Recent research revives the Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR) theory, suggesting that consciousness may be a quantum process within the brain’s microtubules. While the brain was thought too warm for quantum coherence, new experiments indicate it can support these processes, connecting our consciousness to the universe. This theory proposes that consciousness may function as a quantum wave, entangling our minds with the cosmos. Though speculative, these findings offer exciting potential for understanding the architecture of consciousness.
Looks like we might be in for some more solar activity in the coming weeks. That sunspot that gave us the last blast of radiation (AR3311), charging up the atmosphere with a pretty light display and filling our social feeds with aurora madness, is coming around for another pass. And there is no indication of any decline in solae activity. AR3311 has continued to eject planet-sized globs of coronal mass randomly as it spins around the far side of the Sun.
Recent experiments have suggested that the brain may be capable of maintaining quantum coherence, a state necessary for consciousness to exist as a quantum wave that connects with the universe. This challenges the long-held belief that the brain’s warm and wet environment would prevent such quantum processes from occurring.
One study led by physicist Jack Tuszynski demonstrated that microtubules in brain cells could maintain quantum coherence for a few nanoseconds, which is sufficient for biological functions. These findings suggest that consciousness could exist as a quantum wave interacting with the rest of the universe, supporting theories like Orch OR proposed by Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff.
Every day, brands like Apple and Nike manage to stand out in a sea of advertisements, engaging not just our senses but our brains at a deeper, cognitive level. This isn’t magic—it’s science, specifically neuromarketing.
Neuromarketing merges neuroscience with marketing to understand how consumers’ brains react to marketing stimuli. This approach helps brands like Apple and Nike design campaigns that resonate on a neurological level.
Branding Agencies like Remixed specialize in leveraging neuromarketing techniques to craft marketing strategies that resonate deeply and create lasting brand loyalty. Employing a wide range of different tactics, from graphic design and web development to broadcast and interactive campaigns, ensures a consistent and compelling brand presence across all media.
By stimulating specific brain areas related to emotions and decision-making, neuromarketing allows for more effective and persuasive marketing strategies.
The liver is one of the most vital organs in the human body, responsible for regulating over 500 bodily functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and the production of chemicals necessary for digestion. Remarkably, the liver has the ability to regenerate itself, making it possible to recover from damage if detected early and managed properly. However, when the liver fails due to extensive disease or injury, the regenerative capabilities can be overwhelmed, and the only remaining solution often becomes a transplant. Understanding the primary causes of liver disease is essential not only for prevention but also for ensuring early intervention and treatment. Here, we explore the top five causes of liver disease to highlight the risks and emphasize the importance of liver health.
1. Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis, which is severe scarring of the liver tissue.
2. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Linked to obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol, NAFLD occurs when fat accumulates in the liver in people who drink little to no alcohol.
3. Hepatitis Infections: Viruses like hepatitis B and C can cause chronic liver infections that may develop into cirrhosis and liver cancer if not properly managed.
4. Toxins and Drugs: Overdosing on certain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), exposure to toxins, and abuse of certain drugs can cause immediate liver damage or deteriorate liver health over time.
5. Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like autoimmune hepatitis, where the immune system attacks liver cells, can lead to inflammation and chronic liver disease.
Conditions like autoimmune hepatitis, where the immune system attacks liver cells, can lead to inflammation and chronic liver disease.
A lot of people have asked, and since I have done some amount of personal research on this here’s what I’ve learned about the various monoclonal antibody treatments.
Due to a close-contact Covid exposure before Christmas, my transplant team recommended I get a monoclonal treatment. They sent me to the Florida State-run free monoclonal infusion website and I made an appointment and went last Wednesday and got the Regen-Cov infusion.
Currently in the US (as of 1/5/2022), there are four different approved monoclonal antibody infusions:
Regeneron – REGEN-COV (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) – 4 injections, each arm and 2 in stomach
Eli Lily – (Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab) – Administered via IV.
GlaxoSmithKlein – (Sotrovimab) – Administered via IV
As of last week, Florida was only distributing Regeneron and the Eli Lily brands. The GSK one is the version that data points to being the most effective against Omicron, but you can’t just assume you know which variant you have or been exposed to. Unless you’re doing some fancy test that the rest of us don’t have access to, the particular flavor of Covid anyone has is an unknown. While Omicron is the most common out there at the moment, there is still plenty of Delta around.
