The Horizontal Book Stand ™

The Horizontal Book Stand ™. This is my newest invention. I actually got this idea from my last blog where I was looking at many different designs that have already been made. In this case, it was a phone stand. Now, this would save me from dropping my phone on my face, which is something I have done more than I like to admit. Although when I do it I end up getting off of my phone, so I guess that’s helpful in a way, therefore I deem this invention ridiculous. So, with some moderation, something new could be created where society is actually advanced and helped…

I thought using this idea with a book would be really helpful. It would be healthier and also very convenient. If an invention can help more people get into reading and read for more extended periods of time, I believe it is well worth it. I often read before bed or like to read outside on the grass, for both of those situations, lying down is very helpful. However, my arms get tired easily. With the Horizontal Book Stand ™, your arms will never get tired and you can read way longer (supper official studies have shown up to 80% more time spent reading). The idea is that there will be a stand where you can clip your book and then lie down and be able to read. This needs to have two basic requirements: a light so that when the book is horizontal and the pages are facing down, you are able to see the words. Second, it needs to be easy to flip the pages. 

This is the general design, now let’s zoom in. 

In any DIY project, it is essential to break down each part one by one. So here is a breakdown, and then we’ll get into materials and steps. 

 

  1. The left leg 2) The right leg

Both of these will be made out of plywood. I am not very experienced with making things from wood, but it does not need to be very thick, so I think plywood would be fine. Anyways, so we have our sheet of plywood. Cut 4 inches wide and between 8-14 in long (personal preference). Remember, this is how high up your book will be when you are reading. I would cut mine to 4×12 inches. 

3) Back support

Next, cut an additional 4 x 9-inch piece of plywood. This will be the back support so that the stand actually stands. Then, nail the pieces together, ensuring that at each connection there is a 90-degree angle. See below:

4) Light

This is quite easy, all you need to do is purchase a reading light that does not require an outlet and tape it onto the top of the table-like structure we have created. Preferably with duct tape, there are some cute options out there. This would also be the stage where you can decorate the stand with acrylic paint/glitter/stickers/etc.

5) Clip + Magnet

In the third image of this blog, I have a detailed diagram of The Horizontal Book Stand ™. In the legend, 5 you can see that there is a red “magnetic” that was implemented next to the orange word “clip,” since it was added after the original concept. This is by far the most experimental aspect of the design. So, in order to attack the book into the top of the stand, we will hot glue binder clips to the top of the stand.

The main challenge I had with this project was figuring out how to flip the pages in a very easy way. Here is the genius idea that Olivia Duda inspired as we were thoroughly discussing the invention. Paint a thin layer of magnetic paint on the edges of all of the book pages of whichever book you are reading at the moment. 

Then, glue a strong magnet next to the binder clip on the left side of the stand. Therefore, when you want to flip the page, all you need to do is pull down one page on the right, then the page will, in theory, float up to the other side and stick, due to the magnet. Very scientific and realistic. Trust. 

Here is a helpful diagram. Anyways, this DIY is great for college. As we are all heading off to college, jobs, or anything else we are doing after high school, books will always be an essential part of life. Even if you are already well into your career, as some people might be reading this blog, this DIY is life-changing. Thank you for reading and I hope that you give it a try. It WILL NOT be a waste of your time!

 

 

 

inventions that would make life 1% easier

Random inventions that would make my life 1% easier. Disclaimer: I would never actually purchase any of these products, but I am always astounded by how many random things are out in the world. I was trying to invent something absurd for this week’s blog, but then I realized a lot of the things I thought of have already been invented.

  1. LED Reading Glasses

These are essentially glasses that have built-in lights. My thought for these is that when doing homework at night if you don’t have enough direct light in your room, these will light up only what you want to see. I personally prefer ambiance lighting to really bright light, so my room is quite dark for the ~ambiance~, but it strains my eyes when the light is not bright enough. Something that would improve these is if the lenses could get custom prescriptions.

2. Portable standing chin rest

This could be helpful for long lines, subway rides, or boring concerts (as you are standing but not moving to the music). It is compact, portable, and adjustable. It might even reduce neck pain?? To improve this invention, maybe add some padding on the chin for that extra comfort. 

