Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Laugh Obama, laugh! As you distract & pimp the peoples’ pain

By Larry Pinkney
Online Journal Guest Writer


Aug 27, 2010, 00:20


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“The wolf and the fox are both enemies of humanity, both are canine, both humiliate and mutilate their victims. Both have the same objectives, but differ only in methods.” --Malcolm X (el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz)


“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” --Steven Biko


Through a steady barrage of unceasing distractions and lies, the waters of informed public discourse in this nation are being deliberately poisoned and manipulated. Barack Obama, the Democrat and Republican parties, and the corporate-stream media engage in these tactics as a means of controlling and manipulating the pain of everyday people.


An example of this poisoning and distraction is the recent public foray by Barack Obama, regarding the possible building of a Muslim mosque near “ground zero” in New York City. Obama claimed that he was merely manifesting his respect for the U.S. Constitution by reminding the U.S. public of the constitutional right to build said mosque. This of course was nothing more than a cynical distraction on Obama’s part. Where is Barack Obama’s constitutional respect as he callously shreds the U.S. Constitution by supporting and extending the unconstitutional police-state ‘Patriot Act’ and the program of U.S. government kidnapping and torture known as ‘Extraordinary Rendition’?! No! Barack Obama, the Democratic Party foxes, the Republican Party wolves, and the ever subservient lap dog corporate-stream media utilized the mosque matter in New York City as a cynical distraction away from the horrors of massive unemployment, home foreclosures, a rapidly deteriorating U.S. infrastructure, a burgeoning U.S. prison gulag population, corporate/Wall Street hegemony, the de facto continued U.S. occupation of Iraq, and the bloody U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan. So laugh Obama, laugh! As you distract and pimp the pain of the people! In the paraphrased words of the great Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes: “Wake Up Everybody!. . . . (Listen closely to the words) Politicians stop lying!!!”


It is the year 2010, in the 21st century, and once again it is time to wake up and organize on behalf of ourselves: just plain everyday Black, White, Brown, Red and Yellow peoples!


As Barack Obama spends billions of dollars on overt wars abroad, he and his ilk are also spending billions more dollars conducting bloody, illegal, and secret wars of terrorism allegedly against those who are themselves arbitrarily defined as “terrorists,” all in the name of the ‘American’ people. This of course serves to enhance the bloody cycle of “terrorism,” not stop it. It also simultaneously financially enriches the bulging and bottomless coffers of the U.S. corporate / military elite at the expense of jobs, housing, schools, libraries, education, and the over-all infrastructure of this nation. (See New York Times, August 14, 2010).


How is it that Barack Obama could so cleverly, callously and cynically be leading this nation backwards to economic and social ruin, while in a perpetual state of wars abroad? The answer is not difficult. Consider that there is strong reason to believe that Barack Obama himself was fastidiously groomed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)/corporate complex in preparation for his role as the head of the U.S. corporate / military Empire. Moreover, his family, including his mother, father, step father, and grand father all had very close ties with the CIA and were most probably CIA operatives themselves. (Reference: The Story of Obama: All in The Company Part1 and Part 2).


Barack Obama did not rise from relative national obscurity on his own to become President of the United States. He was aided and abetted by the CIA/corporate complex with the eager and able assistance of the corporate-stream media. The CIA successfully subverted and manipulated so-called democracy in this nation with the blindly euphoric installment of Barack Obama as the first “black” president of this country. This however, is by no means the first time that the clandestine CIA, with its enormous and largely hidden budget, has subverted democracy in this nation and abroad, nor is it likely to be the last. [Remember how the CIA, orchestrated and funded the overthrow of the democratically elected governments of Iran in 1953, and Chile in 1973. Notwithstanding a shredded U.S. Constitution, it is ridiculous to assume that the ‘American’ people would somehow be immune to CIA subterfuge inside the United States itself.]


