seventy2minutes.com January 2015
Issue 16
A MEETING OF MINDS politics to make your heart beat
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fabulous, frivolous, fashion; online - in app - 24/7
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contents
discuss 12 / the power of the people 22 / our man in belgrade 24 / the alexis experience 28 / serbian youth and politics 44 / mental wealth
discover 10 / a a k s 15 / vancouver 16 / brit on the boulevard 30 / friends of friends travel 34 / heart london 36 / natasha north 38 / give them wings 46 / chudamani clowes
learn 46 / 12 web design fumbles 48 / 3d printing 50 / ideologies for everyone of us 52 / the politics in you
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contributors
the editor dinah sackey- founder, editor and dreamer of bigger things
the philosopher alexis king - knowing that all that we know just ain’t no thing.
the entrepreneur darren darnborough - seemingly, omnipresent, certainly multi-talented
our man in belgrade dave calcutt - english, male and in Serbia teaching words (English ones)
the pr guru catherine lyn scott - promoting london with flair
the fashionista katherine Pegka - With more wit than whimsy and eternally well dressed
the eclectic sanela kesegi - journalistically flexible from beauty, through fashion to business
the marketeer terri seymour - a font of articles, resources and information
the mediator andy holmes - DJ, Author, practising media mogul
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the editor’s review
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the editor s review
ever talk about politics or religion – a rule of etiquette alleged to avoid the awkward, and often contentious, exchanges when conversations become personal; and make no mistakes - politics are personal. The dramatisation of politics has become a burgeoning industry where the performers [politicians] amplify what is seemingly their personal politics in the frame of Party Politics and we, the people, observe as if it were all removed from us. Some even believe it is far removed from us. So much so that the zeitgeist proposes we turn our backs on politics, politicians, and their grandstanding, so that it will all just go away. Will it all just go away? Why would we want it to go away? It is possible that in the cyclical fanfare of political grandstanding we have confused politics with policy. Rules, regulations, legislation, and the law; they are all born of somebody’s politics, presented by political performers, enabled by Party Politics. They are the personal perspectives of a collective codified into vehicles that aim to control, contain, and direct the societies that we choose to live in; and they do have their value. When policies are based on good intentions they progress, protect, and liberate. They allow multiple personalities, perspectives, and passions to flourish in an environment that can become volatile as we (all of us) learn about ourselves and the lives we have been given. When policies are based on insidious intentions they corrupt, obscure, destroy, and erode any opportunities we have to truly engage in that learning that is so necessary to understand who we are as individuals and as collectives. The end game thus becomes this pendulum swing from policy to policy, resulting in very little progress and increasing societal unrest. The enactment of policy has become a Zero Sum game. Somehow political performers have convinced us that politics is also a Zero Sum game and we are imprisoned in the apparent polar values of The Right versus The Left . If you want personal wealth and autonomy you can’t have a society that is inclusive and supportive, and visa versa. Somebody, allegedly, has to lose and every cycle a political performer convinces you that you do not want to lose, therefore it is acceptable to sacrifice some of your ‘politics’ to support some of their ‘policies’; and for some people “there’s the rub”. If you are willing to sacrifice your personal politics to support someone’s strategic policy, even if it is dressed in the cloak of politics, are you not simply sacrificing your self ? Is any policy worth the sacrifice?
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There is an oft used meme of a politician standing on a podium, speaking to a crowd of people. The politician and the podium are on the edge of a plank, hanging over a precipice. The only thing preventing this politician from plunging to the depths of darkness is the weight of the people. The meme then states “The People don’t know their true power”. There is a romantic truth in this meme but behind the simplicity of ‘just walk away’ hides the ‘Prisoners’ Dilemma’. Who amongst us is willing to give up on the others first? There is most certainly a tipping point and either we disengage, en masse, or we engage, en masse. Declining voter numbers, across the global Party Political sphere, is evidence of this. So long as there are enough people, giving enough weight, that political performer will always have a podium, and that dubious policy will certainly sneak in. We are far more complex than policy would have us believe. Our true politics are not as simple as black versus white, male versus female, old versus young, left versus right. It is time we saw past this. In this issue our contributors share their opinions on politics – the meeting of minds that leads to the beating of hearts when we venture into the awkward landscape of what we think, or feel, about the societies we live in. Sanela believes that the key is engaging our youth. They are the drivers of change, the vanguard of our very futures. Dave describes how finding a vein of interest that fires the blood can ignite your political fever and open your eyes to the machinations of global political performers. On a similar thread Andy discusses how topics that are of personal interest to you become politically relevant, as Katherine challenges you to simply ‘make a choice’ because policies will happen with or without you, and often to you. If you’re confused about your politics try the Political Compass on p54. It’s a good starting point to grasp the complexity of your political opinions. If it’s all too much for you find escape in travel, art, film, or music as Darren, Chudamani Clowes, Paul Hodgson, and Natasha North draw us into their worlds. Politics is complicated. It’s the equivalent of asking you to bare your heart and your mind, and trust those you bare it to, without malice, to understand where you are coming from and where you are aiming to get to. It takes a degree of openness to receive someone eslses politics without feeling persecuted by their thoughts, but all awkward exchanges have to start somewhere... Join the conversation.
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#politics
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onversations are best shared and when C we’re talking about history, poverty, knowledge, and power, we want as many voices, and as many ears, as we can gather. Every issue we like to say thank you to our readers, old and new, by giving away a little token of our appreciation. in this issue we have 10 little tokens to give away to 10 lucky winners. Our little tokens come in the shape of Rock Beauty London’s “Nail Rock” nail wraps.
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discover
AAKS hand crafted in ghana
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aaks
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andcrafted in Bolgatanga, Ghana, A A K S bags are the product of founder and owner Akosua Afriyie-Kumi. With an emphasis on sustainibly sourced rafia from local farmers in the north of the country, the craftsmanship of local artisans, exuberant seasonal colours that capture the heritage of the region and the business and design credentials of a graduate of Kingston University in London, 72M spoke to Akosua about A A K S;
How has the concept of ethically made luxury been received in Ghana?
Ethical fashion is still a very new idea in Ghana. A lot brands are yet to look closely into their core message, their material, resources that they use, or even their way of production to see where they can benefit and by doing this contribute to a greater good. Consumer mindsets are slowly changing year after year. At A A K S ‘ethical’ is an inherent part of our brand from Day 1 as we look closely into our material qualities, it being an organically sourced raw material such as raffia which is biodegradable and renewable, we see attractive qualities which are very much in line with the vision and ethos I had for my brand. I hope our brand helps consumers to become more aware and knowledgable of ethical practices which will educate and inspire the country.
How would you describe your client base?
My client base is vey diverse. Most of my clients are women who live on exotic islands in the world, they have almost 365 days of sunshine, but I also have a lot of customers coming from colder climates such as America, Europe and Southern Africa which makes it exciting for my brand to be able to cater for all different lifestyles or weather patterns in the world.
How do you think this brand can be marketed on an international basis?
A A K S has adapted well to all types of markets in the world. We have a niche yet diverse product which appeals to a purpose driven and stylish customer around the world. We have a strong local and also international presence. We aim directly at our target market through stories on our social media,websites and also personal contacts. Telling our story, showcasing our behind the scenes processes and letting customers know who made their unique A A K S bag that they are wearing today forms an integral part of our business. Through social media our brand is truly highlighted and reaches to the right
consumer who can be anywhere in the world.
What obstacles do you think African based businesses face in general?
Building a fully African-made luxury brand presents tremendous challenges which my team and I are overcoming everyday. The main challenge for us is logistics and costs of importing and exporting in and out of Africa. Sourcing of trims such as buckles and fabrics are a struggle as most suppliers here are limited. We also struggle with inconsistency in production and quality control even though our products are made by hand we still cant afford to lose on this because we are competing with international brands. For us our suppliers or weavers based in Ghana or wider Africa cost more because our competitors are probably making their products in Asia which will cost less so as a result our end product tends to be higher priced. We also struggle with infrastructure, simple things like telephone connectivity and electricity disconnection poses a lot of threat to our daily work. However, despite all these setbacks we are persevering and making the best out of everything and taking a competitive advantage when the need arises.
