Donnie Darko

"I can do anything I want and so can you," Frank, Donnie Darko.
Running time: 123 minutes (1hour53mins)

We all have a destiny, a purpose for our existence. Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) discovers his after narrowly avoiding death, thanks to a demonic looking bunny who leads him out of his bedroom, where a jet engine later lands. "The world will end in 28 days," tells Frank, the newly found friend in the costume who only Donnie can see.

Acting under the manipulation of the anti-Easter bunny, Donnie commits criminal acts, his sanity lessening, leading him to question time, space and the laws of physics in an attempt to understand what Frank meant before the countdown to apocalypse concludes.

Keep an eye out for Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, onscreen and real-life sister to the protagonist.

Also it has one of the most catchiest songs that I've heard in a long time, thank you Echo and the Bunnymen.

Enter : Trailer

Richard Kelly's classic psychological-thriller, is only comparable in modest flickers nowadays, such as in Christopher Nolan's Inception, which is something that I personally deem to be a tragedy.

So if you would quite like to join the many others who have endured insomnia trying to piece together the puzzle that is Donnie Darko, I advise you sit in a dark room and spend the 1 hour 53 minutes in utter silence. If not, here's a rather amusing spoof-video attempting to explain everything in 60 seconds!

Rating:          Fantastico

Nerve TV Live Launch

Many months ago, in a university not far away, a brave team of presenters took up the challenge of presenting Nerve Television's Live Launch.

True there may have been a few cock-ups, but it can still be argued that it was a night full of laughter, fun and an impressive level of blagging.

Also these videos are being sent in to the National Student Television Awards (NaSTA)

But just in case you missed it on the night because you were busy "washing your hair" or "seeing a man about a dog" I have attached two videos from that infamous night.

Link to the full show (you can always skip to the bits you like):

http://www.livestream.com/nervetv/video?clipId=flv_30d87a7d-18d7-4df6-be37-22e1718cc608&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

Alternatively if you are a busy bee or have a social life here's the link to the trailer:

http://www.livestream.com/nervetv/video?clipId=flv_6df3c6b3-de19-49a6-91cb-75b11d8c39fd&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

Enjoy you classy people!

Could you live on £22 a week?

How would you manage living on a measly £22 per week?

Wendy Tiffin from Poole may have to face this harsh reality in 2012 when a section of her Disability Living Allowance is stripped away from her after recent the recent Government's Spending Review.

Wendy who is a resident of The Grange residential care home will be a left as a 'prisoner' in her own home after the benefits are removed.

Follow the link below to hear the 2 minute radio package

http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/%C2%A322-disability-allowance-0439pm1.wav

This is the first radio package myself and Gareth Hill have ever created. There are a few errors such as a few letters cut off in the editing process, but see what you think.

(A large thank you to the owners of the photographs, no copyright intended)

The Falstaff Experience: Haunting Ghost Tour

An eerie silence sweeps Shakespeare’s birth-town, the air still haunted from the bitter winter’s chill, perfect conditions for a lantern-lit tour in what Horrible Histories’s writer Terry Dreary described as “the most haunted building in England.” 

Countless reports of paranormal activity from visitors daily, including one rather unnerving account from Most Haunted’s Derek Acorah, in which he disturbingly proclaimed “he’s cut me arm off, he’s cut me arm off,” before his production team dragged him out, fearing for his safety. This notoriety alone should be enough to put off any prospective tourists, but after dark a crowd is herded in to test their nerve and visit 40 Sheep Street, now known as Tudor World.

The uneven cobblestone path that dates back to 1595, and would have cradled the feet of William Shakespeare several centuries before, still remains. The monochrome criss-crossed windows panes, medieval looking gate and poignant background music maintains the feel of the Tudors’s malnourished 16^th century England.

A man of around early fifties walks down to greet the guests; he bears a look of wonderment in his seasoned eyes.

Leading the way with his wooden cane and lantern, he marches ahead to the antiquated house-turned-museum. The unnaturally cold barn-house, whose first known tenant was William Shrieve, assassin and archer to Henry VIII’s army, stands proudly in wax-form next to the entrance. Guests are advised to whisper “Hello William” to the statue as they pass for good luck and in the hope that he will ward off evil spirits; something you could suspect Derek Acorah forgot to do.   

From the religious persecution of John Jefferies to an 18^th century serial murderer, the Shrieve’s house is rich with a brutal and unpleasant history of evil affairs. Chilling tales are recounted as you are led around in the pitch black along with experiences of previous guests and the staff themselves.

