Army-Navy 2007

Army-Navy 2007

I finally made it to "America's Favorite"....the Army-Navy game. It was a cold Baltimore morning, fans crowding into the light rail system very early on, but logistically, it was an easy proposition. We got off the train across the street from M&T Bank stadium, went to our seats and watched the Cadets and Mids marchon.

Then the action began. Flyovers and parachutists....

Finally, the players took the field and Navy took a record 6th win in a row!

Changes

David Bowie had a catchy song called "Changes"....
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-changes Dont want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-changes Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

Perhaps many people have felt that they have seen more change in their lifetime than any other generation....so it's a very subjective thing. I can remember in the late 60's and early 70's I saw so much change and much of it I did not like. Values, mores, ideals, routines that I had grown up with were being challenged and changed...sometimes for the better....other times just for the sake of change. I don't always deal with change very well. So many things that anchor our lives succumb to the "boiled frog syndrome." As a frog boils in a pot with slowly increasing heat, it never detects the change and too late it's dead.

Now that my life has changed beyond my imagination, I grope for things that bring me comfort, comfort before the pot boiled. I find myself watching reruns of Andy Griffith, the Waltons, Kung Fu, Star Trek and more. A different time and place. All bring back such pleasant memories of a simpler time, and a happier time.

I guess if there is any consolation, I have found at least 2 things, not including my parents or my memory, that still harkens me back to bliss, and is alive and in operation today: the Boy Scouts and the US Naval Academy. Thank God that my 2 oldest sons made Eagle Scout and attended the Naval Academy. If I have done nothing else in life, and no matter the personal failures, I feel that I have contributed to their success and have given them the opportunity to participate in some experience that will equip them for what lies ahead. The values, the leadership training, the experiences of stepping outside of the modern mold. I have my 2 youngest children yet to prepare. I pray that I can see to it that they too have fair winds and following seas. I love you my dear children, always remember that.

Dad

Securities Licensing

I just passed my Series 6 and Series 63 licensing tests!!! I spent many hours studying all of this stuff relating to mutual funds and variable contracts. Reminded me of law school, especially the 63. Convoluted definitions, exemptions, exclusions, etc. and then being able to analyze the answer from the facts given in the question. If I had it to over again, I would have studied the materials for about 3 weeks, then taken the 3 day cram course, then take the test the weekend after the class.

Systemic Problems of the Modern Lifescape

Research into violent offendeers provides more evidence that our modern diet is mismatched for our Paleolithic body and this mismatch also has social implications. Research with British and US offenders suggests nutritional deficiencies may play a key role in aggressive bevavior. I won't go as far as the article to call into question culpability (if anyone is culpable its our food suppliers and governments), but the link between diet and behavior makes it so vitally important to re-educate ourselves concerning our Lifescape as I like to call it. The more closely we can approximate an environment that matches our lagging genetics, the better for all as individuals and society.

Happy Birthday To Me

I entered the new millenium for myself. 51. My sweet daughter decorated my office for me. There is no greater gift than your children. She is all I have besides my parents right now and I am so thankful for her. Jeremy will be in the Mediterranean, Matthew is at Annapolis, and Noah is in Germany. My birthday wish is to have everyone's feet back under my table someday. The talking and laughing and that good ol' family feeling that is so much a part of my life, I miss so much. I think I'll stop here....

Global Obesity

The AP reports that the growing Obesity Pandemic threatens to overwhelm global health systems: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=2391046 I have no solution other than what I am doing for myself, an evolutionary approach to diet and fitness. But I fear it will never happen globally, because there is not enough animal protein to feed the world's population. Had we not incorporated grains into our diet 10,000 years ago, the world's population would not be near what it is, nor would we have the worldwide problems of globalism.

Gone Fishin'

I long for a day when I can walk along a pond with my sons or grandsons (my daughter or granddaughters too) just like the opening sequence of the "Andy Griffith Show." Until then, I'll settle for a fishing trip with a paid guide, a 250 hp outboard, and my youngest son. I wanted to enjoy a last "hoorah" before he left the country to be with his Mom until the end of the year. We had a great time, caught some fish and sunburn, and it allowed him to complete his fishing merit badge. I hope that this is as a favorable memory for him as it was for me. The love of children, a strong emotion indeed....

