SIR
TELEVISION TRAVEL LIFESTYLE SPORT MUSIC FASHION FOOD
YOUR SPACE Notes/Doodles
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CONTENTS
BREAKING BAD 3-4
EYEBROWS ARE STRANGE 5-6
EAT IN ABERDEEN 7-8
TRAVEL 9-10
SHAVING - THE BIG DEBATE 11-12
HOLIDAY TATTOOS 13-14
FASHION 15
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BREAKING BAD What can we possibly watch next which will even come close to matching Breaking Bad? Our TV expert and religious Breaking Bad fan (he once paid £25 to get some BB merchandise shipped over to the UK) Jack Cairns (right) has given some suggestions to fill that massive Breaking Bad hole in your life. We know you’re missing it; we all are.
SONS OF ANARCHY
GAME OF THRONES
This US drama may replace some of the more gritty moments your life is missing after Breaking Bad. The show follows the lives of an out-law motorcycle club operating out of Northern California and Vice-President Jax Teller’s (Charlie Hunman) doubts about the direction of the club. Sons of Anarchy is currently powering through its sixth season with a seventh and final season on the way. It’s definitely one worth watching although it is maybe not for the faint-hearted viewers as it deals with some of the more controversial issues associated with the life of an outlaw. Think prostitution, drug deals and even a cameo from Walt Goggins playing a transvestite called Venus Van Damme. Avaliable on Netflix.
Another American import that can rival Breaking Bad in the cinematic scales, the television adaption of George R.R. Martin’s series of books has taken America by storm via HBO and is now storming across Britain on Sky Atlantic. The show follows the battle for control in the mythical land of Westeros, the battle mainly comes from the Stark’s in the north and the reigning Lannister’s in the south. This is another one that you should probably avoid watching with your mother as incest and nudity are almost guaranteed in every second episode. An all-star cast featuring the likes of Charles Dance and Peter Dinklage. Three seasons have already past and a fourth is on the horizon but as George R.R. Martin continues writing there is no knowing how long the show will go on for.
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THE WALKING DEAD
LUTHER
When it comes to Breaking Bad replacement therapy nothing gets much close than The Walking Dead. Although a completely different genre The Walking Dead almost rivals Breaking Bad in the tension stakes, festooned with cliffhangers and gripping plot lines it’s definitely one to watch. Loosely based on comics written by Robert Kirkman, it follows the survival efforts of the few remaining humans after a zombie apocalypse. Starring Andrew Lincoln and David Morrissey among others. The fourth season has started at a relentless pace and it’s one I would definitely recommend catching up on.
The only British contender to replace the Breaking Bad void and it’ll require the purchase of some DVDs or a Netflix subscription if you want to see it. This is another drama, this time following the life of a DCI John Luther (Idris Elba), a detective definitely not afraid of breaking the rules. As he pursues some of London’s worst sociopaths and proves that he can’t be exposed to it without some of the sociopathic tendencies reflecting back on him. Unorthodox and single-minded but fantastically entertaining, Luther’s relationship with “serial killer” Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson) is the shows pivot and definitely the pulling point for any incoming viewers. Groundbreaking and an excellent change to British drama that may have started a positive upturn in the BBC’s fortunes. Recent dramas Peaky Blinders and The Escape Artist are equally fantastic. All of these are worth a watch via the BBC’s DVD service.
HOMELAND Homeland is the final piece in post-Breaking Bad therapy, probably for the first season alone. It’s a poignant look at the relationship between the US and the Middle East. Multi-award winning and with a fantastic cast. The series stars Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison, a Central Intelligence Agency officer with bipolar disorder, and Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody, a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper. Mathison has come to believe that Brody, who was held captive by al-Qaeda as a prisoner of war, was “turned” by the enemy and now threatens the United States. The frantic paced first season has been followed up with a mediocre second season and a so far slow to start third. A fourth season has confirmed so it’s worth catching up on. Homeland is available on 4oD and Channel 4 on Sundays.
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EYEBROWS ARE STRANGE What should us men do about them and what do they mean? What should we do about our eyebrows? We don’t want to groom them so they look all neat and girly. But on the other hand, we don’t want them wild and all over the place. Everyone’s eyebrows are different. So have you ever wondered what the different types of eyebrows represent? Well if you have, we have the answers right here. Find the eyebrow type below which best matches yours and find out what your eyebrows say about you!
