Terry Lloyd's Blog, page 24
April 12, 2021
Evolution Explained.
One day, at a visit to the Natural History Museum, I chanced to overhear a gentleman talking to his young companion about the exhibits. The gentleman seemed to engage in a captivating subject and his cohort was totally enthralled, so I thought it might be of interest to retell what he was saying in this blog.
This large fossil, explained the gentleman in the museum to the child called Peter, is evidence of creatures that dominated the earth millions of years ago. Then came the quizzical retort from Peter, asking his dad, why those same animals were not living now? It was all a part of how things work, stated the older gentleman and he continued with the response that it can be summed up by the evolution theory.
What is the evolution theory? Part of it represents the thought that all life had a common ancestor at one time. Through a natural process and at birth, there was a variation of traits which determined that some life forms and species maybe better suited to enable survival for future life. However there is often competition and change in the environment, ones that could include life threatening events of such a magnitude that whole diverse species are wiped out.
Such an epic and transforming event happened to this large creature, replied the gentleman to the questions of why from Peter, and all that was left were a relative few fossils.
At that precise minute, Peter frantically began searching in his pocket for a handkerchief. Just in time, he sneezed into it. His father said to him that he hoped he had not caught a cold, because if he had, then the child’s mother would not be too happy with him. On that rather solemn prospect, he ventured on to tell the little boy, that idea reminded him about viruses. The common cold, was of course a virus. At one time viruses were thought a possible reason for the extinction of Dinosaurs. At the moment, a meteor is the favourite suggested potential cause.
Back to the subject of viruses, the man and boy continued their discussion and the conclusion that the virus does have a close connection to many forms of life. Peter interrupted by saying that he still did not see, how even if you have different breeds of dog, how they turn into a new species. His dad told him that it happened when there was a variation that stops procreation of an original species, and it was at that point a new species could be formed, it could take a very long time and the original species did not have to die out. It is only survival that dictates the course of life.
Dogs, the pair decided, were a good example of a diversion of species. Although descended from wolves, the exact breed of wolf is no longer living.
Peter asked why is it called an evolution theory and not fact. His father replied that in science there is always a possibility for something different or new to occur. In that case, the theory would be amended or replaced, if no longer viable. To date all the predictions of evolution have been found
reliable but there is a possibility that something could be found that falsifies evolution’s reliability. For example there could be a possible scenario whereby evidence of modern life from four billion years ago could substantiate that evolution could not have taken place.
Eventually it was time for me to leave Peter and his father in the natural History Museum, but their conversation stayed with me for a long time to come. It had shown me how science and history could fascinate, teach and cause curiosity in many a generation and for many a different reason it could mystify and provoke wonder.
This large fossil, explained the gentleman in the museum to the child called Peter, is evidence of creatures that dominated the earth millions of years ago. Then came the quizzical retort from Peter, asking his dad, why those same animals were not living now? It was all a part of how things work, stated the older gentleman and he continued with the response that it can be summed up by the evolution theory.
What is the evolution theory? Part of it represents the thought that all life had a common ancestor at one time. Through a natural process and at birth, there was a variation of traits which determined that some life forms and species maybe better suited to enable survival for future life. However there is often competition and change in the environment, ones that could include life threatening events of such a magnitude that whole diverse species are wiped out.
Such an epic and transforming event happened to this large creature, replied the gentleman to the questions of why from Peter, and all that was left were a relative few fossils.
At that precise minute, Peter frantically began searching in his pocket for a handkerchief. Just in time, he sneezed into it. His father said to him that he hoped he had not caught a cold, because if he had, then the child’s mother would not be too happy with him. On that rather solemn prospect, he ventured on to tell the little boy, that idea reminded him about viruses. The common cold, was of course a virus. At one time viruses were thought a possible reason for the extinction of Dinosaurs. At the moment, a meteor is the favourite suggested potential cause.
Back to the subject of viruses, the man and boy continued their discussion and the conclusion that the virus does have a close connection to many forms of life. Peter interrupted by saying that he still did not see, how even if you have different breeds of dog, how they turn into a new species. His dad told him that it happened when there was a variation that stops procreation of an original species, and it was at that point a new species could be formed, it could take a very long time and the original species did not have to die out. It is only survival that dictates the course of life.
Dogs, the pair decided, were a good example of a diversion of species. Although descended from wolves, the exact breed of wolf is no longer living.
Peter asked why is it called an evolution theory and not fact. His father replied that in science there is always a possibility for something different or new to occur. In that case, the theory would be amended or replaced, if no longer viable. To date all the predictions of evolution have been found
reliable but there is a possibility that something could be found that falsifies evolution’s reliability. For example there could be a possible scenario whereby evidence of modern life from four billion years ago could substantiate that evolution could not have taken place.
Eventually it was time for me to leave Peter and his father in the natural History Museum, but their conversation stayed with me for a long time to come. It had shown me how science and history could fascinate, teach and cause curiosity in many a generation and for many a different reason it could mystify and provoke wonder.
April 5, 2021
Motherly Instinct.
The mothering instinct is a powerful force that can bridge the gap of many different species. It can be astounding, such as when wolves, apes or other animals raise offspring from an entirely different species, as one of their own.
