tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75229929510096762262024-03-14T09:47:51.763-04:00The Retiring Mind ...Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.comBlogger223125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-81294536158216536512024-03-01T12:25:00.000-05:002024-03-01T12:25:25.221-05:00You’ve got mail; please read it<p><span style="background-color: white;"> <b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">By BOB GAYDOS</b></span></p><div class="mceTemp" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><dl class="wp-caption alignright" data-mce-style="width: 310px;" id="attachment_17517" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; float: right; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%; width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/B1F084A5-2ED4-427F-9FA4-B0499D535CA7.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/B1F084A5-2ED4-427F-9FA4-B0499D535CA7.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white;"><img alt="The mail. RJ Photography" class="size-medium wp-image-17517" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/B1F084A5-2ED4-427F-9FA4-B0499D535CA7-300x265.jpeg" height="265" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/B1F084A5-2ED4-427F-9FA4-B0499D535CA7-300x265.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></a></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><span style="background-color: white;">The mail. RJ Photography</span></dd></dl></div><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;">You can tell a lot about people by the contents of their mailboxes. In fact, if you pay attention, you can even learn a bit about yourself.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> For example, a recent day’s delivery to my box included ACLU Magazine, a letter from Planned Parenthood, one from the Southern Poverty Law Center and a note from Marlo Thomas for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> Now, anyone who is familiar with my columns would hardly be surprised by this mix. Since my days of reading David Bernstein’s daily editorials in The Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton, N.Y. (1965-1973), I’ve been a dyed-in-the-wool liberal. Before that I was just a kid out of college who liked JFK. Since then, I’m lefty and proud and public.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> And I guess that’s the point here. Public and proud. I’ve been writing and commenting on the news and life in general for more than 50 years, but it has never seemed more important to me to be clear and forceful and consistent in expressing my opinions, however repetitive some may find them. Especially about politics and the state of the nation today.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> One of the two major political parties has, for all intents and purposes, abandoned the principle of compromise in governing for the good of the country. The Republican Party, as a willing and aggressive tool of Donald Trump, is a clear and present danger to our democracy. The past eight years testify to that.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> That’s my opinion and the opinion of many others. But still, there are millions of Americans who are buying the snake oil and gold sneakers to keep the Trump lies alive.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> And so, when I get my mail these days, I notice a certain urgency and consistency to it. These are people who feel the same as I do and are doing all they can to preserve and protect what was established in Philadelphia 248 years ago. Our democracy is at stake. This is our reality.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> I try to spread their messages so that those who have not yet recognized the true threat of the MAGA Party might one day hear it and realize what it means to them, to their freedom.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> This may sound a bit high-minded and exaggerated to some. But, again, I go back to my mailbox.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> The SPLC tells me about the spread of hate groups and its efforts to fight the threat of violent white nationalism and racism that has “gone mainstream’’ and is spreading through our politics, media and schools and the constant racist rhetoric of Trump and a segment of the Republican Party. </span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> The ACLU tells me about its legal efforts to protect voting rights from efforts, again, by Republicans, to restrict them for certain groups of people rather than promote ideas and programs those people might approve of and vote accordingly.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> The ACLU also tells me about its efforts to protect pregnant workers and abortion rights and free speech.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> And Planned Parenthood tells me about its ongoing and increased efforts to educate the public about the threats to abortion access and to advocate for policies that protect sexual and reproductive health care for all.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> Freedom. It’s all about freedom. Many of you probably have similar messages in your mailboxes. </span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> Again, that’s the point. Read them. They are there for a reason and I noticed them on this particular day for a reason.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: white;"> Our much-celebrated way of life is under attack and too many people still don’t recognize it. I would much rather write about the great work of the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital that also comes in my mail, but if the MAGAs prevail, that will surely suffer also. Bigotry and hatred become pervasive.</span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> So I pay attention to my mail. I read it and I write about it. Because I still can. Because defense of freedom </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">is not junk mail.</span></span></p><p data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><i style="background-color: white;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</i></p>Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-24632292946637006292023-06-02T21:06:00.000-04:002023-06-02T21:06:02.274-04:00Was it an invitation’ I couldn’t refuse?<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FEpQAuUR0SqGzAXcyBS_aS-wSxKWC_4pNwv8b2f5-QmYhrOF0X-qF9xEKjU2v-3P4DnErnxfCtngvpRLfYwV5X8rwq0isOORflGGtypaT-v32OUAAqCTVWuIfiolEDD6_LNE5BIiYvMNz_tIJKo47xnga15rWIzJ4G_FER4A9o1rTkAZh7JdhQqrdA/s2137/2D928B49-E430-483B-932D-A800D127F31C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2137" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FEpQAuUR0SqGzAXcyBS_aS-wSxKWC_4pNwv8b2f5-QmYhrOF0X-qF9xEKjU2v-3P4DnErnxfCtngvpRLfYwV5X8rwq0isOORflGGtypaT-v32OUAAqCTVWuIfiolEDD6_LNE5BIiYvMNz_tIJKo47xnga15rWIzJ4G_FER4A9o1rTkAZh7JdhQqrdA/s320/2D928B49-E430-483B-932D-A800D127F31C.jpeg" width="168" /></a></div> Sometimes it’s the mundane, easy to overlook things that give a week it’s meaning.<p></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> For example, I recently bought two medium coffees at a drive-through window for a popular coffee chain. After the male voice inside the screen repeated the order back to us, he said, “That will be 6 oh 3, please drive around.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We looked at each other in surprise. $6.03? As I scrambled for three pennies to go with the 10-dollar bill, I thought it seemed like just a short while ago that same order was under $4. More recently, a bit more than $5. My friend, a regular customer of the franchise, agreed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Inflation? Supply chain issues with Latin America? I think a bit of profit-taking is the more likely explanation. By the way, the coffee chain in question was not Starbucks.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Not long after this encounter with corporate America, I had occasion to stop by another local establishment for some suet and birdseed. It's been a good year for cardinals, blue jays, finches, doves, sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, starlings, woodpeckers, wrens, squirrels and other hungry feeders.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As I approached the front door, a small sign, recently posted, caught my attention: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Lawful concealed carry permitted on these premises.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Again, I paused. Hmm. Good to know, I thought, should I ever feel threatened wandering around the bird seed and chicken feed. Although I must admit, I am puzzled at the sudden need for this notice in the first place.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Back home, while routinely scrolling through my daily emails, I was surprised to find a message that was the highlight of the week: An invitation to dinner with a former president of the United States of America. Wow, I thought, that doesn’t happen a lot. In fact, it’s never happened to me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Then I read a little further. It seems I was being invited to take a chance on being invited to dinner with a former president of the United States of America. All I had to do was donate some money to be placed on the list from which one “lucky“ winner, and a guest, would be chosen to have dinner with, of course, Donald Trump, at one of his golf courses.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> That’s not all. The invitation also said, “That's right - I'lI cover your flight, your accommodations, and your terrific dinner.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And we'll take a picture together so that you can keep a photograph of this incredible memory forever.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Donate now!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> How could I refuse this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? This was a chance to rub elbows, shake hands, drink coffee and have a photo taken with a man just convicted by a jury of sexually abusing a woman nearly 30 years ago in a dressing room of a Fifth Avenue Manhattan department store and publicly calling her a liar and saying all sorts of vile things about her when she accused him of rape, a man that jury said owed the woman $5 million for the harm he caused to her reputation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A man, coincidentally, also recently indicted by a Manhattan grand jury for campaign finance fraud in a case involving paying hush money to a porn star he cheated with shortly after his third wife, Melania, had given birth to their son, Baron.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In fact, this was a man also facing possible indictment in Georgia for trying to convince officials to change the results of that state's vote in the 2020 presidential election, which he lost.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And, come to think of it, this was a man under investigation for taking hundreds of classified government documents with him when he left office and refusing to return them until the FBI served him with a warrant. Sonofagun if he didn’t even brag about taking those documents on TV the day after the Manhattan jury found him guilty of sexual abuse. Why, he even took that opportunity to insult his victim again.