Cheska’s Pride

While shopping, a friend asked me to accompany her to a jewelry store nearby. Since I also liked the idea, I agreed. There were a lot of gems in there (obviously) but one stood out in particular among all of them - a rather large diamond attached to a gold ring. To my surprise, she mentioned something about curses and jewels. Curious, I did some searching and found some interesting legends about cursed jewels, so here’s what I found.

Hope Diamond

Probably the best known cursed jewel around the world, was said to have been taken from the forehead of a Hindu idol. Some sources say it was a priest who stole the diamond who later sold it, while some others say it was found in one of the mines in India. Either way, it was later bought by a man named Tavernier who later sold it to King Louis the XIV.

Some sources claim that the curse started to appear while it was in the hands of King Louis the XIV. Others claim it started when King Louis the XVI was beheaded along with his wife Marie Antoinette. Afterwards, the diamond was passed on to different people who would suffer the curse. The diamond would then later come into the possession of a man named henry Philip Hope who would give the diamond its name.

The family who had probably suffered the greatest because of the effects of the curse would be the McLeans. Edward McLeans mother died along with two servants (the cause of death was not mentioned), their nine-year-old son died in a car crash, their daughter committed suicide at the age of 25 (said to be from overdose of sleeping pills), Edward McLean himself was declared insane and died in a mental institution.

The diamond is now on display in the National Museum of Natural History.

Sources: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1950s/a/hopediamond.htm, http://www.underworldtales.com/hope.htm

The Black Orlov

Another diamond that was said to have been stolen from a Hindu idol. JW Paris, the diamond dealer, committed suicide by jumping off from the top of one of New York’s tallest buildings after selling the jewel. Later, Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov and Princess Leonila Galitsine-Bariatinsky also committed suicide by leaping to their deaths.

The diamond was later cut into three separate gems to break the curse. None of its owners have suffered the same fate as the previous three.

Source: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2005/sept/news_6429.html

Delhi Purple Sapphire

Another gem that came from India. However, unlike the previous two, the misfortunes that befell its owners have not been elaborated.

A young curator named Peter Tandy found an amethyst with a note that accompanied it three decades ago. The note said, “This stone is terribly accursed and is stained with the blood, and the dishonour of everyone who has ever owned it”. Apparently, it was written by a scientist named Edward Heron-Allen.

The scientist, being the last owner of the jewel, sealed it inside seven boxes and included the said note. The note ended with, “Whoever shall then open it, shall first read out this warning, and then do as he pleases with the jewel. My advice to him or her is to cast it into the sea.”

Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2935508.ece

Well, I’m not a believer of myths and legends but the history behind these jewels are interesting to read. How about you?

After taking some time off from my busy schedule to browse the Internet, I was able to finish three things. First, i was able to sign up for a contest, with the prize being five nights for two people at your choice of a European setting. Second, I was able to find some weird gadgets, which is the topic for this blog entry. And third…I finished this post, of course!

I had mixed feelings about ranking these gadgets and accessories since I’m not really sure which among them is weirder than the other so I simply made a list. Here are some of what I found.

Fun Sliders Carpet Skates - Do you like to skate? Well, I do! But there’s no way you are going to make me wear these things! However, if you feel like zooming through the office going from one department to another, then these are for you!

They cost $15.99 a pair.

Taken from: Gear Fuse

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Cake PC - Seriously, I didn’t think it was a piece of hardware at all! What looks like a Black Forest Cake is actually the case for a PC! What’s even more surprising is that the artistic creation only costs around $100 compared to other gaming cases that go for around $150 and above. Still, if you have one of these, make sure to warn your friends when they visit or they may stick a knife through your computer case.

Taken from: The INQUIRER

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Meat Bag - I’m not talking about humans, or whatever the popular usage of the word is referring to. It’s literally a meat bag! Well, I’m not sure if it’s really made of meat or not, although the former would surely be gross.

Taken from: Gear Fuse

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USB Drive Swarovski Crystal Engagement Ring - Old news but still worth mentioning. A lot of people had negative reactions about this particular gadget, and their arguments actually make sense. Who on earth would want something like this? For me, a proposal is considered a serious thing, so if my boyfriend happens to give me one of these as an engagement ring, ooooh…I don’t even want to bother describing what will happen.

