Volume 6, Issue 5

Lion

EDITORIALLY INDEPENDENT. EST. 2010 Volume 6 Issue 3rd March 2016

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2016 Election Special

Meet the Candidates p.3

Union President and VPA Candidates Announced

The four Presidential and VPA candidates tell us some thing in this election special. We asked them a few questions to prompt what their bios, have a glimpse inside to see how they replied.

Yeezy, please.

vs.

p. 7

The Life of Pablo gets a review in this issue of the Lion as our Music Correspondent considers Kanye West in all his almighty glory.

Discover London p. 8

Discover London continues with a collection of fabulous restaurants worth checking out. Everything from the rudest retaurant in London to the best pizza this side of the Channel, straight from Naples.

The Shower Continues p. 9

Barcol’s three part poem A Drop in the Shower concludes in this issue of The Lion.

THE CANDIDATES

RON Megan Skingsley Editor-In-Chief

Welcome to the start of the 2016 Heythrop Students Union Elections.

At a time when the student population within college is dwindling, a surprising number of candidates are running for the paid positions. This year we have two Presidential candidates running alongside RON (ReOpen Nominations). Dan Tobin =, who ran last year for the Vice President role is running again after running the Donkey Club society for the year. His opponent is Henry EdwardsXU, who is the head of the successful Pokemon society. This role remains the same as it has been for the past

academic year. It will continue to be a part-time role which the student is expected to do whilst continuing with their studies.

Next up is the newly made role of Vice President Academic, which is a merger of the Vice President role and the Academic Affairs Officer role.

For this role we also have two candidates running alongside RON. Stefan Barrett the current Vice President is looking to secure his role for another year and has been instrumental in changing the role to include academics. He is running against Mawia Ahmed, who believes his work as a programme rep makes him suited to the new academic side of the Vice President role. This new role will

bring challenges with so be sure to quiz the candidates at Hustings to find out what they believe the role entails and how they feel they can do the job well.

This year’s elections will be run differently in that the President and Vice President Academic roles will be held first in this election. After the results have been announced there will be one day in which any of the unsuccessful candidates will be able to run in the election which will be for the general union roles. This shift in format comes to try to increase the number of students on the union for the next academic year. The general union officer roles will all be held in their own election which will take

place towards the end of this year.

As ever RON will be running as a candidate for every role. RON is a viable option and you should consider voting for RON if you are not happy with the performance of the candidates.

For more information of RON please see page 2.

The Lion will continue to report on the election as it takes place. if you have questions for the candidates then Hustings will be taking place in the Common Room on Monday 7th at 7pm.

continue reading for more information on RON: p. 2

Editor-In-Chief Katherine Johnson katherine.johnson@heythropcollege.ac.uk

Managing Editor Katie Milne katie.milne@heythropcollege.ac.uk

News Editor Jenny Moran jenny.moran@heythropcollege.ac.uk

Web Editor Terrence SIbley terrence.sibley@heythropcollege.ac.uk

Editors-at-Large Ben Mercer Catherine Squibb Oscar Yuill thelion@heythrop.ac.uk

AM IAL TE

Megan Skingsley megan.skingsley@yahoo.com

EDITOR

2 Editor-in-Chief

R.O.N - A VIABLE OPTION Jenny Moran News Editor

RON, Re Open Nominations, is a voting option for every single position within the elections. If you are not happy with a candidate for any reason; if you do not think they could do the job to the highest standard or you think they are making empty promises DO NOT VOTE FOR THEM. VOTE RON. If RON wins any position then that position will have another election.

This means new nominations will be accepted and the election process will be repeated for that role.

Basically, RON is the ‘None of the Above’ option for voting, and is not an option that should be dismissed.

RON is a viable option. Do not vote for a candidate just because they are the only candidate running for

that role; you do not have to accept a substandard candidate because you feel like there is no other option…

There is. RON! For example, having a terrible President would genuinely effect the last year at Heythrop, so why should you settle? Re Opening Nominations would be better than a candidate who isn’t going to do anything, doesn’t represent what you want or at the end of the day is highly likely to do a horrendous job.

Just because RON isn’t at hustings doesn’t mean it isn’t a real option.

