Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Morality for Physicians.



— The sick man is a parasite of society. In a certain state it is indecent to live longer. To go on vegetating in cowardly dependence on physicians and machinations, after the meaning of life, the right to life, has been lost, that ought to prompt a profound contempt in society. The physicians, in turn, would have to be the mediators of this contempt — not prescriptions, but every day a new dose of nausea with their patients. To create a new responsibility, that of the physician, for all cases in which the highest interest of life, of ascending life, demands the most inconsiderate pushing down and aside of degenerating life — for example, for the right of procreation, for the right to be born, for the right to live.
To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. Death freely chosen, death at the right time, brightly and cheerfully accomplished amid children and witnesses: then a real farewell is still possible, as the one who is taking leave is still there; also a real estimate of what one has achieved and what one has wished, drawing the sum of one's life — all in opposition to the wretched and revolting comedy that Christianity has made of the hour of death. One should never forget that Christianity has exploited the weakness of the dying for a rape of the conscience; and the manner of death itself, for value judgments about man and the past.
Here it is important to defy all the cowardices of prejudice and to establish, above all, the real, that is, the physiological, appreciation of so-called natural death — which is in the end also "unnatural," a kind of suicide. One never perishes through anybody but oneself. But usually it is death under the most contemptible conditions, an unfree death, death not at the right time, a coward's death. From love of life, one should desire a different death: free, conscious, without accident, without ambush.

From: Twighlight of the Idols
By: FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
Translated by Walter Kaufmann and R.J. Hollingdale

Something to think about.... exit strategies, or is that reboot strategies?

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Ouboros




It’s been a while since I wrote about Eternal Recurrence yet I think about it daily. Although every now and again I imagine death and non-existence and a cold chill runs down my back the thought of the Eternal Recurrence returns me to the reality of existence. Being dead will be no worse than being asleep. It will actually be much better, in fact it wont even be an experience so those anticipating a nice long rest will be disappointed although nine months of being in the womb again will be something to look forward to. For at the very instant that you pass away almost endless eons will come to pass and voila you will come into existence again as the Universe completes its full cycle. Instead of imagining the endless days of being dead imagine the glorious cycles of exploding galaxies and extinguishing suns all taking place during the blink of an eye, indeed considerably less time than that. In death there is no sense of the passing of time. Then you are in the womb again – this is our heaven and our reward. Death doesn’t bring coldness, instead it brings warmth and safety.

How can this be? some may ask. How can this not be? I retort. There is no starting or ending and eternity cannot be linear. Behold the great serpent circle of time.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Told You So Didn't I?

Sometimes I think this blog is just an unrestrained attack on fat people and that I probably should get back to writing about the longevity project. But I'm trying to help fat people, really. It's absolutely essential to approach old age with the lightest, strongest body you can and it will get harder and harder to achieve this as the years pass by.

I often have arguments with people about the benefits of exercise in relation to weight control. Too many people think that exercise is an effective strategy for weight loss and it's not and a new study out confirms this:

"Evidence is beginning to accumulate that dietary intake may be more important than energy expenditure level," Luke said. "Weight loss is not likely to happen without dietary restraint."

"Decreased physical activity may not be the primary driver of the obesity epidemic," said Loyola nutritionist Amy Luke, a member of the study team.


Exercise is not even a good strategy for weight maintenance for the middle aged and above person. Dietary restriction is absolutely essential to maintain a low weight and optimum health when the body is aging and slowing down.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Embrace the Recession



Americans may reduce the amount they spend on food in response to a sour economy but some experts fear they may pick up weight in the process.

The spectre of "recession pounds" is a concern weighing on health professionals, who point to numerous studies linking obesity and unhealthy eating habits to low incomes.

They fear that as people cut food spending they will cut back on healthy but relatively expensive items such as fresh fish, fruit, vegetables and whole grains, in favour of cheaper options high in sugar and saturated fats.
Link

Obesity these days is often a sign of poverty in Western societies. I was watching a news item the other day showing a lady complaining that she had to miss a meal in order to feed her kids and she was morbidly obese. Many so-called poverty stricken people these days could easily have gotten jobs in circuses as grossly fat sideshow freaks during the depression era.

That fact that so many of the poor are obese is quite interesting. It means that you should be able to live on very little. High caloric food such as bread and sugar can soon make you fat at very little cost yet what if you ate these foods but in moderation? You should be able to live at very little expense. I currently spend a lot on high quality foods such as nuts, meat, wine, chocolate and very expensive fruit yet if I lived on a little rice, eggs, bread, seasonal vegetables and canned beans I reckon I could live on about three dollars a day. It should be possible to get all the nutrients you need by buying produce in season and taking advantage of supermarket specials and most importantly eating in moderation. You could buy pigs heads which I saw for two dollars each the other day as well as old laying hens that can be used to make hearty soups. Big batches could be made and frozen for later use.

Couple this with doing more exercise such as walking and cycling to get places and you should get through the recession in better physical shape than you would have in more prosperous times.

Friday, January 02, 2009

Theories




Readers may have noticed that I am not entirely consistent with my theories. Earlier I shun breakfast yet later I admit to eating a breakfast of fried tomatoes and sardines. I also claim that vegetables are largely poisonous yet admit to eating the tomato, a relative of the deadly nightshade. I was an advocate of intense exercise yet now urge caution and emphasise protecting and preserving the body over and above gaining strength and endurance. I’m also not so sure about eating too much animal fat especially dairy fat and have a feeling that it could be fattening.

What can I say? This blog is really documenting a journey and theories and practices will change according to the circumstances encountered.

I think there is a lot of truth in what an old Jew of Galacia once said:

When someone is honestly 55% right, that’s very good and there’s no use wrangling. And if someone is 60% right, it’s wonderful, it’s great luck, and let him thank God. But what’s to be said about 75% right? Wise people say this is suspicious. Well, and what about 100% right? Whoever say he’s 100% right is a fanatic, a thug, and the worst kind of rascal.