By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Is 'Guardians of the Galaxy' OK for your kids?
Tue03
Still of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) - photo by Marvel
John Clyde
Deseret News National
Updated: Aug 12, 2014, 8:00 PM
Published: Aug 6, 2014, 8:46 PM

XANDAR — Critics and audiences alike are raving about Marvel’s latest offering, “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
The movie is different, visual, funny and wildly entertaining, but should you take your kids?
Well, the answer to that question depends on the parent, but here are a few things that parents may like to know before heading into “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Adult humor
“Guardians of the Galaxy” is more of a comedy than anything else and it totally delivers on the laughs. The movie is hilarious in fact, but there is a fair amount of adult humor.

Not every joke is off color, but there are several. There is one joke, in particular, that had the entire theater laughing, but it was undoubtedly the crudest joke to date in a Marvel film.

The joke will certainly go over kids’ heads, but that won’t stop them from asking questions.
While the film has adult humor placed throughout there’s also plenty of clean humor you can enjoy with the whole family, just be aware of the other moments that exist.

Violence
The violence isn’t exactly stronger than any of the other Marvel films, but keep in mind that Marvel films can get pretty violent.
In my book “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is the most violent film in the Marvel cinematic universe. “Guardians of the Galaxy” doesn't quite make it to that level, but it's not too terribly far behind.

Maybe the violence doesn’t feel quite as intense because it’s against aliens and not actual people, but none-the-less there is a lot of death in the film. Next time I see it, and yes there will be a next time, I’d like to keep count of how many bodies hit the floor and see how many deaths the film averages per minute.

No, I’m not going to do that, but my point is there is plenty of violence. Again, if the earlier Marvel movies didn’t bother you then this one likely won’t either.

Language
I have to be honest; I was surprised by the amount of language in this one. It’s definitely higher than in any of Marvel’s other film entries and it’s quite frequent.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” has several use of the S-word, as well as some other curse words. There’s also an F-word that’s mouthed, but never actually said or finished.

If you have sensitivities to language then “Guardians of the Galaxy” may be a bit too much for you. I believe the language falls into the PG-13 realm, but it’s on the higher end.

Conclusion
At the end of the day “Guardians of the Galaxy” is meant for older audiences. You’ll have more fun watching this movie than just about anything else this summer, but it’s always good to have more information before heading in.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” is officially rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language.
It currently has a 92-percent on OK.com with an age rating of 13+.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.