Spark 20121026 - Vol.61, Issue 3

3

Friday 26.10.12 Volume 61

Issue

What’s ‘Will we march?’ – ‘No’, say students in RUSU referendum inside?

Film 13 Taken 2

Music

Marina

20

Scenes from the 2011 London protest, supported by RUSU (during Karl Hobley’s administration) Calum Mcintyre Rogers

On Wednesday 24, RUSU declared the results of the ‘will we march?’ referendum. The subject of the referendum was whether RUSU should lend time and monetary support to Reading students wishing to attend the NUS protest in London on November 21. The question was ‘shall Reading University Students’ Union go on the National Union of Students (NUS) Demo in London on November 21st 2012?’ The vote was offered to all Reading students, through the RUSU website.

RUSU Vice-President for Democracy and Campaigns, Ceri Jones, announced that a total of 259 votes

had been cast; 101 people voted ‘for’ (ie, to support RUSU materially supporting the march); 152 voted against, with 6 abstentions.

A total of 259 votes were cast on the RUSU website Under the last RUSU administration (presided over by Karl Hobley), RUSU supported the ‘we will march’ campaign (without a referendum) with £8,000 from the Democracy and Campaigns treasury, out of its budget of £10,000. This included free coach travel and a free social in Reading

(for ‘marchers’ only), alongside a publicity campaign across campus.

Supporting the protest last year cost RUSU £8,000 RUSU will provide students who wish to attend the protest with safety information, but there will be no on-campus publicisation of the event using RUSU money.

However, the Reading Student group ‘Reading University Protecting Education’ have informed Spark* that they will “assist students who wish to attend the march”.

Had there been a ‘yes’ majority, RUSU would have held a meeting on how the march would have been supported, from a general publicity campaign to a repeat of last year’s free coach transport for all student marchers.

Help for Reading student protesters is still available Ceri Jones also said that supporting the protest would probably have cost around £3,000 minimum, even for just an on-campus publicity campaign for the march.

Gaming30 Carrier Commander

Reading PhD student produces mental health app Nikhil Bowry

Mood Mate, launched on world mental health day has become the third most popular free health and fitness app on iTunes. Psychologists at the University of Reading developed the free iOS app as a more accessible way for people to deal help with anxiety and depression problems. Mood Mate was also recently featured in The Sun’s ‘healthometer’.

The app lets the user monitor one’s mood and collects anonymous data for research. Alex

Gyani, a researcher in the department of Psychology, had the idea of conducting a trail through an iPhone app. As well as aiding researchers in their work with regards to mental health, it also broadens the awareness of mental health.

The app was tweeted

by Alastair Campbell, former media director for Tony Blair

The government has spent 400 million pounds on improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) since 2007. However, the NHS is not treating as many people as it budgeted for. Around 850,000 young people in the UK have been diagnosed with mental health problems. Diagnoses figures may not accurately the true figure, as GPs may not refer people to mental health services and some patients are reluctant to discuss mental health issues with GPs. Mood Mate helps people with seeking correct treatment as

it provides information on referring themselves to mental health services directly rather than going through your local GP. Alex Gyani, a Reading PhD student who developed the concept commented that “we hope it will enable us to find new ways to help people suffering from mental health problems in the UK get the psychological treatments that have been shown to work”.

Mood mate is available to download from the app store, and has already had more than 1,500 downloads.

Sci Tech32 Hatchpatch: better than Blackboard?

2 News

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

The ladybird archive flutters down to the University’s Museum of English Rural Life torical, social and artistic relevance of the image. People are also given the chance to explore what individual copies of Watson’s book tell us about their owners.

It’ s being held by the University’s Special Charlotte White

The University’s Museum of English Rural Life is currently hosting an exhibition of artwork from the Ladybird Archive. Held by the University’s Special Collections Services, the Archive is a large collection of artwork and cover designs from Ladybird books.

Held by the University’s Special Collections ServicesThe focus of the exhibition is on a small watercolour painting by artist Charles Tunnicliffe from a book called What to Look For in Autumn. The book was written by E. L. Grant Watson and first published by Ladybird in 1960.

An aim of the exhibition is to allow visitors to consider the his-

Collections Services Visitors can assess the impact and history of the painting through artefacts, other children’s books and their personal thoughts.

Ollie Douglass, the curator of the exhibition, said: “The University is lucky enough to hold more than 700 boxes of original artwork from these iconic children’s books in the Lady-

bird Archive - but in this exhibition we’re focusing on just one image.”

You are able to explore what individual copies of Watson’s book tell us “We will be exploring how the picture was reproduced, not only in subsequent editions of the book, but also in multiple copies of the same edition. We’ll be looking at the things that it depicts and exploring the words that were written to run alongside it.”

The co-curator of the exhibition, Neil Cocks, said: “As part of the exhibition, academics from many departments at the University have written about how they

view one of the pages from What to Look For in Autumn. It is fascinating to see how different these approaches to the image can be.”

“It is fascinating to see how different these approaches to the image can be” ‘What to Look For? Ladybird, Tunnicliffe and the hunt for meaning’ is open until April 2013.

For more information is available at www.reading.ac.uk/merl/whatson/ exhibitions/merl-ladybird.aspx.

MERL is located next to the University’s London Road campus.

Reading’s ‘super trees’ project to Wantage clean up in produce affordable medication Reading RESCUE in collaboration with Imperial Liljana Burch

New research has surfaced from The University of Reading that could potentially allow specialists in bio pharmacy to combat lifethreatening diseases. The cause for excitement being a new ‘super tree’ that combines the positive medicinal properties of over 1500 species of plants from New Zealand, Nepal and South Africa.

A new ‘super tree’ combines positive medicinal properties of over 1500 species From this, the trees from each region were brought together to produce a family tree so scientists could make clear comparisons. A ‘super-family’ was then created that represents 20,000 different species.

Dr Julie Hawkins, from Reading’s School of Biological Sciences, commented “our study examined plants known to be used medicinally in Nepal, New Zealand and the Cape of South Africa, areas unlikely to have exchanged information about medicinal properties of plants so would be using these plants after discovering them independently. We found that plants known to be useful in all three separate regions were from groups that were closely related.

Researchers from Reading worked

closely with experts from the Royal Botanic Gardens, one of the world’s leading botanic gardens, holding one in eight of the known plant species worldwide, as well as Imperial College London.

The findings revealed how the different medicinal plant species found on the three separate continents were genetically related, hence explaining why they shared common beneficial effects for human health. Interestingly, in addition to this discovery, researchers found that a great deal of the drugs used in modern day medicine do in fact derive from the closely linked group of super plants.

The World Health Organisation reports that approximately a quarter of medicines are derived from plants, including treatments for heart disease and cancers.

Reading worked with the Royal Botanic Gardens and Imperial College London An example provided by Dr Julie Hawkins is that “plants from the soapberry family are used in Nepal, the Cape of South Africa and New Zealand to treat gastrointestinal problems”.

Though, there is an uncertainty as to whether these countries would have exchanged information, although most experts think

it is unlikely. Dr Julie Hawkins added: “It’s incredibly exciting to think that communities around the world that weren’t in contact with each other have sampled related plants and are using them to treat the same things.”

The finding and developing of new drugs is at the forefront of research What makes this study unique is the hope it has given to the industry of ‘bio-prospecting’, the term used to describe scientific research for useful application, such as in medicine where finding and developing new drugs is at the forefront of research.

In today’s turbulent economic climate, research is focused on cheaper medicines to promote public availability of less costly drugs.

If medication could be produced more easily within a nation, developing countries could rely less on more expensive imports from richer countries.

a quarter of medicines are derived from plants For this article and more, go to www.sparknewspaper.co.uk/news.

You can also follow us on Twitter @ Spark_News_.

Simon Truscott

On Saturday 13 October, six students from Wantage Hall joined the biannual ‘Reading RESCUE’ event organised by Reading Borough Council and Thames21 charity.

Taking place over the course of the morning, teams of volunteers made up of locals and officials worked in groups sorting litter from the Waterloo Park area of west Reading into bags of recyclables and other waste.

Teams of volunteers worked in groups sorting litter from the Waterloo Park area Luke Damerum, the representative of Thames21 charity responsible

for the Thames between Teddington and Reading commented: “It’s great to have so many volunteers, and you’ve all recycled at the same time as cleaning the waterside”.

“We’ve all recycled at the same time as cleaning the waterside” The next ‘Reading RESCUE’ event is in March, with dates to be confirmed. Other halls are invited to get involved though their JCR committees in a similar way, as are individual volunteers.

For further information, contact the university’s Community Relations Officer, Ann Westgarth at a.westgarth@reading.ac.uk.

See page 36 for Society Spotlight and more UoR volunteering.

Spark* Friday 2011

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

News 3

Plumbers contract asbestos whilst developing halls Although Lloyd and Taylor were aware of the building having once contained asbestos, they believed it to have been removed by a specialist contractor.

The plumbers believed the asbestos to have been removed by a specialist contractor

Photograph of GMS van Zoe crook

Two plumbers have contracted asbestos at the University of Reading. Whilst working for Gardner Mechanical Services (GMS), Andrew Lloyd and Steve Taylor became exposed to the harmful mineral.

The family-run business has been fined over £50,000 for the mishap following a hearing at Reading Magistrates Court. The two workers were upgrading a room when they became in contact with

the asbestos fibres. They were drilling through a sprayed asbestos ceiling in September 2009.

GMS was fined over £50,000 by Reading Magistrates Court Both men claimed not to have known about the asbestos, which lead to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation of the company.

Following investigation, it was discovered that the principal contractor was aware of the asbestos infestation on the site. Despite knowing about the asbestos, they failed to inform the two self-employed men allocated to the job, or to have it removed.

This led to GMS accusing the company to have breached health and safety regulations.

As a consequence, they were fined £28,000 and forced to pay £22,631 additionally in costs.

Asbestos causes over 4,500 deaths each year Causing over 4,500 deaths each year, asbestos can lead to numer-

ous diseases and illnesses. The most dominant diseases caught from asbestos are mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening. Each of these effects the lungs, and can be fatal.

Often being used in buildings and machinery until 1999, asbestos is not uncommon to come across.

Yet, when it becomes airborne, which occurred when the plumbers were drilling, it can become very dangerous.

It was often used in buildings and machinery until 1999 Following the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Adam Wycherley said: “This case highlights the importance of effective planning when addressing risks in construction, particularly in refurbishment, when there is a higher risk of coming into contact with asbestos.

“GMS had a clear duty of care to relay important information to its subcontractors in order to prevent their exposure to asbestos but this simply did not happen.

“As a result of poor planning on the part of GMS, two men were exposed to high levels of asbestos fibres, leaving them at risk of contracting serious diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis of the lungs.”

“The men are at risk of contracting serious diseases, such as lung cancer” The HSE state on their website that: “The duty to manage asbestos is a legal requirement under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (Regulation 4).

“The removal of higher risk asbestos-containing materials should only be carried out by a licensed contractor.”

They also go on to state the implications of being exposed to the harmful mineral: “It can take anywhere between 15-60 years for any symptoms to develop after exposure, so these diseases will not affect you immediately but may do later in life”.

For more information regarding asbestos, visit: www.hse.gov.uk.

University leads food research Dick and Dom film in Reading labs Jon hulks

The University of Reading is one of the leading researchers into the global problem of food security. By the year 2050, the world population is expected to have increased by another 2 billion - meaning the demand for food is expected to go up by between fifty and one hundred percent.

By the year 2050, the world population is expected increase by another 2 billion In celebration of World Food Day, Tuesday 16th October, some of the university’s top experts in food security discussed how they believe we can best combat the problem of a rising population.

Professor Richard Tiffin, the director of the Centre for Food Security, believes that the solution lies in “sustainable intensification.”

Focus will be on local production on small farms or focusing on farm intensification Currently, opinion is divided between placing emphasis on local production on small farms and focusing on farm intensification.

Tiffin’s concern is that while people tend to value locally produced food, imposing this style of farming on developing countries will limit their economic development potential.

Farming may limit the economic development potential of developing countries Therefore he proposes a hybrid system, which recognises that “we must not stop the search for new ways of producing food but that we should do so in ways which work with nature rather than in a box apart from it. We should learn from our traditions but not harp back to them.”

“We should learn from our traditions but not harp back to them” Dr Alison Bailey, a member of the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, argues that farmers must adapt to climate change - especially droughts. She believes “climate change presents a serious risk of diminished availability of water for UK agriculture and horticulture, providing a major challenge to farmers, researchers,

plant breeders and policy makers. “ Dr Carol Wagstaff, of the Department of Food and Nutritional Science, believes that higher food prices can tackle the large amounts of food waste in the UK. Currently, one third of all our food ends up being thrown away.

Higher food prices can tackle the large amounts of food waste in the UK According to Dr Wagstaff, this is because of the cheap availability of food, leading to us valuing it less. Higher prices will result in people trying to use more of what we already have, reducing our waste and relieving the burden of a growing population on food producers.

Food security is a fundamental challenge Food security is one of the most fundamental and important challenges facing the future of the human race in the twenty first century. These experts and others have placed the University of Reading at the forefront of research into increasing our food production, in an attempt to deal with an ever expanding population.

Dick and Dom in da University hannah banks

Last Thursday the University of Reading welcomed Dick (Richard McCourt) and Dom (Dominic Wood). Many of us may remember them from their Saturday morning antics on Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow, to the Department of Food and Nutritional Science as they filmed a section for their new children’s science-related TV series.

The pair are renowned amongst 8 -12 year-olds of the early noughties (and probably some students) for the infamous “creamy muck muck” and “bogies” games. They visited the Department where they met with microbiologist Dr

Gemma Walton. Dr Walton taught them about bowel functions, gut bacteria and the health implications bacteria can have.

Whilst at the University, the comedy duo were filmed visiting the labs which create trial models of the human gut to experiment on.

The pair viewed microbes under the microscope, learning and informing young viewers. This is for their new series about the importance of hygiene, and how neglecting this can spread bacteria and disease.

Dick and Dom’s new series, ‘Dick and Dom’s Genius Idea’ will be broadcast on the CBBC Channel in early 2013.

4 NEWS

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

University of Reading Profes- Conference on sor’s mission to save chocolate Shakespeare: to attend or not attend?

Isabell Zubinsha Zakaria

Would you like to know more about one of the most quoted writers in the English language?

The University of Reading is offering students and staff a fantastic opportunity to delve into the world of Shakespearean Theatre and the contemporaries of his time.

The University will play host to this unique conference on Saturday 24th of November 2012 from 10am to 5pm.

Cocoa beans are an important cash crop for many developing countries. Image from tradeaid.org.nz Avnita Shergill

Many of us were unaware that two weeks ago the nation supported a much loved cause that is ‘National Chocolate Week.”

Whether we knew it or not, all of us indulged into a bar, piece or collection of chocolate(s) without so much of a thought as to how it managed to start as a cocoa plant thousands of miles away, to right here in our hands as a delicious milky mould.

However the University of Reading recognises an important figurehead, Professor Hadley, from the school of Agriculture, Policy and Developmen. He is paving the way to a better economic climate for the cocoa plants that we and their growers rely so heavily on.

His research aims to combat the

main threats of disease; pests and climate change in the tropical countries whether they are produced. It is known that one third of potential beans are destroyed as a result of such harmful exposures.

One solution that has been devised is producing state-of-the-art greenhouses that mimic the current climate conditions to where they are being grown. This would protect the crops without starving them of their natural environmental needs.

One third of cocoa beans are destroyed ‘on the vine’ Professor Hadley is soon to be chairing the 17th International Cocoa Research Conference in

Cameroon next week. This is the first occasion where a UK academic will take this well respected position in the conference. The global event, which runs once every three years, consists of over 300 ambassadors from the confectionary industry as well as the countries sourcing the cocoa production.

The manufacturing of cocoa is not only vital for the suppliers and buyers of confectionary, but is an important source of income for over 2 million people worldwide who depend heavily on the amount of cocoa produced and sold to earn a living and support their families.

Professor Hadley said: “It's imperative that we continue to examine ways of achieving sustainable cocoa production so that we can safeguard the future of chocolate.”

A unique insight into Shakespeare’s world of theatre Prominent Shakespearean scholars and internationally distinguished historians will be present as well as various University professors such as Prof. Grace Ioppolo to speak about one of the most famous playwrightsman in English history and the story behind his legacy.

Assumed to be one of the most prominent figures in English writing Prof Grace Ioppolo, from the University’s department of English Literature said: “Shakespeare is assumed by many to be the only

important figure in early modern English theatre.”

She added: “ But without the men who built the London playhouses and turned theatre performance into a lucrative profession, Shakespeare would never have flourished.”

The conference is open to everyone The event draws the bulk of its information from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Collection which was complied by Prof Grace Ioppolo from the University. It is the world’s largest online collection of Shakespearean era materials on professional theatre and dramatic performance. It is the world’s single most important digital archive on early modern English theatre. It also includes rare items such as the only surviving records of theatre box office receipts for any play by Shakespeare.

Aspects of early modern English theatre are a mystery to many Tickets (including lunch and reception) for the event are priced at £40, with reduced rates of £25 for students, unwaged and over 60s.

For further information contact Jan Cox at j.f.cox@reading.ac.uk.

University of Malaysia appoints Professor as Provost Sophie Elliott

Professor Tony Downes has been appointed Provost and Chief Executive Officer of University of Reading Malaysia (UoRM).

In his new role, Professor Downes will will oversee the establishment of the University’s Malaysian campus, in partnership with EISB, a subsidiary of the commercial arm of the Malaysian Government. Welcoming its first students in 2012, the University of Reading Malaysia will open in the September of that year.

Currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading and Chair of the University’s Malaysia Project Board, Professor Downes “has been integrally involved in the development of the University’s plans to develop a

new campus in Southern Malaysia since the inception of the project”.

“I have been struck by the huge enthusiasm for higher education in the region” Speaking of the project, Professor Downes said: “On my visits to Malaysia to date, I have been struck by the huge enthusiasm and appetite for higher education in the region and I am excited to be given responsibility for ensuring the success of a project that will create a new world-class university for the region.” Professor Downes’ first visit to the region in his new role as Provost will take place in November 2012, where

he will oversee the appointment of new staff. Building work on the new campus is due to start in 2013.

Sir David Bell, the University of Reading’s Vice Chancellor said of the appointment: “Professor Downes’ leadership of University of Reading Malaysia will build on these relationships to create a world-class institution, which will provide teaching programmes across multiple areas and play an important role in the higher education aspirations of peoples in South East Asia.”

Professor Downes will remain as the University’s Deputy ViceChancellor until the end of his current term of office in July 2014.

The Spark* interview with Professor Downes is available to read online, at sparknewspaper.co.uk.

Artist’s rendering of the Reading building in Malaysia, due to open in 2015. Copyright University of Reading

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

News 5

Introducing Spark* Weather News in brief

Mystery donor supports next generation of Typography talent

Rebecca Emerton

This weekend looks to be significantly colder than it has been recently, with maximum temperatures during the past week of 16.5°C, and average daytime temperatures this coming weekend in the range of 5-8°C. Friday should bring the last of this week’s rain through the early morning, leaving the rest of the day cloudy but with some sunshine breaking through at times.

Temperatures will get much colder overnight as air flows from a more northerly direction and the night stays much clearer with a dominant high pressure system over the UK. It will feel cold out, and northerly winds will give an added chill to the air.

Temperatures could drop below zero during the early hours of Saturday morning, meaning we may have a ground frost on Saturday, and temperatures are unlikely to reach above 9°C for the duration of the weekend. Saturday will remain mostly sunny; though this won’t last long as we are likely to see a few showers on Sunday, and little sunshine. Some more northern areas of the UK may even see

some wintry showers of sleet or light snow, in high areas, though this will not affect Reading and the south.

A look into the week ahead shows mixed weather, with some sunny spells earlier in the week but moving into showers and possibly some significant rain towards the middle and end of the week. The week will remain colder than

average for the time of year with overnight minimums of 2-3°C and daytime maximums of 10-12°C. (Note: This is a student project and forecasts are not a product of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading).

See this forecast and more at www.sparknewspaper.co.uk/news/ weather or follow @SparkWeather for regular updates.

A graduate of the University’s renowned Department of Typography & Graphic Communication has praised the education they received at Reading and made a donation to support the next generation of talent.

The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, received an alumnifunded scholarship to study an MA in Typeface Design at the University. Now, having established a successful career, has chosen to continue this philanthropic gesture by making a donation to fund another talented Typography student through their studies. The scholarship, known

as the Alumni Typeface Design Studentship, will fund the tuition fees for a new student enrolling on the MA Typeface Design course this October 2012.

The scholarship is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated a specific interest in typeface design and a desire to make a difference to the typeface industry. This summer, LouisaHelen Fröhlich from Germany was delighted to hear that she had been selected as the recipient.

Louisa-Helen is looking forward to beginning her MA Typeface Design course.

A meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee (3 October), councillors voted to approve the University of Reading’s planning application* to replace redundant academic buildings on its Bulmershe campus with new homes, a care home and convenience store.

David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “We are delighted that Wokingham Borough Council has given the go-ahead for a high quality development on the site of the University’s former campus. The Bulmershe campus is no longer used by the University - our student accommodation and teaching facilities are now concentrated on the University’s Whiteknights and London Road campuses.

“This decision paves the way for the previously developed area to be regenerated with much needed new housing, while securing and improving the playing fields for University and community sports use.”

Over the past few months the University has worked closely with Wokingham Borough Council on a section 106 agreement that, once finalised, will secure important benefits including affordable housing, community use of new and existing sports facilities, enhancement of an existing local wildlife site and on-site play space. It will also secure financial contributions for sport and education in Woodley and contributions towards libraries, highways, countryside access and maintaining Highwood.

A groundbreaking film exploring the history and heritage of black theatre in Britain is to be shown at the University of Reading on Monday 29 October at 6.45pm.

‘Margins to Mainstream’ examines the different interpretations of ‘Black British Theatre’ as a label and genre, and catalogues the incredible contribution of black actors, producers and playwrights to UK theatre. It features previously unseen footage of seminal plays and fascinating interviews

with theatre heavyweights such as playwright and literary activist Courttia Newland, and comedian and actor Javone Prince.

The film has been shown throughout the UK during 2012 but comes to Reading during Black History Month. This free event has been organised by University of Reading PhD student Nicola Abram, who is researching the representation of race, gender and nationality in experimental theatre by black British women.

The university will be holding an Open Day on Saturday 27 October.

Between 9.30am and 3.00pm, academic staff and students will be on hand to talk to prospective students. Some departments will be running their own departmental activities. Activities for this open day will take place on our Whiteknights Campus and London Road

Campus. See the programmes below for where your departmental activity is taking place.

In addition there will be a series of general information talks on accommodation, careers, student finance, student life, students’ union, study abroad, sport and music at Reading and support services.

Bulmershe redevelopment plans given the go-ahead

Black history month

Student media blogs Luke Poundall

We’ve been hugely busy here at RU:ON over the past few weeks!

From the initial extremely busy Fresher’s week, the highlight of which would have to be interviewing Greg James (uploaded on the website!) to covering ‘The Big One’ sports events and our charity talent show ‘Ding’s Got Talent’ auditions, our feet have barely touched the ground! Of course, as well as this we have been welcom-

ing all our new members to the station and showing them what we do!

If you are interested in being involved, it’s absolutely not too late!

We have new projects starting all the time which we need people like you to help with. Our new comedy show ‘WHACKED!’ starts filming this week, ‘Ding’s Got Talent’ is on-going over the next few months with more audition rounds over the coming weeks, and we will be continuing to film sports events

and news shows over the coming months. If you are interested in any specific part of what we do, or in in making your own programme, we have regular production meetings which you are more than welcome to attend, and also join the members Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/groups/ RUONTV/.

Feel free to contact us on manager@ruon.tv for general enquiries, or production@ruon.tv if you have a programme idea!

University Open Day

marketing@rusu.co.uk

If you’re not a little bit scared, you’re not paying attention You’re about to enter the scary world of full time employment. And, chances are, you’re not absolutely sure what to expect. Why would you be?

Unless you’ve grown up in a boardroom, things like dealing with corporate politics, working directly with big business clients, having to travel at short notice, having to report to someone, knowing when to express your opinion and when to keep schtum are unknown quantities to you right now. Rest assured though, at KPMG we get that, and will give you the training, development and support you need to deal with every aspect of your new working world.

We don’t expect you to know it all from day one – just that you’ll want to. And, actually, our graduates tell us working with us isn’t all that different from being at university. We just wear nicer clothes.