3. Baby mop

Okay, this is an exception to the disclaimer at the beginning. I would definitely purchase this for my kid. It’s fun for them and also helps with the cleaning. Honestly, I would wear shoes that could mop/sweep the floor for me as an adult…I wonder if there is an invention for that…

4. Mop slippers

Why do I even try anymore, of course, there are mop slippers! If you wore these around the house all of the time, the floors would not only be clean but also extra buffed. They’re washable, come in five different colors, and you can give them to all of your guests so that the floors are always pristine. 

5. iDangle

I’ve definitely been using my phone while laying down and it has fallen right on my face. I can see how this might save you some pain, but I wonder how easy it would be to move from place to place. Aslo, since it seems to be on a string, wouldn’t the screen be moving around on the time? That would make me dizzy. 

6. The Everything Apron

As someone who always makes a mess while cooking, this might provide an easy way to maintain organization throughout the process. Simply start the grill, and grab everything you might need right there. This could also work with pizza toppings, salad ingredients, smoothies ingredients, etc. With this bad boy, you coil throw out all of the individual bowls you usually put ingredients in. 

7. Sink Splash Stoppers

These are essentially rubber gloves with plastic attached at the end to block the ricocheting water while washing the dishes. Keep yourself dry through the process, there will be none of the pesky minuscule drops of water here and there. You will be 100% dry by the end of the dishes. 

8. Cold Shower Shield

One could in theory step out of the shower for that initial burst of cold water. OR they could use the cold water shield which will redirect the water while you wait for the cold to pass. Although, there has been scientific evidence proving that cold water has many health benefits, so maybe it is better to endure. 

9. The AirShades

One of my favorite things to do on a sunny day is go for a walk. Listening to music while going on a walk is also very enjoyable. With this invention, you can do both. 

10. The Shoe – brella

We all have that one pair of shoes that we want to keep dry at all costs. With this invention, simply buckle the mini umbrella onto your ankle, and bam. Your shoes will stay dry, as long as you don’t walk into any puddles. 

11. The Hoverbrella

Sometimes I feel like we aren’t using drones to their potential. The resourcefulness of this invention is unmatched, sometimes when it’s raining, you do not have enough hands to hold the umbrella. Let’s say you are walking the dog and calling a friend while it’s raining, just use the Hoverbrella and all of your problems will be solved.  

Overall, these inventions show the true extent of human imagination. My original idea for this blog was similar to the LED Reading glasses, but then I looked them up and realized they were already a thing. Still, I wonder what other inventions the future holds for humanity. 

 

The Sleeve Pocket

The Sleeve Pocket is a groundbreaking invention that is so simple and sleek, many of you may wonder why you haven’t thought of it before. 

Before I disclose all of the secrets of the sleeve pocket, I must explain how this invention came about. One day, I was talking to one of my friends (Ashely Chen). Mid-conversation, she reached into her sweater sleeve, I heard something jingle, and out came her car keys and her debit card. I couldn’t believe my eyes. This was the beginning of something great, but it needed some development to be a truly great invention.

Before we dive in, brief disclaimer, there are definitely pockets on sleeves that have been invented.  In  fact, they are quite common, however, this is on the outside of the sleeve. The Sleeve Pocket will in fact be on the inside, this allows for more storage and more security. 

Essentially, if you are wearing a baggy sweater of some sort, there is extra fabric around the arms, which can be used as storage. Now, thinking as an engineer, there are two ways in which the Sleeve Pocket can be designed in such a way that a professional and efficient method of carrying items around is accomplished. 

Blueprint #1: 

Sell sweatshirts with the sleeve pocket built in. There would be a range of designs, and all of them would have the Sleeve Pocket built into the sweatshirt. This would be a great way to brand ourselves, but the con is that incentive to purchase might be less due to an increased price. The cost of manufacturing and purchase price will be more expensive since there is an entire sweatshirt attached to the pockets. Not only will costs be higher all around, but people also may not want to give up their beloved sweatshirt in order to have one with a Sleeve Pocket, so, there is a second option…

Blueprint #2:

This would get the sophistication point as it considers different complex perspectives. This is more so of an arm fanny pack. There are two arm straps on either side of a bed that has a convenient zipper. In this case, as long as the shirt/sweatshirt is relatively loose, one can utilize this device with any piece of clothing. Not only would manufacturing costs be less expensive, purchase price will also be cheaper. This allows for the Sleeve Pocket to have a greater revenue and for the invention to be more successful overall. 

