As I have created a new blog, I won't post here any more. For an article on British Health Tourism in Spain click either on the header or here.
Thursday 31 July 2008
Monday 9 June 2008
Home Countries Olympic Squads?
Pere Fornes
Squareonenews sport
The reason to ban separate squads in the Olympics seems to be that the home countries are not members of the International Olympic Committee. Only Great Britain is a member of the IOC.
There is an ongoing row about a GB football team reappearing, probably for the London 2012 Olympics. Scotland and Wales do not want to join a GB football team because they see this as a first step towards losing their independent status and towards having to compete in a GB football team in all international tournaments. Furthermore, this could imply that the four home countries could lose their voting rights within FIFA and would have to merge their separate associations into a GB one.
It would be unfair to have a GB football team in the 2012 Olympics represented only by English players because the Scottish and Welsh had refused to join it.
As squareonenews reported, there was one time in the Olympic history when the home countries hockey squads played separately and this year is the 100th anniversary of that event.
That sets a precedent. If there was one time when English, Scottish and Welsh squads played in the Olympics, there can be a second time.
o
Squareonenews sport
The reason to ban separate squads in the Olympics seems to be that the home countries are not members of the International Olympic Committee. Only Great Britain is a member of the IOC.
There is an ongoing row about a GB football team reappearing, probably for the London 2012 Olympics. Scotland and Wales do not want to join a GB football team because they see this as a first step towards losing their independent status and towards having to compete in a GB football team in all international tournaments. Furthermore, this could imply that the four home countries could lose their voting rights within FIFA and would have to merge their separate associations into a GB one.
It would be unfair to have a GB football team in the 2012 Olympics represented only by English players because the Scottish and Welsh had refused to join it.
As squareonenews reported, there was one time in the Olympic history when the home countries hockey squads played separately and this year is the 100th anniversary of that event.
That sets a precedent. If there was one time when English, Scottish and Welsh squads played in the Olympics, there can be a second time.
o
Thursday 29 May 2008
Sunday 25 May 2008
EDIMBURGO. CAPÍTULO 1.
Pere Fornes.
Squareone entertainment.
A manera de despedida después de dos años y medio de estancia en Edimburgo que terminará el próximo viernes 30, hoy publico el primer capítulo de una novela que escribí durante mi estancia. Es como un complemento al artículo “Vivir en Edimburgo” ya que puede ayudar a los lectores a familiarizarse con la vida Edimburguesa.
La novela, como todas, mezcla ficción y realidad. Todos los personajes y anécdotas que se cuentan tienen una base tan real como la vida misma, por muy chocante que pueda resultar.
CAPÍTULO 1.
ROBERTITO
El Robertito era famoso en el barrio de Campanar y en toda Valencia en general. La fama se la había ganado con el paso del tiempo. Medía 1’95 y tenia una cicatriz en la cara. Muchas leyendas circulaban sobre el origen de esa cicatriz, aunque nadie se atrevía a preguntarle. La leyenda que más circulaba contaba que, a la edad de 16 años, volvía por la noche del barrio del Carmen con un amigo por el viejo cauce del río Túria cuando dos gitanos les quisieron atracar y él se negó. Éstos sacaron sus navajas y el Robertito se las apaño para quitarle la navaja al primero. El segundo le rajó la cara pegando un salto. A partir de ahí diferentes personas contaban multitud de desenlaces diferentes con un denominador común: el Robertito tenía mogollón de huevos.
Esto le sirvió para ganarse fama, pero con el tiempo se hizo incluso más y más famoso. Empezó a traficar con droga y pronto subió a lo mas alto, pasando en grandes cantidades y manejando grandes sumas de dinero. Desde adolescente había llevado el pelo rapado aunque últimamente se lo afeitaba: se había apuntado a la moda de los ciclos de esteroides y como resultado tenia una masa muscular descomunal, aunque se estaba quedando calvo como efecto secundario de la testosterona. A primera vista, parecía un toro a dos patas. 1’95 de altura y 135 Kg. de músculo daban respeto. Solo sus amigos se atrevían a mirarle a los ojos.
El Robertito cogió a Boby, su pitt-bull y bajó al parque de la calle Castielfabib donde solía pasearlo.
José Ramírez, Suburbio para los amigos, era conocido en el barrio de Campanar por su afabilidad y simpatía. Tenia una tienda de animales en la Avenida Maestro Rodrigo y los clientes le apreciaban por su excelente servicio. Era amante de los animales y de la naturaleza y siempre estaba dispuesto a colaborar en causas benéficas. Esa tarde se levantó de la siesta más tarde de lo esperado. Tenía que abrir la tienda de animales a las 4 y ya eran las 4 y diez. No era una tragedia muy grande pues la tienda era suya, y vivía en la avenida General Avilés, a unos cinco minutos de la tienda. Pero Suburbio era muy metódico. Era puntual y odiaba llegar tarde. No podía soportar la idea de que algún cliente hubiera ido a la tienda a las 4 y cinco. Salió corriendo de casa sin tomar café ni nada.
Al cabo de un rato de abrir, el Robertito entró en la tienda del Suburbio, que aun no se había acabado de despertar del todo.
-Oye, que vengo a devolverte el perro este que te compre hace tres semanas, que está enfermo, y a que me devuelvas el dinero.
Siguiendo el protocolo de atención al cliente, Suburbio le explico a Robertito gentilmente como era el procedimiento en esos casos.
-No, hombre, yo te explico como va la cosa… Déjame el perro y yo lo llevo al veterinario para ver lo que tiene. Tú no te preocupes que la visita al veterinario corre de mi cuenta. Si es algo temporal se le cura y te devuelvo el perro, y si no tiene arreglo te devuelvo el dinero.
El Robertito soltó al perro, cogió a Suburbio del cuello y lo arrastro hasta la trastienda. Le pegó un puñetazo en el pómulo, luego un codazo en las costillas, le cogió del pelo por la parte de detrás de la cabeza y le pegó un cabezazo contra la pared. El Suburbio cayó al suelo y su nariz empezó a sangrar. El Robertito le levantó, le cogió del cuello y empezó a darle puñetazos por la cara y el cuerpo mientras gritaba:
-¿Me vas a pagar? ¿Me vas a pagar? ¿Me vas a pagar?
El Suburbio no tardo en responder:
-Si!Si!Si! Por favor, no me pegues mas!
...............
2 de Julio de 2005. 17’00h. Carlos iba conduciendo su Seat Ibiza por la Avenida Maestro Rodrigo. El móvil sonó. Era un mensaje:
TE ESPERO EN EL PARQUE NANO
Después de aparcar el coche en la Calle Castielfabib, Carlos se dirigió al parque. Tana, la perra de Ricardo vio a Carlos y se fue corriendo hacia él moviendo la cola. Después de unos minutos de festival de bienvenida con la perra, Carlos y Ricardo se chocaron las manos.
-Oye, acabo de pasar por delante de la tienda de animales del Suburbio y he visto que esta cerrada, ya no esta el rótulo ni nada.
-Ah, ¿tú no te enteraste de la movida que le paso con el Robertito, no?
-No, ¿quien es el Robertito?
-¿No te suena quien es el Robertito?
-No.
-Joder, pues debes de ser el único. Se nota que te has pasado tiempo fuera de Valencia, pero ya era famoso antes. Un ciclao que también trapichea y es bastante mafias. Fue a devolverle un perro que le había comprado al Suburbio y a aquel se le ocurrió decirle que primero tenia que llevarlo al veterinario. Sin mediar palabra, el Robertito lo cogió del cuello y empezó a arrearle mientras le preguntaba: ¿me vas a pagar? ¿me vas a pagar? Hasta que el Suburbio consiguió responder que si, que le iba a pagar. A la primera que le arreó ya le iba a decir que si, pero como el Robertito continuaba arreándole no le dejaba ni que abriera la boca..
