Film #136: Player Hating: A Love Story

The beginning of Maggie Hadleigh-West's newest documentary, Player Hating: A Love Story has Brooklyn's Crown Heights hip-hop sensation Half-A-Mill and his posse pressing the front doors of a local venue as bonafide guest listers. It's an in-line madhouse, and there's a crush of security at the threshold, and this is the heightened atmosphere Half-A-Mill desires. "I want my voice to be heard

Film #136: Player Hating: A Love Story

The beginning of Maggie Hadleigh-West's newest documentary, Player Hating: A Love Story has Brooklyn's Crown Heights hip-hop sensation Half-A-Mill and his posse pressing the front doors of a local venue as bonafide guest listers. It's an in-line madhouse, and there's a crush of security at the threshold, and this is the heightened atmosphere Half-A-Mill desires. "I want my voice to be heard

10 Scary Possibilities for Halloween

For Halloween, 2010, I offer clips (and, thus, suggestions) of the most mortifying cinematic offerings out there. Gird your loins, and here we go (and spoilers abound so BE WARNED): JIGOKU (Nobuo Nakagawa, 60). It's scarier without the subtitles, this unbelievable preview for a bloody tour through Hell. Watch it only if you're brave. QUATERMASS AND THE PIT/FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH (Roy

10 Scary Possibilities for Halloween

For Halloween, 2010, I offer clips (and, thus, suggestions) of the most mortifying cinematic offerings out there. Gird your loins, and here we go (and spoilers abound so BE WARNED): JIGOKU (Nobuo Nakagawa, 60). It's scarier without the subtitles, this unbelievable preview for a bloody tour through Hell. Watch it only if you're brave. QUATERMASS AND THE PIT/FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH (Roy

Parent Teacher Conferences

Schools and teachers set aside time for parent-teacher conferences during the school year so they can talk with parents and try to work together to help the student succeed. The National Education Association and the U.S. Department of Education advise parents to prepare for these conferences to make the most out of the time they have with teachers.

Before you go, make a list of things you want to discuss with the teacher such as how your child is doing at school – in his or her studies AND in relationships with classmates. Help the teacher understand your child’s special talents, interests and hobbies, how she or he learns, and any struggles with homework or any particular subject.

Be sure to ask the teacher for suggestions on how to help your child at home. It’s important to schedule a conference if problems arise. Your child’s grades might have dropped suddenly, or he/she may be upset about something that happened in school. You can also let the teacher know if something changes in home that may affect the student’s learning, such as a new baby, parental illness, a family move or divorce.

Keep in mind that the purpose of any parent-teacher conference is to help your child in school. As a parent, you are an important part in the partnership, working together with the teacher and your child to help your child succeed.

Children and Lying

What child hasn't helped himself to the cookie jar and denied doing it? Parents usually feel upset when they notice their child lying. But before we brand a child “a liar,” we need to consider the child’s developmental stage and the motives behind the lying.

Preschool children don’t understand the concepts “lying” and “telling the truth.” They also may “exaggerate” because they have trouble separating wish from reality. A child may say, “I am the smartest kid ever.” Adults need to understand what the statement means to the child - that she is confident in her abilities and values intelligence. This doesn’t mean she’s a liar.

Around the age of four, children can start to tell the difference between lies and truth and between wrong and right. This doesn’t mean they won’t tell an untruth, though!

Children lie for the same reasons adults do; to avoid getting in trouble, to feel powerful, to take advantage of a situation, to keep a secret, or to help a friend. By ages five or six, a child can tell whether a listener believes a lie or not. Between seven and eight years of age, they understand that not only what they say, but their motives behind what is said can be judged. At ten to eleven years of age children can lie successfully.

What can parents do? Leading by example is key. Children need to depend on adults to tell the truth. A recent survey, however, found adults admitted to lying more than ten time a week.

Also, when you find your child is lying don’t be quick to anger. Take time to calm down before dealing with the lie. Find out the message of and the motive behind the lie. Explain the consequences of lying and use consequences to help your child develop his or her conscience. Have you ever told your child a lie? What was it and for what reason?

KFOG Podcast - October 26, 2010

Today's Urban Astronomer talk with Irish Greg of the KFOG Morning Show features the North Star, Meteor Showers in November and December, some early shopping tips for the holidays, cool iPhone Apps, Jupiter and more. It's always a treat to talk with KFOG and share some astronomy tips with the listeners. Click here to listen.

My Movie Poster Collection: D

DAD, CAN I BORROW THE CAR? (Ward Kimball, 70). Folded, VGI couldn't believe my freakin' luck in finding this one. I had waited years to even SEE this movie again (you can see it here). I'd caught this SHORT film (this is my only one-sheet for a short) on the Wonderful World of Disney back in the mid 1970s, and had always been fascinated by it; it's so incredibly odd. So's the fact that this

My Movie Poster Collection: D

DAD, CAN I BORROW THE CAR? (Ward Kimball, 70). Folded, VGI couldn't believe my freakin' luck in finding this one. I had waited years to even SEE this movie again (you can see it here). I'd caught this SHORT film (this is my only one-sheet for a short) on the Wonderful World of Disney back in the mid 1970s, and had always been fascinated by it; it's so incredibly odd. So's the fact that this

My Movie Poster Collection: E

I gotta give it up for Will Pfiefer and his film column for the Rockford Register Star. Not only is the man supremely knowledgeable, he's been trolling the net deeply enough to stumble upon and later compose kind words about My Movie Poster Collection. Thanks, Will, and all readers! And, as always, click on the image you wanna see larger.E.T. THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL (Steven Spielberg, 82).

My Movie Poster Collection: E

I gotta give it up for Will Pfiefer and his film column for the Rockford Register Star. Not only is the man supremely knowledgeable, he's been trolling the net deeply enough to stumble upon and later compose kind words about My Movie Poster Collection. Thanks, Will, and all readers! And, as always, click on the image you wanna see larger.E.T. THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL (Steven Spielberg, 82).

Teens using TV as a Guide for Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors

One of the things I’ve always loved about children is watching them absorb the world around them, like sponges. They sometimes have such a funny take on things. Children and teens have inquiring minds. And even if we don’t see evidence of it sometimes, they have rapidly developing brains, too. What they are exposed to during this time can have a big influence on them.

A recent study has found that television can be quite a powerful influence on teens’ sexual attitudes and behaviors. As reported in the Journal of Research on Adolescence, researchers from the University of Michigan found that high school students in their study reported a higher endorsement of sexual stereotypes when they watched more talk shows and “sexy” prime-time programs and also when they watched TV to fill their need for companionship.

For example, these students were “more likely to agree that sex is recreational, and that men are sexually driven, and that women are sexual objects”. Their findings also suggest that these students may be relying heavily on media for developing their own social norms and values. Is this a good idea?

The study also found that students who frequently viewed music videos and talk shows and who strongly identified with the main characters in television programs also reported a greater experience with the types of activities frequently featured on TV, such as dating and sexual activity.

This study gives strong argument for parents to monitor their teens in both the real world (such as knowing their peers and whereabouts) and in the surreal world of television. It’s a good idea to know the show your teen is spending time watching and how often. What does your teen like to watch on TV?

Waning Moon, Morning Darkness

Each month the Moon makes a 29 1/2 day journey around the Earth, bringing different faces of the Moon to light, making beautiful patterns with the surrounding stars and planets, and shining light into the evening, midnight or morning skies. Right now, the Moon is waning, getting smaller each night as it passes through gibbous phases while moving from Full Moon to Last Quarter, lining up with bright celestial objects such as the Pleiades and Taurus. During the gibbous phases, the orientation of the Moon is quite different from what we normally expect in the evening skies.

The illustration shows the changing orientation of the Moon just after sunset in the waxing phases, as the Moon grows from New to Full. This view is for Northern Hemisphere viewers. But after the Full Moon, the orientation reverses and is best measured in the sunrise sky. So the view you can see right now is of a Moon curved not toward the east as normally seen in the evening sky, but rather curved toward the west in the morning sky. It's refreshing to see this time of year while it is so dark in the morning, and it provides a chance to see things in a different light. Eye-opening.

Image courtesy of University of Virginia.

Moral Development in the Classroom

Parents have many opportunities to visit their children’s school throughout the year. Attending Open House, parent-teacher conferences, special assemblies and presentations, sporting events – these events give parents a glimpse of the environment in which their children are spending a great deal of time. But how does a parent know if morality is encouraged there?

Morality refers to social conduct that exhibits good judgment of fairness, honesty and equality. Research studies and analysis have found that teachers who consistently encourage mutual respect in classrooms help develop morality in their students. Experts suggest that teachers who praise a student’s considerations for others or encourage politeness throughout the school day also cultivate a sense of morality in the classroom.

Children may be able to learn morality by putting themselves in someone else’s shoes. In terms of equality, honesty and keeping promises, one study in China found the concept of “If I were you and you were me” to be helpful for children. For example, if the teacher explains how either party would feel regarding the betrayal of a friend who broke a promise, both children learn a moral lesson from the event.

In addition to teachers, close friends also have an impact on moral learning. When children have a close friendship with a least one peer, they are better able to tell the difference between the norms of genuine and close friendships compared to the norms of friendship in the context of a group.

So the next time you visit your child’s school, check out the playground and the company your child keeps. It may be the values of your child’s friends – good or bad – that are helping to shape your child’s view of morality.

Asiana Bridal Show

Using multi angle filming Spotlight UK recorded footage of Asiana Magazines Annual Bridal Show. The show puts various looks for all members of the wedding out on the catwalk and reaches out to a Worldwide audience.

Film #135: Greenberg

I know, it's a generational thing--obviously a by-product of getting older. But I never thought it would happen this way. I never thought no one under 25 would know of or give a flying flip about the things I grew up with. (And here I turn into this silly curmudgeon, dammit.) When I was growing up, I totally knew about all the things my parents loved. I watched The Andy Griffith Show, Father

Film #135: Greenberg

I know, it's a generational thing--obviously a by-product of getting older. But I never thought it would happen this way. I never thought no one under 25 would know of or give a flying flip about the things I grew up with. (And here I turn into this silly curmudgeon, dammit.) When I was growing up, I totally knew about all the things my parents loved. I watched The Andy Griffith Show, Father

50 Cent Exclusive After Party

Spotlight UK was there as the official videographers to film the Exclusive after party of the worldwide famous rapper 50 Cent. This was after his 2010 concert at Wembley Arena and it took place at the RS Lounge.

Henna-h videos - Kim Kardashian Inspired Look

The latest episodes for make up videos by Henna-h have been shot and edited in Spotlight UK studios. The videos focus on various celebrity looks including for the Kim Kardashian look focused here.

Jay Sean

We caught with singer/song writer Jay Sean at London Excel. The multi award winning rapper also gave us an exclusive live performance which is not to be missed.

Walk East

For part of a national campaign for the NHS, Spotlight UK created a video promoting walking. The video gave great historical insights of the East End during the walk between Bow Road to Bethnal Green.

Text Anxiety

I often have parents ask me how their child can do so well on daily school work, yet get an FCAT score lower than the parent expects. One reason for this may be text anxiety.

Standardized tests are used to measure a child’s learning to see if he or she is ready to advance or if they need extra time to learn. They are also important for school accountability. Because of this, children face increased pressures to perform well on standardized tests, such as FCAT.

One reported outcome of standardized testing has been an increase in the prevalence of test anxiety among school-aged children. According to research published in the Journal of Instructional Psychology, students who experience high levels of test anxiety tend to score lower on standardized tests than student who experience low levels of test anxiety. Nothing shocking about that!

According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are a number of actions parents can take to help prepare their children for tests and reduce their anxiety. First, meet with your child’s teachers on a regular basis to discuss progress and ask teachers for activities you can do with your child at home to help them prepare for tests. Some parents like to conduct “mock” tests using a timer for practice.

Try to provide a quiet and comfortable place at home where your child can study, and on test days, make sure your child is well rested and has had a good breakfast. As a test day approaches, calmly talk to your child about what is coming up and encourage him or her to do his or her best.

You can practice stress and relaxation exercises with your child, too. Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation or visualization can help. Visit my free on-line Stress Management workshop at http://hillsboroughfcs.ifas.ufl.edu/Stress-Management.html.

Finally, it’s important for parents to avoid placing too much emphasis on their children’s test performance by getting upset over “bad” test scores. Doing this will only place extra pressure on your child to perform and increase their anxiety instead of making it better. Make sure your children know they are loved no matter how they do and that you know they will do well because they are ready!

13 MORE Very Pointless (But Fun) Movie Lists

I'd been missing doing one of my favorite things here on filmicability--making lists--and I've long been noticing my last collection has been getting hits steadily, so here are 13 more dumb, perhaps educational, wastes of time:

10 GREAT MOVIE PUPPET SHOWS
John Cusack's creations in Being John Malkovich
The hilarious finale to Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The Punch and Judy show in The 400 Blows

13 MORE Very Pointless (But Fun) Movie Lists

I'd been missing doing one of my favorite things here on filmicability--making lists--and I've long been noticing my last collection has been getting hits steadily, so here are 13 more dumb, perhaps educational, wastes of time:

10 GREAT MOVIE PUPPET SHOWS
John Cusack's creations in Being John Malkovich
The hilarious finale to Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The Punch and Judy show in The 400 Blows

Married in Mauritius

In association with Epic Media we followed Mihir and Heena's fairytale wedding, starting from London all the way to magical Mauritius. Traditional celebration, a beach wedding, fireworks and a hots of entertainment all of which will be edited for TV. Coming soon

White Collar Boxing at Troxy

A multi-angle camera shoot filmed at Troxy we focussed on  the popular sport of  White Collar Boxing, where both amateur and semi pro fights take place.

Big Pit ft TQ 'Ask About Me' - Behind the Scenes

Spotlight UK studios was used recentley filmed for the upcoming single Ask About Me by Big Pit featuring American rapper TQ.  This was filmed using varying locations including the green screen in our in house studio and a Car Rig. Above is the behind the scenes video with interviews with both Big Pit and TQ

Jagged Edge

On 21st March we filmed American R&B group Jagged Edge live at Indig02 for the RSP music group. We did an exclusive interview with the boys before and after the gig as well as recording live footage of the first 20 minutes of the event.

Neighborhoods Hurt Students More Than Income

Most people might assume that children who grow up in disadvantaged communities are at higher risks of many unfortunate outcomes, including problems with cognitive development that lead to learning problems. However, researchers at the University of Chicago wanted to determine whether children of families living in the same communities but whose family incomes were higher had better results.

The research suggests that the neighborhood itself (rather than household income) was the most important in determining outcomes for children.

The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, followed families over a six year period as they moved in and out of what were considered disadvantaged neighborhoods in Chicago. Neighborhoods were defined as disadvantaged based on their rates of welfare receipt, poverty, unemployment, female-headed household, racial composition and number of children per household.

The research revealed that regardless of whether the families were low or middle-income families, the neighborhood played a more significant role in the development of verbal skills than did economic inequality. Additionally, the researchers reported that living in severely disadvantaged neighborhoods lowered verbal test scores by the equivalent of missing one year of schooling. The strongest effects continued to appear after children had lived in these communities several years.

Custom Jordan Sneakers For Christmas

For those who have a hard to shop for teenage boy at your residence, Christmas shopping can be frustrating. From the toy phase and too much into the video game phase, you could be agonizing over what to get him for Christmas. Teenage boys who like sports will love a set of custom Jordan sneakers as a gift this holiday season. Teenage boys who don't like sports will like these sneakers since they're fashionable right now. Popular in schools from coast to coast, these custom sneakers will make the boy that you experienced happy on Christmas morning.

These sneakers were named for Michael Jordan, the legendary basketball player. They were custom made for him while he was playing basketball. There are 24 versions of custom Jordan sneakers in the marketplace. These sneakers are "high-top" basketball shoes, made of light-weight materials that provide excellent support for playing basketball. When they were first released, they were innovative in that they didn't go as far up the leg as traditional high-top sneakers. When the Air Jordan 3 was released, the height of the sneaker was barely above the ankle.

The Air Jordan's became famous

when Michael Jordan started wearing them on the court. They were not the traditional white high tops that basketball players traditionally wore, and National Basketball Association officials banned him from wearing them. Michael Jordan ignored the ban and was fined $5000 each time he wore them during a game. The controversy made the sneakers even more popular and they quickly became the most sought after footwear in this country and round the world.

The Air Jordan 5 version of the sneaker is actually the best selling shoe of the entire line, as many people actually buy these for their support while playing basketball, rather than just for their appearance. Boys wanting to mimic Michael Jordan's moves on the basketball court will especially appreciate these sneakers.

The sixth release of the Air Jordan sneaker was a little crazier, as the manufacturer designed them with much brighter colors than during the past. This sneaker is typically known as the "flower-power" version of Air Jordan's. For those who have a child who wants to produce a statement, fundamental essentials Air Jordan's for him.

Air Jordan 10 was released in partnership with Michael Jordan's retirement. Avid Michael Jordan fans will treasure these sneakers, as the soles have Mr. Jordan's achievements listed.

The Air Jordan Spizikes are another pair of popular custom Jordan sneakers. They are a mix of the third, fourth and sixth versions of the sneaker. They are marked with a characteristic Velcro strap that fastens across the surface of the sneaker.

Air Jordan's are a timeless style for teenage boys nationally, whether he wearing them on the basketball court or on the street. They are made in every color imaginable. From solid black to multiple-colored, you will find a great pair of sneakers that will please that hard-to-please boy that you experienced.

Eyebrow Piercings, Third Eye Piercings, Anti-Eyebrow Piercings, And Eyelid Piercings

Your eyes are usually the most expressive areas on your body, and your eyes are wholly unique. Naturally, a terrific way to emphasize your eyes is with body piercings! While facial piercings generally speaking are becoming ever more popular and acceptable, piercings in the eye area are really pioneering new styles and methods in your body piercing and body modification world.

While I don't want to discourage you from getting a piercing in the eye area (in fact, I think eye area piercings are a beautiful way to enhance features), I do want you to be fully informed. I shall first explain eyebrow piercings, which are rather common now, and then I will dive into the rarer - and RISKIER- piercings which can be done near the eyes.

Eyebrow Piercings are common piercings in our culture. The eyebrow piercing may be used anywhere on the eyebrow, although only a very skilled piercer should consider piercing near the inner corners (closest to the nose) of the eyebrow, for three major nerves are located in this region (that is why, this isn't a popular placement). Most piercings are pierced at a forty degree angle, to be able to minimize risks of tearing the jewelry out. Most initial jewelry consists of either curved barbells or captive rings, depending on your facial structure. Some people get multiple eyebrow piercings on either eyebrows - your creativity is often the limit.

Once pierced, these piercings take anywhere from three to five weeks to heal, but irritations such as makeup or sweat can irritate the piercing and prolong healing. While the eyebrow is among the least infected piercings, the risk is indeed there - so make sure you soak using warm saline solution, don't touch the jewelry with dirty hands, and follow all aftercare instructions given to you by your professional piercer.

Speaking of professional piercers, some people

may try and explain how you can pierce your own eyebrow with a safety pin (or something of that sort) with no difficulty. It's not wholly true. Though it may be not difficult to push sharp objects through the eyebrow (there isn't lots of tissue or muscle underneath, as compared with other piercing locations), the odds of your body rejecting the jewelry is much higher when you're doing so yourself. Nevertheless there is not many tissue to hold the jewelry in place, sometimes it can "migrate" (a nice term for pushing itself from your skin - not fun). Besides, heating a sharp metal object over a flame does NOT constitute as disinfecting! Many bacteria are only destroyed at temperatures far higher than what a flame can provide! Tempting though it could be - don't pierce your own eyebrow; it will probably become infected, it may become rejected, and if your placement is wrong it will look awkward. Spending a couple bucks for a licensed professional to achieve it is well worth your money.

A very unique and uncommon piercing is the Third Eye Piercings. Akin to a bridge piercing (see my nose piercing article for more info), the Third Eye Piercings are pierced using surface bars or curved barbells. These piercings are located between your eyebrows (maybe about it at all higher that between the eyebrows, depending on face shape) and are technically considered a surface piercing. Therefore Third Eye Piercings can migrate or become rejected if not cared for properly. Although these piercings look amazing, these piercings are given to reoccurring infections in case you stringently adhere to the correct aftercare. Sweat, makeup, face wash, are all irritants; this part of the face is very expressive (just imagine frowning, acting surprised, squinting, etc) so the skin around this piercing will move frequently and delaying the healing time. Not everyone can keep this piercing, but if you love how it looks, it just may be worth a try. Talk to your piercer and decide what's good for you!

The Anti-Eyebrow is still very rare but when healed properly can look very intriguing. Usually pierced below the eye, on the orbital bone/upper cheek area, the Anti-Eyebrow is also called a "teardrop piercing". This is the surface piercing, so the chance of migration and rejection is possible, although with the skin, tissue, and muscle density in this region, this piercing can last for some time if maintained properly. The potential risk of infection is pretty low should you not sweat, touch the jewelry, or wear makeup. Be sure you clean the area thoroughly and cautiously during the healing period (approximately six weeks).

And finally, the last piercing in the eye area is not one I can actually recommend to anyone, but free of cost . out there, I feel compelled to discuss it. The eyelid piercing is just about the rarest piercing on the planet - and even for good reason. To my knowledge, only a small number of people have this piercing, and not everyone eyelids are conducive to the piercing. The eyelid is a thin layer of skin is built to protect, nourish, and moisturize the eyes and corneas. Piercing the eyelid is very dangerous, and 99.99% of all professional piercers will refuse to get this done procedure. Blindness can happen if the piercing goes awry. It is extremely tricky from the piercer's standpoint to successfully complete this procedure, for arranging the forceps and needle to miss the eyeball is no easy feat. Ophthalmology surgeons spend the better part of a decade learning specifically how to get this done and get paid very handsomely to miss eyeballs, just to put it in perspective.

Although you may somehow convince a piercer to risk their reputation and pierce your eyelid for you, cleaning the eyelid is difficult. Captive rings are used, and the eyelid will swell, you will have crust and puss, and in order to you can hope to keep the piercing clean is with your personal tears and saline solution (which closely matches your tears). If you wear contacts, a misplaced piercing will scratch them; heck, a misplaced eye piercing will scratch your corneas - which may be excruciating. These types of piercings do not last long as there are way too many irritants in our world to prevent a complete and infection-free healing.

While final pictures of the few brave folks who suffer from this procedure look totally awesome, it can irreversible and serious damage. I can't recommend this to anyone, although I am completely for pushing the boundaries of self expression, but I would feel awful if someone attempted this piercing and failed. If considering an eyelid piercing - find a piercer who has performed it before (who will not be willing to make it happen anyway), be fully aware and prepared for the worst, good luck, and send me a picture!

Important Tongue Piercing Information

Should you be thinking about getting a tongue piercing, you do what's right by researching the benefits and drawbacks first. Tongue piercings are very popular for plenty of reasons... are it for shock value, appearance, or pleasure enhancement (to name just a few reasons). If you're considering a tongue piercing - included but not limited to piercing of the tongue, tongue web, or uvula - there are numerous important factors you must consider before getting pierced.

Before we delve into the universal risks, each piercing possesses his own set of aftercare and precautions to know. The most frequent oral piercing is of course the tongue piercing, which to a professional piercer is among the easiest piercings to perform. Usually performed directly through the biggest market of the tongue (although the tongue can be pierced in other places - but talk to your piercer first!) and the jewelry of choice is always a barbell. The barbell jewelry is used because tongue piercings will become swollen for a couple days to a week after the initial piercing, and the barbell can accommodate the swelling. Over time of 4-6 weeks, the jewelry can be replaced.

After a tongue piercing, it is STRONGLY advised not to smoke, engage in oral sex, or kiss. Proper cleaning ought to be done frequently, because the mouth is stuffed with bacteria. Although saliva is the body's natural way of combating harmful bacteria, with an open wound say for example a piercing, the odds of infection

do increase. With an open wound for instance a tongue piercing, the chance of diseases being transferred is greater too, including the Hepatitis strains and HIV. Heed the advice given to you by your piercer to prevent serious and unhealthy scenarios!

The tongue web, formerly called the frenetic linguine, is located beneath the tongue. This can be a piercing that's not applicable to everyone - some folks don't have tongue webs pronounced enough to pierce! Many piercer refuse to get this done piercing, not because of any extraordinary risks per say, but because most people don't clean their tongue web piercing frequently enough (which leads to plaque build up) or can't keep their tongue on the top of their mouth during the piercing. If you undertake get this piercing, clean it regularly because it is an open wound in the mouth and therefore prone to infection. If the piercing is not deep enough, the body will "reject" or "push out" the piercing - not particularly harmful, but unpleasant and should be avoided the same.

The final piercing that is wholly located within the mouth is considered an extreme piercing and it's also still very rare (and some may argue, completely impractical even by piercing standards). The Uvula, informally known as the "dangle thing" or "punching bag" located at the back of the throat by the tonsils, can be pierced. Most piercers will not perform this, even though the procedure is simple. Many individuals don't have their gag reflex controlled enough to successfully do the piercing (just imagine the hazards of gagging with a sharp needle in your mouth!), and the uvula is very active pierce of tissue hence the potential for the body rejecting the piercing is very real. Jewelry that is rejected will almost definitely be swallowed, which can pose health risks.

