Biological Obsessions

A play about cancer

2009-11-20T14:04:00.000-08:00

Sarah’s Daughters” is an example of the use of theatre in healthcare education for the purpose of education and to influence health care policy. “Sarah’s Daughters” is the story of a woman’s journey in dealing with genetic breast cancer. It is a very moving, and accessible presentation, which illuminates the challenges faced by women who may carry the Breast Cancer (BRCA) gene. Prior to writing “Sarah’s Daughters”, the play-write, Dr. Jeff Nisker, interviewed women who were in the high risk group for the BRACA gene. He wrote the play, striving to encapsulate their stories. Once the play was written, those interviewed watch it and provided feedback and editing guidance. After several edits, and once the participants felt the play reflected their stories, Dr Nisker produced the play in major centers throughout Canada.
Camosun College is pleased to be producing “Sarah’s Daughters” January 28th @ 7:30pm; January 29th at 2:00pm & 7:30pm. Tickets are $24.00 per person and $18.75 for students and seniors. Tickets are available through the McPherson box office or vouchers can be purchased through Camosun College Nursing Faculty. Prior to the matinee there will be a brief educational discussion regarding the development and writing of “Sarah’s Daughters”.
For more information contact Erika Paxman, Camosun College Nursing Faculty, at 250-370-3266
Erika Paxman, RN, BScN, MA
Nurse Educator
Camosun College
3100 Foul Bay Road
Victoria, BC
V8P 5J2
(250) 370-3266
paxmane@camosun.bc.ca

Human-Machine Interface

2009-09-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

I LOVE THIS!!!! Very soon this technology will be available and I will use it in my classroom!!!!!!

OUR Universe

2009-09-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

There was nothing then everything was there.....

Mystery fish....no longer!

2009-09-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Always wanted to know what was in your tasty Filet-O-Fish???? Here it is! It's ugly (I agree) and, apparently tasty....I cannot comment...I never had a Filet-O-Fish!!! Another article can be found HERE.

Merging Brain and Machine

2009-08-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

A PDF article (from Rolling Stone mag) can be found here

Is it far fetched? Less and less with everyday that goes by!

WHY NOT???

2009-08-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

What a revelation!

2009-08-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090717150252.htm#

THE PROBLEM:

In a recent study that appeared in the May/June 2009 issue of General Dentistry, the AGD's clinical, peer-reviewed journal, lead author, Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, MSc., PhD, outlined the acidic content of beverages, such as soda; lemon, grapefruit and orange juice; green and black tea; and revealed three steps to rehabilitate teeth that suffer from dental erosion as a result of the excessive consumption of these products.

SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM:

Lastly, the person should stop or reduce consumption of the suspected food or beverage to the absolute minimum.

Clear enough for ya? Good conclusion guys...it's really not obvious! Thanks for your inquisitive work!

Somebody tell me why I went to school for nearly 20 years?

What is a champion?

2009-07-30T22:35:00.000-07:00

George Hincapie is a champion....completed the last 4 stages of the Tour de France with a broken clavicle.....simply amazing!

Doubt is an ennemy.... (Esquimalt 8K race report)

2009-07-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Pace yourself.....pace yourself....and what if for a 8k I did not pace myself. What if I forget about wearing my Polar and listen only to my body, how I feel? What about not even looking at my watch during the race? What if I told you that my last 3 races I did much better than expected because I ran only by feel....

Well, yes, I looked at my watch but only for a second...and only once...or twice!

The Esquimalt 8K is a small local 8km race and according to last year's times and my current fitness level, I knew I could do very well there.

8:20 AM

I start to warm up...but it's already warm outside, there are no clouds and no wind. I run to wake my legs up and prepare them for that little surprise I have for them...

"Hey legs...we're gonna run under 4min/k today! How about that?"

This warm up is not going too well, I am hot and tired. My legs do not respond very well but this happened to me before at the TC 10K. I had a PR!

8:59:30 seconds AM

I am on the very front line, just behind Marilyn Arsenault, AKA the Running Diva,I am determined not to let her go....for at least 2km.....

9:00 AM

Here I go....I remember this commercial from Versus.com...it says: "...it's not because they're strong it doesn't mean they can't get their asses kicked"...I am going to kick ass, including mine! I start very fast (for me) and I decide I am going to keep it fast, for as long as I possibly can. If I slow donw, then I slow down. You see, since I read that quote for Shakespeare, I see racing in a totally different way. I see racing as taking risks and trusting my feelings. I now refuse to view racing as just a fast training run...I now see racing as a game of mind over body, a game I CAN WIN!

Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we might win, by fearing to attempt.
-- William Shakespeare

9 and something AM (km 4)

It's damn hot and my mouth is totally dry. I am not wearing my heart rate monitor but I know I am way above lactate threshold. My HR is probably 90-95% Max HR. I decide to keep it like that, I still feel good but I need a drink. I get a cup of Gatorade from the aid station but I am not slowing down...cherry (yuck!) Gatorade all over my face and sunglasses...not a pretty sight! Oh well, only 4km to go!

9 and something AM (km 6)

I do not feel so good anymore, I had omega-3 gel capsules this morning (as I always do) and I am burping fish oil, that's because of that stupid cherry Gatorade.... Negative signals start to kick in. Doubt is THE ENNEMY!!!! My legs are starting to feel like cement as lactic acid starts to accumulate.

9 and something (somewhere between km 7 and 8)

I think of Simon Whitfield, I think of Lance Armstrong, I think of the Tour de France and I think about these heroes. I remember some blog posts from my coaches Clint Lien and Mike Neill and I decide to keep going strong. I hear a runner coming close to me, breathing as hard as I....I accelerate. He comes just next to me and I accelerate more, this guy IS NOT GOING TO PASS ME!

I see the finish line....even though I did not win the race, this race is mine! I achieved a personal record (31 minutes and... results pending) and finished 3rd in the masters' category....a very nice race indeed!

Emotions are part of what we are...

2009-07-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

Roger Federer was recently criticized for crying in front of the cameras. He cried when he lost to Nadal, he cried when he won at Rolland Garros. In fact, if you Google these 3 words: Roger + Federer + Crying you get more than 150,000 hits! Do you think crying is a sign of weakness? It is not a sign of weakness...not in top athletes! In fact, anyone can fake arrogance and cockyness but fake tears are easy to spot. I just find it refreshing to see top athletes behaving like humans in front of the camera, you cannot be superman or superwoman all the time....emotions are part of what we are....human biological machines! We had a very good demonstration today when Heinrich Haussler got to win his first Tour de France stage! Well done Heinrich!

Happy to be a loser...

2009-07-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

I finished third in my age group (40-44) today atthe Triathlon of Compassion. I am very happy with this result. I swam as fast as I could, I biked as fast as I could, I ran as fast as I could. I am happy with my performance, not because I finished 3rd but because I kept going! Everything went well.....

I am the second loser (2nd being the first loser) of this race and I am happy!!!

Nothing else to report.....

How does it feel???

