Notable Articles

References to Dante's Inferno in Popular Culture and Film

2009-02-08T07:07:00.000-08:00

The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and 1321. It is divided into three canticas; Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise). Of these canticas, the most commonly referenced is the Inferno where Dante is taken through the nine circles of hell where sinners are punished in a way to suit their crime. The Inferno is commonly noted for its description of the nine stages of hell and the seven deadly sins. Since its creation, Dante's Inferno had been adapted and references in film, theatre, art, music and even architecture.

References to Dante's Inferno in film can be found as far back as 1911. Giuseppe de Liguoro's L'Inferno, the first full length Italian feature film ever made, was the first film adaptation of Dante's Inferno. It had also been adapted by Harry Lachman and inspired the Swedish comedy, The Man Who Quit Smoking. David Fincher's sophomore feature, Se7en draws heavily from Dante's Inferno. It follows two police officers as they investigate a series of murders based on the seven deadly sins. Dante's Inferno is referred to often by the characters in the film, it is one of the text used to attempt to solve the case at hand.

References to Dante's inferno are not solely limited to film adaptations. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's tone poem, Francesca da Rimini, is based on the 5th canto of Dante's Inferno. On their 1995 album Burnt Offerings, Iced Earth feature a 19 minute and 29 second long track titled Inferno serving as homage to Dante's Inferno. 90s grunge band, Nirvana, featured Dante's inferno inspired artwork on their debut album, Bleach.

Dante's Inferno, and the other canticas of The Divine Comedy are heavily present in visual arts Sandro Botticelli, William Blake, Franz von Bayros and many other artists have created popular images of Dante's diving comedy. Barlowe's Inferno, by Wayne Barlowe, features paintings of hells as an accompanying narrative. Sandaman, the comic book series by Neil
Gaiman features images of hell influenced by Dante's Inferno, it includes the woods of Suicide, the Malebolge, and the City of Dis.

Dante's Inferno is even extended to the world of video gaming. Inferno, the third level of the video game, Doom, takes place in hell in places such as Limbo and Dis. Dante's Inferno is an upcoming video game based on Dante's Divine Comedy.

Since it's creation in the fourteenth century, Dante's Inferno and the other canticas of Dante's Divine Comedy have been commonly referenced in all forms of media and culture.

On The AFI's Top 10 Top 10s

2008-08-30T05:10:00.000-07:00

In 2008, the usual 100 list was divided into 10 genres defined by the AFI, these were; Animation, Romantic Comedy, Westerns, Sports, Mystery Films, Fantasy Films, Science-Fiction Films, Gangster Films, Courtroom Dramas and Epic.

Naturally, such a change resulted in a great deal of criticism. There are a number of problems with the list in question which I shall highlight during the course of the article.

The extent to which some of the "genres" defined by the AFI are actually genres is questionable. One of these such genres is animation. A genre refers to the content of the art as opposed to the form, it is because of this that I consider animation to be more of a form than genre. This makes the list somewhat invalid as parts of the list initially are not valid. Many of the animation films in AFI's top 10 can easily be placed into other genres such as fantasy. The "genre" of romantic comedy appears to be more of a sub-genre than a genre as a whole. Romance and comedy are easily genres by themselves, using this logic, it suggests that romantic comedy is not a genre. Another of AFI's "genres" that may not necessarily be a genre is Courtroom drama. Courtroom dramas are sub-genres and are too subject specific to be a genre.

Animation
The animation list, as expected, was dominated by Disney with Shrek being the only excursion from Disney and Pixar. In relation to animation that has re-defined or had an impact on film-making as a whole, it seems unfortunate that such films as The Nightmare Before Christmas were ignored. When referring to great animation or important animation over the years, it seems unlikely that all of the films came from Disney.

Romantic Comedy
When thinking of romantic comedies, Charlie Chaplin's City Lights is not necessarily the film that springs to mind, however, it does fit the AFI's definition of a romantic comedy perfectly. They define a romantic comedy as "a genre in which the development of a romance leads to comic situations",the romance is the catalyst for most of the event within the film and for this, City Lights can be defined as a romantic comedy. This is a list where, in comparison to previous lists, the positions of the films seem odd. The romantic comedy top 10 list names It Happened One Night and Roman Holiday as the third and fourth best romantic comedies of all time respectively with The Philadelphia Story as number five. However, just last year on the 100 greatest films list, The Philadelphia Story was ahead of It Happened One Night and Roman Holiday was not even on the list. It is very hard to asses the criteria which defines each film's position in the top 10 lists.

Westerns
The AFI list of Westerns is one of the strongest of the top 10 lists. All of the films relate well to the AfI's definition of the genre, "genre of films set in the American West that embodies the spirit, the struggle and the demise of the new frontier."

Sports
Sports films are defined as, "a genre of films with protagonists who play athletics or other games of competition." As a result of this definition, one may wonder why Jerry McGuire was included in the list. One of the supporting characters plays sport, but our main protagonist is a sports manager. The connection to sport is clear, but in relation to the definition given Jerry McGuire doesn't appear to be a suitable choice. The list is topped by Raging Bull, a more than suitable choice.

Mystery
Like Westerns, Mystery is one of the strongest of the AFI's lists. There is a great presence of Hitchcock on the list but it is not overwhelming like Disney's presence in the Animation list.

Fantasy
The AFI define fantasy as, "genre where live-action characters inhabit imagined settings and/or experience situations that transcend the rules of the natural world", it is only the specification of "live-action" that prevents the definition of fantasy from extending to most of the films in the animation category. There is great difference between films in the fantasy category, within the category are films such as Lord of the Rings and Groundhog Day, two films in which it is strange to compare.

Sci-Fi
The Sci-Fi category is amongst the strongest list and it is one where the number one film is the most understandable. 2001: A Space Odyssey, tops the top 10 list and this is not surprising. Among the criteria for defining the 100 greatest films in the AFI's first top 100 films is critical recognition, major award winner, popularity over time, historical significance and cultural impact. 2001 over the years has gained great critical acclaim, won an Oscar and has become one of the most influential films of all time. 2001 ticks all the boxes.

Gangster
Another one of the strong lists. The AFI's list of the top 10 gangster films is one of the most predicable lists, with The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Godfather Part 2 taking the top three positions. A film that appears to be a glowing omission from the list is Once Upon a Time in America which has, one many occasions, been referred to as a superior film to The Godfather.

Courtroom Drama
As mentioned previously, courtroom drama is one of the more specific genres, it is fairly limited. Because of this, the contenders for the top 10 courtroom dramas is relatively predictable. The list is topped by To Kill a Mockingbird.

Epic
The "Epic" genre is one of the more questionable genres. The AFI defines "epic" as "a genre of large-scale films set in a cinematic interpretation of the past" which essentially means that the film is large scale and old. This is not necessarily the most well decided definition.

It's fair to say that the films in the top 10 top 10s lists are skewed towards older films. None of the number one films in any of the categories were made before 1980. It is understandable that it is more likely that older films have had the opportunity to make an impact on film-making but there are many influential films that have come out in recent years. Recent influential films such as the Matrix failed to get a place on any of the AFI top 10 lists.

There are many films in the top 10 lists that would usually not make it onto the AFI's 100 greatest film list. Films such as Groundhog Day would never usually be on the top 100 list so technically, it should not be on any of the top 10 lists. One could argue that the categorisation into different genres makes it easier for less impressive films to be classed as some of the best American films of all time. It could also be said that the categorisation system means that some films have no place in to top 100 films in 2008. Citizen Kane has been classed by the AFI as the greatest American film of all time, however, it does not fit into any of the categories decided. This means that thereis either a problem with how the films are categorised, or the variety of genres of film available. If the latter is true, that means it is impossible to create a top 10 of each genre list.

