Friday, October 30, 2009

Can Exercise Effect Your Mood?

Can exercise affect your mood?

By Jennifer Sutcliffe

During exercise the brain triggers the release of endorphins from the pituitary gland. These “happy chemicals” create a sense of well being and contentment.

Franchesca Cacciarru, 27, a student at London Metropolitan University, agrees with this she says that when she exercises, “it changes my mood and I feel more positive. If I have had a bad day I go running and I feel I release all my negative feelings.”

Franchesca has always exercised a lot throughout her life. When she lived at home in Italy she played football for a team three times a week for three hours at a time. Now running is her exercise of choice and she does this every day.

It has been proven that regular exercise leads to increased energy levels. As you exercise your heart rate increases and this pumps more oxygenated blood around the body. As the blood circulates around the body more oxygen is delivered to the muscles, the brain and the rest of the body. The effect of this oxygen rich blood allows for quicker recovery, heightened brain activity and an overall greater level of activity.

Sport when played in a team can increase your mood as the team camaraderie and interaction with other people with a similar healthy goal creates a positive atmosphere. Franchesca said that she enjoys running alone but she enjoyed exercise more when she played in a team.

There was a time last year when Franchesca was doing too much exercise. She said that she was doing 400 sit ups a day and developed bad back pain as a result. She admits that she became obsessed by exercise and said, “I couldn’t wait for that hour of the day to come so I could exercise. If I didn’t have that energy release I felt really affected by it.”

This is when exercise can affect your mood in a negative way. Franchesca went to the doctor and he advised her to cut back on the exercise. Due to the back pain Franchesca could not run. This had a great impact on her and she said, “this really affected my mood and how I organised my day. I had more nerves and I was angrier as I did not have the release from exercise.”

Exercise clearly has a positive effect on the body and the mind but people should be careful not to become too obsessed as this could have a detrimental effect.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

"The Beatles and Bob Dylan for your Christmas stocking." - by William Briggs

Christmas 2009 is set to be the worst in years for consumer spending. The news at the beginning of the 8 week shopping season was that the U.K. is in the worst recession for 50 years. Against that background anyone buying presents, particularly anything as frivolous as extra media support, wants them to be as high quality and long lasting as possible. Fortunate then, that two of the biggest and most reliable names in the music industry currently have products to push onto nervous buyers.

Initially, Bob Dylan's album of Christmas songs was thought to be false rumour that had leaked out into the public domain from one of the more obsessive Dylan websites. When Warner Brothers announced a release date the rumour became that the old groaner would be sending some kind of enigmatic curve ball into the holiday-market. Versions of 'Masters of War' and 'The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll' with added sleigh-bells, maybe? Or an album of depressing Christmas songs - 'Another Auld Lang Syne' by Dan Fogelberg, 'Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis' by Tom Waits, that kind of thing.

Instead, Christmas in the Heart is an even bigger surprise; a full-on, joyful Yuletide celebration that will raise a smile even from those who regard Christmastime as nothing more than the mid-way point in their Seasonal Adjustment Disorder cycle.

So far, reviewers' reaction to this has been one of humorous surprise with the odd suggestion that legends shouldn't be doing this kind of thing thrown in. Pre-releasing the album to U.S. customers of Citibank's rewards programme generated a few sniffy remarks by our own Guardian , but what is more Christmassy than giving hardworking, recession-struck savers a little treat?

At 68, covering songs made famous by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole is the next logical step for Dylan. In recent years he has sounded less like the angry voice of a lost generation and more like a traditional singer (or as your Dad would say, a 'proper singer'), drawing his inspiration from the Great American Songbook. The standout tracks are a slowed-down, bluesy 'I'll be home For Christmas', a bouncy, accordion-driven 'Must Be Santa', and beautiful readings of 'Winter Wonderland' ,'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' and .'The Christmas Song' (The big highlight for me, by the way, is hearing the angry man who sang 'Like A Rolling Stone' singing the cute lines about chestnuts roasting on an open-fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose). The sound of Dylan's voice has always split opinions and these days he sounds like a crooning Old Testament prophet or a man with a severe adenoid problem, according to personal taste. But there is no doubt that he sounds like he's having fun and the sheer novelty of that will draw in extra listeners.

Maybe the whole point was to put a few reviewers' noses out of joint, but all proceeds go to charity, so if you're looking for an unusual present for a music fan, and want to spend less than a tenner, it should suit.

