup kitchens in the more affluent areas, it is suggesting that the wealthy should not have to expose themselves to the issues that the poor are facing" ent areas, it is suggesting that the wealthy should not have to expose themselves to the issues that the poor are facing. They often think of those in poverty as being ‘below’ themselves and fail to realise that the poor have just as many rights as they do, and as demonstrated by the Stanford graduate, frequently those they look down upon were once one of them.

On another level, this issue bothers me because it seems obvious that it is the wealthy members of society who have the most money to give and are the ones who can help solve the issue of poverty. If these kitchens do not exist in their towns, they wont see the problem and will be less inclined to help sort the growing issue of poverty.

This forms the question as to why so many of the wealthy are so desperate to shield their eyes to the problems in society.

Has image really become that important?

Worryingly, the British do not appear to be any different.

Last month Waitrose said that any person who possessed a store membership card could get a daily free hot drink, regardless of purchasing an item. Complaints soared from the normal Waitrose customers, who felt that as a result of the free drinks, more poor people were coming into the shop now and consequently the experience was far less pleasant, and Waitrose was becoming suitable for the commoner instead of just the upper middle class.

When did it become acceptable to say comments like this? To suggest that it is tolerable to pretend the problem does not exist and ‘ship it off’ for the less fortunate

"12 million children are said "When we can help, we to be living below the step up to the task and do poverty line" not shield our eyes from line too. One person who was interviewed in the reality that exists, often a soup kitchen line said that she had gone to just outside our front door" Stanford but three years ago lost her job as a teacher but has been unable to re-train because of the astronomical cost of college, often up to $60,000 a year. She can be seen as part of the ‘New Homeless’ in the US; ‘We tried to catch a break and there was no net to catch us’. This suggests that today poor people are not always mentally unstable or drug addicts, as suggested by those living in the affluent areas. Rather they are just like us, wanting to get ahead, but without the means to do so and therefore left in poverty.

The saddest thing, in my opinion, is that man has failed to realise that ‘We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse.’ By closing the shelters and soup kitchens in the more afflu-

people to deal with.

As Mother Teresa said “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty”. The first type of poverty may sometimes be out of our control because sadly, money is not something many of us have lying around to give, but it’s in our power to make sure we avoid the second and ensure that when we can help, we step up to the task and do not shield our eyes from the reality that exists, often just outside our front door.

POLITICS

CELEBRITY

OFF IC

14 20 S

E L E C M T A IO E T N R E

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? If YOU could lead your Guild of Students and represent more than 30,000 Birmingham students what would you do?

Nominate yourself

turn your ideas into reality.

There are seven sabbatical roles and eleven non-sabbatical positions to elect.

This is your chance to make a real difference by improving the university experience and ensuring students ‘get the best from Birmingham!’

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! Nominations close: 10am, Monday 3rd February

Nominations packs are available for download now from

12

redbrick.me/arts

24th - 30th January 2014

Arts

Welcome Back from Redbrick Arts!

Miss Julie @ The REP Georgia Tindale and Jess Syposz Critics First things first, you should all visit this theatre. It is undoubtedly one of the gems of the Birmingham theatre scene and you’ll find it tucked away above a gorgeously decorated pub. It’s only a few minutes away from New Street station and is perfect for a full evening’s entertainment!

August Strindenberg's masterly tale of lust and personal freedom, Miss Julie is a play fraught with sexual tension.

Long term couple John and Christine live in apparent domestic bliss. Enter Miss Julie, a vivacious but broken young women determined to stir things up in the aftermath of her party. Cue flirtation, power play and canapés galore.

‘Portable Productions’ director Andrew Cowie adapts the 1888 drama for a modern audience. This chameleon of a play has been reinvented and placed in settings as diverse as post-apartheid South Africa (Yael Farber’s 2012 Mies Julie) and the struggle for Irish Home Rule (Liv Ullmann’s upcoming film version). However, Cowie’s present day production was fresh, relevant and gripping.

One of the unique joys of this production was its staging, as the audience were transported right into Julie’s dinner

party. We sat around small, candlelit tables and were given dips and bread-sticks: an obvious bonus for hard-up students. Overall, it worked brilliantly towards Strindberg’s aim to ‘break the fourth wall’ and yet still be original.

The play dealt with issues of class and gender in a refreshingly non-didactic way. Although Strindberg’s realist drama conventions are no longer innovative within theatre – using naturalistic make-up and settings - elements of the play, which would have been shocking to Strindberg’s contemporaries, were equally powerful in Cowie’s production.

Strindberg’s demand on actors to improvise an entire scene remains unconventional even in contemporary theatre.

Such a strong script was superbly carried by the three cast members. James Allan in particular brought an immediate intensity to the character of John, delivering some of the plays most powerful lines. His interaction with the audience was especially impressive as it was both aggressive and laugh out loud funny.

Miss Julie is a thrilling mix of sex and class, but also a story of people trapped in the lives they lead, desperate to escape at any cost. At only an hour long, it left us hungry for more. 'The Old Joint Stock' theatre is definitely one to watch for upcoming productions, while the film version of Miss Julie, staring Jessica Chastain, is out later this year.

Deputy Artistic Director Could it be you?

Did you know that out of all the UK’s actors, just 35% of them are female? Or that out of all the UK’s theatre directors, only 23% are female? Or that out of all the UK’s playwrights, 17% are female? Well Purple Rooster Theatre are more than aware of the statistics, and they’re here to confront the imbalance!

Purple Rooster Theatre is an all-female performance collective founded last year by University of Birmingham student, and company Artistic Director, Hannah Roe. The aim of their work is to create contemporary imaginings and interpretations of existing stories through provocative and dynamic interdisciplinary theatre. They find tales that need to be told and turn them into immersive theatrical adventures with a distinct female voice. Purple Rooster are proud to be an all-female organisation, but you won’t find them burning their bras in Mermaid Square or screaming about how much they hate men! For Purple Rooster, feminism isn’t about extremism, or men-hating, or not wearing makeup. Feminism is three things: equality, freedom and access, and Purple Rooster want to celebrate, champion and increase the presence of women in theatre because they have the right to do so. No-one realises how under-represented women are in theatre, so Purple Rooster make work they are passionate about whilst acknowledging this issue.

They are the only theatre company like this in Birmingham.

Purple Rooster have a very exciting year ahead of them, and they’ve kicked off 2014 with the announcement of an incredible opportunity to be part of their team! They are looking for an organised, enthusiastic and reliable female individual to fill the position of Deputy Artistic Director and Producer within their company. To be considered for the post, you must be based in or near Birmingham, or be able to get into the city centre easily. They ask for a minimum commitment of six months so that the opportunity is worthwhile for both the successful applicant and the theatre company itself. As Purple Rooster is a brand-new company, it’s important to stress that this position will be unpaid until the company starts making profit from their work which, due to the nature of the industry, could potentially take years. Thus, a crucial requirement of this role is that the applicant is passionate about and excited by Purple Rooster’s aims and ideas, and that they understand the time and effort that will go into establishing this company professionally. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day! If you’re interested in applying

for this great opportunity, then email purplerooster5@gmail. com to request an application form and more information.

The deadline for applications is January 31st so don’t miss out!

If you want to know more about Purple Rooster, visit their website (purplerooster5.wordpress.com), their Facebook (facebook.com/PurpleRooster5) or follow them on Twitter @PurpleRooster5.

Online This Week JEEVES AND WOOSTER @ Duke of York Theatre - Charlie Maloney Charlie Maloney reviews this new offering from Director Sean Foley in this latest attempt to adapt PJ Wodehouse's much loved farcical characters Jeeves and Wooster. This production was staged at the Duke of York Theatre from October 30th and is still running. Find the full review of this play at www.redbrick.me/arts

THE NATIONAL GALLERY (18th - 20th Century) - Sara Tryon This exclusive feature from debut Redbrick writer Sara Tryon investigates The National Gallery from an unbaised, fresh perspective. How will she fare without the critical artistic eye that many argue to be essential to understanding art? See the full article on our website this week at www. redbrick.me/arts

What did you see over the Christmas break? Email us now at: arts@redbrickonline.co.uk

Next Week at Redbrick Arts Spark Night @ mac (7:30pm) Ever wondered what would happen if four people tried to share a shopping trolley? With a satirical take on street harassment, a fresh look at mental illness and an innovative look at the corruption of the media, you'd be hard pushed to find a more diverse performance anywhere! The University of Birmingham's third year Drama students are thrilled to invite you to a very special and unique event for one night only. At 7:30pm on the evening of the 22nd, be prepared for new, exciting, never-before-seen contemporary theatre; extracts of work at an early stage of development; devised, acted and organised completely by students!

Betrayal @ The Old Joint Stock (7:30pm) Spring, 1977. Noon. Emma is sitting at a corner table. Jerry approaches with drinks. He sits. they smile, toast each other silently, drink. He looks at her. This is the end.

Betrayal is Harold Pinter's most tender and personal play, based on his own long, poignant affair with BBC presenter Joan Bakewell.

Winner of the 1979 Olivier for Best New Play, Betrayal's honesty and humour captures the fractured half lives of the adulterers vividly on stage. The narrative spools backwards through the death and life of the affair, its constituents torn between two beds and two realities.

Julian&Jiaxin Lloyd Webber: A Tale of Two Cellos @ Bramall Music Building (7:30pm) Experience the intimate musical world of Julian Lloyd Webber, one of the world’s finest classical musicians, as he performs heartfelt compositions alongside his wife, fellow cellist Jiaxin Lloyd Webber.

Hear world premiere performances of duets for two cellos with piano as well as music from great composers from Vivaldi to Arvo Pärt, Dvorák, Bach, Rachmaninov, SaintSaëns and many more.

Try something new...

OF STUDE D L I NT GU S

FAIR

Societies & Services

Thursday 30th January 11am-4pm. Great Hall, Aston Webb

guildofstudents.com/giveitago

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redbrick.me/television

24th - 30th January 2014

Television

It's Back...

Sherlock: Series Three

What's Happening in Telly World This Week...

Finally! Did you love it or hate it? Ashley Moreton takes a look at the BBC's most popular drama to date After two long, torturous years, Sherlock finally reappeared on New Year’s Day, and boy, did it reappear with a bang. Or, rather, the snap of a bungee cord saving Sherlock’s life. “The Empty Hearse” was dedicated to reintroducing Sherlock, and presenting a selection of survival options. In the former, it excelled. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman were as wonderful as ever,

and they work together brilliantly; I’m sure I’m not the only person who cheered when John punched Sherlock. However, the latter component did not do as well. The first two theories we were presented with had been thought up by Anderson, and a member of his Sherlock fan club – or at least, in the show. Both were theories I had earlier read, word for word on the internet. Yes, a little homage to the fans is nice, but this seems lazy. The same theme continues with

Sherlock’s apparently “true” revelation to Anderson. I knew it, down to the squash ball under the armpit. I will admit I have spent far more time than is normal looking up theories, so I just hope this was more enjoyable for those people who have not been Googling obsessively.

The “crime of the week” was a bomb placed under Parliament – on November 5th, of course. This clearly wasn’t the main focus of the episode, and it shows. Sherlock flicked one switch and saved the day.

I was rather disappointed with this episode, especially as I had waited two years for it. The actors were as excellent as ever, but the story was somewhat lacking.

Episode two, “The Sign of Three”. John and Mary’s wedding. Or, more accurately, Sherlock’s best man speech. This episode was excellent in terms of comedy; I don’t think any of us can forget drunk Sherlock looking at the “Egg? Chair? Sitty thing?”.

Character development was also exceptional. We saw that Sherlock can definitely come to care about people and want to make them happy. And also that he appears to deal with stress by obsessively folding napkins.

With the whole episode being Sherlock’s best man speech, the episode could have easily become very tedious. But I feel the writers did very well at sprinkling it with flashbacks and enough funny moments to make it a very engaging and enjoyable hour and a half. The mystery also fitted in well, and reminded us of John’s past, before Sherlock.

