Strange & Charmed: Issue 1 by Alexis Giostra

Issue 1 Sept/Oct 2012

Strange

& Charmed

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Strange & Charmed Magazine. We are pleased to meet you!

Letter from the Editor - page 6 Meet the team: Kate & Mike - page 8 Staff Picks: Bags to put you at the top of your clas Our Favorite iOS Photo Apps - page 12 Whats in My Bag - page 18

Horoscope Survival Kit: What youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to surv Advice and Etiquette: Smart phones - page 22 Back to School: Gear, Hair & Makeup, Clothin Fall 2012 TV shows: The up and comers - page 32

Fall 2012 TV shows: The fall returns - page 35 The Foodie: Bento Box - page 36 Digital vs Analog: - page 38

Do It Yourself! Camera Strap - page 44 Obsessed: Fountain Pens - page 46 Back to School: Tech Tips - page 48 Must have accessory: iPad cases for her - page 52 4

Wit and Humor: Adventures in Commuting - pa Mantra: Portable inspiration - page 58

ss - page 10

vive your sign - page 20

ng - page 24 2

age 54

In This Issue of Strange & Charmed

Letter from the Editor

Alexis Giostra is a self-proclaimed tech geek and lover of French music! You will often find her lounging around her apartment singing opera or dancing to music only she can hear. Alexis runs a blog called The Pink Mac (thepinkmac.blogspot.com) where she talks about technology from a woman’s point of view. IRL, Alexis runs a sales team like it’s nobody’s bu siness and occasionally sells laptop pillows on Etsy (email us if you want more information on that). She loves to read, spend time with her iPad on the internet and drive her fiancé crazy.

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Strange & Charmed! The team and I have been working very hard the past few weeks to get this brainchild off the floor and into publishable shape and we are thrilled to present you with our September/October Back to School Issue. But first, let me give you a little background on the vision of this magazine and what we hope to bring to the virtual newsstand. This is a magazine for the quirky girls, and I am not just talking an SNL skit here, but for the real true quirky girls who have been marginalized by traditional female-centric magazines that are normally dominated by fashion, beauty and celebrity gossip. We will write about fashion here, a little, and beauty too, but this magazine is written for those passionate ladies with nerdy obsessions beyond the mainstream. Are you an obsessive reader? Self-proclaimed tech geek? A foodie? Maybe you’re a comic book nerd or a blossoming career woman who has a do it yourself attitude? Within the pages of this publication every other month you will find an issue themed to the season (ergo Back to School Issue!) and filled with features, tips, tricks and advice from a variety of categories that we hope resonate with the quintessential quirky girl. Each and every issue will include our staple picks, the Digital vs. Analog guide, a DIY project, our current Obsession, a Foodie recipe, a What’s In My Bag article,

a Horoscope Survival Guide and my personal favorite section, the Mantra. Now, to our Back to School Issue specifically! September and October are two of my favorite months of the year, and the back to school spirit is not lost on me as a professional career woman either. Whether you are returning to the classroom this fall, or not, this season is filled with the vigor of a fresh start and always reminds me of that classic line from You’ve Got Mail “bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils.” As we say goodbye to the whimsy of the summer and start loading our closets with cardigans, we are suddenly filled with the desire to organize everything! So we have filled this issue with some great items, ideas and features that we hope will help you along the way. The features for our Back to School Issue include a Back to School Essentials Guide of unique items to make your fall as productive, fun and organized as possible. We have also reviewed a number of camera and photography apps for iPhone and iPad. Finally, we have assembled a Back to School Tech Tips feature on how to make the most of your gadgets this fall!

From all of us here at Strange & Charmed HQ, we sincerely hope you enjoy each and every page as much as we do! 7

Meet the team: Kate Marshall

Executive Editor

This is Kate Marshall. She likes pens, notebooks, the beach, and apparently being photo-bombed during Goo Goo Dolls concerts. Kate occasionally writes drivel at her personal blog, http://katesplace7.blogspot.com/ and has written for Macworld, MacUser, and Quo Vadis. She also wrote for her local newspaper. Don’t ask her about it. In her other life, she’s an administrative assistant where she administratively assists things. It’s fun. Also, Kate does not get the appeal of Yahoo Radio, or actually anything Yahoo-related.

Meet the team: Mike Cousineau Layout Editor

Michael Cousineau, pictured above, has a beard and glasses which obviously means he is a graphic designer. Forget about his fancy schmancy degree and years working for local newspapers because being the S&C layout editor is his obvious dream job. When not catering to the needs of his female overloads (and trust us, there are many) Michael enjoys playing video games, posting to Reddit, and trying new micro-brews. He also manages a fantasy football team, but lets not get him started on that.

Staff Picks: Bags to put you at the top of your

Heritage Grip Bag PUMA $60.00

Quilted Backpack Nila Anthony $75.50

Full Course Bag ModCloth $84.99 10

class Battersea Oria Knomo $325.00

Intergalocktic Messenger Marc by Marc Jacobs $358.00

New York Bag Graceship $149.99

Instagram What it is: Instagram is a free subscription based service and social network that revolves around photography and pictures. Users sign up to use the app, follow the camera feeds of other users, search for specific images using the hashtag system and communicate through @ replies. How to use it: Once you have signed up for an account, use the app through any camera ready iOS device such as an iphone or ipad. Snap photos using the built in camera app or select from images previously saved on your device and then get to work adding filters to your image to get that great vintage or lomo feel. Give your pic a caption and share through Instagram as well as a number of popular social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook. What you get: Awesome vintage inspired images without having to deal with the headache of actual photo developing. Price: Free

by Alexis Giostra

TtV Camera What it is: TtV Camera is like a virtual TLR camera! For analog photography junkies, there are few cameras that give you such a unique experience as the Twin-Lens Reflex and with this app you are momentarily transported into the class square viewfinder of the TLR. Of course, you are also equipped with the modern luxuries of digital photography and can choose from a selection of filters that give the resulting images something of a noir feeling. How to use it: Launching the app will instantly bring you in to the viewfinder mode where you can snap away with the virtual shutter. Use the filter selection tool to switch between the preset options that will automatically preview in your viewfinder or switch between sepia and black & white options. Select the image icon to view your camera role to share photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s via email or to save to your photo albums. What you get: The experience of using a TLR viewfinder with the bells and whistles of modern photography. What results is a unique mix of noir photography and vintage vignettes. Price: Free for TtV Basic or $.99 for the full TtV Camera

