Sleeping Disorder » Bed Wetting

Dammit! Wet the bed again.

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I.P., You are truly a "Coping Skills’ guru! My inferior method is to first go crazy, then adapt. Steve U

Response:

I do go crazy over things I should be able to control, like threading a nut on a bolt with my head up my RV chassis. And I’ll be in truly deep despair when this beast interferes with IMPORTANT things in my life, but how important is a wet spot in the bed, fixable by a change of bed pad, diaper, and PJs? I can think of 10 or 20 far worse effects of this beast, not even counting impotence or death. And, ya know, those nuts and bolts in my RV and the three times I’ve wet the bed since my surgery in October bother me a whole lot less now that I’ve gained some perspective on what’s actually important and what isn’t. I.P.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I.P., You are truly a "Coping Skills’ guru! My inferior method is to first go crazy, then adapt. Steve U

Response:

I.P., you have an amazingly good and strong attitude about life. You have a lot to teach us humans about how to get along. God bless you!

Response:

I.P., you have an amazingly good and strong attitude about life. You have a lot to teach us humans about how to get along. God bless you!

She already has. What ELSE are we gonna do . . . get upset about something beyond our control? Give me something (important) I CAN control and I can get quite controlling; hit me with a meteor and I’m gonna do my best to make a Pet Rock out of it. Anything less makes little sense. I’ve had a TON of exciting fun so far in my life . . . way ahead of most people. That’s cash in the bank, and it can’t be taken away from me even by the IRS. I.P.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thought I was over that many months ago, so the bed pad was bunched off to one side. Woke up in a pool, probably a long time after the dam burst. Probably just so sound asleep that the sphincter failed AND I slept through it AND my moderate diaper didn’t absorb the hit. It wasn’t completely full, so there was also an aiming issue. Moral of the story: Make no assumptions, keep the pad in place and a fresh one nearby, keep a couple of towels handy, and keep the Nature’s Miracle (or whatever brand of pet cleanup enzyme you choose) nearby. There’s no way I’m completely making a new bed in the middle of the night, and no point in waking up the wife unless she floated away. Protect the mattress, use towels or fresh mattress pads to isolate yourself from the wet spots, change PJs and underwear, go back to sleep, and change the bedding in the morning. We slept in worse as infants, and will do so again before it’s all over. It’s not worth losing a couple of hours of sleep over. I.P.

I’m over 3 years post RP, and I was basically continent 48 hours afterward. However, I have had two bed-wetting incidents, and two where I caught myself starting. A couple of times I was dreaming about urinating and actually doing it. I think that one of the reasons I’m up several times during the night to visit the john is I’m afraid of letting it go too long. I havent worn pads since those first 48 hours. However, when I’m visiting in someone’s home or on vacation, I wear them at night. I wouldnt want to wet someone else’s bed!

Response:

Thought I was over that many months ago, so the bed pad was bunched off to one side. Woke up in a pool, probably a long time after the dam burst. Probably just so sound asleep that the sphincter failed AND I slept through it AND my moderate diaper didn’t absorb the hit. It wasn’t completely full, so there was also an aiming issue. Moral of the story: Make no assumptions, keep the pad in place and a fresh one nearby, keep a couple of towels handy, and keep the Nature’s Miracle (or whatever brand of pet cleanup enzyme you choose) nearby. There’s no way I’m completely making a new bed in the middle of the night, and no point in waking up the wife unless she floated away. Protect the mattress, use towels or fresh mattress pads to isolate yourself from the wet spots, change PJs and underwear, go back to sleep, and change the bedding in the morning. We slept in worse as infants, and will do so again before it’s all over. It’s not worth losing a couple of hours of sleep over. I.P.

Response:

mind drugs: a primer

admin — Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Ice is crystal meth MDMA is now known as Ecstasy "Gordo Mondragon" wrote in message

news:ga_mondragon-307F89.19270531052005@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In article , > "Cactus Jammies" wrote: > > You know, speaking of B.C., there are a small number of teen and pre-teen > > Ice intervention centres using marijuana as the replacement drug that seems > > to substitute adequately for Ice (MDMA) and coincidental alcohol addiction. > I think that "Ice" is methamphetamine, not MDMA.

Response:

"Gordo Mondragon" wrote in message

news:ga_mondragon-A4445C.19301731052005@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com… > You know, over-prescription of psychotropic drugs is a fact, but > preaching that in a Hep C newsgroup where these drugs can make a > difference between getting through the treatment and achieving a cure or > not seems to me to be putting your personal agenda ahead of what’s going > to help people. I personally don’t think that’s a good thing.

Thanks, Gordo. I agreed with the post, but there was something bothering me about it. You put into words what I couldn’t quite figure out. Waterspider

Response:

this may be yet another troll, Gordo! del sci.med cj <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< "Gordo Mondragon" wrote in message

news:ga_mondragon-A4445C.19301731052005@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You know, over-prescription of psychotropic drugs is a fact, but > preaching that in a Hep C newsgroup where these drugs can make a > difference between getting through the treatment and achieving a cure or > not seems to me to be putting your personal agenda ahead of what’s going > to help people. I personally don’t think that’s a good thing. > In article <1117563163.664034.83…@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, > "outrider" wrote: >> http://www.shared-vision.com/2005/sv1806/minddrugs1806.html >> A Dragonfly Media Publication >> June 2005 | Whole Health >> Mind Drugs: a Primer >> by Alicia Priest >> Anyone with a pulse should now be familiar with the SSRI scandal. >> That’s the sordid saga that came to light in late 2003 concerning the >> antidepressant medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake >> inhibitors. >> In brief, it’s a tragic tale of corporate corruption and greed and >> government neglect at the expense of public health. SSRI drugs, which >> affect chemical messages in the brain and nervous system, were given to >> children and teens with the full knowledge of one of the manufacturers, >> GlaxoSmithKline, that their product could increase a patient’s chance >> of becoming suicidal. Yet these drugs-such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, >> and Celexa-were prescribed for everything from depression to >> bed-wetting, anxiety, and insomnia. Furthermore, many of the SSRI >> trials show little, if any, benefit in treating depression in children. >> This incident illustrates many worthy things but one that screams out >> to be heard is how little medical science knows about how the >> brain/mind works, while at the same time putting more people on >> brain/mind drugs than ever. >> In 2003, almost one-quarter of women in B.C. were prescribed an SSRI. >> Between 1996 and 2002, antidepressant use in the province increased by >> 73 per cent. Use of benzodiazepines-such as Ativan, Valium, and >> Serax-increased in B.C. by 11 per cent. >> Into this morass enters a little 38-page pamphlet that may pack a big >> punch. What People Need to Know about Psychiatric Drugs is written and >> published by Janet Currie and Daisy Anderson, two Vancouver Island >> women who are part of a group called the Psychiatric Medication >> Awareness Group. Currie, of Victoria, is a social-policy consultant and >> author of Manufacturing Addiction: the Over-Prescription of >> Benzodiazepines and Sleeping Pills to Women in Canada, a 2004 paper >> published by the B.C. Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. >> Anderson, of Duncan, is a retired nurse and mental-health worker who >> struggled with psychiatric-drug addiction for 40 years. >> In plain language, the booklet lays out basic information about why >> people may be advised to take a psychiatric drug, the major classes of >> mind drugs, their chemical and brand names, the most common and/or >> serious side effects, and issues such as tolerance and dependency. As >> well, it contains assorted facts, such as "There are no blood tests >> or brain X-rays which can diagnose schizophrenia." The publication >> includes a short list of books and websites for more information. Its >> basic message, however, is that mind drugs are extremely potent and >> need to be taken with great caution. >> Psychiatry is the medical specialty most deeply into drugs. Mind >> medicines include antidepressants, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, >> anti-psychotics, stimulants, and mood stabilizers. No doubt some >> enhance quality of life and some may even save lives, but in many other >> cases, they do great harm. For instance, tranquillizers are highly >> addictive and although designed for short-term use to treat anxiety, >> stress, and sleeplessness are often taken for years, resulting in >> disturbing side effects such as loss of balance, confusion, and >> depression. Doctors can set off a "prescription cascade" by >> treating these untoward effects with more drugs that cause yet more >> nasty symptoms, which are then treated by-you guessed it-more >> drugs. >> It’s also disturbing that no one really knows the long-term effects >> of taking these drugs for many years. How could they? According to this >> pamphlet, clinical trials that test such drugs often last only four to >> six weeks. >> The misuse and overuse of psychiatric drugs, Currie says, is a huge >> public health issue and should be treated as such. Yet there is no >> formal acknowledgement of the problem. >> "These drugs really cause tremendous grief in people’s lives and I >> think they kill and leave more people damaged than many street drug >> addictions," she says. >> Sometime back in the early 1960s, psychiatry changed its focus from >> psychoanalytical to biological, Currie says. That move means an >> increasingly wider range of mental and emotional conditions are being >> treated with drugs on the grounds that they are caused by biochemical >> imbalances. >> "A lot of this is scientifically not proven," Currie says. "For >> example, the serotonin-deficiency theory that was promoted by the drug >> companies around [SSRI drugs]. I’ve had people tell me ‘I have a >> deficiency of a brain chemical; therefore, I need to take this drug.’ >> It’s scientific hogwash." >> Curries hopes anyone reading the booklet will come away with three main >> points: if you are on a psychiatric drug, never go off it on your own; >> if you are discontinuing the drug, be prepared for withdrawal symptoms; >> if you are concerned about the drug’s side effects, discuss them with >> an informed health-care specialist. >> To get a copy of the booklet, see link above.

Response:

I think you’re roght, thanks Cactus Jammies ================= "Gordo Mondragon" wrote in message

news:ga_mondragon-307F89.19270531052005@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com… > In article , > "Cactus Jammies" wrote:

>> teen and pre-teen >> Ice intervention centres using marijuana as the replacement drug that >> seems >> to substitute adequately for Ice (MDMA) and coincidental alcohol >> addiction. > I think that "Ice" is methamphetamine, not MDMA.

Response:

You know, over-prescription of psychotropic drugs is a fact, but preaching that in a Hep C newsgroup where these drugs can make a difference between getting through the treatment and achieving a cure or not seems to me to be putting your personal agenda ahead of what’s going to help people. I personally don’t think that’s a good thing. In article <1117563163.664034.83…@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text - "outrider" wrote: > http://www.shared-vision.com/2005/sv1806/minddrugs1806.html > A Dragonfly Media Publication > June 2005 | Whole Health > Mind Drugs: a Primer > by Alicia Priest > Anyone with a pulse should now be familiar with the SSRI scandal. > That’s the sordid saga that came to light in late 2003 concerning the > antidepressant medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake > inhibitors. > In brief, it’s a tragic tale of corporate corruption and greed and > government neglect at the expense of public health. SSRI drugs, which > affect chemical messages in the brain and nervous system, were given to > children and teens with the full knowledge of one of the manufacturers, > GlaxoSmithKline, that their product could increase a patient’s chance > of becoming suicidal. Yet these drugs-such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, > and Celexa-were prescribed for everything from depression to > bed-wetting, anxiety, and insomnia. Furthermore, many of the SSRI > trials show little, if any, benefit in treating depression in children. > This incident illustrates many worthy things but one that screams out > to be heard is how little medical science knows about how the > brain/mind works, while at the same time putting more people on > brain/mind drugs than ever. > In 2003, almost one-quarter of women in B.C. were prescribed an SSRI. > Between 1996 and 2002, antidepressant use in the province increased by > 73 per cent. Use of benzodiazepines-such as Ativan, Valium, and > Serax-increased in B.C. by 11 per cent. > Into this morass enters a little 38-page pamphlet that may pack a big > punch. What People Need to Know about Psychiatric Drugs is written and > published by Janet Currie and Daisy Anderson, two Vancouver Island > women who are part of a group called the Psychiatric Medication > Awareness Group. Currie, of Victoria, is a social-policy consultant and > author of Manufacturing Addiction: the Over-Prescription of > Benzodiazepines and Sleeping Pills to Women in Canada, a 2004 paper > published by the B.C. Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. > Anderson, of Duncan, is a retired nurse and mental-health worker who > struggled with psychiatric-drug addiction for 40 years. > In plain language, the booklet lays out basic information about why > people may be advised to take a psychiatric drug, the major classes of > mind drugs, their chemical and brand names, the most common and/or > serious side effects, and issues such as tolerance and dependency. As > well, it contains assorted facts, such as "There are no blood tests > or brain X-rays which can diagnose schizophrenia." The publication > includes a short list of books and websites for more information. Its > basic message, however, is that mind drugs are extremely potent and > need to be taken with great caution. > Psychiatry is the medical specialty most deeply into drugs. Mind > medicines include antidepressants, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, > anti-psychotics, stimulants, and mood stabilizers. No doubt some > enhance quality of life and some may even save lives, but in many other > cases, they do great harm. For instance, tranquillizers are highly > addictive and although designed for short-term use to treat anxiety, > stress, and sleeplessness are often taken for years, resulting in > disturbing side effects such as loss of balance, confusion, and > depression. Doctors can set off a "prescription cascade" by > treating these untoward effects with more drugs that cause yet more > nasty symptoms, which are then treated by-you guessed it-more > drugs. > It’s also disturbing that no one really knows the long-term effects > of taking these drugs for many years. How could they? According to this > pamphlet, clinical trials that test such drugs often last only four to > six weeks. > The misuse and overuse of psychiatric drugs, Currie says, is a huge > public health issue and should be treated as such. Yet there is no > formal acknowledgement of the problem. > "These drugs really cause tremendous grief in people’s lives and I > think they kill and leave more people damaged than many street drug > addictions," she says. > Sometime back in the early 1960s, psychiatry changed its focus from > psychoanalytical to biological, Currie says. That move means an > increasingly wider range of mental and emotional conditions are being > treated with drugs on the grounds that they are caused by biochemical > imbalances. > "A lot of this is scientifically not proven," Currie says. "For > example, the serotonin-deficiency theory that was promoted by the drug > companies around [SSRI drugs]. I’ve had people tell me ‘I have a > deficiency of a brain chemical; therefore, I need to take this drug.’ > It’s scientific hogwash." > Curries hopes anyone reading the booklet will come away with three main > points: if you are on a psychiatric drug, never go off it on your own; > if you are discontinuing the drug, be prepared for withdrawal symptoms; > if you are concerned about the drug’s side effects, discuss them with > an informed health-care specialist. > To get a copy of the booklet, see link above.

