Glogster

The Warren Invite: when you forget your camera battery

Taken at the Warren Invite in 2008.

Moments can be captured, but as closed doors open new ones, this memory is different. Not frozen like a still shot, the Warren Invite replays in my mind, warm by the after-effect of sweaty post-race hugs.

SEPT 19 09-- Rumbling down the road, our bus makes its way from Skokie to Gurnee. Today's the race we've all been waiting for: The Warren Invite.

Distance: 3 miles for all levels--frosh/soph, varsity, & junior varsity.

Features: Run time along a path in a beautiful cool forest preserve, concessions, clean bathrooms, & oh, almost forgot to mention, a big hill.

Wiping the slight drool from the side of my mouth, I lift my head from Diana's shoulder. Back straight against the seat, her eyes are closed. "Hey Diana, you can lean on my shoulder too." Readjusting her position, soon Diana's head and mine lightly bump each other left to right with hers sandwiched between my shoulder and head. The bus pulls into Warren High School's parking lot and already a wave of buses are there. I nudge Paula awake by tapping her head in the seat front of us.

Making camp on a grassy spot speckled with morning dew, the team lays out a blue tarp. "Laaadies, we're enforcing the NO-SHOES-ON-TARP rule. So leave your bags here, but take your shoes OFF!" demands the captains. All the girls plop their belongings in the center and gingerly slip out of their grass-stained shoes.

"FRESHMAN & SOPHOMORE GIRLSS, get ready to warm up!" Diana and Paula stand. Although I wouldn't be able to run with them, for once, I'd have the chance to capture the two running.

Excited by all the photo opportunities, I cautiously remove my camera from my bag, remove the cap, turn the switch on, and view Diana planting herself in a shot of perfection without even realizing it. I click the little black button... no response. The fantastic feel of the shot and accompanying shutter sound are amiss.

Frantic, I glare at the 3 inch monitor in hope of seeing a screen of gray filled with numbers and letters of photographic information-- but no, a blank black rectangle stares back and laughs at me. A dark revelation hits. I swiftly flip over the camera body and open the battery hatch: Empty, like my hopes of taking hundreds of pictures of my teammates running.

Disenchanted, I change my plans and head toward the starting line with a different light bulb floating over my head.

BANG! The race begins. The first loop's a breezy mile, but the second and third miles are a bit trickier. Positioning myself along the base of the hill, I keep an eye out for Diana or Paula. Girls of all different colored uniforms spurt forward from the forest path. Wearing black and white with a spot of red, Diana emerges.

"Go Diana!" She approaches the hill. A couple weeks ago, we ran at a meet loaded with some of the most vicious hills. Unprepared at the time, we vowed to overcome the next time. Diana meets the hill. "Just like practice! RUNNN!" As the race progresses, phrases spew out of my mouth anxious to see action. "STAAY STRONGG!" "You CAN DO THIS!" "Stick TOGETHER!" "NICE JOB!!" I had become one of those loud obnoxious coaches.

After running two and a half miles, Paula has one more hill climb to go. She walks. You simply cannot walk in a race. I scream. She turns. Paula, run! I scream, again. Finally, Paula runs and conquers the hill. I think for her: Veni, vidi, vici.

Girls begin to finish. Quickly, I scurry to the finish line. If I don't see Diana run in, at least I'll catch her when she's finish. Approaching the lane where runners make their last strides, by some imaginable coincidence, I see Diana running her last 300 meters.

"DIIANNAA, DIIIIAAANNNAAAAA, RUNNN!" I sound like a fire ambulance, but by the last stream of Diana’s, my voice resembles an old lady screaming for her life as if she were mauled by a wild cougar. But, I'm not an old lady screaming for her life or even a desperate photographer leaning in for the ideal shot. I'm a cross country runner. A cross country runner screaming and cheering until her voice runs dry for her teammates’ races. It doesn’t matter if I’m armed with a camera or not. Diana and Paula finish and our trio collapses into a sweaty post-race hug.

Presenting April!

Presenting April!
Originally uploaded by lilxerica

I don't know why (maybe I do), but whenever I look at this picture, I just cannot not smile. Blast! It's the charm of April.

