KALEIDOSCOPE Magazine

W W W. K A L E I D O S C O P E . C O . U K

£6 .95

W W W. K A L E I D O S C O P E . C O . U K

Editor : Daniel Higgins Ar t Direction: Joey Dean Concept by: Daniel Higgins Features Editor : Daniel Higgins

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This issue’s contributers: Natalie J Watts, Kenny Leung, Gherca, D1 Models, Mark Cant, Shyla Hassan, Claire De-Graft, Cosmo MacDonald, Premier Models.

CONTENTS 22 2

24 - 26 2 -2

30 - 32 3 -

40 - 44 -4

50 - 52

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3 - 55

The White Shirt- Why the white shirt is the most important item in any man’s wardrobe.

The Black Shirt- The biggest garment this season is without doubt the edgy black shirt.

The Unusual Suspects - When looking for that fashion muse, there is a style source that many men forget all about.

What The Fox? - Foxhunting, what is the truth behind this mysterious sport? Tim Easby puts us straight on the facts.

Poop Art - Was Pop Art really all it was cracked up to be? Or would Andy Warhol even be bored of it by now?

Andrew Campbell - The contemporary controversial artist talks inspiration and much more.

Internet Dating - Have you tried it? The new way to date that is taking teh U.K by storm.

Here Come The Boys- The truth behind the media hype off male escorting.

Believing In Barak - What is going on with Barack Obama? Is the voice of reason America has been waiting on?

Hating The Hype - Find out why people are getting fed up off the Xfactor.

56 - 81 82 - 89

90 - 92 3- 5

The Men From Venus - Our fashion story mixes leotards with mini skirts for a pioneering new take on menswear.

This Is A Man’s World - The classic suit is the ultimate menswear staple. Classic with modern twists for our second fashion story.

Hudson Place - Review of one of New York’s finest fish restaraunts situated in midtwon Manhattan.

The Fish Don’t Stand A Chance - Facts and figures that will make you stop and think about the fishing crisis.

EDITOR’S LETTER The world is a confusing place, full of conflicting ideas and morals. There is no longer such a thing as a straightforward issue or a clear cut argument. Everything has layers, black and white has been replaced with grey and confidence and knowledge are essential necessities that any man now needs to live and prosper in contemporary society. This is the basis of Kaleidoscope magazine. Our contradicting articles make us think about the content more and question our own opinions and beliefs on subjects. Kaleidoscope men care, we care about the world we live in. We like to understand things at the deepest possible level re-evaluating our own outlook and constantly pushing ourselves to be the best that we can be.

- Daniel Higgins

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The White Shirt

Clean, crisp, understated, elegant and above all timeless, the white shirt is without doubt the ultimate wardrobe staple item for any self respecting man. The appeal behind this classic item is hard to pin down, perhaps it’s the nostalgic feeling of school, the reminiscent nature of little boy’s mischief and first kisses in the playground that spring to mind whenever the white shirt is put on. Or perhaps it’s the minimalist appeal of the freshly ironed traditional work garment that graces the back of men worldwide and on a daily basis. Nothing says fashion savvy and successful man quite like the white shirt does. This is the piece in which all classic menswear tailoring is based around, even the best Ozwald Boateng suit in the world does not look even half as remarkable without a clean white shirt hiding underneath it. The white shirt is one of the few items in menswear that will never go out of fashion. As trends come and go as quickly as the fashion cycle can churn them out, the white shirt remains the most important garment for most of the big fashion houses collection’s, and rightly so.

The recent menswear shows relied as always, on the most significant fixture in fashion with each designer reinterpreting the piece to echo their own vision.

Marc Jacobs and Paul Helbers at Louis Vuitton used the garment in its original context, providing the usual classical shirt with accompanying shirt and blazer, school boy-esq yet with razor sharp tailoring forming a powerful silhouette. Neil Barrett used a monochrome colour scheme to inject an element of innovation to the normal white shirt design; the sleeves and collar were black which provided a contrasting aesthetic to the normal expectations of the garment. Ricardo Tisci reworked the classic shirt connotations for Givenchy’s fall 2010 Paris show where religious undertones and monasticism dominated the collection, and the white shirts were teamed with statement thorn necklaces and smart black trousers. The menswear shows further cemented the reputation of the undisputed ultimate menswear piece, the classic white shirt.

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Left: White shirt courtesy of Topman.co.uk

Givenchy Autumn / Winter 2010-11

Neil Barrett Autumn / Winter 2010-11

Right: Black shirt courtesy of Pink

Calvin Klein Autumn / Winter 2010-11

Kris Van Asche Autumn / Winter 2010-11

The black shirt has always been a tricky one to master. Although the colour black is widely acknowledged as the colour of the fashion elite as no fashion party or event is complete without seeing an endless number of black blazers and little black body con dresses plastered over the aging fashionista’s as they cling to their youth.

Yet for some unknown reason the black shirt in menswear has never reached the mainstream success its rival white sibling has. This could be due to the unfortunate fascist connotations of the term ‘black shirt’. The ‘Black Shirts’ were an aggressive violent group of Italian fascists existing in the time around the two world wars.

They were used by infamous dictator Benito Mussolini as the military tool of his political movement. It is obvious why with all this negative associations the black shirt does not evoke much appeal or interest, but it should. It combines the smart tailoring of the shirt as a garment and credibility of black as a colour to produce an avant-garde, fashion worthy piece.

The big fashion houses recognise the power of this garment and continually try to re-establish it as the essential item of the male wardrobe.

The recent menswear shows were a testament to this. Calvin Klein used the item as a classic emblem in all black looks with a futuristic, sharply tailored edge. Van Asche at Dior Homme moved away from the usual skinny visuals associated with the brand and instead the black shirts acted as backdrops to the oversized overcoats and looser fitting jackets. The collars were miniscule adding an even more cutting edge feel to the garment. At his Paris show under is own name, Kris Van Asche again used the black shirt as the basis of his collection, only this time layering and baggy accessories helped to create urban and broody looks. The shows completely challenged the pre conceived ideals of the piece and proved its relevance and impact within the industry. The message was clear, if you buy only one thing this year, make sure it is a classic black shirt.

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THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS When looking for that fashion muse, there is a style source that many men forget all about . . .

Marc Jacobs Spring / Summer 2009 Original Paddington Bear Toy 22

Original 1981 Postman Pat TV Series

‘Fashion Icon’, the ambiguous term itself seems somewhat juxtaposed. Real fashion is all about individuality and understanding what styles work best for the wearer, while icon implies a sense of cult following or blind appreciation. Fashion icons have always been a predominant feature of popular culture. Now more than ever, with menswear fashion design infiltrating the mainstream with such vigour, male fashion icons can be found anywhere and everywhere from the streets of central London to the cult films of the 50’s.

