Mad in America (and the world)
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Been a while since my last upload of an image...Upcoming new theme for the Macro Mondays Group will be #blue - first of all...no worries my friends...this is an older image taken back in 2022. Of course i will share an actual image with you all. But i thought i upload this one too. :)
Blueberries are very healthy. The little helpers are just about gave a helping hand to supply themselves with the important vitamin C later on.
10 Proven Health Benefits of Blueberries
1. Blueberries Are Low in Calories But High in Nutrients
2. Blueberries are the King of Antioxidant Foods
3. Blueberries Reduce DNA Damage, Which May Help Protect Against Aging and Cancer
4. Blueberries Protect Cholesterol in Your Blood From Becoming Damaged
5. Blueberries May Lower Blood Pressure
6. Blueberries May Help Prevent Heart Disease
7. Blueberries Can Help Maintain Brain Function and Improve Memory
8. Anthocyanins in Blueberries May Have Anti-Diabetes Effects
9. May Help Fight Urinary Tract Infections
10. Blueberries May Reduce Muscle Damage After Strenuous Exercise
The Bottom Line.......
Blueberries are incredibly healthy and nutritious.
They boost your heart health, brain function and numerous other aspects of your body.
What’s more, they’re sweet, colorful and easily enjoyed either fresh or frozen.
Thank you for visits, comments and favs!
Vielen Dank für Eure Besuche, Kommentare und Sternchen!
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
#macromondays #fruit
At this time of the year the blueberries harvest is in the very late phase. The little helpers are just about to collect the very last blueberries to supply themselves with the important vitamin C later on in autumn.
10 Proven Health Benefits of Blueberries
1. Blueberries Are Low in Calories But High in Nutrients
2. Blueberries are the King of Antioxidant Foods
3. Blueberries Reduce DNA Damage, Which May Help Protect Against Aging and Cancer
4. Blueberries Protect Cholesterol in Your Blood From Becoming Damaged
5. Blueberries May Lower Blood Pressure
6. Blueberries May Help Prevent Heart Disease
7. Blueberries Can Help Maintain Brain Function and Improve Memory
8. Anthocyanins in Blueberries May Have Anti-Diabetes Effects
9. May Help Fight Urinary Tract Infections
10. Blueberries May Reduce Muscle Damage After Strenuous Exercise
The Bottom Line.......
Blueberries are incredibly healthy and nutritious.
They boost your heart health, brain function and numerous other aspects of your body.
What’s more, they’re sweet, colorful and easily enjoyed either fresh or frozen.
Thank you for visits, comments and favs!
Vielen Dank für Eure Besuche, Kommentare und Sternchen!
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
The fresh, recently opened leaves of a Ginko tree on my client's property, which I park beside.
I love spring! New life and growth, the warmer weather, seeing the sun again and the influx and activity of bird life...
Seeing the tiny, new Ginko leaves are no exception. I have often noted how beautiful the leaf structure is, and with the lighter shade of spring green, this year I finally attempted to capture it in a captivating way!
I recently found out that the Ginko leaf is also medicinal. Ginkgo biloba is rich in antioxidants, can reduce inflammation, benefit heart health, brain function, and eye health, etc..
I continue to be juggling more in life than I ideal, and find it hard to find time for one of my favourite past-times: enjoying your shots on Flickr!! I am hoping the load will feel lighter when I finish homeschooling in a week or so.
Happy belated Mother's Day and Father's Day!!
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.
When i first thought about this weeks theme i stumbled over my passion over the last 12 months - which is chocolate. So i decided to take a photograph about chocolate according to this happy Song called "Chocolate (choco choco)" ! I want to send out some joy and happiness in these days.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWy1w7WXeq0
Lots of people say that chocolate is healthy..so here are 7 benefits of chocolate:
1. Very Nutritious
2. Powerful Source of Antioxidants
3. May Improve Blood Flow and Lower Blood Pressure
4. Raises HDL and Protects LDL From Oxidation
5. May Reduce Heart Disease Risk
6. May Protect Your Skin From the Sun
7. Could Improve Brain Function
last but not least...it let`s you feel sexy :)
So why not give it a try :)
#macromondays #lockdownsong
Vielen Dank für Eure Besuche, Kommentare und Sternchen!
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
After humans, dolphins are the smartest creatures in the world, and their brain functions are associated with high intelligence.
Have you met 'your dolphin' yet? b.mikic
Gill Brook, Adirondack Mountain Reserve, NY
The bad weather finally moved out, but rain water still percolated out of the oversoaked mountains. Gill Brook had been suffering through a dry autumn with meager flows. Though not my primary destination, I always walk the alternate trail that follows this stream. The sun was just starting to clear the mountains east, and light poured through the trees with a special quality to it, a brightness that only comes after a storm has cleansed the air. This one must have raged a bit, judginhg from the downed leaves that littered the still wet bedrock that contains the brook. I could feel the energy downstream of the waterfall, the pool recharged with a fresh volume of water; and I was recharged too, with the lift that a front of high pressure brings. Finding the right composition, I felt like I woke up from the thoughtless trudge that got me here...brain function began, the human and the elements were refreshed.
Now a part of Norrköpings Visualieringscenter:
Research conducted at Visualization Center C focuses on methods for visualizing large and complex data sets and investigating how we can interact with and investigate data to understand, or confirm, relationships and information.
Other than vision, our research also involves exploring how other senses, such as tactile and haptic perception, can be used for visualization. Research is also conducted on the role of visualization in teaching and deployment in public environments.
C-research brings together multiple researchers from Linköping University and forms the university-based component of Visualization Center C. RISE Interactive C-studio focuses on more applied research and innovation in visualization and user interaction. Both C-research and RISE Interactive C-studio collaborate with many industrial partners in various research projects. A large portion of affiliated researchers, postgraduate students and administrative and technical staff are from the Department of Media and Information Technology (MIT) in the Department of Science and Technology at Linköping University.
C-research is involved in several major research projects with other universities, national organizations and businesses. A selection of current projects is outlined below.
The Wallenberg Autonomous Systems Program (WASP) aims to strengthen Sweden's international position in autonomous systems, both in academia and industry. C-research contributes to this program with research in visual interaction with autonomous systems, such as autonomous drones.
SafeClouds is a EU project with the Swedish Civil Aviation Authority, other European universities, and air traffic management authorities. The project aims to create a better understanding of traffic managers' situations by analyzing large amounts of logged data to identify situations in advance that may lead to various critical incidents. C-research is involved in data analysis and visualization of air traffic information and operator logs.
Seeing Organ Function is also a Wallenberg-funded research program with the objective to understand and visualize the function of different organs in the body. Examples include studying aspects of blood flow in heart function, and modelling brain function and impact on narcolepsy.
More projects and current research can be found at the website pages of C-research and Media and Information Technology (MIT) at Linköping University.
It's that look you get when someone has no idea what you just said - - when they don’t understand the joke or you said something complicated about a subject they know nothing about.
But - it might be "Word salad" a medical and psychological term used to describe a jumble of words that are uttered in a haphazard, disorganised, and incoherent fashion. It lacks logical structure, grammatical cohesion, and meaningful context, making it impossible for a listener to follow the speaker's train of thought.
Potential Causes
Word salad is rarely an isolated phenomenon; it is typically a clinical indicator of an underlying issue affecting cognitive function or neurological pathways. Common causes include:
Schizophrenia: Often associated with the disorganised speech patterns seen in schizophrenia, where the brain struggles to filter thoughts or maintain coherent linguistic output.
Neurological Conditions: Damage to the brain, such as that caused by a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or brain tumours, can disrupt the regions responsible for language production and processing.
Neurodegenerative Diseases: Conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can cause a progressive breakdown in the ability to organise thoughts and find the appropriate words, eventually leading to incoherent speech.
Severe Mania: During a severe manic episode, a person’s thoughts may race so quickly that their speech becomes disconnected and fragmented, resulting in word salad.
Drug-Induced Delirium: Substance misuse or toxic reactions to certain medications can impair brain function, temporarily leading to disorganised and incoherent speech.
Severe Infections or Metabolic Disturbances: Serious systemic illnesses, such as high fevers or severe electrolyte imbalances, can cause delirium, which may present as incoherent or nonsensical speech.
Hemyock Devon, UK.
Dolphins have incredible intelligence, their brains contain spindle neurons. These enable superior brain functions such as recognising, remembering, reasoning, communicating, perceiving, adapting to change, problem-solving and understanding. Other animals that contain spindle neurons are elephants and apes such as gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans.
Working on the water in the same area i see dolphins on a regular basis, they are inquisitive creatures and very social. This dolphin swam alongside the boat, tilted to one side and looked me in the eye. It felt like she recognised me. I wonder ?
Research shows that relaxation keeps your heart healthier, cuts stress, reduces muscle tension, improves brain function and memory, and helps you avoid depression, anxiety, and obesity. It boosts your immune system and helps alleviate the symptoms of many medical and psychological disorders. Relaxing is important!
I plan on doing further research as soon as I can get this bottle open.
Enjoy your day.
(A cold glass on a warm humid day, the haze on the cold glass just before the droplets form). After this shot I wiped the glass as best I could with my hand but it just made it look worse.
The "White Horse Inn" Tiverton, Devon, UK.
The Duke Institute for Brain Sciences' (DIBS) research advances discoveries that transform our understanding of brain function and create innovative solutions.
All animals have the ability to sense ourselves coming into existence WITH and AS the things around us. The Crypt, as our symbol of the animal's brain function allows this to happen. The Crypt as the location of an animal's soul.
All animals sense how to behave according to how our soul tells us to be - moment within moment. In this case, the animal is human, and for these few moments at least, that behaviour is AS all the accoutrements, paraphernalia and equipment of bowling.
Art as documentation of soul. All animals have soul, all animals have the possibility of art. Our task is to Under-stand the basic mechanism of art.
Hands are the chief organs for physically manipulating the environment, used for both gross motor skills (such as grasping a large object) and fine motor skills (such as picking up a small pebble). The fingertips contain some of the densest areas of nerve endings on the body, are the richest source of tactile feedback, and have the greatest positioning capability of the body; thus the sense of touch is intimately associated with hands. Like other paired organs (eyes, feet, legs), each hand is dominantly controlled by the opposing brain hemisphere, so that handedness, or the preferred hand choice for single-handed activities such as writing with a pen, reflects individual brain functioning. - Wikipedia.
Copyright © 2011 Ray Wood. All Rights Reserved.
Continuing my theme of birds in the context of their habitat, here's a Little Owl enjoying a little winter sunshine on a Pennine drystone wall yesterday morning. I did get some much closer shots but I've posted lots of Little Owls and this is something a bit different. It also gave me an opportunity to use a Pink Floyd song title.
