InQuire 8.8

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a generation of idiots?

comment - page 5

bill gates funds online universities

Issue 8.8

all i want for christmas is...

iq entertainment - page 18

the history of christmas

iq culture - page 19

7 th December 2012

edible gifts for christmas

iq features - page 14

kent students vote in asvs

Melissa East LEADING American universities Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have collaborated to form the edX project, funded by The Gates Foundation, which will provide online university courses for local community colleges. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has granted the project $1 million (£630,000) in funding, with the wish of supporting innovation in education. According to edX president and MIT professor of electrical engineering and computer science Anant Argawal, the $60million (£38 million) project’s “technology and innovative teaching methods have the potential to transform the way community college students learn, both in and out of the classroom”. Dr. Mulder, president of the OpenCourseWare group promoting free online course materials, believes that within the next five years, the majority of universities will be using online learning in some form. Despite increasing support from America’s leading businessmen and universities, there are some who already doubt the potential success of the ground-breaking project. Louise Robinson, president of the Girls’ School Association, argued that if these online university courses do not require A levels (or equivalent) to qualify for entry, the entire international school system would collapse. “If we lose the necessity of our narrow three A-level prescribed university route, will there be need for GCSEs or even English Baccalaureate Certificates. “Personally I cannot see one and we all know that some of us are questioning the validity of them.”

cheerleader challenge

sport - page 23

leveson report published Matthew Gilley Newspaper News Editor

Students gather for a rally supporting BAE and their presence on campus. Photo by Daniel Barnby.

George Hopkin Website Sport Editor ON 22nd November, polls opened to decide upon eight All Student Vote (ASV) motions. These included the controversial move to ban BAE Systems from campus and a proposed campaign to save Chaucer Fields from University building work – an idea that has been divisive on campus and with local residents in the Canterbury community. The biggest question was what would happen with the results. On the 29th November the polls closed at 12:00pm, midday. If a motion is passed then the idea becomes policy for one year. If, a motion were to fall, then Kent Union will not hold a position either way on the issue for a year. Alex Murray, Kent Union VicePresident for Education, recently released a statement about his position with regards to the ASVs and his involvement in the BAE Systems issue. He said, about the vote: “To see so many students

debating issues is exactly what we wanted to get out of these structures so get out and vote and decide the line that the Union walks.” In the past, Kent Union has only ever had one ASV: Whether Kent Union should campaign to support Equal Marriage. That idea was accepted last term, in Summer 2012. The turnout for that ASV came to just over 400 votes. This latest ASV round saw 11,113 votes made, and 1,644 voters turned out via the online voting system on Kent Union’s website. Colum McGuire, Kent Union Vice-President for Welfare, said: “I’m thrilled with the great turnout we got in the all student votes. To me it’s an indication that when we have relevant and controversial issues to the student body they will get actively engaged to turnout to vote to get their voice heard. It’s exciting that our members have an opportunity to submit an idea of what they think should happen and have a debate across campus about it. I think it’s a huge improvement in making sure that our members

have key involvement in deciding the direction of Kent Union as opposed to decisions being made behind closed doors.” The results of the ASVs mean that Kent Union will campaign to save Chaucer Fields, to increase the amount of renewable energy produced on campus, and for a change in policy toward unpaid internships. Kent Union will also campaign for subsidised printing for students and it shall require organisers of events with outside speakers to make the speaker aware of its Zero Tolerance Policy. Moves to ban lads mags and music channels from Union outlets were rejected, and Kent Union will not cease to have any association with BAE Systems or ban them from campus – an idea that provoked the most responses, with 1,489 votes being cast. The two motions that saw the most landslide-like results were the ones on a prospective campaign for subsidised printing and a move to ban music channels from being... (continued on page three)

LORD Justice Leveson published his report on press standards and regulation last Thursday. The report calls for an independent regulatory body underpinned by legislation. Leveson proposes that the new body, whilst essentially being a form of self-regulation, will have “demonstrable independence from both political and commercial interests” and that its Chair and board members “shall not include any serving editor or member of the House of Commons or Government”. Serving editors would have a role to play in the writing of a new press standards code, to be undertaken by another new committee. The report claims that its suggestions for legislation do not amount to “statutory regulation”. Leveson says that it would “enshrine… a legal duty on the Government to protect the freedom of the press” and give “benefits in law… to those who subscribed [to the new regulatory body]”. Many newspapers were critical in their reporting of the suggestion of bringing the law into press regulation in any way. Prime Minister David Cameron also said he had “serious misgivings” about any statutory interference in press regulation. On relationships between the press and politicians he was more scathing. All parties had “too close a relationship with the press in a way which has not been in the public interest”. The inquiry found no “extensive evidence of police corruption”, although the report did criticise the handling of presspolice relationships. Full coverage on: www.inquirelive.co.uk

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News Editor’s Note

nus proposes postgraduate loan scheme

Hey,

Kat Mawford

Merry Christmas! As you can see, InQuire is a big fan of the festive season and we hope that this issue helps you to get into the mood.

THE National Union of Students (NUS) has published a new proposal on Postgraduate education, following the nationally organised Demo 2012, which took place on the 21st November. Announced on 22nd November, the NUS proposal states that government funding is needed for Post- as well as Undergraduate study, in order that students from a wider range of financial backgrounds will be able to further their education past Bachelor’s level. The proposal, aimed specifically at taught postgraduate degrees, contains a three-point plan; the creation of three types of funding to cater for different types of student. The first of the areas to be targeted by the proposal covers would be loans aimed at those students with the greatest need for them, in order that a more diverse group of students progress into careers. This would largely be aimed at students receiving maintenance loans during undergraduate study. Secondly, the NUS are calling for an employer oriented scheme of finance to support students wishing to take up postgraduate study alongside employment, with the intention of career progression and

This is the last issue of 2012 and we’re off for the Christmas holidays, but if you can’t get along without your fix of student news, then don’t forget to visit our website, InQuire Live. We’ll be relaunching our website on the 15th/16th January, so keep an eye out for that and we’ll see you in 2013! Pamela.

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2012/2013 Editorial contacts: Executive: Rex Ejimonyeabala Chairman chairman Pamela Head - Editor newspaper.editor Chandni Makhecha - IQ Editor iq.editor Nina Collins - Website Editor website.editor Newspaper: Matt Gilley - News newspaper.news Jamie Ovens - Comment newspaper.comment Natalie Tipping - IQ Features newspaper.features Harriet Cash - IQ Culture newspaper.culture Chad Greggor IQ Entertainment newspaper.entertainment Alex Cassidy - Sports newspaper.sport Website: Perpetual Brade - News website.news Amelia Guttridge Comment website.comment Laura Ricchetti IQ Features website.features Alice Bryant IQ Entertainment website.entertainment George Hopkin- Sport website.sport Caroline Wadham Distribution distribution To contact editors, just add @inquiremedia.co.uk to the details listed here.

better prospects. The final scheme suggested in the proposal is a more general system to support students, whether fullor part-time within their Masters courses. The campaigns page of the NUS website states that while Postgraduate education in the UK is considered among the best in the world for those that are able to take their education to this level, “many students of equal ability and motivation are denied this life-changing opportunity because they cannot access the necessary funding”, a state that the NUS as an organisation view as unacceptably “unfair”. Alex Murray, VP Education of Kent Union spoke in support of the proposal: “It is ridiculous that while the government espouses rhetoric around access to education, it is only for those that can afford it that Postgraduate education is a possibility. “Postgraduate fees can be extortionate and it is about time that, as a minimum, support for funding is made a reality.” According to the NUS agenda, this proposal is the first in a series of campaigns which will be discussed by politicians in months to come, with the intention of creating a fairer system for Higher Education.

oxbridge dominates uk society 42,000 londoners put off by fees Krystle Appiah A report carried out by the Sutton Trust charity has revealed that almost one third of the leading people in the UK are Oxford or Cambridge graduates and nearly half went to private school. The Sutton Trust analysed the backgrounds of nearly 8,000 of the UK's professional elite and found that 31% of those featured on national birthday lists in newspapers and Sunday newspapers, had attended Oxford or Cambridge. 20% went to another leading university. Eton College, where Princes William and Harry were educated, features 330 people who are now recognised as national elite. This makes up 4% of the list and is the top private school in the UK. This figure is three times as many as the second closest private school, Winchester, which has been home to 92 of the UK's leading people. Other private schools to feature on the list are Charterhouse School, Rugby School, Westminster School, Marlborough College, Dulwich College, Harrow School, St. Paul's Boy's School and Wellington College. These along with Eton College and Winchester make up the top 10 private schools in the UK and have educated over 900 of the national elite. Many of these have gone on to study at Oxbridge or other leading

universities. These Oxford and Cambridge graduates dominate diplomatic service positions. In addition 58% work in law, 55% in the top echelons of the civil service and almost half of the top literary figures in the UK are Oxford or Cambridge graduates. Despite this, the privately educated are just 7% of the population. Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of The Sutton Trust, states: “Private schools should be open to all on the basis of ability not finance.” The Sutton Trust also looked into sport and found that those who are attended fee-paying school achieved 37% of the medals won at the London Games. This is a fall from 50% of medalists from independent schools and winning medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which Lord Moynihan, Olympic Chief described as one of the "worst statistics in British sport". This imbalance shows that the privately educated are disproportionately represented in sport as well in the national elite. Lampl added that it doesn't come as a shock that those who attended private schools are more prominent in sports as they have "excellent sporting facilities and highly qualified coaches, while in many state schools sport is not a priority".

Charlotte Smith OVER 42,000 Londoners have been discouraged from applying to higher education because of the government’s decision to triple tuition fees. Statistics from the National Union of Students have shown that since the introduction of the £9,000 per year fees, university applications from people living in London have reduced by 10%. The areas facing the most extreme decline were Hackney North and Stoke Newington, where university applications have fallen by 18%. First year UKC student Fenella Powell, from London’s Ealing, comments that, despite ultimately making the decision to come to university, she was initially very put off by the rise in fees. As an Anthropology student, she expressed concern that since the course arguably does not lead directly into a specific job, like Law or Medicine for example, she questioned whether it was a “worthy investment”, considering increased tuition costs. The impact of financial concerns on students’ wellbeing has been demonstrated in research by student money saving website studentbeans.com. The website reports that nearly a third of students claim to have suffered from insomnia as a result of worry over their financial situation

situation while at university. A further 20 per cent found money worries had triggered depression. General secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, has previously warned of the dangers of this declining interest in higher education, saying: “With 80% of new jobs by 2020 likely to be professional or technical, the UK must invest now in the next generation or risk losing out in the race for economic growth.”

Deputy Club Coordinator An after-school club in Ashford is looking for a parttime Deputy Club Coordinator to work during term-time. Applicants must have an NVQ level 2 qualification. Private Tutors Tutors are required to assist students in various different subjects including Law, Web Design, and NVIVO software. Engineering Manager Based in East Kent, an Engineering Manager is required to manage and support teams providing drainage and sewage treatment. This is a full-time position suitable for a graduate in Engineering or Management.

News 3

kent students vote in asvs ... (continued from page one) shown in Union outlets. 82% of voters supported the idea of a movement, aimed at the University, for subsidised printing credits, and 79% chose to oppose the removal of music channels from screens across campus. Criticism of the ASVs, and in particular the vote on whether Kent Union should cut campus ties with BAE Systems, came from Society Federation Committee member David Stibbards. He said, at a pro-BAE rally outside Venue on Monday 26th November: “The Union has ceased to engage with

us, and we have ceased to engage with it”. The BAE Systems debate led to facebook groups being created that separately gathered supporters of the motion and students opposing it. The opposition group managed to accumulate over a thousand members. This issue even saw a radio debate take place on it, with Alex Murray and Philip Stephenson-Oliver, Social Secretary of the Conservative Association (KUCA) and an organiser of the pro-BAE rally, putting forward their different points of view regarding the ASV

in Kent Debating Society’s CSRfm show on Monday 26th at 7pm. A smaller anti-BAE rally took place the day after, on Tuesday 27th. Elsewhere, a local Save Chaucer Fields campaign, which has a website set up to raise awareness of the situation (www. savechaucerfields.com), now has the support of Kent Union following the successful ASV motion on the issue. The University has not formally reacted to the news. It now remains to be seen how the Democracy Zones, and Kent Union as a whole, will react to the results and plan to campaign.

Photo by Daniel Barnby

dickens’ favourite pub for sale Harriet Cash Newspaper Culture Editor A pub in Strood which was a favourite haunt of Charles Dickens has been put on the market for £65,000. The Crispin and Crispianus, on Watling Street, is a grade-II listed traditional shiplapped building, built significantly earlier than the predominantly Victorian town. It has been closed as a pub since 2010, and was left structurally unsafe by a serious fire in March 2011. The building now needs to be inspected regularly by local council workers. It has not been renovated and is described in the auction listing as “significantly fire damaged”. While living in Higham, between

Gravesend and Rochester, Dickens allegedly used to call into the pub on his way home, to drink a glass of ale or brandy. The establishment was immortalised in his collection of literary sketches, The Uncommercial Traveller, published between 1860 and 1869. Many of Dickens’ works feature Kent locations, the author having spent several childhood years in Chatham. The world famous novelist died in Higham in 1870, at the age of 58. The pub was last purchased for £175,000 in October 2000. It will go up for auction on 10th December and is being sold, with its 0.3 acre plot, as a freehold with vacant possession.

a note from the chairman Rex Ejimonyeabala In September I urged InQuire members and our audience alike to prepare for what we could achieve. I am glad to say that everyone involved has responded enthusiastically. We have undertaken an ambitious development in just four months; covering an original exclusive about WIFI security on campus, introducing a letters page that encourages students to write to us and even expanding our reach to video interviews for the first time in InQuire’s history. We have made this publication one that truly

represents the voice and projects the concerns of students in the University of Kent on print, online and now on screen. We intend to continue this progressive development in 2013 with the launch of the new InQuire Live website in January. Although this is the last newspaper issue of 2012, stay informed with InQuire Live during the holidays. Remain constant in challenging the university and the union to improve student life and student experience. In return, InQuire Media will continue to uphold the student’s voice.

new universities to be created Amelia Guttridge Website Comment Editor FOR the first time in 20 years, a wave of new universities are to be created in the UK. An estimated 12 institutions from both the state and private sector, including the Royal Agricultural College and University College Falmouth, will be given university status. Several private colleges will also be made universities, although not all will be for-profit. Universities and Science Minister, David Willetts, has revealed the full list of institutions proposed to the Privy Council to make the change, which it is expected to approve. The Government is behind the proposal, citing it as an opportunity to promote diversity in the university sector, helping improve student choices and standards. Critics of the plans argue that the expansion of profit-seeking companies will damage them. Further confusion has been caused by the question of how to legally define a university. Previously an institution would need to have 4,000 full time students, but that number has dramatically dropped to 1,000. This has enabled many specialist institutions to apply for the university status they have desired for some time. Willetts said: “These well-known and highly-regarded university

colleges represent over 1,200 years of history between them. It is right to remove the barriers preventing high-quality higher education providers like these calling themselves universities simply because of their size. “I am delighted that they have taken up the opportunity offered by our reforms. This will lead to the biggest creation of universities since 1992 and will enable more people to realise their aspiration of going to a university.” Although the vast majority of institutions proposed are already recognised as University Colleges, this is a distinction that is largely not recognised by the public. Announcements and confirmation of the Privy Council’s decisions - are expected in the next few weeks. Andy Westwood, the chief executive of GuildHE, the company representing the institutions becoming universities, says that they are “all long established and often top league tables in terms of employability of students and ranking teaching provisions. They also have a strong reputation and impact in their localities and sectors, contributing to economic growth and more vibrant communities.” The last major expansion of university provision was in 1992, when polytechnics around the country gained university status.

