The Student Pocket Guide - Winter 2012 Edition

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Editor’s Letter As we wave goodbye to 2011 you can’t help but feel a hell of a lot has just happened! Regimes crumbled, political leaders deposed, phone-hacking scandals revealed, Hugh Grant’s middle name, ‘Mungo’, came out into the open and even Einstein’s theory on the speed of light has (allegedly) been proved wrong!

Overwhelmed by the year’s goings on we were sat here baffled, twiddling our thumbs thinking, ‘How on earth can we compete with this?’ I’ll tell you how. Like a battering ram in full swing The SPG has once again overcome the gargantuan challenge placed in front of it to bring to you lovely people a magazine fit for kings, (and queens of course). Securing interviews with the stars of yesteryear, the present and the future, we are proud to present exclusives with a crop of musical talent. Fresh from Girls Aloud and tipped for solo superstardom in 2012, Nicola Roberts pops in for a quick chat about life without the girls and her growing success. Bombay Bicycle Club also stopped by to let us know what they have been up to; whilst Jay Sean, the biggest selling UK artist in America since Elton John gave us his time during his brief return to the UK. Not bad!

Keeping things academically tuned we also managed to grab a few minutes with every student’s nightmare, Mr Gilbert, aka Greg Davies, who has given us signed copies of his new stand-up DVD for you to win! And the giving doesn’t stop there. We have an abundance of student discounts on offer, saving you money on clothing, computers, food, you name it!

So there you go. Feast your eyes on the content before you. And we will see you again very soon.

Nathan Wadlow Editor

GREG DAVIES

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB

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The Student Pocket Guide Ltd, 5 Chalk Hill House, 19 Rosary Road, Norwich, NR1 1SZ Tel: 01603 610281 Email: info@thestudentpocketguide.com Web: www.thestudentpocketguide.com All Rights Reserved Š The Student Pocket Guide Ltd 2012. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any of the views or opinions expressed in this guide, errors or omissions which may have occurred, or accept liability for any services or facilities featured. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct, changes may and can occur. The Student Pocket Guide is a trading name of The Student Pocket Guide Ltd.

2012 Predictions for

London Olympics – In the latter stages of July the Olympic Games get underway in London, injecting zest and zeal back into the country after a few years of economic doom and gloom. World records are broken, Paula Radcliffe manages to complete a race without urinating, and the British national anthem is played more times than ever due to a record haul of gold medals.

Mayan Calendar, ‘The End of the World’ – On the 12th December 2012 at 11:11am the world as we know it will end... or will it? Of course not! There will be huge celebrations as the clocks across the planet strike 11:12am (obviously not simultaneously) and a global party will ensue. 13th December 2012 will go down in history as the world’s biggest and worst hangover, EVER! The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – During the first week of June the country will erupt in patriotism, enthusiastically celebrating 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s glorious reign! Queeny addresses the nation from Buckingham Palace, but somewhat surprisingly decides to freestyle her speech to the rhythmic beatboxing of Prince Charles.

Euro 2012 – England will defy all the critics and finally deliver in a major tournament. They storm the group stages, beating France, Sweden and Ukraine by more than 3 goals each. They breeze past Italy in the quarters, thrash Germany in the semis and then romp to victory in the final, beating Spain 4-1, well and truly making up for their shameful World Cup display two years earlier! Capello is knighted.

Scary Movie 5 – After a six year absence the spoof comedy series returns in late April and wildly surpasses all expectation! Celebrated as the greatest movie since the turn of the century, Scary Movie 5 boasts such acting dexterity and writing capacity that it’s nominated for seven Oscars, winning four. The film scoops ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Original Score’, ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’, with Peter Jackson left reeling after seeing his eagerly anticipated ‘The Hobbit’, well and truly wiped.

Lady Gaga Jacks It In – Even with her notorious unpredictability, absolutely no-one saw this coming! After announcing to the world she wants to end her musical career on a high, Gaga switches her glamorous lifestyle and the obscure outfits for a more down-to-earth way of living. She finds a comfortable 9-5 office job, sports nothing but two-piece grey suits and settles down in the quiet suburbs of Huddersfield with her new family.

Rupert Murdoch Loses the Plot – The phone hacking scandal finally reaches a head; lawsuits are held, damages are paid and when all is seemingly put to bed Rupert Murdoch throws a major spanner in the works! It emerges that to his annoyance he actually hacked his own phone, deleting voicemails and various text messages from Rebekah Brooks. In the days that follow, he completely loses his marbles and attempts to sue himself on the grounds of raiding privacy. Having obviously lost his mind, the case is closed and his son James carefully removes him from the helm of News Corp.

Bankers - Zeros to Heroes – In a sudden change of heart, the bankers and other figures within the financial sector who plundered most of the developed world into disarray, decide to congregate and start up a ‘Pay Back the World’ piggy bank. Most comply and within the space of a few months over £10 trillion is raised. The money is injected back into the economies across the globe, resulting in quick and widespread recovery. Hurray!

FASHION FOCUS SCOTTS MENSWEAR THE BRAND AU T HOR I T Y Scotts menswear has supplied the great British gent for over 25 years with the finest brands and premium fashion lifestyle outfits. With an extensive range of Scotts exclusives and official stockists of quality menswear brands such as Adidas Originals, Lacoste, Fred Perry, Pretty Green, The Duffer of St George, Original Penguin, Denham, Emporio Armani EA7, Paul & Shark, Timberland and G-Star - comes an unrivalled authority on brands.

Scotts have teamed up with professional boxer Kell Brook as the face of the brand. Kell recently extended his emphatic unbeaten professional record to 25 fights, 16 by KO, with his first fight in the USA. Recent victories have seen ‘Special K’ pick up the vacant WBA Inter Continental title and there is a lot more to come from the 25 year old Sheffield born fighter in 2012. www.scottsmenswear.com

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STUDENT TIMES From Tyneside to Seaside

Medical Student Salema Radford Finds Herself Shipwrecked On National Television.

It’s not every day that a medical student who is three years down the line suddenly ends up on a remote island on national television. However this is exactly what Newcastle University student Salema Radford has just found herself doing. Trading the grey skies of Tyneside for the clear blue seas of the Cook Islands, Salema has proved that being a student doesn’t always mean you are just restricted to your studies.

Modelling her way to the Shipwrecked beach, Salema impressed in the auditions for the popular show on Channel 4’s younger brother T4. Now into its eighth series, producers clearly saw something different in Salema and were quick to state their approval. “They really liked the fact I was a student of medicine and a beauty queen”, Salema explains. “If I didn’t have that interesting angle for the show then I don’t think I would have got onto Shipwrecked.”

Now on our screens throughout January, it is opportunities like this that have led to Salema taking a bold move regarding her studies. “I’m currently having a year out of medicine, with the full intention of going back next year. I want to do all the modelling I can and then at least I’ve got it out of my system and had the experience.”

The current Miss Jamaica UK and former Miss Norwich has certainly taken advantage of her time out, competing in various pageants around the world, including the

recent ‘Miss Freedom of the World’ in Kosovo. Her talents have also been rewarded in other domains, recently featuring in an Alexandra Burke music video and featuring in online viral adverts for The Student Pocket Guide, which she enjoyed filming. “I didn’t know how funny it would be filming a viral advert, it was really good fun.”

Surprisingly, Salema only got involved in the modelling industry during her first year of university. “When I first started uni I went to a charity fashion show because I thought it would be a good way to meet new people. I ended up meeting some people there who had modelled and they recommended that I do it, so it went from there really.”

Freelancing whilst at home, in-between her academic terms, Salema managed to meet more and more people who were able to push her modelling career, one of those people being Kerri Parker, who runs a nationwide modelling agency. “I had heard of Kerri before as she is based in Norfolk, along with her academy”, Salema tells us. “I did a photo shoot on one of her tutorial days a couple of years ago and ended up alongside her judging Miss Norwich.”

Also being asked to appear at the Jamaican themed London ‘Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project’, Salema has proved that hard work and commitment can lead to great things, even if it is parallel to your studies. When speaking of her achievements she advises, “Don’t forget you’re at university for a reason, and obviously don’t let it get in the way of your studies, but it’s a good thing to do, especially if you want to have a career in the media. With modelling and TV work you can make good contacts, which is great when combined with your degree.”

