Which Came First - The Chicken or the Egg?

It's a question that has perplexed humanity from as early as the ancient Greeks all the way to the 21st Century, and we're still dyeing to know; Which came first – the chicken or the egg?

The question would be simple if you took it literally, egg laying animals existed long before the chicken came about, so technically the egg came before the chicken. But this question, better worded as the chicken or the chicken egg, focuses more on the cause and consequence. That is, if a chicken came from an egg, where did the egg come from? Another chicken presumably, which too must have come from an egg. So which came first?

Team Chicken


Research suggests that the protein essential for the formation of chicken eggs, called OV – 17, is only found in chicken ovaries, without it the chicken egg shell could not be formed. So without a chicken you technically can't get a chicken egg. But this all depends on the nature and definition of a chicken egg in the first place. After all, is a chicken egg an egg laid by a chicken or one that simply contains a chicken? Obviously the
 OV – 17 containing chicken had to come from somewhere, but if an elephant laid an egg from which a lion hatched would be an elephant egg or a lion egg?

This leads to the other side of the story.

Team Egg


During reproduction to organisms pass on their genetic information in the form of DNA, but the replication of this DNA is never 100% accurate and often produces minor changes for the new organism. These minor mutations in DNA over thousands of generations create new species. Mutations influence speciation. But these genetic mutation must occur in the zygote or initial cell.  So a creature very similar to a chicken, which we will call the proto – chicken, would have made it with another proto – chicken, and because of a small genetic mutation would have created the first chicken which grew in an egg. So the egg came first?

Well team chicken might argue …. that this was a chicken growing inside of a proto-chicken egg.


However no one mutation can ever really constitute a new species. Even though we humans like to classify all creatures into different groups and names ( domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species etc.), but this is based on how things currently are and not how they were millions on years ago. The process of evolution is so gradual that no one proto – chicken to chicken birth could really be considered a new species at the time.


Much like how dogs have come from wolves. As humans began to interact with and domesticate wolves there was no one single point where a wolf gave birth to a dog. Rather, as particular traits came about from selective pressures, such as choosing wolves who were not afraid of hums or choosing ones that were less aggressive. Over many generations we can see big genetic and behavioral trait differences. So where does this leave us?

The Two Scenarios


Some early egg laying species gradually led to the creation of the proto – chicken which laid proto – chicken eggs. In one of these eggs there was a mutation causing a slight change and selective advantage and this was ultimately the chicken which then went on to lay chicken eggs. In this case the chicken technically came first.

or...


We have a proto – chicken that gave birth to a chicken in what we classify as a chicken egg and as such, the egg came first.


Which brings us back to the nomenclature and the question of what is a chicken egg, which is a fairly meaningless question. But at the end of the day what we can all agree on is that regardless of whether it was a chicken egg or a proto – chicken egg, the first true chicken came from and egg.

So in the question of which came first – the chicken or the egg? 

The Egg Came First.

For my next blog I'm going to explain the science of heartbreak and some helpful tips on how to start over!

Thank you xoxo

And for more interesting science info - check out AsapSCIENCE on youtube. 

My Top 10 Tips To Be Happy

1. A goal without a plan is just a wish. Make sure you know what kind of person you want to be and what kind of career/life you would like to lead.  Then, re-focus your short term goals so that your life takes you towards that direction.  To help me I use mood boards and vision boards to help me keep my eyes on the prize.
   
2. Be kind to yourself, because even the best of us mess up sometimes. When it finally happens, and you finally catch on, drop the ego, admit your mistake fully and make amends.  Learn from it so you don't have to go through the lesson again later on.  Then forgive yourself and move on. Life is hard and we are not made to be perfect.
   Also, listen to your body.  If you are exhausted ....sleep!  If you are hungry .... EAT!
   
3. Life is better when you're laughing, because laughing can get you through ANYTHING!  I was never a fan a comedies until I went through some heartbreaking, rough times, and they were life savers.  Plus laughter is so healthy for your body.
   
