The Suss - Issue 5 - Vol III

Vol. 3. Issue. 5 30 November 2016

THE SUSS THE COLLEGE VIEW’S ARTS & LIFESTYLE SUPPLEMENT

Arts

Sussed: Christmas club guide

BY JOSH COGLEY

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s another festive season rolls around, and people dust off their decorations, excitement mounts for two very different groups of people. As kids everywhere refine and redraft their letters to Santa, Dublin’s revellers and clubbers are licking their lips at the prospect of 10 days stuffed to bursting with the best club nights and gigs of the year. While the gigs listed below are some of the biggest and best on offer, they are but a segment of the delights in store from the good people at District 8, the Button Factory, Pygmalion, Hangar, and many more.

Tis the season to be jolly indeed for Dublin’s nightlife.

Stereosonic and Ireland’s very own Life festival. Toping’s infectious tech-house style has earned him critical acclaim, and those lucky enough to have secured tickets will be in for a bouncy evening.

Jeff Mills 23rd December, District 8

One of the most legendary names in the history of dance music, Jeff Mills returns to Ireland for his inaugural District 8 appearance. Mills was last heard on these shores performing with the RTE Concert orchestra in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on the 30th of October, as part of his ‘Light from the Outside World’ project. He also treated attendees at last year’s Metropolis Festival to an insane 3-hour set, almost tearing the roof off the RDS. A true pioneer of the Detroit techno scene, Mills has been producing and performing his brand of stripped back, industrial techno at the very highest level since the mid80s, and is a must see for any techno aficionado.

off an incredibly well received set at this year’s Metropolis festival. These elder statesmen brought a sense of energy and fun that would put many of their younger counterparts to shame and will provide a welcome alternative to those seeking a change from the techno and house that dominates this festive season.

Matador 26th December, District 8

The biggest name in Irish techno by some distance, Matador is fresh off his set at the excellent Winter Party in the 3Arena this Halloween, where he stole the show with his expansive, groovy sound. A Patrick Topping. three-time member of Resi21st/22nd December, District 8 dent Advisor’s Top 20 live acts of the year list, it’s clear that the Dundalk native is one of Newcastle’s Patrick Topping Sugarhill Gang. the must see acts this Christ23rd December, Button Factory mas. His most recent District holds the distinction of being 8 set was a techno lover’s the most in-demand performer District 8’s prestigious dream, with the intensity of his holiday line-up, with not one The first hip-hop act to performance complemented but two gigs selling out in very have a single in the billboard brilliantly by the lighting and short order. The 27-year-old top 100 with Rapper’s Desurroundings. If you haven’t is one of the most sought after light, the Sugarhill Gang are seen him yet, you are missing names in house music today, bona-fide musical royalty. out. and is a constant fixture at the The group, who have been biggest festivals around the active since 1979, are comBen Klock world, including Creamfields, ing to the Button Factory fresh 27th December, District 8

Image Credit Page 1; Getty Images Page 2: www.patricktopping.net, globalsets.com, advertiser.ie; Page 3: Hamilton; Page 4: google images; Page 5: Rolling Stone; Page 6: my merry christmas, google images; Page 7: Getty Images, Google

Images ; Page 8: Laura Horan, Emily Crowley. Google Images

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DJs and producers of recent years, and a resident of Berlin’s infamous Berghain since 2004, Klock’s live shows are always met with fervent anticipation. He has been a constant fixture in RA’s top 10 DJs list for the best part of the last decade, with a penchant for 10-hour marathon sets and an evocative sound that seems to have an almost hypnotic effect upon his audiences. Ben Klock is a true master of his craft, a statement supported by the speed with which tickets are selling out for his D8 gig.

Described as the ‘Berlin demigod’ on the Facebook page for this gig, Ben Klock’s stature in the world of dance music is beyond reproach.

One of the most in-demand

Kormac 31st December, Button Factory

One of the most innovative and unique artists in Ireland today, Kormac is a truly must see performer.

