Once it receives its long due stateside release, the smash Russian phantasy epic Night Watch will inevitably be compared to The Matrix, most likely because of all the people running about a modern-day metropolis (wearing sunglasses at night, no less) doing fight with forces that normal folks can�t even run across. Also, the film was a box office hit and the first in a planned trilogy. But truth be told, Night Watch has much more in usual with the worlds created by fancy novelist Neil Gaiman, most especially his classic Neverwhere (filmed for British TV) about a secret domain existing precisely below the surface of everyday London. The two works share an abiding interest in the thrifty creation and delineation of complex universes of the unreal � not to mention a love of dark, umbrageous places, and large-scale struggles between honest and evil.
A sonorously narrated prologue gives us the lay of the land. In the world, there are humanity and there are Others � wHO can fade as mankind but are in effect a grab bag of seers, wizards, shape-shifters, and vampires �as wide-ranging as the stars in the sky.� The Others ar divided up (easily enough) into those that serve the Dark and those serving the Light. A long fourth dimension ago, they fought each other to a standstill in a massive conflict, and so established a truce whereby they could co-exist with each early, only they each had to essentially leave the humans alone. To secure that each side is living up to its end, they each patrol the human sphere, Dark Others on the Day Watch and Light Others on the Night Watch.
The disconcerting lead off to what we can already tell is departure to be a pretty big showdown between good and evil is the appearance of Anton Gorodetsky (Konstantin Khabensky), who�s heartsick over his ex-girlfriend being with some other man, standing at the door of a charwoman he thinks to be a witch doctor of some sort but turns out to be a Dark Other trying to influence him to do evil. At the moment of her apprehension by the Night Watch, Anton discovers he is an Other himself. And so cut to Moscow, 2004, with a hollow-eyed Anton on duty with the Night Watch, using his limited abilities of farsightedness to help find a kid world Health Organization is organism hunted by a match of Dark Other vampires. Events snowball in a mazelike fashion and soon it looks like the kid mightiness have something to do with a prophecy around an Other who will come and tip the balance between Dark and Light, smashing the armistice and returning the tribes to perpetual warfare.
Considering that Night Watch is a Russian plastic film shot for reportedly about $5 jillion, it looks absolutely fantastic. The particular effects are used slenderly but in effect, and most often for good reason (apparently it�s hard to convince several thousand crows to endlessly circle the apartment building of a cursed woman). Director Timur Bekmambetov (he also co-wrote the handwriting with Sergein Lukyaneko, world Health Organization wrote the source novel) does a-one work here, injecting just enough levity into an otherwise ebony universe, and always keeping viewers aware of the vast human beings outside the scope of this one film, so that by the type you�re impinge on with the hammer-blow finis, a substantial desire to see the sequel is pretty advantageously guaranteed.
Although one of the strongest features of the film is how simultaneously professional and yet unique-feeling it is (no Hollywood clone-work here, with the exception of too many CSI-esque particular effects shots), where Bekmambetov could actually stand to take a few hints from The Matrix and the Hollywood machine is in how to shoot a fight. Although these are fair sparse in a film that�s packed fair to the gills with suspense and dread, Bekmambetov�s idea of how to do one seems to be waving the camera about in a random style, leaving the viewer with little mind of what�s happening. There will be plenty of those anyhow, as Night Watch doesn�t slow downcast to point out road signs to those world Health Organization have to be spoon-fed every small hint � this is Brothers Grimm-type fantasy here, the forests are dark and you can easily lose your way if you�re non careful.
The DVD includes an extended close, subtitled commentary track, and a look at the upcoming sequels.
Aka Nochnoy dozor. Reviewed at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival.
You take the first watch.
Tuesday 2 September 2008
Night Watch ()
Saturday 23 August 2008
Texas' Rio Grande Valley Region Has High Diabetes Rate; Large Hispanic Population Considered Contributing Factor
The Rio Grande Valley region in Texas has a diabetes rate of about three times the national rate, officials aforesaid on Monday at an event in McAllen, Texas, the McAllen Monitor reports. The event was sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.
According to George Huntley, chair-elect of ADA's board of directors, the high number of Hispanics in the area makes the Valley "one of the bigger pockets" in the U.S. in which diabetes rates are high. He aforesaid Hispanics, American Indians and blacks accept a higher prevalence of the disease than other ethnic groups. Texas state Sen. Eddie Lucio (D) said as many as half of minority youth across the nation will develop diabetes at some point in their lives. "Being that we ar a minority majority biotic community, one in two is a very scary thing," Lucio aforesaid. Nationwide, about 8% of people have diabetes, according to Huntley.
