Posts
Music is a form of communication as well as entertainment for all living things.
We all know that music has a powerful effect on human's emotions. The ancient Greeks even believed that music has the power to form character.
We also know that animals have their own form of music - birds sing songs, humpback whales vocalize stanzas, bats squeak supersonic melodies, etc.
In an experimental study on tamarin monkeys in Central and South American rain forests, psychologist Charles Snowden recorded the tamarin calls and composed music tailored to those monkeys.
As expected, tamarins didn't show any reaction to human songs, but they clearly displayed signs of emotions and reacted strongly to Snowden's composed music for tamarins.
Although plants don't make their own music, they do respond to music. In 1968, researcher Dorthy Retallack used many musical styles to show the effects of music on plant growth. She drew an interesting conclusion, the plants grew well in every type of music, except rock and roll. The plants that were exposed to rock or acid rock withered and died.
How can plants "listen" to music?
Music is made up of sound waves that are frequencies oscillating through air. It has been discovered that plant stomata respond to music.
The function of stomata is to allow gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor and oxygen to move into and out of the leaf. It has been found that resonant frequency causes stomata to open under the influence of music or specific tones.
However, if rock music or high pitched tones that cause the plant to vibrate, the stomata will close and open after a lapse of time. Thus, the wrong kind of music will interrupt the natural rhythmic process of photosynthesis in a plant, which in turn affects plant growth.
All living things have a natural gift to be influenced by music. Yes, music is that powerful!
Think of the mood you'd like to be in before you select your next song!
Balcony Farming For City Dwellers
Living in a concrete jungle, you can still feel connected with nature by growing your own food right in your own cozy balcony environment. Growing food just needs a little space, and even the smallest apartments have windowsill space for a pot of salad plants or a container of delicious strawberries.
For whatever reason - saving money, worrying about safe market food products, or simply enjoying the experience of growing your own food - nurturing balcony farming is not only practical, but also challenging and inspirational.
Anyone can be a farmer. You don't need a green thumb to grow fruits and vegetables as food on your plate. It's really quite simple. If you have pots, soil and water supply, you can grow many popular edible vegetables. Most vegetables will grow in well-drained, rich soil and need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
Here's a list of various crops (in alphabetical order) that can be successfully grown from your small apartment balcony:
artichokes
asparagus
broccoli
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celery
cucumbers
eggplants
green beans/peas
lettuce
leeks
onions
parsnips
peppers
potatoes
radishes
tomatoes
turnip
spinach
squash
strawberries
sweet corn
Swiss chard
zucchini
Herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, peppermint and rosemary, thyme
When our lives have become so complex, saturated with technology and materialism, we need to return to the basics of nature to understand the meaning of life. By growing our own food, flowers or plants, we learn to appreciate and cherish deeply what nature has given us - nourishment, beauty and life.
For whatever reason - saving money, worrying about safe market food products, or simply enjoying the experience of growing your own food - nurturing balcony farming is not only practical, but also challenging and inspirational.
Anyone can be a farmer. You don't need a green thumb to grow fruits and vegetables as food on your plate. It's really quite simple. If you have pots, soil and water supply, you can grow many popular edible vegetables. Most vegetables will grow in well-drained, rich soil and need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
Here's a list of various crops (in alphabetical order) that can be successfully grown from your small apartment balcony:
artichokes
asparagus
broccoli
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celery
cucumbers
eggplants
green beans/peas
lettuce
leeks
onions
parsnips
peppers
potatoes
radishes
tomatoes
turnip
spinach
squash
strawberries
sweet corn
Swiss chard
zucchini
Herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, peppermint and rosemary, thyme
When our lives have become so complex, saturated with technology and materialism, we need to return to the basics of nature to understand the meaning of life. By growing our own food, flowers or plants, we learn to appreciate and cherish deeply what nature has given us - nourishment, beauty and life.
Ten Popular Natural Scents
According to the mystics, the sense of smell gives pleasure and relief to the soul.
Unfortunately, we, humans, perceive the world mainly through our visual and audio senses, while downplaying our sense of smell. We've lost the animal instinct for the sense of smell to make us want to know another or repel us to avoid one another - all part of the biology of attraction.
Nevertheless, smells hold an uncanny power over us - a sniff of food makes our mouths watery, a whiff of a long-forgotten scent takes us back to memory lane, or a long inhale of natural scent alleviates stress while soothes our soul.
In aromatherapy, these are the ten most popular natural scents in alphabetical order for relaxation and sleep. Nature offers its best for natural cures without any side effects.
1. Bergamot - used in perfumes, and tea, popularly known as Earl Grey and Lady Grey - helps digestion, inflammation as well as treats depression.
