1 FRIDAY 24 JAN The Reappraisal of the Download our British State new iOS App Out Today: Eoghan Totten on the Coalition Govt. 10 The mobile experience

“Keep the Cat Free”

24/01/14 Issue 1565 felixonline.co.uk

Farewell Science Museum Library THIS ISSUE... The Science Musuem Library is moving, and change is coming to the 3rd Floor.

Joe Letts HANGMAN Editor-in-Chief

his week the Science Museum announced that they have come to a mutual agreement with College to relocate the Science Museum Library as part of a scheme that will create a new Science Museum research centre at it’s TSouth Kensington site. The move, which will take place over approximately six weeks, will commence on Feburary 3rd, and will see the entire 3rd floor collection move to the Science Musuem’s Hangman refuses to library and holding facility in Wroughton. The primary undergraduate student use of the Science say sorry. 30 Museum library has been as a study space, while the library often caters to the literary needs of the museum staff. While the move will see the removal of the entire collection, many books in the collection are also available at other museums like the British Library and the Senate SCIENCE House library, both in London. Students will also be able to visit the Wroughton library via appointment if they require books that are unique to the Science Museum. The College Library staff have the concern of students as their top priority and will be working to ensure that disruption is minimal while the books are in transit. They will also provide alternate locations for the 36 study spaces available in the Sci. Museum library and will try to keep noise to a minimum. They will also be compiling a list of Frequently Asked Questions for students to consult about the move and how they can access books that they may need from the collection in the future. The Epigenetic Simon Harding-Roots, Imperial’s Chief Operations Officer, said: “I’m very pleased that, by working closely revolution 6 with the Science Museum, we have a plan for the future that works for both partners. On our South Kensington Campus space is at a premium, so freeing some up through the new arrangement will be incredibly helpful for our teaching and research activities. We look forward FILM to working closely with the Science Museum, and its new research centre, in the years to come.” After the departure of the Science Museum library, the space will remain empty while a commitee convenes in College to discuss the best way in which to use spaces around campus, lead by Professor Stephen Richardson Associate Provost (Institutional Affairs). Student feedback will be welcomed in considerations of future uses of the space. In the meanwhile if students and staff have any queries regarding the changes taking place the library is available Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. for communcation via [email protected]. For more information about the Science Museum Frozen, it’s ice cold! Library at Wroughton visit: http://bit.ly/1dZsx0d 24 2 FRIDAY 24 JAN EDITOR’S PICKS

GAMES COMMENT FILM GTA - Games style Letters Director Masterclass This week Games reviews GTA, The Editor responds to E.’s pleas Peter Brook on the works of and that’s Grand Theft Auto, for easy puzzles with a few brain Martin Scorsese. not teasers.

Felix Sex Survey Cycle Security Annoucement

hat’s right ladies and survey. here has been an increase three years that we have been selling gentlemen, boys and girls, With new questions and moar in cycle theft in the South these locks we have had no reports our sex survey will be analysis, this year’s survey is bound to Kensington area and the of locks being cut through. If you opening again this year! be a corker! concentration of cycles on wish to purchase one please go to The survewy starts on Whether you’re a saint or sinner, campus make the college a Room 155 in the Sherfield Building. TMonday so make sure to load the link cluber or reviser, come and tell us Tprime target. You can also have your cycle in your browsers and fill out some about yourself! Over 95% of cycles stolen on campus security marked in Room 155 free of in 2013 have been because cycles charge. owners are buying locks that can be The Security Team is also working removed in seconds , particularly with the local Police Team to look cable locks, chains and padlocks. at what other measures can be The Security Department have been implemented to reduce cycle theft on buying “ABUS Granite X plus” locks Campus. in bulk and discounting them to staff If you see anyone acting suspiciously bit.ly/1l2exIo and students at a price of £30. around cycles on campus please call #SWAG These locks normally retail Security immediately on 4444 or between £70 and £80 and in the 02075891000 from a mobile

Tribute Nite (spelling intentional, honest!)

azz and Rock soc are hosting laughing and holding up the bar. a Tribute Nite on Tuesday The event starts at 7PM on Tuesday LOLCAT OF TEH WEEK: More from teh Lolcat editor 28th February. and finishes at 11PM and is hosted in You can either play up to Metric! three songs from any band, orJ come and watch people play while Go Metric! Exploring Cinema t was once said that one of angry when they put any thought loosest sense of the term, be called a the most sexist things about into its premise. For instance, the romantic comedy. But this isn’t your Imperial is the line-up chosen Little Mermaid, whose entire plot stereotypical ‘our problems could all by Imperial Cinema. Perhaps revolves around the main character be solved if we actually just learned to in its eclectic mix of discerning changing everything about herself in communicate’, it’s actually a good film. Iblockbusters, films aimed solely at an attempt to impress the man she The rest of the line-up manages females aren’t picked that often, but saw one time on a boat. Frozen, on to continue this them – nothing that doesn’t make the statement true. the other hand, not only makes fun of there is intended just for the male Looking at the showings for this term, the old Disney tropes, but passes the demographic. two films stick out. Firstly, there is Bechdal test with flying colours. The And if that isn’t good enough for Frozen, one of only a few Disney films other noticeable entry is Don Jon. In you, then it’s probably time to talk to that manages to not make the viewer this case, it is a film that could, in the Hollywood.

Felix, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 020 7594 8072. Fax: 020 7594 8065. THIS BROUGHT Printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge, Winship Road, Cambridge. Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711. Copyright © Felix 2014. WEEK WASTO YOUBY Editor-in-Chief Joe Letts News Editors Nida Mahmud, Aamna Mohdin, Aemun Reza, Maciej Matuszewski Features Editor Shiladitya Ghosh Wellbeing Editor Marissa Lewis Business Editor James Tsim Science Editors Philippa Skett, Keir Little, Fiona Hartley Politics Editor Kartikeya Rana, Jash Rughani Food Editors Carol Ann Cheah, Michael Chung Comment Editors Eoghan J. Totten, Tessa Davey Arts Editor Arianna Sorba Fashion Editor Cécile Borkhataria Books Editors Maciej Matuszewski, Eva Rosenthal Music Editors Simon Hunter, Riaz Agahi, Stuart Masson, William Stocker Television Editors John Park, Emily Fulham Film Editor John Park Games Editors Maximilian Eggl, Calum Skene, Imran Rashid Technology Editors Maximilian Eggl, Yong Wen Chua, Osama Arawa, Clubs & Socs Editor Nida Mahmud Charity Editor Ben Fernando Travel Editor Chris Richardson Sports Editor Kunal Wagle Online Editors Philip Kent, Annina Sartor, Stephen Ball Puzzles Commanders Kingshuk Dasadhikari, Oliver Price Copycats Stephen Ball and Annina Sartor Copykittens Mattin Mir-Tahmasebi FRIDAY 24 JAN 3 Editors: Aemun Reza, Nida Mahmud, Maciej Matuszewski, Aamna Mohdin NEWS [email protected] US Energy Secretary visits Imperial Debating Imperial comes in top

new $33 billion loan scheme for new Secretary Moritz chose to come to the 16 at the World Maciej Matuszewski green technologies and emphasised Grantham Institute to give a lecture News Editor the need for a wide range of ideas on US energy policy. His message of University Debating in the fight against climate change, progress on all fronts gives hope that saying that “there is no one low- US technology and enterprise may Championships mperial College was visited last carbon solution, but many low- give a powerful lead in the effort to week by US Energy Secretary carbon solutions”. He also spoke of the limit global warming.” Ernest Moniz. In a talk on Friday, problems involved with dealing with The Institute was formed in 2007 January 17, at the Grantham the already existing consequences of as a result of a £12 million donation Institute for Climate Change Dr climate change. from the Grantham Foundation for IMoniz outlined the US government’s Dr Moniz has a highly respected the Protection of the Environment. current energy policy and its plans for scientific background – havingIt brings together scientists from all achieving a low carbon future. attained a PhD in from Stanford over Imperial to carry out research He was keen to stress that his University and held the position of in the field of climate science. It also Department understood very well Head of the Department of Physics aims to provide policy guidance that we live in a “carbon constrained at the Massachusetts Institute of to governments and international world”, and that lowering emissions Technology. While he was only organisations, as well as stimulating was a major priority. His talk focused appointed to his current position general discussion on the topic on his belief that governments must last May he had previously served as through events such as Dr Moritz’s use all the tools at their disposal to Associate Director of the Office of talk. The Institute has been praised by help us achieve a low-carbon world, Science and Technology Policy and as Grantham Foundation patrons Jeremy saying that “we need to prepare the President Clinton’s Under Secretary of and Hannelore Grantham, with the way for multiple solutions and that Energy. pair saying that it and similar groups Debating Society’s history. is why we are walking the talk in In a statement given after the “are vitally important to understand Anita Chandran With such inspiring results from making substantial investment across speech the Director of the Gratham and respond to the scale, pace and Reporter their seniors, current members of the spectrum of energy sources”. He Institute, Professor Brian Hoskins, potential implications of climate the society are fired up to compete explained the Obama administration’s said: “We are really pleased that change”. at the World Championships in mperial Debating saw success at Malaysia next year. The tournament, the World University Debating held from late December into early Championships. Tensions January, has a competitive selection Union Concert Hall refurbished and temperatures were high process, with debaters vying to be at Rajalakshmi College of selected by an external adjudicator. IEngineering in Chennai, the host The open trials, held internally, are an with £220,000 grant venue of the competition. During excellent training opportunity which the second year of attending the allow people of all standards to try for international competition, students success. However, it’s not all about the of Imperial College argued their way World Championships. Opportunities through almost 350 teams into the top for international competitions range sixteen of the tournament. from Budapest to Vienna, Slovakia The team of quarter-finalists to Paris, with plenty of tournaments consisted of Ed Middleton, a final held at home in the UK. The debating year medic, and former president of society urges people to come along the debating society, James Clough. and try it with James Clough, one Through their smooth speaking skills of the two successful speakers at and practised persuasive tactics the the WUDC this year, never having pair were respectively ranked 38th debated before beginning university. and 41st in the competition which However, it’s not all about was comprised of almost 700 speakers developing analytical abilities and after the Trust’s Committee decided Provost (Education) and Chair of from universities such as Cambridge, learning to charm crowds into Maciej Matuszewski on a one off increase to the funding the Harlington Committee, said: Harvard, Auckland and Sydney. believing what you are saying. The News Editor available, to assist with the ongoing “It’s fantastic to be able to award this The competition has nine rounds social side of debating brings people redevelopment of the Union building. funding to two extremely worthwhile of intense mental stimulation. From together from across the world to A number of other improvements, projects. I’m really proud that all the the rise of the ‘hook up culture’ to celebrate the New Year in style, with lans have been including a full scale redevelopment money we are able to give through the the private governance of bankrupt cultural flair from the host nation. The announced for a major of the Union’s media facilities in the Harlington Grants Fund goes straight cities, the topics are designed to push links our college makes with schools refurbishment of Beit West Basement, are being funded to student groups to improve the and challenge all those involved. from all over the U.K. and farther the Imperial College directly the College and Union. student experience here at Imperial. Clough and Middleton overcame afield are ones that will last for a long Union Concert Hall, to Union President David Goldsmith, The Union Concert Hall in particular the competition to fight for a place time to come. The parties are vibrant, be funded by a grant praised the awarding of the grant, is a really important facility on campus in the semi-finals against Victoria exciting and filled with students from Pfrom the Harlington Trust. The adding: “The Union Concert Hall and I can’t wait to visit and see how Wellington, Yale and Sydney, who a variety of backgrounds, all enjoying space is currently used by a number is a space used by student groups students are using the refurbished later went on to compete in the the festivities in the way students do. of different groups, including the throughout the year and this space!” finals. Despite narrowly missing out Well, with a hint of banter, of course. Drama, Musical Theatre and Cinema refurbishment is going to make a Applications for Harlington Trust to Sydney, Imperial’s Clough and To get involved with starting societies. The refurbishment is aimed real difference to so many students. Grants from Union societies continue Middleton paved the way for the most debating, e-mail debate@imperial. at improving the technical capabilities The Harlington Grants Fund is an to be accepted throughout the year. impressive result in Imperial College ac.uk. You know you want to. of the Concert Hall. important source of funding for many Deputy President (Clubs & The Harlington Trust was created of our student groups and seeing it Societies) Yas Edwards, said “The in 1989 to manage the profit from being used on a larger project like this Harlington Trust agreed the funding the selloff of gravel excavated during is really exciting.” of £215,000 for the project. We are the redevelopment of the College’s The Trust also provided £30,000 working with the principle authors of playing fields in Harlington. Each year to buy new equipment for the gym the original bid to develop the plans the Trust awards up to £50,000 to at the College’s Silwood Campus at present. Our intention is that the Union clubs and societies to improve and a number of smaller grants were space will be improved, allowing more their facilities or equipment. The made to individual student groups. drama and music groups to make £220,000 redevelopment grant comes Professor Debra Humphris, Vice regular use of the space” Union Page

Student Academic New Choice Awards imperialYearcollegeunion. org/Fairnewyearfair The New Year Fair is being held in the Great Hall on Tuesday between 11:00 - 16:00.

A younger sister of Freshers’, the Fair will give you the opportunity to get spring 2014 involved with a range of new things in 2014. With a collection of local EVENTS THIS WEEK and national businesses, the Fair imperialcollegeunion.org/stressless has something for everyone! There After a successful launch last year, the Student Academic Choice will also be entertainment provided Awards are back! by our very own Imperial College ZEN LOUNGE students. the Student Academic Choice Awards – or SACAs – enable Monday 27 January, 11:00 - students to celebrate and reward excellence and innovation 17:00 Exhibitors include: amongst Imperial’s academic and professional staff. We believe Free teaching and supervision are skills of equal worth and value to Metric Nando’s, The Royal Albert Hall, research, and we aim to build a community in which academics, Teach First, HappyBird, STA Travel, staff and students all feel empowered to bring forth new ideas. Drop in for a free massage TutorFair, Elections, Rate My (available between 12:00 - Placement, Techtonics, Student Nominations are open now until 28 February. For more details visit 16:00), kick back and relax with imperialcollegeunion.org/sacas. Castle, Imperial Hubs, Action our chill-out music. This is a work free zone! Tutoring, Stress Less, CIMA, ICU Dance, Pure Student Living, Felix, imperialcollegeunion.org/sacas London Business School, The MINDFULNESS Mansion Group, Child Reach, iQ Residential Experience Review MEDITATION Shoreditch, RCSU, Westminster, Tuesday 28 January, 13:00 - Image Scotland, Scopes, Global 13:50 Banking Training, Humanitarian Free Group for Syria, RAG, Advice Centre, Chaplaincy Multi-Faith Hamptons International, Events, Centre Blablacar, Victorstone, Student Hub, Victoria Hall Student Accommadation, An introduction to meditation Give It A Go, London Philharmonic not connected to religious Orchestra, Seed Jobs, Scape Student tradition. Gives simple ways to Living, CSPs and more. As part of the College’s Education and Student Strategy, a practice meditation in daily life. Residential Experience Review has been commissioned to direct Run by the Imperial College It’s new year, new you! the future residential experience for students living in Imperial Chaplaincy team. College accommodation. There is a particular focus on the first year experience of undergraduates. More information can be found at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/education-and-student-strategy/ ARTS & CRAFTS SESSION actionplan/globalcommunity/futureresidentialexperience. Thursday 30 January, 12:30 - 14:30 The review panel want to hear about your experiences of living in Free Halls so all responses to the survey will be submitted as evidence Activity Spaces to the panel for consideration. Release your inner child with To complete the review or find out more, please visit our fun, free drop-in arts & imperialcollegeunion.org/residential-experience-review. crafts session. We’ll have a number of fun activities for you imperialcollegeunion.org/residential-experience-review to get involved with. No artistic talent required.

