Aug 5, 2014  •  In Entertainment, Geek, Movies, Science, Star Wars

The Science of Star Wars

Physicist Andy Howell recently gave a talk about the science of Star Wars — yes, the actual science behind, the inspiration for, the data that supports, and the ‘how’s and ‘why’s behind the wonders of the SW world! — and wrote up a summary for Ain’t It Cool.

This is so nerdy that I couldn’t help but stay up ’til 2am, devouring the details.  😎  

The topics include:

  • Space Fantasy
  • Droids
  • Tattoine
  • Holograms
  • Parsecs
  • Lightsabers
  • TIE Fighters
  • Training Remotes
  • The Death Star
  • The Destruction of Alderaan

For example, did you know that training remotes (the floating robotic orb Luke uses to practice his lightsaber skills) are a reality? And that they’re flying on a spaceship right now???!!!!!

In 1999, MIT professor David Miller showed his students STAR WARS, and when it got to the part about the training remotes, he said, “I want you to build me some of those.” They and subsequent researchers came up with these things called SPHERES that are being tested on the International Space Station. They float because it is weightless on the ISS. And then they maintain their position and move around by shooting jets of compressed air!

Then there’s this jaw-dropper:

science_of_star_wars

And you can read the calculations behind the statement at the end of the article!

I think it goes without saying that Copernicus explores The Science of Star Wars! is a must-read for all Star Wars geeks. Go bookmark it now!!!

Via Kottke.

You may also like:

Aug 4, 2014  •  In Beauty, Giveaways, Personal, Shopping

Amazon Gift Card Giveaway! [Win One of THREE Prizes!]

When I asked if you guys were sick of my talking about Korean beauty products, reader J Lee replied, “NO NO NO. YESYESYES to more posts like these!!!” And others seem to be enjoying these posts as well. 😛  

But as much as I would love to keep buying and reviewing new items, I would much rather spread the love first.

And you know what that means, don’t you?  😉  

That’s right — another giveaway!

I thought about having the winner(s) choose a Korean beauty product I have talked about in my Korean beauty haul series. But I knew that not everyone has the same skin/cosmetic concerns as me.

I then considered giving the winner(s) a gift card to an online Korean beauty store. But I know that not everyone is into beauty stuff.

Additionally, not ONE online Korean beauty store carried ALL the items I mentioned in these posts. 🙁

So I figured, why not just please everyone? Since Amazon carries all the items — either directly or through third-party sellers — AND since you don’t have to buy a beauty product with an Amazon gift card…

I’M HOLDING ANOTHER AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY!

With not one, not two, but THREE chances to win!

ONE lucky winner will receive a $50 gift card:

And the second and third winners will EACH win a $25 gift card:

To enter this giveaway, simply use the Rafflecopter widget below. Not sure how to use Rafflecopter? Watch this 52 second video for a tutorial on how to enter a giveaway using Rafflecopter. There are 5 methods of entry, with the first method (commenting on this blog post answering the question “What would you do with your Amazon gift card if you won?”) being mandatory while the third method (Tweeting about the giveaway) can be used once per day:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end on Monday, August 11th, 2014, at 12:01am EST, at which point a winner will be randomly chosen and announced here. If the winner has won the drawing via a fraudulent or illegitimate entry (i.e., not commenting on this post, using different accounts to enter multiple times, using a Twitter account that is only used to enter contests on a frequent basis, using the same Tweet URL to enter multiple times) I have the right to choose another winner.

This giveaway is open to ANYONE over the age of 13!

Please use a valid email address and/or Twitter handle so that I can contact you if you win! If the winner fails to respond within 48 hours of my contacting them, another winner will be selected.

Good luck, and thank you for entering!

You may also like:

Aug 3, 2014  •  In Art/Design, Books, Entertainment, Movies, Video Games

Pop Culture Reimagined as Little Golden Books

Another day, another art exhibit I’m dying to attend on the west coast. (Srsly. I know NY has some of the best that the art world has to offer, but I freakin’ LOVE the LA art scene!)

