1Third

Club B.E.D

2007-05-27T12:42:00.001-07:00

I got to check this out the next time I'm in our nation's capital.

B.E.D.
A True Hot Spot

A True Hot Spot

In the heart of South Beach at:
929 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach Florida, 33139
USA

Voted as America's top nightspot (Discovery’s Travel Channel),
B.E.D. is an experience to savoir on a Wednesday night in the
ultra-hip SoBe area of Miami.

Vibrations and Wakefulness

2007-05-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

The following is an abstract that I found to very interesting:

Effects of short-term exposure to whole-body vibration on wakefulness level.

SATOU Y, ANDO H, NAKIRI M, NAGATOMI K, YAMAGUCHI Y, HOSHINO M, TSUJI Y, MURAMOTO J, MORI M, HARA K, ISHITAKE T.
Ind Health 2007;45(2):217-23.
Department of Environmental Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine

Abstract:

To investigate the relationships between whole-body vibration and changes in wakefulness, We measured the change of a subjective wakefulness level and electroencephalogram (EEG). Subjects are ten healthy male university students. The subjects were exposed to whole-body vibration with frequency (10 Hz) and acceleration level (0.6 ms(-2) r.m.s.) for 12 min in the seated position. Subjective wakefulness level was evaluated using the questionnaire of VASS (Visual Analog Sleepiness Scale) and KSS (The Kwansei Gakuin Sleepiness Scale). For the electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement, AAT (Alpha Attenuation Test) which repeats three times each opened and closed eye for 1 min was conducted. Wakefulness levels were defined as the ratio of mean alpha-wave power during eyes closed versus eyes opened. VASS and KSS increased and subjective level of wakefulness decreased from pre- to post exposure in all subjects, regardless of vibration exposure. The objective wakefulness levels of AAT were reduced at the post-exposure test in all subjects. In the case with exposure to whole-body vibration was a significant difference from the case without exposure to whole-body vibration. It is suggested that a short-term exposure to whole-body vibration may cause a reduction of wakefulness level.

You might be wondering "how does this apply to anything useful?" As a narcoleptic I am lulled to sleep in cars very easily, so I already suspected that vibrations were soporific. Now I'm certain of it. This experiment doesn't set out to answer that specific question but it definitely has implications on the vibrations we expose ourselves to daily.

A fellow narcoleptic

2007-05-06T07:01:00.000-07:00

I was able to relate to sofiarune, the YouTuber in the above video. It's a bit long winded but that comes with being sleepy. Conciseness is not a gift of mine neither.

Sleep in Green Peace: Organic Mattresses

2007-05-05T14:43:00.001-07:00

I'll let you know when I find some American versions.

clipped from www.treehugger.com

Abaca Organic Mattresses

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.28.06

Design & Architecture (bedroom)

Previously we went on a bit of search for organic latex and came up short. Now we learn that a Welsh company, Abaca, is on a similar mission. Their metal free Ramsey mattress already has its chemical free, natural latex core wrapped in layers of organic Welsh wool, and contained within an organic cotton cover. As best as we can make out, they’ve had the the wool and cotton certified as organic by the UK’s Soil Association. But the certification for the latex is currently ongoing. Such diligence does not come cheap. Ramsey mattresses start at £600, or £490 for a pocket spring version (without the latex). Alternatively you could give your existing mattress some extra environmental comfort boost with a organic wool/cotton mattress pad, starting at £85. Buy Organics sell them online, with the retailer John Lewis due to carry them in store. ::Abaca via IC Wales

Find of the Day

2007-05-01T17:46:00.001-07:00

I love Found magazine. There website posts a find of the day and what do you know, look what they found. The funny thing about it is the possibility that this person may not know that this photo exists since he was asleep when it was taken.

clipped from www.foundmagazine.com

How alert are you?

