Nov 20

Film Review: Zodiac

Zodiac is a 2007 cryptic crime thriller that follows the story of a manhunt for a self-professed serial killer who calls himself ‘Zodiac’ in and around the San Francisco Bay area. The killer leaves in his wake an array of victims, taunting the police and the media with letters detailing his crimes, leaving distinctive ciphers and signing off with a zodiac symbol. The film opens showing the date and location that the first scene is to be set in; July 4, 1969, Vallejo, California. The opening scene shows the first murder of the film, the horrific attack on young couple Mike Mageau and Darlene Ferrin, leaving Darlene dead and Mike seriously injured. This brutal attack made all the more harrowing as the anonymous gunman returns to shoot the couple again, setting the tense and creepy atmosphere that permeates the entire movie. The next scene cuts to four weeks down the line and brings with this change of time a change of mood. We are introduced to the busy city of San Francisco, where the story is to be set and are introduced the main characters. There is David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) who is the lead police investigator when the Zodiac moved to San Francisco, Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.), the lead reporter covering the case for the San Francisco Chronicle and Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) a puzzle-loving cartoonist at the Chronicle who becomes obsessed with the case. The plot, which spans a couple of decades, is told chronologically with the help of the projection of dates and locations as scenes change throughout the movie, marking the passing of time. The story structure is as intricate as the storytelling is seamless. This passing of time not only marks plot development with the emergence of more killings, letters, clues and suspects but also character development. It is the shy, awkward cartoonist and eager to prove himself Graysmith, whose story dominates as the film progresses. We watch as his fascination with the case consumes him, becoming his only focus, this single-minded pursuit alienating him to such an extent that he loses his family. Alongside this we have Avery, the once star reporter reduced to a troubled alcoholic, his self-destructive spiral portrayed to perfection by Downey. This transition is particularly evident as we jump from one time period to the next, the construction of a sky scraper emphasising just how much time has passed when we meet Downey again, with his dishevelled appearance, withdrawn demeanour and resort to alcoholism a far cry from the man we met at the start of the movie. Directed by David Fincher and based on Graysmith’s best-selling book on the murders, the film is fascinating and despite being nearly three hours long, is thoroughly engrossing. It is a film that not only deals with murder and the process of detective work, but also obsession and how this obsession to discover the identity of Zodiac impacted on the lives of the three main characters. It is a film I would highly recommend watching, in the mean time, here’s the trailer: 

Nov 14

Are you suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome?

Finding yourself continuously and unexplainably plagued by headaches, eye pains and tiredness? Chances are you are one of the many undiagnosed people who have fallen victim to Computer Vision Syndrome.

Research shows computer eye problems are commonplace in this day and age. Somewhere between 50% and 90% of people who work at a computer screen have at least some symptoms of eye trouble. These statistics are unsurprising given the emphasis on technology and its use in the workplace in the present day. However this problem no longer only exists in the workplace as computer screens have become an integral part of our everyday lives. For millions of people across the world, hours of the day are spent in front of a monitor, smartphone, or television. While Computer Vision Syndrome is usually considered to predominantly affect older individuals in the workplace, there have been a rising number of cases among young adults and even children. This is due to prolonged smartphone use, playing video games and watching television. With the integration of computer technology into education and the classroom, for example, the introduction of iPads into schools for student’s everyday use and learning this is something that will only continue to worsen, as from a young age children will be working off a brightly lit screen. As the modern world is changing, we too must adapt and ensure we utilise technology to its full extent, however it is vital that we take the necessary precautions and make sure we do not let it affect our health.