To find out more go to www.kpmg.co.uk/graduates

Graduate careers in Audit, Tax and Advisory

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

© 2012 KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, is a subsidiary of KPMG Europe LLP and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss entity.

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Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

politics.spark@reading.ac.uk

POLITICAL COMMENT 7

POLITICAL COMMENT Out the frying pan and into Iran Wake up and smell Tom Dunham & Tom Ludwig

With NATO led combat operations in Afghanistan coming to a close in 2014, we are led to speculate where the next flash in the pan will occur. For those of you who have been following the US hit TV series Homeland (a favourite of President Obama) you will have noticed that producers have jumped to the conclusion that Israel will be forced to launch direct air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. But how close to reality actually is this?

‘The Zionist regime has lost its raison d’être’ Israel feels directly threatened to the extent that it’s mere survival as a state is called into question.

Some of the anti-zionist rhetoric is astounding, with iranian topdog President Ahmadinejad being quoted as saying ‘’we will eliminate this disgraceful stain from the Islamic world’’. This rhetoric continued on a similar line in Jun with the comments that ‘’the Zionist regime has lost its raison d’être…. and this germ of corruption will be wiped off the map’’.

In May 2011, Ahmadinejad likened Israel to ‘’a cancer cell that spreads through the body, this regime infects any region. It must be removed from the body.” How

then does a state respond to such provocation? If a European state was threatened in a similar manner, one would imagine it would only be a matter of time before an inevitable military response occurred.

Rightly so, Israel strongly supports its own right to survival.

One card that Israel has up its sleeve is known as the Samson Protocol. This dictates that in the face of imminent destruction, pre-determined targets, most notably and indeed controvertially including Mecca itself, are to be reduced to rubble, annihilating the pillars that uphold the Islamic temple. Understanding the seriousness of Israeli intentions, how likely then, in the face of Iranian nuclear armament, is a pre-emptive strike?

The US clearly has a prominent role to play in such matters.

Firstly, it is the self-proclaimed vanguard of global justice, law and order and secondly a special relationship exists with the Jewish state. Since the end of World War Two left the world with the two dominant superpowers, the US has sought to assume the single most powerful role in an atempt to police the world.

Whether you believe this is right or wrong, Iran’s open aggression towards Israel fit’s many of the criteria for a US-backed military intervention; history demonstrates that far smaller provocations have triggered a similar reaction. Influ-

ence from the potent Israeli lobby in US government may also have a decisive effect.

‘Iran’s aggression towards Israel fits many of the criteria for a US-backed military intervention’ With one-third of the US foreign aid budget (three billion dollars per annum) heading directly into Israeli coffers there is clearly a substantial quantitative commitment to the stability of the region.

Is Homeland’s daunting vision an imminent reality?

With both US political parties frequently reiterating Israel’s security as a vital US interest, the upcoming presidential elections could prove to exponentially shift US foreign policy stance. Of particular concern is Mitt Romneys calls for a more militarised approach as ‘’very real and very credible’’.

With the prospect of a hawkish incoming president, is Homeland’s daunting vision an imminent reality?

the corporate coffee Tom Priest

At some point in your life you will have paid tax in this country be it indirect via VAT, or if you’re really fortunate you’ve paid directly through the PAYE (pay as you earn) system which is taken at source from a person’s earnings.

The inevitability of PAYE in working life makes it infinitely harder to swallow the fact that many multi-billion dollar earning companies pay next to no tax in this country. The most recent example of this evasive evil is coffee-giant Starbucks, who have apparently not paid a penny in tax during the last three years.

This seems morally fishy given their size and popularity, but by reporting themselves as running at loss they have escaped corporation tax for the last three years. This evasion is perfectly legal, if not morally repugnant, because they pay seemingly over the top ‘royalty’ payments to another divisions of Starbucks overseas.

In defence of this behaviour Starbucks points the fact that what they do is create jobs, but then so do other chains, including Costa which reportedly has paid £15 million pounds corporation tax

despite remarkably similar takings to Starbucks.

Starbucks are not the only ones legally limiting their tax liabilities though: Amazon, Google, Topman and Facebook are all alleged to have been involved in schemes at some point which prevent them paying the full rate of tax in this country.

Just because tax avoidance is legal it doesn’t make it moral, and it doesn’t mean we have to put up with it Just because tax avoidance is legal it doesn’t make it moral, and it doesn’t me an we have to put up with it. Starbucks is everywhere, even on campus in the form of Café Mondial, so perhaps the time has come for a change. How can we as students and citizens continue to use a company which by its immoral financial practices takes money out of things like education and the NHS?

Last straw for the whipping boy... Tory Mitchell sacked adam roberts

Those of you following the neverending cycle of scandal to hit our fair houses of parliament will be aware that Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell succumbed to a bout of embarrassment late this week and has resigned his post in the cabinet.

Cries of “you’re toast” ringing with ill-concieved passion throughout the House “Pleb-gate”, as despite strong objections it has come to be known, has left the government in standstill. Arguably a one day story, this street theatre has been so undeniably mismanaged we’ve been forced to sit though a week of endless milli-rants, culminating in

an eventual meek surrender. For those of you blissfully unaware, this can be described either as a two week standoff over an illadvised and objectionable rant by the aforementioned whipping boy against an unassuming Police Officer doing his job. Alternatively, its been two weeks of thinly veiled allegations and a trickling current of admissions leading to the downfall of a thoroughly unimportant, internal political figure. A war fought solely in Westminster. The scene in the commons this week is one of victory for the opposition, less through tactics than sheer bloody-mindedness. Red-faced Ed was in full swing, cries of “your toast” ringing with ill conceived passion through the house.

Not that Mitchell is any great loss to the government, with barely enough time to gain any reputation he he has seemed to be less Dr Jones and more Dr Seuss, what is surprising is the eventual spine-

less nature of his departure. and what a time to undermine the government. He had the full throated, full fledged (such as it is) support of the Prime Minister, and by loose extension the cabinet, and yet his resignation letter is timid at best.

Half a paragraph of “categorical assurance” is hardly a demonstration of innocence that has been expected, its far too late to bow out without any hassle, so why not protest! and the response…dear me.

Clearly someone at the No.10 office knows how to mail merge, replace around seven words and it could have been a letter to anyone from junior ministers to the paper boy.

Quite frankly this says more about the shameful hackery in our government than anything else.

Mitchell was undoubatbly in the wrong, and i’m the first to admit the connotations of “pleb” are undeniably elitist and insulting, but does it mean he is purely incapable

of doing his job as a government official?

‘The eventual outcome, the resignation of a man with no policy portfolio, little media image and not even a department of state’ A slight on his personal character for sure, and any man willing to be in government should hold themselves to a higher standared, but I for one certaintly hope that being in a foul mood is not cause for dismissal, or we’re all in trouble!

This was a major issue beacuse the Tory PR let it escalate to such, and it was horribly miled by the opposition. To put it another way, a plauge on both your houses.

As mentioned before, this is a battle that has been fought purely in Westminster, and on external national policy it has has little importance. We have many problems in the country anyone will admit, and more than enough embarrassment to be attacking the Cameron Cabinet than one bad mouthed rant.

The eventual outcome, the resignation of a man with no policy portfolio, little media image and not even a department of state.

And can we please get our priorities straight! Apparently the term Pleb (and lets be honest we’ve all be called worse) has been a cause of outrage, and yet it seemingly acceptable for Mitchell to admit to ending his conversation with the line “I thought you guys were supposed to f****** help” in his public resignation letter. In short, it’s a victory Ed, but its a cheap one, and far too long fought. Must do better.

8 INTERVIEW

interview.spark@reading.ac.uk

Friday 26 October 2012

Spark*

interview A grassroots campaigner: Clark French Clark French, cannabis activist.

InterView by Ellis Wheatley

This week, Interview at Spark* speaks to Clark French, a Reading alumnus, cannabis user and promoter, who tells us about his marijuana use and the allayment of his MS symptoms.

I understand that you were a student at the University of Reading, what was this like?

I studied Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Reading. I promoted local gigs and I had been a member of a moderately successful metal band, before I was diagnosed with MS. I really enjoyed life at Reading and LOVE the campus. I would recommend a walk along the lake, it is beautiful.

Tell me about your struggles with MS.

MS is an Auto Immune disease which affects the nervous system.

To cut a long story short, my immune system is over active and - for some reason - it attacks and destroys the mylin sheath, which protects the nervous system, causing holes called lesions to form.

The lesions block and disrupt the signals between the synapses, and this can lead to everything and anything going wrong.

How does this affect you, personally?

I have holes in my brain which mean that I suffer from many symptoms. Fundamentally, I suffer from pain - I have been in constant pain for two years now it is very difficult to deal with.

I have been in constant pain for two years now - it is very difficult I also have regular problems with spasms, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, cramps and seizures. I have difficulty sleeping, due to the amount of pain I am always in. I find it hard to walk long distances.

Sometimes to get anywhere at all is almost impossible.

How did you manage at University?

As you can imagine, this had a major effect on my studies; I was unable to attend many lectures and fell behind with my work. I managed to complete and pass my exams just before I was diagnosed in the summer of 2010. With the help of the University I managed to complete all my coursework by the following year and graduated in 2011. I am really proud that I stuck it out and managed to get my Degree.

Were you initially led to cannabis for recreational use, or was your first experiences with cannabis for medicinal purposes?

My first ever experience with cannabis was as a medicine.

I grew up around my step father, Richard Ramsden, who had progressive MS. Unfortunately he died when I was eleven, but in the time we had together he taught me lots about life. He used cannabis as a medicine to treat his MS so I not only experienced cannabis from a young age, but saw the difference it made to someone whom I was incredibly close to.

I have suffered with depression for many years and found that

when I used cannabis my mood lifted, I felt more able to cope with life. Through Richard I knew cannabis had medicinal value so I guess I have always been a medcinal cannabis consumer. When I started having my first big relapse ( I have relapsing and remitting MS ) I noticed how much cannabis was alleviating my symptoms. To be honest, it was never really in question in my mind. It reduces every single one of my symptoms and means that I do not need to take ANY prescripted medication . Cannabis is much safer than the opiates that I would otherwise be prescribed and allows me to still be myself. Basically cannabis gives me a much better quality of life and means I can do more things.

I do not have to take any prescripted medication How did these physical MS symptoms change with cannabis use?

By making sure that I have a regular intake of cannabis I am in less pain, fall over half as much, have more energy, can sleep better and do not have as many spasms. My bowel, bladder and sexual functions are all back to working order and I don’t need to use a walking stick, everything changes, it means I can have a life again.

the relief I was getting from cannabis.

In the UK, we only hear the negative when it comes to cannabis and our minds. A 2009 investigation, University of Saskatchewan, found that cannabis use increased brain cell formation in the hippocampus by 40%. I think there is much to be said for cannabis as a learning tool in the right situation - it certainly helped me.

Cannabis use increased brain cell formation [...] by 40% Have you spoken to any medical professionals about your experiences with cannabis and the positive effect it has had on your conditions?

Yes: my doctor, MS nurse and neurologist all support me. I also have a Californian doctor’s recommendation, which allows me to obtain medical cannabis when I am in California.

None at all. Cannabis, when used properly, can help stimulate the mind. I am happy to admit that I used cannabis to help stimulate my mind on many occasions. It also led to me drinking much less, so I didn’t miss lectures due to being hungover. I don’t think that I would have managed to get my degree if it wasn’t for cannabis used as an effective medicine for all of my symptoms - I think that it would have been too much without

I would like to see adults allowed to use cannabis if they see fit, with a proper system of licensing. Cannabis licensing should be much like an alcohol licence. If cannabis is sold to under 18s, people should face heavy fines, and lose their license themselves. I would like to see a mixture of the Spanish cannabis club, the dutch coffee shop and the Californian/Coloradan dispensary systems. We are very far behind when it comes to cannabis; I was part of a BBC1 Sunday Morning Live where there was a poll and 69% of people agreed with decriminalisation - which is huge.

I would like to see a proper system of cannabis licensing

My doctor, MS nurse and neurologist all support me Tell our readers about the Berkshire Cannabis Group. When did you launch the group?

Our next two meetings are on the 29 October and 12 December at RISC, above Global cafe, on London street. It is just behind the cinema and very easy to get to.

We are also having a Christmas meet and greet, on 20 December, where we are having a raffle with over £700 worth of prizes to give away - it promises to be a lively one!

Did you find that the cannabis use, which curbed the symptoms of your MS, had a negative effect on your studies at University?

How would you like to see cannabis used in the future?

I started it up when I was in California last year. I was inspired by the San Francisco Chapter of Americans for safe access, as I attended many of their public meetings while I was there.

I had the idea of a local group for a long time and they really welcomed me in and helped me learn what to do to bring it back here. I was toying with creating a Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter at the University of Reading and I think that it would still be a great idea. It’s something that I could help with, if anyone would be interested in setting that up.

Many thanks to Clark French for his enlightening interview with us at Spark*!

See this interview and more at www.sparknewspaper.co.uk.

Next week we will be talking to Security at Reading about issues around the campus, Reading and their social media.

Would you be interested in writing for Interview?

The next interview could be written by you!

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

comment.spark@reading.ac.uk

DEBATE 9

Debate The gap between

A Levels & a degree

snemony lickett

Yes

In just a matter of months the newest students at the University of Reading have gone from sitting in a classroom with teachers they have known for several years and being guided through their A level courses and UCAS applications, to being dropped off at university, quite possibly knowing absolutely no one else, and expected to sail through their academic studies without a problem.

The gap between sixth-form and an undergraduate course is simply vast. Moving to university means that overnight your life dramatically changes. Most students have moved away from home for the first time in their lives and are now expected to cook for themselves, clean, do laundry and manage their own money. Add to that the pressures of making new friends, partying hard during Freshers week and joining a wealth of clubs and societies and then within just a week having to undertake the most difficult level of education yet.

It is not surprising that some students drop out and the university has to provide welfare and counselling support for many others who are finding it hard to cope.

If you think about the jump between study at GCSE and A Level and how tough most students found that, and then take into consideration the fact that almost every other aspect of your life remained stable at that time. You probably still lived at home, maybe even stayed at the same school with the same teachers.

It is no wonder that some students can not cope with the complete change that starting a degree brings.

Even if you settle into the social side of university very quickly, starting your course requires a completely new set of skills and demands a different approach to learning. Many students will never have had to use an academic library before and are then faced with a five story building to navigate when they arrive here. Most will not have had to reference and use footnotes and are then expected to use them within their work. Some students may not have ever been required to work independently in a way that an undergraduate course requires you to.

There is no one at university telling you to write down the dates your assignments are due in, no one at your flat to nag you into doing your reading and in fact most of the time there’s someone telling you the complete opposite. I reckon most students have had a friend tell them “don’t worry about your 9am tomorrow, come to town/the pub/the union instead” at least once during their time at university.

Even if/when you’ve mastered the art of getting work done and handed in on time, the pressure does not ease up. Soon enough talk of exams and revision begins and suggestions of finding work experience, deciding your future career, planning your entire life – you know, those little, not at all stressful, decisions!

Students all have a personal tutor to turn to if they need help but realistically most students only meet with their tutor once a term. It often isn’t enough to help build a relationship and therefore some students don’t feel particularly comfortable approaching a near stranger for help. It really is a case of going it alone at university for the first time in a student’s academic career.

There is also a huge amount of time on some courses that is not structured for you, something that students probably haven’t encountered before. Those courses with very little contact time may provide a timetable of only eight hours a week or less and students are left to organise the rest of their time themselves. For some students this means unlimited lie-ins, lots of time to watch TV and not much work being done.

Of course there are benefits to the huge gap between A Levels and a degree though. While you are being thrown in at the deep end, and inevitably some will sink, the ones that swim have passed the first of many difficult tasks in life. It can be considered merely a step towards complete independence, the next being beginning full time employment.

University is a good test in many ways and one that I would encourage as many people as possible to make the most of.

Is it too big?

carys jones

“Even the lecturers at university tell first years not to worry too much about getting amazing marks”

“The gap between sixth-form and an undergraduate course is simply vast”

“Universities tend to have a lot more specialists on hand to aid you in your studies”

No

When you finished your A Levels and moved on to study at the University of Reading, you undoubtedly felt that you were taking a step up in your academic education. University brings about a whole host of intellectual challenges, such as the enduring task of referencing EVERYTHING and coping with studying independently pretty much all of the time. However, I would argue that the academic jump from A Levels to a degree is not too big for a fresher to handle.

Among other reasons, the fact that the University of Reading’s student “drop out” rate is only 6.3%, is proof that the step up from A level to degree level is manageable by most students.

One of the main reasons why people decide to do A Levels in the first place is because they eventually want to go to university. Automatically this puts pressure on students to do their very best at A Level in order to be able to get into the institution of their choice.

This is especially the case in year 13, where everyone is obsessed with grades and UCAS points. Overall, A Levels are about doing the very best that you can.

Alternatively, the first year of your degree is totally different! All you have to do is get the magical 40% pass rate in order to make it through to second year and an even better factor is that the mark from your first year does not count towards your final degree mark! This totally takes the pressure off freshers academically, leaving more time for going out and relaxing.

Even the lecturers at university tell first years not to worry too much about getting amazing marks and to focus more on passing all your modules. Therefore, I would argue that the gap between A Level and degree level is not too big, because the first year of your degree only requires 40% effort, opposed to A Levels which require you to do your maximum best for each exam.

There are also many more factors that suggest the gap between A Levels and your degree really is not that big. Firstly, most degree subjects only have exams in the summer term, which means students only have one big block of revision to do per year.

On the other hand, A Levels have two exams sittings per year, which obviously requires two big blocks of

revision and is thus doubly as stressful compared with degree level.

Most modules at our university, especially in the humanities department, only require a student to do one examination and one assessed essay, whereas at A Level each subject seemed to have at least two exams and numerous piece of coursework.

Further, at A Level you have to worry about the whole university application process (UCAS, open days, personal statements, student finance, etc), as well as trying to do your very best in all of your subjects.

Conversely, when you arrive at university, the only requirement of you academically is to pass your modules.

For all of the above reason, the gap between A Level and degree level cannot be seen as being too big. The stress factor at A Level is way too high to claim any differently.

A Levels are a national/global assessment that test each student who takes them at the same level. Alternatively, the standards for a degree are set by each individual university, therefore if you have managed to get into university; it is likely that you are working at the right level for you academically. The latter factor suggests that the gap between A Levels and a degree is not too big, because in years 12 and 13 you are not only competing with people in your class to get good grades (which is the case at university), you are putting yourself up against everyone doing A Levels in the country and other places around the world. Further, universities tend to have a lot more specialists (Professors, Doctors, PhD students) on hand to aid you in your studies, compared with sixth forms or colleges which only have a few teachers per department.

For reasons I have suggested throughout this debate article, I would strong oppose the view that the gap between A Level and degree level is too big. The fact that university is daunting and every students experience is different obviously has to be considered. However, as the first year of a degree requires only 40% effort, I think we can all agree that this takes the pressure off freshers going into university, compared with the high demands that were required in year 13.

10 COMMENT

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

comment.spark@reading.ac.uk

commENt

All comment articles represent the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the paper, Editor or any of the section editors

Ignorant and tragic idolising of celebrities must stop Alfie Brierley

Having studied Philosophy and Politics for just over a year now, as well as previous years of reading on the subjects, I have come across some truly remarkable human beings.

All beings so far have created something beyond themselves; and do you want to be the ebb of this great flood and even go back to the beasts rather than overcome man? What is the ape to man? A laughing stock or a painful embarrassment. And man shall be just that for the overman: a laughing stock or a painful embarrassment... Behold, I teach you the overman. (Nietzsche Thus spoke Zarathustra) Friedrich Nietzsche once talked about the “overman” (or the “superman” as it’s more commonly referred to) as he uses it as a foundation from which to attempt to challenge the ingrained values of society. These values behind what is considered to be good and evil, he asserts, having been founded on the Christian faith serve only to hamper human potential and have no basis on our everyday experiences. His aim is to show us that for society to be able to live up to its true potential we need a new system of values which is more suited to our needs.

Thus Nietzsche announces the Übermensch as a goal humanity can set for itself. All human life would be given meaning by how it advanced a new generation of human beings. And so it is this new human generation which must be idolised and not the current crop of self-obsessed, talentless “celebrities” as they like to be known.

However until, this generation has come about, it is up to us to idolise the people worth idolising, such as the doctors, the academics and the men and women fighting for our country.

We need a new system of values which is more suited to our needs It is these very people which come closest to overcoming man and pushing for a new generation, a generation which adopts new values, which will help progress this world into a more commendable and celebrated place, not the “celebrities” of today who dominate our TV screens with their unjustifiable plethora of arrogance. It is shows such as “Geordie Shore” and “The only way is Essex” which are wrongly becoming Quintessentially British as opposed to say, “Fawlty Tow-

ers”. Consequently, there has been an influx of new values, values in which the youth of today so ignorantly and stupidly adopt – oh how credulous we all are in believing in something which will transform into the people on TV. Do we really want to be like these people? And why is it not the case that people want to be like people that actually matter, that have changed the world?

Stupidity, desperation, embarrassment and pure shame are the words which spring to mind when thinking of our current crop of “celebrities”. Of course not all celebrities should be labelled talentless individuals. For instance the England rugby team are considered celebrities, but the difference with them is that they have worked hard to get where they are today and have not simply been put on TV because they have large breasts or a lack of intelligence.

All too often nowadays lacking intelligence is seen to be cool, or at least desirable. A lack of intelligence in an individual, or in this case in celebrities, should not be celebrated by big pay-cheques or social status, but rather should be frowned upon and seen as an issue which harms the representation of Britain – a mindless set of individuals who, as opposed to working hard and achieving their

success, rely on their insufficiencies to automatically project them into a world of success and privilege. It is this very thought that fills me with sadness. Success used to be about trying to do something, change the world, but now it is simply about trying to be something.

All too often nowadays lacking intelligence is seen to be cool It is time to start appreciating and idolising people that are worth idolising. One must not idolise a celebrity for what they are, but for what they have done in this world. It is the people I have come across during my studies which deserve to be idolised. Einstein, Nietzsche, Marx, Hume, Nozick, Mandela are to name just a few.

And as soon as we overthrow the values that celebrities have so unforgivably brought to power, especially among the youth of today, the quicker this society can start to move forward. And so the next time you and your friends begin to idolise a celebrity, actually take a minute to question their motives, their ambitions, their intentions and most of all ask yourself whether or not they will

End this persecution of the vulnerable Harriet Weston

It has always been the alternative if (God forbid) the worst happens and you end up pregnant – abortion. In the United Kingdom, abortions are taken for granted, legalised only in the 1967 Abortion Act, yet Ireland has never had such choice due to religious turmoil at the time. Both the Republic and Northern Ireland are subjected to the sole option of aborting the foetus if it entails serious or fatal consequences for the mother.

On Thursday last week, the 18th October, Marie Stopes opened, Northern Ireland’s first private clinic to provide both medical and emotional support for women who feel they have no other choice than to abort the pregnancy.

Women should have the choice whether to abort a pregnancy or not There are several factors I feel need highlighting. First of all, finding out you’re pregnant must be one of the most petrifying experiences life can throw at you,

particularly if unexpected (just imagine finding out a parasite has been growing inside your belly for weeks without you knowing). Next, the decision to raise a child for the next 18 years or, if not, ending a life that has never begun (well, that depends on your beliefs), ensuing the nerve-wracking nightmares of the procedure itself (two words: blood and plunger).

Self-righteous people feel it’s necessary to lacerate strangers with their benevolent beliefs In Ireland, you would have to travel to free yourself of this “miracle”. Picture it: travelling alone, away from the comforts of home and, on arriving at the abortion clinic, being met by vile protesters screaming names at you and afterwards, isolated and vulnerable, finding no support. Why should the Government keep you away from this alternative? Why do conservative, self-righteous

religious people feel it necessary to pry and lacerate strangers with their benevolent beliefs? Women should have the choice whether to abort a pregnancy or not. Overall, religion is the reason for Ireland not having an Abortion Act, but, surely if it is legalised, religious communities would be strong enough to say “no” for themselves, but stand down when other women wish to assert control over their bodies. Unless there is an underlying fear that women in religious communities might also want this control. God forbid.

change the world? If they have the potential, then idolise them, but if they do not then have the courage to look past their apparently hard working lives and turn to someone who actually deserves your admiration.

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

comment.spark@reading.ac.uk

COMMENT 11

Our modern ‘sexciety’ Gemma Lumsdale

Diana Vickers: idolised by fans of all ages who supported her nerveracking journey through ‘The XFactor’ not so many years ago.

But what’s happened to Vickers?

