Magic Eye! Can You See the 3D Image?

Back in the early 90's I remember being introduced to the Magic Eye.  It is a patterned design which you must relax your eyes and stare at in order to see the picture lurking within.  So when I heard about this as I child, I begged my mother to buy me a book through Scholastic (don't know if they are still around).  Our family was always strapped for cash but luckily my mom agreed to buy me this book which cost around $30, which back then, was pretty pricey for a children's book.  And so I waited patiently and at the end of the month my book arrived.  I was ecstatic!  But sooner could you say Magic Eye and I had gone through the entire book already.  Recently I stumbled upon this topic with a friend and decided to scour the Internet for some Magic Eye images (which still work even though its on a computer screen).  But first a bit of history....

The publisher of Magic Eye was N.E. Thing Enterprises which later renamed itself to Magic Eye Inc.  Magic eye came out in the early 90's but had been produced far earlier in time by Christopher Tyler.  Tyler produced the first black and white autostereogram in 1979 through the assistance of computer programmers.  What is Magic Eye?  It is a 2 dimensional pattern with random dot autostereograms that allow people to see 3 dimension objects by staring at a 2 dimension pattern.  Ready for a few?

Here are a few tips:  Relax your eyes as if you were staring at something for a length of time.  Diverge or almost unintentionally cross your eyes.  This will happen naturally when your eyes are relaxed and you are staring/gazing.  Focus on the center of the pattern.  Time to try it out!

***Note:  I am very good at these, it almost comes naturally so I posted all of the answers at the end of all of the images.***

 

I hope you all could see the images or at least had fun trying.  Please share with others as images such as these always makes a persons day.  Below are the answers in order of the pictures:

1.  The Planet Saturn
2.  Pirate Ship
3.  A Pot
4.  Shark
5.  Bunny
6.  Horse
7.  Balls of Candy
8.  A Heart
9.  A Duck
10.  Dinosaur
11.  A Rose

So I Decided to Splurge....

Most people wouldn't guess that I love gaming just by looking at me.  But I am a huge fan of all nintendo products and happen to own the original Nintendo system, Game Cube, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3D DS.  Unfortunately I had given my Nintendo 64 to an ex years ago (which I regret to this day).  However, that being said, my all time favorite game has always been Paper Mario where my love affair began when I had the game for the N64.  I do have paper mario on game cube which I have logged more hours than one can imagine.

I've had my 3D DS for over a year now and have barely had time to play it.  I recently conquered Zelda and Super Mario Brothers I a while back.  Those were the only two games I had, but superb nonetheless.  But when I recently discovered that both Paper Mario and Super Mario Brothers II were coming out, I knew I had to have them.  So, during my browsing in Walmart I did a turn around in the electronics sections and impulsively bought both games.  As I type this, the games have not been even opened yet...but after this I plan on doing some hard core gaming!

Paper Mario is the ultimate in Nintendo Games just for the sheer adventure the game presents its users.  I love strategy and collecting items so I am thrilled to have this game in my hands.  And I know come Christmas, these games will likely be out of stock.  I hope these two games are as good as any other Mario game I have played and I think I have to stop writing so I can start playing!

I know I haven't posted in quite some time but I have a great post coming up this evening (if I can put the video games down!).  The post includes a Planet Earth documentary so I am just waiting for it to rip to my computer.  I promise more great posts to come!

Greatest Scientific Discoveries - Documentaries hosted by Bill Nye (full documentaries)

In one of my earlier posts, I wrote about how influential Bill Nye was in my early childhood.  His show "Bill Nye the Science Guy" brought a love for science into my life.  Eventually I went on and pursued a science degree and I attribute much of my passion for science to Bill Nye. 

A few years ago on the Discovery Channel, there was a short series in which Bill Nye hosted a show called 100 Greatest Discoveries.  Each show that aired was about the greatest scientific discoveries and theories found in physics, astronomy, chemistry, medicine, evolution and genetics.  I recently stumbled upon these videos on youtube and watched them again.  The shows are fantastic and educational, plus, you don't need to have a science degree to understand and appreciate just how far humans have come.  Bill Nye has a brilliant way of explaining complex topics in somewhat laymen terms for the everyday person.  Here are the videos in all of their glory:

1.  Greatest Discoveries in Physics

2.  Greatest Discoveries in Chemistry

3.  Greatest Discoveries in Medicine

4.  Greatest Discoveries in Astronomy

5.  Greatest Discoveries in Genetics

6.  Greatest Discoveries in Evolution

Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did!

