WUWO Magazine Edition 7

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RETRONAUT JOINS WUWO MAGAZINE COMEDY

TRUE stories

MUSIC

TRAVEL

FOOD

GADGETS & Gimmicks

Contents Features 10 Ian Rose

An inspiration to athletes and a defier of all odds, Ian Rose shares his incredible story relating to his involvement with London 2012 and his achievements and lessons on his impressive past

16 Tom Rosenthal

We love a good laugh and since 2007 Tom Rosenthal has provided us with more than just a few.

20 Retronaut

We welcome Retronaut to WUWO Magazine! Behold the first in a line of images and clips that showcase his spliced time capsules on a monthly basis.

28 Joey Holder

WUWO Magazine likes a bit of unusual and this month we introduce you to one of those maestros of weird and wonderful pieces.

34 Guerilla Travel

Jump in a VW campervan and join us on a descriptive journey along Route 138, winding us up the north coast of Quebec with nothing more than an old tatty map.

Regulars 04 Gadgets & Gimmicks 08 Music 26 Trends 32 Food 34 Travel wuwomagazine.com

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ga d g e t s

You could survive without it, but... wuwomagazine.com

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Slushie Maker

Alligator Mini Chopper Dicer

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Cyber Clean We have all inspected our computer keyboards at some point and marvelled upon a curious selection of dust and crud gathered there from snacks of old. A careless pizza munching or biscuit nibbling over the keys that created a crumb based meteorite shower into the array of unsuspecting gaps.

Resembling slime crossed with putty, this product cleans deep down in long forgotten crevices between the keys with an added anti-bacterial.

Unlike the Blob from the cyber movies, the Cyber Clean won’t go on the rampage and gobble up your mates or colleagues, instead it will effectively annihilate any lurking bacteria and nastiness.

How does this gaudy slime work? It’s made from a unique antibacterial formula, neutralising and sanitising grime. Your keys will be cleaner than the disciples feet were after Jesus cleaned them. And when your slime arrives at its inevitable end, it changes colour to let you know that it's time to chuck it (it's also biodegradable)! www.firebox.com

Portable Toaster

Breo Breeze ISee 180-Hi-Tech Digital Eye & Temple Massager

USB Air Freshener

A bit of a mouthful, we know, but bear with us while we explain. Hours staring at a computer screen takes its toll on our eyes, straining our vision, filling out those eye bags and making us grouchy.

This great gadget, long winded by name but simple functioning, does what it says on the tin. Using the principles of the ancient Chinese therapy of acupuncture, it applies heat and a vibration that gently massages the said areas in order stimulate oxygen flow and relieve tired eyes.

The designers even included an MP3 player into the mix to bang out some of your best chill-axing tunes whilst it does its magic. It’s priced at around £22 for the whole deal. And, no, lasers will not start firing out the eyes; the Breo Breeze will actually smoothen up the complexion and brighten up those peepers. www.coolest-gadgets.com

All sorts of objects can be charged and functioned through the USB port in your computer, from head massage machines to coffee cup warmers.

We searched long and hard and discovered a USB air freshener that wafts an array of scents that refresh stuffy surroundings.

Oh no! We hear you cry - not another hideous Glade plug in? Well, it's not like that at all. For a start, the scents are undisclosed and you could end up getting odour blasted by anything. Plus it takes on the comical form of a nose sporting feet. Apt. We love our new discovery! www.partylitemagazine.com

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When you get your culinary moves out, it's a good idea to have the Alligator Mini Chopper Dicer to hand. It chops all things small vegetable and also prevents any unwanted onion/garlic smelling hands!

There’s no chance of the kitchen clumsy injuring themselves as your hands and fingers never come into contact with the blade. Simply pop the veg in and push down the lid; easy!

This product found it's way over from China, a country that could teach us a few lessons in healthy eating. On that note; get chopping and get healthy! www.onestopcookshop.co.uk

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It may be thought that the slushie is one of those treats only to be enjoyed on holiday or at the cinema. Not any more, thanks to the Slushie Maker, which enables the creation of an eternity of frozen flavours from the comfort of your own home!

Great for parties, BBQs and any other occasion to present an alternative drink option to guests. The slushie maker is sure to impress. Fancy a frozen cocktail, cappuccino or orange juice slushie anyone?

Remember to go easy on the speed you slurp it up to avoid any unwanted brain freeze! www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk

Yes, it has been invented and will shortly be on the production line!

When those inevitable pangs of hunger occur at work, whilst commuting or during a meeting, then why not whip out your portable toaster (and bread, and butter if you’re fussy) and prepare a piece of toast there and then Not only will you have a perfectly toasted slice of bread, but the more toasted it becomes, the pretty floral design etched into the portable toaster gets burnt in to decorate the bread.

A new appliance to add to your bag. Toss it in before leaving the house or have it handy at your desk in order to satisfy any emergency cravings. www.coolest-gadgets.com

f e atur e

Retronaut jumps on board with WUWO Magazine wuwomagazine.com

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WUWO teams up and time travels with one of the world's most innovating yet at the same time, backward thinking brains on the planet.

"When we curate a capsule, we pick material that will break your model of time. We want to dissolve away time, to break down the barrier between present and past, to release what has gone before as an index of possibility for today." ‑ Chris Tell us about Retronaut?

The past is a foreign country.

Retronaut is your passport. Retronaut curates and displays time capsules; digital containers of still and moving images from across time.

You can explore all the time capsules we curate by time and by subject. It's a cool way of exploring time online.

Why did you begin Retronaut?

I started Retronaut because I had collected a lot of pictures that, for me, dissolved away the barriers between the present and the past. There are many millions of old pictures online that show the past, and they are kind of what we expect the past to look like.

And in those millions, there are some which look like the picture of the past we have in our heads. They seem to show us not “the past” but a different version of “now”.

Have you always had a fascination with the past?

I grew up with both an overwhelming desire to go back in time, and a very strong sadness that I could not go back. To me as child, the past was as exotic and exciting as an unexplored country.

