Dircksey vol. 5 ed. 3 - BUZZ by ECU Student Guild

Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5

Issue 3 Volume 5 | buzz

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v Dircksey Magazine

Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5

"A bee is never as busy as it seems, it just can't buzz any slower."

- Kin Hubbard

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CONTRIBUTORS

Ed. 3 Vol.5 - Buzz Alex Gerrard @alexgerrad

ARTISTS

Adam Di Tuillo Alex Gerrard

Claire Solano @hlorofuolo

Andrew Douglas

Elisha Hammond @elisha_hammond

Brittany Freeman

Neel Goodwin @Kloudkat

Caitlin Telcik

Zoe Wolski @zoewolski

Christopher Spencer Damian Cook Elisha Hammond

COVER ART

Fazal Abed Grace Flynn Grenville Francis Jess Checkland Jesse Newell Josiah McMeekin Krishna Aksa Libby Harris Tahlia Papamichail Taylor Kingston

Claire Solano @chlorofuolo

Tiarne Lambert

EDITORIAL

Issue 3 Volume 5 | buzz

Logo: Sella Winadi

Editor-in-Chief: Elisha Hammond editors@ecuguild.org.au

Lifestyle Editor: Adam Di Tuillo dirckseylifestyle@gmail.com

Arts and Culture Editor: Grace Flynn dirckseyartsculture@gmail.com

News Editor: Tiarne Lambert dirckseynews@gmail.com

Flim and Literature Editor: Jessica Checkland dirckseyfilmlit@gmail.com

Marketing & Promotions: Lauren Reed l.reed@ecuguild.org.au

Graphic Design: Alex Gerrard IG: @alexgerrard

Special Thanks: Tristan Sherlock IG: @blackmarketfungi

The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Dircksey Editor(s), sub-editors/section-editors, Edith Cowan University or the Edith Cowan University Student Guild. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Dircksey articles and other information are up-to-date and as accurate as possible, as of the time of publicationâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; but no responsibility can or will be taken by the abovementioned entities if an issue of Dircksey has any errors or omissions contained herein.

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BEE SOCIAL

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facebook.com/dircksey @dirckseymagazine Dircksey

Head to our website for your online dose of Dircksey. We publish a wide range of reviews, interviews and creative content. Jump online and have a skim be

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ONLINE BUZZ

Want to write with us or create art? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always looking for new people to join the team. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested email editors@ ecuguild.org.au for more information. Or head to our Facebook page for details on our next contributors meeting (all are welcome). Dircksey Magazine v

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In the Know Tiarne Lambert The News in Brief | 8 Team Dircksey Things To Calendar | 17

Arts and Culture Grace Flynn The Do’s and Dont’s of Airbnb | 10 Andrew Douglas Benefits of Gay Liberation | 12 Tahlia Papamichail In the Name of Sexual Liberation | 13 Josiah McMeekin + Libby Harris The Dircksey Dungeons and Dragons Edition | 18 Tiarne Lambert Tattoo Stigmas | 24 Grace Flynn Microdosing | 26

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News Grace Flynn Enviro Innovations | 36 Andrew Douglas A History of Gay Liberation | 38 Fazal Abed The Greatest Peace Walk You've Never Heard of | 39

Film and Lit

Grenville Francis It's Not Easy Being Purple | 43

Christopher Spencer 50 Years of Space Movies | 61

Elisha Hammond Fight for Rights | 44

Taylor Kingston Why Back to the Future Deserves More Buzz | 62

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The News

Catch up on all the happenings in the world of news since Dircksey's last edition! We'll get you up to date on all the big stories from around the globe and the big things yet to happen in 2019. HONG KONG RIOTS Ongoing

Multiple protests have been held in Hong Kong to denounce a proposed extradition law that would transfer fugitives from Hong Kong to mainland China. Demonstrations evolved from millions marching in the streets, forcing the shutdown of the city’s airport.

On June 13, Kenyan wildlife authorities announced that Garissa, the infamous white giraffe, was expecting her second calf. Garissa gave birth on August 23 and is now the mother of two all-white calves. It is believed the giraffes have a genetic form of leucism which stops skin cells from producing pigment.

ANOTHER PM FOR UK June 7 Theresa May formally steps down as British Prime Minister after nearly three years of service due to failed Brexit negotiations. She was replaced by Boris Johnson in July.

EUROPEAN HEATWAVE June-August Countries across Europe experienced record-breaking heatwaves that broke highest temperature readings. August was the fourth time since 1901 that the Netherlands had experienced two heatwaves in a single year, and the first time since 1947 that Belgium experienced three heatwaves in one year.

CIRCLE OF LIFE August 12 A French animal sanctuary announced two white lion cubs were born in July. Their parents, Simba and Nala, were rescued from the circus. While white lions are native to South Africa, only a few remain in the wild.

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ALBINO GIRAFFE August 23

FACEBOOK NEWS August 20

Facebook announced plans to launch a “News Tab” run by journalists and publishing outlets. They claim it will be different to their ‘Trending Topics’ tab, which was discontinued due to alleged bias.

Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5 THE AFP RAIDS THE ABC June 5

TAIWAN LEGALISES SSM May 17 Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage after the bill passed parliament 66 to 27.

The Australian Federal Police raid ABC headquarters and the home of journalist, Annika Smethurst over stories allegedly containing leaked information about national security and special forces. This sparked concerns not only amongst the media, but the public who have a democratic right to know what the government is doing.

ROYAL BABY May 6

ULURU BAN AND PAULINE'S CLIMB August 24 After Indigenous elders announced their plans to ban climbing Uluru, One Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pauline Hanson visited the rock in protest but got stuck halfway when she tried to climb it. The climbing ban is set to become effective on October 26, 34 years after the sight was handed back to the Traditional Owners.

Newly-weds Royals Harry and Meghan give birth to their first baby, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The little prince is seventh in line of succession to the British throne.

AMAZON RAINFOREST FIRES August 21 ABBEY ROAD'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY August 8 Fans flocked to Abbey Road to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous album cover photo.

Scientists announced that the Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the lungs of our planet, has been burning at an alarming record rate. This year, over 75,000 fires have rages through the forest, an 80% increase to last year. French President Macron called for urgent discussion of the fires at the G7 climate summit.

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Do's and Dont's N

ow worth billions of dollars, it’s really no surprise that online property marketplace, Airbnb, have quickly earned themselves global success. With over six million listings worldwide, Airbnb offers a great alternative to your stock standard hotel when you’re looking to travel, and at a typically much friendlier price.

time, will be more than happy to share their local recommendations. Not only does this save you from wandering cluelessly into tourist traps and spending far too much on a margherita pizza or a Spanish paella, it also gives you the opportunity to explore and experience the more authentic sides of a town or city. Don’t: Forget to read your check-in instructions

But, with all its success, horror stories about bed bugs, crazy tenants and angry landlords continue to circulate the internet, a lot of us doubt whether it’s really worth taking a chance on Airbnb. Fortunately for you, I spent the majority of my fiveweek holiday in Europe using Airbnbs to give you the do’s and don’ts of the travel site.

Unfortunately, I learnt this crucial lesson the hard way. After a flight, a train, and a twenty-minute long trek in some intense humidity (cobble-stoned streets and suitcases are not a good combination btw), my boyfriend and I finally arrived at our Airbnb in Rome. But, instead of waiting outside of the apartment building to meet the Airbnb host, Do: Consider staying in a shared apartment as specifically outlined in our check-in instructions, I noticed the door to the apartment building had If you are anything like me, then the idea of been left open. Let’s just say, our host Federico was sharing an apartment with total strangers is far from pleased to see that we’d made our own probably your worst nightmare. But, before you way inside the building and practically scolded us dismiss the idea altogether, remember that unlike like children for a good 15 minutes. It was not a a private apartment or hotel, a shared apartment good time. gives you access to a real local who, 99% of the

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Of Airbnb Do: Use their washing machine!

Do: Expect the unexpected

Please, please, please save your time and money by checking to see if your host has a washing machine. I don’t even want to think about how much I spent at the laundromat because I was too shy to ask my French host if we could use hers. And in the end, it was actually more embarrassing attempting to use the laundromat, seeing as it took two locals to actually get our washing started because we couldn’t read the instructions.

If you’ve ever booked online, you’ll know sometimes certain information, like, say heavy construction across the road from your room with a view, is purposely not advertised on a hotel’s website. Well, unfortunately Airbnb is no different. While walking back to our apartment in Venice, I noticed someone was banging on the window in a building just across the canal. I could see the figure of a man on the top floor slamming his fist into the window and then waving at me. It really didn’t click Don’t: Be disrespectful and ignore the house at first but after asking our host what the incident rules was all about, it turns out it was actually a prisoner waving at me because the building across from As made very clear by our host in Rome, it’s our Airbnb was a high security prison. But hey, I’d becoming increasingly difficult to list properties rather a high security prison over a low security on Airbnb in busy cities. Rude guests who are loud one any day. and inconsiderate have been the cause of a lot of landlords putting a ban on leasing apartments In all seriousness though, Airbnb was such a out to tourists using the site, and so it’s important great alternative to hotels, and a real blessing for to pay attention to the house rules and consider my bank account. So, if you’re looking to save some residents. Put simply, just don’t be a nob and clean dollars on your next holiday and see how the locals up after yourself and you won’t have an issue. live, I encourage you to give it a go! And if things don’t go quite to plan, I can guarantee you’ll come home with plenty of funny stories to tell. Words by Grace Flynn

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Gay Liberation what's in it for us?

ajor social change does not occur in a vacuum but within the context of our complex society. As result, its causes and effects ripple throughout our contemporary culture. The advent of Gay Liberation has resulted in many gains for the LGBTIQ community. However, the effects on the rest of society are not always clear or well publicised. What tends to be forgotten is that such social reforms usually result in longer term changes that ultimately benefit the rest of society. While the marginalised group sees immediate benefits, there are flow-on effects with broader implications. These beneficial effects are not always instantly obvious but emerge gradually with generational change. Initially, there is the general benefit of a more tolerant and accepting society - something which cannot always be quantified or accurately measured. However, a more tolerant society even-tually leads to more tangible benefits. Such reforms can gradually change the culture of major institutions such as the health care system and the administration of justice. It is obvious that when an individual is less harassed or victimised, their self-esteem improves. Therefore, whenever any marginalised group achieves greater acceptance, their rates of self-harm through violence, alcohol or illicit drugs tend to decrease. Ultimately, suicide attempts and drug overdoses become less com-mon. This, in turn, reduces the demand on our already

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stretched health system. Over time, this be-comes a significant saving: a positive flow-on effect of LGBTIQ acceptance. There is another significant benefit in reducing self-harm that cannot be easily quantified and is best understood with a negative example. Scientist and computer pioneer, Alan Turing, is a case in point. He famously helped crack the Enigma code used by the Nazis, thereby hastening the end of the Second World War. In addition, he provided the theoretical groundwork for modern computers. But as an out gay man in 1950s Britain, he was hounded by the police and legal system which led to his suicide. Had he lived, he would easily have hastened the development of the computer by several years or even decades something which would clearly have benefited the modern world. Sixtyfive years later, our society is much more accepting and less likely to be deprived of such a potential genius or benefactor who also might be gay. A more tangible benefit of LGBTIQ acceptance is in the workings of our legal and judicial systems. When gay male sex was illegal in all contexts, police and detectives engaged in all sorts of covert activities to entrap guys performing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;unnatural actsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in public places, usually after dark. These un-dercover operatives would go to extraordinary lengths to make arrests and get convictions. Need-less to say, the court of petty sessions had to deal with these cases of consenting adults. This po-licing often resulted in men receiving

criminal convictions for voluntary acts and was hardly efficient use of the courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time and resources. Not surprisingly, victims of gay hate crimes would be reluc-tant to approach police to report violence. Thus, victimless crimes were prosecuted while actual crimes often went unreported. Occasionally, this policing extended to more comfortable surroundings. I recall an example from the distant past when detectives from the vice squad attended a show at Connections Nightclub. Their official duty? To ensure that a certain part of the male anatomy was not exposed during the performance. At the time, an activist remarked that their time would have been better spent pursuing actual criminals: thieves, rapists, murderers, etc. Nowadays, detectives on the public payroll have better uses for their time than attending male strip shows in gay clubs. Furthermore, gay hate crimes are now more likely to be reported resulting in the apprehension and prosecution of violent offenders. These changes in community policing and the administration of justice have resulted in more effective use of resources, and ultimately, safer citizens. These are just some examples of how gay liberation has changed contemporary society for the better. The gains are not always immediate or obvious but we all continue to benefit from the last fifty years of the gay movement. There is something in all of this for everyone. Words by Andrew Douglas

In the name of

sexual liberation

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here has been a ban on any content that could be perceived as vaguely sexual or explicit across the majority of social media platforms. Here’s why you should care: You are now a part of the censorship. Images and posts that you would come across regularly on your timelines and newsfeeds are no longer available to you. By the same token, you are without the ability to post a whole genre of content that advocates for freedom of expression and works to educate the online community about body-positivity and sexual health. It provides a network in which people can have an open dialogue about topics that we have spent literal decades attempting to draw out into the open and disassociate with shame. Here’s why it’s happening: In July of 2018, the current President of the United States of America, Donald John Trump, made law a set of controversial bills that aimed to work against

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online sex trafficking. These bills are called the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA). It is fair to say that the result of the passing of these bills was not exactly what was anticipated. In fact, social media algorithms have been grossly overcorrected in attempt to fall into line with the broad and ambiguously worded stipulations of the bills. What, specifically, are the posts/information you are no longer able to engage with? Sex-positive and educational material, partially nude/nude art and photographs, LGBTQIA and feminist material referencing sex or nudity as well as content that supports victims of sexual abuse. Accounts posting this content have been deactivated, banned from posting, and removed off of social media platforms entirely. CEO of Slutty Girl Problems, Lorrae Bradbury, and owner of the Instagram account @sluttygrlprobs with a following of over 130,000, is one such account. The following is the interview with Bradbury that details her experiences in relation to the FOSTA and SESTA bills. What was your goal in creating the Instagram account @sluttygrlprobs? I started our Instagram account as another platform for us to share our voice, reach women, and provide resources in a more intimate way with spoken stories. On that platform, we share sex-positive memes and feminist art with inspiring and educational captions, and in stories I talk about personal growth and sexual freedom topics, including overcoming sexual assault and trauma, intimate partner violence and getting out of abusive relationships, having open conversations with your partner, embracing your sexuality, and releasing shame and stigma. Do you believe that the existence of your account, and others like it, is necessary? If so, why?

