MYTHS ON BREASTFEEDING, BUSTED!

               

            Breastfeeding is a natural occurrence for mothers and their newborns. Yet, society has come up with quite a number of myths that may have made mothers within and across countries hesitant and anxious in feeding their babies from their breasts. Thus, these are some of the myths on breastfeeding that we should make clear and prove as false. Busted! 

credits to http://www.pencilsketchportraits.co.uk/

          1. “I have small breasts. I might not have enough milk to produce for my child.”

                BUSTED! The size of one’s breasts does not indicate amount of breast milk produced! Instead of considering breast size, the amount of milk-producing breast tissues of women matters more in its influence to the volume of human milk. The more breast tissues there are, the greater the amount of human milk that is produced.

2.  “I can’t breastfeed again because I stopped.”

                BUSTED! It is still possible for mothers to breastfeed again once they have stopped, though this might take more effort. The frequency of breastfeeding is directly proportional to the amount of milk produced.

3. “I haven’t washed! I cannot breastfeed anymore!”

                BUSTED! The breastmilk, particularly the colostrum, contains natural substances which gives protection to newborns from infection. The colostrum refers to the “first, thick yellowish fluid that comes out from the second to the fifth day after delivery”. Its antibodies provide immunity to infants, and its being a mild laxative also makes it capable of cleaning out the babies’ digestive organs.

credits to http://www.pencilsketchportraits.co.uk/

4. Breastfeeding is painful.

                BUSTED! Breastfeeding may be painful especially for some women, but this can just be caused by incorrect positioning of the baby as he or she suckles. There is a concept of “Proper Latching” wherein the baby needs to put the entire nipple and the large part of the areola onto his or her mouth for a less painful and better milk transfer. This proper latching would also trigger the oxytocin hormone more, which is responsible for the stimulation and ejection of milk. Thus, it makes the milk flow better.

5. “I should breastfeed alternately because my breasts contain different properties!”

                Busted! The idea that one breast would contain food such as rice or bread, while the other breasts would contain water, is false. The breastmilk has the same properties and nutrients, whether they come from the left or the right breast.

6.  “A mother should not breastfeed when she is exposed to the sun! The milk will turn too hot, salty, or sour, and may cause illness to the baby!”

                BUSTED! The breastmilk has a stable temperature inside the mothers’ breasts. Moreover, it does not change in terms of composition upon exposure to the sun.

credits to http://fineartamerica.com/ 

              As humans, we have the right to be informed! Let us exercise that right, and not be fooled by misinformation or lack of information. To all the future mothers, as well as to the future husbands who could provide support to their wives, let us make ourselves aware of natural human phenomena such as breastfeeding. After all, breastfeeding is the best for babies up to two years and beyond. Promote breastfeeding! Promote life! J

REFERENCES:

        Byrd-Bredbenner, C. M. (2012). Wardlaw's Perspectives in Nutrition. US: McGraw Hill Higher Education.

       de Guzman, M. P. (1996). Basic Nutrition for Filipinos (4th ed.). Manila, Philippines: Merriam & Webster Bookstore, Inc.

       International Breastfeeding Centre (2006). Myths of Breastfeeding. Retrieved 2014: http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&id=27:myths-of-breastfeeding&Itemid=17

Heroes of the Sea: A Reaction to Ms. Anna Oposa's Forum on Marine Biodiversity

credits to humanheartnature.com

It seems that mermaids do exist. Ms. Anna Oposa, down-to-earth, charismatic and passionate for the environment, is one of them. I had seen her before, back in Freshman year when she came to our English 1 class and discussed her essay, “Anna Oposa Loves Loves Loves UP.” A crafty and clever writer, she definitely wasn’t a personality easy to forget—her candid presence and witty catchphrases could capture anyone’s attention (plus, her name rhymes with itself). I remember her mentioning that at that time she wasn't sure what she wanted to do as a graduate, that she didn't know what to do with her degree in English Studies. After that lecture I never heard from her again.

