Goodbye, Asa

BY GRACE MEIKLE

I have never been much of a sports aficionado, but for some odd reason, ever since I moved to Japan, I have tuned in somewhat regularly to watch sumo tournaments. They happen six times a year, and are two weeks long. They come on TV between four and six o’clock P.M., when the uozeki and the yokozuna come out to wrestle. I don’t know why, but sumo has always held some special interest for me—I’ve attended two tournaments in person and sumo was the subject of my Asian History project in ninth grade. My favorite sumo wrestler is the Mongolian Asashoryu—whose adopted professional name means “clear morning dragon”. He is perhaps one of the greatest and most controversial sumo wrestlers of all time. Just this past weekend, after yet another run-in with controversy, Asa announced his retirement.

For those of you unfamiliar with Asashoryu, he is (or was) a yokozuna. Sumo consists of a complex hierarchy. There are six divisions, each with a number of ranks within that division. Yokozuna is the pinnacle of the ranking system, the highest title within the highest division. Usually, there are only one or two yokozuna in all of professional sumo at one time. In the past, there have been as many as four and as few as none at all. To become a yokozuna, one must naturally achieve the rank of uozeki first (the second highest title); otherwise, there are no specific requirements, although in the past wrestlers have been promoted if they win two consecutive tournaments and demonstrate various other qualifications. Essentially, yokozuna are appointed by the Japan Sumo Association if they possess an extraordinary level of power, skill, and dignity.

Asashoryu himself has been yokozuna since 2003, and is the first Mongolian in history to achieve the title. Even beyond the ranking itself, he has had a particularly spectacular career. He is the only yokozuna in history ever to win all six official tournaments in one year. Over the course of his career he has won a total of twenty-five tournaments, the third most of any sumo wrestler in history. Unfortunately, Asashoryu also holds a couple of titles that are not so prestigious. His career has been spectacular, yet shrouded in controversy. In August

2007, for instance, he became the first yokozuna to be suspended from an official tournament after he participated in a charity soccer match in Mongolia, despite having withdrawn from a regional sumo tournament, citing an injury. Throughout his career, he has been criticized repeatedly by both the media and the Japan Sumo Association for not upholding the behavioral standards expected of a yokozuna. Just this past week, he allegedly assaulted a man when completely inebriated outside a Tokyo nightclub. While awaiting the Sumo Association’s verdict with regard to his conduct, Asashoryu took the matter into his own hands and announced his retirement from sumo, saying, “I think I was destined to end my career like this”.

Image source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2241025/Sumo-wrestlers-demand-pay-rise-as-food-prices-soar.html

The life of a sumo wrestler is a strict one—it is

not like being a top athlete in other sports, where misbehavior is viewed as a reflection on the individual. In sumo, misbehavior is viewed as a dishonor to the Sumo Association and the sport itself. High-ranking sumo wrestlers are symbols of grace, dignity, and long-standing tradition; they wear a traditional kimono and topknot everywhere they go. They cannot drive, and they only leave Japan once every two years—with other sumo wrestlers. They are always recognizable, and without exception in every venue expected to uphold the stipulations of their title. Perhaps Asashoryu did not live up to the standards of behavior expected of a symbol and an athlete of such a particular sport. But I conjecture he will be greatly missed in the realm of sumo. I especially will miss him. In my opinion, he is by far the most enjoyable to watch—he has a certain attitude about him that other wrestlers don’t seem to possess. If you have watched

sumo, you may have noted his signature postures and movements; the aggressive and flamboyant manner in which he executes the purification rites of sumo and seeks to intimidate his opponents. For this, he has been, as always, both criticized and loved. As Asashoryu himself most succinctly implied, perhaps it is this attitude of his that led to his early retirement. But as much as he is a controversial symbol of Japanese tradition, Asashoryu is a symbol of the constant struggle foreigners face to fit in to the richly eccentric nature of Japanese culture. References Asashoryu ends career. (2010, February 5). The Daily Yomiuri, p.1. Asashōryū Akinori. (2010, February 10). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:04, February 10, 2010, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Asash%C5%8Dry%C5%AB_Akinori&oldid=343134492

“What’s a Darfur?”

