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Archive - May 2008 Posted May-23-08 14:14:36 PDT "We can hear you out there
You occupy the barstools of Americas imagination
You take advantage of patriotism
While enjoying the freedoms those you mock have fought for
Those freedoms that our brothers have died for
You think you can hide behind those freedoms
But we will find you
You will pay for your lies
And here you will be exposed"
-The Voice of Freedom Posted May-18-08 14:41:12 PDT Nothing goes better with Ol' Frisky's world famous potato salad than his finger lickin' fried chicken ala Granny McCord and corn on the cob with fresh drawn butter sprinkled generously with freshly milled pepper. Posted May-17-08 20:53:30 PDT Su Wong marries Lee Wong. The next year, the Wongs have a new baby.
The nurse brings over a lovely, healthy, bouncy, but definitely a Caucasian, WHITE baby boy.
'Congratulations,' says the nurse to the new parents. 'Well Mr. Wong, what will you and Mrs. Wong name the baby?'
The puzzled father looks at his new baby boy and says, 'Well, two Wong's don't make a white, so I think we will name him... Sum Ting Wong
Posted May-17-08 19:51:57 PDT Updated May-18-08 01:57:54 PDT Posted May-17-08 19:04:56 PDT Tonight on the Discovery Channel,in the Dirtiest Jobs series,is the position of turkey inseminator.Now that is one job I never had any inkling that it might be available.
Get your resumes out!!! Posted May-17-08 12:15:06 PDT Classic Alcoholic Behavior in the First Stage of Alcoholism
In the early stage of alcoholism, drinking is no longer social but becomes a means of psychological escape from inhibitions, problems, and stress.
Stated differently, early in the disease an individual starts to depend on the mood altering capabilities of alcohol.
 Also at this early stage of alcoholism, a gradual increase in tolerance develops, meaning that increasing amounts of alcohol in order to "feel the buzz" or to "get high."
It is typical for people in the early stage to start gulping a few drinks before attending a social function and increasing social drinking to 3 to 5 drinks per day.
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors in the first stage of alcoholism
- Lack of recognition by the person that he or she is in the early stages of a progressive illness
- Boasting and a "big shot" complex
- Gross Drinking Behavior - more frequent drinking of greater amounts
- Increasing tolerance
- An ability to drink great amounts of alcohol without any apparent impairment
- Drinking is not social but a psychological escape from stress and problems
- A conscious effort to seek out more drinking opportunities
Classic Alcoholic Behavior in the Second Stage of Alcoholism
In the next stage of alcoholism, the need to drink becomes more intense. Typically at this stage, the person starts to drink earlier in the day.
As tolerance increases, the person drinks because of dependence on alcohol, rather than because of psychological stress relief.
 During this stage, loss of control does not yet happen on a regular basis; it is, however, gradually observed by others such as friends and family members.
Also at this stage of the disease, the drinker may begin to feel shame and to worry about his or drinking. Frequently, drinkers unsuccessfully attempt to stop drinking. At times they may change brands of alcohol to switch from hard liquor or wine to beer.
To help quiet the internal conflict they now experience, they start to resort to denial of the problem. During this stage, physical symptoms such as hand tremors, blackouts, hangovers, and stomach problems increase. Rather than focusing on their drinking as the cause of the many problems they face, they start to blame others and things external to themselves.
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors in the second stage of alcoholism:
- Blaming problems on others and on things external to themselves
- Increasing tolerance
- Drinking because of dependence rather than for stress relief
- Sporadic loss of control
- Increasing physical problems
- Denial
- Unsuccessful attempts to stop drinking
- Increasing physical problems
- Feelings of guilt and shame
- Sneaking extra drinks before social events
- More frequent blackouts
- Chronic hangovers
| According to a 1999 report by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6,374 youth from the ages of 15 to 20 were killed in auto accidents. Alcohol use was documented in 2,238 (35%) of these deaths. |
Classic Alcoholic Behavior in the Third Stage of Alcoholism
 In the next stage of alcoholism, the loss of control becomes common, meaning that the person is unable to drink according to his or her intentions. For instance, once the person takes the first drink, he or she can no longer control what will happen, even though the intention might have been to have two or three drinks. During this stage of the disease, the drinker starts to experience serious financial, relationship, and work-related problems.
In addition, he or she starts to avoid friends and family and experiences a loss of interest in things that used to be important. Also common during this stage are "eye-openers," that is, drinks that are taken whenever the person awakens. Eye-openers are usually taken to calm the nerves, lessen a hangover, or to quiet their feelings of remorse the drinker experiences after a period of time without a drink.
