In the short story “The Cask Of Amontillado,” it seems that Montresor could suffer from OCD He is obsessed with murdering Fortunato. This would be an extreme case of OCD, in my opinion. Some many call him “crazy” or “out of his mind” for his obsession. When most people think of OCD, they do not think about common people who deal with it on a daily basis and are not looking to plotting a murder for years. They tend to think OCD, Central State, and other extremities. OCD is simply put though were people have obsessions that are persistent, intrusive and cause the person much distress. When people think of famous people though they think of how they envy the lives they live. Truth be told though, many of these famous people have mental disorders, many suffering from OCD, from mild to extreme cases. Can you imagine how difficult dealing with this kind of disorder would be in your life, imagine if you had people shoving cameras in your face daily. So maybe fame and fortune is not always happiness. 

There are many Hollywood stars who suffer from OCD, surprisingly several being extreme cases.

David Beckam is very obsessive compulsive. He obsesses in making his life perfect, from his soccer career to his family to the organization of his home. He must have everything in pairs. If there are three plates sitting in a stack one must be removed or one added.  Another aspect of his OCD is his obsession with cleanliness and germs.

Carmen Diaz is another star that suffers from this. She is obsessive compulsive about germs. She has openly talked about her disorder and admitted to rubbing doorknobs so hard while cleaning them that she has rubbed the paint off before. She went on to say that she washes her hands “many many times” a day and tries to push public doors open with her elbow. She believes though that she is making peace inside and slowly over coming her OCD.

Many other celebrities are rumored to suffer from this disorder ranging from funny man Charlie Sheen to Donald Trump. Maybe their OCD helped them achieve their Hollywood dreams; maybe it wears them down at night. In the end though, they are just common people who suffer from the same things us “common people” do. We just tend to look at the glitz and glamour of their lives and not think about all they deal with before they step out from behind closed doors every morning.

The history of the high heel dates back to 3500 B.C, in Egypt when upper class men and women would wear leather pieces designed in the shape of the symbol “Ankh.” The lower class wore no shoes, they were easily distinguised by their barefeet. Butcher’s in the Egyptian culture also wore high heels are work, to stand above the blood at the shop.

Example of the Ankh Symbol

The next time period we can date high heels back to is the Acient Rome and Greek Period. This culture wore platform sandals called kothorni. The soles and heels of these shoes were made of cork or wood.  These shoes trangressed into the Renassiance period but the named was changed to  buskins.  The height of the shoe varied by social class. The higher class from which you came the higher your heel was. These shoes were also used by actors, and the height was based on the importance of the character. The most important having the highest heel and the least important having the shortest heel.

example of a "kothorni" heel earlier known as "Buskins'

The high heel under went a major change during the middle ages. The heels were still wooden but the high heel shoes was now called pattens. These heels were removable from your shoe. The men and women only attached the heel to go outside to prevent their expensive shoes from getting ruined.

example of a patten heel

In the 1440′s high heels became known then as chopines, and originated in Turkey. These shoes’ heels ranged from seven inches to thirty inches. Some of the taller heels required the ladies to have servants to help them walk. Like the pattens though these heels were removable, but unlike the pattens these heels were only worn by women. These shoes were extremly popular in Europe until about the start of the mid-1600′s.

Example of a Chopine Heel

By the end of the 1600′s heels were popular in many areas of the world. In most counties they were a symbol of wealth.

As the popularity of heels continued to rise, the heel finally became an attached part of the shoe in the 1500′s, and no longer just an overshoe. These orginal one piece high heel shoes though were designed for horse riders, the heel was approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches in height, and was used to prevent the rider’s feet from falling from the struips. These shoes were made especially for the Knights of Richard the Lionhearted These heels much resembled to heels of cowboys boots in todays culture.

These cowboy boots worn today started with Richard the Lionhearted Rider's boots

Near the end of the 1500′s Catherine de Medici made the first set of heels that were more fashionable than functional. These heels though were straight shoes and either shoe could be worn on the left of right foot, and the right and left shoes would not return in the shoe industry until the 1800′s.