BY DANIEL WESSON Largely ignored in the media as of late, Darfur is a region in western Sudan still suffering from extreme poverty as well as the repercussions of war and genocide. The direct causes of Darfur’s current struggle stem from 2003, but going a bit further back in time may aid our understanding of the root of this conflict. The area currently known as Sudan used to be known as “Kush” to ancient Egyptians five thousand years ago. In various intervals throughout the area’s history there has been Egyptian domination of Kush, and Kush domination of Egypt. Christianity became a heavy influence in the South in later Kingdoms, while the North remained traditionally Arabic. Here is where the problems start. Northern Sudan received more benefits from Egyptian control during the 1800s in the form of agriculture, technology, infrastructure, and central government money. The South got little attention except from tax collectors. The two sections of Sudan began to drift apart until the British took over at the turn of the century. Sudan was considered a British colony. In 1924, Britain established two separate administrations in Sudan, one ruling the South, which was predominantly Christian, and another ruling the Islamic North. Then, like most of Africa during independence movements from the major colonial empires, arbitrary borders were drawn up and a weak government was installed. Civil war ensued, with the South establishing its own government. The South and North have been fighting for the better part of the past half century. Governments came and went until 1989, when an extremist Islamic government in the North began purging its own citizens and administration, and began to establish new Sharia law. Things got serious. Under

dictator al-Bashid, the official Sudanese government in the North led a military campaign through the South to reunite the country. Naturally, the South had a hard time dealing with the “foreign” occupation; fighting from rebel groups continued. Enter Darfur, a western region of the country feeling especially neglected. Rebels in Darfur fought in the 70’s, resumed in the 90’s until ’94, and made a comeback in 2003. The Janjaweed militant group unofficially sponsored by the Sudanese government attempted to squash out the rebellion. A genocide began. It is estimated that since 2003, between 200,000 and 400,000 have died while over 2.5 million civilians have been displaced. The Janjaweed used a scorched-earth policy. They raped women, killed children, burned down peaceful villages, and gunned down countless innocents based on ethnicity and tribe. Villages were bombed and cut off from aid. A peace settlement pacified one rebel group but provoked others that continued to fight the government. Starvation and disease remained the primary killers, which recent studies claim are responsible for 80% of deaths in the region. Al-Bashid is still the leader of Sudan and has been charged with crimes against humanity like torture, rape, extermination, murder and intentionally attacking civilians by the International Criminal Court (ICC). His warrant for arrest is still valid and the only one ever issued by the ICC for an incumbent head of state. Al-Bashid must now avoid traveling to any country accepting ICC authority. However, the hitch of the arrest is that the African Union (AU) claims the ICC is unfair in its warrant for arrest, and that arresting Al-Bashid would further destabilize Darfur. No comment from the AU on exactly how arresting a mass murderer would destabilize the region he targets. The question of exactly why Darfur has lost interest in the media is an interesting one—theories include the increasing disinterest of Brangelina and other stars, the inception of media frenzies like Haiti, Toyota, and Obama’s adventures, and the lack of reporters willing to venture into the region—yet Darfur remains the site of the worst humanitarian crisis of the past decade with its prime perpetrator still running the country. And unfortunately—in this case—media has heavy influence on social discussion and perspective. So turn to someone and ask: “What’s a Darfur?” You may be surprised by what you do or don’t hear. References: A d d a r i o , L . ( 2 0 1 0 ) . S u d a n . N e w Y o r k T i m e s , R e t r i e v e d f r o m

h t t p : / / t o p i c s . n y t i m e s . c o m / t o p / n e w s / i n t e r n a t i o n a l / c o u n t r i e s a n d t e r r i t o r i e s / s u d a n / i n d e x . h t m l ? s cp = 1 - s p o t & s q = d a r f u r & s t = c s e

A s s o c i a t e d P r e s s . ( 2 0 1 0 ) . S t u d y s h o w s m o s t d e a t h s i n d a r f u r w a r f r o m d i s e a s e . N e w Y o r k T i m e s , R e t r i e v e d f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . n y t i m e s . c o m / a p o n l i n e / 2 0 1 0 / 0 1 / 2 3 / w o r l d / A P - M L - S u d a n -D a r f u r . h t m l ? s c p = 4 & s q = d a r f u r & s t = c s e

M c K e n z i e , D . ( 2 0 1 0 ) . A f r i c a n u n i o n u r g e s u n i t e d n a t i o n s t o h a l t a l - b a s h i r c a s e . C N N , R e t r i e v e d f r o m h t t p : / / w w w . c n n . c o m / 2 0 1 0 / W O R L D / a f r i c a / 0 2 / 0 5 / s u d a n . b a s h i r . g e n o c i d e / i n d e x . h t m l

H i s t o r y o f D a r f u r . ( 2 0 1 0 ) . W i k i p e d i a . R e t r i e v e d ( 2 0 1 0 , F e b r u a r y 1 ) f r o m h t t p : / / e n . w i k i p e d i a . o r g / w i k i / H i s t o r y _ o f _ D a r f u r # B r i t i s h _ r u l e

Awards Season: A Retrospective

BY AVU CHATURVEDI

At long last award season is upon us. A season where the most deserving pieces of entertainment are awarded with a trinket that signifies just how good something is. A season where the most talented musicians with the deepest, most personal, meaningful and powerful songs are awarded with a shining gramophone, and where the director of that indie movie that penetrates the deepest abyss of human experience with artistic focus and poetic script walks away with a solid gold globe in one hand and a solid gold man in the other. A season where the mainstream commercialized fluff that dominates the world market finally takes a backseat to the artistic masterpieces that deserve it only too much.