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People, especially those who are just learning about their sexuality, need authentic, honest, real-world sex education and communities that provide resources, empowerment, and support. Without accounts like our peersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and ours, it becomes harder to find content about LGBTQ resources, alternative sexual preferences, kink safety and awareness, sex industry safety and community, and all forms of sex education and empowerment. Were there personal experiences that prompted you to create the account? My own experiences with sexual trauma, abuse, intimate partner violence, mental health, and shame led me to create my brand [Slutty Girl Problems] and our Instagram account - so that I could talk about my personal experiences, and help other women to find strength and support around the challenges that affect us daily. We get hundreds of DMs a week thanking us for helping women get out abusive relationships, get the shame-free support they need around assault, and answer questions they are too

Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5 embarrassed to ask elsewhere. Why do you believe the account has been banned? What about the account violates Instagram’s terms of service or guidelines, as far as you can tell? The sweeping sexual content ban has expanded to include all expressions of sexuality on major platforms, affecting marginalized communities, including LGBT folks, who are finding it increasingly difficult to simply exist online. Since the legislation passed, Tumblr and Craigslist have completely removed adult content from their platforms, Skype and Google are disabling accounts with sexual content (including private Google Drive accounts hosting nude images, or intimate partners Skyping each other long-distance), and Facebook and Instagram have censored speech around sexuality, including non-graphic educational language around sex. I wasn’t expecting a ban to come with absolutely zero warning, zero information, zero response from the platform, and after breaking absolutely zero of their Terms & Conditions for use.

"People, especially those who are just learning about their sexuality, need authentic, honest, realworld sex education and communities that provide resources, empowerment, and support." After reaching out to Instagram immediately with an appeal, I received an email back that they had reviewed our account and were sticking by their decision to keep us deactivated, citing that we did not meet their community guidelines. Their community guidelines prohibit some nude content - however, we don’t post any nude content, or images of bodies at all. We post memes and non-graphic art that discuss sex in an empowering way. After our followers put up a public fight to advocate for the account and we were very vocal on our other social media, I was notified that our account was being reinstated with an apology for the “mistake” - but we still had no

ability to post, and Instagram would not give me a reason why, claiming it was outside their support scope. I reached out to Facebook Business support as an alternative and received a similar response. We spent three weeks with no ability to post, and no information as to why this was happening or if we would ever be reinstated to full capability. We were deactivated once again in that timeframe. When we were finally given our ability to post, we were given several conflicting messages. They claimed it was a “technical error” that they couldn’t identify, that it was a brief 24-hour ban that mysteriously seemed to go on too long, and that it was because we were posting too often (even though we only post once or twice per day). What is the current status of the account? We were restored our posting capabilities at the end of March. Just a week after our Instagram was restored, my personal LinkedIn was deactivated. This is a space where I share my professional

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Ed. 3 Vol.5 - Buzz qualifications as a sex educator, coach, marketer, and entrepreneur. I don’t talk about sexuality itself anywhere on the platform. This shows how truly far-reaching this issue is. Now, simply existing as a sex educator online is qualification enough to get you banned from a professional platform. It is delegitimizing sex education as a viable and valuable career. What do you believe the ban is symbolic of? This ban blatantly showcases selective censorship. Sexist, racist, homophobic, albeit and other derogatory, offensive content is allowed to proliferate on the platform. Barely-censored, pornographic content that caters to the male gaze is featured throughout. Yet empowering, feminist, sex-positive content is methodically shut down. Memes, erotic art, tasteful seminude imagery with empowering messaging, and educational content that advocates for women’s pleasure are being banned. Who or what is this a giant step back for? Censorship around sex education and sex positivity really hurts communities who are already marginalized. While the "standard narrative" of heteronormative, puritanical sexuality continues to persist online, it becomes harder to find content about LGBTQ sexualities, kink safety and awareness, sex industry safety and community, and empowered sex education. It also makes sex education less accessible to younger generations, who are increasingly turning to social media to find valuable information. It’s also blatant sexism that perpetuates shame and stigma around women’s sexuality; a sad double standard that allows misogynistic content and “humour” to be featured in public feeds, while feminist content that calls

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out toxic masculinity is banned as “hate speech”. There is still so much adult content that exists on the platform - yet the accounts that I see being deactivated en masse are sex-positive educators, activists, podcasts, and artists. I can’t begin to count the amount of inappropriate, sexually graphic, and non-consensual pictures and messages I’ve received in my DMs, all of which I’ve reported. Yet those accounts still continue to exist, and Instagram either does not respond to the report or says it does not violate their terms. It’s unacceptable and dangerous to allow misogyny and harassment to proliferate while empowering voices are silenced. Do you have a message to your followers, or final comments regarding the ban? I believe that when we stand together in solidarity as a community, our voices are incredibly powerful. The more we are able to raise our

voices, the more platforms will be forced to listen. Especially as this issue gets more press and public attention, the more pressure there will be on platforms to respond, be more transparent, change their policies, and ultimately create change at the source revising the SESTA/FOSTA law. I will continue to show up to fight this battle and support those affected. If this trend continues, the internet as we know it will be

completely changed and we will no longer be able to access sexpositive resources and education anywhere online. But the more we raise our voices, the more we can change the conversation. This is how change and movements happen, and as a community, we have the power to make a difference - not only for accounts like SGP, but sexual empowerment everywhere. The more we use our voices to influence those governing us, the bigger the difference we can make. Talk loud enough, and platforms like Instagram have no choice but to listen. Words by Tahlia Papamichael Special thanks to Lorrae Bradbury Photos by Prateek Katyal and Timothy Dykes

Cigarettes After Sex October 25

What's My Name Ringo Starr October 25

THINGS TO SEE

Cry

Marriage Story Netflix November 6

Doctor Sleep Warner Bros November 8

Charlie's Angels

Cold War Kids

Sony

November 1

November 15

Origin of Muse

Knives Out

Muse

Lionsgate

December 6

November 27

Fluffy Sourdough Bread in Common Fremantle

Malteaser Pancakes Elixr Cafe Wanneroo

THINGS TO DO

New Age Norms

THINGS TO EAT

THINGS TO HEAR

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Pixar Putt The Plaza, RAC arena Sept 27 - Nov 3

WA Gourmet Escape Swan Valley November 8

Lemon Sherbet Donut

WA Beer and Beef Festival

Top Dup Donuts

Burswood

Willagee

November 23

Warm Butterbeer

Rotary Jacaranda Festival

Sinabon

Applecross

Northbridge

November 23

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Dungeons and Dragons: Why We Roll It’s everywhere nowadays. You’ve probably seen it in shows like Community, Big Bang Theory and more recently, Stranger Things. Or maybe you’ve watched some of your favourite actors, internet sensations, authors or creative personalities play it on a stream or podcast like Critical Role, Relics and Rarities, The Adventure Zone, Acquisitions Incorporated, Dungeons and Drongos or one of the hundreds of other channels dedicated to the game. Maybe you’re a new or veteran player of the game yourself. The fact is, in the last five years, Dungeons & Dragons has seen a massive surge in popularity in mainstream culture. The question remains, what has caused the recent buzz? In 2014, Wizards of the Coast released Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition (or D&D 5E). The new rule set was smooth, streamlined and the creators themselves have stated that it is the easiest of all the editions for new players to learn (we don’t talk about 4th Edition). Even with optimised rules, 5E still has its own internal complexities, including optional rule sets to make the game more complex or customisable for people who are already comfortable with it, or are looking to try something new.

The steady but not overwhelming release of modules and additional “rule” books has helped keep people interested while also gaining the attention of new players over time. The new rules and adventures aren’t the only thing that has made D&D popular. Popular television shows revolving around geeks and nerds have helped bring it into the mainstream media’s attention, specifically Stranger Things. Podcasts and streams where self-proclaimed nerdy voice actors, or internet personalities play the game have made it accessible to those who don’t have a group to play with. They have also served as an introduction for people who perhaps wanted to see what the game was about before diving in. The biggest reason for its popularity is that it’s fun. It’s an excuse to get your friends together for a couple of hours and escape reality into a world of imagination. You could be traversing fields and forests hunting a band of Orcs, in a shadowy land ruled by an evil Vampire, or you could be trapped in the depths of a Tomb created by an evil Lich. The stakes are high, the emotions are intense, the memories you make will last longer than your character sheets, and the dice rolls that decide your fate are, well... hopefully good. Words by Josiah McMeekin

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Dungeons and Half-Orc Drow Elf Tabaxi dragons: Character Building

Barbarian

Sorcerer

Monk

Folk Hero

Noble

Outlander

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Dungeons and Dragons:

Character Building

So, you’ve chosen your race, your class, the tidbits of spells and proficiencies, and now you’re looking to really start making your character. But how do you make something that’s exciting without being too heavy? Something that has wiggle room, but isn’t just bare bones? Well, hopefully this guide can help.

From those dot points, start filling in the blanks. How did they get from their homeland to the tavern they start in? How did the loss of their friend impact them? How did they get away from their crimes? You’ll probably start to see the structure of a first-person narrative forming; this is the best way to get into your character’s head.

The first step is choosing your background. The background is kind of like using a structured writing prompt. Maybe your character was an outlander who wandered the wilds and wastelands. Or perhaps they’re a folk hero, someone who defeated evil on a small scale, but now has to face the big wide world. Background acts as a template and can even guide your character’s past career. The most important question to ask when choosing your background is “why?”. Why did your character choose to leave home? Why did your character choose the things they chose? It’s questions like these that help you flesh out your background when it comes to writing your character’s all important backstory.

Now, take a read through what you’ve got so far. Feel like it’s missing some details? Simply add them in! Take a moment to examine all the small details that build up your character’s context and personality. Maybe there’s a memory in there that governs their decision-making you forgot to add in,or maybe you don’t have a name for their best friend yet. These smaller details will help to fully flesh out and develop your character’s world.

Think of the backstorylike an autobiography of your character. Where were they born? What career did they have? What led them to the path they now lead? Think of this as a birthto-tavern story. How did your character end up sitting in a tavern somewhere far, far from home, and right before a big adventure?

Finally, make sure to check in with your Game Master. See what kind of a world your character will be playing in and check to see if it’s likely what you’ve written would work in that realm. Make sure to discuss any issues you’ve found or any questions you have in regards to information. After all, you can never have too much information for a backstory. Whether tragic, heroic, funny, or rebellious, every character needs a story. And every story will shape who they are.

The best way to start is to dot point some of the key events. Birth, parents, loves, losses, careers, and anything else that would have made a strong impact on your character’s life. Sometimes race will play a factor. For example, a Dragonborn (a humanoid dragon) will most likely have lived in a small clan governed by a simple philosophy,whilst an elf might be more akin to life in a court or a small town.

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Dungeons and dragons

WORLD BUILDING Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen it in TV shows, watched it streamed and who knows, maybe even gathered some friends together to scream at the small pieces of plastic yourselves. Fact is, you probably have had some experience with Dungeons and Dragons, especially with it rapidly gaining popularity and becoming a staple of geek culture. One of the great joys of playing D&D, is the ability to make your own world to play in. To many people, the idea of world building is terrifying; where to begin? How to do it? While I do not claim to hold all the answers, I will walk you through the process that I and people I know undergo, and hopefully make the process less scary. Remember, the only thing that stops you from being able to build a world, is the thought that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Words by Josiah McMeekin

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map

If you are someone who works visually, the map is the best place to begin. While map making is great fun, it can also be terrifying. Luckily, you don’t need to fear, it’s not that difficult. There are many ways to make your map. You could draw a random shape on a piece of paper, or use the shape of an actual state, country, continent etc. as your basis. Programs like Inkarnate allow you to make your own map using a digital software. Azgaar’s map generator allows you to randomly generate and edit continents. If none of those appeal to you, and if you have access to Photoshop or Photopea, there are dozens of fantasy map icon brushes you can download for free and use to make your map with. If inspiration rather than how to actually make the map is where you struggle, fantasy books and Google are your friend. There are hundreds of maps you can take inspiration from. Think about what sort of adventures you want to run. Where do they take place and then make your map based around the places you want to see an adventure unfold.

lore

Lore is where the narrative fun begins, there is so much to do. Remember, you don’t have to have all of it done by the time you start playing, but you definitely want to have some idea of your world’s history so that you can help the players make characters consistent with the world. Things to think of are: Are there gods, what are they, who are they? If you want a perhaps more nuanced world, you could make multiple religions and have clerics and paladins gain power through faith rather than their god outright (though this is also maybe something you want to explore in a later game). What is the immediate history of the world? Is it peace time, war time, are tensions rising or are they recovering from a cataclysm? Lore is really just a fancy world for context. Where is your world coming from? Once you have these basic points fleshed out you can move onto the creation story and all the myths. If you’re really stuck for ideas, remember that D&D has multiple pantheons that you can borrow from or outright co-opt if you want. Not only that, but looking to actual mythology is a great place for ideas.

factions This last one is more for flavour. If you’ve picked a medieval setting, you probably have some kind of feudal system (unless you are playing against type, in which case, I commend you, but this section will be of less use to you). You need Lords, Ladies, Kings and Queens. If you need inspiration, look to 'A Song of Ice and Fire', or to actual history, as George R. R. Martin did. Sketching out the borders between all of your noble’s lands to figure out what the geography is like is useful. The last thing to do is to think up some guilds, merchants, thieves magic users etc. These add flavour to your world and help with making it feel more full. It also allows your players to have connections to bigger things in your world which open up many narrative possibilities down the line.