Although Little Owls look totally at home in Britain they are a nineteenth century introduction that had never been recorded here historically (not even as bones or fossils). The first attempt at establishing Little Owls in Britain was actually in Yorkshire at Walton Park near Wakefield in 1843 when Charles Waterton released five Little Owls that he had brought from Rome the previous year. These vanished without establishing themselves. They were also released in Norfolk and Sussex in the 1870s but these failed too. E G B Meado-Waldo released dozens of birds between 1874 and 1900 in Kent (between Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks) and they first nested in 1879 and were well established and widespread by 1900. The most famous introduction was near Oundle in Northamptonshire where Lord Lilford (Thomas Littleton Powys, 4th Baron Lilford 1833 –1896) had been releasing birds for several years and they first bred in the wild in Northants in 1889, ten years after they first bred in Kent. By 1892 they had spread to Woburn, 44 miles to the south, and in the next few decades they colonised much of England, Wales and eventually bred in Scotland in the 1950s.
The scientific name Athene noctua comes from the Greek goddess of wisdom (but also war and the liberal arts). Athene's favourite bird was the owl, probably because she was once considered to be goddess of night, but owls are also associated with wisdom. Athene was also the protectorate of the city of Athens and the Little Owl appeared on ancient Athenian coins and the bird still appears on the city's badge. Noctua is also a word for owl, which comes from the word for night, from the owls' time of activity. And why are owls associated with wisdom? Probably because they appear contemplative. But in reality much of their brain function is taken up with their keen senses of vision and hearing, which doesn't leave much room for what we think of as intelligence.
I absolutely love this piece from Mono Melbourne, it encapsulates exactly what I think about social media and AI in particular.
Make sure to zoom in and read the details on this one.
I don't get the love of AI apps that some people have and why they feel the need to outsource their brain function to a platform designed only to benefit big tech and that is driving the need for some many data centres that are set to destroy so many communities.
Just as the trees began leafing-out - a couple weeks late this spring - flocks of American Goldfinches arrived in town. This is not a coincidence; small birds need concealment. I shot this in the fading light of mid-evening, with a shutter just fast enough and an ISO just low enough to avoid compromising technical quality.
Photography is an interesting mix of right and left brain activity, isn't it? Technical considerations are left hemisphere functions (I'm so old school that I almost never shoot on auto-exposure in any mode; I trust my own judgement better than that of any machine). But you have to shift over to the right side of the brain to make those intuitive leaps that result in truly great images (dumb luck aside). I had a sculptor friend years ago who didn't grasp the complexity involved in mastering the art of photography... until I put my camera in his hands, gave him a few pointers, and let him shoot a few frames. They were awful. He knew it. His left hemisphere - practically nonexistent at the best of times - would have had a lot of catching up to do. He didn't need it for sculpting, carving, pottery; he was a touch artist and his work was superb. What we do involves different brain functions.
Photographed in Val Marie, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2019 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Phrenology is to psychology what alchemy is to chemistry.
My Phrenology Bust is a direct copy of the original Fowler's one from 1850. artsci.case.edu/dittrick/online-exhibits/explore-the-arti...
"Phrenology, the study of the conformation of the skull as indicative of mental faculties and traits of character, especially according to the hypotheses of Franz Joseph Gall (1758–1828), a German doctor, and such 19th-century adherents as Johann Kaspar Spurzheim (1776–1832) and George Combe (1788–1858)." www.britannica.com/topic/phrenology
Contemporary neuroscientists have discovered that certain parts of the brain do in fact control particular aspects of the mind. So the biggest mistake that Phrenology made was linking its ideas to the shape (specifically bumps) of the skull. The skull is merely the box that contains the brain, and even in the 19th century, brain function was still very poorly understood.
The worst part about Phrenology as a pseudoscience was how easily it led to racist ideas and views that people of a certain class were simply the result of the shape of their skull. A closely related pseudoscience is Physiognomy - the idea that facial features determine personality. This was developed in the 18th century by a Swiss writer Joseph Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801). Unfortunately, even today popular culture clings to this idea that higher intelligence equates to "good looks". So the better we make ourselves appear (hence all the money spent on make up) the more likely we are to succeed in life. It's an awful belief system!
www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126957-300-how-your-look...
The Fowler brothers of New York began reading heads (yes, that's the origin of that phrase, "You need your head read.") in the 1830s. They took their show on the road and made their fortune. The famous L.N. Fowler bust displayed a three dimensional "map" of the personality traits that the Fowler's believed they could discover.
Here is a great article on the whole relationship of Phrenology to Neuroscience. theconversation.com/neuroscientists-put-the-dubious-theor...
This was a roadside Little Owl that I spotted from the car while out with my son. Typically close Little Owls fly away as soon as you stop the car but this one allowed me to fumble for my camera on the back seat, roll down my window, and take a few shots. And it was still sat there looking disdainfully at us as we drove off. It was perched on a supporting cable for an electricity pole where barbed wire had been wrapped round to discourage climbing. You can see its left foot is carefully placed to avoid the spikes but the right talon is raised and clenched, as if there was no comfortable place on this perch. They are feeding young at the moment so are more often seen active in the middle of the day. They feed mainly on insects and worms but I often see them carrying small mammals. Females do the incubating but both sexes provision the chicks. So this could be either as the sexes are similar though females average larger (male 140-180g, female 150-200g). Just for comparison a female Tawny Owl weighs 420-590g. They look so natural in the British countryside even though they were a nineteenth century introduction.
The scientific name Athene noctua comes from the Greek goddess of wisdom (but also war and the liberal arts). Athene's favourite bird was the owl, probably because she was once considered to be goddess of night, but owls are also associated with wisdom. Athene was also the protectorate of the city of Athens and the Little Owl appeared on ancient Athenian coins and the bird still appears on the city's badge. Noctua is also a word for owl, which comes from the word for night, from the owls' time of activity. And why are owls associated with wisdom? Probably because they appear contemplative. But in reality much of their brain function is taken up with their keen senses of vision and hearing, which doesn't leave much room for what we think of as intelligence.