Popsicolor What it is: Popsicolor is a singular app that transforms your digital images into a watercolor work of art. With a limited selection of colors and presets, you will find that less is more with this creative photo editing app. How to use it: Use the built in camera or upload an image from your photo albums to begin the water color transformation process. Once you have your image loaded you can choose from a selection of bright and fun colors to make your image one or two toned. Also choose the saturation of your image from a light outline only drawing to a heavy full color picture. Since every picture is different, its a good idea to just mess around with the options a few times to get an idea of what you want your final product to look like. Share images via email, save to your photo library, or copy the image to paste into another application or document. What you get: Popsicolor is a fun app that gives your images a unique style. If you love watercolors or just want to create images that pop with color and vibrance, this app adds that extra something that will get your photos noticed. Price: $.99

Bokehful What it is: Bokehful is a simple photo editing app that allows the user to add custom bokeh light effects to their images. As one of the most widely used after effects, the bokeh is a great way to add variety to your images and this app is the right mix of features and simplicity. How to use it: Select a photo from your library or camera role to begin. Choose your color pallet from a selection of premade color wheels and then fiddle with the color selection in the color preview window if you choose. Select the shape of your bokehs and brightness and then tap the screen where you want the bokeh highlight to appear. Save your final creation to your photo library or share via email, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Flickr. What you get: Bokehful is a great app to quickly add those wonderful bokeh highlights into your images. As one of the most popular photo effects around right now, it is frequently featured in photo effect apps, many of which can be a little pricey and overfilled with effect options. If you are mainly interested in bokeh lighting effects this is a great inexpensive app that sticks to the heart of bokeh. Price: $.99 16

Pic Collage

What it is: Pic Collage is the ultimate scrapbooking app for iOS, allowing users to select images from their photo library and cut and paste them to make a photo collage. With just enough features to give the user flexibility in creating their collages, but with a simple user interface, this app gives you what you need without getting in the way of your creativity. How to use it: Launching the app brings you to a home page for the app where you can view previous collages or choose to create a new one. Once you get to the fresh page, tap anywhere on the screen to add a photo. You can use the camera to take a picture, select one from your library, Facebook or the web. From this option bar you can also add text, stickers, or change the background. Once you have an image selected, you can drag it anywhere on screen, pinch to enlarge or shrink the image size or double tap the image to crop it. Once you have multiple images on screen you can also rearrange

their order from front to back by double tapping the image to move its place. Once you are done creating your collage, add a caption and share to Facebook, Twitter, email or postcard. What you get: Pic Collage is a great app for anyone who loves to create photo collages or even create inspiration boards. This app has such great variety that you can really take your photos to the next level and share your creations with friends and family. The cropping feature is great for taking little snippets out of an image or for just cutting it down to size and the user interface is so intuitive that the app is very natural to use for those who are familiar with iOS devices. Although the app is designed for both iPhone and iPad, it really shines on the larger screen of the iPad. Price: Free

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in My Bag by Alexis Giostra

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Cupid (Pale Grey) Contents: Pink Faux Snakeskin Wallet Purse hook EOS Lotion Karma Gorilla Purfume by Lush Mentos & Altoids Urban Outfitters Damsel Sunglasses Burts Bees Lip Balm Covergirl Pressed Powder Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains in Lovestick and Smitten Coach Sunglass case Martha Stewart Journal Pens Blackberry 9930 Minimergency Kit for Her Urban Outfitters Plattan Headphones in Ocean Coach Camera Case Elaine Turner Metallic Indian Tile iPad Case Apple iPad (3rd gen. Black 32GB)

Horoscope Survival Kit: What you’ll need to survive

Aries: As an Aries, exiting summer will be a bit of a stressor for you, but good things are waiting for you in the early fall months. Make sure you keep a notebook with you at all times because you may find yourself with an influx of information and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Cancer: The new season is going to bring a bit of agitation to a Cancer. You may find a need for change in your daily life, but this is only due to a pent up energy that you are holding inside of you. Make sure to let it out every once in a while with some physical activity, so make sure to outfit yourself with a new set of workout pants.

Taurus: A Taurus may find that although we are leaving the heat of the summer, passions are still boiling into the cooler months. Your confidence will have you taking risks and jumping into new situations, so make sure you pick up a pair of fierce pumps to flaunt your no fear attitude.

Leo: This back to school season is going to have a Leo feeling the love and support of friends, coworkers and family. Everywhere you go you will find yourself surrounded by a great group of people who want to help you along in your journey, so make sure to pick up a fresh new scent this season to keep everyone coming back for more.

Gemini: For a Gemini, the early fall months will be defined by the rule, work hard, play hard. You will thrive in the new season and may find yourself with more to do than you may think you can handle, so make sure you have a great day to evening dress to take you from the class room to the club at a moment’s notice.

Virgo: Virgo’s will find plenty of success starting September. As a Virgo you will be at the top of your game and working hard for everything you earn. Just keep in mind that although you are working hard, life isn’t always fair and you may not get everything you deserve, so make sure to treat yourself to a new piece of statement jewelry to show the world that you are worth it.

your sign.