At the end of the day, this is a guide, not the be all and end all of how to world build. Everyone has a process and this particular one is mine. I hope it has at least provided you with some questions you can ask yourself when it comes to creating your world.

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Tattoo Stigmas Rethinking ink

hether you like them or not, everyone has an opinion on tattoos. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see twenty-somethings sporting ink. This generational influx in tattooing is obvious when I look around my circles, as I only know one or two adults with tattoos, but as a 21-year-old I have five, my older sister has close to thirty, and I’ve joined a fair share of friends as they’ve sat in the chair for the first time. But despite this increase in inkings, there is still a distasteful stigma associated with tattoos. If you come from a family like mine, tattoos are still hellishly rebellious and a massive deviation from our social norms. So, I’m here to debunk some tattoo stigmas and make you rethink ink. “You know they’re permanent, right?” Can’t argue with that one. Tattoos are a permanent visible external change to your body that sticks with you forever. While this can be scary and a legitimate reason to put people off, it is also one of the most 24 v Dircksey Magazine

beautiful parts of getting a tattoo. Humans are highly visual creatures and by choosing to colour-ify your skin, it means that you have an everlasting connection to the memories associated with the time you got your tattoo. They are with you until the day you die, so it is important to have a think about the words or images you choose to put on you forever. I know someone who has “Still Alive” tattooed on them to memorialise their recovery from mental health, and we have a good chuckle imagining the guy in the morgue reading that someday.

“They have to have meaning” While there is definite merit in having a specific meaning behind your ink, I personally don’t think this always needs to be the case. Sure, I have my nan’s favourite bird tattooed on me (her suggestion was if I had to get another tatt it would be “I LOVE MY NAN” in block letters down my arm), but I also have a sunflower simply because I think they’re pretty and they make me smile. While you absolutely should have a think before getting inked, I know people who enjoy getting stupid and silly tattoos just for the hell of it. They enjoy using their body as a canvas to express their sense of

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humour or quirky interests, like getting a milk carton because, I mean, who doesn’t love choccy milk? Being able to laugh at ourselves is a huge part of millennial culture, and tattoos (and tattoo regrets) feed into this perfectly. “People with tattoos are thugs” I’m sure you’ve heard this classic line from your grandma before. Older generations love to claim that anyone with a tattoo is just a lowlife criminal. We love to associate tatts with the negative stigma of wretched and rebellious prison gangs, bikies, and even the Japanese

Yakuza. This is often traced back to the 1950s with the greasedup Danny Zuko look-alikes. But this prejudice has deeper roots than just a distaste for defiant aestheticism - it has connotations of classism. Even though tattoos are widespread across many different geographical, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, they are often still seen as expressions of anarchy from the non-elite underclass. But anyone who has ever gotten a tattoo knows this is bull because tatts are expensive as heck. Besides, tattoos historically originated from indigenous Oceanic tribes to signify social

status. Tattoos were usually reserved for the high-ranking tribe members; you might even dare to call them the upperclass tribesmen. So, next time you see the bearded guy with two arm sleeves, or the pin-up styled girl with leg tatts, just remember that they aren’t some lowlife loser, they know how to budget and invest thousands of dollars on their art. Words by Tiarne Lambert Photos (left to right) by Andrej Lisakov, Luis Villasmil, Andrew Leu, Annie Spratt and Steven Erixson Dircksey Magazine v

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Microdosing:

Powerful or Placebo? 26 v Dircksey Magazine

hile the practice of taking imperceptible amounts of psychedelics (known as microdosing) is far from new, recent studies on the practice and its entrance into the mainstream is. With companies like Sträva Craft Coffee proposing shroominfused teas and coffees following Denver’s decriminalisation of magic mushrooms this year, it’s clear to see that there’s a real interest and in capitalising on shifting perspectives and new research into psychedelics. With numerous studies published on the effectiveness of substances like LSD, magic mushrooms and even MDMA in treating anxiety and depression, as well as improving cognitive function, microdosing is no longer a concept solely known by the psychedelic community. Reflected in the countless articles and Reddit threads, the use of psychedelics and other substances in sub-perceptible doses, typically between one tenth and one twentieth of a ‘recreational dose’, has been suggested anecdotally to bring about a range of benefits. Senior Lecturer of Addiction at ECU, Dr. Stephen Bright, tells me that perceived benefits from reports range from improved concentration, decreased depression and anxiety, improved focus and enhanced creativity. But with all these enticing benefits outlined in purely anecdotal reports, there are a number of factors to consider when analyzing microdosing. “There’s been very little clinical research done on microdosing

Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5 today, and most of the research… has been cross-sectional, survey designed or longitudinal survey, which is based on people selfreporting what they’re taking,” Dr. Bright tells me. This leads us to question just how effective microdosing really is or whether a placebo effect is taking place, which Dr. Bright says is entirely possible. If you believe you’re taking a low dose of

newly identified link between microdosing and increased neuroticism. In a study published by Macquarie University earlier this year, a number of participants that microdosed over a period of six weeks experienced increased neuroticism; in other words, some participants identified that they experienced negative emotions more intensely while microdosing.

"The use of psychedelics and other substances in sub-perceptible doses, typically between one tenth and one twentieth of a ‘recreational dose’, has been suggested anecdotally to bring about a range of benefits."

While alluring, and certainly a space to watch with ongoing research taking place globally, much more research on microdosing is needed to really support all the promising anecdotes that, at this stage, seem just a little too good to be true. Given that psychedelics are also a Schedule 9 drug in Australia, Dr. Bright says that the decriminalisation of psychedelics is a conversation that we are a long way off having. Until the stigma of these substances are broken down and solid research is produced, microdosing remains an illegal activity in Australia and most other countries discussed in online forums.

something that is going to have wonderful effects, this alone may be enough to bring about a placebo response, in which a person’s belief in a treatment that’s in fact inert is enough to promote positive effects.

It is also essential to note that purchasing and using substances from an unregulated black market will always have its inherent legal and health risks too, which must be taken into serious consideration.

“…Even the results we’re looking For support on alcohol and at where we’re seeing decreases drug abuse, please contact the in anxiety and depression, it could Alcohol and Drug Support Line: actually be a placebo effect. We haven’t really unpacked what’s Phone (Metro): (08) 9442 5000 going on there yet either,” Dr. Phone (Country): 1800 198 024 Bright admits. Words by Grace Flynn In contradiction to the glowing Photo by Anastasiia reviews published online, Ostapovych another factor to consider is a Dircksey Magazine v

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the

buzz

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Honey Bee Facts B

ees are one of the most important parts of our ecosystem - so incredible that we dedicated an entire issue to them! But how much do you really know about nature's great workers? Here are ten little-known facts about our buzzing buddies. 1. A colony of bees has 20,000–60,000 honey bees and one queen. The bee hive is made up of three different types of bees. The Queen Bee ia the head honcho and capatain of the entire hive. She can live for up to five years and is in charge of laying the eggs to make the next generation of bees. She controls whether she makes male or female eggs and lays up to 2,000 eggs per day. Worker Bees are the little ladies you see buzzing about collecting pollen and nectar. They live for six weeks and spend the first half of their lives building and cleaning the hive, feeding the larvae, and circulating air through the comb by buzzing their wings. The next half of their life is dedicated to food collection. Drone bees are the males and don't have stingers or carry nectar or pollen. 2. Honey bees travel around four to five kilometres to scout for plants to scavenge, flying at speeds of up to 25km an hour. 3. Bees have five eyes! Two large compound eyes on the side of their head that are made out of thousands of little lenses, and three smaller eyes on top of their head. 4. Speaking of eyes, bees have a broader range of vision than us humans when it comes to seeing colour. They have the ability to see in ultraviolet light which gives them a specific advantage when hunting for pollen and nectar. This 'bee vision' allows them to see patterns in flowers that are invisible to humans, especially “bee purple” which is a combination of yellow and ultraviolet light. These patterns map out nectar bulls-eyes that guide the bee to the best places to forage. 5. To share info about where the best flower fields are, bees perform a ‘waggle dance’ - the insect equivalent of twerking. When workers return to the hive, they waggle their body in figure-eights to show the distance and direction of the flowers they foraged.

6. Bees have two stomachs; one for eating, and one for storing the nectar and water they will carry back to the hive. To make honey, bees have a cheeky tak-yak and vomit up this nectar, sealing it off in capped honey comb. 7. Bees have an insanely precise sense of smell. They have around 170 olfactory receptors (in comparison to 79 in blood-sucking mozzies) and each hive colony has an individual scent. This allows bees to distinguish between hundreds of floral varieties, as well as smell whether a fellow worker is a friend or foe. They can also smell if someone has been stung recently. 8. We aren’t the only ones who get D.U.I.s or get kicked out of the club for being too drunk. When it’s too hot or humid outside, bees can get drunk off fermented nectar and have flying accidents or even forget where their hive is. If they do make it home, the drones act as bouncers and deny the worker bee entry to the hive so they can’t contaminate the honey. 9. A drone bee’s main purpose in life is to get it on with a virgin queen bee. In order to do this, drone bees meet at specific mating sites in swarms with as many as 25,000 bees. The queen bee mates with multiple drones after they swarm and fight over her in a “drone comet”. The drone’s genitalia, or bee-nis, only emerge when mating. In the middle of the mid-air orgy, the male bee ejaculates with such force that his bee-nis explodes inside the queen, he becomes paralysed, and then does a backflip as he falls to his post-orgasmic death. 10. Honey is the only insect-made food that humans consume. It has natural preservatives in it meaning active bacteria is unable to grow in it. This means that honey never expires and can last for hundreds of years. Stored honey has been found in various ancient Egyptian tombs and was still edible. Words by Tiarne Lambert Art by Claire Solano

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At just 37 years-old, Beyoncé Giselle KnowlesCarter, also known as “Queen B”, is arguably the most influential and powerful woman in the world. Here are just a few reasons why (according to her “Beyhive” fan base). Words By Jess Checkland Art by Alex Gerrard

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Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5 - As of 2019, Beyoncé has an estimated net worth of US $440 million.

- Beyoncé rose to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of RnB group ‘Destiny’s Child’. - She has sold over 100 million records worldwide as a solo artist. - In 2014, she became the highest paid black musician in history. - She supports over 37 charities and foundations plusand over 33 causes, including support for AIDS & HIV, animals, cancer, conservation, gender equality, and human rights. - She has won 20 GRAMMYs from 1999 to 2018, becoming one of the most awarded artists ever. - She is the most-nominated female artist in GRAMMY history, with 62 nominations. - Her charity #BeyGood advocates for women who are unhealthy, underpaid, and underfed, as well as the homeless, sick children, and the unemployed. - She has headlined at the Superbowl twice in three years (2013/2016). - While being a public international figure, she manages to keep her personal life under the radar, raising three children (Blue Ivy, and twins Sir and Rumi) on top of her career. - She has founded her own entertainment company “Parkwood Entertainment”. - Her tours are some of the highest grossing tours ever, with The Formation Tour grossing over $256 million in 49 dates. - Her combined net worth with her husband Jay Z is US $1.35 billion.

Why Beyonce is Queen Bee

- She is a singer, actress, songwriter, record producer, director, model, mother, wife, dancer, fashion designer, and businesswoman.

- She has influenced numerous artists including Adele, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Sam Smith, and Fergie.

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BEE hotels:

Interview with a native bee Expert

e’ve all heard of the plight of the bee. If I asked you to draw one, your mind would probably snap to a buzzy, yellow and black striped insect that you see as either a friendly pollinator, or potential sting hazard. That’s the European honey bee that we’ve all come to know and love. But what if I told you that these aren’t the only bees we should be concerned about? Australia is actually home to over 2,000 native bees, and they need our help to get a reservation in your very own bee hotel. I spoke with Native Bee Expert, Kit Prendergast, to find out what all the buzz is about. What are native bees? How do they differ from the European honey bee? The European honey bee is an introduced species brought to Australia by the Europeans in the 1820s. However, native bees are species of bees that have evolved in Australia and are precious components of our biodiversity. Native bees are incredibly diverse, so how they differ from the European honey bee varies according to the particular species. Most, however, are more selective in the flowers they forage on, with a particular preference (and sometimes reliance upon) native Australian flowers. In contrast to the European honeybee, most native bees are also solitary and don’t always live in hives. Only 11 species in the genera Tetragonula and Austroplebeia – the stingless bee - live in eusocial colonies, make honey, and live in tree hollows, but are very unlike honeybees in appearance (being small and black), the structure of the brood, and the fact they do not sting. The other main differences are that each female can reproduce; few care for their offspring other than providing the nest with nectar and pollen; they are more docile than honeybee workers;

the females do not die when they sting, and males do not die when they mate; and they nest in the ground or in small cavities in wood. How many native bees do we have in Australia/Western Australia? We have approximately 2,000 species in Australia and approximately 800 in WA. However, these are only estimates because there is little funding into the discovery, surveying, and taxonomic description of native bees. Hundreds of bees are in fact undescribed. What are the most common native bees we can spot in WA? Examples of common native bee species in WA are the Blue-banded bee (Amegilla chlorocyanea), Resin bee (Megachile erythropyga), Leafcutter bee (Megachile aurifrons), Masked bee (Hylaeus violaceus), Euryglossina hypochroma, Leioproctus plumosus, Homalictus dotatus, and Lipotriches flavoviridis. What do people need to look out for when bee-watching? Many native bees are small and fast, so you need good eyes! To find native bees, observe large patches of native flowering plants on warm days of low wind during spring and summer during the day. Or, you can build a bee hotel and observe their nesting behaviour there. Why do we need bee hotels? About 30% of native bees nest in little cavities in wood. In nature, these are created by wood boring beetles. Sadly, many of these important trees with the little hollows are in short supply due to land clearing. Although bee hotels cannot replace natural cavities in trees, we can help the native bees out by providing bee hotels.

then seal the nest with either their own secretions (Hylaeinae), or with various other materials such as resin, sand, mud, chewed up plant material, or discs of leaves (Megachilidae). The offspring hatch and the larvae eat the provision in the brood cell, pupate, and emerge as the next generation of bees. How do we build them? Can we buy them? I do not recommend buying a bee hotel because many stores that sell them have not consulted with native bee scientists and consequently the design is completely inappropriate. Native bees don’t nest in huge cavities, empty compartments, pine cones, solid twigs, and do not use wood shavings (all features of terrible designs I’ve seen in bee hotels in stores). Moreover, the wood may be treated which may harm the bees, and if made outside of Australia, would have generated a large carbon footprint. It’s much better and more sustainable to make your own (and you can upcycle!). Bee hotels are very simple and easy to make. My book references different bee hotel designs that can be either simple or elaborate, the biology of native bees that will use them, and preferred flowers for native bees; or you can attend one of my bee hotel workshops and make your own! You can contact Kit or purchase her book Bee Hotels for Native Bees on the following: kit.prendergast@postgrad.curtin.edu.au https://www.facebook.com/ BeeHotelsforNativeBeesBook/ Interview by Tiarne Lambert Special Thanks to Kit Prendergast

Bee hotels help native bees by providing them with nesting resources. Females of cavity-nesting bee species, which comprise mainly Megachilidae and Hylaeinae, create brood cells in the holes provided. Over numerous foraging trips, they provide a brood cell with nectar and pollen, lay an egg, and then seal the cell. They continue to create brood cells along the length of the nest until they reach the end, and

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WHICH NATIVE BEE ARE YOU? Australia is home to over 2000 native bees. Keen to see which one best suits you? Take our quiz to find out! CARPENTER BEE

CUCKOO BEE

DAWSON'S BURROWING BEE

- Fancy boi

- Fashion-savvy

- Needs a week to recharge after a

- Theatre kid

- Probably has a TikTok account

social event

- Will only eat grapes fed to them on a

- “Can I see your homework? I swear I

- Eats their feelings

chaise lounge

won’t copy it.”