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GREG DAVIES Now we all know him as the brilliant Mr Gilbert, everybody’s favourite TV teacher, but the man behind the madness is now taking to the limelight of his own accord. Having just finished his first solo stand-up tour alongside regular appearances on the box, Greg Davies has consolidated his place amongst the ranks of the UK’s comedic elite. We caught up with him to discuss his time as a real teacher, a horrific deleted scene from “The Inbetweeners Movie” and his time in Nepal, amongst other things.

We should start off by talking about your stand up tour, ‘Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog’. It sounds like a very dodgy metaphor for something but it is actually something you did. Yeah, it’s just literal; I did actually fire some cheeseballs at a dog!

How did that come about? I was on a mountain with Marek Larwood, my mate, who I used to be in a sketch group with and there was a dog that was blocking the path of our hire car. I had a big bag of cheeseballs and Marek had a catapult, so we just fired them in the dog’s face.

It’s probably one of the reasons that the story stuck in my head really because the dog just didn’t give a sh*t! It was a really strange reaction; there were cheeseballs bouncing off his head and he couldn’t have been less interested. Not a care in the world? No! It was almost as if it wasn’t happening; as if he was in denial.

So the tour is now on DVD, with a beautiful cover I must say! Well, do you know what? It’s just something for the girls! The primary objective of releasing a DVD is to be funny, it’s a comedy gig, but

you’ve got to look after the girls as well; you’ve got to give the girls something, so that’s just my little gift to them, that picture.

And the length of the tour Greg, it started off in 2010?! Yeah it’s ridiculous isn’t it? My management and I booked in 40 dates originally and that would have all been over some months ago, but people came to it which was a great surprise; so I ended up doing 120 or something ridiculous like that.

I’ve always felt with comedy that it’s quite open, you know, with personal stories and references to family and stuff like that. How do you feel talking about these things in such a context?

Well, I feel fine about it because my family have always made me laugh. So it seemed like an obvious starting point for my first full show, really, to talk about the fun we had together. I think a lot of people perhaps think I go too far and that I say dreadfully rude things about my parents but they’re in on it; they’re in on the joke so they are quite happy for me to say whatever. I’m really pleased to be talking

and find out Watch the interview Greg Davies DVD! how to win a signed

about them. You know I don’t wish to be cheesy but it’s quite nice, quite comforting talking about the people you care about the most, continually, every night!

Now, ‘The Inbetweeners Movie’, has been a massive success... Yes, really enormous, amazing really; I mean we all expected people to go and see it because the series was so popular but to be as big a box office success as it was is just incredible. Well done the writers; thoroughly deserved I think; they did a great job writing it.

Did you ever expect to appear in a film?

No I didn’t. I never expected to sit in a cinema and watch my stupid fat face, so it was a real novelty and really great. I will say there is a scene of mine in the film that got cut, that is in the extended version of the DVD which is so disgusting, sooo disgusting. If you think I look revolting on the DVD cover, you should see that extended version of the film and see the true horror of it. Can we get any more details? No I’ll leave it as a surprise for you, but don’t be eating when you watch it.

Mr Gilbert does not have a huge role in the movie, but I was thinking if there was to be, say, a ‘Mr Gilbert – The Movie’, and you were to direct it, how would it go? Erm... I don’t know! I’m really fond of Mr Gilbert but at the end of the day, he is a psychopath! He is a lunatic. And don’t get me wrong; when I was a real teacher I taught with people who were just as disturbing. The question is, with a character like that, he just comes in and acts like a psychopath every now and then; so if you extended it, where would you take him, you know?

You have said before that as a teacher you were nothing like Mr Gilbert? No, that’s one of the reasons why I play him the way I play him I think; apart from the obvious, the lines, you know. The reason I bring that hatred of children is because I was always envious of those teachers who walked into a room and the kids would go quiet. I was never one of those teachers; I used to have to come in and dance about and scream to get them to shut up!

Commanding respect? Yeah, more like begging for respect!

Can you remember the angriest you’ve ever been with a pupil? I can yeah.

I chased a pupil through the school.

(Laughs.) It’s terrible isn’t it?! A six foot eight man chasing a fifteen year old boy.

I was running across the playground after him and I remember thinking ‘I don’t care, I’m going after him’, because he wound me up so much. Then I realised the whole school was surrounding the playground watching, standing up looking out. It was a humiliating climb down. What did he do? It was a boy who I’ve seen since, who’s now well into his 20s, and thoroughly charming when I met him as an adult. But I was telling him off for being really rude to another teacher and while I was telling him off, he was going “Blaa blaa blaa”. So I went, “Please stop doing that”. He didn’t, then that’s when the chase happened.

I suppose it’s quite an unexpected transition to go from being a teacher to a stand up comedian, but in some aspects you still have to almost command the attention of who you are talking to. You know you have a class in front of you, same as with a comedian; you have a whole audience in front of you to connect with. But it’s not two professions that you would instantly put together. It’s not, but there are a lot of similarities. Commanding the attention of a room full of people who aren’t necessarily going to do what you

Oh, very nice, PE teacher... Yep, I was batting way above my average! So she just turned round to me one day and went, (Australian accent) “Why don’t you just stop going on about it, go and be one”.

And I just thought, oh, maybe I should; so it was her really. She sort of ‘commonsensed’ me into it.

want, you know, it’s not that far between.

Especially when you’re on the club circuit, when people don’t know who you are, it’s not that far from being a teacher; it really isn’t. So I think I was given an unfair advantage in a way because I was used to just getting people to be quiet!

When was the defining moment then, how did you go from one to the other?

I was 33, so really old to start, and was going out with a really practical, pragmatic Australian PE teacher, my girlfriend at the time.

And you went to Nepal with Rhod Gilbert recently? I did. Quite a strange concept for a TV show, ‘World’s Most Dangerous Roads’. Yeah, sending two comedians up a deadly path! It was great fun though. Did you take much from the experience? Yeah it was amazing. If you saw it you would have seen me say that I didn’t travel when I should have. When I was your age I should have done all that business, but I didn’t so it was like catching up; I felt like a wide-eyed teenager running around! A vastly different culture as well. Oh God yeah, shocking. And all the clichés are true, you know; such a poor country but they are all so much happier than us. I loved that, and loved doing Ask Rhod, and I recently got to host Never Mind The Buzzcocks. I was just about to say, you ruined Tinchy Stryder! I did not!

Me and Tinchy are tight man. I thought he was great fun, and he did the best joke of the show about my age when I asked him how old he thought I was, and he said, “About a Range Rover”.

So finally, a question from Facebook.

James asks, “Are you more interested in sketches or stand-up?” I think if you’ve always wanted to do something, like I had always wanted to do comedy, and you come into it late, and finally get the chance to do something you have always hoped you would do, you want to get every single slice of the cake and ram it all in your fat face at once! So I love sketch comedy. I love narrative, which I’m writing at the moment, and I love stand-up; so yeah, it’s all bloody marvellous.

The Prankster is back! We had a lot of fun putting together the last article and couldn’t resist going in for round two! By now I imagine you will have experienced some form of pranking, maybe you’ve been seriously murked, or even found a hidden talent you never knew you had. Following on from the fresher’s edition, we managed to find four more prestigious pranks, worthy of finding themselves being published!

Now remember, we are not encouraging you to misbehave, rather opening you eyes to it.... (hmm...)

Buckaroo Going to sleep for some students can often be quite a dangerous move, especially if they have mates who are constantly on the prowl for pranking opportunities. This student thinks they’ve got away with it, having snuck off quietly to their room in hope of a few hours kip they missed out on the night before. But oh no, they could not be more wrong. Predatory mates are certainly in the know, and wait until the optimum depth of sleep! Once in agreement, the predators enter and buckaroo begins.

Each takes it in turn to place an item on the sleeping student, until they finally come around and the pile collapses!

Creapy Crawly Cereal Breakfast is usually the meal normal people have in the mornings, however for students, midday is probably more realistic. This prank is for the person who religiously eats cereal for breakfast, but this time it will be with a little surprise! So, here’s the scenario.

Sleepy student drags their body into the kitchen. They grab a bowl, a spoon, the milk out of the fridge and the box of their beloved cereal. In the cereal goes, the student begins to drool at the sight of those crisp, golden flakes, delicately gliding into the bowl, and then ARGH! Out pops a giant fake spider.

The student screams. A lot.