-Joder! Que hijo de puta! ¿Le rompió la nariz o algo?
-No, pero yo le vi al cabo de dos días y tenia un ojo morado, la cara hinchada y le costaba respirar porque le había pegado en las costillas. El Robertito siempre ha tenido fama de chungo, pero se ve que en ese momento estaba en mitad de un ciclo de testosterona, que aun los pone más agresivos.
-¿Y ahora que hace el Suburbio?
-Se ha ido de camarero en un crucero por el mediterráneo.
-Eso es lo que tengo que hacer yo. Viajar, cambiar de aires.
-¿Como llevas lo de tu madre?
-Empecé a bajar la dosis de codeína a los 15 días y vino lo peor, el ver que me he quedado sin familia, el pensar: “¿y ahora qué?”
-El día del entierro se te veía de puta madre.
-Mira...el poder de Morfeo.
Hubo un silencio
-Pero ahora, dentro de lo que cabe estoy bien. He decido que me voy. Seguramente a Escocia en enero a estudiar inglés 6 meses.
-¿Y eso?
-Lo encontré por Internet, ya sabes que yo aquí he ido a academias de inglés, pero si quiero hablar fluidamente, la mejor opción es irme fuera.
-Si, y te sentará bien. ¿Donde está Escocia?
-En el norte de Inglaterra.
-¿Y a que parte de Escocia vas?
-Edimburgo.
-Escocia, Edimburgo, lo mirare en el mapa… o por Internet.
-¿Por qué en enero y no antes?
-Quería ir en septiembre pero todas las plazas están ocupadas. Podría ir a Inglaterra en septiembre pero es mucho más caro.
-Y que te vas… ¿Solo?
-Si.
-¿No te da un poco de rollo?
-Pues no, más solo que estoy ahora no voy a estar. Además, allí seguro que conoceré a gente. Van más españoles y gente de otros países a estudiar inglés.
-La verdad es que me estás dando envidia, suena bien.
-Bueno, me tengo que ir que he quedado con Ramsés. Si quieres mañana quedamos en serio y nos tomamos unas cervezas.
-Vale, ¿cuando te vas al pueblo?
-Pasado mañana.
-¿Te pasaras por Valencia antes de irte a Escocia, no?
-Si hombre, y si no, tu también puedes pasarte a verme.
-También.
-Au nano.
-Au.
Squareone entertainment.
A manera de despedida después de dos años y medio de estancia en Edimburgo que terminará el próximo viernes 30, hoy publico el primer capítulo de una novela que escribí durante mi estancia. Es como un complemento al artículo “Vivir en Edimburgo” ya que puede ayudar a los lectores a familiarizarse con la vida Edimburguesa.
La novela, como todas, mezcla ficción y realidad. Todos los personajes y anécdotas que se cuentan tienen una base tan real como la vida misma, por muy chocante que pueda resultar.
CAPÍTULO 1.
ROBERTITO
El Robertito era famoso en el barrio de Campanar y en toda Valencia en general. La fama se la había ganado con el paso del tiempo. Medía 1’95 y tenia una cicatriz en la cara. Muchas leyendas circulaban sobre el origen de esa cicatriz, aunque nadie se atrevía a preguntarle. La leyenda que más circulaba contaba que, a la edad de 16 años, volvía por la noche del barrio del Carmen con un amigo por el viejo cauce del río Túria cuando dos gitanos les quisieron atracar y él se negó. Éstos sacaron sus navajas y el Robertito se las apaño para quitarle la navaja al primero. El segundo le rajó la cara pegando un salto. A partir de ahí diferentes personas contaban multitud de desenlaces diferentes con un denominador común: el Robertito tenía mogollón de huevos.
Esto le sirvió para ganarse fama, pero con el tiempo se hizo incluso más y más famoso. Empezó a traficar con droga y pronto subió a lo mas alto, pasando en grandes cantidades y manejando grandes sumas de dinero. Desde adolescente había llevado el pelo rapado aunque últimamente se lo afeitaba: se había apuntado a la moda de los ciclos de esteroides y como resultado tenia una masa muscular descomunal, aunque se estaba quedando calvo como efecto secundario de la testosterona. A primera vista, parecía un toro a dos patas. 1’95 de altura y 135 Kg. de músculo daban respeto. Solo sus amigos se atrevían a mirarle a los ojos.
El Robertito cogió a Boby, su pitt-bull y bajó al parque de la calle Castielfabib donde solía pasearlo.
José Ramírez, Suburbio para los amigos, era conocido en el barrio de Campanar por su afabilidad y simpatía. Tenia una tienda de animales en la Avenida Maestro Rodrigo y los clientes le apreciaban por su excelente servicio. Era amante de los animales y de la naturaleza y siempre estaba dispuesto a colaborar en causas benéficas. Esa tarde se levantó de la siesta más tarde de lo esperado. Tenía que abrir la tienda de animales a las 4 y ya eran las 4 y diez. No era una tragedia muy grande pues la tienda era suya, y vivía en la avenida General Avilés, a unos cinco minutos de la tienda. Pero Suburbio era muy metódico. Era puntual y odiaba llegar tarde. No podía soportar la idea de que algún cliente hubiera ido a la tienda a las 4 y cinco. Salió corriendo de casa sin tomar café ni nada.
Al cabo de un rato de abrir, el Robertito entró en la tienda del Suburbio, que aun no se había acabado de despertar del todo.
-Oye, que vengo a devolverte el perro este que te compre hace tres semanas, que está enfermo, y a que me devuelvas el dinero.
Siguiendo el protocolo de atención al cliente, Suburbio le explico a Robertito gentilmente como era el procedimiento en esos casos.
-No, hombre, yo te explico como va la cosa… Déjame el perro y yo lo llevo al veterinario para ver lo que tiene. Tú no te preocupes que la visita al veterinario corre de mi cuenta. Si es algo temporal se le cura y te devuelvo el perro, y si no tiene arreglo te devuelvo el dinero.
El Robertito soltó al perro, cogió a Suburbio del cuello y lo arrastro hasta la trastienda. Le pegó un puñetazo en el pómulo, luego un codazo en las costillas, le cogió del pelo por la parte de detrás de la cabeza y le pegó un cabezazo contra la pared. El Suburbio cayó al suelo y su nariz empezó a sangrar. El Robertito le levantó, le cogió del cuello y empezó a darle puñetazos por la cara y el cuerpo mientras gritaba:
-¿Me vas a pagar? ¿Me vas a pagar? ¿Me vas a pagar?
El Suburbio no tardo en responder:
-Si!Si!Si! Por favor, no me pegues mas!
...............
2 de Julio de 2005. 17’00h. Carlos iba conduciendo su Seat Ibiza por la Avenida Maestro Rodrigo. El móvil sonó. Era un mensaje:
TE ESPERO EN EL PARQUE NANO
Después de aparcar el coche en la Calle Castielfabib, Carlos se dirigió al parque. Tana, la perra de Ricardo vio a Carlos y se fue corriendo hacia él moviendo la cola. Después de unos minutos de festival de bienvenida con la perra, Carlos y Ricardo se chocaron las manos.
-Oye, acabo de pasar por delante de la tienda de animales del Suburbio y he visto que esta cerrada, ya no esta el rótulo ni nada.
-Ah, ¿tú no te enteraste de la movida que le paso con el Robertito, no?
-No, ¿quien es el Robertito?
-¿No te suena quien es el Robertito?
-No.