2007-05-01T17:44:00.001-07:00

This is a must for narcoleptics because of our sensitivity to sleepiness. When I found this list I realized that everyone else can benefit from being aware of their level of alertness. This is one of the 9 ways the Ririan Project presents as keys to improving personal productivity.

clipped from ririanproject.com

9 Effective Ways To Get 200% More Work Done

4. Know yourself.

Your prime time is the time during which you are most energetic and efficient. We all function on different ‘biological clocks.’ Some people feel most energetic and do their best work early in the morning. Others wake up and get moving very slowly, with top efficiency in the late afternoon. So you need to determine if you’re an early bird or a night owl, and schedule your projects accordingly. Work on your most important projects and tasks during the time of day when you feel most energetic and awake.

A Book That Really Puts You To Sleep

2007-04-26T16:42:00.001-07:00

clipped from www.uberreview.com

A Book That Really Puts You To Sleep

What a ‘novel’ idea, a book that is actually a pillow. College libraries will now turn into giant slumber parties.
Price:$102

[via Nerd Approved]

Slumber Concert

2007-04-26T11:59:00.001-07:00

This looks like fun.

clipped from www.random-good-stuff.com

Slumber Concert

A mattress company in Tel Aviv set up this classical concert in 144 beds.

McCain falls asleep during state of the union

2007-04-26T11:52:00.001-07:00

I'm sure you heard about John McCain's announcement that he will be running for President. I also hope you've heard about his Iran joke. But I but you haven't heard about this. Click here to see the clip.

clipped from thinkprogress.org

during the State of the Union?

MSNBC’s Tucker Carlson:

If you’re McCain, who will be over 70 by 2008, you’ll want to make doubly sure to demonstrate your alertness and vigor. You definitely won’t want to slump in your seat, out cold, when Bush starts talking about Iraq. And yet that’s exactly what McCain did tonight, napping on camera for ten agonizing seconds. Lack of self-control? An expression of contempt? Embarrassing in any case.

Miro + Sleep

2007-04-16T20:12:00.000-07:00

My precious disability

2007-04-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

I haven't talked much about my narcolepsy here. I wanted this blog to be about sleep not me, but yet I shouldn't be afraid to talk about my relationship with sleep. Sleep is awesome in so many ways but , (Deep breath)I'm not going act like it doesn't disable me. So when I ran across Disability Bitch I realized that being candid about my condition can be really liberating.

In her colum on BBC's Ouch, a website for modern people living with disabilities, Disability Bitch takes on "miracle cures." I really loved reading this:

Yes, I HATE MIRACLE CURES, and not just because I take pride in my little crippled identity and don't want to be a boring old normal and all that stuff.

This is so how I feel about my condition. Yeah it sucks, I won't deny that, but at least I know about the obstacles I have to overcome. And I don't have to make up some rags to riches story to make it seem like I have earned my privilege - but that's another subject.

You see, every bloody time the newspapers run a story about some tragic cripple being cured by some amazing new treatment, everyone who bumps into me in the street assumes it's only a matter of hours before I, too, will be saved from my hideous disabled existence in favour of a lifestyle less offensive to the world at large.

Amen, amen. Growing up Christian makes you the subject of prayers and laying of hands and all kinds of things that, frankly, I didn't want. My condition is hidden from strangers so I don't have the same type of story Bitch does, but I'm able to relate to her nevertheless.

Her rant takes a bit of a twist when she tells us about a neighbor that decided to stage a fundraiser to fly Bitch to the US where there is supposed to be a doctor that can cure her "little spasticated limbs".

He said I might even come back walking like him.
Readers, I ran home and locked the door tight. I don't envisage myself coming out until the rest of the human race has died.

Ouch!

Elevated Mattress on Craigslist

2007-04-13T09:26:00.001-07:00

I don't know what to think of this stunt. Just wow!

clipped from www.random-good-stuff.com

The Craigslist $35 - elevated mattress-sized space between rooms

This is for real:

Mr. Freeman posted an ad on the Web site Craigslist: "$35 — elevated mattress-sized space between rooms." He used a minimalist pitch. "Opening between hall and room available for long/short-term use, accessible by ladder, sheets and pillows not provided." The ad went up around noon, and by the end of that day, Mr. Freeman had a dozen potential takers. …

Bush Yawning

2007-04-10T16:43:00.001-07:00

I wonder if he's been able to sleep well.

clipped from www.flickr.com

101 Sure-Fire Ways to Get a Good Night Sleep

2007-04-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

Having difficulty to get a good night sleep? Spending several hours without sleep?