Response:

Therapy works. It costs money, too.

Response:

In article , "Cactus Jammies" wrote: > You know, speaking of B.C., there are a small number of teen and pre-teen > Ice intervention centres using marijuana as the replacement drug that seems > to substitute adequately for Ice (MDMA) and coincidental alcohol addiction.

I think that "Ice" is methamphetamine, not MDMA.

Response:

You know, speaking of B.C., there are a small number of teen and pre-teen Ice intervention centres using marijuana as the replacement drug that seems to substitute adequately for Ice (MDMA) and coincidental alcohol addiction. It seems to be working. Whatever tough steps were reqired for the intervention in the first place obviously left a number of candidates that qualified for the replacement marijuana therapy. It has litterally slowed these young folks down, and with raging hormones developing full personalities at that stage of life, it is a qualified success, from what spin I’ve heard. Also similar programs from the suburban youth intervention centres in some eastern US cities. Desire to kill the addictions and handle the pressures is paramount of course. Cactus Jammies BC resident /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////// "outrider" wrote in message

news:1117563163.664034.83080@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> http://www.shared-vision.com/2005/sv1806/minddrugs1806.html > A Dragonfly Media Publication > June 2005 | Whole Health > Mind Drugs: a Primer > by Alicia Priest > Anyone with a pulse should now be familiar with the SSRI scandal. > That’s the sordid saga that came to light in late 2003 concerning the > antidepressant medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake > inhibitors. > In brief, it’s a tragic tale of corporate corruption and greed and > government neglect at the expense of public health. SSRI drugs, which > affect chemical messages in the brain and nervous system, were given to > children and teens with the full knowledge of one of the manufacturers, > GlaxoSmithKline, that their product could increase a patient’s chance > of becoming suicidal. Yet these drugs-such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, > and Celexa-were prescribed for everything from depression to > bed-wetting, anxiety, and insomnia. Furthermore, many of the SSRI > trials show little, if any, benefit in treating depression in children. > This incident illustrates many worthy things but one that screams out > to be heard is how little medical science knows about how the > brain/mind works, while at the same time putting more people on > brain/mind drugs than ever. > In 2003, almost one-quarter of women in B.C. were prescribed an SSRI. > Between 1996 and 2002, antidepressant use in the province increased by > 73 per cent. Use of benzodiazepines-such as Ativan, Valium, and > Serax-increased in B.C. by 11 per cent. > Into this morass enters a little 38-page pamphlet that may pack a big > punch. What People Need to Know about Psychiatric Drugs is written and > published by Janet Currie and Daisy Anderson, two Vancouver Island > women who are part of a group called the Psychiatric Medication > Awareness Group. Currie, of Victoria, is a social-policy consultant and > author of Manufacturing Addiction: the Over-Prescription of > Benzodiazepines and Sleeping Pills to Women in Canada, a 2004 paper > published by the B.C. Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. > Anderson, of Duncan, is a retired nurse and mental-health worker who > struggled with psychiatric-drug addiction for 40 years. > In plain language, the booklet lays out basic information about why > people may be advised to take a psychiatric drug, the major classes of > mind drugs, their chemical and brand names, the most common and/or > serious side effects, and issues such as tolerance and dependency. As > well, it contains assorted facts, such as "There are no blood tests > or brain X-rays which can diagnose schizophrenia." The publication > includes a short list of books and websites for more information. Its > basic message, however, is that mind drugs are extremely potent and > need to be taken with great caution. > Psychiatry is the medical specialty most deeply into drugs. Mind > medicines include antidepressants, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, > anti-psychotics, stimulants, and mood stabilizers. No doubt some > enhance quality of life and some may even save lives, but in many other > cases, they do great harm. For instance, tranquillizers are highly > addictive and although designed for short-term use to treat anxiety, > stress, and sleeplessness are often taken for years, resulting in > disturbing side effects such as loss of balance, confusion, and > depression. Doctors can set off a "prescription cascade" by > treating these untoward effects with more drugs that cause yet more > nasty symptoms, which are then treated by-you guessed it-more > drugs. > It’s also disturbing that no one really knows the long-term effects > of taking these drugs for many years. How could they? According to this > pamphlet, clinical trials that test such drugs often last only four to > six weeks. > The misuse and overuse of psychiatric drugs, Currie says, is a huge > public health issue and should be treated as such. Yet there is no > formal acknowledgement of the problem. > "These drugs really cause tremendous grief in people’s lives and I > think they kill and leave more people damaged than many street drug > addictions," she says. > Sometime back in the early 1960s, psychiatry changed its focus from > psychoanalytical to biological, Currie says. That move means an > increasingly wider range of mental and emotional conditions are being > treated with drugs on the grounds that they are caused by biochemical > imbalances. > "A lot of this is scientifically not proven," Currie says. "For > example, the serotonin-deficiency theory that was promoted by the drug > companies around [SSRI drugs]. I’ve had people tell me ‘I have a > deficiency of a brain chemical; therefore, I need to take this drug.’ > It’s scientific hogwash." > Curries hopes anyone reading the booklet will come away with three main > points: if you are on a psychiatric drug, never go off it on your own; > if you are discontinuing the drug, be prepared for withdrawal symptoms; > if you are concerned about the drug’s side effects, discuss them with > an informed health-care specialist. > To get a copy of the booklet, see link above.

Response:

OT, Politics: attempt to take it down a notch

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Okay, I admit that I’ve been using labels such as "radical right" and that I’ve been posting a lot of political stuff (in response to other posts). …but I’m wondering. How offensive are my comments? A lot of you seem to dish it out just fine, but get very sensitive when somebody calls you on the carpet or labels you. For the record, unless it gets very personal, nothing said in these debates really affects my opinion of the poster beyond thinking that they have misdirected politics. …and that’s their (tempted to spell it they’re) RIGHT as an American. In other words, I could sit down, have a conversation about anything, have a beer… etc., with any one of you without feeling personal hatred. I deal with controversy for a living, so maybe I’m just thicker skinned. I’m just wondering if you guys feel the same way. NEVER take anything that I say during a political discussion (debate, bitch slappin’…) TOO personally.

Response:

I’m grown up. I’d have a beer with you. Maybe even argue loudly or have a good laugh. It is a little puzzling that you got so fed up with all the politics that you blazed out to start your own yahoo group, yet come back and dump the political stuff back in AGA yourself. It does tinge a bit on hypocritical, don’t you think? The skank spewers all go in the plonkfile. Not worth bothering with. I’d love to see some intelligent liberal leftish discourse. There are some valid arguments to be made from that side. Examples though are precious few, particularly when so many of the mentally/socially disturbed number themselves upon that side. Unless homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the foundation of the liberal left. — Dr. Nuketopia Sorry, no e-Mail. Spam forgeries have resulted in thousands of faked bounces to my address.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, I admit that I’ve been using labels such as "radical right" and that I’ve been posting a lot of political stuff (in response to other posts). …but I’m wondering. How offensive are my comments? A lot of you seem to dish it out just fine, but get very sensitive when somebody calls you on the carpet or labels you. For the record, unless it gets very personal, nothing said in these debates really affects my opinion of the poster beyond thinking that they have misdirected politics. …and that’s their (tempted to spell it they’re) RIGHT as an American. In other words, I could sit down, have a conversation about anything, have a beer… etc., with any one of you without feeling personal hatred. I deal with controversy for a living, so maybe I’m just thicker skinned. I’m just wondering if you guys feel the same way. NEVER take anything that I say during a political discussion (debate, bitch slappin’…) TOO personally.

Hiding behind a computer means one can talk tougher than they actually are. I think it’s fun to make it *seem* like I take this personally. Otherwise, the sport and entertainment would fizzle out. After straining the brain all day fixing amps, I find it pleasurable to mock and ridicule the obstinate radical rightists when I’m off work. After all, most republicans are not at all like the extremist chickenhawks and fascists here who actually think if they piss you off, they’ve beaten you at some sort of sadistic competition in their minds. Sure, I look for posts that no one has answered and I think I may be able to help, but for the most part, since the pen is mightier than the sword, and we’ve had Lardo’s Buffoon Squad of Toadies as the most vocal of assholes for years here attempting to dominate the place with their political spam, liberal bashing and public display of back-patting, ass-kissing the Lard and team-ups against one guy, I’m happy to contribute to some counter balancing whether it be in the form of debating, mocking, flaming, trading insults, satirizing, spoofing and actually sometimes finding something mutually agreeable. But it’s really a blast to see clever, humorous and intelligent ANTI-fascists, ANTI-extremist conservatives, ANTI-bigoted, ANTI-dittoheads, ANTI-redneck hicks, ANTI-obstinate dupes and ANTI-closed minded twits speaking out for a BIG CHANGE! Unfortunately, we commoners, we workin’ stiffs, we the PEOPLE of the US should be trying to find common ground instead of bickering, bantering and verbally jousting with each other. We really need to put our differences aside or at least not be partisan and instead look for our similarities and have the common goal of ousting our political leaders who do not represent all of us, the American people. After all, our leaders are supposed to be working for us, the people – not the other way around. WE, the people are *their* employers. And if they are not (coincidently, they presently ARE NOT) representing all of us citizens and instead representing themselves, their corporate buddies and the elite rich, so we the people need to get together and fire ‘em all! KABONG!~!~!~

Response:

Well said Elvis. My personal take on the whole gig is that forums like this polarize along supposed political lines. The reality is, specific individuals, CEO’s Presidents and EVP’s of Oil Companies, Pharmaceutical Companies, Insurance Companies, Hospital Conglomerates, Law Partnerships, Pension Fund money managers, & Brokerage Firms are "the enemy". It wasn’t always that way, but now it is. Now that the business world has Pac-manned itself into a corner, these criminals are FAR more visible than they want anyone to know. And they don’t have a Secret Service. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, I admit that I’ve been using labels such as "radical right" and that I’ve been posting a lot of political stuff (in response to other posts). …but I’m wondering. How offensive are my comments? A lot of you seem to dish it out just fine, but get very sensitive when somebody calls you on the carpet or labels you. For the record, unless it gets very personal, nothing said in these debates really affects my opinion of the poster beyond thinking that they have misdirected politics. …and that’s their (tempted to spell it they’re) RIGHT as an American. In other words, I could sit down, have a conversation about anything, have a beer… etc., with any one of you without feeling personal hatred. I deal with controversy for a living, so maybe I’m just thicker skinned. I’m just wondering if you guys feel the same way. NEVER take anything that I say during a political discussion (debate, bitch slappin’…) TOO personally. Hiding behind a computer means one can talk tougher than they actually are. I think it’s fun to make it *seem* like I take this personally. Otherwise, the sport and entertainment would fizzle out. After straining the brain all day fixing amps, I find it pleasurable to mock and ridicule the obstinate radical rightists when I’m off work. After all, most republicans are not at all like the extremist chickenhawks and fascists here who actually think if they piss you off, they’ve beaten you at some sort of sadistic competition in their minds. Sure, I look for posts that no one has answered and I think I may be able to help, but for the most part, since the pen is mightier than the sword, and we’ve had Lardo’s Buffoon Squad of Toadies as the most vocal of assholes for years here attempting to dominate the place with their political spam, liberal bashing and public display of back-patting, ass-kissing the Lard and team-ups against one guy, I’m happy to contribute to some counter balancing whether it be in the form of debating, mocking, flaming, trading insults, satirizing, spoofing and actually sometimes finding something mutually agreeable. But it’s really a blast to see clever, humorous and intelligent ANTI-fascists, ANTI-extremist conservatives, ANTI-bigoted, ANTI-dittoheads, ANTI-redneck hicks, ANTI-obstinate dupes and ANTI-closed minded twits speaking out for a BIG CHANGE! Unfortunately, we commoners, we workin’ stiffs, we the PEOPLE of the US should be trying to find common ground instead of bickering, bantering and verbally jousting with each other. We really need to put our differences aside or at least not be partisan and instead look for our similarities and have the common goal of ousting our political leaders who do not represent all of us, the American people. After all, our leaders are supposed to be working for us, the people – not the other way around. WE, the people are *their* employers. And if they are not (coincidently, they presently ARE NOT) representing all of us citizens and instead representing themselves, their corporate buddies and the elite rich, so we the people need to get together and fire ‘em all! KABONG!~!~!~

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the flag for which I stand .