My mistake, I’m living in my little fantasy world. Let me try again. At long last, award season is upon us. A season where box office revenue results in 10 Academy Awards nominations, and 10 Golden Globe wins. A season where a multiplatinum album by Yung (insert rapper name) wins Grammys for every song category and album of the year over that 20th century classic that will go down in the annals of history long after 15 year old girls stop dancing to Yung (what was it this time?). A season where Martin Scorsese will go home empty-handed and Michael Bay will enjoy a trophy for a special effects prop. A season where Mos Def will go home empty-handed and 50 Cent will collect another Grammy for his gangsta gangsta pimp clique. I may be alone in this assertion, but I find that the Grammys, Golden Globes, Emmys, and, though to a lesser extent (a much lesser extent)—the Oscars—are the most corrupted honorifics one could possibly choose to grace our pockets and plague our consciences. I can’t stand for this; so, as a terribly upset listener and watcher would do, I am submitting this medium-length, strongly-worded article to vent my frustrations. Let’s begin with the Grammys. In my subjective, biased, and trustworthy opinion, the Grammys are the cesspool of the ignoble awards. It is perhaps most evident in the rap category because of the absolute commercialization of the genre, or perhaps most evident

in the rap category because of my personal passion for the genre. Take just the last two years as examples. From the nominations themselves one can see the distortion in priorities. The fact that Lil Wayne swept the Grammys last year while Q-Tip’s The Renaissance went unnoticed attests to how terrible the awards truly are. Surprisingly enough, Lil Wayne’s lil’ debacle The Carter III was a multiplatinum chart topper for that influential demographic of fifteen year old suburban white girls. This year, perhaps better in that the winners were in the top four (out of five) nominated and the nominations were at least in the top 200 songs of the year. The fact that Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, a modern classic, was snubbed for nominations of Flo Rida’s most recent piece of garbage mail on Sunday proves how prejudicial and misguided those suits and ties are. At least the winner, Relapse, had almost three good songs on it. The day the Grammys nominate and reward Rakim or KRS-One is the day that heaven has triumphed over hell. In the movie department, the Golden Globes are about as terrible as it gets. Ask any movie-reviewing website that cares about movies. They will say that Avatar, while technologically transcendent and visually sound, did not deserve a win in Best Picture. They will also likely say that it is because of how well Avatar has done in the box office that it ousted much better movies like The Hurt Locker. If one were to look at Golden Globe nominees (deceiving) and Golden Globe winners (disgusting) they would see that box office profits of the winners would have to be revolutionary to warrant an award. The Hangover beat (500) Days of Summer. Sandra Bullock beat Gabourey Sidibe. James Cameron won best director. Mad Men won again. Glee won over 30 Rock. To their credit, the Oscars manage to do a much better job, in both the nominations and winners. Don’t expect Avatar to carry home any awards outside special effects, but even the Oscars don’t take into account those gutsy indie films that Roger Ebert loves and the rest of us don’t know. The Emmys aren’t terrible again, but the simple fact that The Wire didn’t sweep awards for the entirety of its tenure makes me skeptical.

The truth hurts. The truth is that these awards are the brain child of capitalist market hungry hounds who hawk their progress through a checkbook balance and a sellable face. The truth hurts more.

Image source: http://fashionability.wordpress.com/

Valentine’s Day Quiz

BY KATIE MEIKLE

1. What is the color of love? blood red (0) pure white (6) pale pink (4) cherry red (2)

2. What do you think is the most romantic

movie line? “You have bewitched me body and soul

and I love… I love… I love you,” – Pride and Prejudice (6)

“I’m in love with you...” “Snap out of it!” – Moonstruck (2)

“He’s pretty good in-chair,” – Juno (0) “It doesn’t matter if the guy is perfect or

the girl is perfect. It only matters if they are perfect for each other,” – Good Will Hunting (4)

3. What do you think is the most romantic pick

up line? “You’re like pizza. Even if you’re bad,

you’re good.” (0) “You can fall out of a building, you can

fall out of a tree, but the best way to fall is in love with me.” (4)

“Do you have any raisins? No? How about a date?” (2)

