gair rhydd
FREE
ISSUE 855 NOVEMBER 19 2007 CARDIFF’S STUDENT WEEKLY free word - EST. 1972
INSIDE...NEWS/JOBS&MONEY/FEATURES/TAF-OD/OPINION
DIWALI DELIGHT
Students come together to mark Cardiff Uni’s largest ever Festival of Light Corinne Rhoades News Editor Diwali has been celebrated in style at Cardiff University, as the YUVA Youth of India Society (YUVA) held its biggest ever Diwali ball. This year’s festival of Diwali saw members of the Students’ Union (SU) executive team, some Cardiff Uni sports societies, and students from a variety of cultures come together with YUVA
members to mark the most auspicious date in the Hindu calendar. Over 500 students attended the ball, which was held at Monchino’s in Mary Ann Street on Friday November 9. All the guests, who were also given a three course Indian meal, donned traditional Indian dress to fully experience the festival of Diwali and see in the Hindu New Year. But Shreenivas Raju, President and Founder of YUVA, told gair rhydd that Diwali has not always had such a high
profile at Cardiff. He said: “I set up the society three and a half years ago because I did not feel that Indian students were being well represented by the Union. ” Initial numbers proved the popularity of the YUVA initiative as over 200 students gathered for their first Diwali ball. The society now exists as a voice for Indian students, with a forum set up to ensure any issues or grievances are taken to a higher authority.
Societies International and Postgraduate Officer, Sally Airey, attended this year’s ball. She said: “I think from a homestudent’s perspective, an awful assumption can often be made about international students not wanting to go out and enjoy themselves.” But most students never see this side of culture when they go out. It was such an amazing atmosphere which really opens your eyes,” she continued. With this in mind, the ball has been
said to foreshadow the SU’s launch of Go Global next February. Acting as a replacement for Global Village, the fortnight-long festival of culture will give Cardiff University students a chance to sample the different traditions and cultures encapsulated by all the SU societies. The initiative is one that has been
Continued on page three
SPORT/POLITICS/SCIENCE&ENVIRONMENT/LISTINGS/TV
02 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
At a glance...
14 6 This week... In numbers
1 open Winter Wonderland
FAST FORWARD
>>>
44
News
Features
Sport
6 - More students are being encouraged to go abroad
14 - Features look into the harsh realities of domestic abuse
44 - Cardiff Women’s rugby beat Bath 1sts
November fi reworks in pictures... 250+
students have given blood this week in the SU
1.4million sq ft of new retail space in St David’s
5
weeks until Christmas
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
03
NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
Pillow pummelling Shazia Khawaja Reporter Cardiff University’s Flashmob Society struck again outside the Capitol centre on November 8th for a pillow fight in which dozens of strangers took part. Members of the society were informed via text and email the day before, as well as through social networking websites such as Facebook, and were encouraged to bring friends along. ‘Flashmobbing’ is the sudden gathering of a group of people who perform a specific action and will then disperse equally quickly. Over the last year Cardiff has seen the Flashmob society instigate an 80person water fight outside City Hall, a silent disco in Queen Street and a
ninja fight outside Cardiff Castle. Joint Presidents of the Cardiff University Flashmob Society, who organised the event, said: “The turnout was really good; we think there were around 60 people there and many were dressed up too as we had a competition for the best fancy dress.” Asked why the society had been founded, they added: “Basically our lives were going nowhere, so we thought randomness was the order of the day, and why not just go and do something crazy. “It’s a giggle for us and it ís funny to see people’s reactions. Flashmob saved our lives!” Film footage of the pillow fight was subsequently posted on the group’s Facebook page and websites such as YouTube.
Playing politics
FLASHMOB: Pillow Talk
Making music
Cardiff Students’ Union’s Live Music Society is set to bring bands, DJs and acoustic acts together in a hybrid event celebrating the launch of their live music CD
William Taylor News Editor
POLITICS: Students have a go
Steph Cockroft Reporter Students at Cardiff University have set up a Model United Nations (MUN). It aims to build an understanding of the mechanisms of the United Nations, whilst offering an insight into global challenges for young people that cross borders of background, culture and nationality. Whilst educating participants about UN policies, it presents an opportunity for all students to represent one of the 16 member states as a foreign diplomat. The diplomat will communicate the ideas of the specified country, having an understanding of that country’s view on the topic of debate. With this, deliberation and debate will occur regarding solutions to world problems. Debate is formatted around one country’s proposals, known as a resolution.
The meetings consist of a variety of pertinent issues - namely human rights, nuclear disarmament, poverty and the death penalty. Controlled using the conventions and rules based on those used at genuine international summits, the debates give experience of the complexities of international policy formation first hand. Emphasising the benefits of taking part, Lindsay Clark, co-founder of the group, said: “This year members have the potential to travel to other Universities’ Model UN debates and potentially internationally. “People of all university disciplines should become involved; we debate on issues relevant to medical students, engineering students, law students, politics students, history students... and anyone interested in the world today!” Anybody interested should contact lindsay-clark@hotmail.co.uk or join the Facebook group ‘UNCU – Cardiff MUN’.
Cardiff Students’ Union’s Live Music Society will be taking over CF10 in a live music extravaganza. The event, to be held next Friday, will feature three bands and several DJs, each playing live sets throughout the night. The bands are playing as part of the wider event
celebrating the Live Music Societies CD launch party. In conjunction with the live bands, there
will also be acoustic acts and audience participation games. The Screenbeats, The EX
Tens and A Thousand Suns are the three bands that are set to play at the live music event. Cathy Duddridge, Social Secretary of the Live Music Society, said; “We will be signing up bands to play at Fun Factory and other Live Music Society events. “I really hope that the event will be a success, as so much hard work has been done to organise it,” she added.
Diwali Delight
continued from front page...
DIWALI: Celebration time
welcomed by Shreenivas and other members of YUVA. He said: “I could have done my degree in India, but I chose to come to the UK for the exposure which it offers to experiencing new cultures. Your options are never restricted to your home country alone.” Since the first YUVA Diwali ball in 2004, the numbers have doubled, with even students from outside the University traveling away from prominent city celebrations to attend. Now the festivities at Cardiff have become bigger than ever in the formation of a Diwali weekend. Shreevinas said: “Diwali is such an important time, especially for new students when it can be the time they will miss home and family the most.”
04 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
Solar power success Down Under Oliver Lewis Reporter Cardiff University Lecturer, Graham Spatey-Taylor, and his family have won an environmental award, in a gruelling solar-powered race across Australia. ‘The World Solar Challenge’ is a biennial event where contestants build and drive hand-made solar powered cars across Australia. Teams are required to research, design and build vehicles capable of completing the 3000km journey from Darwin in Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia. After competing in the challenge, Dr Spatey-Taylor said: “I was working in Cardiff University at the time as a colleague and I was sitting in the canteen wondering if we could actually build a solar powered car.” The lecturer was doing research into ‘thermal heat tubes’ at Cardiff University when the idea first came to him. He later decided to build a raceworthy vehicle over an eight-month period with the support of a 35-strong team and a budget of under £8,000. The team was backed by the Welsh
Assembly Government’s Accelerate Clusters network that is designed to spur interest in energy saving schemes. The solar powered car named ‘Gwawr’, which is Welsh for ‘dawn’, was positioned 17th after completing 740km of the course. The team were also awarded the ‘Most Environmentally Friendly’ award. Dr Sparey-Taylor said: “We were not aware the award was there to be won. “So we were over the moon when we heard we had won it.” The green credentials of Gwawr impressed many and the team has subsequently been invited to partake in an inaugural solar challenge in South Africa next year, where entry fees will be waived. Gwawr is now being shipped back to Wales and should return in time for Christmas when it will go on public display. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the World Solar Challenge, which took place in late October. The winning team from the Netherlands completed the course in 33 hours travelling at an average speed of 90.87km/h. UK ENTRY: SolarFox cost £70,000
Blood drive
University debating society reinvigorates public forum
PHOTO: Dave Green
Daniel Madden Reporter
Corinne Rhoades News Editor Cardiff students have been giving up pints to donate a pint this month as part of a University Blood Drive. Over 250 students gave blood in the Students’ Union when the Blood Drive began two weeks ago on Wednesday. Organised by the Welsh Blood Service, students have helped shape the future of giving blood by donating the 600 pints per day needed to supply Welsh hospitals. Alison Tibbott, Recruitment Coordinator for the Drive, said: “The students have been really wonderful. We need their support because they’re at just the right age. “The older people get, the more unlikely they are to be able to give blood; we need new donors who we hope will keep donating in the future.” In total, the process of giving blood takes an average of 40 minutes. But the popularity of the Blood Drive means that students have been
queuing to get into the Great Hall. Even so, Bethan Keogh, a second year European Union Studies student, wanted to give blood for the second time. She said: “My donation hasn’t imposed much on my day and in one donation I’ve helped save the lives of around three adults.” Although many who are first time donors were nervous, Ms Tibbott said this was only natural: “Our job is to reassure, to tell them the procedure and why we need them. It takes between five and seven minutes to withdraw the blood with a nurse constantly there.” But not everyone is able to donate. A health questionnaire eliminates students who have had tattoos or piercings done in the last year or exceed the weight limitations, amongst other factors. Donors’ iron levels must also be above the borderline levels before being able to proceed. The Welsh Blood Service will be visiting the Union again on November 23, giving students further opportunity to donate.
The Innocence Project, an interuniversity network that campaigns against miscarriages of justice and victims of wrongful imprisonment, received massive support from the Cardiff University Debating (CUDS) and Law Societies last Monday. Convening in the Julian Hodge building, 62 VIPs and 260 students attended an open-floor debate that evaluated the problems of an inherently fallible legal system. A bi-polar structure of opposing houses, represented initially by two student speakers, and subsequently by key VIP speakers, ferociously debated issues of proportionality in sentencing, as well as potential recriminations for police officers implicated in the miscarriage of justice. The sentiments expressed by these speakers stimulated widespread dissemination of the topics by the floor of students and guests, contributing to a
wide-ranging and balanced discussion. Explaining the level of participation, Daanish Ghazi, President of CUDS, said: “We wanted to discuss something universal so that everyone could somehow relate to it regardless of their backgrounds. “Justice extends beyond all religion, cultures and schools,” he added. While institutionally financed activities such as sport have experienced growth at university level over the years, Ghazi feels that until now the notion of a public forum to analyse contemporary issues has lacked support. However, Ghazi described the event as “a key example of how open forum public debate can be so successful.” He concluded: “Discussion is the only way to truly understand the problems that face society, and allow for the viewpoints of a wide spectrum of people to be heard without prejudice.” The Cardiff University Debating Society meets every Thursday at 8pm in the Anuerin Bevan Room of the Students Union.
Xpress pick up bronze Samantha Shillabeer News Editor Xpress Radio have been awarded third-place for the Best Journalistic Programming award at this year’s Student Radio Awards (SRA). The ceremony, which was held at Covent Garden last Thursday, saw a Leeds University programme pick up the gold award. Rich Collins, Station Manager, said:
“It’s great to hear Xpress being recognised for its award winning coverage, and this year we hope to improve on the news and entertainment service we provide to students.” Huw Thomas, last year’s Head of News, said: “We’re very pleased with the bronze award. It’s easy to forget how big an effort the news team puts in to reporting the biggest events of the day, so this award really recognises their hard work.”
GHAZI: President
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007 NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
Crime cut by half Police Student Initiative’s pilot patrols have brought safety to Cathays in just two months Melissa Moore Reporter Students on the beat are helping to reduce crime, according to statistics released by The South Wales Police Student Initiative (SWPSI). Launched in October, the SWPSI began a hard-line campaign to bring down student crime in Cardiff. Measures include officer foot patrols, ‘community watch’ student representatives and information promoting crime prevention. The students’ efforts in Cathays has yielded very positive results: the area has seen a 50% drop in student burglaries. Student Liaison PC Bob Keohane
has asserted there is ‘no doubt’ that this dramatic fall in crime is a result of the presence of extra officers. Students have responded with encouraging feedback about the improved safety in student areas. As a result, University security has also seen a massive dip in student issues. It is now claiming it is “very quiet this year, compared to previous years”. Other initiatives currently in motion such as Student PACT (Police and Communities Together) are helping to promote stronger ties between the student community and police force. PC Keohane said the aim now is for even greater focus to be on Halls of Residence in the upcoming weeks, ensuring that basic crime deterrence is established, such as making certain that
Your words:
Students’ opinions voiced
Interviews by Abigail Whittaker
James Hardwick 3rd year Economics & Management
Abbi Penney 1st year Spanish
“I’ve personally not noticed anything. It’s probably a good idea but as far as I can see it hasn’t made any difference so far. I think increased presence of full-time officers would be more beneficial.” “I think the nonemergency number would be especially useful, and I’d definitely call if necessary. I think the patrols would be quick to respond if they were out in the evening.”
doors and windows are locked. However, despite this achievement, it has been noted that auto crime has increased slightly. Schemes are currently being put into place to combat the rise, including plain-clothed operations to catch those committing criminal damage to cars. Furthermore, a non-emergency reassurance telephone number has been launched, which students can ring if they are intimidated by any suspicious activity. The line will be open on patrol nights, the times of which can be found on the South Wales Police Student Initiative facebook group. The non-emergency number is 07527 144369.
05
NEWS
Student wugging Emma Barlow Reporter
Students across the country are now able to donate money to charity without digging into their own pockets. Website Everyclick.com allows participants to give money through web use giving, otherwise known as ‘wugging’. The website works like a search engine, allowing users to search for information, news and images, but users can also select their preferred choice from the 170,000 charities registered to support. Since its launch in June 2005 Everyclick.com has raised over £320,000 for charities in the UK, exclusively generated from companies that pay to advertise on the site. Lottie Laken, a second year English Literature student, praised the idea for being hassle-free. She said: “I think this is a great way of supporting a variety of charities as and when you please without feeling pressured or obligated to.”
Have the student police impacted student safety?
Sian Symons 2nd year English Literature
Sohaib Khan Foundation Year Business
“I go out quite a lot, but can’t say I’ve ever noticed the officers. I suppose it’s better to have increased police presence rather than none at all, but students need to know more about it.”
“I really like the idea. Police that are also students are likely to be more aware of problems that students encounter. They will also have a greater empathy towards these types of situations.”
06 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
Cardiff’s skating in a
Winter Wonderland...
The countdown to Christmas began with the opening of Winter Wonderland last Thursday. The popular ice rink, which sits on the Civic Centre lawn, is now in its seventh year, and has attracted more than a quarter of a million skaters over previous Christmas seasons. It will run until January 6, offering 52 days of skating as well as other attractions such as a ferris wheel and a children’s carousel. There are also approximately 100 Christmas trees dotted around the site and 15,000 coloured lightbulbs. Councillor Nigel Howells, executive member for leisure, culture and sport said: “This event has been a hugely popular attraction for the city and the region since it began and we are delighted it’s back for a seventh year.” She added: “It adds a real sparkle to festivities in the heart of the city and provides wonderful entertainment, both on and off the ice, for everyone.”
PHOTO: Jake Yorath
Samantha Shillabeer News Editor
Where in the world? Going green Universities across the country are being encouraged to reduce their carbon footprints Samantha Shillabeer News Editor gair rhydd gairrhydd
14
FEATURES
FREE 2007
OCTOBER.22.
gairrhydd.COM
FEATURES@
Recently drawn up expansion plans can reveal that the British Council of Wales has taken on the management of the UK-wide programme Erasmus. Erasmus is the European Commission’s programme for higher education, students, teachers and institutions. It provides students with the opportunity to spend any time from two weeks to up to a year of their university time studying and/ or working abroad, without any need for prior knowledge of the
language. The Council claim that working abroad in this situation is an invaluable experience for students and one that they wish to encourage more to partake in. The reputation of the programme has recently been targeted, however, after the murder of Meredith Kercher, a Leeds University student who was in Italy on a year abroad with Erasmus at the time. Kevin Higgins, the Director for the British Council Wales, sent his sympathy to the parents and family of Meredith but was still keen to emphasise the benefits of the scheme. He said: “Over 1.5 million
students have benefited from Erasmus grants in its 20-year history and the opportunity to travel to one of 31 countries is not one that should be missed.” With regard to Cardiff University, he added: “Over the last two years, Erasmus has undergone a strenuous recruiting programme and has brought our UK operations into five main centres, of which Cardiff is one. “Students from other countries have, and are, enjoying the experiences of studying in Welsh educational institutions while students from Wales have similarly benefited from travelling abroad.”
ON /TAF-OD/OPINI MONEY/NEWS TURES/JOBS& INSIDE...FEA
S AHEAD GREEN TIME
Salter PHOTO: Ed
Sian Owens Reporter
Following Cardiff University’s launch of its Energy, Water and Waste Management policy last month, other academic institutions in the country are also being encouraged to reduce their carbon footprints. The University and College Union (UCU) has this week submitted recommendations to an international conference of higher education unions, outlining ways of lowering carbon emissions. Amongst the issues under consideration are the design and use of buildings, commuting and home working, staff and student travel and changing work patterns. UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “Climate change is a massive challenge and UK academics have a duty to contribute their professional skills to addressing this, through research, by developing appropriate courses and materials, and by encouraging collective action.” She added: “UCU is examining its
R 15 2007 ISSUE 850 OCTOBE T WEEKLY CARDIFF’S STUDEN 1972 free word - EST.
point plan’ to through a ‘ten c ties, achieved nted through a ‘Strategi of 102 Universi impleme listed 82nd out 18 out of 50, leaving be ent Action Plan’. assistant director and Managem a score of to John Cowie, Glamorgan (4th) institution, including of Engineering with gair rhydd spoke ental Officer for it lagging behind was also a guestd John Newton, Head and Students’ Swansea Institute (27th). Ethical and Environm who calculated Davidson, who applaude Hywel Thomas within the launch the Students’ Union, the event, of 26, g Professor Cox, the group speaker at Figures revealed University’s n to combatin President Jonny anticipated reduction Global Union responsible for the ‘policy, also showed Cardiff steadily rising that the five years would cut current Cardiff’s dedicatio and ‘making will be tons in energy, water emissions to have been Climate change to one’s portfolio’. last year, 000 and target for 56%. until by s to strategy annum central emission the per ent’. Warming “With regards en, from waste managem will chair the ESG, by 10% a two percent reduction. Cowie said: David Honeym“Cardiff is the first and will if this reduction which saw David Grant, who that the policy ent the Green League, carbon emissions to emphasise Trust said: It was said to Carbon in Wales to enter into this also took the opportunity managem today our t to y ty has vowed l responsibility’, Carbon a more ‘efficient energy happened would then be equivalen t with universit ip with the Cardiff Universi need for ‘persona ity commitment’ see our ’, to measure carbon footprinEnergy, official partnersh it is prepared to take the and per head University, and of resources reduce its as well as a ‘commun more precisely can that of Sheffield its first ever ment Trust. This shows consumption targets improve to 41. to make the change. the launch of ranking would undoubtedly a positive or in order the Times Green League of ensure improvements and Waste Manage the lead.” . is Vice Chancell , this June analysed Water and In Grant, and “Whilst whether this d the But David ties was published be acknowledged place aims to reduce Policy. we need to questiona University of British Universi University, expresse performance which took for One such target 26,000 tons in the step last of Cardiff that lay ahead in Cardiff’s ranking the environmental Institutions The meeting, s by es’ an building n is ambitious enough . carbon emission stature.” within the Glamorg to demonstrate ‘challeng’ to cut its carbon footprint the of UK Higher Educatio d five years. of criteria. will be Cardiff’s Thursday, aimed ent to tackling its ‘mission launch also introduce against a variety launch’s notions of next was implied that this The ed Energy It Cardiff’s commitm Contrary to the way’, Cardiff was ty’s newly establish environment. ‘leading the of Jane Universi Group. impact on the the Cardiff signed in front The policy was for Environment, Steering up of key figures from Made Davidson, MinisterHousing. and Sustainability
Sophie Cole ment Science & Environ Editor
TV
T/LISTINGS/
NVIRONMEN
S/SCIENCE&E
SPORT/POLITIC
own conduct in the light of the global need to reduce carbon emissions. We have far to go, as do most UK universities and colleges, but we are keen to speed up international debate and the exchange of ideas of good practice.” Cardiff’s new environmental policy aims to reduce carbon emissions by 26,000 tons in the next five years, after it was revealed that they are currently listed 82nd out of 102 universities in the country.
gairrhydd NOVEMBER.19.2007
07
WORLD NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
Disneyland buckles under increasing weight of guests
World News in brief Ruth Smith Reporter
Bug fest
Due to the invasion of millipedes a German village has had to resort to building a foot high wall around its perimeter to keep the bugs out. Obereichstaett in Bavaria has been plagued by thousands of millipedes every autumn for centuries. They can be seen crawling around the wall every night and there are so many of them that poison will not kill them. Zoologists who could not identify the source of the problem instead designed the wall, which has an overhanging lip. DISNEYLAND: It’s not such a small world after all
Anya Rakoczi Reporter Disneyland’s theme park rides are struggling to cope with obesity, employees have claimed. It has been announced that Southern California’s signature theme park will be closing its most famous ride, It’s a Small World, for renovation next January. Due to America’s growing obesity crisis, it has been claimed the ride cannot cope with the sheer weight of its
customers, who are bigger than ever before. Designed in 1964, the ride was built to accommodate the then average American. However, since then the average American has ballooned, now weighing an average of 200lb. This extra flesh is thought to be what causes the overloaded boats to slow down and become stuck in the flumes, taking up to 10 minutes for guests to be released. The Pirates of the Caribbean, Pinoc-
Death to the penalty Piers Horner Reporter Hopes for an end to the use of capital punishment have been raised by the announcement of a resolution in the United Nations (UN), which calls for a worldwide suspension of the practice. The resolution, due to be voted on last week, was being supported by 81 of the UN’s 192 member states. It is calling on those states that still have the death penalty to either suspend it, or introduce a moratorium on its use, with a view to eventually abandoning the practice. Human rights groups have often criticised the death penalty as being the ultimate form of cruel and inhumane punishment. It has also been pointed out that no legal system can avoid miscarriages of justice and, whereas it is possible to reverse the effects of conventional punishment, the death penalty obviously represents a different case. However, there remains considerable opposition to the resolution, most notably from Singapore. Representatives of the Asian island state argue that the use of capital pun-
ishment is a matter of criminal justice not human rights and, as a result, should be something that is decided upon by countries on an individual basis. Human rights groups fear that those countries opposed to the resolution may try to introduce ‘wreaking amendments’ that would render it ineffective. Although the resolution would not be legally binding, it would represent a significant shift in world opinion on the issue. The use of the death penalty came under public scrutiny after the hanging of Saddam Hussein in December 2006. Many people expressed unease at the manner in which the execution was carried out. Lethal injection is commonly thought of as a humane form of execution, but there have been challenges to the assertion that it is painless for the condemned party. 130 countries have already banned the death penalty. 25 nations carried out executions last year, including the US, which has carried out over 1,000 executions since judicial killings were reintroduced there in 1977.
chio and Alice in Wonderland rides are also thought to be wavering under America’s expanding waistline. But Disney has denied claims that obesity has anything to do with the renovation. Instead, they have said that the work is being carried out due to a series of fibreglass patches on the bottom of the waterway that need to be cleared. But visitors and former cast members (Disney’s employees) have concluded that this is not true. It has been reported by Al Lutz,
a ‘Disney watcher’ that Disney cast members operating the ride “try their very best to eyeball the girth and size of the riders coming down the line and purposely leave a row or two empty on many boats”. Despite these efforts obese riders are, allegedly often quite angry, about both the queues the overloaded boats create and the empty seats going round. Disneyland’s standard apology is to offer them a free food ticket.
A dollar a day Increasing poverty in South Africa leaves citizens struggling on 50 pence a day Oliver Lewis Reporter 4.2 million South Africans are living on fifty pence a day, a South African study reveals. The number of South Africans living on one dollar, or 50 pence a day, has increased from 1.9 million in 1996, to over 4.2 million in 2005. The study, preformed by the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR), stated the cause of the increase was “unemployment and HIV/Aids, despite good economic growth and the implementation of HIV/Aids drug programmes”. SAIRR announced that, “poverty is
also increasing among the white population while inequality was growing among the black population”. The SAIRR went on to call the government’s plans to halve poverty and unemployment by 2014 as being ‘ambitious’. Economic growth in South Africa has been strong in recent years, but unemployment has remained around 26%. SAIRR felt that a reliance on growth alone would not achieve the target in 2014. The report iterates that even after apartheid the black population is more likely to be born into poverty or be forced into it through unemployment. If these figures are to be reversed, arguably, tougher measures must be taken.
Reaching new heights
Cindy Harris, 28, has for the sixth year in a row, won the race to the top of the nation’s tallest building in Chicago. In the annual ‘Go Vertical Chicago’, Cindy was among 2,000 women who ran up the 103 flights from the lobby to the Sears Tower Skydeck. She completed the ascent in just over 15 minutes. Eric Leninger, 24, won the men’s race in 13 minutes and 42 seconds. The event was expected to raise nearly £170,000 for Cancer Research.
Pieced together
Three 17th century Chinese vases, from a set of five with an estimated worth of £200,000£300,000, have now been put back on display after having been smashed by a museum visitor. The vases were broken in January 2006 when Nick Flynn tripped over his shoelaces and bashed into them at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. The restoration took six months and the initial breakage clear up two and a half days. Before the smash they were on display for 60 years.
Cure lovesickness. London from just ÂŁ1
+
www.nationalexpress.com
=
making travel simpler
ÂŁ1 funfares are also available across the country to 52 destinations. Funfares are subject to availability and are only available online at www.nationalexpress.com Funfares are sold in accordance with the National Express general conditions of carriage, which can be found at www.nationalexpress.com
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
EDITORIAL & OPINION
OPINION@gairrhydd.COM
freewords Est. 1972
Diwali Celebrations Last week’s Diwali celebrations were a truly fantastic experience. It was an absolute priviledge to be invited to the event held by YUVA and a delight to be welcomed so warmly to share in the festivities. The atmosphere was vibrant and buzzing with sheer excitement and happiness. The sights and sounds were brilliant as everyone danced in celebration in their colourful, bejewelled outfits. The evening offered a real insight into the Hindu culture which is rarely seen by the majority of students. It was lovely to see students who were not of Hindu faith enjoying the celebrations. Invited by Hindu course mates and team mates they engaged fully with the festivities. This was a remarkable event that celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali, but also invited and engaged with students of all races and religions.
Police Student Initiative Crime statistics for September and October have revealed that criminal activity has fallen this term. The increased police presence across Cathays in the form of the Police Student Initiative certainly seems to be having a positive effect for students However, news of this student-led initiative has not quite reached all students. Some students expect to see a police presence every night of the week, forgetting that the volunteers who facilitate the scheme are students themselves, who work the scheme around their own studies and social lives. The statisitcs released this week, reveal that the scheme is no less effective because it cannot operate every night. The initiative is a deterrent in itself. The Police Student Initiative has been successful so far this term and hopefully crime rates will continue to drop as a result throughout the year.
Creative Words Last year the work of over twenty Cardiff students was published in the special gair rhydd supplement, creative words. We are currently sourcing poetry, short stories, plays and artwork for the second edition of creative words. The supplement is a brilliant platform to share the talent of Cardiff students and is inclusive of all students irrespective of the course they study. If you have any submissions you would like considering for the publication, email them to books@gairrhydd. com by November 25. Editor Amy Harrison Deputy Editor Ben Bryant Co-ordinator Elaine Morgan News William Taylor Abigail Whittaker Samantha Shillabeer Corinne Rhoades Investigations Lee Macaulay Politics
09
What’s the big ID-ea? Lucie Apampa turns her eye to the ongoing debate about ID cards. Can a small piece of plastic save us from terrorism?