Galley 1988, which has gotten love on this blog before, is currently showing Storytime: A Little Galley Show by illustrator Joey Spiotto.

little_golden_book_breaking_bad

little_golden_book_clockwork_orange

Continue reading »

You may also like:

Aug 2, 2014  •  In Art/Design, Books, Entertainment, Movies, Scary, Video Games, Web

Classic Horror Movies Get the “Goosebumps” Treatment

If It Were Stine is a Tumblr blog dedicated to reimagining classic horror movies, television shows, and video games as R.L. Stine’s popular children’s book series, Goosebumps.

Despite having been a junkie for the teen horror genre in my formative years, I wasn’t a big fan of R.L. Stine or the Goosebumps books. I thought they were predictable, contrived, and quite honestly, not that scary. (I was a bigger fan of the less-popular Christopher Pike.) However, I can’t help but admit that designer Theodore Holmstead-Scott and writer Jude Deluca have done a fantastic job of translating these on-screen horror classics to Goosebump-worthy book covers.

Here are my favorites. Be sure to read the back-cover synopses for the full experience!

The Shining:
horror_films_as_goosebumps_the_shining

Poltergeist:
horror_films_as_goosebumps_poltergeist

Continue reading »

You may also like:

Aug 1, 2014  •  In Art/Design, Books, Entertainment

New Harry Potter Book Covers Coming This Fall

Come September 1st, Bloomsbury Publishing will re-release the beloved Harry Potter series with brand-spankin’ new dust jacket designs. Created by UK illustrator Jonny Duddle, these new covers certainly seem darker and more detailed than the originals, depicting specific scenes from each book. Take a look!

new_harry_potter_covers_1

new_harry_potter_covers_2

Continue reading »

You may also like:

Jul 31, 2014  •  In Asian, Beauty, Korean, Personal, Reviews, Shopping

The One Where I Won’t Shut Up About Korean Beauty Products…

Are you guys sick of me blabbering on and on about Korean beauty products yet? Well, too bad, because I have more to say!

It’s officially been over a month since I first started using these items, and I still remain wildly impressed. In the past, my skin would slowly become accustomed to the new products and/or regimens so that by this point, the benefits would diminish and sometimes even disappear altogether.

(Does this happen to anyone else? Finding a new beauty product that works wonders in the beginning, only to find it losing its effectiveness as your skin adapts?)

But with these Korean beauty products, my skin has remained clear, soft, bright, and supple. My pores have decreased in size, the sebaceous filaments on my nose have all but disappeared, and I often catch myself brushing a hand against my face, marveling at its texture.

Even the 1-2 pimples that always erupts at that time of the month have bid farewell.

beauty_pampering
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen this already.
Thursday nights have become my pamper-myself-evenings. 🙂

Once again, I cannot recommend these items enough! I plan to purchase more as I run out — even the foot peeling mask, which has already made my feet softer than I can remember, because I have never taken care of my feet before (would you believe I have never gotten a pedicure?), so a few rough spots still remain.

And being the research freak that I am, I have been doing a lot more digging into this new-to-me world of Korean beauty products and Korean skin treatments. I’m still not ready to start using 10+ items per day as is the norm for many Korean women, but there are a few more items I want to try…

Benton Snail Bee High Content Skin, ~$20
benton_snail_bee_high_content_skinThe Benton Snail Bee line, which contains bee venom and snail mucin, has received a cult following from beauty bloggers worldwide. The funny thing is, many Koreans aren’t aware of this small brand!

I want to try the skin from this line because it’s a step in the Korean skincare regimen I have yet to try. (“Skin” is another word for “toner.” While most westerners associate toners with harsh astringents, Korean toners are meant to be used right after cleansing, to settle your skin and prepare your pores for the products that are to follow.) And because the entire Snail Bee line has received such rave reviews, I want to give this a go before trying the others.

