Extreme Gap

Taking some time off from real life is a great option for thrill seekers. Planet Earth is packed with adrenaline-pumping activities that’ll satisfy your need for excitement, speed and height, and let you take in some of the most incredible mind-blowing sights at the same time! Action-packed gap years are becoming hugely popular, as young people seek to get more than a few nice photos out of their time off from real life. This is all about once-in-a-lifetime experiences, pushing boundaries and living life on the edge! All within the realms of safety, of course. Whether it’s a full year,…

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REVIEW: Peace – In Love

In Love is the debut album from one of the UK’s fastest-rising bands: Peace. The Birmingham quartet , who formed just two years ago, have put together an impressive piece of work that’s the perfect accompaniment to spring/summer ‘13 (even if the weather outside isn’t). Their sound is reminiscent of The Maccabees and Vampire Weekend so if you’re a fan of either of those bands – you’ll love In Love. Higher Than The Sun kicks off the album and sets the perfect tone for the rest of the record. It’s a real feel-good track that is indie-pop at its best.…

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REVIEW: Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh, Academy-Award winning director of classics such as Erin Brokovich and Ocean’s Eleven, has presented audiences with, what he claims is, his final film. On the surface, Side Effects is an investigation in to American society’s obsession with prescription drugs, specifically anti-depressants. Even the trailer makes it seem this way. However, as the film runs we see that there are several storylines at play here, including issues such as mental health, Wall Street greed and corporate crime. The thriller kicks off with a chilling scene of an empty New York apartment with blood on the floor. The screen reads ‘3 months…

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Really wild

In our latest issue, which hits schools, colleges and unis this week, we’ve got a cracker of an interview with wildlife cameraman, TV presenter and all-round lovely bloke Gordon Buchanan. Because Gordon had so much to say about his fascinating career, we’ve got even more from the man himself right here! Prepare to want to ditch the books and head off with a video camera to get up close with lions and tigers and bears… Oh my.   How did you get into it filming wildlife in the first place? A lot of being successful as a wildlife cameraman, it’s…

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Loveable Rogues

They captured the hearts of the nation when they sang their way to the final of Britain’s Got Talent last year, and now Loveable Rogues are poised to take the music charts by storm. Signed to Simon Cowell’s record label Syco, Eddie, Té and Sonny are releasing their debut single, What A Night, this April. We caught up with Sonny and Té just before they headed off on tour with Olly Murs to find out how it’s all going so far…   You guys have had a really busy year! How does it feel looking back at the last 12…

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Books from school that you HAVE to re-read

Today’s World Book Day, a celebration of the written word. If you’re in the middle of your education, chances are you’ll feel more inclined to go on a book-burning mission than praising literary works, but resist temptation! Ditch your laptop, your iPad and your Blackberry for the day and spend a little quality time with a book instead. A good place to start is in the works that your English teacher so often recommends. You know, the really old, really boring books are presented to you every year, within which you’re expected to discover hidden meanings, the significance of the…

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REVIEW: I Give It A Year

I Give It A Year is a new British romantic comedy that tells of the story of young couple’s first year of marriage. Nat and Josh, played by Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall, are very different but after meeting at a party they fall in love and marry after just seven months together. At their wedding ceremony parents and friends express their concerns over how long the marriage will last, prompting the line that gives the film its title: “I Give It A Year”. Our lead couple quickly realise how ill-suited they are, and with distractions such as Josh’s ex-girlfriend…

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Managing student debt

We’re in a recession, and there is no way of avoiding it. High street stores are closing left, right and centre and finding a job appears harder than ever. Your education is one way to single yourself out when it comes to job-hunting, but unfortunately knowledge is not free. Though here in Scotland we’re lucky to get help towards our tuition fees, the cost of living and the tools required to study effectively could still amount to a fairly hefty debt. If you study south of the border you have your tuition fees to pay too, adding further to the…

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REVIEW: Bastille – Oran Mor, Glasgow

Bastille Oran Mor, Glasgow, 2/3/13 The Oran Mor was packed to full capacity, and it’s no real surprise to hear that this gig sold out weeks ago. Bastille seem to have come from nowhere, and have somehow managed to creep to number two in the singles chart with new single Pompeii – and the crowd in Glasgow are waiting eagerly to hear their set. From the bedroom of lead singer Dan Smith (born on Bastille Day, hence the band’s name), he pulled together a band first for live shows and now for good, made up of himself, Chris Wood, Will…

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