Day 17 -- SR26, the USDA's nutrient database

Since I've started reading Fuhrman's Eat for Health and have been blending on a daily basis with my Vita-Mix Blending Station, I have become obsessed with finding the perfect human diet.  After some pretty intense googling, I was able to narrow my searches to government released database files.  After I learned that what I was looking for is called the USDA's National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 26, I realized it isn't as hidden my toils searching suggested.

This 26th release of our nation's nutrient database (most recently revised in November of 2013) is the nutritional information for 8,463 foods, including 46 different macro and micronutrients.  The entire database actually includes a ton more information that just these 46 nutrients, but that's all in which I'm currently interested.

With this information, I intend to construct the perfect human diet which can be blended in my Vita-Mix, stored in Ball mason jars, and consumed on the go.  You access the entire MS Access db here.

TED
Yesterday I said I was going to start Joshua Foer's Moonwalking with Einstein (which I did last night), a book on expanding one's memory.  Turns out Foer has a TED Talk, too!  His 20 minute talk is basically the intro chapter to his book -- not a how-to, rather background on the memorizing technique, his involvement, and some practical applications.  Joshua Foer: Feats of memory anyone can do.

Wikipedia
I've learned in my business classes that companies will (or should) fiercely defend their trademarked names and brands, lest they lose them as they're converted to improper nouns.  Words like zipper, yo-yo, heroin, granola, aspirin, saran wrap, and escalator used to all be Trademarks (and thus capitalized).  Companies like Xerox, Google, and Kleenex constantly are defending those names to keep them from becoming xerox, google, and kleenex.

Earlier today, I was wondering if there was a name for this process.  Turns out, yes.  It's called "Genericide".   Interesting.

Spanish Word
paja -- straw

Very good, then!  Keep up readership!

Day 16 -- New Brew Thursday and Readership

A very thank you to everyone reading my blog.  Several of you came up to me at Tim's last night just to say how much you've enjoyed reading it, and that really means a lot to me.  Big Thank You long time!

Also, last night I unlocked the New Brew Thursday badge in Untappd, which is earned after trying a new beer on three Thursdays in a 30 day period.  I unlocked it around midnight at Tim's with a Bud Light.

TED

The title of his talk attracted me to watch, but I soon learned it wasn't what I expected.  Raghava KK: What's your 200-year plan? is an interesting talk, but hasn't particularly moved me.  Raghava is an artist and talks about a 200-year plan he and his wife made to encourage goal reaching.  They calculated 200 years because at that point, they say, no one they will have ever met will be alive.  Of course, this is in fundamental opposition to a core belief of mine regarding my own future (that I personally may still be alive in 200 years).  So the point of Raghava's talk doesn't resonate, but the idea sure does.  Like many, I have a 1-year, 5-year, and rough idea of a 10-year plan.  But, unlike any generation before us, it occurred to me as I watched this talk that we should probably have a 100-year and 200-year plan, too.

I'm adding Develop a 200-Year Plan to my list of projects.  I'll share it if I'm still blogging.

Wikipedia

One of my top 5 TV shows of all time is BBC's "Sherlock".  There are now three seasons with three 88 minute episodes in each season.  I highly recommend watching it (it's on Netflix).  Sherlock uses a "memory palace," to remember and recall and absurd amount of information.  The better known name of this mnemonic device is the Method of loci.  It's an ancient memorizing technique that involves visualizing a physical place and associated various pieces of information in different rooms and cupboards of the visualized "palace."  Learning to do this is a couple spots before developing a 200-year plan on my list of projects.  I will download Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything to my Kindle when the time comes.

Spanish Word

gracias señor ¿puedo tener otro? -- thank you,sir.  may I have another?

Thanks again for reading, everyone.  You're super great.

G3

Day 15 -- First "Senior Night" at Tim's

For those who are not familiar with Timothy's Bar and Grill, once a month on a Wednesday they host a Senior Night - no cover, prizes, and free pizza.  That's what I'll be doing this evening, and I imagine so, too, will a bunch of the senior class.

So I learned that I'll likely have to shave the 'stache before we start using gear in SCUBA class because the masks won't keep a tight seal.  It was the swim test today (I passed), and after we were able to play around with some snorkels.  I found one that fit pretty well and kept a decent seal over my mustache, but I'm thinking I might shave it prior to next class, which would be only a couple weeks premature.  I'll be starting part time tax prep at Brady Ware & Company in downtown Dayton mid February, so I'd have shaved it before I start.

TED
Maybe once every two weeks or so I like to watch a TED Talk on happiness.  There are many good ones out there (my favorite being Shawn Achor's, which I've shared in an earlier post).  The one I watched today is by David Steindl-Rast: Want to be happy? Be grateful.  Hope you enjoy that one.

Wikipedia
I've mentioned a few times now that I'm reading Joel Fuhrman's Eat for Health.  Last night I got to some pretty good stuff about macronutrients (fat, protein, carbs) and micronutrients (a bunch of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals).  It got me really excited about continuing a healthful diet packed with these micronutrients from plant sources.  Here is the Wikipedia page for Vitamins.  If it interests you, try to learn the chemical names of the B vitamins and the deficiency/overdose diseases associated with all the vitamins.

Spanish Word
preguntas más frecuentes -- frequently asked questions

Thanks much!  Keep reading!

