Deni Reports

Derren Brown Investigates My Brain

2010-05-10T15:17:00.001-07:00

So I've just finished watching the first of a new series of Derren Brown documentaries. The man himself seems the cream of the crop in terms of psychics, mediums and magicians combined but with a difference - he openly admits it's all a sham. This is what makes him perfect for catching the rest out and hanging them out to dry.

In the first episode, aired earlier tonight, he humiliated one particular British medium making it clear to the audience he used renowned techniques such as cold reading to make his 'act' seem real, and not very well either. This documentary angered me, upset me, restored faith in me and made me feel stronger, wiser. This is why - I have been reassured that the vast majority if not all psychics and mediums are fakes by the man himself. I have seen these 'all powerful' humans made look fools, a joke. The nerve that this industry of brainwashhing and robbery has to so cruelly and blatantly lie in peoples' faces, toying with their tragedies, playing with fire. It seems to me the fear installed in us of ghosts and the afterlife comes from myth, religion, the media. Constant spread of intelligence is helping the majority see the truth.

However, there will always be those who just won't budge. People who want to believe that their grandmother is contacting them from the beyond through this genius medium who they've paid a wad of cash to. A certain amount of these people know deep deep down that it is all a lie but they turn a blind eye because this message from the beyond provides them with such greatly needed comfort and closure. My heart goes out to those people and I do not wish to judge them. The same goes for people who turn to faith and religion in times of despair for a source of hope and explanation. Religion is such a big industry that I do not wish to mess with, and certainly not get involved with.

It seems if these unexplainable powers were genuine, the person they belong to would be humbled, slightly afraid of their power, and very much open to speculation, scepticism, and gruelling tests. A great and so unfortunate example of a so-called gifted person with this type of personality and approach is Natasha Demkina from Russia with x-ray eyes. She claimed to have a second type of vision which she called 'medical'. She could see inside the human body and find illness, breaks and injuries - like an x-ray. She was put through a flawless test and scored 4 out of 7 correctly, when scientists asked for 5 out of 7 to further research her gift.

I cannot wait for the next instalment this time next week when Brown will follow a ghost hunter in the US and, hopefully, prove him to be a fake too - so we can all sleep at night! Watch it here on 4oD and read more from the great philosopher and showman on his blog.

Goodbye face, hello Facebook

2009-12-27T15:37:00.001-08:00

The phrase speed over substance comes to mind. Why is it that handwritten letters have been lost and forgotten? The written word so beautifully communicates - to receive a love letter almost unheard of. The holding of a piece of paper your loved one held a few days prior and seeing the ink that seeped from their pen and their handwriting expressing more than words is incomparable to something typed. The art of letters are what the written words were meant to represent.

Why is it that when one meets someone new it's more a question of “Will he add me on Facebook and 'like' my status and comment on my profile picture and then maybe say ‘Hi how are you’ on Facebook chat?" rather than “Oh is he going to ask me for my number? Is he going to text me 3 days after our date to arrange another? Is he going to call on my house and ask me out?” Goodbye face, hello Facebook.

Facebook is very useful and revolutionary in many ways and could be argued to be essential for networking in this Now Generation we live in. All of us - even I, even the sceptics must admit we are collective cogs in a machine. We all contribute and use it as we please.

What happened to the days before mobile phones? Talk about Facebook, talk about Twitter! What happened to the days when your friend would call you up and you would go down the park for a few hours and kick a ball around or sunbathe and if anyone wanted to get hold of you in the meantime - sorry! I’m busy. I’m out. I’m dedicating my time to someone I have arranged to be with at this particular moment. Leave a message. Beep. No.

I miss my friends' faces and personalities. I miss life before social networking, truly. But I do care how I look in tagged photos of myself and yes I use Facebook chat to talk to people who I don’t know well enough to text etc. It's a sad, sad world we live in and we should all stop being such computer geeks and rejoin nature and the trees and relearn body language and live with the 3 dimensional people.