The Beatles product that will be flying out of stores this Christmas (that is, the re-mastered back catalogue, mono and stereo box-sets and the Beatles: Rock Band video game) is as high quality as you would expect. On the albums front you should know the drill already. Everything is as wonderful as you will remember, or if you're younger, as wonderful as you'll have been told.
Sgt. Pepper is still a generation- defining masterpiece. Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour and Rubber Soul are still all masterpieces, but ones that take a little longer to settle in the listener's ears. Abbey Road and Let It Be still show that even when a great band is breaking up they can go into the studio and knock out something breathtaking if they put their collective minds to it. The White Album is, as ever, sprawling and marvellous and makes you want to play around with its running order. Everything else (the two singles collections Past Masters Vol. I and II, Please Please Me, With The Beatles and Beatles For Sale, Hard Days Night and Help) is packed with moments of magic and wonder. Even the Yellow Submarine soundtrack, normally regarded as the runt of the litter containing only six Beatles songs and George Martin's film score, has two all-time classics in 'All You Need is Love' and 'Hey Bulldog'.

Put simply, there is nothing critical to say. Thanks to Apple Corps marketing campaign, not even a hint of the download-era drop off in sales that affects the rest of the music industry. The initial shipping in September of 5 million units sold out in just over a week and the luxury items in the reissue (the box-sets which sell at around £200 each) are approaching 200'000 sales a piece.

At this time of year, sales won't need any help but the value of their unique selling point should be stressed. The remastered sound (all done on "a Pro Tools workstation operating at 24-bit 192kHz resolution via a Prism A-D converter", you'll be pleased to hear ) breathes new life into the music. Things you have heard hundreds of times before such as the sitar on 'Norwegian Wood' or the orchestra on 'Day in the Life' suddenly sound like they are being played live, a few feet away. Although the concept of a non-download album that can be held in your hands might need explaining to anyone under 30, Beatles albums are special cases; works of art that deserve to go on a shelf rather than a computer.

The Beatles: Rock Band videogame is a greater financial investment, assuming that you already have an Xbox or a Playstation all the kit required to make your front room look like the Cavern Club will set you back around £180. You can of course save a few pounds by only buying the game and a microphone but that would miss the point of playing along, which is to join in. Other editions of the Rock Band series have appealed to the kind of scary loners who will happily sit on their own playing 'Smoke on the Water' on an imaginary guitar from Christmas Eve unt

il they have to go back to work. But Beatles music is communal, and the biggish outlay required to buy the game will repay itself by solving family tensions at Christmas for years to come. Playing Beatles: Rock Band, you realise that all the clichés about their music bringing people together are true. However you feel about your nearest and dearest, it's impossible to dislike them on Christmas morning when you're all playing 'Octopus's Garden'.

Buy it, and you'll never have sit through The Sound of Music together again.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The London Premium - the cost of studying in London

Being a student these days is a costly business. With tuition fees rising year on year and with plans to see them rise to as much as £5000 or even £7000 going to university is not cheap. It is even more expensive if you choose to study in the capital.

Because of the recession more and more people are deciding to go to university and there is a 45% increase on applications for university places compared to last year.

London offers a large amount of universities and University College London has just been voted fourth best in the world ahead of Oxford. However the cost of living in the capital compared to other university towns and cities is considerably more.

According to the UCL website the average cost of living in London for a first year student living in self catering halls is approximately £220 per week. Compared to Manchester where according to the university website the cost is £178 per week and in Leeds according to the university website the cost is £152.75 per week.

All though there does not seem to be a great difference between the cost of living when this is calculated for a whole year the cost of living in London compared to Leeds is £2000 more for an academic year.

Over a three year degree course this is a staggering £6000 more. No wonder more and more students are relying on the bank of Mum and Dad. According to a Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) survey parents are contributing 61% (£69.51) compared to 58% in 2008 (£64.12).

Becky Pugh who has just finished a three year degree at UCL said: “I have nearly £10,000 more debt compared to my friends who were in university in Newcastle and Leeds. I was aware that when I came to London it would be expensive but not as much as this.”

British students, according to predictions, are likely to spend £362 million on housing and living costs over the next academic year.

James Sutcliffe a first year medical student at Manchester University said: “I have just started at university and budgeting is something that I am getting used to. I rely on my parents for an allowance as I don’t have time with all my lectures and studying to get a part time job.”

After paying out all of the money for university students are expecting to get jobs as soon as they finish in order to start paying off their large debts, but this is not as easy as it seems.
The RBS survey also shows that 65% of students still expect to find a job in their first year of leaving university and with the amount of debt that students are finishing university with this is more important than ever.

