Goals and Such

Fun for you:
   Sneak Peak:

• Abacinate: to blind by putting a hot copper basin near someone's eye
• Jentacular: pertaining to breakfast

Link: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/unuwords.htm

Fun for me:
   Step one in accomplishing the goal of mastering violin:

Link: http://www.violinonline.com

Future Goals:

• Make $10,000 from now until the end of summer (I know it's a stretch)
• Figure out where I'm going to school (by July)
• Create a product/business that I can run/make money from while in school (i.e. selling artwork?)
• Organize my goals and create due dates
• Remind myself to be grateful everyday

Wish List:

• The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
• The Magic - Rhonda Byrne

18 Rules

Though I would share my latest inspiration...

The Dalai Lama's 18 Rules for Living

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three Rs:
       Respect for self
       Respect for others
       Responsibility for all your actions
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Goal: Relate 5 of these rules to my day, everyday.

Best of luck to you all in doing the same...

-A

Brief Note

To update you all on  my very eventful life:

• Today was my senior picnic. It was pouring rain.
• My sternum is still in pain from the car accident
• I might work at a wonderful candy shop called Sweet XO in Agoura Hills, California -- the managers really like my spunk.
• I must read about plot, character, setting and theme tonight, which is why my post will be so short.
• Sadly, I must go now, but I will leave you all with this:

Nifty pictures (of places I must visit):
       Link: http://accidentalmommies.com/fantastic-and-amazing-pictures/
Nifty Word:
       Vigesimation (v.): the act of killing every twentieth person

What would cause the need for a waord like vigesmiation?

Ciao
-A

Lake In Space?

Hello my darlings,

        I came across something quite interesting today. Recently, scientists have discovered the oldest, largest body of water -- "enough to supply the entire planet's worth of water for every person on earth, 20,000 times over" -- and you will never guess where is it. In space... around a black hole located 12 billion light years away.

        Can I just say... how can I be sitting here reading a book, blogging, doing math homework, etc. while there is a massive body of water floating in space around a black hole that could wipe out our entire existance in a fraction of a second? How is that possible? My mind is utterly blown.

        NASA descibes it as "140 trillion times all the water in the world's oceans," and says that the new "cloud" of water is vast enough to supply 28 galaxies with water. Yes, galaxies. Well, this would be one way to end the water crisis in developing countries...

The Run Down:

        Basically, NASA researchers found a masive floating lake in what used to be thought as an endless, lifeless desert (A.K.A. space). The water has formed into a "cloud" around an "active black hole" called a quasar.  This is potentially a never ending water source, because the "waves of energy the black hole releases make water by literally knocking hydrogen and oxygen atoms together." That would be something worth investrigating...

Fun Fact:

        Interestingly enough, an mind-bogglingly massive as this amount of water may seem, the water vapor is 300 trillion times less dense than the air in a typical earthly room. Translation: you could walk around in this lake and it would feel about as dry as walking around outside in the middle of summer in Arizona.

        Pretty crazy to think that scientists confirmed there is water elsewhere in the universe (other than Earth) a mere 40 years ago, in the late 1960s.

We are nothing in this universe. I can compare to a single water droplet in this incredible universe... that's a scary thought.

And on that note, I will say farewell for now.

-A

Link: http://www.fastcompany.com/1769468/scientist-discover-the-oldest-largest-body-of-water-in-existence-in-space

Literature: A Short History of Nearly Everything -- Bill Bryson

Watercolor Magic

Hello all,

Firstly, I would like to apologize for my absence. I believe I owe a bit of an explanation. Here is where I have been the last few days:

Mon. 16 - Fri. 20: 6,000 point Advanced Anatomy Final Exam -- 5 days, 3 hrs/day plus 2 hrs of work

Fri. 20: My boyfriend, Taylor, came in from Arizona (where he is residing) for the weekend

Sun. 22: My boyfriend and I got into a car accident -- T-boned a cab. Not pretty.

Mon. 23 - Tues. 24: Recovering from accident/ drove Taylor to LAX (lame excuse... I know)

       Anyway, let's get back on track here... in the midst of these crazy adventures here in Southern California, I also became slightly obsessed with watercolor (not that I wasn't already). I am currently planning on purchasing a set of Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils (set of 36) and getting started myself -- much thanks to this incredible artist:

Her devianart: http://agnes-cecile.deviantart.com/

        I was completely blown away by her style and expertise. One day I will be as talented as she... right after I master violin and climb Mt. Everest.

Personal Note -- Bucket List:

• Ride down the Grand Canyon on a donkey
• Go on a meditation retreat in Indonesia

Thank you for your patience and ever-so-loyal love...

Here is a little piece of artwork I like to call my own:

Medium: Sketch and Wash (painted graphite)

Year: 2011

Ta Ta for Now,

-A



Slacker

Sorry, sorry sorry!

