Audacious

if you are reading this, then i have no clue how you got here.
my current blog is at http://verisimility.edublogs.org/

“Hurry,” a friend says, “before the salesperson notices.”

Ears ringing, heart pounding, you slip the pair of earrings in your purse.
“I can’t believe you made me do that!” you say as you step out of the store.
“Oh come on, live a little,” says a “friend.”
“We didn’t make you,” replies another.
“Relax; everyone shoplifts once in a while.”
Why did you steal that jewelry? Where did your better judgment go?
Peer pressure.

The people you associate with shape the way you behave and act, whether you notice it or not. You find yourself dressing the same and using similar phrases as your friends. For example, all of my friends say “awesome” several times in their sentences. No one told them to use that word, and we are not using it in the literal sense, but we say it constantly anyway because it’s cool and popular.

Peer pressure has two categories; good and bad. It can be something simple like trying out for the school play, or something serious like whether to cut class, try cigarettes, or lie to your parents.
Some peer pressure is good. Encouragement, advice, and convincement of a peer to gain new experiences are examples of supportive pressure. One of your friends may think about cheating on a test, other friends can persuade them out of that decision. No one likes to be outnumbered. This is an example of coercion. Coercion is when you use force or intimidation to receive compliance.

Most peer pressure is bad though. Using your reputation or status to manipulate someone else is wrong. Forcing someone to do something they don’t want to, by intimidation, is terrible. Some common phrases you may hear when being pressured are: "everyone does it, no one will know, you chicken, who’s going to find out, don't be a baby," but it doesn’t always have to be that obvious. Ten of your friends buy black boots, you buy black boots. No one told you to buy them, but you do anyway because everyone else has them. It’s a fact of life: no one likes to be the odd one out, that’s why it’s so hard to stand up against a group.

There are ways to avoid the effects of bad peer pressure though, it’s not hopeless. Be confident in your decisions and think things through. It’s good to have your decisions made up ahead of time. Decide now that you won’t do drugs or drink alcohol, that way it will be easier for you when the question does pop up. If your friends are the ones tempting you to make bad decisions, then they probably aren’t your real friends. Associate yourself with people that will influence you to make good choices and support you in what you believe in.

Be confident. Be wary. Do not succumb to peer pressure.

Yesterday, I was at the store with my dad. We were in the candy isle because he was buying cookies. Being a tightly packed, souq-ish-y store, I managed to bump into a selection of marshmallows. I proceeded to say "Oh my gosh! Are you okay?! I am so so-... sorry." It was sort of awkward as I realized that marshmallows are in fact not living things and probably don't care if people bump into them at grocery stores.

Sorry for the delay of new posts. Forgive me? You definitely be overcome with amnesty after you read this post all about my new obsession: Synthesized-Electronica!!! As you can tell, I am über excited to elaborate.

A synthesizer is defined as electronic instrument (usually played with a keyboard) that generates and modifies sounds electronically and can imitate a variety of other musical instruments. One of the first synthesizers, and my personal favorite, is called a Stylophone. Consider the following:



Ha! Brett Domino is such a nerd. I think I love him. ANYWAYS, the historical factuality of that video may be a little whack. Okay, a LOT whack. The TRUE facts are these: the Stylophone was 1967 by Brian Jarvis and manufactured in the UK. Essentially invented for child’s play, the handheld synthesizer has evolved from a toy to popular musical instrument. Yes, it even has its own dictionary definition. Can you say AWESOME? By itself, the synthesized sounds may be migraine-inducing, but when mixed with some bass and background music, you could essentially get your Stylophone to sound like this.



Little Boots is really something isn’t she? You may be wondering what that little lighted square that beats along with her tunes is? That, boys and girls, is called a Tenori-on which is an electronic music creator invented by Japanese artists Toshio Iwai and Yu Nishibori. It has two sides, one where the musician can control the pitch and timing of sounds, and the other to display a lightshow that responds to the sound. The lights flicker on and off in a four four timing with endless combinations. The best feature of the Tenori-on is that it was made for the musically-challenged. It doesn’t take a genius to play around with some LED buttons.

The third stop on our Synthesized-Electronica tour is in fact the Theremin. You may recognize it as the high-pitched background melody on the Beach Boy’s “Good Vibrations” or Star Trek theme song. Although we all may categorize the sound of the Theremin to themes that are futuristic or unknown, the Theremin has been around for quite a long time. In 1922, Russian scientist Lev Sergeyevitch Termen was working in St. Petersburg for Lenin developing ways to locate enemy radio transmitters for communist Russia when he stumbled upon the realization that by moving his hands between the antennae of the transmitter he was working on, it would create an eerie and intriguing sound. How does the Theremin work? The two frequency oscillators produce a sound that is normally higher than the human’s range of hearing, but when interrupted by your hands’ capacitance, alters the frequency thus creating a sound. Super flash right?