The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, in addition to other so-called “intelligence” agencies have also unscrupulously infiltrated and subverted vast portions of the U.S. “news” media and public institutions in this nation. Thus, it is absolutely no coincidence that some who seek to expose Barack Obama and/or U.S. government lies, often find themselves as the targets of “dirty trick” activities of vicious discreditation, or imprisoned, or mysteriously disappeared, or yes, even murdered. The Obama / Dunham / Soetoro CIA connections stretch from the United States, to Kenya, to Indonesia, to Lebanon and beyond. No one should be surprised that the articulate, double-talking Barack Obama has escalated (for example) the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while enacting repressive legislation such as the “Patriot Act’ that in effect shreds the U. S. Constitution.


It should come as no surprise that the infamous COINTELPRO activities by the U.S. government have now been in essence codified into law within the ‘Patriot Act’ itself. The next time you hear Barack Obama speak or witness his sickly smile---remember well---who and what he really is and whose interests he actually serves. What you don’t know can not only hurt you—it can kill you. WAKE UP EVERYBODY—Wake UP!


Everyday Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow people in this nation are in terrible pain and are hurting like never before. Yet, Barack Obama, his congressional colleagues, and the corporate-stream media dare to pontificate about a so-called “economic recovery,” which is in fact nonexistent for the masses of everyday people. The lying rhetoric and smoke & mirror economics of Barack Obama, the Democratic Party foxes, and the Republican Party wolves have served the greedy corporate elite of Wall Street—not the everyday people.(Reference: Deceptive Economic Statistics: While the economists lied the US economy died).


Corporate greed must be addressed and stood up to everywhere. Moreover, the corporate government and its hand maiden corporate-stream media must be organized against just as the people did this past August 10, 2010, in the ongoing struggle against Whirlpool corporation’s greed and corruption in Benton Harbor Michigan. These kinds of people’s struggles are increasingly being organized throughout the United States. Everyday Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow people must assert their / our human rights to decent jobs, justice, and a life with dignity.


Educate, agitate, and organize! In the words of Joe Hill, “Don’t Mourn. Organize!!!” Link our issues and concerns together! Even while Barack Obama and his ilk cynically manipulate and laugh at the pain of the everyday people, we must organize!


There remains much work to be done. The time for slumber has long passed. Onward my sisters and brothers! Onward!


SOURCE

Source: http://therebelsincere.blogspot.com/2010/08/laugh-obama-laugh-as-you-distract-pimp.html

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Losing Myself....


The title of this blog pretty much says it all. I feel as though my life has left me, I miss what used to be my life. I felt like it had some meaning. Now I'm just going through the motions, trying to fight the good fight and losing terribly. I feel alone and abandoned by the world, disconnected from even the most basic of feelings other than sorrow, despair, hurt, and pain. I am thankful for the couple of friends I have or else I don't know what I would do. It is that little thread that is keeping me tied to this world. As you can tell by this post my depression is winning the war. At some point I am going to lose my ability to do the most basic things because right now I am fighting just to get up out of bed. Of course I'm not sleeping much at all which I'm sure isn't helping right now. 


  Dr. H has talked to me about my guilt, he said the guilt is masking things and I know what it is masking. Hurt, pain, and anger...rage even. This sucks more than anything, I hate these feelings. Before I got better for awhile (a few years ago) I was feeling a lot of anger. I mean every single day I was angry and/or depressed. Then by some miracle I snapped out of it and became a different person for a few years...not enough years because now I am back to that hopeless person again. I hate it so much. I don't want to feel this way but I know I have to stop masking it and deal with it. But it is so very hard. All I want to do is die right now. I am tired both physically and emotionally. I've lost the connection with pretty much everyone I know. Both physically and emotionally. No one knows me anymore. I feel as though I would not be missed by more than a handful of the people I know. Four of those are my kids. I feel useless and I feel like no matter what I say or do it isn't right. 





  Of course it doesn't help that every time I read posts on the internet regarding news stories or even some Facebook postings it makes me feel like the world is made up of hate more than love. Why in the hell would I want to stick around for this? I can't bear this. I know I am not the only person who feels this way, don't get me wrong. It appears to be a pity party and sometimes I want to slap my own face....sometimes I do. This doesn't negate what I am feeling. I am depressed, I am tired, and I feel like I'm already dead inside. It sucks to feel this way. I feel as though I am getting worse instead of better so I have to remind myself that my doctor told me that this would happen. But ya know what, even though I know that it doesn't stop me from feeling totally and utterly alone. Where the hell are the voices in my head??? It's all quiet in there and that may be good...maybe it's the eye of the storm which would mean this is half over, right? Get through the other half and then I'm home free? I sure hope so because if I fall much further I don't know if I will be able to get out.


