"So You Think You Can Read?"

Writing when I was 25

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:28:15 PDT

I found this while transferring data to my new mac mini and wanted to share. Dated from 2003/2004. I like writing philosophical posts, which enable me to share things I may not be able to share with you all, at times. Enjoy.

"At the age of 25 with no real career or college education, one would worry about their future. I know I do. You know, we’ve all heard the stories about the underdogs who overcame adversity and became successful people. It’s as if theses stories give us hope and some short term motivation.

Most of the time we all need good advice from people who’ve been down the same roads you’ve been. The way to a perfect Life is only explained in the books of opinion. We all learn from our mistakes, and always will. So from time to time, does it seem when your doing everything right and you focus your dreams, we don’t always see results? There's always those people who say that they tried but couldn’t make it. we’re these people lying and just didn’t try, equaling failure. Mabey some people aren’t destined for what they desire. You know, I truly believe that hard work and dedication will pay for what you want and need. It’s releasing yourself to what is positive for you and your future. Some people have immediate result in their life and some wait their lifetime, either way it’s what you do in the meantime, I think, that counts.

You Know, when you add up all your chips, everybody looks at the same picture differently. Alot of people aren't after the same things in life. Money, Power & Happiness are the top three I see people wanting. The first two, in my opinion are the root to most evil. And the third, most people think having the first two will equal them their happiness. Well, I’m not going to argue any of that, because it would be pointless. Not one thing in this world should make one rely on it providing them ultimate happiness.

Something inside us all has got to say inside what ultimately counts and what matters. And when when we understand the strength it takes, we shall succeed. Yet not all of us will. "

Did you see what I Texted you?

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:25:53 PDT

Are we, as Americans, becoming victims of our mobile devices? I've asked myself this question several times and what I tend to observe is quite obvious. With over 153 million reported cellular phones and a market to support the growth, no one is left in the dark ages. Quite literally our devices hold our lives in the palm of our hands. The iPhone, for instance, has transformed the way we think about mobile devices and has inspired new ways of advancing mobile technology. So, with these technological advancements is there anything wrong? Have we fell victims to this technology? And if so, why?

What did people do before texting or Facebook was around? If you were waiting for class to begin or waiting for the light to change what did you do? Did you anticipate a story to tell your friends the next time you saw them? A lot really hasn't changed. However, a lot has. In most situations we have the fine luxury of accessing people or useful information when we really need it. But many of us are not doing just that.With the abilities our device have now, there is a lot more to distract us. So, is this dangerous?

More people today will text rather than call. And the excuses for this are hit and miss. For the most part I see it as a great way to relay quick information when email is just too troublesome for 10-20 characters. However, too many people have used texting as a primary way of communicating and this is what bothers me. Why? Well, texting is very impersonal. Nothing says "I care" more than sending a series of texts. But, then again that is just my opinion. What is to save for face to face interaction or an actual phone conversation? You've already seen my tweet, Facebook, and text comments. Now what do we share? ..."Did you see what Sally posted on her Facebook?" Really? Is this how people will interact with each other before too long? Sadly enough this already happens.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: "Oh Ricky you're being too critical" or "Come on, our cell phones give us a greater ability we didn't have before." First of all, I am very fond of our mobile devices and see them as a revolutionary tool. What I am scared of is how these devices are effecting our behavior and personal interaction. And with everything else there is always the risk of falling victim to anything.

These technological tools have given us more choices on how we communicate. The point is: We have a choice! The popular choice is becoming too impersonal? Is a phone call not important anymore? Is there not enough time in our day to call someone, just to say hello or tell them you're thinking about them. Technology is not the one to blame here folks, it's us. We have a choice and that is the bottom line.

Now, I would be lying if I didn't say I have become consumed with texting, Facebook messaging, and email here and there. And in saying that, I write this post in hopes of plugging these thoughts and concerns into your heads for the good. I love you all!

Just food for thought Folks!

Mediums, are they helpful?

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:34:53 PDT

For a short time now, I have been very interested in the world of psychics. This paranormal business has been around for many many years and has only grown in popularity. Mediums have been the most popular, who claim to communicate with the dead. Recently, the most notable psychic was a man by the name of John Edward, who hosted a fairly popular television show called "Crossing Over." Like many of these mediums, Edward claimed to have the ability to communicate with loved ones' deceased, and relay messages etc. And this particular phenomenon has been the subject of much skepticism.

Now, whether or not these individuals are genuine psychics the real question is: Is the comfort or relief these psychics are providing genuinely healthy? Is there really any harm done if that person, the sitter, believes his/her loved ones' are being channeled through this medium, and in doing so brings them comfort or relief. The most concern, in general, is the financial aspect. There are plenty of stories about people getting "hooked", going to psychics, and spending way too much money. However, many people spend much more money on other types of counsel and never think twice. So, beyond the financial burden that people can encounter, are there any other reason one should not seek a medium's help to communicate with their deceased loved one's?

Simply put, there is nothing wrong with what you personally choose to believe in, and act on. I for one do not believe that there is such a way for us, as human beings, to communicate with the dead. That does not mean it isn't possible or doesn't exist, it just means I lack the belief in the phenomenon. What does concern me though, is the ethical value. Are these individuals adequately educated in any form of social services? Do we need any other credentials from these psychics, other than their personal testimony in order to pay them to "counsel" us? Honestly, how are these individuals any different than psychotic schizophrenics- Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there (hallucinations)-?

"Medium-ship is not a cure for grief, it can be very therapeutic and very healing and very helpful. It can be extremely empowering, when you understand the process, but if you're looking for a reading to fix your grief it does not. I wanna be very very clear."

~ John Edward ~

Understand this disclaimer is giving very quickly in this video!

The United States of Facebook

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:40:33 PDT

Many of us have enjoyed the theater stage that is Facebook for a while now. Finding old school mates, colleagues, and distant family members is easier than ever. Most likely your aunt in Vermont has a FB page as well as anyone with a pulse and a PC. The ability to share information with the masses has become easier and more convenient than ever. If I'm out of town and I want to share a picture, all I have to do is take the photo with my phone and upload it with a quirky caption. Within seconds friends and family can share my personal content and interact with my posts with ease.

When it comes to sharing content and personal posts, most "Facebookers" are quite conservative; you have your occasional soap box postings and the redundant Farmville posts, but for the most part people are sharing their lives with you. Family and friends are sharing birthday greetings more often and special occasions are being announced via Facebook, like it's the new post office. How ever you slice it, Facebook has become a social network phenomenon and we are all a part of it.