Catherine de Medicis

Catherine de Medici was not quiet five feet tall and was not very attractive but was engaged to the powerful Duke of Orleans, and later the King of France. She invented the high heel out of insecuities of the much taller mistress of her fiance. Miss Diane de Poitier was the mistress, and was much taller than Catherine. Once Catherine invented the high heel though she had an elegant sway to her walk and a taller physique. Catherines heel’s were a major success and were soon worn by all who had authority and wealth, male and female alike. ”Bloody Mary” (Mary Tudor)  was one of the monarchs would wore high heels very often because of being so vertically challenged.

Mary Tudor "Bloody Mary"

Then along came France’s King Louis XIV, in the early 1700′s. He invented yet another type of heel that stood as tall as five inches from the ground, but came with many rules. Some of the “Louis Heels” rules were that nobody could have heels taller than his and that only nobility could wear red heels. These heels though are were the heel worn today started.

Notice his red heel. King Louis XVI

During the 1700′s heels really started to become popular amoung all people. The sculpted body appearance heels provide was starting to be noticed. Women also started taping their feet to hide their feet size. Mainly though  heels were starting to be looked at as a sign of sexuality. They were such a sign of sexuality that they were outlawed in the The Massachusetts Colony, by the Puritains of the New World. Breaking this law, would result in a witch trail. The Americas did not catch onto the European style until the mid to late 1800′s.

Around 1791 the “Louis heel” disappeared when Napoleon came to rule, and banished the high heel, by the Napoleonic Code. He felt that outlawing them would show equality. The heel of shoes now starts to lower world wide to a wedge and then smaller, the four types of heels that survive this time period are:  the knock-on, stacked, spring, and the re-emergence of the “Louis heel.” During this period though the shoes started having a left shoes and a right shoe again, straight shoes would soon be a thing of the past.

Today's version of the "wedge heel"

High heels made there official comeback in the 1860′s, along with the invention of the sewing machines. High heels were now approximately five to six inches high and were thought to flaunt the arch of your foot. A high arch was associated with wealth and with a European background while a low arch normally meant you had an African American background. During this period high heels were also thought to be good for your health, they were supposed to make backaches less painful and make walking easier. High heels were now highly assocaited with sexuality and they started getting a bad repetation but this did not stop most women for wearing them, for America opened its first high heel factory in 1888.

During the start of the twentith century high heels become much less popular and comfortable flat sole shoes were the rage until the roaring twenties. During the roaring twenties ladies skirts became shorter, and heels made a came back.Then during the depression the heels of ladies shoes became wider and lower, and heels stayed this short and wide until the start of the 1950′s. Christain Dior then comes on the scene and is the first big high heel designer along with shoe designer Roger Vivier. The heels of his shoes were tall and skinny, and were a sign of sexual maturation. These heels eventually became known as stellitos. Heels were often ban in some public building because of damage they would do to the floor.

Christian Dior Shoes used in the feature film sex in the city

The creation of the mini skirt, cause the popularity of high heels to rise again, but fall soon after victim to the Femist movement. Then in the 1970′s platform shoes were the hot item to have and by the 1980′s heels were on the rise again as the feminest movement was losing ground. From the 1980′ til now, heels still stand for sexuality to most, but there are many versions of high heels now. Taller than ever heels, short and wide heels, there are heels to fit any ladies needs. High heels are now more of a personal choice, if you want the sexuality or not, for flats, heels and everything in between are seen on the streets, on the catwalk and in the office.

Dreaming

Sigmund Freud is probably the most known person that studied dreams.  He wrote The Interpretation of Dreams in 1899 which he proposed that the unconscious did exist and that dreams were the key to finding it.  His theory was that people tried to bury painful memories in their unconscious minds that came out in their dreams.  He thought that this is why we do not remember dreams because we block them out when we wake up.

