"It's a Sign of the Times"

      Once for several years I taught a "Addiction Recovery" class, my qualifications included education and personal experience. When the class started we were honest and called it what it was;an addiction recovery class.People were slow to respond,but we re vamped it and called it a program for people with "Life Controlling Problems" [LCP'S]  we then added to the group though many felt they had NO life controlling problems,[this is good but probably dishonest]. In order to connect with and help a larger group of people we finally became a "Life Application Class"and we drew larger crowd's.(however, the curriculum NEVER changed),People will confront their problems, they just don't want them identified.
       Initially we dealt with the big four,DRUGS,ALCOHOL, GAMBLING AND SEXUAL ADDICTIONS we then added LCP'S such as crossword puzzles and Dr. Pepper [we druggies thought these people were crazy], the we added people who just wanted to see "Whats going on" in the class.We learned that most, if not all LCP'S are simply the symptom of a deeper problem.These were the "fruit" off the poisoned "vine" and it's root must be identified and killed.
       Depression is epidemic in the US today. billions are spent on medications and treatment, In the very lucrative pharmaceutical business more money is made on drugs created to treat "Depression" that those for Heart Disease and Cancer combined. 19 million people are being treated for depression of some type [how many are untreated,only recently this is a diagnosis I received from the VA and am on two meds.], over half are women, in 2000 the average age of those treated was 29 in 2009 it was 14.5 years and many are now children not counting those with ADHD and ADD. 
      Among the LCP'S we dealt with were, anger, guilt, low self-esteem and control issues. If you go to a clinician today with any of these issues and include sleep issues you will get treated. There are a number of physical symptoms associated with depression as well, bowel problems, insomnia, joint pain and heart palpation's [if you cant sleep and are up and in the bathroom and notice your knees bothering and your heart is fluttering you will get admitted-to "a nice quiet place in the country with a well trained staff and compassionate care"].
      Depression is the largest "fruit" on the poisoned vine and while it has many roots the TAP root is identified by the following algorithm;

ANGER=FRUSTRATION=DEPRESSION=ISOLATION.

I have an inexpensive non-medicinal, non-clinical home remedy ;

SHARE A HUG AND A HANDSHAKE WITH SOMEONE, LIGHTEN UP, WE ARE IN IT TOGETHER, NONE LEAVE ALIVE,IT COULD BE WORSE AND LOOK AT THE MAN IN THE MIRROR !

      

Lets Shake On It !

     Shaking Hands- This is a time honored tradition and custom which, much as the Military Salute, signifies a friendly, open hand, empty of any weapon. For centuries it remained essentially the same- Right hand grasping right hand of another, palm to palm with four fingers around the hand of the other with thumb over index finger with up and down hand movement.
     The Handshake has changed several times in recent years and has been adapted for specific cultures and groups. "Secret" handshakes have been part of history for hundreds of years as well, Fraternities,Fraternal Organizations and various clubs.
     I learned to shake hands as a very young child growing up in church, by age five "Little Herbie" [yes I was once LITTLE] would shake everyone's hand and say god bless you,it was CUTE. Next came Cub and Boy Scouts with their "Hand Clasp", High School brought DeMolay and the Masonic Ritual.The Army taught me about saluting.In the Army I had my first contact with inter-city Blacks during the turbulent 60's, their method of greeting was complicated ,"The Dap" consisted of a series of hand gestures and often took several minutes to complete, On A&E we see specials about gangs and the descriptions of thee complex 'handshakes' and identifying hand gestures.
     "Hippies" and "Bikers" share a similar "shake" starting with the clasp hand with the four fingers grasping the top of the others hand in an upward position  going down to the standard "shake" and ending with the first joints of the fingers in sort of a tug, with my "biker" brothers there is a "hug" after the "tug".
      The "high" or "low" five and "five on the fly" plus the normal position "slapping" five are variants also, even small children are deemed  "Bright" if they can learn to give FIVE>
       I have seen people socially embarrassed by not knowing the acceptable "shake" when meeting new people. I have found myself going; standard, dap, hippie/biker, Masonic, Boy Scout and the a hug trying to obtain acceptance.
       The most recent example is the "fist bump" in it's myriad of styles, I believe it started with athletes, there is the standard, the soft, the thumb/pinkie tickle and the grind, I am often startled when a fist comes toward me knowing that boxers "tap" gloves before the beat the "tar" out of each other.

I may start just socking people, hugging and kissing them and walking away !  

Re-Cap, "Can we end the Sin"

        This is the last , for now, of the discussion of the

"Seven Deadly Sins".