2009-07-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Ridge Fun

2009-07-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Went up to Hurricane Ridge yesterday for a long ride uphill. A 32km ride uphill...real hills! The first 5-8km are quite tough but after that it gets better..relatively speaking! Lots of fun!

Want to see some pictures??? Click HERE

New Balance Victoria Half Ironman 2009 - Race report

2009-06-23T16:19:00.001-07:00

Before I start.....

For a long time, I wanted to do triathlons. I remember watching the Ironman World Championships as a kid and decided that this was going to be something I would do...one day. A few years ago, I told my wife I would be an Ironman before I turn 45 and last year, after watching the Half Ironman at Elk Lake I decided it was now time to do what I said I would do! I always do what I say I will do....always! In October 2008, on my birthday, I joined Island Triathlon...a wonderful group of athletes and coaches to train with. I learned how to swim (I could not even swim 50m before I joined), got fitter on the bike and learned how to run faster than I ever could imagine.

June 21st, 2009: New Balance Victoria Half Ironman

4AM...alarm! I get up...excited and ready for action! I have been carbo loading during the days before and I am confident.

5:30 AM...I get marked (I am 514), get my timing chip and set up my transition. Everything looks good, I decide not to be obsessive-compulsive about this like I was in Sooke. My transition space is nice and clean, everything is there...I leave to put my wetsuit on.

6:15 AM...I have my wetsuit on and I am getting nervous about this 1.9km swim. There are a lot of athletes there and everybody will start together...will I be kicked in the face? Will anyone try to drown me?

6:42 AM...I am in the water, waiting....I saw the cannon and I know it is just about to go

6:45 AM...BOOM!!!! Swim time!!! Here I go...this is it!

6:46 AM - 7:20AM...I am swimming and there is a lot of people around me. In a bold move I decide to get between two athletes in order to pass them. My heart is racing and I can barely breathe. I try to breathe every third stroke but I found it impossible to do...what the hell...I will breathe every second stroke. I pass the first buoy, the second one and I get to the triangle where I have to turn. At the triangle the crowd compacts and there is very little room to do anything...even swim! I have to constantly repeat to myself this mantra: Calm down! Calm down!

On the second half of the swim I feel way more comfortable and I know the swim finish line is near. Last buoy! The exit is just meters away...I feel dizzy! I swim until my hands rake the bottom and then I get up. I really feel weird...this is a very strange sensation...never felt this before! I see familiar faces, I hear Crys, I see Peggy, I see Kim from Island Triathlon....I peel my wet suit and run to transition (T1). I feel like I just landed on another planet...my head is spinning a bit!

OFFICIAL SWIM TIME: 36 minutes 17 seconds (1:55/100m)

T1

Nothing special to add here....too long of a transition but a good transition nevertheless. I get on my bike and off I go...for the next 3 hours my Opus Bike will be my best friend...and it did not disappoint me!

Bike (87 km)
Very often I have a song playing in my mind and as I went for the first hill, I have this Supertramp song stuck in my head..."Take the Long Way Home"...how appropriate! I get up to speed quickly and my legs feel fine except for tight calves.
Uphill...downhill...uphill...downhill...This is going to kill my legs! I pass another Island Triathlon athlete, Fergus. He gives me a very wise advice: "Slow down...you still have a long way to go"....Take the long way home!

The weird thing about the first 20-30km is that I felt almost no pain, going uphill seemed effortless (not that I was going very fast)...adrenalin I guess...but adrenalin can only take you so far... On the second loop I feelt pain in my rear end and I had to stand on my pedals to stretch. This pain became my companion for the next 45 km...

On fast section another song popped in my mind: Satch Boogie by Joe Satriani....fast!

OFFICIAL BIKE TIME: 2h 56 minutes 50 seconds (29.5 km/h...not so bad on a hilly course)

T2

Off the bike, remove cycling shoes...put on running shoes, remove helmet..put on my racing hat....I am outta there!

RUN 20 km
I know Elk Lake very well and I love running there. But this is different! I am running on totally knackered legs...I tell myself..HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS? I start to run, slowly..."cement legs" can not go very fast....I know I will accelerate in a few minutes but WHEN? Sometimes LIFE takes charge and sends you unexpected help. This help came when Lysanne (an amazing triathlete and friend) passed me...Hey DOM...wanna run with me? Sure! Lysanne and I have very similar paces when running is the only thing on the menu...but she is a stronger athlete than I am (and much younger I have to say). I run with her for 10-15 minutes but eventually I had to walk a bit. The good thing is that this proved to me that I could go faster..and that's exactly what I did! The remaining km were very difficult, cramps, pain in the foot, pain in the knees but I decided I was not going to slow down. I had a good pace under the circumstances and I am happy with this!

OFFICIAL RUN TIME: 1h 40 minutes 41 seconds (5minutes 03 seconds / km).. I can run much faster than this...usually!

Conclusion

I am happy with this competition...I am EXACTLY in the middle of my age group...not that I really care but it is nice to know that I worked hard and it paid off. I have to say this...Thalia Castillo is the Head Coach of Island Triathlon and she was everywhere on the course...I could hear my name being called everywhere! She came early for her athletes. She made a HUGE difference in my training and part of my success goes to her. Thanks Thalia!!!

The sky is the limit...

2009-06-10T10:48:00.001-07:00

At least this is how I feel right now. My tapering is going so (SO) well despite an annoying cold. I run faster, I swim faster (but not that fast) and my cycling is also going very well. I am gaining confidence and I am really looking forwards to that New Balance Half Ironman.

I know that on race day it can be a different story but at least my preparative work is done properly and with high intensity. I wanted to look for explanations regarding the way I feel right now and this is what I found:

"From a neuromuscular perspective, the taper usually results in markedly increased muscular strength and power, often associated with performance gains at the muscular and whole body level. Oxidative enzyme activities can increase, along with positive changes in single muscle fibre size, metabolic properties and contractile properties. Limited research on the influence of the taper on athletes' immune status indicates that small changes in immune cells, immunoglobulins and cytokines are unlikely to compromise overall immunological protection."

WE TRULY ARE BIOLOGICAL MACHINES....

REF: Physiological Changes Associated with the Pre-Event Taper in Athletes.
Sports Medicine. 34(13):891-927, 2004.
Mujika, Inigo; Padilla, Sabino; Pyne, David; Busso, Thierry

Taaper weeks...

2009-06-03T15:59:00.001-07:00

More intensity, less distance...this is my goal for the next 2 weeks. Despite a little battle with a virus...nothing serious, I just felt a bit tired, I feel like my fitness level is UP THERE! I felt like I never felt before. I feel strong mentally and physically and I am ready for action. The next 2 weeks are designed to bring me to the next level, to "peak". The week after that, I am going to California for a conference. I plan to swim there at least once but preferably twice. I plan to run on the Golden Gate...just for the fun of it! Then I come back. June 21st it's competition time...I plan to give everything I have. Time is no issue, I want to be proud of myself knowing that the time it takes to do this Half Iron is the absolute minimum for me, at this point. I am ready! SOOOOO READY!!!!