Do you feel like a time traveler?

So far as we know, it is impossible to build a time machine that goes back to before the time that the machine is built. When I realised that building a working time machine was going to be tricky to say the least, I looked again at what we mean by “time” and “travel”. It seemed to me that time doesn’t actually exist as a thing anymore than length or width does. What exists is an ever-opening “now”.

What differentiates one now from another is how

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things - people, societies, atoms - behave in that now.

Change the behaviour, and you remix your version of now.

Why do you think the majority of people don’t learn lessons from the past to improve their futures?

Most people have a very linear model of time. In this model, time is like a moving pavement on which we stand. We are standing in the present, travelling from the past, which is behind us, to the future, which is in front of us. Because we are focused on the future, that is where our attention is, and where the action is.

We find it awkward to look back and move forward at the same time. We see the past as a kind of rehearsal for the present, and a rehearsal where lots of things went wrong.

If we change our model of time from linear to radial, the past becomes an index of creative possibilities, an endless series of drafts that we are free to remix and recurate in our own version of now.

Why did you decide to team up with WUWO Magazine?

Because it's cool.

What plans do you have for the future of Retronaut?

Soon you will be able to join Retronaut and create your own time capsules using your own images and clips and stuff you find on the web.

Go to page 20 and view our first Retronaut time capsule. www.retronaut.co

mu s ic

Songs from the Ads

mu s ic

Kasabi-nan

Artist Quick Fire Questions

Forgotten Bands

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Sixpence None The Richer

TEED is now preparing to embark on his first headline tour of the UK. Having already toured Europe and America as well as having a huge number of summer festivals under his belt, WUWO catches up with ‘Orlando’ for a round of quick fire questions.

Before teens everywhere based relationships on a Twilight shaped romance, there was the legendary staple of Saturday afternoons; Dawson's Creek.

Each month we dig up a musical relic that needs to be dusted off and reinjected back into your life...

Hollyoaks A few months back, Hollyoaks produced one of their best adverts yet! Enchanting, disturbing and mysterious, the accompanying music provided a deliciously eerie backdrop to the surprising visual feast.

The advert follows the girls into fog filled forest and fields, as the cast members wear grotesque wood life masks. The daring ad used an obscure, enchanting band, Stealing Sheep, to freshen up the campaign with the tune ‘Shut Eye’.

Stealing Sheep’s tdebut album ‘Into the diamond sun’ is released on 3rd September 2012. Expect more haunting melodies and folksy anthems!

WUWO Music Generator A guide to modern descendents of music legends.

For Led Zeppelin fans, Wolfmother are a modern staple in the world of cocky blues riffs and hard-rock howls. They combine the psychedelics of both Kyuss and Hendrix, with the energy of MC5 and other garage bands.

Despite comparisons, their sound remains distinctive enough to avoid accusations of ripping-off Sabbath or Zeppelin, which niggle at other bands.

With two studio albums, two EPs, a live video album and a live EP, the Australian band has plenty to keep fans busy before their studio release late this year.

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How did you get your unusual stage name?

There is no story to the name.

What where your first musical influences?

Jungle music, DJ Shadow and R&B.

Black Oak Arkansas Who are they?

Hailing from Black Oak, Arkansas, what the band lacked in creative names they made up with classic glam rock and heavy guitar solos. Formed in 1965 they’ve had more shake ups than the Sugababes; the line up has changed over 50 times!

When were they at the height of their fame?

Singles No.28 and no.89 in the US chart. Whilst it wasn’t exactly a meteoric success, the band has loyal fans that adore the nostalgia of their music plus the rarity of their records; most never even made it onto CD!

Growing up, did you go out to many parties?

Yes, anything from a house party to a rave in a field.

What’s next for TEED? Tour around the UK, which starts on the 10th October at Shepard’s Bush Empire London.

What music have you been listening to lately?

A guy called Plezier, been listening to some new Lindstrøm stuff, some weird north African crazy stuff and Wishmountain, which is Matthew Herbert making music out of stuff he has bought from Tesco’s.

Where do I start?

With boundless confidence, raspy vocals and charisma, you’ll probably notice a touch of Antony Kiedis, Jack Black and David Lee Roth in front man Dandy. The single ‘Not Fade Away’ is classic drive time music.

Do you prefer performing live or making music in your studio?

I like both. At the moment I am looking forward to getting back into the studio as I have been touring so much. I kind of miss the studio, and I haven't written anything for a while. but it’s a balance; there's nothing better than writing something in the studio, looking forward to playing it out and seeing it go down well, so, a bit of both.

Where are they now?

The lead singer continues to perform with an everchanging line up. Head to Kuma’s Corner in Illinois, Chicago to sample the Black Oak Arkansas burger!

To check out Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs tour dates go to: www.myspace.com/ totallyenormousextinctdinosaurs

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The sickly sweet romance of Joey and Dawson will forever be cemented in the memories of thirty somethings as a rite of passage. The soft focus, the moody lighting and tentative smoochings were all coupled with the sounds of the 90’s anthem ‘Kiss Me’.

Sixpence None The Richer found themselves catapulted into the spotlight as the song became the soundtrack to one of teen America’s favourite dramas.

Leigh Nash’s delicate vocals were the soundtrack to summer, bringing hopelessly romantic lyrics and joyful, happy chords firmly into the mainstream.

Considering their contemporaries were the likes of Steps and Bewitched, Sixpence weren’t half bad.

Their cover of The La’s ‘There she goes’ further cemented them as 90’s heavyweights with the song appearing in numerous adverts and rom-coms.

As far as the nineties was concerned, Sixpence were almost on the verge of being as popular as Hugh Grant and Titanic. Despite the glittering beginning to their career, what followed was tumultuous line up changes, six albums that failed to set the chart alight and an eventual break up in 2004. In 2006, Leigh attempted to embark on a solo career and released two albums.

Finally, a reshuffled version of the band cropped up again after continuous label issues in order to release their latest studio album, 'Lost in Transition'.

