BRAINTENANCE: Suspension of Execution (Until 5/21/09)

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Dear Friends:

By popular demand, I am granting us all a one-day (i.e., until tomorrow) to complete our study of the structure and function of the different parts of the human brain before I spew forth the correct answers. If you have not already done so, you may wish to consult some of the links in the earlier articles featured on this blog. You may also wish to run a few Google or other searches which combine brain+structure+function in order to get at some of these answers.

The bad news is that you will have to sift through quite a bit of information in order to glean your answers. The good news is that you will have to sift through quite a bit of information in order to glean your answers.

It's ironic -- while you learn about the structure and function of the parts of your brain, you will be improving your cognitive functioning and broadening your knowledge base. In the words of my mom,"One day you'll thank me."

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

NEW: Follow us on TWITTER at http://twitter.com/Braintenance

BRAINTENANCE EXERCISES: 5/14/09 - 5/19/09

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Dear Friends:

Firstly, some food for thought.

We are often unaware of the extent to which indoctrination by society has biased our thinking.

To keep this in check, we must:

1. Accept the fact that we are partially "products of our environment";

2. Pause to think about the experiences and voices that might have caused us to arrive at a particular opinion, point of view, or way of thinking;

3. Open our minds to new possibilities -- including the possibility that something which we have come to believe is not actually true.

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Secondly, how about a few questions regarding the 'ol brain? You might have to do a bit of research:

1. How many cells does the average adult human brain contain?

2. What does the average adult human brain weigh?

3. What is the name of the tissue that separates the two hemispheres of the human brain?

4. What percentage of the brain's capacity do researchers believe that we use at any given time?

5. As we gain knowledge or do mental gymnastics, what happens to the physical brain?

6. What is the difference between the brain and the mind?

7. What part of the brain is associated with appetite?

8. What part of the brain is associated with conscious thought?

9. What part of the brain is is associated with autonomic ("unconscious") bodily functions and "maintenance" activity?

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10. What does "IQ" stand for, and what does it really measure?

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11. Can destroyed or damaged brain cells be re-grown?

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12. Can a brain cell associated with one function "learn" to take over another function?

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13. What do researchers think actually happens to the brain with the outset of Alzheimer's disease?

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14. What part of the brain is actually a crystalline body? The rest of it seems rather mushy by comparison...

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15. What brain wave pattern is associated with deep sleep?

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16. What brainwave pattern is associated with normal wakefulness?

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Faithfully,

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Douglas Castle

p.s. You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/douglascastle.

BRAINTENANCE: 5/13/09

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THIS POST STOLEN (with permission)FROM THE NATIONAL NETWORKER


Dear Readers:

This pertains to an irrelevant post on TWITTER:

TNNW_BUZZWORKS Remember Fizzies? I was just reading a story on http://twitter.com/SrMeetUp It seems this kid ....oh, read it yourself.

Enjoy the brief departure.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

p.s. Anything is relevant if it stimulates learning.

THE NATIONAL NETWORKER (TNNW):
PRESS OUR BUTTONS & CLICK OUR LINKS...

THINKING ABOUT THINKING.

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Dear Friends:

It is important to understand how we think.

The inherent paradox in evaluating one's own thought processes is a tricky business...but given desire, focus and dedicated practice, most any person can become more "in tune" with himself or herself.

The rewards of understanding your mind's innermost workings (and the reaction formation that is driven by the mind in general, and by the subconscious more specifically) are tremendous. With this intimate albeit somewhat biased knowledge, we can be proactive, and we can actually intervene when our thinking tends to be unhealthy or damaging and correct its course.

What awe-inspiring power! To know one's one mind, is to be able to control one's thoughts, actions and destiny! This is truly amazing.

Please read more. The following is excerpted from one of my tweetings on Twitter, which is as mind-numbing as it is addicting:

douglascastle DOUGLAS CASTLE http://bit.ly/CYgXd We spend too much time mired in the past and worried about the future The present is stolen! Reclaim it. less than 5 seconds ago from web.

You should not just think about thinking about your thinking. You should think about your thinking without a second thought. When you think that you are thinking about what you are thinking, then indeed you are. You cannot think thoughtlessly -- if you could, you would not have any responsibility for your actions.