All the different threads of the story fitted together neatly, and it was nice to see Mary working with John and Sherlock.

Overall, a very good episode – much better than the first.

The third and final episode of this series was “His Last Vow”. This episode consisted of surprise, after surprise, after surprise. We had the revelation of Sherlock’s drug addiction – though apparently he was just undercover , Charles Augustus Magnussen’s somewhat vulgar

behaviour

in

Sherlock’s

flat, and the revelation that sweet, lovely

Mary was actually an assassin, trying to escape her previous life.

We were presented with a very interesting villain; Magnussen is clearly not particularly vicious, as we see him cry like a baby when Mary is pointing a gun at him.

However, he left Sherlock with no option but to kill him. It was a clever twist that all his information was stored in his head, and not in filing cabinets, and presented Sherlock with an adversity he could not outwit.

Although the shooting was not necessarily what one would expect from Sherlock, it

showed quite how dedicated he is to John – and in turn, Mary’s safety.

There were many wonderful scenes in this episode, but the scenes between Watson and Mary really stand out. Freeman displays cold anger and, later, slow forgiveness. It really was wonderful acting.

I do not think this was the best series of Sherlock, but I enjoyed it doubtless. Now we just have to wait with bated breath to see what the next series brings - especially after that

flash

of

Moriarty...

It's all been going down in the Bake-Off tent this week. The link between baking and sport seems pretty tenuous, and you'd be forgiven for being confused about how this program ever came to being broadcast. In the first episode Samantha Bond links her baking to sport by icing sweatbands onto her peanut-butter cookie elephants. Riiiight.

That said, who cares. They're raising money for a good cause, and I never miss an opportunity to watch the Bake Off, or to gaze into Paul Hollywoods twinkling eyes.

TV drama came to Birmingham this week with the arrival of Benefits Street. Channel 4 managed to offend most of the nation with its portrayal of the needy occupants of James Turner Street as money-grubbing thieves. People took to Twitter in droves to protest at how they were represented and to demand an apology. What do you think?

Was it a fair documentary, or do Channel 4 need to clean up their act?

24th - 30th January 2014

redbrick.me/television

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Shannon Carey Tv Critic

Hidden away in a 9pm slot on digital channel E4, you would be forgiven for missing American comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Thursday night. In fact, when the show first aired in America it achieved on average only 3 million viewers across the series – nothing compared to other US TV giants. But don’t be fooled into thinking Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a forgettable show. The series surprised at this year’s Golden Globes by winning awards for both Best TV Actor (thanks to Andy Samburg) and Best Musical/Comedy TV Show, proving the show’s worth despite low-viewing figures.

Set in a fictional ‘99th’ precinct of the New York Police Department, the show takes a comical approach on life as a police officer, using an off-beat humour which has been popularised through hit shows like New Girl in recent years. The show is led by Andy Samburg as immature, yet brilliant, detective Jake Peralta and, as mentioned before, he truly deserves his best actor award. If you’re familiar with spoof band The Lonely Island or have seen an episode of Saturday Night Live, you’ll have experienced Samburg’s unique and often sidesplitting sense of humour. He brings this humour to Brooklyn Nine-Nine, creating a lead character that can still charm the audience, despite the only puzzle he has never solved being “how to grow up”.

However, to focus on Samburg’s character is to ignore all the other members of the 99th precinct. There is, in fact, a vast array of characters, each of which bring their own

special humour to the show. Some of my personal favourites included squad leader Terry, who admits to be softened by fatherhood after the birth of his twins, Cagney and Lacey (a reference to the 1980’s series for all you cop-show lovers out there) and sharp-as-glass Detective Rosa Diaz who promises to provide many one-liners with her blunt and mysterious manner. The best of all may be the new commanding officer, Captain Holt, introduced in the opening episode, who looks set to spend much of the series trying to reign in childish Perrault with his strict procedures. We also find out in the opening episode that Holt is gay – perhaps the least stereotypical gay character to have ever existed in a television show. This goes to show what Brooklyn Nine-Nine intends to do: surprise the audience with twists that bring humour by completely going against the audiences expectations, something that will make it truly stand out from the sea of American comedy shows around.

Like already mentioned, it would be rather easy to leave Brooklyn Nine-Nine unappreciated against the might of betterknown American imports, such as How I Met Your Mother or New Girl. However, something about the police comedy makes it different from the rest, whether it be the vast array of characters which all leave their mark on the show to the comprehensive list of one liners the show features. If, like many people out there, you had no idea what Brooklyn Nine-Nine was before reading this article, hopefully you’re convinced and, come next Thursday night, you’ll be willing to devote half an hour of your time to this growing show.

THURSDAY 30TH JANUARY

Guild Council Chamber, Guild Building, 6pm With over 100 elected student representatives meeting seven times this year, Guild Council is the democratic voice of students at the Universityof Birmingham. Through Guild Council, students at the University of Birmingham decide the policy of the Guild, hold their

Guild members have submitted a number of motions on a range of topics, if you would like to know what is being discussed, email council@guild.bham.ac.uk.

All students can come to Guild Council and speak on any of the agenda items. All you need to do is turn up to the Guild Council Chamber on the night of the meeting.

And, as always, a chance for you to about the work they have been doing for you!

For further information please email: council@guild.bham.ac.uk

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redbrick.me/music

24th - 30th January 2014

Music

Live: Peace @ O2 Academy Fabio Thomas Music Critic

Peace at last as the boys from Birmingham play triumphant homecoming show.

Album Review: Beyoncé - Beyoncé Liv Rafferty Music Critic

We all want to be Beyoncé. She not only epitomises beauty and girl power, but is one of the most successful and talented solo female artists of this generation. Just two years after the birth of daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé secretly produced her selftitled fifth studio album and released it in the middle of the night leading to a media frenzy the following day.

Unlike her previous work this album is mature, emotional and artistic with no sign of energetic pop songs like 'Single Ladies' or 'Crazy in Love'. But this isn't missed, as the moody understated production of the record shines light on the poignant lyrics and visual production Beyoncé provides. Explicitly tackling issues like marriage, motherhood, eating disorders and lots and lots of sex, this personal album shows all her insecurities, showing the world a side to her that no one has ever seen before.

17 videos complement the 14 tracks, to perfectly express their meaning. In the accompanying video to the track 'Pretty Hurts' Beyoncé is part of a beauty pageant, and attempts to reflect the body issues of today's society. But when asked in the video by the host, 'what is your aspiration in life?' she chokes and says 'to be happy', bringing a tear to everyone's eye.

This futuristic melodic album shows Beyoncé is still determined to prove herself as an independent woman and artist, despite getting married and becoming a mother.

Queen B openly displays the trials and tribulations of her life so far, best shown in the video for 'Ghost' when she questions 'how come?' and the lyrics read 'I'm climbing up these walls, cause all the shit I hear is boring, all the shit I do is boring, all these record labels are boring'.

The best track on the record is probably 'Drunk in Love (feat. Jay-Z)' just because it is perhaps the most dissimilar to any of Beyoncé's previous work. Beginning with an Indian vocal, this quasi-hip-hop track has intense beats throughout and cleverly constructed layers of vocals, with flawless rapping from her husband Jay-Z. The track provides an honest insight into the power couple's love life, depicting female sexuality as Beyoncé confidently delivering the lyrics, 'drunk in love, I want you'.

It's almost like Beyoncé has had a rebirth in this album, forgotten the power ballads and moved on to more sophisticated creation of the art. If you want the old Beyoncé, you won't find her on this album, but you will not be disappointed. With 14 songs and 17 videos, each bringing something entirely different, it takes the listener on a rollercoaster of Beyoncé's life, making you feel like you really know her. So maybe we can be friends after all; what do you think Bey?

Never before have Drenge been in a Brummie-sandwich. Such an idea, whilst it may be stupendously daunting to some, seems surprisingly popular amongst hardedged indie rock fans today. Lunch-related puns aside, the 13th December saw Superfood and Drenge support Peace at their homecoming gig at the O2 Academy.

Acting as one half of the proverbial 'bread' for the evening, Superfood opened the gig, playing to an already busy and vibrant venue of denim and Dr Marten-clad teens. Their set of Brit-power-pop closed with the self-titled track 'Superfood' which, following its circulation in the 'trendier' parts of the West Midlands, was warmly received by the crowd. A highlight was their newest YouTube release, the Blur-esque

'Bubbles', which is available for free download via the group's website.

Derby duo Drenge provided the heaviest set of the night. Their raw brand of new gritty British punk saw the now crammed venue erupt into a wash of pushing, pits and general tomfoolery. In spite of the sparse

"Much to the distate of two middle-aged men, Peace included their cover of Wham's 'Last Christmas'" two piece line up of the band, their overall sound was astonishingly punchy and full.

Obvious comparisons can be drawn with The Black Keys, but the group’s live set seemed to have more of the energy of The Dead Kennedys paired with the song writ-

ing style of The Libertines.

In spite of being the main attraction, Peace were left with a significant challenge following Drenge’s brutal set. However, on home turf, the band came into their own.

The effortless grace by which they ran through the set, bringing the crowd with them through the peaks and troughs of each track, was astounding. Their live show also brings to light the sheer song writing capability of the band. Every song sounds like a single, and it is exactly this fact which caused them to become so popular. Where many bands' sets have high and low points, Peace peaked in the first minute and didn’t come down until an hour later, after milking the crowd for every ounce of sweat they had.

Much to the distaste of two middle-aged men, Peace included their cover of 'Last Christmas' in their set. I think this action epitomises the band, who are completely lacking in pretention. Their horizontal nature and well written alt-rock songs reclaim pop music and help return it to its former glory.

Essential Albums: Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights James Garrington Music Critic

Formed in the late 1990s, Interpol were one of several bands to be associated with the post-punk revival coming out of New York City. However, unlike the instantly catchy Is This It from fellow New Yorkers The Strokes, Turn On The Bright Lights is an album that becomes more rewarding each time it is heard, revealing the further subtleties of each instrumental part.

Opening with the reverb and delay drenched guitars of 'Untitled', a mood of absolute misery and despondency is created, a theme that is consistently present throughout the album. Bassist Carlos Dengler plays a crucial role here, underscoring Daniel Kessler and Paul Banks’ ethereal, repetitive guitar riff with a driving, yet melodic bassline, accented by Sam Foragino’s kick drum. 'Untitled' is perhaps the least pop song on the album; with its repetitive guitar riff and unorthodox structure the song show-

cases the band’s ability to create a dark atmosphere. Songs like 'PDA' and 'Obstacle 1' follow a more typical format, although the former concludes with a dramatic instrumental almost doubling the song’s length.

Again, Dengler leads this section with his detuned often off-beat bass line. Perhaps the only criticism to be made for this album is that Dengler’s bass is a little too low in the mix, resulting in hours of trawling through Youtube for the original isolated tracks.

Producer Peter Katis can be thanked for that.

Unlike the vast majority of records, the vocal here is not the focal point of each song. Banks treats his voice with the same rules as if it were another instrument; he never over-sings or forces a melody where other vocalists might, yet on songs like 'The New' we hear his baritone voice soar over the arpeggiated guitar riffs.

Turn On The Bright Lights is an often bleak, yet surprisingly uplifting record. Its cohesiveness means that it is best heard in a single listen, although each song stands alone with equal success. Unfortunately,

Interpol peaked with their debut album and are yet to come close to matching it. With the departure of Dengler in mid-2010, the prospect of Interpol matching Turn On The Bright Lights seems even less likely.

24th - 30th January 2014

redbrick.me/music

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Tweet of the Week: @lilyallen: Why do pan pipes and holidays have to go hand in hand?

Redbrick looks forward to 2014 Sam Dix

Music Editor @sjdix Congratulations! You made it through 2013.

I know, I know, sometimes it didn't look like it was going to happen; that somehow Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke were singlehandedly (doublehandedly?) going to bring down the musical establishment, and subsequently The World, all in the name of twerking and stripy suits with sunglasses. But they didn't did they? Not quite. Not yet. Well done all that became part of the resistance that prevented the impending pop-doom. For now anyway. We won the battle, dear friends, but the war is on.

