Alpha waves, Beta waves, Theta waves, Delta waves, ... come on now, you have got to be kidding. Brain waves electrically generated and discharged, when these eyes are closed while synchronously timed to one of those rhythms of life. Who came up with these names anyway? For those who might need a little help with finding a copy of the Greek Alphabet to help understand all the words, here is the best copy found among my collections.
beta
Not much at all going on during this biological function called sleep. There must be something working that keeps the motor still running? Vegetative activities of some sort must operate constantly to provide the gasoline? Let's see now, long words and, ... even longer words ... seem to come into the vocabulary of the topic. Ready ... here is one ... "electroencephalogram" or simply put an EEG! A gadget used to identify two different types of sleep! Old Guyton on page 659 states ... "During each night a person goes through stages of two different types of sleep that alternate with each other." Say what! Not one, but two types! "Brain Waves" you describe are involved? What in the world!
Childhood days in the 1950s to early 1960s you were often given helps to a good night sleep. Sheep jumping over a fence was not a usual activity seen around my Bluegrass area of Winchester, KY. You were more likely to see horses jumping over a fence but, not sheep. Somehow, no one caught on to this visual aid and, "counting sheep" seemed to be the more common advice. Anyhow, my earliest childhood sleep aid was my nightly prayer said with Mom kneeling against the side of my lower bunk bed. Our hands were place in that correct "prayer position" ... eyes closed ...side to side ... we said slowly:
"Now I lay me down to sleep"
"I pray the Lord my soul to keep"
"If I die before I wake"
"I pray the Lord my soul to take." Amen!
Lots more of this innate, biological function (cycle) (rhythm) known to all, is happening among my "now a days". Say what? Can you believe it? My Guyton medical school "Physiology" text (front cover shown) states on page 659,
"Sleep is defined as unconsciousness from which the person can be aroused by sensory or other stimuli."
Adjusting the habits of daily living can be challenging. Change this habit... change that habit ... which way might be the best to proceed? Let's see now, something about "Old Dogs" and "New Tricks" or, some sort of thing? No more sitting in my chair with heavy books on the leg. Lots more up and at-um. Eat more! Drink more fluids! Take new pills twice a day! Change ways of lifting and, sitting and standing. Anyone with an old "Top Hat" to pull out a "Rabbit"? Anyhow, my quote of this day in July from a very wise man-
"For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:"
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Life events have a way of directing us down various roads less traveled. As previously posted [Nov. 9, 2025] my usual "Life, Liberty, ... and ..." gave new roads called a ... "PE" ... = pulmonary embolism! Certainly, a road most folks would choose not to travel. Anyhow, the last 4 -6 weeks has been my road less traveled by many! Added to MS (multiple sclerosis) and ME (that's me) [see post July 11, 2018] is now the big ... "PE". The last couple of months in hospitals brought many such roads less traveled. Can you believe it? Yet, here we go a blogging again! Let's get going!
Having recently, rediscovered, a quote written some years past, in one of my research notebooks (RN#127) some 50+ years ago, thought it would be still valuable for this May. So, here goes ...
"History is the voice of the past, teaching by the follies, as well as by the wisdom, of our forefathers. The rocks and quick-sands are as essential in a chart as the safe harbor".
Did not note the author or source of this quote. Does anyone recognize the source? Please help give the credit if you would happen to know in the comment section of this post. Good to know where all those "quick-sands" might be located!
Circling the world in my thoughts about my Jones surname ancestors has been a focus of many a days climbing out a host of family tree branches. Out this branch ... out that branch ... fall out a few times ... but, up and at 'um! Anyway, what to do with all these discoveries? A "thought pad" ... hum ... somewhere to keep that information for any future adventures. Since my earlies days of tree climbing [see post July 10, 2010] the following scan of a basic note pad (memory storage) is given to anyone who might need such a help. A "Think Tank Tumbler" my humor would call it. [see post "mentalis mastication" of October 3rd, 2025!] So here it is, staring with a clean, white copy paper, 24 lb. wt., 96 % white. Four columns and 12 rows drawn in order.
It can be used to jot down any note or reference in any order. It can be used as a date Calander for any year in history with a 12 month duration, month by month. (top to bottom) with year listed on top! Don't know how well it will copy but, you can design your own think pad. Keep smiling until then. The Jones Genealogist, April 18, 2026.
P.S. Here is an example how the pad was actually used. (Even with color markers!)
Log cabins were not far out of the memory of my immediate ancestors. Granny Ewen (maidan name Morton) would often remind "us grandkids", that she grew up in a log cabin. This would often come after our 'high horses' got a bit too galloping about. Anyhow, here is a picture of her of her very own growing-up log cabin taken around 1950.
One day just past her 90th year, it came to me to ask Granny what she thought was the most amazing event she had observed among her years. Her immediate response was "...the lightbulb." Say what! Never did I ever think about the lightbulb! Always had one, always been one ... flip a switch and there it was. Of course, Thomas Alva Edison would certainly have his own thoughts. Well, here is a picture of light before the lightbulb that now sits on my mantel today. The coal-oil lamp (Kerosene) that was used to help light the way in this old Morton cabin.
P.S. The Mortan family story can be found in "The History and Genealogy of the Morton Families of Powel County, Kentucky", compiled and written by Lynn Douglas Morton, 1993. The Morton's had a few things to say about that "Bluegrass Music". See post of November 3, 2011, titled Pickin' and Grinnin'.
A Roman philosopher gave his thoughts some years past ... "A great man can come from a cabin."
Seneca 4 B.C. - 65 A.D.
Well, here is a cabin of such a great man taken at his birthplace, Hodgenville, KY (Larue Co.) around 1964 by me, in the early days of my cabin searching.
The learning curve of my elementary education at Hickman Street School, Winchester, KY, had its ups and downs. [middle 1950s - middle 1960s] Defining words and their correct meaning was one challenge that frequently blocked intended communication. Anyhow, here is an example of a fourth grade English class exercise that was often told among the learning folks of the days.
An English teacher in her definition exercises class, ask one bright Bluegrass youth, to define two words. Then, they were to use these words in an appropriate sentence. The words were "DEFENCE" and "DETAIL". Now, after a few seconds of deep thought ... the reply ...
"De'head went over De'fence before De'tail.
For most folks, head lice and ticks were not a frequent topic of conversations during one's social gatherings. That is, unless you taught clinical parasitology! Many, many times such issues were discussed during my 20 plus years of educating individuals in various settings. Let's see now, medical schools (2nd year microbiology), residency programs, hospitals, emergency rooms, graduate schools and, oh yes ... back yard barbeques, neighborhood picnics, church parking lots, etc. you get the picture. Anyhow, here is a scan from my teaching collections.
"You see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself." Petronius [d. 66 A.D.]
P.S. Woodcut from my RN # 23. Quote from my Jenney's FIRST YEAR LATIN, p. 229. [pub. 1959]
Caius Petronius (d. 66 A.D.) described Elegantiae Arbiter ! Committed suicide by order Nero.
Hardly a day expires among the many platforms of our American communication system, then one does not hear the following opinion [view, judgment, appraisal, conviction, sentiment or belief] ...
"It's NOT Constitutional."
Hum ... my mentalis mastication [see post of October 3rd, 2025] process finally responds ... well,
"What IS Constitutional?"
There must be some interesting stories around this Constitutional thing declared to be in effect July 2, 1788! Wow, lots of stories here. My reference (scan of cover is shown)
So here goes ... as time and my fingers typing permit ... my goal would be to give some information regarding what is Constitutional! Using the comment sections which follows, the "Articles" and "Sections" of at least the beginning of each article will be identified.
Well, enough for this day. Here is the first statement.
"We The People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America."
P.S. Please note that this is actually how "defence" is spelled in 1788!
How do you contemplate such a title? Hum, ... let's see.
Homo sapiens sapiens ... yes ...,
One of 8 billion or so other folks out there ... not much help,
Just trying to survive on most days ... for many a reality ... well,
to the basics of my medical education (got to blame something) ...
We are the results of a genetic blueprint (genotype) initiated at the union of two unique cells called gametes. A single cell each from two different, individual agents! How about that. Simple enough ... yes? Well, some assembly required along the way.
A favorite author (now-a-days) writes some 1/2 century ago, in his text (2nd edition, 1970) what could be considered a foundational basis to our existence. He writes, italics all mine:
"We now know" ... [ written on page 14 of his 2nd chapter titled A mathematical description of the universe - imagine that! ] ... "that any object, however complex" ... [ object defined p. 784 Webster = something that is or capable of being seen, touched, or otherwise sensed ] ... "can be visualized as a sufficiently complicated structure" ... (whew) ... "built out of atoms," ... "and that the atom itself is a structure composed" ... (almost there) ... "of three fundamental particles, electrons, protons, and neutrons."
What a deal! Written some 57 years ago. What do we now know?
Atkins, K.R., Physics Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., N.Y., 1970.
A visual aid to those like me, a visual learner ... scanned from a text a few years before.
Dull, C.E., Metcalfe, H.C., Williams, J.E., Modern Physics, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, N.Y. 1964.
Scan taken from page 158. This text first published 1955. My high school physics book.
Had to stop my reading for the day, caught by this quote it was. A question of mastery it was between two fellows from history. One named Hannibal and, the other fellow named Scipio. Both had the ambition of conquerors and, their contests were called The First Punic Wars (264 - 241 B.C.). Interesting reading you might say for the end of the week. But hey, conquerors one day, merchants the next, you know that commercial mentality! Anyway, here is the quote taken from Williams, The Historians' History Of The World -
"It is notorious that the love of power grows with its acquisition."
From chapter X, volume 5, page 215. Not sure the names of the writers of this chapter, which was a group process written around 1904.
