Author: Ida Väisänen

Many consider Finnish music as either metal or classical. Even though this reputation is not unfounded (that’s where symphonic metal comes in), one side of Finnish music is sadly lost in translation: its tradition of storytelling. Varying from funny – “A reason for a lonely night Unnecessarily often is the shape of a bouncer In front of him I’m more scared Than in front of a judge.” – to dirty (Finnish dirty songs deserve their own article), lyrics often tell an entire storyline. The stories told in these lyrics are often stingingly accurate perceptions of human nature. One example is…

‘American Horror Story’ actress Jamie Brewer has become the first woman with Down syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week. Brewer made her appearance in one of the first shows of the Fashion Week. Brewer is active in the Down syndrome community, involved in numerous organisations including the National Down Syndrome Congress and American Association of People with Disabilities of the United States. The 30-year-old strutted the catwalk in designer Carrie Hammer’s show, wearing a dress which was inspired by her roles on the popular horror series. Brewer played a witch on American Horror…

North Wales Police are asking for the public’s help identify the man who assaulted a woman during the early hours of Sunday 1st February 2015 in Ffriddoedd Road, Bangor. The incident left the 20 year old woman badly shaken but fortunately her physical injuries are slight. DC Dave Smith at Bangor CID said “The incident occurred sometime between 3.30am and 4.30am on Ffriddoedd Road, Bangor close to Bangor University’s Sports and Leisure Centre. Prior to the assault the female was followed by her attacker from Holyhead Road into Ffriddoedd Road. “The offender is described as a black male aged…

Lately there has been a trend in pop song lyrics to concentrate on plus-size women celebrating their shape. Examples of this have been such recent hits as Nicki Minaj’s ‘Anaconda’ and Meghan Trainor’s ‘All about that bass.’ Both of these songs have been referred to as ‘empowering’ and ‘feminist’ by music critics and the general audience, with a strong message of ‘body acceptance.’ This is true, both of the mentioned songs have lyrics that feature women who are very confident about their size, stating that ‘he can tell I ain’t missing no meals’ and ‘every inch of you is perfect…

North Wales Police charged six men following the arrests carried out in drug raids under ‘Operation Scorpion.’ Raids were carried out at four houses in Bangor, as well as properties in Manchester and Stockport. Three of the six people arrested were from Bangor and all were suspected of conspiracy to supply drugs in North Wales. Paul David Williams, 40, has now been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and conspiracy to bring a prohibited item into a prison. Mark Andrew Jones, 36, has been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and B controlled drugs, possession…

On Friday 7th November North Wales Police published a warning on their website, urging car owners to remain vigilant after several cars were broken into in the Upper Bangor area of the city earlier that week. Thieves targeted parked vehicles in the Ffriddoedd Road, Prince’s Road and Derwen Deg areas, where valuables had been left inside and on display. Items stolen include a purse, Sat Navs and jewellery. Neil Thomas, District Inspector for Bangor, said:  “Leaving any personal item on display in a vehicle can be a temptation to any would-be opportunist thief. “Whilst our enquiries are ongoing, and…

Before giving your V-Card – Get your C-Card! SU supports safe sex scheme. The best things in life are free, and Bangor University’s Student Union is opening a treasure chest of inexpensive joys, offering students access to free condoms and sexual health advice as a part of the “All Wales C-Card (Condom Card) Scheme”. The C-Card Scheme provides sexual health service for young people under the age of 25 – providing free condoms, information and advice. A young person registered with the scheme carries a card with a personal identification number; allowing the service provider to monitor access, whilst maintaining…

A Bangor expert in mental health research has helped launch the European Mental Health Integration Index The Mental Health Integration Index (MHII) explored, for the first time, the challenges of integrating Europeans with mental illnesses into society and employment within Europe’s 28 member states & Norway and Switzerland.  The research initiative was commissioned by Janssen and undertaken by the Economics Intelligence Unit. Peter Huxley, Professor of Mental Health Research at Bangor University, was a member of an expert team advising on which items should be included in the four sections of the Index: environment, access, opportunities and governance. Huxley commented…

Health officials confirm no one at a Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) hospital is under investigation for the Ebola virus disease despite paramedics donning protective clothing for a medical emergency in Bangor on October 14th. An ambulance was sent to an address in the Hirael area of Bangor after receiving reports a man had been taken ill. Neighbours who saw the man walking into the emergency ambulance by the yellow-suited paramedics went onto social media websites to voice their concern the incident may have been connected to Ebola. One even posted a video of the incident online. A statement…

Discussions about Gwynedd Council possibly merging with another local authority are to be held. A Gwynedd spokesman confirmed 47 Councillors were in favour of discussions, while three voted against and five abstained. Councillors, responding to the Welsh Government’s consultation on local government, approved a recommendation that talks be considered as long as “it can be clearly demonstrated it would be the best option for safeguarding the interests of Gwynedd residents and protecting local services”. It has been suggested Gwynedd may merge with Anglesey, but island Councillors have already rejected a voluntary merger. Presenting a report to the council meeting in…

New transcripts will be more detailed Changes will affect current students in their first and second years From 2016, the way that Bangor University issues the academic transcript for undergraduate students is changing. This change will affect current 1st and 2nd year students. Students will receive a Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) along with their degree certificate upon graduation. The HEAR is a nationally recognised document (with a number of universities already issuing it) designed to make it easier to demonstrate all university achievements to employers. The HEAR will include details such as modules and marks, skills developed through the…

On September 15 last year, 58-year old Llandudno hairdresser suffered a heart attack and died after a man armed with a claw hammer knocked on her patio door, telling his life was threatened. Carole Ann Wall, 58, of St David’s Road, Llandudno, collapsed while making a 999 call to the police. In a recent inquest held regarding Mrs. Wall’s death, Home Office pathologist Dr Bryan Rogers said that the actions of the hammer-wielding man, Kevin John Chambers, 37, of Pen y Cwm, Llandudno, had “led to the event after which Carole Wall died”. Dr Rogers also said: “I would like…

Ida adores.. Ally and Billy from Ally McBeal The relationship between Billy and Ally was truly the centrepiece of the Ally McBeal-series. Billy, Ally’s childhood sweetheart, suddenly dumped her right before they both started law school. Years later they ended up working in the same firm with Billy now a married man. To make things more complicated, Billy’s wife Georgia also joined the team later on. Even though Ally claims throughout the series to be totally over Billy, the source of many of her anxieties lies in Billy’s presence. Not including a momentary relapse Billy and Ally stay as quite…

I once heard a joke in which a Finn meets a talking elephant. Instead of asking the elephant relevant questions, like how the talking elephant came to be, the Finn is only interested in what the elephant thinks of Finland. I find the joke very fitting because as a small country we are desperate for the world’s approval. Now our fragile egos have been shaken. In a piece written for The Guardian, British journalist Michael Booth kicks the proverbial hornet’s nest by giving his honest opinion about the Nordic countries. Even though Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland get their fair…

A sudden death has taken place. The police are called. Among the investigators wanders the most unthreatening figure you can imagine. A short, unkempt, overly polite and sort of goofy-looking fellow wearing a beaten-up trenchcoat and chewing a cigar tentatively. He goes unnoticed but all this time his mind is ticking. He asks an innocent question about a newspaper or a pair of gloves, throwing in a story about his wife or dog to go with it. Still the web of these tiny little details is coming together in the brilliant head of this common-appearing man. This death wasn’t…

It comes like a thief at night. Silently and treacherously just when I think it’s safe to breathe. I get homesick. Of course I’ve been prepared for this. I read every article and did the research. I know it’s alright to feel homesick. Still, nothing prepared me for this amount of melodramatics. My flatmates go home for the weekend and I feel jealous. I hear there’s already snow at home and my chest aches because I’m not there to see it. My problem is that I always try to rationalize my feelings, come up with reasons. I thought I’d share…