The Best and Healthiest Smoothie and Juice Recipes

The last year of travel and eating somewhat unhealthy has caused a notable depletion of energy for me.  Although vitamins are a regular part of my life, the decrease in energy led me to seek an alternative way to help me get through the day.  Looking online for smoothie and juice recipes led to some disappointment.  Many of the recipes are the same and many contained ingredients that were difficult to find.  So I decided to test and taste recipes I had come up with, and I'd have to say I'm hooked!  Here are a few of my favorites (minus the protein powders I hate so much):

1.  Protein Smoothie

Although this recipe has many ingredients, making it is definitely worth the fuss and can be used to replace a meal.

1/2 frozen banana
10 blueberries
3-5 blackberries
1 1/2 cups of vanilla or plain soy milk
3 Tbsp of plain medium tofu
1 tsp of almond paste (grind almonds and a bit of olive oil until a paste is formed)
3 Tbsp of honey or vanilla flavored 0% fat greek yogurt
1/2 tsp of flax seed

Directions:  Place the frozen banana and soy milk in a blender.  Blend until banana is pureed.  Add all other ingredients and blend until smooth.  Garnish with berries and enjoy!  This is the drink I usually replace supper with.  It is thick, a bit sweet and very filling!

2.  Juice for Breakfast

One of the easiest juice drinks I make for breakfast only contains 3 ingredients.  Its simple and great for people who don't generally eat breakfast.

2 green apples
2 oranges peeled
1/2 tsp of fresh ginger

Directions:  Place the apples (with skins) in the juicer along with the oranges and ginger.  Enjoy!

3.  Delicious Veggie/Fruit Juice

This recipe is one of my favorites because it really doesn't taste like you drinking straight vegetables.  It's refreshing and easy to make!

Half an unpeeled cucumber
2 cups of baby spinach
3 celery stalks
2 unpeeled green apples
1 tsp ginger

Directions:  Place all ingredients in a juicer.  Serve over ice and enjoy!

4.  Avocado Smoothie

I love avocados and was looking for a way to incorporate them in a juice/smoothie form.  Although the thought of drinking an avocado sounds odd, the smoothie is surprisingly good.

1 ripe avocado
1 cup of sugar free pear nectar
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:  Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Serve and enjoy!

5.  Oatmeal Smoothie

This recipe is definitely odd.  While the rest of the recipes I listed I came up with on my own from trial and error, this recipe I stumbled upon on the internet and I just had to try it!  The smoothie is great for breakfast and satisfies that sweet tooth.

2/3 cup of instant oats
2 bananas
1 3/4 cup of skim or soy milk
1 cup of low fat buttermilk
1/3 cup of ice cubes
3 1/2 Tbsp of pure maple syrup
2 Tbsp of almond butter
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:  Cook oats as directed, then let cool for 5 minutes.  Place all ingredients in a processor and blend until smooth.  Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon, serve and enjoy!

6.  Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothie

This recipe is great for adults and children alike!  It's simple and quick to make plus very filling.

1 banana
1/2 cup of skim or soy milk
1 Tbsp smooth peanut butter
3 large ice cubes

Directions:  Place all ingredients in a processor, serve and enjoy!


These are just a few of my favorite recipes.  Later I will be publishing more recipes!  Although juicing and smoothie making can be messy and require a wide variety of ingredients, the payoff is definitely worth the effort!

My Favorite (and most unique) Places to Visit on Earth!

I began travelling beyond the bounds of Canada in my early 20's.  Although I haven't been to as many places as I'd like to, some of the places I have visited have been thrilling and rare in some cases.  Being a science student for five years, then graduating with student debt has made travel difficult, but I have been fortunate to see many specialised places which haven't been seen by many.  Here are my favorite places around the world!

1.  Jamaica's Bioluminescent Lagoon

Many people usually associate Jamaica with one of 3 things; lots of pot, expensive flights and Margaritaville.  Yes, Jamaica has an abundance of pot and pot plants everywhere!  The flights are darn expensive and Margaritaville is a nightclub dream for tourists.  After visiting Jamaica on a 2 week tour of the entire country, my perceptions changed quite a bit.  If one is lucky enough to check out the entirety of this country, you may come across this beautiful lagoon very near the town of Falmouth.  Jamaica is only one of five places in the world that supports bioluminescent organisms.