Libra: A Libra will be surrounded by stability in this coming season. In your personal life you will find things safe and secure, and in your professional life you will find that this stability will give you the opportunity to flourish on a big project and show off your talents. Make sure to pick up a classic blazer to add some extra stability to your wardrobe.

Capricorn: A Capricorn will experience much contentment with the season. Relationships will work out, hard work will pay off and you will find yourself reflecting on your own happiness. Just remember, good times do not last forever and although you may be experiencing an influx of money and gifts, you should stay smart, indulge in a new wallet and save your pennies for a rainy day.

e Scorpio: The fall season may start off with a bit of confusion and some missed connections for a Scorpio, but as the season progresses there will be plenty of opportunities for you to catch a wave and go with the flow. You just need to make sure you stand out in the crowd and there is no easier way to do this than with a new bright lipstick to add a pop of color to your life that will surely turn a few heads.

f Sagittarius: This season a Sagittarius may find that life seems a little too good to be true. You may find success comes a little too easy, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry, as long as you keep your head on straight and pay attention to your surroundings the rug wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be pulled from under you. To keep yourself grounded buy a pair of cute flats and be mindful of you who trust in this sensitive time.

h Aquarius: An Aquarius will be very fortunate in the fall season. You will be lucky in love, your career and with your health and wellness. It will be the perfect time to take on a challenging task or a new venture. Just make sure you have a fresh new business or calling card to give to your prospective clients or customers.

i Pisces: A Pisces will be very optimistic for the fall season. Opportunities will be everywhere for a Pisces who is eager to learn and collaborate with others. Communication is the key to making progress, so keeping up with your emails, phone calls and other correspondences will be crucial. It would be best to get yourself a new tablet or computer to keep yourself organized during this time.

Advice and Etiquette: Smart phones by Alexis Giostra

n our busy day to day lives, its often very easy to overlook rules of good etiquette, especially with our digital devices. Phones, mp3 players, tablets, and laptop computers have all become common extensions to our own limbs, and despite their usefulness and

ability to keep us connected to others, when misused they can also create a divide. When it comes to cellular phones and in particular smartphones that are so popular now, practically everyone and their grandmother has one! So, it could be easy to think that using your smartphone in public and during certain social interactions is a norm, when in reality there are still certain circumstances in which using your smartphone in public can be bad etiquette. These situations are outlined below with examples to help you show respect to those around you in your day to day life. Talking on the phone while in a quiet or cramped area: I know you have seen others do it and you have probably been annoyed by it, but you also probably havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t though twice about doing it yourself. As a rule of thumb, if you are in an

area where silence is prevalent or space is minimal, like in a waiting room or on a bus ride, keep your phone conversations to a minimum and be sure to watch the volume of your voice as not to disturb others around you. It is a common courtesy that those around you not be forced to listen in on your 20 minute rant about your boss. Remember, if the phone call is necessary, its probably best to remove yourself from the situation before talking. Checking your phone for emails and texts during a meeting or while in the direct company of others: As someone with a day job, I attend many meetings where I see this rule being broken. Its common courtesy to give a presenter in a meeting or lecture your full attention and not fiddle with your smartphone no matter how board you may be. Same goes for when you are in the company of others, lets say sharing a meal or talking together even casually. When you give your attention to your device during a social situation, whether you mean to or not, you are sending a sign to those around you that you are not as interested in them as you

are in your phone, so be sure to keep your phone away while socially engaged with others because its mere presence can give the same negative connotation. If you are expecting an important call or message, make sure to make that known and try to remove yourself from the social engagement when it occurs by excusing yourself to a bathroom or leaving the room. Using your phone while making a purchase: Its not an uncommon sight to see a sign next to a cash register that says you will not be helped if you are on your phone. Although you may think its easy enough to hand your cash or credit card over to a cashier at the mall or over a deli counter, it is rude and can often lead to mistakes with your order or purchase if you are not giving the server or cashier your full attention. Think about how you would feel if they were on the phone and only giving you part of their attention. So, make sure to end your calls before you step in line and keep your phone away while you are making a purchase. It should only take a moment, and your messages will be there waiting for you when you are done. 23

The Ultimate Back to School Guide 24

Back to School: Gear 2 1

For those times when you just need to write

The ultimate tablet and a girls best friend!

3 4

Carry your eyewear in style 26

These trendy headphones are light and fold into a portable bundle

A bright wallet that becomes an instant clutch

A quirky makeup bag!

This pen goes from pixels to paper in a click!

The name says it all, a girls ultimate emergency kit! 1. 3. 5. 7. 9.

Apple iPad (3rd Generation) 2. Moleskine Volant Notebooks Urbanears Plattan Headphones 4. Rebecca Minkoff Eyeglass Case Big Buddah Color Block Wallet 6. Benefit Makeup Bag Lunatik Touchpen Alloy 8. Minimergency Kit for Her Bobble Water Bottle

To keep yourself hydrated on those long days

Back to School: Hair & Makeup 2

photo via Flickr ...love Maegan

Natural and blendable for perfect cheeks

A simple statement bun is easy and fun! 4

The perfect blender for natural makeup application! 28

For moisture and long wear in a perfect pigment

photo via Flickr ...love Maegan

Easy to use and apply for a variety of eye effects

Define your ideal brows

Braids are the refined look of the season

9 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Light, breathable foundation that erases imperfections!

7. 8. 9.

Better than false lashes!