Day 14 -- No Class

Stargazing 101 doesn't start until next Tuesday, so today is a class-free day for me.  I woke up by my Jawbone UP's silent smart alarm and to half cooked Mccann's Steel Cut Oats (half cooked because one of my roommates accidentally unplugged my Zojirushi Micom rice cooker).  I've been putting away clothes and up 29 posters in my room for most of the day, listening to a bunch of 8tracks playlists throughout the day but baby-nanas playlist by hemmomfg as I write this now.

You can experience standing in the center of my room at the following link:  http://360.io/T3VzfF

I used 360 Pano to capture it.

TED
So it doesn't look like we'll much longer be bearing discomforts of needle injections.  Mark Kendall: Demo: A needle-free vaccine patch that's safer and way cheaper.  Kendall points out that the syringe is a 160 year old technology.  In addition to relief from the pain, fright, and misuse of needles, the "nanopatch" as an alternative is significantly cheaper, more effective, and environmentally friendly.

Wikipedia
"Tesla" has become a familiar name in recent years as Tesla Motors has rolled out some sleek and high performing electric vehicles (and has it's stock (TSLA) has made its way into dumb money portfolios).  But what I'd like to share by way of Wikipedia article is Nikola Tesla and his eidetic memory, sleeping habits, and his OCD.  Super interesting dude.

Spanish Word
Eso?  Si.  Que es? -- This?  Yes.  What is it?  (Say it out loud.  Hint:  You put them over your toesies.)

Day 13 -- Last day of first day of classes

Again, I write in haste and with a want to get back to sipping on beers with the boys from The Petting Zoo and The Nest.  Moving back to campus and not being entirely moved in has certainly made it a bit more difficult to devote blog time.

TED

So I share today a short lifehack with an environmental agenda.  Joe Smith: Howto use a paper towel.  Shake!  And Fold!

Wikipedia

In The Office (US), Angela marries Robert Lipton, also known as "The Senator".  Here's what a State Senator is.

Spanish Word

culo -- ass

Ok.. tomorrow will be a better post!

Day 12 -- Unpacked and Settled in Dayton

Today was packed full with fully unpacking all my college belongings.  We did a little room swap at The Nest, and I'm looking forward to no longer living in the kitchen (that comment is really only relevant for those who have been in The Nest).

I've got just a short post for t'day as I'm itching to get to bed.

TED
Today I'm sharing a Talk by Alessandro Acquisti: Why privacy matters.  As continue to move/share our lives online, it becomes especially important to understand privacy and what our personal privacy policies are.

Wikipedia
I was thinking about Roads and how long they've been around.  Roads go back such a long way, connecting people and enabling commerce.

Spanish Word
media naranja -- literally "half orange," but the phrase means soul mate.

Peace!

I'll have a better post tomorrow

Day 11 -- All About Tech, My Second Love: Part 2

I write this evening from my UD house, The Nest.  I've added it to Foursquare as a Pub with a suggestion to stop in share a beer with The Nest boys, including Joey Edmundson (welcome back, Buddy!).  It's good to be home.

Because it's already getting late into the evening and I have a little familiarizing I need to do with the rest of campus, this post will be a little shorter than I'd have typically written.  Nevertheless -- please find below some of my future hopes and dreams.

(Find Part 1 here.)

TED
I'll start right away with this TED Talk from Aubrey de Grey: A roadmap to end aging.  His talk is one of my very favorites (and not just because of his incredible beard).  de Grey provides some big answers for the big philosophical questions that come with the idea of biologically immortal humans.  He first says that we not only should, but have an obligation to research and develop the therapies and practices that might allow for future lifespans many factors of today's.  If you don't have the time now, I strongly recommend saving this video to watch later.

Video below -- he does have some updated talks -- this is 2007.

Basically, between Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Ray Kurzweil, and de Grey, my position on aging and death is this:  Through exercise and a diet packed with micronutrient vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, a continued exponential doubling of computer processing capabilities leading to the Singularity, and a commitment by the scientific community to develop age-defeating therapies, I will live long enough to live forever.  Along with Kurzweil and d Grey, I believe it is possibly, if not likely, that the first humans to live to 250 - 1,000 years old have already been born.

Wikipedia
Around that 1,000 year old mark (or long before), "mankind" will have taken command of disease, aging, and its own genetics in such a way that will significantly differentiate itself from today's and all of current history's "mankind".  Among other traits that are likely incomprehensible at this point in time with today's technological limitations, it is likely that the group in existence would be more accurately described/labeled as Transhumans.

When Oscar Pistorius, or The Blade Runner, competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics, my first thoughts jumped to what the 2052 Summer Olympics will look like.  At that point, it isn't at all unreasonable to believe prosthetics will have advanced not only to a point equal in ability in form of natural biological limbs, but to a point far, far past them.  I bet the Olympics will have added a games exclusive to "unmodified" humans.  I wonder, what year will it be that the first group of healthy humans opt into limb replacement voluntarily?

Future Trends...I Think Slideshow
To keep within my length limit (and to wrap up in a timely enough manner to make it over to Kiefaber), I'm making public a Google presentation I made a year and a half ago about future trends to present to an investment group on campus.  Find it here: Future Trends... I Think.

Spanish Word
pecueca -- smelly feet smell

Everyday Photo

January 11, 2014

Thanks for reading!