25th October 2013 - Redbrick

Redbrick

25th - 31st October 2013

Est. 1936

Vol. 78. Issue 1435. www.redbrick.me

The Energy Debate Samiha Sharif 'Have energy firms gone wild?'

Max Lempiere 'Nuclear is an evil we need to embrace' Comment / Page 8

Students fear as energy prices rise British Gas dual-fuel prices rise by 9.2% Average combined gas & electricity bills could reach ÂŁ1,444 per year Price increase due to take effect in mid-November News / Page 4

Redbrick Sport on Roy Hodgson "Instead of celebrating one of the greatest moments of his career, Hodgson was defending himself against a joke with no intention of offending" Sport / Page 30

Alice Sheppard anticipates the new series of Made in Chelsea

Sophie Palmer and Sophie Tollet visit Birmingham's hidden gems

Jay Crosbie reviews Paul Greengrass' Captain Phillips

Georgia Tindate and Jess Syposz visit The Barber Institute

Television / Page 12

Life&Style / Page 21

Film / Page 23

Arts / Page 15

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25th - 31st October 2013

News Captured on Campus 'Cycle in the Park'

Spotlight society

Tweet of the week

20 Minute Society

We trawl the Twittersphere to bring you this week's best tweets

Students who fancy a new challenge, or just have a spare 20 minutes, this society is for you. Every week a text will be sent out to all memebers with a location roughly 20 minutes from the university. Points are awarded for those who arrive at the given destination in the time frame. At the end of the semester the winner is the person with the most points.

'Looking into new accomodation designs for UoB students #DavesBigAdventure' Dave Charles

Vice President (Housing and Community) at @unibirmingham @ guildofstudents 2013-14. Tweets are personal views

To contact 20 Minute Society. email: 20minute@guild.bham.ac.uk

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor Josh Holder editor@redbrick.me Deputy Editors Charley Ross James Kinsey deputy@redbrick.me Digital Editor Ashley Kirk digital@redbrick.me News Editors Zahra Damji Izi Hicks Beth Clarke Adam Rowe news@redbrick.me Comment Editors James Phillips Daniel Baird Sophie Tollet comment@redbrick.me

Arts Editors Katherine Keegan Stuart Found Benjamin Carver arts@redbrick.me

Life&Style Editors Marianne Lampon Victoria Haworth Alexandra Landes lifestyle@redbrick.me

Film Editors Becky McCarthy Tom Lofkin Ben Jackson film@redbrick.me

Music Editors Lily Blacksell Susie Dickey Sam Dix music@redbrick.me

Travel Editors Hannah Stevens Elizabeth Waind Tamara Silver travel@redbrick.me

Sci&Tech Editors Soumya Perinparajah Claire Harris

Television Editors Hannah Mason Daisy Follett Jo Kendall tv@redbrick.me

Food Editors Gemma Bridge Lynette Dakin Millie Walker food@redbrick.me

Multimedia Editors Matthew Hewson Molly Garfoot Max Powley

Sport Editors Felix Keith Tom Kelly David Morris

multimedia@redbrick.me

sports@redbrick.me

technology@redbrick.me

Photography Editors Charlotte Wilson Emily Hickey-Mason photography @redbrick.me

Editorial Assistants Molly Garfoot Bethany Tilston Ellie Jarvis Ella Parsons George Bearman Sabrina Dougall Toria Brook-Hill Michael Smith Lucy Moseley Emily Trivette

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The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.

25th - 31st October 2013

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Education

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UCU strike action planned Zak Bentley

George Evans

News Reporter @zbentley1 Academic and related staff at the University of Birmingham will be among those at several universities in the UK to strike this Thursday 31st October in a dispute over national negotiations regarding staff pay.

The decision is a joint one taken by the three unions UCU, Unite and Unison. Votes held by the unions over whether to strike revealed a 62%, 64% and 54% consensus for strike action respectively.

Dr David Bailey, Lecturer in Political Science and President of the University of Birmingham Branch of the University and College Union (UCU) told Redbrick that all 1000 of UCU’s members working at the university will be expected to take part in the strike, a figure that includes lecturers, researchers, academic-related and certain administrative staff, classroom tutors and seminar teachers.

He outlined the union’s objections to the 1% pay rise offered to staff in the current round of pay negotiations staff by the university’s nationwide employers, Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).

This ‘means that as a result of inflation, staff have suffered a pay cut of 13% in real terms since October 2008. We do not believe that this is acceptable when the most wellpaid members of this University's management earn huge salaries.’

Dr Bailey highlighted the pay package of Vice-Chancellor Professor David Eastwood which exceeds £400,000 per annum, ‘far in excess of even the Prime Minister's salary!’

He also drew attention to the recently released Fair Pay Campus Report, published by the Green Party’s youth branch, which saw the University of Birmingham’s ratio

between the highest and lowest paid members of staff at 28:1, the 9th highest in the country. Dr Bailey said ‘this unhealthy level of inequality creates an overpaid management elite who are detached from, and have separate interests to, the majority of the staff at the university.’

The University of Birmingham issued a statement in response to the plans, saying: ‘The University of Birmingham has been notified by the University and College Union (UCU) that 61.5% of its members have voted in favour of taking strike action on 31st October.

'The strike action is part of a national dispute regarding a proposed 1% pay increase. A low turnout of 35% of the total UCU membership across all higher education took part in the ballot, which means that only 21.8% of the total membership voted in favour of strike action. At the University of Birmingham UCU represent around a quarter of the 3,580 staff who are in academic or related roles.

‘We are disappointed that UCU members have decided to take this action, particularly given that universities recognise the difficult financial times which is why at the University of Birmingham we have maintained annual pay increases, incremental progression (where it is due) and discretionary increases based on contribution in recent years. Our priority is to protect the student experience and minimise the effects of any strike action on our activities. We have contingency plans in place to ensure that our operations will continue as smoothly as possible so that our students and prospective students are affected as little as possible by any disruption.’

Young Greens criticise staff pay disparity Samhia Sharif

News Reporter @samiha551 On Thursday, 17th October, the University of Birmingham Young Green Students launched their Fair Pay Campaign, which looks into the disparities in staff pay at universities across the country. In a report published by the group, the University of Birmingham was found to be the eighth worst for disparity in pay between the highest earners (the Vice Chancellor) and the lowest earners (custodial staff). Their report demands a move towards a 1:10 pay ratio.

Using Freedom of Information requests, the Young Greens found that the pay ratio at the University of Birmingham was nearly 40:1.

This is based on a pay band of £7.45 per hour (when working full-time) for the lowest paid staff against the over £400,000 salary of the Vice-Chancellor.

The University however, have pointed out that £7.45 is higher than the minimum wage and within the working wage. The report also found that the best performing universities are the University of London and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Explaining the findings of the report and the University of Birmingham’s position, the lead researcher of the report, Rustam

Majainah, also pointed out that no university Vice Chancellor is paid less than the Prime Minister.

Moreover the pay of Vice Chancellors is argued to have little correlation to a university’s academic success. For instance, the University of Cambridge remains one of the top institutions in the country, but many Vice Chancellors from lesser-ranked universities receive a higher salary than their counterparts in Cambridge.

Majainah also claimed that many universities do not know if they are paying their staff a living wage (the amount of money needed to buy basics) or minimum wage (the lowest amount workers can be paid as set by the government).

Will Duckworth, the deputy leader of the Green Party, who was also at the event argued that this level of disparity between the highest and lowest earners ‘damages society’ and may ‘endanger people’s health.’

He added that it is ‘destroying the nation and crushing people’s aspirations,’ because many on their incomes find it increasingly difficult to afford the necessities for their families so that ‘80% of housing benefits are for working people.’ He states if workers received fairer pay and high earners such as the Vice

Chancellor accepted a pay cut, many incomes could rise and ensure a better quality of life for many.

Another speaker at the event was Thomas Wragg, Vice President of Democracy and Resources of the Guild. He said that ‘social inequality is bad for all’ and a ‘disproportionate number of people of colour are in lower paid jobs.’ He further explained that these problems remain relevant to all. An example is that the Guild of Students does not pay all their staff the living wage.

However, the Guild Council has previously voted to look into introducing a living wage.

UoB Young Greens President, James Phillips, said 'It was really encouraging to see people interested in campaigning for a fairer pay ratio between staff on campus. As students, we need to send a clear message to the university that we think their pay policy is wrong and needs to change.'

A spokesperson for the University said that ‘The University of Birmingham is proud of its record of employment and remuneration. We employ more people than any private sector employer in Birmingham.

Employment within the University has increased by 5.1% over the last decade,

compared to 1.2% for the city. A large proportion of employment opportunities at the University are highly skilled jobs - 70% of staff have at least a first degree.

'The University takes its responsibilities as an employer very seriously. Support staff on the very lowest rates of pay will earn £7.45 per hour from this month, which is equivalent to the current living wage. The survey by the Young Greens is therefore out of date.

‘The University is a very large, complex organisation requiring leadership qualities of the highest calibre. Professor David Eastwood is recognised within the UK higher education sector as a very successful and experienced Vice Chancellor, responsible for around 30,000 students, 6,200 staff, a turnover of more that £470m and assets in excess of £700m. Prof Eastwood’s remuneration, [which includes pensions contributions that are not recorded for other staff], matches his challenging and wide-ranging responsibilities and reflects the social and economic contribution that the University makes locally, nationally and internationally.’

Victoria Kettlewell

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25th - 31st October 2013

News

Selly Oak

Canal redevelopment plans finalised

View of Worcester and Birmingham Canalside Square

Aoife O'Connor

News Reporter @aoife2705 After a two month battle with developers Harvest Partnership, Birmingham City Council have finally given the go-ahead for the development of a new life sciences campus in Selly Oak. The new development will take place at the former Battery Park site in Selly Oak including a 80,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s, the

Glenn Howell's Architects Ltd.

new life sciences campus and a business park for medical and pharmaceutical research. The development will also include a retail park with shops, cafes and restaurants and also student housing. A new bridge over the canal will also be built in order to link the new development to the centre of Selly Oak. The Birmingham City Council’s planning committee had deferred their decision after Harvest Partnership had argued they could no longer afford to contribute towards

the canal scheme and construction of Selly Oak New Road which they had previously agreed to do. Harvest Partnership claimed they could no longer afford to meet this commitment when the life science campus and retail park was added to the development.

Harvest, however, had finally agreed to provide the extra funding for the canal, just before the plan was due to return before the committee on the 17th October. The extra £767,000 donated by Harvest has brought

the grand total of their contribution to the project to £4.4 million.

Project Director Neil Carron commented, ‘We’re delighted the planning application has been approved and our vision for Selly Oak can finally be realised. We’re confident our proposals will provide significant economic benefits and will revitalise Selly Oak.’ Work to clear up the contaminated land is due to begin next year with construction starting in 2016. The new development is due to create approximately 2,700 jobs.

Student fears as energy prices soar Sabrina Dougall News Reporter

Ellicia Pendle News Reporter

Millie Guy

Charlotte Wilson @wilsonscribbles

@sabrina_dougall @elliciapendle

Students living off-campus will be affected by the decision of three main energy suppliers to raise their prices ahead of this winter. Following similar announcements from British Gas and SSE, Npower have announced that their dual-fuel bill is set to rise by 10.4%.

As reported by the BBC, British Gas will increase the price of their gas by 8.4%, and electricity by 10.4%. This means that, on average, combined gas and electricity bills could reach up to £1,444 per year, affecting the many students living in rented accommodation in Selly Oak whose bills are not included.

Whilst the price increase of British Gas and SSE is due to take effect in midNovember, Npower have stated that their rates will be increasing on 1 December.

The Guild’s Ethical and Environmental Officer, Rachel Cavet, points out that ‘the situation is especially bad because of the poor quality of housing in Selly Oak. More energy is needed to heat these houses to a liveable temperature’.

Second-year student Alexandra Lee agreed, stating that she cannot afford to put the heating on for long enough to tackle the mould problem in her home.

Second-year Economics student Sam Jeater added: ‘we already feel guilty about switching our heating on’ and suggested that the rise in British Gas prices will make students even more reluctant to touch the thermostat.

In response to the news, David

Cameron has urged customers ‘to go to the switching sites online and see whether they can get a better deal’.

Ms Cavet felt that this was ‘unhelpful’ advice and points to the need for ‘bigger change’ in the way students think about their energy choices. She cites Ecotricity as a more environmentallyfriendly energy provider than the Big Six. Concerns were also raised by Ms Cavet over UoB’s ‘tight ties with the big energy companies’ such as BP. She points

"The situation is especially bad because of the poor quality of housing in Selly Oak." out that the sponsorship programmes offered by fossil fuel giants to UoB students give them a ‘social license’ to continue profiteering in the energy market.

The news comes after the Guild’s Vice President of Democracy and Resources, Thomas Wragg, launched the Fossil Free Campaign at UoB last week.

The initiative calls for the Board of Governors to freeze investment into fossil fuel companies. The petition can be signed online via a link on Wragg’s Facebook page.

British Gas have set up a helpline for worried customers on 0800 980 1917.

Existing customers may be eligible for a one-off £135 Warm Home discount if they meet certain vulnerability requirements; this could be applicable to students with disabilities or to households with children under five.

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Photography by Michael Jevon

20,000 runners set off around Birmingham as part of the Birmingham Half Marathon on Sunday 20th October.

The 13 mile course started behind Centenary Square and extended through Birmingham City Centre.

This year's run was started by Walsall's Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds, and reports of heavy rain for the area appeared to have been exaggerated as runners were met with near-perfect conditions for the day.

Huge crowds were also expected to support the runners, who were raising money for various charities throughout the day.

Birmingham Half Marathon

Aofie O'Connor News Reporter

@aofie2705

Oliver Norgate News Reporter

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As well as running, dozens of University of Birmingham students were also involved in volunteering, handing out out fluids at various checkpoints and helping to guide runners who had completed the race.

Councillor Mike Leddy, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, hailed the event a success and predicts that it will keep on growing in popularity. 'I’ve been talking to people all over the country and they’ve all praised the event,' he said. 'Not just for its organisation but the course itself, the scenery, the finish line and the charity village in Centenary Square.

'All credit to Bupa and our events team for putting it on. It has shown Birmingham in a great light and enhanced its reputation as a sporting city. It’s the second biggest half-marathon (in the UK) but next year it might even be the biggest if it keeps growing like it has.'

@nuggy_

Birmingham worst city to have children Venessa Browne News Reporter

Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has issued statements criticising Birmingham City Council over what he calls ‘shocking statistics’ that came to light in a recent report on social care.

Concerning child welfare and protection, it estimates that over one-third of Birmingham’s children live in low-income households and that infant mortality is said to be almost twice the national average.

These statistics place Britain’s second city on equal footing with some of the world’s

developing nations, including Chile, Cuba and Latvia.

The report comes after a trail of child maltreatment cases in Birmingham which have received national attention over the past decade, including the murder of two year old Keanu Williams in 2011.

That case had faced criticism over an apparent series of missed opportunities of protection by social services prior to his death.

Wilshaw further labelled the city council, which is the largest unitary local authority in the UK, a ‘national disgrace’, highlighting insufficient leadership as well as the council’s size as reasons for repeated shortcom-

ings in child services.

An official spokesperson from Birmingham City Council has acknowledged it’s failings as ‘long-standing’, but assures the public that recent changes to leadership in June 2013 will bring much-needed change to the governing of child services, and that the protection of vulnerable children will be their ‘number one priority’.

But, with 1.1 million inhabitants, some political leaders, including Wilshaw, continue to speculate that Birmingham is possibly too large to have its needs met by a single authority, thus the council should be split up to properly ensure the wellbeing of the individual districts.

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25th - 31st October 2013

Comment

The Reach of Extremism

Commentator Aqib Khan debates notions and stereotypes of the word 'terrorist' in the modern world

There has been much said in the wake of Laura Brindley’s article on countering Islamophobia, which in great irony elicited responses of being ‘racist’ and ‘bigoted’. I don’t propose to level labels onto Laura, this article is intended to correct some of the baseless claims that were made.

She begins with the widely held view ‘9/11 woke the world to the tangible danger from terrorists’. Which is entirely correct, if you don’t consider the rest of the Earth’s population as human. The label ‘terrorist’ has become utterly meaningless. The FBI’s definition of terrorism is ‘a violent act or an act dangerous to human life to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. In 1996, when U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright was asked if the sanctions on Iraq that killed half a million Iraqi children were worth the price, she replied ‘we (the United States government) think the price is worth it’. By the FBI’s definition George H.W Bush who imposed the sanctions and Bill Clinton who continued them are terrorists, on a scale Bin Laden could not dream of. Denis Halliday resigned from his post of administrating the sanctions stating ‘I don't want to administer a program that satisfies the definition of genocide’. Only the ‘other’ commits horrendous crimes that we remember, we at worst commit ‘mistakes’ and courageously march on, heads held high. My argument is not to highlight Western crimes and diminish those of Al Qaeda in comparison, crimes are crimes, terror is terror, it’s to correct the widespread and groundless assertion terrorism began in 2001 with the United States conveniently as its helpless victim, or that the world ‘woke to the tangible danger from terrorists’ on 9/11; the rest of the world has been subject to terror in incomparable numbers for centuries, namely ours.