Personally, I would choose Blueprint #2, but let me know which one you would choose. 

Now, let me present some scenarios in which the Sleeve Pocket would be most helpful. Scenario 1, the Sleeve Pocket can be used to store valuables. This is really helpful on vacations, when you are in a new place and do not want to get pickpocketed, but also just walking around in crowded areas. You can fit a significant amount of cash, even solid gold and gems in the pocket. It is difficult for others to get into the sleeve, but it is easy for you to access your treasure.

The Sleeve Pocket is also helpful for snacking. While others might want to steal your Cheese Its, never fear, because you can simply reach your hand up your sleeve to access your delicious crackers. If someone else attempts to steal, simply slap their head away. 

I would argue that the pure genius of the sleeve pocket is the fact that its beauty makes it both art and invention. As the musician, Lucas Foss once said, “It is obvious that anything a scientist discovers or invents is based on previous discoveries and inventions. The same applies to the arts.” Not only is the Sleeve Pocket an invention, it is an art form. Its sleekness of design, accessibility, and pure magnificence makes it a great idea. I would sell the idea…for $200,000,000. I’ll be taking bids in the comments. Even if you are not interested in purchasing the rights to the Sleeve Pocket, I would still be interested in your thoughts about improvements that could be made! 

Overall, the Sleeve Pocket was born out of a random moment, but has the potential to become the world’s greatest new invention. 

“mortals)” by ee cummings

my;annota(tions)

“mortals)” by ee cummings’ is quite confusing. The strange use of parentheses, perplexing word choices, and use of enjambment phrasing, were things that made no sense to me at first. During my first read, here are some things I noticed: “mortals)” lacks beginning parentheses; the only other punctuation is present in “meet n;” some words placed right next to each other are contradictory, and there are no clear stanzas. Immediately I was perplexed by the title, “mortals),” the way it sounds is so encompassing and powerful. Since it is a  noun, this gives me hope that I can at least imagine something happening as I read. However, I wonder why the parentheses are not opened, it is irksome because he is using them in a way all his own that no one else can fully understand his intent. At first reading, this was uncomfortable, but as I persevere through reading and analysis, I have come to appreciate this unconventional use of parentheses. It is not impossible to use parentheses in this way, cummings just did it. 

 Breaking down all of the different components of difficulty opened my eyes to specific areas where I am confused instead of simply putting a general label on the whole poem as confusing. During my first read, I read it like before we learned how to use TPCASTT in class. The next time I read it, I read it once for every part of TPCASTT, and this is essential for me to carve out the difficult parts. The lack of clear stanzas, unusual punctuation, and allusions never left a complete idea in my head. I needed to do some outside research as well to learn more about ee cummings specifically. Some of the literary devices that I found were alliteration, enjambment, and juxtaposition. Learning these helped me put some of the pieces together. 

Having more research in my head and TPCASTT as my guide, I began to question things more specifically. What does the word “eachness” mean or refer to? What does “swingthings” mean? I have to fight the urge to spell, correct them and get rid of the red squiggly line on my computer screen. Why are the parentheses only end parentheses and no beginning parentheses? Does the shape mean anything? I learned that enjambment is the continuation of a word across a line break, and this gave me some comfort because this device arguably gave me the most confusion across all of the cummings’ works. I wrote down the words that used this, “climbing” “into” “begin” “exquisite” and “return,” but what did they mean? Why these words specifically? All of these questions, all of this ambiguity, bothered me. Seemingly random spaces. Only two end parentheses. Hmm…

The reason that the two end parentheses are confusing is that we expect there to be another one. Maybe this choice was an ode to individuality, these parentheses still have meaning even though there is only one instead of the expected two. The parentheses could mean simultaneity, “mortal,” or risk of death, as the trapeze performance is being described. There is a risk of falling, but also the possibility of flying, there must be balance. The “eachness” means individuality, and the isolated “i” also means the same. “Swingthings” refer to the trapeze act that was a ‘watching; through this poem. Hmm… This poem does not have a shape I can see, but maybe the seemingly random spaces and the enjambment is attempting to show the randomness of a trapeze act. The trapeze artist is individually swinging, their individuality hanging on to the balance between falling and flying. 

