Thursday, July 31, 2025
Quomodocunquizing
Quomodocunquizing - the act of making money in any way possible, often without regard for ethics or standards, conveying a sense of opportunistic financial gain.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Breath
True story. I've been working on holding my breath, once per day, for several years. Only recently and after several years, I can comfortably hold my breath for 2+ minutes. It's an interesting practice from my point of view. One benefit that I experience is that my nasal passages are very clear afterwards. If you want to try it, I would suggest you follow a clear protocol that you can find and start for a short period, say 10 to 20 seconds. Good posture is essential. It's not for everybody. Some will describe holding your breath with lungs empty, which in my opinion is especially hard, and some will describe methods with lungs full. The latter is what I do.
From Ai:
Holding your breath for 2 minutes: potential benefits and considerations
While holding your breath for two minutes might seem like a simple feat, it can induce notable physiological responses that can offer both potential benefits and risks.
Potential benefits:
- Improved CO2 tolerance and respiratory control: Regularly practicing breath holds, like in some freediving training methods, can increase your body's tolerance to higher carbon dioxide levels. This can lead to a reduced urge to breathe, potentially allowing for more efficient and calmer breathing at rest and during exertion.
- Enhanced performance and resilience (in trained individuals): Breath-hold training, especially for trained athletes, may improve respiratory muscle strength, leading to increased lung capacity and better oxygen delivery and utilization. This could potentially translate to increased endurance, delayed fatigue, and faster recovery during exercise.
- Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system: Controlled breath-holding can help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's "rest and digest" response. This can lead to a calming effect and reduced stress levels.
- Potential benefits for inflammation and immunity (research ongoing): Some studies, particularly those investigating the Wim Hof Method, suggest that breath-holding combined with cold exposure may have a positive impact on the immune system and inflammation.
Important considerations and risks:
- Safety first: Holding your breath for an extended period, especially for two minutes, carries risks, according to WebMD.
- Carbon Dioxide Build-up: While increasing CO2 tolerance can be beneficial, prolonged breath-holding causes carbon dioxide to build up in your bloodstream, triggering an involuntary reflex to breathe. Pushing past this point can lead to discomfort, lightheadedness, and even loss of consciousness.
- Oxygen Deprivation (Hypoxia): As you hold your breath, oxygen levels in your blood drop. If prolonged, this can lead to hypoxia, a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues, which can be dangerous for vital organs like the brain and heart.
- Potential for injury: Passing out while holding your breath can result in falls or other injuries, notes the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
- Underwater risks: The most significant danger of extended breath-holding underwater is shallow water blackout or hypoxic blackout, where individuals lose consciousness due to oxygen deprivation before feeling the urge to breathe, leading to drowning.
- Not a substitute for addressing underlying issues: While breath-holding can be a useful tool for managing stress and improving certain physiological responses, it's crucial to address any underlying medical or mental health concerns with the guidance of healthcare professionals.
In conclusion
While controlled and gradual practice of breath-holding techniques may offer certain benefits, particularly for trained individuals, it's important to approach this practice cautiously and be aware of the associated risks. Never attempt extended breath-holds without proper training, supervision, and consultation with a healthcare professional, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions. Always prioritize safety and listen to your body's signals.
Hughes
Dream Variations by Langston Hughes 1901 – 1967
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me—
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening . . .
A tall, slim tree . . .
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me—
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening . . .
A tall, slim tree . . .
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
'Pati'
I've tried to incorporate a sense of wonder into my music. To me this one does that, but it rarely gets played unlke others that get played by the boatload.
Malaprop
malaprop
noun
1.A malapropism.
2.The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar.
adjective
1. Characterized by the use of malapropisms.
noun
1.A malapropism.
2.The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar.
adjective
1. Characterized by the use of malapropisms.
Monday, July 28, 2025
Minds
Often attributed to Socrates
"Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people."
"Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people."
Oliver
Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver
“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.”
“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.”
Orwell
“...however much you deny the truth, the truth goes on existing, as it were, behind your back" ― George Orwell
Friday, July 25, 2025
Interoception
Interoception is the sense that allows you to perceive internal signals from your body, such as feeling hungry, noticing your heartbeat, or recognizing when you need to use the bathroom. It plays a crucial role in helping you understand your physical and emotional states.
Rilke
Put Out My Eyes by Rainer Maria Rilke 1875 – 1926
Put out my eyes: and I shall see you, too,
seal up my ears: and I shall hear you still,
and without feet I yet can go to you,
and with no mouth, adjure you and I will.
Break off my arms, and I shall hold you fast
even with my heart, as though it were a hand;
arrest my heart, my brain to throb is sworn,
and if into my brain you fling a brand,
yet on my very blood you will be borne.
Put out my eyes: and I shall see you, too,
seal up my ears: and I shall hear you still,
and without feet I yet can go to you,
and with no mouth, adjure you and I will.