The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Light Oil, ~$10
the_face_shop_rice_water_bright_cleansing_light_oilMost Korean women would be appalled to learn how roughly I — and probably most western women — treat my skin when cleansing. Indeed, I scrub, rub, and tug with a great deal of force whenever I wash my face. It’s a bad habit I’m still trying to break. 😳  

The typical Korean skincare routine, in contrast, utilizes two products in the cleaning process: first, a cleansing oil to dissolve makeup, then a gentle foaming cleanser to remove whatever is left over. In fact, many Korean women believe that you should take as much care and time to wash your face as to prepare (i.e., put on makeup) your face!

I have heard of cleansing oils before (like the popular DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, and the Shu Uemura line of cleansing oils), but have always been too intimidated to try them. However, after seeing how beneficial the Korean skincare routine and beauty products have been to my skin, I’m willing to be more experimental.

The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Light Oil is one of Korea’s most popular cleansing oils, so I believe I will be making a safe bet. (It also comes in a rich formula for drier skin types.) I’m a bit bummed that I didn’t get a bottle while I was in Korea, but I’ll definitely let you know how I like it!

Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control, ~$40
laneige_bb_cushion_pore_controlI didn’t spend too much time at Laneige stores while in Korea, so I didn’t know that Laneige had launched a new cushion pact to rival that of the Innisfree Long Wear Cushion (which I raved about here).

The original Laneige BB Cushion (which is now available stateside at Target, in LightMedium, and Dark shades) is a big hit in Asia, and just like the Innisfree cushion, this Pore Control version was released just a couple of months ago for use in the hot, humid, summer months.

Although the Laneige cushion is twice the price of the Innisfree, most reviews I’ve read online seem to prefer the former. (Take a look at this glowing review from Liah Yoo!) I’m still working on my Innisfree Long Wear Cushion, but you can bet that I’ll try the Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control once I start running low!

You may also like:

Jul 30, 2014  •  In Christianity, Funny, Web

The Ten Commandments, Upworthy Style

David Tate has penned for McSweeney’s a “More Engaging Copy for The Ten Commandments” — restyled in the way of the insufferable headlines of sites like Upworthy. The results are amusingly click-worthy, to say the least.  😉

ten_commandments

You won’t believe what God said to this man…

  1. What You Need to Know Now About the Lord Totally Being God
  2. At the Beginning He Had Me Confused, But by Minute Two I Knew That I Shouldn’t Have Other Gods.
  3. Are You Making This Common Mistake with Graven Images?
  4. How I Work: Read This Life Hack from God Your Only Creator.
  5. She Admitted to Doing What Every Sunday?
  6. Seven Morning Habits of People Holier Than You: #7 No Killing Before Lunch.
  7. 37 Things in Your Bedroom That You Need to Get Rid of Right Now, Like Adulteresses.
  8. What the Government Doesn’t Want You to Know About Stealing Your Neighbors Servants.
  9. This Little Girl Bore False Witness and the Results Will Shock You.
  10. Doctors Hate Her But You Shouldn’t Covet Her.

Can you think of better clickbait headlines for the Ten Commandments?

You may also like:

Jul 28, 2014  •  In Art/Design, Cute, Entertainment, Funny, Movies, Web

If Disney Princesses Had Instagram

You’ve seen the superhero version; here’s the Disney princess edition!

disney_princess_instagram_ariel

disney_princess_instagram_rapunzel

disney_princess_instagram_cinderella

Continue reading »

You may also like:

Jul 26, 2014  •  In Infographics, Information

What Do People Think About How You Pronounce Certain Words?

Do you place your flowers in a “vhas” or a “vace”? Do you sit down to relax on a “chase lounge” or a “shays lounge”?

Believe it or not, how you pronounce these words may affect others’ perception of you!

The following infographic is based on a survey of over 1,000 people on how they pronounce some of the most divisive words in the English language. The participants were then asked what they think of those who say them each way. The results may surprise you! (And wow, I didn’t know there was even a different way of pronouncing “roof”!)

pronunciation_judgement

Via Mental Floss.

