BQ1 | Psychology + Lifestyle by The B. Quarterly

the b. quarterly

all the ways in which we b.ehave

HELLO! EDITOR IN CHIEF Senior Correspondent Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Senior Writer Senior Writer Senior Writer Senior Writer Staff Writer

Dr. Baharak Sedigh, PsyD, MA Dominique McGhee Daniel Sher, MA Paula H. Cookson, LCSW M.K. Angeles Cynthia Malone, BA GinaMarie Guarino, LMHC Maria Berns B.D. Bradley

Contributors Dr. Dannii Cohen, PsyD Lynn Sullivan, MA The Faceless Traveler

Photography & Art George Mayer, Conrado, Terry Lee White, Marko Stamatovic, Tommy Brison, Aaron Amat, Cisek Ciesielski, Katrina Brown, Tomasz Zajda, Vlad Turchenko, Andrey Kiselev, Mauro Luna,Vesna Cvorovic, Andriy Dykun, Dominique McGhee, Korkeng, Johner, Peter Kozikowski, Rafael Ben-Ari, Alex Buts, Sergey Nivens, Konrad Bak, F.X.Quadro, The Faceless Traveler, Bigstockphoto, Fotolia, Soup Studio.

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TheBQuarterly.com ÂŠ 2017 by The B. Quarterly. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The B. Quarterly and its editors reserve the right to edit all submitted material for publication such as articles, interviews, advertisement, or any other related material turned in. All work submitted to The B. Quarterly is assumed to be the author's authentic and original work, previously unpublished (unless otherwise disclosed) in format submitted. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher. The views expressed in the articles, interviews, advertisements, and general content of The B. Quarterly are those of the authors, interviewees and/or contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, publishers, or their agents. All psychological, medical, legal, clinical and health related views, and all articles, opinions and/or information depicted in The B. Quarterly by its editors, writers, staff, contributors and advertisers are for informational purposes only and do not claim to be a substitute for any medical, clinical or professional advice or consultation.

All beings, and all things, have a story to tell . Each saddled

with a unique set of circumstances and plot twists, but all attached at their core by the commonality of their existence. And all of uspeople, planets, animals, and trees-are busy trying to figure out our subjective evolution in contrast to what chaos, chance, and existence seem to want! Granted we, humans, have come a long way. We eventually gave up caves, conquered mountains, learned to fly and even found a way to live in space. Currently, we are well on our way to reaching other planets. We have advanced our collective knowledge, extended overall wellness, and thoug h at times it may not feel like it ... we have achieved the impossible. We have extended life well beyond what our ancestors could have ever even imagined . But we have added more than just years and things to our lives, we have added new dimensions. A digital and mobile world creating bridges and connections where before only distance existed . In this hyphenated-world , many of us now travel , work , live, and love across cultures, borders, and lifesty les. 6

My own life story has afforded me the chance to live across different continents, to speak multiple languages; while giving me the opportunity of knowing and loving people from all places and perspectives. And these great adventures have repeatedly taug ht me this: that we, fig ht as we mig ht , will always have more in common than all the ways in which we differ. The B. The B. Quarterly is born of that belief; that beyond the great Quarterly is born of that belief; that beyond the great details of our stories, we are all connected in our existence and in ...... all the ways in which we B. all the ways in which we B.ehave! ehave!

D r. B .

B a h a ra k S e d i g h , Ps y D, M A

SMART CLOTHES

C h a n g i n g t h e wa y we wo rk a n d p la y

Photo by Marko Stamatovic

written by M.K. Angeles

On a gorgeous sunny day, French

designer Marie Spinali looked over to see someone getting sunburned. She thought if there was a way for someone to know when they were getting too much sun, then skins (or even lives) could be saved. Spinali then founded Spinali Design in 2015, a fashion line of smart clothing for women, men, and children. One of her first releases was the Neviano UV Protect Swimsuit line, a collection of swimsuits that hold a waterproof sensor chip that tells the wearer when it’s time to reapply sunscreen based on measurements taken by the chip of exposure to the sun. Are we ready for a world without sunburns? This is only the beginning of how smart clothing is changing the way we dress, work and play. Smart clothing has become a popular phenomenon for those who see the potential of technology to make life safer and simpler. There are jeans, dresses, bras, socks and shoes that can monitor activity, communicate your location, or notify you when important information arrives to your inbox, alleviating the need to be glued to a computer or smartphone screen, and jackets that can even connect to your bank account when it’s time to pay for gas or coffee. What’s even more fascinating is where smart clothing and wearable technology are headed - to prevent injuries, and even detect early stages of cancer. Smart clothing, also known as Etextiles or smart fabrics, are a variety of wearable garments that look very much like ordinary clothing, but whose fabric has sensory components attached or woven throughout its fibers. These sensors record data that gets sent to an

external device for analysis, such as

Not all smart clothing is created for

a smartphone or tablet. Many smart clothes are designed to be machine

the physical fitness crowd. Narvik created the first solar powered smart

washable, making the transition from

jacket that heats its wearer up in just two

wearing regular garments to smart garments as simple as buying a new

minutes. Google has partnered with Levi’s to offer its first smart jacket which

shirt. Whereas a wearable accessory

works with existing apps to respond to

like the Apple watch or Fitbit takes measurements from a single point

incoming calls, play music, and give directions. Project Jacquard, the name

on the body, some smart clothes

of Google’s new thread technology,

have the potential to take whole torso, arm, and leg readings. Smart

gives woven fabrics the same gesture and touch capabilities as a touch screen. Designer Dominic Wilcox was

clothing’s potential to grow beyond personal entertainment into functions of safety and prevention has become a topic of industry discussion, as data collected could potentially help companies expand the accessibility of their offerings in order to create real world change. Some of the latest items in wearable technology are the Athos line of fitness apparel which features biometric tracking in real time in addition to monitoring the exertion levels of major body muscle groups. The sensors embedded in the clothing communicate with a small “core” located on the garment which then sends the information to your mobile device. Simply remove the core, and machine wash the garments as needed. Even fashion giant Ralph Lauren has broken into wearable technologies with his first PoloTech Shirt for men, a shirt that monitors heart rate, balance, and physical activity. Other companies that offer wearables with biometric monitoring are Omsignal, who offers the OmBra, and Sensoria Fitness, who offers the first smart socks in addition to a line of compression shirts and shorts.

commissioned by the Global Footprint project to design a new shoe. What he created was the world’s first GPS navigation shoes, that operates from a series of uploaded locations (which you add to the shoe by plugging a usb cable into the inside sole) to guide the wearer using tiny LED lights. On one shoe, the wearer is told which direction to go, on the other shoe, a line of lights tells you how close you are to your destination. Inspired by the Wizard of Oz, the “No Place Like Home” shoes turn on with a simple click of the heels. If this all sounds like something out of a futuristic dream, you would be right. The future is coming. Consider for a moment, how your life would change if you could simply put something on that could tell if you had cancer or pneumonia. That’s what a new start-up in California, called Cancer Detecting Clothing, is in the process of bringing to the market. Their patentpending clothing will allegedly be able to detect abnormal growth in babies, children, and adults.

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Photo by Andrey Kiselev

Do the shirts look attractive? It is hard to say - their website is rather mysterious and devoid of imagery. However, the concept is not impossible, since Cyrcadia Health released a similar product, but instead of a shirt they created the ITbra, a wireless bra insert that can detect early stages of breast cancer in dense breast tissue, an exciting innovation to traditional detection methods. The inserts send information to an app, which can then be monitored or shared with a doctor as needed. The limitations of wearable technology are not dealbreakers, but more so a result of this being a very new industry of consumer goods. Firstly, with the average price point being much higher than their nontech counterparts, accessibility to smart clothes is limited to those who can afford the luxury. However, a study suggests that if smart clothing companies could find a way to use their products and the information they provide in a way that could serve larger businesses, the cost to the consumer could become considerably less. Another small downside is that many existing smart clothes require the removal of a small device before washing, and do not work without their own proprietary apps. However, as demonstrated by the Google/Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commuter jacket, the idea of designing clothing to work along with common or existing apps is not impossible, and since Google is now making Jacquard thread technology available to the fashion industry, we may see an even larger variety of smart clothes in major retail outlets sooner rather than later. Wearable technologies clearly have the potential to change how we personally live, but what are the implications of this new relationship to clothing?

Consider the athletic industry, for instance. From an early age, young athletes experience a higher likelihood of injuries. It is believed that these injuries occur not as a result of heightened exposure to strenuous activity, but due to improper technical training. A study conducted by NCBI suggests that about 50% of childhood injuries could be preventable. Similarly, when one considers professional athletes, and the impact that injury has on their career and sport event attendance, being able to become more effective in technical accuracy by training with smart clothing will likely decrease the occurrence of injuries - practice makes perfect, but perfect practice is now on the horizon as smart clothes make it possible to correct form, weight distribution errors and overexertion as it happens in real time. Another promising implication is that we may live to see the end of people staring constantly into their phones. By taking the most important functions and placing them into our clothing, the future could become hands-free once again.

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Photo by Marko Stamatovic 12

Resilience b y D a n i e l S h e r

The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.

MoliĂ¨re

The Psychology of Resilience

Gunshots rattle-off in the distance but the young woman in my consulting room – let’s call her

Thandi – hardly bats an eyelid. In an urban South African township such as this, horror and hardship are the rule, rather than the exception. Yet, for every person that cannot seem to cope in such a setting, there are also those who demonstrate incredible resilience in the face of adversity, managing to survive and even to thrive. Thandi lives in a corrugated-iron shack that lacks electricity and plumbing. The single room is shared by 6 people, some of whom abuse alcohol, which makes them rowdy and abusive. She has no family to rely on for solace or support: her mom recently died of an HIV-related illness and both of her older brothers were murdered by gangsters. At school, her teachers tend to be under-resourced and overworked. At home, she studies by candle light, often worrying about where her next meal will come from. But today, Thandi has brought good news: seemingly against all odds, she has graduated from high school and is one step closer to her dream of becoming a social worker. How are some people able to achieve so much, despite encountering terror and trauma at every turn? For several decades psychologists and researchers have been interested in the idea of resilience: the process by which a person manages to adapt and survive in the face of incredible hardship. Several protective factors have been identified, that resilient people tend to have in common, regardless of culture or context. Most of the research agrees that social support and resilience go hand-in-hand: having supportive relationships helps when it comes to coping with difficult experiences. For example, resilient adults might find themselves benefiting by reaching out and socializing with their friends, family, romantic partners, mentors, teachers, organizations or even sport teams. On the other hand, the relationships one has experienced as a baby are also pivotal. Research shows that infants who experience close bonding and attentive parenting are better equipped to cope with stressful situations and environments later in life. Such stressors included extreme poverty, community violence and a high incidence of HIV infection. The children who participated in these studies typically grew up to be adults who refrained from taking drugs or becoming violent; and when faced with life-threatening experiences they were also less likely to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Why is optimal parenting so important for creating resilient adults? Psychoanalytic theory explains that a secure attachment with a caregiver helps the baby feel calm and comforted following an upset. If this sort of caregiving is consistent, the baby will eventually go through a process called internalization, whereby the external mother becomes part of the child’s inner-world as mom’s soothing and caring qualities are absorbed into the personality structure of the child. Later in life, during times of distress, this ‘internalized mother’ may serve as the person’s very own innertherapist, helping them (on an unconscious level) to stay motivated and manage difficult emotions.

P h o to b y Te r r y Le e W h i te

However, there are several other qualities and characteristics, apart from social support and

internalized mothers, often shared by resilient people. Consider Kyle, a forty year-old entrepreneur who runs a successful start-up business. Occasionally, Kyle needs to make a decision which could either double his earnings or erode his impressive bank balance. Kyle is fortunate enough to experience a pressure that is very different to Thandi’s daily trauma; but Kyle suffers strain nonetheless and it's his resilience that gives him his edge in the competitive world of start-up economics. In 2014, researchers from British universities interviewed a group of elite professionals – people in similar positions to Kyle – all of whom thrived in the face of extreme pressure. This resilient group had a particular way of thinking about themselves and the challenges that they faced. Specifically, they saw themselves as being competent, capable and in control – they felt they had the internal resources required to overcome any challenge life might hurl at them. So, when these highachievers encountered stressful situations, they maintained perspective and interpreted the event in a balanced and optimistic way.