But the future is bright, and 2014 looks set to be another stellar year for music.

Personally, I am most excited about the return of Morrissey. Or rather, the musical return of Morrissey. After his recent autobiography, candidly titled Autobiography, was more successful, at least commercially, than anything else he has ever done, there are rumours he is to start work on a novel. There are also rumours that it is a rom-com: the tale of a young boy from Salford who just wanted to be loved - but come to think of it, I think I might have started that rumour.

All that is left for me to do is to wish you a happy new year as we continue our inexorable march in the quest for ultimate musical salvation. Here our writers look forward to what 2014 has to offer in the world pop.

most exciting in the music world this year.

Encouraging audiences to wear fancy dress, appearing on stage with giant papier-mâché faces of themselves, and playing with their trademark unstoppable energy, Arcade Fire will be unmissable.

The Strokes have not had a gig in the UK in almost three years, and haven’t yet toured their excellent 2013 comeback album Comedown Machine. Having announced US dates already, it is more than likely that the New York band will make an appearance overseas and reignite the Room on Fire that has been slowly dying out.

Damon Albarn recently announced his first 'real' solo album, Everyday Robots.

Following suit of his Blur bandmate Graham Coxon, it is likely that Albarn will tour not only playing his new songs, but hopefully with acoustic versions of classic Blur tunes.

But the group returning from the longest absence this year are undoubtedly experimental hip-hoppers OutKast, not having released any material since 2007. Having announced 40 worldwide festival dates, the extravagant and unbelievably cool duo will surely have some tricks up their sleeve for an explosive reappearance. Everything is also pointing towards a brand new record from André 3000 and Big Boi, which is always extremely good news.

Libertines would be proud of, Liverpool four-piece Circa Waves are everything exciting about guitar music in 2014.

Frontman Keiran Shuddall wrote and recorded demos himself in a matter of weeks after deciding to give himself one last chance at career in music, before having met any of his future bandmates, and it is this palpable urgency that makes them so compelling.

There's barely time to catch your breath on the band’s first two singles 'Good For Me' and 'Get Away', with rolling drums, tremolo guitars and frustration-filled lyrics disguised by sunny melodies. If what they've put out so far is anything to go by, Circa Waves' first album could be as important a record as any released this year.

Susannah Dickey Music Editor

@SusannahDickey

With vocals comparable to Janelle Monae, the soul of Macy Gray, and a debut single that has drawn comparisons to Florence & the Machine and London Grammar, not to mention support slots for John Newman and Ellie Goulding in the next six months, Liverpool-born Jetta is one of 2014's most exciting new solo stars. 'Start a Riot' offers breathy angst and an 'electro/indie' chorus with an intense musical climax. The video has the under-produced roughness that instantly charms, and Jetta, who looks like a younger Solange Knowles, doesn't distract with flamboyant dancing or insincere emotion. Meanwhile, 'Feels Like Coming Home' showcases Jetta's versatility, with the slowtempo, piano-heavy ballad focussing on the lugubrious lyrics and soulful purity of her voice.

Sophie Hamilton Music Critic

Matt Moody Music Critic

Ludo Cinelli Music Editor

Random Access Memories. Reflektor.

Modern Vampires of The City. Last year brought some fantastic studio albums which may be hard to top. But while 2014 might not bring the same standard of recorded music, the return of certain bands to the live scene promises to make this a year to remember.

For starters, Neutral Milk Hotel return to the UK with two concerts this year.

Having influenced countless bands like Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, and The Mountain Goats, these veterans will surely take back by storm the scene they created. Recreating their most critically successful lineup that recorded the seminal 1998 album In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, the band will also have fans slavering for a new record of their multi-instrumental lo-fi folk rock.

Speaking of Arcade Fire, their ‘Reflektor’ tour promises to be one of the

England’s answer to Tame Impala look set to lay claim to the psych-rock throne this year with their debut album Sun Structures.

Formed in Kettering in 2012, Temples’ reverb-drenched back-to-the-future psychedelia is crafted with such precision that it sounds like it genuinely might have been recorded in 1969, but still manages to sound totally fresh. Lyrics inspired by fantasy fiction might set alarm bells ringing for some, but the four-piece still manage to stuff their songs with expertly crafted pop hooks, with an end result that’s anything but a tough listen. On the back of support slots with Suede, Kasabian and The Vaccines, as well as the endorsement of Noel Gallagher as “Britain’s best new band”, Temples’ debut is due out mid-February; on the evidence provided so far, they’ll be taking the festival scene by storm with the spirit of Woodstock a few months later.

Combining the boundless energy of The Vaccines, duelling guitars of The Strokes and irresistible choruses of early Arctic Monkeys in a chaotic, rough around the edges blend that Pete and Carl of The

Friendly Fires have been working on their next studio album since September, and certainly have a hard task on their hands matching some of the delightfully uplifting and easy-listening indie tracks from their last release Pala - an album so summery you catch yourself conjuring up visions of strutting the shores of in a dazzling Hawaiian shirt clutching a jug of technicolour Malibu mixer.

After a handful of DJ sets in the last few months the Hertfordshire band are ready to headline Meca Festival in Brazil towards the end of this month, alongside Charli XCX and dance duo Klangkarussell. The indie trio have left their loyal festival fanbase waiting for a new release since 2011, so the question is, what sugary signature will Ed MacFarlane and co. bestow on their latest assortment of audio confectioneries?

Charley Ross Deputy Editor

@charleyross92

After an all too exasperating two-and-a-half year silence, Bombay Bicycle Club are breaking back onto the 2014 scene. Forget folksy, twinkly sounds and lead singer Jack Steadman’s quivering, heartbreaking vocals, embrace inspirations from places that you’d never, ever have expected. Following the conclusion of the quartets tour overseas, Steadman headed off on a solo mission into remote areas of India, Turkey and Holland for new inspiration.

This new direction may or may not be related to bass player Ed Nash's remarks about the wave of 'bad indie bands' following the success of Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys, and the subsequent 'saturation' of the genre.

The boys are nothing if not evolutionary, and are clearly striving to remain so, even if it means straying from their roots, and the sounds they are primarily known for.

So, whether you’re a die-hard fan or an interested newcomer to the charms of BBC, this one should be worth sticking around for, at least to see where these new paths have taken the Crouch End boys.

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redbrick.me/travel

Travel

Cuba: cocktails, cars and culture Sarah Ricketts takes us off the beaten track and gives her advice on travel in the undiscovered island of Cuba Going to Cuba I had little idea of what to expect, except for the warning of others. I was warned that Cuba had awful food, rubbish services, horrible hotels, and wasn’t very cheap. Yet it became clear pretty quickly that these criticisms didn’t ring true. Cuba turned out to be the perfect place to go for a tourist who is looking for a mix of winter sun and a unique culture.

Havana, the capital city of this communist state, should not be missed. The city is vibrant and, in many parts, extremely beautiful (if slightly odd). Being a communist state it is unsurprising that many of the shops look outdated, yet there otherwise seems to be little sign of a communist system, with great variations in shops, restaurants and bars, making the city extraordinarily lively. The many bars and restaurants all have one thing in common: music. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, music will be playing while you eat. So get ready for a lot of Salsa, Tango and Bachata; it’s all part of the Cuban experience.

An unexpected part of the Cuban experience was scaffolding-come-jungle, where plants have used the scaffolding as climbing poles; buildings look like they have been waiting for repair since the revolution. Another astonishing part of Havana, and of Cuba as a whole, is the vast amount of 1950s (or sometimes earlier) cars still on the road.

Although I was expecting some, the number you see is incredible! A top sight to see in Havana if you’re interested in the history of the revolution is the Museum of the Revolution, housed in a magnificent but run-down old State building that still has bullet holes in the walls! It’s also worth taking a trip in one of the old cars to see different parts of the city.

A smaller, slightly less touristy destination in Cuba is Trinidad. It sits near the coast, although the small centre is not within walking distance of the sea. The city has a rich history in the sugar trade, and still looks like it could be from the era it was founded (16th Century). The oldest part of the city is pedestrian-only cobbled streets. This part of town offers a few hidden gems; inside of what look like normal houses you can find the original colonial decorations, preserved by the family living in the house – they are also much larger than they appear from the outside. Often they have rooms rented out to tourists, which is a great way of experiencing a bit more of the real Cuba rather than the tourist hotels. These houses are called ‘casas particulares’ and can be found across Cuba. Often your hosts will offer to cook for you. Within the town centre there are a few small museums that are worth a quick look around if you have the time; again, many show what life was like during the colonial period. A great place to stop for a drink is The Canchanchara, an 18th Century town house that now serves a traditional drink of lime, water, honey and, of course, rum.

Rum is key to all drinks in Cuba!

Once jet lag has caught up with you cities are the last

thing you want to be facing, especially the bustling streets of Havana. Luckily Cuba has a stunning coastline for you to relax on. Although many tourists head to the beaches only an hour or two away from Havana, if you brave a slightly longer journey you can reach Cayo Santa Maria. The drive there takes you along a causeway which offers amazing views out over the ocean - truly unique. However, if you really hate tourists and tourist resorts maybe this isn’t for you, especially considering a lot of the resorts are all-inclusive. But if all you’re looking for is to relax by a nice pool, easy access to the beach, and a freshly made Pina Colada (or alternatively coconut milk straight from a freshly cut coconut), then this is the perfect place for you.

The one place, however, that will truly amaze you, and is only an hour or two from Havana, is the Viñales Valley.

The valley has an outstanding landscape; a village sits in the centre, dwarfed by rocky outcrops, and mountains surround the whole area. There’s a hotel on top of a hill that looks out over the valley giving you stunning views, and there is a viewing platform at the same location. The experience is enhanced in the early morning when the cloud settles in the valley. The local people living in Viñales use traditional

"The Viñales valley has an outstanding landscape; a village sits in the centre, and mountains surround the whole area." methods of farming, which you can see on a guided tour. It is a fantastic opportunity to see how the famous Cuban cigars are made. Viñales Valley is undoubtedly the most beautiful place to go in Cuba!

Top tips! Rum-based cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails are the same price in many places, so be prepared for a lot of Mojitos, Cuba Libres and Pina Coladas. In fact, in some places they just leave the bottle of rum on the bar for you even if you asked for a virgin cocktail. And if you want to buy some rum, a litre bottle of Havana Club rum is around £4.50. Cuban cigars can still be fairly expensive if you buy a brand like Cohiba, but if you don’t mind about the brand then local cigars can be very inexpensive (I got 9 cigars for around £6.50). And expect your transfers to be late – most of ours were 15-20 minutes late. It’s all part of experiencing the laid-back attitude of Cuba. In terms of food, if you love lobster, you’ll love eating out, and the food is wonderfully cheap! For a starter with lobster, rice, local produce and salad, you’ll pay around £8.

Cuba is a fascinating country with a captivating mix of sun, sea and culture. It is certainly the place to see now, before a change in the regime and policies of the country begin to change the whole atmosphere of the island.

There's Something About Rome...

Travel Editor Elizabeth Waind tells us why Rome should be top of your list this year Rome. When we think Rome, we think ruins and romance. We think the Collosseum and bustling, vine-covered Italian streets, filled with rowdy Italians drinking wine and eating pasta. Well this is certainly Rome, but Rome is certainly much, much more.

Italy’s capital has everything, and it has it good; amazing shopping, brilliant nightlife, even better food, and that’s before we’ve even got to the sights. I’d venture to say that there are few other cities in the world, if any, that can boast as many famous, beautiful, interesting and unique sights as Rome. The ancient ruins, the Spanish Steps, the many, many fountains including the world-famous, spectacular Trevi Fountain, the never-ending hoard of museums, the Vatican City (although technically a state of its own) the list goes on!

St. Peter’s Basilica is particularly breathtaking, with its astounding decoration and sheer size. Climbing to the top of the basilica dome to look out over the city is also not to be missed. Rome has numerous basilicas of all variations scattered around her streets, often hidden away only to be found on afternoons lost amongst the quieter streets of the city.