Improve sleep with good sleep habits. Lack of sleep can result in stress, lack of concentration, moodiness, memory loss, lower motivation and fatigue. It is important to get a good night sleep otherwise it may lead to different sleep disorders.

Here are 101 ways to get good night’s sleep for those who experience difficulty in getting sleep.

Sleep Routine:

Maintain regular bedtime routine. Try to go to bed at the same time and get up in the morning at the same time. Keeping a regular schedule helps the body expect sleep at the same time every day.

Maintain the sleep schedule even on weekends and holidays. Following the sleep schedule even on weekends does not disturb the internal clock of the body and helps to maintain circadian rhythm.

Get more information on circadian rhythm from http://www.talkaboutsleep.com

Regardless of how much sleep you had the before night, get up the same time in the morning. If the amount of sleep is reduced due to some reasons, don’t oversleep to make up for a poor night’s sleep.

Make sleep a priority and set aside adequate time to sleep. Don’t feel guilty about going to bed. Think sleep as the investment for health and productivity.

Keep a sleep diary and write about the wake up, nap and sleep timings of that day before going to sleep regularly. It is a good means to know about the sleep habits and patterns.

If feeling of tiredness leads to sleepiness during the evening, try to resist going to bed early than usual time.

Sleep Environment:

The bedroom should not be too hot or too cold. High temperatures can lead to disturbances in the quality of sleep. The optimum temperature is 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If the room is too cold, use humidifier or warm blankets.

The bed should not be too small or too hard. The bed should be large enough to sleep and convenient to turn or move to either sides. Switch to king sized bed.

Make sure that bed and pillows are comfortable for correct sleep. A firm bed will give entire body support and relax. Keep extra pillows to sleep on side.

Replace the mattresses for every eight to ten years. Old mattresses may cause allergies and back problems which interrupt with sleep.

Test different types of mattresses. Make sure that the mattress does not sag as it can lead to inadequate spinal support. Inadequate spinal support leads to back pain and prevents from falling asleep.

Remove any distractions from the bedroom. The room should be comfortable and neat.

Bedroom surroundings should be quiet and calm. There should not be any disturbance from outside noises. Use white noise machine or fan to block outside noise. If the noise is disturbing still, use double-pane windows or heavy curtains to block the noise.

The bedroom should be well ventilated. Keep bedroom windows open to get fresh air. Hot stuffy air blocks nose and leads to dry throat, cough or headache.

The light in the bedroom should be dim. The light may disturb sleep as it falls directly on the eyes. If lights from surrounding are disturbing, use curtains for the windows to block the light.

The bedroom should be used for only sleep and sex.

Don’t discuss about the bills or problems or watch television in the bedroom.

Remove illuminated digital clocks from the bedroom. Focus on the clock and time results in anxiety and stress and disturbs the sleep.

Don’t use too many or too few blankets. Use them depending on the temperature of the room.

Get more information on sleep environment from http://www.sleepfoundation.org

Sleep Aids:

Take warm bath before going to bed. It is a great way to relax the body. Don’t use too hot water as it may worsen the situation. Use bath salts such as Epsom salt or baking soda which will relax the body and help in removing toxins from the body.

Some people may not like taking warm bath; they can soak their feet in warm water for fifteen to twenty minutes before going to bed. Apply oil and massage each foot before going to sleep.

Use herbs in bedroom for relaxing. Use lavender oil in the bedroom an hour before bedtime. Place few drops of lavender oil on the pillow as it relaxes the mind and body.

Use the mood tracker to identify whether foods, beverages, certain activities or other substances have a negative impact on the ability to sleep. Mood tracker tells about the good things that promote sleep. Using mood trackers, the causes for sleep problems can be identified.

Drinking warm milk before going to bed helps in soothing the nervous system. As milk contains calcium, it works on the nervous system and makes the body relax.