References to A Clockwork Orange in Popular Culture and Film

2008-08-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

It is often said that the highest form of flattery is imitation. In modern day culture it is not necessary imitation that we see (although this is sometimes the case), but references. There are many novels and films that are commonly referenced in the many mediums in society today, this can range from fashion to sport. One such novel that is often referenced in culture today is "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess. Many of these reference stem from Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film largely because is more accessible to audiences.

Fashion has been known to make many statements and pay homage to many mediums. On such example of this is a design that is featured on many T-Shirts and hoodies featuring an outline of Alex DeLarge, the main protagonist in A Clockwork Orange, and his droogs. This image is accompanied with a paragraph from the first page of the novel beginning with the phrase, "There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs." Another example of A Clockwork Orange's presence in the fashion world is in the name of a fashion retailer in Northern Ireland titled "A Clockwork Orange" which adopts the film posters font for their logo.

It is possible that most of the reference to A Clockwork Orange come from film and television, be it in terms of dress, dialogue or the general themes. The masters of references appear to be the creators of The Simpsons. There are countless references to A Clockwork Orange in the Simpsons one tremendous example is in the season four episode, "Duffless". Bart reaches for two cupcakes and this is seen from slightly above the two cakes. As Bart tries to do this he shakes and eventually curls into a ball on the floor as a result of the conditioning Lisa had given him. This is a direct spoof of part of the film, A Clockwork Orange where the effects of the Ludovico technique (a procedure which conditions people to be disgusted by negative actions) are tested by having the main character attempts to reach for a woman's breast but is overcome with illness. Other references to A Clockwork Orange in The Simpson's include Bart dressing up as Alex and using the slang used in the novel.

The presence and importance of A Clockwork Orange in modern cinema is clear. Renown directors Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver), David Lynch (Mulholland Drive) and Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) have made films that feature ambiguous and complex central characters as is the case with A Clockwork Orange. The 1996 film created by the Coen Brothers features a reference to A Clockwork Orange in terms of the slang (know as Nadsat) used in the novel and film. The character, Carl, played by Steve Buscemi states that he is in town for "just a little of the ol' in-and-out". This is a term used by Alex and his droogs when referring to sex. The Coen brothers latest film features a character by the name of Anton Chigurh with a haircut similar to the haircut Alex has in A Clockwork Orange.

The British rock band Blur, for the music video for their song "The Universal", dressed up as Alex and his droogs. The setting is also reminiscent of the Korova Milk Bar, the usual hang-out spot of Alex and his droogs. Another British group, Moloko, take their name from a drink served in the Korova Milk Bar, Moloko is drink consisting of milk and drugs. References to A Clockwork Orange even stretch to the sporting world. The Princeton University ultimate teams are known as "Clockwork Orange." The teams logo consist of an eye sporting Alex's signature eye liner. The font used for the film's advertising is used to form the letters C and O.

As mentioned previously, a regular hang-out for Alex and his droogs was the Korova Milk Bar. This has inspired the bars of the same title in New York and Melbourne. Stylistically they are similar to the actual milk bar and even sell milk and ice cream drinks.

It is clear that a Clockwork Orange and both novel and film form have great importance in modern day culture. They are respected works and have inspired even more great works on many different mediums. I predict only more are to come.

The Movie Adaptation of The Hobbit

2008-08-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

For a while, there have been whispers of adapting J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit (or There and Back Again), into a motion picture. This even dates back to before Peter Jackson adapted Lord of the Rings, the sequels to The Hobbit, in 2001. The Hobbit explores the life of Bilbo Baggins as he attempts to win treasure protected by the dragon, Smaug.

As a result of the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it was often assumed that Peter Jackson would create The Hobbit. Following lengthy legal battles with Jackson and New Line in relation to unpaid royalties, it was finally decided that The Hobbit would indeed be adapted into a films and that Peter Jackson would be involved in the creation of it. New Line are said to be in a rush to make the Hobbit as they only hold the rights for it for a particular period of time. It was rumoured in late 2007 that two Hobbit films, in 3D and directed by Peter Jackson would come out in 2010 and 2011, this was later quashed by New Line. Some stated later that Peter Jackson would still make two movies, one based on The Hobbit and the other based on The Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales this was partially influenced by a comment from Elijah Wood who stated in January 2008, "as far as I know the two film that they're doing, one will be The Hobbit and another will take place between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings". This was neither confirmed nor dismissed.

Despite the belief of many that Peter Jackson would direct The Hobbit as he did Lord of the Rings, it was eventually decided that Peter Jackson would produce the films alongside Fran Walsh who produced and wrote the screenplay for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Like The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit will be shot simultaneously with the production beginning in 2009. The films are said to be completed in 2010 and 2011.

Since concluding that Peter Jackson would not be directing The Hobbit, the question of who would direct J.R.R Tolkien's Hobbit was on the minds of many. Contenders included Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) , Sam Raimi (Spiderman), Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men) and even David Lynch (Mulholland Drive). However, it has been confirmed that the Lord of the Rings prequels will be directed by Guillermo del Toro who showed his command of the fantasy genre with Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy.

In an interview with Empire magazine, Guillermo Del Toro stated that he, Phillipa Boyens, Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson were working on writing the films.

One of the most important aspects of the film is the cast and of course, Bilbo. Del Toro states that the character of young Bilbo will be based on the way in Bilbo was played by Ian Holm, he also mentioned that there seemed to be a consensus on who would play Bilbo but this has not yet been disclosed. Rumours circulated that James McAvoy would play Bilbo but McAvoy himself said that he wouldn't. Two roles that have been confirmed however, are that of Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis as Gandalf (the grey again) and Gollum respectively. There have also been rumours of Liv Tyler and Viggo Mortensen reprising their roles.

It has recently been stated by Ian McKellen that the films are being pushed back a year to 2011 and 2012. Much of the details about the films are yet to be disclosed, but Intel then, we'll simply await the news.

On AFI's 100 Greatest American Movies

2008-08-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

The American Film Institute was established in 1967 to provide leadership in screen education and to recognise and celebrate excellence in the art of film, television and digital media. In 1998, the AFI began the 100 years…series, and since then, every year they have produced a list of the 100 greatest films. These include 100 years…100 stars, AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies, AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes leading up to 2008’s top 10 top 10s, the most different change in the annual AFI List.

In 2008, the usual 100 list was divided into 10 genres defined by the AFI, these were; Animation, Romantic Comedy, Westerns, Sports, Mystery Films, Fantasy Films, Science-Fiction Films, Gangster Films, Courtroom Dramas and Epic.

Naturally, such a change resulted in a great deal of criticism. There are a number of problems with the list in question which I shall highlight during the course of the article.

The extent to which some of the “genres” defined by the AFI are actually genres is questionable. One of these such genres is animation. A genre refers to the content of the art as opposed to the form, it is because of this that I consider animation to be more of a form than genre. This makes the list somewhat invalid as parts of the list initially are not valid. Many of the animation films in AFI’s top 10 can easily be placed into other genres such as fantasy. The “genre” of romantic comedy appears to be more of a sub-genre than a genre as a whole. Romance and comedy are easily genres by themselves, using this logic, it suggests that romantic comedy is not a genre. Another of AFI’s “genres” that may not necessarily be a genre is Courtroom drama. Courtroom dramas are sub-genres and are too subject specific to be a genre.

Animation
The animation list, as expected, was dominated by Disney with Shrek being the only excursion from Disney and Pixar. In relation to animation that has re-defined or had an impact on film-making as a whole, it seems unfortunate that such films as The Nightmare Before Christmas were ignored. When referring to great animation or important animation over the years, it seems unlikely that all of the films came from Disney.

