atlasofcuriosities.

[oneverycuriouscat]

What does your hair say about you?

I’ve always found the world of forensics fascinating. Despite a seemingly rocksolid alibi, a single strand of hair that shouldn’t be there can speak otherwise. The ‘Stranger Visions’ piece by Heather Dewey Hagborg at the fascinating Big Bang Data exhibition in Somerset House highlighted how minute physical fragments of our presence are constantly being unwittingly left as genetic debris, in the form of skin, saliva and hair. The piece exposed the extent to how vulnerable, detectable and accountable we all really are. The artist collected used souvenirs from members of New York City public, unknown and anonymous to her, who had randomly discarded articles such as cigarette butts, chewing gum and strands of hair. Through the use of DNA phenotyping (predicting an individuals’ physical traits based upon their genetic makeup) in a molecular biology lab, she was able to make a 3D portrait of close replication to the individual to which the genes belonged.

In the world of forensics, DNA phenotyping can be critically utilised in tests such as ‘IrisPlex’ where DNA collected can be analysed to ascertain eye colour of the suspect.  However on the flip side, do we want the data our bodies’ emit ending up in the wrong hands, identities being cloned and privacy encroached? There is also a terrifying possibility for the potential of genetic surveillance. With developing forensic technology, can ethics and individual autonomy keep up?

[oneverycuriouscat]

One does not simply walk into the mind and create a palace

Have you ever been in awe of Sherlock Holmes’ sharp, distinctive and effortless memory recall? It is a real technique called ‘the method of loci’, which is one of the most powerful, versatile and oldest mnemonics in play. It is based on the premise that familiar locations are easily memorable, so by associating something needing to be recalled with that location, the object, fact or memory can easily be triggered. The ‘mind palace’ therefore is a mentally visualised replica of a personal familiar place; a curious filing system which is easily accessible and environmentally friendly.

The technique was widely used by Greek and Roman orators in order to remember key points and impressively deliver lengthy speeches without written aid, as reading to large crowds was seen as amateur. According to Cicero, a Greek lyric poet named Simonides of Ceos was the genius that discovered the memory hack. In Thessaly, he was attending a banquet at which he delivered a sign of appreciation to the host in the form of a lyric poem. After his recital Simonides was called outside and soon after, the venue’s roof entirely collapsed- crushing the other guests beyond identification. In order to clarify the diners’ identities for a proper burial, Simonides utilised his visual memory by remembering each person by their placement around the dinner table.

The question is, how does one go about creating a mind palace? It is surprisingly easy to master. The palace must firstly be decided upon by identifying the location. The place chosen must have a familiar layout: mental navigation should be effortless and second nature. A route around the location must also be established: one that is consistent and logical. Along the way specific smaller landmarks can be identified, such as a painting, an alcove or a set of winding stairs. It is important to picture the landmarks with a strong visualisation, focusing on the size, colour, smell, feel and other defining factors that can aid memory. Is the staircase creaky and does the portrait in the hanging picture creepily follow you around the room with its eyes? These location markers will act as ‘hooks’ onto which things are mentally stored.Storage itself is the next consideration. It is important to keep the mind map organised and keep a manageable amount of data in each of the designated landmarks.

“Chunking” is a well known memory technique in psychology, whereby individual pieces of data can be joined to create larger units that are more easily retained, for example when someone gives you their phone number to remember. Larger units created by this technique can then be mentally tucked away in your unique landmarks. My personal favourite mental storage system is a decadent 1920s art deco walnut cabinet with the Columbian cigar burn on the outer edge. Once all is set, your palace is ready to explore to remember all that important stuff.

Cool huh?

“You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace”- Frank McCourt, Angela’s Ashes.

[oneverycuriouscat]

[oneverycuriouscat]

The Pygmalion effect.

Have you ever been in a situation when a preconceived notion can affect your behaviour and performance in social situations? If I arrive at dinner and feel a bit socially awkward (the dutch courage hasn’t yet kicked in) and perceive others to see me this way, a facepalm worthy faux-pas is definitely more likely to happen, spiralling into a self fulfilling prophecy. Is there an explanation to this? I came across an interesting concept, the ‘Pygmalion effect’ which has relevance in explaining how better expectation of a person can lead to better performance.  It can also help in managing people, as well as yourself. In the workplace, an inspiring encouraging leader who establishes and communicates high and realistic expectation often leads to higher motivation as people can visualise their achievable goal. In practice, I’ve tried setting myself higher standards and expectation. The result? 

‘She believed she could so she did’ -  R.S.Grey

[oneverycuriouscat]

Hackney: What makes you feel like home?

We decided to make a short film asking one question to the people of Hackney "what makes you feel like home?"

Thomas and I exploring Hackney. 

[oneverycuriouscat]

Dalston Eastern Curve Garden 

Situated on the site of the old abandoned Eastern Curve Railway is this hidden leafy oasis of beautiful flowers, plants, herbs and vegetables against the backdrop of urban living. Dotted on the walls are interesting pieces by a street artist called Stik, whose talent can be seen extending to the walls of Shoreditch. There is a strong community vibe throughout the garden, with a heated greenhouse which can be set up for gatherings and childrens’ parties (and penguin style huddling when it’s cold out). With its own clay oven, you can also enjoy some delicious home cooked pizza. There are quirky chairs scattered throughout the garden, as well as comfy sofas to cosy on. You can have a bite to eat here too, with hot & cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on offer. There are different musical and arts events periodically happening, such as gargoyle sculpting and African Tango dancing, for instance. I can’t wait for the warmer months to bring about endless lazy afternoons guzzling Kopperbergs and sampling the BBQ treats. 