Break off my arms, and I shall hold you fast
even with my heart, as though it were a hand;
arrest my heart, my brain to throb is sworn,
and if into my brain you fling a brand,
yet on my very blood you will be borne.
Rumi
From Ai Gemini:
Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207-1273), commonly known as Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic. Born in what is now Afghanistan, his family eventually settled in Konya, Turkey, where he lived and produced most of his renowned works.
Rumi's life took a profound turn after meeting the wandering dervish Shams-e-Tabrizi, who inspired him to channel his spiritual insights into poetry. His work is characterized by themes of divine love, unity with the divine, self-transcendence, and the search for deeper meaning. He is known for his flowing, free-form style, often employing vivid metaphors from nature, light, and dance.
His most famous work is the Masnavi, an epic poem of over 25,000 verses often called "the Quran in Persian" for its religious and philosophical depth. He also wrote the Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, a collection of lyrical poems reflecting his deep admiration for Shams.
Rumi's poetry transcends religious and cultural boundaries, resonating with a global audience for its universal themes of love, tolerance, and the human spiritual journey. He is considered one of the greatest mystical poets of all time and remains widely read today. His teachings also led to the formation of the Mevlevi Order, known for their meditative whirling dance.
Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207-1273), commonly known as Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic. Born in what is now Afghanistan, his family eventually settled in Konya, Turkey, where he lived and produced most of his renowned works.
Rumi's life took a profound turn after meeting the wandering dervish Shams-e-Tabrizi, who inspired him to channel his spiritual insights into poetry. His work is characterized by themes of divine love, unity with the divine, self-transcendence, and the search for deeper meaning. He is known for his flowing, free-form style, often employing vivid metaphors from nature, light, and dance.
His most famous work is the Masnavi, an epic poem of over 25,000 verses often called "the Quran in Persian" for its religious and philosophical depth. He also wrote the Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, a collection of lyrical poems reflecting his deep admiration for Shams.
Rumi's poetry transcends religious and cultural boundaries, resonating with a global audience for its universal themes of love, tolerance, and the human spiritual journey. He is considered one of the greatest mystical poets of all time and remains widely read today. His teachings also led to the formation of the Mevlevi Order, known for their meditative whirling dance.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Vultures
From Ai Gemini
Vultures are not extinct. However, many species of vultures are in serious trouble and are considered threatened with extinction.
Here's a breakdown of their conservation status:
- Globally Threatened: Of the 23 species of vultures worldwide, 14 are globally threatened with extinction.
- Critically Endangered: Several species are critically endangered, meaning they are one step away from becoming extinct in the wild. This includes the hooded vulture, the white-headed vulture, and several species of Old World vultures found in Asia, such as the white-rumped vulture.
- Endangered: Other species, like the Egyptian vulture and the lappet-faced vulture, are classified as endangered.
- Success Stories: There are some positive conservation stories, such as the California condor, which was once extinct in the wild but has been reintroduced and is now critically endangered with a growing population. Some vulture populations in Europe are also showing signs of recovery due to conservation efforts.
The primary threats to vultures are:
- Poisoning: This is the most significant threat, both intentional and unintentional. Poachers sometimes poison animal carcasses to kill vultures, as the birds' presence can reveal their illegal activities. Vultures also die from consuming carcasses of livestock that have been treated with a drug called diclofenac, which is highly toxic to them.
- Habitat Loss and Disturbance: As human populations expand, vultures lose their natural habitats for nesting and foraging.
- Collision and Electrocution: Vultures are often killed by collisions with power lines and wind turbines.
Vultures are not extinct. However, many species of vultures are in serious trouble and are considered threatened with extinction.
Here's a breakdown of their conservation status:
- Globally Threatened: Of the 23 species of vultures worldwide, 14 are globally threatened with extinction.
- Critically Endangered: Several species are critically endangered, meaning they are one step away from becoming extinct in the wild. This includes the hooded vulture, the white-headed vulture, and several species of Old World vultures found in Asia, such as the white-rumped vulture.
- Endangered: Other species, like the Egyptian vulture and the lappet-faced vulture, are classified as endangered.
- Success Stories: There are some positive conservation stories, such as the California condor, which was once extinct in the wild but has been reintroduced and is now critically endangered with a growing population. Some vulture populations in Europe are also showing signs of recovery due to conservation efforts.
The primary threats to vultures are:
- Poisoning: This is the most significant threat, both intentional and unintentional. Poachers sometimes poison animal carcasses to kill vultures, as the birds' presence can reveal their illegal activities. Vultures also die from consuming carcasses of livestock that have been treated with a drug called diclofenac, which is highly toxic to them.
- Habitat Loss and Disturbance: As human populations expand, vultures lose their natural habitats for nesting and foraging.