Reminiscing

I remember as a kid growing up, stopping at roadside parks while traveling with my parents. It was usually hot, and the crickets would be rubbing those violin backlegs making summer music to my ears. We would usually eat a sandwich and some chips and have a "sodawater" as we called them (before everything came to be called Coke). So I bought a BBQ dinner from Boss Hogg's BBQ stand in a small Texas town then stopped at the next picnic area. It was peaceful and nice in the shade. It brought back so many pleasant memories. I hope they never remove these nostalgic icons from our highways.

Long Life, Better Marriages & Emotions

Research has shown that emotions, attitudes, and beliefs such as altruism , and faith , and optimism can increase one's length of life and improve marriages. People who attend religious services weekly live longer. Specifically, the research looked at how many years are added to life expectancy based on:
Regular physical exercise: 3.0-to-5.1 years
Proven therapeutic regimens: 2.1-to-3.7 years
Regular religious attendance: 1.8-to-3.1 years
Optimistists had a 55 percent lower risk of death from all causes and 23 percent lower risk of death from heart failure. Altruistic love was associated with greater happiness in general and especially with more marital happiness.

Cancer Proactivity

A recent article in WebMD states 7 steps to prevent the chances of cancer.
1. Don't smoke. If you smoke now, quit, and don't hesitate to seek help with the effort.
2. Lose extra weight.
3. Get regular physical activity.
4. Eat healthfully.
5. Limit unprotected time in the sun.
6. Follow recommendations for cancer screening.
7. Start as soon as possible.
I agree with these, but I am not worried so much about #5 as I feel the hype about the sun is a bit much. Gradual exposure and burn prevention is a good idea. The sun is the best source of vitamin D.

If one adopts a paleo or evolutionary based diet and exercise program, coupled with a carefully planned environment free from pollutants as much as possible will decrease the probabilities of cancer. I believe optimal gene expression occurs and the presence of phytomchemicals and other antioxidants in the diet prevent rogue cellular activity.

Nanotechnology Eradicates Cancer

On my webpage I talk about Kurzweil's concept of the future called "Singularity." This is a convergence of nanotechnology, genetics, and robotics that will allow for a radical change in our existence in many areas including health. Scientists are getting closer to proving Kurzweil correct and today have announced the use of nanoparticles to eradicate cancer cells in mice. I feel that this is a tremendous step and is a powerful reactive resource. Couple this with a proactive lifestyle that includes proper diet and exercise for optimal gene expression and cancer could become much less prevalent and deadly.

Dangers of being like Monk

I love the show "Monk" and although I love to be clean, I do not have OCD and do not wipe my hands upon contact with someone. The body has a very robust immune system, but like most systems in the body, it must be stressed to perform optimally. Want to live long and prosper? Expose yourself to some dirt. Early exposure to dirt has been shown to increase the life of fruit flies by 30%, whereas latter exposure had no effect or was even detrimental. The Monkish War on Bacteria is wrongheaded. The rising incidence of asthma and allergies in the developed (cleaner) world, doctors say, could be tied to the relatively sterile environments our children live in compared to a generation ago. Children not exposed to harmful bacteria, or conversely, given antibiotics to kill bacteria, do not receive the germ workout required to make antibodies. More specifically, they do not develop T-helper cells, which fight foreign cellular invaders and minimize allergies. This has been called the "Pigpen Effect."

Science and Religion-Still Worlds Apart

I love the dynamic tension between Science and Religion; two different approaches to the explanation of "reality. A recent study still indicates a wide chasm that will probably exist for eternity, especially as long as either know little about each other. For some reason, either approach explains well, both are subject to bias, and neither have to be incompatible. We owe our dichotomy of thought to the Greeks and their analytical worldview. Whereas the Hebrew Oriental mind would have no problem with seeming inconsistencies and allow for opposite realities.

Force Field

4-6-06
The Israeli's have developed a "life imitates science-fiction" defense system known as the Trophy APS or Active Protection System. The system has completed hundreds of live test with the Israel Defense Forces and demonstrated effective neutralization of anti-tank rockets and guided missiles, high safety levels, insignificant residual penetration and minimal collateral damage.

