Music to my left or right ear? :O

Whee! Happy birthday, Bruno Mars! :D (Credits to Mohan for telling me. Shocked that I didn't know :'( )

Hah, LOVE love love your new song 'It Will Rain'. And yep, it's the new soundtrack for the fourth installation of Twilight-Breaking Dawn.

Here it is:

OH MY GOSH! His voice is electric *sigh*
Woah, snapping out of it!
Okay, anyway..
DID YOU KNOW, THAT THE WAY TO A MAN'S HEART IS THROUGH HIS LEFT EAR?
Maybe you won't get what I mean. Let me explain.
Apparently, the left ear is controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain, which is also in charge of our emotions and feelings.
Meaning if we were to confess to a certain someone that we liked him or her, it's best to say so in the person's left ear (:
So...

If you're thinking of asking your beloved to marry you, make sure that you utter your declaration of love into his or her left ear; it may increase your chances of hearing a heart-lifting “yes”. New research suggests that declarations of love, jokes, or words of anger are best remembered when they are heard through the left ear, while instructions, directions and non-emotional messages have more impact on the right side.


It is all to do with how our brains process information. Although the left and right hemispheres, or sides, of the brain are similar structures, they have specialised functions. The left side, it is suggested, is more logic-based and dominant, while the right is the more imaginative side, more visual, intuitive, emotional and spatially aware. Because the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, the left ear has been shown in some research to be the route to the emotional side of the brain, and the right ear to the non-emotional, logical side.

But...
If you’re in a loud and sweaty Italian dance club when a woman approaches you. To be heard over the techno, she leans in close and yells into your ear, “Hai una sigaretta?”


If she spoke into your right ear, you would be twice as likely to give her a cigarette than if she asked by your left ear, according to a new study that employed this methodology in the clubs of Pescara, Italy. Of 88 clubbers who were approached on the right, 34 let the researcher bum a smoke, compared with 17 of 88 whom she approached on the left.

“The present work is one of the few studies demonstrating the natural expression of hemispheric asymmetries, showing their effect in everyday human behavior,” write psychologists Daniele Marzoli and Luca Tommasi of the University G. d’Annunzio in Italy in the journal Naturwissenschaften.

It’s the latest in a series of studies that show that sound from both human ears is processed differently within the brain. Researchers have noted that humans tend to have a preference for listening to verbal input with their right ears and that given stimulus in both ears, they’ll privilege the syllables that went into the right ear. Brain scientists hypothesize that the right ear auditory stream receives precedence in the left hemisphere of the brain, where the bulk of linguistic processing is carried out.

What’s surprising about the study is that ear choice had such a decided impact on the behavior of participants in a natural, or as the researchers put it, ecological, setting. Why would people feel more generous when their right ears are addressed?

Marzoli and Tommasi write that some work has shown that the left and right hemispheres of the brain appear to be tuned for positive and negative emotions, respectively. Talk into the right ear and you send your words into a slightly more amenable part of the brain.

“These results seem to be consistent with the hypothesized differential specialization of right and left hemispheres,” they write.

In addition to the direct cigarette-ask study, they also simply observed people interacting and also asked for cigarettes without directing their requests towards a particular ear. The Italian researchers picked the night club setting because the loud music allowed the cigarette-asker to approach people and speak directly into one ear without seeming “odd.”

While the liquored-up setting might seem unconventional, they view their work in a real life setting as a valuable counterbalance to highly artificial in-lab psychological studies.

“[W]e would finally like to add that it is of utmost importance, in times of massive use of imaging techniques (that by definition impose severe constraints on the observation of neural activities in freely acting subjects) to continue to provide ecological evidence of brain functioning,” they conclude.

So remember to sit on the left of your loved one! xD HAHA..

Gigantic left ear :D

Yours with a cherry on top,
Qi Cheng

R.I.P. STEVE JOBS (1955-2011)

It seems like everyone is talking about the death of Steve Jobs. (R.I.P.)
It kinda feels WRONG not to say something in his memory.
He was obviously a brilliant man. Of course, everyone knows that. That's why everyone is willing to commemorate him. Because of the change he brought to the world. He was an inspiration, not one to be put down easily in words.
He changed people's entire lives, and not because he was some creator of some world-known gadget.

"He was part of my generation, part of my bringing up and then all the marvelous wonders he brought to market, and changed the way the world conducts communications, looks at computers and looks at technology... I mean, it hurts to see his passing, a passing of an icon of our age."

—Chuck Linden


"I, like many, owe an awful lot to Steve Jobs. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't even own my home. Bought my first Apple Mac 128 in 1984. Learned computer programming and eventually made a living programming on the Macintosh. Thank you."
—Steve Breish

He could've been considered as a symbol. A symbol of creativity and innovation.
Some may ask: Can Apple thrive without him?
Here's the answer:

There is a long history, of course, of entrepreneurial companies not only surviving their charismatic founders, but thriving after they passed on. Ford did just fine after the death of Henry; Disney is still a force in entertainment long after Walt. Apple will remain a major player in the world of computing and electronics without Steve. The firm is simply too established, too much a part of a consumer's life, to just wither away, even with the exit of a towering figure like Jobs.

