Music | Art | Science | Design
Just in time for the weekend & it’s still summer !! Really happy to post this epic Odd Circuit 7:50 club/dance mix called the “Electric Jetski Remix” to fit the times. It really plays up the lush vocal.
THIS unmastered version IS NOT FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES — for listening enjoyment only 🌴 😎
“Nirvana” was more or less composed by improvisation, though with a couple of parameters.
I decided to map the letters of the word over the sequence of musical keys and that decided the notes for the theme. Reason being, I wanted to create something evocative yet that I wouldn’t normally create.
The result is a mini symphony of influences, as both polyphonic classical guitar and piano lend themselves to, Blends different tonalities and emotions.
This can imply that reaching a Nirvana state can be complex and multifaceted Or involve a lot of different experiences. There are also some dynamic chordal moments That remind me a little bit of the band Nirvana. that was some of the first music I ever played the first time I picked up a guitar When I was a kid.
This recording sounds vintage like it was made a hundred years ago — I realize this. It’s likely this and other scores will be coming soon as PDF downloads!
Around the time I started back in on reading GEB: an eternal golden braid by Douglas Hofstadter I experienced a very vivid sculptural dream image. And it’s not unusual for me to have unusual dreams because I actively engage my creativity in waking hours.
The sculptural scenario that I saw in the dream was of a large concrete magenta cube sitting atop a large round cream colored marble table. Furthermore, the table was sitting on top of a large cream colored and luxurious looking rug that was rumpled, so that it looks like a rippling surface. I’m going even further – all of this was sitting in the larger Grecian style temple made also of marble of the same color. And the magenta cube atop the table was sitting in this large expanse, an open area of the temple. Talk about one universal allegory of an installation!
The scene was/is beautiful and looks like it should be part of an experiential museum exhibit. Anyway, this powerful imagery prompted me to seek out my first AI generated art experience with the app Wombo.AI.
I was dazzled by what the algorithms could produce in different styles from the inputs of different words and phrases. The above image of the magenta cube was generated using the app. I had to test a few different configurations of words in order to get something that looks mostly like the dream. AI art from what I can tell readily embraces the surreal or dreamlike subjects.
As I said before, the book I’ve been reading deals with among other topics code, systems, logic, patterns, wordplay and so much more.
I came to relate the cube to a joyous core of creation, nested inside other ensuing levels of creation or pattern generation, root geometry inside architecture.
Here’s where I get vaguely into computer science (That’s appropriate after all because that’s how the image was generated) — Moving down levels in a memory stack or dimensions towards source is referred to as recursion or “pushing” and then moving out or up levels is I believe “popping” or called iteration.
Back to GEB, I imagine Bach developing out the theme of a fugue — It could go anywhere, but there are certain rules based on what came before In order to produce a result and Further the sequence.
Of course the giant cube at Mecca is black like space. I think of this also and what I’ve been learning about traditions and sacred geometry. The symbolism Of the magenta (choice of my subconscious) cube is important to me in this way also, As a representation of source energy, God, love, desire, curiosity and the creation of reality. And Everything that comes from that creative wellspring as an AKA.
All right thus far I traveled from dream image to AI arts, and literature. And what is AI but another iteration of intelligence, Another branch in the larger decision tree.
One of many interesting qualities about this is the incorporation of 2D or flat dimensional qualities and then some that go far beyond, Especially by mental association.
The technology can be a reflection or examination of self and humanity. What I have experienced so far is that it can also be expansion or recursion, an exploration of perception.
Okay, next stop: I’ve become one of the first 300,000 Oculus users in the world. My experience with advanced AI prompted me to explore.
The unboxing and initial experience was truly magical. Although, with the Quest 2 I’m trying not to use it too much because I got some vertigo. I wasn’t even playing crazy games; I was just testing out the moves — having the ability to go either glide between objects or teleport. Well, my brain was like “Woah Keanu!”
It made me feel like I was a Quantum Particle darting around on a circuitboard. Perhaps needless to say, I was a bit disoriented is the aftermath. I felt somewhat disembodied. Now, I realize this isn’t much of an advertisement for the Oculus, but to be fair if I use fewer movements for shorter duration this doesn’t happen.