Four days can easily be filled in Rome, but you can just as easily spend a week.

Hours can be spent doing nothing in particular, wandering with no real destination through the beautiful streets lined with fascinating, higgledy piggledy buildings in the Italian sun, with the wonderful language of the Roman locals ringing in the air. Just sitting in a street-side restaurant with a pizza (naturally the best you’ve ever tasted) for

hours in this vibrant but not overwhelming city, watching the world go by, is the same nowhere else.

In the evening, the city comes alive in a whole new way. The streets are lined with tourists and locals alike; young families out for post-dinner gelato, or groups of friends out for a few cocktails after a busy day sight-seeing. Trastevere is an area wellknown for its evening atmosphere- think live music pouring out of every bar and restaurant, children running around the flowing fountains, and streets lined with so many chairs and tables that you’re virtually walking through somebody’s dinner to get past. At night, Rome becomes one big, chilled out street party.

So, if there’s a single city that you’re going to visit this year, make it Rome.

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A Canadian Road Trip Travel Editor Tamara Silver shares with us the highlights of her two week trip to Canada this winter

I am lucky enough to have a younger sibling doing a year abroad in Ottawa, Canada’s small but charming capital city.

My parents are also big travellers, who have, over the years always opted for slightly alternative holiday destinations.

My childhood holiday memories are of strange fishing trips with Barbadian locals and being detained at the border to Turkish Cyprus for forgetting our passports. As a result of these two factors, this Christmas holiday I spent two and a half weeks travelling Canada’s East coast. I have to admit, before I found out I was going to this unexplored country, I knew nothing about it. As an obsessive devotee of ‘The Parent Trap’, growing up I was fixated with the USA and Canada was nothing to me but America’s big, boring neighbour. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Our first destination was Montreal in Quebec, part of Francophone Canada. It was hard to get a sense of what the

"What struck me most was how open the society there seems; no-one can describe what it means to be Canadian because it is such an all-encompassing national identity."

five days there. It boasts the world’s most famous Jazz festival, a beautiful park ‘Mont Royal,’ and a buzzing city centre. It was the least aesthetically pleasing city we visited but probably felt the most familiar, and if I were to ever go back I would like to visit again.

After five days in Montreal we took a coach to Quebec City, a small, stunningly beautiful place and the oldest city in North America. It is hard to put into words the atmosphere and the beauty of the city and to anyone visiting the East coast I would recommend it as a must-see site. We stayed in a small chateau in the historic centre looking out over the St. Lawrence river. Quebec City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is not hard to see why. On Christmas Day we wandered the narrow snow streets and I felt like I was in a real-life winter wonderland; all lights, cinnamon and old churches. We were also lucky enough that our trip coincided with the city’s first ever light festival, making the festive atmosphere even more enchanting.

It was then time to my brother’s hometown, Ottawa, travelling by Greyhound, an experience that everyone must have in their life at least once. Ottawa is in Ontario, an Anglophone province that feels like a different country to Quebec. Highlights included a tour of the Canadian parliament and my best diner experience outside of New York, where the Coca Cola was served in 32oz glasses (roughly 1.6 pints!)

On the Friday evening of our time in Ottawa we went to watch an ice hockey game between Ottawa Sens and the Boston Bruins, which was without a doubt the best thing we did in the two weeks. I am not an avid sports fan myself, but the atmosphere at the Canadian Tire Centre was electrifying. Ice hockey is hugely popular in Canada, with its own subculture of ‘hockey-mums’ and player scandals. In 2013, the average NHL team was estimated to be worth 413 million dollars. At the game we sat behind a small army of seven year old ice-hockey players all eating ‘Putin’, a Canadian national dish which is comprised of chips, gravy and cheese curds (it’s much nicer than it sounds.)

Our penultimate destination was Niagara Falls, another

city was like as we arrived to several feet of snow. Before I go any further, I must mention the freezing climate, which was the backdrop to our road trip; the daily temperatures ranged from -30 in the extremes to -10 on the warmer days.

Canada lives in sub-zero temperatures for around 4 – 5 months a year and for this period of time becomes a largely indoor society. Concerns for being fashionable are thrown out the window and you have no choice but to embrace the thermal layers; it is definitely the weather that takes a lot of getting used to.

Montreal is a great city for young people. This is something that people told me over and over again during our

place not to miss within the US border area. Niagara is one of the strangest places I have ever been; it is home to a world-famous natural wonder and some of the tackiest hotels I have ever seen. I’ve never been to Vegas but the town surrounding Niagara is what I imagine the seedy outskirts of Vegas to be like. The Falls themselves are overwhelming and impressive, but there is something very weird about visiting them and knowing it is somewhere you are only likely to go once in your life. As a Bulgarian crepeshop owner who we befriended told us, it is a ‘one-stop’ town where most people only stay for a night, giving it a very plastic ambiance, much like a children’s birthday party gone wrong.

My trip ended with spending New Year’s Eve in Toronto, a city that never sleeps. It was a whirlwind twenty four hours, as we were staying in a downtown apartment block that reminded me of something from Gossip Girl. For the New Year celebrations we headed to Chinatown where I had the best Chinese meal of my life, and then joined thousands of other people at City Hall for a very brief firework display (London still wins.) The cold on the night of the 31st was unbearable, and we returned to the apartment almost frost-bitten. I flew home the following day to return to the reality of jet-lag and 8000 words worth of essays to write.

I learnt a lot on the trip and Canada is a truly remarkable country. What struck me most was how open the society there seems; no-one can describe what it means to be Canadian because it is such an all-encompassing national identity. I was surprised by the difference between the French and English speaking areas and intrigued by what I heard about the Western provinces; which boast most of the famous national parks and several interesting cities such as Vancouver.

To anyone considering a year abroad in North America or planning a trip there, I would urge you not to ignore America’s quieter neighbour, there is so much to see, do and explore. As a country it deserves more a place on the traveller’s world map of coveted destinations.

The 5...

Best cities for mini-breaks Hannah Stevens Travel Editor

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2

3

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Paris

Amsterdam

Venice

Barcelona

Berlin

Paris may be an obvious choice, but with its proximity to the UK and its wealth of tourist attractions, visiting the city is an unmissable experience.

Another short trip from England, Amsterdam provides beautiful scenery, and a nightlife scene that will make the trip more than worth it.

Venice is truly a unique city, one which everyone should have the pleasure of visiting in their lifetime. Italy's floating city is sinking so get there before its gone!

Even the buildings are artistic in this wondrous city, take a relaxing walk through its streets whilst gazing at Gaudi's magnificent architecture.

Just a few days in this city leaves you feeling enriched and exhausted at the same time. The clubbing is out of this world and every tourist site is fascinating.

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redbrick.me/film

24th - 30th January 2014

Film

Focus on: Biopics

Review:

With the releases of The Wolf of Wall Street and 12 Years a Slave, Film Editor Tom Lofkin and Music Editor Ludo Cinelli discuss why and how these stories come to life on our screens

12 Years a Slave

Details Release date: 10 January 2014 Director: Steve McQueen Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams, Michael Fassbender Running time: 134 minutes

´´´´´ Ben Jackson Online Film Editor

Over the past couple of years, we have seen a resurgence of biographical films, such as Lincoln, The Fifth Estate and the recent release of Steve McQueen’s much anticipated 12 Years a Slave. Despite having the best intentions regarding historical accuracy, the main aim of any biopic is to tell a story.

The question to ask is whether this objective serves as a means to use cinematic action as a medium to tell the story of an interesting historical figure and share it with a wider audience, or simply as a way for Hollywood to cash in on a heavily fictionalised version of the so called ‘true’ events.

One subgenre of biopics chronicle singular glimmers of hope in the darkest peri-

"Despite having the best intentions regarding historical accuracy, the main aim of any biopic is to tell a story..." ods of human history. A great example of a successful biopic in this genre is Terry George’s Hotel Rwanda.

The film tells the story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotelier who saves the lives of over one thousand refugees from the Rwandan genocide. Not only does the film vividly portray the story of one man and his amazing actions, but also presents a haunting account of an event lesser known, but of

"It seems as though the screenwriter's adapt Zuckerberg's story with an ulterior motive of expressing their own views..." equal magnitude to, the Holocaust, which serves as another historical event presented in many biopics, most notably Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winning Schindler’s List.

While both films have a clear historical aim to recount these tragedies, Hotel Rwanda uses the additional vision of filmmakers to publicise the gravity of the events in Rwanda, whereas Schindler’s List seeks to provide a definitive historical artefact.

However, there are also films in this genre which choose to focus on the more ‘celebrated’ individuals in modern culture.

Examples include Walk the Line, which depicts the career of the iconic American singer Johnny Cash and Good Vibrations, which is a chronicle of Terri Hooley's life, a record-store owner instrumental in developing Belfast's punk-rock scene.

Another is David Fincher’s The Social Network, which does not focus on the hardships or the entire life story of a treasured historical figure, but rather the rise of Harvard student turned internet entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook.

It seems as though the screenwriters

adapt Zuckerberg’s story with an ulterior motive of expressing their own views on social networking and hedonistic college culture, rather than focus on the far more

"The strength of the film is in its depiction... but the extremely romanticised nature of the story leaves the reality far behind..." boring truth of Zuckerberg going to classes and coding Facebook. The strength of the film is its depiction of a person giving up all of their social ties for money and success, but the extremely romanticised nature of the story leaves the reality far behind and becomes fiction. That is not to say the film is no less enjoyable for it, but is it right that filmmakers should stray so far from the facts in order to entertain an audience?

Whether it is the life story of a historically important individual during a turbulent time in human history, or the ups and downs of a celebrity’s career, there is something about watching the trials, tribulations and ultimate triumphs of another person which gives inspiration and hope to a cinema going audience. Does whether or not these stories are entirely true affect the experience and the message we take away by the end?

That is for us to decide.

1841. A free black man kidnapped and forced into slavery in the American South.

With a cutting script, powerful actors and a compelling narrative, 12 Years a Slave was set to be good. But with director Steve McQueen’s extra eye for striking scene construction, it is near-perfect.

For one who usually makes no concessions to his audiences, it might sometimes feel that McQueen’s script is pandering to a wider audience. But comments betraying the justifications are few compared to the more affecting shiver-inducing threats, 'Take care I don’t lighten my mood more.'

Ejiofor’s breakout role is incredibly well-earned but it is the female slaves who break our hearts. Eliza, torn from her children, becomes a painful echo; and Patsey is victim of perhaps the most horrific scene in the film. Michael Fassbender’s role is an unparalleled, terrifying slaver. A scene in which he clutches the hand of a young black girl is incredibly disturbing. Benedict Cumberbatch’s sympathetic slaver is actually more convincing than Django Unchained’s Christoph Waltz. In comparison, Brad Pitt’s anti-slavery Amish-impressionist is thinly characterised and unconvincing.

The much-touted horror of 12 Years a Slave is, indeed, shocking. But it is the architecture of the situations in which McQueen really impresses. Paul Dano’s furious young overseer is a great character, but it is the preceding interchanges between Ejiofor and Cumberbatch, which set him up to explode (and it is not solely Dano who explodes).

This time last year we were waiting on the release of Lincoln, which covered the same time period from a very different perspective with little contemporary interest in the plot.

The concept of 12 Years a Slave is to spend two hours with humans. It is the sharp script, the compellingly realised characters, the consistently interesting plot and the well-constructed horrors that make this film impress.

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Film News Ciaran Cresswell Critic

Yes. It's that time of year again...

Awards Season!

Oscar Nominations Gravity and American Hustle lead the way this year on ten nominations each with 12 Years a Slave following closely with nine.

Leading actors broadly mimic the favourites for best picture, with notable exceptions being Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Matthew McConaughey, and the many times nominated Leonardo DiCaprio.