His music is a vibrant, soulful mix of hip-hop instrumentals, and electronically tinged jazz, which combine to form an irresistibly funky blend, that has wowed crowds at live shows across Ireland and abroad. His New Year’s Eve gig will be a performance of his AV show, which consists of Kormac DJing accompanied with a live drummer and his own custom visual effects, displayed on a giant LED screen behind the stage.

Take the chance this NYE to see an Irish artist who is not only at the peak of his powers, but is also a musician and performer like no other.

How Hamilton has taken theatre by storm

Arts

BY MICHELLE TOWNSEND

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hen most people think of musicals, they straightaway imagine classic, cult shows such as Grease or Hairspray, or really oldfashioned jazz dancing set in a 1920’s speakeasy. What they do not realise, however, is that although the concept of musicals has been around for a very long time, new musicals are constantly being developed in the present day and age.

Hamilton is the latest “new musical” phenomenon, creating a hype similar to that of Les Miserables and Phantom Of The Opera back in the 1980’s.

It has achieved tumultuous success captivating musical lovers on an international level, despite the fact thus far it has only been staged in Broadway and Chicago. Having only debuted in February 2015, Hamilton is already breaking records, with an impressive 11 Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama under it’s belt.

But what is it about this musical that is so enthralling for American audiences and musical fans worldwide?

Hamilton tells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton’s involvement with the foundation of America as well as the American Revolution through hip-hop music.

Initially, this concept was preconceived as bizarre, but nearly two years since it’s debut it has quickly climbed up the ranks and has now certainly established itself as one of the most successful musicals the world has seen. This success is illustrated by both public demand – Hamilton is due to tour America and come to London’s

West End in 2017 - and an array of aforementioned awards including “Best Musical” and “Best Original Score” at the 2016 Tony’s.

The music, lyrics and storyline can all be accredited to the multi-talented Lin Manuel-Miranda, who also undertook the lead role of Alexander Hamilton on Broadway. The concept for the show emerged when Miranda read a biography about the founding father and felt inspired to transfer the story on to stage.

Already a famous name in the world of musicals having composed the music and lyrics for In The Heights as well as being heavily involved with the stage version of Bring It On, it comes as no surprise that Miranda was able to succeed in creating a musical phenomenon.

Many things set Hamilton apart from your everyday run-ofthe-mill musical, the songs namely being one of these factors.

There are no jazz hands to Bob Fosse-like numbers to be seen here as the songs are instead hip-hop infused with clever lyrics. The songbook is very unique – audiences would not expect to be told the history of America through upbeat and catchy hip-hop songs, but for some reason it works. Making history relevant through mod-

ern music was sheer brilliance on Miranda’s behalf. His choice in the musical’s distinctive tone certainly paid off as it is a massive factor contributing to the success of the show and it’s impact on the audience.

Another reason as to why Hamilton has been such a success is due to its diversity amongst the cast members. A wide range of ethnicities are represented throughout the characters and chorus members, something that has been praised by fans and critics all over the world.

This pride in diversity has been even more reinforced recently, regarding cast member’s Brandon V. Dixon’s passionate speech made at the curtain call the night new Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended the show. Dixon addressed Pence, who has been widely criticised for his controversial beliefs, saying “we are men, women of different colours, creeds and orientations”, and that “we wanted to stand up and spread a message of love and of unity considering all the emotional outpour since the election”.

This state-

“A wide range of ethnicities are represented throughout the characters and chorus members, something that has been praised by fans and critics all over the world” ment generated an incredibly positive response from the general public and portrayed just exactly why this show is so popular – it is all inclusive and appealing to everyone regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality.

Hamilton has achieved an extraordinary amount of success in a very short time, and it seems that the hype surrounding it is not dying down at all. Judging by the public’s reaction, this musical is definitely on course to leaving a long-lasting impact and creating a legacy for itself similar to the most successful musicals in the world: Les Miserables, Phantom Of The Opera and Miss Saigon. The fact that it will soon be staged on The West End is a testament to its popularity, and of course great news for European fans of the show. Prepare to hear a whole lot more about this musical phenomenon, because Hamilton is not bowing out of the world of theatre any time soon.

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Arts

What now after What.CD?