Malicious Mouthwash Now, brushing our teeth is obviously an essential part of maintaining oral hygiene, and if we really want our dentists to be proud of us, we use good old mouthwash! (To those hardcore mouth hygiene fans, maybe even floss!)

Anyway, not getting carried away or anything, this prank involves one flatmate royally stitching up another by adding extra hot chilli powder to their mouthwash. You can guess what happens when the mouthwash is used... Poor student’s mouth turns into a hilarious prank-volcano.

Topsy Turvy Following on from the previous edition, here we have another fine example of bedroom banter!

The unsuspecting student leaves their bedroom, safe in the knowledge that they are going to have a hassle-free day. Whilst out and about, fellow house-mates notice the door on the latch and ‘modify’ the victim’s quarters. Victim returns all jolly and upbeat, only to have their good mood dashed within seconds of entering their room. What they have is still a bedroom; however it’s now the wrong way up. (Even their shoes).

Ever been pranked or been the prankster!?

Share your stories with us so we can tell the world!

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Volunteering abroad can be a life changing experience, not just for yourself but also for the people and places your work will be helping. It provides an opportunity to discover the world, and a chance like no other to immerse yourself in the habitats of other cultures. With the increase in people travelling abroad, there is an ever-growing list of organisations that are oering volunteer placements and although this can be perceived as a good thing, there are companies out there that are in the business for the wrong reasons. Volunteering could and should be one of the most gratifying experiences you’ll ever have, but it is not something that should be entered into lightly. Here we have compiled a concise guide to help you on your way to what could be the trip of a lifetime.

Firstly, why do it? How do your actions help?

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When you’re there

Make the most of it - plain and simple. Throw yourself at everything you can to really experience as much as possible.

Of course you don’t want to go overboard, so remember to be aware of where you are and the culture which you are temporarily a part of. Act responsibly within it, for example buy locally, don’t buy souvenirs against the morals of the work you are doing (for example an ivory ornament if you are working with elephants!), and remember the simple things like turning lights off, air con, showers etc...

“Where does my money go? “ This is a very valid question. Handing over hard-earned cash in return for volunteer work may seem a little strange to you, however there are plenty of costs which need addressing. Keeping safe in remote areas doesn’t come cheaply. Nor do the materials, equipment, training and personnel which accompany your stay.

A significant contribution to the project is usually included in the price.

“What should I bring? “ For the most part you will be in a completely different climate which ultimately will determine what you need to take with you. The company you decide to volunteer with should, however, provide you with all these details; if they don’t then you should question their credibility!

“Do I need to know the local language? “ No, although it will be an advantage in some locations.

In most cases English will be the main language.

“Do I need any skills? “ For the vast majority of placements, no, however your desire and enthusiasm will be highly regarded. If the placement is very specific or requires certain levels of skill, it will be stated; however you can usually learn the skills whilst volunteering.

“What is an NGO? “ NGO stands for Non Governmental Organisation. For the most part they are set up with the aim of assisting social/environmental development. Greenpeace is an example of an environmental NGO.

“How fit do I need to be? “ A good level of physical fitness would be welcomed; however you certainly don’t have to be a marathon runner to take part! A lot of projects will be day-to-day and you’ll need to be able to keep up to speed, but don’t worry if you aren’t the fittest of the bunch, you should be fine.

Sam Mardell What did you do?

I worked for the ‘Atlantic Whale Foundation’ (AWF) as a research volunteer for four weeks, collecting dorsal fin shots and data on interactions with pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins on the South West coast of Tenerife.

How did you find your experience?

Absolutely loved it! It was great to get some hands on experience in a field of work which I am eager to pursue a career in, as well as meeting some great people in a beautiful country. Seeing these animals on such a regular basis meant I was able to understand a lot more about their social behaviour, intelligence and interactions with humans. I also learnt a lot more about marine conservation and how a small organisation like the AWF can make such a big difference in making the world a better place.

What would you say to people considering volunteering?

Go for it! There’s such an amazing variety of experiences out there to choose from, both here and abroad and it will look great on your C.V. You’ll meet some amazing like-minded people that just want to have fun and make a difference. It’s an experience you’ll never forget, I’m already lining up my next trip for summer 2012!

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What did you do?

I volunteered in an orphanage for three months in Arusha, Tanzania, teaching 5 to 8 year olds. I organised my placement through ‘Art in Tanzania’, a registered charity that supports a variety of local projects.

How did you find your experience?

I did not realise how emotionally attached I would become to the people, environment, culture and problems of Tanzania. The people and their personal plights inspired me to do as much as I could for them and encouraged friends and family to raise money at home to pay for ceiling boards, beds, food and educational materials. The experience inspired me to increase my knowledge and understanding of other cultures around the world and consequently, I chose to study International Development at UEA the next September.

What would you say to people considering volunteering?

I truly could not recommend volunteering enough! My experience ignited my passion for development studies; gave me a chance to experience a beautiful country; an insight to an extremely intriguing culture; and I was fortunate enough to meet some truly inspiring people along the way as well as learning important life skills.

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5 Ways to save money traveling - Stay in a hostel, rather than a hotel Many hostels oer the same comforts and amenities as a hotel, yet come at a fraction of a cost, and can often be more social and entertaining. Many hostels now have private rooms as well as shared, and facilities such as pools and washing facilities.

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Going Global 2012: Where Would You Go? Pass Me My Passport!

Amongst the hundreds of year round holiday, part time and graduate jobs StudentJob has to offer, there are also some of the best international internships going. When we say an internship abroad can change your life, we really mean it.

Internships come in all shapes and sizes and now the view from your office or sofa can be a lot different to the standard doom and gloom the British weather likes to offer... Whether you have 3 months over summer, or one year to travel or work in industry, why not take a look at our international internships? 2012 can be one of your most memorable years yet! StudentJob have a huge variety of paid placements and opportunities across the world...

From the perspective of many students, the process of university ultimately leads to the immediate search of employment. But not for everybody. Many students have chosen to travel and therefore discover the real world by going global; earning, learning and living life with new experiences whilst on their venture. Whatever you fancy doing this year, StudentJob offer everything from working in Summer Camps in America to hospitality in some of the most exotic holiday resorts going.

Pushing your boundaries is all part of the excitement, not forgetting that the whole experience will enhance your career prospects and create new contacts. Who knows who you might meet? Or where you might travel to next?

Whichever stage you are at in your career, whether you are looking for a career experience, change or break, exploring the world can create new perspectives and a new plan for your future both professionally and personally.

Yes, internships abroad can seem daunting, however the bigger your stepping stones, the better your experience can be. Remember - Nothing ventured, nothing gained. StudentJob has partnered with some of the best companies across the globe to ensure that only the best and dependable opportunities are available for our candidates.

Destination Unknown Don’t know where to go? Then start looking into making 2012 unforgettable and begin to plan your adventure now, by visiting: www.studentjob.co.uk Check out the variety of opportunities we have, covering everywhere from Amsterdam to Australia, Brazil to Beijing, Germany to Greece, and many, many more!

Exploring the world in 2012. Now that sounds like a good plan.

Steps to Going Global with StudentJob Register at www.studentjob.co.uk

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Exclusive interview

Dazzling the world with their euphoric futuristic sound, Nero have been the pioneers of producing commercial dub-step for the past few years.

Remixing their way to greatness, they have turned established classics into dance anthems, whilst continually releasing highly acclaimed music of their own. Dan Stephens, one half of the act, takes time out to speak about their rise.

How would you sum up your 2011?

It’s been an amazing year for us. A lot of travelling, a lot of studio time.

It must feel like you’ve come a long way since your debut release in 2004 when you were producing mainly drum and bass. What have been the important breaks to get to where you are today? We weren’t really getting anywhere with drum and bass and were finding it really hard to do anything original, I think we had fallen out of love with it a bit. Once we changed the tempo we were writing at, we suddenly became so much more inspired and creative. We did a bootleg of ‘Blinded by the Lights’

by The Streets; it got a lot of attention and airplay on radio and was eventually released as an official remix. I think that was one of the turning points for us.

In June 2011, you collaborated with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for Radio 1. That must have been quite an experience for you? It was an amazing opportunity. Having 90 people playing a piece that you’ve composed is a very humbling experience. It confirmed to us as well that we would love to do orchestral composition a lot more, scoring a film would be awesome.

