iDosing claims to provide a music—induced high achieved by downloading an MP3 drug and simply listening. The resulting combination of binaural beats and auditory pulses are believed by some users to alter brainwave frequencies resulting in an altered state of awareness.  Some companies, such as I-Doser.com, market these downloadable files as digital drugs, as each MP3 track has a different effect.

“Binaural beats alter the way I feel — subtle —  but in a very real way,” Wayne Hoover, founder of Healing Beats, a binaural beats provider, explains “They can make me sleepy, or they can make me wide awake depending on which type of beat I use. It’s hard to explain consciousness but they do feel like they subtly alter the way I think, feel and simply am after listening to them for a while.”

iDosing gained media attention when Bonnie Lightfoot, superintendent of Oklahoma’s Mustang Public School district, sent home a letter to parents warning them of the iDosing phenonmenon and the psychological and physical effects associated with listening to the MP3s.

Lightfoots’s letter stated that “students who listened to one of these MP3s exhibited the same physical effects as if they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, including increased blood pressure, a rapid pulse and involuntary eye movements.  Two students reported auditory and visual hallucinations.”

Some believe experimentation with iDosing has the potential to become a gateway to actual drugs. I-Doser.com not only sells iDosing MP3 files but has links and advertisements to websites that sell drugs such as marijuana, mood pills and hash.

How valid are these claims?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse released a statement saying they are not aware of any scientific data on iDosing and they could not validate whether users can get high listening to these sounds or that it leads to drug abuse.

“The scientific literature on binaural beats say that while listening to them they have the ability to change your dominant brain wave patterns this is called entrainment,” Hoover says. “Binaural beats can make you feel pretty good but binaural beats are much more subtle than a real drug. It’s best to try for yourself to see how strong they are. In my experience it’s not as strong as a real drug would be, but still very real — just less intense. Binaural beats can make you feel different, but not ‘high’ as most people use the word.”

Despite Hoover’s claims, it appears that the phenomena of iDosing may be more of a media panic then a real public concern.

“I don’t see this reaching the status of a ‘moral panic’, but it is more like media hype of a very minor incidence of youthful experimentation,” James Côté, a sociology professor at Western explains. “It also has the elements of hoax or an apocryphal story, not in the league of panics like those portrayed in Reefer Madness. The more the media reports on it, the more people will try it.”

According to Katelyn Brownlee, campus recreation personal trainer, the best workouts include both cardio and strength training. Brownlee suggests workout circuits to maximize your time.

“Circuits incorporate cardio and strength into one big massive 40-50 minutes of fun,” Brownlee says. “This ensures that you keep your heart rate elevated so you are burning calories, but also using strength to gain some muscle mass not to be bulky, but to help with metabolism and all around functioning of your body.”

“For example you could do 10 body squats, 10 push-ups, some lunges, and then go and run two sets of stairs take a break [of about one minute] and repeat five-to-six times. Then do the plank and some more abs at the end,” Brownlee suggests.

Brownlee notes students don’t need access to a gym to get a well-rounded workout. She suggests using hills for biking, running or walking to challenge your cardio capacity. Running stairs can also act as an ideal cardio workout and benches can be utilized for tricep dips or push-ups to build a great upper body routine.

“Playground equipment could be a perfect addition to a workout. Monkey bars can be used for pull-ups,” Brownlee explains. She adds every person is different so you need to find the workout best suited for your capabilities.

“Four words — baby steps, variety, fun and creativity,” Brownlee says. “Keep those words in mind when trying to create a workout for yourself. Check out the opportunities that your town offers when it comes to group fitness, running groups etc. There are so many opportunities out there.”

Exercise is important for getting in shape but having a healthy diet is imperative to get the best possible physical outcome.

Drink lots of water

“Don’t underestimate the power and importance of water in keeping you slim and healthy,” says Sarah Sinclair of Mint Natural Nutrition Consulting.  ”Water is the perfect calorie-free way to quench your thirst on a warm day as well as washing toxins out of your body.”  Noelle Martin, registered dietician for the University Students’ Council, also notes students can minimize their drinking, as alcohol contains empty calories.