When I saw her name posted on the wall, I was expecting to attend discussion on literature or creative writing, but was pleasantly surprised when Ms. Oposa said she would be talking to us about marine biodiversity. So many worlds away from English Studies, I thought to myself, but I kept quiet and listened as she dived into an informative discussion of marine life, environmental issues and raising awareness through her foundation, Save Philippine Seas.

credits to globalnation.inquirer.net

In her talk she mentioned the extensive effects of pollution and climate change to our seas and their inhabitants—poisoned turtles, dying coral reefs, dwindling specie populations—and this does not yet account for the additional damage human actions have induced, such as the harmful results of dynamite fishing, illegal hunting, and unregulated business practices. Philippine coastal regions especially in the areas of Batangas and Zambales have shown an increase in water temperature amounting to 3%, which according to the team which conducted the research, is enough to cause coral bleaching, which in extreme forms can cause the death of coral reefs and damage to the ecosystems residing therein.[1] Such effects have let to the destruction of numerous underwater habitats, naming these areas as dead “marine zones.” I did additional research and found that such issue has caught the attention of the UN, which has stated that unless mitigated, this phenomenon poses serious threats to countries such as the Philippines, which depend on its oceans and seas as a source of food and livelihood.[2] 

credits to http://walarge.com/

Aside from this, one of the interesting insights I realized was how institutions such as Manila Ocean Park, which were made to foster appreciation and respect for marine life among its patrons, have been doing poorly in carrying out its purpose. These institutions, for the very nature of their business, have the capacity to influence our perception on marine wildlife. Yet despite this, several park practices have propagated misconceived ideas about these sea creatures to the public. An example would be Subic’s Ocean Adventure and its diving with sharks experience entitled, “Shark Attack,” which immediately conveys that sharks are dangerous, uncontrollable, and perhaps even deadly. It is acts like this that Ms. Oposa so actively advocates against: the mis-education of Filipinos with regards to marine biodiversity. She is pushing for people to see marine life in a positive light, to propagate proper ideas and notions, and to spread informed awareness to the all.

credits to http://kazdraws.blogspot.com/

Marine wildlife conservation has long been an environmental concern, yet seems to be pressing only to those with direct interest in the subject matter. It’s rather ironic how our country is hailed as the world’s center of biodiversity, yet only a minority of the population are fighting to preserve this. What’s even more unfortunate is that in many cases, organizations like Save Philippine Seas struggle to collaborate with local government authorities in furthering their cause, for reasons ranging from lack of interest to conflict of interest. Ideally, this should be a joint effort between the two.

I admire Ms. Oposa for her bravery and passion, for it takes plenty of courage to keep pushing for change, to never settle until progress is made. I wish, for many reasons, more of us could be like her, because it’s her kind of attitude that will initiate change in our society. It’s her kind of drive that can pressure our leaders to deliver results. It’s her kind of passion that can transform love of country into tangible acts of nationalism. If Ms. Anna Oposa can give marine life its own voice, then how hard is it really to raise our own? I am glad that Ms. Oposa has found an avenue to spread her message. Hopefully the same can happen for us so we may likewise advocate for our own causes and as young leaders, inspire others so that together we may contribute positively to our society, our environment and country.

---

[1] Quismundo, Tarra. "http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20110205-318643/Climate-change-is-harming-PH-marine-life." Inquirer 2 May 2011, n. pag. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20110205-318643/Climate-change-is-harming-PH-marine-life>.

[2] Alave, Kristine. "Marine dead zones to put Philippines at risk—UN Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/23761/marine-dead-zones-to-put-philippines-at-risk—un

Beautiful Eyes *blink blink*

credits to http://www.therapearl.com/

“the eyes are the windows to the soul" well not only to the soul but, maybe, to the heart as well. The openings at the center of our irises mirror more than what are on the outside. Researches show that men find women with dilated pupils more attractive than women who don’t.

