DIVERCSITY - November 7th, 2014 (Issue #3)

#DIVERCSI TY

NOVEMBER 2014

Exams are coming...

PAGE 6 Got Stress? PAGES 34

Pre-Exam Event countdown

Let’s give a listening ear to those who speak up Feature PAGES 4

Poet’s Anonymous PAGES 4

Was the book better than the movie?

Check out our suggested events in the Dublin film and writers scene!

PAGES 36

#FEATURES #HAPPENINGS#STUDENT LIFE #SPORTS & FITNESS #SOCIETIES #INTERNATIONAL #STAFF #EDUCATION #POETRY ART PHOTOGRAPHY #ENTERTAINMENT #CULTURE & LEISURE

#EDITORS’ NOTES

HEY RCSI! We invite you to take a break and relax with the DIVERCSITY committee at our

DIVERCSITY Tuesday event!!

We’ll be having pizza and coffee - the perfect study break!

If you would like to get involved with the paper or would be interested in submitting things, this would be the best time to hangout with us and ask us your questions.

DATE: 11th November 2014 Tuesday TIME: 5.30pm

We’d also love to hear your suggestions and feedback!

PLACE: The SU couches

We look forward to seeing you! :)

- DIVERCSITY EDITORIAL TEAM OF SENIOR EDITORS

FEATURES - AISLINN KILLIAN RCSI NEWS - CATHAL DELANEY STUDENT LIFE- HANNAH DUNNE & DIONDRA MILLER SPORTS & FITNESS - CIARAN STANLEY SOCIETIES - SAIED ALI INTERNATIONAL - YUSUF JALY EDUCATION - ARIMIE MIN CULTURE & LEISURE -LUKE WALLIS CONTENT TEAM OF ARTICLE COLUMNISTS CYRILLE PAYNE, IARLA O’DOMHNAILL, ANU MENON, REBECCA JAGOO, SIMI POWAR, ARSHMEET CHAWLA, MOYOWA BOYO, ARUN B, DAPHNE YEN, SARAH KEYES, LAYVEENIEA ANANTHAN, PARAIC BEHAN, MICHAEL RYAN, SAMANTHA KNIGHT, LOUISE ELLIOTT, CORMAC DUFF, HONG MING, LISA MCNAMEE, MOHIT BUTANEY, COREY NIXON, STEPHANIE TUNG, CHEW JEN PIN, TOLUWALOGO BAIYEWUN, GHADY SHAFEI CONTENT TEAM OF ARTICLE CO-ORDINATORS MUHIMMA SULAIMAN - PHOTOGRAPHY & POETRY, AISLING MCGRATH, NIKITA RANE- ART & ILLUSTRATIONS, OLUDARE ALABI - SOCIETIES, ABDULAZIZ ABUL - STAFF IT & MEDIA TEAM DIRECTOR OF MEDIA -RUTH EMMANUEL SOCIAL & EVENTS - ORLA DONNOHOE, WEBMASTER- DAPHNE YEN, STAFF ASSOCIATES CORRIENA BRIEN & SANDRA BONNETTO - CONTENT REVIEW, STAFF CO-ORDINATORS PROF CLIVE LEE- WRITER: ANATOMY, TANYA CHAPPLE - WRITER: SUDOKU JANE BURNS- COPYRIGHTS & PLAGIARISM ADVISER NOVEMBER 2014

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#EDITORS’ NOTES

e present to you the third issue of the year!

This month’s feature topic is “Brave Voices.” We feel that it is important to speak up and say what is needed. May it be a topic you are passionate about, a story or opinion worth sharing, or the need to communicate and ask for help - these are voices that need to be heard and in this issue we celebrate the power of spoken words.

A TASTE OF THE ISSUE: Our reporter and columnist Iarla interviews Niteline’s otherwise anonymous vounteers, for Niteline’s Public Faces Campaign for our featured article of the month. Everyone has read the works of famous Irish poets like Oscar Wilde and Seamus Heaney - our featured article on Slam Poetry shows that poetry is very much alive in the veins of Ireland today.

What society actions are you missing on? Find out more in our Societies section.

The countdown to exams has begun (sigh) - we got you covered on events(Happenings), study tips and stretching that euro (Student Life) to make it through Novemeber.Binged watch every TV show and movie? Our Entertainment columnists serve up suggestions in Amine shows and iconic action movies from the 90s. As always, embrace eveything Dublin and Ireland has to offer in our Culture and Leisure section!

SUBMISSIONS: EVERYONE is welcome to submit! You can submit articles on any topic as well as poetry, photos, art work or creative writing. Our favorite submission piece of the month will win the Editor’s Pick title and our giveaway for the month!

To submit, go to moodle > view all courses > open access courses > DIVERCSITY. You will then be prompted to enroll in this course, and once you have done that you will be able to submit your work by uploading it on that page. DIVERCSITY will then come up in your courses which will make submitting easier in the future.

In an effort to blur the lines between print and online, we have decided to use QR codes. We hope to link videos and websites for further reading and enjoyment in this way. You can download a QR Reader as an app on your phone and have a go scanning a code in the paper!

MENTIONS: The cover photo for this issue was taken by Joe Hsaio. The photo is of Emma Dolan who posed for the 2014 Chocolate Ball fashion photo shoot. We’d like to thank Tanya Chapple who is amazing and helps us book rooms and spaces for our meetings and DIVERCSITY Tuesday events!

A big shout out to PhotoSoc and our friends for lettings us their photos in this issue.

We thank Corriena Brien and Sandra Bonetto for their continued support.

- NIKITA RANE AND CAITRIN O’LEARY Directors and Editors-in-Chief

FACEBOOK PUBLICATIONS PAGE: facebook.com/DIVERCSITY

FACEBOOK GROUP SOCIETY PAGE facebook.com/groups/ divercsitysignup/

MOODLE PAGE:

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#FEATURES Niteline – PUBLIC FACES CAMPAIGN

I

IARLA O’DOMHNAILL

was lucky enough to be joined by Karen Mulligan (Niteline external coordinator), Jennifer Fortune (Niteline internal coordinator), and Aaron Watson (Suicide Awareness, and main trainer of volunteers in Niteline) in RCSI on Wednesday the 24th of September, to talk about Niteline’s current “Public Faces” campaign.

The campaign hopes to publicise Niteline, and raise awareness of the listening service available for students, through the use of “Public Faces”. Karen and Jennifer have taken on the roles as public faces of Niteline . Both Karen and Jennifer were part of the first group of volunteers to be trained in both the phone and online services that Niteline has offered since 2012, and now that neither of them are currently active in taking or listening to any calls, they have become the human faces of an otherwise anonymous organization.

Niteline’s understandably integral anonymity, while being a key aspect of the organizations image and function, has also proved to be a major road block to their past attempts at increasing public awareness of the service. The necessary anonymity of its members has led to them having to wear morph suits at public events in the past, and while successful in its own right, this hasn’t helped with putting a face to the organization, or in creating a personable exterior for students to relate to. Therefore, when Niteline could avail of ex-volunteers who they could say with certainty were no longer on the phones or on Niteline’s internet chat service, they decided to pursue the “Public Faces” campaign.

As a student run organization, Niteline’s funding is dependent on the colleges with which they are affiliated; NUI Maynooth, Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin, RCSI, and The National College of Art and Design. Niteline’s main point of contact with these colleges is through their respective Student’s Unions, who they coordinate with for events, and relay any needed information to. These colleges, when possible, have donated computers to Niteline, allowing them to grow into the service they are today, and with an 86% total increase in calls in 2013/14 compared to the previous year, it’s clear the organization is still growing.

Although Niteline is solely staffed by volunteers, Karen mentions that they have no problems in maintaining enough workers to keep Niteline functioning at its high level of response. This is in part due to the type of person that the organization attracts, says Karen. They are extremely committed individuals, and their thorough training program ensures a high quality of work.

The training course for all new and existing volunteers consists of a 9 week programme, wherein volunteers learn about active listening and how to effectively deal with possible situations through role-playing with partners. Aaron explains that a key element of their training is to teach volunteers how to actively listen to everything a caller might want to talk about, without succumbing to the temptation to give advice. Volunteers learn how to politely deflect personal questions, while attempting to get the caller to open up to them.

As part of their training, volunteers will also learn how to approach the online chat option that Niteline offers. 58% of contact with Niteline was established through their online chat service in 2013/14, therefore the importance of this training cannot be overlooked. Establishing a human and empathetic tone online can be difficult, especially relative to the phone, but that is a large part of their training in that area, noted Karen. Different situations are dealt with differently across the two media, explained Aaron, for example silence on a phone call is often necessary, but online it could be viewed as lack of interest, so other reflective skills are then utilized by their volunteers.

Niteline is certainly not just a crisis helpline, emphasized Jennifer and Aaron. They receive an extremely varied range of calls, covering almost all conceivable topics, from college worries to family problems, and from relationship issues to people who are bored and may want to talk to someone. Niteline are adamant that there is “no problem too big or too small”, and that their volunteers are there to listen to whatever you might want to say.

Niteline Opening Hours During Term Time Only 9:00pm - 2:30am Freephone - 1800 793 793 (Includes calls from mobiles) Online Listening – www.niteline.ie/onlinelistening.php More info @ www.niteline.ie

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#FEATURES

Thoughts Out Loud from Debate Soc RANDHIR SEETARAM- PRESIDENT 2014/2015

R

CSI Debating Society stands as a very powerful statement that medical students need not only be confined to narrow clinical persuasion without being aware of the arts, business, culture and many other disciplines. The society was founded over thirty years ago and has always been a strong and formidable one. We stand proudly as a society that gets to experience many differing cultural stance on varying issues. The diversity created at RCSI hones into us an open-minded awareness of the world and how situations are dealt with differently.

Our society stands on a proud tradition built by men and women who are now outstanding doctors around the globe.