ukip would make a deal with gove Pamela Head Newspaper Editor

UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said last week that he would consider an electoral pact with the Conservatives only if someone “grown up and sensible like Michael Gove” was the leader. Farage believes that Gove is more “open-minded” than Prime Minster David Cameron. He said: “If Cameron went and somebody pragmatic, grown up and sensible like Michael Gove was leader, you might think then we could sit around the table and have a proper discussion... openminded, doesn’t throw abuse around and thinks issues through - he would be the right kind of person. “It’s very difficult for us to believe anything David Cameron says, because after all, he gave us a castiron guarantee that we’d have a referendum [on the Lisbon Treaty] and it hasn’t happened.” Had previously taken to Twitter to voice his objections to being offered a ministerial post in exchange for not putting UKIP MPs up against Conservatives in key areas and a deal on an in-out EU referendum, saying: “No pact with Tories: it’s war.” Farage believes that the deal is an attempt to buy UKIP off and that

they are better than that. But Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps has denied a deal with UKIP, stating on BBC Radio 4’s The World at One that he wants “to win the next election outright of course, for the Conservatives, so that we have an outright majority and we don’t have to be in coalition”. He also said that he wanted to achieve this by Conservative candidates fighting and winning on their own terms, and so “categorically” rules out any idea of a pact. The row erupted after Tory vice chairman Michael Fabricant, who is in charge of Parliamentary campaigning, warned the Prime

Minister a deal with UKIP is vital to reunite ‘warring brothers’ and that it would not be a sign of weakness for the Conservative party, but a “pragmatic extension of existing philosophy from a party of Government”. Cameron famously described UKIP as “a bunch of fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists” in 2006. But Fabricant remarked, “he [Mr Cameron] wasn’t too keen on the Lib Dems either before the last election. Anything is possible.” At the 2010 General Election, UKIP won 3.1 per cent of the popular vote, but cost the Tories a few marginal seats.

4

News

under-reported: colombian government-militia talks Gabriela Olmos

VIOLENCE and war are characteristics that have dominated Colombia throughout history. In 1964 the FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) were formed, followed in 1966 by the ELN (the National Liberation Army). In response to these groups right-wing paramilitaries were also formed. Caught in the midst of it all, innocent civilians have suffered for nearly five decades the terrors that come from this conflict, a war that has claimed an estimated 600,000 lives. In Norway on Thursday 18th October the FARC decided to reinitiate peace negotiations with the Colombian government, the first direct talk for over ten years between both parties. In Havana on 19th November these talks officially began, giving way to discussions on five main topics: land reform; the FARC’s political role; an end to the armed conflict; fighting the war on drugs; and the rights of the victims of this conflict. Land distribution in Colombia is one of the most unequal in the world, with 52% of farms in the hands of 1.15% of landowners, so land reform is a key issue to the talks. On Sunday 25th November, the government and the FARC agreed on the creation of an open forum over the issue of land reform, a place for the civilian population

to voice their opinions on the matter. This forum will take place in Bogotá on the 17th, 18th, and 19th December. The FARC insisted it was key that Colombian citizens play a role in the resolution of this conflict. Land reform was also one of the key issues in the founding of the FARC and one of the very few that still remain, as their involvement in the drug trade since the 1990’s has discredited many of their founding ideals. Due to the heavy civilian casualties that this conflict has produced, as well as the 3.7 million people that have been displaced by it, the US and the EU have characterised the FARC as a terrorist group. Former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has spoken out against the peace talks currently taking place, stating through social media networks such as Twitter that he did not understand why anyone would want to “negotiate with terrorists”. However, Uribe’s focus on military tactics during his presidency between 2002-2010 did not help to end the conflict and contributed to the cycle of violence in the country. Although the FARC promised to halt attacks from 19th November 2012 to 20th January 2013 as a temporary truce, on 20th November FARC soldiers blew up two electrical pylons, because they had not been informed of this unilateral truce. The media was blamed for not reporting the

truce more widely. However, this has lead Colombia’s Minister of Defense, Juan Carlos Pinzon, to reject the temporary truce, calling it “incoherent”. Talks are still on the way and agreements have been made, but the Colombian government has said that military operations will remain in place and that the only ceasefire they will agree to is the one that ends the conflict for good. Peace talks have been met with a combination of hope and

Photo by Gabriela Olmos, taken after the 2010 car bomb in Bagota

skepticism. This is the third time that dialogue has been used as a tool to end the conflict in Colombia but so far it has not worked. Many fear that, as in the previous cases, the FARC are using this ceasefire to bide their time to regroup and recruit. Even though the peace talks may not be successful the media has helped to raise awareness of this ongoing civil war. There is still hope that there may be peace, even if it does not come immediately.

Under-reported is a new feature within news where writers are given the opportunity to write about a story that interests them, or that they have been following, that they don’t feel has been given enough media coverage. These could come from anywhere around the world, including the UK. Matthew Gilley, Newspaper News Editor

up to 10,000 students march in london for demo 2012 Matthew Gilley Newspaper News Editor

AN estimated 10,000 students marched through London on 21st November for ‘Demo 2012’, to protest against the government’s higher education policies under the slogan “educate, employ, empower”. Two coach loads of students from the University of Kent joined the demonstration,

beginning at Temple Place, marching along the Embankment and ending in a rally at Kennington Park. It was the largest student demonstration since the protests in 2010. The march, organised by the NUS, expressed students’ anger at rising tuition fees, cuts in government funding for universities, the perceived commercialisation of higher education, and the

withdrawal of EMA from college and sixth form students. Martin, from Cambridge University, said he was protesting because education is “not being respected properly by our politicians”. NUS Vice-President for Higher Education Rachel Wenstone said to InQuire: “[There is] a frightening lack of opportunity in this country, it’s not just about young people, it’s for people full stop.

Photo by Leo McKenzie

It’s about opportunity and access to education, opportunity and access to work, with the highest youth unemployment for 20 years, unpaid internships, unpaid apprenticeships - MPs don’t take our vote seriously.” Rachel O’Neill, a PHD student from King’s College London, recalled the 2010 demonstration she participated in: “There’s a similar sentiment among the crowd, people are still very frustrated. You’re frustrated at how long you’ve been here and how much time you’ve put into this, and the fact that you still have to keep coming out [to demonstrate].” Since 2010, the government’s higher education policies have been repeatedly questioned, with reports claiming that the rise in tuition fees will increase public debt and risks putting a £1bn bill on the taxpayer. Some protesters were unhappy about the route of the march, which bypassed Parliament Square, with the concluding rally taking place away from the centre of London. Around 100 people remained at Westminster and clashed briefly with the police line there without significant violence. Later, in Kennington Park, a small number of more radical protesters chanted

anti-NUS slogans and called for a general strike. Around twenty of them stormed the stage, forcing NUS President Liam Burns to leave it, after which the rally dissolved. One of these anti-NUS protesters said: “People should’ve stayed outside parliament and made their point outside the place where the people work who took away EMA, who trebled tuition fees. It’s not good enough sitting in a muddy field far away from the seat of power.” Wenstone had little sympathy for their point of view: “The message doesn’t come from people looking out of their office windows at the march, it comes from the BBC picking it up. They’ve put students in dangerous positions actually. Safeguards are out there for a reason, risk assessments are out there for a reason. It’s not helpful.” Several of the speakers at the rally highlighted a need for unity, between students and between students and other groups, like disabled people, part-time workers and public sector workers, all of whom, said Columnist Owen Jones, have been on the wrong end of government policies on benefits, tax credits or pensions. All of them, he said, have “one fight”.

Comment 5

are multi-national strikes the way forward?

Simon Terhaag CLOSE to a thousand people came together on the Plaza de Neptuno in Madrid, Spain, on the night of 13th November. As midnight approached, tensions rose and the mass became angry; months of frustration were boiling over, the people had had enough. They gathered under a common call: No to Austerity. While Madrid may have played host to the most prominent clashes between riot police and protesters, this scene was mirrored all across Europe to various degrees. Some protests stayed peaceful, some were dispersed, others turned violent. Almost one million people took a stand against recently instated budget and health care cuts, resorting to mass protests to have their voices heard. But are the strikes bringing about the wanted change? And is another change really what Europe needs? To combat rising national debts, governments all across the EU have further increased austerity measures earlier this year, in the hope that cuts in spending and benefits would help rid the countries of their deficits.

Unfortunately, the populations of most of these countries were not quite as enthusiastic about the cuts as was hoped. Decreased pay in already strenuous financial times and the removal of social benefits quickly sparked resentment in the people, who were of the opinion that it’s hardly fair for entire countries to be punished for the poor financial policies of their governments. In countries like Spain, which is battling a 25% unemployment rate; putting the workforce under increased strain has proved to be simply too much for some. One can only work so many months without being paid a cent before enough is enough. Although the southern EU countries have been hit much harder with the austerity measures, the rest are far from content. Consequently, strikes have sprung up everywhere from Ireland to Sweden to Greece; there is hardly an EU country that hasn’t been affected. It is exactly this unified nature of the strikes that prevents them from being overlooked. The protests are not localised by any extent; in fact, labour unions have

bonded together to internationally organise these strikes. It is an extraordinary case of solidarity which signals that this issue is not one to be glossed over anytime soon. While the strikes are clear in their message, they do not necessarily help the situation. Yes, budget cuts will never be welcomed with open arms. Yes, a raise in taxes is a further grievance to an already crippled economy. Yes, we like to think that in developed world countries, governments would not have to rely on healthcare cuts to avoid financial collapse. But if these measures are not put into effect, there is no hope on the horizon that the situation will change for the better at all. The reason that much of the EU is in this financial dilemma in the first place is due to unbalanced foreign spending, importing too much, and not keeping enough money in circulation within the constituent countries. Naturally, citizens are by now exasperated, as their standard of living has been lowered in order to pump money back into the economy. An economy that they feel didn’t fall as consequence of their actions. Responsible or not, the money will not magically reappear, and if the situation is not to escalate further, harsh measures have to be realised. I’m not saying ‘let them eat cake’, but simply willing a problem away will not actually make it go. The protests cast a very clear light on how citizens feel, but have offered little to no solution to the larger problem.

Until now, the protests’ biggest ‘accomplishments’ have been to shut down public transport, ground flights, reduce hospital operation to emergency staffing, and cause hundreds of arrests. Who will pay for those?

One thing, at least, is certain for now: these protests are not merely the final outburst of a frustrated population – if anything, they announce a mobilisation across the EU that will have to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Protesters march to Parliament in Madrid (above and left) and Lisbon (below).

little more than a generation of idiots?

Shona Wood

HUMANS are getting dumber, according to the work of Gerald Crabtree, a biochemist at Stanford University who has published a paper ‘confirming’ what so many have feared.

Appearing in the journal Trends In Genetics, Crabtree’s thesis outlined his studies of gene mutations, and concluded that we are slowly but surely “losing intellectual and emotional traits”. In fact, with his findings pointing to a peak in intelligence

“somewhere between 2,000 and 6,000 years ago”, he argues that we have been on a downward slope for several millennia. Ouch! For many, comfort will lie in the widespread scepticism of fellow academics. Professor Steve Jones, a geneticist at University College London, was one of many to instantly dismiss Crabtree’s theory. His response: “I could just as well argue that mutations have reduced our aggression, our depression and our penis length, but no journal would publish that. Why do they publish this?” But despite the ridicule, I can’t help thinking that the notion of declining intelligence is just a little too plausible. Albert Einstein once said: “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. We will have a generation of idiots”. Whilst society may not have shunned human contact altogether quite yet, recent technological ‘advancements’ certainly have a lot to answer for.

Consider the smartphone. With the wonderful World Wide Web at our fingertips, what’s the point in making use of our memories? Let’s face it, putting energy into storing facts, only to have to trawl through the mental archives later on to regurgitate them, is all just rather unnecessary. The same goes for mental maths, and anything above a basic level of competence in writing. Beyond education, there’s simply no need for it. In shops, calculators and tills do the number-crunching; when documents are called for, spellcheck points us in the right direction. Why should we invest time and energy into doing these things ourselves? Heck, this way’s far easier. It’s easy to place all the blame on technology, but in fact it goes beyond that. Everyday life simply no longer requires the same level of mental exertion. Once upon a time, eating a meal entailed hunting for meat and dealing with raw ingredients first-

hand. Nowadays, children in cities can grow up not realising that milk comes from animals or that chickens do in fact exist outside of chiller cabinets. For many, hunger and thirst are now nothing more than mere inconveniences, resolvable by a mindless exchange of coins. Of course, not everybody opts for an existence based upon minimal mental effort. After all, behind every technological development is human activity. We wouldn’t have gadgets that do our thinking for us if there hadn’t been an intelligent human to design them in the first place. It’s difficult to dispute that the level of intelligence actually required for everyday life has become pathetically low. Maybe Crabtree’s ‘proof’ is nothing more than eloquent tosh. Even if we’re not becoming genetically ‘dumber’, our refusal to engage in any sort of unnecessary mental exertion indicates that we’re certainly becoming lazier – which, really, is no better.

6

Comment

giving up charity: are we doing more harm than good? Jamie Ovens Newspaper Comment Editor

WHEN it comes to light, as it often does, that our efforts towards a particular goal have been for nothing, it’s usually disappointing to say the least. Generally, when these are first world problems such as failing to woo someone tasty, or underachieving in an essay or job interview, it’s easy enough to cut our losses and try again. But when the goal is helping people through charity, and the disappointment is that we are in fact making things worse, should we keep interfering or walk away? Sometimes, despite our best intentions, the aid we give to charities actually has a detrimental effect upon its recipients. Quality of life may seem to have been improved initially, but it has been argued many times that fatal conundrums can be caused further down the line; often the result of a now-dependent demographic running out of supplies, or from the unforeseen side-effects of an intended ‘improvement’ in circumstance. One of the most recently reported instances of this is a tragic ‘too

much of a good thing’ tale, whereby improved drinking water in Ethiopia has increased population to the point of overcrowding and starvation. A study by academics at the University of Bristol, which collected data from over a thousand households in five villages before and after the installation of water taps, claims that this is a direct result of charitable giving: “While improved access to water has reduced women’s workloads and improved child health, it has unexpectedly led to higher birth rates and larger family sizes which have increased household shortages. These population pressures have encouraged young adults to migrate to urban areas, which actually contributes rather than relieves population pressure.” Rural intervention initiatives such as Live Aid, which raised around £150mn pounds in 1985, have in this case had terrible consequences on the target demographic, many of whom now live in slums. A common response to the folly of foreign aid is ‘we have problems of our own’, but charity is as much at work here as across the ocean.

Our aid can contribute to forming overcrowded rural slums like this one in Nairobi, Kenya.