The album itself, ‘Welcome Reality’, you describe as a conceptual piece telling a story set in 2808. Were there any particular reasons behind the date? The date comes from a Japanese anime called Cyber City Oedo 808; we used and customised some footage from it in our ‘Innocence’ video. The anime is set in the year 2808; it was visually and idealistically quite a big influence on us

when writing the album. It’s also just a cool sounding date and the 808 for us also references the Roland 808 drum synth.

What inspired the story for the album?

It’s not so much a story but more of a theme. Loosely, the album begins with a calm serene intro which evokes the feeling for us of a futuristic metropolis; this then builds into a suggestion of some apocalyptic event that takes place on December 1st 2808. After that there is not so much a story but a series of moods.

Very loosely it could be described as a sort of ‘love among the ruins’ type feeling.

Lyrically, where did the ideas come from? With lyrics, ourselves and Alana often just play around with vowel sounds whilst singing in melody ideas. The first takes will just be us singing gibberish but the vowels will feel natural with the rhythm and melody of the line. From that we’ll then craft words and also the themes for what the song should be about.

The album is really well put together, starting off with the first few tracks setting the futuristic atmospheric scene. How did you go about piecing together the individual tracks? A lot of the tracks are grouped together by what key they are written in. This makes the segueing of one track to another feel more natural and melodic. We wanted the album to sound almost symphonic as though it was written from beginning to end in the order they appear on the album. We spent quite a while piecing together the track order and writing the transpositions between the tracks.

With your music videos were you trying to portray the story as you saw it in your heads? Our concept for the sound of the album was a blend of

80s retro with futuristic sounds and we wanted to convey that imagery in the music videos as well. Also, we were keen to set the videos in this world that the album was created around, which can mainly be seen in the videos for ‘Guilt’ and ‘Promises’. In ‘Guilt’, it’s the seedy backstreet deprived side of the city, whereas in ‘Promises’, it’s more the citizen side where the government controls people’s emotions and everything is ultra clean and utopian.

You’ve made your name in part through remixes, obviously ‘Blinded by the Lights’ being one of the breakthroughs as you said. How do you divide your time between remixes and producing your own tracks? It can be quite nice to take a break from writing original material to work on a remix. It’s a different kind of discipline, with a remix you already have the starting blocks to work from; it’s fun putting your own spin on a song.

If we go before 2001, when the two of you hadn’t met each other, what were your musical roots and inspirations? We shared a love for acts like Squarepusher and Aphex Twin, also Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers. We were both into rock and band music as well. I was into the underground drum and bass sound a little before Joe. Dan, you played cello for 12 years whilst Joe is a classically trained guitarist. Not instruments you would instantly associate with dub-step producers! Do you guys still play?

Joe plays guitar more often than I play the cello these days, in fact I play guitar more often than I play cello now! I still pick the cello up occasionally though; I’d like to properly get back into it.

What other areas of music would you like to challenge? We always want to push our sound and experiment with new things, break through the genre boundary and just be an electronic act rather than anything specific.

What can we expect from you in 2012?

A lot of touring across the globe with our live show. Other than that, we’re not quite sure what we expect from us in 2012. We’re booking a couple of months off early next year to start work on the second album; we have a lot of exciting ideas for it.

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ICOLA OBERTS You’ve had a rollercoaster career and you’re still only 26. How does it feel to look back at what you have achieved so far? When you’re used to the fast life, that’s what you like. I’m one of those people who doesn’t like things slow, I don’t like it to be calm and I’ve never really taken a break since day one of the band but I like it like that. I’m really just a girl who likes to be working! So I’ve had the most amazing last ten years or so but I also feel that I don’t like the fact that I’m old enough to say that. I feel that I’m struggling with getting older.

So your debut solo album, ‘Cinderella’s Eyes’ has been very highly acclaimed.

How has this compared to the success you had with Girls Aloud? It’s different.

It’s obviously a lot more personal, but I still worked closely with a team and wrote the songs. The album is very personal and the lyrics come from me, therefore when the reviews came in it felt a lot more personal.

It’s the same feeling I get with Dainty Doll, for example, if I read a blog or beauty blog and the editor says something like, ‘I wish it was a bit more like that’, it hurts just the same. So I get the same ‘Oh God, maybe I should have done it a bit more like that’ or whatever. But it’s been amazing, especially

with some of the reviews I’ve had. I think when you’re making a record, I don’t know if it’s because you don’t let yourself think of the day it has to be judged, but you are so consumed with getting it finished. When the reviews started to come in: A) I was surprised that the people who make sure the T’s are crossed and the I’s are dotted even listened to the album and wanted to critique it, and B) to have the reviews that I had was just amazing, absolutely amazing.

Can you tell us a little about your new single ‘Yo-Yo’ which is out in January?

I think a lot of people have been in a situation where they don’t know if they are coming or going, people blow hot and cold and it can make you feel really vulnerable.

The more hot and cold people blow the more vulnerable you get, sometimes without even realising and knowing how vulnerable you are by the end of it. I think it’s about the needy side of love, the side that feels nice but at the same time isn’t.

How did you find the guy with the Yo-yo for your music video!? He’s pretty special.

Yeah he’s very special, the trickster! I just did the album chart show, so we got him in for that as well. The tempo for the song [Yo-Yo]

“No matter how many p ultimately have to be th

is like a ballad, so I didn’t think you could have too much going on, and take much away from the song and the lyrics. I just think he was that little bit of entertainment, doing his little tricks. I thought it was a nice touch!

And you’re already embarking on making a second album? Well I’m always in the studio whenever I have a day off promoting. I always want to be better; I want to be a better writer, better vocally.

I love it inside and out and it’s when I’m in the studio that I’m happiest and most comfortable, so I enjoy being in that environment a lot.

As well as being a musician you are an entrepreneur with growing recognition.

What obstacles have you had to overcome with starting your business, Dainty Doll? It was a challenge. People in the beauty industry work very differently to how they do in the music industry, so at the time it was a bit of a culture shock when I first started. In the music industry if you need something it happens there and

You are also very passionate about fashion. Is that something that you would consider doing in the future? I would love to do it. But I think timing is everything and I would never just take it for granted. Again, it’s another avenue to be creative in. I just recently did a design campaign for Renault where I got to design my own car! I know it’s not an outfit or anything but I had so much fun just designing in general. I also worked with a new designer called Atalanta Weller, where I created my own shoes. Whenever I am able to be creative like that I’m happy; so one day, maybe, who knows?!

You’ve advocated a lot of good causes, especially those regarding female insecurities. What advice would you give to our readers who may be suffering with such problems? I think it’s really hard.

Like with anything, if you struggle with something you have to be the person who changes it. Because no matter how many people tell you it’s wrong or give you advice, you ultimately have to be the person who wants to change it, or you’re never gonna change, you know? If you get to a place

people give you advice, you he person who wants to change it” then. I mean people take their Blackberry to bed and answer emails at 3am because they have to! Whereas the beauty industry is a lot slower; so when I first started I didn’t understand the pace of it. And obviously in terms of the chemistry of things it takes longer. It can take nine months just to have one product taken from your imagination to the shop floor. It’s just something that I had to learn about very quickly. Business is personally very rewarding though. To be in that environment, talking about serious things and just the whole retail aspect is fun; it’s a new challenge and I love it. Every day I wake up and work on Dainty Doll, it’s just another avenue for me to be creative.

where you are confident with who you are and like what you have been given then it’s not a problem; but if you don’t, then I think you have to train your mind into realising you are blessed and take a good hard look at yourself and change the way you feel. I think if you do that it’s easier but it’s you that has to make the change.

What do you hope for in 2012? Just to be achieving, to be enjoying myself and to have some more fun. I had fun last year but I want more fun!

For more info go to: www.nicolarobertsmusic.com

Bad chat up lines, shoddy gifts, awkward faux pas, and general cheese. What springs to mind? Valentine’s Day! A very negative evaluation I know; maybe I am just lonely and bitter... but, admittedly, for you true romantics out there, Valentine’s is also the one day of the year where you can spoil, be spoilt and truly embrace the lovey doviness of life! Kisses, cuddles and all sorts...

However have you ever wondered how you would be on a first date? Maybe you fancy yourself as a bit of a Casanova, or openly confess that you are a dating novice, but either way, you will never be completely sure of your performance on the night from the perspective of your date! We at the SPG, all lonely and bitter, wondered what kind of date each of us would be and came up with this little test.

