A Life Worthwhile

Honor Killings Simply Domestic Violence?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:42:00 +0000

Are Honor Killings Simply Domestic Violence?

On February 12, 2009, Muzzammil Hassan informed police that he had
beheaded his wife. Hassan had emigrated to the United States 30 years ago and,
after a successful banking career, had founded Bridges TV, a Muslim-interest
network which aims, according to its website, "to foster a greater
understanding among many cultures and diverse populations." Erie County
District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III told The Buffalo News that
"this is the worst form of domestic violence possible,"

While Muslim
advocacy organizations argue that honor killings are a misnomer stigmatizing
Muslims for what is simply domestic violence, a problem that has nothing to do
with religion, Phyllis Chesler, who just completed a study of more than 50
instances of North American honor killings, says the evidence suggest
otherwise. — The Editors

Amina Said (L), 18, and her sister Sarah, 17, were
shot dead by their father Yaser at their home in Irving, Texas,
in January 2008

Domestic violence is a significant problem in the United States. Between 1989 and 2004, 21,124 women died at the hands of an intimate; 8,997 men died in domestic violence during the same time period.[13] Because the U.S. Department of Justice does not catalogue the victim's or murderer's age, religion, ethnic background, or immigration status, it is not possible to know what proportion of these killings are honor-related.

Swine Flu Epidemic on our Minds

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:50:00 +0000

Everyone wants to keep up with the latest news about the Swine Flu...

Hopefully I can be of some help by using the Clipmarks Widget that can contain the most recent outbreaks concerning its location.

Do all you can to learn about the symptoms and get medical advice when in doubt.

Below is the widget with constant input on what people like me and you are finding out around the Internet on Swine Flu.

Here's a diagram that explains all about the Clipmarks widget....

Please feel free to visit often, subscribe or get your own widget for your website or social network...

Use it in good Health

Rodney Atkins - It's America

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:18:00 +0000

We all could use a little inspiration...so heres some feel good music by Rodney Atkins. Come on America Sing it!!!!

Cyberbullying Kills

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:59:00 +0000

The deaths of teens by suicide because of cyberbullying leads to drastic measures to get the word out, inform, recruit and convict.

Learn the dangers of online activities...your child's life is at stake.

clipped from www.wiredsafety.org

Video Resources

Cyber Safety Through Information Literacy

New Flash Activities for Educators

clipped from www.wiredsafety.org

Welcome to WiredSafety, the world's largest Internet safety, help and education resource

Need Help Now? Follow this link to reach our Cyberstalking, Cyberbullying and Cyberabuse Helpline >>
Note that we are not a law enforcement agency.
You must contact the police if you suspect a crime has taken place or you are at risk!

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Long Island Teen Suing Facebook For Millions - wcbstv.com

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:37:00 +0000

Long Island Teen Suing Facebook For Millions - wcbstv.com

Posted using ShareThis

The Today Show today. | Bricker59's Xanga Site - Weblog

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:52:00 +0000

The Today Show today. | Bricker59's Xanga Site - Weblog

Posted using ShareThis

Jacqueline Saburido: The Whole Story

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Sweet Home Alabama Guitar + Solo

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Sweet Home Alabama!! Lynyrd Skynyrd, brilliant song.

This kid is awesome...this is what he says...

Ive been playing for 2 just over 2 years and using an:

Epiphone les Paul custom,
Laney 30w,
zoom Gfx3 effects pedal

Creed - With Arms Wide Open

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:27:00 +0000

Well I just heard the news today
Seems my life is gonna change
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open

With arms wide open

Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I take a breath, I take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open

With arms wide open
I'll show you everything oh yeah
With arms wide open

If I had just one wish only one demand
I hope he's not like me I hope he understands
That he can take this life and hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world with arms wide open

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open

With arms wide open
I'll show you everything oh yeah
With arms wide open

Patient Involvement

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:30:00 +0000

The more questions you ask the better informed you are to your own personal health and well being.

Time to Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:49:00 +0000

What am I doing here?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:40:00 +0000

This may seem a little odd but has anyone else ever prayed...