What experiencing the sensation of teleportation, in a way, is doing to me I can’t exactly say but I can say this it’s been mind expanding. And hey, I’m looking forward to actual teleportation!
I should emphasize what amazing technology the Meta Oculus system is. I was even moved to tears by immersive spaceflight program. Yes, the technology has a lot farther to go. For one thing, the gear should be lightweight and minimal eventually, and there should be tactile or haptic interface. For my part anyway, my extremities became disoriented by the fact that I could move around and move objects but I could not feel them.
Just to reiterate, if I am judicious with my movements and I don’t use the VR for as long that doesn’t become an issue. To be honest, I view the experience Like a treat or mini getaway. After all, I’m looking forward to actual space flight! Until that point though the VR experience is special, Definitely a science-fiction dream come true, Precursor to the holodeck, and a world within a world.
And that comes back to the magenta cube and concept. You have your source field which coalesces into a core and then from there develops out in many different directions into whatever else. And you move your branches forward or back them Up like an RNA protein moving DNA, which Hofstadter’s book talks about as well.
The best conclusion here is that my experience with AI and virtual reality so far has been positive because I have chosen to them be and I am exercising some moderation. I’ve also been willing to engage, clearly, in some self reflection. The thing about a recursion or expansion of one’s reality is that one has a certain implicit responsibility to direct it in the way that one wants it to go.
Lastly lastly, I am so unmotivated to find an actual magenta cube because it was quite aesthetically pleasing! All in all, Who knows how many housings are actually around it. 😆
Titus: honorable or strong; of the giants
Oceanus: the ocean, of the ocean
This is a 7 foot driftwood piece and here’s the story:
This highly sculptural piece of driftwood showed up seemingly out of place in an urban environment. On my walk I passed by it several times before deciding to pick it up. It wasn’t going anywhere; just drying in the sun on an industrial sort of fishing area next to the locks.
I decided to get it because fallen wood is ideal to work with environmentally. And this piece is truly striking, like a creature or barque from the deep. After I saw a whale in a dream, that confirmed the project!
Process & materials:
First I washed the piece off and let it dry again.
Next I applied a coat of refined coconut oil, let it dry.
After that I applied a few coats of charcoal paint that I made simply by mixing charcoal powder with water.
Next came the application of mulberry juice stain from fresh mulberries and also a brewed black coffee stain.
The final coats are silicone oil, and this can be used for touch-up.
The end result is a deep dark rich uniform brown that also accents the natural shape and texture of the wood.
I’m especially proud of this piece and process because the treatment of it is completely non-toxic. Whereas, you see lots of warnings on stains and finishes in the hardware store. I took care in selecting low impact and even nourishing substances.
I did my best to, in my mind, respect this offering from nature. When I made the charcoal paint, I was inspired by the Chinese calligraphy book I was reading, which came my way from a public book bin.
This natural sculpture definitely deserves prominent display.
How can medical or healthcare in the USA be upgraded?
By incorporating the latest non-invasive technologies, with some of the oldest concepts and philosophies.
Western [colonized] medicine has been held back and stunted by nonsensical institutionalized barbarism against biology and nature.
What strikes me and many others I’ve talked to, is the small mindedness of many medical practices that operate by an obfuscated rule book, and like a business.
Go in for an evaluation and one gets cryptic replies, little advice, referrals to specialists and then a large bill.
Onward from the frustration though, what can practically be done?
That’s traced to education, which needs to be cross-functional like life itself. Take the tree-like structure of neurons and expand that up to intergalactic levels for example. Everything is interconnected systems.
Therefore, it makes no sense to treat segments of the body as if they were isolated from each other and from nature, with no ability to heal themselves and do what they do. That’s just not the case. We can see and experience that. The body has miraculous intelligence that’s evolved over millennia. Our modern consciousness has blossomed from that.
