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Winter is here. In some colder places, snow quietly falls from the sky.
Snow consists of millions and millions of snowflakes which are crafted by the elements of weather. Each snowflake is as individual and unique as people are or any living thing on this planet.
Though as common as raindrops from the clouds or sand grains on the beach, snowflakes seem to be shrouded in mystery. Scientists have tried to solve the puzzle: "Is it really true that no two snowflakes are alike?"
The birth of a snowflake begins when a tiny dust or pollen particle comes into contact with water vapor. Then, the water vapor freezes the particle as a tiny crystal of ice high up in Earth's atmosphere.
Interestingly, the molecules of water that form each ice crystal naturally arrange themselves into a hexagonal shape. All snowflakes start out as a hexagonal crystal of ice and then "grow" delicate extensions (arms) forming intricate patterns. As snow crystals tumble through the air, they enlarge their shapes in an infinite number of ways of being six-sided.
The patterns of snowflakes can be grouped into the following:
1. Hexagonal plate - six-sided flat shapes, sometimes with a star pattern in the center of a hexagonal plate
2. Stellar plate: hexagonal plates that have bumps or unbranched arms, giving the snowflake a "star" appearance
3. Stellar dendrite: branching six-sided shapes
4. Fernlike stellar dendrite: branches of a snowflake that look feathery or like the fronds of a fern
5. Needles: look like needles which may be solid, hollow, or partially hollow
6. Column: six-sided columns that may be short and wide, long and thin, capped or even twisted
7. Bullets: column-shaped snowflakes tapered at one end, forming a bullet shape
8. Irregular: snowflakes that may have grown unevenly, broken, melted, or stuck to other snow crystals
What researchers know is that snowflakes form different shapes at different temperatures. In addition, pollution and other impurities in the air may contribute to the shape of a snow crystal. Believe it or not, most snowflakes are imperfect!
The weather temperature plays a major role in shaping the snowflakes. Here's a list of different temperatures that influence the patterns of ice crystal growth:
thin plates: 32-25F
needles: 25-21F
hollow columns: 21-14F
sector plates: 14-10F
dendrites: 10-3F
So, back to the question: "Is it really true that no two snowflakes are alike?"
What do you think?
Why a hobby is good for you?
Humans are part of Nature's creation. Thus, humans have innate creativity which should be expressed in one way or another. The best way for any human to express his/her creative side is to have a hobby that suits his/her personality.
As a healthy approach to opening ourselves up to imaginative thinking, discovery and exploration, having a hobby is to spend hours a day or days a month or weeks a year in a "specialized pursuit" for pleasure. A hobby is never a waste of time because it involves you in making things of your own, gaining personal knowledge and learning new skills.
A hobby could be anything as long as it gives you pleasure in doing it. Having a hobby gives you self-esteem, satisfaction, a sense of achievement as well as a sense of personal growth. It has been proven that a hobby can improve memory and alleviate the effects of aging.
The things that a hobby could do for you:
- gives relief from over-working or stress
- gives you private time to have with yourself
- gives you independent and pleasure from within, not depending on entertainment or friends
- reveals your unique talent
- challenges you to improve yourself
- gives you a chance to meet and share with people of similar taste
- gives you an alternative career if you have mastered it
The Keirsey Temperament Theory developed by educational psychologist, David Keirsey, identifies four main personality temperaments that have their own traits, behaviors, preferences and tendencies. Knowing your type of personality can be useful for determining the kind of hobby that would appeal to you.
1. Guardians - practical, hardworking individuals who take responsibilities seriously. They are productive, making things run smoothly and doing voluntary work. They enjoy acquiring knowledge that can be put into practical use. Suggested hobbies: carpentry, photography, model building.
2. Artisans - fun-loving and creative individuals with a natural inclination for the arts. These people are usually identified as the ones with natural "talent". Suggested hobbies: drawing, painting, sculpting, fashion design, cooking, horticulture, music or theatre performance.
3. Idealists - deep thinkers who seek self-improvement as well as improvement for the world at large. Some idealists may be visionaries and healers and they are drawn to the "unknown". Suggested hobbies: reading on psychology, mystery or social justice; writing, designing, art, music, dance.
4. Rationals - logical problem-solvers who enjoy gaining theoretical and practical knowledge. They incline to be inventors who show an appreciation for technology and mental exercise. Suggested hobbies: computer programming, car mechanics, electronics.
Here's a list of well-known hobbies:
1. fishing
2. sewing
3. handicrafts
4. playing music
5. bird watching
6. restoring cars, fixing things
7. carpentry
8. reading, writing
9. collecting
10. model building
11. painting, drawing, designing
12. photography
13. gardening
14. cooking, baking
Instead of being a couch potato or moping around doing nothing during your spare time, think of a hobby you want to master for life. Put your precious time to better use. Get a hobby!!!
As a healthy approach to opening ourselves up to imaginative thinking, discovery and exploration, having a hobby is to spend hours a day or days a month or weeks a year in a "specialized pursuit" for pleasure. A hobby is never a waste of time because it involves you in making things of your own, gaining personal knowledge and learning new skills.
A hobby could be anything as long as it gives you pleasure in doing it. Having a hobby gives you self-esteem, satisfaction, a sense of achievement as well as a sense of personal growth. It has been proven that a hobby can improve memory and alleviate the effects of aging.