What have you learned about yourself, and your business, as you’ve continued to grow this brand?
I have learnt to be patient especially working in Africa that there are bound to be a lot of setbacks in building a luxury brand, with that in mind to always stay focused and committed to what I want to achieve. My weavers have also taught me to slow down and appreciate their art, and the time and difficulty it takes to achieve a handmade product. I am thankful to be in a great community of very talented women that I am grasping new ideas from everyday.
Where can we buy A A K S products?
A A K S is global in essence and while still a very young company less than a year old, we are already present in 3 cities in the world (Cape Town, London and Accra) and soon to be in Paris and the U.S.A. We have a strong online presence and we deliver worldwide by enquiring through our website www.aaksonline.com. We will continue to grow steadily and organically while we expand our footprint and continue to fly the African Flag.
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kathryn pegka
by katherine pegka
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verything in life is about choices. And decisions. From the man you marry, the job you do, the car you drive, or that you don’t drive at all, to the style of clothes you wear. Take your tea with sugar? Milk? And how about your vacation? Greece or Spain? You wisely choose the friends you want to share your path in life with and you undertake the longest and most detailed investigation in order to decide what your next mobile phone is going to be. (Take the android). So why on earth would you not vote? Oh, no one forces you to? You have no interest in politics. Really? What about democracy then, that ought to ring a bell, shouldn’t it? Democracy is -as most of them are- a Greek word and originates from “Demokratia”, “rule of the people”, which was found from “demos”, people who have political rights, and “kratos”, power, authority, rule. Power of the People. People, that’s me and you. WE hold the power and have the power to decide over how we want our lives and the country we live in to be like. By making a choice on Election Day. It’s as simple as that. Truth is, by not voting we let others decide for us and deny ourselves the very essence of democracy. We might as well go live in a North-Asian country. Next time you start moaning about a “silly new law”, a fee or a complex registration process, just don’t. Next time, on Election Day, make a choice. It’s as simple as that.
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Take your love to
new heights Hail a private jet directly from your mobile device with the JetSmarter app
jetsmarter.com
24 hours in
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vancouver supported by
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oised on the Canadian West Coast, just above the US border sits Vancouver, affably known as the culinary capital of Canada, boasting a beautiful dichotomy between mountain nature and cityscape, and home to many a TV series including hit show Supernatural. 24 hours in this wonderful city is just not enough, but if that’s all you’ve got, knock back an energy drink and follow this guide… Begin your day with an invigorating jog along Sunset Beach and the English Bay, before tucking into an imaginative and Italian-inspired breakfast at awardwinner La Pentola at the Opus Hotel. Depending on your level of refueling, head north over the Lions Gate Bridge to Grouse Mountain and either take the cable car, or scale the 850m high Grouse Grind hike to the top for unparalleled views over the city, and some excellent activities including a 5-line zipline tour that will have you dangling over mountain valleys and adrenaline pumping. For those that like their views a little less whooshy, the 360 degree wind turbine pod in the The Eye of The Wind should suffice. Having worked up an appetite, get yourself back to False Creek and take rainbow-adorned Aquabus over to Granville Island and the Public Market, Vancouver’s must-see myriad of boutiques, hand-made goods and fine foods. Stroll around picking pieces of your lunch from the various vendors, or opt for a guided food tour from Edible Canada. Either way, the Poutine is a must. Allow the afternoon to enjoy more scenery – Flyover
Canada’s unique ride has you soaring above the country’s landmarks, immersed by a gigantic screen and mist, scents and wind to complete the experience. Or if being outdoors is the agenda, rent a bike to tour Stanley Park and finish at the Capilano Suspension Bridge, where fascinating forestry, engineering, animals and a walk through nature’s treetops will have you reset for your energetic evening. Choose your culinary condition carefully – Vancouver has some fantastic and vibrant food options. Book in for some excellent seafood at Coast, where the atmosphere is as lively as their exquisitely prepared shared selection dishes. Or savor each course of the seasonal chef ’s tasting menu at Market by Jean-Georges at the Shangrila, again with a focus on locally-caught seafood – the roasted Sablefish is a must in this elegant and quiet setting. From here, if there’s energy left in you, then Granville Street will just about be kicking off, so bounce around the neon pedestrianized social district where plentiful bars and clubs spill lines out on the sidewalk. Or with belly full and mind satisfied, order the Jaguar pickup to rejuvenate at the comfortably vibrant, modern Opus Hotel, where you can select the style of room based upon your character, having elements of décor, even an iPod playlist to suit, ready for your enjoyment. Or to truly feel like a local, bed down in one of the Sunset Inn’s homely serviced apartments in the West End residential area, a stone’s throw from the various breakfast eateries of Davies Street, where you can refuel to do it all again.
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fter an idyllic summer, it’s easy to forget that winter still hits Southern California. Granted, the weather doesn’t get horrible, sunny days are throughout, but temperature does drop enough that those outdoor Pacific Ocean activities take a hiatus. So, with the final season approaching, what better time than to take a trip to beautiful Catalina Island, for their annual film festival. We hopped on the Catalina Express from Long Beach, Bloody Mary and breakfast burrito in hand, to arrive at Avalon an hour later in a setting that feels like a true vacation and a million miles from the LA hustle. Although we attended primarily for the Premiere screening of my film “Stefano Formaggio”, it was impossible not to indulge in the island life and activities, so between screenings, and gala premieres of Nicolas Cage’s “Left Behind” and “William H Macy’s promising directorial debut “Rudderless”, we trundled off-road on the island conversancy’s Jeep Eco Tour amongst wild Buffalo (left behind from a 1920’s film shoot); sang our way through the Nautilus yellow submarine tour of the ocean floor, complete with fish food torpedoes; kayaked amongst sea-lions and leopard sharks; explored the trails on the island’s signature golfcarts; and zip-lined from the mountains to the Descanso
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beach club for a refreshing margarita. A sumptuous seafood lunch at the Bluewater Grill and a stunning coastal view from the refreshing corner suite at the Metropole hotel finished us off nicely before returning to the mainland. Americans love going all out for festivities, so from day one of October it’s acceptable to get in the Halloween spirit. We stretched our zombie-killing muscles at Hollywood Haunted Sports, an amazing paintball arena (nestled not in Hollywood, but worringly adjacent to the real battleground of Compton) where live action ghouls become the targets in an interactive spooky shooting range. From rigor mortis to rock, we were thoroughly impressed with Eric Zayne’s energetic set at Molly Malone’s, before returning to the hood of Watts, this time on screen for a introspective examination of criminal reform in the gritty yet ultimately uplifting “Imperial Dreams” starring Brit John Boyega. The special event at agency powerhouse CAA also raised awareness for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and InsideOUT Writers to tackle the problem. Less thought-provoking was a private screening of
“Noah”, where during a Q&A with director Darren Aronofsky, I never got to ask exactly what Sir Anthony Hopkins’ fascination with berries was, or how much he got paid to crawl around on the floor for a couple of days. Clearly much more than the budget of “Stuck” by Stuart Acher, who managed to wow cinema audiences with great performances that weekend, in his tale of morningafter discomfort and the excellent tagline “Wham. Bam. Traffic Jam.” A post-movie cocktail at Brit stalwart Soho House carried me over to celebrating the anniversary of Brits In LA at their famed Cecconis breakfast, thanks to sponsor Air New Zealand who provided the munch that morning to promote their new LA – London routes. They say a way to a man’s loyalty is through his stomach – I booked my Christmas flight home on ANZ, whilst zooming up the Pacific Coast Highway in my Jaguar XJS to Carmel, home of once-mayor Clint Eastwood, where “Stefano Formaggio” was selected to play the film festival. It was great to return to where we shot many of the scenes, and stay in this picturesque storybook town. The Vagabonds House Inn hosted us with an exquisite courtyard room with inventive, personalized classy decor, a stunning wine and cheese party to promote the film