There are of course the classic male fashion icons, the timeless gentleman whose style transcends above present-day fads. The James Dean’s, Frank Sinatra’s and Marlon Brando’s, whose simple but flawless style not only echoed who they were but also who they wanted to be, their clothes told us so much more than what was in fashion, they represented genres, moments of time, and the idiosyncratic nature of real men. The plain white tee and well fitting jeans that Dean was famous for are still as visually effective today as they were in Rebel without a Cause, while the comfort in which Sinatra would throw on a suit and create such dishevelled perfection was, and still is a trait only obtainable by him.

There are also the contemporary fashion icons who are not to be ignored, those men that conform to the past ideals of the well dressed man while constantly pushing and questioning them. The David Beckham’s, Jude Law’s and Pete Doherty’s

Junya Watanabe Spring / Summer 2009

whose personal style choices have created epic movements within the fashion industry. Pete Doherty’s shabby rock star look and fascination with the skinny silhouette have been emulated by many including the great Heidi Slimane at Dior Homme.

David Beckham has managed to create a masculine persona of football great while also single-handedly making it acceptable for men to experiment with their clothing and grooming routines, changing ideas of masculinity altogether.

Aside from the obvious, there are a much more unusual bunch of style icon’s, those figures that have effected fashion choices at a sub conscious level, influencing many a young man as to what to wear and how to wear it. These unusual trend pioneers are the childhood favourites such as Paddington Bear, Postman Pat, Mr Benn, Popeye, Rupert the Bear and the ultimate fictitious fashion icon, Mr Basil Brush.

Paddington Bear and his always trendy blue overcoat with accompanying briefcase and clashing red accessories tick all style boxes going, he is a testament to the fashion credibility of such characters. Marc Jacobs at his S2009 shows captured the essence of Paddington Bear perfectly with his colour scheme and playful tones and cut of garment.

Using red and blue like this is also evident in Postman Pat’s styling, with a work outfit to put most men’s to shame, the perfect navy and blue suits with red to again further enhance the colours were shown in many of the menswear shows during

Paul Smith Spring Summer 2009

the recent fashion week displaying the AW2010 collections. Paul Smith used suits in rich shades of blue with red tie and pocket handkerchief recreating the famous colour combination and at the Junya Watanabe man show, a statement blue jacket reminiscent of a postal uniform was teamed with a shirt, tie and hat, a clear Postman Pat reference.

Although the amount of unusual fashion icons is vast, the true inanimate trend setter is the one and only Basil Brush.

The mischievous character famous for his well mannered persona and formal speaking voice exemplifies everything about the gentleman culture that has swept across the fashion industry of late.

The puppet acts as the ultimate confident character able to poke fun at even himself claiming to dislike puppets, highly regarding his brush, which is of course the traditional name for a fox’s tail, and referring to himself as the comical colloquial term ‘fella’. This secure playful nature is everything we expect from our fashion icons, it exudes a selfassurance that only the great men of our time are able to reach.

Gingham prints, polka dot accessories and the artsy cultured aesthetic associated with Basil Brush’s look can always be found at the menswear shows.

Like the other fashion icons discussed, his look is continually re invented, stimulating the creative minds behind some of the best existing fashion brands. Basil Brush proved his style status when he dressed as a pirate for an episode of his T.V series, 23

the look instantly bought back memories of Vivienne Westwood’s famous pirate collection, with eye patch, waistcoat and even a token parrot. Simon Spur’s gingham three piece suit creations were a clear testament to Brush’s chequered garments and the overall tweed tailoring of Spur’s recent runway show, had clear Basil Brush associations.

Comme des Garcons took the Basil Brush homage a step further with their high fashion animalistic designs of green innovative suits that Basil Brush is famous for wearing, teamed with fur lined snorkel hats reminiscent of his furry tail. Rei Kawakubo certainly knows which trends to follow and judging by the recent show, believes Brush’s attire to be the epitome of fashion.

Yes, it appears that when looking for the perfect male fashion icon, do not assume the classics are the ones to watch, or the contemporary male celebrities that plaster the pages of glossy magazines, instead remember back to a simpler time, those boyhood friends of fiction that we spent so much time with, as these are the true fashion icons, the ones who you didn’t even know effected you yet had the most profound effect on our style.

Marc Jacobs Spring / Summer 2009

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Basil Brush, originally created in 1963 by Peter Firmin for ‘The Three Scampies’ children’s show.

Marc Jacobs Spring / Summer 2009

Above: Breaking Cover - Heywood Hardy

Foxhunting, what is the truth behind this mysterious sport?

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The Presentation - Heywood Hardy

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Is it a bloody, cruel, ritualistic hobby? Or a much needed aspect of British agriculture and animal welfare that has for some reason been misconstrued in to something else.

The Hunting Act 2004 was passed due to the high level of controversy surrounding fox hunting and made it unlawful in England and Wales. The blood sport is infamous for causing suffering to the quarry animal and is viewed by many as unethical and unnecessary. Although fox hunting caused such uproar within society, it is the hunting act itself which has caused even more commotion with those involved in the fox hunting industry.

Tim Easby is the assistant director of the Masters of the Foxhound Association and previously master and huntsmen at the South Shropshire, West of Yore and the Middleton. He is quick to put right the many wrong, misleading ideas and beliefs surrounding fox hunting.

His demeanour immediately contradicts any pre conceptions I may have had as to what a

fox hunter would be like. He was not a vicious, animal hating, dated, grumpy old man. Far from it, instead his warmth and approachable quality were particularly notable traits. His coherent, well thought out argument as to why fox hunting should be allowed would make even the most loyal animal lover think twice.

When questioned about the morality of causing suffering for the sake of sport, his emotive response proves his belief in the positivity of fox hunting. “What is immoral is to ban the most humane method of control.

Moreover, it cannot be right to condemn foxes to death by natural causes such as starvation, injury and disease, or by less certain methods and therefore less humane methods.” He understands why people think hunting is cruel but says it is due to, “Many people being deliberately mislead about hunting.”

Tim actually considers himself to be an animal lover. “Many hunting people have dogs as pets. For my part, I could not imagine life

without dogs at home.” He is quick to dismiss the claim that hounds are often killed at a young age, once they no longer hunt effectively.

“Hounds hunt to a good age” he says, “A huntsman will often rely on his older and more experienced hound during the difficult stages of the hunt.” He also dismisses the rumour of the hounds barbaric killing of the fox “The kill is almost instantaneous, but above all certain.

The subsequent dismembering of the carcass, if it happens, may not be pretty but it is of no consequence to the already dead animal.” Tim’s clear cut words while appearing somewhat disconnected from any sort of emotion, also ring very true and cause me to be slightly embarrassed by my ignorance.

