All posts by listerlogic@hotmail.com

5- THEORETICAL SCIENCE

WHY DO WE DREAM? ELECTRICAL REBALANCE OF THE BRAIN?

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Standing on the corner in a quiet subdivision a blue Chevrolet from the mid 1960’s passes by.  I try to move my feet and explore my surroundings but I can’t,  I’m not really there.  I am having what is called a “Lucid Dream” where I know I am dreaming while still within the dream.

Back, during a period of my life when I worked night shift and would get home in the morning with just an hour of spare time before I had to go out again is when it happened most.  I would lye on the bed, on top of the covers, with my cloths on.  With diffuse sunlight illuminating the room and knowing I only had just an hour to sleep, I would frequently have a lucid dream.  On rare occasion I would be lucid before the dream started.  When this happened I would see a series of images from my memory and thoughts appearing like flash cards, my brain would pick out one or more that seem to stand out and that would become the subject of the dream.  Like a spectator, I never seemed to have control of anything while in the dream except the ability to wake myself up and know that I was dreaming.

Could dreams be an electrical rebalancing of the brain?

Science has shown that our brains work by electrical pulses between neurons.  If we apply what we know about how electricity works outside our body, as we use our brain it should cause a build up of positively charged areas.  Perhaps one of the reasons for sleep is to rebalance these electrical charges.  As the neurons rebalance these electrical movements could trigger flash card type images during sleep.  As the images flash, a still active part of the brain unaware we are sleeping treats them as reality and try’s to make sense of them.  It is this process that seems to start the dream.

In the diagram of the brain below the green dots represent negatively charged areas and the a red dots show positive charged areas resulting from electrical neuron activity at the end of a busy day.

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After a good nights sleep the brain becomes electrically balanced again. As the red dots representing positively charged areas move back to an equilibrium position through the night (as shown in the diagram below) they trigger images that become the basis of dreams.

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Expanding on this theory it could explain other things such as how after hours of trying to solve a particular problem its sometimes better and easier to figure out if we leave it until morning.  Hours of neurons firing in the same area of the brain could build up such a charge that it makes the thought process more difficult and less effective.  If the brain does rebalance these charges during sleep they should take a path of least resistance to equalize that might not always be the path they took to get there.   This would sometimes cause us to dream about what happened though the day and at times trigger an old or unrelated memory in between charged areas.

Whether necessary for some biological function or just random firing of neurons dreams continue to be an unsolved mystery.

Dave Lister

listerlogic.com

7- CURRENT NEWS

SHOULD KIDS HAVE CREDIT CARDS? CANADA ELECTIONS

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Sitting around the table for a family meeting, the heads of the household stand up and announce to the kids that they are now going to have an equal say on how the family budget will be spent.  In a serious voice they try to explain to the kids that there is a large amount owed to credit card debt but the card has not been maxed out yet.  With the amount of money coming in we can only afford to pay the household bills and make the minimum payment on the credit card but there is no money left over to buy any new toys.  The kids are then asked to vote: do we go without new toys and live within our budget or buy new toys and add to the balance of the credit card?  How do you think most kids would vote?

This analogy comes to mind with Canada’s Election for Prime minister only a few days away.

It seems many people think that change for the sake of change is good.  With this belief there are 2 main options to choose:

  •  The first is for raising taxes for corporations.  Although at first thought this sounds like a good idea, one of the biggest problems in Ontario along with the rest of Canada is large companies like the auto industry are relocating to other countries to save money.  By raising the tax they pay here, would that not only encourage them to leave and take 1000s of jobs with them , cause higher unemployment and undermine our economy?  Maybe we should even be lowering corporate taxes to attract more companies and jobs to Canada.
  • The other option is to borrow more money to stimulate the economy.  With Canada’s current debt over 1.2 trillion dollars, is our economy that bad that we need to add to that?  Do we even have the right to borrow money that future generations up to our great, great, great etc. grand kids will have to pay back.  Even if we do decide to borrow more money, should we not wait until absolutely necessary, after all Canada is not an economic Island and is swept along with the rest of the words economies.  What if China’s currently shaky economy collapses?  Besides the problems a world economic downturn could cause, what if interest rates currently below 1% go up even just a little, how would that effect the 1.2 trillion dollars we owe?  Could Canada become another Greece, but with no one to bail us out?

