Melting the Pot

Contemplations: More Blogging

2008-03-18T23:01:00.000Z

I stopped blogging on Original Pirate Photography some time ago because I wasn't really taking pictures anymore, I even deleted the blog. Recently, I opened the it again. This was the first tine I was really happy that I had Melting the Pot. I was able to retrieve the html codes of all the pictures so I didn't have to upload all of them again. Phew! Anyhoo, although I'm not really taking pictures anymore, I still edit and manipulate pictures so it's these that I put on Original Pirate Photography. Then came my ingenious idea for a new blog. I manipulate pictures using Gimp and a lot of the sites and tutorials for creating different effects are for Photoshop. So, I made a new blog on how to create different effects using Gimp. Tutorial 1: Creating that iPod ad effect. You made have noticed that I used this on my previous post (if you didn't, I don't mind, it's not like you've hurt my feelings of anything like that). Anyway, if you wish to learn how to do some snazziness using Gimp, check out Bring in the Gimp.

Original Pirate Photography: I and Cat

2008-03-18T22:48:00.000Z

This is an image I've been searching for a full sized image of for quite some time. I still haven't found it. My intention was to find a copy of it online to put on here but all I could was the place I first saw it, the cover of The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan.

Original Pirate Photography: Gimping Around

2008-03-17T22:47:00.000Z

I've been messing around with some images on Gimp for the past few days. I'm still working on some them but here's what I've done so far.

iSkate

Barking Dogs

Bring in the Gimp: How to...Get the iEFFECT

2008-03-17T06:58:00.000Z

I've seen various methods for creating the iPOD ad effect. I've come uo with my own version, it's quite simple.

This is the image we're working towards

First, select your image. It's best to have a large image with a distinct outline.

Add the Alpha Channel

Then cut the part you want out. I'm a big fan of the scissors as they mould the outline of what you're cutting out for you.

Once you've got all the way around the image, click the middle of the image. You should then see what looks like running ants.

Then press ctrl+I or go to Invert. You should then see running ants going around the outline of the image as well as the border of the whole image.

Press delete, then use the sccisssors to delete any more necessary parts of the image. This should give you something like this.

To add the white parts, use the scissors tools to trace a line around the partt you want to turn white, click on it, then go to fill (BG Colour fill). Do this to each part individually.

To make the rest of the image black, go the colour, then threshold. Move the levels to the lowest point.

Now open a new template around the ssame size as the old image and make it any colour you wish. (Colours, colourify...)

Then paste your previous image onto the new canvas. Use the move tool to position it where you want.Then anchor the picture down.

Then use the text tool to write your caption

And the finished product

Contemplations: Mystery on the Ice

2008-03-16T22:59:00.000Z

I was running late, the rain poured down and steam prevented me from seeing through the windows of the double decker bus. "Alexandra Palace..." a monotonous voice said, it sounded like my destination so off the bus I came. I climbed the stairs to the palace and stood outside the doors. I then began to feel out of place. I was surrounded by people producing tobacco smoke and sporting ID chains. It was still raining so I was reluctant to leave the shelter of the palace's entrance too look around. Not wanting to be late, I finally looked around, as soon as I left the shelter I realised where I was. This was not the Ice Rink, it was the other side of the palace, the conference side.

I eventually found by party, in a queue with many younger than myself. As we queued, the rest or our party arrived. As we landed on the ice, someone proposed a game of tag, it's more than possible that the person was myself. This game was unlike any game of tag I had played, no-one knew who was "it". Solving the mystery was the focal point of our game so it got rather boring. I attempted to turn it into a noir mystery but no-one was up to it.

There were holes in the ice, holes in the ice. Holes that were out to get you humble narrator, and they succeed twice. Yes, twice I had bear the cold ice the rink floor. No, thrice. The third time I was pushed. I have my suspicions about who it was but even I could not be sure. After more skating and crazy antics we traided our blades for our shoes and my friends, Converse All Stars never felt so great.

I attempted to write that in noir style but it clearly didn't work out well. I seem to have lost my ability to write. Oh well. Rae Charles' slendiferious writin ability more than makes up for it.

A little tribute to the real noir, a great scene from the film noir, The Big Sleep. Gotta love Bogart.

What The Blog?

2008-03-16T22:46:00.000Z

All of the title images for my blogs were created by my and I'm quite proud of them. So...I thought I'd show them.

Contemplations

Amateur Critic Reviews

Notable Articles

Contemplations: Ouch my throat

2008-03-14T22:57:00.000Z

Ooooooo, I'm feeling quite ill at the moment. I started feeling dizzyy around halfway through the school day, I drank some water, ate a chocolate bar and a little while later I felt better. I got through my last lesson feeling fine until I got on the bus. Then I began. From the moment I got on the bus uo until now, I have felt ill in some way or another. My dizziness came back, theen went away. My breathing was a bit unsettled, then it went back to normal. Right now, my throat is killing me. It's quite uncomfortable, pain.

Due to my illness, I've only really watched films or movies since 2, this afternoon. First, Silence of the Lambs, something I've owned for a few weeks but haave never watched. It isn't remotely as scary as people make out and it is definately not a horror film (Just like Se7en). It was a jolly film though; that Anthony Hopkins. Then I watched The Goonies, best childrens films ever. Then Scrubs (yeah Boi), then 3rd Rock from the Sun. Good times. The most TV I have watched in a very long time.

Contemplations: Untitled Sapphire M.Brown Project

2008-03-13T22:56:00.000Z

I've got an idea for a film, well, several films but one has advanced more than the others. It's advanced more than most of the ideas I have then I don't follow through meaning that there is a possibility that I may actually make this. I've got the shot planned out and even a few members of the cast. This is so well organised I can't believe this is me writing. I can't say very much here-someone may steal my idea, I just can't have that. So, if there's anyone out there preferably in the London area and willing to work for free, send me a message.

I thought I'd also do a bit of a film recommendation. I'm currently watching Brick, It's rather amazing and that's not just because I love film-noir. Brick is great in almost every way. The performances thus far cannot be faulted Joseph Gordon-Levitt (that's right, Tommy from 3rd Rock From the Sun) is doing a fantastic job, I might not have recognised him had I not imdb'd his name. The story line is superb and the dialogue (oh my gosh the dialogue) is so very snappy, let's just say, it's so film-noir.

Original Pirate Photography: The Turtle Strikes Again

2008-03-07T22:41:00.000Z

A series of images taken by various photgraphers this week. Courtesy of msn.com

AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout

An Olive Ridley turtle lays eggs, unseen, near Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district in Orissa state, India, Thursday, March 6, 2008. Thousands of endangered Olive Ridley turtles have begun mass nesting on the coast of eastern Orissa State, home to the world's largest nesting site for the turtles, officials said according to news reports.

AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
Children, with their bodies painted, take part in a Carnival parade in Santo Domingo, Sunday, March. 2, 2008. Carnival is celebrated later than in other places in Santo Domingo to avoid the concurrence with Ash Wednesday, which in the Christian calendar, is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days before Easter, falling on different dates from year to year.

REUTERS/Patty Chen
Labourers work at an under-construction chemical factory in Huai'an, Jiangsu province, March 2, 2008.

AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi
An Israeli soldier fires tear gas at Palestinian stone throwers during clashes, which erupted after a protest against the Israeli army operation in Gaza, in the West bank town of Hebron, Sunday, March 2, 2008. Israeli aircraft sent missiles slamming into the office of the prime minister of Hamas-ruled Gaza before dawn on Sunday, pressing forward with an offensive that has killed nearly 70 Palestinians in two days of fighting.

REUTERS/Stringer
Paramilitary recruits play a game during a training break at an army base in Shenyang, Liaoning province March 5, 2008. China plans a 17.6 percent rise in its defence spending this year, another double-digit increase for a military modernisation plan heavily scrutinised by Western and regional powers who fear its intent.

AP Photo/The El Paso Times/Mark Lambie
Poppies are in full bloom on the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 as the area experiences spring-like temperatures. Wednesday's high reached 70 degrees, about normal for the area this time of year.

REUTERS/Eliseo Fernandez
Forest fires burn in the background in this general view of Valparaiso city, about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of Santiago March 5, 2008. Local media reported more than 3,600 hectares (8,895 acres) of land have been burned due to multiple forest fires that are burning near Valparaiso city. PA Photos/Rui Vieira
Two dalmations arrive at the Crufts dog show this morning, which this year is taking place at the NEC in Birmingham.

REUTERS/Robert LeSieur
Carl Edwards does a back flip for his fans after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series UAW-Dodge 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 2, 2008.

REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
A female polar bear is seen with its cub in an enclosure at a zoo in Moscow March 5, 2008. The cub was born last November and rarely appears to visitors.

AP Photo/Matt York
Sylvie Vincendet, of Montpellier, France, photographs the sand formations inside Antelope Canyon on the Navajo Reservation Wednesday, March 5, 2008 in Page, Ariz.

Contemplations: Overrated? I'll take Monster's Ball and raise you Titanic

2008-03-01T22:54:00.000Z

Yesterday, I watched a film I haven’t seen in years; Monster’s Ball. I first watched it when I was eleven and I’ve come to realise that I really didn’t get it. The story is much more complex than it was in my head and generally much better than I remembered. The performances are great, Halle Berry really deserved her Oscar. It also serves as a tribute to Health Ledger, someone we lost way too soon. After being told, I knew that it was him in Monster’s Ball but had not recollection of him. Like most of the actors, he too was amazing. For some reason I remembered Billy Bob-Thornton’s character to more sinister than he actually was. All in all, it’s a very good film. Naturally, not everyone agrees.

The people at Premier decided one day to put out their list of the 20 most overrated films of all time. On this are some films that are far from overrated. To overrate something is to value it too highly and for many of the films on the list this is not the case. The reasons given for why Monsters Ball is overrated were:

Everyone loves seeing pretty people in desperate situations, but this
southern drama is so tragic, it's absurd. Pity Leticia Musgrove: First her
husband is executed. Then her son, who in addition to being saddled with being chubby, gets killed in a hit-and-run accident. Fortunately, Musgrove finds refuge in the arms of Hank, whose father is an alcoholic racist and whose son commits suicide.Enough! Maybe with a more plausible leading lady (say, Angela Bassett), this sobfest would have gained some credibility. But a few sweat stains and exposed breasts weren't enough to transform Halle Berry into an actress worthy of an Oscar.

So tragic, it’s absurd? More unbelievable things have happened in film. The tragedy depicted on screen is perfectly plausible and it is ab aspect of the story that partially explains why Hank and Leticia are drawn to each other (ever heard the term united by tragedy?). As I mentioned before, Halle Berry’s performance was Oscar worthy. The statement has the concept of why someone wins an Oscar the wrong way around. The Oscar is not given based on the actor/actress being Oscar worthy, it is based on whether the performance they gave (regardless of any previous performances) was so spectacular that that is could be classed as the best performance in that category of that year. Berry showed charter progression and real emotion. That, Premier, is why she won and deserved to win best actress. People are very quick to say that the sex scene is the biggest or most important part of the film. What I can say is at least it was relevant to the storyline unlike many scenes out there is movie-land. The scene shows transition; it marks a new chapter in the lives of the main protagonist and stylistically, it is impressive. They also need to remember that it Berry, not the film that many comment on, their reasoning reflects this.

Another film featured in the list was Clerks and here’s why:

Kevin Smith's Clerks is a little funny and a lot boring, just like Dante Hicks, the convenience store cashier it follows for one long, pointless day. This trifle's lame acting and anemic plot were celebrated for their street cred because the slackers among us could relate and the critics all wanted to seem cool. So, sure, a cornchip shark in a salsa sea is funny when you're drunk. But a movie shouldn't require beer goggles. And moving the camera occasionally orhiring unknown actors who can actually act doesn't cost any extra, even if you've only got $27 grand.

Clerks is not just known because slackers can relate to it. It is a film that most of the population can relate to. It relates to having to grown up, having to change for the better and the choice of whether to do what you want of what it technically best for you. Overrated, I think not, most of the world has not even heard of Clerks for them to hold it in high regard. The dialogue is funny and original, many need to remember that originality is becoming a rare commodity.

Forrest Gump? I kind of see where you’re coming from but I still disagree. Their reasoning:

Being There, done that—only not quite as well. Gump makes a big, sloppy show of adoring its puerile hero to the degree of adopting his idiotic notion that whatever life gives you—be it the growth of your Apple stock or the death of a spouse from AIDS—is like a chocolate bonbon. The film is just a short-bus joke wrapped in cloying nostalgia and faux empathy. Robin Wright Penn's Jenny is redeemed by marrying the pure Forrest, but the junkie whore still must die, a plot contrivance that reveals the film's misguided moralism.

Forrest Gump is a film that takes the audience through many of the biggest moments on history. The phrase “Life is like a box of chocolates” does not mean that everything is life is good and sweet, regardless of how dreadful it is. It simply means that life is a bit of a wild card, the event cannot be predicted. Jenny death, is relevant as a marker in history. It reflects the ongoing problem of diseases such as AIDs in the world. People are dying and for Jenny not die would be to condescend the audience. What I do think is that Forrest Gump is overrated to an extent (that’s not say that I don’t own it). I believe that Forrest Gump was given a huge amount of recognition at the time (I say at the time because Forrest Gump is not often listed as on of critics’ top films nowadays), it won a large amount of Oscars, some of which, it believe should have went to other films.

I’ve written more than I expected and I’m a bit too tired to write about more.

Premier's 20 Most Overrated Movies of All Time

Contemplations: Just Sayin' Stuff

2008-02-28T22:53:00.000Z

I reminisce about the times when half term was essentially extended play time. Nothing to worry about, wake up when I want, sleep as late as I want and so on. Last week was half term. I don’t feel rested, I barely do any lie-ins, it was like college-but at home. I was given 3 tasks to do; revise for a maths mock and write two essay. I thought logically about this and decided to finish the essays than do the revision. The essays took the whole week! I didn’t get to revise until after I returned to college and I think this will be reflected in my results. The test was today, I think I scraped 50%. Oh well, there’s next time (meaning the real exam).

I was motivated by this incident. I currently have no work to do so I decided to revise for the upcoming real exams. I actually got some revision done, then, I could work no more. I think my attention span is getting shorter and shorter. I played some Wii games then started to write. No, I tell a lie, I finally started writing my review for No Country For Old Men, then I lost inspiration and gave up. I think I’ll got and enjoy what I left of my day. Goodbye horses.

Contemplations: Virgin stole my Oscars

2008-02-25T22:52:00.000Z

We all know that yesterday (well, this morning if you live in the UK) was Oscar time. I, being the movie nerd I am sat up to watch it from one thirty. I set the recorder just in case I fell asleep. Okay, so I'm watching the Oscars Javier has won best supporting actor, the Coens have won best screenplay and I'm simply beaming. As the show goes on I type my summary article for Helium, that's dedication for you. Anyhoo, they're announcing the best cinematography (and Cameron Diaz can't pronounce it), I quickly write down that the expected winner is Roger Deakins and guess what happens. The TV says that the channel is off air. Damn you Virgin Media. I didn't get to see Daniel Day-Lewis or the Coens accept their Oscars. It’s not like Sky movies comes off air at 4 because, on Sky Movies Drama, The Departed was still on. Branson, my opinion of you isn’t getting any better.

Oscars Summary

The carpet's out, the stars made up and the winners pre-decided. That's right, the 80th Academy awards have finally come our way. We were unsure as to whether there would even be a ceremony; there was, and it was splendid. Each year, the ceremony gets bigger and this year was not exception.

Naturally, we open with a few jokes with our host, John Stewart. No topic was ignored he touched on the writer's strike, the election and the increasing darkness of the academy.

Achievement In Costume Design
Presented by Jennifer Garner the award had many impressive designers, the classic French work for Vie En La Rose, the period piece, Atonement. Alexandra Byrne won her first Oscar for Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Previously, Byrne had been nominated for Hamlet.