Where did that angelic little hippie go? ‘Thank the lord’, we thought when she first appeared on our screens. Someone new has arrived on the block. The back-combed, side-simped blonde hair that was naturally gorgeous, a ‘just got out of bed look’, girlish but not toosexy, adorned in skirts and tops with ruffles, spots, flowers, you name it, all hanging loosely on her yet ‘unsexified’ body. She showed up the vampish, gyrating versions of womanhood topping the charts at the time. Far from trying to please men, Vickers seemed to be genuinely pleasing herself with her look. But then what happened?

Some middle-aged man from the pop world got hold of her and turned her from adorably scruffy to just another one-size-fits-all sex object of mass popular appeal.

I point the finger at the mediagenerated ideal of female perfection that forced Vickers to change.

They are just unrealistic and so perfectionist in this society. Only an airbrushed Jordan look-a-like would meet them with her stupidly underweight figure, big but perfectly groomed hair, lots of makeup, skin that makes her look like she’s been ‘tangoed’, oh, and don’t forget the extremely large boobs.

It seems that these ridiculous standards set by our over-sexualised culture are imposed on newcomers to the music industry otherwise they will not be as successful as artists like Rhianna. Diana Vickers was turned into an identikit of a sexualized female artist since having gained her record deal with RCA records in March 2010. In her first hit My Wicked Heart her innocence was morphed into the recognizable plastic ‘Barbie doll’ just like the rest of the celebrity crew. Making all of us ‘ordinary people’ resemble a real- life version of ‘bubbles’ in Little Britain:

slightly overweight and in need of a makeover.

Ridiculous standards set by our oversexualised culture are imposed A thought popped into my head yesterday about the sexiness of 21st century children. How do parents feel about their children being exposed to these sexy celebrities? The media has allowed our children to be bombarded with sexual images of women.

The media is rife with super-skinny, provocatively dressed women, and music channels regularly show music videos full of women gyrating, thrusting their hips and dressed in not very much.

Children are now seen wearing mini- skirts, flaunting their small legs Do all these sexual images affect our child’s body image? Yes, of course they do. As young as the age of two, children are now seen wearing mini- skirts, flaunting their small legs and low cut tops, exposing their undeveloped chest to potential paedophiles. Are artists celebrities to blame for this?

Personally, I would say yes. I mean how confusing to be a child. What message does it send? The encouragement of major retailers to be sexy such as Primark who were selling padded bikinis for children as young as seven years old. David Cameron branded these bikinis as “disgraceful” and Gordon Brown supported the campaign to have them removed. “Ah,” thinks child, “all the girls are wearing padded bras and carrying whips at school, I must get some!”

These young children walking with pride as they sing, ‘Cause tonight I need to kiss a sexy little

dirty scream’-(Lyrics from Nicole Scherzinger’s hit Poison) around school. It was only when I sang the song myself that I realised that this song alongside many others are full of sexual innuendos. No wonder a third of 16-24 year olds have lost their virginity below the age of consent.

Sex, by one of Britain’s top hiphop bands, NDubz won awards at the Music of Black Origin awards (the MOBOs). There is a big BUT coming though, I’m afraid. They got into hot water because a 12 year old girl had been temporarily suspended from church school as she wrote a pornographic poem.

What is the world coming to? How old is old enough to be exposed to women resembling skint hookers on a Saturday night? Children should not be exposed to these images until they are 16 or much older. Children should be focused on learning who they are and what

the world is all about rather than having sex and reproducing at such a young age.

There is so much more opportunity for success in children in our society than just having sex and having children. Especially us women; we are now more capable of being successful in the education system and having careers.

Make the most of it...because if men had the chance we would be back in the kitchen!

Children are bombarded with sexual images of women The people who run the music industry are mostly men. This is the root of the problem. Because it is dominated by the male population, their tastes and ideas of what is attractive are projected on to the

rest of us; explaining the shocking sexual images and lyrics being used.

The music industry is in desperate need of a women’s touch and a women’s more realistic idea of what is attractive and sexually appropriate for others to see. That’s the solution. Women should be up there helping to define what constitutes attractiveness in our society rather than being dictated to by the (largely male-run) world of popular culture. But for now, women in the public eye will have to get used to being slobbered over by desperate men and criticised by the general public for their contribution to the over-sexualisation of young children in modern culture.

It’s very disappointing to see all these artists morph into those identical male and female Barbie dolls that currently dominate popular media and infiltrate our culture in our ‘sexciety’.

Have opinions you want to share?

Comment and Debate would love to hear from you. Send your articles to comment.spark@reading.ac.uk

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Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

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FILM&TV 13

FILM&TV

Taken 2: darker than the first, but nowhere near as good Director: Olivier Megaton Starring: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen Running Time: 91mins Genre: Action

and shallow, while Famke Janssen doesn’t get enough screen-time or character development to really bear mentioning.

The majority of the film is either cliché action or dull exposition

Nathan Taylor

In Taken 2, Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson - Schindler’s List, Batman Begins) is vacationing in Istanbul with his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace - Lost) and ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen –X-Men) when they are all assaulted by kidnappers - Kim manages to escape, but Bryan and Lenore get caught. It quickly becomes apparent that the many corpses Mills left in his wake in the events of the original film all had uncles and brothers who would like very much to avenge their deaths.

You don’t need to have seen the first film to fully understand things, however. All you really need to know is that the kidnappers are foreigners and Liam Neeson is going to kill them.

The film is notably divided into three distinct acts: the first

takes place mostly in the US and exposits the dysfunctional family dynamic that is Bryan, Lenore and Kim. Kim has a new boyfriend, Bryan doesn’t trust him and everything rings of Meet The Parents.

The second act is much better.

Bryan, being in captivity, has to coach his daughter by phone as she attempts to find and rescue him. Not only does this make a nice change of pace from the usual “Liam Neeson kills them until they die” plot, it gives his daughter a chance to demonstrate how much

competency she’s developed from the damsel-in-distress we saw in 2008.

Unfortunately, this unexpected rise in quality is lost in the third act. Mills drives a car really fast and then shoots a lot of people.

Roll credits.

The acting is also a bit of a letdown. Liam Neeson is reprising his role from Taken, so all we see from him is more of the same.

Maggie Grace’s attempts at playing the traumatised daughter trying to move on come off as forced

Taken 2 is noticeably darker than the original film, in more ways than one. Kim has developed an inferiority complex from the events of the first film, always focusing on what a normal person would want to do rather than what she wants to do. Secondly, we get to see exactly how far Mills is willing to go to protect his family, in a bad way. He steals a car from a cabbie, shoots a policeman trying to stop him, and then rams that same vehicle into the US Embassy, just to get his daughter away from the terrorists.

Also of note is that Bryan’s daughter is developing a similar perspective, using her grenades to blow up water-towers and parked cars in order to triangulate her father’s location.

Unfortunately, these attempts at depth are too little, too late for Taken 2. The majority of the film is either cliché action or dull exposition and, with all of the highquality action films in the theatres right now, Liam Neeson’s latest outing is just not worth you spending your money on.

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Looper: a thought-provoking sci-fi outing Directed by: Rian Johnson Starring: Joseph GordonLevitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt Running Time: 118mins Genre: Sci-Fi , Action, Thriller Wandy Badipe

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has come a long way from high school loser Cameron James in the romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. Since his adorable breakthrough, Joseph’s career has taken off; the female population fell in love with him in the indie comedy 500 Days of Summer, he took the action world by storm with thriller’s like Inception and The

Dark Knight Rises, and pleased critics with the independent movie 50/50.

The movie was well directed and the story line was rich Joseph’s new movie, Looper, takes him to new heights and critics are swooning over this new film that explores serious themes of choice, future, and the value of life.

I walked into the movie theatre with a spring in my step, expecting an action movie with explosions and a happy ending. Instead I left the room in an interesting state of shock.

The movie was well directed and the story line was so rich and dense, with themes that really made you think.

Looper is set in the year 2044, the main character, Joseph Simmons, or ‘Joe’ is a hired hit man for the mafia. 30 years from the time in the movie, in the year 2074, time travel has been invented, but it’s illegal. As a result, criminals use time travel to assassinate people because the tracking system in

the year 2074 makes it impossible to kill someone without repercussions. The setting of the movie is an interesting one, because it shows the futuristic world in a state of poverty due to the failure of the economy. Because of the ruin of the global economy, organized crime rules most cities (a bit like Gotham, but on a global scale).

The movie at first immerses us with action and peril, but then as the story develops we’re brought into a futuristic world that has driven people to emotional extremes. We’re challenged to question our thoughts on life related to

our loved ones, and really examine the effect our actions make towards the future.

A key motif in the movie is a ticking watch, the characters constantly look at time, and in certain scenes sound is blocked out and only the ticking of a handheld watch is heard. The director seems to use this to help the audience realize that time is everything, and what you do in the space of a few seconds can either make or break your future.

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FILM NEWS IN BRIEF - Sam Raimi (Director of Drag Me to Hell) is set to take on a remake of Poltergeist - let’s hope it’s not as laughable as previous efforts!

14 FILM&TV

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

film.spark@reading.ac.uk

FILM&TV

On The Road: exposing the beauty of America Director: Walter Salles Starring: Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Garrett Hedlund, Kirsten Dunst.

Running Time: 124mins Genre: Adventure/Drama Kate Holman

It’s not easy to adapt an iconic novel to the big screen hit, yet director Walter Salles has attempted just that with Jack Kerouac’s 1957 novel ‘On The Road’, but has he succeeded?

The plot focuses on writer Sal (Riley) who is desperately searching for inspiration and adventure following a long rut and implied grief. So when Sal is introduced to free-spirited Dean Moriarty (Hedlund) by his poetic friend Carlo (Tom Stubridge) the two, along with Dean’s young and promiscuous wife Marylou (Stewart), embark on a road trip across America in search of the freedom and expression of the Beats generation.

Sam Riley’s gravelly voice quotes some of Kerouac’s own scriptures adding possibly the best lines to the narrative, giving some depth to the characters which the rest of

the script fails to do. The acting is decent throughout, however the characters appear fairly unlikeable. Although you engage with Sal’s determination, his character development isn’t quite as climatic as the high-spirited, if not slightly damaged Dean, who plays centre part to everyone else’s affections making their roles seem insignificant in comparison. Garrett shines over the others and puts on an authentic portrayal of narcissistic Dean, wanting to explore his sexuality, drugs and the open road.

Marylou’s sexual promiscuity comes across as miserable and desperate as opposed to the free spirited expression of the Beats generation. Stewart attempts a more serious acting role and even goes that all bit ‘edgier’ and throws in a bit of nudity, but despite her character appearing rather hollow she does prove she has a little more acting in her than the awkward mumbling in the Twilight Saga.

At times the film does seem to slow, such as Sal’s trip alone where he begins a dragged out relationship with a Mexican woman named Terry, and times where the road seems to be taking them on no par-

Zoë Annabel Richardson

10. The Chronicles of Narnia (2005-present)

It may have lost its appeal as the series progressed but there’s no denying that it is a very well made, beautiful adaptation.

9. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

A beautiful Japanese adaptation of a lovely Welsh tale that reminds us that shouldn’t resign ourselves to fate.

It’s time to take the ultimate road trip... ticular purpose or direction. Much of the ‘wildness’ is agreeably tame with their drinking and drug use taken without much joy or excitement, adding to the notion that Sal is never entirely satisfied by his journey.

The soundtrack is modestly spot on and adds to the atmosphere of a free adventure and goes perfectly with the visually beautiful cinematography, with long profound shots of the open roads of North America.

As a fan of the book I had quite high expectations for the film adaptation and the narrative was quite disappointing, however the film as a whole is enjoyable and brilliantly shot, showing some of the beauty of the American landscape and giving the audience the urge to rent out a car and take a road trip!

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Paranormal Activity 4: the only activity was people leaving Director: Ariel Schulman & Henry Joost Starring: Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton & Matt Shively Runtime: 88mins Genre: Supernatural/ Horror Nathan Taylor

I don’t even know where to start.

Everything about this film is terrible. Everything.

The plot, insofar as there is a plot, revolves around a suburban family who experience a series of paranormal activities. These experiences are caught on film and relayed to the audience by Alex, a fifteen year-old girl who records her every conversation as a substitute for having a personality.

Every one of the half-a-dozen characters is deeply unlikeable.

The parents are negligent and ignorant, which would be fine if it didn’t mean that they have about 30 minutes of screen-time between them, serving only to provide padding to the already inflated story.

Because, deep down, everyone is afraid of blurry silhouettes The child actors seem to have been given instructions by the director to act as little as possible, all they do is sit around being creepy and spouting the occasional ominous one-liner that I imagine is supposed to sound foreboding.

The main protagonist, Alex, has no real personality of her own – simply reacting to her surroundings with either “This is so creepy” or “What the f**k?”

The only likeable character in the whole charade is Ben, Alex’s boyfriend, because he is clearly

The Top 10 Children’s Book-to-Film Adaptations

only helping Alex expose the paranormal activity as a pre-text to get inside of Katie Featherson (an admirable objective if there ever was one).

The shame of it all is that these actors are probably talented but they have no way of demonstrating this with such a terrible script to work with.

The last and worst transgression PA4 commits against the viewer is how dreadfully boring it all is. The “Paranormal Activity” referred to in the title consists, for

the first eighty minutes, of nothing more than moving furniture and a creepy kid annoying everyone.

Eighty minutes without anything remotely scary happening, at all, bar a few shock-teasers where Ben sneaks up on someone or Alex pops out from behind a fridge, while the plot is slowly nudged along by some crayon drawing of a crude rune in a tree-house or a shadowy figure being seen in the background. Nothing exciting at all happens for 91% of the film.

That’s how bored I was – I calculated the percentage.

By the time someone actually died I could only feel relieved because it signified that the film was wrapping up! The death itself was entirely unspectacular.

The next eight minutes consists of Alex with her bloody camera while every other member of her family gets it in an equally lackluster fashion. We don’t even get a real ending: the ghosts jump at her, credits roll. The end.

In conclusion: Paranormal Activity 4 sucks.

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8. Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Although Disney were disappointed with their version it has created many famous “images” of Carroll’s characters. A fun, wild and occasionally surreal film.

7. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

It deviates slightly from its source but improves it and brings the characters to life in a humorous and occasionally touching way.

6. The Grinch (2000)

Dr Seuss’ madcap Whovian tale makes perfect Christmas viewing.

Jim Carrey provides extra humour whilst the story still retains all the fun rhymes Seuss is beloved for.

5. Wizard of Oz (1939)

Over 70 years on, this beautiful musical adaptation of L Frank Baum’s series still inspires and contains many memorable scenes.

4. Matilda (1996)

The sweet, fun tale of a girl who develops psychic powers with memorable scenes (that cake!) and a good balance of childhood terror and uplifting sweetness.

3. The Hunger Games (2012)

A brutal book aimed at the younger adults of society adapts well into a film with the cruelty of their world highlighted on screen in all its severity.

2. Stardust (2007)

Neil Gaiman’s enchanting tale in a fantastic land may not be as dark as the original book, but a great film with even more mad-cap characters.

1. Harry Potter (2001-11)

The most famous (and most successful) children’s book adaptation. Boasting amazing actors, fantastic characters and adventures based in a wonderfully magical world all gloriously brought to life on the big screen.

FILM NEWS IN BRIEF - despite the hard-hitting review above, Paranormal Activity is to get a 5th outing, slated for a Halloween 2013 release date...

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

film.spark@reading.ac.uk

FILM&TV 15

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: observing the misfits

year of Charlie’s life, though there is no sense of dragging or tedium.

Even though it is a 12A, a lot of the themes are far more mature, such as teen drug use, coping with suicide of a loved one and the effects of being in an abusive relationship, and all handled very well on-screen.

Director: Stephen Chbosky Time: 103 minutes Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller Genre: Drama Zoë Annabel Richardson

A charming, sometimes brutal, film about fitting in with the social misfits. Charlie (Lerman) is starting out at high school with no friends, yet finds a group to become part of, the core of whom are Patrick (Miller) and his step-sister, Sam (Watson). They show him their world and attempt to help him find happiness, whilst he also helps them through their heavy issues.

Fans of the book should be pleased with the transition from book to film An engaging film in which the viewer can identify with many of the characters and, perhaps painfully, see glimpses of their own teenage years. It is far deeper than the usual ‘American High School’ fare that comes out and for that it is a fantastic film that stays with you long after you’ve left the screen.

A charming, sometimes brutal, film about fitting in with the social misfits The characters are written, portrayed and played remarkably well. Sometimes the film and its characters can be a bit too “quirky” for its own good, threatening to stray into “pretentious hipster territory” but on the whole there are no stereotypes that might be typical of an American high school film, they are simply

HHHH people who have problems. You feel so much for these characters, and desperately hope that they can change, with help from each other, their struggles and become truly happy.

Fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be very impressed with many scenes set recreating, fan-

tastically well I must say, numbers from the film and quite a joy to watch.

The characters are written, portrayed and played remarkably well

Fans of the book should be pleased with the transition from book to film, especially as the author also wrote the screenplay and directed, though some plot points and relationships are missing, most likely for time.

Whilst the films is 103 minutes it seems a lot longer as you follow a

Find this article and more at www. sparknewspaper. co.uk

Ruby Sparks: hardly unique but a new twist on relationships Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Starring: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina Running time: 104mins Genre: Comedy/Fantasy/ Romance Emmeline Walls

Calvin is a writer in his twenties.

He wrote a successful novel when he was 19 but now he is seeing a psychiatrist and only hangs out with his dog and his brother. Then he starts dreaming about a girl, one he must have invented because he’s never seen her before. With the encouragement of his psychiatrist, he starts writing about her – and then suddenly she’s in his apartment.

Although this idea of a written real life character is not entirely original (see Stranger Than Fiction with Will Ferrell), it’s such an interesting idea and there’s so much that can be done with it. Unlike Stranger Than Fiction, the focus is on the writer of this invented person.

the film [shows] just how imperfect real relationships are, which is quite refreshing The action is pretty predictable at certain points in the film; for example, when Calvin first discovers the invented Ruby in his apartment, he logically thinks he must have finally gone completely mad. However, these predictable moments aren’t a problem because they are predictable based on how you would imagine a real person

might react, rather than being clichés from the film’s genre.

Declaring the genre of this film is tricky; IMDB suggested it fitted under comedy, fantasy and romance. It is about a boy who is in love with a girl but it’s not overly romantic; bearing in mind that Calvin can effectively control Ruby with his typewriter, it does actually become quite sinister at times. This concept of a ‘perfect’ relationship (at least, perfect for Calvin) actually enables the film to show just how imperfect real relationships are, which is quite refreshing. The comedy is very naturally worked into the scenes rather than being forced in which is really great as well.

Declaring the genre of this film is tricky The cast is quite interesting in that Paul Dano (Calvin), Zoe Kazan (Ruby) and Chris Messina (Harry, Calvin’s brother) aren’t household names, although they have all had a few big feature credits before.

The supporting roles include several well-known actors Elliott

Gould, Annette Bening, Steve Coogan, Alia Shawkat and Antonio Banderas. It’s interesting to see Banderas in a smaller and slightly eccentric role as the hippy partner of Calvin’s mother.

What stops me giving this film four stars and nagging you all to go see it is that it does feel a bit too sinister later on. Calvin and Harry’s attitudes towards women and relationships were a bit worrying and even though that’s kind of the point of Calvin’s character, Harry is presented as the welladjusted sibling. His enthusiasm

for Calvin to share Ruby with men everywhere is a bit weird. Also at one point when Calvin makes an edit to Ruby, Harry assumes it’s related to her breasts. Another slight issue for me was that the treatment of the title character, Ruby, seemed sort of indulgent, especially when I realised that she was played by the film’s writer.

This is definitely an interesting watch for any student, but I wouldn’t bother pre-ordering the DVD.

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FILM NEWS IN BRIEF - Rumour has it that Transformers 4 could possibly have a female lead. Could this be what the franchise needs for a decent reboot?

16 FILM&TV

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

film.spark@reading.ac.uk

FILM&TV Actor profile: Natalie Portman Nathan Taylor

She’s been acting since she was 13, and she has won an Oscar for her role in Black Swan.

She graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Psychology and speaks six different languages.

She’s a lecturer, a comedian, an actor, an activist and a mother.

Natalie Portman can definitely multitask.

As a child actress, a lot of her more successful roles were as children and teenagers – especially since her youthful features and small bust allowed her to portray youths even as she grew older.

Further, a lot of her roles are as children who subvert the nature of their youth, either by being disturbingly violent (Léon) or by being extremely competent (Star Wars) She can be very picky about what kind of films she will and won’t be a part of, going all the way back to 17 years old when she

demanded that Anywhere But Here be re-written to remove her sex scene before she agreed to be in it. She has stated in the past that she will never be a part of a horror film, anything involving Jennifer Love Hewitt, or anything that she feels would set a bad example for younger actresses.

Nowadays, she spends a lot of her time on various causes. She campaigns for vegan rights and released a brand of vegan footwear (whatever that is). She spends a lot of time in Africa making documentaries about endangered animals and the people there while she also takes part in US Politics campaigning for Obama and the other liberal candidates.

A brief biography now: born in Israel as Natalie Hershlag, she and her family immigrated to the United States when she was just three years old. She began acting shortly afterwards, attending theatre camps in the summer as well as learning to dance. In one interview she stated that, as a child, “I worked very hard. I was a very serious kid.” She would continue to audition for musicals and films throughout her childhood, at one point turning down a well-paid gig as a child model, but it wouldn’t be until she was thirteen years old that she would successfully land a role – as the disturbed orphan Mathilda in the feature film Léon.

She continued to act throughout high school, displaying a degree of multi-tasking even higher than that which is typical of her gender.

It was near the end of her time there that she received what many consider to be her break-out role: Princess Amidala of the Star Wars Prequels. Interestingly, she had no real interest in the series before

she got involved – she would get Star Wars and Star Trek confused in her interviews and she skipped the release of Phantom Menace in order to revise for her final exams.

After graduating high school, she went to Harvard University to study Psychology, causing her to reduce her acting due to time restraints, only filming the two remaining Star Wars Prequels.

After graduating Harvard in 2003, she returned to acting, finishing off her Star Wars duties and being returned to the public consciousness by her role as Evey Hammond in V for Vendetta, for which she had her head shaved on film during a torture scene.

She also diversified herself at this time, performing in a number of non-film events. She was a guest on Saturday Night Live, a popular American sketch comedy series, in which she produced a satirical rap video. She was also a guest on Sesame Street (a popular series for celebrities to guest-star in, such as Jack Black and Katy Perry) and volunteered as a member of jury committee for the famous Cannes Film Festival.

Around 2006, she took a step back from acting to follow political and idealistic ideas, visiting African countries and campaigning for Obama in favour of releasing as many films per year as was standard for her in the past. This trend increase over the years, culminating with Portman meeting a fellow named Benjamin Millepied in 2009 whilst filming Black Swan, her most recent film to gain high praise and the first to earn her an Oscar. Portman developed a relationship with Millepied during filming, culminating in her giving birth to his child in 2011 and, sadly, she hasn’t made a decent film since.

reception, robbing Portman of the industry attention she deserved.

Star Wars Portman plays Princess Amidala in the Star Wars Prequels, in a minor but important role that heavily affects the character development of her love interest and the main protagonist, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen).

This is the film that launched her into the international consciousness and, paradoxically, is considered to be one of her worst works.

She was nominated for numerous gag-awards for worst supporting actress and worst screen couple (along with Hayden Christensen).

V for Vendetta In V for Vendetta, Natalie plays a young woman named Evey who lives in a dystopian dictatorship.

She is rescued from an attempted rape by a stranger named V and spends the rest of the film trying to decide whether she should join

him in his terrorist attacks on the state.

The film was good enough to make up for the Star Wars debacle, earning Portman a Saturn Award for Best Actress and receiving praise from famous film critic Roger Ebert.

Also notable is that she had her head shaved for the film, which earned her a lot of funny looks when she visited Ireland shortly afterwards.

Black Swan Portman is cast opposite Mila Kunis as two rival ballerinas competing for the lead role in a play called ‘The Black Swan’.

Nina, Portman’s character, is a heavily repressed woman and her attempts to garner the role she desires drive her down a dark mental path, mentally.

It’s a dark psychological thriller, like Fight Club or Requiem for a Dream, and Portman’s first Oscarwinning role. Definitely a must-see film.

Notable filmography Leon Léon is about a 12-year-old girl who is taken in by a professional hitman (Jean Reno) when a corrupt Policeman (Gary Oldman) murders her family for drug money.

She then persuades him to teach her how to be a hitman, in order to get her revenge on the officer who killed her family.