I JUST REALIZED. “im)mortals)”,  the trapezist  is immortal, and will never die. In the beginning, it seems suspenseful, as if they might fall, but even in the end the ) forms a connection to the front. Although the individual themselves might die, the art (in this case the trapeze show) that the individual creates will live on. 

Overall, something I learned through this process is to be comfortable with ambiguity. There are many questions I have written down that I still wonder about and ideas and theories that are difficult to connect. I still do not have all of the answers. In this way, ee cummings poem creates an experience, seeking to experience rather than to understand.  I have gained a new appreciation for poetry through this experience. What was once a muddle of letters to eyes, now provides an experience for my mind and heart.

My 2023 Music Exploration Era

I’ve always wanted to learn more about music. What I mean by this is learning about different genres to solidify my music taste. In general, I am admittedly a little embarrassed about how limited my knowledge is of music as a whole. For reference, in 2022, I mainly listened to Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and the Hamilton soundtrack. This music is really great, however, I want to broaden my knowledge of music. This includes listening to genres I do not think I will like, including country. But also, exploring genres and artists that I have always been interested in, but never prioritized listening to. Recently, I’ve been listening to music way more than I used to, but I’ve been getting bored of songs quickly. 

My plan to develop a stronger music taste consists of two actions. 1) Consulting people for music recommendations. 2) Going to more live music events. Essentially, I am in my music exploration era. I would appreciate any tips/music recommendations that will help expand my music scope. The main reason I am writing this is to hopefully get more recommendations 🙂 Disclaimer, this is a very general overview.

Here are the main genres I am looking into:

  1. Rock (Alt, Britpop)

Last Friday I saw some punk and rock bands live, and I have a newfound love for rock, still not sure about Punk though, personally. Here are some bands which I loveee:

  • Mäneskin (SO GOOD)
  • The Runaways
  • The Criticals
  • Blur 
  • Pulp

 

2. Indie Rock

This is one of my favorite genres, so I have focused mainly on trying to find more artists and songs for this. Here are some of my favorite artists so far:

  • Sir Chloe
  • The Backseat Lovers
  • The Arctic Monkeys
  • Lana Del Rey
  • Sun Room
  • Wet Leg

 

3. R&B

I definitely need more R&B recommendations! However, these artists make some magic:

  • SiR
  • Brent Faiyaz
  • Anderson.Paak
  • Cleo Sol

  1. Country 

I feel like a lot of people hate on country so much. However, how can I hate something without even giving it a chance with an open mind? We’ll see, I haven’t listened to that much yet, but some of people’s song recommendations to me include:

  • Tequila (Dan + Shay)
  • My Girl (Dylan Scott)
  • Greatest Love Story (LANCO)

Overall, this is still a work in progress. I thought that I would share some of my cultivated playlists so far because I am genuinely having so much fun exploring all this music. All of the vibes are very different and I love that. This constitutes the first part of my 2-action plan to explore music. Part 2 involves seeing to more live music. 

Live music hits different, and I want to invest in more experiences like that. Most notably so far, I’ve seen Taylor Swift in concert a long time ago, Joji last October, and some small punk/rock bands at a coffee house in Willow Springs. This year, I am more interested in finding smaller venues and am very excited to continue my search. 

This is one of my 2023 ‘goals,’ so by the end of this year I am excited to see what my music knowledge looks like. Personally, I am using this year as a year of exploration overall. Saying yes to new experiences with an open mind and encouraging my curiosities, especially going into college, is extremely exciting. For the past four years, I have been trying to stay immensely focused on school goals. I know a lot of us have been. In the future, I see myself narrowing in on career goals. However, I truly believe that we can follow our dreams and have fun at the same time. 

Something I have thought about a lot is finding the balance between school/career and personal life. It’s a constant struggle to find this balance, but I feel like finding ways to explore at the same time is a great way to expand our minds and perspectives. Anyways, it’s all a learning process.

I hope some of the music/artists/bands that I have listed above are relatable or even a discovery of something new. Once again, I would love for you, the reader, to leave some of your recommendations in your comment and let me know what you think. 