BY IAN MANGAN

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ast week saw the closure of the infamous music and file sharing site What.

CD making them part of the club of fallen piracy giants like Napster, Kickass Torrents and the original Pirate Bay. In a heartfelt goodbye to its followers the site announced via Twitter that they would be shutting down quoting The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy with a sombre “So Long, and thanks for all the fish”.

So with What.CD’s disappearance is it time to ask ‘what next?’

Could it be possible that streaming apps like Netflix and Spotify have finally begun to eradicate the rebellious world of internet piracy?

Well not exactly. It’s important firstly to acknowledge the evolution of piracy. Think back to a time where Limewire might have been the go to site for all your music.

Typically you weren’t sure if you were getting a fairly decent rip of a song, some unwanted pornography or a cancerous computer virus. But file sharing was young and grew just as the internet did to a point where it seemed like these sites were run like any other reputable institution complete with dedicated contributors, coders and legions of users. All of whom put their time and efforts into providing the public with free access to

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music, films and other files.

Naturally this caused some controversy. How could they get away with this? How would those artists reap any of the rewards of all their hard work? And yet a lot of us fell into it. Even I did. All of the bands and their discographies I so desperately craved were made so readily available to a 15 year old with no real sources of income. My guilt as a music fan did kick in eventually and I found myself making an effort to buy every Arctic Monkeys album I could whenever I had the money. But the truth was not enough people felt bad about the artists’ reduced profits plus it helped that the internet is hard to legislate. In fact it could be argued that things like Metallica’s relentless campaign for the shutdown of Napster only helped to keep piracy alive.

But Metallica were not the only ones who wanted to put an end to it all. There were a lot of people losing out as a result of all this illegal downloading and they weren’t stopping anytime soon.

There’s evidence to show that it’s working too with The Pirate Bay and KickAss Torrents founders Fredrik Neij and Artem Vaulin actually being arrested and charged for their contribution to the piracy world. There were also those who sought to gain from the attack on

“What.CD was a place where people could come together and share the things they cared about the most” internet piracy.

As of 2016 Spotify has a staggering 30 million subscribers, showing just how much they have capitalised on the crackdown of illegal file sharing. Netflix are also huge players with around 86 million subscribers. With stats like this why is piracy still alive at all?

The general consensus seems to be that these services are reasonably priced considering what they offer. Who wouldn’t pay less than €10 a month for access to millions of songs or thousands of films and TV shows, including original content? It seems like the most logical option.

Yet What.CD’s demise was not without mass displays of public

disappointment from countless, emotional Tweeters and reddit users. “I can’t really begin to explain how much of a loss this is. This was the biggest digital repository of music the world has ever seen.” ‘Mynsfwacctlol’ lamented. Why the outcry? One of my classmates revealed to me that he was once a member of the exclusive club, enlightening me with stories of a rigorous interview process where he was questioned about his knowledge of music and file sharing in order to gain access. It’s obvious that What.CD was about so much more than free music. It was a place where people could come together and share the things they cared about the most. It was a place where anything you wanted was found, and users gave as much as they got. I myself have been disappointed by Spotify for not having albums like The Wombats’ This Modern Glitch and Peter Gabriel’s Melt. In fact there are already whispers in the dark corners of 4chan and Reddit that the pieces of What.CD are being picked up and put back together by their loyal former users and workers. Perhaps it’s likely these sites will always exist in some shape or form, even if it is only in the shadows.

Arts Arts

“The End” for Black Sabbath

BY ARTHUR VELKER

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lack Sabbath. The words are like a hunting horn for any seasoned heavy metal fan.

A 50-year career marked by legendary music, solid friendship and innumerable vices is finally drawing to a close.

After spending almost half a century in the ever-changing, volatile music industry, the Birmingham four-piece are putting a lid on their chaotic touring regimen – partly due to founder Tony Iommi’s deteriorating health conditions.

Though their achievements are now only recognised by music critics and aged rock fans, the sound created

by Sabbath will always be echoed in the landscape of most modern pop and rock compositions.