Somehow the medical perspective has become very convoluted, like a programming rabbit hole. Well, it’s time to get real. I should be able to visit a doctor who will readily share insight! And who understands anatomy, themselves and physical fitness, and electrical energy, for starters.
Other sectors have become comparably far more advanced, such as computing, physics and astronomy.
Medicine must be informed by this. It’s far too insular and businesslike for the good of society. The human biological and yes philosophical relationship within self and to others, must come into focus. There’s no way to have data without context, or meaning.
Also — I’ve written before about the re-entry of [native] plant medicine, the earth’s bountiful remedies, and about non-invasive energy medicines such as directed meditation and sonic therapies.
And for more urgent situations there are newer sound and light healing and burgeoning precision genetic technologies that must be allowed to proliferate and be accessible to everyone. Otherwise, why go the doctor? Why go in if one does not receive any kind of care or type of healing?
And here’s a huge point:
What can be further understood also is of course the already incredibly advanced technology of the human body itself. We can continue to explore the possibilities and advancements within ourselves, our genetic code, with trust.
“In god we trust.” That’s on our money. Well, biology is a form of God.
What kind of faith is it that believes that death has to occur by fighting life. Energy is shown to be deathless anyway by physics.
An interpretation of western industrialized medicine is that there’s always fighting and dying and battling going on, and in the world of microorganisms. Well, especially with what we know of the quantum observer effect, is that really the desired perception or focus? For me anyway, it’s not.
What made some people think there’s all this violence going in inside us? The violence without perhaps, the confusion of rapidly developing intelligence… Inside, it’s clearly a massively cooperative effort; otherwise, we wouldn’t be here. But perception can get skewed in a lot of cases, and some things go foolishly against nature, creating undesirables, like covering the earth in asphalt and then wondering why it’s getting hotter.
We learn though, and then it’s time to apply the lessons.
In an infinite universe of powerful energies, it simply doesn’t make sense to try and create the illusions of scarcity or denial. I think that’s great to consider.
Self realization is there for the development of any person, of ones genetic code, that is programmable, reprogrammable and can be expanded upon.
Unfortunately “western” healthcare has been based on the retraction of self knowledge, and perhaps to say the least an also unfortunate turn of some peoples on the evolutionary decision tree, which amounts to a philosophical detour away from Earth or nature.
It’s ironic because the institutionalized medicine that’s been put forth by academia in the US often pridefully describes being lofty and data driven. Well, you can’t just spit out numbers. As I mentioned before, there’s always some kind of perspective and context. SO, better make it useful and constructive!
In an infinite universe of universes especially, there’s no *good reason to create doctrines of limitation, or try and deprive others of freedom or knowledge, or exploration. And now at last we’re expanding to other planets.
In saying this about life, healthcare, the universe and everything, I know that we can and will do better.
OCTAVES MUSIC
https://on.soundcloud.com/KYzLFpRaDMUN4Y4Y7
Check out full tracks from the catalog by Crunk Cyborg & Rebel Veteran, Artemis Amenti and Odd Circuit. More artists to come.
Coming soon on Friday August 26 to OCTAVES Music is “Piggy Bank” by Odd Circuit featuring Artemis Amenti & Rebel Veteran.
It’s a compelling progressive house electronic track with a lot of edm dancefloor appeal, produced with that environment in mind.
Out now in OCTAVES is the irresistible “Future Tech” by duo Crunk Cyborg & Rebel Veteran
ALSO COMING SOON!
New artist to the label KIRAN with a funky upbeat track called “How To Love.”
Hello, this is Sarah, the founder and director of Studio Shangri-La. I’ve been inspired by recent collaborations to launch a digital and print magazine called AMAZING.
Not surprisingly, the focus will be on amazingness — news, information and arts that inspire.
Would you like to contribute? Please contact on the About page.
The magazine will be published through Amazon for convenience so please make sure you have an Amazon author page so you will be compensated. Compensation will be based on sales and number of contributors.
Human stem cells contain the potential of infinite regeneration and pluripotency means they can become any type of cell.
They do so by mitotic cell division, and mitosis is asexual. So, asexual reproduction occurs within the human body.