Fake Buzzfeed Quiz, Lit, Journeys, Tips, and the Future

I took a Buzzfeed quiz that identifies your most felt emotion within a given period of time (just kidding, but if I did this is probably what the results would be):

Although this past semester of high school has been the most challenging semester for me, it has also been the most rewarding. AP Lit has been a precious part of this experience, and I am eager to continue next semester. “As I Lay Dying” and “Beloved” have enhanced my ability to dive deep into various genres of literature, and I will definitely be applying my new knowledge about culture, themes, and structure to my future readings (especially over winter break.) Lit has also altered my brain chemistry, I have started incorporating the words ambiguous, ambivalent, and ergo into my daily vocabulary (I find it interesting how we incorporate words into our everyday usage ironically, but after a while end up using them unironically).

However, unlike the Brundrens, I have learned to focus more on enjoying the journey. This year has been challenging, I thought it could not get worst from the last semester of Junior year in terms of tests and college stress, but it did. I feel like many people felt this way, but being around such great individuals always makes things a little easier. 

During the personality test that we took at the beginning of this year, the description of my personality said that I am an idealist. When I read this, I realized that it was completely true, oftentimes to a fault. This can often be a toxic mindset, so since then, I have been trying to notice moments where I am stressed because of not fulfilling certain ideals about my life, what I should be achieving, and when. This was a moment of growth for me.

The advice that I would always hear from seniors last year is to not stress too much during the college app process, however, I found this advice to be a bit ambiguous. So, my best attempt to reduce stress is to have something that creates structure in my days. Allocating time to take breaks and fulfill specific tasks allows me to become conscious of how balanced my life is day to day and the impacts on my mental health. For example, I have a planner that I use to plan out three main aspects of my life:

  • School work: homework, studying, preparing
  • Extracurricular commitments: organizing for clubs, sports, volunteering, college apps, etc.
  • Health: spending time with family and friends, working out, hobbies, etc.

When I write down my ToDo List, I color code each of these things, and if I am missing a color, I try to add it in. I usually notice that I am missing my health color, and some days I don’t get around to adding it in when things get really busy. When there are too many days where I do not have one solid health activity planned into my day, I notice that I burn out way easier. Anyways, this is the system that I developed that works for me, but overall my recommendation is to create a structure that is not too strict but aims to keep balance in your days.

I’ve always had this glorified vision of getting into a great college and having everything made. I’m not sure why, but the culture going into high school definitely promotes this unhealthy mindset, which is only enhanced by more intense issues with the school system itself (I’ll get into more another day, but the issue is that while getting an A and gaining mastery of the material are supposed to be the same thing, they really are not…) However, at this point in my life, I try to feel always excited for the future because no matter what happens, it will be an adventure and I am curious to see what happens. 

For the next stage of my path, I want to create a life where working towards my dreams is fun. I understand that the top of one mountain is just the bottom of the next, therefore, enjoying the climb is essential because that is all there will ever be. I am extremely excited to take advantage of all the great opportunities in college, explore the passions that I already have, and discover some new ones. 

(P.S. Thank you Mr. Williams for making this Canvas submission unlimited attempts…)

Rating things that you can buy off of amazon (and determining if you can DIY it)

I found an article that includes some of the weirdest things you can buy off of amazon and I will be rating them based on three questions: Is it genius? Is it useless? Is it DIY-able?

1) Original Ostrich Pillow – 6/10

This can be purchased for $99. It looks very comfortable and I can see the many benefits, it is helpful if you need to sleep in a usually uncomfortable location, therefore beneficial to health. I think it is genius, and I believe that it is DIY-able, using a blanket. Why not just use a neck pillow and a blanket to create a comfortable head wrap? Definitely not worth the $99, if it was $25, then I would consider it.

2) Personalized Cardboard Cutout – 3/10

I like this idea. It is slightly useless, but you’re in for a good laugh if you give this to someone. IT could be of themselves, a celebrity crush, a friend, a family member, etc. However, it is $65, and technically DIY-able. Take some cardboard and print out different sections of someone’s body on pieces of paper in your desired size. Then cut the cardboard and paper to stick them together.

3) Outrageous and Unique Flavored Soda, 6-Pack – 3/10

This is not genius, nor is it DIY-able. Although disgusting, they could be fun for a party game. People would drink the soda without knowing the flavor ahead of time and compete to try and guess the correct flavor. It would have all the great aspects of a party game: competition, shock, and laughter.

4) Bacon Strip Bandages – 0/10

Although only $8, I genuinely cannot think of any way that fits the positive part of my judging criteria. It is useless and not really DIY-able. Sure, if you had to use them I’m sure they would be fine. However, going out of one’s way to purchase these instead of literally any type of band-aid one can find in the store is ridiculous. Somehow, they have 4.3k reviews and 4.6 Star Rating… If you comment on this blog, let me know how you feel about these.