A full-on musical intoxication, Black Sabbath’s debut brings you on an odyssey of classic blues progressions and lyrics of doom and gloom often engulfed in the menacing roar of Iommi’s guitar.

Renowned Rolling Stone critic Lester Bangs once said that “rock & roll

has always been noise, and Black Sabbath have boiled that noise to its resinous essence.”

The music that defined their career was often submerged in infamy roused by a blend of obscure witchcraft rumours and outrageous Ozzy stories.

From snorting a line of ants to setting his bandmates on fire, Osbourne became the prototype to the unhinged lead singer personality; he ticked almost every box in the rockstar’s handbook before it was even written.

But although Ozzy predominantly claimed the spotlight, Iommi also had a fair hand in the mischief.

He describes blowing up a marquee that blasted all of Richard Branson’s fish into high heaven: “we put all this pyro round his tent. It was so loud that his marquee just took off, with a mushroom cloud like an atomic bomb. The blast went right through the lake and all these prize fish came floating to the top.”

However, beneath their self-de-

structive antics and childish exterior, the Birmingham four were always much more than the sum of their parts.

With their roots firmly planted in working-class England, they represented hope to marginalised minorities and embodied the idea that four scruffy kids with not two pence to scrape together can reach unstoppable heights and far exceed their ambitions.

But it wasn’t without excruciating effort. Iommi’s own story of reconstructing his playing after the loss of

his two middle fingers in a machine accident shows a determination beyond immense.

Sabbath’s history is marked by episodes of resilience, bravery and triumph – and their music has become a testament of that history.

Spawning over four generations of bands, from Van Halen to Green Day, Black Sabbath will not be merely known as a heavy metal supergroup; they will be known as a band of true role model musicians – and a paragon of inspiration – for countless generations to come.

Review: Crash and Burn T

ommy Byrne could have been the biggest name in Formula 1. There was no doubting his talent and speed as he climbed through the ranks of Irish and British racing in the early 1980’s.

The only thing that rivaled his rise to fame for a Hollywood-esque storyline, was his fall from what could have been a career in motorsport equal or better to that of Senna and Schumacher.

Byrne was always an underdog in Formula 1, he arrived at a time when drivers were bringing multimillion pound sponsorships when he could only raise £300 from a gala in Co. Louth. “Crash and Burn” tells the story of Byrne’s difficult

BY AARON MCELROY career in motor racing, from a working class upbringing in Dundalk, doing everything right, winning all the championships that mattered and getting himself the opportunity of testing a McLaren Formula 1 car -the fastest car at the time- in 1982.

It also focuses in on his personality, his wild lifestyle and tone that made him stand out.

The film uses footage from old races and home videos to give a sense of place at the time. Most of these clips had been given by friends and fans of Byrne, who had recorded the footage. Speaking at the premiere, director Seán Ó Cualáin made the point that the film

comes full circle, the friends who supported Tommy Byrne in his early days were the same friends who gave the footage to allow his story to be told.

Over 75 hours of filming was recorded on location in Ireland, England and the USA where Byrne now lives and works as a professional driver trainer.

If the first half of the film gave you chills for the sounds and video of historical and dramatic racing, the second half gives chills for the sombre personal story that unravelled as Byrne left the UK and his hopes of making it big for a chance to race in the States.

The film begins with the question often asked about Tommy

Byrne, did he not a fair shot or did he cause his own demise, and as Ó Cualáin said afterwards, it is much more complex, there were many factors that make arguments for both sides.

“Crash and Burn” is much in the same vein as Ron Howards “Rush” and Asif Kapadia’s “Senna” documentary, however the rawness of Byrne and his brutal honesty throughout the film gives an insight to the outsider he was in the world of clean cut racers.

The popularity of sports documentaries is growing, and this slots in with the best of them.

Telling a story contrary to the status quo, and marking the difficulties in making it to the top.

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Arts Lifestyle

Christmas in Retail

BY AMY LAWLOR

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ou’re standing behind the till, queues upon queues of people facing you, some of whom don’t even bother to mutter the word hello. You greet every customer with a smile and engage in the same conversation at least fifty times a day, “It’s very busy today, isn’t it?”