- Collision and Electrocution: Vultures are often killed by collisions with power lines and wind turbines.
Dogs
From Ai Gemini:
While specific behaviors are heavily influenced by a dog's breed, upbringing, and individual personality, all dogs share a common set of instincts and communication methods that stem from their shared ancestry. These are general behaviors you can expect to see across all breeds:
Communication:
Vocalization: Dogs use a variety of sounds to communicate. This includes barking, whining, howling, and growling, each with different meanings depending on the context.
Body Language: Dogs are masters of non-verbal communication. Key behaviors include:
- Tail Wagging: While often associated with happiness, a wagging tail simply indicates a state of emotional arousal. The speed, height, and direction of the wag, along with other body cues, determine whether the dog is happy, anxious, or aggressive.
- Ear and Eye Position: Raised ears signal alertness, while flattened ears can mean fear or submission. "Puppy eyes" are a well-known tactic to elicit a positive response from humans.
- Posture: A "play bow" (front end down, rear end up) is a clear invitation to play. A cowering posture with a tucked tail and lowered head suggests fear or submission. A dog with its weight shifted forward and a high, stiff tail may be showing dominance or aggression.
- Licking: Licking is used for affection, grooming, and as a calming or submissive signal.
Instinctual Behaviors:
Scent Exploration: All dogs have a highly developed sense of smell and use it to gather information about their environment. Sniffing is a fundamental and vital behavior for them.
Chewing: This is a natural behavior for dogs, especially puppies, for exploring their environment, relieving stress, and soothing teething discomfort.
Digging: Stemming from their ancestors' need to hunt for prey or create dens, digging is an ingrained instinct. Dogs may dig to bury things, escape the heat, or simply because they are bored.
Prey Drive: All dogs retain a certain level of prey drive, which includes the instincts to stalk, chase, and retrieve. This is why many dogs love to play fetch or chase after squirrels.
Social Hierarchy: Dogs, as pack animals, have a natural tendency to establish social hierarchies, both with other dogs and with their human families. This influences how they interact and respond to commands.
While a Border Collie's herding behavior is much more pronounced than a Poodle's, the underlying instincts for chasing and controlling movement exist in both. Similarly, while a Labrador Retriever's retrieving drive is exceptionally strong, the basic impulse to pick things up and carry them is present in all dogs.
While specific behaviors are heavily influenced by a dog's breed, upbringing, and individual personality, all dogs share a common set of instincts and communication methods that stem from their shared ancestry. These are general behaviors you can expect to see across all breeds:
Communication:
Vocalization: Dogs use a variety of sounds to communicate. This includes barking, whining, howling, and growling, each with different meanings depending on the context.
Body Language: Dogs are masters of non-verbal communication. Key behaviors include:
- Tail Wagging: While often associated with happiness, a wagging tail simply indicates a state of emotional arousal. The speed, height, and direction of the wag, along with other body cues, determine whether the dog is happy, anxious, or aggressive.
- Ear and Eye Position: Raised ears signal alertness, while flattened ears can mean fear or submission. "Puppy eyes" are a well-known tactic to elicit a positive response from humans.
- Posture: A "play bow" (front end down, rear end up) is a clear invitation to play. A cowering posture with a tucked tail and lowered head suggests fear or submission. A dog with its weight shifted forward and a high, stiff tail may be showing dominance or aggression.
- Licking: Licking is used for affection, grooming, and as a calming or submissive signal.
Instinctual Behaviors:
Scent Exploration: All dogs have a highly developed sense of smell and use it to gather information about their environment. Sniffing is a fundamental and vital behavior for them.
Chewing: This is a natural behavior for dogs, especially puppies, for exploring their environment, relieving stress, and soothing teething discomfort.
Digging: Stemming from their ancestors' need to hunt for prey or create dens, digging is an ingrained instinct. Dogs may dig to bury things, escape the heat, or simply because they are bored.
Prey Drive: All dogs retain a certain level of prey drive, which includes the instincts to stalk, chase, and retrieve. This is why many dogs love to play fetch or chase after squirrels.
Social Hierarchy: Dogs, as pack animals, have a natural tendency to establish social hierarchies, both with other dogs and with their human families. This influences how they interact and respond to commands.
While a Border Collie's herding behavior is much more pronounced than a Poodle's, the underlying instincts for chasing and controlling movement exist in both. Similarly, while a Labrador Retriever's retrieving drive is exceptionally strong, the basic impulse to pick things up and carry them is present in all dogs.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Oliver
The Swan by Mary Oliver
Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air –
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music – like the rain pelting the trees – like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds –
A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?
Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air –
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music – like the rain pelting the trees – like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds –
A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Tess
Refusing Silence By Tess Gallagher
Heartbeat trembling
your kingdom
of leaves
near the ceremony
of water, I never
insisted on you. I admit
I delayed. I was the Empress
of Delay. But it can’t be
put off now. On the sacred branch
of my only voice – I insist.
