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JULY - AUGU ST 2016
STRUT EVOLUTION
The true essence of being a woman is first and fore most - learning to walk in heels confidently
BILLY’S BRIGHT FUTURE -
Goats just don’t get the same reception as cows get. But in the near future things might just change to favour Billy the goat. Think goat’s milk and that’s what we’ll get.
Bereavement in Transit
Sometimes during our life’s journey, we come to the abrupt stop of grief. Can we find the strength to move on?
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b u f f a l o, n e w y o r k
We get i t. You have s tudent loans ou t the door and through the roof. You may be working two jobs jus t to make rent. You survive on the dream of
g n i r B s r e w o h S Apri l s u l P s r e w o l F May . d u m f o n o t T a shi
living wi th grea t friends, in a good ci ty. T he idea of walking to the coffee shop in the morning and from the bar a t nigh t keeps you going. You wri te to-do lis ts on old na pkins and used envelopes. Ea t pizza for breakfas t and Cheerios for dinner. b u f f a l o, n e w y o r k
You use misma tched pla tes and cups because sets are overra ted...and really no t tha t cool. Cardboard boxes from Moving Day are your side
Life may not always come easy, but it holds many charming and quirky possibilities, you just have to keep an open mind and think outside the box. Make/ shift is here to provide you with the tools to make your home, your own.
tables a t the moment and an actual bed frame
Based out of Buffalo, NY - we are a small, independently owned business, located in the historic district of Allentown. We sell houseware items and furnishings, as well as raw construction materials stripped from old buildings and furniture from around the city. Buffalo, having such a rich architectural background, provides our shop with quality and very well - designed merchandise.
may no t be a “ thing“ yet. Your place is a real
Apr il sho wer s brin g May Flow ers
fixer-upper.
u t you make i t work.
The name make/shift is derived from the word “makeshift,” meaning “done or made using whatever is available.” The slash in the middle of the word
April Showers Bring May Flowers // S p r i n g C l e a n i n g
cleverly creates three separate words - make, shift, and makeshift (our three core values).
“MAKESHIFT”
relates to giving an object with a predetermined function a new utilitarian purpose. This mostly applies to the vintage items found in the shop and has to do a lot with being thrifty. “MAKE” is the inspiration that we provide our customers with to create something new. This inspiration can be found in our displays, the merchandise that fills our shop, and this quarterly publication. “ SHIFT” defines the company’s mission to promote repurposing materials and is literally defined as “[m oving from one place to another.” Almost all of our raw and reclaimed materials have been salvaged from local sources (old or abandoned buildings, closing businesses/other establishments, or in scrap yards) in hopes of being used once more by someone with an open and creative mind. Someone like you.
S p ri n g 2 0 16 // i s s u e n o. 1 Make/shift page no. 3
April Showers Bring May Flowers \ Spring Cleaning
according to every mom, ever...
b.)
Q. any tips for moving day? A. Keep your refrigerator doors
c.)
Q. A.
open when it is turned off! You’ll probably think to close them (making it easier to move), but if you do, the lingering odors will get trapped inside and NEVER come out.
Milk Crate - $15, found object.
What one kitchen appliance would you invest in? why? A toaster oven - you can toast, bake and reheat pizza with it. Make sure to have a microwave right away as well.
can be done to make a house feel like its new, and hasn't been Recently lived in by others?
Q. what
a bucket of You can attach a sock to a Swiffer then dunk it into wash down warm water mixed with Spic & Span and use this left behind your walls. They will be clean of any dirt or residue by the previous owners and your house will smell great. or have machine a rent can You place. the in rugs any Shampoo it done professionally, either way it’s worth the time/money. and the kitchen - Bleach everything - door handles, the bathroom sinks, counter tops, etc| . the wood - Use Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean, and not just polish, in your house. warm soapy - Take down any ceiling lights and wash them with water. Dawn works just fine. a in blinds - If there are any curtains, wash them. Throw a sponge. Give bathtub of warm water and Dawn. Clean with them a shake and hang them back up to air-dry. bathtub full of warm, sudsy - Remove any vents, throw them intoa clean between the slits. water and use a potato scrubber
A. d.)
e.)
f.)