We didn't have a lot of snow this week, but the cold conditions means that it has persisted. I photographed this Little Owl enjoying a bit of winter sunshine on a snowy drystone wall.
Although Little Owls look totally at home in Britain they are a nineteenth century introduction that had never been recorded here historically (even as bones or fossils). About 3600 pairs breed, mainly in England. They peter out north of the border and are not particularly common in Wales or the West Country. They are most at home around the Mediterranean and avoid higher latitudes in Europe. They feed mainly on insects (eg beetles and moths) and earthworms, but will also catch small mammals and birds.
The scientific name Athene noctua comes from the Greek goddess of wisdom (but also war and the liberal arts). Athene's favourite bird was the owl, probably because she was once considered to be goddess of night, but owls are also associated with wisdom. Athene was also the protectorate of the city of Athens and the Little Owl appeared on ancient Athenian coins and the bird still appears on the city's badge. Noctua is also a word for owl, which comes from the word for night, from the owls' time of activity. And why are owls associated with wisdom? Probably because they appear contemplative. But in reality much of their brain function is taken up with their keen senses of vision and hearing, which doesn't leave much room for what we think of as intelligence.
I have been passing this Little Owl nest fairly frequently recently but whenever the owls are on show it always seems to be dull or raining. If you look in the dark patch above the right hand bird you can see tiny drops of rain. I keep hoping for a shot in better light, and with the adult in attendance, but no luck as yet. So here's a well-grown Little Owl youngster with two siblings behind. You can tell it's not an adult because of its suedehead (Morrissey anyone?), though its head looks more like a Thornton's Viennese Truffle to me. Most birds lay an egg every day or so and incubate when they have the full clutch so the youngsters fledge at the same time but owls incubate from the first egg so there will be a day or two difference in the age of the owlets. And that one hiding at the back does look a bit smaller than the frontman. This was near Holmfirth in West Yorkshire.
Although Little Owls look totally at home in Britain they are a nineteenth century introduction that had never been recorded here historically (not even as bones or fossils). The first attempt at establishing Little Owls in Britain was actually in Yorkshire at Walton Park near Wakefield in 1843 when Charles Waterton released five Little Owls that he had brought from Rome the previous year. These vanished without establishing themselves. They were also released in Norfolk and Sussex in the 1870s but these failed too. E G B Meado-Waldo released dozens of birds between 1874 and 1900 in Kent (between Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks) and they first nested in 1879 and were well established and widespread by 1900. The most famous introduction was near Oundle in Northamptonshire where Lord Lilford (Thomas Littleton Powys, 4th Baron Lilford 1833 –1896) had been releasing birds for several years and they first bred in the wild in Northants in 1889, ten years after they first bred in Kent. By 1892 they had spread to Woburn, 44 miles to the south, and in the next few decades they colonised much of England, Wales and eventually bred in Scotland in the 1950s.
Most of this information came from an article written in the very first volume of the journal British Birds: WITHERBY, H.F. and N.F. TICEHURST. 1908. The spread of the Little Owl from the chief centres of its introduction. Brit. Birds 1: 335–342.
And finally the scientific name Athene noctua comes from the Greek goddess of wisdom (but also war and the liberal arts). Athene's favourite bird was the owl, probably because she was once considered to be goddess of night, but owls are also associated with wisdom. Athene was also the protectorate of the city of Athens and the Little Owl appeared on ancient Athenian coins and the bird still appears on the city's badge. Noctua is also a word for owl, which comes from the word for night, from the owls' time of activity. And why are owls associated with wisdom? Probably because they appear contemplative. But in reality much of their brain function is taken up with their keen senses of vision and hearing, which doesn't leave much room for what we think of as intelligence.
This is out of character, normally I wouldn't even be adding a description, but this seemed worthy of one.
This was one of those happy accidents that occur every once in a while and shake me out of a rut. I often get way too obsessive over rules and patterns, I can't help it, that's the normal way my brain functions. Fortunately, the wires get crossed sometimes and it shuts down long enough for something more interesting to take over. That's what happened tonight. I shut off a layer I was working on and voila--this happened. I added a little shadow and some photo corners to finish it off, but I really just like what's going on.
There's something about the self-reference here that really appeals to me.
I took this Little Owl last week backlit by the morning sunshine. The thing that looks like a misty sky background was actually snow. I took this without even using my car as a hide, so it is more of a bird in habitat shot than a frame-filler. They feed mainly on insects and worms but I often see them carrying small mammals in the breeding season. Females have similar plumage to the male but they are generally a bit larger but it's difficult to be sure of the sex of an isolated bird (male 140-180g, female 150-200g). Just for comparison a female Tawny Owl weighs 420-590g. They look so natural in the British countryside even though they were a nineteenth century introduction.
The scientific name Athene noctua comes from the Greek goddess of wisdom (but also war and the liberal arts). Athene's favourite bird was the owl, probably because she was once considered to be goddess of night, but owls are also associated with wisdom. Athene was also the protectorate of the city of Athens and the Little Owl appeared on ancient Athenian coins and the bird still appears on the city's badge. Noctua is also a word for owl, which comes from the word for night, from the owls' time of activity. And why are owls associated with wisdom? Probably because they appear contemplative. But in reality much of their brain function is taken up with their keen senses of vision and hearing, which doesn't leave much room for what we think of as intelligence.
