I should start with a disclaimer:
The opinions and experiences expressed in this post are purely that of the author.
This is not meant in any way to be directed at any particular person or be in response to any particular comment.
I fully acknowledge that my own personal experience is nothing more than an anecdote, and a data set of one (1) generally proves nothing.
My wife was (is!) really excited about starting a family. I've been looking forward to it too.
I convinced her to agree to wait just a couple more months after we got married to save up some money so we can both take 6 months to a year off to be full time parents.
And I also asked for one critical thing:
Can we please not "try" to have a baby?
Can we instead just make conditions such that it is possible, and then "allow" it to happen?
She agreed to this.
No testing kits, no books, no thermometers, no fancy expensive lubes, and no pills of any kind.
Of course she took vitamins with folic acid and DHA, and she has a free app where if you put in the dates of each period it will predict the next one as well as likely fertile days based on the historical pattern. But she was doing both of those things for the past year anyway.
The app has the option to add temperatures to improve accuracy of fertility prediction, but we just took the calendar based prediction as a good enough rough guide. Fertile days start several days - up to 5 days - before ovulation anyway, and only last about a day after, so knowing the exact day is of limited usefulness anyway - once you know for sure its basically too late.
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
26 November 2016
29 March 2015
Hospital Births - A Distinctly First World "Problem"; (Slightly) Less Crazy Than The Anti-Vaccine Movement...
One of, if not the primary argument of proponents of home birth is that the process of giving birth is a natural process, one that the female human body was literally designed to do, and therefore barring the occasional special complication, there is no reason to treat it like a medical emergency or disease.
And superficially - especially looked at from our current generation's time - that seems to be a pretty reasonable argument.
There's just one big glaring hole in that argument: prior to modern medical interventions, giving bilth was the single most likely thing to kill a woman of child bearing age. In the 1850s, those with no access to even the rudimentary level of medical care (i.e. slaves) had a 20% chance of neonatal mortality.
In other words, the "natural" process of birth killed 1 out of 5 humans who attempted it.
In addition, another 1.5% of mothers die from the process with no medical intervention.
That makes it a medical emergency.
And superficially - especially looked at from our current generation's time - that seems to be a pretty reasonable argument.
There's just one big glaring hole in that argument: prior to modern medical interventions, giving bilth was the single most likely thing to kill a woman of child bearing age. In the 1850s, those with no access to even the rudimentary level of medical care (i.e. slaves) had a 20% chance of neonatal mortality.
In other words, the "natural" process of birth killed 1 out of 5 humans who attempted it.
"In the 1850s, the infant mortality rate in the United States was estimated at ... 340.0 per 1,000 for African Americans"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_mortality#In_the_United_States
In addition, another 1.5% of mothers die from the process with no medical intervention.
"Bearing a child is still one of the most dangerous things a woman can do. It’s the sixth most common cause of death among women age 20 to 34 in the United States.""In the United States today, about 15 women die in pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births. That’s way too many, but a century ago it was more than 600 women per 100,000 births. In the 1600s and 1700s, the death rate was twice that: By some estimates, between 1 and 1.5 percent of women giving birth died."
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science_of_ longevity/2013/09/death_in_ childbirth_doctors_increased_ maternal_mortality_in_the_ 20th_century.html
That makes it a medical emergency.
12 July 2014
Information on my genes provided by 23andMe and Promethease
Finally got my DNA analysis back from 23andMe:
Since the FDA stopped allowing them to interpret the data for their customers, I had to spend an extra $5 with https://promethease.com/ to get useful information out of it.
Here's the most interesting and useful stuff they found:
gs 229 & i3003137(A;T)- Sickle cell trait; resistant to malaria but a carrier for sickle cell anemia. Note some believe gs229 individuals should be identified by screening before being exposed to extreme physical exertion due to ~30x higher risk for sudden death
Sickle Cell Anemia carrier - "Bad news: You are a carrier for Sickle Cell Anemia. You should consider having your partner tested before before having children. The good news is that you are naturally resistant to malaria."