Q. any safety tips to offer? A. Clean out dryer vents. If you have a dryer on the first floor pull it away from the wall and clean the lint and dust out by hand or with a vacuum hose. If the dryer is on the second floor or is located where a longer hose leads to the outside then take a leaf blower and push all of the debris out.
g.)
h.)
Speaking of vents, take down the vent above the stove and soak it in dish soap. Use a scrubbing brush to loosen and remove dirt.
i.)
Q. A.
about those flowers. . . j.)
k.)
? into a new house/ap artment you would do when moving what is the first thing of don’t like any of the patterns drawers and cabinets. If you can use wrapping paper.ç Change the linings in kitchen you used, is what normally contact paper, which is
Q. the shower is moldy, what do I A. Use a product with beach. Run the
l.)
do?
shower without the bathroom fan on and actually get into the shower to scrub off any soap scum or mildew.
a.) Toothbrush Holder - $15, found object. b.) Grid Mug - $25, original art work. c.) Milk Bottle - $4, found object. d.) Cactus Shot Glass - $2, found object. e.) Pabst Blue Ribbon Can - n/a. f.) Angel Candle Holders - $12, found object. g.) Campbell’s Tomato Soup Can- n/a. h.) Light bulb - $3, found object. i.) Folgers Can - $3, found object. j.) Bucket (small) - $2, found object. k.) Milk Glass Vase - $7(ea). found object. l.) Old Boot - n/a.
Make/shift page no. 7
April Showers Bring May Flowers \ Spring Cleaning
bleach
surface cleaner
rust remover
the strong stuff that makes everything smell like a chlorinated swimming pool
what you reach for when surfaces are sticky and you don’t know why. . .
has been removing rust, metal tarnish, mineral deposits, and stains since 1882. . . holy smokes
use it on - clothes, ba throom
use it on - plastic, metal, acrylic, fibreglass, lamina te, linoleum, glazed tile, vinyl, painted wood make it - 16 oz. hydrogen peroxide (3%) - ½ teaspoon lavender oil - ½ teaspoon lemon essential oil - 1 teaspoon peppermin t oil Combine in a spray bo ttle. Leave on surface for several minu tes before wiping.
use it on - stainless steel, copper alloys including brass and bronze, aluminium, ceramic, porcelain, glass. make it - 1 cup baking soda - ½ cup sal t (no t iodized) - ½ cup washing soda S tir un til well mixed.
and kitchens, sinks, toilets, etc.
make it - 1/4 cup vinegar - 1/2 teaspoon liquid soa p or de tergen t - 2 cups of wa ter Combine in a spray bo ttle.
rug cleaner
adhesive remover
made from vegetable oil and can be used as a insecticidal spray in gardens
this is for all of you dog moms and cat dads, it gets out stains and softens. . .w ow
allows you to get practically anything off of anything, that’s right. . . anything
use it on - wood surfaces (safe
use it on - rugs and upholstery make it - 1 cup whi te vinegar - 2 cups of wa ter - 2 tsp sal t - 15 drops lavender oil Combine in spray bo ttle and shake. Spray on carpe ts liberally. Allow carpe ts to dry, then vacuum.
use it on - plas tic, metal, tile, glass, brick, wood, ceramic, hardwood, fiberglass, linoleum, carpet and upholstery make it - 11 par t baking soda - 1 par t mel ted coconu t oil Mix toge ther.
for hardwood floors)
make it - 1 cup fil tered wa ter - 3 tbsp dis tilled whi te vinegar Mix and use a soft clo th to res tore wood furni ture.
April Showers Bring May Flowers \ Spring Cleaning
Some say it doesn’t help, but I always pour bleach down the drains to prevent them from clogging. It also keeps away bad odors.
BREAKING IT DOWN...
Spring
Cleaning April Showers Bring May Flowers \ Spring Cleaning
April Showers Bring May Flowers \ Spring Cleaning
dish soap
window cleaner
super foamy and super cute scrubber dudes who don’t mess around when it comes to soap scum and mildew
the head honcho of dishwashing cleansers - creates magical, tiny bubbles and saves birds from oil spills use it on: dishes, clothing stains, plastics, laminates, marble, rugs make it | - 1/4 cup soap flakes or shavings - 2 cups wa ter - 1-2 tbsp dis tilled whi te vinegar or lemon juice - 1 tbsp glycerin
a blue concoction so streakless, it’s known to cause birds to fly into windows...
make it - a 50/50 vinegar/water solution to clean tile, counters, cabinet fronts and soap scum in the shower - baking soda and wa ter paste to clean shower and tub gunk (use vinegar in place of wa ter for tough stains)
the o g. Make/shift page no. 9
a very makeshift checklist:
bathroom cleaner
use it on - entire ba throom
April Showers Bring May Flowers \ Spring Cleaning
A M a k e /s h i f t G u i d e t o C l e a n i n g P r o d u c t s
wood cleaner
ç Q . what is your number one cleaning tip? A. Use bleach whenever and wherever you can.