Try a cup of herbal tea, as herbs contain all natural ingredients. Some of the herbs are catnip, fennel, and chamomile. These herbs will soothe and help in getting a good night sleep.

Bananas practically work as a sleeping pill. Bananas contain melatonin, serotonin and magnesium, a muscle relaxant.

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain which controls the body’s circadian rhythm. Darkness stimulates the release of melatonin and light suppresses its activity. If production of melatonin at night decreases, it results in lack of sleep. Try melatonin, a hormone which is used to promote and improve sleep. But don’t use it frequently.

Take oatmeal as they are a rich source of sleep induced melatonin.

Ear plugs helps in blocking the disruptive noises that interferes with sleep, if surrounding noise is disturbing.

Sleep masks block the light and provide complete darkness to sleep, if light is disturbing the sleep.

Relaxation Techniques:

Massage is a great way to relax tensed and tired muscles. Take help of bed partner to massage the body before going to bed. It can be a simple massage which involves massaging neck, foot and hands.

Deep breathing helps in relaxing muscle tension, lowers heart rate and helps to sleep faster. Do this exercise in the bedroom before going to sleep.

Meditation helps in clearing all the thoughts in mind. Concentrate on any object and clear the thoughts from the mind. Meditating before going to bed relieves from all tensions and helps in getting a peaceful sleep.

Use color therapy or chromatherapy to promote general health and to treat physical and emotional sleep disturbances. Use colors in the bedroom which has soothing, calming and relaxing effect.

Listen to music. Music is the best way to relax mind and body. Listen to soft and light music which helps to relax the mind.

Get more information on relaxation techniques from http://www.umm.edu

Pre-sleep Rituals:

Avoid drinking alcohol before going to bed. Alcohol can disrupt the sleep leading to poor quality of sleep.

Avoid caffeine before going to bed. Caffeine makes mind and body active and keeps awake.

Avoid colas, chocolates, cookies, cakes and other stimulants as they interrupt with quality of sleep.

Stop smoking as it releases adrenaline in the body and is a stimulant. It interrupts with quality of sleep.

Do not exercise before bedtime. As it stimulates the body, exercising before bedtime makes difficult to fall asleep.

Do not watch television or movies before bedtime or in the bedroom. It disturbs the sleep and makes it difficult to sleep.

Don’t take too much fluid two hours before going to bed. It may lead to urination frequently and the sleep will be disturbed.

Urinate before going to bed to prevent getting up in the middle of the night.

Avoid heavy meals before bed time. Heavy meals may make lying down feel uncomfortable. Heavy meals can cause indigestion and interfere with sleep.

Have dinner at least two hours before the bedtime.

Have light snacks before bedtime to avoid hunger during the sleep.

Carbohydrates such as muffins, cereal, bread, and yogurt help fall asleep.

Eat a high protein snack several hours before bed, as it provides L-tryptophan which helps in producing serotonin and melatonin.

Include fresh fruits and vegetables in diet, as it promotes health and good sleep.

Don’t consume fats, as fat takes several hours to digest. Consume low fat foods before going to sleep.

Vitamin B3, vitamin B12 and folic acid seem to improve sleep.

Don’t argue or fight with family members or friends before going to bed.

Wear comfortable and loose clothing. Tight fitting clothes do not allow moving freely in the bed.

Due to the fact that the feet have the poorest circulation, they often feel cold before the rest of the body. Wear socks before going to bed in winter but not in summer.

Sleeping with pet may cause allergies and interfere with night sleep.

Keep a glass of water near the bed so that there is no need to get up during night if thirsty.

Sex with partner before bedtime help in getting good night sleep.

Stop doing office works or house hold activities an hour before bedtime to calm mental activity and to avoid stress.

Avoid making phone calls or attending phone calls after going to bed.

Maintain good body hygiene otherwise untidy and unhygienic body may irritate and interfere with nighttime sleep.

Smell of foods or cigarette smoke can interfere with the quality of sleep. Remove the foods which are smelly and avoid smoking in the bedroom.