Response:

Nice on topic amp post there. —

Response:

Not really. Yes, I made an attempt to "rid the forum" of politics. When that failed (miserably), I set up a politics-free forum (that’s now thriving). But then I figured, what the heck, "if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em." It was a realization that AGA will NEVER be politics-free, so why not express my opinion. The skank spewers all go in the plonkfile. Not worth bothering with. I’d love to see some intelligent liberal leftish discourse. There are some valid arguments to be made from that side. Examples though are precious few, particularly when so many of the mentally/socially disturbed number themselves upon that side. Unless homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the foundation of the liberal left.

You know the answer to that.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, I admit that I’ve been using labels such as "radical right" and that I’ve been posting a lot of political stuff (in response to other posts). …but I’m wondering. How offensive are my comments? A lot of you seem to dish it out just fine, but get very sensitive when somebody calls you on the carpet or labels you. For the record, unless it gets very personal, nothing said in these debates really affects my opinion of the poster beyond thinking that they have misdirected politics. …and that’s their (tempted to spell it they’re) RIGHT as an American. In other words, I could sit down, have a conversation about anything, have a beer… etc., with any one of you without feeling personal hatred. I deal with controversy for a living, so maybe I’m just thicker skinned. I’m just wondering if you guys feel the same way. NEVER take anything that I say during a political discussion (debate, bitch slappin’…) TOO personally. Hiding behind a computer means one can talk tougher than they actually are. I think it’s fun to make it *seem* like I take this personally. Otherwise, the sport and entertainment would fizzle out. After straining the brain all day fixing amps, I find it pleasurable to mock and ridicule the obstinate radical rightists when I’m off work. After all, most republicans are not at all like the extremist chickenhawks and fascists here who actually think if they piss you off, they’ve beaten you at some sort of sadistic competition in their minds.

Yeah, there’s a certain amount of baiting going on. Plus, when you sit down at a keyboard, your own words can easily be read as more right (or left) than you actually are. After all, we tend to argue/debate extreme ideas. I’m betting that most of us are more centered than we appear. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sure, I look for posts that no one has answered and I think I may be able to help, but for the most part, since the pen is mightier than the sword, and we’ve had Lardo’s Buffoon Squad of Toadies as the most vocal of assholes for years here attempting to dominate the place with their political spam, liberal bashing and public display of back-patting, ass-kissing the Lard and team-ups against one guy, I’m happy to contribute to some counter balancing whether it be in the form of debating, mocking, flaming, trading insults, satirizing, spoofing and actually sometimes finding something mutually agreeable. But it’s really a blast to see clever, humorous and intelligent ANTI-fascists, ANTI-extremist conservatives, ANTI-bigoted, ANTI-dittoheads, ANTI-redneck hicks, ANTI-obstinate dupes and ANTI-closed minded twits speaking out for a BIG CHANGE! Unfortunately, we commoners, we workin’ stiffs, we the PEOPLE of the US should be trying to find common ground instead of bickering, bantering and verbally jousting with each other. We really need to put our differences aside or at least not be partisan and instead look for our similarities and have the common goal of ousting our political leaders who do not represent all of us, the American people. After all, our leaders are supposed to be working for us, the people – not the other way around. WE, the people are *their* employers. And if they are not (coincidently, they presently ARE NOT) representing all of us citizens and instead representing themselves, their corporate buddies and the elite rich, so we the people need to get together and fire ‘em all! KABONG!~!~!~

Response:

Nice on topic amp post there.

"OT" means "Off Topic." It makes it very easy for you to skip the entire thread, avoiding any annoyance.

Response:

Nice on topic amp post there. — Okay, I admit that I’ve been using labels such as "radical

http://golfdevil.co.uk/baby.wav Lostpup198 "People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news." — A. J. Liebling [Abbott Joseph Liebling] (1904-1963) Journalist, author Source: The New Yorker, 7 April 1956

Response:

And you’re placing a good bet Jim! Nonetheless, there’s NO shortage of pinheaded "Patriot Actors" utilizing aga, LIVING to pester the FBI with info. they hope might add interest to their empty lives. I mercy-post to keep them all white-knuckled while cortisone-shortening thier already unhealthy life styles – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeah, there’s a certain amount of baiting going on. Plus, when you sit down at a keyboard, your own words can easily be read as more right (or left) than you actually are. After all, we tend to argue/debate extreme ideas. I’m betting that most of us are more centered than we appear.

Response:

Next time you hold out an olive branch, try not pissing on it first. Fuck you , shyster. How’s that? Lord Valve Expert – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, I admit that I’ve been using labels such as "radical right" and that I’ve been posting a lot of political stuff (in response to other posts). …but I’m wondering. How offensive are my comments? A lot of you seem to dish it out just fine, but get very sensitive when somebody calls you on the carpet or labels you. For the record, unless it gets very personal, nothing said in these debates really affects my opinion of the poster beyond thinking that they have misdirected politics. …and that’s their (tempted to spell it they’re) RIGHT as an American. In other words, I could sit down, have a conversation about anything, have a beer… etc., with any one of you without feeling personal hatred. I deal with controversy for a living, so maybe I’m just thicker skinned. I’m just wondering if you guys feel the same way. NEVER take anything that I say during a political discussion (debate, bitch slappin’…) TOO personally.

Response:

Next time an olive branch gets pissed on pre-LV insertion try understanding that its LUBRICANT bitch! How’s THAT? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Next time you hold out an olive branch, try not pissing on it first. Fuck you , shyster. How’s that? Liquid assValve Ass Spurt

Response:

issued yet another irrelevant opinion: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m grown up. I’d have a beer with you. Maybe even argue loudly or have a good laugh. It is a little puzzling that you got so fed up with all the politics that you blazed out to start your own yahoo group, yet come back and dump the political stuff back in AGA yourself. It does tinge a bit on hypocritical, don’t you think? Not really. Yes, I made an attempt to "rid the forum" of politics. When that failed (miserably), I set up a politics-free forum (that’s now thriving). But then I figured, what the heck, "if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em." It was a realization that AGA will NEVER be politics-free, so why not express my opinion. The skank spewers all go in the plonkfile. Not worth bothering with. I’d love to see some intelligent liberal leftish discourse. There are some valid arguments to be made from that side. Examples though are precious few, particularly when so many of the mentally/socially disturbed number themselves upon that side. Unless homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the foundation of the liberal left. You know the answer to that.

Signs point to "yes" Claude

Response:

accidently let slip an inner truth: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the flag for which I stand .

Response:

accidently let slip an inner truth: Homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the flag for which I stand .

Ooow, Clogbrain "cleverly" comes up with simian-parrot trick. What an amazing display of such genius. Aren’t we impressed to have so many geniuses in our midst? KABONG!~!~!~

Response:

Next time you hold out an olive branch, try not pissing on it first. Fuck you , shyster. How’s that? Lord Valve Expert

Shyster? I have an impeccable reputation in both ethics and performance, which I’ll gladly put up against anybody’s. ANOTHER knee-jerk conservative instantly stooping to a personal insult. Go figger.

Response:

accidently let slip an inner truth: Homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the flag for which I stand .

Elvis, I’m having trouble keeping track of what you are saying. It seems you (too) are given to fits of filth and simian-like behavior. How can you be such a hypocrite? That is something for you to think about – take as much time as you need, you drunken slime. Please try to answer other posts in a more useful fashion, and quit wasting time with your drunken escapades.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – accidently let slip an inner truth: Homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the flag for which I stand .

I don’t need anyone to tell me how to compose my posts, you bed-wetting dopey doper.

Response:

issued yet another irrelevant opinion:

Hmmm. If an opinion is contrary to yours, it is "irrelevant" and also makes the poster and "asshole?"

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – accidently let slip an inner truth: Homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the flag for which I stand .

Ernest and Julio Gallo provide all the help you need, Ed.

Response:

It’s for your own good young man. Shhhhh- Help’s not on the way – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the flag for which I stand .

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nice on topic amp post there. — Okay, I admit that I’ve been using labels such as "radical http://golfdevil.co.uk/baby.wav Lostpup198 "People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news." — A. J. Liebling [Abbott Joseph Liebling] (1904-1963) Journalist, author Source: The New Yorker, 7 April 1956

LOL! Nice wav…

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – accidently let slip an inner truth: Homo-erotic filth, penis references and scatalogy are indeed the flag for which I stand .

Yeah surrrre…, you Satan worshipping hateful retard.

Response:

Badda-BING! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A cork sniffer? Hey! I’m into used butt plug huffing! Call me? Lupi

Response:

Does Jan hate Jews?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Inappropriate for MHA. Jan

Jan Drew is inappropriate for MHA. What an insight ! Regards, Aribert Deckers — Sause an Kanzler’s Kapit

New member/new dog

admin — Fri, 06 Feb 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Hi Sara Now you now why I love the breed so much, and didn’t want to settle for just any old crossbreed as a replacement – not that I’ve got anything against crossbreeds. And the CKCS are always wagging their tails and always looking so happy which is such a tonic. We do know that Jasper has been with a busy family with young children, and has got very stressed and has been bed-wetting as a result. Guess they just didn’t stop and think what a dog involved, or that a small one would be easier, and now they just can’t be bothered. So it feels really positive to me to be able to give him a good home where he’ll be loved, and properly looked after and hopefully have plenty of fun as well. I went to get his name tag engraved today, which felt like a real step on the road to commitment to him and at the moment I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, but I know there will still be a roller-coaster of uncertainty until we get him here, and settled a bit. The past couple of years have been very tough for me, with my depression so bad at times that the only thing that did get me out of bed was feeding and walking the dogs. I’ve been clambering back slowly, but with this GAD which it’s left me with, so every change is progress but also VERY scary at the moment. But there’s only one way to go, and that’s forwards isn’t it? Maggie xxxx – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Elliott, Sara & Laurie Thanks for your lovely supportive replies with lots of positive comments to help me along. I realise I was feeling pretty low yesterday when I posted that, and alot of it is about making a commitment to a change, and the uncertainty. I’ve seen how all my life I’ve always tried to plan ahead when any situation is looming – a legacy of a very insecure childhood, and I’m finally trying to leave behind the "what ifs" which at the moment leaves me feeling very insecure and out of control. In my rational moments, I’d already decided I was ready for another dog, and we’d been waiting a while to rehome a Cavalier to join our present one – people don’t seem to abandon Cavalier King Charles Spaniels very often so I did feel a bit under pressure when this one came up. At the moment it feels like an achievement for me to have not sunk to the point of abandoning the idea altogether – anxiety cop out time! But I won’t give in to that, no way. So tomorrow’s the day, my husband’s going to fetch him from his old home – he’s 2/half years old called Jasper. Whoops – slipping into bad thoughts here, but I hope he doesn’t come with too many bad habits which we have to undo. Thanks again for all your kind thoughts, and I’ll keep you posted on progress – his, and mine. Maggie Maggie, I looked up Cavalier King Charles Spaniels on Google to see what they look like. What a beautiful dog! No, I don’t imagine many people would part with one of those willingly. – Could be any number of things, the owner could be elderly, or the people could be moving to a place that won’t accept pets — any number of reasons. Don’t jump to conclusions thinking maybe the dog has bad habits. If there is anything you don’t know how to deal with, ask your vet. He/she should have some good suggestions as to how to go about handling any behavioral problems. The only "difficult" things that entered my mind when you said, "new dog" were the housetraining and the chewing of a new puppy — and with a dog that age, it is probably already house trained, and the chewing business is over…so even the age of the dog is great! Change and uncertainty are scary — but that dog is gorgeous, and I predict you are going to be very happy that you made the decision to get a younger dog. This new one won’t replace the one you lost, but it will be a brand new little hairy friend for you to get to know. Please let us know how it goes!! Sara ^..^< Anxiety, I can’t get nothin done Anxiety destroys all the fun – Pat Benetar