But the question remains if Apple can continue to be an industry leader as it has routinely been under Jobs. Can Apple keep its edge? Apple's success has always been based on being first, by solving problems others thought unsolvable, and introducing products that changed how people worked, played and communicated. It is not easy for any company to continue to produce innovative hit after innovative hit, even with its visionary leader still in the corner office. It will be even harder for Apple with Jobs gone. That isn't to say that current CEO Tim Cook can't get the job done. But Jobs is just a very hard act to follow.

The future facing Apple makes me think of another electronics giant, Japan's Sony. Sony was Apple before Apple, the great global innovator that produced products that changed people's lives, again and again. Sony, remember, championed the idea of personalized electronics – not the giant radio in the living room, but the miniature transistor radio, or the portable TV set. Sony invented the Walkman, altering forever how people listened to music, in the same way the iPod has in more recent times. Sony, like Apple, was a company that thrived on new ideas, new technologies, and an engaging brand.

And just like Apple, Sony was propelled forward by personality – well, two personalities, in fact – co-founders Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka. The two of them were behind everything Sony did, much like Jobs at Apple. They were unique visionaries, with a unique talent of bringing technology to the masses. And in the process, much like Jobs, they built an international company with an unrivaled brand.

Sony is still one of the industry's titans today, long after Morita and Ibuka have left the scene. The Japanese firm continues to make high-quality consumer electronics under one of the most trusted brands in the world. But no one would say Sony is the influential innovator it used to be. Apple took its place as the game changer of the electronics world. Up-and-coming companies like Samsung have eaten away at its global presence in key businesses, like televisions. Sure, the company has been managed by some talented people, but Morita and Ibuka were just too hard to replace. Sony has never been quite the same without them.

Will Apple suffer the same fate? It is impossible to tell. Yet Sony offers a cautionary tale. I was in Tokyo conducting some research on Sony a few years ago and had the pleasure of interviewing Yotaro Kobayashi, a long-time friend of Akio Morita. He believed that Sony struggled because its modern-day managers kept trying to recapture the old Morita-Ibuka spirit to guide the company to its future. But, Kobayashi believed, that was not possible. There was only one Morita and one Ibuka.

Just like there is only one Steve Jobs.

Kobayashi's point was that Sony had to grow beyond its dynamic founders and find a new future in order to maintain its greatness. Sony had to stop looking backwards to an age it couldn't recreate and instead look forwards. That may be sound advice for Apple today.

It's positively saddening that the iPhone 4s was released so close to his death.
He died of natural causes.
Pancreatic cancer stole his life at the age of 56.
Some people say life starts at 50.
Well then, his life was just beginning.
Steven Jobs. May he rest in peace, for he was an angel that brought change to the world.




Yours with a cherry on top,
Qi Cheng

Choco-holic :)

A lotta us think that chocolate is fattening, makes you lazy, increases your guilt with every bite...but NO.

Chocolate can actually be healthy. SHOCKER! Hhaha~

It's not the chocolate itself that makes us fat, it's actually all the sugar inside it.

Cocoa but itself is an extremely healthy substance. In fact, it can get rid of bad cholesterol and increase the good ones. Amazing huh?

In Europe, the minimum requirement of cocoa in each chocolate bar is at least 25%. Now THAT is good quality chocolate. For example, everyone knows Cadbury chocolate right? The famous chocolate that originated from London.

All Cadbury chocolates have about 26% of cocoa, so don't worry! :D

But of course, too much of something isn't beneficial at all.

So why don't you check out some tips for when eating chocolate? (:

Chocolate Tip 1 - Balance the Calories:

This information doesn't mean that you should eat a pound of chocolate a day. Chocolate is still a high-calorie, high-fat food. Most of the studies done used no more than 100 grams, or about 3.5 ounces, of dark chocolate a day to get the benefits.

One bar of dark chocolate has around 400 calories. If you eat half a bar of chocolate a day, you must balance those 200 calories by eating less of something else. Cut out other sweets or snacks and replace them with chocolate to keep your total calories the same.

Chocolate Tip 2 - Taste the Chocolate:

Chocolate is a complex food with over 300 compounds and chemicals in each bite. To really enjoy and appreciate chocolate, take the time to taste it. Professional chocolate tasters have developed a system for tasting chocolate that include assessing the appearance, smell, feel and taste of each piece.

Chocolate Tip 3 - Go for Dark Chocolate:

Dark chocolate has far more antioxidants than milk or white chocolate. These other two chocolates cannot make any health claims. Dark chocolate has 65 percent or higher cocoa content.

Chocolate Tip 4 - Skip the Nougat:

You should look for pure dark chocolate or dark chocolate with nuts, orange peel or other flavorings. Avoid anything with caramel, nougat or other fillings. These fillings are just adding sugar and fat which erase many of the benefits you get from eating the chocolate.

Chocolate Tip 5 - Avoid Milk:

It may taste good but some research shows that washing your chocolate down with a glass of milk could prevent the antioxidants being absorbed or used by your body.

