Lady Gaga (Before she was famous)

Yahoo has an article and a video clip of Lady Gaga way back when.  Before the weird hair, crazy outfits, and everything else about her that just doesn't really seem to make sense.  I'm all about being different, so in a way I kind of respect her for who she is and how she acts, but at the same time, even I can say that some of it is just too much.  However, this video that they featured of her really kind of intrigued me.  She is... normal.  Dark hair, music sounded good, and she was rocking out on the piano.  It kind of made me wish that this style of music, and her style of herself were the same now.  I think she would have more fans if she were like how she used to be before she got famous.  Maybe this is just what she needed to do to get famous though.  Who knows?  Anyway, check out the video, let me know what you think.



---Check out the Yahoo! Article Here---


-Erica

Stereotypes

This is something that came up today, so I decided that I am going to bring this up. 
Is it ok to base political views based on your race?  I guess maybe there is some truth to some stereotypes, but I am not sure that they are all fair to say. 
Today for example, I did a friend fact on facebook.  The majority of my friends result showed up as Republican.  I thought it was kind of strange because the majority of my friends who I speak to on a regular basis are Democrats.  My boyfriend said its because the majority of my friends are white.  Until he said that, I didn't even realize that the majority were white.  To prove it he did a count of my facebook friends.  Out of 314 friends, 57 of them were not white.  That comes to about 18% of my friends not being white.  My boyfriend is not white, and I really never pay attention to things like that, so it kind of came to a shock to me.  Anyway, I really want to investigate his theory some more, so I am going to have a kind of mini experiment and see what I find out. 
Please leave me a comment on here saying your race and your political affiliation.  I don't judge anybody based on race or political views.  I am very open minded, and I am only doing this to see how far this stereotypical statement goes.  I'm also going to post something similar on my facebook and twitter account.  In about a week I will post what I found out.
Thanks!
-Erica

Water... on the moon!?

Recently a space probe was sent to the moon, and they discovered that there is small amounts of water on the moon.  I'm not talking rivers, lakes, or streams, but there was some water discovered.  They found it in the moon dirt.  Its such a small amount of water that say you had a 2-liter bottle, filled it with dirt, it would maybe have just a little drop of water, enough for a medicine dropper.  If you wanted a whole drink of water, you would need about the size of a baseball field of moon dirt to get that much water.  It doesn't mean much right now, because that's still not enough water to support life, however, once they figure out where the water is coming from it could serve as good resource to us in the future, such as drinking water. 

They have a few theories about where the water is coming from, such as frozen over comets crashing into it or the solar wind carries hydrogen atoms that binds with oxygen in the dirt.

I'm very excited to see what develops from this new discovery, and I hope that we will be able to soon use this as a resource!


Check out this article to read more information about this find.
Yahoo News

Yay! Sleep!

Being in college only adds on stress to day to day life, and its really started to take a toll on my sleeping habits.  If you want to have a successful day, you better make sure you get plenty of sleep!  Then there is always the large group of people who no matter what, even when we want to sleep can not.  I decided to do some research to see if there were any good non medical remedies to help people sleep better, and I actually found some really useful information.
Usually people say to not sleep before you go to bed, that it will either keep you awake or it will cause you to gain weight.  However, here are some good choices to make that can actually help you get some sleep.

1.  Non Fat Popcorn.
2.  Oatmeal With Banana Slices.
3.  Plain Yogurt With Mixed Nuts
4.  Handful of Pretzels
5.  Glass Of Wine
6.  Red Bell Peppers

What most of these things all have in common is that they all have chemicals and ingredients in them that when reacted with your system create stress relievers and it makes it much easier to fall asleep.

Also be sure to work out on a regular basis.  Not only will it help you sleep better, it promotes good health!

If you are like me and you don't always make the healthiest food choices, be sure and keep up with taking vitamins or other types of supplements.  Some good ones to help you sleep related are calcium and magnesium.

If you like things that smell good get some lavender oil and put it on your pillows.  You can even go to bath and body works and they have a whole collection or aroma therapy scents (candles, pillow sprays, lotions, etc) specifically designed to help you sleep. 


I hope this blog post has been helpful!  There are many other remedies to help with sleep, and you can check them out by clicking these links below!
~Erica

Foods That Make You Sleep
Natural Sleep Remedies
Bath And Body Works Aromatherapy

Addicted To The Internet? You Might Need Rehab...

The other week the first internet addiction center opened in the U.S.  This is something thats already been going on in other countries such as China, South Korea, and Taiwan. 
Internet addiction is not recognized as a separate disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, and treatment is not generally covered by insurance.
Basically if you find yourself several times a day getting on facebook, ebay, myspace, online games, etc, and feel as though you can't go on with your day to day life, you might have an addiction.  Maybe I should check this place out?  Haha.  Funny part is that it is located right near Microsoft Headquarters.  It's like having a rehabilitation center for a junkie right next to a meth lab!!  I think its hilarious and rediculous!
On the other side of it, if it does get to the point that it causes you to lose your job, flunk out of school, lose touch with all friends, family, and loved ones, you really do have a problem.  Guess we will all have to wait and see how these new "treatment" centers play out.