A whole new generation gives in to the vampire's tempting bite

2009-10-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

This is why I love vampires: they are sensual yet evil; expressive, charismatic forbidden fruit. It seems the ultimate sin to give in to their seduction. They are still rock n' roll, and have been since the '80s. I'm loving the very recent vampire revival - Buffy did it for the 90s, True Blood and Twilight are doing it for the late 00s. Vampires are like the bad-boy Scorpions from Grease but more nonchalant. They are less boastful and more cool and complacent - yet they are bound by their craving and lust for human blood. It's their hidden secret. They disguise themselves as the mystery boy from school. The one some girls wonder about. The one they all wish they never found out about. Like Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club - a great '80s teen flick.

My all time favourite vampire is Jason Patrick's portrayal of Michael in The Lost Boys. He is innocent and gets drawn in by the beautiful girl. It's the whole taboo, take a risk for the chance concept. Vampirism as a myth provides very attractive escapism for the audience which would explain the mass popularity of modern-day representation of them, though it is clearly a fantasy so the audience can stay grounded in everyday life.

Not only is Michael very attractive (resembling Jim Morrison of The Doors, a massive sex symbol) but also cool and fashionable. He keeps his nonchalant calm yet proves himself by being daring in the film, taking risks. Michael wears the fashion of the era - the jeans, the jacket and the Clubmaster Ray-Bans (which were not only the sunglasses choice of the '80s youth but this summer's must-have too, another nod in the direction of revival).

I may have had more of an attraction to Robert Pattinson in Twilight however the film lacked a smooth flow, I didn't quite believe it. I've read some exerpts from the book and it seems a lot better than the film. They seem to have missed essential background info - however, that doesn't change the fact it is already a cult film among young teens.

My fascination seems not just with the revival of vampirism but of '80s teen flicks too. The youth of today are digging out their older siblings' movies and noticing cinematic elements they thought were original to their generation. They had it down long before us!

Feel like destroying something beautiful?

2009-10-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

Classic wedding photography can seem too mundane for some couples who want to look beneath the surface and explore their options. Below are links to what wedding photographers are offering quirky-wise for adventurous couples. I find this trash the dress concept by playing with the elements very intriguing and have some crazy ideas of my own!

Whether for my own wedding or planning someone else's. Unsure about on the actual wedding day, but post ceremony and reception I'd take the bride (and groom?) out to the woods and mess up her hair. I'd hire a young photographer, someone with a pure, creative, and open mind. I'm thinking a photo shoot taking place beneath an unforgiving stormy sky or maybe in the sun after the thunderstorm, lightning if you're lucky. Smell the rain from the pictures, climbing trees, ripping it a little, rolling around in mud like Kelly Clarkson in Behind These Hazel Eyes! In my eyes this doesn't connote destruction and madness within the marriage but a brutally deep statement of commitment, i.e. 'I will never wear another wedding dress again and this is how much I mean it! This one's for life!' You get me? Very passionate, sexy, expressive photos that show emotion.

Wedding Chaos and Rock 'n Roll Bride are two to check out.

Bloody immigrants

2009-09-04T01:35:00.000-07:00

My good, otherwise socialist, friend has strong views on immigrants. Disgust. Why I ask – because he pays taxes and they drive fast cars but live in council houses. Ok I say. I’m an immigrant. Now what? I’m not here to reap the benefits of being English he says… what am I supposed to say to that? That the status of living in England is not benefiting me? Because it is. My mother and I stayed in England after her messy divorce 12 years ago for my education. Prospects are much better over here.

He says he agrees with letting other people live in the country but not with allowing whoever the fuck they want to come in and just live off our tax money. E.g. ‘This one fucking p**i that lives in London, was in the news a couple years ago, he sold his shop and stopped working because he said he could make more money from the council for his 12 kids and wife. So now they live in a council house bigger than any house any of us live in.’

Fair play I say, I don’t disagree with what he’s saying completely but I have a wider more liberal view on it because I’m on the other side.

Yeah and that’s fair he says because he does believe everyone deserves a right to an education because that’s gonna build you up to actually be someone that makes the world go round. But when these dickheads get into their council houses over in Hangleton and get paid cash in hand because all their relatives own something so then they can afford to buy really nice cars and throw cash around like mad…. that’s just fucked up. He says he gets taxed close to £2000 a year and that all goes straight to them.

I say to him… dude, I’m surprised on your view of immigrants because I see you as otherwise a socialist when it comes to politics. He says before he became a minority in his own country, he was… just before Christmas, he says, it was declared that real English people were only 43% of the population of England. He says he used to take a lot of pride in being English but now it doesn’t really mean anything, its just a big lump of land that loads of people come to to get money and then leave. It’s like a big cash point with no overdraft limit.

I’m still friends with this guy, not gonna judge, but here’s an insight for you of views of the youth on this controversial topic.

Scientology faces retribution in Paris

2009-05-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Church of Scientology has gone on trial in the French capital Paris accused of organised fraud, according to legal sources. The case focuses on a complaint by a woman who says she was pressured into paying large amounts of money after taking a free personality test. The church is fighting the charges and denies that any mental pressure took place. Until now, the French have only brought individual Scientologists to justice. This will be the first time France has seen the church itself and its bookstore as an institustion appearing as a defendant in a fraud case.

The woman at the centre of the case, 33 year old Aude-Claire Malton, claimed she was approached by church members and offered a free personality test at a Paris metro station in 1998. She says she was eventually conned into spending her life savings, some 20,000 euros, on lessons, books, illegally prescribed medicines and a 5000 euro “electrometer” device to measure brainwaves and variations in her “poor” mental state. Her lawyers are arguing that the church systematically seeks to make cash by means of mental manipulation and the use of scientifically doubtful “cures”. One of the church’s lawyers, Patrick Maisonneuve, has said: “We will contest every charge and prove that there was no mental manipulation.” The church’s spokeswoman in France said it was being “hounded” by the French courts.

Views of Scientology vary across Europe, with a Spanish court ruling that the Church of Scientology of Spain should be re-entered into the country’s register of officially recognised religions while Germany declaring it unconstitutional last year. The organisation also faces fierce opposition in France which regards Scientology as a commercial operation and keeps it under surveillance. It could even be completely illegalised if it loses this case. However, the French branch of the Church of Scientology said it had been cleared of “numerous” similar charges and that such charges should not be brought to court again. The Church of Scientology founded in the United States in the 1950s by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard and believes man is an immortal spiritual being with unlimited capabilities.

A couple of years ago an exposé BBC Panorama “Scientology and Me” by journalist John Sweeney, featured him being stalked and harassed by Scientology members. He has said that “While making our BBC Panorama film I have been shouted at, spied on, had my hotel invaded at midnight, denounced as a “bigot” by star Scientologists and been chased round the streets of Los Angeles by sinister strangers.” Sweeney also claimed that his family and neighbours had been harassed by unidentified strangers back in the UK.

The common issue with Scientology is not within the individual members of this religion and their beliefs but with the ethics and management. The fact that leaders have been accused of brainwashing, blackmailing, and attempting to repress alternate views of Scientology in every medium and possible fourth estate, seen as a complete disregard for democracy. YouTube has only a couple of anti-Scientology clips left on its massive database due to censoring and copywright suits.

High profile American followers in support of Scientology include Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Juliette Lewis, and Lisa McPherson, who tragically died suspiciously after a minor car accident in 1995. The Church was charged with criminal offences of abuse of a disabled person and practising medicine without a license, charges which were later dropped because of lack of evidence and professionals willing to testify.