Nars Blush Messy Bun Beauty Blender Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Sain Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pencil Maybelline Define A Brow Stick Braided Hair Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Foundation Maybelline Illegal Lengths Mascara

Back to School: Clothing

edgy Casual Green and Cheetah

preppy 30

prepp y Sophisticated Creme and Black

edgy

Fall 2012 TV shows: The up and comers by Kate Marshall

My first temptation was to make this article all about trashy reality shows coming to, or returning to, the Fall 2012 TV season. But we’re all a bit better than that, I think (okay, not really). I went back and forth about how to write up TV blurbs and then finally decided I would just scan the list of shows from TVGuide and offer my initial, knee-jerk thoughts based on the show title alone. Come with me as I apply unfair generalizations to the upcoming lineup. 666ParkAvenue

This sounds vaguely familiar…oh wait— I saw a preview for this before The Dark Knight Rises. Something about a haunted apartment or something? Like what Rosemary’s Baby could have been if it had just focused on the Dakota stand-in, instead of all that Mia-Farrow-gets-impregnatedwith-Satan’s-baby crap. Stuff probably happens. Devil stuff.

Animal Practice

So like Scrubs but with animals, then? With a monkey? Whatever.

Arrow

At first glance, Stephen Arnell looks like Jeremy Renner so I got unnecessarily excited that he’d be on TV. Alas, it’s

not Jeremy Renner. And normally, I’d be all over comic book adaptations but I’m either getting old or getting comic-book-adaptationed out. Hey, do you think Jeremy Renner wants to break into TV?

Beauty and the Beast

Look, I love— LOVE!— Beauty and the Beast in pretty much all its forms, even the Disneyfied one. But I never really warmed to the live-action Linda Hamilton/Ron Perelman show from the late 1980s, for some reason (like being 4 years old, probably). So I’m already not over the moon about a remake of that show. And it stars Kristen Kreuk from Smallville, which I was never into either. And if this show doesn’t get canned by October, then I

just know that the Pluralism class at Arcadia University will be devoting two or more lesson plans to how the Beast is an abusive boyfriend and Beauty only stays because she thinks she can change him, blah blah blah, which…yeah, they may be right but stop trying to wreck my favorite Disney movie for me, okay?

ern-day Sherlock Holmes, in a place that isn’t England? Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast, from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs’ books: http://www.prestonchild.com/books/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloysius_ Pendergast

Ben and Kate

Aww, Meryl Streep’s daughter is an actress! Okay, I’ll probably watch this.

It’s a Fox show so it’ll probably be gone by September 30. Also, I’m tired of seeing shows that describe the lead as “lovable” and “goofy” in the same sentence. Why can’t they ever describe the lead as “stabby” and “recalcitrant?”

Chicago Fire

Aww, Dick Wolf ’s back! Why? Until New York Undercover comes out on DVD, I have nothing more to say to Mr. Wolf. Now I feel a sudden need to watch a Law and Order rerun.

Elementary

Please God, let this be the Sherlock Holmes adaptation….hey, it is! If you like your Sherlock Holmes in modernday NYC, for some reason, and never found Lucy Liu all that grating from Ally McBeal, then…good for you, I guess. Hey, you know who else is a mod-

Emily Owens

Go On

Damn it, Matthew Perry, stop trying to make me watch you.

Guys with Kids No.

Last Resort.

Stop trying to be on my TV, Scott Speedman. Just stop.

Made in Jersey

Law firm. Jersey. Manhattan. Yay.

Major Crimes

The Closer spin-off. This is where I admit that I only saw one episode of The Closer, ever.

Malibu Country

I really thought Reba McEntire was a singer. She was, wasn’t she?

The Mindy Project

Created by and starring Mindy Kaling from The Office. Awesome!

The Mob Doctor

Do you know how many times I had to sit through the previews for this during the movies this summer? A doctor is shanghaied into mob doings. Apparently, it’s based on a non-fiction book.

Partners

It’s the nerdy guy from 10 Things I Hate About You (David Krumholtz) and then was the hot, nerdy lead on Numb3rs! Yes!

Revolution

Bela Swan’s dad, and was co-created by Eric Kripke of Supernatural. Okay, I’m in.

Stars Earn Stripes

Featuring the cheerleader from Heroes and country music drama.

Okay, I seem to remember that Nick Lachey had some decent songwriting chops from when he was in 98 Degrees. Why can’t he go into song-writing/producing full time, instead of dumb reality shows?

The Neighbors.

Vegas

Nashville

People move into a neighborhood full of aliens. Hurrah!

The New Normal

The synopsis looks cute (two guys hire a single mother to be their surrogate) but Ryan Murphy shows and I always wind up breaking up messily.

Period drama featuring Dennis Quaid and based on a true story! In Las Vegas! Sold.

Fall 2012 TV shows: The fall returns

by Kate Marshall

Okay, there are like, 100 returning shows this Fall season (note: actual number may vary). I’m going to focus on just two because I’m already familiar with one of them, and the new-to-me one sounds interesting:

Grimm Ah, Grimm: the fairy tale TV show. I’m a little surprised I didn’t watch it last season because normally, fantasy/sci-fi/fairy tales, etc? That’s my crack. But it seems that last season involved comas, evil cats (honestly, is there any other kind?), creaturehuman craziness, and people pretending to be dead (just like any good fairy tale. Subterfuge for the win!). Now I have this overwhelming urge to crack open a huge, dusty tome of fairy tales-- the original scary kinds that left all the violence and ambiguously-moral messages intact. Yay, reading! What’s going to happen for the second season? Oh God, I hope that tale about the sun and the wind having an epic throw down via some random, innocent dude makes an appearance.

Supernatural Another show that I inadvertently took a break from because of time constraints, schedule conflicts, and plotty nuttiness. The last season was about the Apocalypse and Satan and junk because that’s what the last like, four seasons have been about. Sam has no soul. Dean doesn’t know what to do. Sam and Dean’s demon hunter grandfather (FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner! I mean, Mitch Pileggi!) is back and cranky. Castiel has become a bit of a jerk. What will happen when the show returns? I have no idea but I bet Dean and Sam will look totally hot doing it. And it’ll probably involve shooting monsters with rock salt.

The Foodie: Bento Box by Alexis Giostra

Here is my complete bento box set. It comes with two containers and one of them has a lid for any thing you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want spilling on the rest of your food!

