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SPICYWATCH

Social Media Confessions

23/2/2020

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My regular readers all know that I do not have or subscribe to any social media accounts or platforms. That's right world, believe it or not you won't find me on Facebook or Snapchat or any other form of social media under the name of Spicywatch or any other name for that matter because I don't have any accounts. Thankfully for the rest of the world, you can only find me on my own blog ranting on like a lunatic, so you're all welcome. 
There are actually a few reasons for this, first and foremostly it is because I already have too many things going on in my life at once and cannot afford the distraction that social media provides. I would literally have to 'Multiplicity' myself to be able to manage checking in with social media at this point. So, with all due respect to my friends and family, I have to be honest and say that my primary reason for not joining any social media platforms is because I am not all that interested in seeing what everyone else is up to because I  have enough of my own shit going on, thanks (and sorry). 
Secondly, there are people that I would prefer not to have contact with and that I would prefer not to be nosing around in my stuff as well, so posting images of my life and updates about my everyday 'goings on' seems pretty counterproductive to that, so I prefer to just fly under the radar as Spicywatch and keep my personal pics to myself.
And lastly, after seeing the movie The Social Network, I was so put off by the crappy and unpleasant people behind certain social media platforms that I made a choice to not be involved in their shenanigans or boost their clientele. So I have just never signed on for an account. And guess what? I have survived just fine without any and I do not feel like I am out of the loop or missing out on anything.  In truth, I actually spend more meaningful time with people now than I ever have before in my life, so you really don't need social media to feel like you are in touch, but I can also appreciate that some people may feel differently about that. 
However, for all of my anti-social media chatter, I do have to admit to having one social media app account that I am pretty obsessed with and that is Pinterest. Hello! It's visual and if there is one thing that I am obsessed with, it has to be visual input. My Spicywatch Pinterest page is where I pin all of my visual thoughts. I have a folder for food, clothes, books, art, photography, animals, fantasy, longings, quotes, yoga and of course movies, to name a few. Pretty much everything that I am obsessed with is there in picture form on my Pinterest account, and I add to it regularly.
And yes, of course I follow other boards and  have my favourite Pinterest accounts that I feed off regularly as well. So, yes I admit it, I do have a social media obsession in Pinterest, but I promise that I am only there for the images and not for the chatter or gossip, of which there is virtually zero anyway. 
However, it would be very unfair of me to hype up my obsession and not share my goodies with you, so here is a list of my fave Pinterest pages for you to check out for yourself.
INAG - Art and contemporary imagery. I pin regularly from this gem. 
Colossal- Art, design and visual culture - obsessed! 
Three Rivers Deep - based on the fantasy books, this page is full of fantastical interludes and gorgeous otherworldly images. 
Janine - Gorgeous, dark, melancholic and inspirationally stylised boards that draw you in. 
Lobster & Swan - This page looks so damn good you just want to climb into it. Perfect food, perfect landscapes and a whimsical beauty that makes it hard to stop looking.
Anima Mundi Herbals - Elixirs, tonics and superherbs. A visual treasure of botanical wellness. 
Finkiyaya - This pinner should be a stand up comedian. Their two boards Nana was a Naughty Girl and Nana Had a Naughty Daughter are so funny, I literally laugh out loud everytime that I look at them. You have to scroll through the pins individually and read the comments to really get the joke. 
Bleaq - Gothic, artistic, dark and melancholic - what's not to love? 
Ari B - A good mix of many things, especially great photography. 
The Jealous Curator - Art inspiration and innovation out the wazoo. I pin from this page regularly. 
Butter and Brioche - So yummy! Warning, you'll get hungry looking at this deliciousness!
Deviantart - Fantasy, gothic, science fiction and horror art at its best. 
Sara Barnes / Brown Paper Bag - A celebration of illustration and handmade arts and crafts. 
The Witch & Walnut - All things witchy in abundance, from fashion to basic spellcrafting it's all here. 
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MULTIPLICITY
Release Date: 1996
Rating: PG
Running Time: 117 mins 
This movie was so unfairly slammed by critics and the online ratings from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes are an atrocity, but don't be deterred, this is actually a very funny movie. Michael Keaton is just brilliant in this, he does a wonderful job of playing four different versions of himself and fleshes out of all the characters so well that it feels like there are four different actors playing the roles. Multiplicity demonstrates Keaton's strong ability to funny and adaptable. 
Doug Kinney (Keaton) is struggling to juggle his demanding career and his hectic family life when an opportunity arises for him to clone himself. Without hesitation he agrees and manages to secure another version of himself to take care of his job. However, he soon realises that taking care of the children and dealing with a household is also difficult, so he hatches a plan to create another clone to take care of all that, thus freeing himself up to pursue whatever he chooses he do with his time. But of course things start to get out of hand quickly with so many versions of himself getting around, and before too long Doug starts to regret his choice to clone. 
The Doug clones are really funny characters, and the chain of events that occur are hilarious. You will definitely get a good laugh out of Multiplicity and it will make you think twice before you wish you had another one of yourself to do all of the work. 
FINAL SAY: She touched my pepe Steve!
3 Chilli Peppers

