Physicians at The Vision Center at Childrenâs Hospital Los Angeles reported some medical adages or advice, which has been accompanied the growth of many parents. However, some of these adages are incorrect proved by scientists. Many parents tell their kids that sitting too close to the TV will damage the eyes. This concern actually originated in the 1960s, when many people believed the emerging color TV sets would emit high amounts of X-rays. In fact, modern TV monitors as well as new LCD models do not emit any harmful rays. The truth of this concern is that long-time TV watching or computer work will not damage childrenâs eyes, but their intellectual development may be affected. The second misconception about vision in the mind of many parents is that eating lots of carrots is beneficial to a kidâs eyesight. This idea mainly comes from the fact that Vitamin A is helpful in treating night blindness or Vitamin A deficiency. The nutritious ingredient Vitamin A do can be found in carrots. But eating a lot of carrots will not improve oneâs eyesight. Lutein is actually proved to be effective in preventing macular degeneration. A third prejudice is given to contact lenses that many parents think their children can not wear contacts safely. It is true that young kids are dissuaded from wearing contact lenses just for cosmetic reasons. And all contacts must be prescribed by an eye doctor. But following proper procedures, children at all ages can wear contact safely even if sometimes help from parents in lens insertion or removal is needed. Another common concern among parents is associated with scissors that they believe that running with these devices is the leading cause of eye injury in children. According to statistics from the National Eye Institute, sport and recreational evens account for approximately 59% of pediatric eye injuries. Baseball and basketball are the most dangerous sports. Children who play these contact sports are strongly encouraged to wear protective eyeglasses. Some parents think that it is impossible to put sunglasses on their children. They usually give up this effort if their kids are reluctant to wear sunglasses. The fact is that UV protection from sunglasses is much more necessary for kids than adults, because childrenâs eyes allow as high as 70% more UV rays to reach the retina. References ·Vision problems of children
Misconceptions in parents of childrenâs eyesight
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/25/2010 03:29 am by admin7 Ways To Avoid Dreaded “Age Spots”
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/22/2010 12:21 pm by adminLooking spectacular is very important to many people in a culture that is obsessed with youth and good looks. So a brown skin spot on our face or hands is a source of horror for many folks. There is a misconception that brown spots are the result of ‘getting old’, so our first panicked thought is, “How can I get rid of this horrible age spot?” But the passing years are not the villain, and knowing this crucial fact is critical to know if we want to prevent a dark skin spot from damaging the beauty of our skin. Actually, those hated and dreaded brown spots are the result of extreme, repetitive exposure to the sun. Too much sun will bring about dark spots over time, but it’s the continual exposure - not simply living a lot of years - that causes brown spots on the skin. It’s possible (although rare) to find twenty and thirty year olds who have brown spots on their otherwise young-looking skin. Another reason brown spots are likely to appear in our 40’s-60’s is that our skin isn’t as efficient as regenerating as we age. Now that we understand the “why” of our scorned spots, we will know how to:* Prevent more of the wretched brown discs, (if we already have some) . . . * Ensure that we avoid any of the ugly little things in the future . . . The famed ’southern belle’ was very wise . . . she was fanatical about staying out of the sun so that she could keep her skin milky white. We can be pretty sure that she didn’t have sun spots in her later years. Dark Skin Spot Prevention 101#1. The fundamental rule, the Numero Uno rule, is obviously: Stay Out Of The Sun! Sorry for all of you who love to sun bathe for that beautiful tan, but it’s unquestionably true that the spots on your skin are are result of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. If you avoid those rays in your youth, you will never have to inquire about how to get rid of sun spots 20 years (or two years!) later - because there won’t be any!