Reduce weight, as overweight can cause inconvenience in breathing and prevents a good night sleep.

Daytime Habits:

Don’t nap during daytime if there is trouble sleeping during night. Napping during daytime disturbs the body clock and it makes even more difficult to sleep at night.

Exercise regularly for half an hour regularly. Exercise in the late afternoon or in the morning. Exercise increases the body temperatures and has an arousing effect. Therefore body gets exhausted and helps to sleep and increases quality of sleep if it is done three to four hours before bedtime.

Get exposed to sunlight during daytime especially in the afternoon.

Drink eight to ten glasses of water, as dehydration of body leads to chronic fatigue.

Check iron deficiency, as iron deficiency tends to have problem with sleeping. Take sufficient iron to improve sleep.

Sleep Tips:

Don’t lie in bed for prolonged periods in the morning as that may lead to lethargy.

Don’t spend too much time if unable to sleep. Get up from the bed, leave the bedroom and try to engage in other activities like reading a book or novel, if there is difficulty in getting sleep for half an hour to one hour.

Don’t think about the problems and worries before going to bed as they disturb sleep.

Write down all the worries and problems on the paper if they are disturbing night sleep. And go to bed with peaceful state of mind.

Try to visualize and concentrate on any thing which makes the mind free from worries if the concentration can be on that object.

Sleep on back as it allows all the internal organs to rest properly and it is the best position for relaxing.

Don’t sleep on stomach as it causes pressure on all internal organs including lungs which results in shallow breathing.

Lie back and rub the stomach as it soothes the digestive system and helps in improving the function of digestive system and promotes good sleep.

If the bed partner snores, sleep in a separate room or use ear plugs.

Don’t suffer with pain. If pain is keeping away from sleeping, consult the doctor to reduce the pain.

For a restful sleep, put a pillow under the knees to relieve lower back pressure.

Stop the habit of watching the clock, counting the hours and remembering the hours as it leads to lack of sleep.

Avoid thriller, murder and suspense books and movies as they are stimulating and activate the brain.

Avoid doing mental arithmetic as it keeps the brain thinking and disturbing the sleep.

If sleepless nights or insomnia are consistent, change the sleep timings and consider going to bed later.

Always try to sleep at the same place regularly as the change of sleeping place may interfere with sleep.

Close the eyes and roll it upwards three times. This happens naturally when falling asleep and evidently triggers some sleep chemicals in the body.

To get a better sleep without the use of drugs, use light therapy. Light therapy consists of exposure to light for prescribed amount of time. It is used to promote normal sleep wake cycle and decreases sleep disturbances.

Consult the Doctor:

Consult the doctor before using sleeping pills or over-the-counter medications.

Get more information on sleeping pills and medications from http://www.helpguide.org

Don’t rely on sleeping pills everyday as they are addictive. Keep one pill beside the bed for emergency with doctor’s advice.

Make sure the sleeping pills won’t interact with other medications or with other medical condition.
If stress is the problem for a good night sleep, seek counseling and manage stress.
Don’t neglect depression as depression leads to lack of sleep. Take help of family members and consult the doctor.
If sleeping problem continues, consult a doctor to find out whether the sleep problem is due to any sleep disorder.

Ways to Overcome Other Sleep Disorders:

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder which causes cessation of breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea should be treated by keeping the nasal passages open at night using nasal masks. Avoid alcohol, tobacco and other sedatives and lose weight. Surgery is one of the options to treat sleep apnea.

If restless legs syndrome (RLS) is the cause for the interruption of good night sleep due to the uncomfortable sensations in the legs like crawling or creeping, walk or stretch at the beginning and end of the day, massage the calf and legs regularly when legs feel uncomfortable. Life style changes and medication are important to prevent RLS.

If circadian rhythm disorder is the cause for interruption of good night sleep due to the disturbance of body’s circadian rhythm, the disorder should be treated with bright light therapy, chronotherapy and melatonin to get a good night sleep.

If parasomnias are the causes for the interruption of good night sleep with intense and infrequent acts, it is necessary to take the treatment with behavior modification, prescription drugs, or hypnosis.