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Yes, that ex-president. The same one who refused to do anything to stop the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when the results of the 2020 election were being certified. The one who placed his own vice president’s life in jeopardy with remarks he made on that day, never mind the lives of all members of Congress, police and those working in the Capitol.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This was the former president who, for good measure, on that same misbegotten TV presentation, would not say who he wanted to win the war between Russia and Ukraine. Coincidentally, while he was president, he said he admired Russian President Vladimir Putin and was impeached (for the second time) for threatening to withhold U.S. military aid to Ukraine unless their president came up with some dirt on Joe Biden’s family. Biden, of course, was his opponent in the presidential election in 2020, an election Biden won.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">very busy ex-president was now offering me the opportunity to have dinner with him. All I had to do was kick in a few bucks for a chance at winning the raffle. I mean, they didn’t say why this supposed billionaire needed the money, although he did say he’s running for president again. So …</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Donate now! Time is running out. I got the same urgent message about three or four days in a row. I guess they wanted to make sure that every loyal American — even registered independent voters — had an opportunity to win this once-in-a-lifetime event.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I hesitated. I mean, it was quite an opportunity, after all. A chance to maybe speak to a former president of the United States of America. But then I thought, what would I, a mere retired journalist of 40-plus years’ experience, have to say at dinner to this man? Pass the ketchup?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I decided not to send in a donation and, the cost of coffee being what it is, ordered sushi for dinner. I deleted the email. A new invitation came the next day, but I figured we’d be needing birdseed again soon.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rjgaydos@gmail.com </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p>Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-69140975866108856432023-01-29T20:35:00.001-05:002023-01-29T20:40:15.892-05:00After Dry January, Dry February?<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Addiction and Recovery</b></span></span></p><p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbscBfTA6esu2LdicHM7EJbIl-7p5X83VllbL3RmQmFhA64-2hMI0d3mJ1U-stsMvSGbaAzoD7yX0fcoZu11OsXWvyNp3HWwzCUWis1PSud2mdXMtuzc3HjltONGlQwP5C-dgW-SciWgnjxJY9TaxPhmHx72nCFD6qTUh6cssC-B7LNAjylVDwncxcaw/s940/06666BC8-423F-4DFC-A955-EDD5105D0BAB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="940" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbscBfTA6esu2LdicHM7EJbIl-7p5X83VllbL3RmQmFhA64-2hMI0d3mJ1U-stsMvSGbaAzoD7yX0fcoZu11OsXWvyNp3HWwzCUWis1PSud2mdXMtuzc3HjltONGlQwP5C-dgW-SciWgnjxJY9TaxPhmHx72nCFD6qTUh6cssC-B7LNAjylVDwncxcaw/s320/06666BC8-423F-4DFC-A955-EDD5105D0BAB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /> You hang around with an experienced group of people for any amount of time, with any luck, you learn a few things. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’ve been writing a column on addiction and recovery for about 15 years. In that time, I have been fortunate to have many conversations with members of Alcoholics Anonymous who have decades of sobriety. They have freely shared some of their experience and wisdom with me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One bit of AA wisdom that I’ve thought about recently goes like this: “People who don’t have a drinking problem don’t have to control their drinking.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hmmm. So why have my social media and news feeds been peppering me daily with stories on “Dry January”? Why the sudden interest in non-alcoholic beer and cocktails? What’s the big rush all of a sudden for, supposedly, thousands of people to decide to see if they can not partake of alcohol for the month of January? It’s suddenly chic?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Alcoholics, or rather, those who insist they are not alcoholics, have been taking the post-holiday challenge forever in valiant efforts to prove to themselves and (mainly) others that they can control their drinking. Mostly, they’ve failed. Rehab February.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But this is different, from what I read. This is people, many apparently younger people, supposedly deciding that it might be in their best interest to abstain from or at least reduce their alcohol intake, at least for the month.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Given recent reports on an upsurge in alcohol consumption (particularly by women) during the pandemic, an increase in alcohol-related deaths and a myth-busting report which concludes that “no amount of alcohol” is ever good for your health, going dry or easing up on alcohol for a month sounds like a reasonable idea.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But there are risks involved and if you’re intrigued by the idea of stopping or controlling your drinking there ought to be rules. For starters, what is your purpose? Is it, as previously mentioned, to prove you don’t have a drinking problem? If so, you need to tell other people what you’re doing so there is accountability and, crucially, protection, in case a serious alcohol problem does exist. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Going through withdrawal symptoms from avoiding alcohol on one’s own can be painful and dangerous. Be aware of the symptoms and get professional help if they begin. Your effort may have failed, but it might have saved your life.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If, on the other hand, the purpose is truly to see if life can be just as interesting and fun without alcohol always being involved, again, don’t do it alone. Get some friends involved. Plan alcohol-free activities. Try some of those fancy new alcohol-free “mocktails” the Dry January movement has spawned. If you’re really serious, maybe focus more on exercise. Try to get more sleep. See if you start to feel better physically and emotionally.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Drawing again on some AA wisdom, the key to succeeding, whatever your goal, is to be honest and realistic. Whether you’re trying to not drink for a specific month or just cut back, if you find yourself drinking or thinking you’d really like to be drinking in spite of your stated goal, by all means start over again. But be aware of any recurring pattern. There may be a problem.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> On a positive note, if Dry January results in a more responsible general approach to alcohol consumption (as brewers and distillers like to promote), it has to be good for society’s overall health. Alcohol consumption contributes to a multitude of health problems as well as highway and other accidents. It would also go along with the effort by health agencies and providers to remove the stigma and shame often attached to alcoholism by getting rid of the word “alcoholic,” which still conjures up negative images for many people. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Officially today, people are diagnosed with alcohol abuse disorder, mild, moderate or severe.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol use disorder “is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> That’s the “drinking and trouble” connection members of AA often talk about.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> On the basic issue of stopping drinking and trying to keep things simple, AA’s Third Tradition states simply that “the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Adding that touch of reality necessary to recovery, an AA friend asked, “Who would have a desire to stop drinking other than someone who drank too much and got in trouble over it?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> With sincere hope for the success and good intentions of many a Dry Almost Over January, that’s a question to keep in mind for anyone planning on a dry February or Monday or maybe next Tuesday …</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></p>Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-48684834030502070692023-01-24T10:46:00.000-05:002023-01-24T10:46:36.145-05:00A city boy’s tips on country etiquette <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxl3U4_fFcsetOTvhXxhmynrDlhSP2EYZc9tXucy65UXagANCNWBddT39P7kUjpMorWH76rwlIo0Sa60Pz33LSaEqnEQbZIjPEOHc6Sb33k4AwGdFQJIW8RroZn9KcBcjdo9C_veH8vAR2VCbaYNAkiiaVcMzV3B8wWDjMufGF87P_TY00fxj1zOEJg/s626/D73F9687-D766-496C-80A0-39A0AFD84FF9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxl3U4_fFcsetOTvhXxhmynrDlhSP2EYZc9tXucy65UXagANCNWBddT39P7kUjpMorWH76rwlIo0Sa60Pz33LSaEqnEQbZIjPEOHc6Sb33k4AwGdFQJIW8RroZn9KcBcjdo9C_veH8vAR2VCbaYNAkiiaVcMzV3B8wWDjMufGF87P_TY00fxj1zOEJg/s320/D73F9687-D766-496C-80A0-39A0AFD84FF9.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> For most of my life, I’ve lived in small cities (Bayonne, Binghamton, Annapolis, Middletown) and one large town (Wallkill), which is really a mall-dotted highway surrounded by housing complexes. Throw in a few years living on college campuses. Basically, it’s been city or community living.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When you live with a lot of other people close by and you want to be relatively content, you learn the rules of the road, the do’s and don’ts of getting along. Mostly, it’s mind your own business and don’t make a lot of noise.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A few years ago, I moved to the country, a bit of upstate New York between the Hudson River and the Catskills that is often protected from major weather issues by the imposing Shawangunk Ridge.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Country living means owls, woodpeckers, coyotes and starry skies, oh my.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s nice. Well, usually. It’s quiet. Usually. In any case, it most definitely has its own rules of the road. Things a transplanted city boy ought to know. Something I call country etiquette.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The notion (see how I used the word “notion“ instead of “idea“?) that there was such a thing as country etiquette grew out of a recent conversation about a not uncommon country experience.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A couple of years ago, our quiet summer evening at home was disrupted by a loud squealing of tires and a loud thud. Right in front of our house.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We rushed out to find a car sitting in a culvert in front of our house, a distraught young woman sitting behind the wheel and our mailbox on the ground, post and all. I don’t recall who called 911, but state police arrived quickly, talked with the driver (who was shaken but not hurt), someone called a tow truck, we went back in the house and eventually everything was back to normal, except for the mailbox. Its career was over.