According to the Chinese zodiac, it is now officially the Year of the Dragon.  What can we expect in the future as we transition from the Rabbit?  Astrologers predict that the next year will hold good luck, as the dragon is the most auspicious and powerful of the signs, and an increase in the fertility rate.  Those born in this year are said to be intelligent, energetic, extroverted, often conceited, and quick to lose their temper when provoked.

Although considered to bring good fortune, some believe that 2012 will hold more international conflict, citing the relationships between earth and water elements.  The powerful yang of water might auger a natural disaster or the human struggles toward political equality.  The water sign also represents charity and generosity, which hopefully could signal for a positive transformation of economic and societal institutions.

While there will be fighting and strife in the days ahead, the elements are not as much in opposition as in the past several years.  From nature, we can forecast possible viral epidemics, and powerful disasters such as earthquakes and floods.  Sadly, experts say that there are fewer angels of mercy to aid in what could be higher death tolls than normal.  Fortunately, there should be an improvement in environmental protections and recovery from past human-made catastrophes like oil spills and and nuclear meltdowns.

Want to celebrate the Year of the Dragon here on the coast?

-Head to San Francisco, where 6,000 participants, 22 floats, marching bands, lion dancers, and an arsenal of firecrackers will dazzle your senses and help usher in good fortune and scare away the negative spirits of the past.  The parade is held on February 11, and is one of the largest celebrations held outside of Asia.  There is also a city-wide treasure hunt that takes seekers on a romp through San Francisco’s neighborhoods and rewards them with fun, prizes, and a healthy workout.

-San Luis Obispo locals can watch the Cal Poly Lion Dance Team perform around the county this month.  Witness a cultural tradition and see the amazing strength and acrobatic skill required to bring these creatures to life! (Visit their website for a performance schedule.)  If cavorting  lions are not enough to impress you, on January 25 the Peking Acrobats challenge gravity at the Clark Performing Arts Center in Arroyo Grande. Tickets range from $45-55.

-Cal Poly will be hosting a dinner on January 28, where Wushu Taichi masters Liu Yu and Norm Petredean accompanied by students will give a demonstration. This graceful martial art will inspire serenity, strength, and promote a healthy flow of qi that will help balance and prepare you for the upcoming year.

Break out the red envelopes, make some mooncakes, and have a great Year of the Dragon!

All great nations deserve great artists.  All great artists deserve great art supply stores.  San Luis Art Supply provides whatever your creative spirit desires.  Owner Neal Breton specializes in brands that are professional-grade, affordable, and locally produced whenever possible.   With several decades worth of painting experience, Neal has an incredible in-depth knowledge of the materials he sells and is always willing to give advice on how to use each item.  Prices are extremely reasonable and employees will let you know how to get the most mileage out of whatever you purchase.

The store carries complete product lists for several art and architecture classes offered by Cal Poly and Cuesta College and is a favorite one-stop-shop for many of the colleges’ students.  However, if you are looking for a craft store akin to Michael’s or Aaron Brothers, you will be disappointed.  San Luis Art supply caters more towards the student, serious artist, or those working with the traditional mediums.  If you are in search of painting, sketching, screen printing, calligraphy, potting or stenciling equipment, you can’t beat San Luis Art Supply.  (Scrap-booking, beading, and flower arranging are best left to Beverly’s.)

Not only is SLAS a wonderful resource for materials and knowledge, but it is a venue for gallery shows and the collaborative center for several cultural events around San Luis Obispo.  Local work is displayed monthly on the walls above the paints and pens, and Thursday afternoons are host to “Hang Out and Draw” sessions which are often sponsored by sketching or painting companies featured in SLAS’ product line.  Breton is the creator and organizer for “Last Fridays”, a city-wide night of receptions held in downtown stores, galleries, and cafes in order t0 present the works of younger artists.  On any given day, you will see friends and customers sitting inside the front door working on pieces, doodling, and asking the owner for color consultations.

Check out San Luis Art Supply and support a fantastic local business!  SLAS is located on 116 Morro St, (between Higuera and Marsh) and is open 7 days a week.

Welcome new Poly students. You’ll find SLO won’t always be this hot. You will find that all of the bars on Higuera street will be crowded, that locals aren’t too fond of you, and for the entire duration of your stay here, there will be no parking, anywhere, ever.

A week or so back, Mr. Hornaday wrote a little something on feeding your brain the right foods. As we all know, you can eat healthy all you want, but, when you’re a fresh fish, regular hangovers are as common as syphilis in Isla Vista. I attended a wedding last night, and am feeling a bit off kilter myself. (hangover off kilter, not syphilis ….) So I got to thinking, what IS a hangover exactly? I’ve heard different stories; dehydration, sleep deprivation, blood sugar imbalances, etc. But what goes on in your body when you’re hung over? I thought, maybe if we all knew, we’d collectively drink a little less (thereby leaving alcohol alley a bit less crowded, AND helping you, the new student, keep yourself in tip top studying shape.)

• Veisalgia, or a hangover, comes from the Norwegian word for “uneasiness following debauchery” (kveis), and the Greek word for pain (algia). I’m sure we’re all familiar with the symptoms. Two of the most notable ones are dry mouth and dehydration. See, that second forty of Mickey’s goes through you quickly, because alcohol consumption suppresses Vasopressin (the anti-pee- your pants-hormone produced in the pituitary gland.) Because of this effect, your kidneys send water directly to you bladder, as opposed to reabsorbing it in to the body. For every 250 ml of Mickey’s you consume, you will expel four times as much water. Hence the dehydration.
• Beer before liquor… There’s a reason for this old, and wise adage. Different alcohol’s contain different levels of congeners, or the byproduct of the fermentation process. The darker you drink of choice (red wine and bourbon, for example,) the more congeners it contains, and the worse your hangover will be. Additionally, mixing different levels of these toxins will result in a compromised ability to process them. Which is why you puke purple when you’ve had a glass of cab, two Manhattans, a shot of whiskey and some Guinness. Beer speeds up the effects of booze on the body, so when you drink that Mickey’s BEFORE your Franzia, you can’t keep up with the rate of intoxication. Besides just increasing your chances of winding up naked on the frat house lawn, this has negative effects on the kidneys, liver, and bladder.
• This one may get a bit technical, so bare with me. When you drink, your liver produces an enzyme to break down the booze. The process of breaking down creates a very toxic byproduct called Acetaldehyde. This is actually what causes that headache. In moderation, your body can quickly rid itself of the nasty stuff with a chemical called glutothione and an enzyme called acetaldahyde dehydrogonese. To put it in simpler terms, the acetaldahyde is the initial first two or three zombies of the zombie apocalypse, and the glutothione and acetaldehyde dehydrogonese, are your friends with machetes. But, you only have so many friends with machetes. When you run out (and continue to drink) the poison zombies will eat your brain and give you a headache in the morning.
• Ever feel pretty tired when you’re hung over? It’s because alcohol suppresses glutamine, your body’s natural stimulant. During sleep, after a night of heavy drinking, your body will over produce glutamine to make up for the suppression of it earlier in the night, leaving your mind to wander and keeping you up thinking about strange things, like how Noah and Tron are similar for example.
• Oooof, and then you and your roommates had to draw straws for who had to clean to toilet…
  Alcohol is absorbed directly through your tum tum. Because of this, the cells that line the stomach may become irritated. (does your tummy huwt?) Booze also creates hydrochloric acid in the body. When this happens, your stomach will send a message to your brain saying that what’s in your stomach is hurting you resulting in vomiting. This same irritation is what causes nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and good old diarrhea the next day.

There are plenty of wives tales about hangover cures: greasy foods, spicy foods, etc. There are a few guaranteed hangover cures, and they’re fairly obvious. Vitamins, juice, water, eggs, bananas and aspirin are all great reliefs to your suffering. Good music can help too. But really, the first cure is prevention. Don’t be an idiot, drink moderately. Try and limit it to four for the whole night, drink water, eat food, DON’T play beer pong (that’s just gross… it’s not even good beer) and drink as infrequently as possible. This will keep your brain sharp and your pocket book full. That way, you can come shop here, at Bambu Batu. Fun facts provided by Discovery Health.

Song of the day “Alcohol” The Barenaked ladies