#2. If giving up sun bathing and other outdoor activities is just way too painful, then choose your hours carefully because if you genuinely want skin sun spots, then spend long hours outside during the peak danger hours:10AM - 4PM in the spring, summer and fall 10AM - 2PM in the winter#3. If you’re invited to an outdoor event that is simply irresistible, head straight for the shade. An umbrella, a pergola or a shady tree is a marvelous substitute for full sun and might prevent skin spots treatment in your future. #4. For best sun protection, choose lightly colored clothing made of fabric that’s a tight weave, rather than a loose one, even if the temperatures are high, higher and highest. A pale color reflects the sun’s rays, rather than absorbing them, and tightly woven cloth keeps out the sun’s hazardous UV rays, unlike loosely woven garments. #5. Whatever outdoor chore you tackle, consider always applying sunscreen. I haven’t personally found a sunscreen I’m happy with because of the risky chemicals they contain. Still, it’s preferable to cover yourself with the chemicals - and rinse them off as soon as you get out of the sun - than to bake your tender skin. Two more advantages of sunscreen is that you will prevent any more sun spots on your body - and keep the ones you already have from getting darker. Simply remember to periodically re-apply your sunscreen because sweating or water will wash its protection away. If you’ll only be outside a half hour or less, then an 15 an SPF [Sun Protection Factor] is probably sufficient. For a all-day visit to the beach, tennis court or golf course, choose a minimum of a 30 SPF cream. Don’t forget to apply your sunscreen a half hour or so before going outside#6. Don’t forget about your head! I’ve recently recognized that my baseball cap is a pretty dreadful choice. You must have at least a four inch brim on your hat for best protection. Straw hats or hats with a porous or wide-weave fabric don’t do the job because the sun can shine right through them. Actually, there are hats made with a liner of ’sun protective’ material and if you choose one of these, along with a wide brim, that will be the best protection you can obtain from a hat or cap. #7. Remember your lips: dark skin spots on your lips aren’t attractive and surely don’t make you more kissable. Lipstick or lip cover is minimal protection, but unless it has a high SPF - and some do - it truly isn’t that much help. When we become active our lip cover wears off, eliminating even its slight protection. Some lip balm is helpful, but never forget this vulnerable area when in the sun. Since we can now understand the cause of the dreaded dark skin spot, it’s simple to avoid looking “spotted” as we age, because the remedy is simple: brown skin spots are caused by too much sun . . . avoid sun, avoid spots.
Trash Tv’s Secret Story
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/21/2010 07:47 am by adminYou can tell summer has arrived here in France because the signs are all around us. First up there are the obvious ones - such as the weather and the dress code. Of course the latter, especially in the nation’s capital, can still turn into something of a catwalk as this year’s chic hits the streets big time in what for many is the Mecca of the fashion world. Then there are the music festivals, concerts, outdoor productions, and jumble sales held up and down the country and let’s not forget the smell of a BBQ wafting in from the neighbour’s garden. Prime time television news reports begin focussing on the queues at airports and the number of passengers passing through the French capital’s major railway stations, rather than hard news. And national newspapers go in for the inevitable silly season. The inside lanes of the motorways are bumper-to-bumper full of Dutch cars, trailers and caravans, busting at the seams with provisions for a month. In August of course, when (hopefully) summer will be in full swing a huge chunk of the country will all but close down for a month and Paris will put up shop almost completely as the French head south literally and metaphorically with “Aoutien” holidaymakers replacing “Juilletistes”. But the real clue that the whole shebang is underway has to be the reappearance on the small screen of Secret Story. It reared its less than attractive head on Friday evening on the country’s number one national channel, TF1, and is set to be in everyone’s sitting rooms for the next 10 weeks. In essence it’s France’s answer to Big Brother - only more downmarket. Impossible you might think, but sadly true. Basically the idea is very simple. It starts with 15 people, strangers to each other - with the odd exception, as will become clearer later on - moving into a built-for-TV house, where they’ll be under the watchful eye of the production team and the viewing public 24/7 (via the Internet of course) for two and a half months. Each carries with them into the house a “secret” - and the idea is to keep it hidden from the others for as long as possible while trying to cajole out of fellow house mates exactly what they’re trying to keep under wraps. Off camera there is also the deep bass booming tones of The Voice (La Voix), dropping hints whenever he feels like it, setting playful if somewhat idiotic tasks with cash rewards should they be completed successfully without anyone else in the house realising. Every week two candidates are nominated and television viewers get to vote in a ‘phone poll (at premium rates of course) on who should stay in. Original stuff huh?Yes the country which so often likes to think that it has taken the cultural highroad, brought the world classics in the fields of literature, art and music, prides itself on its language and traditions, cuisine, fine wines and haute couture - now proves once again that it can mix it with the best and worst of what the world of reality TV has to offer. The new series, which kicked off on Friday evening will have a