“Did it hurt?” “…when?” “When you fell from Heaven?” (6)

4. What type of flowers should be given on

Valentine’s Day? Red roses (2) Forget-me-nots (4) White roses (6) Tulips (0)

5. What is the most romantic thing your bf/gf

could say to you on Valentine’s Day? Happy Valentine’s Day! (0) Will you be my valentine? (4) I think Valentine’s Day is stupid…why

should you need a special day to tell someone you love them? You should tell them that every day of the year (6)

Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you (2)

6. What is the purpose of Valentine’s Day? A day of romantic moments with that

one special person (6) To show other people you care about

them, whether you’re in a relationship or not (2)

A day when we’re all trying to be romantic so none of us look stupid (0)

A chance for that secret admirer to show his or her true feelings (4)

7. What is the most romantic song?

Anyone Else But You—Moldy Peaches (from Juno) (2)

A Moment Like This—Kelly Clarkson (6)

Love Story—Taylor Swift (4) Cyclone—Baby Bash (0)

8. What is the most romantic Valentine’s Day

candy? Box of Chocolates (2) Skittles (0) Sweethearts (4) Homemade Chocolates (6)

9. What is the most romantic Valentine’s Day

gift? Teddy Bear (6)

Heart shaped necklace (4) A card (0) A box of chocolates (2)

10. What is love?

A frame of mind (2) A burning desire (6) A powerful connection (4) Wishful thinking (0)

SC O RIN G 0-14: H eartless Lighten up! Valentine’s Day might not be your favorite holiday of the year, but there is no reason to be so cynical and ruin it for everyone who actually has feelings. 16-32: G rounded You have a realistic attitude towards love and romanticism, but on Valentine’s Day you may find yourself overwhelmed by the rampant gushiness in the air. Don’t be afraid to come out of your box and express your true feelings. 34-50: Dreamer You’re sweet and loving, and you have high expectations. Unfortunately, your expectations may be somewhat detached from reality day to day. Valentine’s Day may be the one day in the year where you find your passion is matched by another. 52-60: Sap Yes, you’re romantic, but this is just overkill. You are a total sap and somewhat repulsive to bystanders. Even if you have good intentions try to tone down your romantic instincts in public.

Turning Japanese: Part Five

BY SEAMUS BELLEW

“OhSeeeeekkkkkaaa! KAMPAIIIII!” is what Karen O, the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, shouted to a rowdy Japanese crowd. “Kampai!” The homogenous crowd responded in awe. Playing in Club Quattro—a venue so small you could smell them—the Y Y Ys (as they’re known) played one hell of a show.

Considered one of the best live acts out there, they didn’t disappoint. The show had it all: dancing, water spitting, stage diving, love songs and outrageous costumes. And on top of all the craziness, they played great music. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs played a show spanning several of their albums, and to great effect. Their early albums gather inspiration from punk rock and are rather edgy. However, their latest album, titled “Heads Will Roll” incorporates several synths, showing the versatility of the New York-based band. Karen O began the show with one of their punk drawn songs, wearing a rainbow-coloured leotard with sprinkles on her face. The costume immediately drew attention to her—highlighting her erratic stage behavior. The band then strung a few catchy songs together to get the crowd into the music while Karen O zipped a way for a costume change. She returned to the stage in a costume quite similar to that which might be worn by a Cherokee chief. Her performance included sticking the microphone in her mouth and screaming, which really pumped up the mood. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t sing on her own though. She showcased her ability to sing beautifully in an acoustic version of “Maps”, which was a nice change of pace. Karen O sporadically gulped huge quantities of water and spat it out behind her into the audience, which was quite a sight.

One thing that really allows the crowd to have fun is when the band themselves have fun, which the YYYs did. They were smiling and laughing between songs. Particularly the drummer, who looked more like a computer programmer than a rockstar, couldn’t seem to stop smiling. The band retreated backstage early—to the dismay of their adoring Japanese fans—but returned to the chants of “encore, encore, encore!”—one English word whose meaning the Japanese fans certainly knew. But as all good things do, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs concert came to an end. From the perspective of a frequent concert-goer, they certainly were an act above the rest. And as Karen O would say: “SAYYYOUUNNAARRA!”

Famous But Unread: Book Preview on a Book I’ve Never Read Before

BY MOÉ NAKAYAMA

It’s one of those titles you’ve definitely heard of, regardless of whether you actually know anything about the book. You probably know, vaguely, that it has to do

with something about youth, adolescence, or coming-of-age in a time long past. You hypothesise that, just maybe, there’s a pivotal scene where the main character (most likely a teenage boy) and a supporting character (also a boy— a boy who is new to town and unlike anybody else the main character has ever known) race through a shimmering, golden field of rye and then collapse in exhaustion, after which they share some significant conversation that hints at the book’s theme. Actually, please replace all the “you” in the above paragraph with “I.” All the guesstimating above— that is my understanding, my imaginations regarding that famous title. It’s The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. I confess: I’ve never read it. Pardon my ignorance, but all that the title evokes in me is the image of a teenage boy standing in a golden field of rye. All I know (for sure) about the book is that 1) it is old and 2) it is written by J. D. Salinger. I think there is a tattered copy of it somewhere in my brother’s room. Despite its literary significance, the book remained buried deep inside the “Should-Read-Someday” drawer of my brain and did not see light until recently, when I overheard the TV saying that J. D. Salinger had passed away. Like I said, I’ve never read The Catcher in the Rye, let alone any of Salinger’s works. And yet, when I heard the news of his death, which happened on January 27th of this year, I found myself in a brief state of shock. It was an instinctive, inexplicable reaction that made me think “wait, so what’s with The Catcher in the Rye anyway?” I apologise in advance to those of you who are actually familiar with this acclaimed work. What follows hereafter is most likely boring information of little insight— but my purpose is only to share some of the book’s most defining characteristics. Remember, I’ve never read it myself. (Yet.)

— The Catcher in the Rye does indeed feature a teenage boy as the protagonist—sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield is the main character and narrator of the tale. The story, in short, illustrates the adolescent’s struggle to find internal peace in a society that seems wracked with “phoniness.” Holden, though financially comfortable, is emotionally disturbed: frequently depressed and constantly meandering (in the story, he leaves his fourth school), Holden is highly distrustful and consistently critical of his surroundings. The only character in whom he confides is his younger sister, Phoebe. It is with this character that he shares the pivotal conversation from which derives the book’s title—when Phoebe asks Holden what he wants to do with his life, he answers, “I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start

to go over the cliff… That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all” (Sparknotes, 2010). Published in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye is one of the bestselling novels of all time. According to a 2008 article on “Banned Books” in Time, the book topped the New York Time’s best-seller list within a mere two weeks of its release. And yes, it also has a history of being one of the most frequently challenged books. Parents have refused to buy it for their children. Schools have fired teachers for assigning it in class. Libraries have banished it for its “excess vulgar language, sexual scenes, things concerning moral issues, excessive violence, and anything dealing with the occult” (Stephey, 2008). In response to the repeated censorship of his book, Salinger once despaired, “Some of my best friends are children…It’s almost unbearable for me to realize that my book will be kept on a shelf out of their reach” (Stephey, 2008). Salinger must have taken solace in the fact that, despite everything, The Catcher in the Rye continues to be praised by many as a must-read bible for youths. More than sixty million copies of it have been printed worldwide; Holden Caulfield’s honest and powerful narrative has been translated into nearly all of the world’s major languages. Bestselling author Haruki Murakami just presented his translation in 2003. Perhaps what made the book so legendary was the mystery in which its author enshrouded himself. J. D. Salinger began his career as a short story writer in New York and published some works after the immediately successful The Catcher in the Rye, but went into reclusion in the early 60s. He spent the rest of his life avoiding publicity, writing in his New Hampshire home but never publishing his words for the world to read. With the author gone for real and forever, mankind is bound to look back to one of its favourite books with renewed fervor. Hopefully this attention won’t upset J. D. Salinger. After all, with The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger left a clear footprint not only in the history of American literature but also in the history of humanity as a whole. There is no way for J. D. Salinger to be completely forgotten.

— I know a little more about it, but I still haven’t read it. It’s about a troubled teenage boy, roaming through the “phony” city, seeking his deserved morsel of truth. It’s not really about a golden field of rye. It’s old. It’s inspiring. It’s The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. References:

Biography base. (2010). J.D. Salinger biography. Biography Base. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Salinger_J_D.html. Homework Online, Inc. (2010). The catcher in the rye by J.D. Salinger. Homework Online Study Guide. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from http://www.homework-

online.com/tcitr/index.html. SparkNotes. (2010). The catcher in the rye. SparkNotes. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/quotes.html#explanation4. Stephey, M.J. (2008, September 29). Censorship in modern times. Time. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1842832_1842838,00.html. Tanaka, H. (2010, January 29). American author J.D. Salinger dies. Asahi.com. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from

http://www.asahi.com/obituaries/update/0129/TKY201001290001.html.

Ah, what’s that word? Dijon? No…Dijonaise? Déjà vu!

