The internal clock

J

Jamesh Bond

Joined
Jan 14, 2007
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We all have it, but how attuned are we.?

I am not. I know how to estimate the time of day by the sun, as long as I know what time sundown currently is. But that's about all I got.

It's interesting to ponder how ancient people timed sensitive things like dyes, herbal tinctures, or foods like rice.

Did they just sense it? Build primitive timers?

Does you guys know how to gauge the passing of time, through cool tricks, or through becoming more attuned to our internal clocks?

This would be very useful when cooking outdoors, among other things.

I'm sick of burning food! Hope to see some interesting conversation.

Thx.
 
Sundials and solar powered gshocks. :)

I can somewhat tell time in places I know intimately... i.e. I already know for sure which way is north, so you can kind of work out what time it is based on where the sun or moon is in the sky. It is fiddly though because the length of the days changes with the seasons.
 
Thx for the reply.

More interested here how to measure Elapsed Time without modern equipment. When I'm outdoors, the time of day is usually irrelevant since I don't wanna go home!
 
Some things have a sound when cooking, or maybe you learn that a certain task takes the time needed for another thing to happen.

When I'm out, time of day matters less than hours of sun left. So I use the hand trick to keep track of my daylight. It helps compensate for terrain, looks kinda funny, and if you pull it off right, people wonder what sort of magic power you have. adds to the credibility.
 
Now we're talking!

I like the "correlation to other tasks" concept. Noice.

Agreed RE the hand trick. Ever notice how polarizing your skills can be with others? I noticed Sheeple tend to fall in either one of 2 extreme groups when they witness me sharpen a knife on a rock, make friction fire, estimate sundown, etc. They either think I'm the coolest being since Yoda, or the creepiest creepshow since Willard.

Gotta love Sheeple.
 
I wake up at about 5 am everyday. My alarm clock goes off at 5:30. I can usually tell what time it is within about an hour. The only thing that will throw me is when I take an afternoon nap.
 
Not to start a debate, but as soon as I stop thinking of people as sheeple, and simply as people who have not experienced the same things I have, all attitudes, mine and theirs change. But that might come from the fact that I make a living teaching people things they would not otherwise gain access to in a regular setting. I also find it helps me avoid actor-observer bias, at least in myself.

Danke42, I think you hit the nail on the head, why a lot of people think rice can only be cooked in a rice cooker, they don't know what they are looking for, and that it is hard. Of course this can be avoided by rice cooking methods that don't require a lot of supervision, steaming, or cooking in a broth.
 
The blind dispel many of the internal clock myths. Internal clocks rely on some external stimulation/input.
 
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gadgetgeek said:
Not to start a debate, but as soon as I stop thinking of people as sheeple, and simply as people who have not experienced the same things I have, all attitudes, mine and theirs change. But that might come from the fact that I make a living teaching people things they would not otherwise gain access to in a regular setting. I also find it helps me avoid actor-observer bias, at least in myself.

Danke42, I think you hit the nail on the head, why a lot of people think rice can only be cooked in a rice cooker, they don't know what they are looking for, and that it is hard. Of course this can be avoided by rice cooking methods that don't require a lot of supervision, steaming, or cooking in a broth.
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Very good attitude, and one I wish I had. My personal exposure has caused the opposite. You're lucky to have a situation where people came to learn from you.

Since we're on rice, and obviously this is one thing that triggered posting this question here. What method besides steaming works when you fellows do it?

I'm a pretty awesome cook, if do say so myself, whether stove or fire. Also spent an unhealthy amount of time studying how to cook it right. Yeah you can pre soak or boil the crap outta it, but it ends up more like congee. I also realize that that cultures who perfected rice also prolly perfected a timer too. Still be pretty cool to be able to time mine without one, and have it turn out as well as the other meals I can make outdoors.

I disagree with the earlier statement that primitive living isn't fun or convenient. If that is one's view, it makes me wonder what reason they have for being on a forum to talk about it. I personally Iike to dabble in the old ways because it IS fun. Also hella convenient to be able to live off the land comfortably. Guess it depends on your own personal reasons, expectations, and skill level.
 
Internal clocks are great !
I was in the living room talking with a friend /.Mid sentance I got up and said 'it's done , let's eat ' He said ' wait a minute !!! ' There's no clock in this room , you're not wearing a watch so how do you know it's done ?? It was perfect timing , yet without clock etc. I just knew , my internal clock ! Handy thing to have !
 
I wouldn't say they come to me specifically, its more that I'm there, and I'm in control of the interesting thing to do. If they want to watch clouds all day, thats okay too. As far as the general attitude, its a conscious choice. I've met a lot of knife/wilderness guys who use that as an excuse for anti-social behavior. I'm not a terribly social person, but at the very least I try to act civilized. not saying that you don't. Just in comparison of life experience, mine has been that way, and that is largely due, I think, to the career's I've had. I've had mostly customer facing jobs, I can't afford to have people upset with something I've done.

When I'm doing rice in a lazy way and don't want to pay attention to it, I make it in soup, so all I have to do is let it boil for a while. Selection is also important. Some types get stickier, wild rice will hold its form longer.
 
Interestingly, my customer service work was actually a huge factor in my eventual disillusionment of the general masses. I've tried to look past alot of the crap and stay positive, but ended up weary of being consistently disappointed. I still love people, just good ones. Quality over quantity. Anyway, I envy how your perspective ended up.

Anyway, to end the derailment, let's get back to food.

How bout boiled eggs? Any visual cues one could look for to avoid chalky green fart yolks?
 
We generally have a drink of water, Take a Piss, eat a snack etc about the same times everyday.
Bio Clocks abound!
 
Mine is terribly accurate. Annoyingly so. I have a bad habit of waking up about 3 minutes before my alarm goes off each morning.

Around lunch time is the only time I feel like time slips away from me. Between 10am and 2pm during this time of year I will sometimes lose track of what time it is.

But as far as timing things like cooking? I am not great at it, as is evidenced by how many times I've eaten overcooked meat in my life...
 
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