5) Nicolas Cage Pillow (9/10)

Only $13! And super customizable, this can fit nearly every occasion. Having friends over? Use option 1, full Nicolas Cage. Feeling artsy? Do the half Nicolas half sequin version. The 3rd version is what mine would look like most of the time, very fun to flip back and forth. Finally, if you are hosting a fancy party, the 4th option would be lovely.  

6) Custom Dog Socks – 8/10

Shout out to Ashley Chen, for only $13 for these custom socks! Any time you are discouraged throughout the day, your head might drop and you’ll be looking at your feet. However, you might just catch a glimpse of your dog’s face, and the whole day might flip. That little moment of cuteness and love will encourage you to keep going and slay the day. 

7) Baby Nessie Loose Leaf Tea Infuser – 9/10

I love loose leaf  tea, and for all my tea drinkers out there, this tea infuser seems like a change. The design is actually very practical, I consider it genius. It’s like a spoon with a built-in infuser. Although not DIY-able, this seems to come in handy for $17. 

8) Umbrella Hat – 10/10

I’m very reluctant to give things a perfect score, but this might just be the best thing ever. It is useful, efficient, and economical. I’ve always wanted to try these out, and they seem to be very fun to use. Smaller than an umbrella making it more portable, but arguably these work better as they won’t move around when you walk.

9) Shaespeerean Insult Bandages 6/10

I decided to take a turn around back to the band-aids. There seem way more interesting that the bacon ones. In the annoyance of getting a paper cut, reading these insult bandages would make the situation better and help you laugh through the pain. 

10) The NoPhone Air – 0/10 (because it’s invisible haha)

I didn’t believe this one at first, but this actually has an amazon link. Here it is: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCF4TDT/?tag=097-20&ascsubtag=default . It says it’s currently unavailable, so I suppose that it is sold out. The reviews are funny. Good thing is, this is totally DIY-able!

That’s all for these Amazon ratings, although I could go on for quite some time. Overall, this blog confirms that you can literally find anything on Amazon, but many of them you can make yourself.

Leonardo

This week’s blog is a **very very slight** change of pace from my traditional 5-Minute Crafts-inspired posts!

This week, I will be reviewing a book that I have read recently, called “Leonardo” by Frank Zöllner. I actually got this book from the library at the Morton Arboretum and was not expecting it to completely change my understanding of Leonardo da Vinci’s art.

My whole life I’ve never understood the hype about Leonardo’s art, this quintessential renaissance genius. I understood that he was way ahead of his time in terms of science and technology, with his engineering designs and discoveries in anatomy. But, I could never tell his art apart from any other renaissance painter, and especially how he could have created the world’s most famous painting. However, through this book, I’ve learned a lot about Leonardo and have come to truly appreciate how exquisite his art is. 

I find it interesting that his interests were so wide-ranging and abundant that he hardly ever finished a major project. His breadth of discoveries and inventions was incredible. Most notable being touching on the principle behind blood circulation, plans for armored military vehicles, planes, helicopters, submarines, and aerial maps. In addition to all of this, his advancement of numerous artistic techniques included psychology in many of his famous paintings. I love how this book walks us through Leonardo’s entire lifetime of paintings, clearly defining his phases and contrasting his work against others of the time. Additionally, the descriptions for each piece of art are so captivating and nuanced, I was enthralled for the entire four days it took me to read this (in the midst of college apps too!).

 

 

This is just a landscape sketch, right? No, this was one of the first autonomous landscape sketches in art history. It’s important not only for studies of nature, but also shows how artists were making more efforts to make a feature of the visible world their own creativity. On the right, you can see how the tops of individual trees on the hill are simply quickly cross-hatched which goes beyond immediately imitating nature. Also, his concept of horizon and depth is beautifully done. This gives us insight into how he approaches the background of some of his most famous paintings, which I found helpful later on. This is the first drawing I saw from Da Vinci where I began to understand what the hype was about.