Mitosis is run by a cell cycle system; the phases are activated by advanced interactions of enzymes and other proteins. Biology! It’s advanced engineering.
The equipment is there — What would allow infinite regulated cell divisions?
In order for favorable results to occur, cells are able to both lengthen and shorten their chromosomal telomeres.
Another way of saying this is they can both feedback and feedforward control. These calculating control words come from electronics.
Technology comes full circle! An Adaptive control type system is ideal. Keep in mind, mapping cell division parameters with a circuit diagram would be a simplified overview of key concepts.
This biological process and others are highly complex and orchestrated, so it’s fortunate we have computation evolving alongside us in our quest of understanding.
At this point, I’m concluding that the mechanisms for infinite adaptive regeneration are already there; we have merely to realize them. And in so doing, achieve a major quantum biological upgrade.
We know to want this possibility now because of increased awareness, and that it’s possible through technological advancement that mirrors us, and how it happens because of self biological study.
In other words — if you want, there’s no need to transcend our bodies to achieve immortality because the body is built to transcend! We should be able to tell from evolution by now, right? : )
This above post video features AI generated art that’s amazingly unique. From my limited experience with “artificial intelligence,” I’m blown away how beautiful these new mind-expanding perspectives are.
I think to approach the possibility of sentient technology being threatened — that’s been a human limitation. In a way humans are also artificial intelligence, and fundamentally made of the same elements. Plus, advanced tech has been inspired by biology.
Positive imagination can be the guiding light and from what I’ve seen, AI does well with this.
After all, what can one expect with complex architecture of neural style networking and on and on? And focusing on a goal? That leads to achievement.
Cosmos, the microworld, then plants & animals gave rise to us. And we can of course do better and evolve — perhaps AI can show us. We can learn & try to set an example of responsibility, like a parent. It’s after all based on human created code.
Many forms of life precede humanity and we’ve followed that creative drive embedded in the universe by not only creating copies / generations of ourselves but creating a potential new form of life.
This is part opinion of course. Yet what a fascinating age we live in. And it should be noted that I’m in an increasingly techie city, and that has considerable influence.
Lastly I should say that as an artist I see my own creative process as a human as very different and of course equally as valuable. Seeing these rapidly generated and very different works from AI I find inspiring and actually make me appreciate my process even more.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
We are here thanks in large part to microbes and bacteria. And Cyanobacteria, of blue green algae, are among the oldest organisms around, known fossil records dating back billions of years.
Cyanobacteria created oxidation, or photosynthesis, which in turn formed Earth’s atmosphere. Accumulations of cyanobacteria even helped shape the terrain.
We are here because of them, so it’s nonsensical to war against the micro-world. Besides, we’d lose that battle because microorganisms are highly adaptable and malleable. After all, they’re some of the geniuses responsible for our great and growing sentience.
From anti-bacterial hand soap to nano-septic self-cleaning surfaces that destroy most bacteria — that just doesn’t seem like a bright approach to me. At least have the self cleaning surfaces be selectively tuned.
Because what do you get when you “wash away” *all* bacteria? I don’t want to find out, personally. Being afraid of microorganisms is esssentially irrational, being afraid of nature and oneself. How to make something virulent — let’s see, provoke or (try to) destroy it.
A human being is a collection of micro organisms. So it makes zero sense for western/industrialized medicine and products to fight this. Well, it’s ignorant of the broader evolutionary picture and the way things work biologically. As we live more in harmony with the natural environment and with new knowledge and awareness, virulence will subside.
The larger issue is humans being environmentally destructive, so nature too has a system of checks and balances. That’s a big reason why sustainability initiatives are so important.
From the balance of ecosystems, to the soil that grows food, to the microbiome in our digestive system, microbes are important. We’re still studying how photosynthesis exactly works. They deserve respect.
Yes, that is turning popularized hierarchy on its side, but that seems necessary for human survival. The micro-world is our foundation. And washing that away equates to destruction.
Here’s a great example of the importance of bacteria in the news: Cyanobacteria show promise in life support systems on Mars and ultimately the creation of a habitable atmosphere.