Paradise online
Quick access is open
Human is an endangered species
Uploading the system...
Uploading completed
Now your consciousness is connected to a single neural network
Body improvement 58% complete
Do you want to save your heart? This is not a very smart decision. The heart is just a vulnerable organ that pumps blood. Your feelings are completely independent of him.
We highly recommend replacing all organs in your body with artificial ones. The flesh is short-lived, and our technologies are perfect and will give you eternal life.
Of course, if you activate the insurance package, we can guarantee it.
Thank you for using our campaign! The first five years after the improvement, the maintenance of your body is completely free!
,,,
Administrator Message:
On May 7, 2089, at 6:35 am, 19 seconds, world average time, an unexpected system failure occurred in the global neural network. All programs were forcibly restart. United Civil Service Provider apologizes for the inconvenience of temporarily shutting down some of your brain functions. In the near future, your identity will be fully restored.
Also here you can follow my Instagram account:
The Duke Institute for Brain Sciences' (DIBS) research advances discoveries that transform our understanding of brain function and create innovative solutions.
★ Explore ★ One day, when Jet and me went to the forest, we saw a bright light. I knew, that it's THEM! After three minutes I woke up, and noticed that they were making some kind of experiments on me... I knew what they were looking for... They watned - at all cost - to obtain the knowledge: how do I make such good photos... Fortunately the research of my brain functions got them no clue. Obviously they were asking about my sexual preferences... They never quit - it enjoys them to ask that, regardless it's not at all useful. Fortunately after few long minutes I was back in the forest, i looked at my dog. I think that they haven't got any info from him either...
Benefits of blackberries:
1. Vitamin C
2. Source of fiber
3. Antioxidants
4. Vitamin K; Blackberries are an excellent source of vitamin K. This is a necessary nutrient for blood clotting, which is essential for proper wound healing.
5. Vitamin A; Vitamin A supports the immune system, which combats infections and illness.
6. Brain functioning
A study in 2009 found that rats that consumed blackberries had improved cognitive and motor skills compared to a control group of rats that did not consume blackberries.
The authors of the study suggested that this could be due to chemicals called polyphenols that are in blackberries.
More research is needed to determine if these benefits occur in humans.
Thank you, M, (*_*)
The Duke Institute for Brain Sciences' (DIBS) research advances discoveries that transform our understanding of brain function and create innovative solutions.
It's been a very long day at work today, left the house at 7:30 this morning, got back at 9:30 tonight and have had a somewhat hectic time inbetween (productive though!) I'm quite surprised I managed to remember to take a photo of the day tonight with the little brain function I have left! LOL!
There is (as often the case!) a bit of a story here. Some of the older children at school were selling flowers this evening as part of their enterprise project. When I left to come home there was just one sad and lonely and very wilted gerbera sitting in a bucket of water. It looked such a sad specimen I couldn't resist taking it home, giving it a trim and some water and then immortalising it with a photo! There's something quite satisfying about taking an ugly duckling and turning into a swan! ;-))
Anyway, the Gerbera has perked up and I'm waffling, I should really go to bed! Will catch up tomorrow! :-)
George Orwell: “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”
Let’s manipulate information and control behavior. Let’s alter thoughts and behavior. Let’s manipulate brain function. Let’s use nanotechnology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and big data to alter the cognition of humanity. We will not only attack what they think, but also the way they think—the very way their brains processes information. We will influence their decision-making, we will change their behavior.
It’s a war on the brain and the way it functions. Indeed, the human mind is the new battlefield. Psychological operations…psychological warfare…cognitive warfare…yet the war isn’t really for your mind, but for your soul—for your eternity.
The boot: satan’s plan for humanity. It will step on your mind, it will crush your soul. It will hold you down, it will oppress you. If you take the Mark, it will stamp on your face for ever.
A technocratic dystopia, a digital gulag is coming for you. Take the microchip, become a human hybrid—owned by patent, easily controlled. Transhumanism: the dawning of a new era. A dystopian nightmare of Biblical proportions!
Jeremiah 25:31 “His cry of judgment will reach the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring his case against all the nations. He will judge all the people of the earth, slaughtering the wicked with the sword. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
Here's the article in the Good NewsNetwork:
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/cats-track-their-owners-movements...
It turns out that cats keep a mental map of their territory inside their heads which they can use to abstract out information. A recent study showed however that on the legend of that map, the largest icon is us: their owners.
Cats track where their owners are at all times, a study from the University of Kyoto demonstrated, and become deeply confused when we turn up where we shouldn’t be according to the cats’ mental maps.
Abstraction is a higher-order brain function that is the basis for trial and error and other kinds of learning, but also tool use, complex problem solving, hunting, and more.
One thing which abstraction allows is to be able to place objects and forces in and around the environment, even if they can’t be immediately perceived, for example, the cat food in the cupboard, the mouse among the tall grass, or the owner in the next room over.
Dr. Saho Takagi conducted a study that placed 50 cats inside individual rooms, where their owner’s voice was periodically calling from outside.
Then either a stranger or the owner’s voice would be played from a speaker in a corner of the room. Observing individuals who didn’t know which voice was being played ranked the appearance of shock on the cat’s face and body posture at the time the voice came from inside the room.
As per the authors’ predictions, the cats appeared the most surprised when, hearing and abstracting their owner as outside of the room, they suddenly appeared inside, coming through the speakers.
“A lot of what a cat has to interpret in its territory is an awareness of where other cats are. It is also important for hunting: how could a cat catch a field vole moving around beneath the grass if it couldn’t use clues, such as the occasional rustle, to see in its mind’s eye, where they are?” Roger Tabor, a biologist and BBC host of the TV show Cats, told the Guardian.