imperialcollegeunion.org FRIDAY 24 JAN 5

@feliximperial

FelixImperial NEWS

Imperial Imperial College NHS Trust College Imperial College opens new in Consultation to become India Foundation ICT centre a Foundation Trust Scholarship Programme at Imperial support is central to this scheme and West Nida Mahmud we’re grateful that their generosity has News Editor enabled it to grow further still.” The first person to attain the Imperial College India Foundation Nida Mahmud mperial College and Imperial PhD scholarship, Mr Singh, News Editor College India Foundation commented that: will be increasing the size of “I am thrilled to have been awarded their scholarship programme. this scholarship. Studying in such mperial has opened a new centre The scholarship is for Indian an international environment, for ICT innovation at Imperial Ipostgraduate students who have an alongside world-leaders in their field West. outstanding academic background is a precious opportunity. I’m very This new centre is called and reside in India. The programme grateful to everyone whose generosity Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London Node and it hopes to initially begun in September 2013, this made it possible.” Mr Singh wil begin Ibridge the gap between the research year two full Master’s scholarships his PhD in 2014 in the Mechanical that is taken and the delivery of the On their website, they said “We see and one full PhD scholarship will be Engineering department at Imperial. products commercially. Aamna Mohdin achieving foundation trust status as available. The foundation is supported The scholarship launch happened Paul Jenkins, the director of Node News Editor a means towards bringing our Trust by alumni and Imperial College. at the same time as Sir Keith’s visit said: “This new Node will allow us to closer to our patients, the people who Sir Keith O’Nions, President & to India this January. The visit lasts establish a focus for ICT innovation work for us, our local communities Rector of Imperial College said: 11 days and Mumbai, New Delhi, in the UK with a European scope. I mperial College Healthcare NHS and partner organisations.” “The expansion of these scholarships Chennai and Kolkata will be visited look forward to working alongside Trust is currently consulting In 2003 the government introduced builds on the historic and flourishing during his 11 day trip; each city will the Node partners, EIT ICT Labs and on proposals to become a legislation to allow the best performing relationship between Imperial and its have an alumni event where he will our European partners, as well as the foundation trust. If successful, a hospitals to become foundation trusts. Indian alumni and supporters. Their meet with a variety of representatives. existing innovation ecosystem, as part foundation trust status will allow The foundation hospitals will be part of this important project” IImperial College Healthcare NHS of the NHS but outside the control London Node will help nurture in Trust to become a not for profit entity of the Department of Health and the Victoria Imperial research, innovation and excellence that works independently from the Secretary of State for Health. The in education. This will be achieved government. The third public meeting bulk of foundation hospitals funding Line suffers Teams through facilitating contact between was held on Thursday (Jan 16). will come from the government, and businesses and academic research as The public meeting discussed the these hospitals will be legally obliged from Civil reach BP well as providing links to funding. practicalities on how Imperial College to follow the nationally set NHS The founding partners of London Healthcare NHS trust can become standards, regulation and inspection. Engineering competition Node are Imperial, UCL, University of a not-for-profit organisation that However, the Secretary of State will Edinburgh, Institute of Sustainability, provides free NHS care using powers be losing its power as these hospitals mishap semi-finals Vodafone, BT, IBM and Intel. There devolved from government. A new will run by boards of governors that are six other Nodes located within term – the ‘public interest company’- are elected and appointed locally. Europe, these being in Berlin, Paris, has been coined to describe these With these changes, Imperial College Trento, Eindhoven, Stockholm and bodies. Imperial College Healthcare Healthcare NHS Trust hopes for Nida Mahmud Nida Mahmud Helsinki; they bring together top NHS trust hopes to achieve foundation greater community involvement on News Editor News Editor universities within Europe, research trust status to allow hospitals to be how local healthcare is ran. centres and ICT companies. more democratically controlled. Nick Cheshire, chief executive at the trust, said: “We see achieving mperial students have made foundation trust status as a means it through to the BP Ultimate towards bringing our Trust closer to Field Trip semi-finals. Four YoYo mobile our patients and local communities, Imperial teams (X-tek, Team payments further strengthening engagement Griffon, Energineers & The Next with our people and providing greater IFrontier) have reached the semi-finals freedom to innovate and develop our stage, which will be held on the 3rd- app rolled services.” 4th February across the UK. Usvsth3m.com There are, however, some key vocal The Ultimate Field Trip is the out on opposition to foundation trusts. he Victoria line on Thursday UK’s flagship student competition; Unison has continued to oppose 23 January was partly it enables some of the brightest campus foundation trusts stating “NHS suspended with severe individuals studying STEM subjects hospitals were already owned by delays for several hours due to work in teams and answer a real life and run for the benefit of the whole to fast-setting concrete. business challenge. The winning team Nida Mahmud public. The governance framework TTrains were not running between receives a 2 week international field News Editor for foundation trusts does not lead to Warren Street and Brixton. trip with BP. The Ultimate Field Trip is greater local accountability or social Nigel Holness, the director of now in its fifth year. This year winners ownership. For example, foundation London Underground said: "This from the UK, US, Canada, Angola, new app, Yoyo, for trusts are able to run with only a afternoon our contractors were Trinidad and Tobago will visit both mobile payment has very small number of members in working on the new station in an area Alaska and Chicago. recently launched at relation to the population that uses next to the Victoria line signal control A BP representative said: “This Imperial. JustYoyo is them. UNISON is concerned that room. These works involved the use year, the challenge has been to a business that was a simple and quick service to be foundation trusts do not represent the of water and cement which leaked identify an innovative solution that launchedA in August 2013, it is backed provided to customers. communities they serve.” into the room, damaging equipment. will significantly reduce energy by Imperial Innovations. The new Later this term, Yoyo will also Imperial manages Charing Cross, This has meant there are no signals consumption and be implemented by app enables food and drink to be be available to use at the Union Hammersmith, St Mary’s, Queen working on the southern section of 2025, with the potential to scale across bought from shops across the South (fivesixeight &the Union Bar) and Charlotte’s and Chelsea and the the line. Our engineers are working the energy industry.” Kensington campus. h-bar as well as all tasteImperial food Western Eye hospitals, providing hard to resolve the situation as soon The semi-finals will be taking place Additionally, the Yoyo app can outlets around college. care for around two million people as possible to get services back up and in the first week of February at BP’s be used with loyalty programmes, The company are also promising 10% in north-west London. The public running, but the line is expected to be office in Sunbury; four teams will go therefore negating the need to carry extra on all top-ups in January and consultation into the proposals ends affected for the remainder of the day into the finals that will be held on 10 multiple reward cards. This enables there are hints of rewards to come. on February 10. while repairs are carried out." March in the Royal Institution. 6 FRIDAY 24 JAN

Editors: Philippa Skett, Keir Little, Fiona Hartley SCIENCE [email protected] The epigenetic revolution Keir Little on research that redefines our knowledge of inheritance

he completion of the completely from scratch. Human Genome Project in New evidence suggests that this may April 2003 was a milestone not be the case. Last year, researchers in science. Ten years on, at the Los Angeles Biomedical however, Bill Clinton’s Research Institute found that injecting Tprediction that it would “revolutionise pregnant rats with nicotine caused the diagnosis, prevention and asthma to occur not only in the next treatment of most, if not all, human generation, but the one following diseases” is far from the truth. For that: the epigenetic changes caused by all the project’s contributions to nicotine, it seems, are inheritable. biology, little of this has translated In the 1980s, a Swedish scientist into promised “personal medicine” called Dr. Lars Olov Bygren treatments. studied the lifespans of people The relatively new field of living in Norrbotten, the country’s epigenetics is beginning to fill in the northernmost and least populated gaps in understanding left by genome county. In the late 19th and early 20th sequencing. Epigenetics – the study of centuries, poor harvests here often led factors which control gene expression, to starvation, though some years were other than the genetic code itself – unusually abundant with food. accounts for why cells in different Dr. Bygren found that grandchildren parts of the body develop differently, of people who had plenty of food as despite sharing the same DNA. a child had much shorter lives than Epigenetic markers switch off those who did not. Controlling for individual genes, causing them not to other factors such as disease and be expressed in a cell. More recently, socioeconomic status, the difference PEARSON EDUCATION epigenetic markers have been shown in longevity between grandchildren laws of natural selection, it must have plants have high variation in their leaf on invasive species, believing their to be passed on to children and of well-fed and starved Norbotten a lot of variation. However, invasive shape and height ­– characteristics success can be fully explained by grandchildren, shaking the belief that residents was 32 years. Epigenetic species often have limited gene controlled by epigenetic factors. current evolutionary theory. disease caused by lifestyle can have no markers passed down through pools and some, such as the Japanese Epigenetic variation, Richards Epigenetic inheritance need not effect on offspring. generations seem to be the most knotweed, reproduce asexually, so are believes, is one of the things which oppose Darwinian evolution, but Both sperm and egg are specialised probable cause. genetically identical. This has long gives invasive species their ability to can integrate with it. The study of cells with their own epigenetic The idea of inheritable epigenetic been a puzzle for biologists: how do do well in novel environments. epigenetics could lead to new disease makeup. Until recently, it was believed markers has made its way into these species manage to survive? Some scientists are not so treatments and preventative measures, that when these fused, the epigenetic evolutionary biology, giving a clue as to Christina Richards, an evolutionary convinced. Though the role of as well as ecological insights. Where markers were completely removed how invasive species can thrive in new ecologist at the University of South epigenetics is largely accepted within the Human Genome Project has failed in a process called ‘Reprogramming’, environments. For a species to do well Florida in Tampa, studied Japanese medical science, many evolutionary to keep its promises, epigenetics may allowing the embryo to develop and adapt to its environment, say the knotweed and found that individual biologists are sceptical about its effect deliver.

Science image of the week: a space selfie

Although it was taken back in 2007, it is the shadowy subject of the photo, rather than Mars looming in the background, that makes this our science image of the week.

This cosmic selfie was taken by comet-chasing spacecraft Rosetta, which successfully transmitted its first signal in two and a half years on Monday.

Rosetta was launched into space back in 2004 but went hibernation in 2011 to conserve energy for the long journey towards Comet 67P.

The craft successfully re-awakened at and now is currently 500 million miles from Earth, close to the orbit of Jupiter, and plans to rendezvous with the Comet 67P in August, to deploy a Lander vehicle onto the comet’s surface.

Such a manoeuvre has never been done before, but hopefully it will allow us to understand a lot more about these shooting stars. FRIDAY 24 JAN 7

@Scifelix

FelixScience SCIENCE Smoking is neither cool nor clever... sometimes Anand Jagatia discovers that one beast breathes nicotine, not fire

ost non-smokers insect’s gut into its hemolymph (the will probably agree circulatory fluid - insects don’t have that the smell of blood). The scientists found that this cigarette smoke is gene allows the hornworm to exhale fairly repulsive - some of this nicotine through its Mthere’s little worse than being stuck spiracles (tiny holes which allow air in in a bus shelter with someone who and out of the respiratory system) and doesn’t appreciate the finer points of into its headspace in order to deter the smoking ban. But scientists from predators. the Max Planck Institute for Chemical By gluing tiny sensors over the Ecology in Germany have found that spiracles of hornworm larvae, they the tobacco hornworm (Manduca were able to measure nicotine sexta) makes use of a similar effect emissions in larvae which had this to defend itself against predators - by gene knocked out. Not only did they exhaling nicotine at them. find that that these larvae had lower Nicotine is toxic (it blocks the nicotine emissions, but also that they signalling between nerves and were preyed on more often by the muscles) and so is used by some plants insects’ natural predator, the wolf as a deterrant against herbivores. spider. Manduca sexta feeds on wild tobacco They say you swallow up to four plants which contain nicotine, but can spiders in your lifetime while you tolerate the compound at levels lethal sleep. That’s almost certainly a myth, to other insects. as it’s not very likely that anyone even The team identified a gene swallows one. But in light of this new responsible for directing a small reserarch, perhaps it’s even less likely amount of nicotine from the if you’re a smoker. Nick Harris

Hubble gives us further insight into distant galaxies

light from extremely distant galaxies James Bezer towards the earth. Some of these Science Writer galaxies could be up to 12 billion light years away, making them amongst the most distant ever seen. An exposure years after the time of 50 hours was needed to collect famous Deep enough light for around 3000 of these Field image, incredibly faint galaxies to become a series of visible. photographs A series of images (the Frontier 18from the Hubble space telescope are Fields) are being taken in areas of giving us a new insight into extremely the sky known to contain a large distant galaxies that formed soon after number of gravitational lenses. This the big bang. first image will be taken again in May, This new deep image is centred on a using a different set of equipment, large galaxy cluster, Abell 2744, which and another five locations will be acts as a gravitational lens, focussing investigated over the next three years. Love Science?

Follow us on Twitter & Facebook! We post any and all interesting science- related stuff that we stumble upon while trawling the Internet for cool pictures. @SciFelix FelixScience NASA, ESA, J. Lotz Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) 8 FRIDAY 24 JAN

Editors: Philippa Skett, Keir Little, Fiona Hartley SCIENCE [email protected] MDMA - a new high in research?

Philippa Skett discusses the benefits of ecstasy, and the laws limiting science

DMA seems to be indicative of an increase in neural and emotionally keeping clubbers and activity; when an area of the brain intense, and scientists alike on their is activated, its metabolic demand experienced their M toes at the moment, with increases, requiring an increase in worse memories research into the recreational drug oxygenated blood flow to provide less negatively. on the rise. Despite the law heavily glucose to the neurons that need more MDMA may restricting drug experimentation even energy. therefore be within the laboratory, there still seems 25 healthy volunteers, all with at useful in treating to be an unrelenting interest into the least one experience of MDMA, took those with Post- potential medical benefits of many of the drug under controlled conditions Traumatic Stress the illegal substances out there. With and were simply left to enjoy the ride. Disorder (PTSD); new research published this week, it Subjects experienced a reduction if it can make may only be a matter of time before in blood flow across the right users’ traumatic drugs such as ecstasy are no longer hippocampus, thought to be memories less restricted to the dives and dens of responsible for navigation, and the distressful, it those partying past dawn. right amygdala that control emotion. could be used MDMA, or more widely known The reduction in blood flow across the as a therapeutic as ecstasy, induces the release cerebral cortex in general positively agent for when of serotonin, dopamine and correlated with the intensity of the PTSD episodes noradrenaline in the brain, and delivers drug effects felt by the volunteers. occur. It has feelings of euphoria, diminishes So what does this mean? A been previously anxiety and causes mild psychedelia. reduction in neuronal activity by found that the Often the drug will be taken with the amygdala may be related to the connections other neuroactive substances like LSD sense of euphoria felt when high on between the or magic mushrooms, but when taken MDMA; the ability of the amygdala hippocampus and alone its effects are usually felt around to harness emotions diminishes and the amygdala are an hour after consumption and last therefore the feeling of elation occurs. actually weaker in for a further three to six hours. Not only that, a reduction in activity PTSD sufferers, A recent study carried out here of the hippocampus could result in so MDMA may at Imperial College has revealed memory impairment; often removal aid to restore the first images of brain activity of the hippocampus altogether results functionality

experienced when taking MDMA. in amnesia. between the two Biological Psychiatry The images, published from a project Both the hippocampus and the and alleviate fMRI images of the changes in connectivity under MDMAin the hippocampus (top) and the amygdala led by Professor Nutt, show just how amygdala are part of a wider brain the symptoms RSFC (bottom). Increases in connectivity are shown in yellow/orange and decreases in blue. the drug affects various areas of the system, the limbic system, which links associated with brain and provide a new basis to emotion and memory together. The the disorder, support how MDMA could be used research found that MDMA increases even if it is just temporarily. drug, the UK Home Office rejected also sorted into ‘Schedules’, numbered therapeutically. the functional connections between However, in the UK, research the notion. They did this on the basis from 1 to 5. These outline the way The images were produced by the amygdala and the hippocampus, surrounding the drug still remains that such a reclassification would send drugs can be used as controlled functional magnetic resonance shown by the results of the volunteers constricted, politically motivated the wrong message to young people, substances in a pharmaceutical imaging (fMRI), and show where being asked to recall their least and and indeed controversial. Despite the and so it remained in the highest Class capacity. MDMA falls into the top and when blood oxygenation levels most favourite memories while on Advisory Council on the Misuse of tier alongside cocaine, heroin, LSD Schedule, Schedule I, meaning it faces altered throughout the brain under MDMA. Drugs stating in February 2009 that and magic mushrooms. the highest restrictions in scientific the influence of MDMA. An increase Those on the drug recalled their it would recommend downgrading Aside from the usual class experimentation too. These Schedules in bloody oxygenation is indirectly favourite memories to be more vivid MDMA from a Class A to a Class B classifications in the UK, drugs are were set by the UK Home Office, again shoehorning a political framework into the legislation surrounding research and making it exceedingly difficult to access funds and licencing for projects based on high ranking substances. This new research could hardly be considered as a definitive landmark in neuroscience in that it does have several weaknesses; with a sample size of volunteers that is disappointingly small alongside a high-level of variability in the drug backgrounds of said volunteers, it may raise more questions than it answers. However, with previous research hinting at the possibility of MDMA being used to treat Parkinson’s disease, various anxiety disorders and even possibly pain in other parts of the body, more research is certainly needed. It may be that softening the legalisation surrounding drug experimentation needs to be done to allow MDMA to