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The Last Word

19/2/2020

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God knows that I love to have the last word, probably to my own detriment most of the time. Every time that I hear Annie Lennox singing that song 'Why?' when she reaches that line 'I tell myself too many times why don't you ever learn to keep your big mouth shut?' I shudder as it stings me with its complete accuracy. Yep, sometimes I know that I say far more than what is necessary. In fact I'm pretty sure that if I have any guiding spirits, that they would probably be face palming themselves behind my back regularly. It's true; I do have to own that in the heat of the moment I have been known to throw out some pretty unnecessary words and I'm not going to pretend that I am proud of that because I am not. Losing your shit and saying more than what is necessary is never a good thing and only an idiot would ever defend that kind of behaviour. 
It really is a massive problem having a big gob like I do and saying too much, and the worst part of all is that you can't take any of it back. Words can never be unsaid, rewound, unravelled or removed once they have been spoken, and sometimes the fallout of their impact can never be undone either. I have learnt over the years that it is far better to just say nothing at all than to say something mean, unkind or inappropriate. 
And it was in the spirit of last words that I started pondering about what I would say if I knew that it was the very last thing that I  would ever say in my lifetime. And before you start thinking that I have too much time on my hands (which I clearly do) it turns out that a lot of other people have thought about this as well because there is a huge list of famous people's last words on the internet (if you can believe that they are really true that is). Mind you some of them aren't actually the person's last words, they're just the last thing that they were ever heard saying, so their real last words were probably something more like 'Oh fuck I'm actually dying!' and we would never really know. Nevertheless here are a couple of rippers that I really enjoyed reading:
  • Frank Sinatra - I'm losing it. 
  • Margaret Sanger (Birth Control advocate) - A party, let's have a party!
  • Nostradamus - Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here. 
  • Leonardo da Vinci - I have offended god and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.
  • Richard Feynman - This dying is boring. 
  • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - (to his wife)  You are wonderful.
  • Michael Landon - You're right, its time. I love you all.
  • Eugene O'Neill - I knew it! I knew it! Born in a hotel room and goddamnit, dying in a hotel room.
  • Jack Soo - It must've been the coffee. 
  • Groucho Marx - This is no way to live. 
  • Emily Dickinson - I must go in, for the fog is rising. 
  • James Brown - I'm going away tonight.
  • Steve Jobs - Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow. 
In all seriousness though, it is absolutely impossible to determine what your own last words might be, because who knows how you'll go in the end? I would imagine that what you would say on your deathbed surrounded by loved ones would be quite different to what you might say if you were mowed down in the street by a bus. However, I would hope that my last words were something more like 'oh it's even more wonderful than I could've imagined' and a lot less like  'oh so that's what Satan looks like.'
However, the chances of actually formulating something exceptional, memorable or poignant on your deathbed are honestly extremely unlikely, so my best advice is that if you've got something really important to say then I think that you owe it to world to say it well before the day that you actually leave. As long as it's nice!  Just saying!
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IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY
Release Date: 2010
Rating: M
Running Time: 101 mins