and rejuvenating massages and body scrub treatments – one of the best boutique hotel experiences you can have. The weekend breezed through a blur of films, food, drinks, and an incredible filmmakers beach BBQ party, and we bid adieu, driving north to San Francisco, just in time to catch Brit dance icons Massive Attack perform their hits at the Treasure Island Music Festival looking out over the iconic bay. Back in LA, I caught up for a brief brunch at the Larchmont Bungalow with some great UK talent making waves on these shores: Jimmy Akingbola, Tehmina Sunny and Ty Glaser. The UK actors are definitely in vogue right now (particularly Tehmina who was actually IN Vogue) and with shows like the stylish “Peaky Blinders” hitting Netflix, US TV better watch out. Just like we did, at Halloween attraction Knotts Scary Farm, the theme park’s take on the spooky festivities, adding extra frights to every ride and hilarious adult shows that make you laugh hard and question your morals. If I’d had any intact, I’d certainly lost them by the time we attended Festival Supreme – a bizarre music and comedy fest at the Shrine auditorium which made you feel like a participant in a loony bin with a deafening soundtrack of
Boulevard on the
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gurgled oddity. Hats off to Eric Andre though, whose riotous stand-up interspersed with clips from his Adult Swim TV show confirmed him as the future king of crazy. By the time Halloween actually came around, we opted for a quiet night (not) dressed as Despicable Me minions at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt. Phew, back to work. A little light networking at Legacy Entertainment partners fruitful American Film Market
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party set me up right for a day off to enjoy my LAversary with friends and the happy hour at Littlefork, where I celebrated 8 years in Hollywood with the same number of beers and deliciously prepared oysters. Perhaps a few more. I got my 70’s groove on at Houston Bros’ hotspot Good Times at Davey Wayne’s, and got my entrepreneur on at BeGreatFest checking out the latest startups and advice from Silcon Beach’s new kids on the block. We bounced through the Nike Jordan NBA party in an aircraft hangar, and trundled through the west watching Tommy Lee Jones’ epic turn as director / actor in The Homesman, with a Q&A by Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. We checked out cool concept cars including the new Mini, at the LA Auto Show as VIP guests of Jaguar and Britweek, and then roadtripped in our own Jag to wild-west town Temecula to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with a little light wine-tasting, a lot of cooking and a round of hysterical retro board game “I Think
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You Think I Think” where players are tested on their knowledge of their buddies. Before I could say Black Friday, we’d packed our bags, played out our Christmas farewells at fun Hollywood game center Dave & Busters, and boarded our Air New Zealand flight back to the homeland, for a whole month. It was a great feeling to land in London at Christmas time, with clear blue skies, condensed breath and frosted grass. It’s truly a stunning city, full of incredible architecture, and this time, I really noticed the positive and warm energy amongst people, sporting their Christmas jumpers two weeks early. My first stop was strangely the dentist, where I was advised my American orthodontist wanted to drill and pull healthy teeth, so rest assured that my Christmas dinner would not need to be blended, we sashayed through a grand old London time: ice-skating on South Bank, cozy pub lunches, mulled wine and fun rides at the epic Winter Wonderland, the opening of bridal designer Hermione Harbutt’s Kensington store, dinner at Shepherd Market, and morning runs through Regents Park. Being a hop skip and an easyjet jump away, it was rude not to pop to Geneva, for a five star stay in the ultra-luxurious Beau Rivage, a hotel steeped in family history, elegantly designed, overlooking Lake Geneva. We prepped our Christmas appetite with an extraordinary chef ’s tasting menu by Phillippe Bourrel at Le Richemond’s Le Jardin which carried through a rich and delicious black truffle theme in each course, followed by a lunch of culinary artwork at Mandarin Oriental’s Café Calla. We ventured to the cute town of Carouge for some low-key fondue before returning to London for Christmas with the family, and one last zip around via high-tea and pantomimes in Bath, Birmingham curry, and rustic roast dinners in The Cotswolds, before jetting to Poland, to eat too many pierogi and shout “Szczesliwego nowego roku!” in Warsaw, as we welcomed 2015, with my news year’s resolution to…. Never fly Ryanair again.
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discuss
dave calcutt is
our man in
belgrade
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dave calcutt
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olitics, it has to be said, is not one of those subjects that generally has the effect of making my heart beat, nor does it conjure any perception of a meeting of minds. This particular standpoint, however, doesn’t seem to be a universal one. Here in Belgrade, for example, the subject of politics has a very real impact on the everyday lives of people and certainly leads to a rise in blood pressure when it is discussed. Now I don’t profess to even begin to understand the many complex issues that comprise the political history of Serbia and her Balkan neighbours, but I have, in the past three and a half years of living here, come to realise that there seem to be as many different opinions as there are people, each of which is defended with a passion and vigour that demonstrates this country’s intense patriotism and determination to hold firmly onto all that it is to be a Serb. Being something of a patriot myself, whilst not completely understanding the politics, I do very much admire this intense love of one’s country. By relating to this patriotism, and having lived here for some time, I find myself becoming increasingly affected by the politics and political decision that are being made, both in Serbia and in other countries, which have a direct bearing on the life of Serbs. I might even go as far as to admit that, on occasions, I do feel an increase, if only very slight, in my heart beat! Take for example the glorious European Union. Is there a generous dose of irony that you can sense in that sentence? After all, “Union” is hardly the word I would choose to describe the relationship between the countries bought together in this club; but I digress. The European Union is a particular bone of contention here in Serbia. Should she join or should she stay as far away from it as possible? The current government seems utterly determined to become a member despite the seemingly endless list of conditions that continue to be placed on membership. Chief among these are those associated with the thorny subject of Kosovo, and this is the one topic above all others that really seems to polarise views here.
When Kosovo, regarded by many as possibly one of the key cultural and religious centres of Serbia, made its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia back in 2008 there followed an outpouring of opinion, not only here but across Europe and many parts of the world as well. It divided opinion within the EU, with a number of member states who face there own secessionist issues concerned about the apparent precedent that it set. Whilst I am not about to try and unravel the myriad of issues that contribute to the Kosovo debate, suffice to say that it is a subject that can so easily be the cause of many heated arguments here. With America, and her ulterior motives, together with the UK and Germany placed for recognition of independence for Kosovo, whilst Russia, a traditional ally of Serbia, along with China, Spain and others standing against the declaration even calling into question its legality, you can begin to appreciate the gravity of this issue. And this is where I find myself starting to experience the debate as something that can stir even my normally disinterested approach to politics. I could fill pages with my thoughts and opinions about the rights and wrongs of acknowledging independence, whether or not a referendum has been held and whether or not countries such as America should be allowed to dictate how international law should be interpreted or applied, but I will, at this time, take the easy route and suggest you do your own research into the subjects. It is exactly what I did, and the realisation that there was so much more to the story and that the version of events presented by the press and even my own U.K. government was (insert a gasp of amazement here) maybe lacking a degree of, shall we say, accuracy. I think above all else it is this that has created in me a renewed sense of politics as being something that really can make the heart beat. A meeting of minds yes, but not always in the sense of an agreement but often in the sense of collusion designed to justify a somewhat dubious course of actions. Politicians not being entirely open and honest? Surely not, I hear you cry…
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the alex is experience
o pport unity s h o c k s by alexis king
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alexis king
W
hen you talk about politics you reveal our politics.
