Each Others Keeper

Doormats Are For Shoes, Not People

2012-01-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

Learning to first love myself is one of the most valuable self-taught lessons that I could have ever learned. How could someone love you without you knowing how to love yourself first? Last year, I spoke on Each Other Keepers about positivity and overcoming obstacles. This year, my theme will be about setting high standards for yourself and loving yourself first.

Never feel bad for having high standards for yourself. My friends often say that I am so picky when it comes to making decisions such as where to eat, where to go, and I am definitely picky when it comes to men. There is nothing wrong with knowing who and what comes into your personal circle of life.

The person who has the authority on this plane of existence that knows what is best for you...is YOU! I feel so much better about myself when I set my own standards, no matter how high, and I stand by them. I believe in the old saying that says, "You hang around dogs, you catch flees." By setting your own standards, you will attract those who respect you and have high standards of their own.

First KEEPERs Lesson of the Year: Remember, you won't get anywhere by being someones doormat. You will one day surround yourself with people who rise up and meet your standards. It will be worth the wait!

WOMAN GETS REVENGE BY MICROWAVING NEIGHBOR'S CAT

2012-01-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

I talk to my cat, Catticus Finch, and he talks back to me. I think he works as a mechanic or something during the day because he always comes home dirty in the evening. And his little cat overalls with the patch that says "Catticus" on it kinda gives it away. We never talk about our jobs though.

You know...it's funny how I'll tell you that Michael Vick got railroaded over those dogs - that he deserved to be back into the league. How he should be one of the highest paid players in the NFL again. That people overreacted and still do about the situation. To be honest, that's because I don't like dogs the same way I like cats. If the whole thing were about cats, I would never speak Vick's name again.

About two years ago, I cold-turkeyed a perfectly good friendship with someone whom I considered to be one of my best associates. I remember the morning he and his friend came to my house and told me how they took a kitten and dropped it into the pit where the friend's dog lives. I remember how happy he seemed when he recreated the moment. He was so animated and visual. Anyone who could do that with no remorse has a serious problem, and I don't want to be around them for any amount of time. I just...stopped talking to him until he got the picture - or didn't.

Then I recently read about Gina Robins, the woman who microwaved her neighbor's kitten. The 31-year-old from the U.K. was allegedly in an abusive relationship, and her neighbor, 35-year-old Sarah Knutton called the police one night after hearing commotion at their home. Gina's boyfriend was arrested, and Gina didn't like it one bit. There was a big argument about it, and Gina vowed to get revenge.

It was days since the argument and Gina was ready for payback. She went to Sarah's house and convinced her to let her heat up a jar of baby food in the microwave. Instead, Gina grabbed one of Sarah's ten cats, and put it inside. When Sarah heard what sounded like a loud screeching noise in the kitchen, she yelled to ask Gina what the noise was. Gina said she didn't hear anything. A couple of minutes later she ran to where Sarah was to tell her that something horrible had happened in the kitchen. When she got to the kitchen, she saw her kitten in the microwave.

Gina said that the kitten must have smelled the food and gone in and one of the big ones shut the door...and apparently turned it on. The next day however, Gina sent Sarah a text message that said, "remember the saying, 'what goes around comes around'? It has already started to bite you...The cat? Karma."

Sarah possibly saved Gina's life when she called the police, and that's the kind of thanks she gets? See what I mean about people who harm cats? There's something not right with them mentally. You really have to be a numb person on the inside to even pull a move like that, and hopefully she will do some serious time because of it.

*this post also appears at the Insane Asylum Blog*

AM I REALLY MY BROTHER'S KEEPER: HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO PROTECT A FRIEND/FAMILY MEMBER?

2011-12-30T05:30:00.000-08:00

-Written by Nena Grace of the Insane Asylum -

A recent police video, captured by a patrol car's dash camera, has been all over the internet. The video is of two North Charleston, SC brothers who were pulled over by police for a broken headlight. After police searched their vehicle and found plastic bags with white powder in them, the men were placed in the back of the patrol car so police can further search the vehicle.

The video shows 22-year-old DeAngelo Mitchell and his younger brother, 19-year-old Wayne Joshua Mitchell. DeAngelo Mitchell has prior convictions that include drug possession from 2006, 2007 and 2008. He was also convicted this past August for distribution of cocaine base. Afraid that he would go to prison and not get out if police discovered that he had cocaine hidden on him, he convinced his younger brother to get rid of it for him.

The video shows him hand off the drugs he had hidden in his buttocks to his brother who ate them. Minutes later, you can see younger brother Wayne having difficulty holding his head up and DeAngelo start to yell for help. You can also hear Wayne tell his brother he loved him. Wayne later died at the hospital. You can watch the video right here without leaving.

