The Cove-My friend

Has anyone out there seen this documentary? If not, WATCH it. It is so heart breaking, that everyone needs to be subjected to know the truth of the world. This documentary, narrates the life of Dolphins all around the world , being driven to a horrific fate of murder. Japan doesn't know this happening in their own back yard, we need to watch, and spread the word. Take part!! http://www.thecovemovie.com/

Shoes that tie themselves???......

Woke up the other morning to the morning show, to see that we now have sneakers that tie themselves? What is this world coming to and who will REALLY buy these? This world has become so lazy, and these inventions are just adding to the laziness and obesity in the world. But then again, from an inventors perspective, why wouldn't you invent them, because lets face it; people WILL buy these!! If people want to invent things from movies like 'Back to the Future' Why don't they start with the Jetsins, flying cars. Just a thought. http://www.nydailynews.com/tech_guide/2010/08/30/2010-08-30_shoes_that_tie_themselves_nikes_working_on_automatic_lacing_system_for_sneakers.html

Saturday Night Live - Wedding Venue - Video - NBC.com

Saturday Night Live - Wedding Venue - Video - NBC.com

The American Cancer Society; The official sponsor of Birthdays.

The two links posted above this post, brings joy to my heart. 

Back in 2008, my whole word changed, as my mother, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  It was a shock and the scariest day in my life.  Her go get them attitude made it all OK.  My entire family, untied together in being STRONG for her and everyone else fighting cancer.  We become seriously involved with the breast cancer community, from walking the 39.3 mile 2 day Avon Walk for breast cancer in May, as well as walking this 5 mile American Cancer Societies; Making Strides against breast cancer walk THIS SUNDAY OCT. 3rd! 

These commercials, contain a narrative that I had never seen before.  They enable to viewer to become emotionally connected to everyone in the commercial.  I personally can't help but cry when I see them, because not only does it make SO thankful that my mother is whole, healed and healthy, but that if everyone does rally together, as ONE, we can find a cure, and we can FIGHT BACK!

If anyone is interested in doing this walk (which I highly recommend) we are walking Sunday around the Charles River, in Boston.  The walk is 5 miles, with a 3 mile alternative.  It is not a walk that is fast, and strenuous, it a walk that enjoyable and emotional every step of the way.  You will be surrounded by survivors, families, friends, and those who are fighting the fight.  It is an experience that I believe everyone should experience, because you really don't know what it's like until you do it.  You will be filled with love and joy, and I promise you will leave there with a stronger appreciation for everything and everyone you have in your life.  You can email me at tkeefe@student.bridgew.edu if you want to join our team!  We have people walking from 5 years to 70 years old; everyone can do this walk! 

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Justin Bieber sings "Happy Birthday" for the American Cancer Society Ad

The Social network

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHkYEC-UfTo

Social media is apparent in everyones life, and we all remember Tom from Myspace, yet I've never known much about the invention of Facebook.  Hopefully, this movie starring Jesse
Eisenberg, Rooney Mara, and Bryan  Barter will be a success.  The actors are hilarious and the trailer seems to show all good examples of what we see on facebook daily. Taking the entire social experience and putting it on the internet.  Did we ever think that our lives would revolve around the media tools such as FACEBOOK? I certainly did not.  I remember I was against facebook when it first came out, and when then a friend made me a site, and I was hooked, just like that. 

FOX 25 news @ 10 Sept. 21st, 2010

Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I turned on the news.  Nothing out of the ordinary, as we always watch the news before bed, but last night was not like a night on the news I've seen in such a while.  I know I've posted before about the news, and the way they seem to only broadcast about terrible tragedies, but last night was different.  It was disturbing.  The majority of segments were based around children.  A father murdering his wife and two children, a woman who had her baby and 4 hours later the baby was found with the umbilical cord still attached, another man who murdered his wife and 9 month old baby.  This level of disturbances about specific child related deaths was,  I can't even express to you the distress I felt, and still do.  They show these photos of the adorable poor innocent children, who are no longer with us and their fathers are sitting in 10 x 8 prison cell.  I feel sickness, and sympathy for these poor families who had to endure these horrific tragedies in their lives.  I feel more anger than anything, that these people exist, who claim they HAD to murder their families, because they got themselves too 'deep' into their lives; finances, and responsibilities. 

Something needs to change. 

