You Might be one of the Ignorant Republicans if you fell for any of this BS! (via fredandjedradio)

If you believe any of these statements is true, please explain to me why you are reading this blog!

1. Corporations should have the individual rights of every American person, but they should still get their corporate tax breaks. 2. Planned Parent Hood is causing the federal debt to spiral out of control by spending a fortune on killing babies. 3. God is punishing America because the Gays came out of the closet. Only the Republicans can cure the illness that causes a lust for sodomy – they just do it hidden in airport bathroom stalls. 4. We can … Read More

via fredandjedradio

From a tortured soul. . . .

Neighbor's Iris

I try to capture the good things around me to help overcome the bad things in my head.

Well, I said I’d talk about mental illness in this blog, but I haven’t been as forthcoming as I could be. Putting my feelings in words would probably help me feel better, but I never feel like doing it when I need it the most. I’ve been really needing it lately.

I can say with total belief in the fact–I’m VERY intelligent. It’s not just that I think I am, I really am. I know so many things and how to do so many things, I forget that most other people don’t. And because I have almost NO self-esteem, I hardly ever stand up for myself when challenged by someone who knows so little compared to me. Growing up, I got good grades–great grades as a matter of fact; but at home I was constantly told I was wrong. Read more

We are not smart enough to leave things to the Market. (via Dead Wild Roses)

I haven’t read the book, but I’m sure it should be required reading.

We are not smart enough to leave things to the Market. As I am often told by my free market indoctrinated friends the market will solve societies problems, if….(insert the big whingy diatribe about government interfering here) it was just left to its own devices. A sample of the pap I usually hear, coherently summarized by Mr.Chang and his book I happen to be reading right now. “We should leave markets alone, because, essentially, market participants know what they are doing – that is, they are rat … Read More

via Dead Wild Roses

Laughing Around the World (via A Feather Adrift)

Another funny, insightful, and comprehensive post from Sherry–I wish I’d written it!!!!!!

Laughing Around the World Well, HI! Half way through another week, and on Friday I’ll be heading to town to stock up on grub. That’s what we in Iowa call food. A sack of flour, a sack of sugar, some bags of beans, some salt pork, you know the routine. Meanwhile, from my telescope on the world, I see things are still in basically a chitty mess. Everyone is babbling the same old rhetoric, the same lies are perpetrated by the same suspects, the same folks seek power at anyone … Read More

via A Feather Adrift

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LinkTV

Link TV

Image via Wikipedia

I watch a lot of LinkTV, but I’ve discovered that a lot of people do not know about LinkTV. So here’s a short description of the network that I will use as a reference for people who read my posts about things I’ve learned there.

LinkTV is a non-commercial station. They get funding from donations like PBS and NPR, but without the Corporation for Public Broadcasting support. They receive money from individuals as well as grants from foundations. Here’s the statement from their funding page: Read more

Can Bacteria Make you Smarter–Or I need to get out in the garden more!

Can Bacteria Make You Smarter–News and Views by Chris Prillo.GeeksLogo
I subscribed to Chris Prillo’s email lists “YEARS” ago when he still lived in Iowa. Before he made it big with “Call for Help” on Tech TV–now the G4 Network. When he brought the tech sector to the midwest with his Gnomedex Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. And I subscribed because he had good information. His reviews were accurate and he made sure that he had plenty of stuff us little people could afford. And I was glad that someone didn’t have to live within a day trip of ocean breezes to be taken seriously in the business.

Well, Chris got on TV and became famous and then he moved! It was too hard to live in Iowa and be on TV. :-( I wish he would still host Gnomedex in the MidWest, but I guess that’s not to be. I was really disappointed because I could finally afford a trip to Des Moines from Illinois and he moved it! Now I have to figure out how to afford a trip half-way across the country in addition to paying for the conference. Poor, poor, pitiful ME! I know–BOO HOO! If I were serious about being a techy I’d just make it fit in the budget. But I digress. . . .

Well Chris left us, but he still produces great info. And has expanded his brand to encompass others into the fold of the LockerGnome universe. So I still subscribe to his stuff.

The newsletters are straight forward. A list of descriptive titles with a links. Topics cover everything from free software to social issues.

So this time he’s talking about the fact that bacteria in dirt can make your brain work better. The benefit does wear off, so like any medication or supplement, you can’t just get it once like a vaccine, it needs to be refreshed by further exposure. Read more

Self Improvement Base: A Starter Guide

Mental Health Awareness Ribbon

Image via Wikipedia

Well, I’m on a self-pity kick. Most of my posts here have been rather political in nature with a little religion and philosophy thrown in on the side. But I did state in my explanation of this site that it would also cover some of my mental health issues. And since that’s what’s bothering me the most right now, I’m taking the liberty to pour some of it out on-screen.

