hey guys,
first off just another apology for the lack of posts recently, but things are really quite hectic at the moment. Do not stress however as most of you reading the blog probably kind of know the reason already - for the others, it will be revealed shortly.
Now back to the title of this blog...during this last week on my way to a meeting I was deafened by my Citi's cry for some more fuel. Driving through Walmer from the office I figured I could make a very brief stop at the Aerofill Engen (by the Airport) for some juice as I was already behind schedule and bound to get trapped in the traffic all the way through Lorraine.
Breezing in and kindly demanding the value of my cash in liquid from the attendant I was suddenly accosted by a well-dressed gentleman. In the usual style of "I don't have anything for you" I tried to shrug him off, but success was not on my side. After the attendant took my money this guy proceeded to explain his whole situation - I'll give you the gist of it:
* I am from East London
* I'm on a two week backpacking holiday between jobs and staying in the iKaya or something-sounding Backpackers place in Humewood
* I popped out the room briefly and bag got stolen
* Been to police, but they cant find the bag or drive me back to EL so useless
* Lost wallet, cards, keys, blood, piss - everything really...
* Been walking up and down town all day begging and ended up here now
* Got R20 from some lady and need another R130 to catch a taxi back to East London
Smelling a rat I shrugged they guy off again after which he literally collapsed between the pump and my car on his haunches with his head shaking in his hands.
Now I feel terrible...and what is 130 bucks these days? I mean this guy was sincerely desperate. Suddenly I decide to give humanity one more shot...
I tell the guy that I do not have cash with me, but I am willing to go to the nearest ATM and will draw some cash. Immediately he takes off his Oakley sunglasses and hands them to me: "Please I'll give you my Oakleys bru!!! Please will you help me? I am beyond desperate and this has been the kakkest day of my life...everybody immediately just rejects me like some bum..."
Now I feel even worse..."It's cool, keep your Oakleys, mate".
I pop the passenger door trusting my karate skill and drive to the Pool City parking lot and rush over to the ATM. He hangs around as I fondle the machine for some green and before you know it I hand him the money and my number.
"Bru I swear on my mother's life I will do a transfer for you tomorrow - I'll pay you back three times the amount my man...oh god, you are a life saver...god bless you bru!!! It's not like I don't have the money - I just cant get to the f*cken sh*t!!! I promise I'm good for it bru".
So before I know it I offer a short drive to a nearby taxi stop and just before hopping out the car another oath on his maternal grave of a phone call before 12pm the next day to get my banking details. Next thing he is out the car and mouthing more promises from a distance.
So as I drive off I actually start thinking - Wow, I must be the world's largest knob right now and I'm not even wearing a PowerBalance bracelet!!! All I know is the guy's name - I did not even think to ask for his address, his ID number or even a land line number...Needless to say, no phone call and it has been two days...
F*CK!
I guess if some guy approaches you with a similar story, do not fall for it...and please call me ASAP!!!
WB
Feb 12, 2011
Feb 4, 2011
Social/Health - To sleep or not to sleep...
If you know me you'll know that if there is one thing I sincerely hate doing...it is to sleep!!!
Somehow the idea of doing nothing for 6-8 straight hours - or even for those afternoon "powernaps" - just seem like the greatest waste of time. I could think of far more important and constructive things to do - get in some Ironman training, learn a new language, train in a new martial art, build a fort, make your own beer, create musical fusion, prune a garden, start some graffiti clan or even run for president...
Much scientific research has gone into this topic and it appears that nobody knows for sure why we need sleep, but it does appear that we are not the only living creatures that require some slumber-like moments.
"While we can more or less abstain from some basic biological urges—for food, drink, and sex—we can’t do the same for sleep. At some point, no matter how much espresso we drink, we just crash. And every animal that’s been studied, from the fruit fly to the frog, also exhibits some sort of sleep-like behavior." according to Paul Sternberg, a Professor of Biology.
According to this most recent study by the Prof and some assitants (including an array of insects and sailfish) sleep is unfortunately completely necessary for one or a combination of the following four reasons:
"The first is that sleeping allows the body to repair cells damaged by metabolic byproducts called free radicals. The production of these highly reactive substances increases during the day, when metabolism is faster. Indeed, scientists have found that the expression of genes involved in fixing cells gets kicked up a notch during sleep."
"Another idea is that sleep helps replenish fuel, which is burned while awake."
"Sleep might also be a time for your brain to do a little housekeeping. As you learn and absorb information throughout the day, you’re constantly generating new synapses, the junctions between neurons through which brain signals travel. But your skull has limited space, so bedtime might be when superfluous synapses are cleaned out."
"And finally, during your daily slumber, your brain might be replaying the events of the day, reinforcing memory and learning."
The article is quite interesting to read and they elaborate on some of the ideas I have highlighted here.
NUTS, no wonder I am so forgetful. Perhaps I should just surrender to the idea that by sleeping I am allowing the physical parts of my existence do some constructive work. Dammit.
Take care of those bedbugs tonight!
WB
Somehow the idea of doing nothing for 6-8 straight hours - or even for those afternoon "powernaps" - just seem like the greatest waste of time. I could think of far more important and constructive things to do - get in some Ironman training, learn a new language, train in a new martial art, build a fort, make your own beer, create musical fusion, prune a garden, start some graffiti clan or even run for president...
Much scientific research has gone into this topic and it appears that nobody knows for sure why we need sleep, but it does appear that we are not the only living creatures that require some slumber-like moments.
"While we can more or less abstain from some basic biological urges—for food, drink, and sex—we can’t do the same for sleep. At some point, no matter how much espresso we drink, we just crash. And every animal that’s been studied, from the fruit fly to the frog, also exhibits some sort of sleep-like behavior." according to Paul Sternberg, a Professor of Biology.
According to this most recent study by the Prof and some assitants (including an array of insects and sailfish) sleep is unfortunately completely necessary for one or a combination of the following four reasons:
"The first is that sleeping allows the body to repair cells damaged by metabolic byproducts called free radicals. The production of these highly reactive substances increases during the day, when metabolism is faster. Indeed, scientists have found that the expression of genes involved in fixing cells gets kicked up a notch during sleep."
"Another idea is that sleep helps replenish fuel, which is burned while awake."
"Sleep might also be a time for your brain to do a little housekeeping. As you learn and absorb information throughout the day, you’re constantly generating new synapses, the junctions between neurons through which brain signals travel. But your skull has limited space, so bedtime might be when superfluous synapses are cleaned out."
"And finally, during your daily slumber, your brain might be replaying the events of the day, reinforcing memory and learning."
The article is quite interesting to read and they elaborate on some of the ideas I have highlighted here.
NUTS, no wonder I am so forgetful. Perhaps I should just surrender to the idea that by sleeping I am allowing the physical parts of my existence do some constructive work. Dammit.
Take care of those bedbugs tonight!
WB
Feb 1, 2011
Social/Poll - Beer in can vs Beer in bottle...
Well the results are in...
Thanks to the five people who voted...well four...I voted too. Sad. Anyway...
The whole idea was to provide you with this article by David Flaherty:
"In 2005, he (Jim Koch) released what he called the “Beer Drinkers Bill of Rights” to ensure better beer for one and all, and stated, “”Beer shall be offered in bottles, not cans, so that no brew is jeopardized with the taste of metal.”
However there is some controversial new developments in the beer community that would point out that cans could just tip the scales the other way:
"The evolution of the can is a fascinating one. As recently as the 1930′s, tin cans could not hold beer without exploding. And then came the advent of the liner. Initially made of vinyl (and fancy polymers today), they sealed the can, and prevented all liquid contact with the metal. Over the years, the technology has improved ten-fold and the fear of tainting our precious bevies with metal has become irrational. In fact, its seeming more and more like the can is the perfect vessel for beer."
"espousing the advantages of the can: better protection from light and air, easier storage and transport, as well as a quicker cooling time for your tailgate fiestas…"
The bottle does have one advantage which I do think will sway any beer-drinker according to Jim Attacap:
"One thing that is without dispute is beer temperature. Once you open the can of
beer the container has trouble keeping the liquid cold. Because of the nature of
glass, beer in bottles stays cold longer even after it’s open."
He has written a very interesting article and it is well worth a read.
There are quite a bit of write-ups on this topic, but unfortunately they are all painfully repetitive. Here's a summary from Jim's little article:
"So if you are someone who believes in recycling, likes your beer cold, and
believes glass improves the flavor then you want to drink bottled beer. If you are
someone for whom convenience is more important and who drinks beer at any
temperature, then canned beer is the solution for you. If you’re like most people,
you drink canned beer and bottle beer depending on the occasion. You might
take canned beer when you tailgate and drink bottled beer at home. It’s a win-
win situation for everybody."
And most importantly to solve the debate:
"So having said all of this should you buy your beer in a glass or can? The official position of BeerNeus is that a bad beer is a bad beer whether it's in a glass or can. And a good beer is good no matter what way you package it."
There you have it. Nice and simple and cool. Just like any beer should be.
Cheers,
WB
Thanks to the five people who voted...well four...I voted too. Sad. Anyway...
The whole idea was to provide you with this article by David Flaherty:
"In 2005, he (Jim Koch) released what he called the “Beer Drinkers Bill of Rights” to ensure better beer for one and all, and stated, “”Beer shall be offered in bottles, not cans, so that no brew is jeopardized with the taste of metal.”
However there is some controversial new developments in the beer community that would point out that cans could just tip the scales the other way:
"The evolution of the can is a fascinating one. As recently as the 1930′s, tin cans could not hold beer without exploding. And then came the advent of the liner. Initially made of vinyl (and fancy polymers today), they sealed the can, and prevented all liquid contact with the metal. Over the years, the technology has improved ten-fold and the fear of tainting our precious bevies with metal has become irrational. In fact, its seeming more and more like the can is the perfect vessel for beer."
"espousing the advantages of the can: better protection from light and air, easier storage and transport, as well as a quicker cooling time for your tailgate fiestas…"
The bottle does have one advantage which I do think will sway any beer-drinker according to Jim Attacap:
"One thing that is without dispute is beer temperature. Once you open the can of
beer the container has trouble keeping the liquid cold. Because of the nature of
glass, beer in bottles stays cold longer even after it’s open."
He has written a very interesting article and it is well worth a read.
There are quite a bit of write-ups on this topic, but unfortunately they are all painfully repetitive. Here's a summary from Jim's little article:
"So if you are someone who believes in recycling, likes your beer cold, and
believes glass improves the flavor then you want to drink bottled beer. If you are
someone for whom convenience is more important and who drinks beer at any
temperature, then canned beer is the solution for you. If you’re like most people,
you drink canned beer and bottle beer depending on the occasion. You might
take canned beer when you tailgate and drink bottled beer at home. It’s a win-
win situation for everybody."
And most importantly to solve the debate:
"So having said all of this should you buy your beer in a glass or can? The official position of BeerNeus is that a bad beer is a bad beer whether it's in a glass or can. And a good beer is good no matter what way you package it."
There you have it. Nice and simple and cool. Just like any beer should be.
Cheers,
WB
APOLOGIES!
Hey guys,
just wanted to apologize for the lack of blogging activity recently.
I am busy with some hectic career changes at the moment and it is consuming my time like a fat redneck at christmas dinner!
I'll try put something up a bit later about some experiences over the weekend and the last two days.
WB
just wanted to apologize for the lack of blogging activity recently.
I am busy with some hectic career changes at the moment and it is consuming my time like a fat redneck at christmas dinner!
I'll try put something up a bit later about some experiences over the weekend and the last two days.
WB
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)