-Joder, pues debes de ser el único. Se nota que te has pasado tiempo fuera de Valencia, pero ya era famoso antes. Un ciclao que también trapichea y es bastante mafias. Fue a devolverle un perro que le había comprado al Suburbio y a aquel se le ocurrió decirle que primero tenia que llevarlo al veterinario. Sin mediar palabra, el Robertito lo cogió del cuello y empezó a arrearle mientras le preguntaba: ¿me vas a pagar? ¿me vas a pagar? Hasta que el Suburbio consiguió responder que si, que le iba a pagar. A la primera que le arreó ya le iba a decir que si, pero como el Robertito continuaba arreándole no le dejaba ni que abriera la boca..
-Joder! Que hijo de puta! ¿Le rompió la nariz o algo?
-No, pero yo le vi al cabo de dos días y tenia un ojo morado, la cara hinchada y le costaba respirar porque le había pegado en las costillas. El Robertito siempre ha tenido fama de chungo, pero se ve que en ese momento estaba en mitad de un ciclo de testosterona, que aun los pone más agresivos.
-¿Y ahora que hace el Suburbio?
-Se ha ido de camarero en un crucero por el mediterráneo.
-Eso es lo que tengo que hacer yo. Viajar, cambiar de aires.
-¿Como llevas lo de tu madre?
-Empecé a bajar la dosis de codeína a los 15 días y vino lo peor, el ver que me he quedado sin familia, el pensar: “¿y ahora qué?”
-El día del entierro se te veía de puta madre.
-Mira...el poder de Morfeo.
Hubo un silencio
-Pero ahora, dentro de lo que cabe estoy bien. He decido que me voy. Seguramente a Escocia en enero a estudiar inglés 6 meses.
-¿Y eso?
-Lo encontré por Internet, ya sabes que yo aquí he ido a academias de inglés, pero si quiero hablar fluidamente, la mejor opción es irme fuera.
-Si, y te sentará bien. ¿Donde está Escocia?
-En el norte de Inglaterra.
-¿Y a que parte de Escocia vas?
-Edimburgo.
-Escocia, Edimburgo, lo mirare en el mapa… o por Internet.
-¿Por qué en enero y no antes?
-Quería ir en septiembre pero todas las plazas están ocupadas. Podría ir a Inglaterra en septiembre pero es mucho más caro.
-Y que te vas… ¿Solo?
-Si.
-¿No te da un poco de rollo?
-Pues no, más solo que estoy ahora no voy a estar. Además, allí seguro que conoceré a gente. Van más españoles y gente de otros países a estudiar inglés.
-La verdad es que me estás dando envidia, suena bien.
-Bueno, me tengo que ir que he quedado con Ramsés. Si quieres mañana quedamos en serio y nos tomamos unas cervezas.
-Vale, ¿cuando te vas al pueblo?
-Pasado mañana.
-¿Te pasaras por Valencia antes de irte a Escocia, no?
-Si hombre, y si no, tu también puedes pasarte a verme.
-También.
-Au nano.
-Au.
Wednesday 21 May 2008
Ana Luján Sánchez Interview
Pere Fornes
Squareonenews entertainment
The Scottish company The Curve Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday with a production by four choreographers. Ana Luján Sánchez was one of them, together with Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe and Ross Copper, artistic director of The Curve Foundation.
Ana, originally from Valencia, Spain, was awarded the Best Female Contemporary Artist award by the British Critic’s Circle in 2003 as well as the Artes Escénicas award by the Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) in 2006.
We met with Ana before the performance to learn what brought her to the UK and what her relationship with The Curve Foundation is. “I started dancing when I was six and I also did gymnastics and judo. I soon had to decide between the three of them and I chose ballet. When I was ten I started to realise that I really enjoyed going to ballet classes. By the age of 14 I had decided that I wanted to be a professional dancer and I had also realised that dancing wasn’t a professional career in Spain.”
There was only one professional company in Spain, the Compañía Nacional de Danza. She went to an audition there at the age of 15 but couldn’t get in because she was too young. “I then started talking to my parents and teachers about the possibility to go to England to get into a professional dance company because in Spain I couldn’t get a job. I applied for the Rambert School in London and they accepted the application so I came to England in September 1994.”
She stayed in the school for a year and a half, until the director of the Rambert Dance Company offered her a contract in 1995, when she was 19, and she stayed there until August 2006 working with international choreographers.
In 2005 she choreographed a solo called “Cervantes” for a workshop. Ross Copper, director of The Curve Foundation liked it and bought it for the company. Ana came to Edinburgh to re choreograph the solo with The Curve Foundation. “We held an audition and I had to choose two guys for the solo. After that, they have been performing the piece for the last three years.
“It was a solo danced while the audience was coming in the auditorium, before the show started. Normally the audience is down and watches the dancer. This solo is about the physical struggle that a dancer has to go through, and the mental concentration, to overcome the fact that she is looking at the audience as they walk through to get into the theatre. The dancer is a spectator, as well as a dancer.”
After dancing professionally for 14 years, Ana also likes directing. “I like dance because it is a way of expressing what I feel, because is very internal, and I share it with the audience and colleagues. Now I am in the stage where I want to share my knowledge and experience with younger dancers. But I also like to direct my ideas or projects with other artists.”
At present she works with the Leeds-based company Phoenix Dance Theatre.
http://www.analujansanchez.co.uk/.
o
Squareonenews entertainment
The Scottish company The Curve Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday with a production by four choreographers. Ana Luján Sánchez was one of them, together with Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe and Ross Copper, artistic director of The Curve Foundation.
Ana, originally from Valencia, Spain, was awarded the Best Female Contemporary Artist award by the British Critic’s Circle in 2003 as well as the Artes Escénicas award by the Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) in 2006.
We met with Ana before the performance to learn what brought her to the UK and what her relationship with The Curve Foundation is. “I started dancing when I was six and I also did gymnastics and judo. I soon had to decide between the three of them and I chose ballet. When I was ten I started to realise that I really enjoyed going to ballet classes. By the age of 14 I had decided that I wanted to be a professional dancer and I had also realised that dancing wasn’t a professional career in Spain.”
There was only one professional company in Spain, the Compañía Nacional de Danza. She went to an audition there at the age of 15 but couldn’t get in because she was too young. “I then started talking to my parents and teachers about the possibility to go to England to get into a professional dance company because in Spain I couldn’t get a job. I applied for the Rambert School in London and they accepted the application so I came to England in September 1994.”
She stayed in the school for a year and a half, until the director of the Rambert Dance Company offered her a contract in 1995, when she was 19, and she stayed there until August 2006 working with international choreographers.
In 2005 she choreographed a solo called “Cervantes” for a workshop. Ross Copper, director of The Curve Foundation liked it and bought it for the company. Ana came to Edinburgh to re choreograph the solo with The Curve Foundation. “We held an audition and I had to choose two guys for the solo. After that, they have been performing the piece for the last three years.
“It was a solo danced while the audience was coming in the auditorium, before the show started. Normally the audience is down and watches the dancer. This solo is about the physical struggle that a dancer has to go through, and the mental concentration, to overcome the fact that she is looking at the audience as they walk through to get into the theatre. The dancer is a spectator, as well as a dancer.”
After dancing professionally for 14 years, Ana also likes directing. “I like dance because it is a way of expressing what I feel, because is very internal, and I share it with the audience and colleagues. Now I am in the stage where I want to share my knowledge and experience with younger dancers. But I also like to direct my ideas or projects with other artists.”
At present she works with the Leeds-based company Phoenix Dance Theatre.
http://www.analujansanchez.co.uk/.
o
Wednesday 7 May 2008
Cannabis Grade Gets High
Pere Fornes
Squareone Features
“Most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, jazz musicians, and entertainers. Their satanic music is driven by marijuana, and marijuana smoking by white women makes them want to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and others. It is a drug that causes insanity, criminality, and death -- the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
When Harry Anslinger, the first marijuana drug czar, expressed these objective and unbiased thoughts on cannabis in the 1930’s, a war on cannabis, and on drugs in general, started. That policy, exported from the USA to several other countries, has been really successful: there are far more people who take cannabis or other illegal drugs nowadays than there were in the 1930’s.