The album was released on August 7th, 2012 after years of confusion to a moderate response. Despite lukewarm sales, it is undeniable that this band had an impressive impact on the sound of the nineties and the similar soppy songs that followed. Aww!

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R IES T RU E S T O

Ian Rose

Achieving is created by vision and has nothing to do with sight. wuwomagazine.com

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One thing that London 2012 has taught us all this summer is that there are inspirational athletes out there who have defied all odds to achieve their dream. Ian Rose is the latest hero to share his incredible story.

The retired Olympic Judo Champion has won three Paralympic medals, as well as being crowned European champion four times and winning Gold at the World Championships in 1995.

Born in 1972, Ian contracted eye cancer (Retinoblastoma) and lost his left eye and most of the sight in his right eye. The situation left Ian wearing very thick glasses, which led to early problems in school.

"I was being teased at school about the way I looked, so at the age of seven my mum and dad took me to the local Judo club. They had heard that Judo, or sport in general, was good for increasing self-esteem and confidence.

"Ron and John, the two guys that ran the local Judo club, accepted me and treated me the same as every other member with no special treatment."

He decided to take a break from the sport after his fifth Paralympic games in Beijing. After long thought and a convincing phone call from the manager of the national British Judo team, Ian felt ready to prepare and compete in London 2012. Sadly, it didn't all go to plan.

"My chance to qualify for London 2012 was at the European Champions in November last year.

All I had to do was step on the mat and compete to qualify for the games. I didn't even have to win, but I wanted to win, that's what sport is all about.

For more go to

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"I was training hard, and around two weeks before the European Championships, I snapped the ligaments in my knee in a standard training match.

"Everything I was working hard for was cruelly taken away.

The reason why I came back to compete was because it was in London - because it was the home games. That was definitely going to be my last one. But things happen for a reason."

Following the heartbreak of London, Ian decided to retire from the sport. He now uses his experience to offer motivational speeches to schools and businesses, focusing on building self-esteem, confidence, respect and communication.

"It's working out very well. Life isn't all about the good times, people have bad days too, and you have to learn how to cope with them. The trick to life is to pick yourself up and carry on. What I like to do is chat with people on how to cope with those ups and downs, and help them set realistic and achievable goals."

On the 29th August, Ian was asked to carry the Paralympic torch through Tring, something which he is extremely proud about.

"It was an amazing honour and it was a brilliant night, despite the torch itself being two hours late!

"I would never have achieved anything without the support of those close to me - my coaches and my family. I like

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ian ro s e

to see my carrying of the torch as a thank you to them for being there for me on my journey. I could never have won any of my medals without their help."

Having been a part of many Olympic and Paralympic games, Ian believes that London has raised the bar and set the standard for everybody else.

"If you look back at every single Games there is always an issue that the media like to pick up on security for example. However, when they actually start, it always runs smoothly and people just concentrate on the amazing sport that's going on.

"London have done an amazing job, the best one that I've ever had the honour to be a part of.”

He also believes that the huge success of London 2012 is largely down to the British public.

"This is the first Paralympic games that's ever been sold out. London has done Paralympic sport a world of good. It's going to become a lot more professional and focused, and the guys at the top of the sport are going to have a lot more media coverage, which is a good thing."

As well as London 2012 having a positive effect on sport as a whole, Ian believes it has done Judo a huge favour.

"The popularity of the sport was decreasing after Beijing, but recently British Judo Association recognised this and put some very good development programmes in place.

“Now we've won two medals in the Olympics and two medals in the Paralympics, that's only going to do the sport good. We need guys coming through in the development teams to push the guys at the top."

Ian, now 40, has come a long way in his remarkable journey. He's travelled all over the world and competed in some of the most historic sporting events to ever take place. So what does he deem his greatest achievement?

"There's a few that I have to hold on a par. The silver in Athens was an amazing feeling - it was a combination of hard work and putting on weight to get into my weight group - and coming back as a wildcard to win a medal was an amazing journey.

“Winning the World Championships in 1995 was also absolutely brilliant. I was number one in the world at the time. I was standing on the podium and had the national anthem played to me which was a great feeling."

Although sport has been a huge part of Ian's life, he recognises that sport isn't everything.

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"Life goes on outside sport. I'm proud of the life I've got, and I'm proud of my wife Debbie and my two kids, Jordyn & Leah.”

So will the former Olympic champion be pushing his kids into sport?

"They're already into sport; I didn't need to push them into it. Jordyn has won medals at Judo, and is also keen on football and tennis. Leah is a keen dancer and does performances at the local theatre, as well as being a cheerleader.

"If they want to push themselves then that's up to them, I'll be there to support them but they need to make that decision on their own."

If you can take anything from this remarkable story, it's that anything is possible. Ian's website quotes that 'achieving is created by vision and has nothing to do with sight.'

He is living evidence that this statement is correct.

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“It was an amazing honour and it was a brilliant night, despite the torch itself being two hours late!”

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gimmick s

Would You Go To Bed With Me wuwomagazine.com

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“Hey there darlin'... Wanna come to my place and check out the best bed this side of town?” Try this line when out and about and it's most likely you'll get a response along the lines of: “No way, you gross perverted... err... cowboy.”

This response may well be justified, but it doesn’t necessarily make the original claim any less true. Your bed might be so awesome that you just have to tell everyone about it. Why hold back? We definitely aren't, so behold! A selection of the wackiest beds the world has to offer

Deep Space Fighter Bed Ever been in bed when alien spaceships start attacking? And you're forced to merely sit there like a complete idiot while they take over the planet and more seriously, your bedroom? Well, neither have we, but it's not short of happening if you get nestled into the sci-fi regions of your imagination as well as the deep space fighter bed up for grabs at www.poshtots.com. For a small starting price of $15,000, you can decide if embedded space laser weaponry overrides actual comfort. www.poshtots.com

WUWO Magazine Contributors WUWO Media Editor in Chief Steven Godwin Editor Laura Hester Editorial Chris Wild - The Retronaut Maria Martinez Ugartechea Jo kendall Ravae Richardson Jack Courtez Ana Cardoso Gary Rampling Aaron Bains Design Nita Saroglou To get in contact about editorial requests editorial@wuwomagazine.com Advertising requests advertising@wuwomagazine. com WUWO Magazine is published monthly by WUWO Media. We try and make sure all our information is correct but details may be subject to change. Any physical submissions are sent at the owners risk and we will accept no responsibility for loss or damage. Nothing printed in WUWO Magazine can be copied or republished without our written permission.