Bafta Nominations

Review: The Wolf of Wall Street

Our side of the pond Gravity again leads the pack with eleven, American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave again following on ten each, as well as a slightly more unlikely contender Captain Phillips taking nine. Actor nominations remain broadly the same but with a nomination for Tom Hanks instead of McConaughey.

In their first collaboration since The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street sees Scorsese and DiCaprio reunited to produce another cinematic portrayal of America's crime and corruption

Details Release date: 17th January 2014 Director: Martin Scorsese Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie Running time: 180 minutes IMDB rating: 8.6 Rotten Tomatoes rating: 77%

´´´´´ Charlie Moloney Critic

Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio) speeds on to the screen in an expensive sports car, recklessly cutting in front of other cars whilst pushing his supermodel wife’s head into his crotch.

This is a stockbroker; a millionaire (perhaps billionaire), a criminal and an addict when it comes to money, sex, drugs, alcohol and investment banking.

But we soon understand where this mania comes from when we see his place of work.

Stratton Oakmont: once a close knit group of drug dealers and con artists is now the bastion of excess and depravity on Wall Street. The ‘company’ is a den of drug addled office boys, prostitutes and roller blading monkeys.

In their spare time Belfort and co. are primarily concerned with getting as off their nuts as possible; their favourite drugs being Qualuudes, a type of pill which Belfort boasts that normal people won’t have access

to. As all of Stratton Oakmont’s dealings are strictly illegal, very soon determined FBI agents are on their trail. Will Belfort’s hedonistic lifestyle land him in jail? Or as he got so much money that he’s become untouchable?

The Wolf of Wall Street is Martin Scorsese’s best attempt to penetrate deep in to the soul of America and have a good look around. His instrument is gleefully adolescent humour. Belfort’s entourage are children at heart. They make spectacles of themselves by taking drugs that reduce them to animals. Because it’s all so funny, we don’t stop to think about how outrageous it is that people who steal vast sums of money act in this way. It is only on reflection that we see that the people who are really having the last laugh are a bunch of would-be losers who happen to be on the right side of the biggest scam the world has ever known.

"DiCaprio takes all of the lessons learned from his previous successes and becomes the star that he always had the potential to be" The basic plot of is similar to Goodfellas and Casino: an ambitious, talented man gets involved in extra-legal activities; they gradually begin to spiral out of his control (mainly due to drugs) and the wheel of fate makes a complete rotation, dumping him back somewhere near where he started after an expensive court case. However, Scorsese’s other films see their anti-heroes learn a few lessons on the way. Jordan Belfort is irredeemable until the end, which is impressive given his 179 minutes of screen time to work with.

DiCaprio’s performance achieves what few could: bringing this messy film together.

The whole cast give it their all, but DiCaprio could not have done more. Part Frank Abagnale (Catch Me If You Can) and part Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby), as Jordan Belfort DiCaprio takes all of the lessons learned from his previous successes and becomes the star that he always had the potential to be.

Every aspect is charged up and excited.

The colours are bright, the suits are slick, and the soundtrack makes you want to run a marathon. It is as if Jordan Belfort’s rallying speech to his banker minions casts a spell over the entire project, including the audience, and the pace just keeps increasing as the ambition, consumption and danger grows. There’s a cocaine flavour to this film, much like Scarface, that leaves you feeling absolutely buzzing when you walk out of the cinema.

Critics have denounced the film for extravagantly glorifying excess. You can see their point. The Wolf of Wall Street lingers in its depravity. You won’t just see a quick snap of Joe Pesci snorting cocaine. Jordan Belfort really loves drugs, it’s not just something that he does off screen and as a plot device. He wants to show the audience just how great he thinks drugs are. The gang take tips from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when it comes to their drug taking, and whole scenes are devoted to showing just how messed up they can get.

It is this chaos which makes the audience cling to Jordan Belfort for dear life. As Scorsese slowly removes every moral handhold and the film kicks itself loose of the Earth, all we have left to trust in is that Belfort is more anti-hero than villain. It seems unlikely. He is a repulsive, degraded little man. And yet we can’t really hate him.

Maybe it’s his charm and smooth talking.

It’s possible that the audience is just like the 'schmucks' he cold calls and dupes. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s that Belfort speaks to the 21st century materialist in us all, hungry for a yacht, a mansion and a bag of cocaine.

Golden Globe Winners The results are in for the Golden Globes with 12 Years a Slave winning best drama, Gravity having been a nominee, however American Hustle also won in the musical or comedy category, making it difficult to compare. Acting awards included McConaughey and Jared Leto, both from Dallas Buyers Club, and Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine.

Critic’s Choice Winners Seen as one of the best predictors for the Oscars, the Critic’s Choice Awards resulted in Gravity broadly cleaning up with seven, but with 12 Years a Slave taking the award for best film, and American Hustle keeping up with four. Somewhat mimicking the Golden Globe acting winners were McConaughey, Leto and Blanchett

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redbrick.me/lifestyle

24th - 30th January 2014

Life & Style

The Ultimate Celebrity Moments of 2013

The time has come to sit back, relax and look back on our favourite moments from the world of celebrities in 2013.

Katarina Bickley Life&Style Writer

1. Miley Cyrus 2013 saw the return of the innocent Hannah Montana star, who let’s just say isn’t quite so innocent anymore. We’re sure her proudest moments will include smoking a joint on stage in Amsterdam and introducing twerking into our lives at the VMAs.

2.Jennifer Lawrence

Yes, she was amazing in The Hunger Games and American Hustle, but our fave Jen moment of 2013 had to be her fall when collecting her Oscar for Best Actress in Silver Linings Playbook back in February. What we loved even more was that she just laughed it off; babe.

3. McBusted 2013 saw the infamous reuniting of two of

6. Blurred Lines Probably the most controversial song of last

our favourite childhood boy bands: Busted and McFly. The newly-formed super group are set to tour the UK from April to June this year (except for Charlie, of course).

year. The song was banned most memorably at our very own Guild. You have to admit, Robin was a bit creepy.

4. New Babies First came George Alexander Louis Windsor and then North West. Fortunately, little baby North is not our monarch-in-waiting but instead the by-product of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

7. Justin Bieber

We’re not sure what we found funnier with the choice of his latest tattoos, his ridiculous partying or hitting out at some London paparazzi. We think the time has come for him to retire, for real.

8. Zayn Malik & 5.

Simon Cowell We’re not sure what surprised us more – the Perrie Edwards fact that the music mogul is actually going to The One Direction and Little Mix be a dad or that he is really quite happy about it.

stars announced their engagement last year much to the devastation of billions of 1D fans

around the world. They are set to tie the knot in 2015.

9. Celeb Selfies

From Kim Kardashian’s behind to Rihanna smoking marijuana, we’ve seen our fair share of celebrity Instagram selfies. But our personal favourite was definitely Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler’s at the Wimbledon final, mmmm

10. Katie Hopkins

Quite possibly the most hated woman of 2013 after her ever so controversial rants on This Morning. Remember how she said she hates children to have ‘place’ names yet has a child called India? Her most recent celeb spat has been with no less than the Osbournes.

Back off, Hopkins.

The Christmas Detox

Life&Style writer Hebe Hatton helps us deal with that troublesome Christmas bulge.

The average person consumes a huge 6000 calories on Christmas day alone, not to mention the extra 500 calories per day that we apparently eat over the festive period as well. So it’s no wonder that we all enter the spring term with slightly rounder faces and noticeably tighter jeans. Christmas wouldn’t feel the same without eating copious amounts of mince pies and saying yes to that extra glass of mulled wine. But, come January, that feeling of guilt begins to creep in and those days of lounging on the sofa blissfully overeating start to fade. So, if you need some inspiration to shift that Christmas weight, here are some tips to help.

Dry January We all drink to excess over Christmas and so many of us swear to start the New Year alcohol free, but few of us stick to it. However,

the health benefits of ditching the drink for even one month are huge! I know the thought of a sober Fab might be unbearable, but the

"It's no wonder that we all enter the Spring term with slightly rounder faces and noticeably tighter jeans. " amount of calories you consume on a night out is a much more sobering thought. Drag your hungover self out of bed on Sunday morning and pay a visit to drinkaware.com, which will kindly work out how many calories you consumed in alcohol the previous night and what ridiculous amounts of food

you could have eaten instead.

Active Lifestyle Classes Unfortunately, just eating well isn’t always enough - however, fear not, as this doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the gym because Munrow Sports Centre offers a huge range of classes from Hula hooping to high intensity spin classes.

Fitspirational Instagram Posts of tanned and toned bodies filling up your Instagram feed can be slightly depressing at times - however, follow the right accounts and you could gain just the motivation that you need. Accounts such as @ healingbelle post gorgeous colourful pictures that will make you want to eat more healthily, just so you can take photos of your meals!

redbrick.me/lifestyle

24th - 30th January 2014

New Year, New Me?

With most New Year's Resolutions broken before the month is over, Life&Style writer Daisy Holden explores how to keep those goals realistic and managable.

January 1st brings a wave of resolutions to households all over the UK; out with the old, in with the new. We see it as a chance to turn over a new leaf or to start anew. However, by the end of the first week, 25% of all resolutions made will already be broken. So let’s be honest-are you already within this 25%?

Six in ten people make the same resolutions as the year before, as some habits can prove hard to break.

The NHS suggests that 7 million of us will make resolutions relating to our health, smoking being just one of them. But, despite negative expectations, according to experts people who stop in January are more successful in quitting altogether than those who give up at any other time of the year. New Year’s resolutions can give that extra motivation to change.

So how can we make sure that we are not part of the 25% who fail?

Be realistic A friend, who will remain anonymous, claimed at 1.00am New Year's day that they were giving up junk food and at 10.30am I found them eating Domino’s pizza for breakfast! Being realistic with your goals will make them achievable. For those who want to get fitter, but don’t have the budget to take out a gym membership, join a running club or watch one of the thousands of fitness workouts available on YouTube to shift those Christmas pounds! My current favourite is Kim Kardashian’s workout DVD; don’t be quick to judge as it is surprisingly good!

Write down your resolutions Get them down on a post-it note and stick it on your mirror or door. Then, every time you see it, you will be reminded of your goals for the year. Decorating your room with them is an easy reminder!

Have a plan and stick to it If you want to do more exercise, then nominate days that you are free to do sport. If you have a one hour break, go for a walk. Try to have five fruit or vegetables a day to improve your health. Alcohol also has a lot of calories; a Jagerbomb has the equivalent calories to a Cadburys Crunchie so try balance your food and alcohol intake!

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Fierce Leonardo DiCaprio Following the recent success of Wolf of Wall Street, which has already earned DiCaprio a Golden Globe, could this be the year that Leonardo finally lands himself an Oscar?

Sandra Bullock Following winning best actress at the Critics’ Choice Award, Bullock was rudely interrupted by the announcement of another category, to which the star proclaimed “What the f***?!”.

You’re our sort of girl, Bullock.

Red Carpet Envy Whether it be Lupita Nyong'o in a stunning Calvin Klein number, or Olivia Wilde looking equally glowing in an emerald green Gucci gown, it’s fair to say that us poor students are feeling a little envious of these ladies on the red carpets right now.

Whistles joining LFW

The Clichéd Break-Up Blues Life&Style writer examines the trials and tribulations of the fateful break-up blues.

It’s in the air; the stench of tubs of melting Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, countless Kleenex tissue and tears. Break-ups. They appear to generate a special sort of sadness that has been especially reserved for heartbreak. A dull pain, which is stimulated by coming across anything that slightly (and I mean remote, here) reminds you of them...and alcohol.

Halls also do not provide the necessary items which are essential for a break-up, i.e. the bath. All we want to do is soak our woes away in a bath tub, while drinking wine from the bottle and taking Cosmopolitan's advice on ‘what went wrong’. But you don’t have a bath, and after buying all that ice cream, you can’t afford Cosmo.