The autonomic nervous system is in charge with the dilation and constriction of the pupils, which is also responsible for other involuntary actions like goose bumps and heart rates. In a 1965 Scientific American magazine article, psychologist Eckhard Hess described an intriguing experiment [2]. While showing his research assistant James Polt a series of photographs, Hess tracked changes in the diameter of Polt's pupil size. Lo and behold, Polt's pupils enlarged most dramatically when a picture of a nude woman flashed before his eyes, leading Hess to hypothesize that sexual arousal stimulates the pupils. Further experimentation found heterosexual people's pupils dilated when staring at opposite-sex nudes, whereas homosexual participants exhibited that pupillary response when looking at same-sex nudes, offering further confirmation of a link between sexual interest and dilation.

credits to http://www.buzzle.com/

Additionally, the researchers noticed a compelling clue about how the eyes may influence physical attraction. Not only do pupils dilate in response to amusing material, but people also rate faces with bigger pupils as more attractive than those looking back with fuller irises.

Italian women were very much into making themselves attractive they dilated their pupils with 'belladonna' which actually translates to beautiful woman. This plant secretes atropine which not only cause pupil dilation but also death-because of the toxin it contains.

A study by the psychologist Eckhardt Hess showed that when presented photographs of digitally enhanced pupils, men found doe-eyed women more attractive.

Source:

  

[1] Conger, Cristen.  "Does love make your pupils dilate?"  12 February 2012.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/sexual-health/sexuality/love-make-pupils-dilate.htm>  08 March 2014.

[2] By Robert Morris Stern, William J. Ray, Karen S. Quigley.Psychophysiological Recording. 2001.

The Selfie Generation

credits to Mashable.com

 “The most esteemed guardian of the English language has bestowed a prestigious honor upon debatably the most embarrassing phenomenon of the digital age: the selfie.”

-          Ben Brumfield, CNN

credits to RealClear.com

Throughout the ages, self- portraits have been produced by photographers, artists and painters; and with the advancement of technology and the increasing popularity of social media sites comes the greater convenience for many to “create a gallery of regularly uploaded profile pictures taken via cell phone, laptop, or camera held at arm’s length”. The word ‘selfie’ first popped up in an Australian chatroom in 2002, but only gained its digital fame a decade later. The selfie’s popularity has been quite overwhelming, with at least 57 million photos with the ‘#selfie’ on Instagram alone. With this, the Oxford Dictionaries even named ‘selfie’ as the word of the year for 2013, revealing that its frequency of use has increased by a 17,000% since 2012. Today the selfie is described as “A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website” by the Oxford Dictionaries.

    

credits to Luckymag.com

According to psychologists, the reason why people take selfies is that there is an innate need of humans to connect with others and to receive validation and acceptance. Moreover, taking selfies is also a way for young people to express themselves, their mood and to be to explore their identities while sharing this experience with others in the digital world. Taking selfies allow a person to be more selective of what they want others to see, therefore allowing them to shape and highlight their characteristics through filters, different angles and poses. According to Dr. Letamendi, this allows people to create a more 'likeable' self and also allows them to choose photos that seem more like the visual self they wish to present (Erickson, 2013). Although this is the case, many psychologists also claim that selfies have a significant effect on one’s self- esteem and may also open a wide platform for cyberbullying.