Hamburger Bed One might take the moment to ponder on the inner dynamics and social goings on within a hamburger, you know, all those ingredients huddled up in a confined, breaded place, forced to get along. The usual suspects; lettuce, tomato, relish, onions and of course, the ring leader, the burger itself. Really get in touch with this famous snack and jump in the hamburger bed, hang out and have fun with all the fillings. To get a taste, visit www.hamburgerbed.com for a delicious, cosy world of bed fun. www.hamburgerbed.com

Sign up to the WUWO magazine's mailing list to receive exclusive offers and deals only available to WUWO members.

Chances are slim to none that one of these colourful cradles will actually get you laid, in fact, the result would probably entail the opposite. But who wants a bit of hanky panky when there's the option of firing laser beams from an enchanted pumpkin/hamburger spaceship and crying yourself to sleep over a forthcoming horrific, zombie epidemic?

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com e dy

Dinner with Tom Rosenthal wuwomagazine.com

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There’s nothing that we love more than a good laugh, and since 2007 Tom Rosenthal has provided us with more than just a few. Hailing from the mean streets of Berkshire, the 24 year old has already been nominated as the Best Breakthrough Act at the British Comedy Awards and was a joint winner of the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year.

If that’s not enough, he’ll be returning to the award winning ‘Friday Night Dinner’ this autumn and we can even look forward to a Christmas special too!

We love fresh faced comedy with a pinch of sarcasm and a healthy dollop of wit. Tom’s unashamedly, straight to the point humor satisfies our comedy cravings and understandably, we couldn’t wait to speak to the man himself.

So Tom, who is Tom.. who are you?

My name is Tom (laughter). I’m a boy in Islington, London and I’m an actor and a comedian and I like football and I sleep a bit too much. I support Arsenal and my football team.

So tell me a bit about stand up and why you kind of got into comedy in the first place.

Erm, I went to a sort of posh school where we used to do public speaking competitions. They took us around the world to compete in Canada and Cyprus and stuff.

That was really cool.

No way!

Yeah, so I got quite a lot of confidence in myself.

I used to do the funny ones and then I left school and then I left school and went to University. I was quite

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and that they made me think I was good at it. That’s half the battle really, in just having the confidence to be able to get on stage and actually try it.

Are you still doing stand up stuff at the moment or is it more TV focused?

I’m doing quite a lot of stand up on the London radar. I prefer to do gigs where they’re open minded. I’ll try out new jokes and stuff because I’ll be doing Edinburgh again next year. I’m trying to work on stuff in London and I gig most nights at the moment.

How long is a typical stand up gig then for you?

A typical set, if I’m getting paid, you'll get 20 to 25 minutes. At these open mic things, you turn up and the London stand up scene is amazing. There are so many people that want to do it. It's weirdly more competitive. There are loads of people rocking up every night and you’ll get 15 or 20 people performing in a night, doing a five minute set each. It’s just like a marathon and you’ve gotta get through all of them.

a precocious, arrogant little child, who would go and talk to people in pubs and never really stopped doing it. At university I would talk to drunk people every night and left university being a bit like: “Oh, I don’t wanna get a real job, I wanna sleep”. So I just kept doing it really.

So you’re kind of covert, going in, testing out material and stuff?

Yeah, exactly. It's also more creatively satisfying to do stuff that’s new. You’ve got your jokes that work and you know you need them for important gigs. Other times you sit there and write a joke in a day and say it that night to see how it goes.

So what were those events called then? Is it schools that host those speaking events?

One was called International Independent Public Speaking competition. It was supposed to groom you to be future leaders of the world, but it was basically just a geek collective.

So is there a place we can see you, like a regular place you go?

On Mondays I regularly perform at Parachute Productions comedy night at the Hope and Anchor in Islington. On Tuesdays, a night called TNT at Tollirano’s in Camden. I’d highly recommend both those gigs.

I guess it’s kind of a good thing to build that confidence when you moved on to become a working comedian?

Definitely. I'd put a lot down to it and I loved my school,

Did you have an acting background or was it literally just the stand up that got you there?

I did some plays at university. I don’t know if that

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would really class as an acting background. We took a few up to Edinburgh; there’s one called 'Lucidity' which is a classic student play about drug addiction and mental illness.

We did one called the Bacai, which is a site specific thing around Kings garden. Really wicked and weird.

It was directed by a girl called Daisy Adams who's gone on to be really successful. She’s getting funding from Skylarks and she's done some awesome stuff.

I managed to sneak my way in [to stand up comedy], which was very lucky to get that opportunity.

It’s all kicked off from there really. It’s going alright but it’s a pretty tough industry to get into.

Channel 4's Friday Night Dinner; that’s been pretty successful.

We’re really pleased with how the first series went and the second one’s coming out at the start of October.

We’re very excited for it and got ourselves a Christmas special as well. I think it's the first time ever for that to happen, so we’re just looking forward to seeing how it goes. I'm sure it’s funny, and can't wait for you all to see it.

So what’s the money like in TV then?

Erm… it’s bloody fine mate. It's bloody fine. I certainly can't complain. I’ve got a friend who's a civil engineer and I think last year I earned a little bit more than him; by a little I mean very little. Unless you’re in 'The Inbetweeners' then it’s millions of pounds.

For someone of my age it’s absolutely fine. It’s not a pauper's life, but it’s not a millionaire’s life.

What’s it like being on a panel show like '8 Out of 10 Cats'?

