on-demand rainbows
Have a blank white room in need of an instant color treatment? Consider this glorious rainbow sprinkler by Netherlands-based artist Edwin Deen. Using some color pigment, an electric tap, a few meters of hose and a plain garden sprinkler, Deen transformed a simple garden sprinkler into a smile-inducing artistic device. I have the sudden urge to put on a white painter’s uniform and start prancing through this thing. The rainbow sprinkler will be on display at BARRY at the W in Amsterdam starting at the end of this week.
(via Colossal)
7 totally organic ways to beat fear and anxiety
Stress and Worry Are Human Creations
The best explanation of stress we’ve ever heard comes from Stanford neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky, PhD, the author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. “If you are a normal mammal,” he notes, “stress is the three minutes of screaming terror on the savanna after which either it’s over with or you’re over with.”
If you’re a human mammal, stress comes not from fear of being eaten but worry about somebody eating your lunch. Unlike other animals, we have a large brain relative to our body size—a brain that worries. And now our worry is triggered by the passive-aggressive boss, the weight of a 30-year mortgage, and the job of caring for children and ill parents at the same time.
No wildebeest would understand these fears, but the perceived threats spark the same bodily survival responses that crocodile attacks do. And they last way longer than a croc’s lunchtime. But you can do something about stress. Search and destroy. Here’s where stress typically strikes and how to strike back.
Stress spot: The brain
Chronic secretion of the stress hormone cortisol damages memory centers, including the hippocampus. When dendrites in the hippocampus shrivel excessively, we can be caught in perpetual stress, triggering anxiety disorders, depression, and margaritas at lunchtime.
The Fix: Don’t be so damned conscientious. A Canadian study of 2,737 workers found that when people thought their poor job performance could have a serious impact on their coworkers, their company, or the environment, job stress increased. Responsible workers who saw their jobs as careers tended to say their jobs were highly stressful, while people who were satisfied with their jobs or who didn’t think of them as careers were less likely to report stress. The lesson: Take a day off. The company won’t go under if you’re out for nine hours. (Note: This does not apply to air-traffic controllers.)
Bonus Instant Feel-Good Fix: Swear. Researchers at England’s University of East Anglia Norwich looked into leadership styles and found that using swear words can reduce stress and boost camaraderie among coworkers.
Stress spot: The neck, head, and back
Pituitary, hypothalamic, and adrenal hormones flood the body, focusing your attention and alertness, sharpening vision, and preparing muscles to take action against a threat. When the perceived danger does not go away, you lose the ability to return to equilibrium.
The Fix: Create a three-legged life. Add balance to your home, your work, and yourself to create a buffer against stress. “If one leg of the stool goes down, you have others to hold you up,” says Munir Soliman, MD, director of the Center for Wellness & Personal Growth at the University of California, San Diego.
Stress spot: The hair
Researchers from the University of Western Ontario may have found a biomarker to measure chronic stress. It’s hair. They took follicle samples from about 100 men, half of whom where hospitalized for heart attacks, and found that hair cortisol was highest in the heart patients. Since hair grows about 1 centimeter a month, researchers used 3-centimeter samples to provide a record of stress levels over the previous three months. Scientists believe the findings bolster the theory that chronic stress may contribute to heart attack just as acute stress does.
The Fix: Focus on somebody besides numero uno. “People who have a problem with anxiety often get lost in measuring and judging themselves,” says Mel Schwartz, a Connecticut-based psychotherapist. “The critical voice is enslaving.” Try focusing on others. Showing respect and appreciation for others has an amazing ability to diffuse obsessive thoughts and behavior caused by preoccupation with the self.
Stress spot: The sympathetic nervous system
A release of norepinephrine causes the heart to beat faster, blood pressure to rise, sweat to stain your shirt, and breathing to quicken to deliver more oxygen and glucose to muscles and tissues. Endorphins make blood vessels constrict to reduce bleeding in case of attack. This is what causes the hairs on the back of your neck and skull to stand on end. While stress hormones help us cope with danger, prolonged pressure can harm the heart and suppress the immune system, which may make us more vulnerable to everything from colds and flu to cancer.