Rain Boot - $30(set), found object.
*Make/shift tip: if the house comes with furniture when you bought it and you don’t like it, see what material you can salvage before selling or donating. If it is in good condition it can be used again.
a.)
Make/shift page no. 5
April Showers Bring May Flowers \ Spring Cleaning
outside 1.
Clean out all gunk in gutters
2. Wash siding 3. Spray perimeter to keep bugs and such out 4. Give the garage a sweep 5. Clean and install door & window screens 6. Wash outsides of doors & windows 7. Clean sliding patio door tracks 8. 9.
Give the welcome mat a good shake Clear out the a/c condenser of all debris
10. Replace the a/c filter 11. Store away snow shovels and such 12. Scrub the grill and check the propane tank 13. Hose down any outdoor furniture 14. Wipe down outdoor lighting and replace any burnt-out bulbs 15. Mow lawn and clean out bushes/flower beds 16. Organize items stored in shed/garage and decide what to keep, toss, or donate
Make/shift page no. 13
36. Replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries 37. Install window air conditioners 38. Vacuum and wash vents/fans
kitchen // laundry 39. Deep clean in and around stove, microwave, convection oven, dishwasher 40. Vacuum stove vents 41. Deep clean coffee maker, toaster, blender, etc. 42. Empty inside of refrigerator and freezer toss old foods and wipe down interior 43. Clean exteriors, around, behind and under refrigerator/freezer & oven 44. Wash insides and outsides of cabinets backsplashes 45. Wash pantry/cabinet shelves and toss old food 46. Clear range hood of grease 47. Wash all utensils out on counter 48. Clean soap spills and lint in laundry space
general (inside)
bathroom
17. Wash all baseboards
49. Give toilet and shower/tub a thorough cleaning
18. Clean insides of windows/doors - sill, frame, trim, & hardware
(around, in, & behind) 50. Throw away old makeup and medicine
19. Open windows and doors to let fresh air in 20. Take down and wash/dry drapes
51. Wash hair and makeup brushes 52. Replace inner plastic shower curtain if mildewy
21. Wash window blinds 22. Wax old hardwood flooring
53. Wash mirrors
23. Scrub walls with Swiffer using Spic & Span 24. Dust lamps, knickknacks, and electronics
bedroom
25. Dust ceiling fan blades 26. Remove items and clean closet floors
54. Wash bedding and pillows 55. Clean under bed
27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
56. Wash and store winter clothes 57. Go through closet and dresser drawers - sort clothes into donate, trash, & save piles 58. Change sheets while cleaning the bedroom. . . who knows when that was last done
Vacuum upholstered furniture and pillows Wash slipcovers, pillow covers and throws Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings Clean/Polish door hardware Vacuum and (if necessary) shampoo rugs
basement // utility 32. Check basement for wet areas and for rot, mold, & pests 33. Open any windows in basement to let fresh air 34. Sweep basement floors 35. Clean dryer exhaust vent
look. . . more vases!
other 59. Clean out desk and junk drawers 60. Organize all files/document - file electronically or in cabinet 61. Go have a pizza and a beer with your buddies
Make/shift page no. 15
Combine in a spray bottle and shake. Spray on carpe ts liberally, shaking bo ttle frequen tly be tween sprays. Allow carpe ts to dry, then vacuum.
use it on - glass make it - 1/4 cup vinegar - 1/2 tsp liquid soa p or de tergen t - 2 cups of wa ter Combine ingredien ts in a spray bo ttle. Shake to blend.