Some students are finding it difficult to get jobs though. Becky Pugh said: “It is very disheartening not being able to find a job. Most jobs specify that they want three years experience but I am sure that if they just gave me a chance I could prove that I am more than capable of doing the job.”

Living in London is expensive for students and learning to manage their finances is a key way of finishing university with minimum debt.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Making famous waves...

Celebrity Yacht Owners

Holidays are all about rest, relaxation, and luxury. And when it comes to celebrities, you can count on them to go overboard by spending time - and money, in exotic locations, onboard some of the world's most luxurious yachts.

Privacy from the paps While stars continue to shell out on traditional holidays in exotic resorts and luxury villas, the allure of a holiday onboard a luxury yacht is more appealing than ever.

Villas are great, but the moment a star tries to leave the property, their privacy is compromised. On board a yacht, the celebrity is normally out of the public eye. The yacht crews are very discreet, and usually no one even knows the star was on board until the charter has ended.

This extra privacy, along with 5-star service and over-the-top onboard facilities would be appealing to most, but for today's A-list celebrities a yachting holiday is nothing short of heaven.

The increase of private air charter companies makes it easy for the stars to jet off anywhere around the world, to find a chartered yacht and crew awaiting their arrival.

Destination unknown In the summer, celebrities will flock to the Mediterranean. Globally regarded as the original destination of the "jet set," yachting along the Riviera first became popular in the 1950s with celebrities like Jackie Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo onboard.

The Balearic Islands are a also a favourite destaination. With celebrity couples like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas enjoying a luxury yacht holiday on the island of Majorca.

During Winter celebrity A-listers head to the sunshine of the Caribbean. You'll find the most expensive yachts docked along the quay in Gustavia, St. Barts, where stars like Elton John, Tom Cruise and Mick Jagger moor their yachts.

Types of yacht Some good examples of expensive yachts include Christina O and Savarona. Early luxury sailing yachts include Americas Cup classic J class racers like Endeavour and Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock. More recently, there has been an increase in the number of large private luxury yachts. Ferretti, Azimut, Feadship and Lürssen dominate the top end of the yacht building market.

From 2006, yachts above 100 metres (328 feet) increasingly more popular but considered rare. They typically have five decks above the water line and two below and may offer helicopter hangars, indoor swimming pools and miniature submarines.

Money no object Privacy and luxury at sea come at a high price. A typical 120ft luxury yacht is £150,000 a week. Take into account fuel,crew and champagne and you're looking at £200K.

Of course, chartering or even buying a yacht, can be more affordable for the rest of us! Worldwide, charter prices start at £2000 per person per week.

Many more boating articles are available from TheYachtMarket.com in addition to listings of many thousands of boats for sale and charter world-wide.

Monday, September 21, 2009

James Murphy takes a look at once upon a time in Nazi occupied France...

'Inglorious Basterds'
A Review by James Murphy

Propaganda File:
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger
Genre: Wartime Thriller
Certificate: 18
In cinemas now

Mission Briefing:
It’s World War 2 and the Germans have taken control of France. But a band of ruthless assassins (the ‘Basterds’) are determined to kill as many Nazis as possible.

Main Review:
Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Inglorious Basterds’ is a glorious piece of cinema. I was not a fan of Tarantino before. I admired 1994’s ‘Pulp Fiction’, but felt its legacy depleted rather than elevated the culture of film. His scripts were dubbed ‘ironic’ and ‘post-modern’ when they were often just lazy and inane. And I hated the violence.

But I was transfixed by ‘Inglorious Basterds’. True, the ending is pure fantasy and there are some wickedly awful moments of violence along the way. The ‘Basterds’ are scalp hunters, literally. That said, the darkness is tempered by loving allusions to the history of cinema. And you get a clear warning before any nasty bits.

A flawless opening scene defines the generally high standard of the film. Col. Landa (Christoph Waltz) questions a French farmer about the location of a Jewish family. There are palpable atmospherics (dipping a fountain pen, tasting milk). There is a dash of visual humour (Col. Landa’s pipe) and a rhythmic discussion in three languages. And then there is a brutal change in tone, with an act of pure evil.

Many will be familiar with Tarantino’s technique. 1993’s ‘True Romance’ featured a mobster murdering a cop, after a civilised exchange on Sicilian history. But where that scene was contrived in a grimy crime thriller, this film addresses the Nazis’ obsession with culture and their use of film as propaganda. The indulgent dialogue therefore enhances the film’s authenticity.