When it comes to birds, there can be a subtle Machiavellian introduction of a cuckoo’s egg into the nest of a suitable host. After the mother cuckoo has removed one of the original host’s egg, unaware of this dastardly deed the unwitting foster mother raises the ever growing stranger as her own.
There is a family of birds called the Killdeer that nest on the ground, but as this is a precarious situation they have developed the art of subterfuge and when danger approaches in the form of foxes, cats or dogs the mother will distract the intruder by feigning to have a broken wing. When there is sufficient space between the nest and the intruder, the killdeer flies to safety.
It is well known that a mother of most creatures will defend her young from intending harm, no matter what the cost might be to herself. There have been incredible feats of power and skill which have all sprung into life when a mother’s young have been put at threat.
Certain females in the animal world are seemingly keen to demonstrate their motherly instinct and do foster many offspring, even in the most unexpected and problematic of circumstances. There have been examples of this kind of motherly behaviour driving gorillas and monkeys to mother and take on the nurturing of several juniors in the species, including those of which they had not given birth.
There have been extraordinary displays of mothering shown in what have been conventionally thought of as conflicting species. In the wild and even indicated through pets in people’s homes, animals can offer a wide variety of positive motherly instinct acts.
Examples do exist, whereby the male gender can get in on the mothering instinct and behaviour. The sea horse has a pouch on the front part of its tail and upon mating, the female will deposit fifteen hundred or so eggs that will remain there for nine to forty five days, before emerging as fully developed tiny sea horses. In this instance, the male will have the responsibility of carrying and keeping safe the potential offspring. Male penguins pick the nesting site and then take over keeping a single egg cushioned on their feet and protected by their body from the freezing cold, for some two months.
Motherly instincts and nature are an everlasting source of information and wonderment. It proves that urge for nurturing, loving, protecting and continuing a species can be at times as shockingly unexpected and psychologically complex as it can basically powerful, and significantly simple.
When it comes to birds, there can be a subtle Machiavellian introduction of a cuckoo’s egg into the nest of a suitable host. After the mother cuckoo has removed one of the original host’s egg, unaware of this dastardly deed the unwitting foster mother raises the ever growing stranger as her own.
There is a family of birds called the Killdeer that nest on the ground, but as this is a precarious situation they have developed the art of subterfuge and when danger approaches in the form of foxes, cats or dogs the mother will distract the intruder by feigning to have a broken wing. When there is sufficient space between the nest and the intruder, the killdeer flies to safety.
It is well known that a mother of most creatures will defend her young from intending harm, no matter what the cost might be to herself. There have been incredible feats of power and skill which have all sprung into life when a mother’s young have been put at threat.
Certain females in the animal world are seemingly keen to demonstrate their motherly instinct and do foster many offspring, even in the most unexpected and problematic of circumstances. There have been examples of this kind of motherly behaviour driving gorillas and monkeys to mother and take on the nurturing of several juniors in the species, including those of which they had not given birth.
There have been extraordinary displays of mothering shown in what have been conventionally thought of as conflicting species. In the wild and even indicated through pets in people’s homes, animals can offer a wide variety of positive motherly instinct acts.
Examples do exist, whereby the male gender can get in on the mothering instinct and behaviour. The sea horse has a pouch on the front part of its tail and upon mating, the female will deposit fifteen hundred or so eggs that will remain there for nine to forty five days, before emerging as fully developed tiny sea horses. In this instance, the male will have the responsibility of carrying and keeping safe the potential offspring. Male penguins pick the nesting site and then take over keeping a single egg cushioned on their feet and protected by their body from the freezing cold, for some two months.
Motherly instincts and nature are an everlasting source of information and wonderment. It proves that urge for nurturing, loving, protecting and continuing a species can be at times as shockingly unexpected and psychologically complex as it can basically powerful, and significantly simple.
March 29, 2021
Healthy Choices.
I am very interested in health, especially good cardiovascular health. The cardiovascular system is at the crux of many significant and majorly contributing biological processes. Having this part of the body in a positive, functioning order is imperative to so many of life’s basic needs.
Historically healthy choices and cardiovascular health, as subjects, have fascinated many schools of thought. I was interested to hear an anecdote of a successful and competent heart surgeon. After a long and productive career, in his retirement this particular surgeon began to question the establishment’s approach to treating heart disease. It was after research that he had noticed in several instances that at the points of blockage in the artery there was redness indicating damage and inflammation. On further investigation it became apparent that sugar in the diet instigated this condition.
Inside the artery is a thin layer of cells that are unique, in that they unlike other body cells, can not
refuse sugar. These internal artery cells can become overloaded with glycosylated damaged cells that perpetuates the build up of plaque in the artery. That in time could cause a heart attack or stroke and this is because of the blockage of sufficient blood flow to vital organs.
The retired heart surgeon made this information public and encouraged a low carbohydrate and good saturated fat diet. Whether he was right or not in his advice is not the main thrust of this true story.
When considering the best action for health, it is essential that the options are given in a form that is not manipulated by any specific company’s interest. This sort of bias could unduly allow an opportunity for promotions endorsed and based upon what is beneficial to one specific recipient.