- Bloats easily

- Loves alone time and a nap that lasts 2 hours.

HOMALICTUS BEE

TEDDY BEAR BEE

QUASIHESMA BEE

- Op-Shop queen

- Thicc

- Smol

- Has all the eyeshadows palettes

- Hasn’t shaved since they got in a

- Has a really good skincare routine

- Will defend ‘the girls’ at all costs

long-term relationship

- Overachiever

- Thinks dressing gowns are acceptable attire

BLUE BANDED BEE

RESIN BEE

LEAFCUTTER BEE

- Tree hugger

- Witchy

- Leafcutter Bee

- Glitter is their favourite accessory

- Really into crystals

- Plant mum

- Never misses a festival

- Tried burning sage but realised they

- Sticky fingers

were the negative energy in the house

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Honey I Shrunk My Skincare Routine It’s probably your favourite Weet-Bix topping, tastes great in smoothies, and it’s also the name of a killer Mariah Carey tune. But did you know honey has been hailed as a skin-healing ingredient for centuries? Honey’s healing properties make it a highly underrated beauty gem, with studies revealing it can treat chronic skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema. If you were anything like me as an excited 20-year-old ready to wave my pimply teenage years’ goodbye, only to be greeted by the occasional volcanic eruption on my face, I’ve got just the solution for you and it’s been sitting in your pantry all along. Anyone who has used my bathroom has often left confused as to why I keep a jar of honey by my sink. Truth be told, I use it as a cleanser. There is some science behind it, trust me. According to a study by Medical Mycology, honey is an antimicrobial agent, “stemming primarily from the production of hydrogen peroxide from glucose and oxygen by glucose oxidase, a bee-derived enzyme.” Honey is not just for acne prone skin; it’s suitable for all skin types, serving up a range of antioxidants that accelerate healing of the skin. We are lucky in Australia to have honey from certain species of Leptospermum (a native flower to Australia) which contains additional components that further enhance its antibacterial activity. Such honey made from this flower is known as Manuka honey. Gone are the days of rummaging through your pantry and fridge as a teenager, making disastrous face masks out of weird and wonderful ingredients because your Dolly magazine told you so. But don’t give up on DIY skincare just yet. The easiest way to incorporate honey into your skincare routine is as a mask, or chuck it in the shower to use as a cleanser. For a DIY approach, apply unpasteurised honey all over your face (raw, unpasteurised honey can be found at any health food shop), and leave on for 20-30 minutes or wash off when you finish your shower. It’s a sticky process but having a face as smooth as a baby’s butt is worth it.

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t’s no secret that our poor little planet needs as much helps as it can get when it comes to combatting the serious effects of climate change. With the media constantly reminding us of the looming 1.5 degree global temperature increase, our melting ice caps, and the Australian government’s apparent indifference to and inaction on climate change policy, it is no surprise most of are pessimistic about the future.

Nevertheless, climate scientists, engineers and researchers are working tirelessly around the globe to find a solution, and their enviro innovations should be recognised and supported. So, read ahead and let’s review what is being done about climate change: Resource Recovery Facilities Unfortunately, as our appetite for material consumption has grown, so has our landfill. However, Polish recycling company Bioelektra Group have changed the game when it comes to waste management. Through a process that involves heating, chemically treating and sterilising household waste, Bioelektra’s recycling facilities see a whopping 96% of waste saved from landfill and instead repurposed as fertiliser or fuel or sold off to relevant businesses. Despite only being in their infancy, Bioelektra have recently opened their first recycling facility in Australia, which is located in Shoalhaven, New South Wales. Carbon Removal Technology If you’re up to date with environmental news, then you’ve probably heard the term ‘net zero’; the concept of creating a balance between emissions produced and emissions removed from the atmosphere. The big question around achieving net zero is, how? Que carbon removal technology. While it’s certainly far from perfect, companies like Canadian-based Carbon Engineering have created technology that can directly remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground. Other companies like Swiss Climeworks capture CO2 and repurpose it through promoting photosynthesis in nearby greenhouses.

research into the carbon reducing potential of seaweed crops could soon turn this concept into a reality. The idea is that as climate events like cyclones and wildfires become more extreme and occur more often, we need a more reliable carbon sink than trees. Since kelp has high carbon storing efficiency, farming seaweed could not only be a viable option in reducing carbon emissions, but could also reduce the impact of ocean acidification, a process that is significantly damaging our Great Barrier Reef. Lab-Grown Meat Okay, this is definitely a weird one, but it makes sense. Livestock farming contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and water degradation, so by reducing the size of the industry, we could drastically reduce our impact on the Earth. Through taking animal cells and promoting their growth and multiplication in a bioreactor, companies including The Wild Type from the US create meat like salmon that simulates the real thing. In an effort to make the concept affordable, the UK’s Multus Media is working to produce a burger with cultured meat that will cost consumers 15 dollars. The catch? Cultured meat apparently takes a long time to make, so increasing the scale of production is a hurdle these businesses will have to jump. The list of ‘geoengineering’ or ‘climate engineering’ technologies really goes on a lot further than this. With countless researchers looking into ideas like sun shields in space, submarines that make icebergs and cloud-brightening technology, there’s so much that is still yet to be created, explored and commercialised when it comes to this field. So, watch this space.

Seaweed Crops Technically this doesn’t exist yet, but recent

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A history of gay liberation N

ever again. A wise person once remarked that if we ignore the mistakes of history, we are destined to repeat them. When it comes to international conflicts, this is a message worth heeding. It’s difficult to conceive of a war that kills tens of millions of people. For most of us, such a war has never occurred in our lifetime. But it did; a global conflict that became the most disastrous war in human history. Exactly 80 years ago, World War II began. Officially, it would continue for almost 6 years. It was a seminal event of the last century which destroyed many nations and killed, wounded, and displaced millions. Primarily, it was a conflict that was driven by two major power blocks; Germany, then known as the Third Reich (and allied to Fascist Italy), and Japan, then the Japanese Empire. The statistics are horrifying: The holocaust alone killed millions including six million Jews, who were less than half of the total millions murdered in Nazi concentration camps throughout Europe. Victims included other racial minorities such as Roma gypsies, political dissidents, homosexuals, and any other group whom the regime deemed a threat or genetically ‘inferior’ (ample reason to be wary of anyone who proudly displays an inverted swastika). These Holocaust victims were only a fraction of the overall casualties; the rest were on the battlefields and non-combatant civilians. Apart from South America, all populated continents were affected by the war - even Australia was bombed a number of times. Overall, it led to the deaths of approximately seventy million people. Another horrifying aspect was what finally brought the war to an end. After Nazi Germany surrendered in May 1945, Japan continued fighting desperately until August. That month, atomic weapons were used for the first (and hopefully last) time in warfare when two bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What drove this insane destruction of human life on such a massive scale? Clearly nationalism and militarism were key elements and they, in turn, were driven by the idea of racial and ethnic supremacy. Both the Third Reich and the Japanese Empire espoused

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doctrines of racial supremacy.. The Nazis sought to exterminate ethnic Jews from the face of the earth and others who did not fit their ‘Aryan ideal’ (i.e. white, gentile, heterosexual with no inferior genetics), while the Japanese treated other groups such as the Chinese as inferior creatures. The atrocities of the Japanese military rivalled anything undertaken by Nazi Germany. Not surprisingly, this is a part of our modern history that many choose to overlook, ignore, forget or generally avoid. We cannot change history; we cannot give millions of casualties their lives back. However, we can learn from this catastrophic war; identify and acknowledge the forces that created it. Obviously, it was motivated by racism, xenophobia, anti-semitismanti-Semitism and the general fear of the ‘other’. Obviously being superior necessitates someone else being inferior and therefore different; the basic them- versus-us mentality. Unfortunately, this fear has recently manifested itself in the rising tide of populism in countries such as Britain, the US and Australia. White supremacy rallies and mass shootings in the US of ethnic and religious minorities in the US - Jews, African-Americans, Hispanics - are all symptomatic of this fear and irrational hatred. To promote any social construct as superior - whether race, ethnicity, nationality - is the first step on a slippery slope. We are superior: racially, ethnically, genetically was the message espoused by the Third Reich and the Japanese Empire - a message not all that different from the values paraded at contemporary white supremacist rallies. Those who proudly display Nazi symbols at these rallies are, among other things, tacitly condoning the murder of millions in the holocaust. World War II was a grim period in our recent history, so grim that its causes and effects must never be forgotten. We must always be wary of any claims of superiority by any social or cultural grouping. If anything, World War II illustrated the extreme consequences of racism and xenophobia. No race, nationality, ethnicity or religious practice is superior to any other; we are all different from diverse backgrounds and we are all equal. Words by Andrew Douglas

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20 million people from all

over the world gather in one city to walk for 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 15 days. Men, women, children, old and young, disabled, those professing different faiths; all participate in this annual walk filled with love and compassion. The question that crops up in mind is, why they do so? And what inspires them to participate in this walk?

The Greatest Peace Walk You've Never Heard of Dircksey Magazine v

Ed. 3 Vol.5 - Buzz The Story started 1400 years ago, when one unconquerable soul stood unswervingly in the face of oppression, sacrificing everything he had for Truth and Eternal Deliverance of Mankind. He lost his family, among them a six-month infant, whose tender throat was split ear to ear with a three pronged arrow. That man was Hussain ibn Ali (a.s), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh & hp). When the Islamic world was shackled by tyrannical rulers, the shape of justice and peace was completely distorted and only one light remained in the darkness of oppression. And that light of hope was Hussain ibn Ali. He was faced with two options; submit to the tyrannical ruling and turn a blind eye on the contamination of True Islam, or stand up against oppressors and the corrupted system staying steadfast on the path of Justice. Despite being outnumbered by thousands of the enemy soldiers against his 72 companions, Hussain Ibn Ali decided never to submit to this diabolic tyranny and chose the path of Justice and martyrdom changing the definition of life and death. One after the other, he lost all of his companions and his family members but he did not compromise on truth. Every second, he kept revealing the real truth about Islam and humanity. He showed that Islam is a religion of justice, peace, love and sacrifice. After losing every one he had, Hussain stood alone between his enemies, whose swords were dripping with the blood of his family and friends, and he advised 40 v Dircksey Magazine

Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5 them, inviting them towards peace and love. But as their eyes were filled with the dust of ignorance and lust for worldly wealth and success, they did not listen to him. Finally, he raised his voice, an eternal invitation to unite with his unprecedented struggle for truth; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is there anyone to help me!â&#x20AC;? This voice travelled in time, and today, around 20 million people walk from the city of Najaf to the city of Karbala to answer his voice; that we are present, O Hussain ibn Ali, and we are ambassadors of peace and love.

the world, no matter what they believe, walk in the Arbaeen Walk to pay homage to this greatest leader of the world and to spread his universal message of Peace and Love. It is said in the book, Arbaeen The Walk, that Karbala has a maximum capacity of only 2 million people. But miraculously, during the Arbaeen Walk, over 20 million people visit this city; all their needs regarding food, accommodation, medication are taken care of by the local devotees of Hussain.

"The Arbaeen Walk is recognized as the largest peace walk, The city is smaller than the size of The walk is named The Arbaeen where people Perth, and is in a poor, developing Walk. It is held every year on 20th country which has suffered many of Safar, the second lunar month start walking wars internally and externally. according to the Islamic Calendar. Yet despite these hardships, it from one city manages to cater to and host over The Arbaeen Walk is recognized 20 million people, which is almost in Iraq (called as the largest peace walk where the entire population of Australia. people start walking from one Najaf) towards Many would think that this would city of Iraq called Najaf towards the Holy Shrine of Hussain ibn the Holy Shrine of be a great financial opportunity Ali which is in another city of Iraq for tourism in Iraq and for the called Karbala. locals, or that there would be a Hussain." The distance between Najaf and Karbala is around 80 Km. Hussain Ibn Ali lost everything he had but he left an everlasting legacy. It has been around 1400 years since he took a stand against the oppressors on the land of Karbala but still he is inspiring mankind and giving them courage to stand up for justice. Hussain Ibn Ali is a universal figure. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why every year people from all around

great shortage of food, medicine and an increase in congestion and chaos.