The decision by Gordon Brown to upgrade cannabis to class B drug, in spite of his advisors’ recommendations, seems more a desperate attempt to regain some popularity than a rational decision based on compelling evidence. A recent report by the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs says that there is not need for reclassification. The main concerns about the new varieties of the drug (erroneously called “skunk”, as skunk is just one of the new varieties) is that it was supposed to cause mental illnesses on users. Surprisingly, the report has concluded that the prevalence of schizophrenia and psychoses has been reduced during recent years. This totally contradicts the theory that cannabis threatens mental health. Furthermore, cannabis use has decreased since it was downgraded in 2004.
There is a bit of naivety on this debate. It is true that, for people who suffer schizophrenia and psychoses, cannabis can make symptoms worse but that only means that it should not be taken by those people, the same way as people with liver problems should not drink alcohol and people with heart problems should not consume caffeine. Cannabis can make depressions worse as well.
The arguments used to keep cannabis illegal (supposed addiction, harm to mind and body) could be used to forbid both tobacco and alcohol. In July 2006, the UK Parliament Science Select Committee acknowledged that the drugs classification system was based on historical prejudice rather than medical evidence: cannabis is less harmful than tobacco and alcohol.
One of the harms cannabis causes, and nobody denies, lung damage, can be avoided using “steamers”, which are devices that warm up the weed without burning it. Therefore, users can get high by inhaling the steam without smoke and without harming their lungs.
Supposed harmful cannabis effects, like withdrawal symptoms, are quite similar to those of the drug of everyday use considered to be the most beneficial one (caffeine). According to a report published by the Scottish executive in 2002:
“There is no doubt that it is possible to become dependent on cannabis. Between 5% and 10% of drug users seeking treatment report that cannabis is their main problem drug. Studies among cannabis dependent users reveal that when they stop, they experience physical withdrawal symptoms, such as decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, irritability, mood changes and insomnia.”
According to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Centre, Caffeine withdrawal symptoms are headache, fatigue, sleepiness/drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, work difficulty, irritability, depression, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, and impairment in psychomotor, vigilance and cognitive performances. Significant caffeine withdrawal has been shown to occur after abstinence from a dose as low as 100 mg/day, which is the caffeine equivalent of one 6 oz. cup of brewed coffee or two to three 12 oz. servings of caffeinated soft-drink. Some caffeine users report becoming "addicted" to caffeine in the sense that they report an inability to quit or to cut down their caffeine use, they continue to use caffeine despite having medical or psychological problems made worse by caffeine.
A similar comparison can be established about the dangers of cannabis (and caffeine) regarding cardiovascular system and fertility.
It is sometimes pointed out that Sweden, which has a very tough policy on drugs, has a very low rate of drugs consumption. Nevertheless, it is not so often said that the rate consumption has been increasing like everywhere else. Problematic drug use has almost doubled since 1980 to a level hovering around the European average.
Brown seems to want to keep following Anslinger’s line: war on cannabis. The result of Anslinger’s policies during 80 years, however, is very clear: cannabis consumption goes up.
cannabis smell
Squareone Features
“Most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, jazz musicians, and entertainers. Their satanic music is driven by marijuana, and marijuana smoking by white women makes them want to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and others. It is a drug that causes insanity, criminality, and death -- the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
When Harry Anslinger, the first marijuana drug czar, expressed these objective and unbiased thoughts on cannabis in the 1930’s, a war on cannabis, and on drugs in general, started. That policy, exported from the USA to several other countries, has been really successful: there are far more people who take cannabis or other illegal drugs nowadays than there were in the 1930’s.
The decision by Gordon Brown to upgrade cannabis to class B drug, in spite of his advisors’ recommendations, seems more a desperate attempt to regain some popularity than a rational decision based on compelling evidence. A recent report by the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs says that there is not need for reclassification. The main concerns about the new varieties of the drug (erroneously called “skunk”, as skunk is just one of the new varieties) is that it was supposed to cause mental illnesses on users. Surprisingly, the report has concluded that the prevalence of schizophrenia and psychoses has been reduced during recent years. This totally contradicts the theory that cannabis threatens mental health. Furthermore, cannabis use has decreased since it was downgraded in 2004.
There is a bit of naivety on this debate. It is true that, for people who suffer schizophrenia and psychoses, cannabis can make symptoms worse but that only means that it should not be taken by those people, the same way as people with liver problems should not drink alcohol and people with heart problems should not consume caffeine. Cannabis can make depressions worse as well.
The arguments used to keep cannabis illegal (supposed addiction, harm to mind and body) could be used to forbid both tobacco and alcohol. In July 2006, the UK Parliament Science Select Committee acknowledged that the drugs classification system was based on historical prejudice rather than medical evidence: cannabis is less harmful than tobacco and alcohol.
One of the harms cannabis causes, and nobody denies, lung damage, can be avoided using “steamers”, which are devices that warm up the weed without burning it. Therefore, users can get high by inhaling the steam without smoke and without harming their lungs.
Supposed harmful cannabis effects, like withdrawal symptoms, are quite similar to those of the drug of everyday use considered to be the most beneficial one (caffeine). According to a report published by the Scottish executive in 2002:
“There is no doubt that it is possible to become dependent on cannabis. Between 5% and 10% of drug users seeking treatment report that cannabis is their main problem drug. Studies among cannabis dependent users reveal that when they stop, they experience physical withdrawal symptoms, such as decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, irritability, mood changes and insomnia.”
According to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Centre, Caffeine withdrawal symptoms are headache, fatigue, sleepiness/drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, work difficulty, irritability, depression, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, and impairment in psychomotor, vigilance and cognitive performances. Significant caffeine withdrawal has been shown to occur after abstinence from a dose as low as 100 mg/day, which is the caffeine equivalent of one 6 oz. cup of brewed coffee or two to three 12 oz. servings of caffeinated soft-drink. Some caffeine users report becoming "addicted" to caffeine in the sense that they report an inability to quit or to cut down their caffeine use, they continue to use caffeine despite having medical or psychological problems made worse by caffeine.
A similar comparison can be established about the dangers of cannabis (and caffeine) regarding cardiovascular system and fertility.
It is sometimes pointed out that Sweden, which has a very tough policy on drugs, has a very low rate of drugs consumption. Nevertheless, it is not so often said that the rate consumption has been increasing like everywhere else. Problematic drug use has almost doubled since 1980 to a level hovering around the European average.
Brown seems to want to keep following Anslinger’s line: war on cannabis. The result of Anslinger’s policies during 80 years, however, is very clear: cannabis consumption goes up.
cannabis smell
Friday 2 May 2008
COWGATE CENTRE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS COMBATTING HOMELESSNESS
SquareOne News Feature
by Katie Smyth
Located underneath a block of student flats in a quiet corner of Holyrood Road the Cowgate Centre’s unobtrusive exterior belies the vital work that goes on behind its heavy blue door. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Scotland’s only drop in centre for homeless people is open day and night 365 days a year, offering a unique range of services. Manager Lorna Gunn chats to SquareOne about the efforts of her dedicated team.
“Basically at night we’re a crisis centre,” she explains. “If you find yourself on the street with nowhere else to go you can arrive here. Staff will try and find you accommodation whether it’s a hostel, B&B, or if you’re young we will contact the out of hours emergency social work department to try and find you a safe place to be.” However, aware of the limitations to what it can actually achieve the Cowgate Centre also has facilities for homeless to sleep in the centre, offering mats for 40 people to rest on.