Interestingly enough there is a lot to learn from Facebook, in relation to human behavior. For instance, if someone posts a comment or piece of content that you have interest in, then you're likely to comment (like) on that post. In face-to-face situations we call this engaging. The typical FB friend has something in common with you, and that is why you are FB friends, right? Well, it turns out that engaging on the Internet isn't as accurate as face-to-face engagement. Turns out, not everyone has good meta-cognition. Typically religion, politics, and other beliefs are not spared, however the social norms usually still apply on the digital platform.

The biggest problem I have experienced on Facebook is the same problem people encounter reading emails or text messages; anyone can "read into" something written and take it out of context. This poses problems when it comes to communicating thoughts or information. Tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language do not come across in written language and that can really make a difference when writing something in black and white. If you are not explicit in your posts people will infer what they want. A lot of people are guilty, including myself, of this and it isn't anything new. We begin to assume that what we write will be interpreted exactly the way we see, hear, or feel it. That is dangerous!

I have enjoyed sharing comical posts as well as intellectually stimulating content on Facebook, but not without repercussion. The odd experiences that I encounter sometimes get a post and is shared with general acceptance. However, sometimes you find out that not everything can be shared, on Facebook, without extreme ridicule. With that, I have taken responsibility for not thinking things through before I post them. However, the same things I would post I would also comment to someone I was with in person. And like before, the problem lies in the lack of non-verbal communication and face-to-face interaction. For instance If I said to my friend, in person, "Oh, I like that shirt" there would be enough sensory information to distinguish the genuineness of that statement. Today, sarcasm is used a lot on FB and it can be difficult to differentiate between sincere statements. Now, if I said the same thing on FB, my friend could misinterpret my statement to mean that I was being sarcastic. The point is, assuming people will receive the same message the way you intended it to be is not plausible, without explicit description.

So, should everyone being sarcastic or funny apply a disclaimer to their posts? Of course not. That would just defeat the purpose and lose the comical value. But if we are constantly being misinterpreted it might be wise to either find a different way to display your humor, or just limit the people we post to, and this is what we would probably do in face-to-face interaction. The same dirty joke you shared with your friends may not be appropriate to share with your parents or grandparents. So, just like real life, we must be conscious enough to know what is appropriate for your entire "FB family." This has been difficult for me to accept, as I think we should all feel comfortable sharing content and thoughts without having to think "oh, who might I offend?." Personally, I choose not to post offensive material. However, what is not offensive to me is offensive to someone else. This is Russian roulette at its best.

When people are responding to you on Facebook, it can be quite different. Most people will not tell us exactly how they feel about something we may have shared with them, in person. Most likely you will get a polite watered down version of their opinion, as to deviate from any type of confrontation. However, on FB people tend to tell us what they think without thinking twice. Of course, its much easier to formulate our thoughts and piece together a comment that represents your opinion when we're in front of the screen.

So what does this all mean? Well, it means the way some of us behave on Facebook isn't new, in comparison to real life interaction. The different ways in which we all use this social network tool is somewhat reflected on our own personalities. Facebook has also allowed many of us to partake in the most popular "show and tell" platform, ever. Chris Martin sang "you just want somebody listening to what you say, it doesn't matter who you are" and man does this apply to Facebook.

Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:53:53 PST

Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be
One against whom there was no official complaint,
And all the reports on his conduct agree
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a
  saint,
For in everything he did he served the Greater Community.
Except for the War till the day he retired
He worked in a factory and never got fired,
But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.
Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views,
For his Union reports that he paid his dues,
(Our report on his Union shows it was sound)
And our Social Psychology workers found
That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink.
The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day
And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way.
Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured,
And his Health-card shows he was once in hospital but left it cured.
Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare
He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan
And had everything necessary to the Modern Man,
A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.
Our researchers into Public Opinion are content
That he held the proper opinions for the time of year;
When there was peace, he was for peace:  when there was war, he went.
He was married and added five children to the population,
Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his
  generation.
And our teachers report that he never interfered with their
  education.
Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd:
Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

I wanted to share this poem for several reasons. In one of my classes I chose to do my poet biography on W.H. Auden because of this poems impact on me. We were required to read it from the "bible of poems" we have as our textbook, but isn't hard to interpret yet still has much depth to it. Hope you all enjoy!

Education

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:52:26 PST

In an interview with John Grinder, co-creator of NLP, a statement was made about the purpose of our educational system(s). "I have been astonished since I first learned about this thing called psychology, that its focus is on average performance. Bertrand Russell; I remember reading when I just nine or ten years old an article called "On Education" by Bertrand Russell, in which he proposed something that has a great deal of wisdom: The structure in the educational system even today, 2003, is closely allied with structure of the industrial work context. And that the implicit objective of most mass educational systems is preparation of the citizen to participate in the workforce. I think we could do a lot better." If the end result of education is to only prepare citizens for the workforce, is it fair to say that the premier focus is only based on one objective? Does the educational system(s) only expect excellence from a selected few? Could the educational system start expecting a higher percentage of excellence for its students and teachers besides basing it on standardized testing and failed teaching models? Besides being well prepared for the workforce, is there more we could equip our citizens with? For most of my life I've heard the statement "we need to fix our education system". Of course politically education is always somewhere in the "agenda" for our governments to pay more attention to or spend more money on. The only thing I can't figure out is: What are we spending the money on? More teachers? More classrooms? More books and supplies? I agree that all these should be apart of the spending budget but is this helping the student in the long run? Do we have the student(s) in mind or the system?

Catching Up

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:27:20 PDT

Hello all! Hope everyone is staying healthy, during this flu season.

I turned in my third essay for my English Composition class, tonight, which was quite an interesting write. I chose to write a compare/contrast essay on a historical event; the election of our first African American President. Well, little did I know I was going to go through an internal journey of philosophical thinking. The historical importance of this event is and should be obvious.
As I was finishing up the paper, I went through a lot of thinking about racism. Personally, I believe racism will always exist. It is, for lack of a better term, a disease. People are not born racist. Racism is a learned belief, just like all other beliefs or belief systems. However, by virtue of our nature, we distinguish things that are different and classify them within context. And sometimes when we start classifying people, places, or things we begin to discriminate their value. Why? Too many reasons. One's family and environment is the biggest influence on people's learned values. However, the influence of many people's environment doesn't always shape their morals and values. The reasons, we use, are products of our fight or flight responses, which are justified by a framed experience. People are constantly being tested by their own inflated egos, that most of the time too many people just want to "flight". On the other hand the "fight" response is, and has been, used shamelessly by cowards. To understand how things can evolve is more irritating to watch, if you are "outside looking in." In this country we as a society have come a long way dealing with African American rights, and social discrimination. When we start back pedaling, as a society, it is up to OUR everyday ACTIONS which WILL CHANGE and shape a "better" society and culture, for all.
I want to leave you with this short story, which correlates with this rambling blog. About a month ago, my father and I watched a movie, Defiance. The movie is about Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe, escaping into the Belarussian forests, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village, in order to protect themselves and about 1,000 Jewish non-combatants. During about half of the movie, we took a "cigarette break", and I said this to my dad: " Man, I can't believe they killed over 11 million Jews?" My dad responds "They killed over 11 million people." At that point, people, I have never felt more proud of who my dad is as a man. He immediately changed the point of view, for me, which I shared too, and made me realize their is only HUMAN. I love you for that DAD!

