Check out Some News!

Red Sea Water
At Clovelly Beach in Sydney, Australia, a certain type of red algae appeared with special air and water temparatures. Just recently, the spotting of this algae gave quite a few tourists a panic attack, since the shade of red of the algae resembles the color of human blood!

Dancing Empire State Building
For the first time, the Empire State Building has a dancing lights display for the holiday season. The colorful beams flicker off and on in a "dance" to Alicia Keys' song New York.

The Famous Heads...Have Bodies!

The huge, monumental stone heads found on Easter Island have had scientists, archaeologists, and historians stumped for centuries; how did they get there? Recently, a group of archaeologists tried excavating around the statues for the first time, and discovered that the heads actually are attached to huge bodies! However, the question still remains; how did the bodies get there? Perhaps they were carved from stone beneath today's ground level.




China's New Passport Decor
A few days ago, China redesigned its passport decorations. The new passports include a map of China's territories--and China has added several Asian seas and regions of India to its supposed map coverage. Aside from sparking continental panic, protest, and anger, China's new passport has also set many countries to worrying (again) just what exactly China's goals in the region are.

On Lincoln and Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, we must all take time to think on what we are thankful for. It is not something to be proud of that we must have a day during which we consciously express our gratitude; gratitude and thankfulness should, of course, be expressed all year round. But as Thanksgiving is in fact a reality, it would do only further harm to our consciences if we were to not take it seriously.

            We all have many things to be thankful for. Often, we do not realize the wonderful things we have until they are taken from us, but if we are aware of the miracles and wonders that are a part of our daily lives, routines, and thoughts, we won’t have to wait for our blessings to be taken away for us to realize the gifts we have been given.

            If you find yourself at a bit of a standstill in your efforts to acknowledge the thankfulness that I promise is within you somewhere, perhaps these quotes from the new movie Lincoln will help prompt your mind to remember all the things in your life that are worth smiling for.

  “Abolishing slavery settles the fate for all coming time, not only of the millions in bondage but of unborn millions to come. Shall we stop this bleeding?”

“We are stepped out upon the world stage now, with the fate of human dignity in our hands.”

         —Abraham Lincoln in LINCOLN

            Are we not thankful that brave men such as Abraham Lincoln had the courage and strength of heart to adjust the social and moral fate of our country forever? Are we not thankful that, despite the formidable opposition that any revolutionary faces, our heroes are fierce and unyielding even as they make terrible sacrifices? Are we not thankful that due to one man’s powerful words and will, and countless others’ support and work, a grave atrocity in our country was corrected? Imagine what life would be like without equality as a true guiding political principle. Imagine the price that a country and a world of individuals have paid in the past when they are stripped bare of their natural dignity.

            On a lighter note, we must also be thankful for Daniel Day-Lewis and his costars’ terrific acting performances in Lincoln. If you have not yet seen this new movie, be sure to watch it when you have the chance. I, personally, am thankful that I was able to hear Day-Lewis’ version of Lincoln speak. This man’s eloquence, temperament, and intensely perceptive mind are beyond admirable.

            Abraham Lincoln had the fate of human dignity in his hands when he supported the death of slavery. In our daily lives, it’s easy to think that we and the people around us do not hold the same degree of power over humanity as a whole. Honestly, most people do not. We do, however, have the power to influence how others view themselves and the things around them. We constantly impact everything around us. It can be difficult to realize in the heat of the moment, but tone of voice, body language, and even silence have significant effects on what goes on around us. This Thanksgiving, be aware of this reality. Know that you have the ability to make something better for someone. Be thankful that you are aware of this wonderful power of yours. Know that the people around you might not be aware of this—and be thankful that you can help them see their own importance.

Here’s an example starter list to help you remember the joyous and the bittersweet things for which you feel gratitude.

I am grateful…

• ·      For a loving mother and father
• ·      For two wonderful dogs that remind me that there is always something to love, even after a ridiculously long day
• ·      For the marvelous invention called The Weekend, during which we may sleep in
• ·      For books and my imagination, because they remind me that anywhere, at any time, there are infinite worlds and people and places just waiting to be discovered
• ·      For friends who not only laugh with me but laugh at me
• ·      For Jane Austen, because she never fails to make me laugh
• ·      For artists like Degas, emotions like love, institutions such as charities, temples like Ta Prohm, and phenomena such as a sunset that prove that true beauty is eternal

At the time right before you go to bed, at the moment you awake in the morning, or at any free point in your day, spare a thought for the things you are grateful for. Feeling gratitude is no weakness. Awareness of the things that you are thankful for is an amazing ability that you should cherish. Just remember that when we are conscious and sincere, it is so much easier to love.

