A speech I made about Debating Cheap Drink In Belfast UK 

Cheap Drink remains too be unbeaten; where strong alcohol remains at cheap prices.  Stormont ministers have tried too beat the drink culture, by higher prices of drink, they have failed too stop the drink culture that is sweeping Northern Ireland.  

Alcohol is being sold in shops for as little as 40p, when the current limit proposed by the Northern Ireland Executive is currently 70p.   Lidl also sell alcohol that contains four times the recommended amount of units  for an adult male for just £1.  

The Executive have made calls for them too remove the drink from the shelves in Lidl, as well as other stores that have promotional drink offers, such as Tescos as well as Marks and Spencers.  

The Government will try too remove the drink promotions from night clubs, bars and the supermarkets, but we are a country that loves our drink and nights out, How will this effect the local businesses such as nightclubs as a whole?

After all we are in a economic recession with our nightclubs and bars already seen the effects with less and less trade coming too them due too the economic downturn how will this effect our nightlife and our community as a whole. 

Is it fair too blame the drink itself, after all we have choice, the choice too choose what too drink as well as the common sense too know when you have had enough.  

Should we really blame the drink but only ourselves? 

Is this the best approach to stop our youn g ones getting alcohol, young people have limited amounts of money, but if they wanted alcohol they would always find a way to get their alcohol.   

The department of health says alcohol costs the province as much as £900 million a year, This is the price we pay for a good night out.  It seems that they have decided too blame recent destruction on the alcohol, But the alcohol is only the fuel for these activities, if they could put more money into letting people know when they have had enough alcohol they might begin too see this £900 bill lower.  The drink would remain the same bringing more money into the economy.  

Dead Presidents Launch EP album

On Thursday the 7th march, local lads, the Dead Presidents came together to launch their highly anticipated 'Can You Dig It' EP album.   Supported by a list of local bands such as HOWL and PrettyChildBackfire students turned out in their masses too watch the Dead Presidents play their highly anticipated EP album. 

The Dead Presidents have had success in the past, with their song “Fallen In Love” enjoyed three consecutive weeks at No.1 in the NiChart.com download chart. 

One of the Funkiest live bands out there, with vocals full of soul and flair,  a brass section that will make the late ‘God Father of Soul’, James Brown sit up in his funeral casket, the Dead Presidents are a band no funk lover, swing lover or even rock lover will want to miss. 

For a band that has gained large student circles since their infancy in late 2009, there is no band that can rock the stage in Belfast quite like this one.  Their album Launch was well received with the soul being felt among everyone, people were queuing to buy their EP album after the show.  This album launch was one of the most talked about launches of the year, with a great line up throughout the year, The Dead Presidents will be rocking every stage throughout the year, with people coming to see their unique brand of uplifting funk and soul, they will surely be a hit throughout the year.  

The ‘Can You Dig it’ Ep launch was well received throughout the circles, with ‘HOWL’, Belfast’s latest talent having only been together since late 2012 their live debut was in November, when they played as part of the Open house festival programme.  Since then, they have been invited to take part in the ‘Oh yeah, Centre’s scratch my progress scheme’. 

Although, a relatively young band, HOWL is a band you need to watch out for, coming to a local venue near you.  

PrettyChildBackfire is a band that many people may have heard of with a demanding gigging session and many high profile gigs in the past such as Tenants Vital where they supported the likes of General Fiasco and More than the Conquerers they have received a large underground movement from students alike.  They have played gigs in recent years in Glasgowbury and Belfast Music week, PrettyChildBackfire were set on impressing the public with their live and energetic shows.  

The Dead Presidents had the funk spread amongst everyone, with the energy of soul and funk, the Radar was jammed pack of people swinging to the rhythm of the Saxophone, Trumpet and Funky Vocals, they are a rising bad that you should watch out for in the upcoming weeks.

Bioshock Infinite

What a roller coaster of a ride Bioshock infinite was, I initially avoided reviewing this game for a few weeks, as Bioshock isn’t your usual game, its the type of game that you want to try to approach intellectually and logically, but recently I have decided to give it a second play through.  It is obvious that Bioshock infinite wants you to have your fun and it is easy to dwelve yourself in the world of Columbia a floating city in the skies that decided one day that they were better off alone and seceded from the union of the United States Of America.  

On the surface Bioshock Infinite is a Game about Shooting enemies in the face, clubbing them over the head, electrocuting them to death, throwing them into walls and in the most fiendish case kicking them to kingdom come. 

Fans of the original Bioshock game can rejoice, the combat is similar to the original Bioshock series, with enemies that have weird genetic powers and old 18th century revolvers, guns and often over the top weapons. 

Over and over the game would hurl a handful of enemies from the skyhook above, often to disorientate you and force you to change your tactics rather rapidly.  Often, my tactic throughout the game remained the same, Go in guns blazing and use the possession skill to turn a turret against the enemy and kill all the baddies.

The setting makes this game perfect, Bioshock is set within a flying city, where they worship the founding fathers as idols and worship a man named Comstock, who has self fashioned himself as a prophet.  It is always fun to spend the first 15 minutes of the game wondering the streets of Columbia and taking in the beautiful scenes of a colorful city in the skies. 

As you dwelve deeper into Columbia, The darker side comes out, like the original Bioshock series, there are undermining themes of racism, jingoism and generally religious superiority.  Often you would see separate bathrooms for Black people, Irish and a new bathroom for ‘The people of Columbia’.  

Big Daddies are back, but not in the same from the original drillers that were in the first Bioshock.  The new replacement is perhaps a older version a ‘ Mechanical Patriot’ in the from of a colonial hero often George Washington, yelling patriotic phrases to give you a wee chuckle when you are trying to kill him.  

The plot comes into force when you are sent to a tower, to save a damsel in distress perhaps influenced by a fairytale, with probably one of the most intellectual stories a game has, Bioshock really makes you want to play it again just to understand the pivotal ending which left me in awe.

A Journey into Berlin

In March I went on a short trip to Berlin, where I saw some of the most beautiful architecture and sites. Armed with my camera I was able to capture numerous architecture images of Churches, Cathedrals and famous landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.

Berlin Kurfürstendamm. This was taken through the main high street, Ku'Damm. The 'Broken Chain' Sculpture found in Western Berlin is meant to symbolise the West and East Berlin, Due to the construction of the Berlin wall.

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - Ku'Damm. 

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - Old Church

Charlottenburg Palace: 

Perhaps the largest palace in Berlin, The palace looked amazing in the winter sun and was the home to some royal residents.

Inside Charlottenburg Palace....

Outside of Charlottenburg Palace

The Berliner Dom

Located in the centre of Berlin, this dome is one of the nicest looking buildings in Berlin.

When Staying in Berlin, it is always a great place to stop and to have a look at the beautiful sites the Dom has to offer.

Brandenburg Gate:

The Brandenburg gate is the remnants of the old Berlin city, where it was a old fort. It was also used as the Gateway to the Kingdom of Prussia.

Quadriga-Brandenburg Gate

The Quadriga was designed as a symbol of peace and change (represented by the olive reef carried by Victory) It was Seized by Napoleon during the occupation of Berlin (1806), It was seized by Napoleon and taken to Paris, only to be returned in 1814, Where her olive wreath was placed upon the iron cross.

The Wreath & Iron Cross

Inside the Brandenburg Gate

Victory Column

In our exploration of the city, we began to walk down Victory column, where we came across a Russian war memorial dedicated to all the Russian soldiers that died storming Berlin during World War Two. There was an eery feeling when we came across the memorial. It was about 10 O'clock at night, and the feeling around this monument was uneasy, although I loved taking photos of the old Russian tanks. 

Russian War Memorial 

Victory Column

After a long walk and cold walk down Victory Column we finally reached the end where we came across Victoria standing proud. The column was created to commemorate the Prussian victory over the Danish - Prussian war, as well as to signify the unification of Germany. 

Memorial to German Heroes

The Surrounding area is full of old memorials to German soldiers and National Heroes such as Albert Von Roon:

There were other German Heroes that stood out to me, But this memorial was rather spooky, and gave me the creeps. The Photo is also rather Creepy.

Other Heroes:

German Memorial to those who died for the Unification of Germany.

German Museum and Surrounding area