The U.S. Open

With the final Grand Slam of the tennis circuit beginning, it is time we reviewed the standards of the U.S. Open.

After seeing the high level of professionalism at Wimbledon and Beijing, it is my opinion that the U.S. Open is sorely lacking in many respects. It seems that the quality and quantity of tennis played there during the open is completely lost on the spectators. Play is often interrupted by audience members who do not observe the unwritten code of silence during matches, while others consistently leave their seats without regard for these world class players. If you cannot behave with due respect, then you should not attend.

Of course, there has been plenty of money devoted to the tournament and the facilities seem to be of an excellent standard. However, much of these funds seem to be ill spent. For example, instead of installing the essential "Hawkeye" video referee system in the Grandstand court, the organisers decided to add another area for spectators. It is obvious that packing more people into the courts is prioritised over the insurance that modern standards are upheld.

I do not intend to fully deride the U.S. Open for these oversights. It is an important tournament for continuing the support of tennis in the United States and one that is often very competitive and entertaining. I do feel, however, that the lack of professionalism across the board (including the ill-trained schedule creators and ball people) detract from the feeling that the U.S. Open is on par with other Grand Slams.

We should simply recognise the U.S. Open for what it is: an exhibition tournament.

-The English Student

Aeon Flux: Utopia or Deuteranopia?

As Aeon Flux charges through the supposedly open society of Bregna, we must wonder about the subjugated citizens of the nation.

Trevor assures the people of his honest intentions and heralds a new, apparently free regime of trust and integrity. But it becomes blatantly clear that his new era does not extend to the dictator himself.

On the face of things, this seems like a wise move by Trevor. After all, do we really want complete knowledge of all political dealings? As leaders of nations and a wide range of people, politicians face the impossible task of pleasing everyone. Tough decisions are made on a daily basis, causing pain to some and joy for others.

However, why do politicians believe that we do not understand the complicated nature of their profession? On a subjective scale, we all face similar decisions and just as often resort to dishonest tactics to resolve them. By not allowing complete accountability, our leaders treat us like children who are unable to accept the humanity of public figureheads.

"Clean gloves hide dirty hands" and removal of the gloves will simply show how equally filthy we all are.

-The English Student

Muse: Concert Review

To round off a good time for concerts in this country, Muse once again arrived to a huge crowd of loyal fanatics.

While it is hard to look beyond the finely tuned live act that is Muse themselves, the support bands of Glasvegas and Kasabian are noteworthy. Unfortunately, the rabid Muse fans seemed to decry the efforts of Glasvegas who played a good set that was ultimately not suited to the bill. Conversely, the more Muse friendly riff based music of Kasabian may have been a more appropriate appetiser, but was flat in delivery.

These bands obviously had their supporters, many of whom asked me which band I was there to see. I personally found this to be a ludicrous question and I was confirmed in this opinion when Muse took the stage. They tore through an excellent set of sharp, confident space rock with Matthew Belamy's guitar and piano work showing his amazing musical competence. Chris and Dom also maintained their phenomenal skill throughout the concert. The only real criticism that can be leveled at the band was their lack of new material and an obvious set list.

However, Muse are anything but tedious. Any problem with predictability was completely eradicated by the absolutely epic stage show. The stage was adorned with space-age satellite dishes and huge screens and along with this an enormous array of lighting shot out into the night sky. This equipment was used in perfect symphony with each song played, the result of which was a truly awe-inspiring combination of audio and visual.

I was surprised by a taxi driver who asked me if Muse were a band. The answer certainly wasn't in doubt on Wednesday: Muse are no band, they're an unstoppable force.

-The English Student

Bethesda Softworks

Bethesda Softworks is easily one of my favourite game developers.

The consistently high quality of games developed by this studio is enough to impress any gamer. The most notable software to their credit would be the excellent Elder Scrolls series and the upcoming Fallout 3. These games have greatly contributed to the RPG genre with their vast scope and amazing visuals.

But Bethesda is certainly not perfect. There was much fan indignation when the fourth Elder Scrolls game (and sequel to Morrowind) arrived. A just criticism can be leveled at the developer for focusing more on graphics rather than actual depth. In addition to this, many believed that Oblivion was designed with the console user in mind.

These criticisms, however, are firmly defeated by virtue of the community Bethesda has fostered. Morrowind was packaged with an extensive construction set and this was continued with Oblivion. This has allowed fans who found fault with Oblivion to change it accordingly to their own tastes. With literally thousands of modifications available for download, it is hard not to find something of interest.

Bethesda games have their faults, but these are usually rectified by a nurtured fan base.

Character Analysis: Prospero

The destructive storm of The Tempest constantly swirls around one character: Prospero.

Initially we are encouraged to think of Prospero as a typical colonial man who has enforced his will on virgin soil. His dominance over Caliban and his claim to be ruler of the island is in parallel with typically portrayed destructive explorers. However, nothing is as simple as this with Shakespeare. Caliban is not a native of the island and Prospero has been exiled there.

This captivity forces us to consider Prospero in a different light. His position as ruler of Milan has been usurped by his brother and this adds a new dimension to his actions. His dominant and arrogant behaviour on the island may just be a reaction to the hardships Prospero has had to face.

The final act of the play reconciles these two theories. An elaborate plan has resulted in Prospero gaining power over Antonio and Alonso. But rather than exact any kind of punishment or vengeance, Prospero seems to forget the wrongs committed against him. It is clear that the former Duke of Milan is nothing more than a power hungry politician.

Shakespeare creates many angles of perception in Prospero and yet still allows us to identify his core nature.