Pressure for space and a desire to help people truly in need, and not just those who find themselves too wasted after a night on the booze, means that the centre implements a strict door policy. Gunn explains two staff man the CCTV guarded door at all times and all visitors must sign a register. She claims, “It’s mostly for the safety of the individuals who use our service. We like to know who’s in the building, what kind of state they’re in and what their general needs are.” Those felt to be too intoxicated will not make it over the threshold but will be asked to go for a walk and come back when they are sober.
It is said that you are only ever two pay cheques away from homelessness and Gunn cannot attribute it to a few specific factors: “People come here who have had marriage break-ups and they’ve had to sell their house, we have people who have alcohol or drugs problems, people who have arrived from the EU who were promised jobs and their jobs have fallen through.” The latter can also be counselled at the centre by a multi-lingual staff.
However, the centre does not just operate as another shelter. During the day it runs a variety of drop-in surgeries to help the homeless get back on their feet. “We’ve got English classes, employability classes, benefit agencies coming in. We’ve got an alcohol support group and a drugs support group,” Gunn explains, naming just a few of the services on offer. The Cowgate Centre forms just one part of FourSquare, an Edinburgh wide initiative whose various outlets cover every aspect of homelessness from basic shelter to improving an individual’s employability, (through Spectrum) to providing basic start-up furniture for tenancies.
MSP Sarah Boyack lauded the many achievements of the FourSquare organisation at its 30th Anniversary Launch last November: “the organisation was the first to set up a Stopover for homeless young people, with Follow Up the first to provide tenancy support to ex-homeless people and the Cowgate day and overnight centre the first to achieve registration with the Care Commission.”
The Cowgate Centre sees itself as the first port of call for people without a roof over their heads. The highly trained staff can put them in touch with the relevant authorities and organisations, acting as an advocate. Gunn says, “We can link you with people who will help you budget, get you into employment, get you back on the straight and narrow. Normally within 28 days we will try and move you on from our service.”
The centre deals with a high turn over of people helping 8000 individuals last year, including over 500 who made use of the morning drop-in service. Gunn is keen to stress the close working relationship with the Edinburgh City Council who fund FourSquare. Over the past few years the Council has developed a new homeless strategy. The second phase, to be launched 25 May aims to eradicate homelessness by 2012 and is already looking at means of prevention such as helping people sustain their tenancies. “I think there will always be a turnover but I think Edinburgh Council is addressing these issues,” says Gunn.
Another aspect of the Cowgate Centre’s work the Council aids is the morning gym project. By issuing free leisure passes at the Commonwealth Pool the partnership have managed to get more people off the streets, promoting well-being instead of searching for drink.
However the centre also relies heavily on donations. While philanthropists such as a certain Mr X have provided the means to take people out of the homeless scene for a day and enjoy go-karting, Go Ape and fishing, the centre also welcomes clothing, towels and toiletries. Gunn claims, “People can arrive with only the clothes on their back and it’s quite degrading. At the minute we are a bit low on gent’s toiletries.” Even a half-empty bottle of shampoo would be a welcome addition to the sparse armoury at the centre. Donations are vital if the Cowgate Centre is to continue its hard work for the next 30 years and anyone wishing to help should view the “Just Giving and Fundraising” page of the FourSquare website at www.foursquare.org.uk. As the only Care Commission registered centre in the whole of Scotland the Cowgate Centre stands at the forefront of homelessness prevention and provides a crucial element of FourSquare’s fight against people sleeping rough.
Wednesday 30 April 2008
GET FIT HAVE FUN
SquareOne Feature
by Kate Smail
As the nights get longer and the days get warmer, so the layers must get fewer. If the thought of baring your dimply thighs and flabby wings is too much to contemplate ladies, (and metrosexual gents), let SquareOne guide you through the most enjoyable ways to get fit this summer.
This week sees the start of the third O'Neill Highland Open, Europe's premier surfing championship, taking place in the frigid waters around Thurso. It may lack the glamour of Hawaii's North Shore, but with around 70 surfable beaches around the Scottish coast, there's no excuse not to brave the waves.
Coldingham and Pease Bay are both mild breaks suitable for beginners, and both within 40 minutes drive of Edinburgh. Wetsuits and boards can be hired locally for about £20 all in, and both beaches benefit from life guards during the summer months. California it may not be, the water temperature peaks around a chilly 10 degrees, but at least you don't have to worry about Great White sharks or David Hassellhoff in a pair of red speedos . (See www.stvedas.com for details).
If icy seas aren't your thing, how about some snowy mountains? The Scottish ski resorts are enjoying their best season in many a year, and a few runs are expected to remain open into May. If you want to hone your skills, not to mention your thighs, over the summer, then head over to Xscape in Glasgow, the UK's largest indoor snow arena. They run a whole host of ski and snowboarding lessons, from taster sessions right through to park skill classes. There's an even after ski bar for when you're ready to switch pistes. (See www.xscape.co.uk and www.ski.visitscotland.com)
Or how about raising the temperature a little with some mountain biking? Less than an hour south of Edinburgh lies Glentress, the UK's largest trail centre. Whatever your level, trails are colour coded from green (easy peasy), to black (serious adrenaline junkies only), so it's easy to find your own pace. The climbs may be tough, but the views over the Tweed Valley are worth the sweat. Bikes can be hired from The Hub on site, and there is also a cafe serving hearty fare in the car park. Lycra is strictly optional, but after a few sessions you may find yourself warming to the idea, just to show off your perky new posterior... (see www.hubintheforest.com)
Statistically we may be a nation of fatties, but judging by the toned bodies gracing the afore mentioned activities, we're not all bad. And if the thought of seeing the beautiful people getting changed in the car park doesn't get you off the sofa, nothing will.
ECA SPENDING SCANDAL
SquareOne News
by Chris Hammond
Senior students and staff at Edinburgh College of Art have raised concerns over the institution's spending after learning thousands of pounds have been spent on what many believe to be unnecessary extravagances.
Foremost amongst student gripes are the purchases of a chair costing £1,800, along with four powerful projectors totalling £60,000. These projectors are housed in the reception of Evolution House and project both the ECA logo and student artwork onto the walls. Connor Dupre a 4th year student said “There are four of those projectors and I believe Wembley Stadium only needs two. It’s bad management considering the distance they actually project in the reception.” A member of the ECA staff who wishes to remain anonymous also told SquareOne that the projectors were so powerful only one was needed on Madonna’s last world tour.
£167,000 was also spent during the design consultancy for Evolution House and projects at the Lauriston Place campus. ECA includes interior design as one of its taught disciplines. Miss Hollie Reid, student at ECA is disappointed that the College management didn’t ask students to do the work instead of outside contractors: “For the work on The Wee Red Bar in college, the students were involved and it went well . . . surely it would’ve looked good for the college to have had the students do this? It looks like another real waste of money.”
Malcolm Gauldie another 4th year, is angry about the amount spent on the interior design consultation. “I think there has to be an investment in the students and interior design is pretty superficial when you come down to it, we need more space, better tools for technicians to help the students and improved facilities.”
The support staff have also been affected with students noticing a decline in their work space and resources. Not only that but under a new job evaluation scheme, some staff claimed they could have their wages reduced by as much as a third in three years time. Miss Reid said: “The technicians help us get our degree, they’re essential whereas the projectors and things like that aren’t. These guys are integral to everything and are always here to help us. They should be getting a pay rise!” SquareOne can reveal that at a time some staff look set to lose money Ian Howard the Edinburgh College of Art Head took a 15% pay increase between 2005/6 and 2006/7 bringing his salary up to £112,608 per annum.
According to the ECA’s own website “operating costs are primarily met through government educational grants and student fees.” Despite this they state that “costs of essential student exhibitions such as the annual Fashion and Degree Shows must be met from sponsorship, ticket income and the generous support of our alumni and the general public.”