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are the third leading cause of the preventable deaths
in the United States. |
 As the drinking increases the person starts to neglect most things of importance, even necessities such as food and shelter. Ironically, at this stage of the disease, rather than experiencing an increase in tolerance, the drinker experiences a DECREASE in alcohol tolerance, meaning that less alcohol is needed to feel the effects of alcohol.
And finally, during this stage, the drinker frequently makes half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid. Due to the fact that drinkers will not admit the extent of their drinking, however, they rarely receive any lasting medical treatment. Even when they disclose a small part of the "truth" regarding their drinking behavior with their doctor or with a health care practitioner, they usually fail to follow through with the medical instructions, thus accomplishing little, if anything of value regarding their disease.
| Approximately 53% of adults in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives has a drinking problem. |
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors in the third stage of alcoholism:
- Loss of control have become a pattern
- Serious financial, relationship, and work-related problems
- The development of an alibi system - an elaborate system of excuses for their drinking
- Aggressive and grandiose behavior
- Eye-openers
- Loss of interests
- The start of physical deterioration
- Avoidance of family and friends
- Frequent violent or destructive behavior
- A decrease in alcohol tolerance
- An increase in failed promises and resolutions to one's self and to others
- Unreasonable resentments
- Problems with the law (e.g, DUIs)
- Neglect of necessities such as food
- Loss of willpower
- Increased tremors
- Half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid
| Statistics reveal that for American employers, alcohol abuse accounts for roughly 67% of total number of substance abuse complaints. |
Classic Alcoholic Behavior in the Fourth Stage of Alcoholism
The fourth and final stage of alcoholism is characterised by a chronic loss of control. In the earlier stages of the disease, the person may have been successful in maintaining a job. Now, however, drinking starts earlier in the day and usually continues throughout the day. Very few, if any full-time jobs can be maintained once a person is in this state. In the earlier stages of dependency, the alcoholic had a choice whether he or she would take the first drink. Once the alcoholic had the first drink, he or she usually lost all control and would then continue drinking. In the last stage of alcoholism, however, alcoholics no longer have a choice: they must drink.
| In the United States, 66% of the population consumes alcohol. |
During the last stage of alcoholism, benders are typical. That is, in this stage, the alcoholic gets helplessly drunk and may remain in this condition for days at a time. The unattainable goal for the alcoholic at this time is to find the feeling of euphoria they once experienced. In this stage, the alcoholic manifests an utter disregard for everything, including food, shelter, family, and job. These occasional "flights into oblivion" are best described as drinking to get away from the problems caused by drinking.
| In simple economic terms, alcohol-related issues and problems in the United States cost society almost $200 billion per year. In human terms, the cost of the following alcohol-related issues cannot be calculated: fatalities, injuries, illnesses, broken homes, wife battering, and child abuse, failed health, and destroyed lives. |
In the second or third stages of alcoholism the alcoholic's hands may have trembled slightly on mornings after getting drunk. In the final stage of alcoholism, however, alcoholics get "the shakes" whenever they try or are forced to abstain from drinking. These tremors are an indication of a severe nervous disorder that now affects the entire body. When "the shakes" are combined with hallucinations, the result is known as "the DTs" or delirium tremens, a potentially fatal form of alcohol withdrawal if the alcoholic does not receive immediate medical attention. After an attack of the DTs, many alcoholics promise to never drink again. Sadly, most of them do not and can not fulfill their promise, and so they eventually return to drinking, and the process starts all over again.
In the final stage of alcoholism, having an easily accessible supply of alcohol close at hand (to avoid "the shakes") becomes the most important thing in the life of the alcoholic. During this stage, the alcoholic will do almost anything to get the alcohol they require. Once the alcohol is secured, the alcoholic will usually hide their bottles so that they can get a drink whenever they need it, which usually means any hour of the day or the night.
| In one survey that focused on college drinking behavior during a one-month period of time, 27.4% of American college students across the nation had driven a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol during this 30-day time period. |
The following represents some of the classic alcoholic behaviors in the fourth stage of alcoholism:
- An obsession with drinking
- An obsession with drinking
- Persistent remorse
- Continual loss of control
- Indefinable fears
- The possibility of alcoholic psychosis
- Impaired thinking
- Vague spiritual desires
- Moral deterioration
- The "DTs"
- Devaluation of personal relationships
- Loss of tolerance for alcohol
- Unreasonable resentments and hostility toward others
- "The shakes"
- Nameless fears and anxieties such as feelings of impending doom or destruction
- Auditory and visual hallucinations
- The collapse of the alibi system
- Benders, or lengthy intoxications
- The realization of being out of control
Posted May-17-08 11:32:11 PDT
A very self-important yuppie attending a recent football game, took it
upon himself to explain to Ol' Frisky Dog sitting next to him why it was
impossible for the older generation to understand his generation. 'You
grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one,' the yuppie
said, loud enough for many of those nearby to hear.