I
t is – depending on how seriously you take the press – a scary world that we inhabit today. Get on a bus/tube/train and you run the risk of being attacked by a suicide bomber; visit a mosque and you’ll be indoctrinated in the ways of Jihad; ignore the Iranians’ nuclear development and find yourself at the mercy of Iranian WMDs (if they can find them). No wonder the erosion of civil liberties becomes less oppressive and more comforting with every passing day. In these uncertain times, is it really so much to ask that we make some small sacrifices of our human rights now to protect our human rights in the future? Well, yes, actually – it is. At least it is if we look at ID cards and the widespread opposition they face. For once, no one can accuse the ‘bleeding heart liberals’ of being alone in their concern over the latest Government scheme that purports to let us all sleep a little sounder in our beds. On the face of it, I see little problem with the introduction of ID cards. Nearly all of the other EU nations have them with no serious problems reported, and on paper – if not on biometric credit cards – they look pretty good. They’re convenient, lessening the need for a whole array of identity documents (we will apparently be able to use the cards as ‘digital signatures’), they’re handy (just the size of a credit card, unlike your relatively bulky passport), and most of all, they’re safe.
For every explanation there are ten questions left unanswered ID cards, coming into force in 2009, make passports look practically prehistoric. No longer will identity be based solely on a name and photograph – this is the 21st century after all. Biometric data is a record of your unique personal characteristics (for example, your iris scan or fingerprints), and it will make identity theft a much trickier operation. The Home Office admits these measures won’t be sufficient to stop terrorism and crime (no surprises there then), but they will make it harder for criminals to build up multiple fraudulent identities, by securely linking one person’s identity with one set of unique
Tim Hewish Editorial and Opinion Chris Croissant Huw Davies Columnist Huw Davies Sport George Pawley Jack Zorab Stephen Florey Pete Dean Scott D’Arcy Listings Josie Allchin
Dan Jones Letters Emily Akers GRAB Tom Bentley Hannah Gurney Jobs and Money Jess Best Science & Environment Sophie Cole Features James Temperton Jenny WIlliams Emma Thomas
the political spectrum – is of course the invasion of citizens’ right to privacy, amidst fears that we are being led blindly into a ‘surveillance state’. There is some comfort to be found on the Home Office website as far as civil liberties are concerned. It assures that there will be no compulsion to carry your ID card at all times, and that the police will not have the power to stop people and demand to see their cards, but what is omitted causes the most concern. On the website of NO2ID (a non-partisan campaign opposing the government’s planned ID card and National Identity Register), information is given about some of the less advertised plans that run with the National Identity Scheme.
The Home Office admits ID cards won’t be enough to stop terrorism
9/11: If only they’d had ID cards biometrics. For example, if someone tries to make a major transaction using a stolen ID card, they will be required to provide their ‘biometric’ information and an individual PIN, so unless said thief takes inspiration, a la Demolition Man, and ‘obtains’ an eye or fingertip, they will be caught. Now, this all sounds pretty damn impressive, but as is so often the case: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The biometric system might sound foolproof, but consider that between 1997 and 2000, the Government made a loss of over one billion pounds in failed IT initiatives. Anyone who remembers the NHS database fiasco will be aware that in a Government-run scheme relying heavily on the implementation of new and complicated technology, the margin for error is just too big to be avoided. What will be the cost of a mistake on an ID card? Our personal data will be part of a huge national database (the National Identity Register), so if, for whatever reason, your actual finger-
Problem Page Ted Handsome Television TV Guy TV Mariam TV Tim Lonely Hearts Queenie Five Minute Fun Narelle Picture Editor Ed Salter Online Editor Paul Springett Sub Editor
Graeme Porteous Proof Readers Aisling Tempany Laurel Burn Kieran Harwood Amy Chesterfield Andy Rennison Kaylie Mackenzie Azzedine Bouleghlimat Contributors Shazia Khawaja, Steph cockroft, Oliver Lewis, Daniel Madden, Melissa
print doesn’t quite match the one on your card, it won’t just be a matter of alteration – your very identity will be called into question. The words ‘logistical nightmare’ spring to mind. Another much-lauded benefit of ID cards is the alleged aid they will provide in dealing with terrorism. But how much use will they be? Supposedly, they will make it harder for terrorists to employ the multiple identities and frauded passports they are able to create. Are we to believe, then, that the Home Office is aware of the identities of the major terrorists at large in the UK? Will a new ‘National Identity Scheme’ stop terrorists in their tracks any time they have to use their ID card to board a plane? Somehow, I doubt it.
What will be the cost of a mistake on an ID card? The main argument against ID cards – and one that comes from all over Moore, Emma Barlow, Sian Owens, Anya Rakoczi, Piers Horner, Ruth Smith, Lucie Apampa, Emma Davies, Martyn Fisher, Laura Hinson, Ted Shiress, Magdelene Quartey, Sarah Shearman, Priya Rajyaguru, Fflur Enill Scott, Sara Mai Jones,
One rather alarming measure to look forward to is the introduction of ‘ID interrogation centres’ to accompany existing passport offices. In these interrogation centres (though of course, the Government won’t refer to them as such), ID card applicants will be subject to background checks, questioning and fingerprinting. This does sound a little inflammatory on first sight – perhaps part of an alarmist attempt to increase public opposition to ID cards – but the fact is that planning permission for the first of these centres had already been obtained by the end of last year. Other worrying plans include the fingerprinting of children in schools, and of customers in pubs and bars, although these are not outlined on the Home Office website. The site does make a concerted effort to dispel ‘myths’ about ID cards. Yes, we will be able to check our personal data and no, we will not be paying £300 for the cards. But it does not explain how we will be able to check our personal data, or how much we will be paying for ID cards. For every explanation provided there are ten more questions left unanswered. It seems clear that the Government is either unable or unwilling to supply answers. Surely, at the very least, Gordon and co. should make some more definitive plans before they completely change the meaning and process of identity in this country.
Tom Pritchard, Toby Fairlamb, Alexander J. Prior, Rob Andrews, Dave Green, Toluma Tutu, Josh Pettit, Ieuan Ferrer, Lizzy Wray, Lauren Grew, Lucie Clifford, Georgia Copsey, Cole Stacey, Jake Yorath, Natalie Blyth, Robert James Owen, Roz Lambe, Ruth Manning, Max
Johnston Address University Union, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3QN Web www.gairrhydd.com Email info@gairrhydd.com Advertising 02920 781 474 Location 4th Floor Students’ Union
10 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
OPINION
OPINION@gairrhydd.COM
How cool The tired cliché is ?
The beauty of the English language is slipping away, yet Martyn Fisher believes we can revive it
Emma Davies explores the ambiguities of the ‘Cool List’ and what it takes to earn a place
S
o, it’s that time of year again. NME has published its annual ‘Cool List’. Despite the fact that editor Conor McNicholas claim cool to be ‘impossible to define’, there they go again trying to quantify it into a neat little top 50. Upon reading through the list, I have to admit that I found myself baffled. Seven out of the 50 coolest people in music I have never heard of. A further 6 them I had previously heard the names of, but never heard any music by. Yep, a full 26% of the people on the list I knew nothing, or next to nothing about. Obviously I’ve spent the past 12 months with my head buried in the indie sand. Impossible to define, perhaps, but surely “cool” should be at least slightly universal in nature? Am I really the only indie kid in Britain who’s yet to have heard of Suki from The Real Heat or Santogold? Surely I can’t be the only person to have heard of The Hold Steady without having actually heard them? Am I really that out of touch? Whilst the idea of compiling a list of the 50 coolest people of the year is never intended to be taken completely seriously, it does at times actually descend into a complete farce. How the hell does Brandon Flowers’ moustache warrant an entry? Seriously, NME, you’re doing nothing for your own credibility here. Also, Pete Doherty?! Okay, it was obvious that he’d be in there at some point or another – given how much NME adores the man – but what has he done lately that could warrant him being labelled as “cool”? The man was part of The Libertines, who were arguably one of the most exciting bands of this millennium, but these days all that anybody knows him for is dating/dumping/dating/ (whatever) Kate Moss, doing a ton of drugs and getting arrested on a weekly basis. Certainly not for being the frontman of Babyshambles – the poor man’s Libertines (yes,
that’s a “lazy” condemnation but we all know it’s true). Cool? Hmm. But doesn’t this go to show how subjective a measurement “cool” is? I mean, personally, I can’t for the absolute life of me see how the Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner deserves a spot at number 6. NME obviously do, given that it’s the spot he was appointed. I can see nothing cool in a band (no matter how popular) that have a grand total of just one song that doesn’t make me wish I’d been born without the functional usage of my ears. No offence to any deaf people reading, but I’m quite a fan of music and chatting and other things that involve my ears, thus meaning that for me being deaf wouldn’t be all that cool. The one place I truly agree with though, is the top spot. Kudos to NME for that one. Frank Carter, frontman of Gallows is, in my opinion, truly cool. He’s spent the best part of the past year tearing apart British and American stages and gaining a reputation as part of one of the best live bands around, and quite rightly so. He actually is cool. Although, as the antithesis of almost every other person on the list, you have to wonder why NME put him there. But, what’s most ironic about this is that Carter himself seems bemused to the point of contemptuous about this, even to the extent of having told Xfm that he now plans to add a “fuck the NME” tattoo to his already large gallery of designs. If even the man topping the cool list is appearing disdainful of the concept, does this negate the whole idea? Even if cool is a measurement which can be quantified and rattled off as a list, surely it’s worth more than a group of predictable or safe options (Amy Winehouse, Kate Nash, Beth Ditto et al.) with a few obscurities thrown in to save indie face? And anyway – where’s Morrissey on this list?
FRANK CARTER: the ‘coolest’ kid in town
W
e are frequently bombarded with surveys telling us that women speak a million words a day and men speak about ten. Now, while such surveys don’t particularly trouble me, a recent episode of cliché-littered Loose Women got me wondering about the oral offerings of Joe Public. More specifically, how much of what we say is truly unique, creative and personally heartfelt? And this brings me to those on the gallows: the proverb, the phrase, the cliché, the idiom, the saying – call them what you will, they’re all guilty of crimes against conversation and human interaction and should hang like horse testicles in my opinion. The many thousands of worn-out phrases that are dished out on a daily basis in colloquial speech are all equally vacuous. Life is like a box of chocolates is seen as the most profound advice some can offer another. Am I alone in reading the insert in my fresh box of Quality Street? I know exactly what I’m getting and thus toffee pennies are ignored for a reason!
Does it not make your blood boil when clichés are offered with that patronising smile? But, at the end of the day…. eh?! You mean, 23:59 right? Are problems just systematically resolved at the end of that particular day? I’d be over the moon if that were true. Ok, right, I think I get this one. It derives from the nursery rhyme ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ and the gravity-defying cow jumping over the moon in jubilation. Therefore, we humans decide that we should copy (albeit metaphorically) what said cow does to express any form of happiness. Well cows also moo, sit down when rain is on the cards and eat grass. Should we imitate those characteristics as well? Sure, when weighing up the problems of the world, the issue is perhaps a little inconsequential. But does it not make your blood boil even a tiny bit
when clichéd phrases are offered accompanied by that patronising, knowing smile? The cat that got the cream look? I’m informed a friend can’t make it out this evening. “Under the thumb”, somebody chips in with a smirk. Why exactly is a thumb so representative of oppressive power? Still, if I raised such a query, I’d probably open the gate to an awkward atmosphere. Indeed, you could cut the tension with a knife if we were viewing the situation as a cake. Yum, awkward room! Bad joke, but I was handed it on a plate. Now this is surely somewhat dated in the age of Pot Noodle and microwave meals? I was handed it in a pot, or on a plastic tray would unquestionably be more relevant nowadays? Maybe I’m easily riled? Maybe it’s just been one of those days. Well no, it hasn’t, and what precisely is one of those days? As I noted, an ephemeral issue, perhaps, but where is this persistent use of clichéd phrases and idioms headed? So what is it that leads us to relentlessly fill our speech with such archaic clichés? Familiarity, like most things, can often place a colossal burden on our existence. Most of you reading this will almost certainly have recently moved to a different city. But just how radically altered is your life, bar the absence of immediate family and the physical social network you had at home? You still have the same pub chains, the same shops, and all the fast food outlets and supermarkets your hometown offered. You can contact home on the telephone, via text message, e-mail, MSN Messenger, webcam, and so on. In all areas of life, we love nothing more than a nice big hug from familiarity, and that hug is never far from reach. Correspondingly, comedy shows are reliant on the audience gaining a sense of familiarity and holding onto it in order to be successful. We really warm to the familiar, and the meek idiom offers us this option in our spoken language. Rolling off a cliché as a piece of advice or as a bit of conversation filler is also very much the safe option. It formulates a superficial understanding of sorts; everyone recognises the phrase and the context in which you mean it, but no one is enlightened to anything new of your personality and
the oral creativity that could perfectly encapsulate it. In her novel Written On The Body,
Rolling off a cliché as a piece of advice or conversation filler is very much the safe option Jeanette Winterson touches on a fascinating point with regards to the overused phrase, I love you. “Why is it”, contemplates the protagonist, “that the most unoriginal thing we can say to one another is still the thing we long to hear?” You could launch into a Renaissance-style speech having trekked the British landscape and its grueling weather for days to testify your love for another. Alternatively, you could just text them “Love u” for the cost of 12p. Today, the latter is generally deemed to be the ideal expression of one’s feelings, and it absolutely fits the bill for the need of familiarity that I have broached. So inevitably, it’s an issue that will most probably be swept under the carpet as you dismiss the ramblings of this writer and move on with your cliché-ridden lives (oh yes, moral high ground!). There really isn’t any situation, question or dilemma in life that can’t be dealt with through a phrase or cliché. You flirt; you want a cup of sugar. She flirts back: You know what they say about a man with big feet… You know what, I really don’t know what they say about men with big feet because I’m always left to answer the question nobody will ever answer for me! You can even extend the usage to insults and swearing. You want to insult someone who is a little on the obese side. The fat bastard, you sneer. Dead original, eh? Any fool can criticise, condemn and complain and most fools do, but this particular fool preaches merely one thing: next time you offer advice, tell someone how you feel, or if you just want to make small-talk, please… DITCH THE TIRED CLICHÉ!
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007 OPINION@gairrhydd.COM
Catholic Controversy Another priest, another scandal. Laura Hinson looks at the decline of Catholicism and why it gets so much bad publicity
O
n November 9th, an 80 year old monk was sent to prison for 15 months for sexually abusing boys at a Roman Catholic school more than 30 years ago. The ordained priest William Manahan pleaded guilty to eight charges of sexual abuse; the victims were aged between 8 and 14. It seems nowadays, any press surrounding the Catholic Church is full of controversy. If you are a Catholic in this day and age it’s not hard to notice the massive disarray in the Catholic Church. Few people go to Mass or receive the sacraments regularly if at all anymore, and those who do attend Mass can immediately notice the changes; the laxity and lack of devoutness when comparing to the Mass of many years ago. There is also a lack of priests and nuns, and for those that do remain, scandals surround many of them in the news. In our largely secularised society, where there doesn’t seem to be any room or need for faith, these constant
pejorative news articles appear to alienate existing members of the Church and will invariably distance new members. The widespread coverage into scandals about sexual abuse cases in the priesthood has translated to great mistrust in the Catholic Church. From 2002, allegations of priests sexually abusing children were widely reported in the media. It became clear that the Church was aware of some of the abusive priests, and shuffled them from congregation to congregation, in some cases without removing them from contact with children. Victims of such abuse filed lawsuits against a number
Turning to a hierarchy of religious power for answers now seems unnecessary
of dioceses, resulting in multi-million dollar settlements in some cases. Similar allegations of abuse in Ireland led to the publication of the Ferns report in 2005, which stated that appropriate action was not taken in response to the allegations. Some critics have charged that the Church’s doctrine of mandatory celibacy for priests has been a major contributing factor to the problem. It is argued that we no longer need religion in our lives, that religion is outdated and that it should not interfere with state matters. Increasingly, our thinking has moved away from religion and towards science and rationality. As such, religion seems more relevant historically when people did not understand the world they lived in and sought some kind of guidance and authority on how to live their lives. Due to increases in technology and knowledge changing what we know for sure about the world the institution of religion as a place for answers now seems unnecessary.
MONK: dodgy Although the reasons for not following a religion are vast and do appear to make sense, there is very little that can rationally explain people’s dependence on a supreme being and the desire to incorporate some kind of spirituality and structure on their lives.
I
Magdelene Quartey asks whether or not they really are ‘champions of confidence’ from the crowd. But then along come the fashion ‘gurus’ who dictate what and how you should dress. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice for women, as well as men, to know they’ve got a helping hand with these things, but it isn’t compatible with the humiliation that some of these people undergo at the hands of Trinny and Susannah on national television.
Along come the fashion ‘gurus’ who dictate what/how you should dress It is quite hilarious that they believe themselves to be “champions’’ of confidence and that what they do is for the good of their ‘victims’. Not to sound completely harsh, because in a weird twisted way what they do is never to criticise a woman’s body, or her age. They just criticise the clothes she wears and how they’re not complimenting her body. The issue with Trinny and Susannah is that the viewing public, believe it or not, have become so used to their nuisance and somehow no longer register their annoyance, which is why they get
away with what they do. Why else would they still be going? Perhaps, patiently, we are waiting for the right opportunity to give them the boot (which I don’t predict happening in the near future.) Or we, as a society, have become less fashion conscious (I can hear humorous retorts.) It might seem harsh but, as a young woman growing up, not only do you have to deal with peer-pressure as well as the media. When others, in that same media, pretend to be advisers, instead of what they really are (instructors), start telling you how to dress it all gets too much to contend with. I cannot stress this often enough: fashion is about individuality, and how you interpret the styles you see around you. It’s not what someone deems appropriate for your ‘shape’ or ‘figure’.
It can make them feel inadequate and self conscious Personally, I wear what I want. If look in the mirror and I like what I see, I’ll put it on, regardless of whether you like it or not, which, by the way, is a matter of opinion. Changing a person
OPINION Cardiff, Disability and me Ted Shiress has a hasslefree weekend in Bristol
B
Sticks & Stones don’t know where Trinny and Susannah got the idea to pursue this ‘’career’’ and who in their right minds gave them a show, but of course, seeing as society today is so engulfed with images of the body, it doesn’t come as a huge shock for two women well vouched in the fashion industry to be given a show in which they tell the rest of the nation how to dress. I mean lets try and be fair (or at least open-minded), and look at what they actually do. They invade the lives of otherwise ‘unfashionable’ people of various communities and try to bring their wardrobes up to date with the latest fashion. What is it, though, that makes us so unnerved? It’s because they seem to be such know-it-alls, judging people solely on their looks and clothes. Could this society get anymore superficial? If there is actually someone who agrees with what they do and sincerely believes it’s for the good of the people that they make over, then I’d like to meet them Essentially all they’re doing is ordering people how to dress and consequently how to look, when virtually everyday people are being told that being an individual is a great way to boost self confidence and to set yourself apart
11
on the outside is a long way off from changing her on the inside and is something Trinny and Susannah should take more care to consider. What they do can to some extent enhance people’s confidence, but then it also has the backlash of making them feel inadequate and more self conscious of their looks. If they feel that their efforts help individuals with their self-image, let them. They have this notion of being a ‘’far more realistic part of the solution’’. I’m sorry, but what is the problem here? Body image is becoming far too prominent in our society. With people like Trinny and Susannah always around it’s something that’s not going to just slip away either. In all fairness, I guess their intentions are good and they don’t mean to make people cry. I mean they cannot help that they are overbearing, right? Of course we should care about how we look and what we wear but does that advice have to come from Trinny and Susannah? I’ll be happier listening to advice from friends because they are the ones who know me. What the hell do I care what Trinny and Susannah think? I’m sure you don’t.
efore I digress into a rant about a chosen topic, be it sex, student housing or personal assistants, as I no doubt will, I would like to remind people that this column is theirs as much as mine. Due to regulations, I am not permitted to tie any links with this column and the role of Students with Disabilities Officer. However, that is not to say that the SWDs officer cannot read this. If you were to send in a thought or a concern that gets published and the SWDs officer happened to read it that is just an unavoidable coincidence! AHEM! If you would like to contact me or comment on anything I have written, please look me up on Facebook.
It is simple to find personal assistants in any profession However, since I have no readers’ thoughts to include, I better resume to my usual narked anecdotal status. By the time you read this it will almost be a month old, however, the weekend of the 20th October I took myself to stay the night in Bristol to see my two favourite bands on consecutive nights. “Hang on, only a few weeks ago you were discussing your need to have personal assistants”, I hear you cry in confusion. Well, yes, like everyone I need some assistance now and then, but the ‘personal’ bit is just there to enhance and speed up aspects of everyday life. It may be unthinkably hard to find personal assistants sometimes; however, it is also unthinkably simple to find assistance from people in any profession, once you are used to it. For instance, a simple word with the guards ensured that there would be someone to escort me off the train and into a taxi at Bristol. So as soon as the train arrived at Bristol, I made my way to the door of the train and a guard was there with a ramp so that I could wheel my Zimmer frame down. He escorted me through the station to the taxi rank and within minutes we were discussing the Amsterdam NHS’s policy of giving people with disabilities free subscriptions to prostitutes and whether I agree. That is pretty much how the weekend worked, I just find I can get by and ask nearby staff in shops, bars and stations if and when I need it. As I said in a previous column, people may make the world inaccessible but they can also make it an accessible place too.
12 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
LETTERS
LETTERS@gairrhydd.COM
letters@gairrhydd.com Welcome and croeso to gair rhydd’s letters page, the place for students to have their say about the things they care about. So, if you have an opinion on any topic we would love to hear from you..whether it be a student issue, in the news, or one of your own. Contact us at letters@gairrhydd.com or you can voice your opinions on specific articles online at gairrhydd.com. Fair Trade For WHO? Dear gair rhydd, I’m writing in response to the Letter of the Week ‘Fair Trade for Who?’ in issue 853. “Historically, not one person in the world has been lifted out of poverty by fair trade” is a statement that anyone who knows anything about fair trade will realise is just silly. Also the blanket assumption that a more efficient production process equals a more environmentally friendly process is ludicrous. There are plenty of examples where this just isn’t the case, e.g. intensive farming is more efficient production, but definitely not better for the environment. Finally, the notion that countries can’t get out of poverty because they don’t have access to a free market is one that needs a bit more attention. The reasons that people in the third world are struggling to work their way out of poverty are largely corruption at a governmental level, and the farce that is the World Trade Organisation. The WTO was set up to supervise and liberalise international trade, however most third world countries can
scarcely afford to send one delegate to trade discussions whereas countries such as the USA send a delegation of a couple of hundred. This means that trade rulings are always made in favour of wealthy western countries, and in turn in favour of large multi-nationals who are given freedom to move in and take over markets in developing countries in the name of ‘free trade’ and liberalising markets. In theory free trade is fair, but in practise the playing field is so uneven due to trade injustices that free trade just doesn’t work for the poor. I’m not convinced that China, a country so notorious for human rights abuses and poor working conditions, is a good model of a country developing it’s way out of poverty. And even if it is, it is very shortsighted to compare the situations of countries like China and India with those of African countries because there are major differences (e.g. vast population size, international muscle, etc.) Anyway, with regards to fair trade I’d be the first to hold up my hands and say that it is naive to think that fair trade is the solution to world poverty – it is little more than a sticking plaster and some very widespread political change needs to happen.
Due to an incident concerning a cup of hot coffee, the gair rhydd text facility is currently unavailable. Stay tuned for the new number soon... or if you have an orange sim card feel free to donate it
However what it does do is give farmers the opportunity to develop their communities, send their children to school and have more secure contracts with a more dependable income. More importantly I think, it gives us consumers the opportunity to send out a statement with our wallets, saying that we are weary of trade injustice, and that maybe we need to start paying more realistic prices for some of the things that we buy.
Letter of the week Fashion-Filled Cardiff Dear gair rhydd Hi, I read the article in Quench about Kate Moss’ new range, and how it hinted that Cardiff doesn’t get the latest fashion and I just wanted to write in to say that I don’t think that’s true. There isn’t all the space in Cardiff that London has for boutiques, markets, vintage-stores but creativity can get you a long way in a small city. There are second-hand stores, markets and charity shops and if you venture a little bit outside the city you have some major designer shops in Cowbridge, Penarth, even Barry and as far as Narbeth and Pembrokeshire.
But within the city centre itself, everything is up and coming. I don’t need to remind people about the renovations which is going to bring a John Lewis, maybe even an Urban Outfitters and many other exciting new ventures. Within Howells itself you have some exciting brands as well such as All Saints who do really unique, wearable and citystyled pieces, popular in London and elsewhere. Plus the arcades are full of beautiful one-off boutiques and slightly different shops where you can find an individual piece with only one in each size. We don’t always have to wait for new celebrity-inspired ranges to come to the likes of Topshop and H&M, use a little bit of imagination and you’ll get a long way with fashion in Cardiff. Nadine Bradley
John Cowie
Giving blood isn’t so easy Dear gair rhydd, In response to the article in last week’s gair rhydd about blood donation sessions in the union, I would like to take issue with Emma Thomas’s claim that, ‘almost anyone between the ages of 17 and 60 can become a blood donor’. Er, no, actually. We don’t all get a biscuit and a pat on the back when we turn up at the blood donors. In case gair rhydd needed reminding, the National
Blood Service refuses to accept donations from gay men. This is because of outdated and basically homophobic fears that gay men pose a contamination risk to blood stocks. Maybe the editorial staff at gair rhydd are unaware of the current NUS campaign against the ban on blood donations from gay men? Hang on though, gair rhydd has already covered campaigns by other (more proactive?) student unions to boycott blood donor sessions on campuses across the UK. So how come gair rhydd did not take the opportunity to challenge the Welsh Blood Service on this issue? This wholly uncritical reporting of blood donation sessions on union premises does not even attempt to
ask important questions as to why the Cardiff Students’ Union is facilitating blood donation sessions whilst at the UK level the NUS is campaigning actively against the Blood Service’s homophobic policy. So what exactly is the Cardiff union’s policy on this issue? In the wake of recent reports in gair rhydd of alleged harrassment of a gay couple by union staff, what are LGBT students to make of the prevailing mood within the union? Whether cock-up or conspiracy, the message seems to be that some students are still more equal than others as far as the union is concerned. Mike Thomas
Last year gair rhydd presented an anthology of your poetry, short stories and art in creative words... WANTED: writers and illustrators for the next volume. email: books@gairrhydd.com with your submissions by 20th November
creativewords gairrhydd’s first Crea tive Writing Anthology
A collection of Short Fiction, Script Writing Poetry from Cardiff stud and ents
contents Short Fiction Short fiction
An introduction...
It has been years since creative writing has had a regular spot in gair rhydd. It is often treated like a guilty pleasure; everyone is doing it, but they don’t want to admit it. The idea of a creative writing anthology at first seemed daunting - were people really ready to expose their secret writing? Yet it turned out to be a breeze. Due to the oozing talent of our rising stars, creative writing is back. The word was out amongst gair rhydd contributors, and with the help of the English office, e-mails started flooding in. Full portfolios of glorious prose clogged up the account, sheets of poetry littered the is all collected to be enjoyed office, and now it by all. And there is even better news: gair rhydd wants to make this a regular occurrence, so keep your senses peeled for the next instalment.