Politics is after Aristotle’s ‘ta politika’, or the ‘Affairs of State’. Or should that be the state of affairs? It would be common sense then that a person’s politics would be that person’s take on the state of affairs at any given time and in any given place, whether that be at a local, provincial, national or international level, and that they be entitled to them. No question. As such we are arguably all involved in politics whether we choose to make our views public or not. The inversion of the expression of a person’s point of view by each and every individual upon the state of affairs, or put more simply, what is going on in the world, to become the ‘affairs of state’ and so seemingly now the concern of the professional politician is to be looking at the kaleidoscope of life through the wrong end. So long has this been the case and so perpetuated by waves of rhetoric, propaganda and psychological warfare that many people have been led to believe that politics is simply not something that concerns them. If this is you I will recount a little Plato for you to rattle your cage;
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” And aren’t we. For there is a system in place, so large so as to be difficult to fathom, so intricate as to be impossible to untangle, so fiendish as to be the grandest of deceptions, and that has been built year on year, decade on decade, century on century to convince you of only one thing... That the actions taken by the state at the word of the politician and the behest of the financiers is what you want. Moreover it is what we all need, for the ‘greater good’ of Rome, of the British Empire, of a united Italy, of the Soviet Union, the Anschluss, the United States, the
EU, the wider Middle East, the NAACP, the state of Israel, your labour union, the college campus, the W.I., the county, the local parish etc, etc, etc... This is the manufacturing of consent and it is the SOLE occupation of the professional politician. That’s it. Nothing else. “But they run the country!”. Wrong. “They maintain law and order”. Nope. “They regulate the economy”. False. “They create jobs’. They don’t. “They keep us safe”. Really? “They represent the interests of the people”. Which people? In consideration of politics when researching this article, it occurred to me how similar it is to religion. Hold on, aren’t those the two topics that the first wave of cultural Marxists defined within ‘etiquette’ as out of bounds for discussion in ‘polite’ company? Do you wonder why? If you are a true believer and a granite keeper of the faith nothing could begin within you the faintest doubt that both worship as a whole and your specific religion in particular is not the only ‘true path’. But for the agnostic or the troubled the influence of a charismatic ‘leader’ may be all that is required to influence a person to join a congregation. Most significantly these twin towers of church and state have in common the figurehead leader who is offering salvation to the faithful from on high. Whereas with faith based religion deliverence is offered from a supernatural source the politician promises redemption of a material kind yet neither is provably secured from the hand of he who does the proffering. But that doesn’t matter because all you have to do is believe. So long as you keep the faith It will all come good in the end. But on the way to the end what justifications will you have to accept, what shock tactics will be employed and what will you be encouraged to renounce by those who exemplify the means? Lets look at some of the tricks an able politician must be able to pull from his or her hat to keep the fires burning...
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discuss
1. social favour Using hubris, flattery, endorsement, networking, deal making and even marriage, the politician gains influence across a broad range of organisations, institutions, social groups, and individuals whilst maintaining the belief that he or she is essentially better than all of them, whilst failing to acknowledge their accomplishments as their own and encouraging them all to join in with the politician’s pre-existing excessive admiration of his or her personal self.
2. ambition The desire for control must be intense. This can manifest in oration, executive order, enacting draconian ‘laws’, declaring marshall law, suspending houses of representatives, cronyism, nepotism, ever increasing surveillance even civil war. However, It must also be made known to those seeking political office that the pursuit of genuine power is not the sole preserve of this profession. The visible politician answers to powerful benefactors and corporate interests for whom he will concede to having his or her ferocious desire for control bridled to act as their mouthpiece. Further, under the system of democracy to be rolled out globally, the true power will always rest with the mob, another circumstance to which both the politician and his masters must always concede.
3. pre-eminence The politician must be obsessed with his or her legacy. Directorships, board memberships, speaking engagements, autobiographies, and volumes of memoires are key to the acquisition of excessive wealth, and lend considerable heights to social standing once he or she has left political office. In fact the more avenues to immortality the better, to include portraits, documentaries, novels, biopics, T.V. appearences, awards, state funerals, national cemetery burials and statuary. Subsequent political appointments higher up the geopolitical ladder are optional, but to accept office at a lower level should be regarded as failure. Any suggestion of any ongoing concern for the issues of the voter once time in office has come to an end is completely unacceptable.
4. salesmanship The lack of a conscience, soul or any true sense of spirituality to include ignorance of any ethical or moral code is essential. Should the budding politician still have a grandmother finding an avenue to market for her as quickly as possible would not only be in his or her financial interests but also prove their psychopathic mettle in this regard. The ability to be corrupted financially or morally and to enact corruption of others, to carry out blackmail, and any preferences for acts of evil or black magic to include ritualistic behaviour and consistent abuse of the innocent, should not go un-utilised. In fact taking every opportunity to do less in favour of getting others to do more is a highly suitable characteristic for the politician.
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alexis king
5. mis-direction Being an expert liar is not enough. The Politician must also be deft at obfuscation, omission, creating confusion, propaganda, and in the modern world avail themselves of both the constructed nature and of the obedience of any available media to amplify and disseminate the subterfuge. The greater and wider the trickery and manipulation of authority the better, up to and including violence and war where and as necessary.
6. intrigue The ability to plot. To be able to make a plan and execute that plan. Essential to this must be that only those who need to know are party to information as to the specifics of the scheme. Exclusivity is key, and creating the desire in others to break into the ‘inner circle’ fundamental.
7. wrath Explosive, unforeseen and irrational outbursts are a bonus, though not essential. These must not be witnessed first hand by the voting masses, so as not to present direct evidence of the boiling source of uncontrolled hatred and anger that foments the fury and in favour of maintaining a noble statesmanlike public facade. Better to promulgate reports of such behaviour as ‘leaks’ with the effect of striking fear into those beyond the inner conclave. A temperament such as this that might include feelings of impatience or revenge may prove beneficial towards the creation of ongoing political feuds.
The modern political landscape is unlikely to see many individuals capable to expert level in all of these qualities. However, by associating in like-minded collectives and employing agencies of the state and private sector in science, military, psychology, advertising, and media to an international level, political advantage and the successful manufacturing of consent amongst the masses can and is being achieved on a daily basis. Oh, you don’t agree with what I have to say about this subject? You aren’t convinced? You don’t consent to what I offer you? Good. My politics are my own.
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discuss
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sanela kasegi
“who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?”*
I
n Serbia many young people are involved in politics, because they see an opportunity to build a better future. The majority of them are interested in the decision-making processes that affect their daily lives, they have concerns about their future – ranging from discrimination to the lack of access to education, health services, jobs and affordable homes. They believe that they can change a lot too and they are prepared and willing to fight for their rights. Also they are young people who aren’t interested in politics, and those who believe that nothing can change and they choose to go abroad to find work, which they hope will enable them to achieve their ambitions and plans. Some young people are put off politics because they see it as too complicated or boring. The skepticism of young people in Serbia concerning politics is not a new challenge, and it is one of the forces that allow democracies to constantly evolve and improve. It is the role of younger generations to be skeptical, to question and to drive the changes that make societies better. For young people it is very important to know their voices will be heard. Why don’t local politicians come
by sanela kasegi in and talk to young people on a regular basis, let them know exactly what they are running for, and how what they want will help them and their families get what they want? Young people need to be able to have input into the political discussion and ‘decision making process’ of any country. Having an input will help them understand that political problems, and getting along can be very complex, and that a simple answer isn’t always the best one. It must be tempered with neutral guidance that helps them to understand the future economic, social, and political impacts of their decisions. Politicians could be closer to young people in many ways. Through social networks they can offer their ideas, organize debates and talk about their ideas on issues that are close to, and essential, for young people. I believe young people are the driving force of any society and their role is very important. Each generation is key in the fabric of life, and the young, by their very nature, take what is useful from what has gone before and apply it to their own times. They choose tools, and help this big machine of existence to continue on. *quote by Patti Smith
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discover
Krissa Curran (KC): Some was out of the way, I had some time travelling. Why? Because it means might argue that FOF Travel was a business waiting to happen - just look at how we (as in DJ and I) grew up with multi-cultural families, multiple citizenships and residency statuses, international school upbringing and friends from literally everywhere who then went off to study and start their careers… everywhere. But two things really kickstarted this epic adventure: my mindset at the time, and a very serendipitous business trip to Sydney that got me thinking... My background was in Digital Marketing (agency side, so very intense and long work hours). I graduated with a 1t Class Honours in Media & Communications from Goldsmiths College, and had been working in the industry for about 3 years. I loved it, I was good at it. But at the end of the day, I went to bed still feeling quite dissatisfied and unfulfilled. I was putting in all these hours to make someone else’s dream come true. But what if I actually channeled all of that passion towards something I actually cared about. Something that mattered. I wasn’t quite sure what that was yet. All I knew was that DJ, myself and our international circle of friends had it really good growing up. We had this super tight bond and strong worldwide connections. It all clicked when I was sent to Sydney on a business trip. After work
to spare to wander around and ‘do what locals do’. Thankfully, I had a friend from secondary school in Hong Kong who now lived down under and she was free to take me around. We walked around the parks, ate sushi, got extremely burnt at Bondi beach, had an incredible night out, joined by her friends who then became my friends. “How lucky I am,” I thought on the plane back to London, to have friends everywhere willing to help me out. How awesome if I could see where everyone is on a map so I can start planning my travel around that. How cool would it be if I could meet their friends as well.