Just wanted to share and hopefully, make your night a little more cheerful.

'Til the next smiling or intriguing picture!

Berries

Berries
Originally uploaded by lilxerica

Hello all!

Today, I spent hours trying to manage my photos and pictures on my old computer that I have now designated my "Photo Only" machine. I finally put up a fresh photo onto Flickr after how many weeks of waiting. I'm still trying to figure out how those cool rounded edges work (for some odd reason, they show up sometimes, but not always). Anyways in the future, I hope to keep this computer in tip-top shape and organized! Of all the pictures I take, food and people are my popular subjects. The berries above represent my occasional interest in snapping nature closely. Enjoy!

random writings: By the lake, a breeze greets her.

Despite what her parent told her, she could not let go of the past. Of the past, one of the hardest things for her to forget was that summer. Unforgettable, that summer was; it was the needle in a hay sack of previous years that glimmered in the light, waiting to be found. With a new year of school ahead, Sara stepped out of the car onto the campus ground. Lifting her hand forward and above to the deep blue sky, she turned it as if offering something and drummed her fingers in midair--quite a silly sight--remembering how it felt to have her friend's hand in hers.

Sara never liked boats nor did she like the gusts of wind that the speed of the them formed as it ruined her carefully arranged hair while thrashing through the waters, but Jay always insisted that she needed "a keen feeling of nature to truly understand beauty." Pft! It was always said that beauty is in the eyes of its beholder and in Sara's eyes, beauty was her hair smooth and silky--untainted by montrous winds that would frizzle the ends.

Jay lightly patted the top of Sara's head and with a sympathetic sigh, continued to coax her onto the boat. When she finally relented, Sara rolled her eyes and lazily entered the vehicle. It was their last summer together anyways. When the motor began to sputter with excitement, Sara gripped tightly on the white leather seats, but after an hour, the only sounds that filled the air was the calmed humming of the boat and the calls of the seagulls gliding above. Once by the lake, a cool breeze greets her and brushes by gently; the air alleviating the stress of the fall and new year to come. Jay's hand gradually slips into hers and the rush of color and sense from the surroundings of the lake begin to soak in. Twisting her lips into a smile, Sara realizes what feeling Jay had tried to explain before.

Closing her eyes, the pull was too strong. Sara confirmed something deep down in her stain glass heart--fragile, yet resistant against the fire of opposition: she would never forget that summer.

blurb: flat effect

Some days, we all have this looming cloud over us.
An ugly, bland Flat Effect.

-lilxerica

random quote- suffer to love

“People have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love.”

-Chuck Palahniuk

blurb- studying.

Studying for psychology test-
but my mind isn't on the book, it's on life.

lame poetry: i'm an old car

(Everyone needs a jump-start every now and then, right?)
-


I'm an old car.

Antique.

Treasure me. Trash me. Pawn me.

Repair.

Turn me
electric or solar.
Really, I don't care.

Make me, once again, useful
and so much more meaningful
than before. Grab the keys, kid.

Let's drive.


-lilxerica

thought: "eradicate this font" what?!

Ban Comic Sans?

It's awful and silly!

I used to love Comic Sans in first grade (now, I've clearly moved on, but I can't dislike a font that's given me so much nostalgia). I was considered creative compared to the other kids in the class that used Arial and Times New Roman--I don't think they knew how to change the font (we used to use the brand new, shiny blue/red apple computers with floppy disks back then). 

Silly, it is that there is a hate group against a font. It's like an over-played song on the radio--James Blunt said this about "You're Beautiful"--if you don't like the song, turn off the radio. Let it be the same with fonts: if you don't like the font printed, close your eyes or glare at it and suck it up. Lordie, people get riled up for most futile things nowadays. Can't we just channel such zeal and enthusiasm to more important topics, such as child abuse, genocide, and other worldly issues?

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123992364819927171.html?mod=yhoofront

-lilxerica

essay: johari window

Haha,
I guess I did finally do my psych essay.

No time to edit.
Ah, well. We'll take everything in steps.

