Rain Facts and Why I Like to Watch Rain

It rained again today while me and my officemates are having lunch and I just rediscovered my forgotten fascination with the sound of heavy pouring rain.  Yes, I know that we've had a lot of really bad experience with heavy rain, and I personally have plenty even starting in 2001 with Typhoon Juan.  It's probably the adrenalin rush that I get from the loud rain and howling wind that really makes me excited and really just fascinated with stormy weather.  There are others like me who just want to watch the rain as it comes down with all of its destructive yet tantalizing powers, just staring at the flooded gutters, over-flowing narrow street canals, and slowly rising water level in front of their own houses.  Watching rain to me is like watching the waves of the ocean.  How they pounce to the shore and gather up in the sea to come back to the shore again, and again...  It has a calming effect, but I know too well that, like a zoo keeper fond of the lions he keeps, I watch rain in awe and respect for the many positive and negative things it can do that may affect me directly or indirectly.  And in all things, looking for more information brought about curiosity and fascination is something normal, but for a lot of people, studying rain means knowing thine enemy.

Here are some facts connected to rain that I've gathered from all over the net:

1)  Raindrops aren't shaped like this (photo above), they're shaped like that as they are falling. (Photo Credit)
2)  Rain starts off as ice or snow crystals at cloud level.
3)  Rainfall is classified as light if not more than 0.10 inch per hour, and heavy if more than 0.30 inch per hour.

4)  Rain drops can fall at speeds of about 22 miles an hour.

5)  The statue of Liberty is “melting” (and turning green) due to acid rain as it is made out of copper. The acid dissolves the copper and discolors it.

6)  The biggest raindrops on Earth were recorded over Brazil and the Marshall Islands in 2004 — some of them were as large as 10 mm.

7)  Mt. Waialeale in Kauai, Hawaii, has up to 335 - 350 rainy days every year.

8)  A rainbow was visible for 6 hours (from 9am to 6pm) at Wetherby, Yorkshire (UK) on 14 March 1994. This is rare as most rainbows last for only a few minutes.

9)  The wettest place in the world (based on the yearly average total) is Mawsynram, India, which receives an average of 11,870mm (474.8 inches) of rain each year. (Compared to 196.9 inches in the wettest part of the Philippines in terms of average rainfall.)

10)  Precipitation with low pH levels, or acid rain, is also a frequent risk produced by lightning.

11)  In Singing in the Rain (musical movie), the rain consisted of a mixture of water and milk so it would show up better on film but it caused Gene Kelly's wool suit to shrink. ^_^

Another set of weird facts about something and about me!

Regardless whether you like or hate the rain, fact remains that it's important to a lot of living things in the world (are there any that don't need rain directly or indirectly?) but it also can be the most dangerous of all predictable natural occurrences.  We know when it will happen (unlike earthquakes), we can predict its path (unlike tornadoes), know and feel the immediate devastation it can leave us with, but we can't prevent it.   It is an object of beauty and life yet also an object of disaster and death.  After the rain, the few drops make the plants glisten in the sun, a chance that rainbows appear, and make the flowers more appealing and romantic.  But, it can also make some scenes messy, muddy, dirty and devastating.  Such as the scenes from a landslide like the ones that just happened in Brazil.  My fascination with rain is not because it destroys, and not entirely just because it helps with life, but maybe because it's both.

Anne in Red.

My Top 11 Unique Gadgets Wish List

11 is my favorite number, so instead of the usual top 3, 5 or 10 lists, I'll make mine 11.  Unique gadgets are also really top of my "want to be obsessed about but no money to spend on this obsession" list.  ^_^  I'm sure some of you have that too... So without further ado, here they are!

TOP 11 Unique Gadgets I Want to Have!

1) Digidudes - Miniature tripods from Quirky.com

I've got Gorillapods already but even those can be quite a load to carry with you everywhere you go, but these little Digidudes are something!  They're cute, come in different colors, ultimately compact and just ready to go into action anytime and nobody wouldn't even suspect that they're tripods!

Can someone please get me one of these?  ^_^  I wish there was a red Digidude, but if I had to choose I'd take the silver or the yellow dude.  ^_^

Photo Credit

2)  Neko Mimi (Cat's Ears) Headband Earphones - from Thanko.jp

 

Oh and they come in black and white!!!  I already have pink bunny ears but they can never compare to these hi-tech hair accessories!  I want to cosplay wearing one of these!  I don't know why but I'm thinking Chobits when I'm looking at these wired ears although Chi in that anime series didn't have cat's ears but some big triangle pink things that sort of protect a USB port-like whatever.  ^_^;  Anime fans would know what I'm talking about.