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Elliott, Sara & Laurie Thanks for your lovely supportive replies with lots of positive comments to help me along. I realise I was feeling pretty low yesterday when I posted that, and alot of it is about making a commitment to a change, and the uncertainty. I’ve seen how all my life I’ve always tried to plan ahead when any situation is looming – a legacy of a very insecure childhood, and I’m finally trying to leave behind the "what ifs" which at the moment leaves me feeling very insecure and out of control. In my rational moments, I’d already decided I was ready for another dog, and we’d been waiting a while to rehome a Cavalier to join our present one – people don’t seem to abandon Cavalier King Charles Spaniels very often so I did feel a bit under pressure when this one came up. At the moment it feels like an achievement for me to have not sunk to the point of abandoning the idea altogether – anxiety cop out time! But I won’t give in to that, no way. So tomorrow’s the day, my husband’s going to fetch him from his old home – he’s 2/half years old called Jasper. Whoops – slipping into bad thoughts here, but I hope he doesn’t come with too many bad habits which we have to undo. Thanks again for all your kind thoughts, and I’ll keep you posted on progress – his, and mine. Maggie

Maggie, I looked up Cavalier King Charles Spaniels on Google to see what they look like. What a beautiful dog! No, I don’t imagine many people would part with one of those willingly. – Could be any number of things, the owner could be elderly, or the people could be moving to a place that won’t accept pets — any number of reasons. Don’t jump to conclusions thinking maybe the dog has bad habits. If there is anything you don’t know how to deal with, ask your vet. He/she should have some good suggestions as to how to go about handling any behavioral problems. The only "difficult" things that entered my mind when you said, "new dog" were the housetraining and the chewing of a new puppy — and with a dog that age, it is probably already house trained, and the chewing business is over…so even the age of the dog is great! Change and uncertainty are scary — but that dog is gorgeous, and I predict you are going to be very happy that you made the decision to get a younger dog. This new one won’t replace the one you lost, but it will be a brand new little hairy friend for you to get to know. Please let us know how it goes!! Sara ^..^< Anxiety, I can’t get nothin done Anxiety destroys all the fun – Pat Benetar

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a notebook where I write down my distorted thinking and then try and change it around – of course I do that when I’m feeling more calm and rational. And then sometimes trying to think the "right" way just gets too hard, it’s easy to fall back into the tried and tested methods. I have alot of different stresses and problems in life at the moment and balancing them all, and taking care of myself just seems too complicated sometimes and I slide off into self-pity for a while! I’m also on a (very) long waiting list to see a psychologist for the possibility of some CBT – it feels like it would really help to have an outsider helping me along the way, rather than having to rely on my own rather wobbly self-discipline. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the waiting list shrinks before too long. Luvved the pics. Maggie xxxxx

Maggie, It actually sounds like you are doing pretty good if you are trying to target those distorted thinking patterns. Have you read any books on CBT? The one everyone here recommends most is Burn’s Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy. I bought the book, but I am a student, and I am SO overloaded with assigned reading material, I can’t bring myself to open another book that I’m not going to be graded on. It will have to wait until spring break!!!! I don’t have any problem getting in to see my therapist or doctor.. but my therapist is a flake (I’ll post about that sometime, but she really IS) and my doctor is EXCELLENT, but he does cost a good amount of money to see. I’m not complaining, really, I have had my fill of free psychiatrists! I hope you get into therapy soon, but if it takes awhile, why don’t you pick up that book? I can’t personally recommend it, as I said, I haven’t gotten to it yet.. but there are many people here at ASAP that recommend it very much, and I would definitely trust their recommendations. I can’t wait to see your post about Jasper’s homecoming and how it goes. Please keep us updated. Sara ^..^< Anxiety, I can’t get nothin done Anxiety destroys all the fun – Pat Benetar

Response:

It’s great getting a new dog.

It is great getting a new dog but it sucks when it dies. ;^)

Response:

Hi Robin Yes ~ I can really relate to that. I still feel more confident when I’m out walking with a dog, than just walking along on my own. And it’s not just the comfort from them, but the fact that they love so unconditionally, and I sometimes just pour my heart out to mine, knowing it will never go any further. Maggie xxx – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s great getting a new dog. My dog has helped me soo much with my anxiety. I go on walks with her, which helped me out of my agoraphobia stage, and she is always there when I need comfort. I hope your dog does the same for you. :) Robin

Response:

It’s great getting a new dog. My dog has helped me soo much with my anxiety. I go on walks with her, which helped me out of my agoraphobia stage, and she is always there when I need comfort. I hope your dog does the same for you. :) Robin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Elliott, Sara & Laurie Thanks for your lovely supportive replies with lots of positive comments to help me along. I realise I was feeling pretty low yesterday when I posted that, and alot of it is about making a commitment to a change, and the uncertainty. I’ve seen how all my life I’ve always tried to plan ahead when any situation is looming – a legacy of a very insecure childhood, and I’m finally trying to leave behind the "what ifs" which at the moment leaves me feeling very insecure and out of control. In my rational moments, I’d already decided I was ready for another dog, and we’d been waiting a while to rehome a Cavalier to join our present one – people don’t seem to abandon Cavalier King Charles Spaniels very often so I did feel a bit under pressure when this one came up. At the moment it feels like an achievement for me to have not sunk to the point of abandoning the idea altogether – anxiety cop out time! But I won’t give in to that, no way. So tomorrow’s the day, my husband’s going to fetch him from his old home – he’s 2/half years old called Jasper. Whoops – slipping into bad thoughts here, but I hope he doesn’t come with too many bad habits which we have to undo. Thanks again for all your kind thoughts, and I’ll keep you posted on progress – his, and mine. Maggie

Response:

Sara We thought it would confuse the poor little chap too much to change his name as well as his surroundings, but it’s OK as far as we’re concerned. I know what you mean about animals and children. I was brought up around cats and dogs, and guess my parents did a fairly good job on teaching me how to treat them, but if parents can’t even take the time to control their children, how do they hope to control a dog, and teach their children how to treat the dog? I hadn’t thought about us being made for each other, stress-wise, but I guess part of wanting a rescue dog is to have the opportunity to make it’s life a bit better than it was before. Bit of projection about my own life I guess! Elliott – Sorry to hijack your son’s name, but as you’ll see, the name rather comes with the dog. I have a notebook where I write down my distorted thinking and then try and change it around – of course I do that when I’m feeling more calm and rational. And then sometimes trying to think the "right" way just gets too hard, it’s easy to fall back into the tried and tested methods. I have alot of different stresses and problems in life at the moment and balancing them all, and taking care of myself just seems too complicated sometimes and I slide off into self-pity for a while! I’m also on a (very) long waiting list to see a psychologist for the possibility of some CBT – it feels like it would really help to have an outsider helping me along the way, rather than having to rely on my own rather wobbly self-discipline. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the waiting list shrinks before too long. Luvved the pics. Maggie xxxxx

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Sara Now you now why I love the breed so much, and didn’t want to settle for just any old crossbreed as a replacement – not that I’ve got anything against crossbreeds. And the CKCS are always wagging their tails and always looking so happy which is such a tonic. We do know that Jasper has been with a busy family with young children, and has got very stressed and has been bed-wetting as a result. Guess they just didn’t stop and think what a dog involved, or that a small one would be easier, and now they just can’t be bothered. So it feels really positive to me to be able to give him a good home where he’ll be loved, and properly looked after and hopefully have plenty of fun as well. I went to get his name tag engraved today, which felt like a real step on the road to commitment to him and at the moment I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, but I know there will still be a roller-coaster of uncertainty until we get him here, and settled a bit. The past couple of years have been very tough for me, with my depression so bad at times that the only thing that did get me out of bed was feeding and walking the dogs. I’ve been clambering back slowly, but with this GAD which it’s left me with, so every change is progress but also VERY scary at the moment. But there’s only one way to go, and that’s forwards isn’t it?

Maggie, Yes, forward is the only way you CAN go.. so think positively about it! I definitely can see why you love this breed. They are absolutely beautiful. – And I like the name Jasper! I guess you intend to keep the name, since you had the tag engraved. The name has personality I have suffered very much from depression myself — even to the point of hallucination and hospitalization, so I understand how devastating it can be. I’m glad you had your dogs — something to keep you going through the rough times. It feels like the LAST thing you want to do, but I think when you’re really depressed, it does help to DO something. It gets your mind off of itself and keeps you from ruminating too much. Walking the dogs is excellent therapy, whether you did it purposely or not to feel better. It’s not a stressful action, but a really positive one. I have some definite ideas about people who have young children and pets. Maybe it works with some children and some pets, but I worry about animals in houses with small children. Kids can be abusive to the animal, and not even realize if — pulling ears, trying to ride the pet, etc. I raised two sons, and we didn’t get a dog until they were old enough to know how to play with the animal without hurting him. (He was a Collie named Ben) I bet my boys were around 7 and 9 by the time I felt they were old enough to not roughhouse too much — and I purposely got a large dog so that if they did play too rough with him, he could tolerate it better, plus Collies are very good natured animals, so I didn’t worry about how the dog would react to my sons. It sounds like Jasper may have been in an environment that was too stimulating.. maybe too rough for him. As an anxiety sufferer yourself, I’m sure you can sympathize with what he’s been through. It’s kind of fitting for you to get an animal who’s had a bit of an anxiety issue himself! It sounds like you two were made for each other. Well good luck with your newest family member. BTW, I am a cat owner. She adopted us about 12-13 years ago (I can’t honestly remember how old she is!) — but she is my buddy. She sits on the computer when I’m using it, and demands that I pet her. She sleeps with me. We spoil her – we cook her chicken and turkey breast for a treat. She is exclusively an indoor cat, but we actually had a screened in porch put on the house so she has a place to watch the birds and squirrels. She’s a member of the family and we love her very much. Good luck to you and Jasper. I think that it will really brighten your life to have a new, young dog to take care of and play with and spoil! Animals and humans need each other.. it’s a symbiotic relationship. Sara ^..^< Anxiety, I can’t get nothin done Anxiety destroys all the fun – Pat Benetar

Response:

Hi Elliott, Sara & Laurie Thanks for your lovely supportive replies with lots of positive comments to help me along. I realise I was feeling pretty low yesterday when I posted that, and alot of it is about making a commitment to a change, and the uncertainty. I’ve seen how all my life I’ve always tried to plan ahead when any situation is looming – a legacy of a very insecure childhood, and I’m finally trying to leave behind the "what ifs" which at the moment leaves me feeling very insecure and out of control. In my rational moments, I’d already decided I was ready for another dog, and we’d been waiting a while to rehome a Cavalier to join our present one – people don’t seem to abandon Cavalier King Charles Spaniels very often so I did feel a bit under pressure when this one came up. At the moment it feels like an achievement for me to have not sunk to the point of abandoning the idea altogether – anxiety cop out time! But I won’t give in to that, no way. So tomorrow’s the day, my husband’s going to fetch him from his old home – he’s 2/half years old called Jasper. Whoops – slipping into bad thoughts here, but I hope he doesn’t come with too many bad habits which we have to undo. Thanks again for all your kind thoughts, and I’ll keep you posted on progress – his, and mine. Maggie

Response:

Hi Maggie, uncertainty is a common trait for many of us. Taking risks also can give us much unexpected pleasurea in life. It’s ok to have some worries about the new dog but focus on all the great moments that lay ahead. Well done on going through with it and I know you will do fine. Vanessa

Response:

