Sixth Form Mercury Wilson’s School’s newest student‐run publication
Volume 2, Issue 11, October 2012
Diary of a Sixth Former The time has come, my friends, to look at what we have all become. Our lives are now dominated by school and interviews, homework and books. So I’ve decided to take a look at the best ways to cope with a stressful life. I could have done extensive re‐ search, but I didn’t. So I shall share three anecdotes to reflect what I feel are the most important lessons for anyone in our time of life. Staying happy and not ripping each other’s heads off is a difficult feat in these stressful Incident one: the Ronald Weasley times. So here’s a little helping hand. incident With academic pressure at an all‐ Incident two: The Boris Johnson complex time high, we need to learn to enjoy those little moments in life when every‐ Respect is something highly important in thing just falls into place. any relationship, whatever the nature of One such moment followed my work it. For example, my professional relation‐ experience at a primary school. To amuse ship with a customer at work fell out the the kids, I’d decided to take in a model window when they told me I looked like wand and tell them all that I was a wizard an effeminate Boris Johnson – let’s just ‐ naturally, my hair colour left them con‐ say they’re now down 25p change! vinced I was Ron Weasley. Actually, Boris Johnson is a good indica‐ tion of the importance of respect. The particular moment I’m thinking of, though, occurred on the walk home with the wand in my pocket, when a guy in a He and David Cameron don’t ever seem van pulled up beside me. to get along. I was watching an interview with Cameron just the other day where He stopped, rolled down the window and his relationship with Boris was called into shouted from beneath a sweaty excuse question and, to be fair to Cameron, his for a moustache, “Oi, Weasley!” In that response was quite inspiring. He said that one moment, I think the gods were smil‐ while he and Boris disagreed on many ing down upon me as I drew from deep issues they shared a mutual respect for within my pocket the wand, did a full turn one another. And it is this respect which to face the driver and pointed it directly transcends personal feeling. at his rather chubby face. This was ac‐ companied by a faint squeal from the pig‐ What is the point of this story? Well, like man before he disappeared in a cloud when we’re all stuck together in this stressful environment, a bit of respect will of dust down the road. keep everything civil and a whole lot less depressing. What can we learn from this story? These kinds of moments need to be savoured, because they keep us happy in times of stress.
Incident three: the banana split There’s so much going on, and so much that can go wrong. In light of this, it’s important not to get bogged down in the details of the things we are doing. Try to look at the bigger picture and step back, and the matter becomes a whole lot clearer. I remember an incident in the school can‐ teen a year ago, when I was sitting on a table with a bunch of year nines and a rather pedantic member of the upper sixth. One of the younger students, on their exit, dropped his banana skin on the floor. Now, to a civil person that’s just a banana skin in a huge hall. But to this particular pedant, it was the end of the world. He stalked this year nine (so I’ve heard) right the way to the Astros, with banana skin in hand, where he issued an onslaught of abusive insults. Clearly, the kid was completely insane. But he couldn’t look past the small error of this errant banana skin. And this applies to general life; you have to look past the banana skin or the typo in the teacher’s presentation. By taking a step back, you avoid getting stressed over pointless things. I hope this guide is some help to you all, or at least gave you chance to laugh and shake your head at the many incidents I’ve encountered on my sixth form trav‐ els. Enjoy life; you’ve only got one!
By Kane Walpole
Sixth Form Mercury, October 2012
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Dear All, Here it is, another edition and another chance to spend some time enjoying the wisdom of the Wilson’s student body. It’s still a stressful time for all, with offers already being made to some of Upper Sixth. We hope that this small distraction from work and interviews will help to ease the pains of Sixth Form life. Plus, a little bit of comedic artwork! Nikhil Vyas and Kane Walpole
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Diary of a Sixth Former
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A Message from the Editors
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The Recession: A Turning Point?
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NBA Basketball’s UK Debut
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Black and Yellow
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Portrait by Manu Pillai
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The Recession: A Turning Point? By Craig Threadgold One topic of anguish that has plagued the last decade is the re‐ cession: a meltdown of the Western economy. Our fiscal debt has reached £1 trillion and our standard of living is about to plummet signifi‐ cantly for the first time since the miners’ strikes. However, this can be seen as a new way forward for the UK: a chance to restructure our country for the bet‐ ter. Before our economy went into Is the glass half full or half empty? The freefall it was being propped up by economic downturn may have its plus sides the government’s unsustainable spending. Gordon Brown promised this spending had solved the boom The same principle can be applied and bust cycle – and this certainly to the public. Zero deposit mort‐ gages and buy‐now‐pay‐later became true: we no longer have schemes were always doomed to any boom time. Brown’s implemen‐ failure. The public’s £4.7 trillion, tation of the ‘Golden accumulated over the unsustainable Rule’ (borrowing money to invest, ‘boom’ period of the 2000s, has to which should increase GDP more than the original expenditure) left be addressed now. the economy in an unsustainable condition. People are realising that they can‐ not make this mistake again, of But the recession has now educated spending money they don’t have. the public to question the govern‐ ment’s spending patterns, and has It is clear that in the near future the domestic demand for goods is going educated the government about to reduce. This will have a profound the dangers of spending money it and hopefully positive effect on the does not have. future development of this country.
Even though the UK has one of the biggest economies in the world, its exports are still valued less than those of the Netherlands. This tells us that the UK has lost its competi‐ tiveness and its innovation – some‐ thing that should now be a neces‐ sity for firms who want to survive. The future should see British firms return to export‐led growth instead of relying on the calamitous over‐ spend by government and the pub‐ lic. This innovation should restruc‐ ture the economy, and lead to a more sustainable path for the fu‐ ture. For the next few years, the struggle is going to be tough. As we conquer the mountain of debt this generation has left us, we will have to persevere as cut after cut will reduce our opportunities and standard of living. But, when spending has been cut, innovation increased and this atti‐ tude of greed abandoned, the fu‐ ture should be brighter.
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Sixth Form Mercury, October 2012
NBA Basketball set to come to London in January Following the success of the NFL’s In‐ By Ciaran Gowan ternational Series, another American sport is trying to make its mark in the the league’s Defensive Player of the UK, with the NBA announcing the re‐ Year title, as reward for single‐ handedly taking the Knicks from one turn of the London Live game in 2013. of the worst defences in the league to one of the best last season. Gen‐ The Detroit Pistons will be giving up a erally, his style of play will speak home game to play at the O2 Arena against the New York Knicks, in a more to those who’ve been watching match‐up that should be a treat for basketball for a while, but due to his fans of the game here in London. height of 7’1”, we should see some impressive dunks out of him as well. There has been speculation for months about a potential game, but now the Speaking of dunks, Amar’e news is finally confirmed, and the Stoudemire has built himself a repu‐ game will be played on 17 January tation as one of the best dunkers in 2013. the league. After a poor 2011‐12 Last time around, the New Jersey Nets season, Stoudemire spent the sum‐ (now the Brooklyn Nets) played mer working with Hall of American sports are on their way, with NBA Basketball two games against the Toronto Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, being the newest sporting import to the UK Raptors in 2011, with the second which has worked wonders for the likes of Kobe Bryant and ending up as one of the greatest the Pistons have themselves a bonafide Kobe Bryant. Olajuwon claims to have games of the entire season. It took tri‐ learnt most of his basketball footwork star in Greg Monroe, the 6’11” centre ple overtime to decide a winner, with from playing football as a child, so it who regularly dominates the game the Nets eventually getting it done af‐ ter also winning the first game convinc‐ should be interesting to see how this around the basket. Only 22, Monroe has been steadily improving from year ingly. translates, from an English perspective. to year, and is expected to have a breakout year in 2013. Unfortunately, the NBA went on strike Rounding out the bulk of this Knicks last season, causing the league to miss team are just a couple of future Hall of Famers in Jason Kidd and Rasheed Wal‐ For the Knicks, we have a team that’s 16 games, including the 2012 London lace, who have decided that they want spent a lot of money improving over game. Though it was a shame to miss one last run at a title at the end of their the last two seasons and is ready to out on what would undoubtedly have careers. make the leap to being genuine title been another exciting game for the contenders. To call the Knicks ‘star‐ NBA’s ever‐growing following in Europe, fans have now been rewarded studded’ would be an understatement, On the whole, this should be a great for their patience. so let’s take a look at some of their big‐ game to watch, no matter how in to gest stars. basketball you are. Whether you’re a long‐time basketball Making it into the NBA is no small feat, fan or are completely new to the game, First and foremost, Carmelo Anthony it would definitely be worth getting will be the star of the show, as he often so every player you’ll see out there is amongst the world’s very best. The BBL down to the O2 for this one. is in the NBA. ‘Melo’ spent his summer (British Basketball League) really does‐ here in London winning gold for Team USA at the Olympics, where he broke n’t compare, so if you’re interested in On the Pistons side, we have a young the team’s record for scoring, in a sin‐ going, tickets for the game will be re‐ and inexperienced team that has strug‐ gled to live up to the franchise’s storied gle game against Nigeria. Anthony is leased on Tuesday 30 October, on the history over the last few seasons. widely regarded as one of the very best O2’s website. Thanks to the Draft (which gives bad scorers in the league, and you can bank teams first dibs on the best college on him wanting to prove that when he players) there’s still some talent worth comes back to London with the Knicks. seeing on this Detroit roster. Tyson Chandler, Anthony’s USA team mate at the Summer Olympics, also Second‐year point guard Brandon plays for the Knicks, anchoring their Knight was given the iconic number 7 shirt last season, and he’ll be looking to defence with his ability to get up and prove the Pistons right for investing so deny anyone who tries to get to the much in him. And along with Knight, basket. Last season, Chandler was given
Sixth Form Mercury, October 2012
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Nice teeth - like the song... What song are you talking about? I hear you say. Well, you know what it is: Black and Yellow, Black and Yel‐ low . The song is not too far from reality and if you find the whole idea a bit too ex‐ treme here is a fact that will easily make you drop a brick. Many of the foods and drinks we consume contain acid which comes into con‐ tact with our teeth. This will soften its hard enamel layer and then, when we do the horrible act of brushing our teeth, we gradually wear away this surface, making our teeth thinner and thin‐ ner. Before you know it you can floss your teeth with a skip‐
ping rope and impress girls with teeth that look like stars in night the sky (and not in a good way). The slippery slope there doesn’t sound too funny when you realise this proc‐ ess of acid erosion is irre‐ versible and mainly caused by fizzy drinks. I am not saying you should start look‐ ing like a hipster, only drink‐ ing water and never brush‐ ing your teeth, but there are some things you probably didn’t know until now. The brain‐aching feeling you get when you have a cold or warm drink is due to the sensitivity of your teeth. And if you ever wonder why everyone’s teeth surface is flat and lines up nicely and yours are round and trans‐ parent or even worse ‐ yel‐
low ‐ you can all thank your own impatience at brushing your teeth straight after eating. I know you are probably willing to give up fizzy drinks by now. But juices made from or‐ anges and apples also have a sharp taste due to their citric acid content and will erode your teeth too. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to drink these nice beverages forever, but it is certainly unwise to keep them bubbling in your mouth ‐ either swallow it quickly or just use a straw to be on the extra safe side. But fear not: a little action every day can help you lead a life with a clean mouth
By Sheko Asinger
and mirror‐shiny teeth. This might sound like a cheesy toothpaste commercial but in the most seri‐ ous cases teeth have to be ex‐ tracted by a dentist. Among the list of other things you can do to help your mouth lead a healthy life, it is surely a great idea to use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste containing fluoride, which helps by protecting your teeth from future acid attacks and itself is pH‐neutral. Also, chewing sugar free gum to restore the saliva content in your mouth will help increase the min‐ erals in your mouth. And don’t forget to rinse your mouth with water after a life‐ threatening can of coke, or before you know it you will start to look like a hippo.
Portrait of the Head Boy By Manu Pillai
Manu offers yet more artistic genius for your enjoyment! This time, we see our head boy in a way we’ve never seen him before! Thank you again, Manu, for your efforts, and thanks to Will, for this brilliant shot.