Without it, our problems would be tenfold, with very little support for homelessness, the elderly, abuse sufferers, animals, children, cancer research etc. When the church still had control of taxes, and ‘tithe’ had to be respected, it was even a requirement for ten per cent of all income to go to alms giving. It doesn’t always solve every problem, but we strive to try. Being a relatively poor student, I myself cant afford to pick up the phone every time a child cries on the tv, but I’ll bestow shrapnel upon a tramp if I can afford to, and offer up volunteering hours when possible. It’s about doing what you realistically can; making time to be a part of something genuinely useful, and doing your best to ensure your efforts aren’t wasted.

This having been said, the larger issue still remains unsolved; these good intentions occasionally go awry, so what should we do about humanitarian aid? During the 1990s, Wall Street investor Ray Chambers decided to dedicate himself to improving the city of Newark through charity, and then went on to champion the fight against malaria in Africa. His relative success in both fields, it would appear, was down to the same methods. He was able to raise untold millions by uniting the powers of political leadership, business leadership and the media, but his most vital tactic was to see that this aid effectively and efficiently reached its target. In short, he considered the shortcomings of charity efforts in

the 1960s; broke the supply chains that allowed foreign bureaucrats to steal huge sums of money; and personally hired teams to distribute millions of mosquito nets individually, ensuring every penny was spent accordingly. What this means, is that we need to carefully consider how we give. Rather than just setting up a direct debit and thinking no more of it, or giving a man a fish so he can eat for a day, we need to think about what we are doing. What we can do to achieve this on an individual level is to simply choose effectively when deciding where your contributions will go. Maybe give to a highly targeted organisation that buys winter coats for a specific orphanage in Russia, if you want to know where every penny goes, rather than trying to work out if the 30% administrative overheads of some bigger charities are worthwhile. Although I certainly don’t have the answer to solving Africa’s problems, I can say with confidence that it isn’t to give up on charity. We may continue to make mistakes along the way, but the greatest disappointment would be to stop showing we care altogether.

should kent union decide what is are lecture recordings morally right and wrong for us? just asking for trouble? George Hopkin Website Sport Editor

A big issue that has been raised on campus recently, mainly because of the All Student Votes (ASVs), has been whether Kent Union should decide what is right and what is wrong for us. The problem came about when it was announced that one of the ASVs was a motion that proposed that Kent Union “should cease to have any association with BAE Systems and should campaign to have them banned from campus.” A number of science students, including Undergraduate Faculty Representative for Sciences, Dave Aylward, opposed the prospect of a campus-wide vote on an issue that could mainly only affect the employment and work opportunities of the Faculty of Sciences. They also opposed the intervention of VP for Education Alex Murray in the vote, claiming a lack of representation and consultation. The other side of the debate focused on war and allegations of dodgy dealing – insinuations of immoral practice. I fell in line with the former party, without being a Science student, and, although I do worry a great amount about my Union restricting my employment options by cutting ties with a major employer of graduates, I worry more about it making my own moral decisions

for me. The question of whether ‘Lads Mags’ and music channels should be banned from campus outlets was also pertinent in that regard. I decided to vote against those moves - as many students on campus did, with the separate motions encompassing the two being rejected by the voters from 22nd to 29th November. That did not stop me from being concerned, however; I felt that unwelcome politically correct culture was having a field day with the reasons for the magazines and music videos being put up for vote for objectifying women. More importantly, I was offended by the move to control my consumer choice on campus, and the steps to strangle the availability of certain legal products seemed like a threat to common sense and student maturity. Publications and videos portraying women, and men, in a sexual light, appear to be almost ubiquitous in the mainstream media. Where would speculative censorship stop when that is the case? What also should be asked is this: Does the availability of these media mean that campus is filling up with perverts and misogynists? I say, “No, no, no”. For me, it is rather the attempt to target them which makes me think that someone on campus, and in the Student Democracy Zones, doubts my individual power

to think for myself. Like with BAE Systems and their work, it is my choice whether I should have access to the legal avenues ahead of me – not theirs. After all, at a university, and in Higher Education, aren’t open-mindedness and the pursuit of individual potential supposed to be encouraged? It is an issue that calls for an objectivist rallying cry, worthy of an Ayn Rand hero. I won’t join my voice to it. I’d rather look to a First Lady of the USA, Eleanor Roosevelt, who said: “Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual you have an obligation to be one.” Though I appreciate my Union for its hard work for students across campus, I feel it is okay to raise issues with its practices. My morality should be my own to form – and not subject to a potential Nanny Union.

Emma Greenacre

IT was in May 2009 that the University of Kent announced they would be launching ‘an investigation into low-cost, scalable lecture recording scenarios’. With the introduction of a pilot service for the 2012-2013 academic year, this idea seems to be gaining momentum. The recording of lectures is spontaneous. Only certain modules have been selected to participate in the scheme and it depends upon the preference of the individual lecturer if they want their session recorded. This recording can come in a number of forms: audio-only would provide speech, whereas an audiovisual recording would include a view of the lecturer’s face. There is also the option of seeing any relevant slideshow presentations. The pilot scheme currently uses a programme called Panopto, which acts as a platform for displaying all of these resources in an accessible and easily navigated way. Recorded lectures are bound to benefit the dedicated student who goes back over notes when writing an essay. They might discover a fantastic point was raised in the lecture that they failed to note down originally. Furthermore, if someone has missed a lecture for an unavoidable reason, they no longer have to depend on the willingness of a friend to lend them

their notes. On the other hand, there is the inevitable notion that this scheme could encourage some students to give up attending lectures, if they are so readily available online. By not going to a lecture, a student can miss out on so much. Among other things, the opportunity to engage live with an expert and to ask questions mid-lecture without having to wait for an e-mail response, would be lost. By taking away that live learning environment and making university a virtual experience, online lectures could run the risk of stifling creativity and limiting a course’s effectiveness. Personally, I feel lectures are not only a chance to have an hour or so of focused learning, but an opportunity to initially make and later meet up with friends. As such, they will always be a superior resource, although I cannot deny that reattending lectures online would be useful. Ultimately, I predict this new scheme will not actually change anything too drastically; students who currently choose to not turn up to lectures will continue to be absent, but those that embrace them will likely stay on. The recorded lectures will end up benefiting those who couldn’t help but miss them the first time around, and those who want to go over what they have already learned.

Comment 7

is there a pro-israeli bias in western media?

Layla Haidrani

ISRAEL and Palestine have always had a tumultuous relationship, and recent events have highlighted this effectively. The way this conflict is presented by the media, however, is unjustly biased and doesn’t allow the British public to know what is really going on. 15th November witnessed a flareup of the Gaza crisis, with Israel firing on more than 130 targets in the strip overnight. This had

Defence Minister Ehud Barak stating that Hamas’ targeting of Tel Aviv would “exact a price that the other side will have to pay”. What has been fascinating is the lack of media coverage of this assault. The Guardian understated the crisis; reporting three Israelis dead, but failing to mention the deaths of 140 Palestinians and their continuous predicament against the perpetrators. The BBC has also come under controversy, reporting that Palestinians had

Telegraph argue that “Hamas are the aggressors; Israel is engaged in a legitimate act of self-defence”. Journalists using the words ‘selfdefence’ to justify the attacks on Palestine are frankly preposterous: How is murdering civilians selfdefence? The seeming monopolisation of our media, combined with Western governments’ failure to publicly criticise Israel, is appalling. They are an illegal occupying power, as evident in their settlement

Protesters in London, 17th November. Image taken from www.ism-london.org.uk

been their most intense assault on the Palestinian territory since a full-scale invasion four years ago. Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has accused Israel’s leaders of trying to eliminate the Palestinian population through “ethnic cleansing”. It seems that, although there is currently a ceasefire in place, there will be no stopping the bloodshed in the long term, with Israeli

only been shot in the leg. This infuriated activists, who quickly posted pictures online that reveal victims having been shot in the face. This is a disgusting display by our media, clearly showing that elements are being censorsed to influence our opinions. The parts of the crisis that have been covered by our media largely display a biased representation with a pro-Israeli stance. Writers such as Dan Hodges for the

building on the West Bank, and as such it is the Palestinians who have every right to exercise self-defense. Although you cannot justify Hamas’ use of terrorism and rockets in southern Israel, people ought to be aware that supporting state terrorism is far more dangerous, and more murderous than any group like Hamas could even attempt to be. At the hands of Israeli oppressors, Palestine has been the victim of

land grabbing, illegal settling and the forcible removal of families from their homes, since its establishment in 1948. And yet this daily suffering is unreported because of Israel’s superior media outreach in the Western world, persuading the West to buy into the narrative which claims Hamas to be a terrorist organisation, rather than freedom fighting. Many students at the University of Kent have refused to passively accept the media’s view, having instead chosen to involve themselves in a town protest on Saturday 17th November, raising awareness about the attacks. Additionally, UKC’s Amnesty International Society has stated that: “This conflict, through the very visible violation of the international humanitarian law, emphasises the need for a Global Arms Trade Treaty.” Amnesty International has already been campaigning for this over the past year, aiming to “help the current situation as well as to prevent crises like this from happening in the future.” At the very least, social media networking has allowed activists to make the Palestinian narrative visible, with images and arguments to help make the public aware of the ongoing situation. With the UN predicting that Gaza may not be ‘liveable’ by 2020, only time will tell if Israel and Palestine will stick with the current ceasefire.

Image taken from www.wtop.com

Since the ceasefire was proclaimed on 20th November, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has stated: “I welcome the agreement reached to end the hostilities in Gaza and southern Israel. It is an important step towards a lasting peace.” Judging by their past records, it may not be long until more bloodshed and innocent civilians are killed. Whether our media will decide to show us this or not is anyone’s guess.

help the economy, buy a dildo for christmas Caitlin Burns

UNLESS you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you’ll know that the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey has been a huge success. It’s made up 20% of all book sales in the UK since April, and has sparked a massive rise in the number of sex toys sold, actually helping the country to battle recession. This isn’t the first time that something in the media has sparked a sex-toy riot - Sex and the City was responsible for the popularisation of the Rampant Rabbit; now the most famous vibrating toy around. Today it’s the turn of Fifty Shades of Grey. Thanks to E L James, Britain is going through a revolution, and here are just a few reasons why you should jump on the bandwagon. Let’s face it, right now it’s miserable outside and Christmas is probably taking it’s toll on your bank balance. The reason that this industry is so popular is because, in a situation like this, it’s a way to escape all of the doom and gloom, to immerse yourself in fantasy, and to get a cheap thrill. That’s exactly

what many people need in this day and age! The books have contributed to lifting the UK out of recession companies such as LoveHoney and Ann Summers have reported a 60% rise in the number of blindfolds they have sold, a 15% increase in whips, and a 200% increase in jiggle balls - an item that can be worn throughout the day, ‘jiggling’ inside the body. All of this, on top of the millions of books sold, means that housewives all over the world have helped save the economy, and this holiday season it’s only going to grow. The sex toy industry has lost most of its stigma in recent years - no more do we think of seedy shops in Soho, but nice, easy, anonymous websites. You can even gather the girls together for an Ann Summers party where you can investigate together. All of this means that it’s easier and easier to get your kicks without feeling like you’re doing something wrong, and the people of Britain have embraced this chance. We’ve all seen Fifty Shades of Grey lying on the neighbour’s coffee table, or glimpsed it over the shoulder of a woman on the bus -

we aren’t ashamed any more. The ever so British age of repression has begun to die out, which means that now is the time to embrace

what you, as a unique individual, desire. It may even be the time to introduce your mother to the shady franchise, if she hasn’t already

done so. Remember, your country needs you, so when you’re stuck for gift ideas this Christmas, think ‘maybe she’d like a jiggle-ball’.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, can’t wait for Christian Grey to unload his sack. Image by Newspaper Comment Editor, Jamie Ovens.

8

Editorial

the short question is: is the world ‘heightist’? Laura Ricchetti Website Features Editor ON a packed train a few weeks ago, I had the misfortune of having to stand for the duration of the journey due to lack of available seats. I was in that overly awkward situation of close proximity where you pray that the person next to you doesn’t start eating that apple in their hand, and silently will the boy with the headphones to turn his booming dubstep down. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind standing up. I’m not pregnant, disabled or elderly, therefore do not have any greater entitlement to the seat than the tired-looking businessman already sitting there (although I think I do have slightly more of an entitlement than the briefcase occupying the seat next to him, just saying - train etiquette people, please). I am significantly vertically challenged. Therefore, when all 5ft 1 and a half of me (yes, a half, every millimetre counts you know) are

wedged in this suited sandwich, the generic bad experience is, ironically, heightened. The worst consequence of this is definitely that my nose always seems to fall directly in proportion with another standing passenger’s armpit. This is particularly unpleasant during the return rush-hour journey, as it appears modern day increased work stress levels equals

bad news for a short standee’s sniffer. Whilst the train lurched to and fro, I attempted an upward reach of the overhead railing to steady my footing and avoid an unfortunate stagger further into the depths of body-odour-and-beyond, yet found myself hopelessly flapping in thin air. Oh dear. I was about two inches too short to reach the railing. This, to me, seemed wildly unjust.

It’s not as if short people of the world don’t have enough sizerelated struggles: the necessity of having to take up the hem on every new pair of trousers, the lack of ability to buy anything above the fifth shelf in the supermarket, and the dreaded approach to the height -restricted theme park rides are things the rest of you will simply never understand. It seems the petite population

are dealt the (literal) short straw from birth, and continue to be plagued with it as we power walk/ jog through life to keep up with our lucky longer-limbed companions. In a world where discrimination is a dirty word, and public facilities are tailored to suit every last possible eventuality (I’m pretty sure there is a genuine petition to get ‘Jedi’ as a religious option on the next Government census), it seems there is no reason for this oversight by National Rail’s engineering department. Unless it was a literal oversight of their tiny overhead railing tester, which does not make the mishap any more acceptable. So what is the solution? Jump to grab the railing and spend the duration of the journey with my feet dangling two inches above the ground? Or should I attempt to use my height to my advantage and duck and dive through the crowds to nab the precious seats first? What about when it’s rush hour? Do I crawl through the legs of other passengers? Frankly, this seems like a lot of effort - with all these Qui-Gon Jinnstyle antics I might find some use for that Jedi tick box.

asvs: students don’t care about politics Matt Gilley Newspaper News STUDENTS don’t care about student politics. That’s what the recent ASVs tell us. Turnout was a mere 1644, or about 8% of students at the University. 92% either didn’t know about it, didn’t care enough, or felt too uninformed to vote. The Union may reply that this was a good turnout; four times as many as voted in the last ASV, which is particularly impressive since this is only the second time ASVs have taken place. Indeed, the increase is commendable, but four times 2% is still only 8%. Perhaps this fits into the wave of political apathy sweeping the country. At the recent Police and Crime Commissioner elections national turnout was less than 15%, while at the latest by-elections the highest turnout was 33% in Rotherham. At the former, many spoiled their ballots to register their disinterest in or disapproval of the elections; at the latter, many voted for UKIP, largely seen as a protest vote registering disappointment in the governing parties. Similarly, the number of abstentions in the ASVs was

remarkably high, suggesting that voters either wanted to register the fact that they didn’t care, didn’t feel they knew enough to make a decision, had no opinion either way, or had come for one specific ASV (or a few specific ASVs) and were abstaining from the rest. None of these are particularly promising for the health of student democracy, although at least those who abstained made the effort to vote at all. And 15%, a record peacetime low in a national election, is still nearly double 8%. Not everything was that grim though. The ASVs did produce some lively debates, mostly about BAE and

whether they should be banned from campus. That debate then morphed into one about what role the Union should play in students’ lives and whether/how they should make moral decisions. Hopefully the increased interest in student democracy rubs off on people, because student politics is important and questioning the Union’s role and actions is exactly what we should be doing. University is more than just a springboard, or a kind of educational staging area that you leave as quickly as possible for employment. The majority of students are here

for at least three years, which is a long time to be in a holding pen. In that time, student politics has a lot of influence over your experience. Through course reps it makes a difference to how and what you learn, which is the very reason people are at university in the first place, to learn. It influences the facilities on campus, the shop, the advice centre and whether there’s going to be a shiny new Union building with workspace, socialising space and space for societies. To take some examples from the ASVs, it influences which employers you have access to on campus, what you can buy in

essentials and what you can hear from outside speakers. Something will happen about all of those issues even if you don’t get involved, of course. But the beauty of democracy is that you can get involved and you can help make the decisions that have such an impact on three years of your life. For all we know, 92% of students might have thought subsidised printing would be a waste of University money, they just didn’t speak up. At the moment, student politics is populated too much by an exclusive minority. At the Democracy Zones, from which the ASVs came, there were too few people not in some Union position or course reps, and even fewer freshers, despite the increased participation from last time they were run. At events like presentations/ discussions on the new library, attendance can be even worse. It might sound like a paradox, but people who have a particular interest in politics (of which I am one) should not be overrepresented in politics, they are not necessarily the most representative of people. To stop us from imposing our politicised will on the rest of you, you’re going to have to come and get involved. Or just vote.