Make/shift page no. 11
Odd News Headliners Cow pileups
N
o known figures are available as to how many traffic accidents are caused by cows. But perhaps in a sampled example on a Scottish highway, a stray cow was the cause of a five-car pileup. According to officials, nobody was injured but pitifully, the cow died at the scene. Cow Crossing Beware More of such signs on major roads? Untill now, most signs are found in suburbs or countrysides
Mickey Mouse Venice
A
nd this is in no way referring to a ‘Venice inspired’ theme park, the likes of Las Vegas Sand’s Venetian Resort. A proposal by British economist John Kay to turn actual Venice into a theme park seems to have played the right cards. In a March article published by British newspaper The Times, it says, “The city is already a theme park and should be handed over to Disney -- they would do a better job of running it.” Water logged Venice with its renaissance dated architecture and gondolas traversing its canals, is heavily depended on tourist dollars. And with about six to eight million tourists arriving every year, it only makes perfect economic sense to hand over the administration of the city to a successful theme park operator, Walt Disney.
Walt Disney Theme Parks and Hotels are already functioning more like a microcosm selfsufficient Marne-la-Vallée, Paris economy Hot air balloon overlooking complete Lake DIsney, a man-made with enter- lake in DIsneyland Resort Paris tainment, food and lodging, than a regular runoff-the-mill theme park. And with three successful theme parks operating in three different countries, U.S., Japan and Hong Kong, it’s doubtful any business minded owner would think otherwise of Disney’s management. It was a novel idea although rejected by famed academy, Istituto Veneto.
SCOOP / JULY - AUGUST 2016
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Odd News Headliners around the world
Venice, Italy City theme park and Mickey Mouse Gondolas next time?
Dyeing it brown
I
n a case of mistaken hair dye, a Connecticut woman discovered the hair dye she used on her ‘naturally blond’ hair turned it into a colour she didn’t want. As a result of the shock she said, “I was sick to my stomach, I had headaches, I don’t like myself…” The woman had initially wanted to touch up her blond colour but
received a rude shock when the dye, which was suppose to make her hair blond, turned it dark brown instead. She insists that the wrong product was packaged into the box and claims she even had to seek help for depression due to the emotional trauma. The Supreme Court judge threw out her lawsuit for lack of substantiated evidence.
SCOOP / JULY - AUGUST 2016
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Odd News Headliners Robbed conscience
W
ho is to say current laws do not turn criminals into good people? In an unexpected turn, a thief who felt exceedingly guilty after robbing a Kiosk in Kamen, Germany, decided to repay back what he stole to the owners. The repented thief also left a note of apology to the staff who were shock to find the money on the counter when they reported to work the following day.
lineage of Jesus who married Mary Magdalene and has a royal bloodline of descendents, a theory the Vatican vehemently denies. Luzi also had a note in his pocket reading, “this is just the beginning, 666.” Luzi was so obsessed with that ‘truth’ that he stabbed three other people who came to the aid of the priest.
Goat weed
C
ost cutting measures were at the top of the agenda for officials from the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Instead of spending $7500 for a team of workers to clear weeds, the agency decided to spend $3000 and hire a herd of 100 goats to eat the weeds away. According to goatkeeper George Gonzales, the goats are cheaper, do not call in sick and definitely won’t collect overtime pay.
Herd of 100 goats * Doesn’t call in sick * Will never collect overtime pay Cost of hiring goats = $3000
Movie code
C
atholic priest, Rev. Caino Calitri, 68, was stabbed reTeam of workers peatedly by a man claiming * Calling in sick * Overtime pay to have been inspired by the movie, ‘The Davinci Code’. Marco Luzi, 25, told police he committed the crime after watching author Dan Brown’s movie. The movie is based on a novel Cost of hiring workers by the author who in his book asserts = $7500 the Church has been concealing the SCOOP / JULY - AUGUST 2016
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Odd News Headliners around the world
Rubber duck environment
Y
ou might like to think twice about the bathtub’s all time favourite companion, Mr. Rubber Ducky. In an environmental study on the movement of melting water from the Jakobshavn Glacier in Greenland, U.S., scientist Alberto Behar decided to make use of yellow rubber ducks to trace the flow of melting water. The rubber ducks
come with an electronic probe that measures readings like pressure, temperature and an accelerometer to sense the speed and flow of melted ice.