Insist for us all,
which is the job
of the voice, and especially
of the poet. Else
what am I for, what use
am I if I don’t
insist?
There are messages to send.
Gatherings and songs.
Because we need
to insist. Else what are we
for? What use
are we?
Heartbeat trembling
your kingdom
of leaves
near the ceremony
of water, I never
insisted on you. I admit
I delayed. I was the Empress
of Delay. But it can’t be
put off now. On the sacred branch
of my only voice – I insist.
Insist for us all,
which is the job
of the voice, and especially
of the poet. Else
what am I for, what use
am I if I don’t
insist?
There are messages to send.
Gatherings and songs.
Because we need
to insist. Else what are we
for? What use
are we?
Monday, July 21, 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025
Tradition
Thanks for stopping by the new version of this blog. In the previous incarnation, I took weekends off. I'm bringing back that tradition. So in that spirit, have a good weekend and I'll be back on Monday.
CO2
From Ai Gemini:
Columbia University scientists, particularly those led by Professor Klaus Lackner, have developed "artificial trees" designed to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere. These devices are not actual biological trees but rather compact, tower-like structures or scrubbers.
Here's a brief synopsis of their technology:
- High Efficiency: These artificial trees are engineered to capture CO2 at a rate up to 1,000 times faster than natural trees.
- Mechanism: They utilize a specialized resin or sorbent material coated onto "leaves" (surfaces) that passively absorb CO2 from ambient air.
- Moisture-Swing Regeneration: A key innovation is the "moisture-swing" mechanism. When the resin is dry, it absorbs CO2. When moistened, it releases the captured CO2 in a concentrated stream. This allows the sorbent to be continuously reused.
- Continuous Operation: Unlike natural trees that depend on sunlight and specific climates, these artificial units can operate continuously, day and night, and in various weather conditions.
- Scalability and Potential Impact: Each unit can capture a substantial amount of CO2 daily (roughly equivalent to the emissions of 20 to 75 cars). The long-term vision is to deploy millions of these units globally to significantly reduce atmospheric CO2 levels, potentially even to pre-industrial levels.
- Applications for Captured CO2: The captured CO2 can then be sequestered underground in geological formations, or utilized for various purposes such as boosting plant growth in greenhouses, converting into synthetic fuels, or enhancing concrete production.
- Challenges: While promising, challenges remain, primarily concerning the initial cost of capture (around $200 per ton, with projections to reduce it to $30-$100) and the energy required for the regeneration process. Therefore, powering these systems with renewable energy sources is crucial for a net positive climate impact.
Columbia University scientists, particularly those led by Professor Klaus Lackner, have developed "artificial trees" designed to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere. These devices are not actual biological trees but rather compact, tower-like structures or scrubbers.
Here's a brief synopsis of their technology:
- High Efficiency: These artificial trees are engineered to capture CO2 at a rate up to 1,000 times faster than natural trees.
- Mechanism: They utilize a specialized resin or sorbent material coated onto "leaves" (surfaces) that passively absorb CO2 from ambient air.
- Moisture-Swing Regeneration: A key innovation is the "moisture-swing" mechanism. When the resin is dry, it absorbs CO2. When moistened, it releases the captured CO2 in a concentrated stream. This allows the sorbent to be continuously reused.
- Continuous Operation: Unlike natural trees that depend on sunlight and specific climates, these artificial units can operate continuously, day and night, and in various weather conditions.
- Scalability and Potential Impact: Each unit can capture a substantial amount of CO2 daily (roughly equivalent to the emissions of 20 to 75 cars). The long-term vision is to deploy millions of these units globally to significantly reduce atmospheric CO2 levels, potentially even to pre-industrial levels.
- Applications for Captured CO2: The captured CO2 can then be sequestered underground in geological formations, or utilized for various purposes such as boosting plant growth in greenhouses, converting into synthetic fuels, or enhancing concrete production.
- Challenges: While promising, challenges remain, primarily concerning the initial cost of capture (around $200 per ton, with projections to reduce it to $30-$100) and the energy required for the regeneration process. Therefore, powering these systems with renewable energy sources is crucial for a net positive climate impact.
Schlopsnies
Artwork by Franziska Schlopsnies - December 1, 1884 in Frankfurt am Main, died December 30, 1944 in an Auschwitz concentration camp. She was a German fashion, poster and advertising graphic designer.
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Litter
From Ai Gemini:
I can provide some statistics that give you a sense of the scale of the litter problem and the types of items that commonly become litter:
- Cigarette butts: This is consistently reported as the most littered item in the world. Estimates suggest around 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are thrown on the ground every year! While small, these are definitely "easily pick-up-able" by one person.