And so the idea for Friends of Friends Travel was born: an app that made it really easy to see where all my friends - and friends of friends were, and how they were willing to help me out every time I went abroad. This app gave DJ and I a chance to share our lifestyle and opportunities with other people. After all, think how amazing it would be if a friend of a friend suddenly tapped into one of mine or DJ’s circle of friends or that of people like us. We were basically giving people the gift of travel through friendship.
Daljeet Singh(DJ): We hoped
to make it really easy to ask friends and friends of friends - for help when
easier, cheaper, and safer travel knowing there’s a trustworthy and friendly face at the other end waiting for us. On a much grander scale, we wanted to encourage this culture of sharing and offering help before anyone even asked. We want to make people happy. And we realise that travel the journey of meeting new people, seeing new places, experiencing new things - is a great way to help people do that.
KC: Let’s face it, if you like to travel
and you have a jolly bunch of people you like to call “friends”, chances are you’re already “FOFing it” and asking these friends and family for tips, referrals and recommendations before you start your trip. We’re just trying to make the process a little easier. Of course, by nature the millennial generation are a lot more well-travelled, tech-savvy and perhaps reliant with their use of the internet and social media. They know what they want and often times know where to find it. They’re autonomous and used to booking things themselves, and online. So it’s not surprising most of our users fall within the 18-35 year old bracket. Having said that, we’ve also had more mature people approach us and say “Hey, you know I can really see the benefit of this! I’d be up for that!”
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f.o.f.t.
KC: We have a number of esteemed advisors mentoring
and helping to steer us in the right direction. Ryan Roth is CEO & Founder of Roth MGMT and was voted one of the Top 500 Cultural Influencers in the World to watch. Darren Darnborough is the founder of SponsorBridge and www.StuckForStaff.com - the UK and USA’s largest promotional staff resource. He’s also recognised as part of the Who’s Who of Britain’s Business Elite - Young Business Leaders, 2010. Marek Wawro is the CTO and Co-Founder of Azimo.com and Steve Lowy is the CEO & Founder of UMI Hotels and UMI Digital. He’s also on the Board for BETA (the British Educational Travel Association) and STAY WYSE - the global association for youth travel accommodation.
DJ:
We’ve also partnered with some of the biggest names in the travel industry, including STA Travel who have gone on record saying that FOF Travel has “the potential to revolutionize travel.” G Adventures have also said that partnering with FOF Travel was a “no brainer”. Other partners include Hostelworld.com, Topdeck, RacingThePlanet, Rough Guides and more.
KC: Of
course, we also have our friends and family to thank for putting up with the roller coaster of our lives the last 12-18 months! And we definitely would not have made it this far without each other. DJ and I have a pretty unique bond. And there’s not many people I would have dared venture into this with!
KC:
As with any startup, I think funds are the biggest problem we face. We are lucky that we have very few direct competitors - and conveying the concept of sharing travel services through your friends and FOFs isn’t one that is difficult to understand. So while other startups might struggle with relaying their message or purpose effectively, those are minor battles compared to making our funds last. Enough, at least, to get us to the next runway or destination!
DJ: The other issue is that we want to make sure that
as a company we maintain our culture. You read about all these hot and successful businesses taking off and then “f*cking up the culture” soon afterwards. We don’t want that. We probably would have been a lot further ahead if we did business a bit more ruthlessly. But that’s not who we are. Those who know us have said one of the great and charming things about FOF Travel and our platform and marketing is that you really get the sense of our characters and personalities shining through. And we want to keep it that way. We’re two very good friends, who love to travel, and came up with this great idea. Everything else is secondary, and a consequence of that passion.
KC: For me the worst possible outcome is to not get the
next round of funding or investment we need to really give FOF the opportunity to soar and reach as many
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discover people as possible around the world. Of course, we can continue to build and grow the new app on our own, but the longer we wait, the higher the risk of someone else overtaking us and beating us to the punch so to speak. Sure the end result may or may not be the same (or similar), but like DJ said before, there’s an insight and culture here worth spreading - a philosophy and way of life. That is so deeply rooted in mine and DJ’s experience growing up as “world citizens”. It’s hard to imagine anyone else conveying that in the same way.
DJ:
We’ve always wanted to run a business together - ever since we were friends in high school. So not only would it be amazing to change the face of travel together and put social networking to actual real-world use, but the real dream is to build a business imbued with our values - and change the face of business too. I mean, look at us! We’ve got an awesome and ferociously independent chick, one of my best friends, running this travel tech start-up. And me: a crochetloving, creative writing, physics and archaeology graduate who clambered to the top of the marketing world and whose hair changes colour every other week! You couldn’t get more interesting and different than that!
KC: We already see companies like
Stack Overflow embracing a remote work lifestyle and environment, where team members are given the freedom to work “in the cloud”, from wherever they want, wherever it is that inspires the most amount of productivity and creativity. Things just aren’t like the way they were before, the way we witnessed our parents and grandparents growing up. We, millennials, really like to do things differently. That’s largely to do with the technology readily available to us, this rise in self-awareness, selfmonitoring and self-censorship. And generally a much more competitive landscape for anyone wanting to build a career and “make it” these days. It’s not enough to just employ people and give them jobs. Or create something with no meaning. It’s all 32
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f.o.f.t. about the culture and “why” these days. And as much as possible we want to create a business that helps improve and enhance people’s lifestyle, including our own.
DJ:
A business that’s empowering travel and facilitating freedom of location and work styles for employees. Where people are inspired to work, and inspired to travel the way that we do. That’s the dream.
KC:
If walls could speak! Let’s just say I will never forget the day I looked at my personal bank account and realised I had gone into an overdraft I didn’t even know I had. I have literally been broke, living off babysitting jobs and teaching yoga part-time and freelance consulting whenever I could... doing anything I could to get by and still allow enough time to keep working on this, to keep giving this a fighting chance. I’ve turned down job opportunities at some of the best digital and creative agencies in London and Hong Kong for this and sacrificed my own freedom to get up and go whenever I want to so that others might be able to travel that little bit better one day. One day very soon...