[oneverycuriouscat]

[oneverycuriouscat]

Lightshade renewal project

Thought I'd spruce up my room a little with a new light shade. It was simpler than expected, and I had lots of fun doing it. Here are a few simple steps and tips. 

1) I took my scissors to the old drab purple (gasp) cover to reveal the bare metal black frame. I had some lovely sheer floral fabric from an old dress I'd been keeping for such an opportune moment. I would recommend fine silky/sheer material to give a beautiful 'stained glass' light effect. Nothing worse than a dim light, unless it's for mood lighting. 

2) I cut out individual panels for each section and used superglue to adhere to the metal frame. My fingers ended up completely coated. If I ever need to hide my fingerprints I have found a top method.

3) Neatly secure the ends at each opening. Again, superglue is your best friend. Just a little fiddly, but the end result is worth it. 

4) Voila! Cute, summery and very feminine to finish off your cosy boudoir.

[oneverycuriouscat]

Queen of Hoxton

This diverse cultural honey pot of the East End is an eclectic mix of underground nightclub with regular live acts and DJs, cocktail bar, retro arcade, topped off with a quirky rooftop bar set up within an enormous tent. In the summer, if that’s not enough, stand up comedy and the Rooftop outdoor film club are thrown in just for good measure. Ukulele 'Hootenanny' also takes place weekly on Mondays, which involves a free evening where Ukulele players of varying standards get a chance to play together.

The toasty rooftop wigwam proudly pitched over Shoreditch serves an array of winter warmers, such as pumpkin spiced ciders, steamy buttered rum and gin punch, as well as hearty morsels, slowly sizzling on the fire that takes centre stage in the tipi. Perhaps a buffalo burger or wild boar sausages will tickle your taste buds? The ascent to the top is definitely worth your puff as you’re greeted with an intoxicating blend of barbequed meat and smoked wood aromas. Once cosied up in a furry corner of the tent, it’s a great time to sit back, catch up, lap up the mellow atmospheric tunes and bask in the warm glowing ambience. Prices are reasonable, starting at £5.50 for hot beverages and small mains at £4. Taken out and treated to a lovely evening of rum laced mulled cider. Worth a peek.

[oneverycuriouscat]

A secretive sixth sense Imagine if you could literally hear colours and taste shapes in technicolour. No, I'm not talking about Willy Wonka's great 'Three course dinner chewing gum' invention. 'Blue Mondays' are no longer a figure of speech. I'm talking about an extraordinary neurological sensory condition called synesthesia. The term, derived from Greek, translates as 'to perceive together'. It is a rare, consistent, involuntary and unlearned phenomenon that occurs with varying combinations of sensory crossover. Research indicates that 1 in 2000 of the population are synesthetes but the condition can be artificially induced through use of hallucinogenic drugs. One of the most common forms is understood to be sound-colour synesthesia. C minor may appear as a wave of burnt amber, with a change in octive eliciting a tirade of angry red. Another type is colour-graphemic synesthesia, where numbers and letters are intrinsically and individually coloured. Numbers, months of the year, days of the week and seasons may take on specific spacial perceptions, known as spacial- sequence synesthesia, for example mentally plotted onto a map, clockwise on a clock face or appear as vibrant spokes on a bicycle wheel. Classically, synesthesia is reported to be a neutral or pleasant experience but due to a fear of ridicule, many synesthetes are secretive and silent about their unusual ability. Research therefore is not extensive but does draw some interesting deductions: the condition is hereditary and is more prominent in females. With advancements in medical technology, specifically neuroimaging, it is clear that unlike non- synesthetes, cross communication between parts of the brain responsible for individual senses occurs. Two main contrasting theories have emerged for the cause of the condition. Baron- Cohen et al propose that architecturally, brains of synesthetes are unique and have an overabundance of neural connections which allow communication between ordinarily separated senses. Grossenbacher argues that the mechanism of brain activity, rather than structural differences gives rise to the sensory mergence, which supports the fact that temporary induction of synesthesia is possible with psychadelic drugs. However due to data constraints, further exploration is required. Regardless of the source of origin, synesthesia is a real, vivid and remarkable occurrence, which has provided inspiration in the worlds of food, music and literature. Heston Blumental creates an orchestra of senses through fine dining to evoke emotion, nostalgia and memory. Jimi Hendrix famously referred to the chord E7#9 as 'the purple chord' which he used to form the verse in 'Purple Haze'. Novelist Vladamir Nabokov was noteably a self-described synesthete, perceiving letters to be varying hues. Definite food for thought.

[oneverycuriouscat]

Dishoom- Bombay Café, Shoreditch

Tucked away in a little pocket of Shoreditch is this trendy and authentic Indian restaurant, stumbled upon by happy accident when out and about with a good friend. We started off with a drink in the Bombay- style Permit Room, which served an array of deliciously classic cocktails from the pre-independence era, such as Juleps, Sours and Martini-style drinks. There were also options for warming chais, but with an interesting chocolate, Cognac or Baileys twist. I opted for a non-alcoholic cocktail involving fresh watermelon, spearmint, lime and sea-salt. The food was tapas style- great for sharing, and at a reasonable price. I had vegetable samosas to start, followed by a main of a spicy Chicken Tikka and garlic naan. The atmosphere was buzzing, and service prompt and friendly. Definitely worth a visit!