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Christmas Edition

IQ Features 11

Stephanie KTV Events Manager

InQuire letters page

The Christmas holidays: the best time of year to kick back, relax and spoil yourself. It’s the best excuse to enjoy those delicious turkey dinners, mince pies and chocolate treats, all guilt free (it’s also the reason I’m asking for a gym membership this Christmas). For those working in the medical profession, it’s the start of an influx of patients suffering from food poisoning. Every Christmas since I can remember, media outlets would be littered with enthusiastic presenters with rosy cheeks and a Christmas bobble hat, or a page long article, reminding me of Christmas time food poisoning. There always seems to be this long line of people pre-scolding us for not cooking the turkey correctly. So why do we still see so many cases for food poisoning over Christmas time? Is the media really covering such an important issue as well as they can do? Or are people just not taking the warnings seriously enough? Is it important enough to warrant the time of media outlets? Really we have to ask ourselves,

Steve English Literature Student About this time last year I started looking for a house. I decided to get a house with four guys and when we were looking around town, one of our housemates was

do we realise how easy it is to get ill with food poisoning? And do we understand what food poisoning is? Over Christmas time it’s usually foods such as chicken and other poultry that cause illness. This is usually because they have been undercooked or have not been defrosted properly before cooking. Individuals become infected with salmonella from chicken and campylobacter from other poultry within 1-4 days of eating the infected food. Bad start to Christmas, check. Surely as long as you cook it at a high enough temperature, the microbes will die and it’s carol singing all the way, right? Unfortunately, no. Microbes don’t need to be alive to make you sick, thanks guys. It’s just their active toxins.

It’s so easy to make this mistake. Hot tips: allow at least twenty-four hours for defrosting, Make sure it’s cooked all the way through and follow the cooking instructions. So I want to join the countless media outlets who rightly are asking you to take care and have a fantastic holiday, stay safe. being consistently unreliable. He would always say that he was going to come to viewings, and then wouldn’t turn up. It would have seemed normal except it happened on quite a few occasions.

Kara Stubbs LGBT Women’s Officer

The NHS has a duty of care under the constitution of its establishment and for transgender or trans people it is failing in that. Gender Identity Clinics (GIC) are bureaucratic, authoritarian and paternalistic in their treatment of trans people. It can take up to a year to be seen by a specifically trained counsellor. Trans people have the highest suicide rates in the entire population, a 2010 report put the number of attempted suicides at 41% of the transgender population. The only known treatment for this gender dysphoria, is gender reassignment. For students at Kent this can be an even bigger issue, a student who is an urgent priority patient due to their dysphoria cannot be seen by the GIC because of a funding issue with the Medway PCT after being referred two years ago. Research supports this, with transgender students being one of the most likely groups to take a year out from their degrees or even drop out all together. For those who manage to get We were so desperate to settle on a house that we actually paid the £500 deposit for him when we had found a nice place. It only took him two whole months to pay us back. The real problem came when, about two days before we all moved in to the house, we received

to the GIC, it can be a struggle, with far too short appointments at inconvenient times and many months apart, in addition to psychologists that seem to have little empathy for their situations. Another student at Kent cannot get surgery done this summer due to not being assessed as being sure enough of her decision, meaning that it will be another year until she can alleviate her dysphoria. Research by the Scottish trans alliance reported that 87% of trans people are satisfied with their transition under the current NHS system. 62% however, said that they were mentally distressed or emotionally worried about their mental health at GIC appointments. One patient said: “I left the GIC on that day and sat in the car crying for over an hour. I decided there and then never to go back”. More and more people are going through the private system because they do not want to deal with the bureaucracy of the NHS. One student, Jamie, has gone private as they identify other than male or female: “I was already depressed and jumping through pathway hoops seemed like a bad an email from our landlord saying that we owed them money, and that if we didn’t pay we wouldn’t be allowed the keys. We had to cough up the cash ourselves so we could actually move in. Our wayward housemate has only just paid the money now, three months

idea. I would feel pressured about my non-binary identity.” Ria Cooper’s case (referred to by her birth-name in the article) has been misreported, she is lacking support from her family, particularly in that her father is no longer in contact with her. Many trans people take time to think about their transitions at some point, often before irreversible surgery. But that is no reason to further restrict access to treatment, especially when 90% of trans people are happy with their surgical interventions. The current system is not planned around the needs of trans people, there aren’t a huge number of options and one system does not fit all. From the point at which the patient asks for a referral, to the GIC, to when they decide to be discharged from it, they should be treated with respect, be informed about their decisions and allowed to live their lives. Not at the whim of a psychologist that has only seen them for two hours in the last year. This letter is a rebuttal of the comment article written by David Stibbards in issue 8.7 of InQuire. later, which by this time had amounted to £1,200, including late fees. I would just warn anyone choosing housemates to steer clear of liars. It seems easy enough, but it can be difficult to tell...

CHRISTMAS PUZZLES! SANTA TREE GARLAND LIGHTS BAUBLE ANGELS CAROLS NATIVITY TURKEY CHRISTMAS Just to say once again, from all of us at InQuire, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas break, and Happy New Year! Nat Tipping Newspaper Features Editor

Hard

12

IQ Features

my best and worst christmas presents

Sonia Boora

Christmas is just around the

corner and people are writing their wish lists. Some organised people may have already bought their presents. The present buying period is always the most difficult time as we are so unsure what to get our friends or relatives, and stocks begin to run low. It’s always a wonder how someone buys you something you love. I’ve had some presents I didn’t like or was disappointed with, but there has never been a completely bad present… well maybe just one or two. I’ve always made use of the Christmas gifts I’ve received, but there have been a few brilliant presents. This includes my first ever pink Game Boy which I used to play Super Mario Brothers and fell completely in love. I loved my PSP, I didn’t have my own laptop then so it was hard to stay on the computer for hours when I had a sibling to share with, so having my own PSP with internet made it one of the best presents I could have asked for. Then there was my first ever mobile phone; I was in high school and most people already had theirs, so I was so excited to show it off to my friends and own one. Although I’ve had a few good presents, I can’t forget those silly presents I had to lie about liking. There’s been a few I would rather have not received just because they were so pointless. For example, a couple of years back I received some pyjama bottoms and clothes I just didn’t need. Although I appreciated being bought them, I was more interested in receiving an iPod or something technological- I was growing up and had much more of an interest in the gifts which were popular on the market. There are times when I feel sorry for the people buying the presents because sometimes even I don’t know what I actually want and it’s usually expensive gifts, but it’s the thought that counts! It’s easy to judge on the best and worst presents I have ever got, but I’m pretty sure there must be some bad presents I may have bought my friends and family. Being a student isn’t so easy and the financial balance that comes with the lovely student life does not help when it comes to Christmas shopping. You either get lucky with the sales or end up doing some last-minute bidding on Ebay!

inquirers: my life in books What’s the best book you read as a child? The best book you were forced to read at school but loved? The book you read during those turbulent teenage times? Julie Peppiatt and Charlotte Duff share their favourites with us... Julie Peppiatt

Best childhood book: Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson

Racial prejudice was never an issue that I encountered at 13, but I didn’t need to have first-hand experience to understand the teachings of this novel.

When I was younger I loved Jacqueline Wilson. She wasn’t afraid to bring darker issues to innocent minds and Lola Rose is no exception.

Also this was not the only plot line, a typical Romeo and Juliet love story also composed the narrative which made this my perfect teen reading.

I first read this book at about 11 years old, attempting to empathise with a child who, like Wilson’s other characters, had parental issues.

Book that I had to study but ended up loving: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Lola has a violent father, a mother who is less adult than herself and no-one to turn to. The problems she has to grapple with far surpassed anything I knew at 11 and my curiosity made me love it

Best Teen Book: Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman Blackman’s series is creative writing that I found exquisite in my teens, it switches the roles of race to make implicit comments about racial equality.

During my A Levels, for some strange but miraculous reason I never studied any classic texts for English, instead, I studied the Kite Runner. I treasured this novel from the very beginning. It tells the story of Amir, a young boy living in Afghanistan; of his friendships, his relationships and his future prospects in a country of war. This book has a more expansive narrative than the books I had read in my youth. Amir’s voice is eloquent and delicate despite his brash, boyish nature.

Charlotte Duff

Best Childhood Book: The

I fell in love with his character and the way he lived his life.

Book for travelling nostalgia: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts Anyone that knows me knows that I have travelled to India. It’s my favourite country, no questions asked. Shantaram is an embellished true story of an Australian convict, who escaped from prison and fled to India; but the character’s back story matters little. This book is my absolute favourite as it captures the true essence of India. I only visited India for one month, Lindsay (the protagonist), lives out ten years in Mumbai. Believe me, you want to live every second with him. From hotel rooms to the slums, each acquaintance is unique, each experience is mind blowing and each tale is heartfelt. I have never found a book better than this in all of my twenty years, and neither will you.

Marigold, and her daughters Star and Dolphin.

Without doubt, this is my favourite children’s book.

Teenage Star is troubled and embarrassed by her mother, whilst the younger Dolphin idolises her and loves her collection of colourful tattoos.

I remember my mum reading it to me almost every night; and even now when I see it in bookshops, I’m reminded of being little.

The book follows the two girls as they try to get to grips with their mother’s illness and alcoholism as she is sectioned.

If you aren’t familiar with the story, it is quite simple.

I think what I love most about this book is seeing it through the young and impressionable Dolphin.

Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The book follows a caterpillar as it eats its way through different foods, before transforming into a butterfly. I think the illustrations are the most special thing about this book. They’re so vivid and bright.

Best Book of my Teen Years: The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson I can’t really remember when I started reading Jacqueline Wilson, probably a little before becoming a teenager. So, for now, we’ll call this the best book of my pre-teen years. It concerns the tangled life of heavily tattooed and mentally-ill

She can’t bear to be without her mum, even when Marigold becomes snappy and irritable as a result of her alcoholism.

Book I Learned The Most From: The Color Purple by Alice Walker This book gives me something new each time I read it. Set in Georgia, the story focuses on the lives of black women in the 1930s. It is quite hard to condense this novel into a synopsis as it is so vast. The protagonist, Celie, writes

letters to God to tell him of her deepest feelings and emotions, and of her horrifying experiences and all that she endures. The novel deals with the themes of racism, sexism, oppression, God and notions of freedom. This really is such a beautifully written novel; yet Celie’s tale truly is one of tragic heartbreak and sorrow. I cried. A lot.

Best School Required Reading: The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald I absolutely adore this book! Set in the roaring twenties, this really is one of the great American novels. Wealth and status drive the action of this book, but whilst this may seem frivolous, it is the money and grandeur that ultimately destroys the characters. The shallow yet beautiful Daisy, the arrogant yet rich Tom, and the strange millionaire Jay Gatsby. Make no mistake though, this book is wonderfully written and a great source of escapism.

IQ Features 13

spotted! the snow ball @ the venue

& events The Venue Saturday 8 December SOAP!: Santa Tuesday 11 December FLIRT!: Festive Frolic

The Attic Friday 7 December Addicted to Bass Thursday 13 December Your Music; Rock Special

Woody’s Friday 7 December Live Music Night Saturday 8 December Quiz Night Monday 10 December Pool Competition Tuesday 11 December Gourmet Burger Night Thursday 13 December Karaoke Night

Rutherford Bar Friday 7 December FRENZY Thursday 13 December Curry Night

14

IQ Features

edible gifts for christmas

Sometimes it’s more personal to make someone something for Christmas. Instead of the usual panicking about what to get people, add a personal touch and cook them something. After all, one of the best things about Christmas is stuffing your face! Katrina Toutoudaki and IQ Editor Chandni Makhecha share some recipes...

Candycane Iced Brownies

Double Chocolate Fudge Squares

What To Buy

What To Buy

185g butter

350g plain chocolate

185g dark chocolate

175g white chocolate

85g flour

1 400g condensed milk tin

40g cocoa powder

2tsp vanilla extract

3 large eggs 275g golden caster sugar

2tsp peppermint or orange extract (optional)

225g icing sugar

What To Do

3 candycanes

What To Do 1. Put small pieces of butter and chocolate into a bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan filled with simmering water on a low temperature and stir ingredients until melted and combined.

1. In a saucepan melt 2/3 of the can of condensed milk with the plain chocolate and vanilla extract and stir until smooth. 2. Once ready, spread 2/3 of the mixture over the bottom of a 20cm

baking tin lined with parchment paper. Leave it to set whilst you prepare the white chocolate layer. 3. In a saucepan melt together the white chocolate with 1/3 of the condensed milk. Add any flavourings or food colouring if using. 4. Layer the white chocolate fudge on top of the chocolate layer and top it with 1/3 of the chocolate fudge. Finish off by gently swirling the top two layers with a knife to create to create contrasting streaks. 5. Leave to set for an hour and cut into squares.

Chocolate Truffles

What To Buy 300g milk/dark chocolate 300ml double cream Suggested toppings White chocolate sprinkling stars Cocoa powder Dessicated coconut Ground pistachios

What To Do 1. Melt the chocolate in a small bowl set over a pan of boiling water. 2. In another saucepan, heat the cream until almost boiling, then add to the melted chocolate and keep stirring until smooth. The

trick here is to stir for at least ten minutes to get the inside truffle as creamy as possible. 3. Chill in the fridge until firm enough to roll (around 4 hours). 4. Once chilled, roll between your palms to make small truffle-size balls. 5. When shaped, coat your truffles with selected toppings. Put toppings into individuals bowls and gently roll the truffles until evenly coated, then lay them on greaseproof paper. 6. Place on a baking tray and chill for about 3 days. As a gift, place 7-10 truffles in a small see through cellophane bag and wrap around the top with a ribbon.