I started by cutting up some fruit for one of my containers. You can add anything you would like as a side!

The Bento Box has been the traditional Japanese portable meal for centuries. Tracing its roots back to the 12th century Kamakura Period of Japan, these boxed lunches are normally comprised of a variety of rice balls, vegetables and protein sources. The bento box itself is has gone through multiple iterations, from a plain square box with partitioned sections to keep each food compartmentalized, to a multi-layer box in which different meal courses can be contained. Wet and dry foods alike can be stored in more modern iterations in which special containers for sauces and

soups are layered within the overall lunch box to prevent from spills and leaks. Although you can find a variety of traditional Japanese meals can be elaborately prepared for bento style eating, modern foods like hotdogs, salads, mixed veggies and even desserts can be orchestrated for fun and far less time consuming meal preparation. These fun meals are great for back to school and can make your lunch time a little more fun this season. We have developed a simple how-to on building a delicious and fun bento that will definitely have your friends and family talking!

My finished product: A veggie sandwich with a side of cut strawberries. Yum!

This is the box all packed up and ready for me to take with me to work, school, or a picnic. It goes anywhere you need!

Digital vs Analog: iPad Headphone jack to turn your tablet into a portable symphony

Applications for everything under the sun

Internal storage plus cloud storage capability for endless amounts of information at your fingertips

Touch Screen for finger based input

Virtual Keyboard for long form input

Speakers for instant notifications even when the gadget is not in use

Digital vs Analog: Moleskine Actual paper pages, acidfree so your words will last a lifetime or more Black hard cover for an infinitely classy look Sewn binding for increased durability

Strap to keep your writing securely inside

No internal battery means you can access your data and input new information whenever and wherever

Inner pocket for scraps of paper, tickets, receipts or anything else you need to stash

Digital vs Analog: e-Reader Wireless technology means you can download a new title even on the go when you are far from the bookstore

Ability to highlight passages and make notes that you can refer back to instantly

Battery lasts weeks, so you can read with only an occasional charge

Search functionality to find the specific passage you are looking for

Built in dictionary function makes it easy to understand what your reading without stopping to look something up

Hundreds of thousands of books available for download and you can carry them all around at once with no back pain

Digital vs Analog: Textbooks No fear of your title disappearing from your library (ahem, Amazon.com)

Easy to share, just hand it over to your pal

A wider variety of titles available than through digital

Actual paper means you can write in the margins and highlight passages permanently

You can resell your books when your class ends or rent them so you can save money

Thick and heavy, but no pain no gain, right?

Digital vs Analog: Laptop

Searchable notes make studying a breeze

Allows you to video record or audio record along with your regular note-taking

Most people can type faster than they write, so you can take more notes in class

Instantly email your notes to your friend who skipped class

A large hard drive means you will never run out of room to write

Variety of ways and places to store information

Digital vs Analog: Spiral Notebook

You can remove a page to give to a classmate whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laptop is broken

Interior folder pockets for storing hand outs

Paper means you are protected from a hard drive crash, but not a fire

Spiral design means you can flip your pages over to save space on a small desk No need to charge during a long lecture

Much lighter to carry around than a laptop

Do It Yourself! Camera Strap by Alexis Giostra A camera can be a girls best friend! Whether you are into digital photography or rock an old school 35mm, there is no better way to show your personal style and treat your favorite gadget to an upgrade like making your own camera strap! In the new few pages I am going to show you some quick and easy strap ideas that require just a few pieces of hardware available at your local craft store. Easy Scarf Strap If you want your camera strap to look more like a part of your outfit than an out of place accessory, give this easy strap a try. Materials 2 Keyrings 2 Lanyard hooks 1 Scarf Your materials

Attach a lanyard hook to each one of your keyrings. Tie a key ring to the end of each scarf.

Attach to your camera and enjoy!

Glam Ribbon Strap This glamorous ribbon strap has a sparkly zebra print and some beautiful silver toned hardware. Switch out the ribbon for a colour or pattern you like and this can be a versatile DIY! Materials 1 Bottle of Fabric Glue 2 Small keyrings 2 Swivel head clasps A length of ribbon

Your materials

Attach the small rings to your camera

Place ends of ribbon between two heavy books to dry

Wrap each end of your ribbon through the end of the swivel clasps and glue. Wrap with plastic to protect while drying

The result

Obsessed: Fountain Pens by Kate Marshall

here are some upsides to having an obsessive-compulsive disorder (bear with me, here). It’s mostly a pain in the ass but it’s also yielded an obsession with a relaxing, old-timey hobby: fountain pen collecting. Yes, they still make fountain pens-- and they’re awesome. And yes, I may have written at least part of this article’s first draft by hand with a fountain pen (an Edison Nouveau Encore in “Amethyst Ice” with a medium - point, steel nib, and Private Reserve DC Supershow Violet ink, if you’re interested, which you so totally are). Sites like The Fountain Pen Network, FP Geeks, Ink Nouveau/Goulet Pens, and Edison Pens shamelessly feed this obsession like your friendly neighborhood crack dealer. Then there’s Ebay because one man’s hastily-throwntogether estate sale is another man’s Epic Deal of the Day (in theory). People (my editor, blind dates, ex-boyfriends, hiring managers, etc.) ask me how I got into col46

lecting fountain pens originally and then twenty minutes later, find a way to check their imaginary watch and make up an emergency about a sick child. As with so many things in life, it all began with a CVS. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to read and write, so I always loved stationery products-- notebooks, pens, markers, etc. When I first started keeping at age nine or so, I was even particular about what kind of pen I used-- an old rollerball I found in the junk drawer, that I would pretend to “dip” into its cap, like it was a dip pen. (Yes, I was a strange child. Thank you for asking). I first got into fountain pens when wandering the aisles of my local CVS one day in fourth or fifth grade. The stationery aisle (already a haunt of mine) had Parker Vector pens all lined up in their little blister packs with the included black or blue cartridge (blister packs: that is how low-end the Parker Vector is. It comes in the same kind of packaging as a Bic stick pen). They were cheap but cool (to this dork anyway). I was bound to get caught up in some obsession at some point,