A very good film, but a little cheesy at the end. Unfortunately, heavy censoring in the United States caused Léon to get a bad

FILM NEWS IN BRIEF - the next X-Men Prequel (X-Men - Days of Future Past) has been described as ‘X-Men meets Terminator’...could be interesting!

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

film.spark@reading.ac.uk

TV Review: Homeland Season One US espionage drama Homeland is a beautifully made television series, more than worthy of the praise it has been lavished with.

A 2012 Golden Globe winner, and even a favourite of President Barack Obama, it is essential viewing.

CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) has been informed by a source that a captured American Prisoner of War has been ‘turned’, and is now working for al Qaeda. When US Marine Seargent, Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) is found by American forces in Iraq, eight years after being captured, Carrie is convinced that she has found her man.

urge to be damningly judgmental of terrorists, preferring to show the audience what motivates them to act as they do.

Withstanding a slightly prolonged middle section, the series moves at an electrifying pace

Homeland twists and turns, pushes and prods, but remains firmly grounded in reality However, with Brody brought home to a hero’s welcome, adored by politicians and the media alike, she finds few colleagues willing to share in her conviction that he is a terrorist. Is Carrie right, or is she chasing the wrong lead? The tensi-

on rises as she pursues the case, eventually reaching a nail-biting conclusion that will leave even the coolest viewers on the edge of their seats.

Homeland twists and turns, pushes and prods, but remains firmly grounded in reality. It is

a little far-fetched, but far from impossible. It is a relevant and thrilling show for modern times, unafraid to address serious and important issues. The plot is fluid and unpredictable without becoming overcomplicated. Homeland bravely avoids the understandable

Frankenweenie 3D: bark of Frankenstein Director: Tim Burton Starring: Charlie Tahan, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Winona Ryder Run time: 87mins Genre: Animated Siobhan Whitebread

Frankenweenie 3D, the latest film from Tim Burton, follows the young scientist Victor Frankenstein. Victor, in true Burton style, is isolated in the endless sea of suburbia; his only friend is his loyal dog, Sparky, and his main pastime is locking himself away and making films. This, predictably, leads to his father pressuring him into trying baseball. And that is where the main action begins; for at the game Sparky runs off, and is killed before Victor’s eyes.

And when Victor’s grief collides with a demonstration involving a dead frog…

Well, the title of the film says it all. Frankenweenie 3D is a homage to the genre that Burton loves so well. It began life as a short in 1984, and the lengthened time gives more leeway for references.

In one viewing alone I could see nods to the film starring Karloff (1931), and even the original novel

by Shelley. There are also many famous ‘stock characters’, includ-

ing the Igor, the weird girl and the sensitive protagonist.

If these sound like cardboard cutouts, however, they’re not. The weird girl (voiced by Catherine O’Hara) is both creepy and hilarious, raising titters every time she appeared. The Igor (Atticus Shaffer) starts out as loathsome, but becomes somebody you feel sorry for. And as for Victor (Charlie Tahan), it seems a coincidence that he resembles a stock character: he’s more a self-insert of Burton in many ways, another homage to all lonely kids who relate better to animals than the terrors of people.

The plot is also a homage to such kids. Touching and sincere, it praises those who would rather create stories than deal with the world. It also praises loyalty no matter what: even when that ‘what’ involves breaking the barrier between life and death. The only

moment when touching dips into mawkish is a bit of talk about science coming from the heart as well as the head – which made even me, a stereotypical Humanities student, roll my eyes.

The way that Frankenweenie 3D is presented just adds to this homage to lonely kids and horror. Everything is in greyscale, showing Burton’s enthusiasm for old films. A point is made of using pathetic fallacy, leading to the perfect atmosphere in every scene.

And the stop-motion is honed to a practically flawless level, providing expressions just as fine as if they’d thrown actors on the screen and told them to affect hunches.

The only extraneous detail seemed to be the 3D: I didn’t notice a single part where the loss of it would’ve hurt.

Frankenweenie 3D is a touching and beautiful film that only dips into mawkishness once or twice. It is obviously a homage to Burton’s childhood, but also manages to be a homage to the childhood of every lonely kid. The characters are compelling, the plot is enjoyable and Sparky is one of the most adorable dogs to ever be committed to screen. Overall it’s a treat.

FILM&TV 17

on, it still stands out from its competitors. If you only have time to watch one television show, then make it Homeland.

Series 1 of Homeland is now available on DVD. Series 2 airs on Channel 4, Sundays at 9pm.

The cast are magnificent throughout. Danes portrays the unstable Carrie brilliantly, careful not to overplay her mental health issues.

Lewis is superb as the complicated Brody. The actor is an English Old Etonion, yet thoroughly convinces as a rugged and tortured American war hero. Mandy Patinkin and David Harewood also perform vital roles in backing up the two main stars.

Withstanding a slightly prolonged middle section, the series moves at an electrifying pace. It is also not overly time consuming. Whilst other American imports such as The West Wing and The Sopranos stand at well over twenty episodes, Homeland is a compact twelve show series. In what is been dubbed as a golden age of televisi-

This fortnight at the RFT...

Student Tickets: £4.50 The Reading Film Theatre was established 40 years ago as an independant cinema with a policy to show the best films from around the world. With a mix of mainstream films and independant cinema, as well as foreign-language films, there is something for everyone and all are welcome. Below is a listing of showings for the upcoming fortnight...

Tuesday 30 October (20.00):

Innkeepers (15) Thursday 1 November (19:30):

Ana Karenina (PG) Tuesday 6 November (20:00):

The Women on the 6th Floor (12A) Wednesday 7 November (19:00):

The Return of Martin Guerre (15) Thusday 8 November (20.00):

Killer Joe (18)

Prices: Members £4.50 Non-members £6.00 Annual Membership £10.00

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FILM NEWS IN BRIEF - the wait is over and the first official trailer for Iron Man 3 has arrived! I just watched it and almost drooled on the desk...check it out!

18 MUSIC

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

music.spark@reading.ac.uk

MUSIC ALBUMS

Lame Impala? Same-same Impala? It’s neither of the above.

Tame Impala Lonerism Modular

Charlie Allenby

Imagine listening to a kaleidoscope. You’re not even half of the way there in terms of how this record sounds. The Aussie stoners Tame Impala are back with their second LP in the guise of the recently released Lonerism, and in short this album could easily be described as a continuation of their 2010 critically acclaimed debut Innerspeaker, potentially even Innerspeaker Pt. 2. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Although the psychedelic, trippy guitar riffs, and LSD-infused melodies of their previous release can be heard on this album, the band’s ability to be able to structure a second successive record that has such fluidity, and with not a dull moment throughout, has enabled them to create a collection of songs that not only doff their cap to the past, but also to the future.

is arguably this album’s best song.

A foot stopping beat pulsates throughout, and this is overlapped with an alternating melody; one minute paying homage to greats such as E.L.O with it’s quirky, staccato piano chords; and next switching to psychedelic rifts that Hendrix would have been proud of.

Other highlights of the album include the first single Elephant, with its heavy, distorted bass line making your head involuntarily nod along, and its synth solo half way through sending shivers down your spine; and Mind Mischief, which highlights the bands ability to write raw, laid back rock songs.

If I can criticise the album at all, it would be that it loses its initial intensity towards its climax, with Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control and Sun’s Coming Up not packing the punch that the rest of the songs on the record had.

Overall, Tame Impala have crafted an album that they have clearly thought a lot about. Gone is the raw sound that had dominated the debut, and in its place is a clear and concisely produced package of songs that flow effortlessly from one to another, allowing the listener a seemingly endless trip into the outer realms of the psychedelic kaleidoscope in their minds.

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“Guitar rifts fatter and seemingly more purposeful” Straight away, you are thrust into the runaway train that is Be Above It, with its pounding drum beat and heavily oscillating synth setting the tone for the remainder of the album. You’re being taken on a trip whether you like it or not.

Endors Toi follows hot on its heels, and it is where Tame Impala really set out their stall. On this song alone you can see how the fourpiece have evolved from the band they were on their debut, with the guitar rifts fatter and seemingly more purposeful, improved production and a thoughtful layering of all the melodic phrases used.

Apocalypse Dreams follows suit from the previous two songs, and

Patrick Wolf Sundark and Riverlight Bloody Chamber

Rhys Williams

Ten years and four albums after his debut Lycanthropy, Patrick Wolf has taken it upon himself to release what is essentially a ‘Best Of’ album. However, it isn’t just the well known tracks stuck on a disc and flogged for any chance

at a boost in popularity and a bit more cash in the back pocket; Patrick Wolf has been very clever with this album – a double album upon which he has covered sixteen of his own tracks acoustically.

Fans of Patrick Wolf will be aware that this will take varying degrees of conversion, as Patrick Wolf’s back catalogue is a sea of contradictions – baroque pop with a gentle electronic hum in the background, to mostly folksy works, all the way to electronica that sounds like a harbinger of the dubstep apocalypse.

“Wolf has been very clever with this album” Everything has been recreated, rewritten and redesigned using classical and acoustic instruments. Some is just a reworking – stripped back and made far more simple than the original recording.

Some songs, however, especially newer versions of songs from Wolf’s album The Bachelor are almost unrecognisable. Anything with a deep electric feel has been turned on its head and turned into something far more beautiful than before.

The double album is, unsurprisingly, divided into two sections, Sundark and Riverlight. The former was said by Wolf himself to contain “darker” material, whilst the latter contains more songs of a hopeful nature. In a letter preceding the album, Wolf described his desire to experiment once more with acoustic recordings, and to offer on his ten year anniversary a “musical biography”.

To be honest, I have never been a massive fan of Patrick Wolf. Not because I disliked any of his music, he was just never really on my radar. Listening to this album has made me take notice, because the beauty of the genre it is performed in is that there is a great deal of focus on the vocal work, and this album contains some remarkable vocal performances. Performances that will make your hair stand on end. Performances that have put Patrick Wolf firmly on my radar.

Give the album a listen and I’m sure you’ll feel the same way.

HHHH

How To Dress Well Total Loss Domino

Patrick Scott

In a world far too crammed with auto-tuning and Chris Brown, an ‘alternative’ scene is someth-typesing that the R&B genre definitely needs at the moment. Tom Krell, aka How To Dress Well, could well be the solution to this problem, and on his second album Total Loss does a damn good job at addressing the balance.

That said, referring to this album simply as ‘leftfield R&B’ wouldn’t be doing it justice. Having lost his best friend, mother and uncle in the last two years, Krell’s lyrics transmit a genuinely sincere feeling of loneliness- Set It Right sees him addressing all of those

Jake Bugg Jake Bugg Mercury

Richard Lewington

Jake Bugg’s eponymous debut album is already receiving wisepread acclaim from journalists and musicians alike. On top of this, the album is likely to chart well inside the top 10. It’s been quite a few months for this teenager from Clifton. He’s supported some of the biggest names in the business, played a host of festivals, and headlined his own national tour.

Jake lists his inspirations as including Bob Dylan and Oasis.

Both can be heard on this album.

Lightning Bolt, the breakout single, is incredibly Dylanesque. In fact, when I first heard it, I thought it was either a new Dylan song, or one I had not heard before. Noel Gallagher’s influence is clear on songs like Two Fingers and Seen It

around him who are missed, and it’s almost heartbreaking to listen to as a result. The production is masterful too- the sweeping violin backings on World I Need You, Won’t be Without You and Talking To You wouldn’t sound out of place on a Sigur Ros album. Krell’s unsettling but reserved vocal style is one of his best features- sounding more like Bon Iver than Beyonce, his singing adds even more to the record’s intimacy.

All of this gives the album a dreamlike sound throughout, yet it rarely runs out of ideas to play around with this. & It Was U, arguably Total Loss’s strongest track, takes Krell’s cries of paranoia and dependency and links them to an absorbingly catchy funk beat. The result sounds like Radiohead attempting to cover Michael Jackson, and is all the better for it.

Total Loss is unlikely to produce anything resembling a club anthem but, more importantly, it’s a stunning example of the broadness of R&B and the directions it can be taken in. Krell describes the album as his way of working through the suffering he’s been through, and as a result it feels like a personal experience, and a highly notable addition to alternative R&B.

HHHH All, with their simple melodies and rousing choruses.

That’s not to say Jake Bugg lacks originality. Ballad of Mr Jones is a bluesy track that you’d struggle to attach to any of his predecessors. Lyrically this song, and the whole album, showcases the wit and wisdom of a man barely old enough to legally drink. Some of this stuff is seriously deep. Just listen to Someone Told Me and try to remember this kid is 18 years old. It’s an incredible achievement to be so proficient at his age.

Such talent displays itself in some of the melodies, many of which are ridiculously catchy (Taste It; Simple As This). If this album is anything to go by, Jake Bugg has a massive career ahead of him. Let’s just hope this young man from the estate doesn’t lose his head to the bright lights of stardom. I want many more albums as good as this one.

HHHH

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

music.spark@reading.ac.uk

REVIEWS

Miguel Kaleidescope Dream RCA Records

Richard Lewington

Contemporary R&B had somewhat of a tough time in the mid 2000s, with few artists managing to produce anything of note in the genre. In the past few years this has started to change, with the likes of The-Dream, better known for producing smash hits like Umbrella and Single Ladies rather than his own superb solo work, helping to give it a much needed resurrection. However the closest contemporary to Miguel’s own work would be Frank Ocean, both started behind the scenes ghostwriting for other artists, but have now struck out in their own rights and broken through the glass ceiling of their recording companies, fronting their own music rather than having others masquerade behind it.

This is Miguel’s sophomore entry in his discography, the follow up to All I Want Is You, a solid but hardly spectacular effort. Miguel’s voice flows magnificently throughout the album, and his voice drips with emotion, saturating the album in an effervescent beauty. Lyrically he sticks to the age old topics of love, lust and longing, but his voice embodies them with a youthful freshness, as if looking upon them with new eyes.

Sonically the album is fantastic, likely due to the fact that he’s not just a songwriter, but it’s his own guitar licks that accompany his words, following in the lineage of greats like the artist currently known as Prince. Too often in R&B you can find that the music doesn’t fit the lyrics, or vice versa and the presence of a vacuum can be felt, likely due to the fact that a lot of the artists in the genre are manufactured and it’s not their own words that they sing. That definitely isn’t the case here, they gel together perfectly forming a mainly blissful world of love. He’s clearly at ease with his instrument, switching with ease from lone balladeer on sparse one man and a guitar cut Pussy Is Mine (despite the title, misogyny is surprisingly absent) to bombastic riffs

MUSIC 19

Does Leona Lewis’ third album exceed our (admittedly low) expectations?

such as in standout track Use Me, which sounds epic in proportion, crunchy guitar riffs playing off against sparse percussion overlaid with a tale of weakness. The title track uses the lone recognisable sample, immediately identifiable of being the bass riff also present on Eminem’s My Name Is but here repurposed to provide a laidback groove breaking down into a swirling and sparkling chorus, in stark contrast to the coarse and barbed wit Eminem laid on top.

Although Ocean’s Channel Orange is undoubtedly epic, it’s definitely not as catchy as what Miguel has managed to produce here. Together they enter into the cannon of great R&B albums, a small but growing group, but there’s no doubt we’ll be hearing more airplay in the future.

HHHHH

Leona Lewis Glassheart syco music

Come Alive and Shake You Up, a particularly old-school pop nugget, following suit and showing a more upbeat, dancey and darker side to Leona’s music. It’s refreshing to see this new direction, as not only are they good tracks, but it shows how that she is capable of variety.

Glassheart brings perhaps the biggest shock of the album, as it’s unlike anything we’ve ever heard from the usually down-tempo singer, with elements of dubstep as well as dance, a hook of “and I love you with my glassheart,” and an infectious beat that draws you in.

Of course the album incorporates the classic Leona Lewis songs we’ve come to know and love.

From Stop the Clocks to Unlove Me to the beautiful and serene album closer Fingerprint, these tracks are the ones that really showcase how good her voice really is. Fireflies is a particularly highlight, as it’s completely calming and one of those feel-good tracks that can always put a smile on your face.

From the piano opening, to the addictive “Fire/it’s only fire” through what sounds like an amazing gospel choir, this track fits the album like a glove.

Leona Lewis has outdone herself with this new offering, challenging herself to try new styles and succeeding. Perhaps not an outstanding album of 2012, but a triumph for Lewis none the less. Most definitely worth a listen, at least.

HHH

Rachel pilcher

These days, it’s rare that someone can actually develop a long-lasting successful career from winning the X Factor – think Steve Brookstein and Matt Cardle. Luckily for London-born Leona Lewis, she seems to have overcome this X Factor Curse and has managed to create an outstanding music career for herself. Since winning in 2006, she has gone on to win an Ivor Novello, two MOBOs, an MTV Video Music Award and three World Music Awards. The list really is endless, especially if you add in all the award nominations she also received. With her ever-powerful voice continuing to grow, Leona Lewis is going from strength to strength.

Leona seems to take a new turn for this album, evident from opening track Trouble, a completely different sound to previous hits.

Faster paced and a more complex and dark beat, clearly Leona’s sound has progressed for the better, while still showing off her mezzo-soprano voice brilliantly.

The lyrics are personal too, as she sings “I’m a whole lot of trouble/ We’re in a whole lot of trouble”.

This album opener sets the theme for the majority of the album, with

Melody’s Echo Chamber Melody’s Echo Chamber fat possum

lotte hoebeek

On first listen, the self-titled album from Melody’s Echo Chamber will take you back to 60s pop with an added layer of psychedelic synth. Music and vocals flow effortlessly from light and breezy to darker songs. The vocals of Melody Prochet are the dreamy and breathy as you would associate with French pop. Before going solo, French musician Melody Prochet was a member of the band My Bees Garden. She wrote a couple of songs and asked Kevin Parker from the band Tame Impala to mix her songs. His influence is very much there on the album, albeit less spacey and weird. As

said earlier, Prochet’s vocals are dreamy, and that’s why the album on first listen is just nice. It is only on repeated listens that you start to hear all the instrumental and electronic elements that separate the songs from each other. While I understand that the breathy manner in which Prochet sings is a stylistic choice, the vocals are monotonous and emotionless. On the rare occasions that the effects on the vocals are brought down to a minimum, Melody shows that she has a good voice. She does not need all the effects and the album would have been more versatile had they used her natural voice more and the synthesized voice less.

The songs are good, where the first half of the album is stronger than the second half. The opening song, I Follow You, has a nice hook that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the album. The 60s spin on the music hides the darker lyrics. The vocals are mixed with synth which means the emotion of the darker lyrics is lost. The second song, Crystallized, starts off dreamy but build up to an electronic mess. The second half of the album is almost too quiet, too dreamy. The song Mount Hopeless is almost stripped to its bones with only vocals, drums and a little bit of synth. Due to the monotonous and emotionless vocals, the songs tend to just flow away from the listener instead of capturing the audience and take it with them on their journey. It might even be lost on the listener that two songs are in French. It shows that the focus of the album is more on the atmosphere it creates (that of a breezy, dreamy summer day) and less on the lyrical impact of the song.

If, like me, you were utterly confused by the song Is That What You Said, go to the band’s Facebook page. There you will find a bonus song that needed to be played backwards (because that’s what you do with all your CDs and songs). Luckily, there are some fans who did just that and they put a reversed version online. The final song of the album certainly grabs the attention of the listener with the comic opening of voices from children playing children’s games. The children’s voices are heard throughout the song, providing a much needed break from the rippling of other songs. Unfortunately, that is only at the very end and a little too late.

This is not a bad album, but I would have liked a bit more variety in the vocals. If you are a fan of French synth pop and breathy vocals, or if you were already a fan of either My Bees Garden or Tame Impala, this album is a must-listen.

HHH

Bastille Flaws young & lost

siobhan maguire

Though Flaws is Bastille’s third single release, it has been the one which has cast them into the dizzy heights of fame. Though the band have been around for quite some time, with various singles appearing on television shows like Made in Chelsea and Hollyoaks, it is Flaws which looks set to make the band known on a wider scale.

The song made my ears prick up at first listen.

the song made my ears prick up at first listen With its electro opening which is joined by the strong vocals of front man, Dan Smith, the song instantly makes it mark. The band’s harmonies, catchy beat and memorable lyrics are all ingredients for a high achieving single, and I think it is safe to say that the bands success will not end there. After performing at over thirty festivals this summer and with a sold out tour, the only way is up for Bastille.

HHHHH

Everything Everything Cough Cough geffen

Rachel pilcher

Nominated for two Ivor Novello awards and shortlisted for a Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize, Everything Everything have made a name for themselves in the music world. Not wanting to follow any specific genre, and with one of the most eclectic influences lists ever seen, ranging from Nirvana to R. Kelly, the band simply make the music they want to make.

Cough Cough follows a string of successful hits, including MY KZ, UR BF and Photoshop Handsome.

Characterised by an infectious drumbeat and fast vocals, Cough Cough is the recipe for the perfect fun indie hit. The track keeps you on your toes, switching between fast-paced and the slightly more chilled sections, giving you a breather from all the dancing that you’ll no doubt be doing. As well as all this, the main hook of “I’m coming alive/I’m happening now,” is sure to turn into a chant at their live shows, which won’t be a bad thing.

Get ready to have this on repeat all day and all night. You have been warned.

HHHH

20 MUSIC

music.spark@reading.ac.uk

LIVE

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

Marina takes to the stage in London, while Kyla La Grange impresses in Oxford

Marina and the Diamonds Thursday October 11 2012 George reed KENTISH TOWN FORUM, LONDON

Having spent nearly three months as the warm-up act for Coldplay on their recent Mylo Xyloto tour, it was about time Marina and the Diamonds got a tour of her own.

With two albums under her belt and a collection of top ten singles, Marina has more than enough material to fill a stage. Titled the Lonely Hearts Club Tour, Marina has been slowly making her way around the UK since September, to her only London date at the HMV Forum in Kentish Town. But before making her grand entrance, Marina called upon Foxes to warm up the crowd as her supporting

Kyla La Grange Friday October 5 2012 LAURA DEMAUDE O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

On the rather drizzly evening of the fifth of October as the streets of Oxford bustled away from the rain, I found myself tucked away in the O2 Academy, unaware that I was standing on the cusp of an entirely new musical experience.

At the centre is Kyla La Grange, a singer who was new on my radar, though she was clearly no stranger to music.

grungy vibes with a twist, down to earth melodies and a big voice If you’re looking for grungy vibes with a twist, down to earth melodies and a big voice heralding beautiful lyrics, look no further.

Here comes your favourite new ear candy in a charismatic package.

Decorated with fairy lights, ivy and dimmed lighting, the crowd were relaxed and excited as we anticipated the arrival of Kyla

act. The solo singer, with her youthful and grand voice, was a sign of good things to come, both for her upcoming album and the calibre of vocals this evening. But, as good as Foxes was, the audience were there for one female voice in particular as they stared up to the empty stage.

The blackened stage then lit up in a pink neon soaked haze, as Electra Heart, the title to Marina’s second album inscribed in neon lights, flickered into life. “Every boyfriend is the one, until otherwise proven” Marina told the crowd, as she gracefully walked on from the side of the stage to the opening lines of Heartbreaker. Wearing a white wedding veil and carrying a bouquet of flowers, Marina’s alter ego, Electra Heart had arrived. As the chorus beat dropped, the stage and her band. This gentle vibe was shattered into energy when the band bounced onstage, opening with the eclectic serenade of Walk Through Walls (the first track on her album Ashes) followed immediately by the hearty ballad of Courage. The band itself consists of two electric guitarists (one being Kyla herself), a bassist, a drummer and keyboardist – each member intrinsic to the music that left us stunned on arrival. Kyla’s voice was haunting, the crowd mesmerised when the energetic (shoeless) singer hit both extreme high and low notes without even breaking the slightest sweat.

Her frank and genuine nature continued to appeal to us on her ‘formal’ introduction, in which she told us she was “not a big drinker”, but had just enjoyed liberal amounts of beer to staunch her nerves.

She apologised in advance if she made any bad jokes, giggling as though addressing an intimate group of small friends. The set list was perpetuated by small, casual snippets in this nature, keeping the audience laughing throughout; comedy, the only theme Kyla doesn’t touch on in the thoughtful menagerie of her music. The band’s range of styles

lighting exploded into an array of colours and Marina/Electra tossed the bouquet into the excitable crowd below her. The Pet Shop Boys style track was a great way to start the gig, instantly whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Quickly losing the veil, and with it Electra, Marina went straight into Oh No! a fun and flippant track from her first album The Family Jewels.

The onstage band, consisting of a drummer, two synth players and two guitarists, were clearly enjoying the gig already, playing with such gusto they nearly drowned Marina’s vocals.