4. Cherish good friends.  I have had, lost, and still have, a few friends who know me and love me

   

   Good friends are invaluable

   unconditionally.  This is and invaluable life lesson;  make and keep good friends and always be loyaland honest with them.  They can be like your umbrella in stormy times. ^.^
   
5. Your mistakes do not define you.  It is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. Think and analyze your decisions in carefully, and once you feel reasonably sure you have a good choice, just trust yourself.  Be bold and go forth into the wilderness.  Whatever happens you will have gained and experience that only the courageous can boast of.
   Mistakes allow us to grow so much in our lives and careers because it's the best way to learn.
   
6. Be devoted to the moment.  This present moment of your life is alive and full of potential.  Learning to be mindful has helped me tremendously by keeping me in life, as it happens.
   Whether you are playing, sleeping, working, lounging, exercising, learning or around the people you love devote 100% of that moment of your life to it.
   Putting yourself whole-hearted into each moment you have can change the way you relate to life.
   
7. Before go to bed every night forgive everyone and sleep with a clean heart.  Hatred is poison

   

   Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong

   and it creates illness and a sad life. Let go of old feelings and and try not to judge others, because we all have our own lessons on this journey through life. Sometimes people fall down and make poor decisions and that's okay. :) Instead of judging the people who do wrong by you, send them your love and forgive them, distance yourself, but do not judge.
   "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong." - Gandhi
   
8. Know your own strength.  You are unique, there is now, ever has been and ever will be only one of you in the whole universe.  No one else has your strange and magical mix of genes and experience. Learn what make you tick and keep building on that.
   Be true to yourself and you will make wonderful thing happen.
   
9. Take charge of your own life, this is the beginning of self-esteem.  Although sh*t happens, ultimately you are solely responsible for your own actions. When we deeply understand this to be true, life takes on a whole new meaning. Whatever has happened until the past moment is gone forever, this present moment is again yours and you have the power to do whatever you want with it.
   
10. Death is what makes life real.  In the words of Steve Jobs; " Remembering that you are going to
    die is the best way I know of avoiding the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."
    Death can come at any moment for any of us, so we don't have forever to be who we are. In fact, we owe to ourselves and those who love us to be truly alive and authentic in each moment we have been gifted with our lifetime. It is the only legacy we can be proud to leave behind.

Dare to live; your dreams are counting on you!

Thank you for reading! ^.^ xoxo

Girl Crush Of The Month: Hayley Williams

First and foremost, I would like to start off by apologizing to the people who have been reading my blog for not being very consistent with my posts :( I've been working a lot, completing course work and just been distracted. I promise to begin posting more regularly, okay? .. Okay! ;)

I will  that Hayley Williams is a person I have admired since the age of 12 or 13 when she and her band Paramore first released their debut album "All We Know Is Falling" in July of 2005.     

Now today I still admire her, for her talent, funky songs and sounds and her epic hair and fashion! I definitely have a majorly big case of girl crush for Hayley!

Photo shoot for Nylon Magazine

She was born in on December 27th of 1988 in Meridian, Mississippi. In 2002, age 13, Williams moved from her hometown Meridian, Mississippi, to Franklin, Tennessee, where she met fellow band members Josh and Zac Farro in school. Shortly after arriving, she began taking vocal lessons with Brett Manning. Paramore continues to endorse Brett Manning today. 

While still in school, she tried out for a local funk cover band called The Factory, where she met bassist Jeremy Davis. Williams introduced the boys together, and Paramore began. In 2005, John Janick, founder of record label Fueled by Ramen, signed a contract with them.






In the 2007, Kerrang! Readers' Poll she finished second to Evanescence's Amy Lee in the "Sexiest Female" category, going on to win the first place spot for "Sexiest Female" a year later in the 2008 poll. She also appears as a playable character in the video game Guitar Hero World Tour. 

Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert

In the September 2009 issue of Alternative Press, Williams and Paramore guitarist Josh Farro confirmed they had been dating for nearly three years before splitting in the fall of 2007. "We didn't know if it would look bad," says Williams. "We were so young, and it seemed like it would look like a big joke," Their relationship was later confirmed again by Josh Farro in his "Exit Statement."

