Many things happen in a single day. Any one of them could be the focus of thought and reflection. Here are several recent topics on my mind:
Weinberger is helping me think more acceptably for myself and others. His "Too Big to Know" is about the frightening but hopeful situation we are in regarding knowledge and what it is to know today. He shows us a picture of a net and helps us see knowledge (as far as I have read, which is not very far, since I keep being stopped by awe and the need to highlight). His approach shows a net instead of either a line or a circle. We are aware today that an argument to buy this, vote for her, taste this, can be based around facts but he show us in his section "A History of Facts" that 200 years ago, many arguments were based on citations of great truths, proverbs or handy sayings. He shows us that the internet today gives us nearly endless facts to argue, counterargue, buttress or confuse ourselves and others. So, when I am arguing and confused, I think this is what is happening today and don't feel as upset.
Sleep apnea: I attended a short presentation last night on good sleep. The usual points were made: less caffeine and not late in the day, don't eat in the last couple of hours before sleep, get out of bed if you can't sleep and return later when you are sleepy, give yourself adequate dark, quiet and time. Very important but then they said having said such guidelines, they wanted to focus on sleep apnea. At first, I was disappointed I had bothered to attend. I am not that overweight, I don't snore. But they explained why they bother to focus on this condition: apnea = no breathing as 'amoral' is 'not moral' and asymptomatic is without symptoms. Severe apnea cuts down on the oxygen the body gets since a little episode consists of not breathing. Research is showing a relation between apnea, diabetes, unhealthy weight gain, heart attacks, and even simple grumpiness as well as more or less steady fatigue. A local dentist will loan someone a little glove-like deal that measures one's oxygen level over a period of a night and serve as a pre-test for possible need for a fuller overnight in a sleep center where full readings can be gathered. It is cessation of breathing that is the main focus and main trouble with this condition. The surprising thing is that a person can cease breathing, suffer 10 seconds without oxygen, experience the brain alerting the body to fix the problem, go through a "micro-arousal" that awakens the sleeper enough to make him snort, gasp, and resume breathing, all without awakening or consciously knowing about what happened. I saw a record of a man who experienced that whole chain 50 times in one hour and didn't know any of it had happened.
Friends get Kindles. Two of my close friends have Kindles. One just bought one and I just found the other to be a Kindle user. Suddenly, we all have the same book and we can share highlights and notes easily. Another knowledge net and a stimulating and exciting one.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
