cold winds
let him in

paradise lost
just the memory

meatless diet
simply made

quick steps
where

Plaques and Tangles


On the average the Alzheimer's Foundation of America declares that one victim of the disease has 1-4 family members to attend to him/her. The more the better. Obviously there is much sympathy for this slow progressive illness which overtakes  so many after 65 years today.

Alzheimer is a disorder of the brain which sees a separation, decline and destruction of nuerons (nerve cells) such as in the hippocampus which causes short term memory failure or in the celebral cortex which results in loss of language skill and good judgement. This separation of nerve cells seem to be due to two clogs in the system ie. plaques and tangles that have be found to be characteristic of the sickness. Plaques are clinging protein that form outside and around the cell walls, while tangles are twisted protein fibers that builds up inside the cell themselves.

handle with care
block on block


The mental decline begins, first goes recent memories then the older ones, command of language diminishes, loss of motor skill even to chewing and walking goes, weakening of the sensory perception so that one cannot even recognise a familiar face or object. With all this comes emotional changes due to the confusion of thoughts and faulty perceptive ability, depression, even hallucination or delusion.

The  poor victim is  thus effectively cut off from the society in which he /she lives, requiring more attention from those of us around . Families understand and respond with love.

that slip again
memories forgot

handle with care
block on block

that slip again
memories forgot

11,674 steps to the top of the Swiss mountain Niesen. Running alongside the cliff railway, this world's longest stairway is yet another reminder of the tireless human efforts to conquer space and rise above all earthly things, and to do so safely .


Niesen(Sneeze)  mountain which to the tourist joy looks onto the Black forest and Bernese Alps is also famous for is near perfect pyramid shape is often refered to as the Swiss Pyramid. In order for tourists to ascend  2,336 metres to the summit a cable car system has been put into place since 1910 and to service this system a stairway was created parallel to it all the way up the mountain. For this reason too the stairway is never open to the public except for one day only each year to facilitate the annual climbing marathon on its steps which began in 1990. Humanity races once again to conquer all available spaces on earth yet in the vastness of things all this remains a feeble exercise though admirable and exciting in it self



rising earth
under the step

shaking earth
under her step

party of parties
forbidden step