You may also like:

Jul 25, 2014  •  In Aerin, Claire, Education, Parenting, Personal

Summer Camp

Claire and Aerin are now halfway through their first summer camp experience. 😎  

The camp is run by Claire’s Montessori school; it is set during the hours that would otherwise be taken up by classes during the school year. And while the school continues to run educational programs and activities at camp, these summertime sessions tend to be less structured with more “fun” activities like outdoor games, messy art projects, visits from exotic animals and their handlers, and even field trips.

For a small additional fee, children ages 3 and over — like Claire! — can take a bus to the local pool and take 2-hour group swimming lessons twice a week.

Aerin’s first week was admittedly tough with some tears and extra clinginess toward her mommy. But this was expected; I knew camp would be tough for my little girl who has never been in a daily class environment before.

DSCF5485
Puffy eyes from crying! (I am so glad that the school sends us photo updates!)

But by the end of the first week, she no longer cried at dropoff, and even began to voluntarily hug and kiss her teacher — something she only does with 3 other people in her life!

I had been nervous all last month that Aerin’s delays would adversely affect her participation in class. But a week before I left for Korea, Aerin went through a mini language explosion: constantly repeating things we say; correctly identifying objects, letters, colors, and numbers; regularly using 2- and 3- word sentences; and most importantly, verbally communicating her wants and needs.

DSCF5770
Learning colors while making (and eating) different-hued popsicles at camp

With the language explosion came another desirable behavior: interacting, and playing with other kids more — especially her older sister! Many times, Aerin will follow Claire around the house, imitating her and trying to include herself in whatever activity Claire might be doing. Claire sometimes gets annoyed at Aerin and they will inevitably fight, but to have my two girls play with each other and communicate amongst themselves…to have Claire look out for her little sister (she defended her at the playground the other day) and to see Aerin clearly looking up to her older sister for companionship and guidance — all behaviors they had never exhibited before — are so encouraging and heartwarming!

Aerin’s teacher tells me that while her speech is still behind other kids her age, the delay is modest, and at about the same level of that of other young children who come from households whose main language isn’t English. “Most importantly,” she told me, “we can all tell that she’s trying. She looks at my mouth when I speak, and I could tell that she’s just soaking everything in!”

DSCF6474
Lining up for relay games. (Faces and names blurred for privacy reasons.)

For Claire, the transition from preschool to summer camp has been painless save for one aspect: her twice-weekly swimming lessons. My cautious girl has never been a big fan of water and hates to get water in her eyes. Even when taking a bath, I have to place a washcloth over her eyes whilst rinsing her hair!

Her swimming instructors tell me that Claire refused to get her torso into the water for the first couple of sessions. Instead, she sat on the pool steps and splashed around. 😐  But little by little, she has gotten braver — she even tried to doggy-paddle the other day!  :mrgreen:

J, who was a competitive swimmer in his younger days, wants the instructors to push Claire more. However, they told us that because she is still at such a young age, they don’t want her to associate the water with bad experiences. Instead, they want her to feel fully comfortable in the water and see her having fun first. This is the teaching style with which I agree, but J believes that it’s too “American.” 😕  He feels that children should be pressured to succeed. It’s a topic we will certainly approach again and again as our girls grow older.

DSCF6394
When Claire showed me this geography exercise, she told me, “Look, umma! Orange is
North America! Pink is South America! Green is Africa! Red is Europe!” It’s hard to believe
she’s only 3 years old!

Aside from her swimming lessons, Claire continues to thrive and be a leader amongst her peers. While her introspective and analytical tendencies definitely come from me, she is much more confident, assertive, and social than I ever was as a child. Her teachers and classmates love her, and I am so glad that preschool has helped her get out of her shell this past year.

J and I are thinking about extending C&A’s summer camp by another couple of weeks because it seems so beneficial for everyone involved. We especially feel that it will be a nice transition period for Aerin, who will start preschool in September. (Claire will move onto pre-K…where does the time go???)

As for me, while I have been enjoying the extra 3 hours to myself while the girls are at camp, I’ve been keeping myself busy…by job-hunting. Yes, I am back in the market again so that we can comfortably send both girls to school starting in the fall. Please wish me luck!

You may also like: