Tag: movies

Posted on
by

Bhavana and I took the kids to see Jurassic World a few weeks ago. The film is rated PG-13 — these are movies appropriate for kids over 12 — but we both noticed how many younger kids were attending the movie with their parents. In fact we had a few pre-K kids in our session. His mother had to keep “shushing” him during the movie because he kept asking questions; loudly. The film has dinosaurs eating people and tearing them to shreds. Are those visuals appropriate for a 4-year-old kid?

Sometimes the PG-13 movies have surprises. We were surprised while watching one of the recent Avengers movies, there was a scene where they walk into a bar to talk to the Wolverine character and he simply responds “F*ck Off”. We also saw parents taking their young kids to watch PG-13 movies like the Hunger Games where kids kill each other. I don’t consider these movies appropriate for any kids under 13.

What is the definition of PG-13? I looked it up.

PG-13 is thus a sterner warning to parents to determine for themselves the attendance in particular of their younger children as they might consider some material not suited for them. Parents, by the rating, are alerted to be very careful about the attendance of their under-teenage children. A PG-13 film is one which, in the view of the Rating Board, leaps beyond the boundaries of the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, or other contents, but does not quite fit within the restricted R category. Any drug use content will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. In effect, the PG-13 cautions parents with more stringency than usual to give special attention to this film before they allow their 12-year olds and younger to attend. If nudity is sexually oriented, the film will generally not be found in the PG-13 category. If violence is too rough or persistent, the film goes into the R (restricted) rating. A film’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, shall initially require the Rating Board to issue that film at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive must lead the Rating Board to issue a film an R rating, as must even one of these words used in a sexual context. These films can be rated less severely, however, if by a special vote, the Rating Board feels that a lesser rating would more responsibly reflect the opinion of American parents. PG-13 places larger responsibilities on parents for their children’s moviegoing. The voluntary rating system is not a surrogate parent, nor should it be. It cannot, and should not, insert itself in family decisions that only parents can, and should, make. Its purpose is to give prescreening advance informational warnings, so that parents can form their own judgments. PG-13 is designed to make these parental decisions easier for films between PG and R.

Bhavana and I never took the kids to movies that were inappropriate for their age. For years we took our kids to G rated only movies. The kind that make you laugh and cry and teach you something about family and friendship along the way. The PG, PG-13 and R rates movies? We sucked it up, stayed home, and watched them on DVD or Netflix when the kids went to sleep. If we really wanted to see a movie in the theatre, we found a baby sitter (usually a family member). They got to spend time with an aunt and uncle and we got to be out for a few hours.

While I understand that young parents need a break from cleaning up messes and endless hours of Dora the Explorer and Thomas again and again, a PG-13 rated movie isn’t the best place — in my opinion — to hang out with your kids. Don’t be surprised when your 5-year-old starts using words like bitch, asshole and f*ck. Those PG-13 movies are stealing your babies innocence.

I really see no excuse for parents bring their elementary school aged kids to teenage level movies. Common Sense Media cautions about any kids any 10 seeing this movie but from my estimation that was the biggest demographic for this movie.

Here’s what Jurassic Park author, Michael Crichton, wrote when asked whether young kids should see the original movie:

This is a parental decision. I would say, below 6 it’s an immediate ‘No.’ Above 8 or 9, it’s, ‘Why not?’ … If the parents restrict exposure, which a lot of parents also do, then my suggestion is, go see the movie yourself and decide whether you want your kid to see it. But I think there is absolutely an issue about this picture, that it is not suitable for very young children, and my kid (age 4) is not going to see it and she’s very unhappy.

Posted on
by

You don’t have to be a geek about everything in your life—or anything, for that matter. But if geekdom is your goal, don’t let anyone tell you it’s unattainable. You don’t have to be there “from the beginning” (whatever that means). You don’t have to start when you’re a kid. You don’t need to be a member of a particular social class, race, sex, or gender.

Geekdom is not a club; it’s a destination, open to anyone who wants to put in the time and effort to travel there. And if someone lacks the opportunity to get there, we geeks should help in any way we can. Take a new friend to a meetup or convention. Donate your old games, movies, comics, and toys. Be welcoming. Sharing your enthusiasm is part of being a geek.

Anyone trying to purposely erect border fences or demanding to see ID upon entry to the land of Geekdom is missing the point. They have no power over you. Ignore them and dive headfirst into the things that interest you. Soak up every experience. Lose yourself in the pursuit of knowledge. When you finally come up for air, you’ll find that the long road to geekdom no longer stretches out before you. No one can deny you entry. You’re already home. John Siracusa

Posted on
by

Google Labs developed a diabetes glucose meter inside a contact lens.

An early, outsourced clinical research study with real patients was encouraging, but there are many potential pitfalls yet to come, said University of North Carolina diabetes researcher Dr. John Buse, who was briefed by Google on the lens last week.

“This has the potential to be a real game changer,” he said, “but the devil is in the details.”

Among those is figuring out how to correlate glucose levels in tears as compared with blood. And what happens on windy days, while chopping onions or during very sad movies? As with any medical device, it would need to be tested and proved accurate, safe, and at least as good as other types of glucose sensors available now to win FDA approval.Associated Press in the Washington Post

I’m skeptical. I’ve seen so many attempts at making pain-free-zero-blood glucose meters. All have failed to produce accurate and consistent results. It would seem there is no substitute to measuring blood serum.