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In short order, we replaced the mailbox and occasionally wondered what happened to the young driver. I suspected alcohol may have been involved.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A couple of weeks later, the whole scene repeated itself. Nighttime. Squeal. Thud. Car. Culvert. Young woman driver. Unhurt. Mailbox kaput.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Deja vu all over again, as Yogi Berra once said. Same follow up. Police. Tow truck. Mailbox flattened.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Again, we replaced it and the new one has survived ever since. But here’s the thing. Neither driver offered to pay to replace the mailbox (they both got out of their cars and talked to us) or to have it repaired. Now, it seems to me that a basic rule of country etiquette ought to be that if you wipe out someone’s mailbox (and get caught at it), the decent thing to do is to make it right again. Pay for a new one.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And that’s what got me thinking about other rules of country etiquette. What are some things to help someone new get along with neighbors who may not live right next door? Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Having a handy supply of eggs is nice, but keep your chickens in your own yard as much as possible. Free range doesn’t mean the whole neighborhood, or, especially, the busy road.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Don’t shovel your driveway snow into the road. It’s only extra work for the highway crews and it’s dangerous.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— When driving, wave at people walking along country roads. It’s neighborly.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Walkers, please wear reflective clothing at night. It’s awfully dark out there sometimes and the roads are often winding and have no shoulder. We’d like to get to know you.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Don’t let your dog walk on the road side. Preferably, don’t walk your dog on the road at all. Some drivers are less attentive than others. (See reference to mailboxes above.) And yes, clean up.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Slow down for people at their mailbox. (A personal peeve of mine.) You can even wave.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— In fact, slow down in general. Posted speed limits are not merely suggestions.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Be patient with a farm tractor on the road. He’ll be out of your way shortly, or he’ll pull over as soon as he can. He’s working.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Be honest at roadside honor stands. Act like there are cameras in the trees.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Free stuff at the foot of a driveway is really free. If you want it, take it. Someone always does.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— If you’re not going to back up a lot of traffic, be nice and let people back out of their driveways. It can be tricky sometimes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> That’s what I came up with so far. If you have other suggestions, please leave them in the comment section.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> While I’m at it, I figure I might as well add another feature of country living — a potpourri of handmade road signs. Here are a few I noticed this past year:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Corn maze, hay ride, pumpkins, pickles, sweet corn</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Beef sale</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Fresh garlic</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Sunflower patch, mums, hay for sale</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Farm fresh eggs</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— U pick pumpkins</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Fresh key lime pie, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— We buy ATVs dead or alive</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Like I said, nice.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ‘Til next time at pet-friendly Tractor Supply.</span></p><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></p>Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-83819001721704547452022-11-09T14:37:00.001-05:002022-11-09T14:37:38.715-05:00Biden rights a wrong on marijuana<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUcYIy0crzuyeIh-dmpiwBDnpUEnRN0uv27z9EVPpglc8aJ_ir4VhUdpuN7FWChFRUBgTH2PsWJKyG-M4eyZwyJ9_oKPaynqZ47ghSrW0aOkvDlSLAPZhPeVDZQWm23EDfrWhmYGvQSzAEoktHnsuhcA0C16f190HSYABmOPjhopB5Gp1Xye79VPv9w/s347/32DC1D80-C2E4-48BC-B37D-1786C22B9350.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="347" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUcYIy0crzuyeIh-dmpiwBDnpUEnRN0uv27z9EVPpglc8aJ_ir4VhUdpuN7FWChFRUBgTH2PsWJKyG-M4eyZwyJ9_oKPaynqZ47ghSrW0aOkvDlSLAPZhPeVDZQWm23EDfrWhmYGvQSzAEoktHnsuhcA0C16f190HSYABmOPjhopB5Gp1Xye79VPv9w/s320/32DC1D80-C2E4-48BC-B37D-1786C22B9350.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> One trait of a good leader is the ability to identify an injustice and take action to rectify it.<p></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> With one stroke of his pen, President Joe Biden recently demonstrated how to use the power of his office to do just that. In the process, he also reminded Americans that a president’s primary duty is to act for the greater good of all the people rather than to constantly seek personal benefit. (A welcome reminder.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Biden’s pardon of more than 6,500 Americans convicted on federal marijuana possession charges was a dramatic statement of policy change and a welcome redress of past bias in enforcing drug laws. Coming out of the blue, as it did, it could also be a major factor in the coming midterm elections.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s a big deal.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Even though none of those pardoned was still in prison, Biden’s pardon sent a message: It is well past time to revamp the nation’s laws regarding marijuana use on a national level and to redress the long-standing racial bias in enforcement of the laws. At a time when many states are taking action individually to legalize the use of marijuana, for recreational as well as medicinal purposes, the president’s action brought a welcome national focus to the issue. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “While white and black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted and convicted at disproportionate rates,” Biden said. “Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Of course, presidents don’t write laws; Congress and state legislatures do. Biden’s message was meant as a wakeup call to those bodies that a cohesive, national policy on marijuana is long overdue and makes much more sense than our current hodge-podge of state laws.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Biden was unambiguous in what he thinks should be done. His words:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “First: I’m pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. There are thousands of people who were previously convicted of simple marijuana possession who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My pardon will remove this burden.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Second: I’m calling on governors to pardon simple state marijuana offenses. Just as no one should be in. federal prison solely for possessing marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Third: We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin — and more seriously than fentanyl. It makes no sense. I’m asking Secretary (Xavier) Becerra (Health and Human Services) and the attorney general to initiate the process of reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Clear and concise.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The so-called “war on drugs,” begun by President Richard Nixon in 1969, was theoretically supposed to focus on "prevention of new addicts, and the rehabilitation of those who are addicted.” For the most part, that health-oriented focus has been ignored for half a century as the federal government fought a losing battle focused primarily on getting rid of drugs and locking up users (especially non-white marijuana users) as well as sellers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As Nixon’s henchman, John Ehrlichman, subsequently revealed, the real purpose of Nixon’s “war on drugs” was to criminalize blacks and hippies and their leaders. It was political.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Now, more than a trillion dollars later, another president has issued a sensible call for a review of one of the more glaring failures of that misbegotten war. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Biden has done what he can do. It’s up to lawmakers on the state and federal levels to write fair and honest laws regarding marijuana. A majority of Americans support this. While the lawmakers are at it, it’s also well past time to recognize drug addiction as a health issue, not a crime issue. Reducing the demand for drugs might prove to be a more effective strategy than simply trying to reduce the supply.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Of course, this approach might put a crimp in some politicians’ campaign messages, but it would clearly be for the greater good of all the people.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.000000000000002pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rjgaydos@<br /></span></p><br />Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-58727576143731089162022-03-19T13:36:00.004-04:002022-03-19T14:06:26.051-04:00When everyone speaks Ukrainian<br /><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTfzQkW6WCzm_kX1k5KS-H6gDiopnv91ainz6YG_SwEyhsu5k17ocsVjg9ALPMgaEVoDt3UiriEKFns0SbaAPKziUlxjxomAAmM327o5gUziRLlo9XnpvwyHRDRhRKY_y6iKzjvkLXmGe6f2zowUTA4DKWimZ0I0N1zOt8jsOqEv4yPnyc9FPS_o0vow" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="466" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTfzQkW6WCzm_kX1k5KS-H6gDiopnv91ainz6YG_SwEyhsu5k17ocsVjg9ALPMgaEVoDt3UiriEKFns0SbaAPKziUlxjxomAAmM327o5gUziRLlo9XnpvwyHRDRhRKY_y6iKzjvkLXmGe6f2zowUTA4DKWimZ0I0N1zOt8jsOqEv4yPnyc9FPS_o0vow" width="320" /></a></div><b>By Bob Gaydos </b><br /> I’m not Ukrainian. At least, I don’t think I am. That slight doubt exists because I spent my formative years (I hesitate to say I grew up) in Bayonne, much of which was like someone scooped up boatloads of people from Eastern Europe and replanted them in Northern New Jersey.</div><div> Which, of course, is what happened.</div><div> Our next-door neighbors were Ukrainian. A family a few houses down was Ukrainian, as well as one across the street.
We were (are) Slovak. Or Czech. Or Russian. Or Polish. Or, most likely, some combination of the above or other Slavic nation. Amidst this polyglot of Eastern Europe a short bus ride from New York City, everyone seemed to speak the same language. It didn’t seem to matter what the nationality of the person was, my grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles all seemed to be able to converse with them.</div><div> A stroll down Broadway with my grandmother on a chilly (“zimno” in Polish) fall day would produce a lot of smiling head nods and “dobre, dobre.” Good, good.