"Break ups. They appear to generate a special sort of saddness that has beeen especially reserved for heartbreak. " Our woes are also not helped by what films have told us about break ups over the years. In Katy Perry's wise, wise words, 'if it’s not like the movies, that’s how it should be'. Films tell you that break ups motivate either A) heart-wrenching, romantic gestures that get the relationship right back on track, or B) the protagonist getting some awesome new haircut, hitting the gym and getting an entire new wardrobe so, when the dreaded moment arrives and you bump into your ex, they think: 'Crap - how could I have left someone so stunningly beautiful, I’m a bloody moron.'

But, in reality, this rarely occurs. You’ll wallow for one to maybe five months

(depending on the length and state of the relationship); during this time, there are drunken texts, crying fits in the toilets of Risa, and a sufficient lowering of standards when getting with other people, as if this will make you feel better about the whole damned situation.

And believe me; this wallowing does not solely apply to girls. Even though boys may show it less, they are usually going through exactly the same trauma as the girls.

But after this awkward and painful period, you might, just might, be over it. And the

point will come when you don’t drift off into moments of nostalgic sadness anymore. And you will accept that you’ll probably never get back together. I know it’s all a big cliché, and I know that this doesn’t apply to every break-up going either. Many are revitalised after a break-up and put themselves straight back out there, something that I have always been slightly jealous and in awe of.

But, in the meantime, huddle up with your friends, put on some trackies and get a takeaway curry, 'cos you’re in for a couple of absolutely crappy weeks.

Whistles is the most recent High Street brand to follow in Topshop Boutiques chunky brogue shoes and join the designer elite with the launch of their first collection at London Fashion Week.

Bragging sale shoppers We are ever so sick of hearing about the dress that was £450 and how you got it for a tenner. Stop your bragging girls, it’s not a competition.

Refreshers With refreshers over for another semester, the cold sober light of day illuminates last week’s antics in stark clarity.

Let the enthral of the embarrassing stories begin...

New Year Resolutions It might not even be the end of January yet, but I bet the majority of resolutions to ‘hit the gym five times a week’ have not been kept. Embrace the laziness, people.

The Bowl Cut Apparently it’s back - with Miley Cyrus rocking the hillbilly look, let’s hope this is a trend that does not catch on.

By Alexandra Landes Life&Style Editor

Finished

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redbrick.me/food

24th - 30th January 2014

Food

New Year's Resolutions We have a number of tips to help you keep your New Year's resolutions Sarah Dickinson Food Writer

When Christmas is over and done, we all look forward to ringing in the New Year and continuing the celebrations in style. At first the prospect of a ‘New Year, new you’ is met with anticipation but then the reality hits and you realise all those Christmas indulgences aren’t so friendly for your summer holiday body after all. Which suggests to most of us that however terribly miserable the thought is, the dreaded diet seems the only way to go. Personally I can’t see how any instant diets are actually healthy for your body in the long term. Yes, they may make you lose the weight you so hoped you would but at what cost to your health?

It may sound cheesy but it’s true, a balanced diet is key to good health and you have to admit it’s far more enjoyable than cutting out carbs, for example. If you are looking for a change in what you eat and you’ve decided against a strict diet regime, give these tips a try for your New Year’s resolution: 1.Try something new - The daily student diet can become boring and repetitive if you’re always looking for the easy way out, even I have to admit it’s been hard to get back into the routine of cooking fresh meals after experiencing the pleasure of Mum’s cooking again over the Christmas break. It would be better if instead of always picking up a carrot or a bag of frozen peas from the supermarket, we chose something a little different to add to any fresh home cooked meal. How about butternut squash in a homemade risotto or aubergine (eggplant to any American students out there) in your vegetable curry or to add in to your pasta bake? Even if you just swap one of these

vegetables for your average carrot or peas into the meals you make regularly, it makes the dish more interesting and who knows you may actually like this new combo!

2. Sharing is caring! – I know, it's a cliché, but again it’s a true fact, sharing food is not only better for you, it’s looking out for your pockets too! Instead of giving yourself big portions from a one-pot meal, its better to share it out amongst your house or just freeze it for another day, if you’re a Joey Tribianni! Your classic dishes like lasagne and spag bol are good examples of big pot meals.

3. Go exotic - It’s easy to always choose your comfort meals above something new, especially for students. Indian and Chinese takeaways are good once in a while but not on a regular basis, why not try giving a new cuisine a go? (I’m talking fresh food, not Roosters!) Try some Caribbean or Spanish dishes for a change, such as a chicken and chorizo Jambalaya or a Spanish tortilla, which is great for using leftover or everyday foods like cheese and potatoes.

4. Go veggie - We all know how expensive meat can be to buy, unless you’re lucky enough to get it on offer at a Tesco Express in Selly at bargain hour! So why not go vegetarian for a week every month or so? If you really can’t last a week without your meat then try three days out of week instead.

There are some really tasty veggie recipes online you can give a go; stuffed mushrooms or peppers are a great example, which take very little effort at all on your behalf.

By taking into account these top tips for a healthy lifestyle change you’ll find you can forget those fad diets you may have once tried or considered trying. Instead, go for something different this year and guarantee that no enjoyment is lost from your daily diet.

Post-Exam Indulgence Gemma Bridge Food Editor

@glbridge1

January is always a blue month, especially with most of us having either exams or essay deadlines. Typical celebrations involve alcohol and heels but sometimes you're just too shattered for Snobs! So, why not celebrate with friends, get your house together, and get your creative cooking juices flowing with our easy sharing recipes. Add a film or games and you've got a perfect evening in sorted!

Bring Nando's home with Piri-Piri Chicken Ingredients (for 2-4 people): 1 whole chicken (about 1kg) Salt and freshly ground black pepper For the piri-piri sauce: 6-12 fresh red chillies 1 tbsp garlic, blanched and chopped 1 tsp salt ½ tsp oregano ½ tbsp paprika 100ml olive oil 50ml red wine vinegar Method For the piri-piri sauce, preheat the oven to 180C. Place the chillies on a roasting tray, roast

them for 10 minutes.

Cool and roughly chop the chillies.

Place the chillies, garlic, salt, oregano, paprika, olive oil and vinegar in a saucepan, and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Allow the mixture to cool, then blend it to a purée in a jug blender or food processor.

Store in a lidded container at room temperature; it will keep for about a month. Shake before using.

Place the spatchcocked chicken in a sealable plastic bag.

Add half the piri-piri sauce, spreading it evenly over the chicken. Seal and marinate in the fridge for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 200C, and preheat a large griddle pan on the hob.

Cook the chicken in a griddle pan for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Then put it into a roasting tray and roast in the oven for 30 minutes, until cooked through.

Serve with chips or boiled potatoes and salad and fresh bread

Follow up with decadent Gooey Chocolate Fondant Puddings Ingredients (for 4 people) 85g caster sugar 150g butter, plus extra for greasing 150g dark chocolate, roughly chopped 3 free-range egg yolks 3 whole free-range eggs 1 tbsp plain flour Double cream or ice cream to serve Method Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease 4 small individual pudding basins.

Place the sugar, butter and chocolate into a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water.

Heat gently until the butter and chocolate have melted, then remove from the heat.

Whisk together until combined.

Add the egg yolks and whole eggs, beat well.

Fold in the flour.

Pour into the pudding basins and place in the fridge to chill for 20-25 minutes (or longer if needed) Following chilling, place onto a baking tray.

Put straight into the oven and cook for 8-9 minutes.

Allow to rest for a minute or two, then turn out onto individual serving plates.

Serve with a dollop of double cream, if you like.

redbrick.me/food

24th - 30th January 2014

25

Crazy About Cake Ingredient Ideas

The Musings of an Addict Millie Walker Food Editor

@millicent_x

I haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions this year. Not that any of you really want to know. Resolutions are such personal things that, even if you tell other people for support, no one actually remembers your plan for longer than a fortnight.

But anyway, cynicism out of the way. I haven’t made any. I feel like there are too many things changing in my life right now to take anything away or add anything extra.

Instead I’m going to really try and learn from my mistakes. It’s not a resolution and I’m not going to tackle them all, there are far too many, but I am going to try and pay attention to the little things I fail at on a regular basis (like lighting the candles at work I never remember to do that!) and stop doing them. The amount of times I burn my hands because I can’t be bothered with a tea towel is incredible you really think I’d learn!

In keeping with the nature of this column, my first set of ‘Millie’s Self Mentor Sessions’ begins with a series of mistakes I

Espresso Addict Friend recieved Chocolate Orange Brownies wrapped in homemade paper routinely make when baking.

1. Not turning the oven on before I begin.

If I have the desire to bake I generally just start releasing all pent up emotion creaming butter and sugar together and only later remember that I’m going to have to find patience to wait for the oven to heat up.

2. Making a massive unnecessary mess.

I love making a mess. I feel I haven’t done a job properly unless I’m thoroughly covered in mud/flour/foam/glue whatever I happen to be playing with at the time. If I were to put ingredients away as I went along however, I would have more space to breathe and avoid cluttering every surface when my housemates are trying to make tea.

3. Baking in a rush.

The motive behind this article came from making Microwave Maestro Housemate’s birthday cake with Ninja Housemate. We didn’t have a clear run of time so we baked the cakes, abandoned them, made the decorations, abandoned them, iced the cake, abandoned it and finally assembled the entire thing three days later. It wasn’t the beautiful vision I was expecting, but I’m sure he’ll love the effort we bothered to put in. I never want to have to make something like that again. I either spend an entire evening being creative or I don’t bother!

4. Forgeting an ingredient.

The number of times I’ve stolen butter from Director Housemate is embarrassing. I definitely still owe her 50g.

5. Having visions much grander than my abilities.

I’m a relatively new baker and my skills aren’t all that great so Googling images of

incredible, professional decorations isn’t clever when my attempt is clearly going to fall below expectations and then I feel disappointed.

Hopefully, if I make an attempt to bake when calm, collected, in full possession of all ingredients and without biting off more than I can chew, I shall have more success in 2014 than I ever have before. Sounds simple, let’s see how I do!

In the mean time, I’d like to share my favourite recipe for making brownies. I made these for the birthday of a friend who has never ever failed to be there when I’ve needed her. A quality that a number of my friends share actually, I’m very lucky to have them all! Espresso Addict Friend received Chocolate Orange brownies wrapped in greaseproof paper and then homemade wrapping paper (brown paper covered in collectable stamps) and they went down a treat, much to the envy of the rest of our colleagues!

Ingredients 250 g unsalted butter 1 x Terry’s Chocolate Orange 50g dark chocolate 80g cocoa powder 65 g plain flour, sifted 1 teaspoon baking powder 360 g caster sugar 4 large free range eggs 1. Preheat your oven to 180C or gas mark 4 and line a tin with greaseproof paper 2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl over gently simmering water, stir continuously.

3. In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and sugar and add this to the chocolate, stirring thoroughly.

4. Beat the eggs together and then ensure these are completely mixed into your chocolate concoction.

5. Pour this into the try and bake for around 25mins. You want them to be firm on the outside but gooey in the middle so a ‘clean knife’ test wont work on them but if they’re springy to touch they should be perfect. An extra five minutes won’t hurt them though.

6. Let them cool in the tray and then gently tip them upside down onto a board to remove the paper and cut into squares for

Rosie Twells suggests what to make when you just don't know what to do with your remaining...

Chocolate For this week’s solitary ingredient consumption challenge I enlisted the help of my best friend. To this person chocolate is by no means a stranger, to the extent that the difference between Dairy Milk and Galaxy is instantly recognisable. As a result, with a little bit of inspiration, here are four ideas for your leftover chocolate....

01.

Fondue Party This is a really simple party food dish that is great for getting people together and involved. All you need is a couple of bars of chocolate – it’s up to you on your brand choice or type of chocolate – and a platter of chopped fruit. Strawberries, grapes and oranges are always firm favourites for me. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water and allow to cool. Chop the fruit into bite-sized pieces. Grab a fork and get stuck in!

02.

Reuse and Recycle We find ourselves with boxes of leftover selection tins, assorted truffles and biscuit trays after the festive period. So if you’re still feeling slightly over-indulged why not use one of these as a birthday or Easter gift? Ensure that all Christmas wrapping has well and truly been discarded before handing over your chosen present!