She labeled Al Qaeda prior to 9/11 a ‘previously little known extremist

organization’. Bruce Lawrence a specialist in these matters at Duke University writes Al Qaeda in 1980 was originally called ‘Sijill Al Qaeda or “Register of the Base” at this time he (Osama Bin Laden) cooperated closely with the CIA with American and Saudi funds he built mountain bases and training camps in the border regions (of Pakistan)’. Al Qaeda was well known prior to 9/11 - as an American ally. Who we (‘we’ which I use broadly to refer to the United States and its lackeys in Europe) liaise with then came full circle into our collective conscious on 9/11.

"Are the 2500 civilians killed in drone strikes in North Western Pakistan, 100 of them children, not subject to terror?"

She later remarks in relief ‘thankfully, no attack has ever reached the scale of 9/11’ which is entirely correct, if again we accept the suppressed premise only people in the West are human. Are the 2,500 civilians killed in drone strikes in North Western Pakistan, 100 of them children, not subject to terror? When Barack Obama carries out a ‘signature drone strike’, when we don’t know whom we’re killing, but hope we’re killing the ‘right person’, is he not a terrorist?

Suicide bombers use the same logic, and we most certainly label them terrorists. Again, my argument isn’t to diminish the crimes of Al Qaeda in relation to Western crimes, it is to ask by what definition a suicide bomber is a terrorist and Barack Obama not? Why has the ‘bushy bearded Asian man’ sent chills down the spine of certain people in society but not the clean-shaven American?

If we subconsciously restrict the word

terrorist to Muslims, then inevitably Muslims will be associated with it, creating fear and prejudice. The problem with the article is she has done just that. Muslims have already been under constant media attack in the wake of 9/11; Cardiff University in a recent study found ‘of 974 newspaper articles published about British Muslims between 2000 and 2008 more than a quarter of them portrayed Islam as “dangerous, backward or irrational”’ and ‘references to radical Muslims outnumbered references to moderate Muslims by 17 to one’; even though according to Europol, from 20052008 there were 1,596 acts of terror committed in the EU, and 5 were carried out

by Muslims.

"By what definition is a suicide bomber a terrorist and Barack Obama not?"

She writes ‘media outlets have a responsibility to give a voice to peaceful Muslims who oppose extreme Islam’. Why can’t Muslims be called Muslim, why must they have the adjective thrown onto them to ensure society of their safety? Why must the entire community apologize for the actions of a few? George Bush invaded Iraq thinking he was fulfilling Biblical prophecy, Joe Barton a Republican member of the House of Representatives denied climate change science on Biblical grounds (as one may guess does much of the Republican Party).

These individuals have killed hundreds of thousands of people and are potentially putting at risk the fate of the human race, but why do we not expect Christian organizations to come out and condemn them? Why are they not called ‘Christian extremists’ instead of something like ‘fringe politicians’, but more revealingly why aren’t the majority of

Christians labeled ‘moderate Christians’ by society? Not of course that I would ever want such a scenario. It’s unthinkable to have an article titled ‘Don’t let evolution put Christians off science, let's teach them!’ as we don’t make the assumption all Christians are scientifically illiterate.

Furthermore Islamophobia does not condescendingly make Muslims feel ‘compelled to rebel. To give society back what they have received’, it makes them feel isolated and scrutinized. What makes a handful of Muslims ‘compelled to rebel’ (a euphemism to commit terror) is well known by the experts. The Pentagon concluded in 2004 ‘Muslims do not "hate our freedoms", but rather, they hate our policies...ever increasing support for what Muslims collectively see as tyrannies, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan and the Gulf States’. The article espouses many of the assumptions that we need to remove: that there needs to be a dialect of ‘peaceful’ Muslim, that all Muslims should be consulted to respond to the actions of a few, that Muslims are like rabid dogs waiting to ‘rebel’ unless they get a pat on the head more often, and that the history of terror in the world began on 9/11. The fact similar assumptions do not exist with other groups that I’ve mentioned goes some way to highlight the distrust that has built over the previous decade due to articles such as these, which will only worsen relations between Muslims and non-Muslims at university unless thoroughly rebutted as I hope to have done here.

There are 14 million Muslims in Western Europe, Turks in Germany, Arabs in France, South Asians in Britain who have migrated here to warmly embrace western freedoms, and a (largely) tolerant and diverse society. If you want to stop the problem of terrorism, stop engaging in it.

And stop watching the mainstream media if you want to write an article on it.

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Should We Get Rid of Our Current Penal System?

British prisons focus too much on punishment rather than rehabilitation, argues Tara Dein The abolitionist question is one that is often dismissed as idealistic and naïve, met more with skepticism and mockery than rational and informed debate.

Although abolition may not be viable, the present system can hardly be described as functional or indeed effective. At a talk given by Sulemen Amad on campus last week, run through the Howard League for Penal Reform, I discovered that almost two thirds of young offenders reoffend, suicide and self-harm are on the rocket increase (particularly among women inmates) and far too many prisoners leave with zero employability skills. It struck me that if it were schools or hospitals with the same failure rates, we wouldn’t dream of almost mindlessly continuing to invest, yet it seems proposals of penal reform are sometimes disregarded as futile, lost in the public thirst for punishment and retribution, creating the “comforting” myth that “something is being done”.

In my opinion, these debates are, without a shadow of a doubt, worth having. The integrity of the prison service in England and Wales is respected worldwide, yet the inspection reports of Pentoville and Wandsworth prisons show exactly the oppo-

site of humanity. To truly see any change, the public needs to be aware of what exactly happens in prisons, with a focus on promoting equality and human rights that should not be an exception anywhere.

There has to be more to prison than punishment, and right now it seems evident that prison educates far more in crime than rehabilitation. Aside from this, reconviction rates show that every member of society should be concerned with the fate of prisoners after release, remembering that what happens behind closed prison doors reflects on those outside.

Perhaps if we recognized that people need, or want, vengeance and separated this from the reformatory and deterrent aspects of prison, we’d manage both better. However, to quote the Howard League, what we see today is symptomatic of a prison system that is devoid of any real mission or motivation, with prisoners used as pawns on a political chessboard, more than anything else.

Consequently, prisoners are left bored, unmotivated and unoccupied at the hands of demotivated staff; prison culminating in a glorified detention centre rather than a rehabilitation one.

Of course, the only way to truly under-

Roy Hodgson is the latest victim of Britain's insane PC culture

George Reeves examines the current response in the media to allegations of racism Roy Hodgson is not a racist. That pretty much sums up the rest of this article. I believe it, his fellow football managers believe it, and it would appear that most of the English media believe it too. So why is he still at the centre of a racism scandal that has dominated the headlines for days now?

The story revolves around comments that the England manager directed at the

"The irony is that Hodgson was actually making the point that Townsend is a top quality player who was having a superb game" black Tottenham winger Andros Townsend during his half-time team talk at last week’s World Cup qualifier against Poland. Using an analogy of NASA sending a monkey into space, Hodgson was making the point that players needed to pass the ball to Townsend when he was in space during the game. It seems like a harmless joke, and the cruel irony is that Hodgson was actually making the point that Townsend is a top quality player who was having a superb game.

However, the use of the word ‘monkey’ and an anonymous leak to The Sun from an England player has resulted in Hodgson being depicted as a racist. Townsend himself has publically stated that he took Hodgson’s

comments as a compliment, but this has done nothing to quell the media firestorm surrounding the England manager, with one pressure group calling for him to undertake mandatory ‘cultural intelligence’ training.

This is just the latest evidence of Britain’s insane and frankly terrifying culture of political correctness, where even seemingly harmless comments and jokes can be construed as racist and bigoted. Of course nobody wants a return to the 1960s when true racism was rife in this country, but what Britain is experiencing now is equally wrong; indeed, the prominent black footballerturned-pundit Stan Collymore has been one

"Hodgson should be celebrated and lauded for successfully steering England through qualification for next year’s World Cup" of the most outspoken supporters of Hodgson during the past few days. At a time when Hodgson should be celebrated and lauded for successfully steering England through qualification for next year’s World Cup, he instead has to defend his integrity and live with the knowledge that one of his own players complained to the media about his half-time comments. True racism is an evil that we need to continue to fight against, but so too is the aggressive, bullying PC culture that is so rife in British society today.

stand and try to pave our way forward is by looking at exactly who is in prison, remembering that the term “vulnerable” has more than one dimension: The Social Exclusion Unit showed that British prisons are characterized by the most helpless, socially excluded members of our society. The kind of man who is driven to rob or assault is also, statistically, the one who comes from a disturbed background, with poor education and no prospects. The homeless, the mentally ill, the abused; it seems that prison acts as a human disposal unit, rather than any serious and effective form of remedy.

I, myself, am frustrated at hearing foam-

ing elderly relatives ranting around the dinner table about “evil” law breakers, almost gleefully raving about televisions in cells, the “free food” and, with moral indignation, speaking of justice.

The point is that prison is failing in its key objectives. The coalition government spoke of a “rehabilitation revolution”, but holding damaged, dangerous people in conditions that do little or nothing to stimulate change for the better is a dangerous circle.

Likewise, treating people who are likely to have been treated all their lives with little dignity or respect will simply, and obviously, perpetuate the problem.

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Comment News Views

Nuclear is an Evil We Need to Embrace Max Lempiere

PHD Researcher in POLSIS

The government announced on the 21st October that it has finalised the terms of an agreement with EDF to build Britain’s first new power station for a generation at Hinckley Point, Somerset. This decision should be welcomed but we must be pragmatic about the faith we place in nuclear energy in years to come and recognise that nuclear should sit alongside renewables in the UK’s energy mix.

The government has agreed to pay EDF a guaranteed ‘strike’ price of £92.50 per megawatt hour of electricity produced for 35 years, twice the current market price.

Although critics have questioned this logic the truth is that because energy prices are set to rise in coming years, this strike price represents good value for the taxpayer.

Looking back, we can see that energy prices have doubled over the last 30 years, and if we have learnt anything from academic debates on non-renewable energy supplies it is that prices are set to increase further as raw materials continue to run dry. What’s more, because EDF is responsible for the construction costs associated with Hinckley C, a lot of the immediate burden for construction costs has been shifted away from taxpayers. In addition, any cost overruns are the responsibility of EDF, not the taxpayer.

Because EDF only gets paid when it starts producing energy it has a vested interest in completing the project as quickly and efficiently as possible. Whether it can, or will, do so remains another matter.

The arguments against nuclear are well known, but it is my opinion that nuclear energy is the next best alternative after coal and gas and cannot be ignored in the transi-

tion to a low-carbon energy mix. We must, though, take a pragmatic approach when weighing up the potential risks of nuclear energy with the benefits we would derive.

Without the construction of Hinckley, which will provide 7% of all the UK’s energy needs at full capacity, the UK is likely to experience energy shortages. Existing plants are coming offline and investment in both renewable and non-renewable energy infrastructure has been sub-par in recent years.

We need to plug this energy shortfall, and the most effective way to balance the demands of industry, environmental groups, the market and consumers is through the expansion of the nuclear energy market.

"Without the construction of Hinckley... the UK is likely to experience energy shortages" One thing we must not do though is assume that because we have negotiated terms for a new nuclear power station, the future of the UK’s energy mix is decided.

The government recognises that we run the risk of energy shortages even before Hinckley comes online and that we cannot reform our energy market by relying on nuclear alone. Nuclear power plants don’t come quick (or cheap), and many of our existing plants are coming offline before the completion of Hinckley. There is therefore both a demand - and a normative case – for the continued development of renewable energy.

We shouldn’t ignore the symbolism of

the strike price. Yes, it is a subsidy for the nuclear industry in so much as it offers a guaranteed price, but without subsidies and price guarantees neither nuclear nor renewable energy infrastructure would be developed. Similar subsidies to those offered to EDF exist for the renewable energy industry through the ‘contracts for difference’ mechanism, which provide renewable energy producers a guaranteed strike price for electricity produced, but the truth is that the terms attached to these price guarantees are not as favourable as those offered to EDF. That needs to change if renewables are to develop sufficiently to reduce our reliance on coal and gas and to ensure we can meet demand. These prices need to be guaranteed for longer, in line with the 35 years offered to EDF, and at a higher rate, thus allowing investors to more effectively plan and mitigate against risk and to bring them alongside those offered to the nuclear industry.

As it stands now the contracts for difference are stacked against small-scale producers in favour of the Big Six energy providers. Some of this power needs to be clawed back to ensure that you and I can find it financially attractive to fix solar panels to our roofs and that small businesses can see the case for the construction of small scale wind and solar ‘farms’.

When we debate nuclear energy we must recognise that nuclear energy is a necessary solution if we are to reduce our dependency on coal and gas and if we are to fill the gaps in our energy market that renewables cannot yet fill, whether because of capacity or cost.

Importantly though we must also recognise that nuclear energy isn’t the perfect solution and that we should continue to press for greater price guarantees for renewables if we are to satisfy both our energy and our environmental demands in the future.

Have energy firms gone wild?

Dan Baird

Comment Editor

Another week another item to add to your list of fears (well at least according to the Daily Mail and The Sun). The new terror that's currently enojoying a vogue in the tabloids is no longer immigrants, they have been replaced by the altogether more terrifying False Widow spider.

Now before you get scared witless some facts: It's been in Britain since 1870 and no one has ever died, no worries.

Charlotte Wilson Photography Editor

Scottish police have called for a ban on the free distribution of condoms in saunas in order to discourage sexual activity.

Do they really think that a lack of condoms is going to stop daring couples? If two people want to get down and dirty in a steam room they’re going to go ahead and do it, condom or no condom. The more resourceful will probably bring their own anyway. All this is doing is increasing the chances of unsafe sex and we all know where that can lead – diseases and babies. I don’t know which is worse. More shocking however is the fact that people actually have sex in saunas.

Samiha Sharif argues that more needs to be done to tackle rocketing energy prices Ofgem reports that energy prices have risen 28% in the last three years. Household budgets are squeezed year on year, every individual is feeling the pinch, yet one of the biggest household costs, the price of warming the house during the frigid winter weather, remains high. These price hikes disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in society, particularly the elderly, who, Saga reports, have seen their bills double since 2005. Moreover, in a time of austerity where an increasing number of people of working population have to visit food banks, the substantial wage increases offered to the chief executives seems almost obscene in comparison. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, himself a former oil executive, has declared that the energy firms have a moral responsibility to aid the hardworking people.

Labour has compiled reports which show the profits of the energy ‘big six’ have collectively rocketed to £3.7bn. Three energy firms have already announced that they are raising their prices, the rest are set to follow.

Energy companies have always stated the same fact; they have no choice but to increase prices due to the reduction in the supply of gas and energy. Moreover, energy firms are not conducting their services in an

ethical manner. For instance, Ofgem has fined Scottish Power for ‘misleading’ consumers when selling their services. All six companies have faced fines by Ofgem, many for inadequate customer service provision. E.On misreported its handling of selling low-energy light bulbs to Ireland.

These bulbs were meant for the consumers

"The energy firms have been allowed to act with little or no repercussions for too long" in the UK to support the government’s green energy campaign.

It is true that energy prices remain lower than average compared to most of the 15 EU countries, but it still remains substantially higher than those in the USA, where the population is approximately 5 times the population of UK. Logically, the prices should be higher in the USA, not in the UK, however the US has alternate methods of extracting energy such as fracking. But this method remains controversial, and critics believe it causes greater environmental dam-

age in the process, and may even result in more earthquakes.

Ofgem remains powerless in controlling the price firms charge, thereby one of the options may be to renationalize energy firms. This remains unlikely and may deteriorate the current situation further. Ofgem has proposed measures to assist households, for instance simpler gas and electricity tariffs, along with informing customers the cheapest deal provided by the firm. More radical measures proposed by Ed Miliband consist of the freezing energy prices for 20 months. Sir John Major, former Prime Minister, has declared that the government should consider an extra tax on the profits of the energy firms.

The energy firms have been allowed to act with little or no repercussions for too long and they should be held accountable to provide their customers with better and more efficient services. If they refuse to manage themselves, the government should intervene to protect innocent and vulnerable consumers. The need for gas and electricity will not simply vanish and efficient forms of renewable energy will take years to develop, therefore, the power companies should not be allowed to continue to raise prices without any thoughts for the consequences.

Jonathan Simpson Commentator

I was upset to see that the BBC has been employing the Madeleine McCann disappearance just to pull in viewers. There have been so many disappearances which the Crimewatch slot could have had a larger impact on in terms of leads, but which are less sensational and enthralling. I’m pleased that the program helped in the search for Maddie and would be thrilled if she were to be found alive and returned to her family so long after her tragic disappearance, but at some point we have to consider all those missing persons who our help can more likely find and save. The BBC seems to be aiming to entice potential watchers with “exclusive new leads” and live interviews with the bereft McCann’s. Let’s keep looking for Madeleine, but remember that there are other, less engaging missing person stories of people who also need to be found.