The Dianetics DVD sometimes given to individuals taking the personality or stress test, including myself, comes equipped with a half hour montage of various Americans in high paid jobs praising Dianetics for bettering their lives. After watching this beautiful piece of footage equipped with uplifting soundtrack, one may consider that so many worldwide followers can’t be that disillusioned and accept Scientologists’ beliefs as they do Hindu, Christianity, Muslim, and Buddhism. Or perhaps they’d heard of fair gaming.

Scientology’s future could be in jeopardy if this court case sparks off a new legal rebellion against the organisation.

Social networking sites handicap human interaction

2009-03-16T07:08:00.000-07:00

Facebook is diminishing your social interacting skills in real-life, says expert Research Psychologist Dr. Aric Sigman. “When we are really with people, different things happen - we read body language.”

The controversial warning is published in Biologist, the journal of the Institute of Biology. Dr. Sigman suggests such websites are “not tools that enhance, they are tools that displace.”

While 1 in 5 adults and just under 50% of 8-17 year olds actively use these sites, sometimes several hours a day, the question is whether taking part in a virtual environment is harmful to our health or merely a blossoming of technology for convenience and comfort.

Dr. Sigman and Ben Goldacre, author of Bad Science, and columnist for the Guardian on the same topic agressively debated this issue during Newsnight with Jeremy Paxman last night, and although the scientist appeared to have a stronger argument, it was clear it lacked in concrete evidence.

Goldacre, Paxman, and Sigman debate the topic on Newsnight
Sigman reminded Paxman and Goldacre about the extensive research carried out the effects telelevision had on young children and said social networking over the internet was just an updated televised medium with the same effects.

He argued his issue was not solely with the tabloid claims that the likes of Twitter and Facebook cause brain damage, but with the fact that young children are spending less and less time face-to-face with each other “[these sites are] directly displacing time spent with one another”, which he says despite lack of direct research might be rewiring the brain as well as causing isolation and loneliness and contributing to obesity.

Oxford professor and director of the Royal Institution Dr. Susan Greenfield lent her expert neuroscientific opinion to Newsnight, seeming to back up Dr. Sigman’s theory suggesting these sites encourage increase in recklessness, a shorter attention span, and creation of false identities.

Sex And The City: inside a fabulous woman's mind

2009-02-02T09:07:00.001-08:00

Sex And The City the movie is like Cinderella for adults. It’s the search for labels and love in NYC. If that's what you're looking for, you'll like it.

If you’ve never heard of Candice Bushnell or seen an episode of SATC in your life and are just an accompaniment, don’t fret, there’s no need to know the characters’ back stories, any complex sex positions, or niche fashion brands. The movie introduction comes equipped with a montage of the past 6 years in 6 seconds.

Carrie’s story is an emotional journey ending in heels and heartbreak. She becomes wrapped up in fashion, losing sight of her fiancé. Everyone has their priority fingers in all the wrong pies, though it ultimately comes down to values of friendship and womanhood. It's abundant with designer dresses, a new shoe, bag, or man.

To all critics of SATC, behind the materialism and crude sex-talk lies true life; relationships, traumas, and fairytales are all presented to the audience to pick and choose what to take away with them. It caters for all, empowering women through Samantha’s comical selfishness, yet teaching about compromise and understanding, dealing with overcoming unfaithfulness. At the point where you think love is doomed, Charlotte’s perfect bliss of a marriage and heartfelt miracle brings hope. Among the fantasies and marvels, Cynthia Nixon’s storyline and depiction seem most genuine and close to reality. The ending is a bit poor though, everyone always knew Big was an arsehole and didn't deserve Carrie. You make up your mind on how they handled that one.

One thing I can guarantee is this film will make you treasure your girl friends so much more.

Hope for quality reality TV

2009-02-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

I relapsed on my ban on Big Brother recently when I saw Verne Troyer and Coolio were going on this year’s Celebrity version. The car-crash reality show has been consistently hilarious for everyone with Coolio annoying the Barbies of the house to tears. Seeing their ridiculous egos collapse has been laugh-out-loud satisfying. However with each of them being slowly evicted one by one I can see entertainment will start to slack. You have to wonder what the mass audience for CBB is these days. Mostly women I’d imagine, dumb women who don’t realise the implications of spoiling the most interesting ongoing feuds and evicting big characters.

I started out watching this series as one of those people who had become cynical about the construction of the ‘reality’ show but still watched it ironically to avoid being oblivious in topical conversation. I have soon since given up and started taking pleasure from what the show is overtly offering and standing by ignorance like the dumb girls who vote. It’s so much more fun.

Going on the characters the show portrays of these celebrities has made me see Verne as not only a bit of a sex fiend but also a big sweetheart and a deep man. He told a heartfelt tale after the housemates huddled around a scribbly heart tattoo on his hand last week to hear of how the now-international treasure Heath Ledger had drawn it while on the set of the film they were in together days before he died. There is a pleasure in getting under someone’s notorious skin.

I’m in no doubt though, that with the exception of the Celebrity version, BB’s audience has fallen big time as the formula’s getting old and overdone, the tricks and games are too familiar, extrovert nobodies trying to grab their 15 minutes of fame at our viewing time’s expense, we’re not stupid. It’s boiling down to idiots watching idiots, and who wants that label?

Fifteen minutes with a Futurehead

2008-11-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

The Futureheads guitarist's appearance is scruffy, timid, and reserved; he looks an introspective man.

As soon as I sit down with Ross Millard and ask him a question his whole aura changes and he talks openly about who's an arsehole and what's lovely. His body language opens up and he's very chirpy considering I'm a nervous first year holding up his cab to the airport. He's opinionated and buzzing after his set.

The cool one off The Futureheads takes time out to chat with me after he DJs at Bournemouth’s Propaganda night at The Old Firestation.

How was DJing in Bournemouth @ OFS? –
Ross: Just a band being asked to play their favourite songs is an indulgence. It's good fun and easy to do so it’s an honour just to be asked.

When Rock The Casbah came on the crowd went insane –
Ross: It feels good yeah, but any Clash song is always a hit.

What’s the best DJ set you’ve ever done? –
Ross: Ibiza last year. I really enjoyed the house and electro. It was a proper challenge that turned out a success. It’s an art to mix that genre and you need to be clever about the order. Tonight was just a party – it was pretty easy.

What’s you favourite song of all time? –
Ross: That’s tough. If I had to pick it would be The Mercy Seat by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, though it’s pretty dark and too mellow for a DJ set.

Tell me about your own record label Nul Records and the future –
Ross: Simply to release our own tunes, we’re not going to sign any other artists. There’s no need to be controlled by a record label when you can be your own boss and have your own copyrights etc. Other bands should do it - it’s so easy to set up. Every musician I’ve met is a control freak, and what better way to have complete control than to solely be your own boss? I think they should go for it.

Elaborate on what you said on MTV2 about your old record label 679's manager being a cartoon rabbit –
Ross: Warner Bros. has finally shown it’s too big for itself. The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing; no one knows who’s spending what. It’s a joke.

Tell me about your upcoming November/December tour –
Ross: This is the first and final UK tour for our 3rd album ‘This Is Not The World’. We’re really pleased with it and it feels good that it’s been such a success; we’ve now got lots more confidence. We’re recording a new one early next year.

Got anything to say to the readers? –
Ross: I like Bournemouth; it’s a nice seaside town and a pretty cool place. Good crowd tonight too.

Ross and Brand to be sacked and shamed?

2008-11-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Top broadcasters Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand are facing the sack after insulting veteran actor Andrew Sachs live on late night radio.

Brand broadcasted that he’d slept with Mr. Sachs’ granddaughter. Later in the programme he even joked about the idea that Mr Sachs might consider suicide as a result of their comments. More than 18,000 people have complained to the BBC.

We asked the people of Bournemouth if they think the scandal will permanently tarnish Ross’ highly regarded reputation. Has the BBC made the right decision to suspend them both and is Ofcom right to launch an enquiry?

Third year Journalism student Matthew Kieran, 21, Bennet Road, never liked Jonathon Ross anyway and thinks it will absolutely ruin his career. He said “I find him vulgar, I’m really not a fan and am not surprised at his behaviour”.

Jess Driscoll, 18-year-old first year Journalism student from Cranbourne House, said: “I didn’t think it was bad. People aren’t that judgemental. He will suffer more than Brand from all this though.”

Visitor to the University Richard Hovey, 45, from Salisbury Road said "he's a good guy". He thinks that Jonathon Ross will rise above it considering he wrote a personal letter of apology to Andrew Sachs.

Mark Jerrie, a 42-year-old IT technician, doubts that this minor ordeal will affect Jonathon Ross’s career. “I’m not too fussed but I don’t think it should and would affect his job”. Mark lives on Charminster Rd.

Animation lecturer, 29-year-old Adam Tuycross from Durley Gardens, can see why people agree with the suspension of both broadcasters but “why is the Prime Minister getting involved?”

“The public forget things quickly” was the comment made by Samson Road resident University caretaker, Dave Horshord, 60.

Neil Hallam-Jones, 50, Barton-on-Sea, believes that the Daily Mail sparked the media frenzy. “Before they commented on the prank calls there were only 2 complaints”.

"He ought to be dismissed and all those at the BBC who employ him” said Mike Smith, 71, car park attendant at Bournemouth University.

Retired Nicholas Boswood, living in BH12 3LA, thinks that: “they deserve suspension under Ofcom and should be sued accordingly”.

“Russell Brand is funny. People are far to serious these days, it was just a joke.” Said Haleigh Bosher , 20, Norwich Avenue.

By Deni Kirkova and Sophie Cox

A Life in the Day: Deni Kirkova

2008-10-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

The 18-year-old studies English, Media, and Textiles A2s at Worthing College and works at Costa and River Island at the weekends. She lives with her mum, step-dad, dog, and cat in Worthing.

I wake up at 8 when my bitchin’ alarms go off. That’s right, two are needed to get me up. I chuck on a headband to manage an unruly bed mane and throw on a massively thick dressing gown. Down the stairs I go in my zombie state only to be refreshingly greeted by my loveable maniac dog – Archie. I ignore him and reach for the kettle.

When I’ve had my first sip of tea, and only then, will I give my dog the attention he’s been craving as if it depends on his mother’s life. I spend five minutes smothering him and take my cuppa upstairs. It’s still too hot to drink so I switch on my PC and jump in the shower. Before I dress accordingly I’ll check the weather on BBC’s site. Most of the time they’re bloody liars and my summer dress is drenched by the time I get home but that’s another issue. I chuck on some upbeat tunes to blow dry my hair and do my face too. It’s 8.20 and with 5 minutes till my bus I panic pack my bag and run out the door. I normally forget my Ipod on my bed and go mental. Forgetting money, however, consists of a nervous breakdown.

If I get the right bus it’s jammy all round but no worries if I miss it, they come every ten minutes. Lateness gets you bollocked by my Textiles teacher though, big time. Shame I’ve got her on a Wednesday morning for a 2 and a half hour lesson. Those 5-minute breaks she gives us in the middle have got me smoking a hell of a lot more. I sew a bit, and doss around a lot. We get a 20-minute break when it’s finished.

Second lesson is Media at 11.15, which is awesome because I love my teacher. She’s got this unruly flaming hair and flamboyant hand gestures. Like a crazy aunt, she’s a bit mental but very entertaining, interesting, and intelligent. Plus I think I’m one of her favourites because I’ll give her free coffee on Saturday at Costa if my manager’s not looking.