Romantic Comedy
When thinking of romantic comedies, Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights is not necessarily the film that springs to mind, however, it does fit the AFI’s definition of a romantic comedy perfectly. They define a romantic comedy as “a genre in which the development of a romance leads to comic situations”, the romance is the catalyst for most of the event within the film and for this, City Lights can be defined as a romantic comedy. This is a list where, in comparison to previous lists, the positions of the films seem odd. The romantic comedy top 10 list names It Happened One Night and Roman Holiday as the third and fourth best romantic comedies of all time respectively with The Philadelphia Story as number five. However, just last year on the 100 greatest films list, The Philadelphia Story was ahead of It Happened One Night and Roman Holiday was not even on the list. It is very hard to asses the criteria which defines each film’s position in the top 10 lists.

Westerns
The AFI list of Westerns is one of the strongest of the top 10 lists. All of the films relate well to the AfI’s definition of the genre, “genre of films set in the American West that embodies the spirit, the struggle and the demise of the new frontier.”

Sports
Sports films are defined as, “a genre of films with protagonists who play athletics or other games of competition.” As a result of this definition, one may wonder why Jerry McGuire was included in the list. One of the supporting characters plays sport, but our main protagonist is a sports manager. The connection to sport is clear, but in relation to the definition given Jerry McGuire doesn’t appear to be a suitable choice. The list is topped by Raging Bull, a more than suitable choice.

Mystery
Like Westerns, Mystery is one of the strongest of the AFI’s lists. There is a great presence of Hitchcock on the list but it is not overwhelming like Disney’s presence in the Animation list.

Fantasy
The AFI define fantasy as, “genre where live-action characters inhabit imagined settings and/or experience situations that transcend the rules of the natural world”, it is only the specification of “live-action” that prevents the definition of fantasy from extending to most of the films in the animation category. There is great difference between films in the fantasy category, within the category are films such as Lord of the Rings and Groundhog Day, two film in which it is strange to compare.

Sci-Fi
The Sci-Fi category is amongst the strongest list and it is one where the number one film is the most understandable. 2001: A Space Odyssey, tops the top 10 list and this is not surprising. Among the criteria for defining the 100 greatest films in the AFI’s first top 100 films is critical recognition, major award winner, popularity over time, historical significance and cultural impact. 2001 over the years has gained great critical acclaim, won an Oscar and has become one of the most influential films of all time. 2001 ticks all the boxes.

Gangster
Another one of the strong lists. The AFI’s list of the top 10 gangster films is one of the most predicable lists, with The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Godfather Part 2 taking the top three positions. A film that appears to be a glowing omission from the list is Once Upon a Time in America which has, one many occasions, been referred to as a superior film to The Godfather.

Courtroom Drama
As mentioned previously, courtroom drama is one of the more specific genres, it is fairly limited. Because of this, the contenders for the top 10 courtroom dramas is relatively predictable. The list is topped by To Kill a Mockingbird.

Epic
The “Epic” genre is one of the more questionable genres. The AFI defines "epic" as “a genre of large-scale films set in a cinematic interpretation of the past” which essentially means that the film is large scale and old. This is not necessarily the most well decided definition.

It’s fair to say that the films in the top 10 top 10s lists are skewed towards older films. None of the number one films in any of the categories were made before 1980. It is understandable that it is more likely that older films have had the opportunity to make an impact on film-making but there are many influential films that have come out in recent years. Recent influential films such as the Matrix failed to get a place on any of the AFI top 10 lists.

There are many films in the top 10 lists that would usually not make it onto the AFI’s 100 greatest film list. Films such as Groundhog Day would never usually be on the top 100 list so technically, it should not be on any of the top 10 lists. One could argue that the categorisation into different genres makes it easier for less impressive films to be classed as some of the best American films of all time. It could also be said that the categorisation system means that some films have no place in to top 100 films in 2008. Citizen Kane has been classed by the AFI as the greatest American film of all time, however, it does not fit into any of the categories decided. This means that thereis either a problem with how the films are categorised, or the variety of genres of film available. If the latter is true, that means it is impossible to create a top 10 of each genre list.

How to Transfer or Recover Your iTunes Library

2008-06-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

One of the most popular ways to store ones music collection, music videos and now TV shows and movies in this technologically advanced world is through Apple iTunes. Unfortunately, this programme is not without the faults of any other programme. Every once and a while one may need to get a new computer meaning that the iTunes library you’ve spent forever editing and adding your favourite tunes to will need to be recovered.

There are two possible ways that this can be carried out; one I shall call the computer to computer method, the other I shall call the iPod to computer method.

The Computer-to-Computer Method
This method is probably the most popular method, not necessarily because of how easy it can be carried but because it allows the user to maintain their play lists, play counts as well as album artwork.

The computer to computer method requires a USB stick or another such data storage device, the larger the amount of space the better. The first step of this method takes place in iTunes. Go to iTunes, in the top left hand corner go to File then go down to Export Library, this should take you to a Save As window, name your library (this will be a XML document) appropriately and save it. This is where you’re data storage device comes into play, save the XML document to your storage device as well as the file folder (probably in “My Music”) titled “iTunes” to your device.

From this point on your old library is no longer needed. Download iTunes to your other computer and this should automatically create a folder in “My Music” titled “iTunes” much like the one on the previous computer, technically it is the same folder but empty. Replace this folder with the folder titled “iTunes” from the previous library (making sure that the XML document is inside this folder). Do not open iTunes until you have undertaken the previous actions. Once these have been carried out, opening iTunes will produce you iTunes library just as you remembered it.

Similarly, if you do not wish to keep your play lists, play counts and album artwork you can simply transfer the iTunes music file. This is located inside the folder titled “iTunes”. You can copy this file from the previous computer and replace the empty version of this file that will be created when iTunes is installed with the old version. This should have the same results, but, as I said, without your play lists, play counts and album artwork

The iPod to Computer Method
As mentioned this method is slightly less popular partially because it does not allow the user to maintain their play lists, play counts or album artwork and partially because it requires some toying around in “My Computer” or the Control Panel. This method is the most useful when the iTunes library from the previous library is no longer available, the previous library is not required for ththis method. The first step, like the previous, takes place in iTunes. Open iTunes, go to Edit on the top horizontal menu than go to preferences. Opening the preferences window prevents iTunes from wiping the previous music from the iPod as it would if you were to plug the iPod into an empty library.

This is where the “toying around” comes into play. The folder containing music on an iPod is hidden so the first step is to unhide the hidden files and folders. For Window XP go to My Computer, Tools, Folder Options, then click the option that says “Show hidden files and folders”. For Windows Vista go to Control Panel, Appearance and Personalisation and under the Folder Options heading click “Show hidden files and folders”. This should open a small window that gives the options to show hidden files and folders, select this option. Once you have done this and your iPod is plugged in, go to My Computer, and open the iPod as a device. Once open, you should see a folder named “iPod_Control”, open this file and you will find a folder titled “Music”. This file contains all of the music on the iPod. Add this folder to the iTunes music library. Sometimes it is necessary to add the music files from the folders (I say folders because for some reason the folder is sub-divided into several smaller folders) individually.

This allows you to have all of your music again but as I’ve mentioned many times before; you will not be able to maintain your play lists, play counts or album artwork.

A Warning that Applies to Both Methods
If you have purchased music from the iTunes, Apple only allows you to copy songs purchased from iTunes (this includes free downloads) to five different computers. This means that you should only copy your library to a different computer when it is necessary.

Psychological Explanations of Stress

2008-06-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

The experience of stress consists of two major components; stressors and the stress response. A stressor is a stimulus that causes a person to make an adaptation or adjustment. Stressors can be external in the form of crowding or heat, social such as contact with a hated one or internal such as pain. Such experiences result in psychological and biological responses, this is termed, the stress response.

Arousal
Much of the early work on stress focused on physiological responses. These responses create or preserve attentiveness and energy, for instance, increases heart rate so blood rushes to the muscles quickly. Arousal is often accompanied by highly emotional and active states. When we experience anger or fear, we are likely to be in a state of bodily arousal. Arousal is also related to performance; according to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, too much arousal or too little arousal results in poor performance. There is an optimum level of arousal for high performance.

The Fight or Flight Response
In the event of a stressful situation, there is an immediate biological reaction. Blood drains from the face, stomachs turn over and muscles tense. This is known as the fight-or-flight response; the body prepares to fight to defend oneself or flee. If little or nothing is done to reduce arousal, one can stay in a heighten state of arousal for a long period of time. In some situations this can also be termed the "arousal cost-reward model" , Piliavin et al argue that in situations where someone is confronted with helping an individual of not they first feel physiological arousal then weight up the cost and benefits of helping. Helping would reduce the arousal, as would fleeing the situation.

General Adaptation Theory
In the 1930s, Selye developed the concept of General Adaptation Theory. He suggested that there are three stages that describe the response to long term stress:
-Alarm reaction; at this stage the body's resources are mobilised. Initially, arousal drops below normal, then it rapidly rises above normal. If the body remains in the alarm reaction for a long period of time, ill health and even death, could follow.
-Resistance; at this stage the body accepts the stressor. Physical arousal declines but remains above normal. There are few outward signs of stress but the ability to resists stressors is impaired and the individual becomes vulnerable to diseases of adaptation such as ulcers and High Blood Pressure.
-Exhaustion; eventually, the body's resources energy reserves become depleted and the and the ability to resists declines. If stress continues, disease, damage and disease can follow.

Cognitive Appraisal Theory
Lazarus et al (1965) defines stress in terms of 4 stages:
-Stressor; an external event
-Primary appraisal; whether the event is positive or negative and how harmful or threatening it is
-Secondary Appraisal; are the individual's coping strategies sufficient?
-Stress; physiological, cognitive, emotional and behavioural responses

Lazarus carried out a study to investigate Cognitive Appraisal Theory. Participants were shown gruesome and stressful films of accidents in a wood workshop. There were three groups, one was told the film was acted, another was told the events were real but would help improve safety and the third was a control group given no explanation. The two groups given instructions showed less arousal (the primary appraisal showed the films as positive). Positive cognitive appraisal, seeing the events as none threatening, reduces stress.

The Greatest Scenes in Cinema

2008-05-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

There are moments in cinema that for varying reasons, can be defined, simply, as great. This can be the result of humour, an outstanding performance, great direction or because the moment satisfies the audience. There are many such moments, I shall name but a few.

The Shawshank Redemption: Cazonetta Sull'aria
The setting of the film is a prison, one characterised by standardised procedures, monotony and restriction. As the prisoners wander in the yard, Andy Dufresne , our protagonist, plays Cazonetta sull'aria from the warden's office. The camera slowly reveals the mass of grey prisoners standing still looking up at the speakers as if they were looking at the heaven's. We then hear Morgan Freeman's wonderful narration and a quote that describes the moment perfectly, "For the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.

The Big Sleep: The Phone Call
The Big Sleep tells the tail of Phillip Marlowe, a detective, hired by a rich family to investigate a disappearance. In this scene, Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) meets Vivian Sternwood Rutledge (Lauren Bacall) at his office; during the meeting Vivian decides to ring police headquarters. Marlowe takes the phone off her proceeds to ask the police why they have called him. This scene produces some of the best banter between Bogart and bacall in the whole film. It's fun to listen to, fun to watch and it gives a vague idea about where their relationship is going.

City Lights: Seeing the tramp for the first time
City Lights is one of the many Chaplin films about the adventures of the lovable tramp. In this story, the tramp has fallen in love with a blind girl and by the end he has just come out of prison after "stealing" money for an operation to give the girl her sight. In this scene, by chance, the tramp and the girl have crossed paths again. She gives him a rose and in doing so feels his hand. We watch as she slowly comes to the realisation that the tramp is the person who helped her and she sees him for the first time. At the same time, the audience sees the tramp through her eyes. The icing on top comes from a smile from Chaplin as the film comes to a close.

Sunset Boulevard: I'm Ready for my Close up
During the course of the film, the madness of one of our protagonists, Norma Desmond is clear. By the end of the film, her madness is not only clear to the audience but to the other characters within the film. The source of this insanity is her desire to be back in the movies and to work with the director, Cecil DeMille. As the film draws to a close, the media, including Cecil DeMile, surrounds her in her house and the cameras close in on her and she responds with the most well known phrase in the film, "Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up". It's iconic and quite unsettling as we watch one great actress cause her own demise.

How Phobias are Treated

2008-05-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

A Phobia is an uncontrollable, irrational, and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. Phobias often result in great panic and anxiety when exposed to the stimulus feared. Different treatments treat different aspedxts of the phobia. Some treatments try to treat the root cause of the phobia, be it faulty thought processes or childhood experiences. Other treatments focus on treating the symptoms of the phobia meaning that the phobia is never really cured.

Medication
One of the most common treatments for most things in society today is medication, and why not, it quickly rids people of their problems. The root of many people's phobias is neuro-chemical imbalances; some medications can improve such imbalances. However, some medications are prescribed simply to minimise the symptoms of phobias such as anxiety, This does not cure the phobia, meaning that in some cases medication is not necessarily a treatment.

Behavioural Therapy
Behavioural therapy is a form of psychotherapy based largely on the theories of operant conditioning (learning through reinforcement) and classical conditioning (learning through association). Behaviourists believe that all responses, including phobias, are learnt. Behavioural therapy entails un-learning phobias and the behaviour associated with them. The treatment consists of one-on-one sessions with a therapist; these sessions involve slow exposure to the stimulus in question, this should slowly reduce and eventually extinguish the phobia. Behavioural Therapy is a highly effective form of phobia treatment, unfortunately, theses therapy session and the number of sessions need to make a sufficient change are very expensive.

Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive approaches focus on the thought process involves when dealing with various situations. Cognitive therapy or cognitive restructuring consists of three steps, assessing the validity of the patients beliefs (i.e how realistic is their fear?), assessing what the patient predicts and investigating their attributions for the causes of events. The therapy would involve changing the patient thoughts about what they fear, this could mean making them aware that a fear of spiders is irrational as they do not live near poisonous spiders and all spiders are less than a 100th of their size.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy stems from cognitive and behavioural approaches. It involves identifying the negative thoughts (cognitive processes) that influence behaviours; in relation to phobias, this means outlining the thoughts that occur when confronted with what causes the fear and what happens as a result of these fears. Cognitive behavioural therapy teaches the patient to see the lack to rationale to their fear and, in turn, change their behaviour. Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most effective forms of phobia treatment and due to the speed of the treatment; it is generally cheaper than most therapy approaches.

Relaxation Techniques
This involves coping with the reactions that arise when exposed to the frightening stimulus. When treating someone with Brontophobia, it would involve teaching them to remain calm through an outbreak of thunder.

Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy involves teaching people to reprogram the subconscious "programs" that may be part of a phobia. When these programs are "de-bugged" the symptoms of phobia often are minimized. As hypnotherapy stems from hypnosis, it is not completely effective. Hypnosis in works on people who believe in it.

Energy Psychology
This involves combining Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy, Relaxation Techniques and Hypnotherapy. Energy psychology allows you to quickly and easily change your behaviours, change you way of thinking, relax and of course, rid yourself of you phobia. Energy Psychology has slowly proven itself to be a highly effective way of treating phobias.