Avoid Sugar

Reducing or avoiding sugar will result in weight loss and improvements in all aspects of health and wellbeing. “Avoiding sugar is probably the most life-changing thing I could recommend.  Sugar is one of the most health-robbing and damaging foods out there,” explains Sinclair. Natural sweetness from fruits is perfect to fulfill sugar cravings and adding fruit juice to sparking water is a satisfying soda alternative.

Read Labels

The label on food packaging is a very important indicator of the food nutrition.

“If you can’t pronounce most of the ingredients on a label, it is probably best to leave the food on the shelf where you found it,” explains Sinclair. “Nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated.  Keep it as natural as possible and you’ll be well on your way to a healthy you.”

Find your motivation whether it be working out with a friend, to music or just the drive to get in shape. A healthy diet and regular exercise is not just about the way you look but more importantly the way you feel.

Over the course of 5 weeks six actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company are tweeting an improvisation of Romeo and Juliet using a combination of modern day English and current British events.

Twitter accounts have been created for Romeo (James Barrett), Juliet (Charlotte Wakefield), their families, friends and enemies. All of whom have no script, just a diary of events, and 140-character-or-less Tweets to interact with each other and their audience.

This production is an ambitious experiment by the Royal Shakespeare Company as Such Tweet Sorrow is the world’s first truly interactive Twitter production. Excitement continues to build since Such Tweet Sorrow’s launch on April 12th.

“I think everyone has been surprised with the response. Some people really like it and some are really sceptical. When Juliet went online on the second day she already had over a thousand followers. We didn’t think that such an uptake would happen right away,” Tim Wright, one of the productions playwrights, explains. “It is surprising how much conversation and debate is going on within the audience and the community about this project.”

Utilizing Twitter in such a ground-breaking way has allowed the Royal Shakespeare Company to captivate a wide and diverse audience. The use of social networking websites as a medium for future productions has the potential to open doors for the Arts.

“Interactive media is really just another outlet. It is not in competition with live production; it just broadens the possibilities,” Wright justifies. “In the future people need to start thinking of an interactive way to engage people. For example TV companies are have to engage their audiences, people are not just watching TV anymore.”

“Life is out there on the internet. And it intrigues me to see that and how you can interact with it,” Wright says. “Interactive drama is about how audiences can become more a part of productions and how we can use technologies to accomplish that.”

To see all the drama of Such Tweet Sorrow unravel visit www.suchtweetsorrow.com.

Little fun fact — the Titanic sailed from Southampton port in 1912.

To start off my adventure, I spent three days in London to do some sightseeing and then headed to the English countryside, to Shootash, to visit a family friend before settling in Southampton.

I never visited London before and it definitely did not disappoint. Three days was not nearly enough to see all the sights, but I was able to ride the London Eye, visit Speakers’ Corner, window shop in Harrods (seeing as I could not afford an item in it), see Buckingham Palace and the changing of the horses, shop at Camden Market, walk Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus, witness the magnificent paintings of Pissarro, van Gogh and Monet at the National Gallery and “mind the gap” in the London Underground.

Another trip to London will be happening soon as I must have my photo taken at Abbey Road, cross London Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Covent Garden, Tate Modern and Soho.

The English countryside is absolutely breathtaking — it felt like it was right out of the movies from the winding narrow roads to old thatched roof houses. There is so much preserved green space throughout England — directly beside Southampton is New Forest National Park with 571 square kilometres of forest.

Southampton is a beautiful city. It’s much more developed than the countryside but the waterfront is gorgeous and much of the city’s history has been preserved. One of the most notable aspects of Southampton’s city centre is the remnants of the old town wall which are located throughout the city.

A lot of the old buildings have been preserved and converted into charming boutiques and pubs. Directly in the centre of the city are West Quay Mall and IKEA, which takes away from the city’s historic feel but has all the shopping essentials. The Southampton docks are just a quick walk from the city centre. They offer ferry services to the Isle of Wight.

The University of Southampton has a beautiful campus. There is tons of open space with trees everywhere and a river running through campus, which gives the university added character. The residence halls are also impressive. I am living in the Wessex Lane complex, home to 1,800 residents — which is more than Western’s Saugeen-Mailand Hall.

