The Origins of Dinosaurs

So, I was thinking about what to write about and while flipping through my Great Book of Predatory Animals and decided to write something about the origins of dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs originated during the Triassic Period, more than 230 million years ago, in a world very different from our own. Most of Earth’s land was joined into the supercontinent Pangaea, and the climate was generally warm and seasonally dry. The largest land animals belonged to a broad reptile group called the archosaurs, which also gave rise to crocodilians and pterosaurs.

Within the archosaurs, a lineage of lightly built, two-legged animals evolved longer hind limbs and an upright posture, placing the legs beneath the body rather than sprawling to the sides. These changes made movement more efficient and helped distinguish the earliest dinosaurs and their closest relatives from many other Triassic reptiles.

Some of the oldest widely accepted dinosaur fossils come from Late Triassic rocks in South America. Early forms such as Eoraptor and Herrerasaurus were relatively small compared with the giants that appeared later. They walked mainly on two legs, had grasping hands, and possessed teeth suited to varied diets, ranging from meat-eating to more general feeding.

Dinosaurs did not immediately dominate the land. For millions of years they lived alongside numerous other reptiles, including large predators and heavily armoured herbivores. Their early history was therefore one of gradual diversification rather than sudden conquest.

By the end of the Triassic, major environmental disruptions and extinction events eliminated many competing groups. Dinosaurs survived and expanded into newly available ecological roles. During the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, their descendants evolved into an extraordinary range of animals, from enormous, long-necked sauropods to horned herbivores, swift predators, and feathered forms.

The story of dinosaur origins is still being refined as new fossils are discovered. What is clear is that dinosaurs began as modest members of diverse Triassic ecosystems, then flourished for more than 160 million years. One branch of small, feathered theropod dinosaurs eventually gave rise to birds, meaning dinosaurs remain part of the living world today.

 

Emphysema: Causes and Treatment

Today I am looking at Emphysema which is a long-term lung condition and a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It damages the tiny air sacs in the lungs, reducing the surface area available for oxygen exchange and making it difficult to breathe out fully. The damage cannot be reversed, but treatment can relieve symptoms, slow further decline and improve quality of life.

What causes it are things like

Smoking: Cigarette smoking is the leading cause. Cigars, pipes and repeated exposure to second-hand smoke can also contribute.

Airborne irritants: Long-term exposure to dust, chemical fumes, smoke or air pollution—especially in some workplaces—may damage the lungs.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: This uncommon inherited condition can cause emphysema, sometimes at a younger age or in people who have never smoked.

Age and susceptibility: Risk rises with age and may be influenced by genetics, childhood lung development, recurrent respiratory illness and other individual factors.

Most people with emphysema are diagnosed after age 40, commonly in their 50s, 60s or later, because lung damage usually develops slowly and symptoms may be present for years before diagnosis. People with inherited alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can develop emphysema earlier, sometimes in their 30s or 40s, especially if they smoke or are exposed to lung irritants. Age alone does not confirm emphysema; diagnosis usually involves breathing tests such as spirometry and sometimes chest imaging.

Symptoms often develop gradually and may include shortness of breath, reduced exercise tolerance, persistent cough, wheezing, chest tightness, tiredness and unintended weight loss in advanced disease. A clinician may use a medical history, examination, breathing tests such as spirometry, oxygen measurements and chest imaging. Blood testing may be recommended when alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is suspected.

How does someone treat this condition well here is what I found.

Stop smoking: Quitting is the most important step for people who smoke. A GP or pharmacist can discuss counselling, nicotine replacement therapy and prescription medicines.

Inhaled medicines: Bronchodilators relax the airway muscles; some people may also benefit from inhaled corticosteroids, particularly when exacerbations are frequent or asthma features are present.

Pulmonary rehabilitation: Supervised exercise, breathing techniques, education and nutritional support can improve stamina and confidence.

Vaccination and infection management: Recommended influenza, COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccination may reduce complications. Respiratory infections should be assessed promptly.

Oxygen therapy: Long-term oxygen may help selected people with persistently low blood oxygen levels, but it must be prescribed after proper testing.

Specialist procedures: For severe disease, selected patients may be considered for lung-volume-reduction surgery, bronchoscopy valve procedures or lung transplantation.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency care: Management includes avoiding smoke, specialist monitoring and, in some settings, disease-specific augmentation therapy.

 

Week 38 of 2026

 

After a good night I was awake and up at 4.30am, I got straight into housework, cleaning the kitchen, unpacking the dishwasher, sweeping and vacuuming all before I took my meds at 5am. I have feed two lots of birds and swept the ramp outside. As I sit here, I am thinking now what.

Tim arrived home around 9.30am, he was tired but of course he didn’t have a nap but sat doom scrolling his phone before going outside to do whatever he does outside.

By 6.30pm Tim was asleep in his chair in front of the TV, I will leave him there when I go to bed.