- Plastic pollution: The world produces hundreds of millions of tons of plastic every year, and a significant portion of it ends up as litter.
- Around 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year. While not all of this is "easily pick-up-able" from the land, a lot originates from land-based litter that gets washed into waterways.
- One study estimated that over 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the environment every year, with a large portion coming from countries struggling with waste management.
- General waste generation: The world generates over 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually. While this includes household trash, a portion of it, particularly mismanaged waste, contributes to litter.
- US specific data: Keep America Beautiful estimates there are 152 items of litter for each U.S. resident on the ground. For the entire US population (roughly 330 million), this would be around 50 billion pieces of litter in the US alone. This gives a rough idea for a developed nation.
I can provide some statistics that give you a sense of the scale of the litter problem and the types of items that commonly become litter:
- Cigarette butts: This is consistently reported as the most littered item in the world. Estimates suggest around 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are thrown on the ground every year! While small, these are definitely "easily pick-up-able" by one person.
- Plastic pollution: The world produces hundreds of millions of tons of plastic every year, and a significant portion of it ends up as litter.
- Around 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year. While not all of this is "easily pick-up-able" from the land, a lot originates from land-based litter that gets washed into waterways.
- One study estimated that over 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the environment every year, with a large portion coming from countries struggling with waste management.
- General waste generation: The world generates over 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually. While this includes household trash, a portion of it, particularly mismanaged waste, contributes to litter.
- US specific data: Keep America Beautiful estimates there are 152 items of litter for each U.S. resident on the ground. For the entire US population (roughly 330 million), this would be around 50 billion pieces of litter in the US alone. This gives a rough idea for a developed nation.
Anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphic - It describes attributing human characteristics or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena. So, a door with designs that make it look human-like would be considered anthropomorphic.
Absquatulate
absquatulate - intransitive verb
1. To depart in a hurry; abscond.
2. To die
3. To take one's self off; to decamp.
1. To depart in a hurry; abscond.
2. To die
3. To take one's self off; to decamp.
Campbell
"People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive." Joseph Campbell
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Born On July 16th
Born on July 16th:
1887 "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, American baseball outfielder (World Series 1917 Chicago White Sox; 1919 Black Sox Scandal), born in Pickens County, South Carolina (d. 1951)
1901 Fritz Mahler, Austrian composer, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1973)
1907 Barbara Stanwyck, American actress (Dynasty II, Big Valley, Thorn Birds), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1990)
1918 George Mueller, NASA Systems Engineer (managed 1969 Moon landing), born in St Louis, Missouri (d. 2015)
1924 Bess Myerson, 1st Jewish Miss America (1945), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2014)
1946 Barbara Lee, American politician (U.S. House of Representatives from California), born in El Paso, Texas
1952 Stewart Copeland, American drummer (The Police - "Roxanne"), and film score and opera composer (Wall Street; SubUrbia; Electric Saint), born in Alexandria, Virginia
1953 Mark Rabin, American singer and songwriter (Moth & Star, The Hot Lobsters), born in New York, USA
1979 Jayma Mays, American actress (Glee, Heroes), born in Bristol, Tennessee
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Monday, July 14, 2025
Poof
This is a painting by my older brother William. William passed away in 2003 at the age of 60. He spent his adult life living in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights. My guess is that the painting is from 1964 give or take. It's oil on canvas, and it needs to be cleaned. William was gay, and in a way he is expressing this through the painting, it's pop art-ish and the word 'Poof' is intended. A Poof was, and probably still is, a derogatory term for a gay man. Imagine being a young gay man and trying to find a healthy sexual identity in the early 60s, lots of luck, and then coming from a very right wing Catholic family where being gay was considered an abomination.
Neuroplasticity
Very briefly, I've posted a few videos today, one from Mingyur Rinpoche, and two from Andrew Huberman, that touch on the scientific fact that the you can change your brain, and for the better. It's called neuroplasticity. It was long believed, especially in the West, that you were stuck with your brain patterns so to speak. Research within the past two decades has changed all that. I intend to post more about this in the future, but neuroplasticity is the theme for today, July 14th, 2025.
Ai Gemini writes: Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
Ai Gemini writes: Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
Hemingway
"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.'
Ernest Hemingway
Campbell
"If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be." Joseph Campbell
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Glyph
glyph - noun
1. an ornamental vertical groove especially in a Doric frieze
2. a symbolic figure or a character (as in the Mayan system of writing) usually incised or carved in relief
3. a symbol (such as a curved arrow on a road sign) that conveys information nonverbally
1. an ornamental vertical groove especially in a Doric frieze
2. a symbolic figure or a character (as in the Mayan system of writing) usually incised or carved in relief
3. a symbol (such as a curved arrow on a road sign) that conveys information nonverbally
Life
"Nietzsche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life, the idea came to him of what he called 'the love of your fate.' Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, 'This is what I need.' It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment--not discouragement--you will find the strength is there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow.
Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see that this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes." Joseph Campbell
Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see that this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes." Joseph Campbell
Friday, July 11, 2025
It
Now I Get It
by Fanny Howe 1940–2025
Remember judge and you shall
Be judged
For laughing in school, for being
Stupid and always wrong.
Penance like the scent of the sheep
Is slow O’ weary, its coat
A kind of fluff that goes up
In filament theory.
Your own life ahead follows you
Like a scientist posing as a shepherd.
by Fanny Howe 1940–2025
Remember judge and you shall
Be judged
For laughing in school, for being
Stupid and always wrong.
Penance like the scent of the sheep
Is slow O’ weary, its coat
A kind of fluff that goes up
In filament theory.
Your own life ahead follows you
Like a scientist posing as a shepherd.
Two
"There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less." G.K. Chesterton
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Vessel
"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured." Mark Twain
Whitman
This is what you shall do by Walt Whitman
"This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body."
"This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body."
Fledging
From Ai Gemini:
When a bird takes its very first flight, it's called fledging. The young bird itself is then referred to as a fledgling.
While the term "fledging" generally applies to all birds, the specific behaviors and timing can vary depending on the species. For example:
Altricial birds (like most songbirds) hatch helpless, naked, and with closed eyes. They spend a significant amount of time in the nest, developing their feathers and muscles before fledging. When they fledge, they might still be somewhat awkward flyers and dependent on their parents for food for a period.
Precocial birds (like ducks or chickens) hatch with downy feathers and are able to walk and forage within hours of hatching. While they might be able to leave the nest very early, their "fledging" (becoming capable of sustained flight) might still take some weeks as their flight feathers develop.
So, while the term is consistent, the journey to becoming a fully independent flyer can look quite different across different bird species.
The terms Precocial and Altricial both come from Latin roots and describe the developmental state of young animals, particularly birds, at birth or hatching.
Precocial comes from the Latin root _praecox_, which means "precocious" or "early ripening." This refers to young animals that are relatively mature and independent at birth or hatching. They are often born with open eyes, covered in down or fur, and capable of moving around and sometimes even finding their own food soon after. Examples include ducklings, chicks, and most ungulates (like horses or wildebeests).
Altricial comes from the Latin root _alere_, meaning "to nurse, to rear, or to nourish." This refers to young animals that are born or hatched in a very immature, helpless, and dependent state. They typically have closed eyes, little to no hair or down, and are unable to move much or find food on their own, requiring extensive parental care. Most songbirds (like robins or sparrows), as well as many mammals including humans, are altricial.
When a bird takes its very first flight, it's called fledging. The young bird itself is then referred to as a fledgling.
While the term "fledging" generally applies to all birds, the specific behaviors and timing can vary depending on the species. For example:
Altricial birds (like most songbirds) hatch helpless, naked, and with closed eyes. They spend a significant amount of time in the nest, developing their feathers and muscles before fledging. When they fledge, they might still be somewhat awkward flyers and dependent on their parents for food for a period.
Precocial birds (like ducks or chickens) hatch with downy feathers and are able to walk and forage within hours of hatching. While they might be able to leave the nest very early, their "fledging" (becoming capable of sustained flight) might still take some weeks as their flight feathers develop.
So, while the term is consistent, the journey to becoming a fully independent flyer can look quite different across different bird species.
The terms Precocial and Altricial both come from Latin roots and describe the developmental state of young animals, particularly birds, at birth or hatching.
Precocial comes from the Latin root _praecox_, which means "precocious" or "early ripening." This refers to young animals that are relatively mature and independent at birth or hatching. They are often born with open eyes, covered in down or fur, and capable of moving around and sometimes even finding their own food soon after. Examples include ducklings, chicks, and most ungulates (like horses or wildebeests).
Altricial comes from the Latin root _alere_, meaning "to nurse, to rear, or to nourish." This refers to young animals that are born or hatched in a very immature, helpless, and dependent state. They typically have closed eyes, little to no hair or down, and are unable to move much or find food on their own, requiring extensive parental care. Most songbirds (like robins or sparrows), as well as many mammals including humans, are altricial.
Wednesday, July 09, 2025
Traylor
Artwork by Bill Traylor. Bill Traylor 1853–1949 was an African-American artist born into slavery.
Parallel
"Michio Kaku uses the analogy of radio frequencies to explain parallel universes. He suggests that just as a radio receiver can only tune into one frequency at a time, our perception is limited to one particular universe, even though countless others may exist, vibrating at different frequencies. This means that other universes, potentially containing vastly different realities, are all around us but remain unseen because we are not tuned to their specific "vibration" or frequency."
Tuesday, July 08, 2025
Beliefs
From Ai Gemini:
According to a Gallup poll conducted in May 2023:
67% of Americans believed in heaven.