However, the locals open up their homes, never wasting the opportunity to house as many pilgrims as possible. They accommodate, feed and even massage them - all free of charge - with faces emanating true happiness. Many have testified that during the Arbaeen Walk they never had to spend a

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Ed. 3 Vol.5 - Buzz single dollar on anything. Locals even offer them new clothing if required, all free of charge. The natives come out from their houses with food to serve the visitors, feeling honoured when someone accepts their food or service. You will see the young, old, men, women, kids and even crippled, all eager to serve the pilgrims somehow.

"You will see the young, the old, men, women, kids and even crippled, all eager to serve the pilgrims somehow."

I interviewed one of the ECU PhD students who was doing PhD in chemical Engineering. I asked him how his experience was in Arbaeen walk. He started saying “Brother, you should visit it one day. I don’t have words to explain my feeling, I never wanted to come back” while he was sharing his story, I could see moisture in his eyes. After witnessing such love, compassion, sublime display of hospitality and selflessness in the locals, one would absolutely be left in bewilderment. Bishop Dr Malkas Songulashvili has also visited The Arbaeen Walk, and in an interview said the world should experience the Arbaeen walk, to feel the love and compassion which flows from this annual pilgrimmage. Words by Fazal Abed Photos by (Spelling TBC)

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It's Not easy Being Purple

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he Fremantle Football Club has some of the most passionate supporters in the Australian Football League. We are also the biggest gluttons for punishment.

A technicolour of emotions that, according to Doctor Google and other medical luminaries such as the American Heart Foundation and the British Heart Foundation, can cause heart problems.

Yes, dear reader of this fine publication, I do write “we” as in me. I am an eager Docker beaver and let me tell you, it is not easy being purple. Not easy at all. Quite a roller-coaster ride of emotions, in fact, when enduring the Fremantle palette of performances in 2019. A kaleidoscope of colours where each game came complete with its very own coloured mood board.

The excitement of a Docker’s win, where there’s too much adrenaline, causing the heart to speed up, beat irregularly and stop. But who needs too much adrenaline when the mere surprise and shock, the holy moly of being in front when the final siren sounds, was enough to kill?

There was the red of rage that rushed a torrent of WTF when in front of a bottom team with 30 seconds to go and… lose. When in front of another bottom team with 60 seconds to go and… lose. When in front of the bottom team with 90 seconds to go and… lose.

As could the feelings of anxiety, sadness and depression of being behind when the final siren sounds. The down-heartedness that takes its toll on the old ticker. A somewhat profitable situation when looking at it with glass half-full eyes. A rather enjoyable consolation to up and down life in Dockerville.

There was the yellow of happiness and sunshine and daffodils and daisies and yippee and yahoo and bundles of fluffy ducks when in front of a top team with 30 seconds to go and … win. When in front of another top team with 60 seconds to go and… win. When in front of the top team with 90 seconds to go and… win.

Barracking for the Fremantle Dockers was, and is, the greatest rollercoaster ride ever invented. I continue to save heaps of money not having to go to Disneyland, Dream World, Universal Studios, Adventure World or any other such theme park.

There was the grey of constant confusion and tortured hope of which Dockers team was going to run out onto the playing field. The raging red one or the happy yellow one?

Extremely handy money for upgrading to the latest defibrillator with all the bells and whistles. Giving it pride of place next to the purple scarf, and beanie, the jumper, and blanket, the car seat covers, and matching purple coffee mug and coaster set.

There was, and is, the green of jealousy and envy of not having what they have as the West Coast Eagles finished the home and away season in the top eight and play finals … again. Aand the Fremantle Dockers finish the season in the bottom eight and not play finals… again.

As I await the 2020 AFL season, I will be pondering whether my heart will pound with pleasure or beat bowed down, in need of that upgraded defibrillator. Words by Grenville Francis

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Fight for rights

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f you've flicked on the news, picked up a paper or scrolled through social media in the last few months, there's a good chance you would have heard about the protests in Hong Kong. But you may aslo be wondering how did these protests start? What will it take for them to end? And how does all of this affect me? We answer all these questions and more in our backgrounder on the Hong Kong Protests.

Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5 also involved in the demonstations. Fiery protests have escalated since April, shutting down major infrastructure like airports and resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Who is involved? While Hong Kong and China are the key players, The U.S. has upped its involvement as a supporter of human rights.

What sparked the protests? Protests began when a bill proposing Hong Kong citizens could be sent ot China to face trial was drafted. The proposed legislation saw immense backlash across the country, with citizens urging for the withdrawl of the bill. Fears were raised over how the laws reduce Hong Kong's autonomy, as well as lead to the unfair targeting and expedition of acitivists and journalists.

In October, the U.S. passed legislation to show support for Hong Kong protestors, garnering swift criticism from China. House Speaker

"If America does not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, then we lose all moral authority to speak out on behalf of human rights any place in the world,"

Protests in the streets triggered police brutality and a massive wave of international support for citizens of Hong Kong. And while the bill has now been withdrawn, protesters have begun fighting for the right to elect their own leaders and further Nancy Pelosi said the bills were a investigate police brutality. chance for the U.S. to demonstrate its strong support of human rights I thought these protests ended a when faced with a large commercial month ago? interest. While the bill is now well and truly on the back burner, fears over Hong Kong's independence and anger over police brutality mean the protests have only grow stronger. Currently, Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous city, and it's now fighting for its right to become further independent from Chinese authorities. It's lead to a large increase in violence, even against children as young as 14. Police are said to have arrested over 2000 people as a result of protests in the city. Live bullets and petrol bombs are now

"If America does not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, then we lose all moral authority to speak out on behalf of human rights any place in the world," she said The protests are also starting to influence the global stock markets, with high tensions between the U.S. and China now impacted by the prodemocracy rallies. Both countries are involved in a turbulent trade war which has been influenced by many global events over the last few months, including the bombing of a major oil processing plant in Saudi

Arabia. Is the end in sight? Protests have gone well beyond talks of extradition now; rallies in Hong Kong have now become symbolic of a larger fight for democratic rights and an end to police brutality. While the government refuses to budge, it seems the protests will only gather more energy; there's certainly no signs that they're slowing down. Protesters are asking for these things: -For the protests not to be characterised as a "riot" -Amnesty for arrested protesters -An independent inquiry into alleged police brutality -Implementation of complete universal suffrage. The fifth request (withdrawl of the extradition bill) has already been met. How does this affect me? As Australians, we're very fortunate to live in a democratic society where we dont come into direct contact with issues of autonomy. Nonetheless, democratic nations are showing solidarity by organising similar protests in their home countires. Rallies have taken place across America, Europe, Korea and Australia. What's becoming clear is that these protests are about more than extradition and autonomy. The police brutality and violence against protesters is a serious human rights violation. You can show support for and solidarity with Hongkongers by seeking out ways to stay informed. Pushing for further coverage and reinstating the importance of this issue is just one small thing we can do as an ally overseas. Ensure the media doesn't ignore, the government doesn't turn a blind eye, and the people dont forget. Words by Elisha Hammond

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What’s for Dinner Mid-Century Cafe and Collectables

s its name suggests, The Mid-Century Café endeavors to take its customers back to a simpler time. The décor is arguably its most attractive feature; surrounded by paraphernalia from the 50’s and 60’s, you're guaranteed to find items from your Grandparent's house, adding to the cozy, familiar vibe that has you enjoying the café for far longer than you had anticipated. To top it off, the background music ranges from Elvis to Shania Twain, along with a few more current artists to make for a pleasant bop. The menu offers good coffee, VG and GF options, varied specials, delightful cakes and desserts which are baked daily by a talented chef and portion sizes that guarantee bang for your buck! Also to be found at The Mid-Century are books and magazines, board games, free Wi-Fi and comfortable sofas that make it perfect for catching up with friends, a family outing, or a day to yourself spent with a good book or your study materials. Hidden away in the peaceful suburb of Yokine and located right next to a dog park - convenient if you want to pick up a coffee from their takeaway window and have a stroll-this colourful, lively space is a real blast from the past that you must visit! Perth has nothing else like it. I highly recommend the Persian Pear Cake, if you’re lucky enough to grab a piece! Keep an eye out of their socials to see what treats are on offer every day! Instagram: @midcenturycafe Facebook: Mid-Century Café and Collectables Words by Tahlia Papamichail Photos by Mid-Century Cafe and Collectables 46 v Dircksey Magazine

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Local Buzz: DAMIAN COOK WA is home to some beautiful native flora and fauna. And while its usually known for bringing some unique colour and texture to this sandy state, it's also become a muse for homegrown artists like Damian Cook. Dircksey contributor Tahlia Papamichail sat down with the local visual artist to find out more about his artistic process, native Australian inspirations and developing his craft. Tell the readers a little about yourself! Hello! I'm Damian, I'm in my mid twenties, and I'm a relatively new, self-taught artist. I studied at Murdoch University and have a degree in Interactive Digital Design. I've always had a knack for creating art but only recently (the end of 2018) have I picked up a paintbrush again. I currently get my inspiration from the various floras found throughout Perth. What inspires you/why do you paint? My reason for painting is to give some direction to my life, it gives me a feeling of fulfilment and I get great joy out of others admiring and complimenting my works. I'll often be sitting at home not doing much with my time so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go out to Kings Park, take some photos, and get cracking on another artwork. Are the majority of your pieces Australian floras? Dircksey Magazine v

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Yeah, I've tried to get my inspiration from Australian flora as I thought it'd resonate more closely with both the viewers/buyers and myself as it showcases the beauty of our country. As I said the majority of my inspiration comes from Kings Park, as it's abundant with beautiful Australian natives. What do you enjoy painting the most? (Abstract, portrait, landscape) I really enjoy painting plants. This probably makes me sound like a weirdo but something about how delicate and detailed the makeup of plant leaves, flowers, etc. really interests me and I truly enjoy painting them. I'm looking into starting a couple of landscape paintings in the future, as there have been a few requests for some from friends and family. 48 v Dircksey Magazine

What other mediums do you use to create art? Well so far all my work has been made with acrylic paint, painted on canvas. The beginning of my process always starts with me priming my canvas with about two layers of gesso, which gives

the paint a nice toothy/rough surface to grip to. I occasionally mix a product called polymer medium with my paints to change the viscosity of the acrylics. I'm thinking of trying watercolours too.

"Painting ... gives me a feeling of fulfilment and I get great joy out of others admiring and complimenting my works. "

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Are you inspired by other artists? There are a couple of very talented artists, such as Hayley Kruger and Lily Nova (who can be found on Bluethumb) that inspire me and give me some idea of the artist I want to become.

What was the very first piece you Has your degree influenced your painting? remember painting?

The first real acrylic painting I remember making was back in high school year 11 Art class. It's a fairly poor rendition of a couple of soldiers from the Terracotta Army. At the time I was fairly What is the most difficult piece proud of it, but looking back it (to date) that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve painted and wasn't a very good piece as it why? lacks contrast. I'd have to say that my most recent painting, a Banksia Burdettii, was the most difficult piece to create because of how intricate the flower is. It has all these little furry bud-like flowers called florets that combine to create the larger flower structure that you see. Trying to paint a hairy acorn shaped flower to look as close to the real thing as possible is quite tricky.

Perhaps. I think having a background in graphic and website design probably does help me determine how to best frame, position and colour the subjects of my paintings but I wouldn't say it helps a huge amount.

Do you sell your paintings? If so, Is there a piece youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re most where/how can we buy? proud of? I've sold two of my paintings, the The Flowering Rose Mallee is the pear painting sold for $180, and piece I am the most proud of, it's the rose mallee sold for $500. the biggest piece I've done so I've currently got three others far and, in my opinion, the best for sale at varying prices ranging looking one. I think I nailed the from $120 to $340 on the website colour scheme and composition. "bluethumb", you can find me by searching for Damian Cook or visiting https://bluethumb.com. au/damian-cook Dircksey Magazine v

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"Something about how delicate and detailed the makeup of plant leaves and flowers, really interests me and I truly enjoy painting them." 50 v Dircksey Magazine

What do you recommend to Do you experience artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s block? people who want to create How do you overcome it? art, but aren't sure how to get started? Not really, as I'm not trying to come up with compositions from This is a tough one, I personally my imagination. I simply find a had art classes in school, which nice looking plant to photograph I think, helped quite a lot but I and paint it! don't think they are necessary. There are plenty of great tutorials Is painting therapeutic for you? on the internet or you could just head down to officeworks, pick For the first hour or two I'd say up some cheap paint, canvas' yes, painting is therapeutic and a couple of paintbrushes and can bring about a range of and just go buck wild. Practice is different emotions. However, if all it really takes. you paint on an easel like I do, your hand/back/body starts to What equipment do you use to get tired, cramps up, etc. and it paint? becomes a chore. I use a fair bit of kit for my paintings. I take reference photos with a Nikon D3500 DSLR camera, an old laptop to view the reference images while painting, a table easel, various paintbrushes, a ghetto homemade paint palette and of course - acrylic paint. I started off using Chromacryl student grade paint, but have moved onto more expensive artist grade stuff from Winsor and Newton.

You can find more of Damian's art by heading to the links below; https://bluethumb.com.au/ damian-cook https://www.instagram.com/ daymo_ck/ Interview by Tahlia Papamichail Art by Damian Cook

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A Gentleman's Guide Dressing to Impress We’re back with more tips on how to make you the suavest man in the county. Words by Adam Di Tullio

Remove those embarrassing t-shirts from your wardrobe

Limit your accessories so you don’t look like a rapper

Sometimes it’s actually sickening to see people wearing the same t-shirt every single day of your life - not ideal. Try actually utilising some other clothing from your wardrobe. It’s one thing to go shopping and buy lots of clothes, but it’s another to actually wear them. At the ripe age of 18, it’s about time mummy stopped telling you what to wear and you took some initiative on board. Swap out the t-shirt for a dress shirt, that jumper for a jacket or a singlet for some decent fucking clothing.