An example of this kind of monopoly on healthy choices, is after a five year trial of a drug the result was one positive and two negatives, compared to a placebo result of three negatives. The drug company then promoted its product by claiming a relative risk reduction of thirty three and a third per cent. This analysis could be construed as correct but obscures the important information concerning the fact that the drug also had two negative results. The prospective patient attention is only directed to the positive outcome of the trial and not the negative but significant results.
If this type of manipulation and distortion procedure does take place, it could be argued this scenario does not give the patient the information necessary to make an informed decision about their future health. In fact a competing medical treatment could give a more beneficial result than a placebo but if a drug company has no financial interest in doing a more productive drug trial, even if it does provide some positive results for the patients involved, then it does lead one to question the interpretation of healthy choices that are available to them.
It is always best to be well informed on medical matters pertaining to your own health, as that way you can ensure that the decisions you make, suit your own life aims and goals.
Historically healthy choices and cardiovascular health, as subjects, have fascinated many schools of thought. I was interested to hear an anecdote of a successful and competent heart surgeon. After a long and productive career, in his retirement this particular surgeon began to question the establishment’s approach to treating heart disease. It was after research that he had noticed in several instances that at the points of blockage in the artery there was redness indicating damage and inflammation. On further investigation it became apparent that sugar in the diet instigated this condition.
Inside the artery is a thin layer of cells that are unique, in that they unlike other body cells, can not
refuse sugar. These internal artery cells can become overloaded with glycosylated damaged cells that perpetuates the build up of plaque in the artery. That in time could cause a heart attack or stroke and this is because of the blockage of sufficient blood flow to vital organs.
The retired heart surgeon made this information public and encouraged a low carbohydrate and good saturated fat diet. Whether he was right or not in his advice is not the main thrust of this true story.
When considering the best action for health, it is essential that the options are given in a form that is not manipulated by any specific company’s interest. This sort of bias could unduly allow an opportunity for promotions endorsed and based upon what is beneficial to one specific recipient.
An example of this kind of monopoly on healthy choices, is after a five year trial of a drug the result was one positive and two negatives, compared to a placebo result of three negatives. The drug company then promoted its product by claiming a relative risk reduction of thirty three and a third per cent. This analysis could be construed as correct but obscures the important information concerning the fact that the drug also had two negative results. The prospective patient attention is only directed to the positive outcome of the trial and not the negative but significant results.
If this type of manipulation and distortion procedure does take place, it could be argued this scenario does not give the patient the information necessary to make an informed decision about their future health. In fact a competing medical treatment could give a more beneficial result than a placebo but if a drug company has no financial interest in doing a more productive drug trial, even if it does provide some positive results for the patients involved, then it does lead one to question the interpretation of healthy choices that are available to them.
It is always best to be well informed on medical matters pertaining to your own health, as that way you can ensure that the decisions you make, suit your own life aims and goals.
March 22, 2021
Evolving Philosophy.
I do wonder how philosophers of the past, would view reality, with present day knowledge. Take the conception of the universe, it is known that stars are perpetually being born and dying in the millions every day. Creation is not a one time event, but for now is continuous.
The fact of why the universe exists is due to surviving the process of being. Quite simply only universes that can survive will flourish, the rest do not. This is the nature of things.
If you were to take a video from when time and the inflation of the universe began, up to the present time, it would be possible to see there is no specific intension as natural physical forces would shape what happens. Although each time you stop the video, at that point things are specific but that is until you start the video and can see the whole picture of being, well up to the present time.
Take life, it only exists as long as the environment and conditions enable it to perpetuate its existence. Ninety per cent of all life has already perished due to drastic changes in the environment and the competition for survival.
When involved in the direction of life, chance and without intention are not the same thing. When a dice is thrown it starts with a set number of possibilities, where as genetic variation is constantly changing. There are further variables that can make a difference to a species survival.
Philosophy starts off from a basis of reality but as the perception of that can change, so can our ideas of how things should become. From a fixed point that everything has to be the way it is reality indicates variety is necessary and this is clear in the example of existence. It means copying something will not show how it came to be in the first place. It means that philosophy and science can have a lot to do with each other and can compliment any enquiring mind.
The fact of why the universe exists is due to surviving the process of being. Quite simply only universes that can survive will flourish, the rest do not. This is the nature of things.
If you were to take a video from when time and the inflation of the universe began, up to the present time, it would be possible to see there is no specific intension as natural physical forces would shape what happens. Although each time you stop the video, at that point things are specific but that is until you start the video and can see the whole picture of being, well up to the present time.
Take life, it only exists as long as the environment and conditions enable it to perpetuate its existence. Ninety per cent of all life has already perished due to drastic changes in the environment and the competition for survival.
When involved in the direction of life, chance and without intention are not the same thing. When a dice is thrown it starts with a set number of possibilities, where as genetic variation is constantly changing. There are further variables that can make a difference to a species survival.
Philosophy starts off from a basis of reality but as the perception of that can change, so can our ideas of how things should become. From a fixed point that everything has to be the way it is reality indicates variety is necessary and this is clear in the example of existence. It means copying something will not show how it came to be in the first place. It means that philosophy and science can have a lot to do with each other and can compliment any enquiring mind.
March 15, 2021
Variety of Life.
