Good morning, Sir and Druid! This isn't a question, but I just thought I'd log on to show you a scientific, peer-reviewed paper (in case you hadn't seen it) which proves concretely that your (/D. Fortune's) definition of magic is real. https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/113/29/8168.full.pdf The tl;dr -- this paper is easily summarized: bodily consumption of blood sugar in human subjects tracked with _perceived_ time, (sped up or slowed down in accordance with wall clocks that were subtly altered), rather than real time. So this is an experiment where science and magic agree and reinforce each other. Scientifically speaking, although I'm not a biologist or brain scientist, but as far as I know, it is perfectly reasonable to think of the brain as analogous to a combustion engine, and blood sugar (glucose) is the only fuel which it burns. If your brain engine is "revving faster", due to an accelerated perception of time, then it consumes more fuel. Less fuel if it is "revving slower". Perfectly logical, and proven in a lab by this experiment. But speaking as a diabetic myself, (mine is well-controlled, but I had a bad incident once, as with many diabetics, which forced me to pay attention to blood sugar) -- blood sugar has an _IMMENSE_ impact upon one's mood, and therefore perceptions. An immense impact, real, concrete, but difficult to quantify with formulae. Optimal blood sugar produces clarity and efficiency of thought -- too high or too low, in my experience, and a person will experience either "brain fog" (shutting down of perceptions), or anger and irritability (altered perceptions), etc. It seems to vary a lot with the person. (And a longstanding theory of mine is that the excessive amounts of sugar in the American diet contribute to the peculiar American irrationality that even the most obtuse observers are forced to acknowledge these days.) It should go without saying that, although this experiment used wall clocks that were subtly altered to run fast or slow... a competent magician can produce the same effect at will with non-mechanical means. Launch into a boring speech, and your subjects will perceive time as slower, etc. So there you have it. Next time you encounter a "scientific skeptic" who doesn't believe D. Fortune's definition of magic is valid, you can show them this paper. If they are willing to admit that blood sugar holds a large influence over brain function, then, case closed. I searched your dreamwidth archives for "blood sugar" and found no entries, so I am hoping you haven't seen this paper before. If you're aware of it, pardon the repetition.
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branchandroot
Scientific proof that magic exists
Date: 2021-12-27 01:22 pm (UTC)https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/113/29/8168.full.pdf
The tl;dr -- this paper is easily summarized: bodily consumption of blood sugar in human subjects tracked with _perceived_ time, (sped up or slowed down in accordance with wall clocks that were subtly altered), rather than real time.
So this is an experiment where science and magic agree and reinforce each other. Scientifically speaking, although I'm not a biologist or brain scientist, but as far as I know, it is perfectly reasonable to think of the brain as analogous to a combustion engine, and blood sugar (glucose) is the only fuel which it burns. If your brain engine is "revving faster", due to an accelerated perception of time, then it consumes more fuel. Less fuel if it is "revving slower". Perfectly logical, and proven in a lab by this experiment.
But speaking as a diabetic myself, (mine is well-controlled, but I had a bad incident once, as with many diabetics, which forced me to pay attention to blood sugar) -- blood sugar has an _IMMENSE_ impact upon one's mood, and therefore perceptions. An immense impact, real, concrete, but difficult to quantify with formulae. Optimal blood sugar produces clarity and efficiency of thought -- too high or too low, in my experience, and a person will experience either "brain fog" (shutting down of perceptions), or anger and irritability (altered perceptions), etc. It seems to vary a lot with the person. (And a longstanding theory of mine is that the excessive amounts of sugar in the American diet contribute to the peculiar American irrationality that even the most obtuse observers are forced to acknowledge these days.)
It should go without saying that, although this experiment used wall clocks that were subtly altered to run fast or slow... a competent magician can produce the same effect at will with non-mechanical means. Launch into a boring speech, and your subjects will perceive time as slower, etc.
So there you have it. Next time you encounter a "scientific skeptic" who doesn't believe D. Fortune's definition of magic is valid, you can show them this paper. If they are willing to admit that blood sugar holds a large influence over brain function, then, case closed.
I searched your dreamwidth archives for "blood sugar" and found no entries, so I am hoping you haven't seen this paper before. If you're aware of it, pardon the repetition.