The Johari Window:
Window to Becoming Aware of Oneself

The Johari Window is essentially a window to one’s awareness of oneself in terms of personality trait expression and serves as a useful tool in understanding how information is given and received in relationships. The model is basically, a rectangular figure divided into four distinct sections: the Arena/Open, the Blind Spot, the Façade, and the Unknown. In developing a Johari Window, peers of the subject are asked to select five or six personality traits from a set list that they believe best describe the target individual, whom already selected traits about him/herself. After several peers have evaluated the person, the window begins to take form.

The Arena/Open area describes the quadrant in which information is known about the individual under mutual terms between the public and him/herself. The Blind Spot represents the section where characteristics that are perceived by others are present, but not known by the subject. In the third quadrant, the façade dwells, where traits about the individual are avoided or hidden and not known by the public. Lastly, the Unknown contains information that remains inexistent and yet to be elicited.

Developed in the 1950’s by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, the Johari Window is appropriately named with the combination of the model’s creators (Joseph + Harry = JoHari) and remains a new contribution to the world of psychology and work. When viewing the grid, the method of benefiting from such heavily supports ideas of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Passing the bottom of the pyramid and going directly to the top of Maslow’s diagram, the Johari Window emphasizes on self-improvement and in Maslow’s case, self-actualization. In addition to the humanistic approach of becoming better people, the Johari Window may also be incorporated into Freud’s theories of the unconscious in respect to the Unknown area of the model. Freud also thought consciousness is like the tip of the iceberg with vast area containing our judgment, morals, and unconscious beneath. In a way, the Johari Window maps out the little details that can help reveal the iceberg or expand our sense of reality and act accordingly.

The goal of the model is to simply help people understand themselves and others; and through mutual understanding, optimize productivity within the working place. New teams begin with larger hidden and unknown areas with blind spots slowly forming from first impressions. Overtime, team members’ should be evoked by either self-discovery (bringing into the hidden), others’ observation (into the blind spot), or together as a team (into the arena). It is advised that a good team have a large Arena of openness and understanding in comparison of other quadrants. A large hidden area and blind spot signifies that members are distant.

In order to expand the Arena and minimize the other sections, feedback and self-disclosure is important in a group or environment. Feedback solicitation gives others a chance to express how they feel about an individual with open ears to listen and make changes. Self-disclosure is all about telling others about oneself in an effort to gain interest and information to bond.

Although the Johari Window provides a great method for evaluating the growth of closeness and openness within a team, such results render useless if members of a team or individuals are unwilling to act upon the newfound information of the model. More disadvantages of the window include the competence of those evaluating—for example, do participants know the difference between being knowledgeable versus intelligent? Of the provided list of fifty-five adjectives, how many may be perceived as synonyms of each other? Such items need to be taken into consideration.

Overall, some may view the Johari Window as a silly activity where individuals fish for compliments, and in that way, the model may be seen as a singularly appreciable exercise, but others may walk away with something more—the seed of motivation for their quests for self-actualization and improvement.

Lilxerica's Johari Window

Arena (known to self and others) complex, intelligent, observant, patient, reflective, self-assertive	Blind Spot (known only to others) able, accepting, adaptable, bold, calm, caring, cheerful, clever, confident, dependable, dignified, energetic, extroverted, friendly, giving, happy, helpful, idealistic, independent, kind, knowledgeable, logical, loving, mature, modest, organised, relaxed, religious, sensible, sympathetic, trustworthy, warm, wise, witty
Façade (known only to self)	Unknown (known to nobody) brave, ingenious, introverted, nervous, powerful, proud, quiet, responsive, searching, self-conscious, sentimental, shy, silly, spontaneous, tense

Dominant Traits

53% of people think that lilxerica is friendly
57% of people agree that lilxerica is intelligent