Last year, RON won against the Academic Affairs Officer candidate, and therefore a second election was held, ending with the election of our current Academic Affairs Officer who was clearly the right man for the job! RON doesn’t necessarily mean you will end up with no

WANT TO WRITE FOR THE LION? SEND YOUR ARTICLES TO: megan.skingsley@yahoo.com

one for the role, it could mean the best candidate will step forward.

If nothing else, think of it like this: RON will not bombard you with facebook requests to like a RON4HSU facebook page that you really really don’t want to like because you really don’t want them to get elected but feel you should like anyway. RON will not make you read 2 sides of A4 with tiny writing which you are not interested in and is full of absolute drivel. RON will not promise you the same old boring policies that are promised every single year and are not fulfilled. RON is pragmatic.

RON will keep all of their promises without fail. RON will not, and cannot, let you down in any way.

RON cannot do a bad job… And if all this sounds better than the candidates we have, then VOTE RON.

THURSDAY 3RD MARCH | THE LION

This nominations for just the President of the Union are in, and hold your breath we have not one but two candidates running! Alongside the ever consist RON of course. We asked the candidates four questions to answer in their 300 words.

- What are your feelings on Roehampton?

MEET THE CANDIDATES HENRY EDWARDS-XU

PRESIDENT DAN TOBIN

RON

The next President of the Heythrop Student’s Union will have to be able to convey the student voice, which has been done to a great extent this year by our current President. I want to be the President of the HSU because I understand how important this area will be to the quality of our student experience. In this last year the accurate communication of student view is vital, as it will ensure that the students aren’t left out of the decision-making progress. This will be vital in terms of the prospect of a Roehampton partnership, a plan which I feel has great potential in terms of securing Heythrop’s future. I feel that I understand the nature of these incredibly significant issues, and I have the plans to implement the solutions.

I want to hold regular feedback sessions, allowing you to air any concerns or questions you feel the HSU must answer. This will facilitate the Student-Union relationship, allowing for fairer, more accurate representation of your views meaning that your concerns can be raised in the proper forums. I want to ensure that our student experience is not diminished as Heythrop undergoes these structural changes. So, I want to focus on your opinions on what kinds of events you would like to see from the Union. Be it cultural, musical, theatrical – I want to know We have the chance to be part of something unique – the conclusion of a four-hundred-year history, culminating in what I believe will be an exceptional year. It’s time not to become disillusioned or distant from Heythrop, but to be more involved than ever, securing Heythrop’s place in history and celebrating everything that it has given us. With my plans for next year, together, we can make Heythrop’s final year it’s best yet. Oh, and blue!

I have no comment on Roehampton; as an experienced candidate, having ran at every single election since I can remember, I know when to comment and when to not.. most of the time being not, particularly without my lawyer present.

- What do you think the best attribute of this year’s President has been?

- What’s your favourite colour?

Check here what the candidate’s had to say about the future of the college, the current union and of course what their favourite colour is.

The college has done well to get into talks with Roehampton. Certainly, a partnership with them is likely an improvement over St Marys’, for both theology and philosophy.

It’s fairly close to home for me as well, which is convenient for me should I want to continue my studies. How excited we should be about it depends on, of course, what form exactly this partnership will take. I believe we should be hearing more about it after elections, so it’s certainly made March an interesting time for Heythrop.

Handling issues quickly and efficiently. With only a year left for undergraduates here in Kensington, it’s imperative to use the remaining time we have left to its utmost fullest. Now more than ever, there’s little time for error and second chances, and many of the key decisions and directives are going to have to come relatively early on in the year for them to have a significant impact.

Oliver’s incredibly quick-witted and clearly very bright. He has an answer to every problem, both in words and in deed. It lets him come out relatively intact out of every social interaction, which has no doubt been a boon for him in and out of meetings with whoever. But I like to think that’s also because Oliver just tells it how it is; he’s neither excessively optimistic nor pessimistic when he isn’t kidding around.

I’d have to go with blue. I tried to wear a bit more red as a sort of pseudo-New Year’s resolution but I think it only really works as a sort of accent colour, rather than the main body. Don’t ask me what exact shade, because I love them all. Big shout out to Cosmic Latte, though.