Thank you,

Jordan

Blue Craze

As the winter season moves in, many people seem to look a bit blue. Literally. I promise, in fact, that you would be able to spot at least fifty shades of blue in anywhere at any point during the week. It seems that despite the slightly chillier weather, we shall not be stopped from donning our favorite cool color.

            Many people opt for the blue- and white-striped sailor style look. Although you might have thought that that ship had sailed along with the September weather, it is very much still present today. Blue and white designs abound in other patterns as well. From paisley to polka dots and from plaid to animal print, guys and girls alike are sporting this bright, clean-cut look.

            The blue craze isn’t just hitting the normal shirt department, though. With the nippy weather, many people choose to wear dark blue camis below lacy or knit blouses, or pair white skinny jeans with a slouchy sapphire sweater.

            Once snow season begins, look for navy and indigo shades rather than the pale baby blues of summertime. Also, as exam time/ the stressful holiday season approaches, a bold blue shade worn around the eyes (a blue scarf, blue shirt, or blue eyeliner or eye shadow) helps make you look alive by brightening your face and lessening the appearance of red, tired eyes.

            Blue, in its many forms, is here to stay, too. A year-round closet staple to begin with, every once in a blue moon, a new, fresh shade of blue makes its way to color stardom. This winter, deep crimsons, army greens, and (you guessed it!) all hues of blues are at the height of cold weather fashion. Anything from periwinkle to cobalt or royal blue is definitely winter-appropriate attire for 2012-2013. 

A few examples of the blue in action!

Fun Facts

Tycho Brahe, a 16th century astronomer, had several extremely valuable noses (cast in such metals as bronze, silver, and gold) that he wore after losing his nose in a duel when at university.

The French author and satirist Voltaire signed his letters with the words "Kill the infamous thing" instead of such pleasantries as "sincerely" or "best wishes". "The infamous thing" refers to the Catholic Church.

Jane Austen wrote the first version of Pride and Prejudice--called First Impressions-- when she was sixteen years old, but was told that it would never be any good.

Lady Gaga went to NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and was told by professors that she didn't have the right qualities to become famous.

The name "Sophia" is derived from the Greek root sophos, meaning wise. Thus, "Sophia" is literally the Greek word for wisedom. And a "sophomore" is a "wise fool". 

Playlist Update

Here's a few songs to add to your list or to listen to again:

NEW:
Skyfall, by Adele
Radioactive, by Imagine Dragons

CLASSIC:
Ready for the Good Times, by Shakira
Jai Ho, from Slumdog Millionaire

WONDERFUL:
I Will Wait, by Mumford and Sons
It's Time to Begin, by Imagine Dragons
All About Us, by He is We

Fashion Pictures From Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy's famous book Anna Karenina is being made into another movie, this time starring Kiera Knightley and an assortment of famous and handsome men. While the cast may be any measure of gorgeous, the clothing promises to be even more spectacular. Kiera Knightley's costuming for the film is elaborate, captivating, and perfectly selected to be the statement film fashion of the year. In fact, although some stores, such as Banana Republic, have already launched ads for Anna Karenina-inspired collections, other designers, such as Louis Vuitton, have also been influenced by her high Russian glamour (as seen by the use of birdcage veils, serious demeanors, and glamourous coat-and-hat ensembles).
Oh, and a few fashion trend predictions on my part that we can expect to see soon:
1). Pearls
2). Curls
3). Headbands
4). Statement winter collars

Here are a few pictures of Kiera's/Anna's lovely wardobe!

Stressed Out?

Do you feel stressed this week? Don't worry, you're not the only one. Here are some stories from real people about how tough and exasperating a week in the life can be.

Teen Morning Zombie Syndrome
For those of us with early-morning engagements, it's easy to sympathize with the struggle of waking up at an ungodly hour to accomplish some task or other and then spend the rest of the day in a blur. One friend of mine had this challenge earlier this week. Determined to be on time to her near pre-dawn appointment, my friend carefully backed up her car--right into the garage door (thankfully, she was safe, though the garage was a tiny bit less fortunate). While I would have spent the rest of the day in hysterics had this happened to me (as I'm sure many of us would), this early-bird driver exhibitied a calm and cool that is admirable and ADVISABLE at this crazy time of year.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball
Another friend has been (along with the rest of us) feeling the stress and pressure about Early Action and Early Decision that have run rampant this week. My friend took advantage of every moment possible to edit and perfect her college essays. This resulted in two weeks of just four hours of beauty sleep a night. I don't know how she's done it. Her eyes, however, seem to protest her recent shut-eye deficiency, despite the high quality of her essays; one of them has become irritated from a lack of sleep and tries to swell itself closed. While my friend certainly went above and beyond the normal requirements that we demand from our bodies, the passing of this deadline has come as definite relief. So don't worry--EVERYONE is stressed! It's hard on all of us.

Cry Baby
Some people rudely insist that crying is only for babies. I beg to differ. This week, my genetic biology class had planned to perform a blood-typing lab. While I was assured multiple times that this activity is nearly a rite of passage for bio students, my panic could not be held at bay. My fear of blood, you see, is the one and only great reason why I cannot be a traditional doctor--I would, without a doubt, send my patients away if they were bleeding (hence my focus in GENETICS, which I actually love). So, in preparation for the blood-typing lab, I made sure to drink extra water in the 24 hours before the class. I probably consumed two times the average amount of water people drink in a day in just four hours. Then, I read through the lab instructions, and caught onto the word "lancet". I naturally Googled "lancet," searching for images to prove that the process would, indeed, be painful and bloody. My visual findings only troubled me more. I only calmed down after a friend sent me a link of pictures of baby penguins. Note to self/reader: BABY PENGUINS ARE INTENSELY RELAXING AND THERAPEUTIC.
So, the next day, I went to class, and in preparation for the lab, our teacher proceeded to detail the bloody, disgusting history of blood transfusion, blood poisoning, infection, and surgery in America, beginning with the repulsive medical practices of the civil war. Properly prepared (with my new knowledge of amputation and fatal blood transfusions) for our lab, I squirmed in my chair in an attempt to not break into a nervous sweat and to slow my heart's rapid beating. I also tried not to think about why I was wearing blue ( I'd had to reject the first four outfits I'd picked out that morning because they were all red---which is the color of blood. Plus, blue is supposed to be relaxing and helpful for rational thinking). Then, my teacher prefaced the demonstration of drawing blood with a short tale of two girls who were blood-typing partners several years ago. Apparently, one was unhappy with the other and stabbed her "friend's" finger with the lancet so hard that her blood "oil-spurted". EW. Thanks to those two, nowadays, only the teacher or the student can stab their finger.
On that cheery note, my teacher demonstrated the entire process. I only winced slightly, and barely felt the urge to cry. Until he fully embraced the spirit of Halloween and more or less attacked his finger as if his blood were delicious. Between the stress, nerves, horror, and dread, I burst immediately into tears. In class. At least I was sitting in the front row.
A few sniffles and comforting pats on the back later, I'd calmed down enough to have him prick my finger--only to literally have to squeeze a tiny drop of blood out the way that you squeeze out toothpaste when the tube is nearly empty.
Unfortunately, I was able to get so little blood out that my blood type is still unclear :(
Moral of this story: please do not try to dread things. Something is only as bad as you give it the potential to be, so why not give it potential to be as good as possible?

Lunch Date
Another friend embraced the chaos of the week with her signature "go for it!" style. After carefully planning a lunch date at the Pancake House with a group of friends who were on fall break, she attended the lunch, only to suffer from the Pancake House's chronic problem: a slowness in actually making the food... So, my friend was 50 minutes tardy for her first class after lunch (which translated to not being able to attend at all)--probably in exchange for what I imagine was a delicious stack of pancakes with friends. While missing class might in actuality not make school itself easier, we need to remember to take things as they come, and to try to enjoy them!

In short: we've all had crazy, stressful weeks. Did you have a mini breakdown? Did you forget to show up to school or work? Did you catch yourself trying to put orange juice in your cereal and milk in a cup (instead of the other way around)? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions--or if you posed a similar question in your mind to which you would answer in the affirmative-- I want you to remind yourself that the week is over. Remember that the next one, by definition, MUST be better if this one was so difficult! And, finally, remember this: it is now the weekend! And you are entitled to a decent dose of pampering, snuggling, sleeping, cuddling, etc.

And here's a baby penguin to help you relax!