What is bioluminescence?  It is the emission of light an organism produces when it is disturbed (oxygen enables this chemical reaction).  Enough science, onto the cool stuff!  A large group of my friends paid this lagoon a visit at around 11pm -- perfect to see this amazing spectacle.  We hopped into several rowing boats which took us to the middle of the lagoon and were a bit hesitant to jump in the ocean during the dark of night.  But this is the best time to see these organisms in action!  We all hopped off the boats into the water and were immediately taken by what we saw.  When moving/swimming, the water all around each person's body lit up with this strong blue/green glow.  Suddenly we were no longer swimming in dark, but swimming in this beautiful array of light.  But I think that perhaps the most amazing thing was that the water surrounding your body instantly becomes as warm as bath water.  The organisms are microscopic but in such high abundance that the light energy they gave off produces a heating effect.  This was one of the most amazing things I had ever seen in my life!  Even after getting into the vehicle and driving the organisms on my bathing suit were still producing light the entire drive back to Montego Bay.

Although all of us had taken a million pictures at night, the bioluminescence did not show up in the pictures despite the strong illumination.  The picture above is part of the lagoon during the day and down below was after getting out of the lagoon (I'm in the middle).

If you ever get a chance to tour Jamaica, make sure to stop at this amazing lagoon outside of Falmouth!


2.  The Grand Canyon

During a recent drive down to the United States, I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon.  I thought, well...I've seen so many pictures of the Grand Canyon on tv and the internet that I probably wouldn't be shocked by its awe and beauty.  Oh was I wrong!  The vastness and sheer size of the canyon is far more than one can even comprehend.  The history and creation of the canyon is spectacular.  We decided to walk along the geological timeline trail and were taken by the size of the canyon.  The Grand Canyon was carved out by the Colorado River and is approximately 450 km long situated in Arizona.

The Grand Canyon is astonishingly busy for most of the year.  The best time to visit is either in spring or fall when the temperatures are slightly cooler thus less tourists.


3.  Sunset Crater, Arizona

Back in March I toured quite a few states in the US.  At the time, I was fortunate to have a boyfriend who was somewhat of a United States loving traveller.  Although his love for the outdoors and US was perhaps a bit extreme, I was thrilled when he took me to Sunset Crater in Arizona.

Sunset Crater is located a few miles out of Flagstaff, Arizona and last erupted somewhere around 1050 AD and is part of the San Francisco Volcanic Field..  Me being the all knowing science queen, was floored to learn that Arizona was host to many cinder cone volcanoes.  To my delight, there was a small trail which we were able to follow and see the extent of the lava flow.  The views were spectacular! 

Unfortunately, the National Park Service closed the trail that leads visitors to the summit due to extensive and rapid erosion in an effort to preserve the cinder cone.  Sunset Crater also has a large visitors center run by the National Parks Service and is extremely interesting and informative --Violators caught taking volcanic rock face a $350 fine...so be careful!  Although I have only had the chance to visit 9 states in the US, I would have to say my favorite state is Arizona because of its beautiful weather and amazingly diverse landscape and geologic features!


4.  Paradise Island, Dominican Republic

I have only done the all-inclusive trip once and it was over Christmas in 2010.  Being able to drink, eat and sun yourself all day was a much needed getaway for myself.  Although all-inclusive trips are a blast, it makes it difficult to see the country in its full form.  Fortunately my family, all 12 of us, planned an excursion to Paradise Island.  After a short bus ride we were loaded into several speed boats with other tourists and whisked away to a large yacht.  Humorously, on our yacht ride, there were a couple older German women arguing on the boat.  The only picture I happened to catch of them was this:

After a long boat ride, a swim in the ocean and several drinks later, we arrived at Paradise Island!  The island was extremely small and isolated and could only be inhabited until around supper time when the high tide would come in and cover the island until the next morning.  The island (which I would call more of a sandbar) was at sea level but is a popular spot to go snorkeling and escape the ever so crowded resort.



I had purchased an underwater camera for the long snorkeling trip and it was a must-have!  The clear waters made for a great opportunity to take aquatic pictures.  Even though I am a very strong swimmer, I must admit I was nervous to snorkel in coral quite some distance from the island.  Our guides gave us sandwiches before we went into the water so that we could feed the fish....feed the fish???  Yes, there were thousands of fish waiting for this food as we entered the water.  The frenzy of people feeding the fish freaked me out so I tossed my entire sandwich and began to swim.  Although the swim is not for beginner swimmers (the ocean currents were strong), Paradise Island was a beautiful day trip and is recommended if staying near Puerto Plata. 

There are so many other places I've visited, it was difficult to chose a few of the best places I've been.  Muir Woods (San Francisco) and Montego Bay (Jamaica) were also amazing places to visit.  Next year I hope to visit a place I've wanted to see as a child, Yellowstone.  I'd love to hear about more interesting places from around the world!