Our motto, simply put, deals with educating and training the medical student in knowledge outside of the hospital. We attempt to render our members open-minded thinkers and train fervently to achieve this. Anyone is accepted into our society once they are willing to have their views challenged.

The ethos of our group is centred on camaraderie and the friendships you create, often lasts a lifetime.

ACHIEVEMENTS Having won the lucrative College Title of ‘Society of the Year’ twice in 2010 and 2012, Debating Society carries a proud tradition of well-read, well-learnt men and women who are capable of commanding attention in almost any setting. The alumni of the society includes most recently Eoin Kelleher (former president 2011/2012), who was the Valedictorian at the RCSI graduation 2014, graduating top of his class; Elizabeth Ahern Flynn (former president 2012/2013), who together with Eoin, won the coveted Irish Times Debating Tournament in 2012, ahead of lawyers, barristers, philosophers and many others; and Vincent Healey, current Student’s Union President. Past extra-RCSI achievements not only include the Irish Times 2012 win, but also reaching the finals of the Irish Mace Novice Competition 2014 where Randhir Seetaram (current President) and Vikhnapriya Ganesan excellently represented the college. In addition to these, we have had past president, Mark Abel reaching to the Irish Times finals twice. Furthermore, the Society has represented the school at many major international tournaments, most recently the Leiden Open in The Netherlands in 2012.

WHO CAN JOIN Students of any debating experience and knowledge are openly welcomed into the society. They are trained to think holistically, considering all situations surrounding an issue; think quickly, responding swiftly to arguments raised; speak effectively, conveying necessary information efficiently; and work ethically, dealing with issues in the most humane ways possible. Students are trained hard at our meetings and often learn substantially much more than simply debating. Many professors at college actively push students towards the society because of the perceived benefits. One such person is Professor Samuel McConkey, module facilitator of Tropical Medicine (IC2), who has expressed that students learn greatly in terms of communication skills and being able to think swiftly and effectively as problems present, two very relatable skills to the profession of medicine. A careful mixture of dedication and perseverance is simply enough for anyone to become a Debater, our weekly meetings stand as a testament to this.

EVENTS Debating Society is also instrumental in contributing to the events of College with excellent discussions often involving many influential personas. It is customary that a ‘wine and cheese’ reception be held after each event much to the delight of all guests. Currently, the society is focused on providing insight into both light-hearted and controversial topics to the student-body of RCSI. The inaugural event of the semester was one that created satire around the various sub-disciplines of medicine, where professors craftily had to explain why their particular skill would be beneficial if they were to rebuild society after an apocalyptic occurrence. This event effectively introduced the new student body into particular fields of medicine and provided a general insight into each genre. Upcoming events for semester two involves discussions surrounding terrorism; traditions, incorporating all the main cultural societies of the college (PIBS, CAS, PMCSA, ISOC, Irish Soc and CIMSA); and the annual SU Debate, where we skilfully get the contesting SU presidential candidates to battle it out in terms of questions put forth by the student body.

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#FEATURES

I

NIKITA RANE

THE DUBLIN SPOKEN WORD SCENE

f I had to guess-timate, in two out of three people, the word “poetry” might induce a strong gag reflex to boring afternoon English classes; where the period at the end of the sentence has more meaning than your honest overall understanding of what the poet is going on about. Spoken word poetry, however, is for all three out of three.

Spoken word is exactly what it says on the tin - poets reciting poems. The performance is a cool bean mix of word play and story telling. Poetic devices, imagery, slang and rhyme are often added, to taste, while voice and delivery styles help season mood and create the atmosphere. Some poets adapt a style that is similar to hip hop, some tend to be more dramatic with expressive hand movements and changing voices, and some poets do nothing while they recite. Themes range from romance, relations, mental health, politics, and society. Humour and irony is often employed to entertain the audience, whilst some poets are literally geniuses who put your exact feelings into beautifully stringed a pearl of words. These poetic voices of meaning and passion carry words through walls, and gives you a true sense of the power in words. It is human communication at its best.

SPOKEN WORD Spoken word poetry is not a recent concept and the records of spoken-word poetry date back to the Ancient Greek times where poets performed at the ancient Olympics. Spoken word is very much alive and present, pulsing through the veins of Ireland. The spoken word scene is a great source of enjoyment and entertainment. Some of these performances take place in various open mic nights around Dublin.

My friends and I often attend the Monday Echo which, you guessed right, takes place every Monday night, 8pm at the International bar. It is an open mic night and showcase for poetry and songwriting. The space is really small and shabby, but the acoustics there is amazing. It is an intimate candle lit setting and every act draws you in, captivating you in a spell for a few instances in time. The night normally starts with some showcase poetry and acoustic music followed with open mic performers who can sign up on the night. If you are interesting in performing, I highly recommend the Monday Echo - you are allowed to read your poetry from a page. The MC Aidan Murphy does a fantastic job creating a brilliant atmosphere and the audience is always supportive. Admission is free! The Monday Echo celebrates it’s third anniversary this November.

Molly Garvey - a familiar face in spoken word showcases

SLAM POETRY

Spoken word poets perform in poetry competitions known as poetry slams. They are an absolute joy to attend as poets bring their best and the audience is always ethusiastic, excited and eager (yes for poetry). Several slam poetry competitions take place all around Ireland. The most prestigious is the All Ireland Poetry Slam Contest which has heats in five provinces of Belfast, Cork, Derry, Dublin and Galway. The 2014 all Ireland Slam Contest took place last Saturday.

The Slam Sunday takes place on the first Sunday of every month at the Accents Cafe basement at 7pm. Having had it’s first birthday in October - Slam Sunday has had an overwelming response and now has a free ticketing system from 6pm. Most who attend are extremely eager, so tickets run out quickly.

Poems have to be original pieces of work and need to be memorized. Poets sign up and 12 poets are choosen at random to perform and are split into two rounds of six. The finalists are the two highest scorers from both rounds who then perform a poem each and the winner gets to perform a final poem for the night. The slam typically starts with a “sacrificial poet” who does not take part in the competition, but helps the judges caliberate their scores (there is no spillage of blood in the “sacrifice”). The poets stand to win cash prizes at the end of the night. More details Stephen Clare was one of the youngest perfomer at the Lingo Festival. His poetry is amazing and you can see some of his brilliant about the rules can be found on their facebook page. Check out Ailish Kerr’s poem about the rule of Slam Sunday poems performed on YoutTube. on YouTube. Each performancer in a meer three minutes will leave you wth goosebumps, their words lingering in your ears, and a garanteed smile on your face

SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL

Ireland saw it’s first ever spoken word festival this October. The Lingo festival

took place over three days and was a showcase of the best acts Ireland has to offer. The festival had events which brought performers from all walks of life together to unveil something that was unique and magical. The festival provided a platform for combination of popular local artists and musicans to indulge and experiment with poetry. Every event had soemthing speical to offer and was an immense success with tickets for almost every event selling out. Lingo was fueled with a lot of love and time from an organising committee committee comprised of some of Dublin’s finest independent promoters, arts curators and spoken word artists, along with volunteers who all together made Lingo a success. For more information on Lingo visit www.lingofestival.com.

The Irish jazz/folk band Mongoose collaborating with Irish hip pop artist Nugget.

If you might be interested in checking out the spoken word scene in Dublin, I would recommend visiting www.themondayecho.com. There is a list of open mic nights for poetry and songwriting and do like their facebook for updates.

All photos were taken by Aidan Murphy.

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Cyrie’s POST-EXAM Events Countdown!

The calm before the storm....

CYRILLE PAYNE

NOVEMBER 11TH f course sometimes things go down when there’s a billion dollars on an elevator or, when there are four full college ball tickets on the line; full meaning not just the after party but the dinner as well. These tickets will be on the line at the RCSI Cancer society’s pub quiz on Tuesday November 11th 7 pm at D2. The quiz will cover general knowledge, movies, sports, RCSI professors and of course themes related to Movember. Who could resist such a chance to show how FLAWLESS their trivia skills are and win some tickets in the process?

For those of you who like me are a little less certain of your quiz prowess you can still join in on the fun by watching your colleagues in an all out battle of brains. It’s just 6 euro to form a four-membered team and 3 euros to watch which includes food. To the thrill seekers out there I say be prepared for a wave of excitement because the Cancer society will also have a raffle at the event.

If none of the above get you excited and you began your journey into to healthcare at RCSI because of altruistic notions the note that all proceeds will be going to the Irish cancer society and your contribution could help save a life.

O

#HAPPENINGS Candles, soothing classical music and a good book. It is relaxation time. Who am I kidding? When I want to relax I actually sprinkle some confetti all over my bed, roll around in it ,and pretend I am floating in a cloud of magic.

However, I understand that this is not the usual way others like to unwind, so I also have some equally magical, but more socially acceptable activities, which I will be partaking in before exam studies put me in “Walking Dead” mode.

NOVEMBER 12TH My pre-exam wanderings will then lead me to Expressions “ The Literature Night” on November 12th , hosted by the philosophical and literary society.

Now, for those of you who like to showcase your talents and bask in the admiration and applause of your peers, this will be the perfect thing for you. I like to think of this event as X factor for the arts. Students will be competing in any original artistic way they wish, whether it be short stories, poems, songs or dance.

A panel comprising of our esteemed professors and a beloved member of the SU will judge these virtuoso expressions of self.

NOVEMBER 14TH Just a couple of days after the literature night, on November 14th at 7 pm, I will be relaxing on the couches by the SU office listening to some “chilled out tunes” and getting my free pizza swag on.

Just a few students run music society, yet they are able to fulfill all our musical needs with their amazingly efficient organization of ballad sessions, acoustic nights and jam sessions. Now they are doing it again with a casual, alcohol free acoustic night where students are free to perform in any musical genre they wish.