"God, can we stop right here and maybe start over, from the beginning?" cause, " I think I've missed something on the way here "... maybe a lesson or a hint, anything that would help me, to find out " what the hell I'm doing here "...

I have no idea why I'm here, no clue. " Have I done anything worthwhile yet? " ..." Will I be doing anything worthwhile in the near future? " And "why do I want it so bad? "
It must be important or I wouldn't be obsessing so much about it...or where to find it or how to get it...

"Lord, just get me through this post and I think I'll be alright.."

"I must have a purpose, you helped me to survived a brain tumor "...and " I promised you that I would give you all the credit and I have " ....Maybe all the blogs I've written, to give people information on the Meningioma (brain tumor), is my purpose. "
If that's so, I'm doing your will and my purpose is to keep writing, so others will seek out competent doctors, who will help them.

I have been editing this post as best I can, hoping to make things a little more clear for anyone who is interested. Below is my personal story that I gladly tell because I am a survivor of a brain tumor.

While searching for what was causing unusual and bewildering physical and mental symptoms, doctors where too quick to blame them on life's problems and seemed eager to prescribe antidepressants. I was frustrated with myself and my doctors, and after awhile gave up on finding the answers to my problems...for "two years."
I tried to except the fact that it was all due to stress. In an eerie way I still felt that something more than stress was going on. I have always had headaches since I was young, mostly from not eating when I should have.

But now, I would get a headache in the middle of the night while I was asleep. The pain would wake me up more and more as time passed, I thought my head would explode from the pressure.I was popping aspirin every 3 or 4 hours.

I also took antidepressants, prescribed for anxiety and depression. It was hard to focus on ordinary everyday things when the symptoms ruled so much of my life. It's no wonder everyone thought I was a hypochondriac, no one said that to my face, but I could tell what they were thinking. I tried to keep from showing all the other things that would creep up now and then. Like when I lost my balance kneeling in the garden one day,actually falling over to one side. Feeling dizzy and light headed I got up to go back in the house, but I couldn't walk a straight line. All I could think of at that time was how the neighbors would probably think I was drunk. This didn't happen every day, sometimes I would accidentally run into furniture or a wall, I remember thinking to myself how stupid of me. You see now, I was blaming myself for not having any control over my body.

To me all these symptoms where not related, so when I did go to the doctor it would be for one symptom, never telling them about the others.Tests ruled out anything that the doctors thought it could be. I had little hope in ever finding out what my problem was. Maybe if I had told them I would have been diagnosed earlier. I guess I was afraid to do that, being told once before it was all in my head. Of course no one ever thought that it could be something life threatening, especially not a brain tumor.

I later found out that the pain I felt in my neck and not being able to turn my head very far to the right or left, was actually caused by a tumor, pressing on my spinal cord .

The growth of the tumor over many years was now the size of a golf ball. My final symptom, not being able to raise my left arm past my shoulder. I tried to explain it all away, mostly to myself, that I had arthritis in my neck and bursitis in my shoulder.... So much for self diagnosis.

I did finally go see a doctor because of my arm, I was tired of not being able to reach for anything in my kitchen cabinets without screaming obscenities.

Since x-rays showed no disease or complications in my shoulder, I was sent for an MRI. This is what finally lead to the discovery and the reason behind so many years of suffering.
A brain tumor pressing on my spinal cord at the base of my skull.

The base of the skull is also called the hindbrain.
The hindbrain sits underneath the back end of the cerebrum, and it consists of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla.

The cerebellum -- also called the "little brain" because it looks like a small version of the cerebrum -- is responsible for balance, movement, and coordination.
[ Do you recognize the relationships to the symptoms I experienced? ]

The pons and the medulla, along with the midbrain, are often called the brain stem. The brain stem takes in, sends out, and coordinates all of the brain's messages. It also controls many of the body's automatic functions, like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing, digestion, and blinking.

[ I was also having problems swallowing, along with indigestion.]

Motor neurons carry messages away from the brain and back to the rest of the body. All neurons, however, relay information to each other through a complex electrochemical process, making connections that affect the way we think, learn, move, and behave.