Ethical Guidelines for Psychological Experiments

2008-04-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

As a result of measures brought in to reduce the amount of unethical aspects of psychological experiments most experiments need to be approved by an ethics committee. This, of course, does not always prevent an experiment from being unethical. Milgram and Zimbardo's experiments, which I shall elaborate on, were both approved by ethics councils but they are now known as some of the most unethical experiments to date. There are several commonly occurring ethical issues that come up in many experiments.

Deception
Deception is an issues that often crops up in psychological experiments and, to an extent it is allowed in most experiments. Deception refers to concealing information from the participants. This is one of the ethical problems with Milgram's experiment. In Milgram's study, the participants were led to believe that they were administering (at times deadly) electrical shocks to another person. This, of course, is highly unethical and caused distress to some of the participants (distress/harm is another issue). However, deception is at times necessary as the validity of the experiments may be compromised if the participants have too much information. For example, if the participants in Milgram's study were told that they were carrying out an experiment to see of people were so blindly obedient that they would be willing to kill someone if told to, the results from the experiment would be completely different.

Informed Consent
There is an element of leverage when it comes to informed consent which connects to the issues of deception. Informed consent means that the experimenters should get permission from the participants to take part in exactly what they are investigation. This means that the participants should be told the aim of the experiment. Many psychologists instead settle for just, consent. If the participant knows too much about the experiment they may mould their behaviour to fit in with what they think the experimenter want to find, this is called demand characteristics.

Protection of participants
The experimenter must make sure that at no point during the experiment are the participants harmed physically or mentally. This was an issue in Zimbardo's prison study. "Normal" college students were placed inside a mock prison in Stanford University and assigned the role of either a guard or a prisoner. During the course of the experiment, the prisoners began the exhibit strongly negative emotions, five prisoners had to be released early due to extreme emotional depression, crying, rage and acute anxiety.

Withdrawal from the investigation
The participant must always have the right to cease taking part in the experiment without pressure from the experimenter(s). It is argued that this was the case in Milgram's experiment but it can be said that the participants were forced to continued taking part as they were given prompts (Please continue, The experiment requires that you continue, It is absolutely essential that you continue, You have no other choice, you must go on) that made it hard for them to refuse.

Confidentiality
The identities of those who took part in the experiment must not be exposed unless it is imperative to the experiments and they have given permission for this to be done.

Debriefing
This is particularly necessary if deception has bee used. The participants should be told the true nature of the experiments, that is, what exactly the experiment was about. This is one way in which psychologists can make sure that the participants are in the same condition when the finish the experiment as they were when the began it.

9 Tips for a Great PowerPoint

2008-04-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

There a certain rules that must be followed to make sure that your PowerPoint is effective. You Don't want to bore your audience to death and you want to make sure that the audience learns what they are meant to. Here are a few tips to make sure that your PowerPoint is indeed, great.

1. Title Page
Always use a title page. It makes sure that the audience knows what they are about to see and if necessary, prepare their notes accordingly

2. Outline the objective
Before going into the main part of your presentation, give the audience a brief outline about what your presentation is about. This can also help with note taking and the general presentation

3. Simple Text
Don't got overboard testing out all the fonts and styles PowerPoint has to offer. It's best to use a simple, easy to read font. Research has showed that it is easier for people with dyslexia to understand some fonts more than others; to accommodate for such viewers Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva, and Comic Sans are recommended

4. Animation or not?
Animation is not necessary for most PowerPoint presentations and it can disrupt the seriousness of the presentation. It's best to have a plain slide transition, this keeps the audiences attention on the subject matter. However, animation can be used to keep younger audiences entertained.

5. Don't Write too Much
The objective of a PowerPoint is not to provide a bigger screen for you to read from. Keep the amount of text on the presentation to a minimum then elaborate on the points stated on the presentation. If necessary, use flash cards as a prompt.

6. Don't Just Stand There
There few things more boring than watching someone stand up straight and just talk. Move around, bounce questions off your audience. I strongly recommend getting a remote to change the slides, it reduces the urge to stand by the screen.

7. Mould the Presentation to the Target Audience
Children are not prepared for 20 minutes of words the length of their arm and adults don't want to feel patronised. Make sure that you know who your audience is and what they need.

8. Proofread
We are all fallible, one way in which we can prevent others from seeing this is by proofreading. It can be hard to notice mistakes in your own work so read it aloud.

9. Practise
Rehearse the presentation, if you have a small audience to test the presentation on, use them. Practise, practise, practise and time yourself.

Just follow these steps to make sure that your PowerPoint does what it is meant to and leaves a lasting impressing on your audience (a good one hopefully).

Superb Family Films

2008-04-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

What I consider to be the most important aspect of a family film is that it entertains both the adults and the children. There a few films that have this duality allowing them the make this list of what I believe to be the some of the best family films.

The Lion King
Who better to get a family film from than Disney. The Lion King, the animated, anthropomorphic musical version of Hamlet is arguably the best Disney film. It has a splash of everything you need, action, music and the underlying story about the importance of family. Good times.

The Princess Bride
One of the essential children's films of the 80s. Boys, don't be put off by the title. The Princess Bride has swordplay, mystery, a man in a mask as well aswait for itBattling Rodents of Unusual Size. Could it get any better?

Howl's Moving Castle
Hayao Miyazaki is the most commonly known anime creator largely because he is fantastic. I would have recommended Princess Mononoke, an adventure film that doubles as a film about the effect of man on the world but I don't believe it to be suitable for younger children. If the children are above the age of 12, Princess Mononoke is the way to go. Howl's Moving Castle is one of his more recent works. Howl's Moving Castle tells the tale of Sofi, a hat maker who is cursed by the Witch of the Waste who turns her into a hag. Like most of Miyazaki's work, Howl's Moving Castle, has a moral, one everyone's parent wants to teach them; don't judge a book by it's cover.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
This is arguably better than the re-make. We know the tale, Charlie gets a golden ticket which entitles him to a trip the chocolate factory of Willy Wonka. Fun happenings then ensure. However, if your children are large Johnny Depp fans or they believe the original to be, dare I say it, "old" go with the re-make.

Star Wars
It had to pop up at some point. Some female children may be unwilling to watch it but after a glimpse of Princess Leia's fabulous outfit they'll want to she what she get up to as well as have a Princess Leia doll. Come on, you gotta love Star Wars.

To What Extent is it Possible to Produce Value-Free Research?

2008-02-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

With most research methods, the beliefs of the researcher can interfere with the way in which the research is collected. Value-free research is when the beliefs of the researcher do not have any affect on the way in which data is collected or analysed. Research can become value laden due to a variety of factors that include subjectivity and researcher bias. These, in turn, negatively affect the validity of the investigation meaning that the conclusions of the investigation may not be accurate.

Many would argue that Positivist research is value-free. This is large due to the epistemology of Positivist researchers which consists of scientific evidence, quantitative, empirical and reliable data. Quantitative data is seen as objective suggesting that it is not subjects to much interference from the researcher. This means that quantitative methods can make research value-free. As their epistemology also requires measurable proof, the variables can be measured objectively. This means that the views of the researchers do not affect the validity of the investigation.
Positivists tend to take a researcher on the outside approach; they do not become greatly involved in the lives of their participants. Therefore, the Positivists are less likely to form attachments with their participants that may cause the result of the research to be subject to the researchers' opinion of their participants. This can prevent the views of the participants from interfering with the research.