When I did 'Cats' I completely shat my pants. It was really scary and it was a very different experience.

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I did 8 Out of Ten Cats and I completely shat my pants; it was really scary and it was a very different experience."

The difference is that it’s obviously not just you doing it so you’re kind of in competition with other people in a strange way. When you’re doing stand up you’re completely in control of everything whether it goes badly, whether it goes well and you can dictate the rhythm and the pace. With panel shows, often the loudest voice or the most confident will get in first. There's a bit of a competitive atmosphere between performers. However, on '8 Out of 10 Cats' they’re very nice and almost go: it’s your turn now, while with 'Mock the Week' there’s a lot more combat; you’ve gotta start talking before anyone else starts talking.

A comedy fight then!

Obviously comedians are quite big characters and I never really classed myself as that, dominating a conversation that I never really liked just to hold court. That’s pretty much what you’ve gotta do in life. It’s a different skill and it's useful for your career.

It's obviously got a lot of fans but it's something that I wouldn’t class myself as. I'm not the expert at all and I would strive to get better.

It’s not all about 'Friday Night Dinner' with you is it – tell WUWO Magazine a bit more about your other project?

It’s this new thing that we’re doing, filming in the next couple of months, it should be on next year and it’s set in ancient Rome. It's about three young guys; a classic big city tale.

It’s exciting, really cool class. We filmed in Bulgaria, which was a whole new experience. It's written by Sam Leaves (also the director) and Tom Baston. It's got a lot of fresh meat and comedy pedigree. The executive producer worked on 'The Inbetweeners' and it’s got good people behind it.

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joins WUWO Magazine

Retronaut

showcases time capsules; groups of images and clips from specific points in time. Each month, Retronaut will showcase a special time capsule for WUWO magazine, which could address any subject from any era.

Off Sloane Square

Piccadilly Circus / Shaftesbury Avenue

“These images were taken by the brilliantly named Chalmers Butterfield in 1949.

Chalmers was American and when he came to Britain he brought with him some Kodachrome film. Kodachrome was full colour and very high resolution, two qualities rare in photographs before 1950. The scenes Chalmers recorded with the Kodachrome seem both very familiar and utterly strange. It is this quality of the known and the unknown coinciding that creates the Retronautic hit.�

Piccadilly Circus / Shaftesbury Avenue

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Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair

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R IES T RU E S T O

The real ID wuwomagazine.com

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The 1995 film I.D. was a story about an undercover police officer whose assignment was to infiltrate a gang of football thugs. The undercover officer soon starts to forget which side he's on when the fighting and drinking becomes the norm.

The above provides a synopsis to one of the UK’s most violent and hard-hitting films that you may never wish to watch! What wasn't common knowledge back in 1995 was the fact that this was a true story and that the undercover office was a man named James Bannon.

WUWO Magazine caught up with James for a chat in order get to the bottom of how this intense story came to light as well as to find out more about his diverse working background; undercover police officer, actor, stand up comedian, the set up and sale of a chain of estate agents and a brief spell owning and running an airline.

What are you up to right now?

I’m writing a book based on the film I.D. I’ve spoken about it being factually based a bit more recently, but I hadn’t done so before. I took the decision early on not to broadcast that as I was trying to be an actor and carve a new career on the back of the film rather than ‘I used to be an undercover police officer who became an actor.’

Looking back, I should have gone down that route because of the amount of interest it has created.

Maybe my career as an actor would have been slightly different! (laughs) Why acting?

I was very fortunate. I had good representation and got seen for lots of great stuff. I went to a really small drama school, which gave me good basics. At 23 years old when you’ve come out from being a covert police officer for years, which is all I knew, your employable skills aren’t many. But you are really good at pretending you are someone you’re not.

How did you become an undercover officer?

I got spotted by a really good sergeant who took me under his wing and thought I had the natural ability to work in plain clothes. I suppose I didn’t look like old bill and maybe I didn’t behave like the average young policeman did. I grew up on an estate and wasn’t afraid to say what I thought was right or wrong. There was a massive social and political problem in mid to late 80s with football hooliganism. They wanted us to go in, get evidence and get arrests.

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You can’t teach someone to be covert policeman. You can give them the tools, run scenarios and role-play but nothing will be a substitution for the real situation.

You are forever thinking on your feet. It's not about just wearing plain clothes, it's a completely specialist type of policing. I was living another life for two and a half years and it was absolutely insane.

How far can an undercover officer go? Did you commit offences?

You have to trust the individual officer and that they will make a decision based on where they are in that operation and what the consequences are if they carry out those options. You have to ask “is what I’m doing for the common good?”

It's not as simple as black and white. For example, on an operation would you have three pints of beer because that’s what they’re all drinking and then drive them all home? Or the extreme of that is do you sleep with this woman because it's going to elevate your status and you’re going to get into a certain level much quicker than if you didn’t? I never lost sight that what I was doing was a job.

Is the film factually correct?

There are elements of the film which are factually correct but some are just to boost it as a film.

Did you carry out acts of violence?

I worked as an undercover football hooligan for two and a half years. During that time I convinced everyone that I was a hardcore football hooligan.

I couldn’t have done that by sitting down watching ‘The Waltons’, but at the same time if someone is running at me and about to hit me with a big bat, then that is aboutself­ ­‑ preservation. I would feel quite justified that if he's going to hit me with that lump of wood then I’ll need to hit him before he hits me.

Did the police take the case to court after your time undercover?

No arrests were ever made from our operation.

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tr e n d s

Album

Fact

Film

Trend

Website

Beacon – Two Door Cinema Club

I swear on my balls

Biutiful (2010)

#TheDateWasOverWhen

www.internet-map.net

Almost two years after the release of Tourist History, Two Door’s first album, the band now rewards their fans with Beacon.

Before, they followed this line of simple lyrics with fun, catchy tunes and vibrant, dancing rhythms. Now, they show us how much they have matured and taken their music to a new level of depth.