Give the matter some thought.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

TWICKER TWEET FOR TNNW

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Dear Fellow (and Honorable Lady) Braintenance Brigade Buffs:

The message which follows is brought to you by Twitter, and THE NATIONAL NETWORKER (TNNW). As they are predisposed to saying here in New Yawk, "Jus' do like I sez an' nobody gets hoit. Got dat?":


TNNW_BUZZWORKS

Invite: If you follow me, or if you are a TNNW subscriber, follow http://twitter.com/TNNW_BUZ.... Keyword: Exponentiality. Thanks, y'all. less than 5 seconds ago from web .

I'll be back tomorrow with more brain-wrinkling harrassment.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

BRAINTENANCE EXERCISE 5/1/09 - 5/5/09

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Dear Friends:

Firstly, we have an old story, recently forwarded to me by old college roommate, Gary:
*****
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson go on a camping trip.

After a good dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night, and go to sleep.


Some hours later, Holmes wakes up and nudges his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”


“I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes” replies Watson.“And what do you deduce from that?”Watson ponders for a minute. “Well, Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful, and that we are a small and insignificant part of the universe.


But what does it tell you, Holmes?” Holmes is silent for a moment.

“Watson, you idiot!” he says. “Someone has stolen our tent!”
*****
Secondly, we have some links that are worth clicking on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq6b9bMBXpg (at the Antwerp railroad station)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptlW99wWBWY&feature=related (ukeleles must be taken seriously)


http://its-mine.net/free-meditation.htm (a list of free curiousities for exploring the various dimensions of your consciousness)

http://www.web-us.com/brain/aboutthebrain.htm (wonderful background information about the evolution and mechanism of the brain)


http://www.ehow.com/ (a wonderful collection of instructive and relatively simple "how to" articles on a great variety of subjects) - You might wish to make this page a favorite.


http://www.widgetbox.com/developer/87956763-9445-4d36-a9e6-22333c18cf0c?_sourcePage=%2Fdeveloper%2Findex.jsp (a collection of widgets for your use on blogs, websites, newsletters...)


http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/ (a stimulating blog about my daily musings -- sometimes it even gets exciting)
*****
Some Tongue-Twisters:



I am not the pheasant plucker,
I'm the pheasant plucker's mate.
I am only plucking pheasants
'cause the pheasant plucker's running late.

Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.



A flea and a fly flew up in a flue.
Said the flea, "Let us fly!"
Said the fly, "Let us flee!"
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.



Knapsack straps.



Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?


Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.

Inchworms itching.


A noisy noise annoys an oyster.


The myth of Miss Muffet.


Mr. See owned a saw.
And Mr. Soar owned a seesaw.
Now See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw
Before Soar saw See,
Which made Soar sore.

Friendly Frank flips fine flapjacks.
*****
Points To Ponder:



1. How can a person, a company or a nation get out of debt by incurring increasing debt?



2. If corporations exist principally for the purpose of compensating and providing for their employees, how can they effectively perform this role if employee demands make them unprofitable?

3. If you had to choose only one utensil to use for all of your meals for the next year, would it be a knife, a fork or a spoon? Why?

4. How do you define "intelligence"?

5. What is usually the most significant (memorable, attention-getting, defining, differentiating, et cetera) feature of a person's face?

6. Is aging (with its associated disabilities and functional declines) a disease?

7. Is it more advantageous to be simple, single-celled organism, or to be a more complex, multicellular organism? Why?
*****
Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

SWINE FLU OUTBREAK ALERT

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Dear Friends:

Please take every possible precaution against contracting or transmitting the deadly Swine Flu virus. Read about what you can do. Let others know -- by email, social media, a telephone call... in any way that you can. Following is an information link:

douglascastleSWINE FLU OUTBREAK ALERT - I just finished a post on http://lifelinksiep.blogspo... about measures we should take. Please forward to all!less than 5 seconds ago from web.

Stay healthy.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

BRAINTENANCE EXERCISES 4/23/09 - 4/28/09

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Dear Neighbors and kinfolk:

'Afore we git started on the next round 'a cypherin', I reckon we should commence to solvin' the old problems what's got our knickers in a twist and got us all cattywampussed up. What in tarnation am I a'sayin'?