Like most research, Positivist research may not be completely value-free. A critical aspect of Positivist research is setting a hypothesis, a statement suggesting that one variable causes another. The desire to prove the hypothesis can cause the researcher to carry out invalid research. This can be in the form of asking leading questions or influencing the responses of the participants.
For Positivists to validly measure the variables in an investigation, the concepts used need to be operationalised. The operationalisation of the concepts is subject to the researcher's definition of the concepts. As a result of this, the investigation may not measure the concepts but the researcher's definition of these. This is one way in which the values of the researcher can interfere with the research making it value-laden.
Although quantitative and empirical data is seen as more objective than other data, it is still subject to imposition problems. Positivist researchers may interpret the data the way they wish to. This connects with the problem caused by having a hypothesis; the researcher may interpret the data in such a way that it proves their hypothesis when it may not.

Many may suggest that Interpretivist research is not value free as it is more subjective than Positivist research. Unlike Positivists, Interpretivists do not aim to prove a hypothesis. This means that they do not previously predict the direction of their research meaning that they can carry out their research objectively.

Interpretivist research often collects data that is qualitative. Qualitative data is harder to analyse objectively than quantitative data. The information deemed as important may be subject to the researcher opinion of what this is.
A method used by Interpretivist researchers is that is Verstehen, looking through the eyes of the participants. By doing this, the researchers may not be able to conduct the research objectively causing the research to be value-laden.
Some Interpretivist researchers take a researcher on the inside' approach. This enables the researchers to form a rapport with their participants. This can cause the researcher to become attached to their participants and cause the researchers to portray the participants in a subjective way.

Triangulation is a method that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to check the reliability and validity of research. There are many forms of triangulation one of which is Investigator triangulation. This is when different researchers take part in a piece of research and check for research on the researcher's part. Another form of triangulation is Data triangulation; collecting data at different times from different places and people. Data triangulation can be used to assess the interpretations and conclusions of researchers. The third type of triangulation is Methodological triangulation. This can be method within method'; using a variety of method within the same research method. It can also be between method'; the use of various research methods on one piece of research.
Some argue that triangulation can make research value free. This can be true in the case of Investigator triangulation. This can reduce the bias that researchers may impose on their research as other researcher may point out any bias present. However, Investigator triangulation can also cause the research to be less value-free. The researchers checking the research may impose their own values on the research making it value-laden.
Data triangulation can make research more value-free as researchers can asses the interpretation of other researchers. This can reduce the subjectivity of an investigation making it less biased and more valid.

It is possible that research does not always need to be value-free. Standpoint theory is based on the belief that due to their positions in society, some group can give a more valid insight into the social world. Feminist Standpoint researchers argue that because women are oppressed and excluded from powerful positions they can stand back and observe the patriarchal society as strangers.

Can we sympathise with the men portrayed in "The Color Purple", by Alice Walker

2008-02-19T05:58:00.000-08:00

There has been great controversy about Alice Walker's portrayal of men in the modern classic, the Color Purple. The most obvious portrayal of men in The Color Purple is that of a negative male intent upon oppressing females. The men, especially the first men the reader is introduced, the father (Alphonso) and husband (Mr___) of Celie, our protagonist, are extremely violent, especially towards females. However, the novel does mention Harpo, the son of Mr___ who does not appear to have this male negativity and violence. One can sympathize for him as it appears that a non-violent man cannot survive in the way in which they naturally would want to in this society. Each of the main male characters embody a different form of male in society and each type of male Walker wants to depict to the reader.

One man who immediately invokes no sympathy from the reader is Celie's father. One of the first phrases introducing us to him is: "Just say You gonna do what your mammy wouldn'tWhen that hurt, I cry. He start to choke me, saying You better shut up and git used to it." This is the first male in the novel that the reader is introduced to which immediately forms a negative male image. This is the first male image that Walker want the reader to be aware of. Pa is the cruel, violent, uncaring, sexually driven male that appears to be the normal man in this society. He is the embodiment of all negative aspect of this male dominant society. Pa is callous in his actions and at no point does he show remorse or awareness of his cruelty. He is predatory in his search for women to satisfy his needs showing the lack of importance placed on women, sex and relationships in this society. As a result of Walker's portrayal of Pa the reader does not immediately feel sympathy for any males as it is often perceived that it is the only women that are hard done by. Pa's portray canals make the reader reluctant to feel sympathy for any other males throughout the novel.

One man that the reader at first develops a negative impression of is Mr___. The following phrase is one that illustrates why: "Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr___ say, Cause she my wife. Plus, she stubborn. All women good for - he don't finish".This shows the way in which men regard women. It shows that violence towards women in this society is accepted. As Mr__ appears to be so comfortable beating Celie, he is perceived to be a negative character that the reader cannot sympathize with or like. It is not only that Mr___ feel comfortable beating Celie, it is the fact that he believes that because she is his wife he has the right to beat her or treat her in any way he wants to. An aspect of Mr___ that adds to the negative image that the reader may have of him is the way in which he is referred to as "Mr___". This could be interpreted in different ways. As these are Celie's words this term may be used by Celie to deny Mr___ an identity in her eyes. She may feel that because of the way she sees him, as a cruel man, he doesn't deserve a name. Another way in which this could be interpreted is in relation to slavery, a theme often referred to throughout the novel. During slavery, those enslaved had to refer to their slave master as "Mr___". Celie is treated by the males in this society, namely her father and Mr___, like a slave. This once again shows the males of this novel, particularly black males, in a negative light. It shows that the black males were oppressing the black females as they were oppressed by that white people much less than a century earlier.

Mr__, despite his early behavior does deserve some sympathy from the reader as society changed him. Mr__ was once a man in love but was denied the right to marry the woman he wanted. As a result of this Mr__ became the man previously described mainly because of his father and brother's influence on his decisions. Mr__ is the embodiment of the nature of this society.

Some reader may disagree with the claim that there are no me with whom the reader can sympathize. An example of a man in which the reader can sympathise with is Harpo, Mr___'s husband. We can see why in the following lines:
"You ever hit her? Mr___ ast.
Harpo look down at his hands Naw suh, he say low, embarrass.
Well how you specs to make her mind? Wives is like children. You have to let em know who got the upper hand"
Harpo never previously hit Sofia, his wife, some readers may believe that as Sofia and Harpo's relationship involved love, violence did not prevail. It was not in Harpo's nature to beat his wife, he is not the violent, cruel man often depicted during the novel. Harpo is the embodiment of hope for this society, he gives the reader the notion that there are men that are not like Mr___ and Pa. Harpo is caring, domestic and he loves his wife and children. It is because of the way in which other women are treated in the society that Harpo believes that he should have control over Sofia, that he should make Sofia "mind". Harpo beats Sofia under instruction from his father and Celie and it is then that things start to go wrong for him. Harpo is what Mr__ was, the expectations, violence and male dominance of this society are what ruins Harpo's life and marriage. The reader can sympathize with Harpo as it appears that a man like Harpo cannot survive in this society. Eventually, the influence of the norms of the society will eventually integrate themselves into good, love filled marriages causing their undoing.

To conclude, there is a great deal of negative depictions of men throughout the novel so the reader is reluctant to feel sympathy for them. The reader is introduced to three different men each describing different areas of the male dominant society. Pa, Mr___, and Harpo. It is the negative areas of the male portrayal that make it difficult for readers to sympathize for them as they are depicted as callous, oppressive and violent. However, some readers may believe that it is because of society that some men act as they are.

Top Comic Book to Film Adaptations

2007-11-14T15:10:00.000-08:00

There have been many comic book to film adaptations over the years. We've seen many versions of Batman, The Spiderman Trilogy and films not necessarily known as comic adaptations such as 30 Days of Night. The constant revival of these characters has not only given people a medium in which to see their childhood heroes, but also present these characters to a new younger generation.

Batman
1989 brought us the return of Batman. This incarnation starred Michael Keaton as our hero, Kim Basinger as the love interest, Vicki Vale and Jack Nicholson as the Joker. The 1989 film showed us Batman doing what he does best, fight crime. Tim Burton's version shows us not only the tough side but the troubled side of the Dark Knight.