especially once the horror of adolescence hit. As far as time-and money-consuming hobbies for the under-18 crowd go, you could do a lot worse than fancy pens and paper. I’ve been collecting pens on a regular basis for about seven years now (oh boy) but my collection usually hovers around 15-20 pens at any given time. My collection is predominantly German brands like Pelikan Lamy, and young American brands like Edison and Bexley. I’ve been gravitating towards piston-fill pens (they can only use bottled ink but the filling method is a neat piston that sucks up the ink), and eyedropper pens (the barrel is one big empty space. Dump some ink into it. Start writing). But countless pen types abound and you can use ink

cartridges for a more convenient fill. Heck, for years, I didn’t even know that my dinky Parker Vector could use bottled ink-- CVS only stocked the cartridges, it didn’t have a converter for bottled ink, we didn’t have the Internet then (well at least, I didn’t)….truly, the mid-90s were a dark, dark time for us bookish, quiet, socially-maladjusted freaks of nature. What’s nice about fountain pens is that they don’t require much pressure to start writing, so they’re especially good for anyone suffering from carpal tunnel problems, arthritis, etc. They encourage me to slow down and pay attention to my thoughts. They’re relaxing. They come in pretty colors too, so what more could you want?

For more information about fountain pens, please consult these sites: Fountain Pen Network: http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/ Richard Binder: http://richardspens.com/ Edison Pen Company: http://edisonpen.com/ Bexley: http://bexleypen.com/ Classic Fountain Pens, Inc: http://nibs.com/ Ink Nouveau: http://www.inknouveau.com/

Back to School: Tech Tips by Alexis Giostra

ith the end of summer nearly upon us, these next few weeks will see college and high school students on their way back to the daily grind of classes and coursework. If you are one of the many students heading back to the classroom, you may be in the market for some new tech gear. The start of a new school year has always been ceremoniously entangled with the concept of the “new,” and the prospect of new gadgets can always make for an exciting start. However, if you are one of the many students who will be dragging around an old laptop or iPod, don’t worry, because I have some tips for making your old tech feel new again to get you pumped for your upcoming semester.

Add a little spring to your gadget’s step Although your laptop may be well equipped with a fast processor and a large hard drive, it may not be as snappy as it once was. This is a common issue with computers in general, but luckily it is an easy issue to fix as it is most likely related to a clogged hard drive. Months or years of accumulating files and viewing web pages can cause your computer to run significantly slower, so to fix the problem, you will need to start cleaning out your files. 1. Start by going through your documents, pictures, music and movie files and getting rid of any files you no longer need. For files you don’t use but need to keep record of, move those to an external hard drive to free up space. 2. Next, try clearing your web browser’s cache. This will take care of old web page information that is stored on your computer and eating up memory. To do this, go to your browser’s preferences or settings and look for the option. 3. Finally, delete unused applications. To do this on a Mac, you simply need to drag the application to the trash can, however, to insure you have removed all the sub files of the application from your hard drive,

I suggest downloading an application such as AppCleaner to help you remove all associated files. On a PC, use the application uninstaller in your Control Panel found in ‘Add or Remove Programs’. 4. For an iPod that is beginning to lag, I suggest that you do a factory reset of your device, then, make sure you have the most up to date firmware installed, before restocking your device with new tunes and videos for the school year. Although iPods tend to have a shorter lifespan than laptops, with proper care and maintenance, you can keep yours up and running for a long time. (I still have an iPod Mini from early 2005 in good working condition.) 49

Give your gear a bath Although they are electronic devices, computers and mp3 players still need proper cleaning from time to time to keep them not only looking good, but also working well. When dirt or dust gets inside a gadget, it can start causing issues like overheating and lagging that shorten the life of the device. So, a regular cleaning is always a good idea. 1. The first thing to remember before you begin to clean any electronic device is that you must turn the device off. Skipping this step could cause major harm to yourself or the device. So, power down and unplug all wires. 2. I tend to begin cleaning my laptops keyboard area first. This is usually a source of much dust and dirt that should be cleared out of the way first. Use a can of compressed air, or, if you know how to remove your keys individually, do so slowly and carefully. I like to use q tips to get into the nooks and crannies of the keyboard, myself.

3. Next, clean off the casing. Depending on the outer material of your laptop, either plastic or metal, you may want to use a dedicated electronics cleaner like iKlear, but I find that soap and water or antibacterial wipes do a universally good

job. If you are using soap and water, just make sure that you only slightly dampen the towel you are using to make sure you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get liquid into the delicate parts of your computer. 4. Finally, clean the screen of your computer with an appropriate cleanser. To be prudent, I would check with the manufacture of the computer to see what solvents are safe to use on the computers screen. Although Windex is always a safe bet, you may prefer to use electronic screen wipes or another popular brand of computer screen cleaner if your screen has any sort of sensitive coating. 5. Follow a similar method to clean an iPod or mp3 player, making sure to also clean your earbuds with a q tip or cotton ball slightly moistened with alcohol to remove bacteria.

Update your electronic wardrobe Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the only one who could benefit from a wardrobe upgrade for the new school year. A great way to make your old tech feel new again is with some upgraded cases, covers, and skins. There are a wide variety of retailers that sell these items, most specified to the specific device you own, so I will not list them here, but I will say that a new sleeve for your laptop, or a new case for your iPod can be an inexpensive way to add excitement and interest back to your gear. Not to mention upgrading the protection will extend the life of your device! So, think about how you use your gadgets and see if the below tips can help you keep your devices like new. 1. Suit up your laptop in a hardshell case. If your someone who tends to drop their devices, it would be a good idea to buy a hard shell case to protect your laptop. These inexpensive hard plastic cases can act as a first defense against nicks and bumps and the occasional tumble. Of course, remember this does not give you free reign to put your laptop in harms way, but it can be a good option for an accident prone gadget owner.

say their mp3 players, cell phones, or tablets are safe in their purses or tote bags, but the truth is, carrying your gadgets in bags with other objects can be a sure way to scratch them up. So, protect your gear and carry them in dedicated travel sleeves.