hard act to follow. Last summer, when TF1 first ran the programme, the eventual winner quickly had her secret revealed . She was a triplet – and after the other house members wheedled it out of her, in tramped her two sisters. Thus the three of them provided viewers with hours of entertainment as they played cards, ate, played cards and slept, eventually being crowned the winners because…. well because they were pretty inoffensive and bland. Up against them was the nudist, the escort boy, the son of a famous French tennis player (Henri Leconte) a transsexual and an obnoxious couple (their secret) who bickered and manipulated their way to the final, earning their Warhol moment of fame and then (thankfully) disappearing into oblivion. This year’s dollop of dubious “culture” kicked off with the contestants tastefully arriving at the house one by one in his and hers blue and pink limos. Each woman seemingly more buxom than the last, many of them sporting micro dresses of which even pop diva Mariah Carey would have been envious. And with a few exceptions each man was more muscled, more coiffed and more drop-dead gorgeous than the last, preening and pouting as though they were models in Milan. Separately they tottered, strutted, swaggered or tripped their way through the jeering and cheering masses into 10-weeks-worth (for the eventual winner) of fleeting public notoriety and a stab at the chance of picking up a €150,000 cheque at the end. Some of the contestants have had their secrets revealed to the public already – such as the lesbian couple from Belgium, the black mother and white daughter or the 30-something hunk and teenage siren who have to pretend to be “a couple”. But none of the other housemates (apart from those “in” on their own coupled secrets) is any the wiser yet. Nor do any of the contestants know exactly what secrets they have to find out, although once again viewers have been told that among the 15 there is an Anglican minister (male of female not revealed), an undertaker, a medium (who you would think might just have a head start on the others and know whether he or she would end up winning), a prince or princess and a Don Juan with apparently more than 750 “conquests” under his belt already. So as the 15 pretenders to the title of French telly’s newest reality TV hero or heroine are busy settling in to their 24/7 life together transmitted live on the Net and daily on the small screen, we can probably expect some tasteless antics similar to last year’s offering – such as the rump steak shoved down the underpants of one male contestant. There’ll also doubtless be the same sort of petty rivalries, squabbles and handbags-at-dawn stuff that characterised much of the first series. But breathe a sigh of relief because at least it’s all being done in the name of entertainment. And as much as some might question why and find it “outrageous”, there’ll probably still be millions tuning in. Let’s also not forget there’s always the “off” button on the TV set or alternative viewing on other channels. As compulsive and trashy as Secret Story might be it’ll still more than likely pull in the viewers and become its own story in itself as the nation tut-tuts and hisses in disapproval and indignation at the antics of the previous night’s revelations. Oh well. In the indomitable words of La Voix “C’est tout pour le moment. ”
Biceps Tendinitis
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/21/2010 03:40 am by adminOverview The biceps muscle is located in the front of the upper arm and is attached to the shoulder and lower arm bone. The muscle helps to control movements of the lower arm and is involved in throwing movements like those associated with football or baseball. Tendons attach the biceps muscle to points in the shoulder and forearm. If the tendons are overused and become inflamed or irritated, the condition is called tendonitis. Repetitive overhead movement and activities like throwing a baseball or swinging a tennis racquet are common causes of biceps tendonitis. Symptoms may include: pain when the arm is overhead or bent localized tenderness as the tendon passes over the groove in the upper arm bone occasional popping sound or feeling in the shoulder area How can I prevent biceps tendonitis? The simplest way to avoid another episode of biceps tendonitis is to avoid the activity that caused it; of course, this may be impossible for the serious athlete. For these people, frequent breaks from the causative activity should become routine. It’s also wise to reduce or stop the activity at first sign of pain and to ice the bicep and shoulder following each training session or game. You can help prevent biceps tendonitis by following these simple recommendations: Rest your body regularly by stopping to stretch. Increase the frequency and intensity of exercise gradually. Apply ice when necessary. Diagnosis To properly diagnose biceps, your physician will check your shoulder for any tenderness or joint looseness. You may be asked to extend, raise, or rotate your arm to determine any range-of-motion limits. If necessary, your physician will order x-rays or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan for a more detailed look at the injury. Conservative treatment for