Well! I hope this information has been valuable and to your benefit and next time you hear eerie sounds in a science fiction movie, or the synthesized droning of a Stylophone, you’ll say, “Hey! I read a tremendous and outstanding blog post about synthesized-electronica.” All your friends will think you are so smart.

Information Compiled From:

http://www.tompolk.com/Tannerin/Tannerin.html
http://www.theremin-saw.com/theremin.htm
http://www.moogmusic.com/history.php?cat_id=2
http://120years.net/machines/theremin/index.html
http://www.retrothing.com/2006/06/stylophone_odd_.html
http://www.stylophone.fsnet.co.uk/
http://www.shinyshack.com/product.php?prid=211615
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/06/whats-that-sound-stylophone
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/this-gadget-rocks-the-worlds-newest-musical-instrument-791234.html

P.S. If you didn't know what "flash" meant, that's probably because it's part of my new aussie slang I've been using because I'm that cool.

Flash: Adj. Showy, ostentatious.

When you think of the word "mutation" what comes to your mind?
Spiderman? The Hulk? A cow with two heads maybe?

Truth : genetic mutations exist all around us.

If everyone had exact copies of DNA from their parents, think of what life would come to! Everyone would look, act, and be the same. Thankfully, genetic variation exists, causing each and every organism to be completely different to one another.

Fundamentally, we are all genetic mutations, adapted to fit our environments. Research proves that all blue eyed people are related. One person was born freakishly with blue eyes, passed the gene down to his or her children and started a whole new generation of blue eyed mutants! That means that every single blue eyed person in this world is related to Brad Pitt.
Wow! That's a real eye opener. (No pun intended.) (Okay it was intended.)

Let's refer to some everyday mutants we all know and love; starting with Lance Armstrong.

We all recognize Lance Armstrong as the greatest cyclist in the entire world; professional athlete at 16 with Olympic competition as early as 18. Revered founder of Livestrong, and I don't know anyone who doesn't have the yellow wristband. What's his real training secret? An amazing coach and fans all contribute, but the real answer is this: Lance Armstrong's genetic make-up. He has a heart 1/3 larger than an average human, and muscle that naturally accumulates very small amounts of lactic acid. He also has monstrous lung capacity. Twice the size as a normal person! These factors contribute to Armstrong's awe-inspiring endurance level.

Just looking at him through your television, you wouldn't expect something as drastic as a genetic mutation (gasp), but why is it that we all cringe at the name? Mutations are something natural that we shouldn't discourage. People scoffing at the bearded lady from the 1930's freak show. Eyes glued to the screen while watching the odd appearances of people in remote areas of the jungle. In some cultures, genetic mutations are considered punishment for wrong-doings from past lives. This is all terrible and inconsiderate. People have no control over their DNA. You can't wake up one day and say, "Hey I want to grow a tail today," and then poof! You have a tail. No, that's not how it works. In contrast, some people recently have shown the more heroic side of genetic mutations, showcasing peoples' stories, tribulations, and how they have become to accept and deal with their conditions. The television show Extraordinary People is one attempt.

All genetic mutations don't have to be bad though! There are some people who, today, have developed a natural resistance to the disease HIV AIDS. They are helping people with the disease with absolutely no risk of catching the virus themselves. Most Europeans have immunity to certain plagues that have previously killed thousands in their home-countries. I'll bet hardly any of them know of this secret kudo-point of genetic advancement, but it's there; hidden among thousands of other DNA combinations.

Essentially, what I am aiming to communicate is that genetic mutations are more common than we all realize.
They may even be hidden among your own individual genotype!

Information Compiled From:

http://casesblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/does-michael-phelps-have-marfan.html
http://www.biography.com/articles/lance-armstrong-9188901
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5278028/GT1/3584/#storyContinued
http://www.sentientdevelopments.com/2008/08/michael-phelps-natural-transhuman.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/can_anyone_spoil_phelps_pool_p.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Fitness-Cardio-Secret-That-Propels-Lance-Armstrong&id=53623
http://www.biology-online.org/2/13_genetic_engineering.htm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080103-hobbit-disease.html

Acupuncture is a system of using needles for medicinal purposes. It is an ancient procedure. By ancient I mean ancient. Specialized acupuncture needles have been found in parts of inner Mongolia that date to around 3000 B.C., but we know that the custom has been in practice since before then.