3. Keep wires and cables organized with twist ties and a dedicated accessories pouch. When you are carrying around earbuds for your iPod along with a travel charger for your phone, and usb cables for your peripheral 2. Zip up your gadgets while trav- devices, things can get tangled easeling. Whether your traveling by ily. Wires are particularly susceptible plane, train or automobile, going to breakage when stored together across the country, or just heading improperly, so make sure you keep to school or work, whenever you are wires and cables tied with twist ties traveling with your gadgets its good or wrapped with rubber bands and to keep them protected in cushioned store them in a pouch to keep them travel sleeves. I know many ladies may from clogging up your bag. 51

Must have accessory: iPad cases for her 1. Liz Patten case by Haymarket Designs. They have a range of colors and patterns to chose from, and they offer custom name printing! 2. The Marc By Marc Jacobs Dreamy iPad folio. The exterior is a foamy padding that is sure to protect your device and inside is even a pocket for holding papers. 3. The Ted Baker Hoola Sleeve. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slim and sleek and offers a great protection to style ratio! 4. Th is case is from R&Em and I am in love with the teal zebra print. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect mix of fun and flirty and totally office appropriate! 5. These fun and colorful cases are from Nico & LaLa and are slim but protective and as you can see come with a monogram or name customized into the case. This means no confusion over who owns that fabulous device inside! 6. Taylor Trellis case from Lill studios. Available in a few select colors this folio is full protection and full elegance! 7. J ess LC iPad case. This gold and brightly lined case has been making quite a splash on the Internet for a while now. It seems it is a must own case for fashion and design bloggers, as I see it on many sites and blogs! 8. Touch & Go iPad case from Rebecca Minkoff. I just love her use of cute quotes and sayings on her accessories and her tongue in cheek fun! 9. Th e Elaine Turner Metallic Indian Tile Zip case. I love the silver exterior of this case and the bright pink interior filled with pockets for storing papers and cards.

Wit and Humor: Adventures in Commuting! by Kate Marshall

Yes, this really happened.

There are actually quite a few players in this psychodrama and most kay, so when I’m commuting in of them came out of it looking (at the morning, there a few dif- best) foolish or (at worst) like psyferent trains I could catch, depend- chopaths who really should maybe ing on what time I actually get to the be locked up. So, to set the scene: I’m sitting in station. This particular day, I decided not to wait for the next local train the middle of a train car, between and instead catch the express train two other passengers in a threethat was just pulling in. Famous last passenger seat (oh goody. See, right words because I’m pretty sure I was there, this is why I try to avoid the this close to getting stabbed that day. rush hour express-- you rarely have In all my years of using Septa any empty seats, or seats next to peotrains, I didn’t know there was a ple with a decent sense of boundroving band of “disrespectful” aries. Like, maybe don’t sit so close to me that your Septa conductors who “The “wait, train rides cost money?” elbow is in my lady from up front is giving her hip, okay, person cruelly wake raised-eye thumbs up and verbal, whom I’ve never innocent, sleep“yeah, you tell ‘em, hon! We have met?) ing passento show tickets?! Who heard of Three-person gers over and something so crazy?” seat in front of over again to check their ticket and then me is occupied by a lady (window) prevent said riders from just leaving and a guy (aisle). Conductor comes their ticket out during the train ride, into car to check tickets after the because that would deny them the last local stop before the city (par chance to wake and bother the in- for the course on Septa trains. The closer your embarking station is to nocent, sleeping passenger later on. Please God, do note the sarcasm. the beginning of the line, the more

often you’ll see the conductors doing checks). First off, I hear a different passenger expressing annoyed surprised that yeah, you actually do need a ticket to ride the train. I don’t know if she had come from a station that sold tickets but didn’t buy one there so she was balking at the two-dollar on-train surcharge, or if she came from a station without a ticket window and thought that somehow exempted her from buying any train tickets. Either way, this whole “rarely do people ride trains for free” concept was apparently new to her and she wasn’t happy about it. BUT IT GETS SO MUCH BETTER IF BY BETTER, I MEAN WORSE, AND YOU KNOW I DO. Conductor proceeds down aisle. Gets to seat in front of mine. I hear him asking, “Ticket or pass? Ma’am, ticket or pass?” several times. From the back, the lady looks asleep and for a split second, I thought she’d died because God knows you ride a Septa vehicle long enough, you too experience that rare situation when a passenger dies mid-trip, in their sleep or something. But no. Sleeping passenger wakes

up. Sleeping passenger then starts screaming-- SCREAMING-- at the conductor about how he’s persecuting her by waking her up to check her ticket, and she showed him ticket already so why wasn’t one time enough, she pays too much money for her pass for him to be waking her up to check it, how dare he single her out like this, he never does it to anyone else, he always be aggravating her about this, why can’t he let her sleep, she’s just on her way to work and reading the Bible, etc. Etc. ETC. With a lot of swearing: every word from George Carlin’s routine and a few others that also double as unpleasant slurs. Over and over. People start looking at each other all, “holEE cow!” and texting and emailing like crazy (including the guy next to her, which, maybe you want to save your live-tweeting when she can’t see you in her peripheral vision, guy? Just a thought?). The conductor gives up, continues on down the car, and then doubles back into the previous car. Crazy Lady is still continuing with her Tale of Daily, Continual, Damn the Man Persecution (yes, that is her name and no, I don’t care if she actu-