Deals or promises are now made with a handshake, signature or a hand-on-heart gesture. In the past however people were a little more ‘nuts’.

Abraham: “I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh.”

According to The King James Bible and Hebrew scriptures, people would often cup another man’s balls while swearing oaths.

The reason this trend died is not clear but WUWO Magazine blames Speedos and herpes, coincidentally the same reasons our team holiday got cancelled last year.

The root of the Latin word ‘testis’ means to testify. Testicle takes the root of the word as they are testament to a person’s gender and status as a man.

While groping today is widely frowned upon, we wonder what historic moments would look like had the habit continued…

Biutiful was the first film that Alejandro González Iñárritu directed all by himself, without his long-time partner, the screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga.

It is linear, straightforward, made for the viewer’s heart and centred in one breathtaking character: Uxbal (Javier Bardem).

He is a lonely father, taking care of his two children and trying to live by his wits.

He’s portrayed has a decent man, a concerned father, but often struggles to make the most honest options while living in Barcelona’s underworld.

Bardem, already carrying Mar Adentro as one of his masterpieces, transforms Biutiful into a film that values the actor through the composition of the character - while offering a peculiar perspective of Barcelona.

It’s a thought flick, that will embed itself in your head for a while.

Back in July, where summer was nowhere to be seen in London, people kept themselves busy by exploring the sad memories of dates gone wrong on Twitter.

Who can blame them? Anyone who went through the first date experience probably came to the conclusion that some of them can be quite peculiar. In an undateable sort of way.

If you think you’ve had a bad experience, look at some of the tweets below: • #TheDateWasOverWhen she said hold on my boyfriend’s calling • # T h e D a t e Wa s O v e r W h e n she pulled out a hand puppet and was talking to me through ventriloquism • #TheDateWasOverWhen you showed up in Crocs.

This still undiscovered website, projected by Russian coder Ruslan Enikeev, put together 350,000 websites and two million links from 196 countries. But it seems very plain doesn’t it?

Their frenetic beat is still there and their lyrics became much more elaborate and rationalised, giving a different perspective of TDCs style. It’s hard to compare Beacon to their previous work, since it lacks the happiness and easiness that the fans grew accustomed to. Yet, it still warms your heart.

Favourite songs off the album: Someday, Settle and Beacon

Nonetheless, what makes it different is that it looks like a pretty, colourful constellation of dots, reminiscent of stars in space.

The initial perspective is for you to understand each country's preferences when going online It’s fun and bubbly and it gives you a good visual representation on what the world's Internet usage.

App

Le Memefier This free app can only be used by those who are true fans of the website 9Gag (yes, you, precisely).

The photography app uses real time facial recognition to turn you and your friend’s exquisite faces into a Derp, Derpina and all the others memes that don’t make any sense.

It’s fun to use when you’re bored in those long tube journeys (and if you’re also tired of that thing called Instagram) offering you a very clean and simple appearance.

Also, if you think that there aren’t enough memes to choose from, the in-app store gives you the option to purchase more.

Not bad. So, Y U No Download?!

Either way, this trend might have elucidated the reason why some of you will mostly end up alone.

WUWO are giving away 5 double passes to 'A Fat Lot Of Good' a comedy cabaret with an eclectic mix of high physical skills, at the Pleasance Theatre London.

competition

Show date: 25th of October.

Just go to www.wuwomagazine. com/competitions for your chance to win.

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titl e

er art e x plor

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Introducing Joey Holder; a London-based artist who has been producing an engaging collection of vibrant, intensely hued works that dazzle us in a variety of mediums.

We are especially taken by the splice of scientific/technological terminology that title her creations, such as ‘Chondritic’, ‘Pleochrosim’ and ‘Quetzaltenango’. www.joeyholder.com

Left: Photovoltaics Below: Square

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er art e x plor

Left: Crocodylinae Below: Wōniú

Above: Spel Below: Tsavorite

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foo d

WUWO’s menu

Curious Diets

Maria Martinez Ugartechea

Culinary Gone Crazy

Cocktail of the M onth

There is no doubt that what is the norm for some, is weird and entirely unthinkable for others, and that food cultures around the world can vary radically between borders. In the UK, a simple jam and peanut butter sandwich might alert our odd food radars, but that ain't nothin' unusual if we dig around the planet a little further.

Chocolate cocktails are very popular but they are hard to find, and many bars make the same ones. At WUWO we like to add more variety so we are sharing with you our White Choc Malibu. Try it, and it will be the hit of your party.

We've all heard about the love of dog and cat meat in a handful of countries across the globe. So, after a spot of investigation, we aim to rustle up bizarre and exotic delicacies in order for you to put it all into a culinary perspective and leave those chocolate and cheese eaters in peace.

Deep in the heart of Cambodia, about 80 km north of the capital city of Phnom Pen lies the village of Skuon, where the local delicacy comes in the form of a crispy, deep-fried tarantula. Yes, a fried tarantula or “a-ping” as it is called locally.

Every morning, villagers forage in the depths of the forest in order to capture thousands of these furry, creepy crawlies whose fate is to be sold at the local market.

Each critter has to be defanged prior to sale to vendors who then cook and sell them throughout the day. In Skuon, this trade sustains many families.

After a good rinse, our eight legged friends are then fried with a mixture of garlic, peppercorns, salt and sugar. Each merchant then adds a unique twist of their own concoction of spice and flavour depending on each families special recipe.

The legs are eaten first; their texture crunchy on the outside with crablike white meat on the inside. The front segment of the body is considered the sweeter and tastiest part. The posterior appendage is saved for the extremely adventurous, as this is where the eggs, organs and excrement are stored.

It has to be said, that this is definitely not the sort of snack that will replace our common and trusted packet of crisps any time soon.

Although it does raise the question; if thousands of tarantulas are sold and snacked on every day... how many more are still out there?

During the Olympics many websites published the eccentric diet habits that some of the famous athletes follow. The Olympian diets range from extreme to extreme where Michael Phelps consumes up to 12,000 calories a day, at the same time South Korean gymnast Son Yeon-jae’s night meal consists of yoghurt and her trainers measure her food in grams.