This is only the beginning of my five months in England with much to look forward to including a week in Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day!

Cheers,
Amber

The story is narrated by 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Ronan), who is raped and murdered by her neighbour George Harvey (Tucci). Following her death Susie watches, from the “in-between world,” her family fall apart as her father (Wahlberg) searches for her murderer.

BETWIXT AND BETWEEN. Susie Salmon is trapped in the “in-between world” as she watches her family find closure for her murder.

The entire cast is phenomenal. Ronan, an up-and-coming star, plays Susie astonishingly well. Tucci does an outstanding job as the murderous neighbour, his character complete with a creepy moustache and frightening stare. Sarandon adds some much needed humour to the film as quirky Grandma Lynn, who comes to take care of the family after Susie’s murder.

The film takes place in two different worlds — one being the Salmon family’s reality as they attempt to cope with the death of Susie, the other being Susie’s in-between world, which is the place Susie goes before heaven while her family searches for closure. The use of visual effects depicts the divide between reality and the in-between world to enhance the film. Reality is depicted as dark and grimy while limbo is bright and wonderful.

Adapting a bestselling book to film is a risky feat many directors fail to do well, but Jackson pulled it off seamlessly.

The combination of an intriguing storyline, amazing acting and unique visual affects makes The Lovely Bones a must-see film.

SHERLOCK GETS JACKED. Robert Downey Jr. plays a very different Holmes than the one described in Doyle’s literature.

In the opening scene, Holmes (Downey) and sidekick Dr. John Watson (Law) find Lord Blackwood (Strong) sacrificing a young lady in a religious ritual with the use of black magic. Blackwood’s punishment is execution. Holmes and Watson are viewed as heroes until Blackwood is resurrected and goes missing.

The search for Blackwood sends both Holmes and Watson on a wild manhunt that can only be solved by Holmes’ wit and detective skills. The story gets more interesting with the addition of Holmes’ former love interest Irene Adler (McAdams).

The plot concept is intriguing but the overall execution poor. At times the viewer could may sight of the plot due to the over-the-top fighting scenes. The two-hour film has far too many intense combat sequences that seem irrelevant to the film — it seems they were included purely to witness Downey taking on men twice his size.

The film is mainly developed around Holmes’ attention to details, which is not completely explained until the end of the film when Blackwood is hung. Director Ritchie does a phenomenal job at showcasing Holmes’ classic use of deductive reasoning to solve the many mysteries of the film. At times Holmes’ attention to detail seems confusing and irrelevant but everything is revealed and makes sense at the end of the film.

The star-studded cast of talented actors is what really makes the film enjoyable. Downey Jr., Law and McAdams embrace their roles from their attire to accents that define the essence of the late 1800s. The same could be said about the phenomenal set that depicts all the authenticity of Victorian England.

The development of Watson and Holmes’ friendship is paramount to understanding their love-hate relationship, and Downey and Law have impressive chemistry. At one moment, Watson will be punching Holmes’ in the face, and the next he’ll be saving his partner’s life.

The unstoppable duo of Watson and Holmes’ is showcased perfectly, however, the relationship between Holmes’ and Irene Adler could have been better developed and McAdams had a smaller part than expected.

Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes puts a twist on Doyle’s classic detective novels leaving the audience riveted. The farfetched fight scenes and complex chain of events take away somewhat from the film, but it is an overall enjoyable experience.

Since the usual stress relief of excessive drinking and hitting up Richmond Row may not be the ideal solution for getting rid of the pressure of the end-of-year-crunch, there are plenty of alternative activities you can use to help maintain your sanity during the exam period.

Tis the Season for Movies and Music

Seeing a good concert or catching a flick at the theatre are great ways to give your mind a break from information overload — a two-hour break will probably be more beneficial for your mind in the long run.

Some upcoming shows include Faber Drive at Call the Office on Dec. 11, Three Days Grace at the John Labatt Centre Dec. 15, Protest the Hero at London Music Hall Dec. 16 and The Constantines at Call the Office on Dec. 18.

If you’re feeling festive check, out London Concert Band’s “Spirits of Christmas” at Aeolian Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 15.

