QUANTUM LEAPS IN SCIENCE

At various times this Blog has made reference to the "Institute of Noetic Science," or IONS, the organization founded by Dr. Edgar Mitchell who walked upon the moon with Alan Shepard on January 31, 1971, when the Apollo lifted from Cape Canaveral.

One of the great thinkers of our time Dr. Mitchell has studied the quantum hologram. In his paper, "Nature's Mind, The Quantum Hologram," he explains what happens as one visualizes and realizes we are all connected, as we (in silence) tune in to someone's energy field. Perhaps intuition figures in somewhere as we recall how small children, even babies often know through intuition and recognize the intent of others. Indeed, we are all connected and our instincts tell us a great deal.

Scroll down to my Blog of April 15th, called "Dream Healer." There I mention how helpful libraries are in requesting books from others in the system and let you read them over a period of three weeks. "Dream Healer" by Adam was one they ordered for me. I now find Bookland, one of our book stores here can order them in or one could phone 1-866-322-8209. Through research, each one of us can help build health in light of our present flu epidemic.

SPRING - WHAT HAPPENED TO IT

Now that the month of May is peeking around the corner, it seems to be telling us to leave the printed page, embrace the warmth of spring, and enjoy the wonderful outdoors. Animals have been stirring from their winter's sleep and the stout little bodies of the busy marmots are clipping the lawns outside my window. They seem to be telling us that after dining on dried food all winter there is nothing better than a fresh green salad for breakfast.

The three way light bulb by my desk light just flashed off with a bang - another hint to take care of what is waiting outdoors. Come join me. My postings will be sporadic for awhile.

AVOID THE FLU

"The first wealth is health," said Ralph Waldo Emerson, U.S. lecturer, philosopher and poet who lived from l803-1882, a graduate of Harvard in 1821. His essays are memorable for the many epigrams they contain. His first book "Nature" was published in 1836. Maintaining good health has been the subject on every mind recently, ever since the first person died from the swine flu in Mexico on April 2nd, 2009. This is the same type of flu that took so many lives after World War I.

A call-in show on the CBC radio today gave advice on what doctors are recommending to avoid coming down with this flu - google also shows the areas of the world where most of the outbreaks are located. No vaccine is available yet. Washing the hands often, taking precautions and avoiding trips to Mexico if possible, were the main items mentioned. I tried to call CBC but there were too many calls ahead of mine. My planned question was "Does the type of food we consume relate to helping to avoid this flu?"

It appears that maintaining an alkaline body chemistry helps avoid the flu and colds along with many other diseases including cancer. When the drinking water is not alkaline, adding a few drops of lemon juice to a glass of water is a good starter. A pharmacy or a health store sell the strips available for testing the water, hopefully the pH can be kept above seven. A few drops of honey is okay to add to a lemon drink unless one is diabetic and the doctor forbids all sweets. Honey is the most alkaline of the sweets. Three quarters of the food consumed should be fruits and vegetables (green vegetables as much as possible), according to registered dietitcian. M.S. Cook, and the other twenty five percent is for the meats and other proteins. I have the book, "The Ultimate pH Solution" by M.S. Cook, DNM, DAC, CNC, and it gives many other details as well. If there is a better book, perhaps one authored by another registered dietitian, Simone Gabbay, on this subject. For further information, the toll free number is: l-866-322-8209. The local library is always very helpful. I tried to reach the Brita filter people, the filter that I presently use, to ask if their filter helps keep the water alkaline but their office was closed until the next work day, l-800-387-6940.

GRANDKID'S GAZETTE

The renewal at Easter each year is resurrected in the minds, hearts and dinner celebrations of families everywhere. We've welcomed the crocus and some of the early birds with the promise of bees and butterflies to come for their visits to all the flowers for a delayed spring this year.

Celebrations at our grandson's home saw his lovely wife and homemaker busy in the kitchen and together with Luke's parents from St. George, Grandma Stewart and GiGi we enjoyed a sumptuous repast. Their children, all under six years of age entertained us with a circular dance after dinner. It began in the kitchen, and gained speed in a crescendo of delight. Then some of us went downstairs to the play room. The three children worked individually arranging blocks to fit together in suitable patterns. The eighteen month old seemed to be the "tour guide," pointing and identifying each object with thought patterns. I think she still has hopes that we older ones will get more familiar with "BTP" language (Baby Talk Patterns). Three months before when they were visiting at my home she heard Daddy say "Time to go everyone," as he outlined some of my computer icons. Mommie and GiGi were standing in the living room finishing a chat and the two older girls were quickly placing all the teddy bears under a blanket for their naps. "Actions speak louder than words," little Miss M must have thought as she raced to the exit door and came back holding high her small pair of boots. We all got the message.

I had earlier watched the older ones playing the game Wii at Grandparents Silver Star place last year. This year they seem more interested in working with their hands, creating patterns with blocks. Mommie watched with interest but let them think out their own works of art as we continued to take note of the "tour guide" informing all with her tiny index finger. Let's hope that the funds many grandparents are placing in Registered Education Saving Plans (resp) for the their grandchildren's future university fees are being safely invested by our lending banks and security institutions. Lately we've been aware of some CEOs (chief executive officers) with extended palm, tiptoeing through a small exit door, clutching huge bonuses as their latest model cars spin away for the nearest freeway to a palm-clad sunny retirement spot while the workers (who had created their fancy wheels) pound at the large entrance door wondering where their jobs or retirement savings went.
Best of all good things for this year and the future years. GiGi

INCOME TAX DEADLINE

We're coming to that exciting time of the year to file our income tax. If mature age is allowed to give advice, here are a couple of hints. When I was born in the 1920s income tax had not yet been invented. But our efficient government representatives came to the rescue. A plan must be found to pay for World War 1, and there seemed to be no other way to "pay the piper" than inventing a new tax. After all our mother country was not the only one in trouble. No one has yet been able to explain just why that war was needed, perhaps someone can enlighten me. By the time I was ready to complete my chosen History-Journalism studies, another war was looming and my tuition funds had run out.

Now, back to my tax file. One T5 slip had two boxes, one indicating Canadian funds and on the same slip another box showed the interest in foreign currency - had the U.S. funds been factored into Canadian currency, I wondered. Time to call the income tax office, and by entering the star key after dialing, the first voice tells me, I may have less wait time. During the wait my cordless telephone gives a blast it's time to get a new battery for it. It's back to my land line and a pleasant mature tax lady who notices my age says "You're very brave."

Now on to the provincial tax form. A few years ago it was so simple when the provincial taxes requested a percentage of whatever the federal tax form showed. Dancing between work sheets that tried to stress me out, I called a friend who said she had put all her tax stuff in a plastic bag and taken it to the tax people who do it every day and are ready for any new challenges. "Put your stuff in a bag and meet me in the parking area in l5 minutes," Miss Mc commanded in that voice of assurance that a retired teacher has used so well to clear any problems during her years of teaching school. (By the way, remember the old days when teachers were treated with such awe and respect - after all they are the ones who turn us all into successful tax payers.) We still admire teachers now but in a more casual way. With tax information in hand, we head downtown and see the sign H&R Block. One of their representatives, a retired government office worker, looks through my file and within 20 minutes he's finished, and I pay $72.00 and leave with a relieved heart. I force Miss Mc to drive us to her favourite restaurant and insist on treating her to dinner - she wants to pay the tip so I agree or she might make me stay after school and write several pages that say "I will not talk in school." (I often spoke aloud in grade school and out of turn before anyone else raised a hand, my brother tells me, likely trying to impress everyone.) Oh yes, my final word of advice: After 65 years of filing tax forms, let the experts do it for you, instead of insisting on doing it yourself for another 20 years. Use this gift of time after retirement to do the creative things you longed to find time for during your 9 to 5 working years. Five more days and I'll go to the bank and pay the several thousand dollars I still owe to this wonderful country we are privileged to live in and enjoy.

PERSONAL CONTROL ENHANCES LONGEVITY

Focusing from external circumstances to internal factors, such as effort and intentions is a basic principle of the Edgar Cayce advice. This idea finds expression in today's concern about transforming "victimhood" to"empowerment," or, in the language of academic research, from "helplessness" to "self-efficacy." A recent study involving senior citizens and their sense of personal control over their lives points to the effect of this factor on longevity.

Close to 900 retired adults over 55 participated in this study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan explored the seniors' favoured roles in life, such as grandparent, spouse, friend, homemaker, provider, voluntary worker, church or club member. The participants determined which of their various roles were their favorite. They then evaluated that role for the degree of personal control they felt concerning the performance of that one.

The results of the study, reported in Psychology and Aging, showed that there was a definite relationship between the degree of personal control the participant felt in a favoured role and whether that person engaged in healthy or unhealthy behaviours and whether or not that person was alive six years later.

The participants who scored higher on role-specific personal control measures tended to adopt healthier behaviours and lived longer. On the other hand, the participants who scored lower on role-specific personal control measures were more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol and suffer from obesity; all risk factors for premature deaths.

DOLPHINS HAVE JOINED THE GROUP

According to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the bottlenose dolphins have become the second of the non-primates to pass the "mirror test". The researcher puts a mark on the dolphin near enough to the face to be seen in a mirror. Many other species of animals who have been marked for the test react by striking at the mirror as if it were an enemy, or else totally ignoring it. The dolphins examined the mirror, turning their body this way and that to get a better look. This behaviour is similar to that of chimps, gorillas, orangutans, and more recently the elephant, the only other animals to pass the test. Human infants are said to pass the test no later than two years of age.