Stay Safe with the Student Mentor Scheme, look out for the following events coming to a residence near you!

Tuesday 29th October Wednesday 30th October

Safe & Sound – to raise awareness of road safety when travelling on foot plus preventing bike theft!

Ready Steady Safe – some easy simple steps you can take to ensure your personal safety when out and about! Come and get a personal attack alarm.

Thursday 31 October

Friday 1ST November

st

Tech No Chances – Staying safe online HALLOWEEN FACE PAINTING let us paint a freaky face for FREE! 5pm-10pm, Upper Duck & Scholar.

PLUS: Grab yourself some free personal safety goodies too!

On the Homefront – Security and safety in and around your home (university accommodation) “Do you like scary movies?” if so, come along to and watch the cult classic “Scream”. Lower Duck & Scholar.

HALLOWEEN FACE PAINTING Are you getting into the Halloween Spirit?

If so, let us paint you a freaky face for free! st 3 1 0 2 r e b to c O 1 3 y a d Thurs

ckleton, a Sh r, la o h Sc & k c u D r Uppe The Vale, 5pm-10pm

Student Mentor Scheme 0121 415 8568 mentorwelfare@guild.bham.ac.uk Advice & Guidance

Student Mentor Scheme @StudentMentors1

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25th - 31st October 2013

redbrick.me/comment

Comment

Should the Press Be Regulated?

Regulating the press is a step towards Government con- Press regulation will lead to higher-quality newspapers, trol, claims Charlie Moloney argues Emma McCarthy The Government have drawn up a royal charter aimed at regulating the press. What it boils down to is that politicians are trying to neuter the press. A regulator board can demand apologies and 'direct' corrections on articles, and there will be a free arbitration service. Additionally, there will be a faster complaints system so that anyone can pursue action for damages for free.

Worse still, it won’t end there. If a party can attain a two thirds majority in the Commons and the Lords, then they can amend this bill to introduce further regulation. Executive director of the Society of Editors, Bob Satchwell, argued 'if you put a loophole in which somebody can run through in the future, you will have very tough laws and political control of the press'. Two thirds might sound like a vast majority, but as the furore over Geoffrey Levy’s article on Ralph Milliband shows, it’s not that hard to whip up massive irrational outrage if a politician pushes enough. Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Mail said that 'Some have argued that last week's brouhaha shows the need for statutory press regulation. I would argue the opposite. Those who rule us – and who should be held to account by newspapers – cannot be allowed to sit in judgment on the press.'

If this charter is approved, we are heading towards the end of a free press. Even if it was drawn up in good faith, Ian Hislop, Editor-in-Chief of Private Eye, points out 'it has unintended consequences and if you look at all the precedents for state regulation, they are very bad.' Politicians claim that this is not the government taking control of the press, but simply underpinning the industry's self-regulation. The Industry Steering Group, which represents local, regional and national papers, pointed out that 'this remains a charter written by politicians, imposed by politicians and controlled by politicians.'

Clearly something does need to change in the journalism industry. After it was discovered that the now defunct News of the World hacked the voicemail messages of murdered teenager, Milly Dowler, the public quite rightly felt that this behaviour was

unethical and intolerable. Brian Cathcart, the founder of the HackedOff campaign, said 'innocent, ordinary people have suffered at the hands of the press, and the press will not learn and will not change.' However, once these crimes were uncovered weren’t they then prosecuted under existing laws?

Ian Hislop told Channel 4 “we have laws in this country about harassment and libel, we don’t need any more from politicians.”

Isn’t it bad enough already that the rich and powerful have so much say in what appears in our press? In the USA you have to be able to prove ‘malice’ to be able to have something written about you censored, whereas in the UK the rich can invoke privacy orders to have their reputations maintained. To quote Ian Hislop again (who has been very vocal on the subject as a senior member of the industry) 'in the old days we had 'publish and be damned', now we have 'don’t publish at all.'' This means that newspapers that are brave enough to take on the backlash of negatively portraying a popular public figure often aren’t even given the chance.

Clearly this is politicians who are moving under the banner of very emotionally charged and tragic cases like that of Milly Dower to advance their own agenda. It is in the Government's best interests to have more control over the press, so that what they see as important is always making headlines, and so that they’re never badly portrayed or challenged except by other politicians who play their political game.

As students, there is no way that we should be supporting this. Restriction of the press has always characterized oppressive. It would be like giving the members of the Guild Council a say in what we can put in our student publications. They can claim that they’re acting in the best interests of victims, and they demonize the press as ruthlessly bullying and attacking vulnerable people, but ultimately they are getting what they want. Just because you don’t like what the press say in their articles, if you support press regulation then you don’t support free speech, so decide for yourselves now: what do you believe in?

I support careful regulations of the British press played out through an independent regulatory body and is backed my legislation. There will not be interference by political parties and their views will not be imprinted on the media more than they already are. Contrary to what some people think, press regulation will not cause the UK to descend into chaos and autocracy, with the ruling party controlling the press and disallowing freedom of speech. In fact many other European countries regulate their own media in this way and it has had no detrimental effects on democracy. The changes will be subtle and, considering that the UK press has a world-renowned reputation for being extremely fierce and intrusive, they will not be wholly misplaced.

In recent times, illegal practices have taken place and lies are masqueraded as facts in the media on a daily basis. Not everyone who reads the newspapers produced by certain news agencies knows that they are being lied to or not given the whole picture. This is having a negative effect on policy in the UK and changing what we perceive to be important issues. My granny sits in her chair reading her Daily Mail, genuinely not realising that somewhere

along the line they started lying to her. She genuinely thinks that the most pressing issues in our society are eastern European immigrants and the obese. Enforcing regulation could begin to change this.

A good example of the negative effect these practices can have on policy is the way in which the media has shaped the immigration debate. The debate is extremely onesided and this is thanks to news agencies wanting to ‘sell’ stories regardless of whether they are based on lies and skewed facts. I have read articles blaming all but every instance of crime on immigrants and others stating that 75% of immigrants are claiming benefits. Now we see all of the major parties changing their policies on immigration.

When in fact, it is proven that immigrants are less likely to be claiming benefits and to commit crime. The UK actually needs more immigrants of working age to cope with the aging population. But you don’t see many news stories presenting this side of the story.

This needs to be addressed and better press regulation would be a good place to start.

We will not be taking away freedom of speech but improving practices and the quality of information that is communicated to the whole public.

Join the conversation: @RedbrickComment

Vale Fireworks Presents...

AT THE VALE VILLAGE: Funfair from 7.00pm / Entertainment from 7.30pm Fireworks from 9.00pm* *All times are approximate and subject to change

THURSDAY 1ST NOVEMBER ONE WEEK, TWO FABS!

ONLY AT THE

Tickets: £4 from

, more on the door. 10pm-3am (No entry after 12am) Strictly no admission after midnight. Guests must provide ID on request. Usual Guild rules apply to this event. R.O.A.R. E.&O.E Think Safe, Drink Safe - Don’t Binge. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

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redbrick.me/television

25th - 31st October 2013

Television

Hot or Not Top Bun So despite the mixed reviews about the new, controversial hairstyle, we can’t help but love Proudlock for his alternative and quirky outfit (and now hairstyle) choices from the rest of the Chelsea lot. We salute your brevity in fashion choices! (just as long as you stay away from pig-tails) Chic Shaving There is most definitely a dark and handsome quality of Marc Francis’ new facial accessory in the form of his newly-grown beard/stubble. Perhaps it’s creating a manlier vibe? It’s taken Six Series, but maybe this will be the secret weapon in landing himself a man!

By his standards, it’s so chic!

Fortescue Fashion Although not a groundbreaking new appearance, outfit-wise, I felt Rosie stole the show with her white and gold studded, half shift-half floor length dress, particularly when the only line of comparison for the first episode was bikini’s! The departure of Millie for married life is definitely leaving something to be desired in the fashion department!

New Girls on the Embankment In MIC tradition, new characters are appearing left, right and centre. To which we meet Belle and Tiff (unlike their fellow new male companions) failed make much of an impression in first episode, to which we can’t really rate them either way, so c’mon girls, you still have time to climb the ladder of MIC faves.

Cry Girls Cry Brother As Louise’s brother, he also made an appearance in the new series; although he did have more to say than the girls - backing his sister in her loyal girlfriend campaign - we didn’t really get a proper feel for him either, so he hovers in the middle of our list for the moment. If he’s anything like his sister, I’m sure this will incur some facial leakage!

Jenius Jacket Despite having what we imagine to be more money that he knows what to do with, and his Candy Kittens fashion range, Mr Laing certainly has a tendency of rocking the occasional visually offensive garment. This series looks to be no different with the appearance of a dodgy, black and gold, chained pattern jacket, which was just not excusable! Don’t get dressed in the dark next time, J-Man. Bad Hair Day A questionable new hairstyle – hopefully not a permanent one at that. Phoebe’s braids are certainly effective at complimenting her character – a not so great one! It was only just about bearable from the front, but a back shot just confirmed that it is possible to like her even less than we already do!

Fumbling Freddie Welcome to our first male of the duo that is Freddie and Miffy. However, failing to put his best foot forward, he successfully managed to force us watchers into a state of ultimate cringe with his failed attempts at flirting with the currently anti-boyfriend Lucy Watson. We didn’t see enough of him to necessarily dislike the guy, yet the awkward introduction has definitely sent him into the NOT list (plus the added fact that his teeth are scarily white).

Miffy Twitter Tiffs The latter half of the duo, Miffy was another one we haven’t really got a feel for yet. However, is it possible that he’s already tarnished his reputation before his MIC debut even begins? It has been claimed by certain Twitter users that he was seen to been posting homophobic tweets dismissing gay marriage and other figures such as X Factor's Rylan.

Congratulations, Miffy, you’ve landed yourself at the bottom of our list from your first five second appearance in the first episode of the new series! Got to be a record!

It's Back...

Made in Chelsea Finally! Alice Sheppard talks us through the latest developments in the lives of the ones we love, and the ones we love to hate So here we are again for the sixth time! The sixth period of our lives spent on observing the wildlife of Chelsea and the natural development of its species. The evolution of Chelsea is a process that is inferred from three facts about its culture: 1) Traits vary among individuals, leading to different rates of survival: the player, who worms his way from woman to woman, gaining their confidence to help him become a dominant male - i.e. Spencer. The crier, who sparks sympathy amongst her friends in order to gain support - i.e. Louise. The chilled out one who is too passive to encourage any drama and therefore survives as an innocent bystander - i.e. Proudlock 2) Traits are inheritable, and successful ones passed on so the offspring can survive: The gift of bull****ing and being hideously rich from wealthy predecessors. This allows them to survive in a competitive atmosphere where money means everything.

3) More offspring are produced than can possibly survive: More wealthy, well-dressed and back-stabbing creatures than one embankment can cope with - and so, each series, the species too weak to compete in the competitive Chelsea jungle are knocked out.

Single Ladies!* And whether it be due to the fact that new arrival Freddie’s attempt at flirting was more than cringy or not, she’s already shown to be resisting. Go Lucy!

Andy & Louise: The Split Up He’s finally done it. Mr Jordan has submitted to his doubts that the rumours about Louise and her mysterious disappearances are true. From topless dancing at a house party and general unexplained absences, Andy told her he was “fed up” with it all; so we see an obviously gutted Andy moving out of their house for good. A determined Louise, however, claims she will “fight” for this relationship - “I’m not over it” - leaving us to only anticipate even more tears she will shed in the fight to win him back! Someone call a plumber, we may have a severe facial leak on our hands!

Who hasn’t evolved?

Louise Well, there isn’t much to be said on Louise’s inability to develop into a strong, independent woman. We’re still not sure whether we can trust her and she’s definitely still crying.

Twice in the first episode, actually. Some things never change!

So what’s evolved?

Fran and Alex: Relationship Potential Sharing an “undeniable chemistry” as claimed by Fran, a new relationship is blossoming in Chelsea between Fran – a face recently new to the show - and her best friend’s ex – Alex Mytton. From past experience, we knew this wouldn’t go down well with Phoebe, who shows a severe dislike for any female within a five mile radius of him.

However, Fran does appear to be in a moral dilemma about this – “she’s almost like my sister” - so she clearly doesn’t want to hurt

her. And, of course, the no-messing Phoebesaurus rex shows no amusement at the idea of them kissing goodbye, spluttering her words of disbelief to match her pained expression. Despite the couple not officially an item, I think we can all sense the inevitable face-off between Fran and Phoebe when made to choose between her friend and a love interest! Ding-ding, round one!

Francis and Rosie – Another relationship potential?

After the heartbreak of being left by Sophia, we see a Francis returning to his old bubbly and loveable self, from which we see a potential spark between himself and Rosie Fortescue. The pair have both had little in the way of romantic affairs since series one (compared to some of the others anyway!), so it would only seem right that these two get together! On being asked out for drinks

by Mr Boulle, Rosie nervously laughed off the situation. However, part of me feels this was merely due to the sheer nakedness of Francis at the time (swimming pool banter!) and that, when the boy is fully clothed, we may seem the blooming of a new relationship, alongside Fran and Alex. Frosie?

Rancis? Bosie? Hmm...we’ll see.. .

Lucy Looks like Miss Watson has also evolved in the new series as she claims that she is most definitely not looking for a boyfriend – “if anything with a p**** comes near me, I’ll be very upset”. Has the infamous ‘player’ that we first met evolved into a single, carefree woman who don’t need no man?! *cue

Spencer And Spencer? Well Spencer’s still Spencer (or Ladies' Man as he was branded in the superhero promo). “I’d sleep with any of my exes,” he claims, proving that the new therapy he’s undergoing in order to make him a faithful partner is failing abysmally.

Arguably, some may believe he’s matured in his apology to Louise for messing her around – “I’m on your side” - however, you can’t help but suspect him of just wanting to hook up with her again. But with signs of a new girl on the horizon, he’s definitely not following in Lucy’s footsteps that it may just cause less hassle to be single!

25th - 31st October 2013

redbrick.me/television

Shannon Carey Tv Critic

Taking my flatmates to the nearby social centre to catch the opening episode of Made In Chelsea’s sixth series, I was surprised by their reluctance to sit back and watch the show with me. “I can’t believe you actually watch this,” said one, “It’s rubbish!”

For all of MIC’s fans – and there are a lot of them – there will always be the select few that will hold a negative opinion of the series, just like many who look down on The Only Way Is Essex, Geordie Shore and the rest of today’s popular constructed reality shows. But why? What isn’t there to love about these shows? There is something completely delicious about the mix of highclass cocktail bars, beautiful people in designer clothes and painfully awkward pauses in MIC that makes it practically impossible not to love the show. And we can’t forget the drama.

This year's series promises to be more dramatic than ever – the first episode alone featured the break-up of Louise and Andy, the start of a Phoebe-Fran-Alex love triangle, countless arguments between Lucy and Spencer, as well as a sneak peek of the arrival of Spencer’s new girlfriend, former The Hills star Stephanie Pratt. When it comes to drama, MIC does it better than any other fictional TV series or soap can. Yes, I’m aware than half of this drama might be scripted, that producers might forge certain scenes to ensure viewers are suitably entertained. This might be the case, but it doesn’t make the show any less irresistible viewing.

The fundamental issue with shows like MIC is that people seem to assume that if you watch it, you must blindly accept everything that happens – but MIC is just one of those

Love it or Hate it?

TV shows you have to take with a pinch of salt. The lack of realism is half of what makes it so good. And you can’t dispute that the show is good – how many series win a BAFTA? So, yes, MIC may never be the most critically acclaimed show. It may never win over. But that doesn’t stop it from being amazing, must-see Monday night viewing. If you already love MIC then you’ll know all of this already – you’ll know what makes the show so popular with so many. And if you don’t like it, whatever your reasoning – well, then it is totes time to give Made In Chelsea a chance.

Jo Kendall Tv Editor

Last Monday saw the return of the award winning series Made in Chelsea. Up until now I have always been one of those people who have avoided these programmes like the plague - being from Essex, TOWIE has never been a watching option. Due to this, I have always lumped Made in Chelsea into the same tacky category.

However, with the start of this new series I felt that it was time for me to either back up

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or contradict my opinion, so I decided to sit myself down with some diehard MIC fans and see what all the fuss is about.

Unfortunately. everything I ever thought about the show turned out to be true. The entire show and cast appeared to be made up of bored, spoilt, bitchy twenty-somethings living off daddy's trust fund with life's biggest challenge being who has slept with who, or what party they will go to next.

None of them appear to have what I would call a 'proper' job and the majority of the cast seem to spend their entire time either shopping or drinking.

The opening episode focused mainly around two of the 'key' couples of last series breaking up because in each case one person in the relationship had been unfaithful.

How watching people break each other's hearts has become acceptable 'entertainment' is beyond me. However, talking to some fans of the show, it seems that most series/episodes revolve around the latest sex scandal to break out in Chelsea and that's pretty much it.