P h o to b y Co n ra d o

On the other hand, these professionals also tended to interpret the hurdles that they faced as

challenges, rather than insurmountable problems. Catastrophizing is a common cognitive distortion, whereby one construes situations as overwhelming and uncontrollable. Resilient people, when they do catastrophize, tend to nip these irrational thoughts in the bud by reframing the situation in a more realistic and slightly less dramatic way. What other mechanisms are helpful for fostering resilience? The American Psychological Association emphasizes the importance of setting achievable goals and taking decisive action toward accomplishing these, whilst simultaneously trusting in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to rise up to the challenge. It is also necessary, however, to take the time to care for one's self by participating in relaxing and enjoyable activities, whether this means taking a bubble-bath, running a marathon or pestering oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better half for a massage! And ultimately, one should remember that tough times can be a valuable opportunity for learning about oneself and becoming a stronger person. So what does this all mean for you and me? Years of research has helped us to understand that resilience is not just a special something that a select few posses: it is a life-long process, made up of experiences, attitudes, feelings and behaviors. This means that resilience can be fostered, especially if we heed the wisdom that psychological research has provided. As the existentialist philosopher Nietzsche cheerfully reminds us, adversity and suffering are inevitable in life, whether this occurs in the townships of South Africa or at the office of a high-profile executive. Resilient people are not immune to life's pain: they suffer, just like everyone else. But, they are able to roll with the punches when the hard times hit, by finding creative ways to adapt, persevere, survive and thrive.

Daniel Sher M.A. lives in Cape Town and is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Currently, he is a Community Service Clinical Psychologist with the Western Cape Department of Health.

R e b e l W i s h e s . c o m Houston | Texas

a Kansas City by

Cynthia Malone 18

Day

a n d The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Walking up to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is an experience in and of itself. From the large plaza where the modern addition and the original building meet, to the grand main entrance that overlooks the grounds and the sculpture park. From the top of the stone stairs, the sunset above the museum glows pink and orange and I think I have never seen anything as beautiful; the museum is a work of art before you even feast your eyes on the masterpieces inside. The Nelson has always been host to extraordinary pieces of art; from an impressive collection of Asian ceramics and paintings to Koonig to Monetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Water Lilies. Recently, the Nelson has welcomed an addition to their extensive collection. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces from the Marion and Henry Bloch Collection adorn the museum's newest gallery spaces. The Blochs had spent more than twenty-years collecting art and buying pieces at auctions around the world of artists such as Van Gogh, Cezanne and Monet. The art stayed in their home until recently when Henry gave a $11.7 million-dollar gift to the museum-their collection.

After his wife passed away Henry Bloch wanted to donate the art, but seeing his walls as blank as a canvas, he requested replicas be made of every one of the pieces so he could still have the art around him that he adored so much.

The new galleries mix classic and contemporary with technology to increase the visitor experience without being distracting. A GPS guided app called Detour can silently guide visitors through the museum and there’s a lot to explore; the new gallery alone covers 9,000 square feet. Newly added LED lighting is spread throughout the museum and can mimic the lighting the artist used while painting, be it candlelight or the sun coming in through the windows. One of the most wonderful things about this Kansas City museum is that it is free to the public, only charging a minimal fee for some of their temporary exhibits. The entirety of The Nelson spans time and covers American Art, African-American Art, American Indian Art, Ancient, Contemporary and European Art. I adore visiting Van Gogh and following it up with Warhol; you can see his famed Campbell Soup on display here. There is also a large section devoted to photography including daguerreotypes and modern-day processes. But just a museum it is not. The Nelson hosts many free events each month including Third Thursdays and First Fridays entertainment, they also host speakers, culture fests and routinely hold charity events and weddings. William Rockhill Nelson, who founded the Kansas City Star, said “for a city to be truly civilized, art and culture were necessities.” I am inclined to agree with him because the museum he created, that holds over 40,000 works of art to enjoy, is a true Kansas City gem. For more information on the Nelson-Atkins Museum, visit www.nelson-atkins.org

Tw i l i g h t S k y l i n e o f K a n s a s C i t y b y To m m y B r i s o n

THE MIGHTY FIG

written by

Lynn Sullivan P h o t o b y Ve s n a C v o r o v i c 22

The Multi-Cultural Fig! Some archaeological evidence suggests that figs were originally cultivated more than 6,000 years ago. And, the Sumerian King Urukagina is credited with the first written reference to the fig tree around 2900 BCE. And, by 2000 BCE, Assyrians knew about the fig tree. The Greeks and the Phoenicians, whose athletes consumed fig rich diets to help with body strength, brought figs to the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa through trade. A reference to the fig was made in 1552 BCE, as the ancient Egyptians used figs to cure diseases and as offerings. The Tang Dynasty (618 to 907) kept records of the first fig cultivation in China. This is precisely mentioned in Yu Yang Tsa Tsu, the writings of Shi Hia Cheng. The fig was called tin tin, the Arabic word for fig. There is an old Persian saying still used today by fruit merchants, heard chanted out loud if you ever get the chance to buy fresh figs at a farmer's market in today's Iran, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bokhor anjeer pareh kon zanjeerâ&#x20AC;? Eat figs, and you can break apart chains! Finally, figs found their way to America in the 16th century. And eventually, the early Spaniards who worked as religious missionaries planted the first fig trees in San Diego, California in 1769. However, the growth of figs for commercial use did not start until the early 1900s. And now, in this first quarter of the 21st century, California is the largest provider of figs in the U.S. accounting for nearly 98% of all figs produced.

Photo by Korkeng

Figs are small fruits that grow on the Ficus tree. This tree belongs to the Mulberry family and has small dimensions. The Ficus tree grows ten to thirty feet tall and has several spreading branches. Flowers grow on the inside wall and they generally require no pollination. They are mainly female flowers, although there are three fig varieties with female and male flowers. And a single fruit may have anywhere from 30 to 1600 seeds. Figs have two yields in a year. The early season or breba arrives between May and June and it is the inferior season. It generates figs that are too acidic. The other season arrives between December and January and produces the best quality figs. There are numerous kinds of cultivated figs in every category. Hence, there are more than seven hundred names in use today.

Figs are unique fruits with an ostiole: a hollow opening at the apex that does not attach to the tree. Also, a fig could be pear-shaped, turbinate or obovoid. They grow one to four inches long and have no real standard color. Hence, a fig could be dark-purple, yellowish-green, bronze or copper. They have thin and soft skin and their flesh beneath can be white or pale pink, red, purple, rose, amber or yellow. And, today some 250 years after the fig was first introduced in San Diego; California still remains the top national producer, currently producing almost all of our figs!

Some popular varieties: • Black Mission: blackish-purple skin & pink flesh • Kadota: green skin & purplish flesh • Calimyrna: greenish-yellow skin & amber flesh • Brown Turkey: purple skin & red flesh • Adriatic: the variety most often used to make bars, has light green skin & pink flesh

Figs also possess a variety of health benefits Figs are a good source of several essential minerals, including magnesium, manganese, calcium (promotes bone density), copper, and potassium, as well as vitamins, principally K and B6. Lowering high blood pressure - The main nutrient in figs that lowers blood pressure is potassium. Salt consists of sodium, which affects the absorption of potassium in the body when the intake is high. Eating figs can increase your potassium levels and help control your hypertension. You can lose weight when you eat figs – These fruits are a good source of fiber. As you might know, fiber-rich foods are very helpful in a weight loss program. Dried and fresh figs are eaten across many cultures for their laxative properties. Post-menopausal breast cancer - Prior research findings have shown that fruit fiber is better than cereal fiber when it comes to the fight against post-menopausal breast cancer. Figs are among the few fruits that provide fruit fiber, in addition to apples, dates, and pears. Might offer cardiovascular advantages - Fig leaves have been shown to reduce the type of fats that circulate in the bloodstream— triglycerides. They have also been found to inhibit some cancers. The study on this matter is ongoing, though, to determine what substances trigger these results. Healing skin issues – The latex contains a substance that can heal skin sores, warts and ulcers. Soothing mouth and throat – In Latin America, figs are boiled in milk to produce a tonic for swollen gums. This concoction made with figs is also used to soothe a sore throat.

Photo by Cisek Ciesielski

Sweet Dreams Are Made of These... There are many theories behind what dreams

are and why we dream. From abstract ideas to more concrete, scientific theories. Countless people including professionals, researchers, and theorists have contemplated not only what dreams are, but also what they mean. While we have yet to find concrete evidence to answer these questions, the years of research and contemplation have produced many theories to explain some of the mysteries behind our dreams. The most popular dream theorists to date are Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. While each had a respectful appreciation for the otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work, they developed such different ideas about what dreams were and why they existed that it lead to the eventual end of their professional relationship and friendship. Sigmund Freud believed that dreams provide the means for people to act out/through their desires and impulses that may otherwise be considered improper or intolerable in real-life. Freud offered an animalistic purpose for dreams in that people could expel the energy pent up from suppressing the indecent impulses they faced during the day. He also suggested that those undesirable impulses were manipulated through symbolism, causing dreams to be warped from their unconscious implications.

by GinaMarie Guarino

According to his theory, this prevents the dreamer from overtly understanding the content of the dream, which would cause them to wake up in discomfort, shock or guilt about their unconscious desires.

On the other hand, Carl Jung believed that dreams were a reflection of the understanding of our own reality. Jung believed that dreams were the mindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of conceptualizing our world and our place in it. Like Freud, Jung believed symbolism was present in dreams, but instead of a means to mask undesirable impulses, he thought the symbols in dreams reflected our life desires, concerns, and stress. It is easy to see why Jungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theory about dreams would be more popular among the general public, yet a combination of both theories are often found in modern research. Some scholars adopt the Freudian approach, suggesting dreams are a state of hallucination or the release of suppressed animalistic desires. Others believe dreams are mental images and story lines that reflect lifetime events during sleep. Many researchers argue that is likely a little bit of both theories: a combination of imagination, unconscious concerns and desires, and recollection of real-life events. Their research studies brought about the popular interpretation of dreams being a collection of our social interactions, life events, concerns about the future, grievances from the past, and imaginations that break through real-life physical sensations. Modern research has used these theories as the groundwork in exploring the dreams of test subjects for symbolism behind the seemingly nonsensical content of dreams. Studies have found many consistencies across the samples taken from adult populations. For example, most dream content consisted of the daily activities, social interactions, and interests of each participant. Furthermore, the characters in each dream often reflected either people who the participants are exposed to in some way (relationship, family, friend, coworker, celebrity, etc.) or someone significant in their lives who has died. There is also a prevalence of imagined people in the content of many dreams, but each imaginary person could be compared to real-life people or situations. Research has also found a link between stress and dream content. Much like Freudâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theory of an inappropriate situation or issue being manifested

Photo by Sergey Nivens

through symbolism, many of the dreams surveyed contained entities that symbolized real-life stressors in the lives of the dreamers. Themes like anger, death, sadness, betrayal, fear and illness all were represented in dreams through different kinds of symbols. In fact, there have been dreams with common recurrences across several different populations. For example, some may have dreams where they are flying or falling. While the setting of the dreams are different, the sensations felt within these common dream themes are similar across many different cultures. Thus far, we have found through generations of dream analysis that dreams are reflections and manifestations of many different things: stress, wishes, memories, emotions, questions, accomplishments, contentments, misfortunes and sometimes even the unknown!

M o s t p e o p l e ex p e r i e n c e s o m e o f t h e s e c o m m o n d r e a m s :

· Your teeth falling out. There is controversy on the meaning of your teeth falling out. Some believe it represents a loss of confidence, while others believe it represents the inability to express how you feel about certain issues or concerns in your life.

· Being naked in public. Many feel having a dream where you are naked, especially when around people, represent a fear of being vulnerable.

· Falling. Some believe that feeling the sensation of falling in a dream symbolizes a life crisis, such as a job loss,

financial struggles, or issues in a relationship. It is thought to be the result of feeling as if you are losing control of your life or your environment.

· Flying. For most, the sensation of flying in a dream can be quite exhilarating. For many, the higher you go, the more free you feel. Accordingly, it is thought that the lower you hover to the ground the more you feel tied down by the pressures of your own life.

· Failing at school. This often represents anxieties about one’s academic or professional future. When we begin to feel doubt about our ability to be successful in our career goals. we may have dreams of failing in school.

· Swimming or breathing under water. Many believe that these kinds of dreams represent emotional peace or

fluidity. Those who experience these kinds of dreams may feel peaceful or content about some part of their own lives.