Okay, I'm done..... Sorry folks, got a little carried away! I want to leave you with with what one of my professors tells our class, before we leave. "Go home and tell someone you love em'. Call your mama tell you love her! Call your aunt, cousin, uncle, I don't care. Call and tell em' that you love em'." Folks, I LOVE YOU ALL! I can only have 12 people on my email list (which sucks cause I know more than 12 people, lol), but this is a suggestion for you all! CALL someone, write THEM. I'm guilty of not doing it, but never forget its still not too late!!!
Peace!

Ricky

Hallo!

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:51:22 PDT

Hallo en hoe is iedereen? (Hello and how is everyone?) I am not taking Dutch, but trying to learn it so I can communicate to my Aunt and cousins, in their native language, who live in the Netherlands. My iPhone has been my tutor, lol.

I want to update everyone on what's going on with "yours truly." As of today I am still unemployed, but have been approved to receive unemployment benefits. Under Section 207.044 of the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act, my employer discharged me for a reason that is NOT misconduct connected with the work. (DUH!?!) As there are many other "Legal" reasons why they had NO right to fire me, or deny unemployment benefits, I am glad I've been approved for benefits. I should begin receiving assistance by the end of this week.

This semester has been a bit different from last spring session, so I found myself writing less on this blog. I will continue to write but not as much. My two classes have enough reading and writing to keep me busy, for the whole semester. I will possibly post some of my english composition essays, for fun.

The last thing I wanted to mention is: A friend and I have started a podcast, which is basically an audio/video program you can download for FREE. Our podcast is formatted like a "talk radio show". All podcasts are prerecorded, but most of the popular ones, now, are from live broadcasts and such. With that in mind, Kyle and I are producing these podcasts with humor, entertainment, and self-enjoyment. Please be aware that these podcasts will include EXPLICIT CONTENT & LANGUAGE. So, if you haven't listen to it yet, please understand THIS before you listen. This idea isn't to be crude or nasty, on purpose, but just the real talk that people have. The first podcast is towards the bottom of my blog page, or you can go to

http://nonsenseradio.podbean.com/

I hope everyone is doing well! I will communicate soon!

Ricky

O' Sweet Release

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:09:45 PDT

So, I have some news for everyone. As of this morning, I was terminated from GST Public Safety. This termination was made know to me, last Thursday, and confirmed by two of my supervisors. Apparently, this is a clean-house move, made by the fuhrer (I mean our president), which I was apart of. I am happy to say, that I am quite elated and ready to move on to something else. This is not the way I wish to leave any job, but it was pretty evident that they did not want me apart of their Reich. (the Nazi references are only to paint a picture of what I feel, I went through, at this hell-hole) Most of you have heard about my experiences working there. But for those of you who I haven't communicated with, trust me, it was an awful place to work. The work environment continually worsened, as well as the management. On the good side, I have learned a lot. I have had refresher course on "How Not To Treat Your Employees", "How Not To Gain Respect From Your Employees", and "How To "Cook The Books"". There is no experience that I haven't eventually learned from, and this will be one of them. As for my near future opportunities, I do have an interview Wednesday and a lead at a radio station. I will definitely keep you all posted, and informed.

As I leave you with this news, I am reminded of the words of Jimmy Gnecco:

Looking up now you see that
Everyone seems so happy
The crooked somehow keep breathing
When you couldn't be so happy
Maybe they just don't know
Maybe we just don't know
So I'll wake every morning
Wake with the sun
Were the worst things always
The first things to come?
Find a way to move on and a way to be strong
Because somethings do change...
Some things come that make
The worst things beautiful

Moving Forward

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:53:06 PDT

Well, I had my first class tonight, English Composition I, and I think the professor will be okay. (AS IF I HAVE A CHOICE) This was one of the classes I thought I'd probably enjoy, while deciding what to take, since I'm sort of putting math off momentarily. The course covers critical thinking, reading, and writing. (I THINK I CAN HANDLE THOSE) The type of formal writing we will be doing is expository writing, which is a combination of informative and argumentative writing. (GOOD STUFF!) At the end of class the professor took a poll, with the class, on who loved or hated reading and writing. About a split bag loved reading, and almost everyone hated writing. (HAHAHA), that's probably how I felt when I was 18-21.) However, the astute student I am now(HA!), has a different approach to both reading and writing. Yes, I too found that informing and expressing myself, through reading and writing, is necessary in progressing through life, successfully. I'm reminded of a story, told by the late great Bill Hicks(Comdeian). "I go into a Waffle house... I sit down, and I'm drinking coffee and reading a book... And the waitress comes by, smacking on her gum "whatchu reading for?". Now she didn't ask "what are you reading?"... but "why are you reading?"... And I thought to myself, huh..., I'm stumped I've never been asked that. Well I guess there's lots of good reasons why I read, but one that comes to mind, is so that I don't end up working at a Waffle House."

(To be clear, I have no bias, either way, towards employees who work at Waffle House, okay.)

But let's be honest people, you should educate yourself, not just for yourself, but for the good of everyone else around you. (YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN) So, in closing this ill written posting, I hope you all are well and happy!

Love and Peace!

Hello!

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:51:38 PDT

Hello everyone! Yes it is approximately 12:23a.m. and I should be going to sleep soon. However, I wanted to quickly address some concerns that I have received from of few of you. It has been expressed, to me, that I have been a little negative and/or angry on Facebook. Like you all and myself, we experience those kinds of emotions and thoughts no matter what the situation is. Some of the postings, or comments I have made, could be perceived as such with sincere concern. However I'd like to set the record straight that I am okay. I can only assume that people may forget about my sarcastic side, and interpret thoughts literally. I am not performing any experiments, consciously, to analyze or entertain reactions. I've never felt people should hold back opinions or thoughts, no matter what others think, and to engage in all opportunities to express themselves how ever it may be. I appreciate the concern, and apparent attention to what I have posted, but I can honestly tell you- I am not in a constant state of anger or negativity.