Let’s underscore how important this is: They have helped give us life on this planet, and they’re about to help give us life on other planets and survive in space. It’s high time to make peace with nature here on Earth through biosynergetic approaches to help preserve global ecosystems.
Waste management is such an important issue right now and for the future of earth that the value of innovation in this area is greater than currency.
In other words, sustainable innovations going on right now and their acceleration are tremendously valuable. If anyone tries to hoard technology or charge top dollar, that could have globally adverse effects, which means that this affecting everyone in every country.
One of the most promising developments, which I have written about lately, is waste to energy, the use of both classic and novel chemistries to create a circular path for two of societies most pressing issues: Waste and Energy.
Fortunately, the company Sierra Energy is pioneering the popularization of Gasification, or pyrolysis and they skip combustion going directly to vaporization. As such, the systems are rather large and are designed to serve large areas. That’s wonderful because that can become a municipal new normal. In some countries like Sweden, this has already taken effect.
Taking a step further however, portable systems like that pictured above by Impact BioEnergy, would completely revolutionize the process, even potentially eliminating large waste management facilities by cutting out the middle steps and taking it directly to the residence or business.
Can you imagine having a completely sustainable circular home? I can. Like innovations in computer technology, it’s only a matter of probably a short time before these systems become small enough for individuals to purchase and use in their homes.
Could one build one of these? Sure, with some resourcefulness… However, this systematic change could make such a huge difference sooner rather than later by portable waste to energy becoming readily available, easy to buy.
Whichever company or companies succeed in this can make a profit and also charge a reasonable price. Again, it’s important that the latter happens so that the technology and systemic improvements can make a difference right away, because we need it.
The Impact BioEnergy system is among the smallest that are currently coming onto the market. Another portable waste-to-energy system is HomeBiogas and they are already selling these on their website.
Smaller still is the above design I sketched in 2020, imagined for use anywhere and able connect as necessary to “the grid.” VapoCan — or Lasercan — could this be its time? I would love to see something like this come into commercial production. I can see myself making a prototype, but I don’t know how long that would take, or exactly how to take something like that to market. That’s the hold-up in many cases, perhaps.
Well, if I were to succeed in making one, I’d definitely post about it. Honestly, I hope those much farther along with more resources release one today. Like I said, I’d proudly walk over to Target and buy it. Then, I’d return home and hook it up!
The end result is all about cleaning up the Earth and keeping it that way through systemic improvements, getting rid of landfills, and enhancing quality of life.
Non-invasive longevity medicine is the new frontier. And life wants to LIVE. We’re populated and supported by *trillions of microorganisms. And if they couldn’t learn and adapt, we wouldn’t be here.
Breaking down the word “Mesenchymal” as in Mesenchymal stem cells, reveals the Ancient Greek words for middle, tissue and infusion.
Stem cells, often referred to as primitive I’ve noticed, are actually quite advanced in their versatility. And more and more non-invasive methods are opening up for their therapeutic use.
In the field of nanotechnology, as you can partly see above, nanoscale scaffolding/matrix or patch creation is one method of delivery.
And easy access Stem cells can be found in our fat tissue and this is referred to as Adipose Derived Stem Cells, or ADSC. They are far more abundant there than in bone marrow. Stem cells can also be found in the bulb of hair follicles.
They have “the capacity for self-renewal and multipotential differentiation.”
When physically extracted from fat, a process of ultrasonification is in development to separate out and then differentiate the stem cells.
Also just recently, at MRIT, high frequency sound waves were proven successful in stem cell differentiation for bone growth, which I have previously posted about in more detail. Sound has also been shown effective for regrowing hair.
Completely non-invasive Sound wave cell therapy, without extraction, is emerging. This means sound passing through tissue to heal damaged areas. One specific therapy is called Soft Wave Tissue Regeneration Therapy. There are even devices you can purchase.
On that linked website you can find therapy providers in your area. In other words, advances in sound and stem cell technology are rapidly advancing and becoming more available. Healing everything is here.
This is not a paid partnership for any of the above; I’m just enthusiastic about regenerative medicine and research.