Artificial Sweeteners

4-5-06
I use artificial sweeteners, but only in ice tea. I get my "sweets" from fruit and an occasional bite of someone's dessert (of which my body later tells on me). A recent Italian study found that modest amounts of aspartame caused cancer in rats. Naturally this is of concern to me. A huge federal study in people — not rats — takes the fizz out of arguments that the diet soda sweetener aspartame might raise the risk of cancer.No increased risk was seen even among people who gulped down many artificially sweetened drinks a day, said researchers who studied the diets of more than half a million older Americans. A consumer group praised the study, done by reputable researchers independent of any funding or ties to industry groups. The Center for Science in the Public Interest pointed out some potential problems with the study: the people observed in the new study were only 50 to 69 years old. In contrast, the Italian researchers allowed the rats to die a natural death, equivalent to people living into their 80s, 90s, or older. If aspartame only causes cancer in truly elderly people, the new study wouldn't detect a problem. Also, the new study's means of measuring aspartame consumption -- food-frequency questionnaires -- is imprecise. That approach is not capable of detecting small increases in cancer rates.

Numerology

4-4-06
Numbers line up for once-in-a-century moment. Set your digital clock for 01:02:03 on 04/05/06, early Wednesday morning the time and date will be 01-02-03-04-05-06.
“It just happens to be a chronological oddity,” said Geoff Chester, spokesman for the U.S. Naval Observatory, an official world atomic clock timekeeper. “If you were to use the full year, that would screw things up completely. You do have to bend it a little if you want to make it work. That’s what you call ’Finagle’s Law of Best Fit.’”
Even numerologists, such as Rob Ragozzine, who runs the SimplyNumbers.com web site, dismiss the 1-2-3-4-5-6 moment as merely “a neat coincidence” because of that pesky 2006 thing.
We innately try to see patterns, even when there aren't any. It's how our senses function and they serve us well in most instances. But our senses are also a grand source of error. Phenomena such as this is known as numerology.

Neuro-Chips

4-3-06
The line between living organisms and machines has just become a whole lot blurrier. European researchers have developed "neuro-chips" in which living brain cells and silicon circuits are coupled together. Seems Kurzweil's Singularity is closer to reality.

Unhealthy Responses

4-2-06
People who cope with long-term stress by engaging in unhealthy behaviors and lifestyle, may very well alleviate symptoms of stress in the short term, but end up creating significant health problems in the long run. Americans engage in unhealthy behaviors such as comfort eating, poor diet choices, smoking and inactivity to help deal with stress, according to a new national survey. These of course, are just the opposite responses needed. People experiencing stress are more likely to report hypertension, anxiety or depression and obesity. In particular, women report feeling the effects of stress on their physical health more than men. The survey results seem to tie in with what research shows, that 43 percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. We cannot possibly stem the tide of society or technological advancement, but we can individually make an effort to reduce the mismatch between our ancestral and modern environment. Approximate the 150 person limit by increasing your closeness to extended kin and develop deep friendships. Reduce subjective distress by selecting a mate that is similar and compatible on as many levels as possible thereby reducing jealousy and infidelity and divorce. Cooperation and reciprocity can reduce competitive drives inherent in our psyche. We don't react well in tit-for-tat scenarios. And most importantly: Physical Exercise!

Loneliness

3-31-06
Loneliness kills according to a recent study. Lonely people have blood pressure readings as much as 30 points higher than non-lonely people, said the study leaders Louise Hawkley and Christopher Masi. Blood pressure differences between lonely and non-lonely people were smallest at age 50 and greatest among the oldest people tested. It is not surprising in that we humans are social by nature, and it is a very advantageous adaptation. Dr. Alan Fiske has identified four forms of sociality that we engage in on a daily basis, these are: Communal Sharing, Authority Ranking, Equality Matching, and Market Pricing. Each model increases in complexity and interestingly each corresponds to the four levels of analysis identified by S.S. Stephens: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.

Grass Fed Beef

3-25-06
Where's the beef? At least the kind that is good for you. I do not eat corn because of the inability of the body to properly digest it and the proteins that are a source of human allergies as well as the high carb content. Unfortunately, most of our beef is fed corn and the meat is fat, marbled, and contains the foreign proteins. Try and eat wild game or grass fed beef.