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Editors: Eoghan J. Totten, Tessa Davey COMMENT [email protected] The Reappraisal of the British State Why the Coalition Government should tread carefully

thin membrane, ready to split. many politicians are now considering how they live. Public spending has dole’ is morally questionable. This in Eoghan Totten Parallels can be drawn with a complete “reappraisal of what the peaked within the last decade at 47% turn links with anti-economic migrant Comment Editor discussion within The Conservative state is for”. of GDP. These sentiments paved the rhetoric. If one simultaneously @eoghantotten Party in relation to redaction of The debate is nothing new. Many way for the flagship Tory policy of ‘Big considers the UK’s ongoing conflict the British state: the language is argue that Governmental interference Society’ in 2010. with the European Court of Human (unintentionally) damaging. Austerity with society is draconian, stifling and To my mind this is where the line Rights over repeal of the ‘life sentence’ n January 20th and fiscal rectitude have been the embodiment of an Orwellian of thought crumbles. A decoupling for murder, their threats to withdraw European tensions, pursued aggressively over a three year nanny state. One would concede that of society and state is ultimately from the Human Rights Act and their sparked by Prime period. British Chancellor, George there are legitimate grounds for this: destabilising for a nation. Society criticism of the Lisbon Treaty it is clear Minister Cameron’s Osborne, has actively championed Smoking bans, seatbelt legislation originally gave consent (albeit to see that the British Government is utilisation of migration their necessity. In the wake of and an infinity of ‘red tape’ have been inferred) to the state to uphold order recurrently intent on defining ‘us’ and Oas a political chess piece, came to a positive global economic trends some introduced over the past half century. and integrity. State is for society, not ‘them’. This is undeniably dangerous head. The tone of UK-Europe relations advocate the idea that cutting the state Many would argue that there is a despite it. Reduction of state size may on the European front, as the words were reflected in the words of might be ‘good in itself’. As surmised critical threshold for State interference not provide a feasible solution for a of ECHR President Dean Spielmann German Foreign Minister (and Social by Jeremy Paxman on a recent BBC (and size) and that to exceed it violates nation with population 63.2 million reflected when he advised the UK PM Democrat), Walter Steinmeier. Newsnight broadcast (January 13th), a citizen’s inalienable right to define (2012). to be careful “not to risk credibility.” “Many young people from southern The debate could be ploughed ad In the national context it could Europe are coming to us, to learn and infinitum. In light of this I will raise prove disastrous. My intention is study. That benefits us and also helps but a few key flags. What form would not to invoke a Domesday scenario. the states from which they come... a wholesale retreat of public services I simply believe that a decoupling Whoever questions that damages take? To what would multilateral of society and state is nonsensical. Europe and damages Germany.” privatisation give license? These Each citizen has a duty to uphold The UK Prime Minister continues considerations prove unsettling and the rule of law, revere civic space and to uphold this political stance; it could even appear to sit uncomfortably ‘contribute’ to the general order of be construed as an attempt to pander with members of Government. This is things. One worries that there would to popular (and sadly,uninformed) typified by ring-fencing of the health be no incentive to do so if the state British opinion and pressure from service and overseas aid budget. were deduced. Society could become Tory lobbying. This is dangerous in One might argue that the rhetoric is irrevocably unpleasant, with money context of the rhetoric coming from nothing but political grandstanding. plugging the void left by obligation. other European nations who appear Nonetheless the rhetoric could be Look no further than the Salem Fire prepared to compromise on EU irreversibly damaging. It shares a Department, Arkansas: If things fall political matters. One fears, therefore, common thread with the stance by apart and you haven’t paid, no one will that the patience of Europe is but a some politicians that to be ‘on the douse the flames. The New Year in Northern Ireland Internationally chaired talks fail to deliver reform

middle of the road. A year ago there territory. “Parades” meant the Loyalist are too stupid to realise they’ve won. than pro-choice London. While were enough of them to block that Orange parades that take place every The unnecessary flag controversy is a Unionism is loyal to the Crown, this Rory Fenton road but now they watch haplessly as July and are banned from marching case in point. loyalty comes not via England but Columnist cars pass them by. They are “flaggers”; through many Catholic areas. “The Perhaps it’s foolish to expect a Scotland, where much of Northern Loyalists determined not to stop past” meant addressing the civil politics based historically on identity Irish Protestantism originates. To be protesting until the Union Flag flies war the country has just left behind, and fear of difference to be rational Ulster- Scot is to be British and yet above Belfast City Hall 365 days of the including the issue of more than 1,500 or reasonable. Politic-as-identity Scotland is this year to vote on leaving hose who complain that year, as it did until December 2012 unsolved murders from the time. Both goes someway to explain our present the Union altogether. British politicians lack when the council voted to fly it only the Democratic Unionist and Ulster madness: Northern Irish Unionism is The response so far has been to revert principles should look on royal occasions. This movement to Unionist parties refused to accept the undergoing an identity crisis. Many to the old battle cry of “no surrender” to Northern Ireland. a more inclusive, shared public space proposals put forward by Haass, which Unionists find themselves left behind and paint more things red, white There is surely no other has been labelled “cultural genocide” were accepted by the Nationalist by a United Kingdom that increasingly and blue. This is hardly sustainable. part of the UK where by many of these flaggers. parties. Put simply, the proposals values diversity and individual rights. A mature Unionism that is relaxed Tso many political leaders have such If only our politicians would would have meant accepting that a The stance of mainstream Unionism in its own skin is desperately needed stupid, boring and ultimately harmful pay these lonely warriors as little shared Northern Ireland means not on LGBT rights would see them but none is offered by the parties in principles. Take Edwin Poots, attention as the passing motorists enforcing one identity over any other. shunned even by UKIP and their power. Northern Irish Nationalists Northern Ireland’s Health Minister, do. Depressingly, these flag flying What is remarkable about the talks insistent opposition to legal abortion have successfully demilitarised their who has spent £37,000 of taxpayer fanatics have been holding Unionist was the willingness of Nationalists is more in tune with pro-life Dublin identity; now it’s the other side’s turn. money on his legal efforts to ban gay politicians to ransom, preventing any to accept compromise. In proposing men from donating blood and £57,000 hint at agreement with Nationalists. that Belfast Council fly the Union Flag trying to prevent civil partners from The past few months in Northern only on royal occasions, Sinn Fein, adopting, citing homosexuality as “an Ireland encompassed talks between once the political wing of the IRA, was illness”. This is the Health Minister. the 5 main parties, facilitated by accepting that the British flag would Nationalists have successfully I spent the Christmas holidays American diplomat Richard Haass. be flown on land they consider Irish. “ at home in Belfast where I was The purpose of the talks was to tackle Rather than take this as an important demilitarised their identity; now it’s surrounded by reminders of some the issues of flags, parades and the victory, Unionists saw no such thing, of the province’s peculiarly pointless past. “Flags” means not just the Union digging in their heels and clutching the other side’s turn. principles. Just at the end of my street, Flag on Belfast City Hall but the flags blindly to their flag. It’s often said 3 men kept a weekly vigil draped in red, that appear on street lights across the that the Nationalists are too clever to white, blue and drizzle, huddled in the country as crude markers of tribal admit they’ve lost while the Unionists ” FRIDAY 24 JAN 11

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FelixImperial COMMENT

Christy Kelly Tells It All Christy Kelly Writer NHS Data Sale: Ramifications? The Role of Role Models

ll members of the a strictly Kantian sense. will confess now that I have never really I am against this idealisation generally, but broadly defined ‘left’ If you are not already persuaded, understood the appeal of role models. It at least Milk did struggle for and bring about occasionally fall into then rest assured (though for certain has always seemed slightly ridiculous to concrete reforms. The iconography around Alan the trap Yeats left us technical reasons not insured…) treat someone as if they were an exemplary Turing, on the other hand, seems to satisfy a when he said ‘the best there is sound precedent. Private figure, and with a little maturity I also came more puerile function, the identification with lackA all conviction whilst the worst practices like Bupa already have access Ito recognise the symbolic violence in raising a ‘victim’. There is a long tendency to idealise are filled with passionate intensity’. to sensitive patient data, and the that someone above their idiotic existence into suffering and justify it through its ‘virtue’ by Thankfully, my spell amongst the comparison is relevant because Bupa, something more… And leaving some Lacanian creating ‘victims’. Think of the numerous female ‘best’, demonstrated in the sickening being a private practice, is clearly keen objections aside (‘il n’y a pas de rapport sexuel’), I victims in literature: Imogen, Justine, Ottilie, little sentimentality of last week’s piece, has to take money away from patients’ generally find the idea that a person needs some Nell. The one’s too pure and too unworldly to stay been rudely cut short by the Tories families. And anyway, Mike Davies is exemplar psychological support slightly belittling. alive: For the world’s more full of weeping than frankly mind-boggling new ‘bright unsure how ‘helpful’ the distinction This may of course be a sign of my own comfort they can understand – at least, in their poor, dear, idea’ – selling NHS data to insurance between ‘private’ and ‘public’ is ‘these thus far, and there is little I can or intend to do to little heads. Similarly, think of ‘anti-racist’ books companies! days’. Try asking at your local NHS deny this, but if this be the case then there should like To Kill a Mockingbird, or Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The experts are full of their usual and then some ‘helpful’ people might be a little discernment about the choice of role- beloved of white liberals who can’t even stand panglossian justifications, that this enlighten you. To the order of several model. (or have never heard of) moderates like WEB du ‘new’ idea will bring about the best thousand pounds. Take, for instance, the recently ‘pardoned’ Alan Bois, or the genuinely powerful (early) Langston of all possible worlds and lead to new This will improve scientific medical Turing, to be subject of a big new blockbuster Hughes. scientific advances. Certainly, it may research and that is no bad thing. starring the new darling of the Guardian left, However, this discussion isn’t just my usual well lead to insurance companies ‘re- Forget, that the health industry now Benedict Cumberbatch. Everyone should know armchair socialist complaint about the state of identifying’ certain patients, but this has multiple times the funding from the Turing story by now, but I must admit I find the world. The growing consensus about how is a ‘small, theoretical risk’; says Mark the American government as the it baffling that he has become an LGBT icon. to ‘deal with women in science’ is to promote Davies the new Health and Social famous ‘military-industrial complex’. Certainly, what was done to Alan Turing was scientific role models. Care Information Centre’s ‘public Forget that this same medical industry disgraceful by any standards, but it is hard not to This is more general than just in science, a assurance director’. The title isn’t even managed to get naturally occurring sense a certain rather repulsive undercurrent of couple of years ago I heard Michele Bachelet, ex Orwellian: the Tories know that the chemical synthesis routes patented. ‘how dare they do that to a genius or a war hero’ (and likely next) President of Chile and then head public is going to have to be ‘assured’, This has had two effects, strangling when his story is told. At the very least, the tales of of the newly created body UN women, speak of because they sure as hell aren’t going the pharmaceutical industry in the Turing’s conviction rarely have anything positive the need for greater visibility of women in leading to be ‘insured’ any longer. ‘developing world’ and effectively to say about Arnold Murray, Turing’s then lover. roles. Forgive me, I move too fast; some preventing scientists from releasing Perhaps because his story wasn’t ‘tragic’ enough – This may quite possibly be effective in business of the public isn’t going to be insured cures to diseases unpatented even if he was given a conditional discharge and nobody and politics, though Rwanda, the country which any longer. The economic ‘liabilities’ they would like. It would seem that to knows anything further – perhaps because he has consistently topped female representation who are at risk of ‘illness’ and ‘disease’ Jonas Salk’s question ‘Can you patent ‘betrayed’ Turing by stealing a tenner and letting poles since the genocide, and the only country to and ‘death’ and other such ‘theoretical the sun?’ the law has answered yes. his friend rob the house. have had a proportion of female representatives risks’. And insurance companies have So, as you can see, the Forgive me if I don’t believe that everyone is somewhat reflective of the actual demographic an exemplary ethical record: take pharmaceutical industry will benefit, shocked by the fact that British law prosecuted situation for more than five years, has not had a Friends Life’ who are refusing to pay the insurance companies will benefit, homosexuality; people still seem to maintain that female president and one female Prime Minister. Nic Hughes’ family the expected 100 and other people will automatically somehow they are not being homophobic when This might be taken as a sign that Rwanda still has thousand pounds life insurance. Nic benefit as a result. Who exactly these they object to gay marriage. Similarly, I wonder a long way to go, but really, if we compare with Hughes died of cancer at the age of other people are, I do not know. There how far these writers would approve if Alan the United Kingdom languishing at 58 on the list, 44 leaving behind wife Susannah is a curious practice often noticed Turing had been an unexceptional middle-aged I would interpret the data to suggest that having and their twin 8 year-olds behind. whereby policy makers often become academic taking in a homeless 19 year old girl. women taking a leading role in politics is not But there is good reason for Friend’s consultants for companies which have At best, the act becomes a slightly patronising necessarily incompatible with massively sexist Life’s decision: Nic Hughes lied on benefited from their policies, but this act of charity inspired out of love or pity, at worst systems. his application. He failed to disclose being a purely contingent event does it is a frank abuse of an imbalance in power and However that doesn’t change the fact that ‘pins and needles’. For those of you not amount to corruption. This would the academic gets what he deserves if his new perception is important, and certainly the who don’t know, this devastating be the post hoc ergo propter hoc girlfriend helps herself to the family silver. Why immediate identification scientist = male is disease is responsible for the deaths fallacy, as the logicians like to say. this is different in Turing’s case, I don’t know something that needs changing. But this is very of zero people worldwide in a given We should perhaps thank the (‘boys aren’t helpless like girls…’). different from saying ‘Look! Women can be year. Symptoms are a brief, slightly Tories for understanding a basic Finally, does a man who complains that his scientists too!’ There is a slight of hand pulled annoying itch. Causes are not well inconsistency that has long gone boyfriend has stolen his stuff – police entrapment here when, for instance on Ada Lovelace Day, known but often linked with sitting without resolution but first articulated or not – really understand the difficulties your we all gather round at look at the wonderful down for extended periods of time. in Samuel Butler’s Erewhon. It is of average homosexual faced in Britain from the achievements that a Marie Curie or a Emmy So, who can fail to understand course as ridiculous to punish criminals thirties to the fifties? Cambridge was a very Noether or whoever made. It isn’t that people when this company which manages for their crimes if these crimes are as tolerant place as far as male sexuality was shouldn’t recognise that these women were 111 billion pounds ‘on behalf of its a result of social conditions as it is concerned, but not exactly a place open to the incredible scientists, rather people are too aware. customers’ makes the tough decision to punish the diseased. And since, of general public or that many women for that I am not saying that we should stop recognising to punish Nic Hughes for his sin by course, criminals must be punished, matter, and it is hard to see in its tolerance that these women were fantastic scientists, not granting his remaining family the and since, of course, criminals are anything but a leftover of the implicitly accepted and nor should we ignore the ‘handicap’ of an support they had expected and relied almost wholly the working and lower- homosexuality in the monastic orders of which essentially sexist academic world. Neither do I on. What fine and unmoving moral middle classes, and thus criminals Cambridge is an outgrowth. mean find other brilliant female scientists who fibre in the face of such a pathological are criminals as a result of their It seems to me that Alan Turing satisfies a also deserve to be role models – Lynn Margulis, case. Pathological meant, of course, in social conditions, it follows that any rather different function as icon than, say, a figure Jocelyn Bell Burnell or indeed Ada Lovelace. The reasonable government must punish like Harvey Milk. There have of course been bar is set too high. the sick and unhealthy. If these sick attempts to romanticise Milk as well, including Because let’s face it: we’re not all Nobel Prize and unhealthy should be so indecent the relatively recent film with Sean Penn. I don’t material. And telling me that I am capable of as to die, then this fleeing from just trust Republicans, and I do not consider the studying my subject because, look at all these punishment must of course lead to claim that Milk was assassinated a settled matter people far cleverer than you who also studied it, the transference of said punishment (assassination requires some political intent, is not really the way to attract me to that subject. to those that were the lately deceased’s not just personal or ideological hatred. I admit And actually the message is worse: ‘Look at all nearest and dearest. It is this that the these are subtle distinctions, but I consider most these clever women. This is what you must be Tory government has proposed and cases are adequately covered by a different word: to prove you are worthy to study science’. Mercy, for this David Cameron, I solute ye. murder). please.

