Spiritual Enlightenment

Dr. GURU speaks,

Bubbly champagne will get you more drunk than other beverages with the equivalent alcohol content. This is because the carbon dioxide gas in the bubbles increases the absorption of alcohol from the stomach and intestines. Although the small intestine is responsible for much of the absorption (over ¾), the effect of the carbon dioxide is greater in the stomach.

Try not to drink on an empty stomach. Carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread, rice, noodles, potatoes and pasta are better at reducing the rate of alcohol absorption into the bloodstream.

Try to drink plenty of cold still water in-between your alcoholic beverages, and before you go to bed.

The “hair of the dog” works, but may start you on a slippery slope to alcoholism. You are better-off having a greasy fry-up in the morning, with more glasses of water or fruit-juice, to reduce the effects of a hang-over.

The GURU must now sleep.

Dr. GURU speaks,

The outside crust of a loaf of bread is many times richer in fibre and anti-oxidants (e.g. Pronyl-lysine) than the inner crumb.

The fibre will keep your digestive system regular and help to reduce the chances of you developing haemorrhoids, diverticular disease or colon cancer. The anti-oxidants will help to slow-down the ageing process.

Dark coloured breads are better for you. Strong over-browning of bread, however, will reduce the fibre and antioxidant content.

If you don’t like the crust, try breaking it up into stuffing for a chicken-bake. This also increases the antioxidant content.

The GURU must now sleep.

Dr. GURU speaks,

This unnerving situation usually arises because the man asks the woman her age (informally), which makes her think: “how old does he think I am?”.

Teenage girls may add years to their actual age to portray a greater maturity.

Women in their twenties are more open and truthful with their age.

Women in their thirties start to notice the ageing process in themselves, and try to mask or reverse those changes. Any question about her age is an opportunity to find out whether or not her efforts have been successful.

Women in their forties and fifties may detest being asked their age, and may subvert the subject altogether.

Women in their sixties and over are more open and truthful with their age.

Men past their teenage years are normally open and truthful with their age.

My conclusion is to never ask a woman her age. Let this be yet another mystery piled alongside all the rest. What you gain from the knowledge is very often outweighed by the effect it has on her, and indirectly on you.

A person’s actual age often has little bearing on whether or not you get along with them. There are better questions to be asked, and more revealing answers to be communicated.

The GURU must now sleep.

Dr. GURU speaks,

Your first and middle names are given to you by your parents. They may be the names of important ancestors/relatives, have etymological interest to your parents, be a namesake, or simply sound nice to them.

Your surname(s) depends on the culture, religion, state or province you were born in. The legal, social, professional and private use of surnames may also vary in each of the above groups.

There are several name-change options after getting married:

1) Wife replaces her surname with her Husband’s surname;
2) Husband replaces his surname with his Wife’s surname;
3) Both retain their surnames;
4) Both retain their surnames as middle-names and take on the other’s surname;
5) Both retain their surnames and take on the other’s surname as middle-names;
6) Both surnames are hyphenated in either combination (double-barrelled surname);
7) Fuse both surnames to make one new surname;
8) Create a new surname.

Countries where married women normally use their Husband’s surname (Option 1): United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, Japan, India, USA, Canada, Australia, Gibraltar, and Falkland Islands.

Countries where women do not change their names after marriage (Option 3): Islamic countries, Spain, Belgium, China, Vietnam, and Korea.

Countries where married couples use both surnames (Option 6): Luxemburg, Belgium, and Italy.

The choice of any possible surname changes after marriage is to be left to personal preference.

Personally, I believe it is better to have two surnames which are hyphenated; one from the Mother and the other from the Father. If both people in a couple have double-barrelled surnames, on getting married, they can use the surname of the Mother from one partner and that of the Father from the other to form a new hyphenated surname. Any children are then given this double-barrelled surname. This shows respect and honour to both men and women, and helps to trace patrilinearity and matrilinearity.

The GURU must now sleep.