He is adamant and strong willed when describing the various benefits fox hunting creates. “It is a combination of recreation, wildlife management and pest control such as dealing with fox predation at lambing time.”

He says. “There are also an estimated 6,000 to

The Presentation - Heywood Hardy

8,000 jobs depending on hunting in the U.K with even more part time jobs too.” These facts and figures cannot be argued with and the idea of fox hunting becomes increasingly acceptable as the interview progresses. The hunting of foxes has been likened to the process of natural selection as it is the old, sick and dying foxes that will be caught. Easby agrees with this theory. “It performs a vital search and dispatch function whereby the weak sick and dying are discovered and quickly dispatched, no other method of culling performs this.”

Hunting was banned in England and Wales in 2004, and in Scotland since 2002, yet is still legal in Northern Ireland. Tim suggests that this differing legislation within the U.K ridicules the ban in Britain. “It clearly illustrates the complete lack of understanding of hunting and the welfare of the quarry species.” Police have been known to have slack attitudes to those who are caught fox hunting despite it being a registered criminal activity, but Easby defends this in his usual clear

cut and coherent manner. “I suspect the police have greater priorities. It makes me so angry that police time is often wasted as a result of this act.”

The act itself clearly evokes in Tim a sense of injustice and rage, and after hearing his near flawless argument as to why fox hunting should be made legal again, I am starting to see why.

“I think the act should be repelled because if it is not, the long term implications for foxes and other quarry species will be profound” Easby says. “The hunting community is determined to repeal the Hunting Act and we will maintain our unity until this is achieved.”

His passion for the sport is admirable and his intelligence obvious when he mentions the “real” reasons why the act was brought in.

“The Hunting Act was driven by party political reasons and class warfare and very sadly not animal welfare reasons.” If any animal welfare issues have been raised during the interview it appears that it is the fox hunters who are

thinking about the best possible methods of control for these animals.

This is not a group of savage, dated, killers; they are a group of people who want to protect the environment, the quarry species, and the traditions of Britain. The power of the media has once again had a devastating effect on society, using propaganda and headlines to sway and empower public opinion. Unfortunately, these opinions are wrong, misunderstood and manipulated by those in power. Richard Course, a former Director of the League against Cruel Sports said it best when he said, “People are deliberately misled about hunting but they will never realise this because bigotry, prejudice, narrow mindedness, class animosity and ignorance blind them from the truth.”

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Poop Art

Art: the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

But surely this significance changes over time depending on what is happening in contemporary culture and social affairs. Who is it that says which pieces are significant and which are not? This definition seems flawed. Art is meant to stimulate and have a profound effect on the viewer. Where is the line between art and the crap some call art that any wannabe Picasso with a paint brush and a canvas could produce for their graduate collection?

It was Igor Stravinsky that famously said that “most art is bad�. He failed to point out however that this is the almost inescapable consequence of its nature. Art is not about rehashing the tried and true, but rather the smashing of rules and regulations and creating something never seen before. Something that is personal only to the artist yet talks to the many. It is probable that what Stravinsky meant was 28

Campbell’s Soup 1 (1968)

Maralyn Monroe

‘pop art is bad’.

Pop art has always been an area of debate in critiquing circles. Some question whether it even qualified for an actual art genre at all. As has already been established, art is not about rehashing what already exists yet this is the exact foundation of what pop art was. The movement was most famous for it’s fascination with popular culture.

Celebrating everyday objects such as soup cans, coca cola and comic strips the movement turned the commonplace into icons.

It was Andy Warhol who really brought Pop Art to the masses. His screen prints of Coke bottles, Campbell’s soup tins and film stars are part of the iconography of the 20th century. Pop Art owed much to dada with regards to the way that it mocked the established art world.

Embracing commercial techniques, and creating machine-produced art, Pop artists were consciously distancing themselves from the emotive, individualist tendencies of the Abstract Expressionist movement that came before them.

What does celebrating signs that glorify ethical dilemmas of westernised society say about pop art enthusiasts? And what does the distancing from classical art traits say about the pop art movement itself? The movement is characterised by qualities that directly oppose everything the world believed art to be. Expressive, subversive, poignant and personal works of art became the generic, rehashed, irrelevant pieces that further promote the consumer culture. Monet would be turning in his grave if he knew that his translation of sunset on too paper which spawned the French expressionist movement

was now held in the same high regard as the often shallow, confused images Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol produced.

It appears Pop art was merely a dumbed down commentary on some rather obvious social traits.

By using iconography of some of the biggest most powerful brands around e.g. Coca Cola, the term artist and P.R executive become interchangeable.

The images are not real art. They merely promote a product and in today’s consumer driven culture the difference between art and advertising is increasingly hard to tell apart.

Yet despite this attitude to pop art it obviously had a profound effect on the world and weather you hate it or love it, the power the movement has on its viewer is undeniable.

In 1967, an underground organization who 29

Clockwise from top left: Robert Rauschenberg’s Untitled ‘Combine’, Andy Warhol ‘Self Portrait’, Andy Warhol’s Banana print on The Velvet Underground & Nico’s 1967 debut album.

dubbed themselves the Society for Cutting Up Men (SCUM) produced a political tract entitled SCUM Manifesto. They held special contempt for conceptual artists like Warhol. Although they were obviously pretentious and narrow minded, something about their words ring very true when examining Warhol’s work.

‘The male “artistic” aim being, not to communicate (having nothing inside him he has nothing to say), but to disguise his animalism, he resorts to symbolism and obscurity (“deep” stuff). The vast majority of people, particularly the “educated” ones, lacking faith in their own judgment, humble, respectful of authority (“Daddy knows best”), are easily conned into believing that obscurity, evasiveness, incomprehensibility, indirectness, ambiguity and boredom are marks of depth and brilliance.’

Is this reaction to the imagery not merit enough to class it as one of the most important and influential art movements? No. As no matter how controversial it is the fact remains the same, Pop art merely refers to reworked images of generic products that any Tom Dick or Harry could have produced. Although Tom Dick or Harry did not, Warhol did, which is another reason to cement his status as a Pop Art icon. Weather this status is aspirational is a whole different issue and one that Warhol is probably very happy is still being discussed.

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Andrew Campbell is sitting at the window of The French House in Soho with only his double vodka as company. He looks out on to Dean Street which is filled with familiar faces desperately trying to cure their hangovers. The 49 year old artist smiles at his surroundings as sunlight streams in spokes across the dusty bar.

Once a fine art student at the prestigious Goldsmiths College, Campbell is one of those rare creative’s whose presence in no real way echo their artistic style. His laid back dishevelled appearance directly contrast his allegorical and often dramatic pieces. When asked to describe his artwork to someone who has never seen it before the clinical answer he gives implies the mannerisms typical of most artists such as paying close attention to the smallest details.

“My artwork is predominantly figurative incorporating many different media from painting and sculptural work to photographic and digital installations. They often deal with the extremes of the human condition.”

It is this breadth of application across the various art forms that make Campbell’s work so hard to pigeon hole. His obvious Dada and Pop art infatuation is evident to see in all of his pieces but he also draws inspiration from more unusual artistic masters such as Michelangelo and Caravaggio. “I suppose that my earliest childhood influences were the Surrealists and the Dadaists from Max Ernst to Marcel Duchamp” he says. “Obviously Picasso figured greatly in my early years but latterly I became more enchanted by the work of artists operating in the second half of the 20th century from Andy Warhol in the States to Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud in the U.K.” He talks of his heroines

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McTerror, from the ‘Terrorism’ collection

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with such admiration and revere that his passion for art becomes increasingly apparent.

He also speaks of his love for Irish born figurative painter Francis Bacon who he knew for a short period of time. He describes Bacon’s artwork as “incomparable” both in credibility and vision.

His favourite piece of work from his own eclectic collection is his recent series of paintings entitled “Colony Room Club Studies”.

“The paintings were essentially about my attempts to capture in paint a vision of how the world is perceived whilst in a state of inebriation and intoxication” Campbell says.

Getting this complex emotion onto paper comes with ease to such a visual pioneer.

Most would struggle to capture such difficult emotions in their art. Campbell however, exudes a confidence within his work that makes his intended message clear to the viewer. He tries not to limit his work in any way believing freedom to be an important aspect of what he does. “My work is not necessarily confined,

compounded, or limited to any particular theme or subject. It is not fuelled by any conscious compulsion to shock or be contentious.”

He believes that art is meant to bring truth and expose the lies that surround certain issues and ideas in society. “I think that the purpose of art and the artist is to tell the truth about the world as they see it” he says, “Then the viewer will inevitably be drawn to look as honestly possible at the consequences of injustice, violence and oppression in the world.”

One social issue he believes the truth needs to be exposed on is the Iraq War. “My series of digital installations dealing with the subject of war were first conceived whilst I was living in the U.S during the outbreak of the Iraq War and devastation of 9/11” he says. “They were motivated by my increasing bewilderment and frustration with the way the news media in The States often censored the truth of the atrocities which were and are still now happening” Campbell rants with noticeable anger. He obviously feels passionate about this subject. It’s

refreshing to see such interest and empathy for the subjects and concepts that motivate his art work.

The notorious issues that Campbell comments on in his work are so highly emotive that they often strike up an extreme emotional reaction from the viewer, often a negative one. “I still today receive death threats from those who are unable to deal with or accept the truth of the obscenities perpetrated in their name but I believe this to be a price worth paying for telling such truths through ones art.”

Andrew Campbell’s layered pieces of symbolic art are a maze of human interest and visual extremities. He sums up his work perfectly when he says “My art is about observing the world as truthfully and as morally as I can, with all its horrors and beauties”. He adds that “If these truths are unpalatable to some or seen as subversive by others, then I believe that my work has in some way succeeded.”

Clockwise from bottom left: Fragmants, Warart, Warmart

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Internet Dating The internet is a powerful force dominating modern living. The first thing modern living encourages you to do besides from spending money, is to fall in love.

The single life is no longer an option. Nobody likes those cold, lonely, winter nights where you reminisce of past loves with a sense of regret.

But finding that dusty dreaded little black book is no longer an acceptable form of action. There is a much more socially relevant answer to our problem. Internet dating.

This social phenomenon proves why the internet is such an incredible invention. Dating sites are everywhere nowadays with an ever increasing number of people signing up and finding love with over half of all singles in the U.K using an online dating site at some point in their life. But have the old pre conceived stereotypes of pathetic loser finding love on line really disappeared? Is it really a safe way to meet your potential par tner? And who are these couples that apparently fall so deeply in love on these websites?

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Dating Website www.Match.com

Katie Sheppard is the head of marketing at match.com which is one of the most successful dating sites out there. She was adamant that the embarrassing stigma once attached to internet dating is long gone. “While this may have been the case a few years ago, it’s cer tainly not how things are now.” She claims. “Today you are as likely to find a long term par tner on the internet as you are at work and it wont be long before meeting someone online is as popular as meeting someone in a bar”.

She understands how impor tant the internet is in the success of the company and claims the interest in dating online is merely an answer to contemporary social expectations. “We do everything online these days, the internet has had such a huge impact on our lives, and it’s difficult to imagine life without it. People have fast realised its potential to bring people together and the success of sites like match is cer tainly a testament to this”.

When asked if she herself would ever consider using an internet dating site, her over excitable answer proves her belief and faith within the system. “Absolutely, because I know it works. I have two weddings to attend in the next two months, both couples meet online. My best friend is getting married on April 24th and my cousin on the 22nd May”. Say’s Sheppard.

Sheppard claims that online dating is the simplest answer to today’s hectic lifestyle with the figures speaking for themselves. “At match we are proud that 160 members leave us every day as couples. We do an annual study to track how successful people are in general on dating sites and found that online dating is now the third most popular way to meet a long term par tner”. Statistics like these make clear the power within the online dating site industry and its potential to find you the love of your life.

But the internet does have its drawbacks opening up a whole new world of criminal

activity including fraud. The internet can be a hunting ground for dangerous men and woman but match.com seem very aware of the safety issues surrounding internet interaction and do what they can to minimise risk. “As the U.K’s best known and most trusted dating site, match. com takes its responsibilities to its members extremely seriously. We have a dedicated security team, which works proactively to weed out potential members who may compromise the success of our community and reactively investigating any inappropriate behaviour repor ted”. Sheppard talks in a clear monotone that fur ther highlights how seriously she takes the safety of the members of the site.

But despite all these worries and doubts, thousands of people join the site each week and find love regardless. “Everyday people take time out to share their real love stories.

Many of whom send us regular updates as their relationships blossom. It’s what gets us up in the 37

morning.” Sheppard says. “We’ve been invited to housewarmings, weddings and sent pictures of babies from our happy couples. We’ve even had couples come to our office to visit the team and thank us in person”.

When asked about specific details on the stories of the numerous happy couples, Katie smiles as she recalls her favourites. “I recently got an email from two nurses who worked at the same hospital, on different floors for years, but somehow never spoke to each other. They ‘met’ for the first time on match and fell in love.”

As if that story wasn’t inspirational enough she went on to discuss others. “We’ve also got a story about a dad who met his par tner online, then convinced his son to join match.com. He then met his par tner and both are now engaged!

There is even talk of a double wedding”.