It was all Russian to me.</div><div> So was the mass I served as an altar boy at St. John’s Greek Catholic Church, which my father’s family attended, and at Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, which the other half of my family ( and I) attended. In a city of churches, Eastern Europe was well represented. Including Ukrainians.</div><div> This nostalgic trip down memory lane is prompted, of course, by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the outpouring of support and admiration for the courageous Ukrainian people from other peoples around the world. No matter the language, everyone seems to understand Ukrainian all of a sudden. And no one, except apparently Belarus and North Korea, is speaking the same language as the leaders of Russia.</div><div> The sad reality of this misbegotten display of pride, power and paranoia by Russian President Vladimir Putin is that, while Ukrainians will obviously endure tremendous loss and suffering as a result of this invasion, ordinary Russians, who also wanted no part of this war, will suffer as well. Russian soldiers will die as well as Ukrainians. The worldwide outpouring of support for Ukraine has isolated Russia, again, from much of the rest of the world. Even those who speak the same language, want no part of <span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Putin’s war.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"> It’s been some time since I visited Bayonne and I understand if has changed quite a bit. But the churches are still there and I’d like to think that some of the children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren, of the neighbors who used to smile and nod at my grandmother on Broadway are still there and all still seem to speak the same language when they talk about Ukraine, shake their heads sadly, and say, “Bozhe, Bozhe, Bozhe.”</span></div><p style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">My God, My God, My God.</p><div><i style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</i></div><div> </div>Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-84829437521075743642022-03-01T09:43:00.000-05:002022-03-01T09:43:07.983-05:00On being old vs. being ‘elderly’<p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> </span></p><div class="mceTemp" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><dl class="wp-caption alignright" data-mce-style="width: 310px;" id="attachment_16081" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; float: right; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%; width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/0CFA8E5A-4655-41E4-A458-6CA0AAFBAE32.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/0CFA8E5A-4655-41E4-A458-6CA0AAFBAE32.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="From “ The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,”by T.S. Eliot." class="size-medium wp-image-16081" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/0CFA8E5A-4655-41E4-A458-6CA0AAFBAE32-300x225.jpeg" height="225" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/0CFA8E5A-4655-41E4-A458-6CA0AAFBAE32-300x225.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></span></a></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From “ The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” by T.S. Eliot.</span></dd></dl></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="color: white;"><strong style="background-color: black;">By Bob Gaydos</strong></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> I was born in 1941. I am chronologically old. However, in my opinion at least, I am not “an old man.” And I am definitely not “elderly.”</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> I’m also a little annoyed at having to once again explain to the under-50 crowd the nuances of referring to the over-50 crowd. But obviously someone has to do it.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> A while back, I wrote a column headlined “I am not an old coot.“ Pretty self-explanatory. A health professional, apparently trying to be cute, had referred to me in that less-than-complimentary manner. I had apparently displayed an ability to think and speak for myself. I was not amused. In the vast spectrum of ways one can refer to persons who have lived a certain number of years, old coot is down near the bottom of the list. I have occasionally been referred to as a curmudgeon and I will accept that, even with a bit of pride. But in all humility, I figure I fit in someplace between old coot and village elder.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> That does not mean I feel that I am “elderly.“ This issue arose in a recent social media posting, the headline of which referred to an “elderly couple.”</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> He was 64 and she was 61. That’s not even Social Security old. Someone left a comment that pointed this out. The poster defended the description by saying the male had referred to himself as “an old man,“ (See above. Like this younger gentleman, I may accurately call myself old, especially in comparison to others. It’s a fact. But “elderly” is another dimension.)</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> The thing is, “elderly” is a loaded word and none of the images it suggests, even when accurate, is especially flattering to the older person being described. Some can be hurtful. And that ought to matter.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> I asked a few people what came to mind when I said the word “elderly.” I got back: feeble, infirm, doddering, technically challenged, sick, cranky, slow, boring, out of touch.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> I did not get back: experienced, knowledgeable, reliable, funny, comforting, competent, patient, concerned, aware, talented, smart or tech savvy. </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Now, with those responses in mind, if you just went by the numbers to define elderly just think of all the actors, musicians, artists, writers, scientists, teachers, business, civic and political leaders who would be dismissed.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Elton John, 74, is holding a farewell tour because he is a well-respected, talented, legendary musician who has contributed significantly to society for many years and wants to do other things. Does anyone think he is elderly?</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Whether you like her politics or not, there isn’t a sharper, more energetic, more dedicated political leader in this country than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 81, a wise senior member of Congress.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> I recently watched a YouTube interview with linguist Noam Chomsky, who looked every bit of the 93 years he has lived. But elderly? A village elder, I submit.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> It’s simple. Numbers don’t always tell the story. Old age isn’t what it used to be, at least not for everybody. They say 60 is the new 40, 80 is the new 60. I don’t know.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> I do know those equations don’t hold up in the job market. It’s called ageism. </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I also think that seniors should show respect for younger people in general, remembering what it was like having to learn so much. And I think younger people should respect seniors for having put in the time to do all that learning. Of course, there are always exceptions. </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Anyway, if you’re under 50, maybe think a little bit about how you refer to those over 60. About how you would like to be referred to when you are, say, 64 or 84. </span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> As Shakespeare suggested, methinks some of thee may think I doth protest too much. Well, that’s the curmudgeon in me. Get over it. Someone has to speak out for the seniors in our society, so why not this old man?</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">* * *</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">”I grow old ... I grow old ...</span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I do not think that they will sing to me.”</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”</span></b></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">By T.S. Eliot</span></b></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></i></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob Gaydos is writer-in-residence at zestoforange.com.</span></i></b></p>Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-31955014655023220222021-06-10T18:54:00.000-04:002021-06-10T18:54:42.965-04:00AA's Big Book has had profound influence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OhRCLWMToSDzR-HIfNMlM0aryw2eZRKBAilIU5peu5EVfzWaP8HVbwqQ_mUQIaalhXS9hHpKKoxnwRyewDdX4gLpOB1sHbes2B2qRSPXmAVNTnJFR78z4Z34uJHjbL6S9aOleFpH-N5m/s1600/IMG_4173.JPG" style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OhRCLWMToSDzR-HIfNMlM0aryw2eZRKBAilIU5peu5EVfzWaP8HVbwqQ_mUQIaalhXS9hHpKKoxnwRyewDdX4gLpOB1sHbes2B2qRSPXmAVNTnJFR78z4Z34uJHjbL6S9aOleFpH-N5m/s320/IMG_4173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5779258972906152322" /></a><i style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:85%;">(Addiction and Recovery column from TH-R, Aug. 21, 2012)
</span></i><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b>By Bob Gaydos</b></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>It is one of the best-selling and most influential books of all time, with more than 30 million copies having been sold and millions of lives changed by what is contained on its pages. Yet it is not exaggeration to suggest that a majority of its readers don’t know the actual name of the book.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It is known, proudly and even reverentially, by most who have read it as the Big Book. Officially, the book’s title is “Alcoholics Anonymous,’’ the same as the famous 12-step program for treating alcoholism (and other addictions) described within its covers. The Big Book received more recognition for its influence recently when the Library of Congress included it on a list of “Books That Shaped America.”</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There are 88 books on a list that ranges from Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Tarzan the Ape Man.” The common factor among all 88, according to the Librarian of Congress James H. Billington is that “they shaped Americans’ views of their world and the world’s views of America.”</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>While it may not be for everyone, the Big Book has certainly shaped people’s views and lives. Since it was first published in 1939, it has been the textbook, if you will, of how to get -- and stay -- sober, for millions around the world. AA, of course, has spawned numerous other 12-step programs to deal with addictive behavior. And, while basing its recovery program on established spiritual, psychological and medical precepts, Alcoholics Anonymous has also widened the dialogue within all three areas and influenced the way practitioners in those fields deal with addiction.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The authors of the Big Book are Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, the founders of AA. But they had plenty of help from some of the original 100 AA members whose stories were included in the first edition. Many recovering alcoholics today regard it as remarkable that Wilson, the primary author, wrote two of the main sections of the book -- one being his story -- when he had less than four years of sobriety.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>One could say the Big Book is a classic example of what it preaches. Much of the recovery program contained is take from the Oxford Group, A Christian fellowship that emphasized self-examination, making amends and working with others. (Wilson and Smith both were members of the Oxford Group for significant periods.) But the Oxford Group’s heavy religious emphasis did not sit well with many of the other drunks who were early member of AA. As a result, most references to “God” were eliminated or changed to a “Higher Power of your understanding.” </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;">