If I do decide to perform on this soothing night it will probably be a stripped back version of Ms. Minaj’s Anaconda, a song that is very near and dear to my heart. Back up dancers would be greatly appreciated, so contact me if interested.

NOVEMBER 22ND Then I have just over a week to despair, over stressful study, before I can indulge once more in a relaxing delight. Let me give you a clue what it is…Winter is coming!

Before you get all carried away let me just say there are no white walkers here, just the beautiful voices of the choral society as they put on an early but highly anticipated Christmas concert. The concert will be on the November 22nd in RCSI at 7 pm. If you are not at this event then You know nothing… nothing about the magic of this event.

DECEMBER 1ST Exam de-stress night on December 1st will be the perfect place to bring myself a little closer to reality after the ethereal music of the Christmas concert. It will be a night for catching up with friends, free pizza and coffee. You know the sort of night that you dream about in between nightmares of OSCEs and MCQs; when life was simple.

Then my temporary life of leisure will be over. How I will yearn for that fleeting period once more. At least I will have the memories…

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Students RCSI

#STUDENT LIFE

“If you could give one piece advice to someone else, what would it be?”

REBECCA JAGOO

“O

ne of my favorite quotes was said by Gerard Way,“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.”

If I were to give anyone any advice, it would be to make the most of every moment of your life. Live everyday like it is your first, but also your last.

Make as many memories as possible! Make memories with your family, make memories with your friends and even make memories with your lectures/teachers and work colleagues. Someday, we will all (hopefully) be old and grey and begin to look back over how far we have come.

There will be laughter, there will be tears but at the end of the day, there will be a sigh of relief in the knowing that we made an effort, we made a difference and every day yielded a story rivaling that of the one the day before.

Whether it be booking a class holiday out of the blue to Edinburgh, or doing a Congo line singing Christmas Carols through Dublin!

Now is the time to make your memories guys. You only have one life.

Make it a story worth telling

,,

- TARA DRUGAN

“If you could give a piece advice to your younger self, what would you say?”

“T

o my younger self: Let no one repress your freedom or creativity.

No one can tell you it can’t be done, no one can intimidate you, no one is above or below, we are all the same on the inside.

- HASSAN AYUB SHAIKH

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#STUDENT LIFE

Happy Diwali!!

SLICE OF CULTURE ANU MENON

M

y grandmother said it best: “You know when Diwali starts because the sky is always filled with light, and you won’t be able to sleep for three days!”

This year happens to be the first time I’ve ever had the chance to celebrate this beautiful festival in India itself, and I can’t even begin to describe what an experience it’s been! Now that the embers of the fireworks are all but a glimmer and I’ve managed to emerge somewhat unscathed from the saccharine-sugar coma I’ve been in for the past week, I want to share with you what Diwali means not only to Indians, but also to people around the world.

Diwali, “The Festival of Lights”, is an ancient celebration that typically spans 5 days, with the most significant day coinciding with the new autumn moon. It is observed primarily by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, and is an official holiday in many other nations, notably: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius, and Trinidad & Tobago. Each religion holds a different set of customs and beliefs with regards to the holiday’s origins. Hindus mark Diwali as the day the Lord Ram, his wife Sita, and his brother Laxman joyously returned to the Kingdom of Ayodhya from exile, after slaying the evil King Ravan and setting his island dominion of Lanka ablaze. Alternatively, it is during this period that the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Laxmi, was born from the cosmic milk of the universe and united with the Lord Vishnu in marriage. Be it a war victory or holy matrimony, both are celebrated with equal zest! On the night of Diwali, Jains recount the attainment of moksha (enlightenment) by their founding guru, Mahavir. Meanwhile, Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chor Divas, commemorating the liberation of the 6th guru, Hargobind, from prison. Regardless of religion and race, the significance of Diwali lies in illumination, light in the presence of darkness, the triumph of knowledge over ignorance, and hope over anguish.

Diwali is, above all, a feast for the senses. Thunderous claps like sonic booms echoing through the city. Flashes and sparks of light streaking the sky like shooting stars. The taste of confections, sugary, milky, and aromatic, that linger on the tongue.

And the sight of families, enveloped in love and togetherness, gathering to eat, laugh, sing, and, of course, light countless diyas (candles), sparklers, and phataakas (fireworks) to brighten the moonless night. The festival begins with a complete cleansing of the body and the house. People don newly-purchased clothing and adorn the house with lights, and rangoli, a decorative pattern composed of colored sand, rice, and flowers. This serves as a welcome for the gods to bless the household and its inhabitants. For the entirety of the 5 days, rituals are performed, offerings are made...and throughout it all, the sight and sounds of firecrackers are always present.

In other countries, many of the same traditions are upheld, especially in nations with a significant Indian population. Countries like Malaysia and Trinidad, with their amalgam societies composed of a number of intersecting cultures, have adopted Diwali as their own, infusing it with blends of native tradition and customs.

Now, the lights have started to dim. The sounds and laughter are softening. The sweets have been put away. And promises have been made among friends to meet more often. Diwali is slowly receding into the distance, waiting for its mantle to be taken up once again in a year’s time. But, friends, don’t forget, the spirit lives on within. For Diwali is not merely an excuse for festivities. The values that lie at its heart are universal and resonate with us all. There’s valor and bravery.

Love and beauty. And above all, in the constant battle between evil and righteousness...good always wins. Take that, bad guys!

Now, in true Indian fashion, I’d like to send y’all off with a song...from the Diwali episode of the sitcom The Office:

Everybody looks so jolly. But it’s not Christmas, it’s Diwali.

The goddess of destruction Kali stopped by to celebrate Diwali.

Don’t invite any zombies to a celebration of Diwali.

Along came Polly to have some fun at Diwali.

If you’re Indian and you love to party, have a happy, happy, happy, happy Diwali. Happy Diwali! ...My feelings exactly.

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#STUDENT LIFE

My Onlin€ Obse$$ion Both back home and in Dublin, I have found I have become addicted to online shopping. Do not worry, I have not splurged, rather I have found some great websites that offer products that I want at reasonable prices. If you follow this column, you have already read about online groceries and food delivery. Here are a few websites to get you started:

1. LIVINGSOCIAL- An online marketplace where you can purchase goods, hotel packages, experiences, and restaurant dinners. Restaurants often have deals on this website where you pay €20 and received €40 worth of food. This is also great for electronics and personalized gifts. Jewelry sets and watches are also often for sale. Sign up online or check out the mobile app to keep you updated on the latest products available at discounted prices.

2. GROUPON- Another great online marketplace. Restaurants, hotels, and goods are the main categories they offer. Again, sign up online and get personalized emails.

3. AMAZON.CO.UK- Everyone loves Amazon. You can find

anything you need from this website and often they offer free super saver delivery to Ireland on purchases over €25 before VAT. However, this depends on the size and weight of your purchases.

4. ETSY- A great site if you are looking for unique, homemade, vintage gifts.

Make sure you use the UK website, as shipping to Ireland is the least expensive that way.

Regardless of the website, you can always find coupons online to reduce the price of your checkout. Simple google the website and coupon codes. Some good websites include Retailmenot and Coupons.com. This is a very simple way to get a good deal and sometimes up to 50% off your purchase.

Happy Shopping and may the deals be ever in your favour!

With winter break right around the corner, it is important to start thinking about gifts. Whether it is for Christmas, or just because you are returning home, it is important not to break your budget. Remember you still have exams coming up and chances are you will be spending more money on quick meals.

$tudent Lif€

SIMI POWAR

$tud¥ $nack$

With exams coming up it seems like there is less and less time each day. Food that is ready and fast becomes more important. If you find that you are eating out more, try some of these places that will not break the bank and still offer great food. A good guideline for budgeting is to keep lunches no more than €10 and dinners between €15 and €20. Don’t forget to ask if they have loyalty cards or student discounts.

Place A. K. Henry’s

Location In the college

Mongolian BBQ

7 Anglesea Street, Temple Bar

Food Breakfast has the usual French toast, eggs, bacon. Lunch varies but always includes one meat and one vegetarian option. Salad and sandwich bar allow you to customize your order. Stir-fry often available.

Menu can be found for the week online at : http://www.ksg.ie/morewithfood/rcsi/index.php

The restaurant set up is different. You fill a bowl with ingredient from the selection of meat, seafood, vegetables, tofu and noodles. In addition, you season and add sauces and take it all to the grill to be made.

Alfie’s 10 South William Street Are you looking for a filling meal without spending a fortune? Alfie’s is a classy restaurant that has a great 3-part menu Monday to Sunday 12-3pm where you can choose 3 items to make up your gourmet meal.

Options include ribs, fishcakes, fries and more.

Brasserie sixty 6 66-67 South Great George Street I am sure you are surprised to see brasserie on this list considering it is usually quite expensive. However, if you are looking for that quality of food, their lunch menu is more affordable.

Neon 17 Camden Street Asian street food at its finest. Neon offers great flavours and if you request, a lot of spice and heat. Curries, noodles, and spring rolls, are just a few of the treats Neon has to offer. All in-store orders come with ice cream. Open for lunch and dinner.

Burritos and 28 South Anne Street, off Grafton Offering fresh burritos and bowls. Their salsa fries and sides are to die Blues Street for.

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Price Very well priced for food quantity.

Soups for around €3 and main meal for up to 9 Additionally a great way to save time if you pre-order you sandwich online 5.90 lunch special 12 to 4:30pm 10 for the lunch special, some additional charges apply to specific items but soft drinks are included Grab a swift lunch at sixty 6 for 10 9- 13

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#STUDENT LIFE

EXAMS ARE ALMOST HERE!!

It is possibly the most stressful time of the year for all of us. But there are a lot of things you can do to lower the stress and killing those exams!