While the athletes work really hard to maintain their figures, despite nutritionist’s advice, many people are always on the look for new diets that promise to shed the pounds with minimal effort.

These diets do not work, but their absurdity is simply hilarious and we have come across one that has top the list of weird diets: The beer and ice cream diet. Do I need to say more?

This diet says that because our body burn calories while trying to maintain our temperature up to 37˚C, when we consume very cold things like ice cream or beer then our body burns calories to try to warm up.

Now if that was the case, it would give us an excuse to pile on the beer and never skip the ice cream again, and who doesn’t want that?

But the truth is that although the body does burn some calories while trying to heat up, it is not enough to burn those calories going in, so really we are better off dancing and partying.

Dinner Date for a Fiver Start with some freshly brewed espresso coffee, cooled to room temp if possible.

The following makes two: Into a cocktail shaker, add about a cup of ice, and the following: 2 shots of espresso 2 shots vodka 4 shots kahlua 1. Shake it like this, shake it like that; shake like crazy! It gets the cream all foamed up!!!

2. Pour out through a strainer into two chilled martini glasses. It should have a nice cream that will rise to the top like a pint of Guinness.

Add some coffee beans to 3. garnish if you have any, otherwise guzzle it down as you make yourself another.

Enjoy before hitting the town, or over a late breakfast the day after the night before...

Maria Martinez Ugartechea

Bacon parcels of chicken and cheese 270g chicken breast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £2.00 200g emmental cheese slices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £1.00 275g unsmoked steaky bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £0.97 1 bag mixed salad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £1.00 1tsp olive oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 cloves garlic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Herbs de Provence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Salt and pepper to taste. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. Preheat the oven at 180˚C .

2. Cut the chicken breasts through their thickest side, and open them to make them flat.

3. Rub the olive oil on them, season with salt, cracked black pepper and herbs de provence, and if you like rub with chopped garlic as well.

4. Take a slice of cheese; wrap the chicken breast around it forming a small parcel. Then wrap the parcel with the streaky bacon until it is all covered.

5. Repeat the last step to prepare the second chicken breast. Place both bacon parcels on a baking tray, cover them with tin foil and pop them in the oven for 15 minutes.

6. After this time, bring the baking tray out from the oven, remove the tin foil and put the baking tray back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes. You can leave it for longer to make the streaky bacon crispier but do not leave it for too long or the chicken will dry out.

7.

Once the chicken is cooked, slice the parcel when it is hot and the cheese is oozing out.

Serve it with the salad. You can also serve it with vegetables, tomatoes or even with rice.

This chicken goes with everything and it is very easy to make.

Photo by Kirsten Anderson

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trav e l

Guerilla Travel wuwomagazine.com

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No package holiday, no tour rep

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WUWO Magazine reveals travel stories devoid of rules.

Driving Route 138: Cote-Nord, Quebec, Canada

One crisp, clear summer morning in late June, our trio set off in a VW camper to explore the Côte-Nord in the province of Quebec with one mission: to drive Route 138.

Stretching a distance of approximately 1400 kilometers, the road follows the north shore of the Saint Lawrence river past Montreal, Quebec City and onto Natashquan in the east.

The road is one of the oldest in Canada. Building began in 1731 in order to improve the transport link between the capital city of Quebec and Montreal. Completed in 1737, this original length of freeway became known as the King's Highway and over the years expanded to connect Quebec City with towns in the remote east.

Initially a motorway, speeding through populated cities and towns, Route 138 eventually peters out into two lanes that meander amongst some of Quebec's most impressive scenery.

In the region of Manicouagan, hilly terrain is shrouded in firs that descend into the horizon of the remote northern territory, whilst its seams form a coastline of rocky outcrops that dip abruptly into chilly, pellucid waters.

These rich waters attract a variety of marine mammals (including the acclaimed blue whale), along with an entourage of visitors to marvel over them. The radical drop in depth relatively close to the shore provides a multitude of vantage points for land observation. For a closer inspection, boat excursions are available between May and October.

The asphalt abides and sidles past an abundance of cobalt blue lakes and gushing rivers both flourishing with fish, luring fishing enthusiasts from afar.

Waterfalls thunder in various spots and provide scenic stop off points to watch salmon leaping upstream.

Modestly signposted dirt tracks lead to magical forests carpeted with spongelike moss and lichen.

Arriving in Duplessis, the southern shores of the Saint Lawrence river fade as the river has long since transformed into sea. The distance between towns grows and human presence decreases. A black bear trundles across the road behind us. The landscape is a vast mosaic dominated by shrubby heathland and punctuated on either side by stunted forest.

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Bays, coves and craggy islets scatter a coastline that home some of Quebec's finest beaches. The Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve lingers nearby. An archipelago of around 40 islands harbors an eerie array of unusually shaped monoliths, the product of weather and the centuries.

Streets lined by picture perfect houses with their white picket fences and manicured lawns are now few and far between. In their place, Indian reservations, no longer cast off the main roads, out of sight, out of mind, but that linger in a solemn contrast, reflecting the hard truths of now and then.

The road reaches its tarmac terminus, Natashquan. Tar turns to dirt and Route 138 struggles on, kicking up dust on the forest tundra that perseveres the harsh, changing climates. We screech to a halt. The road brashly comes to its momentary end.

Ahead, men and vehicles toil to extend the road further east to create a vital link with the neighbouring province New Foundland and Labrador. For us, there is nowhere else to go. We turn around and head back the way we came to experience Route 138 and all its hostile charm from the other perspective. Vanishing in the rear view mirror, a large, green sign reads: 138 – END. For more information on visiting the Côte-Nord in Quebec, please visit www.bonjourquebec.com

d iy

D. I. Why? Cause you can...

Next issue...