Here is some song lyrics with the song posted right after that REALLY embody so much of how I'm feeling. Sorry the video isn't really a video but an album cover but the song is good. I like it, even if it is depressing. For anyone who may actually read this, writing helps me even if it is negative like this. I'm sorry for being such a downer but it is part of the journey that I promised you with this blog. You are going to get the bad with the good.


Losing time
counting hours
I'll never see myself again
And even though I'm alone
I can't remember what I'm missing
So I leave it be


Closing down
I expect the hopelessness
And even though I'm alone
I can't remember what I'm missing
and that's all I need


I am lost
I feel I am sinking now
like I was made of rain


Like a wave I roll into the endless night


I am not afraid
as the darkness starts
to make its way
I breathe as hard as you
as I end my day
I sigh and shelter
as I try to sink that deep
as deepas you and make sure
that I won't fall asleep


Losing days
I need no hours
I'll never be myself again
And even though it's killing me
I can't remember what I'm missing
So I leave it be














Source: http://myptsdlife.blogspot.com/2010/08/losing-myself.html

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Cambodians can remain pawns, or can hang together against Sen's autocracy

While the world's democracies ponder how to use their power and will to shape the world, Cambodian democrats and rights activists can choose to remain pawns while the democracies and the autocracies deal, or Cambodians can "hang together" in their opposition to Sen's autocracy. If they do not, they risk being hung separately by the dictator.


We live in an interdependent, interconnected, globalized world. Cambodians can act, or not.



FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ETC-007-2010
August 17, 2010


An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission

CAMBODIA: "Cambodians can remain pawns, or can hang together against Sen's autocracy"


August 15, 2010
Two weeks ago, I presented in this space a contrast of reporter Benoit Bringer's "Cambodge: Les enfants de la decharge" (Cambodia: The Children of the Garbage Dump), a five minute video, and his gallery of photos, showing how Cambodians scavenge Phnom Penh's public garbage dump just to survive; and Andrew Marshall's "Khmer Riche," published in the Jan 12 Sydney Morning Herald, showing the life at the opposite end of Cambodians' economic spectrum – Cambodia's "rich kids" who can spend "$2,000 on drinks in a single night" and whose parents' "newly built neoclassical mansions (are) so large that (Phnom Penh's) old French architecture looks like Lego by comparison."


The contrast serves to forecast Cambodia's unpleasant future, a future the international community sought to avoid when it established the 1991 Paris Peace Accords and invested $3 billion to set Cambodia on a productive course. The current situation in Cambodia and the future it foretells represent an international failure.


Economic Inequality, Conflict, Revolt


Theories abound about economic inequality and its linkage with dissent, unrest, and rebellion by the disadvantaged.


Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC) had linked the well-being of a political community with the well-being of the citizens who make it up, and economic inequality with the revolt of the disadvantaged. His analysis on the causes of revolution—"The passion for equality is at the root of revolution," Aristotle said--has inspired students of politics and theorists until today.
Please click here to read more...http://lg-media.blogspot.com/2010/08/cambodians-can-remain-pawns-or-can-hang.html

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Monday, August 16, 2010

Exercise To Cure Arthritis Pain

Arthritis

Here are four types of exercises that can reduce pain, say experts


Experts claim that people with arthritis who exercise have less pain, more energy, improved sleep, and better day-to-day function. Still, they tend to avoid exercising. “People with arthritis avoid exercise for a number of reasons,” explained Donna Everix of the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals.


“Some avoid it due to fear of pain or injury, and others avoid if for the same reason many people without arthritis do - not wanting to make a lifestyle change.”


Inactivity, in addition to arthritisrelated problems, can result in a variety of health risks, including Type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, decreased pain tolerance, weak muscles, stiff joints and poor balance common to many forms of arthritis can be made worse by inactivity.