The story has Hitler and Goebells recruiting a soldier to star in a film about his own heroic deeds. The soldier is infatuated with Shoshanna (Mėlanie Laurent) and persuades Goebells to premiere the film at Shoshanna’s Cinema. But Shoshanna wants revenge on the Nazis for murdering her family. And she plans to incinerate all attending the premiere. Meanwhile, Allied forces want to assassinate the Nazi high command at the same event. So, two separate plots against the Nazis; one Nazi gala evening, during which either plot might succeed.

I won’t spoil the ending. But I can reveal that the Allied plot seems quite sound, masterminded by General French (Mike ‘Austin Powers’ Myers). French selects the ‘Basterds’ to execute the mission, teaming them with British Officer and film critic, Lt. Hicox (an impressive Michael Fassbender). Hicox’s German contact is the starlet turned spy, Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger).

Bridget is gorgeous, sporting an elegant poise, with perfect legs, curls and smile to match. It is therefore only a matter of time before every SS officer is seeking her company, thereby jeopardising her meeting with Lt. Hicox and the ‘Basterds’ in a busy bar. She manages to distract her unwelcome suitors with a surreal game of ‘Guess who’. It’s a hilarious scene, whilst maintaining both credibility and suspense.

I can also reveal the film’s weaknesses. Critically, one cannot identify with the ‘Basterds’. Brad Pitt plays the team’s leader and exhibits comic genius. But his chosen accent impairs the performance overall and he’s just not likeable. Mel Gibson or Bruce Willis might have worked better. The lack of a hero with which to identify robs the film of much needed gung ho gusto, AWOL from the war film since Spielberg’s ‘Saving Private Ryan’. Let us not forget that we are a world at war today, sorely in need of our own propaganda.

So Tarantino neglected his duty to evoke the schoolboy joy at bad lads planning missions. But he compensates, c/o thematic nods to Fleming’s James Bond and ‘The Great Escape’. And we get a classic villain, with Christoph Waltz surely earning an Oscar nod for the camp yet clinical, courteous yet cruel Col. Landa. It might just be Oscar time for Tarantino, too. Finally, he has produced a masterpiece.

Verdict: A film with wit, grit and heart, clearly crafted with passion. Cleared for active duty: 4 out of 5.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

James Murphy’s New Talent Profiles

‘Episode IV: A New Hope’:

Mark Corden, Film-maker

JM: Give us a potted CV in a few sentences:

MC:

10 years in the film-making business - graduated from Birmingham University with a degree in Drama and Theatre and went to work on documentaries and really bad WWII films for a production company in Stratford-upon-Avon.

I set up own business, Perpetual Motion (www.perpetual-motion-productions.com) in 1999 to fill the gaps between TV jobs and got swept away with independent production - I filmed premier division rugby union for two years, made several music videos and became the official film-maker for the UK's top contemporary dance company, Richard Alston Dance, amongst other things.

I have been the director of the New Grey Whistle Test, an on-line music programme showcasing new bands, for two series, and co-wrote and directed a documentary about multi-culturalism for the BBC. Last year I directed my first short film, The Shoot, written by renowned comic scribe Tony Lee.

JM: Latest project?

MC:

I am currently the producer/director in charge of The Gadget Show's Web TV - an on-line 10 minute version of the programme made especially for the net each week, 52 weeks a year. We take a more in-depth look at technology than the main show, with product reviews by Jon Bentley, website features with Ortis Deley, as well as news and launch-event previews with Dionne South. Shameless plug alert - you can see new episodes each Thursday at http://fwd.five.tv/gadget-show

JM: Favourite films and music?

MC:

I'm a big film fan, with a large DVD collection, and subscription to LoveFilm. I treat movies the same way a lot of people listen to music, I have favourites I can watch again and again whilst always loving to discover new ones too. I tend to like a wide variety of film, although I'm not much of an action or sports movie fan.

Probably my favourite film is Withnail & I as I could watch that over and over - it would be on my desert island disks list (mine would be DVD's, not CD's). After that, anything historical, sci-fi, political, or character-based would be on my list - from Colonel Blimp to Watchmen!

I'm not a big music fan, I mostly listen to Radio 4 at home and in the car - guilty secret, I set my alarm for an hour before I need to get up so I can listen to the Today programme each morning. I do love the classics though - late sixties/early seventies rock, Bowie, and the like. I was a bit of an Indie kid in the mid-nineties so Pulp will forever live in my heart and these days I'm a big fan of Imelda May, Laura Steel, and Duffy.

JM: Any celebrity anecdotes?

MC:

I was once introduced to John Anderson, the referee of the classic Gladiators series, whilst I was completely naked in the men's changing room of a golf course. That was a fairly awkward and strained conversation. More recently I got to fulfill a childhood dream by chasing Anneka Rice around with a camera - believe me, she can still leg-it when she has to!