But there was never really a chance of this happening, as Marina’s voice effortlessly filled The Forum. After getting the audience to “Cuckoo” with her during Mowgli’s Road, the pace then slowed down for emotional love-lost ballad Lies. Its powerful lyrics struck a chord with the crowd.

This swapping from upbeat pop to soulful ballad was something Marina did several times during the night, most notably when she ushered away her keyboardist, taking the seat herself to play a beautiful, stripped down version of Obsessions. After the first costume change of the night, Marina brought out her fierce side with the biting Power & Control and Bubblegum Bitch, which she de-

scribed as her personal favourite of the night.

The centre of the stage was dominated by a mini set-piece inspired by 50s Hollywood, with a red chez lounge garnished with a white fluffy heart pillow, besides an elegant clothes stand and an antique black and white TV. Below all of this was Marina’s “Prop Cupboard”, which she used with delight. But things took a turn for the surreal when Marina introduced another prop, this time a walking yapping wind-up dog.

She then proceeded to explain to the bemused crowd how she had rescued the dog from a life in the gutters, giving it a job in her music video for Primadonna. Being one of Marina’s biggest hits from Electra Heart, Primadonna gained one of the loudest sing-a-longs of the night, with the crowd screaming every line of the chorus.

Hollywood, Marina’s first single, produced similar scenes, as the crowd jumped and cheered while Marina whipped a pompom around her head. The euro-pop style of Radioactive was the biggest dance

hit of the night, a stark contrast to following track Fear and Loathing. This epic ballad brought a hush throughout The Forum and an end to the night, with Marina leaving the stage, followed by her band, much to the sadness of the crowd. “Marina! Marina!” the Diamonds (Marina’s name for her fans) chanted, louder and louder each time. On she returned in yet another costume change. Marina finished the night with her latest single How To Be A Heartbreaker.

Its plucking guitars chords and electronic bass line erupts during the chorus, with bold primary coloured lights flying around Marina’s stage. It was a great way to end the night, with Marina jumping around on stage as much as her Diamonds.

There were a few tracks missing from the set list: Living Dead; Hermit The Frog and most notably Lonely Hearts Club, which the tour was named after, but the songs chosen were still Marina’s strongest, showcasing every side of her vocals. She so effortlessly filled the stage with her voice and personality that it didn’t matter which songs she chose from her back catalogue. Marina ended the night by thanking everyone for making it her best gig yet, a view which was surely shared with every Diamond in the crowd.

called Glass Animals. Katie and Jess played a few tracks of their own, along with a Patrick Wolf cover and The Cure’s Just Like Heaven - a winner with the crowd.

Glass Animals were, alternatively, a taste of musical Marmite, definitely a group that need to be seen live to be fully appreciated. The band’s quirky, electro-alternative sound elevated to a point of hyperactivity with the lead singer’s dance moves. Whether they were your cup of tea or not, you could not argue that they were inspired!

Ultimately, I cannot recommend Kyla La Grange enough for someone who appreciates technique, catchy and poetic lyrics and a flawless vocal technique. We danced, we were enthralled and entertained and my iPod is now thirteen tracks fatter and more satisfying! Altogether, the gig was probably one of the most enjoyable ones I have ever attended, for the meagre cost of seven pounds. How much more student-friendly can you get?! There’s no doubt about it – a new British star has arisen.

swapping from upbeat pop to soulful ballad several times that night

were connected by the same lilting notes and husky vocals, each song complimenting the previous in a small, tangible way. Interestingly, Kyla’s favourite track To Be Torn was the one which appealed the least to me, her impressive range confined to the ultimate soprano which rid her vocals of all their natural quality.

a short, angsty track the singer wrote when she was only nineteen.

Her other slow songs, although each lovely with beautiful lyrics, did not generate the same wonder that the faster paced tracks did, in which each musician really came out of their shell and flexed their talents. Been Better perfectly demonstrated this, not a performance so much as a standout experience, although Vampire Smile proved to be a popular favourite with many other listeners - a short, angsty track the singer wrote when she was only nineteen.

The support acts, too, complimented the warmth and style of the band – consisting of a local group, Katie and Jess, and a fabulously eccentric emerging band

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

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22 ARTS&BOOKS

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

arts.spark@reading.ac.uk

Arts&BOOKS Horrifying Halloween horrors Halloween literature review

waits dreaming.” Cult horror novella? Why not?

Robin Williams

Halloween is fast approaching and all of you will no doubt want to know what to read to throw you into a macabre and spooked out mood. Well you’re in luck.

When you’re back from a night of hedonistic revelling, tucked in your beds all alone with the night encompassed around you, delve into these disturbing books and try not to think about anyone hiding in your wardrobe or outside your window.

Delve into these disturbing books American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis (1991). Psychological thriller, unreliable narrator, gruesome murders of prostitutes and coworkers and cannibalism, torture and necrophilia, complete with drug-use, nightclubs, music critique and keeping up with the latest fashion. The protagonist of the novel is the eponymous American Psycho - Patrick Bateman: sickeningly narcissistic; obsessed with keeping on the edge of current trends; continually trying to outdo his fellow investment banker colleagues in petty displays of one-upmanship and engaging in graphic sex and equally graphic murder. All themes which will easily resonate with any student or staff member at the University alike. Perhaps not the investment banking.

try not to think about anyone hiding in your wardrobe or outside your window In essence, all of Lovecraft’s works are disturbed accounts of insanity brought on by humans trying to comprehend things they were not meant to. Great premise for a story, and the classic beast himself, Cthulhu, has seeped into popular culture, so it is definitely worth reading to get your head around the famous lovecraftian horror. Slightly racist, but it gives it that early 20th century feel that you just can’t manufacture these days. Cult horror at its finest.

Duma Key – Stephen King (2008).

Ah, Stephen King. Every time I read one of his books, I always have the strangest dreams. The protagonist, a construction worker suffering amputations and psy-

consult the astrology pages to determine their future, maybe tarot cards too. Not for psychopathic sixteen year old murderer, Frank, who keeps a machine, which he ritualistically feeds wasps into, to determine the future instead.

Wasps. I hate them. If you hate them too, that is reason enough

ing hospitals, and distrustful of medical students. I’ve also just discovered it has been made into a currently four season long television show. How about that.

I guarantee it will cause you disturbed nightmares, or your money back In Cold Blood – Truman Capote (1966). Non-fictional novel depicting the real life murders of an unsuspecting farm family, children included. Enjoy child murders?

not to read this novel. My copy of Steven King’s The Shining has a picture of a wasp on the front and I can’t read it without having it don another book’s dust jacket.

The Wasp Factory freaks me out and it should never have been written. I love it.

The Surgeon – Tess Gerritsen (2001). Suspenseful, crime novel, the first of a series. But each book is a standalone account in

Call of Cthulhu – H.P Lovecraft (1928). “Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn” - “In this house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu

The Wasp Factory freaks me out and it should never have been written. I love it The Wasp Factory – Ian Banks (1984). It’s common for people to

itself. Following brutal rapes and murders, with medical precision, detective Jane Rizzoli must solve these murders before another victim is claimed. Classic cop versus criminal suspense story, with an intensely surgically graphical theme.

If watching Jaws will give you second thoughts about going in the water, reading The Surgeon will make you hesitant about visit-

The Cement Garden – Ian McEwan (1978). There’s a reason Ian McEwan is nicknamed ‘Ian Macabre’.

This story is why. A mother’s corpses encased in cement under a basement. That’s pretty disturbing, right? Sibling incest. Now you’re sufficiently disturbed.

The Cement Garden was recommended to me when I started college; now I’m passing on the recommendation, and hope that it distresses you as much as it distressed me. To think that the same author that produced this subversive brilliance also wrote The Daydreamer (1994) is fascinating and disturbing.

Classic cop versus criminal suspense story, with an intensely surgically graphical theme

Then this book is for you. Horrified at the thought of random and meaningless killing? Then this book is also for you. Remember to lock your door at night. And your windows (to keep the wasps out). chological issues after a horrific accident, develops latent powers revolving around phantom limb syndrome and paintings. A classic King story, much like The Shining and The Dead Zone combined, I guarantee it will cause you disturbed nightmares, or your money back! (This paper is free, right?).

Be chilled and frightened

Goosebumps: Monster Blood – R. L. Stine (1992). A modern classic, Goosebumps is solely responsible for all of my childhood traumas, and most of my issues as an adult too. Monster Blood revolves around, if you do not already know, monster blood. Think exactly along the lines of the 1958 film – The Blob (starring the fantastic Steve McQueen. Sadly this isn’t the Film & TV section, otherwise I would continue to tangent off) and you have the plot premise for this amazing piece of literary work.

Okay. Sure it’s children’s literature, but the University of Reading specialises in it! I wonder if they have this in the library…

The Cask of Amontillado – Edgar Allen Poe (1846). Have a drunken friend that enjoys insulting you?

Why not wall them up in your basement, until they die from dehydration? Poe’s short story should not be consulted for advice; he would have made a terrible support councillor, although he could have used the steady income.

Read these books. Either this Halloween, or future ones. Be chilled and frightened. I would, however, like to waive all responsibility for any trauma or murders you may experience afterwards.

Along with any phobia of wasps that may develop. Damned creatures.

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

arts.spark@reading.ac.uk

ARTS&BOOKS 23

Reading Singer-Songwriters Poetry corner

They all lived happily ever after... but what happened next?

Charlotte Coster

Singer Songwriters Society update

At the very end of Cinderella,

Sam Arbon

the lucky lady found her fella

All photos: © E. Ellwood

and was able to escape the horrid house

Following a hugely successful first year, Reading University Singer Songwriters (RUSS) Society are pushing for an even bigger year ahead. With interviews from Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Frank Turner and Lucy Rose (see interview section of this issue) and live guests such as Ben Marwood, Eliza Shaddad and Shout Timber, the society is going from strength to strength.

“Listen, play and sing with RUSS” is their slogan, so as a society, they’re pretty much open to anyone who’s interested in music.

to live with her rather perfect spouse.

He’d whisked her off at break-neck speed and tended to her every need in the great big castle he called home.

There was no reason for her to moan!

But very soon, it seems to me, Cinders was yearning to be free.

She didn’t love the prince at all,

The society is going from strength to strength They hold BIG JAM sessions, head to open mic nights and put on live gigs, and have also got some singing and performance workshops and beginner guitar lessons planned for the coming year. To bring the term to a close last year the society held RUSS Fest, an all day music festival with 15 acts, celebrating the musical talent of Reading University as well as putting on a couple of up and coming live acts (Eliza Shaddad and Shout Timber both wowed the crowd in different ways). RUSS have recently teamed up with BBC Introducing live gigs at the Oakford Social Club, where RUSS members will be playing the opening slot every Wednesday during term time.

that’s why she’d rushed from the ball.

And although he gave her lots of money, she didn’t find him cute or funny or anything close to what she should feel.

All she thought of, was her next meal.

Recently she had begun to eat an awful lot of lovely treats: sugary things, cakes and pies, until she noticed her expanding thighs.

Whether you’re a singer, guitarist, pianist or just a music lover, there will be something for you at RUSS! You don’t have to be an expert to perform, as RUSS are here to provide you with opportunities to

develop your skills and build your confidence. Find RUSS on Facebook “Reading University Singer Songwriters” or drop them an email at Readinguniversitysingersongwriters@hotmail.co.uk to join their mailing list.

Next her stomach began to grow and it was now the prince told her to go.

“I’m very sorry, I can’t have you here because, although once I loved you, dear, you really have become much too fat, so I think it’s time you went and packed.”

She walked and walked throughout the week, never stopping for food or sleep.

Until one day she finally found herself to have fainted upon the ground.

It was then that Cinders, to her surprise, saw she was back to her normal size.

The walk and diet had done her good!

She smiled her lovely smile and stood!

Relieved that she was no longer overweight, she went off in search of a date.

Someone who would love her for the rest of her life And to whom she could be a doting wife.

24 FASHION

fashion.spark@reading.ac.uk

FASHION Get the Anne Hathaway look Hannah ridyard

There is one film and one film only where I look at the main character and think, I want to BE her - or failing that, at least nick her wardrobe. The film I am talking about is Love and Other Drugs, which in my opinion, has my idea of autumnal wardrobe heaven down to a tee. Sure, it’s a film that has sort of been forgotten about but my desire to recreate Anne Hathaway’s effortless ‘I just threw this on but still look snuggly chic’ look, is something that has never died. How is it that somebody

can look so perfect while dealing with all the practical dilemmas of autumn? For instance, mushed up leaves on the ground, increasing your chances of slipping over by a lot. Thanks autumn.

Lucky for us, with the helpful hand of high street stores, you can recreate her look, which incidentally is very snuggly, on the relatively cheap side. That’s what student loans are for, right? It has occurred to me that all you really need to see you through this awkward weather transition and into the season of bonfires, toffee apple and pumpkins a la Anne Hathaway,

is a decent coat, a sturdy pair of boots, a versatile chunky knit and a cute hat.

So just for your fashion delight I have selected a few garments (all from shops that accept student discount of course) to help you on your merry quest to find your no fuss autumn look.

Sadly, Anne’s ultimate accessory in the film is Jake Gyllenhaal but I can’t really help you there. You’d have to pay way beyond Topshop prices to afford that sexy little crumpet and let’s face it; we’re on a student budget. Get real guys.

Oracle takeover Wild for winter Samantha yates

At 8:30PM on Tuesday the 16th of October 2012 the Oracle opened their doors to hoards of excited students. Wallets bulging with ready-to-spend-cash, feet freezing from the hour long wait in the cold, the floods of teenagers fought the urge to sprint to their favourite stores but instead maintained a “we are British, the British do not sprint, the British walk, very briskly” attitude.

The atmosphere was instantly overwhelming. Between the low lighting, blaring music and free drinks (courtesy of Lola Lo’s) it was as if the shopping centre had converted into a club for the night, but so much better. The evening only got better thanks to the deliciously free food that was thrust at us; thank you Tampopo, you’re next on the Riverside list to eat at!

Diving into Topshop first was the best idea of the night. The sale section was rampant with bargain hunters, tearing through the racks, picking up item after item; I’m sure I saw a fight break out over a cream chiffon top. It was like

feeding time but these shopping animals were not tame.

Half an hour into the Takeover, Topshop and Topman were one in one out, crazy by any standards, as both till points were queued round the store. New Look received the same treatment not much later on into the evening.

Speaking of queues, hitting the kids section to purchase a super slick blazer from H&M cut a good portion of queuing time, making sure we didn’t miss out on Violet Class killing it in Republic. The live indie music was a sweet contrast to the club feel of the other stores, Republic nailed its unique selling point for the night and drew a more alternative crowd.

The nifty little purple discount cards given to shoppers added to the ‘exclusive’ feel of the night, while acting as a cute (not to mention free) memento, replacing the space in our purses where our money used to be.

Overall, a successful night at introducing the freshers to the Oracle, getting plenty of new clothes unbelievably cheap and for Reading’s economy. David Cameron will be so pleased.

tsui chung and avnita shergill

When you go down to the woods today be sure to wear your cosy jumpers, delicate blouses and woolly hats and embrace the woodland animal trend. Hues of reds, yellows, oranges and browns are the colours to be seen in this season. The deeper and richer the colour, the more they compliment alongside hedgehog and deer prints.

The iconic brand, Mulberry, is renowned for its close ties to the British countryside and traditional heritage. Their autumn/winter 2012 show, inspired by Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are, displays luxurious furs and chunky knits to start off the trend.

The easiest way to wear this trend is with a fox or owl embellished on an oversized knit teamed up with skinny jeans and your favourite pair of boots, as seen on asos.com. River Island and Accessorize are leading the pack with their cute eared hats and owl necklaces. So why not bring the outdoors into your wardrobe?

However if you’re prowling the high street in search of this season’s wildest, boldest prints then look no further. The runway has been bursting with feline ferocity, and this time it’s all about the big cats. Fall 2012 saw legacies including Christopher Kane, Roberto Cavalli and D&G flaunting leopard and zebra prints on their collection of signature capes, coats and even tailored suits.

Major high street retailers, such as asos.com and Topshop, have incorporated this ‘spotty’ statement into their clothing ranges with everything from playsuits to jackets and printed sheer blouses sporting the trend. If you’re looking for new ideas and inspiration try a printed peplum blazer (asos.com) with wet-look leggings, wedges and lots of oversized jewellery for a fierce evening look that’s sure to catch you some prey.

And remember, whatever part of the outdoors you’re looking to represent, the high street is where to start, and with these incredible winter sales now on it’s time to go wild!

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

Sweaters Hannah merican

One of the noticeable trends on the runway for this season has been the iconic sweatshirt. This reflects how designers have been paying close attention to street style and making it one of the easiest trends to follow this season.

With the emergence of street style blogs it has made fashion more accessible to the masses and allowed a more laidback trend to emerge this season.

Whether you have preppy, boho chic or indie style, the sweatshirt is one of the key basic trends that anyone can easily pull of. Being a student, it makes the sweatshirt one of the easiest things to wear if you are constantly on the go or if you are having a relaxing day.

The key to this trend is to stick to the simple styles, allowing you to easily accessorize with what you please if you want to give off a laidback vibe to your style. It also is a great piece for transitioning seasonal style if you are unsure of what to wear.

On the runway, Alexander Wang, known for his effortlessly cool and edgy style, has included several sweatshirts in his latest collection. Another brand, Wildfox Couture, known for its vintage inspired style, has given the sweatshirt a very popular appeal by customizing it with catchy logos in an array of colours to choose from.

The high street has several similar and affordable pieces from Zara, Asos, River Island, Urban Outfitters and Topshop. A personal favourite would be the Combined Velour Sweatshirt from Zara at just £29.99. Another great find would be the Truly Madly Deeply Contrast Sweatshirt from Urban Outfitters at £35.

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

fashion.spark@reading.ac.uk

FASHION 25

Top five Halloween style Military prints shops sophie o’neill

Charlotte Coster

5. H&M It doesn’t always do the prettiest clothes, but it does do the basics at very reasonable prices. If you are ever in need of a cardigan, a bodycon skirt or an LBD this is definitely the place to go.

4. Topshop Sometimes I feel that this shop tries too hard to include every single fashion style that is ‘in’ at that moment. But you can’t deny that it has some very pretty items hidden within its ranges. On top of this, it does the most comfortable, flattering jeans that can be found anywhere. Despite being a bit pricey, I still love it!

3. Accessorize I am not a huge accessories person, but every time I go in here, I want everything! The jewellery is often quite understated and classy, without the huge price tag. My bag addiction is also fuelled massively every time I step in here, as all the bags are absolutely fabulous with beautiful detail.

2. Forever21 I only discovered this shop a couple of years ago when I was in Birmingham and I am so sad that it doesn’t have more stores in the UK. But if you are ever on Oxford Street, pay it a visit because it was one of the nicest stores I have ever been in, with absolutely stunning clothes. You will want everything!

1.Republic My personal favourite store, it is well priced and super stylish, as well as actually good quality, suiting everyone’s needs. Whether you want to dress up in lace, short skirts and sequins or dress down in trainers and big jumpers, it has anything you would ever want! A definitely worthy winner.

For both the summer and autumn seasons this year, lace, studs, and all-round Gothic style have been sought after on the catwalks and high street alike, and with Halloween coming up soon, it’s all about the finer ghoulish details, rather than full on trick-or-treat style.

Topshop, New Look and Miss Selfridge in particular have embraced the Halloween style,

offering accents of black lace, pointed shoe boots, leather embellishments, and studs and spikes galore. This toned down Gothic style allows a cool alternative to the classic witch/devil/ghost costume decision, and easily translates into daytime wear.

Makeup on the catwalk also reflects this smouldering style, with dark smoky eyes and purple lipstick being heavily featured by the likes of Chanel and Vivienne Westwood.

The success of this style in earlier seasons has been translated into Winter-wear as well, with high street shops such as Primark and New Look debuting a new range of knitwear with a Halloween theme – Alexa Chung was spotted in one such creation; an oversize jumper embellished with a spooky bat-print.

So this October, if you’re stuck for original costume ideas, or aren’t sure just how ‘scary’ you need to be for that ghoulish house party, just have a look on the high street for inspiration. So we dare you; dabble with a little lace, a few studs and a slightly heavier hand on the eye make-up, no matter how spooky the dress code is, you’ll be sure to cast a spell this Halloween.

Your clothes are a way of expressing yourself so how better to do this than with a piece of clothing that literally speaks for you?

We’re talking about the Graphic Tee trend that is sweeping the nation for both guys and girls. They never go out of fashion, as after all, they are you. Whether this is defined in picture form, for that indie, “I’m with the band” look, or an edgy quote that will be an effortless conversation starter, the Novel Tee is the ultimate eyecatcher.

These tees will speak the words you’d never normally dare to say

Camouflage and military clothing has become a conspicuous trend recently with designers reinventing standard prints on the catwalk.

The camouflage trend was first popularized during the 1960s as a protest to the Vietnam War, but soon the obsession spread as a mode of fashion. Now, the trend has made a startling comeback.

Victoria Beckham and Marc Jacobs are just two designers who have influenced military fashion recently, which has thankfully filtered down to the high street!

High street stores including Topshop, H&M and Primark have all been stocking up on the khaki and olive coloured clothing for extremely reasonable prices, and thankfully, the trend is suitable for any season and every occasion.

Online store Missguided has produced the ‘Adelaide Stud Camouflage Jacket with Leather Sleeves’ for just £29.99. The jacket is versatile for any time of day and certainly inflicts military style.

The jacket also features gold studs which is another impacting trend this season.

Oasis has also jumped on the military bandwagon and created the ‘Military Ponte Dress’ for £50.00.

This fitted dress has military style epaulettes with black pockets and statement gold descending studs.

Kate Middleton has proved camouflage fashion is accessible for everyone as she has been seen recently wearing a military inspired trench coat. The khaki coat from Reiss’ 2010 collection has actually sold out, but Topshop have produced a look-a-like of the brass button coat for £95.

Designer Pudseys The Kardashian Katey Watkins

Children in Need is back for another year; time for a brand new generation of pudsey bears.

Thirty luxury labels, including Prada, Victoria Beckham and Mulberry, have created a collection of designer pudseys that will be auctioned for Children in Need.

Victoria Beckham’s bear (pictured) is the first ever female pudsey bear, wearing a bespoke Victoria Beckham design.

Novelty tees on trend rachel borley

Lauren Armour

(“call me maybe?”). Think of them as removable tattoos which express your personality without the pain or the embarrassment in twenty years time. Some of the best T-shirts slogans seen on campus are: “I have a body of a God… too bad it’s Buddha”, “Unemployee of the Month” and “I facebooked your Mum”. Graphic T-shirts have also caused a stir in the political scene after a man was arrested and jailed for wearing an antipolice shirt, so try and keep yours on the line of banter-ous and not illegal.

Looking some of these T-shirts, it was shocking to see the amount you had to pay for essentially a

plain top with some printed on words.

So how can you stay on trend when the student bank is running empty? If you have any plain T-shirt or vest top, all you need to do is buy some cheap fabric paint or even acrylic art paint. Then you can use your desired quote or words to re-create high street style. Black paint on white or cream tops looks the most effective as the contrasting colours make the lettering really pop! So get your creative juices flowing and see what you can create!

See this article and more at www. sparknewspaper.co.uk.

Kollection Erin Harding

We know all about their ups and downs, their relationships and their fashion prowess, and now, love them or hate them, reality TV’s most famous trio are making an entrance into Dorothy Perkins as of mid-November.

The Kardashian’s look had been emulated by many, so here’s your chance to get your hands on pieces that the girls have designed themselves. The ‘Kardashian Kollection’, currently sold in US department store Sears, will now be popping up all over the UK in 250 highstreet stores and eight stores within BHS. The collection encompasses clothing and accessories as well as a footwear range, which will reach the UK early 2013. And it’s actually affordable!

The Kardashians’ somewhat OTT look might not be everyone’s

cup of tea, however they have made their collection versatile, incorporating “Kim’s glamorous red carpet looks, Kourtneys bohemian chic and Khloe’s edgier style”. Despite its versatility, if you have an obsession with leopard print this is definitely the collection for you!

Shoes, bags, dresses – if you’re missing something in your own leopard print collection, there’s a high chance you’ll find it here. If you love your monochrome this is also the place to look, as the sisters are well known for wearing black and white. For the die-hard Kardashian fans, you may want to head to Westfield in London on the 9 November, where the trio will be to launch their UK ‘Kollection’. If the Kardashians don’t really float your boat, don’t knock the range until you’ve tried it, there still might be something there for you!