</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Editing also changed the preachy “you” to the inclusive “we” in describing how </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;">alcoholics got sober. Thus, this is what we are and this what we did. If you follow these suggestions, “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.”</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>What do current members of AA think about the Big Book? A sampling of recent comments:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><ul><li><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">“When I first read it, I had to say, ‘(Expletive!) I’m an alcoholic. How did they know?’”</span></li><li><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">“I used to walk around with the Big Book (in early sobriety) like a protective shield.”</span></li><li><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">“It helped me understand I have an allergy.”</span></li><li><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">“In many ways it’s like the bible for alcoholics. It provides direction and order.”</span></li><li><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">“Think about the impact. One person reads it and passes it on to others for more than 30 million.”</span></li><li><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">“When they get (the Big Book) people are usually in such pain, they will read it.”</span></li><li><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">“It gave me a guide for living, far beyond just not drinking.”</span></li><li><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;">“Simple rules for broken people.”</span></li></ul></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There’s a significant local angle to this story. When it came time to publish the book, Wilson and the others chose The Cornwall Press, a now-defunct printing operation in Cornwall. Because they were going to charge $3.50 for the relatively short book, they wanted it to look impressive, so they used thick paper and the widest possible margins. Hence, the “Big Book” nickname. Subsequent printings were smaller in size, but the name stuck.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The first press run was for 4,800 copies, with the promise from the printers that more would be printed when the first copies were sold. But even those original copies were in limbo as the printer refused to release any books until they were paid for. Although printed in the winter of 1939, only a few copies were paid for at the time. The significant release came in early 1940. Today, with inflation, “Alcoholics Anonymous” sells for around $8 to $10, but many AA groups simply give copies to new members, continuing to spread its message. </span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;">
</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><i>bobgaydos.blogspot.com.</i></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">
</div>Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-72815984492713560722021-02-23T23:47:00.000-05:002021-02-23T23:47:25.585-05:00For the record: I am not an old coot<p><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="mceTemp" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><dl class="wp-caption alignright" data-mce-style="width: 290px;" id="attachment_15438" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; float: right; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%; width: 290px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><b style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/4AD268F1-876A-4D17-8B80-FDCE17945AC2.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/4AD268F1-876A-4D17-8B80-FDCE17945AC2.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;">B</a></span></b></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This is an old coot, according to society.</span></b></dd></dl></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">By Bob Gaydos</span></strong></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> My chiropractor called me an old coot recently. At the time, I was lying on his table on my stomach while he used a snappy tool to somewhat painfully but successfully loosen my upper back, so I didn’t say anything. Out loud.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> To myself, I said something along the lines of, “Who the hell is he talking about?“ Only it was a bit more vulgar.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> For the record, I am not an old coot. Nor am I an old codger. At 79, yes, I guess I am chronologically old. And I have in the past been called a curmudgeon. You can’t be a young curmudgeon.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> You </span><i>can</i><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">, however, be a young whippersnapper, Doc.</span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> Some definitions are in order before I talk about ageism.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> An old coot, according to Oxford Languages, is “a foolish or eccentric person, typically an old man.”</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English goes further: “An old man who you think is strange or unpleasant.”</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> Not exactly complimentary.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> The term, “old codger,” which some think is the same as old coot, is not. According to the Free Dictionary, “old codger” is “used affectionately to refer to an eccentric but amusing old man. codger. graybeard, greybeard, old man, Methuselah — a man who is very old.”</span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> It sounds a bit less insulting. But it’s not.</span></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> Curmudgeon, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man.” Dictionary.com defines it this way: “A bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person.” No age is mentioned. However, other dictionaries pretty much define it as a stubborn, cranky old man. Your pain-in-the-butt, “Get off my lawn!” neighbor.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> I plead not guilty to all three.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> Back to the chiropractor. The label was applied to me with a slight chuckle in his voice, suggestive of the foolish or eccentric person category. The conversation that prompted it revolved around me not doing something or other which others felt would be in my best interests. The term is presumably meant to be affectionate, but it’s dismissive. It suggests that the older person in question is incapable of making rational decisions for himself and for his own benefit, or that he simply cannot occasionally make an unwise decision on his own. That sometimes he’s just a.dumb ass. No, the term suggests that he does what he does because he’s a foolish or eccentric old man. An old coot.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> This assumption was further borne out when the chiropractor asked my partner to make sure I filled out my Medicare form before the next visit even though I was seated a mere 8 feet away from him and within hearing distance. Again, dismissive. By the way, I have excellent hearing.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> Now, it’s possible that I am being overly defensive about this incident. It has been suggested that I sometimes take things personally. And I know the chiro meant no harm and he’s helping this old body to be more flexible. But I feel that at a time when the guy I already voted for for president is 78 years old, the guy I never want to be president is 74 years old and the guy I would’ve preferred become president is 79 years old, someone has to stand up for people who have lived three-quarters of a century and are still contributing to society. And I don’t necessarily think that those with maybe half a century of experience are the best judges of the capabilities of septuagenarians.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> Call it personal. That’s the curmudgeon in me. I’m not suggesting that there aren’t foolish, cantankerous, eccentric, cranky, stubborn old men out there. I know some and I think most of them were probably that way when they were young, too. I don’t know what you’d call them. Sir, maybe.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> And yes, I have my moments. But so do we all. It’s the old coot label I object to and the assumption that comes with it that this is a person not to be taken seriously because he’s old. He’ll be fine. Help him find his slippers. </span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> I picked on the chiropractor because actually he’s the only one who’s ever called me an old coot (so far), but his remark was, I think, simply reflective of a lot of people's attitude towards older men. This is especially true about older men who still have opinions about things and are not hesitant to express them. Yes, that would be me and that’s where the curmudgeon label comes from.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> The closest I can come to for a similar term for women is “old biddy.” You don’t hear that used a lot because women today won’t stand for it, for good reason. It’s dismissive and insulting and most likely used by people who have no clue about what the woman who just annoyed them is really like. She’s just an old biddy. Labels are risky business.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> </span></b></span></p><div class="mceTemp" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><dl class="wp-caption alignright" data-mce-style="width: 235px;" id="attachment_15143" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; float: right; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%; width: 235px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/072F2413-04EB-42B5-8BE1-B11114B646CD.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/072F2413-04EB-42B5-8BE1-B11114B646CD.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="This is not an old coot." class="size-medium wp-image-15143" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/072F2413-04EB-42B5-8BE1-B11114B646CD-225x300.jpeg" height="300" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/072F2413-04EB-42B5-8BE1-B11114B646CD-225x300.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="225" /></span></b></a></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This is not an old coot.</span></b></dd></dl></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> One more thing about old coots. If you have any doubts about whether the term is really insulting, just Google “old coot” and click on images. It’s not a pretty picture. The drawings and photos are remarkably similar in their unpleasantness. Not one distinguished or even normal-looking older man among them. This is how society sees old coots — weird-looking, gnarly, even threatening old men. Someone you might run from rather than go to for mature counsel. So yes, it’s personal.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> I speak here for all men of a certain age and mindset. I may occasionally say or do something that annoys you. If so, I apologize in advance. I’m human. But there’s still a well-functioning brain behind this (hopefully) non-threatening facade. So save your labels for your jelly jars. I am not an old coot.</span></b></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">rjgaydos@gmail,com</span></b></i></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Bob Gaydos is writer-in-residence at zestoforange.com.</span></b></i></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="color: white;"> </span></b></span></p>Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-67255344061047721732020-08-25T17:23:00.000-04:002020-08-25T17:46:57.418-04:00On Unwritten Rules, in Baseball and Life<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> Fernando Tatis Jr., rule breaker?</span></span><br />
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<strong style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> By Bob Gaydos</span></strong><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">L<span style="font-size: large;">ife is full of unwritten rules. Please and thank you. Don’t interrupt. Don’t double dip. Flush the toilet. But is it really a rule if it’s not written down? And is it really a rule if sometimes it’s OK to break it? Is it a rule, say, if your young slugger hits a grand slam on a 3-0 pitch to put the game on ice?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The big controversy of the week, refreshingly, involved baseball. Welcome back, boys of summer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The young slugger is Fernando Tatis Jr., who plays for the San Diego Padres. Tatis says he never heard of this rule we’re about to talk about. Sounds like another unwritten rule: When in doubt, plead ignorance.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some baseball purists, as well as the pitcher, manager and other players on the opposing team, think that Tatis broke one of the sport’s long-standing unwritten rules. That is, when you’re at bat and the count is three balls and no strikes, you do not swing at the next pitch. It’s thought to be even more of a rule when your team is winning by a significant margin, lest you be accused of rubbing it in. (I am explaining this in a little bit of detail for those readers who may not be baseball fans.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Padres were leading the Texas Rangers by seven runs in the eighth inning when Tatis came to bat with the bases-loaded. He had already hit a homerun in the game. The Texas pitcher, who shall go nameless here to spare him further embarrassment, was shaky and threw three straight balls to Tatis. If Tatis followed the unwritten rule, he would not swing at the next pitch on the odds that it would be ball four, he would walk to first base and the runner from third would score. If it was a strike, he would be free to swing at any succeeding pitches.