The American Dream

It started with dreams of a bigger world, explorers seeking land and new territories for their mother countries. It was soon followed by a brave little group of puritans seeking religious freedom to live and worship God in their own way. Then there was the dream of Independence and fighting for freedom from our past, from a world of magistrates and strings attached. Pretty soon there was the dream of claiming land- escaping an ancestry of the feudal system- dreams of owning and keeping and tilling your own land and reaping whatever your could sow- hard work that earned something you could keep- the beginning of capitalism and endless opportunities. There were dreams of gold and dreams of unregulated innovation and development. There were dreams to break away from the molds of the past in a land of equal opportunity, dreams of a clean slate and building a new name for your family and posterity. The American dream continued to grow, making education and jobs available to all. Pretty soon the expansion of a transcontinental railroad started to connect all of the dots across the country and dreams spread in every direction. A few decades later the American dream was the picturesque modest home, nicely groomed yard an automobile and a happy family. And over the next few decades something happened- the American Dream got “Biggie Sized.” It turned into a five bedroom home, a three car garage, a couple of cars and a boat, a pool, and a house full of electronics and toys and home theaters and entertainment centers and closets full of clothes and more clothes and pantries and cupboards and two refrigerators full of food, and basements full of “stuff”. And that is just the tangible- there are also the memberships and fine dining, vacations and second homes and trust funds and private schools. I suppose part of the American dream is to “dream the impossible dream”- to think bigger and better than the current state- it is to continue seeking more. But sometimes I wonder- do we forget to look back and appreciate all of the dreams that have already been accomplished, the dreams achieved by those before us that we too easily take for granted. Are we living the American Dream but still asking for more? Will we ever be satisfied or is that the bittersweet of endless potential? Do we lose touch with reality- asking for more, frivolous living built on debt turning our American Dream into a bunch a mini- Versailles? The dreams and potential are still there and endless- the dreams of a start-ups or running your own company, the dream of developing new software, new energy or a medical cure. American dreams have come in many shapes and sizes. It’s the beautiful melting pot of dreams that makes so many of them come true. Dreams can be large or small, but it is a common thread that we all share. Some have been fooled by empty dreams and others have dreamed bigger than they could ever be. Dreams have been dreamt and lived. We share the feeling of disappointment of failed dreams and the joy of dreams come true-- but the opportunity that we have to dream it is the American dream.

Nobody can sleep for you...

You can pay people to cook for you, to clean for you and do all of your shopping for you- But nobody can sleep for you....

Your mother wiped your bottom for you, your nose for you and she washed all of your clothes for you- But she never could sleep for you...

Nobody can really eat for you but they can turn your meals into quick pills, drinks and bars for you- But they cannot give you sleep...

They can give you supplements that stimulate being awake for you- But this is still not sleeping for you....

Your secretary can fax for you, tax for you and write letters and pay bills for you- But she cannot sleep for you....

You can hire a nanny to raise your children for you or a dog walker to walk your dog for you- But there are no substitute sleepers...

Your friends may have dumped your girlfriend for you, lied for you and maybe did you homework for you- But they couldn’t sleep for you...

The internet can find dates for you, find answers and interests for you, tweet for you and poke for you- But it cannot sleep for you...

Sleep requires time, it’s priceless and valuable and nobody is exempt, it’s a fact of life that we all need to plug in and recharge...

Sleep requires you and only you to take care of yourself and sleep- because nobody can do it for you...

Hiccups

Have you tried this? Drinking upside down, through a paper towel, a spoonful of sugar, holding your breath or somebody jumping out to scare you? Hiccups are the strangest thing...

­­­The average hiccup spell can last from a few minutes to a few hours, but some people suffer from extended episodes that last days, months or even years. Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are called persistent hiccups, and if they've lasted more than a month, you have intractable hiccups. Both types can cause serious health problems and, in some cases, even death. For many of us, hiccups begin in the womb. The recapitulation theory proposes that fetuses use hiccups in respiration ­before their ­lungs are fully developed. This may help explain why premature infants spend up to 2.5 percent of their time hiccuping -- more than full-term babies. As we get older, bouts of hiccups decrease. The most likely time to hiccup is in the evening. Women can hiccup more during the first two weeks of their menstrual cycle, so pregnant women tend to hiccup far less than their nonpregnant counterparts do.

We know what happens during a hiccup. During normal breathing, we take in air from the mouth and nose, and it flows through the pharynx, past the glottis and into the larynx and trachea, ending in the lungs. The diaphragm, a large muscle between the chest and abdomen, aids this airflow. It moves down when we inhale, and then up when we exhale. The phrenic nerves control the movement and sensation of the diaphragm. Any irritation to these nerves induces a spasm of the diaphragm. This spasm causes a person to take a short, quick breath that is then interrupted by the closing of the epiglottis (a flap that protects the glottis, the space between the vocal cords). The sudden closing creates the sound we all know as a hiccup.
So, hiccups are the result of diaphragm spasms. But what causes the irritation that leads to the spasm? There are only a few culprits for common hiccups, which usually disappear within a few minutes. One of the main irritants is a full stomach -- a result of swallowing too much food or air. A distended stomach pushes against the phrenic nerves of the diaphragm, increasing the possibility of irritation and, therefore, hiccups. A full stomach of spicy food can do double damage -- hot foods can be especially irritating to those nerves. As any smoker on a bender can tell you, excess smoking and drinking alcohol can also cause hiccups. A rapid temperature change outside or inside your stomach, from a cold night or a hot beverage, can be irritating enough to induce hiccups. Finally, emotions -- shock, excitement and stress -- can also trigger a hiccup fit.

Persistent and intractable hiccups can have more serious causes. There are hundreds, from hysteria to heart attacks, but most fit into one of five categories: central nervous system problems, metabolic problems, nerve irritation, anesthesia or surgery, and mental health issues. Because these causes are so varied and potentially serious, anyone suffering from hiccups for more than 48 hours should head straight to a doctor.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/

The Glass

Is it half empty or half full? We have all probably been asked this question about how we see the glass? They say it’s a test to find out if you are an optimist or a pessimist. Sometimes I think it might just depend on how “thirsty” you are? How bad you want something, how long you have been waiting, if you ever had it and now it’s gone or perhaps you have always been in want. I admire those people who really appreciate their lot in life, those who are content with the circumstances that they were given. There are always two ways to see something, usually more, so we do have a choice. It’s cliché but true that you can’t always choose what happens to you but you can choose how to react and what actions will follow.