Sugar 'n Spice & Everything Nice

P h o t o b y Co n ra d o

The Perpetuation of Covert Sexism

Our fierce and tenacious feminist

ancestors brought us light-years ahead of where we once were. If you had a time machine and were to zip back to the early 1900s, pick up Millicent Fawcett and bring her with you to 2017, imagine her reaction to our current rights and the level of equality she would observe in our culture. It is easy for us to forget how insanely restrictive our female ancestors' lives were. They fought for basic rights that we take for granted. The very fact that we can take these rights for granted is a hard-won blessing; it demands us to keep our eyes open, to retain these rights and to break through the glass ceiling for future generations of girls and women. Part of being cognizant is awareness of subtleties in our culture that reflect a hampering of

written by

Paula H. Cookson female expression, female power and restriction or repression of female equality. As of 2017, we needn't look much further than the US Government and POTUS to find glaring examples of sexism, diminishment of rights, and blatant disrespect of females. The 2016 presidential election and aftermath is a valuable reminder of why we must stay vigilant. Girls and women everywhere are getting the message from our own government officials and elected representatives that our needs are not important, that our rights to basic healthcare and decision making are no longer sacred. Government, policies and political leaders clearly influence the messages sent to our girls about their personal potential and efficacy.

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P h o t o b y P e t e r Ko z i ko w s k i

Religious doctrines of all sort offer their own unique expectations of the role of females. Many of the restrictive expectations on females in a variety of religious sects perpetuate age old traditions of gender bias. The use of religious restrictions and bias often impact women's civil liberties. In most religious traditions, passing along one's belief system and values to offspring is expected and even celebrated. When gender bias and sexism is part of that value system, those secondary messages become imbedded into the unspoken curriculum, and sometimes are even taught with more blatancy and intention. And what about the usual culprit of media influence? Some argue that media merely represents the culture it springs from. The reality is more likely to indicate a twoway causality when it comes to the messages being portrayed to and about girls and the expectations of women. The juxtaposition of male and female character traits being portrayed in some media programming is an indication of the status quo of our more outdated ways of thinking. Sometimes the devil is in the details, as is suggested by Soraya Chemaly in her article in Huffington Post on this subject. Chemaly astutely points out the inherent biases of "family friendly media" and the ways in which our roles are subtly reinforced before our own eyes.

To be fair, the portrayal of female roles in media productions have been far more female-affirmative in recent decades. Children's movies have been conspicuous in their pro-female plots and heroine themes. And it's about time, right? We must celebrate this small victory toward instilling a sense of agency and autonomy in girls via the big screen. The trickle-down effect is very real and relevant, and it presents itself in both positive and negative messages. The trickle down message of "I can do great things" is a far more empowering message for girls than the message, "maybe a prince will find me and save me." While the surrounding culture and powers-that-be influence girls and women of all ages, it is vital that we dust off our own biases and examine them carefully, as these discrepancies can become the subconscious material girls use as they move forward in their development and progress toward their aspirations. In the exploration of our language, there are countless examples of females being defined in diminutive or dismissive terms, or their powerful traits being negated in derogatory ways that we would never consider using when referring to a man.

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Photo by Katrina Brown

Those who would seek to thwart this type of revelation may refer to the exploration of sexist language as "petty" or trying to "word police" our conversations; interestingly, there is a certain male privilege associated with that flippant attitude that affords the luxury of ignoring the power of words when it doesn't affect oneself. No one wants to live in a homogeneous culture in which the discussion of our male and female differences are intentionally avoided for the purposes of political correctness. There are scientifically proven differences in the way male and female brains develop and operate, and that is a beautiful thing. It's not about creating a unisex culture, emasculating men or any other negative permutation of this intention. It is about a level playing field. No glass ceiling. Qualifications. Personality traits and strengths. These should not be male or female attributes, but HUMAN attributes. It is our own subtle bias that shifts the way we use language in terms of gender, such as referring to a strong personality in a female as "abrasive" while relegating similar traits to be "leadership material" in males.

A simple way to look at oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own unintended language bias is to run the thought or statement through a filter, of sorts, asking ourselves, "would I describe a male or male behavior with this adjective?" Or, "would I carry different expectations about this situation based on gender?" Inevitably, we are all products of our environment and each of us operates out of subconscious bias in both directions; we have some fairly ridiculous expectations of males in our culture as well. Men are also served by this exploration of language, as it challenges some of the stereotypes and demands that men face that have long dominated our cultural norms, often to male detriment. The 2017 Women's March on Washington was a social and political reminder of our collective strength and growth since the Suffragette days. We have come far and have accomplished so much in terms of gender equality for the coming generations. It is important to continue exploring our own underlying perpetuation of gender bias to ensure that complacency doesn't take us backwards.

Paula H. Cookson, LCSW is a freelance writer and psychotherapist from Belfast, Maine.

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a

small portion of events, and in the total of these acts will be wri en the history of each generation.

Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Cape Town, South Africa 1966

The Fuck You Factor! by Daniel Sher

Swearing is a special thing,

psychologically speaking. Dropping the appropriate cuss-word at just the right time facilitates a cathartic release of pent-up anger and can make one feel incredibly satisfied. In the words of Mark Twain: "profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." But foul language can also get one in trouble. On Twitter, for example, swearing at someone famous is enough to get your account locked; and consider the case of US Navy Lieutenant Brian Black who faced criminal charges for, well, swearing like a sailor. As we can see, swearing is a particularly powerful form of language. As a parent, you may be familiar with a disconcerting feeling that arises in the pit of your stomach when your angelic toddler nonchalantly utters the F-word. If you are a grandparent, you may notice that your teenage grandchildren struggle to express themselves fluently around you because they are working hard to censor out any foul language, apparently leaving them with far less vocabulary to work with. Neuroscience suggests that swearwords are different from normal language, as they are processed in different areas of the brain. This finding comes from fascinating cases of swearing in people with brainlanguage disorders. For example, Aphasia is the condition whereby a person becomes

impaired in their capacity to use language, often following a stroke or head injury. Amazingly, although aphasics may be largely unable to speak, often they are still able to swear fluently! This suggests that swearing is an extraordinary form of language, as it is possible to continue cursing even when one's language center in the brain has been severely damaged. On the other hand, people with Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) experience involuntary ‘tics’, some of which manifest in the form of uncontrollable outbursts of profanity. This seems to make for good comedy and has thus been parodied by film makers on countless occasions, despite the fact that this behavior is actually remarkably rare in TS. Nonetheless, the fact that these individuals do swear in such a manner suggests that those brain structures affected by TS – the basal ganglia – play an important role in producing swear-words. This is an interesting finding, because we know that the language center of the brain is in the upper left portion – far away from the basal ganglia, which are located deeper down. Again, this suggests that swearing interacts with areas of the brain that are completely separate from those responsible for ordinary language. So what happens when you hook someone up to a brain-scanner and swear at them, or ask them to swear at you?

Neuroscientists have discovered that in these instances it's the amygdala that lights up. The amygdala is one of the older parts of the brain (along with the basal ganglia) which is involved in processing emotion and activating the body to respond to threats. When the amygdala is stimulated, people may experience feelings of panic, aversion and aggression. This makes sense, if one imagines the sort of feelings that arise when someone shouts an expletive at you. The amygdala's role in swearing is interesting for psychoanalysis, as it might lend support to the idea of projective identification. This is a defense mechanism which occurs on an unconscious level, whereby someone literally causes the other to feel and experience what they are going through. Sometimes projective identification is used to protect oneself from a difficult feeling or experience; or simply as an effective way of letting someone else know what you are going through. Following this train of thought, when someone swears, they are doing more than simply using an abstract system of representation (i.e. boring old language) to show you how they feel. They are literally making you feel something of their own experience, at least to the extent that a person hearing a swearword also experiences amygdala activation with associations of shock, disgust or anger. And of course, effective communication is a great benefit of swearing: it helps one to blow-off steam and express oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emotions in an authentic and raw manner.

In the words of behavioral psychologist Dr. Helgo Shomer “there is sanity to profanity”, especially to the extent that it allows one to express anger symbolically, which arguably is less harmful than physical outbursts. On the other hand, research even suggests that those who swear are generally more honest. The experimenters explained their surprising results by the fact that people using dirty words have fewer ‘filters’, which means they communicate in a more straightforward and truthful manner, compared to those who are politely restrained. Have you ever wondered why you automatically swear the moment that you stub your toe, as if this behavior is automatic and hard-wired? Well, it probably is instinctive, according to a recent study which shows that swearing is evolutionarily adaptive to the extent that it increases one’s pain tolerance. In this study, participants’ hands were placed in buckets of icy water; some were instructed to swear, whilst others spoke neutral words. Those who swore felt less pain and were able to keep their hands submerged for longer! According to researcher Dr. Richard Stevens, this occurred because swearing leads to a release of adrenaline and endorphins, which helps to body to fight pain.

Paradoxically, swearing is taboo, but it’s also ubiquitous. It’s an integral part of our humanity, existing across linguistic and cultural barriers. Psychological research tells us about the benefits of swearing, from expressing oneself more accurately to coping more effectively with a stubbed toe. At the end of the day, however, we need to keep in mind that profanity is taboo because it has the capacity to insult and offend. Arguably, there’s a time and a place for everything. So even if a well-placed swear word is the most satisfyingly accurate way for you to help your mother understand just how deeply you appreciate her cooking, you should probably get creative in your search for adjectives before telling her just how fucking good her steak tastes!

Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.

Mark Twain

T h e Fa c e l e s s Tr a v e l e r

I t 's a l l a b o u t t h e t h i n g s t h a t l e a v e a n i m p re s s i o n

It's not

about who I am. It's about

where I go.

T h e L i o n ' s S h a r e | S a n D i e g o , C a l i f o r n i a I love this place. I’m partially biased, but then that’s what we ultimately hope for when it comes to a favorite local restaurant, right? The Lion’s Share is that spot, the food like the service strikes the perfect balance of bold yet intimate, sophisticated but not stuffy; while the décor challenges your senses--giving you the perfect mental zing to go along with the perfect meal. Every time I have taken a friend, they have asked to go back. Every. Single. Time. I get it, I can’t get enough of it either. I recommend, well, everything on their menu! But whenever I go I never skip the Bison Tartare and the Deviled Eggs to start things off. This is a must try spot in San Diego.

M i z u m i | L a s V e g a s , N e v a d a In the loud, wild, and wonderfully nasty world that is Vegas, Mizumi brings a certain level of unexpected and welcomed serenity. None of the bright lights of the city are in view here. Surrounded by private Japanese gardens, including a koi pond and a waterfall, Mizumi lets you, for the duration of your meal, forget that you are in a casino in Sin City. In this case, on a weekend that could easily live up to that name. If on a very Vegas weekend with an old friend (like this was) and wanting elegant food, and for one dinner, the kind of environment that lends itself to an intimate conversation with the enjoyment that comes from impeccable and non-intrusive service, this is your place. Chef Hashimoto delivers on the food, but for me on this nightâ&#x20AC;Ś..the service was the superstar. It was perfect. You have a choice of a robatayaki bar, a teppanyaki room, and ocean-fresh sushi and sashimi. Get a table by the glass so you can enjoy views of the gardens, and for a short while be transported to a place of balance and calm, before going back to test out your luck at the black jack tables and being served cocktails with a side of curves!

To k y o D e l i | S a n D i e g o , C a l i f o r n i a This beauty here is a Raindrop Cake and if you have never seen or tasted one you are missing out. I will not tell you how it tastes or how it feels or how you eat it, because I want you to find that out on your own. And that element of surprise is the thing, it challenges visually and because of that there is a sense of curiosity that goes along with how it tastes, as most of us have little to compare it to. It is not exactly tasty, and yet it is not fully tasteless. Tokyo Deli, in downtown San Diego, is a great place to pick up sushi for a quick lunch. On this day, I was doing exactly that when I saw this perfect drop of rain looking back at me from the display; and I had to try one. The catch is, you cannot get this to goâ&#x20AC;Ś. So I got my to go order, ordered one Raindrop Cake, sat down, and ate it all before leaving. Now I do this on occasion, pick up my food to go and my cake to eat! And, if you did not think it could ever happen, here it is: the Raindrop Cake, often used as a palatecleanser, is vegan and almost calorie-free! And, just like a raindrop, its shelf life is a ticking clock that expires within 30 minutes. So, you better get to it fast before your cake turns into a handful of sweet water on your plate.