JM: Is it harder to make a short film than a long one?

MC:

Tricky one - there are a lot of factors. A short film will need less cash to make it happen so the producer's job is easier, although as there's unlikely ever to be a return on the investment, many producers may disagree with me on that one!

You have to create identifiable characters and take them on a journey withing a few short minutes which can be very tricky, but you can get away with being a lot more off the wall or surreal if you want to when you don't have tonnes of money resting on your shoulders.

Ultimately they're two very different mediums, despite the obvious similarities. I wouldn't want to say shorts are a training ground or stepping stone as they're a creative medium of their own, with different rules and possibilities.

Perhaps the best thing about them is the ability to be completely imaginative and free of commercial constraints. Big movies offer the chance to do things on a much grander scale and, perhaps more importantly, allow you to properly examine the characters and situations. I'd love to direct a full length feature - with my drama background, it's ultimately what I've always wanted to do.

JM: Is Birmingham becoming a more film friendly location?

MC:

Difficult to say. Things are very tough at the moment for all the creative arts and Birmingham is feeling the pinch like anywhere else. Having said that, there is a really positive 'can do' attitude that I've always appreciated.

I've lived in Los Angeles and London, and worked in both, and whilst there is undoubtedly more going on in those cities, there is a sense of potential here that could be fantastic if we're able to tap it.

There are some great organisations, like Creative Networks, and the Producers' Forum, who are really working hard to move things on - not to mention Screen West Midlands who are working to get more movies made here and help film-makers produce their first work.

We've got a few great companies producing top-rated TV here, not only The Gadget Show, but 5th Gear, How to Look Good Naked, Embarrassing Bodies, and from the BBC, the next series of Survivors will be produced here, not to mention the ever-present Doctors.

Birmingham has a diverse landscape and more than enough facilities to become a major hub for TV and film and it's something I'd love to see happen in the near future, if for no other reason than to avoid the talent-drain to London and Manchester.

JM: Who'd win a fight between Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal?

MC:

With any luck they'd kill each other and we'd never hear from either of them again.

JM: Graphic novels: serious art form or glorified comic books?

MC:

Until recently I'd never had any time for comics of any description - many of my friends are big fans and one is even a writer, but they'd never really held any interest for me. I saw Watchmen on its release and was blown away though, so bought the graphic novel and devoured it instantly.

JM: Who was the best Doctor Who and why? Any hopes for David Tennant's last specials and the new series with Matt Smith?

MC:

Tom Baker, the fourth, was probably the best, if only because he really was the Doctor - he is such a genuine eccentric that he totally embodied the part. I've read his autobiography and the man's bonkers, brilliant, but bonkers.

The best actor to play the Doctor is David Tenant, I saw him play Hamlet and he was amazing, and he's brought an emotional range to the character of the Doctor never seen before. I'm a big Doctor Who fan (who isn't these days?) so I'm really looking forward to Steven Moffat taking over as producer; he's created some of the best stuff for the new series since it came back and can't put a foot wrong in my eyes!

Matt Smith is a brave choice, a relative unknown, but I think that's the only way to go after the uber-famous DT - and MS is a proven actor who certainly has that 'Doctor-ish' quality about him. Not to mention that Tom Baker was a relative unknown actor working on building site when he became the Doctor, and look how well that worked out!

JM: And the best James Bond? How might you approach directing one of the Daniel Craig Bond films?

MC:

Not a massive fan of the Bond movies - they're watchable but I don't go crazy for them. I seem to like the first of each Bond's run, when they start doing something new - Goldeneye and Casino Royale are two of my favourites.

After that they seem to get stuck into a bit of a repetitive rut. If I were to do one, I'd love to explore the psychology of the character a bit more, maybe juxtaposing that with a proper old-school OTT villain, massive lair and bikini-clad assassins. Well, you'd have to, wouldn't you, after all the gritty realism of the latest ones?..

JM: Are you political? And could the Government (whatever party is in power come 2010) do more to support the arts?

MC:

I'm very political, of an ultra left persuasion. I believe in social responsibility and the right of everyone to care and respect from cradle to grave. I don't think we have it all perfect here by a long shot and too many people use the system to avoid their responsibility to work, but ultimately the only way to progress is to work together, not in exclusive competition.

I would love to see more money put into the arts but I also think it shouldn't be elitist - it should earn its place in society. Artists should be free to explore their medium in whatever way they feel like but ultimately their work needs to be seen by an audience and they have to keep this in mind.

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Source: www.perpetual-motion.com