A collection of stories, prose and micro short -fiction
Script Writing
Gangsters and knive
s
Poet ry Poe
try
Editor: Avalyn Daisy Illustrations: Andr Beare ew Style
Poems from all years ,a kaleidoscope of subjec t matter
s
For more work visit:
www.gairrhydd.com
/creative_writing
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
13
OPINION
RASPUTIN@gairrhydd.COM
R A S P U T I N Keeping the faith,
Real name not Adam Millward
Keeping the facial hair
I
t’s fair to say, as I make my way through Stansted Airport towards the metal detectors and glorified bouncers patrolling them, that I really don’t want to be searched. I’ve never enjoyed being touched up by the (usually) male attendant who is (always) the size of a brick shithouse. And, without wanting to go into too much detail, I’ve developed a nasty bit of food poisoning involving waterfalls at both ends, so I don’t relish being poked and prodded too much either.
Fortunately, my bag doesn’t set off any alarms and as I self-consciously shuffle through the security system – it’s the only way – I’m relieved by the lack of immediate excitement that follows. I suppose I have no reason to expect otherwise: after all, I’ve removed metallic objects from my pockets and even taken off my belt, which, had I not held up my jeans with my hands, could have led to a disastrous trousersfalling-down situation that could only be interpreted as a come-on to the burly man about to frisk me. But they don’t, and I cross the threshold unscathed. Then, without warning, the security man has his hands all over me. Bloody hell, I think, he’d be thrown out of Solus for less than this. I am being searched for dangerous weapons even though the machine designed to find them has come up with nothing. I am under suspicion for absolutely no reason at all. How annoying. How embarrassing. How utterly predictable. Ever since I grew my first beard in the sixth form (and was asked by a bloke in Dukes nightclub, “Oi mate, is you Muslim?”), I have been looked at in a very different light, usually through sideways glances. The hirsute look seems to make people uneasy, as if I can be trusted no more with my life than I can with a razor. Going through London with a backpack, the reaction reaches hysteria levels – people look fearful and some actually move away from me. And though this is my first flight bearded, I know exactly what to expect. Agitation from other passengers; suspicion from the authorities. It continues through the airport: my passport is studied much longer than anyone else’s, stewards start fidgeting when I reach into my pockets and on the whole
ILLUSTRATION: Kevin Lewis
The hirsute look seems to make people uneasy
I get so much unwanted attention that as I take my shoes off for the added security check, I feel like scaring a few people by saying, “Ah, it’s just like in my Mosque.” Because in the two years I have had this, my second beard, I have been told three things on a regular basis: i) I look like a tramp. ii) I look like a Muslim. iii) I look like a terrorist. And, ignoring i) for a moment, it’s what people see as a natural connection between ii) and iii) that concerns me. I find it deeply saddening that so many people find it a logical step from ‘Muslim’ to ‘terrorist’. You can see this on the street every day: “His jacket looks dodgy”; “Oi mate, ‘Allah Akbar!’”; and, towards Muslim women wearing burkhas, an appalling ‘Middle East’ accent and the words, “Does my bomb look big in this?” These examples aren’t taken from a small demographic; this fear, ignorance and casual racism is everywhere.
It is saddening that many people link Islam to terrorism And, mysteriously, it seems to incorporate those of us who grow hair on our faces. I find myself on the receiving end of the same jokes (well, not the one about the burkha), and the same scrutiny, and the same mistrust. And I’m not the only one: I met a lovely bearded chap by the name of Ben who said the
looks he gets, especially when carrying a camping bag big enough to hold a bomb, have made him totally paranoid. As he put it, “As someone who sees himself as a nice, friendly person, it is terrifying to see people being terrified of me.” In his BBC programme ‘Travels with my Beard’, Rajesh Thind, a British Asian, explained his decision to grow a beard after a few days’ growth caused him to be searched on the Tube under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act. His ‘investigation’ of sorts uncovered a fearful, intolerant London, with people giving him a wide berth, even letting him have whole Tube carriages to himself (the one upside, I imagine). Upon being stopped and searched by police for the fourth time (something he’d never experienced clean-shaven), he asked if it was the beard that put him under suspicion. “Just face it – you look dodgy,” came the reply. However, that was in the weeks following the July 7th bombings in London. Though in no way excusable, trepidation around anyone Asian and bearded was, perhaps, to be expected. But as time has passed, the culture of fear has quietened somewhat; isn’t it time the culture of ignorance and intolerance passed too? The Australian ex-cricketer and commentator Dean Jones was sacked last year for calling South African cricketer Hashim Amla “the terrorist”. That’s some inspiring commentary. Amla, a devout Muslim, has a fantastic beard slightly reminiscent of W. G. Grace’s – though Grace, self-obsessed, whinging
wanker that he was, was never accused of wanting to bring the West to its knees, which is effectively what Jones suggested about Amla.
Clearly, the beard isn’t doing me any favours It’s the fact Jones called him “the terrorist”, not “a terrorist”, that worries me, as though Amla’s faith and facial hair require him to be designated a role; a nickname, even. As a Muslim playing for South Africa, he’s clearly in the minority. But that doesn’t mean he should be singled out, and especially not in this fashion. And, to return to selfish reasons, I don’t see why I should be either. The mistrust with which I am treated actually involves a double whammy of stupid assumptions: that because I have a beard I am a Muslim, and that because I am a Muslim I am a terrorist. Make of that what you will. I would love to think people don’t link the two apparent resemblances in any way, but I know for a fact that is naïve – as naïve as the people who think that because I don’t shave, I am potentially dangerous. Strangely, I’ve never been accused of looking like a Christian terrorist. Clearly the beard isn’t doing me any favours – apparently I also resemble Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper – but I think I’ll keep it for now. While it keeps narrow-minded airline passengers in a state of sheer panic, it’s worth it.
Road safety?
S
eriously, what happened to it? I don’t expect university students to remember much from the PC Plod lectures everyone gets in primary school – all “find a safe space to cross the road” and looking right, left and right again because a car might have turned up while you were looking left (which means technically you’d be there forever) – but it’d be nice if they weren’t quite so suicidal on the crossroads outside the Law building. Freedom of movement is lovely, but there’s no need to abuse that right by acting like a lemon. Or, indeed, a lemming. People just keep crossing the road in front of moving cars. It’s insane. Driving through those crossroads almost amounts to a game of skittles, with students risking life, limb and beret to get to their next lecture before all the best seats go. Vehicles turning left from Cathays Terrace onto Park Place are in constant danger of running over students who can’t work out when to cross the road. For the drivers it’s a blind corner so there’s not much they can do, short of just running them down (which must be tempting). Obviously we’re all grown up now, so, provided there aren’t any impressionable young children watching, we know we can cross on a red light if nothing’s coming. IF NOTHING’S COMING. But people keep trying to secondguess the lights. Why? If you can’t remember the pattern – I’ll admit I can’t – you can at least observe the flow of traffic. It’s not hard. You may not hear from me again. In the strong tradition of writing an admonishing or advisory column only to fall victim to Sod’s Law, I now fully expect to be hit by a car. Ta ta.
14 gairrhydd
FEATURES
OCTOBER.22.2007 FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
15
POLITICS
POLITICS@gairrhydd.COM
Sarkozy’s new role as le petit Americain
Tim Hewish looks at the French President’s visit to the US and asks whether Sarkozy’s act of Americanophilla is acceptable in Europe
F
rench President Nickolas Sarkozy set foot on American soil for his first official state visit last week. However, what makes this act interesting is that Washington greeted him with a friendly handshake and murmurs of he’s ‘our petit Americain’. Such a warm welcome would have been unthinkable just 12 months ago with Franco-US relations at a low ebb. France’s refusal to participate in America’s War in Iraq set in motion a distaste of all things Francais on Capitol Hill; cafeteria’s who sold French fries duly switched them to freedom fries. The frosty relations were not just saved for politics; the average American felt let down by a nation whom they bailed out of WWII and in doing so lost many US lives. Furthermore, they felt alienated that a past French nation left NATO’s military command structure, which was regarded as an act of weakness. Not fighting in the name of liberty
I came to Washington with a simple message: I want to reconquer America’s heart was an insult to the Statue, which bears that hallowed word, given by none other than the French nation. In the eyes of America this ignited the old age quip that France was a country of ‘white flag surrender’ and only had military defeats to her name. The fallout from this is the US view concerning the Paris riots last year which were deemed as ‘typically’ French, whereby she allowed the intensity of the street fighting to mount by
past: “America liberated us. This is an eternal debt…I want to tell you that whenever an American soldier falls somewhere in the world, I think of what the American army did for France.” The Atlantic Alliance was further
Not fighting in the name of liberty was an insult to the Statue given by the French to the US The real heir to Blair
simply refusing to use her military to quell the skirmish. However, these nations share a common bond and such misgivings couldn’t be held for long. They both experienced revolutions and indeed the French aided the 13 colonies allowing them to break from the shackles of the British Crown. If it wasn’t for French military assistance and the know-how of battling the British, America could have turned out differently. In the present, Sarkozy was greeted in a symbolic fashion by Mr Bush at Mount Vernon, the home of the first US President, where they shared a very American lunch of le hotdog and le hamburger. America’s newly acquired warmth derives from the fact Sarkozy is the first French President in a long time to possess pro-American sentiments, so as a result the US wished to see a Europe shaped by his new star-spangled hand. This wasn’t a one-sided affair; yes it was in US interests to find a new friend in the old world, but France also
needed to reclaim the status of a global power. This view was declared by Sarkozy: “I came to Washington with a very simple message. I want to reconquer America’s heart…I have come to tell you one thing - that France and the United States are friends, we are allies, always and forever.” This ‘courting’ of the US by a French President indicates just how much he desires to move in after the exit of Blair, while Gordon for political reasons must keep his distance. Moreover, his tuning up of the rhetoric on Iran’s nuclear programme was akin to present US feeling, but what really got the American heart fluttering was his show of gratitude for a time
strengthened by Sarkozy’s passion for re-entering the NATO command structure, and added: “When we have been together, we have won the hardest fights.” This new ‘fraternitie,’ however, isn’t without it’s discontents; such issues as the Dollars poor economic run, globalisation and global warming are worrying pressures for France which wishes the US to address the above mentioned problems. Of note is how Sarkozy discussed these areas of tension. For instance, he wants the US to “stand alongside Europe in leading the fight against global warming, and said that “monetary disarray could morph into economic war…
where we would all be its victims”. Such aggressive and strong vocabulary is an indication of Sarkozy feeling that the US only listens to militaristic talk on issues. As a result Sarkozy is becoming quite the cult-hero in the US and is viewed as a statesman in his native land; however, not all of the Gallic people share such utterances. For a nation that still has socialist mainstream parties, any transatlantic leanings from its President will be viewed negatively. A left-leaning newspaper Liberation believes Sarkozy has “got lost in his American dream”. Dominique Quessada, a philosopher writing in the newspaper went further by declaring: “The President has psychopathologically as well as politically swallowed whole the myth of the lone American hero, in constant battle with society.” Coupled with this is his drive to alter France’s traditional relaxed way of life - by favouring longer working hours, cutting bureaucratic red tape, de-regulating France’s markets and following greater neo-liberal policies. The France we have come to know, but may not love, could be transformed by this ‘petit Americain’ – Nickolas Sarkozy.
Any transatlantic leanings from its President will be viewed negatively by France’s socialist parties
Labour MP is Lord of the Races Sarah Shearman Political Corespondent
M
P Lord Drayson has quit the political rat race to join a different one, a higher speed and more enduring one: Le Mans’ 24-hour motor race. The 47-year-old Minister for Defence Equipment told Gordon Brown that he would be resigning from his post to pursue his real dream. Perhaps a little affronted - as if serving in his government is not a dream enough, the prime minister told Lord Drayson that he could later return as a minister. He said: “I understand your desire to take up the extraordinary opportunity which has now emerged to achieve your lifetime opportunity. While I am sorry to lose you I look forward to your return to government when your leave of absence ends.” Unsurprisingly, the Conservatives are not so sentimental about Lord Drayson’s move. Liam Fox, Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary, fears for the safety of the nation: “The only min-
ister with any credibility in the defence industry has now abandoned ship,” he said. “This will cause concern throughout Britain’s vital defence industry.” Meanwhile Bernard Jenkin, a former Tory defence spokesman, said: “The idea he is taking a leave of absence and is going to return to the MoD... is utterly ridiculous. This is a resignation and they are trying to hide that fact.” Lord Drayson began his business career with Rover before moving to Lambourn Food. In 1993 he founded PowderJect to market a revolutionary needle-free injection system, which is believed to have earned him over £80 million. Drayson shot to fame when PowderJect won a £32m government contract to supply smallpox vaccines. It later emerged that his £505,000 donation to Labour, when the contract was being considered, may have had something to do with it. Despite investigations by the National Audit Office this was never proved. Lord Drayson’s day job at the Ministry of Defence involved buying everything from Typhoon fighter
planes to automatic grenade launchers for British troops. But never fear, this multi-millionaire, weapon buying, selfconfessed ‘car nut’ claims to have a conscience. Not ready to shed his political clothes just yet, Drayson will be doing his bit to help patch up the hole in the ozone layer by racing a ‘green car’. It is somewhat confusing as to what exactly he means by this, ‘green’ and ‘racing’ being two words that sit rather incongruously together. It is doubtful that the paintwork will actually be green but it will definitely be running off ‘bio-ethanol fuel’. Lord Drayson started racing in 2003 at the age of 43 and initially his wife palmed off his obsession with motors as just a mid-life crisis, never expecting him to progress to the level he has. Chris Needell, Drayson’s team manager at Barwell Motorsport, commented that “he surprised us”. On the fastest corners he was as quick as the professionals,” reconfirming for all those cynics (Lady Drayton included that in fact “he has got balls.”
Le Mans
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
17
SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
SCIENCE@gairrhydd.COM
Are you ready for personal sacrifice?
A new poll reveals countries worldwide are willing to change their daily lives in order to improve the state of the planet. Sophie Cole reviews its results, whilst suggesting it may not be what it seems
A
BBC poll of 22,000 people in 21 countries, released last week, claims that “most people” are ready “to make personal sacrifices” in order to combat climate change. The results showed 83% of respondents agree that individuals would “definitely or probably” have to make lifestyle changes to reduce the longterm impact they have on the planet. Incredibly 70% said they were “ready to make personal sacrifices”. This was even more significant considering the poll was worldwide, meaning that these percentages, in theory, extend to the US and China, two of the world’s biggest emitters of carbon dioxide. In the majority of countries, most people expressed the need for an increase in the cost of fuels that will ultimately contribute to climate change. Nonetheless, opinion was evidently split on the notion of increased taxes on oil and coal: 44% against, 50% in favour. It was further unveiled that individuals would be more accepting of this rise if the money made was invested in finding new energy sources, and to increase the efficiency of previous resources. BBC environment reporter Matt McGrath noted that the poll indicated many countries’ populations as more willing than their governments to seri-
ously address and consider the changes needed to their lifestyles in order to combat global warming. However there were exceptions, these being Italy and Russia, where significant percentages of people believed that increases in the price of energy would not be needed. It is suggested that the existing high-energy costs in both countries could have put people off the idea of increasing prices even further. The attitudes in Asia and Africa though were more varied. There were a few issues in regards to some of the results collected, as figures from China showed. Large majorities in China said higher energy costs were necessary, nevertheless, it was suggested that people interviewed over the telephone were unlikely to contradict official policy. This theory was confounded by the fact that in South Korea and India the majorities in favour of higher prices were much smaller. Furthermore, in Nigeria 52% of the respondents said they did not think higher fuel costs would be necessary to combat global warming. The Chinese are the most enthusiastic when it comes to energy taxes 85% of those polled saying they were in favour, 24 % more than in the next most supportive countries. In the rest of the world, narrow majorities - and sometimes minorities - favoured
83% of respondents agree that individuals would “definitely or probably” have to make lifestyle changes
’Eco-friendly’ assets have become embroidered into our culture higher energy taxes. However, when people opposed to energy taxes were asked whether their opinion would change if the revenue from the taxes were used to increase energy efficiency or develop cleaner fuel, large majorities in every country were in favour of higher taxes. And when those opposed to higher taxes were asked whether they would change their minds if other taxes were reduced in order to keep their total tax burden the same, the survey again discovered large majorities in every
country in favoure of higher green taxes. “This poll clearly shows that people are more ready to endure their share of the burden than most politicians grant,” said Doug Miller, director of Globescan, the polling company that conducted the survey on behalf of the BBC. Globescan interviewed 22,182 people in the UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the United States. Interviews were conducted face-to-face or by telephone between May 29 and July 26 2007. Although this is a comprehensive study that addresses the key issue of personal responsibility within the contemporary debate of the sustainability of our planet, it nonetheless has a hint of dubiousness to it. Are we aware of the explicit questions that were asked, or who was targeted for questioning and the options for response? If a semantic scale was used then it is easier to group people’s opinions together, with a bigger impact; the categorical way the poll’s response has been concluded and analysed suggests this was the case. Climate change has extended be-
yond a topic of debate and is being embroidered into our culture. The way that we live our lives is dictated by this ‘green mindset’, which makes it hard to believe many did not ‘tailor’ their views to fit this mentality, similar to the way we pick up organic peanut butter, yet do not recycle its container. I would like to think many populations are ‘ready’ to make personal sacrifices to improve the status of the planet, and this poll positively puts that idea ‘out there’. However, the willingness of individuals, whether in China or Turkey, to actually make the change, put their words into practise, is doubtful. One can only wonder if this is the BBC following government agenda and fuelling Brits’ competitive streak to ‘be the best’ and be the first to ‘personally sacrifice’.
Calculate your own ecological footprint at www.footprint.wwf.org.uk It’s easy and it takes less than five minutes!
Face of Egyptian boy king revealed Priya Rajyaguru addresses the science behind the preservation of the Tutankhamun
W
e’ve all heard of him, but for the first time the most famous Egyptian Pharaoh, King Tutankhamun has had his face put on public display. His body has been placed in a special climate-controlled plexi-glass case in his tomb at Valley of the Kings, Egypt. The main purpose for this revealing is to protect the remains from further erosion due to excessive temperatures and salt crystal formation. Dr Zahi Hawass, who performed the unveiling of the boy king, stated, “If you look at his face, you will feel the story of the discovery and you will
The model of the boy King, who died over 3,300 years ago, revealed a young man with plump cheeks
feel the magic of this king.” Tutankhamun was ruler of Egypt from 1333-1324 BC, aged just nine years when he took the throne. His tomb was first opened in 1922 by British explorer Sir Howard Carter. The tomb was unique in that it was completely intact, untouched by grave robbers. It contained such exquisite jewels and gems that upon opening the tomb and asked if there was anything inside, Carter’s famous reply, “Yes, wonderful things,” described his awe at the incredible sight before him. For many years the gold burial mask worn by Tutankhamun in his
coffin has been considered a substitute for his actual face. In 2005, the first facial reconstructions of King Tutankhamun were created using CT imaging techniques. The model of the boy King, who died more than 3,300 years ago, reveal a young man with plump cheeks and round chin. The nature of Tutankhamun’s death in 1323BC has long been surrounded by mystery, but a CT scan of his body suggests he may have broken his left leg causing infection, days before his death. It has been decided that Tutunkha-
mun’s mummy will remain in his tomb indefinitely unlike many others which are placed in the Egyptian museum, Cairo.
REVEALED: The reconstructed face depicts Tutunkhamun
18 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
FEATURES
FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
White Ribbons A
The 25th November marks the 17th International Day for the Elimination of V Women. Emma Thomas outlines the prevalent issue of domestic violence whic the lives of women worldwide
D
omestic Violence is the largest single type of violence against women. It accounts for a quarter of all recorded violent crime in Wales and England. This is not a social issue which can be ignored or ‘othered’, it is probable that we will all know a victim of domestic violence as one in four women will experience domestic violence during their lifetime. The 25th November is the 17th annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It begins a 16 day period of global events to raise awareness on the issue of violence against women and
particularly violence within the home or violence from an intimate partner.
One in four women will experience domestic violence during their lifetime The United Nations General Assembly created the day of recognition in December 1999, by adopting a resolution to honour the day in acknowledgement of the magnitude of the problem. It was documented
that the problem needed urgent attention and commitment from an international force to find solutions for vulnerable women worldwide. The 25th November was chosen as the most poignant date in remembrance of the ‘Unforgettable Butterflies’. The Mirabal sisters were three political activists from the Dominican Republic, who were assassinated by orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo on this date 1960. Their plight has become a symbol to promote international concern for gender-specific violence. Latin America has honoured a day of remembrance to commemorate their lives on this day since 1981. Governments, international or-
ganizations and Non-Governmental Organisations are all invited to organize activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem. The sixteen days of Activism Against Engendered Violence, run from the 25th of November until the 10th of December, ending on Human Rights Day. Since the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership, based in the United States of America, began the campaign more than 1,700 organisations have been involved. This has carried the events into 130 countries. The events hope to raise the profile of domestic violence as a common social problem on national and international policy agendas. While the last two decades have seen the issue accelerate onto the hot-topic lists for journalists, it is hoped that continued education, advocacy and lobbying will result in international legislation implicated to provide a blanket level of protection for women worldwide. In 2003 UNIFEM (The United Nations Development Fund for Women), conducted a global study of anti-violence against women legislation. The research found that only 43 countries had laws to specifically protect against domestic violence. There has since been improved legal recognition of the issue. A 2006 survey on all forms of violence against women, presented by the Secretary General of UNIFEM, found that 89 states now have legislative provisions against violence against women. However only 60 of these states have specific domestic violence laws in current effect. UNIFEM still faces problems of issue status, absence of adequate resources and political will to implement policies continues to hamper progress.
Continued lobbying will result in international legislation... to provide a blanket level of protection for women worldwide The United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women was created in 1996. The fund is controlled by UNIFEM. It is the only fund in existence specifically targeted at combating violence. In the last decade the trust has provided financial aid to 198 initiatives against violence. This amounts to $10 million being donated
to relief actions in 100 countries. It is UNIFEM’s belief that supporting localised innovative action is the most effective way to ensure progress in policies and prevalent attitudes.
The psychological bullying means that women are often made to feel that the violence is their fault, The campaign typically includes activities ranging from media programmes to demonstrations, conferences, exhibitions and inspirational performances. Due to the routine pattern and even sanctioned nature of domestic violence, UNIFEM is faced with the challenge of placing the issue in a socially unacceptable position. It is generally assumed in western cultures that violence is counter to social norms as a clear violation of human rights. However in some cultures domestic violence is institutionalised through patriarchy. For victims, the issue is often surrounded by a culture of shame and secrecy. Women who have spoken out about being victims of violence have stated fear and shame as reasons for remaining silent. The psychological bullying involved in much domestic violence means that women are often made to feel that the violence is their fault, a consequence of their own behaviour not that of their tormentor. For such reasons, research into the problem may present misleading statistics. If one in four women admit to having been victims of domestic violence, how many women are really affected? How much does the silence barrier cast a shadow over the true effect of domestic violence? The 16 day campaign includes World AIDS Day on the 1st December. AIDS is not commonly associated with domestic violence. However, research has revealed a direct correlation between women’s experience of violence and their risk of AIDS. Women who have experienced violence are at a higher risk of HIV infection. This is due to the habitual link between violence and rape. A study of over 1300 women in South Africa found that women who had been victims of violence from their intimate partners were 48% more likely to be infected with HIV than other women. The long lasting yet invisible effects of domestic violence are costly. The United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
19
FEATURES
FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
Against Violence
Violence Against ch brings fear to estimated that the costs of intimate partner violence in the United States of America in one year alone (2003) reached $5.8 billion. This figure impacts not only on health care services, at a cost of $4.1 billion in the year, but it also impacts on the productive economy. Losses in work-force productivity as a result of violence cost employers $1.8 billion dollars. The status of domestic violence as a priority issue varies internationally. During this year’s 16 day events, The White Ribbon Organisation in Australia intends to focus on targeting educational material towards politicians. It is hoped that, by highlighting the shocking statistic that almost half of all Australian women will be victims of physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime, government authorities will be implored to raise violence prevention strategies within the political agenda. Domestic violence is a problem which society has a duty to recognise and combat. It is as serious a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, and a greater cause of ill-health than traffic accidents and malaria combined. This sentiment is echoed in the chilling observation by The Secretary General of UNIFEM that “as long as violence against women continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace”.
It is as serious a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, traffic accidents and malaria combined For more information about the 16 day events starting on 25th November visit www.whiteribbonday.org. Supporters of UNIFEM can purchase a white ribbon pin to show their concern and give financial aid to the international fight against domestic violence. A declaration on www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk recognises this support as it “Signifies a commitment to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women”. White Ribbon also have a group page on Facebook which supporters of the cause can join to share their views and unite against violence. This years White Ribbon UK event, a White Tie charity ball being held in Liverpool on the 24th November is already sold out.
The Bruised Facts
40 - 57%
of women will experience physical or sexual violence by a man at some point in their lives (findings of a nationally representative survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics).
1 in 20 women
During the last 12 months more than (5.8%), were the victims of violence. 4.7% experienced physical violence, including physical assault, attempted assault and the threat of assault. Last year 1.6% experienced sexual violence including sexual assault, attempted assault, or the threat of assault.
Over
one-third (39.9%) of women report experiencing at
least one incident of physical or sexual violence since age 15.
3,065,800
women had experiSince the age of 15, an estimated enced violence. 29% of all women that had experienced physical assault, had also experienced sexual assault.
Over a third of women (34%) who have ever had a boyfriend
or husband report experiencing at
least one form of violence during their lifetime from an intimate male partner. About
half have experienced physical violence and a third have experienced sexual violence. SOURCE: A national survey of 6,677 women aged 18-69. PUBLICATION: Mouzos, J., and T. Makkai (2004) Women’s Experiences of Male Violence
Help Lines
The White Ribbon Campaigns endorses these help-lines which offer specific relevant support for all victims of domestic violence: RESPECT: for men who feel that they are in danger of being violent or abusive. 0845 122 8609 BROKEN RAINBOW: support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experiencing domestic
violence. 0845 260 4460 MALE (Men’s Advice Line and Enquiries): for male victims of domestic violence. 0845 064 6800 WOMEN AND CHILDREN HELP LINE Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Help line run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge 0808 2000 247
Come and see us on the ground floor of the Students’ Union. New jobs always available. 034 Promotions & Marketing Staff South Wales £6.50p/h Ongoing
007 Catering Assistants Cardiff Bay £5.50 Ongoing
National radio station are looking for street team members for promotional work to include sampling, distribution, branding, flyering, data capture and on air activity across South Wales and the South West. You must be upbeat, chatty and reliable
Coffee shop requires people for general customer service duties. You should be smartly presented, flexible and reliable. Various day/evening or weekend shifts available, uniform and meals on duty provided.
006 Telephone Interviewers Cardiff £5.52 Ongoing
033 Forum Members Cardiff £35 per session attended
Market research company require people to conduct interviews over the telephone and then enter all details into a computer system. You must have a confident telephone manner and a good standard of spoken English. Various shifts available.
A consultancy company working on behalf of the government are looking for 18 - 25 year olds who have been driving for less than a year, or who have not yet passed their test, to take part in a new Young People’s Forum on learning to drive that is being set up in Cardiff.
Not yet registered with the Jobshop? If you would like to receive free regular updates about great part-time job opportunities within the University, Students’ Union and outside, please come and see us. You can find us on the ground floor of the Students’ Union and we are open between 10am-4pm Monday-Friday.
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
21
JOBS & MONEY
JOBS@gairrhydd.COM
The Rules of Recruitment
Graduate
J
osephine Beckett, 25, graduated with a BA Journalism in 2004. She now owns her owns fashion company. What is your job title? Owner/designer of whereareyounow? I oversee the design process, organise manufacturing, source materials, keep accounts, and find outlets. Where are you based? I’m currently based in Exeter, but am moving to North-East London in the next 2 weeks. How were the knowledge and skills you gained at university of use to you in your business? I think university gave me the confidence I needed to suceed in business. I am not afraid to ask questions, negotiate deals or organise staff . Organisation, and the ability to set your own - and meet - deadlines, are also invaluable skills instilled in you through your degree course.