Whilst there were a few glimmering moments of humour - Francis getting stuck in the pool without his trunks - they were few and far between and I spent most of the episode hiding behind a cushion due to the sheer awkwardness of what I was watching.

I spent most of the episode feeling like I was intruding into someone's private life and feeling incredibly uncomfortable about it.

So everything I had thought about MIC had in my opinion turned out to be true, and I can't bring myself to understand why anyone would waste an hour every Monday watching the spoilt and rich bitch and whine about one another. I know some people love this show but, personally, I wouldn't ever bother.

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25th - 31st October 2013

redbrick.me/arts

Arts

The Birmingham REP Celebrating 100 years of theatre in Birmingham with an exclusive Open Day - Redbrick takes a closer look at the work of the Birmingham REP

Founded in 1913, Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre, located at the heart of the city centre, has recently celebrated it’s one-hundreth year with an all-access, comprehensive Open Day. A publicly funded theatre, the REP as it is popularly known has a contractual obligation to produce theatre that appeals to a broad Birmingham based audience. In addition to this it must also support emerging new writers and artists from the area, which it does through a mixture of running workshops and competitions as well as attending theatre performances subsequent to request.

Perhaps the best way to get involved with the theatre though is to see for yourself the work that it produces. We sent writers

Opportunity:

Olivia Renshaw and Diana Murgulet to investigate their new production of ‘Twelve Angry Men’ starring Martin Shaw as Juror 8, as adapted from the 1957 classic film.

Easy to reach from New Street and sitting directly next to the ICC, Symphony Hall and the new Birmingham Library, The Birmingham REP is definitely an arts 'mustvisit' in Birmingham.

The Foundry is just one of the many opportunities that the REP offers for new writers, directors and theatre makers in general.

Once you have completed full-time education you can apply for the scheme, which seeks to bring varied disciplines of emerging theatrical talent together to promote collaboration, and kick-start careers in the arts. The deadline for applications is Friday 29th November 2013. More details on the Foundry can be found on the official REP website at:

Tickets start around £15

See www.birmingham-rep.co.uk for current showings

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/participate/ creative-development/rep-foundry-2014

Twelve Angry Men Diana Murgulet & Olivia Renshaw Critics

The play opens with the image of Justitia, the Roman goddess of justice, holding scales in her hand on the translucent theatrical curtain. The image allows us to scrutinise our jury of twelve sitting behind the gauze, reminding us of the division between jury and judged – indeed, between actors and audience. The audience are placed amidst the action of the courtroom and this strong opening sets the scene for a piece that considers how personal involvement can be blinding.

Martin Shaw gave a brilliantly timed performance as Juror 8, the architect who sows the first seeds of doubt in the minds of the other jurors. In the collaborative journey undertaken by audience and players alike,

Reginald Rose’s cleverly written script unfurls.

"The original premise of the piece...rings true throughout; that justice itself is put on trial."

Set Designer Michael Pavelka sees the play as putting “justice under the spotlight, and [we] do not let the audience settle into a

comfortable, realistic world”. The original premise of the piece, first devised as play for television, rings true throughout; that justice itself is put on trial. In fact, the set and direction mirror the choices made in Sidney Lumet’s 1957 cinematic version almost exactly - a questionable decision in terms of originality. The only overtly theatrical feature seemed to be the slowly rotating table around which the jurors sat.

The play occurs entirely in one location: the room in which the jurors are locked, in line with the rules of “the system”. The idea of limitations is a focal point of the script – the ways in which prejudices hinder our rationality is echoed multiple times. The backdrop of New York in this claustrophobic

setting shows the city in a phase of growth and development, perhaps alluding to the changes that occurred in the legal system as part of the Civil Rights Movement. Again this backdrop is a mirror image of the film and felt too safe. At times the realism of this version of 12 Angry Men held it back, as it made the necessarily heightened physicalities of ‘the twelve’ seem like caricatures in contrast with an otherwise restrained drama.

In the large auditorium of the Birmingham Rep some tension was lost in translation from screen to stage.

The brilliant, thought-provoking script is enough to warrant a viewing whilst the immediacy of its theatrical staging manages to add to an already well-established story.

25th - 31st October 2013

redbrick.me/arts

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Staying Local You don't have to travel into the city to discover what's going on... There's plenty happening here on campus!

Sonic VisionsBarber Institute Georgia Tindate & Jess Syposz Critics

How can you bring art to life? The Barber Institute of Fine Arts has a solution. Three University of Birmingham postgraduates have composed a triplet of electroacoustic music inspired by paintings from the Barber collection. Using an eight channel speaker system, the listener is submerged into this overwhelming and exciting experience, allowing them to see, and hear, the pieces in a completely new light.

The first piece I heard was based on the beautiful and moody painting, “French Seascape” by Daubigny and was composed

by Chris Tarren. Quiet at first, the escalation from soft wind sounds to sudden atonal turbulence, back down to the noises of dripping water took me out into the ocean with the picture. I felt like I was watching

Attenborough’s 'Blue Planet' again. In an interview with Tarren he talked about the overwhelming vastness of the scape he was portraying, and I found that this feeling was transferred directly to me.

Secondly there was Constantinos Kontos' atmospheric ode to Renoir's 'A Young Women Seated' was full of charm and communicated a sense of sensuality and feminine power. Its varied soundscape – chiming bells, birdsong, crunching gravel, footsteps and the clink of bottles – made it feel almost as if the listener themselves was walking into the room in which Renoir painted.

My favourite piece was the fascinating 'Flavour of Tears' by Rene Magritte and its accompaniment by Consantinos Kontos.

Starting with a soft, hypnotic hum that

becomes progressively louder, the throbbing rhythm eventually exploding into a crashing, dramatic crescendo. Kontos imagined the ambiguous figure in the painting to be a birdgod trapped in a tropical paradise, full of sorrow at humanity's sins. Resigned to his fate and being eaten alive by a caterpillarlike creature, it's a powerful image of suffering and pain that is perfectly mirrored by haunting music. Leaves and organic materials were used to create the anxious rustling of birds wings and tense scraping that sounded both unexpected and unsettling at times.

Having my ears bombarded by glorious surround-sound definitely made the music more engaging, but perhaps the inclusion of earphones for each piece could have cleared up some of the confusion as it was often dif-

ficult to tell which soundscape related to which painting. Leaving in a bit of a daze, I almost expected to see a flying bird-god clawing its way up the clock-tower, or a lofty Renoir mademoiselle perched on a bench in University Square. Need to get away from the stresses of the day? It's well worth sparing half an hour to lose yourself in the wondrous sights and innovative sounds that the Barber Institute has to offer.

Although the premise of composing music based on artwork make seem strange at first, visiting this free installation is an eye-opening and inspirational experience which may not be replicated elsewhere.

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redbrick.me/food

25th - 31st October 2013

Food

Resturant Reviews Food editor Gemma Bridge taste tests some of Birmingham's best eateries with Helena Dwyer and Laura Briggs

Review: The Lord Cliffden

Review: Rodizio Rico

Helena Dwyer

Laura Briggs

The Lord Clifden is not a typical student pub. Although, it doesn’t look much from the outside we entered and the warmth and friendly atmosphere hit us.

The Banksy pictures brought this pub alive, helped by the quirky ‘summer bar’ outside in the smoker’s area. The selection of food on the menu was large, with the standard range of pub food completed by a great selection of burgers and fish dishes.

The burgers looked too good to miss so we ordered a Sombrero, a tasty spicy chicken breast served with a salsa and crispy chips.

Although the bread on both burgers was a bit disappointing and too much to eat, the vegetarian burger of roasted vegetables was delicious. The aubergines, onions and mozzarella were a good mix and the sundried tomatoes brought an edge to this dish.

Both priced at £9.95 they were perhaps a bit expensive; however, they were not stingy in size. Although rather full, we could not miss the opportunity to order one of their homemade puddings.

The lemon tart, priced at a modest £3.95, was beautifully served with a raspberry coulis and a gorgeous brûlée-like crispy caramel top.

They offer a choice of custard, ice cream or cream with all puddings and the homemade ice cream was delicious. A brandy snap accompanied the ice cream which complemented the tangy tart beautifully.

Rodizio Rico is an authentic Brazilian ‘Churrascaria’ restaurant offering an unique food experience. The Birmingham Rodizio Rico is situated in the Cube, on the canal so you can watch the world go by as you enjoy the selection of grilled meats, including Picanha (rump cap steak), ribs, chicken wings, drumsticks and homemade pork sausages.

There are a range of cocktails and a wine list- so it is the perfect place to go to celebrate a birthday, finishing exams or any other occasion.

A friend and I went on Saturday evening and the place was packed. The atmosphere was great- really relaxing- with soft Brazilian music playing and people obviously enjoying their food and drink.

When we got to table we were offered cocktails- I had Sex on Copacabana- which was amazing! We were then told how Rodizio Rico worked- and were given a card. With this you can chose to either go green side up- if you want more meat, or red side up if you have had enough or just want a break. It was a really good idea.

Then you can visit the gourmet salad bar and fill your plate (leaving space for meat).

I would recommend the pork in mushroom sauce and the red cabbage with pineapple- both were incredible! The first meat we had was chicken wings. From then on the meat continued to appear. The rump steak and beef were particularly sublime. I would suggest trying a bit of everything.

Once we returned to the table we were

Food Writer

Food Writer

Their selection of specials and the lunch menu, with jacket potatoes, soup and baguettes makes a trip to this pub worthwhile.

Their homemade puddings are not to be missed and even better if you can take your parents when they come to visit so that your wallet doesn’t suffer. Located within the Jewellery quarter it is a pub worth visiting to explore another side of Birmingham you don’t usually see as a student.

greeted by a waiter who brought meat directly from the charcoal grill and carved it onto our plates.

Rodizio's is a carnivore’s delight and all you need is a hearty appetite as no meat craving is too big. Vegetarians are not forgotten with a menu of BBQ’ed vegetables, cheeses, breads and, of course, the extensive salad bar to choose from.

My friend said that if she went back she would have chosen to go for the vegetarian menu as she found the meat very filling, and a bit overwhelming. Rodizio Rico fulfills an eat as much as you like ethos, and with a lunch-time menu costing only £14.90, and a dinner menu costing £25 it really is worth a try.

Interview: Tall Poppy Foods Our reporter takes a morning to talk to the owner of Selly Oak's brand new, health food shop Millie Walker Food Editor

@millicent_x

Tall Poppy Foods is the favourite new food shop of students in Selly Oak. Situated on the Bristol Road opposite the Tesco petrol station, Tall Poppy Foods serves piping hot, Fairtrade coffee and hot chocolate as well as a dazzling range of muffins, cookies, wraps, soups, burgers and much much more.

I was lucky enough to be invited on Monday morning to speak with owner Erin about her company, her ethos and her plans for the future.

Turning up at the shop window in the pouring rain at 9am, I was ushered inside, offered coffee, breakfast and a seat in a little room behind the shop for our interview.

I must admit, rather sheepishly, that while I took the offer of a cappuccino gratefully, I declined the offer of a muffin on the personal opinion that it was a little early for food, a decision I later regretted that as we started to talk about the menu!

As readers will be aware, I’m an avid baker so my first question to Erin concerned the muffins, cupcakes, 'show-stoppers' and cookies that she makes by hand daily. Her flavours are always changing which means I have to keep taste testing (such a shame, I know) but having never tried baking a vegan cake before, I couldn’t imagine not using eggs. So, how does she

achieve such perfection?

‘It’s taken a lot of testing’ was the response; teamed with a laugh and the smile that remains on her face for the entire interview. Discussing recipes, I was suddenly struck by the fact that my cappuccino couldn’t possibly contain conventional milk and yet it was as good, if not better, than any coffee I’d had previously. Soya milk is the main alternative served at Tall Poppy Foods however almond milk is availiable for those wanting protein shakes and smoothie mixes - the shop is next to Shapeshifters so there is definitely a market for protein packed food and drinks.

"the coffee is divine and the new hot chocolate sublime" Once conversation finally, albeit reluctantly, moved from cake, we started to discuss the ethos behind the company. Erin and her family follow a vegan lifestyle and I asked how she felt about advertising that fact and whether she felt it was the most important aspect of her catering. The conclusion reached was almost instantaneous, 'People who follow a vegan lifestyle will find us by choice, everyone else simply

needs healthy food that tastes great’...and I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes people can be overwhelmed and put-off by the idea of food missing conventional ingredients so having the simple advertising but providing classic meals and tasty treats with a twist, attracts the widest audience possible...and my word does it work!

Tall Poppy Foods are currently in the UK’s Best Vegan Awards shortlist for ‘Best Caterer’ so we shall watch out for the results in the next month and hopefully I will be publishing a celebratory photograph and article. It certainly would be a great accolade for a company who have only been in Birmingham for three months. I asked Erin how she was enjoying being in Selly Oak ('very much!') and whether there were any plans to have a larger premises in the future. The replies were so positive that if you told me even next week there was a cafe up and running under the name Tall Poppy Foods, I'd honestly believe you!

Though logically I think there's a lot to take in for the moment without that added pressure.

Things are finally coming together for Erin after a brilliantly busy opening period. The new website went up on Monday and has a sophisticated edge, filled with photographs that make the mouth water just looking at them. The official menus should have been delivered by the time this article goes to print however I have had a sneaky look through the version online.

redbrick.me/food

25th - 31st October 2013

Crazy About Cake Hate the way your last bananas are too ripe to eat? Well cake is the answer!

Millie Walker Food Editor

To suggest ingredient issues that you want solved, email: food@ redbrickonine.co.uk

Ingredient Ideas

When you just don't know what to do with your last...

@millicent_x

I have quite a large family history of hoarding. Not that we use that term of course. We collect. We keep. We rescue. We store. We are in too deep to accept the negative connotations of the word ‘hoard’ and I fear that future generations of Walkers will suffer the same fate.

There’s a range of different things that we accumulate. One of my sisters (The Biscuit Monster) has a problem with purses; piles of purses sit within each other and are then tucked into bags, which are packed neatly into a box under her bed. Then there is a cupboard downstairs in our house, in which a great many sheets of carefully folded wrapping paper are stored, having been gathered up after birthdays. I know full well that the next time I make a scrapbook, I will require their pretty designs.

The rest of the house is a skillfully, albeit craftily, designed trinket box of beautiful objects that my Mum has amassed over the years. They’re masquerading as ornaments but reveling in their success at being salvaged. At the other end of the stockpiling spectrum, beyond all help and reason, is my Grandad. I honestly don’t believe my Nan Nan realises how much fishing tackle and gardening equipment is secreted away in their barn. How many good lengths of string and nice looking pieces of wood are accumulating in the workshop. How many old machines and miscellaneous parts are being preserved. How many books and jars and candles and bottles and tins are amassing on shelves, waiting for the inevitable day when someone, somewhere, will be glad they were saved.

We’re not messy magpies, we’re really very ordered as far as our treasure troves are concerned, but the sad fact of the matter is we simply refuse to throw things away.

Which is exactly how I ended up carrying three overripe, bin-bound bananas home from work with me the other night, absolutely determined that I would be able to use them for something. Low and behold, there

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was flour in my cupboard, eggs in the fridge, a few hours to unwind before bed and, before I could stop myself, the Banana Bonanza had arrived. It’s a large cake, suitable for sharing, very simple to make and really rather delicious - a shining example of the benefits of hoarding.

Ingredients 260g Butter 250g Light Muscavado Sugar 340g Self Raising Flour 3x Medium Eggs 2x Ripe Bananas 1tsp Cinnamon 50g Walnuts 75g Dates 75g Apricots

Method - Grease a 24cm tin and pre-heat the oven to 160C or for a Fan Oven 140C - Whisk the butter and sugar until light and fluffy - In a separate bowl whisk the eggs together - Add the eggs and the flour into the mix, stirring continuously - Roughly chop the fruit – scissors are often better than a knife for this - Add the fruit and cinnamon to the mix, stir until even and spoon into the tin - Bake for an hour, or until you succeed with the clean knife test Add a last layer of flavor by making a Toffee icing using 50g of icing sugar and a spoonful of toffee yoghurt.

Sweet Potato

01.

Soup Perfect for that warming autumn evening in. Add chilli flakes and ground ginger to frying onions and garlic for an original twist on the classic veggie soup. Stir in peeled sweet potato chunks and coconut milk before pouring on hot chicken stock and leave to simmer for 10 minutes (Recipe online.)

02.

Mash Probably the healthiest way to cook your last sweet potato.

Chop the potatoes into cubes and place in a pan of boiling water for around 5-7 minutes, then drain and mash with butter, salt and pepper.

03.

Cake burger which is delightfully unique and utterly delicious, inspired by Erin's time spent living in Thailand. The coffee is divine and the new hot chocolate is sublime. There is also a 10% discount for those who checkin while at the shop. Moving the conversation to one of my favourite topics – Halloween – Erin sheepishly says that she has been unsure whether or not to decorate her window but insists that there will be Halloween specials, I caught a whisper of pecan pie and pumpkin soup, but I wouldn’t want to excite anyone too soon. I continued to drop hints that decoration was essential so I challenge you all to look out for cobwebs at the window and bats hanging from the ceiling!