Colour Psychology 101

We consulted with what we call an ‘expert’ in diving the meaning behind favourite colours. Maybe this will have some sway on your vote, maybe not. At the end of the day, it’s all about voting for the best candidate. If you don’t think any of them are up to scratch - VOTE RON to reopen nominations.

- What do you think the most important aspect of the role is?

These questions were a guide for their 300 words so we are really sorry if they haven’t actually answered the questions that you desired. But remember you have the chance on Monday the 7th to quiz them for as long as you wish at Hustings. The lion will report on the election coverage so do check in and keep up to date with all that is happening.

3

The most important aspect of the role is defending democratic rights, which is exactly what I do. I never break my promises and I never act against the majority.. two things which cant really be 100% promised by the other candidates really can they.

Ahhhh Oliver... No one can fault those thighs in lyrica just-aboutthere shorts, I cant imagine anything more important in a President.

Henry

Dan

Come on, guys. Enough with the blue. We get it, you support the union...

RON (Presdient)

Anything but blue, apparently controversial in this presidential running. Solid answer though, nice not to have ‘union blue’.

Mawia

My favourite colour... anything but blue.

[I also don’t need 300 words to answer these, I just get straight ot the point].

Blue - Our expert says ‘Union Blue? Try again’. Although he does seem to know colours so kuedos.

Stefan

A solid green for a change.

Nice. The Lion likes green.

However, our experts wonder if that might create some tension because, you know, that’s our colour and the Union’s colour is blue and that seems an awful lot like opposite sides.....

N/A. He did send us one but it was outside of the 300 words limit for answering our questions. I can tell you that it rhymed with ‘grue’ and was presented in a thoroughly charming way. Alas, we cannot say much more.

RON (VPA)

Ginger! I mean um orange of course. What a lovely, refreshing colour. And burgundy. Very in keeping with famous Ron’s as well. Very well done with this answer.

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THURSDAY 3RD MARCH | THE LION

UNION CANDIDATES: CONTINUED

This nominations for just the President of the Union have been announced and we have two candidates and RON running. We took the time to ask the candidates some questions (listed below) as a guide Their answers may not reflect these questions as they are only a guide. The Lion will continue to report on the election as it unfolds.

We asked the candidates four questions to answer in their 300 words.

- What are your feelings on Roehampton?

MAWIA AHMED

VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC STEFAN BARRATT

RON

- What do you think the most important aspect of the role is?

- What do you think the best attribute of this year’s President has been?

- What’s your favourite colour?

Read what they have to say about the new role and of course the question on everyone’s lips: what’s your favourite colour? Don’t forget to check our Colour Psychology 101 to check what the colour really says about the candidate.

I think it’s his charismatic method of leadership, he comes across as someone very approachable. The union has on occasions come under the spotlight and can have their hands full, nevertheless Stefan has been consistently kind in both his time and effort. In personally engaging with students in a friendly and careful way, whatever the setting.

This has been particularly helpful in giving students with questions a sense of clarity and empathy.

Given the reduced size of the union I feel I have a realistic idea of the amount of effort and organisation that will be required for it function strongly. Although the role is part time, this doesn’t suggest that I want nor even expect to be the VPA for just the specified 1.25 days a week. I also want to make sure that the union has officers that are well trained and care about the important former roles. I’ve also expressed in my manifesto the importance to which student welfare and equality are to me, two areas of particular recent concern given the restructuring of the union.

I have some concrete ideas as to how I can improve the democratic nature of the Union, and how to dispel student’s worries over the future of the College. Just a few examples involve re-establishing the use of referendums, expanding how the union communicates with students on political matters, and working with governors to break down the barriers between them and students. I’ve gained valuable experience in academic representation, in being the programme representative for BA PPE and as a member of the library committee.

As one of the few programme reps in the second year community, I feel I’m ideally placed to effectively lead UG/PG SSLC meetings. And putting myself out there for anyone who is experiencing academic difficulties.

Green.

It is in my opinion that the dedicated and lovely team on the Union this year has provided a wonderful response to the pressure of maintaining a good student experience in these complicated times. I believe my contribution to the Union so far this year has been positive (call me biased, but I do think it is true) and has helped in different ways, mainly with a great willingness and ability to be versatile and to do what was required in order to keep the Union at its highest possible level of functionality. Moreover, I believe my contribution in all meetings has helped in making sure the students’ perspective and inclinations is heard and is highly considered in major decision-making processes.

Now, let’s look upon the future and what the changes in the Union’s structure entail. The new role of VPA has been the result of a lengthy conversation to challenge possible issues in terms of student representation next year. With the risk of not filling either the Vice President role or the Academic Affairs role -both of which are key in representationthe Union decided to ‘merge’ the two roles, which share some overlap, and create the new post of VPA. This would also allow for whoever will hold this position (hopefully me #voteforme #shamelessselfpromotion) to be even more in the know of everything that involves students.

This year I have obviously focused on academic issues but boosting this aspect can only heighten the next Vice President’s (#voteforme) holistic view and general understanding of what is going on. This would suit me well, as I’ve already shown adaptability and drive in representation and in dealing with taking on whatever tasks are needed to be done. I would love to use these for further good use for the students.

[Blue.]

I would like to be able to say poetry was this year’s VP’s best attribute, however, I hate poetry... but I shall leave it up to you to formulate your own opinion of As an incredible multitasker, I would be the only candidate able to deal with extra pressures. I am running for every position, as I always have done, and am the only person capable of fulfilling all of them. TRY ME.

I already won Academic Affairs Officer last year, and as the only reliable and foolproof candidate, I’m pretty sure I could ace VP responsibilities too.

My favourite colour? Ginger, maybe burgundy... I’m not predicable like some people.

VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON! VOTE RON!

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THURSDAY 3RD MARCH | THE LION

COMMENT? King of the World Gets His Oscar

A Less In-Depth Take on the Academy Awards Controversy and More Just Telling You What Happened Katt Johnson Editor-in-Chief

It happened. It finally happened.

After a 23 year wait since his first Academy Award nomination in 1993 for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Leo’s finally gone and snagged himself an Oscar!

Well, more like earned one fair and square. The award for Best Actor comes after his performance as Hugh Glass, an American frontiersman surviving a frozen wilderness, in Alejandro Inarritu’s The Revenant. DiCaprio’s character, Hugh Glass, must overcome the bitter environment of the Northern Plains as he and his party of trappers are attacked by Native Americans.

He suffers through the now-infamous bear attack to face weather on the cool side of nippy and serious heartbreak all whilst injured. If you’ve not seen the film, it’s tragic. And DiCaprio delivers on so many fronts, offering raw emotion and truly believable reactions. Even if the requisite weren’t to judge solely based on the on-screen performance, behind the scenes Leo was amazing. Have you ever tried to pretend you’re being mauled by a bear? I figure it’s not that easy and takes a lot of talent. Screaming and wrestling with nothing in front of you but a greenscreen, and ultimately creating one of the most immersive scenes in cinema today is only partly why he deserved the honour from the Academy. Needless to say, DiCaprio gave it his all; the vegetarian apparently ate bison livers on set, crawled inside a horse carcass for the sake of the scene, and in his previous film, Django Unchained used a real-life injury to further his performance. But it’s not just his ability to make you believe in grizzlies that don’t exist. Glass’ injuries leave little room for speaking – an overexertion he cannot afford. DiCaprio’s acting prowess comes out in the ability to evoke emotion without words. A supremely challenging role was put be-

fore him and he gave it his all.

We’ve already covered a list of films that should have won him and Academy Award outright in another issue. Other than including the point that someone should have given him one a long time ago just to stop people talking about how much he deserved it (even when, fairly, he probably didn’t - some of those times), I think I’ve captured that Academy Award-winner Leonardo DiCaprio was indeed deserving of his honour the other night. And he probably deserves something for being a decent human being, too. When the time came, the humanitarian took some words to thank all the right people, including his “brother”, as he heart-wrenching-ly called Revenant co-star, Tom Hardy, after effortlessly and humbly congratulating the other nominees on their talent, before including a moving plea for humanity to consider the planet before it’s too late. He called out ignorant leaders and “the politics of greed” which turn a blind eye to the indigenous people and underprivileged most affected by their polluting actions. This was righteously met with uproarious applause. “Climate change is real” he said to a room including Joe Biden, and a television audience of approximately 34.43 million. Biden himself stood before the cameras and standing-ovation, to speak about the White House’s initiative against sexual assault, asking those in the room to recite a pledge to actively prevent sexual assault.

In fact the entire event was a platform for messages to society.

Gaga continued the assault message - being introduced by Biden - and performed ‘Til it Happens to You’ surrounded by 50 survivors of on-campus assault. This being the nominated song overlooked for Bond’s ‘Writing’s on the Wall’. Perhaps, one of the most widely-felt travesties of the night. Host Chris Rock was

out from the start facing the #OscarsSoWhite criticism with a firm “You’re damn right Hollywood’s racist”. His line on the matter was fair, bringing to light (as if the debate on Hollywood’s racism hasn’t been spread over every headline and social media site since the all-white nominations were announced) that there’s a lack of opportunity for black actors, which, whilst it may not be “burning crosses” racist, is still racist. He was a good host for the 88th Awards, bringing some genuine humour into the room whilst highlighting the ongoing struggle that even some of the most wellknown actors of colour face when it comes to getting work.

Other highlights of the night include Ali G coming on stage – much to the Academy’s irk considering Sacha Baron Cohen was forbidden from doing anything ‘strange’ during his award presentation; Mad Max: Fury Road walking away with six of its ten nominations; and another massive cheer going up when Ennio Morricone won Best Original

Score for Hateful Eight after composing over 500 other cinematic scores in his 60-odd year career and, coincidentally, also five previous nominations without a win just like dear ol’ DiCaprio. Returning to our budding environmentalist who side-deals in acting, all this was eclipsed by the much-anticipated win. If award for Best Picture were a person, I’d feel sorry that it was all but totally ignored in the aftermath of Best Actor. Honestly, I can’t even remember who got it. To be fair I can’t remember most of the awards because I was indeed one of the mass who tuned in for the sole reason of cheering on Leo (or, sort of, not really being bothered much if he hadn’t won).

Like with any good essay on a subject I know little about, I conclude: it was a monumental occasion. Some parts were very much lacking – the entire middle-bit of the awards was kind of ‘meh’. But it was all forgotten with the penultimate award of the night. I didn’t even think I cared that much about DiCaprio but apparently I very much

do (at least, so says the dark circles around my eyes the next day from staying up until 6AM to get all the information live). As an end note, the publicity of the event should be acknowledged as having an impact on the world of the silver-screen. The Oscars have come a long way but they’ve still got miles to go. At least with DiCaprio’s award out of the way, we can focus on the prejudices that provoke reactions like #OscarsSoWhite in the first place and focus on creating better opportunities for people of colour in Hollywood. And events like these – especially one where 34 million people tuned in to find out if DiCaprio would finally get that Oscar – get people talking about all the right stuff. Look, it even made me write something for this paper and I haven’t done that in a long time even though I make the damn thing!

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THURSDAY 3RD MARCH| THE LION

CULTURE Jacob Tong Music Correspondent

Charli XCX has had incredible commercial success. She’s been on a track with Iggy Azalea, wrote ‘I Don’t Care, I Love It’, and had her own song be the feature track on one of the biggest movies of 2014. She may constantly be coming across as a pop princess and these accolades don’t make you think differently; yet somehow she’s got her own individual style and flair backing up her

Charli XCX-ellent

flipping-the-bird attitude. However you have to take her completely seriously; going to raves from a young age and following her passion until it took off and turned into a career.

She’s really made something of herself, especially as she started as a teenage talent and didn’t lose herself, standing by her guns and coming out the way she wanted to sound not just how the execs wanted it.

I saw her a few years ago at Leeds festival. This was just as ‘I Love it’

by Icona Pop was taking over the

Album: The Life of Pablo Jacob Tong Music Correspondent

Kanye West is not God, not the messiah nor a musician anymore. He transcends what it means be a musical artist, he’s a composer and curator of music in the modern age.

The Life of Pablo is his brain child, his name is on the tracks however it’s not by any means a solo piece of work. West has the ability to work with some of the best musicians in the world and take all of their most ingenious ideas, then engineer them all into his own masterpiece. He works with composers, DJs and rock stars; people that aren’t traditionally the kind of guys you get into a studio to work on a rap album. No one else can get all this talent into one album and still take complete credit.

Dr. Dre’s Soundtrack, Compton, featured some of the biggest talent in America, however it failed to gain the amount of traction that Life of Pablo has already gained. To take this album even more to the level of Kanye, he might not even release it, it will be streamed only available on Tidal. My hat goes off to the man trying to save his buddy’s company from becoming one of the biggest flops in Music business history, yet he probably never will have to release it. I don’t for a minute buy that he’s millions in debt, unless Kimmy

K is truly the prophetic realisation of Golddigga.

At first glimpse this album seems patchy and different. This is 2016 Kanye, drastically different from 2013 Yeezus and even more of a paradigm shift from 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Every album is different, yet still distinctly of the same vibe; you can tell it’s a Kanye track not only by the production but by its formulation. All of this album is Kanye, and there is only one track completely credited to the man himself. You need to listen to it, I Love Kanye, it’s quintessentially the most Kanye track ever! The whole album is weird, disjointed and won’t do much for bringing in new or younger fans. (Like he gives a shit, that’s his older catalogues job) But after a few years of Watch The Throne and then some G.O.O.D. music releases this album is one of the reasons why this man deserves the hype. He produces the music that gets masses talking, no one knows what it means but its provocative so it gets the people going. The line about him having sex with Taylor Swift was one of the biggest things to come from the album before people even heard the single.

It’ll be worth giving the album a go all the way through, it’s something to be listened to not necessarily understood. Every song is a different part of what Kanye is: self-indulgent,

world and no one knew who Charli XCX was. In truth I went to go and see her because I thought she was a male DJ. She came out in high platform shoes and brought the most intense amount of energy I’ve ever seen a solo performer give at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. I left quite quickly as I was too drunk for her show, however she’s always been a musician that I’ve followed and now it’s getting interesting.

Fastforward a couple of years from a spritely young singer and we end

up with Charlotte Aitchison releasing an EP with SOPHIE, ‘Vroom Vroom’. Now SOPHIE may be a new name to you, but there’s not much to know at the moment; a close affiliate of the PC Music label, yet in his own league completely. Now PC Music is some next level music hype (venture into at your own peril); it’s inventive, unique and sometimes grating yet an interesting spin on modern electronic music.

‘Vroom Vroom’ even features one of the top artists from PC, Hannah

Diamond, and is worth checking out.

This is a good collaboration for both artists here. SOPHIE will gain more attention and bring people into that world of DJing and producing, while at the same time showing that Charli is more than just the pop princess that it would be unwise to judge on face value. Definitely check out the lead single ‘Vroom Vroom’ and then try out the rest of the tracks.

Out on Apple Music now.

rude but at the same time incredibly talent with heartfelt messages of true pain and sorrow. If you can look past the first part of that last sentence then you get to appreciate one of the most complex musicians of the modern age and if you can’t then he’s some jackass that you’ll keep on seeing all over the news. And when you voice that opinion on how “He’s an ass-clown”, you’re just reinforcing this public opinion that he wants.

You’re disassociating him from the mainstream of music, you’re making him the enigma. Allowing him to bathe in that status and allowing him to carry on producing fantastic albums like this, Thanks haters.

It will be at the top end of most album of the year lists come winter time, even though we may not ever get to see the commercial success of the album. If you don’t like Kanye then you’ll have to wait a while for another chance to see something new because right now it’s all about Pablo, and then he’ll probably move on to another area of music for a little while. So enjoy this Kanye mania while it lasts because we might not see for a few years. Remember one important thing though, this album isn’t for the fans or the record label, this album is for Kanye.

4/5 Stars

HAD ENOUGH OF ALL THIS OSCAR TALK? IGNORING THE FACT THEY’RE NOT ON AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR, YOU SHOULD WRITE FOR US INSTEAD!

Shaheen Karolia

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THURSDAY 3RD MARCH | THE LION

DISCOVER LONDON Catherine Squibb Editor-at-Large

Wong Kei

The Restaurant Round-up 2016

Wright Brothers Stoney St., SE1 9AD

Oysters and port… what more could you want! The wright brothers seafood restaurants have become famous for their fabulous, simple - yet, elegant - food and great atmosphere. High tables and a long oyster bar make for relaxed and fun dinning. With the specials menu changing on a daily basis due to what fish they get in, you can always be guaranteed tasty and fresh food. Is you are ever by Borough Market or Spitalfields pop in!