ARSHMEET CHAWLA

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oesn’t time fly? The semester is almost over. For those of you who feel like they are too far behind on studies; don’t worry! All of us are in the same boat! With so much to cover, we all feel overwhelmed. The important thing is to stay focused and tackle things one at a time. It is critical to make a revision timetable. Otherwise, you’ll be all over the place trying to get things done and in the end accomplishing less. Write down which lectures of which subject you will be doing on each day and then do it! Give more time to topics that you find difficult and make sure that you cover everything. Reward yourself after you finish your goal for the day with a treat or an episode of your favourite show! Just keep going at a steady pace and eventually you’ll be geared up and ready to face those exams!

Studying can be really exhausting and boring at the same time. Making sure you don’t stress yourself out too much is important which is why you need to take regular breaks while studying.

When it comes to deciding when to take a break, it all depends on you. Some people like to take breaks after finishing a certain amount of lectures. But if you’ve been studying for a long time and you just can’t get yourself to focus on the studying, it is best to take a break rather than wasting time trying to study. Another way to battle the boredom is studying in a group. Now, I don’t mean chatting up with your friends about the latest episode of Greys Anatomy with your books open in front of you! I mean actual learning with the help of other students. Get them to explain concepts to you that you don’t understand. Also, explain concepts to them to reinforce learning. This can be a great way to help you understand and make things stick in your brain.

Our mind and body are connected. So in order to keep our minds working at their best, our bodies need to be healthy as well. I know exams are probably not the best time to start a new diet and exercise routine but just try to eat as healthy as you can. Bring fruits to the library instead of snacking on a bag of crisps. If you like to study at home, stock up with healthier food for the duration of the exams. STAY HYDRATED! Drink loads of water to keep your mind fresh. Stay active! Take mini walks in your breaks to make sure your body stays active. A bit of fresh air can actually help you focus afterwards. Try to reduce the caffeine. I know coffee is very important during exam time but if you take too much of it, it can impair your ability to concentrate. Speaking of coffee, you NEED to sleep! Sleep is absolutely vital to keep your mind healthy and making sure you don’t forget anything during the exam! Try to get at least 6 hours a night. A lot of you like to pull all-nighters the night before an exam.

That is the worst thing you can do because then during the exam you will be super tired and sleepy and your mind will not be able to focus and remember! Sleep well the night before and make sure to have a good healthy breakfast!

When you’re in the exam, make sure to stay calm. Bring a bottle of water with you.

Calculate the time you have per question and keep checking to make sure that you’re not going too slow. Answer the questions you know first. If you forget something, don’t panic! Just leave that question and come back to it later. Just take a deep breath and relax. Panicking won’t help you! Always revise your answers when you finish. Finally, when you are done with your exam, forget about it and move on to the next one (after a little relaxation of course!).

This column is all about you and for you. You can send in your questions anonymously via the moodle page. The questions can be about any problems that you may encounter and we will do our best to provide you with a solution. If you feel like you need additional help, our student services and student welfare officers are always there to help you with anything. Don’t hesitate to ask for help!

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Phil ophical &Literary Society

Petal Elder President and Co-Founder

Have you ever heard of Sisyphus?

If not, this is what you need to know- He upset the Greek Gods, apparently he was deceitful and tried to trick them in order to escape death. Thus, they condemned him to push a huge boulder up a hill which once made to the top, rolled down and he had to push it up again. This yo-yo would go on for all eternity.

A French Algerian philosopher, Albert Camus, highlighted an association with the plight of Sisyphus to human life.

Is human life monotonous? Is it futile?

What brings meaning?

What is purpose?

Why should we do what we do?

According to Camus, “The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious.”

#SOCIETIES

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.”

He relates the conscious phase to you know the time when Sisyphus has to walk that life is noth-Gilda Radner down the hill to retrieve the boulder, as when he is pushing the boulder he is completely absorbed in the work at hand, focusing on how best to accomplish it, and does not have time to be pensive.

What are his thoughts when he walks downhill? Is he sad?

Does he recognise the constant strife that he has to endure for a meaningless purpose?

Camus concludes that “all is well,” indeed, that “one must imagine Sisyphus happy.” One might ask, “How can he possibly be happy?”

ing without tough times, so instead you put your energy into finding how best to overcome them. From these situations, you become wiser and stronger, truly appreciating things you may have taken for granted otherwise.

This freedom should inspire you to make a positive impact on everyone you meet and to do something meaningful that will make people happier and more comfortable. It should inspire you to take chances and not to be afraid to fail. It should inspire you to be whoever it is you want to be.

Carpe Diem! Seize the day!

We may not have all the answers but that should not prevent us from having completely fulfilling lives.

The answer is acceptance. It is the answer to coping with life’s uncertainty and challenges such as death.

Acceptance brings with it a sense of contentment.

How? Why? Once, you accept the uncertainty and the obstacles that life will bring, you become free to create whatever it is you desire and to make your life the best it can be with what you have been given. You do not complain when you encounter hurdles in your path,

Looking for a fun way to get fit?

Join Dance Soc for FREE classes by professional teachers for people of all dance levels.

Beginners always welcome!

Classes in ballet, zumba, breakdance, jazz and Irish dance on offer!

Email dancesoc@rcsi.ie for more info

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#SOCIETIES

“Making a difference worldwide – what can I do?”

Natalie Achamallah for Partners in Health Engage

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he Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has recently undergone a rebranding campaign. As part of this campaign, a brief mission statement was added to all RCSI communications; you will notice it at the bottom of the website, on all printed publications, and in the signature of every email you get from RCSI: “Developing healthcare leaders who make a difference worldwide.”

An admirable goal, though a mildly intimidating one. After all, this refers to us. As we do our best to get through our daily responsibilities as students, be they preparing for anatomy card signings, memorizing biochemical pathways, or mastering cranial nerve exams, it can feel impossible to imagine that we have any power to make a difference worldwide. Partners in Health Engage, a new society at RCSI this year, aims to help students reach this lofty goal. PIH Engage is your opportunity to get involved in global health. We are a movement dedicated not only to addressing specific medical problems but also social justice and the right to general wellbeing worldwide. If you believe that everyone, everywhere has a right to basic health then this is the society for you! You may not realize that even as a student there is plenty that you can do to help make this a reality.

WHAT DOES BEING A MEMBER OF PIH ENGAGE MEAN? Come to our events to learn more about issues that affect worldwide populations such as HIV testing, multidrug resistant tuberculosis, maternal and child mortality, access to clean water, and more. Participate in discussions about what is currently being done and what more there is to do. Raise awareness among your colleagues and beyond!

The mission statement of PIH Engage includes these three goals: 1. Create a space for discussion of the global health issues marginalized populations face every day 2. Advocate for policies that enable governments to build functioning health systems 3. Raise funds for the lifesaving work of Partners in Health By dedicating just a little of your time, you can help accomplish all of these goals!

DO I NEED PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GLOBAL HEALTH OR TROPICAL MEDICINE? Absolutely not! All you need is the desire to learn and the willingness to get involved.

WILL PIH ENGAGE HELP ME DO VOLUNTEER WORK ABROAD? No, we are an organization dedicated to doing what we can from our own community. This means spreading knowledge and recruiting fellow enthusiasts, then amassing resources and aid to support Partners in Health.

HOW DO I JOIN? Our next general meeting will be November 13, 2014.

Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PIHEngageRCSI to find out more about our upcoming events and initiatives!

IS THERE A TOPIC IN GLOBAL HEALTH THAT PARTICULARLY INTERESTS YOU? Email us at pihengage@rcsi.ie and we’ll make it part of our next meeting. We are a society that exists to give you a forum to discuss issues that you are passionate about and help you do something about them. You can also visit www.pih.org to find out about our parent organization, Partners in Health.

We look forward to engaging with you!

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#SOCIETIES

ASH animal rescue and RCSI Critters Volunteer work

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ince 1990 ASH animal rescue has taken in many unwanted dogs and cats and a variety of other animals. The team at ASH dedicate their lives to caring for these amazing animals, rehabilitating some and looking for loving homes for those that can be homed. They have homed hundreds of dogs and cats and rescued many animals from terrible situations. They are so passionate about their work and welcome any donations or volunteers who can assist in any way possible.

Over the last 2 years RCSI Critters has been organising trips to ASH in Kiltegan, Wicklow to give dogs their much needed exercise by taking them for walks. It has always proved to be rewarding venture for students especially for the animal lovers in the society!

The dogs are amazingly well mannered, eager and friendly towards complete strangers! It also offers a great way to relax and explore the gorgeous Irish Countryside.

We organise a few trips to ASH each semester. The group that went recently in September/ October had loads of fun!

Like us on facebook for updates of upcoming events!

GREEN WEEK 2014

purchased for just 5 euros), you could save at least 25euros a month! Why would you even spend 25 euros on water? That’s like paying for your rights, plus let’s not forgets that bottled water is not better than tap water as it undergoes less testing.

We ended our week with our very first Food Festival.

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nviroSoc recently hosted their 2014 Green Week, during the month of October. As the Environmental Society of RCSI, EnviroSoc tries to promote eco-friendly behaviour around the campus and increase environmental awareness. Every year, EnviroSoc presents a week dedicated to environmentalism and tries to turn our campus green, and is our appropriately named ‘Green Week’. This year our Green Week was in support of Amazon Watch - a non-profit organization which seeks to protect areas, biodiversity and indigenous populations of the Amazon forest which are threatened by industrialization and oil-drilling.

EnviroSoc wanted RCSI to be a part of such a great cause, helping to protect present and future generations. As such, we want to thank everyone that has donated to Amazon Watch, simply by participating in our Green Week. Our week started off with our forest themed photo booth which was meant to highlight awareness of the Amazon Forest although we could never make that many trees. All our posters and trees were made from recycled materials such as boxes from grocery stores and old event posters from other societ-

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ies that would normally go to waste.