SCOOP / JULY - AUGUST 2016
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Odd News Headliners Cat food nutrition
Sleeping on the job
I
t has been said that not all jobs can have the luxury of staff sleeping on the job, more so for critical occupations like pilots and air controllers. However, it hasn’t stopped an air traffic controller from actually falling asleep on the job for more than half an hour. On the Greek island of Lesbos, not one but two airplanes had to circle the Aegean Sea after the female controller later confessed to sleeping on the job. The woman was later suspended so that she could ‘catch all the sleep she wanted’, tongue-in -cheek.
C
ats aren’t the only ones who have a taste for cat food, it seems. A preschool teacher from the Swedish town of Alingsas decided to give her class the experience of eating cat food. The children, most likely oblivious to the fact that the food isn’t meant for humans, had the teacher giving them the food to taste while they were working on a project about cats. The feline loving teacher was issued with a warning on ethics and inappropriate judgment though some parents stood behind her ‘sound education work’.
Balinese nude
I
Zoo terrorist
I
t’s not everyday you get to feed a crocodile so 7-year-old Terry decided to make abundant use of the opportunity. The little terror fed to the 440 pound saltwater crocodile a delicious buffet consisting of endangered small animals, a turtle, four western blue tongue lizards, two bearded dragons, two thorny devil lizards and an adult female Spencer’s goanna. The boy was also caught on surveillance tapes battering to death other small animals. The zoo is considering whether to sue his parents since the boy cannot be tried for the outrage against the animals.
ndonesia can hardly be thought off as a liberal country in terms of sexual expression but in a showdown of opinions, protestors in Denpasar, Bali, march in unison denouncing an anti-pornography bill. Protestors argue that the bill will forever mar the traditional heritage and culture of their people where much of the art in Bali celebrates nude paintings and sculptures. Bali’s governor, Made Mangku Pastika also rejected the bill as lawmakers from Bali head to Jakarta to dismiss parliament’s draft bill. The new Indonesian legislation is intended to curb all expressions of the human form, particularly in pornography, but can also harm traditional expression of Bali’s art.
SCOOP / JULY - AUGUST 2016
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Odd News Headliners around the world Burglary in the nude
Prostitute notes
A
s if 12,000 sex workers in the country weren’t enough, Ukrainian officials said scantily clad women are now depicted on fake bank notes in circulation. The counterfeit notes look almost identical to real bank notes save for the pictures of prostitutes leaning on structures in the background. The notes are actually part of a government campaign aimed at discouraging people from entering the sex trade and even carry with it a muchwelcomed advisory.
B
urglars no longer go about their business dress in black but do it in the nude. 21year-old Shane Thomas Cargle, was arrested by officers after he illegally intrude into the neighbour’s vacated house. When officers arrived at the scene, Cargle immediately bolted through a window in the master bedroom and headed for his house that was just beside the neighbour’s house, still in the nude. Witnesses first called the police when they saw him walking in the house, stark naked. Cargle is being charged with first-degree burglary and resisting police arrest.
Ukraine, eastern Europe Sexually suggestive women adorn new Ukrainian bank notes, a campaign aimed at discouraging people from pursuing a career in the country’s lucrative sex trade. In a July 2008 CIA estimate, for a country that has a population of 45 million, there are already 12,000 sex workers. There are 360,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Although Ukraine is still far from replacing Bangkok, Thailand, as the sex capital of the world, it is still the preferred destination of choice for sex tourism in Europe.
SCOOP / JULY - AUGUST 2016
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Odd News Headliners
Osama impersonator Yet another Osama impersonator at a beach carnival. Harmless prank or insensitive joke?
Osama masquerade Osama impersonators might need to rethink their definition of humour after Police Chief Superintendent Colin Terry was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for dressing as Osama bin Laden at a Grampound village carnival in Cornwall. Calling his actions as ‘misguided’ rather than ‘malicious’, Devon and Cornwall police said Terry’s actions were still ‘clearly inappropriate’. Terry has been assisting a European Union project to train police
in Afghanistan but according to a Foreign Office spokesman, they said, “He will not be returning to the EU mission.” Osama bin Laden is the world’s most wanted terrorist and is on the FBI’s most wanted list. The FBI is offering a $25 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. He is responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks and is still at large.
