I'm watching a documentary about Thomas Edison... WOW

[Anonymous]

oo I wonder if I can see it; if it's a rerun.

I've thought about this a bit, because my grandpa wired cities in Canada for electricity. And because my dad grew up with kerosene lamps.

Also because yes, I agree with you that the more you think about it, the more incredible it is that just over a century ago we were living so differently etc. Mostly because of my dad (who would be 100 this year if alive) I often contrast his world with ours.

However; there is a looming issue that comes with all that, and that is our ability to mess with our internal clocks (there are many clocks in our bodies, and they are set and re-set with light) is screwing us up in huge ways.

If you go to youtube you can watch a show called "Sleepless in America" which was created by National Geographic and the NIH. It aired in December (or early Jan) and goes through the vast amount of issues that contribute to or result from a lack of sleep. Less sleep is directly associated with cancer, diabetes, obesity, and a host of other diseases. Our culture is now so dependent on artificial light that it's a problem even to try and self-regulate, because you can't get your stuff all done during the window of natural light.

Anyways that show is fascinating and I recommend it, OP. And I'll try and figure out how to watch your recommendation! Thank you for the tip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oo I wonder if I can see it; if it's a rerun.

I've thought about this a bit, because my grandpa wired cities in Canada for electricity. And because my dad grew up with kerosene lamps.

Also because yes, I agree with you that the more you think about it, the more incredible it is that just over a century ago we were living so differently etc. Mostly because of my dad (who would be 100 this year if alive) I often contrast his world with ours.

However; there is a looming issue that comes with all that, and that is our ability to mess with our internal clocks (there are many clocks in our bodies, and they are set and re-set with light) is screwing us up in huge ways.

If you go to youtube you can watch a show called "Sleepless in America" which was created by National Geographic and the NIH. It aired in December (or early Jan) and goes through the vast amount of issues that contribute to or result from a lack of sleep. Less sleep is directly associated with cancer, diabetes, obesity, and a host of other diseases. Our culture is now so dependent on artificial light that it's a problem even to try and self-regulate, because you can't get your stuff all done during the window of natural light.

Anyways that show is fascinating and I recommend it, OP. And I'll try and figure out how to watch your recommendation! Thank you for the tip.

Not OP but is that the show about the mom and kids who were killed by a sleepy driver? I read that scientists suspect there may be a link between graveyard shift workers and cancer. Because of the artificial lighting interfering with circadian rhythms. They did a study on third shift nurses and found that many of them developed breast cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tesla was the real genius, but his horrible business skills ensured that everyone else got the credit for his work.

Well, Tesla was, you know, insane.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Edison was a great business mind as well as a marketing genius. As I watched, I was struck by how similar Steve Jobs was to Edison, although his inventions were not quite as profound.

Talk about an understatement! The history books, my friend, will hardly acknowledge Steve Jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oo I wonder if I can see it; if it's a rerun.

I've thought about this a bit, because my grandpa wired cities in Canada for electricity. And because my dad grew up with kerosene lamps.

Also because yes, I agree with you that the more you think about it, the more incredible it is that just over a century ago we were living so differently etc. Mostly because of my dad (who would be 100 this year if alive) I often contrast his world with ours.

However; there is a looming issue that comes with all that, and that is our ability to mess with our internal clocks (there are many clocks in our bodies, and they are set and re-set with light) is screwing us up in huge ways.

If you go to youtube you can watch a show called "Sleepless in America" which was created by National Geographic and the NIH. It aired in December (or early Jan) and goes through the vast amount of issues that contribute to or result from a lack of sleep. Less sleep is directly associated with cancer, diabetes, obesity, and a host of other diseases. Our culture is now so dependent on artificial light that it's a problem even to try and self-regulate, because you can't get your stuff all done during the window of natural light.

Anyways that show is fascinating and I recommend it, OP. And I'll try and figure out how to watch your recommendation! Thank you for the tip.

Not OP but is that the show about the mom and kids who were killed by a sleepy driver? I read that scientists suspect there may be a link between graveyard shift workers and cancer. Because of the artificial lighting interfering with circadian rhythms. They did a study on third shift nurses and found that many of them developed breast cancer.

yes that's it. but so many other examples! They take mice and inject them with cancer. One batch gets good sleep, the other batch gets crappy sleep. A few weeks later, the cancer is there but small and at bay and contained in the good sleep group, and in the bad sleep group, it's spread and already into the bone.

they talk about how people eat when they should be sleeping--how you just go to food because you are really trying to keep yourself awake, and how you can gain 2 lbs in a few days doing this (argh, I do this)

btw they also explain an easy method for bad sleepers to get back to sleep. it's a very informative show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oo I wonder if I can see it; if it's a rerun.

I've thought about this a bit, because my grandpa wired cities in Canada for electricity. And because my dad grew up with kerosene lamps.

Also because yes, I agree with you that the more you think about it, the more incredible it is that just over a century ago we were living so differently etc. Mostly because of my dad (who would be 100 this year if alive) I often contrast his world with ours.

However; there is a looming issue that comes with all that, and that is our ability to mess with our internal clocks (there are many clocks in our bodies, and they are set and re-set with light) is screwing us up in huge ways.

If you go to youtube you can watch a show called "Sleepless in America" which was created by National Geographic and the NIH. It aired in December (or early Jan) and goes through the vast amount of issues that contribute to or result from a lack of sleep. Less sleep is directly associated with cancer, diabetes, obesity, and a host of other diseases. Our culture is now so dependent on artificial light that it's a problem even to try and self-regulate, because you can't get your stuff all done during the window of natural light.

Anyways that show is fascinating and I recommend it, OP. And I'll try and figure out how to watch your recommendation! Thank you for the tip.

Not OP but is that the show about the mom and kids who were killed by a sleepy driver? I read that scientists suspect there may be a link between graveyard shift workers and cancer. Because of the artificial lighting interfering with circadian rhythms. They did a study on third shift nurses and found that many of them developed breast cancer.

yes that's it. but so many other examples! They take mice and inject them with cancer. One batch gets good sleep, the other batch gets crappy sleep. A few weeks later, the cancer is there but small and at bay and contained in the good sleep group, and in the bad sleep group, it's spread and already into the bone.

they talk about how people eat when they should be sleeping--how you just go to food because you are really trying to keep yourself awake, and how you can gain 2 lbs in a few days doing this (argh, I do this)

btw they also explain an easy method for bad sleepers to get back to sleep. it's a very informative show.

What was this easy method? Pray tell. Please!

[Anonymous]

If you are ever in Fort Meyers area, be sure to visit the Edison Ford estates and museum. Been there twice and it is just wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tesla was the real genius, but his horrible business skills ensured that everyone else got the credit for his work.

Well, Tesla was, you know, insane.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/search/?q=tesla
There are several great articles about Tesla in this link to Smithsonian Magazine. While Tesla was most certainly a genius, he was also a genuine asshole who could not work with others. Edison was a piece of work, too, but he could run a business. Good reading if you really want to know more about the man.