BY SAKI SHIMADA

Most of the time (or so I hope) the noodle-like

organ inside our heads functions as it ought to—working properly, allowing us to go about our daily lives without a problem. But on some occasions, things go a bit awry. We occasionally experience some brain quirks, which we rarely stop to think about, as if these quirks were normal to us.

One common phenomenon of the mind is a Déjà vu: a sense that you have seen or done something before. Déjà vu calls upon a strong sense of familiarity and its strangeness causes us to be baffled by the startling experience of feeling as though we replayed an episode of history, but in reality, we have not….Oh, you sneaky noggin you.

This phenomenon confirms the fallibility of memory, as according to new research, déjà vu is essentially an error in our episodic memory in which our brain’s hippocampus (responsible for memory formation) confuses similarities between new and familiar experiences. However, more than 40 theories exist, formulated by philosophers, psychologists, and even paranormal experts—all of which attempt to explain what déjà vu is and what causes this phenomenon.

One common theory, proposed by researchers involved in studies at Duke University led by Dr. Alan Brown, suggests that our brain divides its attention, which causes déjà vu. This “divided attention theory”, otherwise known as the “cell-phone theory”, explains how when we become distracted with something else, we subliminally absorb what is around us but may not truly register it consciously. Then, when we begin to refocus on what we are actually doing, those surroundings appear to be already familiar to us even when they shouldn’t be-- the déjà vu moments are triggered by a conscious recognition of a subconsciously pre-processed visual cue moments earlier. Therefore, this theory suggests how we might

walk into a building, perhaps chatting with someone, and experience déjà vu— we would have already looked at the room as our brains have already visually processed it, so that when we actually focus on the room instead of dividing our attention from chatting, we get the sense that we’ve already experienced being in the building before.

Image source: http://fashionability.wordpress.com/

Another brain quirk that we often experience is that “Ugh, dang it, now it’s going to bother me for the rest of the day”-feeling. These can also be referred to as “word-at-the-tip-of-the-tongue” moments. This experience is like déjà vu, but in reverse. That is, unlike déjà vu where we experience something that we believe to have experienced before, a tip-of-the-tongue experience causes us to momentarily forget something we should have already known. For instance, words can perplexingly go missing, only to reappear in our minds moments later. Research suggests that bilinguals are especially prone to these momentary lapses in vocabulary. This is because similar-sounding words compete for our brain's attention, and because bilinguals by definition know twice as many words as monolinguals, the chances of tip-of-the-tongue experiences are higher.

Thus, despite how our brain may function normally on most days, the noodle organ actually has some few…ah....what’s the word?...glitches!, here and there. References

Lampinen, J. (2002, May 13). What Exactly is déjà vu?. Scientif ic American, Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-exactly-is-dj Phillips, H. (2009, March 25). Déjà vu: where fact meets fantasy . NewScientist, (2701), Retrieved from http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20127011.400-

deja-vu-where-fact-meets-fantasy.html

All I want is to get into college an INVISIBILITY CLOAK!

BY NINA GALLO

Whether you're a Harry Potter fan or not,

you're probably familiar with the concept of an invisibility cloak. Slip this magical article of clothing over your head and, in the eyes of all onlookers, VANISH.

This type of magic tends to fly unquestioned in J.K. Rowling’s world of wizardry. But how about in the real world? Well Muggles, science has some good news: according to scientists from Duke University, an invisibility cloak could be made within the next six months.

Unlike Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak, which is empowered by magic, this invisibility cloak would be empowered by metamaterials—artificial materials engineered to provide unique properties that derive from its physical structure, not its chemical make-up.

For a material to be invisible, it must manipulate light. And thus to do so, the metamaterial’s microscopic surface must be significantly smaller than that of the wavelength of light being used.

Waves of radiation normally bounce off solid objects in different directions, but the metamaterial stops this happening. The microwaves are guided around its surface (in the same way that a rock diverts water in a stream) causing most of them to return to their original pattern on the other side, as if the object wasn’t there.

"The cloak would act like you've opened up a hole in space," said Duke University's David Smith. "All light or other electromagnetic waves are swept around the area, guided by the metamaterial to emerge on the other side as if they had passed through an empty volume of space."

In order to conduct this experiment, scientists assembled a twenty-by-four inch platform and covered it up with the mirror-like metamaterial. They then covered a one-square-inch rounded bump in the same metamaterial, placed it on the other surface, and shone infrared light on the set up.

Any normal curved material would scatter the light at a variety of different angles. The metamaterial-covered bump instead reflected light back towards the source like a flat surface would do, hiding the bump underneath.

The Duke cloak does have its limitations. It only works in two dimensions, and so both the background and the hidden object need to be wrapped in the metamaterial.