FRIDAY 24 JAN 13

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FelixImperial COMMENT On adaptations and dragons Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t seem The Hobbit yet, stop reading

when scrutinised closely, it comes to approach the subject. Treating the going through his head when he wrote but instead of just being the same down to one of the tritest and oldest source as the ultimate and perfect that particular bit, it still wouldn’t thing again, it has new pieces, different Pietro Aronica clichés in the book: the fear of the authority, essentially making it some be a bad thing to offer an alternative ideas, alternate takes that perhaps I Writer unknown. I get it: when you know sort of dogmatic canon, is rendering it interpretation. The only piece of hadn’t considered. The original will in advance how every scene is going a disservice and needlessly confining literary theory that ever stuck with me always be there, and it cannot be to play out because you’ve read the it to one interpretation. For starters, is the Death of the Author, which states sullied or ruined, no matter how much source material and suddenly there’s different media have different ways that we must separate the author’s life the geeks complain; an adaptation can s you are all something different, or a character that of telling a story, and expecting a and circumstances from the story he expand on it, complement it, give it a undoubtedly aware, wasn’t present in the original, or, god scene that works in a book to work or she has written, and that the text different look, all in a familiar frame the Peter-Jackson- forbid, an interpretation of a certain in the same way in a movie might be does not, therefore, have a single that means I’m going to get more of directed Tolkien- plot point that doesn’t match, there outright impossible. Even assuming “true” explanation. The conception what I love. Sure, sometimes this is not related orc-genociding is the potential for a sense of loss and that it translates perfectly, anything that every work has one theme, one done in the right way, and the story can movieA trilogy for this decade is The dismay. Additionally, a departure from that is not outright stated (and even set of symbols, one possible way of be messed up by the additions; but is Hobbit, which was for many cause the established canon can be a risky then, in many cases it still can) lends being read, that a scene or character parroting the original just so we can of puzzlement and bewilderment, as mistake in terms of the overarching itself to massive speculation and hole- or plot point means one thing and keep the same traditional scheme and the novel it is based upon is much narrative, as a change of even a small filling from the viewer or reader: the one thing only, is perhaps a remnant not be frightened by the difference shorter than The Lord of the Rings, element can have a domino effect on motive of a certain character, the of school-age literary analysis, where really something we need to enforce and hence does not seem to be the the rest of the story, and be ultimately reason of a certain unlikely friendship, students are made to learn only one for every adaptation? kind of story that needs nine hours to detrimental if it ends up invalidating the cause of something unexplained, interpretation as that is easier to Ultimately, every change should be fully tell. The way it was stretched in a plot point that would’ve made sense this and much more can be discussed assess and test. judged on its own merit rather than in a trilogy became readily apparent as had the scene been kept as in the and analysed. It is as old as time itself: Regardless of origin, this idea can terms of the distance from the source soon as the first movie was shown and original. As proof of this, there have people were trying to figure out which be seen in any backlash against any material. To take the example I’ve subsequently reinforced by second been plenty of adaptations of books interpretation of minute lines in the adaptation that departs from the begun with, I’ve enjoyed many of the one, and that is by way of adding a lot which have ended being subpar on the Iliad was the correct one for centuries, original; but I feel that an adaptation additions in The Hobbit. I like how of made up stuff that was not present silver screen because of half-baked and have done the same with pretty that adds and changes elements is all the dwarves have a more distinct in the book. This move has had a lot backstories and extraneous details much anything worth discussing. perhaps the best thing that could personality and appearance that was of fans and purists up in arms, who that were not present in the novel. But the thing is, even if Homer rose happen. I already know that I’ll like definitely absent in the novel, I like have regarded all these additions with Just go on any forum to discuss any from the dead and explained what was the story, because I liked the original; Evangeline Lilly as an action heroine the suspicion reserved for a filthy adaptation ever and you’ll find lots of and I like how they gave a proper hyperactive child who excitedly asks people who complain how changing reason for Gandalf leaving the party so to hold some valuable item. The fear in even one iota of the original betrays often other than “if he stays with them both cases is that our precious’ pristine its spirit and intention. While in many he’ll just solve all of their problems original beauty will be dirtied and cases they can be correct, in that there with magic”. The romantic plot was a destroyed by this immature peasant have been adaptations that are inferior bit clumsy and awkward (though I feel and RUINED FOREVER because it is to the source material, the problem is it can be satisfactorily concluded in not handled with the reverence and that the changes and additions have the third chapter), but generally I felt respect due to holy relics. Rivers of ink not be done well rather than that they the additions helped the movie. You and fields of pixels (if pixels are indeed have been done at all. can disagree and claim every change measured by the fieldful) have been The question, at this point, is what was detrimental, and you are entitled written in nerdrage about this subject, should an adaptation be, and while to your opinion, but you should be and I cannot understand why some the prevailing opinion might be “a asking yourself a question: did you people are so upset by the additions. recreation that is as faithful as possible not like them because they made for a Alright, I’m lying. I understand to the original in a different medium”, worse story, or just because they were perfectly why people are upset, and, I don’t think that that is the best way changes? Confessions of a GTA: Part 8 Sometimes saying no doesn’t get you out of demonstrating

instead of the teaching staff in general. But a time in every GTAs life creeps really interesting, but unfortunately The GTA This turns out to be completely up on them when they have to say my supervisor does not want me to Anonymous wrong. Yes the power does shift. Most no. This is surprisingly horrible. take on anything more, although I of the teaching staff no longer have Frequently during my undergraduate know a few other people that would any say though they will occasional degree, I daydreamed about giving the be interested!” This normally works ecturers as a profession are come up to you in corridors and ask lecturers a few “home truths” about fairly well, but the lecturers have very hard to say no to. In if you failed your final year. But your why their coursework was completely come up with a counter: surprise and general they control your life department lecturers will ask you pointless, their course unhelpful and thankfulness. They will appear just from the moment you enter favours and quite nicely too: ‘Would it their exam downright impossible when you are halfway through reading college. They set coursework be too much trouble’ or ‘would you be (and I must admit saying no to a few a paper that could change your whole Land will demand you spend time interested in’. Besides, more often than of these people was quite satisfying)… thesis plan and a befuzzled ‘let me on it, even when it is worth 0.1% of not you are interested, as not only do However when you second favourite check my calendar’ is greeted with your grade. They will set field trips they now love you, (and almost as lecturer (pipped to the mark by your cries of elation. And a simple ‘I will or labs at times that completely don’t importantly) they will pay you a lot of supervisor) askes you a “favour”, or check with my supervisor’, is not a safe work for you, and will expect you be money for the honour. You become when a really nice Professor hits you standby as they will check with them. enjoying ever second. quite closely guarded by lecturers that with the curveball of a fieldtrip worth Thus, if your GTA is a bit grumpy As a PhD I did not expect much to depend on you and they will give you £300, what do you say? this week give them a bit of slack, be different, just that it would be only the good jobs such as field trips and Now there is always the supervisor because I will confess we are not two people controlling my entire life one-to-one invigilations. sandwich response: “That sounds always there of our own accord. 14 FRIDAY 24 JAN

Editors: Eoghan J. Totten, Tessa Davey COMMENT [email protected] The sciences move and Yoyo arrives! LETTERS Dear Sir,

Every week I struggle with the Puzzles page and I feel so disheartened. Please, please, Felix please could you make me somepuzzles that I can complete?

Kind regards, E.

Dear E.,

But of course, I don’t always get every single solution myself!

his week has seen the with the old and in with the new! I’ll make a few puzzles, just announcement of the While we see the imminent departure for you! departurew of the Science of the Science Museum library we also Museum library and the have some fun Yoyo activity to look launch of Yoyo, a new forward to. Enjoy, Tmobile payments app rolled out at Well, fine, paying for items is Ed. Imperial over the last week. never fun, but some of our staff have There are certainly many sad souls certainly seen some speedy payments who will miss the SM library, it’s dusty using the app, despite it’s lovely pink old books full of historical facts and background. Even the Editor admits Clues: figures, and it’s journals on the history that it’s much faster to use than of sewage (no, not swag), in London. fumbling for cash at the checkout, Down: Fortunately there is still ample let alone counting all his pennies and oportunity to loan books form the five pence coins to purchase that sushi 1. An animal beginning British Library, which only a short snack from the JCR! with the letter ‘C’ (3) no. 10 bus ride away, as well as other Fear not, this is not recless university libraries within London. promotion, mearly a slighly over- What will be exciting is seeing excitied newspaper that likes having 3. An animal beginning what will happen to the space the a cashless lunch. All they have to do with the letter ‘D’ (3) library vacates, will it be filled with next is amend the app to be compatible more books, iPads or a lush cinema with buying rounds at the Union and suite for the times when you really Yoyo and Felix will get on just fine. Across: need to compare the contents of your Aside form that, and the 2. A project shot from a bow microfiche to that episode of CSI on embarassing Civil Engineering muck (5). that DVD you bought from Amazon. up that happened on the Victoria line, On the other hand, as they say, out we hope you have a nice week! FRIDAY 24 JAN 15

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FelixImperial ARTS The Secret Photographers Fred Fyles gets a glimpse of the works of Warhol, Burroughs and Lynch

career. Warhol saw the advent of the His series What Was, What Isn’t, in What: Burroughs, Lynch and ‘point and shoot’ camera as a means to which he photographed his bed before Warhol: The Secret Photographers expand his obsessive documentation and after having sex with his lover Where: The Photographer’s Gallery of his daily life. The selection of black John Brady, forms a mediation on the When: 17th January - 30th March and white prints on display act as a power of photography to conjure up Price: £4, £2.50 concessions, time capsule from 1970s Manhattan, ghosts from the past, and places it in a occasionally free but the themes that underlie much similar role to the unreliable narrator of Warhol’s more formal work shines in his literary work. He applies his through: there are shots of the inside ‘Cut-Up’ technique to portraiture, he Photographer’s Gallery, of pantries, documentations of creating freakish, unnerving splices nestled in the heart of the consumerism, and an obsession with that precede the work of John West End, is playing host to signage. Celebrity spotting gets an Stezaker by 20-odd years. While the a triumvirate of titans of 20th obligatory mention, best documented pieces manage to be both candid and century American culture: by his candid shot of Jean-Michel analytical, the lack of context provided TAndy Warhol, William Burroughs, and Basquiat looking up mid-bite, a forkful can make them seem – especially David Lynch. Or maybe that should of pastry on its way to his lips, which to someone like me, who isn’t overly be: Andy Warhol. William Burroughs. is reproduced and stitched together. familiar with Burroughs’ work – David Lynch. The gallery has decided However, since Warhol would often somewhat heartless. to stage this exhibition not as a single shoot an entire roll of film a day, it Any disappointments I may have felt © WILLIAm S. BURROUGHS ESTATE, COURTESY OF BARRY miles ARCHIVE William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Tangier, 1957 collection, but rather as a trio of seems like an arduous task to cut such with the first two sections however separate exhibitions, each exploring an extensive collection down to just 50 were instantly erased when presented white which border on aggressive. The the better for it. the seldom seen photographs of these shots, and one wonders how much we with the Factory Photographs of shots recall Bernd and Hilla Becher’s While the exhibition may have masters. The result is an experience are missing out on. David Lynch. Around 80 shots of exploration of industrialisation, but its highs and lows, it is extremely that is rich in scope, but perhaps While Burroughs found fame as disused factories in Poland, Britain, while the Bechers’ work is ordered interesting to see how these three somewhat underwhelming. an author and essayist, the rarely- and the US line the walls of the gallery, and playful, Lynch’s is painted in artists fit photography into their Out of the three, it is Andy seen photos on display here reveal while an atonal soundtrack, created by much darker tones. Grimy close-ups oeuvres, and explore the themes Warhol who has the most obvious his skill as a photographer. Perhaps Lynch himself, serves to reinforce the of pipes and puddles create a setting that permeate the rest of their work. link to photography; the pop-art appropriate for such a leading light of ominous mood. Given his illustrious that wouldn’t look out of place in his The Warhol and Burroughs give us a polymath’s work was often based the Postmodernists, Burroughs takes career as an auteur of American 1977 masterpiece Eraserhead; one candid, and seldom seen, look at their upon photographs, and the idea of a much more analytical approach cinema, it is perhaps unsurprising almost expects the shots to feature the lives, but it is Lynch who stands out celebrity culture – along with the to photography than Warhol, often that his work is the most consistent, Girl in the Radiator, or any other of his head and shoulders above the others, media exposure that accompanies it cutting and splicing his frames featuring tightly framed shots of twisted creations, but instead they are with work that is both eerily beautiful, – is a running theme throughout his together into dense and rich collages. urban decay in shades of black and desolate and barren, and perhaps all and horrifically unsettling. Corruption of a convent girl