DJ:
I’ve travelled across the world from Melbourne to London, and would move back to Hong Kong if it meant we’d have a greater chance of making it big. Working two, three jobs isn’t easy but we do it - work insanely long hours, across multiple time zones, because that’s how much this means to us. We’ve thrown ourselves into the deep end, pitched relentlessly, grown super thick skins and keep on fighting because we know this is all part and parcel of the game. There’s a reason why only 1 in 10 startups succeed, and that’s because this is an endurance game. There is little that we wouldn’t do to make this thing work. Let’s just say, if we “fail” it won’t be for lack of trying.
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C
elebrity gifting lounges were formerly unique to Hollywood, however, last year MediaSkin Gifting Lounge created their own unique version of this wonderful formula in London. In celebration of the British National Television Awards celebrities were gifted a multitude of goodies at London’s Swanky Salmontini restaurant in Belgravia. Celebrities enjoying the event included Leigh Francis (aka Keith Lemon), Broadchurch Star Tanya Franks, Sinitta and many other popular faces. They left happy garnered with gifts from from Menrad, The Tru Brand skin care, VOSS, Code mascara, Gandys Flip Flops, Daniel Wellington watches, Aruna Seth, NeoStrata, Skinade, Pro-Sil and Beatitude.
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escape london; visit america
heart london
M
any Brits are fans of the good old U S of A, but do not know where to stay or where to eat. Luckily we have tried and tested a couple of places that will ensure your American memories are happy ones. Visit the Wardorf Astoria Hotel in New York for lunch or dinner and you are in for a real treat. The beautiful, historic building situated on Midtown Park Avenue is impressive from the inside out. The beautiful architecture and surroundings coupled with the delicious food on offer, make a visit a very worthwhile experience. The Tavern on the Green in the Big Apple is equally impressive. Situated on the Upper West Side in the heart of Central Park, this again is a must for tourists, who are not travelling on a student allowance. However, as the saying goes ”You get what you pay for” and in this case, superb location, great service and amazing food. The views overlooking the park are worth the visit alone. Looking for somewhere to stay, the boutique hotel Kitano is situated a stones throw from the Empire State Building in min-town Manhattan. If you would like to stay right in the centre of New York and visit all that this beautiful city has to offer, the Kitano should be your first point of call. If the sun is calling your name, then why not fly just a little bit further and reach the sunny shores of California. The Gadarene Swine is a lovely little restaurant in Studio City, Los Angeles and just a ten-minute drive from Hollywood. As you walk off Ventura Boulevard you are greeted but a pretty patio, with little trees, fairy lights and a welcome arch. As soon as you step inside you can’t help but feel welcome and at home, yet walking inside is just the beginning of your visually exciting and amazing culinary journey. Wherever in the world you come from, if you EVER go to Los Angeles, you would be doing yourself a huge disservice if you did not visit the Gadarene Swine and allow yourself to be blown away by it’s culinary delights. Never has food been more enticing, exciting, delicious and innovative. The Gadarene Swine gets it right on every single level and is simply the best! From the pretty décor, to the perfect service and of course the food, which is out of this world. This Los Angeles eatery may well be one of our all time favourites, so whatever you are doing, stop and run to The Gadarene Swine for the food experience of a lifetime! Waldorf Astoria New York, New York, NY 10022 Tavern on the Green, Central Park West & W 67th St, New York, NY 10023, United States Kitano Hotel, (main image) 66 Park Avenue E 38th Street, New York, NY 10016, United States The Gadarene Wine, 11266 Ventura Blvd, Studio City
by catherine lyn scott
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music
M
usical influences are often varied and for Natasha North this holds true. “I used to listen to the more traditional singer/ songwriters when I was younger. The likes of Simon and Garfunkel and Damien Rice really shaped how I write melodies and lyrics.” she says. However when it came to deciding how her music would be produced, the sound of the more contemporary artists such as Bon Iver and Ben Howard were closer to her heart. “To be honest, I love listening to so many different types of music that when it came to making my own there evolved many contrasting elements to the sound! I wanted to create something that I would enjoy
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listening to.” For Natasha the strength of this conviction is such that she considers it “...the most important and honest way to create music.” In terms of the music, she tries to incorporate electronic and synth elements with the more traditional singer/songwriter style of acoustic guitar and stripped back vocals. “I think of it as a bit of a hybrid mix. In general my music would probably be classed under the ‘alternative-pop’ genre.”
a certain picture for the listener and to then let them continue the story in their heads!” With the seeming expectation for women in the music industry to promote an image that is overtly sexualised, strong, and perhaps feminist does Natasha or her music fit in with this? “I think as a women in the music industry I do have a responsibility to stand up for the values of equality but equally it must be approached in a mature way.”
And for the lyrical content? “I like to enable the listener to decide the topic of each song. I try and make my songs thoughtprovoking but also with some simplicity. I feel like my job as a songwriter is to create
As a musician with a desire to entertain people Natasha seeks to represent herself in a way that feels appropriate; “In an industry which is still quite male dominated, it’s so good to
natasha north
secrets untold
Intrigued by the haunting overtone of her voice and music 72M spoke to singer songwriter Natasha North about what has influenced her sound and shaped her as a performer... see many driven and talented women are becoming successful without sexualising themselves, and I aspire to be one of them.” she says. In September 2014 Natasha played to a sell out audience of over 4000 people at the Royal Albert Hall. Was it all that she had imagined? “It has of course always been a dream to play to thousands of people. I used to sing my songs in my bedroom, pretending that there were thousands of people singing along. That being said, it was the most incredible and surreal experience. It didn’t hit me until a couple of days later when I saw photos how many people had been watching.”
So for Natasha, who would be her ideal contemporary collaboration, and if she were to perform say, a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge what song would she like to cover and why? “I’d love to work with Ben Howard. He is such an incredible musician and someone I really aspire to, the way he has crafted his career is incredible. The second question is tricky. My current favourite song is ‘Memo’ by Years and Years, so I would say that, I think it has such a brilliant melody.” In the future where will Natasha’s music take her? “To new countries. I used to love travelling when I was younger, and I’d love to get out on the road abroad. The other thing I love about music is meeting new people. So to
continue enjoying everything and seeing the world would be a dream. Is that cliched?!” What advice do you have for emerging musicians? “There have been many moments over the last few years where I’ve thought, ‘is this really worth it?’. The answer is completely and utterly yes. It’s just hard to envisage when you’re singing hard crafted songs to a pub of noisy punters. I think the people that are driven and work hard stand out from the rest, it’s more than just writing and performing songs, it’s marketing, business, and networking, so that when people arrive to help you with your career, you know exactly what is happening. And of course to enjoy yourself!”
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film
this man’s life
Writer and producer Paul Hodgson is a person amongst a select few who wouldn’t have to provide a hypothetical answer to the question “Who would play you in the movie of your life?” because that movie “Give them Wings” goes into production in 2015.
B
y contracting childhood meningitis in 1965 when he was a few months old Paul was set upon a life path with a genuine challenge. For the first 11 years of that life he could neither move nor speak, yet it was Paul’s fortitude, determination, will and humour filled attitude that enabled radical change.
It has been a long road to get where we are today. We decided to set up our own production company, and write the script ourselves. It has gone through many drafts and now has a cinematic feel, rather than a biopic one. Fellow PIMM Productions Directors Mike Jarvie, Margaret Collins and Ian Carter have been a fantastic support to me.
By first lifting himself from the restrictions of his physical circumstances, then from those of his familial environment he began an independent life of films produced; by his own production company PIMM Productions, books published, and perhaps most importantly football matches attended in support of his beloved Darlington F.C.
Another huge turning point was meeting our director Sean Cronin, who we originally got onboard to direct our award winning short ‘An Unfortunate Woman’. He introduced us to our Executive Producer, former Ivor Novello Award winner Tony Waddington and they have been fantastic to have around, simply because of their experience in the film business. Sean has turned out to be a really good friend too.
Known to fellow fans of the Quakers as Flipper, his account of his life story ‘Flipper’s Side’ upon which the film is based was published in 2000, Paul spoke to 72m.