Michael Wood the College Secretary said that he had not received any complaints from students or staff on the issues raised. And went on to say that: “the College is committed to cost-effectiveness – it has now reduced its estate from 11 buildings to 4 which provides students with some of the best art and design facilities in the world, not just in the UK. The furnishings for students in the new building are the same as for the administrative departments – it would be a false economy to buy cheap, inferior designed furniture. The new building's interior design has recently won a top merit award in the US, which again promotes the College and Scottish higher education to the wider world in a very positive light. Both the architect of Evolution House and the lead interior design consultant are College graduates, so the institution does invest in its own home-grown talent.”
CHALLENGE DAVE: THE BOWLERS REST
SquareOne Booze
by Dave Hynes
This pub was built on dreams. I can tell; dreams and visions of el Diablo. It was a pub built on poo and wee. Leithers! Oh glorious Leithers, you are the most fantastic purveyors of s_t pubs I have ever known and I think you all deserve a long well deserved rest, though perhaps not here amongst the “Bowlers”.
No, perhaps a leisurely stroll to those pearly gates which signify the beginnings of
But Leither’s, glorious, Leithers can I say something which could help close half the pubs down in a whim? You like s_t pubs, I know you like s_t pubs because I’ve seen you in your natural element; the s_t pub. But you are missing out, glorious Leithers, if you like s_t pubs (which you do), you are being conned.
Why? Well, you ain’t getting your money’s worth at a place like the Bowler’s Rest, which still pales into insignificance against the grotesque brilliance of the Marksman, a pub I love to hate.
So what’s wrong with The Bowlers Rest? I think that it’s about time you took the plunge and found out yourself, I’ve been your guide for too long. Let me know if you make it out alive . . . I’ll be finding a more suitable place to booze out my retirement. I hear
MONEY FOR NOTHING
SquareOne Features
by Karen Combe
"Here's £2.00, go and see how much you can make from it". said the ed, "and write me a story, I need it in five minutes!" Is it just me or has everyone around here started to wear Prada, a red soul patch and grown horns?
"I'll show him," I thought as my entrepreneurial competitive edge kicked in. By the time I've finished I could be the only person ever, to have all the members of Dragon's Den begging to join my company.
That was last week. This week I am the sad owner of The Proclaimer's 'This is the Story' LP from 1987. It cost £2.00 from Cancer Research but being a bit of a Scottish anthem fan I thought it could be worth millions. My mind went into fast forward; me an international vintage record dealer sunning myself in St Tropez. But when I checked the LP out on eBay, you guessed it, it was worth a measly £1.98 and it would cost £2.00 to post to any prospective customer.
All was not lost. I remembered a suitcase of singles from the 1980's in the attic belonging to my err, grandmother and just maybe it contained some fantastic rare 45's worth a fortune. What was required now was some extensive research on You Tube and eBay. So six cups of coffee and a pack of 20 Jaffa cakes later I discover, Adam and the Ants' Dog Eat Dog', is worth almost nothing. Hazel O'Connor's 'Will You' according to You Tube commentators is still a great love song but is worth a mere £1.50 and 'Bank Robber' by the Clash from the 1980 Rock Galore UK tour is, say You Tube afficianados still awesomely cool and so is worth a rocking £3.99. But my grandmother just won't part with it. She is still mad about Joe Strummer!
During the course of my research I made the mistake of listening to Care's 'Flaming Sword'. It's a little known fact that once you've heard it it you'll never be able to get "Whoooooooooollllll buy my flaming sword, cold as cold, that old friend of mine," out your head - but not in a good way. No wonder it's only worth £1.20.
But the surprise Cash in the Attic find was a single by Scottish 80's band Leisure Process' 'A Way You'll Never Be' from 1982. Eureka! People on You Tube are begging for a copy. "Has anybody got 'A Way You'll Never Be,'" they cried. "Yes yes me," I said, back on the beach in St. Tropez. So why is this particular single in such demand? According to one YT commentator Leisure Process are the definitive sound of the early 80's. Then I notice something a bit spooky; the single's cover shows a picture of the Twin Towers. It definitely has to be sold, it could bring bad luck.
Sure enough the rarity is worth £7.98 on eBay which represents over 1000% return on gran's original investment of 75p back in 1982. There's only one small problem, strictly speaking | didn't buy the record with the ed's cash. However it will cost me £2.00 to an eBay buyer and as I sweet talked gran into giving it to me for nothing, I've used the acceptable 'Sugar' practice of blagging to generate cash, so I think I'm in the clear. Who knows, by this time next week I could have made so much money from only £2.00 I could be sipping a 'Wimpy' coffee on Portobello beach!
CHUBBY CHILDREN CLING TO COUCH
SquareOne News
by Lou Hardless
A recent study undertaken by Growing Up in Scotland has shown that 63 per cent of Scottish children under the age of two watched television every day. The study also revealed that 23 per cent of youngsters under the age of four are already overweight, which places Scotland second only to the United States in the worldwide obesity league.
It seems watching television has become a way of life for many young people across the globe. Research in America by the Kaiser Foundation has shown on average children and adolescents spend 22 to 28 hours per week viewing television, more than any other activity except sleeping. By the age of 70 they will have spent 7 to 10 years of their lives watching TV.
So why should we make those terrible teens turn off the box? Well, a recent study published in the journal Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine shows that restricting hours used to TV viewing hours made for healthier and slimmer kids. The study found that children and young people with restricted viewing of the television ate on average 300 calories less per day than their telly obsessed counterparts. Surely the best excuse parents have had to reclaim the remote in years?
PROMENADE PUPS
SquareOne Features
by Lou Hardless
Regular users of Portobello Promenade might well be familiar with the sight of obedient dogs under going training. These guide dogs, along with their handlers have been using the prom for the last seven years, since moving from Milton Road in Edinburgh to nearby coastal resort of Portobello.
Gavin Neate a Guide Dog mobility instructor, explains why Portobello was such a good base for Guide Dogs in Scotland, formerly known as Guide Dogs for the Blind:
"Originally the dog training centre was based in Forfar, which proved to be far from our main client group. In 2001, we relocated our services to Edinburgh and Hamilton, and expansion into the Borders and East & West Lothian is being planned for the future."
Portobello offers a wide variety of training areas for the dogs, with a number of key features they are likely to come across when they are eventually put to work. The busy High Street with it's pelican crossings, low and raised kerbs, along with the beach, buses and trains mean the animals will be well equipped to deal with whatever challenges they face when re-homed.
From young the dogs are socialised with families and other pets. At a year they begin eight months of basic training before moving onto more advanced levels. Once finished they are matched with suitable owners. Previous assessments and comprehensive training for both parties takes place, followed by yearly aftercare visits.
So when you see a guide dog out and about on their training exercises, do your best not to distract them.
Tuesday 29 April 2008
LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION Q&A
SquareOne Entertainment
by Chris Hammond
Devonte Hynes is lead singer of Lightspeed Champion, one of the hottest indie acts in the UK. Adored by the NME and winning an ever growing legion of fans we managed to wangle half an hour with him whilst he hurtled through a 22 mile tunnel in Switzerland.
SquareOne: If you could pick one film as your favourite what would it be?
Devonte Hynes: “My favourite film would be the bowling comedy Kingpin with Woody Harrelson. I think it's one of the funniest films ever really. I can't even remember when I first saw it, I was probably thirteen or something but I've always thought it was really really good. I haven't seen it in a long time but I love the bits where Woody Harrelson is just shamed and down and out. I need to go re-buy it. I love that film”.
SQ1: What is the best performance you've ever been to?