Friday 26 October 2011 Spark*

health.spark@reading.ac.uk

HEALTH&FOOD 28

HEALTH How to boost your immune system EBBA Fredriksen

Stress, new environment, late nights and alcohol can reduce the power of your immune system… fresher’s flu anyone? But you don’t have to look forward to an autumn term with a thick throat, dripping nose and teary eyes - here are some ways to boost you immunity.

Get in some vitamins

We all know the importance of our 5 a day and if you want to boost your immune system this is a given. Chose a range of rainbow coloured fruit and veg like blueberries, pomegranate and beetroots. They can be fresh, frozen, dried or canned, so take your pick.

Why not include fruit in yoghurts, porridge or in a smoothie, and vegetables in soups, stir frys, or whatever else you fancy.

Include some exercise

Moderate exercise can temporarily increase the immune system.

A 30 min walk at a reasonable pace will also re-energise you and if you are very lucky, get some sunshine.

You could also get some friends together and try out a new group exercise at the gym.

Make your own food In order to save money and get a good boost, make your food from scratch - it doesn’t have to be hard.

You can order a basic cookbook online, or even buy one from a charity shop. If you are not used to cooking, start off with easy recipes. You can also get your housemates to join in so everyone cooks one day a week for the others - its the perfect excuse to try out a new dish each week!

Regular eating This one’s not only important in the winter, but it’s a good idea to have three meals a day with veg, protein and carbohydrates to give you energy - plus plenty of water.

Food swap Sarah lienard

Sometimes we all need something to dunk in our cuppa. You can enjoy everything in moderation without risking your health, so here’s our pick of the best (and worst) choices when it comes to chocolate cookies.

Eat this

Nairn’s Dark Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuits -44 calories, 2.2 sugar, 1.7 fat, 0.7 sat fat, 0.04 salt

Made with 59%wholegrain oats, which are much more nutritious than refined white flour. This makes the carbohydrate release slower, which keeps your blood sugar steady and prevents crashes later on in the day. With a respectable amount of sugar, sat fat and salt, these cookies aren’t a bad choice for a sweet tooth fix.

similar nutritional profile. As they’re small, it’s easy to lose track of how many you’ve had, so try not to munch on them in front of the TV, or you might find yourself with an empty packet!

Not that

Fox’s Chunkie Half Coated Chocolate Cookies - 131 calories, 10.2g sugar, 6.6g fat, 3.7g sat fat, 0.14g salt

These cookies aren’t much bigger in size than the Maryland cookies, but they pack a much bigger calorie, sugar and fat punch.

Or that

Starbucks chocolate chunk cookie 499 calories, 38.3g sugar, 20.5g fat, 12.3g saturated fat, 0.43g salt

Or this

Maryland cookies - 51 calories, 3.9g sugar, 2.4g fat, 1.2g sat fat, trace salt

With no wholegrain, these classic cookies taste a bit more indulgent than the oat biscuits, but have a

Providing the same calorie count as a light meal, almost half the sugar guidelines for women and over half of the recommended limit for fat, this is one sweet treat that it might be best to split with a friend.

Be sure to get enough sleep

Chill out

If you are feeling poorly, an epic night out is unlikely to improve the situation, but an evening on the couch snug under a blanket with your favourite box set might. Add some ginger, lemon and honey tea, my personal favourite cold treatment, and remember a full night of sleep can make perform wonders.

Stress suppresses the immune system; therefore reducing stress is one of the best ways to build it up again. Easy tips such as structuring your work, planning ahead and talking to a counsellor can help you feel better mentally and physically.

Take probiotics

Good fats are important for the

Don’t limit fat too much

immune system. Try to include one portion of oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring or sardine, a week. This might also improve your ability to concentrate.

It’s easy to boost your immune system with a mixture of simple, smart diet and lifestyle choices, looking after yourself and staying well nourished.

Live yogurt contains plenty of good bacteria, which is great for your immunity. Ruth Toward, a PhD researcher, who studies this says that probiotics restore harmony in the gut and stimulate our immune system. Illnesses like colds, or indeed fresher’s flu, can last for a shorter time. Look on the label of fermented milk drinks and yoghurts for probiotics, as well as in some fortified juices and cereal.

Keep your fitness up this winter

Sarah Lienard

When the weather outside makes you wish that it was possible for humans to hibernate, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to stay active. But before you resign yourself to the sofa for the season, give these easy tips a go to make sure that you stay fit and healthy throughout the winter months.

Dress in layers If you’re planning on exercising outside, it’s important to keep yourself at a comfortable temperature. Dress too warmly, and you’ll feel like you’re running through, dress too cool, and you’re likely to catch a chill as your sweat cools down (delightful). Try wearing a thin, synthetic material that is designed to dry quickly – look for sportswear that is specially made for this. Next add a warmer layer to add insulation, such as thin fleece or wool. Finally, add a breathable waterproof layer to keep you dry. You probably won’t be talent spotted by any model scouts while you work out, but at least you won’t freeze!

Phone a friend If motivation is proving to be a problem, consider enlisting the help of a friend to help you get going. When you’re trying to psyche yourself up to go on a bike ride or try a new class, it’s a lot easier to put it off if you’re the only one

that cares. By making a commitment to a friend to meet them for a workout, you have the added incentive of knowing that you’ll have to let them down if you decide you can’t be bothered. Plus, making exercise an enjoyable social activity is a great way to change it from a chore into something that you really look forward to.

Consider joining the gym

In the cold and wet weather, it’s a lot more difficult to summon up the motivation to go for a run outside than it is to work out in a bright, warm gym with built-in

entertainment. At Reading’s university SportsPark, student membership prices range from pay-asyou-go options, where you pay a fee as and when you use the facilities, to V02 prices, which include fitness classes. V02 options range from £54.60 to £196.40, depending on how many months you want to sign up for, and whether you want on- or off-peak membership.

Classes range from body conditioning, which uses free weights, to martial arts such as kung fu and even dance options such as Latino Funk and the very popular Zumba.

For more details, visit the website at www.sport.reading.ac.uk.

Break out the DVDs

Even on those days when all you want to do is stay in and watch TV, you can still get in a good workout using one of the many exercise DVDs on the market. Try yoga for flexibility, pilates for toning, bootcamp for when you want to punish your friends for not doing the washing up, and Zumba if you’ve always wanted to be Beyonce. It can work out extremely cost effective - just have a look on Amazon for some cheap second hand deals, and then once you own it, you can do it every day for the rest of your life (or until you get bored and decide to sell it again.) And don’t worry: as you’re only meters away from your sofa, you can collapse back onto it the second you’re done.

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

editor.spark@reading.ac.uk

CAREERS Careers and Placement Fair 2012 The MUST attend careers event for all years and disciplines, sponsored by PwC.

• Thursday 1 November 2012 • Open between 11am - 4pm in the Palmer Building • 100 plus exhibitors across all sectors With over 100 organisations representing all sectors, this is the largest recruitment event of the year at the University of Reading, providing students with the opportunity to meet with organisations offering graduate schemes, placements, postgraduate courses and volunteering opportunities.

Including: PwC Civil Service Fast Stream Renault Teach First IBM Danone Cancer Research UK Marks & Spencer Jaguar Land Rover GCHQ Ernst & Young Deloitte Microsoft Hewlett Packard Associated British Foods Check the website www.reading. ac.uk/careers/events/fairs/autumn/ for a full list of exhibitors.

Along with meeting organisations and professional bodies, students can attend a drop-in to have their CVs reviewed by a Careers Adviser – they just need to bring a printed copy along with them on the day.

Who is the fair for?

• First years looking for a placement scheme and careers inspiration • Second years looking for placements and exploring options

• Final years and postgraduates looking for graduate opportunities • Everyone – there are recruiters looking for students from all subjects

Why should students attend?

• Only chance to meet 100 plus recruiters who are specifically targeting Reading students • Free CV checking service • Gain personal insights into a huge variety of careers areas • Not sure which path to take, be inspired!

• Employer deadlines are fast approaching, be prepared!

Thursday 1 November 2012 11am – 4pm in the Palmer Building Follow us on twitter @UniRdg_Careers #UoRCareersFair www.reading.ac.uk/careers/events/ fairs/autumn.

Getting the most out of The Careers and Placement Fair Employers are eager to meet Reading students to tell you more about their organisation, the opportunities available, what it’s really like to work there and how to get in. You can use this information to explore career options and find out whether an organisation might be right for you.

You will get the most out of the fairs if you have done some homework, but if you haven’t then use this opportunity to do some research, by speaking to the organisations that interest you. Make a good impression by being polite, looking presentable and asking pre-prepared questions.

Before the Fair Research • If you don’t know where to start, think about booking a career consultation with a Careers Adviser before the fair to help you get an idea of what you might be looking

Part time jobs fair Over 1,000 students attended our very first part time jobs fair in 3Sixty on Wednesday 17 and the 27 employers who exhibited, were overwhelmed with the number and quality of students they spoke with.

If you missed out, don’t despair, there are still plenty of jobs to be found on www.reading.ac.uk/ careers/myjobsonline and you can visit us in the job shop between 10-4pm Monday – Friday.

The job shop is located in the RUSU building. Visit it for the chance to find a suitable part-time job and valuable experience.

for in a job.

• Find out who is coming and do your research – check the website for the full list of organisations attending .

• Decide who you want to target in advance and prioritise these organisations.

• Think about some questions you want to ask the companies, what do you want to know about them?

But don’t just ask “What do you do?” they will expect you to know that already!

CV – to give or not to give?

With the recruitment process now predominately online not all recruiters will accept hard copy CVs, so don’t be surprised if you are directed towards a website to make your application. If you do want to hand over your CV – make sure you have attended a CV Workshop through the Careers, Placement and Experience Centre.

There will also be a CV checking service in the Palmer building on the day of the fair!

Suggested questions you might want to ask: • As a graduate trainee what can I expect to do in my first year?

• Do you offer work shadowing or work experience opportunities?

• What other opportunities are there for graduates within your company?

• What skills and qualities are you looking for?

• Are you interested in recruiting from my degree subject?

• Could I use my language skills/ work abroad?

• How long does the internship opportunity last?

• Where will I be based?

• What do you most enjoy about working for your company?

During the Fair • Arrive early to make sure you have time to talk to all of your target employers, then spend some time visiting the other stands.

• Practise – get rid of your nerves and try out your questions on a company you haven’t targeted, then you will be ready for your preferred companies.

• Dress smartly – you are trying to impress and first impressions count! You don’t have to look like you are going to an interview (you don’t have to wear a suit!), but show the employer you mean business.

• Don’t get put off by employers that are busy. Come back - they do want to talk with you!

• Bring up-to-date copies of the CV you have already had checked by a Careers Adviser, but don’t be put off if the employer still asks you to look at their website and apply online.

• Make notes of who you speak to so that you can mention this in your covering letter/application form. Ask them if you can follow up with questions at a later date.

• FREEBIES: Many employers will bring lots of freebies to attract you to their stand. If you’ve spoken to the employer and they offer you a freebie then take one but don’t just grab and go!

Be prepared • Have a think about your strengths, what you have to offer the company and why you want to work for them. Headstart events and booking an appointment with a Careers Adviser will help.

• Be concise, remember exhibitors will have lots of students to see.

Ask if you can exchange contact details so that you can follow up on any questions you may not have had the chance to ask.

• Take a note pad and pen to take your notes. It will make you look more professional.

CAREERS 27

Career events

There are plenty of events coming up through the Careers, Placement and Experience Centre over the next couple of weeks – for a full listing, as well as booking and location details, visit My Jobs Online – linked from the Careers, Placement and Experience Centre website www.reading.ac.uk/careers/ events - 24 October Headstart: Interview Skills – Logica, 1pm - 25 October Headstart: Microsoft skills session, 1pm - 29 October Headstart: Winning application forms – presented by Deloitte, 1pm - 29 October Employer Presentation: Champion Life, 2pm - 1 November CAREERS AND PLACEMENT FAIR 2012, 11am-4pm - 6 November Employer Presentation: Teach First, 1pm - 8 November – Employer Presentation: Tesco, 1pm

Find out more...

Go to www.sparknewspaper.co.uk/careers to see this article and more.

Follow us on Twitter @UniRdg_Careers and #UoRCareersFair www.reading.ac.uk/careers/events/fairs/autumn

28 HEALTH&FOOD

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

health.spark@reading.ac.uk

HEALTH How to boost your immune system EBBA Fredriksen

Stress, new environment, late nights and alcohol can reduce the power of your immune system…

Freshers Flu anyone? But you don’t have to look forward to an autumn term with a thick throat, dripping nose and teary eyes here are some ways to boost you immunity.

Get in some vitamins

We all know the importance of our 5 a day and if you want to boost your immune system this is a given. Chose a range of rainbow coloured fruit and veg like blueberries, pomegranate and beetroots. They can be fresh, frozen, dried or canned, so take your pick.

Why not include fruit in yoghurts, porridge or in a smoothie, and vegetables in soups, stir fries, or whatever else you fancy.

Include some exercise

Moderate exercise can temporar-

ily increase the immune system.

A 30 minute walk at a reasonable pace will also re-energise you and if you are very lucky, get some sunshine. You could also get some friends together and try out a new group exercise at the gym.

Make your own food In order to save money and get a good boost, make your food from scratch - it doesn’t have to be hard.

You can order a basic cookbook online, or even buy one from a charity shop. If you are not used to cooking, start off with easy recipes. You can also get your housemates to join in so everyone cooks one day a week for the others - its the perfect excuse to try out a new dish each week!

Regular eating This one’s not only important in the winter, but it’s a good idea to have three meals a day with veg, protein and carbohydrates to give

Food swap Sarah lienard

Sometimes we all need something to dunk in our cuppa. You can enjoy everything in moderation without risking your health, so here’s our pick of the best (and worst) choices when it comes to chocolate cookies.

Eat this

Nairn’s Dark Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuits -44 calories, 2.2 sugar, 1.7 fat, 0.7 sat fat, 0.04 salt

Made with 59%wholegrain oats, which are much more nutritious than refined white flour. This makes the carbohydrate release slower, which keeps your blood sugar steady and prevents crashes later on in the day. With a respectable amount of sugar, sat fat and salt, these cookies aren’t a bad choice for a sweet tooth fix.

similar nutritional profile. As they’re small, it’s easy to lose track of how many you’ve had, so try not to munch on them in front of the TV, or you might find yourself with an empty packet!

Not that

Fox’s Chunkie Half Coated Chocolate Cookies - 131 calories, 10.2g sugar, 6.6g fat, 3.7g sat fat, 0.14g salt

These cookies aren’t much bigger in size than the Maryland cookies, but they pack a much bigger calorie, sugar and fat punch.

Or that

Starbucks chocolate chunk cookie 499 calories, 38.3g sugar, 20.5g fat, 12.3g saturated fat, 0.43g salt

Or this

Maryland cookies - 51 calories, 3.9g sugar, 2.4g fat, 1.2g sat fat, trace salt

With no wholegrain, these classic cookies taste a bit more indulgent than the oat biscuits, but have a

you energy - plus plenty of water.

Be sure to get enough sleep

If you are feeling poorly, an epic night out is unlikely to improve the situation, but an evening on the couch snug under a blanket with your favourite box set might. Add some ginger, lemon and honey tea, my personal favourite cold treatment, and remember a full night of sleep can perform wonders.

Take probiotics

Stress suppresses the immune system; therefore reducing stress is one of the best ways to build it up again. Easy tips such as structuring your work, planning ahead and talking to a counsellor can help you feel better mentally and physically.

Don’t limit fat too much

immune system. Try to include one portion of oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring or sardine, a week. This might also improve your ability to concentrate.

It’s easy to boost your immune system with a mixture of simple, smart diet and lifestyle choices, looking after yourself and staying well nourished.

Good fats are important for the

Live yogurt contains plenty of good bacteria, which is great for your immunity. Ruth Toward, a PhD researcher,who studies this, says that probiotics restore harmony in the gut and stimulate our immune system. Illnesses like colds, or indeed fresher’s flu, can last for a shorter time. Look on the label of fermented milk drinks and yoghurts for probiotics, as well as in some fortified juices and cereal.

Keep your fitness up this winter

Sarah Lienard

When the weather outside makes you wish that it was possible for humans to hibernate, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to stay active. But before you resign yourself to the sofa for the season, give these easy tips a go to make sure that you stay fit and healthy throughout the winter months.

Dress in layers If you’re planning on exercising outside, it’s important to keep yourself at a comfortable temperature. Dress too warmly, and you’ll feel like you’re getting too hot, dress too cool, and you’re likely to catch a chill as your sweat cools down (delightful). Try wearing a thin, synthetic material that is designed to dry quickly – look for sportswear that is specially made for this. Next add a warmer layer to add insulation, such as thin fleece or wool. Finally, add a breathable waterproof layer to keep you dry. You probably won’t be talent spotted by any model scouts while you work out, but at least you won’t freeze!

Phone a friend Providing the same calorie count as a light meal, almost half the sugar guidelines for women and over half of the recommended limit for fat, this is one sweet treat that it might be best to split with a friend.

Chill out

If motivation is proving to be a problem, consider enlisting the help of a friend to help you get going. When you’re trying to psyche yourself up to go on a bike ride or try a new class, it’s a lot easier to put it off if you’re the only one

that cares. By making a commitment to a friend to meet them for a workout, you have the added incentive of knowing that you’ll have to let them down if you decide you can’t be bothered. Plus, making exercise an enjoyable social activity is a great way to change it from a chore into something that you really look forward to.

Consider joining the gym

In the cold and wet weather, it’s a lot more difficult to summon up the motivation to go for a run outside than it is to work out in a bright, warm gym with built-in

entertainment. At Reading’s university SportsPark, student membership prices range from pay-asyou-go options, where you pay a fee as and when you use the facilities, to V02 prices, which include fitness classes. V02 options range from £54.60 to £196.40, depending on how many months you want to sign up for, and whether you want on- or off-peak membership.

Classes range from body conditioning, which uses free weights, to martial arts such as kung fu and even dance options such as Latino Funk and the very popular Zumba.

For more details, visit the website at www.sport.reading.ac.uk.

Break out the DVDs

Even on those days when all you want to do is stay in and watch TV, you can still get in a good workout using one of the many exercise DVDs on the market. Try yoga for flexibility, pilates for toning, bootcamp for when you want to punish your friends for not doing the washing up, and Zumba if you’ve always wanted to be Beyonce. It can work out extremely cost effective - just have a look on Amazon for some cheap second hand deals, and then once you own it, you can do it every day for the rest of your life (or until you get bored and decide to sell it again.) And don’t worry: as you’re only meters away from your sofa, you can collapse back onto it the second you’re done.

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

health.spark@reading.ac.uk

HEALTH&FOOD 29

Food

Review: Sam Stern’s student cookbook Nicole Correia

I am sure I am not alone in saying that before starting university many freshers, like myself, received a few presents to wish them good luck. Many of these ‘presents’ seemed to arrive in an awkward abundance of plastic shopping bags and I soon began to expect the loving donations of food. All of which seemed to resemble the ones people collect in late autumn time in cardboard boxes to give to churches for charity organisations in preparation for the winter months. It seemed that I began to collect plastic bags of tinned soups, beans, pasta, rice, more soup, more beans and yet more pasta from my nearest and dearest. With each heavy bag I became ever more nervous towards the unknown; student cooking.

With all this being said I received a couple cookbooks alongside the food offerings and amoung them was Sam Stern’s Student Cookbook. On the cover is a photo of an appetising pizza, and an encouraging and positive quote from

Gordon Ramsay about the book: “Brilliant! Don’t enter the kitchen without it.” Sam Stern reads Politics & Sociology but evidently has a passion for food, as already he has three other cookbooks: ‘Cooking Up A Storm’, ‘Real Food Fast’, ‘Get Cooking’ and ‘Eat Vegetarian’.

Although, I would confidently say that this cookbook is one that has the most practical options for a student as not only are the recipes easy and tasty, and each dish tells you how expensive it is going to

be. Separated into sections the book takes you through all our cupboard friends with reciepes for soups, pastas and rice all the way to eggs, noodles, meat, fish and one entitled ‘Not just for vegeterians’ which has the very cheap comfort food recipe of cheese and potatoe pie. I have my eye on Sam’s “Old School Salmon Fishcakes” which look quick and healthy. Easy to team with boiled potatoes or a lovely bit of mash.

The recipes are easy and tasty, and each dish tells you how expensive it’s going to be A sucker for something sweet, I also really love the look of the chocolate/white chocolate mousse as it is easy, something rich to cheer you up as the weather becomes more miserable outside and it is made with household ingredients. It even suggests adding rum. Another quirky suggestion

is to serve it in teacups. Perfect.

There are very few recipes in here that I would sniff at as being impractable or too fancy for a student kitchen. It’s not patronising and all cooking vocabulary is explained properly. There is nothing la-di-dah about cooking with this cookbook.

Servings vary but most claim to feed three, which is fantastic

if you plan to share and also have some left over for yourself the following day. So far I have used the cookbook to help me marinate and grill chicken- yes, the basics, but I am a fresher and we all start somewhere. Sam is active on twitter, @Sam_Stern if you simply need ingredient inspiration and his website virgintoveteran.com is also a great resource.

Recipe: Polish pierogi dumplings Andrzej Lenartowicz

Have you ever visited Poland?

If you have, you must have tried the most recognizable traditional Polish dish- pierogi dumplings, and no doubt enjoyed it to a great extent. If not, you must visit this country for one simple reason- to give “pierogi” dumplings a go and I guarantee that you won’t regret it. However, if visiting Poland is not included in your plans for this year you can still give this great recipe a try.

Ingredients: For the dough 500g flour The yolk of one egg 1 tbsp butter 230ml boiling water 2 pinches salt

For the filling 1000g of potatoes, cubed 500g (preferably regular) cottage cheese 2 medium onions 2 tbsp of butter 1 pinch of salt, pepper and paprika

To make:

Start off by making the filling first. Boil the cubed potatoes in salted water until just tender.

Next, mash the potatoes with the cheese while the potatoes are still warm, which will help to get the mixture as smooth as possible.

Chop the onions into small pieces and then sauté them in butter for 15-20 minutes until they become golden brown. Finally, mix the sautéed onions with the potatoes and cheese, adding in the salt, pepper and paprika to season.

Next, make the dough for the dumplings. Pour the flour, salt and the egg yolk into large bowl, then add butter and mix well to combine all the ingredients. While you do this, pour boiling water slowly into the bowl and keep combining the ingredients until all of them are well mixed. Roll out the smooth dough quite thinly in a floured surface, and cut the dough using a glass or a round cutter into circles. Place a small amount of filling onto each circle and fold to make a half-moon shape. Drop the dumplings into salted boiling water, adding no more than 12 at the same time and stirring frequently to prevent them sticking to the bottom of the pan.

When they float to the top (after 3-5 minutes), take them out with a slotted spoon. Alternatively, fry the dumplings on both sides until they become slightly browned.

My favourite way of serving these pierogi dumplings is sprinkled with gammon, although feel free to serve them with whatever else you like.

If you make more dumplings than expected, they still taste great heated up in the oven the next day, so don’t worry if you end up

with too many to eat in one go. You can also try different fillings if you want, for instance you can fill savoury pierogi dumplings with meat, cabbage, or mushrooms, or make a dessert version with sweet fruit such as strawberries.

If this all seems like too much hassle for you, you can still try pierogi dumplings the lazy way.

You can buy them in Polish deli ‘Smaczek’ in the town centre in Reading. Easy!

30 GAMING

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

gaming.spark@reading.ac.uk

GAMING

In Patnership with www.ZiiP.co.uk

Carrier Commander: Geia Mission Happy sailing or titanic disaster? We find out

Iain Farquhar

Just another war in paradise

Carrier Commander is a self described ‘re-inventing’ of a classic 1980’s game of the same name.

One notorious problem with ‘re-inventions’ or ‘re-imaginings’ is that you either are not faithful enough to the original game’s heritage or you get criticized for changing the game beyond recognition (if you need an example of this, have a look at EA’s remake of the original Syndicate game). But has Carrier Commander managed to beat the tread and make a truly enjoyable tribute to the classic game?

As the titular Carrier Commander, you control a futuristic carrier that sails a vast archipelago, on a far off alien world. If you insist on investigating the backstory further you find the heroic saga of the mission to return an apocalyptic and war ravaged Earth to it’s former beauty by transporting clean water from an alien planet. No, doesn’t make sense to us either. But something that made even less sense was that the game starts out with a first person shooter segment that looks and feels like a knockoff of Halo. One of the reasons that this feels so out of place is that there was no warning, you are just thrown into the role of Lt Myrik, and are (possibly because he seems determined to adopt an incredibly rude and arrogant attitude when addressing his superiors) forced to walk all the way to the carrier.