Really simple: Chose one answer for each question - all of which are point scored - add up your total and see where you rank amongst the dating stereotypes!

The big night has arrived, you...

Get on the internet and find the best 2-4-1 deals in town Meticulously get ready and ring up your mates for advice Change the bed sheets in hope of getting lucky Have no reason to panic and feel calm, collected and quietly confident

You leave to meet your date at the chosen destination, you...

Arrive 5 minutes before your date with a bunch of flowers Don’t bother getting a gift Play it cool and arrive a little late, but you have certainly dressed to impress Make sure you take condoms

You sit down in the restaurant, you order...

Champagne and the finest three courses Only after politely asking what your date would like first Tap water and a main Booze and request skipping to dessert

10 15 5 20

15 10 20 5

20 15 10 5

Whilst on the date, you...

Use chat-up lines like, ‘That outfit looks great on you but it would look better on my floor’ 5 Ask questions and show a lot of interest in your date 15 Casually chat away, making them laugh whilst giving off obvious signals 20 Sit there listening but can’t stop thinking about how much this date is going to cost 10

The waiter brings the bill, you...

Insist you’re only paying for what you had Sort it without your date realising, (credit card is already in the waiter’s hand) Offer to pay for it all, but end up splitting it and leave a sizeable tip Pay up yourself but sneak in a couple of final drinks, theirs is a double

The night comes to a close, you...

Suggest a budget hotel Offer to walk your date home Pay for a fancy private hire car Get a taxi which goes via your place first

The moment has come when you say your goodbyes, you...

Ask the taxi driver how much it is and give your date the exact amount of change Desperately beg your date to come back with you Ensure the smooth delivery of a final chat up line, whilst leaning in for a frenchy Tell your date you had a lovely evening and peck them on the cheek

10 20 15 5

5 15 20 10

10 5 20 15

0-50

There’s one thing on your mind and it certainly ain’t the menu! In fairness you see the night through, offer a reasonable level of conversation but unfortunately make it clear that you are breaking all sorts of levels on the hornometer. You bombard your date with rubbish one liners and comments on their appearance, which are sometimes met with approval but the wandering eyes certainly don’t do you any favours! Something tells me if you’ve landed on here there is a good chance you’re male.

Sleaze

55-85

Poor form. Your constant money fears start to wear off on your date, who over the course of the night, gradually begins to notice that you are indeed a cheapskate. The fact you ordered tap water really is a giveaway and going out for a romantic meal only to have one course is slightly criminal. However being cheap doesn’t necessarily mean you are a totally awful date; chances are you maintain a steady conversation and make other efforts elsewhere!

Cheapskate

90-120

Ideal Date

Congratulations, you are the accomplished lady/gent. A pleasure to dine with, you offer great conversation, seem genuinely interested in what your date has to say, have clearly made an effort and, all in all, make a fantastic impression. It is not long before numbers are exchanged and date numero duo is on the cards. Bravo!

125-140

I think we have a

on our hands.

Smooth Operator Casanova Was it the well-groomed tux or chic dress, sophisticated taste or the impressive conversation?

Let’s face it, your evening had it all! There is a very fine margin between smooth operation and sleazy manoeuvre, so well played on keeping your cool. You breezed through your date without breaking sweat and your moves, let’s say, were quite possibly rewarded.

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Now it is fair to say that health and safety has gone too far in this country. Ridiculous isn’t even a strong enough word to describe some of the bizarre legislation put in place over the last few years and you really can’t help but wonder who on earth is responsible for actually proceeding with passing these obscurities?

So blatantly defying any form of common sense or logic, health and safety has left me so confused that I’ve even started wondering if a chocolate teapot would work. So, have a feast on these. Here are just a few examples of excessive and downright inexcusable health and safety bloopers. I mean honestly...

June 2011. 85 year old pensioner Charlotte Cubitt from Colchester, Essex, decided to get rid of her old television set which by all accounts was far too heavy to move on her own. She contacted her local council who offered an £11 removal service, which a) seemed reasonable, and b) provided the ideal solution. All seemingly straightforward? No. When speaking to poor old Charlotte, a council officer informed her that staff would not be able to enter her home and remove the television set on the grounds of health and safety, and instead, was told to drag it to the kerbside for collection. Now, let’s think about this. The council offer a removal service, which means people pay to have their possessions removed? Yes? And not only that, but you would think that the staff employed by the council were physically suitable for a job such as this? Unbelievable.

August 2011. Windsor Castle is one of

London’s most iconic historical tourist attractions, and has a tower which has enthralled children and adults alike for generations with its tales of bloodshed and gore. Open to the public again after a 40 year absence, those in charge have deemed its steps too dangerous for all children under 11 to climb, and those up to the age of 16 have to be accompanied by an adult. Now, when I was 15, or even 9 for that matter, I’d like to think that I was capable of climbing up and down a few steps. Am I wrong? And what’s more, we live in an age where children’s eyes are fixated on television and computer screens, a little bit of history and physical activity isn’t going to harm anyone.

March, 2010. Schools are the place where

kids of all ages should learn, have fun and be looked after properly by their peers. Manor School in Melksham, Wiltshire, surely isn’t any

different? Well, a mischievous boy of five and a good Samaritan would certainly disagree.

After climbing up a tree during his morning break, a poor little lad refused to come down, but instead of being helped, staff at the school decided to follow strict guidelines and left him hovering just over 6ft off the ground to ‘observe from a distance’. Wait a minute. Observe from a distance. How in any way would this help?

It wasn’t until passer-by Kim Barrett noticed the stranded child that he was helped down, by which time he had been stuck there for 45 minutes. And, to rub a serious amount of salt in the wounds, (and a splash of lemon juice) the school in fact reported Miss Barrett to the police on the grounds of trespassing! Shocking.

July, 2009. You would think that the one profession capable of safely bypassing ridiculous health and safety legislation would be the fire service. Oh how wrong you are. In Ampthill, a quiet market town in Bedfordshire, an annual Gala Day is held in July of each year. The town pitches together in celebration, decorating the town’s buildings with bunting. The local firemen, like many other professions in the town, chip in and do their bit, which for years gone by has involved taking down the decorations at the end of the event. In 2009, things were different. The local health and safety council strongly advised that the fire brigade should not take down the year’s bunting, banning the use of ladders as it was deemed too dangerous. After all, climbing ladders to save people from burning buildings is lightweight work compared to taking down a few paper decorations. (I can’t think of a word which isn’t offensive).

2007. Now, this next example directly involves the people who are responsible for the absurd decisions and legislation we have today. So imagine how ridiculous health and safety is on their home turf, at the HQ! This one really takes the biscuit. Employees at the Health and Safety Executive have been banned from moving furniture, including their own chairs, on the remote chance that they may in fact cause themselves injury. If they want something moved they are required to book a porter, and wait up to two days for it to happen. There really isn’t any more to say about this.

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like a competition I guess, so anyone that wanted to could have made a video for ‘Lights Out, Words Gone’. The one we went with was with a load of Mexican people dancing, which I think was made by a Spanish guy, I can’t actually remember, maybe Italian! It made us all smile and we thought it was quite nice.

A lot of the videos submitted were quite samey, like a boy and girl falling in love.

But this one was different and had an element of charm to it.

So you’ve produced three records in three years, is it going to be four in four?!

I very much doubt it. The thing is, with the first two albums we didn’t really tour much at all, especially with the second one. All we did for that was a two week UK tour. With this new one we are going to be touring a lot more, quite deep into next year hopefully. I expect when all the touring is done we will have a little break and get down to writing the new one.

You’ve played in some quite bizarre places. How did they come about? Well we did a little tour playing in strange venues suggested by fans. We played on a beach in Bournemouth, a fake castle near Manchester, down a mine-shaft in Devon!

Oh yeah and a puppet theatre in Norwich, that was nice.

Strange gigs aside, you toured the US over the summer with Two Door Cinema Club. How was it? That was really good. It was only the second time we’d ever been there so this was like the first proper tour we’d done there. Most of the crowd on the whole were really receptive. I guess our fan base and Two Doors’ is fairly similar so it went down well. It was nice to tour with them; they’re a very good live band and exciting to watch.

“When we first school assembly plans to becom

Obviously with them being a similar age to you guys, did you find it easier to get along as opposed to the slightly older bands you’ve toured with in the past?