George Clooney gives us a short intro about notable moments in Oscar history showcasing a plethora of key moments. This is the first of many montages featured throughout the ceremony including a tribute to bad dreams (included solely as a joke of course).

Best Animated Feature
Anne Hathaway and Stave Carrel, naturally entertaining presented the award. It was the film everyone expected to win, Ratatouille by Brad Bird.

Achievement in Make-Up
And the award goes toNorbit, only joking. The Oscar was won for the amazing work put into La Vie En La Rose by Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald. It took great effort to convincing turn Marion Cotillard into Edith Piaf.

Achievement of Visual Effects
The award went to Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood for the Golden Compass.

Achievement in Art Direction
Many impressive works were in the category, the grim and fantastical Sweeny Todd, the classic, Atonement and the magical Golden Compass. The Oscar went to Dante Ferretti (Art Direction); Francesca Lo Schiavo (Set Decoration) for Sweeny Todd

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
The first acting award of the ceremony this was one of the awards everyone thought they knew the winner would be. The predictions were correct and Javier Bardem won his Oscar for his role as the psychopathic and terrifying Anton Chigurh. Included in his speech were a few phrases in Spanish for his mother.

Best Live Action Short Film
Presented by Owen Wilson was one of the lesser awards. The Oscar goes to Le Mozart Des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) a tale about two crooks who take a young mute boy into their care.

Best Animated Short Film
The Oscar went to Peter and the Wolf by Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
This is most certainly one of the more unsure awards. Many had their eye on Cat Blanchette for I'm Not There. As predicted by the BAFTAs Tilda Swinton won the ward for her role in George Clooney's Michael Clayton.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
On of the awards that we weren't sure about the winner, the nominees all seemed to have an equal chance. The Coen Brothers took their first award for No Country For Old Men based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy.

Best Sound Editing
Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg took the award for best sound edition for the swift and cool, The Bourne Ultimatum

Achievement in Sound Mixing
Another sound award for the Bourne Ultimatum taken by Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis.

Best Actress in a Leading Role
This award was bit of a wildcard; the winner became less and less clear as time passed. Although the BAFTAs were right again, surprisingly, the award went to Marion Cotillard for her unrecognisable performance as Edith Piaf in La Vie En La Rose.

Achievement in Film Editing
Yet another award for the Bourne Ultimatum. Christopher Rouse won the award for achievement in film editing.

Best Foreign Language Film
The films within the foreign language category were more certainly not the most well-known foreign language films of the year. The award went to the Austrian film, The Counterfeiters set during World War Two.

Best Original Song
Although nominated for three of the five films with the best song category fail to win any awards for enchanted. The winners were for the song "Falling Slowly" in Once.

Achievement in Cinematography
There was a strong consensus that Roger Deakins would win the best cinematography for either The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford or No Country for Old Men. As they say, the best things come to those who wait and after 7 nominations Roger Deakins finally won the Oscar for No Country For Old Men.

Best Documentary Feature
For the dark documentary centred around an Afghan taxi driver beaten to death in U.S. military the award went to Alex Gibney and Eva Orner for Taxi to the Dark Side.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Guess. The award everyone was 99.99% sure about the winner. Shock, horror (!) Daniel Day Lewis wins his second Oscar for is powerful role as Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
As time went on, people gained more and more faith in Juno, an arguably small film. Like Sidney Lumet said about actors there are also no small films and the award deserving went to Diablo Cody, writer of Juno.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original Score)
The second academy award nomination for Dario Marianelli who won it for the grand score for Atonement.

Achievement in directing
The first directing team to win this coveted Oscar since 1961; the crowd goes wild as Joel and Ethan Coen received the award for No Country for Old Men.

Best motion picture of the year
The big one. A reward received by such films as In the Heat of the Night and The Godfather, the ultimate reward for any filmmaker. This was the fourth award of the evening for No Country For Old Men.

It was clearly No Country for Old Men's Night it received some of the most prestigious awards in the film industry. Not so lucky films were Atonement nominated for seven award and There Will Be Blood, nominated for eight awards. Each received one award.

Contemplations: Play or Fold

2008-02-23T22:50:00.000Z

Just sitting in my secondary office (the living room), watching the screen after winning a game solitaire, St Elmo's Fire plays in the background and pondering the meaning of life. Gotcha! Like I’d ponder such a thing, why waste time on a question that has no definitive answer. Everyone’s life has a different meaning and we have the choice to determine what that is. We blame life for dealing us a crappy set of cards when the chips are down, but when something great happens, we love to say how great our achievements were, we’re black jack kings, queens of poker, we weren’t just in the right place at the right time.

We nearly always continue to play. Hit me. Hit me. Hit me. Sure, the cards are chosen at random, but we have to choice to fold. And when we lose, then what?

Woah, that almost sounded wise

Contemplations: Counting to Sleep

2008-02-22T15:07:00.001Z

You may have noticed that I insalled these little counter things on my blogs to see if people are actually reading them and by golly they are! I'm in shock, I really thought I was talking to myself and occasioally, Rae Charles. I compared the amount of readers I get from all of my blogs and it appears that people read Amateur Critic Reviews the most, even nore than this. They'd rather read critcal analysis of works of art than me simply talking drivel? What is the world coming to. The website I went on to is very good, there's even a nifty option to see where my readers are from, this is the one from Amateur Critic Reviews simply because it's the most impressive:

"I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!"

Contemplations: MySpace, A Tale of Obsession

2008-02-21T15:00:00.000Z

This was travelling around Digg

I don't think I need to say anything

Amateur Critic Reviews: Coming Soon...

2008-02-20T17:42:00.000Z

No Country For Old Men

Due to greatness that was No Country For Old Men, it will take me a long time to write the review, I just thought I'd tell my lovely readers in advance. There is so much to comment on. Watch this space.

Contemplations: Oh my Coen Brothers

2008-02-19T17:40:00.000Z

Well I did it. I finally saw No Country For Old Men. It is a master piece and I would go so far as to say this it was effing awesome. Oh my gosh the lighting. Oh my gosh the sound. Oh my gosh the acting. Oh my gosh, that’s how it ended. Wow. I’m not too sure how to convey how great the film was in words. It is my intention to review it at some point, naturally, during the course of the film my little review points made into my head. I got home and put my white board to use. See below:

Roger Deakins is the king of cinematography. I just need to see Juno, There Will be Blood and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly to gauge what film, in my opinion, was the best picture of 2008. I know what you’re thinking-didn’t she write her Oscar predictions including best picture already? Damn right I did, but that is very easy to do without watching the films. I must say that watching No Country For Old Men has made it even harder to predict a winner. I don’t think I’ve given No Country… enough time so I will get back to it tomorrow. The sister want to use the computer.

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

2008-02-19T17:35:00.000Z

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.

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

2008-02-19T17:34:00.000Z

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.

Contemplations: Sitting on the chair in my room...wastin' time

2008-02-18T17:39:00.000Z

Okay, it the first day of half term, I intended to do so much today. Star off with some maths, do a bit of a sociology essay, then some psychology revision. I did some maths then sat in this chair to star typing the essay. I haven't even opened Microsoft Word. I'm meant to be going to the cinema at five to finally see No Country for Old Men. So, the day is practically gone. Shame on me.

I haven't really done nothing. I've written one blog (see below) and completelr re-vamped one of the other blogs (Amateur Critic Reviews ch-ch-ch-check it out). That took considerably longer than the re-vamping of this one.

Time to get ready. Goodbye Horses.

Contemplations: The Most Overrated Films of all Time

2008-02-18T14:17:00.000Z

Every year people throw quotes around like “the best film of all time”. Are they really? So many films get an overwhelming amount of credit for being great when they are in actuality, average. These are the films overrated films. I shall name a few of these such films, please don’t hunt me down.

Titanic

James Cameron’s deviation from the sci-fi genre is a film that many take great pleasure in. Its greatest strength is in something that James Cameron is great with, the aesthetic. The film is visually stunning; at no point does the audience not believe that they are on the Titanic. Unfortunately this strength does not outweigh the crushing disappointment that is the other aspects of the film. The focal point of the film is the love story between Jack and Rose, a story we have seen many times before; boy meets girl, they fall in love, they can’t be together but they try to be. So very unoriginal. This was the point in Leonardo DiCaprio’s career where he was often in films to make young girls swoon. His performance was acceptable but not tremendous. Kate Winslet is an amazing actress but Titanic is most certainly not her best performance. A combination of satisfactory acting, an okay storyline and an unoriginal love story line make Titanic a greatly overrated film.

High School Musical

What happened to this world? Disney’s live action musical took the world by storm prompting sequels and tours. My main question is, why? High School Musical is clearly a musical for children yet many attempt to dress it up as something more profound. The storyline is almost non-existent. From the beginning of the film to the end there is hardly any character progression and at no point is the emotional tone at a low. Like any musical, High School Musical is reliant on the songs; this is one of the biggest flaws. The songs are mediocre. The dance sequences are impressive and this is one of High School Musical’s saving graces, the choreography is amazing but does it cancel out the lack of storyline and tremendous amount of cheese, I think not.

Crash

Number 156 in imdb’s top 250, winner of the academy award for best picture, Crash. A film that at the time of it’s release and still is, depicted as an enigmatic story about an untouched subject. The story is not enigmatic at all, to be fair, it’s quite simple and to say it is complicated or enigmatic is to insult the audience. The untouched subject? Racism. Shocking isn’t it. A film about racism; never heard that one before. American History X, Do the Right Thing-aren’t they films about racism? So why did everyone make such a fuss about Crash, a film that pales in comparison to the named examples. Crash’s clear lack of originality and shocking amount of credence makes Crash one of the most overrated films of all time and the most overrated film of 2004.

Amateur Critic Reviews: Everyone and their mums is packin' round here!

2008-02-18T14:16:00.001Z

Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg); he’s smart, great at his job and in the last twelve months, he has received nine special commendations and achieved highest arrest record for any officer in the Met so naturally, his superiors want to get rid of him. The price he pays for making everyone look bad? Transferred to the Sanford, one of the sleepiest towns in Britain, not the most exciting place for such a capable officer (or is it). A brief while after he arrives a series of “accidents” begin to occur and Angel puts this down to a word no-one in Sanford want to hear: murder.

Hot Fuzz is the ultimate comedy buddy-cop film that clearly reflects the team behind Sean of the Dead’s love of film. Hot Fuzz could be seen as an homage and a parody of some of the biggest (mainly American) action cop films of the last few decades. Those familiar with Sean of the Dead will remember a similar parallel in relation to zombie films. Hot Fuzz, seems to have more recognisable film references to the point where scenes from films are shown before being spoofed. Hot Fuzz is clearly a film made by film-lovers.

Providing a frame of reference for many of the film references is PC Danny Butter man (Nick Frost), the classic bumbling side-kick. Danny is a lover of action cop films and appears to have the biggest DVD collection in the world. Upon watching Hot Fuzz it is apparent that Pegg and Frost know each other. The chemistry between their characters is amazing. Despite being opposites they find likeable characteristics in each other. Simon Pegg’s performance is greatly impressive. His character, Nicholas Angel, is not like the character we had previously seen in Shaun of the Dead. The seriousness of his character makes any viewer forget that they are watching Simon Pegg-the funny guy. Nick Frost is one those actors that pulls off humour like they made up their lines as they went along. Frost is hilarious and even manages to pull off some serious moment later in the film.

Hot Fuzz features some the best actors and writers in British comedy at the moment. These include Bill Nighy (Love Actually, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ), Bill Bailey (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), Adam Buxton (The IT Crowd), Olivia Colman (Peep Show) and as the shifty Simon Skinner is none other than 007 Timothy Dalton. The cast also features Paddy Considine in role very dissimilar to the serious roles he played in Dead Man’s Shoes and In America. The casting director must be commended as the cast and performances are flawless.

It is evident that Hot Fuzz essentially what would happen if the big Hollywood action films were made in Britain’s villages. With Hot Fuzz being a clearly British film it is possible that it may not be humorous to some viewers across the pond. British comedy, to some, is quite subjective.

As mentioned previously Hot Fuzz features some the best people in British comedy and it shows. It is the opinion of this reviewer that Hot Fuzz surpasses Shaun of the Dead in Every way (excluding gore). If Hot Fuzz marks the evolution of this team I cannot wait to see what their next film has to offer.

Contemplations: Bring in the Gimp

2008-02-17T17:32:00.002Z

Now, back to my usual drivel. I changed my browser from Internet Explorer (crap) to Opera. I was going to go for Firefox but I prefer Opera more. And….I have no more drivel. Ooo, noticed the new layout? It took me 15 minutes to design the title image but an additional 20 minutes to get it to fit inside the frame thing. I ended up using Gimp (not the guy from Pulp Fiction) to simply shrink the image. Duh (!) Gimp is what I like to call free Photoshop. It’s got loads of the features of Photoshop and you can even download new brushes. I’ve only really succeeded in using it for reasonably simply tasks but I’ll continue to play with it and become a master, yeah boi.

Contemplations: Podcasts was it?

2008-02-17T17:30:00.001Z

Right...podcasts. Ahhh yes. On the last most I made a little promise to talk about podcasts in this post. Good on me.I think i'll start off by defining what a podcast is. A podcast, according to pcmag.com

can be defined as:

(iPOD broadCAST) An audio broadcast that has been converted to an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player or computer. The "pod" in podcast was coined from "iPod," the predominant portable, digital music player, and although podcasts are mostly verbal, they may contain music.

Many make the mistake of thinking that podcasts were invented by Apple for iPods and iTunes; this is not the case. Podcast were availiable online before iTunes put the little Podcast tab on its left hand menu. Apple was very smart and decided to name these little audio broadcast after the iPod and adopt Podcasts as their own. Pure Genius.

I listen to quite a few podcasts, I think I’ve mentioned some before. The main podcast that I listen to is Movies You Should See from the interdependent podcast network, Simply Syndicated. I stumbled upon MYSS back in my hardcore Star Trek days. I was on the Star Trek message boards every day, my whole life was Star Trek. (It sounds like I’m in an AA meeting well, STA Meeting). Anyhoo, the people of Simply Syndicated left a post on the Star Trek message boards about their Star Trek podcast, Make It So. Being the Trekkie I was, I went onto their website and listened to the two Make it So podcasts they had done so far, one of which was about swearing in Star Trek. It was hilarious, much better than Treks in Sci-Fi but I’ll get onto that later. As Make it So was so great, I listened to Movies You Should See. They had podcasts on quite a few movies I’d seen. Movies You Should See was even better than Make it So shock/horror. Due to the humour, I say humour but I mean comedy that may leave you aching from laughing so hard I wouldn’t suggest listening to Movies You Should See or Make it So in public.

Another podcast I listen to from the Simply Syndicated network is The Definitive Word. This features Will Tristram, an occasional guest on many Simply Syndicated shows, as he and his guests discuss the arts, society, popular culture and life in the 21st Century. There many intellectual debates such as “Top Ten Cartoon Ladies”. The Definitive Word is none other than perfection in audio form. Despite the example that I gave, it is possible to learn quite a bit (largely from the Hong Kong law episode) as well as have a good old laugh.

Or do you think that’s just bollocks, well, do you? Or do you think that’s just bollocks is yet another podcast from the Simply Syndicated team. It stars “Ranting” Richard Smith the tech wizz of the group as he, as you may have guessed, rants about any topic he wishes. Some, I must say, are close to my heart such as the nonsense that is Virgin Media (stealing my Sky One). If you want to have a rant, you can even send in an audio file of yourself ranting and be heard on the air. Great.

In my list of podcasts I have three more from the Simply Syndicated network but I don’t listen to two of them very much. The final Simply Syndicated podcast that I regularly listen to is Left Field Cinema. It’s highly dissimilar from Movies You Should See. Left Field Cinema is hosted by Mike Dawson, who reviews and analyses films whilst analysing the film-makers as well.

