The object is made of wax. The wax is melted at 175 degrees and then additives, fragrance oils, and dyes can be added. Then, the wax is put into a cylinder mold. As you may have already guessed, the object is a candle. To be more specific, a votive candle. Once the wax has cooled a little, the wick is inserted. Let the wax finish cooling and slide it out of the mold and you have a candle!
Candles have been around since biblical times. Then, they were used as the main source of lighting. Now, electricity has replaced the candle for that purpose. However, we still love the candle today for many reasons.
The only purposes I ever knew of for votive candles were decorations. They are popular as a small gift for someone you don’t want to spend a lot of money on or as a stocking stuffer, etc. Some people like to put them with stones or marbles for decoration in their home. Others like to buy them so they can try out a new scent before purchasing the larger candle, like a sample.
Although, when I think of a candle, I only think of the scents like vanilla, apple cinnamon, clean laundry, etc.; the candle is used for more purposes than simply making a room smell good. Aside from decoration and scent, candles provide a source of relaxation. They set a mood of tranquility and soothe the nerves. Furthermore, many votive candles are used for religious ceremonies or rituals. They are lit often in the Catholic church for the sick, those in need of prayer, or in memory of those who have died.
Controversy has been sparked over candles made with lead wicks. Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered the lead wicks can give off toxic emissions. High exposure to lead can cause brain and central nervous system damage. Critics argue that candles have been used for years and there have not been issues. The government may ban the use of lead wicks, but I believe we can all rest assured, candles will never leave the market!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Roman Soldiers and Juggling
The two Roman soldiers raced around the bend in the road and caught sight of the tree, the finish line. The man on the left, with the little bit of strength he had left, pushed himself into a headlong sprint and made it to the tree a few seconds before his companion. As they panted and rested against the tree in the cool of the shade, they pulled their sudariums (sweat cloths) from their belts and wiped down their necks and faces. The sudarium that each man carried had become extremely popular recently and no sensible man exercised or went anywhere for that matter without one.
The roman sudariums inspired the Croatian military to develop scarves that tied around the throat, otherwise known as cravats. Cravats were used to distinguish rank among the troops. While making negotiations with France, the cravat caught the French king Lois XIV’s attention and he found it more practical then the French’s starched collars so he began wearing them. Once one of the most powerful kings in Europe started wearing a cravat the rest of the world was quick to follow. After the cravat, the style developed into stocks and then into scarves and bandanas.
I pulled out a scarf from the bag. It was pink and transparent and in a perfect square. When I touched it the material felt cool on my hand and very soft. In facet, it was so soft I felt like my hands must be coarse and dry in comparison. I threw it up in the air and it gently fluttered down and it reminded me of my P.E. class in elementary school. My teacher tried to teach us to juggle but instead of using ball we used light weight scarves like that one. When we threw them up they didn’t fall as quickly so we had time to catch them and throw them back up again before one of the scarves hit the floor.
The roman sudariums inspired the Croatian military to develop scarves that tied around the throat, otherwise known as cravats. Cravats were used to distinguish rank among the troops. While making negotiations with France, the cravat caught the French king Lois XIV’s attention and he found it more practical then the French’s starched collars so he began wearing them. Once one of the most powerful kings in Europe started wearing a cravat the rest of the world was quick to follow. After the cravat, the style developed into stocks and then into scarves and bandanas.
I pulled out a scarf from the bag. It was pink and transparent and in a perfect square. When I touched it the material felt cool on my hand and very soft. In facet, it was so soft I felt like my hands must be coarse and dry in comparison. I threw it up in the air and it gently fluttered down and it reminded me of my P.E. class in elementary school. My teacher tried to teach us to juggle but instead of using ball we used light weight scarves like that one. When we threw them up they didn’t fall as quickly so we had time to catch them and throw them back up again before one of the scarves hit the floor.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Ziploc Bag
It is clear plastic, but looking through it makes everything appear dingy and smoky. Boldly printed in white letters is its name: “Ziploc Fresh Shield.” Its thick plastic gives it solidity, its blue and purple zipper give it flair. Snap! It is closed. Rip! It is open.