I don't feel I have to justify anything I say or post, but since the few concerns came from people I love and care for, I decided to respond accordingly.

Love you all, and keep me informed!

Ricky

Thoughts

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:44:48 PDT

The other day a good friend and I were exchanging emails about somethings, and I wrote him something off-the-cuff.

He responded back to me with positive feedback and suggested I post it on my blog. Now, I wasn't quit sure if I was going to do that, but I thought what the heck. I value his opinions and friendship, so I thought if he felt it was good enough to post, then it must be. I do not consider what I write the "gospel" of life, just what I have learned through my own experiences in life. Sharing is the best type of learning we can all benefit from, and that is why I believe it is all of our duty to share our beliefs, thoughts, and stories. Rigid thinking can become stagnant and damaging.

This is what I wrote:

"The amount of energy it takes to harbor negativity, or create it, is damaging. Your reactions may still provide negative reactions, but it's then that you have a choice. I've used a lot of reframing to help me with those kinds of situations. Anger, hate, etc., I believe, allows us an opportunity to look at our personal priorities. You see people who live for confrontation, because that's what gives them a sense of satisfaction or attention. I don't know about you but that's not the kind of attention I need. Anyway you slice it, we are in control. Now once you start making excuses for how you feel or react, that's when you are not in control. It sounds simple, but it's the truth. I suggest the next time you find yourself getting frustrated or angry about anything, you step back and ask your self: who is in control & how can I look at this differently? It's amazing how when you can reframe an event or situation how your reaction or feeling changes, just by looking at it in a different light or deciding to take responsible action for the situation at hand. Till the day we die, Kyle, no one can ever make you think or feel the way you want unless you allow yourself that power. I guarantee you will get better at this when you begin taking conscious awareness at the time of any negative feelings or thought. It only gets better after that."

Thanks for reading everyone!

Did We Get it Right?

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:17:21 PDT

Last week, the world acknowledged, mourned, ridiculed, and celebrated the death of Michael Jackson. The King of Pop was at the young age of 50 years old, who suffered cardiac arrest. As the media and fans, reported and gathered, the sheer impact of this universal icon's death, was in full attention. Michael Jackson had, not only, many all-time best selling albums, but had millions of fans' respect for his ground breaking showmanship and artistry. However, in the last twenty years, Michael's personal choices and growth had become quit bazaar to a large majority. And after countless, deniable, surgeries and skin treatments Michael continued a journey of facial transformation. Even though none of these surgeries or bazaar behaviors prevented his continued production of music and entertainment, he had intentionally or unintentionally forced people to focus more attention to HIM, and not his music.

Since I grew up with Michael Jackson's music, I have as much support for him as the next fan. However, after his bazaar behavior and unnecessary plastic surgery, I began wondering, sympathetically, what was it driving him through this strange behavior and transformation. After reading and watching much material on his upbringing, it's hard to see a child like Michael, not growing up with some type of psychological "damage." The statistical information, for child molesters, has a standard theory of what most child molesters childhood experiences are. Being abused physically, verbally, and sexually, as a child, by anyone for a period of time can be Incorporated and continued into many children's behavior. However, I believe circumstances should be noted, and in the case of Michael Jackson, there is a lot we don't necessarily know.

In the last few years I was able to review some interviews, with Michael Jackson, and have observed a lot of things which still make me wonder. If you ever watch his interviews, Michael has a tendency to lie a lot. I believe he has tried to avoid letting the world know his true, life long pain. And it probably became very natural to constantly lie, in order to avoid dealing with any more scrutiny from what he really had to say. If you observe Michael's body language, when questions are asked about his growing-up, you can see a lot. This man grew up with out a real childhood, and in opinion, was forced to grow up way too fast without allowing a healthy identity to evolve. Some famous individuals resort to drugs, alcohol, or other self destructive behaviors which are easily used to mask personal issues. These behaviors are not uncommon in Hollywood, or through out the world of the average citizen. And unfortunately, some people do not have good people around them to help their friends, and call attention to their well being, which is in question. People need to be ready to deal with personal issues, no matter what, and if they have no desire to, there is no way for others to be able to help. This I Believe!!

I would not waste my time, in writing about this wonderful man, if he had not affected me in such a way. His music was a soundtrack in life, growing up, just like Elvis was to my mother and so many others. And now that I can let the ignorant and disrespectful, not bother me, I will carry on the wonderful memories of what Michael Jackson's music and artistry did for me, and the world. Rest In Peace Michael! You will be missed, but your music will stay alive forever!

"If you wanna make the world a better place,

Take a look at your self and then make the change,

You gotta get it right while you got the time

Cause when you close your heart, you close your mind."

~ Michael Jackson ~

Man in the Mirror

An Erickson Story

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:17:43 PDT

I recently finished a book titled Experiencing Erickson by Jeffrey Zeig, which is about Milton H. Erickson M.D. The end of the book has a two day transcription, of discussions from the author and Erickson. Mr. Zeig was a young psychotherapist looking to Erickson for wisdom and advise, which he could use to strengthen his outlook and strategies on therapy. One of the last stories Erickson discussed, in the transcription, was one I thought was worth sharing. I have shortened some of the story's content, only to keep to the basis of the story's point. I hope you enjoy, as much as I did.