Wardour St., W1D 6PY This restaurant is a personal favourite of mine. Due to the horrendous attitude of the staff, Wong Kei’s has developed the reputation of being the rudest restaurant in London.

Yet people still come back. They no longer shout ‘Go upstairs!’ or ‘What you want!’ at the top of their lungs the moment you walk on the door – which is nice of them – but they still have ‘fuck-off’ written right across their faces. The food is good, cheap, and you can have a moan to the people next to you about how awful they are, so may as well go.

Cha Cha Moon

Ganton St., W1F 9BN Everyone loves Chinese food, and by now I am sure you can tell I do. Cha Cha moon is a fantastic noodle bar on Ganton Street just off Oxford circus. With there being a huge amount of restaurants in the Soho area, this one must be good with its crowds of people eating there everyday. Alen Yau originally set it up but since he has passed it on it has still kept producing accessible foods for regions across china. From crispy duck salads to yellow lamb curry you can get some mouth-watering food here. So if you are ever window-shopping at Liberty’s, pop around the corner and try out this superb Chinese where you won’t be disappointed.

Extraordinary

Hill & Szrok

Franco Manca

The Hill & Szrok used to be butchers by day and a no-booking supper club by night. Though due to the high demands and long queue for a seat they have opened a pub with a dining room, beer and pictures of meat on the walls. They have always been known for butchering the meat themselves and cooking it to perfection. This semi-smart, cosy hive of activity is a perfect evening out for a group of people who ‘love’ meat and want a great atmosphere too. The only downside I could find was the noise. Their new pub in Old Street has no separation between the pub and the restaurant and I could hardly hear myself think. But other than that, if you like meat, go.

Do you want proper pizza? Franco Manca is a sourdough pizza restaurant, which serves literally the best pizza in the city. The owner Giuseppe Mascoli grew up near Naples and has brought sourdough pizza, which he claims to be more tha 500 years old, to London. Cooked in a wood burning brick oven made in Naples by a specialist artisan which reaches temperatures of up to 500°c. Not only is it delicious but also researchers have discovered that due to its slow-fermenting process it is safe for people with celiac disease to eat. Head down to one of their 19 restaurants across London for a taste of some fabulous pizzas.

Broadway Market, E8 4QJ

Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LD

Muriel’s Kitchen

Old Compton St., W1D 4TT Muriel’s Kitchen has three restaurants in London – South Kensington, Leicester Square and Soho – all with the same beautiful British locallysourced ingredients. The restaurants have these rural, countryside interiors with herb gardens, flowers everywhere, neutral colour schemes and hanging arbor seats. Yet the funny thing is every waiter who has served me in there has been Italian.

Not only is it beautiful, the food is to die for! Whether you want blueberry pancakes for breakfast with a drizzle of maple syrup, or a smoky fish pie for dinner they do everything you could want. The menu changes monthly so you can try something new each time whilst also getting some great Instagram-ready photos.

Garry Knight

9

THURSDAY 3RD MARCH| THE LION

CREATIVE COMMONS A Drop in The Shower: part 3 the water changed the river on her head, earlier held together with a charm of blossoms of a bridal bouquet, sweetener of the air she walked on, her hairs now like a waterfall raining on the one body

they clashedand they married, meant for each other’s molecules, they held each other’s spirits, caressing the liquid cheeks that love had created

And as they approached the final minutes of riveting desire they promised forever love beyond life and its friends, so kissed for the last time and smiled a smile of thousands

And the drop knew then as it forever would known what a glimmering smile of love can give to the streaming scene of this sensational experience of life

they never split apart, as they fell into the drain again, yet merrily, as if that hell was now a romantic honeymoon of meditation, a touch that could always reach in when it wish’d

hastily, almost abruptly, yet sweetly as motherly care, the pipes led them to a sprinkler from which they flew away into the air of lover’s cherish, vapours of stupefying feel