Steps: 7,958

Had a good night sleep waking at 4.30am to pee and yet again I couldn’t get to sleep so I got up.  After having a shower, I got started on the housework and then I walked down and posted letters.

It is a very warm day; I had the kitchen air con on for a couple of hours but after the house had cooled down, I turned it off.

I pulled out all the clothes I have bought and checked what size they were, but I didn’t sort out what was for who, but I will get around to it in the next week or so.

Steps: 10,058

DENNI’S BIRTHDAY SHE IS 14 TODAY

Another good night, woke with the alarm, no milkshake as very little milk, I remembered there was long life milk in the fridge, so I did have a milkshake.

Another warm day till around 2pm when a cool breeze arrived.

The battery in my motorised scooter isn’t holding it’s charged; I fully charged it yesterday and this afternoon when I rode, I rode it up to check the mail the battery indicator went down to one red bar, and it felt like it was going to stop.

Steps: 7.849

I slept well waking when the alarm went off, it’s much colder this morning in fact we are headed for a cold day the temp this morning is 7c and we are supposed to reach only 19c.

I decided to mop the floors I mop as well as sweep and vacuum the carpet and I also washed the ramp out the front and of course I had to clean the kitchen when I first got up as it was its usual mess.

The rest of the day was spent watching YouTube or working on letters to my penpals.

Steps:  9,530

Another good night slept till 4.36 when I needed to pee and decided to just stay up.

It is another cool morning temp of 9c with a top of 19c.

It is shopping day with Sue I am so looking forward to getting out of the house for a bit.

It has been a coldish day we had a top of only 18c.

Steps: 11,498

I was up early this morning at 4.30am it is a cold morning only 3c at 5am by 7am it was 5c.

Sue picked me up and we went to Kmart, I was able to get a new broom and more face powder.

When we arrived at the Square there was a man directing traffic, we couldn’t go the way we usually do as there were police there and some woman was arguing with the cops, when we looked in the revision mirror there was another cop car pulling up. Wish we knew what was happening.

Steps: 7,288

I slept straight through the night waking only when the alarm went off at 5am, it is a nice morning with the temp at 5.30am being 10c. There is no breeze, so I have the doors open.

I went for a walk to post a letter and check the letter box there was 4 letters for me and a parcel for Tim.

Went out for lunch at the Eastern Tiger with Kathy, Tasha, Jess, Summer and Sue I had a good time, when I got home, I had a 30-minute nap then did stuff on the computer.  

Steps: 7,839

 

 

 

Links and Photos

 

Here are this week’s links

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/09/sharing-my-world_0104305587.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/09/sharing-my-world.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/09/a-bit-of-hodgepodge.html

AN OLD PHOTO OF CHARLESTOWN ROAD AROUND 1900 AND HOW IT OOKS NOW,  THE LARGE BUILDING IN THE DISTANCE IS AROUND THE AREA SUE LIVES.

A bit about Parkinson's Part 1

 

Parkinson’s can be difficult to explain because so much of it is invisible.

People see me standing in line at the grocery store. They see me sitting at a restaurant. They see me walking through a parking lot.

What they don’t see is the battle taking place underneath the surface.

They don’t see the brain fog that makes it hard to concentrate.

They don’t see me searching for a word that I knew perfectly well just a few seconds ago.

They don’t feel the exhaustion that follows me around all day, even after a full night’s sleep.

They don’t feel the stiffness, the aching muscles, the burning feet, the internal buzzing, or the frustration of wanting my body to do something that it simply refuses to do.

Some days my feet won’t move.

Some days my balance disappears.

Some days my motivation disappears.

Some days my mind feels like it is moving through wet concrete.

Some days even my shirt hurts.

I spend so much energy trying to look normal that I have very little energy left for anything else.

Sometimes I cancel plans not because I don’t want to go, but because I simply don’t have enough gas left in the tank.

The hardest part isn’t always the symptoms themselves.

Sometimes it’s carrying a burden that nobody else can see.

There are days when my symptoms are obvious. There are other days when I look completely normal.

Those are often the days people understand the least.

Because looking okay and feeling okay are not always the same thing.

Tonsillitis: Causes and Treatment

Today we are looking at a common condition as in tonsillitis this is an inflammation or infection of the tonsils, which are two small pads of tissue at the back of the throat. It is common in children and teenagers, but adults can also get it. Tonsillitis often causes a sore throat, swollen tonsils, fever, and pain when swallowing.

My eldest daughter Kathy-Lee suffered from this a lot as a child and  into her teens.

The most common cause of tonsillitis is a viral infection, such as the viruses that cause colds or flu. Bacterial infections can also cause tonsillitis, especially group A streptococcus, which is the bacteria linked with strep throat. Tonsillitis can spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or shares utensils, because the germs that cause it can be contagious.