All Percentages

able (15%) accepting (23%) adaptable (7%) bold (3%) brave (0%) calm (15%) caring (19%) cheerful (11%) clever (3%) complex (3%) confident (11%) dependable (34%) dignified (3%) energetic (19%) extroverted (11%) friendly (53%) giving (3%) happy (11%) helpful (15%) idealistic (3%) independent (7%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (57%) introverted (0%) kind (15%) knowledgeable (23%) logical (15%) loving (7%) mature (38%) modest (11%) nervous (0%) observant (11%) organised (19%) patient (7%) powerful (0%) proud (0%) quiet (0%) reflectiverelaxed (3%) religious (3%) (3%) responsive (0%) searching (0%) self-assertive (11%) self-conscious (0%) sensible (3%) sentimental (0%) shy (0%) silly (0%) spontaneous (0%) sympathetic (7%) tense (0%) trustworthy (26%) warm (7%) wise (7%) witty (3%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 16.4.2009, using data from 26 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view lilxerica's full data.

thoughts: not doing psych paper

"That's what she said."
Words from yesterday.

I'm not doing my psychology paper tonight.

What is failure?

That seems extreme.

I'm not a failure.

I am just a poor person
with no sense of time management
with big ideas and dreams

and a lazy disposition.

This can get discouraging.
("But we've got to hold on to what we've got...")

Sometimes, I confuse myself
whether I am more optimistic or pessimistic.

-lilxerica

event: easter

Happy Easter!

( Y ) 
( ._. )   +
c(")(")   |

Truly, He is Risen.

He is Risen, indeed!

thought: lidocaine is cool.

Two weeks ago, I went to the dentist and got numbed with some lidocaine. 

Apparently, novacaine is no longer used due to a number of allergic reactions and remains simply a term to describe numbness (kind of like the mercury in thermometers deal). Upo

n getting numbed, a peculiar cognitive bubble seemed to float about with the excitement over a new sensation of being treated with an anesthetic. I thought it would be slightly entertaining to include my immediate thoughts on the situation below. (The quoted text was written two weeks ago, moments after the dentist appointment.)

Lidocaine is cool.

Today, I got a filling done on a cavity on the side of one of my molars and Dr. Finkle numbed the right side of my cheek. It took quite a while for the tingliness to change to heaviness, but this is how numbness really feels: like I got a fat lip. I try to grin and outcomes a wry smile. Much effort is needed to pull the tips of my mouth up. Effortless, my face is Abe Lincoln's--half smile, half indifference. My cheek feels soft and tender (haha, kind of like a baby's bottom) and the wetness of my bottom lip may oddly be compared to the sliminess of an uncooked piece of chicken thigh, the fatty part that we often pick with our finger and slice off. What an odd feeling this is as there is actually none (haha or the nerves rather)! 

Lordie, I'm so weird.

Despite my fun, it took four hours for the numbness to fade away. When eating dinner, I took special precautions in chewing slowly to make sure I did not accidently chomp on the cheek. Ah, the food tasted so strangely that meal. Placing quiche into my mouth lacked true joy and the flavors could only be tasted by half of my tongue. I continued to eat and chew with the left side of my mouth--for it was not numbed-- with the discontent feeling of dull weight being plopped gently into the right cheek. Later, the tingling feeling returned. I marveled at how the numbness vanished and the true feeling of touch was finally restored.

-lilxerica

thought: nicholas hughes dead

How depressing.
It was just announced yesterday, but happened last week:





Nicholas Hughes, son of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath,
committed suicide and hanged himself
after battling depression.

It's such a shame. Apparently, he specialized in fish studies.



I especially like this picture of the family.


So happy.


Go here to learn more and be referred to other articles on this.

random video: guacamole!

I just joined Vimeo in last week and since I'm not in a film-making mode quite yet, I've been exploring the site. So far, I have fallen in love with the quality that Vimeo takes pride in with HD video among the simple and sharp presentations of material. "Guacamole" is one of my favorites that I love showing people! By the end of the video, you'll have the tune stuck in your head. ;P



Guacamole from Si on Vimeo.

random quote: hunger's friend

beef stew
Originally uploaded by lilxerica

“Hunger knows no friend
but its feeder.”
-Aristophanes

eyes that eat: the chick-fil-a sandwich

the chick-fil-a sandwich
Originally uploaded by lilxerica

Eaten for the very first time a couple of weeks ago, the Chick-Fil-A sandwich is extraordinary and nothing like I've ever tasted in the category of chicken sandwiches. Under the expectation that the meal would be similar to that of McDonald's McChicken, I dug my teeth into the crispy meat and was taken by surprise. A burst of a subtle peppery flavor on tender chicken made me hunger for more. You know it's good when you see the tell-tale signs of stringy pieces of chicken from the remnants of a savory bite. 
Rating: 4.2/5

-lilxerica

thought: going home

"A little bit of this,
a little bit of that."