A podcast that I used to listen to but can’t really be bothered to listen to anymore is Treks in Sci-Fi. Each podcast the host, Rick A Dostie gives a detailed episode commentary on an episode of Star Trek. It’s not the most exiting podcast, that the main reason why I seem to have left it for the other podcasts.

The ultimate podcast for the Geeks out there is GeekNights with Rym and Scott. Geeknights is a late night show for geeks, featuring anime, comics, gaming, sci/tech, gadgetry, and general geekery New episodes every weeknight Monday through Thursday. (I kind of stole the description from iTunes). I’m not really into anime or know anything about the kind of board games to Rym and Scott play so I don’t subscribe to the main feed. Each day on GeekNight has a different theme, Monday is Science and Technology, Tuesday Gaming, Wednesday is Anime Manga Comics and Thursday is a bit random, they may talk about anything, and they do. As each day has a different theme they put each day in a separate feed so it’s possible to only download the things that you’re interested in. GeekNights is very entertaining, It’s most certainly worth a listen.

Any fans of Kevin Smith out there? If you’re really a fan you probably know that Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier have a podcast named Smodcast. If you don’t know who I’m talking about, Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier are the writer/director and producer of such films as Clerks, Mattrats and Dogma. If you like their humour, you’ll like Smodcast. It’s basically the two (occasionally with some guests) speaking about any topic with jokes throughout. Good Times.

Contemplations: Procrastination and Daniel Day-Lewis

2008-02-14T17:29:00.006Z

I'm sure that many may have a noble and respectable reason why they blog. I have no such reason. I have had no work to do for the past few days BUT, as soon as I received a piece of work (which must say I've put off for some time) I've started to blog again. My blogging is a means of procrastination, good times. It would be a bit more impressive if I said things a bit wiser than I actually do. I'll say something really interesting at some point. The next blog will be on Podcasts-I promise. (damn, now it's down in electronic ink). Seriously, a really good blog next time. Anyhoo, befor the end of the day I need to somehow write a psychology essay, complete around one months worth of work and answer some trigonometry questions.

As you may have guessed from the blog title, this blog has something to do with Daniel Day-Lewis. Why? Because he's cooler than liquid nitrogen, that's why. Mr Day Lewis just won the BAFTA for best actor which he most certainly deserved. Daniel Day-Lewis doesn't get nearly enough credit as he deserves despite the fact (yes fact) that Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the best actors in Britain. So that's me, speaking of the greatness that is Daniel Day-Lewis. Could I say Daniel Day-Lewis any more?

Check out the new blog from Rae aka Rae Charles http://vodkachurchsatan.blogspot.com. She's a psycho, really, meaning that her blogs a jolly good read.

Snoogins

Contemplations: Oscar? Who's Oscar?

2008-02-14T17:29:00.005Z

Oscar predictions (I wrote this ages ago)

The Oscars are on their way so and despite worries there they may be no ceremony the prediction have begun. Like any year, a handful of films have dominated the nominations. No Country for Old Men, the Cohen Brothers' new masterpiece has been nominated for a staggering 8 awards along with Paul Thomas Anderson's violent tale, There Will Be Blood. Representing British cinema, Atonement is out win seven awards including best picture. Will Atonement be as successful as The Queen, we'll have to wait and see.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Johnny Depp has always been one of the critics favourites and has now been nominated for his third Oscar. However, this year, the Oscar will probably go the Daniel Day-Lewis the recipient of one Oscar already. His performance as the ruthless business man, Daniel Plainview, in There Will Be Blood.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Javier Barden lost out on his first Oscar to Russell Crowe in 2000, but that will not be the case this year. It's no secret that his performance in No Country for Old men has impressed most it is most certainly his year.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
We always say that actors and actresses in comedy film fo not get the credit they deserve and many said that Ellen Page should be nominated for an Oscar for Juno but few thought it would actually happen. Unfortunately for Miss Page, the winner of the award look like it's going to be Cate Blanchett for her reprise of her role of Queen Elizabeth in Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Young Saoirse Ronan conveyed a believable and moving performance as Briony Tallis in Atonement. The combination of her young age and acting ability that is beyond her years that should win her this Oscar.

Best animated feature film of the year

Ratatouille is a film that has impressed the critics. There is little doubt that this well crafted story of a rat in a kitchen will win the Oscar.

Achievement in art direction

Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer appear to be Joe Wrights go-to team for Art Direction. Everyone loves the aesthetics of a period drama and this is why the Oscar for Achievement in Art Direction shall go to Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer.

Achievement in directing

This is the award that seems to have the Coens' names all over it. They have really struck back with No Country for Old Men and it look like it will win one of the Oscars that Fargo did not.

Best documentary feature

Michael Moore may be the one of the first documentary makers that spring to mind but it is unlikely that he will get his hands in this Oscar. Charles Ferguson's depiction of the war in Iraq appears to be the frontrunner for Best Documentary Feature.

Best foreign language film of the year

Representing Austria, The Counterfeiters (Flscher, Die) illustrates the huge counterfeiting operation set up by the Nazi's during the war. It is more than likely that The Counterfeiters Will clench this Oscar.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original Score)

Dario Marianelli's score for a Atonement is one of those scores that is perfect for the film in very way. As a freestanding piece and score alone Marianelli's composition is striking.

Best motion picture of the year

Ooo, the big one. No Country for Old Men and There Will be Blood are clearly the frontrunners. I honestly has no idea who will take this one.

Indeed

Amateur Critic Reviews: The Other Film About Truman Capote

2008-01-31T17:38:00.000Z

As someone who greatly enjoyed Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s portrayal of Truman Capote in 2005 I must say I had reservations about seeing Infamous. Naturally I feared it could be a direct plagiarism reminiscent of Gus Van Sant’s Psycho-the same film with a different cast. Luckily, Infamous, although telling the same story as Capote as Capote (2006) took a completely different approach.

Infamous is nowhere near as dark a film as Capote. Instead of opening with a scene depict the murders of the Clutters, Infamous opens with a dinner party reflecting Truman’s socialite status. This is an aspect of Truman that the film draws heavily on often as a comedic device.

Infamous depicts the life of Truman Capote as he investigates the events of the murder of a family in Holcomb, Kansas; the research that would become his most heralded work-In Cold Blood. The focal point of Truman’s work is the murderers mainly Perry Smith (Daniel Craig).

Our main protagonist is not necessarily a character that we like, Truman is a bitchy unpleasant character who you can’t help but spend most of the film looking foe redeeming characters in. His disregard for the emotions of others including his so-called friends is callous. Truman is the embodiment of the 1950s socialite-uncaring, flamboyant, and bitchy. You can’t help but breath a sigh of relief when finally, one hour into the film we finally feel for Truman and remember that he is human.

Toby Jones’ portray of Truman Capote is breathtaking. He powerfully illustrates the variety of dimensions of his character. He is colourful and ostentatious yet still emotive. He completely takes on the role at hand and runs with it. Portraying the plain and natural Nelle Harper lee, Truman’s best friend, is Sandra Bullock. The role did not require an overly emotive performance and this is not what Sandra Bullock does. What she does do is subtlety convey the complex emotions her character holds, emotions that the audience sees but her superficial best friend does not. One word: amazing. Daniel Craig plays Perry Smith, a enigma we can never truly solve. He convincingly illustrates the rage his character often feels. However, it is the lesser emotions that are less believable.

One of the aspect of the film that stands out to anyone walking past a poster for it is the impressive cast; Sigourney Weaver, Isabella Rossellini, Gwyneth Paltrow, names we’d all recognise. However, if you watch the film for some of the these names (Isabella Rossellini and Gwyneth Paltrow in particular) you would be rather disappointed. Rossellini and Paltrow have one scene each so it is really misleading to put their names on the film advertising.

The acting (mainly), cinematography and direction of the film are highly impressive but the film falters greatly in one area, realism. Most aspects of the film are in the opinion of this reviewer, too dramatised and exaggerated to be consider believable. This is of course a huge area to fail in when attempting to tell a true story. Other than this, Infamous is largely notable and I would recommend it even to the Capote fans.

Amateur Critic Reviews: Coming Soon...

2008-01-30T17:36:00.000Z

Infamous

The other film about Truman Capote

Contemplations: I Give The Godfather 1 out of 10

2008-01-30T17:27:00.001Z

Being the movie nerd that I am, I spend a huge amount of time on imdb.com. Naturally I turn my attention to the message boards. Unfortunately, this is often a rather unpleasant experience. There is always someone who goes into a message board starts a thread with an ingenious name such as "This film is so rubbish" and then never returns. They give no justification for their comments, why? Because they probably have none. They're too simple minded to realise that they are watching a cinematic masterpiece (yes you imperfectpete from the Pan's Labyrinth Boards) .

A great thing you can do with imdb is look at the distribution of the ratings given by the users. 15533 people have rated The Godfather 1 out of 10. 1 out of 10? The Godfather? I am most certainly not the hugest fan of The Godfather but I can appreciate that it is a masterpiece. Few films are a 1 out of 10 except maybe Trees 2: The Root of All Evil (I'll get back to that).

I have the great honour of being a female under the age of of 18. This demographic seems to give out the most ridiculous ratings conceivable. The average rating of Rashômon for females under 18 is 2.7. Rashômon is a masterpiece and it is shocking that they cannot realise this. Many see subtitles and think "Oh no, it's foreign". Fools I tells ya!

Now, for your reading pleasure the plot synopsis for Trees 2: The Root of All Evil:
As Christmas approaches, Ranger Cody prepares to do battle with an army of carnivorous trees that may be from a special branch of the ominous National Forest Service.

Good Times

Contemplations: Little Gold Men

2008-01-22T20:55:00.000Z

The Golden Globes have just gone by so naturally the peak of the awards season is coming our way. That’s right, the army of little gold men symbolising the most prestigious film awards, the Oscars. We are still unaware as to whether the ceremony will take place. The writers strike resulted in a press conference but could this be the same for the Oscars, they are by far more glamorous than the Golden Globes. So have suggest that cancelling the ceremony could cause the writers to lose the sympathy of their supporters. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

A we may have guessed, No Country for Old Men has been nominated for an immense number of awards. The Coen Brother’s new masterpiece has been nominated for an impressive 8 awards; Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Javier Barden), Achievement in Cinematography (Roger Deakins), Achievement in Directing (Joel and Ethan Coen), Achievement in Film Editing (Joel and Ethan Coen), Best Motion Picture of the Year, Achievement in Sound Editing (Craig Berkey), Achievement in Sound Mixing and Adapted Screenplay.

Representing great British Cinema, Atonement has been nominated for a still impressive seven awards including Best Picture. Unfortunate for some, Keira Knightley has not been nominated for best actress.

The rest of the nominations are as follows.

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Julie Christie in "Away from Her" (Lionsgate)
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
Laura Linney in "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Ellen Page in "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" (The Weinstein Company)
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster" (Universal)
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
Persepolis (Sony Pictures Classics): Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Ratatouille (Walt Disney): Brad Bird
Surf's Up (Sony Pictures Releasing): Ash Brannon and Chris Buck

Achievement in art direction
American Gangster (Universal): Art Direction: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
Atonement (Focus Features): Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
The Golden Compass (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Art Direction: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount): Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Art Direction: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

Achievement in cinematography
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Warner Bros.): Roger Deakins
Atonement (Focus Features): Seamus McGarvey
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Janusz Kaminski
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Roger Deakins
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Robert Elswit

Achievement in costume design
Across the Universe (Sony Pictures Releasing) Albert Wolsky
Atonement (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
La Vie en Rose (Picturehouse) Marit Allen
Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) Colleen Atwood

Achievement in directing
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Julian Schnabel
Juno (Fox Searchlight), Jason Reitman
Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.), Tony Gilroy
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Paul Thomas Anderson

Best documentary feature
No End in Sight (Magnolia Pictures) A Representational Pictures Production: Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience (The Documentary Group) A Documentary Group Production: Richard E. Robbins
Sicko (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company) A Dog Eat Dog Films Production: Michael Moore and Meghan O'Hara
Taxi to the Dark Side (THINKFilm) An X-Ray Production: Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
War/Dance (THINKFilm) A Shine Global and Fine Films Production: Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine

Best documentary short subject
Freeheld A Lieutenant Films Production: Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
La Corona (The Crown) A Runaway Films and Vega Films Production: Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
Salim Baba A Ropa Vieja Films and Paradox Smoke Production: Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello
Sari's Mother (Cinema Guild) A Daylight Factory Production: James Longley

Achievement in film editing
The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal): Christopher Rouse
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax/Pathé Renn): Juliette Welfling
Into the Wild (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment): Jay Cassidy
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Roderick Jaynes
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Dylan Tichenor

Best foreign language film of the year
Beaufort Israel
The Counterfeiters Austria
Katyn Poland
Mongol Kazakhstan
12 Russia

Achievement in makeup
La Vie en Rose (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
Norbit (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount): Rick Baker and Kazuhiro Tsuji
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Walt Disney): Ve Neill and Martin Samuel

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
Atonement (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
The Kite Runner (DreamWorks, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant Productions, Distributed by Paramount Classics): Alberto Iglesias
Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.) James Newton Howard
Ratatouille (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino
3:10 to Yuma (Lionsgate) Marco Beltrami

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
Falling Slowly from Once (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and: Marketa Irglova
Happy Working Song from Enchanted (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
Raise It Up from August Rush (Warner Bros.): Nominees to be determined
So Close from Enchanted (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
That's How You Know from Enchanted (Walt Disney): Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz

Best motion picture of the year
Atonement (Focus Features) A Working Title Production: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Paul Webster, Producers
Juno (Fox Searchlight) A Dancing Elk Pictures, LLC Production: Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers
Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.) A Clayton Productions, LLC Production: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox and Kerry Orent, Producers
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production: Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production: JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

Best animated short film
I Met the Walrus A Kids & Explosions Production: Josh Raskin
Madame Tutli-Putli (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski "Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)" (Premium Films) A BUF Compagnie Production Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse
My Love (Moya Lyubov) (Channel One Russia) A Dago-Film Studio, Channel One Russia and Dentsu Tec Production Alexander Petrov
Peter & the Wolf (BreakThru Films) A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman

Best live action short film
At Night A Zentropa Entertainments 10 Production: Christian E. Christiansen and Louise Vesth
Il Supplente (The Substitute) (Sky Cinema Italia) A Frame by Frame Italia Production: Andrea Jublin
Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) (Premium Films) A Karé Production: Philippe Pollet-Villard
Tanghi Argentini (Premium Films) An Another Dimension of an Idea Production: Guido Thys and Anja Daelemans
The Tonto Woman A Knucklehead, Little Mo and Rose Hackney Barber Production: Daniel Barber and Matthew Brown

Achievement in sound editing
The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal): Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay
Ratatouille (Walt Disney): Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax): Matthew Wood
Transformers (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins

Achievement in sound mixing
The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal) Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage): Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland
Ratatouille (Walt Disney): Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane
3:10 to Yuma (Lionsgate): Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe
Transformers (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin

Achievement in visual effects
The Golden Compass (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners): Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Walt Disney): John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier
Transformers (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro): Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier

Adapted screenplay
Atonement (Focus Features), Screenplay by Christopher Hampton
Away from Her (Lionsgate), Written by Sarah Polley
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax/Pathé Renn), Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
No Country for Old Men (Miramax and Paramount Vantage), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage and Miramax), Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

Original screenplay
Juno (Fox Searchlight), Written by Diablo Cody
Lars and the Real Girl (MGM), Written by Nancy Oliver
Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.), Written by Tony Gilroy
Ratatouille (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Brad Bird; Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
The Savages (Fox Searchlight), Written by Tamara Jenkins

Contemplations: Turn That Frown Upsidedown

2008-01-21T20:57:00.000Z

According to GMTV, it is the most depressing day of the year. It has been termed 'Blue Monday' by psychologists. Why is it the most depressing day of the year you ask? It was pretty dark when you woke up wasn't it? Remember the money you spent on Christmas? Remember that old habit you planned to give up on January 1st? Apparently, it is due to the financial problems caused by Christmas, breaking New Year's Resolutions, going back to work and awful weather that cause us to spend January 21st frowning.