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Odd News Headliners around the world Vigilante Saving the day was ‘all in a day’s work’ for John Acheson, save for the fact that he wasn’t in law enforcement. The trucker first assisted the New York Police Department in catching a suspect by taking down the licence plate of a car after a man was shot and killed. His information led to the arrest of four suspects. As a result, he was delayed for work but police managed to inform his bosses on his delay upon which his boss replied, “…maybe you think you’re a cowboy.” Another occasion of his heroic endeavour happened purely by chance when he saw a woman fleeing after assaulting a delivery driver with a hammer. The following day, the trucker was awarded with a dismissal and a farewell reprimand from his boss, “John, I gotta let you go. You don’t know how to mind your own business.”
Pub disaster relief Residents of Galveston, Texas, found out disaster relief need not always come from local government or humanitarian disaster relief centres. The aftermath of hurricane Ike’s onslaught left the city flooded, 60,000 people stranded and scarcity in food and water. But Robert Lafitte, a gay bar, was one of the first few businesses to reopen after the storm, providing a haven for anyone, gays or otherwise, who need a place to recuperate, eat and drink. Brian Deleon, straight a restaurant worker
says, “These are the people who take you up out of the water and make life livable. Once I get back to work, I’m coming back here.”
Presidential heroics Camera crew from Russia’s Rossiya television knew who to be with the next time they find themselves in the wild. The television crew was on a trip to the national park trying to film how a group of western wildlife researchers monitor tigers in the wilds of the Russian Far East. Accompanied by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the group was about to see a trapped Amur Tiger when it suddenly escaped and ran towards a camera crew. The 55-yearold former KGB spy and Kremlin chief instinctively shot the animal with a tranquilizer gun and even helped to place a satellite transmitter around the animal’s neck. Thanking him during the main evening news, a presenter from Rossiya television said Putin even had the opportunity to ‘see the giant predator up close’ whilst saving the television crew. Amur tigers are native to Russia’s Amur-Ussuri region bordering China and North Korea. According to the Worldwide Fund for nature, Amur tiger population numbers have been steadily increasing over the years through concerted conservation efforts to save the animal from the brink of extinction.
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Bereavement in transit
Changes can often come unexpectedly and sometimes, violently and without due warning. Take a random particularly heartbreaking event for instance: like the death of a loved one, the heartbreak of unrequited love or a personal setback like the loss of a job. And what is our response to it? We can choose to either move on and recover from it, or, let that particular event remain transfixed in our consciousness like an unmovable mountain of sorrow, so much so that we remain prisoners of bereavement and sorrow. Yet life still moves on like the running of efficient trains coming and going on well-timed schedules, forever transporting us through the transit of life.
F
lights delayed, long queues during lunch hour, atypical metropolitan traffic; life just seems to be a constant succession of travelling to and fro from one destination to the next. The motion blur of being in perpetual transition just never seems
to end, going and moving from one phase of life and right on to the next. Graduating from college, getting that first degree, taking that brand new sparkling job, life’s journey is all about being in a state of constant motion. And as a result of all that travelling,
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Making your connections
we have sort of become accustomed to this nomadic lifestyle that we all live in. Much of our lives are spent travelling, in transit if you would call it, waiting for the next train, scouring for a parking lot or waiting for someone. It’s a part of our lives and we have in a small way accepted the state of being in perpetual transit. But what happens when a particularly heartbreaking, life changing monumental circumstance happens? Do we, and can we find the strength to continue travelling along the journey of life? Yet life demands that we do but for some people, grief and sorrow takes captive of them, robbing them of the joys and pleasures in life. The vibrant colours of life turned into a monotonous sheet of greyish mourning. James Chan was such a person. The 16-year-old teenager was rudely accosted from the normality of his daily activities by the sudden death of his 40-year-old father over a hit and run traffic accident. The boy had a very close relationship with his father and over the weeks and months to come, his grief resulted in a drop in appetite, a lost in interest towards his studies and even the things he once enjoyed doing like basketball, took a backseat while his mum stood helplessly by. Recollecting that difficult period of time, Mrs. Janet Chan said, “I was at such a lost as to what I should do with him and almost gave up hope before a friend told me to seek some professional help.� Later, it was found out that James