Our other major event was a talk by RCSI’s very own Dr. Kevin McGuigan. Dr. McGuigan educated us on solar water disinfection, otherwise known as SODIS. The SODIS technique requires placing water into transparent plastic or glass containers, and then exposing these filled containers to the sun. Exposure times can vary depending on the intensity of sunlight available and sensitivity of the pathogens present. The main idea is that the combined UV radiation thermal renewable energy from the sun is enough to eliminate microbial pathogens which can cause ailments such as diarrhoea and cholera. The main goal is to increase the amount of potable water that is available to families by decontaminating water using renewable solar energy.

EnviroSoc also launched its own line of reusable water bottles this year, branded with our redesigned logo.

The idea of selling reusable plastic water bottles on campus was aimed at reducing the amount of non-reusable plastic water bottles that are disposed of every day by our own colleagues. Our bottles are also BPA FREE! BPA has been linked to cases of hormonal issues and even cases of cancer, so by purchasing an RCSI EnviroSoc water bottle, you stay hydrated and healthy.

The aim was to be able to sell these reusable bottles at a ridiculously low price of 5euros. Bottles are quite pricey in stores, which can be deterrence from going green.

Also if you manage to spend 1euro each day for bottled water, by having your own reusable bottle (which you

Aside from getting your monies worth in food and donating to support Amazon Watch, our Food Festival helped to reduce food waste. Every time we venture to the grocery, their shelves are always well stocked especially with amazing fruits and vegetables, but what happens to all the food that we don’t buy? No, it doesn’t stay there still it’s sold, or even for the next few days.

Groceries only display their produce for a limited time, afterwards, even though it is still very much edible it has to be discarded as it has passed its shelf time. Our Food Festival featured produce and other food items that may have not been bought by other citizens and as a consequence it would have gone to waste. But thanks to our sponsors, we were able to buy this food and sell it at a much reduced student friendly price, not only to raise funds, but to help decrease the amount of goods that are wasted every day by groceries.

Thanks to everyone that helped in making Green Week successful, and thanks to all those that supported and contributed to EnviroSoc’s Amazon Watch donations.

We hope that everyone is now a little more mindful about their environment.

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RCShape

Fitness & Diet

#SPORTS&FITNESS Exams are just around the corner and it’s the time of year where students start spending hours buried in books, with the library becoming their second home.

Many worry about stress eating and neglecting their health due to the immense stress of the upcoming exams.

Fear not. In this month’s column, we will focus on how best to maintain a healthy lifestyle despite the stress of impending exams.

ARUN B & DAPHNE YEN

As healthcare professionals, let’s look at the medical relationship between exercise and stress. Exercise leads to endorphin spikes; physical activity helps to bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence, help fight depression and anxiety and improve your sleep.

So after that quick run through of the basic sciences lets get into the meat of how to maintain your new healthy lifestyle in the coming months. I suppose the biggest question is this: when every minute is spent cramming for exams, how do we find time to hit the gym?

Going to the gym isn’t the only form of maintaining a level of fitness, and I do agree that using and waiting for the weights in the gym and will take up more time than we may ideally like, so what’s the alternative when we’re struggling for time? If you are short time the best thing to do is focus on keeping up the fitness and strength levels you have rather than trying to push them further.

One way to do this is body weight exercises. Body weight exercises can be done anywhere; in the gym, park, living room. It doesn’t take too much of your time and it can be done when you are taking a break between study sessions. Here’s a list of some basic bodyweight exercises to help maintain what the last few months of hard work has built. If you’re unsure of any of the techniques helpful instruction videos are readily available on YouTube.

• Lower body: Basic squats, Broad jump (leaping), Single leg Romanian dead lift.

• Upper body: Basic push ups, Triceps dips, Pull ups.

• Core: Basic plank, Crunches, Mountain climbers, Hanging leg raises.

Beginners: 3 sets of 20. Rest interval: 30 seconds.

As you get stronger, slowly increase the intensity.

Now lets switch the focus to stress eating. Many of us are guilty of binge eating to cope with stress but how can we avoid it? We all get cravings in the pre-exam season so here are some helpful alternatives to give your body exactly what it needs in a healthier manner.

If you feel like chocolate, try having seeds, nuts or fruit instead because you could be in need of magnesium.

Similarly a craving for oily food could mask a deficiency in calcium so try having milk, cheese or green vegetables instead. More information on food cravings and healthy alternatives can be found at stepinto mygreenworld.com.

“

Training gives us an outlet for suppressed energies created by stress, and thus tones the spirit just as exercise conditions the body.

So stay healthy, make wise diet choices and all the best for exam preparation!

”

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

VOLLEYBALL The opening of ‘volleyball season’ 2014-2015 has officially come and gone. The rapidly approaching, competitive intervarsity tournament and League games have inspired the arrangement of friendlies between neighbouring universities- as is the volley-norm.

In sticking with the custom, RCSI’s male volleyball team faced their Trinity College Dublin (TCD) counterparts on TCD turf on Tuesday, October 21st. The starting lineup included: Bryan Lee, Ajay Mahajan, Hussain Khimji, Ru Raj, Syahir Aizat Noh, Aziz Alkhayyat with Shane Basran playing the position of libero. Soheil Afsahnpour and Kevin Zhou were the selected substitutes.

With the exception of the libero, the Royal men opted to play different positions on the court, switching things up, and keeping their opponents guessing. While such a move spoke volumes for each of the players’ all-round skill, the tactic proved futile against TCD! The evening wound down to a 4-0 score, favouring TCD. The set scores were as follows: 25-17, 25-20, 25-23 and 20-12.

With those set margins, it is clear that RCSI put up a fair fight, particularly after the first two sets. When one considers their lack of formal coaching and experience playing together as a team, it was indeed a job well done. Asked to comment on his team’s performance, team captain and coach, Deepak Karivelil replied, ‘Our team has a lot of individual skill. However, we lack chemistry. As the year goes on, expect great things!’

Volleyball intervarsity will be hosted by University College Cork (UCC) over three days, commencing on November 27th, 2014. Greatness from the Royals is indeed expected then! This paper wishes both male and female teams good luck and wrap things up with a quote from Mr. Karivelil himself, ‘Aaaaaaaaah yeah!’

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#EDUCATION

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he Nobel Prize is a dream for most scientists (and an eventual accomplishment for Sheldon, from the Big Bang Theory!). This dream is achieved as a result of talent, combined with years of failed experiments, heartbreak and perseverance. Although each prize is accompanied by a cash sum of roughly under one million euros, it is for the prestige and honor associated with it that many scientists work towards this seemingly unattainable goal. Since 1901 these prizes have been awarded to the best and brightest minds of the past century for physics, chemistry, literature, peace, economic sciences and physiology/medicine. To celebrate the 2014 Nobel Prizes awarded over the past week, here follows profiles of some of the most influential and celebrated Nobel Laureates, who have changed the way we view the world.

MICHAEL RYAN THE ELEMENT OF SCIENCE!

ALBERT EINSTEIN

(1879-1955): The work of Einstein revolutionized the world of physics, changing our perception of the world around us, and completely altering our perception of the entire universe. Having qualified as a maths and physics teacher in Zurich, but being unable to find work, he took a job in the Swiss Patents office as a menial clerk job. This gave him the mental freedom to work on his most significant discoveries. It was here that he invented his famous equation , which proved mass-energy equivalence. In 1911, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics for discovering the photoelectric effect (the ejection of electrons from a material in response to light). This simple observation led to much of today’s technology, including television, movies and many others!

ALEXANDER FLEMING (1881-1955):

This English scientist is probably famous for the most important accident of the 20th century: penicillin. By discovering molecules elaborated from microorganisms that had microcidal effects, he changed medical sciences forever and has saved millions and millions of lives in the past 30 years. It was this work that allowed him to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine in 1945, along with Ernst Chain and Howard Florey (who were able to purify the active ingredient from the penicillium mould).

WERNER HEISENBERG

WILHELM RÖNTGEN

(1845-1923): Rontgen was the first winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, for the discovery of Rontgenian or X-rays. Working at the University of Munich, he noticed that electrical charge passing through cathode rays tubes caused fluorescence on a piece of barium covered cardboard. This simple observation has led to great development of imaging technology used in medicine today - Plain film X rays, Computerised Tomography (CT) scanning, angiography etc. His work is considered to have been so influential to mankind, that in 2004, a new radioactive element, roentgenium, was named in his honor.

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Science!

The Element of

MARIE CURIE (1867-1934): A Polish-French physicist and chemist, she was not only the first ever woman to win the Nobel Prize but is also and remains to be the only person ever to win the prize twice in multiple sciences. She was born in Warsaw, studying in the clandestine Floating University there and then later in Paris. Her work first led to the discovery of two new elements, polonium (named after her native Poland) and radium (from the latin word “ray”). She was also responsible for helping to coin the term “radioactivity”. This work led to winning two Nobel Prizes, the Physics prize with her husband Pierre and Herni Becquerel, and the Chemistry prize.

(1901-1976): Termed the “founder of quantum mechanics”, this German physicist laid the foundation for a great deal of our understanding of subatomic particle physics, which is essential for nuclear power and many other parts of modern life. He is perhaps most famous for his Uncertainty Principle, which states that it is impossible to be able to determine both the position and the momentum of a subatomic particle at the same time (as measuring one will always affect the other). Despite his assistance of the Nazi Party during World War II in the development of nuclear weaponry, his legacy is still remembered fondly and has lasting influences, even to the present day!

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The Medical Pulse

#EDUCATION

SAMANTHA KNIGHT THE MEDICAL PULSE

APP DEVELOPED TO DISTINGUISH REAL FROM FAKE ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL TREMORS

ELECTRONIC NOSE DEVELOPED TO SNIFF OUT STRAINS OF C.DIFF

A team at the University of Leicester, UK has successfully developed a rapid and highly sensitive electronic nose capable of sniffing out the hospital superbug Clostridium difficile (C.diff ).