X-Men
In 2000, Bryan Singer brought one of our favourite comic book teams to life, the X-Men. The start of what is now known as the X-Men trilogy introduced us to the team as people first, before superheroes. Using an all star cast, Singer presented us with the team near the start of an epic journey paving the way many more comic adaptations and X-Men sequels.

Ghost Word
A lesser known adaptation was Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World (2001) starring Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch. Remain true to the text Ghost World conveyed a surreal place, as depicted in the text, through great use of music, direction and lighting.

Spiderman
One cannot speak of comic book adaptations with out mentioning Sam Raimi's Spiderman (2002). Somewhat like X-Men, we are told the story of Spiderman from the beginning. Although many negativities have been said about the sequels, it can be said that Raimi brought one of the best loved characters to life in a film that appealed to both the fans of the comic and the younger generation.

Sin City
An adaptation that has been hailed as the most true to it text is Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's Sin City (2005). Sin City is not only true to the text, it brings Frank Miler's 2D images to life. Even the shots of the film mirror the comic as Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller planned each shot in the movie by using the panels from the original book as storyboard. Rodriguez and Miller's Sin City changed the medium of the graphic novel and brought Sin City to a wider audience.

There have been many adaptations that did not go down well with audiences; Hellboy and Blade Trinity to name a few. Naturally, the desire to transform comics to motion pictures is still present in many. 2008 will bring us the Return of Hellboy and Batman as well as Ironman and The Incredible Hulk. 2009 will bring us Sin City 2 as well as Watchmen. What have we done to deserve such greatness? It can be said, for better or for worse that the adaptations of these classic comic and graphic novels have regenerated many franchises. They have given birth to a new wave of consumerism as well as greater respect for these classic pieces of art.

Can Vaccines Cause Autism?

2007-10-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

There has been a large amount of speculation around this topic in recent years. There was the MMR vaccine as well as the mercury debate. Although many theories have been credited and discredited we still have not definitive answer. Can vaccine cause Autism?

Many have stated that there has been an increase in Autism since 1979 and that the increase in cased of Autism correlates with the increase in vaccines from children. What we must remember is that when there is a strong correlation between two variables this does not mean that that one of the variables causes the other. Association does not mean causation. Since 1979, we have widened the category of what is considered to be Autism. Children with milder symptoms are now classifies as having Autism. This is one logical explanation for the "increase" in Autism in recent years.

In the UK, there was great controversy over the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR). A study by Dr Andrew Wakefield published in the Lancet in 1998 which claimed MMR might trigger autism. Although this was discredited, not research has proved that the MMR vaccines causes Autism and the majority of expert say it is safe many have stopped allowing their children to be given the vaccine and the vaccine itself is still under scrutiny. In some parts of the UK, the use of the vaccine is around 60 percent. The parents of many Autistic children still blame the vaccine.

At the moment in the USA there is a similar debacle involving mercury. A compound containing mercury (thimerosal) is used to preserve vaccines. It has been claimed that the presence of mercury has caused this "increase" in Autism. However, the paper stating this was surveyed by the US National Academies' Institute of Medicine and was unable to justify this. Mercury is a neurotoxin, there is no debating this, but there isn't enough evidence to suggest that the levels of mercury in the childhood vaccines were high enough to cause Autism or any other similar conditions. Despite this, thimerosal is no longer used. There has been no decrease in levels of Autism as a result of this.

Assessing Star Trek Podcasts

2007-08-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

The craze that is podcasting is increasing with great speed. Almost any topic that you search for will give you a resulting podcast. This does not exclude Star Trek. Currently, searching for a Star trek podcast on iTunes gives you 24 results. There are many Star Trek related podcasts all differing.

A podcast I strongly recommend is "Treks in Sci-Fi" by Rick A Dostie. Rick, as you may have guess is a large Star Trek fan specialising mainly in the original series. Each podcast the host, Rick A Dostie gives a detailed episode commentary on an episode of Star Trek (all series included). Treks in Sci-Fi is mainly recommended for Star Trek fans with a reasonable amount of knowledge os episodes of Star Trek. Before listening to each episode I suggest watching the episode of Star Trek mentioned in the episode title.

However, not every episode focuses solely on Star Trek. In some episodes (currently less than a quarter) Rick explores other Sci-Fi areas such as Star Wars and some other sci-fi shows.

Treks in Sci-Fi: Suitable for journeys on public transportation

A more casual Star Trek podcast is "Make it So" from Simply Syndicated. This podcast mainly features the host discussing different areas of Star Trek and pondering things such as: Why is there no swearing in Star Trek? Make it so is quite a comedic podcast as the the host usually two sometimes three exchange entertaining banter. An extensive Star Trek knowledge is not necessary for enjoyment of Make it So; I'm sure that even some non-Star Trek fans would enjoy it.

However, some may not enjoy this podcast as the banter at times contains comments about some characters and series that some may not like. This podcast also contains naughty language.

Make it So: Not suitable for bus rides as the listener may laugh resulting in some strange looks.

Why people are afraid to help others

2007-08-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

It may not necessarily be fear of helping others that explains the lack of helping in the world. I believe there are three main factors that decide whether one will help; whether anyone else is helping or whether helping will result in more positive or negative results.

In 1964, a young woman named Kitty Genovese was brutally murdered outside her home in Queens, New York. A minimum of 38 neighbors heard her screams for help, but not one intervened or called the police. The murder lasted for half an hour, meaning that there was enough time for the police to arrive and for Kitty Genovese's life to be saved. The explanation used for why this occurred is that of the "diffusion of responsibility". There were so many people that could have saved her, so no-one saved her. The multitude assumed that someone else could do it so they did nothing.

Another way in which lack of helping behavior could be explained is using the term "pluralistic ignorance". This is when others use the behavior of other to determine their own behavior. An example of this is the study by by Piliavin et al, a "drunk" falls down on a New York subway, when one person helps, others go to help and when no-one goes to help, the "drunk" remains on the train floor. If others aren't helping, in many cases people will not choose to help.

The final explanation I shall use in relation to helping behavior is that of the "arousal cost-reward model". This is when someone weighs up the negative and positive results of helping. This can be applied to situation mentioned in the previous paragraph. A passenger on a train is in close proximity to someone who has just fallen down. A positive result: they may appear to be a good person if they help and they can bear in mind during the whole day that they've done a good thing. A negative result: this is a drunk person, they may not respond well to thier help and the passenger may be embarrassed in front of their fellow passengers. Whichever side prevails would determine the passengers actions.

However, we mustn't ignore the individual characteristics of different people. Some may like to help because it is the right thing to do.

Erotomania

2007-08-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

Erotomania, also known as de Clerambault's syndrome after the French psychiatrist Gatan Gatian de Clerambault is when a person holds a delusional belief that a person, often a stranger is in love with them.

Most erotomanics have someone of high social status, often celebrities as their subject. Some may focus their attention on someone who has exhibited kindness towards them. Erotomania is more that simple daydreaming. Erotomaniacs construct a detailed fictional relationship with another person. They often believe that that it was the object of their desire initiated their relationship. They fail to comprehend that the object of their desire does not share their feelings. Anything that prevents their object from "expressing" their feelings must be the result of someone's manipulation. Erotomaniacs may interpret natural bodily actions or general seemingly innocuous acts as secret ways of communicating their love.

Although uncommon, Erotomania is more common in women than men. Many would have low self esteem and intimacy problems. The inability to form a strong, lasting relationships to real life results in a desire to fantasize. Often having experienced loss, they feel safer attaching themselves to people who are unattainable, preventing any further loss. Some Erotomaniacs would have come from abuse.