Grieux. Soon, however, she is tempted Manon is evidently a work of its Emiel De Lange by the life of luxury and comfort time; created with one eye on its Writer offered by her wealthier suitors. The audience and one on the competition. story explores the struggle between The entire first half of act three, for the passions of love and of greed set example, appears to be an excuse for What: Manon against the backdrop of decadent, Massenet to show off his ballet music Where: Royal Opera House, WC1 bourgeois Paris. while very little happens to advance When: Until 6th February In this Royal Opera House the narrative. Price: Various production, Laurent Pelly accentuates Despite these historical peculiarities, this decadence and makes Manon’s the musical performances were anon premiered in corruption by wealth a symptom of compelling, and indeed Massenet’s 1884, at the height society as a whole. Rather cynically, score has exquisite moments of of the Belle Époque. the men, all dressed alike in black sensitivity and beauty. Ermonela French imperialism suits, are driven by animalistic sexual Jaho, in the role of Manon, is a was at its peak, urges and act as a mob, while the force of nature whose dynamic Mand a spirit of optimism flowed on women, by contrast all in white, are control is absolutely remarkable. the streets of wealthy Paris. Twenty all too happy to oblige in return for The transformation of Manon from years earlier, Richard Wagner had jewels and other goods. The sets innocent girl to corrupted socialite brought his opera Tannhäuser to look grey and concrete, but play with was entirely convincing. On par was the Opéra de Paris and begun his perspective cleverly. As a whole the Matthew Polenzani as Des Grieux, cultural revolution. French poets, affair is rather bleak and Des Grieux’s and hearing their duets together was musicians and painters had fallen piety and good-heartedness stands an absolute thrill. As always with the under his spell, but now was the time out greatly. Manon, although foolish Royal Opera the cast and chorus were for France to reclaim its place at the and naïve for breaking such a man’s uniformly excellent and the orchestra head of the cultural world. Manon was heart, is portrayed as a victim with under Emmanuel Villaume played commissioned from the celebrated whom we feel great sympathy. passionately, if a little rough around composer Jules Massenet and quickly The Royal Opera House has touted the edges. conquered the world’s stages. Manon as one of opera’s great tragic This production is highly The protagonist and title character, heroines, on a par with the likes of accomplished and the lead Manon Lescaut, is a beautiful young Verdi’s Violetta. Unfortunately, I feel performances phenomenal, but girl of 16 when she arrives in the city, that despite Pelly’s best efforts, the although Manon is an engaging and destined for the convent. She is quickly work as conceived by Massenet simply affecting drama, it doesn’t quite pursued by suitors and decides to run lacks the cohesion, concision and accomplish what it was originally off with a handsome chevalier – Des © bill roh/bill cooper unity of such dramatic masterpieces. intended to. Getting some or getting none? http://bit.ly/1l2exIo

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Editor: Maciej Matuszewski, Eva BOOKS Rosenthal [email protected]

Student Picks Welcome to Night Vale

Eva Rosenthal picks: The Journal of Eugene Delacroix by Eugene Delacroix Maciej Matuszewski invites you to visit

The Journal of Eugene Delacroix has dominated my thoughts for the past two months. Delacroix, a French America’s most unusual town artist of the mid-nineteenth century, started keeping a journal as a young man. He wanted to improve his al- ready lively and original writing style; he thought he had How to write a review of something a forgetful, careless personality and, writing an account whose own creator describes as of his days, might remember them the better. He also “weird and impossible to describe”? needed to understand himself as a man and as an artist At its simplest, Welcome to Night Vale, and began a journal solely for his own use. As such, his produced by Commonplace Books, is a musings have a quality of self-effacement, doubt and fortnightly audio podcast in the format honesty that makes them all the more interesting. of a radio news broadcast from the He looked at art with the qualifying eye of an artist and fictional American desert town of Night his interests extended to literature, music and philoso- Vale. However, Night Vale is not what we phy. He writes about his favourite paintings, painters would recognise as an ordinary town, it and the inspiration he takes from them; about his musi- is a weird and shadowy place where the cal evenings in Paris; about his literary friends... laws of physics don’t always work and The description of a nineteenth century Parisian life, where behind every corner lurk eldritch including meetings with other figures of the age – Cho- abominations, ancient conspiracies pin or George Sand – are another curiosity of the jour- and “vague yet menacing” government nal. The artist’s life, as Delacroix takes it, is filled with agencies. beauty at even the most melancholy moments. The journal is published in an abridged version by “It always manages Phaidon. to maintain a wonder- fully unsettling and otherworldly atmos- phere”

This is a premise pregnant with possibilities and Welcome to Night Vale makes full use of them. While such themes are usually used in horror fiction this podcast takes the bolder step of turning them into a comedy. In a manner somewhat similar to Joss Whedon’s highly enjoyable The Cabin in the Woods Palmer. This is not because Cecil himself are regular guest contributors – both the podcast takes an almost perverse is in any way particularly unusual – to the writing and music. The podcast pleasure in smashing together as many indeed he often seems close to the reminds me of other similar comedy different horror and dark fantasy tropes perfect everyman. Yet it is precisely his shows of a similar format – such as as possible – deconstructing them and normality in the face of the weirdness Radio 4’s Bigipedia – however I have seeing how they interact. around him, and his instinctive never listened to anything that was quite acceptance that this weirdness is normal, “...the podcast takes that ultimately shows the listener how “...a wonderful cel- different the world of Night Vale is from an almost perverse our own comfortable experiences. ebration of the weird pleasure in smashing Initially Cecil starts out as a simple and esoteric – show- commentator on the goings on in together as many the town. However, his personality is ing us that even that gradually and effectively developed. different horror and We get to see him as a complex and which is frightening Send your submissions for highly likeable character and, through dark fantasy tropes as his interactions with, and descriptions can be beautiful.” our newest regular fea- of, other townsfolk, we get to see them possible...” in the same way. Welcome to Night Vale so imaginative and daring, both in terms tures! manages to insert some real moments of style as well as content, as Welcome Sometimes this is taken to the levels of character drama among the humour to Night Vale. All of the episodes are FLASH FICTION: Ultrashort of absurdity – such as how candidates – making us really care for all these available free online so there is no fiction up to 200 characters in Night Vale’s mayoral elections people, and entities, despite their excuse for you not to check them out. include “The Faceless Old Woman ‘eccentricities’. It might sound that With thirty nine episodes having already STUDENT PICKS: Send us up Who Secretly Lives in Your Home” and trying to do so many different things been released, and a companion novel to 250 words on your favour- Hiram McDaniels, who is “literally a at once may end up a mess, yet this on the way, there is a lot to catch up – ite book and how it changed five headed dragon”. Other times it is podcast somehow manages it – creating but I can promise you that you won’t be you done far more subtly. Yet Welcome to a wonderful celebration of the weird disappointed by this unique podcast. Night Vale never descends into outright and esoteric – showing us that even that [email protected] farce. It always manages to maintain a which is frightening can be beautiful. See commonplacebooks.com/welcome- wonderfully unsettling and otherworldly Despite having gone on for over a year to-night-vale for more information atmosphere. and a half now Welcome to Night Vale and to purchase Welcome to Night This is due, in no small part, to the continues to feel fresh and innovative. Vale merchandise. The show can be podcast’s main character – wonderfully The show’s creative team is not afraid streamed, for free, from http://podbay.fm/ smooth voiced radio presenter Cecil to explore new format ideas and there show/536258179.

20 FRIDAY 24 JAN Editor: Simon Hunter, Riaz Agahi, Stuart Masson, William MUSIC Stocker [email protected] Black Metal and a Crywank Forrest Seiwald and Stuart Masson report back on a very mixed bill

hen I asked deprecating humor and a ditty about Luckily for me, I was proved wrong Stuart if he paperclips. by Old Skin. They may feature wanted to come The live show was everything that Crywank’s percussionist on drums, to Crywank I could have hoped for and more, but they could not be a more different with me, he putting all the emotion heard in act. Their sound is easily described by wasW understandably confused. the recordings into the live show. the chaotic hardcore tag, so basically, Thankfully, I was able to quickly able From the more depressing songs think Converge. That’s definitely not to correct any misunderstandings such as Hikikomori, to a surprisingly a bad thing though. For those of you and on Monday night we headed lighthearted I Am Shit, not once was who haven’t been, Power Lunches to see Crywank, performing with Had to image search for Crywank... I disappointed by the song choice or is a basement in Dalston with room Caïna, Old Skin, and Ithaca at Power performance. Mixed in with it all was for about 80 people. It turned what Lunches. them. a humorous commentary, poking fun was already a really intense and Crywank is an acoustic anti-folk They opened with a cheery song off at themselves for writing such over heavy set into a mind melting mix of The man behind black metal project Caïna duo from Manchester who have been their newest album singing “everyone the top sad music. furious screams, cataclysmic riffs and told “they are the worst named band I love is going to die, and I will die Crywank put on a great live show, pounding drums. It was really quite that chills you to the bone while the in the country”. Started in 2009, as well”, immediately followed by and if you ever have the chance to see something. volume liquifies your mind. they’ve released three albums (their an emotionally charged rendition of them perform live I’d recommend The intensity level didn’t slow down Sadly, his set was somewhat ruined most recent this past November) and Pope Alexander off their first album. doing so; you won’t regret it. After there though. I’ve put my ears through by technical problems. His guitar I was pleasantly surprised that they What followed was 30 minutes of sad Crywank, the bands all got a bit a lot over the years, and so I generally never started working, so around continue to perform songs from all of songs interspersed with witty self noisier, so it’s best if Stuart takes over consider really loud gigs as about the fifteen minutes after the scheduled the review. correct volume. Caïna hurt. Like start, we were informed he was just physically hurt. In a good way. The going to play vocal stuff. We got two First of the heavier acts were Ithaca. man behind Caïna is Andrew Curtis- tracks of that before the rest of his AMS album of the week They seemed to be aiming for a sound Brignell, and he has crafted himself equipment also stopped working. He somewhere in the gulf between quite a reputation in the UK ambient gave a fairly grumpy apology and had Alcest – Shelter Meshuggah and The Fall of Troy, black metal scene. Apparently the to call it a night. It was an extremely but without living up to the level of name comes from Dante’s Inferno, frustrating end to the night, especially Black metal has undoubtedly either of those acts, they ended up where Caïna is a bottomless fissure given how incredible the two tracks seen regeneration in recent years. coming across as Lamb of God trying of eternally frozen blackened ice. It’s he did manage to play were. I will Releases such as Deafheaven’s too hard. It wasn’t exactly unpleasant, suprising how well that describes the definitely be keeping an eye out for Sunbather or Altar of Plagues’ but after all that Crywank’s set had sound. A whirl of reverb drenched more London dates, because I can Teethed Glory and Injury in 2013 offered, I definitely felt like we were screams, shouts and chants creates only imagine how good the full live were well received, provided you heading on a downward trajectory. an unbelievably intense soundscape experience would be. were looking for challenging music with power behind it. However, you’d be mistaken if it was purely “good black metal” that is suddenly I Break Horses Break No New Ground hitting home with the hipsters, rather than just metalheads – really, where it drops a bit below inoffensive. it’s what these bands do on these Stuart Masson The seven minutes of Heart To Know albums that isn’t metal at all that grabbed people’s attention. Enter Alcest, Music Editor are just really tedious. Dreary dream who have been playing this game for years, merging the typical blast beats, pop that goes absolutely nowhere is high screams, tremolo guitars and proggy structures of black metal with wedish act I Break bad enough when it is a normal length a mystical dreamy atmosphere. And just as black metal had become cool, Horses released their track, but seven minutes? Fuck that. fans are left scratching their heads as Alcest abandon the very ship they debut album, Hearts, Berceuse is also really mundane, whilst left port on. back in 2011. Full of fuzzy Faith left me pretty numb. Shelter strips out the metal from Alcest’s original sound. This isn’t at shoegaze, processed beats There are a few better tracks here. all sudden, as the screams have been dying off consistently since Ecailles Sand dreamy vocals I remember being Disclosure is a really great slice of De Lune in 2010. On Shelter, clean guitars weave dream pop songs with fairly impressed when I first listened dreamy electro-pop, whilst Weigh walls of effects. The space left by the metal is now filled with a wider sound to it, but by no means blown away. I True Worlds is an exciting upbeat palette –pianos, guest vocals, choirs and heavily layered guitars, fitting well then caught them at a festival in the pop number that really works (even with frontman Neige’s ethereal voice. Many of these are present on the title summer of 2012 and was completely if it sounds more like Robyn than My the most interesting part, and the track, probably the most representative song on the album, where choruses blown away. Everything got drenched Bloody Valentine). The highlight is texture gets a bit numbing after seven are a merge of vocal hooks, simple drumming and droning guitar. in loads of noise, and it really changed definitelyDenial . A sleek sexy electro- minutes. Don’t assume that Shelter never feels heavy because of this style shift. my mind about the band. It’s a shame pop number drenched in reverb, this This album has a lot of potential, Voix Sereines, begins with familiar vocal and clean guitar passages, and that with their sophomore album, one is simultaneously really beautiful and it would take a few minor changes has a fantastic gradual build to its euphoric ending, where we do hear Chiaroscuro, they seem intent on texturally, and also really danceable. in mixing to make it really good. distortion guitars with the new post-rock sound. Délivrance does much changing my mind back. It’s the sort of track that works just as With louder beats, a bit of noise here the same, with even bolder choirs, strings and a final crescendo which ends Opening track You Burn sets the well on the playlist for a quiet night as and there and trimming down the with almost Godspeed-guitar drone. tone for the rest of the album. It’s fine. it would a house party (assuming you seven minute tracks this would be an It’s not all memorable, as some of the poppier songs are easily Alcest’s It just doesn’t do anything exciting. host fairly hipster house parties). absolutely fantastic album. Sadly, I weakest efforts (such as Away, or Opale – unfortunately the single). The There’s no noise, the processed beats The album is perhaps best summed Break Horses clearly don’t agree with key in enjoying Shelter is in realising what really makes Alcest good. Behind are far quieter than they were on the up with my opinions on the other my stylistic wishes for the record and all the noise, be it waves of reverb or bone splitting distortion, it’s the debut and there’s synths all over the seven minute track, Medicine Brush. so I’ll have to make do with it being songwriting and atmosphere that has always been present making them shop. It does have a nice ethereal The beats sound great, the synth all right. Maybe I need to catch them worth listening to. It’s still the same gift on Shelter, it just not in the same atmosphere, it’s quite pretty, and you lines are interesting and the dreamy live again for this one to click, but wrapping paper as before. Disappointed it’s not black metal? Hush now, know, it doesn’t offend me at all. The textures are great. However, the beats certainly for now, I’m back to thinking don’t worry – Agalloch and Wolves In The Throne Room will be saving thing is, I want the music I listen to be are hidden away when they should be I Break Horses are just another run of the day this 2014. a few rungs above inoffensive. given the lead, the synths dominate the mill dream pop band, which is a Robin Thomas Sadly, there are even a few moments everything, even when they’re not real shame. FRIDAY 24 JAN 21

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FelixImperial MUSIC The Pelican Brief Riaz Agahi talks to Trevor de Brauw and Dallas Thomas

ollowing the release of their with just filling in for a few shows, what had gone before latest effort, Forever then a tour, then another tour... and still embrace it a Becoming (the rather Two years later it just seemed to fresh progression of the excellent, if a little make since Laurent decided he band. mystifying artwork is didnt want to do the band anymore Fshown on the right) , an album that and focus on family and career. TD- There was is instantly distinguishable as The Swan King practices next door going to be a change in Pelican, while still breaking new to Pelican in Chicago, so we pretty sound no matter what ground, I had the chance to talk to much met through the walls... Yeah since the album lacks Pelican’s two guitarists, founder we all travel in the same social Laurent’s contribution. member Trevor de Brauw and circles so it all kind of just naturally Pelican has always Dallas Thomas, who joined the clicked. been the sound of band in 2012 to replace Laurent four distinct musical Schroeder-Lebec, about the new Has the band’s sound changed personalities bringing album, and a variety of other since the change in personnel, their influences and Pelican related topics. and do you feel that was an perspectives to the influence on Forever Becoming? table. There was a sense Riaz Agahi: Dallas, how did that removing one of you end up joining Pelican? Did DT- The bulk of the material those voices from the you guys know each other well was written by Trevor and Bryan mix would change beforehand? sending files back and forth to Larry things, but if we kept in LA. There was focused attempt our heads and wrote Dallas Thomas: Well it started to not be a extreme departure from that the remaining 75% would come up with something that was recognizably Pelican. I think the new record bears our stamp, maybe it’s a bit streamlined in some regards.