03.

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies These are the best brownies I have ever tasted. Best served chilled when they have had time to set and enjoyed as an afternoon snack.

For the brownies: 225g dark chocolate, 150g unsalted butter, 3 eggs, 225g caster sugar, 100ml strong espresso, 100g plain flour.

For the cheesecake: 150g cream cheese, 50g caster sugar, 1 egg, ½ orange (zest only) Preheat the oven to 170C. Grease and line a 20cm square cake tin.

For the brownies, melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl set over simmering water.

Remove from the pan and allow to cool. Whisk the eggs, caster sugar and coffee into a bowl. Sift in the flour and chocolate mixture and stir until well combined. For the cheesecake, beat all the ingredients in a separate bowl until smooth. Spoon the brownie mixture into the tin, followed by the cheesecake. Use a knife to cut lines into the mixture to create a marble effect. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven, leave to cool and then cut into squares.

04.

Ice Cream Sundae Melt down your leftover chocolate in a bowl over simmering water and then pour on top of your favourite ice cream. Add sprinkles, cream, marshmellows, biscuits, extra chocolate, fruit...whatever takes your fancy...for the ultimate Sundae.

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redbrick.me/tech

24th - 30th January 2014

Science & Technology

Sugar: too sweet for our own good Amelia Perry investigates the cost of having a sweet tooth With 2014 just beginning, many of us often endeavour (mostly in vain) to stick to our New Year’s Resolutions. For some, it may be to grab those running trainers gathering dust in the back of our cupboards. Others aim to study harder to obtain that first class degree.

And - a particularly popular one many strive to eat more healthily.

"It has been estimated that by 2050, over 50% of the population may reach an unheathy weight" As a student, the reality of living away from our parents, and being responsible for cooking all of our own meals, often leads to the temp-

tation to eat Supernoodles, baked beans on toast and Domino's takeaways! So eating healthily and trying to pack in our 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day can prove difficult (unfortunately the apples in your cider and grapes in your wine do not count!).

Britain is currently facing staggering levels of obesity and it has been estimated that by 2050, over 50% of the population may reach an unhealthy weight. Sugar may be to blame. Branded as the next tobacco and alcohol (which we all already know have many health repercussions), according to the experts, sugar may be far more dangerous for us than we previously realised.

Whilst undeniably tasty and lovely in a cup of tea, sugar has little to no nutritional value, and the detrimental impact of too much of this perhaps even addictive substance, is glaringly obvious. As children we were told it would rot our teeth, but the adverse health effects are much more serious than just a

few cavities - obesity, diabetes and perhaps even behavioural problems, are all strongly linked to excessive sugar intake.

Sucrose, more commonly known as table sugar, is found in a whole host of surprising foods that we may not normally associate it with.

Some of those ‘fat-free’ dressings we pour all over our salads are packed with sugar, with some tomato-based pasta sauces and low-calorie yoghurts containing up to four teaspoons’ worth. So whilst you may be cutting out the cola, the cakes and the Chinese takeaways and switching to seemingly fat-free alternatives, you may still be eating over your daily recommended sugar allowance.

So good luck to those of you still sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions! I hope you do better than me (who has already given up), but be aware that fat-free products may not be as healthy as anticipated, and be conscious of the consequences of consuming too much sugar.

Brie good to yourself!

Yvonne Malewski Writer

It’s the beginning of the new year - and a food-laden Christmas leads many of us to give up our favourite foods to undo the unhealthy binging which has occurred in the last month. Obviously, everything is better in moderation but it is hard to stay away when you’ve already had one bite. One of the first things to be sacrificed is cheese, since it is pretty much fat. Though it seems logical, researchers, such as those at the University of Copenhagen, have found that the calcium in the dairy actually prevents additional fats from being absorbed by the body. Bring on the low-fat cheddar!

The Internet of Things Soumya Perinparajah Science and Tech Editor

There is no denying that the world is getting smarter by the day, with our ever-increasing array of phones, laptops and electrical devices. According to a recent event, this seems to have extended into the kitchen, with a fridge being found to have sent out spam.

A series of cyber attacks took place between 23rd December 2013 and 6th January 2014, with over 750,000 spam emails being sent, some from unexpected household devices. Whilst the list included internet routers,TVs and home media systems, a fridge was also targeted. 25% of the spam emails sent were found to have been sent from devices other than conventional devices like desktops, laptops, and smart phones. The perpetrators are Botnets, a network of Internet-connected programmes that perform tasks. In this case, the

programmes were responsible for the task of sending out spam.

Although the concept sounds farfetched, it all makes sense at the technological level. Fridges are part of the emerging phenomenon that is The Internet of Things. Any device with a computer processor is in essence a self-contained web server, and is capable of connecting to the Internet, and communication. Using default passwords and not having anti-spam software are just two things that leave devices vulnerable.

The ploy was discovered by the researchers of Proofpoint, a US-based security company. David Knight, general manager of the company’s information security division, said such attacks are likely to become more common, as households get smarter and more information becomes available online. He added, "Many of these devices are poorly protected at best and consumers have virtually no way to detect or fix infections when they do occur."

24th - 30th January 2014

redbrick.me/tech

27

Hacking: the new daily terror?

Rachel Taylor reports on the hacking phenomenon which may be slipping under the radar!

Hacking may be a relatively new idea to the majority of people. It has only come to light in full media attention fairly recently with the phone hacking scandal and the forced closure of ‘News of the World’. However, for many security firms and large corporations, it has been a vast and difficult issue to deal with for decades.

It may be shocking that the National Security Agency (NSA) in the US and the UK’s Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) have hacked into the servers for Facebook, Google and Microsoft to track online communication. But even more worrying is that there are over 200 million SMS text messages stored per day

by these government security agencies to gather information about people’s locations and whereabouts as well as gathering contacts needed for their own goals.

"This is becoming more common in our own universities too, with the number of hacks even reported to double in the next year."

Even the University of Wisconsin

in the USA was reported to have over 100,000 attacks a day from China to gather data on students and research on their servers. This is becoming more common in our own universities too, with the number of hacks even reported to double in the next year.

So much is the issue of hacking, that there are people whose job it is to ethically hack a software or device to find any loopholes in its security. Hack in the Box, a group of these ‘white hat’ hackers based in Malaysia even have annual conferences (and have done for over a decade now) with a website that shares information for analysts of large companies and tech-firms to draw upon and learn from.

Follow us online www.redbrick.me/tech @redbricktech

A tree a day keeps the doctor away?

Claire Harris

Science and Tech Editor

The beauty of nature has long been appreciated by artists, novelists and scientists alike. But new evidence has come to light to show that trees really do make us happy.

A new study suggests that cities boasting green spaces see longterm positive mental health benefits in their residents.

The research builds on the idea that those living in greener urban areas have lower depression and anxiety levels. Matthew White, from the European Centre for Environment and Human Health proposes that, unlike pay rises, marriage or promotions which give people short boosts, it is actually our green spaces that provide a sustained positive outlook.

Despite this, Sue Holden, chief executive of The Woodland’s Trust estimates only around 14% of the population currently have easy access to our nation’s trees. It is expected that if more people could go for a stroll around their local woodland, £2.1 billion pounds

could be cut from the current NHS budget.

Is your ideal outing a stroll around the park? Do you get a warm fuzzy feeling when you see that flash of green? Well you are in luck! The government currently is funding a £4.2M planting project, The Big Tree Plant, providing our well known cities with that extra leafy spark. The ultimate goal is to plant one million trees in urban areas around the UK, getting communities to work together to make their cities greener. A local scheme, Birmingham Trees for Life, were allocated one of the first grants from The Big Tree Plant.

It isn’t just the positive mental well being either. Trees filter pollutants from our air, store carbon dioxide from many industrial processes and support our teeming local wildlife.

So it is important that we continue to plant trees, which although may not grow tall in our lifetime, will make people happy in the generations to come!

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redbrick.me/sport

24th - 30th January 2014

Sport

Interview: Izzy Christiansen After her recent call up to the senior England women's football squad, David Morris caught up with Birmingham 1sts captain Izzy Christiansen to discuss her week with the national setup, her universtiy career and her plans for the future.

David Morris Sports Editor

Firstly, congratulations on the call-up. How did you find out about it?

I got a call and voicemail because I missed it, then I saw I had an email. I had to re-read it about five times to check it was actually true, and it was!

Where were you at the time, and how did you react?

I’d been at training when I found out so had to drive back to my house with the news and I could hardly concentrate on driving I was that happy! My reaction was quite contained because I was alone. I wanted to hug my car or something random but when I got home I saw my friend and just burst into tears. Then I rang my parents and brother and sister and told them, it was so surreal.

How has it been training with the senior England squad?

Last week was brilliant. I've never been on a more productive week for learning the game and gaining invaluable experience. The new coach, Mark Sampson, was very welcoming and created a really relaxed atmosphere which boded well for the week and the standard and tempo of training. Most of all I enjoyed it. It was a challenge, but one I would gladly accept again and again in the coming years.

How did you first get into football?

I was very young, about five or six and I used to play at school every break time and at every other opportunity. I got into football through my older brother, and ended up playing for his Cub Scout team in a local district league, which back then was very competitive. I used to play out on the right wing and my brother on the left. My parents used to love coming to watch.

How has it been representing the university for the last few years?

The last three or so years playing for the university have been so enjoyable and to now

Jack Schofield captain the club at such a prestigious university with a sporting reputation is a great honour. I think playing for the uni has added dimensions to my game, as they can often get very heated. It teaches you to be composed. Jenny Sugarman, the women's first team coach, has also been fantastic in helping me balance uni football with club and international commitments.

What is your best moment in university football?

How strong do you feel Who have been your the women's game is at idols in the game? both uni and club level Frank Lampard has always been someone at the moment?

I've looked up to. His goalscoring record I think its evident that women’s football has taken off in this country. Domestic changes have led to higher standards of play, meaning more players coming to uni are of good quality, something which bodes well for the university.

from midfield is frightening. I also like watching the Barcelona midfield play. Their style is how I like to play and I believe that short sharp football will soon take over the modern game.

There are plenty to mention, every time we win is memorable to be honest. To beat Loughborough in the cup this year would be the icing on the cake.

What are your aims What is your best moand targets for the next ment in football? couple of years?

"To now captain the club at such a prestigious university with a sporting reputation is a great honour."

Winning the 2009 UEFA Women’s Under19 Championship was a big highlight. Also winning gold last summer in Kazan at the World University games was very special, as was scoring goal of the tournament in the 2008 FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup.

I am going to take a year or two out of studying to focus solely on football and train as much as I can. Then I hope to return to either Birmingham University or elsewhere to do a PGCE in PE.

24th - 30th January 2014

redbrick.me/sport

29

Raining gold for Birmingham's rowers Harry Allen

Rowing club press and publicity ofďŹ cer

Podium finishes were seen across the board for the University of Birmingham Rowing Club at the annual University of Bristol Head Race. Winning performances from novices and seniors alike saw Birmingham maintain their strong start to the season.

Particular attention is deserved for the novice women's squad, coached by Alex Darby, who won in both the 8+ and 4+ categories.

Head races traditionally occur at the start of the rowing season and see crews chase each other down in time trial fashion.

The racing is fiercely competitive and gives faster crews the chance to catch slower boats in front. A combination of tight turns and powerful crews makes Bristols 3k stretch of river prime for dramatic passes and in extreme cases, collisions.

The senior women continued to show

the benefit of their hard work this season with Head Coach Rich Poole, managing two podium finishes in the Championship 1x.

"The senior women continued to show the benefit of their hard work this season with Head Coach Rich Poole, managing two podium finishes."