"I caught a whisper of pecan pie and pumpkin soup" We turned momentarily to plans for Christmas but, sensing Erin's excitement and knowing my potential to talk for hours on the subject, I moved back to the show stopper cakes visible on the website (www. tallpoppyfoods.co.uk).

‘They’re still going!’ she smiles, ‘I prefer to have people get in touch with me by

email to discuss the cakes though’ – presumably because the designs are extraordinary and very complex. With dozens of us turning 21 every month in Selly Oak I can certainly see an avenue for coming-of-age cakes.

Tall Poppy Foods are a gorgeous company and the staff are all behind the ethos of providing great tasting food that has the added benefits of being healthy and vegan.

‘We have pens in the kitchen and I came in to find staff doodling poppy designs onto the paper bags, it was brilliant’ Speaking to a member of staff later in the day, it was clear that she loved the business and was full of her own ideas and suggestions - not that Erin is lacking in them herself! Repeatedly we discuss ingredients and covered the fact that the coffee is Fairtrade, the produce organic, locally sourced and that everything is homemade.

Again and again we both return to this point, until I began to take it for granted and was shocked on returning to reality that food could possibly be anything other than 100% natural and locally produced.

Leaving Erin, I felt inspired and full of her infectious excitement for the future of Tall Poppy Foods. As students we're always looking out for the next big (food) thing and I can say quite easily, that this is it!

This will sound new and scary, but stick with me on this one: leftover sweet potato mash can be a fantastic ingredient for cakes and muffins. Recipe combinations include walnuts, brown sugar and nutmeg. For an extra springy and moist sponge, fold in a few dollops of buttermilk to the mixture before baking.

04.

Wedges My personal favourite. Roughly chop the potatoes (without peeling) and place in a roasting tin.

Drizzle with olive oil, and grind some black pepper and salt over the chunks. Sprinkle with rosemary and roast for 25 minutes in an oven heated at 200°C.

By Sabrina Dougall

Keep an eye on our onine edition for special Halloween recipes to try out next week!

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redbrick.me/music

25th - 31st October 2013

Music Live Review: Spector @ Hare & Hounds

Redbrick Meets: Editors

Greta Geoghegan

Amar Desai

At a ‘top secret’ afterparty (i.e. Snobs), we approached Spector frontman, Fred Macpherson, on the topic of this very review and received this insightful input: ‘Say the show was really good’. So we will. Not out of loyalty to Fred, or because he has excellent taste in shirts, but because their much anticipated return to Birmingham was in fact ‘really good’.

The smaller setting of Kings Heath’s Hare and Hounds was ideal for a band very keen on audience interaction. Having broken the ice with opening track ‘What You Wanted’, they launched into the first of their new material; the Dev Hynes produced single ‘Decade of Decay’, which has a darker Joy Division-esque vibe. By the time this faded into the anthemic ‘Twenty Nothing’, the crowd were fully lifted out of their previous stupor and ready for fan favourite ‘Friday Night, Don’t Ever Let It End’.

A series of tracks from their debut album, Enjoy It While It Lasts, followed and reminded everyone of the catchy choruses and memorable lyrics that they knew and loved. Fred declared his fondness for Birmingham with an impromptu ‘B-Town’ medley, essentially muttering 'Swim Deep and Peace' lyrics into his bottle of cider, and bigging up Birmingham support acts, Babypink and JAWS. The infectious ‘Upset Boulevard’ paved the way for ‘Celestine’ and the crowdsurfing finally began, much to Fred’s delight.

After all this excitement, the band decided to take it down a notch with the melancholy ‘Grim Reefer’, warning the crowd not to get too emotional. The witty and charismatic Fred soon returned as the sound of ‘Chevy Thunder’ filled the room.

We were then treated to a quick burst of ‘Something Inside So Strong’ before the inevitable climax of ‘Never Fade Away’.

With their captivating live presence and the promise of an ever-evolving style, 2014 is set to be spector-cular.

It's been an eventful year for Editors: their new album The Weight Of Your Love was their first since 2009's In This Light And On This Evening. The sound of The Weight Of Your Love starkly differed from its predecessor, with synthesisers and other electronics being substituted for a more stripped back, lo-fi sound. The band are currently in Spain as part of their European tour, and I was able to chat to bassist Russell Leetch about how everything's going of late for the Birmingham band.

Music Critic

@GretaGeoghegan

Music Critic

@AmarLikeHummer

"When we got into the studio all together it was refreshing. We could work properly again" 'Well it's 30 degrees today, so we'll be sitting outside and having some nice food later on,' Leetch tells me over the phone 'its a bit different from Birmingham.' As I stare out of my window in Pritchatt's House into the pouring rain, this sounds a little petty.

Nevertheless, I press on and ask him about how the band dynamic has changed since the departure of guitarist Chris Urbanowicz, and the arrivals of Justin Lockey and Elliot Williams.

'Although our recordings sessions on the first three albums were good, on this album we started to work with Flood again. We spent 8 weeks recording and nothing really worked. That experience was not very fun for anybody. So when we asked Chris to leave and got the two new members in, and when we got into the studio all together it was refreshing. We could work properly again.' He later explains that, on The Weight Of Your Love 'we wanted the songs to be a lot more pure and straightforward.'

However, the band didn't want to make rigidly formulaic music either. As Leetch states, 'Some fans would like it if we just sounded the same and continued writing records like The Back Room, but for any band to have a long and varied career they have to do things differently.'

One stand out track on The Weight Of Your Love, 'Formaldehyde' features soaring guitar figures and impassioned call and response vocals. With regards to the difficult, four year writing process behind the song 'Yeah it was really difficult for that song to come out the way it did... we were basically transforming it between the five of us, and it really shows the five of us working together well.'

The arrivals of Lockey and Williams clearly had a positive effect on the band as a whole 'Justin and Elliot being new in the band for a good year and a half now, its been a good experience, one to remember, because it helps a lot with how we've changed, and when we do another record that will really tell, especially with the actual sound, the promise we have together.' The success of the newfound chemistry showed as Russell

"Leetch's suggestions of a new album in the future and the band having a long and varied career should please Editors fans everywhere." told me more about 'Formaldehyde' 'We'd been frustrated by it a lot, and I'd certainly been willing to throw it away and do another song, but when we'd started working on it together, Justin came up with a riff, and Elliot came up with the answer vocal we thought 'Oh yeah this is definitely gonna work.'

Leetch's suggestions of a new album in the future and the band having a long and varied career should please Editors fans everywhere.

Essential Album: Talking Heads Remain in Light Tayler Meredith Music Critic

@taylermeredith

From its opening Yelp, to its dying moan Talking Heads’ fourth album, Remain in Light, is faultless. 'Faultless'— not in a quantifiable, paint-by-numbers sense, but in the way that suggesting otherwise would be a ludicrous assertion. Indeed, it would be incorrect to pick any fault with an album that shows such general disregard for pop conventions and utilizes the idiosyncrasies of the ‘mistake’. If Talking Heads’ contemporaries in 1980 are painting by numbers, then the New York foursome are finger painting on each others faces.

Emerging from the swirling cacophony of poly-rhythmic drum patterns, synthesizers and processed guitars is a general lyrical theme relating to the formation of the modern self in relation to the emerging ‘Global Village’. Just as the faces of the Heads are obscured to the point of anonymity on the cover of the record, David Byrne grapples with the notion of physical identity on ‘Seen And Not Seen’, enquiring into 'faces that might be right for him'.

Byrne eschews traditional front man etiquette in favour of his own absurdist style, most notably on album opener ‘Born Under Punches’ where he negotiates the blurred line between keen lyrical insight and incoherent babble. This continues onto stand out track ‘Once in a Lifetime’, in which Byrne assumes the position of existentialist preacher-man; 'How did I get here?' he cries, half ecstatic, half bemused.

The burgeoning egos that threatened to destroy the band following the release of 1979’s Fear of Music are instead compromised by the creative process adopted by the quartet which relied on informal ‘jamming’ sessions and heavy experimentation.

Producer and honorary Head, Brian Eno, compared such sessions to the feeling of 'looking out to the world and saying, 'What a fantastic place we live in. Let's celebrate it.' Remain in Light is a cause for celebration - self-consciously weird without being self-indulgent; experimental without feeling labored; arty without the added pretension.

To call it seminal would be to emphasise its historical influence on pop and to detract from its timeless quality as a piece of art.

To regard it as anything less than a work of art would be a crime.

25th - 31st October 2013

redbrick.me/music

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Tweet of the Week @LeeRyanMusic: There are so many people in the world I haven't met

Quadrophenia: A Retrospective 40 years on, writer Hannah Skolnick looks back at an album that shaped a cultural movement @hannahskolnick Start up your Vespa GS 160 and don your sharpest two-tone suite, as this week marks the 40th anniversary of The Who’s concept album, Quadrophenia.

This album, described by Pete Townsend as ‘the best music I’ve ever written... the best album I will ever write’ chronicles the journey of a typical London Mod in 1965.

However the scope and ambition of this project is far broader. Captured in the meaning of its title alone, Quadrophenia on one levels reflect the surround sound system upon which the record was recorded, whilst simultaneously reflecting a deeper psychological truth. Jimmy, our protagonist, has a mood disorder which manifests itself as four distinct personality extremes (hence ‘Quadro’-phenia), namely the tough guy, the romantic, the lunatic and the beggar. In turn, these personalities encompass the personalities of the individual member of The Who. Quadrophenia is, of course, also the inspiration and thematic driving force behind the 1979 film of the same name - time has rendered the two works inextricably linked.

And so, through Jimmy played fantastically by a young Phil Daniels, Quadrophenia gives us a glimpse into 1960s mod culture.

Sound-tracked perfectly by the eponymous album and some other gems from the era- notably ‘Louie Louie’ by The Kingsmen and the head-banging, sing-at-the-top-ofyour-lungs brilliance that is The Who’s ‘My Generation’ – we follow as Jimmy struggles with his identity: ‘I mean you gotta be somebody, ain’t ya, or you might as well jump in the sea and drown’. We follow as he argues with his parents, pops pills at house-parties and heads down to Brighton to riot against Rockers.

However, Quadrophenia does not mere-

ly document the fashions and misdeeds of the Mods during this time, rather its heart lies ultimately in Jimmy’s disillusionment.

Down and out in Brighton, Jimmy realises the futility of merely subscribing to this fad; this is exemplified by the song ‘Bell Boy’.

In this song, Jimmy sees the so-called ‘Ace Face’ –played by a very suave and magnificently cheek-boned Sting- out of context, and demoted. He is no longer cool and in control, but a subservient Bell Boy at a local hotel. Here Quadrophenia reaches it emotional and musical climax; with Jimmy riding his scooter along the White Cliffs of Dover, his thoughts, which are uttered aloud, coalesce with lyrics of ‘I’ve Had Enough’, ‘love reign o’er me’.

It is in this way that Quadrophenia is able to pack its enduring emotional punch. It explores themes of teenage angst, of loneliness and belonging, with delicacy and nuance. Unlike the creative vandalism that is ‘Tommy’- The Who’s first rock-opera (released on film in 1975) which follows the rise to fame of the ‘deaf, dumb and blind kid (sure plays a mean pinball)’- Quadrophenia has an elegance and maturity to it.

Ultimately, it is this that give Quadrophenia such longevity. From the Modfather himself to Britpop; from Bradley Wiggins’ sideburns to Punk (it is no coincidence that John Lydon of Sex Pistols and Country Life butter fame, was originally cast in the role of Jimmy), Quadrophenia has infused its influence throughout British music and culture. For those uninitiated in Mod-culture, this is the place to start and for those with more knowledge, this is the benchmark upon which to judge all other attempts to explore this subculture.

Live Review: Babyshambles @ O2 Academy Matt Moody Music Critic

@mattmoody17

If you’re fan of horrendous clichés and Tom Hanks, you might be tempted to liken Pete Doherty to a box of chocolates. As uninspired as you’d sound, you’d have a point: the man is so unpredictable that just his appearance on stage, less than hour late and holding his guitar the right way up, feels like a victory.

"Doherty's vocals are just about in tune, his guitar playing is pretty sloppy, and there's not much in the way of musicianship" Despite the considerably risky investment that is a ticket to a Doherty gig, the O2’s main room is sold out tonight, and there’s a party atmosphere unusual for a chilly October Monday. When the band take the stage, there’s a definite feeling that it could go either way; Pete stumbles on stage twenty minutes late, takes well over two minutes to adjust his guitar, and his lead guitar intro to opener and fan favourite

'Delivery' is well out of time. His slurred greeting of 'Hello the Custard Factory!' splits the crowd completely in half: cheeky, self-aware joke or drunken mistake? It’s hard to say.

As a former youth footballer, Doherty is probably familiar with the adage 'a game of two halves', and it applies here tonight - the gig’s first half is sketchy to say the least.

Doherty’s vocals are just about in tune, his guitar playing is pretty sloppy, and there’s not much in the way of musicianship. The frontman’s debauched antics worked so well in Libertines because of his chaotic onstage chemistry with former band-mate Carl Barât, but on occasion the rest of Babyshambles give off a slight air of irritation as Pete hurls his guitar across the stage at his roadie, or stops the show to flirt with girls in the crowd or light up a cigarette.

None of this bothers the loyal following here tonight, who would likely give Doherty a hero’s welcome if he strolled onstage and promptly passed out (stranger things have happened, after all). This means that when the band tighten up in the second half of the set and roll out the classics, the night takes a real turn for the better. At their best, Doherty and writing partner/lead guitarist Mick Whitnall really are excellent songwriters, and fan favourites 'Kilimanjaro', 'For Lovers 'and set closer 'Fuck Forever' are riotous good fun.

The incorporation of a few indie classics into the set is wildly popular with the crowd: Babyshambles’ own vaudevillian 'There She

"Say what you like about his chaotic personal life, but tonight's performance is a flawed triumph, and everyone here is glad he managed it" Goes' segues clumsily but charismatically into a cover of the eponymous anthem by The La’s, and a tease of Beck’s 'Loser' prompts a mass singalong that perhaps resonates more on a lyrical than musical level for Doherty. The band choose to exclude many softer numbers from the set tonight, and perhaps wisely – by this point Doherty is way too far gone to do them justice – and for this reason the touring brass and strings players often feel superfluous.

In 'Carry On Up The Morning', Doherty sings, 'it wasn’t easy/getting out of bed'. Say what you like about his chaotic personal life, but tonight’s performance is a flawed triumph, and everyone here is glad he managed it.

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redbrick.me/lifestyle

25th - 31st October 2013

Life & Style

Cupcakes & Cashmere: A Style Guide Interview with Emily Schuman Life & Style Writer Hannah Bussell speaks to Californian Blogosphere royalty, Emily Schuman, on fashion, blogging and opportunities for aspiring writers.

In March 2008, sociology and media graduate Emily Schuman started a fashion and lifestyle blog, with a predominant focus on food, crafts and clothes. She has become one of the most popular bloggers in the blogosphere and one of the first to partner with retail brands like Coach, where she designed a limited edition handbag which quickly became a sell out. With her thousands of daily blog readers, Emily’s next step was to write her own book and national bestseller, ‘Cupcakes and Cashmere: A Style Guide’.

As a Californian based, internet it-girl, Emily was able to transition a hobby into a full-time career, something a lot of us undergraduates hoping to get into journalism or fashion could only dream of. Having one's own fashion and lifestyle blog as not just a creative outlet but as an online portfolio of photography and writing is now more popular than ever.

So, I was lucky enough to ask the fashionista Emily Schuman about how new bloggers and undergraduate students can follow in her footsteps of success and do the same.

Best Dressed At Fab Pippa Rice

Life & Style Writer

Civil Engineering student, Rachel Stachan, works wonders by bringing together essential Summer and Autumn pieces for Fab this weekend.

She combines her ballet leotard with a Primark midi-skirt and New Look boots, finished off with Topshop accessories.

Stay tuned for more fabulous looks at Fab!

Q&A Do you have any tips on how to make your blog stand out amongst the rest and get noticed by potential employers?

I think the most important thing when it comes to writing is to find a topic about which you're passionate. Your best work will come that way and it won't feel forced or staged. When I first started Cupcakes and Cashmere I knew I wanted to write about both fashion and food, a niche that hadn't really been explored at the time. It almost felt like the two subjects were mutually exclusive prior to that, but I knew that if I was into both fashion and food other people probably felt the same. Be patient and open to progress, as developing your voice can take time. When I first began, I took more of an editorial approach, but the more I insert my personality and speak to my readers as though they're friends, it establishes an even greater connection.

Your blogging career has led to lots of amazing experiences such as designing a bag with Coach and working with Forever 21.

What has been your favourite opportunity that Cupcakes and Cashmere has created?

Writing a book was definitely the highlight of my career thus far (and I'm currently in the midst of my second book, all focused on the home). It was a terrifying and humbling experience, but when it became a national bestseller, it was the most rewarding moment in my professional life.