If movies are more your style, hit up the theate to see The Lovely Bones and The Prince and the Frog opening Dec. 11, or James Cameron’s latest, Avatar, which comes out Dec.18.

If you’re really into fashion, check out Coco Avant Chanel, a biopic about the fashion icon’s early life, playing at Hyland Cinema for the next couple of weeks.

If you don’t feel like venturing too far from your cubicle at Weldon, go no further than Western Film to catch a screening of Couples Retreat or Law Abiding Citizen starting this Friday.

All I want for exams is Caffeine and Sugar

Coffee and comfort food are key for getting through the stress of exams.  Luckily, there is plenty of festive food available at this time of year — even on campus.

It’s likely you will be consuming more than one caffeinated beverage per study day, so start your “Coffee Crawl” at William’s Coffee Pub with a candy cane hot chocolate. Next, try Starbuck’s newest holiday beverage, the caramel brulée latte. Before you hit the library, stop at the Tim Hortons for a gingerbread hot chocolate.

No hot beverage is complete without a sweet treat. Plan some time with friends to have delicious baking session, or better yet, try a cookie exchange. This involves baking multiple batches of cookies, and exchanging them with your friends’ baked goods. This way you’ll have a variety of treats to get you through those long nights of cramming.

Other ideas involving food and friends include a planned potluck dinner — because who has time to cook a multi-course meal anyways? You’ll appreciate a well-rounded feast with good company instead of the usual Kraft Dinner.

Skating, Walking, and…Tobogganing?

Don’t worry about binge eating — we have an exercise plan all figured out. Plus, exercise is one of the best stress-relievers.

Victoria Park’s skating rink if officially open, so grab your skates, someone’s hand to hold and make your way down to the winter wonderland of ice and lights.

If Mother Nature ever decides to give us enough snow, you can grab your toboggans — or laundry baskets — and head to the nearest slope.  Not only is tobogganing a fun activity, but walking up those hills also gets the thighs burning.

Of course, people are getting more exercise than normal with the lack of buses — having to walk and bike everywhere might be the silver lining to the strike.

If you don’t have time to trek it to the gym, try YouTube for “8 minute Abs” or “Insanity,” a couple exercise videos you can do in the comforts of your own home!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year… for Decorating!

Half the fun of the holiday season is decorating — a little festivity can go a long way towards brightening up a gloomy study session. Go to a dollar store, grab some garlands, window decals and other ornaments to hang around your place.

If you have a lot of time on your hands — or you’re just looking for a really big distraction — make some popcorn, grab a needle and some thread and create your very own garland. Tip: make sure you don’t use buttery popcorn. If you don’t have a tree to string your popcorn garland around, don’t worry — it makes a delicious study snack.

To add a warm and cozy feel to your place, rent or buy a fireplace DVD — it provides the ambience of a crackling fire without the risk of burning the house down. Twinkle lights strung around a room also help to create a fun and festive atmosphere.

The holiday season can be rough with exams, crappy weather and now the lack of transit. Whether you take heed of our advice or not, just remember there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and the break is just around the corner. Stay positive, keep motivated and take care.

From your Arts & Entertainment editors, happy holidays!

The tour, which started on Nov. 25 in Kelowna, British Columbia, has been making its way across the country. It will make its one night appearance in London tomorrow night^, at the John Labatt Centre.

The dancers are thrilled to be doing the tour.

“It is an amazing experience being able to dance in front of so many people. It is something that you may never experience especially because dancers are generally back-up or behind an artist,” tap dancer Everett Smith, who placed fourth in the competition, says. “It takes away the competitive atmosphere. Now we get to enjoy the routines. All the pieces are not just crowd favourites, but our favourites too.”

WESTERN STUDENT MAKES HER RETURN. Second-year student Melanie Mah will be back in London Dec. 9 when the So You Think You Can Dance Canada tour stops at the John Labatt Centre.

The opportunity to tour and dance in front of many Canadian audiences is something Smith will never forget.

“We are given the opportunity to expose ourselves and show our lives and our true passion on the stage. This is something that will stay with me for the rest of my career,” he says.

The top 10 finalists featured in the tour are Amy Gardner, Austin Di lulio, Cody Bonnell, Emanuel Sandhu, Jayme Rae Dailey, Kim Gingras, Vincent Desjardins, Smith, winner Tara-Jean Popowich and Western student Melanie Mah, who placed sixth in the competition.

“My favourite part of being on tour is seeing the different locations and inspiring as many people as possible,” Smith says. “You have direct feedback from meet-and-greets and you get to see how many lives you have touched, which is really the payoff.”

Tickets for So You Think You Can Dance Canada are available at the John Labatt Center box office or from www.johnlabattcentre.com. Prices range from $41.25 – $61.25.

Gray is most commonly known for his role as Barry Ciccarelli in Cock’d Gunns. The Gemini awarding-winning rockumentary follows a talentless group of musicians on their quest to become a famous rock band.

CAN YOU SAY BAD ASS? Comedian Brooks Gray (far right) played a member of the fictional band struggling to make it big in the cancelled Canadian series Cock’d Gunns.

The show’s first season earned three Gemini award nominations in 2008 for Best Comedy, Best Ensemble Performance and Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series.

“The chances of us winning, I thought, was really remote,” Gray said.

However, Grey and his cast members walked away with the awards for best writing and best ensemble.

Despite the show’s apparent success, it was not renewed for a second season.

“It’s almost a cliché in Canadian TV — you get awards after your show has been cancelled. It’s a different game here,” Gray said. “I could sit here and bitch about Canadian TV for hours.”

Gray’s experiences in Canadian television are wide-ranging — he has acted, directed, produced and written for several shows. His knowledge allowed him to give Western students insight into the complexity of Canadian media.

“The pie — especially in this country — is really small,” he explained. “No one expects Canadian shows to be a smash. It’s lucky when it happens, like [with] Corner Gas. It’s amazing that show is as popular as it is.”

In an effort to promote Canadian programming, broadcasters are required to provide a certain percentage of Canadian content to receive funding — a sore subject for Gray.

“[The attitude of broadcasters] is to fulfill a mandate rather than cultivate,” he said.

“We have never been able to cultivate an industry that is self-sustaining in the way that the British have been able to or the Australians,” Gray added while giving credit to a small number of exceptions. “Some shows have been able to break through and become culturally relevant such as Corner Gas or Trailer Park Boys, but the examples are few.”

So what does a future in Canadian television hold for Gray?

“I’m currently developing another show with a couple of guys from Cock’d Gunns. We’re developing and writing a pilot,” he divulged. “I’m also writing for an adult-themed puppet show and developing an animated production with an animation company right now. I am busy doing a lot of different kinds of things.”

Originally a novel published in 1843 by Charles Dickens, the story has become a Christmas classic, and Disney’s adaptation succeeds at capturing the same sense of holiday magic.

Like the original version, A Christmas Carol takes place in Victorian England. Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserable old moneylender, is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, who is forced to spend his afterlife carrying heavy chains due to his greedy ways. He warns Scrooge he will suffer worse if he does not repent.

Through the night Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Each ghost attempts to show Scrooge the results of his miserable and greedy ways. He is left with the fear that his fate is set in stone but wakes Christmas morning hoping to change his ways.

BAH HUMBUG! Jim Carrey stars as the miserable Ebenezer Scrooge — as well as the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come — in Disney’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

The voice of Scrooge is executed by Carrey, who is able to embody the essence of the character all the way down to his famous “Bah Humbugs!” Carrey also does the voices the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. Carrey’s performance would make Dickens proud.

Oldman does a phenomenal job as the voice of Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the ghost of Joseph Marley. Firth stars as Fred, Scrooge’s nephew.

The unique cartooning style, referred to as antique British political cartooning, gives the film an authentic Victorian feel. This is a different approach for a Disney film but Zemeckis is able to pull if off flawlessly.

Furthermore, the effective use of 3D technology will have audiences jumping out of their seats. These visuals brought to life the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. In fact several scenes seemed purposefully drawn out just to show off the 3D capabilities.

Zemeckis’ remake brings the essence of A Christmas Carol to a generation whom did not grow up on the 1951 adaptation.