Another Heads Up

Phew! That was all of my drafts that were worth publishing! Most of the other stuff were really outdated and some links and videos were not even working! Now, I guess I can synch my real-life and the blog! ;)

Girl sleeps for Nine Years

Okay, those of you who have slept for 20+ hours straight (I know a few of them personally!) someone beat you to the game! And by nine whole years!!!

Check out this story of a little girl who went to sleep on March 29, 1871 and didn't wake up until New Years Eve 1880!

On may 15, 1859, a child was born, She was the tenth child from a family of twelve. Her name was Ellen Sadler. there was nothing particularly remarkable about her, or any of the other children. Until Thursday, march 29, 1871, Ellen went to bed as usual. And did'nt wake up.
And just like a sleeping beauty, she didn't wake for nearly ten years.

Read the complete story here.

Musicians have better memory

Wow! This is exciting to know! Musicians have better memory than non-musicians! Well, from a lay-man's point of view, it isn't really surprising, because, musicians work with patterns, and anything that needs to be committed to memory, when sewn in a pattern, sits there for a long time.

This is also another draft, so pardon the delay! This article came out last May too!

Last night in the U.S. many televisions were tuned to one of the biggest spectacles of the year: the American Idol finale, where America would learn which singer had been chosen as "America's favorite" (or, more cynically, who inspired the most teenagers to repeatedly dial toll-free numbers until all hours of the night). Greta and I are suckers for this sort of thing, so we watched along with the rest of the nation.
What impressed me about the show wasn't so much the prodigious vocal talents of the two finalists, but how everything was put together so hastily: there had been only six days from the previous week's episode (where the two finalists were revealed), and during this time each finalist learned at least three or four songs. The musicians who played along with them had no score to follow; they had to commit the songs to memory. Everything went off without a hitch, because these professional musicians routinely hold an astonishing variety of music in their memories.

Read the complete article here.
Don't worry. This article isn't that long either. If you're a musician too, then you would definitely find it interesting!

Music affects how we perceive facial expressions

This is a very interesting article on how music affects how we perceive facial expressions. I actually came across a lot of good articles on the relationship between music and emotions and expressions and I shall share a few good ones here on my blog.
It is interesting to know that different kinds of music influence the way you look at a facial expression soon after. Hmm... This gives me an idea. Next time you think you might meet up with someone moody and irrational, listen to soft good music before so you don't get put off by their "face language"!

Music can be thought of as a form of emotional communication, with which the performer conveys an emotional state to the listener. This "language" is remarkably powerful - it can evoke strong emotions, and make your heart race or send tingles down your spine. And it is universal - the emotional content of a piece of music can be understood by anyone, regardless of cultural background.

Are the emotions evoked by  piece of music similar to, and can they influence, other emotional experiences? The answer to these questions is unclear. But a new study, which has just been published in Neuroscience Letters, provides both behavioural and physiological evidence that the emotions evoked by music can be transferred to the sense of vision, and can influence how the emotions in facial expressions are perceived.

Read the complete article here.
It's a short article, so don't fret!

First Full Face Transplant

Check out this story of Connie Culp, the recipient of the first full face transplant. It is amazing to know what science is capable of doing right now...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- - Shot in the face by her husband four-years-ago Connie Culp of Hopedale Ohio was left disfigured. For four years she had no nose. The bony structure that once supported her face was gone, as was most of her face. She could not breathe other than through a tracheotomy, could not smell, could not even drink or eat normally.

Several dozen reconstructive surgeries left her not much better off. Connie became afraid to go out in public where doctors say children would run away from her because of her appearance.

Read the complete story here.


Psst... This story came out about a year ago! Its been in my drafts that long!

Science of Scams Video: Psychic Readings

Science of Scams: Psychic Readings



Click here to watch the video on Youtube.

Science of Scams Video: Telekinesis

Science of Scams: Telekinesis



Click here to watch the video on Youtube.

Science of Scams Video: Chi Energy

Science of Scams: Chi Energy



Click here to watch the video on Youtube.

Science of Scams Video: Ouija Board

Science of Scams: Ouija Board



Click here to watch the video on Youtube.

Life on Mars? Come on!

I came across this video a long long time ago, actually! I'm sure you guys must already know about this.

Apparently, a new picture from the rover on Mars shows a figure looking like a woman. To me, it just looks like a coincidence. A rock that was incidentally shaped like that... But who knows! Its an interesting video, nevertheless!



If you cannot see the above video, click here to watch it on Youtube.

Heads Up

Okay, I'm going to be publishing all the drafts (whatever makes sense now, that is) in the next hour, so don't be surprised if you see a huge array of posts! :)

I'm a graduate!

Hello guys!

I am back! And I am here to stay... I think! ;)

I would like to share my good news with you guys. I have finally completed my master's degree - MS in Computer Science from Arizona State University. Woohoo!!!

I defended my thesis on Friday April 23rd, 2010. It went on pretty well, I guess. I was pretty nervous in the beginning, but later on, calmed down. And once it was over, I couldn't believe it! Three whole years!!! I don't think I am going to go to school anymore. At least not in the next 5 or 6 years!
I'm done! Imagine, continuous studying from nursery, prep 1, prep 2, from 1st to 12th grades, 4 years of Undergraduate College, and now 3 years of Grad School. Phew! 22 years of continuous studies! OMG! And I'm 25. (Ugh, I'm old!)

I still have a lot more stuff to do. So much paperwork and stuff. Its so exhausting!

So now, the next step, getting a job! Now lets see how that goes! Hope I get a job soon!

XOXO,

Purple Poise