Sigmund Freud

Some interesting interpretations have been made on dreams.  One that dreams on naked people are said to be hiding something and are not prepared  and being naked exposes you.  If you dream you are falling this is to show anxiety and insecurities. This means that something in your life is out of control.  Flying means exactly opposite.  This means that you are in control and life is going smoothly and you are on top of it.  The list goes on and on and is very interesting.  Some people dream often while others very seldom dream.  It has been studied that within five minutes of waking we have forgotten fifty percent of our dream and by ten minutes ninety percent is gone.  Is Freud’s theory correct?  Do we really push bad memories away.  There are ways that we can learn to remember our dreams.  The question is do we really want to.

Book all about dreams.

Sources:

science.howstuffworks.com/dream.htm -

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream

Russell Crowe portraying John Forbes Nash

Madness is a very common trait found with the disease,paranoid schizophrenia.  If a person is diagnosed with the disease and will take the medication prescribed by a physician the symptoms can be supressed.  The problem with the disease is that that the person suffering from this does not feel that he or she is any different than anyone else and feels that everyone is against them.  John Nash never overcame the voices and presence of three people that spoke with him daily, but never actually ever existed.  The presence of the voices are so real that sometimes a person involved with the schizophrenic start to believe they are real.

A very good description of Madness.

There is a definite link between schizophrenia and very high intelligence.  In fact, Einstein’s son was diagnosed with this disease.  There is often a scientific puzzle waiting to be solved. The many writings of famous people may or may not have been what they were actually experiencing within their daily lives, but were so bazaar that were taken as fictional writings.

Different stages of the brain with Schizophrenia.

 Paranoid schizophrenia is a very interesting disease. In the movie A Beautiful Mind, the voices and illusions were so real that you believed they were really there.  This is a terrible disease to overcome because they do not feel that they have a problem.  Nash did a great job trying to ignore the voices in order to live a normal life. 

Sources:

http://www.angelhaunt.net/schizophrenia/sandhn16.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Mind_(film

old fashion corset.

Women are no longer searching for an eighteen inch waist but prefer for no one to see any flab, pooch, or roll at any cost. Several years ago now, a recent law school graduate, who failed the bar exam named Sara Blakely accidently created a new undergarment out of her dismay for the uncomfortable nature of thongs, and a pair of white pants one morning. During this faitful morning she cut the bottoms out of a pair of stockings, and then began to think about how there was no “magic undergarment” for women to help shape and magically disappear under their clothing.

the master mind behind today's secret undergarment:)

Sara started her business with 5,000 dollars to her name, a small apartment, a full time job, and doing stand up comedy, at night. At first she only saw cold phone calls and her own personal patent writing for she could not afford a patent lawyer. She eventually reached a point in her patent proceedings though that she needed a patent lawyer. She found one, at a discount rate for her patent was already written. After a few more cold phone calls she got not only her foot, but her spanx into a company, and in no time her product was a Newman Marcus.

She always relied on public relations, and not advertising. She convinced all her friends to go buy her product and make a big deal while doing so. Her business was off to a swift start.

These underwear would only be the start of a whole undergarment brand and an eventual must have among the general public and celebrities alike.  The line has now expanded to bras, bodyshaping camis, panties, hosiry, leggings, even body shaping clothing pieces, such as cropped pants, and fitted tops. The line features a light compression fabric that, flattens fat. Some suggest buying your spanx a size smaller than you normally would, for the most “compression.”

So how did Sara Blakely get her big break? Some credit Oprah, but in reality it was nothing more than long hours of public relations.

Celebrities have openly talked about the “spanx miracle.” Tyra Banks once showed her spanx on her talk show. She compresses her booty and thighs.  Spanx has even made it into the Good Housekeeping magizine. So spanx reaches all groups of women.

even super models wear spanx

In short, I would call the invention of spanx amazing. No one faints, your ribs stay in place, and so do your intestines. Spanx allows women to not obsess over their bodies, and still have the fabulous figure theuy desire for that night on the town, or a big corperate business meeting.

Fortunato chained to the wall in "The Cask of Amontillado."

Back in the 1600′s and 1700′s this was a very common thing to happen.  The doctor’s then had very little training and would mistake people for dead.  Witchcraft was used by giving potions and using spells and people were often buried alive.  There  were many fatal diseases that spread such as the plague.  The doctors made very hasty decisions to try and not infect others with the disease.