Check out this article.  Internet Addiction Center

September 11th, 2001

 

I was going to write a blog talking about the September 11th attacks, but I really decided not to.  Instead I'm just going to write about my feelings and recollections from that day.  

We all know what happened on this day 8 years ago,  and most of us all probably remember where we were and what we were doing.  I was in the 9th grade at Ashbrook Highschool and I had just walked into my homeroom class where the tv was on the news covering the event.  It was early in the morning shortly after the first plane crash.  I've never seen or hears a group of students so still and quiet.  I remember watching as the second plane crashed.  I remember thinking, how can something like this be happening here?...right now?  The buildings fell.... then the crash at the Pentagon...  I remember being scared, not knowing what was going to happen next.  That whole school day was horrible.  Every classroom was at a halt only watching the news.  My worst memory of the event was watching people jumping out of the building, only to fall to their deaths.

It's a scary world out there.  You never know what could happen, and you should try to treat everyday like there won't be a tomorrow.  So many people get caught up with little things in their day to day lives, and sometimes it takes events like this to really remember to appreciate life.  

My heart goes out to all the family members who lost loved ones on this day.

~Erica

Happy 09/09/09!

It's going to be a hundred years till anyone sees those numbers in sequence like that again.  Looked up some stuff since today alot of people are talking about numerology and astrology.  Found out some cool stuff about the number 9.
The number 9 relates to a balanced numerological personality and is most often associated with tolerance, generosity, forgiveness, passion, creative energy, success, romance, benevolence, and a deep love of life.  9 is also said to be one of the most spiritual numbers.
Also away from mystics of the number there are some pretty cool math related things.  Such as that discovered from Pythagoras.  Example: The sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.  Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9
Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...  interesting....  ;)
Do all these numbers really mean something?  I don't know, maybe they do, maybe the don't.  I find it humorous how so many companies, business', and media use it to their advantage.  New music release dates, discounted shopping with one day only sales, etc.
Do what you gotta do I guess.  I'm just going to enjoy the day, and hope everyone else does the same.
~Erica

check out these articles if you want more info.  ;)
Numerology Report
Yahoo News

P.S.  It's also 10 years since the release of Sega Dreamcast, for all the gamers out there.  :)

40 New Species! Amazing!

A team of scientists from Britain, Hawaii, and Papua New Guinea found more than 40 previously unidentified species when they climbed into the kilometre-deep crater of Mount Bosavi and explored a pristine jungle habitat teeming with life that has evolved in isolation since the volcano last erupted 200,000 years ago.
They found several new species of frogs, birds, a giant rat, insects, and many other things. 

One weird thing was that this wooley rat, when they discovered it had no fear of humans.  Just imagine, all these other species out here, unknowingly existing to us, what else could be out there!? 

This spider is camouflaged to look like a type of moss.






Fanged frog!

Striped Possum















To see more of the article please go to:  http://www.theage.com.au/world/fanged-frogs-among-40-new-species-in-png-crater-20090907-fece.html


To see more pictures please go to:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/sep/06/wildlife-endangeredspecies?picture=352597625

Taking It Easy

Well, its FRIDAY!  I've got a pretty cool post that I have planned that I want to start working on today and tomorrow, check back to see it soon.  Today my day is going to consist of nothing but cleaning!  Going to be a busy weekend.  Also I am in the process of scripting up some html for my blog.  I don't really like all the pre-made templates.
Later!
-Erica  ;)

Chupacabra?

So, this guy thinks he found the chupacabra.  Interesting.  Check out this video.  I have no words.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2009/09/01/roldan.chupacabra.KSAT?iref=videosearch

(I vote hairless dog... )

$3 Million Dollar Failure

Reading yahoo news today there was a feature on a girl named Callie Rogers (from the U.K.) who had won $3 million dollars in the lottery when she was 16 years old.  This all took place 6 years ago.  She wasted all her money on drugs, partying, fake boobs, and designer clothes.  She is down to $32,000.  Its so aggravating to hear stories like this especially when the majority of the world is struggling so hard.  These economic times are horrible, and then some 16yr old girl goes and wastes $3 million dollars.  I'm assuming laws are much different in the U.K., because here in the USA you have to be 18.  She was too young and too stupid and she shouldn't even have been allowed to get all the money in the first place.  The part where I guess you are supposed to feel bad for her is when she says she wishes she would have never bought a ticket in the first place.  Aw.  Do I feel bad?  Hell no.  The only thing I feel bad about is that all that money was wasted when someone more deserving could have put it to good use, instead of a child. 

Here is the link to the article if you would like to read more about it.  It also has her picture.
http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92967?fp=1