Blog #8 fingerprints.

Fingerprints. One of the easiest ways to identify someone.  Chances that two people have the same fingerprints are extremely slim, but not impossible. In fact, the odds are 1 in 64 billion. That is one of the reasons why we require multiple fingerprints on more than one hand. Fingerprint shape is completely unaffected by your DNA, and starts to form while you are still in the womb. While it is hard to duplicate a fingerprint, it is easy to identify which one of three standard pattern you have. One of the simpler fingerprint pattern is the Whorl which is multiple circles. The Loop, which is more of a wave like pattern in the center of your finger. The Loop is more of a personal shape, since it has more complicated pattern and ridges. The Arch resembles a hill or bump illusion. I have the circle pattern.

Scientists believe we have the ridges on our fingertips may also enhance our sense of touch. Also they are used to be able to grasp things. That way objects don't slip threw our fingers.  Wonder what animal has similar fingerprint patterns like a human being? The answer is: a koala. The only differences between our fingerprints and koalas are, koalas have two thumbs on each hand, as well as claws instead of fingernails. Well, hope you learned something new today, until next time.

Blog #7 Dumb Men.

I never knew how many commercials there have been that is specifically making fun of men. Today I found the website Dumbmen.com which had a hefty load of commercials from major brands like Esurance, AT&T, Sonic, and KFC (to name a few).  After watching a few of the commercials aimed at dumb men, I instantly felt bad for them. The audience of DumbMen.com can be anyone really. We all know someone of the male sex and can instantly feel simpothy for them. The website is very informative and helps inform about the gender biased advertisement out there now. I cant say I've seen any of the few videos prior to on the dumbmen website, I'm sure they did not make it on the actual air. Dumbmen.com is a eye opener as well. The stereo type of women being the dumber of the genders is reversed in this situation. 

The commercial that i found most interesting was the Hane's socks commercial. In this video, the mother walks into her house to find her husband dipping their sons feet in a special paste he made. when asked what he was doing, the husband responded with, "we can never find socks that fit our feet and we are sick of it!"The mother even clearly tells the father "that's stupid" and he says, "It's the future" making himself sound even more stupid.  The mother then throws the father a pack of Hane's socks and the next scene shows the family jumping on a bed in their new socks. The underlining message is Hane's socks are the best when it comes to shaping to your feet, and that's not stupid. The audience is anyone who is interested in buying socks, or needs to find a brand of socks that they feel is the best. The tone is very goofy, since the dad is dipping his sons feet in the home made paste to use in replacement of socks. The jumping on the bed at the end also gave the commercial a child like tone making the dad seem like a big little kid, making the commercial appeal to the audience.

Blog #6 Birthday Cake!

The history of birthday cake originated in ancient Greece. The Greeks made cakes to honor Artimus, goddess of the Hunt. We eventually started to used the cakes for our own birthdays. When it comes to candles the Greek would light one of multiple candles to represent the glow of the moon. Many other cultures also believed that the smoke from the candles carried their prayers and wishes to their gods who lived in the skies, which can explain why we make a wish and blow out the flame. Some scholars believed the lighting of candles begun in Germany where the germans would place a lit candle on a cake to represent the "light of life." Today we light candles based on tradition, and hope.
Birthday cake comes in all shapes and sizes. Colors and decorations add a creative flair that everyone notices. Back in the midieval times, England would bake their birthday cakes with symbolic items inside. Items like coins and thimbles where mixed in the batter. The English believed the person who got the coin in his piece of cake would be blessed with good luck and wealth. While he who got the thimble would never marry.



So, now you can have your cake, and learn about it too!
cheers! :)

Blog #5 ASU offering shorter classes.

In The Arizona Republic's article from 2011, it talks about some big changes coming to ASU. Arizona State University plans to add more courses to their shorter class program they put into effect Jan 2012. By 'shorter class' I mean ASU is offering courses that can be completed in 7 1/2 weeks versus the traditional 15 week course. ASU will still keep their traditional 15 week courses as well, but are in the process of the shorter options. Just because the class is completed in half the time doesnt mean it will be half the work. While the course is half the time, it will still include 15 weeks worth of information and assignments.
 
Having taken excelerated courses myself, I find this to be a great alternative for ASU to offer. I feel like as long as the students know what they have in store work wise, they should consider this option. Finishing their degree in a shorter amount of time sounds like a great deal to me. Along with shorter degree time, by choosing the shorter class option students will also end up saving tuition money. Every college student enjoys saving money! Other changes include a couple extra days off in October that ASU students don't normally get. A little break is a nice treat during your busy school schedule. With any new idea, there will always be mixed feelings. Faculty has mixed emotions on the whole idea. Some feel the shorter classes wont teach the students as much academic input as a traditional course. While that seems correct in the time aspect, the students will still learn the same information, just more crammed into each week. I feel like both sides will never settle for any given situation, but the shorter class option is a good idea.

Blog #3 Social media & your brain.

How many times a day do you find yourself checking a form of social media a day? Is it to many times to count? How many different forms of social media are you a member of? If you are like me, the answer to both is, too many to count. We are blossoming in this generation where social media rules all. Social media is used by one third of the entire world... the ENTIRE WORLD.  5 to 10 % of users actually admit they cant log off. its a psychological addiction similar to those drug addicts have. The more you get online the more dopamine your brain produces, leaving you feeling "high." While trying to multitask, you will find it relatively hard when your phone can become your distraction. 89% of us even admitted to feeling our phones buzz, when they actually didn't once every 2 weeks. Becoming so use to the vibrations can make us fall victim to our phones. Social media also releases a form of dopamine, which scientist found to be more active when people are talking about themselves versus other people. The same part of your brain related to orgasms, love, and motivation are stimulated by your social media use, and even more so when you know you have an audience. In this day and age relationships tend to last longer and have stronger feelings when they meet online rather then meeting face to face. Whether it be that people are more anonymous or tend to talk about their future goals, it works.

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