Beach in front of Dune Bar and near room

One & Only | Nassau, Bahamas I must admit that a good friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding took me to this dreamy place, so it was a fun and happy occasion but all-the-love-in-the-air-aside, there is a reason they call this place Paradise Island, because it is. The One & Only Ocean Club never disappoints, my room had a spectacular view and came with a very friendly butler who brought me bubbly and chocolate dipped strawberries every sunset. I was traveling solo, but maybe assuming that she was always missing my better half she would always bring enough for two. And I obliged and drank for two, and cheered the stunning view before heading out to the festivities! 44

Room balcony & view

View from Dune Bar

Get a room near the Dune Bar, walking around this place can get you lost; although the maze of tropical plants is also welcomed for the privacy provided. Some of the rooms with the best and closest views of the water are also by the Dune Bar. I spent most of my time in this heavenly triangle between beach, Dune, room. The bar has incredible views, Jean-George cuisine and live entertainment. The first night there (the picture below, right) Tony Bennett happened to be there sitting behind me and was enjoying the live Jazz entertainment and having drinks. I cannot guarantee you that kind of celebrity sightseeing, nor can I promise you a great occasion to take you there. But, I can say that if you do make it to this breathtaking island filled with beautiful people, you will truly get a little taste of paradise!

View from Dune Bar

Dune Bar at night

A Photo Series by George Mayer 46

Lady with Shadow

Lady with Head-roses

Lady with Bubble

Lady with Elegance

A TALK with Chef Chris Williams at

Lucille's by Dominique McGhee

Chef Chris Williams has chosen to take pages out of history books in a nod to the legacy of his great grandmother Lucille B. Smith with his Houston restaurant, Lucille’s. Located in the picturesque Museum District, Lucille’s aptly touts itself as “Well refined Southern Cuisine defined by history.” Nestled on a tree-lined street in an old home, Lucille’s is steeped with history that you can feel the moment you walk through the doors. The cuisine is unapologetically Southern, but Chef Chris and his team challenge people’s expectations of what that means! Influenced by his travels and the traditions of other cultures, Chef Chris is able to take diners on a trip around the world. I had the pleasure of sitting down for a chat with him to find out a bit more about his family history and what motivates him, how his travels shape his cooking style, and where he eats when he’s not in the kitchen! I have to say, you can feel his passion and love for both food and history when you speak with him, and that same passion translates well into each dish he creates.

Dom: You have traveled and worked in many different countries around the world, how do those experiences impact how you live? How you run your restaurant? And, how you cook and create? Chef Chris: I’m hugely influenced by those experiences. It allows me to think outside of the box. I’m working on a new concept right now that I’ll be able to share later, but it’ll also reflect my travels and life experiences. Living in various countries has given me a different perspective, becoming a citizen of the world. Living in a foreign city and experiencing it eyeto-eye…not as a tourist…that adds a richness and depth that you don’t get as a tourist. My great grandmother was a Southern cook, but was influenced by other cultures. That’s the same thing I’m doing here today. We use local Southern ingredients but Vietnamese, African, West Indian, and so many other cultures influence us. Yet, the restaurant still gets categorized as “soul food.” I think there is an upside and a downside to that. The upside is we get to play with people's expectations; while creating dishes that they’re familiar with. The downside is that some people can’t see past their biases or expectations. So, it’s a battle of both sides; being open-minded and seeing it for what it is. Dom: With that in mind, what are some of the fun dishes you create that challenge expectations? Chef Chris: I would say it’s 2 dishes. The pork & beans: pork shank, 3-bean ragout, an agrodulce, and other local seasonal ingredients. And, Fish Fry: whole fried black bass, nuoc cham vinaigrette, sweet basil macho, and a mixed green salad. My biggest take away from living in Europe was using good products and allowing those products to speak for themselves. Both of these dishes are Southern dishes by tradition, but have been refined a bit. It’s creating and forcing reactions.

Brunch at Lucille's.

Dom: You are involved with the Southern Food Alliance, what drew you to them? Chef Chris: I’m a member and I just really liked the work they were doing. We’re planning to do a dinner chronicling the work of African American chefs, and we’ll feature some of my great grandmother’s recipes from her cookbook. The organization lines up with what I like to try to do here at the restaurant, so I’m glad to be a part of it. Dom: If your great grandmother was here today, what do you think she would say to you? Chef Chris: Well first, I think she would be happy that someone got the bug to cook! (Laughs because mom, grandmother, and siblings are not very inclined in the kitchen). I’ve studied her life line-for-line. She was very free and driven. I think she would say, “Always keep your creativity. Let your creativity be your passion. Let your passion be your work.”

Dom: Where do you eat when you’re not at work in the kitchen? Chef Chris: Honestly, I leave the country. The last place I went was Mexico City and it blew my mind. We dined at Quintonil, which is voted one of the 50 best restaurants in the world, and had probably the best meal of my life. It was 8 or more courses that highlighted Chef Jorge Vallejo’s simple approach to Mexican cuisine using quality, local ingredients. I plan to visit Central and South America next; I have really wanted to get to Peru. Dom: If you could use 3 words to describe your style/approach to cooking, what would it be? Chef Chris: Keep it Honest. When you walk through the doors at Lucille’s you immediately notice that Chef Chris is a natural in the kitchen and at working the room. As you enjoy such dishes as the bone marrow & oxtails, the Saigon shrimp, miso quail, sitting amongst the black and white photos gracing the walls, you’ll be taken on a culinary journey that his great grandmother would surely be very proud of.

Saigon Shrimp Oxtails & Grits 50

CAPTURE time

photography by BILLY BY

BillyBy.com

READ MY LIPS!

The Psychology of a Kiss

Photo by Andriy Dykun

w r i t t e n by C y n t hi a Ma l o n e

Soft lips, skin on skin, the touch of your lover’s lips

sending chills down your spine. But why? Why does the touch of these two body parts stimulate such desire, emotion, anticipation? When you are close enough to kiss another person, you’re close enough to smell them, touch them, caress them; all those sensory moments add to the experience. But, what’s behind it all? The history of a kiss can perhaps be drawn back to nature, for example, birds. Yes, the act of a mother bird kiss-feeding her babies may be the original kiss and thank goodness it has evolved into more than that by now. Think of primates; cleaning their offspring with their mouth. We see our own pets lick and nuzzle each other; it’s something primal. It could be communication, mothering, but it’s trust as well. But where does romance play a part? Take a look at the Bonobo, a homosapien's closest relative, even closer than the chimpanzee. They resolve conflict through sex. Females may even rub their genitals together to diffuse a stressful situation. They may elect to hug it out or give their version of a handshake if stressful situations arise. Bonobos are also the only other mammals to kiss passionately during sex. We know that kissing gives us a pleasurable feeling (if the kiss is a good kiss, of course) and releases dopamine and serotonin; neurotransmitters that work to increase our desire and elevate our mood. The “love-hormone”, oxytocin is increased as well during moments of intense pleasure and triggers attachment in your partner. When it comes to parents and children, it helps foster that life-long bond between mother and child. When you are in close enough proximity to kiss someone, you are also close enough to take in their scent, touch them, caress them; all ways in which we subtly deduce how we feel about that other person. Often, if we feel someone is a poor kisser, it could be that they just don’t have the right scent to make us want to kiss them more.

When it comes to types of kissing, the jury is still out on the origin there as well. French Kissing was not always known by its namesake. After World War I when American soldiers fought in France, they soon discovered those delicious kisses were called baiser avec la langue or (kissing with the tongue) and therefore the French kiss as we know it today. If you look to the east at Hindu Vedic Sanskrit texts, the act of kissing was described as ‘inhaling each other’s soul’, which leads some to believe kissing first originated in India, though public displays of affection are usually frowned upon, current Bollywood Films have more leeway in displaying passionate moments than before. Films without love and romance are few and far between these days. From people kissing the rings and feet of royalty, to lovers reuniting with a longawaited kiss--kissing is most definitely in the air wherever you look. Even in the bible, kissing is quoted; Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine. During Medieval Times, kisses were even legally binding hence the phrase, sealed with a kiss. As many people during this period did not know how to read and write they would kiss the ‘X’ on a document to make it binding—why Xs are symbols of kisses to this day. No matter where it started, it hasn’t changed much since then. We still hold the same hope and anticipation that has always been hidden behind our lips. A good kiss can change lives—then again, so can a bad one; and that will always remain the same!

....................................................................................................................................................................................................

Photo courtesy of Devils River Whiskey

TheDevil is in the Details

Entrepreneur MIKE CAMERON

& His Love of Whiskey

by Dominique McGhee 54

Mike Cameron, who previously co-founded Rebecca

Creek Distillery and currently serves as the president of the Texas Distilled Spirits Association, is the president and chief operating officer of Devils River Whiskey, his new small-batch bourbon. Drawing his inspiration from the Devils River, this whiskey aims to capture that essence with its bold flavor. "I first discovered Devils River—a place with rich Texan history—while I was in college, and the experience of fishing there stayed with me for years to come,” says Cameron. “When I decided to create something new in the world of Texan distilled spirits, I brainstormed several different brand names and started to narrow it down. I asked my parents, from whom I got my passion for whiskey, for their favorites. They both gravitated toward Devils River Whiskey. By this point, I had all but settled on the brand and, by chance, had lunch with a friend, who told me that he was going to go kayaking on a beautiful river in Southwest Texas. He was referring to Devils River, and that’s when it started to feel like fate. In the end, I did some research and learned about the high quality of the water, which solidified my decision” he adds.

Devils River Whiskey, a recent Gold medalist at the 2017

Denver International Spirits Competition, asserts that the devil is in the details, and the makers are committed to a meticulous degree of attention to detail. The small-batch bourbon begins with carefully selected grains that result in the warm, golden notes of Devils River Whiskey. Much thought and research went into creating Devils River Whiskey which has resulted in a product this Texan entrepreneur is definitely proud of, and now he is ready to share this labor of love with the world.

We had the chance to ask Mike a few questions, so here's a glance into who Mike is, his passion for whiskey, and his taste for Devils River!

It seems that there is something personal in this venture for you. You credit your parents, who were also your brand consultants, for giving you your passion for whiskey. The name "Devils River" goes back to your college years. .....Why this? Why now? I love bourbon and I come from several generations of bourbon drinkers. I have been producing whiskey and vodka for many years but I always wanted to produce a Small Batch Texas Bourbon. I really liked the name "Devils River" for a whiskey product and so did my mom. Everyone that hears that name really seems to like it. How is Texas evolving in the distillery/ spirit world? Texas is currently #5 in the nation and has 105 registered DSP's (distilled spirits permits). In my opinion Texan consumers are the most loyal/proud consumers in the entire country. The craft spirits industry here will continue to grow rapidly. Texas should be in the top 3 in the nation within the next few years.

You have gathered quite a team around you. What do you hope for Devils River Whiskey? In one word "planning" I have collaborated on this project some of the best minds in the industry. We have paid attention and listened. The second part of our plan includes an adequate marketing budget. You can make the best products in the world but typically a consumer will not buy it if they have never heard about it. Our plan is to grow the Devils River Whiskey brand across the entire state of Texas. What is your favorite cocktail to make with Devils River & how do you prefer to drink it? My favorite cocktail to mix is a Manhattan, I guess because my dad always drank Manhattans. We both admired Winston Churchill and that was also his favorite. As far as my personal preference, I typically just drink bourbon neat or maybe an ice cube to open up the flavors. That is really the way that bourbon was meant to be enjoyed. But everyone has their own personal preference.

Ta s t e T h e B o l d F l av o r o f D e v i l s R i v e r W h i s k e y

A Devilish Old-Fashioned Ingredients 2 ounces Devils River Bourbon Whiskey 3-4 dashes of Angostura bitters 2 teaspoons simple syrup Orange Peel Directions Place the orange peel, simple syrup and Angostura bitters in (Shaker) Muddle the orange peel with the simple syrup and bitters to release the oils from the orange peel Add 2 ounces of Devils River Bourbon Whiskey and 1 cup of ice to the (Shaker) Stir with a bar spoon so that you have 20% dilution of the ice to the cocktail Strain and pour the cocktail from the (Shaker) to an Old Fashioned glass with new ice Garnish with orange twist, and a cocktail cherry.