Applying for jobs presents a minefield of potential problems. Jobs and Money interviews Andy Gibb, international recruitment expert and author of Get That Job! to find out what employers are really looking for... Jess Best Jobs & Money Editor
L
ike many of us, James Gibb was having trouble deciding how to apply for jobs after graduation. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to do. His father, Andy Gibb is a leading international recruitment advisor, working as Head of Recruitment for Royal Dutch Shell Group, and Director of International Resourcing for Ernst and Young. But there was a slight problem: Andy was in the Far East in James’ hour of need. James e-mailed all his questions to Andy, and the exchange resulted in a new guide to the recruitment process, Get That Job! Covering everything from deciding what career you want, to making it through the selection process to dealing with depression, Jobs and Money talks to Andy Gibb about what every prospective graduate should know. For people who have no idea what they want to do, what are the most important factors to think about? In the book I talk about “underlying motivators”. What really turns you on? Excites you? Some people want high salaries. To others money is not important. Finding out what these motivating factors are is key to clarifying what you want, and I include exercises in the book to help you do that. Also, use careers advisers that are available to you as they will have their own forms of assessment that may begin to make you think about your options. What should you include in your CV that might not be immediately obvious? What should you leave out? In my chapter on CV’s I have included a checklist of things you could and should include; what difficult chal-
lenges have you faced, have you ever cared for someone and so on. I would also recommend selectivity. If you came third in a competition out of four competitors, leave out the number of competitors. However, if you came third out of five hundred then include it. It’s a matter of putting the evidence in a positive framework without lying. Also, unless it’s specifically asked for, don’t include information on any exams you have failed. When working as head of recruitment, what mistakes did applicants commonly make in interviews? Many applicants spent too much time on their personal appearance, and not enough time on how they were going to present themselves to the interviewer. How you dress will not affect whether or not you get the job. And I cannot stress enough the importance of preparing for an interview. You can prepare for 60% of the questions in pretty much any interview; why did you apply for this job, where do you want to be in five years. Finally, don’t lie on your CV as they form the basis of many interview questions. Its better to be really confident, hat your resume is truthful, honest and accurate and that you can back it up. If you prepare and are confident then this is the best way to get through the interview process. Is it possible to over-prepare for an interview? Over-preparation is possible, but remember that employers are not trying to put you under pressure. An interview is a chance to give you every opportunity to tell them why you are right for the job. One to two hours is sufficient. What questions should applicants ask the interviewer? An interviewer will normally expect you to have done a bit of homework, so
don’t ask silly questions. Think of one or two questions you might like to ask that are important to you, maybe about their graduate development scheme or opportunities to work abroad. This section of the interview usually comes at the end. and is not normally marked, but watch the interviewer’s body language and face to see if they’re interested and taking account. How important are cultural factors between companies in the applications process? They’re not necessarily number one on my list of considerations, but they are important. The Dutch, for example, really do not like people boasting. If you do, an interviewer will immediately try and take you down a peg or two. British or American companies on the other hand expect you to sell yourself. This is something of a generalisation, but it’s worth considering. How can you prepare for assessment centre exercises? Find someone who did it the week before and talk to them! I used to design assessment centre exercises for Shell, and in the book I give a few examples to practice with. Also, use any experience you’ve had. Even if you’ve failed previously, the experience is always useful. What advantages do you think non-Oxbridge candidates have over Oxbridge candidates? Do you think the job market has moved on enough to see non-Oxbridge graduates as equally valuable? Do you remember that Avis ad? “We’re number two, we try harder”? Think of it like that. Getting into Oxford or Cambridge is difficult, and a lot of people genuinely prefer not to go, so they don’t necessarily have the best students. What I’ve found is that a lot of Oxbridge candidates don’t do their home-
work. They haven’t thought about why they are applying or what it is that they want to do, so there are huge opportunities for non-Oxbridge candidates to shine. The main thing is not to fear anyone you meet from Oxford or Cambridge. In the initial applications their academic credentials may make a difference, but in my experience they do no better at interviews than anyone else. What advantages are there to applying to lesser known, smaller companies? There may be more prestige and perhaps greater earning potential in a large company, but competition is stiff. Do apply for large companies, but apply for smaller companies at the same time so it doesn’t feel like second choice. If a smaller company does offer you a job first, then what a great position to be in! If you only apply for large companies, along with thousands of other graduates, and you get rejected then your options are limited. In a massive firm you are far less likely to make partner for example. If you are dedicated to being “the best” then by all means go for it, but don’t base your self-esteem on it. You’ve been rejected several times from job applications so far. How can you stay positive? Unusually for a book on getting a job, I include a whole chapter on depression. It is a tough and emotional time applying for that first job, and your self esteem will be up and down like a yo-yo. Prepare yourself for the possibility of rejection at the start and remind yourself that that’s ok. Have a plan B, and bear in mind that you can always try again for plan A at a later stage. Andy Gibb’s Get That Job! is on sale now in bookshops for £10.99 and on Amazon for £7.14.
What does your job involve, e.g your day to day responsibilities? I break the week into components: 2 days development, 2 days production, 1 day administration. Development can involve anything from designing to phoning potential stockists, to going on a ‘field trip’ to a new city! Production requires gathering materials, discussing new designs with seamstresses, checking their work and solving any problems they may be having. Administrative days generally involve re-ordering materials, invoicing customers, accounts etc. What made you decide to start up your own business? I have always hated narrowing my options and have never excelled at any one thing. At school, I always liked to do a bit of everything and so running my own business suits me perfectly. I can be creative as well as strategic. I can deal with people and numbers alike. I have a genuine passion for what I do and above all, I love the challenge! What is the best and the worst thing about the work you do and running your own business? The best is thinking that something I design tonight or on the back of an envelope could be in production and on the shelves in a matter of days. The worst is not having a sounding board/colleagues to whinge to if things aren’t going so well. What advice would you give to students thinking of starting their own business? Know your strengths and don’t try and do everything. If you are not a business woman (or man), then concentrate on what you are good at and maybe link up with a more strategic person to push your idea forward. Tell everyone you meet what you are doing, you never know who you’re talking to. And lastly, it may sound obvious, but don’t even contemplate starting your own business unless you are 100% behind it, otherwise it just won’t work.
22 gairrhydd TACHWEDD.19.2007
TAF-OD
FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
Gwyl ˆ Swn ˆ
Tocyn? £38. Lleoliadau? 10. Bandiau? O gwmpas y 120. Y canlyniad? Penwythnos bythgofiadwy
Fflur Enlli Scott a Sara Mai Jones Gohebwyr
r benwythnos oer o Dachwedd, pa ffordd well i gynhesu'r galon na trepsian o leoliad i leoliad yn gwrnado ar s w ˆn newydd, difyr, da. A dyna wnaethon ni. Gyda'r llyfryn 's wˆ n’ein beibl am y penwythnos, yn saff yn ein bag, dyma gychwyn o'r ty^ am 6 nos Wener i gyfarfod cyfeillion yn 'Dempsey's'. Beirut oedd ar dafod pawb, canwr ar ei newydd wedd yw hwn. Fe wyr llawer amdano fel 'Zach Condon'. Roedd o'n chwarae yn y Point, yn y Bae, am 9:35. Y bwriad oedd ymlwybro draw i'w weld. Ond wedi yfed rywfaint o win a seidar bob yn ail, roedd 'Bar Europa' i'w weld cymaint agosach. Difaru 'da ni erbyn heddiw braidd ein bod ni wedi colli cyfle mor dda i'w weld. Yn ôl y sôn, mi oedd hi'n orlawn yno. Roedd Bar Europa yr un mor ddymunol mae'n debyg. Lle bach cartrefol
A
'di fan hyn. Caffi ydi o yn ystod y dydd, a mwy neu lai, mae'r un math o awyrgylch i'w gael yno yn y nos, pawb yn rhoi chwarae teg i'r gerddoriaeth. Yr unig wahaniaeth oedd mai cwrw oedd yn dod o du ol i'r cowntar, nid coffi. Lleuwen oedd yn swyno wrth gamu mewn trwy'r drws. Dyma setlo ar ben y bwrdd am awr neu ddwy, ag aros nes daeth y Sibrydion i orffen y gig tawel yn y caffi bach. Roedd y noson yn prysur gau amdano ni wedi'r gig orffen, felly penderfynom fynd i Clwb Ifor i fusnesu ar y bandiau yn fano. Bass Clef oedd wrthi fyny’r grisiau yn fano, ac roedd awyrgylch gwbl wahanol yno. Cerddoriaeth ‘dubstep’ oedd hwn, gwahanol iawn i’r hyn bydda ni yn dewis gwrando arno fel arfar. Cawsant ‘fwgi’ beth bynnag. Buom yn flêr Dydd Sadwrn. Codi’n hwyr oedd ein hanes, ond wedi tamaid o ginio, a cawod i adfywio, dyma’i throi hi am Buffalo’s. Difyr a dweud y lleia’ oedd ‘Gideon Conn’, gwisgai het ddigri a sbectol gron. Anodd iawn oedd
hi i gadw’n traed yn llonydd. Wedi iddo orffan, daeth Nick Dawson Kelly i’r llwyfan. Cawsom rywfaint o sioc pan agorodd ei geg, wrth glywed cymysgedd o Antony and the Johnson’s a Devendra Banhart yn dod allan o berson mor ifanc. Jakokoyak ddaeth wedyn, a denu pawb i flaen y ’stafell gyda’i swˆ n unigryw o ffync electronig. ‘Ffwrdd a ni wedyn i ‘Dempsey’s’ unwaith eto, ac yna i far ‘Europa’, ble cawsom ein cyfarch gan set Stabmaster Vinyl wrth iddo ddiddori’r gynulleidfa a’i berfformiad ‘gwahanol’ o du ôl ei gyfrifiadur. I Callaghans wedyn i weld beth oedd yn mynd ‘mlaen yno, ond sylweddoli’n sydyn ei bod hi’n amser i ni fynd i Clwb Ifor i weld set Bandit, oedd yn cynnwys perfformiadau gan Plant Duw a Genod Droog. Dawnsio’n wallgo’ gyda’r dorf llawn cyffro ac yna adra i wely clyd. Diwedd da i ddiwrnod pleserus dros ben. Deffro pnawn Dydd Sul yn benderfynnol i wneud y mwya’ o’n tocynnau £38, felly llusgo’n hunain i Buffalo’s i
gael pnawn bach tawel gyda ffrindia’ a gwrando ar gerddoriaeth da. Y band cynta’ glywsom oedd ‘Hush the Many’, band gweddol ‘mental’ a dweud y lleia’! Roedd eu caneuon yn cyffwrdd a’r galon, a’u cerddoriaeth yn syfrdanu, gyda elfennau o burdeb Damien Rice ac angerdd Arcade Fire yn ffynnu ohono. Yeasayer ddaeth wedyn, band gwallgo’ o America oedd yn edrych fel eu bod wedi dod yn syth o’r goedwig. Roedd eu cerddoriaeth yn gymysgedd rhyfedd o electronica, roc ac acwstic, a’u prif leisydd yn cynnig sioe anhygoel i bawb gyda’i symyd ’gwahanol’ ar y llwyfan. Peint o ddwˆ r yn sydyn yn troi’n beint o seidar, a ffwrdd a ni i Clwb Ifor i ddathlu ddiwedd yr wˆyl. Cael ein cyfarch wrth gyrraedd gan dorf o bobl wedi ymgasglu ar y llawr isaf i wrando ar fandiau’r noson. ‘The Duloks’ welsom ni yn gyntaf, band ‘new-wave’ hollol wallgo’ oedd rhain, yn cynnig hiwmor yn ogysal a cherddoriaeth unigryw llawn hwyl. Dilyn y dorf wedyn i fyny i lawr uchaf y clwb i wylio ’Slow
Club’, un o’n hoff fandiau o’r penwythnos. Un bachgen ac un merch oedd yn y band, yn cynnig cerddoriaeth hyfryd, trawiadol a gwahanol i‘r gynulleidfa. Cadeiriau pren oedd drymiau‘r ferch, yn cynnig dyfnder ac unigrwydd i’r caneuon. ‘Black Lips’ oedd band ola’r noson, ac am fand i orffen noson! Roedd y band yn edrych yn wahanol a dweud y lleia’. Un aelod yn edrych fel Freddie Mercury ifanc, un yn edrych fel fersiwn ‘chydg llai o Jaws, a’r drymar, wel, dwi ‘rioed ‘di gweld neb yn taro drymiau fel’na o’r blaen! Mynd yn ôl i lawr y grisiau wedyn i ffarwelio â ’r wˆyl mewn steil, gan ddawnsio yn llawn egni i set wych y DJ. A dyna ddiwedd penwythnos ‘Swˆ n’. Penwythnos a hanner, penwythnos o feddwi a diodda, dawnsio a jeifio i fandiau difyr, ac o ddarganfod y gerddriaeth ora’ sydd gan Cymru a’r byd i gynnig. Swˆn ‘08? Awe!
Gwyl Cerdd Dant 2007 - Pontrhydfendigaid, Ystrad Fflur
Ffion James Golygydd Taf-od
oedd yr wˆyl gerdd dant yn dychwelyd i Bontrhydfendigaid eleni, gan fod yr w ˆ yl wedi ymweld â’r ardal ddeunaw mlynedd yn ôl. Yn 1989 doedd dim modd i’r w ˆyl gael ei chynnal ym mhafiliwn Pontrhydfendigaid, oherwydd fe’i difrodwyd gan dan. Ond eleni, roedd pawb yn edrych ymlaen at gael mwynhau’r wˆyl mewn pafiliwn moethus. Roedd corau, partïon ac unigolion wedi teithio led led Cymru i gyrraedd Pontrhydfendigaid ar ddydd Sadwrn y 10fed o Dachwedd, er mwyn cystadlu yn yr wˆyl unigryw hon. Mae’r wˆ yl yn denu cannoedd o bobl pob blwyddyn, heb sôn am y miloedd sy’n gwylio’r w ˆ yl o’u cartrefi, gyda diolch i’r dechnoleg fodern. I fyfyrwyr Caerdydd, ac aelodau’r Waun Ddyfal yn bennaf, roedd y daith i Bontrhydfendigaid yn siwrne o tua tair awr. Roedd hwyliau da ar bawb, a
R
nifer yn gyffrous am y diwrnod oedd o’u blaenau (er bod hwnnw am fod yn un digon hir). Wedi cyrraedd ar ffordd droellog a trofaog, casglodd pawb i’r neuadd fechan a oedd yn arlwyo ar gyfer yr wˆyl. Roedd dewis eang o fwydydd, gyda’r merched wedi bod wrthi’n paratoi cacennau, a phrydau poeth i’r cantorion. Doedd gan Gôr Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal ddim byd i’w wneud tan 7 yr hwyr, pan gafwyd rhagwrandawiad y Côr Cerdd Dant. Cyn hyn, bu pawb wrthi’n gwylio’r unigolion yn llwyddo yn y pafiliwn. Bu i Huw Alun Foulkes, arweinydd côr yr aelwyd ddod yn fuddugol ar yr unawd cerdd dant dros 16 a than 21, a daeth Elliw Mai, aelod arall o’r aelwyd, yn ail. Roedd enw Elliw Mai i’w glywed unwaith yn rhagor ar lwyfan y pafiliwn, wedi iddi ddod yn ail unwaith yn rhagor ar yr Unawd Alaw Werin. Huw Foulkes, Elliw Mai, Anni Llyˆn a Steffan Watkins oedd yn aelodau o bedwarawd yr Aelwyd, gan ddod yn ail yn eu perfformiad a yrrodd iasau i lawr cefn y beirniaid answyddogol yn y stiwdio!
Bu Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal hefyd ar y llwyfan gyda’u Parti Dawnsio Gwerin. Anodd yw credu eu bod ymhlith enwau megis Dawnswyr Nantgarw a Dawnswyr Talog! Ond ta waeth am hynny, daethant yn drydydd, a gwên ar wyneb pob un ohonynt. Bu’r ddawns yn adloniant i bob un oedd yn ei gwylio, gyda’r gynulleidfa yn mwynhau’r gwisgoedd lliwgar, y stepio, a’r clapio di-ri! Wedi rhagwrandawiad y Côr Cerdd Dant, rhaid oedd rhuthro wedyn i Dregaron i ragbrawf y Côr Alaw Werin. Dyma’r unig beth negatif am gynnal yr wˆ yl ym Mhontrhydfendigaid, sef y ffaith fod rhaid teithio chwech neu saith milltir i ragbrawf ar hyd ffordd droellog. Ar wahân i hyn, yr unig beth negatif arall oedd y ffaith nad oes dim math o signal ffôn symudol yn yr ardal, ac yng ngwir ystyr y gair, roeddem wedi ein hynysu. Gan mai dim ond pedwar Côr Cerdd Dant oedd yn cystadlu, golyga hyn fod pawb yn cael y cyfle i ymddangos ar lwyfan yr wˆyl. Yn ein plith roedd Aelwyd Pantycelyn, Meibion Llywarch a Chôr y Bont. Ond cyn ymddangos ar y
llwyfan gyda’r Côr Cerdd Dant, rhaid oedd ymddangos ar y llwyfan, ynghyˆ d aˆ 7 côr arall, ar gyfer cystadleuaeth y Côr Alaw Werin. Ym marn rhai, syniad braidd yn afresymol oedd hyn, gan y byddai’r gystadleuaeth yn llusgo am oriau maith. Dyma ddigwyddodd, gan achosi i gystadlaethau eraill redeg bron i awr yn hwyr. Erbyn i gystadleuaeth y Côr Cerdd Dant gychwyn, roedd hi’n 12.45 y.b. gyda phawb wedi ymlâdd. Wedi canu’r ddau ddarn Cerdd Dant, nid oeddem yn teimlo’n hapus iawn â’n perfformiad. Doedd dim cydsymud rhwng dau ben y côr, heb son am liwio a gwneud ystumiau! Wedi siomi ein hunain, doedd dim amdani ond heidio am y bws a chychwyn am adref. Mawr felly oedd ein syndod pan dderbyniom alwad ffôn ar y ffordd adref, yn datgan ein bod ni, Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal wedi ennill cystadleuaeth y Côr Cerdd Dant agored! A dod yn drydydd allan o 8 yn y Côr Alaw Werin! Doedd neb yn gallu coelio’u clustiau, a chynhyrfodd y bws yn un llu o sgrechian a chwerthin. Teimlodd bawb fymryn o gywilydd wedi hyn, gan ein bod wedi
gadael ein harweinydd ac ambell un arall ym Mhontrhydfendigaid i ddathlu ar eu pennau eu hunain. Er, Duw a w ˆyr ble yr aethon nhw i ddathlu am 1.15 y.b. ym Mhontrhydfendigaid! Wedi dychwelyd i Gaerdydd â dwy darian enfawr (a nifer o rai bychain eraill), profodd Gˆwyl Cerdd Dant gyntaf Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal i fod yn un hynod llwyddiannus.
Cerdd Dant: Gwˆ yl draddodiadol y Cymry
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007 TELEVISION@gairrhydd.COM
.
HOT
!TELLY!
23
TELLY NOT
Splitting Opinion Like the Letter N
Cherry Pie: No sexual euphemism here. We are just talking about good old fashioned baked goods. Nothing beats a slice of cherry pie when you are down in the dumps and have a huge essay to do.
FILMS
NORTH BY NORTHWEST, FIVE, SATURDAY Classic Hitchcock and an ordinary man is mistaken for a spy by the government. All kinds of wacky fun including a cropduster and a faked death, how can you not watch?
T
he Mighty Boosh has returned for another magical series with the first episode Eels airing on BBC3 last week Thursday. If you were an uber keen bean like all at TV, you would have watched it the week before that on the interweb. The episode didn’t disappoint with all the usual fun and frolics that can be expected from the Boosh. There is the return of all the old favourites like The Hitcher, Tony Harrison, the Moon and Saboo. However something is amiss. No worries Noel Fielding aka Vince Noir is as sexual as ever although surprisingly he hasn’t changed his haircut and the Barrat aka Howard Moon is still the daddy of subtle comedy. It’s something else. The show seems to have become incredibly london-centric even ‘scene’ some might say.
These people might also say this is the pot calling the kettle black but hear me out. The first series was set in a zoo with a few references to London and the second set in a flat in Dalston but that was hardly the main feature as they went on loads of whimsical adventures. This series seems to be mainly centred on the Nabootique in trendy Shoreditch and the Boosh boys didn’t really venture out at all in the first episode. This might change but who knows. The episode was also littered with references to the ‘scene’ with NME flashed up on screen a gazillion times. Vincey also name checked the Klaxons and The Horrors. This might not necessarily be a bad thing because the Boosh work on so many levels but there is the danger that some fans can become alienated. This is the only
criticism that I could throw at this new series really and to be perfectly honest I am a ‘scene’ kid and I do get all the jokes so I’m not fussed. Bring on more jokes about Hoxton waheyyy! I’m also well chuffed at the return of Rich Fulcher as various random characters. He played a delightful and I must say surprisingly beautiful woman in the Eels episode. He also delivered amazing one liners like ‘I want to pound you like yesterdays beef!’. To all you singletons male and female, I would strongly suggest that as the chat up line of choice from here on in. I know we will be seeing more of Fulcher as the series progresses but I do miss him in his original role as Bob Fossil obnoxious zoo owner. Actually I miss the zoo full stop. But I guess one musn’t look to the past but embrace the future,
DEAD RINGERS, BBC 1, TUESDAY Twin gynecologists share grilfriends until one falls in love. Will they be able to share here? Should these men even be allowed to be gynecologists? So many questions, watch for the answers. CLUELESS, CH4, SUNDAY Cher is a rich, beautiful, charming and popular girl who learns about inner beauty etc while giving a girl a makeover. There is sure to be hilarious hijinks along the way and an ending with a message for us all. The perfect teen comedy.
Fudge Tunnel
Coffee Ice Cream: It’s not hot, it’s freezing! Ah the funny. Seriously though I love a huge bowl of soft coffee ice cream, way more than boring cherry pie. I sense a dessert related Telly feud ahead.
SOAPS
Its going to be quite a week for the ‘enders. Sexy Emo Steven has returned woop! Pat takes him in cause she fancies the company and she is a bit of a shit stirrer really. Ian OBV goes mental and tries to stop him from getting on. This doesn’t work cos he somehow manages to get a job running Deano’s stall. Its funny how the market seems to have an endless supply of jobs and that everyone seems to buy their clothes from Stacie’s stall but it all looks suspiciously like H&M. Talking of Stacie, she returns from her honeymoon with the gingemiester and its all looking cool but wait what about the camcorder??? oh yes, someone is going to see that tasty bit of film and yes its all going to kick off. Hollyoaks is pretty tasty as welll. Mercedes is preggers after her fumble with Tony!! Gross...
ADVERTS
Serious Cat
You have got to love the guys that write adverts. Describing Britney Spears as “the most talked about artist of our time” is a brilliant way of twisting the truth. All you do is ignore any crazy hair shaving she may have done, going into rehab, getting charged for a hit-andrun and having custody of her children taken away while the world watches in horror and amusement, and it almost seems like a good thing. Talking about Britney is almost never positive. I think Sarah Silverman said it best when she said Britney “is amazing, she is 25 years old and she’s already accomplished everything she’s going to accomplish.”
Paper is thin material used for writing upon, printing upon or packaging, produced by amalgamation of fibres, typically vegetable fibers composed of cellulose, which are subsequently held together by hydrogen bonding. While the fibres used are usually natural in origin, a wide variety of synthetic fibres, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, may be incorporated into paper.
24 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
TELLY
TELEVISION@gairrhydd.COM
MONDAY To Buy or Not to Buy BBC1 9.15am
Escape to the Country BBC2 2.45pm
BBC 1
BBC 2
19th November World Toilet Day
Great Welsh Roads ITV1 1.00am
My Big Gay Prom C4 10.00am
ITV 1
Channel 4
Street Crime Live five 9.00pm
five
6:00am Breakfast 9:15am To Buy or Not to Buy 10:00am Homes Under the Hammer 11:00am Elizabeth and Philip: 60 Years Together 12:30pm Cash in the Attic
6:00am CBBC 12:00pm The Daily Politics 12:30pm Working Lunch
6:00am GMTV Newshour 6:58am GMTV Today 8:35am LK Today 9:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 10:30am This Morning 11:10am ITV News Headlines 11:15am ITV Wales News and Weather 11:20am This Morning 12:30pm Loose Women
6:00am Kids TV 7:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:00am Just Shoot Me 8:30am Frasier 9:30am Gay to Z 10:00am My Big Gay Prom 11:00am Sex, Lies and Soaps 11:30am Teen Taboos 12:00pm News at Noon 12:30pm Room for Improvement
6:00am Kids TV 9:00am The Wright Stuff 10:30am Trisha Goddard 11:30am five news 12:00pm Home and Away 12:30pm Cooking the Books
1:00pm BBC News; Weather 1:30pm Regional News and Weather 1:40pm Neighbours 2:05pm Doctors 2:35pm Diagnosis Murder 3:20pm BBC News and Weather 3:25pm CBBC
1:00pm Bobinogs 1:10pm Science Clips 1:20pm Emotional Literacy 1:30pm Hands on Nature 2:00pm Animal Park: Wild in Africa 2:45pm Escape to the Country 3:45pm Flog It! 4:30pm Food Poker 5:15pm The Weakest Link
1:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:00pm 60 Minute Makeover 3:00pm Rosemary Shrager’s School for Cooks 4:00pm Midsomer Murders
1:30pm Campbell’s Kingdom 3:25pm Countdown 4:15pm Deal or No Deal
1:00pm Zoo Days 1:30pm Russell Grant’s Postcards 1:35pm Columbo: A Friend in Deed 3:35pm five news update 3:40pm Family Sins
5:00pm The Great Pretender
5:00pm The Paul O’Grady Show
5:30pm five news
6:00pm Eggheads 6:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 7:00pm LA Animation 7:30pm Mastermind 8:00pm University Challenge 8:30pm Nigella Express 9:00pm Dragons’ Den
6:00pm Wales Tonight 6:30pm ITV Evening News 7:00pm Emmerdale 7:30pm Coronation Street 8:00pm Wales This Week 8:30pm Coronation Street
6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Hollyoaks 7:00pm Channel 4 News 7:55pm 3 Minute Wonder 8:00pm Dispatches: Mark Thomas on Coca-Cola
6:00pm Home and Away 6:30pm Cooking the Books 7:00pm five news 7:30pm Human Guinea Pigs 8:00pm The Gadget Show
9:00pm I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
9:00pm Time Team Special: Pugin - The God of Gothic
9:00pm Street Crime Live
10:00pm BBC News; Regional News; Weather 10:25pm Regional News and Weather 10:35pm Live at the Apollo
10:00pm Have I Got News For You 10:30pm Newsnight
10:00pm Coronation Album 10:30pm ITV News
10:00pm Exodus
10:00pm Cannibal Killer
11:20pm Inside Sport 12:30am The Steal 2:00am Weatherview 2:05am Sign Zone: Countryfile Summer Diaries 3:35am Joins BBC News 24
11:20pm This World 11:50pm 50 Years of the Today Programme 12:50am Joins BBC News 24 2:00am Real Chinese 1-10 4:30am China Close Up 1-6
11:05pm The Food Show 12:05am Heart of the Matter: Tonight 12:30am Grand Slam of Darts 1:00am Great Welsh Roads 1:30am Star Bites 1:35am UEFA Champions League Weekly
12:10am Zatoichi 2:20am Unreported World 2:45am Dispatches: Mark Thomas on Coca-Cola 3:40am Ozone 4:00am Natural Hazards 4:15am Natural Hazards
11:05pm Cobra 12:45am NASCAR 1:25am NFL 5:00am Major League Soccer
5:00pm The Sarah Jane Adventures 5:25pm Newsround 5:35pm Neighbours 6:00pm BBC News and Weather 6:30pm Wales Today; Weather 7:00pm The One Show 7:30pm Watchdog 8:00pm EastEnders 8:30pm DIY SOS 9:00pm Panorama Special
Street
Family
PICK OF THE DAY The Simpsons, C4, 6.00pm Does anyone still watch The Simpsons? Like, seriously make time out of their day to watch Homer say D’oh! for the millionth time. I did used to heart The Simpsons big time but it’s all getting a bit staid no? I am bored of those gawping yellow faces. Marge and Homer need to divorce. Bart needs to drop out of school and get a drug habit and Lisa needs to be diagnosed with autism. Whatever happens, it’s time for them to go into retirement and make way for sexier cartoons like South Park and Family Guy. Better yet, we should get involved with some really cool British animation. Did anyone outside of East London watch I Am Not An Animal or Monkeydust? Those were absolutely amazing and I’m not just saying that as a scene kid trying to get kudos. Actually maybe I am...