'The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space
travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We
have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed
processing'
Pausing to take another drink of soda, Ol' Frisky Dude took advantage
of the break in the student's litany and said, 'You're right, son. We
didn't have those things when we were young....so we invented them.
Now tell me you arrogant little smart ass, what are you doing for the
next generation?'
The applause was resounding.
Posted May-16-08 13:34:46 PDT Updated May-16-08 13:56:31 PDT My dear friend Elly's Mother passed away last night in a nursing home after a month's suffering and progressive bodily failures that led to her inevitable death.
The family had been gathered and were there when the comfort care medications were administered to ease the journey towards the final ending.Those who were there to accompany Mom on her way were traumatised by the body's struggles to maintain life and breath in spite of her supposedly noit being aware of the discomforts.Mom was in that state of fighting the inevitable for several hours during which time several family memebers had to be taken away because of the distress.
This example is is all too often repeated and so unnecesary.Modern medical procedures and medications extend the life span to beyond what is normal yet in the very end,the same professionals will not assist in ending the agonies experienced by all concerned.There are a very few exceptions where the state legislatures and voters have enabled laws to be passed that allow death with dignity.
The very implications that one should not interfere with God's natural plan is so ludicrous considering the permissable interferring with the extension of lives through modern medical breakthroughs and prescription medicines.One should not be allowed while disallowing the other.Think about that from that aspect rather than a philosophical viewpoint that cannot be rationaly upheld. Posted May-14-08 12:46:21 PDT Remember,the new FB change over doesn't take effect until the 19th so rest easy and prepare for the inevitable.I agree that sellers will be unmercifully submerged in negatives from buyers who make no effort to understand shipping prices and times.One of the biggest drawbacks that I see in the seller presentations are the multitude of variations in the listings each dictating unique terms.
I know that when I scroll through the items,I wind up having to spend too much time reading the fine print.I think it would be much better if Ebay and the sellers met to arrive at a mutual set of standards that everybody can live with,eliminating the tremendous amount of time spent reading the various entries plus the misunderstandings that make both buyers and sellers angry.
In addition,not everybody is capable of writing a foolproof listing which causes confusion between the seller and buyer.We don't necessarily say what we intended when we write out our words.I realize that pointing out that there are problem areas makes some people angry but to think that they can never improve is ludicrous at the least.I have watched some bloggers complain that the stupid buyer didn't read the listing when in fact,upon checking,it was the listing at fault.Again,we don't necessarily say what we intended to project.
An example,a teacher prepares a test for the students,doing the very best that they can.Regardless,there will be a certain number of questions that are not understood by the majority and in no way does it indicate that the students don't know the subject material.It is just badly written questions.Those entries are eliminated from the grading standards as not being valid.The same principle applies to listings or whatever a person prepares.Over time,it is refined to be widely understood and acceptable by the majority reading the material.
JMHO based on experience and education.
Posted May-13-08 16:49:58 PDT Updated May-13-08 21:29:14 PDT I just wonder if I am over sensitive.People who say that they are out to have fun don't take into consideration the adults who grew up as the one never chosen to be on a team except for last.Were laughed at because of their looks,clothing,religion,race,color,creed,economic stautus,where they lived,etc.And many scars were formed as a result that were carried on into adult life.So there is nothing funny about that type of discussion.It is selfish and self centered at other people's expense.Try walking a mile or even 10 feet in those adults shoes.There are so many things in life that are worthy of having fun over but there are as many unworthy that actually hurt people.I don't think that is the purpose for many here.Some yes,that's all they know.
We all know people who have confided in us that they were the subject of such bully tactics.We have seen that pain in their eyes as they try to adjust to an adult world that really isn't different from the problems of the playground with the exception that the spears and darts thrown by words hurt even more.
It's one thing to say that each person is responsible for their own way of thinking but we as adults have to be considerate of others as well. Posted May-10-08 17:47:15 PDT
Written By Patrick Mathieu —
I have a question for you.
I want you to be really honest with yourself when you answer this question:
How much of your life is dedicated to “being right”?
I’m currently taking a seminar series and one of the things that has come out of that seminar is the idea that we waste an awful lot of time and energy focusing on the idea of being “right”.
If you honestly reflect on this, you’ll see that I’m right! (ha!)
But the real issue isn’t about being right or wrong. The real issue is about how long you hold onto that feeling of righteousness. It’s also about the cost of that sort of mindset.
Let me give you an example: Two friends are driving somewhere new for the first time. They are old friends and haven’t seen each other in a while so they have a lot to discuss. They are having a fantastic conversation when the road comes to an end and they can only turn left or right. There are no signs to indicate which way they should go and the directions they were given didn’t include this information either. One friend, we’ll call him Mr. Left, says “I think we should go left.” The other friend, Mr. Right, says: “No, I’m positive that we should go right.” But Mr. Left is behind the steering wheel and decides to go with his instinct, so they turn left.