I love my quads....

2009-05-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hill training tonight! Just for fun! 5 repeats, each repeats is 2.3 km, 137 m elevation. In total that will be:

11.5 km uphill (11.5 km downhill...no effort)
685 m ascent

Fight of Flight Reaction: An experiment

2009-05-18T16:42:00.001-07:00

This post is, again, about my triathlon training...but with a twist! For starters, I almost got hit by a car today, well....I almost crashed in a car. Not my fault I swear! You see, Victoria is full of very nice people and many of these nice people happen to be elderly. Age and vision (not talking "night vision" here)go in opposed directions...we could say they are negatively correlated.

Anyways...I am coming down beach drive near the Oak Bay Marina, nothing in front of me. I am going at about 35km/h. No rain...just a nice day. So here I come and this boat-of-a-car (a blue Caprice, I think) turns to get in the Oak Bay Marina parking lot. I just tell myself: Wait...I am here dude....he does not see me, and still proceeds to the parking lot...slowly. I hit the breaks hard....he is still moving. "I am going to crash in this stupid car" I tell myself and everything seems to be in slow motion. Finally, when I am 2-3 meters from the car, he suddenly stops, looking at me. I still hit the breaks and my back wheel start skidding on the pavement....nowhere to go but on the sidewalk. So I did...barely! It is quite amazing how we get so lucid in times like these. Everything seems to slow down and small details seem to be so easy to perceive.

After a few bad words I stop on the side of the road, my heart is racing. That was a close call!!!! That would have been a bad, bad crash!

I was wearing my Polar Heart Rate monitor and looked at the time on my watch. I thought that, for sure, the Polar would have picked that up...and it did! On the picture below, the red line is my heart rate, the bottom brown section is altitude. You can see (look at the arrows) that my heart rate adapts to the altitude but there is a point where it shoots up for no apparent reasons except for an adrenalin surge in my veins.

After a 83km ride, I planned a run. A nice, but difficult, run around Cedar Hill golf course. Guess what? I almost got hit by a golf ball....it has to be my lucky day! I plan on checking the lotto 6/49 numbers tonight....a few days ago we bought a ticket!

Getting there...

2009-05-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

The New Balance Half Ironman is just weeks away and I am starting to feel confident. I know it will be difficult and long, the longest race ever so far but I am really looking forwards to it. I went for a 104km bike ride yesterday and today I ran 16km....in the sun! My legs were tired from yesterday's ride but not as much as I expected. In fact, I ran a very good 10km (Times Colonist 10k see also this blog post) after a long ride last month. I have a bit of stiffness in my calves and maybe in the quads but rolling on my foam tube should take care of that.

I am in some sort of dilemma right now....I would like to run the Oak Bay Half Marathon next sunday (May 24th) but I am not sure for two reasons:

I haven't run more than 16 km in the last few months...and only once (today)
I certainly do not want to get injured before my big day on June 21 (Elk Lake half Ironman)

On the other hand, it could be a good training session at tempo pace and I am in very good shape right now...I could get a PR.....humm...what to do?

H1N1

2009-05-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

The picture above is from an old ad but it seems to me that many naturopaths are actually saying the exact same thing with a revamped version of the mustard bath. There is also a change in the vocabulary: poisons have become toxins.....toxins...yeah right! The original article with all these funny ads can be found HERE

Star Trek Technology Today

2009-05-15T15:20:00.001-07:00

I went to see Star Trek a few days ago.....I am not a "Trekkie" but I really enjoyed it! Here's a website detailing the technology Star Trek writers envisionned years ahead....at Warp Speed!

Once again!

2009-05-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

Once again, animals proving they are more than "just animals".

Lower cadence on bike and running performance

2009-05-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting blog post and, after my first triathlon, this makes total sense.

One of the most interesting aspects of the review related to the chosen pedal cadence and how this affected subsequent running performance. It is well documented that lower cadences lead to lower oxygen usage and studies have shown that pedalling at lower cadences in the final stages of a triathlon cycle section can improve subsequent running performances. Vercruyssen et al (2002) showed that running performance was significantly improved by adopting a slower cadence for the final 10 minutes of the cycle leg (74 RPM) compared to a self chosen cadence of 94 RPM and a high cadence of 109 RPM.

Now, what I need to do is find a way to make sure my legs adapt to the swim tto bike part. Someone from Island Triathlon suggested high cadence to pump blood in the legs. That makes sense as well. I found this transition very difficult and, in my race report, I refered to a Jell-O feeling. About five minutes later my legs felt better. I am learning a lot...that's for sure!

Sooke Spring Triathlon - Race Report!

2009-05-13T11:36:00.001-07:00

Ok...here it is! Am I happy with my performance? YES! Could I have done better.....YES! Overall in my age group (40-44) I ended up being 9 out of 16 finishing triathletes...once again I stand in the middle of the pack. Not the fastest but certainly not the slowest either. So how did it go? Read on! Results posted HERE

Swim - 700m
This is my weak sport, I never really swam before and I had to learn everything right from the most basic things. Yes, I still drop my elbows...

When I registered I had to predict my time and I wrote 15 minutes. I based this time from a 1500m time trial done at Commonwealth Pool a few weeks ago. I calculated 1500m in 31 minutes....approximately 2 minutes per 100m. So 700m in about 15 minutes....give and take a few seconds per 100m.

I was assigned the fourth heat (out of 11). The fourth heat really meant the 4 slowest heat. I had a white swim cap which meant I was the leader of my lane (4 people per lane). 9h35 AM, GO! I start and try not to let the adrenalin burn me down, I try to pace myself but I quickly find out that I can sustain the pace, I breathe every second stroke and I quickly create a gap between myself and the other ones in my lane. I am pleasantly surprized! 28 laps later in a 25m pool I get out...I am the first out of the water for my heat. YESSS!!! I am happy and quickly get out of the building trying hard not to slip on the wet floor. Outside on the cement I start running and take time to smile at my wife....a smile for the camera!

My swim time is officially 13 minutes 6 seconds or 1 minute 52 seconds per 100m. I am happy!

T1 (Transition 1 - Swim to Bike)
This was NOT good! Not at all!!!!!

As I run in the transition zone I try to find my bike...where is it? There are bikes all over the place! When I get to my bike, I put my sleeves on, my socks on, my shoes on, my jacket on (which was actually not necessary) and, mistake, my bike pump in my back pocket. I put my helmet on, grab my bike and start to run. My pump falls out of my pocket, I turn back and put it right back in my pocket and re-start running...the pump falls AGAIN! I spot coach Clint and I imagine him rolling his eyes...I feel stupid! I get on my bike, put the pump back in my pocket and swear that if it falls again...I will not get it back. My time in transition? Too long: 3 minutes 36 seconds! Just to show how bad that transition was, it is good for you to know that the top athletes spent less than 30 seconds in T1. In my defense, I have to mention that I do not have triathlon bike shoes (they can be worn without socks).