Undergraduates keen to gain some experience in the journalism/ fashion industry often turn to successful bloggers such as yourself for work experience opportunities. Have you considered expanding your Cupcakes and Cashmere team to include interns or work experience placements?

Yes, we've had two interns at Cupcakes and Cashmere, one of whom is now a full-time employee. She exhibited all of the ideal traits in a potential employee - she's proactive, motivated, eager to learn, enthusiastic, has great energy, and is a hard worker.

As a college student was fashion as important to you as it is now?

Did you make any major fashion faux pas during your university years?

I wasn't all that interested in fashion when I was in college. I had plenty of mistakes, everything from poorly dyed hair (an unfortunate brassy blonde color) to platform flip-flops. I got my act together at my first job, at Conde Nast publications. Working for a magazine and being surrounded by so many fashionable women was great inspiration.

What is your advice for a fashionista on a students budget?

Invest in a couple of staples - like a bag and a great pair of shoes (whether it's a pair of flats or heels) and then from there, take advantage of places like H&M, Forever 21, and Zara for affordable basics.

Fighting the Freshers Five Katarina Bickley tells us three ways to shed the Freshers pounds without having to trek it to the gym, yay!

Home workouts Exercise without having to move from your own flat! Plus it won't cost you a penny and you don't have to worry about the weather. So no excuses really! Make a list of ten circuit exercises such as a 30 second plank, running on the spot for 1 minute, 50 sit ups, that sort of thing, then repeat the routine through a few times.

Make your friends do it with you so that you can motivate each other, get some Beyoncé pumping, have your sweatbands at the ready and you're good to go. Worth ending up on Spotted for.

Join a sports team You don't have to be a future Olympian -many of the sports teams at UOB have development squads and there are casual sports clubs such as Cool Runnings. Any excuse to go to Sports night.

Go for a run The four words you dread to hear, but running is really very good for you. And now there are exercise stations on both the Vale and in Selly if you want to spice up your standard run, plus apps which tell you how many Roosters you've burned off. Drag a friend along so that you can endure the pain together.

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21

Fierce Halloween The one time a year when you can go to a party with make up down your face and people think you've made an effort!

Late-night chats Yes, you've got a nine o'clock start, but some conversations are just too good to miss!

Birmingham's Hidden Gems Sophie Palmer and Sophie Tollet discover Birmingham's favourite retro entertainment venue Winter term is now well underway and the long, dark nights are drawing ever closer.

Returning to a damp, cold student house after a long day, where heating is a rare luxury, is not a tempting prospect. There is always Vodbull...but fighting through the endless flow of sweaty people and dancing to repetitive trashy tunes might have lost its appeal by now.

There is, however, another option that could cure the winter blues that come with the onslaught of fresher’s flu and tiredness that drags down this part of term. Just a short train ride away, tucked behind the back of the Bullring, lies the UK’s oldest working cinema. Its cosy, art deco vibe invites you to return to a time where watching a film was much more of an occasion, a place where you can escape from the outside world in comfort and style. For instance, we first saw

The Great Gatsby at The Electric, when our surroundings provided the perfect backdrop for the decadence we were watching on screen. The lines of vintage velvet chairs and snug sofas provide excellent seating, where thoughts of a numb bum are left at those uncomfortable, cramped viewings in Cineworld.

This quirky cinema, specialising in live theatre broadcasts and mainstream films, provides a completely different experience to your average film viewing. This month The Electric is broadcasting an array of plays by the RSC and the National Theatre, as well as the less trashy current films, such as Filth, Captain Phillips and Blue Jasmine.

Gone is the sticky, overpriced popcorn of the Odeon and in its place is a fully licensed bar offering an array of tantalising wines, beers and (for the brave) traditional, Parisian

absinthe. The Electric also offers homemade cakes, ice creams and miniature ramekins filled with sweets. What’s more, customers can text the bar from the cinema and their order will be delivered to their seat. Whoever came up this idea should be given some sort of prize, as having wine delivered during a film is a fantastic experience.

Each visit to The Electric will set you back only a fiver (with your student card) and you can still grab your ticket for half price with Orange Wednesday. Drinks and snacks are perhaps cheaper at The Soak but still considerably less than at mainstream cinemas. So, say goodbye to the crowded, stuffy Odeon with its pervasive smell of popcorn. Revolutionise your cinema experience this week and head down to The Electric.

True Vintage?

Le Keux's Vintage Salon Hattie Grew

Life & Style Writer

It’s safe to say that we all like to think of ourselves as amateur vintage lovers, dibbling and dabbling in the old vintage china tea party, fit with jam sandwiches and cupcakes. Since the appearance of Singer sewing machines in All Saints, Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood and Benefit Cosmetics we’re more aware than ever of this prominent 'mainstream vintage' trend! But what of the real vintage lovers, who were there at the dawn of this new retro fascination?

Hidden behind the backdrop of Birmingham’s Custard Factory is Lynsey Le Keux’s The Vintage Salon, a one stop shop to everything 50’s! Lynsey’s business was born in 2007, before such things were 'trendy', when she struggled sourcing materials for her own vintage wedding. Realising this gap in a niche market, Le Keux Events offered a vintage wedding planning service. After much success she further invested in her own 50’s make up bar, promoting the “full vintage” experience: think roller skates, polka dots and victory rolls! The salon now offers make overs for parties, photo

shoots or a drop in styling service for the daring dater! The company

"The full vintage experience: think roller skates, polka dots and victory rolls!" has even created its own cosmetics range, which gives Soap & Glory and Benefit a run for their money.

Formulated by specialists to give a truly authentic look, this is a definite must for the inner retro! There are even links to YouTube tutorials and application guides from the stylists themselves! The company advertises itself as one for 'retrobsessed guys and gals' and certainly does not fail to deliver for whatever occasion. One of Birmingham’s well kept secrets, and well worth a visit (especially if you’ve always wished you could travel back to 1950’s America!)

I'm a Celebrity Ant and Dec's cheeky smiles are back on our screens in November. Is it going to be cultured? Of course not. Is it going to be entertaining? Hell yeah!

Primark Christmas Jumpers They're cheap, they're cheesier than a bag of Wotsits, and they make you want to belt out 'Merry Christmas Everyone' already! What's not to love?

Clothes Show Live 2013 It's only a few weeks to go now, and the thought of fashion, a catwalk show and loads of free goodies all at the NEC is enough to make anyone feel light-headed!

Torrential rain Because we're not ducks. And walking through a lake on the pavement in your new shoes isn't much fun.

Tartan overload The tartan trend is everywhere at the moment, and done right, it can look amazing. But head to toe tartan? You're starting to look a bit like a picnic blanket!

Coughing in lectures We get it, you're dying. But we didn't struggle out of bed just to hear you cough up a lung!

Cold nights out The months when you could walk out in a small dress and heels are over. Now you can either freeze to death or pay extra for the cloakroom - and neither one is particularly appealing.

Too many flyers One leaflet is fair game. Getting offered the same thing four times a day? Just plain annoying.

By Bethany Barley

Finished

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redbrick.me/film

25th-31st October 2013

Film

Based on a true story?

Critic Charlie Moloney discusses whether films based on actual events depict the truth

Review: Machete

Details Release date: 11th October 2013 Director: Robert Rodriguez Cast: Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega, Mel Gibson Running time: 107 minutes

´´´´´ Ben Jackson Online Film Editor

'Based on a true story' is a slogan that most audiences are now used to taking with a pinch of salt, and that’s probably a good thing. Would watching Mark Zuckerburg simply coding programs for two hours have been entertaining in The Social Network?

Even something as incredible as the Indian Ocean tsunami in The Impossible couldn’t make a film entertaining without some Hollywood drama occurring in its wake. We all know that once something has passed through Hollywood, it’s going to have a good helping of special effects, unlikely dialogue, and a Hollywood A-lister playing the hero. So why are the media pretending that the inaccuracies in Captain Phillips come as some sort of surprise.

"We all know that once something has passed through Hollywood, it's going to have an A-lister playing the hero."

The New York Post has branded Captain Phillips 'a big lie', and for the crew who sailed with the real Captain Richard Phillips, the film was intolerable. They are suing the Maersk line and the Waterman Steamship Corp. (who employed Phillips) for $50 million on the grounds that their captain put them in unnecessary danger. Their attorney, Deborah Waters, said 'the crew had begged Captain Phillips not to get so close to the Somali Coast'.

One aspect of the film that the real life crew particularly take issue with is that in the film Captain Phillips is played by Tom Hanks as a hero, and an inspirational leader.

In the film Phillips proves his worth by giv-

ing himself up and agreeing to go with the Somali pirates in a lifeboat in exchange for his crews’ safety. Similarly, Richard Phillips (the real one) admitted that 'I was already a hostage'. In reality, chief engineer Mike Perry captured the pirate leader, Muse, and used him as a bargaining chip to try and get back the captured Phillips, but during the exchange in the film, the pirates grabbed their hostage and made off with Phillips.

Deborah Waters argued 'it is galling for them (the crew) to see Captain Phillips set up as the hero. It is just horrendous and they are angry'.

The crew got a rough deal, clearly, as those who co-operated in the film were paid as little as $5000 and had to sign non-disclosure agreements regarding what really happened, which shows that the film production team knew that they weren’t telling the truth.

So when director Paul Greengrass says 'I’m 100% satisfied that the picture we present of these events in the film, including the role played by Captain Phillips, is authentic', that’s purely PR. Does this really make the film controversial? Of course the crew members feel hard done by, and as crew member Colin Wright points out 'Mike Perry did so many great things but they don’t make a Mike Perry movie'. However, Greengrass defended his film, saying 'when looked at overall, the film does acknowledge the admirable contributions of all crew members and of specific individuals'. So what is it really that the crew want? Perhaps they fancied themselves for the title role in the film. Dr John A.C. Carter, a maritime expert who is working against the crew in the lawsuit, put their complaints down to 'sour grapes'.

Should we, the audience, feel cheated by this presentation of what happened off the Somali coast? Although the team behind the film can’t outright say it, for fear of more negative press, they never intended to repro-

duce exactly what happened in real life.

Tom Hanks said that when he went to meet Phillips before filming he said 'I’m going to say things you never said and I’m going to be places you never were'. Fictionalising is part of the process; after all, it’s not like the film makers were there at the time, so what they produce is just going to be an interpretation of what happened, through the eyes of the people that they interviewed.

The media has chosen to be outraged by the inaccuracies in the film, but this seems to be nonsensical when you consider that the film is a story, and every story that has ever been told has been told for entertainment purposes. To be entertaining, a story usually sticks to a tried and tested formula for storytelling which entails that one of the characters needs to be a hero: a likeable, idyllic figure that an audience can root for.

"A film is a story... and every story that has ever been told has been told for entertainment purposes."

Think of the legend of the Trojan War, which has survived for thousands of years.

The story, most notably reproduced by Homer in The Iliad, is historically inaccurate to the point where it is a legend, but it’s packed full of fantastic heroes who excite our imaginations in a way that real life never could.

It is not unexpected that the makers of the film chose the captain of the ship to be their hero, and the decision seems justified when we consider, as Greengrass does, that 'he (Phillips) faced a dreadful challenge that day, in the middle of the ocean far from help'.

Machete started life as a joke trailer by Robert Rodriguez, included in his and Tarantino’s Grindhouse project. So perfectly hilarious was that two minute segment, that it became Machete and now, Machete Kills.

The film follows Danny Trejo’s Mexican fighting machine, as he beheads and otherwise mutilates his way through a ridiculous plot to destroy the world. The tone is set immediately with a further ‘joke’ trailer for a threequel; Machete Kills Again In Space. The laughs at times like this come thick and fast, particularly at the comment 'Rated X for cigarette use, prolonged sex and space violence.'

For all intents and purposes, the film is a nudge and a wink to everyone who is meanwhile enjoying the sex and violence, an excellent formula Rodriguez has used for most of his recent career

"A lot of jokes fall flat, but they shouldn't."

The problem is, frankly, he’s now got too much cash. With an obviously large budget to splash around, we no longer view the exploitation through cracked, grainy reels. Instead, the bombs and locations and super-real plot invasions are shot in high-definition, writ large and obnoxious.

The casting is great, with highlights being the multiple actors playing El Camaleón, and Mel Gibson. However, the same visual problem prevails. These aren’t actors getting their hands dirty and winknudging their way through a meta-grindhouse film. Mel Gibson looks as well-defined as ever. They’re worth a few excellent jokes but when, like Mel, they’re left to carry too much plot, it’s to miss Rose McGowan and Freddy Rodriguez.

A lot of jokes fall flat, but they shouldn’t. If only Rodriguez had gone allin, this would have been as funny as the trailer, four years ago.

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Film News Daisy Edwards Critic

The New York Times bestseller The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is being converted from page to screen and is still in production. The film will follow the story of Hazel Lancaster, played by Shailene Woodley, a teenager with terminal cancer whilst showing how she deals with day-today life.

Following suit with the other Marvel films, Thor: The Dark World will involve two credit clips, one mid-way through and another at the end. Journalists who have attended private screenings have commented that Marvel make up for the poor credit clip that featured in Iron Man 3.

Review: Captain Phillips Paul Greengrass brings the real life events of a Somalian hijacking to the big screen, with Tom Hanks in the film's title role

Details

´´´´´ Jay Crosbie Critic

Release date: 18th October 2013 Director: Paul Greengrass Writer: Billy Ray (Screenplay) Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman Running time: 134 minutes Certificate: 12 IMDB Rating: 8.0 Watch if you're a fan of: Flight, Money Ball, The Bourne Trilogy Tagline: Out here survival is everything

Despite the banality of its title, Captain Phillips is a multidimensional, taut and accomplished film, attentively exploring the cause and effect of Somalian piracy.

Unfolding with a malicious sense of pace we track Phillips’ story from the initial hijacking to the film’s gut wrenching finale with the almost journalistic gusto we've come to expect from Greengrass.

Based on actual events, Captain Phillips follows the events that unfolded in April 2009 after a group of Somalian pirates hijacked the MV Maersk Alabama cargo ship. Led by a Somalian fisherman turned pirate; Muse.

When the original theatrical poster came to light, many questioned the film's racial legitimacy: a terrified Tom Hanks with a barbaric Muse lurking in his rear view, glaring threateningly towards the audience. It was a deceptively basic and questionable poster, presenting the film more as a racially suspect horror film than a politically neutral cross-examination of a current world affair.

But any racial suspicion provoked by the poster is laid to rest from the first scenes, as it seeks to draw parallels between Muse’s and Captain Phillips’ world.

By exploring the territory around piracy, Greengrass dismantles any idea of the ‘faceless enemy’ through a delicate balancing act that creates antagonists who are as fully developed as the protagonist. It becomes more of an exercise in anxiety-driven tension than an ‘Us VS. Them’ political face-

off. Greengrass marshals the tension through his insidious camera movements. Constantly jerking with panic and flaring with dread, he retains stylistic traits seen in his previous films; the Bourne films not being exempt.

The film gently escalates the tension through skittish editing. Nothing ever remains stationary, the camera work seeks to exacerbate the uneasiness of its audience.

More often than not, Greengrass’ direction lays out the emotional ground he’ll demand us to cover.

"Hanks undoes every action hero cliché out there."

Tom Hanks provides the film with its mortal soul. By administering his 'man appeal', he sabotages your expectations of the protagonist, showing how the character is thrown into the terrifying situation in a similar, unsuspecting manner to that of the audience. In front of our eyes, Hanks undoes every action hero cliche out there and reveals a sort of rare, human fragility that the silver screen rarely captures. This singular moment of shock and relief could arguably be Hank’s defining moment as an actor.

Captain Phillips is built as conscientiously as a film can be, but the emotional trauma it leaves in its wake echoes Zero Dark Thirty. In both cases a shocked, violated hero breaks down and we’re left helplessly in the wings, witnessing the birth of the rarest form of hero: The human one.

In London Film Festival news, the Best Picture award went to Pawel Pawlikowski's Ida. Meanwhile, the Best Newcomer award was given to screenwriter Jonathan Asser, and Christopher Lee tearfully accepted the British Institute Fellowship award from surprise guest, Johnny Depp.

Rumours have been leaked that Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin is in talks with Steven Spielberg for the upcoming Jurassic World, set to be released in June 2015. This news comes only days after Bryce Dallas Howard's name was dropped in reference to another lead role.

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25th - 31st October 2013

Science & Technology

Physics:

No

The Theory of How Particles Acquire Mass Science and Technology Editors Soumya Perinparajah and Claire Harris explain the work behind this year's Nobel Prize for Physics.

Who are they? Why did they win?

Peter Higgs (King’s College London and University of Edinburgh) and François Englert (Université Libre de Bruxelles).

They received the award for their theory describing the origin of mass in subatomic particles.

What did they do?

In 1964, they both independently proposed this theory as part of the Standard model of particle physics. According to this model, everything on Earth is made up of matter particles, which only gain mass when in contact with an invisible field. The existence of

this field was confirmed last year upon discovery of the Higgs Boson particle via the Large Hadron Collider at the CERN laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Higgs particle originates from this invisible field without which we would not exist, and its discovery is the missing piece of the Standard model puzzle.

b

i r P l e

What’s in store for the future?

Although the Standard model is now complete, it only covers visible matter, which accounts for only one fifth of all matter in the cosmos. The next step for scientists at CERN is to try and untangle the remaining mysteries surrounding dark matter and energy.

"I am overwhelmed to receive this award" Peter Higgs

Chemistry:

The Development of Multiscale Models for Complex Chemical Systems Writers Beth Carney and Yvonne Malewski explain the important scientific contributions made by this year's winners of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

Who are they? Why did they win?

In the 1970s, Arieh Warshel (University of Southern California), Martin Karplus (Université de Strasbourg and Harvard University) and Michael Levitt (Stanford University School of Medicine) developed computer modelling software that would change the future of chemistry experiments forever.

What did they do?

Before this there had been two main theories behind chemistry modelling software: classical and quantum physics. The former was based on Newtonian physical theories and could only simulate large & Warshel: Publish the first 1970 Levitt paper showing the

mixing of classical and quantum physics. Karplus & Warshel: Meet at Warshel's lab at Harvard.

molecules at a state of rest. This meant that it couldn’t simulate a real chemical reaction. The latter was based on the quantum mechanics; this provided a more realistic system, but was too simple for modelling chemical reactions.

Although potentially a better, more advanced software it required an enormous amount of power for even the simplest reactions. The software they invented combined the features of the two previous models and eliminated their limitations. Results published in 1979 described the first computerized model of an enzymatic reaction.

Why is it important?

Due to their ground-breaking work, scientists all over the world can simulate possible reaction pathways to find the most plausible route before getting messy in a lab. This technique has become imperative in modern day science - by allowing a new perspective on interactions between molecules during a reaction, advances in drug design and the optimisation of catalysts have been possible.

to ‘see’ molecules, allowing us to really delve deep into the workings of science. By being able to observe molecular reactions on catalysts, we can refine fuel cells.

By viewing interactions of molecules in biology, we can improve pharmaceuticals. We can be a step closer to a greener planet, a step closer to healthier living and a step closer to bridging the gap between practical and theoretical science.

What’s in store for the future?

This research has been fundamental, and the contribution made by these laureates is evident in many aspects of science. Using a computer, it is possible for the naked eye

"the contribution made

by these laureates is evident in many aspects of science"

Awarded the Nobel the first Publish a programme 1972 Publish 1976 2013 Prize for Chemistry. paper showing backwhich models any Karplus & Warshel:

ground reactions. However, the computer model only handles small and symmetrical molecules.

Levitt & Warshel:

sized molecule. First computerised model of enzymatic reaction.

This week look at the laureates a award-win research...

25th - 31st October 2013

redbrick.me/tech

iz e s 2

Medicine or Physiology: Machinery regulating vehicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells

13

k we take a e Nobel and their nning .

0

25

Amelia Perry Writer

Who are they? Why did they win?

James Rothman (Yale University), Thomas Südhof (Stanford University) and Randy Schekman (California University) for their discovery surrounding machinery involved in regulation of vesicle transport around cells - the human body’s very own protein ‘postal service’.

What exactly is vesicle transport?

A vesicle is a small membranewrapped container that is ‘pinched’ off the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, the organelle responsible for the synthesis of all proteins within the body. The nature of the vesicle ensures the precious cargo within is protected from cellular conditions and that it is correctly targeted. It is a very precise process that relies on both strict timing and accurate directions, to ensure the delivery of important molecules to different areas in the cell such as the Golgi, lysosomes or the plasma membrane. Once they reach their target address, the vesicles fuse and expel their contents; be it a hormone into the bloodstream, a neurotransmitter between nerves or a digestive enzyme released to catalyse a reaction. In this way, vesicle

Peace:

transport is essential for many of the life-sustaining processes within our bodies, and disruptions to this system can have devastating effects, leading to various diseases which, in extreme cases, can be fatal.

What were the ground-breaking discoveries?

Since the 1970s, Schekman has been investigating the effects of faulty vesicle transport in yeast cells, a commonly used model organism. Through looking at mutant individuals, he was able to identify three key classes of genes vital in controlling different aspects of the transport system, giving an insight into the machinery associated with its complex regulation.

Rothman’s discovery of a protein complex involved in the docking and fusion process of vesicle transport helps us to further understand how molecules are targeted specifically to particular sites. Vesicle coat identity varies and proteins on the coat acts as an ‘address label’ through which complementary proteins present on target membranes can bind. In this way, it acts as a ‘zippering’ mechanism, in order to bring vesicles close enough for fusion to occur.

How vesicle fusion is controlled was largely unknown until Südhof’s finding of a calciumsensitive protein, which responded to influxes of calcium ions that aids in the expulsion of vesicle contents. His study involving nerve

cells is particularly useful as it may help to answer questions surrounding neurobiological disorders.

Importance for medicine?

Defects in any area of vesicular transport can have massive implications on the human body. As well as being responsible for nerve cell communication, it also plays a vital role in the immune response, for example in recruiting white blood cells. Metabolic disorders such as diabetes are also linked to failures in hormone secretion, specifically insulin. Therefore, the discoveries of Rothman, Schekman and Südhof have opened up many possibilities with regards to prospective medical treatments.

"My first reaction was, 'Oh my God'.

That was also my second reaction"Randy Schekman

Extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons Hannah Findley Writer

The Nobel Prize for Peace has been awarded to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) 'for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.' OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü called it 'a great honour.' A global ban on chemical weapons came into force in 1997 with the Chemical Weapons Convention and since then the OPCW has worked to rid the world of chemical weapons. Earlier this year the organisation was called to work in an active war zone for the first time, to oversee the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria.

However, the awarding committee stressed that they also wanted to recognise the 'quiet determination' the team had shown for the last

sixteen years, as they worked away from the spotlight to rid the world of chemical weapons. The Prize also comes with about £750,000 of prize money, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said that recent events in Syria had 'underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons.'

Interestingly, the Nobel committee also chose to criticise Russia and the US for missing a deadline in April 2012 to destroy their chemical weapons arsenals. Other countries who have declared they still have chemical weapons include Iraq and Libya, and there are over 8 million items awaiting destruction.

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redbrick.me/travel

25th - 31st October 2013

Travel

A guide to the very best of travel literature Rebecca Maynard suggests 9 books to get you in the mood for travelling... @bexmaynard 'First They Killed My Father' – Loung Ung If you don’t know anything about the Khmer Rouge’s regime in Cambodia then this is the place to start. We follow Loung’s journey from precocious, spoilt 5-year-old growing up in an upper-middle class family through to the Khmer Rouge takeover, where her family must conceal their past in fear of being labelled as traitors. The book allows us an insight into what it is like to be lost and angry, to starve and to watch your family die. It contains an unparalleled amount of heartbreak in just three-hundred pages.

'Pretty Woman Spitting' – Leanne Adams Adam’s, in this autobiographical work, captures perfectly the extreme unfamiliarity of China for a visitor. When she goes off to teach in a small city in the middle of nowhere she has no idea what she is getting herself into. From unexpected encounters with foreign delicacies to dealing with unruly schoolchildren, she manages to bring a fresh spin to every well-worn traveller tale. It has a surprisingly sad ending that brings the story beyond the humour of her tale to the real heart of China and the problems that a Westerner can experience out there.

'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' – Rachel Joyce Harold Fry lived a very normal life. He got up, went to work, went home, had dinner and went to bed. And then one day a letter arrives, a letter that gets him up out of the chair he’s sat in since he retired and into a walk, a walk against the odds from the very bottom of England to the very top.

Lack of map, special equipment and planning might not be your typical travel-writing fodder by any means, but if you need the inspiration to get up and go, to see the world, then this is the book you should read.

'Down Under' – Bill Bryson If you’ve never read one of Bryson’s books before, now is the time; pick any! If you have, you’ll know what a treat you’re in for. In ‘Down Under’, Bryson writes about the Aussie way of life in a witty, frank and insightful way. The bits where the humour seems to flow most naturally - when he’s not deliberately trying to crack a joke - are the best.

And while you laugh along, be prepared to learn about the Prime Minister who disappeared, the 1001 types of flora and fauna that will kill you and the history of one of the most weird and wonderful continents on Earth.

'Travels With Charley' – John Steinbeck 'When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch.'

As you would expect, Steinbeck’s tale of his travels across America with just his dog for company is so beautifully painted it's as if you are next to him the whole way. He brings a very subtle humour into the story and with this, combined with his frank and truthful account of his experiences, you can’t help but see the sincerity behind his words and discover a wish to see the country for yourself.

'The Beach' – Alex Garland The definition of a page turner, traveller Richard and his two friends are on the hunt to find a perfect, unspoilt corner of Thailand; an ‘Eden’ away from the hustle and bustle of the thousands of tourists. An easy but compelling read, we follow Richard and his friends as they discover an island, already populated by a small camp of international peoples committed to its secrecy. At first, things seem perfect but as outside pressures are felt among the community things become strained. Richard’s own personality flaws turn him into a danger to himself and the people around him with devastating consequences.

'Our Man in Havana' – Graham Greene A raucous satire, one of the funniest books on this list.

Greene’s laugh-out-loud novel uses every trick in a comedian’s handbook to subtly poke fun at intelligence operatives during the Cold War. Set in Havana, Cuba during the Fulgencio Batista regime, you want nothing more than to transport yourself back in time to experience the great opulence of the culture Greene describes for yourself. Our protagonist, James Wormold, is a middle-of-the-road businessman who finds himself recruited to MI6. He is offered generous rewards in exchange for foreign secrets. A tale of escalating lies, suspicion and murder, Greene masterfully manipulates the characters into a satisfying conclusion that exposes the sheer ridiculousness of British intelligence gathering.

'Cycling Home From Siberia' – Rob Lilwal An inspiring read that made me a little embarrassed to have had such a comfortable time using conventional methods of transport on conventional routes around the world. Lilwal’s is a heroic tale of positivity through some amazingly tough challenges. From Russia to Japan, Afghanistan to New Guinea, he travels the world, capturing the hearts of the people he meets with his story. The hospitality he receives around the globe just goes to show what a wonderful and small world we live in and how we can always connect, however different our lives may seem, through our faith, kindness and curiosity.

'A Year In The Merde' – Stephen Clarke A story that reminds you that you don’t need to go far to see a whole different side of life. Paul West’s trials and tribulations when he moves to Paris to open an English tearoom are reminiscent of tales you’d hear from much further afield – language barriers and culture shocks can happen anywhere. It’s a delightful, lighthearted romp of a novel, a book that certainly doesn’t take itself too seriously. West learns the Parisian ways: 'Paris is a great place to live if you are a shark. If they give you shit, bite them in half.' The only things people love more than holidays is strikes, and the only thing they love more than strikes is love, finding a great flat, falling in love with its owner and moving in. In fact by the end of it I couldn’t tell if it was a story or a handbook.

Brum students abroad Your chance to find out what those pesky year abroad students are getting up to. This week we hear from Stephanie Young...

Last year I fell in love with Berlin. This year I’m spending my year abroad here and remain madly in love.

Berlin isn’t quite like any other European city; the fact that you can get a bottle of wine for €2 and rent cheaper than Selly Oak is in itself a dream (as a student and used to Cotswold prices, I don’t think the novelty of cheap alcohol will ever wear off). But delve further into the depths of the city and you find a place constantly changing, still discovering its own identity. It can take people a while to grasp the city, but I genuinely feel completely at home; you only have to be here on 'Tag der Deutschen Einheit' celebrating the reunification of Germany along with 100 real Berliners of all ages dancing in a tunnel under a bridge to truly understand

alternative as it ever was. And oh so hipster it hurts. But interestingly there are subtle changes occurring along the Spree River.

Property developers are moving in on the scene and closing down the very same grimy converted warehouse clubs which entice so many of us. Seedy, eat your heart out. The phenomenon dubbed 'Clubsterben' (club death) is a very real consequence of property developers cashing in on the Berlin allure, which begs the question as to whether the prices will finally start to rise? Is Berlin gradually cashing in and selling 'Zusammengehörigskeitsgefühl' (closest translation: a feeling of togetherness).

Where else but Germany is there one word to express such an emotion?

You’d think the Berlin hype would be over by now, yet it is still as cool, edgy and

"You can get a bottle of wine for ¤2 and rent cheaper than Selly Oak."

out?

Who knows, but in the meantime all I can say is that I’m going to keep riding the S-Bahn, eating currywurst and watching bearpit karaoke every Sunday at Mauerpark.

Only time will tell if my love affair will last (but I’m pretty confident it will).

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redbrick.me/travel

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Spotlight on: Cambodia Thailand may be the most popular student travelling destination, but Sara Tryon gives some much needed attention to its incredible neighbour.

Thailand’s underrated neighbour conceals a wealth of hidden gems that no visitor to the region should miss. Learn to think in two currencies at once, meet a people who remain friendly and accommodating despite years of adversity and enter into a perfect whirlwind of culture, history, partying and serenity.

Siem Reap remains the country’s third biggest city, but with a population of less than 150,000 it provides a manageable starting point. It will also undoubtedly be your base to visit the legendary temples of Angkor Wat which truly are an experience not to be missed. A one-day ticket will set you back about $20, but no visit to the country is complete without it. The temples are breath-taking both in extraordinary magnitude and miniature detail, and its 500 acre site is not to be underestimated. You can hire a tuk-tuk driver to escort you for a day, or hire bicycles if you feel up to it, but walking is only an option for the brave! Sunset and sunrise visits are also popular if the weather is clear and be sure to follow any day in Siem Reap with a night on Pub Street.

The representatively named strip features numerous bars and clubs filled with travellers, cheap buckets and 50 cent beer which is guaranteed give you a night to remember. Or not.

Once the ‘Pearl of Asia’, Phnom Penh is now a bustling hub with ten lanes of mopeds travelling in either direction.

shacks meet the sand and hostels crawl back along the roads. Sihanoukville undoubtedly takes the prize for Cambodia’s most laid-back town, so head down to one of the many beach bars and enjoy a fruit shake in the sun, a mojito at dusk or a 25 cent beer as you dance the night away upon the sand. A whiskey bucket will cost all of about $1, but don’t expect real buckets anywhere on the beach – instead you’ll have a sawn-off soft drink bottle which all adds to the chilled-out charm of the area. During the days, make like the reps and head to Otres Beach to catch a stunning sunset and a more secluded spot in which to nurse your hangover. After a cultural and historic focus in Cambodia’s bustling cities, Sihanoukville will offer a much needed break. Crashing waves and golden sands offer a pictureperfect end to your Cambodian adventure, and a visit is essential before developers are also seduced by its endless charm.

With a street numbering system that only a mathematical genius can decipher, the capital holds a particular charm as Cambodia’s only real city, boldly rearing its head above the rural expanses of the rest of the country. The city has much to offer from lively bars and clubs to good food, and even the opportunity to shoot decommissioned firearms. A perception of the horrors of the country’s recent past can be found through a harrowing, yet essential, visit to The Choeung Ek Killing Fields and Choeung Ek Genocidal Center. An understanding of the genocide that devastated the country only forty years ago provides a fundamental insight into the fibre of Cambodian society and is crucial for an understanding of Cambodian values today. Be sure to get

"Once the ‘Pearl of Asia’, Phnom Penh is now a bustling hub with ten lanes of mopeds travelling in either direction.'

"Open-front wooden shacks meet the sand and hostels crawl back along the roads." the audio guide at the site for a tasteful yet meticulous account of the events of the Khmer reign.

Most young travellers will find themselves drawn towards Serendipity Beach, where open-front wooden

The 5...

Prettiest places you didn't realise were right on your doorstep Anna Hughes Travel Writer

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Kilchern Castle, Scotland This haunting and mystical looking castle can be found hidden in the vast hills of Loch Awe surrounded by the large lake.

The Peak District The Peak District is the perfect place to go for gorgeous landscapes and scenery as it provides us with views that you definitely won’t find sat in your local park.

Luskentyre beach, Isle of Harris With its clear sea, pale sand and mountain backdrop you could be fooled into thinking this was an exotic beach abroad but this award winning beach is actually found in Scotland.

Portmeirion Situated in North Wales, Portmeirion is an unusual, individual and quirky village inspired

by Italian style and design, making it far from average.

Scafell Pike, Cumbria Peaking at 978 metres, Scafell Pike is one of Britain’s largest mountains and undoubtedly one of its most beautiful, especially during winter when the tops are coated in snow.

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redbrick.me/sport

25th - 31st October 2013

Sport

Birmingham Yellows frustrated by Derby Buxton

Meurig Gallagher

Birmingham Yellows

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Derby Buxton 1sts

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James Diffley Sports reporter

Birmingham 3rds suffered defeat at the hands of Derby Buxton 1sts in a hard hitting encounter which was typified by fragmented play, kicking for territory and robust defending by both sides. This was very much a game in which chances came at a premium.

The early first half was characterised by kicking, as both sides played for territory and attempted to confine their opposite numbers in their own half, and place pressure upon them. Birmingham initially held a strong defensive line and repelled Derby’s initial forays forward. An incisive cross field kick by the visitors forced a lineout deep into Birmingham’s twenty two. Despite number 8 Gordon Parker snatching the ball from the visitors, they continued to press

forward and forced an error resulting in a try from the away team’s scrum half. This was converted, giving the visitors a lead of seven points.

"A hard hitting encounter which was typified by fragmented play, kicking for territory and robust defending by both sides" Birmingham proceeded to go on the attack and sought to level the playing field.

Despite their valiant efforts and good distribution to their back line they were prevented from breaking through by Buxton’s weighty, hard-hitting centres. The home side’s offensive efforts also suffered a blow in the form of a shoulder injury to number 2 Sean McAndrew, who was forced to come off in the 10th minute. A penalty awarded in favour of Derby derailed Birmingham’s foray into their opponents half. On the half hour mark Derby struck again, shipping the ball out to their winger, who used his pace to

crash through the home side’s back line.

Birmingham looked to reduce the deficit by the end of the first half and came agonisingly close, a scissor pass which would have seen them over the line was fractionally mistimed. The score at half time was 12-0 in favour of the visitors.

Birmingham started the second half positively, with an explosive break down field in the 45th minute that was only checked by a sprawling tap tackle. The home side, however, were not deterred and five minutes later Parker was able to put the home side on the board after a period of ball retention by the forwards, bringing the score to 12-5.

It was then the visitors turn to exert a spell of pressure, and Birmingham found themselves restricted to their own twentytwo, a thematic feature of the second half.

Buxton continually distributed the ball to their wingers, but they were unable to break the home side’s defensive line, which displayed great resilience in thwarting their opponents inches from the line on a number of occasions. Yet Birmingham were very much hemmed into their own twenty-two and Derby were able to capitalise in the end, landing and converting a penalty kick. The

visitors now led 15-5.

"We came up against some tough opponents and despite some good work it wasn't enough" Birmingham were unfazed and began to press Derby, looking for a try to bring them back into the match. They were buoyed by a series of powerful runs from forwards Hugo Rodriguez and Pete Bull and in the 74th minute the hosts took advantage of men out wide and scored in the corner after drawing a series of tackles. This brought the score to 15-10 and ensured a high tempo finish to the game as both sides strove for victory.

Yet it was Derby who had the final say, managing a try in the final phase of play, despite the home sides valiant defensive effort. The game finished 22-10 to Derby.

Oliver Mays commented on Birmingham’s performance; ‘We came up against some tough opponents and despite some good work it wasn’t enough.’

25th - 31st October 2013

redbrick.me/sport

UBRacing on the road to Silverstone Charlotte Wilson Photography Editor

@wilsonscribbles

For those of you with an aptitude for numbers and chemical formulas, the existence of the mechanical engineering labs isn’t much of a secret, but for arts students, such as myself, who would choose a book over an equation any day, the labs are uncharted territory. But even if you do know of this mechanical wonderland you still may not be aware of what actually goes on within those four walls.

Amidst this bat cave of heavy machinery, screwdrivers and other gadgets that look like you need to be wearing a hardhat and goggles to even look at them are a series of small, Formula 1-esque racing cars.

Okay, so they’re not exactly the Batmobile, but the fact they have been built from scratch by a handful of students is still impressive.

"Their talents and achievements greatly exceed their inconspicuous reputation" UBRacing is one of the university’s least known sport teams, yet both their talents and achievements greatly exceed their inconspicuous reputation. For the past 17 years, the club has been drawing in a steady stream of engineering students who pool together their various skills to design, build, test and eventually race a car that any boy (or girl - yes, there are actually girls on the team too) racer would be itching to drive.

As each year and its respective car comes and goes, the UBR teams endeavour to out do their predecessors, concentrating their efforts on significantly improving one or two components in a bid to leave their mark. The 2013 team have pinpointed their focus on developing a new exhaust system and have already embarked on what should be one of many test days that saw the majority of the team get behind the wheel for the

Charlotte Wilson

first time. One such member was Henry Schofield who was left ‘buzzing’ for hours after his stint.

Each year, UBR and other university teams from all over the globe take their single-seater race car to Silverstone where they rough it out against one another in the Formula Student competition. They are put through their paces by a number of trials that test design, acceleration, handling and endurance. It is this final trial that is favoured by team leader Andy Glencross for its taxing requirements to ‘maintain race pace for 22km, showing speed, reliability, consistency and fuel efficiency.'

Despite a few hiccups on the day, last year’s UBR crew finished at a respectable 33rd out of a pool of 98 and amongst the top 10 of all British teams present. This success is made all the more impressive by the team’s meagre budget, which pales in comparison to the crews who finished in the spots surrounding UBR. Although the performance from the 2012 crew has set the bar high, Glencross is confident that a place in the top 3 UK teams is very achievable this year.

UBR is currently the biggest it’s ever been, yet its numbers primarily stem not from design and construction, but rather from business and media. Alongside lending the occasional hand with building the car, the business team have to devise a theoretical business plan to impress the Formula Student judges whilst the media team, on top of plaguing Facebook and Twitter, are in charge of finding sponsors. Finally, not to be forgotten is the only non-student member of the team, Carl Hingley, the senior technician who has guided UBR through all its 17 years, not only offering invaluable advice, but moral support that kept the club afloat even when things looked bleak.

With Silverstone not looming on the horizon until late next year, the UBR crew have a long way to go and plenty of creases to iron out along the way. Perhaps getting the engine to turn over without the help of another car and a couple of jump leads is a good place to start.

Charlotte Wilson

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Sport

Sport View Focus on the football On the back of an exaggerated reaction to a comment made by Roy Hodgson at half time in the match against Poland last week, Ellie Jones argues that the media should celebrate success, rather than focus on a misunderstanding.

Ellie Jones Sport Reporter

@EllieJones_bham

England have just qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They completed the job in some style against Poland last Tuesday.

It was always going to be a tough match, but it was a job well done by Roy Hodgson and his men. The papers the next day, however, were not covered in congratulations or analysis of an all-round solid and promising team performance. Instead they were laden with a story about the manager’s half time team talk and an alleged monkey comment made to Andros Townsend.

This is another example of the British media putting football coaches and teams up on a pedestal and then continually pushing them off it, dragging the hopes of the nation down with them.

Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, the media is the ultimate power when it comes to sport in our country. If a well-respected journalist says Roy Hodgson should go, it will only be a matter of time before he does. The media have people’s lives in their hands; the jobs and livelihoods of players and coaching staff are dictated by the media glare. Newspapers have no qualms in pulling the rug from under their feet.

Roy Hodgson has been coaching internationally for 38 years now, and one can only imagine the names he has been labelled throughout those 38 years. He seems the type to not worry what people say, and although this seems plausible, undoubtedly the 66 year old will care about his critics, and not just them but the English public he tries so hard to please.

We would be lying if we said we weren’t influenced heavily by the papers we read or the tweets that are composed about our national team. Even if we adore a player in our clubs colours, when they don an England shirt they are suddenly worthless, badly behaved, over paid men who play for themselves and not the badge they wear. I am not for a minute suggesting we, as a nation, cannot come to these conclusions ourselves, but the tabloids and twitter accounts we read on a daily basis plant the seed which detract from the football and focus on the player.

Instead of celebrating one of the greatest moments of his career, Hodgson was defending himself against a joke made with no intention of offending. It has been confirmed, by Sun reporter Gordon Smart, that it was a player in the dressing room that let the media know of the monkey remark. That player has opened a whole can of worms which has overshadowed a great win for England, and may even have an effect in the months leading up to the World Cup in Brazil. Of course the tabloids leapt at the chance to drag Hodgson’s name through the dirt one more time, forgetting he has succeeded where past England coaches have failed. It is simply not fair to slate a man who has brought the pride back into a squad which was lacking all notions of pride only a couple of years ago.

In my opinion he has got the team selection right every time. Qualifiers are always a mish-mash of players drifting in and out of form and fitness, but even with injury and suspension concerns in Ukraine Hodgson

did not panic. He now has a steady collection of defenders; Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill have played together in each of the

"Instead of celebrating one of the greatest moments of his career, Hodgson was defending himself against a joke made with no intention of offending" last five games and are improving as a partnership with the likes of Leighton Baines, Kyle Walker and Chris Smalling starting more regularly at full-back. The two experienced midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are bringing the old school flair and passion, with the revelation that is

Andros Townsend and Jack Wilshere also capable of outstanding and energetic performances. Finally the forwards Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge are young, raw talent that England are constantly looking for to back up the more seasoned Wayne Rooney.

Cast your minds back to the case of Glenn Hoddle, a manager who had masterminded a trip to the 1998 World Cup. Interviewed by a national newspaper the following year, Hoddle made unforgivable remarks about disabled people. He believed they had been bad in a past life and were now being punished. Renowned for his strange religious views, this was a step too far for the FA and they sacked him pretty much on the spot. Despite being dubbed the perfect man for the job on the football field, Hoddle’s comments disgusted many. This incident is nothing like Hodgson’s slip and Hoddle fully deserved his dismissal.

The start of the new Premier League

season has highlighted some extremely talented new players, such as Ross Barkley, Ravel Morrison and Andros Townsend. The golden years of David Beckham, Lampard, John Terry, Gerrard and Ashley Cole are all but at an end. With young talent like this becoming stronger and more experienced every day, what is stopping us winning the World Cup in another four years’ time?

Keeping Roy Hodgson as manager – at least to the next European Championships in 2016 is absolutely key.

The media are always eager to throw any sporting ‘big name’ under the bus, but it seems particularly rife in football in particular. From the country who invented the game it seems sickening to think that newspapers sell because of the trashy stories they produce. Surely we want to read about our country qualifying for the greatest tournament in the world and not a few stray words preached in the sanctity of the dressing room.

25th - 31st October 2013

redbrick.me/sport

Things to look out for this weekend

2. How will Anthony Taylor deal with being thrust straight back into the spotlight, as he officiates Aston Villa v Everton, after a making a number of errors in the game between Chelsea and Cardiff?

3. After last weekend's selection of sumptuous strikes, the pressure is on the Premier League to produce more wonderful goals to rival those of Jack Wilshere and Pajtim Kasami.

Performance of the week

Tweet of the week

1. England get their Rugby League World Cup campaign underway on Saturday against tournament favourites Australia.

After last weekend's shock warm up defeat to Italy, how will they fare?

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@ronnieo147 'I'm not talking snooker on here so forget asking me questions on snooker... it's running or financial terrorism.

Nothing else people'

Photo of the week

The lighter side of sport

Cardiff Blues beat reigning champions Toulon by four points last weekend. The victory itself was remarkable, but it also came in a week when Cardiff had sacked their defence coach. The match winning try came with three minutes remaining, from substitute Gareth Davies. To make the victory even more important, the Blues had suffered a poor defeat to Exeter the week before.

Weekend wager

1. Colombian side Santa Fe won 2-0 against Boyaca Chico in counterfeit shirts. A staff member bought the kit from street vendors for £4 and wrote the players' names and numbers on in marker pen.

8/1 After Ian Holloway's departure from Crystal palace, Tony Pulis is amongst the early front runners for the job. These represent relatively good odds for a man with Premier League experience, especially at an unfancied side.

2. The Vatican has launched its own official cricket club in a bid to improve their interfaith dialogue. Players will participate in a limited overs tournament to try and secure their place in the team. The Vatican then hope to play in games against other religions.

Sport quiz 1. How many of Floyd Mayweather's 45 wins have been by KO?

Online this week

2. Which horse has won the most Grand Nationals?

3. Who has secured more Ashes series victories - England or Australia?

4. Who has more El Clasico goals Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?

Tuesday debate: Is Formula One becoming boring with the dominance of Sebastian Vettel? Nicola Kenton and Constantinos Akrivos debate.

Sachin Tendulkar: Felix Keith looks how India will manage without their national idol.

5. Who was Britain's last female grand slam winner?

1.26 2. Red Rum 3. Draw both have 31 4. Lionel Messi 5. Virginia Wade

Top 5: After Ravel Morrison and Wilfried Zaha's on-pitch bust up, Alex Kronenberg picks his top 5 footballing scraps.

The Redbrick Crossword This week's prize is a luxurious soak in a jacuzzi bath, courtesy of Charley Ross and Susie Dickey. Towels not provided.

Completed crosswords to be submitted to the Redbrick office, located in the Guild basement. Crossword by Susie Dickey.

Please complete this form before you hand in your completed crossword to the Redbrick office.

Name: Email Address: Phone Number:

Across

Down

1. Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand. (10) 2.Julia Louis-_____, star of Seinfeld.

(7) 4. Setting of the 1980 Summer Olympics. (6) 8. Joan Collins in some ruddy big shoulder pads. (7) 9. Patrick had the time of his life. (6) 11. Kill 'Em All. (9) 12. 1986 sequel, starring Sigourney Weaver. (6) 14. Cryptic toy, not for squares. (5) 15. Foxy herb, boom boom! (5) 17. 'DJ ___, Son of Kurtis Blow' early stage name of Joseph Simmons. (3)

3. '___ to Wild Bill', featured on soundtrack of 'Where the Buffalo Roam'. (3) 5. Big Angie wrote a murder. (8) 6. Eye of the tiger; Sylvester Stallone. (5) 7. Salieri's feeling a wee bit jealous; 1984 period drama film.

10. Prince of Soul, shot dead in 1984. (4) 12. ___raiser; Frank Cotton likes puzzles. (4) 13. Aldo ____, player for Modena F.C. Died 1980. (4) 16. REDRUM. (7) 18. _____pop, 80s' music genre featuring a space-age piano. (5)

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redbrick.me/sport

25th - 31st October 2013

Sport

UB Racing feature P29 - Charlotte Wilson spent an afternoon with the UB Racing team.

Brum edge to narrow win over rivals Birmingham 2nds

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Loughborough 2nds

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Matt Richards Sports Reporter

Birmingham badminton mens 2nds overcame a tough Loughborough 2nds side at the Munrow Sports Centre on Wednesday, securing a close 5-3 victory.

Speaking before the match, captain Chris Gresty said 'the Loughborough 2nds are tough but we've got a good chance.'

Loughborough had some transportation issues causing the match to be delayed, though this did nothing to faze the home side. Birmingham came roaring out of the gates, winning three of the first four rubbers.

"Birmingham came roaring out of the gates, winning three of the first four rubbers" Chris Vaz and Chan were first on court and they were in for a long opening gambit, taking three sets to dispatch their first opponents, winning the deciding set 21-19. The combination of Vaz’s deft net play and Chan’s thunderous smashes proved too much for Loughborough’s Tristan Taylor and Akis Thomas. Captain Gresty and his partner Matt Mcclosky also won their first rubber comfortably, taking only two sets to beat Shan Teo and Alex Fountain.

Fresher Jamie Blair also put on a strong performance, defeating Loughborough’s Tom Gough in straight sets. Mike Brockie cruised through his opening set against Loughborough captain Miles Milner, dropping only seven points. However, Milner seemed to find his groove in the second game and Brockie was unable to prevent him capturing the set and, in the end, the rubber. Despite being close, the Loughborough captain won a string of points from which Brockie couldn't recover to take the final set 21-12.

After the opening round of games Birmingham were leading 3-1.

Chan and Vaz seemed dominant in their second rubber, displaying some very tight and impressive net play in the first set.

However, their enemy dug in and dragged the second set back into their favour. Brum couldn't recapture their opening form as they played out the deciding set. Again there was little to choose between the sides

Matt Richards but they were pipped at the post by Loughborough. Gresty and Mcclosky’s second game was very fast and very flat, the shots of choice for both teams seemed to be smashes and drives. Unfortunately, Loughborough came out on top, winning in straight sets.

"Milner seemed to find his groove in the second game and Brockie was unable to prevent him capturing the set" As the final two singles matches began the overall score stood at three apiece.

Brockie pulled through in his physically demanding game against Tom Gough in three sets, closing it out with a vehement

net kill.

"Blair produced some stunning net shots and put on a very strong offensive and defensive display" Now the score was 4-3 to Birmingham meaning they could not lose, though a draw was still possible. All eyes turned to Blair and Milner as they decided the outcome of the match.

It was incredibly tense game of singles.

Birmingham’s Blair started strong, closing out his first set against Milner with a very impressive net centric rally. The Loughborough captain then fought back to take the second set, 21-18. As they played

out the third set both players seemed to settle into their rhythms; Blair produced some stunning net shots and put on a very strong offensive and defensive display. He seemed to have the edge in fitness, continuing to patiently work the points. Despite the long, strenuous game both players maintained their intensity. Both were clearly desperately for the win. Following two massive rallies, Blair brought the match to a triumphant conclusion with a massive smash which clipped the net before driving into Milners open court - a perfect shot to close out a fantastic match, leaving Brum victorious.

Loughborough’s Tristan Taylor said afterwards that the match felt even and that the Birmingham team ‘played a fair game.’

Birmingham will look to build on this win when they travel to Nottingham next week.