On occasion, I have broken this rule. But accessories aren’t there to make you look like “Bling Bling, all in with the chips, Vegas hustler – 007 hotshot”, they’re supposed to add to your sophistication. A simple ring, pocket square, or watch will do. If you’re into glasses, you can even invest in a pair that can go with everything. You would be surprised with the amount of people who wear glasses and don’t need a prescription. If your outfit is simple you can go ham with the shoes; if it’s busy, it’s a big no no from me.

Pattern on pattern 99.9% of the time will make you look like a fool When choosing clothing for the everyday stroll, avoid having 2 different patterns or the exact same pattern for your multiple items. Unless you want to become a mime and wear full stripes, try and limit the patterns as they will pull focus. If you want to draw attention to your patterned shirt, wear plain jeans. Or alternatively, if you have patterned pants, wear a plain top. Limit having too many colours on your fashion pallet in one outfit, because sometimes that can become too much for a person to look at.

Spice up the wardrobe with items that can be worn differently Having multioccasional items can work to any gentleman’s advantage! For example, I can wear a white t-shirt with jeans (tucked in or out), I can also wear it with a bomber jacket, a jumper, a suit, and virtually anything else. You need to look at your wardrobe as a whole, and not individual items! Shirts can be worn casually and in a smart manner. Avoid daggy prints and items that are limited to one occasion as you won’t be getting your money’s worth.

Fashion has always been one of those things that takes ages to master, but with some of the freshest tips from Dapper Designer Di Telli, I’ll teach you how to revolutionise your style.

Take this advice and grow comfortably into the big wide world of fashion; I promise you won’t be disappointed!

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rochet, much like knitting, is a way to create different crafts out of wool or yarn, like scarves, jumpers, and gloves. And though it might be considered something for old ladies and their quilting circles, I’ve been doing crochet since I was around 12 when my mother first taught me how. Since then, I’ve gone on to create countlessfriendship bracelets, unfinished scarves, a beanie or two, and acquired lots and lots of balls of wool, in various stages of use. As a rather underrated craft compared to its needle-waging counterparts, I’ve decided to share one of my favourite hobbies. Who knows, maybe you’ll be tempted to pick up a hook and give it a go. Collecting materials There’s not much you need when it comes to crochet. The first, and most trusted, tool is a crochet hook. Much like the name suggests this is a long plastic or metal hook, thicker than the kind you’re imagining, and used to keep your wool in place. Your second material, rather obviously, should be wool (I’d suggest trying to match your wool thickness with hook size). The little paper wrappings around your wool will usually contain what size your hook or knitting needle should be in order to gain the most out of it. Finally, a pattern. Crochet patterns are fairly easy to find, both online and in paper copies, these are usually for little projects like gloves or rugs.

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Your First Chain The first chain you’ll ever learn in crochet it’s what’s called a Single Crochet (SC) or a Chain (CH). In UK terminology (the most common in Australia) you’ll find it’s referred to as SC, but in US terms it’ll be called CH. These can be interchangeable, and should be watched out for as a first-time learner. Find one terminology and stick to it when learning the basics. A SC/CH starts out by creating a slip stitch, fold one end of the wool over the other as if making a regular knot, but instead of putting the tail end of the wool through the loop, instead push through the body of the wool and tighten. Once you have your slip stitch onto your hook, you can start your SC/CH hold the hook like a pencil in your dominant hand and hold the rest of the wool strand with the other, gently loop the wool strand around the hook and then pull the hook through the loop of the slip stitch. And Voila! Your first chain. This first chain of loops is called a row, some patterns will call for specific numbers of loops for different patterns. When using more complicated patterns you might be told to CH1 or another number at the end of the row, this means to add in an extra loop according to the number listed at the end of your row. Creating a friendship bracelet The starter project of any crochet learner is a friendship bracelet.

Continue to make chains through the loops using the instructions above until you find yourself with a long row of loops. Once you’re sure this row will be able to fit around your wrist, put your hook through the very first chain you made and pull the wool through both loops, cut off the end of the wool leaving about 3-5cm of wool left before tying in a knot. The Double There are plenty more videos online of how to do different kinds of stitches, and now that you’ve mastered SC/CH find a pattern that will move you on to Double Crochet (DC) in UK terms or Single Crochet (SC) in US terms. Usually projects that involve DC/SC will involve more rows. In order to do DC/SC don’t cut off your wool when you’ve finished your row of SC/CH. For the DC/SC you want to turn your entire row so you can put your hook back into the loops you just made. Put your hook through the loop you made, pull a strand of wool over the hook and pull through both loops. The Double here in the name refers to the two loops you need to pull through. You will end up with only one loop left on your hook. Continue doing this in every loop until you reach the end of your row, pulling through both loops every time. I hope you’re as inspired as I am to start making, no matter what age you are! Words by Libby Harris Template by Sewrella

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䌀甀瀀䌀漀稀礀

栀愀渀搀洀愀搀攀昀漀爀礀漀甀眀椀琀栀

䌀甀瀀䌀漀稀礀

栀愀渀搀洀愀搀攀昀漀爀礀漀甀眀椀琀栀

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Cut out the template on the back of this page to create your very own crochet cup holder!

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Do's and Dont's of ONLINE DATING New to Bumble, Tinder, Grindr or Toffee? Make sure you’ve got your bases covered with Dircksey’s do’s and don’ts for dating. DO DON'T - Have more than one photo: - Have every photo as a group photo: no one 5 pictures are optimum so potential match- wants to waste their time figuring out if you’re es can actually see what you look like bethe ugly one. yond your mirror selfie. - Have your first photo as an animal or a meme: - Spellcheck: spelling errors aren’t sexy, and you can have a photo of your pet in your proyour match wants to know that you gradu- file but don’t make it your first picture because ated primary school. anyone will assume you look worse than that animal. And memes are just unnecessary, full - Get a second opinion on your profile: stop. preferably from a friend of the opposite sex. - Leave your bio empty: it shows people you’re not willing to put in any effort to get a match, - Link your Instagram to your profile: it so we can assume how you’d be in bed. shows how you present yourself to others … and gives your match access to stalk you. - Only upload photos which are 2+ years old: catfishing isn’t cool and won’t get you far on - Give a little description of yourself and the date. what you like: sure, the dating app game is mostly about looks, but it’s nice to know - Make your bio “here for a good time not a that your match isn’t plastic. long time”: leave the line to Drake even if you are just on the app for a root - it’s unoriginal - Have at least one photo in a social setting: and just makes you look like a douchebag. show you have a life outside your bathroom mirror. - Be demanding: don’t write a checklist that a potential match has to meet for you. We all - Put your height in the bio (this one’s kind have our preferences when looking for a match, of a biggie for the guys): most girls like to but you don’t need to write it in your bio, just know how tall you are because no girl likes swipe left until you find it. to feel like a giant when they’re catfished - Mention your star sign in your bio: basing by a total 10/10 online, who’s 5'2 IRL. your compatibility off your horoscopes isn’t realistic and will land you some questionable Words by Jess Checkland matches … don’t judge them just because they’re an Aries. - Have photos with your ex (or talk about them): this is should be obvious but those of you who do this, for the love of all your future hook-ups, stop. Dircksey Magazine v

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Aries

You’ve been trying to bend over backwards to compensate lately. It’s hard to juggle work, study and a social life without feeling like one of them is lacking. Grab a friend and get down to a Body Jam session at the gym, or even bust out your old copy of Just Dance. Having fun and enjoying that post-workout endorphin buzz is just what you need to feel renewed and ready to tackle the rest of your obligations.

Cancer

Taurus

Sometimes you just need a quick-fix to kick you out of your slump. Grab your buzz from your favourite flavoured energy drink. Just make sure you put the energy to good use! Knuckle down and finish the rest of your assignment, you can go back to watching TikTok compilations when the caffeine wears off.

You know you want to. It’s been a while, you’ve got the weekend free, and you’ve got that perfect outfit waiting. Get the gang together and hit the town. Your buzz is waiting on the dancefloor with the lights, the music, and the cheap drink specials.

Gemini

It’s time to blow off some steam. Forget passive-aggressive, let’s get aggressive-aggressive in the most socially acceptable way possible; video games. Whether it’s a Fortnite win, or just yelling at the TV throughout a Rainbow Six game, there’s no denying there’s a real buzz that comes from annihilating strangers on the internet.

Virgo

Nothing is going to leave you feeling refreshed and accomplished like the feeling of cleaning out all your junk and moving your furniture around. Your buzz is coming fresh from that spring clean and a quick Google of correct Feng Shui.

Capricorn

It’s time to clear that crowded head. Lace up your sneakers, chuck your earphones in, and hit the pavement. Preferably while listening to Hermitude’s “The Buzz”.

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Sagittarius When nothing else quite cuts it, the Scorpio

Been starting off the day strong but by 5pm you feel like you’ve had all the life sucked out of you? Just hit the soft reset button. Head back home in the early afternoon, tuck yourself in and nap it out. Just remember to set an alarm to get yourself back up again.

ultimate adrenaline junkie needs the ultimate buzz. What greater thrill is there than jumping out of a plane at 13,000ft strapped to a complete stranger? On second thought, maybe look into indoor sky diving first.

Leo

Time to scrub up, you’re going on a date! Text your partner or shoot your shot with that cutie from Bumble, because your buzz is coming from those fluttery feelings in your chest. Whether it’s soaking up the validation or riding off the adrenaline of that awkward first date, you’ll be buzzing to tell yourfriends all about it afterwards.

Aquarius

Look at all these half-done creative projects sitting around you. You know you’ve got the potential, now you just need to get up, stop browsing for inspiration on Instagram and get to work. Your buzz is waiting for you with the self-satisfaction of a completed project.

Libra

Let’s take it back to basics. There’s nothing wrong with a good old coffee buzz. Catch up with a friend from high school at a cosy café just to swap old stories and catch up on life.

Pisces Screw it, watch the Bee Movie again.

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Dircksey's

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perfect Plant picks NOVICE

INTERMEDIATE

EXPERT

Devil’s Ivy Don’t let the name put you off, these plants are actual angels for people who lament their black thumbs. Traditionally named pothos, these plants have been favourites for indoor gardeners for decades. This leafy trailing vine tolerates neglect and infrequent watering and usually grow around 12metres in the wild as they climb up trees. While a few metres of growth is common indoors, there is a viral video of a man who has a 10 year old marble pothos that he claims is over 300m long!

Peace Lily Some of the most popularly grown indoor plants, peace lilies are often revered as people’s favourite plant for the home or office. Peace lilies have a lot of character as they really let their owner know how they feel by either theatrically wilting, or by blooming beautiful white flowers. This can be a blessing for people who usually find it hard to read the needs of plants, or a curse for those who forget that plants need water to live.

Fiddle Leaf Fig You’ve probably seen this stunner in every Instagrammer’s bedroom, living room, and bathroom. It has massively large leaves and can grow to impressive heights up to 2metres tall, making it a show-stopping feature in any room. If having a living tree indoors is your idea of interior decoration, this is the choice for you.

Light: tolerates both bright and low light environment depending on colouring on leaf. White marble devil’s ivy may get sunburnt. Water: once or twice a week or when leaves start looking droopy. Allow soil to dry between waterings. Tip: loves a prune. You can train it to only make coloured leaves by teaching it the plain green leaves will ‘die’. You can also propagate cuttings and make new plants. ZZ Plant The glossy leaves of a Zanzibar Gem thrive on neglect, tolerating low light levels and long lengths between waterings. It has long succulent-like stems with waxy leaves that shape it to look like a miniature palm tree. These plants are quite slow-growing, but you will forgive them for their equally forgiving nature as they are tough to kill. Light: prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate darker spots. Will grow slower and possibly get leggy with lower light.

Light: needs a warm spot with indirect sunlight so as not to burn its leaves. Water: the soil needs to be moist at all times. Otherwise, the peace lily is very dramatic and will look comically wilted.

Light: enjoys bright filtered light but will get sunburnt if close to a window with direct sunshine. Water: many advise keeping this plant moist but not soggy as it can get root rot or develop unsightly spots on its new leaves.

Tip: regularly remove dying/dead leaves and flowers and dust the leaves so their pores don’t get clogged.

Tip: fiddle leaves love humidity and will drop off leaves when the air is too dry. Consider purchasing your fiddle leaf its own personal humidifier.

Monstera Deliciosa Whatever name you prefer, the swiss cheese or fruits salad philodendron is a stunning addition to make any room Pinterest-worthy. It sports massive glossy green leaves that have neat fenestration or holes in the leaves. Watching the unfurling of the tightly coiled new leaf is one of the joys of this plant. They also make edible fruit.

Calathea Arguably one of the most difficult plants to grow, but also one of the most rewarding. Different calathea varieties sport intricate and eye-catching leaf patterns that create striking indoor displays. Originally growing on the forest floor, these plants love low light conditions that mimic the filtered light from the canopy.

Light: prefers a sheltered position out of the full sun with gentle light.

Light: well-lit spot protected from direct sunlight as it can get sunburnt. Leaves curl up when too dark or cold.

Water: requires moderate watering – can tolerate small dry spells in healthy soil. Tip: can grow quite vigorously both upwards and outwards, so choose a feature position where it can take the spotlight.

Water: keep the soil consistently moist and do not allow to fully dry out.

Water: when fully dry. Can survive with just a bit of water every fortnight.

Tip: these plants are very fussy and will only survive if given the correct conditions. Like the fiddle leaf, these plants enjoy humidity. They also enjoy filtered or rain water as chemicals in tap water can cause leaf tips to brown.

Tip: a large mother plant can be divided into several separate pots.

Words by Tiarne Lambert Art by Claire Solano

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Ed. 3 Vol.5 - Buzz

here has been a lot of buzz in the media recently about plant-based lifestyles with protests and controversy surrounding both sides of the argument. Whether you are a raw vegan or die hard steak fan, there’s no denying that our planet is dying and humans are the main reason for it. Online we get flooded with numerous labels describing various diets including diet plans and rules about what, when, and how we should be eating. In this modern time of many contradicting opinions, facts and advice, it can be hard to know what is actually healthy to eat.