“A cat’s owner is extremely significant in its life as a source of food and security, so where we are is very important.”
Interestingly, the cats didn’t exhibit the same surprised response if the owner’s voice was replaced with a cat’s meow, or electronic sounds, reinforcing just how important our voices are to the day-to-day mental state of our cats.
It’s sometimes said that cats don’t care about their owners as much as dogs, but knowing they have an invisible map of the house, with the owner always highlighted, soundly scuppers that theory.
PAW This Feline Research Over to Your Buddies…
Among the craggy hills of long forgotten islands live the Shepherds.
Strange and reclusive, these towering rocklike creatures spend their hours tending to the wild cattle that roam the rippling green meadows. Only able to craft simple tools, and seemingly limited in brain function, the Shepherds are partial to flowers of any kind, making noises similar to a rockslide when presented with them.
____________
I built yo!
Getting back into the flow of things!
“In the process of abuse, the brain develops in an eschewed way – it is in a sense developing to a life in combat”
~ Louis Cozolino
good morning, herr doktor.
ah, there you are, my boy! come here, quickly! I've made an astounding scientific breakthrough!
oh? what now, doktor?
I've unlocked the secret of time itself! please sit here.
wow. that's really something.
just lean back and relax. this won't take but a moment, and will be almost painless.
what are you doing?
I must insert this device deep into your frontal lobe you see.
my what? won't that cause, I don't know, brain damage?
oh, tut tut. don't be so petty. we are talking about one of the great discoveries of the universe!
what's going to happen?
do not worry. you won't remember a thing.
really?
yes. in fact, you will have no memories at all. ever.
what's that got to do with time travel?
who said anything about time travel, my boy? I'm going to free you from the artificial constraints of time! imagine!
but with no brain function?
well, none to speak of. but I'm working on that, trust me.
0PJL - SILAS -
I remember the first time I held Victor. His eyes shone with an innocence I could never forget. He was so gentle then, my little scientist to be.
As a child, he struggled. His brain developed quickly but he could hardly take a step until he was 18 months old. I remember holding him up and cheering for him to put one leg in front of the other.
Before I knew it, Victor was running. Boy was he quick, I preferred, however, to think his brain functions would still draw his interest as he learned more and more.
A leather ball changed my plans forever. Vic loved just catching a football and running. One time, I remember he caught a pass from his friend in elementary school and then ran straight into the fence.
I refused to let Victor play football but his mother told him to chase his dreams. Just as he progressed as a player, I understood Football in a sense, was a study, though it's hard to calculate how humans will react or find ways to beat one another with their minds and physical ability of course. But Vic always found a way to catch that game winning touchdown.
I was proud of my son, so proud that I came to every game. Except the night of his injury, Victor was so ecstatic that scouts would be there to hopefully wrangle him into a decent football program. Victor broke his leg that night after a defensive back dismissed the whistle that the play was over and slammed Victor down to the ground.
He was angry at me that night. He said he would've never been hurt if I was there. Of course, that's not the case but he held a grudge. But no I regret not seeing that game, Vic fell into a bout of depression and fell into the wrong crowd.
The boy I once held in my arms came home drunk at least once a week. I couldn't see him like this so I made the mistake of taking my home to work. Victor thought I never cared.
Three weeks ago, Victor got into a car accident with some friends. They were all fine but Victor passed out in the car, nobody pulled him out of the flaming wreck until I came.
Victor was barely alive when I took him to STAR Labs. He needed multiple amputations, a risky operation which due to his condition, I needed to find a solution. A metal frame with some prosthetics fixed a lot of the problems. After a solid two weeks of nonstop work on the brain, my team finally finished work as Victor's brain functions were quickly returning.
====================================
NOW - VICTOR -
I open my eyes after the worst nightmare. My last game, I played it and always got broken. The face of defeat on the scout for the Washington Huskies was etched into my brain.
Relief is the only word I can describe as to waking up.
Victor: "This--isn't my room."
I hear a noise, a screech? Did I scare somebody? Anyways, I need to get to that party, I can't be late, this is my only chance at getting back into it.
Footsteps follow as I see my dad walk up to me.
Victor: "Hey dad! What's for breakfast?"
My dad's face is wrinkled. Nothing new but it looks like he's gained some more. Odd.
Silas: "Son, I have to explain something."
I try to stand up but am restrained. What's the big deal here? I look down to find myself in a costume.
Victor: "If this is an experiment to see which Halloween costume I look best in, don't think a Cyborg will exactly wow everyone. But this is a great costume dad."
My dad dips his head into his arms as he kneels on the steps ahead of me.
He looks back up with tears in his eyes.
Silas: "It-It's you now."
WHAT?
Victor: "I think you're joking!"
Silas: "You got into a car accident on June 30th."
Victor: "No, today's June 30th! I swear I have a party to go to tonight, I swear. I know you hate them but today is definitely the 30th!"
Silas: "It's July 22nd, Victor."
I can't believe this is real. Today is June 30th! I swear! As I focus on the date, a voice in my head corrects me.
*Today is July 22nd, the temperature is on average, 73 degrees Fahrenheit.*
No, this isn't real. I want to go home! I WANT TO GO HOME NOW!
*Loading, HOME*
====================================
I wake up in my bed, it's comfortable. I knew I was just in a dream.
I look around my room and see all of my posters, books, and clothes. This is home.
I get up out of bed and get dressed as I do every day. I wait at my door hesitant. Maybe dad is home from work today. Maybe he cares about me, that dream couldn't have been nothing.
