TIME for a figure of speech

I saw an interesting show today on ancient discoveries. It was about the Antikythera Machine. However, that is a whole different blog. You can check out the video here. What I would like to pull out of the video is a piece about the clepsydra. It's one of the first devices used to measure the passing of time. The ancient Greeks were brilliant mathematicians and engineers. When you look at some of the things that they accomplished, you may consider them modern. Some of what they discovered was lost and is only now being rediscovered.

The clepsydra was a simple device designed to keep track of a set amount of time. Say to time a persons allotted duration to speak during a court proceeding or in a senate setting. For example, an attorney may have only been given five minutes for a rebuttal. In comes the clepsydra.

The clepsydra consisted of a basin that would hold water. At the bottom was a spout that would remain plugged until the timer would be needed. Inside the basin were marks that would denote how much time had passed as the level of water would pass.

A very simple device, but effective. What I thought was really cool about this whole deal.... This is where we get the phrase "Running out of time".

A simple phrase that started thousands of years ago. (Around 16th century B.C. - That's before Jesus people)

Time... what a precious thing. 

-Red

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Water... That Other Stuff We Can Drink

I don't know about you, but when I sit down for a meal, or when I'm thirsty, the first drink to come to mind is not water. It's usually sweet tea or a soda. It's not that I don't like water, It's just not at the top of my list. The problem is, it should be at the top of our list. Our bodies need to be hydrated. If they aren't, they can very quickly start to suffer the consequences.

Now I'm sure you've heard the statement, "Drink eight 8 oz glasses of water a day." That is a good start, however, depending on your body size, it may not be near enough. For instance, I should take in 130 oz per day, given my body weight, exercise, climate, etc.

Click here to check your water intake needs.

Are you staying hydrated? It is important. You are made up of quite a bit of water. Water flushes toxins from your body's organs and cells. It carries nutrients to all the corners of your body. In other words... It's good stuff.

So... Have a cold one (water) and relax.

-Red

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These Fingers Got Treads Baby!

I'm sure at some point in your life you've seen this before:


Anyone who has been in the pool, tub, or pond to long has seen there fingers turn into prunes. I, like most of you probably thought that was natures way of saying, hey, you've been in the water too long it's time to get out.

However, new studies have revealed that this may in fact be your body responding to it's environment. The study showed that once the fingers pruned, the persons grip and dexterity under water improved. It's the same thing as having tread on your car tires vs having slick tires. If your tires are bald, you slide on wet pavement easier.

One of the points they make is that when a nerve is cut in the hand, the fingers don't prune anymore. Pretty significant proof that this is an autonomic response.

Here is the article for your review if you want to read more:
http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowPDF&ArtikelNr=328223&Ausgabe=0&ProduktNr=223831&filename=328223.pdf


The human body is a pretty amazing thing.

-Red

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Email - author@jeffjake.com