Naturally Internet user, you don't need to face this alone. One very nice person concocted a website to help us all get through the day (of course they did). They outline 10 things that you can do to beat Blue Monday.

Try something new
Be creative, or learn something new to get your brain active and start thinking of new things instead of dwelling on the old.

Get physical
By changing your physical state, from a simple shoulder-shake at your desk to a full work-out at the gym, you can change the way you feel.

Contact a friend or relative
Get in touch with someone you have not heard from in a while; thinking of someone else takes your mind off you.

Take a break
Go somewhere different, whether it’s a coffee bar you have never been into, or a faraway luxury holiday; by changing your physical location, you change your perspective on the world.

Be nice to a stranger
Do a random act of kindness; doing good for others is the best form of self-satisfaction.

Help the planet
Be a good ancestor in some way; the planet will be here long after you are gone.

Pamper yourself
From a small indulgence to a luxury you have been promising yourself.

Plan something newWhether it’s planning a holiday for later in the year or deciding what to do at the weekend, looking forward to something new or different can be uplifting and refreshing.

Go to the beach
By turning a bit of your home or office into a beach you can pretend your somewhere relaxing and help us create world’s biggest beach party!

Share you thoughts
A problem shared is a problem halved. Visit the Blue Monday blog to see what ideas people have come up with for dealing with life’s little problems.

They all seem to be pretty reasonable suggestions, unfortunately I can't really try then out as most of my day has gone. That last one, tsk tsk tsk, shameless self promotion. So tacky. Check out my other blogs which are visible on the right hand column.

Contemplations: Films I Await: Things we lost in the Fire

2008-01-20T00:04:00.000Z

This is meant to be a general blog but I seem to find myself going back to films. They rule my life...with school.

Things we Lost in the Fire is Susan Bier's American debut. She impressed critics with her Dutch hits Open Hearts, Brothers and After the Wedding. Things We Lost in the Fire stars Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro and David Duchovny in a story about loss, reflection, addiction and hope. It was released in the US in October and since then it has received positive reviews. Unfortunately, it will not be released in the UK until February 1st.

Unlike other films I have awaited such as No Country for Old Men, my desire to watch Things we Lost in the Fire is not the result of the words and opinions of others. The trailer depicts a story that fails to succumb to the many cliches a story of it's nature could yield to. The film stars Halle berry who, over the years, has proved herself to be a more than capable actress. Benicio Del Toro is an actor who I have not seen a large number of performances from but who highly impressed me in 21 Grams. His performance couldsimply be described as believable. Such a partnership of great actor justifies the anticipation of Things we Lost in the Fire.

Original Pirate Photgraphy: What the Desktop?

2008-01-19T18:08:00.000Z

Indeed, here is where I showcase a plethora of desktops created by yours truly. Should anyone want one of these works of art, just send a message and you may recieve your own full sized version. Lucky you.

Quoted

Larger

Smile

The Stage

Truth

Contemplations: A Day of Procrastination

2008-01-19T16:59:00.001Z

I have a report on value-free research due on Tuesday so it makes sense that I'd do a considerable amount of it today. I've had no such luck. I've written one paragraph, 147 words, disgraceful. Somehow, I've managed to edit every one of my blogs, create a new blog, watch the same film twice and eat what could easy be described as two lunches. I have not done my objectives for the day: the report, laundry, tidy my room or any revision. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

I've attempted not to go into my office which isn't hard as it's freezing cold in there but I did want my iTunes library. I've made one of these online playlists (Finetune Player), I must admit, It's rather rubbish. You can't add more that three songs from one artist? What kind of madness is that. I'm sure there's a logical reason but as you may have guessed, I haven't been acting logically today. I should get some work done.

Contemplations: Films You Love but Daren't Say You Do: Part I

2008-01-18T15:09:00.000Z

If you're familiar with my other blog (Amateur Critic Reviews) I generally focus on films that are generally considered to be impressive, or dare I say it ‘intellectual’. There are large number of films that many of us like to say we’ve see. These are your Citizen Kanes, Shawshank Redemptions and Godfathers.

However, there are always those guilty pleasures. Films that aren’t regarded as particularly good films.The first film, Rent. In 2005 Christopher Columbus of Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire fame, directed the musical, Rent, based on Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical. It details the lives of several Bohemian’s living in New York City’s East Village. Rent stars Anthony Rappp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, Traci Thoms, Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Jesse L. Martin. The acting is rather impressive, as is the storyline in general. The greatest strength, as you may expect with a musical, is the songs. They are the kind of songs that make you feel better, and I am not one to turn down the opportunity to feel good.

Rent has one clear message: No Day But Today; living each day and embracing it as if it is your last. Good Times

Original Pirate Photgraphy: An attempt at some Artsy Pictures

2008-01-16T18:04:00.000Z

As you may have guessed from the title, this is my attempt at some 'artsy' pictures. Check out the titles-sooo professional.

The Dark Corridoor

Artificial Moon

Amateur Critic Reviews: This is Shane Meadows

2008-01-16T13:06:00.000Z

This is England opens with a series of images that represent the 1980s, Thatcher, Top of the Tops all working together with 54/46 Was My Number by Toots & The Maytals to set the scene for the film the audience is about to see; the not so glamorous 1983 England.

This is England, Shane Meadows' autobiographical follow-up to Dead Man's Shoes, did not fail to disappoint. The story revolves around the character of 12-year-old Shaun, one of the many victims of the Falklands war, who after being bullied at school, is inducted into the skinhead lifestyle by the older character of Woody.

Meadows presents a balanced representation of the Skinhead movement of the 1980s. He challenges the notions that all skinheads were Racist Neo-Nazis and depicts how some, partially due the economic deprivation, were vulnerable to parties such as the National Front. A character is the film that greatly challenges the notion that all skinhead were racist is that if Milky, a member of Woody's gang whose family comes from the Caribbean. The beginning of Shaun's life with the skinheads illustrates the less violent aspects of skin head culture, young, working class people united by their differences, this image however is contested by the arrival of Combo, a friend of Woody's with questionable views.

From this point on Shaun is taken into a world of crime, racism and violence. Meadow's does not sugar-coat the issues raised in the film and some viewers could argue that it is simply too real. The images of working class squalor are reminiscent of the films of Ken Loach but Meadows makes every aspect of this film his own.

The performances in the film cannot be faulted. First time actor Thomas Turgoose is highly impressive in the role of Shaun. He acts with a naturalism that many actors fail to achieve; he is someone we all must look out for. Stephen Graham's performance as Combo is at times terrifying but despite this, Graham's representation of the character can make one pity him and hate him at the same time. Despite illustrating the stereotypical racist side of skinhead culture, Combo also delivers a moving speech about the integrated side of the skinhead. This act from Stephan Graham leaves a greater impression than any of the violence.

The soundtrack is a device used to the same extent as any other visual aid. The Ska tracks help to establish both time and place and Fuori dal Mondo compliments the emotional tone at the right times without going over the top.All in all This is England is a film that is certainly worth seeing and remembering, I strongly recommend it.

Amateur Critic Reviews: It Had the Opportunity to be Great

2008-01-14T14:33:00.000Z

The Golden Compass is the latest fantasy adventure to come our way. Like many of the fantasy films that have come out in recent years (Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia), The Golden Compass was originally a book. The Golden Compass (Northern Lights to many including myself) was the first book in Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy. However, I believe it can be said that The Golden Compass did not do justice to its original medium. The film at time felt rushed (although this is understandable due to time restraints) meaning that some of the less superficial aspects of the story may have been over looked.

The setting for The Golden Compass is an alternate world from our own, Jordan in Oxford. It is a world where people have daemons in the form of animals that are similar to our own conscience and soul. The story revolves around a young girl named Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) who lives in Jordan College and is niece of Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig). The story is set in motion early on in the film when Lyra witnesses the Masters of the College attempt to poison Lord Asriel, a plan which Lyra foils. Whilst Lord Asriel goes in the North in investigation of the mysterious particles named "dust", Lyra is invited on a journey with the mesmerising Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman). Before going, Lyra is give an alethiometer which is essentially a measurer of truth. Lyra's excitement about being with Mrs. Coulter is shatter when Lyra realises that she is head of an organisation run by the Magisterium responsible for the disappearances of many children including some of Lyra's friends. Lyra eventually ends up in the hands of the Gyptians and one their travels she meets a witch, Serafina Pekkala (Eva Green), the aeronaut Lee Scoresby (Sam Elliott), and the armoured bear (voiced by Ian McEllen).

There was great controversy surrounding the making of the Golden Compass due to the religious aspects of the story. It can be argued that Lyra's world is much like an Orwellian dystopian future due the an organisation known as the Magisterium which has many parallels with the Catholic Church. However, The Golden Compass is not the first film that has controversy surrounding it an in most case, even possibly this one, it can actually benefit the film.

The Golden Compass has one of the marks of a good children's film, it has facets for more mature audiences. The storyline regarding the Magisterium and the Orwellian world are concepts that would go over the heads of most children. Therefore , these aspects give the adults something to ponder as the children accept the film at face value.

The performances in the film are not performances that could be considered spectacular meaning that the acting is not the film saving grace. Naturally, The Golden Compass had its good moments, the arrival of Sam Elliott with his strong Texan accent reminds the viewer that they are watching an all star cast perform.

I must sat that the Golden Compass is aesthetically pleasing; the visual effects within the film are highly impressive. Then again, they can be rather distracting at times.

To conclude, The Golden Compass had the potential to be much better than it was but that is not to say that it was completely awful. There aspects of the storyline that are highly interesting and the visual effects are stunning. It's not the greatest fantasy film of the past few years but it is at least worth a watch.

Amateur Critic Reviews: There is no Justice Without Sin

2008-01-05T14:24:00.000Z

The film opens with a short scene starring Josh Hartnett and Marley Shelton based on the Sin City short story, The Customer is Always Right. The soft wind instruments and dark setting establish the tone for the rest of the film. The audience hears beautiful dialogue brought to a close by a gunshot. This close relationship between beauty and death reflects the world in which the film takes place, a world where violence and socially unacceptable behaviour is the norm.

Sin City, with its film noir style is unlike most of the comic book adaptations that have come out in recent years. This may be because Sin City is unlike most well known comics. The main protagonists do not take on the role of traditional heroes, it can be argued that no character is particularly good but this does not stop them from being liked by the audience. One could argue that they fit Aristotle's criteria of a tragic hero', people not necessarily good, nor necessarily bad. Sin City is truer to its original medium the most adaptations to the point where the shots were planned using the panels from the novels as storyboards, this is apparent if you look at the graphic novels.

The opening scene is not necessarily an integral part of any story in the film (except a short scene towards the end) so it can be said that, "The Customer is Always Right" is not the first story of the film. The opening scene was the bargaining chip that director Robert Rodriguez used to convince the creator Frank Miller, to allow the film to be made. Sin City consists of three stories beginning with "That Yellow Bastard" stars Bruce Willis as John Hartigan, a police officer attempting to solve his last case and save a little girl before retiring. With a town filled with crocked cops, a rapist with a father in high position and a bum ticker', Hartgan's chances of success are slim. It could be argued that "That Yellow Bastard" is not the first story either, at least, not the first full length story. Hartigan is revisited later.

The first full length story is entitled, "The Hard Goodbye", which tells us of Marv, a less than attractive and dangerous ex-con who set out find to find the people behind the murder of Goldie, a goddess' willing to show Marv a good time. Marv is tragic character, he murders, yet one cannot help but pity him. As the audience is constantly reminded, he gets confused sometimes suggesting that Marv has some form of mental illness. Marv's story, takes the audience all around (Ba)Sin City and unravels the corruption within it.

Mickey Rourke is almost unrecognisable in this role not just due to the make-up used to make him look more like his comic book counterpart. Rourke convincingly portrays Marv's unstoppable violent side as well as that of a confused man questioning his actions. Rourke's performance as Marv makes one forget that Marv is a fictional character. Jaime King glows in her role as Goldie, Marv calls her a goddess and she most certainly has the aura of one. King also plays another contrasting role fantastically but any further information would be too much.

"The Hard Goodbye" is followed by "The Big Fat Kill" featuring Barmaid Shellie and boyfriend Dwight, a criminal with a new face whose one fingerprint check away from being set to the gas chamber. The story is set into motion when Dwight sets off to stop Jackie Boy, Shellie's angry ex from causing any trouble. Dwight's intentions are hindered when her realises that Jackie Boy is heading for Old Town, a place where the ladies are the law and Dwight's ex, Gail (Rosario Dawson) dwells.Clive Owen convincingly pulls off the role of the dark and brooding Dwight.

The aspect of his performance that can be faulted is his accent which makes it unclear as the where he, or the character is from. Rosario Dawson manages to embrace the vicious aspects of Gail's character but at the same time is able to play someone in admiration with an ex-lover.

We are then taken back to, "That Yellow Bastard" which shows Hartigan again attempting the save Nancy, now 19, from the same rapist. Hartigan is not the action hero role we are accustomed to in the traditional sense, he's is a less than healthy old man, doing his best to finally close his case.Like Rourke, Willis portrays a tragic hero who compellingly portrays the violent aspects of his character as well as man with the flaws of any other human. Jessica Alba plays 19 year old Nancy. Alba presents us with a girl as fearful as the 11 year old Nancy seen earlier in the film. However, she is also able to contrast this, at times with short scenes, with the sexually assertive side of Nancy.

One cannot speak of Sin City without mentioning the aesthetics of it. Like most film noirs, Sin City is in black and white, providing an homage to classic film noirs as well as adding an element of greater sharpness to the film. Some objects, such as Goldie are colorized, this is partially taken from the graphic novels but some objects colorized in the film were not colorized in the novels. Sin City was shot on a digital backlot meaning that the it was all shot on a green screen. Some locations were built such as Kadie's Bar.

Sin City also has an amazing soundtrack that greatly supports the film. The tracks do not necessarily need to be heard with the film to sound good. The track that plays during the title menu is one that you may find yourself listening to on a loop before you begin watching the film.

Notable Articles: Can Vaccines Cause Autism?

2007-10-29T14:21:00.000Z

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.

Amateur Critic Reviews: My conclusion is: Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time

2007-09-10T14:08:00.000+01:00

This is a film that I would not have personally gone out to watch had it not been recommended for me. American History X is a film centred around the White power movement and the consequences of extremism.

The film's main protagonist is the intelligent Derek Vinyard. Following the murder of his father; a fireman who was shot whilst putting out a fire in a crack house, Derek becomes filled with racial hatred and eventually becomes the second in command of the Venice Beach neo-Nazi gang, The Disciples of Christ. Under the guidance of Cameron Alexander (the leader of the D.O.C), Derek recruits others, mainly those who were victimised by people of ethnic minorities, to join their fellowship. Derek and other members of the D.O.C eventually obtain control of the majority of the Venice Beach Area. Derek soon becomes someone many look up to, including his brother, Danny. Following the murder of a black character (a particularly horrific scene in the film), Derek is sentenced to three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.

Three years later Derek's White Supremacist ideology is present in his brother. As the film begins, we see a teacher complaining to the principal about a report Danny wrote on Mein Kampf stating that Hitler was civil rights Hero. The principal that tells Danny to write another report that would be the next day about his brother for a class the principal entitles American History X. The film is narrator by Danny as he writes his report. It consists of many flashbacks of Derek when he was second in command of the D.O.C and Danny's commentary on what he thought of his brother. However, Derek is no longer the White Supremacist he used to be. His time in prison particularly time spent with a black fellow prisoner and Derek noticing the hypocrisy of members of his group of Supremacists, changes him. Derek instead tries to teach Danny that what he believes is wrong, attempting to undo the damage he had done to his brother previously.