biceps tendonitis can include: Rest Avoid activity during the acute phase. Ice Apply ice or a cold pack to the injury for 15 to 20 minutes, 4 times a day for several days to keep swelling down. Medication Take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to help reduce inflammation and pain. Stretching When the acute pain is gone, start gentle stretching exercises as recommended by your doctor. Strengthening Begin strengthening exercises for your biceps, shoulder, and arm muscles as recommended by your doctor. If conservative measures are not effective, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary. During arthroscopic surgery, an orthopaedic surgeon makes a few small incisions and inserts extremely small instruments to exam the tendons. If necessary, the surgeon can then make any necessary repairs. Improving Sports Performance The key to improving sports performance after recovering from biceps tendonitis is a proper a rehabilitation program, and adhering to some of those same principles after the injury is gone. The single most important aspect of improving performance is stretching before and after you step onto the field, court, ice, or golf course. Benefits derived from stretching include: increased physical efficiency and performance decreased risk of injury increased blood supply and nutrients to joint structures increased coordination improved muscular balance and postural awareness reduced stress enhanced enjoyment REHABILITATION FOR BICEPS TENDONITIS As an athlete, your number one concern is getting back to full strength as soon as possible so that you can return to training and competition. That is why appropriate rehabilitation is extremely important. The most common rehabilitation for biceps tendonitis often includes the following: Rest Avoid activity during the acute phase. Ice Apply ice or a cold pack to the injury for 15 to 20 minutes, 4 times a day for several days to keep swelling down. Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel. Do not apply the ice directly to your skin. Medication Take ibuprofen to help reduce inflammation and pain. Stretching When the acute pain is gone, start gentle stretching exercises as recommended by your doctor. Stay within pain limits. Hold each stretch for about 10 seconds and repeat 6 times. Strengthening Begin strengthening exercises for your biceps, shoulder, and arm muscles as recommended by your doctor. Gradual Return to Your Sport Begin arm motions of your sport or activity as recommended by your doctor. (For example: passing a football, throwing a baseball, tennis strokes, golf swings). Surgery Arthroscopic surgery may be necessary if the pain results from shoulder instability or from pressure on the tendon from the shoulder bones. The major objectives of rehabilitation from biceps tendonitis are to improve the elasticity of the biceps tendon and to gradually increase pain-free range of motion. The following exercises should be performed once or twice daily: Saws Reach out and place the unaffected side hand on a corner of a table. Bend at the waist. Flex the injured side arm at the elbow and pull the injured side arm backward and upward as if sawing wood. Slowly bring the shoulder blades as close together as pain will permit. Slowly bring the injured side arm down to its beginning position. Repeat this sequence 10 times, at least three times daily. Pendulum swings Stand with the hand of the unaffected arm resting on the corner of a table and supporting some of the body weight. Slightly bend the knee on the unaffected side and extend the other leg sideways. Allow the injured arm to hang loosely over the unaffected side foot. By shifting the body weight, cause the relaxed injured arm to swing in circles to the fullest extent possible as limited by pain. Perform 25 swings in a clockwise direction. Allow the injured arm to cease swinging. Perform 25 swings of the injured arm in a counterclockwise direction. Repeat this sequence at least three times daily. Shoulder rotation Stand in a doorway with affected side arm bent at the elbow and the palm of the hand against the doorframe. Turn the body away from the injured side hand until a stretching sensation is experience in the injured shoulder. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Return to the starting position. Relax for 10 seconds. Repeat this sequence 10 times at least 3 times a day. Shoulder flexion Stand erect close to a wall. With the palm of the injured side arm turned so as to face you, slowly slide the forearm and then the upper arm up the wall by moving closer to the wall. Slide the arm upward to the point of initial significant pain. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Return to the starting position and relax for 10 seconds. Repeat this sequence 10 times, at least 3 times daily. Towel stretch Roll a towel lengthwise. While standing erect, dangle the rolled towel down the back, holding it with the unaffected side hand. Reach behind the back with the hand of the injured side and grasp the rolled towel. Gently pull upward on the towel, raising the injured side arm until first significant pain in the injured shoulder appears. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Relax the arms while maintaining the grasp on the rolled towel for 10 seconds. Repeat this sequence 10 times at least three times daily. Flexed elbow pull Bend and raise the injured side elbow to shoulder height. Grasp the injured side elbow with the uninjured side hand. Gently pull the injured side elbow toward the opposite shoulder until limited by first significant pain. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Relax for 10 seconds. Repeat this sequence 10 times at least three times daily. Bicep stretch Stand erect with arms raised to shoulder height and palms up. Press arms backward until stretch is felt. Hold this position for three to five seconds, then relax for 3 to 5 seconds. Perform this exercise 10 times. The bicep as well as the muscles of the shoulder and upper chest are stretched by this exercise. Tricep stretch Stand erect with feet at about shoulder width. Raise injured arm at the shoulder with elbow bent and place the forearm behind the head. Grasp the injured elbow with opposite hand and draw it toward the center of the body until stretch is felt. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds, then relax for 3 to 5 seconds. Perform this exercise 10 times. Bicep curls Stand with arms fully extended at sides while grasping 2- to 5-pound weights in each hand, held palm forward. Flex the arms at the elbow to approximately 100 degrees, or to the point of pain, whichever comes first. Hold this position for 5 to 10 seconds. Return to the start position. Rest for 5 seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times. You can increase the weight as pain allows and strength develops. Triceps curls Stand with elbows directed upward over the shoulders and with arms relaxed. Extend arms at the elbow so that the hands proceed upward to the point of pain. Hold this position for five seconds. Return to the starting position and relax for five seconds. Perform this sequence 10 times, 3 times daily. As pain permits, add weight by using hand-held dumbbells. Chest raises Lie on belly with hands extended along sides of the body. Raise the upper chest from the floor to the point of pain and hold this position for 5 seconds. Return to the start position and relax for 10 seconds. Repeat this sequence 10 times, 3 times daily. Alternative exercises During the period when normal training should be avoided, alternative exercises may be used. These activities should not require any actions that create or intensify pain at the site of injury. They include: swimming (if pain allows) jogging stationary bicycleREHABILITATION AFTER SURGERY Your biceps tendonitis may require arthroscopic surgery to properly anchor the biceps tendon. Keep in mind that the soft tissue needs time to heal before exercise can begin. A physical therapy program usually begins with range-of-motion and resistive exercises, then incorporates power, aerobic and muscular endurance, flexibility, and coordination drills. Finally, patients develop speed and agility through sport-specific exercise routines. The ultimate goal of surgery is to provide dynamic stability while maintaining full range of motion, so that athletes can return to competitive or recreational sports. Progress is assessed by the patient’s perception of how stable the biceps/shoulder feels and by comparing the strength and stability of the injured and uninjured arms. How long will the effects of my injury last? With proper rehabilitation, a first occurrence of biceps tendonitis diagnosed and treated in its early stages usually lasts two weeks. If the injury has recurred several times, or if surgery is necessary, full recovery may take as long as two months. When can I return to my sport or activity? The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your activity is determined by how soon your biceps tendon area recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. You may safely return to your sport or activity when: You have full range of motion in the injured arm compared to the uninjured arm. You have full strength of the injured arm compared to the uninjured arm.
Here Are Some Important Facts And Tips About Protecting Children From The Sun
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/19/2010 07:32 pm by adminWhen taking your child out to play or for a walk, it is important to remember that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a. m. and 4 p. m.
Sunscreens are designed to basically block the sun’s rays. The “Sun Protection Factor” (SPF) is a measure of how much protection the sunscreen offers. For example, an SPF of 30 means that a child can stay out in the sun 30 times longer than without the sunscreen. The recommended SPF is 15 (at the very least) and the sunscreen should be “broad-spectrum” (protects against both UV-A and UV-B light rays).
Sunscreens should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure because it takes some time for them to work on the skin. Remember that even “waterproof” sunscreens need to be reapplied every two hours.
Make sure that all potentially exposed areas are covered including the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and the shoulders. While putting sunscreen on the face, avoid the eyes. If the screen burns the eyes, try a new type or one that can be applied with a stick applicator.