What do you hope to portray in a film depiction of your life story - that you feel can’t be expressed through a book? Firstly, the film will be seen by a much wider audience, sometimes it is better to be ‘visual’. By using this medium rather than that of the printed page shows what ‘Paul’ and his life is all about in a clearer way. They say ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’.
What are you aiming for viewers to take away from the film? I’m hoping that viewers will come away feeling that by watching this film you get a positive vibe about disability, similar to how people felt during the London Paralympic games in 2012.
How did you get from ‘concept’ to the pre-production stage and who was involved to support? 38
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How has the process impacted on your real life relationships with those reflected in the film? That’s an interesting question. My mother is no longer with us and my father is OK with what I’m trying to get across. He comes out well in the film, which was always important to me, right from the very first script we wrote. I don’t see Jane (not her real name) anymore so I don’t really know how she feels. Everyone else is really cool about it, my relationship with Ian Carter hasn’t changed at all. The same can be said of my sister.
What do you ‘not’ want people to think of or take away from the film? Really the opposite of your second question. I really don’t want people to come away feeling negative about disability. I know they won’t, as ‘Paul’ is an ultra positive guy in the film.
paul hodgson
“I’m hoping... that by watching this film you get a positive vibe about disability...”
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art
40
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chudamani clowes
C
hudamani Clowes was recently named the winner of the Griffin Art Prize 2014. She competed with nine other shortlisted artists for the prize, which includes use of an exclusive studio space in West London. sevent y 2minutes  January 2015 
41
at primary art and won prizes I have always loved d teaching I became more te ly, and school. When I star g art more serious four sin ru pe in as interested w artwork. My son Martins began selling my started at Central St months old when I to study Fine Art.
how?
It has been a so join all the do rt of social awakening. I st ts and piece to arted to g immigrated to this coun ether why my parents try. My rese me question arch made h racial stereoty ow I was perceived and ch p the Ethnogra es. I was completely fasc allenge inated by phic archive at the British I started to w M o and why they nder how these artefacts useum. g o realised I cou were shown in a particu t there lar way. I ld curate and became awar fictionalise th e e and hierarch of mechanisms of repre past. I ies of power sentation .
I hope my ar tw current immig ork is very much a part o f ra personal ventu tion debate. It has not been the just a re but reflects the political cl I’m working im in to send illegal . When I see billboards as ate king im m igrants ho refusing to stu dy black histo me and schools ry know why as we live in a m month I want to ulticultural so think the issu ciet es for a long time of immigration will be wit y. I h us with the ever-p globalization an re d global econo sent influence of mics.
where?
I have always questioned my desire to create art and become an artist. The journey has been tough and full of financial hurdles and emotional soul searching. You need dedication, hard work and passion. It’s also what drives me in life.
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the role
I make art for everyone to appreciate. People can engage with it on many levels and derive their own meanings from it – I wa be challenged and to for m nt my audience to a dialogue with it.
why?
who?
what?
when?
art
able to an age where I am I am in e liv I t tis ar an As and can ask questions question society. I tions to lu so e Th swers. an e th of in rta ed and unce er are multi layer nd po I ns tio es qu uck in the the public. I am st cial to le ab lat pa un be may to so I can but respond free to my time therefore I’m t. ar y m e through sorts of injustice around m e technology in all us d an e tiv va no in be e question. ways to ask the sam
I hope that afte rm being the winne y solo show which is a part of r of the 2014 G riffin Art Prize, can start to beco I m artist with a galle e established as a professional ry to represent m showing intern ationally. At so e and a view to me stage I wou like to start a ld PhD community proj , and also to work on mor e ects with art gr oups like ‘Creat e’.
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I think you alw ay climate the artis s have to consider the political t influenced by is working in. In my case, I am the political issu es that confront me in the news to climate art is pr day. I think politics effects th e od that govern us uced in and especially the law . I think art is s aw sense of the wor ld and trying to ay of making political questio find answers to ns.
t that’s erpreted in many ways bu int be can rk wo my ow kn I I try to I make a piece of artwork the beauty of art. When dience visual cue that draws the au s to use a reference point or a ject matter. The work ha as to its meaning and sub elf to be deciphered. People d its ces stand up by it self and len ir own aesthetic preferen the m the are bringing with nts of to take a chance the eleme and experiences. I have e place are few. misreading that might tak I have how the work is read. I am always intrigued by deal with age and my own voice to developed my own langu th. issues I am concerned wi Stay true to your heart an d positive about making wo what you really believe in. To be very rk. To do this, create a ch eck to help nurture you like time management; a suitab list of actions le studio, a peer group of supportive and challenging artists to have regular critiques with. Make sure you atten d try to apply for art reside debates and artists talks regularly and ncies to broaden your art istic practice. Be inventive and develop yo ur own visual language. Remember that most skills are transferab le an thoroughly the subject ma d can be utilised to create art. Research tte your passion and drive lea r you are concerned about. Always let d you.
advice
intentions
art & politics
chudamani clowes
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discuss
D
espite having worked in, and around, politics for over six years, it’s not something that perhaps I pay as much attention to as I should.
There was even a time when I would proudly declare that I’d never voted as I didn’t see the point, although I’ve changed that viewpoint, and exercised my right at the ballot box during the last local government elections. I guess that I finally have something I feel I’d like to fight for in the political world and that issue for me is the funding, or lack thereof alotted to tackling mental health in the United Kingdom. According to a report from the charity Mind, last year just 1.4 percent of the public purse was spent on mental health, despite the fact that, on average, one in four people in the U.K. will experience a mental illness each year.
mental w
According to the same report, in the next twelve months local authorities plan to spend £76m on increasing physical activity, £160m on anti-smoking initiatives and almost £700m on sexual health services, but just £40m on Mental Health. Consider again that earlier statistic, that one in four people in the UK will experience a mental illness in an average year. That’s roughly sixteen million people, and for that each person will only get £2.50 per head worth of funding. £2.50 each! The average cost for a month’s worth of anti-depressants is £8.05 should you have to pay for your prescription. Something doesn’t appear to add up here, especially because in 2013, mental illness was reported to have cost the U.K. economy 70 million working days, a rise of 24 percent since 2009. Which makes me, and others more qualified in their opinion perhaps, think that there’s a massive imbalance in where our taxes are being spent in the UK? So, if I magically became Prime Minister overnight what
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andy holmes would I spend the extra money on? Let’s not dwell too much for now on where I’d find this cash, again better men and women than me could answer that one as to what pot of money we could find it in, but based on my experience of the mental health services on offer in the UK, politicians could do worse than looking at the experience you get when you visit a GP.
wealth by andy holmes
I appreciate that to become a general medical practitioner, you need to be a jack of all trades, but more than any other condition, there seems to be a GP lottery when it comes to mental illness. If you’re lucky you find a doctor who at least understands, if you’re less fortunate you run the risk of being handed medication and left to get on with it. I like my doctor, he tries to understand, but I often come away from my visits with him thinking that it’s been a waste of time, as he’ll ask me the same questions each time and no matter how much I try and plead about how difficult it can get when the black dog bites the most, there doesn’t seem to be much within his powers that he can suggest. Perhaps the average GP feels just as helpless as the patients do. If that’s the case, then surely more needs to be done to educate our doctors, so that they are better equipped to help the one in four. According to recent statistics mental illness is one of the top ten reasons for surgery attendance making the need for a much more informed local health service especially important. Of course it’s not all down to our politicians, and thank goodness for the increasing number of mental health charities, that are now too numerous to mention, all doing their bit in different ways to provide a supportive service to tackle the problems. Still, surely there must be more cash in the pot than £2.50 a head when mental health costs the country over one hundred billion pounds a year!? Perhaps if there was more funding for mental health, then perhaps some of those amongst us for whom mental issues have created a political apathy might be keener to have their say in influencing who runs the U.K.
h e
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mind your business
1. NO CONSISTENCY OR UNIFORMITY Your website should remain uniform throughout. Making each page a different color or design will only succeed in confusing and deterring customers. Design your website to flow easily and consistently.