In the Rio Grande Valley, medical and indirect costs associated with diabetes totaled $1.5 billion in 2007, patch such costs were $174 billion nationally in the same year, according to the Monitor.
Victor Gonzalez, founder of the Valley Retina Institute, said lack of access to stores with healthy food options is theatrical role of the problem for rural residents in the Valley. Huntley suggested that people meliorate their eating and exercise habits to address the issue. He also aforesaid zoning torah restricting the number of fast-food restaurants and bans on trans fats, as well as requiring caloric counts on menus, would help.
He noted that patch about $400 million was spent in the U.S. in 2007 for enquiry on diabetes, "We still need to do better," adding, "The problem is really ballooning now" (Taylor, McAllen Monitor, 8/18).
Reprinted with tolerant permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You john view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for electronic mail delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.
Wednesday 13 August 2008
Pain 'linked with low vitamin D'
Low levels of the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D, may contribute to chronic pain among women, scientists believe.
The link does not apply to men, suggesting hormones may be involved, according to a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases said.
The team from the Institute of Child Health in London said studies were now needed to see if vitamin D supplements can guard against chronic pain.
About one in 10 people are affected by chronic pain at any one time in the UK.
The causes are not well understood and much of the focus to date has been on emotional factors.
Dr Elina Hypp�nen and colleagues believe, at least in women, vitamin D levels could play a role in some cases of chronic pain.
Sunshine vitamin
The nutrient, essential for healthy bones, is produced in the body when exposed to sunlight and is also found in oily fish, egg yolks and margarine.
Among the 7,000 men and women aged 45 from across England, Scotland and Wales that they studied, those who were smokers, non-drinkers, the overweight and the underweight all reported higher rates of chronic pain.
Among the women, vitamin D levels also appeared to be important.
This finding was not explained by gender differences in lifestyle or social factors, such as levels of physical activity and time spent outdoors, say the authors.
Women with vitamin D levels between 75 and 99 mmol/litre - a level deemed necessary for bone health - had the lowest rates of this type of pain, at just over 8%.
Women with levels of less than 25 mmol/litre had the highest rates, at 14.4%.
Severe lack of vitamin D in adults can lead to the painful bone disease osteomalacia.
But the researchers said osteomalacia did not account for their findings.
Dr Hypp�nen said work was needed to evaluate whether vitamin D supplements could help prevent chronic pain.
In the meantime, she advised: "If I had chronic pain I would certainly check I was getting enough vitamin D."
Kate MacIver of the Pain Research Institute at Liverpool University cautioned: "Taking too high a dose of Vitamin D supplements as a means of preventing or treating chronic pain could result in Vitamin D toxicity and high blood calcium levels."
Most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from their diet and by getting a little sun.
However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should take 10 micrograms (0.01 mg) of vitamin D each day, the Food Standards Agency recommends.
Older people should also consider taking 10 micrograms (0.01 mg) of vitamin D each day.
More info
Wednesday 6 August 2008
Local folk from around the world lively up Lowell fest
The last-place weekend of every July, the Lowell Folk Festival highlights a few super, nationally known roots musicians.
Billed as �the largest relieve folk festival in the United States,� this year�s expertly programmed event includes Jamaican ska and reggae from the Skatalites, gospel from Sister Marie Knight and bluegrass from the Lonesome River Band. Mighty Sam McClain will mewl soul, and master of the Telecaster Redd Volkaert will do some fancy country pickin�. In a festival coup d'etat, Louisiana blues piano legend Henry Gray, 83, charles Herbert Best known for his stint with Howlin� Wolf, makes a rare appearance.
Each Lowell fest besides features a rich brew of local acts, and thanks to some supernumerary funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, an especially diverse array of gifted locals will be heard.
� Balla Kouyate affected from Mali to Medford a few years ago. A sea captain of the ancient balafon - a xylophone-like instrumental role - Kouyate�s family members have been balafon players and story-telling griots for 800 years.
�My role is to stay fresh the traditions of my ancestors alive,� aforesaid Kouyate, wHO recently recorded with Yo-Yo Ma.
How does the balafon translate to Medford?
�People power not know what a balafon is,� he said, �but our music is a healing force and people respond to it.�
� Tibetan native and Somerville occupant Penpa Tsering plays 14 different traditional instruments. �He made a 27-day trip across the Himalayas when he left field Tibet in 1989,� said Julia Olin, world Health Organization, as film director of the National Center for Traditional Arts, books the Lowell fest.
� Mariachi Estampa de America, which compound mariachi and norteno music, often run at Chelsea�s El Rancho Grande restaurant. By combining players from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and the United States, the band is wish Chelsea�s variant of the United Nations - or at least the Organization of American States.
� Gund Kwok power be the only all-female Lion & Dragon Dance Troupe in the United States. �Traditionally, women were not allowed in this art,� said Cheng Imm Tan, who low came to Boston 30 years ago as a student. �When we adopt off our lion head, the audience is very surprised we are all women. It is a dance that requires strength, teamwork, grace and also great science to maneuver the lion�s head and tail.�
� Carnatic violinist Suhas Rao is a 17-year-old Westwood native entering Harvard this strike. He plays the 4,000-year-old definitive music of South India.
�The word raga actually means mood in Sanskrit,� he said, �and the thousands of emotions that can be conveyed through ragas make it appealing from the start.�
�The art of Andrew Nemr and Rocky Mendes is a small closer to home: They are tap dancers world Health Organization learned their craft in Hanson from late tap legend Jimmy Slyde. Nemr believes the universal appeal of tap is tied to its spontaneous nature. �There�s a continual potency for charming moments,� he aforementioned. �The joyousness we state tends to be transmittable, appealing to first-time and seasoned audiences alike.�
� Dynasty is a �mas� band of the kind that enlivens the famous carnival in the Caribbean island of Trinidad. But this fantastically costumed �mas� lot is from Boston. If you overlook them in Lowell, at least you�ll have a second chance when they parade in Boston�s Caribbean Carnival on Aug. 23.
Lowell Folk Festival, Friday through Sunday, business district Lowell. Free. 978-970-5000 or lowellfoldfestival.org.
More information
Wednesday 18 June 2008
Balanescu Quartet
Artist: Balanescu Quartet
Genre(s):
Classical
Discography:
Luminitza
Year: 1994
Tracks: 9
Possessed
Year: 1991
Tracks: 9
Nadja
Monday 9 June 2008
Sunday 1 June 2008
Rockers 3 Doors Down, rapper Bun B lead chart
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Southern rock band 3 Doors Down
scored its second consecutive No. 1 album on the U.S. pop chart
Wednesday, leading a trio of new releases to the top three.
The band's self-titled effort sold 154,000 copies in the
week ended May 25, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Its previous
effort, 2005's "Seventeen Days," also topped the Billboard 200,
with 231,000 copies. All four of the group's releases have
reached the top 10, and have collectively sold 11.4 million
copies.
Rapper Bun B, one-half of the hip-hop duo UGK, debuted at
No. 2 with "II Trill," which sold 98,000 copies. It comes on
the heels of the appropriately titled "Trill," which debuted
and peaked at No. 6 in 2005 with 118,000 copies.
"Dancing with the Stars" champ-turned-country-singer
Julianne Hough's self-titled debut entered at No. 3, moving
67,000 copies.
The Frank Sinatra collection "Nothing But the Best" fell
two to No. 4 with 54,000 copies in its second week. Last week's
No. 1, Death Cab For Cutie's "Narrow Stairs," slid to No. 5
with 53,000.
Rounding out the top 10 were Leona Lewis' "Spirit," down
one to No. 6; Mariah Carey's "E=MC2," down one to No. 7; Welsh
singer Duffy's "Rockferry," down four to No. 8; Madonna's "Hard
Candy," down one to No. 9; and Neil Diamond's "Home Before
Dark," down three to No. 10.
Other debuts included Jesse McCartney's "Departure" at No.
14; Donna Summer's "Crayons" at No. 17; and the not-so-secret
Green Day side project Foxboro Hot Tubs' "Stop Drop and
Roll!!!" at No. 21. Green Day's last album, the Grammy-winning
"American Idiot," hit No. 1 in 2004.
Overall album sales fell 3.1% from the previous week's sum
to 7.2 million units, and were down 13.3% from the same week
last year.
Reuters/Billboard