Yeah exactly it is easier to relate to each other. They are quite similar to us in a way; quite quiet and shy! We also share quite a lot of the same crew so we had that connection as well. It was good.

You guys have become renowned for your energy in live performances. I saw you at Newquay Boardmasters over the summer and thought you were amazing! Where does all the energy come from?

Probably by relaxing during the day. We are all laidback guys and quiet normally, but we seem to morph into this different thing when we’re on stage! I guess it’s the adrenaline of it all!

It feels like such a long time ago since you were on Channel 4’s ‘Road to V’, and the release of your early EP’s (‘Sixteen’ is still one of my favourite songs!) How does it feel to be where you are now, still being so young? It’s all quite surreal in a way. When you’re actually in the band it’s difficult to have an outsider’s point of view and to see what it’s like from the outside if you know what I mean. We never expected to still be a band this far down the line.

When we first started it was just to play at a school assembly and we didn’t really have any plans to become a permanent band. It was something to do in our spare time, and yet here we are, six years later or something. We’ll carry on whilst we’re still enjoying it and when we stop I guess we’ll stop!

started it was just to play at a y and we didn’t really have any me a permanent band.”

It’s been three albums in as many years for the Bombay boys, whose combination of musical knack and youthful exuberance has placed them at the peak of the British indie scene. We caught up with understated drummer, Suren de Saram, who talks to us about performing down a mine-shaft, dancing Mexicans, deep-fried Scottish cuisine and how, unfortunately, it isn’t to be four in four...

Your third album, ‘A Different Kind of Fix’ has done very well since being released back in August. Do you think it’s your best record yet? It’s definitely our most interesting and varied record yet. What I like about it is you can definitely hear influences from the past two albums but then it’s also got a new theme in the mix as well. So yeah it’s definitely my favourite of the three.

You re-connected with producers Jim Abiss (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian) and Ben Allen (Gnarls Barkley, M.I.A). How much influence do you think they have had with your sound? We’ve been working

Exclusive interview

with Jim since we were sixteen so we’ve known him for a long time. We did our first and second EP with him, and our first album, so we’ve built up a good working relationship and know how each other likes to work. We knew what to expect with Jim and always ended up with great results which is why we asked him to do part of the new record with us. We’ve never worked with Ben before but with songs like ‘Shuffle’, and also ‘Favourite Day’, we thought he would be perfect as he comes from a hip-hop/ pop background. Working with him, for me anyway, was the most enjoyable. We flew out to Atlanta and did four songs

there. He’s really cool to work with; he takes a very different approach to Jim. Jim recorded us all together, whereas Ben recorded us all individually, so yeah they work very differently which was cool.

Your music videos have been quite interesting so far! Where did the idea come from for the dancing old people in ‘Lights Out, Words Gone’?! Haha we haven’t been that happy with most of our videos to be honest! There is this website called Genero, where bands can submit a song that they want a video to be made for and all these film makers from around the world check it out. It’s

Jack is the creative nucleus of the band who writes the material. How do the rest of you guys go about injecting your own influences into the songs? It varies from song to song. Sometimes Jack will pretty much have a complete song in his mind and come along to rehearsal and basically show us the whole song. Other times he may just have one or two ideas, like a melody or a bass line, then we’ll get together and input our ideas to form a song together. The music always comes first and the lyrics are always very last minute. Jack doesn’t really like writing lyrics at all I don’t think, they usually get written right before we have to record a song or play it live for the first time!

Do you guys help him out then?! No it’s just Jack, it’s his thing! I think usually when bands sit around and write lyrics together they end up kind of crap. I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, but that’s what I think!

So 2012, what can we expect? We have another UK tour in April. We are also doing our biggest headline show at Alexandra Palace in London, so that’s exciting. We’re just going to be touring basically; we’re going to some cool places we have never been before, like Australia, going back to America for a pretty long tour, Japan hopefully as well. Lots and lots of gigs!

Finally, a question from Twitter! Emma from Glasgow asks: What is your favourite thing about Scotland? The fact they like deep-frying everything. Deepfried Mars Bars are one of my favourite foods of all time. And also Jamie, the guitarist, is a big fan of deep-fried haggis.

When we are there we always make sure we get one of those!

For more info on the band go to: www.bombaybicycleclubmusic.com

then Like If you would like to ask a question in future interviews us on us on Facebook (The Student Pocket Guide) and follow Twitter (@TheSPG) - we will keep you updated.

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D ES YELLOWCAR HEIDEROOSJ SIMPLE PLAN VERSE BRONX THE WORLD THE VERSUS ANTI-FLAG UNEARTH

HOT WATER MUSIC MISS MAY I THE COPYRIGHTS MAKE DO & MEND TRIGGER EFFECT HAZEN STREET THE GHOST INSIDE HEAVEN SHALL BURN ALKALINE TRIO REEL BIG FISH BELVEDERE BOUNCING SOULS LIFETIME MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK TERROR MXPX ALL STARS 7SECONDS COBRA SKULLS SET YOUR GOALS YOUR DEMISE GORILLA BISCUITS DYS THE DANGEROUS SUMMER OFF WITH THEIR HEADS AUTHORITY ZERO CONFESSION OLD FIRM CASUALS RED CITY RADIO SLAPSHOT WOLVES LIKE US COUNTERPUNCH PACESHIFTERS JUNIUS THE MENZINGERS BANGUETS SUCH GOLD + MORE TBA

THE POWER SOCIAL ME January 17th 2001. The Philippine President, Joseph Estrada, is on trial for impeachment with loyalists in the Philippine Congress having just agreed to dismiss certain evidence against him.

Within two hours after the controversial decision was announced, thousands of angry Filipinos congregated on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, a major crossroads in Manila. The protest was organised through the rapid spread of forwarded text messages simply reading, “Go 2 ESDA. Wear blk”. In the few days that

followed over one million people had arrived and by January 20th, Estrada’s fate was sealed, marking the first time that social media had helped to overthrow a national leader. Estrada himself blamed “the text-messaging generation”. He had a point. Over seven million text messages were sent that week.

This was eleven years ago. In years since, the world of social media has rapidly evolved and become even more significant in our society. What was once

just a platform of communication has now become a fundamental element of modern culture, influencing and changing the way we think, talk and work. Its use has now gone beyond the needs of just you and me for example.

Politicians now appeal, businesses advertise, artists promote, newspapers report; all via means of social media.

But why? How? The answer is simple.

Never before has the world we live in been so widely connected and advanced in its accessibility of information. What was an audience of

R OF EDIA Written by Nathan Wadlow

millions in the 1990s is now an audience of billions, with the networking heavyweights of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter taking the concept of user-generated content and digital interaction to new unthinkable heights.

YouTube alone uploads 8 years of video footage every 24 hours. 250 million photos are shared on Facebook each day and Twitter’s all time record for tweets per second stands at 6939 after midnight in Japan on New Year’s Day of last year. Quite staggering statistics.

But even though the popularity of social media has grown so vast, we have arguably become so accustomed to it, bordering on dependant, that we do not realise just how revolutionary it is.

Look at the way we communicate. So monumental has been the growth of Zuckerberg’s Facebook empire amongst others, that a number of mobile operators have gone as far as saying that social networking will become a more popular communication mechanism than SMS (text) and even our own voices. Yes, our own voices. Furthermore, with the ‘age of the app’ mobile phones have gone way beyond communication purposes; we can now launch angry birds via a catapult, read pocket-sized newspapers and of course access social networks.

Long gone are the days when the humble text message sent via a phone the size of a house brick was a giant leap into the future. Even the memories of playing Snake2 on a Nokia 3310 are hastily gathering dust.

What has made social media and in particular social networks so successful in recent years is their ability to adapt and evolve in both their appeal and capacity.

The premise has however remained the same; interactive communication. In today’s online world you can now tell us who you are, share photos and videos, make friends, follow Charlie Sheen, listen to your favourite artist, adopt a pet monster and call him Nigel; the list goes on. However where Facebook has prospered, far greater than its rivals, is not only through creating a solid platform where all this is possible, but also from which innovative new ideas

and functions can stem; all whilst maintaining levels of trust and accessibility to the 800 million users it has now accumulated. Adverts for example are now beginning to find us through the information that we provide about ourselves online. The ‘Sponsored Stories’ down the right-hand side of our Facebook profiles essentially display personal adverts, based upon what we and our friends are ‘liking’. It is innovations like this that are revolutionising the way businesses operate, with the balance of power shifting to new digital formats.

Unsurprisingly, technology giants such as Microsoft noticed Facebook’s potential early on but since turning

down a $1 billion oer at the ripe old age of 22, followed by $15 billion a year later, Mark Zuckerberg has not just held on to his creation and developed it to worldwide dominance, but has created a brand new global culture.

This culture and its significance are steadily becoming more prominent.

Journalism today is arguably shaped by the inputs of social networks; Twitter especially having grown into being a relied upon source of information. The morning trends that appear with our routine 9am sign-in are, more often than not, the focal points of many news broadcasts in the latter stages of the day. It

can take hours to produce a decent news feature, 30 minutes to write a breaking news article, and even a few minutes to write an extract to break the story. With tweets and status updates, networks such as Twitter are able to break the news to us in a matter of seconds. Take the London riots of last year; not only did social media play a substantial role in organising widespread public disorder, it was also the means by which it was often reported. Journalists were fixated on the public’s social networking whilst camera phones became the lifeblood of broadcasters, providing up-to-theminute footage as the chaos unfolded.

I am sure most of you have seen the shocking video of the beaten Malaysian student being seemingly helped to his feet by rioters, but then reprehensibly

robbed. As seen in the Philippines, the Middle East, and now here in the UK, the dangers of social media and the political implications have all become very real.

But it’s the overall power of social media that we should take into consideration.

Basically any product, service, location, or person out there will have, in some format, connections to it. Through being so widely connected we have also learnt a lot about the world and the people we share it with. Brazilians are the most active in regards to social media, single Russian men are the heaviest social networkers per session, the Irish are the most responsible online, one in seven

marriages are through meeting on dating sites, and there are more social networking accounts than people on this planet. And if we think about how far technology and social media has come in just our own lifetimes, it is fascinating to imagine where it will be in five, ten, fifteen years time. Where can it go from here? What will the iPhone 10 be capable of doing? Maybe it will teleport us from A to B. Who knows? But what is certain is that social media is very much now and very much the future, and we are a major part of it.

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NEW YE COMMANDM

So it’s a new year, a fresh start, and an opportunity to once again endeavour towards sticking to a resolution (or two). It is the time of the year when we all of a sudden feel compelled to rigorously evaluate our lives and have set in stone a target which by February will most probably be in the can. The good intentions were there, the first week was a success, but sure enough the motivation soon slipped away along with the reality of succeeding. But fail no more! We’ve had enough of botched objectives and fruitless target setting; this is the year when you will find light at the end of the tunnel! Success, people, is the only option.

Here we have provided a set of commandments which you must obey. Fail to adhere and you may well be struck down by Lord Pocket Guide! He is a fiery character and I do not recommend crossing his path. Imagine if Voldemort and Cruella de Vil had a child...

1.THOU MUST BE REALISTIC

Being overly ambitious could be detrimental to succeeding with your resolution. Be sure that you have set yourself a realistic goal, which is achievable, but also challenging.

2.THOU MUST BE FOCUSED

Rewards do not come without effort and focus. Drawing up a plan will help you maintain focus and hopefully encourage better results.

3.THOU MUST VISUALISE SUCCESS

There is no point making a resolution if you cannot see yourself succeeding. Believing that you can do it will increase your confidence and commitment to success.

YEAR MENTS

4.THOU MUST NOT CHEAT

As the saying goes, a cheat never prospers. The minute you start cutting corners or lying to yourself, I’m afraid that’s it. Game over.

5.THOU MUST BE PATIENT Patience is a virtue. Significant changes aren’t going to happen overnight. The more you relax and take your time, the better you will feel about sticking to your target.

6.THOU MUST ALIGN WITH STRENGTHS Help yourself out by sticking to your strengths. Set a weekly itinerary of things to do which you are good at, whilst avoiding things that bring out your weaknesses.

7.THOU MUST REWARD PAIN WITH PLEASURE Setting yourself smaller goals within your overall target is great for motivation and accessible achievement. Reward yourself when seeing out certain periods of time.

8.THOU MUST TRACK SUCCESS

Regularly keeping track of how you are doing will make it easier to visualise achievement, whilst also providing a constant reminder of your resolution.

9.THOU MUST EMBRACE SUPPORT

Accepting the help of others can significantly help you achieve your target. Talking to those who have succeeded or are facing the same challenges as you will ease your worries.

A group of us sliding down hills in bin-liners.

Going to a choir audition really hung over and couldn’t speak. Was told to go home and come back next week.

Running around campus wearing a mankini.

Decorating my sleeping flatmate with pizza on his face and shaving foam in his hands.

Seeing a muscular guy try to get into a bin and failing whilst shouting “I can’t fit this much protein into a bin”.

Pulling within 5 minutes of going to my first union night with the chat up line “hows about it then?”

Urinating the bed naked.

Going skinny dipping in a lake and security turning up with the full beams on!

Finding my flatmate naked in a bush after a night out.

Turning our mate into a sandwich.

A layer of bread beneath him, jam and peanut butter on top of him and then another layer of bread on top.

in association with

We all know him for his club anthems, such as the triple platinum selling mega hit ‘Down’, ft. Lil Wayne. A surprisingly modest yet suave guy, Jay is now the biggest selling UK artist in the states since Elton John, well and truly cementing his reputation as an international superstar.

Back in the UK, albeit for a short time only, we caught up with him in London before he kicked off his tour with Phat Nights.

Will you be playing any new tracks off the album? Oh yeah! There will be new tracks, some songs off ‘The Mistress’ of course, which is the mixtape that I put out and the ones that I already know will become fans’ favourites. Plus we’ve got all the hits, the singles, just all of that stuff man!

‘The Mistress’, a free download that you recently released, went back to your more R’n’B roots. How have you found that; has it been nice? My heart’s in there, it will always be; you know what I’m sayin’? I’m a soul boy at heart. I grew up on the best R’n’B in the era, which I thought was the best. You know, that never leaves you, those inspirations, those melodies, those sentiments; you’ve got to remember as a songwriter, for me, I will always draw upon what affects me the most. So for me, going back to R’n’B, it’s just second nature.

So Jay, you’re back in the UK after a little break, is it good to be back?

Yeah it’s always great to be back man.

You know the thing is, I’m on the road so much that I miss my family and friends like crazy and of course my fans as well.

The three F’s, that’s the most important thing for me.

You’re on tour with Phat Nights. What can we expect? Yes! Totally excited. This is my first opportunity to do a brand new show. The reason it’s a brand new show is because even though I’ve been touring for ten years, in every territory around the world now, which is insane for me, this is the first opportunity to put ten years of music into one show; so England being where I started, you know I really thought about it and decided to put on a brand new show, a whole new production, a new band, the whole thing.

Before you really got heavily involved in music, you were a medical student...

Yes! Do you think you’ll ever go back to your studies? I don’t know, what do you think?! I’m gonna go with no! Can you imagine me with some 18 year olds? ‘Oh hi, alright guys!’

How many years down the line did you get with your studies? Man I was two and half years in, so I was half way through, dissecting bodies, the whole thing; a very different lifestyle. It’s pretty crazy when I think about those years.

I mean, again, it was a passion for me and I’m still a nerd and geeky when it comes to science. First thing I’ll do when I get a chance to watch TV is watch The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, you know, all of that... Animal Channel! So I still have a passion for it, but music was my calling man.

In your younger years, before you were a ‘med’ student, you were part of a young ornithologists’ club! Oh yes, awesome. That was the cool era of my life. Helped me get the birds! Oh, pun!

Ornithology is the study of birds by the way; not that kind of birds, actual birds, flying ones! I don’t know why I was in that club; I went to private school and we did a lot of interesting classes. So I did that, pottery club, erm... stamp collecting... this is helping my urban credibility here, especially being signed to Cash Money!

What else? Cookery classes...

a name dropper! But, again, as I’ve said, I’ve come from an age of music where I just loved beautiful songs and you have to understand that it’s not always like that; music changes. We’re in an era of music now, mainstream music especially, which is very strange; it’s all geared around clubbing and getting pissed! I wonder how Celine Dion feels when she listens to radio! Does she go, ‘really, this is what people are listening to?!’ It’s very strange I think sometimes, but it is what it is; you go with the flow man.