If periodic limb movement disorder is the cause for the poor sleep due to the severe limb movements, it is necessary to take the medications such as dopamine agents, anticonvulsant medications, and benzodiazepines with the doctor’s prescription to get a good night sleep.

If night sweats is the cause for the poor night sleep due to the excessive sweating during night; avoid caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, and saturated fats. Keep extra clothing by the side of the bed to avoid inconvenience and disturbance at the night, as the clothing due to night sweats become wet.

If fibromyalgia is the cause for poor night sleep due to the pain in the neck, shoulders, back and hands, it should be treated with medications, exercises that stretch muscles, massaging and heat applied to sore muscles.

If epilepsy is the cause for the interruption of good night sleep due to epileptic seizures, it should be treated with medications, epilepsy surgery, vagus nerve stimulation, special diet and alternative or complementary medicines.

GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disease cause persistent heart burn and severity of GERD can be experienced while sleeping or at night. Avoid spicy or acidic foods which cause heartburn or indigestion during nighttime to get a good night sleep.

If chronic illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, multiple schlerosis and lupus are the causes for poor night sleep, they should be treated and controlled with the help of exercise, diet, and medications. Following a healthy lifestyle is also important for the treatment of chronic illness to get a good night sleep.

via SleepDisordersGuide

Sleep is Big Business

2007-04-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

The business of sleep is becoming increasingly lucrative. With growing awareness combined with the large number of undiagnosed cases of OSA, it appears that the cash will continue to pour into this industry. An online article from USA Today helped put into perspective the flood of new sleep-related products, advertisements, and marketing tactics that are becoming more commonplace.

According to the article, products that are steadily gaining more revenue off of Americans’ lack of sleep are popping up in the areas of body care, room scents, mood music, and beverages. No doubt, pharmaceutical sleep aid manufacturers are cashing in as well. According to the article, revenue for pharmaceutical sleep aids saw a rise in consumer spending of 29% from 2005 to 2006. Such revenue was in part driven by the large sums of money behind sleep aid advertising. USA Today cites information from TNS Media Intelligence stating, “In 2006, Sepracor’s Lunesta spent $298 million on advertising, and Ambien, from Sanofi-Aventis, spent $207 million. Rozerem [from Takeda Pharmaceuticals] spent $102 million.”

Via Sleep Review's Sleep Report

Clock Quote

2007-04-06T10:57:00.001-07:00

clipped from scienceblogs.com

ClockQuotes

Punctuality is the thief of time.

- Oscar Wilde

iTunes Sleep Timer

2007-04-04T17:03:00.001-07:00

This is a perfect download for people that like to go to sleep to music.

clipped from www.boingboing.net

iWannaSleep: sleep timer for Mac iTunees

Here's a brief plug for a piece of Mac software I use almost every day. iWannaSleep is a simple app that stops iTunes after a timer runs out. I often go to sleep listening to audiobooks, and I use iWannaSleep to set iTunes to stop playing the audiobook 20 minutes after I go to bed. iWannaSleep can also put your computer to sleep, shut it down, or run a custom AppleScript.
Link

Floating Beds

2007-04-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not Lazy, I'm Napping

2007-04-02T17:25:00.001-07:00

Tips on Guilt-free napping.

clipped from www.lifehack.org

Recognize that you’re not being lazy; napping will make you more productive and more alert after you wake up.

Try to nap in the morning or just after lunch; human circadian rhythms make late afternoons a more likely time to fall into deep (slow-wave) sleep, which will leave you groggy.

Avoid consuming large quantities of caffeine as well as foods that are heavy in fat and sugar, which meddle with a person’s ability to fall asleep.

Instead, in the hour or two before your nap time, eat foods high in calcium and protein, which promote sleep

Find a clean, quiet place where passersby and phones won’t disturb you.

Try to darken your nap zone, or wear an eyeshade. Darkness stimulates melatonin, the sleep- inducing hormone.

Remember that body temperature drops when you fall asleep. Raise the room temperature or use a blanket.

