"The true dogwood flowers are actually tiny, yellowish to yellowish-green and insignificant, being compacted into button-like clusters. However, each flower cluster is surrounded by four showy, white, petal-like bracts, which open flat, giving the appearance of a single, large, 3-4” diameter, 4-petaled, white flower." Ultraviolet Photography The world is not necessarily as we perceive it. Some of us are so sure ... Read more
The feeling of coming home contains a valuable message about who you are. Many years ago (1970s), I left a well-paid job, as a large animal (cows mainly) veterinarian in the Southwest of England, to accept a poorly-paid position in sheep diseases research, in the hinterlands (Scotland). I entered the office of my boss-to-be (Dick), who was away for 3-weeks, to find these simple instructions, "Don't forget to ... Read more
One key to fixing bodily and mental injuries, is to learn to reduce tension. I have to admit that I really love to relax with a good book or a country walk. Sometimes a book will promote long forgotten memories of events gone by. The other day, I was reading a biography, recommended by a friend, about Paris in the fifties, when La Rue Du Chat Qui Pêche was mentioned in the narrative. This is a famous, very narrow, ... Read more
"The Master has no mind of her own. She works with the mind of the people. She is good to people who are good. She is also good to people who aren't good. This is true goodness. She trusts people who are trustworthy. She also trusts people who aren't trustworthy. This is true trust." Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu. I've made some really bad choices in my time, so I often wonder why I chose this course of ... Read more
Pain comes in many formats and it pays to understand it, because, have pain you will (at the risk of sounding like Yoda). Painful sensation ranges from slight irritation to personality-destroying chronic agony. The worst I've felt in my life (and no, I haven't had a baby) was severe enough to cause me to lose consciousness, when lots of morphine didn't touch it (two big medical professionals pulling a ... Read more
There is no doubt about the fact that aging is stressful, and developing the tools to deal with it, such as meditation, and a good network of friends and family, can transform a living hell into a delightful life. When I discovered meditation, years ago, I realized that I could calm my mind when needed, with some training. The greater the stress level (which is all in the mind, really), the tougher it is to ... Read more
“The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”: FDR’s First Inaugural Address" History Matters. Hi folks, welcome! I'm scared of heights and poverty, I don't seem to be anxious about aging or dying, particularly, but I am frightened of not living my life to the full, which can be a living death and a terrible waste. From time to time I reflect on the role that fear plays in my life, and Brian Germain's ... Read more
Hi folks, welcome! Do you remember Mr. Miyagi, the all-wise mentor of the Karate Kid, who still had trouble being outdone by the neophyte, Daniel? There are great lessons to be learned from that movie, which I enjoyed a lot. You're never too old to make the same mistakes over and over and over again, until you don't. Yesterday I finished the 2014 Eagleman Half Ironman, walking the last 7 miles of the run - ... Read more
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The secret is to be a Jack of All Trades, but master of one. One that will earn you a living if the grants don't come in.
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