I found a new site that has some inspiration and advice to offer and thought I would share some of it here. The site is called “Self Improvement Base”

A Starter Guide To Self Improvement is one of the latest posts and prompted me to think about my life.

The author recommends several things to watch out for if you have self-esteem issues:

  1. A Negative Work Environment
  2. Other People’s Behaviour
  3. A Changing Environment
  4. Past Experience
  5. Negative World View
  6. Determination Theory

Of course some of these are impossible to avoid completely, with a little work anyway. But others we are able to get by without dealing with them on a regular basis. And I suppose a couple require that we overcome years of learned behaviour. I want to examine each one. I’m not going to regurgitate what I read, but what I say may not differ from the source. It’s just my musings and opinions on the subject.

#1:  A Negative Work Environment

If where you work is overly stressful, it’s time to find a new workplace–no matter how much you feel like you have no choice. And of course, don’t fall into the trap of indulging in the bad atmosphere and trying to win the competition for most negative. Instead of competing for the bottom of the emotional ladder, look for a new work situation.

#2:  Other People’s Behaviour

People who show us bad behaviour have usually lost their own self-esteem and are more than willing to take yours with them. Of course it won’t do them any good either, but they will try to take it. It may help them at the time, but in the long-run everyone involved will be damaged by it–including them. If you have someone like this as a friend, they aren’t your friend–you are their friend, but the feelings won’t be returned. Read more

How Being Negative Can Get You To The Gym

Positive Thinking...
Image via Wikipedia

via How Being Negative Can Get You To The Gym.

I read this article, not because I need motivation to get to the gym–though it would be a good idea for me (LOL)–but because I seem to think negatively most of the time. Of course I think with the wrong sort of negativity.  I think about how bad I am, not how bad “things” are.  But I thought it might appeal to me more than trying to think positive. And I was right. but I don’t know how effective it will be for me either even though it will be easier than that positive thinking psychobabble!

The idea is to think about how bad you may feel if you don’t do something rather than thinking about how good the thing will be for you. And that idea does come naturally to me. I regret almost everything I haven’t done, but there are so many things I can’t see any way that avoiding a couple would make any difference for me!

I’ve been a bit down this week–dwelling on my shortcomings is a major distraction from living when I’m in the negative pole of my bi-polarity. Unfortunately, when I’m not in the negative pole, I just think about them faster! and try harder to make them stop with frantic activity. I’ve heard that some people who experience mania actually enjoy it–like being high on drugs. I only wish that were my experience. I did find out that I’m not as strange as I thought. Others have the same diagnosis as me. I don’t remember off-hand which applies to me, but bi-polar is defined as Type I and Type II. Read more

Right Wing Watch

Traditional Values Coalition Logo

Traditional Values Coalition Logo

I just found a new website that I had to tear myself away from! Right Wing Watch

It’s unbelievable the amount of crap pumped out by the right-wing-nuts! Seeing it all in one place is enough to make a liberal cry–and then get really mad and motivated to keep speaking out!

Here’s a small sample of the headlines in just the first 2 posts:

  • Americans United: Publicly Funded Evangelical Agency Fights For Religious Discrimination.
  • County Fair: Right-wing runs with dubious claim that Obama admitted “I am a Muslim”.
  • Bruce Wilson: Angle’s Nevada PAC Promoted Crackpot Conspiracy Theories Attacking Gays, Atheists.
  • Do you know why liberals hate Sarah Plain?  Because she is beautiful.
  • Richard Land warns that “social experiments” are going to destroy America.
  • Quote of the day from the Traditional Values Coalition: ”President Obama’s latest judicial nominee–I kid you not—is a defender of serial killers, rapists and child molesters. He is set to sail through the U.S. Senate, unless you act immediately.”
  • Finally, do not even think of stealing John McMillan’s yard signs (My Comment–a Must See Video!)

I was reading and reading and reading–I had to stop before I became nauseous! I just couldn’t get enough! It’s like a big old dose of whip-ass to validate my reason for writing this blog and the other projects I have going.

It’ll be my guilty little pleasure! Maybe it’ll become yours too. That is if you can “stomach” it!

Is healthcare a right? – Reviews, News, and How To Geeks

geeks.prillo.com ;ogo

Is healthcare a right? – Reviews, News, and How To Geeks.

Geeks.Prillo.com posted another provocative post this week. In summary, the post is a clip from TheConservativePost May 14, 2009 — Andrew Wilkow, sitting in for Mark Levin, presented the most consice[sic] destruction of the liberal argument that healthcare is some sort of natural right.