A comedy-drama and coming of age tale, adapted from Ned Vizzini's 2006 novel of the same name and written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. It's Kind of a Funny Story finds its strength in its talented cast, who deliver a quirky and entertaining look into mental illness and relationships. 
After contemplating suicide, stressed out teen Craig Gilner decides to admit himself into a psychiatric ward in an attempt to pick up some life management skills. 
This is a touching and hopeful tale about people finding themselves and each other within the walls of the psychiatric ward. Zach Galifianakis, Viola Davis, Emma Roberts and Zoe Kravitz all bring some clout and credibility to the story, but it is Keir Gilchrist who steals the show with all of his teenage awkwardness and uncertainty. 
The movie tastefully touches on depression, suicide, withdrawal and social anxiety without feeling cheesy or contrived, and although it isn't necessarily a game changer, it is enjoyable and delivers a positive message for overwhelmed teenagers. 
FINAL SAY: I'd just live. Like it meant something.
3 Chilli Peppers

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What is a Meaningful Life?

15/2/2020

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I think that everyone would like to think that they are leading a meaningful life, but in truth a lot of people actually appear to spend their entire lives in various states of dissatisfaction. From conversations that I have had with various people about their quality of life and from the articles, books and information that I have read, it seems to me that regardless of the fact that most of the people in question are living reasonably wealthy and social lifestyles, many of them are still feel like they are lacking purpose, fulfillment and direction in their lives. So what is happening here? Why are people feeling this level of meaninglessness when they already have everything that they could ever need?  
The answer to this is really very simple. People that feel like their lives are meaningless are usually failing to recognise what matters, and instead of appreciating and focusing on what they have, they spend most of their time focusing on what they believe to be missing from their current reality. This kind of thinking draws a person away from an appreciation mindset and leads them into thinking that they are going without, thus leading them into a state of dissatisfaction or meaninglessness. 
What constitutes a meaningful life has been a topic that philosophers have argued for centuries. The 19th century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said that the question itself is meaningless because in the midst of living, we're in no position to discern whether our lives matter, and stepping outside of the process of existence to answer is impossible. Other god- centred philosophers believe that only a deity can provide purpose and meaning to life. Naturalists philosophers would argue that there is no absolute truth when discussing value around life meaning because one person may say that creativity is the answer, and another may say virtue; and in truth they could both be correct. And subjective philosophers believe that the value of a life's meaningfulness is made up only by our minds and therefore is subject to change at any moment. 
And for some people these truths are the way that they find meaning in their lives. In fact none of these theories are incorrect, because they would all still fit into the theory that life's meaning can be found by refocusing your mindset upon the things in your life that you already have and seeing them as meaningful aspects. For some people that could be their relationship to a deity or God, for some it may be their creativity or virtuosity and for others it could be a sliding scale of elements that are continuously altered by life experiences like the people we meet, the places we go and the new ideas and concepts that we engage in. As long as you are focused on those things as meaningful and not continuously looking at what is missing from your current existence them you can and will feel like you are living a meaningful life. 
Sure, it seems pretty simplistic and that's because it is. If you can condition yourself to look at all of the things that already exist in your life then you can most definitely become empowered by that thinking. By removing habits of comparison, jealousy, longing, searching and escaping from your life and replacing them with habits of gratitude, appreciation, awareness, fulfilment and self focus, you can drastically increase your ability to recognise that you are already living a very meaningful life right at this moment. Yes, you are living a very meaningful life right at this moment; wherever you are, whoever you are and whatever you are doing, your life has meaning and purpose.
So, in conclusion and in answer to my opening question, what is a meaningful life? I believe that the answer is that all life is meaningful, you just have to focus on what you already have. So please, go out and appreciate all that you have right now and enjoy your beautiful and meaningful life!
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FRANCES HA
Release Date: 2012
Rating: MA 15+
Running: 86 mins
You aren't going to really like anyone all that much in this movie. You aren't going to be blown away with a rich and intriguing story line. And you aren't going to be changed emotionally by seeing this movie; and that is because this film is not setting out to do those things. 
Frances Ha is a movie about the unbearable lightness of being, about everyday people - most of whom are pretty annoying and self involved. It's about the shitty everyday stuff that happens, mostly of little consequence and mostly in transition, but completely unavoidable in life and also part of the rich tapestry that gives life real meaning. 
We follow Frances (Greta Gerwig) as she flows through relationships, friendships, employment and homelessness as she tries to establish a career and a life for herself in New York as a dancer. Frances is impulsive, honest and dreamy in her approach to life and her story offers a fresh perspective on the nothingness that is living. 
Shot in a broody black and white and sensitively directed by Noah Baumbach, I think a lot of people will sadly overlook this film which would be a damn shame because it's message is so unique.
FINAL SAY: I like things that look like mistakes. 
3 Chilli peppers ​

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Winner, Winner, South Korean Dinner!