GOVERNATOR'S TRIUMPH SPELLS DOOM FOR DEMS

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Desperate Dems no match for Arnie October 12, 2003 BY MARK STEYN – CHICAGO SUN-TIMES You gotta admire the way the media stayed on the Demo-crats’ sinking California ship right to the very end. On the CNN Web site, even after Gray Davis had conceded, they were sticking to the loser’s talking-points: ”Schwarzenegger, who, like Hitler, is a native of Austria…” CNN? Oh, that’s that network with Larry King, who, like the Son of Sam, is a native of Brooklyn. Used to be owned by Ted Turner, who, like the Cincinnati Strangler, is a native of Cincinnati. Now part of Time Warner, founded by the Warner Brothers, the oldest of whom, Harry Warner, like many Auschwitz guards, was a native of Poland. Anyway, the good news is that residents of the Golden Reich still have the right to recall their new fuhrer from his bunker in Sacramento, and he probably won’t make Jews wear yellow stars and gays wear pink triangles because the fabric costs for Hollywood and San Francisco alone would double the deficit. But even on the day after, the Dems wouldn’t lay off the Nazi cracks. ”It was the triumph of the swill," said Paul Maslin, in an allusion to the late Leni Riefenstahl’s Hitler-glorifying documentary ”Triumph of the Will.” Arnold’s not just a Nazi, he’s Nazi garbage! Maslin is Gray Davis’ pollster. Maybe he should poll-test his jokes. Incidentally, if there was any triumph of the swill in this election, it was surely Maslin’s remarkable success in persuading so many media outlets to buy into the Gray Davis spin that their ”internal polls” showed the race was ”tightening.” Hence, hilarious headlines like the Washington Post’s on Election Day: ”On Eve Of Vote, California Race Remains Fluid” — ”fluid” in the sense that Cruz Bustamante’s defeat might be merely humiliating instead of shattering? Either Maslin was intentionally shoveling swill at the Los Angeles Times and his other chums or he’s an incredibly bad pollster. Given that there were similar discrepancies between alleged Democratic ”internal polls” and the real world in November 2002, either explanation could be valid. But the press bought the Democratic spin and in turn the Democrats bought the subsequent media spin. Both parties bolstered each other’s delusions. As I wrote after last year’s elections: ”Remind me never to complain about ‘liberal media bias’ again. Right now, liberal media bias is conspiring to assist the Democrats to sleepwalk over the cliff.” But 10 minutes after the polls had closed, the Dems and the media were once again rocketing off to Planet Bananas. Before Election Day, the official line was that the recall was part of a pattern of hardline Republican subversion of the democratic process, going back through the Florida recount to the Clinton impeachment. In an about-turn so fast poor old DNC honcho Terry McAuliffe must have gotten whiplash, the new line was that the recall reflected a voter anger against incumbents that would spell disaster for Bush next year. And even as I lay on the floor howling with laughter, up there on CNN Judy Woodruff & Co. were taking it seriously. That would be the Judy Woodruff who, like 1970s serial killer Lendell Hunter, is a native of Augusta, Ga. Just in case any Democrats have come back down to Planet Earth, here’s what happened on Tuesday: The two Republican candidates — Schwarzenegger and Tom McClintock — pulled 62 percent of the vote between them; the Democrat, Cruz Bustamante, got 31.7 percent. The remaining 6 percent was divided among the other 132 candidates. Just to recap: Republicans 62 percent, Democrats 31.7 percent — in the most liberal state in the nation. As long as all those angry voters keep expressing their anger by voting for Republicans over Democrats by two to one, I think I can live with it. At Thursday’s Democratic Presidential debate, Jeff Greenfield asked the candidates why it was that only 34 percent of Americans identified themselves as Democrats — the lowest number since before the New Deal. ”You’re looking at the glass as half-empty, I look at it as half-full,” said former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, demonstrating the command of basic math that has made the federal budget what it is. The Democratic glass isn’t half-empty, it’s two-thirds empty. Let us take the Davis/Bustamante campaigns at face value: The Republicans said it was all about business and taxes and growth; the Dems said it was about whether Arnie was a Nazi sex fiend. OK, let’s take that as seriously as Katie Couric and the rest of the gang did. Every day I get a gazillion e-mails screaming ”BUSH IS A NAZI!!!!” Also Cheney, Rumsfeld, even yours truly: We’re all Nazis. In California, an accident of birth gave the Democrats the opportunity to run with the Nazi hysteria literally. It flopped spectacularly. As in 2002, they tried to motivate their base by linking the recall to the Florida recount. It flopped, again. As in 2002, they flew in Bill Clinton to whip up the crowd, at least until the groping stories started. He flopped, again — as he did two years ago when Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Florida and Maryland were holding their own until the Big He turned up to rally the crowd. As always, they did the big ethnic pander, damning Republican views on illegal immigration as ”racist.” Amazingly, even this flopped. The Hispanic vote declined to fall in line behind one of their own, and over 30 percent went for Arnie. Nazi! Racist! Don’t forget Florida! Here’s Bill Clinton! It’s not much of a message, is it? And, if the party’s short of ideas, it’s even shorter of stars. The fact that in the most populous state in the nation the two leading Democrats are Gray Davis and Cruz Bustamante is as telling as anything. The gubernatorial pool is where you look for presidential talent, and right now their only star governor is Jennifer Granholm, who can’t run for president because she was born in British Columbia. That’s why in Thursday’s debate half the presidential candidates are sad-sack senators dulled by decades of deal-making and Beltwayspeak and the other half are goofs and oddballs. The shortage of talent is so severe they’ve had to parachute in Wesley Clark, a man who was playing Republican fund-raisers and waving pompons for Bush and Cheney the day before yesterday. Gen. Clark’s star power seemed to have dimmed to a 30-watt bulb by Thursday. The Clark ”bandwagon” is like those Gray Davis ”tightening” numbers. Do you really think he’ll make it through to New Hampshire? Oh, well. If I were a Dem, I’d go with Howard Dean. Even if he loses, he’ll de-Clintonize the party along the way, which ought to be the most important priority. Otherwise, it’s all down to Sen. Rodham Clinton in 2008 — or, as Paul Maslin would put it, the triumph of the Hill.

Response:

Yeah, LV, I liked that one, too. Mark’s pretty funny. As I’ve said, nothing’s funnier than the truth. Freep

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Desperate Dems no match for Arnie October 12, 2003 BY MARK STEYN – CHICAGO SUN-TIMES You gotta admire the way the media stayed on the Demo-crats’ sinking California ship right to the very end. On the CNN Web site, even after Gray Davis had conceded, they were sticking to the loser’s talking-points: ”Schwarzenegger, who, like Hitler, is a native of Austria…” CNN? Oh, that’s that network with Larry King, who, like the Son of Sam, is a native of Brooklyn. Used to be owned by Ted Turner, who, like the Cincinnati Strangler, is a native of Cincinnati. Now part of Time Warner, founded by the Warner Brothers, the oldest of whom, Harry Warner, like many Auschwitz guards, was a native of Poland. Anyway, the good news is that residents of the Golden Reich still have the right to recall their new fuhrer from his bunker in Sacramento, and he probably won’t make Jews wear yellow stars and gays wear pink triangles because the fabric costs for Hollywood and San Francisco alone would double the deficit. But even on the day after, the Dems wouldn’t lay off the Nazi cracks. ”It was the triumph of the swill," said Paul Maslin, in an allusion to the late Leni Riefenstahl’s Hitler-glorifying documentary ”Triumph of the Will.” Arnold’s not just a Nazi, he’s Nazi garbage! Maslin is Gray Davis’ pollster. Maybe he should poll-test his jokes. Incidentally, if there was any triumph of the swill in this election, it was surely Maslin’s remarkable success in persuading so many media outlets to buy into the Gray Davis spin that their ”internal polls” showed the race was ”tightening.” Hence, hilarious headlines like the Washington Post’s on Election Day: ”On Eve Of Vote, California Race Remains Fluid” — ”fluid” in the sense that Cruz Bustamante’s defeat might be merely humiliating instead of shattering? Either Maslin was intentionally shoveling swill at the Los Angeles Times and his other chums or he’s an incredibly bad pollster. Given that there were similar discrepancies between alleged Democratic ”internal polls” and the real world in November 2002, either explanation could be valid. But the press bought the Democratic spin and in turn the Democrats bought the subsequent media spin. Both parties bolstered each other’s delusions. As I wrote after last year’s elections: ”Remind me never to complain about ‘liberal media bias’ again. Right now, liberal media bias is conspiring to assist the Democrats to sleepwalk over the cliff.” But 10 minutes after the polls had closed, the Dems and the media were once again rocketing off to Planet Bananas. Before Election Day, the official line was that the recall was part of a pattern of hardline Republican subversion of the democratic process, going back through the Florida recount to the Clinton impeachment. In an about-turn so fast poor old DNC honcho Terry McAuliffe must have gotten whiplash, the new line was that the recall reflected a voter anger against incumbents that would spell disaster for Bush next year. And even as I lay on the floor howling with laughter, up there on CNN Judy Woodruff & Co. were taking it seriously. That would be the Judy Woodruff who, like 1970s serial killer Lendell Hunter, is a native of Augusta, Ga. Just in case any Democrats have come back down to Planet Earth, here’s what happened on Tuesday: The two Republican candidates — Schwarzenegger and Tom McClintock — pulled 62 percent of the vote between them; the Democrat, Cruz Bustamante, got 31.7 percent. The remaining 6 percent was divided among the other 132 candidates. Just to recap: Republicans 62 percent, Democrats 31.7 percent — in the most liberal state in the nation. As long as all those angry voters keep expressing their anger by voting for Republicans over Democrats by two to one, I think I can live with it. At Thursday’s Democratic Presidential debate, Jeff Greenfield asked the candidates why it was that only 34 percent of Americans identified themselves as Democrats — the lowest number since before the New Deal. ”You’re looking at the glass as half-empty, I look at it as half-full,” said former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, demonstrating the command of basic math that has made the federal budget what it is. The Democratic glass isn’t half-empty, it’s two-thirds empty. Let us take the Davis/Bustamante campaigns at face value: The Republicans said it was all about business and taxes and growth; the Dems said it was about whether Arnie was a Nazi sex fiend. OK, let’s take that as seriously as Katie Couric and the rest of the gang did. Every day I get a gazillion e-mails screaming ”BUSH IS A NAZI!!!!” Also Cheney, Rumsfeld, even yours truly: We’re all Nazis. In California, an accident of birth gave the Democrats the opportunity to run with the Nazi hysteria literally. It flopped spectacularly. As in 2002, they tried to motivate their base by linking the recall to the Florida recount. It flopped, again. As in 2002, they flew in Bill Clinton to whip up the crowd, at least until the groping stories started. He flopped, again — as he did two years ago when Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Florida and Maryland were holding their own until the Big He turned up to rally the crowd. As always, they did the big ethnic pander, damning Republican views on illegal immigration as ”racist.” Amazingly, even this flopped. The Hispanic vote declined to fall in line behind one of their own, and over 30 percent went for Arnie. Nazi! Racist! Don’t forget Florida! Here’s Bill Clinton! It’s not much of a message, is it? And, if the party’s short of ideas, it’s even shorter of stars. The fact that in the most populous state in the nation the two leading Democrats are Gray Davis and Cruz Bustamante is as telling as anything. The gubernatorial pool is where you look for presidential talent, and right now their only star governor is Jennifer Granholm, who can’t run for president because she was born in British Columbia. That’s why in Thursday’s debate half the presidential candidates are sad-sack senators dulled by decades of deal-making and Beltwayspeak and the other half are goofs and oddballs. The shortage of talent is so severe they’ve had to parachute in Wesley Clark, a man who was playing Republican fund-raisers and waving pompons for Bush and Cheney the day before yesterday. Gen. Clark’s star power seemed to have dimmed to a 30-watt bulb by Thursday. The Clark ”bandwagon” is like those Gray Davis ”tightening” numbers. Do you really think he’ll make it through to New Hampshire? Oh, well. If I were a Dem, I’d go with Howard Dean. Even if he loses, he’ll de-Clintonize the party along the way, which ought to be the most important priority. Otherwise, it’s all down to Sen. Rodham Clinton in 2008 — or, as Paul Maslin would put it, the triumph of the Hill.

