I was taking a study break from psychology and naturally wandered to Facebook, my evil companion. I couldn't help but see a post about awkward thing because after all I am one myself. After looking through the list I thought it was extremely hilarious which was in need of being shared. I find these to be genuinely funny so this is my awkward gift to you, enjoy!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Mobile Uploads Moment: Boba Did You Say?
To be honest, this post doesn't really have anything to do with boba, I just had Thai Tea and it was refreshing. Be jealous. I finally used a karma check to good use! I ate at The Sink on the Hill tonight with some great people and I hope the staff will frame this check somewhere in their restaurant :) I had the spicy blackened tilapia and it was yummy! Have a fantastic Friday, TGIF!
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| Click on the picture to enlarge |
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Mobile Uploads Moment: All Aboard on the Buff Bus!
I finally got on the Buff Bus after waiting out in the cold for 20 minutes! I will never miss that. Anyways, I like to play little games whenever I ride the bus, its not like I'm doing anything else. There were two Asian girls in front of me and predicted something to happen with them. The bus made an unexpected stop and one of the girls goes flying off, stumbling across the walk way and struggles to grab a pole after another. She only flew off about 5ft from her seat but it seemed like more. Everyone watched her and we all couldn't help laughing because the girl freaked out cutely. She shrugged it was nothing and she and her friend are still talking about it in their foreign language. I couldn't help but smile. People are great.
Why Are Things Cute?
I mentioned this in my last interesting post, How Much Money Is Love Worth?, and you may remember this dog...
He made a list of things that we would find cute. He noticed that cuteness is usually characterized and this is what he found:
When we look at our offsprings (not that I have any) we feel a protective and nurturing instinct. That is why we react more positively to animals that resemble infants with -big eyes, big heads, shortened noses, etc.- than to animals that do not. There is more specific information to this here.
There's even an interactive program here that you can play around with to adjust a cat, human, and hammer to what you think is cute.
Kawaii is the quality of cuteness in context of Japanese culture. Japanese are known to include manga and anime as part of their culture and the idea above with Mickey Mouse is similar, but different. For adults, it roughly takes about 7-7.5 heads to be stacked on top of each other to equal the height of a person. We typically find that those who are 8-8.5 heads high to be heroic. Cute goes the other way where manga characters are 5.5-6.5 heads tall.
Neoteny is a term used to describe juvenile traits in those who retain it throughout adulthood. A good example of this is poopy diapers from babies. Yet, we adore this especially in animals we keep as pets. We've bred all kinds of animals overtime to make them more "useful" to us. However, it's found that we have spent the most time "designing" dogs. Each generation becomes better at hunting or even staying cuter for longer. In other words, that means we have been spending so much time dictating behaviors and traits in ways we want, which is similar to DVD player and it's features. That pretty much means that dogs are not only work of nature but human technology.
I hope you enjoyed this! I'm sorry I haven't posted lately and I hope this post will make up for it. Thanks again and please comment below, I would love to see what you have to say! Take care!
Surely, your initial reaction is to squeal and reveal the inner dog lover in you by saying things like "Aww he's so cute and fluffy!" It's ok, it happens to the best of us. Alright we know what fluffy means but what exactly does cute mean? Scientifically?
The word "cute" is a shortened version of the word "acute" which actually means keen, shrewd, or perceptive. About 180 years ago cute was used as slang to girls who were pretty. Eventually, it gained a new meaning and was used to describe cuddly, delicate, precious, youthful traits.
There was a guy who actually studied cuteness in living things named Konrad Lorenz.
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| Well that's cute... |
He made a list of things that we would find cute. He noticed that cuteness is usually characterized and this is what he found:
- Small body sizes with a disproportionately large head
- Large eyes
- A pleasantly fair
- Dimples
- Round and softer body features
- Traits: Playfulness, Fragility, Helplessness, Curiosity, Innocence, Affectionate Behavior, and a need to be Nurtured
When we look at our offsprings (not that I have any) we feel a protective and nurturing instinct. That is why we react more positively to animals that resemble infants with -big eyes, big heads, shortened noses, etc.- than to animals that do not. There is more specific information to this here.
Coincidentally, our experience with cuteness can be triggered by things that don't look like human babies. For instance...
Wait, a hammer? How so? Because if you applied Lorenz's theory of cuteness adding more roundness and shorter length are similar qualities to human babies, so you get something like this...
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| Turtles like Squirt |
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| Polar Bears |
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| and a hammer |
Wait, a hammer? How so? Because if you applied Lorenz's theory of cuteness adding more roundness and shorter length are similar qualities to human babies, so you get something like this...
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| Aww it's a baby hammer, don't hurt him! |
There's even an interactive program here that you can play around with to adjust a cat, human, and hammer to what you think is cute.