Many times, I had walked past the furneral home. Never had I stepped within. Yet there I was inside the doors. The dim lighting seemed to set the mood upon entrance, but lit up as I lifted my head and gazed forward.

An unusual sight it was; a small group of people sitting on chairs conversing while others chose to stand and chat. It became clearer to me that this was honoring a well lived life, rather than a somber passing. As my family and I walked towards the front of the room, a woman with a kind face and straight light blond hair approached us. "You must be the old neighbors," she said with a smile clear with appreciation, " she loved talking about your family."

Mrs. Duris looked the same to me. Her pale honey hair slightly thinner, but still the same curled around. Dressed in a calm florescent green outfit, she lied peacefully as if she was telling us a message with what she wore. The color green brings comfort. Of course, I'm not even sure whether she picked her clothes prior to her passing or those at the morgue did, but still, it was a sweet gesture of thought. Her hands were folded neatly with her aged fingers wrapped around a crucifix. There is no doubt that this wonderful woman is home.

At first, going over to her was difficult. I got this sort of empty feeling inside, knowing Mrs. Duris was not there in front of me, but just a body. I never lost anyone close to me, but when I listened to my mom's message about her earlier today, it made my stomach flip and heart sink. Once it all came down on me, the memories of her rush forward and reminscence flooded the mind. As the official babysitter of my youth, she holds a special place as a person who never thought of herself, only others. According to my mom, Mrs. Duris was the kind of person who never refused to comply when a favor was asked. Just last week, I wondered where she was and encouraged my mom to call her. She said it was peculiar how this last Christmas, Mrs. Duris didn't send us her usual annual holiday card. While I wondered this, Mrs. Duris was already resting peacefully in her sleep and onward to above.

Later after warm conversations, I felt much better. It was apparent through the stories of loved ones that Mrs. Duris had a wonderfully complete life, yet here I was crying with a wry smile of rememberance of all the good things she did.

I don't have a sophisticated way to say this, but I'm sad at the fact that I will never get to see Grandma Margaret again in this life. The last time I saw her was about five years ago at my baptism and the next will be someday when I too go home. When that time comes, we'll watch Michelle Kwan re-runs, snack on her homemade cookies, play scrabble on the computer, and skip across the floors of heaven.


In heaven, I promise not to be a picky eater.




Although I am most certain you will;

Rest in Peace
Margaret M. Duris
(1921-2009)

news: perplexed, man shoots another...

If you have time to read, take a look at this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090309/ap_on_re_us/church_shooting

I'm pretty sure at one point today, you have heard something on the radio...


I felt compelled to write to my pastor on this issue.

Dear Pastor Paul,

I'm sure you've heard about it as well, but as we
were driving home from church. The radio announced of a recent story occurring
today where a Maryville pastor was shot at 8am during his sermon.

This is very disturbing news and sometimes it
makes people wonder: "Wow, not even church is safe anymore."

I know upon hearing this news is already implied,
but I'm sure many have a prayer request to look out for those at that church as
well as the suspect.

In a Yahoo News article about this, another
pastor at the church explained that he was puzzled and had no idea what the
suspect's motives were. What motivates a man to shoot another, especially
the pastor while giving a sermon, during church? As I
wonder perplexed, here's the article I read: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090309/ap_on_re_us/church_shooting

God Bless

Yet again, another article has come to support the idea that man is evil or rather, simply ignorant. I'm trying to imagine what the scene must have been like. Those sitting in the pews were confused at the sight with the burst of confetti from the shot and thought such a spectacle was merely a skit. What horror to realize it was naught!