Ziploc bags have a variety of uses. Caring mothers pack use it to pack away their children’s perfectly prepared sandwiches, complete with white bread, American cheese, and a slice of ham or turkey. Drug dealers use it to pack away crack, marijuana, and other contraband that is perhaps more carefully prepared than the sandwhiches.
Ziploc bags are made from polyethylene plastic. The plastic is heated and melted, then poured into a thin mold in the shape of a bag. Polyethylene plastic is controversial: to environmentalists, it is an evil environment-killing machine. But, to companies such as Exxon-Mobile (the original manufacturer of plastic baggies) and the Dow Chemical Corporation (the current manufacturer), they mean juicy profits.
Gladware containers are threatening to take over the cheap plastic containers market. They offer the cheapness of Ziploc and the sturdiness of Tupperware. However, Ziplocs are still ahead in sales. Ziplocs can’t die, they are an icon.
Ziploc bags have a variety of uses. Caring mothers pack use it to pack away their children’s perfectly prepared sandwiches, complete with white bread, American cheese, and a slice of ham or turkey. Drug dealers use it to pack away crack, marijuana, and other contraband that is perhaps more carefully prepared than the sandwhiches.
Ziploc bags are made from polyethylene plastic. The plastic is heated and melted, then poured into a thin mold in the shape of a bag. Polyethylene plastic is controversial: to environmentalists, it is an evil environment-killing machine. But, to companies such as Exxon-Mobile (the original manufacturer of plastic baggies) and the Dow Chemical Corporation (the current manufacturer), they mean juicy profits.
Gladware containers are threatening to take over the cheap plastic containers market. They offer the cheapness of Ziploc and the sturdiness of Tupperware. However, Ziplocs are still ahead in sales. Ziplocs can’t die, they are an icon.
"4 Eyes"
These items cause you to be called " four eyes," "nerd," "geek," and maybe even "goggle eyes." People tell you that you look " cute" in them but you know the difference. How can you possibly look "cute" in something that covers half your face? Pretty sure that these new additions to my face don't help my appearance at all.
I was eight years old when I had to go to the eye doctor and he told my mother I had "some vision issues." Yeah, I had some issues alright. I got a pair of eye glasses. They were absolutely enormous. They covered from my eye brows to the middle of my cheeks. I tried to pick out some I thought were nice. Osh Kosh B'Gosh brand, they looked like denim jeans. When I smiled things got pretty difficult. The glasses were right where my big round chicks would push them up. I was so embarrassed to go through the rest of my life with these vision problems.
The first vision aid was used in 1000 AD and called a reading stone. It was a large piece of crystal that was smoothed and they would place it over the words to enlarge them, so they could be read. The lens was a major invention that allowed people to see things they had never seen before.
The first pair of wearable eye glasses was made in 1284 in Italy. It is said that the Chinese used glasses some 2000 years ago, but mainly for protection during battle. Pope Leo X wore concave lenses while hunting and it enabled him to see the game better than before. Currently, 168.5 million U.S. residents use vision correction such as eye glasses or contact lenses. These days eye glasses are seen as more of a fashion accessory than an absolute need.
I didn't see glasses as being a "fashion accessory" at eight years old. I saw them as the demise to my ability to be cool. I would never be " the popular kid" because now I was the "geek." My reputation was saved when a few of my friends returned to school with glasses as well. Over the years more and more of my friends wore glasses, and we formed this wonderful bond. All of us were together as the "vision challenged" children.
Things have changed now, I moved from glasses to contact lenses, and these days I have no lenses of any kind. I had LASIK surgery in August of 2008 and LOVE IT! Being able to wake up in the morning and actually see the alarm clock after years of blurry vision is something I can't really explain. Being "lens free" allows you so much freedom. People who are dependent on glasses or contacts can relate!
So, if anyone is thinking about eye surgery, DO IT! You may think it is a lot of $, but it is the best investment you will EVER make!!