Have you ever played that game, the one where you get asked that difficult and somewhat provoking question of given the opportunity, what animal would you like to be? It is such an easy question one might think as first, but it is only when thinking further about it, that any animal choice can entail a lot more in the way of survival and ideals than perhaps believed possible.
Animals that stand a decent life might be dogs or cats. However even the often furry canine and feline variety of animals do not always have an easy life and being classed as these kinds of pets does not mean there is no risk in who may be in charge of your future. Of course if your ideal is longevity, the immortal jelly fish comes to mind. As the name suggests, on reaching a certain age and if so inclined, it has the ability for perpetual regrowth from an infantile stage of life. Put basically, this type of jelly fish can keep living and living, albeit even if the only way to do this is to keep getting born and growing old over and over again. Maybe that is too ground hog day to contemplate.
Sea slugs that are invertebrate gastropods have the ability to regrow various parts of their bodies including their head. That is a neat ability and enticing in the animal choice question, but how about the emerald green sea slug that takes genes from the algae it consumes and then uses the photosynthetic proprieties to derive energy from sunlight, the same as plants do. This allows it to have two sources of survival as when there is a lack of edible food it can survive on just sunlight.
If survival options are not what determines the choice in animal life swapping and you really want an adventurous existence, why not an octopus? The octopus is an intelligent escape artist and has been observed to select only holes that are large enough for the solid part of its body to pass through. Carefully using this criteria as a decisive objective for any move from its original aquarium. In terms of biology, the octopus has three hearts, nine brains and eight arms but each of the arm has its own brain, that is independent and works in cooperation with the master brain. It has blue blood and when threatened can discharge a black ink type of substance, while escaping in the opposite direction. Although cold blooded it has in an actual historical example exhibited recognition and gratitude to a rescuer, in that instance a particular octopus demonstrated this acknowledgement by returning and thanking its saviour. The life duration of an octopus is not very long and only a few years, but they are dedicated to perpetuating the species, as shortly after mating both male and female die.
Arguably the point of the question is not just what animal one would be, but which gender, as this can make quite a difference. That is unless you choose an animal that can swap their genders, such as the bearded dragon or a clown fish. Or even two sexes in one, such as the banana slug. This particular type of slug is born with the ability of upon finding an acceptable mate form as a union, subsequently physically acting as both male and female at the same time. Banana slugs have a distinctive appearance with a broad yellow band on their backs. On contemplating the insect world, the female preying mantis is notorious for short courtships of which a quarter will be the final act for the male. However life and death is part of the sacrifice that is often seen with termites. It is that on occasion, when their territories are attacked by other insects they will block entry to their mound with their own dead bodies. If variety is important in the question, this next animal option can really blow your mind. The ruff is a small wading bird that has no less than four genders and polygamy is rife. Appearance is an important feature that the cuttlefish exploits with adroit skill. During courtship the smaller male will position itself alongside a potential female but to avoid conflict with a larger male. The side visible to the larger male has the potential to change and resemble a female.
Whatever animal choice appeals most, having an appreciation of the struggles that present themselves, can be a constructive way of appreciating the variety that can occur in simply living life.
Animals that stand a decent life might be dogs or cats. However even the often furry canine and feline variety of animals do not always have an easy life and being classed as these kinds of pets does not mean there is no risk in who may be in charge of your future. Of course if your ideal is longevity, the immortal jelly fish comes to mind. As the name suggests, on reaching a certain age and if so inclined, it has the ability for perpetual regrowth from an infantile stage of life. Put basically, this type of jelly fish can keep living and living, albeit even if the only way to do this is to keep getting born and growing old over and over again. Maybe that is too ground hog day to contemplate.
Sea slugs that are invertebrate gastropods have the ability to regrow various parts of their bodies including their head. That is a neat ability and enticing in the animal choice question, but how about the emerald green sea slug that takes genes from the algae it consumes and then uses the photosynthetic proprieties to derive energy from sunlight, the same as plants do. This allows it to have two sources of survival as when there is a lack of edible food it can survive on just sunlight.
If survival options are not what determines the choice in animal life swapping and you really want an adventurous existence, why not an octopus? The octopus is an intelligent escape artist and has been observed to select only holes that are large enough for the solid part of its body to pass through. Carefully using this criteria as a decisive objective for any move from its original aquarium. In terms of biology, the octopus has three hearts, nine brains and eight arms but each of the arm has its own brain, that is independent and works in cooperation with the master brain. It has blue blood and when threatened can discharge a black ink type of substance, while escaping in the opposite direction. Although cold blooded it has in an actual historical example exhibited recognition and gratitude to a rescuer, in that instance a particular octopus demonstrated this acknowledgement by returning and thanking its saviour. The life duration of an octopus is not very long and only a few years, but they are dedicated to perpetuating the species, as shortly after mating both male and female die.
Arguably the point of the question is not just what animal one would be, but which gender, as this can make quite a difference. That is unless you choose an animal that can swap their genders, such as the bearded dragon or a clown fish. Or even two sexes in one, such as the banana slug. This particular type of slug is born with the ability of upon finding an acceptable mate form as a union, subsequently physically acting as both male and female at the same time. Banana slugs have a distinctive appearance with a broad yellow band on their backs. On contemplating the insect world, the female preying mantis is notorious for short courtships of which a quarter will be the final act for the male. However life and death is part of the sacrifice that is often seen with termites. It is that on occasion, when their territories are attacked by other insects they will block entry to their mound with their own dead bodies. If variety is important in the question, this next animal option can really blow your mind. The ruff is a small wading bird that has no less than four genders and polygamy is rife. Appearance is an important feature that the cuttlefish exploits with adroit skill. During courtship the smaller male will position itself alongside a potential female but to avoid conflict with a larger male. The side visible to the larger male has the potential to change and resemble a female.
Whatever animal choice appeals most, having an appreciation of the struggles that present themselves, can be a constructive way of appreciating the variety that can occur in simply living life.
March 8, 2021
Entrepreneurial Spirit.
What makes one happy is a thought provoking project, sometimes we become so involved in every day life that it might just need stepping back from the pressure of life, to review that very subject.
For me, happiness is closely interwoven with proactive and positive action. I am fascinated at the idea of free energy and although it is a scientific law, perpetual energy machines have not shown themselves up to now, as a sustainable and long term option. At school, I mentioned to a school mate that we could and should build a robot. In no time at all, he had constructed a flat box for the body and started complaining that I had not worked out how to organise the necessary moving parts. Later in life, in the same vein I have toyed with the idea of constructed wheel based devices that are moved continuously by the unbalance of the assembled wheels and the pull of gravity.
It is the sheer stimulation and subsequent happiness that comes with it, which enables me to go further and in my mind visualise my momentum mechanism working and theorise about the potential energy saving solutions. There is a pleasure in proclaiming that it is possible or practical and a certain happiness in passionate projects that can help a wider public cause.
The fun and enjoyment of letting your creative mind loose can apply to anybody and in some cases has been the foundation for motivating ideas to take root and grow into brilliant money, time and life meaningful businesses.
Not having an answer for everything should not interfere with having an entrepreneurial spirit, passion and belief in an idea. Happiness in terms of engaging ideas or aims and achievement is a very personal experience but no mater what it means for you, building on it, focusing and attempting to positively enhance it to a full potential can be greatly inspirational for all involved.
For me, happiness is closely interwoven with proactive and positive action. I am fascinated at the idea of free energy and although it is a scientific law, perpetual energy machines have not shown themselves up to now, as a sustainable and long term option. At school, I mentioned to a school mate that we could and should build a robot. In no time at all, he had constructed a flat box for the body and started complaining that I had not worked out how to organise the necessary moving parts. Later in life, in the same vein I have toyed with the idea of constructed wheel based devices that are moved continuously by the unbalance of the assembled wheels and the pull of gravity.
It is the sheer stimulation and subsequent happiness that comes with it, which enables me to go further and in my mind visualise my momentum mechanism working and theorise about the potential energy saving solutions. There is a pleasure in proclaiming that it is possible or practical and a certain happiness in passionate projects that can help a wider public cause.
The fun and enjoyment of letting your creative mind loose can apply to anybody and in some cases has been the foundation for motivating ideas to take root and grow into brilliant money, time and life meaningful businesses.
Not having an answer for everything should not interfere with having an entrepreneurial spirit, passion and belief in an idea. Happiness in terms of engaging ideas or aims and achievement is a very personal experience but no mater what it means for you, building on it, focusing and attempting to positively enhance it to a full potential can be greatly inspirational for all involved.
March 1, 2021
Choices.
Is life fair? They happen to many of us and it can start at an early age. You might know of those moments when oh so quickly disillusioned or distracted by the not as successful experiences in life, that issue of fairness can creep into our recognition of what we should or should not have accomplished, achieved or even attained.
A good example of this constructed ideal philosophy occurred while I was at school. All morning the boy sitting directly behind me, had continuously and for no apparent reason thought it a good idea to with a ruler, keep stabbing me in the back. No pun intended, of course!
During the first break of the day, for intentions of play, I spied my tormentor who had been totally oblivious of my presence. I had not thought through any specific strategy but was just driven by the childhood pangs of injustice and a sought after emotion of revenge. I launched my attack by jumping on his back and together we hit the ground. So far things were going great or so I had thought, because all of a sudden and seemingly out from nowhere, the head mistress intervened in a forceful way. With one hand, she lifted me by the back of the belt of my short trousers and with the other hand, began vigorously spanking me. The tears welled up, not for the discomfort of being punished in front of my fellow schoolmates but the inaccurately choice of her words. Those harsh and untrue words that declared me to be a bully and that consequently I deserved a good thrashing. In all honesty, up to this time I had not once gotten into any fights or conflict of any physical sorts and was a rather quiet boy. I certainly had never tried attacking any of my classmates, but that day I took the full blame for the torment of suffering having been picked on and the rash choices that had led me to my own actions. Did I learn from that early, formative experience, that life was not fair? I think the jury might be out on that one.
At a much later incident in the gymnasium, there were a pile of tennis racquets and more than enough for everyone. It so happened, that I and a fellow classmate, both reached for the same tennis racquet. I felt I had slightly touched the racquet first and therefore it surely should be mine. The dispute come to a swift end when my competitor forcefully rammed the head of the racquet into my stomach and leaving me doubled up on the floor, the victor took his spoil.
At the end of school playtime, lines were formed to file back into the classroom. It so happened that I was standing at the front of one of the queues when the leader of the class’s hard and oh so tough group, supported by his mates, pushed in front of me. I challenged the leader who happened to be a little shorter than me. Unknown to me, one of his mates had behind me gone down on his hands and knees, so when pushed from the front I fell backwards over him. My head hit the playground floor and I had a strange taste in my mouth, as inadvertently I had bitten my own tongue.
An anecdote that involved an acquaintance of mine could be suggested, well depicts this idea of choices and an association to the fairness of life. On applying for a job that he later found out that he had been unsuccessful for, he enquired the reason as for not obtaining that job. On being told it was because he lacked sufficient certificates, he set out on a successful quest to remedy the situation. In fact the next time he applied for a promotion in the same company, he possessed more certificates than the actual man interviewing him. Again he was turned down for the role and to add to his woes, the successful applicant had less certificates and came from outside the company. That was rather galling, as he had spent all his working life with the same company that had turned him down and he could not reason why his seemingly successful logical choices had only left him in such an unfair position.
Discretion is the better part of valour, or so it has been historically put, and if past experiences have taught well, then thinking though the choices and consequences of an action maybe a more prudent line of resolving what could be thought of as the obvious injustices of life.
A good example of this constructed ideal philosophy occurred while I was at school. All morning the boy sitting directly behind me, had continuously and for no apparent reason thought it a good idea to with a ruler, keep stabbing me in the back. No pun intended, of course!
During the first break of the day, for intentions of play, I spied my tormentor who had been totally oblivious of my presence. I had not thought through any specific strategy but was just driven by the childhood pangs of injustice and a sought after emotion of revenge. I launched my attack by jumping on his back and together we hit the ground. So far things were going great or so I had thought, because all of a sudden and seemingly out from nowhere, the head mistress intervened in a forceful way. With one hand, she lifted me by the back of the belt of my short trousers and with the other hand, began vigorously spanking me. The tears welled up, not for the discomfort of being punished in front of my fellow schoolmates but the inaccurately choice of her words. Those harsh and untrue words that declared me to be a bully and that consequently I deserved a good thrashing. In all honesty, up to this time I had not once gotten into any fights or conflict of any physical sorts and was a rather quiet boy. I certainly had never tried attacking any of my classmates, but that day I took the full blame for the torment of suffering having been picked on and the rash choices that had led me to my own actions. Did I learn from that early, formative experience, that life was not fair? I think the jury might be out on that one.
At a much later incident in the gymnasium, there were a pile of tennis racquets and more than enough for everyone. It so happened, that I and a fellow classmate, both reached for the same tennis racquet. I felt I had slightly touched the racquet first and therefore it surely should be mine. The dispute come to a swift end when my competitor forcefully rammed the head of the racquet into my stomach and leaving me doubled up on the floor, the victor took his spoil.
At the end of school playtime, lines were formed to file back into the classroom. It so happened that I was standing at the front of one of the queues when the leader of the class’s hard and oh so tough group, supported by his mates, pushed in front of me. I challenged the leader who happened to be a little shorter than me. Unknown to me, one of his mates had behind me gone down on his hands and knees, so when pushed from the front I fell backwards over him. My head hit the playground floor and I had a strange taste in my mouth, as inadvertently I had bitten my own tongue.
An anecdote that involved an acquaintance of mine could be suggested, well depicts this idea of choices and an association to the fairness of life. On applying for a job that he later found out that he had been unsuccessful for, he enquired the reason as for not obtaining that job. On being told it was because he lacked sufficient certificates, he set out on a successful quest to remedy the situation. In fact the next time he applied for a promotion in the same company, he possessed more certificates than the actual man interviewing him. Again he was turned down for the role and to add to his woes, the successful applicant had less certificates and came from outside the company. That was rather galling, as he had spent all his working life with the same company that had turned him down and he could not reason why his seemingly successful logical choices had only left him in such an unfair position.
Discretion is the better part of valour, or so it has been historically put, and if past experiences have taught well, then thinking though the choices and consequences of an action maybe a more prudent line of resolving what could be thought of as the obvious injustices of life.
February 22, 2021
Survival.
Every now and then things in general, appear to become more stressful. However it is not a bad idea to theoretically compare and contrast life with previous generations.
I remember as a child how my mother regularly gave me a spoon of cod liver oil, followed by a spoon of orange liquid masquerading as orange juice. She was doing her best in difficult circumstances to ensure that I had a healthy chance of life. The chances of early child death was high and polio, measles, tuberculosis, as with many other illness at that time, were rampart. There where bombed wrecks of houses and signs warned of not touching unidentified objects as they could be dangerous. For many years, rationing of every day food and necessary items, was in force.
It was also the era of national smoking popularity, with major black and white films highlighting the fashion of relaxing whilst hidden in a pall of cigarette smoke. There was periodic thick and heavy fogs, the type of smog that could be even worse than the Sherlock Holmes variety. In the winter, coal fires were blazing and energy stations were adding to the demise of fresh clean air, and subsequently the results were plain to see and smell.
