Category: Lifestyle

The Physical Link Between Warmth and Romance

This year’s winter feels endless. Studies have long shown that the cold and lack of sunshine can have a real effect on a person’s health, as well as their mental state. For example, even a minor decrease in vitamin D can result in general aches and pains. The constant darkness can also cause depression, which, this time of year, is more commonly known as the winter blues.

A recent study in the Journal of Consumer Research has revealed that the frigid season also influences people’s taste in entertainment, which explains why movie theaters are often jam packed with action and epic films during the summer, and romance and comedies from December through March. This is because when consumers feel cold, their preferences shift.

“We often think of love as being warm,” explain authors Jiewen Hong and Yacheng Sun. “This link between love and warmth appears in everyday language, songs and poems.”

Their statement is undeniable. Picture a romantic scene- what comes to mind? A cozy fireplace, a sunny beach, candlelight… Some may picture a walk in the snow, but what are the lovers doing? Huddling together, appreciating the warmth they find in each other in contrast to their chilly surroundings.

Is There a Real Connection?

The authors conducted their study in order to discover whether the connection between love and warmth is merely a metaphor, or if there is in fact a physical connection between the two.

In their research, Hong and Sun included four lab studies and a detailed analysis of an online movie rental company. They predicted that romantic films are more desirable when they are dealing with physical cold, because the chill triggers a need for balance through psychological warmth.
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In one of the tests, the researchers sat participants in rooms with various temperatures and gave them a choice of films to watch. The colder participants all leaned towards romance or comedy, both feel-good genres. The authors were interested to discover that once they pointed out the coldness to participants, they no longer preferred romance. This reveals a subconscious link.

To prove that the findings are indeed relevant beyond the confines of a lab, the study analyzed movie rental data from a DVD rental company, matching it to the coinciding weather and outdoor temperature. People were indeed more inclined to rent romance movies during colder periods.

So next time you’re feeling cold and a little down, why not follow the trend and curl up with a blanket, a hot cup of tea and a cozy, feel-good romantic flick?

 

Valentine’s Day Globally

Today is Valentine’s Day which dates back to 496 AD when it was established by Pope Gelasius I.  By the 15th century it had become a time for lovers to express their love toward one another through flowers, candied goods and greeting cards (known as “valentines”).  However, in 1969 Pope Paul VI obliterated it from the German Roman Calendar.  But that hasn’t seemed to stop people all around the world – including those in Italy and Germany – from marking the day in some romantic way.  Let’s take a look.

Thailand

Getting married on this day has taken on some interesting traditions in Thailand like saying “I do” underwater; sky-diving or hanging off cliff-sides.  But if you’re going to go popular, you’ll need to get wed at Bangkok’s Village of Love.  For those seeking something a bit more spiritual, it is traditional to lay candles, incense and red roses at the Trimurti shrine and pray for a husband at the Hindu deity’s feet.

Germany

Although we get the impression Germans don’t know how to do romance, it’s actually not the case.  Since the end of the Second World War, Valentine’s Day (known as Valentinstag in Germany) has become increasingly popular with Germans making heart-shaped gingerbread cookies for their loved ones.

Japan

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Japan has two celebratory days for Valentine’s.  On February 14th women usually give their boyfriends chocolate as part of the “giri choco” tradition; indeed, they can give up to 20 boxes without seeming weird!  This dates back to the 1950s when the holiday started and a wise Japanese chocolate manufacturer saw a chance to boost the economy and make a nice tidy profit at the same time.  Soon enough, everyone jumped in and tons of chocolate was being sold on this day.  According to a Bloomberg report, half of all chocolate sold each year in Japan is on Valentine’s day.

But it doesn’t end here for the egalitarian Japanese.  On March 14th – White Day – men shower their ladies with chocolate (of course) as well as jewelry and lingerie.

Italy

Of course Italy has to have something huge on Valentine’s Day, being known as one of the most romantic countries in the world.  Couples go to Verona for “Verona in Love” at which a variety of Shakespeare-themed events are held like tours to retrace Romeo and Juliet’s footsteps; a competition to choose the best love letter to Juliet or a moment with Juliet’s statue for good fortune.  As well, one can enjoy the gorgeous city for what it has to offer: vineyards; boutique hotels and tons of candle-lit eateries to bring out the romantic in everyone.

UK

The British do the traditional stuff of cards, flowers, chocolates and hearts, but one might be curious as to what the newly-wed Royals will be doing on their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple.  Unfortunately nothing all that romantic since William is deployed at the Falkland Islands today.  However, not to want to waste a day on frivolity, his bride Kate will be spending time with children at a medical facility run by one of her charities of choice – Action and Addiction.  Perhaps she’ll get a bouquet sent to her by her loved one anyway…

World Pays Tribute to Whitney Houston, Dead at 48


Whitney Houston, the beloved pop singer whose music resonates in the hearts of every household, passed away on Saturday night at the age of 48.

Though her more recent past was plagued with a chaotic marriage, depression and drug abuse, Houston’s love of music and elevation of the soul is recognized and appreciated all over the world. Songs like “I Will Always Love You” and “Saving All My Love for You” grace talent shows, films and performances every year.

Houston’s death was discovered on the eve of the Grammy Awards, the biggest night of the year for the music industry. Sunday’s event included many a tribute to the woman who once ruled the stage. Jennifer Hudson, often compared to Houston, sang an emotional tribute at the Awards. Numerous other celebrities expressed respect for the singer and regret of her passing, including Elton John.

Before her death, Clive Davis, Houston’s longtime mentor, said she was expected at the gala, and that she might even perform. “It’s her favorite night of the year,” he said. “Who knows…by the end of the evening.”

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Two days before her death, Houston performed “Jesus Loves Me” beside Kelly Price at a pre-Grammy party, where she was said to be in a wonderful mood.

Aretha Franklin, the singer’s godmother, said she was shocked by the news.

“I just can’t talk about it now,” she said. “It’s so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn’t believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen.”

Andrew Currey Turns 41

Today is Andrey Currey’s birthday.  The Australian javelin thrower has broken the record in his country eight times – and the longest he has thrown it is 85.75 meters.  But at one of the Olympic trials, he only came in third with his throw of 78.33m although that was still adequate enough for him to make the team. But he should be forgiven for not being totally on his game since his wife (and fellow javelin thrower) Louise, endured a knee injury while competing on the first day of the trials.

Currey’s Career History

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Currey has definitely had an impressive javelin throwing career, but no doubt the highlight of this was back in 1998 when he won the bronze medal.  In 1994 at the Commonwealth Games he came in sixth and five years later fifth (even though in 1998 he threw more than 80m).  Making it to the Atlanta Olympics was one small step for Currey but one huge leap for Australia, since he was the first man ever from his country to compete at Olympic level since the 1956 Melbourne Games.  But since he came in at number 21, he didn’t make it to the final which was somewhat disappointing since he’d just endured three national record-breaking throws in three weeks.

On three separate occasions, Currey has competed in World Championships.  In 1993 he came in at number 40; two years later at number 16; and in 1999, number 21.  Today he is also a fitness consultant and his hobbies include: fishing, water skiing; golf and tennis.

What Else Are We Missing in Life?

A crazy story is told of a man playing the violin at a Washington DC metro station.  If it is true, it shows just how caught up society has become in appearances and how, as a result, we could be missing out on so much in life. 

Anyway, the man played the violin for around 45 minutes, covering six pieces of Bach.  Thousands of people passed him (it was rush hour), probably on their way to work.  A man did notice him playing, paused a few seconds, but then carried on his rush to wherever he was going. One woman threw in a dollar without stopping. Someone else did stop to listen, but then, on seeing the time on his watch, started up his pace again.

It was a three-year-old boy who paid the man the most attention.  His mother was trying to hurry him along but the kid was really interested in the violin player. Finally the mother pulled so hard he had no choice but to go along with her, but not without turning his head back so he could keep watching the man.  Other kids then started to do the same; but all the parents pulled them along regardless.

During the time the man played, only six individuals stopped and stayed for a while.  Around 20 gave him money but didn’t take any notice of him (he collected $32).  When he finished playing, there was no applause or recognition of his music.

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But why should there be?  It was only one of the world’s top musicians – Joshua Bell – who had been playing the violin for free in the  metro station, including a rendition of  one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.  A mere two days earlier he played in a theater that was sold out for seats that sold at an average of $100 per piece.

This experiment was conducted by the Washington Post as part of a project on perception, taste and priorities of people. The question being addressed was: “in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?”

After this we really need to ask ourselves, what else are we missing?

 

Losing Weight and Staying Healthy Into Your 40s

During a woman’s younger years, she may find it easier to eat a little less, exercise a little more, and maintain a steady dress size while occasionally snacking on her favorite chocolate or ice cream. Then, suddenly, she’ll hit forty and realize that her body just can’t balance itself out the same way, and that her schedule is really too busy to start working on a new, all-inclusive health regimen.

The fact of the matter is, as a person ages their body’s metabolism becomes increasingly slower. A woman’s metabolic rate falls 5% every decade starting at the young age of 20. Of course, proper nutrition and exercise throughout those years can slow the process, but the nature of things is eventually inevitable.

As you reach your forties and become more concerned with both your looks and your general health (cholesterol, heart disease…) here are a few simple tips to get started. Remember, the process will most likely take a while, and results will be slower than they were when you were 25. Don’t give up easily, and don’t get discouraged- the better your body feels, the better your mind will feel.

  • Beware of Stress Fat: a lot of the weight gained at this age shows up around the waist. This is often a result of the stress hormone cortisol, which urges the body to store energy in case of an emergency. High levels of cortisol (and with it, fat) can lead to heart disease, high-blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, diabetes and even cancer. It is important to deal with stress and anxiety in order to begin losing this weight.

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  • Watch the Time: Over-eating during the evening, as the whirlwind of the day winds down and time becomes available, is a number one cause of slow metabolism and weight gain. These hours are often mindless or stressful, leading to large, often instant meals and additional cups of coffee.
  • Plan Your Meals: Instead of snacking on little tidbits throughout the day with plans to eat a large meal at night, make sure to set up three or four smaller, healthy meals to eat each day. Pack a lunch if you know you won’t have time to prepare one later, and make sure to get a real breakfast in within an hour of waking up. These meals will allow you to monitor your eating throughout the day, avoid unhealthy snacks, and eliminate the large late-night meals.
  • Exercise, Exercise, Exercise: Of course, physical activity is key in maintaining a healthy, fit body. Though you’ve heard it countless times- skip the elevator and use the stairs. Do jumping jacks or jump rope when you get a private moment, or maybe sign up at the gym. Go swimming, walk the dog, run on the treadmill, ride a bike… All of these activities will not only burn calories, but also improve your general health, as well as significantly reduce stress and improve your mood.