Williams is now openly dating New Found Glory guitarist, and former Shai Hulud singer, the incredibly hunky Chad Gilbert. 

Her style can be described as very unique, most definitely one of a kind. She won the Premio Fashionista award in 2009 from Latin America's MTV Awards, NME's Award for Sexiest female in 2009, Kerrang! Sexiest female in both 2008 and 2009 as well as Spin Magazines reader's poll for Sex Goddess of the year, also in 2009. 

Hayley Williams in collaberation with Mac Cosmetics

Last Year she also releaseda 4- piece collection with Mac Cosmetics which featured shockingly vibrant oranges. She stated "I didn't wear make up at all. Photographers would beg me to put on chapstick and I'd say no. I went to a store and picked up an orange eyeshadow by MAC, and that was the beginning of the end" .

You can follow Hayley on Twitter @yelyahwilliams or on Instagram @yelyahwilliams

If you're a big fan like me don't forget to keep up to date on all things Paramore on Paramore.net

Also be sure to check out Zedd's new single ft. Hayley Williams, Stay The Night

THANK YOU FOR READING, HOPE YOU ENJOYED! XOXO

  

The Classic Art of Tea: Some interesting facts for tea drinkers.

There are lots of big fans of tea drinking. Not only just normal tea with milk and sugar, people love tasting all kinds of teas; green teas, flower tea's, fruit tea, herbal tea and so on and so forth. Today I went to a small Chinese grocery store near were I live and spent a whole load of time choosing some different types of teas

Basically I  love tea, and I know I have left it a while since my last blog because I've been working on something really interesting which is taking longer that I thought. So in the mean time I thought I would write out some interesting info about one of my favorite things; Tea! ^.^

In "The Art Of Tea Drinking", Olivia Yang opens with the words; "The Chinese People are without a doubt the ones who best understand the nature of tea". It's very difficult to exaggerate the importance of tea in Chinese culture. At various points throughout history, China's national drink (that's tea) has been designated as the state currency and used instead of cash.

The Origins of Tea

Emperor Chen Nung

While references to tea in Chinese literature go back approximately 5,000 years, the origins of tea's use as a beverage is unclear. Ancient folklore places the creation of the brew at 2737BC, when a camellia flower drifted into the cup of Emperor Chen Nung's boiled drinking water. However most scholars credit a reference found in Erh Ya, an ancient Chinese dictionary, dated about 350BC. 

Originally tea was valued for its medicinal qualities. It has long been known that tea aids digestion, which is why many Chinese people prefer to consume tea after their meal. Another interesting side effect for smokers is that tea hastens the discharge of nicotine from the body. The elevation of tea drinking to an art form began in the 8th Century, with the publication of Lu Yu's "The Classic Art of Tea". The highly esteemed poet and former Buddhist priest had strict notions about the proper procedure for brewing, steeping and serving tea. For example, only water from a slow moving stream was acceptable and the tea leaves had to be placed in a porcelain cup. The perfect milieu for enjoying the finished product was in a pavilion next to a water lily pond in the company of a desirable woman. To be fair, this guy's work also contained several practical tips for manufacturing tea, many of which are still used today! 

A statue of Lu Yu, who lived in China during the 8th Century

In the centuries following the publications of Yu's work, tea's popularity spread rapidly throughout China. Not only did tea drinking become a fitting subject for book and poems; Emperors bestowed gifts of tea worldwide to grateful recipients. Later, teahouses began dotting the landscape. While the Chinese haven't developed a ritualistic ceremony surrounding tea-drinking resembling the Japanese tea ceremony, they have a healthy respect for its role in their daily lives. 

Types of Tea

One plant, many different types of tea.

Lots of tea aficionados are surprised to learn that all tea comes from the same source; the Camilla Sinensis Bush. While there are indeed hundreds of different varieties of Chinese Teas, most fall into four basic categories. Reputed to provide the most health benefits, White Tea is made from immature tea leaves that are picked shortly before the buds have fully opened. Green Teas are not fermented during processing, and thus retain the original color of the tea leaves. The most famous green tea is the expensive Dragon Well tea, grown in the hillsides of Hanghou. Also know as red tea, Black Teas are made from fermented leaves, which accounts for its darker color. Popular varieties of black tea include Bo Lei, a Cantonese tea often drank with dim sum - and luk on, a much milder tea favored by the elderly. Finally Oolong Tea is partially fermented, resulting in black - green tea. Examples of Oolong tea include Soi Sin, a bitter tasting tea brewed in the Fukien province. 