I was eight years old when I had to go to the eye doctor and he told my mother I had "some vision issues." Yeah, I had some issues alright. I got a pair of eye glasses. They were absolutely enormous. They covered from my eye brows to the middle of my cheeks. I tried to pick out some I thought were nice. Osh Kosh B'Gosh brand, they looked like denim jeans. When I smiled things got pretty difficult. The glasses were right where my big round chicks would push them up. I was so embarrassed to go through the rest of my life with these vision problems.
The first vision aid was used in 1000 AD and called a reading stone. It was a large piece of crystal that was smoothed and they would place it over the words to enlarge them, so they could be read. The lens was a major invention that allowed people to see things they had never seen before.
The first pair of wearable eye glasses was made in 1284 in Italy. It is said that the Chinese used glasses some 2000 years ago, but mainly for protection during battle. Pope Leo X wore concave lenses while hunting and it enabled him to see the game better than before. Currently, 168.5 million U.S. residents use vision correction such as eye glasses or contact lenses. These days eye glasses are seen as more of a fashion accessory than an absolute need.
I didn't see glasses as being a "fashion accessory" at eight years old. I saw them as the demise to my ability to be cool. I would never be " the popular kid" because now I was the "geek." My reputation was saved when a few of my friends returned to school with glasses as well. Over the years more and more of my friends wore glasses, and we formed this wonderful bond. All of us were together as the "vision challenged" children.
Things have changed now, I moved from glasses to contact lenses, and these days I have no lenses of any kind. I had LASIK surgery in August of 2008 and LOVE IT! Being able to wake up in the morning and actually see the alarm clock after years of blurry vision is something I can't really explain. Being "lens free" allows you so much freedom. People who are dependent on glasses or contacts can relate!
So, if anyone is thinking about eye surgery, DO IT! You may think it is a lot of $, but it is the best investment you will EVER make!!
Old School is Hott
A cylindrical object made of stainless steel, painted red with a step-to-open foot pedal resides in the corner. It is used several times daily and can be heard throughout the room with its “bwong”-like sound as someone releases the foot pedal. It stands at about three feet high and gives off the aroma of bananas and day-old chicken. To taste it, would be like licking the bottom of your own shoe after stepping on your own banana peel you threw down at the Tyson chicken slaughterhouse. Mm.
Its brothers are found everywhere, in the home, in the office, in the car, on the streets, in public places, in restrooms and a big huge mother is found on one side of nearly every town.
Its distant cousins include those on your Macbook or the one Windows likes to call the “recycling bin.”
It gained intense popularity during its prime television appearances on a hit children’s show, as it was home to the popular character Oscar the Grouch.
Its only rival… the trash compactor.
This household appliance does what the trash can does, only in a much cooler fashion. The jealousy rages within my little stainless steel trash eating baby.
The trash compactor is known for its sleek designs and convenience of being installed under a kitchen counter. It turns trash to compact trash, creating more space and holds more than the "traditional" kitchen trash cans. The competition is fierce, which is why my red, sleek, stainless steel trash can oozes such sex appeal.
Its brothers are found everywhere, in the home, in the office, in the car, on the streets, in public places, in restrooms and a big huge mother is found on one side of nearly every town.
Its distant cousins include those on your Macbook or the one Windows likes to call the “recycling bin.”
It gained intense popularity during its prime television appearances on a hit children’s show, as it was home to the popular character Oscar the Grouch.
Its only rival… the trash compactor.
This household appliance does what the trash can does, only in a much cooler fashion. The jealousy rages within my little stainless steel trash eating baby.
The trash compactor is known for its sleek designs and convenience of being installed under a kitchen counter. It turns trash to compact trash, creating more space and holds more than the "traditional" kitchen trash cans. The competition is fierce, which is why my red, sleek, stainless steel trash can oozes such sex appeal.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Vanilla
When I pulled my item out of the bag, I thought it was a clear cigar tube. When I looked at the contents of the tube, I thought it was beef jerky. Upon further inspection I figured out that it was a tube of vanilla bean pods. I opened the lid and the unmistakable vanilla fragrance came rushing out of the tube and into my nose. I explored the item and started to read different stickers and labels that were present on the exterior. “Rich, strong vanilla flavor. Perfect for all dessert making, from ice cream to cheesecake,” is what the label said, trying to convince the user that this product will make anything taste good.
