Terry Lloyd's Blog, page 36

Problem Pets.

In the UK, it has been said once or twice, that we are a country of animal lovers yet there are outstanding instances of unbelievable cruelty that can occasionally disrupt this well known and taken to heart notion. One thing in life that is for sure, is the ever potential opportunity to make a stand and readdress the problem.

Fantastic organisations and individual animal loving human heroes have most definitely made an impact on the welfare of our wildlife and pets alike. If it were not for the actions of the country’s animal charities and devoted trusts many animals would be left to suffer the consequences of neglect and cruelty. You do not have to wear a cape to be a superhero and never a truer expression was warranted than in the case of many of these life saving animal saviours.

Contributions to the plight of animals and their help at times of mistreatment or distress, can be seen in multiple formats. There are people who can and do really make a difference. Those who go that extra bit but have such a huge influence on the futures of us all.

Although we in general have an affinity with our pets there are times when that is not enough. You might well have heard of the favourite but frantic pooch who has gnawed at the furniture and ripped the carpet to shreds, or the much loved but moody moggie who has decided to mess about with the family dynamics and who could forget the rebellious rabbit who has made art out of his own disappearing act? In any of these examples a good telling off simply doesn’t make any difference and could make matters worse. When in dire straights and in despair about problem pets or even the more wilder of animals who have found a way into a life or two, all too easily it can feel as if one hardly has any options but at this point a ta da moment could well arise as incomes a rather marvellous remedy as advocated by some excellent animal behaviour specialists who have a thorough understanding of animal psychology.

It is amazing how after only a relatively short time many truly upsetting forms of behaviour exhibited by animals can easily be redirected into a far more acceptable state. Even evidence of the wildest antics of animals, have after introduction to a good animal behaviourist, turned these furry, feather or smoother skinned counterparts into passive and obedient loving pets.

There is a distinct pattern that regularly appears in many disruptive pet situations. In multiple cases negative behaviour of the pet could well be because of unclear commands and an unknowing reinforcement of rewarding bad behaviour. It can be extremely enlightening to take a step back from any difficult animal dilemma because all too quickly frustration of the owner and the pet can compound the situation. In times of problem pets it is advisable to seek out the benefit of talking to a well reputed animal behaviourist as they can often illuminate the disparity and bring a much calmer, happier sense of wellbeing to the lives of both animals and the owners.

Pets can be significant reminders to us about how we think of the link between psychology and behaviour. Inconsistency or a lack of clarity can end up in the most terrible of misunderstandings. The important thing to remember in many problem animal scenarios is that an answer could be closer than you think. Amazing results have been established through a little patience, and if the right relationship can be found between pets and owners, the most treasured of rewards can be gained.

Ageless Society.

Recently it occurred to me that age really does matter. It is not so much the age part that matters but how you look at it that makes the difference. Ok, so this was not the most sudden of my epiphany moments but it did give me an explanation for quite a few significant experiences in my life.

Take that first stage of school, the dreaded off you go and make it in the big, wide world second that forces you to leap off the diving board. It could quite easily have gone either way but in the encouragement and nurturing words of parents and teachers I did take heart. I was given the powerful boost of a few words that made everything seem possible. I was at a tender age and told that a lot lay ahead of me and funnily enough it did make me feel like a superhero of a five year old. I was out to take up the challenge and the encouragement empowered in me the feeling that youth was on my side.

As I grew of course I aged and slowly but surely the concept of this increase in years brought with them the realisation of rules, something I started to become resentful towards. Why? Why did I have to be told what to do when clearly at that age I had the knowledge to do far better myself. It was a perplexing time because on the one hand I had instilled in me the thought that at my age I should be able to take responsibility for myself, my decisions and the consequences but then I also had the restrictions of age related boundaries put upon me. It seemed as if society was tearing me in two and I did not like it, not one bit. It was not so much that advice was not offered to me but that I chose not to listen or put it to the best use possible.

Guess what? Fast forward a few years, and I aged again! This malarkey was starting to become a bit of a habit and with the onset of time came a newly found feeling of a chased independence. At my age I was full of thoughts about everything society was telling me I should be achieving and striving for and I felt a bit like one of those hamsters whizzing about in a wheel of similar sights and sounds. Had I secured the right job, attained a reasonable income and was I in want of a wife and family? Did I make it on the age achieving scale? How did I fare in the competitive...at my age I had done this or that?

Slightly exhausted and highly experienced at this process I decided there was nothing for it but to age again! Off I went on to later years and all too soon it seemed everything changed again. Instead of being led by impressions of what I should be doing suddenly the notion made sense and I embraced the possibility of what I could be doing. Happiness was the key and age was no longer a limit, necessity or requirement to attain it. Obtaining a wisdom with years had always been something people spoke about but not a concept I truly believed in, oddly enough it took age to bring about a new perceptive ability and a change of heart about this idea.

Age, it is such a gift and still many look at it with judgements and preconceived notions in their hearts and minds. In getting older, experiences, memories and individual abilities often increase. In many countries, cultures appreciate what age means. It should be a cause for inclusivity not exclusivity from any society. Funnily enough at the early stage of life, the emphasis is put upon feeling your age and then it progresses to acting your age and by the time you age further it seems to all be about forgetting your age. The numbers representative of your experience and acknowledgement of life should be cherished but this is not always the case. Every phase of ageing needs to be nurtured, if it is to thrive. Similarly to those first tentative moments where encouragement is empowering, a little stimulation can provide ample inspiration for everybody to feel valued and worthy of every potential in life.

Healthy Choices.

Heart health has become a major feature in many people’s minds. It is a subject does affect everybody. Whether it be from predisposition, lifestyle choices, illness or a combination of multiple factors, heart disease can be an issue that impacts on the quality and quantity of life.

Recently prominently and strongly has been advice advocating that everybody should take statins. Statins are certainly one option but they are by no means the only choice.

Statins are the most prescribed medicine to inhibit the production of cholesterol in an attempt to stop heart attacks and strokes. Widely acknowledged is the term Statin and increasingly now people’s acceptance of the word is being understood.

One would expect information about a person’s future health to be given in a form that is understandable, without any bias. There can sometimes be a significant drive to influence decisions by the way that important information is conveyed. The significant question to ask is, how many people would benefit from taking statins and how many would not?

It is evident that if statistics are the basis for an impactful health choice then it is only fair to fully inform of what the wider representation and implication of the results means. Often a technique of presenting a limited choice takes place with undue pressure highlighting the benefits and excluding any negative information on taking a particular medicine.

In the case of any drugs trial, in the interest of objectivity full disclosure about the methods used should be published, this is imperative as it is common practice to have a short pretest to see the compatibility with many medicines such as statins before the real trial begins. A second major factor that needs to be made known, is that side affects may often not be recorded.

In the beauty industry there has been much done to heighten the public’s awareness of what taking or using a particular product can mean for the body. In a wider general sense it is always wise, when presented with a limited choice, to always explore all the possibilities and alternatives. In the case of good health, there is nothing more important than being happy with your choice. Many medical routes might lead to certain conclusions that offer a solution to recovery but not always the most beneficial answer to what a person’s body needs. Optimum health is an individual choice and one that does depend on many factors. It could be that one needs a combined or more informed approach to their health choices because basically broken down, these decisions are the ones that might matter to you the most.

Economic Growth.

If someone mentions the concept of romance then the iconic phrase of love makes the world go round can not help but come to mind and to a certain extent it probably is an absolutely apt saying, as all creatures great and small participate to a degree, in this love making notion.

In the realms of everyday life there is another factor that also could claim responsibility for making the world go round, and that of course, is money.

A persons’ view on wealth depends very much on personal economics. Having enough money for food and shelter is of prime importance. It is for the majority, the need to meet these requirements that is a driving force in looking for places which promise a better life.

It seems odd that some wealthy countries spend so much of their money in arguably debilitating the economy of fellow countries then protest when the impoverished inhabitants of those countries wish for a better life and become detached from their own native lands. It appears even more peculiar that these wealthy countries then in an attempt to stem the flood of immigrants reduces the humanitarian contribution to those who are in need. Surely doing that will only increase the economic hardship that is making the population look elsewhere for help.

Money is an inanimate tool and it is the responsibility of mankind to use it wisely by creating financial institutions that improve the population’s wealth while at the same time increasing the opportunities for financial diversification and monetary growth. An inward perspective to a country’s financial status can only mean a less assured or well informed position in a global market.

Many great philanthropists have used their wealth from previous and ongoing successful business ventures to greatly enhance the lives of their workers. They have established in-house development and ploughed back investment into a country’s economy. The workers themselves have in the past attempted to create an institution to use the benefits of mass buying to subsequently be passed on to the workforce. Unfortunately while there are not that many examples of this process from commercial enterprise, the concept is one that can produce results.

In an ideal world the main occupation of governments, of what ever type, surely should be in supporting efforts to improve the economic plight of it’s citizens but not through an isolation of economic consequences to others.

It is so sad to acknowledge that certain efforts to have a viable low interest rate are quickly aborted by government institutions. The irony is in keeping comparatively high interest rates, this has not been an efficient way of protecting banks from potential collapse.

A marriage of love and money needs constant help to survive and thrive. This assistance is not just needed from individuals but in the power of a wise government. Authoritative institutions and governing bodies can adopt a short or long sighted approach to spending, saving and speculating over policies that can affect other economies. While practices might vary, one outcome is for sure and that is a country can only ever be successful if it can support and boost the lives of those who live within it. In a very internationally aware population whereby economies can greatly influence each other through a variety of ways, perhaps it is better to learn from history and work towards a more secure economy that responds rather than reacts to the global state of play.

Modern Morality.

Not so long ago I saw something really horrifying! Broadcast on the news enough is the brutality and the unfeeling verve of attacking fellow human beings. I have heard the argument that people can become desensitized to these type of reports, not because of the terrible nature of them but due to the all too often regularity of the occurrences. Unbelievably this time, I found a new level of horror in this particular incident because these instigators of pain and suffering were the last people that I would have thought capable of those actions. The identity of those people is not so important as highlighting how from a position of higher morality and authority, their judgement belies everything that they have proclaimed to represent.

Morality, it is an interesting topic because the theory can be far easier to understand than the practical demonstration of it. It could be suggested that the more public the example, the harder the judgement call but then equally on a grander scale, the depiction of a sincerely just action can carry far more weight for vast populations. In this internationally media aware world how people respond to moral issues can be seen, evaluated and consequently impact upon life changing policies within a short space of time. Paramount is not only the integrity of those few who dominate a lot of the airtime but also the way in which they portray what they believe.

Over the top of the old Bailey, in London stands a figure holding a sword and scales. The figure is not blindfolded. I believe this is not just an indication of impartiality but a resolute determination to dispense justice. Over the years, laws and subsequent punishments have changed. Mirrored in this balance of morality and historical divergence is a reflected set of abolished punishments and modern social values.

People often search for purpose and moral direction in their lives and to this end revere precious documents. The printed word has both a power and inherent weakness. Historically often readers of these documents intemperate the meaning to fit an already formed perspective and justification for their actions.

It can be an attribute of human nature to look for patterns and label people and ideas. It is comforting to choose a particular group and once chosen not to reassess for yourself the correct moral points or actions of that particular group. Peer pressure is a major factor that will influence personal thinking. It is so easy for habit or a mob mentality to take over and replace an independent sense of individual moral responsibility.

There is a solution, touched on by noted historical figures, that implies the golden rule of do to others as you would like to have done to yourself. In this respect the most morally fit individuals are those who choose to implement afterthought and personal judgement depending on whatever the situation is at the time. It might mean going against long-held beliefs or close friends and family. When good people do nothing, it is the moral values of society that suffers.

Three Brains.

Sometimes in our busy lives we become so wrapped up within the pressures of life not to even ponder what constitutes us as thinking human beings. It may come as a surprise to know that all humans naturally poses not one brain but three specific brains AND each has a particular influence on our everyday lives. Understanding the particular functions of these brains could greatly increase our ability to interact with other people and become more aware of the complex reasons why we act as we do.