             First of all, NO- We can control it, to some extent, we can understand it, we can accept that we are all HUMAN and therefore given to failure in some areas. The "Seven Deadly's" have been around since the beginning of time. Most "Holy" books have a list which varies only slightly, philosophers and other great thinkers through out history have written regarding them; Climacus, Dante, Chaucer, Marlowe and many others, extensively deal with them in their work. They have influenced and been portrayed in Art, Music and Literature for centuries. 
     There was a series of silent films early in the 20th Century, one film for each "SIN", it has been said that Sherwood Schwartz based the seven charterers in  "Gilligan's Island" on them. Several Comic Book Characters are based on them and a collection of Star Trek stories, Star Trek: Seven Deadly Sins, contains seven short novels, which link each deadly sin to a major Trek race: the Romulans (Pride), Borg (Gluttony), Klingons (Anger), Pakleds (Sloth), the Mirror Universe (Lust), the Ferengi (Greed), and the Cardassians (Envy).
       There is good news, for each SIN there is an opposing VIRTUE - LUST/CHASTITY, GLUTTONY/TEMPERANCE, GREED/CHARITY, SLOTH/DILIGENCE, WRATH/PATIENCE, ENVY/KINDNESS and PRIDE/HUMILITY.
  While writing this I have dealt with a few demons, fought a few giants and am convinced that I am not
"A Nowhere Man"    and that if you will  "Stand By Me"

			and I can get " A Little Help From My Friends"   I can do better and so can you.  I GOT YOUR BACK ! [please "click" on the links, I think you will enjoy them]

WE HAVE A GUEST

Subject:  I'm 63 and I am tired.

I'm 63.  Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked hard since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.
I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.
I'm tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers.  In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of   Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of  China , the crime and violence of  Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of  Iran , and the freedom of speech of  Venezuela .
I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor;" of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers;" of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery;" of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.
I'm tired of being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.

I think it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.

I'm tired of a news media that thinks Bush's fund raising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but thinks that Obama's, at triple the cost, were wonderful; that thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress; that picked over every line of Bush's military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his; that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever. Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News?  Get a clue. I didn't vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.

I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let  Saudi Arabia  use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do.  Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off?  I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.

I'm tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime. What's next?  Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists?" And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion.  I'm willing to fast-track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military. Those are the citizens we need.

I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are? Not even close. So here's the deal. I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.

I'm tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois , where the "Illinois Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet.

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.

I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

Yes, I'm real tired.  But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my Grand Children.

Robert A Hall is a Marine  Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.

Dear President Obama

          Sir, Thank you for responding to the call to public service, much respect is due you on this account, however realizing the ineffectiveness of your leadership, and the goals you have which are obviously in opposition to the desires of most Americans. I ask that you, with good conscious, reevaluate your plans for future public service. Your level of education and now with some executive experience you have grand opportunities in the private sector. You have a wife with an equally impressive resume.These qualifications and the generous "Diamond Parachute" you will have as a former President will allow you to provide well for your family and contribute ,as do we all, to the common good. I encourage you to have the following words placed on your teleprompter and speak them to us at your earliest opportunity. This is a portion of a speech given by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968.
Thank you for your service and GOD bless you and your family at this Christmas Season.
                                                                                                    The Johnston Family
     "Believing  as I do, I have concluded that I should not permit the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year.
With America's sons in the fields far away, with America's future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world's hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office--the Presidency of your country.
Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.
But let men everywhere know, however, that a strong, a confident, and a vigilant America stands ready tonight to seek an honorable peace--and stands ready tonight to defend an honored cause--whatever the price, whatever the burden, whatever the sacrifice that duty may require."
Thank you for listening.
Good night and God bless all of you.


"Seven Deadly Sins"-GLUTTONY # 7

     GLUTTONY- Which is a word we seldom hear used today, generally means the over consumption of food or beverage. Much is being discussed today regarding unhealthy eating, childhood and adult obesity and Government involvement and control of our food industry.
      Despite it being one of the Seven Deadly Sins, GLUTTONY has been celebrated by many cultures throughout history. The ability to consume mass quantities of food or beverage in some cultures is seen as a sign of wealth and high social position. In Polynesian cultures, a high BMI [Body Mass Index] determines ones qualification for leadership among royal families.
 Gluttony as a SIN is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In the Christian religions, it is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food or its withholding from the needy. Depending on the culture, it can be seen as either a vice or a sign of status. Where food is relatively scarce, being able to eat well might be something to take pride in. But in an area where food is routinely plentiful, it may be considered a sign of a lack self-control to resist the temptation to over-indulge.
     There are Television shows devoted to and celebrating "over eating", entire TV channels given to the
  preparation and consumption of food. World wide competitions with large prizes for those who can eat the most of all most anything. San Francisco has banned the inclusion of toys with "Happy Meals" because they encourage children to eat unhealthy foods.
     Thousands of festivals are held yearly which focus on one type of food or another. At Holidays we prepare copious amounts of food for family and friends and prepare our selves to deliberately over indulge.
Again we see how one Deadly Sin is associated with another, we are Greedy for food, can be Envious of those with more or better food, Angry when not fed and develop a Lust for specific kinds of food.
     Addictions to many substances are examples of Gluttony, liquor, drugs etc, While some people may be able to control their consumption most are adversely effected by over indulgence.To much of anything even good tasting things are bad, however it is not the responsibility or the right of Government to control what or how we eat. For adults it is a matter of personal responsibility and for children the control must be implemented by adults with good parenting skills.
       Being a Grandparent is sometimes frustrating for me as I cannot even tempt some of my Grandchildren with candy or soda as their responsible parents have taught them to prefer juice and fruit over sugar filled treats.{I am denied the opportunity to get them hyped up on sugar and send them home, darn}

Because of some of my past behaviors I have been told I was a 

"Glutton for Punishment".

Although this is the last of the "Seven Deadly Sins" I would be remiss if I did not offer an eight part where some solutions and safeguards are offered as well as a look at how deadly they actually are.

I just saw this on the news and had to add it. CLICK BELOW

Fat Thieves