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But young Fernando gets paid good money to hit home runs and drive in runs, so he swung. The ball soared out of the park for a grand slam homerun and instead of one man walking in with a run, four Padres crossed the plate. Instantly, San Diego was up by 11 runs instead of seven runs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Texans, who eventually lost 14 to 4, complained more about that swing on the 3-0 pitch the next day than how they were embarrassed by the shellacking they had just taken. But a lot of other major league players and managers who were interviewed, including a number of pitchers, said the responsibility is on the pitcher to make a good pitch in that situation and not look for an easy strike expecting that the batter won’t swing. After all, in baseball, as well as other endeavors in life, the idea is to win the game and the more runs you have the more likely you will win. Also, baseball today is different from baseball a generation or two ago. Teams all have young sluggers and score runs in bunches today and seemingly safe leads are no longer safe.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So I’m with Tatis on this one. I am not a fan of rubbing it in, but even Little League doesn’t say the game is over until one team is ahead by 10 runs. What’s more, it turns out I’m consistent. My Facebook memories the other day included this serendipitous post: “I called the green light for Astros' Carter on 3-0 pitch. You have to know he's swinging. Boom! 3-run shot and Yankees lose. It's not a complicated game.” Aug. 19, 2014. Another slugger in a situation just crying for him to swing at the three and oh.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>By the way … if you want to use politics as a metaphor for life, the Republican Party seems to have come up with an unwritten rule: Do not ever publicly speak ill of the leader. In nearly four years of the Trump Administration, four years of lying, incompetence, race-baiting, dismantling of government safeguards, disregard of the Constitution and all-around ignorance of presidential duties, I have yet to hear one local elected official publicly say a negative word about the party leader. Never mind Congress members; they fear for their “careers.” I’m talking about locals. Apparently, saying he blew it on Covid would be somehow a bad thing for potential voters to hear, deaths notwithstanding. A sign of independent thought? Forbidden. They are “leaders” without courage. An odd combination. Also by the way … the Democratic Party clearly has no such unwritten rule.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>By the way … when I decided to write about unwritten rules I did what everybody does today – I Googled it. Turns out a lot of people have written about unwritten rules. Or rather, a lot of people appear to have written about unwritten rules. One of the things that is abundantly obvious with just a little research is that what looks to be the best current list of unwritten rules has been repackaged, reheadlined and reimagined dozens of times as someone else’s list of unwritten rules. Reddit appears to be the original source of many lists. It includes such handy advice as:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">— Don't ask for something if the person only has one left — gum, cigarette, piece of cake, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">— If you use up all of the toilet paper, you refill it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">— Don't mess up an apology with an excuse.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">— Buy a plunger before you need a plunger.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">— When someone shows you a picture on their phone, don't swipe left or right.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">— When the host starts cleaning, the party's over and you need to go home.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">— Let people get off a bus, train, or elevator before you get on.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are plenty more and you can Google them yourself, but my internet-driven unwritten rule is one that reporters learn the first day on the job — cite your source. Don’t take credit for someone else’s work. A few sites who repackaged the Reddit list did (Buzzfeed for one), but many did not. That’s just not nice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>By the way … speaking of “not nice,” not long ago I led a column with someone else’s spoken, but unwritten rules for life: 1. If it’s not yours, don’t take it; 2. If it’s not true, don’t say it; 3. If it’s not right, don’t do it. The rule-maker prefers to remain anonymous, but I like to think I’ve given them more legitimacy by, you know, writing them down.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And finally, back to baseball, Texas pitcher Ian Gibaut, who relieved the pitcher who gave up Tatis’ grand slam, was suspended for three games and fined by baseball officials. Gibaut, a rookie, came in and immediately threw a fastball behind San Diego’s next batter, Manny Machado, apparently as a warning for the Padres daring to smack Texas pitching around the park. It’s supposedly another baseball unwritten rule — if you embarrass us by showing our ineptitude, we will throw pitches at you. That’s not exactly an example of number three above, doing the right thing. More like, see how petty we can be. There’s another sports (and politics) unwritten rule: Don’t be a sore loser.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>PS: According to AP, before the controversial game, the 21-year-old Tatis was leading the majors with 11 home runs and 28 RBIs. And you groove a pitch to him with the bases loaded? More unwritten rules of life: Don't assume anything. Always RSVP. Never give Fernando Tatis anything but curve balls.</span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob Gaydos is writer-in-residence at zestoforange.com.</span></i></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-22300094458857607422020-05-11T21:22:00.000-04:002020-05-11T21:22:34.089-04:00 Politics in the age of pestilence <div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<b>By BOB GAYDOS</b></div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82871FFD-E6C5-4054-80A8-1D44E81B03A8.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82871FFD-E6C5-4054-80A8-1D44E81B03A8.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><img alt=" Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, on the same team. " class="size-medium wp-image-15172" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82871FFD-E6C5-4054-80A8-1D44E81B03A8-300x169.jpeg" height="169" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82871FFD-E6C5-4054-80A8-1D44E81B03A8-300x169.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, on the same team.</dd></dl>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The job of the next president of the United States is to restore a sense of competency, decency and dignity to the office. Nothing is more important than that. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> I actually wrote those words about three weeks ago as I worked on a reaction to developments in the Democratic presidential race and various complaints being voiced about the front runners — too old, too radical, too conservative, too male, etc.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> COVID-19, unfortunately, intervened. It also reinforced my belief in that simple campaign slogan: competency, decency, dignity. Put any Democrat’s name in front of it:</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — Joe Biden, competency, decency, dignity.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — Bernie Sanders, competency, decency, dignity … uh, scratch that campaign, not the sentiment.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — Andrew Cuomo, competency, decency, dignity. (I know; it’s Joe, but just hold that thought).</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> As swiftly as Covid-19 moved through parts of the population, just as swiftly do political stories change. Sanders dropped out and pledged to support Biden just as I was rewriting for Covid. Cuomo burst on the scene just as abruptly, reminding Americans that it is important to have elected officials who are capable, competent and concerned about people’s welfare. Actually, their lives.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Cuomo’s father, Mario, also a New York governor, once wrestled with the notion of running for president to the point he was dubbed “Hamlet on the Hudson” — to run or not to run. He decided not to at the last moment. Andrew has insisted repeatedly he is not looking to be president.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Not yet. He’s also a friend of Biden’s. But Democrats can at least rest assured that if something else unforeseen happens between now and their nominating convention in August, they’ve got Bernie and Andrew in the bullpen. Elizabeth Warren, too.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> But the real need now is for Democrats to present, not just a familiar, comfortable name for president, but a super team, if you will, of potential cabinet members and presidential advisors who will reinforce the need to return competency, decency and dignity in the Oval Office.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> The need for competency has been apparent from the first days of the Trump presidency. The administration’s unconscionably inept response to the Covid-19 virus is the predictable result of three-plus years of looking the other way, justifying and making excuses for Trump, a man with no moral compass or sense of responsibility and who is incredibly dumb to boot. His dismissive attitude to doctors and scientists on the handling of the virus has resulted in chaos, fear, panic, a probable </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">recession and death. There is no excusing this arrogant incompetence.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> In the category of decency and dignity, I include a respect for the truth as well as the Constitution. I also include an understanding of this nation's once respected role as the leading voice for freedom and democracy on the planet — a nation represented by the Statue of Liberty, not by an egomaniac’s wall and caged migrant children,</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Regarding the nay-sayers among Democrats … Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are both 78 years old. I am 78 years old. If you wanted to dig into my past life and drag out every stupid, profane, dumb, selfish, hurtful thing I have ever said or done, a lot of people probably would say, no, I don’t want him to be president.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Given that, I still say without hesitation and in all humility, that I believe I would make a much better president than Donald Trump has been (as would a lot of you). That’s because I think I have learned, sometimes the hard way and with age, what is important and what is not so important. I don’t think I’m smarter than trained professionals. And I have a respect for the truth as well as the history of this nation. If you want references, I can probably pick some up.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> But I’m not running for president. Joe Biden is and, until recently, Bernie Sanders was. (Cuomo still says he’s out.) While I can agree and disagree with both men on a variety of issues, I have no doubt that either one would honor the tradition of the office and work immediately from day one to remove the stain that has been Donald Trump. I can say that about every one of the Democratic presidential candidates. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> For disappointed Sanders supporters, and they are legion and loyal, the victory can be claimed in his demand for Medicare for all. If the virus has shown anything, it is the utter failure of the American health system to deal efficiently and even-handedly with a health crisis. People should not die because they can’t afford to get tested or there are no tests or they have no insurance for treatment or their governor insulted the president. Not in this country. Biden as president may calm Wall Street worriers, but he must also make Sanders’ central issue part of a Democratic plan to restore America’s legacy of competency, decency and dignity. Sanders for Health Secretary? A thought to build on.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Having been vice president to Barack Obama for eight years (a source of much of his support), Biden knows how this is done. As the presumptive nominee he should choose a younger female vice presidential running mate and assemble a team of one-time rivals for the presidency as potential cabinet members. Unity must be paramount for Democrats. Take back the country first, then fix all that has been broken. Republicans appear ready to stick with Trump right into the sewer. A united, impressive Democratic team behind Biden can defeat that.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Also key is voter turnout. Republicans will do anything to keep potential Democratic votes from being cast. They have already shown that. A unified Democratic Party behind Joe Biden, with a plan to make America competent, decent and dignified again should get out the vote. It would help if Obama campaigned. It is also crucial to reclaim the Senate.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> And, as he enters the fourth and last year of his term, President Biden, at age 82, can say he does not intend to seek re-election, paving the way for that younger vice president to continue the restoration project. First remove the stain from the presidential seal, then polish it with gusto.</span></div>