Social Comparison

credits to stylecaster.com

 The opinion of others plays a big part in our own identity development; this is called the looking- glass self, a “psychological concept that suggests we develop our sense of self based on the perceptions of those we interact with” said Andrea Letamendi, a doctor of psychology at UCLA. The majority of teenagers that post their photos online expect assurance and compliments; and so there is already an expectation that one should receive comments and likes. This makes them even more vulnerable to negative comments, abuse and comparison. According to some studies, the comments that one receives from his/ her Facebook profile picture “strongly affect their level of perceived physical, social and professional attractiveness”. 

credits to joe.ie

According to Jess Weiner, there has been an increasing pressure to be camera- ready, which may elevate self- esteem issues, and so the expectation of comments on social media sites brings a more competitive aspect. She also says that many women and girls who are shy use selfies to portray themselves as a different character, and so a lot of self- editing takes place. This constant seeking of approval could be damaging to the confidence of young people and may warp their later perception on life. Dr. Hibberd, a clinical psychologist says that “young children today are developing inappropriate self- awareness at a much earlier age, when they should not have to seek approval from their peers but celebrate who they are inside which is far more important”.

Cyber-bullying

credits to softpedia

With the majority of teenagers posting photos in search of approval and assurance, they also make themselves more vulnerable to abuse, says Dr. Hibbard. The anonymity of the internet has a huge influence on the kind of feedback one receives on social media. Online there is a greater possibility to be scrutinized because people” interact through a protected, anonymous filter, potentially making any self-esteem issues more sensitive”. Some forums exist solely for the purpose of giving constructive criticism on self- submitted portraits, and so suggests the desire of many to maintain an image that would be accepted by society.

               

Selfies provide an avenue for self- expression and interaction, it’s a trend that does not seem to be going any time soon. Although this is the case, selfies present some issues concerning self- esteem, cyber- bullying, and social comparison. Therefore, it is essential that we take on a more responsible role in dealing with anything that we or others post online.

REFERENCES:

Brooker, K. (2013, July 29). Mo' Selfies, Mo' Problems? How Those Pics Can Chip Away At Your Self-Esteem. Retrieved from Refinery29: http://www.refinery29.com/2013/07/50626/selfies

Brumfield, B. (2013, September 13). Selfie named word of the year for 2013. Retrieved from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/19/living/selfie-word-of-the-year/

Erickson, C. (2013, February 16). The Social Psychology of the Selfie. Retrieved from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2013/02/15/social-media-and-the-selfie/

Sedor, J. (2013, December 29). Why We Take Selfies—& Why It's Okay. Retrieved from Refinery29: http://www.refinery29.com/2013/12/59582/selfies-psychology

Sifferlin. (2013, September 6). Why Selfies Matter. Retrieved from Healthland: http://healthland.time.com/2013/09/06/why-selfies-matter/

Slavin, L. (n.d.). The Evolution of Selfie Culture: Self-Expression, Narcissism, or Objectification? . Retrieved from Feminspire: http://feminspire.com/the-evolution-of-selfie-culture-self-expression-narcissism-or-objectification/

Sense of Dying

frenchtribune.com

Googling the question “what is the last sense a dying person will lose” will give us millions of results in a matter of seconds, and most of those results will give us articles telling that it is hearing that will go last, with the assumption of course that it is a natural death. Most of these articles are testimonies of people working in hospice section, or even people who experience sudden unconsciousness. Yet, there is still no concrete evidence if it is hearing that will go last in a dying person. Most of these articles offer theories based on experiences and limited scientific data.

knowingbrain.blogspot.com

Dying, as the Mosby’s Medical, Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary defines it, is the cessation of life as indicated by the fading activity of the brain and central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and respiratory system as observed and declared by the physician.  When dying, the heart of a patient will slowly stop its beat, causing the flow of blood through the body unstable. The remaining blood supply is reserved for the brain and heart. This will cause the reducing functionality of almost all the organs of the body. The eyesight goes when the eyelids lose its strength to stay open; the skin, which is also much dependent in the flow of blood, will lose its ability to feel; the sense of smell and taste probably stay. The ears, meanwhile, can still pick up all the sounds in the surrounding, and because it is not much dependent on the blood flow, it is still capable of hearing. It needs only a little amount of blood and this amount is decently supplied since the ears are near to the brain. Besides, all of the senses involve chemical reactions, except for hearing which is fully mechanical. All of this would apply, of course, to a person who does not suffer organ disability.