(cow farts) than all transportation put together and uses more than 7500 litres of water to produce just ONE hamburger… yikes. A dairy farm with 2500 cows can produce the same amount of waste as a city of 411,000 people and can often result in the loss of ecologically important areas such as wetlands and forests. With the Amazon rainforest (often referred to as the lung of the earth) currently being on fire and animal agriculture being responsible for 91% of its deforestation you can do your part to save it by being conscious of the foods you are buying and industries that your money is supporting.

Regardless of where you sit on the moral and ethical debate about the commodification of animals, I think we can all agree that eating more fruits, vegetables and whole foods is not a bad thing. Whether you are just incorporating a salad into your meal or doing Meatless Mondays, the key to sustaining a healthy lifestyle is balance and small steps.

Health A cross sectional study found that vegetarians had less prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. It also found that they tend to have lower cholesterol, blood pressure and risk of heart disease. Through just making small changes to our diet, we can take charge of our health and ensure longevity. If another person asks me where I get my protein, I’ll cry. Broccoli has 11.1 grams of protein per 100 calories, compared to just 6.4 grams of protein in 100 calories of beef and there are many various forms of plant based protein. Do your research.

These are my top 3 reasons why you should consider going plant based: Environment Unfortunately, animal agriculture produces more greenhouse gases

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Animals Okay, the most controversial point. I’m not here to tell you what you can and can’t do but most people would not be comfortable killing an animal, preparing it to be eaten and then eating it. So why are we paying other people to do that for us? The cognitive dissonance that we have built around our food means that most of us don’t even think about where it comes from or what we are putting our money towards. We are so disconnected from the living being that once was our food that we have become nonchalant in our attitudes towards how they are being treated. Even the dairy industry has to artificially inseminate the cows so that they can lactate and thus produce milk. Once born, baby male calves are taken away to become veal and female calves are used to continue the cycle of torture and endure the same fate as their mothers. Humans, like other animals, don’t need milk once they are weaned. The thought of adult humans drinking another mammals milk that was intended for its child is kind of…weird tbh. The best way to vote is with your money and by creating a demand for animal products, animals are being hurt and exploited. Instead of contributing to an animal losing its life, we can instead eat more vegetables and plant based alternatives to our favourite foods and encourage the market to change. In conclusion, there are many more reasons why eating a plant based diet is beneficial but the key to doing it successfully is starting with small steps and replacements (maybe try a beyond beef patty next time you feel like a burger?) and eating a well researched, whole foods diet. Instead of focusing on things you can cut out of your diet, focus on healthy plant based foods you can add in. Words by Brittany Freeman

Words by Christopher Spencer

50 YEARS of space travel in film

Buzz - Ed. 3 Vol.5 50 years ago, man landed on the Moon. This was not only the culmination of a decade-long effort by NASA to land on the Moon, and to beat the Soviets in particular space accomplishments, but by mankind in general who for hundreds and thousands of years gazed at the stars wondering what if. And in film there is a singular story to tell. If we track from one film to another, not only is the past of space travel told, but the present and future as well. If you want to celebrate mankind’s endeavours into the stars, then perhaps this timeline is your best option.

The Beginning – The Right Stuff (1983) Starting with pilot Chuck Yeager (Sam Shepard) breaking the sound barrier in his Bell X-1 aircraft in 1947 and finishing with Gordo Cooper (Dennis Quaid) launched into space aboard Mercury-Atlas 9 in 1963, thus ending NASA’s Mercury program, Philip Kaufman’s The Right Stuff is THE most comprehensive look at our early space travel accomplishments. Chuck Yeager and the Mercury astronauts are the start of the journey to the stars, and yes the film is 3 hours long, but it’s all you’ll need to begin. Hidden Figures (2016) At the same time as the Mercury program was starting at NASA in the early 60s, three female African-American mathematicians, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) and Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) worked on all of the rocket launches in different areas of NASA, receiving attention in the appropriately titled Hidden Figures. The film is a great companion piece to The Right Stuff, showcasing the lives of those crucial to not only space travel but to work relations for women and African-Americans within high-end government institutions. First Man (2018) With the end of Project Mercury in 1963, NASA reset its heights to beyond Earth’s orbit, looking towards the Moon. The Soviet Union were already making their own plans towards a Moon landing, so the race is faster than ever. In the process of telling Neil Armstrong’s (Ryan Gosling) life as a NASA test pilot, we see every step of how they could get to a Moon landing in 1969, how razor thin the edge was at all times, and how Armstrong remained humble and keenly focused on the destination. Clean-cut and masterful, First Man is the ultimate and most accurate look at space travel. Apollo 13 (1995) Apollo 13 was destined to be the third craft of men landing on the Moon. Carrying Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise aboard in 1970, the craft encounters catastrophic damage, the phrase “Houston we have a problem” is spoken, and 140 minutes later we learn an important lesson about the real dangers of space travel. The Apollo program would only continue for four more missions, before shutting down to refocus efforts on the space shuttles and the International Space Station. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) The potential idea of the future of the year 2001 may seem goofy now, but it is not entirely inaccurate. Of course, we don’t have commercial flights into space, nor do we have artificial gravity on space stations, or the means to travel as far out to Jupiter or Saturn, but it’s nice to think about. We could have these things one day, but the story that Stanley Kubrick tells in 2001: A Space Odyssey is one about our possibility for evolution. Where will we go? What can we do? It’s endless. And the evolution of mankind into beings belonging to the stars is something that we will see again. Gravity (2013) …and enter our present. Gravity is of course a fictionalised story of two astronauts (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) stranded in space after debris splits them away from their space shuttle. Director Alfonso Cuarón seeks to tell a singular story in the point-of-view of someone experiencing the very worst that can happen during space travel, and becomes a thrilling tale of survival in a vacuum, hopping from station to station, communicating in vain with Earth, and being reborn in the process of such unimaginable trauma. This could all happen right now, this is our reality. We must be careful. The Martian (2015) Hopefully, 20 years from now, we will have made it to Mars. Stations will be set up there, men and women will walk on its surface, and humankind will continue to evolve out across the stars. But Mark Watney (Matt Damon) still becomes trapped on the red planet, despite this hopeful future. Things can go wrong so fast when it comes to space travel and exploration, and director Ridley Scott knows this, showing that in The Martian, the key to survival is the human spirit. We can lose again and again, but we will always look ahead and move on. Interstellar (2014) …and in the 2070s, with the end of the century approaching, we will lose everything on Earth. The food will disappear, the waters will rise and dry up, we will lose generations of people, and the world will burn and die. As Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) in Interstellar plainly states “we used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars, now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt. Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here.” So we have keep pushing our boundaries. By crossing through a wormhole, exploring new and dangerous planets, and surviving travel into the event horizon of a supermassive black hole, we could prove the ultimate test of the human spirit. Interstellar ends with a vision of a future where we live in O’Neill cylinders and life continues on into the stars. But where did the tesseract come from? Who put the wormhole in space, starting the whole journey?

The way I see it is that these films together create a story of where we have gone and where we could go, only if you broaden your minds. The Star-Child that astronaut Bowman (Keir Dullea) evolves into at the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey could be one of the “beings” that influence the events of Interstellar, thus creating a beautiful paradox where we will always evolve into something more than our carbon-based lifeforms. And sure, Ed Harris could be playing the same eternal character in The Right Stuff, Apollo 13 and Gravity, or Matt Damon’s Mark Watney in The Martian could be this “Mann” fellow in Interstellar 20 years later. That last one could really be possible if you think about it. If we keep our minds planted on the ground beneath our feet, then that is where we will end up, no matter what. We must take that second giant leap for mankind. Neil Armstrong would have wanted it.

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Why Back to the future Deserves more Buzz

here was a movie in 1985 that changed the course of history, both in the script and in the real world. Back To The Future is a cult classic that does not get enough attention in today’s world. It deserves buzz and a lot of it. It centres on Marty McFly, an average seventeen-year-old living in California. He is best friends with ‘The Doc,’ Dr. Emmett Brown, a brilliant scientist whom is over twice is age.

to erasing himself out of existence. Wow, it is getting even heavier, a phrase that The Doc just cannot seem to understand. Marty, now under his fake name of Calvin Klein; thanks to his Mother, Loraine, seeming in nice purple pair of CK underwear; goes to high school and tries to get his parents to fall in love.

it turns out, all you need is a bolt of lightning. Well, plutonium will work, but it’s even harder to get it back in 1955. The problem with lightning is that you never know when it’s going to strike. Or do you? Marty just so happens to be carrying a flyer about saving their town’s clock tower when he was transported back.

But since Loraine is pretty much in love with Marty, she has no interest with her real destined love, George.

Doc is always working on some contraption he believes will change the world, and guess what, he does. One early morning, Doc gets Marty to come to an empty parking lot to show him his new invention, a time machine. Made out of a DeLorean. Doc demonstrates the power of the DeLorean and the Flux Capacitor by sending his dog Einstein one minute into the future. 88 miles per hour and some plutonium is all it takes. But since Doc got the plutonium from terrorists who thought he was making them a bomb, he gets killed and Marty races away in the DeLorean.

Taylor Kingston summarises the highlights from Back To The Future, the forward-thinking sci-fi classic that brought dreams of hoverboards into the 21st century.

Because his girlfriend Jennifer wrote her number and she loves him on the back, how sweet. Anyway, it turns out that on the night of the Enchantment Under The Sea Dance where Loraine and George shared their first kiss, at exactly 10:04pm lightning strikes the clock tower, and Doc creates a way to send that 1.21gigawatts of lightning energy into the DeLorean, so that Marty can go back to his own time.

Flash forward, or technically flashback, Marty is suddenly in a field and crashes into a barn. Eventually getting away from frightened people who try to shoot him, Marty realises something is very wrong. His neighbourhood isn't built and then when he walks into the small town of Hilldale, he finds a newspaper and discovers that he has been transported back to 1955. But that’s not the worst part. Marty accidentally interferes with his parents meeting and now his Mother has a crush on him instead. Heavy, I know. Eventually finding the thirty-yearyounger Doc, they discover that Marty has essentially started the process

Aside from that speedbump, there's another one, and his name is Biff Tannen. He is your straight-up high school bully who goes way too far and eventually tries to sexually assault Loraine, but don’t worry, he gets his. Biff is obsessed with Loraine because she has no interest in him whatsoever. Marty is now planting the seeds and helping George discover that he is worth something and he deserves to be with someone like Loraine. No, not someone like Loraine, Loraine, only Loraine. While Marty is trying to literally save his own life, Doc is trying to send him back to 1985, and

Of course, things go sideways, as they always do. But in the end, George and Loraine fall in love, Biff gets what he deserves, and Marty goes home. To find that his life is very different. A lot of things have changed, including his parents’ marriage is happier, Biff is now no one’s boss and is now a well-deserved weakling, and overall, Marty’s life is just better. That is, until Doc comes in with the time machine and tells Marty and his girlfriend Jennifer that they need to come to the future with him to save their kids. Heavy, really heavy. This movie really has something for everyone. Comedy, sci-fi, romance, drama, suspense, great effects, great acting, great directing, and two sequels that make it my favourite trilogy of all-time. Why is Back To The Future not getting more buzz? Well, let's give it more! Words by Taylor Kingston Photo by Naomi Tamar

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Join the bank for students and you could share in $20,000 worth of prizes . 1

Find out more at unibank.com.au/feelgoodbanking or call 1800 864 864

UniBank is a division of Teachers Mutual Bank Limited ABN 30 087 650 459 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 238981. 1. Membership eligibility applies to join the Bank. Membership is open to citizens or permanent residents of Australia who are current or retired employees, students and graduates of Australian Universities or family members of members of the Bank. This banking package is available to you if you are a current full time student at any Australian University, and may be withdrawn at any time. Please note – Before you decide on any of our products or services, we strongly recommend that you read both the Conditions of use Accounts and access and Fees and charges booklets. You can find these online at our website or ask at any of our offices. We have not considered your objectives, financial situation or needs. For further information call 1800 864 864 or go to our website. *2. Feel Good Banking competition. Duration: The competition period commences at 9.00AM AEDT on 21 January 2019 and closes at 9.00PM AEST on 31 May 2019 (the “Competition Period”).The prize pool is available across both the Teachers Mutual Bank and UniBank brands. Eligibility: To be eligible to enter, in addition to joining the Bank as a member or becoming a customer during the Competition Period, you must be: (a) at least 18 years of age; or (b) a student who is studying for a degree at an Australian University. Full competition terms and conditions are available online at unibank.com.au/ feelgoodbanking. Membership is open to citizens or permanent residents of Australia who are current or retired employees, students and graduates of Australian Universities or family members of members of the Bank. Draw details: The draw for the competition will occur at 10.00am AEST on 14 June 2019. The prizes will be drawn by a representative of the Bank at 28-38 Powell Street, Homebush NSW 2140. If the prize is not claimed, a redraw will take place on 25 June 2019.The winners’ names will be published on the UniBank website unibank.com.au and in The Australian on 2 July 2019. Unclaimed prizes: Any unclaimed prizes from the competition period will be redrawn three (3) months from the Draw Date at 10.00AM AEST on 16 September 2019 at 28-38 Powell Street, Homebush NSW 2140, subject to any direction given under applicable law. The winners will be telephoned and sent advice by email on 16 September 2019. The winner’s names will be announced on the Teachers Mutual Bank website tmbank.com.au, and on the UniBank website unibank.com.au, and in the Australian on the 24 September 2019. Promoter’s details: The promoter is Teachers Mutual Bank Limited, ABN 30 087 650 459 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence No 238981, 28-38 Powell Street, Homebush NSW 2140. Permit numbers: Authorised under NSW Permit No LTPS/18/30335 - ACT Permit ACT TP18/02393 - SA Permit No T18/2150. 01400-STU-UB-0219-COMP-A4

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Plucked poorly a crimson red rose placed in a plastic vase half-filled, half-full; wished and willed to bloom beautiful. Unhinged in a house you call a humble home.

