Poisoned by Lead

Lead exposure from drinking wine and other beverages stored in lead vessels could have contributed to mental instability, and erratic behavior, in some Roman emperors.

Lead poisoning can cause a variety of neurological and psychiatric symptoms, including:

• Brain damage, especially to the prefrontal cortex controlling judgment, impulse control, and personality
• Mental fogginess, confusion, and difficulty concentrating
• Irritability, aggression, and abrupt mood swings
• Hallucinations and delusional thinking
• Mania, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior

Some examples of Roman emperors who exhibited disturbing mental states and cruelties that could potentially be linked to lead exposure include:

• Caligula - Became increasingly unstable, with bouts of anger, perverse sexuality, and delusions of grandeur.
• Nero - Started out promisingly but descended into debauchery, megalomania, and severe persecution of Christians.
• Commodus - Initially capable but later displayed bizarre behavior like fighting as a gladiator despite his imperial rank.

A hunded years ago

 The unintelligent man says: "We are too many." Intelligent men reply: "We are too few!". I affirm that the most fundamental if not essential element in the political power and therefore economic and moral power of Nations, is their demographic strength.

Let us speak frankly: What are 40 million Italians compared to 90 million Germans and 200 million Slavs? Let us turn to the West: what are 40 million Italians compared to 40 million Frenchmen, in addition to 90 million colonial inhabitants, or compared to 46 million Englishmen, in addition to the 450 million colonials? Gentlemen, if Italy is to count for anything in the world, then she must reach a population of no less than 60 million inhabitants by the middle of this century.

You may say: How will they live in this territory? The same reasoning was very likely brought forward in 1815, when there were only 16 million Italians living in Italy. Perhaps at that time it was also thought impossible that in the same territory one would be able to find — on an infinitely higher standard of living — food and lodging for the 40 million Italians of today.

For five years we have been going about saying that the Italian population is overflowing. It is not true! The river no longer overflows; rapidly enough it is returning to its channel. All nations and all empires have felt the bite of their decadence when they have seen their birth rates decline. What was the Pax Romana of Augustus? The Pax Romana of Augustus was a brilliant facade, behind which lay the already-fermenting signs of decline. And throughout the last century of the Second Republic ⁠— from Julius Caesar, who sent his legionaries with three sons to the fertile lands of the South, to the laws of Augustus, to the ordines maritandi ⁠— the anguish is evident. The whole history of Rome up to Trajan, in the last century of the Republic and from the first to the third century of the Empire, is dominated by this anguish: the Empire was no longer held, because it had to be defended by mercenaries.

From Benito Mussolini. Pic.: Giorgia Meloni, Italy's current president.

The Paz Romana started when Augustus stopped the expansion of the Roman Empire and focused on fortifying the borders, which were defended by mercenaries (not Roman citizens). It was mandated by the lack of Romans. 

People in Israel

 On the eve of Israel's 76th Independence Day, the population of Israel was 9.900 million.  7.427 million Jews (73.2%) o 2.089 million Arabs2 (21.1%) o 564,000 Others (5.7%) • Since last year’s Independence Day, Israel's population has grown by 189,000 (an increase of 1.9%). During this period, about 196,000 infants were born, about 37,000 immigrants arrived, and about 60,000 persons died. 

Machine for Thinking

One millimeter of cerebral tissue.  It's rather complicated. From/

The first I saw a brain tissue color preparation on a glass was on the University microscope. I stole the glass rectangle to study it more at home on my home microscope. That was the only time I did something "bad" (not counting harvesting and eating the kohlrabi of Professor Sivori's experimental plots).  That was sixty years ago. So the picture at the left is what I expected. Yet it is amazing, how evolution could produce something like this - and there is no doubt that it did! 

Nazca Aqueducts

 

Another mystery solved: the Nazca spirals are mechanisms to create pressure in underground channels. It is very ingenious. It embodies the universal paradox that the contemporary people living in the place seem totally incapable of inventing or building the antique marvels found there. This paradox is valid for Greece, Western Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Burma, etc. I remember being perplexed by a mysterious massive Olmec stone head standing in the chicken coop of a mud house in Guatemala nowhere. 

Motivation

 

I need to improve my physical condition. Friday in Rehovot I felt dizzy and had to rest half an hour to get going again. Exercise or else!

We are motivated to seek food, water, and sex, but our behavior is also influenced by social approval, acceptance, the need to achieve, and the motivation to take or to avoid risks.

I want to make money to give to my grandchildren. 

Japanese Yen devalued.

 
For the first time since 1990, the Japanese Yen weakens to 160 against the US Dollar. This comes as the Bank of Japan kept interest rates near 0% even as their currency is sliding. Last month, the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time since 2007.Still, their currency has lost nearly 20% of its purchasing power against the US Dollar over the last year. Exports jumped 7% and imports fell by 7%. Japan registered a positive balance of payment.