Learn, Travel, Art: 2014-08-24

Friday, August 29, 2014

My Miniature Travel Collection

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Europe_outline_map.png

For this post, I took pictures of my mini travel figurine collection and placed it on a map!

Italy

· The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Pisa)
· The Colosseum (Rome)
--Read my article on these two amazing places here!
· St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican)
--Read my article about the architecture of this building here.

Germany

· Grass Mouse (Mittenwald)
--Remember that post I wrote about the Grass Goat? No? Well, read it here. :)

France

· The Eiffel Tower (Paris)
--Why is Paris so famous? Think about it here.

England

· Stonehenge (Amesbury)
· Big Ben (London)

Spain

· Aqueducts of Segovia (Segovia)
--Watch my YouTube about these awesome Aqueducts here. Check out my creative writing story as well!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Picture and Word of the Day 8/28/14

Picture of the Day 8/28/14

Tide Pool in Porto Covo, Portugal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Porto_Covo_February_2009-2.jpg

Word of the Day 8/28/14

Word: જન્મદિવસ

Language: Gujarati

Meaning: Birthday

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Book Review: Think Like a Freak by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

http://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Freak-Authors-Freakonomics-ebook/dp/B00BATINVS

First Impression:
I usually don’t binge read books, but I finished this little nugget in about two days—a record, even by my standards. I read Freakonomics, the first economics book in this duos’ trilogy, and I enjoyed it very much. This book does not disappoint either; it offers practical advice and entertaining stories, not just stone-cold numbers and dull statistics. The writing style in the novel was witty and completely relatable; the ease with which I breezed through the book indicates its lack of pompous phrases and complicated wordage. However, instead of being put in the category of “Economics,” I thought this book was more of an advice/career book that was not heavily steeped in numbers (at least compared to their first book, Freakonomics). Nonetheless, it was a pleasant summer read that I gleaned valuable life lessons from (i.e. it’s okay to quit and admit that I’m wrong).

Sentence that Summarizes the Book:
Trying to outwit your competitors, admitting that you’re not an expert, and knowing when to quit are the ingredients for success and having a fulfilling life.

Important Events and a Quick Summary:
The stories told in this book tended to go all over the place, but they were united by a common theme: they taught unconventional lessons that many people have a hard time swallowing. To begin, thinking like a “Freak” means that one must circumvent traditional views and ask different and sometimes controversial questions. Often times, the questions may be blaringly simply, yet adults are so trained to revere complexity that simple solutions are often overlooked. The second chapter discussed why it is so hard for adults to utter “I don’t know.” Whether they are afraid of being ridiculed or genuinely believe that bs-ing is the key to eventual success, adults rather come up with a wrong answer than admit their ignorance. One of the most instructive stories in this chapter was the wine tasting anecdote. After an experiment was carried out, it was determined that previous knowledge and other people’s comments influence what people think is a “good wine,” and anyone can win a cheesy restaurant wine award if the wine on their menu is expensive enough (lesson: pomp and pretension pays). The third chapter discussed the problem with phrasing questions incorrectly. If the right question is asked, then perhaps it has a better chance of actually getting answered correctly the first time. The story told in this segment of the lean, mean, Asian hot dog eating machine was gross yet fascinating. Although the “power of poop” tale was memorable, I thought the story about stomach ulcers was fascinating. Are pharmaceutical companies and doctors so hungry for money that they will put the well being of their patients after that of money? The book obviously mentioned the important adage “everyone responds to incentives,” but it also delved into the topic of using brain power to separate the guilty from the innocent. The examples of David Lee Roth (Van Halen) and King Solomon (as well as the medieval ordeals) were particularly effective. Finally, the book closed with saying that quitting is okay, if done for the right reasons, and that quitting is never really a failure. Any experience is a good one because it teaches you information that you didn’t have previously.

Overall Message:
This book was somewhat scattered, but the most important lessons learned were (1) thinking unconventionally is okay, (2) asking the right questions and getting to the root of a problem is imperative, (3) incentives are the greatest weapon of humanity (figuratively), and (4) quitting doesn’t equate to weakness or failure.

Verdict:
I am predisposed to like these authors (I greatly enjoyed Freakonomics), so my response may be a tad biased. The information in the book was valuable and truly helped me see situations with a different perspective. I also think stories/case studies are captivating, even if the results or even the study itself do not pertain to me. Out of 10, I would wager this book an 8 because it was a quick yet useful read.

Other Book by These Authors?
Together, the two men have written Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics. Find their work here and here. They have different publications separately, but they are most famous for their unconventional economic thinking.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Picture and Word of the Day 8/26/14

Picture of the Day 8/26/14

Le Basilique du Sacre Coeur, Paris, France
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aftnn_Le_Basilique_du_Sacre_Coeur_3.jpg

Word of the Day 8/26/14

Word: Blomst

Language: Danish

Meaning: Flower

Monday, August 25, 2014

It’s Amazing Montezuma Castle is Still Here

No; this ancient relic has nothing to do with the famous Aztec heart-eating monsters that resided in Mexico. Rather, it is a Native American ruin in Camp Verde, Northern Arizona that traces its roots back to the Sinagua (literally “without water”) people. This twenty room structure that was once home to 50 people during its height was not a castle or fortification at all. The Native Americans chose to build their dwellings in the antiquated limestone because it offered natural insulation, saved the fertile farmlands below from development, and allowed the residents to avoid flooding from the nearby Montezuma Well (again, not remotely Aztec). The date for the construction of this building is not certain because of deteriorated walls, pottery, and a lack of tree rings in the ceiling’s timber supports, but estimated dates range from 1100 to 1425 C.E. Whatever the precise date, this testament to human ingenuity is stunning, thought-provoking, and surprisingly not visited by many tourists often. When I visited here this summer (was it was boiling like a cauldron in Molly Weasely’s burrow), there were barely 20 patrons there, although a large school group was receiving a tour from a good-natured, white-haired ranger.

What were the lives of the Sinagua people like, and how come they have faded into relative obscurity? The big, “you’re going to see these on the test tribes” are usually the Hopi, Anasazi, Apache, and Hohokam; as it turns out, the Sinagua did trade with these other Native tribes extensively as well. The Sinagua should be considered true engineers because the way their built their dwellings and how they farmed shows high levels of skill and proficiency, even by today’s standards. They used ladders to access the high cliffs, lugged up stone axes to pick out the interior of the alcoves, and used limestone pieces to serve as mortar for the cave walls. While the men were busy building the compound, the women often farmed and collected plants/berries. To ensure that their crops were irrigated in the blazing heat and sometimes brutal droughts, channels were dug from the Montezuma Well to the fields. Also, the crops were surrounded by rocks that absorbed most of the heat (the heat could then permeate to the plants during the cold nights). Their main crops were corn and beans, but cotton and squash were farmed periodically too.

The Sinagua people collected and ate a variety of plants such as roses, sagebrush, and buckwheat. The main trees were sycamores, acacia, and mesquite, and colorful fruits included cactus, yucca, grape, and hackberry (a type of sugar berry). They used these representations of nature in religious ceremonies and for more mundane purposes (i.e. lip balm, medicine, hair dye, and to ease dandruff). The other main part of the Sinaguan culture was hunting the various animals found in the Verde (Green) Valley. The men hunted dogs, turkeys, macaws, snakes, and rodents with handmade spears and bows; the animal skins were put to good use as well. One of the main hubs of trading (where the men could sell their skins and the women, their plants) was the Montezuma Well. Especially during periods of intense drought, the Well was often the only respite and lifeline of the Native people. If the Sinagua people had a steady source of water, food, and trading, what prompted them to leave? Several theories have been proposed by scholars, including drought (which destroyed the crops) and diseases that wiped out the population of children (i.e. anemia). Without healthy children, the remaining Sinaguans probably moved to a more secure and hospitable environment (did the alcove rooms have a negative effect on the sensitive youth?).

The lives of the Singuan people passed from reality into distant legend in 1864, when a group of explorers actually coined the names “Montezuma Well” and “Montezuma Castle.” They mistakenly believed the ruins were connected to the extensive and far-reaching Aztec Empire that had their king, Montezuma, at the helm. The National Park Service eventually took control of the “Castle,” but the monument was officially closed to the public in 1951. The structure was deemed too fragile and most of the interior had already been plundered (except for special weaving and cloth that was found).

Shadow Box

What was my experience at the Castle? It was definitely something to see, although it was a tad anticlimactic. I had expected to actually be allowed to explore and take pictures inside the structure, but alas, that was prohibited 63 years ago. The drive to the small information shop in front was scenic, especially if you like dusty roads, rising beige canyons covered with shrubs, and the hot sun casting its shadow for mile upon mile without end. It was extremely hot when I went, so make sure to wear sunscreen or stay under the ample shade of the sycamore trees! One neat exhibit on the ground was a small shadow box that had a reconstruction of Montezuma Castle. Press the “play” button and hear a narrated version of what everyday life was like for the Sinaguans. Because of this, I learned that the chief of the cliff dwellers would walk onto the roof of the highest story (the fifth) and survey his clan members toiling in the fields below and collecting water for domestic use. What a life.

All Information comes from Montezuma Castle, National Monument, a book written in 1993 by Susan Lamb.

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