[ I'm sure I wasn't thinking or behaving very well.]

A part of the peripheral nervous system called the autonomic nervous system is responsible for controlling many of the body processes we almost never need to think about, like breathing, digestion, sweating, and shivering.

[ This part tells me why my neurologists said "I could have died in my sleep" ]

Your brain controls your movements, behaviors, thoughts and sensations. Not surprisingly, then, a brain injury can affect many different aspects of your physical and emotional well-being. So think about having a brain tumor, it will surely cause things to go wrong, and it could be any or all of the things mentioned here.

The meningioma, a mostly benign tumor grows very slowly, but they can also have growth spurts. These tumors are not usually discovered till it has grown large enough to cause symptoms. The location of the tumor determines where you will have problems or symptoms, what part of the body it will effect, plus how you are going to feel emotionally and physically.

Benign tumors usually grow in one place and may be curable through surgery if they're located in a place where they can be removed without damaging the normal tissue near the tumor.

My surgery left me with no disabilities and all of the tumor was removed successfully.

However, six months after surgery (during a follow up MRI) they found another small growth.
This one is located in the parietal occipital lobe. I just recently found out that its behind my left eye, and no one has said anything about having it surgically removed. I do know that this area has a lot of blood vessels and nerves, so I doubt that it is operable.

I am going to keep doing ,what I feel, I am meant to do and that is, to inform and bring more awareness to the brain tumor known as the Meningioma.

All about the brain and the nervous system..

Another Meningioma Website

A Little Something

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:52:00 +0000

This chair is just one of my contributions to raise money for the Child Advocacy Center in Cumberland County, Fayetteville, NC .

A larger photo can be seen by clicking (here ) go to there web site , but don't forget to hit your back button to return to this page.

I would love to do more to help neglected and abused children, so I am working really hard to be able to have the means for this and many more projects.

I don't want to wither away twiddling my thumbs while innocent women, children, senior citizens or anyone for that matter, who are being used, abused, dissed or discriminated against.

I think most people in this country need to be ashamed of their lack of concern.This is the reason for most of the Organizations we must have in place , in order to help those less fortunate than the rest of us, no matter what our own problems are, there are so many, too many , who suffer needlessly everyday of their lives.

"I don't want to wither away twiddling my thumbs while innocent women, children, senior citizens or anyone for that matter, who are being used, abused, dissed or discriminated against."
Our Military fight for our freedom of this country, who am I to sit back and watch as my family, friends and neighbors struggle to make ends meet ?

We are all accountable for our own actions and reactions, why don't we try to help and make this a better, safer, healthier life for all?

Speak up, say your piece, fight injustice in your own community!

It can be a new beginning for us all...but like the Military, we have to do it together.

None are more hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free....

I don't know who made this quote, but for me, the more I find out about what's going on in the world around me and what's happening here in our county, it makes more sense.

I'm a survivor, but what good is it to survive without freedom? They also say "freedom isn't free"...

Our Military knows all to well about that. Don't think that " they " haven't paid a price for their part in the war against the terrorists and hate mongers, who threaten our lives. The wives and children know, the parents and extended families, all know. The Veterans know, just ask them...

If you're asking yourself why " I " ( a mere nobody ) bother to bring any of this up, it's not like " I " ( a mere nobody ) can do anything about it...then "you" don't need to be reading it.

Maybe I should elaborate (explain) it to you again...

"I don't want to " sit back " and wither away twiddling my thumbs, while innocent women, children, senior citizens or anyone for that matter, who are being used, abused, dissed or discriminated against."

If you think things aren't that bad, then maybe you haven't dug deep enough to the available resources we have," here on the Internet ". Don't just look at what is being said today, educate yourself with our country's history, read what other countries government's are doing to make life better for their people.

You must have heard about the so called " Quality of Life " issues, it's been a very popular topic for most of our politicians....

Merrian Webster Online defines the word "politicians" as a noun
1: a person experienced in the art or science of government; especially : one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government

2: a: a person engaged in party politics as a profession

b: a person primarily interested in political office for selfish or other narrow usually short-sighted reasons
Interesting, right? there's more...

Wikipedia states

a " politician " (from Greek "polis") is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of politics or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. This includes people who hold decision-making positions in government, and people who seek those positions, whether by means of election, coup d'état, appointment, electoral fraud, conquest, right of inheritance (see also: divine right) or other means.

"Politics are not limited to governance through public office. Political offices may also be held in corporations, and other entities that are governed by self-defined political processes."

Wikipedia's also states a definition...

Considered a politician

* A person who is active in party politics.

* In a state, a member of the executive branch of government, or the office of Head of State, as well as the legislative branch, and regional and local levels of government.

* Any person influencing group opinions in his or her favor can be termed a politician. For example, a worker participating in office politics is a politician, but only so far as the operations of his or her workplace are concerned.

* Some law enforcement officers, such as sheriffs, and many judges who are elected or appointed because of their political views or popularity.
Not considered a politician

* Members of government who serve purely functional roles, such as bureaucrats.

* Members of the judicial branch, law enforcement, and the military are not usually regarded as being politicians since they are generally executing or adjudicating established law and custom.

* Ordinary citizens with the power to vote cannot properly be called politicians even though they can participate in group decision-making. A politician participates in public debate that leads to a group decision being reached, while a voter is simply responding to that debate.

I didn't expect to have to go into too much detail pertaining to government, politicians or big corporations. I mainly wanted to get more people involved with helping to make improvements wherever they can with whatever means they have.

What we do or don't do today will determain what kind of " Quality of Life " our children and grandchildren will have.

We can't fix all the problems overnight, we can't do it all by ourselves. But we " can do something ", and that says a lot....

I guess today, " this was my something ".

mjm

Survivor Dreams could make your dreams come true...

Survivors Blog

All I want for Christmas is you by Maria Carey

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:56:00 +0000

It's Christmas and all I want is you...and you know who you are.

Mariah does a wonderful job on an old Christmas favorite.

more about "All I want for Christmas is you by Ma...", posted with vodpod

Brain Tumor Indications

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:02:00 +0000

Most often there are no symptoms in the beginning stage of growth.
Symptoms often mimic other possible conditions, which are ruled out.

Intra cranial pressure may cause a number of problems, which come and go, causing even more confusion to patients and most doctors.

A slow growing brain tumor may take years before it is diagnosed.
Knowing and trusting your own instincts when it comes to your health, is imperative for an early diagnosis.

The location of any brain tumor may impair different parts of the body, which in turn complicates the aspects of a diagnosis. Symptoms of head or eye pain, movement, balance, hearing, vision, weakness in limbs, trouble swallowing, speaking, memory loss or confusion and many, many more problems, may be an indication.

It is possible to have one, two or all of the symptoms mentioned and should alert you to making an appointment to discuss them with your physician. Do not let opinions of doctors in the past to influence you into NOT pursuing another opinion.

Your concerns should be taken seriously, don't be afraid of being labeled as neurotic or delusional.

Find a doctor who will work with you in finding out the true nature of your symptoms. A proper amount of testing may include blood work, x-rays, strength and mobility tests of your arms and legs, eye exams, CT and or MRI scans. The most reliable physician will preferably send you to a specialist such as a neurologist or neurosurgeon.

This information is provided as a guide for Brain Tumor Awareness.
To educate the public about the dangers of the possibility of symptoms which may preclude the diagnosis or the formation of a brain tumor.

Please refer to your own physician for any symptoms related in any form of the articles on this web site. Everyone is different and I claim no personal knowledge of science or medical conditions, your actions are your own when it comes to the acknowledgment of your particular condition.
It should not replace the thorough tests or decisions made by a competent physician or specialist.

For my story please read " What am I doing here ? "

Hilarious Church Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:47:00 +0000

Neighboring Churches make loud statements with a touch of humor....Let's hope God has nothing against religious advertising with a little sarcasm thrown in. As you can see the word is getting around.

It's as funny as Madonna singing like a virgin... (oh, that was so bad of me )

clipped from www.oddee.com

You've seen them - the signs in front of churches, with a witticism or a pun that made you groan. Here is a list of 15

15 Hilarious Church Signs

Published on 6/14/2007
under Signs

hilarious Church Signs.

Life Skills Training has Lifetime Effect

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:05:00 +0000

Life skills training in elementary school has Lifetime effect...

Not all children learn useful life skills at home. Coming from a disfunctional family.., I could have benefited from this program.

Let's hope all schools offer such a program...anything for a life worthwhile...

clipped from psychcentral.com

A new study suggests elementary school training on life skills can pay dividends as individuals become adults

Fifteen years after they completed an intervention program designed to help their social development in elementary school, young adults reported better mental health, sexual health and higher educational and economic achievement than a control group of young adults who didn’t receive the intervention.

“We are seeing that the intervention appears to affect developmentally important outcomes that change as people age,”

“The effects of working with children in elementary school show up in their teen years as their rates of violence, heavy alcohol use and dropping out of school are reduced.

those who received the full intervention during the elementary grades have fewer symptoms and lower rates of anxiety, social phobia, post traumatic stress disorder or a major depressive episode.”

Pets make a good article for some laughs....

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:08:00 +0000

We all know that a little humor goes a long way, it can improve your outlook and help ease depression. It's one thing we can do from time to make it " a life worthwhile "...

These are a few things our pets do while we are at work...

clipped from www.jibjab.com

UN urges an end to abuses of women

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:58:00 +0000

There are some tribes in Cameroon where thrashing, beating or whipping your wife is a sign of loving her....

"one universal truth applicable to all countries, cultures and communities; violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable".

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk

UN urges end to abuses of women

The United Nations secretary general has said the world must do more to combat the abuse of women and girls.

The UN says one in five women will be subject to actual or attempted rape

Ban Ki-moon spoke as organisations around the world marked the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The UN says at least one in three women will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

It has called on leaders and people around the world to address what it said was a "global pandemic" of abuse.

Women between the ages of 15 and 44 are at greater risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, traffic accidents, war and malaria, says the UN.

It says violence against women has been reported in every international or non-international warzone and that half of all women murdered are killed by their current or former partner.

Violence against women is never acceptable

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

My Two Cents

I'm afraid abuse against women has been going on for so long, that even this law may be hard to enforce without retraining the minds of men...meaning they need to start that at the schools and homes of young boys...

Something that I think is lacking even in our culture, because there are still so many women who suffer in silence because of the threat of husbands or significant others.

I also believe as women we can make a real contribution when we all join to say we will not tolerate abuse in our relationships, we also need more strict laws against it...even when a woman divorces an abusive man, she is the one who must find a way to heal and get her life in order, when so many are left with no life skills to speak of and little or no money. These reasons alone would make anyone think twice as to which life to chose for herself and her children. (divorce or staying with an abuser)

Too many people want to blame the wife in this country, but that is just an excuse not to bother doing something about it...

I would be interested in more of what women and/or men in general are going to do to help stop violence, along with emotional/mental abuse in our homes in this country.

Boyz II Men

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:24:00 +0000

With its smooth brand of doo-wop/hip-hop, Boyz II Men has spearheaded the renaissance of the R&B vocal group, in the process revitalizing Motown Records (the band has become Motown's best-selling act, and its second album, Boyz II Men II, is the label's best-selling album of all time). The Boyz have sold over thirty million albums worldwide as of the first half of 1997, and have managed to capture plenty of awards--not to mention plenty of hearts--along the way.

Boyz II Men will be appearing in my hometown of Fayetteville, NC, in March of 2009. I hope to see them.

more about "Boyz II Men", posted with vodpod

Does Time really Slow Down in a Crisis?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:11:00 +0000

Eagleman added this illusion "is related to the phenomenon that time seems to speed up as you grow older. When you're a child, you lay down rich memories for all your experiences; when you're older, you've seen it all before and lay down fewer memories. Therefore, when a child looks back at the end of a summer, it seems to have lasted forever; adults think it zoomed by."