I'm slacking again tonight, just wanted to warn you all -- short post!

Word of the Day: borborygmus (bor-bo-ryg-mus) noun: 1. a rumbling or gurgling sound of gas passing through the intestinal tract

How cool is that?

Something to think about:
Top 10 unanswered questions of the last decade:

1. What is the meaning of life?
2. Is there a God?
3. Do blondes have more fun?
4. What is the bast way to loose weight?
5. Is there anybody out there? ...my personal favorite
6. Who is the most famous person in the world?
7. What is love?
8. What is the secret to happiness?
9. Did Tony Soprano die?
10. How long will I live?

Have answers? Please share.

Yours truely,
-A

Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8012412/Top-ten-unanswerable-questions.html

Something Beautiful

In memory of the British White Star liner Titanic, I shall share with all of you pulchritudinous people a poem I read today in English. Note: pul-chri-tud-in-ous (adj.): physically beautiful; comely

Also...
Food for Thought: Why do I always feel it necessary to spill to the world all my feelings of joy when I am having a good day or something exciting happens? Explain that, Universe.
Thought of Food: My mom made brownies tonight... and I just ate 4 oreos (filling first, then cookie -- of course)

On the night of April 14, 1912, the Titanic, the largest ship afloat, collided with an iceberg. 1,500 of the 2,206 passengers lost their lives.

The Convergence of the Twain

In a solitude of the sea

Deep from human vanity,

And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she.

Steel chambers, late the pyres

Of her salamandrine fires

Cold currents thrid, and turn to rhythmic tidal lyres.

Over the mirrors meant

To glass the opulent

The sea-worm crawls -- grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent.

Jewels in joy designed

To ravish the sensuous mind

Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind.

Dim moon-eyed fishes near

Gaze at the gilded gear

And query: "What does this vaingloriousness down here?"...

Well: while fashioning

This creature of cleaving wing,

The Immanent Will the stirs and urges everything

Prepared a sinister mate

For her -- so gaily great --

A Shape of Ice, for the time far and dissociate.

And as the smart ship grew

In stature, grace and hue,

In shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg too.

Alien they seemed to be:

No mortal eye could see

The intimate welding of their later history,

Or sign that they were bent

By paths coincident

On being anon twin halves of one august event,

Till the Spinner of the Years

Said "Now!" And each one hears,

And consummation comes, and jars two hemispheres.

-- Thomas Hardy



Personal Note

Happy Sunday lovely humans!

        Just wanted to let everyone know that there is a new addition to my family here in California... A beautiful vintage Stradivarius replica violin.

         Isn't she spectacular? I'm so excited... even though I don't know how to play violin (yet).

         Officially, she is a 4/4 Full Size Violin from the 70s... the best birthday present ever -- props to my mother and her boyfriend. It was purchased from Johnny Vintage on www.etsy.com. The link to the shop will be posted below.

        I suppose this magnificant instrument should have some goals associated with it right? Here are some off the top of my head:

   - By August 2012, be somewhat competant at playing and be able to handle the instument with poise.

   - Within 5 years, master the art of the violin and/or fiddle (they say you can master anything in 5 years... I will be 23 years old)

   - Be completely dedicated to the violin and practice at least one hour everyday, following the steps to success outlined in Take the Stairs.

        And that's all for now, folks! I appoligize ahead of time if I slack on posting this coming week. The great and horrible Neuro Anatomy Exam is to be completed -- all 6,000 points, 2,400 questions, and 15 hours worth of it. I am so looking forward to it.

Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/johnnyvintage?ref=seller_info

Ta Ta,

-A

 

Label GMOs

Millions Against Monsanto

Do you think that consumers have a right to know what's in the food they eat?

      The protesters out side of Lassen's grocery store think that they do. Yesterday I was approached by a very sweet lady who proceeded to ask me if I would sign her petition to require food companies to label genetically modified products. I, being the environmental nut that I am, agreed to sign her petition (which is actually pretty rare). Before I left, she gave me some "literature" on the subject which I kindly summarized below. (side note: posting this while drinking delicious organic green tea)

What is a GMO?

      A GMO (genetically modified organism) is a product that has artificially altered DNA in order to grow faster and at a cheaper price. It is commonly altered with genes from other plants and animals, and sometimes with bacteria and viruses.

The Facts:

• "Over 70% of processed food on the grocery store shelves contain GMO's"
• "50 countries including the European Union, Japan and China already label genetically engineered foods" (p.s. my dog is going absolutely ballistic right now...)
• The FDA does not require any safety studies on the effects of GMOs, even though their scientists have insisted upon long-term studies.
• Some GM foods contain insecticide in every single cell!

How does is effect me?