The main themes highlighted in the film are affirmative action and racism. The theme of affirmative action is mainly explored through the character of Derek's father. The argument against affirmative action is highlighted in a conversation that the whole family has at the dinner table. It raises the question, "If someone is less suited for a job, do they deserve to have it because the company needs to fill a racial equality quota". The theme of racism, as you may guess, is present throughout the film. It is present in the actions of the D.O.C and how they actions are "justified". Another conversation at the table also explores this theme. Derek attempts to justify the Rodney Kind incident in the presence of a date of his mothers. This eventually results in a argument and later violence.

The performances of the actors in this film are absolutely amazing. Edward Norton plays Derek Vineyard. Norton shows the ability to depict the hatred and development of his character very convincingly, the mark of a great actor. Edward Furlong, mainly known for his role in Terminator 2, plays our narrator and the character, Danny. Vocally, Furlong does well, he delivers the narration of this lines in the intended form of a report and also carried the emotional undercurrents of a brother analysing the actions of his brother. In addition of to being a good narrator, as a physical character, Furlong's performance is outstanding. He also convincingly shows the development of his character. The film also stars Avery Brooks, notably known for his role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Brooks was an actor is was weary of because he is always in my head as Commander Sisko. I was able to forget this role and I soon became absorbed and entranced by his performance as the Principal Dr. Sweeney.

American History X is amazing film that I would recommend almost anyone. The acting is great, as is the direction, and storyline. An aspect of the film that I particularly enjoyed was the change from black and white to colour. For each flashback, the film became black and white. There may be some reason for this that the director intended but I always assumed it was to highlight the difference between the races. I thought that they were, in essence, pretending that the issues were as simple as black and white.

American History X outlines the the evolution of one man and I can't think of a better way in which this story could be told. The film also has a message for us all, as Danny (Furlong) says at the end:

Well, my conclusion is: Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off
all the time. It's just not worth it. Derek says it's always good to end a
paper with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you
can't top it, steal from them and go out strong. So I picked a guy I thought
you'd like. 'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though
passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The
mystic chords of memory will swell when again when touched, as surely they
will be, by the better angels of our nature.

Amateur Critic Reviews: Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club

2007-09-10T14:04:00.000+01:00

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for
what ever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an
essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us, in the
simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is
that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess,
and a criminal. Does that answer your question?

A quote that sums up the film greatly. The Breakfast Club is one of the most well known teen films of the 80s. It tells the tale of five teens each from different social cliques enduring a Saturday detention. During the course of the day they slowly begin to understand each other and embark upon a journey of self-knowledge, self-worth and understanding.Like many films, The Breakfast Club is a character based story so it is impossible to write a review without describing the characters.

John Bender, the criminal
Bender could be seen as the catalyst for the journey of the other characters. It is Bender that initiates the questions and most of the conversations that make this film the story that it is. Bender at first appears to be a criminal, a no-good person that doesn't benefit from school and that school doesn't benefit from. As the film progresses, we see Bender's vulnerability, compassion and the more humane side of Bender. As a character, one can't help but like Bender, he's that guy who'd sit at the back of the class mocking the teachers; the girls are ashamed that they like him and boys are ashamed they want to be him.
Reason for detention: Pulling the fire alarm in the absence of fire

Claire Standish, the princess
Claire's rich-girl status is established from her first appearance on screen. Claire is the embodiment stereotypical popular, prom-queen character present in many American high school films. Ones first impression of Clarie is that she is a rather two-dimensional character but as the film progresses we feel a sense of sympathy for Claire in relation to her family situation. Her parents use her as a weapon against each other. Claire like many characters journey of self-understanding is initiated by Bender. During the course of the film, Claire becomes more likable as a character partially because her complexity increases.
Reason for detention: Skipping school to go shopping

Andrew Clark, the athlete
Andy, like Claire's status is established from his opening scene. The leather 'jock' jacket and the motivating parent say it all. Initially, Andy has an air of superiority about him which doesn't make him that likable. Andy's journey is not necessarily a journey tat he takes but a journey the audience takes as they learn more about him. We slowly uncover the great pressure placed upon Andy by his father and his coach. This makes him more believable and respectable as a character. This, in turn, makes him more likable.
Reason for detention: Tapping a student's buns together

Allison Reynolds, the basket case
Definitely the strangest of the characters. Allison's oddness is immediately apparent. She storms into the library (taking what could be described as the scenic route) and doesn't speak (only squeaks) for a large amount of the film. Through silence we learn so much about this little oddity. Allison emerges to be a kleptomaniac and a chronic liar. Due to this chronic lying the audience is always unsure as to which elements of her life are actually the truth.
Reason for detention: none, she had nothing better to do

Brian Johnson, the brain
Brain the stereotypical perfect academic, he is described by Bender as "Every parents' wet dream". Brian appears to be the person most concerned with getting in trouble and is the only person the completes, let alone starts their assignment. Brian's complexity increases as the film progresses. He at first appears to be someone greatly concerned with academia, which is true, but we slowly unearth the pressure placed on his by his parents that be successful. His desire for success may not be his own.
Reason for detention: Bringing a flare gun to school which went off in his locker

The Breakfast Club definitely deserves its status as one of the great films of the 80s. It's story is one that so many of us can relate to and it doesn't age. I strongly recommend this film to anyone.

...And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds
are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of what they're
going through...

Amateur Critic Reviews: Battle Royale

2007-09-10T13:59:00.000+01:00

"At the dawn of the millennium, the nation collapsed. At fifteen percent unemployment, ten million were out of work. 800,000 students boycotted the school. The adults lost confidence, and fearing the youth, eventually passed the Millennium Educational Reform Act AKA: The BR Act. .."

Battle Royale has earned the title of a "controversial" film. Many Helium users have rated it as one of the most violent films ever. Battle Royale tells a tale set in Future Japan where every year a randomly selected ninth grade class is sent on a "field trip" to an empty island. They are given, food, water, a map and a randomly selected weapon ranging from a pot lid to an axe. The children remain on the island for three days, they are to kill each other off until one person remains. Should more than one person remain at the end of the three days, everyone dies. They call this Batoru Rowaiaru, the Battle Royale. Battle Royale, if anything else, is first and foremost a political film. It explores an extreme measure to control the deviant behaviour of the youth. The Battle Royale is a government initiative to rid the country of as many delinquents as possible.

Upon hearing the plot outline of Battle Royale it immediately appears to be a film whose sole purpose is to depict a large amount of deaths in as many violent ways as possible. You assume there is nothing else to it. However, I must disagree with this view. There is depth to this film, simply reading the subtitles can tell you this. Battle Royale is greatly a character centred film. As the film progresses more is learned about the characters even if they are someone's dying words. You learn who was in whose clique. You learn the importance of these cliques.
Battle Royale also explores an area of personality central in humanity, denial. There is sheer disbelief at the situation and great avoidance of the reality of it. A common human trait.

I must question the alleged level of violence said to be in this film. There are many films that are more violent and more graphic in their depiction of that violence. I believe it is who inflicts this violence that has given Battle Royale this label. I believe it is who receives this violence that has given Battle Royale this label. I believe it is the plot that has given Battle Royale this label. This label is far from accurate. The violence is not as distressing or as graphic as many have made out.

It is likely that the understanding of how violent Battle Royale is greatly due to the controversy that the film has sparked:
- Following a screening of the film for the Japanese parliament it was described as "crude and tasteless", as a result of there was great cry for more government action on media violence. -Although this is the commonly held belief, Battle Royale was not banned in the United States. There has never been a distribution agreement for the film mainly due to the controversy of the film.
-11 year old Satomi Mitarai on June 1, 2004 at an elementary school in Sasebo, Nagasaki. Mitarai's throat and arms were slit with a retractable knife. The girl responsible, only known as Girl A (also known as Nevada-tan), was a large fan of the film Battle Royale. An analysis of the case states that she "was a girl fascinated with urban legends, Internet subcultures, even going as far as guro. From her site she had linked shock flash movies and bizarre ASCII movies that would unnerve even the most hardened Internet warriors."

And so our compulsory education was coming to an end

Notable Articles: Erotomania

2007-08-12T15:32:00.000+01:00

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.

Notable Articles: Analysing Niacin and No-Flush Niacin

2007-08-11T15:35:00.000+01:00

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.

Notable Article: Does violence in video games contribute to real life violence?

2007-08-10T15:45:00.000+01:00

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.

Notable Article: 5-HTP: An overview of it's uses

2007-08-10T15:41:00.000+01:00

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 sleep. 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.I

t 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

Notable Articles: Why People are Afraid the Help Others

2007-08-10T15:28:00.000+01:00

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.

Notable Articles: Assessing Star Trek Podcasts

2007-08-10T15:24:00.000+01:00

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.

Amateur Critic Reviews: Perhaps it is good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to discover a beautiful heart.

2007-08-10T14:16:00.000+01:00

A Beautiful Mind is film that can be described, simply, as beautiful. A beautiful Mind is based on the novel by Sylvia Nasar of the same title. Both mediums tell us about the life (mainly college onwards) of the great mathematician, John Nash. We are firs introduced to Nash on his first day of Princeton University. From this moment on, the audience sees the majority of the film through John's eyes. He isn't the most social character but gosh, he is brilliant. John doesn't attend classes as he says, "Classes will dull your mind, destroy the potential for authentic creativity", instead he works outside or in his room on his original idea. The only human initially manage to form a rapport with is his roommate Charles, who is the opposite of John; loud, humorous, outgoing. Following the outline of a plan to impress some ladies, John established a concept that would later be known as his Equilibrium theory. As a result of this outline, John is given the opportunity to work for Wheeler labs as a code breaker. Due to John's talent, he is approached by a more secretive individual to find codes hidden by spies in magazines.

I like to say, as does Ron Howard in his commentary, that this film is divided into two sections. There is the section in which I have just outlined where the audience believes that all of John's delusions are as real as John believes they are. The second section is the turning point, where we find out that what we believed to be true was not. It becomes apparent that John suffers from schizophrenia and elements of his life are fictitious.

Russell Crowe's performance as John Nash is brilliant. It's easy to see actors as the characters you've previously seen them play, I my case I saw Crowe as a Gladiator. However, from the opening shot of Crowe seated at the back a classroom I saw noting but John Nash. Crowe subtly masters the social awkwardness an other minute features of his character as well as some of the large performances of a man confronting his demons. Crowe convincingly portrays a man suffering from schizophrenia with loosing sight of the fact that this is still a man. Amazing. Jennifer Connelly plays John's wife Alicia. Alicia as a character says little about how she feels or what John's illness has done to her. Despite this, Connelly manages to depict a woman who is hurting but it trying to keep-face. As result of this I rate Connelly's performance as no less than superb. Another character we are introduced to is Charles, one of John;s delusions who is played by Paul Bettany. Bettany embraces Charles' character and runs with it. He pulls the crazy drunken college roommate as well as quiet, sinister delusion trying to get John's attention. Another delusion is that of Ed Harris as Parcher. Parcher is the character that best portrays how John's delusions went from being his friend to his enemy. This is something that Ed Harris masters, he is able to turn the audience in the exact way the writers must have wanted him to.

A Beautiful Mind is directed by Ron Howard and I must say that he did a great job. Ron Howard manages to take the audience on the exact same journey as the protagonist. He prevents it from being a tale about people watching some crazy guy on the street corner taking to himself. What Ron Howard does is make the audience believe what John believes and take their reality away from them. This approach is amazing and it is something I commend his for. All in all Ron Howard's Direction is great.

A Beautiful Mind isn't the first film that would come to mind when talking about special effects. This is mainly because of how subtle the special effects are. The first scene of the outside of Princeton University shows us a beautiful university on a warm day. In actuality, it was winter when these scenes were filmed but this was concealed. The special effects artists managed to turn bare tree trees into images of life. Another notable area where special effects are key is when John's working out an equation or coming to a conclusion. Ron Howard asked many mathematicians what they saw when the finally worked some thing out and many said they saw a flash of light. This flash of light is present when John works anything out. This ranges from looking for codes to establishing a suitable way of impressing women.

The film is in essence a film base in the life of John Nash. However, we must be careful not to take all events of the film as fact and use them the outline John Nash's life.

A Beautiful Mind is also a film where we can throw around that word, symbolism. Many of John's delusions can be seen as symbols of problems he faces, or characteristics he doesn't possess. The first example is Charles. Charles appears at a moment in which John feels particularly isolated. Charles may be a representation of John's desire to have a close personal friend. Another example is Parcher. Parcher appears a time where John does not feel his work is greatly important. Parcher tells John that John is exactly what he needs and the no other person can do what John does. Parcher may represent John's desire to be needed.

To conclude, A Beautiful Mind is one of the greatest films I have ever seen, most film pale in comparison. It has all the ingredients of a great film; a great story, great direction, great acting and a certain Je ne sais pas. I strongly recommend this film.

It's only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be
found.

Amateur Critic Reviews: Miss Nina at her Finest

2007-08-10T13:56:00.000+01:00

Originality: Groundbreaking
Lyrics: Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks: Flawless
Value for Money: Excellent

This is almost the perfect Nina Simone album. It's perfection is tarnished by the fact that it doesn't include the song "Mr Bojangles. Luckily, the plethora of other songs can nearly make up for this. The album features the well known songs such as Felling Good, My Baby Just Cares for Me and I put a spell on you. The Album incorporates the pleasing vocals as well as many of the instrumental sections of her songs. Not only does Nina Simone Gold feature Miss Nina's songs as we are accustomed to them, it also provides some at first surprising but interesting remixes of Feeling Good and See Line Woman. In addition Nina Simone Gold feature some of the less common songs such as Tell Me More And More And Then Some, One September Day and I'm Going Back Home.

Nina Simone Gold is not just for fans, it's for anyone that likes good music, particularly vocal jazz. This is a fantastic introduction to Nina Simone and even for non-listeners the songs may sound familiar. All in all this is a fantastic album.

I strongly recommend this album to Nina Simone fans and any fans of vocal jazz.

Amateur Critic Reviews: Wake Up Mr West

2007-08-10T13:52:00.000+01:00

Originality: Groundbreaking
Lyrics: Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks: Flawless
Value for Money: Excellent

It is not often that you come across an album with so many enjoyable songs. There are very few (if any) songs that could be seen as weak links. After his fantastic debut, The College Dropout, expectations for Late Registration were high. Kanye West did not fail to please. Late Registration shows more maturity than The College Dropout showing Mr West's evolution. Unlike many Hip-Hop albums, Late Registration does not focus on guns and hoes (a downside if this is what you were looking for), this marks a new breed of Hip-Hop.

The subjects of the tracks differ greatly. The album features the hit Diamonds From Sierra Leone and well as the remix featuring Jay Z. As well as featuring general Hip-Hop songs such as Touch the Sky (fantastically using a Curtis Mayfield sample), Kanye speaks of drugs and music in a way that is almost shocking (Crack Music), in addition Kanye shows heart in the songs Hey Mama and Roses. The album shows greatness throughout (as well as humour in the hilarious skits) and in no way does it fail to disappoint.

I strongly recommend this to anyone that enjoys music particularly rap and hip-hop.

Amateur Critic Reviews: 100% Reason the Remember the Name

2007-08-10T13:48:00.000+01:00

Lyrics: Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks: A couple of weak links
Value for Money: Good

Fort Minor is the group formed by Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda (he was the MC/rapper). Despite this, The Rising Tied is not specifically for fans of Linkin Park (although fans of Linkin Park may enjoy this especially). Mike Shinoda creates a fresh new sound using a combination of instruments and technology (no samples) making The Rising Tied a fantastic album.

There are few limits to the subjects mentioned on the album, the topics range from Mike Shinoda's experiences at the start-up of Linkin Park (Get Me Gone), the game that is rap (Cigarettes), to the everyday experiences of people (Right Now). Fort Minor also describes the experiences that the Japanese people in America were subjected to during World War II (Kenji).