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is defined as a temporary condition resulting from focusing the eyes on a computer display for protracted, uninterrupted periods of time. In reality, however, CVS is no one specific eye problem. Instead, the term encompasses a whole range of eyestrain and pain experienced by computer users. The most common and prevalent symptoms of CVS include; headaches, blurred vision, neck pain, redness in the eyes, fatigue, eye strain, dry eyes, irritated eyes, double vision, dizziness and difficulty refocusing the eyes. The extent and extremity to which these symptoms can be experienced can depend on the individual in question, the level of their visual abilities and the amount of time spent looking at a computer or device screen. While in many instances CVS symptoms will be temporary, for those working with technology on a continual basis they will find that there is no relief or decline in their condition. These individuals may experience continued reduced visual abilities, such as blurred distance vision, even after stopping work at a computer. If nothing is done to address the cause of the problem, the symptoms will continue to recur and in some instances even worsen with future computer use. If these symptoms are not treated, they can have a lasting effect on your work performance levels and leave you with permanent damage to your eyesight.

What causes CVS?
Computer Vision Syndrome can be caused a number of factors including; working in poor lighting, constant glares on the computer screen, an improper viewing distance between you and the computer screen, poor seating posture and uncorrected vision problems.
It is important to remember that viewing a computer screen is very different to reading printed sheets or papers and will require more work from your eyes. Often the letters on the computer screen are not as precise or sharply defined as that of a book. On top of this the level of contrast of the letters to the background is reduced, and the presence of glare and reflections on the screen may make viewing difficult. Viewing distances and angles used when dealing with computers are also often different from those commonly used for other reading or writing tasks. As a result of this, the eye focusing and eye movement requirements for computer viewing can place additional demands on the visual system and eyes can be easily strained.

The Solution?
The prevention or reduction of the vision problems associated with CVS can be achieved by taking regular care of your eyes and making changes in how you view your computer screen. For example, taking steps to control lighting and reduce the glares often found on the computer screen, establishing proper working distances and maintaining posture for computer viewing. It is also advised that you ensure that any minor vision problems are properly corrected.

Simply adjusting your screen make a lot of difference. The distance between your eyes and the screen should be from between 50cm to 70 cm, with an advised distance down of 10 to 20 cm lower than your eye level. Correct angling and spacing can reduce refraction and lessen tiredness for your eyes.

It is also important to remember to blink often. Blinking your eyes makes tears to secrete, this helps keep your eyes moist. This is especially important if you wear contact lenses. Many people concentrate too much on their work and in turn find that they are blinking infrequently. This results in the eyes becoming drier. Dry eyes can contribute to Computer Vision Syndrome and even make the condition worse.

The 20-20-20 rule is another measure that can be taken. Following this rule, every 20 minutes you spend looking at a monitor, look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Doing so allows your eyes to rest.

For those of you dealing with technology on a daily basis that wish to go that extra mile in looking after your eyes, try eating foods that will benefit them. Most kinds of sea fish contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) a form of Omega-3 which can be good for the eyes’ retinas and help prevent eye injury and cataracts. The best sources of this include salmon, trout, sardines, herring and Arctic char. In terms of vegetable, carrots, limes and leafy green vegetables are also recommended for eyes. Seeds are advised as they include antioxidants which can reduce eyes degeneration and are believed to help preserve or improve eyesight. Drinking plenty of water also helps to reduce eyes drying as water can help you to stay hydrated.

As a last resort and for my final suggestion, I am going to turn to Ultimeyes. Ultimeyes is an app devised for the ipad that describes itself as a “simple-to-use interactive game scientifically designed to improve vision”. While it won’t cure blindness it does claim to help regain eye strength and improve levels of work performance. The app itself doesn’t work on the eye instead focusing on the brain cortex that processes vision. Like brain-training memory games, the app puts your eyes through a work-out, which may strain them at first but with the end result being better vision. The results of an experiment using this app carried out on baseball players were published in Current Biology and claim that players “reported seeing the ball better, greater peripheral vision and an ability to distinguish lower-contrast objects”. Created by a neuroscientist, the app holds promise and is available for purchase in the iTunes store for €5.49 if you want to give it a try.

Conclusion:
While technology is an indispensable part of our modern day lives, it is important that we don’t overlook (pun intended ha ha) our health as we get caught up in a flurry of new devices and systems. It is crucial that all computer, tablet and smart phone users are aware of the risks involved and the possible implications that can occur as a result of the overuse or the misuse of technology.

Oct 6

Sean O’Rourke: A Profile

Sean O’Rourke is an award winning Irish journalist and broadcaster who currently works for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), holding their prime time slot with his show ‘Today with Sean O’Rourke’ every weekday morning from 10:00am to 12 noon.

He was born sixth of Kevin and Margaret O’Rourke’s eight children in 1955 in Portlaoise, County Laois. When he was five, his family moved to Galway for educational reasons, as it was a university town and his parents both placed an importance on third level education. Throughout secondary school O’Rourke knew where his interests and passions lay, realising from a young age that he wanted to be a journalist. This is particularly evident in an interview he gave with the Laois Nationalist where he states, “I got this notion in sixth-year that I wanted to be a reporter”.

Upon finishing secondary school he spent a year working for the Connacht Tribune between 1973 -1974 before continuing to study English, History and Law at University College Galway (UCG). From here he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977.

O’Rourke then secured a job with The Sunday Press featuring most prominently as a sports reporter until 1981. He initially joined RTÉ in 1982 and was presenter/reporter for RTÉ News and This Week. He was Political Correspondent with the Irish Press between 1984 and 1989 and when he returned to RTÉ in 1989 as Programme Editor/Presenter in RTÉ News he finally got to focus on his real passion, politics. During his 25 year relationship with RTÉ (1989 – present) he has hosted a multitude of shows including Morning Ireland and This Week and The News at One.

O’Rourke has received recognition and won many awards throughout his career as a Journalist. In June 2011, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law by NUIG.

Sean Ó’ Rourke is a larger than life character whose reporting and commentary has enriched the lifes of many allowing an insight into national and international issues. He is an inspiration to budding journalists like myself; who hope one day to follow in his footsteps.

Oct 6

Societies Day at NUIG

Wednesday September 10th 2014 marked NUI Galway’s annual society’s day.
Taking place in the Bailey Allen hall and Aras na Maclein, it started early at 10am, continuing all day until 5pm. With a choice of 108 societies there was something for everyone.
Societies range from sports, to languages, to being political based and topical, to charitable and creative. The choices are wide and varied and the possibilities endless. Societies are an integral part of college life. They are about socialising and interacting where there is a shared or common interest, allowing students to meet new people, to make new friends, to pursue hobbies and to enjoy some downtime from lectures and study in a fun and new environment.

Society’s day gives you the opportunity to find out what societies there are, what they have to offer and how you can get involved. This year marked a change for societies as a new compulsory quota rule was implemented, meaning that in order for a society to be officially recognised it requires a minimum of 100 members. The impact of this was clearly visible as the auditorium quickly filled with tables, stands and society representatives, all enticing and encouraging students to sign up.

Incentives were flying from tables left, right and center with the offer of free sweets, biros, posters and even pizza vouchers, anything to capture the attention and more importantly to gain the support of students.
We at the Journalism Society table had our own share of sweets and posters, including a life size newspaper cut out offering passers-by the opportunity to pose as a front page feature.
These tempting enticements successfully drew crowds to certain stands. Those who spoke the loudest, laughed the most, had an aura of welcome and, of course offered freebies, drew students in like an industrialised trawler, gaining those coveted student ID numbers and with them that all important membership.

What makes societies day such a fun day is the banter, the promise of how this society will change your life and improve it beyond recognition; extending your friendship circle, enhancing your social life and of course giving you the opportunity to do good and to improve within that field.
Societies day is an experience in itself, embrace it. For those of you who missed it, it’s never too late to join a society; you can do so through the the college website where you will find all the information you need.