"I had a man walk into my office in Michigan. He said, " I'm 42 years old. I hold many records in aviation. I began drinking at the age of 12. I'm just off a three-month-long binge." I asked, "What did you do before that?" "Well I had just sobered up from another three-month binge. I've come to you because you're Scandinavian. So am I. And one squarehead can talk straight from the shoulder to another squarehead. Squareheads can take it from squareheads."
I said, "All right. So you've been an alcoholic for 30 years. You hold several aviation records." He said, "Yes, I'm the 22nd member of the Caterpillar Club." He said, "I have a scrapbook of the stories of my aviation records." I looked through it. He was a friend of General "Hap" Arnold in the U.S. Air Force in World War II. He flew the same time Hap Arnold had. He had made an early transcontinental flight. I don't know how many contests he won. And now he was sponging on his parents, just coming off a three-month binge, preceded by a three-month binge.
I said, " All right. In the first place, that's not your scrapbook. You're just a plain drunk. You're a parasite on good people, on good parents and a good wife. You're a bum. You beg, you sneak, and you claim to be the owner of that scrapbook. The man who set those records was a man, and you definitely are not a man." And for a couple of hours, I gave him a choice review of what he was.
I asked him how he usually got drunk, because drunks have a pattern. He said, "I order two schooners of beer, one for each hand. I empty the schooners into my mouth and then follow with a chaser of whiskey." Erickson said, "When you leave here, if you're man enough, go down to your car. Drive down Livernois Avenue. Stop at middle belt. Go into Millstadt Tavern. Order two schooners of beer." He was furious. What I said was awfully unpleasant. He left the office and he banged down the stairs.
He later told me that he stopped at the tavern, and ordered and had two schooners of beer in his hand. He suddenly realized, "I am doing exactly what that son-of-a-bitch said I would do." He said, "So I put 'em down, and I haven't had a drink since then. I didn't even have those drinks. I paid for them and just walked out." I replied, "And you're wearing a halo for that? You've been cheating thoroughly! You've been on "goof balls" all week." He said, "How did you know?" I said, "I know alcoholics." So then I really told him what he was. And he knew I was right. That was on September 26, 1942.
That same day, he went to downtown Detroit and signed up at a gymnasium. He worked out everyday, getting himself into good physical shape. In November he was taken back into the Air Force but not given flying status. He was a captain, but he was grounded. He was a good military man. He would call me up from the air base and say, "I'm weakening." Once he called me and said, "I've got a bottle of rum here, what do I do with it?" I said, "Bring it over to my apartment. I'll furnish the glasses and ice. We'll get drunk together." He came over. I had two glasses with ice in them. I filled my glass, and I filled his. I started drinking. He said, "You God damn lousy son-of-a-bitch! You would get drunk with me!" I said, "Isn't that what the bottle of rum is for?" He said, "God damn you!" and walked out.
Another time, he came over and said, "You told me anytime I wanted to go on a drunk, you'd go with me. So, I've got my car here." I said, "Fine." I called Betty and told her not to expect me and not to worry. I said, "Which bar?" He told me. I said, "Fine." It was in East Dearborn. I rode in the car comfortably two miles, three miles, four miles. We were just chatting about casual things.
Finally, he said, "You son of-a-bitch, you meant it when you said you would go with me to a bar and get drunk." I said, "Yes. I think I can drink you under the table. Anyway, we'll find out." He said, "God damn you. Damn you. Damn you. You're not going to find out." He turned the car around and went back home.
He was elevated to the status of Major. He came in one evening. He greeted me, "Good evening." And I said, "Good evening, Major." He said, "I lose that bet. I had bet you wouldn't notice it immediately."
He got his flying status back and was sent to the Pentagon where he became a special pilot for Pentagon officials and Congressmen. Now and then he called me from Washington saying, "I think I need to hear your voice." And we would chat about various things. It might be a week later, it might be three weeks later before he called me again. September 26, 1942 was his last drink. He came to see us, I guess in 1963, with his wife and child. He took us out to dinner, ordered a drink for Betty and me. He still hasn't had a drink.
He came in saying, "I'm a squarehead like you are." He wanted me to talk straight from the shoulder. I can talk straight from the shoulder. I promised him I would get drunk with him anytime he wanted to get drunk. When he took me up on that, he chickened out. I didn't praise him; I ridiculed him for chickening out.
Had I tried a relatively orthodox way of treating an alcoholic, where would I have been? You meet patients at their level. You use the language they understand, and you're not afraid to use it.

Milton Erickson usually never treated patients in a Procrustean bed, yet met the individual in their own "world". The types of therapeutic approaches Erickson used were, and still are, uncommon but successful in the right "context". The flexibility and experience he built, in his therapy, became very important to his entire career as a doctor, psychotherapist, teacher, father, and humanitarian.
If you are interested in reading this book, here is a link to the book on Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Experiencing-Erickson-Jeffery-K-Zeig/dp/0876304099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243559664&sr=1-1
If not, I still appreciate you reading.
Thank You!

Free Flow Poetry

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:11:35 PDT

Band aids over bullet wounds,
And sheets on the floor.
Runners out of breathe
Sandman's outta sand
Thought inside of life
Never losing sleep.
Always counting sheep.
News on the radio,
People driving mad,
Here lies the birth of today.

Sings a song down the street
And maybe I'll see the sound
Which cross bridges into town.
Will you see this now,
I'm waiting not too long.

Bullets into crowds I scream,
When will this all end.
Time is longer and shorter now,
But I still see you frown.
Keep this to your self,
I'll bet you lose it in the long,
Beating down the door,
With anything but your poor broken heart.

~Ricky Staats~

I used to write in free flow form, but hadn't in a long time, so I am unleashing this. It's been good for me, and creates room for openness for my thoughts.

New Book

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:07:28 PDT

I started reading a new book this last week, on body language, called The Nonverbal Advantage by Carol K. Goman. I'm about half way through it, and I caught one part of the reading that was pretty interesting, which I wanted to share. As we all know, there are all sorts of nonverbal communications we produce unconsciously everyday. Some people are acutely aware of these nonverbal communications, and have learned to notice these telltale signs immediately. Others, may just be completely oblivious to the communication, since it can be difficult to notice if you are not paying attention. And paying attention is a HUGE point here! None of us can completely be conscious of everything that we experience, even if is happening to ourselves. How is the temprature of your left ear...? Where you consciously aware of that temprature, until I asked? Most likely not. So when my boss smiles at me, while in passing, I won't know if she genuinely smiled unless I took notice of her eyes. Most genuine smiles will cause a lowering of the inner corner of the eyebrows. The absence of this is why false smiles look so strained and stiff.
So, the part I wanted to share was about pupil dialation- Tests with expert card players showed that they won fewer games when their opponents wore dark glasses. It seems that they were unconsciously reading their oppenents' pupil dialations, and when those opponents wore dark glasses, it knocked out that channel of communication. Many physical stimuli can cause human pupils to dialte: lighting conditions, some drugs, and even physical exertion. But it's not just card sharks who rely on pupil size for information. We all detect dialation/contraction and respond to those cues. We are genetically programmed to be influenced by the size of eye pupils. This makes sense, as it would have been highly adventageous for the survival of early humans to know who to avoid (those who were hostile to us) and whom to connect with (those whose interest we aroused). Studies have shown that people, especially females, are judged to be more attractive if their pupils are wide open and more dialated than normal. To increase the appeal of any product that uses full-face pictures in its ads, just alter the image and make the pupil size larger. Using this technique Barbra Pease and Alan Pease, helped increase the direct catolog sales for Revlon lipsticks by 45 percent! The ability to decode pupil dialation is also hardwired into the brain, and it happens automatically but unconsciously. Because a person's pupil changes are not under his control, they provide a very reliable indication of interest, attraction, and emotional attitude. It can be be useful to remember that pupils dialate automatically in low-light condition. This may explain why everyone looks interested in everyone else they encounter in a dimly lit bar.
(this last parragraph was taken from chapter 3)
Putting that aside, I hope you enjoyed this information and maybe learned something new.
Thanks for reading Ya'll!!!