C.diff is a highly infectious superbug most commonly contracted in healthcare settings such as nursing homes and hospitals. Patients staying in the hospital for up to two weeks have a 13% chance of acquiring the infection, dramatically rising to 50% in patients staying longer than four weeks.

The bacterium causes mild to severe diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramping and is responsible for many deaths in the hospital. The pathogen is shed readily in feces and forms heat resistant spores, which are not killed by alcohol hand sanitizer nor standard cleaning procedures, and therefore is rapidly spread to other patients via hands of healthcare workers.

By using a mass spectrometer, the research team demonstrated that it is possible to identify the unique ‘smell’ of C.diff, leading to rapid diagnosis of the condition. It could potentially identify different strains of the disease simply from their smell – a chemical fingerprint - helping medics to target the particular condition.

The idea of using the mass spectrometer as an electronic nose is not a new concept, and many potential diagnoses in the future could make use of this technology. Currently, similar tests are being refined to detect MRSA, early small cell lung cancer, and prostate cancer.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a potentially life threatening situation which is easily treated with benzodiazepine drugs, a class of sedatives. However, among alcoholics these drugs often become abused and can be exceptionally dangerous when mixed with alcohol and opiates, making doctors reluctant to prescribe them. Chronic alcohol abusers often claim to be in withdrawal in order to receive benzodiazepines making it of the utmost importance for clinicians to be able to determine real versus fake.

Tremors of the hands and arms are the classical signs of withdrawal. Identifying the severity is highly objective, especially in a condition where a clinician may struggle to remain non-judgmental.

The researchers from the University of Toronto say their app shows promise in consistently predicting real tremors from fake. Using the iPod’s accelerometer, the app measures tremor frequency for 20 seconds in both hands. Using data from an iPod’s built-in accelerometer, the app measures tremor frequency for 20 seconds in both hands. The app still needs some perfecting, however, as though the app was able to assess tremor strength with the accuracy similar to that of a junior doctor, senior doctors were still better able to judge the symptoms. Further trials are to be done to sharpen the app and to continue to compare its performance with subjective assessments of doctors. This development most definitely is an exciting platform to be further improved with other extension, such as monitoring of the severity of Parkinson’s tremors.

IN HOUSE COMICS

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PROF CLIVE LEE HEAD OF ANATOMY

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Anatomy WITH Clive Lee

#EDUCATION

CONTEST QUIZ QUESTION!!!

ir Dominic Corrigan lived in Merrion Square, practiced in Jervis Street and the Richmond hospitals – the forerunners of Beaumont - and was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. In the 1820s and 30s, he published papers on systolic heart murmurs in The Lancet and the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal.

Corrigan’s Sign is the visible pulsation in the neck of patients with aortic incompetence – but where is the best place to listen to the aortic valve?

A. 2nd left intercostal space – sternal border B. 2nd right intercostal space – sternal border C. 4th left intercostal space – midaxillary line

n a g i r r o C

Signature

D. 4th right intercostal space – sternal border E. 5th left intercostal space – midclavicular line

“ CORRIGAN’S SIGN”

STAND A CHANCE TO WIN OUR MONTHLY GIVEAWAY! Winner will be announced and contacted in the next month’s issue. submit your answer on our Moodle page: https://vle.rcsi.ie/course/view.php?id=844

Last month’s anatomy answer was: B. 5TH LEFT INTERCOSTAL SPACE – MIDCLAVICULAR LINE Winner: ADAM CAHILL Congratulations, we will be in touch with you soon!

DIVERCSITY SUBMISSIONS ON MOODLE (SCAN THIS CODE USING A QR CODE READER APP)

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#PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & POETRY DANCING OCEAN One sea billow rolls over another, Appearing as tides on large masses of water; Concealing dead matter and shredded dreams that matter…

Tide on tide, tide on tides, All heading for shore; Dancing waters, - a pretty sight, The wind drives them and heading for harbour.

The Titanic’s wreck hidden under water, Screws that held relationships loose and bolts asunder; Bones on bones, like Ezekiel’s vision in the valley of dry bones, All with that missing link that once held them together…

Pile on piles, heap on heaps Dream on dreams and now ash on ashes, Everything’s just a massive heap; They’re all now part of a dancing ocean heading for Long Island.

Everyone’s happy, - the tides arrived safely, Beach walkers step on ‘sand’, others surf on high waters; Dust and ashes, dust and ashes; Shattered dreams and lives now live among the sands, All now wonder: ‘if only we took the chance that life offered!’

‘If only we were not a part of this dancing water’.

SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF PHIL AND LIT SOC

DRAGON She sighs out Smoke like a dragon.

Desires burn Of mythical nature, With puff clouds of mystery, Ones which Children bedtime stories Don’t ever speak of.

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Get your poetry posted anonymously, by submitting on our Moodle page: https://vle.rcsi.ie/course/view.php?id=844 We only accept anonymous submissions of poetry and questions for our anonymous advice column- Doc on Call.

DIVERCSITY protects your decision to remain anonymous and refuses to disclose indentities

DIVERCSITY SUBMISSIONS ON MOODLE (SCAN THIS CODE USING A QR CODE READER APP)

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#PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & POETRY

EDITOR’S PICK THAT CRACK OF ANTLERS Imaging your loss Leaves me emptier Than the dock I contemplated Freezing in We’re dancing around a fire here Just kids And it feels dangerous, this cliff, Like it could be my first time For that heat, that crack of antlers But you would lose everything if you were burned So you keep back, But still smile Still laughingly answer, and jest, and pull me into this fear of missing out on you, your darkness, your sadness and long escape from home Pull- pulling my throat open in the quiet You walk alone here, lost in yourself, Leaping ditches unaware Tendons thrumming, Driving me on, to watch this troubled wandering In your wake

Photo taken by Simraaj Powar.

And if this fades, From the spitting bonfire I see reflected in your eyes, I’m not sure how long the freezing ashes would sit in my stomach Before they tumbled to the sea

SADNESS Sadness is the ghost white ring, Imprinted on the table by a hot cup.

The warm nostalgia forgotten.

The stain remains a haunt from the past.

You’ll never recall the sweet taste, Of that which quenched a burning thirst.

But stains remain and you forever wish The drink you never took.

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#ENTERTAINMENT Anime – More than just Naruto and Pokemon

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Anime visual styles can vary a lot with different anime. If you are drawing your own anime characters, you can try to create your own styles too!

nime is an essential part of otaku culture and a very popular form of entertainment in many Now that we have Anime is typically parts of the world, especially in Asia and learnt all the defined as animation from Japan North America. basics of anime, or as a Japanese-disseminated animaAnime are Japanese animated productions that tion style. Most anime purists (like me!) will I am going are usually either featuring hand-drawn or to introduce insist that animated productions from Japan are computer animation. You may have guessed some personal called anime, and all animated productions not favourites of correctly that “anime” is the abbreviated profrom Japan called cartoons. We get extremely an- mine accordnunciation of “animation” in Japanese. noyed if we hear anyone refer to anime as car- ing to genre.

I can probably name ALL the characters in the toons. Cartoons are not anime, although they You may have image above - because I am a super geek! You can are fundamentally the same! Just accept heard of probably recognise some of the popular characters popular anime that anime are anime and cartoons too – Ash, Pikachu, Goku, Sonic, Aang, Doraemon like Dragon Ball, are cartoons, guys! and Sailor Moon are all household names in many Naruto, parts of the world.

Doraemon, Pokemon and Sailor Moon, but I am going to introduce some anime Anime are often classified according to their target that are more suited to older audiences, like us college demographics, such as kodomo (children), shoujo students! (girls), shounen (boys), josei (women) and seinen (men). Shoujo and shounen anime sometimes contain themes and elements popular with audience of both gender in an attempt to gain wider crossover appeal.

Josei and seinen anime are usually more slow-paced, have mature themes and situations, and involve more complex plots that younger audiences usually find unappealing.

THERE ARE THREE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS IN ANIME. The first one is the animation technique, which includes storyboarding, voice acting, character design and cel production. Prior to the digital era, anime was produced with traditional animation methods using a pose to pose approach. Since the 1990s, animators have increasingly used computer animation to improve the efficiency of the production process. Unlike Disney animation, where the emphasis is on the movement, anime emphasizes the art quality and background scenes.

The second component is the character designs. Conventional anime characters tend to accurately reflect the proportions of human body in reality, but they are unique from cartoons because they often have exaggerated eye sizes, hair/hair movements as well as facial expressions.

The third component is the music. The opening and credits sequences of anime are often sung by Japanese pop or rock bands, and many of them have successfully made into the top of music charts in Japan. Inspiring singers often use this as a platform to launch their careers, and popular singers like BoA and Utada Hikaru had lent their voices in anime as well to widen their popularity among otakus.

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SHOUNEN CATEGORY – HUNTER×HUNTER

Shounen anime like Bleach, Naruto and One Piece may be more popular, but if you are tired of shounen tropes and seeing “the good always prevails” theme, Hunter×Hunter is the prefect shounen anime for you.

Also known as H×H, it tells the story of a young boy named Gon who embarks on a journey to find his father. What sets the series apart from other shounen anime is its unorthodoxy and unpredictability. The main character for example, Gon, fails more than he succeeds. Power-ups based on emotion or willpower are non-existent and fighting in the series is radically different from other battle anime. The main protagonist is not the main focus of every arc either. Coupled with amazing story-telling, unpredictable plots and interesting characters, it is perfect for those who want to take a breath of fresh air from many essentially similar shounen anime on the market.

HONG MING

DRAMA - ANO HI MITA HANA NO NAMAE WO BOKUTACHI WA MADA SHIRANAI

Also known as Anohana or The Flower We Saw That Day, this anime has an incredibly long name.

However, this is probably one of the best things I have ever watched in my life. Did you cry buckets when you read The Fault in our Stars? This anime will make you cry an ocean! Last time I binged watched all 11 episodes in a row - apart from incredible satisfaction, I got a pair of very red and sore eyes from all the crying!

