What They Are Doing to Our Food: Harmful Ingredients We Consume Regularly

I do not usually post copies of research papers I have written, but being that I just enthusiastically finished this one for my biology class this semester, I wanted to share it with all of you. I have written several times about how companies prefer the Almighty Dollar to consumer health, so this one would be the icing on the cake for me (hold the high fructose corn syrup, please). I guarantee that after you read this, if you are not an ingredient reader already, you will become one. Included within the body are the original sources that I cited. If anyone would like a complete list of works cited for their own enjoyment or research, please contact me. 

I. Overview

Paying customers should have a right to expect that the food they are purchasing is healthy and clean. Maybe not healthy in regards to the nutrition facts such as fat, sodium, and cholesterol, but for the actual ingredients going into these foods, some of which are quite horrifying. Manufacturers, as they have always done, are coming up with new and innovative ways to cut costs on their end, increase shelf life, and make the food look more appealing, all at the expense of the customer’s health. The reason why there is such a push for “natural” and “organic” is because people are finally waking up, and becoming ingredient readers and questioning what some of these items are. That may be the saddest part of all of this, because the manufacturers are doing this right in front of our eyes, as they are bound by law to list all the ingredients on the back of food labels. However, what these individual ingredients do not say is what exactly they are and what side effects they may have following your consumption of them.

Spielberg to Give Kubrick’s “Napoleon” a Shot as Miniseries

It has been coined “the greatest movie never made”– Stanley Kubrick’s Napoleon, which is ironic, considering the director himself stated during preparation in the 1960′s that it would be “the greatest movie ever made”. It was going to be one of the most ambitious projects ever put to celluloid, as the rigorous taskmaster researched for years, reading a supposed 40 books, and scouting hundreds of locations. He had everything set except a budget and a cast, and even the massive extras he would need for the would-be fantastic battle scenes were going to be supplied by the Romanian Army, a total of nearly 50,000 men, including infantry and cavalry. It was going to be one of the most accurate and stunning movies…ever. Then what happened? How did one of the world’s greatest directors, fresh off his Academy Award-winning triumph 2001: A Space Odyssey not get such a project made? Well, in 1970, in the midst of Kubrick’s preparation, Sergei Bondarchuk’s epic film Waterloo bombed horrifically at the box office. While it included some of the greatest battle scenes ever filmed, the acting was wooden and hammy, and studios feared that American audiences could not handle another cinematic adventure involving military commanders and events that had nothing to do with America. And so the project was shelved for years…and years…and years, until finally all hope was lost; the director died before his dream would ever be realized.

Stanley Kubrick Civil War Screenplay to be Produced; Time to Get Excited

There are only two directors known to film-making who I consider to be artists before directors: Pier Paolo Pasolini and Stanley Kubrick, the latter of which is regarded among the greats of cinema for his achievements in storytelling and sometimes groundbreaking displays of visual effects or impacts left on a certain genre. This is a director, however, who only helmed 13 feature films in his nearly 50 year career, yet he left no stone unturned. He tackled WWI and corrupt army politics with Paths to Glory, a rebel slave in Ancient Rome with Spartacus, an illicit affair between an older man and a young girl, in the then-shocking Lolita, a dark comedy about the Cold War in the classic Dr. Strangelove, before dazzling us with the science fiction masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey—we haven’t even reached the 1970′s yet. With that new decade came a dystopian look at gang-ridden England with A Clockwork Orange before changing pace to direct the slower, richer, Revolutionary War-era epic Barry Lyndon. In the 1980′s, he left his mark on the horror film circuit, by turning the genre into a work of art with The Shining, before he directed the anti-war Vietnam film Full Metal Jacket. After taking a break from Hollywood, he made his return in 1999 with the ultra-mysterious and downright confusing-as-all-hell Eyes Wide Shut, before dying later that year. He left us with a wealth of incredible films, ones which are studied and dissected, but he also left us with a plethora of unfinished works as well.

The Copperhead Chronicles: A Look at the Anti-War Writings of Bill Kauffman

Sorry if too much of my opinion is present here, but I cannot talk about someone else’s without interjecting some of my own, and how it either compares or contrasts.