Another woman sitting, oh wow. However, this shows us his early style of portraiture, inspired by the Old Dutch Masters and Leonardo’s first nonsecular work. We can see this in how close the young woman is to the front edge of the picture and the meticulous depiction of nature. Later on in this blog, you’ll see how his style evolved to a dark tone. The influence of the Flemish style on his paintings continues to be apparent in Adoration of the Magi, but is seen in this Portrait of Ginevra de Benci at its most prevalent.

Leonardo left many of his pieces unfinished, but in Adoration of the Magi, many of the main aspects of the painting are clearly identifiable. The book describes this as having “a striking variety of movement and gestures amongst the figures in this composition.” When I read this, I was captivated by looking at each individual character for a long time. It is truly incredible how expressive each figure is (Leonardo played with an intense expression, especially in his ‘grotesque heads’ sketches) which was extremely creative for his time. There is a lot more analysis on how symbolism and positioning add to the religious context which is very nuanced, but something I find very interesting to add in this blog is his attention to the background (see picture below).

This is his Perspective Study for the Background of the Adoration. It is clear to see how Leonardo’s initiatives in engineering and architecture played into this. The crisp lines of the architecture-like building sketch along with the more sketches make for a mind-blowing 3-D appearance. When everything is put together, the clear division of the foreground and background represents different timelines, and his depiction of time in this way helped me to understand the hype.

Another super famous painting by Leonardo is The Last Supper. The book contrasts Leonardo with “his immediate contemporaries [because he] imbues the scene with life by dividing the twelve apostles into four different groups, and by endowing his figures with precisely calculated, individual gestures and expressions (55).”

This sketch shows how he studied the expressive potential of human faces, while in the Adoration, this figure had a beard and long hair, but Leonardo wanted to study the physiognomic expression of the face. I also appreciate the random architectural sketch to the left.

This is the last analysis I will do because obviously, it is the most famous painting in the world. I was so confused about why, it’s just a woman sitting, right? Honestly, I would say a lot of its fame is because it was stolen for two years so it got a lot of publicity. However, if you look at the Portrait of a Woman and Lady with the Unicorn right above it, they were painted during the same time and in the same style by different artists, yet Leonardo’s is much more radiant. The detail of the Mona Lisa is incredible, “a gossamer veil covers the subject’s free-flowing hair; her dark gown, particularly above the neckline, is covered with intricate embroidery and is gathered vertically. The heavier-looking fabric of the mustard-colored sleeved shimmers with its own natural gleam…plus the artistry of the pictorial light in the landscape which causes the subject to sand out as she does…one has to imagine her face is lit by some other source closer to the viewer (72).” 

I’ll throw in the last two pictures because their movement is great and they show his experimentation, but overall the descriptions in this book opened up a whole new world to me through Leonardo’s art. 

 

The Elasti-stick

I often wish that I had Elastigirl’s powers from The Incredibles. Apparently, she got her powers from being exposed to volcanic gas, but until that day comes, I have the next best thing. 

The Elasti-Stick! Think of the adjustability and portability of a back scratcher or selfie stick, but it can be used in many ways. The base will be made of an adjustable stick, anywhere from 1 to 5 feet. Then, there will be different attachments that will serve different purposes. 

There are two main ways I can think of. First, when the teacher is erasing the whiteboard, there is still that little bit of dry-erase marker left. Oof, something about it is so uncomfortable. However, getting up and erasing it yourself or requesting for the teacher to erase it can disrupt the class. Instead, take out your Elasti-Stick (which can fit conveniently in your backpack), use the eraser attachment, put on the eraser attachment, and slowly increase the length of the Elasti-Stick until it reaches the board. And boom, hopefully, minimal disturbance.

 

Second, when you are reading before bed. You need the lights on to read, but when you are ready to go to sleep, you need to get up to turn the lights off. When you are snuggly and comfortable, it could disturb the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep if you get up to turn off the lights. Your blood starts pumping again and you have to find another comfortable sleeping position. 

A real hazard to a good night’s rest. BUT, with the Elasti-Stick, all that needs to be done is to add the hand attachment to the tip, then adjust until you reach the light switch, and boom. A great night’s sleep. 

There are a plethora of attachments that can go on the end of the Elasti-stick. Other than the eraser and hand attachment, you can add utensils, umbrellas, tongs, cup holders, and calculators…let your imagination run wild! Always ask yourself, “would Five-Minute Crafts do this?” If so, it is probably a good idea. 

