Miscellaneous

While reading the Chicago Tribune (digital version) this morning I came across a tool of immeasurable uses. A random Shakespearean insult generator! The website is HERE , enjoy!

During a recent doctors visit to explore migraine treatments my doctor examined my throat and exclaimed in astonishment “holy crap you have giant tonsils!” She asked me “Do you snore?” LOL! Do I snore? Is the Pope Catholic?! Like a bear, I proclaimed. She hypothesized that lack of sleep can lead to health problems, in my case it may be causing migraines. I was sent to a sleep lab, and the results were less than desirable. I had 80 apnea events that night, in other words while sleeping I stopped breathing 80 times. Another concerning result of the test was that my oxygen saturation dropped to 80, oxygen saturation should normally be above 96. So, in a nutshell I was not sleeping, and I was doing it very well! The sleep lab wanted to commit be to a life of a c-pap machine, the Darth Vader oxygen sleeping mask. I had heard some interesting stories about c-pap machines, and I wasn’t quite ready to submit myself to a life of sleeping with an apparatus. I consulted a great ENT (Dr. Randall Swenson) regarding alternatives to the c-pap. There were multiple things causing the sleep apnea. My giant tonsils were the “biggest” cause, but I still had a severely collapsed nasal septum (thanks Tom and Jon!), and year round rhinitis (swelling of the sinus tissues). So Dr. Swenson determined the best treatment would be to remove my tonsils, trim my uvula, repair my nasal septum (correctly this time), and trim the turbinates in my sinuses, all at the same time. I was advised repeatedly that tonsillectomies in adult males are very difficult, but I thought I was tough and could handle it. On July 14th Dr. Swenson performed all four procedures successfully. Six weeks later things are great, I can breath better than I can ever remember being able breath. But it really was one of the worst experiences of my life. The physical aspect of the recovery was very challenging, but I think the psychological aspect was the worst part. A week into the recovery my mental state was definitely questionable. I am still realizing all the benefits, these x-rays will tell the story better than I can. The first is my airway before the surgery, the second is my airway after the surgery. The difference is visibly noticeable! Hopefully there will be no long term negative effects. DOH!

Henry served us a creepy breakfast this morning, grapes with a side of Black Widow! He calmly walked in my bedroom and informed me that their was a creepy spider in the grape bowl in the fridge. I thought it was going to be one of the little transparent green house spiders. I was shocked to find the picture below. We are lucky Henry didn’t reach for a handful of grapes and get handful ouch!

I have been asked a couple times about my online and computing moniker, fractil. Don’t confuse it with the mathmatical fractal, whose basic definition is fragmented, or a reduced portion of a whole. Now that I am thinking about it, that definition probably suits me better! Anyway, fractil is an acronym for the following:
FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) & Automatic Cuer Technology Insertion into LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Inrared for Night).
FLIRs are often used in naval vessels, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and armored fighting vehicles. In warfare, they have three large advantages. First, the imager itself is nearly impossible for the enemy to detect, as it detects energy that’s already there, and doesn’t have to send out any energy of its own. Second, it sees heat, which is hard to camouflage. Thirdly, FLIR systems can see through smoke, fog, haze, and other atmospheric obscurants better than a visible light camera can.
LANTIRN is a system for use on the premier fighter aircraft. LANTIRN provides high-speed penetration and precision attack on tactical targets at night, at low altitudes, and in adverse weather. The navigation pod also contains a terrain-following radar and a fixed infrared sensor, which provides a visual cue and input to the aircraft’s flight control system, enabling it to maintain a pre-selected altitude above the terrain and avoid obstacles. This sensor displays an infrared image of the terrain in front of the aircraft, to the pilot, on a heads up display. The navigation pod enables the pilot to fly along the general contour of the terrain at high speed, using mountains, valleys and the cover of darkness to avoid detection. I’m a total geek!

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

I can finally fulfill my dreams of becoming a Storm Trooper! There is an actual garrison of troopers, and other Star Wars characters called the 501st Legion. They are the troops that marched in this years Rose Parade with George Lucas. Anybody can join the ranks, you can even choose your character, you just have to own a professional grade uniform and a desire to “live” the world of Star Wars. My prayers have been answered!