However, the cloak also has advantages as well. Unlike Harry Potter's one-of-a-kind invisibility cloak, a real invisibility cloak will likely be cheap and easily reproducible. It took Smith and his team of scientists only nine days to both design and implement the experiment.

Moreover, the scientists used hobby-level circuit boards; Smith's rough estimate was that it took about $1.00 in circuit boards to cloak the one-inch bump on the metamaterial.

Hiding a small bump is great for science, and convenient for hiding things in general, but invisibility technology has a much wider range of uses aside from mere concealment. Just to name a few of many examples, scientists say that the cloaking technology could remove cell-phone interference in buildings (allowing people to conduct clear conversations even inside an elevator) and could even get rid of that building in front of your house that’s blocking your panoramic view.

Don’t get your hopes up though—whatever the possible uses of the cloak may include, it has been warned that it will not be something available for civilian use, at least not in the near future. References Cloak of Invisibility Gets Closer to Reality. (2009). Fox News. Retrieved on February 5, 2010 from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480067,00.html Theoretical Blueprint for Invisibility Cloak Reported. (2008). Duke Engineering. Retrieved on February 5, 2010 from http://www.pratt.duke.edu/news/?id=433

Red Velvet Cake: A Valentine’s Day Aphrodisiac

BY AZAR KHOSROWSHAHI

Oysters, almonds, nutmeg, avocado, basil, chocolate, garlic, figs, pineapple, truffles, strawberries, mustard…what do all of these foods have in common? Surprisingly, they are all considered aphrodisiac foods, meaning that they elicit sexual desire.

Since ancient times, people have used aphrodisiacs to increase their romantic appeal. The Aztecs believed that chocolate and avocado had magical sexual powers; ancient Romans observed that oysters had a strong effect on a woman’s behavior; and in ancient China, nutmeg was often recommended as a female aphrodisiac. Although it has been scientifically proven that these foods have no significant effect on a person’s sexual drive, to this day a multitude of people still believe in their capabilities.

Red velvet cake, a heavenly and rich dessert, is considered to be an aphrodisiac. Although it is claimed to have originated in several places, Americans acknowledge it as a delicious deep southern dessert. However, many believe that it was created at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City in the 1950s and was the hotel restaurant’s feature dessert. At the same time in Canada, it was common knowledge for red velvet cake to have been invented and marketed by the Eaton’s Department Store. Raven Patrick De’Sean Dennis III claims that “Southern ladies made it to keep their husbands home” during the American Civil War.

Dennis, known as the ‘Cake Man Raven’ to his customers, owns the Cake Man Raven Confectionery in Brooklyn, New York. His scrumptious three-layer red velvet cake is the most popular item among his customers, and the bakery marvelously produces over eighty delicious cakes

each day. Starting at nine o’clock in the morning, customers anxiously line up outside the bakery and wait for this dessert, served in delightful slices or as entire cakes. Cake Man Raven grew up in South Carolina and learned the gift of baking from his grandmother, Evelyn. After moving to New York City, his magnificent red velvet cake, a slight variation from the traditional red velvet recipe, was finally discovered. Newly famous, in 2000 he opened the Cake Man Raven Confectionery. When asked about the astonishing success of his store and the popularity of the red velvet cake, Dennis explained that although he prefers the store’s chocolate cupcakes, he believes that the cake’s popularity is a result of the common belief that it is an aphrodisiac.

Drawing by Azar Khosrowshahi

Until recently, red velvet cake had little popularity outside of North America. Currently cupcakes are a worldwide dessert trend and cupcake stores are popping up in a variety of locations, such as Jordan, Germany, South Korea, and Japan, where cupcakes are not a part of traditional food culture. Through this international cupcake phenomenon, red velvet cake has been introduced to a multitude of cultures, resulting in the increased popularity and awareness of this scrumptious aphrodisiac.

This Valentine’s season, as it is a Japanese custom, many Japanese women will be making homemade chocolate for their sweethearts. If you are looking for a fresh approach to woo your beau, why not bake a delectable red velvet delight? Smother it with thick cream cheese icing, deliver it, and await the results soon to follow.

How to Make Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cake

Image source: http://www.acefitness.org/healthyrecipes/609/red-velvet-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting

(The recipe makes one 8-inch three-layer cake.) Ingredients: F O R T H E C A K E :

2 1/2 cups cake flour 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. cocoa powder 1 tsp. salt 2 eggs

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil 1 cup buttermilk 2 tbsp. (1 oz.) red food coloring 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. white distilled vinegar

F O R T H E I C IN G :

12 oz. cream cheese, softened 12 oz. butter, softened 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 3 cups confectioners' sugar 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Recipe:

1. For the cake: Preheat oven to 350°. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, and salt into a medium bowl. Beat eggs, oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla, and vinegar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Add dry ingredients and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Divide batter evenly between 3 greased and floured 8" round cake pans. Bake cakes, rotating halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, 25–30 minutes. Let cakes cool 5 minutes, then invert each onto a plate, and then invert again onto a cooling rack. Let cakes cool completely.