Devils River Whiskey Buck Ingredients 2 oz. Devils River Bourbon Whiskey ½ oz. fresh lime juice ½ oz. simple syrup 1½ oz. Chilled ginger beer Directions Pour Devils River Bourbon Whiskey, lime juice and simple syrup over ice in a copper mug. Stir to combine. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

w r i t t e n b y M . K . A n g e l e s

SOLAR

The Great Equ a l izer?

Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be great if every community was powered solely by natural resources like the sun, water, and wind? While this vision might seem out of reach in large metropolitan areas, activists and government agencies in areas without modern conveniences are setting a big example by going entirely solar. These small communities have the ability and opportunity to approach energy use in a whole new way, by establishing their grids with solar from the start, and showing the rest of the world how to get started. One would think that the most advanced programs in renewable energy placement would exist in the most economically advanced countries, but the leaders in renewable energy programs happen to be in developing countries like India, Tunisia, Kenya, and Ghana. ANERT, an agency that is part of the Department of Power in Kerala, India, launched their Solar Photovoltaic Programme, in which funds are used to distribute home lighting systems, street lighting systems, water well systems, vaccine refrigerators, school demo kits, and several other solar energy devices to the public through a simple application process available online. Global cooperative efforts have lead the way for communities in China, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, and Algeria through the United Nations Environment Program. In partnership with local government agencies, banks and businesses, programs like the Indian Solar Loan Programme help consumers secure financing for their solar home energy systems. To measure the potential impact of such a program is to witness its course over three years, with 16,000 systems financed through 2,000 local banks, and the most advancements being in South India where diesel-powered electricity grids do not currently reach.

This model of â&#x20AC;&#x153;cash to creditâ&#x20AC;? has set an example for more UN-cooperative programs, such as the Tunisian Programme of Activities for solar water heating, which allows consumers access to affordable financing options for purchasing solar home water heaters.

The impact of this new approach to making solar energy feasible can be seen in the many positive benefits that shining a light has had on these developing areas of the world. Communities have reported a decrease in poverty due to their new found ability to run successful enterprises by increasing working hours, production, and creating new jobs. Solar energy has made its way into schools, offering students more comfortable learning environments and access to technology which has resulted in higher grades. With major concerns about air pollution due to breathing toxic carbon fumes from kerosene-burning lamps, solar energy has cleared the air and made preserving food and vaccinations possible, reducing the amount of disease and giving immediate access to life-saving medicines. Of course, there are business benefits too, and not just for the vendors who can stay open later thanks to electricity. Making solar power more accessible opens up a sizable economic opportunity in the industry of implementing PV solar technology. There are approximately 1.3 billion people in the world without access to a conventional grid of electricity. What sources of energy are available, such as kerosene for burning lamps, end up costing double what one would pay for a solar lamp. Solar offers a major solution.

Photo by Rafael Ben-Ari

Solar panel station

Solar PV modules, Fiji Island

Solar Panels seen in Cuba

While Kenya currently leads in the number of solar energy systems installed per capita, with more than 30,000 panels sold annually, Ghana embarked on a new project in October 2016 to make the largest solar plant in Africa. This $230 million dollar renewable energy project was put into motion by the Government of Ghana, the African Development Bank, The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, the Climate Investment Funds, the International Finance corporation, and other private financiers and development partners. The best part of the program is the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s result: it will bring electricity to 5 million people currently without access to a grid. In established countries, connecting to a grid is not so much of a challenge, but switching over to renewable energy is in many cases seen as a luxury due to the upfront cost of getting the devices needed, an estimated decade plus worth of utility bills, just to get started. Perhaps due to the success of such programs across the globe, paying in cash is no longer the only option. With a quick internet search for â&#x20AC;&#x153;solar leasingâ&#x20AC;? it is encouraging to see that many companies exist and are offering similar solar loan programs in the United States, often with no money down and information about local tax credit incentives. The real challenge may then be a matter of revamping the marketing of solar in the developmental stages of construction, and in public advertisements. If, when people plan to build new homes or government buildings, solar became a common and viable consideration upfront (and it is), chances are good for solar change everywhere. There would certainly be less emissions from carbon-based energies, and at that point, when renewable energies become the norm, the biggest changes can occur.

Make This Your Best Move. We do all your Houston apartment hunting & we pay you $300 when you lease through us!

HoustonLuxury.Apartments

b y Dominique McGhee 64

Date with

Downtown

HOUSTON The Marquis Comes to Downtown Houston The Marriott Marquis that is…. Houston’s skyline is ever changing and lately the city has seen a burst of energy and activity in downtown. The newly opened Marriott Marquis Houston is a new 29 floor, 1000 room luxury hotel that is a welcomed addition to the new Houston downtown landscape. The mantra that everything is bigger in Texas really holds true at this new property. Being that a distinguishing feature of the hotel is its larger than life Texas-shaped lazy river infinity pool. Located 110 feet above street level on the hotel’s Parkview Terrace, this 512 feet long lazy river is the ultimate way to relax (& let’s not forget that there is a poolside bar as well).

Three pillars define the approach of the

new Marriott Marquis Houston: being Bold…A Catalyst…and Cosmopolitan. “We position ourselves to be Bold as you can see in the design of the hotel, Cosmopolitan being that we are downtown and are setting a standard, and a Catalyst for Houston as well as our associates. 60% of business that we have booked at this hotel is new business to Houston. Our associates are the heart and soul of our hotel. We have over 700 associates and have worked with over 35 community organizations to fill our staffing needs,” mentioned General Manager Scot Cotton. Arne Sorenson, Marriott International CEO, stated, “Marriott is continuing to evolve. If you look back at our first property in suburban Virginia, you’ll see the evolution

L to R: Clifford Pugh CultureMap Editor in Chief , Madison Payne Mad About Houston Blogger/Host, Dominique McGhee The B. Quarterly Senior Correspondent.

Left to Right

Arne Sorenson CEO of Marriott International

Ira Mitzner President & CEO of RIDA

Craig Biggio Houston Astros' Star

Scot Cotton General Manager

G R A N D O P E N I N G

Mayor Sylvester Turner

Left to Right

Social Media Director, Jahmal Clemons

BravoTv Contributor & CultureMap Associate Editor, Marcy de Luna Owner of Studio Communications PR , Stuart Rosenberg

The B. Quarterly Senior Correspondent, Dominique McGhee

Downtown Houston

G R A N D O P E N I N G

Sylvester Turner Houston's Mayor

and progress that has been made. The bellmen used to ride bicycles to show guests where their rooms were located. We are approaching our 90th year in May. This Marriott Marquis represents the best in modern day convention hotels.” Through its partnership with the Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Marriott Marquis Houston is redefining the convention experience and transforming downtown Houston into a destination for Houstonians and visitors alike. “We know it’s Houston’s time. We cannot be more grateful to have this dynamic brand helping us sell the city,” said Mike Waterman President/CEO of VisitHouston. With George R. Brown Convention Center and the 12 acre Discovery Green Park as its anchors, the hotel is surely a draw for both the business and leisure traveler. The hotel features 5 dining options to please every sort of palate including Biggio’s Sports Bar by the former Houston Astros’ star Craig Biggio, as well as Xochi opened by Houston’s own James Beard Nominated Chef, Hugo Ortega.

These amenities, along with a bustling bar and theater scene in downtown, create a guest experience that one is not likely to forget. In February 2017, Houston hosted one of the most memorable Super Bowl games in NFL history and this new stunning property was ready to shine. Playing host to such big names as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Bob Kraft during the big game was certainly a highlight and privilege for the new hotel, but with 3.5 years of planning, this hotel team was prepared to tackle the Super Bowl activities like a champ. Every guest who walks through the front doors of The Marriott Marquis Houston may not be a VIP NFL coach or owner, but they’re definitely treated as such. Southern hospitality is at the core of this property. From the valet to the front desk to the pool attendants, you’ll feel “at home away from home” at this destination hotel. Within moments of arriving at the hotel, I had in depth conversations with several staff members who greeted me as if they knew me personally; that’s the type of experience that will keep me returning. Whether you’re a Houstonian looking for a weekend staycation or a traveler here for business or leisure, I think this downtown destination should be one of the hotels on your short list!

Texas shaped 512 feet long lazy river infinity pool

Photo by Mauro Luna taken at Spire nightclub.

A Talk with T I F FA N Y H A L I K

P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S & PERSONAL ST YLE

by D o m i n i q u e M c G h e e

T i f f a n y H a l i k , owner of Carpe Diem PR, has a signature style and a

personality that leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets. We sat down with Tiffany to talk about her approach to business, connecting with clients, her memorable personal style, and everything in between. After nearly 14 years in the business, she's found her groove with her boutique PR firm, and is showing no signs of slowing down. We got the chance to find out more about her, while getting a few pointers on how to improve PR efforts as professionals and business owners.

What made you want to start Carpe Diem PR? Well, I actually started my firm accidentally. After having a few different jobs after college from recruiting, to uniform and linen sales, as well as advertising sales, I decided I wanted to use my Journalism degree from Texas A&M. I was in the process of sending out my resume tape to TV stations around the country in the hopes of being hired as a reporter, and I ran into an old client of mine at the gym, plastic surgeon Dr. Fred Aguilar. Dr. Aguilar was my client at Texas Monthly where I sold advertising locally. He asked what I was doing since I left Texas Monthly and I responded that I had been living off my savings and mailing my resume tape all over. He offered me a job to come to his office a few days a week, to help him with his PR and marketing while I was still pursuing my quest to be hired as a news reporter. I gladly accepted, because let’s face it; money was starting to run low!

Hence, Carpe Diem Productions was born (I dropped “Productions” a few years ago and changed it to PR). Using my journalism degree but instead with a focus on PR, I remained in Houston and had the opportunity to host several different TV shows on local networks, while building up business for my firm. Dr. Aguilar was my first client and I represented him for 7 years. I can’t thank him enough for seeing something in me at the time that I obviously didn’t see in myself. This past January, I celebrated 14 years in business and I consider myself very blessed to get to do what I love every day. In today's digital world, good marketing and public relations are ever more crucial both for the success of the small business and business owner.... What advice do you have for a growing business when it comes to PR? Where should they start if interested in hiring a firm?

A business should start with interviewing PR

firms and they should meet with at least three different firms. If budget is a concern, then they should start with boutique firms, whose fees are not those of the big national firms. I believe a business should always consider making public relations a cornerstone of their company’s growth strategy. A consistent public relations program will help build general awareness of your product, service or brand and will also supplement any direct marketing and advertising efforts. Having visibility in the marketplace also tends to make your business appear larger and more established than it may be, which could help you secure customers, partnerships or funding to expand your business. PR is also just smart for your bottom line. One good media placement can lead to a substantial increase in sales and growth, and because many small businesses have a unique story to tell, that can be interesting to the media. Marketing your small business is important as well and that is where advertising comes in. It is one reason I offer media planning and media buying to my clients, whereas some PR firms do not.

Since I have a background in selling advertising, why not try and negotiate the best rate for a client and also have that additional input in their overall image? PR and marketing strategies should complement each other and share the same message about your business across all platforms, which includes your media coverage, advertising eﬀorts, website and social media. You are known around town for your sense of fashion & style... A personal style is important even in business. As part of branding & marketing efforts, why is personal image so important? Thank you for the compliment. I love fashion and I always joke that when it is my time to go, I want to be buried in a tomb with all of my favorite fashions and accessories, as well as in a green jumpsuit. So I always tell my clients, you only have one chance to make a ﬁrst impression and that is not only true with someone’s personal image but with your business as well. When you are an entrepreneur, you are in all essence, selling yourself along with your product or service. Your image and what people think of

you directly aﬀects the business you run. It isn’t about having expensive clothes or possessions, but instead, it is about projecting a good selfimage and having a good rapport with people you interact with on a daily basis. That is what will establish you as not only an expert in your industry but will also set you apart from others who don’t practice that same philosophy. As for my personal style and connecting with others, I think I just try not to take myself too seriously. I like to dress up in fun, eclectic fashions and accessories. One day I might go for a classic look with a pant suit but I will still push the envelope because it might be a matching ﬂoral patterned blazer and pants with bright pops of color and bold accessories. The next day I might be wearing some vintage jewelry with one of my many jumpsuits (I collect them). When it comes to one’s personal style my motto is “just own it”. You come across as the perfect fit for your profession and a perfect fit always has "passion" behind it... So, what made you stay in Houston?