Erotomania is, at times, a primary primary symptom of borderline personality disorder or delusional disorder such as schizophrenia. Erotomania is not easy to spot or diagnose. The psychological causing the behaviour would often be treated with a combination of anti-psychotic drugs and behaviour therapy.

The subject of Erotomania was a key feature in the novel 'Enduring Love'. The character, Jed Parry, believes that another character, Joe Rose is in love with him following an accident that briefly brings them together. This eventually results in fear, obsession and violence.

Celebrities that have been subjects of Erotomania:

Linda Ronstadt

David Letterman

Madonna

Barbara Mandrell

Ronald Reagan

Steven Spielberg

Analysing Niacin and No-Flush Niacin

2007-08-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

Niacin

Niacin assists in the release of energy from carbohydrates and fats, the metabolism of proteins, making certain hormones, and the formation of red blood cells. Niacin is the most effective drug for raising HDL cholesterol (High-density lipoprotein also known as good cholesterol), and it also lowers LDL cholesterol (Low-density lipoprotein also known as bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.

However, Niacin can cause flushing and gastrointestinal discomfort and it is because of this that many choose to use No-Flush Niacin.

No-Flush Niacin

No-Flush Niacin is a form of Niacin named inositol hexanicotinate which is a compound formed from niacin and inositol (a 6:1 molecular ratio and 4:1 weight ratio). No-Flush Niacin does not cause the flushing and gastrointestinal discomfort that can result from Niacin use.

However, what many fail to mention is that No-Flush Niacin has none of the positive effects of Niacin either. They do not raise HDL cholesterol or lower LDL cholesterol or triglycerides

Niacin or No-Flush Niacin?

As No-Flush Niacin does not work, I would not recommend using it. To raise HDL, lower LDL and triglycerides I would suggest using normal Niacin. To prevent the flushing, you can usually prevent it by taking one adult tablet of regular aspirin about 30 minutes before the niacin dose.

An Additional Note

Before using Niacin consult a doctor as flushing is not the only side-effect of Niacin use. Niacin use can cause gout, stomach damage, liver damage, Elevation in uric acid and Niacin may exacerbate diabetes. Niacin may also react badly with other medications so once again I suggest consulting a physician.

Glucosamine: An overview

2007-08-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

What is Glucosamine Sulphate?

Glucosamine is a supplement made of glucose and an amino acid named glutamine. It is produced naturally in the body to help make molecules which help develop bone, tendons, ligaments, nails, hair, skin and cartilage. As a result of this, Glucosamone is used by arthritis sufferers.

Benefits of Glucosamine

-Glucosamine can help to reduce joint inflammation by thickening the synovial fluid (which effectively lubricates the joint), assisting in cushioning and reducing friction in joints. This is useful as over time cartilage gradually degenerates which causes pain or discomfort. Glucosamine is able to, in essence, relive this pain.
-Glucosamine can speed up the healing of damaged joints
-Glucosamine can prevent age-related degenerative joint diseases
-Glucosamine has been proven to be an effective treatment for joint damage

Side Effects

-Glucosamine can cause stomach pains
-Glucosamine can cause other joint pains
-As Glucosamine contains shellfish, it is not recommended for those with shellfish allergies
-Generally Glucosamine seems safe

5-HTP: An overview of it's uses

2007-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

What is 5-HTP?

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid which is used to regulate serotonin levels in brain and central nervous system. Serotonin is a hormone that acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells and that causes blood vessels to narrow. Changes in the serotonin levels in the brain can alter mood, hunger and fatigue. 5-HTP is found in African Griffonia Seeds (griffonia simplicifolia) as well as food such as cheese and turkey.

How is 5-HTP used?

5-HTP is often used as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders because of its ability to regulate ones serotonin levels. Medquest pharmacy states that when 100mg of 5-HTP is taken three times a day for an extended period of time it showed a 50 % improvement in depressed patients.

5-HTP is used to assist weight loss. However, a study by Schwarz, Young, and Brown doesn't claim this. They state that it is decrease in appetite that results in weight loss.

5-HTP is also used as an aid to weight loss. However a study by Schwarz, Young, and Brown does not claim that 5-HTP will actually help with sleeping disorders even though increased meletonin levels are proven to help induce sleep.

It has been stated that 5-HTP in conjunction with a high carbohydrate diet can lower blood pressure. The study by Schwarz, Young, and Brown showed a 6% decrease in blood pressure when 5-HTP is used.

Some have also stated that 5-HTP can also help panic attacks. However, there is little evidence to support this.

Possible side effects:

-An upset stomach
-Headaches
-Constipation
-Muscle Pain
-Nausea

Caution:

-Always consult a doctor before using 5-HTP

Does violence in video games contribute to real life violence?

2007-08-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

Over the years, there have been many cases depicting the way in which many people, mainly children imitate violent media. Many of these case have included violence imitative of video games violence.

In 2004, 14 year old Stefan Pakeerah was beaten and stabbed to death by 17 year old Warren Leblanc. Pakeerah's murder was similar to violence featured in the game; Manhunt. It was no secret that Leblanc was a fan of this particular game, it was satated that this was a game Leblanc was 'obsessed' with. As result of this, the games was taken off the shelves of many stores notably Dixons.
Following the Columbine Massacre, the game, Doom sparked great controversy . It was said that the two perpetrators, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were both keen players of the game in question.

These examples are both examples of 'copycat' violence. This this an example of an effects approach, the belief that all people react in the same way to violent media. Copycat violence was explored by Bandrura et al in 1969. The study consisted of showing groups of children real, film and cartoon violence (an adult 'attacking' a self-righting doll). After being mildly frustrated he children were left in a room with a self righting doll of their size. All children regardless of the way in which they saw that violence expressed violence, mainly imitative violence, towards the doll.

There is another effects approach that also believes that violent media, which can include video games violence can passively result in real life violence. Hilda Himmelweit argues for the concept of Desensitization. Violent games may not directly result in violent behavior (although that can occur in the most disturbed), but it can socialize people into accepting violent behavior. This can make people more accustomed to violent behavior and not attempt to prevent it.

DCA: The cure for cancer?

2007-04-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

What is DCA?

Dichloracetic Acid (DCA) is an analogue of acetic acid is which chlorine atoms replace two of the three hydrogen atoms in the methyl group. As it is so corrosive, the acidity must be diluted meaning that it is usually administered as sodium dichloroacetate.

DCA and Cancer

Cancer cells produce energy by breaking down glucose in the cytoplasm as apposed to the mitochondria which shut down. This was considered to be a symptom of cancer. What DCA does is turn the mitochondria back on. By doing this the mitochondria are than able to destroy abnormal cells. A study at the University of Alberta by Evangelos Michelakis suggested that DCA had the ability to minimise many types of tumour in rats.

Lawrence Burgh is a 48 year old physician diagnosed with cancer in 2006. On the 27th of February 2006, Burgh administered himself a dose of DCA and continued to take it twice a day for a month. He monitored his blood and urine and also visited a oncologist once a week. Scans on the 19th of March showed that Burgh's tumour had shrunk but this is said to be because of the delayed radiotherapy and chemotherapy he had in January.

So why not use it?

-DCA is not an approved drug in the US, UK or anywhere else as it has not been approved for human use. DCA has not formally been proved as a cure for cancer and its use is not recommended by medical professionals.
-On the 21st of March Burgh stopped taking DCA due to symptoms such as numbness in his hands, which Burgh considered to be a sign of neuropathy and a hypoglycaemic attack.
-The chemical is known to increase ones risk of nerve damage
-DCA may cause liver damage and interact with other cancer drugs in unforeseen ways
-If DCA is taken outside of clinical trials, negative side effects may go unrecorded