Never use suntan oil, as it offers no protection and causes the skin to burn quicker. In addition, sunscreens that contain PABA should be avoided.
Sun rays can go through clouds and can cause damage even on cloudy days. In the shade, the sun’s rays can bounce from sand, concrete or snow, so keep that in mind as well. Sunglasses with UVA/B protection are also recommended.
Babies less than six months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Baby should be dressed in clothing that covers all of the body (long sleeves, long leg pants etc. ). Put your baby in the shade( i. e…under a tree, stroller canopy etc. ).
Hats or bonnets are also necessary, a baseball cap is the recommended head gear in order to protect the face. Also, tightly woven clothes offer better protection, than clothes with a wider weave.
If your child gets sunburn, keep him/her completely out of the sun until the burn is fully healed.
Living In Paradise - St. Petersburg, Florida
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/18/2010 11:30 am by adminFor aging baby boomers, the decision on where to retire is made difficult by so many beautiful North American venues. Historically, many have chosen to buy Florida property, particularly in the Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg Florida marketplace because of the warm climate, beautiful beaches, friendly people, fine health care, no personal income tax and a variety of other reasons. Yes, the City of St. Petersburg has experienced periods of glory, disrepair and now, revitalization. In 1875, Detroit resident General John Williams purchased 2,500 acres of land on Tampa Bay. The General had visions of a grand and vibrant city with elegant parks and broad streets, which today are the trademark of St. Petersburg’s cityscape. Within a dozen years, the Russian aristocrat Peter Demens brought the Orange Belt Railway to St. Petersburg. The first train arrived on June 8, 1888. Shortly thereafter Demens named the city after his birthplace, St. Petersburg, Russia. Florida’s love affair with baseball soon brought professional baseball’s spring training to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1914. Al Lang, the city’s former mayor, convinced Branch Rickey to move his St. Louis Browns to the Sunshine City for spring training. The state’s first big growth boom in the 1920’s resulted in an invasion of tourists arriving by auto, railroad, and yacht. The Gandy Bridge opened in 1924, reducing travel time to Tampa by more than half and positioning St. Petersburg to become Pinellas County’s largest city. The 1920s also brought beautiful architecture to downtown St. Petersburg and adjoining neighborhoods. The city’s architecture reflected a Mediterranean Revival motif. Snell Isle, a 275 acre subdivision was the result of Perry Snell’s love of the Tampa Bay area. Snell Isle owes its existence to Snell first visiting St. Petersburg on his wedding trip in 1898. Upon returning the following year, his first purchase was the waterfront property located at First Street and Fourth Avenue North, now known as North Shore Park. St. Petersburg’s makeover is evident in several Mediterranean Revival buildings including The Vinoy Hotel, the Princess Martha, the Snell Arcade, and the Jungle Country Club Hotel. Others can be seen in the Spanish castles and homes along Coffee Pot Bayou and in the Jungle Prada neighborhood. St. Petersburg continued to have strong tourist years through the 20s. Like many other areas of the state, the real estate boom crashed during The Great Depression. But, St. Petersburg recovered, with the help of large Public Works Administration projects in the 1930s, bringing $10 million in new investment. St. Petersburg’s City Hall was built with New Deal federal funds in 1939. The city experienced phenomenal growth throughout the 1940s. St. Pete was home to the U. S. Coast Guard Station on Bayboro Harbor as a training base for World War II troops. Anti-submarine air patrols were made over the Gulf of Mexico during WWII. The War Department later selected St. Petersburg as a major training center for the Army Air Corps. More than 100,000 pilots and trainees occupied every hotel in the city. As a result, the population grew fast and created a housing shortage with families of military men looking for a place to live. Post war, many of the soldiers stationed in the Tampa Bay area returned to live with their families or to visit as tourists until their retirement. The 1950s and 60s were notable for the wide spread use of air conditioning, which resulted in a considerable amount of housing for retirees. Mirroring national trends, the Central Plaza and Tyrone Gardens shopping centers attracted local businesses to relocate from the downtown area. The population grew beyond 200,000. As the automobile became the prime mode of transport, streetcar tracks were removed to make way for better roads. The 1960s experienced building of the municipal marina, the main library, the Bayfront Center and the Museum of Fine Arts. St. Petersburg’s quest for a Major League Baseball franchise began in the 1970s. It was not until 20 years later that the arrival of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998 saw the team move their permanent home to downtown’s Tropicana Field. Today, the downtown core is experiencing a period revitalization with municipal projects that include retail shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. More than 900 community events bring millions of people each year to experience yacht races, triathlons, baseball, basketball, cycling, cultural exhibits, motor racing and music. Seven museums in the downtown district attract tourists. A state university, 10 marine institutes and more than two dozen galleries attest to the city’s commitment to education and health care. Much movement into the historic neighborhoods continues as residents invest in their communities with a great source of pride.
