iPods and Thunderstorms: a Potentially Electrifying Experience

I remember when cellular phones first came out, talk spread that using it can give you cancer. Something about the signals, I think. Anyways, since I haven't heard anything else since then, the info must have been unfounded and was just one of those things: a rumor.

Recently, warnings about the use of iPods, particularly during thunderstorms, had been circulating. In rainy Manila, they didn't seem to be taken seriously judging by the many peeps still using their iPods despite lightning and heavy downpours. This news article, however, proves that using these handy music gadgets during thunderstorms really is a recipe for disaster.

In Vancouver, a 37-year-old guy was out enjoying his run while listening to some tunes. Unfortunately, he did this during a thunderstorm. Instead of fuelling him with music during his run, his iPod caused him permanent deafness after he was thrown 8 ft after an adjacent tree was struck by lightning.

In Colorado, A 17-year-old guy was being a good kid, mowing the front lawn of his home while listening to Metallica rock on his iPod. It wasn't raining that day. In fact, it was a good day for mowing lawns. But there was a storm off in the distance which means lightning strikes can still occur. Again, a nearby tree was the culprit: it hit him after it was struck by lightning.

Well, you may argue, trees do get struck by lightning. Their iPods may not have anything to do with it. Not exactly. Although there is no hard fact that iPods can attract lightning strikes, both victims' injuries prove that iPods can cause second-degree burns, muscular damages, broken bones and deafness.

Lightning directly striking people are rare. Usually, it jumps from an object (like a tree or signpost) to a person who happens to be nearby. This phenomenon is called side flash, and often people get thrown to a distance leading to further injury. But, because of the high resistance of our skin, flashover often occurs, an effect where lightning is conducted over the outside of the body. However, sweat and the metallic material from your iPod can disrupt the flashover and direct the current straight to your head.

It may look it but this poor kid's injuries are not just external. The burn on his ear and jawline is just part of it. The current caused sudden heating and expanding of air inside his ear which led to increased pressure which, in turn, ruptured his eardrums. It also dislocated tiny bones that are essential in transmitting soundwaves. As if permanent deafness is not enough, the current travelling through his iPod player's wires also caused nasty burns, lining up the side of his torso eventhough the cord was outside of this shirt. His hip also suffered second-degree burns where the iPod had been in a pocket.

I couldn't find a photo of the runner from Vancouver, but the news reported that he suffered worse injuries. Aside from permanent deafness, the current running through the cord of his headphones caused his jaw to break in four places.

Alarming, isn't it? But this article isn't meant to scare you. It's meant to make you aware of the risks of using your beloved iPod (or any MP3, for that matter). So, what to do.

1. Never use your iPod during a thunderstorm.

2. If the rain's pouring down heavily but you don't see any lightning or hear thunder, err on the side of caution and switch your iPod off.

3. Don't forget: lightning strikes can occur even if a storm is miles away. Dark clouds in the distance can tell you if there's a storm further away. Again, better be safe than sorry: switch your iPod off.

4. "When thunder roars, go indoors". A common denominator of iPod-lightning accidents occur outdoors. If you can't live without your tunes then stay indoors during the thunderstorm and listen to them to your heart's content.

5. Lastly, inform people of the hazards of using iPods during thunderstorms. Your warning can save them from permanent scarring, lifelong injuries and a future without music due to deafness.

Be wise. Be safe.


My references:
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/191407 (photos)
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/2/198
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning
This article was written based on research and smarts. Plagiarism is for stupid people.

I am Alma

Names.

They are powerful, aren't they? I am called so many things: some I prefer, others I dislike.

Alma.
Liza.

Almaliza.

Cabel.

Almacabel.

Lizzie.

Apol.

Ms. Cabel.

Ms. C.

They are facets but they are all me. I answer to them all.

I used to hate my name. I got teased for it a lot because a famous namesake is a Pinay actress known for her stupidity. Although I found the jokes quite funny (Ordering a BigMac at Mcdonalds, she was asked "for here?" She answered, "No. For Vandolph.") but I always ended up the butt of it, too.

I think I was in high school when, after admitting my loathing for it, I asked my mom if could change my name. But then she told me, "Don't you know that 'Alma' means 'soul' in Spanish?" That was my redemption. Many years later, my didi in yoga told me that 'Alma' means 'soul' in Sanskrit as well. It helped when I learned of a family myth: my great grandmother may have been Indian, one of many who settled in Ilocos back in the early 1900s. My father's clan can't tell for sure because she was ostracized after her husband died unexpectedly. Defeated, she disappeared, leaving behind her son and the mystery of her roots and mine.

A few years ago, my Hungarian teacher, Lazlo Nemes, asked me if I knew what 'Alma' meant in his mother tongue. Armed with both Spanish and Sanskrit meanings, I bravely said yes. But to my surprise -- and to his amusement -- he said succintly: 'apple'.

From 'soul' to 'apple'. It bothered me at first, but then I realized it wasn't so bad. At the very core of me, my soul. Sometimes, in this confusing, noisy and fast-paced world, I have to dig deep to find solace within myself. So, it's apt. It's all good.

The Thinking Singer: Your Thoracic Diaphragm

Thinking singers, before we move on to the next important step in singing, it is very pertinent that we tackle a certain body part essential in efficient breathing and beautiful singing: the diaphragm.


"Dia--whatta?"

There are several types of diaphragm:

• The Thoracic diaphragm, a shelf of muscle extending between the thorax and abdomen

• The Pelvic diaphragm, consists of the Levator ani and the Coccygeus (fancy names for pelvic muscles)

• The Urogenital diaphragm, a layer of the pelvis separating a certain sac from the upper pelvis

• The iris

• The eardrum

In other words, any dome-shaped dividing structure may be called a diaphragm. Fortunately, thinking singers are concerned only with the thoracic diaphragm which separates the thoracic (with lungs and heart) and abdominal cavity (with the digestive and urogenital systems). Since it's dome-shaped, its convex upper surface forms the floor of the thoracic viscera*, and its concave under surface the roof of the abdominal viscera.

*internal organs :)

"Are we there yet?"

Doubtless if you've had any voice training, you would have heard of the diaphragm. Usually, when asked, people would point to their stomachs when I ask them where the diaphragm is. There had been some instances where my female students would even refer to their pot belly. As you can see in the first illustration, the diaphragm is located under the lungs, extending across the bottom of the ribcage.

"Isn't the diaphragm like the appendix -- just another superfluous body part?"

Nope. Aside from its very important contribution in helping to expel vomit, feces, and urine from our body, it is also essential in efficient breathing: in order to draw air into the lungs, the diaphragm contracts, thus enlarging the thoracic cavity and reducing intra-thoracic pressure. In simpler terms, when we inhale and the diaphragm contracts, it allows more space for our lungs to expand.

This is the tricky part where singers often err. Inappropriate imagery or inadequte explanations cause bad breathing and singing habits. When I was younger, I used to think that when my teacher would say,"Contract your diaphragm", it meant I have to intentionally tighten my abdominal muscles. Wrong. Since the diaphragm is located above the abdominal cavity, tightening the abdomen will not activate it. Just like a rubber band, the "contraction" of this dome-shaped fibrous muscle occurs when it expands. In fact, the outward manisfestation that diaphragm is working properly is the torso getting larger when one inhales.

Try watching a baby breathe while sleeping. Observe the rise and fall of the center of his torso. When he inhales, his center rises; when he exhales, it falls because of the recoil of the lungs and the tissues lining the thoracic cavity. That's his diaphragm naturally at work. I was told by one of my voice teachers that, often, people lose this natural use of the diaphragm as we get older. Improper breathing techniques ("shoulders should rise when we inhale", "push in your stomach", etc.) and even infrequent cardio/aerobic activities are the main culprits.

Activating your diaphragm can also help your posture. Because of its location, this little muscle supports your lumbar vertebrae (back) as well as your costal cartilages (beneath your ribs). In fact, I've heard a ballet teacher refer to the diaphragm as 'our body's natural girdle'. She was 84 and had a better posture and stance than her students.

Things to Remember:

• As thinking singers, activating your diaphragm is a crucial key in proper breathing. Practice inhaling and allowing your diaphragm (you know were it is now) to relax. When it's relaxed while you inhale, it can tighten properly.

• Tightening your diaphragm doesn't mean pushing in your abdominal muscles. When your diaphragm expands to create space for your lungs, it will tighten naturally.

• Your diaphragm starts relaxing when you inhale. This means that it goes back to its original dome-shape. This is actually where you will notice an outward sign: your abdomen sort of getting pushed in.

• The diaphragm also helps give you good posture, and, if you read the first article of posture, you know that beautiful singing starts there.

Illustrations courtesy of the awesome wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragm_(anatomy) . I modified them, of course. (plagiarism: bad)

The Thinking Singer: Proper Posture

Kids, this is a fact: singing is an unnatural act. Don't be fooled by how effortless many of your favorite singers perform. They practice to appear effortless: it's all part of the show.

Of course, as in many things in life: the more you do, the easier it becomes. So, just as athletes diligently exercise to train for a competition, singers carefully prepare their bodies for a performance.

Why, you may ask?

Another fact: you use your entire body when you sing. People often make the mistake of thinking that singing only entails the use of the vocal chords. That is so far from the truth. Singing begins with posture; is fueled by the air we breathe; gains clarity with the use of almost every part of our bodies from the shoulder up. When you sing, YOU become the instrument.

Isn’t that grand?

What, then, does this mean? Singing is an art. It’s not magic, and it definitely is not instant brilliance. You may have been given the gift of singing but that won’t take you far unless you nurture it. Caring for your instrument – you -- is most imperative. This means you have to know how your instrument works; and once you do, be dedicated to its upkeep. You need to be patient and persistent. You need to be a thinking singer.

So, let’s begin. Let’s learn how to sing.

Thinking singers start with posture. Check yourself, please.

Let’s tackle each one.

• Are both your feet planted steadily on the floor?
  Both feet must be planted firmly on the floor. It all starts here. How can you keep your spine straight (the next step) if your stance is unbalanced?
  
  Many voice teachers and singers, and even theatre performers and dancers, attest to this: plant one foot slightly forward but keep the balance. Why? This enables your body to lean slightly forward, keeping your spine straight and relaxed. This also benefits you psychologically because leaning forward makes your energy flow forward where the audience usually is. It places you in the position of giving – and don’t singers ‘give’ themselves every time they perform?
  
  
• Is your spine straight?
  Imagine ballerinas when they stand. They keep their spines erect, their shoulders down, BUT their chins tucked in. They were trained to imagine a cord pulling them up from the very top of their heads. Therefore, it is essential that you be vigilant in keeping your frame always upright.
  
  Another benefit of a straight spine is this: it helps your diaphragm do its job. Although the deal with this thing, the diaphragm, will be tackled further in my succeeding articles, this much I can say now: it acts as your natural girdle, supporting your lungs (among other things) as you sing (as well as giving you that hourglass figure).
  
  
• Are your shoulders relaxed?
  You might be wondering why the shoulders get a double mention. This is why, and it’s a hard and fast rule: everything from the shoulders and above must be relaxed. If your shoulders are tense, then your neck gets tense. If your neck gets tense, then your jaw gets tense. If your jaw gets tense then – well, you get the picture. Everything in our body is connected to everything else so once you neglect one part of your body, the others also suffer.
  
  All this tension from the shoulders up is also a no-no because -- where exactly are your vocal chords? Right. To put it plainly: somewhere in your neck. How can the little muscle do its job if its residence is stressed? It can’t.
  

So, there it is. Your first step unto the proper path of singing. Like I said, it is an unnatural act. Everything one does is deliberate and well-thought out. No magic here. No accidents or instances of chance. Now that you know how to achieve proper posture, constantly check yourself. It's your body after all -- no one else can do it for you. That is the thinking singer's burden. But don't be daunted. It is also what will lead you to excellence.

Those Who Can, Teach

Truth is, I never wanted to be a teacher. I was made to think that teaching is a musician's way of copping out. The path of cowardly composers and spineless pianists. You can't, therefore you teach.

Five years ago, however, clarity set in. I gravitated towards teaching. I just couldn't stop my feet from walking that road; and the road is paved with unpaid overtime, ungrateful young minds and often unsupportive administrators.

There are days like today when I feel like I never want to step inside a classroom again. One against forty. Armed with a piece of chalk and a CD player that barely works. A teacher is such a vulnerable creature. Can you blame them if the once bright-eyed and hopeful turns into terrors or drones? I can't. Everyday I teach is a roller coaster ride. One snide remark from a sullen student can bring a whole day's worth of highs to a crashing low. If, at the end of a very long day, a smile comes my way, it's a soothing balm. A compliment, deliverance.

Four years into my major in UP, my professor asked me what my problem was. I said I didn't feel the same way about music as I did when I was younger. I said I felt I no longer "love it enough". The portly composer bristled: "You think I write music because I 'love' it? I don't. I make music because I have to. Love doesn't even enter the picture."

I didn't get it then. Now I do. But not about composing. Teaching: I just have to do it. Love doesn't enter the picture.

But sometimes when I hear my students still singing even after I step out of their classroom, or see them rehearsing during recess, or listen to them come up with things I never even thought of, I become grateful for the turning of my feet towards this gravelly path. I shrug off thoughts of “what could have been” and make no room for regret. Into the picture enters love, and, more often than not, love hangs around.