While this surprise shooter section might have helped give depth or context to the backstory, it actually makes the first half hour or so of the game almost unplayable, partly because of a complete lack of challenge or originality, but mainly due to some of the worst

mouse acceleration that we have seen in a game for a long time.

These unpleasant shooter sections kept cropping up throughout the campaign and, instead of providing a pleasant change of pace, just made us want to turn the game off and do something else. Also, do yourself a favour and mute the voice acting. It is the worse example of mystery accents and wooden acting we heard this year.

But with a gritting of teeth and a girding of loins, we struggled through the shooter segment and settled, eventually, into the command chair with a sense of relief.

And then the real fun began. Using the Carrier, Lt Myrik can con-

trol up to eight heavily armed robotic killing machines; four highly maneuverable Mantas (Multi-role Aircraft for Tactical Assault) aircraft and four Walruses(Water and Land Roving Utility Shuttle), each of which can be manually controlled whenever the urge takes you. If you do want to take control, you will be relieved to hear that the horrible mouse acceleration that plagues the shooter segments is absent during the rest of the game, making its inclusion to the shooter sections even more puzzling.

But if you can be bothered to micromanage, the AI can take command of the units, obeying your commands to the best of its ability. And the key phrase is ‘best of its ability’. Considering that one of its main selling features is the fact that you can let the AI do all of the micromanagement, the fact that the AI will occasionally drive around without a problem but far more frequently getting stuck in the smallest rock or confused by the concept of a turning corner.

There isn’t an issue most of the time as you can just micromanage each unit as needed, but in combat it results in a huge amount of frustration as you lose unit after unit because the AI had missed a waypoint and was determined to

drive in circles around it regardless of incoming fire.

Despite the slight control problems, there are islands to conquer.

Travelling the length and breadth of the archipelago you have to take and defend a number of islands from the enemy carrier, each of which can be used to contribute to your war effort. Using the captured factories and mining facilities you can manufacture components and upgrades for your carrier and robotic units, allowing a huge range of customisation and specialization. Need to scout an island? A Manta stripped of all weapons and armor is a fragile but speedy choice. Being held off by turrets and emplacements? Equip your Walruses with heavy armor and a plasma cannon to make short work of anything standing in your way. However, these upgrades can only be unlocked by capturing an new island, meaning that it feels rather random and can force you into a style of play that you dislike.

The island management is also not without fault: you can only manufacture a single item at a time, which is a bit of a head scratcher because within the first hour of the game we had captured four different factory islands. And to make matters worse, items can only be transferred to the carrier by travelling to the stockpile or (if

you are feeling lazy or are low on fuel) brought to the carrier by robot submarine; lose all your units and it could take over ten minutes to manufacture, arm and ship out their replacements. Ten minutes of sitting around and waiting.

There were points in the game where we found ourselves leaving to make a cup of tea or nip to the shops as we waited for our shopping list to be completed. While not the end of the world, it is all the more frustrating because this problem could be solved by simply allowing each factory island to have its own production queue.

Carrier Commander also has no multiplayer or modding support, raising concerns about the game’s replayability. With over 30 islands in the single player (and even more in the laughably named ‘Strategy Mode’) and only four different variations to the basic shoot-win-conquer, Carrier Commander gets boring fast and takes and sustained effort to get past the game’s flaws and to start appreciating the game for what it is: A tribute to one of the most ambitious and well loved games of the 80’s. It’s just a shame that Bohemia Interactive were so slavish in their devotion and forgot to update the island management and the unit AI to something a little more up to date. Something from the 90’s, perhaps.

Do I think that Carrier Commander: Gaea Mission is a bad game? No, but I think that it is one of the biggest disappointments of the year. With a little bit of tweaking and a few changes this could be a good, if no great, game..

When it works, Carrier Commander is a joy to play, as you command your forces in detail but because of the incredibly frustrating AI and the over simplified island management, Carrier Commander is a game of micromanagement and waiting, rather than action and adventure. And there is far too much of that in the real world for it to make this anything more than a bargain bucket game.

Carrier Commander is available from ZiiP Gamestore for £21.99 or Steam for £31.99 Note. Since this review was written, Bohemia Interactive have released a patch that they claim fixes a number of issues with the AI

Time to see if this plan comes together

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

gaming.spark@reading.ac.uk

GAMING 31

Breaking the ice with Mode7 We talk to Paul Talyor, member of Mode7 and one of the developers behind Frozen Synapse Iain Farquhar

In May 2011, a game appeared out of nowhere, and proceeded to devour huge amounts of our time.

This game was Frozen Synapse and it changed how we thought about turn based games as a whole. But as quickly and as nosily as Frozen Syanpse appeared, it seemed to quietly disappear, played now only between a select few of our friends when we all fancy a change of pace.

But in May 2012 Mode7 released a DLC content pack: Frozen Syanpse Red. Along with new units, missions and game modes, this pack came with questions.

And we wanted answers. Paul Taylor was kind enough to give us some.

It’s fantastic and I wouldn’t do anything else now Spark:To start with a cliched question: have you always wanted to be a games developers?

Paul Taylor: When I was really small, I always told annoying adults who asked me what I wanted to be that I would do “something with computers”.

Despite that, I was always more keen on writing and music than programming or anything like that; so all I knew for a long time was that I wanted to do something involving one of those two things as a job.

While I was at university, I worked on an indie game that my friend Ian Hardingham was developing, and just fell in love with the entire process. Games are a way that I can combine my skills with those of one of the most talented people I know in order to reach a big audience: it’s fantastic and I wouldn’t do anything else now.

Did you study a gaming related course at university? Or did you just pick the needed skills up along the way?

I studied English at university.

I’ve kind of downplayed the importance of that to me a lot in the past but actually, if you’re doing anything even remotely creative, a good English degree can be a fantastic foundation.

I don’t do any coding or design: that’s Ian’s job. He studied Computer Science and would recommend that anyone wanting

to develop games ought to do the same.

How did all of the members of Mode7 meet?

I met Ian at school through a mutual friend: the first time I ever met him we ended up playing modem Quake 1 together and I killed him with the axe.

Robin, our Level Designer and Tester, was Ian’s friend since childhood.

Your first game Determinance (a game about airborn sword fights), was a interesting concept: Controlling the players weapon directly with the mouse. Unfortunately, the game was never really a success.

Do you wish that you had worked on it more? Or was it just a pet project? And were you ever tempted to try and support motion controllers, such as the wii?

No, I don’t wish we had worked on it more! It was a genuine attempt to make a big, fully featured game but it was seriously misguided in several ways. We definitely looked into making a Wii version but, wisely, nobody would publish it. We did do a great version for the Novint Falcon controller...

We don’t want to run a big company with a big turnover: we want to run a small, profitable company

for Frozen Synapse? Or do you think it is time to move on to new projects?

We released the Frozen Synapse: Red expansion pack this year and that continues to do well. At the moment, we’re concentratingongettingFrozenSynapse to other platforms (iPad very soon!) as well as working on our new game: both of those things are taking a lot of time and energy so that is all we can manage for the time being.

There may be some additions to Frozen Synapse in the future but that depends heavily on how the other versions do, so we’ll have to see about that.

One of the highly praised aspects of Frozen Synapse is the music.

Has the success of the game affected your career as a DJ or vise versa?

Yep, the response to the soundtrack was really incredible. I’ve been able to do things like my _ensnare_ chiptune side project, as well as launching a site called Chiptune Rush and have people pay attention to that: something which never would have happened without Frozen Synapse.

Honestly, my focus creatively is on making music for our games at the moment, so I think the major impact on me as a musician is just to give me more confidence in getting bigger and bolder with my productions.

You describe yourself as a team of three, backed by trusted freelancers. Do you have any plans to

Determinance, despite its issues, is a fun game and is still available from Mode7 if you want to try something new change that structure any time soon?

surprising direction. That’s it for now!

Seems like I definitely need to change our website as we are now a team of four, backed by trusted freelancers! We definitely may end up taking on more people but I think the fundamental structure will be the same. We don’t want to run a big company with a big turnover: we want to run a small, profitable company.

Finally, what games are you playing at the moment?

Your website says that you are working on a new project. Any chance of a clue or a hint?

We should be announcing this new game properly by the end of the year.

Something I’ve said publicly before is that it makes use of quite a bit of the Frozen Synapse tech, but also that it will go in a bit of a

I just finished Dishonored: that made me love single player games again. I recommend it unreservedly: its got a depth, sincerity and intelligence that we haven’t seen for a long time.

Aside from that, I’m currently playing too much Carmageddon iOS whenever I’m on a train and a bit of desultory Gold League Starcraft 2, just to remind myself of my own inadequacy.

Thanks to Paul Talor for putting up with our questions and we wish Mode7 luck with their new project

Your second game, Frozen Synapse, has received a number of near perfect reviews, as well as the notoriously rare praise of TotalBiscuit. Were you ever expecting that kind of response to your work?

Obviously you dream about that kind of thing - getting 9/10 in Edge or winning an award at the IGF etc. - but we definitely didn’t expect it.

Therewasapointwherewedefinitely knew that Frozen Synapse was a good game - possibly a very good one - but thatarrivedprettylateintheprocessfor me. Mostly we were concerned with tryingtodoourbestforthegame,rather than the response: you end up thinking about the response later.

And do you have any plans for additional content and DLC packs

Frozen Synapse is a turn based, strategy game with a gourgous aesthetic and a mind-blowing soundtrack

Spark*

SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY scitech.spark@reading.ac.uk 32

Friday 26 October 2012

SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY Editorial Greetings readers!

We’re half way through the term now... deadlines are looming, the days grow short and the nights encroach.

Hopefully you’re on top of everything and have a chance to have some Halloween fun!

This issue we bring you a special feature. There’s a new social networking site on the horizon but unlike Facebook which everyone is familiar with, this is serious business.

Designed from the ground up with students in mind, Hatchpath promises a better way for students to interact and collaborate. The website seeks to be a credible informal alternative - in the now familiar context of the social networking site to the veteran courseware that is Blackboard. You might actually enjoy using Hatchpath.

It’s still in beta but the site is fully functional so go to www.hatchpath.com to take a look and sign up now - and get everyone you know to signup!

Wondering who that person sitting a row away from you is? Hatchpath could finally give us all a way to identify that mysterious stranger!

Or maybe you don’t think Hatchpath is so great? Feel free to send us a detailed critique!

Dave

Want to Contribute to Spark* Science & Technology?

We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch: scitech. spark@reading. ac.uk and also our facebook page www.facebook. com/groups/ scitech.spark/

A better Blackboard?

Spark* talks to Hatchpath creator Pericles Theodorou David thai

We’re working with Hatchpath to make Spark* content available on Hatchpath in addition to our usual channels. However, any thoughts and opinions expressed by me in this article are entirely my own, made independently and do not necessarily reflect an official position of Spark* or the University of Reading.

We’re all familiar with Blackboard and love it or loath it we all use it. Could there be a better way?

Inviting you to “discover a new way of interacting with your coursemates”, new start-up Hatchpath believes there is. In fairness, Blackboard is functional and does what it’s meant to do as a virtual learning environment or course management system. For us as students, it allows us access lecture notes and other module materials in a single place.

Presumably, it’s also supposed to be a place for discussion and collaboration.

It’s on that last point that there could be a niche for Hatchpath to fill. Currently in beta, Hatchpath provides an easier way for students to connect with fellow classmates in a social networking format that many of us will already be comfortable with. Hatchpath enhances cohesiveness by making it easy for everyone taking the same module to communicate.

Compared with content dissemination, communication has been the underdeveloped (or at least underutilised) side of the Blackboard platform-

present provision consists of a forum and email function.

I met up with Pericles Theodorou (Twitter: @PericlesTheo), creator of Hatchpath, to learn more about the site.

DT: Hi Pericles, it’s great to meet you in person! Can we start by learning a bit about you and getting a bit of background to Hatchpath?

Pericles: Great to meet you too.

After I was done with university in New York, I moved to Reading because my partner, she went to university here.

At university I had Blackboard as well. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t the best. I conceived of the idea around April this year. I did some market research around the idea: whether it could be done, what approach to take and I did some surveys. Then I found people to work with. We’re 4 people. Each one of us had the same problems with Blackboard. So I pitched them the idea and they loved

it and we’ve been working on it ever since and it’s been about 4 months now.

The idea started as a personal project drawn from my own experience of how difficult it is to meet and collaborate with your coursemates through the current Blackboard forum and email system provided by universities.

We believe both services are outdated and do not improve productivity and efficiency within the student community. Many students due to either social stress or the huge lecture rooms (as I’ve experienced!) never get a chance to meet the people in their course. As a result, these students do not seek help from their coursemates regarding their coursework or questions about the class.

DT: So is that why you’ve chosen to launch the Hatchpath beta here, because of that personal connection to Reading University?

PT: In a sense, yes.

All of my friends were at Reading University- we already knew some students at Reading University who could help get the word out.

So that’s what made us select Reading University. Also another reason we selected Reading was because we wanted to start with a top-class university, a very good university of good standing who can appreciate what we’re trying to do. I have friends in other universities around the country but I think Reading is the best option.

DT: What is Hatchpath and why should we use it?

PT: The uniqueness of what we’re doing is that our customers, in a sense, are the students. We are building the application for them.

There’s no middleman and we get actual feedback direct from users.

It’s easy to sign up, you just use your Reading email address, give your name and choose what degree and modules you are taking. Hatchpath is customised to display only the courses you are taking.

Hatchpath is a something between Facebook and Blackboard. It’s a social network website for Reading University students to connect with their coursemates while giving them a social network-style news-feed for classroom conversations. Our aim is to give students a platform where they can learn more about their coursemates, share and discover thoughts and ideas about their courses and projects and get them interacting in courseworkrelated conversations outside the class. If you’re in a lecture with a hundred students, there is no way to know a hundred students, there’s no way to meet those hundred students [DT: and a lecture theatre isn’t exactly the ideal place for socialising].

So what they try to do is go find you on Facebook to get to know you. The whole website is about collaboration: making collaboration much, much easier than Blackboard’s collaboration.

Blackboard is not social and even for people (frequently) using it, it’s a very terrible way of having student interaction.

You can send a question in an email out to the whole class but they may not come back to you, because they don’t know you.

33 SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY scitech.spark@reading.ac.uk Another example: the way the forums normally work is you have a question at the top and then you have an answer. And then you have another answer and another answer.

If the answers are cohesive, they work.

If then you get question, answer, a reply to that answer and then an actual answer... then it gets messy. It’s chaotic. That’s what we tried to solve with Hatchpath.

We group each discussion so that it makes it relevant. You have one question and independent answers. Then each answer can have its own comments. You don’t lose the sequence of what’s going on. We also introduce stuff like “Top Answer”. The point of the question is to get an answer.

If an answer reaches 5 “Agrees”, then it becomes the top reply because the first thing you want to see is the answer- you want it to be relevant. That’s a problem we solve with Hatchpath.

You can also “pin” stuff. If you come across a particularly useful answer, you can pin it to your saved items, which you can look at anytime you want and find the answer you’re looking for.

DT: Do you consider Hatchpath a competitor to Blackboard?

PT: No, we are not competing with Blackboard because we are not working with the university explicitly. What we’re trying to do is we’re aiming for the students, not so much for the university.

At this point, a lecturer cannot upload a file on our platform. The university has nothing to do with Hatchpath, in a sense. There is no (mutual) cooperation there.

So... no.

I think Blackboard is great. It’s a great product but we feel there are some aspects of it that just don’t work. And the reason why they don’t work is - I don’t know whether they don’t see it - because they are working with professors, they have to simplify stuff, much more than what we (as students) are used to. A Professor on Facebook, is obviously going to be literate. But I guess what Blackboard is trying to do is to make it as easy as possible for people who are not computer literate. Because they’re doing that, they’re missing out on a lot of technology that is out there.

Whereas we’re dealing directly with the students. We only take feedback from the students. So we’re improving our technology and how we assist them.

We don’t compete with Blackboard.

If anything, we complement Blackboard.

DT: If Hatchpath is analogous to Blackboard, except where the former is made for students while the latter is made for the university, do you think there might ever be any middle ground?

PT: I won’t say that we’re not taking working with the

university into consideration and that could be something for the future but right now we’re just concentrating on getting the platform working for the students.

The plan for the immediate future is to just for students to use it. By working with the university we might be compromising the platform, not in a bad sense but compromising it in the sense of how we want it to develop.

Our users are students, who love technology, who know about technology.

They will give immediate feedback when something is not right or when something needs to change. In an enterprise (environment), it works a bit differently. The people that give feedback will not be those using the website. To get to the people using the website, you have to go through a hundred people. So at the moment we don’t see ourselves working with the university. We’re working for the students, building the platform they want to use.

If they (the university) let us know that they would like this become an official thing for the university, then obviously we’ll take that into consideration.

Anything’s possible in the future.

DT: Facebook can be a major time-waster. Isn’t it a risk that Hatchpath will be too?

PT: We let users create a small relevant social profile.

You cannot upload pictures (whole galleries) - only the single profile picture at sign-up so people know who you are and you cannot have statuses because that’s not the point. When you join a course, you’ll see your coursemates. By grouping coursemates together that makes it much easier for you to meet the people in your course.

You can click on an user to see what their interests are, mutual coursemates, mutual courses. A main goal of Hatchpath to help you get answers to questions and there are no distractions from this.

DT: There will always be the possibility of abuse. How will this be handled?

PT: Our position, at least to begin with, is to trust our users to be sensible and behave appropriately. Users can only sign up and login using their university email so it’s easy for us to ban anyone who misuses the site.

DT: In an earlier email, you mentioned that Hatchpath secured seed funding from an angel investor. Was that hard to come by and how did you stand out from all of the social networking concepts already floating around?

PT: We have perspective. If you know what you’re doing, if you

know why you’re doing it and if it’s solving an actual problem rather than thinking of it as a business that will make you money... that’s how you stand out. Facebook and Google didn’t start up to make money. They both solved problems rather than copying others’ concepts, twisting them to fit their own ideas.

I didn’t get a million pounds of funding but I got a good amount to get us started and keep us running for a long time. Finding an investor is not most easy thing to do- it’s a tricky thing to do. What I mean by that is that you have to find people who can actually help you. People who invest in you first of all have to believe in the project and has to think there is a future to it. And not just think there is a future to it but you really have to believe in the platform - not just thinking of it as a money-making business. Even if that’s the point of the business, that’s isn’t our focus yet. This applies to anyone who has something to do with the project. You do not want to choose people just for their skills. You want people who are passionate about the product and will be there when the product is not doing well, because will the case.

Investors want to invest in people and in teams. That’s the thing that’s most interesting. The first part is getting the idea. If they like the idea, then you go to the next meeting. The next thing is they want to meet the actual people, the actual team behind it.

If you’re passionate about what you’re trying to do then you come across as someone who is going to make it happen. What got us the funding: it was actually the fact that we’re passionate about this and we think that Hatchpath can actually make a huge difference because it’s drawing from our own experiences.

We’re not trying to save the world but we’re trying to do something that we think needs doing and we have experience with.

There have been people who have regretted giving away equity for funding from someone

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

who did not share their vision.

To be an entrepreneur, it’s not about mediocre efforts. It’s about actual results.

DT: You seem to be something of an Internet entrepreneur. You’re also the founder of “Specialens” so you’re certainly not new to this business of doing things on the web?

PT: Yes, that’s been up for about a year and a half but actually I would say am new to this, still.

It’s given me some perspective but I’m not even close to calling myself experience in Internet businesses.

And I’m not an entrepreneur.

DT: So why is entrepreneur a dirty word?

PT: I’ll tell you why I don’t like it.

It’s not a dirty word. I just find it a “holy” word. Entrepreneurs are few and the people who claim to be entrepreneurs are so many. I don’t feel myself to be an entrepreneur at the moment. By calling myself an entrepreneur, I’m putting myself right next to Bill Gates. I’m putting myself next to Steve Wozniak.

I’m putting myself next to Richard Branson. That’s ridiculous.

And even on a smaller scale with figures like Theo Paphitis calling yourself an entrepreneur is like putting yourself next to those people.

These days. technology allows anyone to set up a website and start a business. There are so many gifts and skills you must have to be able to call yourself an entrepreneur.

To be an entrepreneur, it’s not about mediocre efforts. It’s about actual results.

DT: What plans do you have for the future?

PT: We have a clear plan of what we’re trying to do. Obviously that’s a very long-term plan so

you never know what might change.

DT: And finally, why “Hatchpath?

Is there a story behind the name?

PT: Why Hatchpath? *laughs* It took a long time. Advice from me: never try to push for a name for your company- the more you think about it, the worst it becomes!

So what we tried to do was instead of trying to find a name, let’s define a concept.

For example, Pinterest is an amazing name and an amazing concept: pin your interest- Pinterest, it rhymes brilliantly. We always wanted to associate (Hatchpath) with a (visual) figure, like Twitter has. We were thinking (about how the site let’s you) “collaborate with your coursemates” and trying to use these keywords but it wasn’t working.

The conversation went something like this: so students are going to university, they’re growing up, they’re going out of the nest. Hatching out of the egg.

Ah, “Hatch”! And then there’s the “path” through university life.

So we brought the two words together: “Hatch-path”. We loved it, it was instantaneous. And that was how we came up with the name. While cooking eggs. We were doing it over breakfast.

Afterword...

Having had a play around with Hatchpath, my take on Hatchpath is that it’s like a cross between Facebook and Blackboard but with a specific focus, in the same way that LinkedIn is a professional social networking site. While Facebook does have a facility for indicating what classes (i.e. modules) you’re taking and who with, it’s rather generic compared to Hatchpath which knows exactly what modules are available to you on your degree programme.

Hatchpath has a lot of potential but like other social networking sites the more users it gains, the more useful it’ll become.

34 TRAVEL

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

travel.spark@reading.ac.uk

trAvel Dublin: historical and cultural must-see Jessica Phillips

Have you ever been asked if you’d like whisky in your coffee for breakfast? Seen a missing poster for a unicorn? Ever heard the story of how New York was built because of the Irish fondness for drinking? (Roads had to be built between each pub you know…)

No? Then you haven’t been to Dublin.

I discovered this beautiful city recently during my first ever visit to the Irish capital. My two-day stay was long enough for me to decide that it is one of my favourite cities. Its culture, scenery, atmosphere and people are unparalleled elsewhere in the world.

The locals have a wicked sense of humour and a relaxed outlook on life The wicked sense of humour of the locals and their relaxed outlook on life immediately made me feel at home in a land that was not my own. It was such a strange but invigorating experience to find that even amongst the array of unfamiliar faces, there was a strong sense of community between strangers.

I was happy to roam the streets aimlessly for hours, just taking in the sights and the energy of the city, browsing in the overpriced

shops of Grafton and Henry Street, wandering the grounds of Trinity College, avoiding the many petitioners targeting tourists (No I do not have £10 a week to spare to save the pandas; I’M A STUDENT), talking to a multitude of Americans who’d come back to ‘their Irish roots’, and taking in the fresh air whilst watching the locals go about their daily lives.

I was then lucky enough to visit Dublin Castle and roam the grounds where famous personalities such as Nelson Mandela, Barrack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II had walked before me. The castle has been restored to its original glory, and is well maintained, making it a fantastically eerie sight. The décor resembles that of the period in which Jonathan Swift was inspired to write ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ - other sections signifying the reign of Queen Victoria - and some chambers symbolising the iconic year of 1921, when Ireland was granted independent rule from Britain.

The Gravity Bar is a great place to enjoy your free pint of Guinness The Guinness factory was another stop along my Irish travels.

Throughout the day I learned all about its history, for example the factory was leased to Arthur

Guinness in 1759 for 9000 years!

I learned how the ingredients are chosen, how the beer is advertised, and of course how best to pour and drink a pint!

As I wandered around the factory, I was amused by a man who kept inexplicably photographing a stuffed animal giraffe at every stage of the brewing process, and I was silently smug as I watched fellow tourists fork out 30 euros for a Guinness t shirt since I’d bought mine from a little side street for 10.

Many Americans come to Ireland to ‘explore their roots’ The Gravity Bar was definitely the highlight of the tour. It covers the entire top floor of the factory and boasts a 360 degree view of Dublin. Definitely a great place to enjoy your free pint of Guinness.

With a stomach full of the black stuff I made my way to Dublin Zoo which is located within the angelic Phoenix Park - which is three times the size of Central Park, NYC! One of the iconic MGM Lions derived from this particular zoo, which helped it become Ireland’s most popular family attraction. Also situated within Phoenix Park’s grounds is the President’s house, which holds an uncanny resemblance to the humble abode of Mr Obama, and was also the

For more of Jessica’s Dublin album, visit facebook.com/travelspark

residence of Ireland’s first female President between 1997 and 2002.

I later passed the dwelling place of literary legend Oscar Wilde. It was amazing to think that I could have stood where he was once inspired to write ‘we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars’ or that I could have walked where Dorian Grey evolved into more than a figment of Wilde’s imagination.

That evening, enriched with the cultural knowledge I’d acquired that day, I spent the evening in a very Irish pub that was bustling with very Irish energy. It was a Monday night and what appeared

to be a small family-run pub was sheltering every Patrick and Eoghan in all of Dublin! People from all nationalities had congregated to enjoy the live Irish folk music and river dancing, and every one of those people was singing along to the surprisingly catchy old school folk tunes. This was the feel-good factor at its finest!

So if you fancy the sound of great scenery, an electric atmosphere, good music, and even better beer, Dublin is most definitely the place for you. Cheers to the Irish.

Zombies invade Bristol! Facebook: Harriet Weston

With the summer mothballs having been shaken off of the brain, term has officially begun - but by no means does this imply that you have to hunker down, study and save the pennies. My suggestion is, if you fancy a fusion of music, dance and zombies, head to Bristol for Saturday 27th October.

Little more than an hour away, Bristol will be hosting an immense zombie walk in the afternoon, which conveniently corresponds with the Day of the Dead festival.

Filled with harmless blood, guts and brains, the walk is free (donations welcomed, although a pound will suffice) and will guarantee writhing masses of fun.

If dressing up as the walking dead is not your cup of tea, you can join in the Day of the Dead celebrations on the other side of

the city. At only £8.75 for NUS holders (you’d be best buying them online as soon as possible – see website links below) the ticket gets you into the event, which boasts local and international bands and a fantastic fireworks display. Not only this, but there is a Mariachi (Mexican folk music) competition and fire dancers too.

While this event is also targeted at families, with the ticket you can escape into the city to explore many of Bristol’s fabulous (albeit selected) bars at a discounted rate.

So, if you’re stuck for Halloween plans, why not head out of Reading for some undead festivities to liven up your weekend? www.dayofthedeadfest.co.uk www.bristolzombiewalk.com www.thetrainline.com www.nationalexpress.com/home

facebook.com/travelspark

Twitter: twitter.com/travel_spark twitter.com/simon_truscott (Travel Editor)

Email: travel.spark@reading.ac.uk Example of a ‘DAY OF THE DEAD’ EVENT POSTER

We look forward to hearing from you!

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

editor.spark@reading.ac.uk

LETTERS 35

Letters & Events

A note from the Campaigns and Supporter Engagement Office Hi everyone In just two weeks time, we will be embarking on our 17th Annual Fund Telephone Campaign. This means that the team in our office will be working with 50 of you, our current students, to telephone Reading graduates to seek their support in raising funds to provide even more bursaries, hardship funds and other projects which would otherwise not be possible on campus. We can’t wait for the campaign to begin and if you are one

of the students soon to be working with us, we hope you have lots of fun speaking to the students who studied here before you!

Our former students have lots of great careers advice and fantastic stories to tell. This is why we’ve recently launched our ‘Share your Story’ initiative, in which we have been interviewing our graduates about their University memories and the lives they have led since graduating. If you would like to discover their top tips and careers

Spark* is now online!

advice for students, or simply have a laugh at the stories they recall from their University days, take a look at our website: www. reading.ac.uk/alumniprofiles The retro photos are not to be missed!

While you are on the web, why not join in the conversations on our Facebook page (search ‘University of Reading Alumni’) and Twitter (@UniRdg_Alumni) too?

Don’t forget to say hi!

Go to our website at www. sparknewspaper.co.uk Twitter @SparkNewspaper Facebook page at www.facebook. com/SparkNewspaper

Laura Garman, Development and Alumni Communications Officer

Introducing.. Sue Spark and our new Agony Aunt section To Sue I am really feeling homesick now since starting university. I’m 18 and this is the longest I’ve ever been away from home. I have been crying to myself in my room, not eating much and not been socialising with the people in my halls which has now resulted in me being left out. I live quite far away so its not as easy for me to go home for the weekend. I am thinking I should drop out of university as I am so sad, even though I’m enjoying my course.

Katie, 18 Hi Katie, I know it must be really hard for you, living with people you dont know, living in a new town where you don’t know were anything is and being responsible for yourself possibly for the first time. You are also starting the first steps into adulthood and this is naturally going to feel scary loads of people when they start university feel like this, but if you’re enjoying your course it be a shame for you

to leave. The best thing to do to get over the home sick feeling is to push yourself to socialise with your peers, join societies and have a good time. University is one of the most amazing experience of your life and in time I promise it will get easier. Ask the people you live or who you’re close to if they feel the same? Or if you want this to be private talk to peer support at the university. They are very helpful and can give you advice on how to make it easier. A link to their website is: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/peersupport/ peer-homepage.aspx.

So go out there, go to parties and dress up as a smurf and have a good time! Because after your degree I am sure you will feel quite the opposite!

To Sue, OK so I got really really drunk in Freshers week and slept with someone in my halls who lives on the floor below. I’m cool with it but everyone knows in the flat ( because they heard) and are mak-

ing jokes and it’s making it really awkward. I am so embarrassed and me and this guy don’t even look at each other. I know it was my fault but I wish I could turn back time. I just want to hide in my room until next year!

Star, 19

To Star Well, everybody in Freshers week goes out and has a good time. I am sure there are other people who had ‘fun’ with people in there halls too. In fact I know there has.

I can imagine how you must feel uncomfortable and having people making jokes is obviously making it worse. I think you should tell them straight to to stop, in a calm and polite way, don’t be aggressive. If you don’t feel comfortable with this solution, then why don’t you go up to the guy and say: ‘look it happened, let’s get over it and be friends’. If people see it doesn’t bother you two then they will eventually get bored and drop it.

It’s your life and you chose what to do, it’s nobody business!

GRADUATES Sign up with graduate-jobs.com and we’ll deliver you personalised jobs based on the subject you studied at University.

Vol 61. Issue 3

Editorial Staff

Editor:

Sophie Elliott editor.spark@reading.ac.uk

Deputy Editor:

Calum Rogers deped.spark@reading.ac.uk

News Editor:

Chayya Syal news.spark@reading.ac.uk

News Sub-Editor:

Zoe Crook news.spark@reading.ac.uk

Comment Editors:

Jess Croppper and Sophie Harrison

comment.spark@reading.ac.uk

Political Comment

Adam Roberts and Ellis Wiggins

Editors:

politics.spark@reading.ac.uk

Interview Editor:

Ellis Wheatley interview.spark@reading.ac.uk

Film, DVD & TV

Ellie Holland and Jack Marshall

Editors:

film.spark@reading.ac.uk

Music Editors:

Jamie Milton music.spark@reading.ac.uk

Nia Thomas music.spark@reading.ac.uk

Science & Tech

David Thai and Vinay Chauhan

Editor:

scitech.spark@reading.ac.uk

Gaming Editor:

Iain Farquhar gaming.spark@reading.ac.uk

Arts&Books Editor: Lucy Snow arts.spark@reading.ac.uk Fashion Editors:

Katey Watkins and Poppy Nowicka

fashion.spark@reading.ac.uk

Beauty Editor:

Elle Turner beauty.spark@reading.ac.uk

Travel Editor:

Simon Truscott travel.spark@reading.ac.uk

Health Editor:

Sarah Lienard health.spark@reading.ac.uk

Fun&Games Editor: Paroma Guha

fun.spark@reading.ac.uk

Receive the latest graduate schemes and jobs by email, create an online CV, or simply search our jobs database.

Sport Editor:

Cameron Humphries

sports.spark@reading.ac.uk

The University of Reading has an exclusive code:

Head of PR:

Charlie Allenby pr.spark@reading.ac.uk

Art director:

Piers Rudgard-Redsell

Design editor:

Sam Winslet

Proofreaders:

Jessica Hodges

Precious Ayemere-Okojie

Elizabeth Reilly

www.graduate-jobs.com/cbm601736

Want some career top tips? Go to www.sparknewspaper.co.uk/careers for advice from the Graduate Recruitment Bureau. Find out more about CVs, work experience and interview techniques.

Spark* is written, designed & typeset by students at the University of Reading. Printed

by Newbury News Limited, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire. RG14 2DW. Published and funded by Reading University Students’ Union vp.studentactivites@rusu.co.uk. Spark* is completely editorially independent. Complaints should be made to the Editor, in the first instance, and thereafter to RUSU. All complaints should be made in writing. All articles, letters etc. must include a name, address, and contact number/e-mail address. These may be withheld from publication at specific request. Spark* or RUSU can take no responsibility for products or services advertised herein. Spark* reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Editor. The views expressed in Spark* do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, particularly those expressed in the comments pages, which are often the opinions of the specific authors. Photographs in Spark* are copyright to the photographer concerned.

36 SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT

editor.spark@reading.ac.uk

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

Society spotlight In this feature, Spark* investigates one of the many societies at the University of Reading This issue: Reading University Ecology and Conservation Society Sophie Anderson

Above: felling a Birch tree Below: clearing a dew pond for newts in the Peak District

The Ecology and Conservation Society give members the opportunity to learn about wildlife and the countryside. There’s a chance to get involved with conservation work, learn about natural history, and raise money for related charities. There is also at least one residential trip every year and social events ranging from nights out to David Attenborough nights in. Most of all it’s about spending time outside in some beautiful environments talking over a cup of tea and biscuits!

Every week we meet on Sundays to carry out conservation work at different sites across Berkshire. Work ranges from woodland coppicing through to planting wild flower bulbs. Many of the reserves visited are heaths with expanses of heather and oak woodland. On Wednesday afternoons we regularly meet to work on campus. There the society helps manage the nature areas of the Harris Garden and carries out tree management by the lake. The society’s volunteering makes such a difference to the areas that we visit. The conservation work gives back to the local community and enables

members to gain new skills. Many people use this as a chance to gain their volunteering aspect of the RED Award.

The society also runs guided walks on the theme of natural history and ecology. This Saturday 27 October we are running a guided bird walk on campus. We will meet at the Philip Lyle Building at 10am and will spend around two hours watching birds. This gives people a chance to learn how to identify species and understand their relationship in the environment.

Members receive weekly emails with news on natural history events in the area. There are talks every week in the winter period spanning topics such as bat roosting behaviour to moth trapping.

Social events range from nights out to David Attenborough nights in This year we have started a new endeavour to raise money for conservation charities. In the autumn term we are concentrating on the charity, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). They work

to conserve biological diversity, promote the reduction of pollution and ensure that resources are used sustainably. Look out for us on campus where we will be campaigning for the cause.

Every January the society runs a week long trip to Grindleford in Derbyshire. A ranger from the Peak District National Park authority takes us to different sites to carry out conservation work.

Last year we romped in mud restoring dew ponds to provide a vital habitat for newts, and cleared scrub on a chalk grassland site.

We stay in a bunk house nestled between the black and white peaks right next to many spectacular gritstone escarpments. The trip gives everyone a chance to get to know one another and gain insight into one of the national park authorities.

If this makes you feel like you are missing out then you should search for the society on Facebook, “Reading University Ecology and Conservation Society”, or email us at readingecologyandconservation@gmail.com. Please let us know which aspects you would like to be involved with. We look forward to meeting you at our next event.

Next time...

Look out for Society Spotlight on the English Society on their new image, events and an exclusive look at their new mascot!

To contact Society Spotlight email pr.spark@reading.ac.uk

Left: society members cutting a Birch tree Below: members making a ‘dead hedge’

Spark* Friday 26 October 2012

fun.spark@reading.ac.uk

FUN&GAMES

Rivers wordsearch

FUN&GAMES 37

Sudoku Last week’s answer...

This week’s sudoku

answers coming in our next issue!

Word Fit One

Bear A-Maze

Cryptogram

Solve the phrase from a famous movie

38 ADVERTISEMENT

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Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

FOLLOW US ON @DominosPizzaSK

DH01284 Reading Wok Lunch Llet_OL.indd 1

03/08/2012 08:50

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SPORT 39

SPORT COMMENT

The future for Hodgson and the national team Jack Parker

It is undeniable that a large quantity of Roy Hodgson’s England squad will have their last chance of glory at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. And with a particularly wet performance in an even wetter Warsaw last Wednesday, perhaps the time has come to cast our eyes upon the future.

Losing players such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole won’t be an easy transition for England, but there is no doubt that the future looks bright.

With Joe Hart we have a player between the sticks that is by no understatement one of the best keepers in the world.

In defence early signs have shown that Chris Smalling and Phil Jones could one day be an impenetrable pairing.

In the middle of the park there is great encouragement with Tom

Cleverley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain already both featuring heavily in Hodgson’s plans.

Whilst up top, Wayne Rooney has plenty more years to offer, as well as the presence of Danny Welbeck, a player who certainly impressed over the summer at Euro 2012.

Not to mention other players such as Jonjo Shelvey, Ryan Bertrand, Martin Kelly and Jack Wilshere who can all enjoy long international careers if they can stay injury free and maximize their potential.

The question is how do you maximize a player’s potential? If a player has the quality and they work hard in training then the only answer is match experience.

However, it is vital that this is balanced. If they play too little there is no chance that they can develop their talent at the highest level, but if they play too often you risk injury

and can damage the longevity of the individual.

Danny Welbeck is perhaps the best example of the perfect measure.

The twenty-one year old striker made thirty league appearances for Manchester United last season, enough time to use his attributes to good effect without over exerting the player.

How do you maximize a player’s potential?

This over-exertion can be a big issue on young stars when a club becomes too dependable on them. So far this season Raheem Sterling at only seventeen years of age has already featured twelve times, in all competitions, for Liverpool.

Though Sterling’s progression so far has been highly promising, thirty to forty appearances for the winger

could potentially squander his talent.

This is especially a concern with the UEFA European Under-21 Championship next year, which could be integral to Sterling’s growth as he showcases his talent on the big stage.

The time has come for these young stars to be integrated Though the FA and Hodgson have no way to control how the top sides develop the next generation, in recent years they have tried to implement new ways to nurture the future.

Imposing new rules of registration to ensure numerous homegrown players at each club is just one example.

But perhaps more importantly, the FA has begun to ask key questions of the English coaching system, attempting to change certain foot

balling ethics taught at a grassroots level.

This change is needed if England are ever to become a footballing superpower once more and challenge the World elites. If we take the unstoppable force of Spain for instance, not only do they boast some of the best players in the World, but their brand of football, which is taught at all levels of their coaching system, is light years ahead.

So, what can we expect from the new recruits? On one level or another, England’s youngsters can compete at major championships in the near future. Furthermore, there is certainly potential for specific players to become World class and the World Cup will undoubtedly provide great experience for many of them.

The time has come for these young stars to be integrated with their more experienced mentors and secure the future. Mr. Hodgson, your hard work starts now.

Bright future for British Tennis Tom Newbold

Earlier this month Heather Watson continued a golden season for British tennis as she won her first WTA singles title at the Japan Open. It was a seminal moment for the 20 year old, and also another instalment in what has been the best year for British tennis players in a generation.

On the back of her win in Japan, Watson broke into the world’s top 50 tennis players for the first time.

Close behind her at no. 52 is the everimproving Laura Robson.

Now at the tender age of 18, Robson has a Wimbledon Girls title, an Olympic silver medal, and a Grand

Slam fourth round appearance in her growing list of achievements.

It was a seminal moment for the 20 year old Just weeks before Watson won her title in Japan, Robson had become the first British woman in over 20 years to reach a WTA final.

Anne Keothavong is another British female to currently be ranked inside the top 100 tennis players, with Elena Baltacha not far behind. Unfortu-

nately there is not the same volume of high-ranked tennis players from Britain on the men’s side.

The best year for British tennis players in a generation Away from Andy Murray’s superb season, there is not another British man ranked inside the top 200 in the world. Something needs to be done there.

Andy Murray’s season however has been excellent. Inspired by new

coach Ivan Lendl, he has reached his first Wimbledon final, won an Olympic gold and silver medal, and won his first Grand Slam at the US open. Touted as a future number one, this year has been a coming of age for Murray.

Great Britain does have three juniors ranked inside their respective top 50 And whilst the senior men apart from Murray are not setting the

world alight, Great Britain does have three juniors ranked inside their respective top 50.

One of those is the highly-talented Liam Broady, from whom we expect great things in the future.

This has been a year of positives for British tennis. Now we wait for Murray, Watson and Robson to go on to even greater things, and for the juniors to break-through to the top senior level.

One thing we can certainly say from this year though, which we haven’t been able to say for a very long time, is that the future looks bright for tennis in this country.

Reading University Cricket Club Historic day for women’s cricket at UOR RUCC Press Release

Sunday 14 October will go down in history as the turning point for Reading University Cricket Club and the University of Reading.

Sunday 14 October will go down in history For the first time in its history, girls have been welcomed into the Club.

With lots of interest at the Freshers’ Fayre, the Club is pleased is to have had girls attending the training sessions, some mixing it with the boys and out shining them too.

In a statement from the Club Presi

dent, Badal Naik said “It was a really important objective for the club this year, and I am glad that we have had so many girls interested. We hope this will inspire more girls to get involved and chance their arms at cricket this year. This will lead to the club forming its very own Women’s XI and hopefully ensure the club is granted focus sport status, which has been long overdue.”

The Club is now having to book extra sessions in order to cope with the interest shown this year and this bodes well for the future.

They are optimistic they will receive the funding and resources to maximise their potential.

RUCC PRess release

Claire Taylor MBE, the ex-england Women’s cricketer, is an employee at the University of Reading and keen to encourage more girls to engage and participate.

Taylor, a World Cup winning batter, is from the Reading area and now works as a Management Consultant at the University.

Taylor, a World Cup winning batter The club will be looking forward to have her on board and help inspire a lot more girls to take up playing

cricket, whether that be as a complete novice, or as an experienced campaigner.

The Reading University Cricket Club President, Badal Naik, has said “The club would benefit hugely from Claire’s involvement, and the players are very keen and looking forward to such exiting times ahead.”

He went on to comment “The Cricket Club has been largely unsupported by the University and SportsPark in its progression and development, but is currently working with RUSU to create change and gain recognition for its outstanding performance in the men’s league; the 1st XI last season had the best record in the country,

beating the specialist Cricketing Universities as well.”

The 1st XI last season had the best record in the country, beating the specialist Universities Naik was complimentary of RUSU’s support in this and hopes that more can be done to ensure the talent of the students here at the University is not wasted.

Feature your club in Spark* Sport.

Email sports.spark@reading.ac.uk.

40 SPORT

Friday 26 October 2012 Spark*

sports.spark@reading.ac.uk

SPORT London Irish romp to victory

Inside...

Comment: England’s future

Irish firmly in control of pool after dominant win Irish 69 - 24 Mont de Marsan Attendance: 5720 Tim underwood

Round two of the Amlin Challenge Cup saw London Irish take on Montde-Marsan at the Majeski Stadium on Saturday, October 20.

The encounter was anything but a challenge for a formidable London Irish side, however, fresh from their 43-16 win over Bordeaux-Begles a week earlier.

The encounter was anything but a challenge for a formidable Irish side

British tennis’ great year Reading University Cricket Club

A total of 11 tries for the Exiles completed an easy 69-24 victory with winger Topsy Ojo adding two tries to the one he scored in Bordeaux seven days earlier.

Only 28 seconds had gone when flanker Jamie Gibson scored the first Irish try. A slick move that began deep inside their own half was finished nicely by Gibson who feigned a pass, only to storm straight past several Mont-de-Marsan backs.

It was an early sign that Irish

would have no difficulty in dispatching the French side. Bryn Evans added another five points to the scoreboard with his try just minutes later.

Mont-de-Marsan, based in southwest France, did not put Irish under any pressure during the first half.

Their only points in the first 40 minutes came from the boot of fly-half Thibault Duvallet, who successfully kicked four penalties.

likes of Watson and Ojo. Humphreys excelled in pulling the strings too, and was substituted after 61 minutes once it was clear the game was won.

Mont-de-Marsan, meanwhile, will have to bounce back in time for the game against Bordeaux in December. They were not strong enough in the tackle and not creative enough in attack. Their backs had a strong tendency to kick and chase, instead of working the ball with a string of drives, or utilising the pace of the wingers like Irish did.

The win has put London Irish firmly in control of Pool One after managing to get bonus points in the opening two games.

Mont-de-Marsan, based in south-west France, did not put Irish under any pressure His kicking was more assured than his opposite number, Ian Humphreys, who missed a few conversions despite having a good game all round. It was Humphreys who got the third Irish try and also converted the fourth, scored by Tongan international prop Halani Aulika after 31 minutes.

The players went in to half-time with the score at 24-12.

The domination continued in the second half with seven Irish tries, including two from full back Anthony Watson - playing on his full European debut.

Topsy Ojo put in an impressive performance for London Irish At one stage Irish had scored three tries in less than ten minutes.

The defensive inadequacy of Mont de Marsan’s backs was not helped either by two yellow cards in the final 15 minutes – both awarded for silly offences.

Director of rugby, Brian Smith, would have been delighted by his team’s performance. The pace and quick hands of the Irish backs kept on causing issues for a French side that simply could not handle the

The win has put London Irish firmly in control of pool one Their next fixture in the Amlin Challenge Cup will be on Saturday, December 8 against Gloucester at home (kick-off 3pm). It promises to be a more competitive game with Irish currently on ten points and Gloucester on nine points.

England disappoint after Warsaw washout Poland 1-1 England Glik 70’ Rooney 31’ Sam Smart

The match been postponed in farcical circumstances on Tuesday 23 October and rescheduled for 4pm the following afternoon. The roof of the National Stadium was left open despite weather warnings, leaving the pitch water logged as torrential rain crashed down on Warsaw.

The match been postponed in farcical circumstances After an early Tom Cleverly chance England may have wished for further postponement as they continued the tie in sluggish fashion.

The hosts had started brightly and threatened in the 7th minute with a swift break down the right flank - Jakub Wawrzyniak pull-

ing back for Kamil Grosicki who failed to connect meaningfully.

Poland threatened further as Boroussia Dortmund hitman Robert Lewandowski brushed off Cleverly on the edge of England’s box but dragged his effort wide.

Lewandowski led the line well for the Poles and the rumoured Manchester United target will be sure to have impressed any watching scouts.

However, against the run of play, England took the lead as mercurial captain Steven Gerrard swung in a corner for Rooney to shoulder home from 6 yards. This continued a fine run of assists for Gerrard since becoming skipper pre Euro 2012.

Cleverly then fired wide from range before Phil Jagielka failed to deal with another Poland right wing cross, being saved by Glen Johnson. Jagielka had had an otherwise fine game alongside his exEverton colleague Joleon Lescott.

After the break Poland maintained their superiority, posing a threat on the counter attack.

England may have ended the game

Poland began to pile on the pressure, Obraniak hitting wide from outside the area during the 59th minute.

England remained a threat through set pieces however with Gerrard firing in a dangerous free kick from the right but with no end product.

Poland though remained the stronger side and England gave away a corner on the 70th minute – Kamil Glik arriving late in the area to tower above Joleon Lescott and head Poland level.

Roy Hodgson as the rain failed to relent on Tuesday night with 58% of the ball to Poland’s 42% but achieved little with it.

Effectively lining up with four central midfielders, England were sorely lacking in width and creativity. This hampered the front line with Jermaine Defoe isolated up top and Rooney, for all his industry, getting little of the ball in threatening positions.

With England beginning to sit deeper with two banks of four,

The Three Lions do not have a competitive tie until March Poland pushed for a winner and gained another corner, again breaching England’s left hand side.

Ashley Cole had an unusually poor game in an England shirt, potentially feeling the pressure of an FA fine and warning for an abusive Twitter update the prior week.

Ultimately though England hung on for a draw, securing top spot in Group H ahead of Montenegro who have a game in hand. The Three Lions do not have a competitive tie until March, where they face a key clash away to the Montenegrins, giving Roy Hodgson the chance to experiment i n the upcoming friendlies against Sweden and Brazil.

England have problems and they need to be addressed fast Jack Wilshire’s pending return from injury and the recent emergence of talent such as Liverpool wonderkid Raheem Sterling provide Hodgson with fr esh options this coming year.

However it remains to be seen if ‘Woy’ can mould his personnel into a more positive and coherent outfit.

England have problems and they need to be addressed fast if they are to be a force at Brazil 2014, providing they even get there.