Were you guys on the same wavelength or was there a totally new set of influences? hiatus. good observation, besides the point that Larry and Bryan are the bro DT- I felt everything just sort How do you feel Pelican’s sound rhythm section. of clicked right before recording or way of writing and recording Forever Becoming. We all have has evolved since you first started To what extent is there a kind such vast influences both similar making music? of context or deeper message that and different that it wasn’t some goes beyond being simply well sort conscious effort. We just all Trevor de Brauw: It seems arranges music? I read once that followed what was sounding best. like we’ve just grown to know the title city of echoes related to each other better and better as globalisation... TD- The writing process in this musicians over time and we have a band is really intuitive and not clearer sense of how to compliment TD- Our records will always be a thought out. The influences that are each other musically in the space reflection of what’s going on in our brought to the table are not overt; of a composition. I wouldn’t say lives between albums, manifested it’s more just a subliminal effect of we were necessarily over-thinking musically. So context, yes, but I all being voracious music listeners. anything in the past, but there was don’t know that we’d qualify it as I think Dallas is right that things definitely a sense of laboring over a message. With regards to City really seemed to click right before details in the past that seems to of Echoes- we wrote that record recording - the session was booked have been replaced with intuition. during a time when our career as before we finished writing to kind Conversely, in terms of actual song touring musicians was taking off of give us a deadline, which I think structure we used to just throw and we were constantly traveling. helped ramp up the momentum last everything at a wall to see what Globalization was definitely on our minute and bring everything into would stick, whereas now we’re minds at that time because we were focus. ruthless editors. Even though some witnessing it firsthand on a daily of the song lengths tend to be basis; rolling into towns all over that How close was the band to pretty long, they’re often cut down bore uncomfortable similarities. splitting up around the time of or adjusted because we’re very wary But the album also carried this Ataraxia/Taraxis? Certain music of how the song flows. sense that music was this unifying media sources seemed to think power that had brought us all over Pelican was nearing an end... the world and put us in touch with I said in my recent review (Issue so many people and cultures that we TD- That’s more or less when 1558) that I felt like the rhythm did not previously have immediate we got momentum going again, section was a lot more prominent contact with. although that’s also when Laurent and I was wondering if you started distancing himself more. thought that was the case? Forever Becoming was released For me there was never a question October 15th 2013 on Southern Lord that we’d get back into it post- DT- Yeah I would say that is a records. 22 FRIDAY 24 JAN

Editor: John Park FILM [email protected]

Director masterclass: Martin Scorsese

Peter Brook Star Writer

“You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talk- ing... you talking to me? Well I’m the only one here.”

“I think I learn more in a movie or in a story when I see what a person does wrong and what happens be- cause of that.”

Scorsese has created such a variety of films from religious epics (The Last Temptation of Christ and Kundun) to kids’ movies (Hugo) however he is really known for his depictions gang- sters and vigilantes on the streets of New York.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2014) film is in fact very similar to Good- The Wolf of Wall Street is Scorsese Fellas. This character disgusted me looking through the eyes of Jason Bel- and usually when you don’t like the fort played by Leonardo DiCaprio, a main character of a movie you don’t corrupt and opulent man travelling care what happens at the end. In this, from rags to obscene riches. One of I was vying for his decline and I was the first scenes shows Belfort using a gripped. straw to blow cocaine into the ass of a One strange thing to note was in prostitute and really this sets the tone the screening I saw that the room felt for the rest of the movie. split between those who were reveling The first thing to say is that DiCap- in his immorality (and laughing in in- Taxi Driver (1976) husband who has followed his wife rio puts in an absolutely rock solid appropriate places) and those who’d The most iconic film of Scorsese’s fil- to a another mans house where she is Goodfellas (1990) performance filled with comedy and decided he was awful. That being said mography tells the story of a vigilante having an affair and then talks about “As far back as I can remember, I al- nuance. Alongside him the drug ad- lots of the film is played for laughs and who decides he wants to clean up the how he is going to kill her and what ways wanted to be a gangster,” This is dled tag along Jonah Hill adds a hi- there is one brilliant bit of physical streets and after deciding he can’t kill a her mutilated corpse will look like. the ultimate gangster movie, and the larious extra dimension whilst taking comedy played by DiCaprio after tak- politician, he goes after a pimp to res- You follow Bickle in his decision to first of triptych of films about organ- another step away from his teenage ing to many drugs making the 2-meter cue a twelve-year-old girl from a life of become a rouge go on some sort of ised crime including Casino and The knob-gag-filled past. walk to his car look like a mile. prostitution. The reason this movie is spree. The denouement of the film Departed. The story shows how a kid However, whether you enjoy this Critics of this film will say it is just such a classic is because it masters the clashes with the rest of the movie as it becomes a Mafioso, then his treacher- film will hang on one central tenant: Is exploitation, however the last scene feeling of isolation that Travis Bickle is just SO violent, and this is where we ous career and in the end how he hates showing a morally neutral take on an may give us an insight into what the (Robert De Niro) feels. find catharsis. himself for leaving the life of crime via amoral person the same as condoning director really wants to say, much like The atmospheric music with its jazz BUT… a witness protection program. A true what they do? in Taxi Driver. refrains, the slow motion close-ups The final scene shows a selection of epic. His life is shown in first person and (Continued after the break with of De Niro that let us ponder what newspaper articles telling the story of As with all his previous films we get style of the film doesn’t stop to let you spoilers) Bickle is feeling and truly appreciate what he has done and a letter from the fantastic camera moves and probably reflect on consequences of his actions, Belfort, having left prison, is giving how brilliant an actor he is. The film parents of the rescued girl. Though he an era defining steady-cam shot fol- but maybe this IS how Jason Belfort a sales seminar (much like Warren sweeps you along and by the end you is praised as a hero we know he was lowing Henry Hill through the back sees the world. Is this an exploita- Buffet does) and the final shot is of an find yourself siding with this sad and moments away from killing a senator entrance of the Copacobana Club, tion film showing egregious sex, drug adoring crowd leaning into listen to a lonely vigilante. The character, Bickle, before deciding to a kill the pimps. We through the kitchens meeting and taking and violence? Yes. Is that bad multiple felon. This is a reflection of is such a wonderful case study I’m sure are reminded that, although we went greeting everyone and into the club thing? Certainly not. the audience in the cinema peering it’d be worth doing a psychology de- along with him for the ride, now it is where a table is bought out and put Most films that have a three-hour into the exciting but depraved world gree just to try and figure him out. time to reflect on how a racist, fas- right at the front for him. It really led from early career to highlife to decline and makes you stop to think that we The seediness of the whole piece is cist who has pretend-arguments with the way for directors like Paul Thomas movies usually stutter in the decline, are all happy to forget the people who really boiled down in the scene where himself in the mirror accidently be- Anderson to use such complicated the plot slows down and the character Belfort has scammed on the condition Scorsese himself plays a near crazy came a hero. tracking shots. stops to reflect, the trajectory of this we can get in on the action too. Want to write for ? YES NO

How about How about copy writing News? editing etc?

NAH, YES SOUNDS NO WHAT IS THAT? SHIT

WOOP!Email: YES How about writing Fair enough. Keep It’s basically where [email protected] Hangman? on reading then you proof read to check for peoplse mistaeks NO HMMM. I KNOW SOUNDS FUN WHICH ONE NO Okay. What section?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE? Great! Email: Well. There’s: Features, [email protected] Business, Science,Politics, Food, ONE OF THEM Comment, Fashion, Arts, Books, Music, Television, Film, Games, NO Technology, Coffee Break, Hangman (again), Travel, Sports, Puzzles

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FINE. I WILL NO Make a new one?

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@feliximperial 24 FRIDAY 24 JAN

Editor: John Park FILM [email protected] Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Make it last

woman she is and how she can make it though that song itself doesn’t capture John Park on her own without having to change the former grandeur of other Disney Film Editor or be ashamed of who she is. It’s pow- greats) its musical offerings are con- John Park erfully sung by the original green siderably weak. Film Editor Wicked Witch Elphaba, Menzel, who Where the film excels however, is blasts through the tough notes and with its infinitely beautiful and crea- Frozen leaves a memorable impression of her tive animated visuals. Winter has nev- moment. er looked more sparkly and whenever Last Vegas Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee Whilst Elsa is living her feminist Elsa plays around with her incredible Writers: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, dream in the winter mountains, Anna powers, the film generates images and Director: Jon Turteltaub Hans Christian Andersen (story), too, is on a feminist quest of her own sequences that are truly a marvellous Writer: Dan Fogelman Shane Morris to bravely venture out into the wilder- spectacle. Their kingdom of Aren- Starring: Michael Douglas, Robert Starring: (voices) Kristen Bell, Idina ness to find her sister and to bring delle serves as a majestic set-up for De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad back the sun to the lands. Anna is the the scenes set within the palace walls Kline, Mary Steenburgen Runtime: 102 minutes one with the most patience in the film, along its beautiful corridors and inte- Runtime: 105 minutes Certification: PG as she is constantly kept in the dark riors, and even out in the wilderness, Certification: 12A about everything, and yet taking such the harsh nature presents an eerie treatment so well. She is accompanied dose of beauty. by a male traveller, although for the Of course there is the obligatory most part he takes the back seat. Yes, need for a loyal, trusted animal com- this is possibly the first ever Disney panion, plus some reliable comic re- As its title suggests, Walt Disney’s animated film that is so upfront and lief. These roles are filled by Olaf (Josh brand new animation film is all about driven about its female protagonists. Gad), a snowman whose warmth and the cold, which is just as well, given Feminists are right to rejoice about naivete are a time-worthy addition to the appropriate period of its release this one, as neither Elsa nor Anna are the film (although his ill-advised ob- date. There is so much snow, a lot after the fulfilment of finding the one session for the heat and summer does of wind, and plenty of ice to get you man who will automatically solve all translate into an entirely forgettable into the winter mood if you weren’t their problems. In fact if anything, it’s sequence of his only song), as well as already. Loosely based on Hans Chris- the men who complicate things. Sven the reindeer who acts as a trusty ten Andersen’s story The Snow Queen, It’s a refreshing turn in a well- riding companion of Kristoff (Jona- we have Elsa (Idina Menzel), a young worked formula of the past, and al- than Groff), the man who becomes princess who can conjure up all things though the opening scenes do hint at a the reluctant travelling companion of related to winter. A potentially fatal cringe-inducing love subplot, that’s all Anna. accident has her parents worrying for cleared up towards the end in a slight- What the film lacks is a strong, the safety of her younger sister, Anna ly more sinister twist than one might memorable antagonist to sustain the (Kristen Bell). From that point on, Elsa originally expect. plot’s momentum. The final climax is forever separated from Anna and That the two ladies are voiced by and showdown is unimpressive to say the two start living different lives. such high-spirited voice actors works the least, and to say that the resolution After a tragic shipwreck leaves their to the film’s advantage. And this be- to all the previously set-up problems When an old friend finally announces by his wife who says what happens parents dead, it’s Elsa’s turn to take the ing a Disney film, there are plenty of is rushed would be a massive under- that he is ready to settle down with a in Vegas stays in Vegas whilst hand- crown and rule over her kingdom. An songs taked with a lot of the story- statement. Everything is sorted in a woman young enough to his grand- ing him a condom and Viagra, Paddy accident of epic proportions occurs as telling. Menzel and Bell share some single, anticlimactic flash, and with daughter, his friends are nothing short is a miserable, grumpy old man who her powers are no longer a secret to well-harmonised, pleasant duets, al- such a well-structured build-up the of excitement as they get ready for the doesn’t want to have fun especially af- the people, and her once-warm, sunny though they’re not exactly the types of pay-off should have been a bigger bachelor party of their lives. Now that ter the death of his beloved wife, and hometown is thrown into the miser- songs that immediately stick to your spectacle. they’re all over the age of 70, even in Billy is deluding himself into thinking able, blistering cold. Casting herself head. There have only been sporadic But in the end Frozen certainly dem- Vegas they need to play it safe. There that the girl he’s about to marry is do- into exile, Elsa builds herself a fancy periods of brilliance when it comes onstrates that Disney still has plenty are pills to be taken, blood pressure ing so out of love for him and not his new ice castle whilst singing the film’s to Disney’s original film soundtrack of magic up its sleeves, and that their to watch and bed times to adhere to. bank balance. highlight song ‘Let it Go’ that empha- of late, and with Frozen, apart from next few offerings will be worth wait- Are they getting too old for this shit? All typical storylines, but things sises how strong and independent a the aforementioned ‘Let It Go’ (even ing around for. Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, take a turn for the preposterous when Robert De Niro and Kevin Kline cer- Mary Steenburgen appears. Diana is tainly don’t think so. an aged lounge singer who’s following Billy (Douglas) is the one getting her dreams to...well...sing. She does a married, Archie (Freeman) and Sam great job, and catches the eyes of both (Kline) are the best friends looking Billy and Paddy, something that will forward to a fun weekend away hoping put an even bigger strain between the to recapture their youth, and Paddy two men. (De Niro) has some personal beef with In fact, it’s Steenburgen’s contri- Douglas and the two haven’t been on bution to the film that elevates the speaking terms for a long time. What quality of the film. As absurd as her happened between the two? Well the sub-plot may be, her intelligent, witty drama that exists between the two of conversations with the two men pro- them end up becoming the best aspect vide a lot of the laughs and her wise, of the film, as a touching background kind words some poignancy. story is revealed. The four actors can for sure act The trouble with Last Vegas is when there is no doubt about it, and it’s not it’s trying too hard to be funny. Self- difficult to picture the four of them as deprecating jokes all related to how best of friends going all the way back eveyrone has aged are as old as the ac- to their childhood. But in a script that tors themselves, and whatever banter chooses to dump them in Vegas with that wants to take place between the very little to actually do, not even the acting veterans never fully material- exntensive star quality on display here ises. Archie has haemorrhoids, Sam can distract from that. What a missed, has been given a free weekend pass wasted opportunity. FRIDAY 24 JAN 25

@feliximperial

FelixImperial FILM It’s time to dish the dirt

John Park Film Editor

August: Osage County

Director: John Wells Writer: Tracy Letts Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Margo Martindale, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Julianne Nicholson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dermot Mulroney, Sam Shepard, Mitsy Upham Runtime: 121 minutes Certification: 15

