SLEEP

Sleep Disorders

●     Chris suffers from Sleep Apnea

●     Jeremy suffers from Restless Leg Syndrome (probably – not diagnosed)

●     Alan suffers from Sleep Deprivation (while on his boat trips)

Why Do We Sleep?

●     Chemical levels change significantly.

●     Leading theories indicate this is a form of adaptive evolution, so that we’re not active and ‘wasting’ energy during unproductive hours of the day.

○     If this is the case, we could (theoretically) use chemical therapy to adapt the human race to not need sleep.  Ever.

What About Naps?

●     The Art of the Caffeine Power Nap

Sleeping in can help you “catch up” from a busy, sleepless week

Dr David Dinges, who led the study, said: “The additional hour or two of sleep in the morning after a period of chronic partial sleep loss has genuine benefits for continued recovery of behavioural alertness.”

Congress passes legislation requiring airline pilots to get a good night’s sleep

Among the new requirements, is the creation of a national pilot itinerary intended to reduce pilot fatigue, by more efficiently scheduling flights (no more 24+ hour shifts)

DREAMS

Do dreams matter?

●     Centuries of belief & tradition tell us that dreaming is an altered, perhaps “higher” state of consciousness which reveals truths about ourselves and the world around us.

●     Modern neuroscience tells us that dreams are nothing more than the random firing of memory-related neurons, and that our mind attempts to catalogue these firings into worthwhile narratives while we sleep, for easy access (kind of like indexing a hard drive?).

●     Symbology

○     The idea that specific imagery in a dream ALWAYS means the same thing, for everyone.

●     Deja Vu (not the strip club, the phenomenon)

○     Has never been reproduced in a laboratory setting (drugs, MRI, etc)

How to Lucid Dream

Lucid Dreams allow you to be aware that you are dreaming, without waking up. (Usually)

Another “how to” and information blog:  https://www.dreamlucid.info/

Lead Designer of Fallout 3 Designs in his Dreams

Emil Pagliarulo: “My dreams are usually so coherent that I’d say seven out of ten times, they’re very normal and I can wake up and remember everything that happened. I have designed scenarios in my sleep… It’s started happening in the last few years. Some of my best ideas have come to me when I’ve been dreaming, and they’re fleshed out enough that I can wake up and start writing them down.”

Interesting dream facts

FUN LINKS

Hallucinations, by XKCD.com

“The Dream Machine” a charming indie gaming title

●     Available for PC, Mac or Linux (just requires Flash 8)

●     Beta sign-ups now available, game is not yet released

TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP

10 Ways for better sleep

The Mayo Clinic says stop being stupid

Help Crowd Source Jupiter@Nite (and other JB shows) News:

●     Sign up for Google Reader

●     Sign up for Google Buzz (Optional.. But the best way for everyone to discuss topics)

●     Subscribe to the Jupiter”@”Nite Google Reader Bundle

○     The Linux Action Show Bundle

○     LOTSO Bundle