The Fix: Twist yourself into a pretzel and laugh. Laughter Yoga practitioners swear that combining yogic breathing and stretching techniques and forced laughter helps them cope better with life stress. Studies show that, separately, yoga and laughter do stifle stress. For example: Two studies presented at the 2009 American College of Sports Medicine’s annual meeting found that the blood vessels of people who watched comedy films were more pliable and experienced improved blood flow for up to 24 hours after the chuckles started.
Stress spot: The gut
Increased acids from stress churn your stomach and loosen your bowels (hence the soiling-yourself stress reaction). It can even alter the way the body processes fat, causing you to store more of it in your abdomen.
The Fix: Give yourself a hand. Try acupressure for a quick stress release. Massage the fleshy part between the thumb and index finger of one hand for 30 seconds with the thumb and first two fingers of your other hand. A study at Hong Kong Polytechnic University found that acupressure with lavender oil can reduce stress by up to 39 percent. Two other reports in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine identified 58 clinical trials showing that massage therapy and tai chi practice significantly reduce salivary cortisol, heart rate, blood pressure, and depression.
Stress spot: Your DNA
Yes, stress can screw with your DNA, too! Chronically flooding your body with stress hormones can cause telomeres to shorten. Telomeres are genetic structures that protect the ends of our chromosomes from deterioration, and, if they shorten to a critical length, cells will no longer be able to multiply.
The Fix: Meditate. A recent Harvard Medical School study found that the physiological response from mindful meditation, yoga, tai chi, breathing exercises, or even repetitive prayer can counteract cellular damage from chronic stress. Breathing lesson: When you feel anxious, disengage your mind by focusing on breathing deeply through your nose so your belly rises before your chest does, then exhale through your mouth. Do this for 5 minutes, concentrating only on your breath.
Stress spot: Your sex life
Women who are distracted and stressed out often can’t orgasm or even enjoy sex. Men may suffer erectile dysfunction when under stress.
The Fix: Unleash the oxytocin. Kissing, hugging, even holding hands can reduce stress because it raises levels of oxytocin, the hormone associated with bonding and love, say researchers at the University of North Carolina.
(via Rodale)
a wine bottle you can wear
Polish design company Luksemburk has created a wine bottle packaging concept called ‘Pink Glasses’, that turns a wine bottle into a pair of rose-tinted ‘eyewear’.
18 natural antiaging ingredients and trends
Our friends at NewHope360 set out to gain insight into the future of the nontoxic antiaging industry. Natural skin care industry veteran Linda Miles, founder of Derma e, and ingredient expert Chris fields, vice president of technology and science at Applied Food Sciences, delve into the most promising ingredients to tackle top concerns, including fine lines and wrinkles, inflammation, age spots and more.
AGING ISSUE #1: SKIN INFLAMMATION
Inflammation is one of the most common dermatological problems. It’s linked to everything from minor redness to chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. When the skin is exposed to UV radiation or irritating ingredients such as synthetic fragrance in soaps and skin care, it produces inflammatory “hormones” cytokines and chemokines. Though designed to help the skin fight infection, this response actually can lead to inflammation and both short- and long-term skin damage.
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR INFLAMMATION
Oats - Have long been used as a skin soother, but until recently we didn’t fully understand how and why they work. Research now points to avenanthramide, a component of whole oat grain that has anti-inflammatory and antihistaminic activity that inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory hormones.
Licorice - This ingredient shows promise for combating pigmentation and easing inflammation, including from eczema. According to research, when applied to the skin, gel containing 2 percent licorice helps relieve symptoms of itching, swelling and redness.
Feverfew - Native to Eurasia, this medicinal herb helps inhibit UV-radiation-induced erythema (inflammation-triggered redness of the skin) and has strong anti-inflammatory properties.