Leave the mixture to cool at room temperature. 2. Preheat the oven to fan 160C and line a 20cm tin with baking parchment. 3. Tip the flour and cocoa into a sieve and shake over a bowl to combine. 4. Break the eggs into a large bowl and tip in the sugar. Beat together until pale and doubled in volume. 5. Pour the chocolate mixture over the eggy mousse and gently fold with a spatula.

christmas traditions from around the world

6. Sieve the dry ingredients over the mixture and keep folding until smooth. 7. Finally, spread the mixture into the prepared tin and bake. After 25 minutes check the cake by shaking the tin lightly. If the middle wobbles, bake for another 3-5 minutes. 8. To decorate combine icing sugar and water. Spread the sugary paste over the cake and leave it to set. Once set cut the cake into squares and garnish each square with candycane pieces.

Jordan Cook

Photography by Katrina Toutoudaki

Christmas is the time for traditions: almost every family has them, normal or otherwise. Christmas pudding seems a completely normal tradition until you’re the one chewing on a sixpence, but if you think recipes involving small change are about as strange as it gets, you’re very much mistaken. I’m sure we’re all familiar with the Nativity story: Mary, Joseph, Kings and Shepherds, the baby Jesus…not to mention the man defacating in the corner.

Congratulations to RaG who raised £2673.13 with their Movember Fundraising campaign!

Oh, haven’t heard of that one? Well, it’s a tradition in Spain to have a figurine of this ‘El Caganer’ or ‘the Great Defecator’ among the other well-known characters of the nativity, to promote a good harvest for times to come. Now, I’m sure everyone is used to having to visit their families for Christmas, but usually they’re all alive and kicking. In Finland, it’s customary to visit a cemetery, not only visiting their living relatives

but remembering deceased ones too. Whilst visiting your entire family, it’s customary to sit down to a huge Christmas feast: turkey, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts – the works. Unless you’re in Japan of course; then you can look forward to the crème de la crème of Christmas cuisine: KFC – make sure to make reservations! Or if you happen to be in California you can look forward to 24-hour television coverage of a burning yule log - who needs real fireplaces these days anyway? On the other hand, if you were to visit a Norwegian family this Christmas, I’d advise being extra neat as it’s pretty likely you won’t be able to find a broom: legend states that on Christmas Eve witches would come looking for brooms to ride, so it became traditional to hide them. It just goes to show that no matter where you are in the world, Christmas really does bring out the quirks and eccentricities in everyone.

IQ Features 15

give your nails some xmas decoration Rebecca Jackson

It’s party season! We’ve waited patiently all year round for it and now, finally, Christmas is fast approaching. It’s all about the glitter, sparkle and shine, and where better to show off your Christmas spirit than on your nails. Plus with all the deadlines and exams soon to be a distant memory, Christmas seems the perfect excuse to treat yourself. If you prefer simpler block colours, here are the best ones for Christmas, all of which are available on the high street:

Barry M’s Emerald Green (£2.99)

This luxurious shade of dark forest green creates a quirky and eye catching alternative to the classic Christmas shades of red, gold and silver. The metallic gleam has a slightly gold tint to it, giving it that extra Christmas twist, which is gorgeous.

The bargain price is also a huge bonus, meaning you can still treat your nails to it, even after buying everyone’s presents.

so no annoying dints and bubbles, and is rated strongly for its resistance to all the trauma we put our nails through.

Essie’s Russian Roulette (£7.99)

Model Own’s Gold from the Mirror Ball collection (£5.00)

If you’re not a fan of sheen

and sparkle but still want a bold Christmas shade, this is the nail polish for you.

As soon as I saw this shade advertised online, it became a must buy.

It’s a fabulously rich cherry red, full of pigmentation so you don’t have to put on a ridiculous amount of layers to get the shade you want.

The Mirror Ball collection is just lush!

The different pieces of gold glitter go on brilliantly, giving a great shimmering coverage, and for that real Christmas themed bonus there are tiny dots of green glitter mixed in. This looks amazing on top of a black or red base coat.

These shades will have you feeling Christmassy in no time. If you want to experiment more, you could always try something like the picture shown below...

Essie is a renowned nail brand from New York, so their nail polishes are well worth the investment for high quality.

Model Own’s Juicy Jules (£5.00)

This is a stunning shade of silver. With its light reflecting shine, it catches the tiniest specks of a mix of colours from blue to red, giving it that Christmas glisten in such an elegant and classic way. It goes on incredibly smoothly,

inquire’s festive fashion picks Megan Weal

Adored by stars such as Kim

Kardashian, leather trousers are the staple piece this Christmas. But don’t be alarmed! The thought of tight leather trousers might fill you with dread, but the versatility of them means that they can be worn for almost any occasion and the tight, tailored fit is sure to highlight your assets without flaunting your postsummer, tan-fading pins!

freeze whilst queuing! The studded belt draws in the waist, ticking off another winter 2012 trend in the process, and ties the whole outfit together. The stud details mean that jewellery should be kept to a minimum and hair should be

Casual Teaming the trousers with an oversized, sparkle-shot jumper will immediately start giving you that glitzy Christmas feeling without a glitter overhaul!

kept simple. Set the outfit off with a deep red lip and a statement glitter heel. Work For a smart but sexy look, wear the trousers with a basic black vest and make a statement with a Cobalt blue blazer.

Cinch in the waist with a statement belt for an ultrafeminine silhouette and embrace a hair and makeup look similar to Lana Del Rey with winged eyeliner and a backcombed ponytail. Nothing says sexy and professional like simple bold statements.

Peplum Top £21.99 Studded Belt £3.99 Both New Look Studded Bag £6 Primark

Amelia Bundred Alexander Wang has been named as the new creative director at Balenciaga. Wang is replacing French designer Nicolas Ghesquiere after a 15 year run. This comes as a surprise after rumours that Christopher Kane was to take over, but these rumours were immediately denied by Kane himself. This marks a huge success for Wang after only completing design school in 2005 and then interning at Teen Vogue; whilst his edgy and androgynous label is now sought worldwide. J.W Anderson is set to design a collection for Versus, Versace. Donatella Versace announced that the Versus collection would be young and trendy and so the up and coming Anderson is a perfect choice. Anderson’s opening collections for Topshop sold out and Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe and Pixie Geldof, to name a few, have announced themselves as big fans. ASOS have upped their market share by purchasing 30% of online shares of luxury vintage website Covetique. ASOS is mostly recognised for high street brands, whilst Covetique resells pieces from McQueen, Chanel, Prada and Gucci. Marie Claire’s ‘Catwalk Copies’ are perfect for finding some great designer replicas on the high street. Below is a pearl Balmain suit jacket, costing over £7, 000, which Zara sell a copy of for only £139!

Enhance the simplicity of this look with black boots and an oversized bag. A collar effect necklace will provide a girly alternative to the androgynous collar circulating around Autumn/Winter 2012. Finish off the look with a messy, doughnut bun and neutral makeup to provide a look oozing both comfort and effortless panache. A Night on the Tiles Whether hitting a Sparkle club or a pub you’ll Shot Jumper be sure to wow in this outfit. £14.99 H&M A high peplumBoots £18 Primark waisted stud Necklace £4.99 effect top will H&M ooze sexiness and sophistication whilst ensuring that you won’t

the fashion round up

Vest £1.99 Belt £3 Blazer £19 Boots £18 All Primark

16

IQ Entertainment

Music

magnets at beercart arms

albums in brief Raveonettes – Wishing You a Rave Christmas

Magnets performing at The Ballroom. To purchase their single visit http://somethingsomethingrecords.bandcamp.com/

Chad Greggor Newspaper Entertainment Editor

Having earlier seen Magnets at a

free gig at Casey’s in Canterbury, I jumped at the chance to attend their single launch at The Beercart Arms on Monday the 26th November. The night also played host to one-man band Minor Planet and shoe-gaze, bearded enthusiasts Cosmic Thoughts. Minor Planet, Daniel Addison’s one-man project, opened the show with an ingenious use of loop pedals that involved the crinkling of an envelope to create a quality beat. Minor Planet’s melancholy finger-picked songs rose high above the noise of the bar, while he crooned over the top with

a depressed, sombre voice. Each song ended in a layered ‘castrophony’ of noise, with Minor Planet adding loop after loop of sound. He made the crowd laugh with a series of almost unrecognizable covers, one being Heart’s Alone, and another Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me a River. Truly a man of varied influence. The easiest way to describe his performance would be as an innovative Ed Sheeran on a sustained dose of acid. Cosmic Thoughts were next on the bill. It might have been because I was in a bad mood from just paying £3.70 for a whisky and coke, but I was disappointed with this band. They were enthusiastic, but their performance was shakey at best,

and they seemed to be having more fun than the audience. The songs also seemed to be made more of noise than substance, a criticism which is applied to a lot of fuzzy shoegaze bands. Luckily Magnets soon took to the stage to save the day. This band is the epitome of the term ‘wall of noise.’ Simply imagine your ears covered with really furry ear-muffs, then, imagine those ear muffs were made up of distorted electric guitar sound rather than whatever the hell ear-muffs are made of (probably some kind of animal). Or imagine falling into a wall of fur like the one in Get Him to the Greek. It was this feeling of warm, powerful distorted guitar that resided over Magnets’ songs.

They played their new singles, Ghosting and Doe, with a strange combination of poignancy and excitement. Their song structure is conventional with just the right amount of innovation. Each instrumentalist in the band played a key part, and it was particularly refreshing to see the bass player become so essential. As you can imagine, the window shattering sound of fuzz which can be created in a live setting is difficult to produce on an album. I was a bit disappointed when listening to the singles at home. Nevertheless, Magnets are an excellent band, and The Beercart Arms has certainly cemented itself as a great venue for gigs.

review: everything everything, arc InQuire have received a pre-release stream of Everything Everything’s new album: Arc, set to be released in January 2013. Figaro Montgomery reviews... first single from the album, Cough Cough, opens with a fragmented, halting verse which slowly settles into a syncopated beat. Soon, however, you find yourself spiralling out of control in some sort of synth solo. The contrast is jarring, but becomes a good bit of fun after a few listens.

After their initial success with

Man Alive in 2010, they have returned with something of a similar vein. Jonathan Higgs distinctive falsetto over synths and complicated, energetic rhythms can seem almost suffocatingly quirky, but I liked the first album, and so did a lot of other musiclovers who understood Everything Everything’s attempts to do

something different with British Indie. It is a trend proudly carried through by the likes of Two Door Cinema Club and Bombay Bicycle Club (all three bands also have multi-syllabic names which take a long time to say). That’s not to say that Everything Everything are everyone’s cup of tea, though. The band is an acquired taste. Their

The album retains some of this quirky energy with Kemosabe, which will have you involuntarily singing the rather annoying refrain ‘I’m at the border.’ The third track on the album, Torso of the Week, seems to delve into the serious problem of image obsession with satirical mirth. It’s a brilliant example of Everything Everything’s lyrics: something which you actually want to go back and listen to again. Unfortunately the album takes a bit of a wrong turn for the following few tracks, some of which are almost too boring to mention. There seems to be a loss

of energy with the songs Duet, Arc, and The House is Dust. Everything Everything surprised me here, I know them as punchy, lyrically satirical indie-rock, but these tracks just seemed a bit wet. The album picks up again with Radiant, a strangely wonderful and melancholy song. The Peaks is an uncharacteristically stark ballad, and the final track Don’t Try ends on a promising, upbeat note (despite the lyrics and name of the song, which are kind of depressing). It’s great to see that Everything Everything are trying something a bit different, but I feel they’ve lost a lot of energy in the process. I miss the quirkiness and sarcasm of their earlier stuff – does that make me a hipster? Arc unfortunately has nothing on their first album and is a bit of a disappointment for a band of this calibre.

The Raveonettes Christmas EP does have the ubiquitous jingle bells and glockenspiel, but it’s lighter on the kitsch and twee than many a festive indie album. There are synths, there are Sharin Foo’s vocals, there are tales of seasonal melancholy. One for the lazy nights in rather than your hopping Christmas bash (although Come On Santa does offer some opportunities to shake it - slowly). Doug Thompson

She & Him – A Very She & Him Christmas I like She & Him. I do. I’ve loved M Ward’s music for a long time, and I refuse to listen to all the sensible reasons people have for finding Zooey Deschanel annoying. Their Christmas offering has all the kitsch, retro appeal you could wish for, and some of the tracks are genuinely pleasing; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is gorgeous, velvety and understated. The whole album in one go, though, is likely to result in twee overload that will send you crazy at the faintest tinkling of a silver bell. Harriet Cash

Björk Bastards Okay, this isn’t a Christmas themed album. It’s a remix album of Björk’s Biophilia (2011), on which she sets loose the likes of Death Grips, These New Puritans, and 16-bit. While a remix album will never be as good as the original, this comes damn close. It’s a refreshing take on Biophilia, and perfectly epitomises Björk’s eclectic inspiration and style. Chad Greggor

Michael Bublé Christmas This year, Michael Bublé releases the same album, with the same cover, and one extra track. For those who don’t have the album yet, this is great! We all love a bit of Bublé. Harry White

IQ Entertainment 17

film, games & tv

christmas film classics Jonathan Easton

I have a tradition each year where I watch The Nightmare Before Christmas twice. The first time I watch it is Halloween and the second is Christmas Eve. These two viewings act as bookends for my Christmas viewings. It might be a bit excessive to start Christmas on the 1st of November but it never hurts to whip out an oversized jumper a little early. Either way there are a lot of Christmas films out there so in compiling a list of my favourite classics I’ve tried to cater for everybody. Bear that in mind with my frankly peculiar choices. Elf Elf makes about as much sense as spaghetti and maple syrup with

toppings of M&Ms. The film sees Will Ferrell’s Buddy take a journey from his home at the North Pole to seek out his father (James Caan) in New York. Naturally along the way he falls in love with Zooey Deschanel, before she was the cooky, indie it-girl might I add. The film is lacking in some areas but more than makes up for it in classic moments; “SANTA!? OH MY GOD! Santa, here!? I know him!” Love Actually

Martin Freeman is a pornstar. What more could you want? Okay, how does Bill Nighy butchering Wet, Wet, Wet while singing “I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes/ Christmas is all around me, so come on and let it snow” sound? What should be a mess of a celebrity role call has become one of the most enduring Christmas films over the past years. It is as equally heart-

Stephanie Ashenden KTV Events Manager

warming with the relationship between Keira Knightley and Andrew Lincoln’s characters as it is heart-wrenching between Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson. Die Hard Not one person has managed to convince me that this beast of a film isn’t a Christmas movie. The setup is quintessentially Christmas: the office holiday party that gets invaded by unexpected guests. Okay, so the guests are terrorists but, as Alan Rickman’s brilliant Hans Gruber, states: “and Alexander wept for there were no more worlds left to conquer.” I defy anyone to not feel a warm tingling in their heart when presented with a corpse wearing a jumper that reads: “Now I have a machine gun, ho-ho-ho.” It’s a Wonderful Life This old chestnut never seems to go away. It is a wonderfully made film with a terrific performance

at the centre from James Stewart. Ultimately though I feel that it is probably a tad too heavy for your average family on Christmas morning: the tale of a man who wishes he was never born only to be shown what the world would be like without him. It’s upbeat at the end but it’s hardly a romp. The Christmas Toy Perhaps a slightly more obscure inclusion given that The Muppet Christmas Carol is undoubtedly a great choice. I however will always fight the case for the story of Rugby Tiger and his fear of being the forgotten toy. It’s a dark and short masterpiece from the Jim Henson Company that is often overlooked. If you needed any more convincing, this idea of toys coming to life when their owners leave the room pre-dates Pixar’s Toy Story by some 10 years. (Also from a slightly more sentimental perspective it’s my mum’s favourite).

halo 4 review: it’s not over yet Max Daniels

Looks like you didn’t finish the fight after all...