Speaking with Katie has really made me think about the possibility of finding a compatible par tner by using the internet. Is the idea even 38

that far fetched? In a world ruled by technology to the point cyber life is the new reality, how long was it going to be until the web star ted finding our future wife’s? The idea seems perfect to me. List all you want in your ideal woman and see how close a professional agency can come to matching her. Cer tainly would have saved me the hear tache and headache of countless terrible relationships.

These sites really do seem to work. People fall in love and find happiness, this not a sham or marketing ploy. Claire Foster and Hussain ElHadi are a couple who met via a dating website.

“We found each other on Dating Direct we had both tried other sites, all were pretty much the same except EHarmony felt that was a disaster.

Didn’t feel clubbing or pubs was a likely place to meet someone, felt too old”. Clare says in a matter of fact way I’m sure helped her when she had to say what she looked for in a par tner to the agency.

There first date was pretty much as awkward as any other couples with Claire feeling a little worse for wear on their initial meeting. “We met outside Fairfield halls in Croydon on a weeknight and went to All Bar One for a drink, I felt ill so we didn’t stay out for long, but we met again at the weekend as I felt we should meet again as I couldn’t really make a fair judgement as I felt so ill”. And thank goodness she did, as know nearly a year later the two lovebirds are set to marry. “We are set to marry October this year, almost a year to the day we met”. Proving online dating does actually work.

Hussain would recommend online dating to anyone looking for their other half. “I would definitely recommend it to anyone to try, you just need to develop a thick skin and not take rejection too seriously, as they reject you or pass your profile you do the same to others so it’s good to keep perspective.” Sound advice to keep you grounded as you trawl through an endless

amount of videos sent by the agency. Videos full of people you would never even consider dating. But the site usually have effective ways of choosing someone who you will be interested in so more often than not you won’t be unimpressed by their choices. “You choose who you want to be included and what types of person you are looking for by height weight, location etc” Claire says. “But one I met looked like his picture but when he smiled he had bad brown teeth that obviously weren’t on show before we met”. Brown teeth weren’t the only worry Claire had. “I had so many reservations about using the site. Whether it was safe to meet them, whether they would actually be like the person they described both physically and personally.” She admits.

She had decided to try dating in the real world and was soon set to leave the site when she met Hussain. “I had decided that I would make a concer ted effor t over the summer

holiday and had signed up for one last month when we met, previous to meeting him I had been on about 5/6 dates.” Hussain on the other hand enjoyed the ease and success of his dates while on the site and had no intention of leaving.

“I had been on the site about 6/12 months and had a number of dates and one lady I dated for a couple of months”.

This happy couple are soon set to marry. The ultimate action of love and commitment and it is all down to the effor ts of online dating, they would never have met each other had it not been for this technological aspect of modern day living. Their plans for the happy day have already star ted. “We will get married in a register office as he is from a Muslim background and I am not religious, to be followed by the reception in a hotel in London, it will be quite traditional, I will be wearing a bridal gown and have bridesmaids.”

Claire says with the biggest grin imaginable plastered across her face. There love is clearly 39

based on a deep connection and any idea I had of the fickle nature of relationships star ted online soon disappears. “We have booked register office and reception, I have a dress in mind, bridesmaids and flower girls chosen, just cake, photographer decorations flowers and everything else to plan, but the most impor tant aspect is booked the ceremony and if we have to have a par ty in the house and garden then that’s fine”.

The pair are clearly smitten with each other and thankful they tried online dating, or they may never have met. Hussain still can’t believe his luck that he managed to find his ideal woman via the internet. “I never thought I would get a wife out of joining the site, the most I expected was a relationship that might last a while”. Claire cannot believe her luck either. She managed to find her perfect other on an online dating site and obviously has no doubts about the success of internet dating. “I have no regrets, none at all.

Like they say you have to kiss a few frogs before you meet your prince and its all par t of the journey”.

So is online dating the way forward? Is it the needed answer to the ever shor tening social free time we seem to have after work, work and more work? I know one thing; I will cer tainly be joining a site very soon. Describe my perfect woman and see what they send me.

They couldn’t do much worse than the woman I seem to pick for myself that’s for sure. Yes online dating, the dating game has reached an all new low and dating sites are our way out. Get yourself your perfect soul mate by making sure they have the looks, interests, personality and any other traits you like in your woman before you even have the first date. Sounds perfect to me…Where do I sign up?

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As I sat there in the coffee shop, my mind couldn’t stop wondering about what the woman who is paying me for my time will be like, Old? She must be old, maybe a rich widower or perverted business woman, Ugly? Yes, she must be at least slightly physically challenged. I am of course, if you haven’t already guessed, poseing as a male escort.

Male Escorting has seen a dramatic rise recently, all you have to do is browse the term in any search engine and you will be bombarded with thousands of sites to either become, or use an escort.

What’s most surprising about this new social phenomenon is that the number of male escorts now available, have increased to the point they now far outnumber the amount of female escorts available to men. But is this really that surprising? In today’s world, where women are as successful as men in the workplace and as economically stable, that old feminine ideal of romantic walks on the beach with a new lover or revealing talks with their ideal man seems obsolete. Woman now want a young, attentive and of course attractive man to spend their time with and this is where the male escorts come in to play.

But who are these men that act as escorts?

How did they get involved in escorting? And what exactly do they do for their clients? And just as importantly, who are these women who use them?

John Burrows, who acted as a male escort/ prostitute for both men and woman for a number of years is a perfect example of how the usually very separate areas of escorting and prostitution can cross over. Twenty-six year old

John has seen the darker side to this industry.

He was a “male escort” but often engaged in sexual acts with his clients. He was keen to show his understanding of the difference between male prostitution and the current trend of legitimate non sexual companionship referred to as escorting. “I think prostitution implies street walkers and drug habits, where as escorting sounds marginally more respectable.

I tend to think of an escort as someone who has some control, who knows that they are doing, and who works through choice.” Like many other young men who are struggling in this time of economic uncertainty, the weight of a student loan makes the decision of becoming a male escort a whole lot easier, “I only really started escort work once I had left university. I had some student loan to pay back and it just seemed so easy.”

Easy money is most men’s reason for becoming an escort with John earning a respectable and rather shocking amount of money - $120 an hour with an average of $400$500 a night. But even John’s heavy involvement in this seedier, sleazier side of the industry has not left him with regrets. “I always got paid, certainly never got beaten up and never had bad comments made about my appearance or services.” When asked what advice he would

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give to young men thinking of becoming an escort he is quick to talk about the importance of safety. “You should work for a good agency that is strictly non sexual. With their cut you make a little less money than you’d like but it really would be worth it for the safety it brings”.

Male escorting and prostitution are two very different things but the lines between them seem constantly blurred. Many sites advertise to be non sexual but few actually turn out to be. But these more respectable sites do exist, and why wouldn’t they? There is a growing market for older successful woman who need young charming men to show off at their latest business meeting or family wedding and the popularity of this concept is a testimony to the changing times of sexual equality and female empowerment.