     

earinc.com

Hearing, meanwhile, is the process by which the ears pick up all the vibrations in air pressure and encodes this information into an electrical signal that the brain can understand. Studies showed that the ears are independent of other organs and need just a little brain activity. There’s no problem of picking up the sounds since it requires no physical strength to be operated; what’s crucial is the process of interpreting these sounds- a function of the brain. But research showed that within six to ten minutes after the heart stops, the brain is still functioning; which means that the electrical impulses sent by the ears can still be read and interpreted by the brain. Science has also used the so-called Electroencephalogram (EEG) to gain understanding of the process of dying. EEG is a graphic record of brain waves representing electrical activity in the brain. For a dying patient, EEG shows that the electrical signals encoded by the ears are still present.

     

expanded--consciousness.blogspot.com

Despite the advancements in Science and Technology, the art of dying is still the one that is not much explored. For now, it remains mysterious. But at least we have these bits of hypotheses. For the some people, they may be sure that a dying person can still hear. For Science, it requires further studies.

Sources:

Clima, Terrell. “Death and Dying”. TLC Nursing. TLC Nursing Continuing Education Units,n.d. http://www.tlcnursingceus.com. 24 September 2012

Harris, Tom. “How Hearing Works”. How Stuff Works. Discovery Company, n.d. http://science.howstuffworks.com. 24 September 2012

 “It’s Easy to Believe That Hearing is the Last sense to Go”. The Spokesman-Review.n.p. 6 September 2011. http://www.spokesman.com. 24 September 2012

Neila22. “Why is hearing the last sense a person loses while dying?”.Wiki Answers. Answers Corporation, 15 April 2011. http://wiki.answers.com. 24 September 2012

Scott, Jaclin Meade. “Can the Dying Hear?”. Bella Online. Minerva WebWorks LLC. n.d. http://www.bellaonline.com. 24 September 2012

Say Cheese!

The portrait of Mona Lisa became famous not just because of the artist who painted it but because of her engaging smile. It's so enthralling no one ever paid attention to her non-apparent eyebrows. Hihihi.

Smiling, as know it, is our way of expressing happiness--but that is not always the case. Studies show that there is a lot more than showing that pearly white set of teeth you have. Smiling says a lot about the person wearing that grin. 

Researchers found 4 findings:

1. According to a research in the journal Motivation and Emotion published in 2009, the way people smiled in old photographs predicts their success in marriage. The psychologists conducted the study by looking at old high school yearbooks and old childhood photos. It was then revealed that the biggest grinners in the yearbooks did not divorce later in life and that most of the straight-faced underwent divorce. Moreover, the childhood photos of people over 65 had the same result. 

The researchers reported that a bigger smile reflect a more happy-go-lucky life and may attract a happier partner that may lead to a happy relationship.

2. A healthy smile reflect a person's overall health. And for women it can also mean fertility. In the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, women with gum diseases take two months longer to conceive than women without.

Gum diseases are also linked to other illnesses.

3. Smiling can also reveal how much money a person can make. Less worry means more focus on job-related tasks thus having a more successful career.

According to a study published in 2012 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, happy teens earned 10 percent more income than average at age 29, while gloomy adolescents earned 30 percent less than average at that age.

Powerful people smile only when they feel happy unlike their lesser counterparts who only smile just to be ingratiated.

4. Smiling is not only about happiness but also a display of social status. Research shows that high-powered people, as well as interacting with others of equal power, smile whenever they feel happy. In contrast, people who are less powerful than people      they are interacting with smile regardless of the emotion they are feeling.


The meaning of smiles depend on social contexts. It is not only a reflection of emotions but health as well. Some smiles bring benefits while some reveal hidden weaknesses.

Now, think of a reason why you smile. :)



Source:

http://www.livescience.com/41144-5-smile-secrets.html

Reaction to Forum on Cultural Change, Dissent and Medieval Science: Science, A Melting Pot of Consciousness

credits to UP STS Department

The public forum on February 10 was on the history of Medieval Science, dissent and cultural change discussed by Dr. Jovi Miroy. It was explained how science developed throughout history with it first starting out heavily philosophical. During the medieval times science was sought as something to help understand human experience and nature (as a creation of God and in itself), therefore having the right to claim dominion over nature. These could be done through observation, experimentation and tests, though quite different from those from which we have today. Its main focus was basically on change, which was systematic in nature. Moreover, there was judgment about matters that are universal and necessary concerning God and nature. Even before there have been skeptics of science; and the various approaches to logic clashed, and the one which was deemed more rational was the one that included both propositions. There was no one truth, but there were a number of approaches to logic. Therefore it could be said that there was dissent regarding medieval science as people tried to understand the same truth differently through reasoning; in other words, truth was set apart from authority. Simply dissenting does not connote cultural change though, there first needs to be a shift in consciousness in order to have observable changes in behavior.

   

credits to Quora.com

      It was an interesting lecture in that it was explained that throughout history (and even into the future) there would always be room for varying ideas and opinions, which we believe connotes freedom of thinking and expression. In this way, there will always be a struggle for truth. In other words, we have the power to change consciousness through our search for the truth, and therefore change the way in which the system works. A striking thought reiterated throughout the lecture was how “change” never really starts through changing one’s behavior, but one had to change the way hoe one thinks first. This basically means that we have to understand our  “transformation” before we can “be” it. We think this means that the action is just as strong as the mind; but we still believe that it is important to have concrete steps in order to have results. Dr. Miroy also said that here in the Philippines, there seems to be no sign of cultural change. To some level, this may be true since there does not 

credits to Wikimedia Commons

seem to be a change in the consciousness of the Filipino; we still operate like colonized peoples, a slave to poverty and ignorance. On the other hand, many citizens (and we can proudly say that a quite a lot UP students) have opened their eyes to reality and see the world as they define it on their own terms. In addition to this, they do not merely dissent but also understand the change that they want to take place, and take concrete steps for the said change. This being said we agree that, yes, it is important to change the way one thinks first, but we should not disregard the necessary and concrete steps for change. Another interesting topic was how the speaker said how the kind of question we ask ourselves would ultimately have a difference on the outcome of our goals.We believe this emphasizes his other main point of “thinking before change” because it shows how powerful the way in which we think would ultimately affect our behavior; what we concentrate on is what would drive us to change

credits to Lazerhorse.org

Let us say a certain number of students listened to the public forum on cultural dissent: they listened to one speaker and one lecture; but the thing is, they will all interpret these information differently. As we all write reaction papers and blogs, each student would struggle to explain the truths taught to us in various ways. This is the beauty of learning; we are free to understand everything in our own terms; as the speaker called it: there are various approaches to logic. Sure this would lead to possible dissent and opposing views, but this struggle will pay off in the end as we have a deeper understanding of consciousness therefore leading to change in our society.

                

Closing the Gates to Trade?

credits to www.fibre2fashion.com

Build factories that will process raw materials into final goods - production that will only suffice local demand to conserve our resources. Prohibit foreign investment and let the locals manage the market. Eliminate the concept of working overseas by producing jobs domestically that will cater to all available professions. Have more than one power generating firm to lower the cost of electricity. Empower the farmers, through this we can strengthen the base of our economy which is agriculture. Focus on providing for the people not exporting. This will be the key to development - National Industrialization.

credits to arnoldpadilla.wordpress.com

Last meeting`s discussion keeps on reverberating in my head so I decided to make a blog out of it. As a soon to be economist, I can't help but to rebut some ideas that were raised, grounding my counter discussion on the field of economics. Although there were some points which are partly true, I find the others inconsiderate of some basic international trade principles.