Taken from TFTS

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Lippi Selk All-in-One Sleeping Bag - Do you hate it when you have to bring along a sleeping bag when you have to camp out? Or would you like a sleeping bag that allow you to move freely? Well, this particular item is for you! This wearable sleeping bag allows just that. Since you wear it, you won’t have to carry extra luggage and the design allows you to move freely! It comes in three colors: Yellow, Army Green, and Dark Red.

Taken from: Drink Stuff

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Rubik’s Cube Security Device - Well here’s something for your stuff’s security! If you’re the type that loves puzzle, well here’s something for you. The way the cube works is you set up a color combination which you can solve to unlock. You can also set it up to become time-based and will switch to a different color combination when it’s not solved within the time-limit. Although some people would love this, I find it too weird and impractical for my liking.

Taken from: Yanko Design

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Pileus WiFi Umbrella - Leave it to Japanese to think of something weird yet strangely appealing. This umbrella allows you to take pictures that could be uploaded to Flickr via a built in camera and wireless Internet connection. In a few minutes, you can view it from the screen underneath. It also has a Global Positioning System and would probably incorporate a video camera in the future. I definitely want one of these.

Taken from: Popgadget

Okay, so Earth Day has passed and I know most of you took part in the events to demonstrate your concern for the environment. The way you celebrated the event may have been different depending on where you lived or stayed during that time (you may have been taking a vacation in Italy and attended the concert) However, it’s not only during Earth Day that you can show it. Recycling, energy-saving methods, waste segregation - these are but the most common practices people do everyday. Instead, why not show your love for mother nature with clothes!

You might have seen clothes that are labeled as “environment-friendly” in stores. But what, exactly, makes them different from the others? As you might have guessed, it’s the fabric! Just growing your regular cotton requires a huge amount of insecticide and water. The production of the fabric itself produces chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

So how can a certain material be considered environment-friendly?

• First, renewability. The shorter the time the resource can be renewed, the better.
• Second, the amount of resources that are needed to produce the material - of course, lesser is better.
• Third, the amount of space required to produce it.
• And fourth, the amount of chemicals required for processing to make it available in the market.

With those factors in mind, here are three examples of fabrics that are considered as environment friendly:

Hemp - No, not marijuana. Ha ha. Hemp is easily the one with the most potential for being environment-friendly. The crop grows very quickly and requires less care than the other crops used to make fabric. It can also grow with just the normal amount of rainfall instead of artificial methods like, say, irrigation. Hemp has the natural property of being mold and rot resistant so imagine that on your clothes! (Left picture taken from http://www.simpleshoes.com/ecosneaks/)

Wool - I’m sure when somebody says wool, the word “sheep” immediately comes into mind. True enough, wool is the fiber acquired from the hair of sheep, goats, and other domestic animals. With that in mind, insecticides are out of the question since the fabric comes from animals, not plants. However, there are a few downsides to it. Animals, of course, secrete waste material - and while grazing, may go into bodies of water like rivers. Second, the material needs to be bleached to make it white which requires the use of chemicals that are potentially harmful to the environment. (Right picture taken from http://www.marcjacobs.com)

Linen - Linen is made from flax and is one of the oldest produced fabrics in the world. The plant requires minimal fertilizer and pesticides, so that’s a good thing. The fabric is soft, flexible, and it is also stronger than cotton. Depending on the method used for harvesting and processing, it may or may not be environmental friendly. Of course, if the natural methods are used it’s definitely environment-friendly. (Left picture taken from http://www.underthecanopy.com).

It’s amazing how some people can be very creative, especially in a fashion emergency.

I just read about an article from last week regarding the creation of a new bra. Elaine Cato, a runner-up of American Inventor last June, designed the bra when she couldn’t look for a backless bra for a New Year’s Eve party. She took apart one of her regular bras and created a backless version from it. Later, she developed it to become the 6-in-1 bra she entered in American Inventor. Cool, huh? Although it’s not for me, this can be good news for busty women who would like to flaunt their backs.

While we’re on the topic of bras, here are some interesting facts:

- A bra can have up to 40 different parts to assemble.
- The average bra size is 36C.
- 75% of women are wearing the wrong bra size.
- The most expensive bra is the “Millennium Bra”, which is covered in 1,988 sapphires and is approximately $10-million worth.
- The largest bra worn by a woman, according to the Guinness Book of World …

I’ve always wanted to go to Europe, especially in France. Fashion. Models. Haute couture. All simply wonderful!