Ricky

Cold Reading

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:29:28 PDT

In previous posts I've spoke of Derren Brown, U.K.'s notable psychological illusionist, and wrote about his amazing abilities, as an entertainer and psychologist. Derren has filmed his replications of "psychic abilities", which he admits are purely cold reading techniques, and shown how many "psychics" are able to do such muraculios things. This interview, I am attaching, was done with Richard Dawkins in a 6 part video series, on YouTube. I am attaching just the first one, so you can get a feel of what the rest of the interview will sound like.
I began researching cold reading a few months back, and what I began to see, was completly and utterly absurd. At first you can look at the reading, going on, and think "Wow" how did he know that. But, if you look back at what these psychics are doing, linguistically, you begin to understand that they are fishing for information, and what tends to happen is that the sitter ends up giving the "psychic" information without realizing it. Even though the information given, may be inconsiquental to the audience, it's enough for the cold reader. In turn, the psychic can make yes or no answers seem like he knew, by the way he or she phrases a question.
It really makes a lot of sense if you break it down. These psychics use a, lead and pace, type of communication to present their skills or abilities, and it works.
I hope you enjoy this interview!

What Exists?

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:57:59 PDT

Did anyone catch this program last Thursday, on Nightline "Face Off", called "Does Satan Exist?"? If you missed it, you can find it readily available on YouTube, for you viewing enjoyment. The live show included a commentator and a panel of four others, discussing this question among themselves along with the audience. The panel included Deepak Chopra (a popular Spiritualist), Bishop Carlton Pearson (a former pastor), Annie Lobert (a former prostitute, who created "Hookers for Jesus" (kind of contradictory?), and Pastor Marc Driscoll (an active pastor). This program was kind of like seeing a bad car wreck, on the other side of the highway, but you can't help but slow down and see what happened. I think the title alone should make most people pay attention, for at least a second or two, being the subject that it is. So, I did. I looked up the whole program on YouTube, and watched it from beginning to end, even though I wanted to stop half way through it. I'm not posting any kind of personal belief position here, on this issue, because I don't really find it something worth defending or arguing about. However, because of the geniuses at ABC, they knew this type of program would create great ratings for their network, and it did. It is a belief topic that an Atheist to a conservative Christian could find them selves wanting to defend. And that's what the program eventually revealed. These people could not totally respect each others beliefs and opinions on this topic, creating such immature behavior towards each other. I believe this program should have been titled " Does Hypocrisy still exist?". That title would have been a more accurate reflection of what actually still happens, even over other belief discussions . I think its unfortunate that so many of us feel the need to avoid certain conversations, with others, about topics such as religion or politics. There is so much to learn from every single person, no matter what belief systems they hold on to, and yet we still create a separation of opportunity to learn from that individual, which in my opinion can create a narrow perspective of judgment.
How ever you choose to live your life, or believe, is up to you. And what's great, is that we can all behave mature or immature, and still going on living, because we have free will. Look at what others might see around the same corner, and realize that you are both looking for the same things in life.

Hypnotized?

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:54:57 PDT

A little over a week ago, I began recording a hypnosis audio CD for my mother. She has been suffering from some extreme pains in her back and legs. Since I've been ill for the last week, I hadn't been able to finish it yet. So just the other day, I went back to listen to what I had recorded and review the technicalities. I sat in front of my computer listening to the recording, and found myself following my instructions, on the tape, and fell straight into trance. What was funny though, is that since I hadn't finished, I was left at such a comfortable and suggestible state, that I didn't know what to do. Even though I was still conscious, I decided to just wake up since I was really just listening to analyze the progress and quality of the induction. So, I was certainly encouraged that I had done okay on the induction part.
I began doing some more research on pain treatments, using hypnotherapy, and I found a lot of cool ideas for helping people manage pain. Most common approaches in hypnotherapy, for helping pain, is by using disassociation. All of us know of some disassociation technique to avoid feeling pain or discomfort, however if it is not working, then using more advanced techniques is necessary. And that's where hypnosis can help others, to manage their pain better, without the use of medication or surgery. However, I do believe that it is very important to have a good hypnotherapist, while treating any behavior or symptom. I've been studying hypnosis constantly for the last 10 months, and have learned a lot more that I ever thought possible.
I'd like to share this quote from Richard Bandler & John Grinder's book Trance Formations.

"I understand how hypnosis is done. Why it works, I don't know. I do know that hypnosis works in the same way that you learn and remember, and everything else. It works in the same way that you understand language."

So whether you think hypnosis exists, or call it another name, what we do know is that their are many things that hypnosis can do physiologically. Hypnosis is not a cure, for anything, but a useful tool to aid in everyones daily life. We all experience a form of hypnosis every, whether we know it or not, and the fact that everyone can experience it is a testimony to it's validity. The most beneficial thing, that can arise from using hypnotherapy, is the personal control to manage your "new change". Milton Erickson was the pioneer of using hypnosis in medical situations, where he was able to alleviate symptoms. Erickson used a form of language which was later termed "The Milton Model" , and is used to train many ericksonian hypnotherapists. The language he used was interpreted like "mindreading". When I say "mindreading", like he would use to put you into trance, I mean language that would suggest he knows how you might feel, or see, or hear, etc. In basic psychology principles, there is an understanding of linguistic commands which allow an individual to imagine, feel, or hear that command psychologically.
For instance, if I said "don't think of a clown", what do you do? You think of a clown.
So, if someone was telling you that in a few seconds, your eyes might begin to feel a little heavy, and as you notice that heaviness, your breathing begins to slow, and grow more, and more comfortable, so comfortable that as every breathe you exhale your eyes begin closing and loosening more, and more comfortably. This type of language assumes, the you the individual or group, are or going to experiencing these commands. So if done well, one can induce trance states, linguistically, this way. Many other non verbal inductions are used, but they still provide the same state while given some verbal information.
My favorite case, from Erickson, was The Case of Joe. Joe was a florist who suffered from terminal cancer. Heavy doses of pain medication caused toxicity but supplied little relief. Joe could not talk to Erickson because of a tracheotomy and communicated by writing. Erickson began his therapy, which lasted a full day, by stating "Joe, I would like to talk with you. I know that you were a florist, that you grow flowers, and I grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and I liked growing flowers. I still do. So, I would like to have you take a seat in that easy chair as I talk to you" This was just the beginning to Erickson's induction, but then began to tell Joe a story about how a tomato plant grows and develops. Through the nonsense story about how a tomato plant grows, which Joe can still relate to, the embedded commands are dispersed artistically. The commands were of comfort and positive natures, which is what Joe was seeking. Joe died several years later, but had communicated much more comfort and pleasure in his day to day life, after his meeting with Erickson. Milton Erickson wrote many articles on the use of hypnotherapy, and is still widely known and respected for bringing hypnosis to the medical community.