I’m sure a lot of men will be able to categorise themselves with bushy eyebrows. Men are hairy! So that will inevitably result in manly, bushy eyebrows if they’re not groomed frequently. Bushy eyebrows on someone indicates that they are a mentally active person, full of thoughts and ideas. It often shows a powerful intellect. Someone with a set of bushy eyebrows is a nonstop thinker.
BUSHY
If you have scattered eyebrows then your focus is wide ranging. You have a curious mind and are mentally drawn to many different topics. Each individual hair could mean a separate mental interest. Your challenge is to remain focused on one topic.
SCATTERED HAIRS
THIN
If you are sporting a pair of thin ‘brows then you are a single-minded person. You only focus on one thing at a time. Your challenge is being overly sensitive to how you imagine others see you. You probably think they are more critical than they really are. You sometimes feel overly self-conscious.
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Chameleon eyebrows indicate that you don’t give anything away. Others may think you are just like them, whether you are or not. You can blend into any group and you may be a talented negotiator as you can extract more information then you reveal.
CHAMELEON
CURVED
If you have curved eyebrows then your mental focus is people-oriented. You connect & relate to the world best through your understanding of people. Sometimes you can understand an idea or theory better if it is explained to you in terms of a personal example or experience. It is best not to burden you with too much technical detail without showing you the real-world application (usefulness).
You are expressive, quick to take action and you process information quickly. You want to get the job done and do it now. You may have a tendency to interrupt others when they seem too slow to speak because you can often anticipate what they are going to say before they have finished saying it. You are initially optimistic but may become antagonistic if criticized. Your challenge is to develop more patience with others who don’t have your gift of mental quickness.
LOW
All information from ‘Amazing Face Reading’ by Mac Fuller, J.D.
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EAT IN ABERDEEN BOOKS AND BEANS, 22 BELMONT STREET
Books and Beans is located bang in the town centre of Aberdeen. It is on Belmont Street, which is just off Aberdeen’s main street - Union Street. Books and Beans is open daily from 7:45am to 4pm, except from on a Sunday when it is open from 9am to 4pm. If you’re in the town centre shopping, doing some errands or on a lunch break from College, pop in here for fresh sandwiches and friendly service. And if you want somewhere quiet to take a client for a coffee when you’re working then Books and Beans is perfect due to its many levels, which offers a degree of intimacy. BB also has several computers so if you need online when you’re out and about in Aberdeen then look no further. Another thing Books and Beans has to offer is... Books! They also sell books and have a wide range of genres so there is bound to be something in there you like. They boast over 15,000 titles. As you walk in you are met with
an old-fashioned building. It has narrow halls and long winding staircases. “BOOKS ^^^” will be one of the first things you see and next to that sign are 30 or 40 posters of things going on in Aberdeen. In there includes a poster about poetry readings at Books and Beans every Thursday. “Come along and read out your poems or just listen to everyone else’s,” it says. On the right you will find the first room of the building, which is where you make your order. There is an old-style black chalkboard which has the food and drinks on offer. Sandwiches, soups, cakes, porridge, smoothies, tea they have a wide selection of different things. Next to that chalkboard is a fair trade sign, Books and Beans supports fair trade and stocks over 30 fair trade items. And that message is reiterated on the portable menus. Next to the splattering of seats and chairs in the corner are paintings hanging on the wall, loads of them. They are for sale too, but
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they aren’t cheap. Upstairs there are more tables and chairs, and some computers, and a lot of books. Bookcases cover most walls but one wall has a picture painted on it (left). A man getting his haircut at an old-fashioned barbers. The painting enhances Books and Beans’ arty vibe. Round the corner is some enclosed, extremely quiet areas, for those looking for some privacy and relaxation. The next floor is dedicated solely to computers for people to use. They also have a printer. “Please be honest about how many pieces of paper you use. We won’t be checking up on people;” Books and Beans trusts its customers. So if you’re peckish, thirsty, wanting to buy a book or search the web, visit Aberdeen’s First Independent Fair Trade Coffee Shop. If you like the look of Books and Beans and want to know more, you can go on their website: www.booksandbeans.co.uk