The AstraZeneca one isn’t recommended for people who have Covid or been exposed, but as a preventative for immunocompromised people who for whatever reason can’t do vaccines.
Like I said, I got the Regeneron 4 shot injection. After the injections I waited in the waiting area for about 30 minutes for observation before I was told I could leave. I didn’t notice any side effects at all.
Does this legitimate law of physics, kept as a secret by the Russians for 10 years, prove that the entire planet Earth will eventually flip on its axis?
My cousin Dave and I email frequently. Usually sending each other random Seinfeld trivia questions, discussing recent movies or television shows, or music. He was the first one to really introduce me to the Beatles when I was about 10. He put late-1970’s giant headphones on me and put on “Revolution 9” from the White Album and he and his brother went in the corner and giggled as my 10-year-old brain was exposed to an onslaught of the trippiest weirdest Beatles song ever recorded.
Dave hit me, rather out of the blue, with a somewhat serious question about my recent experience of getting a liver transplant and the months leading up to it. Here’s my response (please feel free to listen to Revolution 9 while you read…it’s a fairly good audio accompaniment to how I felt during the crazy of the last year.
Cousin Dave: “In all your dealings with the Liver situation John, What period was THE MOST painful of the entire ordeal so far?”
Physically painful? Definitely the first time trying to stand up out of bed post surgery. They made me do that on day 2. It took two nurses plus my sister Cara to get me on my feet. It HURT. My entire core, many of the muscles in my abdomen had been severed. After standing for a minute, I was spent. The post-surgery pain was significant and I was on pain medications for a couple weeks post-surgery.
Getting pumped with lots of stuff!
Pre-surgery the worst physical pain were the paracentesis/thoracentesis procedures, where they poked a needle into my abdomen or my upper back and sucked out extra fluid that had built up. Those were not fun and had many gallons of excess fluid drained over the course of many months.
But more than the physical pain, I’d say the metal pain was much more difficult. Dealing with the daily roller coaster of emotions of my mortality, dealing with the ups and downs of my health…one day I could be fine and then a few hours later be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. The frustration of feeling helpless and hopeless, that I couldn’t trust my own brain to tell me when I was not thinking clearly (I feel like I can empathize with people suffering with Alzheimer’s much more now) but mostly the burden of the fear and pain I knew my family and friends were going through. All of that weighed heavily and still does.
Cousin Dave: And also, What period was THE Most Joyful of the whole thing?
How how so many people reached out, even people I barely knew who would tell me how I had made an impression on them. Like one girl I was facebook friends with (who I honestly don’t remember meeting), told me that she met me in a bar and we started chatting and I mentioned I played piano. And she said she had always wanted to play but never learned and she regretted that. I told her that it’s never too late to learn. And apparently she got home and started taking lessons and thanked me. You never know how little things you do and say can affect other people’s lives.
Or another girl name Gabriella, again a Facebook acquaintance, who had read when I posted that I was afraid I was going to miss a show. I had tickets to see Patton Oswalt at the Hard Rock live but I was still in the hospital the morning of the show. Thanks to the hustle of a very caring and resourceful nurse, she wrangled all my doctors on the phone on a Saturday and was able to get me discharged, but I didn’t have a chance to post until after the show that I made it just in time. After I got home I had a message from Patton Oswalt himself in my inbox because Gabriella had messaged him a told him I was sick.
There were so many moments like that, like the Patton Oswalt video, friends sending me funny messages or videos, everyone coming to a dinner at my favorite restaurant…like the week before the Covid lockdown began…the many friends who visited me, brought me groceries or tasty home cooked meals.
And I cherish how much closer I have gotten with my family who were all there the whole time. I had really come to grips that this might be the end and so I began to cherish every moment and opportunity that I had with every friend and loved one I could. I made amends with many former friends, forged new ones, I found a newly optimistic outlook on life. I really feel like I almost got to experience my own funeral in many ways, and now I get a whole second chance at life.
Cousin Dave: Was that photo actually you at Doc’s\Transplant Place today?
Yes, that is a selfie I took in the waiting room of my transplant clinic this morning. Received all thumbs up from my doctor. Reduced more of my meds and it was my last visit with my transplant surgeon. Next visit I go back to my pre-transplant doctor.