AIG

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:51:39 PDT

Well, as most of you may know, AIG recently reported bonuses paid to several of their employees, in excess of $165 million dollars. These bonuses were already in their contracts, and as AIG said they must continue "business as usual". As this angered and infuriated a great deal of congressmen and representatives, this also completely floored me. The "idea", I believe, with many of these multi-million dollar companies is: To keep excellent employees, you must pay them WELL! And I agree! However, when companies are on the verge of bankruptcy and cannot afford to pay their employees bonuses, or minimize the bonus payouts, they should adjust accordingly. AIG apparently has enough confidence in their future, that paying over $165 million dollars in bonuses, with money we the taxpayers are giving them, was justified and necessary. I believe one of the employees, from AIG, whom had received a million plus bonus, vowed to take a dollar salary for the rest of the year. PLEASE! Don't under mind the American people, we are not that stupid.
So as of today, the House approved a bill that would impose a new tax on the $165 million paid to bail-out AIG. The House measure would apply a 90% tax on bonuses given to employees who earn more than $250,00 at any firm that received more than $5 billion in bailout money.
I applaud the House for stepping up so quickly on this issue, as this kind of behavior from AIG, and other companies, should be disturbing to the American people. Many other companies are adapting to the change in the economy, and are having to tighten up their budgets and cut luxury expenses and services. So, why is one of the biggest insurance companies in the world operating so lavishly? Well, the fear that many of these companies have is that they would lose valuable employees, if their bonuses were not paid. I say let them walk, if they want! There are plenty of qualified people right now, who would kill to have these people's job, and probably be okay with not receiving bonuses. You know, it frustrates me that I have more responsibilities, a new job title, and have received no compensation for any of it. But I have to remind myself of the circumstances, and realize how fortunate I am, and a few others, to still have a job and health insurance. I do enjoy the finer things in life, and will enduldge on occasion, but a company of this magnitude should be more mindful of the descisions they are making, in order to continue being profitable and respected. What am I thinking, no they don't!

Personal Update 03/17/09

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:16:34 PDT

Hello my friends and family, I wanted to take the time to update everyone, a bit, on ME! I am currently recovering from a sinus and ear infection, from early last week. Yes, it was not fun! Not since at least a year or so, have I felt so sick. However, I've found that using this new sinus rinse has really helped the pressure pain, around my sinus areas and eyes- it's worked wonderful for that.
So, as of today, I am feeling better and am continuing to recover from this awful infection.
This week will help me catch up on some studying, from missing a couple of classes, and hopefully score well on my next test. Oh, and I am currently acing my class with an A+ average, right now. I'll be taking two classes this summer, and looking forward to possibly taking a half to full time schedule this fall. I am working on a couple of ideas, for affording a full time schedule, but as of now nothing is in concrete.
I am still at GST Public Safety, and still constantly reminded of how fortunate I am, to still have a job. Our company did some lay-offs right after the new year, and things have been very bleak, as far as the future of our company. I'd like to think I won't be there very long, as I am pursuing a very serious commitment to going to school full time, in order to break the cycle of finding myself in unsatisfying jobs. The career I am focusing on, is a career that I wasn't sure I would ever persue. But, ironically I found that with all my customer service experience, in retail and such, I realized that I do enjoy working with people of all sorts. And with the new found respect I have, about the work that my parents did, and do, I realized that I have a passion for the field.
Thanks Mom & Dad!!
In closing, I hope you all are doing well and have peace in your life. I thank everyone for all and any comments, written in response to my postings. I really appreciate them all!
Until we communicate again, Love & Peace!

C. Ricky Staats Jr.

Are You Listening to Me?!

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:53:11 PDT

"Are you listening to me..." is what I said the other day, while speaking with an AT&T supervisor, while trying to acquire help, from their well trained call center staff (that last statement was facetious, just in case you thought otherwise). The issue I was calling about, is neither important or necessary to point out, but lets just say I WAS TRYING TO GIVE THEM MONEY!!! After speaking with 3-4 incompetent service representatives, I had no choice but to ask for the supervisor. This is the part I enjoy, because usually you end up talking with someone who can listen well, and HELP. Well, apparently I got the supervisor who hadn't been trained how to listen! Yes, listen! I know it's a bit confusing, but lets compare the difference between hearing and listening.
Hear or Hearing: the faculty of perceiving sounds; the range within which sounds may be heard; earshot
Listen or Listening: give one's attention to a sound; take notice of and act on what someone says; respond to advice or a request

My fellow readers, I do not want to be condescending or rude, but this supervisor DID NOT listen to me. She obviously heard the sound of my voice, inflection, and tone, but that was about it. It took almost 20 minutes for this supervisor to actually comprehend what I was telling her, and then give me a solution. WOW, 20 minutes, REALLY?!! I could have sold 2 phones for them in that amount of time, and had customers feeling great about their purchases. However, that is not what they teach, apparently. I was told that as long as she was satisfied with the resolution she had offered, that was acceptable to her and AT&T. Because after all, that supervisor was and is representing the company, in many ways. I've been out of retail and sales for only a few years now, but I guarantee you that if I were to give the quality of service I received, I would be looking for a new job. Anyways, friends and family, I assure you she received the best customer feedback she could receive that day. And I sure you, I do not curse, falsify information, or behave like many other a**hole customers, who just want someone to complain to. I learned to treat all customers, a**holes or not, like anyone else. However, the most important thing to do, when dealing with any customer is to LISTEN!!! To illustrate again, had this supervisor listen to my issue the FIRST time, we would have wrapped the conversation in less than 2-4 minutes, and left our blood pressure levels in a healthy range. It seems apparent to myself, and others, the simplicity of basic customer service, but I guess sometimes that's altogether over looked.
In conclusion to this posting I am suggesting a revaluation, of the criteria taught in reading and writing classes. If a class solely named "Listening" or "the art of Listening", was to be created, wonderful. But the point is, we all get distracted sometimes and lose focus of listening, and comprehending. Well, guess what? You can change that ratio to what you want, instead of letting it take over the times when you "don't" want to listen to someone, and it happens to be something important. Look, if you are at work, school, church, or social gatherings you are apart of a communication process, and it's up to you to take control of your part of the process. People, I believe, don't purposely communicate with you in order for you to not listen to them. Weather you have advise or not, the result of your "listening" to them, enables you to access information to use, which people will appreciate. I'm sure most communication courses and social work courses, do cover these topics, but I think it should be mandatory to all students, no matter what field of study, and ESPECIALLY CUSTOMER SERVICE!

