BeAFreeThinker

5-meter sprint

We the "fringe minority" love our Canadian truckers!

I'm with Nicki Minaj and BLM of Greater New York on this one.

Now that this virus is endemic, we’re all going to eventually come in contact with it. That’s not a choice (unless you live in a bunker somewhere). But what we can choose is whether or not we arm ourselves with a vaccine. If you’re mad at people who don’t vaccinate, ask yourself, what are you really mad at? Were you expecting to avoid this virus your entire life? Or delay it a little longer? Or is it simply preferable to have someone to blame? Does that give an outlet for your anger? Whatever your reason for being angry, just understand what it is you’re actually angry about, and don’t make it about something that it’s not. Serial flu vaccination studies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2870374/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41541-019-0123-7 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11296-5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5853783/

All teas (green, black, white, oolong) are from the same plant - the camellia sinensis - and what makes black tea different from green tea and white tea or oolong is when the leaves were picked, and how they’re processed. White tea happens to be minimally processed leaves picked very early, before the leaves have opened, and while they’re still coated with soft white downy hair. Silver Needles consist of single buds, while White Peony consists of one leaf and a bud or two leaves and a bud, so it is “leafier” in appearance. There are thousands of compounds in tea - many of which have yet to be studied. Three related compounds that we know have metabolic effects are caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. They belong to the organic class of compounds called xanthines. Caffeine is oxidized to theophylline and theobromine in the liver, so you can increase the level of these two metabolites from consuming caffeine alone. As a potent bronchodilator, theophylline is used to treat asthma and COPD. There is a fine line between theophylline’s pharmacological use and adverse toxic effects, which is why the dosage is carefully monitored when used as a drug. Its side effects may increase when consumed with foods high in caffeine. Xanthines reduce the activity of many of the inflammatory cells implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. Theophylline increases the activity and numbers of suppressor T cells, which may play an important role in airway inflammation. Another psychoactive compound found in white tea is the amino acid L-theanine. Like caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine, L-theanine is also able to cross the blood-brain barrier, and it can affect neurotransmitters such as GABA and dopamine, and serotonin, which influence mood, sleep, and cortisol. https://www.taiwanteaconnection.com/blogs/news/getting-tea-drunk-on-theophylline https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4909506/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/theobromine

Anyone with an opinion should be allowed to voice their opinion on this and any other topic they wish, in a free country. Neither pigmentation, nor XX chromosomes confer a moral high ground. If you haven't yet seen Savannah Edwards' poignant video, here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S66nIdWWiOU

23-month-old learning numbers, shapes, and motor skills.

Bugging the bugs is something my (24-month-old) toddler loves to do in his spare time, which he has a lot of.

At 25 months, this little one began resisting naps. He did however get 10-12 hours sleep each night, so he's a serious sleeper at night but wasn't big on midday naps. Even when he was a baby, I don't recall him having more than 1 nap a day (except when he was a newborn). From 25 months on, the naps became sporadic, but by age 3 he was completely done with naps. (Possibly even by two and a half, the naps were mostly a rare occurrence.)

Outdoor exploration with a 2-year-old.

Those who promote hyperawareness of racial differences, are actually promoting racism.

Toddler's size perception at 24 months.

A weed is just a plant whose virtues have yet to be discovered. Music: "End of Time" by Joshua Tan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIfoZewAcrQ

2-year-old toddler exploring his world.

A baby's laugh is the sweetest sound in the world.

Here are seven common things that seem to fascinate all two-year-olds.

Two-year-old's first sentences at 23-25 months.

My little one's all-time favorite game.

He thinks if he can't see me, then surely I can't see him. At 26 months, he is in Piaget's Preoperational Stage, where the theory of mind is yet to be developed.

Reading one of his favorite books, "Toot" by Leslie Patricelli.

What it's like to play follow the leader with a 25-month toddler.

Babies and toddlers can't seem to resist giggling when you blow raspberries.

On an ordinary day at the park, we happened upon a hungry little spider looking for a meal. It hunts like a tarantula - can tarantulas be this tiny?

Quizzing my little 25-month old know-it-all.