There is also a fifth category known as "Scented Tea" made by mixing various flowers and petals with green of Oolong teas. The best known among these is Jasmine tea. White tea that's made with unripened tea leaves that are still covered with a downy, silvery fuzz, is becoming quite popular also. 

While most of us have neither a pavilion or a lily pond conveniently situated in our back garden, we can still indulge our penchant for this centuries old beverage. With a little practice it's easy to brew the perfect cup of tea. Budding fortune-tellers who eschew tea bags can hone their skills in the art of tasseomancy (reading tea leaves). 

Tasseomancy

The art of reading tea leaves is referred to as Tasseography (or Tasseomancy) and is a divination or fortune-telling method that in western tradition interprets patterns in tea leaves. The term also refers to the reading of coffee grounds. The term derives from the French word tasse (cup), which in turn derives from the Arabic tassa (cup). Tasseography, otherwise known as tasseomancy or tassology, is the art of tea leaf reading. "Tasse" or "tass" is an Arab root, meaning small cup or goblet.

Tea leaf reading is an ancient practice.

The beverage, Tea, is linked with the herbology part of alternative healing. People who seek answers through various forms of divination, such as tea leaf readings, are often healing their issues.

Tea leaf reading is an ancient practice interpreting patterns made by tea leaves in the cup. Although tasseography is commonly associated with Gypsy fortunetellers, the tradition of tea leaf reading arises independently from Asia, the Middle East and Ancient Greece.

Modern tasseography has also been associated with the Scottish, Irish and cultures throughout Eastern Europe.

Girl Crush Of The Month: Helena Bonham Carter

Helana Bonham Carter (born 26th of 1966) is a very talented English actress. She made her TV debut in show called a pattern of Roses before winning her star role of The Lady Jane. She is known best for her roles in Harry Potter, Fight Club, Mary Shelly's Frankenstien, Planet of The Apes, Big Fish, Sweeny Todd, Les Miserable, Big Fish, Corpse Bride and The King's Speech. A  two-time Academy Award  nominee for her performances in The Wings Of The Dove and The King's Speech, Bonham Carter's acting has been further recognized with six Golden Globe nominations, an International Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She was made a Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire in the 2012 New Year honors list for services to drama, and received the honor from the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 22 February 2012. 

In 2001, Bonham Carter began her relationship with director Tim Burton, whom she met while filming Planet of The Apes. Burton has taken to casting her in his films, including Big Fish, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland, and Dark Shadows. They live in two adjoining houses in Belsize Park, London.

Their son Billy Raymond was on the 4th Of October 2003. And their daughter Nell Burton was born in Central London on the 15th of December 2007. 

In August 2008, four of her relatives were killed in a safari bus crash in South Africa and she was given indefinite leave from filing Terminator Salvation, returning later to complete filming. 

In early October of 2008, it was reported that Helena had become a patron of the charity Action Duchenne,  the national charity established to support parents and sufferers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy..

She is also know for her unconventional style which has been described as "Shabby Chic"  , but despite her unconventional fashion choices Vanity Fair magazine named her on it's Best Dressed in 2010. She was selected by Marc Jacobs as the face for his Fall/Winter collection advertising campaign in 2011. She has cited Vivienne Westood and Marie Antoinette as her main style influences. 

I personally love her! I think she is an amazing actress and an incredibly talented and creative artist. A new American Western film, directed by Guy Verbinski. The Lone Ranger features Helena as the character Red Harrington, an ivory legged brothel madame who assists John Reid ( Armie Hammer) and Tonto (Johnny Depp) in their adventures! Make sure you check it out because I can't wait to get my eye balls on this movie! 

Helena on the cover on this years July Edition of Vogue Magazine!

Thank you for reading xoxo

YouTube Beauty Blogger Michelle Phan Launching Her Own Line of Cosmetics

Michelle Phan,  YouTube makeup artist extraordinaire, has just released her first cosmetics collection. 

According to Allure, Phan’s line ‘em’ (a Vietnamese term of affection meaning “you”) is backed by L’Oreal and features a dizzying 250 products, including eye shadow, blush, lipstick, bronzer and more. To simplify things even further (isn’t that what Youtube beauty tutorials are all about?), em offers six comprehensive ‘Life Palettes,’ each of which contains 24 eye shadows, four blushes, and eight lip colors to use for day, night, work, play, etc. etc.

And Phan didn’t skimp on packaging, either. User friendly innovations–like easily swappable eye shadow pots and loose powder held safe by a screen, as well as some of the shades’ names–were inspired by comments from her zillions of fans on YouTube and Facebook.

For a peek at em–and the inspiration behind it (hint: it’s you!), watch Phan’s video preview below. According to her Facebook, she’ll be releasing more info tonight on her Youtube Channel..

Cheaper than the High Street - Finding Makeup Cheaper Online

 

 When in comes to makeup shopping I do enjoy looking on the high street in places such as Boots & Superdrug however in the back of my mind I always know which products & brands I will be able to find much cheaper online.

So I thought I would share with you my favourite websites that I know I can rely on and products that I will always be able to find online with free P&P and a good discount.

  

Just to give you an example of how much you can save I took all the products above and worked out if you purchased then all online instead of in Boots you would save a huge £28!

Amazon 

Amazon is now much more than a website to purchase books and dvds from, it sells everything you can imagine and is particularly good for cosmetics at a discount that are direct from the brand itself and shipped through Amazon - so a safer way to shop. I actually love Amazon as much as I love eBay now as you can find such bargain and I even think it's easier to browse.

Current bargains - Maybelline Volum' One by One Mascara £2.99 , Bourjois Bronzing Powder £4.66 , Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo Fibre Collection £17.99 .

 

Fragrance Direct 

Oh, how I love Fragrance Direct! For the past two years I have been placing quite frequent orders and have yet to be disappointed in the products I have picked. This really is the ultimate discount website with Essie, OPI and Sally Hansen nail polishes and makeup brands such as Bourjois, Revlon, Rimel L'Oreal etc. You can save so much with this website and I often spend £15-30 and receive so much compared to if I shoped in Superdrug or Boots and spent the same.

Current bargains - OPI Nail Polishes £3.99 , Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure £1.49 , Essie Nail Polishes £1.99  (all updated often). Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick £1.99 , Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss £1.99 , Maybelline Fit Me Foundation £4.50 . 

eBay

Buying makeup from eBay can be a tricky thing as there are so many counterfeit products. So I would suggest to stay away from all Benefit and MAC products and look at what else the seller is selling (to spot any products you haven't seen that specific brand do before - a warning sign the seller is selling fake products). However you generally don't need to worry at all if the products are from high street brands such as Rimmel, L'Oreal, Maybeline, Revlon etc. But it you want to be totally sure then go for eBay sellers that also have makeup websites such as Direct Cosmetics. 

Current bargains - Maybelline Color Tattoo in Eternal Gold £3.50  Metallic Pomegrante £3.84 (soooo want this shade for Autumn!), Essie Mini Duo £3.64 , Makeup Blender Sponge 99p, Bourjois Little Pot Eyeshadows £2.45 .

 

Cheap Smells

Last but not least a trusty website that you can pick up some good bargain from especially hair care products (I've purchased a few Tigi shampoos and a Macadamia Mask for such low prices in the past). Also this has the added benefit of free delivery. I don't seem to use this website as often now as I prefer Fragrance Direct. However when re-purchasing hair products this is always my first call. Also they are good for gift sets. 

Current bargains - Model Co Smokey Eyes Set £8.95 , L'Oreal Glam Shine Fresh Lip Gloss £4.50, Orofluido Beauty Elixir Hair Oil £13.65 

Hopefully some of you have found this helpful if you don't shop online that often. 

Thank you xoxo