ally is crazy. Crazy is no excuse for lack of manners or tact). The “wait, train rides cost money?” lady from up front is giving her raised-eye thumbs up and verbal, “yeah, you tell ‘em, hon! We have to show tickets?! Who heard of something so crazy?” The guy sitting next to HER was also all aboard the Shine On, Verbally Abusive Passenger With No Respect for Boundaries wagon. Shut up, People Who Just Like to Make Things Worse. Yeah. Meanwhile, other random passengers start (politely) telling and asking Super Crazy Lady to maybe can it with the foul language, okay? Like, calling the conductor an “asshole” isn’t exactly helping your cause, you know? Could you maybe just lay off one or two of the F-bombs and “a-holes”, please, okay? HA HA HA HA. I admire those passengers for being brave enough to speak up, and in a way that was trying to defuse the situation. But if you think this prompted an abashed apology or even a cessation of the verbal garbage, then you’ve clearly never held a retail job, worked in/ lived in/traveled to a major city, or actually ever been in public, around other people. 56

Naturally, everyone gets treated to another free, impromptu show of &*(&%^*^*()(*!@#%^&$ for another five minutes or so, puncutated with declarations that she’s “a grown woman,” “I’ll throw down on you [Random Passenger],” “oh, don’t you start with me, I am a grown woman,” etc. “Evil Conductor” returns, this time with the other conductor. They approach the seat. Guy sitting in that seat quickly vacates several rows back. “Evil” Conductor, Other Conductor, and Crazy, Entitled Person (IT’S A VALID NAME) get into it AGAIN. “Evil” Conductor walks away. Other Conductor stays for a few minutes and finally gets Psycho Hose Beast With the Crazy Eyes to agree to show her pass to HIM “but not [Original Conductor].” Which I kind of think is BS. You don’t get to pick and choose which SEPTA conductors check your passes. This ain’t Red Lobster. FINALLY, all the conductors leave, AssHat lobs off a few more “general observations” and then all is relatively quiet. The whole time, I’m surreptitiously looking up Septa’s contact information on my phone. I couldn’t just get out of my seat and go to the back

of the car to call Septa Police (yes, I would so do that) because then NuttyMcGoo over there would see and hear me with her crazy eyes peripheral vision and then I’d get stabbed in the ribs. You know how much I hate that. So I had to make do with waiting for a cell connection, pulling up Septa’s “contact us” webpage, and filling out the “report an incident” form, and leaving a message on their twitter page (once you get onto the train, you’re basically resigning yourself to a No Man’s Land of Cell Phone Signals until after the train pulls into Center City). Too Crazy for Words disembarked at Suburban Station, without gutting a basket of kittens on her way out (how thoughtful of her). If I may be so bold: what a [censored]. Normally, I err on seeing both sides of the story, walking in another person’s shoes, blah blah blah, hippie-love-everybody-let’s-buythe-world-a-Coke, yada cakes. But I have my limits and they include Grossly Misplaced Sense of Entitlement, Abuse of Any Kind, and Straight Up Cruelty and Meanness. So I don’t care what might have been going on in Psycho’s life-- nothing warrants that kind of behaviour.

EVEN IF you had conclusive proof that “Evil” Conductor was waging an all-out campaign to ruin her life by continually asking for her ticket, there was still no excuse for the threats, language, rudeness, psychosis, and general belligerence (belligerant behaviour is another hard limit for me). This lady was so far out of line that she was in Alpha Centauri and the line was in the Mariana Trench. NO. EXCUSE. Oh, and after you’ve made such a scene in public? Maybe try NOT whipping out your cell phone so you can crow to your friends about how you sure showed that Septa conductor and other commuters. Just a thought. So let’s add arrogance to that lovely list of traits. In conclusion: you fail at life, Crazy Passenger. Good luck with that.

Update: Septa customer service responded to my message but since I didn’t see it until five days later, I had basically stopped caring by that point. And no, I haven’t seen her again on the train. Knock on wood and such.

Mantra: Portable inspiration by Alexis Giostra

antra is a section of tips and tricks dedicated to helping you increase your self love and personal happiness. Each issue we will cover a topic to help bring you closer to your inner harmony.

This issue we will be covering a twist on the old classic inspiration board. I love the idea of having a place to pin up all my dreams and aspirations but don’t like that my favorite pictures and quotes are stuck in my house all day while I am out and about living my life! So I have devised a portable version that I can carry with me so that when I am

feeling stressed or loosing motivation, I can whip out a bit of inspiration and visualize my goals. That’s really what an idea board is all about, visualizing what you want so that you can find the inner strength to turn your dreams into reality, so it seems silly that a tool so powerful to your own psyche should be left at home! Now, I call this portable system of self-actualization my inspiration cards (clever, I know). To create your own, you will need your favorite magazines (that you don’t mind cutting up), a stack of card stock of various sizes and colors, and a glue stick.

Start by going through your magazines and cutting out anything that inspires you. A cute outfit, a dream bag, quotes, travel destinations, if you want it, cut it out! Next, trim your clippings down to size and glue them to your card stock in anyway you please. I like to layer images and text, but you can do whatever you want to create your perfect mini inspiration board in the form of a deck of card stock!

F i n a l l y, once your cards are dry, stash them away in your wallet, a notebook, a zip pocket in your purse, or if your like me, inside the pockets of my iPad case! Now you have a portable inspiration board that never has to leave your side. You can even take this idea one step further and punch holes into the corners of your card stock and string some ribbon through it to make your own flip board! Its like having a set of flashcards for your soul and they are a great way to brighten up a stressful day!

Do you have a great idea for an article that you think should appear in Strange & Charmed? We are always looking for fresh content ideas and new contributors, so if you are interested email us at StrangeAndCharmedMag@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you!