All I desire for my own burial is not to be buried alive.” - Lord Chesterfield, 1769

Many different cultures began to come up with ways to prevent these premature burials.  The Romans used a method called Conclamatio.  A male family member would yell out the persons name. If the person did not respond the body was washed with warm water and then placed in the coffin.  The Greek washed the body with warm water and then placed them in the casket.  The casket was left open until the ceremony in case the person was not dead.   The Hebrews do not embalb the body and still do not.  They use the wake method where they kept the coffin open for several days and watched the body to see if there were any signs of decomposition.  Most cultures today use the wake method which is called the viewing to prevent this from happening.

Evidence dug up in Italy.

There are many tales of graves being uncovered and coffins opened with scratch marks on the top.  There are tons of tales that you can read about to say that this really happens.  A story from 1994 states that an 86 year old lady spent 90 minutes in a body bag before someone at the morgue discovered the bag was moving.  Today premature burials are almost impossible.  If a person is not dead they will be when they are embalmed. Although,  embalming is not mandatory in the United States.    So be sure to tell someone in charge of your funeral arrangements to make sure to perform some type of test to be sure you are dead before being buried!

Escaping from the coffin.

Sources:

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The Cast of Amontillado

http://hubpages.com/hub/Buried- Alive

Vincent van Gogh, Ludwig von Beethoven, or Emily Dickinson?

I bet you never thought that these talented, respected people in the artist industry would have something wrong with them.  You guessed it, they have manic depression disorder.

comic of tourists looking a van gough's paintings during his manic depression period

The mood balance of Bipolar Disorder

Manic Depression, also called bipolar disorder, is an illness that is characterized by changes in mood, thought, energy, and behavior.  This illness is known to be manic depression because people that suffer from it can fluctuate from extreme, manic happiness to suicidal depression.  There are two different stages to this disorder that are very different.  When a person is in the manic stage,  he or she will have increased physical and mental activity, as well as increased irritiability and aggressive behavior.  When a person is in the depressive stage, he or she will have extended sadness and loss of energy, as well as feelings of guilt and worthlessness.

A guy getting on the manic depression elevator. Will he go up to manic or down to depression?

So what does manic depression have to do with creativity?  Although the symptoms stated above are the symptoms most people go through, creative people experience another type of symptom.  The symptom that distinguishes a creative person from a regular person is hypomania.  This symptom improves the mood, increases self-esteem, decreases need for sleep, sharpens creative thinking, and increases productivity.   Hypomania increases how often creative ideas come in the mind that are directly related to creative achievement. 

The levels of Manic Depression disorder

There have been many test done on manic depression sufferers to justify the assuption that being manic depressive makes you more creative.  In the 1970 s, Professor Nancy Andreasen at the University of Iowa conducted the first test in the relationship between creativity and mood disorders.  From her studies to the past twenty years it has been determined that the manic depression illness is 10-20% higher in artists than in regular people.  These studies have also found that manic depression can be genetic.   Manic Depression may be an illness, but to me it is a link to the creative genius works of today. 

A self portrait of Vincent van Gogh when he cut off part of his ear during one of his manic depression episodes

Looking at Vincent van Gogh’s breathtaking paintings, Emily Dickinson’s spiritual poems, and listening to Drew Carey’s hilarious performances, shows me that manic depression is not just an illness but an asset.

Manic Depression cartoon

 Sources:

The Phul worn on the left side of the nose.

The Hindu women usually have their noses pierced at the age of sixteen which is what is considered to be the age to marry.  The piercings honor the goddess of marriage, known as Parvathi.  The day of the wedding the nath is worn with a chain connecting it to the hair or ear. The wedding night the groom removes the nath to show a sign of the ending of virginity. In the past, it was  said that a  single or widowed woman could not wear the nath. Today in India many young girls wear the piercings as a fashion statement, and these nose rings do not have any religious or traditional significance.

The Nath as worn in India.

The nose ring has become a very fashionable trend among many of our famous people in our country.  Janet Jackson made the Nath very popular in the 1980′s.  Today, stars such as Christina Aguilera, Pink and Madonna all have nose piercings. This trend is becoming very popular to our younger generation as well.

Christina Aguilera wearing a Phul.

Sources:

http://www.indiamarks.com/guide/Nose-Rings…not-just-a-Fashion-Statement-in-India/1589

http://www.tribuneindia.com

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2008/07/anyone-need-a-g.html

Chinese writing that means seventh evening or Chinese valentine's day

The Chinese Valentine’s Day falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese Calender.  That 7th day is called Qi Qiao Jie.

The Chinese Valentine’s Day Dates from the past years and for future years.

Zhi Nu and Niu Lang

The people of China believe that the Vega, the star east of the Milky Way, is where Zhi Nu is, and at the constellation of Aquila, the star west of the Milky Way, Niu Lang waits for his wife Zhi Nu.  Zhi Nu was the youngest of the seven daughters of the Queen of Heaven.  Accourding to the legend Zhi Nu wove beautiful clouds in the ski as Niu Lang was a poor orphan that herded cows.  Niu Lang went to the riverside one evening where Zhi Nu and her sisters were bathing.  Niu Lang stole Zhi Nu’s dress and her sister fairies had to fly off without her because she had no clothes.  After the others had left Niu Lang came out of hiding and asked Zhi Nu to be with him.  They were married and had two children.  A couple of days passed in heaven, which is a couple years on Earth,  before the Queen of Heaven realized that Zhi Nu was gone.  The Queen had Zhi Nu and the children brought back to heaven and when Niu Lang came to get them the Queen pulled out one of her hairpins and drew a line between them.  The line became known as the Milky Way.  It is known as the Silver River in Heaven.  Zhi Nu went on making her clouds but was so sad that the clouds became sad.  Eventually the Queen of Heaven let the couple meet at the Silver River once a year.

The couple could only meet once a year at The Silver River or The Milky Way

Unlike Valentine’s Day in American culture the Chinese women prepare fruits, melons, and incense to give to Zhi Nu.  As they give these offerings to Zhi Nu they pray for skills in needlecraft and finding great husbands.  Chinese people have a lot of respect for the stars.  There are a lot of festivals and ceremonial gatherings that happen on the Chinese Valentine’s Day.

Newlyweds in traditional costumes celebrating Qi Qiao Jie

I have always thought that Valentine’s Day is a day to show the one you love affection and kindness.  This story makes me appreciate Valentine’s Day and the one I love even more.  This story makes you appreciate life and the loved ones that surround you.  The respect in the Chinese culture is admirable.

Sources:

http://www.herongyang.com/chinese/festivals/chinese_valentine.html 

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/foodfestivals/a/chinavalentine.htm

These women are covered from head to toe in a burka

This is a traditional hijab

A hijab is a covering that covers the top of the head and under the chin, but a burka is a covering that covers the head, face, and body.  Both are worn by women in Islamic culture.  For example, in Iran women are obligated cover their entire body to hide their figures.  This act of covering ones body out of female modesty comes from the Hadith of Sahih Bukhari, which says, “I wish you ordered your wives to cover themselves from the men because good and bad ones talk to them” (Bukhari, v1, bk 8, sunnah 395).

Women in Islamic cultures have different views on the hijab and burka.  Some believe the coverings are used to give liberty to women in a world that objectifies women.  Others feel that the coverings allows them to control their body.  A lot of people think that women do not have rights in the Islamic culture, but this is a misconception.  Islams believe that women are free to be whom they are on the inside, but protected from being lust after. 

A muslim woman covered in a burka

I believe the misconception of the coverings in the Islamic culture is because Americans do not understand it.  The Islamic people have different views and ideas than Americans have.  The American public should respect the Islamic culture.  Most of the women in this culture do not have a problem covering themselves.  It is reassuring to see that the coverings that are in the Islamic Culture are for the betterment of women instead of male sexism.

Sources:

http://www.hilalplaza.com/Media_Hijab_Portrayal.html

http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Veil.html

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/islamicdress/Islamic_Womens_Dress.htm