I can only sympathize.
My mind, today and tomorrow, will be on this sad incident.


Oh, the motives of man...


-lilxerica

quote: evil & happiness

"No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks."

- Mary Wollstonecraft

eyes that eat: the coconut shrimp

the coconut shrimp
Originally uploaded by lilxerica

Described as "creamy" by Lucy Jung who thought the dish was exceptionally well done considering she generally did not agree with the coconut flavor, added that she "couldn't taste the coconut flavor." Whether this subtle coconut flavor is suitable for your taste buds, the dish was wonderful in terms of the larger crispy pieces of fried and battered shrimp tackled with the freshness of the lettuce beneath. Although the mayonnaise mixture on top proved to be sweet and increasingly delicious, personally, I'd prefer a little less poured over and more a drizzle with more sauce to the side. Nevertheless, and putting my health tip to the side, the coconut shrimp dish from Cravings brought "a taste of home" for my brother and I coming from Chinese roots. Highly recommended!

Rating: 3.5/5

-lilxerica

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

It's pretty convienent how I can directly link blogger and flickr together!

shirt: if only they had a different color...

I really like today's shirt on shirt.woot.com!
It's called "Camera Eyes."

The only downside is that it's in cream and that doesn't suit well with me. :(
Otherwise, I'd definitely order the shirt!

-lilxerica

thought/poetry: walking to the library

A walk through the gloom and gray tends to give time for the sealing of thoughts and perception of the new. Sensitivity heightens and our surroundings, we become aware. Walk, walk--a brand new story is born, but often lies unrecorded, lacking paper.

-

Mental processes: Walking to library.

Forgot hat, but decides not to go back.

Snow begins to fall lightly. Ear phones snug in ear.

Volume up, cars begin to hum.

Gust of wind, sparkles fly daintly through the air.

Stare at the houses. Magnetic glares, still time; axis.

Only the thin sheets of white tissue paper slide by.

Step 1, Step 2, Step 3. A large crack. Beneath the surface, what is seen?

Not solid nor soil, but a deep darkness; no ground. 

Wonder to what degree is our stability?

Where the sidewalk ends...

It's like a photographic, artistic film. 

Music beams. 

Expression shows. 

Noises blend into nothing. 

It's beauty.

Fragments sewn together,

Another nice day.

-lilxerica

shout-out: birthdays!

Well, this is an interesting year for celebrating historic figures' birthdays.

Happy 200th Birthday
to Abraham Lincoln!

and...

Happy 200th Birthday
to Charles Darwin!


It's kind of odd to think that these two were born on the same day and year, existing at the same time!

(Oh yeah, yesterday was the 46th anniversary of Sylvia Plath's death.)

-lilxerica

thought: is the color red intimidating?

Is the color red intimidating?

According to the University of British Columbia’s research on color concerning the effects of red and blue on task work, red may be sometimes approached as a bit intimidating, superior, and with great caution. The article supporting this explains that the university had recently conducted a study with more than 600 participants about color. Subjects were asked to perform specified tasks under the condition of having a blue or red desktop background as well as tasks involving working with the actual color. Overall, those working with a red background performed “31 percent better at tasks like proofreading…which require attention to detail.”

Although significant results and differences were apparent in this particular studying involving red and blue, the experiment lacked a control group to make results comparable to the norm. In addition to this possible gap, the article did not specify where the sample population was taken from to be representative of which group of people. Certain groups of people may possibly be bias towards or less affected by a color, such as perhaps, those conditioned from a background of seeing the color red regularly would be “immune” to the effects of the particular hue. However, despite these minor discrepancies, I do believe that color effects how people perceive life and our surroundings.

Red may be perceived as intimidating and generally may seem so; however, depending on the context, the color may send off a different message. An article by David Johnson of Information Please asks the question whether different colors affect one’s mood.

The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and
breathing. It is also the color of love. Red clothing gets noticed and makes the
wearer appear heavier…In decorating, red is usually used as an accent.
Decorators say that red furniture should be perfect since it will attract
attention.