The Halo series has become part of our generation’s culture. Even if you have never played them you will know about them, hell, even my mother knows about them. Now, over 10 years after the initial Halo game, the Master Chief returns to face his biggest challenge yet. After the events of Halo 3 (sorry, spoilers), John 117, the Master Chief, is stranded in space following a cataclysmic explosion. He has remained in hibernation for four years until the Storm Covenant – an alien race intent on destroying mankind, board the wrecked vessel and Cortana – John’s trusty AI sidekick – wakes the hero from his frozen slumber. Before long you find yourself on an ancient planet named Requiem and fighting frightening half-robot half-humans called Prometheans. After the initial ‘where the hell am I?’ you accidently awaken an

evil being – The Diadact – who is intent on destroying mankind.

especially when you land on Requiem.

The developers have given a bit more of a plot to Halo 4 compared to the previous games so that this game is a good lead into the wider universe beyond the simple ‘run around and kill weird looking space goblins.’

From the start, you face a lot of enemies. On normal difficulty, things are pretty standard as you’d expect, but there will come points when you find yourself scrambling for cover. Depending on the difficulty you will find the usefulness of weapons vary. On normal, the simple iconic battle rifle will suffice. But on Heroic and Legendary you have to utilise all the weapons that you can grab from a simple plasma pistol to a new amazing Promethean Rifle which can drop a guy in one clean

And those space goblins (they’re called Grunts, or Ungoggy in Alien speak – I know, I’m sad) look amazing on screen. The opening cut scene actually confused me as I did not know whether it was computer simulated or real actors. Everything looks beautiful,

pick of the week

shot.

Of course Halo is known for its multiplayer gameplay and this is no different. You have a much more in-depth multiplayer experience from the usual Slayer, CTF and King of the Hill type matches to a brand new mode called Spartan Ops. This is 343 Industries attempt to give you more of a plot with multiplayer and include co-op missions that require you to work as a team. So besides using a tried and tested multiplayer format Halo 4 has branched out into new areas. Downsides? The franchise is reliant upon its multiplayer after the main story is done. There is very little reason to replay the game from scratch – unless you want to try it with a friend or on a higher difficulty. As such, if you’re not a multiplayer sort of person – you may be a bit disheartened once you holster your battle rifle. Halo 4 is a must for any Xbox fan. Just remember: Spartans Never Die... they re-spawn.

It’s nearly Christmas and definitely getting colder. December is the perfect time to go home, snuggle up on the sofa and watch Christmas show reruns. There’s nothing better than having a cup of hot chocolate watching characters embark on Christmas themed tomfoolery, again. These are the episodes that I really can’t wait to watch: Friends - The One With the Holiday Armadillo This isn’t just my favourite Christmas episode, but it’s also my actual favourite episode of Friends throughout the entire series. (Coming in second is Joey teaching dance, Jazz Hands!). In this episode Ross educates his son about Hannukah by dressing up as the Holiday Armadillo. If there is a way to celebrate your holidays this year, it’s definitely with an armadillo, and I for one will be especially sad if there isn’t one to greet me on Christmas morning. Only Fools and Horses Christmas Crackers Of course Only Fools and Horses have to make it in! This is a real classic and I definitely got a feel of the awkward family Christmas: silly sibling squabbles that always seem to happen. It feels more realistic than everything being perfect, especially when someone else is cooking for you and you are secretly beginning to worry if you should have written your will already. Grandad, don’t forget the giblets! Top Gear Specials Okay I know these aren’t strictly repeats but they always create something new to look forward to! I love these guys! They’re always up to no good, getting into all kinds of trouble and still being fairly educational (if you’re into cars). But even if you’re not into cars, the shows are still hilarious. I wish I could see this A great Christmas special would be The Avengers Assemble: Christmas Edition. The film was really fun, particularly the character contact. Stark wouldn’t need presents, but would give Fury a swivel chair. The Hulk would receive stress balls and delicate vases, Captain America would open an Ipad and state that it appears to run on some form of electricity, Thor would get a monkey soft toy and Loki, well he receives coal.

18

IQ Entertainment

theatre & entertainment Events spot highlights Gulbenkian

Holy Motors 7th - 9th December The Master 7th - 12th December A Muppet Christmas Carol 10th, 15th December Tall Stories - The Snow Dragon 11th - 23rd December Great Expectations 14th - 20th December Argo 21st - 23rd December Milton Jones - Work in Progress on the Road 12th January Royal Opera House: La Boheme Bright Shadow Performance Company - Home Sweet Home 19th - 20th January

Canterbury Cathedral Christmas Carol Service 10th December

The Marlowe Theatre Sleeping Beauty 30th November - 20th January 2013

imran yusuf: comedy with heart Joel Tennant

He walked off the stage and stood in front of her, “But you won’t will you?!”

Imran Yusuf plays a risky game. On television, he is a bombastic, energetic Londoner, unafraid of anything in his path – performing live, he’s a lot more.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said returning to the stage, “Vote Imran! He knows how to get world peace! ...Then I’ll be elected and there’ll be Sharia Law! Joke’s on you!”

There is a trend in modern comedy to explore more than just jokes in a performance, in fact, often a large chunk of personal philosophy is built into your ticket price. So, were his monologues on romance, clinical depression and Islam tuned just right to keep everyone laughing?

If there was a comfort zone, we were out of it. But he didn’t tuck us up and look after us, no, he kept going. Previously a sufferer of clinical depression, he recounted lost loves and the feelings of uselessness from a failed career in the games industry. row, he then explained that women therefore held the ability to create world peace. All they had to do was use their ‘assets’ and hypnotize men – and he stared at her in silence. And stared a little longer as a second, and third, wave of laughter came across the theatre.

special to you, whether it is today, tomorrow or ten years down the line, as well as opening your mind to artists and songs you would not generally listen to. Car

Kentrocksoc: Savage Messiah + Wretched Soul + Rezinwolf 13th December

Passing your driving test first would be ideal, but what better motivation than to look outside your window and see a car parked outside your house knowing it is yours and all you have to do is pass a test. A car, any car would be absolutely magical.

Alberry’s Wine Bar No-Wave presents: Blitzkrieg Bop! - A Tribute to The Ramones 7th December

Canterbury Odeon Les Miserables 11th - 17th December The Hobbit 13th - 20th December Life of Pi 21st - 24th December

Everywhere Christmas! 25th December Visit inquirelive.co.uk/ entertainment for updates during the holidays.

To read an interview with Imran Yusuf, please visit inquirelive.co.uk/ entertainment

Attina Zarnani shares some of the things that she wants for Christmas, Eartha Kitt approves...

The Attic

Undercover Treehouse presents Tall Ships + Fish Tank 12th December

At times, it would be minutes of a monologue before a joke. It seemed that Imran Yusuf wanted to do more than just tell jokes, he wanted to share himself and his thoughts. Ending his show telling us about his pilgrimage to Mecca, and even reciting the Qur’an, he thanked

a very entertaining christmas list

Anton and Erin Go To Hollywood 23rd January

The Ballroom

So did he get away with it? Was this up to the standard you expect from a household name in comedy? I still can’t decide. He was genuine and much of what he said was heartfelt to the point at which you’d get a lump in your throat. But it wasn’t an evening of jaw-ache. This was comedy with heart, not rapidfire jokes. Imran Yusuf seems part of the evolution of comedy, where bearing soul on stage is the new extreme. His tour is called Bring the Thunder, his own mantra to overcoming problems, and whatever I expected from him, he didn’t fail to do so.

“If there was a comfort zone, we were out of it. But he didn’t tuck us up and look after us...”

The audience was reserved and Yusuf was definitely going to have to work hard to loosen everything up. He leapt on stage with vigour and childlike excitement. How to crack a quiet audience? A joke about breasts and world peace, of course! “It is amazing the power a cleavage on a man’s face can have,” he proclaimed as he recounted being mesmerized by his female dentist checking how his root canal procedure was going. Cue taking it to the next level. Targeting a girl with her boyfriend in the second

everyone for supporting him and invited all to go meet him outside.

“I’ve been an awful good girl, Santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight”, Eartha Kitt wonderfully sings her Christmas list in the 1953 classic, which is still what most people hope to be wrapped up under the Christmas tree with their name written on it. So Eartha has inspired me to write my own list, which will definitely be under my tree (one day): Glastonbury Tickets Having not been to a festival myself, as I find it very difficult to actually purchase the tickets, it would be wonderful to see an envelope with my name on. Deep down you would be a little disappointed and thinking someone went for the lazy option and just gave you money. Though inside are two tickets to

Glastonbury Festival, coach tickets and all. Theatre Tickets The best presents I find are the ones you will never forget. The theatre is always a wonderful night out, and is something to look forward to once you have opened and are surprisingly already bored of the same Christmas jumper your Grandma buys you every year. Whether it be the theatre, ballet or opera, it would always be a beautiful and different night out. Mixtape Yes, having a top 10 chart album would also be nice but what I find even better is to have someone go through the time and effort to make you a one of a kind playlist of all the songs that remind them of you. It will always mean something

Beats by Dr Dre Music is a great addiction of mine, from the moment I wake up all I want to hear is a beautiful voice mixed in with an epic beat on an amazing sound system. Beats by Dr Dre Beatbox delivers like no other speaker. The base runs deep into your veins which provide a sound. Peep Show Box Set As the new series of Peep Show has recently started on Channel 4, it is a great time to catch up on all previous seven series. Robert Webb and David Mitchell without fail will have one in stitches from the beginning till end. With their great dark sarcasm, this is a great excuse for the whole family to get together on Boxing Day, devouring Turkey leftovers and watching

Mark and Jeremy get themselves in to the most socially awkward situations. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 There’s no reason to go outside, so why not settle in playing Xbox for the remainder of the holidays. Black Ops 2 is just one of the many addictive games available this Christmas and, with the split screen multiplayer, there will be enough (extremely violent) fun for the whole family. Christmas is an expensive time for us all, but what matters the most is that you share this special occasion with your loved ones and appreciate all the wonders you have in this world. Merry Christmas everyone!

IQ Culture

glyndebourne: le nozzi di figaro

Julie Peppiatt

An opera by Mozart and some Italian guy under the name of Da Ponte, first performed in 1786 – sound just a bit out of your comfort zone? The Marlowe Theatre certainly won’t make you feel it. It is a great cultural space with plush red seats and carved wooden design, a vast open space for all artistic interpretation. On 20th November, it presented opera in its best light. Mozart’s composition was directed by the acclaimed Michael Grandage, who returns to lead Glyndebourne, a world renowned opera company currently touring the UK. A tale is told of two servants, Susanna and Figaro, who wish to marry. Unfortunately, Count Almaviva, who has inherited a need to seek revenge against Figaro, also has a desire for Susanna – despite being married himself. Because of this, the servants and his wife conspire to reveal his scheming nature, thus creating a day of madness. It is a tale of confusion, mischief and hilarity. Characters play out their emotion to its extremities;

swapping identities, teasing one another to their wits’ end, and performing scenes of slapstick comedy. My favourite character was Cherubino, the Count’s page. He was played by a woman, who expertly embodied the charisma and physical characteristics of any cheeky young boy of that time. The swapping of gender roles only added to the hilarity of this wellplayed character.

The scenery in the production was the most exquisite that I have ever seen used in the theatre; beautiful Italian construction with delicate patterning and tasteful decoration, all highlighted by perfectly adjusted lighting. The assembly of the mise-en-scène carefully balanced an awareness of time and place with a softness that allowed the hyperbolic narrative to take centre stage. Every actor had a clear definition of their character, holding true to it throughout the show, and they portrayed profound meaning despite the use of a language I knew nothing of.

to interpret the whole plot, this was almost unneeded thanks to the actors’ enthusiasm. Not only was their acting perfectly attuned to their characters’ emotions, but their vocalisations also took on the role of storyteller. Each note was pitch perfect, rolling on from the last and into the next. The ending note by Susanna stood out especially, leaving me in awe as she used her whole body to produce the right power and sound. Their talent as a cast was absolutely astounding and I have never experienced anything like it.

Whether a first experience of opera, or one of many, this was a show for everyone. The audience was made up of every type of person. This interpretation of a most famous opera is one I count myself very lucky to have seen and cannot recommend highly enough. It was a very different experience from any other evening; 1960s dancing was just one of the treats on offer for an unsuspecting audience. Follow the Glyndebourne Company, and expect their next show to be something equally outstanding.

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cultural events calendar 9th Nov-24th Dec: Christmas Exhibition at Margate Gallery 27th Nov-6th Jan: Christmas Treasure Hunt at the Beaney Sat 8th Dec: Christmas Craft & Gift Fair at Friends Meeting House, Canterbury Sat 8th Dec: St Nicholas Parade through Canterbury, live music 10.30am-3pm 8-9th Dec: Christmas Through The Ages, A Dickensian Christmas at Canterbury Heritage Museum 11-13th Dec: The Snow Dragon at Gulbenkian Theatre Thurs 13th Dec: Charles Dickens and Canterbury at the Beaney

The Italian was given some meaning by an overhead screen, giving a gist of the message of each song in English. Although useful

Sat 15th Dec: Jive Hive’s Christmas Ball at King’s Hall, Canterbury

a little history of christmas

t:24: it’s a wonderful life

Sarah Batterton

Jordan Cook

With only two weeks left until Christmas, our biggest winter festival is just around the corner! So, we all know why we celebrate Christmas; the birth of Jesus, Bethlehem, the three wise men, and so on. But do we know why we celebrate in the way we do? From the tree and the turkey, to mistletoe and card-giving, ever wondered where our best loved Christmas traditions come from? Well actually, most of them can be attributed to the Victorians;

Queen Victoria and her husband specifically. Take the Christmas tree, arguably one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas. Although the festive tree dates back to pagan tree-worshipping traditions in Europe, the modern Christmas tree as we know it today was brought to England by German-born Prince Albert. In 1848, the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated fir tree, a tradition that was reminiscent of Prince Albert’s childhood in Germany. Soon every home in Britain had a tree decked with homemade decorations such as fruit, sweets and candles. The Christmas feast has its roots before the Middle Ages, but it was during the Victorian period that the dinner we now associate with Christmas began to take shape. Previously, meats such as beef and goose were the centrepiece of the Christmas dinner. Turkey, however, was favoured by the wealthy, middle class sections of 19th century society, and before

long it had become the fashionable choice. By the late 20th century it was the dominant meat in a traditional Christmas day feast. The ‘official’ Christmas card didn’t come about until the 1840s. It all started with Henry Cole. He commissioned an artist to design a card for Christmas. The image was a joyous and festive one and promptly encouraged people to make their own. The advancement of colour printing technology and the halfpenny postage rate helped the Christmas card industry take off, and in 1880 alone 11.5 million cards were produced. Arguably, these were the beginnings of a commercialised Christmas. Christmas carolling today is a seasonal tradition to wish our neighbours a Merry Christmas in song, but carolling originally had little to do with the festival. Carols of the 12th and 13th centuries were liturgical songs reserved for church processionals. Many of the more popular songs we associate with Christmas— for example, The First Noel and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen — were written during the 19th century. Lastly, the elusive mistletoe. Celtic legend says the plant can bring good luck, heal wounds, increase fertility and ward off evil spirits. The tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe also began in the Victorian era: they believed that a kiss under the mistletoe would lead to marriage.