Following are the four types of exercises that can have a positive effect on reducing pain related to arthritis and other rheumatic diseases:


Flexibility
Flexibility exercises help to maintain or improve the flexibility in affected joints and surrounding muscles. Benefits include better posture, reduced risk of injuries and improved function. When focusing on flexibility exercises, range of motion exercises should be performed five to 10 times on a daily basis while stretching exercises can be performed at least three days a week with each stretch being held for 30 seconds.


Strengthening
Strengthening exercises are designed to work muscles. Strong muscles improve function and help to reduce bone loss related to inactivity. For people with arthritis, one set of eight to 10 exercises for the major muscle groups of the body two to three times a week is recommended. However, older individuals may find that 10-15 repetitions with less resistance are more effective. The resistance or weight should challenge the muscles without increasing joint pain.


Aerobic
Aerobic exercises include activities that use the large muscles of the body in a repetitive and rhythmic manner. Aerobic exercise improves heart, lung and muscle function. For people with arthritis, this type of exercise has benefits for weight control, mood, sleep and general health. Safe forms of aerobic exercise include walking, aerobic dance, aquatic exercise, bicycling or exercising on equipment such as stationary bikes, treadmills or elliptical trainers. Current recommendations for aerobic activity are 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week, preferably spread out over several days.


Body awareness
Body awareness exercises include activities to improve posture, balance, joint position sense, coordination and relaxation. Tai chi and yoga are examples of recreational exercises that incorporate elements of body awareness and can be a very useful part of an arthritis exercise plan.



Source: http://health-wellness-nutrition-fitness.blogspot.com/2010/08/exercise-to-cure-arthritis-pain.html

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It's a Small, Small World

Was it Groucho Marx -another oldie that you should really get to know- who said something to the effect of "I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member"? (Well of course it was. That was just quick way to pull you into conversation.) We all belong to some group don't we? Call it a club, a team, a party, a sect, a pod or a herd. We as individuals find things better when we surround ourselves with like minded people. As hard as some try to express individuality; it seems we all need to feel like we belong to something. We share our talents, our views, our essence with people we come to admire, trust, or respect. We form mini communities within whatever larger community we live in.


I don't remember when I first recieved an invitation to join Facebook. I do know I resisted for quite some time. I really felt I had no need for it. I don't even remember why I finally decided to join. I have made some connections that have surprised me. Some that I never communicate with yet feel good somehow that the connection is there. All this connecting has me thinking about community. They call it the Facebook community after all.


There are people I have not spoken to in person in thirty years. I have chatted with some online now. There are a few I trade private messages with. There are now a few I am looking forward to seeing at an upcoming reunion. I have created an online community that I find I look forward to "seeing" and sharing my thoughts and passions with.


How funny.


So many people shuffling off to create their own lives. Some far away from where we all grew up. Some still living a place they always have, and alway will know. Some testing the adage about never being able to go home. Yet no matter where we've gone, what we've done we are still connected through the ether. We are still part of the same community we loved or hated as kids.


It's a small, small, world.


Where ever you are, what ever you're doing; take a look around. Do you like where you've landed? The friends you've made? You're spouse? Do you appreciate your kids?


Tell 'em. Let 'em know. We never know where life is going to take us. Make sure the people in your many communities know you're a better person for having them in your life.


It won't hurt.


I promiseSource: http://ericjolicoeur.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-small-small-world.html

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Ao Dai




Please don't ask me why I'm adding the frame on these photos instead the others. But, I will tell you how if you have Adobe CS4 or CS5Source: http://travelersphotoblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/ao-dai.html

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Pain and Cynicism









“Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world…We are like blocks of stone…The blows of His chisel…are what make us perfect.” --C.S. Lewis


Driving home from the grocery store yesterday I had to veer to the center of the road as a man was literally peeling a small dog (a Chihuahua, I think) from off of the road. A little boy was sitting on the curb, crying his eyes out.


Driving past this, I couldn’t help but think of my first dog; Rocket Ismail Timmer. Rocket was named after Raghib “Rocket” Ismail who played football for Norte Dame. My dad named the dog after Ismail because he ran two kickoffs for touchdowns against Michigan in one game (he’s a massive Michigan State fan), a feat which had never been done and might never be accomplished against Michigan again. Rocket was a beagle, and a great one at that. We often took him rabbit hunting and once watched as he tracked a rabbit down and killed it himself.


