History of Zero

Reference: Mathematics—From the Birth of Numbers by Jan Gullberg (c) 1997.

Zero is a mathematical symbol of the void, obviously. It's history as a place holder in advanced number systems goes back thousands of years.

Another Pretty Picture

Shot from Crown Point over the Columbia River in Oregon, August, 2010. This is one of a series of high dynamic range (HDR) pictures I was able to put together from Mount Hood.

Major Victories on the Hypertension Front

I've reduced my sodium intake to just under 2000 micrograms (µg) over the past month or so. Pretty close to my goal and 40% less sodium than I was eating regularly back in December. I have learned to appreciate the subtle flavors in my cooking that are not overwhelmed by so much salt. I lost three pounds between Jan 25 and Feb 5. Some of that could be excess water because more than half of my sodium is gone.

The problems I am having in reaching and maintaining a daily intake of 1500 µg arise from old recipes that I cooked up back in December and that I still have to eat. And going out to eat at restaurants. Some restaurants, like Chili's, post their nutritional information, always a big help. I still have to learn to ask the right questions and to be assertive enough to get what I want.

The big news is that my blood pressure went down from 134/84, in June of last year, to 118/72, taken when I saw my doctor last Friday. That's a huge decrease and very significant for me. My grandfather, George Dees, died from a stroke when he was my age, in his late 50's.

Of course, this graph shows my logged sodium intake, not my actual intake.

Cruisin' the Bay

Last Sunday was too cold to do much walking. But on the 5th Jeremy and I were able to tour the entire Shark River bay. The tide was out and we could walk along the shore. Winter has been very mild this year.

New—Maybe Old?—Concepts on Health

I've been watching the Daily Show since before Jon Stewart. Another good one with David Agus, an MD and author of "The End of Illness."

The controversy over supplements is very interesting for me. I weigh in against them. My strategy is to eat a variety of foods, mostly fruits and vegges. I keep track of the macros (40:30:30 carbs, fats, protein). But it is very difficult to track all the micro nutrients.