=====================================
SILAS -
He's gone again. What did I expect? This is going to be a long road for him. Maybe he just needs space. I can't imagine what he's feeling.
I look back at my desk and see Victor's favorite comic. He sure loved Johnny Thunder, my boy. Why I kept it? Every night when he was a child, he loved listening to these stories of a man on an adventure. Away from home, Victor always said he wanted to leave home to have an adventure like Johnny Thunder. But always promised to come back to his parents after finding the treasure.
Please come home, soon, Victor. Once you find your treasure, like you promised...
Administrator Message:
On May 7, 2089, at 6:35 am, 19 seconds, world average time, an unexpected system failure occurred in the global neural network. All programs were forcibly restart. United Civil Service Provider apologizes for the inconvenience of temporarily shutting down some of your brain functions. In the near future, your identity will be fully restored.
One of the faces of Rett Syndrome.
Rett syndrome is a unique developmental disorder that is first recognized in infancy and seen almost always in girls, but can be rarely seen in boys.
Rett syndrome has been most often misdiagnosed as autism, cerebral palsy, or non-specific developmental delay
Rett syndrome is caused by mutations on the X chromosome on a gene called MECP2. There are more than 200 different mutations found on the MECP2 gene. Most of these mutations are found in eight different “hot spots.”
Rett syndrome strikes all racial and ethnic groups, and occurs worldwide in 1 of every 10,000 to 23,000 female births.
Rett syndrome is a developmental disorder. It is not a degenerative disorder.
Rett syndrome causes problems in brain function that are responsible for cognitive, sensory, emotional, motor and autonomic function. These can include learning, speech, sensory sensations, mood, movement, breathing, cardiac function, and even chewing, swallowing, and digestion.
See www.rettsyndrome.com for more information.
blueberries - high in antioxidants and allegedly has good benefits for brain function - but whatever the scientific research, more importantly, they taste great!
The Book of Daniel
Imagine that life is a book, imagine that you are a page in someone’s life. Some of us may be just a line in Daniel’s book, some of us – a page or even a chapter, some might give his storyline a while new meaning, and some might never even appear in it. Imagine that a single line can twist a person’s fate and change the ending of their book because yes, every story has an ending. But we can share and contribute in order to add more pages or even chapters to Daniel’s.
Our dear friend Daniel Estro, 29 years old, (co-owner of Zerkalo, Shiny Shabby and The Crossroads) has cancer and desperately needs our help. The fight for his life began when doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his brain, about 7 centimeters in diameter. Daniel underwent life-threatening surgery to remove the tumor. The surgery went well. However, several weeks later what was left of the tumor spread throughout his brain and started affecting his brain function.. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy. He is fighting as hard as he can to survive but as many of you might know, fighting cancer is very expensive. We have been trying our absolute best to help them financially and we still are. But we need your help. We are doing everything humanly possible and it’s just not enough. We need your help.
Please help us save him. If you find the kindness in your heart to help, you will be saving not one life but two. His RL/SL wife, Anais, is 28 years old and Daniel is all she has. Zerkalo was their only source of income and Anais is unable to work without Daniel because he was the brand’s designer and mesh creator. They are so young and in love. They are two pieces of one whole, they give meaning to each other’s stories, and one cannot exist without the other. Please help us support these wonderful people in every way that we can. They could have their whole lives ahead of them, and it’s up to us whether they do or not. Even the smallest bit of help will make an enormous difference, so please remember what you do will help save two beautiful lives.
We know that to you they might be strangers or just someone you have seen from afar here and there, but just like you and I, they are two real people facing very difficult obstacles, and needing all the help in the world.
Help today, for tomorrow you might be the one who needs it!
__________________________
Please click the following link to sign up: goo.gl/WYPXXI
Thank You.
I have no idea what she means when Lady Gaga sings that lyric but hell if I don't love it.
Happy Monday, everyone. This is the most I could manage today. I love the cool weather and the rain that sometimes comes with it, but with cloudy skies also come migraines and I'm battle one right now...I had really wanted to add some fangs to this photo for Halloween but my head just isn't allowing much brain function so meh! Meh I say...and narf...
Also sorry for being a day late. This was done Sunday for FGR's Red Mania. How could I not play?! :D Which means today's photo will have to go up tomorrow. I'm way too achey with this migraine.
Big Ted has been reading about the health benefits of standing on your head...thicker hair, increased circulation and improved brain function...well, a stuffed bear can use all the help he can get, so he figured...what the hey!
HTITFT!!!
Big Ted Calendar now available!
Dark Chocolate, a rich source of antioxidants and minerals. Good for everyday health, plays a role in cancer prevention, reduces heart disease risk, helps in weight loss, improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure. Also Improves brain function.
Oh look Astonby Coaches... no wait it’s Aston Manor Coaches. They must be more fancy because they’ve got a Manor. Aston Manor sounds like James Bond’s car mixed with a GWR locomotive. This drivel is how my brain functions at 1am.
Anyway Irizar i6 VIL 1488 is seen passing through Baslow on 22.8.25
Because we do not understand the brain very well we are constantly tempted to use the latest technology as a model for trying to understand it. In my childhood we were always assured that the brain was a telephone switchboard. ('What else could it be?') I was amused to see that Sherrington, the great British neuroscientist, thought that the brain worked like a telegraph system. Freud often compared the brain to hydraulic and electro-magnetic systems. Leibniz compared it to a mill, and I am told some of the ancient Greeks thought the brain functions like a catapult. At present, obviously, the metaphor is the digital computer.