News broadcasts turned into popular music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSYeRBW8GM
Think link will take you a song/video that is hillarious.  These two men, take things broadcasted on the news and use an auto toner to change the voices of 'real' people' after real events take place.  The use this auto toner to manipualte the words, and add background music to make it catchy and very main stream.  This link will and should take you to many more auto toned songs from news broadcasts across the country.  They have even partnered up with the hit band 'Weezer' and made a song with them.  These men are going far with their talent.  Hey, who said you can't find fame on youtube?  Justin Beiber was found on there.  There are also ringtones available for these auto toned tracks.

Prison Break

Prison break is show that had ended in its fourth season this fall.  Although the show is 'over', I just started watching it.  I prefer to watch series after they are over, so I don't need to wait with crazy anticipation on what happens next week!
Spoiler alert! If anyone has not seen this show (which I reccomend seeing) don't read on!
Prison Break is a show that takes place in and out of a state prison.  The main character, Michael is desperate to free his brother who is on death row in the prison Fox River.  Michael, an engineer dedicates his life to free his innocent brother!  He tattoos the ENTIRE prison on his body, as well as how he'll escape.  Along the way, he runs into problem after problem, and these problems were not tattooed on his body, so it left him on edge and made him think on the moment.  This makes for such a great narrative! It is structured through his life, as well as a few others (who enter his life along the way).  It is constatley being told through the eyes of himself as well as through another character. The director of this show is brilliant.  The use of camera angle, characters, and plot all intertwine, and you never end an episode knowing what is going to happen next; it's always open ended, and to make that makes for an amazing show, with an incredibly narrative. A MUST SEE in my eyes. 

Sleep deprivation

I feel like everyone I've spoken too over the past few weeks have had complaints of feeling sleepy, or just not being able to sleep! It's driving me crazy! The change of season is always a hard time of year for me, but this year it's just insane! Witch city web had this article on their site, about dealing witrh the change of seasons; if anyone else is feeling the pain this quarter, read up!


http://www.witchcityweb.com/109/addressing-the-change-of-season/
Here are some tips to better address the change of season  The first thing to do is clean the liver: eat lots of fruits and vegetables in season and not consumed alcohol, coffee and cheese.  Drink plenty of water, preferably mineral content of calcium and magnesium which give more energy to the cells: important continuous hydration to help the body to eliminate toxins accumulated over the winter and to deal with sweating due to temperature variation.  Consume whole foods, rich in fiber and magnesium.  Avoid possible coffee, chocolate, cigarettes (containing intoxicating), fatty or fried foods (contributing to fatigue the body).  More time and attention to themselves crucial to the psychological well-being. Enjoysome "reward", to take care of themselves or indulge in a passion for combating stress and irritability.  Successfully managing hours of sleep, without abruptly changing their habits. And always follow the advice to promote good sleep and be more relaxed these days that require more energy.  Alternate work or study at moments of rest and relaxation, important not to overdo it at this time.  Prefer the morning for activities that require more concentration, because it was' more receptive.  Important supplement any deficiencies in vitamins, salts or other elements that contribute to physical wellbeing.  Try to limit exposure in places that may trigger allergic reactions, such as parks and open countryside.  Do not skip meals: it weakens and slows the merger. Similarly, no abbuffatevi, would only increase the feeling of exhaustion. Better alternating light but frequent meals, rich in protein and vitamins.  Drinking green tea antioxidants and drink.  Making a minimum of physical activity, it seems paradoxical, but the lack of movement (physical activity) tired more.

NDM-1 Superbug

NDM-1

Have you seen the news lately?  Have you heard of this new super bug that is extremely resistant to antibiotics, more so than other bacterias! NDM-1 stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 It has began spreading and has already hit new Britain.  India or Pakistan appears to the root of this incurable bug, as 50 cases have been reported in the UK, and all 50 of these patients have had recent visits or surgery's in Pakistan and Iraq.  I don't know how to react to this.  It is more threatening that the triple e virus, which they have only started spraying for a few years ago, but when triple e hit the US people were in a panic.  Do I panic?  Or just not travel to Pakistan and Iraq and have a surgery?  The news makes this out to be a horrific thing to possibly be a threat to the US, but what do they want us to do?  They put these stories all over the news, and articles are being written nearly daily, to inform us.  But my question is, why are they putting the fear of God in all us?  They can inform us, I agree with that, but i find it so frustrating to get this pit in my stomach watching the news, thinking of this hitting the US.  I'm not sure what to make of this.