So where exactly do we find cute? Well I mean you know what is cute and how it is cute, but where? Researchers have shown baby pictures to people while using functional MRI to track activity in the brain. They found that the cuter the baby the higher the activity which was found in the nucleus accumbens part of the brain. This is a pleasure center and dopamine is released, a way of rewarding the body internally, and this is the same area targeted by cocaine and meth.
Cuteness has such a powerful effect that it can even effect behavior. Therefore, it influences what we like and what we buy. So it's no surprise that cartoon makers like Pickachu, Hello Kitty, or Mickey Mouse have drawn them to be more cute over time.
Let's learn more words shall we?
Kawaii is the quality of cuteness in context of Japanese culture. Japanese are known to include manga and anime as part of their culture and the idea above with Mickey Mouse is similar, but different. For adults, it roughly takes about 7-7.5 heads to be stacked on top of each other to equal the height of a person. We typically find that those who are 8-8.5 heads high to be heroic. Cute goes the other way where manga characters are 5.5-6.5 heads tall.
Neoteny is a term used to describe juvenile traits in those who retain it throughout adulthood. A good example of this is poopy diapers from babies. Yet, we adore this especially in animals we keep as pets. We've bred all kinds of animals overtime to make them more "useful" to us. However, it's found that we have spent the most time "designing" dogs. Each generation becomes better at hunting or even staying cuter for longer. In other words, that means we have been spending so much time dictating behaviors and traits in ways we want, which is similar to DVD player and it's features. That pretty much means that dogs are not only work of nature but human technology.
Here's another way to look at it: Certainly, dogs are a man's best friend, but undeniably due to the fact that dogs are man's best invention.
I hope you enjoyed this! I'm sorry I haven't posted lately and I hope this post will make up for it. Thanks again and please comment below, I would love to see what you have to say! Take care!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Meanwhile...
Sorry I haven't been posting! I've been busy with school and hopefully I can write a blog sometime soon! I'm planning on it anyways. Enjoy this picture of the Williams sisters...I am not watching the Australian Open or anything...ok maybe I am.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Mobile Uploads Moment: Checks To Keep The World In Balance
So I decided to buy this fun little book full of "karma checks." There are two separate checks one for bad karma and the other for good karma. The checks are preprinted with messages that apply to common daily scenarios. Good Karma Checks are intended for acknowledging positive moments (receiving an unsolicited favor, being served by a waiter who doesn't rush the table, having an excellent conversation with a stranger), while Bad Karma Checks are for admonishing bad behavior (talking loudly on a cell phone in a public place, chatting during a movie, stealing a parking spot). Fun to fill out and eminently practical, the Good Karma Checks are perfect for leaving on a recipient's desk or tucking into a thank-you note. If you aren't feeling bold enough to actually issue a Bad Karma Check, at least you'll have the satisfaction of glaring at the perpetrator as you privately write one out!
ULHhpjBP02gkRrD!~~60_57.JPG) |
| Click on the picture to enlarge |
Friday, January 4, 2013
STOP BULLYING!
This is a serious issue that we need to pay attention to. Just because you aren't bullied doesn't mean that you don't need to do anything. You do realize that this issue can lead to death? How funny is that? Not very.
It breaks my heart to see people especially little children being bullied. Every human should be treated and respected equally because there is no justification for bullying and it should not be tolerated. I have not been bullied and if I have it was only minor. Certainly, I don't want to be bullied nor do I want to be the bully, even though I was one when I was young.
Even though I sort of contradicted myself in the statement before, understand that I am trying to say that it wasn't a significant or harmful act of bullying. It was weird, I don't think my bullying was intentional but it happened. However, that was only elementary school so we were just kids having fun. I would playfully hit or slap people or throw out some unnecessary comments. I would never do something extreme like threatening or physically attack someone. Yet, bullying is bullying. Even to this day I regretted for behaving the way I did and feel sorry for those that I have "bullied." At least I grew out of that awful phase during middle school. The great thing? It didn't take long.
I have a younger sister (9) who is a fourth grader. I am trying to teach her to stand up against bullying and properly identify a situation. It's tough not knowing what to do and be scared, but the best way to prevent bullying is letting them see it for themselves. So that's what I did, I showed my sister some videos of kids being bullied. I asked her various questions from how it made her feel to what she would have done. At first she felt uncomfortable and confused as to why I was showing her these videos, but she started to pay more attention to the video watching the emotions of people, realizing the purpose of watching the video. I hope it gave her a new perspective with bullying. But at least she is the sweetest girl I know and as long as she knows that I'm there for her, then she'll feel safe. Ultimately, I want her to be people's "go to", as I am to her.