And though the results of this study can lead towards disorders linked with timing, such as schizophrenia, Eagleman believes "it's really about understanding the virtual reality machinery that we're trapped in,"Our brain constructs this reality for us that, if we look closely, we can find all these strange illusions in. The fact that we're now seeing this with how we perceive time is new."

clipped from www.dailygalaxy.com

Time: Does It Slow Down in a Crisis?

In The Matrix, hero Neo wins his battles when time slows in the simulated world. In our real world, accident victims often report a similar slowing of time as they slip unavoidably towards disaster

Does the experience of slow motion really happen, or does it only seem
to have happened in retrospect? The answer is critical for
understanding how time is represented in the brain." That is the
question being asked by several American scientists who, for science,
decided that jumping off a 45-meter high platform would be a good
method of discovery

Their study focuses around how the brain deals with emergencies, and
whether time really does slow down

the part of the brain
called the amygdale becomes more active, and lays down extra sets of
memories that go along with the actual events.

"In this way, frightening events are associated with richer and denser
memories," Eagleman explained. "And the more memory you have of an
event, the longer you believe it took

Save Lives Write a Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:12:00 +0000

Did you ever think, you could save someones life?

Did you ever think, what you do or don't do right this minute...could mean life or death to another human being?

Will you be thinking about the people that need your help on Dec. 5th thru the 14th ?

Is this your chance to help make it a life worthwhile, by saving a life?

clipped from www.amnestyusa.org

Amnesty International's Global Write-a-thon

"Myself, my son Mohammed and my wife Asma thank all AI members for supporting me and for supporting human rights...I will never forget their help."

Thousands of letters sent by participants in last year's Global Write-a-thon brought much needed help to individuals like Sami al Hajj. In more than 35 countries around the world, people gave a few minutes of their time to take part in the Write-a-thon, minutes that were worth a lifetime to others.

December 10--International Human Rights Day--marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You can honor this important day with action by participating in Amnesty International's Global Write-A-Thon--the world's largest letter writing event. Join thousands of people across the United States and around the world as they take action on behalf of prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, victims of torture and other individuals at risk.

Good Reason to Play Games

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:45:00 +0000

I was wondering why I had the need to play online games....It made me feel good..
But guilt reared it's ugly head when I was confronted by family members that I should find better things to to with my time...Now I can point them to mindhabits.com to show them I know what's best for me with scientific proof....so back off...

clipped from www.mindhabits.com

Simple games that can reduce stress levels and boost your confidence and self-esteem!

American Public Media - Marketplace
A video game that’s good for you?

Washington Times
Playing mind games: Program stresses positive thinking

National Review of Medicine
A video game designed to help your patients cope with anxiety

ABC News
Video game trains brain to focus on the positive, reduces stress levels

Reuters
Online game seen vanquishing the blues

New Scientist
Smile-hunting game makes for happy workers

Branham Group
MindHabits named as one of Canada’s top 25 up and coming companies

Macworld
‘MindHabits’ game improves self-confidence...

eMaxHealth
Fewer Strokes For Focused Folks

Importance of Social Ties

Stress Tip: Reaching Out

Research Notes: Stress in Society

Let’s all just stay together!

There is good stress, and then there is bad stress.

Who of US are not Outraged ?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:19:00 +0000

This letter was sent to the Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2008 by Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. Of Beverly Hills , CA .

On July 31, 2008 the Wall Street Journal had an article titled "Where's The Outrage?"

Really. I can tell you where the outrage is. The outrage is here, in this middle-aged, well-educated, upper-middle class woman. The outrage is here, but I have no representation, no voice.
The outrage is here, but no one is listening for who am I?

I am not a billionaire like George Soros that can fund an entire political movement.

I am not a celebrity like Barbra Streisand that can garner the attention of the press to promote political candidates.

I am not a film maker like Michael Moore or Al Gore that can deliver misleading movies to the public.

The outrage is here, but unlike those with money or power, I don't know how to reach those who feel similarly in order to effect change.

Why am I outraged? I am outraged that my country, the United States of America , is in a state of moral and ethical decline. There is no right or wrong anymore, just what's fair.

Is it fair that millions of Americans who overreached and borrowed more than they could afford are now being bailed out by the government and lending institutions to stave off foreclosure?

Why shouldn't these people be made to pay the consequences for their poor judgment?

When my husband and I purchased our home, we were careful to purchase only what we could afford. Believe me, there are much larger, much nicer homes that I would have loved to have purchased. But, taking responsibility for my behavior and my life, I went with the house that we could afford, not the house that we could not afford. The notion of personal responsibility has all but died in our country.

I am outraged, that the country that welcomed my mother as an immigrant from Hitler's Nazi Germany and required that she and her family learn English now allows itself to be overrun with illegal immigrants and worse, caters to those illegal immigrants.

I am outraged that my hard-earned taxes help support those here illegally. That the Los Angeles Public School District is in such disarray that I felt it incumbent to send my child to private school, that every time I go to the ATM, I see "do you want to continue in English or Spanish?", that every time I call the bank, the phone company , or similar business, I hear "press 1 for English or press 2 for Spanish". WHY? This is America , our common language is English and attempts to promote a bi- or multi-lingual society are sure to fail and to marginalize those who cannot communicate in English.

I am outraged at our country's weakness in the face of new threats on American traditions from Muslims. Just this week, Tyson's Food negotiated with its union to permit Muslims to haveEid-al-Fitr as a holiday instead of Labor Day. What am I missing? Yes, there is a large Somali Muslim population working at the Tyson's plant in Tennessee . Tennessee , last I checked, is still part of the United States . If Muslims want to live and work here they should be required to live and work by our American Laws and not impose their will on our long history.

In the same week, Random House announced that they had indefinitely delayed the publication of The Jewel of Medina, by Sherry Jones, a book about the life of Mohammed's wife, Aisha due to fear of retribution and violence by Muslims. When did we become a nation ruled by fear of what other immigrant groups want? It makes me so sad to see large corporations cave rather than stand proudly on the principles that built this country.

I am outraged because appeasement has never worked as a political policy, yet appeasing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is exactly what we are trying to do. An excellent article, also published recently in the Wall Street Journal, went through over 20 years of history and why talking with Iran has been and will continue to be ineffective. Yet talk, with a madman no less, we continue to do.

Have we so lost our moral compass and its ability to detect evil that we will not go in and destroy Iran 's nuclear program? Would we rather wait for another Holocaust for the Jews - one which they would be unlikely to survive? When does it end?

As if the battle for good and evil isn't enough, now come the Environmentalists who are so afraid of global warming that they want to put a Bag tax on grocery bags in California; to eliminate Mylar balloons; to establish something as insidious as the recycle police in San Francisco. I do my share for the environment: I recycle, I use water wisely, I installed an energy efficient air conditioning unit.

But when and where does the lunacy stop? Ahmadinejad wants to wipe Israel off the map, the California economy is being overrun by illegal immigrants, and the United States of America no longer knows right from wrong, good from evil.
So what does California do? Tax grocery bags.

So, America , although I can tell you where the outrage is, this one middle-aged, well-educated, upper middle class woman is powerless to do anything about it...
I don't even feel like my vote counts because I am so outnumbered by those who disagree with me.

Alisa Wilson, Ph.D.
Beverly Hills , California

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Original also posted on Stix Blog

Scrapbook ? No Scrapblog !

noreply@blogger.com (Mary Mitchell) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:47:00 +0000

I found a really nice website where you can use your pictures to make a scrapblog...just one of the great things I find on the web now and then, I like to share with others who may be interested.

It's really fun, plus you can save them to your pc, share them on a website, like MySpace, Friendster, Facebook and so many more, email them to friends and family, get links to your Scrapblog page, get the code and embed them where ever you want.

Here's one I made...

You have your choice of backgrounds,frames,stickers,text with your choice of fonts...embed music, videos, use transitions(rotate,zoom,fade) They have themes for you to use or start from scratch, like I did.

Oh, did I mention it was Free?....yep, free, how cool is that...:)

Ok, so I made another Scrapblog and had to pass it on...I couldn't resist it.

This is a tribute to our soldiers, God bless you and keep you safe.

Come Home Soon....

...so what are you waiting for? Go make yourself one...