2. CONFUSING NAVIGATION Use simplicity and cleanliness. Don’t clutter pages with ads, graphics or flash. Keep your pages, clean and easy to follow. I have been to sites that had dozens of banners on their pages. This is will lose visitors very quickly.
3. INEFFECTIVE COLOR CHOICES Color contributes to your site’s success or failure. Research the psychology of color and make wise choices for your website. Consider your target market, the message you want to send and emotional impact on visitors.
4. CLICK TO ENTER SITE Have you ever clicked on a link to see what a site had to offer only to see a page that says, “Click to Enter Site”? I have seen this numerous times and it always baffles me. You have just seconds to capture a person’s attention so why put a meaningless message and extra click for them to deal with?
5. ELUSIVE CONTACT INFORMATION Provide easily accessible contact info. Visitors want to feel you are there when they need you. Some sites don’t provide this at all and it suggests that they don’t want to be known or bothered. This will not work for a business.
6. FORCED MUSIC DO NOT force-feed your visitors to music, a sales pitch or video. Too many sites have automatic music or videos when you land on their homepage. Give visitors the choice whether or not to view or listen this type of content.
7. CONTENT FULL OF ADS One thing I find very annoying is reading an article and having to go through several ads within the article. I don’t know who came up with this idea but I find it to be very annoying and distracting. In my opinion, providing helpful, clean content is much more effective than filling it up with ads.
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terri seymour
8. PDF FILES When providing information and content to readers, do not use surprise PDF files. Downloading these can be troublesome. If you do have these, be sure to let visitors know it will be a PDF so they are aware.
9. EMPTY PALACE SYNDROME Who would build a beautiful palace and put nothing in it? Think of your website in the same way. Don’t focus everything on design forgetting about content. This is crucial to your success so build a simple, easy to use website and fill it full of up-to-date content.
10. NON-USABLE CAPTCHA I find these to be one of the most annoying things used by many websites. I have had to leave numerous sites because the CAPTCHA was not readable or working properly. If you find it necessary to use this annoying feature, please be sure to check it and make sure it works and can be used easily.
11. REGISTRATION REQUIRED Do not require your customers/readers to register for your site unless it is absolutely necessary. Then, be sure to use a simple, clear, concise form. Keep the clicks to a minimum and do not ask for a person’s life history.
12. HARD TO READ Be sure to provide easy to read text. The best color combination is standard black text on a white background. This is the easiest on most eyes whilst the inverse is harder and might not be a good choice. Also consider a simple clean font without any curlies or cute designs.
by terri seymour ©
I
web design fumbles you might be making
f your website is your place of business you must build it for your customers’ needs as opposed to your own. Many people make the mistake of filling their website with useless graphics or meaningless text. Ask yourself this question, “Is this helping my customer?” When building your website, are these some of the small and overlooked mistakes you might be making? sevent y 2minutes January 2015
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Villa Aserbo by Eentileen
technology
3
D printing; you’ve heard about it right?
It’s a super futuristic, crazy concept that’s available now. What is it? Technology that allows you to produce 3 dimensional objects.
stuff... with your hands? Sort of – but it’s quicker, way more fancy, and you can create things that would ordinarily be beyond your own physical skills and capabilities. Basically, if you can imagine it the technology will produce it for you (with a few processes in between).
design of your concept using CAD software or you can employ the talents of a ‘3D scanner’ to scan and reproduce an existing item you want to replicate. Whatever the process your 3D model is then loaded into your printer which breaks this model down into hundreds or thousands of layers. The 3D printer thus prints each layer, knitting them together seamlessly to produce your 3D
/3D
Erm... isn’t that like making
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Oh. So how does it work? You can start by making a virtual
Janina Alleyne
Iris Van Herpen
3D printing
Watch this space!
Surely this is witchcraft?! No, silly. It’s technology.
Hot damn. Where can I get one and how much will it cost me? Hobby level? – circa ££ - ££££ for a 3D Printing pen or a 3D printer (often) the size of a microwave oven. Thinking about a business? - Your hobby could easily become your business but full scale industrial 3D printers cost hundreds of thousands.
Makerbot Replicator Mini 3D printer
What can I print? Toys, skin, houses, shoes, clothes, furniture – the list is ever growing. As the technology develops those that are in love with its potential are feverishly innovating new outputs.
However, as the technology develops the costs are becoming more realistic so smaller businesses can hope to invest. A quick search engine query will bring you plenty of outlets so do your research before you invest. See http://3dprinting.com/ more information.
for
Monoprice 3D printer
object.
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learn
agrarianism
realpolitik
watergateism
locofocoism
quislingism
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cobdenism
porno
pan-africanism
world wise woman
sinarquism
ocracy
rebeccaism
whiteboyism
bossism
machiavellianism
know your politics? I
f you think that you are well infomed on the nature of the political landscape then you will already be aware of the beliefs of rioters in South Wales in 1843-44, who were led by a man dressed as a woman called ‘Rebecca’. So too about secret Mexican counter-revoltuionary movements, radical 19th Century New York City Democrat groups, government dominated by prostitutes, and the collective interests of agricultural communities. Some of the more interesting and unusual, though perhaps shortlived, political movements and ideoligies have specific historical and geographical contexts, whilst it boggles the mind that some would ever encompasss enough groundswell to gain any serious foothold in the political arena others remain to this day more or less ubiquitous, though perhaps not openly advocated due to the very nature of their deceptive philosophy’s. and whilst boggles the mind that others would ever encompasss enough groundswell to gain any serious foothold in the political arena. Whatever colours you choose to nail to the mast, it pays to find out who else is sailing the ideological high seas.
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discover
political compass let your instinct be your guide
T
oday’s complex political landscape is more than just ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘democrat’, or ‘republican’. You may be fed up of what is seemingly, consistently, a two party race but how much time have you spent analysing where you are on the political compass?
Once you have answered the test questions the algorithim will determine where you place on a 4x4 matrix that has ‘Authoritarian’ to the North, ‘Right’ to the East, ‘Libertarian’ to the South, and ‘Left’ to the West of this matrix. The shaded areas then illustrate how far you place in these designated areas.
Politics, like religion and sports teams, are often inherited. The family you grew up in demonstrated X views, supported Y team, and worshipped at the alter of Z deity so it stands to reason that you will too. Few apples fall far from their trees when it comes to their God, their politics, and football.
Additional information on www. politicalcompass.org suggests that most of our modern day politicians placed somewhere easily described as North East, a patch that highlights their right leaning with an inclination to Authoritarianism (on our background picture this is the area to the top right, coloured in dark purple).
Nonetheless You-ology has never been about where you come from or who you were born to. In our increasing effort to know ourselves, warts and all, we’re encouraging you to step into your political self and understand where your views sit on the contemporary political landscape. www.politicalcompass.org have developed a test that will help you understand where you tip on the political scale. Developed by a political journalist with a background in University counselling and assisted by a professor of social history the test aims to help you gain a better idea of your political leanings and understand the inevitable contradictions that arise when you unveil the heart of your politics; to yourself.
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72M’s Editor tested as leaning heavily towards Libertarian (south of the matrix) whilst just slightly left of centre, landing in the leafy green patch on out illustration, a place further described on www.politicalcompass. org as somewhere near to Anarchism. Other left of centre politicians, noted on www.politicalcompass.org, are Francois Hollande, Alexis Tsipras, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela; although all of these scored closer to the Authoritarian dividing line and could best be described as Collectivist in their ideology. Conversations matter especially the awkward ones. Knowing who you are, and why you are, furthers the way we communicate. Go test yourself and join the conversation.
you-ology
know yourself
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