Random Musings - Day #9

Still a fair bit sick and trying every thing I can to rid of this cold. (Maybe too much!) I almost felt I was drowning in my own phlegm whilst sleeping. Not good! Anyhow I remember a technique of slapping chests, which kind of worked today to a degree... Which led to the question...

Why do animals beat their chest?

This often relates to our primate friend, the gorilla. It is also associated with men. Tarzan springs to mind. I am sure tribes in third world countries use this technique of beating and slapping of chests. In fact, did you know Samoa actually means "slap" in its own language and hardly surprising that there is a Samoan slap dance.

So why do animals/people do this? Is it because they are happy and in a celebration mood? Is it because they keeping themselves healthy? Is it because they get ready for battle?

According to allexperts, it is used as a defensive measure to say where do you think you are going, I'm a big boy round here, leave us alone! There are some useful gorilla facts and myths about too.

But there are health benefits from slapping the old chest. The actual medical definition is amusingly called Chest Percussion. The deliberate vibrations loosens up mucous secretions in the chest, hence helping your breathing, which is very useful for any respiratory issue, say for example a cold...

Well I am looking for flights out in February still. Yeah I know it's turning out to be a last minute thing. These days, it seems to me that there is only one real database that all travel agencies use because they appear roughly to have the same interface. Anyways, sites I use in the UK include Opodo, expedia, travelocity, statrvel and lastminute.com. Thomas Cook are still good in that they have shops available to drop into. Cheapflights gives a guide to prices from different travel agencies whilst scaruffi gives a directory of travel agencies.