2. For the frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until combined. Add sugar and beat until frosting is light and fluffy, 5–7 minutes.

3. Put 1 cake layer on a cake plate; spread one-quarter of the frosting on top. Set another layer on top and repeat frosting. Set remaining layer on top and frost top and sides with the remaining frosting. Press pecans into the sides of the cake. Chill for 2 hours to set frosting, or eat while the frosting is soft and creamy.

References Aphrodisiac Foods List. (n.d.). Gourmet Sleuth. Retrieved January 4, 2010, from http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/Nutrition-Health-Food-Labeling-646/

aphrodisiac-foods.aspx Joyce, J. (2006, March). Move Over, Cheesecake. Saveur, (91), 15-16.

What’s in store for you this month?

BY SONIA NESTOROWA

Rat

Your everyday life will be filled with pleasant encounters. You live through some intense experiences and see many of your ambitions realized. Unfortunately, you won’t be on quite the same wavelength as your superiors; don’t persist, adopt a low profile, look for

comprises and avoid disputes.

Ox

You’ll feel active, enterprising, and more confident of your own talents. To form new friendships and

relationships, the stars will see to it that chance will be in your favor. You'll have an opportunity to get closer to that special person you’ve had your eye on these

past months.

Tiger

You’ll be rather inclined to brood and entertain unfairly negative ideas about your entourage. Come

down to earth quickly and try to remain there. In your work, your stubbornness will irritate many people and won't serve your interests in the end; be more flexible!

Expect an increase in your anxiety level; however, chocolate and laughter will prove to be great

remedies!

Rabbit

Confront and attempt to solve your relationship problems once and for all; it may prove easier than you think. Seek the company of people

who share your interests as well as your ideals. Your professional activities will benefit you’re your

extraordinary energy and vitality. On the other hand, this month you might encounter some nervousness, an

inability to of concentrate, and occaionsally fights.

Dragon

In addition to the necessity of maintaining a high morale, you must try to overcome your physical fatigue by resting a few moments every chance you

get in the midst of your busy schedule. Beware, don't let yourself be too influenced by your different

successes. You’ll put yourself at risk of committing regrettable errors of judgment about other people and the decisions you face. In all likelihood, you’ll meet some major difficulties in your work, but don't let

yourself be discouraged by the obstacles. Take advice from trustworthy friends, as this will give you the

necessary energy to withstand your struggles.

Snake

Don't let yourself give way to carelessness, for any negligence can still cost you a great deal, both

financially and in your personal life. Do you feel like you’re surrounded by problems? Rather than focusing on the negative, look at these problems as challenges

and adventures that need solving.

Horse

If your ambitions are not too far of a shot from concrete possibility, then you can achieve many

successes and secure a comfortable future for yourself this month. Unfortunately, you'll have the unpleasant impression that every time something is changed, it's always for the worse! Try to see the good in change.

Goat

Beware of hasty compromises, ill-conceived plans, and dispersion! Wait some time more before making important decisions. You’ll do your best to fulfill the expectations of those who love you or depend on you, but you'll be confronted with a choice between your

professional responsibilities and your family obligations. Try to show courage in the face of

difficulty.

Monkey

This month, you will be facing temptation on many fronts; don’t give in, since it might not be as

rewarding as you think. You’ll be able to fight more effectively against your natural suggestibility without going so far as to show a permanently contradictory

mind.

Rooster

You’ll have a good chance to find immense happiness; profit from your novel experiences and

“pick up roses where you find them!” You’ll probably be confronted with some small domestic problems

provoked by your tendency to negligence.

Dog

You’ll experience a boost in morale. Even if you have remaining concerns, you'll react positively by remaining aloof and avoiding dramatization.

Professionally, increase your efforts. This will be the moment to make decisions, and to show your

authority and competence.

Pig

The sentimental climate will be rather stormy, pregnant with jealousy and miniature dramas. You’ll

experience a positive work pace, encouraged by concrete results; your ideas and methods will bear

their fruits. Don't waste a single minute in pointless gossip. A comical television show or some funny stories will help you drive any bad moods away.

(2010). Chinese monthly horoscope [Electronic Version]. Astrologizeme. Retrieved January 28, 2010, from http://www.astrologizeme.com/monthly_chinese.shtml