A room much colder than the others is home to the spirit of Lucy a young pick-pocket who may hold your hand or has been reported to make off with your jewellery, the little shit.

The tour ends after an enjoyable evening venturing into the world of the Tudors, with the possibility of fright from the spirits within. The guide allows any questions to be raised and the group are ushered out, the large heavy gate shutting behind them. 

Story-telling to some, may seem a tad ‘ye olde’ but it must be refuted as this one-man piece of theatre is certainly worth visiting; if not for the barbaric tales of yesteryears’s goings-on delivered by impassioned, knowledgeable speakers. Then to simply see what one of the United Kingdom’s most haunted buildings has to offer.

Information

Lantern Lit Ghost Tour

Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes

Opening times: Sunday – Thursday 6pm (additional times of 7pm and 8pm on bank holidays), Friday and Saturday 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm.

Vigils and further psychic experiences

See website for further details, http://falstaffexperience.co.uk/

40 Sheep Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6EE

A Life in the Day of...

 Joshua Saunders, radio host, 20-years-of list writing, socialising and general clumsiness

 ‘I savour the precious few moments before taking the broadcasting reins, basking in the adrenaline, ready to introduce my show... I still to this day do not know how many people tune in on a regular basis. There could be none’

   It will take me at least six snoozed alarms before I can even think about getting out of bed, at around ten, because if it’s much later than that it feels like the day has been wasted. I start the day with a glass of water and a mixture of two cereals. They vary depending on the day, but normally include a nice tasting, sugary cereal combined with something that has bran in the title. This is my own pathetic attempt at trying to counteract the belly that bulges more every day.

   I look at my diary as I’m constantly making lists whether it be things I need to purchase, words I intend to use in the future or did not understand, songs that I heard on the radio, the list could go on.

   I head out around 12 to start some work for my radio show - ready to gather the song requests of my audience, boys and girls 16 years young. Patrick, the security guard, welcomes me into his office with a smile. He still remembers the night when I locked myself out mid-broadcast and couldn't get back in until several hours after my show had finished. We still joke about it now as he passes me the keys.

   The archaic studio awaits, with no computers just two CD players, a dark grey record player and a simple cueing-up desk. It really is like stepping back into the sixties. In fact it’s probably is the same equipment from when it was opened. There is nothing to suggest you are in the 21^st century while in there, I like to think of it as my own personal Nirvana - anything from the outside world that troubles me is forgotten, there’s just myself and the music.

   Donned in a fluorescent yellow promotional jacket I head out, riskily I leave the studio unlocked, it makes it more of a challenge for me to get the children’s requests and back in time before the burglars attack. They never do, there would be nothing for them to steal.

   There are never any 'regulars' in the children's ward, which makes it difficult for me to build a rapport with any of the patients. I regurgitate the speech that I have found the most successful: "Hello my name's Josh, I'm from the hospital radio team. Are there any songs you fancy hearing tonight?"  Normally they say no. "Well if you fancy tuning in I'll be broadcasting from 6-8pm."  Waving them off I carry onto my next victim, my usual average is three requested songs per show. This doesn’t bother me though as it means I can play whatever I want to hear.

   The remaining few hours, before the show, are spent with a female friend going for coffee, although I drink tea. I like these little rendezvous as I’ve always found women easier to talk to. They tend to share their problems with me; it feels rewarding being their agony uncle. 

   At five I head off to the radio station, with my 32-song playlist at the ready. In the studio my jacket is draped over the charcoal withered chair in the broadcasting booth, my CDs to the left of the desk and my notes of things I’m going to rhetorically speak about in the middle. There must be order before my show others it will all go tits up.

   One minute to six draws near, as the last 25 seconds count down my heart rapidly races. I savour the precious few moments before taking the broadcasting reins basking in the adrenaline ready to introduce my show. The on air button lights up.

   My two hours draw swiftly to a close, I finish on a soppy note thanking my listeners for tuning in. I still to this day do not know how many people tune in on a regular basis. There could be none.

   Fortunately my Mum finishes work at eight so she comes to pick me up. Me, her and my brother, Jacob, sit at our table to eat it's one of my favourite times of the day. I consciously make an effort to make them both happy with little stupid stories, normally about my day.

   Later on I head to the pub to meet my dearest friends, we drink in there until around 12, by which time the staff are eager to leave and we are ushered out. Stumbling home takes on average around thirty minutes.

   After stumbling into bed my laptop comes out. I stay up till around three in the morning searching for quirky news from the day and generally catching up on what has happened in the world. I note down another list of the unusual things found online ready as conversation topics for my next show.