The author of the screenplay which is being used for the film Copperhead is Bill Kauffman, and though we have never communicated with each other as of yet, I will be quick in my assumption that he is probably the most colorful and intellectual man on the set. He has written several books, giving his very strong opinion on American culture, or lack thereof, and how we, as this great society are falling into a downward spiral, controlled by a government that is out to do us more harm than good. My political spectrum has changed so many times over the course of my soon-to-be 21-year-old life; when I first got interested in politics I considered myself a conservative, but over time, drifted towards liberal, where I partially sit now, though I am finding myself bordering on moderate and have not and will not ever align myself with a particular party. Not to lay down the foundation for my beliefs here, as coverage for a movie is not the place to do it, let me say (and I probably speak for the majority) that I am disgusted with both parties in this country, and every person associated with them, who seem to be more interested in their own egos and playing games with each other [and our money] than actually trying to benefit the people that vote for them once they take office.

Andre Rieu Makes Classical Music Fun for People of All Ages

It was by complete accident that I stumbled upon the music of Andre Rieu, on Youtube, less than a month ago. I was looking up a piece of classical music and saw a side bar suggestion of Shostakovich’s Second Waltz, being performed by Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra. I had become a fan of Shostakovich after watching Stanley Kubrick’s final film, Eyes Wide Shut, so I figured I would check it out. Sure enough, I was impressed with what I saw. The stage he was performing on was abnormally long, and not your typical stage for a classical music themed performance. But what I noticed about him first was not the music being played, but that he was having fun while doing it. To me, this is what separates him from all other classically trained musicians.

The main reason why I believe that classical music is a dying love today, especially with the younger generations, are because the concerts are pictured as a place where an old, gray-haired conductor stands in front of an orchestra of more gray-haired people and staunchly places himself in one spot, waving his arms in the air for two hours. This may be the picture in your mind, that is, unless you have seen one of Andre Rieu’s performances.

Here is Rieu, 60, with flowing long hair (he reminded me of a character from the 1998 film Le Violin Rouge) and a classy tuxedo, playing the violin and conducting at the same time (no small feat) and he can be seen dancing around the stage and moving to the beat of the tune, while his orchestra sometimes joins in the fun. He also engages his audience, using humor and just plain speaking. For that, he has come under criticism because some feel that his concerts are more showmanship than actual performing. But that is what adds to the fun– his shows are like a Broadway production, and the audience can always be seen dancing in the aisles and singing along. This is what you would expect at a rock concert, not a classical performance.

Of all the rock bands I have listened to, and the great composers whose symphonies I have on CD, Andre Rieu was the first and only musician who I have ever bought a concert DVD of before an actual studio recording CD. This is because he is simply fun to watch. Music aside, I just love going on to Youtube and watching a concert clip or two every day, especially before I go to class, because I leave the house with a happier feeling inside of me.

He has performed almost every famous piece you can possibly imagine. From Ravel’s Bolero, Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, and Strauss’ Blue Danube, to more modern tunes such as the Benny Hill theme, Yakety Sax. He has even tackled the extremely fun Jewish wedding music Hava Nagila.

For the movie lovers out there, he has performed Nino Rota’s Godfather Theme and the hit Vangelis soundtrack from Conquest of Paradise. Rieu has left no stone unturned since creating his orchestra in 1987. This is what adds to his appeal, because he plays well known music that people today recognize but could not name the composer of.

To those from Australia, Rieu’s work consistently reaches the top of the charts; this is because of two tear-jerkers, Waltzing Matilda and Amazing Grace. My grandfather, who died shortly after I was born, owned hundreds of vinyl albums of bagpipes from England, Scotland and Ireland. My mom tells me he would listen to them all day long. Two of his favorites happened to be the above mentioned tunes, which Rieu played in succession at a concert at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, Australia in 2008. Every time I hear bagpipes I cannot help but think of my grandfather, who I never got to know, and feel closer to him through music. Both of these tunes are definitely sobering melodies, especially if you have lost a family member.