1920’s Hollywood Movie Memories - The Silent Era
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/17/2010 12:26 pm by adminOriginating as a turn-of-the-century novelty, the motion picture business soon became a multi-million dollar industry. In fact, by the early 1920’s, the business of making movies had already become America’s fifth largest industry and would go on to become one of the most significant and influential communication and entertainment tools of the 20th century. The large majority of motion pictures produced during the 1920’s were silent films. As the industry grew, and movie making became more costly, the various aspects of film production were divided into individual components such as; writing, directing, costumes, etc. , and became almost assembly-line in their creation. During the time that the First World War was taking place, the “studio system” evolved in Hollywood and would dominate the movie industry for a period of close to 25 years. Generally credited with the creation of this system were Adolph Zukor, William Fox, and Carl Laemmle. Essentially, the system provided a movie studio’s production chief with virtually total control over a films director and its stars. With nearly 90 percent of America’s motion pictures being produced and distributed by five major studios, these studios were able to monopolize Hollywood for the next 50 years. These five studios were: Warner Brothers Pictures, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation (renamed Paramount Pictures in 1935), RKO Pictures, Loew’s Inc. (later to become Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), and Fox Film Corporation/Foundation (later becoming 20th-Century Fox). Movie technology continued to advance during this decade, and with the development of the microphone the film industry was about to undergo dramatic change. However, this advancement was not entirely welcomed by all. Many of the silent era’s greatest stars would be unable to make the transition from the silent film to the “talkie”. Silent movie fans had in their minds their own idea regarding the ’spoken sound’ of the actors and actresses they loved and found it difficult to accept the real sound of many of their voices. Some of the greatest stars of silent films unable to survive this new partnership between movie sight and sound were Douglas Fairbanks, Clara Bow, John Gilbert, and Mary Pickford. Fortunately, many other stars who were loved by the public did successfully survive. They included John Barrymore, Mary Astor, William Powell, Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper, Laurel and Hardy, Greta Garbo, and some time later, even Charlie Chaplin who strongly disliked the addition of sound to movies. Sound had arrived, signaling an end to the silent film era, and it was here to stay.
Five Popular Hollywood Sports Movies
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/17/2010 03:52 am by adminHollywood has taken great pride in its passion for sports. Sport movies are very popular with the masses. Mostly these movies are based on real life stories of individuals. That is probably the reason why people can so easily relate themselves to the movie character and such a movie strikes an emotional bond between the viewers and the character. The characters mostly come from the lower sections of the society and by sheer talent in respective sports field make it big. It is kind of rags to riches stories. Given below are some such all time classic sports movies.
Rocky I (1976) was a movie which rocked the country. Though there was a series of Rocky films which followed the original one the original one was the finest of them all. It was a low budget movie which was completed in a record 28 days. It was probably the most influential movie in the last 30 years. The movie was given three Academy Awards from its 10 nominations. Moreover, it made Sylvester Stallone a superstar.
The brilliant story was about a simple minded, working class Italian hero who was a good-natured individual. He was handed an improbable chance to fight for the heavy weight title for which he dedicates himself. In the process he falls in love but at last realizes his potential. It had a complicated screenplay with rich characterization and splendid dialogues. This movie was influenced by a real life individual.
Field of Dreams (1989) was a celebration of the love of baseball. It is almost dream like. It was adapted from W. P. Kinsella’s novel “Shoeless Joe” by the director/screenwriter Phil Aldem Robinson. It was a sentimental, modern fantasy classic which became a smash hit in its unique depiction of America. The movie also touched upon the religious theme of faith and redemption.