Eventually after a gruelling four hours with non-stop sales, you finally get to escape the dreaded tills. You quickly grab your bag and begin walking through the shop floor to get your lunch, the only thing that is making this hectic day a bit bearable. You can nearly taste it you’re so hungry, when you’re stopped halfway through the shop, because some customer notices your name badge and assumes you’re still working. You reluctantly help them and continue to the bagel factory.

An hour later, lunchtime is over and you go back to work. This time you’re not on the tills, at least there was a counter protecting you from the violent abuse hurled in your direction by customers. “Can you not count properly?” “No, I don’t want that if it’s not on sale,” looking at you as if you personally set the clothes’ prices.

Instead of being on tills, you attempt to recover the shop floor to its original state.

Mountains of t-shirts lie ahead of you with nearly every item of clothing being without a hanger. Some customers are incapable of rehanging clothes after trying them on. It’s simply too much effort.

The buzz of the crowd, shopping lists at the ready, credit card in hand and with one objective in mind blinds some shoppers at Christmas. This year, consider those illusive objects serving you on tills, or running rings around the shop floor trying to cater to your every need. After all it’s their Christmas too and for the sanity of all retail workers don’t fall into the trap of thinking ‘the customer is always right’ because in theory you are but in practice we let you think you are when you’re really not. Don’t use it as a scapegoat to justify your rude remarks made at our expense.

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Gifts for Christmas

Aaron Mc Elroy and Rachel Farrell set the records straight on what men and women want this Christmas

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eodorant Sets: The running joke about receiving a Lynx Africa set from every female relative is told each year but this is unfair. We get given them because of how versatile they are as a gift. There is always a need for deodorant and bath sets, if nothing else it saves us having to buy them ourselves for a few more months.

Aftershave: This is an easy one. If it is given to you by a girl, it is clear she likes the smell of it. Wear it, and there is a strong possibility she will like you.

Clothes: Despite our active and obvious pro-

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eauty bits: If you want to stray from the typical Boots Christmas sets, try something a bit different instead, like makeup brushes. Any makeup lover would be beyond happy to receive a Real Techniques set under the tree this year and they are always on sale in Boots and other pharmacies. Christmas boxes from Lush will go down a treat with bath bomb and skincare lovers, and won’t break the bank either. These little gifts are perfect for Secret Santa or even your sister.

Handbags: If you’re looking for a present for your significant other or

tests about going shopping or our blatant disregard for caring about what the fashion world says is “in” right now, we love having new clothes. There are two angles someone can approach this from.

Firstly, if you are a significant other this is your chance to get us wearing that top we wouldn’t dream of buying ourselves. Within reason we will wear anything if it is coming from a special someone, so there is a strong chance we will welcome the new style wit open arms.

If you are buying for a father, son, brother, or boyfriend just look for inspiration in whatever

clothes they already wear.

If there is one thing a man likes more than being bought new and exciting styles, it’s being bought something he already wears. We are creatures of habit, there’s no such thing as too many pairs of dark jeans.

even your mam, a handbag is a good pick. Handbags are easier to shop for than clothes for a fashion lover as sizes and personal taste are hard to get right, no matter how well you know the person. High street shops like New Look and River Island make good quality bags for any student budget. If you’re looking to splurge, try a reasonably priced on trend designer like Kate Spade or Radley.

Perfume: For the most part, perfume is something that girls will never buy for themselves unless it’s on sale in the airport duty free. Make sure you find out what kind of scents they like, as it can be

quite a personal gift to give.

YSL Black Opium, Vera Wang Princess or Marc Jacobs Daisy are three popular scents that are versatile.

Vouchers: If you’re really stuck, vouchers are a failsafe option for any girl. Try catering to their interests and only use an One4All voucher as a last resort. A voucher for a spa treatment or nail salon would be a unique gift to find under the tree this year, giving them the freedom to choose what they want themselves.

Stocking fillers: Pyjamas, candles, books and chocolate are all a girl really needs in life.

Stocking Fillers: It is Christmas week, and somehow you forgot you had to buy for your brother. There are a couple of quick and easy things you can buy that won’t break the bank. Socks, underwear, hats, scarfs and slippers are things you cannot go wrong with. Bonus points for ties that play “Jingle Bells”.

Five ways to help your mammy this Christmas

BY MICHELLE TOWNSEND

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elp out with the household chores. An obvious tip, but important nonetheless. Mams are particularly fussy when it comes to chores around Christmas time, especially if you’re expecting visitors or hosting dinner. Although she’ll insist upon cleaning the house until it’s sparkling, unloading the dishwasher or ironing a pile of laundry without being asked will put a smile on her face.

Be helpful when it comes to shopping It must be stressful for your mother to ask someone what they’d like for Christmas, and they reply “I don’t know”. Letting her know what you would actually like as a present, and helping her decide what to buy for other family members reduces time spent frantically searching in a crowded shopping centre, which nobody wants to do at this time of the year.

Help with the “boring” stuff Once December hits, everyone is

Arts Lifestyle

The perfect countdown

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keen to help put up the tree and decorate the house, making other tasks seem less appealing. By helping out with the gift wrapping, or stamping card envelopes, you’re reducing your mam’s workload immensely. It makes for a nice bonding experience too - the more family members involved, the better.

Do the small errands Even if it’s something as simple as going to the shop for mince pies or to the post office to send out cards, your mam will appreciate it as she’d probably forgotten about it trying to get everything else done.

Make her a cup of tea As stereo typically Irish as it sounds, the one way to really help your mam out, particularly in the stressful days leading up to Christmas, is by handing her a comforting cup of tea. Make her as many as you feel necessary to make sure she stays calm for the holidays.

BY AINE CONATY

e all know those movies that idealise New Year’s Eve with the fancy parties filled with hundreds of people and that tense build-up to that passionate romantic kiss at the stroke of midnight. This in reality never really happens (unless you’re Gabrielle Montez.) Here is a go to guide to get the best out of this New Year’s Eve and hopefully, that midnight kiss.

Family and friends are key, having a small get together with people that you actually like is so much better than going somewhere where you only know a small number of people. A small intimate group with possibly, someone you’ve been eyeing up.

Drink, but not too much (well not before midnight). We all know or have been that person who has a bit too much before the clock strikes. It’s best if you pace yourself so you can remember your night.

Dress to impress, If you’re a girl you know the fun of dressing up and looking nice for New Year’s. But guys can also dress to

impress on the night. Like every granny will have said at some stage, “Dress in case you meet your future husband” (or wife).

So now it’s the few minutes before the clock strikes twelve and you have yet to find your special someone. No one has caught your eye and you’ve lost hope for a happy New Years kiss. Then your friend comes out of nowhere and drags you into a huge group of your friends or family. You all hug and peck each other on the cheeks. You realise it’s better to have a group of people there to start of the new year then just one single person. Start off the New Year with good people and good vibes.

Surviving the utimate alcohol endeavour ‘12 pubs’

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t is that time of year again; the senseless population of Ireland go out in force to complete the ultimate and most festive pub-crawl, 12 pubs. Rules are simple, one pint per pub for 12 pubs and if you finish it you receive legendary status among all your peers, the sense

BY DARRAGH CULHANE of achievement is unrivalled.

But every year so many try and fail but don’t worry, here are the top tips you need to make it to the holy ground of pub number 12.

Eat: Like any night out which involves drinking you need to fill your

stomach with starchy goodness to soak up the alcohol. But 12 pubs isn’t like any night out, eat more than you can possibly handle, get a subway into you, and then a snack box from the nearby chipper as well as a packet of crisps.

Take it slow: This is a marathon, not a sprint and like a marathon you must resist the urge to start fast. Drink that first pint slower than you want to, you will thank yourself later.

Be first into every pub:

Typically you have 30 minutes per pub, if you are with a big group and are waiting in line for 10 minutes to be served that only gives you 20 minutes to finish your drink.

Be smart, be the first one in so you do not have to knock your drink back.