3)  192GB Flash Drive Pendant -  from GressoDesign.com

Yes, boys and girls, 192GB because there's 3 sets of flash drive each pendant with 64GB each!  I mean, wow!  And if I didn't know about this, I wouldn't think that those pendants are actually Flash Drives!  You can be like an undercover spy attending a ball and slip into an executive's office to steal information from their hard drive and they wouldn't suspect you! or me.. ^_^  because I'm imagining me wearing one of them...

4)  LG GD910 Watch Phone - from LG

Nothing screams gadget more than a watch-phone!  My brother once had a watch-universal remote control (yes, and he used it to play prank on one of UST's college TV in a building lobby) and I had a film watch both of them from my Dad (we love yah!) and now, what was just myth in the movies before, is now a reality!  Love it!  Samsung has a watch phone too but LG just guns them down with all of it's features (MP3 player, bigger screen, bluetooth, CAMERA - your double-agent life is now complete!).

Photo Credit

5)  Nintendo Controller Business Card Case - from Rakuten.co.jp

Not really a gadget, well, I guess it is, but not really electronic is what I really meant to say.  Either way, how cool is that!?  Will anyone take me seriously if I take my business card out from that kind of case?  Well, I don't know, but it can make for a good conversation... ^_^  Possibly a good business relationship results from that conversation... What do you think of this one, ei?  Nostalgic is what it also is, really...

6)  iMagnet iPod - from Bone Collection

So now you can play your favorite tunes (or I can play my favorite tunes ^_^) while cooking up magic in the kitchen!  Well, I prefer listening to the TV and stealing a few glances of the show but it's just really cool to have this sticking up anywhere metal!  And, according to Bone Collection, it's baby-proof!  But I don't think the babies are iMagnet iPod proof... ^_^  DANGER!

7)  iMaxi iPad Case - Photo Credit

Well, I don't have an iPad but, if I do own something that may not be an iPad but fits into that thing, I'd love to have any excuse to have that giant pad!  Imagine the faces when you unwrap that thing in public!  Oh glory!  Hahahahha!

8)  Smash Alarm Clock - by Matthias Lange

Yes, we all hate being woken up by the alarm clock and often want to just take out that anger on to the alarm clock (or some might already have).  Well, with this, we all can, without worrying about buying a replacement!  Sounds like it came straight off of a comedy set and I love it!

9)  Washable Mouse - from Belkin

And why, you ask?  Just so I can pair it with my WASHABLE KEYBOARD!  Am I kidding?  Oh, of course  I am!  I don't have a washable keyboard, but it's on sale on Firebox.com!

And you still ask why?  Oh, just because I really think it's useless yet it's cool!  ^_^

10)  Lego Wallet - Picture Credit

Grew up playing buckets of Lego and terribly missing them now, but if I had this, boy oh boy!  ^_^  Trouble is, is it possible I'll misplace these wallets somewhere as I did with some of our Lego pieces?  Hope not, but no way to find out until I own one!

11)  Transparent Refrigerator - Photo Credit

Last but definitely not the least, a transparent refrigerator!  Have you ever found yourself trying to think if you had snacks or whatever food in the fridge, unsure and reluctant to open it but you have to, just to see?  Waist of energy (yours and the electric grid) and time.  But with this transparent fridge, no need to guess what you need to buy in the grocery, no need to open the fridge door to see what tempting goodies it holds for you!  Uh oh... So it might also be bad for your diet... (or mine) and also embarrassing if your guests can see what's inside your refrigerator... Oh well, a fine gadget nonetheless!

That completes my list so far!  And yes, I'll make another post, but I think next time it will be all red gadgets!


Wish, wish, wish I had all of these! - Anne in Red

New Zodiac Sign - Ophiuchus ... New Zodiac Dates

I read the article on Time.com about adding a new Zodiac sign and also, obviously, dates that each Zodiac spans also changed.

Here's the list for your reference (as for me, I was Cancerian before, now a Gemini...):

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17.
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.

I really have nothing against this change if ever it's binding and, you know, forever (or at least my whole lifetime).  I personally believe that your Zodiac sign doesn't really tell what type of personality you have, because, as a former Cancer, according to my sign, I am a family person, I rule with my heart and always what is good for my family, I prioritize my family in making decisions, and I want people to get along.  Well, I know that I am like that regardless of when I was born, and even if my Zodiac sign changes, I won't stop being like that.  Also, it doesn't mean that people who weren't born Cancer don't or can't prioritize their family and be all that I mentioned earlier on.