It fell in love with love, like a virtuous cycle, a sun of fire flies moving like thunderous giants grabbing every particle of soul and carrying it to higher grounds

the journey was now quicker, as they travelled in the drains, running to the end like fireworks ready to explode, and their anticipation only grew when they laid in the tanks again

And from this treasured ether, like a shooting paradise, they danced together their closing eyelids and fell to the warm welcome ground where they would rest

And in all this single moment it gathered the elegance of life as a whole, a portrait of many paintings singing at the top of their lungs all that they stood for

the present would go so fast though they lived it thoroughly, enjoying the moments like a kid’s playground yet eager to live the future they knew would be even better

The soil absorbed them in an instant, like skin absorbs a lover’s touch and the drops were, as far as those bodies could define them, no more

Thus its crystalline being pured further and wiser, like a transparent wine getting drunk off emotion, and it carried, like a gene, the image of the meaning of life

And it was always stronger, the feeling of turmoiling joy, somehow, an atomic bomb that could save the world always growing yet always the powerfullest

yet, happy, they gave their life to this world and were rewarded with a blissful wreath, as loving as their hearts, for a beautiful tulip was born from the nutrients gifted to that earth

Slowly it slithered down towards the drain again, yet it did not fight the fall, but simply admired as long as possible the passion’s heavens, as it set to drift off to its sight’s sleep

This love was unique ,it was life shouting in triumph. self-achieving jubilation, the star the sun looks up to with gasping jaw mumbling of God’s existence

Yet the moments lasted forever, gravity pushed it slowly, and bonded it with another drop that was quickly pacing after it, carelessly happy and fruitfully blessed with the luck of existence

And in the tanks this love laid holding each other’s bodies and falling asleep to each other’s whispers, as the nights fell like blankets on their curled essence, a caress of lips closing their eyes

Barcol

10

THURSDAY 3RD MARCH | THE LION

HOROSCOPES Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Mar 21 - Apr 19

Apr 20 - May 20

May 21 - Jun 20

Jun 21- Jul 22

With the mutable squares between The Moon and Neptune today, the plane of the horizon is telling you that it’s about time to get a new pair of shoes. Perhaps this will bring about disruption in your workplace as the Sagittarius Moon wanes.

You’ve overindulged lately and are feeling the effects, Mars occupying the tenth house is no doubt to blame. It’s upset about NASA’s activity and wants to upset us in the only way it knows how... in the meantime try not to take your bad mood out on others and watchout for Jupiter, that sneaky gas giant.

Honesty is the best policy, particularly with Mecurcy watching you from the first house, consider getting a restraining order before it passes to the plane of the horizon.

Neptune is decendant today, which makes you more aware that you’re holding your jaw up and your mouth shut. You are also now entering manual blinking mode.

It’s one of those days.

Leo

Jul 23 - Aug 22 Look out for Taurus, don’t be surprised if they show up today, moochers the lot of them. Just tell them that Uranus is decendant so you’ve got to go.

Sagittarius

Mar 21 - Apr 19 The moon is on your side today, maybe you’ll get a promotion. I know the moon holds a lot of sway with your boss.

Virgo

Aug 23 - Sep 22 Watch out, I spilled coffee all over my star charts. I’ll have to make it up as I go. Never mind.

Capricorn

Mar 21 - Apr 19 This is unlike you, but as the celestial sphere rotates you very much feel appreciation for all the effort that it takes to write this astrology stuff.

Libra

Sep 23 - Oct 22 As Venus comes round about to block Mars, Mercury moves up creating an offside trap, The Sun blows the whistle and Venus is given a free kick, you realise that today is a good day to start your spring cleaning. This gives you a chance to mull over some recent events and come to a fresh conclusion about someone.

Aquarius

Mar 21 - Apr 19 Don’t go out tonight, there’s a bad moon on the rise.

Scorpio

Oct 23 - Nov 21 Scorpios are prone to mouth-breathing, but Mars’ recent erratic activity indicates that you’re set for world domination, enjoy.

Pisces

Mar 21 - Apr 19 As this or that planet interacts with this or that house and plane in this or that way you realise that I am running out of material. How was I to know that there are so many zodiac signs? Nonetheless you’ll have a reasonably good day, you’ll get a little work done, stress out about a deadline and eventually abandon it to satisfy the desire to procrastinate into the early hours of the morning.