As a huge fan of It’s a Wonderful Life, I jumped at the chance to see T:24’s stage rendition of the beloved Christmas story. I must admit, I went in with high expectations that I was almost certain wouldn’t be met – how could they be when the film is such a classic? I gracefully admit I was mistaken; despite limitations in terms of space and set, the society did a fantastic job. The show made excellent use of lighting for several scenes. For instance, the alternating spotlights during the conversation between God and Joseph nicely mirrored the image of blinking stars used in the film; not to mention the use of red lighting during one of the more distressing scenes, which did a good job of displaying George’s own feelings of disorientation. Moreover, the director’s use of voiceover and narration helped to move the show along at a good pace, without leaving time for the audience to get bored. Luke Ofield arguably had the hardest job as George Bailey – Jimmy Stewart’s shoes are awfully big ones to fill, and he is one of my personal favourite actors. Nevertheless, he gave it his all, and really had me rooting for the character. He displayed good chemistry with his on-stage wife, Louise Hoare as Mary Hatch, who did an equally good job of filling

the role originally played by the lovely Donna Reed. Saul Lucyzyn seemed to embrace the role of Uncle Billy with charismatic enthusiasm and with him, Oliver Grant as Bert, and Gabi Grandi as Annie, the show was not at a loss for comedy. James Storm did a particularly good job as Clarence, the quirky yet sweet AS2 (Angel, Second Class) waiting to get his wings, especially when deciding what drink to order in Martini’s-turnedNick’s. In my opinion, however the star of the show was Liam Horrigan as the rich but sullen old man, Henry. F. Potter. Although Potter is not the most likable character, it was interesting that I found myself looking forward to the scenes in which he would make an appearance. Both Horrigan’s speech and physical movements were utterly in character and he definitely won over the audience with impeccable comic timing. Overall, the entire cast and crew did a fantastic job of paying homage to Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece. So often these days, directors try to add ‘something new’ to a story and give it an ‘artistic twist’, but perhaps the real genius is knowing when not to, adapting only what is necessary. It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the most beloved stories of all time, and T:24 really did do a wonderful job of performing it to an audience.

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IQ Culture

the alt christmas playlist Fed up of the same old 70s

cheese blaring out of every speaker during the festive season? Don’t despair: below is a Crimble playlist that won’t make you want to chew your own ears off. 1. Jenny O - Get Down for the Holidays 2. The Raveonettes Christmas in Cleveland 3. Low - Just Like Christmas 4. Emmy the Great & Tim Burgess - Sleigh Me 5. Best Coast & Wavves - Got Something For You 6. Regina Spektor - My Dear Acquaintance 7. Summer Camp Christmas Wrapping 8. Little Jackie - Mrs Claus Ain’t Got Nothing On Me 9. The Flaming Lips - A Change at Christmas 10. Bishop Allen You’ll Never Find My Christmas 11. The Wedding Present - Step Into Christmas 12. Ceci Bastida - Un Regálo Para Mí 13. Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas 14. Eleanor Friedberger - Santa, Bring My Baby Back (To Me) 15. Louis Armstrong - Christmas Night in Harlem 16. Slow Club - Christmas Thanks for Nothing 17. KT Tunstall - Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii) 18. XTC - Thanks for Christmas 19. The Boy Least Likely To - Christmas Isn’t Christmas 20. Rufus Wainwright & Sharon van Etten Baby, It’s Cold Outside 21. Melee - (When Is) Hanukkah This Year? Check inquirelive.co.uk or the InQuire Media Group Facebook page to listen to the playlist.

the killing iii: sarah lund is back Rannvá Clementsen

She’s back! BBC4 gives us back our favourite jumper-clad, antiheroic, socially awkward but still brilliant detective, Sarah Lund (Sofie Gråbøl), for a final series of The Killing. The scene is set We reunite with Lund at a time when she is trying to restore some order in her life, attempting (and failing) to pick up the pieces of her broken relationship with her son. She is even applying for a desk job and leaving the detective business for good. Luckily for us, Lund is put on one last case. Not so lucky is the kidnapped 9-year-old Emilie, daughter of the shipping magnate Robert Zeuthen. From the start, Lund is dealing with multiple murders, a kidnapping, powerful businessmen and politicians with a thirst for the limelight. Not to mention the new recruit Juncker, Lund’s latest partner, and her (very handsome and very married) old flame Agent Borch from the Security and Intelligence Service. The series begins at the height of the financial crisis and in the midst of an election. The scene is set. TV about reality With stunning acting and a

masterpiece of a plot, The Killing reflects on the financial crises in all layers of society – from the political point of view with the looming election, to the scarce resources and heavy reforms in the public sector and the effect it has on the average citizen. Even if crisis and powerplay take a leading role in the third series, family, with all its flaws, is the centrepiece. Broken marriages, sparkling love and difficult parentchild relations are eloquently woven into a

story that is actually plausible. Typically Danish, everything is underplayed. No boasting declarations of love or perfect happiness in sight. The Killing tells the story of real issues affecting real people. The plausibility is further strengthened by the settings and characters, which are drawn heavily from the real Denmark. The Zeuthen shipping firm in the series is largely based on the real Danish company A. P. Moeller Maersk, the world’s largest shipping company. It is a well-known Danish urban myth (some say fact) that the company is responsible for producing a considerable

oed word of the year 2012 Tom Hagues

The Oxford English Dictionary has named ‘omnishambles’ as its Word of the Year 2012. It means chaotic and disorganised from every possible perspective. Used by foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker on the BBC’s political satire The Thick of It, the word soon made an appearance in real life politics. Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, used the word in the House of Commons in April of this year to describe the government’s various budget mishaps. The Word of the Year is chosen by lexicographers, usually because it sums up the mood of the country particularly well. Other variations of omnishambles have emerged, with American presidential candidate Mitt Romney suffering the term ‘Romneyshambles’. The OED has announced a new word of the year annually since 1991, and tracking them is an interesting way to see how new words come about in relation to worldwide factors. For instance, during the mid-nineties, technological words began to take over, and the ‘e-’ prefix came into being for ‘e-mail’ and ‘e-card’ – concepts that seem to have been around forever for my generation. ‘app’ and ‘tweet’ have become new additions in recent years, but

words that didn’t make the final cut prove to be equally interesting.

This year we had ‘mummy porn’ (because of 50 Shades of Grey) and ‘pleb’ (thanks to bicyclestraddling posh yob Andrew Mitchell) as the runners up, as well as ‘green-on-blue’, a phrase used to describe supposedly neutral forces attacking military troops, and the verb ‘to medal’ from the Olympics. Also from the Olympics, ‘Games Maker’ and ‘Mobot’ were contenders, the former being the name given to the thousands of volunteers at the summer games, the latter being the nickname of Mo Farah’s victory dance. Politically-rooted ‘eurogeddon’ was also a contender. Technology is a wide source of new words, phrases and terms, and ‘second screening’ was considered this year. Second screening means using two different media at the same time, like watching a film on television whilst simultaneously

using your computer. This could increase with the number of new technological devices being introduced. It might not be long until people begin to third and fourth screen. Difficult, but I’m sure some would manage it.

Connected with technology, social media comes up with little gems every now and then, and this year the acronym ‘yolo’ was considered. An abbreviation of ‘you only live once’, yolo is used when the speaker is about to commit something utterly outrageous, crazy or dangerous. I personally don’t see the need for yolo. ‘Fuck it!’ seems to suffice for me. The words are not guaranteed a place in the actual dictionary. Every now and then, however, we do see a few neologisms included (a recent example being ‘lol’), so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some of this year’s in the pages of the dictionary soon.

amount of Denmark’s GDP.

English viewers may not be shocked by the fact that in the series, Zeuthen is addressed as sir or Mr Zeuthen. In a Danish context, however, such titles are reserved for the Royal Family, only illustrating the status of the shipping company and the power Detective Lund is up against. With scenes filmed in locations such as the Prime Minister’s Office and the parliament building, the series is aired only a year after the real Denmark experienced an intensive, even brutal, election campaign much like the one we see on screen. Offering a snapshot of the real Denmark, The Killing leaves the viewer with a feeling that this could actually happen. This is the true quality of the series and what makes it stand out among the other detective stories we have all seen before. Tune in Already confirmed as the last, the 10-episode third series does not disappoint. Each episode leaves you with new questions and new suspects. The Killing’s original Danish title, Forbrydelsen, actually translates into The Crime. Whether the crime will turn into a killing is yet to be revealed. Tune in on Saturday nights to find out.

THIS WEEK IN... 1955: 7 Dec Clement Attlee resigns as Leader of the Opposition The Labour leader stepped down after much speculation. PM Anthony Eden announced that Attlee was to be made an Earl. 1980: 8 Dec John Lennon shot dead The former Beatle was killed outside his apartment in New York by gunman Mark Chapman. He pleaded guilty and is still serving a life sentence. 1972: 14 Dec Final Apollo mission returns The US lunar explanation programme is brought to an end as the final two Apollo 17 astronauts, Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, return to earth. 2001: 13 Dec Attack on Indian parliament Gunmen break through security at the parliament building in New Delhi, killing 12 people and injuring 22. Three men were convicted and sentenced to death.

IQ Culture

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book review: the art roundup the snake and the condor I Julia Smith

Martin Porritt

Political novels, while always political, tend not to live up very well to the latter half of their name; fiction is just the frilly part to go with all the arguments and facts brought together from the author’s research, and characters are just mouthpieces for ideas and hot topics. There are exceptions. The Snake and the Condor, Robert Southam’s second effort after his debut Aisha’s Jihad, is not one of them. Mawi is a young man seeking justice for his people, the Mapuche tribe. He earns his living shining shoes in Santiago and hoping to bump into a senior politician to whom he can make an appeal. There are various obstacles, the main one being that Chile is under Pinochet’s regime, which doesn’t care about injustices against the indigenous population. At this point we meet Franco Reyes, Minister of the Interior. We are left in no doubt that he is a villain: while Mawi cleans his shoes, Reyes sits happily with his Fascist magazine, a ‘fat black cigar,’ and a bag of chocolate-coated marshmallows (the entire contents of which he pours into his mouth). But Mawi is distracted from making his appeal by the sudden

appearance of Reyes’s beautiful daughter Julieta: “The young man stood open-mouthed, gazing at the girl entranced, spell-bound, as if a long-worshipped goddess had just appeared to him in human form.”

And I’m afraid it is all downhill from here. Mawi, or the author, forgets about the appeal for justice, because later on the hero turns up at Reyes’ home demanding to be paid for his shoecleaning services. Yet when offered the money, he declines it: “He wanted what he calls justice for his friends and relatives.” He ends up with neither, and instead secretly marries Julieta with the help of the local priest, Father Lorencio (thus establishing a Romeo and Juliet connection). Furious, Reyes chases the star-crossed lovers out of town and they begin a long journey across South America, and then to London. They encounter barbed wire, patrol guards, ravines, US Marines. In London, they are greeted by Falklands War hysteria, which never existed to the degree Southam describes. Indeed, the love story is crudely tailored to Southam’s

political agenda. Despite the novel’s message already having been written on the blurb, we are repeatedly reminded throughout the novel how superior preindustrial cultures (say, the ancient Essenes) are to their 21st century western counterparts. We are treated to 356 pages of Southam’s thoughts and ideas, spoken through puppets. Take Mawi: “He was looking for more than beauty in a girl: for humanity, a love of life, a coin or two and a few words for the beggar further down the arcade, a smile for a disabled child.” And not a shred of irony is there to redeem any of this. “Mawi and Julieta made love with passion and seriousness.” That sounds about right. Southam must have written The Snake and the Condor with a great deal of passion and seriousness, but unfortunately for him it is the kind of writing that leaves itself open to mockery. Still, we are sure that Southam cares very much about what he wrote. He has attempted, in good faith, to delight and instruct his readership. For that reason, we can forgive him for failing to do either.

s fashion art? What place does stitching and silk have next to oil and canvas? If you’re looking for something special to do in London this winter, along with eager trips to Hamleys (come on, I know you want to) and cute Christmas markets, try the impressive new exhibition Valentino: Master of Couture, currently on at the beautiful Somerset House. It promises to challenge your view of the world of fabric and drapery.

Celebrating the life and work of Valentino Garavani, founder and designer of the fantastically famous Valentino brand, this major exhibition showcases haute couture designs (translation: ridiculously fancy garbs) worn by the likes of Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Jackie O. Rather than simply a wardrobe hanging with dresses, though, this exhibition is quite, quite extraordinary. Beginning with a large display of photographs of the world of Valentino from his personal, private archive, the glimpse into the life of the ‘Master’ himself is an extremely interesting, intimate experience. Even more fascinating is

the catwalk presentation of Valentino’s most influential and intricate designs. The roles are reversed here, with visitors walking the 60-metre runway, around which over 130 couture designs are arranged in place of the audience. Everything you could possibly imagine is featured as part of this exhibit – exquisite Valentino ball gowns, gorgeous dresses, snazzy trouser suits (how could a trouser suit ever be anything but snazzy?) and outrageous capes and kaftans. I mean, who doesn’t love a good kaftan, really?

Pretty dresses are all well and good, but the standout section of the show has to be the display of the frankly stunning wedding dress of Princess Marie Chantal of Greece. You may not think a puffy white gown is a patch on a Monet waterscape, but the level of detail that’s uncovered here is just astonishing. A group of films allows behind-the-scenes access to the Valentino atelier itself, which demonstrates the craft of dressmaking in a way that I’d honestly never considered. I don’t believe anyone could doubt, after experiencing Valentino: Master of Couture, that the skill that goes into creating a single Valentino gown is anything other than pure artistry.

the rise and rise of the graphic novel

Jonjo Brady

It is amazing how much the

modern comic has grown over the 20th century and how rapidly our perception of this often visually dazzling art form has changed. The medium has gone from mildly amusing, satirical newspaper strips in the corner of the ‘funny pages’, to multi-million pound corporations churning out comics in vastly complex and vibrant colours, contrasts and genres. Indeed, the comic industry has taken on a life of its own. In fact, comics are so mainstream nowadays that classic works often receive adulation on par with works of classic literature – Dickens, Wilde or Austen. It’s even better, though, because all the great writers and artists of this art form are, for the most part, still alive! Comics are still riding the renaissance wave of creativity and the possibilities for the future are boundless. In 1976, the term ‘graphic novel’ was coined in relation to

works such as Richard Corben’s Bloodstar and George Metzger’s Beyond Time. Again, we see a dramatic evolution in both design and perception of what a comic is.