I think with any business that you start yourself; it has to be fueled with passion. If you don’t get up and love what you do every day then what’s the point of all the hard work? Don’t get me wrong, there are days that I am really spent and have a pile of work staring me in the face but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because if there is one thing I have learned about myself, it is that I enjoy being my own boss! I have remained in Houston because my friends and family are here. It also doesn’t hurt that I have a lot of contacts in the city so that made it worth starting and keeping my ﬁrm in what I consider, one of the greatest cities on the planet.

Tiffany's passion for her career, her city, and her jumpsuits is very evident. With her distinctive style and dynamic personality, this PR trailblazer is a force to be reckoned with. We look forward to seeing what else lies ahead for Tiffany and Carpe Diem PR.

P h o to b y A l i s P.

INVISIBLE NO MORE by

Dr. Dannii Cohen

When you are part of a minority you often feel invisible. When you are part of a minority of 1% of the world’s population you feel even more invisible. When your minority is ignored by society, by the media and sometimes even by science you feel not just invisible but erased. I am part of this 1%. I am an asexual and I don't want to be invisible anymore. I want to go out there and show the world that I exist. Explaining what being asexual means is actually pretty easy: to have no or a very low sex drive. To feel little or no sexual attraction to any gender. Like any orientation it is ﬂuid and there are many forms and variations but it all comes back to having little or no arousal. “Most simply stated, asexuality is a lack of experiencing sexual attraction.” Says Briana Tarmas “This is distinct from abstinent or celibate behaviour in that being asexual isn’t a choice, in the same way that being straight, gay, bi- or pansexual, or any other orientation is not a choice.” Does this mean that we don't feel: actually, we often feel too much. Does this mean asexual individuals can't fall in love? Sure we can, love without lust is as valid as any other love and sometimes even deeper. Being a marginalized sexuality does not mean that we have the privilege of living without prejudice. In fact asexuals face many forms of discrimination: for example, erasure (systematic ignorance of our very existence by the media), corrective rape (speaks for itself) and racial prejudice (such an exotic looking girl can't possibly be asexual) are fairly common.

Being asexual is tough, as it can often be a long journey before you know your own true identity, mainly because it is never mentioned to you as an option. My journey took decades because of this very lack of knowledge. Had I known that asexuality existed when I was a teenager, I am certain my life would have been easier and my teenage years less traumatic. I had a rather strange childhood, but an even stranger puberty. Or in many ways: no puberty. One day I suddenly felt that I wasn't truly part of the group anymore. As if all my classmates had crossed a river and I was still at the other side. Girls had crushes on singers, actors and even boys in school. The boys were starting to chase the girls. I didn't get it, I couldn't relate at all and felt like I suddenly didn't belong. I started gravitating towards the kids a year younger, as they had the same interests. At twelve my best friend, Clare, was ten: I could relate to her and we created our own special magical world. We remained ﬁrm friends for most of my teens. Of course my classmates thought I was a “weirdo” for not having crushes and seeming 'younger' than them. Well, that isn't totally true as I was a strange mix of old and young. I liked a lot of stuff for kids – Care Bears, My Little Pony, Disney Princesses etc.

But I was also into things that were considered before my time or 'grown up'; writing plays, politics, Audrey Hepburn, 1940's music movies and that sort of thing. I was a very strange mixture and none of my classmates really understood it. But, now looking back I can understand why they would have found me odd! I grew up to become a libido-less version of Rory Gilmore: hooked on books and movie classics. I tried my best to be hip, taking advice from series like Full House, Blossom, Saved By the Bell and Beverly Hills 90210. I realized that Audrey and Ducktales had to go and I tore pictures out of teen magazines to hang on my walls instead. I didn't really like them, though. Then finally came High School and things got worse: I was separated from the people I could relate to and was bullied mercilessly. Over the years I feigned crushes, telling myself I was supposed to fancy someone. I tried to feel songs like “I Love Your Smile”. When even my younger friend Clare started getting crushes I pretended I liked the boy next door, but actually forgot about him two days later. Although, through some bizarre fluke I did acquire a boyfriend. Neither of us fit in and he was still rather childlike too and liked the same things I liked. Best thing of all he wasn't into touching. Years later we met again and I found out why he was so distant: he was coming to terms with being gay. We were probably each other’s savior.

During those years I felt like I was acting all the time, trying to be the teenager society wanted me to be. I tried to change, to dress the part, to lose weight, both worked and suddenly I was attractive, which was confusing all by itself. Not that it stopped the bullying. Soon the bullying got to the point where I had to be taken out of school and after a few failed placings (some of the kids that bullied me at the old school showed up there too) I was home schooled. I still socialized: Clare stayed over every weekend and I had singing and acting lessons. It is also then that I got into comedy and writing. Not wanting to live by the expectations of others anymore, I started developing myself and my own tastes and style. I still remember this period as the best time of my life. I found another relatable character when the full series of Red Dwarf was rebroadcast on the BBC: the character Arnold Rimmer (played by Chris Barrie) always talked about having no sex drive and not understanding how love worked. He even joined a celibate society. It was great to see a character on TV as awkward around others and sexuality as I was. In the years that followed I became a writer and a stand-up comedian. I loved doing comedy and was quite successful at it. I was also doing well as a writer up to the point where my ﬁrst written series was

Actually commissioned by then head of BBC entertainment Paul Jackson. Meanwhile Clare and I had started a successful double act – we would be the next French and Saunders, we were certain! I thought I had found my place in life and was doing well, despite the fact that I knew that I was still different in a way. Then … things just ended and depression hit. It was a gradual thing: ﬁrst Rik Mayall a comedian I admired and who would be one of the leads in my series had a terrible accident, ending plans for the series. Soon after that Clare got her ﬁrst boyfriend and our friendship changed. She started not turning up for our weekends, writing sessions and rehearsals. I kept quiet about it, maybe for too long, as I didn't want to lose her. But one day I spoke out and it was as if a bomb burst. To my horror she too had kept quiet about something: she felt I wasn't growing up, as I wasn't dating and having sex. She felt I was stuck in time, that I was becoming weird. Our duo broke up and so did our friendship. For a while I toured alone again. But it wasn't the same. I felt empty without her. Writing was the same: but I was missing something. When I wrote stuff I had always thought about her: I wrote for her in a way, to make her laugh, to … impress her, maybe. It was as if she'd been my muse. Meanwhile, doing comedy during those days, as a lone girl, was a problem by itself.

I was the only girl on the bill most nights and had to suffer through hours of either propositions or sexist jibes disguised as 'jokes' at my expense while waiting for the show to start. Being a raw nerve at the time I often took it personally and developed an identity crisis. Soon after, I quit the stand-up scene. To this day I still miss performing though. My one support through all these years in the wilderness was my mother who was behind me every step of the way and protected and looked after me. She was also by my side when I tried to ﬁnd my identity after wondering why I was so different for so many years. During that time I started wondering if there was something seriously wrong with me, and whether my lack of sexual desire might be caused by some sort of emotional block. Like so many women I too suffered abuse in my youth and I went into therapy to try and deal with it. There it became clear that, while the abuse I suffered has affected me, it didn't cause me to have no sexual urges at all. I discovered that I was probably a female inclined bisexual long before I knew I was asexual. Working my way through my feelings years later I had to admit to myself that I had probably been in love with Clare but hadn't realized it because of the absence of sexual feelings.

It took me years to get over her, especially as I took her back in my life as a friend and comedy partner three times. I needed her, even now I sometimes feel I still do. My luck changed when I found a very old interview of David Bowie in conversation with William S. Burroughs on a fan site. In this interview they spoke of Andy Warhol and labeled him asexual. That was quite interesting to me. The story stuck like a bee in my bonnet. Then I got a book about lesbian life in which one of the women interviewed spoke of these same feelings. She too called it “asexuality”. Could I be too? I talked about it to my mother, and she said that I might be on to something as she went off to the library, in the hope of ﬁnding more clues for me. Unfortunately she could not ﬁnd anything. We were amazed that there was nothing written about it anywhere. Finally, she found a small internet forum for asexuals. She wrote down the web address and gave it to me to do my own research. I did, and when I read what was there I cried. All this time I had been looking, while the answer had been there all along. I wasn't "weird" what I was had a name, and there were others like me. Finding myself helped me a lot and made me want to work on myself. I had always

been interested in psychology and decided to study it, making asexuality a special focus. I graduated two years ago and I feel as though I'm ﬁnally starting my life. I have recently started writing stories again, fanﬁction to test the waters, but I am moving back to writing comedy and novels. While I was studying for my degree and researching, asexuality slowly (but thankfully) emerged from its tiny corner and it is a little more talked about now, although not nearly enough in my opinion. It hurts to think that there are others like me still struggling to know who they are. So, here I am and I don't want to be invisible any longer: I am Dannii Cohen a bi/lesbian asexual feminist and psychologist, and I exist!

Dr. Dannii Cohen, Psy.D. is an author, comedian and psychologist. She also writes for Life Hack, The Feminine Collective and The Gay UK.

The Animal Inside

there is no denying our animal instincts

P h o to b y A aro n A m a t

by Paula H. Cookson 80

What separates us from animals? A question we ask half heartedly, over the comfort of our couches and lattes. In this multi-dimensional, global, dog eat dog world, it is easy to get swept up in the "human-ness" of it all and forget that, at a very basic level, we are animals, too. In studies of human observational powers, it has been shown that we observe changes in animals more keenly than we do inanimate objects. Scientists believe that this phenomenon, called "attentional bias", is a result of the way we are hard-wired to detect threats. Since animals historically posed a greater threat to our wellbeing than inanimate objects, detailed observation of animal behavior was necessary for survival. Even though we are no longer in danger of being eaten by a saber tooth tiger, our brains have not evolved out of that primal framework; in the scheme of things, not enough time has passed for our brains to evolve beyond it. Which is pretty awesome. There is something powerful about the idea that our primal brains are still at work; that somewhere beneath the conscious, cognitive processes that we rely on to get by, something more animal is on guard, so automatic that we don't even consciously realize its presence. We're not fleeing from wild animals, or having to hunt and gather our food and protect our babies from predatory creatures, but even in our own urban universe, our animal instincts pay off in a variety of ways. Consider your gut. You meet someone. You've never met them before, yet immediately there is a warning sign emerging within you that this person is not to be trusted. Where does that warning come from?

We may try to dismiss the feeling by telling ourselves that the person in question looks like some other unsavory character we know, or attribute it to mannerisms or physical traits that set off our internal warning signs, but most of the time, there is no neat answer to the question of "why" when we have that sense about someone. More research is emerging about the gut-brain connection. Our enteric nervous system acts as a second brain. The second brain is responsible for all digestive tasks and the regulation of the biome of the gut and bowel health. We are learning that our digestive system and bowel health are linked to physical and emotional health and intuition. Our second brain is also believed to be instrumental in the regulation of our serotonin levels (turns out serotonin is a major factor in both the "regular" and "second" brain processes) which impacts our mental wellbeing. Scientists now believe the "gut feelings" we experience and cannot explain away logically, may be related to the processes of this second brain. Much of what our primal emotional state expresses through our vagal nerve (think people who faint when scared) is driven by this other control center, apart from the "thinking" brain. So our "gut feelings" are useful and often accurate. We know things on a primal level, even when our head-brains tell us otherwise. Our cavemen ancestors were keenly aware of their gut reactions and instincts and trusted them implicitly. And so should we. Whether we are trusting our instincts about a business transaction or listening to the little voice that is telling us to stay away from a certain person; our instincts are there to protect us.

So much of our physical attraction

to partners lies in deeply rooted animal instincts. Not only do we rely on our visual processes to guide our attractions, scientists believe that our olfactory processes are also "on the prowl." There has been much speculation about whether accessory olfactory processes indicates the 'teasing out' of pheromones, but this has not been proven nor refuted, according to research. And still, we love to think about it. A great deal of marketing for consumer products has gone into this idea that we are drawn to one another's pheromones. You can probably think of a few times in your adult life in which you were magnetically drawn to someone and it seemed like it was beyond how cute they were. It was your inner animal, baby. Embrace it! Whether we are talking about superhuman strengths in the face of crisis or the subtle ways in which our animal instincts guide us to make decisions on a daily basis, we are undoubtedly primal creatures beneath our suits and jackets. As much as we know about the human condition, there is so much more to learn. It is humbling to consider the landscape ahead, and what our future generations will come to accept as "common knowledge" that is yet to have even been discovered. May future generations continue to revel in mystery and embrace their inner animals.

Paula H. Cookson, LCSW is a freelance writer and psychotherapist from Belfast, Maine.