After the incident, DeAngelo Mitchell was facing drug charges. He posted a $25,000 bail on December 1st. Toxicology reports came back and revealed that Wayne had died from cocaine overdose. DeAngelo was reprimanded on Tuesday and also charged with involuntary manslaughter.

This is heart-wrenching and crazy. I couldn't imagine asking anyone to put themselves out there like that for me, as I know that I probably wouldn't go to that extreme for anyone else. What I want to know readers is, how far would you go to protect someone close to you? Would you go so far as to risk your life?

Deuces, Smooches...
Nena Grace

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WOMAN PUNCHES ELDERLY WALMART CASHIER IN THE FACE

2011-12-29T17:35:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing that grinds my gears more than the angry Black guy routine, it's the angry Black chick routine. It's depicted in those reality shows and made to be the behavioral standard nowadays. It's really played out, and if it doesn't stop, what little respect that society has for us will be no more.

Jacquetta Simmons is a perfect example of what I mean. She and who is assumed to be her boyfriend were at a Batavia, NY. Walmart doing some last-minute Christmas Eve shopping. When they were ready to check out, they ended up at the register where 70-year-old Grace Suozzi was. Suozzi noticed that the man who was with Jacquetta had a Walmart bag with items in it, so she asked to see a receipt. That's when Jacquetta went off. She cussed Suozzi out while screaming that she didn't have to show her a f-ing thing. I can see her doing the whole, "oh, because I'm Black I'm stealing" bit along with it.

Suozzi called a manager who told them that everything would be okay if they had a receipt. Suozzi then walked around and grabbed the bag from the man. Jacquetta furiously snatched the bag back from Suozzi. When Suozzi grabbed the bag back from Jacquetta, the bag tore - and so did her fist right into Suozzi's face, breaking her glasses and fracturing her jaw.

Then they ran.

Other shoppers chased the couple to a van in the parking lot, and one of the shoppers blocked them in with his car. Jacquetta got out and they followed her around the parking lot until police came. The man who was with her was overheard on the phone saying, "mama, she's flipping out. She just punched someone".

Even when the cops came, she was still acting like a wild animal. When police checked the bag in question, the receipt was there. She wasn't charged with theft, but she was charged with causing serious injury to a person over 65 years of age or older, and two counts of second-degree assault. She was taken to jail and held in lieu of $20,000 cash.

She was released after someone bailed her out. Can you say "indentured servant"?

I Don't Hate You, I Just Love Me More

2011-12-03T19:51:00.001-08:00

Do you want to meet the love of your life? If so, take a long look in the mirror. The person that you are staring at has the ability to treat you like a QUEEN or a KING. If I have to spell it out for you, then that person is YOU! Depending upon others to fill a void, provide happiness, or to give you some sort of fulfilment is a waste of time. Stop setting yourself up for disappointment.

It has taken me 30 years to master this lesson. A while ago, I had begun decorated my soul and planting my own garden. You see, you plant seeds in your own life. Whatever you plant, it is a product of your own creation. I planted positivity. I planted a better circle of family and friends who was on my level. I planted prosperity. I planted happiness. I planted a better me.

There comes a time in your life where you have to change what is not making YOU happy. I have preached to my friends so many times about removing the people, whether it is family or friends, who are not making you happy. The opposite of LOVE is HATE. Why be around people who hate you?

We often find ourselves in situations where our wits are tested. Most people are in these situations on a regular basis. A good gardener always has that good repellent. The first lesson in loving yourself, is removing everything that makes your life a living hell. Start with removing the friend who constantly talks about you, looks down on you, or gossip behind your back. Remove the one family member that spreads lies to other family members or who is always negative. Remove the liars, cheaters, negativity, and those people who are just purposely spiteful.

Stop trying to change the way people see you and remember that only thing you can change is yourself. If someone is making you unhappy, REPEL them from your life. I am not saying that it is not going to be easy. I am saying that it is time that you put you --FIRST.

DON'T WAIT TIL THE NEW YEAR TO MAKE RESOLUTIONS.

MAKE YOUR LIFE RESOLUTION NOW!!!

Thoughtful Thursdays: Love Without Depending

2011-11-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

"Live without pretending, Love without depending, Listen without defending, Speak without offending."

HAPPY HOLIDAYS,

FROM EACH OTHERS KEEPER!

8 Types of Friendships

2011-11-12T05:30:00.000-08:00

There are 8 types of friendships. Did you know that? I had no idea. However, after blog-hopping and reading this online it made perfect sense? After reading this, ask yourself which type of FRIEND are you? Which types of FRIENDS do you have in your life?

ASSOCIATES are people who only share a common activity, like a sport or hobby.

USEFUL CONTACTS are people who shared information and advice, typically related to work or advancing ones career.

FAVOR FRIENDS are people who helped each other out in a functional manner, but not in an emotional manner.

FUN FRIENDS are people who socialized together, but only for fun. They didn’t provide each other with a deep level of emotional support.

HELPMATES are a combination of favor friends and fun friends. They socialized together and helped each other out in a functional manner.

COMFORTERS are like helpmates, but they also provided emotional support.

CONFIDANTS disclosed personal information to each other, enjoyed each other’s company, but weren’t always in a position to offer practical help, for example if they lived far away.

SOULMATES displayed all of the elements.

Thoughtful Thursdays: Wash Your Enemies Away

2011-11-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Our bodies need regular washing because we get dirty everyday. But so do our hearts! Because each day, people hurt us, offend us, forget us, snub us, step on us, reject us. But if we choose to forgive everyone everyday, we cleanse our hearts! We wake up the next morning refreshed and pure and lovely!" ~Bo Sanchez~

This is my first time hearing, Jill Scott's, "Come To The Light".

I first heard this song on the CurvyGurl Chronicles.

Please enjoy and comment.

Learn To Love Yourself Again

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

It does not always take a new hair style, a splash of paint across your nails, or a new wardrobe to prove that you love yourself more. Loving yourself is about make choices. Its about making decisions to make yourself a better person and to make your life happier.

For many years, I fell into this deep, dark depressive state where the only thing I did was work and go home. I eventually did the most horrible thing that I can do...I stopped loving me! I don't even know when or where or at what point that I started to sink into this hole. Remember the last time that you was so hurt that you went to bed early and cried yourself to sleep? Do you remember that feeling? That was me.

Eventually, somehow, someway, I began a personal mission of LOVING ME. Loving yourself is more about changing your outside appearance. It is about changing the relationships in your life and making yourself better. I had to remember the people who hurt me so bad that I went to bed early. I had to remember the people who betrayed me, lied to me, or talked about me behind my back. There was a point that I had to take full ownership for my life. I realized that I was hurt because I ALLOWED the hurt me!

Five years ago, Each Others Keeper, became my outlet. I began this blog as a political blog and it eventually turned into an inspirational/motivational outlet for both my readers and myself. Each Others Keeper is about finding that middle-ground between falling down and picking yourself back up again. I feel down and I have picked myself back up. Your life is like a movie and you are the producer. You choose your cast-mates. You choose the extras. You can role, play, cut, edit, and action every scene in your daily life. LOVING YOURSELF BEGINS WITH YOU. WHEN YOU START IS UP TO YOU!

I have had the privilege of having The Insane Asylum guest-writing on this blog. Mr. Chap's writing style is very thought-provoking and makes you challenge your views and what you thought you knew. I hope everyone enjoys his writing. I will continue with my Thoughtful Thursdays segments and I hope you begin to comment more and also, go visit The Insane Asylum today!

5 PEOPLE YOU SHOULD AVOID ON FACEBOOK

2011-11-06T05:35:00.000-08:00

#1 The App Addict
With seemingly millions of apps on Facebook , this person not only wants them all for themselves, but feels the need to recommend them to you every time they find a new one. The Application Addict usually doubles as Cell Phone Message Forwarder and is a descendant of the Email Forwarder. And like the Email Forwarder they are completely clueless to the fact that you have no interest in the cutesy nonsense they send you. How many times have you seen this:
Ashley has sent you an Elementary School Wedgies request. Do you accept?

#2 The Friend Bandit
This person has not found the level of fame they crave in the "real world" and is determined to satisfy their thirst for stardom over the web. The Friend Bandit is the original Facebook harlot. You've taken lots of time to cultivate and weed out your list of personal acquaintances, and this offender sees nothing sacred in that. Once you add this person to your friend's list, they'll crawl through your profile and solicit friendships from each and every one of your childhood friends, classmates and exes. The only thing that matters to this person is that number to the left of "friends" on their profile. It's strictly quantity over quality with this person.

How many times have you seen this:
Anonymous guy with 1 friend in common just sent you a friend request. Wanna risk it?

#3 The Advice Addict
This person is completely uncomfortable with making decisions on their own. Regardless of the reason, they're always seeking counsel for the most trivial situations. They may try to make it seem like they're just trying to make their little corner of Facebook interactive, but I can see right through it. It's a wonder how they managed to stumble onto the internet in the first place. Even I'm guilty of asking in a status if I should order the Kobe beef or catfish.

How many times have you seen this:
Do you think it will be okay to have two starches with my dinner?

#4 The Sympathy Seeker

This is the person that always needs a hug. Nothing ever goes right for the Sympathy Seeker and if it ever does, you'll never hear about it. This person posts pity statuses that prompts all of their friends to baby them. This attention harlot usually isn't as down and out as they pretend to be in person, but has learned that he/she can get special privileges and better treatment by appealing to people's pity. This friend will cry and moan until it brings you down and has you looking at the world through their sad eyes.
How many times have you seen this:
I'll never find true love.