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The recent unveiling of the bell du jour blogger who revealed herself as Doctor Brooke Maganti has further created interest and intrigue around the mysterious subject of escorting. The infamous author of “diary of a London call girl” turned out to be a scientist with a PHD in epidemiology who funded her studies by working as a high class escort. The success of the hit television show “secret diary of a call girl” staring Billie Piper, highlights how the medias glamorization and overly positive portrayal of prostitution can affect attitudes towards both prostitution and escorting.

The photo I had sent in to the escort agency was recent; I was as truthful as possible in my application, so surely there was nothing to worry about. But as clear as the no sexual contact rule was, I cant help think that the type

of woman to pay for a young man to accompany them, would expect a little more than deep conversation and a goodnight kiss.

The press officer at the male escorting site insists that his clients know that they are a “strictly non- sexual male escort agency with over 2,000 good looking, intelligent men to choose from”. The site is known as one of the most successful and respected agencies around, and the only straight, non-sexual male escort agencies in the UK. With over 17,000 registered clients, it’s clear that the non-erotic male escort game is big business.

The agency runs police checks and many other careful screening procedures to ensure the highest level of safety for its clients.

“We carry out careful tests and screening procedures that ensure all our escorts are who

they say they are, safety is our primary goal for our customers”.

But despite this impressive reputation the agency have obtained, critics still see them as glamorized pimp’s who are exploiting and manipulating the young men who work for them.

They are quick to defend themselves, “You only have to speak with our escorts to know how well we treat them, and there is no exploitive behavior in any aspect of what we do”. He also justifies the pricing of the system. “We charge the client $90 an hour; the escort receives $55 an hour while we keep $35 which our escorts and customers agree is a cheap price for the safety and quality of the service we provide.

When quizzed over the apparent no sex rule the press officer is adamant that the agency publicizes itself as non sexual and is very proud of this. “We have a very strict no sex policy. If that is what people want, don’t use our agency there are plenty of other sites they can get it from, if we found escorts to be having sex with the customers, they would be fired immediately.” As for the grey area between escorting and prostitution he made the agencies position on the subject very clear, “Prostitution

is a terrible thing that we have no interest or involvement in.”

The men at the escorting site are not what you might expect when thinking about what a male escort would be like. The expected idea of uneducated, lower class drifters is a far cry from the choice of successful, charming and well-groomed men on offer here. “We have all different types of men from different walks of life including a dentist, a veterinary surgeon, an architect and a journalist so we can assure whatever the client wants, she can get.”

It was the respectable reputation of this undisclosed agency that made me decide this was the escort agency I should join to really understand the popular world of non sexual male escorting. My escorting adventure started with a simple form to fill out with clichéd headings such as hobbies, interests, occupation and educational background. I sent the form, along with $17.75 which is the apparent cost to check my criminal records and carry out general background checks, and a recent photograph that I admittedly looked rather good in.

So that was it, the weeks past and I had no response to my ad. I was shocked to say the

least. I had sold myself so well, a cultured well travelled young man I had wrote, with a love of art history and political current affairs, and like I said it really was a very impressive picture.

Of course, no woman could resist my charms for to long and I received my first date four weeks after I had joint the agency albeit due to a cancellation. I knew this was my chance to really get to grips with the life of a true male escort.

Her name was Claire, she was 38, and I met her at a Starbucks in Queensway at 5 o’clock, I had already been briefed by the agency that it was a semi formal dinner party and what I should wear. The look was tailored chinos and dress shirt with blazer, I had to check with them that this would suffice and they were happy.

Claire had emailed them with a short back story for how we had met and I was pleased at how simple and straightforward it had seemed. We had apparently met through a press event which fitted perfectly as I had told the truth about me being a freelance journalist and she had a senior position in a public relations company. The event was a dinner at her boss’s house and all of her colleagues were going to be there, I was scared at how much pressure I felt under to be the

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charming, witty, twenty six year old man I had claimed on my forms that I was.

The smell of coffee was starting to make me nauseous, especially when mixed with the fact my date for the night was late. Finally she appeared, nearly twenty minutes after we had arranged to meet but I was pleasantly surprised. Clare was taller than I had expected with long dark hair scraped back in a ponytail and a healthy glow that had made me wish I had used the sun bed earlier that day. She was much prettier than I had hoped, not stunning but by no means unattractive. She was extremely talkative with a lively almost overpowering presence that made me seriously wonder why she couldn’t get her own date for such an event.

After the general niceties of how are you, do you want a drink, really looking forward

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to the night and so on; I started to realize how nervous I actually was. My palms were sweaty, I kept laughing at inappropriate moments and the situation felt very much like an awkward first date. Claire on the other hand seemed very relaxed and in control, it almost felt like she was the escort and I was the customer. She told me it was her first time using the service which relaxed me a little, I felt less like I had expectations to live up to. It shocked me how different she was from what I had expected her to be, and I felt increasingly silly about how much I had been worrying that she would be an old, odd and desperate woman.

Claire briefed me in the cab there about what the dinner party would be like, and told me everyone was nice and that I had nothing to worry about. The house in Queensway was huge

and as I walked up the pathway to the front door Claire grabbed my hand, I suddenly got the impression she might have been as nervous as I was. Was hand holding even allowed? I hadn’t read the small print. Her boss greeted us at the door and led us into the dinning room where eleven other people were waiting for us. I was introduced to everyone and as I smiled and kissed the strangers, I realized that the type of man to be able to do this on a regular basis, feel comfortable in such a socially uncomfortable situation, must be confident, smart and adaptable. We finally sat down for dinner after what seemed like forever and were served a terribly pungent king prawn starter.

The conversation was flowing all around me and I suddenly felt very uncomfortable by the fact I was the only one not talking. Claire seemed

to have forgotten about me as she chatted away to the person next to her, so I decided I would do the same. Luckily I was sat next to a boring colleague of Claries who knew little about her so wasn’t asking any particularly probing questions. By the main course I was really starting to grow in confidence and even felt it appropriate to question the hosts choice of chicken casserole for the main dinner, I then started to spin off a list of what I thought were perfect dinner party dishes, no I was not drunk, just temporarily forgot my place. Claire looked at me unimpressed by my new found confidence.

It struck me how hard it must be for the escorts to remain completely focused on behaving in a certain way all night, polite, courteous, thoughtful, and all the while remembering some elaborate back-story of how you met the woman you were with. I started to think of the idea of escorting as acting, acting a role that somebody expects you and pay’s you to be.

The more I spoke with Claire throughout the night, the stranger I found it that she had decided she needed to hire a man to take to this dinner. She was bright, witty, successful and incredibly social and not a woman you could

imagine would struggle to find a boyfriend. I was finally starting to believe in the suggestion that this is a legitimate service, providing companionship for ladies who are otherwise to busy to find it for themselves. Is this idea even that illusive? Society has gotten to the point that the suggestion of a woman, who wants to pay to spend time with a young attractive man, for social status or acceptance, instead of to have sex with, appears ludicrous. I was finally starting to understand that this is far from ludicrous; it does in fact make perfect sense.

Claire and I made our excuses and left early with everyone else still there, she was less talkative then earlier on in the night and I worried that I had not done what was expected of me. The taxi ride back was the most nervous I had felt all night, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife and the impending fear of weather or not we were about to have sex was all I could think off. As we got out of the taxi at Queensway tube stop Claire thanked me for the night I said it was fine and I that I had fun, I then leaned in to kiss her on the cheek to my horror she recoiled backwards with a startled face, not offended but surprised by my action.

It finally hit me, this was it, this woman had paid for my company for an event she felt she couldn’t go to alone and she did not expect, or by the looks of it want, sex with me. I caught the tube back, my ego slightly bruised for some reason that I could not put my finer on. This was what I wanted to find out, are there sexual relations between the escort and customer?

And I find out that there is not, but somehow the idea still made me feel uncomfortable an older woman paying for a young man to spend time with her.

It is clear why men do this, a lot of money for just spending time with a woman, maybe she will be old or ugly or annoying but enough people have work colleagues who are old ugly and annoying but for some reason put up with it often for a fraction of an escorts wage. It is also clear why woman use this service, checks are made to ensure the men are safe, sociable, friendly and smart. Busy or professional woman who need the trophy boyfriend on their arm couldn’t hope for a better agency, and men have been doing the trophy show off lover thing for years and now it seems its women’s turn.

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Believing In Barack Did he ever really stand a chance? The amount of hype surrounding Barack Obama was so intense that the only possible result of his elected presidency would be a let down and frustrated American public. And that is what he has created. They have turned on him as quickly as they fell for him. The American people put so much expectation and hope in this one man that it is hardly surprising he has not lived up to their expectations. Jesus himself would have struggled to meet such criteria.

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Barack Obama on day of inauguration

Let us not forget who he has replaced, George W Bush who is often referred to as “The worst president ever”. Bush is partly responsible for starting the global war on terrorism which is still claiming lives 9 years after the atrocious September 11th attacks. His careless attitude to rushing into wars that many say never needed to have started, left the world full of hatred for him. Barack Obama had a very messy political landscape to clean up as soon as he came in to power. And clean ups of this grand scale require time, support, and above all hope. All of which he seems to be lacking as the American public already doubt and question his decisions.

It is what his election represents that really matter. A black male being elected president did more for my own belief in American culture than Bush and over hyped Hollywood blockbusters ever

managed to. His presidency signifies an epic turning point regarding political and racial equality. His warmth and charisma will carry him through these dark first terms as president. Hopefully America will soon remember why they believed in him so passionately to start with. He is the average man, hard working. A visionary with a level of fairness and empathy that will give the U.S.A the sympathetic voice of reason they so desperately need.

The anger and hostility from the American people towards Obama for apparently not doing enough seems ludicrous to me. What on earth did they expect? For all troops to be called out of Iraq immediately and things just to go back to the way they were? Well unfortunately this is impossible.

America need to realise there presence in these war zones was once voluntary but is now compulsory.

Without American troops in these areas the Iraq

people are not safe. You cannot start a war and not be willing to finish it, leaving the area now would cause even more pointless deaths and permanent damage. They cannot blame Obama as he struggles to deal with the mess Bush has left him in.

On the 9th October 2009 Obama won the Nobel peace prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”. This controversial decision caused uproar within America. People were angry that he had yet to deliver on any of the major foreign policy initiatives upon which he embarked.

What was he expected to do? Refuse the prize?

There has been only one person to have declined the prize in its 108-year history. When he was voted in as president he shook the foundations of racism and democracy and his very presence symbolized a time of change for the better. America are so 47

The President and His Wife: Barack and Michelle Obama

quick to challenge the man they call their leader that they cannot even see what he has accomplished in his short time in office, only focusing on his short comings. Yet it was his shortcomings and man next door persona that got him the votes originally.

Of course it’s easy for me to be so judgmental; I never had Bush running my country in to the ground, sending friends into pointless wars.

Although I did have Blair and Brown, whose new labour policies were so tightly intertwined with Bush’s that we were also involved in America’s misery. Despite this, I still have a faith in Gordon Brown that he will get us out of the war with minimal devastation, Out of the credit crunch with minimal damage. This faith is all I and the rest of Britain have. Trusting politicians is a hard thing to do, but it is necessary. The American people are obviously angry for good reason. Reason I won’t dare try to figure out. Sometimes you need an external voice to clarify confusing situations. Here is mine. I trust in Barack Obama. I believe his compassion, his understanding, his nature and his strength will make America the best it can be once again. I believe in him, I just hope America does soon too.

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President Obama

Reality television has taken over western popular culture with shows such as Big Brother and of course, X-Factor...

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Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell

Cheryl Cole in ‘Fight For You

r Love’ outfit

The X-Factor phenomenon has seen audience viewing figures peak at 19.1m for the recent series finale. Simon Cowell reportedly earns a staggering £7m from each season, not to mention his revenue from other ventures including American Idol and his record label.

It is an embarrassing but well documented aspect of British nature that when something or someone is succeeding, we rebel against it and do what we can to ruin it. This was made evident when a face book campaign was launched against X-Factor winner Joe McElderry to get Rage Against the Machine to the Christmas number one instead of the X-Factor winner. The campaign successfully shook the comfort of the shows expected number one position it has claimed since

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its first season. Rage’s Killing In The Name was ahead for part of the Christmas week, but McElderry stole the top spot at the last minute with Miley Cyrus cover The Climb.

Rage Against The Machine and Joe Mcelderry are both signed to the same label anyway so who is really losing? The record company certainly isn’t, they sit back and count the millions while self important music enthusiasts think they have won some sort of battle by trying to rob a young singer of his lifetime dream of a number one single. This incident proves public rebellion is a powerful movement. It has overthrown monarchies, depowered world leaders and shaped social trends. Now it appears to be dictating the direction of the music industry.

Why do the British public feel the need

to degrade the show just because it is successful? What are people’s problem with the contestants of this talent show? Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS- these are all artists that have reached an impressive amount of success in their short careers, winning awards and collecting number one singles like experienced pros. It is mainly the snobby music journalists and industry insiders that look at these talented young dreamers with such disdain. They harp on about how ‘Leona will never be the next Lennon’ or how ‘Cheryl Cole is not as inf luential as David Bowie was’.