This information is not to put you off getting a piercing of the tongue, tongue web, or uvula, but it's not wise to trapeze into a piercing parlor (and side note: don't even THINK about getting an oral piercing anywhere other than a sterile professional piercing parlor) to get an oral piercing impulsively. To prevent infection or rejection, consider your lifestyle: Do you smoke? This alone will definitely harass your new piercing and prolong the healing process. Are you orally fixated, therefore prone to tinkering and playing with your jewelry? Constant playing with tongue piercings can cause irreversible damage to the gum and teeth. Are you getting surgery soon? Your oral piercing must come out - surgeons insist on it to prevent surgical complications - and once you come out of anesthesia, your piercing will be completely healed. Have you had a tongue pierced before and wish to get it re pierced? Some piercers will refuse on the basis that scar tissue is very difficult to pierce through. Listen to your intuition. If your gut feeling is saying not to get an oral piercing, avoid them! If you undertake get an oral piercing, seriously consider your body. If something is wrong, your body will show you!

NYFF Review #6: Another Year

I'm convinced. Actually, I've long been convinced. There is not a better filmmaker walking the earth right now than Mike Leigh.

Why else do movies, or any other art form, exist but to make the viewer feel something? So if you want to see movies that make you emote joy or discomfort or anger followed by joy again, then see a Mike Leigh movie. I defy any attentive person to witness Life is

NYFF Review #6: Another Year

I'm convinced. Actually, I've long been convinced. There is not a better filmmaker walking the earth right now than Mike Leigh.

Why else do movies, or any other art form, exist but to make the viewer feel something? So if you want to see movies that make you emote joy or discomfort or anger followed by joy again, then see a Mike Leigh movie. I defy any attentive person to witness Life is

NYFF Review #5: The Robber

The Robber, by Germany's Benjamin Heisenberg, is an unfortunate dud. It's based on a true story about Johannes Rettenberger (taciturn Andreas Lust), a convict who trained day in and day out, running on the treadmill, throughout his spotless stay in prison. Upon his release, he starts up three projects: (1) a romance with the social worker who lands him a job (Franziska Weisz, the movie's best

NYFF Review #5: The Robber

The Robber, by Germany's Benjamin Heisenberg, is an unfortunate dud. It's based on a true story about Johannes Rettenberger (taciturn Andreas Lust), a convict who trained day in and day out, running on the treadmill, throughout his spotless stay in prison. Upon his release, he starts up three projects: (1) a romance with the social worker who lands him a job (Franziska Weisz, the movie's best

NYFF Review #4: Hereafter

Clint Eastwood has dealt a lot of death in his directorial efforts. In fact, out of all his titles, only The Bridges of Madison County stands as the one with not one on-screen passage in it (and even that one deals with the aftermath of its lead character's demise). So it's no great surprise that this inquisitive, always-daring filmmaker would take on a study of the afterlife with his new film

NYFF Review #4: Hereafter

Clint Eastwood has dealt a lot of death in his directorial efforts. In fact, out of all his titles, only The Bridges of Madison County stands as the one with not one on-screen passage in it (and even that one deals with the aftermath of its lead character's demise). So it's no great surprise that this inquisitive, always-daring filmmaker would take on a study of the afterlife with his new film

Investec Bank Promo Video

On Tuesday 12th November we filmed footage for an upcoming corporate video for the South African Bank - Investec. We focused on the project they were part of in Beyond the Barn which was a Dragons Den like process helping small businesses get a grant to help build on to bigger things. We interviewed people varying all over the process from an Investec director to people who own businesses that have benefited from the scheme.

Munsur Ali's Last Night

We have recently completed the editing of Munsur Ali's latest independent production 'Last Night' and the film will be premièred in the near future. This, with the forthcoming controversial short film in pre production, will all act as a building block for his first feature film which will go in production in 2011.

Daddy Yankee and Aggro Santos concert

On Thursday 7th October we were at Brixton Academy to film live multi angle foootage of Latin American megastar Daddy Yankee. The Puerto Rican artist who has had over 8 million album sales was supported by South London based rapper Aggro Santos in  what turned out to be a brilliant night. Footage will be uploaded to the Spotlight UK site in the near future so keep your eyes open to see more of this once in a lifetime event.

Teens and Extra Curricular Activities

Ask any “Soccer Mom” where she spends her time, and she’ll tell you – in the car! Extra curricular activities can take up every evening and most of the weekend, and parents may find themselves asking why make such an effort? As a “Volleyball and Softball Mom,” I’ve spent plenty of hours driving an athlete to and from practice and tournaments. I’ve spent even more hours sitting in the bleachers! Was it worth it? Definitely! YES.

While a great deal of research has pointed to the benefit of youth activities – including sports, cultural activities and community organizations, a recent study asked teens to describe their own growth experience in extra curricular activities. The teens participating in the study reported that their extra curricular activities helped them in many ways. As they tried new things, teens learned more about themselves.

They developed personal initiative by learning to set goals they could achieve, working hard and persevering, managing their time and taking responsibility for themselves. The teens also reported that they learned to manage their feelings, especially anger, anxiety and stress.