Halfway through Media we get half an hour for lunch at 12.30. This usually consists of tarring up my lungs with fellow friends and smokers outside on the green outside college – ‘front garden’ if you like. I’m the bakery’s biggest customer with their cheap, processed, delicious chicken slices. It’s only across the road so a couple of us will usually pop over and pick up something for everyone. We chat about how shit the smoking ban is, who’s going with who to the Summer Ball and what we’re doing over the weekend. I’m filled with dread about the hangovers I’ll be suffering Saturday and Sunday morning at work.

College is done by 2pm when I can go home, make a cup of tea with toast, put my feet up, and watch TV with my dog. He’s a 2 and a half year old black and white Westie-Yorkie cross. He’s perfect and beautiful and I love him. It’s usually 3 by the time I actually get home and I’m anticipating Countdown. I’ll do a bit of homework if I can be bothered, walk the dog and check hotmail and facebook upstairs on my PC. These days, missing even a day on facebook can be crucial stuff. Mum gets in at 4 so I make her a cuppa ready for when she gets in. We’re really close and she takes me out for coffees and to exhibitions a lot so I owe her really.

By 8pm the fire’s blazing in the lounge and mum, step-dad, cat, dog, and me are slouched on the sofas with blankets and footstalls watching a documentary of some sort on Channel 4. It’s cosy family time. I go to bed when I’m tired and listen to whatever I’m into on my Ipod for an hour in bed. I fall asleep to thoughts of my most recent happiest times.

What makes a good reporter?

2008-10-21T03:42:00.000-07:00

Bruno Bayley believes what makes a good reporter is spotting a story when you see one - even a guy juggling cobras in a pub.

Bruno's 23 and part of international magazine Vice’s editorial team. As an art graduate with a fast-track journalism course as his qualifications, Bruno’s already got twice as far as journalism students would hope to be.

As a monthly publication with each issue themed deadlines are long, and apart from theme as direction, you can write about anything you find interesting, weird, or wonderful – ‘If you hear a bloke down the pub chatting about a centre where they teach kids to juggle with cobras – you can probably put it in the magazine.’ Vice isn’t a traditional lifestyle magazine; it’s in-your-face youth culture.

I asked him what makes a good reporter and he said ‘To get there you’d need confidence and contacts. For the job, skills in structuring an article and spotting stories when you see them is essential.’

His job involves checking translations from Europe where lots of Vice's features come from, administration, sourcing photo stories, interviews, and research. Calling past 5pm, Bruno’s day was slowing down and he filled me in on what he’d been up to – “I wrote and subbed some blog entries, online articles, and some work for a book as part of a Vice project.”

That sounds like a lot of work for one day but hours can be anything from 10-7 up. Overtime is common as he's there ‘til the job’s done. I ask him ‘What’s in it for you?’

Bruno chirped up, listing the benefits of working for Vice – ‘It's a great magazine, I work with people of a wide age range, the editorial team and I are good friends and go out out of work.’

A Series of Unfortunate Events

2008-10-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

Wandering the streets of Bournemouth for the deadest looking person around, I stumbled across a confused looking gentleman enjoying a cigarette outside a designer store. Peter Lear appeared the perfect candidate for my first interview assignment, so I asked him about his first memory.

In the summer of 1950, 8-year-old Mr. Lear was playing Cowboys and Indians with his older brother in a room on the first floor of their house. As his brother went for his feet, Mr. Lear lost balance and fell backwards from an open window. He was rushed to hospital for concussion and a split head “It was bloody painful”; but recovered shortly afterwards. His older brother, however, was not so lucky. Their father made a huge fuss and gave Mr. Lear’s brother a good hiding for being such a rascal. At 66, Peter Lear’s first memory is vivid, and one to learn from.

In his adult life, Mr. Lear had moved on from such trivial matters during his star-studded career as a professional chauffer for A to Z executive, having driven such members of the elite as Rolf Harris, Michael Parkinson, and Lorraine Kelly to their A-list destinations.

Peter is now retired and enjoys a quiet life in Bournemouth with his wife and has a bachelor son of 25.