The replies were abundant–7 pages worth! Unfortunately, over 20 of the replies (at least 3/page) were from one person who agreed with the clip! He spent most of his time bragging about how many gov’t programs he would NOT participate in.  I almost stopped reading the comments because of him, but I slogged through it.

So many people replied that they don’t want to support the health care system through the gov’t, but several replied supporting universal health care or offered several solutions. The naysayers even stooped to railing against immigration.

The most heinous argument for not supplying universal health care is that anyone who has an emergency can receive care to keep them alive. They fail to make note of the fact, that if you later cannot pay back the providers, you have a HUGE unpaid debt that goes on your ubiquitous credit report to the detriment of your future ability to get not only credit but a job, home insurance, and probably any insurance or even a checking account.

That’s a REAL service to the country!

Here’s what I wrote immediately on listening to the clip: Read more

My Feelings After Reading Books by Black Intellectuals (via Marcie Writes)

Another follow-up. As Marcie points out–white people are suspect as purveyors of black history, so I will defer to her to tell you directly her views of life in the history books–

My Feelings After Reading Books by Black Intellectuals It is truly an honor to read the works of Frederick Douglass and Ida B. Wells.  Carter G. Woodson is my favorite.  Ok, that’s the extent of my reading for now.  However, these people have left a huge impression on me, and I feel compelled to share what I know with youngsters.  Those coming behind me who are totally ignorant about their Black history. My challenge: What is the best way to present this message to them? I know it would make a differ … Read More

via Marcie Writes

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Black People in Black History (via Marcie Writes)

Follow-up to previous ReBlog from Marcie Writes–

Black People in Black History I have been engrossed in reading books on African American History.  REALLY ENGROSSED.  From these readings, I have discovered that black history accounts told by black people are  most accurate. While this may seem obvious, one would be amazed at how much we read about black history that is written by white people that is not true but we wouldn’t know it was NOT true because we never read books by black authors to know otherwise. I wonder if whi … Read More

via Marcie Writes

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Some History Never Changes (via Marcie Writes)

Trying out the new “Reblog” properties on WordPress.com! Reposting a post I like from Marcie Writes–

Some History Never Changes I have been indulging in African American history books, and feel more empowered by what I’m learning.  I am also disgusted about the fact that there has been little change in the treatment of black people since slavery. Yes, there are more freedoms, but we are not totally free. And, the only thing that has changed since being released from bondage is the WAY blacks are being controlled. I won’t get into a long story right now.  I’ll save that for … Read More

via Marcie Writes

Requirements for Communion?

I read an article on Beliefnet.com about Communion in the Protestant Church entitled Have Protestants Turned Communion into ‘Cheap Grace?’

The author, G. Jeffrey MacDonald, writes to make the case that by offering to Communion to just about anyone, Protestant Churches, especially mainline ones but Evangelical ones also, are depriving people of the rigors of proving they are repentant so their character can grow.

Three of the four comments following the article disagree with the author. I would concur with their position.

We are invited to Communion by Jesus in the Gospels. Mr. MacDonald points to Paul talking about Communion in 1 Corinthians, but he was admonishing that church to change its ways because they were not really communing. People brought food for the meal, but it was not shared. Some ate plentifully while others looked on in hunger. They didn’t need to repent to eat together, he was calling them to actually EAT TOGETHER! to share and commune with the whole body of Christ, not just the ones who could afford to provide a whole meal for themselves.

Read more

Why Americans Think (Wrongly) Immigration Hurts the Economy – Newsweek.com

Immigration is a divisive issue for Americans. Both legal and illegal worry people when the economy turns down. Of course those who enter our country illegally are much easier to vilify. They are not really criminals–but they are not here legitimately either.

These facts make the issue one that is ripe for exploitation by people and groups who want to manipulate people.

This Newsweek article:  Why Americans Think Immigration Hurts the Economy – Newsweek.com points out that immigration overall has a positive effect on our economy but lists several reasons why people do not see it that way.

One of the reasons is the outcry in the media about criminals entering our country illegally, poor women and children coming here to soak up all of our free services and depriving citizens of access because of it or women having babies here to make it easier for them to stay as parents of a US citizen, and not paying taxes because they aren’t earning money legally.Stop the Invasion

First off, the people who enter or stay in our country without permission are not criminals until they defy a criminal statute. And while many do break laws with fraudulent documentation, driving without a license, and failing to file income taxes they do pay taxes. They pay taxes because they work for companies who automatically take out the taxes and send them to the tax collecting agencies of the State and Federal governments. And they pay sales tax and their money goes to pay property taxes whether for their own homes or through paying rent to landlords.

Read more

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