Amidst celebrations of the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons in Cannes, Matt Groening talks about the background to his creation and the family that inspired it. Read more here: http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/tv–radio/how-a-real-life-bart-turned-his-family-into-the-simpsons/2010/01/08/1262453672924.html
Uh-oh. TV watching is linked to a premature death according to a study published in Circulation. Professor David Dunstan who works with Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne says
“[p]eople who watch four or more hours of television a day have a 46 per cent higher risk of [early] death from all causes and 80 per cent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.”
AND moreover,
‘the increased risk of premature death was independent of other risk factors like smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, diet or exercise.’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/12/2790412.htm
This research has huge implications for those of us who spend most of the day in front of any sort of screen.
David Dale discusses Avatar and some attempts to improve the plot so that its ‘storyline [might] match its presentation’ at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/adding-to-the-shades-of-avatar-20100108-lyv0.html