[I learned this at Coast Guard bootcamp. The info the doctor gave me said there is rarely any real life effect, other than sudden death during extreme activity such as mountain climbing or... military bootcamp! I didn't die though :P ]
gs251 - Beta Thalassemia carrier (Beta thalassemia is a hereditary disease affecting the hemoglobin - similar to sickle cell)
[I guess I should go visit the tropics, take advantage of the fact that I am malaria proof]
rs738409(G;G) - higher odds of alcoholic liver disease, increased liver fat While found in 55%+ of all people, alcohol seems to be 3x more damaging to your liver than typical
[That's ok, I rarely drink anyway]
rs7294919(C;T) Moderately enhanced hippocampal volume
The hippocampus is a critical brain structure involved in learning and memory. In particular, it is associated with the ability to form long-term memories of facts and events
rs2237717(T;T) - roles in general neurodevelopment and in the development of autism . Rs2237717 has been linked to schizophrenia, and the ability to recognize facial emotion. Possible cancer protection.
[I've always suspected I may have just a touch of Asperger's / ASD. Not enough to be diagnosable, but enough that I often sympathize more with the experience of aspys than of NTs. Wonder how much of that is related to rs2237717(T;T) ]
05 May 2014
06 July 2013
If I Were Elected King of the Country
My new friend asked me a few weeks ago, "what would you change about the world, if you had the power to?"
She said she tried to ask all new people she met that question.01 July 2013
Cats Were Not Very Well Designed
Whoever built cats, be it God or evolution, some sort of super intelligent space aliens or the ancient Egyptians, they made a pretty serious and, frankly, stupid, design flaw.
If for whatever reason a cat goes just a few days without eating, like all animals, they begin to metabolize their fat reserves for energy. Like all animals, this fat metabolization (along with many other tasks) is the job of the liver.
But, unlike every single other animal, a cat's liver is actually damaged by the process of metabolizing more than a tiny amount of fat at a time.
And just what symptoms does that type of liver damage cause? Why nausea, of course! Which in turn leads to anorexia. Which in turn leads to not eating. Which in turn leads to the body needing to burn more fat. Which in turn damages the liver further. Which in turn leads to more severe anorexia...
So, even if the original cause of the problem is no longer an issue, this cycle leads to death.
Its called Hepatic Lipidosis, and it can be triggered in as little as 3 DAYS without food.
Often times it is triggered by some other disease or medical condition, but it can also be triggered by stress, (from a move, or a new cat roommate, for example), or by a new brand of food. If they are wild, perhaps there just aren't any mice or birds around to catch for a few days in a row.
The treatment is regular food. But since they have no appetite, a cat's human has to manually feed them.
And so the little Chairman gets a syringe-full or two of watered down canned food squirted into his mouth every hour or so, for at least the next couple weeks, or until whenever he decides to start eating again on his own.
If for whatever reason a cat goes just a few days without eating, like all animals, they begin to metabolize their fat reserves for energy. Like all animals, this fat metabolization (along with many other tasks) is the job of the liver.
But, unlike every single other animal, a cat's liver is actually damaged by the process of metabolizing more than a tiny amount of fat at a time.
And just what symptoms does that type of liver damage cause? Why nausea, of course! Which in turn leads to anorexia. Which in turn leads to not eating. Which in turn leads to the body needing to burn more fat. Which in turn damages the liver further. Which in turn leads to more severe anorexia...
So, even if the original cause of the problem is no longer an issue, this cycle leads to death.
Its called Hepatic Lipidosis, and it can be triggered in as little as 3 DAYS without food.
Often times it is triggered by some other disease or medical condition, but it can also be triggered by stress, (from a move, or a new cat roommate, for example), or by a new brand of food. If they are wild, perhaps there just aren't any mice or birds around to catch for a few days in a row.
The treatment is regular food. But since they have no appetite, a cat's human has to manually feed them.
And so the little Chairman gets a syringe-full or two of watered down canned food squirted into his mouth every hour or so, for at least the next couple weeks, or until whenever he decides to start eating again on his own.
07 January 2011
Be Healthy, part 2 (sub-section: fat management)
Friday, January 7, 2011
Be Healthy, part 2 (sub-section: fat management)
(Since blogs are listed with the most recent entry on top, the main essay is immediately below this one. If you have not already, read that one first)
Having below a certain percent body fat does not automatically make you healthy...