AGING ISSUE #2: HYPERPIGMENTATION
Hyperpigmentation occurs when the body produces too much melanin, causing a darkening of the skin. These discolored splotches, or “age spots,” result from excessive sun exposure, genetics and even reactions to medications.
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION
Active soy - Research has linked topical products containing soy to improved skin tone and texture thanks to its natural proteins, including serine protease inhibitors, which help to inhibit the production of excess melanin. Because soy is one of the top genetically engineered crops, natural brands should focus on formulating with non-GE soy.
Combination niacinamide & N-acetyl glucosamine - N-acetyl glucosamine, a form of glucosamine naturally found in the body, inhibits tyrosinase—an enzyme that triggers the production of melanin. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) inhibits the transfer of melanin-containing melanosomes to the outer layers of the skin. Research supports combination therapy for the most benefits for skin discoloration.
AGING ISSUE #3: FINE LINES AND WRINKLES
Collagen is the protein in skin that keeps it taut and wrinkle free. When collagen breaks down from stress, lack of sleep and exposure to environmental free radicals such as from UV rays or certain foods (white sugar and fried foods), or when production slows as we age, the result is fine lines and wrinkles. Skin losing moisture is another culprit behind wrinkles.
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR WRINKLES: ANTIOXIDANTS
Pomegranate - Ellagic acid and punicic acid help brighten skin. Its polyphenols act as anti-inflammatory agents to protect from sun, promote regeneration of the dermis and help protect and boost production of collagen
Vitamin C - protects the water-soluble structures of the skin and cellular membranes, stimulates collagen production and encourages cellular turnover.
CoQ10 - This naturally occurring enzyme antioxidant protects skin from free radical damage, prevents UVA damage (photoaging) and helps reduce wrinkle depth.
Rosehip (Rosa Mosqueta) Oil - Rich in vitamins A and C to help fight free radicals and promote cell growth, this restorative oil also has a high content of essential fatty acids that support skin elasticity and boost collagen.
Vitamin A - Speeds up cellular renewal, increases production of pro-collagen and hyaluronic acid to help reduce wrinkles and roughness.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) - Improves skin moisturization, boosts production of collagen and strengthens the stratum corneum—which is the outermost layer of the epidermis. Studies have shown that it can stimulate new fibroblasts by 20 percent and collagen secretion by 54 percent.
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR WRINKLES: ACIDS
Hyaluronic acid - Often called nature’s “moisture magnet,” this molecule can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. It binds moisture to the skin to plump, soften and smooth, along with tone and hydrate.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids - These acids include glycolic, lactic, malic, citric and tartaric acids. They help to exfoliate, stimulate collagen to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve roughness and uneven pigmentation.
Alpha Lipoic Acid - This antioxidant protects both water and fat-soluble cell structures, helps your skin use other antioxidants, deactivates cell-damaging free radicals and protects the mitochondria and DNA.
Kombuchka - This black tea ferment ischock full of skin-brightening acids and the B vitamins, which help the skin retain moisture and shield from premature wrinkles. Kombuchka has anti-glycation power, restores volume, smoothes skin and improves radiance.
OTHER NATIONAL SOLUTIONS FOR WRINKLES:
Peptides—sequences of naturally occurring amino acids—are the current all-stars in antiaging skin care and most are synthetically manufactured. Even many “nontoxic” beauty brands are using peptides classified as synthetic. The latest: Matrixyl 3000, Matrixyl synthe’6 and Argireline. These proprietary ingredients are used primarily to stimulate collage to reduce wrinkles and wrinkle depth and improve skin texture and tone.
Argireline is known for its ability to relax facial muscles so that they don’t move as much, helping to prevent the formation of wrinkles and acting in a similar way to botox.
AGING ISSUE #4: SAGGING SKIN
With aging comes the loss of resiliency and production of elastin fibers, which causes skin to become less firm and start to sag.