BIKE Leg - 20km
I am very happy with this. 40 minutes 26 seconds for a hilly, 20 km ride (30km/h). I found the first minutes quite painful, my legs felt like Jell-O and my heart rate is right up there (adrenalin!!!). I have lactic acid build-up and I wonder how I am going to do this. I keep going and try my best, first hill...downhill.....second hill! I try to catch up to the cyclist right in front of me, which I did quite easily. I gain confidence and it seems like my legs adapted quite well. I start to hammer it! I surprise myself with speeds of 35km+ on false flats (uphill). I try to go as fast as I can on downhills sections. It's going well until I get to "The Wall"....I see people cheering .and I just want to impress them. I go as hard as I can, I am almost there!

T2 (Transition 2 - Bike to Run)

Guess what...? The stupid pump fell again...right in front of coach Clint! Arrrgh! I hang my bike, remove my shoes, put my runners on, remove my jacket and then my helmet...always remove your helmet last! I take a sip of Gatorade and off I go!

Run - 5km
It's uphill....all the way. My legs do not feel like Jell-O this time...they feel like freakin' cement! It hurts but I am confident in my running abilities and I actually felt pretty good despite very high heart rates. I cross people now going downhill and cheer for them...after all, they suffer just as much as I do! My run time is not good (but it includes T2): 26 minutes 21 seconds.

Conclusion

I am happy I did this very first triathlon. I learned a lot and I had a blast! Next time I will get CO2 cartriges and save precious seconds and, most importantly...not look like an idiot trying to keep my pump in my pocket! Oh yeah...before I forget....Island Triathlon did VERY well....we are certainly NOT a "farm team" as suggested by a Human Powered Racing Team athlete....By the way, we did better than he did!

Back to training!!!!

2009-05-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday's race went well but I want my next race, the New Balance Half Iron, to go even better. It will be a much longer race and I will need to really pace myself there. In the meantime I need to get in perfect shape for this important race. Last night we ran around Elk/Beaver Lake. This is one of my favorite spots here. So beautiful, such nice trails. We had to go for 3 minutes at 10k pace with 1 minute recovery jog in between. That was a hard workout, very demanding but a lot of fun. I am happy I got to run with Lysanne. She is a very good athlete and runnign with someone makes me running harder. Tonight.....bike!

That sucks!!!

2009-05-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

NEw Training / Racing BLOG

2009-04-28T16:15:00.001-07:00

Hello...I will now post all of my training and racing stuff at this new blogspot adress:

http://biologicalmachine.blogspot.com/

GO CRYS GO!!!

2009-04-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

Yes...my wife will be in the Vancouver Marathon next weekend....she worked so hard to get there: long runs in the rain, painful active release sessions, black toe nails, good runs...bad runs...injuries and recovery...and lots of support from me! Go Crys GO!!!

A bit of inspiration...

2009-04-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

VIA: http://humanpoweredracer.blogspot.com/

How many bruises before I can do THIS?

2009-04-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

I have this existential question that keeps popping in my mind: How many people died before somebody discovered that certain mushrooms were poisonous? This is a similar question....how crazy (might not be the appropriate word here) do you have to be to become soooo good at this? How many bruises can you tolerate???

TC 10K Baby!!!!

2009-04-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while.....just did not have the time! Here's a good reason to blog again: Sunday it will be the Times Colonist 10km run (TC 10K) - Bib number 368. I am part of a group at work called the Camosun Human Racehorses. Let's see how I will do! I got injured a few weeks ago but I am now back in running full force....I want to do well but I do not expect a PR here...but it could happen! By the way, that PR is 44 minutes 7 seconds (not that great!...my excuse? There was ice on the roads that day)!

Do NOT complain!

2009-04-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

I went for a ride this week-end...a nice long one. We went for a hill I was not prepared for and I attacked it with half a Cliff bar still in my mouth...eating while going up a hill is NOT A GOOD IDEA!!! The hill seemed to go on forever and lactic acid was quickly building up in my novice triathlete legs. My left brain started sending negative messages such as: just quit, go back downhill and call it a day, it is too difficult, you are out of shape...etc, etc, etc. Then I noticed my LiveSTRONG bracelet on my right wrist and I remembered that a very good friend is fighting for his life, I started thinking that he would switch with me anytime...I tought of his wife, his children and his courage. I felt ashamed that I could act like such a baby just because my legs burn, I remembered that I CHOOSE to train. I will not complain!

In this video, do you think the athlete is complaining? He is not.....and I will not!

Human flying squirrels (and crazy too...)

2009-04-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Newly discovered!!!!

2009-04-01T11:50:00.001-07:00

Mother Nature always surprises me....

DID YOU "EARTH HOUR" LAST SATURDAY?

2009-04-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

I sure did...we were having dinner with friends...candlelights!

Here is a very nice site HINT: Click on the image to turn the lights on/off!

Via: Radio-Canada

Viral chatter

2009-03-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

Undersea volcano

2009-03-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

Just admire the sheer force of this amazing thing......

Hammering the water with a hammerhead below!

2009-03-17T14:51:00.001-07:00

A good reason to swim fast....or not!

Condoms and Benedict.....

2009-03-17T09:57:00.001-07:00

I learned a valuable lesson early in life....never talk about things you do not know. It is very easy to say things just because they seem to be right. Dear Benedict, read scientific reports, open your narrow mind and let some common sense in. By saying things like that, YOU make it worse! Please understand that sex is not evil and that human nature does not change in a flash just because some guy supposed to represent the Roman Catholic Church in 2009 says so......

"traditional teaching of the Church" on chastity outside marriage and fidelity within it had proved to be "the only sure way of preventing the spread of HIV and Aids".

Sexual abstinence and being faithful to your partner can be a good thing, I understand that, but remember that it takes a few unfaithful people to throw a wrench in the works.... Dear Benedict, 42 million people worldwide are currently affected by that virus! Condoms can, and do, help! Denying human nature is a stupid thing to do, I just wish you could understand that!

LINKS

Image source: http://libguides.llu.edu/content.php?pid=18910&sid=147001 (Aids in 2008)

Via: Times Online

I love prosthetics but...

2009-03-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

I really love prosthetics, I like the fact that there is a lot of research in this field and I love the fact that this research really improves the life of millions of amputees. But this USB finger is amusing...at most! I am trying hard to find the real advantage here....the only one I can find is that, if you are teaching, you are less likely to forget that USB on the teaching computer......

Photoshop lies...

2009-03-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

I do not believe in censoring anything that's already out there but, for sure, the public has the right to know what's real and what's not. If you cannot find a model that satisfies you for a particular dress or swimsiut...then that person does not exist!

Here is a good link (NyTimes)

Image source: http://www.youngandhealthy.ca/caah/

Big Brother part 2

2009-03-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Again....yes we are monitored and we will be monitored even more in the future...my point is still the same: As long as camera-phones will exist, everyone can spy on everyone....and this is NOT going to stop!

Listen to the Podcast (CBC's Search Engine)

Via: Boing Boing

Whos is Big Brother? It's everyone!

