Internet Closed for the Holidays?

I heard a story the other day about a coworker who had a cognitive lapse during a holiday and apparently confused the US Postal Service and Email and exclaimed, 'Do you think the Internet is closed on holidays, will my email be delivered?' Is this ignorance or a momentary lapse of reason? -Either way it was too funny not to post.

Has anyone ever forgotten that they were just told a story and proceeded to tell the same story to the same individual believing for a second that they heard the story from someone else? Perhaps, impairment from substances?

When I was 8 years old and my brother 5, we were part of a neighborhood carpool and one afternoon the women driving us home pulled into her garage, shut the garage door and went into the house. For what seemed like 15 minutes my brother and I sat there talking and wondering if we should open the garage or go in the house before she came leaping out and apologized for forgetting about taking us home. Too many things on her mind?

I know someone who needs to keep a log of movies that she has rented as she has started many movies only to find out a third of the way through that she rented the same movie in the past. Just plain forgetful?

My great-grandmother used to read Harlequin Romance Novels and traded books with people but didn't care which ones she got as they were all "new" to her. Forgiven, she was in her nineties.

And my confession and perhaps the reason for writing this post: The other day while driving with a client I stopped at a stop sign and waited for a few minutes for the light to change red! I looked at my client and proceeded to talk and he looked at me quizzically and I looked at the stop sign and back at him and then the moment of eureka occurred, the neurons finally fired and of course, I understood my little slip of cognition. Embarrassing perhaps, but if only I knew what was to come.

Anyone over the age of 30 has experienced some sort of mental lapse from time to time and usually it provides amusing antidotes as long as no one gets hurt and as long as we continue to laugh at ourselves and enjoy the fallibility of being human. However, knowing that our mental faculties decline with age it seems worth looking into preserving our cognitive abilities for as long as we can. We've all heard about taking up a second language, doing daily crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and other brain teasers, writing with opposite hand, etc. But what about smart drugs? At this time, are there viable smart drugs that can help slow down mental decline?

Here is a list of current smart drugs or nootropics copied from Wikipedia:

* 5-HTP
* Adrafinil (Olmifon)
* Aniracetam
* Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
* Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)
* Caffeine
* Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR)
* Centrophenoxine
* Choline
* Cholinergics
* Chromium
* Coenzyme q-10
* Creatine
* DMAE
* Ergoloid mesylates (Hydergine)
* Huperzine A
* Idebenone
* Inositol
* L-dopa
* Lecithin
* Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis)
* Lipoic acid
* Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
* Modafinil (Provigil)
* Nicotine
* Oxiracetam
* Phenibut
* Phenylalanine
* Piracetam (Nootropil)
* Pramiracetam
* Pyritinol (Enerbol)
* Rhodiola Rosea
* Selegiline (Deprenyl)
* Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
* St John's Wort
* Sutherlandia Frutescens
* Theanine
* Theophylline
* Tryptophan
* Tyrosine
* Vasopressin
* Vinpocetine
* Nicotinic acid (vitamin B3)
* Vitamin B5
* Vitamin B6
* Vitamin B12
* Vitamin C
* Yohimbe

The Internet has extensive information on smart drugs but not much in the way of testimonials other than on sites that are trying to sell their products. I am interested in real life experiences with anyone that has tried smart drugs (excluding caffeine and nicotine - I have first hand knowledge with those) or have known someone to try smart drugs and experienced results, side-effects or found that they are a waste of time and money. Maybe you have used smart drugs to study for an exam or write a thesis or to keep from forgetting where you put your car keys?

I suppose we have only scratched the surface of the possibilities of cognitively enhancing our gray matter but perhaps some of the items listed above are worth talking about.

And please share a lapse in cognitive functioning story if you have one.

Fun Quiz - Are you a forgetful person?

Q-Link, Golf and Wellness

The wonderful and frustrating game of golf...the season is rapidly approaching in Northeastern, Ohio (curses to those that can play year round) and that means 3 things: 1. Time away from my wife...okay, scratch that one.2. Beer, nature and relaxation. 3. The constant struggle to improve one's game.