They developed feelings of loyalty and friendship with peers, even those outside of their existing social network. Additionally they learned not only to work as a team, but also to develop leadership skills. Finally, they also developed an understanding of how their communities operate and enjoyed support from coaches, leaders and community members.

So, as you attempt to navigate what can be challenging teen years, you might want to consider what opportunities your teens have to experience personal growth through participating in organized activities. What activities are your children involved in and how do you think they benefit from them?

Healthy School Lunches

As the obesity epidemic in America continues to grow, more of today’s youth are struggling with being overweight. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of overweight children has more than quadrupled since 1970. Fifteen percent of today’s children and adolescents are overweight.

Schools are a key setting for healthy nutrition and physical activity strategies and are working with the Department of Agriculture to promote physical activity and nutrition education. Through the USDA’s “Healthier Us” School Challenge, schools are recognized for the changes they have made in improving their school nutrition environment, improving the quality of food served, and providing students with healthier, more nutritious choices.

Parents can also play an active role in ensuring that their child is eating healthy school meals. Parents are encouraged to eat a breakfast or lunch at school to see first hand what the meals are like. Visit the school cafeteria and get to know the staff and consider volunteering to organize a tasting party to introduce new and nutritious foods to kids.

Work with the school PTA to make sure parents’ opinions about healthy food choices are heard. Make sure that your children and teens appreciate how healthy meals influence their mind as well as their body.

An Elusive Comet in Urban Skies: Hunting for Hartley 2

Comets can be bold and brash, streaking across the sky like Hale-Bopp in 1997 (see image on right), a comet that was visible even in light-polluted urban areas. Comets can be more humble but then unexpectedly brighten, as did Comet Holmes in 2007. This year marks the return of periodic Comet Hartley 2, a small but frequent visitor to the inner Solar System that is making a fairly close pass to the Earth (11 million miles) on October 20th. Because of the bright Moon on October 20th, this and last week mark the best chances to see the comet because the Moon is young and not brightening the sky. So I took a look last week and again this week to see if I could spot this elusive comet from a city location (last week in a suburb of Frankfurt, Germany and this week from my home in San Francisco).

I hunted quite a while on both occasions, using this very helpful map from Sky and Telescope Magazine. In fact, S&T has been running updates as viewers report seeing Comet Hartley 2 with binoculars. However, it seems that to see Comet Hartley 2 you need a location with very dark skies. I can attest to this, having twice tried and failed to discern the comet from the surrounding stars.

However, all is not lost. Searching for Hartley 2 requires you to find Cassiopeia, Perseus and Auriga, three very nice constellations that grace the Fall and Winter skies. While searching the path of the comet, you encounter a range of deep space objects near and between Cassiopeia and Perseus, and tonight the view was quite good. So even though city lights may have drowned out the faint comet, I enjoyed my first good look at the Double Cluster in Perseus and other celestial gems in the spiral arm of the Milky Way that is beyond Cassiopeia.

I recommend a good jacket, a comfortable chair or blanket, a few minutes patience, the S&T sky map, and binoculars. No matter whether your hunt for Comet Hartley 2 is a success or not, you will be glad you made the effort.

Developmental Tasks of Teens

As your children enter into their teen years, they begin a physical and emotional journey that will bring them into adulthood and parents can play an important role in helping them establish who they are.

Teenagers begin to interact with each other in more adult ways as they mature. Experts at the University of Florida say this is linked to physical development, and that peer groups may change during the teen years as they grow at different rates. While their bodies are changing, teens also are learning to accept their appearance and not feel pressured into the perfect body image.

Sexual maturity also occurs during the teen years. Teens begin to define what it means to be male or female. And while this can be a time to experiment with their image, most conform to society’s definitions of gender. UF researchers say teens often confuse sexual feelings with intimacy, and most do not get into long-term, intimate relationships until later years.

Another teen process many of us are familiar with is establishing independence from parents and other adults. During these years, teens learn to rely on themselves more. Although many do not gain economic independence until after career training or college, it’s during the teen years that they begin to consider careers and their financial independence.

Teens also begin to determine their own values and beliefs, although research shows these are usually based on their parents’ values and beliefs. They begin to work towards socially responsible behavior, such as employment and marriage. It’s important for parents to remember (particularly when the “going gets tough” with teens) that they still have a tremendous influence on their child’s development.

The Top 40 Movies of 2010

Not many movie years out there like this one. It started off extremely slow, but once the summer was half over, it felt like it was going to be a landmark year for cinema. There were a few disappointments, but overall, there were lots of breathtaking pieces, and a shocking number of them were about REAL PEOPLE and REAL EVENTS! 2010 gave us a hefty package of comedy, drama, action, spectacle,

The Top 40 Movies of 2010

Not many movie years out there like this one. It started off extremely slow, but once the summer was half over, it felt like it was going to be a landmark year for cinema. There were a few disappointments, but overall, there were lots of breathtaking pieces, and a shocking number of them were about REAL PEOPLE and REAL EVENTS! 2010 gave us a hefty package of comedy, drama, action, spectacle,

NYFF Review #3: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

Until now, I had never seen an Apichatpong Weerasethakul movie on the big screen. In fact, I'd been holding off altogether on seeing one of Joe's movies (Weerasethakul prefers to be called "Joe" and I was thrilled when I heard a NYFF staff member call to him as such). But why had I abstained from his work? Well, the maker of two of the last decade's most reverentially loved movies Syndromes and

NYFF Review #3: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

Until now, I had never seen an Apichatpong Weerasethakul movie on the big screen. In fact, I'd been holding off altogether on seeing one of Joe's movies (Weerasethakul prefers to be called "Joe" and I was thrilled when I heard a NYFF staff member call to him as such). But why had I abstained from his work? Well, the maker of two of the last decade's most reverentially loved movies Syndromes and

NYFF Review #2: The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceauşescu

In covering the NY Film Festival, I just couldn't do a review a day. Much less two reviews. This is not how I roll.