The initial brain is the Reptilian brain and its functions concern basic needs for survival such as fight or flight, food and reproduction. Next, is the Mammalian brain that focuses on an emotional basis. Finally, there is the processing Thinking brain that formalises language and cognitive aptitude, it interacts with the emotional mammalian brain.

You might well ask, what is the use of knowing that we have three brains? The reptilian brain is instantly responsive and because of this it gives a rapid message of perceived reality, which of course is essential for survival. The cognitive brain could for various reasons be used to disguise the initial intuitive action of the reptilian brain. Therefore to better grasp the actual situation it is necessary to recall the initial response both in yourself and in the importance of observing others’ reactions. In many particularly important human real life scenarios these subtle clues are an effective way of discerning the truth.

The emotional brain is a fantastic resource for not just every day use such as recall but also in specific examples of experiencing pain or pleasure. It is the mood changer and the door to Utopia. The cognitive brain can be used in a positive way to stimulate the natural release of pleasure endorphins and greatly increase the enjoyment of life. Multiple meditation methods and relaxation techniques will utilise the imagination as a focal point whereby desirable places can be envisaged and frequently visited to help calm down the body and mind.

Knowing that there are three brains can be useful in understanding the processes of thought and action. In implementing the brain’s association to that of wellbeing, it can be beneficial to think about what positive enhancements we can make to our own daily lives. When tossing and turning, someone who is unable to sleep can find that the pressures of the day might take the form of anxiety and continuous cognitive thinking. That voice in your head will not stop, yet there are ways of dealing with this. You divert the conscious mind into a repetitive relaxing state. Slowly repeating a word such as relax and each time you breath out feel yourself reaching a more relaxed state. It is important to focus on repeating the same word. This allows natural rest to take place. Do not consciously think about sleep or indeed about any particular thought as this interferes with the process of relaxing the cognitive state.

The human brain comprises recognisable divisions that interact with the ability to perform tasks in subtle ways. If we ignore the fact that it is the conscious recognizable brain that gives us the ability to take control of the Mammalian brain, we would forever be driven by our emotions. Feelings such as love, desire, rage, envy and greed could easily override any other considerations. It is natural to feel these emotions and more, however in balancing uses of different parts of the brain, we take time to evaluate our thoughts and actions. This is where maturity allows for developed attributes of the brain to rationalise and asses encounters. It shows that by not instantly retaliating when we feel just reason, the brain is a powerful tool that can counter initial emotive responses and evaluate the consequences of certain actions.

Fracking.

To frack or not to frack, that is the question. Seriously, this is a huge issue and one that can have a massive influence on people’s lives. If you want to answer the question though the first point to think about is, what fracking or hydraulic fracturing means? These processes are designed to tap into underground deposits of gas and oil. An initial shaft is drilled vertically down to a depth of approximately a mile and then at a right angle parallel to the surface for a further two miles. The initial shaft is insulated by concrete and further insulation is positioned around the parallel shaft. A mixture of water, sand and corrosive chemicals are then hydraulically forced into the surrounding shale. This causes extensive cracking in the shale, after sucking out the mixture, the particles of sand will then keep open the profuse number of cracks in the shale. The highly toxic mixture is discarded and the process of distributing the methane gas can take place.

Is fracking a good idea? Well to answer this one might look at the USA. One million wells have been drilled. As evidence of previous fracking, economically there is an argument against the process. This could well be substantiated by the fact that all the aforementioned fracking wells are losing money. A fracking well has a limited time of maximum production and then drastically declines. So constantly more wells need to be drilled. The timescale for optimum production is about two years and then declining returns over an approximate five years.

If energy companies are losing money why doesn't the bubble burst? There are probably two reasons, bonds that give cash now for a future promise of higher repayment and a diversity into other sources for income.

The next major point is that the geography and population of the USA and the UK is significantly different. In the UK there are more structural faults in the shale that could allow contamination to occur because of the shallow water reserves. If a disaster occurred it would affect substantially more people in the UK, than compared with that of the USA, as there is greater density of population.

Can the government be relied on to make an impartial informed decision? In many cases councils appear to hand out drilling licences indiscriminately. Energy fracking companies in many instances seem to have an increasing opportunity to act beyond that of conventional law and when found not observing procedures simply apply in retrospect for something that they have in actual fact already done.

The very nature of fracking demands a substantial number of wells, that means even a low risk becomes greater over time and as there is no proper control and enforcement of procedures the likelihood of an unplanned event surely does increase. This is an outcome that has happened in the USA. An example existed whereby methane gas escaped from the well and found its way into the water system. The most likely and probable cause for it would have been from the fracking but it was officially blamed on a malfunction of the insulation system. The problem is a proper independent checking and policing system even now is not operating or likely to be active in the future.

In the UK the first fracking well drilled through a natural fault resulting in an earthquake. The facts are that future safety of specific areas submitted to fracking can not be fully assessed and this is because there are regions that have different geographical structures to many other countries and if they contain natural fault lines, then this could well make such a technique detrimental to the environment.

There are many countries opposed to fracking. Just to mention a few amongst which are France, Germany, Denmark and Ireland. Interestingly out of the countries comprised in the UK only England has shown an enthusiasm for widely propagating fracking and this is except for London whose Mayor is fighting its introduction.

In my opinion fracking is a highly inefficient way of obtaining natural gas and that inefficiency is the Achilles’ heel of the industry. Even putting aside any arguments about the potential dangers that it may have, as a technique fracking has proven not to be economically secure.

Apart from wind, solar or hydropower, there are other ways of obtaining renewable energy that will after, the initial cost of building, become far cheaper and more sustainable than fracking. Evaporation is a perpetual energy source of nature and already viable machines built to harness this potential are a reality. This type of positive environmentally sound energy production may change the fracking industry and make it a relic of the past.

Chocolate Earth.

I have just noticed, what at first seemed, some scary news!! The Earth is wobbling and the culprit apparently is mankind. In fact to be accurate there are other factors that have to be taken into consideration. This wobbling has taken place over a very long time and the difference is that the wobble is becoming more apparent.

The Earth is not a perfect sphere as the North and South Pole are flattened and the Equator has a pronounced bulge. What is more to the point, the density and structure of the Earth will reveal why it is wobbling. Now, join me in a bit of a Willy Wonka moment if you will because a simple analogy for what has happened would be a giant sweet which has a solid nut centre surrounded by soft caramel and a honeycomb shell that is divided into two. The lower honeycomb shell is soft and malleable, the outer honeycomb shell is solid but brittle. Now visualise that sweet which in turn has an outer very thin chocolate covering shell. At the top and bottom of it are masses of ice cream that are both simultaneously melting.

The destabilising forces are a mix of melting ice at the poles. A vast amount of melting ice situated at Greenland. Under the surface of the Earth large amounts of rock that are malleable and due to pressure and heat have changed density and if positioned further away from the poles the affect of this change will be increased.

The outer crust of the Earth is divided into continent large segments and these slowly will be pushing at each other. There is a constant melting and movement of rock under these segments. However I know that you will be crying out, why should there be movement?

On investigating the reason for heat from the centre of the Earth I was surprised to learn that it did not just emanate from the core in the centre but from Radioactive decay of material in the outer mantel. Another surprising fact is the magnetic field flows not from the very hot solid iron and nickel centre core of the Earth but from the outer liquid iron and nickel core that is swirling due to the rotation of the earth.

Of course the Earth has a seasonal change of orientation to the sun but an increasing wobble does not sound good for the following reason. Although there is some debate over global warming the proven fact that solid ice turning to water is having an affect not just to increasing water levels and flooding but adding to the forces that increase the wobble of the Earth.