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
TELLY
TELEVISION@gairrhydd.COM
TUESDAY Breakfast BBC1 6.00am
Hands On Nature BBC2 1.30pm
BBC 1
BBC 2
Summer of Noise ITV1 10.00pm
ITV 1
25
20th November Transgender Day of Remembrance
Gay to Z C4 9.30am
Channel 4
Urban Legends five 12.00am
five
6:00am Breakfast 9:15am To Buy or Not to Buy 10:00am Homes Under the Hammer 11:00am Open House 11:30am Bargain Hunt 12:15pm Cash in the Attic
6:00am CBBC 12:00pm The Daily Politics 12:30pm Working Lunch
6:00am GMTV Newshour 6:58am GMTV Today 8:35am LK Today 9:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 10:30am This Morning 11:10am ITV News Headlines 11:15am ITV Wales News and Weather 11:20am This Morning 12:30pm Loose Women
6:00am Kids TV 7:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:00am Just Shoot Me 8:30am Frasier 9:30am Gay to Z 10:00am My Big Gay Prom 11:00am Sex, Lies and Soaps 11:30am Teen Taboos 12:00pm News at Noon 12:30pm Room for Improvement
6:00am CBBC 9:00am The Wright Stuff 10:30am Trisha Goddard 11:30am five news 12:00pm Home and Away 12:30pm Cooking the Books
1:00pm BBC News; Weather 1:30pm Wales Today; Weather 1:40pm Neighbours 2:05pm Doctors 2:35pm Diagnosis Murder 3:20pm BBC News and Weather 3:25pm CBBC:
1:00pm Shakespeare: The Animated Tales 1:30pm Hands on Nature 2:00pm am.pm 3:00pm Wild in Africa 3:45pm Flog It! 4:30pm Food Poker
1:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:00pm 60 Minute Makeover 3:00pm Rosemary Shrager’s School for Cooks 4:00pm Midsomer Murders
1:30pm Geronimo 3:25pm Countdown 4:15pm Deal or No Deal
1:00pm Zoo Days 1:25pm Russell Grant’s Postcards 1:40pm Tidal Wave: No Escape 3:30pm five news update 3:40pm The Color of Love: Jacey’s Story
5:35pm Neighbours
5:15pm The Weakest Link
5:00pm Chris Tarrant’s Great Pretender
5:00pm The Paul O’Grady Show
5:30pm five news
6:00pm BBC News and Weather 6:30pm Wales Today; Weather 7:00pm The One Show 7:30pm EastEnders 8:00pm Holby City
6:00pm Eggheads 6:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 7:00pm Dragons’ Den 8:00pm Oz and James’s Big Wine Adventures 8:30pm Heston Blumenthal 9:00pm Earth: the Power of the Planet
6:00pm Wales Tonight 6:30pm ITV Evening News 7:00pm Emmerdale 8:00pm Trinny and Susannah Undress the Nation
6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Hollyoaks 7:00pm Channel 4 News 7:55pm 3 Minute Wonder 8:00pm Property Ladder
6:00pm Home and Away 6:30pm Cooking the Books 7:00pm five news 7:30pm Massive Machines 8:00pm Blood Diamonds: The True Story
9:00pm I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
9:00pm Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares
9:00pm CSI: Miami
10:00pm BBC News; Regional News; Weather 10:25pm Wales Today; Weather 10:35pm Imagine
10:00pm The Eight Hundred Million Pound Railway Station 10:30pm Newsnight
10:00pm Summer of Noise 10:30pm ITV News
10:00pm Family Brat Camp: What Happened Next
10:00pm CSI: NY
11:25pm Film 2007 with Jonathan Ross 11:55pm Dead Ringers 1:45am Weatherview 1:50am Sign Zone: See Hear 2:20am Sign Zone: Cranford
11:20pm Long Way Down 12:20am Joins BBC News 24 2:00am Key Stage 3 Bitesize Revision English 1 4:00am Key Stage 3 Bitesize Revision Maths 1
11:05pm Grand Slam of Darts 12:05am ITV Play: Make Your Play 4:10am Quincy, ME 5:00am ITV Nightscreen 5:30am ITV Early Morning News
11:05pm Autopsy: Emergency Room 12:05am Bluesqpoker.com Grosvenor UK Poker Tour 1:05am KOTV 1:35am FIA World Touring Car Championship
11:00pm Law and Order: Special Victims Unit 12:00am Urban Legends 12:30am ITU Triathlon 1:20am NBA Basketball 3:50am UEFA Cup Football 5:10am Seniors Golf
9:00pm Spooks
PICK OF THE DAY Summer of Noise, ITV1, 10.00pm This show sounds like it could be an exciting bit about music festivals and dancing and generally funness. I bet you’re thinking there might be a bit of Razorlight or Maximo Park to get involved in, perhaps some partial nudity. Well hold your horses Sonny Jim ‘cause that’s not happening. It’s actually about meanie policemen wandering through various summer festivals/partys telling everyone to simmer down. This week they journey off to Notting Hill Carnival to try and keep the peace. Now I’m not being funny but every time I’ve been to Notting Hill Carnival all the policemen did was dance and eat chicken. Maybe that’s just what keeping the peace looks like. I wouldn’t know you see, I’m a very warlike character. I go around putting cups on their sides and pushing buttons that say Do Not Push. Yeah I’m bad!
26 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
TELLY
WEDNESDAY One Foot In the Grave BBC1 10.40pm
Family Xchange BBC2 10.45am
BBC 1
BBC 2
Loose Women ITV1 12.30pm
ITV 1
TELEVISION@gairrhydd.COM
21st November World Television Day
Love Trap C4 10.00pm
The Wrong Girl five 3.40pm
Channel 4
five
6:00am Breakfast 9:15am To Buy or Not to Buy 10:00am Homes Under the Hammer 11:00am Open House 11:30am Bargain Hunt 12:15pm Cash in the Attic
6:00am CBBC 10:30am The Flying Gardener 10:45am Family Xchange 11:30am am.pm
6:00am GMTV Newshour 6:58am GMTV Today 8:35am LK Today 9:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 10:30am This Morning 11:10am ITV News Headlines 11:15am ITV Wales News and Weather 11:20am This Morning 12:30pm Loose Women
6:00am Kids TV 7:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:00am Just Shoot Me 8:30am Frasier 9:30am Gay to Z 10:00am Coming out to Class 11:00am Sex, Lies and Soaps 11:30am Teen Taboos 12:00pm News at Noon 12:30pm Room for Improvement
6:00am Kids TV 9:00am The Wright Stuff 10:30am Trisha Goddard 11:30am five news 12:00pm Home and Away 12:30pm Cooking the Books
1:00pm BBC News; Weather 1:30pm Wales Today; Weather 1:40pm Neighbours 2:05pm Doctors 2:35pm Diagnosis Murder 3:20pm BBC News and Weather 3:25pm CBBC:
1:00pm See Hear 1:30pm Working Lunch 2:00pm Lifeline 2:15pm Animal Park: Wild in Africa 2:45pm Escape to the Country 3:45pm Flog It! 4:30pm Food Poker
1:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:00pm 60 Minute Makeover 3:00pm Rosemary Shrager’s School for Cooks 4:00pm Midsomer Murders
1:35pm Water Stories 1:40pm Timberjack 3:25pm Countdown 4:15pm Deal or No Deal
1:00pm Zoo Days 1:30pm Russell Grant’s Postcards 1:40pm Pandora’s Clock 3:30pm five news update 3:40pm The Wrong Girl
5:35pm Neighbours
5:15pm The Weakest Link
5:00pm Chris Tarrant’s Great Pretender
5:00pm The Paul O’Grady Show
5:30pm five news
6:00pm BBC News and Weather 6:30pm Wales Today; Weather 7:00pm The One Show
6:00pm Eggheads 6:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 7:00pm Match of the Day Wales: Germany v Wales
6:00pm Wales Tonight 6:30pm ITV Evening News 7:00pm Emmerdale 7:30pm Coronation Street 8:00pm The Bill
6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Hollyoaks 7:00pm Channel 4 News 7:55pm 3 Minute Wonder 8:00pm How to Look Good Naked
6:00pm Home and Away 6:30pm Cooking the Books 7:00pm five news 7:30pm Binge Britain: Diet Doctors Specials 8:00pm Diet Doctors: Inside & Out
7:30pm Match of the Day Live 10:00pm BBC News; Regional News; Weather
9:45pm Heroes
9:00pm I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
9:00pm Secret Millionaire
9:00pm Extraordinary People: The Twins who Share a Body
10:25pm Wales Today; Weather 10:35pm The National Lottery Draws 10:40pm One Foot in the Grave
10:30pm Newsnight
10:30pm ITV News
10:00pm Love Trap
10:00pm Nico
11:10pm Veronica Guerin 12:45am Weatherview 12:50am SignZone: Antiques Roadshow 1:50am SignZone: Earth: The Power of the Planet
11:20pm The Eight Hundred Million Pound Railway Station 11:50pm Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe 12:20am Joins BBC News 24 2:00am Key Stage 3 Bitesize Revision: Science 1 4:00am The Maths Channel
11:05pm Grand Slam of Darts 12:05am ITV Play: Make Your Play 4:05am The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:00am ITV Nightscreen 5:30am ITV Early Morning News
11:05pm Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares 12:05am Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip 1:05am Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip 2:05am King of the Hill 2:25am 4 Music: Transmission With T-Mobile 3:25am 4 Music: Mobileact Unsigned
12:05am Winning Poker with Jesse May 1:05am NHL Ice Hockey 3:45am Race and Rally UK 4:10am Motorsport Mundial 4:35am Boxing USA 5:10am The X Games
PICK OF THE DAY Match of the Day Live, C4, 7.30pm Okay, straight off the bat I want you to know that, as I write this, the day is Thursday, I have no idea whether Israel were able to stop Russia. My head tells me Russia will win and qualify, and tonight’s match of England vs Croatia will be a farce. While the result may be pointless, what you can guarantee is entertaining chants berating Steve McClown, maybe McClown covered in eggs and rotten vegetables, and perhaps the first pitch invasion at the new Wembley. However, if Israel hold out against our vodka-loving friends to the east, then this game will be a real cracker. If England win and qualify, expect The Sun to have as its headline ‘The Great Escape’ and a mocked up picture of McClown as someone far greater. If we don’t qualify, don’t cry, with McClown at the helm we would have had no chance anyways.
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
TELLY
TELEVISION@gairrhydd.COM
THURSDAY To Buy or Not to Buy BBC1 9.15am
Eggheads BBC2 6.00pm
BBC 1
BBC 2
22nd November Scarlett Johansson’s Birthday
I’m a Celebrity... Shameless Get Me Out of Here C4 11.00pm ITV1 8.00pm ITV 1
27
Channel 4
A Girl’s Guide to 21st Century Sex five 11.10pm five
6:00am Breakfast 9:15am To Buy or Not to Buy 10:00am Homes Under the Hammer 11:00am Open House 11:30am Bargain Hunt 12:15pm Cash In The Attic
6:00am CBBC 12:00pm The Daily Politics 12:30pm Working Lunch
6:00am GMTV Newshour 6:58am GMTV Today 8:35am LK Today 9:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 10:30am This Morning 11:10am ITV News Headlines 11:15am ITV Wales News and Weather 11:20am This Morning 12:30pm Loose Women
6:10am Kids TV 7:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:00am Just Shoot Me 8:30am Frasier 9:30am Gay to Z 10:00am Batty Man 11:00am Sex, Lies and Soaps 11:30am Teen Taboos 12:00pm News at Noon 12:30pm Room for Improvement
6:00am Kids TV 9:00am The Wright Stuff 10:30am Trisha Goddard 11:30am five news 12:00pm Home and Away 12:30pm Cooking the Books
1:00pm BBC News; Weather 1:30pm Wales Today; Weather 1:40pm Neighbours 2:05pm Doctors 2:35pm Diagnosis Murder 3:20pm BBC News and Weather 3:25pm CBBC
1:00pm What the Victorians Did for Us 1:30pm Hands on Nature 2:00pm Animal Park: Wild in Africa 2:45pm Escape to the Country 3:45pm Flog It! 4:30pm Food Poker
1:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:00pm 60 Minute Makeover 3:00pm Rosemary Shrager’s School for Cooks 4:00pm Midsomer Murders
1:05pm Great British Brands 1:20pm The Iron Mistress 3:25pm Countdown 4:15pm Deal or No Deal
1:00pm Zoo Days 1:35pm Russell Grant’s Postcards 1:40pm Pandora’s Clock 3:25pm five news update 3:40pm Nowhere to Land
5:35pm Neighbours 6:00pm BBC News and Weather 6:30pm Wales Today; Weather
5:15pm The Weakest Link 6:00pm Eggheads 6:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 7:00pm Porridge 7:30pm Jamie and Derek’s Welsh Weekends 8:00pm Arrange Me a Marriage 9:00pm Never Mind the Buzzcocks 9:30pm Lead Balloon
5:00pm Chris Tarrant’s Great Pretender 6:00pm Wales Tonight 6:30pm ITV Evening News
5:00pm The Paul O’Grady Show 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Hollyoaks
5:30pm five news 6:00pm Home and Away 6:30pm Cooking the Books
7:00pm Emmerdale 7:30pm Fishlock’s Castles Of Wales 8:00pm I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 9:00pm Sold
7:00pm Channel 4 News 7:55pm 3 Minute Wonder 8:00pm River Cottage: Gone Fishing 9:00pm The Mummy Diaries
7:00pm five news 7:30pm Massive Machines 8:00pm Build a New Life in the Country 9:00pm The Hotel Inspector
10:00pm BBC News; Regional News; Weather 10:25pm Wales Today; Weather
10:00pm Sport Wales 10:30pm Newsnight
10:00pm I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 10:30pm ITV News
10:00pm Without a Trace
10:00pm Californication 10:40pm 30 Rock
10:35pm Dragon’s Eye 11:05pm Question Time
11:20pm The Graham Norton Show 11:50pm Heroes
11:05pm Burn Hollywood Burn 11:35pm Waterfront
11:00pm Shameless
11:10pm A Girl’s Guide to 21st Century Sex
12:05am This Week 12:50am Holiday Weather 12:55am Sign Zone: Panorama 1:25am Sign Zone: Nigella Express 1:55am Sign Zone: Heston Blumenthal: In Search of Perfection
12:35am The Cult of... Star Cops 1:05am Joins BBC News 24 2:00am GCSE Bitesize Revision: German 4:00am GCSE Bitesize Revision: Spanish
12:05am Grand Slam of Darts 1:00am ITV Play: Make Your Play 4:05am The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:00am ITV Nightscreen 5:30am ITV Early Morning News
12:05am Coming Up: Spastic King 12:35am 4 Music:Dubplate Drama 1:05am The Rising: The Ballad of the Mangal Pandey 3:55am Proud Parents: Toyah Willcox 4:10am Betfair Turbo Tennis Zaragoza 5:10am Countdown
12:00am Quiz Call 4:00am UEFA Cup Football
7:00pm The One Show 7:30pm EastEnders 8:00pm Waterloo Road 9:00pm The Street
PICK OF THE DAY The Talented Mr Ripley, Film4, 9.00pm If you don’t have Film4 I feel sorry for you, but lots of you do have it with Freeview and Virgin, so this is for you. The Talented Mr Ripley, set in 1950s Italy, is an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name, and Anthony Mingella’s arse cheeks are firmly in the director’s chair as this superb thriller unravels. I can’t really go too much into the plot without ruining it for you. What I can say is that Matt Damon plays the rather talented con artist Tom Ripley, and is supported by Gwyneth ‘I named my child after fruit, how quirkly am I?’ Paltrow, and the rather snotty, yet thoroughly dashing Jude ‘Where’s the nanny then?’ Law. I hope this superficial & uninformative guide will make you get off the couch and go out in the open air.
28 gairrhydd NOVEMBER.19.2007
TELLY
TELEVISION@gairrhydd.COM
FRIDAY Open House BBC1 11.00am
Eggheads BBC2 6.00pm
BBC 1
BBC 2
23rd November Kelly Brook’s Birthday
I’m a Celebrity... Get Sex, Lies and Soaps Me Out of Here! C4 11.00am ITV1 9.00pm ITV 1
6:00am Breakfast 9:15am To Buy or Not to Buy 10:00am Homes Under the Hammer 11:00am Open House 11:30am Bargain Hunt 12:15pm Cash in the Attic
6:00am CBBC 7:25am Newsround 7:30am CBBC 10:15am Educational TV 11:45am Something Special 12:00pm The Daily Politics 12:30pm Working Lunch
6:00am GMTV Newshour 6:58am GMTV Today 8:35am Entertainment Today 9:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 10:30am This Morning 11:10am ITV News Headlines 11:15am ITV Wales News and Weather 11:20am This Morning 12:30pm Loose Women
1:00pm BBC News; Weather 1:40pm Neighbours 2:05pm Doctors 2:35pm Diagnosis Murder 3:20pm BBC News and Weather 3:25pm CBBC
1:30pm Hands on Nature 2:00pm Animal Park: Wild in Africa 2:45pm Escape to the Country 3:45pm Flog It! 4:30pm Food Poker
1:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:00pm 60 Minute Makeover 3:00pm Rosemary Shrager’s School for Cooks 4:00pm Midsomer Murders
5:00pm Trapped 5:25pm Newsround 5:35pm Neighbours
5:15pm The Weakest Link
6:00pm BBC News and Weather 6:30pm Wales Today; Weather 7:00pm The One Show 7:30pm A Question of Sport 8:00pm EastEnders 8:30pm The Green Green Grass
Nick Baker’s Weird Creatures five 8.00pm
Channel 4
five
6:10am Kids TV 7:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:00am Just Shoot Me 8:30am Frasier 9:30am Gay to Z 10:00am Mum’s Gone Gay 10:35am How To Dump Your Mates 11:00am Sex, Lies and Soaps 11:30am Teen Taboos 12:00pm News at Noon 12:30pm Room for Improvement 1:00pm In Your Dreams 1:15pm Halls of Montezuma 3:25pm Countdown 4:15pm Deal or No Deal
6:00am Kids TV 9:00am The Wright Stuff 10:30am Trisha Goddard 11:30am five news 12:00pm Home and Away 12:30pm Cooking the Books
5:00pm Chris Tarrant’s Great Pretender
5:00pm The Paul O’Grady Show
5:30pm five news
6:00pm Eggheads 6:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 7:00pm Scrum V Live
6:00pm Wales Tonight 6:30pm ITV Evening News 7:00pm Emmerdale 7:30pm Coronation Street 8:00pm Goodbye Cod and Chips? 8:30pm All New Airline
6:00pm Home and Away 6:30pm Cooking the Books 7:00pm five news 7:30pm Will Work for Nuts 8:00pm Nick Baker’s Weird Creatures
9:00pm Have I Got News For You 9:30pm Armstrong and Miller Show 10:00pm BBC News; Regional News; Weather 10:25pm Wales Today; Weather 10:35pm Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
9:00pm The Tudors
9:00pm I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 10:30pm ITV News
6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Hollyoaks 7:00pm Channel 4 News 7:35pm First Cut: In Search of Mr Average 8:00pm A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 9:00pm Ugly Betty 10:00pm My Name Is Earl 10:30pm Comedy Showcase: Kevin Bishop Sketch
10:00pm Law and Order
11:35pm Copycat 1:20am Halloween IV: The Return of Michael Myers 2:55am Weatherview 3:00am Sign Zone: Top Gear 4:00am Sign Zone: Take on the Takeaway 4:30am Joins BBC News 24
11:00pm Newsnight Review 11:35pm Later... with Jools Holland 12:35am Blast 12:40am The Revengers’ Comedies 2:05am Star Trek: The Next Generation 2:50am Star Trek: The Next Generation 3:35am Joins BBC News 24
11:05pm Jimmy Carr: Stand Up 12:10am 4 Music: Transmission With T-Mobile 1:10am 4 Music: Gorillaz: Live in Manchester 2:10am 4 Music:4Play: Athlete 2:40am 4 Music: Empire Square 3:05am 4 Music: Dubplate Drama
11:00pm Angelo’s 11:30pm Valley of the Sex Dolls 12:00am Quiz Call 5:10am Nick’s Quest 5:35am Nick’s Quest
10:00pm QI 10:30pm Newsnight
11:05pm Barry Island 11:40pm Numb3rs 12:20am Al Murray’s Happy Hour 1:20am Grand Slam of Darts QuarterFinals 2:20am ITV Play: Make Your Play 4:15am Karen Sisco
PICK OF THE DAY QI, BBC2, 10.00pm There are a lot of panel shows about these days, but none can hope to compare to the brilliance of QI that has me falling head over heels in love with it. No other show has Stephen Fry, a man with a huge brain and just the right amount of camp, or Alan Davies who is so silly and funny you want to put him in your pocket and take him everywhere with you. If QI were a girl I’d marry her on the spot and never let her leave. As it is, I’m happy to settle for Stephen or Alan, preferably Alan, so long as they stay on top comedic form. Join me in creepily watching the object of my desires once a week, it’ll make you laugh I promise. Just don’t go around repeating every obscure fact you learn while watching or you’ll end up sounding like a twat.
1:00pm Zoo Days 1:30pm Russell Grant’s Postcards 1:45pm Walter and Henry 3:30pm five news update 3:40pm The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
9:00pm NCIS
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
29
TELLY
TELEVISION@gairrhydd.COM
SATURDAY
24th November Freddie Mercury Died 1991
Saturday kitchen BBC 10.00am
The Company BBC2 9.40pm
The X Factor ITV1 6.40pm
BBC 1
BBC 2
ITV 1
6:00am Breakfast 10:00am Saturday Kitchen 11:30am Rachel’s Favourite Food for Living 12:00pm BBC News; Weather 12:10pm Football Focus
6:00am CBBC 11:45am Sportsround 12:00pm Animal Park 12:45pm What the Victorians Did for Us 12:50pm Vera Cruz
6:00am CITV 12:15pm Saturday Cooks
1:00pm Racing from Haydock and Ascot 2:30pm Rugby Union 4:45pm Wales on Saturday
2:20pm Film 2007 with Jonathan Ross 2:55pm The Journey of Natty Gann 4:30pm BBC Switch: Falcon Beach
5:20pm Outtake TV 5:50pm BBC News; Regional News; Weather
This Is Civilisation C4 8.00pm
Channel 4
Built for the Kill: Ice Predators five 11.00am five
6:10am The Hoobs 7:00am Goalissimo! 8:00am The Morning Line 8:50am T4: One Tree Hill 9:50am T4: Friends 10:20am T4: Friends 10:55am T4: Mobileact Unsigned 11:55am T4: Transmission 12:30pm T4: Friends
6:00am Kids TV 10:00am The Gadget Show 11:00am Built for the Predators 11:30am Baby Geniuses 2
1:45pm ITV News and Weather 1:55pm ITV Wales News and Weather 2:00pm Grand Slam of Darts - SemiFinals
1:00pm T4:Charmed 2:00pm Channel 4 Racing 4:10pm Location, Location, Location 4:40pm Time Team
1:15pm The Captive Heart 3:10pm Columbo: An Exercise Fatality
5:15pm BBC Switch: Sound 5:45pm Heroes Unmasked
5:10pm ITV Wales News and Weather 5:25pm ITV News and Weather 5:40pm You’ve Been Framed!
5:35pm Codex
5:10pm North by Northwest
6:10pm Strictly Come Dancing 7:15pm Robin Hood 8:00pm The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins 8:50pm Casualty
6:00pm What the Papers Say 6:10pm Paul Merton’s Silent Clowns 7:10pm Culture Show 8:00pm A Passion for Plants 8:30pm Gardeners’ World Special
6:40pm The X Factor 7:55pm All Star Family Fortunes 8:40pm The X Factor Results
6:25pm Channel 4 News 7:15pm Deal or No Deal 8:00pm This Is Civilisation
7:35pm five news and sport 7:50pm NCIS 8:45pm NCIS
9:40pm The Omid Djalili Show
9:00pm Have I Got News For You 9:40pm The Company
9:15pm I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
9:00pm Along Came a Spider
9:40pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
10:45pm ITV Weekend News and Weather 10:55pm Parkinson
10:55pm Frost and Pegg’s Perfect Night In
10:40pm Law and Order: SVU
12:10am ITV Play: Make Your Play 4:10am ITV Nightscreen 5:30am ITV Early Morning News
1:00am 4 Music:4Play: Electrelane 1:15am 4 Music: Dubplate Drama 1:50am Mask 3:50am King of the Hill 4:15am Monster Garage 5:15am Countdown
11:40pm Criminal Minds 12:40am Quiz Call 5:05am Nick’s Quest 5:30am Nick’s Quest
10:10pm BBC News; Weather 10:30pm Match of the Day
11:50pm Octane 1:15am Friday Night with Jonathan Ross 2:15am Weatherview 2:20am Joins BBC News 24
11:15pm The Tudors 12:10am The King of Comedy 1:55am Culture Show 2:45am Kandahar
PICK OF THE DAY The Omid Djalili Show, BBC1, 9.40pm Years ago I remember seeing Omid Djalili performing stand-up on the TV and finding him hysterical; he was one of those genuine, laugh-out-loud comedians. I also remember seeing him a while later on a comedy panel show telling exactly the same jokes as before. I really hope he will bring fresh material to his new show in which he dabbles in a bit of sketch comedy as well as the old reliable stand-up routine. Of course, there is a chance that his sketch comedy will go the way of Mitchell and Webb and be awkwardly unfunny despite being written by very funny people. Knowing Djalili, the jokes will fall back on the fact that he is, shock horror, Iranian. I’ll laugh but, damn it, I’ll feel guilty.