The actual beans are 8-9 inches long and are a little skinnier than a pencil. They have a dark brown color and are wrinkly and shriveled, almost like an elongated raisin that smells a lot better. The texture is stiff, but still malleable with a very oily feel to them. The ends where it was cut off of the plant are curled and withered. Once you peel back the tough outer skin, the seeds are exposed. Although the skin can be used to flavor coffee and sugar, the real flavorful part of the plant comes from inside. You can scrape the inside contents out into whatever you want to flavor, whether that be a cake or some ice cream.
The vanilla beans come from Madagascar, a large island off the coast of Africa. Madagascar is the world’s largest exporter of vanilla. They’re economy depends heavily on this natural cash crop. So much so that when New Coke came out, there economy took a vicious downturn because it uses much less vanilla than regular Coke. After regular Coke came back, they recovered. The vanilla bean pods are all harvested by hand through a very labor intensive process in which it takes them almost a year to fully treat and produce what is in the tube right now. Its totally worth it whenever you open the top and smell the familiar aroma.
The actual beans are 8-9 inches long and are a little skinnier than a pencil. They have a dark brown color and are wrinkly and shriveled, almost like an elongated raisin that smells a lot better. The texture is stiff, but still malleable with a very oily feel to them. The ends where it was cut off of the plant are curled and withered. Once you peel back the tough outer skin, the seeds are exposed. Although the skin can be used to flavor coffee and sugar, the real flavorful part of the plant comes from inside. You can scrape the inside contents out into whatever you want to flavor, whether that be a cake or some ice cream.
The vanilla beans come from Madagascar, a large island off the coast of Africa. Madagascar is the world’s largest exporter of vanilla. They’re economy depends heavily on this natural cash crop. So much so that when New Coke came out, there economy took a vicious downturn because it uses much less vanilla than regular Coke. After regular Coke came back, they recovered. The vanilla bean pods are all harvested by hand through a very labor intensive process in which it takes them almost a year to fully treat and produce what is in the tube right now. Its totally worth it whenever you open the top and smell the familiar aroma.
Earphones
Almost everyone uses earphones. It is simply a wire with earpieces and a mini plug. They can come in many different colors. Earphones can be used for many different things. They can be used for entertainment purposes, like your i-pod, DVD player, or computer. They are also used in the profesional enviroment. They are used a lot in radio and TV. Singers use them in the studio and air traffic controllers use them to communicate with pilots.
The earphone came about at the turn of the 20th century. They were commonly used for radio work in 1919 and they had poor qulity early on. They enabled you to listen to things on your own. The headphone has eveolved since then into tiny earpieces. It can hurt your hearing if you blare them too loud. Earphones act as a sound reproducer and it can do this in several ways. A moving coil is wrapped around a stationary magnetic element that is attached to the frame of the headphone, which sets up a static magnetic field. The diaphragm is attached to a coil of wire which is immersed in the static magnetic field of the stationary magnet. The diaphragm is activated by the attached voice coil, when an audio current is passed through the coil. The alternating magnetic field produced by the current through the coil reacts against the static magnetic field in turn, causing the coil and attached diaphragm to move the air, thus producing sound. There are other kinds that work in a similar way.
I use my earphones mostly when I am working out with my i-pod. They make working out so much better. I also find them useful in cars or planes when traveling. The only problem is that my ears are really tiny, so somethimes they really hurt my ears.
The earphone came about at the turn of the 20th century. They were commonly used for radio work in 1919 and they had poor qulity early on. They enabled you to listen to things on your own. The headphone has eveolved since then into tiny earpieces. It can hurt your hearing if you blare them too loud. Earphones act as a sound reproducer and it can do this in several ways. A moving coil is wrapped around a stationary magnetic element that is attached to the frame of the headphone, which sets up a static magnetic field. The diaphragm is attached to a coil of wire which is immersed in the static magnetic field of the stationary magnet. The diaphragm is activated by the attached voice coil, when an audio current is passed through the coil. The alternating magnetic field produced by the current through the coil reacts against the static magnetic field in turn, causing the coil and attached diaphragm to move the air, thus producing sound. There are other kinds that work in a similar way.