Johnson forgets to add that the color red also stimulates appetite. In the fast food industry, companies often sport bright red logos, such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, and many other places to attract customers and sway them to buying their products. Even restaurants that do not have the bold red logos find ways to use color psychology to their advantage. Walking past the green and yellow logo of Subway, customers will find themselves in a lovely dining area with beautiful, alluring wallpaper displaying the freshness of fruits and vegetables the restaurant has to offer—of course, including a blown up photo of the deep rich fullness of red tomatoes.

Another article in connection to the University of Rochester, points out that “the color red attracts men to women.” Studies focused on males’ responses to different photographs of women in different settings and presentations. In one part of the study, men were asked to rate the attractiveness of a women framed by a red border opposed to a white or blue border. The other study went deeper into showing test subjects women with different colored shirts and asking them dating related questions. To establish some control, colors used in each study were “precisely equated in saturation and brightness levels” to avoid any other factors that could influence the outcome. At the end of the study, “the women shown framed by or wearing red were rated significantly more attractive and sexually desirable by men.”

Referring back to Johnson, “red clothing gets noticed and makes the wearer appear heavier.” If the color red makes the wearer appear heavier, then why are men selecting the women wearing the weight-adding color? It is possible that the color red may be linked to our biological roots with a more primitive nature to this phenomenon. In the past, it was traditional for the man to hunt and the woman to bear children. Ancient civilizations have praised the full figure of the female with goddesses and deities possessing a voluptuous body unlike today’s ideal image of a thin and delicate woman. “In decorating, red is usually used as an accent. Decorators say that red furniture should be perfect since it will attract attention.” Women are not furniture, but the color red not only empowers them to stimulate the appetites of men and give sign of fertility, but also allows them to have an unspeakable intensity men cannot describe through the mask of attraction. ♥


*Sorry, I did not include a bibliography. One will come soon so that sources will be cited correctly.

-lilxerica

another goal: pinhole camera

Inspired by one of my friends' old and taped- vintage cameras (literally uses seven pieces of tape), I feel the need to try something new. Today we have the sharp and clear feel of the digital camera, but it's funny how photos taken long before this digital age send a somewhat stronger image in terms of revealing to us the artistic take on photography. Vintage cameras provide a misty and nostalgic picture full of wonder and perception. With this, I want to make my own pinhole camera out of household materials and create something just as majestic. Pinhole cameras, however, need a ton of light and with news that the groundhog saw his shadow, spring's sunshine will be more months away. Instructables, once again provides a great "how-to." Try to out. but it's a spring project for me!


How To Make A Pinhole Camera - More DIY How To Projects


-lilxerica

new goal: to make amazing noodles.

Gong chow nao haw... mmm nice and fresh. Daddy-made.

Ultimate (well, close enough to such) Goal:

Make these amazing noodles!
(saying the actual name will be a goal for next year...)

I made something like them recently. It didn't turn out very well (bad judgment concerning meat cooking time, neglect of stirring noodles, silly silly silliness in the kitchen), but I suppose it wasn't bad for the first time with true stir-fry. In the future, I will set myself right next to the stove and watch with observant eyes what my daddy is doing to make those magically glossy and flavorful noodles. I just gotta make sure to keep the grease from flying into my face. :P

-lilxerica

thought: path

My heart sings for english and the arts of freedom and motion,
but my mind tugs at the corners of science and the firm grip it holds on the world.

What do I choose?







-lilxerica

video: something classic

Ahh... indulge yourself with the evolution of dance. Classic stuff.
(I think the second one just came out. Obviously not as good as the first haha.)

random quote: thinking vs action to overcome

“Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.”

- W. Clement Stone

goodreads

Got my GoodReads profile today.
Check it out (side)--->

I spent a couple hours adding books and stuff like that to it.
Still have more to go too. Woohoo.
Where has the time gone...

-lilxerica

challenge: book-keeping

Years ago, I kept a summer reading chart and recorded all the books I had read. When the year started, this record became lost. Now whenever, I go to the book store and see a familiar book, I have trouble confirming whether I read the book or not. I'm trying to build my own library in my room and it's getting there. This year I want to challenge myself by recording every completed and significant book read.