Kill:
Ice
in
30 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
TELLY
TELEVISION@gairrhydd.COM
SUNDAY The Blair Years BBC1 10.15pm
A Night at the Opera BBC2 12.20am
BBC 1
BBC 2
25th November Christina Applegate’s Birthday
Bratty Babies ITV1 12.00pm
ITV 1
Clueless C4 10.15pm
Hell Boats five 4.50pm
Channel 4
five
6:00am Breakfast 7:35am Match of the Day 9:00am The Andrew Marr Show 10:00am The Big Questions 11:00am Countryfile 12:00pm The Politics Show
6:00am CBBC 10:00am Something for the Weekend 11:30am The Big Sky
6:00am The Sunday Programme 7:00amCITV 9:25am The Championship 10:20am Soccer Sunday 11:00am CITV 11:50am ITV News and Weather 12:00pm Bratty Babies
6:00am Kids TV 7:00am Trans World Sport 8:00am World Cup Skiing 9:05am T4: Hollyoaks Omnibus 11:30am T4: Mobileact Unsigned 12:30pm T4: Mika: Video Exclusive 12:35pm Justin Timberlake FutureSex/ LoveShow
6:00am Kids TV 11:30am Beyond the Break 12:00pm Columbo: A Deadly State of Mind
1:00pm ‘Allo ‘Allo! 1:35pm Diagnosis Murder 2:25pm EastEnders 4:15pm Points of View 4:30pm Robin Hood
1:30pm Racing from Aintree 3:05pm Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation
1:40pm The X Factor 2:55pm The X Factor Results 3:30pm Grand Slam of Darts - Final
2:35pm T4: Ugly Betty 3:35pm T4: The Simpsons 4:10pm Annie
1:30pm Football Italiano 4:20pm Wild Events 4:50pm Hell Boats
5:15pm Songs of Praise 5:50pm Cranford
5:00pm Pembrokeshire: Land of Dreams 5:10pm Earth: The Power of the Planet 6:10pm This World 7:10pm Scrum V 8:00pm Top Gear
6:00pm The Unforgettable... Frankie Howerd 6:25pm ITV Wales News and Weather 7:00pm Emmerdale 7:30pm Coronation Street 8:00pm Heartbeat
6:30pm Scrapheap Challenge 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm White Diamond: A Personal Portrait of Kylie Minogue
6:40pm five news and sport 7:00pm Men in Black
6:50pm Strictly Come Dancing 7:35pm BBC News; Regional News; Weather 8:00pm Antiques Roadshow
9:00pm Cranford
9:00pm Long Way Down
9:00pm I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
10:00pm BBC News; Weather 10:15pm The Blair Years
10:00pm Match of the Day 2 10:50pm Graham Norton Uncut
10:30pm ITV Weekend News and Weather 10:45pm Annie Lennox: The South Bank Show
10:15pm Clueless
10:55pm Disorderly Conduct
11:20pm The BBC One Sessions 12:05am Weatherview 12:10am Sign Zone: Watchdog 12:40am Sign Zone: No Plan, No Peace 1:40am Sign Zone: Holby City 2:40am The Nature of Britain 3:30am Take on the Takeaway
11:35pm Heroes 12:20am A Night at the Opera 1:50am Joins BBC News 24
11:45pm Motorsport UK 12:15am Election 2:05am Quincy, ME 2:50am The Jeremy Kyle Show 3:40am ITV Nightscreen 5:30am ITV Early Morning News
12:05am Bluesqpoker.com Grosvenor UK Poker Tour 1:05am A Throw of Dice 2:40am The Banger Sisters 4:25am 4 Music: Mobileact Unsigned 5:25am Countdown
12:00am Natural Born Racers 12:30am The X Games 1:15am NFL 4:50am Motorsport Mundial 5:10am V8 Supercars
PICK OF THE DAY Men In Black, Five, 7.00pm It’s scary to think that MiB is now ten years old and that I once owned it on tape, a tape that came with a voucher for free coleslaw nonetheless. For me as a nine year old, this film was perfect; it had laughs, action, aliens and amazing special effects. Hell it must have been good for me to get it on tape! Has the past decade aged this film? Certainly, the special effects won’t be so jaw-dropping, but the comedy is still there and I can’t think of a single film that has done comedy sci-fi better since. I’m sure that my nine year old self would still love MiB but for me now the very fact that it is on Five worries me to my core. I guess it could be worth watching to see how much Will Smith has changed over the years, oh wait...
9:00pm xXx2: The Next Level
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
31
FIVE MINUTE FUN
FMF@gairrhydd.COM
found on facebook
SUDOKU
Housemate done something stupid?
1. Log on to the book of face 2. Join the group ‘Found on Facebook’ 3. Upload embarrassing photos 4. Pick up gair rhydd on Monday and laugh
Send more oddities!
COMPETITION CROSSWORD Across
Down
1 Smell (6) 4 An erosive process (8) 10 The same (9) 11 Provide (5) 12 Fasten (5) 13 Awe (9) 14 Victory (7) 16 Podium (4) 19 A Hebrew month (4) 21 Entry (7) 24 Stalemates (9) 25 Horned animal (5) 26 Desert “trees” (5) 27 Without ceasing (9) 28 Crazed (8) 29 Remained (6)
1 Frypans (8) 2 Powered by batteries (8) 3 Nab (5) 5 Dearest (7) 6 As reported by (9) 7 Chant (6) 8 State of anxiety (6) 9 Char (6) 15 An award (9) 17 Treat (8) 18 Accompanied (8) 20 Get (7) 21 Bug (6) 22 Derived meaning (6) 23 Lung, breast or colon ______ (6) 25 Adjust again (5)
Exercise your mind...
WINonal ers ng p A aini tr sion ses
Then exercise your body at
Put your entries in the competitio
n box outside gair rhydd
Every week gair rhydd will be giving away a gym package to one lucky entrant who correctly completes the competition crossword, courtesy of Dave’s Gym.
Every winner will receive a free personal training session with one of our qualified instructors. This can be a gym workout, weight-training, boxing or Thai Boxing session. You will also receive a personalised gym programme and a free guest pass so you can come back for another workout or try one of our studio classes: choose from HipHop, Khai Bo, Bodypump and many more. This prize is worth approximately £35! Conditions: Use of any of our facilities are subject to our terms and conditions and at the user’s own risk. An appointment must be made for the session. Prize must be claimed within four weeks of notification. It is not exchangeable for cash and is not transferable to any other party. Dave’s Gym: Tel: 029 2046 0232 E.mail: enquiries@daves-gym. co.uk Web: www.daves-gym.co.uk
NAME.... EMAIL....
How to enter: Simply complete the crossword opposite and drop it into the crossword competition box outside the gair rhydd office on the 4th floor of the Students’ Union. The first correct entrant to be plucked from the box every week will win the Dave’s Gym package.
32 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
LISTINGS
LISTINGS@gairrhydd.COM
ATTENTION! Here is a gag I thought of about Foo Fighters being too old which I forgot to put in last weeks preview: “See Foo Fig
Stereophonics + The Enemy @ CIA 19th + 20th Nov. Contact venue for ticket details.
Sian Owens Recommends Stereophonics are one of Britain’s most successful rock bands, with 6 huge-selling albums and several sell-out UK, European and World tours under their belt since they were signed to their record label V2 in 1996. This week sees the long-awaited return of the fantastically talented Kelly, Richard and Javier to Cardiff as they perform three gigs at the city’s International Arena. Spending several years performing as a teenage cover band under the name Tragic Love Company, Stereophonics were not immediately a success, with their first two singles Looks Like Chaplain and Local Boy in the Photograph failing to make the top 50. In 1998, however, the band’s first album Word Gets Around, made the top 10 in the UK album charts, after heightened publicity from the BRIT awards where they won ‘Best New Group’. This was a huge and unusual achievement for a small rock trio from South
Tinselworm: Bailey @ CIA
Bill
21st - 25th Nov. SOLD OUT Listings Editor Josie Allchin Recommmends This week it’s the turn of fairly odd looking, confused hairstyle-donning comedian, Mr. Bill Bailey, to grace Cardiff’s comedy circuit. Best known for appearing in such TV programmes as Never Mind The Buzzcocks, QI, Black Books and his occasional guest appearances on Have I Got News For You, he is also one of Britain’s finest and funniest stand-up comics – he won best stand-up at the British Comedy Awards in 1999. The Observer also hailed him as one of the 50 funniest comedians in 2003, and he was also voted number 7 in Channel 4’s hundred greatest stand-ups earlier this year Bailey’s comedy career started in the mid 1980s, with then partners in crime Martin Stubbs and Tony Longworth (he also toured briefly with Mark Lamarr), with which he gained quite a reputation on the comedy circuit, and often performed three to four different gigs a night. This was where Bailey developed his distinct style of mixing musical parodies with
Wales. In 2001 they released the album Just Enough Education to Perform, containing the controversial Mr Writer, in which the band criticised the behaviour of the music media. Provoking several sarky replies, many believe this spurred the trio on to release the kind of music that they’d always wanted to. Since then, the band have developed a huge fan base and have performed at sell out venues such as Cardiff Castle, the Millennium Stadium and Hyde Park for the Live 8 Concert in 2005. This new tour follows the recent release and success of both their highly anticipated number 1 album Pull the Pin, their sixth studio album in 11 years, and the gorgeous Kelly Jones’ solo album, All the Names Have Been Changed. Their UK tour originally had two dates at the CIA, but Tuesday 20th November was added due to popular demand. The up and coming rock band, The Enemy, are supporting the Stereophonics on this November tour and both acts are sure to perform three fantastic shows. If it’s anything like their amazing previous shows, this tour is set to contain a selection of the Stereophonics’ classic hits such as Have a Nice Day and Dakota as well as featuring the songs from their new album. Reports from Birmingham, where the tour has already kicked off, say that this is the best tour yet and that. For Stereophonic fans, it is not one to be missed.
traditional-style jokes. (Interestingly, one of his very first reviews criticised him for not using enough actual jokes in his set – the following evening Bailey performed a set entirely made up of punch lines.) In 1994, Bailey performed one of his first shows, Rock, at the Edinburgh Fringe which documented the lives of one aging rock star and his roadie. This wasn’t to be one of his greatest successes though, and was often only performed to a one-man audience. Things improved though in the next year or two when he decided to concentrate on a solo career – Bill Bailey’s Cosmic Jam was one of his first truly well received performances, and led to a recording in 1996 of the show at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London. This was in turn broadcast on Channel 4, (but not released on DVD until 2005) and marks when Bailey really comes into his own as the rambling comic musician we associate him with nowadays. In 2002, Bailey took over the reigns of music quiz show Never Mind The Buzzcocks from Sean Hughes, to become one of the programme’s most renowned hosts – probably helped by his extensive musical talents, counting the guitar, piano and “kazoo” as part of his wide instrumental repertoire. You may also like to know, that he named his son “Dax” after a character from Star Trek, and is also set to appear in the second series of Skins as Maxxie’s dad. Past reviews of Tinselworm have been nothing but positive, so if you have a ticket this is going to be one spectacular evening.
Xpress R adio’s Gig Of The Week... The Keys, Gindrinker, Samba Lucas Band @ Buffalo, Monday 19th November. £3. Buffalo hosts the Future Sounds gig tonight, with appearances from three Cardiffbased bands which makes it all the more exciting. First up are the Samba Lucas
Coming up...
Band with mouth organs, acoustic guitars and maracas. Slightly reminiscent of Devendra Banhart with singing-speaking vocals, this is a great opportunity to check out a band you’ve probably never seen before. Following in their steps are raw and dirty Gindrinker. Gates and McGraf are sure to pick up the pace of the evening and you’ll probably be treated to a glimpse of improv cornet. What more can you possibly want? Yet another Cardiff-based band The Keys finish off the evening. Recently signed to Too Pure records, The Keys have released three singles and are currently working on their debut self-titled album. A slightly mellower set than Gindrinker promise, will round off the evening nicely. Local artists are where the magic’s at, and if you take a liking, they’ll be so much easier to catch live than these international hotshots that breeze in and out of our beloved Welsh capital.
Amy Winehouse @ CIA, 28th Nov...Madness @ CIA, 10th Dec... Kanye West @ CIA, 27th Nov... Bill Bailey @ CIA, 21st - 25th Nov... Rihanna @ CIA, 19th Dec...
gairrhydd NOVEMBER.19.2007
33
LISTINGS
LISTINGS@gairrhydd.COM
ghters while you can, they’re getting old, before you know it, they’ll be Flu Fighters”...no?
Monday... 19/11
Tuesday... 20/11
Wednesday... 21/11 Thursday... 22/11
Fun Factory @ Solus, SU Cardiff’s own alternative music night. Also features DJing by Oddsoc and bands put on by LMS. This week - The Low Lights. 10pm - 2am. Free entry with NUS. £3 otherwise. FutureSounds Presents: The Keys + Gindrinker + Samba Lucas @ Buffalo Live bands and your favourite Buffalo DJs serenading you through your Monday night... £3. 8pm - 3am. Order of Chaos @ Fun Factory Normal place, normal time, still not normal people. Silverstein + Bless The Fall + Vincent Black Shadow @ Barfly More live music from this notorious venue, probably followed by some club night afterwards. £8 adv. RWCMD Symphony Orchestra @ St David’s Hall A programme of works by Elgar (Overture: In The South), MacmIllan (Confession of Isobel Gowdie) and Tchaikovsky (Symphony No 5). £7/£5
Planet Rock @ Clwb Ifor Bach The one and only rock request night, originating from a Cardiff music society way back. You ask, and they play the rock, metal and goth classics. You can also request via MySpace.com/planet_ rock_club. 9pm - 2pm. £3. Forecast: Forecast DJs @ Buffalo Bar Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... 8pm - 3am. Fuel Inferno: Resident DJs @ Clwb Tafod (NosDa) Cardiff’s hottest rock night. Sticky. Check venue for entry details. 9pm - 1am. Sonic Boom Six + Pilfers + Grown At Home @ Barfly Expect punk rock from Sonic Boom Six, and a more ska punk edge to Pilfers and Grown At Home. 7:30pm £7. Laughing Matters: Rob Deering @ St David’s Hall Winner of the Amused Moose Award 2001. What more can we say? Moose/mooses/meese beware... Conact venue for times and prices.
Rubber Duck @ Solus, SU Dressed up clubbing for jocks and pretend jocks. 10pm. £3. Popscene @ Clwb Ifor Bach Three floors of great music, including breaks, beats, blues, rock and indie. 10pm - 3am. £4.50/£3 before 11pm. Eat The DJ @ Buffalo Bar Do you actually eat the dj? Another free entry night in one of Cardiff’s nicer bars. 9pm - 3am. Unite: Resident DJs @ Clwb Tafod (NosDa) Alternate DJ’s and acoustic music. 8:30pm 1:00am. Check venue for entry details. Livewire @ Buffalo A night of rock and punk with Chilerton, The Slow Dance, A New Day and Laughing Out Loud. 8pm. £3/£4. God is a DJ @ Sherman Fuses music, text and movement to tell a powefull tale of people betrayed by their dreams. 8pm. £10/£8. The Story So Far + Sunday In The Hotseat + Cowboys vs, Cowboys @ Barfly. Live music. Woop. 7.30pm £5.
Pick Of The Day
Pick Of The Day
Pick Of The Day
Pull The Pin Tour: Stereophonics + The Enemy @ CIA Kelly Jones and company continue to deliver their combination of energetic pop hooks and bittersweet lyrical storytelling to the delight of an adoring audience. Supported by The Enemy
The Comedy of Errors: The Royal Shakespeare Company @ New Theatre For the literary conscious among us... Brothers, sisters, masters and servants find themselves confused, baffled and bewildered by the events of a single day. A story of mistaken identity and family reunion, The Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare’s funniest plays. The Royal Shakespeare Company presents its acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s earliest comedy, originally performed in Stratford-upon-Avon, and now visiting the New Theatre as part of a major UK tour. 7:30pm. Matinees 2:30pm Thu & Sat. £26.00 - £7.00 plus concessions.
Tinselworm: Bill Bailey @ (CIA) Musical deity and comedic visionary? Bathborn founding member of The Rubber Bishops and one of the top stand-up comedians in Britain today. He was winner of the Best Live Stand Up 1999 Award, and is team captain on BBC TV’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Bill also starred in the sitcom Black Books and had his own series on BBC 2 entitled Is it Bill Bailey? He also appeared in the British comedy film Saving Grace, alongside Brenda Blethyn and Martin Clunes. SOLD OUT.
who have been kicking up a storm with their anthemic rock and Kasabian-esque rock’n’roll. Born out of sessions messing about in their bedrooms, the band were cult heroes before they were even signed. Now on Stiff Records, they’ve been supporting the likes of The Futureheads, and now the Stereophonics. SOLD OUT.
Friday... 23/11 Access all Areas @ Solus SU More unadulterated fun at the union, and another way to make people drunk. Promises the best alternative music and beats for you to boogie to. 10pm - 2am. £3.50 / £3 adv. The Guns @ Barfly Playing high energy, full throttle rock, these boys waste no time in turning the tempo up another gear. Contact venue for details. Brass Department Concert: RWCMD Brass + Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Ensemble @ The Welsh College of Music & Drama A programme of music for brass band & brass ensemble. 7.30pm. £5-£3. Christmas Show: That’ll Be The Day @ St David’s Hall A musical tour through the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, from skiffle bands and Juke Box Jury, through The Beatles and the Summer Of Love, to the spangle-studded glam-rock era. A foot stomping rollercoaster of a musical ride! Contact venue for ticket details.
Pick Of The Day Mickey D, Alex Horne, Johnny Candon, Bennett Arron @ Jongleurs Alex Horne - A hugely talented, diverse young comedian whose shows are cerebral, witty and meticulously researched, full of quirky ideas and cracking puns. His solo show, Making Fish Laugh, at the 2003 Edinburgh Festival earned him a Perrier Award nomination and has brought him a much deserved higher profile on the comedy circuit. Mickey D - A great young comic from Adelaide, Australia. Club Risa entry included in ticket price, dancing available on request. 8pm-2am.£8.
Saturday...
24/11
Come Play @ Solus, SU Union-run night of rock, pop, dance and general debauchery. Party tunes in the main room and Traffic DJing in the side room. 10pm. £3.50.
Supergene + The Last Republic @ Clwb Ifor Bach The Last Republic - Epic power Rock indie with the slick and far reaching appeal of bands like Radiohead and Coldplay. Panic Cell + Speed Theory + Architects Of Victory @ Barfly Panic Cell - Classic rock metal gone post millenium. Contact ze venue for ze details.
Pick Of The Day Not a great deal on today hence why this gig, which i think is for little children, is the ‘Pick of the Day’ (I use this term incredibly loosely) Under Age Club: To My Boy + Poppy And The Jezebels + Forty Fives + Shameless (1) @ Barfly
To My Boy - Two boys, Sam White and Jack Snape from Liverpool and Chesterfield respectively, making futuristic powerpop. They make their songs using computers, guitars, synthesizers, arpeggiators and fantastic and fun drum machines. They’re kitsch, abandoned and celebrating the marriage of the Played and the Beautiful Machine. Poppy And The Jezebels -Four girls in their mid-teens who make ‘gorgeous, naive indiepop’ (NME) with a singer described as a ‘young Marianne Faithful’ (Artrocker). As seen on CBBC’s ‘Do Something Different’. Shameless (1) - Indie/punk band from Bracknell who are pop-punk Salvia addicts from Bracknell and Reading destined for greatness.1pm-6pm. £5.
Sunday...
25/11
Buffalo Sundaes Garden Party: Fireworks night special @ Buffalo Bar Music untill 3am, heated outdoor marquee and a mini fireworks display, amazing! 7pm-3am. Free before 10pm. £2/3 after. Dignity Dies First + Dead Against The Rest + Laughing Out Loud + Mea + Midasuno @ Clwb Ifor Bach Midasuno - A four-piece from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales combine punk, metal, rock and lo-fi to devastating effect with one of the most chaotic live shows around. Dead Against The Rest - Classic rock in its purest form from fantastic six-piece Dead Against The Rest, whose incredible stage show is second only to their ability to rock harder, stronger and faster than the rest. 6.15pm. £7. From The Jam: Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler @ St David’s Hall One of the UK’s finest bands, who spawned hits such as Going Underground and Town Called Malice, reunited, minus one Paul Weller, for the first time in 25 years. 7.30pm. £18.50 in advance. John Power (1) + Edward James @ Barfly John Power (1) - John Power, ex-bassist with The La’s and former guitarist with Cast, released his first solo album, ‘Happening For Love’ in 2003. 7.30pm £10
Pick Of The Day Sum 41 @ Great Hall Canadian punks who have hit it big on both sides of the Atlantic, and who epitomise the pop-punk aesthetic. Their songs mix catchy tunes with real energy and heavy duty guitar playing, a blend which has led to several very successful singles, including ‘In Too Deep’ and ‘Fat Lip’. 7.30pm. Contact venue for more details.
Baitshop @ Barfly Student clubnight at Cardiff’s most renowned alternative music venue. Playing your usual mix of rock, indie and dance. 10.30pm. £3/£2 with nus. The Breakfast Club @ Buffalo Club night upstairs in this trendy bar. Hard-core party people only... 8pm-3am.£3. The Lockdown @ Buffalo Live Drum n’ Bass, breaks and beats. From 8pm. 3/4. Overture Presents: Linx + Resident DJs And Guests @ Glo Bar Boogie on down with these super-cool DJs... 9pm-3am. £3. Saxophone & Guitar Recital: Duo Montagnard @ The Welsh College of Music & Drama Duo Montagnard - American duo comprising Joseph Murphy (saxophone) & Matthew Slotkin (guitar). 1.05pm. £4-£2 Jason Soudah @ Clwb Ifor Bach A 24 year-old Irish/Cypriot singer-songwriter with a style comparable to artists such as Tori Amos and Counting Crows.8pm.£5.
Pick Of The Day Paul Carrack @ St David’s Hall Former Mike & The Mechanics and Squeeze frontman and the voice behind world-wide hits such as Ace’s ‘How Long’, Squeeze’s ‘Tempted’ and timeless classic ‘The Living Years’, who has a reputation as a stunning live performer. ‘His soulful gem of a voice is one of pop’s best kept secrets. It’s about time that changed.’ Daily Mail. 8pm. £24.50 in advance.
Venues... Students’ Union, Park Place, 02920 387421 www.cardiffstudents.com Med Club, Neuadd Meirionydd, Heath Park 02920 744948 Clwb Ifor Bach (The Welsh Club), 11 Womanby Street 02920 232199 www.clwb.net Barfly, Kingsway, Tickets: 08709070999 www.barflyclub.com/cardiff Metros, Bakers Row 02920 399939 www.clubmetropolitan.com Dempseys, Castle Street 02920 252024 Iotas, 7 Mill Lane 02920 225592 Incognito, Park Place 02920 412190 Liquid, St. Mary Street 02920645464 The Philharmonic, 76-77 St. Mary Street 02920 230678 Café Jazz, 21 St. Mary Street 02920 387026 www.cafejazzcardiff.com The Riverbank Hotel, Despenser Street www.riverbankjazz.co.uk St. David’s Hall, The Hayes 02920 878444 www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton 02920 304400 www.chapter.org Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay 0870 0402000 www.wmc.org.uk The New Theatre, Park Place 02920 878889 www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk The Sherman Theatre, Senghennydd Road 02920 646900 www.shermantheatre.co.uk The Glee Club, Mermaid Quay 0870 2415093 www.glee.co.uk Cardiff International Arena, Mary Ann Street 02920 224488 The Millennium Stadium Can’t miss it. www.millenniumstadium.com The Point, Cardiff Bay, 029 2046 0873. www.thepointcardiffbay.com
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
PROBLEM PAGE
PROBLEMPAGE@gairrhydd.COM
From the Desk of
TEd
35
e m so
d n Ha
He’s a ruddy good lad.
Ted Handsome’s Places That Children Should Be Banned From An Occasional Series
I hate children. They sicken me, and as far as I’m concerned they are all one and the same. I don’t understand these people who seem to melt when they see a picture of some dribbling sticky infant. All children are as stupid and as ugly as each other, and quite frankly the only time a person becomes interesting to me is either when they are old enough to drink old brandies and smoke expensive cigars with me, or when the are old enough to be plied with alcohol and enticed into the back of a limo. So, children are awful and, by this twisted logic, they should be banned from these particular places.
No. 1 - All Restaurants There is nothing worse than looking forward to eating the dead flesh of some hapless animal, only to be disrupted by some mewling twat smearing mush all over their ugly fat face, and being lauded by their ‘progressive’ fucknuts of parents for ‘actualising his self-belief pattern’ or some other pseudo-psychological bullshit. If we are no longer allowed to smoke indoors, then I certainly think that children should also be banned, as they cause more misery than any form of Tobacco.
No. 2
- Public Transport
At least with a building there is the option of simply leaving and leaving the problem within the building. Unfortunately, if you are trapped within a train or an aeroplane there is no escape, and no matter how many complimentary spirits you quaff to numb the pain, the yelp of an ungrateful brat will always manage to disrupt whatever alcholic haze you are dwelling within. Not to mention the obligatory feral child who believes that it is well within their rights to run around shrieking and to clamber all over you all while the parents shrug meekly. Arseholes.
No. 3 - Society Essentially, I believe that children should be brought up on some kind of a farm or a secure facility until they reach adulthood, as parents have demonstrated that they simply cannot be trusted with the safe handling of these tiny little shits. No it is not ‘cute’ for a child to burble words like some kind of miniature drunk and fall over. Nor is it socially acceptable for somebody to literally foul themselves in public, so why should we tolerate it from children? Exactly.
A letter about low-down dirty rats Dear Ted, I live in a lovely Roath apartment, with a splendid view of the bustling metropolitan paradise that is Albany Road, we boast laminate flooring and wonderful balcony view. However, it has come to my and my flatmate’s attention that we may have got some unwanted tenants in the form of our old pals, Rattus Norvegicus. They are nothing like that film ‘Ratatouille’, as they are yet to speak in an American accent, nor have they attempted to cook any gourmet food. Have you got any ideas about how to deal with this somewhat unsavoury problem? Yours, Alison Airport My Dear Alison, Rats truly are a nuisance, although as a student you will simply have to
get used to this way of living. You see, according to my awesome levels of prejudice, rats and students are essentially one and the same. One is a kind of vermin, usually caught scrabbling through filth, with matted hair, scared of daylight and usually costs a great deal of money to get rid of. The other is a rat. Hello, satire! If I had my way, then I’d get rid of all you student types, clogging up pubs trying to pay for a cider and black using a bloody chequebook. Yet, apparently this sort of talk ‘isn’t PC’, and ‘could be deemed as hateful’ and ‘isn’t really appropriate for a PTA meeting, Mr. Handsome, could you please be quiet, you are scaring the children.’ As I am not allowed to call for the extermination of a whole stratum of society, I guess I’m going to be forced into actually attempting to give you some form of meaning-
ful advice. If you want to wuss out, and act all compassionate for the little buggers, then there are any number of humane traps available, and even many pest removal agencies who specialise in the humane capture and release of these animals. However, in my opinion, anyone who goes for this option has forfeited their right to be considered a decent human being. I’ll possibly allow some lee-way for the ladies as they love their little animals, but any red-blooded male who does not fight the animal to its death is clearly suspect. Yours Ted
A letter about mobile bloody phones Dear Ted, Mobile phones are bloody brill, and I’m rarely seen without mine attached to my face or my thumb nimbly dancing over the keys sending a text to one of my many friends. However, after a few too many shandies the other night, one of my erstwhile friends decided to take a picture of his engorged phallus and send it to my mother. I am unsure as to what to do about this situation, as I have not spoken to my mother since that fateful night. have you any advice as how to deal with this touchy subject? Yours, Graham Breakfast Graham, To be quite frank, you deserve nothing less. Mobile telephones are the bane of modern day life. There used to be a golden age for working peo-
ple, when they could simply leave their office and their work stayed put. These days, however, with these bloody devices your work follows you around like a bad smell, and for that reason, I wish nothing but pain upon the strange individuals who actually like these infernal contraptions. I saw one chap seemingly talking to himself whilst walking through Millets the other day. Of course, I rugby tackled him to the ground, because he could have been a deranged lunatic, or even worse, a Communist spy. Although, having been dragged off this suspicious character, still raining punches and kicks upon his person, I was informed in no uncertain terms that this sort of behaviour was de rigeur these days. The shop assistant mumbled something about a ‘blue tooth’ which only confounded my suspicions that this poor chaps was suffering from some
medical abnormality. It has just occurred to me that I have yet to deal with the problem of the picture of the swollen rod that your mother received. I am going to assume that the rendering of the excited shaft emanated from your phone as opposed to anyone else’s, or else it would not be considered a problem. Essentially, Graham, your mother has seen your manhood before, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she will see it in years to come. Plus, if this is the same Mrs. Breakfast that I am thinking of, then she has seen a lot worse than a poorly rendered erect penis. Trust me. Ted
Dear fair reader, It has come to my attention that last week’s thrilling installment of Ted Handsome may have been substandard, in fact, I’d go as far as to say that a brain damaged chimp having his penis slammed in a car door could have done a better job. There are a number of mitigating factors behind this altogether rather shoddy excuse for a newspaper page, some of which I shall regale you with now. Primarily, your old friend Theodore Handsome had a larger than usual sniff of the barmaid’s apron and was feeling worse for wear. Secondly, a deadly tropical disease had struck me, and having suffered from wailing hysterics and screaming vapours in the past, I became rather worried. However, It turned out to be nothing more than Sloth. TH xxx
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
37
GRAB!
COMPETITIONS@gairrhydd.COM
WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! W
Saving Pennies
A
re you saving away your pennies in your piggy banks? What if there was a site where you were entitled to savings and offers 24/7? With Christmas approaching this is the time of year when special offers in shops and restaurants could mean you still have money to enjoy some festive fun of your own!
Pigsback.com/cardiff is a leading community website that rewards and entertains its members. Our membership stands at 600,000 and we work with some of the UK’s leading brands and retailers, bringing together unique offers and competitions to provide an entertaining and rewarding experience for our members. Pigsback.com/cardiff is a new and exciting way to optimise your on-line experience. When you register at www.pigsback.com/cardiff you will receive a free welcome token of £2.50. Using the site you can earn more and more ‘piggy points’ which will increase your piggybank (one piggy point is the equivalent to 1p) and allow you to redeem your piggy points on a range of goods (e.g. Box of wine, Boots voucher or even pigsback merchandise) Being a member of pigsback.com/cardiff allows you access to unique offers from around the city. You will be able to locate a business and see what special offers they have, exclusive to pigsback.com/cardiff. You will then be able to download any vouchers and print them off to redeem in stores. (e.g. 2 Pints for 1, Buy a main course and get the second half price, 2 for 1 on all t-shirts) So sign up today at www.pigsback.com/cardiff (which is totally free) and start earning your piggy points and get access to exclusive offers in Cardiff. By tuning into Xpress radio you will be in with a chance of winning an amazing iPod Nano. Also if you sign up to Pigsback.com/cardiff and fill in the blank on the question below you will be in with a chance of winning iTunes vouchers! All you need to do is just fill in the blank from this phrase taken from logging onto the www.pigsback.com/cardiff website and email your name and address to the email above: Q) What can you do in the Play Pen Zone?
Adventures of Tintin
W
ales Millennium Centre is proud to present the first major UK adaptation of Hergé’s legendary cartoon hero Tintin, prior to its run in London’s West End,
Tintin is joined on his adventures by loyal dog Snowy, crusty sea dog Captain Haddock and a cast of colourful characters who will capture the imagination of young and old alike. Based on Tintin in Tibet the story follows our intrepid reporter’s quest to save his good friend Chang, amidst the snow fields of the Himalayas where the legendary Abominable Snowman is rumoured to live. In the face of adversity, caught in a blizzard, and with others loosing hope, Tintin refuses to give up and continues his search in an enduring tribute to the power of friendship, loyalty and love. Produced by the Young Vic and directed by award winning Rufus Norris and the design team behind the smash-hit Billy Elliot the Musical, Hergé’s Adventures of Tintin is perfect for youngsters and Hergé aficionado’s alike. To be in with a chance of winning four tickets for the opening night on 20 November simply answer this question and email your name and address to the email above: What country was Hergé born in? a) France b) Italy c) Belgium Hergé’s Adventures of Tintin appears at WMC from 20 - 24 November. For more information or to book tickets call the Ticket and Information Office on 08700 40 2000 or visit wmc.org.uk.
Modern World
B
ack with their long-awaited Jam reunion tour Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler will perform all of the Jam’s greatest hits and classic tracks from their studio albums including That’s Entertainment, A Bomb In Wardour Street, This Is The Modern World, Going Underground, A Town Called Malice, The Gift, plus other Jam originals written by Foxton including Smithers Jones and News of the World. Bruce and Rick are in the process of recording new material for release in 2008, including fresh versions of Bruce’s own early songs. The release will coincide with a North American and Japanese tour. We have 4 pairs of tickets courtesy of Tuborg to give away. How do you and a mate fancy going to meet and see From The Jam at St David’s Hall in Cardiff on November 25th? And if that wasn’t enough one extra lucky winner person will also win a crate of beer to prep themselves ahead of the gig. All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning this brilliant prize is to answer the following question and email your name and address to the email above: Which member of ‘The Jam’ is not returning for this reunion tour? a) Paul Weller b) Michael Jackson c) Paul McCartney
WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN!
38 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
The IMG Roundup
Economics ruin the fun for GymGym
Ballstars bash Optoms
Tom Pritchard IMG Reporter
Toby Fairlamb & Alexander J. Prior IMG Reporter
Economics 2 - 1 GymGym
Uni Hallstars 4 - 3 Optometry
IMG T OUC H RUG BY I’m excited to announce that IMG Touch Rugby is coming soon! Having spoken to many former IMG rugby captains, it is great to see that the team spirit and passion for rugby is still strong amongst many, if not all previous years’ teams. It is a great shame that full contact IMG Rugby is not happening this year, however IMG Touch Rugby is the next best alternative and is available for everyone! What is Touch Rugby? The main feature of Touch Rugby is its simplicity: it shares many characteristics with the full contact version of
ECONOMICS: Beat the Welsh grew in confidence and the pressure manifested itself with a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. The set piece was expertly whipped around the wall and into the bottom corner. GymGym were rattled and Economics captain David Weston took full advantage by expertly converting his side’s second with a low drive from distance. The game had a late twist when the game. IMG Touch Rugby will be played by 12 man squads, competing in teams of 6 with rolling subs. It’s a fast moving, intense & dynamic game which builds on the fundamental rules of Rugby. It allows players to focus on developing these skills without fear of getting hurt. Touch focuses on the manipulation and exploitation of space and promotes fitness, coordination, communication and teamwork. Its beauty is that anyone, male or female, can play Touch Rugby. How to get involved? The nature of Touch Rugby is such that it can be enjoyed by everyone! I urge individuals, friends, former IMG rugby teams and other sports teams to get involved. In particular, I would to encourage mixed or all female teams to enter. Alongside Ben Turner (AU President) and Martyn Fowler (Head of Rugby), I have organised “An Introduction to Touch Rugby” talk. This will be taking place very soon. IMG Touch Rugby will be commencing with a tournament played over a Sun-
IMG Football Results Wednesday 14th November Group A H. Dragons 0 - 2 SOCSI AFC Cathays 2 - 3 Music Buteys Economics 2 - 1 GymGym Group B Butthead FC 7 - 3 Real Ale Madrid Law B 3 - 4 Mini St Elite Inter Menan 0 - 6 AFC History Group C CHEMSOC 4 - 2 JAPSOC Cardiff Crusaders 1 - 3 CARBS Psycho A. 2 - 1 Blazin’ Business
PHOTO: DAVE GREEN
ECONOMICS CONDEMNED reigning Premiership champions GymGym to their first defeat in a year. It was a brave performance from Economics who defended stubbornly and took full advantage of their chances. In the first five minutes Economics proved their quality. They showed fierce determination, harraying the GymGym midfield and passing swiftly. However, GymGym settled and soon began to control possession. This dominance saw GymGym create a hatful of chances in the first half. But the impressive display of the Economics goalkeeper, at times, defied belief. Time and time again he used his considerable stature and excellent skill to thwart the GymGym’s frontline. As the half came to a close it seemed that it would only be a matter of time until the champions took the lead. In the second half GymGym’s usually clinical attacking players looked blunt and became dejected. It was a quarter of an hour into the second half when Economics had their best period of the game. GymGym struggled to cope as the opposition
Group D Pharm AC 4 - 1 Earth Soc J-Unit 0 - 1 Engin Loco Optometry 3 - 4 Uni Hallstars Group E Law A 2 - 1 Engin Auto JOMEC 0 - 2 MOMED Engin Numatics 1 - 6 SAWSA
GymGym equalized from the penalty spot. But while GymGym managed to half the deficit, they could not find a goal to draw the teams level. This was a game that saw Economics show their true credentials. They will ensure their place in the Premiership with a draw against Music Buteys. Meanwhile, the reigning champions will look to raise their performance against Havanna Dragons.
day before Christmas and I hope that this will promote Touch Rugby and encourage people to get involved. For more information on starting up a team, joining a team or any general queries about Touch Rugby please visit the AU office (3rd floor, Students Union) or email IMG@cardiff.ac.uk. I really feel that IMG Touch Rugby will encourage further participation and Ben and I honestly believe that it will be very successful. Andy Button-Stephens IMG Chair
IMG Netball Results Saturday 10th November
CARBS B 21 - 11 SOCSI B Dentistry 9 - 12 Christian Union Cardiff IMG B 24 - 3 MEDICS B
UNI HALLSTARS fought hard to secure victory against a defiant Optometry team. After last weeks surprise defeat, Uni Hallstars needed a victory to keep their dreams of Premiership football alive. Meanwhile, Optometry have steadily improved and were looking to register their first victory of the season. There was little to split the two teams over the opening spell. But it was the Hallstars that composed themselves first, and Chris Swatridge soon broke through, only to be brought down by the opposition’s keeper. Swatridge then confidently stepped up, stroking the penalty home. The Hallstars continued to take charge of the game, and used their possession well to double their lead before the half-time interval. The second half started with renewed confidence from Optometry. Their best efforts resulted in a scramble within the Hallstars box, where a clumsy challenge led to a penalty being awarded, which was converted by Chris Wigham. The Hallstars responded well to the setback, and pressed Optometry in an effort to regain their two-goal advantage. They found the goal that they were looking for after a good flick-on from a throw-in. Mark Furnish turned well, and scored from a neat left foot volley. Hallstars’ confidence was high and they seemed to have secured victory with a cross-come-shot from Alex Prior, which surprised the Optometry goalkeeper, and the viewing public. But the Hallstars could not close the game out. Two successive corners were poorly dealt with by the Hallstars’ defence, and Chris Wigham scored from both to cap off a hat-trick and bring Optometry back into contention. The game then entered somewhat of a frantic phase, with challenges flying in from all directions, and both sides battling bravely. However, the Hallstars held on to secure their second victory of the first group phase and now go into their crunch game with J-Unit knowing that victory will bring Premiership football. Optometry will take heart from their brave comeback, and will look to build upon an impressive performance with victory in their final game.
IMG Netball Results Wednesday 14th November
SAWSA 14 - 21 Cardiff B SOCSI B 2 - 23 Law A Law B 1 - 22 CARBS Engin Loco 5 - 29 Economics A Christian Union 8 - 5 Psychology Medics B 6 - 14 J-Unit Biology 6 - 2 Engin Auto Engin Numatics 21 - 1 Optometry Pharmacy A 18 - 2 Pharmacy B Journos 1 - 7 English B
Football Tables GROUP A
IMG FOOTBALL
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
Economics
4
3
1
0
7
10
2
GymGym
4
3
0
1
22
9
3
SOCSI
4
2
1
1
-2
7
4
Music Buteys
4
2
0
2
-7
6
5
H. Dragons
4
1
0
3
1
3
6
AFC Cathays
4
0
0
4
-21
0
P
W
GROUP B
IMG FOOTBALL P
W
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
Butthead FC
4
4
0
0
9
12
2
AFC History
4
3
0
1
12
9
3
Mini Street Elite
4
3
0
1
5
9
4
Inter Me-Nan
4
1
1
2
-5
4
5
Real Ale Madrid
4
0
1
3
-12
1
6
Law B
4
0
0
4
-9
0
GROUP C
IMG FOOTBALL P
W
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
CARBS
4
4
0
0
14
12
2
ChemSoc
4
3
0
1
5
9
3
Psycho Athletico
4
2
0
2
-1
6
4
Cardiff Crusadors
4
1
1
2
-1
4
5
Blazin’ Business
4
1
0
3
-6
3
6
Japsoc
4
0
1
3
-11
1
P
W
GROUP D
IMG FOOTBALL
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
Engin Locomotive
4
4
0
0
18
12
2
J-Unit
4
2
1
1
18
7
3
Pharm AC
4
2
1
1
6
7
4
Uni Hallstars
4
2
0
2
0
6
5
Earth Soc
4
1
0
3
-20
3
6
Optometry
4
0
0
4
-22
0
GROUP E
IMG FOOTBALL P
W
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
MOMED
4
4
0
0
13
12
2
Law A
4
4
0
0
13
12
4
2
0
2
-4
6
3
Engin Automotive
4
SAWSA
4
1
0
3
1
3
5
Engin Numatics
4
1
0
3
-15
3
6
JOMEC
4
0
0
4
-8
0
Netball Tables GROUP A
IMG NETBALL
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
Law A
4
4
0
0
73
12
2
CARBS B
3
3
0
0
30
9
3
SOCSI B
4
2
0
2
-15
6
4
Gym Gym
3
1
0
2
-16
3
5
Engin Automotive
4
1
0
3
-19
3
6
Biology
4
0
0
4
-53
0
P
W
GROUP B
IMG NETBALL P
W
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
CARBS A
4
4
0
0
101
12
2
Economics B
3
3
0
0
40
9
3
Engin Numatics
4
2
0
2
-10
6
4
Cardiff Uni IWC B
3
1
0
2
-10
3
5
Law B
4
1
0
3
-26
3
6
Optometry
4
0
0
4
-95
0
GROUP C
IMG NETBALL P
W
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
Economics A
3
3
0
0
103
9
2
Pharmacy A
3
3
0
0
50
9
3
Engin Loco
3
2
0
1
30
6
4
English B
3
1
0
2
-55
3
5
Newspaper Journos
2
0
0
2
-56
0
6
Pharmacy B
4
0
0
4
-72
0
GROUP D
IMG NETBALL P
W
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
Cardiff Uni IMG A
3
3
0
0
32
9
2
Christian Union
4
3
0
1
10
9
3
Medics
3
2
0
1
17
6
4
Dentistry
3
2
0
1
13
6
5
Cardiff Uni IWC A
3
0
0
3
-21
0
6
Psychology
4
0
0
4
-51
0
GROUP E
IMG NETBALL P
W
D
L
Diff
Pts
1
Cardiff Uni IMG B
4
4
0
0
49
9
2
SOCSI a
3
3
0
0
26
6
3
English A
3
2
0
1
17
6
4
J-Unit
4
1
0
3
-32
3
5
Medics B
4
1
0
3
-40
3
6
SAWSA A
4
0
0
4
-20
0
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
The IMG Roundup
g\k\i [\Xe i\m`\nj k_\ Gi\d`\ij_`g Zfek\e[\ij%
Economics calculate superb victory Lizzy Wray IMG Reporter Economics A 29 - 5 Engin Loco
PHOTO: ED SALTER
AN EXCITING top-of-the-table clash saw Economics affirm their status as Premiership contenders with a comfortable win against Engin. Both teams went into the game in good form and were on maximum points from their first two games, but it was Economics that struck first. Winning the toss, and taking the first centre pass, they forced Engin into a backline mistake to score an early goal. Proving to be skilful as well as lucky, Economics stole from their opposition’s centre pass to put themselves two goals ahead in the opening minutes. However, central play looked quite evenly matched, and within moments, Engin looked to retaliate with a comeback goal. This only encouraged Economics though, and they soon found their rhythm, maximizing every opportunity to take the scoreline to 5-1. Engin’s attacking players were merely spectators to the action, which was taking place solely in the Economics’ attacking third. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to capitalise on some good interceptions and struggled to find space when it mattered. There looked to be some glimmer of hope for Engin as they mounted an attack, taking back a conciliatory goal. It failed to adequately raise their confidence though, and before long, Economics were leading 11-2. Remarkable accuracy from Economics’ goal attack, Katie Sharland, showed her to be a vital member of their team. The close match that was expected was proving to be a thing of the past, as Engine Locomotive ended the first half looking lost at 14-2. Both teams returned after the break looking determined, and Engin got
WING ATTACK: Nice Back smoothly into gear by taking the first two opening goals of the half. They made some sound passes, and the safe hands of central partnerships paid off. Despite initially looking revived, Engin’s new boost did not last for long and they struggled to hold their opposition back. Engin showed some great individual play at times, but lacked the end product. Vocally supportive on the pitch, Engin expressed a desire to win but couldn’t match that shown by Economics. Long, high balls became the rule of the game, which favoured Economics – who had a clear height advantage - and from this point, they were unstoppable. Engin only lost steam when fatigue set in during the closing minutes. They could do nothing but watch, as Economics proved to all that they still deserve their position as cup holders. The score steadily increased, ending in a landslide victory of 29-5. With Engin no easy opponent, the game fired off warning signs to the rest of the IMG Netball teams, with Economics A clearly a team to look out for.
39
Psychos do the
Business Rob Andrews IMG Reporter
WHILE MOMED, CARBS, Engin Locomotive and Law A can rest on their laurels, twelve other teams could potentially make up the remaining six positions in the Premiership. Only in Group E are the two top positions certain. This ensures a thrilling conclusion to the first phase of IMG with vitally important final matches for many football teams. The tightest group is Group B, in which Butthead FC, AFC History and Mini St will battle for the top two places. Butthead are in prime position, knowing that a draw with the historians will ensure their progress to the Premiership. This game, which looks like the tastiest of all the final matches, is also vitally important for History: a win for them will bring the reward of premiership football for another year. Meanwhile, Mini St, the most impressive addition to IMG football, will reach the top league if they win and History do not. A Butthead loss and a Mini St victory will see the group decided on goal difference. Second position is up for grabs in Group D in which J-Unit, Pharm AC and Uni Hallstars all have the chance
to reach the Premiership. The winners of the clash between Uni Hallstars and J-Unit have an excellent chance of finishing in second position with Pharm AC facing a tough match against the group winners Engin Locomotive. Economics’ win against GymGym opens up Group A with the reigning champions GymGym needing a win against Havanna Dragons to ensure that they have a chance to retain their title. Economics will qualify with a draw against Music Buteys, a team that still has an outside chance of reaching second position. Socsi can also qualify for the Premiership but will probably need to record a monumental win against AFC Cathays. The fact that GymGym are still not certain of Premiership football is testament to the strength of Group A. With CARBS certain of a Premiership place, Chem Soc and Psycho Athletico both have a chance of reaching the Premiership from Group C. Chem Soc will finish second if they draw against CARBS, but if they lose, Psycho have a chance to clinch the position on the last match of the first phase.
Nick Booth, Tom Petas and Peter Nolan did well to control the game. The Psychos were nearly rewarded early on when left back Rob Andrews made a burst down the left flank. He then skillfully put the ball on a 10 pence piece for striker Josh Payne, who was foiled only by the crossbar. The Psychos eventually made their pressure tell and it was a corner that eventually brought them their first goal. A powerful header by Booth rebounded kindly for veteran player Savage to poke home through the melee. On the break, Blazin’ Business looked dangerous and nearly got their reward when their striker looked to have been brought down by Psycho centre back Martin Higgs on the touchline. The referee was in no doubt that Higgs, who has been solid throughout the Psycho campaign, had got enough of the ball
with a perfectly timed tackle. Business were unlucky not to have taken the lead when the Psycho keeper parried a spectacular shot with an equally spectacular save. With five minutes to go, right back Dan “the Quiff” Burley lofted a perfect long-ball over the Blazin’ Business defence for Savage. He, in turn, coolly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper to complete a brace. Psycho Athletico held on to their lead, with thanks to a few last ditch tackles from Dave “Tesco Value” Williams, who saved more than just money in defence. The Psychos will be seeking their third victory against Japsoc next week, while Blazin’ Business will wish to regain some ground against Cardiff Crusaders.
At our inititation, all the
Best team talk?
Freshers had to go down
It’s all about the ban-
What are your expecta-
on all fours and moo when
ter on the court.
tions for the season?
I blew the whistle.
Psycho A. 2 - 1 Blazin’ Business PSYCHO ATHLETICO deservedly recorded a second win of the season against Blazin’ Business, with Justin Savage hitting a spectacular brace of goals. But it was Blazin’ Business that first found the target. Taking advantage of a long goal kick that bounced awkwardly for the Psycho defence, the Business striker neatly slotted the ball beyond the Psycho keeper. The rest of the first half was an equally balanced affair with neither side having many clear-cut chances. After the break, the Psychos began to dictate the play. The midfield trio of
IMG SNAPS: Law A Netball ability to play as a team.
Rugby players of
To win the Premiership and Cup double.
Who are your main rivals?
Do you have a
football players?
team chant?
Rugby players without a doubt.
No, we are classy girls.
We like CARBS and Law lads.
Economics and CARBS.
LAW A: Blonde
Team Honours:
How’s your season going?
Premiership champions
Very well: we are top of Group A.
Cup runners-up.
We put this down to our
If your team was an aniFunniest story from
mal, what would it be?
a team social?
A lion, the king of the Jungle.
PUT YOUR TEAM IN THE SPOTLIGHT... E-mail us at sport@gairrhydd.com
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
Southern Comfort Toluma Tutu Hockey Reporter CARDIFF Men’s 1sts .................. 5 SOUTHAMPTON Men’s 1sts ....... 0 CARDIFF HAD a long trip down to Southampton in order to try and secure their status as BUSA 1A leaders. Southampton are one of the strongest teams in the league, and if not for having points docked for a rule violation earlier in the season, they would have been just one point behind Cardiff going into this crunch game. It was going to be a scrap, but Cardiff were well prepared. Cardiff began a little travel worn and absorbed a lot of pressure in the first fifteen minutes, but soon their rhythmic play began to show. Dai McGahon in particular played a pivotal role from the back, spreading the play and unlocking the Southampton defence with his vision. This was rewarded when in the
23rd minute, he released Phil Bagpuss down the right, who in turn drove into the box only to be halted by some primary school tackling. The resulting short corner was dispatched clinically thanks to Cardiff’s well rehearsed routine, with Martin Freshman deflecting the ball home. This goal relaxed Cardiff on the ball and they started to play the exciting hockey we’ve been used to. The next goal soon came as good work from Martin Freshman drove him into the D and again a short corner resulted. This time Jamie Takama stepped up and drove a drag flick into the middle of the goal, leaving the hapless ‘keeper clutching at air as the ball destroyed the net. Half time followed and Cardiff needed to maintain the pressure upon the hosts. Cardiff started the second half as they ended the previous: their distribution was quick and direct. The movement off the ball was allowing space in behind the defenders for the forwards to collect the ball, allowing the midfielders to come through and link up.
As a consequence, James Gough scored as pressure continued and Cardiff moved into carnival mood. Cardiff’s hockey was a joy to watch, as they produced some of the finest display they have had so far this season and Southampton had no answer. Cardiff once again drove into the hosts D with pace and continuity and again were rewarded through another short corner, with a shot that almost destroyed the back board. Cardiff were silencing the Southampton crowd. The final goal came in the 68th minute through fine interplay between Avril Hale and McGahon, who released the clinical Kieren Zeale through. What followed was both elegant and deadly. The ‘keeper rushed out but Zeale faked to go to his left but then turned around and smashed the ball into the bottom right of the goal past two defenders. At 5 - 0 Cardiff controlled the game and kept the threat of Southampton at bay, with their star international player rendered useless, leaving them with nothing to offer.
Glam-shock Ieuan Ferrer Table Tennis Reporter
CARDIFF Men’s 1sts .................. 4 GLAMORGAN Men’s 1sts ......... 13 AFTER A close victory in their first ever BUSA match, Cardiff’s men’s table tennis slipped to a disappointing defeat against their local rivals Glamorgan. Going into the game Glamorgan appeared the more confident of the two teams as they had been buoyed up by an obliteration of Bath by 16 games to 1 in their first match. While Obaid Siddique, who was unwittingly nominated Glamorgan’s captain just before the match after the other team members conspired against him, admitted that there was a danger of complacency, he felt that the healthy team spirit they had developed would see them through. Of course, he acknowledged, hav-
ing the ex-number 1 junior in Scotland – Scott Johnston – on his side didn’t harm the team’s chances either. In fact, Johnston’s match against Cardiff’s own table tennis superstar (ex-number 1 junior in Wales – Luke Alderson) was a highlight of the tie later on in the fixture. However, it was Cardiff captain Austin Obi’s match with Robert Hatherly that got the tie under way. On paper it seemed that Obi would have the measure of his opponent. However, Obi, who admitted before the tie that he was tired from a heavy day’s working, lost unluckily in three tightly contested games. Despite the fact that Cardiff rallied to level at 1-1, and then again at 3-3, the pattern established in that first game of tightly contested games and matches going Glamorgan’s way continued throughout. By the time the eagerly anticipated match between Johnston and Alderson came along, the tie was already out of
Cardiff’s reach. However, it was this tie that produced the most sparkling table tennis. One admiring observer exclaimed in complete sincerity that a well dug-out defensive slice forehand from Alderson was the best shot he had ever seen. Despite this sensational defensive play, Johnston was also on inspired form and managed to continue Glamorgan’s trend of edging extremely competitive matches. In hindsight, it appears that it was a mixture of more experience at this level and greater confidence that won the day for Glamorgan. Hapless times such as these will, hopefully, be considered great learning experiences for the Cardiff team, which only formed in September, when they inevitably find their feet and return to winning ways. Either that or they will, as one unnamed team member darkly prophesied, turn the team into drunken shivering alcoholic wrecks living lives dominated by regret. Who knows what the future holds.
Spin when you’re winning Ruth Manning Frisbee Reporter
FRISBEE: Disc Jocks
CARDIFF FACED Bristol’s ‘Mythago’ in the contest for 1st place in the BUSA south-west regional tournament. Eight minutes into the game, the Cardiff side were 4-1 down, but a great pass from Daniel Wiseman to Tony Fuller brought the score to 4-2 and a mighty defensive effort from Jack Maidment pushed the team to fight back. The 23 minute duration of the game proved too short for Cardiff’s coun-
41
ter attack and the title was decided by a final score of 5-4 to ‘Mythago’. Cardiff then had to prove their worth for 2nd place in a game against Plymouth’s ‘Picnic’. With the final score standing at 8-6 to Plymouth, there remained only one place in the Nationals. With never more than a point’s difference in the score, Cardiff took the lead on Exeter’s ‘Uriel’ for the first time with only four minutes remaining to make the score 6-5. Exeter soon equalized, and with Cardiff team captain Daniel Wiseman in possession of the disc, the final whistle
HOCKEY: 5-Alive
Read fall about it CARDIFF MEDICS reclaimed their position at the top of Premiership South B thanks to a comprehensive away win over Reading. The Medics were in need of a confidence boost after less than convincing performances in their previous two matches and approached this week’s game with a teaming enthusiasm to get their campaign back on track. The tone of the match was set by a rib crunching tackle by Ben Treseme from the kick, which had Reading on the back foot from the start. Although Cardiff dominated the opening stages, it seemed that their unchecked enthusiasm to throw the ball wide at every opportunity would cost them, after valuable turn-over ball was endlessly squandered. However the Captain Hywel James demanded greater composure from his charges and the subsequent response was a relentless pressurising of the opposition which was converted into a much needed try as the back three combined smartly to put David PriceSmith away. The Medics’s grew in confidence after this initial score and when Darius Williams danced his way past three defenders to score in the corner, Read-
ing looked to be all at sea. A slip in discipline though, led to a long range penalty from Reading which steadied the ship and got their name on the score board. However, good forward play led the Medics’ back into the opposing half and this time Steve Leonard crashed over for a score under the posts to end the second half 19-3 to the good. It was a long way back for Reading from here but the Medics’ weren’t in the mood to let them try. The pack came out blazing with the forwards dominating the breakdown and scrum whilst the back three terrorised the creaking Reading rearguard with unpredictable running lines. Cardiff’s domination of possession was rewarded when a lacklustre clearance kick was caught by Williams, who once again skipped past a couple of defenders before offloading to the substitute Dafydd Evans, to score and complete a hat-trick of tries for the self styled ‘3D’ back division. The victory was rounded off when the forwards got a well deserved try courtesy of a rolling maul. While this was a convincing performance that puts Cardiff Medics’ back on track and at the top of the table; the trade mark of this ambitious team is to constantly demand more from themselves. Coach Huw Davies believes that the win was, ‘not emphatic enough’. Perhaps the Cardiff Medics’ can find that ever elusive perfect performance next week in their local derby against Swansea. For there can surely be no better time or place.
was blown with the score level at 6-6 taking the game to ‘sudden death’ with the next point scored deciding the winners. Cardiff’s Olly Jones sprinted towards the sideline only to turn back just before the pass had reached him, but Maidment slid to the rescue. A simple pass over a mystified Exeter player was caught by Ian King in the end zone to finish the game and started the celebrations.
Team captain Daniel Wiseman said: “It’s a huge relief to qualify for the Nationals. Everyone had a really big determination after having narrowly missed out last year. To qualify from this region is a big achievement as the competition in the South West is really tough. To win the final game in a sudden death situation was an incredible way to finish the tournament and has given our team a huge experience to take to the Nationals.”
Josh Pettit Rugby Reporter CARDIFF MEDICS 1sts ............ 32 READING Men’s 1sts ................. 3
42 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
PHOTO: ED SALTER
SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
Bath flood leaky defence
NETBALL: Prefer showers
Lizzy Wray Netball Reporter CARDIFF 1sts.......................... 32 BATH 1sts ............................... 58 CARDIFF TOOK on Bath, currently top of the BUSA Premiership South, knowing it would be their toughest match of the season to date. With the added pressure of an unbeaten home record to maintain, Cardiff needed to play at their best. Cardiff won the toss giving them the first centre pass advantage, but Bath were not daunted, taking the first two goals in quick succession. Shocked by Bath’s opening drive, but determined to keep the match competitive, the ball soon found its way to the steady hands of Cardiff’s GA Carly Allchurch and a comeback goal was inevitable. After this though, Cardiff struggled to hold on to the ball, with Bath’s pace
leaving them a little lost. They could do nothing but watch as the deficit increased, with Bath’s attacking partnership looking lethal. Cardiff were resilient and kept pushing until their hard work, including some amazing central play, saw them forcing goals upon Bath. But Bath had come to Wales with a desire to win, and their determination seemed unbreakable. Bath took an 18 - 4 lead at the end of the first quarter, leaving the Cardiff attacking duo spectators in their own game and the home defence unable to stop their drive. After an intense team talk, Cardiff walked defiantly back onto court, with some changes to the team. Captain, Carys Jenkins dropped back to GD, hoping to provide unity in the defence and providing them with some invaluable experience. The second quarter had a promising start with Cardiff’s new team developing a new rhythm. After the fourth
successive goal, it seemed Cardiff were finding their feet and a determined will set in over the team. The defence remained strong, forcing the play into Cardiff’s attacking third. But Bath were reluctant to give up their lead, and showed some extraordinary skill, taking the score up to 8 23. The team played to their strengths though, moving it around and looking for an opening. They found it many times and at the close, the score stood at 13 - 26. After a promising second quarter, Cardiff still had a big task ahead of them. Bath seemed to have the ability to slip away from their markers and our girls could not hold them back. They took the first goal of the third quarter and were undeterred by Cardiff’s response, following it up in quick succession. Bath’s attacking duo was proving fatal and despite their unwillingness to give up, the game seemed to slipping out of Cardiff’s reach. However, Bath
made some costly mistakes in Cardiff’s attacking third, which closed the score to 23 - 37. Cardiff were under pressure to make each pass count, but from their centre pass Bath were unstoppable; Cardiff’s defence seemed unable to cope with the force of their opponents attack. The third quarter closed 23 - 42. Showing no signs of fatigue, Cardiff went back out as a highly competitive unit, not willing to let Bath walk away with the win. An impressive set play sparked a round of applause from spectators, and Cardiff showed, when focused, just who they were capable of competing with. The final score of 3258 reflected a good performance from Cardiff. Speaking after the game, Jenkins said: “I’m very pleased with the result, seeing as how Bath are top of their league. The score didn’t really reflect the closeness of the game as we had given away to many goals in the first quarter.”
UWIC beaten but Aber hit seven UWIC 0 V 4 Cardiff
Georgia Copsey Football Reporter
PHOTO: JAKE YORATH
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY Ladies 1sts stormed to a 4 - 0 victory over UWIC 2nd’s. Cardiff made an impressive start, as striker Georgia Copsey hit the post after being put through on goal thanks to a defence-splitting pass from Jen Fildes. Seconds after Copsey was through the defence again and this time made it count. The second half saw stand in ‘keeper Alex Nads put upfront and Aimee Maidment went in her place. The change was a success as Nads got on the scoresheet after a good run and shot from Mel West rebounded of the ‘keeper. The next chance fell to centre back Samantha Burdus who burst through the defence and powerfully headed the ball past the ‘keeper after an excellent corner from Fildes. Despite the game being secured, Cardiff kept the tempo
high and got a forth through midfielder Emma Jones. She received the ball in the middle of the pitch and went on an amazing run past three defenders to power the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 4 - 0. UWIC were pushing for goal, but never made is passed the strong back four. Cardiff will hope to repeat this next week, when they visit Bath.
FOOTBALL: Tussle
Aber 7 v 1 Cardiff
Ruth Smith Football Reporter FOLLOWING A resounding 20 - 0 victory against Swansea Institute, Cardiff Ladies 2nds had a lot of confidence walking into the game against the league leaders. Though Aberystwyth had conceded just one goal and having scored 55 of their own in their four games, Cardiff made them work for all their win. The score line of 7 - 1 to Aberystwyth did not at all reflect the overall tone of the game. Cardiff played hard and strong, and after two lucky Aberystwyth goals, Cardiff created one of their own. ‘Keeper Golding kicked the ball to the middle of the pitch where Smith knocked it on to striker Christos, who beat three Aberystwyth defenders before lobbing the goal keeper and putting Cardiff back in the game with the score at 2 - 1.
This threw the league leaders off balance and Cardiff had an impressive 15 minute spell, in which they dominated possession. With spectacular crosses from winger Stimp, who had her opposing wing back in her pocket throughout the whole game, and charges from left back Hughes, Cardiff could have easily been 3 - 2 up, but it was not to be. A fortunate breakaway by Aberystwyth gave them a half-time return of 3 - 1. Numerous runs from Hughes and Edwards created more Cardiff chances, but with the increased attacks Cardiff found themselves caught out at the back, which resulted in further Aberystwyth goals. Despite the scoreline, Cardiff battled to the end and continued to make chances for Christos, who had the best of her defender each time, though the sturdy Aberystwyth ‘keeper did manage to keep her at bay.
News in Brief Trampolining Lauren Grew Trampolining Reporter CARDIFF’S TRAMPOLINISTS got off to a flying start in their first competition of this year - the Warwick Open. The first medals of the day went to Marianna York-Smith and Kim Atkins, who took first and second place in Ladies’ Inter-advanced with Naomi Phillips and Kathryn Williams also finishing in the top ten. Their success was matched by Craiger Solomons and Darryl Patterson, who took second and third respectively in the Men’s Inter-advanced category. This was followed up by Naomi Ellis, as she took third place in the advanced ladies. The afternoon saw Cardiff go on to take first place in the Ladies’ Intermediate thanks to Sally Wood. On top of this, Beccy Oliver, Anna Rogers, Laura Price and Emma Davies all finished within the top 20. Jess Phipps secured second place in Ladies Novice, with fellow novices Sally Mason, Laura Rossiter, Caroline Allen and Lauren Grew all finishing in the top 15. The day was capped off by Cardiff also taking first, second and third teamsmedals. Club President, Katie O’Neill, commented: “The excellent performance was a reflection of the hard work and commitment of all those involved and further emphasises the rising status of trampolining as a whole.”
Rowing Lucie Clifford Rowing Reporter CARDIFF ROWING Club were part of the 550 crews that flocked to London for the Fullers Fours Head of the River. The course, which was 4 1/4 miles long and the reverse of the infamous Boat Race, had such a wide reputation that entries had to be restricted this year. Cardiff Men’s and Women’s squads entered a coxless and a coxed boat, and achieved good results. Both Men’s crews finished in the middle of their categories; a result with which they should be very pleased and also stands them in good stead for the coming year. The Women’s coxed four finished ninth from fifteen after a close race with Edinburgh University. This result saw them achieve their target of finishing inside the top ten, but the coxless four struggled in a tough category, but still performed well.
Correction: Last week’s Lacrosse report was written by Erica Bone, not Liz Vernon as was published.
gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
CARDIFF Men’s 1sts .................. 0 BATH Men’s 3rds ....................... 0 ANOTHER SOLID performance by Cardiff University AFC Men’s 1sts led them to a 0 - 0 draw away at Bath, and saw the continuation of their unbeaten run in BUSA extent to five games. Despite not retaining a one hundred percent win record, Cardiff remain top of the table, after the result against close rivals Bath 3s saw them maintain their five point gap. Good early pressure from Cardiff meant they dominated the play in the opening exchanges. Quick, accurate passing produced a great chance for the influential John Young. However, the chance was thwarted by the rela-
tively poor standard of pitch, which caused the ball to bobble frequently over the 90 minutes. Soon after, Cardiff’s attacking formation began to pay dividends, with wide players Dom Connor and captain Andre Stairmand having an increasing hand in the direction of the play. Bath looked promising in patches, but caused Cardiff few problems. Pacey wingers seemed to be Bath’s main threat, but Cardiff’s full backs James Ford and James Clifford dealt comfortably with any attack. Along with an improving centre back partnership of Adam Wise and Lloyd Jenkins, the defensive unit remained very solid, snuffing out all Bath’s play. Jenkins was the pick of the defence, marshalling the unit well with strength in the air and in tackles, securing him the man-of-the-match award. Bath’s best chance came with a good run down the right, which led
to a dangerous front post cross. The striker seemed certain to score as the ball came over, although it would have been harsh on Cardiff considering the severe disparity in possession. However, a brilliant claim by improving goalkeeper, Greg Swatkins, thwarted the opportunity. More haphazard play led to changes on both sides, but the deadlock still remained. Late chances were created by Cardiff, most notably one cross that came to sub Corcoran, but it sliced wide. Cardiff still persisted in search of a winning goal, and nearly did so as a storming run from midfield by the relentless Matthew Jones, ended with a thunderous strike, kept out by a magnificent save from Bath’s goalkeeper, one of many, maintained the goalless scoreline. Captain Stairmand remarked afterwards: “This was a frustrating game, but we are still top of the league.”
Not Glam PHOTOS: JAKE YORATH
Cole Stacey Football Reporter
43
Lloyd banks point for firsts
Brist Off Natalie Blyth CARDIFF Ladies’ 1sts ................ 4 BRISTOL Ladies’ 1sts ................ 0
FOOTBALL: Relief at draw
Robert James Owen Football Reporter CARDIFF Men’s 2nds ................. 1 GLAMORGAN Men’s 1sts ........... 1
PHOTO: ED SALTER
THIS WAS a truly crunch match with the potential of determining whether Cardiff Ladies 1sts would stay up this season. Being in their first year in a new league and having previously lost to both Bath and Exeter, this game presented a chance to prove they were deserving of their Premier South status. Cardiff started well and put Bristol on the back foot from the first whistle. Despite this they didn’t look really threatening until the end of the first half when Cardiff played some attractive patterns that stemmed from the defence’s skilful distribution. But after Cardiff squandered a penalty corner, Bristol surged forward and Cardiff repelled numerous attacks. The home side were given a second bite of the cherry just before half time as another penalty corner was awarded to them and this time they didn’t disappoint, Tamara Fateh reacted the
quickest to score on the rebound after a shot from Natalie Blyth. The second half made good viewing as Cardiff’s attack showcased a fine degree of stick work, finesse and team cohesion. The first corner was won in the first five minutes of play and a well-rehearsed routine led to the second goal of the match coming from Fateh after a deflection off the first strike by Blyth. The third goal came soon after as a cross field ball was delivered to forward Amy Bowring, who drew one defender and slipped it to Bethan Stephens on the far post who bounced the ball back to her and she confidently slotted it home. After a fourth goal from Emily Patterson that was set-up by Amy McGowan Cardiff became a little bit complacent allowing Bristol the chance to get on the score sheet. The defence stood firm however as Cardiff hung on for a clean sheet. The match showed that Cardiff deserve their position in the league and should be hopeful of winning more games in this manner. Meanwhile, Cardiff Ladies’ Hockey 3rd team is currently ranked most successful team in the whole of Cardiff University BUSA teams across all sports. They have a 100% record, winning all six of their matches since the beginning of the season in BUSA 3B.
HOCKEY: Foursome
IN A tight and hard fought game at Llanrumney, Cardiff’s 2nd XI drew with local rivals Glamorgan. Keen to put right mistakes made in the defeat against Bath the previous week, Cardiff 2’s went into the game with a positive mindset, intent on closing the gap with the Cardiff first team in BUSA 2B. However, Cardiff started in a sluggish manner, as Glamorgan maintained good possession, and interchanged nicely in midfield. The home side seemed to be rushed on the ball, and unable to play with any kind of fluency. Against the run of play, a weak goal kick from the Glamorgan keeper led to an opening for Ryan Hughes, but the Cardiff striker hit the ball straight at the keeper, who atoned for his earlier error to make the save. The deadlock was soon broken though, as Glamorgan’s striker found himself in space on the edge of the area, and then finished excellently over the helpless Benni Bennefeld.
This seemed to be the wake-up call Cardiff needed, as for the rest of the half they played with much more urgency and intent. An exchange of passes down the right saw Jamie Gallagher find Alex Lawry, who delivered a pin point cross that Hughes dispatched in clinical fashion to level just before half time. Cardiff started the second half brighter too, with a period of concerted pressure, during which skipper Dan Jones and Hywel Pegler got to grips with the Glamorgan midfield. As legs began to tire on a heavy pitch, the game opened up, and both sides had chances on the counter-attack. Ultimately, neither side could produce that extra bit of quality in the final third to find the decisive goal. Speaking after the game, captain Jones said: “We are obviously disappointed not to have won, but I was pleased with the attitude and effort from all the boys today. “The lads at the back were excellent, and we defended well as a team; it was a real battle. Glamorgan were an organised side, but we were not at our best so we’ll take the point and move on to next week.” Next week the 2nds play Bristol away, hoping to build on their position in the league.
Hearsey hits pure and simple leveller Max Johnston Football Reporter CARDIFF Medics Men’s 2nds ..... 2 ABERYSTWYTH Men’s 2nds ....... 2 AIMING TO maintain their unbeaten season thus far, Cardiff Medics 2nd arrived at Llanrumney wanting to shake the cobwebs out after two draws that should have been wins. Last week’s draw with Aberystwyth 3rd had left the Medics with a point to prove against a well-drilled Aberystwyth 2nd team. When the game got underway it
proved to be a fast-paced, competitive affair. Some good play in the middle from journeyman midfielder Nathan Sznerch resulted in a couple of chances for striker Will Hearsey. But in difficult conditions and with some good defending from Aberystwyth, the deserving Medics failed to find the goal in the first half. The Medics had been playing some lovely passing football, displaying good composure, and had the better of the first half. But things were about to change. About five minutes into the second half, the Medics were under intense pressure. Some smart saves from James Osborne was the only thing keeping the
scoreline level. Aberystwyth finally got a breakthrough after extended pressure when their winger beat the offside trap and calmly tapped the ball past Osborne into the bottom corner of the net. It was a crushing blow for the Medics. However, after some good play showing great character, they pulled one back. A monstrous goal kick from Osborne was flicked on by centre-half Jim Taylor and Hearsey was through on the keeper; the ball bounced high and Hearsey tried to get his head on it. Unfortunately, the only thing he did make contact with was the boot of the Aberystwyth keeper, which was high and dangerous. The away team protest-
ed but it was a definite penalty. When the complaints had subsided, Medics captain Max Johnston stepped up to take the spot kick. He sent the keeper the wrong way to bring the scoreline to 1 - 1. It was even for a while after, with the tackles flying in; the referee only just managing to keep his cards in his pocket. Disaster struck at 70 mins when the Medics defence stepped forward to catch an Aberystwyth striker offside. To the Medics’ horror, though, the referee ignored the offside appeals and the away side scored their second goal. The Medics were mentally crushed, but with the creativity of Matt Buck
and Toby Skellern there were bound to be opportunities to grab an equaliser. It came through Hearsey, who scored a contender for goal of the season when Skellern sent Buck into the corner. Buck pulled the ball back to Hearsey, who teed the ball up and drilled an exquisite half volley into the corner of the goal with his left foot. It was a fantastic goal coming about five minutes from time and the rest of the game was played out without event to bring the game to a 2 - 2 close. BUSA League 5B remains tightly poised with the top three teams separated by only one point, and the Medics will be aspiring to take top spot come the end of the season.
Sport 14 gairrhydd
gairrhydd
FEATURES
OCTOBER.22.2007
INSIDE: The race for the IMG Premiership hots up, FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM more BUSA Sport and the Word On foreign players
HOME SWEET HOME Cardiff 1sts 63 v 7 Bath 1sts
PHOTO: JAKE YORATH
Also...
Ultimate Frisbee
Cardiff Ladies’ hammer Bath at Llanrumney but remain behind Exeter in the BUSA 1A title race Roz Lambe Rugby Reporter CARDIFF LADIES’ first team capitalised on their home advantage, dominating ex-Premiership side Bath to score 11 tries on their way to a well deserved victory. After a disappointing away loss to Exeter last week, Cardiff had a lot to prove against local rivals Bath. The last time the two sides met Cardiff edged a narrow victory and it looked to be a similar match-up this time. However the visiting squad only brought their 15 starting players without any reserves, which immediately gave Cardiff a psychological advantage. However, this early confidence
didn’t lead to concentration and after a strong first scrum Cardiff allowed the Bath fly-half to take a quick penalty in Cardiff’s 22, and score under the posts. Cardiff’s riposte was immediate with a try in the corner scored by Roz Lambe taking the score to 7 - 5 in favour of the visitors. Minutes later a well executed Cardiff lineout saw the ball fly out to the backs, stretching the Bath defence out wide and allowing Lambe to cross for the second try. The home team continued to enjoy the lioness’ share of possession with flanker Claire Molloy dodging a number of Bath players on her way to the try line. Excellent forward play then saw Fran Manzai steal the ball from a maul and make a break up the pitch.
This resulted in a Cardiff scrum in the opposition’s 22 and skilful interplay by Tina Lee and Simone Shepherd allowed the offload to Lambe, who crossed the line for the try. Continued pressure at the re-start again saw the home side in Bath territory and this time it was fly-half Lee who sprinted past numerous Bath players to score in the corner, leaving the visitors trailing 29 - 7 at half time. The scoring spree continued after the interval with Alex Quinnell sprinting down the wing to score in the corner. Breaks by Louise Steel and Jess Bain ensured that Cardiff stayed in Bath’s 22 and after a skilful kick through the visitor’s defensive line, the ball was chased and grounded by Lee for her second score.
The strong running of full back Fran Acuna allowed Cardiff to advance once again into Bath territory and good support play saw scrum-half Ceri Hill ground the ball for Cardiff’s eighth try of the day. Lucid passing again saw Lambe score in the corner, which was followed up by another try from Shepherd after a darting run by Lee that started in her own half. The victory was neatly rounded off by Molloy, who received the ball and proceeded to sprint her way through Bath’s defensive line, scoring under the posts and adding a further 2 points for the conversion. This left the final score at an impressive 63 - 7 to the home side who now have a week off before facing second in the league Glamorgan.
Ruth Manning Ultimate Frisbee Reporter CARDIFF UNIVERSITY has spun their way to the National Ultimate Frisbee Championships after ‘No Frills’ victory in the South West BUSA Regionals Tournament. After several close defeats, Cardiff found themselves in a sudden death re-match against Exeter’s ‘Uriel’, which they won, following a 6 - 6 fulltime score. The tournament, which was hosted in Cardiff for the first time, featured 28 teams from ten different universities across the region. All the teams were contesting for the top three spots that would award them a place in the Nationals. Cardiff’s triumph at these Regional Championships sees them advance to the National Finals in Manchester. Continued on Page 41
GAIR RHYDD AND QUENCH MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY UNION CARDIFF, PARK PLACE, CARDIFF CF10 3QN REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER AT THE POST OFFICE GAIR RHYDD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT ALL CONTRIBUTIONS THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHERS THE GAIR RHYDD IS WRITTEN, DESIGNED, TYPESET AND OUTPUT BY STUDENTS OF CARDIFF UNIVERSITY n XPRESS BRONZE: INFERIOR METAL (JUST LIKE THEIR OUTPUT) n ZORAB’S DISSERATION TOPIC: 1 HEADLINE n AISLING - IS STILL WANTING A CROWN n “OMG, BARFLY IS SERIOUSLY GASH ON TUESDAYS” - BRYANT’S ASSESSMENT OF NIGHT OUT n D’ARCY MAIMED IN STADIUM TOMFOOLERY n HUW DAVIES IS JASON NEVINS n GR BARFLY’S STAND UP FOR QUENCH - CUNTING SELLOUTS n ITBOX ‘MOST INTERESTING’ THING AT SOCIAL n MILLWARD: I BET THAT YOU HAD SEX ON THE DANCEFLOOR n WINTER WONDERLAND ANYONE? n OOH YES PLEASE n C’MON!!!!!!!!
40 gairrhydd
NOVEMBER.19.2007
SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
THE WORD ON... ... the continuing influx of foreign players into English football Steven Florey Sports Editor
THE EXPERIENCE is nothing new. It is like Mark Lawrenson and a set of ridiculous words. You know that the two will come together fantastically, but there always remains that speck of hope that they won’t. And so it is with England and disappointment. Following their (yes, disappointing) defeat to Russia, England look set to fail in their bid to qualify for the major tournament finals for the first time since USA ‘94. For years, many excuses for their frequent underachievement, tiredness possibly the most feeble of these, have been thrown about on an almost daily basis. Having virtually exhausted these now, there has emerged a new complaint from those within football: it seems that the foreigners are to blame. At first, the claim appears to simply replicate, in sport, current anxieties about immigration. On a closer viewing of the situation, however, it becomes clear that they might actually have a point. In a move to ensure home-grown talent, and thus “protect” the national teams, FIFA president Sepp Blatter
“It will protect the mediocre players and you don’t win a world cup with mediocre players”-Wenger has proposed a European limit of five foreign players to each starting XI. The key question, though, is whether this step will really benefit the national team. It seems probable that it will. The statistics certainly suggest that a change of some kind is desperately needed. For example, only 37% of Premiership starting players, in the first games of this season, were English, compared to 76% in 1992.
Such a decline must be detrimental to the national team, with so many English players missing out on vital experience at the highest level. Unsurprisingly, Arsène Wenger,
whose squad includes a mere seven English players, is not a disciple of the plan, and argues: “It won’t protect the best players, it will protect the mediocre ones and you don’t win a World Cup with mediocre players.” While it is true that you don’t win a World Cup with mediocre players, Wenger is perhaps underestimating the potential of the Premiership and the Football League as sites for developing English talent. For how can English ability truly be realised if so few players are given a chance? Like so many British-based managers that are opting to buy abroad, Wenger is forgetting that experience can breed ability, and that the fearlessness of youth, in particular, can have remarkably positive effects. Scotland have emerged as an unlikely source from which to take counsel. The Scottish team have improved considerably over the last year, beating France 1-0 in both their home and away ties, as well as qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Much of this success has been attributed to their own quota of two Scottish U-21 players to each starting line-up. Celtic midfielder Scott Brown is just one of the success stories of the system, who, at only 22, has become a permanent feature in the team. Ukraine, too, have introduced a quota to curb the number of foreign players in their domestic league, which allows only seven. Like Scotland, the resolve to look within for new ability has seen Ukraine become an impressive international outfit in recent years. If Scotland and Ukraine - teams largely considered weaker than England - can take positive action, then surely England can too. However, there are complications in the procedure. The EU have stringent rules regarding working rights, and it is considered discrimination to limit those eligible
to work within Europe. But the rule seems out of place here, with Blatter’s proposal merely limiting match day teams as opposed to overall employment. Yes, this is likely to impact the number of foreign players that are bought, but the home nation should have the right to guard its national team. The consequence of less home-grown talent can already be seen in the England squad. The incessant reliance on Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen for attacking inspiration is, quite frankly, sickening. Whereas Italy have the likes of Toni, Inzaghi, Del Piero, Gilardino, and others to select from, England have, beyond the two mentioned, Heskey. All of this said, is it really legitimate to blame all of England’s shortcomings on foreigners? The answer has to be no. England have failed before. In both the ‘‘74 and ‘78 World Cup competitions, the national team were unsuccessful in their qualification attempts. The only culpability of the foreign players then, was that they were better than us. More recently, it has been the managers that have copped the blame, the most obvious of which has been Sven, who has actually turned out to be a good manager. But the problem lies deeper still. Trevor Brooking, the FA’s Director of Development, has said: “We identified half a dozen academies 21 months ago and
asked (the Football League and Premier League) for permission to work with them and raise the standard. but that permission was refused.” The gap between the Premier League and the Football League is definitely one area that needs reassessing. The space between them has only been accentuated by the latest huge payouts to
There is something exciting, something near mythical about certain foreign players. upper-tier teams for television rights. Some definitive governing body is surely needed to aid the development of young players. By unifying the different leagues under one body, certain standards can be enforced and maintained. The schemes put in place by each separate club also need to be made transparent. It is about working together to find that hidden gem, the one player that might just be world-class. No matter how many foreign players are sent home, without this, England’s struggle to find exciting young players could be set to continue. In the desire to sculpt a successful national team, it’s all too easy to overlook all of the positive things that foreign players have done. While I refuse to believe that we can’t produce the same quality, there are certain foreign players who can’t be rivalled at the current time. Both Cesc Fabregas and Elano
are players that immediately come to mind. They have both made dazzling contributions so far this season, and like many foreign players, have helped to maintain the heady reputation of the Premiership. There is also something exciting, something near mythical about certain foreign players. We see figures such as Ronaldinho in adverts, computer games, and of course, on the pitch. Who would not welcome a player of his calibre to the Premiership? It is also important to understand that they don’t simply pilfer the positions of English players, but can help them assert their own. The well-documented Henry-Walcott relationship was early proof of this, with Walcott seeming a better player every game. A large-scale removal of foreign players, then, is not the solution. A quota of five does seem reasonable enough though. In fact, it seems to strike just the right balance. While a good number of English players would be given the opportunity to rise to the challenge of playing week-in-week-out football, there is enough scope to allow the most talented foreign players to benefit the game too. It is also essential that those other issues are dealt with too. There is no sure-fire way of producing world-class talent. But, with better academies, better co-operation between teams of different divisions, and more English people playing throughout the domestic leagues, the chances must be improved. And, who knows, maybe England won’t disappoint us any longer.