The Earth is a vibrant evolving hub of activity and it is important that for its and our future well-being that we consider carefully what we do and the consequences of it. The pursuit of energy is important for our survival but equally paramount is preserving the environment. We our lucky that knowledge of using renewable energy sources is within our capability. Returning to outdated energy sources, similarly to turning back the clock, is in progressive terms an impossibility. We need to be greener, cleaner and keener about our knowledge and use of energy. If we do then everybody gains and sustainable survival wins!

Future of the UK.

Brexit or No Brexit? It seems, to me anyway, as if all the dilemmas, deliberations and deal talks have brought about nothing but uncertainty and disparity. The future of the United kingdom was decided by a referendum and it was at that point the spectre of Brexit became a reality. After protracted talks with the EU negotiators about a prospective agreed trading future relationship it has become obvious that the integrity of the EU would be threatened if too much is given away and no trading deal would ever be possible if not enough is given over! It is a bit of a perplexing scenario whereby one is torn up if they do and frustrated if they do not. Will there ever be any light at the end of the Brexit shaped tunnel? I do believe so, and this is why...

It is clear that a successful future for the UK is destined by forging new business deals with the rest of the world. Whether we like it or not in the short-term there will be significant alterations to traditional trade and travel until the process of adapting to the new situation has taken place. It is quite understandable that there is a fear of the unknown yet the known is not always that safe.

When countries can independently declare tariffs that affect all trading partners and have the option to walk away from committed ventures, then being involved in a trading group as such is no guaranteed protection. Undoubtedly there are pros and cons to almost every action but against a cautious approach one has to weigh up the possibility and potential that could be gained.

Conforming to convention can seem appealing but any total conviction in the advantage of unity must always be balanced by a full understanding of what that unity’s aims are and especially how over time the nature of its own construction might well have dramatically changed.

Intransigent approaches to negotiations will gain nothing in the long-term. All efforts must be directed to securing beneficial new trading partners but not at any cost. The identity of the UK has evolved to cater for a more widely internationally conscious public. The population is increasingly discerning and demands a more radically ethical and moral awareness in economic issues. Certain industries can revolutionise and revitalise previously stagnant or neglected financial arenas in the UK. Technology and medicines are in great demand and new types of business are constantly evolving to replace the old. Attitudes similarly are progressive and Brexit has taught us, if nothing else, that embracing new opportunity might not be easy but it can set a positively unacknowledged precedent.

Historically countries have been built on a combination of a forward-thinking approach and determining decisions that often have defined examples not ever seen before. These instances can be confronting but pioneering, because if you lead from the front then far from losing out, there can be everything to gain.

Purpose of Life.

What is the purpose of life? For humans this can be a complex question with many different individual answers. For some, apart from the obvious, the answer it is to survive and propagate the species but for others this question could be countered with another. Does there need to be a purpose apart from that of survival?

Many groups and organisations are keen to propagate their particular world view. To strengthen their claims and superiority they claim to have the answer to the facts of the origins of life. Over the years countless civilisations have often, after conquests, spread their prevailing beliefs. In some cases this was through a combination of technical and medical knowledge alongside religious ideologies.

It is a general fact that people tend to accept at an early age the beliefs of their family. A fixed view might materialise until with maturity some may question various points, that on reflection, no longer fit into their experience of life. What value is a belief that challenges an individual’s social conscience?

A belief which stipulates that one knows the purpose of life does not give an infallible insight into an all-encompassing right and wrong. Each situation can be viewed from a different angle.

Referring to a pre-set formula has so many problems including an influence of the final results. For example the very act of interpreting an instruction can vary, in addition society’s collective values can over time, change. One then has a tough dilemma to answer as which formula is just and according to what standard?

Even if the origin of life is known for a fact, how does that relate to a purpose?

Hypothetically life can be created but there could be multiple motivations for what the purpose of it should be?

Should not the purpose of life remain an individual choice? Bearing in mind that humans need to live in a social environment one has to acknowledge that there are many different schools of thought about such a large and complex question. There might be many variants on a theme but ultimately the what and how is a matter of independent decision. If one feels happy with their own definition and it succeeds in perpetuating a positive reinforcement of values and achievement, then surely this has to be a purpose worth having in life.