Hannah Garvey came away with silver and Ellie Roberts collected Bronze, with Becky Wright following with a strong performance in 4th. The senior men had similar success, but there was limited competition for Jake Baldry, George Hopkins and Kain Adey in the 1x and 2- respectively. However, con-

gratulations were in order for Hopkins and Adey, who came home with the fastest time of the day in the small boat category. The senior men's 8+ showed true grit in a tough field with 4th, mere seconds behind silver and bronze. Birmingham's intermediate rowers also found their way to the podium, with the men's 4+ picking up bronze, and women's 8+ missing out on gold by only 0.1 of a second. The women's 4+ also came 4th in a very close category. Special mention is deserved for the men's intermediate 8+, who came 8th in a boat comprised of nearly all beginners. Intermediate mens coach Tania Griffin said; 'The crew did very well in the intermediate category having only just started rowing a few months ago. It was a big ask for them, but they all stepped up the to challenge, doing themselves and the club proud.

There are many training hours ahead and some hard work to look forward to, but a great start to the year!'

Birmingham's intense beginner pro-

gramme proved valuable yet again with a string of victories from the women's squad in the novice 8+ and 4+. The six other novice boats all placed strongly across the field, highlighting Birmingham's continued annual

"The crew did very well in the intermediate category having only just started rowing a few months ago." success against other university beginners.

All the commitment and effort involved in learning to row has definitely paid off for this large novice squad, who have proved their potential time and time again.

For the start of this semester, all squads are looking forward to challenging racing at BUCS Head.

Harry Allen Jack SchoďŹ eld

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24th - 30th January 2014

redbrick.me/sport

Sport

Badminton girls secure draw after Leeds no-show

Birmingham 1sts

4

Leeds Met 1sts

4

Constantinos Akrivos Sports Reporter

Birmingham women’s 1sts were held to a 4-4 draw against Leeds Metropolitan 1sts at the Munrow Sports Hall, in a very competitive game.

The visitors’ Fontaine Chapman starred as she took on Birmingham’s Anna Sowan, coasting to victory with scores of 21-6 and 21-9. Sowan started well but her opponent pushed strongly, pressurising at every given opportunity. It would be harsh to criticise the hosts too much in the opener though, with Chapman playing extremely well, having mastered her technique of sending shots to the back of the court, before coming to the net for an easy smash.

Chapman continued her fine form into her second game, clinching a 21-12, 21-19 victory over Natatie Chan Lam, securing two straight victories for Leeds. Chan Lam tried hard, providing strong opposition, especially during the second set. However, Chapman’s determination to win saw her through.

In the first doubles match though, Birmingham were able to turn the tie around as Bronley and Shovman crushed the visitor’s pair of Reasion and Portas 21-11, 21-12. The visitors changed positions frequently in this game but the hosts were pre-

"The visitors changed positions frequently in this game but the hosts were prepared and forced them into making many mistakes."

Athletics club gears up for campus relays Athletics club captain Molly Browne advertises this year's university campus relay.

pared and forced them into making many mistakes.

Leeds bounced back and won the second doubles game with a scoreline of 21-11, 21-12. As the scoreline suggests, the Leeds pair did a marvellous job for their team, constantly forcing the Birmingham pair into errors. The hosts seemed like they did not have the strength to match the visitors, finding the net far too often. Langley and Brewis were also victorious over the hosts pair of Barnley and Shaman with a score of 21-13, 21-19, in a game in which the visitors eased to success.

Birmingham were able to reduce the defecit to 4-2 after a closely fought encounter saw the host pair come out on top 15-21, 21-19, 21-16. Ciznonova and Hawvisworth were extremely accurate during these games and managed to turn the whole rubber in Birmingham’s favour after losing the first game. Reaston and Portas could not land easy shots and their performance clearly fell in the third and final game. The hosts took advantage of their mistakes and were able to secure their university a very valuable draw

The University's Athletics Club are hosting the annual Campus Relays on Saturday 1st March. The event is a team relay around the iconic sights of campus. We are calling all University sports teams, societies and students to take part in the mixed fun race.

There is going to be an inter-club competition between UBSports teams with prizes and pride up for grabs. It would be great to get as many different clubs entering teams as possible. Information can be found on our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/buac and entry forms can be downloaded from

"The hosts were able to secure a draw after Leeds failed to produce enough players to play in the tie." which puts them in second place of the BUCS Premier North table, three points above Leeds Metropolitan and six behind leaders Loughborough.

Despite being defeated in four of the rubbers and only securing two victories themselves, the hosts were able to secure a draw after Leeds failed to produce enough players to play in the tie, securing Birmingham two walkover victories.

Next week the side travel to Loughborough for a top of the table clash which will have a large say in determining which team secure top spot in the division.

www.uobac.co.uk If you have any questions drop club captain Molly Browne an email: mxb179@bham. ac.uk

More information at www.facebook.com/ buac

24th - 30th January 2014

redbrick.me/sport

Things to look out for this weekend 1. The Australian Open reaches its climax this weekend and with both the men's and women's draws throwing up surprises, there is certain to be unfancied finalists.

2. FA Cup football returns with fans of Bournemouth and Stevenage hoping for an upset as they host Liverpool and Everton respectively.

3. England will be hoping to avoid the ultimate embarrassment of a double whitewash as their ODI series against Australia concludes this weekend. Will Cook's men be able to salvage a consolation victory?

31

Performance of the week

Tweet of the week @MailSport 'Pardew: I am not proud of the comment I made and I am going to punish myself.'

Alan Pardew after insulting Manuel Pellegrini.

Photo of the week

The lighter side of sport

Ronnie O'Sullivan was this week celebrating yet another tournament success after storming to the 2014 Masters title.

Playing some of his finest snooker in recent years, the Rocket was able to demolish all in his path, playing what John Parrott considered to be 'snooker from the gods'. O'Sullivan secured the crown with a 10-4 victory over last year's winner Mark Selby.

Weekend wager

1. Fans of the 1993 film 'Cool Runnings' will be in for a treat after the Jamaican bobsleigh team qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia. $25,000 was raised by fans to help the team return after a 12-year absence.

4/1 Fans of an upset will have their eyes open this weekend as the FA Cup returns.

Of the ties about, arguably one of the best chances of a surprise could come on the South Coast where Bournemouth will host Liverpool. Back the Cherries to take their visitors to a replay at 4/1.

2. Middlesborough's recent form is not down to their football according to goalkeeper Shay Given. He has instead credited their 6 match unbeaten run to the appearance of a hamster called Holly, who has been living at the training ground since Christmas.

Tom Daley returns to training at London's Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park.

Sport quiz 1. At which club did Manchester United target Juan Mata make his professional debut?

Online this week

2. In which year was the Australian Open tennis tournament first held?

3. Who is the all-time record cap holder for the England women's football team?

4. How many ranked titles has Ronnie O'Sullivan won in his career to date?

Ashes Review: Aman Harees looks back on a disastrous Ashes series for England

Redbrick Sport's Transfer XI: Alex Seftel selects the best eleven footballers currently available in the January transfer window and who he thinks could benefit from their services.

5. How many times have the Jamaican Bobsleigh team qualified for the Winter Olympic games?

1.Real Madrid 2.1905 3.Rachel Yankey (129) 4.25 5.Five

Sochi Preview: Tom Dodd looks forward to the 22nd Winter Olympics and provides his guide to team GB's chances.

Redbrick's Nostalgic Crossword

Entering a new year always leaves us feeling a tad nostalgic, so we've gone all the way back to 1973 to rescue a crossword from the Redbrick archive.

Completed crosswords enter a draw to win 1973's equivalent of today's ÂŁ50* *ÂŁ4.88 will be yours if you're our lucky winner

Please complete this form before you hand in your completed crossword to the Redbrick office.

Name: Email Address: Phone Number:

Across

1. One gets back to it after a change (6) 5. Well-known name (3) 8. A foolish eruption? (4?)

9. Space for sitting, perhaps (4) 10. Undiminished in diplomacy? (6) 11. The result of eating things too hot (9) 13. Nobleman with a share in a yearling? (4) 15. When free, a ride is shorter (3) 16. His is a moving existence (5) 17. He has a cause (5) 20. Big fellow who may tell you the time? (3) 22. Not a man sized drink (3) 23. Greek underworld 24. To eat it won't take me long! (5) 26. Is certainly not a girl (3) 27. River in the Rhine Valley (4) 28. Resort of murky water (9) 31. Gert is upset by the brutes (6) 32. The number in hand, perhaps (4) 33. He's in charge of the preparations for eating (4) 34. Knot it (3) 35. Make soundproof (6)

Down

1. Fastened down (6) 2. Went back on the other half, perhaps (8) 3. Roguish char, perhaps (4) 4. From the side (7) 5. Only a fraction of a programme? (5) 6. It's dull for a doctor and a sailor (4) 7. He'll enjoy his wine (7) 12. Help Dai to shuffle around (3) 14. Just a single loan, we hear (4) 18. Seat of learning (4) 19. He's just stupid (8) 20. It takes shape during inflation (7) 21. Indicated (7) 24. A beastly noise (3) 25. He takes a letter between father and son (6) 26. Plenty of room for travel (5) 29. It shouldn't come before the horse (4) 30. What a dropped catch means to a batsman (4)

1`2`34~5`6~7~ `~`~8```~9``` 0`````~`~`~`~ `~`~-`=`````` q``w~e``~~~`~ `~r````~tyu`` ~i``~`~o~p``~ [````~]````~\ ~`~~~a``~s``` d``f````g~`~` ~`~`~`~h````` j```~k```~`~` ~`~l``~;`````

32

redbrick.me/sport

24th - 30th January 2014

Sport

P 30 - David Morris interviews Birmingham women's captain Izzy Christiansen on her recent England call up and the development of the women's game.

Seventh heaven for brilliant Birmingham

Will Siddons

Birmingham 3rds

7

Nottingham Trent 2nds

1

Alex Seftel

Sports Reporter

Birmingham men’s hockey 3rds carried on from where they left off in December with an all-round convincing performance over a second-class Nottingham Trent 2nds side on Wednesday afternoon. Having ended the year with five wins out of six in the Midlands 2A division, the pressure was on the team to continue their unbeaten run, and they wasted no time at all as Josh Hood rolled in from close range to give his side an advantage in the opening minute.

Hood, who was one of the team’s standout players, looked menacing throughout

the first half and was involved again when a short corner caused confusion in the Trent defence, allowing Duncan McNaught to double the lead for the home side. With twenty minutes gone, the next chance fell to Birmingham forward James Stroomer, who agonisingly hit the post as the visitor’s keeper Hamish Hall dived despairingly in front of him to narrow the angle. However, Stroomer was to redeem himself just

"The pick of the goals though arrived courtesy of a scintillating solo run from Will Tobin, who drove forwards from 30 yards out, evading three players, before checking inside and striking a low shot towards the bottom corner."

moments later as he capitalised on a series of opposition errors to score. The pick of the goals though arrived courtesy of a scintillating solo run from Will Tobin, who drove forwards from 30 yards out, evading three players, before checking inside and striking a low shot towards the bottom corner, which went in off the inside post with Hall stranded.

Having been outclassed and outplayed in the first period, Nottingham Trent rallied together at the start of the second half and rescued what was to be a consolation goal, courtesy of a neat finish from forward Dylan Patel. But Birmingham were unrelenting in the pressure they continued to pile on their opponents, and as the wet weather held off at the Bournbrook pitches, it suddenly rained goals again as Hood, George Bence and then Andrew Bulmer added gloss to what was already a comfortable victory. Nottingham Trent might feel that the score line flattered Birmingham, yet the hosts displayed great

"The hosts displayed great composure and skill in both attack and defence." composure and skill in both attack and defence, justifying their position at the top of the table. One only needs to look at the fact that Birmingham have scored thirty goals in seven games, twice as many as any other side in their league to understand the level of performance and consistency that their team has achieved this season.

After the game, team captain James Pease-Watkin alluded to the result as a crucial step towards clinching the title for the 3rds, as they now have a seven point advantage over Nottingham 2nds, with three games to go. Both Peace-Watkin and team coach Tom Beaumont, who was away playing with the men’s 1sts at Loughborough, will be hoping for more of the same when they face Lincoln 1sts at home next week.