11/2/2020

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The 92nd Academy Awards aired on Monday and of course I was glued to the television for the duration. I love all of the glitz and glamour and particularly enjoyed the brilliant opening routine which gave homage to some of the excellent movies of 2019 that didn't make the final nomination cut like Us, Midsommar, Queen and Slim and Dolemite is My Name. 
I cannot express my joy at seeing the floral 'Midsommar' dress on Janelle Monae as she declared "Tonight, we celebrate all the amazing talent in this room. We celebrate all of the women who directed phenomenal films and I'm so proud to stand here as a black queer artist, telling stories. Happy Black History Month." 
And what a wonderful night it was all around with Parasite smashing it out of the park with four Oscar wins, including Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film. Turns out that when the South Koreans arrive at the Academy Awards, they mop the floors with their opponents. And good for them, Parasite was easily one of the best movies of 2019, and I for one have been advocating for more foreign film appreciation for decades, so it's about time really.
Now we just need another female to win a Best Director Oscar because that hasn't happened since Kathryn Bigelow broke the mould and won one in 2010 for The Hurt Locker, and it's been a mighty dry category for females ever since as well; here's hoping 2020 will change all that again. 
However, enough of my own agenda, let's just get onto the very worthy Oscar winners for 2019, my congratulations and sincere appreciation to you all!
Best Picture:
“Parasite”
Lead Actor:
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Lead Actress:
Renee Zellweger, “Judy”
Supporting Actor:
Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Supporting Actress:
Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
Director:
Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”
Animated Feature:
“Toy Story 4,”  Josh Cooley
Animated Short:
“Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry
Adapted Screenplay:
“Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi
Original Screenplay:
“Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han
Cinematography:
“1917,” Roger Deakins
Best Documentary Feature:
“American Factory,” Julia Riechert, Steven Bognar
Best Documentary Short Subject:
“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone,” Carol Dysinger
Best Live Action Short Film:
“The Neighbors’ Window,” Marshall Curry
Best International Feature Film:
“Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho
Film Editing:
“Ford v Ferrari,” Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland
Sound Editing:
“Ford v Ferrari,” Don Sylvester
Sound Mixing:
“1917” Stuart Wilson
Production Design:
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh
Original Score:
“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir
Original Song:
“I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”
Makeup and Hair:
“Bombshell” Kazuhiro Tsuji
Costume Design:
“Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran
Visual Effects:
“1917” Guillaume Rocheron, Dominic Tuchy, Greg Butler.
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PARASITE
Release Date: 2019
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 132 mins 

A South Korean black comedy thriller, written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite is destined to become a modern cult classic with its unique and original style and engrossing storyline.
It swept the field at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning four Oscars and becoming the first film to ever win both the Best Picture and Best  International Feature Film cateogories.  At the 77th Golden Globe Awards Parasite also won the Best Foreign Language Film and was the first non-English film to ever win the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Talk about buzz! This film had everyone talking and soon become the must see film of 2019. 
In South Korea, the dirt poor Kim family are struggling to hold down low-paying temporary jobs and make ends meet. When their son begins tutoring for an extremely  wealthy family, the Kim family seizes an opportunity to exploit them by integrating themselves into their lives through insidious and underhanded means. 
What a watch! Parasite is absolutely riveting from start to end with its devious entanglements and dreadfully behaved characters. The cast are flawless here, delivering a tight, sharp and sophisticated script to perfection. Special mention must go to Kang-ho Song for his stellar depiction of Kim Ki-taek, the Kim family patriarch that has taught his family how to survive in the most unscrupulous of ways. 
However, that being said, it is not just the storyline and cast that carry this film to great heights, becasue every detail of the cinematography here is stunning as well; at times the imagery was so strong that it literally took my breath away. Parasite is one of the best foreign language films that I have ever seen, and it's definitely a movie that no-one should miss. 
FINAL SAY: They are nice because they are rich.
4.5 Chilli Peppers

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To Drug or Not To Drug?