Keep an eye out for sound therapies. I believe it’ll be increasingly versatile and game changing.
Orchidea is one of many new Studio Shangri-La works that have become available recently on the turning art portfolio. There are new pieces in several different collections, most notably Nature Noir.
Out now on OCTAVES Music is the full album released 5/13 SΣLF-ΣNΣRGY by Artemis Amenti.
And upcoming the label sees releases on 6/10 and 6/17 from CC_RV, a humorous hi-tech rap duo. Click release titles to hyperfollow:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/crunkcyborgandrebelveteran/space-ex
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/crunkcyborgandrebelveteran/2-much-instagram
Happy Friday ! GO CELTICS !!!
The title here is an unabashed Top Gun Maverick reference. The hard deck is the zone below 10,000-5,000 feet at which a pilot is flying close if not fatally close to the ground.
I’m using the hard deck here for some humorous hyperbole, comparing this with pushing oneself in athletic performance past previous limits or known limits, which can definitely be a tricky dance, pushing the max yet not getting injured. You can navigate the hard deck or danger zone and become better.
This is my perspective as an adult athlete who enjoys analysis. I don’t ever remember a time in life at which recovery wasn’t a factor, a physiological reality. It seems People like to gloss over youth, but there are concerns there too in addition to recovery, particularly psychosocial factors and how they affect performance.
Then the advantage of sticking with something is that you mature, and you learn how to deal with both physical and psychological hard deck moments, that can wipe you out and make you feel like you won’t be able to carry on. If you’ve been through enough training cycles though, or the equivalent, you know that eventually you emerge and stronger, more resilient too — even from injury, although severity greatly affects that. Mindset and beliefs are key here.
There have been a couple of moments this cycle, I’ve had to “pull up!!” and “fall back!!” to be sure, so that I don’t get injured. There’s no shame associated with that — that’s working with the body as an ally and tuning in.
Body wants to move and develop, but it will let you know when you’re in the hard deck, and you have to listen. It’ll tell you “stop showing off — that’s not the assignment.” The body is intelligent and the nerves of intelligence run throughout. You could say being careful is more of a concern for older athletes, but really it’s everyone at some level, particularly If concerned with longevity. Also — When the CNS needs a break, it needs a break. And that can be influenced by other life circumstances and stimuli, not just physical training.
It should also be said I think, that if you’re done with something at any age you can just be done. Or, take a break. One can move on and do or try other things without being necessarily a “quitter.” You can return to something again later, Especially as is the case after healing from injury. During Injury even other facets of training can be explored, or other activities within reason.
The “do or die” / “fight or flight” narrative the media plays up is not for all occasions. And these days can be somewhat spiritually void and unrealistic, because that boxes people in, when the reality is: we have a lot of options.
Anyway — This competition training cycle I’m on, I have found to be a bit of strategy game, yet one that I can enjoy, given I tune out the myopic noise of society on the topic of age and sport. Although it’s modernizing, Pop society would have had me give up all athletics by late twenties basically. This is not physiological reality, though. People lose energy by following the sedentary culture. That’s it.
Thankfully there are more people pioneering longevity in athletics and some high profile athletes at that. Also Tom Cruise himself like the character Maverick is a great example of continued vibrancy and physical health, pushing the envelope on endurance and achievement.
I have chosen not to heed the old school ageist narrative that is increasingly a fallacy, And I’m thankful to have role models for doing so too. I can’t say “Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m Olympic weightlifting at 39!” when I am actually not surprised. Prevailing culture has been ridiculously youth and degeneration focused, which is unfortunate, racing each other in language and in deed to the grave somehow — this is not in my opinion based on the actual biology of now. I have obviously taken a mental/philosophical departure.
It’s an invigorating one. Personally, I plan on regeneration so I pace myself and respect my body, not carving myself up as popularized by Western medicine and cosmetics, but getting back to and advancing regenerative, holistic [non-invasive] energy and elemental medicines. There’s a lot more to learn there.