Response:

The Fart Valve’s taken to posting articles….only:) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Desperate Dems no match for Arnie October 12, 2003 BY MARK STEYN – CHICAGO SUN-TIMES You gotta admire the way the media stayed on the Demo-crats’ sinking California ship right to the very end. On the CNN Web site, even after Gray Davis had conceded, they were sticking to the loser’s talking-points: ”Schwarzenegger, who, like Hitler, is a native of Austria…” CNN? Oh, that’s that network with Larry King, who, like the Son of Sam, is a native of Brooklyn. Used to be owned by Ted Turner, who, like the Cincinnati Strangler, is a native of Cincinnati. Now part of Time Warner, founded by the Warner Brothers, the oldest of whom, Harry Warner, like many Auschwitz guards, was a native of Poland. Anyway, the good news is that residents of the Golden Reich still have the right to recall their new fuhrer from his bunker in Sacramento, and he probably won’t make Jews wear yellow stars and gays wear pink triangles because the fabric costs for Hollywood and San Francisco alone would double the deficit. But even on the day after, the Dems wouldn’t lay off the Nazi cracks. ”It was the triumph of the swill," said Paul Maslin, in an allusion to the late Leni Riefenstahl’s Hitler-glorifying documentary ”Triumph of the Will.” Arnold’s not just a Nazi, he’s Nazi garbage! Maslin is Gray Davis’ pollster. Maybe he should poll-test his jokes. Incidentally, if there was any triumph of the swill in this election, it was surely Maslin’s remarkable success in persuading so many media outlets to buy into the Gray Davis spin that their ”internal polls” showed the race was ”tightening.” Hence, hilarious headlines like the Washington Post’s on Election Day: ”On Eve Of Vote, California Race Remains Fluid” — ”fluid” in the sense that Cruz Bustamante’s defeat might be merely humiliating instead of shattering? Either Maslin was intentionally shoveling swill at the Los Angeles Times and his other chums or he’s an incredibly bad pollster. Given that there were similar discrepancies between alleged Democratic ”internal polls” and the real world in November 2002, either explanation could be valid. But the press bought the Democratic spin and in turn the Democrats bought the subsequent media spin. Both parties bolstered each other’s delusions. As I wrote after last year’s elections: ”Remind me never to complain about ‘liberal media bias’ again. Right now, liberal media bias is conspiring to assist the Democrats to sleepwalk over the cliff.” But 10 minutes after the polls had closed, the Dems and the media were once again rocketing off to Planet Bananas. Before Election Day, the official line was that the recall was part of a pattern of hardline Republican subversion of the democratic process, going back through the Florida recount to the Clinton impeachment. In an about-turn so fast poor old DNC honcho Terry McAuliffe must have gotten whiplash, the new line was that the recall reflected a voter anger against incumbents that would spell disaster for Bush next year. And even as I lay on the floor howling with laughter, up there on CNN Judy Woodruff & Co. were taking it seriously. That would be the Judy Woodruff who, like 1970s serial killer Lendell Hunter, is a native of Augusta, Ga. Just in case any Democrats have come back down to Planet Earth, here’s what happened on Tuesday: The two Republican candidates — Schwarzenegger and Tom McClintock — pulled 62 percent of the vote between them; the Democrat, Cruz Bustamante, got 31.7 percent. The remaining 6 percent was divided among the other 132 candidates. Just to recap: Republicans 62 percent, Democrats 31.7 percent — in the most liberal state in the nation. As long as all those angry voters keep expressing their anger by voting for Republicans over Democrats by two to one, I think I can live with it. At Thursday’s Democratic Presidential debate, Jeff Greenfield asked the candidates why it was that only 34 percent of Americans identified themselves as Democrats — the lowest number since before the New Deal. ”You’re looking at the glass as half-empty, I look at it as half-full,” said former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, demonstrating the command of basic math that has made the federal budget what it is. The Democratic glass isn’t half-empty, it’s two-thirds empty. Let us take the Davis/Bustamante campaigns at face value: The Republicans said it was all about business and taxes and growth; the Dems said it was about whether Arnie was a Nazi sex fiend. OK, let’s take that as seriously as Katie Couric and the rest of the gang did. Every day I get a gazillion e-mails screaming ”BUSH IS A NAZI!!!!” Also Cheney, Rumsfeld, even yours truly: We’re all Nazis. In California, an accident of birth gave the Democrats the opportunity to run with the Nazi hysteria literally. It flopped spectacularly. As in 2002, they tried to motivate their base by linking the recall to the Florida recount. It flopped, again. As in 2002, they flew in Bill Clinton to whip up the crowd, at least until the groping stories started. He flopped, again — as he did two years ago when Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Florida and Maryland were holding their own until the Big He turned up to rally the crowd. As always, they did the big ethnic pander, damning Republican views on illegal immigration as ”racist.” Amazingly, even this flopped. The Hispanic vote declined to fall in line behind one of their own, and over 30 percent went for Arnie. Nazi! Racist! Don’t forget Florida! Here’s Bill Clinton! It’s not much of a message, is it? And, if the party’s short of ideas, it’s even shorter of stars. The fact that in the most populous state in the nation the two leading Democrats are Gray Davis and Cruz Bustamante is as telling as anything. The gubernatorial pool is where you look for presidential talent, and right now their only star governor is Jennifer Granholm, who can’t run for president because she was born in British Columbia. That’s why in Thursday’s debate half the presidential candidates are sad-sack senators dulled by decades of deal-making and Beltwayspeak and the other half are goofs and oddballs. The shortage of talent is so severe they’ve had to parachute in Wesley Clark, a man who was playing Republican fund-raisers and waving pompons for Bush and Cheney the day before yesterday. Gen. Clark’s star power seemed to have dimmed to a 30-watt bulb by Thursday. The Clark ”bandwagon” is like those Gray Davis ”tightening” numbers. Do you really think he’ll make it through to New Hampshire? Oh, well. If I were a Dem, I’d go with Howard Dean. Even if he loses, he’ll de-Clintonize the party along the way, which ought to be the most important priority. Otherwise, it’s all down to Sen. Rodham Clinton in 2008 — or, as Paul Maslin would put it, the triumph of the Hill.

Response:

Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000? The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age. I amazed at how many young Republicans there are. However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power. Mike

Response:

Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000? The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college.

They need to practice on winning a few local elections first. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age.

What? Colleges are notoriously hardcore liberal…from where are these young voting age people getting their right-wing pollution? I amazed at how many young Republicans there are.

Why, you thought all young people were gullible and ignorant? However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power.

And then what happens in this story of yours?

Response:

Your optimism is inspiring. I’ve had a hard time maintaining mine lately. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000? The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age. I amazed at how many young Republicans there are. However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power. Mike

Response:

[snip] {snore}

Response:

You mean Mike? Hell, That ain’t optimism, that’s anger.

Your optimism is inspiring. I’ve had a hard time maintaining mine lately.

Response:

Unbelievable, the people are wise when they vote Democrat, they’re stupid, or at least deceived when they vote Republican. The arrogance, the sheer ignorant gall of this attitude is almost beyond description. Just for once I’d like to see someone from the left come out and admit that the Republicans keep winning elections because their message appeals to more voters than that of the Democrats, just once a burst of honesty like that would be so refreshing, but no. Keep your head in the sand Mike, at least that way you don’t have to see your ass waving around in the air.

Response:

Is THAT why Al Gore WON THE VOTE? You get the sucking sphincter between yer ears award for THAT tantrum, Fudgie! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000? The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age. I amazed at how many young Republicans there are. However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power. Mike Unbelievable, the people are wise when they vote Democrat, they’re stupid, or at least deceived when they vote Republican. The arrogance, the sheer ignorant gall of this attitude is almost beyond description. Just for once I’d like to see someone from the left come out and admit that the Republicans keep winning elections because their message appeals to more voters than that of the Democrats, just once a burst of honesty like that would be so refreshing, but no. Keep your head in the sand Mike, at least that way you don’t have to see your ass waving around in the air.

Response:

Maybe a bit of both. Anyway, it’s better than apathy. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You mean Mike? Hell, That ain’t optimism, that’s anger. Your optimism is inspiring. I’ve had a hard time maintaining mine lately. Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000? The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age. I amazed at how many young Republicans there are. However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power. Mike

Response:

Maybe a bit of both. Anyway, it’s better than apathy.

That is the truth.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You mean Mike? Hell, That ain’t optimism, that’s anger. Your optimism is inspiring. I’ve had a hard time maintaining mine lately. Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000? The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age. I amazed at how many young Republicans there are. However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power. Mike

Response:

The Republicans keep winning elections because their message appeals to more voters than that of the Democrats. A significant number of people in this country can’t imagine that their government or the media would ever lie to them, so they eat up the propaganda and lies and believe it to be true. Therefore, they vote Republican because they believe the lies and bullshit that pervade the airwaves. The Democrats aren’t nasty enough to overcome this bullshit parade, so we will never have the right people in power in this country that can strike a balance and do what is good for industry AND people. As long as people like Rush Limbaugh spew emotionally-charged garbage that is unchallenged, we will have non-thinkers that will carry his torch and support him even when he has been shown to be a fraud, a liar, and a hypocrite. Roy

Response:

A significant number of people in this country can’t imagine that their government or the media would ever lie to them, so they eat up the propaganda and lies and believe it to be true. Therefore, they vote Republican because they believe the lies and bullshit that pervade the airwaves. The Democrats aren’t nasty enough to overcome this bullshit parade,

In other words, you’re saying that the majority of the people are too stupid to know when they’re being lied to, the news media is part of a conservative plot, and the Democrats are too inept to do anything about all this. You need to add another layer of aluminum foil, your hat is leaking.

Response:

But the press bought the Democratic spin and in turn the Democrats bought the subsequent media spin. Both parties bolstered each other’s delusions. As I wrote after last year’s elections: ”Remind me never to complain about ‘liberal media bias’ again. Right now, liberal media bias is conspiring to assist the Democrats to sleepwalk over the cliff.”

Brilliant, and the funny part is that even when they’re told they’re doing it, they still won’t wake up.

Response:

Dog Groping Devin was on to something until his mind buckled and he went for the foil hat bit….;) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A significant number of people in this country can’t imagine that their government or the media would ever lie to them, so they eat up the propaganda and lies and believe it to be true. Therefore, they vote Republican because they believe the lies and bullshit that pervade the airwaves. The Democrats aren’t nasty enough to overcome this bullshit parade, In other words, you’re saying that the majority of the people are too stupid to know when they’re being lied to, the news media is part of a conservative plot, and the Democrats are too inept to do anything about all this. You need to add another layer of aluminum foil, your hat is leaking.

Response:

Devin, your mother’s bed wetting advice has nothing to do with this discussion. Snap out of it son! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – But the press bought the Democratic spin and in turn the Democrats bought the subsequent media spin. Both parties bolstered each other’s delusions. As I wrote after last year’s elections: ”Remind me never to complain about ‘liberal media bias’ again. Right now, liberal media bias is conspiring to assist the Democrats to sleepwalk over the cliff.” Brilliant, and the funny part is that even when they’re told they’re doing it, they still won’t wake up.

Response:

Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000?

Gore lost. Get over it. The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age.

Yes, their eyes are opening, albeit very slowly. I amazed at how many young Republicans there are.

Ug – me amazed too. Speakee Engrish? If it weren’t for the NEA, there would be MILLIONS more of them than there are aready. We’re working on that angle, too, though…home schooling is *way* up. However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power.

Why, we’ll see in a little more than a year, right? How do you like your crow? Lord Valve Charter Member, VRC

Response:

And until then, you’ll continue to play braille with minors Why, we’ll see in a little more than a year, right? How do you like your crow? Lord Valve Charter Member, VRC

VRC: Verified Rectal Craving Vast Reservoir of Cuntisms Vapid Ripoff Calling Visitors Require Cuffs Volts Removed CNS Vulcans Reply: Caveman Ah, this scat’s too simple- time to hit the studio;)

Response:

As I’ve said before, speaking purely as a Republican, I hope they stick to that belief. It’s the reason the beatings have gotten worse every year since 2000. They even got an *extra* one — there wasn’t expected to BE an election in 2003. The more elections they go into believing that the previous loss was due to not having screamed their demented message loudly *enough*, the less of a party there’ll be left to finally pick up the pieces when their national percentage slice gets down to single digits. As a human, of course, I can’t help feeling a little sorry for them. As I’ve noted, it’s like being a fly on the wall at Bellevue to watch them. But, hey — there’s no LAW that says they have to be liberals. They have brains too, somewhere beneath all those thick alternating layers of concrete and compressed bird-droppings. It’s not like it’s the *GOP* telling them not to use them. This morning, Hannah Storm asked Weasely Clark what he thought of the Cali result. He told her it was a big warning to Bush. My essentially non-political wife literally *laughed out loud* — She actually shrieked in uncontrolled amusement. Even Hannah missed a beat, finally saying "Well, that’s an interesting take on that." And with that, she closed the interview. When even your *Hannah Storms* start to smell the bullshit, the end is very VERY near. Freep

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000? The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age. I amazed at how many young Republicans there are. However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power. Mike Unbelievable, the people are wise when they vote Democrat, they’re stupid, or at least deceived when they vote Republican. The arrogance, the sheer ignorant gall of this attitude is almost beyond description. Just for once I’d like to see someone from the left come out and admit that the Republicans keep winning elections because their message appeals to more voters than that of the Democrats, just once a burst of honesty like that would be so refreshing, but no. Keep your head in the sand Mike, at least that way you don’t have to see your ass waving around in the air.

