No, I am not a (severe) germaphobe nor have I lost my mind… but I realized yesterday that EVERYTHING we and all other living organisms do on this planet is thanks to bacteria. We had it all wrong, we don’t rule the Earth, bacteria do!

A little history

The very first organisms to inhabit this planet with any type of internal mechanism for survival are the bacteria, there is still a lot of debate as to whether they originate from our planet or hitched a ride on a comet billions of years ago. The one thing that is an indisputable fact is that every living organisms on this planet can trace it’s origins from the humble bacteria, from the trees that populate our forests to the shrimp you add to your salad… EVEN US! Yes, our distant ancestors are these little, microscopic and mindless bacteria! I am unsure if we have evolved to be any smarter but that is something to be discussed at a later date.

What are bacteria?

Bacteria are single celled organisms which are not only the oldest and most diverse kingdom of life on this planet (possibly the universe) but they are the cornerstone of just about everything on this planet. To put it bluntly, if there where no bacteria on this planet, there would be NO life. Not only that, but if we removed everything except bacteria from this planet, including rock and soil… you could clearly see the shape of the landscape from their presence alone!

Why are bacteria so powerful?

Bacteria are like woman for most men, you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. Bacteria are responsible for some horrendous conditions but they are also the cause for some wonderous medical cures as well. Unlike viruses which are just floating strands of DNA with no rhyme or reason, bacteria have a purpose, they want to live! Actually, bacteria have an even stronger will to succeed then anything else on this planet, they can be found LIVING inside rock, up to 3 miles underground, in extremes of temperature and can even go into a type of hibernation lasting thousands of years until conditions improve. We humans have NOTHING on these guys, they are probably the first life to colonize other planets (galaxies), they are almost eternal in their structure and leave their mark everywhere. Who changed this planet from one killing life to supporting it? Well, bacteria! Sure, they haven’t written books nor are they very good conversationalists but they blow us in the dust in just about every other aspect.

What can we do to help bacteria?

Here is the funny thing about bacteria, they don’t want nor need our help in order to thrive. They are in their own little world with an arsenal of weapons that would make even the top generals in the United States wet their pants with glee. Bacteria are the first organisms to develop chemical and explosive weapons, if anything, we need to respect them before they blow us away! Bacteria can live off eating just about every natural substance in the universe, from iron to the rays of the sun. Bacteria can multiply even faster then even the horniest rabbits and put workaholics to shame. To put it bluntly, we need bacteria for our survival, they do not need us.

Perspective is key

So, what have you learned so far? Not are we incredibly fragile beings, to put it very lightly, but we are at the absolute mercy. If they ever “decide” (ei: evolve) to turn on us, we have no chance in hell of providing any type of plausible defense. Think about this the next time you say anything bad about these little guys who rule the universe!

The Bottom Line

Bacteria don’t love or hate us, they are indifferent to other forms of life.

I am an active subscriber to TEDTalks, if you never heard of this, you need to subscribe ASAP. Basically, every week, there is a speech given by a leading person in any given field of study. One week it may be Anthony (Tony) Robbins, another Richard Branson… Al Gore or other well known individuals. It’s guaranteed the few minutes you spend listening to these incredible individuals is worth its weight in gold.

TEDTalks: Dean Ornish

As usual, I have no idea who most of these speakers are, but every once in a while, I am absolutely astounded by the knowledge they share with the rest of us. Dean Ornish blew me away with his discoveries as they confirm what I have postulated for a very long time (and acted upon). I am not waiting for science to catch-up to my thinking, I am acting, on a daily basis until science tries to prove my theories wrong. Here is a few bullet points of the astounding discoveries he has made in the area of health, the body and longevity:

• one way to modify our existing genes is to create new ones, the other, our lifestyles
• when you eat a balanced diet, exercise and reduce stress, your brain gets more blood flow and oxygen… it actually GETS BIGGER!
• walking 3 hours per week after three months was found to create so many new neurons in the human brain that their brains got bigger!
• creation of new neurons (neurogenesis or brain cells) can be increased by consuming chocolate, tea, blueberries, alcohol (in moderation), stress and cannabinoids while consuming saturated fat, sugar, nicotine, opiates, cocaine, alcohol (in excess) and chronic stress are fantastic methods of killing them off
• increase in blood flow (from an active lifestyle) actually slows down the aging process, in some ways, even reversing it!
• heart disease can be reversed with an active lifestyle, clogged arteries have been shown to grow and expand after only a year!
• prostate and breast cancer risks drop DRAMATICALLY with an active lifestyle, tumor growth was inhibited by 70% for prostate cancer for health individuals!
• sexual organs get additional blood flow making you more “active” and “capable” with your mate
• 50% of smokers are impotent!
• telomerase is an enzyme that repairs telomeres, which are at the end of your chromosomes which control your lifespan, with an active lifestyle, you are actually LENGTHENING your telomeres… hence, you get a longer life by default!
• gene expression (prostate cancer used as an example), actually changes with an active lifestyle, the “bad” things get changed to “good”!

What does it all mean?

Quite simple, your genetic makeup that is given to you at conception is changeable based on your lifestyle. Even better… you can become smarter, stronger and healthier with age if you start young, eat a very balanced diet and get plenty of exercise both in and out of bed! Essentially, as Dean Ornish states, “our genes are NOT our fate!”… this is fantastic news!

The Bottom Line

If knowledge is power, then action is domination.

Buzvia: TED.com

I am happy to report that dreamclue.com has now reached the 2500 dream interpretations milestone of which a third have a photograph. Membership is also growing nicely and so is the slow but steady recognition of the strength of this system overall in helping people interpret their dreams in order to find meaning in their lives.

Our next goal is to reach 5000 dream interpretations with a 50% photographic rate.

If you haven’t already, check out dreamclue.com yourself and …get the message!

Cancer is a disease that, in a high portion of cases, is completely avoidable with proper diet, exercise and healthy living choices (including where and how you live). But for those unlucky enough to be diagnosed with cancer, I found this video that has some promising results. Screw chemotherapy, hello radio waves!

The Bottom Line

The best cure is avoidance.

WoodMarvels.com was chosen as a “Cool Pick of the Day” for April 17th by CoolPick.com… cool!

Like an old friend of mine use to say… when it rains, it pours