I really don’t know what else is left to say about Andre Rieu. In a little less than a month, I went from not knowing who he is to being a huge fan. His next tour will be beginning in November with shows in Belgium, and it will end in July, in his home Netherlands, after spanning the world. He will be coming to the US briefly, with shows in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Florida. I really wish he was coming to New York this time, because I would have gotten tickets to go see him, but it looks like I will have some time to wait before I can see Andre live for the first time.

I highly recommend his music to all that are interested in classical music, but also to those that do not think they can enjoy it. People today are slipping more and more away from classy music that has lasted for hundreds of years, to newer styles that dwindle for a few months before being replaced by something else. If you think classical music is boring, just give Andre Rieu a try, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Please visit Andre’s official website here.

Greg Caggiano is a writer covering sports and entertainment here on “From New York to San Francisco”. If you have any questions or comments, please contact him at nyr1199@comcast.net.

Site News: Twitter Updates, FNYTSF’s Logo Unveiled

It was about time we got a logo for this blog, one that represented the various topics covered, including sports, movies, and history. I’m not much of a Photoshop wizard, but I managed to draw up the logo below, to be used from now on. It will not be on display on the blog’s header, because that will completely throw everything out of whack, but it will be on display as our Twitter page’s profile picture.

My new Twitter account is now http://twitter.com/GregCaggiano and not the old one, because in my stupidity, I accidentally deactivated it while trying to reset my password. Please help me get my follower totals back to where they were!

As you can see, it is paying homage to some of my favorite people, all of which have been talked about on this site. Of course that is me in the middle, and my beard is not really as thick as it seems, but due to the wonders of tinting and editing, I could give Che Guevara a run for his money.

On the left side underneath the Ranger logo, we have Brian Leetch and Henrik Lundqvist. Representing the Giants are Barry Bonds and Time Lincecum. In both occurrences, it represents my favorite player from the past, then for the present.

Across the bottom, we have my favorite director, Stanley Kubrick, along with historical figures Sir Henry Clinton, Governor William Franklin, legendary frontiersman David Crockett, and of course, one of my favorite actors, John Wayne.

I hope you enjoy!

Movie Review: Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

In the few short years that I have been studying film, I can safely say that Stanley Kubrick is my favorite director of all-time. 2001: A Space Odyssey is one that I consider his personal masterpiece and it is my own favorite. The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Dr. Strangelove are right behind that one. All in all, I had seen every movie Kubrick ever made, all but one; Eyes Wide Shut.

Upon finishing this movie earlier today, I’m really at a loss for words. There is a meaning of the film that is so apparently obvious, but if you are watching a Kubrick movie and actually understand it the first time, there is something wrong– it means, the true meaning went right over your head.

I will not pretend that I even have the slightest clue as to what Kubrick’s real intention was, but to explain the obvious story portrayed, it is a simple tale of spousal trust and infidelity. Nicole Kidman’s character tells her husband, played by Tom Cruise, that one time when they were on vacation, she thought about having an affair.

From there, a stunned Cruise walks all over New York City, where he encounters a prostitute, whom he leaves before allowing anything to happen, because he fells guilty. He then finds an old friend who is a piano player at a bar. This man, played by Todd Field, tells cruise of a clandestine meeting that he attends to play the piano for. Each time they meet, it is at a different location, and he must remain blindfolded at all times.

To not give away the entire scene, let’s just say that these “meetings” are basically orgies set up with hundreds of wealthy and important society people. However, Cruise’s character is uncovered and they kick him out with a warning to not speak about it to anyone. Within the next day, people involved start dying one by one, and Cruise continues to wander around the city.

That is essentially the plot of the movie, as Cruise has countless encounters with people who challenge his own faithfulness to his wife. The end of the movie is still something that seems obvious, but there is clearly an underlying meaning to it.

This was Stanley Kubrick’s final movie, as he died four days after presenting the final cut to Warner Brothers. I am glad that I final got a chance to see it, but overall, I really don’t know if I liked it or not. The film is well made, but I will have to watch it at least one more time to fully understand it, and at two hours and forty minutes, I don’t know how convenient that will be for me.

Perhaps the part I enjoyed the most was Kubrick’s use of music, of which he has superb taste in almost every film of us. The eerie music of Gyorgy Ligeti makes a third appearance in a Kubrick film, and this piece by Dmitri Shostakovich was very enjoyable, setting up the film nicely.

For my final rating, I will give it between a 7 and an 8. I wish I would have been able to understand what I will call the strangest movie I have seen to date. Had Kubrick not cared about censorship (like he didn’t for A Clockwork Orange, adding to how good the film was) and gone with an NC-17, or perhaps even pushing it with an X rating, it could have been better.

The Top 10 Movie Soundtracks: #7- 2001: A Space Odyssey

Let me start out by saying, that of all the movies I have seen, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is my all-time favorite movie. The soundtrack ranks up there among my personal favorites, and it was one of the fastest purchased soundtracks upon seeing a movie ever in my life.

Unfortunately, due to there not being one original piece of music composed for this film, I cannot rank it any lower. It was not always like that, though. Kubrick commissioned Alex North, the composer for a previous work of his, Spartacus, to write the score, and he succeeded in writing the massive piece of music.

But when Kubrick finished filming and put the music in, it just did not sound right to him. So he paid North for his work and shelved the entire musical score in preference to using classical pieces of the soundtrack. The main theme of North’s score, along with others, can be heard here. Ironically, it was in 2001 when Jerry Goldsmith finally had the music played out and recorded, where it could be heard by the public for the first time. This music is available on CD for purchase.

So as for what made it to the final print, such great classical pieces were selected by Kubrick, including one of the most well-known pieces in the world, Also Sprach Zarathustra, written by Richard Strauss. For a lighthearted tone as the movie shifts into the space age, Johann Strauss’ The Blue Danube can be heard.

However, the best pieces of music used in this film come not from well-known composers, but by a contemporary by the name of Gyorgy Ligeti, who instantly became one of my favorite musicians upon hearing his work here.

His futuristic, and downright eerie sounding music blended in all too perfectly in this movie. The music during the most crucial point in the film, when Doctor Bowman enters through a star-gate was dubbed Jupiter and Beyond, but was really a combination of two Ligeti pieces, Requiem for Mezzo Sopranos and Atmospheres.

Over all, I really wanted to rank this higher but I could not bring myself to do it, because of the work it takes by a musician to bring a certain theme or tone to a movie. The next movies I have on my list may surprise you, because not all of them are well-known blockbusters. The next one, was in fact, a major flop, but the music is perfect. Actually, it’s about the only good the movie had going for it.

Until next time, folks…

Previous Films on this List

10. A Clockwork Orange

9. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

8. Schindler’s List

The Top 10 Movie Soundtracks: #10- A Clockwork Orange (1971)

This is without a doubt the weirdest movie you will ever see, leaving you uneasy from beginning to end. This is re-enforced by the soundtrack that Stanley Kubrick used. He only had one piece of music actually recorded for the film, and that was the theme music, written by Wendy Carlos, who he would work with nine years later for The Shining.

A Clockwork Orange is unique because it uses atonal, almost electronic sounding music, such as the theme linked above, but also famous classical pieces.

The main character, Alex (played by Malcolm McDowell), loves his Beethoven, and during several key parts of the movie, you can hear the ninth symphony/second movement. The music is even used in the most crucial scene of the movie, during a scientific experiment on Alex. Will not say any more to avoid spoilers.

One of my personal favorite classic pieces, the William Tell Overture, by Gioacchino Rossini is also used, along with his Thieving Magpie Overture.

We also get to hear two different movements of Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance. Guarantee you will never sit through another graduation ceremony in the same way again!

Last but not least, who could forget Singin’ in the Rain, sung by Gene Kelly, that is played during one of the most disturbing scenes in the film.

Stanley Kubrick always made sure to use great music in his movies, and this one would not be the same without the different moods captured in the various pieces, to make the audience feel uneasy. But because there was only one piece of original music composed, it gets the nod at number ten on my list.