2009-03-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

I am amazed, really! Almost everyone I know worries about privacy, protecting personal information and identity theft. Almost everyone I know think there are too many cameras monitoring sidewalks and roads. Many think "The Government" is somehow spying on it's citizens and almost everyone I know was absolutely flabbergasted when they heard of the infamous Patriot Act that allowed the US government to monitor phone conversations without any permission from a judge. Ok...privacy is precious...right? RIGHT!

I do not want to look at the Facebook profile of my step-kids because I am too afraid of what I might find....I've seen it too many times. Party pictures posted on a social networking site will entertain your friends for a while but what is on the net can be saved on any computer and, eventually, could be used against you! My question is this...who would be willing to use that info? Very simple answer: your friends, your family, your colleagues, your neighbours, the police, the government....ANYONE could use ANY picture to prevent you from getting that promotion, that new job....and what else?

Recently Michael Phelps commited the mistake of being caught on a camera-phone while smoking some illicit substance. In the paper this morning I saw that picture of Jon Favreau, Obama's star-speechwriter grabbing Hilary Clinton's breast...it was a cardboard Hilary Clinton but it was extremely disrespectful.

These pictures were probably sent via an anonymous email (I am not sure, I did not check that fact...I have lots of marking to do still...) but it seems to me that "THE Government" does not need to spy on us....we already do that for "Them"....Come on people, we cannot change human nature but we can be a bit more careful about stuff we post online....can we?????

What's in your spit?

2009-03-04T15:35:00.000-08:00

Well just think of this....there are 10 times as many bacteria cells as human cells in a single human being.....your saliva is no exception...it has bacteria!

The coolest fish!

2009-02-25T15:27:00.001-08:00

Darwin's theory at its best! Simply amazing!

25 Random Things About Me

2009-02-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

1. If you want to make me angry...never blame yourself for things that go wrong in your life, and never apologize for anyhting 2. If you want to make me smile tell me about your passions 3. I cannot tolerate animal abuse of any kind 4. I am agnostic, I cannot be sure if God really exists or not 5. I like to hear the robins at dusk and dawn 6. I hate hypocrisy 7. I believe we are all a potential champion in something....Michael Phelps could have been an average engineer...it's just that he discovered swimming. 8. I eat kiwi skin and always swallow my gum 9. My dad was my hero and he still is even if he is not with us anymore 10. I absolutely love my wife 11. I own a lot of books I never read 12. I feel guilty to sleep in, even though I have nothing planned 13. I like to watch stupid shows on the stupid TV 14. I am an optimist 15. I admire perseverance and Terry Fox is the most amazing hero this country ever got 16. I think Penelope Cruz is one of the cutest thing I have seen 17. Sometimes I wonder what day it will be when I die 18. I get cranky when sidelined by a running injury 19. Sarcasm is one of my favorite form of humor 20. I like to follow the instructions my "little voice" gives me even though I sometimes wish it would shut up 21. I like to sleep in fresh flannel sheets 22. I will be an Ironman in 2010 23. When I say something...I do it! This is one of my best qualities 24. Life is precious 25. Love is everything

Lucid dreams

2009-02-23T14:37:00.000-08:00

I did that ONCE....and only once. Never could replicate it since.....very very cool!

More info HERE

My tibias (in case you care)

2009-02-19T13:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a bone scan of my tibias and knees. The tibias really incorporated the tracer (Technetium-99), wich is normal because I run a lot and the tibias are under constant stress.

In my left knee there is also tracer accumulation and that explain the mild pain I get sometimes (runner's knee). Cool, isnt't it?

Absolutely Heart Breaking...but some were saved!!!

2009-02-19T12:08:00.001-08:00

3 dolphins were saved by the people of Seal Cove...well done guys!

Five dolphins are stuck in ice, they circle and circle....I just hope the weather warms up like it is supposed to be....

Gardasil

2009-02-19T10:05:00.001-08:00

In case you missed it and are thinking of getting vaccinated.....food for tought!

Here is a secret...

2009-02-19T09:55:00.001-08:00

Of course, somebody has to make money with it!!! Hey gullible people of the Earth...part with you hard earned money...science is there to save you! Use a few buzz words, use them in semi-intelligent sentences and you might have a few followers! Garbage!

Here is what they claim:

"IMAGINE A NEW WAY TO CHANGE THE PLANET AND OPEN UP YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL AS A HUMAN BEING BY LAYING ON YOUR BED WITHOUT LIFTING A FINGER"

A testimony here......

Do you have a minute????

2009-02-18T17:44:00.000-08:00

Found this interesting video while looking at the Pharyngula blog. Interesting how things just accelerate near the last seconds and milliseconds.....

OUCH!!!!

2009-02-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

From National Geographic

Taken at Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, this image shows a fight between a redheaded woodpecker and a yellow-shafted northern flicker over a nest hole. The redheaded woodpeckers tried to chase away the intruding flickers but after this encounter, the fight was over. The flicker managed to grab the redheaded by its tongue and force it all the way down to the ground. Both birds spiraled while falling to the ground. It must have been painful as the redheaded gave up after this clash.

Disgusting! Shame on you!

2009-02-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

One of my coaches, Clint Lien, recently blogged about bike thefts. Yesterday, Lance Armstrong's time trial bike ($$$) was stolen from a van. Today I learned that music instruments were stolen from students' lockers at McGill University. Although I feel bad about the stolen bikes, a bike is a bike is a bike.....It can be replaced, sponsors are likely to provide another bike, and in the case of Lance Armstrong, Lance has the money to get another bike, exactly like the one that was stolen.

Musical instruments ARE DIFFERENT because music appeals to the soul. Musical instruments have a sentimental value THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED. Alicia Bisha lost her $40,000 viola....a gift from her grandmother.....how could you ever, EVER, replace that?????

Shame on you, thieves of the world....you are stealing for drugs, money.....you are also stealing something that is deep inside....you are robbing a piece of people's soul! SHAME SHAME SHAME!!!!!!

UPDATE: Lance Armstrong's bike was returned!

Shark VS Dolphin

2009-02-17T12:16:00.001-08:00

Well....it happens. Someone has to eat and to sharks, dolphin meat is probably quite good. Humans have this thing for dolphins (and I am one of them). We love the marine mammal....but someone has to eat! I just fear the wound will get infected, such a big gash!

My take on the Phelps thing

2009-02-09T17:08:00.000-08:00

Here is my point of view...

Michael Phelps did something stupid, he smoked pot where someone could see him and take a picture (who does not have a camera phone these days). Michael Phelps forgot that he became a hero, someone to look up to and a great model. Almost everyone wants to be a hero but it seems to me like everybody quickly forget that, with the hero tag, comes a responsibility. Michael Phelps lost, his first loss in a long time! But here is where I admire Michael Phelps....unlike the other "heros", Phelps ADMITTED he did something stupid. He admitted it....YES....ADMITTING is hard to do! Just look at the cyclists caught with too much red blood cells....remember Floyd Landis? During the Tour de France 2006, Landis urine was found to have a bit too much testosterone.....What was Landis' explanation? He told the press that the night before he drank a bit too much...who drinks too much during such a big race? Did he ever apologize? NOPE! Did he ever admit to anything? NOPE! At least, Phelps stood up to his own mistake, to me that count more than anything!

Look at Landis trying to get out of it...blaming anyone but himself and the athletes that cheat!

GATTACA possible in 2019

2009-02-09T15:43:00.001-08:00

2019....looks like a good year for a science fiction movie...does it? 2019 will be here in just a bit more that 3500 days! What can be achieved in 3500 days? A lot! I remember seeing the GATTACA movie (more than 3500 days ago), I remember finding it realistic and scary. I remember thinking of George Orwell's 1984, which I read in 1984 (just a bit more than 3500 days before)! I also know how weak humans can be compared to big corporations. Imagine....2019. Imagine having your own genome sequences before you can even recognize the letters A, C, G and T. Imagine your data being downloaded to an insurance company computer. Do not get me wrong, I love the fact that we might be able to prevent horrible diseases, I love the fact that some children will be able to achieve their true potential because they will be taken care of at the right time....but there is a dark side to that story and I know we, humans, have a record of creating problems at a much faster rate than we can find solutions for the same problems.....

Every baby born a decade from now will have its genetic code mapped at birth, the head of the world's leading genome sequencing company has predicted.

A complete DNA read-out for every newborn will be technically feasible and affordable in less than five years, promising a revolution in healthcare, says Jay Flatley, the chief executive of Illumina.

Only social and legal issues are likely to delay the era of “genome sequences”, or genetic profiles, for all. By 2019 it will have become routine to map infants' genes when they are born, Dr Flatley told The Times.

source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5689052.ece

If it has anything to do with Obama...it's news!

2009-02-09T11:31:00.001-08:00

Amazing! This 45 seconds little video is posted on CNN's website. No sound, it even looks like this video was shot from a camera phone. To make things even sorse, Obama does not really bumps his head, he just found the top of the door on his way in the helicopter. Come on...this is not news! Or is it???

A dog tries to save another dog

2009-02-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

Amazing...considering that humans often DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help someone in need! Compare these two videos and tell me what animal is the most evolved.......

Human 2.0 - The generosity of students

2009-02-05T16:42:00.001-08:00

Not enough energy....

2009-02-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

4 hours in just a bit more than 2 minutes.....there is absolutely NO WAY I could be so active for 4 hours......I am getting old....

Via: Radio-Canada

I feel funny.....

2009-02-04T13:13:00.001-08:00

Not too sure what I should think..

Arrrgh ......ITBS!

2009-02-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

Once again....I am sidelined by this ANNOYING condition! A hard track workout...always running in the same direction got me! ITBS in my left knee this time! I guess I am not a spring chicken anymore....ah...age!

The brain is the boss

2009-02-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a good demonstration of a simple concept: An oxygen-depleted brain will shut down unecessary functions in order to survive.....do not try this at home!

Why do I run?

2009-02-02T11:40:00.001-08:00

Why do I run...that is a good question...In a way, running makes me a better person, or gives me the impression that I am.

I run because I can
I run because I know my time here is temporary
I run to stay healthy
I run to test my limits
I run because I am a fierce competitor...against myself
I run because of the mental thoughness it takes and the one it brings
I run because I like to see how much I can get away with
I run because I have to
I run because I can look at myself in the mirror and know I gave everything I had
I run because I am an experiment
I run because I gather data on my own biology
I run because I get a high from it and because I am truly addicted to it
I run for meditation
I run for healing
I run for happiness
I run to get rid of the daily frustrations
I run to stay sain
I run because my dad did not....he should have
I run because my mother cannot
I run....just because........I run

2009 Race schedule

2009-01-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

This could change but here it is....

February 8 Cedar 12K (WILL NOT RUN....ITBS PAIN!!!)
March 22 Comox Valley Half Marathon
May 3 Vancouver Marathon (with my wife?)
June 21 New Balance Triathlon (Half Ironman)
July 5 Triathlon of Compassion
September 13 Subaru Sooke Triathlon
October 11 Royal Victoria Marathon

In August I am going to Penticton, I am registering for the 2010 Ironman! yeah!!!!!

The LAST lecture....

2009-01-27T16:24:00.000-08:00

I just watched the first 5 minutes of this video. I am going to watch the whole thing because I think my life will be enhanced by watching this guy. I also just found these websites:
http://www.thelastlecture.com/
http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/

I do not really know if this is really what it seems but I will find out...soon!

Antigravity?

2009-01-22T16:37:00.001-08:00

Finally...some advice for future lefties!

2009-01-20T17:08:00.001-08:00

I wish somebody showed me how to tilt the paper....but NOOOOOOO! Back in 1966...they were still trying to force people to write with their right hand.....I am one of the few that escaped!

Parents can help significantly by teaching them to tilt their paper toward their right
Lefties have a tendency to use a ‘hook’ grasp so they can see what they are writing, but they should be encouraged to hold writing instruments the "right" way.

Also, buy quick drying pens, as lefties tend to smear the ink as they're writing, because their hands skim over their recent work as they move on to the next section.

Via: education.com

The virtue of N=1

2009-01-19T16:23:00.000-08:00

I always have been interested in articles where only one case has been reported...when I was in graduate school I remember listening to a presentation on the dangers of filling methanol burners. The virtues of N=1...only allowed in medical cases. Ingesting a wishbone...I guess this guys was not so lucky! Ouch....

Acute abdomen caused by ingested chicken wishbone: a case report

Introduction
An ingested foreign body often passes the gastrointestinal tract without any complications. Foreign bodies, such as dentures, fish bones, chicken bones, and toothpicks, have been known to cause perforation of the GI tract.

Case presentation
We are presenting a case of a fifty-year-old male with acute abdomen; diffuse fibro purulent peritonitis, i.e. ileum perforation, caused by accidentally ingesting a chicken wishbone. He was treated surgically with ileum resection, and temporary ileostomy. After four months, intestinal continuity was established in the second operation.

Conclusion
Intestinal perforation by a chicken bone is rare and affects the left colon or distal ileum. The lack of information of ingestion and detection of chicken bones preoperatively are of interest to be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen, which in this case was treated surgically.

top VO2 Max....

2009-01-17T23:41:00.000-08:00

I can only wish.....my VO2 MAX is below 78.8....way, way, way below!!!! And it decreases with age....yikes! FYI my VO2 Max (predicted from my last race is 48.8)....probably more like 50 because I think I can push harder than I did...still 30 below this guy's VO2 Max......

Haile Gebrselassie (35 years old) set a new marathon world record in Berlin with a time of 2h 03m 59sec.....That's a predicted VO2 MAX of 82.8 ml/kg/min. In my next life...maybe....because I would also like to spend it as a house cat....

Whoa! 10 dimensions explained....

2009-01-17T22:45:00.000-08:00

If you get this, and all the concepts in a single viewing...and can explain it back to me....I'll give you a cookie!

Our planet is a spaceship

2009-01-16T10:38:00.001-08:00

túrána hott kurdís by hasta la otra méxico! from Till Credner on Vimeo.

Will not make any difference for me but nice

2009-01-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

Copycat

2009-01-14T21:16:00.000-08:00

You have to see this one

Via: A Blog Around the Clock

Quite a meal!

2009-01-14T21:10:00.000-08:00

Via: Bayblab

Intellectual Dishonesty

2009-01-14T20:47:00.001-08:00

Once in a while I read Pharyngula, the most popular of all scientific blogs and once in a while it makes me laugh or shake my head in disagreement with PZ Myers....anyway...

This time it is different and I am happy that PZ did a good job of explaining the latest "clue" of a creationist past.

In their website THE UNCOMMON DESCENT, creationists cite an interesting article that was recently published in PNAS: Two-phase increase in the maximum size of life over 3.5 billion years reflects biological innovation and environmental opportunity.

The author(s) of the Uncommon Descent blogpost cite the authors and give their own creationist interpretation either because they do not understand the article or because they did not read it. PZ Myers explains the article with an interesting example of Australian drunks getting out to the streets. It is a useful analogy.

If you are interested in this topic, read this Pharyngula post and please remember that citing authors in a way that suits your own hypothesis with the knowledge that it might be wrong is scientific dishonesty.

Underwater Marvels Slideshow

2009-01-14T20:25:00.000-08:00

Click on image and enjoy!!!!

Via: NY Times

Smaller classes...better retention...MIT goes the Camosun way!

2009-01-14T14:49:00.001-08:00

M.I.T. just figured it out...

"The physics department has replaced the traditional large introductory lecture with smaller classes that emphasize hands-on, interactive, collaborative learning. Last fall, after years of experimentation and debate and resistance from students, who initially petitioned against it, the department made the change permanent. Already, attendance is up and the failure rate has dropped by more than 50 percent."

Collaborative learning is a very wise thing to do. I use Google Docs in my second year Microbiology class. I have labs that connect directly to the theory taught in my lectures and I have very good retention. MIT is going the Camosun way with smaller classes. Unfortunately, not smaller tuitions.

Source: NY Times

Human 2.0 - Eyeborg

2009-01-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

Rob Spence - Camera Eye Videographer
Very interesting idea....scary as well.....

Visit Rob's Blog: http://eyeborg.blogspot.com/

Via; Radio-Canada

Nature's best

2009-01-13T10:02:00.000-08:00

From smile to pain in 33 minutes 21 seconds

2009-01-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

A bit about my latest running adventure at the Prairie Inn Pioneer 8K, Jan 11th, 2009 in Saanichton, BC.

That's an easy picture, I knew Crys was going to be there and that's about 300m from the start line. I am fresh, rested, hydrated and in good spirits. That's about to change...the smile will fade away....

This second picture was taken exactly at the same spot as the first one BUT after a 4 km loop. I am pacing myself, knowing that there is still 4 long km to go. I want to go fast here but not too fast...I need gas in my tank to last long enough. A 8 k race is not long but just long enough to burn out if you are not careful! I try to smile (I thought I was smiling) but I cannot. My heart rate is now at 170 beats per minute (BPM, 88% from max heart rate)and my pace is just above 4 min/km. It's about to get more difficult....

There was a guy in front of me....I made him my prey and I ate him for lunch. I wanted to make sure this guy was not going to take any spot from my age group. At this point I am totally exhausted, I just want to finish and I no longer care about my time and performance. My left side of the brain is sending weird negative messages and I try to fight those nasty demons...if you run and ever pushed yourself, you know exactly what I mean...My heart rate is now 192 BPM (99% max heart rate) and my speed is 3.5 minutes/km. Not fast compared to elite runners but fast for me. I did it, I have a new PR that I improved by 38 seconds, and an average pace of 4 minutes 11 seconds/km. I am happy....time for chicken soup...

I finished 22nd of my age group (40-44 yrs). The first guy in my group finished in 25 minutes, 42 seconds...a pace of 3 minutes 13 seconds / km. The top male finished in 23 minutes 35 seconds....ahead of me...way, way ahead of me!

They almost got me...almost

2009-01-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

That message was sent to me with HIGH IMPORTANCE...ah ah...when was the last time Revenue Canada went after you to GIVE YOU money...when???? I am not that gullible! Funny though!
______________________________

Canada Revenue Agency
Online Refund Form

After the last annual calculation of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 386.00.
Please submit the tax refund and allow us 3-9 days in order to process it.
A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.
To access the form for your tax refund, please click here>>

Copyright Canada Revenue Agency. All rights reserved. www.cra-arc.gc.ca

One day I'll get off the grid

2009-01-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

This is my dream...getting off the grid because my house becomes energy self-sufficient. That could be the solution!

Read the story HERE

I am a polar bear!

2009-01-02T13:53:00.001-08:00

Yes...it is me....the water was very cold and my feet froze immediately. I quick dip up to the neck and I was out....

Can't do the time...don't do the crime!

2008-12-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/12/30/maine_man_faces_oui_charge_atop_zamboni/

In case you missed it...and that you care about checkers

2008-12-26T23:18:00.000-08:00

"One of the world's best-known strategists on the game of checkers passed away in November. Richard Fortman was Illinois state champion six times, and in the 1970s and 1980s published a seven-volume handbook on rules and tactics. Many people now considering the game would be astonished to know that, as in chess, there are masters and grandmasters, and international rankings, that experts actually study historical opening moves and endgames, and that some play, move-by-move, via the U.S. Mail. A New York Times obituary noted that Fortman played as many as 100 games simultaneously, and won games blindfolded. Until the end, according to his daughter, Fortman spent "hours each day" playing checkers online. [New York Times, 11-30-08] "

Via: www.newsoftheweird.com

Oops! Survival of the fittest among bacteria...competition kills the weakest one!

2008-12-26T23:06:00.000-08:00

Genetically engineered bacterium kills plants instead of helping them!

As far as the intended goals were concerned -- eliminating rotting organic waste and producing ethanol -- the genetically engineered bacterium was a success. But when a doctoral student named Michael Holmes decided to add the post-processed waste to actual living soil, something happened that no one expected. The seeds that were planted in soil mixed with the engineered Klebsiella sprouted, but then every single one of them died.

What killed them? The genetically engineered Klebsiella turned out to be highly competitive with native soil micro-organisms. Plants are only able to take nitrogen and other nourishment from the soil with the help of fungi called mycorrhizae. These fungi live in the soil and help make nutrients available to plant roots. But when the genetically engineered Klebsiella was introduced into living soils, it greatly reduced the population of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. And without healthy mycorrhizal fungi in soils, no plants can survive.

Via: findarticles.com/

Wood on Mars....give me a break!

2008-12-26T22:51:00.001-08:00

Ah come on! Some want to believe in anything but the real....they imagine conspiracies, want us to believe "The Government" is making stories up....but what about them? Why should we believe such non-sense????

Now there is a piece of wood on Mars and the Moon is an alien ship.....ah ah! What a crock!

Please BE CAREFUL!!!