Flashback: Favorite TV shows of the 80's and 90's (with full episode videos)

So I've decided to share my weird taste favorite things.  Every day I will share one of my favorite things...from drinks to television, food, travel and more!  It'll be like Oprah's Favorite Things except I have no free things to give away to you and many of the posts will have a flashback from the 80's theme.  Oh childhood memories...

With that being said, it's flashback time!  Here are my top 5 favorite television shows of my past:

5.  Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego?

This show started airing on PBS in 1991 and continued until its demise in 1995.  The show was made possible by viewers like you!  The gameshow for young children featured Carmen Sandiego, a villain and former ACME agent gone bad.  3 children (gumshoes) on the show were chosen to unravel a series of geographic clues from around the world in order to capture Carmen Sandiego.  In 2001, TV Guide ranked this show as being #47 out 50 for the greatest game shows of all time.  And who could forget that amazing theme song and the high quality sound effects provided by the band Rockapella!  Here is an episode from the early 90's:

The contestant with the most points was given the chance to participate in the final round which consisted of placing markers on counties shouted out by the host.  Only 45 seconds is allotted to correctly place 8 markers, and if done before the buzzer the contestant wins a trip to anywhere in North America.  The funny trend in this show is that no matter how smart the child is (see video), 45 seconds is clearly only enough time to place 7 markers.  Bummer.

4.  Supermarket Sweep

Since we are on the gameshow theme, I recalled my days yelling at the tv over supermarket brands and items as a child.  This show was originally broadcast in 1965 and through several breaks, aired into the early 2000's.  Supermarket sweep was a game of product knowledge and a keen sense of where these products would be located in a supermarket.  Each player had a partner where they would answer questions about products to earn extra time to race around the store with shopping carts.  The cameras followed the chaos in the supermarket and always kept me yelling, 'go faster'!

Supermarket Sweep is a classic.  Whenever I watched this show, I always thought I could toss more items into the cart than the contestants.  This often left me screaming at the tv for their fat-asses to run faster!  Classic.

3.  Ducktales

Ducktales was probably one of the shows I enjoyed the most growing up.  Last year I had an ex-boyfriend who was into comics and was kind enough to bring me home a few Ducktales comics.  They were great to read but nothing compares to the show!  Scrooge's greed and constant threat from the Beagle Boys taught me the value of money at an early age.  The series first aired in 1987 and was based on the original comics produced by Carl Barks.  The show contained numerous characters including Scrooge's 3 nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie.  If you grew up watching this show you'll soon have the theme song stuck in your head for days on end!

My favorite characters were always Launchpad McQuack and the Beadle Boys.  I still cherish my VHS tape of 6 Ducktales shows my uncle taped for me when I was young.  He even sat through every episode, pressing the record button when commercials came on so I wouldn't have to watch commercials.  The good old days of the VCR and Walt Disney cartoons.

2.  Gummi Bears

Here is another great Walt Disney cartoon which aired in 1985.  Although this cartoon doesn't seem to be well known by friends my age, this show ran for several years, finally ending in 1991.  When I watch old episodes of Gummi Bears, I swear the writers of this show were on high on acid every time they wrote an episode.  The Gummi Bears had gummi juice which they drank.  This potion gave the bears great powers which were used against their enemies.  One of the most memorable attacks gained by drinking gummi juice was the bears ability to jump and bounce ridiculously high and knock out their foes.

Cubbi, Sunni, Gruffi, Zummi, Tummi, and Grammi all lived in a tree called Gummi-Glen.  I don't recall a childhood show being so tripped out with potions and magic. 

1.  Bill Nye the Science Guy

This show was by far my favorite and was probably the most influential on me.  I grew up watching this show and eventually fell in love with science, which was so minimally exposed during my childhood in school.  My love for science began with Bill Nye the Science Guy and I eventually ended up obtaining a degree in science.  Bill Nye combined the detailed complexity of science with simple experiments a child could do at home.  He made science interesting, fun and simple for young people to learn.  I learned more about science from Bill than I did from my teachers or parents.

In 2005, Bill Nye came out with an adult-based science show which tackled complex topics.  Unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of watching many episodes of The Eyes of Nye as there are very few online episodes and when it aired, I believe it only aired in the United States.  Either way, Bill Nye was the ultimate television show for children!

And there you have it...my top 5 childhood shows.  Whenever I watch episodes of these shows, I can't help but to bask in a warm, fuzzy happiness...with the occasional yelling at the tv.