In addition to fantastic lyrics, The Rising Tied features a range of other artists that add to the greatness of the songs they appear on such as John Legend (High Road), Styles of Beyond (Remember the Name), Mr Hahn (Slip out the back) and many more.

The Rising Tied is 16 tracks of greatness.

I strongly recommend this to any fans of Linkin Park, Rock and rap music.

Notable Articles: Glucosamine: An overview

2007-07-09T15:38:00.000+01:00

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

Best in the Best: Life

2006-12-31T19:01:00.001Z

Life
Unknown Author

Sitting.
Staring.
Thinking.
Pondering.
Hoping.
Dreaming.
Wishing.
Trying.
Realizing.
Crashing.
Running.
Crying.
Concealing.
Faking.
Smiling.
Repeating

Best in the Best: Be a Queen

2006-12-31T19:01:00.000Z

Be a Queen
by Oprah Winfrey

Be a queen. Dare to be different.
Be a pioneer. Be a leader.
Be the kind of woman who in the face of adversity
will continue to embrace life and walk fearlessly
toward the challenge.
Take it on! Be a truth seeker and rule your domain,
whatever it is--your home, your office, your family
with a loving heart.
Be a queen. Be tender.
Continue to give birth to new ideas
and rejoice in your womanhood. . .
My prayer is that we will stop wasting time
being mundane and mediocre. . .
We are daughters of God--here to teach
the world how to love. . .
It doesn't matter what you've been through,
where you come from, who your parents are
--nor your social or economic status.
None of that matters.
What matters is how you choose to love,
how you choose to express that love through your work,
through your family,
through what you have to give to the world. . .
Be a queen. Own your power and your glory!

Best in the Best: The Song Will Stop

2006-12-31T18:59:00.000Z

The Song Will Stop
Author Unknown

Slow Dance
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask, "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow"
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi?"
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift...
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower.
Hear the music,
Before the song is over.

Best in the Best: Poetic Quotes

2006-12-31T18:56:00.000Z

I never thought there could be anything worse than being all alone in the night. But there is: being all alone in a crowd.
-"There all the honour Lies" by Sheridan and Delenn

Should I smile because we're friends, or cry because that's all we'll ever be?
-Author Unknown

It doesn't take a talent to be mean, your words can crush things that are unseen. So please be careful with me, I'm sensitive and I'd like to stay that way.
-"Sensitive" by Jewel

And remember the truth that once was spoken: to love another person is to see the face of God.
-Les Miserables

You know it's funny when it rains it pours, they got money for wars, but can't feed the poor.
Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure, and if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more.
-"Keep Ya Head Up" by Tupac Shakur

It's been too many nights of being with to now be suddenly without.
-Jewel Kilcher

We will only be at peace when the power of love conquers the love of power.
-Jimmi Hendrix

Anyone perfect must be lying, anything easy has its cost. Anyone plain can be lovely, anyone loved can be lost. What if I lost my direction? What if I lost sense of time? What if I nursed this infection? Maybe the worst is behind.
-"Falling for the First Time" by Barenaked Ladies

I may be in the gutter, but I'm looking at the stars.
-Oscar Wilde

Every night and every morn some to misery are born,
Every morn and every night,
Some are born to sweet delight,
Some are born to endless night
-William Blake

Best in the Best: English

2006-12-31T18:55:00.000Z

English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
Have you noticed that we talk about certain things only when they are absent? Have you ever seen a horsefull carriage or a strapfull gown? Met a sung hero or experienced requited love? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, gruntled, ruly or peccable? And where are all those people who ARE spring chickens or who would actually hurt a fly?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
Author Unknown

Best in the Best: Christmas Quotes

2006-12-24T18:48:00.000Z

Getting into the Christmas Spirit...

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
Norman Vincent Peale

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
-Roy L. Smith

Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.
-Mary Ellen Chase

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.
-Charles Dickens

Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year - and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.
-W.J. Cameron

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
-Burton Hillis

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!
-Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries.
-W.J. Cameron

A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
The poor man's heart through half the year.
-Walter Scott

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.
-Laura Ingalls Wilder

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!
-Author Unknown

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
-Charles Dickens

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.
-Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
-Washington Irving

Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.
-Francis C. Farley

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.
-W.T. Ellis

For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home.
-W.J. Ronald Tucker

Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve. Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age.
-Carrie Latet

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!
-Hamilton Wright Mabie

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put awaylike bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.The good you do for others is good you do yourself.
-Norman W. Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas"

...Devoured by the Christmas Spirit

Best in the Best: Imitation of Life

2006-12-08T18:47:00.000Z

Imitation on Life
Performed by R.E.M

Charades, pop skill
Water hyacinth, named by a poet
Imitation of life.
Like a koi in a frozen pond.
Like a goldfish in a bowl.
I don't want to hear you cry.

Thats sugarcane that tasted good.
Thats cinnamon, thats Hollywood.
C'mon, c'mon no one can see you try.

You want the greatest thing
The greatest thing since bread came sliced.
You've got it all, you've got it sized.
Like a Friday fashion show teenager
Freezing in the corner
Trying to look like you don't try.

Thats sugarcane that tasted good.
Thats cinnamon, thats Hollywood.
C'mon, c'mon no one can see you try.
No one can see you cry.

That sugar cane that tasted good.
That freezing rain, that's what you could.
C'mon, c'mon on no one can see you cry.

This sugarcane
This lemonade
This hurricane, I'm not afraid.
C'mon, c'mon no one can see you cry.

This lightning storm
This tidal wave
This avalanche, I'm not afraid.
C'mon, c'mon no one can see me cry.

That sugar cane that tasted good.
That's who you are, that's what you could.
C'mon, c'mon on no one can see you cry.

That sugar cane that tasted good.
That's who you are, that's what you could.
C'mon, c'mon on no one can see you cry.

Best in the Best: Notable Quotes

2006-12-06T18:30:00.000Z

When you've eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
-Sherlock Holmes

Mankind is a single body and each nation a part of that body. We must never say 'What does it matter to me if some part of the world is ailing?' If there is such an illness, we must concern ourselves with it as though we were having that illness.
-Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that is why it is called the precent
-Unknown

The only constant is change...The only constant is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.
-Isaac Asimov

We have names for people who have many beliefs for which there is no rational justification. When their beliefs are extremely common we call them "religious"; otherwise, they are likely to be called "mad", "psychotic" or "delusional".
-Sam Harris, The End of Faith

I am larger and better than I thought. I did not think I held so much goodness.
-Walt Whitman

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened
-Dr. Seuss

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster.
-Friedrich Nietzche

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and thei entrances, and in his time a man shall play many a part. his life will be in seven stages...
-Shakespeare

The only thing I know is my own ignorance
-Socrates

Wise men talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
-Plato

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic self to the broader concerns of all humanity.
-Martin Luther King Jr.

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our fiends.
-Martin Luther King Jr.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.
-Jimi Hendrix

The less he spoke the more he heard. What a wise old owl.
-A.A. Milne

Whatever happens, the flame of resistance must never go out, and will never go out
-De Gaulle.

Heav'n hath no rage like love to hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd.
-William Congreve

Sometimes it is not enough to our best; we must do what is required.
-Sir Winston Churchill

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
-Edmund Burke

The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
-Tom Clancy

It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.
-Sir Winston Churchill

Small minds discuss people, Average minds discuss events, Great minds discuss ideas.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

I think that somehow, we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
-Eleanor Roosevelt,

The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.
-Joseph Conrad

Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.
-William Faulkner

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?
-Rose Kennedy

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars; martyrs have put on their coronation robes glittering with fire, and through their tears have the sorrowful first seen the gates of Heaven.
-Edwin Hubbell Chapin

All is riddle, and the key to a riddle is another riddle.
-Emerson

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
-Einstein

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble.
-Samuel Johnson

Nothing is so common as the wish to be remarkable.
-Shakespeare

A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses; it is an idea that possesses the mind.
-Robert Oxton Bolton

The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still the will be a scar left behind.
-French writer François de la Rochefoucauld.

It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.
-Rose Kennedy

Best in the Best: Still I Rise

2006-12-01T18:29:00.000Z

Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Best in the Best: Phenomenal Woman

2006-11-25T18:28:00.000Z

Phenomenal Woman
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.I
don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Best in the Best: On the Beach at Night Alone

2006-11-25T18:27:00.000Z

On the Beach at Night Alone
by Walt Whitman

On the beach at night alone,
As the old mother sways her to and fro singing her husky song,
As I watch the bright stars shining, I think a thought of the clef of the universes and of the future.

A vast similitude interlocks all,
All spheres, grown, ungrown, small, large, suns, moons, planets,
All distances of place however wide,
All distances of time, all inanimate forms,
All souls, all living bodies though they be ever so different, or indifferent worlds,
All gaseous, watery, vegetable, mineral processes, the fishes, the brutes,
All nations, colors, barbarisms, civilizations, languages,
All identities that have existed or may exist on this globe, or any globe,
All lives and deaths, all of the past, present, future,
This vast similitude spans them, and always has spann'd,
And shall forever span them and compactly hold and enclose them.

Best in the Best: Drops of Jupiter

2006-11-25T18:25:00.000Z

Drops of Jupiter
Performed by Train

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's time to change, hey, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Now that she's back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation, hey, hey
She checks out Mozart while she does tae-bo
Reminds me that there's room to grow, hey, hey

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
I'm afraid that she might think of me as plain ol' Jane
Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back to the Milky Way
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Best in the Best: Superman

2006-11-25T18:24:00.000Z

Superman
Performed by Five For Fighting

I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naive
I'm just out to find
The better part of me

I'm more than a bird
I'm more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train
It's not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home I'll never see

It may sound absurd
but don't be naive
Even Heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed
but won't you concede
Even Heroes have the right to dream
It's not easy to be me

Up, up and away
away from me
It's all right
You can all sleep sound tonight
I'm not crazy
or anything

I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naive
Men weren't meant to ride
With clouds between their knees
I'm only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me inside of me ...... inside of me ...

I'm only a man in a funny red sheet
I'm only a man looking for my dream
I'm only a man in a funny red sheet
It's not easy ... It's not easy to be me...

Best in the Best: Movie Quotes

2006-11-25T18:23:00.000Z

No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
-John Keating, Dead Poet's Society

We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?
-John Keating, Dead Poet's Society

McAllister: "Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams and I'll show you a happy man."
John Keating: "But only in their dreams can men be truly free. 'Twas always thus, and always thus will be."
-Dead Poet's Society

Classes will dull your mind, destroy the potential for authentic creativity.
-John Nash, A Beautiful Mind

I've made the most important discovery of my life. It's only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found.
-John Nash, A Beautiful Mind

Perhaps it is good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to discover a beautiful heart.
-John Nash, A Beautiful Mind

I still see things that are not here. I just choose not to acknowledge them. Like a diet of the mind, I just choose not to indulge certain appetites; like my appetite for patterns; perhaps my appetite to imagine and to dream.
-John Nash, A Beautiful Mind

Imagine if you suddenly learned that the people, the places, the moments most important to you were not gone, not dead, but worse, had never been. What kind of hell would that be?
-Dr Rosen, A Beautiful Mind

I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone.
-Red, The Shawshank Redemption

Deception is brutal
-Dan, Closer

Best in the Best: Excerpt from A Midsummer Nights Dream

2006-11-25T18:22:00.000Z

Helena:
Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born?
When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?
Is't not enough, is't not enough, young man,
That I did never, no, nor never can,
Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye,
But you must flout my insufficiency?
Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do,
In such disdainful manner me to woo.
But fare you well: perforce I must confess
I thought you lord of more true gentleness.
O, that a lady, of one man refused.
Should of another therefore be abused!

Best in the Best: Excerpt from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

2006-11-25T18:21:00.000Z

Portia:
Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
To walk unbraced and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;
You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,
I charm you, by my once-commended beauty,
By all your vows of love and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night
Have had to resort to you: for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.

Best in the Best: The Menudo of a Cuchifrito Love Affair

2006-11-25T18:19:00.000Z

The Menudo of a Cuchifrito Love Affair
by Miguel Pinero

La ruca
Juanita rosita exposita
They called her mexicana rose
Con piel de canela
Pelo darker than bustelo café
Eyes big like rellenos
Color of a ripe avocado
Her lips tasted like seasoned mangos
And her body was sweet as coconut milk
This menudo of beauty
Made my taco nights
Burn like jalapenos
Si senor… My heart was a tortilla
Then one riceless beanless night
After a heated chilly pepper tequila fight
She left
Left me like a burnt pork chop
For a chitlin hamhock buckwheat eatin’ man
Who wore a watermelon wallet & a collard green conversation
Disturbing my macho machete pride
So that la mancha de platano
Reminded me that I was a weak mondongo
My love…my life…my pride was a burnt chicarron
A cold mofongo
A melted piragua
I turned into a hot tamale
State of rage
An alcapurria gone insane
When I saw these two enchiladasI
n a pastelillo embrace
So in my pasteles envy
My toston jealousy
That my salchicha eyes spied
The chorizo the mad morcilla drive
Asi fue que fueron
Traspasados los dos bacalaos
And now with my burrito strike
Displaying my quenepa pride
In my tamarindo smile
I remember the pegao and the uncooked taste
Of the frijol menudo of my cuchifrito
Love affair…

Best in the Best: I’m Special

2006-11-25T18:18:00.000Z

I’m Special
Unknown Author

I'm Special. In all the world there is nobody like me. Since the beginning of time, there has never been another person like me. Nobody has my smile. Nobody has my eyes, my nose, my hair, my hands, my voice. I'm special!

No one can be found who has my handwriting. Nobody anywhere has my exact tastes for food or music or art. No one sees things just as I do. In all of time there has been no one who laughs or cries like me. And whatever makes me laugh or cry, will never provoke identical laughter and tears from anybody else, ever. No one reacts to any situation just as I would react. I'm special!

I'm the only one in all of creation who has my set of abilities. Oh , there will always be somebody who is better at one of the things I'm good at, but no one in the universe can reach the quality of my combination of talents, ideas , abilities and feelings. Like a roomful of musical instruments , some may excel alone, but none can match the symphony sound when all are played together.

I'm a symphony.

Through all the eternity no one will ever look, talk, walk, think or do like me. I'm special, I'm rare. And, in all rarity there is great value. Because of my great rare , value I need not attempt to imitate others. I will accept... Yes, celebrate my differences. I'm special!

And I'm beginning to see that God made me special for a very special purpose. He must have a job for me that no one else can do as well as I. Out of all the billions of applicants, only one is qualified, only one has the right combination of what it takes. That one is me! Because I'm special!

Best in the Best: Colour Blind

2006-11-25T18:17:00.000Z

Colour Blind
by Lemin Sissay

If you can see the sepia in the sun
Shades of grey in fading streets
The radiating bloodshot in s child’s eye
The dark stains in her linen sheets
If you can see oil separate in water
The turquoise of leaves on trees
The reddened flush of your lovers sheets
The violet peace of calmed seas
If you can see the bluest eye
The Purple in the petals of the rose
The blue anger, the venom, of the volcanoes
The creeping orange of the lava flows
If you can see the red dust of the famished road
The white air tight strike of Nike’s sign
If you can see the skin tone of a Lucien Freud
The colours of his frozen subjects in mime
If you can see the white mist of the oasis
The red, white and blue that you defended
If you can see it all through the blackest pupil
The colours stretching, the rainbow suspected
If you can see the breached blue
Of the evening
And the caramel curls of your tea
Why is you say you are colour blind
When you see me

Best in the Best: I Have Spread my Dreams Under Your Feet

2006-11-25T18:16:00.000Z

I Have Spread my Dreams Under Your Feet
by W.B. Yeats

HAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

Best in the Best: Among the Multitude

2006-11-25T18:15:00.000Z

Among the Multitude
by Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

AMONG the men and women the multitude,
I perceive one picking me out by secret and divine signs,
Acknowledging none else, not parent, wife, husband, brother, child, any nearer than I am,
Some are baffled, but that one is not--that one knows me.
Ah lover and perfect equal,I meant that you should discover me so by faint indirections,And I when I meet you mean to discover you by the like in you.