No longer are they bite-size storylines with cheeky buzzwords galore, but are longer than some novels. They are able to immerse readers in complex, emotional story arcs and create deeply compelling and intuitive character developments. Let’s face it, we love this stuff! Just look at the modern fascination with the superhero genre for a start - the first appearance of Spiderman was in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962) and the friendly neighbourhood webslinger is still a household name, possibly more popular today than he ever was 50 years ago. Chris Knowles, critically acclaimed author and editor, even goes so far as to say that superheroes are the new gods; that they fill the same roles of hero-worship and moral tutorage as the myths and legends of the

gods and demi-gods of old.

To celebrate this I, a humble comic veteran, have comprised a short list of the top five graphic novels you simply must read.

of a cliché by now. Probably the most famous graphic novel ever written, Alan Moore’s dystopian vision still deserves a place among the legends of the comic art form. If you could only read one graphic novel in your lifetime, this should be it. Sandman Sandman is the reason that Neil Gaiman became geek legend, with a hugely ambitious, enthralling and ground-breaking graphic story that you’re guaranteed to dream about at night. Gaiman truly outdid himself with this one; taking in myths and legends from all over the world, Sandman is sophisticated, endlessly twisting, and fascinatingly multi-layered. V for Vendetta

Watchmen For those in the know, this recommendation should be a bit

No one who reads this novel will come away thinking the same way. This deeply profound and moving story of personal discovery, identity, oppression, the tyranny of government and the sweet taste of revenge truly captured the hopes and fears of the 80s in

a shockingly eerie way. This is a truly dumbfounding, harrowing story and with spooky relevance to some of the politics occurring today. Secret Wars First published in 1984, Secret Wars was the first company-wide crossover of its kind, featuring every single Marvel superhero. Ever wondered who’d win in a fight between Spiderman and the X-Men? Want to see Thor take on the entire cast of baddies in one epic scene? Read this novel. Full of cheeky clichés, shocking one-liners and lots of warm, fuzzy feelings about how we all need to work together to overcome evil. Scott Pilgrim You’ve seen the film, now read the comic. Mixing a 90s slacker vibe with classic video game fights and gags, Scott Pilgrim stars as the loveable, hopeless, eternally clueless and wonderfully confused bass player who battles the seven evil exes of the woman he loves to win her hand.

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Sport

IS BECKHAM READY TO HANG UP HIS BOOTS? Meg Weal

WE may insist that he is our footballing hero, his face (and body) is adored by men and women across the country and his skills in midfield are scrutinized meticulously, but after hearing rumours of his move to QPR, Beckham revealed that he “won’t play in England again”. But are we really surprised? When he lifted the MLS Cup for L.A Galaxy on 2nd December, for the second year running, Beckham ended his six year reign with the American team. His move to Real Madrid in 2003 may have devastated football fans around the country, but in the past nine years there has been little to suggest a return to the Premiership. With Beckham’s contract with L.A Galaxy to come to an end later this month, the renowned player appears to be seeking one last challenge in his footballing career. Unsurprisingly the midfielder has attracted worldwide interest; to say that the brand of Beckham seems to be maturing well would be a dignified understatement. 20 years after he burst in to the footballing world, Beckham

continues to embody the traditional footballing characteristics that seem impossible to resist. The combination of style, respect, dedication, recognition, authenticity and shrewdness make Beckham enduringly attractive to a mass market. But the multiplicity of Beckham’s offers means that he certainly has some perceptive thinking to do. Despite offers being thrown from Russia, China, the Middle East and various American clubs, the spotlight seems to be on the ambitious French team AS Monaco FC. With some of the most respectable teams in the world chasing a signing from Beckham, the recovering AS Monaco may appear to be an unusual destination. Dmitry Rybolovlev’s moneypumping in to AS Monaco has seen a rise for the team after their decline and relegation in to Ligue 2 last year. Surely a consistent and winning team such as Paris Saint-Germain FC would suit Beckham’s almost unmarked reign of world football? Nonetheless, France could hold a lot of potential for our aging footballing hero. French football not only proposes a diverse

challenge which has not yet been conquered by Beckham, but the lower expectation of physicality falls in line with his ever maturing style. France’s focus on the individual in football suggests an alternative motive for Beckham’s move - yet another revive and expansion of the brand of Beckham. His recent signing with European clothing brand and franchise

H&M earlier this year emphasises the positives that France poses. In charming the French public as he has the English, Italian and American, the profitability of the Beckham brand has the ability to multiply significantly. Although it’s doubtful that our favourite midfielder will be gracing the Premiership League any time soon, if at all, are we concerned

with Beckham’s journey as a result of his brand or are we still enticed by him as a professional footballer? Unfortunately, it seems that the former appears to be in line with popular opinion, and seemingly in line with Beckham’s thoughts as well. Wherever Beckham does choose to move, I am sure that he will be gracing our football pitches, screens and billboards for years to come.

ENGLAND DEFEAT NEW ZEALAND IN THRILLING WIN Alex Cassidy Newspaper Sports Editor

ON Saturday 1st December, England faced New Zealand in arguably one of the greatest matches ever to be played at Twickenham. In what was a dominant performance, they orchestrated a giant upset of the world champions beating New Zealand for only the seventh time in history and the first time since 2003. Not many had hitched their wagon to England, who were coming off the back of consecutive losses to Australia and South Africa, yet Stuart Lancaster’s young team outfoxed the wiley veterans, to claim a stunning 38-14 victory, the largest winning margin since the teams first met in 1905. England shot out to a 15-0 halftime lead, with some uncharacteristic errors from Dan Carter and some pinpoint kicking from Owen Farrell, who was making his first start this Autumn in place of embattled number 10 Toby Flood. Farrell, an IRB World Player of the Year nominee, looked every inch of his worldclass status, as he calmly struck home kick after kick infront of a jubilant Twickenham crowd. However, at the beginning of the second half, it looked like it would be the usual story for England, as

New Zealand hit back with two tries, reducing the defecit to one point. England, on the back of impressive breakdown play from man of the match Tom Wood, launched into attack with some clever centre play from Manu Tuilagi and a surging run from Owen Barritt,

who finished in the corner. After he helped set up Barritt’s try, Tuilagi made it a two score game after the human wrecking ball clattered his way through several New Zealand defenders, before setting up Ashton, who raced in for the try. With the score 25-14, Manu

Tuilagi sealed the victory with an interception try from the halfway line, capping off a superb day that resulted in two assists and one score. The result will be a huge relief to Stuart Lancaster, as England finally seemed to gel and find cohesion between their backs

and their forward linkmen. Second Row Joe Launchbury was all over the pitch, practically playing as an extra backrower, and constantly surpassing the gainline when involved in attacks. The biggest change from previous weeks was the stability at the scrum, which along with the improved breakdown, provided an excellent platform for the men in white’s backs. Although it was only a test match, there are larger implications for England’s win. With the world cup groups having been announced for 2015, and the Lions tour poised for next year, such an impressive and resounding victory for Lancaster’s young squad will surely resonate in them for many years to come. Lancaster, speaking on the win, had this to say: “To get a scoreline like that against a team like that is a great testament to these players. This gives the players a belief in the direction we’re going, and hopefully gives the rugby public the sense that the journey we’re on is the right one.” The fact that Lancaster’s team is built on it’s youth certainly bodes well for the future, if they continue to pull out fantastic wins such as this one, they will be more than prepared by the time 2015 rolls around.

Sport 23

KENT CHEER STUNT THEIR WAY TO COMPETITION Sam Clemence

ON Monday 3rd December, Kent Cheer took on the seemingly impossible task of performing one thousand cheer leading stunts in an hour. With eight stunt groups taking part in the challenge, it would require a monumental effort from each group, as the squad would have to average 16 stunts per minute to reach 1,000. A cheerleading stunt is, by definition, a move performed

by a group of five cheerleaders. The flyer, who, as the name suggests, is thrown in the air, two bases who throw and catch the flyer, and finally the back and front spots, who provides the main support and push on the launch. The successful completion of a stunt is fundamentally based in timing and teamwork, with any errors being very dangerous to the flyer who has to place their complete trust in the stunt group due to the height that they are launched to. The attempt by Kent Cheer is

an effort to raise money for one of their annual competitions, which will happen next year. Last year’s squad managed to finish 4th at Nationals, which was one place shy of an international berth in Florida for the International Cheer leading Championships. Jody Ann-Miller, Cheerleading President, had this to say on their effort to complete 1,000 stunts in one hour: “Fundraising is a huge part of Kent Cheer. We want to ensure that every member has the opportunity to compete at the highest level they can and raising money as a team is the best way to do it. “This year we decided to do what we do best and stunt our way to Nationals. Smashing our goal of 1,000 stunts in an hour we hit 1,296 solid and raised a staggering £2,000 which will help a great deal in getting us to Nationals in March. “With the strongest team KC has ever had, Worlds could also be on the horizon so keep an eye out for more large scale fundraisers in the new year!” Despite the early start (with the stunts completed from 8am -

9am) the effort by Kent Cheer to not just complete their goal, but to exceed it, is a testament to the dedication of this year’s squad. One of the competitions they are entered in the ICC Nationals - where they will compete in six seperate categories ranging from level one to level six. Level six is the highest standard that Cheerleaders can compete at, with only a handful of clubs in the country maintaining this standard. As well as this, UKC will also

enter a Pom Dance team as well as two Co-Ed squads and stunt groups. The fact that Kent Cheer are entering teams in six seperate categories, highlights the depth in UKC’s cheerleaders this year. With the first round of fundraising out of the way, Kent Cheer can now focus on their upcoming competitions, and with high expectations from this year’s team, it’s certain they will be adding to their trophy cabinet come March next year.

BARNEY WINS 2012 GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Dan English RAYMOND van Barneveld has beaten Michael van Gerwen in Wolverhampton to become the 2012 Grand Slam of Darts champion. On the 18th of November, the Dutchman beat his compatriot in an epic encounter by a score of 16 legs to 14 in the best-of-31 competition. Van Barneveld, who was never behind in the match, sealed the title and a £100,000 prize using just eleven darts to settle the final leg. This was the first time Van Barneveld, a five-time World Champion, had won a major

title for five years, and will certainly give him a boost in confidence heading into the PDC World Darts Championship which begins in December. Van Barneveld displayed a form not seen in recent seasons during the tournament, losing only once in the group stage of the competition to fellow Dutchman Christian Kist on his way to the title. It was clear however that Van Barneveld’s nerves began to take hold as he closed in on the trophy, missing double top (Double 20) a leg earlier to clinch the title. Speaking to Sky Sports after

winning, Van Barneveld said “It’s amazing, I’m really emotional and it’s hard to find the words to describe this feeling.” The appearance in the final for Van Gerwen also firmly places him among the rising stars of the Darts world, after winning the Word Grand Prix in Dublin a month earlier, and knocking out World Number One, and arguably the greatest Darts player ever, Phil Taylor. Of his performance in the competition Van Gerwen said: “I’ve played well this week and it feels very good for me to reach another

final. There can only be one winner though and Raymond was the better player. He deserved to win.” The match was certainly a fantastic advert for the sport, which has seen its popularity rise through television exposure in the last decade. What’s more, the fact that the final was contested between two Dutchmen shows just how international the sport is becoming, and that the traditional domination by Englishmen may be a thing of the past. This year’s competition was tinged with sadness however, following the news that Ted

Hankey, famed for his ‘The Count’ persona, suffered a ministroke during his match with Van Gerwen earlier in the competition. Looking shaky on the oche, Hankey was lambasted on social networking sites with some reports suggesting Hankey was playing under the influence of alcohol. However, medical reports confirmed after the match that his condition is much worse, and that Hankey would be out of the Darts world for some time to come. I’d like to wish him a speedy recovery, and hope to see him back on the oche soon.

VETTEL TAKES RECORD THIRD CONSECUTIVE TITLE

Elizabeth Mitchell HOW to describe the final race of this incredible season in Brazil? Amazing, tense, ever-changing, and truly a testament to the talent we’ve seen this season. With seven World Champions racing we all expected great things, but how great I don’t think anybody could have imagined. For a start, the World Championship fight going down to the last race always provides great finishes, we only have to look at 2008 in Brazil to confirm that. As with 2008 the World championship leader changed countless times during the final race, and yet again a Ferrari was on the podium, but without the crown. Although the result was not as tense as Lewis Hamilton gaining the lead by one point in the very final corner of the race in 2008, it was very close to it. But for a season where we have had eight different winners and many accidents or incidents, the final race summed up the season.

The start of the race will probably go down in history as one of the best season finishes of all time. The stage was set for drama, spots of rain falling and the thirteen point leading Vettel out of position fourth on the grid. However his only rival, Fernando Alonso, was seventh. The McLaren’s had a front row lock out in Qualifying, with the departing Lewis Hamilton edging out his teammate by only 0.005 seconds. An emotional farewell that could not possibly have been better expressed to the team that had been his home since he was 13. Bang and the race was away with Hamilton and Button fighting for the lead with the energy and respect of two talented drivers, fighting fairly within every inch of the track. With the magnitude of cars contact seemed inevitable… and it was. Bruno Senna and Vettel made contact destroying Vettel’s body work forcing him to the back of the grid. However Vettel’s true skill was unleashed as he fought his way back up to sixth, with

Alonso fighting to second but unable to catch Jenson Button. Alonso, the maestro of race starts, had blasted up the outside to gain third place and joined the tussle at the front. The season has seen credit paid to the drivers themselves, with no car truly running away with development and pace. This has created many memorable races. The most memorable of which would be in Abu Dhabi, where Kimi Raikkonen completed his comeback in F1 with his first win amidst chaos and retirements with World championship rivals Alonso and Vettel side by side upon the podium. However the tightening of the pack has also caused many memorable incidents as well, incontestably the most horrific being in the Belgian Grand Prix. Four cars were demolished in the very first corner, the World championship leader Fernando Alonso a mere metre from decapitation as the Lotus of Romain Grosjean soared over him. Lewis Hamilton, and Sergio

Perez were also taken out in the terrifying rippling crash caused unfortunately by Grosjean whose mistake cost him a one race ban. The fact that the championship was won by merely three points shows the depth of the competition, particularly with runner up Fernando Alonso driving an inadequate Ferrari. One of the main reasons that Fernando Alonso came so close to the title is his talent, moments of pure genius and very little mistakes on his part. His wins are both memorable and the products of opportunities well taken, his second place finish is due to his ability to wring the slower Ferrari to within an inch of its capabilities. Alonso’s only non finishes were unavoidable, in the Belgian Grand Prix and in the Japanese Grand prix, where he collided with other drivers. Alonso’s strength lay in the strength of his team. Sebastian Vettel deserves immense credit for his win; he

too showed resilience in a season plagued with mechanical failure, other driver’s errors and penalties. For example in Abu Dhabi, Vettel rose above his disqualification from qualifying to take third place from dead last, an even more impressive feat due to the dry conditions. However Alonso’s fight lay on his consistency, Vettel’s upon his affinity with his car. Within such a tight season controversy over the Brazilian race result caused little surprise. Ferrari appealed Vettel’s overtake on Jean Eric Vergne in what appeared a yellow flagged area, which is illegal. The FIA responded by highlighting a green flag which legalised Vettel’s move. Alonso would have been crowned champion if the move was illegal, by one point. The controversy highlights the main aspect of Vettel’s championship win, a mixture of great talent but also great luck, a trade mark of this great season and certainly a worthy third time champion.