Oct 6

A Guide to Surviving Your First Year in College

As i start my second year of college i have found myself reflecting upon my experiences last year. Thinking back to my initial ideas of what college life what would consist of, I can honestly say it hasn’t quite been what I expected it to be. As a Leaving Cert student my newsfeed would be constantly filled with bright and colourful pictures of past school pupils out drinking every night, living college life like it was one big glamorous party. With college essentially starting with fresher’s week or in the case of some universities fresher’s fortnight it’s easy to see how first year students may get sucked into this idea, forgetting why they have really come to college, as fresher’s is basically a week of partying and socialising. However when reality sets in and believe me it will, you need to be ready to hit the ground running. To prepare you future students on what is to come, I’ve decided to comprise a basic guide on how to survive your first year in college, with everything you will need to know to get yourself through the year.

They say the first thing to hit you when you become a college student is independence, a newfound sense of freedom. That and the smell of vodka and cheap beer! The idea of leaving home and having to start afresh may seem daunting but an important thing to remember is that every other first year is in the same boat as you. College life is very different to the school routine you have spent the last five years of your life complaining about. There is no one telling you what to do or when to do it; no parents to tell you to get up, no school journal to be signed and no one chasing you for homework. The morning alarm does go off but there is no one checking to make sure you get up. This independence means turning it off and making sure you actually swing your dishevelled self out of bed and find the bathroom.

The most important factor to surviving college is finding the right balance of work, partying and napping. Here are a few simple pieces of advice to ensure that the scales of college life tip in your favour:

Coffee: Learn to love it! Whether you like it or not coffee will soon become one of many indispensable tools for surviving student life. Whether it will help you to start the day or finish it, in the case of those last-minute- late-night cramming sessions, coffee is a pre- requisite and will be a life saver once exams and assignments inevitably start to pile up.

Lectures: ATTEND THEM! Attending lectures is key. Unlike school, lectures occur on a much larger scale with a much larger audience. Assigned seats are a thing of the past and fighting for your seat like hyenas over a kill will become a more frequent occurrence. Lecture halls fill quickly and soon no space remains but the no man’s land that is the dreaded front row.

Late nights and nine o clock starts do not mix well and it is understandably difficult to drag yourself out of bed and crawl into college like a zombie with a hangover that Lindsey Lohan would be proud of. However to succeed in college one must perfect this art form as taking notes is vital for assignments. There is no one chasing you for that elusive essay, that piece of brilliance you know is inside, but rather a deadline that spells failure!

Correspondence: If you have a question or query about something don’t be afraid to email your lecturer, tutor or mentor to inquire about it. Chances are if you’re unsure of something someone else is too and the relevant person will appreciate being informed on the issue. This is something I was late to discover but once I did I found things became so much easier. Emails are provided for the majority of staff at universities for a reason, to make them accessible to students, so finding a solution your problems is literally just the click of a button away!

Budget: The biggest problem for many students starting college is money. We all start off promising to live on fifty euro a week, though so few seem to manage it. I admit in my first week to blowing almost three weeks’ worth of budget on things I did not need and now do not want. Getting a job will help but in college money vanishes daily without any proof you had any in the first place. Receipts will become a thing of the past, aside from those found in your purse the morning after a night on the town! While some of you will start with savings, give it a few months and funds will have run dry. There are of course ways to save money, bargain hunting will become a sport and coupons your new secret weapon as the novelty of takeaway food wears off and food shopping becomes a weekly regular, unenjoyable yet necessary chore.

Like me, you’ll find your first year in college will fly and before you know it you’ll find yourself faced with end of year exams. Keep on top of things throughout the year and you’ll find that revising comes easier to you and that despite the raging hangovers, late night cramming sessions and last minute assignments jobs that you just may have learned something! College is about having fun, but it is also about work, something often overlooked in the first few months as students get caught up in the hectic lifestyle and night scene that accompanies it. College is about now but it is also about the future, your future. It allows you to shape it into something exciting, it allows you to realise your dreams and make them a reality. It’s an experience. Live it, love it and learn from it!