8/2/2020

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When I was a teenager, the worst kinds of drugs that my peers were getting into were things like marijuana, hashish and maybe a few magic mushrooms (if you were lucky enough to know which ones were actually safe to ingest without dying). Now, I don't want anyone to think that I am condoning the taking of illicit drugs, because I don't, but from what I could glean from it all, the biggest consequence of taking any of the aforementioned drugs in your teens in my time was spending an entire weekend listening to back to back Pink Floyd albums and eating all of the packaged snack foods out of your parent's pantry.  
Occasionally you'd hear about older teens experimenting with speed or rohypnol, but in the circles that I ran in, things weren't really getting that heavy and we all just naively believed that it was only the 'kids that ran on the wrong side of the tracks' that were getting into the 'heavier' stuff anyway. 
I do still believe that most of the teenagers that were hanging out in my neighbourhood were actually just happy to experiment with alcohol and nicotine in the 80's and early 90's, although some of the really edgy kids that I knew were dropping acid tabs and going on psyc anthropic trips into other realms on the weekends, but no-one seemed to be experimenting with anything heavier than that.
When I was younger I was so uneducated about drugs that I actually thought that highly addictive drugs like heroin, cocaine or smack were reserved only for 'serious' drug addicts.  I thought that only people that were much older than me would even be able to afford or score drugs of that calibre and I suppose that kind of thinking allowed me to keep highly addictive drugs at a safe distance in some inaccessible realm that I would never need to enter. However in truth, those drugs were actually far closer than I realised at the time and the menu of drug choices was far more substantial than I had ever perceived it to be as well.
Today, teenagers are exposed to the risk of addiction from many more substances than I was ever exposed to, and even though alcohol and marijuana have been cited as the most commonly used drugs across the past four generations, what we are now seeing is a terrifying rise in young people using crystal meth (aka ice), synthetic drugs and (believe it or not) over the counter pain medications. However, what we also need to take into account is the fact that our teenagers are now far more educated and aware than they have ever been before and that kind of awareness is valuable and powerful, especially when we are talking about voluntary drug use. In fact, statistics show that it is not our young people that are at the biggest risk of having serious drug addictions anymore; the real truth about modern drug addiction is actually quite different than what you might have thought that would be. 
Due to the their wide range of health issues, social exclusion and isolation issues,  it is actually the elderly (64 to 86 years) who have the largest number of people that are abusing illicit substances these days. And perhaps just as equally shocking is the 11% of women over 50 years that are currently addicted to prescription medications. Which means that there are actually drug pushers sitting at our community clinics disguised as health care providers! We know this because the biggest rise in drug addiction in the last decade has occurred due to the drugs and medications that doctors are over-prescribing. Turns out that some of our friendly local GP's are now some of the most prolific drug peddlers in town, addicting more and more people to prescription drugs every year and doing it all legally as well!
After a little digging I found a list of the most commonly abused drugs and it's really no surprise that it looked like this: barbiturates, benzodiazepines, sleep medications, codeine, morphine, oxycontin, percocet, vicodin, amphetamines, methylphenidates (ritalin) and DMX. All of them prescription drugs.
However, the five most addictive drugs are: heroin, cocaine, nicotine, barbiturates and alcohol. And even though marijuana is the most abused drug worldwide with approximately 27.1 million users, it is not known as a highly addictive drug and is widely considered to be the safest recreational drug, however it is known as a gateway drug that can lead to other serious substance addictions, like Twisties, Cheezels and Doritos.
Sorry, I couldn't resist, but in reality drug abuse and drug addiction is certainly no laughing matter, and whether you've dabbled yourself, still partake or just have a curious mind about it all, always remember that all drugs, even something as innocuous as caffeine, come at a price to your overall health and wellbeing. So when it comes to the question 'to drug or not to drug?' I always try not to drug as much as possible, but I still can't resist a good whiskey on a Saturday night, and even though I don't ever want to seem flippant about alcohol abuse, I do believe that it hardly puts me into the Trainspotting stakes of addiction does it? 
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TRAINSPOTTING
Release Date: 1996
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 94 mins
Based on the Irvine Welsh novel of the same name and directed by Danny Boyle, this gritty dark comedy/drama follows the struggles of a group of heroin addicts during the late 1980's economically depressed area of Edinburgh. The film had an immediate impact on popular culture and gained a cult following due it's mixture of music and wildly perverse events that created it's own ravey-hypnotic style. 
Heroin addict Renton (Ewan McGregor) just goes from one bad idea to the next in an attempt to feed his growing appetite for drugs. His friends Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud and Tommy are all just as haphazard as he is, so Renton attempts to get clean and get on with his life. However, he finds that leaving the drug scene and his friends behind is not going to be an easy task. 
Beyond drug addiction, Trainspotting is also exploring other themes like urban poverty and the squalor surrounding the 'culturally rich' area of Edinburgh. It is a grimy and unsettling romp through the world of addiction, filled with youthful energy and seething in a pit of it's own filth, Trainspotting is a dark ride that is dynamic and disturbing in equal measures. 
FINAL SAY: Choose Life. 
4.5 Chilli Peppers

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The Science of Sleep

5/2/2020

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One thing that you really miss about being on holidays is being able to dictate when you will sleep. I freely admit that I was regularly indulging in the odd siesta over the summer holidays and was often staying up very late and sleeping in until all kinds of unprofessional hours, but hey that's what the holidays are for! However, now that I am back at work  and once again a slave to the clock, it has occurred to me that in order to fulfil my hectic and busy lifestyle choices that something has to give, and for me the first thing to be sacrificed is my sleep. 
Sleep could be seen as a very silly thing to sacrifice, or a very smart one depending on who you are. And I suppose that the most obvious question that gets raised when someone starts to toy with cutting back on their sleep is just how much sleep do you actually need to survive? Notice that I said survive there and not thrive? Well, I suppose what I really mean is how much sleep do we need to still be considered high functioning? And the results of my research may surprise you.
In general, the average adult requires between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night; however (and this is a pretty big however), everyone actually requires a different amount depending on their individual genetic makeup. And furthermore, you can actually condition your body to function well on as little as 5 hours sleep per night. Yes, really, 5 hours of sleep a night and the secret to doing this lies not in the hours of sleep that you get, but in the quality of sleep that you are getting during those 5 hours of sleep. 
When assessed, it was found that people who can thrive on 5 or 6 hours of sleep and still feel bright and ready to face the day are generally getting very high quality sleep when they are sleeping. They spend less time tossing and turning, more time in REM sleep when they are out and are generally able to relax on a whim if required to do so. For example, these people would be able to drop into a deep meditation mode easily or engage in reading a book in very noisy situations. However, let's be very real about this, being able to go without sleep and survive on only 5 hours of rest every day is a superhuman feat and before you commit to cutting your sleep down to radically small amounts it is also worth considering the side effects of having too little quality sleep in your life. 
Apart from constantly feeling like a crap sandwich, a lack of sleep has also been linked to obesity, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, none of which are very alluring at all are they? And there are also some significant signs that you're not getting enough quality sleep that you can keep an eye out for like feeling moody or depressed, getting dizzy, suffering from breakouts and illnesses, having dark rings around your eyes, gaining weight, craving junk food, drinking more caffeine and forgetfulness.  
Experts say that if you take more than 30 minutes to get sleep at night and always feel tired when you wake up then you are more than likely depriving your body of quality sleep. And it is also worth noting that the hormones in your body that control hunger and stress are also regulated by sleep, so odds are that if you're not sleeping enough you're going to be stressing out a lot and generally eating too much.
Everyone knows that sleep deprivation is an incredibly effective and insidious form of torture that attacks your deep biological functions and will eventually cause irreparable mental and physical health complications over time if continued; so do I recommend cutting your sleep back to fit more into your life? Well no, at least not for anyone else...but for me in the interim, I feel reasonably confident that the 6 to 6.5 hours of sleep that I allow myself to have each night is sustaining me just fine. However, I could have already wrecked my brain by now and have absolutely no idea what the hell I am saying, so please don't take my word for it! Go and experiment on yourself and your own sleep patterns to work out what your 'golden and ideal' amount of sleep hours is- you'll definitely have a perfect point, that much I do know for sure, but only you will be able to determine where that is.
In the meantime, make sure that you consider Dr Michael Breus' (from thesleepdoctor.com) recommendations for the perfect bedtime ritual to get more bang for your buck when you are asleep - and sweet dreams everyone!
1. Clean yourself -eg, take a shower, or at least wash your face, brush your teeth, floss and put on clean PJ's.
2. Keep your linen fresh and clean and where possible allow fresh air to circulate your room. 
3. Avoid eating for at least an hour before sleep. 
4. Commit to the same bedtime each night so that you establish a routine.
5. Drink a warm non-caffeinated beverage.
6. Turn off screens at least one hour before retiring.
7. Meditate.
8. Ensure that you have a dark quiet room or use eye shades and ear plugs. 
9. Practise deep breathing and stretching before getting into bed. 
10. Don't fight the sleep, if you're wrestling your sheets or tossing about, get up and make a warm drink and restart your ritual again. Remember that 2 hours of restful sleep is better than 4 hours of restlessness. 
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THE MACHINIST 
Release Date: 2004
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 101 mins 
An English language, Spanish psychological thriller, directed by Brad Anderson and written by Scott Kosar. This was the film that proved Christian Bale's unbelievable commitment to his roles, when he shed an incredible 28 kilograms, living on an apple, a coffee and water for four months prior to filming to portray his character Trevor Reznik with more conviction. 
Trevor Reznik is a machinist and an insomniac. His lack of sleep and routine has made him painfully emaciated and less than attentive on the job. His revolted co-workers turn against him after he is involved in an accident that leaves a his co-worker armless. Trevor believes that it was co-worker 'Ivan' that caused his distraction and the accident, but no-one has ever heard of Ivan and there are no records of his existence; and so begins a series of strange and unsettling events in the life of Trevor.
This is quite a challenging watch, the general tone and colour saturation of the film render it bleak and grimy, making everything feel menacing. The events that unfold for Trevor are far from joyful, as he tries to make sense of his addled thoughts and the things that are occurring around him. It also becomes increasingly difficult for the viewer to assess reality from fantasy, as they join him on his terrible downward spiral. 
FINAL SAY: I just want to sleep.
4 Chilli Peppers