In my opinion, bullying is a pathetic immature thing to do, and people need to learn how to respect others. My motto basically comes down to: "Behave the way you want to be treated." We need to step up to bullying. I only ask you to take some time to watch these videos. I think it is important to remind ourselves what is happening in reality and how we can help. We can start helping by caring and listening to people, by not shutting them out of the world, and being there when they need someone. Finally, this goes out to all parents, to love, discipline, and teach your children manners when and where they belong. The foundation of personalities start from homes, in other words, we act and behave from the past. Nowadays we, as kids, can get away with anything. It's as simple as that.
If you are to watch one of these videos, at least watch the very last one with Amanda Todd.
This video is the one I showed my sister: the bus monitor, Karen, was bullied by students during a field trip. The students called her unforgivable names and even physically touched her calling her "fat." The bus monitor was crying, which made me furious.
This video is a boy picking on a "fat" boy. He punches the kid and ends up being slammed to the floor (though he deserved it). This is why shootings like the Columbine shooting happen. Plus, never pick on someone who is clearly larger than you!
This video is a story about a girl named Amanda Todd. She was a victim of having nude pictures on the internet, being used for sex, bullied at school, moving to several schools, having no friends because of her "reputation," using drugs and alcohol, etc. Let's say she has been through a lot and thanks to the bullies in her life, she committed suicide on October 10, 2012 after she posted this video.
Let's not have anymore of these videos, please!
It breaks my heart to see people especially little children being bullied. Every human should be treated and respected equally because there is no justification for bullying and it should not be tolerated. I have not been bullied and if I have it was only minor. Certainly, I don't want to be bullied nor do I want to be the bully, even though I was one when I was young.
Even though I sort of contradicted myself in the statement before, understand that I am trying to say that it wasn't a significant or harmful act of bullying. It was weird, I don't think my bullying was intentional but it happened. However, that was only elementary school so we were just kids having fun. I would playfully hit or slap people or throw out some unnecessary comments. I would never do something extreme like threatening or physically attack someone. Yet, bullying is bullying. Even to this day I regretted for behaving the way I did and feel sorry for those that I have "bullied." At least I grew out of that awful phase during middle school. The great thing? It didn't take long.
I have a younger sister (9) who is a fourth grader. I am trying to teach her to stand up against bullying and properly identify a situation. It's tough not knowing what to do and be scared, but the best way to prevent bullying is letting them see it for themselves. So that's what I did, I showed my sister some videos of kids being bullied. I asked her various questions from how it made her feel to what she would have done. At first she felt uncomfortable and confused as to why I was showing her these videos, but she started to pay more attention to the video watching the emotions of people, realizing the purpose of watching the video. I hope it gave her a new perspective with bullying. But at least she is the sweetest girl I know and as long as she knows that I'm there for her, then she'll feel safe. Ultimately, I want her to be people's "go to", as I am to her.
In my opinion, bullying is a pathetic immature thing to do, and people need to learn how to respect others. My motto basically comes down to: "Behave the way you want to be treated." We need to step up to bullying. I only ask you to take some time to watch these videos. I think it is important to remind ourselves what is happening in reality and how we can help. We can start helping by caring and listening to people, by not shutting them out of the world, and being there when they need someone. Finally, this goes out to all parents, to love, discipline, and teach your children manners when and where they belong. The foundation of personalities start from homes, in other words, we act and behave from the past. Nowadays we, as kids, can get away with anything. It's as simple as that.
If you are to watch one of these videos, at least watch the very last one with Amanda Todd.
This video is the one I showed my sister: the bus monitor, Karen, was bullied by students during a field trip. The students called her unforgivable names and even physically touched her calling her "fat." The bus monitor was crying, which made me furious.
This video is a boy picking on a "fat" boy. He punches the kid and ends up being slammed to the floor (though he deserved it). This is why shootings like the Columbine shooting happen. Plus, never pick on someone who is clearly larger than you!
This video is a story about a girl named Amanda Todd. She was a victim of having nude pictures on the internet, being used for sex, bullied at school, moving to several schools, having no friends because of her "reputation," using drugs and alcohol, etc. Let's say she has been through a lot and thanks to the bullies in her life, she committed suicide on October 10, 2012 after she posted this video.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Mobile Uploads Moment: Acca-cuse me! Start The Year Off Right
It's finally 2013! I don't like the literal look of 2013 for some reason, it looks too modern while 2012 looked hipster. Anyways, I hung out with some of my favorite girls today watching a tennis match, Pitch Perfect, and some Rose Bowl. This DVD didn't come out long ago so I highly recommend getting it. I even bothered to purchase it because that's how much I LOVE IT!
Happy New Years!!
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| "I'm horizontal running" -Fat Amy |
Happy New Years!!
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