INTERESTING TIMES

 When you focus on being normal, you exclude the possibility of being extraordinary.

Here's the photographer's story (and more images):
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/turning-yoga-into-art/

Wow.

A new study shows that testosterone is more increased after the match in the winners. The sample was an "elite collegiate wrestling team". So both winners and losers experience an increase, it's just a bigger increase in the winners. The article refers to an acute testosterone response that I know nothing about, but I have ideas. Cortisol and epinephrine did not significantly differ between winners and losers.

This effect of winning reminds me of a report I heard on NPR this morning about Obama's new slogan: Win the Future. I agree, as they said, that "it's got teeth". There's a lot of unpacking to do in that slogan. And collectively, we may increase our testosterone yet.

SOURCES

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Winners-have-higher-testosterone-levels/articleshow/7366420.cms

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/29/133311906/will-win-the-future-be-a-winner-for-obama

DrWelch txs low T if pt has sx and levels below 3000
( notes from Miller's 2010 pharm class )

Nice article here on John Bachar, the climber who died last month. He started climbing at age 14, in Yosemite, in 1952. On the day of his death he was free soloing--climbing without a rope--and fell. He often climbed without backup. I like to contemplate the kind of skill and confidence that it takes to free solo. Either skill or confidence alone is not enough. Even with both, death is one tiny mistake away.

A friend of mine lectured me the other day on the history of the Olympics. The first games were somewhere around 3,000 years ago, and lasted for 5 days. They were intended to keep the warriors fit and on their game in times of peace. She said that men competed naked and covered in olive oil in celebration of the human body. She said that they were expected to have sex with the other men, and it sounded as if that was even part of the show. They were to forsake other men when they were married. She also said that virgin females were banned from attending the event, and great efforts were made to keep the proceedings secret from them. Only married women were permitted to attend. I suppose because married women already know something about the animal nature of men, but virgins could be put off. This all makes some sense, but I wonder why I hadn't heard it before. Have you heard about this? I found nothing on the net to corroborate her claims. I did find one site that said the Olympic officials decided to require an athlete's aids also arrive naked, after one young man's mother managed to sneak in to assist him.
( scattered notes )