Response:

Good, Roy. *Very* good. Go with that — you guys aren’t nasty *enough*. You need to get a *whole* lot nastier. That’s the ticket. That’ll get votes. [aside:] *damn*, man… Freep

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Unbelievable, the people are wise when they vote Democrat, they’re stupid, or at least deceived when they vote Republican. The arrogance, the sheer ignorant gall of this attitude is almost beyond description. Just for once I’d like to see someone from the left come out and admit that the Republicans keep winning elections because their message appeals to more voters than that of the Democrats, just once a burst of honesty like that would be so refreshing, but no. Keep your head in the sand Mike, at least that way you don’t have to see your ass waving around in the air. The Republicans keep winning elections because their message appeals to more voters than that of the Democrats. A significant number of people in this country can’t imagine that their government or the media would ever lie to them, so they eat up the propaganda and lies and believe it to be true. Therefore, they vote Republican because they believe the lies and bullshit that pervade the airwaves. The Democrats aren’t nasty enough to overcome this bullshit parade, so we will never have the right people in power in this country that can strike a balance and do what is good for industry AND people. As long as people like Rush Limbaugh spew emotionally-charged garbage that is unchallenged, we will have non-thinkers that will carry his torch and support him even when he has been shown to be a fraud, a liar, and a hypocrite. Roy

Response:

Hey, LV, you’ll like this one. Did you hear the other day where a 9th grade boy lent his asthma inhaler to a girl who was having a potentially fatal attack, who had forgotten hers, and was promptly expelled until Christmas for breaking the ‘zero-tolerance’ rule? Even the school elders agree he saved her life, but they kicked him out anyway. Until Christmas, they said. Then he can come back. Well, that’s all old news by now… the new part is, both students say they’ll *never* go back to that school; they’re going to home-school now. How do you suppose they’ll vote when they’re old enough? Freep

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dream on LV. And this is why Gore won the popular vote in 2000? Gore lost. Get over it. The Democrats need to figure out how to win an electoral college. It ain’t gonna be easy because the right-wingers have polluted & deceived alot of younger people entering the voting age. Yes, their eyes are opening, albeit very slowly. I amazed at how many young Republicans there are. Ug – me amazed too. Speakee Engrish? If it weren’t for the NEA, there would be MILLIONS more of them than there are aready. We’re working on that angle, too, though…home schooling is *way* up. However, one of these days, people will wake up again & see the wool that’s been pulled over their eyes. Then they’ll remove these right-wingers from power. Why, we’ll see in a little more than a year, right? How do you like your crow? Lord Valve Charter Member, VRC

Response:

Arnie

Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Arnold!

Response:

Arnie Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Arnold!

Still crying about Cali, I see. How awful, Freep

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Arnie Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Arnold! Still crying about Cali, I see. How awful, Freep

Still playing the Nazi card. Even worse, Mike F.

Response:

society loves divorce

admin — Tue, 03 Dec 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Uh huh. Time to research this a little more Ryan. The state of this country’s legal system is due PRIMARILY to the fact that nose-picking, bed-wetting liberals have been in charge for so long. They rant on about how they ‘feel your pain’ and have gladly handed women their ‘victim’ status to protect them against evil men. They are firmly in the pockets of Gloria Allred, NOW and their ilk. Ask yourself where was NOW when Clarence Thomas was implicated for harassment. Now try to find them when Clinton was. Utilize the web. Do research.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – they eat it up, asking for second helpings. "America and the Divorce Industry" could be the title of a best-seller book. it’s all so sad. there’s this guy, a typical right-winger prick.. Pat Bucannon (sp?) he wrote a book called "Death of the West" or something like that. It’s about the fall of Western civilization. perhaps divorce has something to do with it, no?

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they eat it up, asking for second helpings. "America and the Divorce Industry" could be the title of a best-seller book. it’s all so sad. there’s this guy, a typical right-winger prick.. Pat Bucannon (sp?) he wrote a book called "Death of the West" or something like that. It’s about the fall of Western civilization. perhaps divorce has something to do with it, no? i am sure it does-divorce kills familys-with out familys-no country-we are

gonna destroy are selves from within-just like the romans.

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ideed-y agreed. "just like the romans" here that guys and gals? THAT’s where we’re headed. in fact…. America is concidered the modern day roman empire. even the revived roman empire. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Wetting while Walking

admin — Mon, 14 Oct 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Ralph, I’m 67 and had my RP almost 3 years ago. I, too, still have this problem but it is very rare now. Trying to get rid of a little gas is what usually causes my problem. In the good old pre-RP days, you just let ‘er rip. Now you must do so very carefully by trying to keep one valve shut while opening the exhaust duct. Good luck George – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had radical surgery a year ago in September. I am 73 years old. The continence is under control except when I take my daily walks. Not serious wetting but annoying. Why does this happen? I was supprised that I received no response to my problem when I posted the message in Aug 16th. I had my year checkup. The doctor said I might have to live with this problem for the rest of my life. This is hard to believe. Ralph

Response:

I also read it’s much more effective to empty the bladder if you’re seated and leaning forward. Something about the angles involved…

In the interest of maximizing my chances of achieving continence, my urologist warns against urinating while sitting and recommends that I try always to urinate while standing and practice interrupting the stream, exactly as John Loomis describes above. I try to do this as much as possible and I’m improving gradually. I don’t see improvement day-to-day, but if I think back to how I was a month or two ago, I can see the difference.

Response:

Do you wear a pad just for that? Have you tried just relaxing for 30 seconds or so and waiting to see if a bit more comes out? Not a common topic of conversation :) One extra thought – it may help if you push up firmly with a finger on your perineum area afterward to expel the last amount. I even saw that illustrated in a recent urology publication. I also read it’s much more effective to empty the bladder if you’re seated and leaning forward. Something about the angles involved…

Interesting. I had hardly any incontinence problems (age 53 at RP). I wore those stupid pads for a few days, fearing an accident. But my penis was especially tender after surgery, and having it rub against those pads was irritating enough to drive me crazy. There was no way I could have tolerated it all day long, so when I started going back to work full time, I just kept an extra pair of pants in my office in case of an accident. I never needed them. For a while I slept on the sort of pad one uses for infants. After I thought all was safe and I no longer needed it, I did have a couple of bed-wetting sessions. I think both times were when I went to sleep super-tired. I did have a bit of the dribble problem referred to in this thread. I tried to be very careful and relax. I wondered what would happen with warm weather, when things could get smelly before the end of the day, but by the time warm weather came, I no longer had a problem. But more recently, it’s back. When things are super-tense and rushed at work, I have to be very careful when I urinate. And at home I’ve been doing a lot of heavy work outdoors the past couple of months. I can manage the work, which involves a lot of straining and lifting, but it seems I have to drink lots of water or I get a headache that seems like still-lingering effects of the spinal headache I got from surgery. Guzzling water all day long means I also need to pee a lot. Instead of tracking dirt into the house, I go into the woods out back. And now that the weather is cooler, I find it difficult to relax enough to avoid the dribbles. The problem has returend. It’s manageable, but maybe I should learn what the perineum is so I can try that technique. tt

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Mr doctor said that I will most likely have my problem for the rest of my life. the problem: When I pee there is a nice, hearty stream. When I am through I push, shake it, push some more and shake it some more. But always when I go to put it away I dribble, sometimes quite a bit. I am 60. It is very annoying. I do wear a pad constantly.

I only have that problem when I’m wearing pants that the zipper seems to sewed in too high. Never have the problem when naked, just underwear, or jogging shorts. However, I heard my urologist once say that you’re not supposed to push, just relax and let it come out. If you push, there is always some left over, then you relax and it comes out.

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Can you imagine……We have to not push and relax….Anyway, peeing has alwasys been a dribble after RP. I do not wet myself but seems that "voiding" is like a leaky faucet. I pull, strecth, shake……jees…..finally after about a minute, all is gone…..It takes time, but, I never wore a pad, and do not leak. I asked my Dr. "he said, if it works, don’t fix it" So, learn how to live with the new stream is my understanding" Good wishes…why men have to discuss this is beyond me, but I found that I do! John Loomis 52 (0.01 or less with 6 month blood test) 3 years since surgery. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mr doctor said that I will most likely have my problem for the rest of my life. the problem: When I pee there is a nice, hearty stream. When I am through I push, shake it, push some more and shake it some more. But always when I go to put it away I dribble, sometimes quite a bit. I am 60. It is very annoying. I do wear a pad constantly. I only have that problem when I’m wearing pants that the zipper seems to sewed in too high. Never have the problem when naked, just underwear, or jogging shorts. However, I heard my urologist once say that you’re not supposed to push, just relax and let it come out. If you push, there is always some left over, then you relax and it comes out.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had radical surgery a year ago in September. I am 73 years old. The continence is under control except when I take my daily walks. Not serious wetting but annoying. Why does this happen? I was supprised that I received no response to my problem when I posted the message in Aug 16th. I had my year checkup. The doctor said I might have to live with this problem for the rest of my life. This is hard to believe. Ralph —- Mr doctor said that I will most likely have my problem for the rest of my life. the problem: When I pee there is a nice, hearty stream. When I am through I push, shake it, push some more and shake it some more. But always when I go to put it away I dribble, sometimes quite a bit. I am 60. It is very annoying. I do wear a pad constantly.

I had the exact same problem for years before I had my RP….. seems so minor now with all the new setbacks. It’s a question of relaxing when you put it back. You need to train yourself to relax the same way when it’s out. — Sinrod Stained Glass www.sinrodstudios.com Coney Island Memories www.sinrodstudios.com/coneymemories

Response:

I had radical surgery a year ago in September. I am 73 years old. The continence is under control except when I take my daily walks. Not serious wetting but annoying. Why does this happen? I was supprised that I received no response to my problem when I posted the message in Aug 16th. I had my year checkup. The doctor said I might have to live with this problem for the rest of my life. This is hard to believe. Ralph

Response:

When I pee there is a nice, hearty stream. When I am through I push, shake it, push some more and shake it some more. But always when I go to put it away I dribble, sometimes quite a bit. I am 60. It is very annoying. I do wear a pad constantly.

Do you wear a pad just for that? Have you tried just relaxing for 30 seconds or so and waiting to see if a bit more comes out? I also have that problem but for me it is a relatively minor one. I also had it before my RP. I think this sort of thing is pretty normal in all men and more so in older men. But it clearly depends on how much dribbles. There is the old doggerel "No matter how much you shake and dance, the last few drops go down your pants." — Dept. of Mathematics, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL 60208

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When I pee there is a nice, hearty stream. When I am through I push, shake it, push some more and shake it some more. But always when I go to put it away I dribble, sometimes quite a bit. I am 60. It is very annoying. I do wear a pad constantly. Do you wear a pad just for that? Have you tried just relaxing for 30 seconds or so and waiting to see if a bit more comes out? I also have that problem but for me it is a relatively minor one. I also had it before my RP. I think this sort of thing is pretty normal in all men and more so in older men. But it clearly depends on how much dribbles. There is the old doggerel "No matter how much you shake and dance, the last few drops go down your pants."

Not a common topic of conversation :) One extra thought – it may help if you push up firmly with a finger on your perineum area afterward to expel the last amount. I even saw that illustrated in a recent urology publication. I also read it’s much more effective to empty the bladder if you’re seated and leaning forward. Something about the angles involved… — Jerry G Michigan http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–= Over 100,000 Newsgroups – Unlimited Fast Downloads – 19 Servers =—–

Response:

The reason you had it right after the operation is that the Keigler (sp?) has to be retrained to close a larger opening then before. I believe the reason you have it when you walk is mere gravity. I only have problems now when I laugh really hard (especially while standing having indulged in a few beers) or when moving heavy objects. It took me almost a year to tighten up enough that I don’t pee while exercise walking, and I was 46. Much more difficult for a seasoned citizen.