I, like most Canadians voting don’t have a degree in economics, yet we are all making these decisions unsure of the consequences.  Because of our lack of expertise, do we sometimes elect people that are better skilled in salesmanship then being able to run a Country?  Would we elect someone who had the best plans for our Country if they weren’t good at being a salesman?

Now a days, newspaper adds aimed at the majority of Canadians no longer show the price, interest rate or amortization period of that new car, only the low weekly payment.  The 2 year contract for a new phone only shows the discounted price for the first 3 months and not what you have to pay for the other 21.  When advertising like this works for many voting Canadians and without economic degrees is my analogy of giving our kids credit cards very far off?

Dave Lister

listerlogic.com

8-TORONTO

MAYOR TORY ENCOURAGES OUR KIDS TO PLAY IN TRAFFIC

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A few weeks ago Toronto began changing speed limit signs in residential areas from 50kph to 40kph, the reason given was to help reduce ever increasing vehicle & pedestrian collision injuries. Now In an interview aired on CTV news, Mayor John Tory announced Toronto would no longer enforce the bylaw banning road hockey, basically inviting our children to go out and play in traffic for hours in these very streets while distracted from the danger with a game of hockey.

I am close to the mayors age and have lived in the same house for the past 50 years.  With this perspective I can say with out a doubt road hockey in most of  Toronto is not the same innocent game it was in the 1960s when John Tory and I played.  Back when it was legal not to seat belt kids in cars and lawn darts and wood burning kits were popular toys, playing road hockey in light traffic fit right in.  Today seatbelts are mandatory and toys considered even remotely dangerous are banned, but not only has road hockey continued, it has become a lot more dangerous then back then.  The number of cars in Toronto has increased exponentially.  What used to be mostly empty and clear streets are now busy and filled with parked cars with just enough room left for traffic to get by.

Mr. Tory was elected partly from frustrated Toronto drivers because he was going to get Toronto’s traffic moving, but by lowering speed limits and now turning streets into playgrounds, driver frustration could hit a new high. This driver attitude along with the attitude of some of todays youth can make for a deadly combination.
Not only is road hockey now a days a danger to our kids it can also cause a lot of property damage to vehicles.  After buying a new car in 2008 we watched helplessly over the next couple of years as the nightly road hockey game in front of our house caused half a dozen dents and 2 cracked windshields.  We would often go out to find kids sitting on the hood while taking a break from the game.  The screeching of car brakes became a familiar sound as kids darted out in traffic from between  parked cars after battling an opposite team member with sticks against the trunk of one of the cars for the hard rubber ball.  The familiar yelling of “car”,  and kids clearing the street to let traffic go by has long gone on my street.  Because of an increased frequency of traffic, most of the time the kids would not move and just keep playing.  If a car honked at them the driver was told to “f@ck off” and when finally allowed to pass have a have a hockey stick threateningly waived at them as they drove by.  Despite numerous complaints by us to the police the games continued.  Suddenly during the Rob Ford days the games stopped and so did the chaos on our street.  Now with this announcement and our new 5 month old car there is a good chance we will go through the same thing again.
I fail to understand some of the people that are still in favor of keeping road hockey going just because it’s been around for such a long time.  In the same John Tory announcement story, CTV news interviewed a mother who after complaining about how dangerous the traffic on her street was, actually complemented John Tory’s decision to allow road hockey so her kids could play there.
I am not against kids playing ball hockey and playing out doors but times have changed and these games are no longer safe or practical to be played on busy side streets.  Less than 200 metres from my house is an under utilized city park few people go to.   I am all for spending tax payers money on practical things, like paving an area there for a ball hockey rink as well as any other parks where kids would use it.  Although I believe there still might be some areas where road hockey might work and could be left alone,  whenever there is a complaint about safety or property damage law enforcement should shut it down.

In a city that banned tobogganing in some parks last winter for fear of being sued it boggles my mind how they are willing to turn a blind eye to the law and allow kids to play in traffic.  There is absolutely no question by allowing road hockey in Toronto now, its not a question of if, but when and how many children are seriously injured or killed.  Although being traumatic for all involved, the real blame and child’s blood will be on the mayor’s hands and those that support his decision.

Still support Mayor Tory’s position on road hockey after reading this?  Let me know what kind of car you drive and where you park, I know some kids that need practice with their slap shot.

Dave  Lister

listerlogic.com

4- HOW WE THINK, 5- THEORETICAL SCIENCE

RECIPE FOR CREATIVE THOUGHT

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RECIPE FOR CREATIVE THOUGHT

Another long busy week of physical and mental stress has come to an end.  I grab a beer and head to the front porch to just sit and relax before dinner.  The bagel I had for lunch is the only thing I’ve had time to eat since breakfast so I soon start feeling the effects of the alcohol.   Feeling quite relaxed, I grab another beer from the fridge and it begins.

As I become more and more relaxed the view from the porch turns to a sort of visual “white noise” and I end up deep in thought.  I start thinking about things in a whole new way, a more creative way.  I can figure out new innovative solutions to problems I had at work and in life that I have never thought of before.  Don’t get me wrong, I seem to have no end of creative thoughts all the time but this is different, it seems to allow the brain to have more abstract thoughts and not use conventional neuron paths.

Time after time I have been  able to duplicate this state of mind as long as the following conditions are present:

  • a long period (at least 5 days) of mental and physical stress that has suddenly ended and has been fully resolved
  • an empty stomach, if I have a full stomach I don’t feel the alcohol and it doesn’t work if I drink more.
  • by myself
  • some sort of visual “white noise”
  • 1-3 alcoholic drinks, any more and it doesn’t work

I’m not sure why this happens.  Could the long period of physical and mental stress “rev up” the brain and body?  There is already strong evidence that using your mind improves it.  Elderly people that do activities that involve using there mind keep and improve there memory and ability to think longer then those that don’t.   With the brain  “revved up” from all the problems over the last week, and the source of the stress suddenly gone, does a small amount of alcohol impair traditional embedded thought processes just enough to allow new innovated and creative ones?  I’m not sure why the visual “white noise” helps,  but it seems to distract a subconscious part of the brain that interferes with abstract thought processes.

Am I the only one this combination of conditions works for, or does it work for other people?  Are there other conditions that can enhance the creative thought process even more?

Dave Lister

listerlogic.com

4- HOW WE THINK

HELPFULL TIPS TO GET HEALTHY BY STARTING A REGULAR WORKOUT

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WORKOUT

When it comes to exercise, your brain will lie to you. “Its too late”, “it’s too cold”, “I’m too tired” are just some of the things our brains will try to convince us of when it comes time to workout, all these excuses should be considered lies unless proven otherwise. “What’s the big deal” your brain will argue “Its only 1 workout”.  It may not seem like a big deal to miss 1 workout, but 1 soon turns to 2 and the next thing you know your back to couch potato status with a dusty pair of running shoes in the closet. Ok, maybe if running is your thing and there’s a category 4 hurricane going on out side or it’s your 25th wedding anniversary you can skip the workout that day, otherwise just get at it. You will feel so much better afterwards.

This is one of many things I realized that helped me go from 2 chins to 1 and feel so much better by just doing a one hour workout every second day.  Most people give up after a few months of starting a   regular exercise routine, myself included but by learning first hand what pitfalls to watch out for and how to get through them, I have been able to stay on a regular routine for the past 10 years and what I’ve learned can help you do the same.

Know what your in for.  The first thing you have to ask yourself is are you ready to commit 60 minutes every second day FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE to staying healthy?  A  popular misconception is you only have to exercise long enough to loose weight then you can stop and go back to what you were doing before, but most people that do this soon put the weight back on and start feeling the same as before.  To succeed you have to be mentally prepared to keep it up year after year.  This may sound hard but if you can make it through the first year it starts to become a regular part of your life’s busy schedule and requires a lot less motivation to keep up.

What do you have to do? I recommend any cardio workout, that can be anything that gets your heart rate up to a point just before you are not so out of breath you can’t speak and keeps it there for 60 minutes.  It’s important to know that if you exert yourself too much you will not be able to maintain it for more than about 5 minutes no matter how tough you are.   If your doing it right and exercising at room temperature your t-shirt should be wet from sweat by the end of the 60 minutes.    I found that any activity I’ve chosen that does this has resulted in weight loss on all parts of my body, including my chin.

See your Doctor. Ok this is nothing you haven’t heard before but it’s important enough to stress again.  Get a complete physical done and if that’s not possible at least see your doctor for a regular visit and let him/her know that you are planning to start working out and follow any advise or warnings you are given.

Starting out  When you first start out try a 10 minute workout every second day, then add 5 minutes every 2 weeks until you get to 60 minutes every other day.

Ok, you are now mentally ready and committed to a regular workout and your doctor has given you the all clear. “What do I do and what will it cost?”  I recommend you keep it simple and try to exercise from home by jogging, using an elliptical machine, or even an exercise bike with the moving handles.  By exercising at home there is no added driving time to cut into your busy schedule.  The 60 minute workout will take you 60 minutes and you can do it any time of the day or night.  More than a few times over the years I’ve finished my home workout after midnight.

Choosing your exercise
  • Jogging-  Jogging from your house is probably the cheapest and easiest thing to do but can be hard to get started (see “mentally surviving the workout “below).  The cost of a pair of running shoes is all that’s involved and there is the mental stimulus of changing scenery.  Jogging at night I find to be very peaceful and if there’s a coffee shop mid run stop and take a break.  The negative things about running are the incredible pounding your joints take, so if you are starting off on the heavy side, have foot, knee or ankle problems jogging may not be right for you.  Also on the downside you have weather, traffic, and sometimes unsafe neighborhoods.  I have ran in all types of weather, and it is possible.  In winter always wear a hat and gloves as these 2 extremities always seem to get cold.  Wear something reflective and when crossing the road always check for traffic especially if your wearing earphones.  I used to jog in a rough neighborhood with the belief that most gang members are lousy shots and few are willing to chase someone running.  If you decide to run in a bad area or at night never stop to engage in a conversation with anyone, if someone talks to you just smile and keep going, carry one piece of ID, enough money for a coffee, your keys, and maybe a cell phone.
  • Elliptical machine or exercise bike -After an ankle injury a few years ago I can no longer take the pounding from jogging so the elliptical is what I use to work out now and I highly recommend it.  Look for a machine that has smooth even tension. You can pay up into the thousands for an elliptical machine or exercise bike but if your under 200 pounds, I recommend   spending no more than $200.00 for either at a reputable department  store.  If you find it’s not right for you most stores will allow you to return it. (The elliptical I use in the photo above cost $169.00).  If your confident buying used there are deals to be had for as little as $40.00 or less at garage sales.  Avoid buying used in the month of January when everyone is buying up exercise equipment for their New Years resolution (if you have used exercise equipment to sell January will get you the biggest buck).
  • Treadmill – I’m not a big fan of the treadmill but they do work. You will find that you have to run on the treadmill to get your heart rate up enough so you will need to spend a lot of money for one that will take the pounding.
  • Weights– Weights won’t get your heart rate up and are used more to build up muscle. I would wait until you’ve got through doing one year of cardio.  If after a year you feel you could devote more time to working out and want to advance, weights are a great idea.
  • Joining a club -Having the use of some of the better exercise equipment and more variety, access to a personal trainer, and a variety of fitness classes make joining a club quite  appealing.  There is also the social aspect where you can meet and make friends.  On the downside clubs can be expensive, if your busy, the time needed to travel to and from the club can turn a quick 60 minute workout into most of your evening.  Even the variety of exercise equipment will become boring after a while and if it’s busy you may have to wait for a particular piece of equipment to become available.
  • That new revolutionary “Seen on TV”  exercise machine – We have all seen the commercials for the machine that exercises every muscle in your body in half the time.  Don’t waste your money, most are just gimmicks and although they will get your heart rate up, the novelty well wear off quickly and they will become just as boring as any other exercise method.  There are no short cuts, you have to put in the time.
  • Sports, exercise classes, and other physical activity Great!! This is the best way.  When ever possible substitute your workout for anything that is fun, gets your heart up and keeps your mind busy.  Most of these rarely happen every 2nd day so you still need something as a backup.