While there are people who believe in the connection between personalities and stars, which I respect, but even astrologists say that you hold your life in your hands and nothing, no amount of fortune-telling based on stars or anywhere else, is set in stone.  We create our own future, we decide our own actions, and our personalities or our identities, we develop them on our own.  Whatever your new Zodiac sign is, it's important to continue to live life to the fullest, continue to care for people, your family or not, and to always aim to become a better person each day, each month, each new year.

A reminder from Anne in Red.

Minute Maid Pulpy - Healthy Fruit in a Bottle

I just drank a bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy. They say it’s got ‘no preservatives added’. Aw, c’mon…It’s bottled juice. Is that even possible? So I thought maybe... we should check the label and put it to the test!

I didn’t believe it the first time I heard it’s got no preservatives added.  So I read the ingredients (even the fine print) and everything checked out! It really has NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED!  That means it doesn’t have ingredients that may turn out to be allergens, or worse...carcinogens!  Whew! Now that’s healthy goodness that tastes so good, I... never thought it can really be done, now that everything you buy anywhere has preservatives!  Amazing!

So okay, it’s got no preservatives added. That’s really good, right?  Not just because it doesn’t have those icky, harmful ingredients, but it also means... you stay healthy while enjoying the great taste of Minute Maid Pulpy!

So far anyone who still has a hard time believing that Minute Maid has got no preservatives added - meaning it's THAT natural, it's almost like it's plucked straight from the tree, it's just as Mother Nature wanted your orange juice to be, it's got nothing but the good stuff yes, none of those potentially toxic stuff that can harm your brain, kidneys, heart; cause tumors aargh- the list of preservatives' bad effects just go on!!! Anyway, just to prove a point on just how good Minute Maid Pulpy is 'cause it's got NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED, I'm gonna drink it everyday myself!

Feels good to know about the real pulpy deal, right? C’mon show me a smile on the comment box, and you might win yourself a Really Pulpy Deal! (That’s a chance to win a Minute Maid gift pack simply by commenting. Sweet! C'mon you just might be picked as the lucky 'commentor'!)

Love,

Anne in Red

MY CHRISTMAS WISH THIS YEAR: A NOKIA C7

If there’s anything that I would like to get this Christmas, it’s the Nokia C7, and the people who really know me would know why I want that phone.  2 things; camera and technology.

Being a food blogger, phone camera is a big deal to me and there’s nothing like HD video and 8MP camera for awesome clear pictures everywhere you go!  For my blog, I make it a point that I post crisp, clear and true to life photos so that my readers can have a good sense of what my experience was in a particular restaurant and how the food really looks like without misrepresenting anything.  Also, more often than not, I would find myself in a situation where I’m dining in a restaurant and I just decided I want to blog about it but didn’t have my digital camera with me.  Of course I have to settle with my current phone, which is not really that bad as it also takes wonderful pictures with its 5MP camera with auto-focus (a Nokia E72 – yes, I only choose the best ^_^), the 8MP camera of Nokia C7 which has full focus, would really take my blog pictures to the next level!  Night time photos (or romantic dining with dim lights ^_^) won’t be a problem with its powerful 3rd generation dual LED flash.  Oh, did I mention that it has 8GB internal memory!?!  *** cue in orchestra playing in the background…  clouds open up, Nokia C7 descends to earth from the heavens***  Seriously, I might never have a need for a digital camera ever!  Not to mention, the phone’s 3.5” display is an awesome bonus!  You get to take great pictures and also see them in a “viewer friendly” size.

Well, aside from the camera, I would of course be getting that state of the art finger gesture technology and the C7 would be my first touch screen phone!  I have been very cautious in deciding whether or not to get a touch screen phone just because I want the technology to develop even more, and now I think Nokia really pushed the envelope this time, with the Nokia C7, by combining touch screen capability of the usual phone and adding features you can only do on PC tablets and some notebooks.  I love customizing my phone’s homepage  and although that’s not really a new technology, the freedom that Nokia C7 gives the user to do that plus the real-time homepage update of your social network accounts and email just blows my mind away!  So if I customize my homepage so that it has everything I need, I can get to the applications that I usually use in, literally, just a touch of a screen!

I know you get the picture and you sense how badly I want this phone (I hope Santa is a big fan of blogs and internet surfing… please read this, Santa).  Nokia C7 is a really solid touch-screen phone with an amazing camera that would make it to the top of anyone’s wish list this Christmas just as it has made to my top 1, 2 and 3 thing/s I want this Christmas.  I just can’t wait to see how my food blog pictures would look like using that phone!  Santa, are you still reading this?  ^_^

I hope everyone gets what they want this Christmas! - From Anne in Red