So, how do you DIY one of these? The materials you need consist of a backscratcher or a selfie stick (depending on the length that would suit your needs). Then, to prepare for the add-ons, take off the top of either the backscratcher or selfie stick, so you have a flat top. After this, you are ready for the next step. Grab some Duck Tape. Duck tape is a classic DIY item, as it is very strong and waterproof. You can also use it for a multitude of purposes around the house, not just for the Elasti-stick. That’s a steal if I ever saw one. Now, let’s say you are using the Elastic-stick for the first example with the whiteboard, purchase a whiteboard eraser, and attach it to the top with the Duck Tape. 

The beauty of the Elasti-stick is that as you go through life, I can guarantee that you will find more ideas of attachments to use. Since it is portable and easy to use in many different situations, the uses, and creativity of this invention are endless. 

However you use the Elastic-stick, you will always carry a little bit of Elastigirl, or Mrs. Incredible, with you. Her powers allow her to stretch various parts of her body to different sizes, but her weakness is blunt force. Keep this in mind with your Elasti-stick. If you are using this, and someone walks into it, for example, it could jeopardize your entire objective. Maybe even tape a warning label that says, “BEWARE OF BLUNT FORCE,” so that your time with the Elasti-stick will produce the best results. 

If I created a legit company to produce the Elasti-stick, I would name it Mode. After Edna Mode of Course. Just as Edna is the eccentric fashion designer renowned for designing costumes for various supers, this company would be renowned for designing simple tools that people can use in the everyday lives that allow them to have superpowers. However, I am not too determined to make this idea become a reality, as we have superheroes all around us, and they don’t need comical superpowers to help people and bring hope to society. Every time we lend a helping hand, listen, share a smile… or erase that last pesky mark on the whiteboard, we are being superheroes.

Finger-Tips

They’re tips! For your fingers! Some call them…Finger-Tips! (Name credits to Grace Carsello)

Here’s a problem I often encounter, and see other people struggling with. When I am eating Cheetos or any chip with a lot of ‘chip’ dust’ (aka flavor), I end up getting it all over my fingers. This can also happen with those ice cream sandwiches that have soft chocolate cookies.

Now, you can just lick it off. And to be honest, when I am at home, this is what I do. However, in public, I don’t feel comfortable licking my fingers for two reasons: I would probably start laughing because something about licking your own fingers is funny to me, and second, obviously hygiene. 

There must be a solution to this! After all, there are a lot of times when this problem can happen. Not only Cheetos but also Nacho Cheese Doritos, Cool Ranch Doritos, Garden Salsa SunChips, Chili Cheese Fritos, Ruffles Smokehouse Style BBQ, Funyuns, Lays Classic Potato Chips, Ruffles or Lays Cheddar and Sour Cream Chips, Pringles Salt and Vinegar Chips (if I missed any, please let me know in the comments, I did extensive research on this.) Not getting all of the chip dust off your fingers could have a few unpleasant effects. If you go to read a book afterward, little orange marks will get left on the pages (book idea credit to Ashley Chen). Also, it just feels nasty and sticky. Not even to mention, it could be dangerous. If you eat Takis or Flammin’ Hot Cheetos, then you get an itch in your eye…you’re done for. 

So, I was surfing the internet to see if there was already a product out there that addresses this issue. To no surprise, there is. They are called Chip Fingers… I don’t know about them. I like how their design covers all areas of the finger that could possibly come into contact with the chip. Also, it looks like they are easy to take on and off. But for $17.99?!?! I don’t think so. This is a DIY blog anyways, so keep reading to have your life changed.

This is quite a simple project. It is economical, efficient, and for the most part environmentally friendly. So, if you have never seen someone getting their gel nail polish removed, it looks like this:

Now that I think about it, this seems like more of a life hack than a DIY, but the point still stands. Basically, you cut a 6×3-inch rectangle of aluminum foil. Then, length-wise, you cut that into three two-inch pieces. Once you have those, wrap them around your thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger on whichever hand you will be using for the chips. Now, you have your Finger-Tips™ and a hassle-free eating experience!

You can get 75 Sq Ft of aluminum foil for as low as $4. This comes in a 12×900-inch roll! That means, according to the Finger-Tip™ creation process, you will be able to eat any chip or ice cream sandwich 900 times before you need to invest in another roll of aluminum foil. Just make sure to recycle them when you’re done.