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<i>rjgaydos@gmail.com</i></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-69883788189702555642020-02-20T21:25:00.001-05:002020-02-20T21:27:10.371-05:00Enjoying The Impossible without guilt<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-85d5d0a9-7fff-715b-1cc5-0350478999a3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="goog_1578251819"></span><span id="goog_1578251820"></span> Burger King’s Impossible Whopper</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If you didn’t know, you wouldn’t know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’m talking about the Impossible Burger, obviously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In a recent column about a young man who couldn’t believe I didn’t eat bacon (not fanatically, just practically, for health reasons), I ventured into a discussion of the new plant-based burgers that have quickly become popular and promised to write a review as soon as I found a place that served them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Thank you, Burger King in Warwick, N.Y. My partner and I do not frequent fast-food establishments, but we recently had some unexpected time to kill and went to the nearest Burger King, specifically looking for the Impossible Burger to satisfy our curiosity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There it was on the menu — the Impossible Whopper. Two please, with cheese. No fries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The first reaction will be hers, sitting across from me in the booth:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Incredible.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “It looks like meat.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bite</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “It acts like meat.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “It tastes like meat.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ... “Delicious.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I agree. If you didn’t know it was a meatless burger, you wouldn’t be able to tell. We were satisfied. It’s possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My partner hasn’t had a beef hamburger in more years than she can remember. She also doesn’t eat red meat. But if we have a yearning for a burger, she’s hooked. We now know where to go to satisfy it without feeling guilty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> However, some vegans and vegetarians, the ones you might think would appreciate this culinary development the most, are not thrilled with this “meaty” hamburger concocted in a lab. Strict vegetarians, in fact, are reportedly turned off by the taste of the Impossible Burger. They say it tastes and acts too much like real meat. It stirs up feelings of guilt and worse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And some vegans are upset — even feel cheated by Burger King — because the Impossible Whopper is cooked on the same grill as the beef burgers. To them, this is an unacceptable mingling of beef product with plant product. One customer has even filed a lawsuit against Burger King for false advertising, although it doesn’t appear that the company has ever advertised the product as vegan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Burger King did say at the introduction of the new item that the Impossible Burger would be cooked on the same grill as its beef and chicken products, but customers could request that their Impossible Whoppers be cooked by a “non-broiler option.” The oven. The company says this offer stands. But until this lawsuit it was not well-publicized and most customers are probably not aware of it. In truth, most customers don’t care.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And there apparently are a lot of customers for the new product. The Impossible Burger, the Beyond Meat burger and other new, plant-based meat substitutes are growing in popularity with a group of people to which I may belong – flexitarians. Who knew?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I came upon this new category in my research on meat substitutes. It’s apparently a real word that was coined in the 1990s, a combination of flexible and vegetarian. One online dictionary tells me that a flexitarian is ”a person who has a primarily vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to that definition, I am probably a flexitarian wannabe, since, while I eat plenty of vegetables, I eat poultry or fish more than occasionally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Another source says that, basically, flexitarians are omnivores who are trying to reduce the amount of meat in their diet, for health, environmental and ethical reasons. These are not people who don’t eat red meat or won’t eat burgers, but are happy to be able to enjoy the taste of a burger without the beef from time to time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s about being flexible (or balanced), which to me is a recipe for good health. The meatless burgers are processed, offering less protein and less fat than beef burgers and, like beef burgers, probably too much sodium if consumed regularly. The Impossible Whopper’s calorie count is about the same as regular Whoppers, about 630. Beyond Meat burgers, which are rumored to be coming to McDonald’s sometime in the near future, are non-GMO. Impossible burgers do contain GMO‘s. If this matters to you, take your pick. Flexibility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Right now I’m curious to compare the Impossible Whopper with the Beyond Meat burger and, while we don’t have a Burger King in our neighborhood, we do have a McDonald’s. As a wannabe flexitarian, I’m willing to share the appreciation.</span></div>
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Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-49571071035606140362020-02-20T21:13:00.000-05:002020-02-20T21:13:14.173-05:00Take me to your leader: A fable?<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-184c2970-7fff-bed9-d793-757e53330c89" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Emperor Diocletian, of Rome</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They really should have known better. After all, the evidence was there from the beginning. The erratic, impulsive behavior. The fascination with the spotlight. The ignorance and pettiness. The lying, cheating, arrogance and lack of empathy. It was a show. Always, just a show. Not surprising for a veteran of what was known as reality TV.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Yet the people of The Promised Land elected him to be their leader, even though he made it pretty clear to anyone who paid attention to his street brawl of a campaign that he didn’t really want the job, just the attention and prestige that went with it. Run for leader. Insult everyone. Wow the audience. Maybe stir up new business for his brand-name empire … Sell the name. It was always about selling the name.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It worked. Sort of. The other major candidate, a woman, was clearly more qualified for the job. Smarter. More experienced in government and diplomacy. Familiar with the constitution. And her husband had been elected leader in the past, twice. She understood the tremendous responsibility that went with the honor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In truth, many citizens saw The Showman for what he was and did not like him or vote for him. However, many other citizens, saying they did not like her because she was too something or other (traits usually overlooked in males) chose not to vote at all or to vote for a third candidate with no chance of winning. A protest of sorts, they said. He’s obviously unqualified, but we just don’t like her, was the reasoning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She still got the most votes, but that didn’t matter under the arcane voting system used in The Promised Land that emphasized geography rather than actual numbers of people. Also, he cheated. He got secret help from another country, ironically (to all but him), a country which had long been an unfriendly rival for world leadership. The Other Land and The Promised Land had waged what was described as a Cold War for decades, stockpiling weapons and forming alliances with other nations. The Promised Land had emerged victorious in that struggle, so the Other Land was glad to help disrupt The Promised Land campaign and infiltrate voting systems to provide just enough geographical votes for The Showman to win. A “leader” who could be bought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The investigations started immediately because there were actually laws prohibiting such interference in the country’s elections. Those who had written the laws a long time ago feared influence over a leader who was beholden to foreign powers for their help in getting him elected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Their wisdom was quickly validated as many early decisions made by the new, unprepared leader were to the benefit of The Other Land. He also filled key government positions and judgeships with people who were as equally unprepared or equally self-serving as he, or both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Worst of all, the delegates who had been elected to Congress to write the laws and to provide a check on the leader — at least those delegates from his same political party — chose instead to overlook or defend his inexplicable, often cruel, decisions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Of course, they knew who he was from his well-documented past and his ruthless campaign and had almost universally condemned him at first. But once he demonstrated that through his support among rank-and-file party members he had political power over their careers, his onetime critics bowed and kowtowed. They had staked their careers on the votes of people who were, in many ways, as ignorant, petty, boorish, racist, selfish and uncaring as their leader. None of the delegates had the courage to resist. Those who shared his views, of course, simply hoped to get rich in the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It didn’t take long for the unraveling of the veneer of civilized governing to begin. The leader spent most of his time playing golf, watching television and sending messages to the people via social media. He gave his adult children “advisory“ roles in his administration. He chose people to lead various departments of government whose main mission was to dismantle those departments. He rekindled feelings of racism and distrust of immigrants among those citizens who had previously been outvoted by the nation’s more welcoming and open-minded citizens. He ignored all his campaign promises and lied about “accomplishments“ daily. His supporters cheered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In just two years, The Promised Land had lost its standing as the respected, trusted leader of the free world. He insulted its longtime allies and, instead, courted leaders who were as ruthless and thuggish as he. Murderers. All the while, he also saw to it that his private business interests gained financially from his position as leader. He insulted his generals, his senior diplomatic advisers, top law-enforcement officials and anyone who dared to disagree with him. He fired the top law-enforcement official who was investigating foreign interference in his election. Still, his party members in the Congress supported him and resisted any efforts to remove him from office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Inevitably, being someone who never learned from his mistakes — actually never admitted any mistakes — The Showman went looking for help from yet another country to help solidify the position which he hoped would become leader-for-life. He would withhold aid to Newkraine unless its leaders agreed to try to dig up some dirt on a political rival. He also abandoned longtime allies on the battlefield, leading top military leaders and even some of his own party supporters to criticize him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The opposition party, having gained some power in the Congress because of his erratic behavior, began a serious attempt to remove him from power, using the laws of the nation as their guide. In response, some of his followers in the citizenry threatened civil war were he to be removed. Leaders of an extreme religious cult, which had supported his every immoral act, warned of eternal damnation for those who would dare to try to remove him from office. After all, he had been sent by God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> All the while, he lied, as did his closest aides, often contradicting themselves and compromising him in the process. To them it didn’t matter. Until of course it did. To him. He fired those who couldn’t keep up with his lies and managed to find others willing to try. He called those who criticized him or were testifying against him “scum.