Shaving Cut with Straight Razor

Could have been worse. This was the only cut I got when the first time shaving with a straight razor. The thing is so sharp, it didn't even hurt. The cut did bleed for awhile because not enough collagen was exposed. It was my fault, not the blade's, because I wasn't sure how to hold it with my right hand and shave the right side of my face (thanks YouTube!). Probably needed more lather as well. I am using this kelp stuff, but maybe I will try the usual shaving gel next time, and do some more face prep to make sure the skin is soft. You can also see that there are still some whiskers meaning the shave was not well done. Putting sharp steel next to your jugular was not something I was accustomed to. UPDATE: a few months later and I can't imagine shaving with anything else but a straight razor. Only a few nicks here and there. I've had less in-grown hairs and more confidence after you've handled a blade for the day.

Coagulation Cascade

Looks like the London Underground map. The coagulation cascade is an amazing thing. Perhaps a little hyperactive, but it keeps us alive long enough to procreate. Therein lies the problem: humans were never really supposed to leave beyond their twenties or thirties. We used to live in a pretty tough world before easy chairs and microwave dinners extended our lives into the sixties and seventies. Consequently, we end up with heart attacks because our coagulation system has a hard time telling when we are bleeding versus when we have to much plaque on our arteries (which, to blood, looks like we are bleeding). I heard a doctor once say that hemophilia was just nature (or God; take your pick) trying new things. Hemophiliacs don't usually die of heart attacks...of course, they have other major issues, but the point is relevant. Same with sickle cell anemia: those with the recessive trait have good resistance to Malaria but poor life expectancy.