Response:

Hello Ralph, Sorry you have that problem. I was 49 when diagnosed. I was scared to death that I may pee myself, and not get an erection. Lo an behold things worked after 2 years. To my understanding, the older a person is, the harder it is to get continence and erectile function. I am sorry that maybe you are in the boat of the older folks, that had RP, and now have trouble with pee, control. the only thing I suggest is walking, and drinking lots of fluids, and trying to control the only sphincter muscle left. That is, stop peeing when you are. then let pee go. Then stop peeing when you are, then start. that is my interpretations of kiegel exersize. If you practice you may be surprised what comes from the hard work. It worked for me. I am just a youngster. I do wish you the best, and live a long life also. Sorry to hear of the problems you are experiencing. John Loomis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had radical surgery a year ago in September. I am 73 years old. The continence is under control except when I take my daily walks. Not serious wetting but annoying. Why does this happen? I was supprised that I received no response to my problem when I posted the message in Aug 16th. I had my year checkup. The doctor said I might have to live with this problem for the rest of my life. This is hard to believe. Ralph

Response:

I've lost that peppy feeling

admin — Fri, 04 Oct 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

*squirms* I don’t feel right about depriving dogs of water (or any animal really) I’m not trying to be flamey here either. Just from my own experiences. I had a dog who’s kidneys packed up and he was constantly drinking, so he had water all night. My current dog does too. He’s 6, and sleeps in my room, and has access to water all night. He very rarely asks to go outside, but when he does I take him out. I look at it like this: He’s helpless, and can’t let himself out. Imagine if you were him and really needed to go, or had an upset tummy. I don’t know, I guess I just see it from the dog’s point of view. Maybe if I had a dog who wanted to constantly go out I’d feel differently. F/31/5′4ish 220/154/140 Low Carb since 6 Sep 01 http://members.fortunecity.com/zephrine/weebleswobble/

Response:

I probably should at least do a rough guesstimate of my calories. I feel like I’m eating a lot, but then I’m so accustomed to trying to keep my calories way down and eating meat and fats feels so counter-intuitive, that I may be getting less than I thought. This time around, I know to watch my caloric intake and get atleast 1200-1300 cal/day and spread the meals evenly throughout the day. And one vitamin that I found to make a huge difference in my stamina and general energy level is Co-Q 10. (Good for the heart muscle and gums. I take 150 – 200 mg daily.) Calcium (with Mag/Zinc/Vit.D) seems to prevent leg cramps/aches.

I do take the Co-Q, but I’ll have to check the bottle – I may not be taking enough to make a difference. It’s wonderful to have that peppy feeling. How you find your’s soon!

Thanks, now I feel like I have possibilties to explore. Martha — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot

Response:

*squirms* I don’t feel right about depriving dogs of water (or any animal really) I’m not trying to be flamey here either. Just from my own experiences

The dog is only being "deprived" of water for a few hours in the evening. BECAUSE she has a problem. The same way you don’t give bed-wetting kids liquids after their evening meal. There’s nothing to squirm about. She’s not harming, depriving, abusing, or neglecting her dog. Connie

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

I do see things from the dog’s point of view. That’s why I take her out everytime she says she needs to go, even though there are times I’d gladly clean up a mess in the morning rather than have to get up now. I think that if you were going out at least once every night and sometimes 2-3 times you would feel differently, though. Especially since I live in a city. Everytime she needs to go out I have to put on enough clothes to be street-decent and take her for a walk around the block. While the neighborhood I live in is quite safe, it can feel a little creepy walking around at 3:00 a.m. Naturally I’ll talk to her vet about the health ramifications, but I doubt he’ll disapprove. When I mentioned this when she lived w/ me before, it was the vet who suggested taking up her water. As a practical matter, she knows where I put her water bowl when I take it up and she’s quite capable of indicating when she wants something, when we go into the kitchen, she doesn’t make a bee-line for the water bowl down there, and when I put the water down for her in the morning she doesn’t do an impression of a camel that has just made it to the oasis. Taking her water up in the evenings hasn’t solved the problem, but I’m getting to sleep through more nights Martha "and that’s a *good* thing" — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot

Response:

Hey Connie, Of course, this may not be diet related, I have recently reacquired a Uninterrupted sleep is necessary for a lot of essential body functions. During sleep you progress through a set of "cycles" and when these cycles are interrupted, you will probably see negative results. I would certainly think this sleep interruption is causing your lack of energy.

That’s good to know. I tend to underestimate the importance of solid blocks of sleep as some of my friends have infants who don’t yet sleep through the night, so I sort of think of that as normal. But, then, I also expect them to be zombies.

I’d started taking her water up earlier, but didn’t realize how much earlier it needed to be. Good ideas and I’ll try them. While I treasure the last hour’s sleep in the morning, I’d be willing to give it up if it meant not rolling out of bed and into sweats at 3:00 a.m. diabetes, which is very common in older dogs? If that’s no problem, then do whatever you can to extend the *uninterrupted* time you get to sleep. And good luck!

She hasn’t, and I should get that done. She’s got chronic lung disease and wasn’t expected to see the year out (2+ years ago), so some things that she probably would normally have been checked/treated for have been pushed to the back burner. Martha — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot

Response:

I’ve been Adkins since 6-4-02 and have lost 22 lbs. but am in a stall right now. What really caught my eye about your post was the aching when going upstairs–that’s me, too. I feel the same way. I also take extra potassium and magnesium with the calcium. Sorry I can’t say something that helps, but I’m with you and will be looking forward to answers from the ng.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it. Aside from wanting it to be over, I worry that it will work it’s way out and I won’t know what was causing it or how to correct it next time. Sometimes I feel that my care of my body is like an unsupervised science project. Martha — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot

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I was walking up the escalators (that may not sound like much, but the escalator at my home stop is *LONG*). do you live in the D.C. area? those are some of the longest escalators i’ve ever seen! and one was broken last time i was there so had no choice but to walk. just curious. this BEAUTIFUL weather is making me

Yup and you’re brave. A few summers ago, the up escalator wasn’t working when the former object of my affections came to visit me. I seriously thought I might have to call the paramedics, and suggested that in the middle of a D.C. summer there was no disgrace opting for the elevator.

You could send it here! I’m hoping the cooler weather sets in soon – I want crisp nights and wonderful breezy days. Martha — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot

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Last fall I went on a low-fat, low cal WOE, took vitamins and had a daily exercise program (lots of sweating). Lost weight, about 20lbs in four weeks, BUT found that I was NOT getting enough calories to sustain daily life! One day, I just couldn’t move during an aerobics class. Literally could not do anything without getting winded. Legs ached. Had problems walking up my front stairs. What I did to remedy the problem–fell off the wagon, and reverted back to my unhealthy WOE. This time around, I know to watch my caloric intake and get atleast 1200-1300 cal/day and spread the meals evenly throughout the day. And one vitamin that I found to make a huge difference in my stamina and general energy level is Co-Q 10. (Good for the heart muscle and gums. I take 150 – 200 mg daily.) Calcium (with Mag/Zinc/Vit.D) seems to prevent leg cramps/aches. It’s wonderful to have that peppy feeling. How you find your’s soon! –Web

Response:

I was walking up the escalators (that may not sound like much, but the escalator at my home stop is *LONG*).

do you live in the D.C. area? those are some of the longest escalators i’ve ever seen! and one was broken last time i was there so had no choice but to walk. just curious. this BEAUTIFUL weather is making me euphoric and missing the east coast! although the residuals of hurricane lili is supposed to hit here later. it’s just starting to rain. and i wouldn’t even care, but we need new gutters! pam

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I feel tired, my thighs ache going up stairs. While I don’t feel desperate for a nap in the afternoons the way I used to, I do get somewhat lethargic. I should be getting enough potassium and magnesium. I take supplements of both and the atkins shakes, which I have for breakfast, have a fair amount of potassium. I’m also taking a good multi-vitamin. I’m confident I’m eating enough, and I think there’s decent variety in my diet.

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Of course, this may not be diet related, I have recently reacquired a little dog in my life. She is an older dog and frequently really, really needs to go out in the middle of the night, so my sleep is not as undisturbed as it might be. I’ve also had some stress in my personal life, but I think I’m dealing with that ok.

Uninterrupted sleep is necessary for a lot of essential body functions. During sleep you progress through a set of "cycles" and when these cycles are interrupted, you will probably see negative results. I would certainly think this sleep interruption is causing your lack of energy. I have two dogs, so I understand the "really, really" part. (G) Try limiting her water after 3 PM, and completely taking away her water after 6 PM. Make sure you take her out the very *last* thing before you turn out the lights. Try getting up a half hour or hour earlier; once she’s used to the new schedule she may be able to wait, knowing that her earlier morning potty time is imminent. Has she been checked for diabetes, which is very common in older dogs? If that’s no problem, then do whatever you can to extend the *uninterrupted* time you get to sleep. And good luck! Connie

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Hi Fellow Low-Carbers, I started low carbing in august. I started w/ the Eads’ plan, but cut my carbs back to <20. After an initial rocky transition (I did *not* feel well for the first few days), I hit the energy boost, feeling of well-being, etc, that are some of benefits of this diet. The problem is, now I’ve lost it again. I feel tired, my thighs ache going up stairs. While I don’t feel desperate for a nap in the afternoons the way I used to, I do get somewhat lethargic. I should be getting enough potassium and magnesium. I take supplements of both and the atkins shakes, which I have for breakfast, have a fair amount of potassium. I’m also taking a good multi-vitamin. I’m confident I’m eating enough, and I think there’s decent variety in my diet. I haven’t restarted my exercise program, but I do get at least 20-30 minutes of brisk walking in each day, and, when I was feeling perkier, I was walking up the escalators (that may not sound like much, but the escalator at my home stop is *LONG*). Of course, this may not be diet related, I have recently reacquired a little dog in my life. She is an older dog and frequently really, really needs to go out in the middle of the night, so my sleep is not as undisturbed as it might be. I’ve also had some stress in my personal life, but I think I’m dealing with that ok. So, can anyone suggest how to get back to feeling the way I was? Martha, living la vida lo-carb — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot

Response:

Nun's from hell???

admin — Thu, 18 Jul 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Nuns’ order in secret payouts 18 July 2002 By YVONNE MARTIN A group of 14 women who were beaten as girls at a Christchurch orphanage have been secretly paid out by a Catholic order of nuns. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd have paid out undisclosed sums of money and given written apologies to the women acknowledging physical abuse at St Joseph’s orphanage in Halswell in the 1930s to 1950s. Although 14 took part in a mediated settlement in December – 11 of them from Christchurch – many more have alleged abuse at the hands of the sisters. Several women approached by The Press said confidentiality clauses prevented them from talking about their settlements. It comes at a time when other Catholic orders facing abuse allegations, including the St John of God Order which ran Marylands residential school for boys, are abandoning secrecy clauses to enable victims to speak freely of their ordeals. Critics of secret agreements have argued that the Catholic Church has effectively paid hush money to bury potential scandals. Clinical psychologist Martin Visser has said confidentiality clauses imprisoned victims in codes of silence and made healing difficult. The sisters’ cruel punishment of girls at the orphanage was the subject of a television documentary five years ago. One woman spoke of being deliberately burnt on the arm by a sister in the laundry when she was seven. Others described being put in solitary confinement for up to 48 hours and being virtual slaves – having to pick potatoes, clean pigstys, iron, and clean the orphanage. Victims said bed-wetting was an offence that brought heavy punishment. The offender was forced to "parade" at breakfast with their soiled sheets wrapped around their necks, and were dunked by older girls in the deep end of a swimming pool. Most of the girls were not orphans, but wards of the State or from families who could not cope with them in hard economic times. It was common for several children from the same family to end up in the nuns’ care. The Good Shepherd sisters released a statement at the time the allegations were first raised, saying that the orphanage nuns were "over-zealous and misguided". Hundreds of children went into the care of a handful of nuns which was now considered "unreasonable". The leader of the dwindling order in New Zealand, Sister Mary Feehan, did not want to discuss the settlement. "Matters such as these are private between individuals and the sisters and it is inappropriate for the sisters to make any comment," she said. "I have nothing further to add to that." All the nuns involved in the orphanage allegations are now dead. The order has only three nuns left doing community work in Auckland and a small number of ageing nuns in care. The order set up a freephone to help victims contact the nuns in mid-1997. In November that year about 60 women, who had spent time in the orphanage, met for their first reunion to discuss their childhood ordeals. The Good Shepherd sisters were originally established in France in 1835, mainly working with deprived women and children. They arrived in Melbourne, Australia, in 1863 and in Christchurch about 20 years later. According to the order’s website, it worked over the decades to bring about change through "kindness, encouragement, and firmness".

Response:

All the nuns involved in the orphanage allegations are now dead. ‘

My. The Church is starting to finally adopt a zero tolerance policy for abuse. Joseph