It is 11:11, make a wish!

I don't know the custome of making a wish at 11:11. But I do remember when I was small, looking at my digital clock, having time at 11:11, but also other times such as, 10:10, 06:06, 8:35 (8 is sum of 3 and 5) etc.

I really think the reason I remember them is because of the realization of the coincidence of having multiple same numbers occurring together.

Recently, I learnt that people make wishes at 11:11. I thought it is a bit random, and really must be a new thing, since the history of digital clock is not that long.

Then I googled 11:11, multiple websites describe the meaning of 11:11. There is a book about it (seems to be crap), and so on. In general, they talk about 11:11 as a pathway in which spirits attempt to make connections with us, thus we make wish at that time. They seem to explain the phenomenon of numbering coincidence with the spiritual awakening of human mind. They then expand the numbering coincidence to street number, floor level, apartment number of 1, 11, 111, 1010 etc.

I would love to believe these theories that add a bit magical or spiritual mystery to my dull life. But then sadly, I realized the whole theory based on the 11:11 phenomenon is quite unstable. The history and prevalence of digital clocks is less than a century. Supposely without it, the spiritual association with the occurance of street number or other number signs that involve 1111 is quite uncommon and unbelievable. Hypothetically, if one person experience numeral life turnings involved with the prophecy and epiphany of 11:11 and similar number signs; it would indeed be an unusual and unexplained phenomenon. But if it really happens to anyone, it must be very few.

Rather than relating the moments of 11:11 with deep spiritual associations stated in a way that seems like the creaction of a new religion. I would rather see it  as a contemporary culture trend that gets popular with the development of digital technology age, which I would like to summarize it in the following way:

Hey, if it is 11:11 on your clock, and you are bored, why not make a wish, who knows what would happen? But don't take it seriously, if you don't get what you wished for, it is ok, just forget about it, lol.

Naming a Star after Your Name

I just saw this online, apparently it has become a popular gift trend, especially for valentine's day.

It is all over the internet, if you google "name a star" or something like that..

It really does not cost a lot, varies from $20-$100, and you get to have a a star named after your name FOREVER?

I seek the validity of this, so I looked further and saw a few websites for naming a star for free. One directed me to a link below,

from International Astronomical Union. It pretty much explains everything and quit straight forward to read.
http://www.iau.org/public/buying_star_names/

Basically, except the few nearby and well known stars from us have their unique names. There are millions (and billions) of stars in the night sky that we can observe as twinkling dots, that have no names, but only assigned number name. It is for the convenience of locating them from telescope. But then, they do not have real significant research values, thus no need to add sophisticated or individualistic names to them that would add more confusions and redundancy to astronomical studies

So IAU assigns name to stars and star bodies, and they DO NOT assign individual name to every star, and won't approve such naming of stars from other people.

The purchased right of naming a star from certain commercial business seeking profit is not valid.

Sure, though it is a special and romantic idea.

I think, if you are really that into astronomy and stars, or you know your loved one is, maybe try buying him/her a telescope, astronomy-related book, is more worth the cost.

 

Just Got 86'ed

http://www.flickr.com/photos/czelticgirl/136120820/

86'ed means a bar refuses to serve a customer for certain reasons. It is more than a slang, it is in the dictionary if you search it. Here is the definition from the free dictionary.com:

eight·y-six or 86 (t-sks)

tr.v. eight·y-sixed or 86·ed, eight·y-six·ing or 86·ing, eight·y-six·es or 86·es Slang

1. To refuse to serve (an unwelcome customer) at a bar or restaurant.

2.

a. To throw out; eject.

b. To throw away; discard.

[Perhaps after Chumley's bar and restaurant at 86 Bedford Street in Greenwich Village, New York City.]

But this word has got to have some story behind it. Well, you saw the last sentence in the definition. Chumley's bar & restaurant, now as a tourist atraction in New Yock City has its own historical background.

"It was established in 1926 by the socialist activist Leland Stanford Chumley, who converted a former blacksmith's shop near the corner of Bedford and Barrow Streets into the Prohibition-era drinking establishment. The speakeasy became a favorite spot for influential writers, poets, journalists, and activists, including members of the Lost Generation and the Beat Generation movements.

A look at the Chumley's interior

             http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035825805@N01/127286965/

A number of qualities remain from Chumley's Prohibition history. Notably, the Barrow Street entrance has no exterior sign, being located at the end of a nondescript courtyard ("The Garden Door"), while the Bedford Street entrance, which opens to the sidewalk, is also unmarked. Inside, Chumley's is still equipped with the trap doors and secret stairs that comprised part of its elaborate subterfuge" (Wikipedia).


The "82" sign at the door was probably its only distinguishable landmark.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/371213609_54f9b1cafe.jpg



During and after the Prohibition era (google it), Chumley's became one of NYC's many literary hangouts serving drinks a who's who in 20th century literature including notables such a s John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eugene O'Neill, William Faulkner, James Thurber, Anais Nin, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Ernest Hemingway, Norman Mailer and Allen Ginsberg. Original dust jackets and portraits still line the walls. According to legend the term "86 it" for "kill it" or "forget about it" comes from a warning the cops would give, phoning ahead to Chumley to let him know they were on the way and customers should "86" out the exit. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/371215197/in/photostream/

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gansv1846/2900633116/



What Is in Your Bag?

What is in your bag? The seemingly private question, is curious and interesting to ask! Some people's bags are messy with lots of stuff, and some are organized and tidy. What you put in your bag, are not only things that are useful and necessary for your outing and work, but also include things that reflect your interest, personality and occupations. Stuffs in one's bag can really tell a lot about a person.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/whats_in_your_bag/

People have creactively started the idea of posting the pictures of stuffs in their bags, organized in a neat way. There are even groups on Flickr, called "what's in your bag", "what's in your pocket" that people can upload these pictures to. Each bag tells a different story of life...

http://freshpics.blogspot.com/2010/12/whats-in-your-bag.html

Diana Photography

The Diana camera is a plastic-bodied box camera utilizing 120 rollfilm. It takes twelve 6×6 cm photographs using a simple plastic meniscus lens. Originally marketed as an inexpensive novelty gift item, the Diana was later used by professional photographers to take soft focus, impressionistic photographs somewhat reminiscent of the Pictorialist Period of artistic photography, but utilizing contemporary themes and concepts.



What is special about Diana, is the soft, dreamy colour texture it captures in film. The simple yet rich colours present a retro-story world itself. Its vintage style is remained, and the photo must by shot in conventional film exposure. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zinkwazi/2359903941/



 http://microsites.lomography.com/diana/theory/galleries/

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010-06-02-picture-this-diana-camera-contest-winner

http://cyberevolution.info/pkvfzm/Diana-Camera-Tips