Here is a film of so many mixed emo- and Ivy (Julianne Nicholson). Bar- there is plenty of scenery chewed and her own place in the world and get on iceberg when it comes to what the We- tions that it will make your head spin. bara’s family is falling apart, but in the devoured as they outright steal the with her life, as the only daughter who stons have in store for the rest of the With larger-than-life characters hav- face of such tragedy her daughter Jean show. stuck around in Oklahoma near the film. No secret can stay buried for too ing a proper go at each other at a (Abigail Breslin) and estranged hus- There is a reason why these two are insanity of her childhood home. long in this family, and as one dark, family gathering (where else?). Those band (Ewan McGregor) put on a unit- hogging all the awards attention; they There is a particularly effective scene twisted fact comes to light after an- of you familiar with the Walkers of ed front, Karen turns up with the man are both phenomenal. Roberts hasn’t where the three sisters gather around other, it’s only a matter of time before ABC’s hit TV show Brothers and Sis- of the year Steve (Dermot Mulroney) had a role this mature and seasoned in for a late-night catch-up, a short but everything falls crumbling apart. And ters will know of their infamous dining whose strongest quality is certainly recent years and it’s nice to see her let dense segment that reveals more than it’s this slow but sure disintegration of scenes where no lunch/dinner party not subtlety (driving a crazy loud Fer- loose and tackle her supporting role expected from the characters. Nichol- various relationships as an audience is a smooth ride. The Weston family, rari to a funeral, taking a phone call fearlessly. When Barbara isn’t butting son is most engaging, finally revealing member that proves to be enormously hailing from Osage County, Oklaho- during prayer), and Ivy isn’t as single heads with her mom, it’s her husband a part of her that wasn’t previously entertaining to watch. ma, take things to a whole new level. as her mother assumes her to be. As and daughter she has trouble with, seen as she was being largely side- In the end however, no one comes There’s wine involved of course, but the dramatic showdown occurs, the which brings out great moments for lined and ignored thanks to the fu- out a clear winner, as under all that also pills, cursing is almost a require- new live-in carer Johnna (Mitsy Up- both McGregor and Breslin. neral dinner ending in absolute chaos. black humour there is a profound ment, and hurling verbal abuse is the ham) looks on from a relative distance Streep, as usual, is the dramatic Martindale’s Mattie Fae is as bub- sense of tragic underlying sadness. norm. as she serves up the meal. dominant force the film depends on, bly (“give me some sugar” she says as Every single character has messed At the head of the table sits the ma- It’s one hell of a cast, with everyone and her wild, hysteric antics remain she embracingly greets all the family up issues that need dealing with but triarch, cancer-ridden, pill-popping pitching in strong performances to faultless throughout, and there really members) as she can be downright in this kind of environment answers Violet Weston (Meryl Streep) who is create one smooth ensemble piece. appears to be no role that she cannot nasty, most noticeably to her own aren’t easy to find. The final scenes reeling from her husband Beverly’s There is a mixture of loud voices who convincingly handle. son, Little Charles, played lovingly don’t provide any satisfying closure, (Sam Shepard) suicide. The entire aren’t afraid to lay out their opinions, But the script is clever enough to and sweetly by Cumberbatch, who is although a re-edited version of the family has gathered to support her, and to contrast that some more re- give everyone at the table a chance a little slow, clumsy and unemployed, ending, courtesy of Harvey Weinstein although with this lot they create strained performances also have place to shine. It’s a packed crowd for sure, which makes him a screw-up in her trying to put a more positive spin on more problems and tension. Violet’s at the dinner table. Streep and Roberts with so many big names it becomes eyes. the narrative tries to give some hope. sister Mattie Fae (Margo Martindale) are clearly the loudest of the bunch, hard to resist. Cooper, although generally quiet Surprisingly this doesn’t feel too out and Mattie’s husband Charlie (Chris with Violet, hopped up on all sorts Rounding off the Weston family are and perhaps the most sane, normal of place, and after so many unpleas- Cooper) turn up, as does their son Lit- of pain meds, is an unstoppable train Karen, a clueless, wandering, happy- one of the group has his highlight antries, it could be a welcome change tle Charlie (Benedict Cumberbatch), when it involves insulting her guests. go-lucky who is willing to embrace scene that comes when he sticks up of atmosphere, even if that moment with events taking a more juicy turn Roberts is the only one brave enough any man who will have her, even if that for his son who he couldn’t be more passes by in a fleetingly brief shot. with Violet’s three daughters Barbara to square off directly against her means she will be wife no. 4 to her , Ivy proud of. A true acting masterclass of how it’s (Julia Roberts), Karen (Juliette Lewis) mother, and between the two of them is finally learning to find happiness, Beverly’s suicide is only the tip of the done on the screen, do not miss this. 26 FRIDAY 24 JAN

Editor: John Park FILM [email protected]

2014 Critics Choice Awards Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave Time to dream big Imperial Cinema Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity) Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) Joe Letts Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave) Felix Editor Best Young Actor/Actress: Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Colour) Best Acting Ensemble: American Hustle Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze (Her) The Secret Life of Best Animated Feature: Frozen Walter Mitty Best Action Movie: Lone Survivor Best Actor in an Action Movie: Mark Wahlberg (Lone Survivor) Director: Ben Stiller Best Actress in an Action Movie: Sandra Bullock (Gravity) Writers: Steve Conrad, James Best Comedy: American Hustle Thurber (short story) Frozen and Thor: The Dark World Best Actor in a Comedy: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street) Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Best Actress in a Comedy: Amy Adams (American Hustle) Adam Scott, Sean Penn, Shirley In recent years, many have said Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie: Gravity MacLaine that Disney animation has been on Best Foreign Language Film: Blue is the Warmest Colour Runtime: 114 minutes the down and outs but hopefully Best Documentary Feature: 20 Feet From Stardom Certification: PG the arrival of Frozen will spell a Best Art Direction: Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn (The Great Gatsby) comeback! After a falling out with Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity) her sister Anna, Elsa-Princess of Best Costume Design: Catherine Martin (The Great Gatsby) Arendelle runs away, plunging her Best Editing: Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger (Gravity) kingdom into an eternal winter Best Makeup: American Hustle travel further afield, learning more because of her ability to create ice Best Score: Steven Price (Gravity) about himself while trying to find an and snow. Anna sets out on a mission Best Song: Let it Go (Frozen) elusive character that he’s never met to find her sister to reverse the deep Best Visual Effects: Gravity in person. freeze along with a host of random The cinematography in the film m8s she meets along the way. provides a rather stark surreal Frozen marks the long-awaited experience that adds to the overall return of the classic Disney musical feeling of the film. As the character format but unlike our old childhood A very long walk indeed develops the scenery reflects changes favourites , Frozen uses a mixture of the terrain. CGI and hand-drawn animation for a The film explores themes of sleeker, more realistic feel whilst still sprinting through the early years of romance, corporate life and online retaining the trademark Disney look John Park Mandela as an active revolutionary, dating (via gratuitous mentions of that we all know and love. Film Editor plus the infamous trial where he was OK Cupid) over the course of the Thor: The Dark World sees the imprisoned for life, then his subse- film, with Walter becoming more of return of the eponymous well- quent release after 27 years and his an explorer and less of a basement muscled Norse god and his wayward political actions from then on until dweller (something I can sympathise brother Loki. Thor has to save Mandela: Long Walk he reaches the Presidency. Just getting he Secret life of Walter Mitty with - Ed.). dubious astrophysicist Jane (Natalie to Freedom him elected takes 141 minutes. is a Ben Stiller film based on The film also explores the Portman) after she is kidnapped so The idea of a 27-year imprison- the short of the same name relationship Walter has with he enlists the help of imprisoned Director: Justin Chadwick ment is remarkably diminished and written by James Thurber his mother and his sister; two murderer brother Loki who is Writers: William Nicholson, Nelson trivialised and its harsh conditions for the New Yorker in 1942. characters that provide useful plot consequently freed in order to save Mandela (autobiography) are barely looked at, during which TIn the film Stiller plays the titular devices in unexpected parts of damsel in distress Natalie. Thor 2 is Starring: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris time we focus on Winnie Mandela, character, Walter Mitty, a simple man the script. The audience also sees blatantly silly but if you’re looking Runtime: 141 minutes Nelson’s second wife, and her more in a niche job, born into a grey suit. Walter’s inexplicably spry skills on for fun escapism, superhero sibling Certification: 12A aggressive, no-nonsense stance to The story follows Mitty as he falls a skateboard, while showing tricks banter, wonky Hollywood science resist inequality. Winnie Mandela is for a new co-worker, Cheryl (played to Cheryl’s son in a park (or a stunt and jam-packed special effects, look played by Naomie Harris, the newest by Kristen Wiig) and evolves from man – if you believe in those kind of no further! Miss Moneypenny, who goes through a man who daydreams about doing things). a startling change from being Nelson’s things to a man who actually steps out Overall, Stiller has produced a Tuesday 28/1/14 female companion, to a fearless leader of his shell and taking a grip on the warm, feel-good, philosophical film Thor: The Dark World : 18:30 In putting such an iconic, widely be- who frequently clashes with Nelson’s handlebars of life. with some amazing cinematography, Frozen: 20:45 loved figure to the screen, the pres- more peaceful approach to diplomacy. Mitty works as a low-level employee a healthy dose of good guys and bad sure is most definitely on. The film And it’s a flawless transition Harris at a magazine before adapting to guys. Thursday 30/1/14 shouldn’t offend, nor should it be an shows with compelling charisma. the changes brought in by the new, However, for people who are Frozen: 18:30 unbiasedly kind portrayal, as even the For anyone unfamiliar with any part modern management team. looking for an intellectual, action- Thor: The Dark World: 18:30 most celebrated people have flaws to of the history it is enormously in- As the film progresses, Walter packed movie, it might be time to speak of. And Mandela: Long Walk formative too, highlighting the most leaves the comfort of his home to look somewhere else... Tickets to Freedom does get that balance to a important, intense events surround- £3 Members/ £4 Non-Members certain extent, putting the long years ing the character’s complex life (a lot of Nelson Mandela’s struggle against of senseless shooting, a lot of riot- Buy membership here: oppression to the screen. ing, plenty of deaths, cue news chan- www.imperialcinema.co.uk The film benefits enormously from nel clips), but for experts, errors and the presence of Idris Elba who plays missed out details will be glaringly the title role with impressive restraint obvious. and although at appropriate times, Could this have served better as a great force. His natural assets, the tall, mini-series? Yes. Even at 141 minutes towering frame and deep voice work (an off-putting length for sure) not tremendously to his advantage in set- everything is squeezed in. With a cast ting him up to take the role of a strong this good they could have been put to leader. Elba takes his role even further, even more use, and there are of course putting a very much relatable human such productions planned, although it face to the extraordinary man. will be difficult to find actors as good It moves at a remarkable pace, as the aforementioned pair. FRIDAY 24 JAN 27

@feliximperial FelixImperial GAMES Best Friends for ever? Maximilian Eggl, on the joys of knifing his foe If you read my christmas list, you prob- unlocking new weapons and attache- ine skyscrapers falling down, tropical ably know that I wanted to play BF4 ments for your guns (meaning you can storms blowing in or dams breaking. for a while now. I play a lot of FPS, and make your own individual configura- It sounds epic, and to be honest it the battlefield series always interested tions according to your style), intro- usually is. I mean the tropical storm in me from the off. It was the one game duces a bit more longevity into the Paracel storm completely changes the I had always missed out on. Especially game as it gives the player more of a feel of the map, making you feel like this iteration, which has just built on reason to keep playing. However some- you are really fighting a war on some the success of its predecessors, up- times the game does feel a bit grindy island resort. However, I don’t really dating the graphics, gameplay and to get certain guns and accessories. believe that the levolution is really as most notable introducing big “levolu- The last thing I would love to mention much as DICE made it out to be. Yes tion”. Well it seems someone read my is the implementation of counterknif- it is cool, but really necessary? Does it christmas list, and got me the game! ing, how sick are those animations? really change much about FPS in gen- I had significant problems running The graphics of the game are out- eral? No, and therefore I would have the game at first. Not only would I get standing, and while I could not per- wished that BF4 would have intro- kicked from the servers at random in- sonally run them on the ultra set- duced some awesome new feature that tervals, I would have random freezing ting, even on medium I get some would have really changed things up. as well high incredibly high ping. At very beautiful and detailed maps. I was given this present for Christmas, first I was worried that this was due ics at low setting, now I was getting however is paramount, and where BF4 Keep in mind though that you will which is great because it was all gain, no to my machine not being top of the a good 60fps with medium settings. needed to impress. With several dif- need a beast of a machine to get any- pain. However if I had spent the £40+, line, but after trawling the internet, The fact that DICE seemed to rush ferent game modes, enough variations where near the top graphics levels. then I would have felt a bit frustrated. I found that other users, some with out BF4 before it was ready probably have been thrown in to keep things in- Now to levolution, the games big- Sure its a good shooter, but not for the the best gaming gear, were having the lead to several problems, that you teresting and cater to different moods. gest selling point. Basically the prem- price they are asking. If you are still un- same problem. After some search- may encounter if you get the game. The gameplay of the game itself is ise is that the maps would change sure if you want to go for BF4, wait a ing, I found solutions and got what Nobody really buys FPS games to exceptional, and I feel all the different radically completely redesigning the bit for the price to come down, DICE to seemed like an entirely new game. play the single player, so I will gloss classes and guns are mostly well bal- playing field, and you as a player could iron out any last wrinkles and then you Previously I could only run the graph- over that campaign. The multiplayer anced. Furthermore the mechanic of initiate most of the alterations. Imag- will get one heck of an awesome game. Confessions of GTA: Gamer Style After months of anticipation, Felix releases its review

and the game itself handles beauti- own personality and plays different- is so much customisation such as GTA5 includes GTA onlne. Here Calum Skene fully. The first time I drove a car in ly. Franklin swears like a beast and choosing how to complete the heists you create your own character with Games Editor the game I crashed it straight into can drive cars in slow motion, Mi- and who to hire to do various jobs. tonnes of customisation options that oncoming traffic on a motorway chael is a good all round character, You can go for pros but they will enable you to create your perfect because I wasn’t used to cars han- and Trevor is a crazy maniac who take more of a cut or you can go for crime lord. My online character is a As a massive player of Grand Theft dling in games as well as this one. can take a beating and also dish it quirky amateurs who will maybe sleek Heisenberg inspired character Auto 4 I was surprisingly not that Perhaps the biggest element of this out. The heist missions are like the mess up but you can pay them less, (not original I know) who cruises excited for the new Grand Theft game is the story. The story mode is bank robbery mission in GTA4 but and the more heists you do with around in his purple 4x4 truck em- game. I felt that 4 would forever be long! Really long! The missions don’t longer and there are many of them. them the better they get. This level blazoned with my gang logo. The my Grand Theft Auto game of choice get boring though, they are fun and Each heist requires you to complete of changing things provides replay gang I am in I created myself, to- and that 5 would just be more of the varied and quite often hilarious. You preparation missions and training value, not that you’ll need it as I have gether with the hierarchy of the same in a disappointing way. The start as Franklin, a Ghetto kinda guy such as learning to fly a plane. There left the best feature of GTA5 for last. gang members (based on Top Gun adverts showcasing the three new with a vision, tired of being in Gangs call signs with the top members of characters for this game and the way Franklin wants to start making big the crew earning the rank of Mav- you could switch between them just money. You then seamlessly unlock erick) and is called Danger Chick- seemed like a gimmick to me, and Michael, a retired professional crim- en. In my gang we race together, the city it takes place in, really a copy inal who lives in a beautiful house do missions together and basically of Los Angeles, seemed samey. On in the hills. The last addition is Tre- just enjoy the magic of the world. Christmas day of 2013 Santa showed vor who enters in a memorable way GTA5 offers a tonne of stuff I me just how wrong I was by giving which I won’t ruin here. The range haven’t even mentioned from strip me a copy of this game. Here follows of characters which I had originally clubs to getting some fried chicken everything about Grand Theft Auto thought would get annoying is ac- at Cluckin’ Bell. This game can be 5 that managed to change my mind! tually one of the best things about played seriously for hours or just GTA 5 is only available on XBOX this game. They keep the story mode picked up to do a mission from 360 and PS3, and as much as I fresh as you do missions with each time to time. It combines the re- wanted it on the Wii U I was quite character and also keep the long alism of GTA4 and the fun of the glad to revisit my XBOX for per- heist missions varied as you com- earlier games in the series. Weth- haps the last time. The game looks plete different tasks with different er you are new to GTA or an old beautiful, Los Santos is beautiful, characters. Each character has their fan this game will not disappoint. Time to fill out the Felix Sex Survey!

