Self-Check

Every Morning when I wake up the first thoughts that go through my head are usually a system of reality checks -

Who Am I?...........Richard
Where Am I?.........Bed
Who Am I With?......Naomi

This process usually takes a split second, unless I've not slept well or had been drinking the night before. One Day I am half expecting my brain to throw me the wrong answers to these questions for a laugh.



There are additional secondary questions that relate to remaining bladder capacity and current body position.

Cyborgs

I was in the pub with a friend of mine recently and for some reason the term 'cyborg' came up. The tone he used to express this word suggested a sense of awe, as if the concept is still a thing of science fiction.

Most humans use technology to augment their natural deficits. Contact lenses and Glasses augment vision, Hearing Aids augment hearing, Dentures replace damaged teeth. Even breast implants could be considered a step towards the cybernetic. The term cyborg doesnt immediately require any electrical technology, just technology. I think we sometimes forget that items that dont require batteries(contact lenses, glasses, breast implants, etc) are technology.

The Cyborgs are Among US!

Neutral Beauty

There seems to be a huge stigma around Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV). In the eighties this stigma was largely because the main victims of this virus were either homosexual or drug addicts(not all of the victims, just most). I believe this stigma still exists despite the fact that HIV has widely spread the population regardless of sexual preference, religious beliefs or sobriety. There is also the opinion that the virus itself is 'evil' this annoys me and I intend to prove the virus is as neutral and undiscriminating as death(another concept people deem 'evil').

Most of the cells in your body are programed to create proteins. The DNA in the nucleus is too big to fit through the nuclear pores. However there are objects inside the cell that can translate small strands of DNA into RNA copies which allows it to be passed outside the nucleus. So it sends these copies of code to an assembly structure(Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum) in the main body of the cell. Here the genetic code is translated into its corresponding amino acids. These amino acids chain together to form a protein. The protein is then packaged up and sent out of the cell. This is a normal process and happens countless times a millisecond.

HIV enters the bloodstream and as it should the immune system responds. The virus latches on to the outside of the specific white blood cells sent to destroy it and injects(for lack of a better word) its genetic material in the form of RNA into the cell. This RNA makes it into the nucleus where the second substance the virus dropped off comes unto play. Reverse Transcriptase converts the viral RNA into DNA. This DNA then attaches itself to the host cells DNA. The cell is now programmed to make more HIV. The copy of the HIV code is sent to the assembly structure. the new HIV component is constricted. It is packaged up and sent out of hte cell. Unfortunately this is where the harm is caused. Sending it out of the cell perforates the cell membrane and destroys the cell.

The viral replication is what does damage to the body. It doesnt release toxins, it doesnt overtly devour healthy cells. Like any other object in nature it is blindly driven to replicate. The effects of this virus are unpleasant however I think the way this virus operates is incredible. If I ever wanted to plead a case for 'Intelligent Design' I wouldnt cite the complexity of the human body I would cite the simple yet effective beauty behind the operation of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Fortunately I think intelligent design is a theory for those with far too much time trying not to contribute to society.

Caffeine

My heart is racing(roughly 110bpm at rest).
My breathing is rapid(16-17 breaths per minute).
My pupils are tightly contracted.
Blood is being diverted from my Digestive Tract to my Muscles.
This is causing nausea.
My Head is aching.
I'm Dizzy.

I'm on my seventh large mug of coffee. My body is responding to chemicals that are exciting all the cells that are needed in a high stress situation. Unfortunately I'm not in a physically demanding situation. I am trying to revise for my upcoming Life Sciences Exam. You would not believe how effectively high doses of caffeine hinder concentration. Interesting experiencing the effects and being able to appreciate exactly what is occurring though.

Unsung

I have close working experience with the police, ambulance service and fire brigade. I have come to appreciate the essential role each of these services play in keeping our world free from harm. I have recently noticed that there are many documentaries on tv about the police and ambulance service. I have only seen one documentary that gave a segment to the fire brigade. So this entry is for our brethren who face the flame.

A car overturns on the M6,
the ambulance has arrived however they can not proceed until the fire service have secured the area. Civilians look on wondering at the inaction of the paramedics and emt's.
The fire service arrive.
They secure the vehicle and provide the ambulance crew access to the casualty.
The casualty is clear.
Some spark ignites the pooled petrol on the ground.
Had the fire service not been there the ambulance crew, casualty and any one foolish enough to stop would have been seriously injured.

These men and women provide a service and are in general wholey unrecognised by the general public. Their bravery is shrugged off with mutterings of 'well its what they're paid to do isnt it'.

Recently Tom Reynolds of Random Acts of Reality spoke on the radio about an incident in scotland. A paramedic was at the scene of a stabbing, on her own and without any immediately accessible police support she was ordered not to proceed. Many fools out there consider her a coward for this. She was not trained or equipped to deal with an armed assailant. The casualty died. Fortunately for her family and every life she will ever save, the paramedic is still with us.

I saw a segment on the tv today about the fire service. A gas cylinder on a building site was leaking ignited gas. Rather than proceed the lead fireman performed a grueling but essential series of risk assessments. Once all the equipment and information was at hand he took the 20 steps forward and turned the gas off. It may seem like a lot of fuss for nothing, but that mans family still have a father, and son and husband. Even with the information and risk assessments he was incredibly brave to walk up to a leaking gas cylinder that had been recently spewing flame.

Pack Instinct

Years ago I read a study regarding how groups of people respond to fear. Whilst I can remember the information within the study I cant remember who performed it. If anyone knows based on the the following could you let me know?

We are not so removed from our hunter gatherer roots. One or two instincts still remain within us. For example if you put a group of people into a situation that induces fear. For example a haunted house. Each member of the group will be on edge, if a door slams there would be screams and then laughter. Why does this laughter occur? Well it has been theorised that this is a in instinctual response to fear. In laughing you are baring your teeth. Simple I know however the study I have yet to refind provided some fairly compelling evidence on this matter.

So next time you're with a group in a situation that is causing fear. Dont forget to bare your teeth.Of course it could just be that the laughter relieves tension.

Self Defence

The human body is amazing. Those of you know know me know I am in love with anatomy and physiology. I find it hard to understand people who dont look at the processes of the human body with awe.

If you are going through extreme physical stress your body secretes adrenaline which blocks out the pain from physical trauma. It slows non-essential function like digestion and diverts oxygen rich blood to the muscles. Your pupils dilate and contract much more quickly, signals are transmitted too and from the brain at an increasing rate. Everything about this chemical is designed to pull the body out of danger.

Even a simple non-life threatening incident like stepping on a pin invokes a reaction called a reflex-arc. This means your body knows there is a threat, it pulls your foot away from the pin before the pain message is even sent to the brain and interpreted. Its a purely localised self-defense mechanism that can occur at any point of the body.

If you are exposed to severe psychological trauma your mind takes you where you need to go in order to survive it. And then, when you are safe it blocks the memories in order to prevent them having a detrimental effect.

Both the body and mind are full of failsafes designed and tested over the last billion or so years in order to keep you alive.