Believe in yourself: Those who say they can and those who say they cannot are both usually right, you can do it, the finish line is in sight.

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Arts Lifestyle

Watch your wheels this Winter

Party, Plan & Prepare this Christmas

BY EMER HANDLY

BY BRONWYN O NEILL

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riving in the winter comes with even more responsibility than driving any other time of year. As the country falls into its annual freeze, we’re back to throwing water over our windscreens and waiting for the heat to start working.

If you drive to college every morning, you’ll need to set your alarm just a bit earlier. This allows you time to properly defrost your car. Make sure that there is no ice on any of your windows or mirrors before you take off. Yes,

it’s a long, slow process but there are enough hazards for drivers to worry about in icy weather.

Usually main roads will be gritted the night before but if you are unsure if you’re driving on ice or not there are a few things to look out for. If you can no longer hear the noise from driving on a wet road you could be on ice. If the steering becomes lighter you are driving on slippery road conditions. To avoid skidding, avoid harsh acceleration and braking or abrupt downward gear changes.

Rather than braking, you can change down gears to slow your car down. However, be aware that when changing gears, the car may speed up and the tyres may not have enough grip to do that.

In the worst case scenario if you do skid, do not brake. Ease off the brake or the accelerator. By using the clutch this stops the tyres from engine braking instead they can be used for steering. Make sure you don’t over correct a skid, keep the front wheels pointing where you want to go.

Staying healthy over the Holidays

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eeping up with a diet or sticking to a routine seems like hell during the holiday season, but it’s not impossible. Here are a few tips to stay healthy (or try to be healthier) during the holidays. All you need is 30 minutes of exercise every day to keep on track. Don’t mistake being “busy” for being “active”, and find a half an hour in between plans to do any kind of exercise, be it a jog or a quick visit to the gym for a class.

Never attend a party

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BY ELAYNA KELLER hungry. Eat a healthy snack before attending any festivities. Only eat the party food once you’re hungry again. ...And pick your poison beforehand. Plan what you’re going to drink, stick to it and drink water in between.

Go for a 30 minute walk after dinner, rather than having a nap or watching the TV. You’ll feel a lot less sluggish and more awake afterwards.

Remember it’s the holidays, and to not deprive yourself. In fact, if you’re

feeling tempted, you should have a small treat every day (for example, a chocolate from the advent calendar) and adjust your workout routine respectively.

And most importantly, never feel guilty. This is the holiday season. Have dessert, let yourself eat a hearty Christmas dinner, and don’t let being healthy ruin your holidays. If you’re not happy with what you’re eating this holiday season, then is it really the holiday season?

Be kind to yourselves, and happy holidays.

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he end of semester one is here and students cannot wait to put away the books and relax.

Spending time with family and friends is what Christmas holidays are about. The excitement of no college takes over and everyone starts planning nights out and fun things to do. However, students tend to forget that although there is no college, there is still college work. Let’s face it, we all tell ourselves that we will keep up the work during the break. But the reality is: one minute you’re drunk watching the fireworks on New Year’s Eve and the next you realise you have a week until your exams and you’ve done nothing. Don’t worry, here are some tips to help you stay motivated.

Make a list of the work you need to do over the break. Now. What assignments do you have? What modules have January exams? What do you need to study for them? Having the work set out clearly in your head will make it much easier for you.

Don’t bring home a mountain of books.

This will just scare you into avoiding study.

Only bring home what you are going to use. Download ebooks and check your local library. It will save you the hassle and the library fees.

Make a study/assignment plan.

Set out in detail everything you are going to do. There are websites that help you create your own study plan for free. You don’t have to stick to it religiously, but it will help you to stay motivated and focused.

Clean your room.

You’re inevitably going to have a floordrobe after deciding what outfit to wear on NYE, but try to keep it clean, or at least less messy. I know, I sound like your mother. But having a tidy and organised room will do wonders for your motivation.

Tidy room tidy mind.

Give yourself free time too.

The whole break doesn’t have to be work work work. Make time for doing other things. Nights out, nights in, plans and ‘me time’ will give you the ability to stay motivated. It’s all about balance.