Opens Monday!

http://bit.ly/1l2exIo FRIDAY 17 JAN 29

Puzzles Commanders: Kingshuk Dasadhikari, Oliver Price PUZZLES [email protected]

FUCWIT League Crossword Clues nickwp 40 Across Sudoku Jia Choo 36.5 Helix 8 Each row, column, and 3 x 3 box must contain all the numbers from 1 1. Star death (9) Adam Stewart 18.5 Gabriel Quek 7 to 9. That’s all. Enjoy... 5. River / Machinery part (3) Yufan Zhao 17 Emma and Ben 6 7. Perform (fatally) (7) Juliette Chupin 8.5 WJ 3 Harder: 9. Hard work / Transplant (5) 10. Diluted (7) 11. Unresolved state (5) Crossword 12. State of holy rule (9) 14. Perennial bulbous plant (5) 17. Covered (7) 19. Carpentry tool (5) 20. Closing play (7) 21. Name at birth (3) 22. Kind of Steel (9)

Down

2. Forecast (7) 3. Capital of Normandy (5) 4. Supernatural being / Tube station (5) 5. Fissure (5) 6. Small space rock (9) 8. Pertaining to hormones (9) 10. Ironman Competition (9) 13. Distance, in Imperial (7) 15. Slightly more than a quart (5) 16. The media (inked) (5) 18. Lebanese city (5)

Milder: Killer:

No clues! Instead, the numbers in each cage must add up to the number in the top left. Numbers cannot be repeated in a cage. Tips: Nonogram The numbers in each box, row and column must add up to 45. Look for cages with only one possible combination e.g. a two wide cage total The lengths of runs of shaded squares in each row and 3 must contain 1 and 2 . each column are given. Squares can only be shaded or unshaded. Solve the puzzle to unveil a pretty picture.

Guess the Stop

The British rail network runs far and wide. The name of a line is scrambled in the following anagram, and the name of a stop on that line, with the given number of letters is encoded by the sum of the letters, where A=1, Last Term’s Solutions B=2... Z=26, =0. Find the line and stop. Note that London Underground lines may also be possible answers.

Anagram:

am the kilns

Stop:

10 letters, Sum: 106 30 FRIDAY 24 JAN

HANGMAN [email protected]

This Week In The Past Apologytorial

about other people’s feelings. to apologise if your life depended Frankly, if we all went around upon it. However, given the average The Historian The Hangman apologising for any deed or comment value of the life of a Felix reader, the Hangman Contributor Hangman Editor that has offended, annoyed or reality is that it wouldn’t be worth the otherwise inconvenienced someone effort. we’d never get anything done. n Trouble - Following Lord Rennard should be held aloft as a 1973 - The US Supreme Court legalises Rennard’s refusal to apologise Spilt your coffee on someone? paragon of pragmatism and logic elective abortion in all 50 states which is in the face of sexual harassment Apologising would be crazy. for his refusal to apologise for any probably the last anyone has heard of the allegations, this editor believes Remember, you’re the one who’s unwittingly inappropriate actions or issue. we should all refuse to atone tragically lost their paid-for drink. vacuous remarks. Ifor our many misdemeanours. Let a friend down recently? So what? more fool them for trusting you in the So, barge past strangers let down your Instead of admitting to one’s mistakes, first place. friends and write terrible Felix articles 1957 - A momentous day for the toy the world would be a better place if we all without guilt as saying “sorry” industry and weird niche sports as Walter all just pretended to give less of a shit Hypothetically, it would be acceptable would only make you look worse. Morrison sells the rights to his mysterious flying disc aka the frisbee Tarantino Felix in the past. “Have you tried sending Suspects You 1927 - First live radio commentary of emails? Email a football match. Unfortunately, it was hangman. between Arsenal and Sheffield United thus felix@imperial. Timothy McSweeny putting off many from ever listening again. ac.uk and give Hangman Contributor it a go!” fter the news this week that the script of a new 1924 - Ramsay MacDonald becomes the Tarantino film was first Labour Prime Minister and goes on leaked to agents, our to create a large multi-national fast food sources have confirmed franchise. thatA Quentin Tarantino suspects you, yes you, to be perpetrator.

He also wishes you to know that he 1897 - Murder of Elva Zona Heaster, the will brutally and very, very personally resultant trial is, once again, sorted out by utilise all the resources at his disposal some expert testimony from a ghost. to hunt you down and force you to make amends.

The multi-award wining director 1570 - James Stewart becomes the first stated that he “always knew you’d do recorded instance of assassination by something like this” and that he was firearm. What a lucky guy. an “idiot” for even letting you near the script in the first place.

At press time, Hangman understands “Want to that the violence in Tarantino’s films experience will be nothing compared to what rejection? Email he and his henchmen - Tim Roth, hangman. Christopher Waltz, Uma Thurman felix@imperial. and Samuel L. Jackson - will do once ac.uk and give they find you. it a go!”

“Strongest” Winter Olympics Team Ready To Disappoint

sessions. The Hangman Hangman Editor “The sessions are a sort of in-depth analysis of how best to disappoint the inal preparations are country both in the short and long being made by the GB term” one squad member stated. Winter Olympics team

Mary Jane Heaston to ready themselves “They vary from how to deliver a one- Olympics yet. However, this has for wholeheartedly off terrible performance all the way been tempered by the fact that many Fdisappointing the country. through to how to maintain sustained pundits believe that such low levels Erm... sorry kids, Hangman bailed. I’m not sure what this picture is, but it does remind me of a under performance over multiple of success in the past has kept the facebook profile picture I saw last week, only more The squad, who have declared Olympics” bar of expectation so low that simply colourful... themselves to be the “strongest in seeing a British athelete at the Winter decades” have been undertaking It has been rumoured that this will Olympics will exceed most of the numerous ‘Disappointment’ training be the most disappointing Winter publics expectations. FRIDAY 24 JAN 31

@feliximperial

FelixImperial HANGMAN

Bustling DATA IN FOR IT Slave Trade the turnip Continues Hangman’s Finest College News Source NOW January Transfer “China Corrupt” Window Very Active Guardian Revelations Growing Less Impressive espite recent journalistic success in playing a major role in revealing some of the contents of If you’re looking for a graduate career look no further than this industry, these the Snowden leaks, the owners pay top bucks! Dstandard of the Guardian’s ‘revelations’ appears to be dropping. This week ollowing the opening of the the tired and overworked newspaper first of the biannual transfer could only muster a “China pretty window two weeks ago, the corrupt” headline which surprised trading of football-playing Daily Record/tumblr basically nobody. slaves is booming this week. The expose of China’s ruling families, F whilst adding a little detail, came with of a terminal decline in the newspaper. Whilst it is widely believed the best essentially little, if any, surprise. When One respected Felix journalist said slaves are rarely available until the reached for comment, a spokesperson “if they’re not revealing the darkest summer window, many slave owning for the Guardian stated “listen guys, secrets of our governments to us, then clubs decide that investment in we can’t always have some dirt on what are they doing?” new, fresher slaves is necessary for western governments – I mean, “Reporting old normal news about increasing crucial points output. there’s only so much disgraceful stuff things that weren’t top secret?” they can do” “How’s that interesting?” At press time, Hangman can reveal that “Ultimately, you’re just going to The Guardian was quick to move to Manchester-based slave owners were have to settle for the old ‘corrupt reassure readers that more high-level interested in purchasing a spanish government still corrupt’ headline documents would be on their way in slave from some west-London based every now and then” the spokesperson soon including a hard-hitting piece on owners. However the deal is in doubt continued before adding “it’s been a just how much state money Tony Blair due to the well-known disreputable slow revelations day, OK?” spent on cat food. nature of the west-London owners. However, many believe this to be sign CANCE G TA V EMINI ARIES URU I RGO O LE R S

This week you (incorrectly) This week, you eat a pie. You accidentally release a large You write a lab report on pie- This week, fivesixeight adds You buy a pie, only to find that decide it’s not too late for Yum. You eat another pie. amount of radioactive waste aerodynamics. Many wonder vegetarian sausages to their it’s empty! You decide it would Movember. You try to grow a Mmm... You eat anoth- whoa! from the Blackett laboratory why you’re throwing pies off menu. The fact that the Union make a swell hat. Everyone fantastic ‘tache but it comes Slow down, buddy, that’s into the atmosphere. The re- the roof, but hungry students is now kidnapping vegetarians is amazed at your unique to life and begins an evil con- enough! No! That’s the criti- sulting wave of super-intelligent below seem to appreciate your and turning them into sausag- style and you win a fashion quest of the universe. You cal mass of pies! You eat so nuclear pigeons begin a quest experiment. When you run out es shows just how much busi- contract. You become world manage to stop it by eating many pies that your stomach to steal every cherry pie in the of pies, they start climbing the ness they’re losing to the new famous and spend the next an apple pie and getting it collapses into ultra-dense world. As if this wasn’t enough, walls to eat you unless you h-bar. A rather sadistic looking few months on a global tour. covered in filling, but appley degenerate matter. A bunch they beat you in all your exams throw them more food. They sabbatical informs you of the When it ends you realize that mostaches aren’t fashionable of physicists offer you a PhD and the marks are scaled so eat your toes and you hand in ‘Imperial Pies’ they’ll soon be you forgot to revise for any of right now and so nobody opportunity if you let them that you fail everything. your lab report late. Zero marks selling. You flee for your life. your exams and you fail your AQ CA

wants to be seen with you. study you. Win! SA for you. degree. Pint? SC G ITTA U PR IC P ORP A ISCES LIBRA R I N OR R U I I U O S S

This week, you sit on your This week you get a cat for This week, you buy a pie only Suddenly, a hole in your wall This horoscope is deadly serious. This week you must choose be- friend’s pie. Aw jeez, he’ll be re- some reason. No idea why to find it’s filled with live rats. starts ejecting pies. Where did This week you bring a pie to the tween eating an apple pie and a ally mad at you AND it looks like though, as you discover you’re You keep them as pets. In a this hole come from? What lies guy in FiveSixEight writing the cherry pie. What a choice! How you missed the toilet. You try to allergic to cats. Maybe you’ve sudden stroke of genius, you on the other side? One of your horoscopes. Seriously. You’ll buy will you ever decide between bake a new pie with your aw- gone insane. Yep, seems legit. realize you could get them to sit housemates crawls through to him a pint, too. What? You’re go- the two!!? AAARGH!!! WHY!!!? 3sum c00kin 5kil1z, but words No, wait - what are you doing? all your tests for you! ...But they investigate. They send you a ing to h-bar instead!? HOW DARE The decision drives you into a cannot describe the monstrosi- Why are you putting the cat are sadly unable to write. Luck- text informing you they will now YOU DEFY ME! DO YOU KNOW catatonic state. You eventually ty that you create. You run away, in a pastry lined tin? Wha- cat ily everyone else is too busy be living in the pie dimension. WHO I AM!? THE IMMENSE awaken, only to find the year has but the union hears of your ef- pie!? Are you serious!!? Well, stroking your cute lil’ friends to You’re annoyed that they’ve POWER THAT HANGMAN passed and you have missed all forts and gives you a job as you’ve definitely gone insane. do the tests and so you get a abandoned you just before WIELDS!!? You asked for it: This your exams and been kicked out head chef at FiveSixEight. Or you’re just a horrible person. first. Yay! your joint lab report is due. week, a meteorite falls on you. of Imperial. Pint? “Keep the SPORT Cat Free” Editor: Kunal Wagle [email protected] 24/01/14 Issue 1565 Download the new Felix iOS app today! felixonline.co.uk

Premier League Predictions

James White gives his midweek predictions

Liverpool vs. Everton Ramsey potentially back, they ought 1-1 (BT Sport 1, Tuesday 8pm) to win comfortably enough. Chelsea vs. West Ham The Reds suffered an unexpected set- 0-2 (Wednesday 7:45pm) back against Aston Villa last weekend, taking until the second half to find Man United vs. Cardiff The gulf in class between these sides their rhythm, but Brendan Rodgers (Tuesday 7:45pm) is immense, and it is hard to look past will be delighted to have Daniel Stur- the Blues, who are ruthlessly efficient ridge back. Liverpool’s front two are Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Bluebirds under Jose Mourinho. Both these perhaps the most envied in the Pre- showed signs of promise at Man City sides are arguably better defensively mier League, and both could easily be and will doubtless go all out for the 3 than in attack, however, so don’t ex- on the scoresheet in this Merseyside points again at Old Trafford. But the pect a goal fest. derby. Everton, meanwhile, continue Red Devils desperately need to win to look the real deal under Roberto and with Wayne Rooney likely to be 2-0 Martinez. They are making a habit of back, they should prevail. holding top teams and their strong Sunderland vs. Stoke defensive backline means they do 2-1 (Wednesday 7:45pm) not lose many. Both these sides play Norwich vs. Newcastle a high-tempo passing game and I’m (Tuesday 7:45pm) The Potters have an abysmal away re- expecting them to serve up an enter- cord and without question the Black taining draw under the Anfield flood- Chris Hughton has a knack of grind- Cats have more to play for. Win here lights. ing out a result when he needs it, as and they would skyrocket up the table. the Canaries showed against Hull last With Adam Johnson bang in form, 2-2 weekend. But Newcastle are a real I expect Mark Hughes’ side to leave handful on their day and are definitely empty-handed. GETTY IMAGES Tottenham vs. Man City European contenders. As they showed (Wednesday 7:45pm) at West Ham, they also know how to 2-1 win away. Tim Sherwood has injected some much-needed attacking energy into 1-2 Spurs’ play since taking over at the Download end of last year. It is unfortunate for Swansea vs. Fulham them that the sides above them keep (Tuesday 7:45pm) our new iOS winning, as their performances have unquestionably matched those of the Fulham’s hapless defence should get a app today for top 4 contenders again of late. Mean- bit of a respite against the underper- while, the Manchester City juggernaut forming Swans. Michael Laudrup’s the mobile rolls on and having seemingly re- side’s home record has been atrocious solved their away day hoodoo, Manuel of late and there are precious few flair experience! Pellegrini’s side are now hard to back players capable of lighting up this against. While this will not be any- game. thing like the 6-0 rollicking the Citi- zens dished out in the reverse fixture, 0-0 with Sergio Aguero back in conten- tion, they should have enough to claim Crystal Palace vs. Hull http://bit.ly/1dkDF6J all 3 points. (Tuesday 8pm)

1-2 Palace finally find themselves out of the bottom three and Tony Pulis will Written by Kunal Wagle Southampton vs. Arsenal be hell-bent on keeping up the win- (Tuesday 7:45pm) ning mentality after they overcame Stoke last weekend. Hull are no push- Saints could easily have been thrown overs but I just think Palace will want into turmoil after the departure of this one more. chairman Nicolas Cortese left Mau- ricio Pochettino with a decision to 1-0 make over his future. But fans will be relieved to learn it looks like he is Aston Villa vs. West Brom staying put, and the players showed no (Wednesday 7:45pm) signs of being affected by the off-field uncertainty in their 2-2 draw at Sun- This Midlands derby is full of intrigue, derland last weekend. They will face as while Villa cannot win for toffee at few tougher tests at St Mary’s than home, West Brom are a shadow of the that posed by table-toppers Arsenal side that was lighting up the Premier on Tuesday, though. Arsene Wenger’s League last season. Given their recent men have not thrashed anyone yet this woes, both sides would probably take season, but with a rock-solid defence a point. they have not needed to. With Aaron