was suffering from severe grief and some mild clinical depression. It was only after several months on antidepressant drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist together with family therapy sessions with a grief management counsellor that the teenager was able to slowly come to terms with the loss. However despite his recovery, he had to repeat a year in school because the medication made him drowsy and he had to miss classes, causing him to fail his exams. Grief is something everyone has to face some time in their lives. And depending on the way we deal with it, the bereavement process can take some time. But if grief is allowed to go on for too long, it can take the form of clinical depression, as in the case of James. How we cope with grief and loss is largely dependant on our ability to facilitate through the difficult time but if given the right amount of social support, most people will be able to come out of the mourning process. People will generally move through several stages of grief. After the first onset of ill-fated news, most people will have what is called the Stage of Denial and Shock. Since the news comes so unexpectedly, the human mind will try to reassure itself that the news might not impact them as much as they think. Physiologically speaking, what the mind is doing is clinging on to past memories in an effort to preserve and hold on to those treasured moments and prevent a psychological breakdown. It is also common for some people, who because
SCOOP / JULY - AUGUST 2016
Making your connections
of the sudden shock to seemingly feel completely unaffected by the loss and according to counsellors, this should not be confused with the person being uncaring and cold hearted. As the individual starts to get a hold of what has just transpired, the disbelief, shock and numbness will soon give way to the Stage of Regret. The person will then try to recollect what could have been done or what they should have done to remedy the situation. Following that, the full extend of the loss will start to become a reality to them, followed by a period of sadness along with feelings of loneliness (if it is the death of a loved one), lack of energy and concentration. Once the person is able to come to terms with what has happened, healing and acceptance can follow. “How we deal with grief and sadness really depends on our beliefs and sometimes, personality. In my years of counselling, there are patients who because of a fiercely independent character managed the crisis very well, even in times of extreme sadness like the death of a child. I had a female patient who after the death of her child, received relatively little help to facilitate herself through the process, preferring instead to rely on her own emotional strength and discipline to see her through. Instead of dwelling on the loss, she used the loss as a turning point and even had the emotional strength to help others like herself. She saw the lost as an impetus to make something meaningful out of her life.
“There are also those who require bereavement counselling or depending on their faith, religious comfort in the form of a priest or pastor. It doesn’t mean you are weaker than others if you seek professional help, “ says Ms. Mlidred Pierce, a bereavement counsellor with over 5 years of experience helping people cope through such periods of loss and sadness. According to Ms. Pierce, there are also those who being unable to cope with the heart wrenching and traumatic experience, choose an alternative but a much worse choice of comfort, that is, to seek solace through alcohol or drugs and the like. But what alcohol does is that it only helps to suppress the painful feelings down or draw the person’s attention away instead of removing it. The individual still has to cope with those feelings when the numbing side effects of the alcohol and drugs wear out. Besides resorting to alcohol and drugs, there are also people who choose to choke and overwhelm those painful emotions by burying themselves in work or occupy their time with compulsive behaviours like shoplifting. Some people can also simply suppress or deny acknowledging those feelings completely. As we continue our passage through life, grief is something everyone has to go through. We might not have a say when will bereavement and loss pay a visit but we do have a choice in how we cope with it and how we progress beyond that painful stop.
SCOOP / JULY - AUGUST 2016
Making your connections
SCOOP MAKING ALL THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS
M AY - JU N E 2016
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FLAWLESSLY SMOOTH FACE
Is Your Skin Smooth or Does it Feel Like You are Touching shark skin?
Boobs and bags More women are going under the knife, the aesthetic surgeon’s knife that is.
UTTERLY DREADFUL HEELS
Some Women Wear Them as if They Were Flats but Some Would Faint at the Slightest Mention of it
L h
DREADFU
eels?
Never! Heels are the must haves for any women and should not be a dread to wear. EDWIN L. chooses the best pair that can be worn.
FASHION WALK
H
eels have sometimes been the achilles heel of many a women, even the stuff of nightmares for some, as they look as if performing a tightrope balancing act when walking in it. Ungainly in movement and walking ever so wobbly, heels on these women looked more like liabilities rather than tools to strut their beauty and power in. But continuing to stay true to their invention, heels are really not all that difficult to walk in once the basic techniques to wearing them have been properly grasped. For as ties are to men, high heels (or stilettos) are to the ladies the very same tools to project forth that confidence and power, irregardless of the occasion. Whether it be for formal settings like in the office or trips to the park or a must-attend-even-though-I-don’t-wantto company dinner function, these women have always managed to exude an aura of beauty, power and poise. On many occasions, questions have risen in your mind as to how these wom-
en even manage to seemingly walk all day without much pain or showing the least amount of discomfort on their faces. We at SCOOP say the allure emanating from wearing heels is in the walk and the walk, well that according to us is in the choice of heels. So here we give you two must-have basics and for an easier initiation, selected two categories of heels and listed the pointers to note when choosing them as well as the occasion to wear them.