Once you are relaxed and in position to fall asleep, set your alarm for the desired duration

The Sleep Quiz

2007-04-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Have you taken the sleep quiz yet?

If not you can do so here.

Hemingway & Sleep

2007-03-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

"I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?"
-- Ernest Hemingway

Gaint Sleeping Head

2007-03-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

This sculpture is one of Ron Mueck's pieces. Here is some insight into what else was on display:

At the Brooklyn Museum the Australian artist Ron Mueck has delivered “A Girl,” the biggest human infant ever hatched. More than 16 feet long (weight unrecorded) and not yet unhooked from her hawser-like umbilical cord, she still has traces of birth blood on her wrinkled body.

You may have sensed by now that she is not a real baby. What she is is an extraordinarily lifelike sculpture made with exquisite craftsmanship by the 48-year-old Mr. Mueck, who is known for his ultrarealistic re-creations of the human figure in silicone and fiberglass.

via SUPERTOUCH

Sleep Is Good

2007-03-25T17:14:00.001-07:00

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk

Forget the old adage early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. It is more likely to make him stressed.

Not only that, getting up early is also more likely to lead to muscle aches, cold symptoms, headaches and significantly worse moods.

Caffeine and Sleep

2007-03-25T17:13:00.001-07:00

Just in case you didn't already know, sleep and caffeine are related. Although this is no big revelation for many it's worth knowing a bit more about their relationship.

clipped from www.caffeinedependence.org

Studies have demonstrated that caffeine disrupts sleep. When caffeine is consumed immediately before bedtime or continuously throughout the day, sleep onset may be delayed, total sleep time reduced, normal stages of sleep altered, and the quality of sleep decreased.

Caffeine’s effects on sleep appear to be determined by a variety of factors including dose, the time between caffeine ingestion and attempted sleep, and individual differences in sensitivity and/or tolerance to caffeine.

Caffeine-induced sleep disturbance is greatest among individuals who are not regular caffeine users. Although there is evidence for some tolerance to the sleep disrupting effects of caffeine, complete tolerance may not occur and thus habitual caffeine consumers are still vulnerable to caffeine-induced sleep problems.

Sleeping Baby Photo Contest

2007-03-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Sleep like a Baby contest is a product of two sleep-minded mothers and I wanted to recognise both of them and their blogs. One is the author of, Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler: The Ultimate No-Worry Approach for Each Age and Stage, Ann Douglas and she blogs at Sleep Solutions. The other person that helped put this together is Tracy Clark a photographer , wife and author.

The photo above won second place but was tied with another adorable photo. Tracy writes:

And this shot from My Dragonfly of sleepy sibling sweetness holds the magic of togetherness that every parent dreams of. Heavy sigh. What a captivating moment and an absolute perfect image! I could stare at it for days.

The first place winner is this glowing picture of a new born.

Although they announced the winners November 1 of 2006, you can still add your photo to the collection and check out the other submissions.

Abstract:

To investigate the relationships between whole-body vibration and changes in wakefulness, We measured the change of a subjective wakefulness level and electroencephalogram (EEG). Subjects are ten healthy male university students. The subjects were exposed to whole-body vibration with frequency (10 Hz) and acceleration level (0.6 ms(-2) r.m.s.) for 12 min in the seated position. Subjective wakefulness level was evaluated using the questionnaire of VASS (Visual Analog Sleepiness Scale) and KSS (The Kwansei Gakuin Sleepiness Scale). For the electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement, AAT (Alpha Attenuation Test) which repeats three times each opened and closed eye for 1 min was conducted. Wakefulness levels were defined as the ratio of mean alpha-wave power during eyes closed versus eyes opened. VASS and KSS increased and subjective level of wakefulness decreased from pre- to post exposure in all subjects, regardless of vibration exposure. The objective wakefulness levels of AAT were reduced at the post-exposure test in all subjects. In the case with exposure to whole-body vibration was a significant difference from the case without exposure to whole-body vibration. It is suggested that a short-term exposure to whole-body vibration may cause a reduction of wakefulness level.