02 January 2011
Be Healthy, My Friend
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Be Healthy, My Friend
The word "Health" has become almost meaningless.
This is due to a number of factors, but one of the chief ones, I suspect, is marketing.
It helps to sell things as "healthy" if there is no clear idea what that actually means.
I will resist the temptation to get into that whole topic...
What I do want to do is try to remove some of the abstraction, by breaking it down into its constituent parts. While the term itself eludes a single precise definition, there's a list of components that are part of it, and those parts are reasonably concrete.
This is due to a number of factors, but one of the chief ones, I suspect, is marketing.
It helps to sell things as "healthy" if there is no clear idea what that actually means.
I will resist the temptation to get into that whole topic...
What I do want to do is try to remove some of the abstraction, by breaking it down into its constituent parts. While the term itself eludes a single precise definition, there's a list of components that are part of it, and those parts are reasonably concrete.
-A lack of, resistance to, and/or ability to recover from infection (by viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungus, or parasite)
Even a healthy person may get the occasional cold, but they will get better more quickly
-A lack of, resistance to, and/or ability to recover from non-infectious-disease (such as diabetes or angina)
-A lack of, resistance to, and/or ability to recover from injury
-Longevity (how long you live)
-General fitness*
-Mental/emotional health - I wholeheartedly acknowledge that this is a very important part of overall health; however there is so much to cover just considering physical health that I won't mention mental/emotional here any further than this sentence.
-A lack of, resistance to, and/or ability to recover from injury
-Longevity (how long you live)
-General fitness*
-Mental/emotional health - I wholeheartedly acknowledge that this is a very important part of overall health; however there is so much to cover just considering physical health that I won't mention mental/emotional here any further than this sentence.
09 July 2009
Spoons and Amtgard; together at last
- Jul 9, 2009
Spoons and Amtgard; together at last
Its been a long time.
There was winter.
Then training for the Bay to Breakers.
There is Farmer's Markets, my truck and garden projects, and Downieville.
But, to be honest, it has been mainly laziness.
No more!
This time, for the first time ever, I am combining my two favorite sports, Full Contact Spoons and Amtgard.
(No, not at the same time. We will not be using weapons during the actual spoons game. No, its not actually a good idea. It would be terrible. Don't suggest it.)
At the same Bat time, same Bat channel:
Sunday, July 12th, 2009 at 2:30-4:30pm
Ohlone Park in Berkeley, (across the street from N. Berkeley BART)
Please note:
Spoons is not a spectator sport!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone in attendance will be expected to play. Don't wear anything which would be tragic to have grass stained.
I now have two shields to add to my amtgard arsenal. If you happen to have any foam swords, bring them.
If you are seeing this message for the first time, and are interested in playing, be sure to email me so I put you on the Spoons list for future games.
14 May 2009
Bush Jr
May 14, 2009
Bush Jr.
His press correspondents dinner was much much funnier than Obama's was. He gets points for that. I guess there was just so much more to make fun of about him, and he knew it, which, granted, is a very bad quality for the most powerful person on the planet to have.
But still.
I miss the days of making fun of the president. It was enjoyable. And it gave a good place for everyone to direct their anger. Now who are we gonna be angry at? We're going to have to go back to road rage, and as a bicyclist, motorcyclist, and hypermiler, that's extra bad news for me. I realize now, too late, that I should have voted for McCain. In the interest of amusement. Sure, there is a slight chance we get universal health care within the next decade, but under Jr. we didn't need health care.
Because laughter is the best medicine.
(starts 2 minutes in)
30 April 2009
Media sensationalism makes me sick
- Apr 30, 2009
Media sensationalism makes me sick
Total # of deaths from "swine" flu: 8
Total annual deaths from regular old human flu: 250-500 thousand
http://tiny.cc/swine511
http://tiny.cc/flu611
Turns out this isn't the first panic over "swine flu"
Only 1 person died from swine flu in 1976. Hundreds of Americans were killed or seriously injured by the inoculation the government gave them to stave off the virus.
http://www.capitalcentury.com/1976.html
Of course it isn't just about ratings and selling papers. Some of it is human nature. I think we enjoy panicking.
I understand that people have a hard time taking history into account. If it didn't happen in one's own lifetime it becomes an abstraction, and therefore not something to learn from. But "bird" flu was only, what, 3 years ago? The "global pandemic" of bird flu killed a little over 200 people world-wide over the course of about 5 years.
Before that was y2k. It was supposed to shut down every computer, crippling all of modern civilization.
The supposed financial "crises" hasn't even wore itself out, and already we are on to our next one.
I stopped watching/reading "news" a long time ago, and yet somehow I keep hearing about this stuff.
I keep imagining to myself that somehow humanity is going to collectively stop being so stupid.
I know how terribly deluded I am.
I think I should just give in.
Anyone know where I can buy one of those masks?
Total annual deaths from regular old human flu: 250-500 thousand
http://tiny.cc/swine511
http://tiny.cc/flu611
Turns out this isn't the first panic over "swine flu"
Only 1 person died from swine flu in 1976. Hundreds of Americans were killed or seriously injured by the inoculation the government gave them to stave off the virus.
http://www.capitalcentury.com/1976.html
Of course it isn't just about ratings and selling papers. Some of it is human nature. I think we enjoy panicking.
I understand that people have a hard time taking history into account. If it didn't happen in one's own lifetime it becomes an abstraction, and therefore not something to learn from. But "bird" flu was only, what, 3 years ago? The "global pandemic" of bird flu killed a little over 200 people world-wide over the course of about 5 years.
Before that was y2k. It was supposed to shut down every computer, crippling all of modern civilization.
The supposed financial "crises" hasn't even wore itself out, and already we are on to our next one.
I stopped watching/reading "news" a long time ago, and yet somehow I keep hearing about this stuff.
I keep imagining to myself that somehow humanity is going to collectively stop being so stupid.
I know how terribly deluded I am.
I think I should just give in.
Anyone know where I can buy one of those masks?
28 February 2009
13 August 2008
Part 2
- Aug 13, 2008
Part 2
Something feels off about my last post.
Too negative.
I forgot the important part about how being "green" isn't really a sacrifice at all.
Because, really, a great many things that we take for granted today, many of the conveniences and luxuries, don't really add much to life - in fact, some take away from it.
Say, for example, you trade your car for a bike and your steak for a salad.
Right off the top you are saving money. In the case of the car, thousands upon thousands of dollars.
Then, after a few weeks, you are getting healthier, stronger, losing weight, feeling better about yourself, feeling better about getting up and starting each new day.
The same goes of you just take a partial step, say riding the bike to work (or to the train station, whatever) once a week, and reducing animal product intake by half.
You still find yourself with more energy, a more positive outlook on the world. After a few months, maybe a year, chances are you are up to 3 days a week, and meat only for special occasions.
Meanwhile you have this big ole stack of bills piling up in your bank account - oh, and as a side benefit, you are doing a huge service for the environment ("the environment" being short-hand for "the future of all life on the planet, including ourselves")
Its like smoking. For a smoker, there really isn't any reward to each cigarette, other than the cessation of the withdrawal symptoms. The reward to giving it up is significantly improved health, both in terms of being able to catch the bus that's just pulling away, and in terms of a long life. Plus, all the money you save by not buying the cigarettes (and the health care costs some day - because yall know we aren't going to get a nationalized health plan anytime soon).
Its just habit (and chemical addiction) that keeps them going back for more.
Our cars and diet and electricity use and all the rest are basically like cigarettes. They don't make us happier in life, but we have a lot of trouble giving them up.
(The good news is, no physical addiction!)
Other things that are good for the earth, which in the long run are good for our pocketbooks, our health, and/or our happiness, include buying the absolute smallest car you can find, buying less stuff (we all know stuff doesn't really make us happier), living close to work (or better yet, telecommuting), eating organic (more nutrients, less toxic chemicals), saving energy (this should go without saying.) It does take more time to put the clothes on the line. But not only do you save money, that is time spent outdoors in the sun, instead of in some laundrymat or the basement.