2. Chamomile - used in tea and medicinal herbal treatment - has antispasmodic and antiinflammatory effect. Chamomile, used for inhalation or as tea, produces a calming agent for relaxation.
3. Jasmine - used in as fragrance as well as antidepressant - induces warm, calming emotions and sensuality.
4. Lavender - used in soaps, shampoos, lotions, potpourris, tinctures and teas - has multiple functions. It can be used as an antiseptic. It also relieves anxiety, rids of insomnia and eases depression. Lavender oil in massage helps one to sleep better, to stabilize moods, and to have better focus.
5. Lilac - used in perfumes and as a tonic - brings serenity, pleasurable memories and peaceful slumber.
6. Mandarin - outer peel extraction used in oils and fragrances - has a balancing, uplifting and calming effect.
7. Rose - used in oils and fragrances - calms nervous tensions and gives one a positive feeling about oneself.
8. Sandalwood - used in fragrances and wooden products - pacifies anxiety and anger while promotes relaxation, sleep and meditative states. In fact, sandalwood’s fragrance is closest to human pheromone. It is traditionally considered as an aphrodisiac.
9. Vanilla - used in food and oils - increases the levels of adrenaline, stimulating and invigorating one as well as producing a calming, relaxing and comforting effect.
10. Ylang-ylang - used in fragrances - has both stimulating and calming effect. It is known for its ability to slow down the sympathetic nervous system and stimulates mental alertness.
Nature offers many wonderful remedies through the sense of smell to cure one's mental anxieties and troubled soul in this stressful world. As Oscar Wilder aptly put it: "To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul!"
Unfortunately, we, humans, perceive the world mainly through our visual and audio senses, while downplaying our sense of smell. We've lost the animal instinct for the sense of smell to make us want to know another or repel us to avoid one another - all part of the biology of attraction.
Nevertheless, smells hold an uncanny power over us - a sniff of food makes our mouths watery, a whiff of a long-forgotten scent takes us back to memory lane, or a long inhale of natural scent alleviates stress while soothes our soul.
In aromatherapy, these are the ten most popular natural scents in alphabetical order for relaxation and sleep. Nature offers its best for natural cures without any side effects.
1. Bergamot - used in perfumes, and tea, popularly known as Earl Grey and Lady Grey - helps digestion, inflammation as well as treats depression.
2. Chamomile - used in tea and medicinal herbal treatment - has antispasmodic and antiinflammatory effect. Chamomile, used for inhalation or as tea, produces a calming agent for relaxation.
3. Jasmine - used in as fragrance as well as antidepressant - induces warm, calming emotions and sensuality.
4. Lavender - used in soaps, shampoos, lotions, potpourris, tinctures and teas - has multiple functions. It can be used as an antiseptic. It also relieves anxiety, rids of insomnia and eases depression. Lavender oil in massage helps one to sleep better, to stabilize moods, and to have better focus.
5. Lilac - used in perfumes and as a tonic - brings serenity, pleasurable memories and peaceful slumber.
6. Mandarin - outer peel extraction used in oils and fragrances - has a balancing, uplifting and calming effect.
7. Rose - used in oils and fragrances - calms nervous tensions and gives one a positive feeling about oneself.
8. Sandalwood - used in fragrances and wooden products - pacifies anxiety and anger while promotes relaxation, sleep and meditative states. In fact, sandalwood’s fragrance is closest to human pheromone. It is traditionally considered as an aphrodisiac.
9. Vanilla - used in food and oils - increases the levels of adrenaline, stimulating and invigorating one as well as producing a calming, relaxing and comforting effect.
10. Ylang-ylang - used in fragrances - has both stimulating and calming effect. It is known for its ability to slow down the sympathetic nervous system and stimulates mental alertness.
Nature offers many wonderful remedies through the sense of smell to cure one's mental anxieties and troubled soul in this stressful world. As Oscar Wilder aptly put it: "To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul!"
Inspiring Victory: Japan vs. USA Women's World Cup Final 2011
It's incredible, inconceivable, and inexplicable that the Japanese women beat their American rivals in the best ever Women's World Cup played in history!
Both sides have their own remarkable stories of getting to the World Cup final and both thought it was their destiny to win. The dramatic and magical winnings in quarterfinals and semifinals of both teams were thrilling and shocking. And the climax of the two teams played in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 17, 2011, was just as cliff-hanging and surprising! But destiny could only choose one winner. The ending seems to be a page torn from a Hollywood script.