The things that a hobby could do for you:
- gives relief from over-working or stress
- gives you private time to have with yourself
- gives you independent and pleasure from within, not depending on entertainment or friends
- reveals your unique talent
- challenges you to improve yourself
- gives you a chance to meet and share with people of similar taste
- gives you an alternative career if you have mastered it
The Keirsey Temperament Theory developed by educational psychologist, David Keirsey, identifies four main personality temperaments that have their own traits, behaviors, preferences and tendencies. Knowing your type of personality can be useful for determining the kind of hobby that would appeal to you.
1. Guardians - practical, hardworking individuals who take responsibilities seriously. They are productive, making things run smoothly and doing voluntary work. They enjoy acquiring knowledge that can be put into practical use. Suggested hobbies: carpentry, photography, model building.
2. Artisans - fun-loving and creative individuals with a natural inclination for the arts. These people are usually identified as the ones with natural "talent". Suggested hobbies: drawing, painting, sculpting, fashion design, cooking, horticulture, music or theatre performance.
3. Idealists - deep thinkers who seek self-improvement as well as improvement for the world at large. Some idealists may be visionaries and healers and they are drawn to the "unknown". Suggested hobbies: reading on psychology, mystery or social justice; writing, designing, art, music, dance.
4. Rationals - logical problem-solvers who enjoy gaining theoretical and practical knowledge. They incline to be inventors who show an appreciation for technology and mental exercise. Suggested hobbies: computer programming, car mechanics, electronics.
Here's a list of well-known hobbies:
1. fishing
2. sewing
3. handicrafts
4. playing music
5. bird watching
6. restoring cars, fixing things
7. carpentry
8. reading, writing
9. collecting
10. model building
11. painting, drawing, designing
12. photography
13. gardening
14. cooking, baking
Instead of being a couch potato or moping around doing nothing during your spare time, think of a hobby you want to master for life. Put your precious time to better use. Get a hobby!!!
War protest: Sade's "Why Can't We Live Together?"
As one of the most unique sounds that came out in the 1980s is the group from Britain, Sade. The song written by Timmy Thomas, "Why can't we live together?", beautifully performed by Sade in their Diamond Life album, still fascinates and the lyrics ring true.
Sade (collectively, the vocalist Sade Adu and her band) composed 8 out of 9 tracks in their award-winning debut album, Diamond Life (1984). What grabs your attention is not only the singer's stunning looks and cool vocals, but also the band's music itself - rhythmic style, laden with jazz and African beat. Seen as sexy and intelligent, Sade have enjoyed a great success in the U.S. and Europe.
Like most anti-war rock & roll songs, "Why can't we live together?"
contains simple lyrics to remember and a clear message: World Peace. Unlike most anti-war songs, this song delivers an unforgettable percussion buildup and instrumental accompaniment.
It's a classic.
"Why Can't We Live Together"
Tell me why tell me why tell me why
Umm why can't we live together
Tell me why tell me
Umm why can't we live together
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together
No more war no more war no more war
Umm just a little peace
No more war no more war all we want
Is some peace in this world
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together
No matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother
I said no matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together
Everybody wants to live
Everybody's got to be together
Ooh everybody wants to live
Everybody's got to be together
Ooh Ooh laaa laa laa laa
Everybody's got to be together
Everybody wants to be together
I said no matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother
I said no matter no matter what color
You are still my brother
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together
Gotta live together
Together!
Sade (collectively, the vocalist Sade Adu and her band) composed 8 out of 9 tracks in their award-winning debut album, Diamond Life (1984). What grabs your attention is not only the singer's stunning looks and cool vocals, but also the band's music itself - rhythmic style, laden with jazz and African beat. Seen as sexy and intelligent, Sade have enjoyed a great success in the U.S. and Europe.
Like most anti-war rock & roll songs, "Why can't we live together?"
contains simple lyrics to remember and a clear message: World Peace. Unlike most anti-war songs, this song delivers an unforgettable percussion buildup and instrumental accompaniment.
It's a classic.
"Why Can't We Live Together"
Tell me why tell me why tell me why
Umm why can't we live together
Tell me why tell me
Umm why can't we live together
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together
No more war no more war no more war
Umm just a little peace
No more war no more war all we want
Is some peace in this world
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together
No matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother
I said no matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together
Everybody wants to live
Everybody's got to be together
Ooh everybody wants to live
Everybody's got to be together
Ooh Ooh laaa laa laa laa
Everybody's got to be together
Everybody wants to be together
I said no matter no matter what color
Umm you are still my brother
I said no matter no matter what color
You are still my brother
Everybody wants to live together
Why can't we be together
Gotta live together
Together!
Song for Occupy Movement: What's Going On
When there's a peace movement in the country, we think of John Lennon's famous phrase: "Give peace a chance."
As the momentum of the Occupy movement spreads in the major cities around the United States, there is one inspiring song that captures the gist of why people protest. This song is timeless and forever empowering.
What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today, yeah
Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going
What's going on
What's going on
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Come on talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
What's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you ya, what's going on
Right on, baby
Right on, baby
Right on, baby
As the momentum of the Occupy movement spreads in the major cities around the United States, there is one inspiring song that captures the gist of why people protest. This song is timeless and forever empowering.
What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today, yeah
Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going
What's going on
What's going on
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Come on talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
What's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you ya, what's going on
Right on, baby
Right on, baby
Right on, baby