• "GM foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive, metabolic, physiological and genetic health" - The American Academy of Environmental Medicine
• Private studies have shown that animals fed GM foods responded with allergic reactions, organ disruption, accelerated aging and other problems.
• Children are more vulnerable and extremely sensitive to the effects of GM foods (food allergies in children have increased 18% in recent years)

What can you do to save yourself and others?

• Buy USDA Organic foods and support your local farmers market
• Avoid products made with corn and soy, canola oil, cottonseed oil, Hawaiian papaya, and animals fed GMOs
• Call or mail public officials and urge them to vote yes for labeling GMOs (simple but effective)

Who uses GMOs?

• Kellogg's/Kashi, Coca-Cola, Kraft/Nabisco, McDonald's, Frito-Lay, General Mills, Quaker Oats, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Campbell Soup, and more.

Learn More:

• Videos: The Future of Food and World According to Monsanto (Netflix), Islands at Risk and Deconstructing Supper (YouTube)
• Sites: www.fooddemocracynow.org , www.organicconsumers.org , www.responsibletechnology.org , www.labelgmos.org
 
 
 
 
 

The Happy Post Project

The Happy Post Project: a social experiment to spread happiness

       Happiness is contagous, and the founders of The Happy Post Project -- Catalina Garcia and Mario Chamorro -- strongly believe that "the power of happiness can change everything -- companies, governments, and especially people." The Happy Post Project encompases an "ever-growing group of people that are dissatisfied with the path that humanity has taken and the consequences it is having on our planet," and now there is one more supporter of this cause.

        So, you may be asking, how does a stupid post-it note change anything? Why should I be a part of it? Well, personally, I am in support of their objectives (and you should to):

Objectives:

• Create a dynamic social experience
• Develop a viral online platform
• Engage traditional media in the conversation
• Inspire and be inspired

What makes me happy?

• chocolate
• making other people happy
• traveling
• living and loving
• adventures and experiments
• learning and reading
• more to come later!

Find out more at:
     www.myhappypost.com
     http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/happiness-serious-business/

What makes you happy? What inspires you to do more?

Can Pigeons Poop Soap?

Happy Tuesday,
I came across this article while browsing one of my favorite sites, www.treehugger.com, and thought I would share...

Pigeon d'Or

Run Down:
     Basically, this designer-turned-scientist, Tuur Van Balen, came up with the idea of altering a pigeon's diet so that the pigeon defecates a soapy substance. Theoretically, a specifically developed bacteria added to the diets of pigeons could do this, turning the pest into a "free flying cleaner." His plan was to "1. make pigeons poop soap" and "2. build specially designed coops to house the pigeons where they can be fed, and direct their feces onto car windshields."

Details:
     Amazingly, Balen managed to score a grant to fund his project, yet ethical dilemmas are arising. Will the intention of cleaning up our cities (and windshields!) overpower the animal rights activists? Only time will tell...

Link:
http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/tuur-van-balen-pigeons-poop-soap.html

Forever's Not So Long

Incredible... foreversnotsolong.com



Written & Directed by Shawn Morrison. Produced by Garrett Murray. Starring Garrett Murray and Marielena Logsdon. With Debbie Friedman and Matt Urban as The Anchor. Original music by Robert Andersen.

Grand Jury Prize Winner: 1 Reel Film Festival
Audience Choice Award Winner: DC Shorts Film Festival
Best Short Nominee: Hoboken International Film Festival
Official Selection: Flickerings Film Showcase, Great Oak Film Festival, Tumblr Reblog This Film Festival

Greetings

Greetings my fellow cyberspace users,

This is a glorious day for me, signifying the beginning of a transformation -- my personal happiness/sanity project. Isn't is a beautiful day to blog?

I would like to start by saying Happy Easter/Passover! I have been lucky enough to celebrate both this year (Passover for the first time ever... wow, that is one long holiday). Both days celebrate incredible miracles, and combining the two has been such a great experience.

I suppose now would be a good time to mention what in instigated this spontaneous blogging episode. Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden teaches ordinary people how to become extraordinary through his 7 Steps to achieving true success -- sacrifice, commitment, focus, integrity, schedule, faith, and action. The key to all is self-dicipline, something that everyone is capable of, but few exerscise on a regular basis due to the evils of indulgence, procrastination and debt.

He begins with a few statistics:

1. Most people in the world today have read fewer than 5 books cover to cover in your lifetime.
2. 95% of all books that are purchased are never completely read.
3. 70% of all books that are purchased are never opened.

wow... caught my attention...

Anyway, the book goes on in this fashion, bringing in "case studies" and other graphs, statistics, personal stories, etc. So far, I am really enjoying it and feel that I am taking a lot out of it (this blog is proof!).

So there you go, my first post. I appreciate your patience, since I am new at this -- please bear with me. As I continue reading Take the Stairs, I will keep posting updates. Farewell for now my friends.