It was a Women's World Cup final between two inspirational teams whose paths through the tournament seemed guided by fate. They were both underdogs pulling out wins when it didn't seem possible to reach the final. They were both dark horses, upsetting their international rivals with their remarkable resiliency, drive and talent. Both teams were sensational in capturing the hearts of their homeland with stunning victories and attracted devout fans in such a short period.
On one side, the U.S. team was favored to win its first and America's third World Cup title since 1999. On the other, the Japan team "Nadeshiko" in its first Women's World Cup final poured its heart out to play for a country ravaged by the devastating March tsunami and earthquake as well as nuclear radiation leaks.
In the unforgettable Women's World Cup final, the United States twice took the lead, but Japan tied the score with nine minutes to go in regulation, then tied it again with three minutes to go into overtime. The late scores by Japan were reminiscent of earlier U.S. matches.
No one could forget the highlights of the game: when Alex Morgan ran to score following Megan Rapinoe's long pass; when Aya Miyama tied the score by tapping the ball in with the outside of her foot; when Morgan passed to Abby Wambach for a lethal forehead score; when Homare Sawa's knee knocked the ball in for a timely equalizer.
Finally, when the Japan team was faced with the daunting task of scoring in penalty kicks against the world's best goalkeeper, Hope Solo, the Japanese players demonstrated their greatest strength -- technique. They beat the Americans in penalty kicks. The final score: Japan 2 (3) U.S. 2 (1).
As they had done all tournament, the Japanese proved that they are the most highly skilled players in women's soccer.
Many records have been broken in this historical sports epic:
1. Japan is the first Asian nation to win the Women's World Cup.
2. It was the first time for Japan in the Women's World Cup final.
3. Going into the final, Japan team never had beaten the U.S. women - they held a record of 0 win, 22 losses, and 3 ties.
4. It was the first time for the U.S. to lose a World Cup match in which it scored first.
5. It was the first time for the U.S. team to fail in clearing the last hurdle in the Women's World Cup once they reached it.
In reality, there are really no losers in the World Cup final. They are the best two teams in the world and they deserve to be remembered and appreciated for getting there. And the trophies they've received tell them so!
Congratulations to both Japan and the U.S.!
Both sides have their own remarkable stories of getting to the World Cup final and both thought it was their destiny to win. The dramatic and magical winnings in quarterfinals and semifinals of both teams were thrilling and shocking. And the climax of the two teams played in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 17, 2011, was just as cliff-hanging and surprising! But destiny could only choose one winner. The ending seems to be a page torn from a Hollywood script.
It was a Women's World Cup final between two inspirational teams whose paths through the tournament seemed guided by fate. They were both underdogs pulling out wins when it didn't seem possible to reach the final. They were both dark horses, upsetting their international rivals with their remarkable resiliency, drive and talent. Both teams were sensational in capturing the hearts of their homeland with stunning victories and attracted devout fans in such a short period.
On one side, the U.S. team was favored to win its first and America's third World Cup title since 1999. On the other, the Japan team "Nadeshiko" in its first Women's World Cup final poured its heart out to play for a country ravaged by the devastating March tsunami and earthquake as well as nuclear radiation leaks.
In the unforgettable Women's World Cup final, the United States twice took the lead, but Japan tied the score with nine minutes to go in regulation, then tied it again with three minutes to go into overtime. The late scores by Japan were reminiscent of earlier U.S. matches.
No one could forget the highlights of the game: when Alex Morgan ran to score following Megan Rapinoe's long pass; when Aya Miyama tied the score by tapping the ball in with the outside of her foot; when Morgan passed to Abby Wambach for a lethal forehead score; when Homare Sawa's knee knocked the ball in for a timely equalizer.
Finally, when the Japan team was faced with the daunting task of scoring in penalty kicks against the world's best goalkeeper, Hope Solo, the Japanese players demonstrated their greatest strength -- technique. They beat the Americans in penalty kicks. The final score: Japan 2 (3) U.S. 2 (1).
As they had done all tournament, the Japanese proved that they are the most highly skilled players in women's soccer.
Many records have been broken in this historical sports epic:
1. Japan is the first Asian nation to win the Women's World Cup.
2. It was the first time for Japan in the Women's World Cup final.
3. Going into the final, Japan team never had beaten the U.S. women - they held a record of 0 win, 22 losses, and 3 ties.
4. It was the first time for the U.S. to lose a World Cup match in which it scored first.
5. It was the first time for the U.S. team to fail in clearing the last hurdle in the Women's World Cup once they reached it.
In reality, there are really no losers in the World Cup final. They are the best two teams in the world and they deserve to be remembered and appreciated for getting there. And the trophies they've received tell them so!
Congratulations to both Japan and the U.S.!