Anohana tells the tale of 5 teenagers learning to deal with the passing of a very good friend and maturing in the process. Pretty art designs, relatable characters and a really amazing piece of ending theme only add to the good story-telling. It can be too melodramatic at times but most of you will probably quickly get over it. An anime totally worth your time watching, IMO. PSYCHOLOGICAL/THRILLER – PYSCHO-PASS Let me state this plainly – just watch it! Pyscho-Pass takes place in the near future, when it is possible to instantaneously measure and quantify a person’s state of mind and personality, using a standard called “Psycho-Pass”. The story centers around the enforcement officer Shinya Kougami, who is tasked with managing crime in such a world. The plot is unpredictably creative and the characters are well designed. It also has very good opening and credits music sequences. If you like psychological thrillers like Hannibal and Criminal Minds, you will almost certainly like this as well. If you don’t, you should still watch this!

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Five Favourite Action Movies of the 90s

CORMAC DUFF

Although the series soon escalated to new heights of ridiculousness (invisible car, anyone?), Goldeneye remains a classic. (Even if Generation X has fonder memories of Nintendo 64 Goldeneye deathmatches.)

Death-defying stunts, scorching pyrotechnics – and even an exploding pen – colour the dazzling action sequences. The film features no fewer than THREE career-defining roles: Judi Dench no prisoners in her as the unyielding, icy M. Sean Bean’s MI6 operative is self-assured, a rare equal to 007. And Pierce Brosnan brought his own brand of charm and suaveness to the role, easily the best since Sean Connery.

Its overblown (Reloaded) and geuinely awful (Revolutions) sequels would go on to undo much of the impact of this stellar original. But Trinity’s rooftop escape, “Red Pill, Blue Pill” and Neo’s spine-tingling awakening remain unforgettable. As are “the first jump”, explosive lobby sequence and skyscraper shootout: the special effects may now be dated, but their jaw-dropping thrills remain unsurpassed.

FACE/OFF (1997)

#5

Is there a more quintessential Nineties action movie? Fresh off the boat from Hong Kong, Hard Boiled director John Woo announced his Hollywood presence with this confident début. Keep an eye out for the slow-motion flying doves, Woo’s signature motif, recently parodied in 22 Jump Street. Originally pitched as a star vehicle for Schwarzenegger and Stallone, the studio thankfully settled on Nicholas Cage and John Travolta. The pair trade roles seemlessly, making the film’s ludicrous plot appear somewhat believable. The character transitions are a joy to watch: Cage from psychotic kingpin to cowed fugitive, Travolta from hero cop to malevolent insider. Terrorist attacks, prison breaks and high-octane speedboat chases ensue. You won’t be disappointed.

LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL (1994))Once upon a time, a twelve-year-

#3

old girl had a choice: to pursue her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer – or to give it all up and be an actress. Luckily for us, Natalie Portman chose the latter. In Léon, she plays a traumatised orphan who is reluctantly taken in by the titular hitman.

Portman steals every scene. The dynamic between her and the gruff Jean Reno is especially memorable, clearly inspiring 2009’s Kick-Ass. Taken writer/producer Luc Besson directs, using his relatively-modest budget to great effect. The action-packed finale is creative and unrelenting. And the ever-versatile Gary Oldman chews the scenery in as our deranged DEA villain. A modern classic. (Even if it is technically a thriller.)

THE MATRIX (1999) “What are you trying to tell me?

#2

That I can dodge bullets?”

GOLDEN EYE (1995)In 1985, the 58-year-old Roger

#4

Moore finally holstered his Walther PPK. After fourteen (official) films, the James Bond franchise had long since descended into self-parody. A pair of decent efforts by the uncharismatic Timothy Dalton failed to set the box office alight. Dormant for a record six years, 007 was resurrected in 1995’s Goldeneye. “You know the name. You know the number.”

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“ When you’re ready, you won’t have to.”

The Matrix is a truly revolutionary action film. Its unique blend of “wire fu” choreography, Platonic philosophy, technophobia, black trenchcoats, green screen CGI, and slow motion bullet time would inspire countless imitations and parodies. The Matrix set the course for the subsequent decade: its fingerprints can be seen on everything from noir video game Max Payne to the similarly mind-bending Inception. Hell, it was the singular reason many people bought a DVD player!

TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991) “Hasta la vista, baby.”

#1

How could you choose anything else? James Cameron brought (still-stunning) computer-generated imagery to the mainstream two years before Jurassic Park in this peerless sequel. These are seemlessly combined with a frankly-surprising quantity of traditional prosthetics, robotics, and identical twins. (No, really.)

The film avoids the artificial glossy sheen of more recent CGI extravagazas, which will ironically age worse.

The sequel cleverly subverts our expectations from the original, as Arnold Schwarzenegger goes toe to toe with Robert Patrick. The T-1000 has wicked regenerative powers – and the world’s most awesome sprint.

The motorcycle chase, prison escape and steel mill face-off are among the most breathless and exhilarating action sequences ever put to celluoloid. Terminator 2: Judgement Day is a rare sequel that not only equals the original, but surpasses it in every way imaginable.

It lives up to the hype. And it’s my favourite action movie of the 1990s.

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DIVERSILLY NEWS

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LOUISE ELLIOTT

RUSSIAN BREAST MILK FOUND TO CONTAIN 90% VODKA

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new scientific study on breast milk from around the world claims that Russian breast milk has the highest alcohol content averaging at 90% vodka.

This is remarkable after previous studies claimed that Irish breast milk was the highest with a content of 40% Bulmers cider. The groundbreaking study followed a group of 500 new mothers from 10 countries and surprisingly none of the mothers actually drank any alcohol during their pregnancy or breast feeding. This suggests that the alcohol is being naturally produced by the Russian mothers rather than being ingested and filtered through to the milk. Conspiracy theorists are claiming that this is the way vodka is actually produced and that the distilling process is a mere cover up.

A thorough search has been conducted around Russia and no mother milking farms have been found. Some suggest that this is why Smirnoff is so pure, as it’s a natural product, but scientists claim the milk smells more like a shoulder of Tesco value vodka, “10 euro lad,” they said. The study encountered more strange findings when Russian toddlers were found wrestling wild bears and winning with ease.

DUBLIN THUG USES ICE CREAM VAN AS GETAWAY VEHICLE

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ast Friday, Gardai were called to Eddie Rockets on O’Connell street after reports that a local thug had robbed the delicious fast food chain. Restaurant owners, Team Rocket, described the incident as a vicious and terrifying attack where the thug threatened staff with a very sharp potato peeler. Staff were ordered to hand over cash and sweet potato fries during the ordeal. After taking the report and having a few milkshakes, Gardai decided to investigate, much to the restaurant owners delight. In a bizarre twist of events the thug was caught only 50 metres from the restaurant. The thug claims that he tried to go undercover by using an ice cream van as a getaway vehicle but that he could not move far on O’Connell street without being surrounded by children demanding a 99 with strawberry sauce and a flake. The villian’s final words before entering the Gardai van was, “I would’ve got away with it if it wasn’t for you meddling kids”. Reports are surfacing that Gardia investigating the case had tummy pains late Friday night after all that milkshake and ice cream.

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SUDOKU BREAK

TANYA CHAPPLE STUDENT SERVICES

DIFFICULTY: EASY

solutions! easy

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NOVEMBER 2014

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A Tale of Two Cities:

EAST & WEST Rivals MOHIT BUTANEY, COREY NIXON, STEPHANIE TUNG

GALWAY INTERNATIONAL OYSTER AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

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elebrating its 60th birthday this year, the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival is a great weekend to visit Galway and is an absolute must-try for any foodie! Every last weekend of September, the entire town of Galway is alive with events ranging from live music performances and street parades to a masquerade mardi gras and a silent disco and of course, all of this while tasting top-notch oysters and seafood paired with rich, creamy irish stout and fine wine.

Tickets cost €70 for the World Oyster Opening Championship event and includes entry to the festival, half a dozen oysters, one free beverage (wine or beer) and two food samples from the local restaurant booths. With the perfect amount of brininess and just the right texture, the oysters provided by Kelly Oysters, couldn’t have left us more satisfied. Complemented with a mignonette that balanced the oysters perfectly, buttered Irish brown bread, a Guinness to cleanse the palate before our next bite of the Irish sea, and the sweet smell of the river flowing near by - this was the perfect ‘Irish breakfast’. Sláinte !

WORLD OYSTER OPENING CHAMPIONSHIP The shucking competition was a real highlight of the entire weekend. Sixteen competitors represented sixteen countries from around the world in the World Oyster Opening Championship. Each heat involved 4 shuckers being graded on their 30 oyster shucking time and plating quality. The crowd and announcers made an exciting and high suspense atmosphere in each round even while oyster juice and shells were flung into the crowd. While Jesper Knudsen had the fastest shucking time, he fell short with plating quality to the other competitors. The competition was intense with most heats involving very close timing between all 4 shuckers. In the end, the World Oyster Opening Champion was Anti Lepik (Estonia) with Eamon Clark (Canada) in second and Jesper Knudsen (Denmark) in third. It really is an exciting competition better experienced in person!

OYSTER FESTIVAL BOOTHS & STANDS The Oyster festival also attempts to share the spotlight with the Galway food scene by hosting a few booths run by select local restaurants. Cava Dobega is the city’s award-winning Spanish dining experience and their samples of pulled pork sandwiches and paella were a crowd favourite at the festival, pairing well with the overall seafood theme. The texture of the pork was moist, succulent and perfectly complemented by the fragrant spices and slightly tangy barbeque sauce. The chicken and chorizo paella was a warm and satisfying dish in itself but considering the theme of the festival, it might have been nice to have some seafood paella instead reminiscent of the Mediterranean coast. Upstairs at the West is regarded as one of the top restaurants in Galway and serves as the in-house restaurant to the 4-star hotel, The Twelve in Barna, Galway. Their booth featured a heavenly taste of Atlantic Ocean wildlife in the form of a hearty seafood chowder that was perfectly balanced and just the right creamy consistency.