#5 The Angry Updater

These people get a kick out of drama. They like to incite e-riots mainly because it's not real life. More than likely they've had to commit internet suicide on other sites, only to come right back and beef with new people. They hate everything and everything makes them mad. Whether it's the traffic, their job, their boss, co-workers or their neighbors, they stay vexed and we get a front row seat to vexfest.

How many times have you seen this:
If you got something to say about me, don't just put it in a status. Confront me like a real woman. I guess you can't because you're too fat and your man wants me.

There you have it folks. Staying away from these five deadly venoms will make your Facebook reality more palatable. Now go have some fun.

ARE AFRICANS DEPICTED AS ANIMALS BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC?

2011-11-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

I was watching the movie Kick Ass with my cousin, and at the beginning of the movie there's this scene where K.A. is in class (because he's a teenager) daydreaming about his teacher. She flings her hair, says something sexy to him, takes her shirt off then begins to take her bra off. The scene changes before it showed her boobs. A minute later, it showed K.A. at home looking at African women's breasts on the National Geographic website followed by a trash can full of tissue. My cousin immediately asked why they would show those boobs, and not the sexy teacher's boobs.

I thought about it for a minute, and the only answer I could come up with was "because the African boobs are more like animal boobs".

After saying that, I realized that I've always associated National Geographic with being the authority on animals and wildlife. The only humans Nat Geo ever highlighted were people in a tribal setting. More times than not, they showed the tribal Africans that danced around fires and ate raw meat and/or people. I could never understand why they never blurred or censored the ladies' breasts. It seems like it's always been acceptable to show the tribal ladies with no clothes on. Nothing sexy about them I guess, so no harm done.

The first time I ever saw boobs (besides the fuzzy Playboy channel) was courtesy of National Geographic. Naturally I grew up thinking that all of Africa was tribal, and to see Africans in their natural habitat in a magazine was like going to the zoo. It was always fascinating to watch them at the same time thinking, "man, I'm glad I ain't in Africa". I think there's been a long-running campaign to desensitize us (Americans) from Africa. I think it's working too. Ask any kid what they think about the people from Africa and you'll be surprised to know what school is teaching them. I know when I see a commercial with those kids that need 15 cents a day, I change the channel. Whenever a President says he sending millions of dollars in aid to Africa to combat hunger, I get pissed. Not to mention the African green monkey that caught a flight to the States to spread HIV. Damn African green monkeys...

In a forum about this very topic, a young woman asked:

Why evrytime im watching a show on discovery national geographic etc. And there showing african tribes. They don't blurr out any of the men and womens private parts? I think its racist I was watching national geographic channel and they had a show about naked ppl. They showed nudists places in australia and the us. The ppl were white and they blurred the womens breast. On the SAME show in that episode they showed african tribes. They did not blurr out the african womens breast or anything else for that matter. Im a black women and find it completely offensive. Its as if they found the ppl of africa to be non human. Like animals. Its dissrespectful and racists. My mom was trying to send emails complaining about the channel I hope more ppl do the same and protests. If your going to blurr out nudists areas in austraila where all the ppl are white why don't you do the same and give some respect for the african tribes or black women in general by blurring out their breast. -source

Thank God no one replied, "because African women can't spell", because she would've earned that one. While I wish she proofread before posting her comment, I understand her question.

So Why would they blur the nudist beach people and not the tribal Africans? Is it because nudists are people? Surely nudists practice nudity in private because it's socially unacceptable. It should be safe to say the same thing about the tribal Africans because ~~everyone in Africa don't run around like savages~~ it's also socially unacceptable there in most places. Personally, I think if they're going to blur the body parts of one group, they should blur everyone.

Do you think they don't censor the bodies of Africans because to them it's equivalent to showing a cows teats, or a dog with no clothes on? Is this a topic that's widely blown out of proportion? *this post also appears at the Insane Asylum Blog*

I REALLY MISS GEORGE W. BUSH

2011-11-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

You know what? I miss President Bush, and I'm tired of people still dissing him like he's some chump. Yeah Clinton was great, but who would you rather have had in office after that, Gore? Kerry?

With either of those guys as President, we would've been as lame as our neighbors by now. Don't get me wrong, I like Canada. They got free health care and poutine (which makes culinary sense). And Mexico...Mexico is warm.

Anyway, you need President Bush, like everyone else in this world does. Who else could have removed the threat in Iraq, trained the Iraqi people to defend their land, and instilled civility to a country?

Who else would've given us stimulus checks in order to pump up the economy? If you don't like that, then you're most likely a Democrat...a crack-whore welfare Democrat.

Behold, my favorite President of the United States of America, in the greatest State of the Union Address ever. A speech you probably missed because you were busy hating him and wishing that your lives were miserable:

Have a good weekend...

*this post also appears at the Insane Asylum Blog*

TEXAS JUDGE CRITICIZED FOR BEATING HIS DAUGHTER WITH A BELT

2011-11-03T12:29:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago, Texas judge William Adams caught his daughter Hillary (who was 16 at the time) downloading music illegally from a website. So he did what any parent that believes in not sparing the rod would do. He disciplined her with his belt.

Hillary, unbeknownst to her parents, recorded the whole incident. She held on to the video over the years, but decided recently to upload it to YouTube in an attempt to make him "get help" according to her. She said that he's been harassing her over the years, and she wants him to stop. She doesn't go deeply in the details about the harassment, so I can't justify her uploading the video especially since she said the intent wasn't to get him trouble.

Since Hillary, 23, who has ataxic cerebral palsy (read the definition before you start criticizing) uploaded the video, it has been seen over 2 million times. People have already expressed outrage over the judge's actions, and a facebook page entitled Don’t Re-Elect Judge William Adams has been set up in an effort to get him off the bench.

First, let's watch the footage. Jump to the 1:00 mark if you don't want to wait for the action. At 2:45, go to 3:15 for more. The video will pop open right here so you won't have to leave.

You've watched it, so what do you think?

Personally, I didn't see anything wrong with it at all. I watched it with my referee shirt on and everything. Listen, the talking that typically goes with a whipping is rarely nice. It's part of the psychological effect. What's getting people in such an uproar is the fact that this is happening inside of a White family's home. This type of discipline is never seen on TV or in public places because Whites tend to favor the "time-out" approach over the direct-connect. I understand the reaction, but how would it look if his IP address was connected with illegally downloading music, and he got sued for millions like the others who got caught?

I used to get my share of the belt. Hell, the belt had a name, too. "Jim-Buck", short for "Jim Buckle". I got the standard whuppin', nothing fancy. There was no using of the buckle, no hitting in the face or my nuts or anything like that. And trust me, I deserved every one I got. They tried the punishment approach on me, too. I mean, they mixed it up and stuff, but the whuppins were more effective.

Hey, if you think that's bad, I know people who got beat with the first thing their parent or guardian could get their hands on. Sometimes they were beaten with extension cords, broom handles, clothes hangers, chairs, fists...whatever.

What the judge did was textbook discipline with a belt, and there was nothing abusive about it at all.

Do you think judge Adams committed a crime? Do you think his daughter uploaded the video to be spiteful? Judge Adams presides over cases involving children (child abuse cases), and they've taken those away. Do you think that's fair?

*this post also appears at the Insane Asylum Blog*

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO OWNING AND SHARING IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF INFANT PORN

2011-11-02T06:31:00.001-07:00

Operation Predator is an Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) project that helps to protect children from sexual predators, domestic and international - targeting those who travel overseas for sex with minors. Operation Predator also targets child pornographers, sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. It was this very initiative along with Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) Cyber-Crimes Division that caught 49-year-old Peter Lindsley of Houston in January of this year.

Initially in January, Lindsley was accused of having over 15000 pictures depicting children "who haven't reached puberty" in strong sexual situations. He was looking at up to 60 years in prison (up to 10 for each of the 6 counts they were charging him with).

But when Lindsley went to court Monday in Houston, his charges were changed to one count of distributing child pornography. And although, the 15,000 pictures turned into 3,805 pictures and 860 videos, the majority of those pictures involved infants...babies..."engaging in lewd exhibitions of the genital and the anus, sexual intercourse and deviant sexual acts". He also no longer has to worry about going to jail for up to 60 years. He's now only facing 5-20 years, a maximum fine of $250,000 and he has to register as a sex offender. When he gets out, he will do a lifetime of probation.

Lindsley admitted to searching for and downloading child pornography from the Internet, and possessing thousands of images and videos of child pornography.

He will remain in federal custody until the sentencing date, set for 3/5/12.

Now, what's grinding my gears is the fact that this guy could get out of jail in 5 years. They want this guy's money more than anything, and they're going to let him see daylight again just so they can get it.

It starts somewhere, man. You don't just wake up one day wanting to see children who can't even talk getting raped. I have a baby and I can't imagine anything like that happening to him. Shame on the feds for choosing money (which they probably will be collecting from income tax returns for the rest of his life) over a real punishment.

*this post also appears at the Insane Asylum Blog*

SNAPPED: WOMAN TRIES TO KILL FATHER OVER POTATO SALAD

2011-10-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

There's no doubt about it, patients. Florida is the epitome of crazy. This is the story of a Palm Coast woman who was arrested for attacking her father over what has to be the strangest reason ever.

Police say Karen Henry asked her dad, Hubert, for some of his potato salad while he was eating dinner. When the 80-year-old denied her, she got angry to the point where she began throwing things and cursing - both at the direction of Hubert. She then grabbed a large knife and threatened to kill him, waving the knife in his face.

The elderly man managed to get a chair in between them so he could get to the bedroom and call for help. Flagler County police arrested Karen, but on the way to jail, she complained of abdominal pain. She was taken to Florida Hospital Flagler, where she was quickly treated for abdominal pain.

While she was getting dressed, deputies overheard Karen in her room on the phone telling Hubert to drop the charges. Because of that, in addition to being charged with aggravated assault (because she was definitely aggravated), a charge of tampering with a victim was also added.

Karen now resides at the Flagler County Inmate Facility where she is being held without bail, and without potato salad.

*this post also appears at the Insane Asylum Blog*

POINT-COUNTERPOINT: TEAM PRO-LIFE VS TEAM PRO-CHOICE

2011-10-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

[author's note: Allow me to introduce myself. I go by Mr. Chap, and I am the owner of the Insane Asylum website (www.insaneasylumblog.com). We at the Asylum strive to make people think about the things they normally don't.

We cover unbelievable news, politics, Facebook-related crimes, and the issues that drive our society.

I'm honored that after years of begging, Dee Dee has finally opened the gate for me. For the record, I should let you know that I'm a Grammar Nazi and a serial comma killer. I also can be humorous, serious and sometimes a bit sarcastic. Before she changes her mind, I'm going to bring what I do at the Asylum here to "Keeper". After all, we are each other's keeper. You're all hereby dubbed "patients", and it's my pleasure to write for you.]

Here goes...

For years, church congregations, politicians and the people who love them have argued over abortion. It is one of the most discussed social issues out there, and one's opinion on abortion is often used as a moral compass for which people measure how good or evil one's mind is.

First, I think it's fair to say that some people think about their affiliation and loyalty to political parties or groups over what's right for their situation. Labels dominate the world, and history tells us that humans tend to need to belong to something.

While die-hard Pro-Choice supporters have legitimate reasons to feel the way that they do, die-hard Pro-Life supporters also have an equal argument. Today, we revisit an age-old debate between the two.

Here are five arguments for Team Pro-Life

5. Since life begins at conception, abortion is akin to murder as it is the act of taking human life. Abortion is in direct defiance of the commonly accepted idea of the sanctity of human life.

4. Adoption is a viable alternative to abortion and accomplishes the same result. And with 1.5 million American families wanting to adopt a child, there is no such thing as an unwanted child.

3. An abortion can result in medical complications later in life; the risk of ectopic pregnancies doubles, and the chance of a miscarriage and pelvic inflammatory disease also increases.

2. In the instance of rape and incest, proper medical care can ensure that a woman will not get pregnant. Abortion punishes the unborn child who committed no crime; instead, it is the perpetrator who should be punished.

1. For women who demand complete control of their body, control should include preventing the risk of unwanted pregnancy through the responsible use of contraception or, if that is not possible, through abstinence.

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Here are five arguments for Team Pro-Choice

5. Nearly all abortions take place in the first trimester, when a fetus cannot exist independent of the mother. As it is attached by the placenta and umbilical cord, its health is dependent on her health, and cannot be regarded as a separate entity as it cannot exist outside her womb.

4. The concept of personhood is different from the concept of human life. Human life occurs at conception, but fertilized eggs used for in vitro fertilization are also human lives and those not implanted are routinely thrown away. Is this murder, and if not, then how is abortion murder?

3. Adoption is not an alternative to abortion, because it remains the woman's choice whether or not to give her child up for adoption. Statistics show that very few women who give birth choose to give up their babies - less than 3% of white unmarried women and less than 2% of black unmarried women.

2. Abortion is a safe medical procedure. The vast majority of women - 88% - who have an abortion do so in their first trimester. Medical abortions have less than 0.5% risk of serious complications and do not affect a woman's health or future ability to become pregnant or give birth.

1. The ability of a woman to have control of her body is critical to civil rights. Take away her reproductive choice and you step onto a slippery slope. If the government can force a woman to continue a pregnancy, what about forcing a woman to use contraception or undergo sterilization?

Here are a couple of case studies for further rumination.

As Lydia walked to her car in the darkened parking lot she had a vague uneasiness. She should have waited for the security guard escort, but if she had she undoubtedly would have been late for her meeting at the Garden Club. Hastily she unlocked the door, yanked the car door open, jumped in and was trying to shove the key in the ignition when a hand from the back seat covered her mouth and jerked her head viciously into the head rest. “One sound out of you, and you are dead,” he said. The next ten minutes would be seared into her brain forever. With a knife at her throat, he sexually assaulted her in the back seat of the car, beat her savagely, and left her for dead. When she finally came to her senses she drove herself to the nearest Emergency Room. Over the next few weeks the physical wounds would heal. The emotional healing would take much longer. The nightmare continued. Four weeks after the assault, the clinic confirmed her worst fears. She was pregnant.

Would a person who declares allegiance to Team Pro-Life make an exception in this case?

Here's one more:

Gary and Karen were ecstatic. After four years of marriage, Karen was pregnant. Gary would finish law school in six months. The timing could not have been better. Karen had always wanted a big family, but they had delayed till Gary would have a regular paying job. But after her third prenatal visit Dr. Abrams called her at home. Could she and Gary come to the office tomorrow at three to review her recent test results? He would explain everything then. Over the next few weeks ultrasound tests confirmed what the blood tests had suggested. Their baby, if allowed to come to term, would have severe neural tube defects. In other words, the child would have an open spinal cord, hydrocephalus, mental retardation and probably never walk in a normal manner. The burden that this child would experience, and the pain the family would suffer would be unbearable. The best thing would be to have an abortion. Dr. Abrams gave them the names of two competent gynecologists. It would be best for everyone.

Okay patients, based on the information given, how do you feel about abortion or do you reserve your opinion for a situation that calls for a decision? This one is for the record books, so be careful what you say.

*this post also appears at the Insane Asylum Blog*

Thoughtful Thursdays: Flaws and All

2011-10-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

"People need to look in the mirror at their own imperfections before they start pointing out other people’s imperfections. It’s simple to see what’s wrong with others. The challenge is to figure out what’s wrong with you."

Trying to meet other people's standards is very exhausting. I have found this out the hard way. Striving to be perfect and being perfect is two very different things.

If we were PERFECT, then we will never have the experience of getting some wrong in order to have the knowledge of making it right the next time. If we were PERFECT, our thinking and creativity will be limited. If we are perfect...we do not need to make improvements. If we are perfect, we stop growing. Pretty boring don't you think?

Stop trying to please others and be PERFECT in their eyes. Its impossible! STRIVE TO BE A BETTER YOU! Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can’t accept your imperfections, that’s their fault.

I have had people in my life that could not accept my FLAWS and ALL. I stopped trying to re-invent a new me into what they wanted me to be. I re-invent myself into what I want me to be. I want to be better. I want to be happy. I am happy with all of my FLAWS and ALL.

THE BEST PERSON TO BE BETTER FOR IS YOURSELF!!!

What do you think?

What do you do when people

cannot accept your FLAWS and ALL?

Thoughtful Thursdays: The Person In The Mirror

2011-09-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Are you proud of who you are on the inside as well as the outside? If you cannot believe in your self-WORTH, how do you expect anyone else to. Every day I am learning. This means that I am growing. If I don't like something, I change it.

I know longer blame people for making me unhappy or making me feel a certain way. It is not completely their fault. Sometimes you must learn to take responsibility of who is in your life and why they are in it. If you don't like the hands you are dealt, then get a new dealer and shuffle your life cards a little better.

If your life is a mirror and if you don’t like what you are SEEING, change who you are BEING! YOU are responsible for whether you are feeling neglected. YOU are responsible for whether you are feeling happy. YOU are responsible for whether you are feeling picked upon.

Change. Change. Change. We hate that word, CHANGE, but for some it is the BEST thing in the world. Start CHANGING the people who always gossip around you. If they talk to you about someone else, 90% of the time, they will talk about YOU behind your back. Stop SETTLING for non-satisfying relationships. I do not care whether it is a friend, family, husband, or wife. I remember the movie, Some Kind of Wonderful, where there was line that said, "I would rather be alone for the right reason, then with someone for the wrong reasons."

The question is...

would you rather be right or wrong?

PLEASE COMMENT

AND

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!

Thoughtful Thursdays: Take Out The Trash

2011-09-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Would you be comfortable sitting in mud all day? Would you enjoy rolling around in filth and not being able to take a bath or a shower? Dealing with negative friends and family members is doing just that --ROLLING AROUND IN GARBAGE!

It is time that you sweep up all of the negative friends that is lying against you, the significant other that is weighing you down, and family members that is putting you down and throw it all away! I remember an old saying a friend once told me...RELAX, RELATE, AND RELEASE!

PLEASE COMMENT

AND

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!

Is there someone in your life that you are ready to sweep out permanently? If so, just know that you can make it through the rain. At the end of every storm is a beautiful RAINBOW!

Open Letter To Haters

2011-08-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

Dear HATERS,

If you are talking about me behind my back that just means that my life is obviously more interesting than yours. I wish all of my haters the best. You are literally the comedy in my life. When you try to bring me down, I simply build myself back up. Everyday you make me feel more and more important. I know that I really do matter and I am on someone's mind. I wake up every day grateful for this prestigious opportunity of being the apple of your eye and honey of your daily conversation. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF MY FANS!!!

The definition of a HATER is "a person that simply cannot be happy for another person's success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person." The hater does not really want to be the person he or she hates, rather the hater wants to knock some else down a notch.

I happen to think that "haters" are truly inspirational. HATERS can motivate you to becoming a better individual. They teach you endurance, understanding, and acceptance of yourself.

Over the years, I have dealt with a lot of haters. People who want to rain on my parade, try to put me down, or just full of negativity. PLEASE POST A COMMENT AND START TODAY BY GIVING GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOUR HATERS!

Thoughtful Thursdays: The Karma Song

2011-07-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

It took a couple of listens, but I actually love this song. I truly believe that what you send out into the lives of others will come back to hunt you. If you are ever wonder why you are living such a HELLish existence, why things are not going your way, and why you can't find CONSISTENT happiness, then ask yourself what type of person are you. You may not notice, but the little things that you do carries a lot of weight.

The rule of Karma is best described in this quote:

"According to the seed that’s sown,
So is the fruit you reap there from,
Doer of good will gather good,
Doer of evil, evil reaps,
Down is the seed and thou shalt taste
The fruit thereof."~ The Samyutta Nikaya

This is not just a Buddha believe. Ask yourself this...

DO YOU DESERVES WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH?

DO YOU HAVE GOOD KARMA?

Sensational Saturdays: I Can't Get NO Satisfaction

2011-06-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

Though I am TEAM Jennifer Aniston all the way, I have to admit that Life or Something Like It with Angelina Jolie is one of my favorite films!

How come REAL news is not this darn entertaining?!

Life or Something Like It -$2.50 at Amazon.com

Thoughtful Thursdays: Let It Rain

2011-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

“When people care for you and cry for you,

they can straighten out your soul.”

Whatever is meant to be, is meant to be. I do not believe in fate. However, I believe in choices. Your choices will determine which path you are to take. You cannot blame anyone for your successes or failures. You determine your future.

Always remember: Do not cry about the same thing twice~

What your thoughts for this Thoughtful Thursday?

Being Happy Doesn't Mean Everything Is Perfect

2011-06-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

What is happiness? The Wikipedia defines happiness as, "a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy." Lately, everyone has had their own point-of-view of whether or not I am happy. I had to take some time to myself and start thinking of the most accurate response to their concerns. This is primarily why I haven't been writing in 2 months. Well, I am back and here is my answer.

Where as, there are many people who are unemployed, I have a full-time job in a law firm. Where as, some people are not able to wake up every morning because they are dead, I am able to wake up every morning. Where as, most people do not have transportation, I have my own car that I drive back and forth to the train station. Where as, people are struggling to pay bills or living check-to-check, I am able to pay my own bills. Where as, there are some people who have popularity contests by having so many other people in their life, I am content with the few friends that I consider my best friends. I am starting to fall in love again. I am falling in love with myself. I am starting to take better care of myself and do things that make me content.

To sum it up, I AM HAPPY! It comes a time when you have to stop molding your life into this form of what people think or how people think that your life should be. I am not going to go sleep with the next guy that I see, get married, and have children, just because my family think that it will make me happy. I want people to read this post and know that you have to do whatever it is to make yourself happy. Being happy for someone else's sake, is just unhappiness in disguise. It is not genuine. You must learn to be yourself and be happy for you!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;fgf&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

"BEING HAPPY DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING IS PERFECT. IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO LOOK BEYOND THE IMPERFECTIONS."

Thoughtful Thursdays: Invisible For The Last Time

2011-03-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

I seriously thought that Dangerously In Love by Beyonce would be one of my all time favorite songs. My family would tell you that I place the heck out of this song every night. However, I have officially found its replacement. Invisible For The Last Time by Jennifer Hudson speaks volumes. I am so excited to share this song within my Thoughtful Thursdays post. I literally cried when I heard this song.

Some of the lyrics of this song...well listen to it and tell me what you think.

"This can't be it for me

This can't be all I'm made for

And no more time to waste in this life

It's my time to shine

No more feeling insufficient

I'm gonna make my own decisions

It don't matter what you can or cannot see

I'm doing this for me

(background)

I gotta find me another way

(Find another way)

Cause I don't wanna stay another day

Time for a change in my life

I've opened my eyes

I'm changing my life

And now

I'm gonna live my life for me

Cause this aint how it's suppose to be

No more standing in the back of the line

(I'm invisible for the last time)

Cause I'm invisible for the last time

Can you see me

(Can you see me)

I know you see me

(I know you see me)

(background)

No more standing in the back of the line

Cause I'm invisible for the last time

(Can you see me)

(I know you see me)

No more standing in the back of the line

Cause I'm invisible for the last time"

ARE YOU INVISIBLE FOR THE LAST TIME?