P h o to b y Ko n ra d B a k

All The Lies We Tell

P h o to b y S o u p St u d i o

by Daniel Sher 84

Your best friend has ﬁnally found the man of her dreams. Twitter is permeated with pictures of the couple dining out, relaxing at home and sightseeing in London. They look so happy together. But when are you actually going to get to meet this man? Surely he can’t always be away for work or down with the flu, as your enamored friend keeps suggesting. Could it be that your friend’s relationship is nothing more than an elaborate lie? In February 2017, British newspapers published the story of a 31 year old woman who allegedly had spent the previous four years creating Photoshopped images and false Twitter accounts in order to fabricate a relationship with a man that she had never actually met. What does psychology say about people who deceive and dance around the truth in such a manner? A pathological liar is someone who is persistently and compulsively dishonest. They appear to lack control over this behaviour and lie habitually even when they seem to have nothing to gain from doing so. For many years, the contentious topic of pathological lying has been discussed within the psychiatric literature; and whilst some hold that excessive lying represents a disorder in its own right, pathological lying is not currently recognized as an ofﬁcial diagnosis. Rather, lie-telling is recognized as a symptom that is indicative of other possible diagnoses – personality disorders in particular. For example, sociopathy – or antisocial personality disorder – is commonly

associated with deceit and dishonesty. Frequently, they may lie simply because they enjoy manipulating others. Sociopaths, who are largely incapable of feeling empathy, typically tell lies which are harmful and exploitative, with no concern given to the hurt that they may cause. These sorts of lies have the capacity to empty bank accounts, break hearts and end careers. By contrast, narcissists seek to buffer their fragile self-esteems and attract validation by inflating stories of their accomplishments and prowess; whilst Histrionic Personality Disorder is characterized by narratives which dramatically exaggerate a person’s feelings and experiences, often in an attempt to elicit a caring response from others. Finally, people with Borderline Personality Disorder see others as all good or all bad. Unconsciously, they may lie to themselves and others by distorting facts and manipulating information so that it corresponds with their black-and-white worldview. However, not all those who lie are sick and dishonesty is not necessarily always harmful or even all that abnormal. Just how common is lying in our day-today existence? "There is a liar in your life. In fact, there are a lot of them." says Dr. Robert Feldman, an author and researcher with a particular interest in the psychological act of lietelling. Much of the research conducted in this ﬁeld suggests that, in our society, lying is more prevalent than most tend to think. For example, in 1996 a seminal study was conducted in which respondents, including

students and community members, were asked to record in a diary their daily acts of deception. According to their own reports, the community members lied approximately once per day, whilst the students tended to lie twice daily. These remarkable ﬁndings were also corroborated in a more recent study conducted at Michigan State University, which found that Americans tell an average of 1.65 on a daily basis! The prevalence of dishonesty in our society shouldn’t come as a big surprise, especially in light of the rising popularity of the internet.

perspective, lies are even seen as an important cognitive and emotional developmental milestone in children, reflecting the brain's capacity for complex thought and an important step toward greater independence and autonomy.

Bruce Lee, the prolific martial artist once said that “If you don't want to slip up tomorrow, speak the truth today.” Evidently the Master was disparaging of dishonesty, unaware of the importance that lying holds for humans, both socially and psychologically. To tell a tactful white lie is to be able to think critically about oneself For example, consider how many social and one's needs in relation to the feelings media posts we tend to make that portray and experiences of others. This brand of our lives as being happier and more truth-manipulation is a complex and exciting than they really are. In addition, characteristically human act, helping veiling the truth tends to be subtly people to co-exist as separate and yet rewarded and encouraged in our everyday inter-connected individuals. And let’s not practices. Brutal honesty is frowned upon forget just how important lying is when it when commenting on one's partner’s attire, comes to maintaining harmonious cooking and general appearance; and in relationships with our in-laws! fact, untempered truth-telling in such situations would most likely end the However, we must not forget that lies also relationship prematurely! have the capacity to break trust and damage relationships. One should Similarly, when one is late for work, most remember just how vital honesty is when it people intuitively know that they are more comes to having relationships that are likely to keep their job if they lie about both authentic and fulfilling. So whilst we heavy traffic, rather than disclosing just can criticize poor Bruce Lee for throwing how long they spent at home watching cat- the baby out with the bathwater, video compilations. psychological knowledge suggests that healthy relationships and societies require So despite humanity’s penchant for truth and the correct balance of integrity and transparency, the sorts of white lies strategic dishonesty. discussed above perform an important social function by helping people to get along without incurring unnecessary Daniel Sher M.A. lives in Cape Town and is a bruised egos and broken noses. Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health Interestingly, from a psychological

Professions Council of South Africa. Currently, he is a Community Service Clinical Psychologist with the Western Cape Department of Health.

BEHIND EVERY GREAT FORTUNE THERE IS A CRIME. HONORÃ&#x2030; DE BALZAC

P H OTO BY A L E X B U TS

In the Mind's Eye by M.K. Angeles

BRIGHT COLORS & CITY LIGHTS From our earliest moments in life, we develop a significant relationship to color. There are cultural, practical, and personal influences that tie us to this most prevalent visual companion. By studying human behavior, researchers have found that a majority of a person’s decision making process is based on their first impression experience of color alone. The potential of this application in business and health makes color powerful beyond its surface. By the time most students graduate high school, it is likely that they have been introduced to a basic color wheel. The color wheel is a pie chart diagram of how primary colors like red, blue, and yellow mix in order to create secondary colors, tertiary colors, complementary colors, and the infinite possibilities in between. Every conceivable color we can see or imagine comes from a mixture of these primary colors, with the addition of white or black to describe a subject’s relationship to light and shadow. Students might learn how to mix such colors on a palette using a paintbrush. They might also learn about warm and cool colors, which relate to the visual temperatures we see and associate with objects that are physically hot or cold. For example, the color blue is considered “cool” like ice, and red is considered “warm” like fire. They might also learn about color theory as it relates to Art, and how complementary colors create distinct visual relationships - but how does all of this knowledge apply in our everyday experience? Furthermore, how can color be used to create a measurable real-world impact on the psychology of an individual, or be used to affect the conditions or health of masses? Why is it so important for us to know even more about how color works for and even against us? Though we all want to believe that simply painting a room blue will have lasting effects on our well-being, there is not much scientific evidence to support such claims of sustainability. However, companies whose practice lands in the realm of making a first impression have mastered the art of using color to create conditions that influence consumers upon first glance, and while it is possible for these effects to last, the first impression has been measured with success by researchers and is comparable across cultures. For example, a collection of research compiled by Kissmetrics offers us a glimpse into the US consumer’s relationship to color, and its effect on purchasing behavior. The color yellow is seen as happy and optimistic, and is used specifically to get the attention of window shoppers. The color orange is seen as more aggressive, and is used in circumstances where a “call to action” to subscribe, buy, or sell something is desired.

Blue creates feelings of stability and security, which is common to see in banks or other financial institutions, as well as green, which is associated with feelings of wealth, and is used in stores to relax customers. Why is this research such a big deal? Because 93% of consumers place visual appearance and color above all other considerations when buying a product. Agencies that focus on understanding customer behavior and analytics collect such research about color to provide their clients with remedying solutions to specific marketing needs. Something major like changing a client’s branding colors to something as simple as changing the color of a “buy now” button can produce an increase in engagement or sales, and so this research, while perhaps considered common knowledge to professionals in the field of design and advertising, might come as a surprise to outsiders who realize they are being cleverly attracted to a product on purpose. In fact, specific conditions can be intentionally created by using color to affect a customer’s appetite, alter moods, or even create the perception of a shorter wait time. The concept of a “remedying color” also applies in the creative realm of design to respond to cultural and political climates. The Pantone Institute releases a “Color of the Year” each year, with a statement that addresses how this color serves as a current expression of our time, and the colors selected, in effect, flood across consumer goods and advertising for the year. P h o to b y A le x B u t s

P h o to b y G e o rg e M a y e r

The 2017 color of the year is called Greenery - a bright, fresh, granny smith apple shade of green, and according to Pantone’s website, “Greenery is nature’s neutral. The more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world. This shift is reflected by the proliferation of all things expressive of Greenery in daily lives through urban planning, architecture, lifestyle and design choices globally. A constant on the periphery, Greenery is now being pulled to the forefront - it is an omnipresent hue around the world.” Can a color really bring about world peace? It is hard to fathom how one color could serve as a basis for uniting global perceptions and psychological biases, but it is not farfetched to suggest the possibility of using a color to alter a mood across a global community. Keep in mind, however, as color can undoubtedly be a vehicle for good, it also has the potential to cause harm. When Newton was experimenting with prisms to understand the color spectrum in 1667, light was the catalyst which lead to our understanding of color. In nature, sources of light exist at different temperatures, measured in degrees Kelvin, as fire and tungsten bulbs cast a warm orangey glow on the lower spectrum and a clear blue skies are at the highest end. Living things thrive in natural light, and thus, do not fare so well when artificial lighting enters the picture, as many city officials recently learned. While undergoing major replacement of street light bulbs, an LED light that was ‘more blue’ than natural daylight was a good option in theory to make roads appear brighter and clearer for drivers, but ended up presenting major health concerns. Instead of making roads safer, these bright blue lights, when used at night, caused increased glare, long-term vision damage, and significant alteration to circadian sleep rhythms in addition to decreased melatonin production in the body which leads to lack of quality sleep and impairment of daytime functioning in both humans and animals living nearby.

P h o to b y G e o rg e Ma y e r

It was not the intensity of the light, but the color of blue light being cast

which caused these effects. The American Medical Association issued an official statement in order to guide municipalities in selecting street light bulbs that were less blue but still bright enough to create the enhanced safety benefits needed for drivers and communities. Once we become aware of how color affects our emotions and behaviors, it allows us to open up a personal dialogue about what is really going on underneath all of the sensory influence. Are we simply living in response to the stimuli presented to us? Do we know which colors truly make us happy? These ever-evolving insights help us to form an appreciation for color as a complex means of communication, with no paintbrush required.

2nd Annual Charity POKER TOURNAMENT

benefiting

LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY H o s t e d b y SHAUN TOUB

May 18th, 2017 - 6:30 pm at Mr. C Beverly Hills

Player Registration : Register.LLSCharityPoker.com Guest Registration : Guest.LLSCharityPoker.com This event is organized by TNT AMBBR 2017 LA Cycle Chapter of the LLS.

A WHOLE NEW WAY TO MEET & MINGLE A sit down with

Mittcute founder

Isabel Kuri

by Dominique McGhee

We all desire to create new meaningful experiences for ourselves. What makes

that quest even better is when we are able to share these experiences with other people, especially people that we are connected to in some way. Technology has been a double-edged sword when it comes to connecting us with others. On one hand, it has helped make it easier for people to connect, making distance and other factors no longer a hurdle. Conversely, it has also taken away some of the human factors in connecting with others and genuinely building a relationship with them. MittCute is a new app on a mission to breakdown this disconnect and make our interactions more "human" and personal. I got the chance to sit down with MittCute founder, Isabel Kuri, to chat about her new app and what sets it apart, how her vision for it came about, and where she hopes for it to go. 94

Tell us about yourself and your background?

Well I've always loved stories, art, cultures, and people. I love the way stories inspire us, can help us learn, get through hurdles, relax, open our minds to possibility, and even inspire new technology. I grew up in a multicultural setting where I was always inspired by my parents to learn about people and art in all its forms. I became a fan. In undergrad I studied Film, English, and Sociocultural Anthropology. At the time, the most exciting thing about tech for me was what happened in an editing room, and then digital media and interactive storytelling came into the picture and I became very interested in that, so I decided to pursue interactive media. Have you always been into app development?

No, it was actually my interest in interactive storytelling that led me into the world of app development. Why the name Mittcute, what does it mean?

Mittcute, is a play on words of the film term "Meet Cute." In film, a "Meet Cute" is the point of where and how the two main characters meet in a story. After the "Meet Cute," the story unfolds. Mittcute is about that point in your own story where you meet someone new. That meeting can take you to a great adventure, forming a wonderful friendship, starting a romance, or just really enjoying an activity you like with someone who enjoys it as well.

How is Mittcute different from other apps on the market?