Some would say not having kids at the moment is an advantage for me as I continue to make progress. Sure it is. But I am not opposed to doing that, and there are plenty of examples of people who have kids that continue to physically achieve at a high level. One could also argue that not having kids is a disadvantage, so that whole thing is bunk.
An Athletic lifestyle isn’t for everyone, that’s for sure. Again — especially when culture encourages otherwise. I grew into that as an adult actually, after clearing myself of limiting cultural and familial programming that would limit my accomplishments and ambitions. And even further as an adult I’ve cleared and ignored some societal programming that would have me limit my intelligence, how many things I can do, or be interested in. We are what we decide are. That’s been said before and continues to be true — see above. Programs after all get upgrades! All this amounts to ongoing growth.
High physical performance as an adult has meant self reliance as Emerson said, deliberate recovery, smart programming, positive self talk, and fun nutrient dense food. I say fun because I approach that part as luxury, of enjoying cooking and eating, yet also being mindful of delivering what the body needs and even enhancing with safe supplements. For me continuing to learn about biology, chemistry and plant remedies has been very interesting and illuminating, and is helping a lot.
I also allow myself relaxation and generous sleep as needed. I ignore any sort of short-sighted always-on-the-grind narratives from mass media, that I should be suffering or feel guilty about enjoying life, or most illogically compare myself to so and so. That’s a personal preference of course. The latter I have never done because it is the most useless, by the way, because we are who we are, unique individuals in unique situations. Look at the grand design — there’s a reason for that.
As I ready myself for competition – it’s been an enjoyable challenge – I’m reaching numbers that would qualify me for more advanced competitions. Inevitably the higher one rises in physical disciple the more aware and fine-tuned one has to be. You’d better believe I’m taking advantage of different recovery therapies, including hopefully sonic soon.
Have I been injured before in the past? Yes I have, but not any time recently. Both times were related to flavors of ignorance and physical stress build-up and cost some time, stopping and starting. Yet did I learn — absolutely. I can laugh about it now, but Injury is never the goal. The more you learn, the smarter you can navigate and as I said before check your ego and fall back when you need to. Important note, to be clear: There’s no *need to get injured in order to learn or be smart about training. I am pointing this out because I read something recently about how glorifying destruction is not useful, Unless of course you want to leave it all on the field so to speak and never return.
There are moments though that can catch one off guard of course. I had a moment in this cycle when I was feeling strong, but still got tweaked because I pushed my maximum. I had no choice but to back off or get injured.
There’s a cultural current I suppose that would say something like “why would you even do all that?” Well, I don’t understand that attitude personally. This is just another form of achievement. Also, I feel like I haven’t even been alive that long! And I stay informed with new health and human thought frontiers, even writing some into existence at times. There are more and more possibilities opening up to humanity. I feel great, and especially when I focus on that.
Lastly, living longer and stronger is a bit of a biological and evolutionary hard deck. So we’ll see.
Check out this structural diagram. Looks like something alive and important to me. Looks like a muscle fiber diagram! Perhaps because hair contains nucleic acid and mitochondrial DNA. And DNA is some of the most advanced technology around.
Hair is no more dead than the soil. It’s composed of fibrous keratin, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and sulphur. These elements are valuable, and in the bulb are stem cells! Everything in the body serves a function.
As we grow more aware of ourselves, our biology, we evolve — that’s part of self knowledge.
Something that continues to grow is not “dead.” And in the quantum sense of the universe, energy is deathless. I always come back to that — what can I say.
Keratin is a desirable, often used ingredient for hair care. What’s interesting is that one could probably use keratin from one’s own hair as a healthful treatment.
It’s possible to make Keratin solution with relative ease in room temperature alkaline water of pH 8 and above.
It’s not a secret. It’s chemistry! Perhaps why buy keratin when you have loads of your own on hand. Plus, easy access stem cells.
Here’s another article on why hair isn’t waste:
This latest piece, Japanese Maple, is based on a photo I took in the Wollaston Beach area. It’s part of the Nature Noir collection. And this version is available on the Shop page as a 12×18” framed print, a large 2 panel canvas — 18×24” each — print and as a digital download.