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1 Comfort and style in one size
You can feel comfortable in high heels. Choose a shoe size that does not feel tight when you walk. Your feet have to fit snugly into the shoes or else when you start walking, it’s going to feel very uncomfortable and you’ll most likely end up with blisters. Remember, you can have both comfort and style all in one shoebox. For if the size is just right with sufficient toe wriggling room in front (if it’s a covered shoe) but feels slightly tight at the rear, just a
simple method will get your feet slotted comfortably in. No fuss of asking for one size up. Use some wax and rub against the insides of the rear of your shoe. The wax will help to smoothen the surface and with less friction, you’ll experience less of the painful discomfort so common with shoes that are slightly tight at the rear. You can also use the wax to rub all around the insides and not just at the rear if the next size up is far too large.
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2 Selecting your heels
Before hitting the stores, get your feet anatomy knowledge first or, specifically know where the balls of your feet are. They are that bulgy lump of flesh protruding out of the sole of your feet right after your big toes, the area where your toes connect with the rest of your feet. The balls act as a fulcrum point and are used when you perform any activity with your feet like walking or running. The tip in selecting heels is to make sure the balls of your feet rest comfortably on the base of your
heels. Because if it doesn’t, all of your body weight will rest on your toes and you’ll sustain injury over time.
SCOOP’s recommended wear: Sharp pointy shoes Shoes we prefer: High heels or stilettos Occasion: Office, clubbing, functions, dates
For these shoes, remember you do not need to have your toes positioned all the way inside. As long as it fits comfortably, the pair of heels is just right. An extra point to note when selecting this type of shoes is that you might need to select a slightly larger size than the one you usually wear due to the narrower space at the front of the shoe. When choosing this category of shoes, especially for stilettos and heels that are three inches or higher, ensure they are made of a sturdier material. Reason being is that since all the pressure is exerted on
AGGRESSIVE CONFIDENCE that tiny tip, it’ll be more likely to break off if a less sturdy material is used. You wouldn’t want to end up with a broken heel right? The pointed shape of these shoes will help to elongate your legs, making you look slimmer and also projects an image of confidence, poise and sophistication. The pointed shape also projects forth an image that you are determined and driven. Just the right pair you need for the office or for that corporate function.
SCOOP’s recommended wear: Shoes, covered or uncovered Shoes we prefer: Wedges or platform shoes Occasion: Casual wear, trips to any ‘high heel unfriendly places’ or the great outdoors
Wedges (or platform) shoes will provide you with that image and confidence boost you need but with the added stability. If you dislike the instability of high heels or stilettos,
you can select platform shoes since the heels have a larger base thus providing more stability. Unlike pointed shoes, you can select the size you’ll usually wear since there isn’t much difference from your regular shoes in terms of foot space. It’s a lot easier to walk around in platform shoes than in heels and they come in both covered and uncovered versions with the uncovered versions more suited for the outdoors. When choosing this category of shoes, determine the occasion you might like to wear them in. Wedges shoes typically come in light colours and most have casual designs with a rounded tip projecting a less serious demeanour that you are approachable but serious in commitments. And like high heels, platform shoes still project forth determination and confidence but also say there is a fun and casual side to your personality. In addition, the rounded tip also adds that element of spontaneity about you.
“Use some wax and rub against the insides of the rear of your shoe.”
“Heels bring out the seductive sensuality in a woman.”
SCOOP’s recommended wear: Sharp pointy shoes
Shoes we prefer:
High heels or stilettos
T
he pointed shape of these shoes will help to elongate your legs, making you look slimmer and also projects an image of confidence, poise and sophistication.
SCOOP’s recommended wear:
Shoes, covered or uncovered
Shoes we prefer:
Wedges or platform shoes
W
edges shoes typically come in light colours and most have casual designs with a rounded tip projecting a less serious demeanour that you are approachable but serious in commitments.