Now I want you to consider two scenarios that unfold from this point.
Scenario 1
Mr. Right is very vocal about his opposition to the decision to go left. “You’re wrong. This is the wrong way. Turn around and go back,” he tells his friend. But they continue driving. Mr. Right, convinced that they are going the wrong way, cannot sit still. He keeps fidgeting in his seat and steaming over the fact that his friend didn’t listen to him. For his part, Mr. Left can sense his friend’s displeasure and is now getting worried about whether or not he made the correct decision. Twenty minutes later, it is very clear that they made the wrong choice at the intersection, so they turn around. Mr. Left feels very bad about this. “See, I TOLD YOU SO.” says Mr. Right. Clearly he was correct. The facts have supported his position. But then why doesn’t he feel any better? As they drive back, his mind has escalated beyond being upset that his friend didn’t listen to him and has now started thinking about all the other times his friend didn’t listen to him. And about all of the other people in his life who might have dismissed his ideas or opinions. ANOTHER twenty minutes and they are back at the same intersection, only this time they proceed in the correct direction. “We’re now forty minutes later than we would have been if only you had listened to me!” yells Mr. Right. Ten minutes later they arrive at the destination. They are both very stressed out and neither of them is speaking to one another.
Scenario 2
In this scenario, Mr. Left still decides to go left and Mr. Right still thinks that this is the wrong decision. However in this scenario Mr. Right has let go of the need to be right. The two men continue their conversations and appreciate the new scenery. After twenty minutes, it is very clear that they made the wrong choice at the intersection so they turn around. “Told ya so!” jokes Mr. Right. Twenty minutes later they pass the intersection without comment because they are too busy with their engaging conversation. Ten minutes after that they arrive at their destination, having had an extra forty minutes of fantastic discussion.
So, how important is it to you to be right?
Oftentimes we are given a choice between being right and having peace. Peace of mind and peace in our relationships. I’m certainly not advocating that you let people walk all over you in the name of “keeping the peace”. You should still stand up for what you believe is right. My advice is to let go of the need to be right as soon as the decision is made, because if you cling to it beyond that point, you are living in the past. And living in the past can only lead to suffering. Living in the past breeds regrets and resentments. And you and I are above that. We’re after lives that are FEARLESS, FOCUSED and FREE FROM REGRETS, aren’t we?
(You know I’m right!)
ENJOY NOW!
Posted May-06-08 22:58:01 PDT Posted May-06-08 22:00:08 PDT Posted May-06-08 21:49:13 PDT Updated May-06-08 21:50:21 PDT Posted May-06-08 20:05:33 PDT Updated May-06-08 23:04:02 PDT Posted May-06-08 19:35:47 PDT  m Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
a·lum·nus 
| 1. |
a graduate or former student of a specific school, college, or university. |
| 2. |
a former associate, employee, member, or the like: He invited all the alumni of the library staff to the party. |
[Origin: 1635–45; < L: foster son, pupil, equiv. to al- (s. of alere to feed, support) + -u- (< stem-vowel *-o- in interior syllable) + -m( i) nus, orig. passive participial suffix ( cf. adult, old), akin to Gk -menos; see phenomenon] —Usage note Alumnus (in Latin a masculine noun) refers to a male graduate or former student; the plural is alumni. An alumna (in Latin a feminine noun) refers to a female graduate or former student; the plural is alumnae. Traditionally, the masculine plural alumni has been used for groups composed of both sexes and is still widely so used: the alumni of Indiana University. Sometimes, to avoid any suggestion of sexism, both terms are used for mixed groups: the alumni/alumnae of Indiana University or the alumni and alumnae of Indiana University. While not quite equivalent in meaning, the terms graduate and graduates avoid the complexities of the Latin forms and eliminate any need for using a masculine plural form to refer to both sexes.
I am an alumni of three schools,colleges and universities not to mention many other qualifying groups.That they are indeed real is testified by the many alumni associations that today are the backbones of many institutions of higher learning. Posted May-05-08 19:07:09 PDT Updated May-05-08 19:15:29 PDT How many mates say to their other,"I'm sorry,I will never do that again"?"I will never beat you again,never abuse you again,never cheat on you again,never gamble away the house money again.never get drunk again".How many have experienced not having enough money to buy food for the children let alone the family?
Until the next time.
Change has to come from within.To effect a change for somebody else is to cause that relationship to fail and quickly.
Honesty,Loyalty,Fidelity,Respect,Compassion,Empathy,Generosity all make up the person .Show me a person who is lacking in any of these and I will show you a relationship in turmnoil.
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