So I've decided to review the 2010 New York Film Festival as such:

My first day, I wandered into the Walter Reade Theater, not knowing what to expect. I'm seriously hurting for money, so my therapist thought I should come equipped with cards and resumes. But I've arrived

NYFF Review #2: The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceauşescu

In covering the NY Film Festival, I just couldn't do a review a day. Much less two reviews. This is not how I roll.

So I've decided to review the 2010 New York Film Festival as such:

My first day, I wandered into the Walter Reade Theater, not knowing what to expect. I'm seriously hurting for money, so my therapist thought I should come equipped with cards and resumes. But I've arrived

Helping Your Child Deal With Peer Pressure

The issue of teen drug and alcohol use is alarming, but parents can and do make a difference in a teen’s decisions to use or not. Family researchers say you have to establish a firm “no use” drug and alcohol family rule. Once the rule has been established, here are some ideas from researchers at Brown University about how to help your child deal with peer pressure and drugs.

Responding to peer pressure in a kind but firm tone of voice is the best way to go. Parents can role-play scenarios with teens and come up with ideas for catch-phrases to legitimize the teen’s reasons for not using drugs, such as, “I’ve tried that before and I don’t like it.” Or “No, that’s not my kind of stuff.”

You might help your teen to consider other reasons that refer to consequences, such as “The one time I tried that, I got really sick and threw up all over the place.” Use any idea that will work for your teen and help him or her practice saying it. Another tactic your teen might use is to change the subject, and, if push comes to shove, leave the scene.

Peer pressure is not always the biggest enemy when it comes to substance abuse. The issue is not always outside influences, but those within the family. When teens don’t feel that their family supports them, they are at the greatest risk for problems.

Keep lines of communication open, use active listening while conveying support and concern, and calmly reinforce a “no use” view of drug and alcohol. These are the most effective ways to help teens resist using or depending on drugs and alcohol. Stay involved and stay connected with your teen.

Outcomes of Bullying

Bullying has been around for generations and has in the past been viewed as a rite of passage or harmless youthful behavior that makes children stronger or tougher. Now bullying is considered a public health problem that affects as many as 30% of students and has serious negative impacts for the bully and for the victim.

Children who are the targets of bullying have low self-esteem and often endure serious emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety. They cannot concentrate on school work or may decide not to go to school at all.

Research conducted by the National Information Institutes of Health reported that children bullied once a week or more were more vulnerable to poorer health, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and thoughts of suicide than children who were not bullied. Some of these problems last into adulthood.

Young people who bully also experience problems. They are more likely to be involved in other problem behaviors, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, and they don’t do as well in school. They are also more likely to engage in criminal activity as adults.

Parents need to be aware of the signs of bullying, which include (but is not limited to) a drop in grades, lack of interest in school, withdrawal from social activities, feeling ill in the morning, has unexplained cuts or bruises, has money missing or “lost,” stops eating, or is bullying other children or siblings.

Schools can be successful in reducing bullying by establishing clear rules against bullying and by increasing adult supervision where bullying usually happens – in cafeterias, bathrooms, hallways, stairwells and school yards.

Parents can make contact with the child’s school or visit the Hillsborough County Bully-buster’s Website for more information at http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/bullybusters/.

Childproofing Outdoor Areas

Although we hear a good deal about childproofing our homes, less attention is given to the potential hazards of the outdoor areas where children play. Yards, garages, barns and stables, or work areas, whether on a farm, a suburb, or in the city, can present dangerous, even deadly situations to children.

Barns and garages are both places where children can easily find stored items. From a child’s point of view, these can be great play places. Children climbing on stacks of logs and utility trailers have been killed when these makeshift toys shifted or toppled and crushed them. Broken equipment, such as old cars or parts of cars can also lead to tragedy. Stored chemicals, such as paint, paint thinner and cleaners may also be inviting to children. How can you protect children from harm outdoors?

Extension safety experts recommend that you increase your family’s awareness of dangers and reduce the risks by starting with a safety audit. Walk through your back yard, garages, barns, and shops with your children to identify potential dangers. Explain to them why things are off limits, rather than just telling them “Don’t play on this.”

Once you have completed your safety audit, consider what actions need to be taken. For example, lock sheds and barns and remove all keys from machinery and equipment not in use. Fence off hazardous areas, including retention ponds. Cap and secure all wells. And of course, store hand tools, power tools and toxic chemicals out of reach. Teaching your children about safety and taking the time to secure unsafe places can be the difference between life and death.