59% believed in hell.
58% believed in the devil.
These figures represent the lowest points recorded by Gallup for these beliefs since they began tracking them in 2001, indicating a continuing downward trend in belief in these spiritual entities.
According to a Gallup poll conducted in May 2023:
67% of Americans believed in heaven.
59% believed in hell.
58% believed in the devil.
These figures represent the lowest points recorded by Gallup for these beliefs since they began tracking them in 2001, indicating a continuing downward trend in belief in these spiritual entities.
Farmer - An Etymological Journey
From Ai Gemini:
The word "farmer" has an interesting etymological journey back to Latin, though it's not as direct as you might expect for an agricultural term.
While the Latin word for "farmer" in the sense of someone who cultivates land is "agricola" (from ager meaning "field" and colere meaning "to cultivate"), the English word "farmer" actually evolved from a different Latin root related to financial arrangements.
Here's the breakdown:
1. Medieval Latin "firma": The origin point is the Medieval Latin word firma, meaning "fixed payment" or "fixed rent." This comes from the classical Latin firmare ("to fix, settle, confirm, strengthen") and firmus ("strong, stable").
2. Old French "fermier": From firma, we get the Old French word *fermier*, which originally referred to a "lease-holder" or someone who collected taxes or revenues by paying a fixed sum to a higher authority. This individual would then keep whatever they collected beyond that fixed sum.
3. Middle English "fermour": This Old French term was borrowed into Middle English as fermour (or fermer), still primarily referring to someone who leased property for a fixed payment, often for the purpose of collecting taxes or rents.
4. Shift to Agricultural Meaning: It wasn't until the late 16th century that the word "farmer" began to be commonly applied to a person who cultivates land, essentially replacing older English terms like "churl" and "husbandman." The connection here is that the "farm" (the land itself) was often held under a "fixed payment" or lease arrangement, and the person working that land was, therefore, the "farmer."
So, while "agricola" directly means "farmer" in Latin, the English word "farmer" evolved from a Latin root associated with fixed payments and leasing arrangements, only later taking on its modern agricultural meaning.
The word "farmer" has an interesting etymological journey back to Latin, though it's not as direct as you might expect for an agricultural term.
While the Latin word for "farmer" in the sense of someone who cultivates land is "agricola" (from ager meaning "field" and colere meaning "to cultivate"), the English word "farmer" actually evolved from a different Latin root related to financial arrangements.
Here's the breakdown:
1. Medieval Latin "firma": The origin point is the Medieval Latin word firma, meaning "fixed payment" or "fixed rent." This comes from the classical Latin firmare ("to fix, settle, confirm, strengthen") and firmus ("strong, stable").
2. Old French "fermier": From firma, we get the Old French word *fermier*, which originally referred to a "lease-holder" or someone who collected taxes or revenues by paying a fixed sum to a higher authority. This individual would then keep whatever they collected beyond that fixed sum.
3. Middle English "fermour": This Old French term was borrowed into Middle English as fermour (or fermer), still primarily referring to someone who leased property for a fixed payment, often for the purpose of collecting taxes or rents.
4. Shift to Agricultural Meaning: It wasn't until the late 16th century that the word "farmer" began to be commonly applied to a person who cultivates land, essentially replacing older English terms like "churl" and "husbandman." The connection here is that the "farm" (the land itself) was often held under a "fixed payment" or lease arrangement, and the person working that land was, therefore, the "farmer."
So, while "agricola" directly means "farmer" in Latin, the English word "farmer" evolved from a Latin root associated with fixed payments and leasing arrangements, only later taking on its modern agricultural meaning.
Monday, July 07, 2025
Klimt
Painting by Gustav Klimt 1862-1918 - Malcesine am Gardasee' 1913 destroyed by Nazis 1945 at Schloss Immendorf Austria
Sunday, July 06, 2025
Saturday, July 05, 2025
Eliot
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." T. S. Eliot
Twain
“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.” Mark Twain
Fireworks
From Ai Gemini regarding sales of fireworks in America:
In 2023, sales cleared $2.3 billion.
The American Pyrotechnics Association predicted $2.4 billion in sales for 2023, and they anticipate sales could increase to $3.3 billion by 2028.
Some sources also indicate around $2.2 billion in revenue from consumer fireworks over the entirety of last year (2024).
This spending includes both consumer fireworks for private displays and professional display fireworks. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in increasing private fireworks sales as public gatherings were limited.
In 2023, sales cleared $2.3 billion.
The American Pyrotechnics Association predicted $2.4 billion in sales for 2023, and they anticipate sales could increase to $3.3 billion by 2028.
Some sources also indicate around $2.2 billion in revenue from consumer fireworks over the entirety of last year (2024).
This spending includes both consumer fireworks for private displays and professional display fireworks. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in increasing private fireworks sales as public gatherings were limited.