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How to make an invisible bookshelf

Make your own pallet coffee table

This ingenious design creates the effect that your books are hovering on your wall! Actual floating books would be a good party trick, but also physically impossible. Do not be let down, as with this easy-to-follow guide, you will be able to bamboozle your mates with seemingly levitating books as well as impressing your second half with your DIY skills.

Don't be afraid to ask your local DIY shop for help with the materials. They're there to help and get paid to do so!

It’s amazing what an ordinary wooden pallet can be transformed into with a bit of imagination and tinkering.

Pallets can be picked up cheap from pretty much anywhere; warehouses, supermarkets, markets and you may even get them for free as people are usually keen to get rid of them.

Making a coffee table out of a pallet is not only economical, but makes a great, unique piece of furniture that you can design and add to as you wish! To get you started, follow these basic guidelines.

Materials:

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• • • • • •

One metal wall brace (L-shaped metal bracket with holes Some screws A drill A hardback book with no cover (Harry Potter, the Bible) Some Velcro strips A stud finder (yes, amusing name! Its purpose is to find any existing studs in the wall to prevent you drilling into them; not as exciting as the name insinuates) • Spirit level to assure that all is perfectly even and, yes, level (for those who take DIY very seriously)

Instructions:

UNITTLIEVIN.G MADE EASY

STUDEN

nce included, internet and contents insura s, bill all ty, uri sec r hou 24r over With fully furnished, it’s no wonde ms roo all and le, ilab ava ms en-suite roo online to see our live with us. Call today or go 40,000 students choose to com dation.* 0800 783 4213 unite-students. fantastic range of accommo

• F ind a solid wall (preferably away from any water/electricity supply!), solid wood is probably safest. Use your stud finder, if you have one, to locate a good, clear spot.

• Now you are going to make the actual shelf part of your invisible bookshelf. Take the cover off a hardback book and stick the Velcro to the middle of the inside back cover.

• Paste another bit of Velcro to the outside of the metal wall brace, the side which WILL NOT be attached to the wall obviously!

• Make sure the metal brace is straight against the wall using your spirit level, then drill it into place using the screws. Drill the screw into the top hole first. This will leave you leeway to make sure it’s straight, and then finish it off by drilling and tightening the other screw into the second hole.

• Put your hardback book (minus cover) onto the brace. Match the Velcro on the book to the Velcro on the brace and stick together firmly.

• Now continue to stack your books. It can get wobbly, but don’t panic, just go slowly and refrain from using an excess of heavy books all in one go.

• If you’re having trouble balancing your books on one metal wall brace, then try two braces but be sure to follow the Velcro instructions to keep your books floating on your mysteriously invisible bookshelf! www.instructables.com

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Materials: • • • •

A wooden pallet Wood polish/varnish A large paintbrush A pair of wheels (Amazon or Ebay are your best bet) • A drill • Some small screws • Plywood (optional)

Instructions: • S and and stain the pallet with polish then leave overnight to dry.

• Buy a cheap set of four wheels and drill them into each corner underneath the pallet – get creative and select from a range of available colours.

• If the pallet is not sealed underneath, simply measure up and nail on a piece of plywood. This will create compartments that could hold books or other objects.

• Add your own touches; flowers, candles, books, magazines... et voila!

A new coffee table! www.mangotomato.com

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26-28 October at ExCel London

WUWO Magazine’s comic’al day out Fans of films, TV, video games, comics, sci-fi and anime will want to make a date in their diaries for the MCM London Comic Con, Britain’s biggest festival of pop culture.

Taking place from 26-28 October at ExCel London, this event is the UK's answer to the famous San Diego Comic Con. It provides visitors with the chance to preview the hottest new games, meet stars from upcoming films and sci-fi shows and check out panels on exciting new TV series and DVDs. It will also explore the country’s largest gathering of comic artists and writers as well as present the opportunity to discover Japanese culture, food and fashion.

Special Guests This year's headline guest will be none other than Doctor Who's Matt Smith, who will be hosting a panel on Friday 26th of the MCM London Comic Con. Other guests already announced include The Walking Dead's Jeffrey DeMunn, Roger Cross and Tony Amendola from upcoming Syfy series Continuum, Debrah Farentino and Tembi Locke from fan favourite Eureka, and Keegan Connor Tracy from hit fantasy drama Once Upon A Time. They will be joined by a trio of top animé and video game voice actors, such as Liam O'Brien (Naruto), Ali Hillis (Final Fantasy XIII) and Courtenay Taylor (Mass Effect 3, Resident Evil 6).

Games On the gaming front, Nintendo has revealed that visitors will be able to get handson with their revolutionary new Wii U console, while Trion Worlds' ground breaking sci-fi MMO Defiance has been unveiled as the show's lead sponsor.

Due to hit shelves in April 2013, Defiance is a multi-platform shooter MMO that uniquely interconnects with an upcoming Syfy Network television series set in the same universe. Other games confirmed for the MCM London Comic Con include the much anticipated Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, Far Cry 3 and ZombiU (Ubisoft);Lost Planet 3 and DMC Devil May Cry (Capcom); and Borderlands 2 and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2K Games). Meanwhile, THQ will be demoing their upcoming MMO South Park: The Stick of Truth, and Square Enix brings two gaming icons to the show with bald assassin Agent 47 starring in Hitman: Absolution. Lara Croft is also returning in a new Tomb Raider game. tIn addition, Namco Bandai will be hosting a Tekken Tag Tournament 2 competition. The country's 16 top players will be battling it out for the chance to represent the UK at the Electronic Sport World Cup (ESWC) in Paris. The publisher will also be letting visitors get a taste of the aesthetically mesmerising, epic RPG, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch .

This month's MCM London Comic Con will also play host to a new VidFestUK zone, which promises to be a celebration of allthings online video. Also expect the finals of the 2012 EuroCosplay Championships; a colourful competition that will see contestants from more than 20 countries taking to the stage dressed as their favourite film, comic book and animé characters. All to be adorned in costumes they have painstakingly crafted themselves.

For more information and tickets visit: www.mcmexpostore.com

"I hope no one can see my leopard print tights"