2008-12-25T13:59:00.000-08:00

Please, take responsible measures so that it does not happen to you! Please be careful!

Are you cold...DO NOT COMPLAIN!!!

2008-12-23T15:08:00.000-08:00

Do not EVER complain about the cold....it is NOT cold!!!!! (it's relatively quite warm)

Here is what it looks like right now (Tuesday, Dec23rd, 2008)

And this weather guy is hysterical....

Via Radio-Canada's website

My Squid

2008-12-21T15:04:00.000-08:00

Meet Orbea....my very own virtual squid. She was born on Dec, 21 2008. I worry about her new friendship with a vampire squid though......Do I worry too much as the parent of a new squid??? Maybe! Jealous...make your own.....this one is MINE!!!

Did we escape from a new Ice Age ?

2008-12-21T11:17:00.000-08:00

Interesting news from Science Daily

Using three different climate models and removing the amount of greenhouse gases humans have injected into the atmosphere during the past 5,000 to 8,000 years, (Stephen) Vavrus and Kutzbach observed more permanent snow and ice cover in regions of Canada, Siberia, Greenland and the Rocky Mountains, all known to be seed regions for glaciers from previous ice ages. Vavrus notes: "With every feedback we've included, it seems to support the hypothesis (of a forestalled ice age) even more. We keep getting the same answer."

Another article published in 21st Century Science and Technology Magazine (2004) came up with this interesting data:

The geological requirements for an Ice Age are the presence of a large landmass around the Polar Circle and extending southward. A look at the globe, or world map, shows that those conditions exist in the Northern Hemisphere, but not in the Southern. Therefore, the important thing to look at is the climate conditions in northern and far northern regions. Some of the indicators:

• Since 1980, there has been an advance of more than 55% of the 625 mountain glaciers under observation by the World Glacier Monitoring group in Zurich. (From 1926 to 1960, some 70-95% of these glaciers were in retreat.)

• A comparison of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 1965 and 1990 Plant Hardiness Zone Maps, shows a southward change of one zone, or 10°F, between 1965 and 1990.

• Careful measurements of the oxygen isotope ratios in German oaks, which are rigorously calibrated to temperature data, show a 1°C temperature decline from 1350 to 1800 (the lowpoint of the Little Ice Age). Temperature thereafter increased by 1°C from 1800 to 1930, and has been declining since then.

• From weather stations in the Alps, and in the Nordic countries, we find the temperature decline since 1930 is also 1°C.

• Satellite measurements have shown growth in the height and breadth of the huge Greenland ice sheet, the largest in the Northern Hemisphere

Global warming a good thing? A bad thing? Global warming or cooling....one thing is sure....climate change as it is now called!

Pure beauty

2008-12-21T00:30:00.000-08:00

Dolphin Play Bubble Rings - Watch more funny videos here

That device is scary

2008-12-20T23:15:00.000-08:00

The teaser.....

And the prototype (hover test)

How to import Scarlett Johansson's pathogens

2008-12-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Yes she is famous. Yes she is a gorgeous actress. Yes she is human....SHE IS! What does that mean? That means that like any other human being, she has a bacterial flora. Nope...Scarlett's skin and mucosal secretions are NOT free of pathogens. You need a list of some of pathogenic bacteria that inhabit the upper respiratory tract? Here it is:

Because she admitted that she is recovering from a cold, apparently acquired through interacting with "The Spirit" fellow actor Samuel Jackson, her mucus-filled tissue now auctionned on eBay could contain potential pathogens. Because I am curious, I wanted to know if it was possible at all to buy Johansson's tissue and have it shipped (Free of charge according to the website) here in Canada. I made a few phone calls here and there (mostly to Health Canada) without a real answer...I was constantly referred to the Communications Officer. Then someone sent me a link that offers a few answers - Human Pathogens Import Regulations.

According to this document NO RISK GROUP 2, 3 or 4 pathogens can be imported. Just for your information, a risk group 2 pathogen is:

"A pathogen that can cause human or animal disease but is unlikely to be a serious hazard, and, while capable of causing serious infection on exposure, for which
there are effective treatments and preventive measures available and the risk of spread of infection is limited."

Every Streptococcus and Staphylococcus belongs to this group.

According to the Human Pathogens Import Regulations document:

No person shall import a human pathogen that belongs to Risk Group 2, 3 or 4 unless

(a) the importation is in accordance with a subsisting importation permit issued to that person under paragraph 7(a);

(b) prior to shipment of the human pathogen, that person notifies the supplier that the outer shipping container in which the human pathogen is transported must display clearly, on the outside surface of the container, the importation permit number and the following statement immediately preceding that number:

“Human Pathogen — Importation Permit Number:/ Agent anthropopathogène — Numéro du permis d’importation :”; and

(c) prior to shipment of the human pathogen, that person provides a copy of the importation permit to the supplier and notifies the supplier that a copy of the importation permit must accompany each shipment.

It looks like it can be very difficult to import Scarlett's snotty tissue. I feel bad that I am the bearer of such bad news....after all it's almost Christmas and that tissue could have been on a loved one list.....Happy Holidays! :o)

Jay Leno stole my idea....but for a good cause!

2008-12-19T10:36:00.000-08:00

Jay leno and Scarlett Johansson PROVED MY POINT...Art value depends on demand. A kleenex filled with ...whatever nasal/pulmonary secretions is worth more if it comes from a celebrity, it's even better if it's a good looking celebrity (like Brad Pitt or Scarlett Johansson).

In my February 20th, 2007 post I argued that Brad Pitt's used kleenex could fetch top dollars on eBay. Looks like I was right....the highest bid for Scarlett Johansson's used tissue is now (at the time I was writing this blog post) valued at US $3272 (FREE SHIPPING) (Link to auction HERE).

Now coming back to the value of art....I hope I will never hear a complaint about the fact that Barnett Newman's "Voice of Fire" was purchased for $1.8 Million. NEVER!!! (Right... C?)

Nobel prize of corruption????

2008-12-18T16:49:00.000-08:00

Ah.....I really don't like stories like this! Bad PR! Really bad PR!!!!
Find the original story HERE

The integrity of the Nobel prize was called into question last night after it emerged that a member of the jury also sat on the board of a pharmaceuticals giant that benefited from the award of this year’s prize for medicine.

Prosecutors were studying whether AstraZeneca, the London-based multi-national pharmaceutical company, could have exerted undue influence on the award.

The joint winner of this year’s Nobel Prize for Medicine, Harald zur Hausen, was recognised for his work on the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer. AstraZeneca has a stake in two lucrative vaccines against the virus.

IMAGE SOURCE: http://www.libertassociety.org/HPV.JPG

Mind reading?

2008-12-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

That is really cool....

1) Look at an image
2) A computer analyses brain activity
3) Computer recreates images from the signals

Hey....that could be used to cheat at Poker.......!!!

See a very good image and explanation at Pharyngula!

Adolf Hitler cake?????

2008-12-18T16:17:00.000-08:00

I have seen everything....nothing can shock me anymore.....

The sstory can also be found HERE