Friday, July 04, 2025
The Billion Oyster Project And Oyster Water Filters
From Ai Gemini:
The Billion Oyster Project (BOP) is a New York City-based non-profit organization with an ambitious goal: to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035. This initiative, which grew out of the New York Harbor School, aims to both improve the ecology and economy of the local marine environment and engage the community, particularly young people, in marine restoration and STEM education.
The project involves several key activities:
- Oyster Reef Restoration: Growing and deploying oysters to create new reefs in the harbor. These reefs not only bring back oyster populations but also provide habitat for other marine species and help protect shorelines from storm surges.
- Shell Recycling: Collaborating with over 70 New York restaurants to collect discarded oyster shells, which are then used as a substrate for new oyster growth.
- Education and Community Engagement: Working with thousands of students and community scientists to grow, monitor, and research oysters, providing hands-on STEM learning opportunities.
- Yes, oysters absolutely filter water! They are highly efficient filter feeders, meaning they obtain their food by pumping water through their bodies. Here's how they do it:
1. Water Intake: Oysters draw in large volumes of water through their gills. An adult oyster can filter as much as 50 gallons of water per day.
2. Particle Trapping: Their gills are lined with tiny, hair-like structures called cilia, which act like a sieve. These cilia trap food particles such as algae, phytoplankton, and other suspended matter, as well as excess nutrients and even some pollutants.
3. Food and Waste Separation: The trapped particles are then transported to the oyster's mouth for digestion. Anything the oyster doesn't want or can't digest (like silt or unwanted organic matter) is expelled as "pseudofaeces" – small packets of waste that settle to the bottom. Digested waste is expelled as regular faeces.
4. Water Release: The cleaned water is then released back into the environment.
This natural filtration process has significant benefits for aquatic ecosystems:
- Improved Water Clarity: By removing suspended particles, oysters make the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate and support the growth of underwater grasses.
- Nutrient Removal: Oysters remove excess nutrients like nitrogen, which can otherwise lead to harmful algal blooms and "dead zones" (areas with very low oxygen that cannot support marine life).
- Habitat Creation: The reefs they form provide vital habitat, shelter, and breeding grounds for a diverse range of other marine animals, including fish, crabs, and sea squirts.
Historically, oyster populations were so vast that they could filter entire bays in a matter of days. While their numbers have drastically declined due to overharvesting and pollution, projects like the Billion Oyster Project are working to restore these crucial natural filters and bring back the health of urban waterways.
The Billion Oyster Project (BOP) is a New York City-based non-profit organization with an ambitious goal: to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035. This initiative, which grew out of the New York Harbor School, aims to both improve the ecology and economy of the local marine environment and engage the community, particularly young people, in marine restoration and STEM education.
The project involves several key activities:
- Oyster Reef Restoration: Growing and deploying oysters to create new reefs in the harbor. These reefs not only bring back oyster populations but also provide habitat for other marine species and help protect shorelines from storm surges.
- Shell Recycling: Collaborating with over 70 New York restaurants to collect discarded oyster shells, which are then used as a substrate for new oyster growth.
- Education and Community Engagement: Working with thousands of students and community scientists to grow, monitor, and research oysters, providing hands-on STEM learning opportunities.
- Yes, oysters absolutely filter water! They are highly efficient filter feeders, meaning they obtain their food by pumping water through their bodies. Here's how they do it:
1. Water Intake: Oysters draw in large volumes of water through their gills. An adult oyster can filter as much as 50 gallons of water per day.
2. Particle Trapping: Their gills are lined with tiny, hair-like structures called cilia, which act like a sieve. These cilia trap food particles such as algae, phytoplankton, and other suspended matter, as well as excess nutrients and even some pollutants.
3. Food and Waste Separation: The trapped particles are then transported to the oyster's mouth for digestion. Anything the oyster doesn't want or can't digest (like silt or unwanted organic matter) is expelled as "pseudofaeces" – small packets of waste that settle to the bottom. Digested waste is expelled as regular faeces.
4. Water Release: The cleaned water is then released back into the environment.
This natural filtration process has significant benefits for aquatic ecosystems:
- Improved Water Clarity: By removing suspended particles, oysters make the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate and support the growth of underwater grasses.
- Nutrient Removal: Oysters remove excess nutrients like nitrogen, which can otherwise lead to harmful algal blooms and "dead zones" (areas with very low oxygen that cannot support marine life).
- Habitat Creation: The reefs they form provide vital habitat, shelter, and breeding grounds for a diverse range of other marine animals, including fish, crabs, and sea squirts.
Historically, oyster populations were so vast that they could filter entire bays in a matter of days. While their numbers have drastically declined due to overharvesting and pollution, projects like the Billion Oyster Project are working to restore these crucial natural filters and bring back the health of urban waterways.
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