Watch the Link above ! 

Narrative in Media

As we go in to our topic of the week; narrative in TV, novels, Video games and Film I have come to some sort of realization on the topic.  Narrative is all we know in this generation.  Everything we do, see, observe and sink in to our minds, is based around narrative.  When we're talking to friends and family, we have are using a narrative, and the plot is prepared in our minds.  This hold true with all media aspects as well.  We see a headline on the nightly news, horrific attacks, kidnapping, global disasters all these have the same outcome; distress.  My question is what or should I say why the media portrays our everyday lives as tragic and epidemics?  Why can't video games have a positive outcome, why cant video games be based around rescuing people in danger without using violence?  Well, simply put, people wont buy them and people wont play them, so they are not created.  Even games aimed for children rated G, have some sort of inappropriate language or behaviors.  This is distressing to me, because the way I see it, is that the people created these video games, films and novels are creating our future.  And yes, parents and teachers can not allow for their children to watch, read or play these examples, but realistically, they will and the scares me.  Only a few years ago the Columbine shooting took place, and the man responsible was a video game player who wanted to act it out real life.  just those few years ago video games started to become more graphic and more intense, now a days they are FAR beyond that.  This may come across as me going on a tangent, but realistically the Media needs to change, and the narratives need to be displayed in a more positive light, or the world in going to be in a rude awakening.

I still feel pain when my poor grandparents who are so wholesome and old fashioned, ask me; Why?  Why the world is full of hate and anger, when it used to be such a peaceful place.  I don't know if this is just me, or if this is even comparable to anyone else's feelings, but what do you think?  Should the media try placing a new ideology on narratives?  Would this even work?  Or really, would this ever last?

The Perfect Storm

Each and every year my mother, grandmother and I sit down and create a list of things we want to see or do over the next 12 months.  The list is very long, as some of the things we want to see are a bit outrageous (i.e; Backpacking through Europe) yet I know that with enough faith and passion towards doing something, it will happen.  Positive thinking reflects positive results!  Well, let me get to the title; The perfect storm.  A movie made in 1991 filmed right out of Gloucester, Ma.  Gloucester..never had I thought that Gloucester would place on interest, until the movie hit theaters. By the way, if you have not seen this film, do yourself a favor and watch it; it is one of the most powerful films I've seen, and truly makes you appreciate fisherman.  I know, such a negative cliche that was cast upon Fisherman, but these men and women really do put their lives on the line each time they sail out to the open sea.

The film highlights certain parts of Gloucester as well as particular families.  These parts and families are real.  The move truly captured the essence of these fisherman and their families, with only a few 'Hollywood' changes made.  The last Friday in august, my mom, my grandmother, and I went to Cape Ann a small area in Gloucester, which praises their fisherman.  We went on the typical whale watch (which by the way was AMAZAING) and got to talk to a few locals about the filming and deep truths about the 5 men lost at sea while heading home on the 'Andrea Gail' from a fishing expedition.

A famous bar where all the local fisherman 'hung out' is the Crows nest.  This bar depicted on the water in the film, yet it is directly across the street.  As typical tourists we had to go there, so we got off the whale watch around 2pm and went to bar.  This bar however was not just any bar, it was the most disgusting, filthily hole in a wall bar I have been inside; yet it looks exactly as the film depicted it.  The bar tender working the day did not appreciate our snooping with 'boozin' (as she called it) so we all had a beer.  How odd, to be in this famous bar, nearly being forced to drink! Well this drink bought us more that a bar tab, it allowed us the freedom to snoop! This snooping lead to photo album of the cast filming in Gloucester, and even a man across the bar who looked as though he had one too many Vodka and Tonics, who told us true stories of the real men lost at sea.  For once, I was able to say that Hollywood, and the media truly gave a performance of realism and honesty, something you would only expect from a documentary. 

All in all, this was one of the best experiences Ive gained from our fun yearly 'buckt list' and would recommend this experience to everyone who reads this. BUT you must watch the movie before going; usually the other way around, watching it first gives you an advantage for snooping! 

Ps. All the fried fish served at McDonald's, come from Gloucester; Gordon's Fish Co. is right on the water where the Andrea Gail sailed out from.