The Pirate Bay boasts on its homepage that it has over 4 million registered users, and a further 24 million unregistered. So how hard can downloading actually be? I put on my eye-patch, swigged a bottle of rum and began my journey into the world of internet file-sharing.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing services such as The Pirate Bay cost the economy billions of pounds each year, but despite the looming spectre of the digital economy act, file-sharing continues to grow.

My investigation for RiverOnline was enough to show me why so many people have turned to internet piracy: six mouse clicks, and few taps on my keyboard was all that was needed to access a library of almost 3 million films, television shows, games and music. Now you can’t get that down at your local HMV, let alone for free.

The downloading process was simpler than I expected. Sites like The Pirate Bay are massive directories of links known as ‘torrents’. Internet users can download a ‘torrent client’ such as the popular uTorrent for free and start file-sharing within seconds.

Having downloaded a torrent client, I headed over to The Pirate Bay site and leapt into a world of free entertainment. Want the latest blockbuster? My seach for the new Robin Hood movie returned 331 matches or seeds as they are known on the web. One seed had over 2,000 people, known as leechers, downloading from it.

Once you have picked your file, you open it in the torrent client and it starts to download. Depending on your connection speed this can take a few hours or in some cases just a few minutes. The process can be repeated again and again, with no limit set by the site to how many downloads a person can make.

With file-sharing becoming so easy, it is not hard to see why the media corporations consider it such a big threat, and the clearest indication that the file-sharers are winning in the battle against Hollywood came last Thursday, when Sky took the unprecedented decision to broadcast the finale of the American drama series Lost, at a bleary eyed 5am slot on 24 May.

Within minutes of the show airing in the US, copies of the latest episodes are widely available on the internet, and by screening the show simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic, the broadcaster hopes to beat the pirates.

Stuart Murphy, Sky1's director of programmes, said: "We are proud of the fact that at Sky1 HD we have a long tradition of running all of our US shows as close as possible to their US transmission date.

“With something as hotly anticipated as the Lost finale, it makes sense to show it at exactly the same time as millions across America will see it."

This move will surely cost the company a significant loss in advertising revenue, as taking the show away from its regular Friday primetime slot and moving it to the early hours of Monday morning will no doubt affect the viewing figures. Sky has looked at the situation and realised it would be better to take a small hit on advertising, in order to secure viewers who would go elsewhere if the programme was held back.

The passing of the digital economy act, which comes into force in June, is the governments attempt to restore order. It will see file-sharers’ internet connections cut if they caught repeatedly downloading files illegally. However piracy has always been illegal. Previous legislation has not been able to stop the rapid rise of these sites, so what makes this new law any different? This government scare tactic may put off a few casual users, but the real internet pirates will not walk the plank without putting up a fight.

By Munazza Abbasi

It's the time of the year where Cupid gets to work piercing through the worries and tensions of daily lives to bring smiles to many faces.

Candy hearts, red roses, candlelit dinners finished off with a box of Thornton’s chocolates shared on the couch, wipe the frowns from many foreheads and bring cheerful times.

February 14 accumulates masses of reasons for celebration. And with the Chinese New Year of the Tiger falling on Valentines this year, there is more reason to celebrate for some.

But how much consideration is really put behind the rationale of celebrating the day?

Valentine’s Day is thought to have become associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages when courtly love flourished. The day is named after two of the numerous early Christian martyrs named Valentine.

Rumours around the origins of Valentine’s Day signal the execution of a Roman Priest, Saint Valentine, on February 14 for tying knots with many girls on the day.

Whilst in prison, the Priest signed off a farewell letter to his latest love, the jailer’s daughter, as: “From your Valentine.”

Gradually, the day was marked by lovers sending poems and simple gifts, such as flowers to commemorate Saint Valentine.

These days, even the most extravagant getaways and luxurious gifts do not seem enough for some.

But where some let their hair down on the day, others think it is the least romantic day of the year, and pity the men buying flowers and chocolate for their sweetheart, just because everyone else is doing it.

So is Valentine’s Day a celebration or has it evolved into an obligation? What encourages us to celebrate the day? RiverOnline asked Kingston University students for their views.

Elaine Barry, a third year Marine and Freshwater Biology student thought it was a mere obligation.

The 21 year old said: “People do think it is a celebration, but it has become an obligation because you are pressured by adverts everywhere to go and buy chocolates and roses for someone you love.”

Helen Metcalf, a MSC Phsychology student said: “We should not be like performing monkeys on Valentine’s Day, being told what to do.

 “Something that should be romantic is far too commercial. It is hard to resist the media stuff, which makes you want to do something special,” Miss Metcalf added.

So, with the origins of the celebration so uncertain, 70 per cent of the Kingston University students surveyed said the occasion was definitely a day for celebration, but all the respondents thought media was the main factor shaping the discourse of Valentine’s that dominates so heavily today.

MA student Greg Harradine, 21, had mixed feelings about the day, saying: “Its fun to get a chance to do something special for someone, it is nice to have an actual day for it.

“I really don’t like the part media has to play in it. I don’t want to be told how to spend my day, but I won’t be affected by it” he added.

Where three quarters of the respondents said girls see celebrating Valentine’s more of an obligation, some were of the view that it generally is harder for men.

Eric Vincent, 24, a Maths and Economics student, said: “It is harder for us guys, because we are the ones that have to spend the money.”

Beata Bento, part time supervisor of Kingston’s Clinton Cards, which is the largest specialist retailer of Valentine's merchandise, said: “In my experience, I think girls are more adventurous and boys think more traditionally when they are buying gifts.”

Where boys mostly buy cards and teddy bears on Valentine’s Day, girls opt for the playing cards and toys, she said.

Miss Bento said: “We expect Valentine’s sales to rise this year, just as they do every year.”

The more one attempts to understand the historical legitimacy of the occasion, the clearer it becomes that 14^th February has quite noticeably become a money making scheme that has spun out of control through excessive media exposure.

After a long morning spent in lectures, the prospect of lunch is all that keeps many Kingston students sane. 

The lengthy, slow jostle through the corridors of Penrhyn Road leads students to the Uni’s two on-campus dining options, the recently–refurbished Food Store, or postgrad-only Picton Room.

Recent revelations in RiverOnline have exposed the latter as something of a rip-off, with prices at the Picton Room including VAT [from which students dining on-campus should be exempt] at 17.5%, ignoring the 2.5% cut made on December 1 2008. 

KU’s Head of Commercial Services, Richard Jewitt, fobbed off accusations of profiteering, claiming the price differential between the two venues was based on “A percentage split based on the mix of customers.”

Students were far less fluffy when it came to voicing opinions on the Picton Room. 

Filipe Martins, a 28 year-old PhD student, branded the Picton Room prices “A f**king robbery.  Five pounds for a meal that’s really bad.”

24 year-old Psychology Research student Genevieve Hughes called the Picton Room’s offerings:

 “Not good – just about edible.  I only really eat here because it’s handy.” 

Film students Mirele Migiavacca and Gokce Goren, both 23 also cited the café’s convenience as their main reason for choosing it. 

“If you have an hour-long lunch break, this is about your only option.” 

We at RiverOnline disagree, and have sought out several student-friendly cafés -  all less than three minutes walk from Penrhyn Road - to see what quick alternatives there are to the wan-looking sandwiches offered on-campus.  Although there's a wide variety of food available nearby,  RiverOnline stuck to the classic chicken salad sandwich, on sale at every café visited for less than three pounds.

1] The Red Bean, Surbiton Road [next door to Cooper House] 

Ambiance/Service:  This newly opened café offers hot food, sandwiches and milkshakes.  Decorated in an interesting red and copper colour scheme, The Red Bean was packed when RiverOnline visited.  We were served quickly by a friendly tattooed waitress.

Food:  The Red Bean used good salad leaves.  However, the sandwich was also filled with strange, squishy chicken that squeaked off our teeth.

“Horrible.”  Was the verdict of one taster.   “It’s really rubbery – the chicken seems to have added water.”

“ I can’t have any more of that.”  Another said, having a swig of water to stop her retching.

2]  Tasty Bite, Surbiton Road

Ambiance/Service:  Another clean, busy café, with more of an emphasis on Asian food than the others visited.  RiverOnline was served by an obliging waiter who seamlessly juggled several demanding customers at once. 

Food:  Tasty Bite’s selection was more exotic than the other cafés visited, meaning that we felt guilty about ordering something so plain.  Our food was great though – good quality meat, fresh salad and just enough mayonnaise to keep it lubricated. 

“Lovely.”  Was the opinion of one taster.  “It tastes like the kind of sandwich you’d make at home.”

“I’d definitely come back here.”  Said another.  “It’s a good lunch.” 

3]  Le Snack, Surbiton Road [on the other side of Cooper House]

Ambiance/Service:  RiverOnline had to double-check that we hadn’t wandered into a health food café when visiting Le Snack.  Rickety, weirdly-spaced furniture and a sign above the door that simply read ‘Café’ gave off an impression of scattiness.  Service was good though  - our waiter had our food ready in less than a minute. 

Food:  Le Snack gives good sandwich.  Our bread was nice, and the filling was the only one that used deep red tomato slices that hadn’t been chilled to Arctic-flavourlessness.  Meat was high quality, whilst the salad leaves were fresh. 

Our testers approved.

“The chicken’s great.  Good mayo too.”  One said.

“I like this sandwich.”  Said another.  “Quite similar to The Red Bean, but with decent meat.”

4] Orindi’s Café, Surbiton Road [just across the road from Cooper house]

Undoubtedly the queen of the Surbiton Road cafés, Orindi’s has been closed for most of this semester,  following a fire caused by a gas ring left on after closing time.  Owner Jayne Solovey set up the café in 1990 with husband Adriano and aims to have it reopened later this month, with special offers for KU students.  On previous visits, RiverOnline found the service speedy and food consistently great, with gorgeous Italian bread being a particular strong point. 

OVERALL:  The Red Bean was the only dud visited by RiverOnline.  All three other cafés proved themselves cheap, speedy alternatives to the dreaded Picton Room, with Tasty Bite earning particular praise. 

Why not venture outside uni for lunch next time you have a break?  It’ll provide a change of scenery, and freshen you up for your next class.  If you’re going to be paying VAT on your lunch, you might as well make sure it's something decent!