I think we got Rocket when I was about 5 or 6. I remember bits and pieces from that day. I know where we got him, on the north side of Grand Rapids, probably because dad would remind us of this every time we were near the house for years. That’s one of the few things I know for sure. I seem to remember that his name was Pete when we picked him up (we decided that Pete is not exactly a great name for a dog, hence Rocket). I also remember my parents saying that he was probably abused or neglected because of the way he acted toward people when he first lived with us: scared of hands, cowered at any raised voice, and always acted like he was about to get hit. Soon enough, though, he became a happy and well-adjusted dog who fit in very well with the family.


Five years later, Rocket ended up like the dog I saw yesterday. Hit by a garbage truck, splayed out on the asphalt like so many other family pets. The worst part was…it was completely my fault. Rocket was a good dog, but he was a young dog. He was a runner. We had to make sure our back gate was closed before we let him outside. I had mowed the lawn the night before, and the gate was left open. I never checked it when I left Rocket out. After looking for him as long as I could, mom decided it was time to go to school. A few hours later, my dad had found a message on the phone when he came home to look. Rocket had been hit a full two miles away from our house. A woman had seen the whole thing, got him from the road, and called the number on the tag. My parents never blamed me, and I never felt blamed, but I knew it was my fault.


This was really the first time in my life I had experienced that disappointment. It was a new kind of pain; something as simple as losing a dog. Up to that point, I had no family members or friends who I had lost in any meaningful way. This experience is, of course, not at all unique to me. I am sure that many people’s first real experience with loss is much greater than I could have imagined. But this was mine, and it was very real.


Thinking about this event in my life, I can’t be for sure of course, but I think it might be where I started developing a sense of cynicism (this, or my being a Cubs fan from birth). I don’t know if I am more of less cynical than the average person, but I am fairly cynical. I tend to expect to be disappointed by just about everything that is (a) new and (b) I enjoy. However, cynicism is not wholly a negative thing (too much of it is probably negative). Cynicism can be healthy. It warns us. It puts us on our guard. Cynicism teaches us to live in a world which is simply “not the way it’s supposed to be” (to borrow a phrase from a great theologian). In the end, cynicism comes from these experiences of pain. C.S. Lewis was right.


Source: http://teachingtimmer.blogspot.com/2010/08/pain-and-cynicism.html

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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sudden Illness!!!!!!! (part two)

Well folks, health is NOT permitting, so there is no post about our power room today!


The leg pain returned this morning, but CUBED!!!!!


I have been shot, stabbed, had over 20 broken bones. I have had surgery performed with virtually no anesthetic. I completed three IRONMAN triathlons, 51 Olympic ones, three marathons, cut off my finger, had it re-attached and ALL of that pain combined would have been about half what hit me this morning!


The choice became: was it a back injury (no back pain at all), or something vascular, including heart? I had to choose and seemed guided to the back injury, as the symptoms seemed closer. Also, the tests from a conventional doctor would have been expensive, while chiropractic would not be and would also not involve medication. So I decided to try chiropractic first.


While talking with the doctor, I remembered an incident a few weeks ago when I worked for a few days in the desert harvesting plants. I am a DRIVER, but could not sit and watch the others work, so I helped as best as "old guy" can. At one point, the guys were very tired and could not lift a pot. Ever the wise-ass, I said to them, 'Don't tell anyone I can do this", and lifted the 250 pound pot into the back of the truck TWISTING to get it up there.


That did it! I aggravated a very old back injury and the leg pain was the price!


A few more visits to the doctor and about a month of limping and weakness and I will be back! As I love to say about the desert, now applied to my leg/back: "This ain't my first rodeo!"


But again..... consider health care before moving to any remote place. One reader wrote me about paramedics and advised (good advise) getting "flight insurance", a "rider" I would imagine. I still say that driving to Alpine at 80 MPH will get you to care faster than calling paramedics and waiting for a helicopter and THEN going to Alpine at 200 MPH.


Scary thought, no matter what!


Unless the leg bursts into flames in the morning, I will do my "power post" tomorrow! We have another dead short in a troublesome length of wire. That has to be repaired CORRECTLY tomorrow, then I will take photos

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