Mittcute is about meeting people through activities, and exploring what there is to do around town. So to start, you are connecting with someone because you both have an interest in the same activity. The next part of it is you meet in person for that activity, so it's not about chatting and seeing if you want to meet this person or that one, it's meant to be more organic than that. You both want to have sushi for lunch today, or you both want to go skydiving this weekend, or you want to watch La Traviata and your friends are not into Opera, or you are new in town and want to meet a girlfriend to have a manicure after work...the point is you can create or join any activity you want to do and meet up with someone for that activity. You can use this app to just meet people causally, make connections, new friends, or even for going on fun dates and finding that person that not only likes movies but will see any new movie Marvel delivers. From the beginning, when creating an activity, you choose if you want it to be a hangout or a date, that way when people show interest they know what type of activity they are going to. By the time you reach the activity you already have an icebreaker and a thing in common, and no matter what you will enjoy yourself because at the very least it is something you wanted to do. Since there is no chatting prior, we have an app-to-app call feature that is enabled one hour before your meeting; that way if something comes up and you want to reach the other person you can.

If you want to stay in touch after meeting that is completely up to you, there is no sharing of personal information on the app itself, so unless you share your information on the meeting you leave it to chance to meet up again. How do you see it changing the way people travel and experience life in different cities?

I think one of the best things about traveling is that you get to experience life from a different perspective. When you are in a new city, most of the time you want to experience it. There are great ways to find places to visit in a city, what we offer is a chance to experience that local place with a local, maybe even share in that local perspective and discover the city from a completely different angle.

What excites you the most about creating and launching this app?

The process of seeing an idea come to life, and also the use we can get out of this particular app. I am excited to be able to meet new people everywhere I go, get to know their city like they do, learn something about someone else's town or culture, ...all the above. I am also excited to see how people receive the idea and what they do with it!

What has been a learning experience during this process?

Everything! From learning how to be your own boss and someone else's boss, to understanding what it takes to turn an idea into a product and learning how to best relate it to others. I've learned to have a few plans going on at the same time and to work with uncertainty. Things are always moving, you can have a plan but things can change in a matter of days or weeks, you need to be flexible and prepared to deal with that. It has been a wonderful learning experience, and I am sure it will continue to be.

Mittcute founder Isabel Kuri

Courage is a love affair with the unknown. OSHO

P h o to b y To m a s z Za j d a

_ __

Ho ur s in Downtown 4 The B. Quarterly 600 West Broadway

SAN DIEGO

If you only have 24 hours

to spend in downtown San Diego, do not despair because you can still do, see, eat and drink plenty. The San Diego International Airport is located in downtown. This not only gives you a cool experience of landing by the bay as you slide through tall downtown buildings, it also saves you tons of traveling time to and from the airport. You should skip the car rental and opt for taking Uber or Lyft or an old school cab. Parking is rough in San Diego but brutal in downtown. There are plenty of hotels in downtown; pick any that appeals to your taste and budget, they are all in close proximity of one another. Take a ride to your hotel of choice, freshen up and dress to go eat, walk, or lounge by the beach. You can take a quick ride or walk to Seaport Village, a shopping and dining complex on the bay, a big tourist attraction--as you can also walk along the bay and make your way to the USS Midway Museum, a maritime museum, at Navy Pier. The museum is the aircraft carrier Midway, that houses a collection of aircrafts-many Southern California built. It is worth seeing, as most of us have never experienced anything similar.

View when crossing Coronado Bridge

Then grab a ride over the bridge to Coronado Island and go to the historic Hotel Del Coronado, the largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1888, and one that remains beautiful still, and hosts a gorgeous stretch of beach in front. The best part is a walkway all along the beach in front of the hotel and beyond, where you can walk or bike if you do not want to have a full day on the beach, sand and all-but still want to be by the water. The hotel offers, to guests and visitors, dining options with breathtaking views, and a bar with open outside seating where we recommend ordering a Mojito and their Sea bass Ceviche while sitting a few feet from the beach. When ready, take a ride back to your hotel to rest and freshen up and get ready to hit Gaslamp for a fun night on the town. Here are some of the choices you haveâ&#x20AC;Ś.for the night and the morning after! 100

Beach walkway in front of Hotel Del Coronado

G A S L A M P N I G H T S The Water Grill

is a favorite when it comes to seafood eateries; with the best raw menu around! The Farmed Peruvian Bay Scallops (seen on left) are to die for. No, seriously! But thankfully you do not have to die, you can just order them. Sitting at the bar feels good here, they have the best and

most comfortable bar stools around. There is booth seating that becomes indoor/outdoor when the weather permits (which is almost always here) where you can eat and also people watch, a favorite activity of ours. You must try the 6th & J cocktail, named after their location: Vodka, strawberry, lemon juice & tarragon. Goes down like Lemonade!

The Nolen

is a 14th floor rooftop bar that will pleasantly surprise you. Being a little out of eyesight they get less of the bar-hopping Gaslamp crowd and a few more locals and business travelers. Located inside a Courtyard Marriott Hotel (w/ separate entrance) the vibe is modern, they describe it as a contemporary interpretation of the classic speakeasy. It Fits. Go sit by the fire pit with skyline views, and order a perfectly classic Bee's Knees.

The Whiskey House

is easy, if you feel like whiskey, check this place out! They have walls upon walls, some 1800 types of beautiful whiskey bottles lined up waiting for you to choose. Try the Hibiki Japanese whiskey or a sampler.

The Blind Burro is the

place to go if you are in the mood for some Baja-style coastal cuisine, with an extensive Tequila menu. Their Ceviche and Shrimp Molcajete are local favorites, and so are their Mojitos!

Le Parfait

The next morning before you say goodbye to sunny San Diego you must stop at Le Parfait to try a pastry, grab breakfast, and get your morning coffee. This French bakery serves classic pastries that you will be thinkin' about for days to come! If you like Macarons you have to try the Chocolat Noir. We love their Eggs Benedict and their classic Jambon Beurre sandwich.

P h o to b y V la d Tu rc h e n ko

THE MANY POWERS

OF THE

OLIVE written by Maria Berns 102

Although olive oil, once widely known as

liquid gold, has been a defining staple in the culturally and historically wealthy Mediterranean for a long time, from a global perspective it is still not used in too many households around the world as a common ingredient. But this has been systematically changing for the better in more recent years, due to some favorable scientific research revealing many of the beneficial properties it has to offer. But, where exactly does olive oil come from? As the name states, it comes from the olives of olive trees and has been cultivated by farmers for thousands of years. Starting in the Near East, some say Persia, greater Jordan, the valleys of the Nile and even the tiny Island of Crete, and making its way towards the Atlantic Ocean across the Mediterranean Sea. Many people from these areas will tell you that ¨real¨ olive oil is made in these parts using what has become to be known as proper methods, from harvesting to the pressing process. When it comes to olive oil, it really does matter how you go about it from the very beginning process to the end result. Not every olive tree, or olive tree grower is the same, which is understandable when you take into account the fact that these trees are carefully matured for a number of years before they can produce the valued olives that they eventually yield.

The way in which a particular type of olive is

made can vary quite a bit in terms of color, smell and flavor, and, therefore, it pays to choose carefully the olive oil that works best for you and your particular purposes. Generally speaking, the most popular and more affordable kind is called virgin olive oil. Many recipes for cold dishes and low temperature cooking call for it, and it is particularly healthy to eat as it has a

considerably low acid content. Extra virgin olive oil is also available in stores and is made with a cold pressing process, as opposed to the hot pressing that regular olive oil employs, and it is superior to all other olive oils from a health standpoint.

Olive oil can be healthy for you in a large

number of ways. Since antiquity it has been used to moisturize skin, which it accomplishes in part, thanks to its composition of linoleic acid. Those who use it directly on their skin often attest to its regenerative properties, that show some improvement in skin elasticity. You can also apply it to your scalp when it gets dry or if your scalp starts to get flaky, such as when dandruff begins to accumulate. This is due to the exfoliating properties olive oil offers, meaning that you can use it to get rid of dead skin. It´s good for the skin for a variety of reasons, including protection. Olive oil has three very helpful antioxidants: Polyphenols, Phytosterols and vitamin E. While the first two help to keep your skin from premature aging and damage from free radicals, the last of these is directly involved in protecting you from some of the harshest light of the sun, ultraviolet light, which can really do a number.

When you massage it in your hair, it can also help fight frizz and pesky split-ends. It´s so effective in fact that you can use it when you moisturize your cuticles before working on buffing your nails and prior to applying nail polish. It is really no surprise that it's used to make many different kinds of organic skin care products. From moisturizing creams and body lotions to cosmetics; the olive achieves quite a

bit as it helps to soothe, replenish and protect.

A PHOTO SERIES by

CO N R A D O

104

ANIMAL

CONNECTION

B I G B OYS D O C RY !

Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on...

P h o to b y F. X .Q u a d ro

w r i t t e n by C y n t hi a Ma l o n e

Man Up!” an all too common phrase used

whenever a situation isn’t going as planned and a man, or a woman, is told to be stronger, suck it up, deal with it like a man. Men aren’t supposed to show emotion, at least in today's culture, unless it is during a time of grief, and even then, men must be the strong ones. But where did this school of thought come from? Has it always been like this, and what was it like for others who came before us? If we go back to the Greeks, much prose is written of men weeping. But then, you have men, like the author, Seneca, who in one of his Moral Letters to Lucilius “praises poverty and argues that the wise man will allow neither joy nor grief to affect him, for both are mere distraction.” In the Bible there are numerous references to weeping and most are referencing men; Jesus himself wept in the garden the night he was arrested. Works of literature throughout history talk openly about men crying and it seems that there was no shame in it. Where did this sensibility go? Did we miss the memo that men were no longer allowed to cry? Perhaps it was the change of times from small villages to large urban industrial towns, factories, and the long work days along with the change in gender differences between men and women. But let’s step back and look at how we cry and what triggers it. Anything from a sappy romance novel to the death of a loved one can make a person weep; the differences continue when it comes to women versus men. Biologically speaking, testosterone and estrogen play a role in either promoting tears or restricting them. However, the act of crying in certain situations isn’t dictated by nature but more so by nurture; and a lot of it comes down to culture. In a cross-cultural study published in 2011, adult crying across 37 countries were observed. The study found that places that allowed a broader freedom of expression, the tear rates for women were only slightly higher than those of their male counterparts.

Break that down further and you can notice differences in men in all parts of the U.S. depending if they grew up in the South versus the East or West Coast. Around the age of 11 boys and girls express similar emotions. But, that starts to change as young boys begin to hear responses such as "big boys don't cry" or "be a man and dry up those tears" when this training of giving up emotions to be a man starts to occur. When Tim Tebow cried after losing to Alabama, society reacted rather negatively towards his outburst deeming him a ‘cry baby’. Responses like these promote a culture where men refrain from displaying their emotions. Move across the pond to Europe and the culture continues to show variation depending on the country. British culture tends to promote a more stiff upper lip while in a place like Spain, emotions are a part of everyday life, just watch men react to Barcelona Football Club winning and you’ll see what I mean. But, times are a changin’. A survey was done with British males that showed that modern men were three times more likely to cry than their fathers, claiming less social pressure to hide their tears in public. That said, modern men are more likely to cry in private than in public. If they do cry in front of peers they will often come up with excuses like having something in their eye or maybe blaming it on being tired. Though more socially acceptable, it is still more commonplace for men to make up an excuse for doing it! So, what will the future of emotions look like for men? There seems to be a shift happening in the way tears are perceived. It is 2017 after all and even television sitcoms and films are showcasing human emotions as natural and normal, without excuses. Just as history has portrayed, the definition of masculinity and femininity ebbs and flows with the changing of times. As the definition of gender continues to transform, so will our concept of what is strictly male and strictly female. In the words of Antoine de SaintExupery, “It is such a secret place, the land of tears."

the b. quarterly

BQ1 | Psychology + Lifestyle

Articles inside

A Date With Downtown Houston by Dominique McGhee

24 Hours in Downtown San Diego - where to go and what to do.

Big Boys Do Cry! by Cynthia Malone

The Multi-Cultural Fig

A Kansas City Day & The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art by Cynthia Malone

The Faceless Traveler

The Perpetuation of Covert Sexism by Paula H. Cookson

In The Mind's Eye by M.K. Angeles

A Talk With Chef Chris Williams by Dominique McGhee

Smart Clothes by M.K. Angeles

A Talk with Tiffany Halik

The Animal Inside by Paula H. Cookson

The Fuck You Factor by Daniel Sher

All The Lies We Tell by Daniel Sher

Psychology of a Kiss by Cynthia Malone

Resilience by Daniel Sher