The symptoms are

Sore throat or scratchy throat

Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white or yellow patches

Fever

Pain or difficulty swallowing

Swollen glands in the neck

Bad breath, headache, or tiredness

The treatment depends on whether the tonsillitis is caused by a virus or bacteria. Viral tonsillitis usually gets better with rest, fluids, and comfort care, because antibiotics do not work against viruses. Helpful home care can include drinking plenty of water, resting, using warm saltwater gargles if old enough to gargle safely, eating soft foods, and using pain relief medicine as directed by a healthcare professional.

If it’s caused by bacteria, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. It is important to take the full course exactly as prescribed, even if symptoms improve earlier. In people who get tonsillitis very often, or when it causes serious problems such as breathing or swallowing difficulties, a doctor may discuss removing the tonsils in an operation called a tonsillectomy.

Tonsils are usually removed only when tonsillitis keeps coming back often or causes serious problems. A doctor may consider a tonsillectomy if someone has repeated infections, such as several bad episodes in one year, or recurring infections over a few years. It may also be considered if enlarged tonsils cause breathing problems, sleep problems, severe swallowing difficulty, or repeated abscesses around the tonsils. For many people, especially children, doctors try medicines and home care first because tonsil removal is surgery and needs recovery time.

However, even though my daughter was suffering from tonsillitis every two or three months, for years they would not remove them, this may have been because even though she was in pain she wasn’t one to complain about it.

When I was 5yrs old I had my tonsillitis and adenoids removed.

 

Week 37 of 2026

 

I woke up at 4.10am and Tim wasn’t home yet, but when I got up when the alarm went off at 5am he was home. I had to tell him a few times to go to bed because he was so tired.

It was 15c when I got up by 9am it was 18c.

At 8.30am Tim came out he hadn’t taken his night meds and was unable to settle.

Sue picked me up and we went to the cemetery meeting up with Dave & Leigh with Liarna and her boyfriend, Sandy with Temika and her boyfriend, Denni and a friend and Skylar. It was great everyone being there except for Jeannie who as usual didn’t attend.

This afternoon Tim and Tasha put my new recliner together and it is nice and comfortable. Tim also cleaned the ceiling fan in the lounge-room and the one in our bedroom.

Steps: 7,443 = 4.6k’s

Had a good night slept till the alarm went off, it is a much cooler day here. It was 12c or 53f at 5.30am.

I have nothing much to do today other than the usual housework.

I had Tasha ring the dental clinic and have me put on a waiting list to see a dentist, as all my teeth hurt every day.

I do like the new recliner.

Steps: 10,150 = 6k’s

Had a good night slept till the alarm went off, only getting up once to pee. It was only 12c or 53f at 5.30.

It is a wet morning, but the ground was dry by 9am and the temp was 16c. I started to get cold around 11am.

Drew went to KFC for Tasha and got something for me and Tim as well. Of course I ended up paying for all three of us.

Tasha came down this arvo in a state she has a shocking headache caused by the noise of the work being done.

Steps:8,434 = 5k’s

Had a good night slept till the alarm went off, only getting up once to pee. It was only 6c when I got up.

Kathy video called me she is off work and want to thank me for her birthday present which had arrived, she said she loved what she got.

Tasha rang me while I was talking to Kathy, she was in a right state she was crying and hysterically as the painters had painted her walls a cream colour, she had only painted the walls at the start of the year white and white was what she wanted. Her cries and reaction must have touch one of the workers as he made a phone call and told her they would paint them white.

Tim received a package a large portable fridge/freezer, when he opened the box there was no battery with it. He said that he messaged the seller who said there was a battery included, however, when he showed me the text it didn’t say that at all, it told him where to get one. So now he is pissed with himself.

Steps: 7,803

KATHY’S BIRTHDAY SHE IS 41 TODAY

Had a good night slept well enough was up at 4.50am, it is a cold morning but should warm up at 5am it was 8c and by 6am it was 10c.

I walked down and posted the three letters I had, haven’t done much all day as I have felt pretty drained.

I did managed to sort through some of the Christmas and birthday gifts I have put all gifts for each person into separate zip lock bags, still have a lot to sort through.

Kathy & Sydney came over to drop of Tim’s Father’s Day gift, Sydney was driving

Steps: 7,772

I had another good night, waking when the alarm went off, the temp was 6c at 5.30am.

I have been busy in the morning doing the usual housework and the laundry tried to sit and watch telly but couldn't ended up having a lay down from 10am for 30 minutes which helped.

I feel like I have not been fully with it today, not sure why that it.

Steps: 6,686

I had another good night, well up until 3am when I got up to pee and managed to wet my pants so had to change them but after that I was ok till I got up to pee again at 4.50am and decided to stay up.

Tim wanted to sleep in but was up by 6.40am he said he wasn’t able to sleep.

I walked down and posted a couple of letters.

We ordered pizza for lunch, and since I was the one paying for it, I got a stuff crust one.

Tim has helped Tasha hang her new curtains.

Steps: 7,314