What they seem to be forgetting is that these older respected artists were marketed and promoted just the way the current stars are. David Bowie had a stylist as well, Mr

Leona Lewis

Freddy Berretta. Yet his look spawned a movement while Cheryl’s pioneering style gets her nothing more than a few bad reviews in the weekly trashy tabloids. Poor Cheryl Cole. Again, she was voted in to Girls Aloud by the British public yet now many hate her after claiming she can’t sing. We vote her in to a band then question her vocal talent.

Go figure. We Brits really do make no sense sometimes.

Cheryl Cole is an important role model to thousands of young girls, they look up to her and use her to get through the turbulent and confusing teenage years. She is ‘David Bowie’ to these inf luential young people and she in no way abuses this power. Yet she is still looked down upon by many for looking a certain way to sell singles, or not having the

best voice in the world.

People need to remember that the music industry is exactly that, an industry. A Business. And the primary goal of any business is to make money. And that reason alone is why the Factor has been good for the music industry, it has stimulated an alarming amount of money as well as giving people who would never normally have it, the chance to be a star. Not terrible pop cut outs either, talented young performers with some of the most incredible voices from the U.K. Yes Simon Cowell is arrogant and egotistical, but he should be proud of the show and the talented people it has unleashed on to the world of music. The likes of Leona and Alexandra certainly makes me proud to be British.

Joe Mc Eldery

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THE MEN FROM VENUS

Concept & Styling: Daniel Higgins Photography: Natalie J Watts Hair & Makeup: Kenny Leung Model: Flavius Gherca, D1 Models

Leotard - H&M

Vest - Gucci Scarf - Stylist’s own

Dog Belt - Vintage Cropped Tailored Trousers - Givenchy Brogues - Prada

Slit Dress worn as top - Topshop Tuxedo Trousers - Christian DIOR

Metallic Hole Vest - Topshop Snake Belt - Vintage Tailored Zip Trousers - Cos Gladiator Sandals - Dolce & Gabanna

Cropped T-Shirt - Vera Wang

Sheer Lace Dress - Parisian Flee Market Boxer Shorts - Calvin Klein Army Boots - D&G

Lace Shirt - Christopher Kane Cumberbund - Oscar Delarenta

Cropped T-Shirt - As Before Leather Knee Leggins - Stylists Own Black Boots - Kris Van Asche

Jacket - Absolute Vintage

Slit Dress Worn As Top - As Before Tuxedo Trousers - As Before Black Blazer - Vera Wang

Turtle Neck - Prada Mini Skirt - Yves Saint Laurent Army Boots - As Before

Jacket - As Before Vest - Yves Saint Laurent Trousers - Yves Saint Laurent Belt - D&G Pixie Boots - Tory Burch

Outfit - As Before

Outfit - As Before

Outfit - As Before

Outfit - As Before

Leotard - As Before Tuxedo Trousers - As Before

Photography: Mar k Cant Stylist: Shyla Has san and Daniel H iggins Grooming: Claire De-Graft Model: Cosmo Mac Donald, Premier

Hudson Place

The only place to dine in style within the hustle and bustle of New York City is the Hudson Place restaurant.

As soon as I walked in I could tell I was going to enjoy my evening. The tables full of happy diners laughing and flirting with the charming waiting staff were as inviting as the impressive menu was. Located in midtown Manhattan between 36th and 3rd, the restaurant conveys a maritime theme from the New York City in the 1950’s. Wood panelled walls and large windows combine with a rustic fireplace creating dÊcor that recalls the ports that initially inspired the restaurant.

The restaurant has daily fish specials from poached monkfish to pan fried barracuda, they are famous for their fish dishes and rightly so. I chose the seared yellow fin tuna steak which was 86

a very reasonable $22.95. The fish was served medium rare with a truffle vinaigrette, steamed seasonal vegetables and orzo pasta. The fish was cooked to perfection providing a delicate taste of citrus oils, tuna steak and an exquisite deep truffle aftertaste. The crunchy texture of the vegetables combined wonderfully with the seared fish and bold flavours from the orzo pasta. Each mouthful was a small slice of heaven, a refreshing juxtaposition of fresh, clean, and crisp, with big, poignant flavours.

The 1936 French Bordeaux wine had a rich, smoky flavour and was a perfect compliment to the tuna dish. They fused together beautifully clearing my palate between mouthfuls.

The Hudson place was a joy to eat in, and I will definitely be heading back on my next venture to the big apple.

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Facts and figures that will make you stop and think about the fishing crisis.

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d. The photos is showing The tuna is calm and is hauled on boar the Norwegian vessel “Vågly”

This vessel operated as a fish carrier. It was one of many vessels that transpor

ted the bluefin tuna from the fishing grounds.

A good day on the fishing grou

nds off the coast of Norway.

Many marine ecologists think that the

biggest single threat to marine ecosystems

today is overfishing. Our appetite for fish is

exceeding the oceans’ ecological limits with devastating impacts on marine ecosystems.

Scientists are warning that overfishing

results in profound changes to our oceans, perhaps changing them forever.

The reality of modern fishing is that the

industry is dominated by vessels that far

out-match nature’s ability to replenish fish.

Put simply: the fish don’t stand a chance.

Unless the current situation improves, stocks of all species currently caught for food 90

are predicted to collapse by 2048. Hardly

surprising when you know that for every

fin, Atlantic Blue fin and Yellow fin tuna

20,000 porpoises die each year in the nets of

that existed back to ancient Greek times

one tonne of prawns caught, three tonnes of

other fish are killed and thrown away. Or that salmon fisherman in the Atlantic and pacific oceans

Tuna statistics are some of the most

alarming, with claims that China are

overfishing them and keeping them in

underground freezer tanks to sell on when the fish become extinct which could be

within the next 3-5 years. The population

sizes for every type of tuna are below 20% of numbers recorded in the 1970’s. The

average body mass/weight for pacific Blue

has decreased by up to 50% in the past 15

years. The oceanic migration routes of tuna

thousands of years ago, no longer see a single school of tuna anymore.

These shocking facts and figures exemplify

social greed and highlight the repercussions of the overfishing crisis. If things continue

at this alarming rate a Sunday supper of cod and chips will be a distant memory. It is our job to help stop this catastrophe, check fish

is sustainably sourced and think twice before buying it and maybe, just maybe we will still

be enjoying sea food in a hundred years time.

The seiner “Basholm” with a nice catch of tuna. Another vessel comes along to take care of the catch. The tuna has to swim in order to get enough oxygen. It will die in few minutes when it is trapped like this. When the tuna is calm (almost unconscious), they will be taken out of the seine.

The seine is hauled and the tuna is trapped. The Norwegian seiner “Vågly” in 1970.

in tuna in the seine in 1971.

with bluef The Norwegian seiner “Frøyabuen”

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