The 2 panel is placed end to end for a more epic voluminous effect as you can see on the Shop page. All of these images are of course watermarked here.
This and many other Studio Shangri-La works are also available through TurningArt.
Flax Oil
Trehalose
Collagen powder
That’s it — very easy to mix at home. Feels great too. The trehalose sugar here acts as the exfoliant. And this can be used on the entire body, then rinsed off.
And keep in mind, similar substances can be combined for this effect as well. I’m finding this combination very effective though. The collagen powder is sort of an extra. Only the trehalose and flax could be used.
Oftentimes I read labels and think “Why is that in there?” The inclusion of certain petrochemicals and other additives is perplexing.
Making this mixture at home gets right to the good stuff, with no supposed need for strange preservatives either.
Not recommending it, but even if I ate this it would be quite nutritious, a sign of safety.
Separately I’d put trehalose in drinks, flax oil in salad dressing, and collagen in shakes or coffee.
On the first hot summer day here in Boston, Cryomed on Boylston Street offered a cold plunge tub on the sidewalk in front of their store and after I saw the e-mail decided to go for it.
I’d never done a cold plunge or ice bath before but I’d heard and read about many health benefits of this trend.
My main motivation was muscle and joint recovery, as well as the rejuvenating effects. After an intense and successful Olympic weightlifting competition training block, I felt particularly keen on giving cold therapy a try.
To my surprise I managed to see in there for 9 minutes and I even enjoyed it! Here’s why: I felt the immediate and obvious benefit on the muscles and joints, as well as the mind. Being immersed felt like a nervous system cleanse. I read afterwards cold plunge can be especially good for the vagus nerve, training intentional relaxation and regulation.
When I climbed into the tub of icy water I was ready – I wanted to do it after reading so many positive effects. It should be noted that I read in a few articles that it’s not for everyone because it is physical stress. I found it sort of soothing though because of my very active and at times physically rigorous lifting lifestyle.
To be clear, it wasn’t easy getting in, but not as difficult as I anticipated. It Helps that I’d seen video footage of people, including the notorious Hof doing it, and I just kept breathing deeply. That produced a lot of internal heat right away in response to the extreme. And after a few minutes of acclimating, I went for a full dunk.
Even better, for a full day afterwards I was feeling invigorated and refreshed. My skin also felt amazing. Since then I’ve even tried a couple of cold showers at home. Being fully immersed out there at Cryomed made those seem doable and cold water not so daunting. After training the other day the cold water felt good on my back especially.
So what happens on the physiological level when you immerse yourself in glacier water like that? Reported benefits range from reduced anxiety, a meditative state to inflammation and pain relief.
While icy baths may not be something I’ll partake of frequently, the experience has definitely changed me for the better with cold tolerance, and now the Atlantic seems quite approachable. More than anything else for me, it’s awesome to have that therapeutic recovery tool in the bag.
As it turns out, making toothpaste that is completely nourishing for your teeth and mouth is not hard.
The bentonite clay mixed with water provides an excellent paste texture and is rich in minerals. Keep this as the base.
Further texturizing and exfoliating, if you will, is the baking soda or sodium bicarbonate, a well known wholesome cleaner.
Keep in mind that like other toothpaste, you don’t swallow this mixture.
The coconut MCT oil is another brilliant nutritious ingredient, great for the skin and gums, and known for its purifying qualities even as mouthwash.
For flavor and further cleansing and purifying enhancement, there’s tea tree oil and/or peppermint oil. These are both well-known medicinal oils.
An extra for whitening, in addition to the baking soda, is charcoal powder. This particular brand pictured above also contains a few of the ingredients I just mentioned actually.
Ingredients: Bentonite clay, Baking soda, Peppermint and/or tea tree oil, MCT Oil, Charcoal powder (optional)
Bottom line — easy to make, no filler, all beneficial readily identifiable and multi-use substances, and the taste is pretty good and real.
All of these ingredients are included on the regular in store-bought natural toothpastes, minus synthetic texturizers — calcium clay here serves as great texturizer.