Cookery is good! Yeah it’s good. I like to say that I did a bit of everything!

I’ve got a few questions from Facebook.

Rashmi asks very simply, “Are you coming to Australia”? Ah yeah, I went to Australia last year. Man, Australia is insane; every time I’ve been there I’m talking 15 to 20 thousand people at a time. Just the most incredible fans; they know every single song, all the albums, word for word. It’s just an amazing experience, so I’m definitely coming back, hopefully in 2012. I’m pretty sure I’ll be out there.

Another question from Facebook. Jack asks “Are there any artists out there that have surprised you”? Yes, some for the worse to be honest. There are some where I just think, really? Like really? How is that working right now?! But look man I don’t wanna judge, and I’m definitely not

in association with

Maybe you could start up a whole new genre of music? We were talking about that the other day, and you know what, we are! My producers, OFM, they’ve done the majority of my music; they are actually doing something which is very ahead of the kerb. A lot of their background was in dance music, so now they’re looking at it going, ‘dance music is changing like this as well’. Think about where it was only six months ago, to what it’s become now; it’s pretty insane. People listen to this like proper fist pumping music at six in the morning, on radio! You’re not even in a nightclub anymore! It’s on radio and there’s hardly any vocal on it, this music; it’s pretty strange, so we’re starting to experiment with that a bit.

So ‘Freeze Time’, is the name of your album out next year. The release date has been changed quite a lot... Listen,

I’m gonna say it quite simply, horrible, horrible, horrible legal issues, horrible - which I don’t even wanna talk about!

But it happens in this industry, a million times.

Do we have a final release date though?

No, not a date; but I’m gonna tell you. I’m either gonna change the entire name of the album, if it gets frozen in time for any longer, because I think I cursed myself on that! But I can tell you one thing, the album itself is insane, which was part of the frustration for me, you know, because I just want my fans to hear this music; it’s something I am so proud of. And it’s something which I think is gamechanging for me; so I can’t wait for them to hear it.

We all look forward to it.

Wicked!

For more info on Jay Sean go to: www.jaysean.com

Watch the interview and live beatbox from Jay Sean on your mobile phone!

Now we all know that going out and having a good time is very much a major part of university life. Many of the great memories you will have (or lack of ) will be down to the big nights out where admittedly you have consumed your fair share of booze!

But, without trying to sound like your parents, or taking up a job oer with the fun police, there are of course risks that come along with getting hammered, other than giving your liver a bit of a workout!

Our friends StudentBeans.com have recently conducted a nationwide survey investigating the many aspects of student drinking. And probably of most interest to you is this lovely table, ranking the top ten universities by the average number of units of alcohol consumed per student, per week.

Shame on you Leeds Met! Your weekly consumption roughly equates to three bottles of 12% wine.

(A special mention should also be made to the students of the University of Salford, who on average are only consuming 5.9 units a week!)

But back to the risks! Statistics show that whilst you should of course be enjoying yourselves, there are however more than enough reasons to be a little bit more responsible on nights out. The survey says, (in the voice of Vernon Kay), 33% of you have been injured on a night out

and 22% admit to having a sexual encounter you have later regretted.

A whopping 59% of you admit having experienced memory loss or having previously struggled to remember parts of your evening, whilst a further 37% of you have not worked out how you got home on more than one occasion!

As Oliver Brann, editor of StudentBeans.com, correctly says, “It’s really important for students to take responsibility and just a few easy rules will make sure that nights out don’t end badly. Knowing how you are going to get home and arranging to go with a friend, making sure your mobile phone is charged and knowing your limits, will help minimize the risks on a night out”. Wise words.

So the message is clear. No one is telling you to stop drinking, but you do need to be aware of how much you are consuming and the consequences of over doing it. After all, if you stopped drinking then we couldn’t enjoy the beautiful combination of alcohol and technology. StudentBeans.com recently asked their users to send in embarrassing or incomprehensible drunk texts or Facebook posts.

Now we’ve all been there I am sure.

There is nothing quite like a bit of hangover shame in the morning!

Have a feast on these; here are the Beans’ favourites:

“No sleep. Wrong train. 42 stops. Fml.” “I got with Charlotte! YAY!” sent to Charlotte by mistake.

I received a drunk text from a friend which split into 17 messages. It was just the lyrics to Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’.

A message was sent to me from my friend confessing their love for me. Turns out they actually meant to ring my sister. That was awkward.

StudentBeans.com is the UK’s most popular student money-saving site, brimming over with discounts, deals and freebies.

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Sausage Supper

Short of time and strapped for cash? How about we show you how to knock up a two course meal in under 20 minutes and for less than £2.50 per head! This one-pot style of cooking means there’s minimal washing up too. Tasty and simple dinner… SORTED!

Ingredients: 1 shallot shot of olive oil 2 sticks of celery chunk of chorizo (150g) glass of white wine

tin of tomatoes tin of chickpeas 4 hefty pork sausages handful of fresh parsley

S

preheat the grill to a medium heat. peel and roughly chop the shallot and start to fry in a large frying pan with a shot of oil to soften. prick the sausages to stop them bursting as they cook and line them up on a baking tray. grill them for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally until they are golden all over. wash and chop the celery and add to the pan with the shallot, frying for 2 minutes. cube the chorizo and toss in with the onion and celery to cook for 2 minutes. splash in the wine and allow to bubble. open and drain the chickpeas, before adding to the pan with the tinned tomatoes. stir and simmer the sauce until the sausages are cooked. chop the fresh parsley and mix into the cassoulet with salt and pepper to season. serve the sausages on a generous mound of the chickpea and chorizo cassoulet. serves 2

Now watch the SORTED videos and get the recipes @ www.sortedfood.com/sausagecassoulet

Cake in a Mug

If one course isn’t enough and the thought of baking conjures up images of effort, time and mess‌ then our no-bake option is ready in minutes and perfect to bring your two course meal to a close.

www.sortedfood.com/cakeinamug

Ingredients: 2 tbsp SR flour (not heaped or level – but in between) 2 tbsp castor sugar 1 tbsp cocoa 1 tsp instant coffee powder 1 small egg 1 tbsp milk 1 tbsp sunflower oil few choc buttons grab a large mug. spoon the dry ingredients into the mug and mix well. crack in the egg and whisk to combine with a fork. drizzle in the milk and oil and stir. drop in a few choc buttons. place into a microwave and cook for 2 ½ mins on full power. leave to rest for 1 minute then eat with lashings of cream or ice cream.

S

makes 1 large pudding... a generous dessert or ample to share.

Thank you for reading

The Student Pocket Guide Ltd is a multi-award winning media company targeting students nationwide.

We provide students with a free, money saving and informative guide at the beginning of each academic term. We oer businesses a cost-eective and professional vehicle to advertise their products, events and services directly to the student community.

The guide is distributed directly into the hands of hundreds of thousands of students nationwide by our team of dedicated distributors.

To reserve your space in the Summer 2012 edition please contact us.

01603 610281 info@thestudentpocketguide.com www.thestudentpocketguide.com The Student Pocket Guide Ltd 5 Chalk Hill House, 19 Rosary Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1SZ @The Student Pocket Guide StudentPocketGuide @TheSPG

Team Editor: Nathan Wadlow Design & Photography: Michael Powley Advertising: Brendan McVeigh, Greg Smith, Joseph Lawson-West, Claire Newport Finance Manager: Erika Gooch Managing Director: Ben Farrin

Contributors & special thanks to: Amy French, Interim Studios, Kerri Parker, Kirstie Kindred, Rebecca Turner, Simon Atkinson, Salema Radford, Stephen Ong, Ryan Lovejoy, Vicci Lee, Zoe Lapwood

Hertford Regional College

Hertford Regional College offers hundreds of full and part-time courses, including Apprenticeships, across our two Hertfordshire based campuses.

Visit our Open Evenings to view our brilliant facilities, meet our tutors and find the right course for you.

Tuesday 6th March 5.30 - 8pm Wednesday 9th May 5.30 - 8pm

www.hrc.ac.uk 01992 411411 HRCOSPG1

Chancellors launch new

STUDENT LETTINGS division for 2012 EMAIL US NOW

to register your details and be the first to receive information on all new available properties and

exciting promotional deals.

EMAIL students.lettings@chancellors.co.uk CALL 01865 765000 OR VISIT www.chancellors.co.uk/students