Kevin Costner did full justice to the character of Ray Kinsella who is an idealistic, transplanted city boy turned lowa farmer. Standing in the middle of the cornfield he repeatedly hears a voice which tells him to build a baseball field in the middle of his cornfield. He builds it and it becomes the playground of ghostly ball players (seen only by the believers). The movie was so realistic that viewers almost really believed in the ghosts of “shoeless Joe” and the games they played with Ray to be rehabilitated.
The Karate Kid (1980) was a big hit and youngsters became crazy about Karate. Lovable loser Daniel moves to California and entangles himself in a fight with a band of moped riding karate bullies. He then turns to a Japanese maintenance staff for guidance and learns karate, learns about life and falls in love. He enters the tournament against the same bullies but in the semi final is injured on a cheap shot. He rallies back to fight his girlfriend’s ex boyfriend in the finals, and wins at last. Mr. Miyagi’s character (played by Pat Morita) was a stroke of genius.
Raging Bull (1980) was undoubtedly one of the best films ever made by the maestro Martin Scorsese. It lost out the best picture award in 1980 Oscars but is the 1980 trendsetter in all aspects including direction, screenplay, editing and cinematography. Robert de Nero probably gave his best performance in this Oscar winning role. The skillfully made film was both praised and criticized and was rated one of the best movies of the decade. It won two Oscars after being nominated for eight.
The Hustler (1961) is a realistic adult story of a small time, ambitious, struggling, self-destructive pool shark, commenting on winning and losing, life and love, loyalty, greed, self respect, selling out and ultimate redemption. The story is adapted from the book of the same title written by Walter Tevis. Robert Rossen is the director-producer-writer of this intensely dramatic film.
Paul Newman in the lead role became a leading actor with this film but he was denied an Oscar though. This famous movie, filmed in black and white, received two Academy Awards out of nine nominations.
Technology has brought with it many new and well-made movies, but these movies would never get obsolete. These evergreen movies would continue to entertain moviegoers, generation after generation.
1920’s Hollywood Movie Memories - The Silent Era
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/16/2010 05:25 am by adminOriginating as a turn-of-the-century novelty, the motion picture business soon became a multi-million dollar industry. In fact, by the early 1920’s, the business of making movies had already become America’s fifth largest industry and would go on to become one of the most significant and influential communication and entertainment tools of the 20th century. The large majority of motion pictures produced during the 1920’s were silent films. As the industry grew, and movie making became more costly, the various aspects of film production were divided into individual components such as; writing, directing, costumes, etc. , and became almost assembly-line in their creation. During the time that the First World War was taking place, the “studio system” evolved in Hollywood and would dominate the movie industry for a period of close to 25 years. Generally credited with the creation of this system were Adolph Zukor, William Fox, and Carl Laemmle. Essentially, the system provided a movie studio’s production chief with virtually total control over a films director and its stars. With nearly 90 percent of America’s motion pictures being produced and distributed by five major studios, these studios were able to monopolize Hollywood for the next 50 years. These five studios were: Warner Brothers Pictures, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation (renamed Paramount Pictures in 1935), RKO Pictures, Loew’s Inc. (later to become Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), and Fox Film Corporation/Foundation (later becoming 20th-Century Fox). Movie technology continued to advance during this decade, and with the development of the microphone the film industry was about to undergo dramatic change. However, this advancement was not entirely welcomed by all. Many of the silent era’s greatest stars would be unable to make the transition from the silent film to the “talkie”. Silent movie fans had in their minds their own idea regarding the ’spoken sound’ of the actors and actresses they loved and found it difficult to accept the real sound of many of their voices. Some of the greatest stars of silent films unable to survive this new partnership between movie sight and sound were Douglas Fairbanks, Clara Bow, John Gilbert, and Mary Pickford. Fortunately, many other stars who were loved by the public did successfully survive. They included John Barrymore, Mary Astor, William Powell, Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper, Laurel and Hardy, Greta Garbo, and some time later, even Charlie Chaplin who strongly disliked the addition of sound to movies. Sound had arrived, signaling an end to the silent film era, and it was here to stay.