With that, each time I finish a book, I will either update this entry or create a side bar of documentation.

Here's a list that's HUGE!

I hope I keep this up!

-lilxerica

thought: numbness

I was just digging around my old stuff, I bothered not to post--but this time I'll give it a shot. Besides, it's last year's stuff anyways ;P

(It's not quite poetry or anything. I have no intentions to write such. It is more so odd conversations of the blunt honest mind.)

Written October 23, 2008

I think I am numb.
Not physically, but mentally.
Small insignificant things do not move me, and sadly, nor do the important.
Frightening moments, unpaid, accumulating library fines, and failing grades.
All whisk by. Only to make me regret not worrying and taking action later on.

Perhaps, I am just tired.
No, this time not mentally.
I still feel that I am able to think... maybe too deeply.
I am tired, literally in the sense that my body yearns for the quiet, soothing calm of sleep.
Over the years, I have tested my limits. Seeing some in sight, I am wary of them and afraid of the deafening effort needed to pull through. Sometimes, I wish I could sleep and the world would stop.
Time would cease for the increment of rest. Like a long blink of the eye, in slow motion.
Once awoken, life would resume as usual; seemingly restless and disparate, but intriguing.

There exists one way out.
The only method to liberate myself from this fatigue and numbness is simply to be happy.
Try and maybe one may succeed. Emotions will fill my being.
I am active. I am free.
The key is to be HAPPY.

-lilxerica

random quote: dreaming and living

"Dream as if you'll live forever,
live as if you'll die today."
-James Dean

random things: cool usb flash drives

Usb flash drives are amazing!

1. They can transport files with ease (although the emailing method is easy too).
2. You can carry games, software, and other documents.
3. Boom! Floppies are long dead.
4. Usb flashies come in many different designs!

I love usb flash drives and how companies and people go about making the device so handy.

Here are pictures of some homemade models and cool designs:

(The Instructables ones are really nifty and look pretty awesome.

Sadly, I haven't really had the time to make any of them...)

2009

Wow~!
(I don't know how many times, I've started a post with that, haha.)

It's been more than a year since I started this blog. Sadly, I must confess that I have not been routinely staying true to the monthly quota; however, Blogger itself, has grown wonderful in allowing users to place all sorts of new "gadgets" (as they call them) to convey their message in multiple ways instead of being limited to words. I'm going to breeze through what I have moved from this year:

• Images
• Connection to Flickr
• Side Links
  
• Blogger's Video
• Youtube Embedding
• Imeem Embedding
• Automatic Search by Google
• Lists
• Embedding Forms

Overall, I'm pleased with where the blogspot is standing (although, I wish I could post more). I check it every now and then to add new weird stuff so it's nice that it hasn't turned into a "ghost town" blog like my DeviantArt, Bebo, and WordPress accounts.

Everything ties together well and it gives me great pleasure to look back on the previous year of posts. This experience is just the same as my love of photography and my annoying presence at the dinner table, other events, and vacations of all sorts, taking pictures of everything, dead or alive.

Over the last couple of months, I've noticed that I have been flipping through the plastic pages of my family's photo albums where the cameras ran on film. Each time, I find myself cooing at the baby-selves of my siblings. I can't wait that in the coming years, I'll be laughing at my stupid mistakes and judgments due to my prefrontal dysfunction as a teenager, when I grow older.

To reminsce and reflect are activities that never cease within my mind and continue each moment, sleep or awake.

This year, I want amazing things to happen. For each remarkable instance, I wish to capture it, whether through picture, word, or simply, the memory.

Let's make 2009 a year to remember!

with great eagerness,
-lilxerica

Snip Snap

The world is huge and rather strong;

we all know this, but everything must have a bending, tipping, snapping, breaking point.


When will it happen
and what can the people standing around do to prolong the wait for this major paroxysm?


What measures would you take to save the world from ourselves?



Will it begin with

a touch
a word
a picture
a photo?

Or rather

a poem
a song
a lyric

or a simple stanza?

-lilxerica