In the years to come, there would be epidemics of various flu and virus infections, at the same time heart and stroke fatalities began to steadily increase. The reason being explained as people consuming too much cholesterol and saturated fat. The retail and pharmaceutical industries are steadfast in perpetually attempting to outline a theme in response to a serious risk for many people’s survival, even though the magic low number of cholesterol as stated by them to stop potential heart attacks can not be reached or found.
Healthy living has an absolute influence over positive survival but how this is achieved can very much come down to knowledge, application and comprehension of any given set of circumstances.
I remember as a child how my mother regularly gave me a spoon of cod liver oil, followed by a spoon of orange liquid masquerading as orange juice. She was doing her best in difficult circumstances to ensure that I had a healthy chance of life. The chances of early child death was high and polio, measles, tuberculosis, as with many other illness at that time, were rampart. There where bombed wrecks of houses and signs warned of not touching unidentified objects as they could be dangerous. For many years, rationing of every day food and necessary items, was in force.
It was also the era of national smoking popularity, with major black and white films highlighting the fashion of relaxing whilst hidden in a pall of cigarette smoke. There was periodic thick and heavy fogs, the type of smog that could be even worse than the Sherlock Holmes variety. In the winter, coal fires were blazing and energy stations were adding to the demise of fresh clean air, and subsequently the results were plain to see and smell.
In the years to come, there would be epidemics of various flu and virus infections, at the same time heart and stroke fatalities began to steadily increase. The reason being explained as people consuming too much cholesterol and saturated fat. The retail and pharmaceutical industries are steadfast in perpetually attempting to outline a theme in response to a serious risk for many people’s survival, even though the magic low number of cholesterol as stated by them to stop potential heart attacks can not be reached or found.
Healthy living has an absolute influence over positive survival but how this is achieved can very much come down to knowledge, application and comprehension of any given set of circumstances.
February 15, 2021
Finding Sleep.
Have you ever had one of those times, when even though you are totally intent on getting a good night’s sleep, it feels as if it simply does everything it can to evade you? Endeavours made and epic fails felt, the euphoric state of sleep can appear to at times, elude all attempts to enter the land of nod.
Turning, tossing and twisting, often you can resolutely stay awake until only a short time before the usual time to get up arrives and then marvel of all marvels, the irony of the sleep situation prevails as it is at that precisely inconvenient moment that you could then easily drift off to that most coveted snooze. At times a most annoying pattern occurs whereby, after seemingly hours of strains and stress, you are just about to fall off to sleep and then seconds later you wake yourself up with a start yet again.
Sleep hygiene is a highly promoted concept in many areas of health management and undoubtedly many of us accept and agree with the ideology. In practice, at a time when all sorts of hygiene has been highlighted as the only way forward, you would think that the nocturnal variety would follow suit but intriguingly this has proven to not always be the case.
A most significant part of healthy living, is sleep. Incorporating multiple factors, sleeping satisfactorily encompasses an ability to relax and recover. Attaining an average sleep can be about all someone regularly can usually achieve, especially when there are so many practical obligations and considerations to take into account. Given the complexities of additional worries and changes to a familiar routine, sleep habits might have completely diminished and in those troublesome times, even averaging a vaguely acceptable night’s sleep could be tough.
Do I have an answer to these sleep time woes? Biologically, yes as there is another player that holds back in the pesky lack of sleep scenario, and that is the hormone cortisol. It is this important naturally produced chemical player, that is triggered by stress. It prepares the body for action if under threat, but over time it can build up to a troublesome level and this can be problematic for sleep objectives, if positive action to release the affects of cortisol is not taken.
One of things I have noticed is cortisol build up and stress can be recognised by simple muscle tension, even during the day I may be aware of a nervous mental pressure and for no apparent reason my neck and shoulder muscles consequently become taught. I have found drinking water and taking deep, slow breaths are a good way of dealing with this stress release situation. If there is a constant worry of some sort that needs to be addressed, it is quite possible that this nervous tension could even be a reason why you can not get a good night’s sleep, but knowing this and doing something about it can mean two different things.
Try to act on a good stress relief technique before bed. It can be as simple as timing out and ensuring that about half an hour before going to sleep, you wind down in body and mind. Rather as if when doing exercise, a warm up and wind down for optimum healthy results is required, sleep too needs that little bit of preparation. Especially if a good night’s sleep is an aim, remember that leading up to it is crucial. Prep for sleep and make it as relaxing as possible because young or old, this practice can make all the difference to so many areas of life.
Turning, tossing and twisting, often you can resolutely stay awake until only a short time before the usual time to get up arrives and then marvel of all marvels, the irony of the sleep situation prevails as it is at that precisely inconvenient moment that you could then easily drift off to that most coveted snooze. At times a most annoying pattern occurs whereby, after seemingly hours of strains and stress, you are just about to fall off to sleep and then seconds later you wake yourself up with a start yet again.
Sleep hygiene is a highly promoted concept in many areas of health management and undoubtedly many of us accept and agree with the ideology. In practice, at a time when all sorts of hygiene has been highlighted as the only way forward, you would think that the nocturnal variety would follow suit but intriguingly this has proven to not always be the case.