DH: “When I was about fifteen I saw Every Time I Die play the Camden Underworld and it was one of the most mind-blowing things I've ever seen. Just these guys on stage giving it all they could, I've never seen anything like that and it took performance to a new level for me”.
SQ1: What’s your idea of a great book?
DH: “I've read Please Kill Me the punk history book a lot. But I'm more of a comic book man, I love David Boring by Daniel Clowes. I could probably recite it word for word. It's about a guy who likes perfect girls and it's just weird and completely amazing with lots of subplots”.
SQ1: What’s the best thing on TV?
DH: “Lost it's classic TV. It's the best thing on TV and it will probably be the best thing that ever is on TV. I'm holding my breath to see what's going to happen next. I need to stay up to date with it”.
SQ1: Your prediction for star of the future?
DH: “Martin Brignall of The Train Chronicles. He’s just recorded an EP, I’m not sure when it’s out but it’s going to be really good. The music is quite bluesy but in a good way not like a critics choice Brit Award way. He’s twenty five and I really hope he’ll be hitting the heights quite soon”.
SQ1: The entertainment gadget could you not cope without?
DH: “Probably my CD discman. I got on to iPods but I just find them annoying. I prefer the look of Cd's and I love being able to just look at the inlay. I've got a jog proof one now but I didn't in school. I had to invent a new way to walk so the tracks didn't skip”.
SQ1: What’s the best site on the web?
DH: “Superhero Hype. It's all about comics, movies and alternative TV. It's got news and gossip updates on it and it's my home browser, it’s pretty up to date every time I log on”.
PAIN BEFORE GAIN: THE EDINBURGH TRAMS
SquareOne News Feature
by Chris Hammond
With the furore over the Edinburgh trams getting increasingly heated SquareOne caught up with a tram travelling expat Scot living in the Polish City of Wroclaw for his opinion.
Gregor Gowans is a part time music journalist and English teacher who has been living in
“Well I know what
Gregor tells SquareOne the trams vary in age and are still dependant on the flow of traffic for making it to their stops on time. But he also thinks their status as environmentally friendly could work in their favour over here.
“There aren’t actually many routes the trams take but the ones they do use are much better than the buses. To be honest the other thing about them is that they are seen as environmentally friendly and as a real student city people seem to like this. I mean
So without being in
“You know what it’s a little pain for a lot of gain. Petrol is going up in price and this is the time for other kinds of transportation. If a city can get away with it now then why not do it? Sure the commotion will cause problems and I don’t expect that the work will be quick but it’ll be worth it”.
BREAKING NEWS: CYCLIST KILLED IN EDINBURGH
SquareOne Newsby Pere Fornes
A cyclist was killed after he was hit by a lorry in Edinburgh city centre this morning according to police.
The 35 year-old man suffered serious injuries and died at the scene after the accident that happened on the corner of Nicolson and West Richmond Street at about 9.30am.
A police spokesman appealed for witnesses. He said: "An investigation is under way to establish the cause of the collision and the driver is assisting with inquiries."
Clerk Street was closed to traffic after the collision. This, combined with ongoing gas main works in the area brought traffic chaos to the surrounding streets. Police diverted traffic through Nicolson Square which caused problems for bus passengers around Surgeons' Hall.
SQUAREONE: SUMMER STYLE
SquareOne Fashion
by Caitlin Rattray
The time has come to cast out our winter woollies, shed our layers and turn our attention to the trends that are emerging as this year's summer essentials; a selection of classic trends reworked for 2008:
Floral
Summer = flowers. Not exactly ground-breaking stuff you might think, but this year's offering is a little darker than the pale, flimsy floral of the past. Inspired by the Luella’s punky prints teamed with printed tees and laced up boots at London Fashion Week, the high street has firmly latched on, offering a selection of cute little numbers. Add black accessories; tights, belts, or better still, sling a skull and crossbones around our neck to put to rest any comparisons with Hyacinth Bucket.
Find it at: New Look
Nautical
Never really out of fashion, nautical is a god-send considering how easy it is to achieve. The key is not to go overboard (no pun intended) by dressing top to toe in a barrage of stripes and gold buttons thus running the risk of looking like Popeye. For a fresh take, mix it up with stars, to create an American influenced look courtesy of Chanel’s
Find it at: Topshop
Safari
A softly, softly take on the classic look has emerged as one of this season's favourite trends. This time around, the muted colour palette of the past - cream, beige, khaki and brown - has been mixed with floaty silks and chiffons to create a romantic take on safari. Go for belted khaki jackets and waistcoats, slouchy shorts, complete with a pair of well-bronzed pins. Accessorise with Gladiator sandals, lots of chunky wooden bangles, splashes of animal print and why not add a straw trilby in recognition of everybody’s favourite explorer.
Find it at: Gap
OLYMPICS-A-HOY
EXCLUSIVEThe alpha male of the British track cycling team and in possession of (deep breath) nine world championship gold medals, two Commonwealth golds, an Olympic gold, Olympic silver and five World Championship silver medals, Chris Hoy recently led British cycling to unprecedented success at the World Championships held in Manchester. SquareOne caught up with him as he took a well deserved break after the competition.
Diplomatically fending off our gushing congratulations about the World Championship success, Hoy explains that his focus is now very much on the Olympics.
"I am just about to get back into training” he says. “I have done a few road rides and some light work but it is important to have a complete switch off, not just physically but mentally as well, because otherwise you will just plateau before the Olympics."
Having admitted to being something of a trainaholic in the past, Hoy has mixed feelings about resting.
"Initially the break is great but after three or four days you are itching to get back on the bike. And even though to an extent you can eat what you like, you begin to feel a bit lethargic and restless.”
Luckily, he doesn’t have to wait long to put that restlessness to use. The gruelling training schedule in the run up to the Olympics is imminent and he speaks surprisingly warmly of the often brutal sessions he faces in the coming weeks.
"The training we do is not so much about the volume, it is about the effort we expend in the session. We begin with strength work - a lot of work in the gym - then we move on to training that is more about power and speed, and then on to building up lactic tolerance, which is the worst."
Not for the faint hearted, this section of the schedule helps the athlete’s body form resistance to the pain caused by lactic acid. “The drills we do involve the static bikes in the lab” Hoy explains. We do a thirty second burst of effort followed by a one minute recovery. Basically you are creating a massive lactic acid build up followed by a short recovery time which means that when you start the next burst you still have lactic acid in your system.”
As the lazybones SquareOne winces, Hoy claims that the athletes don’t dread these sessions as much as you might think. "It is more that you know they (the sessions) are coming and it is always in the back of your mind. Every time you do that training it feels like the worst you have ever felt and in a funny way the fitter you are the harder that training is, because it is easier to get injured. For fifteen minutes afterwards the pain is really bad but then you come through it and, although you are still tired, you feel pretty good."
A relative veteran of two Olympics, Hoy says that the Olympic village is not all it is cracked up to be. “The village is a very pressurised and tense place before the games, so you don't want to spend too long there, but it is a great place to be when you are finished. Before the games there is huge tension and huge pressure on the athletes and coaches. Tempers can get frayed and the atmosphere can be not that pleasant."
Having been forced into a shift in events after the ludicrous decision to replace the 1km time trial with BMX on the Olympic roster, Hoy will be fighting on three fronts in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnu9caTTgqc
YIPPEEKAYAY MURRAY WALKER!
SquareOne Opinion
by Dave Hynes
Oh dear! Bruce Willis has allegedly been chosen to play the Formula One legend Murray Walker in a biopic about Michael Schumacher. It seems bad casting decisions “Die Hard” (oh dear! ED) as perhaps the worst A list actor working in
Alright, he might be okay when he’s in a vest fighting German terrorists, and he was okay in Pulp Fiction - but when have you ever watched a film and said: “wow that Bruce Willis is a versatile thespian.” Yeah, about as versatile as Sylvester Stallone! Put him in a boxing ring or a jungle, fair enough. But ask him to portray a deeply rich and complex character which captivates the audience at every whim? I’m sorry I just don’t reckon this thing can work.