Game improvement is something I and every golfer take a swing at every season with renewed vitality, claiming wholeheartedly, 'this is my break-out season!' Personally, it is usually futile but without a sense of hope we might give up the game altogether and this my friend is not an option in my book! After all, this could be the season that I break 80 or make that forever chasing hole-in-one or back to back eagles. The game is way too enticing, which every golfer understands and every non-golfer remains confused and makes jokes about why anyone thinks chasing a small white ball around is worth the time and effort. Anyway, my season usually starts out strong. I work my ass off trying to improve my technique, reading tips and hitting endless balls into nets and frequenting the driving range at my lunch break or after work. However, within a few weeks I fall into my old rut of persistent slicing, duffed shots, overcompensated putts and any attempt at self-improvement goes by the way of beer consumption. Ultimately, it is much like the whole New Year's Resolution quandary.

Now, being well aware of the fact that the game of golf has more gimmicks and ways to improve your game tips than any other sport in existence, I am quite leery of any quick fixes that prey on the desperate. I know improvement comes from hard work; including quality lessons and endless hours of focused practice. A top of the line driver may give you a few extra yards or improve accuracy but you need to have some understanding of proper technique first. However, this year I am going out on a limb and decided that I am willing to entertain the idea of being suckered into trying out a quick fix product for the sake of experimentation and to give my mind a quick burst of hope prior to starting the season. I am planning on posting updates periodically to report my results throughout the season.

As the title suggests - I have been duped into trying out the Q-Link.

Here's a run-down from their website:

The Q-Link’s fundamental technology can be understood by imagining a tuning fork that vibrates at a certain pitch. Similarly, the Q-Link’s Sympathetic Resonant Technology™ (SRT™) is tuned to optimize the human energy system through resonance. As it interacts with your biofield, it leads to a rebalancing and restoration according to your individual needs.

A Library of Research Studies


SRT has proven its effectiveness in a wide range of experiments, including trials at UC Irvine, University of Vienna, and Imperial College London, all of which demonstrated significant effects on living systems. Research highlights:
· Doctors who tested the Q-Link found that it instantaneously amplified healthy energy states – and decreased energy drains caused by a wide variety of stressors.
· In brainwave studies (EEG), the Q-Link reduced the harmful effects of EMFs – the fields around computers, cell phones and other devices.
· World-class athletes reported that the Q-Link improved their mental focus and endurance, giving them a significant competitive edge.
· In live blood studies, the Q-Link led to greater cellular integrity and more efficient blood oxygenation.
The new Q-Link features next-generation SRT 3, which enables the device to more efficiently resonate life-supporting frequencies in the biofield and activate a more powerful response to stress. Most people will notice heightened energy, quicker effects, and a more rapid return to centered emotional balance.
“My intuition and logic suggest that Clarus type products will be an important part of humanity’s future.”
William Tiller, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Stanford University and Guggenheim Fellow, USA
We are also exploring new potential SRT applications, such as enhancing water, increasing agricultural yields and refining chemical manufacturing processes.

www.clarus.com

Testimonials

Ted Purdy
2005 Byron Nelson Classic Winner
"I began wearing a Q-Link pendant about three months ago. Since then I have focused with greater clarity and have performed better under pressure... the greatest benefit I have to show is my first PGA Tour victory, which I am ecstatic to say Q-Link played a big role in."

Mark Calcavecchia
Broke 48 year PGA scoring record while wearing Q-Link
"When I started wearing the Q-Link in 2001 it was the best streak of playing golf I have ever had. I feel calmer, less nervous and less anxious, which is a good thing in professional golf."

Lorena Ochoa
2006 LPGA Player of the Year
Winner of 3 LPGA Titles
Won 6 times wearing Q-Link in 2006
"Since I started using my Q-Link, I have won 3 times and I feel calmer in tough situations, it really makes a difference under pressure. It works for me!

Bruce Fleisher
U.S. Senior Open Winner
"The tournament before the Senior Open, I put on the Q-Link and finished second. The next week I went out and won the Open. I definitely feel calmer since I began wearing the Q-Link. I would have to say in situations where I hit a bad shot, it didn't bother me as much. I find it easier to recover now from a bad shot. I don't know how it works or what it does, but if you ask me if I'm going to take it off, I say hell no! You don't fool with success!"

Birdie Kim
Women's U.S. Open Champion
"The Q-Link has helped me with my energy and focus on and off the course and it played a significant role in my victory at the U.S. Open."

My reason for choosing Q-Link - I have experienced focused, "in-the-zone," golf but these moments have been far and few between - so I wonder if the Q-Link can help me relax more during critical shots or putts and gain a better focus.

I will let you know. If anyone has any personal experience with Q-Link and you do not work for the company or sell the product- feel free to post comment.

Good luck with your golf game!