International trading expands the local economy. In a way, trading across boarders localizes the global market for it makes the product of other countries accessible to a local market. Globalization bridge different local markets and creates a bigger competitive market - by competitive we mean a market with many players, goods at low cost, and more efficient transactions. A local economy is being exposed to a lot of options making it easier for it to make rational choices. An economy can now import raw materials

credits to ffemagazine.com

- which it does not have locally - to be used in its production of goods. Also, it can export its main products, supplying the demand not only of its own market but of different countries, to be able to gain in the trading.

With the concept of international trade comes David Ricardo`s idea of comparative advantage. An economy should be able to specialize in the production of a certain good or in one industry. Consider that everything is being done in a single small market (the Philippines for example), it will be too costly to run several small entities that will produce different goods. Inputs will be expensive and operational expenses will be high (Concept of Economies of Scale). Thus, goods will be of higher prices relative to goods produced outside the country – making the local market lose in the international market and the local consumers suffer from high prices.

credits to www.informinc.org

On the issue of resource consumption, indeed, economies that export raw materials usually and historically belong to third world countries. Yet, the solution to this problem is not totally banning the use of these resources but to conserve and regulate. At the core of this dilemma, it is the law and political will of the government that should be reviewed. The policies covering use of our natural resources are outdated. There is a little concern over environmental issues and depreciation of these resources overtime. Also, weak monitoring and implementation current policies gives an avenue to abused issued rights to extract natural resources. Yes, there is a problem with the way we deal with our natural resources but it all boils down to outdated laws and weak monitoring.

credits to www.moneynewsnow.com

On the issue of investments, should we prohibit foreign investments to give way to local investors? I think we should not. Foreign investors have enough capital- sufficient to create an industry that hasa significant effect to the economy - which the locals do not have. They bring inflows to the local economy. It is not that we discourage small scale industries of local investors. It is just that foreign investors are also sure and stable source of economic development.

Our problem on job mismatch might be resolved by building all industries that will cater to all the professions but as pointed earlier in the blog, such solution is inefficient. We need to treat the root cause of the problem and all the solutions that we should propose should be for greater efficiency. The best way to solve this problem of underemployment is to develop a system of education that can produce talents that are internationally competitive. There is a bigger market for professionals outside the country and we should make the most out of it. We need to improve the quality of education in the country in such a way that our professionals will be recognized in all parts of the globe. Make education accessible to all Filipinos and make public education at par with international standards. Also, encouraging foreign investors to stay and have their operations here in the country will create jobs that offer competitive compensation and benefits. This will give an option to local talents to stay in the country.

credits to www.spectroinc.com 

On power generation, having multiple power generating entities is not a good idea. The industry of electricity is considered as a natural monopoly, which means it is better off monopolized. Costs, operational and opportunity, increase as entities of such industry exceeds one. Since it is a monopoly and monopolists aim for profit (price set far higher that marginal costs to gain significant profit), price of electricity is really expected to be high. The best way to counter the monopolistic nature of the industry is through government intervention. The government can give state subsidy or set a price ceiling to the power generating firm, a price just right for the consumers and for firm to gain some profit and continue its operations.

credits to greensquarepropertiescorp.com

On the issue in agriculture, it is not just right but proper to invest in the industry. Indeed, agriculture is the base of any economy. It is the first step towards achieving industrialization. We cannot move forward if the foundation of the economy still lags behind. We need genuine land reform and solid support of the government for the farmers. Technologies that will further the status quo of the industry – more efficient harvesting and production of food – will be of great help to achieve this goal thus, the government should invest in research and development.

This blog is not enough to have the discussion in detail but we hope that we have made our point clear. With all of these, Globalization is not totally bad after all instead, it is an opportunity for our country to achieve development. What the country needs right now is a government that is clean, has a strong political will, and genuine in realizing it goals for the welfare of its people. More importantly, we need a new generation that is ready to be different, to start a change, and to go against the current of backward thinking and oppressive selfishness.
***

Psychedelic Science

     

     Fabian Oefner is a photographer and artist who wants to blend the disciplines of art and science. His psychedelic images capture natural phenomena and present them in unique and eye-catching ways. To date, subjects have included sound waves, iridescence, even magnetic ferroliquids and fire. His aim: to create images that appeal to both a viewer's heart and brain.

