Sustainable SW Blogs

Crucifixion was invented by the Persians between 300-400 b.c. It was "perfected" by the Romans in the first century b.c. It is arguably the most painful death ever invented by man and is where we get our term "excruciating." It was reserved primarily for the most vicious of criminals.  The most common device used for crucifixion was a wooden cross, which consisted of an upright pole permanently fixed in the ground with a removable crossbar, usually weighing between 75-100 lbs. Victims of crucifixion were typically stripped naked and their clothing divided by the Roman guards.

The victim was then placed on his back, arms stretched out and nailed to the cross bar. The nails, which were generally about 7-9 inches long, were placed between the bones of the forearm (the radius and ulna) and the small bones of the hands (the carpal bones).  The placement of the nail at this point had several effects. First it ensured that the victim would indeed hang there until dead. Secondly, a nail placed at this point would sever the largest nerve in the hand called the median nerve.  The severing of this nerve is a medical catastrophe. In addition to severe burning pain the destruction of this nerve causes permanent paralysis of the hand. Furthermore, by nailing the victim at this point in the wrist, there would be minimal bleeding and there would be no bones broken.


The positioning of the feet is probably the most critical part of the mechanics of crucifixion. First the knees were flexed about 45 degrees and the feet were flexed (bent downward) an additional 45 degrees until they were parallel the vertical pole. An iron nail about 7-9 inches long was driven through the feet between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones. In this position the nail would sever the dorsal pedal artery of the foot, but the resultant bleeding would be insufficient to cause death.

The resulting position on the cross sets up a horrific sequence of events which results in a slow, painful death. Having been pinned to the cross, the victim now has an impossible position to maintain.  With the knees flexed at about 45 degrees, the victim must bear his weight with the muscles of the thigh. However, this is an almost impossible task-try to stand with your knees flexed at 45 degrees for 5 minutes. As the strength of the legs gives out, the weight of the body must now be borne by the arms and shoulders. The result is that within a few minutes of being placed on the cross, the shoulders will become dislocated. Minutes later the elbows and wrists become dislocated. The result of these dislocations is that the arms are as much as 6-9 inches longer than normal.  With the arms dislocated, considerable body weight is transferred to the chest, causing the rib cage to be elevated in a state of perpetual inhalation. Consequently, in order to exhale the victim must push down on his feet to allow the rib muscles to relax. The problem is that the victim cannot push very long because the legs are extremely fatigued. As time goes on, the victim is less and less able to bear weight on the legs, causing further dislocation of the arms and further raising of the chest wall, making breathing more and more difficult.

The result of this process is a series of catastrophic physiological effects. Because the victim cannot maintain adequate ventilation of the lungs, the blood oxygen level begins to diminish and the blood carbon dioxide (CO2) level begins to rise. This rising CO2 level stimulates the heart to beat faster in order to increase the delivery of oxygen and the removal of CO2.  However, due to the pinning of the victim and the limitations of oxygen delivery, the victim cannot deliver more oxygen and the rising heart rate only increases oxygen demand. So this process sets up a vicious cycle of increasing oxygen demand-which cannot be met-followed by an ever increasing heart rate. After several hours the heart begins to fail, the lungs collapse and fill up with fluid, which further decreases oxygen delivery to the tissues. The blood loss and hyperventilation combines to cause severe dehydration.

Over a period of several hours the combination of collapsing lungs, a failing heart, dehydration, and the inability to get adequate oxygen supplies to the tissues cause the eventual death of the victim. The victim, in effect, cannot breath properly and slowly suffocates to death. In cases of severe cardiac stress, such as crucifixion, a victim's heart can even burst.  To slow the process of death the executioners put a small wooden seat on the cross, which would allow the victim the privilege of bearing his weight on his buttocks. The effect of this was that it could take up to nine days to die on a cross.  When the Romans wanted to expedite death they would simply break the legs of the victim, causing him to suffocate in a matter of minutes. At three o'clock in the afternoon Jesus said, "Tetelastai," meaning "it is finished."   He then died a human death and in that moment, all sin was washed away forever for all of mankind that choose to accept his sacrifice and follow His teachings.