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Play it Again Sam...

1/2/2020

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I have in other posts mentioned how I hate it when a movie franchise capitalises on the success of earlier films and starts to roll out endless sequels that are just absolute shit and not a scrap on the original in any way, and look this does happen quite a lot. However, I don't want to tell you about all of the times that Hollywood wasted my time with shithouse sequels, why would I do that when I can tell you about all of the times when they actually got it completely right?
I would much prefer to talk about all of the times that a sequel or trilogy produced something that was just as good as the original - and dare I say it, sometimes even better! Yes, it is true, that some sequels and sometimes trilogies (and even beyond; which is rare but has happened) can be just as good, if not better than, their predecessor offerings. And I have to say that I get mighty excited when things like this happen.
Whenever I enter the cinema to watch a second coming I never, not ever, expect for it to be great. So you can imagine my surprise and delight when they get the formula right and deliver something fabulous all over again. Impossible you say? I think not, check out these incredible feats of cinematic trilogy and sequel genius -no seriously, you should really check them out, they're actually all very good movies!
TERRIFIC TRILOGIES:
  • The Godfather: Arguably the best movie trilogy that has ever been made and certainly one of the best that I've ever seen.
  • Toy Story: All four of them are great, all four of them! This is so rare that it is literally unheard of. If you've somehow missed these, see them immediately. 
  • Lord Of The Rings (Trilogy): I've said it a thousand times, these three movies are epic. All Hale King Jackson! 
  • The Hobbit(Trilogy): More Jackson gold, not as good as LOTR, but still epic.
  • John Wick: There have been three of these so far, and they just keep getting better and better, and Keanu gets sexier and sexier as well - bonus!
  • The Indiana Jones trilogy: Yeah I know that there were four of them, but the first three were the best and you know it too!
  • Before Midnight: The final film in the trilogy, with the first two being Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. These are some of the best and most realistic romance films ever made, and each installment gets more involved. 
  • Three Colours: Blue, Red and White: These fabulous french/polish language films are loosely based on the three political ideals in the motto of the French republic: liberty, equality, fraternity, and they're all excellent. 
STUNNING SEQUELS: 
  • Terminator 2: Judgement Day: The first one was great, but the second one was bad ass, CGI effects heaven in 1991. 
  • Aliens: Yep, loved the original Alien with all of my heart, but kick ass Ripley saving the day in Aliens was so damn good!
  • Blade Runner 2049: So good, and in my opinion better than the original in storyline. 
  • Paddington 2: Probably the best sequel of 2017, it was just so damn adorable!
  • The Dark Knight: Heath Ledger's performance elevated the Batman movies to new and great heights- amazing!
  • Thor: Ragnarok: Funnier, faster and way more enjoyable than any of the other Thor films. 
  • Logan: The Wolverine franchise swan song was so, so good - it made my best of 2017 film list because it's really intelligent and deeply moving.
  • Insidious 2: A perfect follow up to the very creepy first offering, some consistently excellent horror film making here. 
  • Deadpool 2 - I love the Deadpool movies, they are so naughty and tongue in cheek, they're winners all round for me.
  • Creep 2 - More Mark Duplass weirdness! Creep 2 is a really good and consistent follow on to the first Creep film. 
  • Kill Bill Vol 2 - Every bit as good as Kill Bill vol 1, I actually liked the second instalment more than the first, but I know that many would argue this with me. 
  • Hellboy 2 - The Golden Army: Even better than the first Hellboy, loads more fantastic creatures and heaps of action packed fun. 
  • Manon Des Sources: The second installment of the French language movie Jean De Florette is unforgettable material that shouldn't be missed. 
  • Avengers: Endgame: A perfect ending to an incredible franchise and the best super sequel that has ever been made. Hall of Fame material!
  • Mad Max: Fury Road: This modern take on Mad Max was an unmissable fuel injected adrenaline rush and made my best of 2015 list. 
  • T2 Trainspotting: A mature and contemplative revisit to the lads twenty years on, very interesting. 
  • The Conjuring 2 - The Enfield Haunting: Totally freaked me out, that bloody nun is scary as all shit! Way more scares than the first Conjuring offering. 
  • The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2: Just as good as Vol 1 in every way, just as funny, action packed and entertaining. 
  • An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power: If you're still in denial about global warming then watch Al Gore's second offering about the subject and get on board with feeling very uncomfortable and worried about the planet. 
  • Zombieland: Double Tap: More hack and slash zombie killing with the old gang, what's not to like? 
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ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP
Release Date: 2019
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 99 mins 

Ten years on from the original Zombieland offering, director Ruben Fleischer manages to reunite the original ensemble cast to deliver another zombie hack and slash horror-comedy that is just as enjoyable as it's predecessor.
Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock have found themselves a safe haven at the abandoned White House in Washington DC. And whilst the older members of the group are revelling in their new and relaxed seclusion, the youngest of the group Little Rock becomes restless and forces the group to leave the safety of the White House when she decides to leave in search of other survivors. 
Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin all bring a consistent  energy to the movie, and newcomers Rosario Dawson and Luke Wilson are great additions to the cast. However for me, Zoey Deutch who plays the dumb blond (Madison) completely steals the show here and had me laughing out loud more than a few times. 
Just like the first installment it's nutty and silly, with a high zombie kill count. I genuinely appreciated the 'evolution of the zombie' storyline arc and had a lot of fun watching this. Zombieland: Double Tap is some seriously goofy and unmissable undead fun. 
FINAL SAY: Enjoy the little things.
3.5 Chilli Peppers

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    Hi, my name is Barb.
    I crave excellent, high quality viewing experiences. 
    ​Share in my addiction. 

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