Pretty Possession

Bees and bugs climb into cracks seeking the scent in the worn wood. Crawling vines veil bulky, brooding bricks. The wind whirls, harsh and heavy, to shatter sealed glass. While sun rays search in hours of haste, the moonlight mirrors a torch over tree tops. Desolate with dismay, your pretty possession wilts and withers away. Jess Checkland

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Beautiful Girl

My beautiful girl, don’t just be beautiful. Try reading a book. Swim in a pool. Climb a tree or paint your room; Go out to the shed and learn to use tools. Paint the landscape on a canvas if you wish, Or knit a blanket while waiting to catch a fish. Solve your math problems and ace your English test: If you can do those, you can smash out the rest. Braid your hair elegantly and apply that blush: But never believe your worth is in your foundation brush. Sing your songs and hike your mountains, Buy your shoes and sculpt a fountain. Whatever you do, own it. This is you. Don’t ever try to fit Into a mold you weren’t made for. Walk your happy path and open every door. Grow and glow and cry and smile. Learn the lessons and enjoy every mile. Make sure that at the end of the day you feel full. Do your best, beautiful girl, to not just be beautiful Caitlin Telcik

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it makes the moment golden and the memory sticky. strange to be afraid of honey, to believe it foreign when extracted from the hive (undoing comes in a white-hot streak) and you amount to a collected nectar essence pools becomes a thing unlike yourself; a piece of you is no piece of you at all so offended by your own repletion and me, in turn if I swallow I forego the kiss for the honey and I am a fool because this honey is not sweet and the kiss is a simple sugar. Tahlia Papamichail

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1. It started as an itch. No, scratch that, it started as a pitch: “To help you all connect” Not gonna lie, thought that was kinda cheesy and plus I heard they’re kinda sleazy, but shit it’s only ninety-nine USD! 2. It started as an itch, just a niggling feeling in the back of my mind but hey it’s nothing but a survey (of sorts) and no one is being forced here and everyone can always delete and if we have the means then surely – surely, we have to know 3. It started as an itch… indeed, the creeping claws of opportunity reminds us not to stop at knowing but to apply, profit, and uncover what is unseenWhy, just look at this! “Life insurers are entitled to use genetic test information for underwriting” - (Otlowski, AJGP, 2019)” Krishna Aksa

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VIEWS

A writing class podcast hosted by Andrea Askowitz and Allison Langer. This podcast shares the personal experiences of a group of writers and provides weekly writing prompts for the group and the listener. This podcast is for people who like hearing stories and like learning new ways of writing. Available online or in the podcast app.

An amusing and lighthearted podcast starring Youtuber David Dobrik and comedian Jason Nash. They chat about the Youtube experience and share intimate thoughts, their relationships with celebrities, and everything in between. A podcast for people who like humorous, light-hearted and engaging conversations.

Words by Jess Checkland

Listen to

WRITING CLASS RADIO

What you FRENCH LOUNGE MUSIC French lounge music is obviously the perfect pair to your succulent glass of Chardonnay. It’s the type of music that soothes the soul and fills your heart with emotion and decadence. The music format hasn’t been around for long, but started to popularly emerge in the late 90s. One particular DJ took it upon himself to collate the finest collection of house lounge sounds for one of the most prominent hotels in the music scene “Hôtel Costes.” Stéphane Pompougnac mixed some of the finest sounds created to simulate the most hedonistic and decadent feeling. The album collection has been going strong and new track collections are still being created to this day.

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Some of my favourite tracks include: 'Summer in Paris' by Cam starring Anggun, a relaxing track perfectly paired to some alfresco summer romantic dining; 'Glamour Girl' by Louie Austen which takes you on a fashion journey like no other, making you feel like you’re part of the runway scene; and finally, the ever so vibrant 'Closer to Julie' by Stéphane Pompougnac takes you on a stroll through those French streets, bringing you to the chic French clubbing scene. What are you waiting for? Have a night in, buy a bottle and slide on some of these tunes. Words by Adam DiTullio

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Watch Looking for a sharp, mind-boggling alternative series that has a little bit of everything? Look no further than FX's Legion. A trippy jaunt from the twisted brain of Noah Hawley, the show follows diagnosed Schizophrenic David Haller (Dan Stevens). But after David has an unexpected run in with a childhood crush, it's time for him to finally discover the reality behind the voices in his head. Loosely tied to the X-Men film series, Legion takes the regular popcorn-flick characters down a much darker route, playing with some incredible visuals and mile-a-minute storylines. You'll definitely want to watch this one when you're wide

LEGION awake, because you can't afford to miss anything in this sharp drama series. Oh, and try watch it by yourself if you can - because once you start, you'll want to binge every episode Legion's three season's have on offer, and you dont want to be stuck waiting for your partner to catch up (been there, done that: not fun). So do yourself a favour, get a head start on this unique TV series; its got a little bit of something for everyone, with a sexy intelligence sure not to disappoint. Stream Legion on Foxtel Now, or buy it online. Words by Elisha Hammond

should THE CHESTNUT MAN

Read

Anyone else wish Stieg Larsson was alive so he could finish off the rest of The Millenium Saga? The book series following the edgy Lisbeth Salander (AKA; the girl with the dragon tattoo) has an amazing cult following nowadays and inspired multiple films, but the author sadly passed away before he could officially turn his fourth manuscript into the next chapter. But recently I discovered what could be the next best thing; a Danish crime thriller that follows two very different cops investigating a series of gruesome killings in Copenhagen.

Although a little generic at times, the writing is gripping and always intriguing. The author's use of present tense can be a bit hard to get used to at first, but once you acclimatise you get a better sense of the urgency and immediacy of the dialogue. Characters are well rounded while the plot is fast paced and remains intriguing up until the very last page. Well worth a read (or two or three), The Chestnut Man is a very sound Stieg Larsson alternate for lovers of crime thrillers everywhere. Words by Elisha Hammond

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Film reviews AMERICAN ANIMALS (2018) Bart Layton // Elisha Hammond American Animals is director Bart Layton's latest jaunt into the dramatic documentary genre. The story follows a group of college students and unlikley partners-in-crime who band together to pull off an elaborate art heist at their university. While college chums Warren and Spencer (played by Evan Peters and Barry Keoghan respectivley) come up with the plan and do most of the storytelling, the plot is elaborated on with commentary from other supporting players, making this a fun (if not a little unconventional) spin on an unbelievable true story. Layton does so well to subvert wellknown documentary tropes to entertain his audience and continue to pique your interest in ways you never thought possible, while incredible performances by Peters and Keoghan round out their already impressive acting resumes. If you're looking for an alternativel flick with a fun side, American Animals will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end credits start to roll. RED JOAN (2019) Trevor Nunn // Krishna Aksa Based on Jennie Rooney’s novel of the same name, Trevor Nunn’s Red Joan tells the story of a British Soviet spy Joan Elizabeth Stanley – which is inspired by the life story of Melita Norwood, a prolific British Soviet spy. During a memorable press meeting in her front yard, she confessed that “in the same circumstances, I know that I would do the same thing again” and that “In general, [she does] not agree with spying against one's country” (The New York Times, 1999). At its heart, the movie captures the core reasoning of Norwood’s espionage: to stop her country – and all countries, for that matter – to abuse the use of the atom bomb. The movie is greatly augmented by Zac Nicholson’s beautiful cinematography; almost every scene in this movie has the spatial and visual composition of a painting, moving from soothing whites and blues in one scene to harshly lit blacks and yellows seamlessly in the next – hint: pay close attention to the colour of Joan’s and her friend’s outfits throughout the movie. However, it should be noted that those who are familiar with Norwood’s story should not expect an accurate retelling of her story – Red Joan has its own worthwhile story to tell.

THE LION KING (2019) Jon Favreau // Elisha Hammond Directed by Jon Favreau (the mind behind similar live-action remake The Jungle Book), this highly anticipated reboot is pretty much just the 'can I copy your homework' meme; only this time, the homework has been copied, tweaked just a tiny bit and turned into a strange amalgamation of realistic talking animals and lacklustre songs. The characters and lyrics remain essentially the same, and the choice to stay within the confines of the film's animated predecessor has trapped the cast and crew into recreating yet another souless reboot to add to the Disney shelves. As beautiful and hyper-realistic these CGI lions are, its a pity that your first reaction is to wince slightly the second they open their mouths. With yet another fumbling remake to fall in Aladdin's footsteps, perhaps it's time Disney spread their wings and took us on another, more original, family-friendly adventure.

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Book reviews SPEAKING IN TONGUES (1998) Andrew Bovell // Jess Checkland Having been given this play as a part of my university class syllabus, I didn’t have much hope for its enjoyment. I was pleasantly surprised by Bovell’s unconventional form of writing that uses a polyphonic structure, weaving four infidelities and a suspected murder through a fragmented series of confessionals and intersecting conversations. Strangers are drawn together in a kind of Love Actually/Valentine’s Day intertwining of lives. This very human play, explores the complexities of marriage and relationships by questioning society’s moral compass. The only thing I can fault is the flimsy plot in the final act of the play. VICIOUS (2013) V. E. Schwab // Tristan Sherlock V. E. Schwab’s Vicious pits Victor and Eli against each other in a captivating battle that explores the hero / villain dichotomy, before promptly destroying it. The battle between Victor and Eli serves as a scapegoat for a deep character study of five morally grey characters: Victor, Eli, Sydney, Serena and Mitch. Each character has such clear motivations for every action they make. They’re so easy to empathise with despite their lack of morality. Not only are these characters 3-D but each of their dynamics with one another is, simply put, awesome. This fast-paced, character-driven story aims to subverts tropes readers have become accustomed too. While the plot and the storytelling aren’t anything special or new, the simplicity reinforces the complexity of the characters. Vicious is a well written, well plotted novel and once you’ve caught hold of the interesting and unique characters, it’s near impossible to put down.

IN THE CLOSET OF THE VATICAN (2019) Frederic Martel // Andrew Douglas Well before the advent of gay liberation, this church has officially condemned homosexuality - but the extent of closeted and homophobic men within the ruling elite of archbishops and cardinals has never been so exposed. A significant minority (or perhaps even the majority) of the priesthood are gay. Almost all are closeted, and it seems few are celibate: they cruise for anonymous encounters, use sex workers or live discretely with partners. It explains/exposes the cluster of gay men within catholic hierarchy.

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Music reviews THE SOUTH GOT SOMETHING TO SAY (2019) Pouya // Alex Gerrard Shortly after announcing his debut Australian tour, Florida rapper, Pouya, released his third studio album, The South Got Something to Say. The album is a change of pace from his earlier work, incorporating far more relaxed R&B beats, funk guitar, and a greater emphasis on vocals. However, fans of Pouya’s usual fast paced aggressive style can still get their fix in the album's second half, with tracks such as 'BULLETPROOF SHOWER CAP (ft. City Morgue)', 'Cyanide (ft. Ghostemane)' and 'Six Speed (ft. Juicy J)'. If you liked tracks from his previous album FIVEFIVE such as 'Aftershock' and 'Suicidal Thoughts in the Back of the Cadillac Pt. 2', you’ll be stoked with this album. It has proved a welcome addition to Pouya’s discography as we see him begin to settle into his own unique style and execute it flawlessly. LOVER (2019) Taylor Swift // Tristan Sherlock Taylor Swift’s seventh studio album Lover is as much about romantic love as it is about platonic love, and most importantly self-love. Moving away from the harsh, EDM-esque sounds of Reputation, Lover relies on a much softer, synthpop sound that is reminiscent of Swift’s country roots. What sets Lover apart from Swift’s other studio album is that she is finally embracing who she is, wholly; she isn’t trying to show the world how she wants to be seen or playing the character the media sees, she is herself. The tracks of Lover are laced with the acceptance of her destructive behaviours and plagued with self-doubt stemming from her past, failed relationships. The pessimistic tones in the album are used masterfully to remind the world of how truly in love Swift is. Lover is Swift’s triumphant return to her old self, after being away for years of a journey of self-discovery. Swift’s seventh studio-album is heart-breaking and heart-warming all in one and accurately defines Taylor Swift. Easily her strongest album to date. LOVEWORM (2019) Beabadoobee // Grace Flynn Bea Kristi, otherwise known as Beabadoobee, is one of independent London label, Dirty Hit’s latest signings and a blossoming singer-songwriter. While her early work features nothing more than Bea’s angelic voice and acoustic guitar, the new EP Loveworm is her most ambitious and arguably best work yet. Comprised of seven songs, Loveworm is an undeniably raw exploration into the 19-year-old’s relationship issues with her long-term boyfriend. Songs like ‘Disappear’ and ‘You Lie All the Time’ illustrate Bea’s talent for writing songs that are lyrically relatable, soft and simple, delivered to a more punk-rock sound with sweet melodies. ‘Soren’, named after her boyfriend, also highlights Bea’s talent for stripping things back to basics and, putting it simply, creating music that makes you cry. We can expect to hear more new music from Beabadoobee in the near future, and to say I am excited is an understatement.

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The HIVE Playlist BILLIE PIPER ‘Honey To The Bee’ THE BLACK EYED PEAS ‘Imma Be' The Archies ‘Sugar, Sugar’ THE BEATLES ‘Here Comes The Sun’ REDMAN 'I'll Bee Dat!' DEAN MARTIN ‘The Birds And The Bees’ ALBERT KING ‘Honey Bee’ BASSNECTAR ‘Kyrian Bee Bop’ MANDY MOORE, BEN LEE ‘Birds And Bees’ WILSON PICKETT ‘Bumble Bee (Sting Me)’ JULIE LONDON ‘Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee’ TOM PETTY ‘Honey Bee' BARBRA STREISAND ‘A Sleepin' Bee’ THE ROLLING STONES ‘I'm A King Bee' CYNDI LAUPER, NELLIE MCKAY ‘Bee Charmer’ THE SUCARCUBES ‘Bee’

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