John R. Searle, MINDS, BRAINS AND SCIENCE, p 44
Model : Rana Jubara
Here are some tips on how to eat to preserve your memory and keep your brain healthy.
Key Points
Limiting candy in your diet may support brain health, as high added sugar intake could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
A brain-healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise, managing chronic diseases, staying socially engaged and following diets like the MIND diet.
Making mindful dietary and lifestyle choices can enhance cognitive health and overall well-being over time.
More than 55 million people have dementia worldwide, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common form, contributing to 60% to 70% of dementia cases. Having Alzheimer’s disease means living with a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die, leading to a continuous decline in memory, thinking skills and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Sadly, as the disease progresses, even basic activities and communication become challenging.
Several factors influence the risk of developing dementia, with some being completely beyond your control. Aging is the most significant risk factor, as individuals over the age of 65 are more susceptible. Genetics also play a crucial role, with specific genetic mutations directly linked to Alzheimer’s disease. However, along with unchangeable factors, certain lifestyle choices can help lower the risk of cognitive decline, with diet being a pivotal piece of the puzzle. “Some of the best foods for brain health are antioxidant-rich wild blueberries, salad greens for B vitamins, salmon for its anti-inflammatory fatty acids, fiber-rich black beans, and walnuts, the best source of plant-based omega-3 ALA among nuts,” says Maggie Moon, M.S., RD. There are some foods you should avoid when focusing on brain health support too, with candy being the #1 food on that list.
Why You Should Limit Candy for Brain Health
Taking steps to reduce dementia risk is one positive step for brain health. While there isn’t one food that will cause dementia, high-added-sugar candy tops the list of foods that should be limited on a brain-healthy diet.
“Candies are not your brain’s friend,” Moon says. She points to a study that found that eating too much added sugar more than doubled the risk for dementia. “That includes added sugar from candies, as well as other sweets like pastries, sweetened café drinks and sodas,” she says. Researchers think that high blood sugar and insulin levels are risk factors for Alzheimer’s because insulin resistance may also occur in the brain, which may impact memory.
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Of course, everything can be eaten in moderation in a healthy, balanced eating plan. “While fine once in a while, research has found that a diet that is consistently high in added sugar may increase the amyloid plaque buildup in the brain,” says Laura M. Ali, M.S., RDN. "These plaques disrupt the communication system in our brain, and scientists have found that people with Alzheimer’s disease tend to have more of these plaques.”
In fact, says Ali, one study found that every 10 grams of added sugar consumed per day (equivalent to 2½ teaspoons of sugar or 8 gummy candies) was associated with a 1.3% to 1.4% increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Those with the highest daily added sugar intake had 19% higher odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Don't Miss
The #1 Habit to Start Now to Reduce Your Dementia Risk
Other Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia
Limiting sweetened candy doesn't guarantee that you won't get dementia, but it is a positive step forward. Along with limiting added sugar in your diet, here are some other ways to reduce your dementia risk:
Exercise by participating in both aerobic activity and resistance exercise.
If you smoke cigarettes, take the first steps to quit.
Limit alcohol intake. If you regularly drink alcohol, try to do so in moderation. Excessive drinking is linked to cognitive decline. Moderate drinking means two drinks or less in a day for men and one drink or less in a day for women.
Stay socially engaged. Maintaining social connections builds your cognitive reserve to maintain good brain function with age.
If you have chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, make sure you’re managing these well. Stiffness in arteries and blood vessels can damage the brain. If you need help or individualized advice, reach out to a healthcare professional.
Include brain-healthy foods in your diet. The MIND diet emphasizes foods like whole grains, nuts, berries, vegetables and olive oil, which research shows may help support brain health. “The brain-healthy MIND diet limits foods high in saturated fats and added sugars because both are linked to oxidative stress, inflammation and the brain plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease,” says Moon. She clarifies that this diet limits—but does not eliminate—fried foods, pastries and sweets, red meat, whole-fat cheese and butter.
Our Expert Take
Nothing will guarantee that you will live a life free from dementia. But certain steps may help reduce your risk, with your dietary choices being one factor. And along with eating brain-healthy foods, limiting your candy intake can help keep you cognitively sharp. Enjoying a small handful of candy corn on Halloween or conversation hearts on Valentine’s Day won’t “cause” dementia. “It’s important to remember that no single food eaten once, or even once in a while, is going to make or break your brain health,” Moon adds.
8 Sources:
World Health Organization. Dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association. What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
National Institute on Aging. Thinking about your risk for Alzheimer’s Disease? Five questions to consider.
Dhana K, James BD, Agarwal P, Aggarwal NT, et al. MIND Diet, Common Brain Pathologies, and Cognition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. J Alzheimers Dis.;83(2):683-692. doi: 10.3233/JAD-210107.
Agarwal P, Ford CN, Leurgans SE, Beck T, Desai P, Dhana K, Evans DA, Halloway S, Holland TM, Krueger KR, Liu X, Rajan KB, Bennett DA. Dietary sugar intake associated with a higher risk of dementia in community-dwelling older adults. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;95(4):1417-1425. doi:10.3233/JAD-230013
Liu L, Volpe SL, Ross JA, Grimm JA, Van Bockstaele EJ, Eisen HJ. Dietary sugar intake and risk of Alzheimer's disease in older women. Nutr Neurosci. 2022 Nov;25(11):2302-2313. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2021.1959099
Alzheimer’s Association. Risk reduction.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dietary guidelines for alcohol.
Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet. It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. These include improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other impressive benefits. One of the simplest ways to get rid of bad cholesterol is to drink a cup of green tea early in the morning on an empty stomach.
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