There are certain points or channels in which blood and “Qi” flow. Qi in Chinese culture is translated as "energy flow." Qi is supposed to pass through certain channels or meridians. These meridians can be reached by inserting severely thin needles into specific points along the body.

When you go to an acupuncturist for treatment, the doctor will ask you questions about your discomfort and conjure an analysis plan. This may include several different visits, or your visit may take only twenty minutes. After your acupuncturist has decided on a certain approach to your healing process, he or she will insert severely this needles into your top layer of skin. The needle's depth genuinely depends on your condition. The most common acupuncture points are located in your hands and feet.

I know what you are thinking, "Why would I want someone sticking needles in my feet!?!?!"

Well!

I have triumphantly interviewed a close family member who has gone through an acupuncture treatment while he was living in Korea. For weeks he had been experiencing lower back pain and had seen several doctors and gone through many medicines. All proved unsuccessful. One of his friends suggested that he visit a local acupuncturists. He told the man exactly what he was feeling. Surprisingly, the needles were small enough to go through his suit. The pricks didn't hurt at all! The two men casually talked for about twenty minutes before the acupuncturists removed the needles. Piece of cake right? That night all his pain had left.

Magic? Luck? Or science?

Acupunctures supports the advances of modern neuroscience. Doctors believe that the acupuncture points stimulate certain nerves that trigger the body's natural pain-killers and even increase your blood flow.

So is it really a bunch of ridiculousness? In my opinion, no. Acupuncture has been reported to cure conditions such as arthritis, pain, and allergies. The assumption that acupuncture can cure problems such as a terrible love life or depression is a little far-fetched though. Research before you get treatment. Ask for recommendations before you go, and always be 100% sure of your treatment before you visit an acupuncturists.

Information Compiled From:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142119.php
http://http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acupuncture/SA00086
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=256417&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies
Personal Interview

What do you think these totally cutetastic jackets are made of?
Any guesses? Australian wool? Egyptian cotton?
How about recycled umbrellas recovered from New York’s trash bins.

Melanie McClintock is an independent fashion designer based in New York. Her shop, Ai Ai Gasa, is completely eco-friendly. They make all of their items from umbrellas thrown out after a heavy storm. McClintock tries to communicate the urgency of global warming and keeping the earth clean through alternative routes, such as fashion. Her store went on the road last summer with a mobile pop-up shop. Ai Ai Gasa bought a bus to use as an on-the-road boutique, get this, run entirely on recycled food oil from fast food restaurants. Talk about environmentally conscious!

She is definitely a wonderful, kind-hearted person. You would wonder why I would say such a thing right? Well that’s because I’ve met her. Okay not personally but during a pre-fitting for the VCUQ fashion show, she shared dounuts with me. I know right! McClintock was admitted as a teaching assistant at the design school. At the moment, I had no clue that she was a real fashion designer from New York, and now I wish I’d talked to her more.

You are probably asking yourself “How the heck do you make clothes out of umbrellas!?!?” Well let’s go back to square one. During rainstorms in New York, street vendors sell these cheapo five dollar umbrellas to naive tourists. After about fifteen minutes, the wind has torn the poor things apart, forcing the buying to chuck that umbrella and purchase a new one. Completely wasteful, I am horrified. After the storm has deceased, Melanie goes umbrella scouting in the glorious trash cans of New York. There she finds all sorts of trendy umbrella designs. Hauling her possessions back to her apartment, she dismantles, cleans, and presses the umbrellas until they are suitable for clothes-making. After taking them apart, the umbrellas are used just as ordinary fabric to sew and shape as she pleases. Her signature design is the basic bomber jacket, but she also makes handbags, skirts, and even dresses. The leftover bits of the umbrellas are then used to make characterizing jewelry. The best part is, her clothes aren’t outrageously pricey! The next time I am strolling down 5th Avenue on Park Slope, Brooklyn, I’ll be sure to stop by. Hint: You should too.



Information compiled from:

http://www.aiaigasa.com/ <- Ai Ai Gasa Online Store
http://www.handdrawnheart.blogspot.com/ <- McClintock's Personal Blog
http://styledefined.blogspot.com/2008/12/melanie-mcclintock-from-style-defined.html
http://vimeo.com/2528859?pg=embed&sec=
http://www.qatar.vcu.edu/output/page478.asp
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/fashion-foraging-umbrella-apparel.html
http://www.fashion-overload.com/my_weblog/2008/08/bomber-for-a-ra.html
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=local_news&subsection=Qatar+News&month=April2009&file=Local_News2009042965849.xml http://www.artfacts.net/index.php/pageType/instInfo/inst/14562/contentType/news/nID/4818/lang/1