I just recently read this article regarding the submission of a bill that makes promotions of extreme thinness, illegal. What’s more, judges could have the power to fine offenders up to $47,000! I honestly think it was a good move on the part of the lower house, especially with the high number of people with anorexia in France.

Speaking of which, if you’re like me who keeps a conscious watch over her weight, here are some questions on how to check if you’re experiencing anorexia nervosa.

- Are your menstrual periods irregular?
- Do you feel fat even when people tell you otherwise?
- Do you feel extremely depressed after gaining just a single pound?
- Do you get irritated when people urge you to eat more?
- Do you feel guilty when eating?
- Do you secretly throw away your food just so others won’t bug you about it?
- Do you take medication just to control your weight?
- Do you feel that you want to be thinner than all of your friends?

If you’ve answered yes to almost all (if not all) of these questions, you might want to consider getting help. Believe me, anorexia is very difficult to notice by yourself and you’ll most likely be denying that you have it. I’ve met a lot of people who went through it and all of them had the same reaction. The important thing is to LISTEN. If all of your friends have been bugging you about it, then something MUST be wrong.

After the last week’s weirdness — there was someone who consoled me readily — I have a cute pet dog named “mudkip” (yes, I named him after a pokemon) only because he’s so cuuuute!

Since I have to be extra careful in taking care of my little mudkip, I have to make sure that I give the right kind of food, when and how frequent (or infrequent!) dogs have to take a bath and such. I came across a site with factual information on dogs, as well as other animals.

Here are my favorite facts:

“Dogs and cats, like humans, are either right of left handed… or is that paws?!” – My mudkip’s definitely a right-pawed pooch! He uses the right paw to pry stuff open.

“Nose prints are used to identify dogs, just like humans use fingerprints!” – I have no idea how to make a noseprint of mudkip that I can display in a frame. I don’t want to attempt this without consulting a vet either, as chemicals for noseprinting might harm my cute little mudkip! (And yes, the spellchecker scoffs at the words, “mudkip,” and “noseprint.”)

“Cats have over a hundred vocal sounds, but dogs only have about ten.” – They may have just ten vocal sounds, but it’s enough for me to know if it’s an enthusiastic bark, an angry bark (meaning, danger danger, Will Robinson!) or just a plea for food.

What about you, what’re your favorite fun facts about your pets?

I had the worst day ever! I was on my way to the campus when I bumped in to my ex-boyfriend with his fiancé. I felt very bad because we broke up a couple of months ago because he told me he wasn’t ready for a serious commitment and he had to focus on his career. I was so devastated by then. And now I see him so happy with his new girl.

As I walk farther away from them, questions keep on rambling inside my head. I thought he wasn’t ready for a commitment? Why is engaged to a girl he just new a couple of months ago? Did they meet when we were together? Was she the real reason why he broke up with me? Why not me? Why her? Am I not good enough for him? All these questions circled my brain and the harder I think the harder for me to get an answer. I guess I will never know the real answer to this unless I talk to him. But should I really do that? He might think I’m desperate or crazy asking these questions after all those months. Should I just stop thinking about it and let it go? I really don’t know.

These are just practical tips I can share with you on how we can improve our management skills.

• Sight your Vision
  

The vision should start from within. If you believe in the goal you set upon yourself and be committed to it, then people will sense the effectiveness of your leadership. People will follow you with respect.

• Have Passion
  

Passionate people are the ones who succeed in their field, may it be business or sports. Passion can define a person’s ability to lead people; making a mark to anyone you meet. Great leaders have a great sense of passion.

• Decisiveness
  

Meaning you should have the power to make decisions on the spot. Not like people who postpone and can’t decide for themselves. It doesn’t mean that you are always right but you have the ability to decide and be responsible enough to face your own decisions.

• Be Reliable
  

Like what I have said, a great leader owns up his/her faults and does not look for people to blame. A person brave enough to face the reality of his mistake can produce a true leader.

• Never Limit yourself
  

Move out of your comfort zone. Some people play along in their safe zone but they don’t know is they can’t grow with that kind of attitude. Never stop yourself from doing things you wanted just because you can’t do it perfectly. You’ll never know and learn unless you experience it.

Finally, here is the answer you’ve been waiting for.

Scoring:

1. a - 2, b - 1, c - 0
2. a - 0, b - 2, c - 1
3. a - 1, b - 0, c - 2
4. a - 2, b - 0, c - 1
5. a - 0, b - 1, c - 2
6. a - 2, b - 1, c - 0
7. a - 1, b - 2, c - 0
8. a - 2, b - 0, c - 1
9. a - 0, b - 1, c - 2
10. a - 1, b - 2, c - 0

· 15 points and up:

You expect a perfect guy to come along and have never appreciated the ones you have and the effort guys do. You expect too much that you’ll probably end up disappointing yourself in the long run. This means you are too picky!

· 7 to 14 points:

Romantic enough, you may have all the qualities a guy wants but you can’t get the package you are expecting for. You can’t expect to get a guy that fits every need or meet your entire requirement. A small imperfection may disappointment you too much.

· 6 points or less:

You are the kind that settles for what you can get. This can also have a bad side to it. You may seem desperate to just settle for someone you thought is okay enough. You may not see the flaws a guy has just because you want to settle with him.

Having a crummy day? Did your boss bummed you out? Did you stain your favorite dress? Whatever the reason for your crummy day these emergency mood repairs are sure to lighten you up.

• Do Some Soul Searching
  

Reflexology has been proven to have an effect on our health. True enough by pressing a reflex point on our feet relieves tension. Knead both toes, massage the skin in between. To fight off fatigue-induced irritability; work on the ball of your feet below simply by arching your foot stimulating your adrenals.

• Pepper Mint Candy
  

The mint can act like an aromatherapeutic Prozac. The specific smell may alter the limbic system which is a part of your brain that handles with emotions. Mints helps you feel restored, cheerful, and revitalized.

• Clear Up Your Space
  

There is a Feng Shui saying that if your desk is in disarray and as well as your spirit. You may feel worn out if you always see paper packed work station everyday. Manage this stacks of things to do put it out of your sight and put the paper works in file, and not in piles.

• Listen to Music
  

Music has been proven thave a good effect on the soul but not all of it. Listening to a cheerful tune can aggravate your already irritated mood. So better choose a music that is one step happier than you are.

• Have a Break
  

Take a break for at least 15 minutes and go to different scenery providing you a new sensation that will immediately pull you out of your grumpy mood.

• Lighten Up
  

Headaches can be triggered by harsh fluorescent light which messes up your mood. Change your desk lamp to a softer lighting and turn off over head lights to ease your brain pain. Also try to get out some natural sunlight everyday.

• Watch a Mental Movie
  

Watch movies that daydreams about blissful scenario such as brusque frisk with juicy Orlando Bloom or walk by the beautiful white sands of the Caribbean, this can boost your happy disposition. Close your eyes and let your mind aimlessly wander for at least ten minutes.

• Milk It
  

Warm milk can really be comforting, it may sound cliché but it does. When milk is heated, amino acid is then converted to a certain substance called the tryptophan enhancing serotonins in the brain making you feel happy and relaxed.

• Set the Dwell Deadline
  

Playing the horrifying event on your head over and over again will worsen your crankiness. So time your moping for at least 5 minutes, and then get over it. You can’t do anything about it anyway. So why bother getting a headache.

• Grab a Quickie
  

All of us may know that SEX is an excellent stress repressor. So grab your man and shag a quickie. The reason behind it can be explained by a fast blood flow making your endorphins boost to an Oh Yeah Moment!

• Au Naturel
  

Put a picture of your partner and you at the beach or anywhere nature looking since staring at nature reduces stress and lowers your blood pressure.

• Shop Till You Drop
  

Buying off everything in sale everytime you get a sucky day will make your wallet suffer in the long run, treat yourself once in a while instead. Buy yourself a little treat can actually give you an endorphin boost, letting yourself feel happier.

• Use Red
  

Wear something red for the days you need to feel-good about yourself since crimson color can amp your passion and enthusiasm. Specific shades do trigger different emotions in the brain. Like dressing up in powder blue colored clothes can calm you down.

• Mind Power Game
  

Mind games can be perfect remedy to a distressing day. Twister, tetris, and solitaire force you to think out of the mental box, and expand your creativity.

• Sketch Away the Awful Day
  

Instead of dwelling on the bad day you have, it’s better for you to draw your catastrophic day into an overstated and distorted caricature. Humoring yourself away from frustration.