Let’s see which actor/film mismatches would work the best . . .
What about Joe Pesci in a biopic of Tony Blair? I think I’d like a Mafioso vendetta between him and Gordon Brown, played of course by Gerard Depardieu. “Who da f_k you lookin at Gordon, what you think I’m funny how, like I’m a clown, like I f_king amuse you you fat f_k, I’ll demote you to Home Secretary you f_k, you fat f_k”. Reckon there’s an Oscar there somewhere.
Talking of Oscars; okay Stephen Fry, in the role nature intended him to play, did Mr Wilde some justice. But better than Vinnie Jones or John Wayne could do? Think of how the razor sharp wit would sound with that cockney gloss or the Duke’s cowboy temperament. Oscar would look good in his spurs, hand on his gun holster, trademark limp “I can resist anything but temptation”.
Arnie doesn’t seem to do much nowadays, even as the Governator of a state the size of western Europe, he could do good service to a film about Alex Salmond, “Hasta la vista Labour”- he could bench press his way through the political bits.
Okay maybe they’d make terrible films but
MAKING A NOISE
SquareOne Features
by Lou Hardless
Edinburgh Music Studio and Rehearsal Suites
Verden Studio is situated on the site that once belonged to Scottish Power in the east side of the city. What initially looks like a collection of run down, semi derelict buildings from the front, takes on a whole new meaning when visited from the side entrance at Fishwives Causeway. The buildings walls are adorned with colourful graffiti artwork and the inside is equally as vibrant.
Since May 2004, this well established studio has built up its reputation in providing secure, reasonably priced and flexible premises with ready to use equipment. It has gone from offering one to six sound proofed practice rooms and opening times that suit a variety of schedules, from 12
This place seems to offers a host of options for budding music ‘stars’ . Its manager Fiona Raggatt, talked SquareOne through what was on offer; practice rooms, a multi track digital recording suit, gift vouchers for studio time – Verden Studio has everything for those ambitious enough to create and record their very own musical masterpiece.
The facility is used by both locals and those living further a field. It’s seen established and amateur musicians, theatre performers, and even hen parties - out to try something new and innovative in the form of producing their very own song. Verdan Studios say they are committed to providing Scottish musicians with a facility that genuinely seeks to offer what they want, and that is certainly what it appears to do.
www.verdenstudio.co.uk
RESTAURANT REVIEW: THE HERBE
SquareOne Food
by Lou Hardless
Nestled between the back drop of traffic congestion, building development, the stream of workers and sleepy tourists, sits a charming little oasis tucked away from the chaos, noise and passers-by.
Herbe is a charming little restaurant that can be found on
The friendly staff is efficient and helpful and more than happy to guide you through the various mouth watering options on the menu, catering for the most timid gastronomic right through to the connoisseur. Its ample wine list ranges from £10 to £80 per bottle, offering a fabulous range of choices.
Once ordered, a complimentary 'amuse-bouches' arrives in the form of marinated olives and crunchy falafels. The Gnocchi that followed had an interesting flare; it was not soggy or dry, but perfectly cooked with parmesan cheese toasted lightly on the top, giving it a slightly crunchy texture. Nestled beneath lay a bed of vegetables, a sweet and colourful addition.
Finally out came a heavenly and succulent chocolate dessert, covered in a thick dark sauce, that left my stomach groaning and a smile planted firmly on my face.
This wonderful place has the utterings of the
Monday 28 April 2008
FILM OF THE WEEK: FLASHBACKS OF A FOOL
SquareOne Entertainment
by Alexa Brown
Flashbacks of a Fool is blonde Bond Daniel Craig's first stab at the old producing lark. And so, perhaps unfairly, you can't help but hold him slightly responsible for the feeling of perplexity as the credits roll at the end of his latest offering. It's not that the film is bad. On the contrary, in fact, the majority of its 113 minutes is thoroughly enjoyable, but you cannot fail to spend a lot of time wishing it along, almost in the same way one leans into corners on fantasy X-box car games which, ultimately, makes absolutely no bloody difference to the outcome.
The film (directed by Baillie Walsh) follows has-been actor Joe Scott who is wasting his life on drink, drugs and naked romps (any Daniel groupies will no doubt be kept happy simply by the opening sequence in which his nude buttocks feature prominently). Following the news that his old childhood friend Boots (Max Deacon) has died, along with a harsh reality check from his agent, Joe flees to the beach where he reflects on his childhood back in
Craig's portrayal of Cole is convincing but you can't help thinking that this is because the part is, basically, him. And not only that, but it's also not particularly different from the other parts he's played: robotic, straight faced, and pretty much lacking any emotion. The film is moving in parts, but this comes mostly from the heartbreaking flashbacks to Cole's teenage years, where the younger character is played by Harry Eden.
The ultimate problem with this film is the timing. It seems to take an age to get started and then, when it finally does, so little time is left for bringing the pieces together at the end that you leave the cinema feeling as though you're missing something. The friendship between Cole and his supposed best friend Boots is seriously underdeveloped, and the emotional scenes at the end feel rushed and not highly prioritised.
Despite all this, though, Flashbacks of a Fool will do well. It's stylish, well-written and captures well the nostalgia and pain of a difficult childhood. There is also a cracking, retro-style soundtrack to be enjoyed that moulds perfectly with the look of the film. Bryan Ferry fans – get yourselves along.
REVIEW: NEW FOUND SOUND
SquareOne Entertainment
Being SquareOne’s regular theatre lovey’s a hard job but somebody’s got to do it. Interval wine, plush red velvet seats and schmoosing with
Glam it isn’t but there’s something rather endearing about the sheer scumminess of the ECA’s cramped union. While the toilets are best not visited without a PhD in hygiene or detonation, the gin’s cold and there’s enough cute indie boys to keep the skinny jean industry in trade for the foreseeable future.
We were here for a showcase of fresh, up and coming new talent - eccentric enough to fit in with the 20 art students who formed the bulk of an intimate yet enthusiastic audience. So glow-sticked up we took our places for the first set by Juno, a band of naïve young pups with logo tee-shirts, obligatory uber-stylish haircuts and a distinct lack of bottoms.
There’s something to be said for the guts and tenacity of a band who keep playing even when they blatantly can’t handle their own technology. The truth is jumping and spinning like the proverbial whirling dervish does not mix with a tin-pot synth which spluttered and shrieked before throwing up half way through the first song. Not to be deterred Juno skilfully rearranged their rubix cubes, adjusted their fluorescent spectacles and kept on leaping. When all else fails resort to retro kid’s toys and maracas. Eventually the technology monkeys got the system up and running and we were treated to the soundtrack of a cheap Japanese porno, complete with a token
Keeping with the theatrics theme the Futuristic Retro Champions opened their set with a display of frontwoman Cecelia’s knickers as she executed handstands to the evident joy of Manson, the band’s resident groupie. An eclectic mix of keyboard, bass, trumpet and a singer who fancies herself a bit of a Debbie Harry - FRC are cute and kitch, if a tad sloppy. The sound just wasn’t clean enough with a bit too much going on, especially the orgasmic screaming in “DIY Lovesong.”
Following the antics of the first two groups Weegie headliners Kobai were left a mere 15 minutes to show the others how it’s done. The ethereal Placeboesque voice of the lead singer was beautifully juxtaposed by the hairy yetis moshing and headbanging on the synths and keyboards. Starting rocky, the set crescendoed through cow bells, finishing with a track verging on classic techno that left you reminiscing about the glory days of Underworld and making shapes in a dodgy back alley club in
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