MY WRITING JOURNAL

Friday, August 13

Skywatchers

The bright Perseids are perhaps the most popular meteor shower of the year, and they've just begun! With clear skies, you could see what some consider the most spectacular cosmic light show.

Spectators can expect to see the greatest number of meteors during the shower's peak between Aug. 11-13 this year, according to Earthsky.org.

Every year, Earth passes through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle from July 17 to Aug. 24, with the shower's peak — when Earth passes through the densest, dustiest area — occurring Aug. 11-13.

That means you'll see the most meteors in the shortest amount of time near that time. Years without moonlight see higher rates of meteors per hour, and in outburst years (such as in 2016) the rate can be between 150-200 meteors an hour.

This year, you can expect to see up to 60 meteors per hour at the shower's peak, according to Earthsky.org.

Last year, the bright moonlight didn't obscure the view of the meteor shower too badly, but the moon's glow is a continuing concern for skywatchers looking for a clear view. Even though the Perseids are especially bright, moonlight can make viewing a bit tricky.

You can see the Perseid meteor shower best in the Northern Hemisphere and down to the mid-southern latitudes, and all you need to catch the show is darkness, somewhere comfortable to sit and a bit of patience. READ MORE

It's 5 O'clock Somewhere... right?

Music

TIme Crystals

Lately, it has been in the news that Google quantum computing researchers (and numerous university researchers) have created the first true time crystal in a quantum computer.

While it sounds like something out of a Marvel movie, time crystals are a real phenomenon.

The crystals flip back and forth between two states periodically in time which mimics the regularity of the spacing of molecules in a crystal.

There have been a lot of misconceptions thrown about whether time crystals violate the laws of thermodynamics: conservation of energy or the tendency for entropy to increase.

Some have even suggested that they achieve the dream of perpetual motion.

This is false and shows an ignorance of the fine print attached to the laws of thermodynamics as well as the real requirements for achieving a time crystal.

First off, time crystals are not perpetual motion machines in that (a) they cannot do mechanical work and (b) they do not exist in a ground or equilibrium state.

Rather, they are quantum systems that do no work and cannot reach a ground state. READ MORE

A Few GIFs

Fish With Human Teeth

Last week (Aug 3), anglers at Jennette's Pier in North Carolina pulled up something unexpected — and uncanny — from the Atlantic: a fish with human teeth.

Yes, this fish — and its teeth — are real. But fortunately, there's nothing human about it.

It's called a sheepshead fish (Archosargus probatocephalus) — also known as a convict fish for the dark stripes running down its gray body, reminiscent of a stereotypical prison jumpsuit, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The fish is commonly found swimming along the Atlantic coast, from New York to Brazil, and gave Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, its name.

They can grow up to 3 feet (91 centimeters) long and dine on a variety of oysters, clams, crustaceans and the odd bit of plant matter. Hence, the teeth. READ MORE

Disturbed Dog

@coco224466
He really did the 🦗🦟#happydog #puppy #dog #funnyvideo #animals #foryou #foryoupage #fypシ #dogsoftiktok #viral #fypage
♬ original sound - DJ Moody

Gut Health

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER A “MIND-BLOWING” LINK BETWEEN GUT HEALTH AND AGE REVERSAL

“By restoring health in the microbiome we’re able to reverse age-related cognitive deficits,” scientists say about their new study in mice.

TO STAVE OFF THE EFFECTS OF AGING, ONE MIGHT USE RETINOL CREAMS OR PLAY SUDOKU.

But maybe we should be focusing on something different altogether.

Scientists have known for the past two decades that the metropolis home to trillions of bacteria in your belly — the gut microbiome — is also central to mental health, the immune system, and more.

One of the latest studies in gut health scrutinizes how our microbiome affects aging in mice, using a surprising transplant.

The research, published Monday in the journal Nature Aging, reveals that older mice who have received gut microbiota transplants from young mice show improved brain function and behavior.

This mouse model offers powerful insight into how diet and what populates our stomachs affect what our brains look like in old age. READ MORE

WHAT’S NEW — Researchers have found that when they transplant microbiota of young mice into the intestines of older mice, the older mice display improved cognitive function. This is the first study that shows the correlation between transplantation of a gut microbiome from a younger mouse into an older one with improved brain abilities in the older mice.

Watch Out Buster

@quyenvu197
🤣🤣🤣🤣❤️#comedy #family #girls #viral
♬ Baby laughing - Sound Effect

Thursday, August 12

Populist Press

It's Just a Muscle Car

Living Free

Biden's Money

We Need Trump

HEALTH CARE
HHS secretary: ‘A lot of folks would listen’ if Trump made vaccine PSA
Xavier Becerra’s remarks come as the U.S. vaccine supply is beginning to outpace demand.

Cancer Treatment Day

Despite the fact that I awoke early and cannot go back to sleep, I am usually up early on these days anyway... so, it is only an hour early which is not that much of a lost sleep night... and, for the last 4 days, I have had to get up early each and every one of those to go to some kind of doctor visit, treatment, or procedure.

This morning my routine is (arrivig driving the 45 minutes to the cancer center) to check in and have lab work done... this is place where they access my port, so I make sure that I have put plenty of numbing cream on the skin covering the port... it must stay on an hour or more.

The next step is to wait the see the Oncologist who is trypically seeing loads of patients each day and always seems to fall behind as the day progresses so I try to see him as early as possible.

Then I return to the lab waiting room to be called for my treatment after checking in again. Within 15-20 minutes, I am taken to a chemo suite of 6 chairs.

UT Medical Cancer Center has 10 suites on the 4th floor of the center.

For some reason, I always wait another 30 minutes or so for the OPDIVO to arrive and then my infusion lasts only 30 minutes and I am outta there.

I arrive at 7:00 am and typically leave at 10:30/11:00 and much of that time is due to waiting.

Today, I will be informed of the results of my CT scan that I had on Monday... so, I am really interested to see if there has been any metabolic activity inside me.

Senile Old Man

Plenty of Fish

The Best Guitarist

Aside from some blues purists and perhaps a handful of onlookers who prefer to keep their names out of any popular idea, the world is pretty much in agreement that Jimi Hendrix was the greatest guitarist the world has ever seen. Everyone except Hendrix himself, of course.

The counterculture poster boy, a bastion of free expression and otherworldly talent, Hendrix never found too much solace in bravado. He was always far more interested in the artistry of playing the guitar over the competition.

When appearing on the Dick Cavett show, the host praised the young man, claiming him to be the finest guitar player of all time. Naturally, a smile broke out across Hendrix’s face as the praise rained down.

However, he soon put Cavett right when he replied, “the greatest sitting in this chair, maybe.” It would appear that Hendrix had his own vision of who the best guitar player of all time was.

Before we go any further, there are a few contenders for the title of “best guitarist” in the world, as well as Hendrix’s favourite. Of course, the legendary set of Muddy Waters, Albert King and his namesake, B.B., are all up for serious consideration.

Naturally, there is also a good argument for Eric Clapton being one of the greats. But there are only two men whom Hendrix has specifically landed praise upon.

The first came during The Mike Douglas Show when Hendrix had become the toast of the town. Douglas asked Hendrix: “What’s it was like to be the best rock guitarist in the world?” Jimi then beautifully responded, “I don’t know, you’ll have to ask Rory Gallagher”.

For that reason alone, he could easily be considered Jimi’s all-time favourite. However, most believe that the title is reserved for another searing axeman, Billy Gibbons. READ MORE