-Possibly my favourite poem ever

Best in the Best: Spontaneous Me

2006-11-25T18:13:00.000Z

Spontaneous Me
by Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

SPONTANEOUS me, Nature,
The loving day, the mounting sun, the friend I am happy with,
The arm of my friend hanging idly over my shoulder,
The hillside whiten'd with blossoms of the mountain ash,
The same late in autumn, the hues of red, yellow, drab, purple, and light and dark green,
The rich coverlet of the grass, animals and birds, the private untrimm'd bank, the primitive apples, the pebble-stones,
Beautiful dripping fragments, the negligent list of one after another as I happen to call them to me or think of them,
The real poems, (what we call poems being merely pictures,)
The poems of the privacy of the night, and of men like me,
This poem drooping shy and unseen that I always carry, and that all men carry,
(Know once for all, avow'd on purpose, wherever are men like me, are our lusty lurking masculine poems,)
Love-thoughts, love-juice, love-odor, love-yielding, love-climbers, and the climbing sap,
Arms and hands of love, lips of love, phallic thumb of love, breasts of love, bellies press'd and glued together with love,
Earth of chaste love, life that is only life after love,
The body of my love, the body of the woman I love, the body of the man, the body of the earth, Soft forenoon airs that blow from the south-west,
The hairy wild-bee that murmurs and hankers up and down, that gripes the full-grown lady-flower, curves upon her with amorous firm legs, takes his will of her, and holds himself tremulous and tight till he is satisfied;
The wet of woods through the early hours,
Two sleepers at night lying close together as they sleep, one with an arm slanting down across and below the waist of the other,
The smell of apples, aromas from crush'd sage-plant, mint, birch-bark,
The boy's longings, the glow and pressure as he confides to me what he was dreaming,
The dead leaf whirling its spiral whirl and falling still and content to the ground,
The no-form'd stings that sights, people, objects, sting me with,
The hubb'd sting of myself, stinging me as much as it ever can any one,
The sensitive, orbic, underlapp'd brothers, that only privileged feelers may be intimate where they are,
The curious roamer the hand roaming all over the body, the bashful withdrawing of flesh where the fingers soothingly pause and edge themselves,
The limpid liquid within the young man,
The vex'd corrosion so pensive and so painful,
The torment, the irritable tide that will not be at rest,
The like of the same I feel, the like of the same in others,
The young man that flushes and flushes, and the young woman that flushes and flushes,
The young man that wakes deep at night, the hot hand seeking to repress what would master him,
The mystic amorous night, the strange half-welcome pangs, visions, sweats,
The pulse pounding through palms and trembling encircling fingers, the young man all color'd, red, ashamed, angry;
The souse upon me of my lover the sea, as I lie willing and naked,
The merriment of the twin babes that crawl over the grass in the sun, the mother never turning her vigilant eyes from them,
The walnut-trunk, the walnut-husks, and the ripening or ripen'd long-round walnuts,
The continence of vegetables, birds, animals,
The consequent meanness of me should I skulk or find myself indecent, while birds and animals never once skulk or find themselves indecent,
The great chastity of paternity, to match the great chastity of maternity,
The oath of procreation I have sworn, my Adamic and fresh daughters,
The greed that eats me day and night with hungry gnaw, till I saturate what shall produce boys to fill my place when I am through,
The wholesome relief, repose, content,
And this bunch pluck'd at random from myself, It has done its work - I toss it carelessly to fall where it may.

Sociopathic Contemplations: New Blog

2006-11-25T14:20:00.000Z

I've decided to finally come up with a new blog. It greatly differes from this one but what it lacks in madness in made up for in -I can't think of great word to put here-. I hope you enjoy it's called The Best Words in the Best Order. It's especially good for anyone that likes poetry or hear words placed together well. Enjoy.

Sociopathic Contemplations: Took Some Tests Today

2006-10-26T14:11:00.000+01:00

Boredom got the best of me so I took some intersting tests

Results:

-The Trekkie Test

Trekkiness: 141
This means you're: Commander

You know Trek, and you love it. You may not dress up in uniform every day, but you're dedicated to your series, or two, and happy with being entertained by it.

Of the 1655 unique test takers...
For: Trekkiness
8% scored higher, and 92% scored lower.
The average Raw Score is: 97.2, your's was: 141

-The Craziness Test

A: 8
This means you're: great

Really great, youre not really crazy at all

Of the 602 unique test takers...
For: A
79% scored higher, and 17% scored lower.
The average Raw Score is: 18.8, your's was: 8.

-The is your life boring Test

This means you're: a little boring

You spend a little more time bored than you do having fun but you could be worse. so go on....get out there and have some fun!!!

For: your average score (the lower the better (the less borin you are))
17% scored higher, and 78% scored lower.
The average Raw Score is: 60.8, your's was: 70.

-The Nerd Test

Nerd points: 62%
This means you're: semi-nerd

You got quite a bit of nerd in you you may want to get that checked out

Of the 98 unique test takers...
For: nerd points
65% scored higher, and 35% scored lower.
The average Raw Score is: 33.9, your's was: 31.

_________________________________________________________

Hmmm, how enlightening.

Well, I think have some hot chocolate and watch Star Trek no

Au Revoir (I think that's how you spell it)

Sociopathic Contemplations: SOLD! See the Enterprise-D Go to the Highest Bidder!

2006-10-12T14:17:00.000+01:00

To conclude my Star Trek auction descriptions.

The Christie's "40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection" auction, spanning three days last weekend (October 5-7), was momentous in many ways. But the highlight, both in price and drama, was the sale of a famous shooting model from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
This moment in Star Trek history, captured live on camera for posterity, was the auctioning of Lot 712 ... the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D. Final bid ... $500,000! Selling for 20 times the pre-sale estimate (not counting taxes and fees), this was one of the most photographed models in all of Star Trek's long history. It isn't small either (78 x 59 x 14 in.) — the buyer will need either a large house or a museum of some sort to display it. It all depends on who purchased it, of course (information we don't have). Maybe one day fans will have the opportunity to see this impressive ship.
If you were not there in person or did not watch the auction live on History.com, we have for you the next best thing: exclusive video footage! Experience the drama as the bidding unfolds, the prices spiral ever upward ... the pregnant pauses, the oohs, the aahs ... and the final cheer once bidding closes. To witness this event and to view the auction list click here ****, and no I did not just copy and paste that article.

Live long and prosper

Sociopathic Contemplations: Christie's Star Trek Auction

2006-10-08T14:15:00.000+01:00

Star Trek items beating sale hopes
A massive sale of Star Trek memorabilia has already made more than double what experts had hoped for - just half way through the three-day extravaganza.

The auction of more than 1,000 original items, including costumes, props and furniture, had raised 2.3 million dollars (£1.2 million) by lunchtime on its second day.

The top bid so far was for the main miniature Starship Voyager used in filming, which went for 132,000 dollars - more than 13 times its low estimate.

Up to 400 eager bidders, some sporting Vulcan ears, packed the salesroom at Christie's in New York at peak times.

Hundreds of bids - many more than usual - had also been made via the internet.

The vacuum-formed plastic and cast resin Starship Voyager model, which measures 61in by 24in, had only been expected to go for between 10,000 and 15,000 dollars.

The original estimate for the whole sale was just a million dollars.

It will end at around 8pm on Saturday in New York - the early hours of Sunday morning in the UK.

The lots come from the archive of CBS Paramount Tevelision and are being sold in celebration of the cult show's 40th anniversary.
Conceived by Gene Roddenberry in the mid 1960s, Star Trek has led to six television series - including a cartoon series - and 10 films, as well as novels, computer games, international conventions and a loyal following among millions of fans.

Live Long and Prosper

Sociopathic Contemplations: Judging a Reader by it's Book

2006-08-28T14:08:00.000+01:00

Something else I stumbled upon.

It may be impossible to judge a book by its cover, but a survey suggests people believe you can judge a reader by his book.

The majority of the British public - 57% - believe they can determine someone's personality by their choice of reading matter, while 42% think that a person's intelligence can be gauged in the same way.

Professor Pam Mara, a psychologist who worked on the survey, said: "How we think others see us and how we see ourselves affects all of our behaviour; book choice is one cue to others and ourselves."

A spokesman for booksellers Borders, which commissioned the survey of more than 2,000 adults, added: "With people evaluating your intelligence, background, politics and even how likeable you are by your selected reading, choosing the right book could be the key to projecting aspects of your personality."

This advice may have been heeded by George Bush who last week revealed his choice of summer reading: Camus's intellectual classic The Stranger. "He found it an interesting book and a quick read," said a White House spokesman. "We discussed the origins of existentialism."
Borders' "rough guide", which summarises what characteristics can be gleaned from a person's choice of book, marks Mr Bush as a reader of "literary fiction". This means he is likely to be "a well-educated person who reads The Independent or Guardian and tunes in to Channel 4 or BBC 2 to satisfy more leftfield interests".

Sociopathic Contemplations: Ian McEwan on the July 7th Bombings

2006-08-28T14:04:00.000+01:00

I just stumbled upto this a few moments ago, it over a year old but I found it quite interesting.

The mood of a city has never swung so sharply. On Wednesday there was no better place on earth. After the victory in Singapore, Londoners were celebrating the prospect of an explosion of new energy and creativity; those computer-generated images of futuristic wonderlands rising out of derelict quarters and poisoned industrial wastelands were actually going to be built. The echoes of rock 'n' roll in Hyde Park and its wave of warm and fundamentally decent emotions were only just fading. In Gleneagles, the summit was about to address at least - and at last - the core of the world's concerns, and we could take some satisfaction that our government had pushed the agenda. London was flying high and we moved confidently about the city - the paranoia after 9/11 and Madrid was mostly forgotten and no one had second thoughts about taking the tube. The "war on terror", that much examined trope, was an exhausted rallying cry, with all the appearance of a moth-eaten regimental banner in a village church.

But terror's war on us opened another front on Thursday morning. It announced itself with a howl of sirens from every quarter, and the oppressive drone of police helicopters. Along the Euston Road, by the new UCH - a green building rising above us like a giant surgeon in scrubs - thousands of people stood around watching ambulances filing nose to tail through the stalled traffic into the casualty department.
Police were fanning out through Bloomsbury closing streets at both ends even as you were halfway down them. The machinery of state, a great Leviathan, certain of its authority, moved with balletic coordination. Those rehearsals for a multiple terrorist attack underground were paying off. In fact, now the disaster was upon us, it had an air of weary inevitability, and it looked familiar, as though it had happened long ago. In the drizzle and dim light, the police lines, the emergency vehicles, the silent passers by appeared as though in an old newsreel film in black and white. The news of the successful Olympic bid was more surprising than this. How could we have forgotten that this was always going to happen?
The mood on the streets was of numb acceptance, or strange calm. People obediently shuffled this way and that, directed round road blocks by a whole new citizens' army of "support" officials - like air raid wardens from the last war. A man in a suit pulled a Day-Glo jacket out of his briefcase and began directing traffic with snappy expertise. A woman, with blood covering her face and neck, who had come from Russell Square tube station, briskly refused offers of help and said she had to get to work. Groups gathered impassively in the road, among the gridlocked traffic, listening through open windows to car radios.
On a pub TV the breaking news services were having trouble finding the images to match the awfulness of the event. But this was not, or not yet, a public spectacle like New York or Madrid. The nightmare was happening far below our feet. Everyone knew that if the force that mangled the bus in Tavistock Square was contained within the walls of a tunnel, the human cost would be high, and the rescue appallingly difficult. Down the far end of a closed-off street we saw emergency workers being helped into breathing equipment. We could only guess at the hell to which they must descend, and no one seemed to want to talk about it.
In Auden's famous poem, Musee des Beaux Arts, the tragedy of Icarus falling from the sky is accompanied by life simply refusing to be disrupted. A ploughman goes about his work, a ship "sailed calmly on", dogs keep on with "their doggy business". In London yesterday, where crowds fumbling with mobile phones tried to find unimpeded ways across the city, there was much evidence of the truth of Auden's insight. While rescue workers searched for survivors and the dead in the smoke-filled blackness below, at pavement level men were loading lorries, a woman sold umbrellas in her usual patch, the lunchtime sandwich makers were hard at work.
It is unlikely that London will claim to have been transformed in an instant, to have lost its innocence in the course of a morning. It is hard to knock a huge city like this off its course. It has survived many attacks in the past. But once we have counted up our dead, and the numbness turns to anger and grief, we will see that our lives here will be difficult. We have been savagely woken from a pleasant dream. The city will not recover Wednesday's confidence and joy in a very long time. Who will want to travel on the tube, once it has been cleared? How will we sit at our ease in a restaurant, cinema or theatre? And we will face again that deal we must constantly make and remake with the state - how much power must we grant Leviathan, how much freedom will we be asked to trade for our security?

Sociopathic Contemplations: The Genius of Ralph Wiggum

2006-01-20T14:02:00.000Z

I thought I'd dedicate a post to one of the greatest minds of our time, Mr Ralph Wiggum.

Ralph Wiggum Quotes

Me fail English? That's unpossible.
Hi, Super Nintendo Chalmers!
Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner were in the closet making babies and I saw one of the babies and then the baby looked at me.
Eww, Daddy, this tastes like Gramma!
I bent my wookie.
The doctor said I wouldn't have so many nose bleeds if I kept my finger outta there
Ralph: "Daddy, I'm scared. Too scared to even wet my pants."Chief Wiggum: "Just relax and it'll come, son."
I heard your dad went into a restaurant and ate everything in the restaurant and they had to close the restaurant
And, when the doctor said I didn't have worms any more, that was the happiest day of my life
I found a moonrock in my nose!
That's where I saw the Leprchaun. He tells me to burn things!

Sociopathic Contemplations: Sociopathic Facts Part Three

2005-04-04T13:57:00.000+01:00

The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
Did you know you share your birthday with at least 9 other million people in the world?
On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.
"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
The longest word in the English language is 1909 letters long and it refers to a distinct part of DNA.
Americans on the average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.
Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie.
You are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than by a poisonous spider.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
The cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth II, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
Cat's urine glows under a black light.
Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan."
If you fart consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.
Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, dogs only have about ten.
In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.
If Barbie were life-size her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand seven feet, two inches tall and have a neck twice the length of a normal human's neck.
A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
Polar bears are left-handed.
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds, that makes the catfish rank #1 for animal having the most taste buds.
The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.
The first novel ever written on a typewriter was Tom Sawyer.
Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors.
Donald Duck comics were banned in Finland because he doesn't wear pants.

More people are killed by donkeys annually than are killed in plane crashes.
The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.
TYPEWRITER, is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard.
If the population of China walked past you in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

Sociopathic Contemplations: Sociopathic Facts Part Deux

2005-04-04T13:52:00.000+01:00

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from and old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.
Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand.
Marilyn Monroe had six toes on one foot.
If you keep a Goldfish in the dark room, it will eventually turn white.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
Right handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left handed people do.
The average chocolate bar has 8 insects' legs in it.
The average human swollows 8 spiders in their lifetime at night while they sleep.
A rhinoceros horn is made of compacted hair.
It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.
The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched."
On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament Building is an American flag.
All of the clocks in the movie Pulp Fiction are stuck on 4:20.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver or purple.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
Almonds are members of the peach family.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
The youngest pope was 11 years old.
The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.
A snail can sleep for 3 years.
American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first-class.
China has more people who speak English than the United States.
The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.
A polar bear's skin is black. Its fur is not white, but actually clear.