A most significant part of healthy living, is sleep. Incorporating multiple factors, sleeping satisfactorily encompasses an ability to relax and recover. Attaining an average sleep can be about all someone regularly can usually achieve, especially when there are so many practical obligations and considerations to take into account. Given the complexities of additional worries and changes to a familiar routine, sleep habits might have completely diminished and in those troublesome times, even averaging a vaguely acceptable night’s sleep could be tough.
Do I have an answer to these sleep time woes? Biologically, yes as there is another player that holds back in the pesky lack of sleep scenario, and that is the hormone cortisol. It is this important naturally produced chemical player, that is triggered by stress. It prepares the body for action if under threat, but over time it can build up to a troublesome level and this can be problematic for sleep objectives, if positive action to release the affects of cortisol is not taken.
One of things I have noticed is cortisol build up and stress can be recognised by simple muscle tension, even during the day I may be aware of a nervous mental pressure and for no apparent reason my neck and shoulder muscles consequently become taught. I have found drinking water and taking deep, slow breaths are a good way of dealing with this stress release situation. If there is a constant worry of some sort that needs to be addressed, it is quite possible that this nervous tension could even be a reason why you can not get a good night’s sleep, but knowing this and doing something about it can mean two different things.
Try to act on a good stress relief technique before bed. It can be as simple as timing out and ensuring that about half an hour before going to sleep, you wind down in body and mind. Rather as if when doing exercise, a warm up and wind down for optimum healthy results is required, sleep too needs that little bit of preparation. Especially if a good night’s sleep is an aim, remember that leading up to it is crucial. Prep for sleep and make it as relaxing as possible because young or old, this practice can make all the difference to so many areas of life.
February 8, 2021
Literary Ploys.
One of my favourite genres of stories is when you can imagine what you would do if transferred into the action as the main character, such as in Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. In case your not familiar with the story, it involved a castaway marooned on a desert island. Having just about gotten away with his life from a shipwreck, he encounters another lost soul already on the island. On the same theme, but much more chilling is the novel written by William Golding, The Lord of the Flies. After a group of boys find themselves stranded on an island by themselves, they decide to split into groups and gradually things start to spiral out of control, until eventually they set the island on fire.
A great literary piece and film inspired by a real psychological experiment, involved a group of students who were paid to take part in a study about potentially influential status roles. In the experiment, the participant students were each allocated and given different roles, all involved with being in a prison. Each individual was observed, as for how or if, their differing positions of power caused them to behave. Fairly quickly participants started to act on their new role objectives, taking more and more of a part in practices they deemed as relevant or deserved, and thus all of these smaller personal actions brought about lots of rapidly shocking life altering ramifications. This is an ideal scenario for just imagining if designated to be a guard or prisoner, how far would or could that change your character, decisions or judgement? You might think you could gage your own capability and behaviour quite well given that situation but then again, you could be surprised at the result.
The Invisible Man written by H. G, Wells is an open door to the imagination. What pranks one could play with the cloak of invisibility? All sorts of questions about identity, loneliness and power play arise in this context.
Another literary ploy used to cleverly involve the reader into becoming the main character of a story is to state a warning, such as if you carry on reading past this point, the author withdraws any responsibility for the consequences. The next step is to immerse the reader into the plot. All life including you as the reader, are perilously perched on a large rock that is spinning and travelling at an ever increasing speed to where? What if we are all part of an experiment in a giant flask and at the moment in the void, before eventually colliding with the side of the flask?
All things are relative and it could be that in the time before reaching the side of the flask nothing exists as it does now. Over time the whole of the universe is in a total state of entropy. I hope my little voyage into the possibility of possible, has not given a reason for sleepless nights. As my intention is to give enjoyment and entertain and not simply to engage but explain.
A great literary piece and film inspired by a real psychological experiment, involved a group of students who were paid to take part in a study about potentially influential status roles. In the experiment, the participant students were each allocated and given different roles, all involved with being in a prison. Each individual was observed, as for how or if, their differing positions of power caused them to behave. Fairly quickly participants started to act on their new role objectives, taking more and more of a part in practices they deemed as relevant or deserved, and thus all of these smaller personal actions brought about lots of rapidly shocking life altering ramifications. This is an ideal scenario for just imagining if designated to be a guard or prisoner, how far would or could that change your character, decisions or judgement? You might think you could gage your own capability and behaviour quite well given that situation but then again, you could be surprised at the result.
The Invisible Man written by H. G, Wells is an open door to the imagination. What pranks one could play with the cloak of invisibility? All sorts of questions about identity, loneliness and power play arise in this context.
Another literary ploy used to cleverly involve the reader into becoming the main character of a story is to state a warning, such as if you carry on reading past this point, the author withdraws any responsibility for the consequences. The next step is to immerse the reader into the plot. All life including you as the reader, are perilously perched on a large rock that is spinning and travelling at an ever increasing speed to where? What if we are all part of an experiment in a giant flask and at the moment in the void, before eventually colliding with the side of the flask?
All things are relative and it could be that in the time before reaching the side of the flask nothing exists as it does now. Over time the whole of the universe is in a total state of entropy. I hope my little voyage into the possibility of possible, has not given a reason for sleepless nights. As my intention is to give enjoyment and entertain and not simply to engage but explain.