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OTHER CULINARY HIGHLIGHTS GALWAY FARMERS MARKET This hustling and bustling market held at the gates of St. Nicholas Church has been trading for centuries. From fresh vegetables, herbs, cheese, and oysters to donuts made in front of you, falafel, sushi, and samosas - there is a little bit for everyone ! Apart from the food, it is also worth exploring the numerous stalls showcasing paintings, drawings and jewelry of local and international artisans.

ARD BIA AT NIMMOS With the river Corrib owing right outside this cafe and housed in a quaint building right by the Spanish Arch, this restaurant has one of the best locations in town. In previous lives, this building has apparently served a lot of different roles ranging from a printing studio to a boat house. With an elaborately,cozily designed interior and the scent of fresh baking and cooking, it is clear that the location is not the only thing these folks have got right. Their Sunday brunch packs a punch. Everything ranging from the more traditional brunch options such as an Irish full fry with perfect black pudding and stuffed french toast to dishes inspired by mediterranean avors such as a deconstructed doner kebab and a mediterranean smoked salmon salad. The Turkish coffee and delicious cakes and desserts were just a cherry on the top - an absolute must visit on a trip to Galway.

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DUBLIN TASTING TRAILS

Organised by the Fabulous Food Trails Website: www.fabulousfoodtrails.ie Award-winning tours available every Saturday morning Tours are also available for other cities including Cork and Kilkenny Price: €55

SHERIDAN’S CHEESEMONGERS (image on left) ● With a grand history of cheesemaking and located at just a slight jud off Grafton Street on South Anne Street, Sheridan’s Cheesemongers have made a name for themselves offering a very wide variety of the basic and exquisite cheeses ● The store offers a range of European cheeses with a particular passion for the relatively new and exciting world of Irish cheese-making. ● A little secret for the cheese enthusiast: Irish made buffalo mozzarella arrives fresh in store every Thursday. Stop by for a little taste of what might be the freshest mozzarella in town! ●Drop by and their friendly, knowledgeable staff will gladly help you taste and pick your favorite cheese.

THE PEPPER POT (image on right) ● The Pepper Pot is a bakery first and a restaurant second, but they excel on both fronts ● They bake their bagels and pastries on site and their freshness and excellent taste is unmatched ● The owners believe in using fresh, in-season local produce to create delectable, sustainable dishes with as much tender, love and care as a home-cooked meal. ● Among food tour participants, this was a definite favourite. (No doubt due to their scrumptious smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel sandwiches.) ● A must-try! Located in the upper floor of Powers Court, this is a Dublin secret that should not remain a secret!

THE SWAN LOUNGE (image on left and below) ● A local pub with lots of history, The Swan Lounge has lots to offer in terms of beers and spirits in a very convenient location West of the main RCSI campus ● Being involved in the fight against the British and hosting many famous Irish athletes, the Swan Lounge has many great stories waiting to be heard! (Nothing a shot of Dublin whiskey won’t help you with on your trip down memory lane.)

LOLLY & COOKS ● Located within the Market Arcade, this small stand store offers both hot foods and Dublin-renowned cupcakes and desserts ● Lolly & Cooks takes a very different take on sausage rolls; these ‘savage rolls’ incorporate stuffing and seemingly Christmas flavours into their pastry-meat dish ● (But don’t ask for their recipe because that’s a secret they’ll never tell) ● They also offer salads and sandwiches for the less sausage inclined ● Take note of their afternoon delight deal offering coffee and a cupcake for €3.50! Perfect for those tea-time cravings at the library.

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#CULTURE&LEISURE COCOA ATELIER (image on top right) ● This French titled chocolatier lives up to its reputation by making some of the best chocolate in Dublin! ● The chocolate processing happens a mere 20 minutes from the shop, they guarantee fresh chocolate with a wide variety of flavours ranging from salted caramel to a chili chocolate. ● In addition, their hot chocolate mix is supposed to be quite the hit with the customers. ● They also offer Parisian-imported macaroon cookies whose flavours are consistently changing to match the season.

FALLON & BYRNE (image on left) ●This is a complex of a restaurant, wine bar and supermarket all in one ● A restaurant is located on the top floor ● The supermarket containing a wide variety of foreign foods is widely known for having what other markets are lacking ● The bottom floor is a wine bar offering a wide variety of wines and tasty appetizers for a light bite ● This multiplex offers a way for people to enjoy their food both at their restaurants and at home!

THE TEMPLE BAR OYSTER BAR (image on bottom right) ● Only opening up on Saturdays for the Temple Bar Market, this oyster bar has made a name for itself as having wonderful meaty oysters and a great mignonette ● With the shucking happening before your eyes, you can be sure that these oysters are as fresh as they come. These folks are also happy to give you a free shucking lesson ! ● Be sure to check out the other stands at the Temple Bar Market every Saturday! It makes for a good Saturday morning adventure on its own.

Be sure to not just simply read about these amazing restaurants, but go explore the wide culinary tastes Dublin has to offer! This city is filled to the brim with fantastic restaurants and foods waiting to be cherished by any foodie!

CHEW JEN PIN

THIS MONTH IN

JAMES BLUNT

Do-blin!

James Blunt, you’re beautiful and I’ll carry you home. Your songs are kinda great too.

Catch this crooner live at the O2 on the 20th. This dude has sold almost 17 million albums and 20 million singles worldwide, so it’s safe to say that he’s doing preeetty well in the biz. Be sure to check him out y’all so you can feast your ears upon his good ol’ hits like I’ll be your man and Cry and ones from his new album ‘Moon Landing’ which is ‘’a much more personal album, about us finding where it all started, and where we are now’’-James .Tickets are at €44.05 and are available online or from Ticketmaster booths.

PASSENGER (image top right)

Before we can even recover from JB (oh my heart), Mike Rosenberg will grace the O2 with his presence on the 22nd this month for his Whispers tour, entrancing us with his sweet sweet voice. His hit single Let Her Go topped the charts so you definitely shouldn’t let this opportunity go. Sway to the dulcet tones of his indie folk music and forget about studying. The man busked outside our friggin’ library just earlier this year for god’s sake. So come one,come all. After all, life’s for the living so live it, or you’re better off dead (see what I did there). Tickets at €33.50.

DUBLIN DAILY - MOVIE DEALS

DID YOU KNOW The Brazen Head, located in Dublin 8, is reportedly the oldest pub in Ireland.

There’s been a pub on that site since 1198.

To you movie maniacs out there, here are some of the top tips that may save you some kaching.

THE SAVOY CINEMA: You can purchase tickets for only €5 every Thursday, €6 for 3D movies. Just

go to the IMC website online to buy your tickets and you’re all set for a raring good time! There’s a movie meal deal every Wednesday.

For €10 you will get one cinema ticket, a medium popcorn and a medium soft drink.

CINEWORLD:

Register as a cineworld member online (for free) and you will get a 10% discount on any movie you choose. Forever. Terms and conditions apply.

ODEON: From Monday to Thursday, its only €6 for standard 2D tickets if you book ‘em in-cinema(Point Village only).

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Cultural Ephemera THE CORK FILM FESTIVAL

#CULTURE&LEISURE

LISA MCNAMEE

AS THE MISERABLE WEATHER STARTS TO DESCEND, WHERE BETTER TO TAKE REFUGE THAN THE CINEMA? The Cork Film Festival (7-16th November) has an eclectic programme of Irish and international features, documentaries and short films. The best thing about the Cork Film Festival is that it’s small, friendly and the screening venues are unusual. The Cork Opera House will be hosting several screenings including a screening of the classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you’ve been meaning to visit Cork and haven’t yet managed it, this is a great excuse to get away for the weekend.

Other highlights include an animated feature Penguins of Madagascar which features John Malkovich and Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as some truly odd Canadian movies like Gerontophilia, the story of a young nursing home attendant who falls in love with one of the elderly patients in her care.

The controversial director Bruce LaBruce says the script was inspired by Harold & Maude and Lolita.

Film festivals often bring you gems you’d never seen in a regular cinema, one I particularly can’t picture in Cineworld is Finsterworld, a German surreal comedy about bad luck which never the less looks amazing. The festival caters to many types of audiences and is also hosting a sing-a-long screening of Disney’s Frozen…which does sound like fun until you imagine two hundred children singing at different speeds…ouch.

THE DUBLIN BOOK FESTIVAL The Dublin Book Festival begins on the 13th of November and has readings and talks from various well-known writers. A complete mixture of styles, some of the past speakers have been cantankerous amusements who wouldn’t seem out of place in a Roald Dahl book, while most have been entertaining, professional wordsmiths. Chris Judge (Illustrator) and Siobhan Parkinson (Children’s author) will be hosting special workshops.

If you’ve ever wanted to attend a book launch, this is your chance. The festival is hosting several, the most unusual of which is Yeats in Love by Annie West. It’s having its launch in The Winter Garden, Smock Alley at 6pm on Friday, 14th November.

There are two walking tours of Dublin taking place on Saturday 15th of November to give you a new perspective on your adopted home – Women in the Irish Revolution with author Liz Gillis and the Literary Walking Tour with historian Pat Liddy.

If you’re feeling really adventurous, another book launch of interest; An Leon, An Bandraoi agus an Prios Éadaigh (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) is launching in Irish on Saturday 15th at 3.45pm in The Winter Garden, Smock Alley, Templebar.

Revisit a childhood favourite in a new language.

For the more musically inclined, on Sunday evening, the Irish Writers Centre is hosting a Songwriting event entitled Songbook – Exploring the Craft of Songwriting in Music, a mixture of talks and performances.

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