Open your mind, be humbled, and seek with all your heart - He that suffered a horrible death that all mankind might be saved. It is very well worth the effort and the rewards are astounding...the promise of abundant life everlasting.  I reached out to Him and He answered me and I know He is real.  To ignore this great sacrifice only welcomes a death in eternal misery and torment. Without Him, all the pleasures and extravagance of earthly life will be but a painful memory...bound in never ending suffering and regret. If ever there was a time to think "out of the box"...it is right now.  Turn off your TV and your computer and open a Bible - and your heart.

Wall Week video coming Monday.88,95,60,0,B

Very pleased with the quality of the printing.  580 photos from my Facebook timeline over the past 10 years in a hardcover book.  I highly recommend PastBook  74,8258,0,B

Just over a month and the tomato plants are growing like weeds...79,90,50,0,W

Interesting fact about some birds including doves: The parent flew away from the nest and did the "broken wing dance" feigning injury to try to lure away what was thought to be a predator near the nest. It was a photographer...not a predator.81,91,58,0,B

From Aaron's sister:  During they day in the hospital room in the cardiac ward where Aaron is staying. My mom sent me these pictures and it’s CRAZY seeing how many people are cramped into one space. Luckily, these are some of the sweetest humans you’ll ever meet (my dad purchased 40 apple pies from McDonald’s to give to them and my mom has made cookies to share with them all).
The bottom picture is the same room, but the view at night from underneath Aaron’s hospital bed, where my mom is sleeping on a mat. You can see how family members of all of the other patients also sleep under the beds, as to be beside their loved ones who have fallen ill.
Keep in mind, there is no air conditioning.
Strength and love to ALL of these patients and their families. ❤️
I hope one day, I can help others the way others have opened their hearts to my family.From Arron's father, Steven Lawrence - a long time follower of The Field Lab:  This is the difference between $35,000 in Vietnam and between $400,00-$500,000 in the US. Both have top notch surgical staff and state-of-the-art surgical equipment and facilities, but the facilities and customs for care while patients await surgery (and post-op non-intensive care once stabilized) are very, very different. Families, not nurses, care for the patients' non-medical needs. The nursing staff only supplies the medical procedures (IVs, bandages, dispensing medication, etc.,). Family members take care of everything else and are with the patients 24/7.  Please pray for him with me and contribute what you can...GoFundMe
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

In the old battery house for my defunct wind turbines...71,75,59,0,B

For those of you signed up to attend the Hoop House class this Sunday, here is a map of where they are located on the SFCC campus.

I start cutting lumber tomorrow.68,77,53,0,W

Video Friday88,99,62,0,W

Ben and I both approve of the new delivery driver for McCoys.89,99,52,0,B

In other news...my friend Steven Lawrence who has been following the blog for a number of years is in desperate need of funds to help his son Aaron who is in a hospital in Vietnam.  They both teach English there.  Here is a link to the gofundme campaign. 

Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Big push today to get all the plywood down.  Taking a couple of days off - all the framing lumber and sheathing for the walls and roof arrives Tuesday.  80,89,60,0,B

A couple of days ago I was picking up a few things at The Little Burro store and my friend Carole was working the counter.  She was thumbing through a hard bound book of photos and I asked her about it.  It was filled with very nice quality printed photos from her Facebook page - from a company called PastBook.  I was so impressed with the quality that I ordered one that contains 580 randomly picked photos (including captions) from my Facebook timeline since I have been a member.  With the 40% discount, my cost was $63.39.  You can order books using photos from just about any source.  Hopefully it will look as good as Carole's did.  It is supposed to arrive in 7 - 10 days.  Might end up being a giveaway for a Field Lab trivia contest someday.  84,92,49,0,B

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