Dancing Colors “The Pillar” (2013). This is a visualization 

of sound. Colored crystals leap from the surface of a 

speaker as it emits sound waves. More starting at 2:13 in 

Oefner’s talk.

     The beauty of this talk is not simply based in the extraordinary visual images presented, but also in capturing the imagination of the young. The amalgamation of science and art is a modern cultural recovering. something that has been lost in the modern age. Society's framing of science as "rationality" and art as the opposite does a disservice to mankind, leading to the false dichotomy that one must choose science or art. Yet in past worlds like the Renaissance or the most ancient civilizations science and art were simply different expressions of the human pursuit of truth and beauty in the world around us.

     It is unfortunate that the popular conception of"art" right now is so heavily visual, when much of the beauty around us does not lie in the 400-700nm range of light that our eyes comprehend. Rather, the beauty in the science is like music, or a good book, requiring us to really sit down and listen or read. I hope talks like Mr. Oefner's encourages many more people to take the time to immerse themselves in the vast, unseen world!

     Results are extraordinary in spite of coming from very ordinary things—sound speakers, magnets and whiskey. Sometimes the beauty and wonder of two opposing disciplines can be brought out and magnified by their counterparts.

Millefiori No. 01 (2012). Ferrofluid is a magnetic, hydrophobic liquid that 

forms colorful curves and channels when deposited onto a magnet and

injected with watercolor paints. More starting at 5:20 in Oefner’s talk.

   "Science and art both look at the world around us, yet do it in very different ways, " he says. "Art approaches the world in an emotional way; science approaches in a rational way. I would like to do both at once, to speak to the viewer's heart and brain."

     To Oefner, the process is as important as the product. After showing some of his still images- full of vibrant colors, abstract shapes, luminescent blobs, swirls and iridescent light- Oefner presents some of his techniques to the audience. In a video, he shows how he makes sound waves visible by placing colored crystals on top of a speaker covered by a plastic sheet, shooting their movements using a camera that takes 5, 000 frames per second. The result: explosions of color in concentric circles and cascades.

Grain of Scent (2013) Tiny individual droplets of a liquid mixed with spray 
paint hang in the air for a fraction of a second, forming a scent sculpture.

     Every single photograph, whether analogue or digital, is a marvellous demonstration of science, but the science part is the part that's often taken for granted - it's often in the background of our lives. The same could be said for paint manufacturing, audio equipment from wax cylinders to MP3 players, moving image from zoetropes to midair projections and 3D TVs... All are the outcome of creative science, encouraged by humanities' desire to explore, express and create. So you could argue that the fact we all carry cameras in our pockets today is thanks to art and science working together.

     Live, he demonstrates how ferrofluids on a magnet form spikes in the viscous black liquid, adding watercolors with a syringe to form otherworldly patterns as the fluids flow around each other. And in a nod to our Edinburgh hosts, he sets a small amount of its national drink alight in a large glass flask to show how he obtained stills of the flame traveling down through alcohol.

     

Marbelous No. 05 (2013) An unusual look at the properties of oil, 
as colorful marbles of oil paint float in a solution of water and 
methylated spirits.

     Why do this? “Most of the time we don’t pay much attention to the unseen and poetic,” he says. “I hope to make the viewer stop and think for a moment and consider the beauty that surrounds us every day.”

    The worlds of art and science are not so separate for me.

     Arts and Sciences are a perfect combination. It's time to realize that a lot of famous scientists have had a very artistical approach to their work.

     Science is nothing without Art. Maybe it's also the other way around.

SOURCES:

Fabian Oefner Blog

Fabian Oefner: Psychedelic science (youtube)

TED blog