1. How many ways can you arrange four blocks in a vertical column? 24 ways (4x3x2x1).


2. What portion of the human brain is thought to be the oldest (the most primitive)? The brain stem stem could be called the "primitive part of the brain" because it was the first brain structure to evolve, and is responsible for our basic vital functions like breathing and heartbeat. The "reptilian" brain, or the brain stem regions (the medulla & cerebellum) are the most primitive. They control things that are not really voluntary. This is why brain stem injuries can lead to such devastating physical handicaps while a the person is still able to think clearly.


3. How many letter "i" s are in the two-word expression, "eyes only"? None.


4. What is the literal translation of the word DINOSAUR? "Thunder Lizard," from the Latin.


5. How many different combinations of American coins can be added together which will equal thirty one cents? A whole bunch, considering that you can use any combination of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies...for example, a quarter plus a nickel plus a penny = 31 cents...but so does two dimes plus two nickels plus a penny....or even thirty one pennies...TAKE SOME MORE TIME WITH THIS ONE. Perhaps there is a formula.


6. What is wrong with the expression, "You can't have your cake and eat it too." ? It is backwards. It should be, "You can't eat your cake and have it too." Why? Because you can still eat a cake that you have, but you cannot have (outside of your body) a cake that you have already consumed.


7. What is wrong with the expression, "He's adding insult to injury." ? Nothing, per se. The order of the words injury and insult in the statement work either way.


8. What is wrong with the expression, "Birds of a feather flock together." ? Nothing, except that my mother used to say it all of the time about the kids that I would choose to hang around with.


9. What is the official language of the United Nations?10. What is the English translation of the latin expression "NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM"? This expression is on every $1 bill. "New World Order," from the Latin.


11. What is the difference in meaning between the words SCRIPT and SCRIP? Script is either an informal form of writing, or b) the written lines to be recited by an actor when playing a role. Scrip is either a) a short form of the word "perscription," b) valueless ("fiat") currency, or c) coupons redeemable at a merchant's establishment.


12. What is the difference in meaning between the words ASSENT and ASCENT? Assent means an agreement or accord, while ascent means a "rising higher."


13. Assuming that nothing else is changed, if your arteries and veins were wider, would your blood pressure go up or down? Why. Your blood pressure would likely decrease as your heart would not have to work quite as heard to pump fluid through smaller (or more congested) tubes. This is why having clogged arteries can cause your blood pressure to rise and put a strain on your heart.

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And now, for some homework...



Here is some interesting reading and some listening, as well:



http://www.web-us.com/brain/aboutthebrain.htm



http://intelegen.com/nutrients/INDEX.HTM



http://www.leadershipnow.com/quotes.html

http://www.clairvision.org/ckb/ckbe/ckbc/fol_0000_0001/cat_0000_0090/index.html (click on any of the free music downloads -- some of them are very psychically, emotionally and psychologically stimulating).

Lastly: Please scroll up to the VIDEO PAVILLION, click on any meditation tape, and watch it. It is worth the investment of time.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

p.s. Everybody always expects something special at the p.s. section.

BRAINTENANCE QUIZ 4/16/09 - 4/22/09

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Arrgh, me Hearties! Afore we commence, let's solve the last bunch of puzzles from the previous post:



Here are those several fine mind-twisters that kept your brain throbbing...


1. Any number, when divided by zero, equals what? Infinity, unless the number is zero.


2. What is the sum of all numbers from 1 to 1,000? 500,500. The shortcut formula for the sum of an arithmetic series is just N x (N+1)/ 2, or, in this case, 1000 x 1001 /2. Doing the math, our answer will come to 500,500.


3. What is the sum of all of the even numbers from 1 to 1,000? This is a tricky one. You know that the total number of numbers (sounds silly, eh?) will be 500, because the total series is comprised of half even numbers, and half odd ones, e.g., 500 of each. Logically, if you look at the 500 even numbers, you'll note that they are each a doubling of an odd number. For example, 2 is 1x2, 4 is 2x2, 6 is 3x2, 8 is 4x2...what we have is a really a series of the numbers of 1 through 500 twice. Going further, the sum of a 500 number arithmetic series is 500x501/2, or 125,250. Doubling this number gives us 250,500. Hence (nowthen), the sum of all of the even numbers from 1 to 1000 is 250,500.