Then, with all the surplus in good deeds, spend some of that on the things that make life better, (but maybe aren't the best things ecologically)
If you spent all year saving electricity, go ahead and put up that elaborate xmas light display.
After buying everything on Craigslist.org or from thrift stores, go ahead and buy a brand new high quality food processor.
After biking to work every day, take the car up to the mountains for vacation.
And don't feel bad about it!
Enjoy life. Doing good should not be a sacrifice.
Too negative.
I forgot the important part about how being "green" isn't really a sacrifice at all.
Because, really, a great many things that we take for granted today, many of the conveniences and luxuries, don't really add much to life - in fact, some take away from it.
Say, for example, you trade your car for a bike and your steak for a salad.
Right off the top you are saving money. In the case of the car, thousands upon thousands of dollars.
Then, after a few weeks, you are getting healthier, stronger, losing weight, feeling better about yourself, feeling better about getting up and starting each new day.
The same goes of you just take a partial step, say riding the bike to work (or to the train station, whatever) once a week, and reducing animal product intake by half.
You still find yourself with more energy, a more positive outlook on the world. After a few months, maybe a year, chances are you are up to 3 days a week, and meat only for special occasions.
Meanwhile you have this big ole stack of bills piling up in your bank account - oh, and as a side benefit, you are doing a huge service for the environment ("the environment" being short-hand for "the future of all life on the planet, including ourselves")
Its like smoking. For a smoker, there really isn't any reward to each cigarette, other than the cessation of the withdrawal symptoms. The reward to giving it up is significantly improved health, both in terms of being able to catch the bus that's just pulling away, and in terms of a long life. Plus, all the money you save by not buying the cigarettes (and the health care costs some day - because yall know we aren't going to get a nationalized health plan anytime soon).
Its just habit (and chemical addiction) that keeps them going back for more.
Our cars and diet and electricity use and all the rest are basically like cigarettes. They don't make us happier in life, but we have a lot of trouble giving them up.
(The good news is, no physical addiction!)
Other things that are good for the earth, which in the long run are good for our pocketbooks, our health, and/or our happiness, include buying the absolute smallest car you can find, buying less stuff (we all know stuff doesn't really make us happier), living close to work (or better yet, telecommuting), eating organic (more nutrients, less toxic chemicals), saving energy (this should go without saying.) It does take more time to put the clothes on the line. But not only do you save money, that is time spent outdoors in the sun, instead of in some laundrymat or the basement.
Then, with all the surplus in good deeds, spend some of that on the things that make life better, (but maybe aren't the best things ecologically)
If you spent all year saving electricity, go ahead and put up that elaborate xmas light display.
After buying everything on Craigslist.org or from thrift stores, go ahead and buy a brand new high quality food processor.
After biking to work every day, take the car up to the mountains for vacation.
And don't feel bad about it!
Enjoy life. Doing good should not be a sacrifice.
24 July 2008
A total change of perspective
- Jul 24, 2008
A total change of perspective
What an experience these last few days have been!
So, from where I left off...
I did not end up learning to sail that day, as my friend / instructor had last minute craziness.
However, I actually didn't feel very disappointed because, in a way, now I get to enjoy the feeling of looking forward to it for another week (or perhaps because I'm scared of falling into the cold wet bay - which is apparently inevitable)
With the unexpected free time I did the laundry, the dishes, a thorough work out (I am getting close to being able to clean and jerk my own body weight), proof-read the blog from the night before, checked my PO box, I can't remember all what else.
As night approached, after that horrible experience the night before of trying and failing to sleep, of spending hours awake in the silent dark, alone with my thoughts a second time, I decided that instead I would not even try to sleep.
This time I took the opposite route, modofinil and caffeine pills and some primeatene just to jump start it, cranked up the music, turned on every light in the house, and did some exercising.
With hours to kill, I looked up an internet forum I found months ago when I was trying to learn more about the sort of psychological issues I suspected my wife of having related to her traumatic childhood, and how it was likely to play out in our marriage.
This time though, instead of looking with a focus on figuring out how to best improve our relationship, I was just looking for general validation and emotional support from people who had dealt with the exact same issues themselves. There are many post both from people who have attachment problems of their own as well as spouses and former spouses of them.
So, from where I left off...
I did not end up learning to sail that day, as my friend / instructor had last minute craziness.
However, I actually didn't feel very disappointed because, in a way, now I get to enjoy the feeling of looking forward to it for another week (or perhaps because I'm scared of falling into the cold wet bay - which is apparently inevitable)
With the unexpected free time I did the laundry, the dishes, a thorough work out (I am getting close to being able to clean and jerk my own body weight), proof-read the blog from the night before, checked my PO box, I can't remember all what else.
As night approached, after that horrible experience the night before of trying and failing to sleep, of spending hours awake in the silent dark, alone with my thoughts a second time, I decided that instead I would not even try to sleep.
This time I took the opposite route, modofinil and caffeine pills and some primeatene just to jump start it, cranked up the music, turned on every light in the house, and did some exercising.
With hours to kill, I looked up an internet forum I found months ago when I was trying to learn more about the sort of psychological issues I suspected my wife of having related to her traumatic childhood, and how it was likely to play out in our marriage.
This time though, instead of looking with a focus on figuring out how to best improve our relationship, I was just looking for general validation and emotional support from people who had dealt with the exact same issues themselves. There are many post both from people who have attachment problems of their own as well as spouses and former spouses of them.
05 November 2007
For my more feminine friends
- Nov 5, 2007
For my more feminine friends
It isn't about strength to weight ratio.
Don't let your natural estrogen to testosterone ratio deter you.
It is a matter of will.
(Well, that, and lots and lots of practice)
The term is "traceuse" (French) and I think we need more of them.
After all, consider ice skating, swing dancing, gymnastics, and track & field. Plenty of our gentler and more attractive gender in those sports. Parkour is really no more than track plus gymnastics applied to a real world setting.
Speaking of which, these two show how these things can be very practical and useful skills to be comfortable with in real world situations. You never know when something like the following may happen to you!...
Don't let your natural estrogen to testosterone ratio deter you.
It is a matter of will.
(Well, that, and lots and lots of practice)
The term is "traceuse" (French) and I think we need more of them.
After all, consider ice skating, swing dancing, gymnastics, and track & field. Plenty of our gentler and more attractive gender in those sports. Parkour is really no more than track plus gymnastics applied to a real world setting.
Speaking of which, these two show how these things can be very practical and useful skills to be comfortable with in real world situations. You never know when something like the following may happen to you!...
01 October 2007
Bike helmets - (I still don’t like the sound of my recorded voice)
- Oct 1, 2007
Bike helmets - I still don’t like the sound of my recorded voice
You'd think that after having been the vocalist in several bands,
recording some solo stuff (like my profile song), and all, I'd be used to it.
Anyway...
so,
Fridays I switch off with a co-worker.
I thought it was my day off. I get the phone call "Are you coming in?"
"huh?"
"you know you're supposed to be at the bikestation, right?"
"oh $@! really? I'm so sorry. I'll be there in like an hour"
"And the film crew is waiting for you"
"WHAT??!!??!!"
Anyway...
so,
Fridays I switch off with a co-worker.
I thought it was my day off. I get the phone call "Are you coming in?"
"huh?"
"you know you're supposed to be at the bikestation, right?"
"oh $@! really? I'm so sorry. I'll be there in like an hour"
"And the film crew is waiting for you"
"WHAT??!!??!!"
11 June 2007
Stuff smells
- Jun 11, 2007
Stuff smells
Anti-biotic
Latin for "Against Life"
That which kills, poison, death.
We consider it medicine. We use anti-life to keep us alive.
We don’t like to think that we are animals. The "higher" primates. "More" evolved - if a specie is still here, it’s equally highly evolved. We are just more recently evolved.
We like to think our motives are better, more pure or more altruistic - we want to make the world a better place, which shows we have souls; we are not animalistic, motivated by lust and hunger and fear. But altruism is common in social species, it is animalistic; and we are motivated by lust, hunger, and fear.
We teach our children early on - not on purpose, but by example, that things that are slimy are "gross". Amphibians, for example.
I can barely imagine a more pleasant sensual experience than a Japanese "SoapLand" - all slimy and slippery and soft and squishy and squirmy.
We, humanity, most societies, are antagonistic toward even just the concept of sex. We take it as given that knowing that sex exists will harm, or at least confuse children. Sex is bad for children? Without sex there are no children! Sex is life. We’re not going to learn how to bud off clone offspring anytime soon.
We like everything purified and sanitized. Sanitized for your protection. Antibiotic. Wouldn’t want to make your immune system have to work. Don’t drink the water. The people who live in second and third world countries drink the water everyday, and they haven’t all died. We avoid dirt. Dirt is soil. Soil grows plants, primary producers, that every other specie depends on for sustenance. Dirt is life. We can’t photosynthesize. We need dirt. A little dirt with your water, with your food, it won’t hurt you. What other specie drinks water only after its been distilled, or reverse osmosised? Its unnatural.
We can see, we can hear, we can feel, we can taste, we can smell. We don’t seem to care much for smell. Things have scents. Saying something "smells" is synonymous in our language for something smells bad. As though every smell were bad. Something is making a sound doesn’t automatically mean a gratingly annoying sound. Most creatures that smell, they use it, they recognize each other by smell, they find food. We don’t like each other’s smell. We wash it away. We deodorize it. The fact that we overly concentrate it with clothing even on a warm day certainly doesn’t help… Most animals don’t like the smell of strong chemicals, but who else finds the smell of their own species to be gross?
Some of the best things about being alive, like sex and food and some of the best play, is slimy and smelly and dirty and filled with bacteria - but not the kind of bacteria that are going to kill you.
We don’t find much visual stimulus to be repulsive. Seems like half of all scents stink to someone.
If we are protected from life, what is the point of living?
Why would anyone want to ingest something which is called an "anti-biotic"?
Latin for "Against Life"
That which kills, poison, death.
We consider it medicine. We use anti-life to keep us alive.
We don’t like to think that we are animals. The "higher" primates. "More" evolved - if a specie is still here, it’s equally highly evolved. We are just more recently evolved.
We like to think our motives are better, more pure or more altruistic - we want to make the world a better place, which shows we have souls; we are not animalistic, motivated by lust and hunger and fear. But altruism is common in social species, it is animalistic; and we are motivated by lust, hunger, and fear.
We teach our children early on - not on purpose, but by example, that things that are slimy are "gross". Amphibians, for example.
I can barely imagine a more pleasant sensual experience than a Japanese "SoapLand" - all slimy and slippery and soft and squishy and squirmy.
We, humanity, most societies, are antagonistic toward even just the concept of sex. We take it as given that knowing that sex exists will harm, or at least confuse children. Sex is bad for children? Without sex there are no children! Sex is life. We’re not going to learn how to bud off clone offspring anytime soon.
We like everything purified and sanitized. Sanitized for your protection. Antibiotic. Wouldn’t want to make your immune system have to work. Don’t drink the water. The people who live in second and third world countries drink the water everyday, and they haven’t all died. We avoid dirt. Dirt is soil. Soil grows plants, primary producers, that every other specie depends on for sustenance. Dirt is life. We can’t photosynthesize. We need dirt. A little dirt with your water, with your food, it won’t hurt you. What other specie drinks water only after its been distilled, or reverse osmosised? Its unnatural.
We can see, we can hear, we can feel, we can taste, we can smell. We don’t seem to care much for smell. Things have scents. Saying something "smells" is synonymous in our language for something smells bad. As though every smell were bad. Something is making a sound doesn’t automatically mean a gratingly annoying sound. Most creatures that smell, they use it, they recognize each other by smell, they find food. We don’t like each other’s smell. We wash it away. We deodorize it. The fact that we overly concentrate it with clothing even on a warm day certainly doesn’t help… Most animals don’t like the smell of strong chemicals, but who else finds the smell of their own species to be gross?
Some of the best things about being alive, like sex and food and some of the best play, is slimy and smelly and dirty and filled with bacteria - but not the kind of bacteria that are going to kill you.
We don’t find much visual stimulus to be repulsive. Seems like half of all scents stink to someone.
If we are protected from life, what is the point of living?
Why would anyone want to ingest something which is called an "anti-biotic"?
27 May 2007
Guess who just did his first one handed pull up?
- May 27, 2007
Guess who just did his first one handed pull up?
Oh hell yes!
And to think, so much money, so much time wasted on gym memberships and working out.
When all I had to do was start working as a mover/hauler.
Ok, ok, I admit it
It wasn't really a proper pull-up.
It was what the junior high school gym teacher referred to as a 1/2 pull-up, so that he didn't have to give out so many zeros during the annual fitness test.
(Back then there were a lot of halves, ones, occasionally a two. I used to pop off 10 or 15...)
Not the entire range of motion, from full extension to full contraction.
I can go from either full extension to half way, or half way to full contraction, but not quite both at once.
But this is sure the closest I've ever come!
I'm pretty happy with it.
Give me a couple months with my new in home pull-up bar, and...
And to think, so much money, so much time wasted on gym memberships and working out.
When all I had to do was start working as a mover/hauler.
Ok, ok, I admit it
It wasn't really a proper pull-up.
It was what the junior high school gym teacher referred to as a 1/2 pull-up, so that he didn't have to give out so many zeros during the annual fitness test.
(Back then there were a lot of halves, ones, occasionally a two. I used to pop off 10 or 15...)
Not the entire range of motion, from full extension to full contraction.
I can go from either full extension to half way, or half way to full contraction, but not quite both at once.
But this is sure the closest I've ever come!
I'm pretty happy with it.
Give me a couple months with my new in home pull-up bar, and...
06 December 2006
In Praise of Idleness
·
Dec 6,
2006
In Praise of Idleness
By Bertrand Russell
"Like most of my generation, I was brought up on the saying: 'Satan finds some mischief for idle hands to do.' Being a highly virtuous child, I believed all that I was told, and acquired a conscience which has kept me working hard down to the present moment. But although my conscience has controlled my actions, my opinions have undergone a revolution. I think that there is far too much work done in the world, that immense harm is caused by the belief that work is virtuous, and that what needs to be preached in modern industrial countries is quite different from what always has been preached. Everyone knows the story of the traveler in Naples who saw twelve beggars lying in the sun (it was before the days of Mussolini), and offered a lira to the laziest of them. Eleven of them jumped up to claim it, so he gave it to the twelfth. this traveler was on the right lines. But in countries which do not enjoy Mediterranean sunshine idleness is more difficult, and a great public propaganda will be required to inaugurate it. I hope that, after reading the following pages, the leaders of the YMCA will start a campaign to induce good young men to do nothing. If so, I shall not have lived in vain...."
17 September 2006
28; Easy solution to being fat
·
Sep 17,
2006
28; Easy solution to being fat
Step 1:
Sell your car. Buy a bicycle. Ride it to work, and to the store, and everywhere else you need to go. Better yet, run. Yes, you can do it. Guess what people do in countries where there are no cars? Guess what humans did before cars were invented?
Ever see a fat cave man?
What you mean is "I don't desire to be healthy if it means inconvenience!" Quit whining and either accept that you will die of a heart attack before you reach 50, or go post an ad for your car.
Step 2:
Eat less food. Throw out all the stupid "low-fat" this and "carb" that. It's all worthless junk trying to get fat people's dollars. Only eat food you personally did, (or at least could have), picked, dug up, or killed yourself, with your bare hands. Can’t kill a wild cow with your bare hands? Don’t eat hamburgers. Eat vegetables. Fish is OK, poultry in moderation is OK. Don’t eating crap like cakes and pies and ice cream and chips. Too difficult to give up fast food? Then you don't really want to lose weight. Stop pretending that you do. Instant gratification is clearly more important than either your appearance or your health.
I love it when people try to rationalize that fat is genetic. Right, because as we all know, Americans are genetically all the same. This explains why Americans have a greater obesity rate than any other country in the world, in all of history - it's the United Statesian Fat Gene.
Being over weight is voluntary. It results from a culture of laziness. We have more cars than drivers in this country. Every TV comes with a remote. You wouldn't want to have to get up and walk the three feet to the TV! We are a nation which watches sports on TV instead of getting up and PLAYING them.
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