We feel happy after eating chocolate because it produces endorphins.

We feel energized after eating chocolate because it contains caffeine.

And we feel satisfied after eating chocolate because it TASTES GOOD! IKR? :DD

So don't give up on chocolate...

'Cos them chocolates ain't gonna give up on you ;)

But if you're still feeling worried, maybe try making your own chocolate!
Yes yes yes, it's possible.
Erm... well, theoretically. Hehe. Haven't really tried it myself, but I'm gonna have a go....(one fine day. lalala~)

I'm not done yet! xD

Types of Chocolate

The main types of chocolate are white chocolate, milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate, bittersweet chocolate and unsweetened chocolate. These types of chocolate may be produced with ordinary cacao beans (mass-produced and cheap) or specialty cacao beans (aromatic and expensive) or a mixture of these two types. The composition of the mixture, origin of cacao beans, the treatment and roasting of beans, and the types and amounts of additives used will significantly affect the flavor and the price of the final chocolate.

White chocolate

Chocolate made with cocoa butter, sugar, milk, emulsifier, vanilla and sometimes other flavorings. It does not contain any non-fat ingredients from the cacao bean and has therefore an off-white color. In some countries white chocolate cannot be called 'chocolate' because of the low content of cocoa solids. It has a mild and pleasant flavor and can be used to make Chocolate Mousse, Panna Cotta and other desserts.

Some brands from around the world:

Milk chocolate

Sweet chocolate which normally contains 10-20% cocoa solids (which includes cocoa and cocoa butter) and more than 12% milk solids. It is seldom used for baking, except for cookies.

Some brands from around the world:

Dark chocolate

Sweetened chocolate with high content of cocoa solids and no or very little milk, it may contain up to 12% milk solids. Dark chocolate can either be sweet, semi-sweet, bittersweet or unsweetened. If a recipe specifies 'dark chocolate' you should first try semi-sweet dark chocolate.

Sweet dark chocolate

Similar to semi-sweet chocolate, it is not always possible to distinguish between the flavor of sweet and semi-sweet chocolate. If a recipe asks for sweet dark chocolate you may also use semi-sweet chocolate. Contains often 35-45% cocoa solids.

Semi-sweet chocolate

This is the classic dark baking chocolate which can be purchased in most grocery stores. It is frequently used for cakes, cookies and brownies. Can be used instead of sweet dark chocolate. It has a good, sweet flavor. Contains often 40-62% cocoa solids.

Some examples:

Bittersweet chocolate

A dark sweetened chocolate which must contain at least 35% cocoa solids. Good quality bittersweet chocolate usually contains 60% to 85% cocoa solids depending on brand. If the content of cocoa solids is high the content of sugar is low, giving a rich, intense and more or less bitter chocolate flavor. Bittersweet chocolate is often used for baking/cooking. If a recipe specifies bittersweet chocolate do not substitute with semi-sweet or sweet chocolate. Please ensure that you buy the correct type! European types of bittersweet chocolate usually contains very large amounts of cocoa solids, and some of them have quite bitter taste.

Some examples:

Unsweetened chocolate

A bitter chocolate which is only used for baking. The flavor is not good, so it is not suitable for eating. Use it only if a recipe specifies 'unsweetened chocolate'. It contains almost 100% cocoa solids, about half of it might be fat (cocoa butter).

Some examples:



So you see, ladies and gentlemen (monkeys and elephants.just random), there is actually a lot more to chocolate than meet the eye.
CHEERS TO ALL CHOC LOVERS! :)

Yours with a cherry on top,

Qi Cheng

The Simple Things in Life

Pencil – only a tool used for painting, drawing, or putting down notes in the margins. In anyone – yes, but not at the Getty Dalton. This 45-year-old resident of Bridgeport for 25 years turns ordinary pencils into miniature sculptures, without using a magnifying glass .





Dalton Getty works very slowly. He does not use any special tools: for he needed only a blade, a sewing needle and a very bright light. To protect their vision, the author works for one and half hours a day. One tiny sculpture may take several months, and the creation of the previously mentioned script in Dalton took 2,5 years. “When I tell people how long it takes me to create sculptures, they simply do not believe me, – says Getty. – My patience is simply amazing people, because nowadays everyone wants to be quicker, faster and faster.


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Moral of this story (only if you consider this a story):

A pencil can be considered one of the simplest elements in life.

We often neglect it, preferring to use pens or mechanical pencils or whatnot.

But something so simple can be so beautiful if we let it.
This Dalton Getty, he is a true believer in life. He appreciates the smallest details, because he knows those are the ones that can change the world.

He successfully developed an art in its own form.

If only all of us acted like he did...

But then, if we did, there wouldn't be one single dull person in the world.

Everyone would be equal, and we wouldn't be able to compare, to excel others and ourselves.

By then, we will fell quite alone, because nobody would appreciate what we were trying to do, because everyone would be too busy developing their own art.

That's a lot to consider now, isn't it? (:

Yours with a cherry on top,

Qi Cheng