Sociopathic Contemplations: Conspiracy Theories

2004-12-26T13:46:00.000Z

There are many conspiracy theories that make sense and that people should believe because they are probably true. However I don't know what these people were smoking when they came up with these theories. Not even the most sociopathic of us should believe them, for your own sake.
Tupac Shakur recorded the album under the name Makaveli... Machiavelli was an Italian war strategist who advocated faking one's death to fool their enemies. 2Pac studied Machiavelli's writings while in jail.
The album cover depicts Tupac crucified on a cross like Jesus Christ. We all know what happened after the crucifixion… there was a resurrection.
Instead of Suge Knight, the executive producer on the album is listed as "Simon." Simon was the apostle who helped Jesus carry the cross and one of the first to witness his resurrection. Some people say Suge Knight (CEO of Death Row records and Executive Producer of All Eyez On Me) is Simon.
There are many instances of the number seven:
Tupac was shot on September 7th.
After the shooting, 2Pac survived for seven days.
Tupac's vehicle was shot 12 times; 5 of those bullets hit 2Pac. That leaves seven bullets.
Tupac's recorded time of death, 4:03, adds up to 7 (4 + 0 + 3).
A voice on the album says, "And if the Lord returns in the coming seven days, then we'll see ya next time."
Tupac's first release on Suge Knight's Death Row label, All Eyez On Me, was released on February 13, 1996 - exactly seven months before his death.
It’s in the album’s title. Many believe that the meaning behind the "seven day theory" (part of the album's title) is Tupac will return September 2003… seven years after his death.

One site says that they believe that there is a reptilian alien speciese that certain famous figures belong to.
A list of other people Arizona Wilder says that she has seen shapeshift into Reptiles at these rituals;USA: Bush and 2 sons, Albright, Kissinger, Reagan and nancy, J Rockefeller, Ford, Carter and LB Johnson. EUROPE: Queen Mum, Queen Liz II, Princess margaret, Charles, Tony Blair, and prince Philip, Zacharia Sitchin, Lawrence Gardiner.The big International and Interstellar leader she says is a chap called the Marquis de Libero - aka Pindar [phallus of the Dragon] who provides superior seed to impregnate the specially bred Aryan and Bloodline Children with - including - Princess Diana - who brought forth Prince William - Pindars son.In the underground vaults of his castle in the Alsace Region of France, green glowing flourescent rocks turn stored menstrual blood black to be used at that special ritual - whilst in the great heat, clutches of Reptile Eggs incubate.The Queen Mother is second to Pindar/Libero and she is carried on a rich ornate chair before she changes into something much bigger and stronger. At the ceremonies, volumous robes of red or purple richly decorated with gold, sewn jewels, and embroidered fleur de Lys are worn, not any human clothes for these would tear during the shift.All the British House apparently have jewel encrusted goblets to drink the blood from the symbolic female 'grail' and a symbolic dagger to give it a bit of a stir. Arizona Wilder then went on to describe the appearance of the British Royal family when they have underwent the shape shift.The Queen mum is 8 feet tall, with a snout, and fangs. All have a long tongue with hair-like protrusions - with claws for hands and feet. They have scales and these seem to disappear into one another, this, more pronounced on the back. Some have vestigial wings, all have a tail usually kept curled which is whipped about when agitated.The Queen Mum has a beige belly and more darkly speckled and mottled brown from the head and spine. The body has protrusions running down the spine. The eyes are large and round, protruding, varying in clour from beige to yellow to yellow green - with a black vertical slit for a pupil - the eyes can be hooded. Charles apprently has two large protrusions just above where his human ears are.The Queen [Liz II] is much darker, all over much more homogenous in marking, where the colours gradually and smoothly change to the head, tail and back.Arizona Wilder says that the princess Diana death was a ritual public sacrifice to usher in the Age of Horus [Egyptian magical tradition - rebirth of the dead god Osiris]. Because the magicians like to mirror dates, the dark goddess Hecates number is 13, which was why the 31st august was chosen.
How they came up with these theories are beyond me. Did you hear the one about Hitler being cloned.

Sociopathic Contemplations: Polical Correctness

2004-12-26T13:44:00.000Z

People apparently need to be corrected on everything, in this case people need to be particularly careful when talking to or about women-Why? I don't know who wrote this, I doubt it was a woman.

She does not GAIN WEIGHT - She is a METABOLIC UNDERACHIEVER.
She does not TEASE or FLIRT - She engages in ARTIFICIAL STIMULATION.
She is not DUMB - She is a DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY.
She is not TOO SKINNY - She is SKELETALLY PROMINENT.
She does not HAVE A MUSTACHE - She is IN TOUCH WITH HER MASCULINE SIDE.
She does not HATE TELEVISED SPORTS - She is ATHLETICALLY IGNORANT.
She has not BEEN AROUND - She is a PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED COMPANION.
She does not WEAR TOO MUCH PERFUME - She commits FRAGRANCE ABUSE.
She does not GO SHOPPING - She is MALL FLUENT.
She is not an AIR HEAD - She is REALITY IMPAIRED.
She does not get DRUNK or TIPSY - She gets CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED.
She does not get FAT or CHUBBY - She achieves MAXIMUM DENSITY.
She is not COLD or FRIGID - She is THERMALLY INACCESSIBLE.
She does not WEAR TOO MUCH MAKEUP - She has reached COSMETIC SATURATION.
She does not NAG YOU - She becomes VERBALLY REPETITIVE

Sociopathic Contemplations: Articles of Hilarity Part II

2004-12-22T13:40:00.000Z

This is a second installment of hilarious newspaper columns I found. Have fun reading these ones.

Vicious squirrel terrorises town
A SMALL TOWN terrorised by a vicious squirrel was resting easy today after the pest was shot by a vengeful grandfather.
This squirrel had been terrorising people around here for weeks
The people of Knutsford, Cheshire, were living in fear following numerous unprovoked attacks by the grey squirrel.
Its victims included a man who was attacked as he mowed the lawn and a woman who was bitten on the ankle as she walked along the street.
But the final straw came when the animal attacked two-year-old Kelsi Morley as she took a morning stroll with her mother.
The girl stopped to admire the squirrel before it pounced on her face and sank its teeth into her forehead.
Kelsi's mother, Karen Morley, had to pin the girl to the floor and pull the animal off her face. The youngster was left bleeding heavily from a deep gash.
Kelsi's grandfather Geoff Horth was so incensed by the attack that he hunted down the animal to a nearby copse and shot it dead with an air rifle.
Mr Horth's wife said: 'This squirrel had been terrorising people around here for weeks. After the attack on Kelsi, my daughter phoned the environmental health and the RSPCA but they didn't want to know.
'When Geoff saw what had happened, he just wanted to put a stop to it. He said if it had bitten a child's face this time, what would it do next? He didn't want any more children getting hurt.
'He went out on the evening and couldn't find it but he got it the next morning.
'He is sometimes asked by farmers around here to go out and shoot vermin on the estates so he knows what he is doing and he is quite a good shot.'
It is thought the animal, which had a distinctive bald patch on its tail, may have been taken in as a pet and lost its fear of people before becoming aggressive and escaping.

Fat hamster cheats death
A PET HAMSTER was sucked up by a vacuum cleaner but avoided being pulled into the machine - because he was so fat.
Just inches from death, nine-month-old Rusher got wedged in the cleaner's nozzle, as Amanda Horniman was cleaning her six-year-old son Jack's room.
Husband Nick, a vet, pulled Rusher out of the nozzle, describing him as 'a little bit fazed, but all right'.
'If he had been a thin hamster, things would have been a lot worse,' said Mrs Horniman, of Tibberton, Gloucestershire.

Desktop punch-up STRESSED? WHY NOT let it all out by hitting your computer - plenty of us do, it seems.
A few unplugged their machines and hurled them down stairs
A survey has found one in four office workers vent their anger and frustration by battering their PC.
The favoured abuse is a strong slap on the side of the monitor. Others said they threw pens, notepads and rulers at it - some even smashed the screen with a single punch.
A few, having a really bad day, unplugged their machines and hurled them down stairs and fire escapes, a study by IT firm Novatech found.

Burglar stopped to cook fish A HUNGRY DUTCH burglar was caught frying a fish on the job after the smell of his cooking woke up the man whose house he was burgling.
It doesn't happen very often that a burglar's only motive is food
'The man was casually frying up a fish. The householder who was asleep in the attic was woken up by the smell. When she went to investigate she found the man standing at the oven,' Marieke Schoneveld, a police spokesman, said.
The 45-year-old intruder, who had also smoked a cigarette, told police he liked fish and had taken a cold beer from the fridge to go with his meal. He had loaded up his bag with other drinks, but had not stolen anything else.
'It doesn't happen very often that a burglar's only motive is food,' Ms Schoneveld said.

Ha Ha Ha-It's hilarious how people can act, even when it can result in a jail sentence. When will they learn?

Sociopathic Contemplations: Four Easy Questions

2004-12-21T13:34:00.000Z

From certain pieces of evidence many have come to the conclusion that mental illness in caused by intelligence. The smarter you are the larger you risk or insanity. Knowledge can drive you crazy.

Here are some "Simple" questions I obtained from a fellow sociopathic site. They are meant to test if you can be a professional, but technically they test your smarts too. The more you get right, the further along that road to madness you are. The less you get right, the more you'll have to travel. Have fun!

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?
-Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.

2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
-Did you say, "Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?" (Wrong Answer)
-Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend except one. Which animal does not attend?
-The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory. OK, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.

4. There is a river you must cross but it is inhabited by crocodiles. How do you manage it?
-You swim across. All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong. But many preschoolers got several correct answers.

Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four year old.

If you want to test your insanity click on this link.

http://www.goyk.com/flash.asp?path=160

Sociopathic Contemplations: Articles of Hilarity Part I

2004-12-10T13:23:00.000Z

There are so many hilarious things that people put in newspapers nowadays that a times it's just a comedy shack on paper. There was a large magnitude of comedic stories in todays paper alone; not to mention the website.

Illegal insect fighting
MORE THAN 100 people have been arrested for illegally betting on insect fights.
Five of the suspects were connected to the triads
Undercover officers raided a social club where crickets were being matched against one another. More than £600 in cash was recovered.

Who said birds don't get drunk?
GERMAN POLICE HAVE apprehended a vicious crow which was attacking passers-by by getting it drunk on bait laced with alcohol, authorities say.
The crow was completely smashed
The bird eluded its captors after attacking a woman and a young girl at the weekend until cat food soaked in high-alcohol fruit schnapps proved too tempting to resist.
'The crow was completely smashed,' said a spokesman for police in the western city of Dortmund. Police said the crow was sleeping off its hangover in a local animal home.

Veggie theft
POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING the unlikeliest of burglaries, during which two men broke into a prison and stole a sackful of cabbages.
They scaled the outer walls of the jail and attacked a guard who disturbed them, before grabbing 40kg of vegetables and fleeing.
They were apprehended a short while later and now face trial for assault.
Court officials said that, if convicted, the men are likely to be sent to the same prison in Arad, Romania.

Fat actor was alleged to be murder weapon
A FAT GERMAN actor accused of squashing his accountant to death burst into tears when he was jailed for 15 years by a Munich court.
It looks like a case of cold blubbered murder
Guenther Kaufmann, who weighs in at nearly 19 stone, was both exhibit A - the murder weapon - and the accused in the proceedings at a court in Munich. It was the first time in German legal history that a person has been charged with using their fat to murder someone.
The case was originally adjourned in July for police to investigate further leads. But after no new material was discovered the case was restarted ending with the call for the life sentence.
Kaufmann, whose defence that was that the death was an accident, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of attempted grievous robbery and blackmail with fatal consequences.
He had earlier claimed: 'I simply fell on him - I didn't mean to kill him.' One local newspaper said in an irresistible pun: 'It looks like a case of cold blubbered murder'.
According to the 55-year-old actor, a big name in German theatre who also had TV roles in productions like superstar German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder's classic 'The Marriage of Maria Braun'. He said he accidentally fell on his friend during a fight over loans he had not repaid.
"All of a sudden he was no longer moving," sobbed a tearful Kaufmann. A post-mortem on the 60-year-old tax adviser showed he suffocated to death. The prosecution alleges Kaufmann pressed the tax advisor's face into the carpet while lying on top of him and waited until he could no longer breathe. Medical experts said this would have taken around five minutes.

What your laugh says about you
ARE YOU A snorter, a sniggerer or a cackler? Or perhaps you're more of a belly-buster or a chuckler?
Cacklers - given to loud, ape-like shrieks - are often rejoicing in others' misfortune
You had better hope to be the latter, because how you laugh can reveal the darker side of your personality.
A snorter is a snob expressing their disapproval, while a sniggerer is insensitive, unsympathetic and immature.
Cacklers - given to loud, ape-like shrieks - are often rejoicing in others' misfortune.
Chucklers, on the other hand, are kind, thoughtful people, while the belly-buster is open and trustworthy.
But whatever you do, steer clear of the howler streaming tears and flailing limbs suggest a dangerous neurological condition, according to researchers for comedy channel UKTV.

With these comedic columns the newspapers are alot more fun to read.
Did you ever hear the one about the Italian nun on the run after a hit and run.
Or the man placed in hospital after a pig was thrown out a window at him.

Sociopathic Contemplations: Sociopathic Facts From a Fellow Sociopathic Site

2004-10-21T13:28:00.000+01:00

These Facts contain some necessary but mainly unecessry information that will make you question so much. Enjoy!

American car horns beep in the tone of F.

The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray
blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.

A Boeing 747's wingspan is longer than the Wright brothers' first flight.

The albatross drinks sea water. It has a special
desalinization apparatus that strains out and excretes all excess salt.

In Clarendon, Texas, there is reportedly a law on the books that lawyers must accept eggs, chickens, or other produce, as well as money, as payment of legal fees.

Cats purr at 26 cycles per second, the same as an idling diesel engine.

A dragonfly flaps its wings 20 to 40 times a second, bees and houseflies 200 times, some mosquitoes 600 times, and a tiny gnat 1,000 times.

Adolf Hitler's mother seriously considered having an abortion
but was talked out of it by her doctor.

Marilyn Monroe had six toes.

The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.

A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why

The first owner of the Marlboro company died of lung cancer.

Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

Betsy Ross is the only real person
to ever have been the head on a Pez dispenser.

The citrus soda 7-UP was created in 1929;
"7" was selected because the original containers were 7 ounces.
"UP" indicated the direction of the bubbles.

The combination "ough" can be pronounced in nine different ways.
The following sentence contains them all:
"A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed."

Facetious and abstemious contain all the vowels in the correct order, as does arsenious, meaning "containing arsenic."

The United States has never lost a war in which mules were used.

Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan.

All porcupines float in water.

Cat's urine glows under a black light.

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.

1 in every 4 Americans has appeared on television.

Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty years of age or older.

Non-dairy creamer is flammable.

When opossums are playing 'possum', they are not "playing."
They actually pass out from sheer terror

A group of unicorns is called a blessing.
Twelve or more cows are known as a "flink."
A group of frogs is called an army.
A group of rhinos is called a crash.
A group of kangaroos is called a mob
A group of whales is called a pod.
A group of ravens is called a murder.
A group of officers is called a mess.
A group of larks is called an exaltation.
A group of owls is called a parliament.

Ivory bar soap floating was a mistake. They had been overmixing the soap formula causing excess air bubbles that made it float. Customers wrote and told how much they loved that it floated, and it has floated ever since. [It floats in gasoline, too.]

If you could count the number of times a cricket chirps in one minute, divide by 2, add 9 and divide by 2 again, you would have the correct temperature in Celsius degrees

During the Civil War, Robert E. Lee was offered command of the Union Army before he accepted his post with the Confederacy.

Margaret Higgins Sanger, the birth-control pioneer, was one of eleven children.

There are more than 15,000 different varieties of rice.

When a man died in ancient Egypt, the females in his family would smear their heads and faces with mud and wander through the city beating themselves and tearing off their clothes.

Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks
or it will digest itself.