4. What is the sum of all of the odd numbers from 1 to 1,000? Boy, we're smart. All we have to do is take the sum of the entire series (even and odd numbers consecutively ordered), which is 500,500, and reduce it by the sum of all of the even numbers, which we found in the previous problem. So...500,500 - 250,500 = 250,000.

5. What number, when divided by itself, equals itself? Every number, when divided by itself, will equal 1.

6. What number, when multiplied by itself, equals 729? The square root of 729, is can be found by a mathematically complex formula which involves an iterative process -- or you can use your pocket calculator to get 27.

7. What three-digit number, whose digits are added together equals the same as the product when its digits are multiplied by eachother? The number 123. Or 231. Or 321. Or 312. Or 213. Or 132.

8. How many correct answers can there be to the previous question? Six.

9. Why does it seem that time passes more quickly as we grow older? Because as we get older, each additional year becomes a decreasing fraction of our entire life as lived so far. For example, a three-year-old's last year represents 33.33% of his entire lifetime, while a sixty-year-old's last (most recent) year represents a mere 1.67% of his entire lifetime.

10. How far can a dog run into the woods? Halfway, and then he is running out.

11. What are these two words: One is an amusing story, and the other is a cure for a poison. They are ANECDOTE and ANTIDOTE.

12. What do we run into after we've run out? You'll have to figure this one out for yourself. Drop me a line. Let me know what you think the answer is.

13. What is the term for those interesting shapes and patterns we see when we close our eyelids? Phosphenes.

14. How many moons are there during a period of three months? Actually, only one. The same one every night for three months. It may look different, but it is Earth's one and only known moon.

15. What question will never be answered? The one which is never asked.
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And now, for some new mind-wringers:

1. How many ways can you arrange four blocks in a vertical column?

2. What portion of the human brain is thought to be the oldest (the most primitive)?

3. How many letter "i" s are in the two-word expression, "eyes only"?

4. What is the literal translation of the word DINOSAUR?

5. How many different combinations of American coins can be added together which will equal thirty one cents?

6. What is wrong with the expression, "You can't have your cake and eat it too." ?

7. What is wrong with the expression, "He's adding insult to injury." ?

8. What is wrong with the expression, "Birds of a feather flock together." ?

9. What is the official language of the United Nations?

10. What is the English translation of the latin expression "NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM"? This expression is on every $1 bill.

11. What is the difference in meaning between the words SCRIPT and SCRIP?

12. What is the difference in meaning between the words ASSENT and ASCENT?

13. Assuming that nothing else is changed, if your arteries and veins were wider, would your blood pressure go up or down? Why.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

BRAINTENANCE QUIZ: 3/7/09 -3/10/09

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Dear Friends:

Here are the answers to the cryptograms from the last quiz. How many of these were you able to get right? A friend brought to my attention that he sometimes uses the "Jeopardy" approach to solving some of the cryptograms -- he figures out some of the letters, and then takes a guess at the old saying or statement that's been encrypted. If you can somehow guess the saying, it is an amazing timesaver...but be advised, it's not an easy way to start. The best way is still to determine what some of the smaller words are by using the frequency of occurence of the letters. But I digress...

Here we go:

1. Copy from one, it's plagiarism; copy from two, it's research.

2. A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.

3. In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.

4. Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.

5. What does not destroy me, makes me stronger.

6. Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other.

7. Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.

8. Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear.

9. Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.

10. The optimist thinks this is the best of all worlds. The pessimist fears this is true.

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Here are several fine mind-twisters to keep your brain throbbing...

1. Any number, when divided by zero, equals what?

2. What is the sum of all numbers from 1 to 1,000?

3. What is the sum of all of the even numbers from 1 to 1,000?

4. What is the sum of all of the odd numbers from 1 to 1,000?

5. What number, when divided by itself, equals itself?

6. What number, when multiplied by itself, equals 729?

7. What three-digit number, whose digits are added together equals the same as the product when its digits are multiplied by eachother?

8. How many correct answers can there be to the previous question?

9. Why does it seem that time passes more quickly as we grow older?

10. How far can a dog run into the woods?

11. What are these two words: One is an amusing story, and the other is a cure for a poison.

12. What do we run into after we've run out?

13. What is the term for those interesting shapes and patterns we see when we close our eyelids?

14. How many moons are there during a period of three months?

15. What question will never be answered?

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle