Compressed Time

A trip to the Gym . . . the light levels seemed too low. So I thought to suggest improvement to the lighting at the local community centre? So, Google “Gym design lighting” and find articles, examples, companies, assessments of optimum colours.

http://www.precisionintermedia.com/color.html

Distractedness – from excessive internet use – caused one to notice a gym-related book on the “new editions” shelf of the library.

A read of this book uncovered names and events – all new Google links to the history, evolution, and current state of body building and the origins of Gold’s Gym – which later spread around to world to . . . Cairo for example.

http://www.goldsgym.com/gyms/international/eg/71

Decades of information, exercise, technology and diet have been gathered, condensed and displayed on website - including videos of exercises

http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/lying-face-up-plate-neck-resistance

. . . and transformational documentaries

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/trans_o4011.htm

The result of this distraction - a new exercise routine . . . an understanding of the successful life of Governator Schwarzenegger . . . and design suggestions to the managers of the Time Traveller's current gym.

Distractions to Heart

And, what can be gained from an Internet distraction? . . . consider an article on CNN about Bill Clinton losing weight for Chelsea’s wedding. Bill Clinton + losing weight = news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqvjCIKoo8M

The former President mentions the diet suggested by a doctor at a Cleveland clinic. A Google search of “cardiac doctor and Cleveland Clinic” finds a doctor and author of a book titled “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, and related authors - Dr. Dean Ornish, - and titles “Diet Evolution” and “The China Study”. A reading of “The China Study” by Dr. Colin Campbell provides a comprehensive research background about heart health and nutrition.




YouTube videos feature Dr. Colin Campbell talking about the study.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6GaAnM9jDM&feature=related

Other books were by Dr. Dean Ornish:



As described on a YouTube Blog . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1qIpkMSvKU

and another book by a Dr. Grundy called “Diet Evolution”




http://www.amazon.com/Gundrys-Diet-Evolution-You-Waistline/product-reviews/0307352110/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

In “Diet Evolution” the author describes how the human body responds to diet. The author suggests an effective and easy-to-implement diet of three easy steps to reduce weight and reduce risk from cardiac and inflammatory diseases.

The third book, by Dr. Caldwell Esseltyn, was designed to rescue cardiac patients at immediate risk of death.



Dr. Esselstyne’s diet aims to eliminate animal sources of food, and is the diet Bill Clinton says he has followed.

So, this is how one short “internet distraction” uncovered a topic, leading opinions, and recent progress and opinions about health and diet.

Paper Ideas

In a library where the students go,
Books are stacked row on row,
Pages glued to stiffened spine,
Hold much wisdom safe from time.

When a gap in time gets in your way, one can visit the local library and read a good book. But internet users may just scan some pages, read the foreward, and pickup another book. . . . which reminds me of a review about how brains are finding new ways to think.

From this book it was learned that there are two main influences on the human mind: one is an influence upon mid and long term memory, because of . . . well, uh, I saved the passage in an email to myself and I will check it later.

Another influence is to increase the load on working memory – the part of memory which deals with now and bits to either side. The multi-tasks and multi-interruptions are apparently reducing patience with reading longer passages and . . . well, you probably know already.

Internet use is apparently resulting in physical changes to our mind through the mechanism of neuro-plasticity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W86P_FX6PdI&feature=related
Affecting our deep thinking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6wB1JZj-CY
. . . and, although it is redundant, it apparently changes our behaviour through repetitive actions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1RWsCdYbu4&feature=related

Which reminds me of a video I saw . . .

Gleam Away

Before the Grey Skies of November arrived, a short bicycle ride into the countryside surrounding this small Ontario town discovered the gleam of low sun’s rays on the edge of a season slipping further away with each turn of the planet. Faint hues of colour wash the side of a barn holding a summer’s harvest.

Barren branches catch bronze light embracing a river’s evening hurry.

A yellow sun grows weaker by the day.

Time Trails

On 100 acres land a few kilometres to the south of town a local millionaire has bought a piece of natural habitat and made it available for the public to visit and enjoy.

Signs near the entrance to the trail system describe some of the wildlife that may be seen in the woodland.

A number of trails weave past hidden ponds, hills, and past trees over one hundred years old like this yellow birch.

The leaves along the forest floor constantly change in texture . . .

. . . according to the type of trees overhead.

And the trees and branches now stand naked before an approaching winter .

With each passing the week, visitors experience the season’s continuing change – always starting and always ending in the great cycle of time.

Fogs of November

Below the heights of an ice-age geological feature called the Ingersoll moraine some of the country's thickest fogs are created as moist air from the Mississippi valley is guided north into the chilled confines of the Thames river valley. In these times drivers exercise caution and the sun is barely visible.

At these times shadows hide easily in the grey light and the forest possesses a silence wherein elves could live.

Remembering Time

Less than a lifetime ago a conflict of ideas and ambitions snatched tens of thousands of lives from the towns and villages of this country. Every November 11^th at the 11^th hour ceremonies evoke a memory of those lost early.

The towns pipe band leads the parade, recreating a spirit of sound and ceremony.

The colour guard turns the corner at Thames and King Streets.

As the last survivors of that generation enjoy long and prosperous lives, the understanding of the magnitude of what was won and what was sacrificed, deepens every year. As lines in granite listen, dignitaries describe their thanks.

A man with a name likely to be etched on some future monument describes his ongoing service in Afghanistan.

The population of veterans – now aged in their 80s and 90s are slipping away before our eyes. A photo of the crowd catches the moment a member of the honour guard collapses during the wreath laying ceremony.

And an ambulance responds.

The monument after the service is covered with the wreathes. Time and life continue to move. The crowd moves away and flags wave above names unable to follow.

Places Before

Over 45 years ago a summer camp for children teamed with play and adventure beside a pond that is part of southern Ontario’s most important wetland.

On the far shore the most ambitious and driven of the senior boy’s would engineer great tree forts high in the pine trees.

The pond is mostly drained now and the reeds have turned golden brown. The water runs more clear than ever.

Beneath nearby trees a small Madonna of the Woods does . . . whatever it is these small statues are supposed to do.

Barcelona

On the upper right coast of Spain rests the City of Barcelona. The City is the capital of the Catalan region of Spain and has been home to great artists, architects, and a multitude of others over recent centuries. It is among the more interesting cities in Europe, not so much for its past, as for its living present.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona

In a downtown acoustically shaped alley near to the ancient palace an aging opera singer earns a few Euros by entertaining passing tourists.

Classic architecture includes civic squares such as the Piazza Roma Reial.

Public spaces are defined by sculpture and/or architecture.

The ancient palace in the heart of town incorporates some of the original Roman walls of the City.

Barcelona was one of the first European cities to embrace environmentally friendly transport system involving bicycles which are rentable by the city's residents.

Old Places Recent Time

A Time Traveller’s dilemma is a sudden shift in time and space perhaps sparked by a coming storm, a cold wind or the hope of discovery in new lands past and present. Sometimes the shifts are like a stone skipping on a very big patch of water from one city to another.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montpellier

The places most pleasing to eye and spirit were not from this time – but from earlier times when stone was considered the best of building materials.

The old houses line an ancient street leading to the university in Montpellier, France.

The aquaduct looks Roman but is more recent - it brought water from Black Mountains to the top of the walled city of Montpellier.

The views from houses in the centre of town are of church steeples and tiled roofs.

The view from the end of the aquaduct is towards the highest part of the old City - through the arch of triumph.

Colours Elapsed

All colours together, appear as white - and before this landscape turns white it has turned all colours and then faded into grey. There are four seasons in this part of the world and each season is a slice of great wheel rolling down the road of time. This wheel has rolled past a street on the Time Traveller’s routine daily journey.

And the grey his thickened into cloud and freezing rain shrouding the town's main street.

The power behind this transition is the power of frost - turning water into daggers of ice buried in the hearts and limbs of all that was green.