P.S.
My blood pressure is back to normal!

Is Facebook damaging people's health?

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:11:07 PST

Recently, a psychologist by the name of Aric Sigman, reported his opinions and research on the growing popularity of social networking sites. Dr. Aric Sigman says the amount of time we spend with each other has slumped dramatically and in turn is damaging our health. He says our devotion to such sites could alter the way genes work, upset immune reponses, hormone levels, and the function of arteries, and influence mental performance. Dr. Sigman spells out his warning in the latest issue of Biologist, the journal of the institute of Biology, and maintains that social networking sites have played a significant role in people becoming more isolated.
"Social networking sites should allow us to embellish our social lives, but what we find is very different. The tail is wagging the dog. These are not tools that enhance, they are tools that displace." ~Dr. Aric Sigman~ (Independent Television News)

Since the birth of Myspace, I too had some concerns about what was happening to social interaction. However, I think it is ingenious what these platforms have been able to provide. We are now able to connect with family members and friends like never before, and finding old school mates and friends is easier. Sharing photos, videos, music, art, and other types of media is much more interesting now. So, whats the big deal?! Well, it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Our lives are dramatically different now, with the rise of the Internet, and the amount of time we are sitting on our ass has increased. The younger generations have access to more computers, if not their own, and are growing up with many more opportunities in the computer/programming field. When I was growing up Nintendo had just come out, and all I remember was isolated nights playing that damn thing. I remember everyone at school talking about it, dreaming about it, and even obsessing about it. Nintendo was the "crack-cocaine" of my generation. As the years past, we saw the development of the "gaming world" explode into almost every home, and continue to expand. We now have some of the most exquisite computer and console games, like RPG's (Role Playing Game), which allow more interest for the avid "gamer", to spend more time playing- which, in turn, can isolate individuals and jeopardize their social interaction and health. The AMA council, lobbied to get a disorder included in a widely used mental illness manual created and published by the American Psychiatric Association. Now, weather or not we need this disorder validated, the issue is that there are obvious concerns with this kind of behavior. So, if you look at social networking, it can be viewed as the same, and just as time consuming. There are many other things, along with social networking and "gaming", which can jeopardize our social skills and health. By the way, I don't hear any concern about excessive reading (and I will challenge anyone who does not think that is comparable). But I'm not convinced its one behavior, which ruin both social skills and health. Look, being responsible for your body is a good thing, right?! The vessel which allows us this experience... Too much of anything can lead to self destructive behavior or unhealthy habits, and it's up to us as individuals to realize that, and moderate our time with such activities.

Photographic Memory

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:32:07 PST

Have you ever met anyone with a photographic memory? I'm sure most of us have.

The definition of photographic memory is: the ability to recall images with vividness bordering on actual visual perception; total recall]; also called {eidetic memory.

Do you know how people do this? Recently, I viewed a short documentary on this very subject, and wanted to share some of this information. A study was done with some expert chess players, to see how accurate they could replicate a mock chess match, by looking at it for 4 seconds. They were given a chess board to use to replicate the one they saw, to see how good their "photographic memory" was. Of course the results were about 100% accurate. Then, they took the chess pieces and randomly placed them all over the board. The test was then repeated. After looking at the randomly placed pieces on the board, for four seconds, they began trying to replicate the positioning of the pieces on their board. What do you think happened? Yes, they failed miserably. You see, the first trial was a replication of something that was familiar and had meaning to the chess players. The chess pieces were probably arranged in some kind of order, that they had seen before, making it much easier for them to reconstruct the placement. Now, the randomly placed pieces had no meaning to these people, because the positioning of the pieces would have never been placed, as such, in a game of chess. Therefore, one could presuppose that good photographic memory consists of familiarity or assigned meanings. I don't believe this test was done to dismiss the concept of photographic memory, but to better understand how one processes great memory skills. We are much more likely to remember something if we've attached a meaning to it. The process to which some do this naturally is not necessarily a matter of endowment, but strategy. However some peoples strategies may not fit what is best for you, but you can use their strategy as a model, and then create your own.

To end this I feel the need to reference a series of studies, performed with chimpanzees and humans, on memory tests. The test was done on a computer touch screen, where the chimpanzee and human would identify numerical sequences, by touching square blocks that covered the numbers after seeing the placements for only a second or less. To note, the process for the chimpanzees learning these complicated sequences, with precise excellence, was through a reinforcement program(dispensing peanuts for every correct sequence) . Well, the results were astounding, the chimpanzees' accuracy was impeccable. And not to great, for the humans, compared to the chimpanzees. So I guess, either we all need to start eating more peanuts or just realizing that a primate animal, such as a chimpanzee, is just as capable of learning effectively and precisely as we are.

Reframing

Ricky.staats@yahoo.com (Ricky) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:13:42 PST

I am currently reading Reframing, written by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, a book about NLP and Transformation of Meaning. I wanted to list a bit of quoted information, from this book, to help explain this approach to behavioral change.

" The meaning that any event has depends upon the "frame" in which we perceive it. When we change the frame, we can change the meaning... When the meaning

changes, the person's responses and behaviors also change...

In general communication theory there is a basic axiom that a signal

only has meaning in terms of the frame or context in which it appears.

The sound of a squeaky shoe on a busy sidewalk has little meaning; the

same sound outside your window when you are alone in bed means

something else altogether. A light in a church belfry is simply that. But

to Paul Revere it meant that the British were coming, and also how

they were coming: "one if by land, and two if by sea." The light only has

meaning in terms of the previous instructions that established a

frame—an internal context that creates meaning."

This book goes into more detailed information, about the use of reframing, but the above quotes are enough to get the idea. All of us have been exposed to reframing, at one point or another, probably without knowing it, or just called it something else. The beauty of it though, is that we all have the ability to reframe and improve our behavioral reactions. This is very interesting to me, as I have been reading a lot about Human Behavior and intervention approaches.

So, if anyone is interested I do have a pdf. of the book, if you are interested. You can purchase the book used, since it is out of print, at Amazon.