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR SAGGING SKIN
Copper peptides - Reduce inflammation and rejuvenate skin, stimulate collagen and elastin formation and firm sagging skin by improving skin’s strength with the formation of extracellular cement between cells.
DMAE - This is a naturally occurring substance that increases strength of the skin and firms skin to reduce facial sag and fine lines and wrinkles. Despite not being an antioxidant itself, it also displays antioxidant activity to protect from free radical damage.
blu mural in spain celebrates vegetarianism
StreetArtNews has the scoop on new work from street artist Blu who just completed this hilarious mural in Ordes, Spain that depicts a cheering crowd of fruit and veggies as they witness their suicidal compatriots take the plunge into a massive whirring blender.
what kind of superhero are you?
College Humor has created a microsite that ‘quizes’ you into finding out what kind of superhero you are. In ‘What Kind of Superhero Are You?’, the game will tell you what secret powers you have inside you and lets you choose your own adventure, based on the answers you give.
edible pen
Do you chew on your pen when concentrating?
Us too, and so does young Dutch designer Dave Hakkens, who has recently come up with a pen which you can chew on and entirely eat.
“When looking at the pen, I noticed you only really use the ink. The rest of the pen is just there for a better grip.” He says of the starting point for his idea.
Hakkens gathered a number of pens and looked closely at which ones were the best ones to chew on.
Armed with that information, he then made three different molds and started testing out different types of candy; investigating crucial pen chewing considerations such as the breaking points, flavours and which designs and textures ‘chew’ the best.
“When I found the shape and candy, I made a final model in peppermint flavour. The candy which is used doesn’t stick on anything and doesn’t feel dirty when you hold it in your hands or when eating it afterwards” he says.
Dave’s edible pen contains twenty pieces of candy and is filled with edible ink - the only thing which isn’t edible is the small point which you write with - and when it’s finished you throw this nib away or put it in a new re-fill pen.
idaho shakespeare festival volunteer night
Foerstel is delighted to partner once again with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, now in its 36th season. Each year, this nationally recognized festival brings our community together to entertain through theatre.
In addition to our ongoing marketing and design work for the Festival, we signed up to be volunteers for the evening at a performance of The Imaginary Invalid. We arrived a few hours before curtain time and they put us to work cleaning every seat and tabletop in the amphitheater, after which we gathered for orientation. The House Manager explained how things would unfold before breaking us into groups and assigning jobs such as tearing tickets at the door, ushering guests to their seats, and even acting as “bouncers” in case anyone tried to sneak in!
Once we toured the facility, it was time to put our volunteer skills to the test as theatre fans of all ages began filling the entrance with eager smiles and some of the most delicious snacks we’ve ever seen! When the show began we were relieved of our duties until intermission. The next hour and a half was spent relaxing on the grass, eating snacks and enjoying The Imaginary Invalid (which was fantastic). As soon as the lights went back up and intermission began, we were in the crowd helping attendees dispose of trash, bottles and other recyclables that had accumulated during the first act of the play.
The second act started and proved to be just as whimsical and fun as the first. Following a standing ovation, the audience began filing out while the Foerstel crew shifted into cleanup mode. After making multiple runs to the recycling bins and dumpster, gathering rental chairs and returning a purse to the lost and found, we found ourselves at the end of our time as volunteers.
Our evening at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival was nothing short of amazing. The festival is an extraordinary production and we feel very fortunate to be a part of it. Everyone at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival is fantastic at what they do and deserve more praise than we could ever give them. The staff and patrons were all very gracious and appreciative of the help we provided.
So what are you waiting for? Call the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and sign up to volunteer. We highly recommend it!
how to play 180 instruments
Robot Repair is a bi-coastal (NYC/LA) music company that composes music and sound design for advertising, TV, film and art projects. In this clever promotional video they demonstrate how they use over 180 different musical instruments.