No need to get Egyptchy feet about Sharm el Sheikh Nowadays it is very unusual to come across a British person who has a) never been to Sharm El Sheikh, or b) has no plans to go. Egpyt’s Sharm El Sheikh is hugely popluar with British holidaymakers and on any given day, 9,000 Britons can be found there enjoying its many perks. So, it is more than likely that many people had Sharm El Sheikh high on their list of possible destinations for their next adventure. And, it is even more likely that the majority of them have been put off by the constant media coverage of the violent protests taking place in Egypt’s capital city Cairo. But, is it dangerous? Have the protests affected Sharm El Sheikh? Our travel expert Scott Mcpherson (who spent two weeks in Sharm just two months ago) answers these questions. I booked my two-week trip to Sharm
el Sheikh at the end of last year when there was next to no news about the violent protests going on in Cairo. But when I departed for Egypt in September, there had been almost three whole months of media coverage on the country’s troubles. There were videos of violence on the news and scare stories from tourists returning from Egypt in the newpapers almost on a daily basis because of Britain’s obvious interest. I was checking trip advisor most days to hear from ‘real’ people who had just been to Sharm el Sheikh. I was checking with my travel agents regularly to make sure everything was still going ahead. Then my sister’s planned excursion to Cairo was cancelled due to safety fears but Sharm was still deemed safe to visit. I had two fears before going on holiday. My first fear was for my safety. 9 1
Those fears were quickly gone after doing some research. Trip advisor was pretty universal with the message that it was quite safe. There had been no protests in Sharm and no casualties. My second fear was that it would directly affect the enjoyment/relaxation of the holiday. But, thankfully, it didn’t. From my experience, Sharm has not been affected by the protests in the slightest. On my first day at the resort there was a meeting for newcomers hosted by a holiday rep. This was an opportunity for people to ask any questions they may have, including any fears about the protests. One of the first things the rep said was: “Listen, if it wasn’t safe I wouldn’t be here. Trust me.” I did trust him and I found that reassuring. From that moment; trouble, violence, protests or safety wasn’t mentioned for the rest of the holiday. It barely crossed my mind after that.
The only other indication that there were any problems in the country was during one of the many excursions for activities. Travelling on the bus we went past a group of *soldiers* in tankers armed with guns. This was on the only road into Sharm from Egypt and they were there for our protection. Protestors weren't getting in. It's always quite scary seeing loaded guns ready for action but also reassuring at the same time. Anyway, they weren't needed. As for Sharm el Sheikh; it is brilliant, perfect for bringing your girlfriend/fiancĂŠ/ wife. I went with my girlfriend and we had a great time. The resorts are beautiful and great value for money. They are all inclusive but each resort boasts five or six dif-
ferent kind of restaurants where you can eat for free. So you will always find food you like. The resort I was at had Chinese, Italian, Mexican and buffet-style restaurants. Plenty of bars with free alcohol, too. Sharm also had some truly special excursions; swimming with dolphins, snorkelling, water parks, riding camels, quad biking in the desert and many other things. They are an extra charge but also great value for money. Perfect for the active man but still offers the relaxation of sitting by the pool in 40 degree heat; best of both worlds. The excursions make truly great experiences and memories.
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The only affect the protests have had on Sharm el Sheikh is that the excursions to Cairo to see the pyramids have been put on hold. So if that's the sole reason you want to visit Egypt, I would probably wait a couple of years. Otherwise, if you were planning to visit Sharm el Sheikh next year, do not let what you've seen on the news stop you. Sharm is effectively a separate country from the rest of Egypt. The population of Sharm is made up of people on holiday or Egyptians working in tourism, not the Egyptians you seen rioting on your television screens. Your Sharm holiday will be unaffected. And brilliant.
SHAVING - THE BIG DEBATE TRADITIONAL OR ELECTRIC? With Christmas just around the corner our staff in the office were having a discussion about the best Christmas presents they have ever received and one of our writers said an electric razor. He claims it is so much better than a traditional wet shave. This caused a bit of debate with not everyone agreeing with him. So we got our yellow legal pad out and listed the pros and cons of each to try and settle the argument once and for all. Even after all that, we still couldn’t come to a definite deicision, so, we asked 100 men which shaving technique they preferred.
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67 %
TRADITIONAL ELECTRIC
33 %
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HOLIDAY TATTOOS We’ve all been there. You’re on your first ‘Lads Holiday’, you’ve had a few drinks and you stumble past a walkin Tattoo parlour. At the time it seems like the best idea in the world. But, the next day, or when you return home from holiday, it can seem like a disaster. Yet people continue to do it. We’ve tracked down the best (or should that be the worst?) drunken holiday tattoos that men have gotten recently. Here is our top six worst holiday tattoos.
The criteria we are using to place these drunken holiday tattoos are position of tattoo; quality of tattoo and meaning of tattoo. This tattoo is a classic holiday tattoo: destination and year you were there. This is a nice memory/souvenir of the holiday. This man has: ‘Ayia Napa 2013’. This is only at six because of it’s position; on his arse so can’t be easily seen. The quality is poor but what does it matter when no one will see it. He also has: ‘Keepin’ it real’ above. “That was my catchphrase on holiday so I thought I would get it tattooed on me,” said the man.
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Regret-0-meter: 3/10
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This man has barney the dinosaur tattooed and coloured in on his arse. It’s different and actually looks quite good. Again, not too many people will see it unless he shows it to them. “We walked past the tattoo parlour and I wanted to get a dinosaur. So I googled it and Barney was the first dinosaur that came up. “Getting it coloured in was the sorest thing ever, and I’ve broken my leg.” Regret-o-meter: 6/10
The camel on the toe is a Magaluf staple. It is a very common tattoo for visitors to the party destination Magaluf. Magaluf is renowned for it’s party lifestyle with thousands and thousands of groups going their every summer. So drunken tattoos are almost a given there. This man got the camel on his toe last year. He said: “It’s a bit of a euphemism. I thought it would be banter.”
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Regret-o-meter: 2/10
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The camel toe tattoo might be quite common but this Disclosure tattoo definitely isn’t. This man has Disclosure’s face tattooed on his leg. He got it while drunk in Ibiza this summer. “I really like Disclosure, he’s cool so I thought this tattoo would be quite cool,” he said. The fact the tattoo is on his leg and is quite visible means it makes number three in this countdown. Regret-o-meter: 4/10
This football-related tattoo comes in at number two despite it being a meaningful tattoo. The position of the tattoo (leg) and quality, which we can see isn’t great, means that it is the second worst drunken holiday tattoo we found. He said: “I wanted the tattoo but my problem was that I went to the tattoo parlour four different times. The font and size of the text are different and squint because of that which ruins it for me.
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Regret-o-meter: 7/10
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This tattoo duo take the number one spot in our countdown. This man got ‘Fanta’ tattooed on his arm and ‘Oh hell’ on his leg’ while in Faliraki two years ago on his first lads holiday. “I was drinking a lot of Fanta on holiday so I thought I would get that on my arm. I was also saying oh hell a lot which is the reason for getting that on my leg. “It was my first holiday away with my mates so I got a bit carried away.” Regret’o’meter: 9/10
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GET THE WINTER LOOK Find out how men are combining staying warm and looking stylish this winter. Check out how Joe Howells, 18, is doing it.
Joe accessories his look with a grey scarf from Next for £7, which matches his jumper. It adds a little extra warmth and looks smart.
This woollen grey jumper fits in perfectly with the winter look. This warm and trendy jumper can be found in New Look for £20.
Joe’s coat is from Next and costs £60. It’s warm but looks good at the same time. Black compliments all colours and purposes.
Underneath that jumper is a light blue shirt from Topman. The shirt adds another layer and looks smart to top off his smartcasual look. The shirt is £25 from Topman.
His skinny black jeans are from Topman and will cost you £35. Black jeans are so versatile and can be worn with anything!
He finishes his outfit with a pair of white converse. They’re casual and comfortable and go with anything too. If you’re walking in the cold winter the last thing you want is a pair of uncomfortable shoes. They are priced at £45. 15