I use my earphones mostly when I am working out with my i-pod. They make working out so much better. I also find them useful in cars or planes when traveling. The only problem is that my ears are really tiny, so somethimes they really hurt my ears.
Knitting Needles?
The object that I picked out of the bag was two long, metal, burnt orange or maroon, cold knitting needles. When they touched my hand in the bag I couldn't see them and it scared me because they were freezing cold, I guess they had been outside in Mrs. Hurley's car. I have seen objects like this before, but not near as large as the ones I have here today. My grandmother crochets, I know it isn't the same thing, but very similar. She has done this a number of years making blankets for the grandkids and the new babies on their way.
There are a number of things that knitting needles are used for such as making scarves, socks, sweaters and blankets. They do not know when knitting actually originated, but they say that the first artifact that was made was a sock, strange I know. In the beginning wooden needles were used instead of the metal or alumium ones I picked out of the bag. You can even decorate your needles, make them your own with buttons, jewels and anything you can imagine.
Knitting has become a past time or hobby because people don't make time to sit down and knit anymore. We live in a society that we have to live life at a fast pace and that is something that knitting is not. An example of this is, machinery has taken the place of knitting now, yes some people still knit, but why take a month making a sweater when you could buy one already made. This is a sad outlook to have, but thats the way it is. I am way too uncordinated to even think about knitting or crocheting, good thing they are sharp ended because I am sure I would lose an eye or something.
There are a number of things that knitting needles are used for such as making scarves, socks, sweaters and blankets. They do not know when knitting actually originated, but they say that the first artifact that was made was a sock, strange I know. In the beginning wooden needles were used instead of the metal or alumium ones I picked out of the bag. You can even decorate your needles, make them your own with buttons, jewels and anything you can imagine.
Knitting has become a past time or hobby because people don't make time to sit down and knit anymore. We live in a society that we have to live life at a fast pace and that is something that knitting is not. An example of this is, machinery has taken the place of knitting now, yes some people still knit, but why take a month making a sweater when you could buy one already made. This is a sad outlook to have, but thats the way it is. I am way too uncordinated to even think about knitting or crocheting, good thing they are sharp ended because I am sure I would lose an eye or something.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
It is Quiet in Here
The walls are clean and crisp white. Small artwork and large signs labelling areas cover the large room. People are walking in and out, silently. Lamps are above every station along the aisle. The carpet is various shades of gray in alternating squares. It's cloudy outside and 35 degrees. It is 8:30 in the morning and not many people have made it out of bed to come scurry around in here. People keep to themselves. The mood is quiet, much like the still weather outside. As I look through the windows I can see the outline of gray buildings. The grass is yellowed from the wintry weather. The trees are bare and sway ever so slightly in the wind. People are moving in and out of the buildings and shifting down the sidewalk. Some people stop, smile and visit with friends. Others keep their heads down and continue walking. Maintenance men drive small orange ATVs on the sidewalk. Large squirrel's are scurrying around. Back inside the building maintenance men are working on computers.
"When I came in these boxes were just sitting here."
"Ha, Oh, OK."
Other man begins moving boxes
"Oh I was just going to put them over here."
Man at the counter on the telephone:
"She could be on inter-library loan." "Loan, and Place Orders. Yeah"
"Oh She is, Um. Let me see"
" So you have an hour or so, is there a number to reach you ?"
Student at the printer:
"I need help." "The printer."
Man in flannel gets up, does not respond and works with the printer a little.
"Thank you. Sorry."
"Don't forget to reset."
Student to student:
"Can you get me a copy?"
"I'll check the database."
The library isn't that exciting, but people do talk in hushed tones, believe it or not!
"When I came in these boxes were just sitting here."
"Ha, Oh, OK."
Other man begins moving boxes
"Oh I was just going to put them over here."
Man at the counter on the telephone:
"She could be on inter-library loan." "Loan, and Place Orders. Yeah"
"Oh She is, Um. Let me see"
" So you have an hour or so, is there a number to reach you ?"
Student at the printer:
"I need help." "The printer."
Man in flannel gets up, does not respond and works with the printer a little.
"Thank you. Sorry."
"Don't forget to reset."
Student to student:
"Can you get me a copy?"
"I'll check the database."
The library isn't that exciting, but people do talk in hushed tones, believe it or not!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Nike
Interview with Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight
Creators of Nike
1.) The design for the “moon shoe”, Nike’s first shoe, was an accident can you tell us how that came about?
BB: Well we had tried other ways to make the shoes have a better grip of the track while running and I just happened to look at the waffle iron and see it had a distinctive patter. So I turned it on and put a piece of rubber on it, the patter actually did give the shoes better grip and that’s how the “moon shoe” was born.
2.) The basic business plan for Nike was your idea how did that come about?
PK: Well in college my senior paper was entitled, “Can the Japanese Shoe do to the German shoe (adidas) What the Japanese camera did to the German Camera?” After graduation I set off to tour the world, when I stopped in Kobe, Japan I came across the Tiger Shoe Company whose shoes were nice and cheap I convinced them to let me be their distributor throughout the United States. My first order of Tigers came about a year later. I actually sent them to Bill hoping he would buy some. Throughout college he was my track coach and I knew he was always looking for lighter shoes for his runners. He actually ordered multiple pair then hit me with an offer to start our own shoe company using the distribution deal that I had made in Japan.
3.) The Blue Ribbon Sports Group was the original name of the company, how did it become Nike?
PK: Well while BRS was in the early stages I hooked up with Jeff Johnson who I ran track with at Stanford, well he came up with the name Nike, which in Greek mythology is the winged goddess of victory. Later while I was working as an accounting teacher at Portland State University, I met Carolyn Davidson a young artist that I decided to ask her take on Nike and design what she came up with. She brought us the “swoosh” and we loved it. We actually on gave her $35 dollars initially for the idea.
BB: Later after Nike took off, I think it was 1983, we had a company lunch and gave her a diamond ring with a swoosh embedded in it and company in the stock, now that I think about it art is where it’s at $35 for a drawing and now she’s a millionaire she only had to stop drawing and creating our symbols early because we got so big we hired an ad agency to do it for her.
Creators of Nike
1.) The design for the “moon shoe”, Nike’s first shoe, was an accident can you tell us how that came about?
BB: Well we had tried other ways to make the shoes have a better grip of the track while running and I just happened to look at the waffle iron and see it had a distinctive patter. So I turned it on and put a piece of rubber on it, the patter actually did give the shoes better grip and that’s how the “moon shoe” was born.
2.) The basic business plan for Nike was your idea how did that come about?
PK: Well in college my senior paper was entitled, “Can the Japanese Shoe do to the German shoe (adidas) What the Japanese camera did to the German Camera?” After graduation I set off to tour the world, when I stopped in Kobe, Japan I came across the Tiger Shoe Company whose shoes were nice and cheap I convinced them to let me be their distributor throughout the United States. My first order of Tigers came about a year later. I actually sent them to Bill hoping he would buy some. Throughout college he was my track coach and I knew he was always looking for lighter shoes for his runners. He actually ordered multiple pair then hit me with an offer to start our own shoe company using the distribution deal that I had made in Japan.
3.) The Blue Ribbon Sports Group was the original name of the company, how did it become Nike?
PK: Well while BRS was in the early stages I hooked up with Jeff Johnson who I ran track with at Stanford, well he came up with the name Nike, which in Greek mythology is the winged goddess of victory. Later while I was working as an accounting teacher at Portland State University, I met Carolyn Davidson a young artist that I decided to ask her take on Nike and design what she came up with. She brought us the “swoosh” and we loved it. We actually on gave her $35 dollars initially for the idea.
BB: Later after Nike took off, I think it was 1983, we had a company lunch and gave her a diamond ring with a swoosh embedded in it and company in the stock, now that I think about it art is where it’s at $35 for a drawing and now she’s a millionaire she only had to stop drawing and creating our symbols early because we got so big we hired an ad agency to do it for her.
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