Mentally surviving the workout

Its time for your workout and you are just too tired.  I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to just get started when you feel like this.  Even if you start your workout at a snails pace, in most cases after 5 or 10 minutes your body will begin to wake up and before you know it your energy will return.  Not only that but at the end of the workout you will usually feel like you have more energy then before you started.  It doesn’t seem to matter how many years you have been exercising or what shape your in, there is always going to be times when you feel too tired to start.

Give your body time to adjust to a repetitive exercise. When doing any repetitive exercise like the elliptical or especially something hard to start like jogging, start out as slow as possible to keep your heart rate down to a sustainable level until your body adjusts.  You should not be breathing so hard you can’t talk. If you can do this for 10 to 15 minutes something amazing happens. Its as if your body increases blood flow to the muscles being used and restricts blood flow to the ones that aren’t and the exercise becomes easier.  So don’t give up too soon thinking you can’t do it.  Also because of this be careful after stopping a repetitive exercise, some of muscles used for walking may not work right for a minute or two.

Surviving the boredom- Once your body gets over the initial strain  of starting a repetitive exercise (about 10 minutes) it becomes easier with just a constant moderate discomfort from the physical exertion.  At this point the brain numbing boredom soon begins.  Your brain needs something to  distract it from the exercise and get it to stop thinking about time.  I have seen some people read or watch TV but I find listening to music is the best way to both take your mind off the exercise and give you motivation.

Music – Music is the best way to overcome the boredom  of the workout, classical won’t cut it here, the fastest motivational music you are into at the highest safe volume the better.  I prefer an MP3 player to the radio because you can have all music.  It’s hard to get motivated by news and commercials which is all the radio seems to play when it comes time for your workout.  Work on getting a large quantity of songs to avoid getting sick of the same ones over and over.

Once you have been exercising for more than 10 minutes and one of your favorite songs comes on, this is the time to push yourself to the limit.  Forget everything  I said before about not exerting yourself too much.  Use the motivation from the music and go as fast as you can.  You should be breathing so fast it’s hard to talk.  Try to keep it up until the end of the song then slow  back down to the speed you were doing before, don’t stop.  Everyone’s exercising heart rate is different and you will soon start learning your own personal limits based on how fast your breathing is.

Benefits of Working out

It won’t be long before you start loosing weight and feeling better with more energy and more confidence in yourself.  This healthy feeling from exercise becomes contagious.  I have found since I started working out I’m not as hungry and feel full without eating as much.  When I do eat I tend to make healthier decisions because I want to, not because I should.

If you can get through the first year, Congratulations!  You have made it past the hardest part and will find it so much easier to keep going, so don’t stop.  Not only that, if you’ve ever dreamed of completing a triathlon or climbing a mountain,  you are now closer than you think.  With determination, a longer workout and proper training I have no doubt you can accomplish amazing things.

I know…….I’ve done it.

Dave Lister

listerlogic.com