“</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> By this point, even most of the citizens of The Promised Land had grown weary of The Showman and wary of what he might do next as commander-in-chief with an arsenal of nuclear weapons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> What he did was order his loyal supporters among congressional delegates to storm the private, top security hearing in which an official investigation was being conducted into his efforts to extort help from Newkraine for his political purposes. They were ineffectual, but to him it didn’t matter. They had served a purpose. These lawmakers were demonstrating that the law didn’t matter, just as he had been insisting on a daily basis that the truth didn’t matter. “The press is the enemy of the people,“ was his motto. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In the end, only he mattered. More to the point, he knew full well, only the next season mattered. Could his show survive for another season? That was the overriding question, not global warming or terrorism. He knew from his reality TV experience that the best way to guarantee success was to foment friction, create turmoil and drama, play to people‘s fears and biases, do the unexpected. Create suspense. Make people long for a hero who would just make it all stop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Make me leader again,“ he would say. The people of The Promised Land would cheer. His contract would be renewed for another season. Reality. He knew that from the beginning. They should have known, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></div>
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Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-34212080699243468532019-12-24T22:20:00.002-05:002019-12-24T22:20:59.181-05:00A life without bacon? Not impossible<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-c8f63326-7fff-1297-139f-fbda11f8c344" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “You don’t eat bacon!?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The look of incredulity on the speaker’s face matched the tone in his voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “No,” I replied. “I don’t.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> End of conversation. At least the out-loud part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “What, are you a commie? Un-American? A vegan!?” I said silently to myself, imagining I could read his mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Then, out loud again, “I don’t eat red meat either.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Yeah, my doctor told me I shouldn’t either,” Mr. Incredulous offered. “Not good for my heart.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I nodded knowingly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He went back to his slice of Buffalo chicken/bacon/ranch pizza and I dove into my taco salad (with grilled chicken). By looks of the size of the guy and his relatively young age, I surmised his doctor was probably right. But not for me to say, at least under the circumstances (in public, others at the table and none of my business).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I don’t go around making a big deal about what I eat and try not to comment on what others eat, or should eat. But I notice. I notice that a lot of Americans seem to have difficulty making the connection between how they eat — what they eat, more than how much — and their general well-being:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> — “Yeah, I know I shouldn’t eat so much sugar, but I love cookies and candy and cake and soda …” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> — “I’ll have a bacon cheeseburger deluxe, but leave off the lettuce and tomato. No pickle, but I’ll take the fries.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> — “Diet Coke, please.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> — “I hate salad.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And of course, there’s an out-of-shape, orange-skinned septuagenarian in the Oval Office who lives on burgers, fries, fried chicken, steak and ice cream. He has also effectively disbanded the President’s Council on Fitness and ended Michelle Obama’s Healthy Hunger-free school lunch program.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> So what the heck, if it’s good enough for him it’s good enough for us, a lot of Americans have apparently decided. Man or woman cannot live on kale alone, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Right. But man or woman is likely to live a longer, healthier life if a few greens and assorted vegetables were a more common part of their diet. The chief rap on bacon and red meats, healthwise, is that they’re loaded with saturated fats, which are linked to cancer, heart disease and stroke. That’s why the doctor told Mr. Incredulous to lay off the bacon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But a lot of people (myself included) don’t like to be told to do what’s ultimately good for them. In fact, they will often do the opposite. There’s a lot of that going around these days in this age of anti-science and constant accusations of “fake news.” Willful ignorance is now brandished the way a gold star from the teacher used to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> So how do you get people to do what’s good for them (and also, by the way, the planet)? How do you convince people to occasionally eat more healthful food when they are hooked on beef, bacon and burgers?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Well, maybe you figure out a way to blend a bunch of plants together and make them look and taste like a beef burger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Welcome to the Impossible Burger, now available at Burger King. Or the PLT Burger from Beyond Meat, about to get a test run from McDonald’s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> What’s different about these and other new, plant-based burgers that are causing a stir in fast-food lines as well as the stock market apparently is that — unlike the well-meaning veggie burgers that have been around for years — these Whoppers and Not a Burgers actually look and taste like beef burgers. Juice and all. But they’re vegan. No animal byproducts at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’m thus far unable to provide a personal review of one of these plant-based burgers because I haven’t found a place serving one yet. When I do, I will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But it is worth pointing out that the plant-based burgers themselves, even if they turn out to be juicy and yummy are themselves a mixed bag, health-wise. For starters, they have been heavily processed to attain the desired taste and texture and the jury is out on the health effects of a lot of the additives. Also, they can be high on calories and tend to be heavy on salt, which is definitely not a health benefit. They also have less protein than animal-based burgers and, while they contain no cholesterol and have added some vital nutrients, they may have some saturated fats from coconut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In other words, the jury’s still out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> So why bother? For one thing, eating even a little less red meat is good for one’s health. For another, relying more on plants, less on animals, for food, is good for the planet. Livestock farming is a major contributor to global warming (greenhouse gasses, ammonia) and a major consumer of water and user of land. People who believe in science think global warming is the major issue of our time. (As we know, the Oval Office burger-muncher is not a science believer.) And for some, there is the benefit of knowing that no animals lost their lives so they could enjoy lunch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’m no purist in this area. As I said, my taco salad was topped with chicken. I also eat seafood, including sushi. But I don’t run from salads, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and love non-dairy frozen desserts as well as frozen yogurt. My favorite non-beef burger thus far has been a black bean burger. Delicious, especially with sweet potato fries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I guess my point, which I wrote about several years ago when a doctor told me it would behoove me to cut down on the sweets, salt and red meat, is that it is entirely possible to enjoy eating and also enjoy good health. Take fewer meds. I tried to follow the doctor’s suggestion. She said most don’t. Insurance companies have reaped the benefits. Medical costs have soared.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I still do the best I can. Lost a bunch of weight and I am in pretty good health for an old curmudgeon. No meds. Wear a size 36 belt. I don’t feel deprived because I avoid bacon. Oh, in a weak moment, I might actually grab a piece. I haven’t yet, but that’s all it would be. A piece. It’s all about balance. Given my usual diet, it won’t kill me to have a slice of bacon. Then again, between you and me, it wouldn’t kill Mr. Incredulous to try a nice Greek Salad once in awhile. Or at least an Impossible Burger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-77768467587467587652019-10-22T11:40:00.000-04:002019-10-22T11:40:09.765-04:00One addiction at a time? Not necessarily<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-50612198-7fff-2e47-882b-68e7a0118f04" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Addiction and Recovery</span></div>
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<a href="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/201212/smoking-and-drinking_660_120612044131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="660" height="184" src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/201212/smoking-and-drinking_660_120612044131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Once upon a time, not that long ago, you used to be able to find an AA meeting by looking for a church with a cluster of people standing outside and smoking. That’s still possible, but the clusters have grown smaller. More significantly, as people in recovery joined much of the rest of society in quitting smoking, the air in the meeting rooms cleared up and ash trays disappeared from the tables.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But it wasn’t easy. Many people in recovery say snuffing the cigarettes was much harder than putting down the drink or the drug. Until recently, that belief, supported by research, meant recovery programs focused solely on the alcohol addiction and left the nicotine addiction to be addressed at a later time, if the person so desired. It was too hard to do both at the same time, the thinking went, and the primary goal was to address the substance abuse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This, even though statistics showed that: 1. more than 80 percent of clients in rehab were smokers; 2. people with addictions to alcohol (or other drugs) were significantly more likely to be smokers than those without an alcohol abuse disorder (17 percent of adults); </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 3. people who have been treated for alcohol problems were more likely to die of health issues related to tobacco than to alcohol, since they have a higher risk of heart disease and cancer than non-smokers. Also, non-smokers in recovery live longer than smokers in recovery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Time and research have changed the treat-one-addiction-at-a-time philosophy, at least to the extent that more rehabs are now offering stop-smoking programs as well as traditional alcohol/drugs programs. This may have something to do with the fact that surveys have shown that a sizable majority of smokers in treatment for alcohol or drug addiction say they also want to quit smoking and that they think it is better to do so within six months of stopping drinking or using drugs rather than waiting until later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A primary motivator for quitting smoking early in recovery from alcohol abuse is the strong connection between smoking and drinking. For many alcoholics, the two activities went hand-in-hand. In direct contradiction to previous thinking which said quitting smoking would make it harder for people new to recovery to stay sober, some treatment specialists today say that continuing to smoke while not drinking can be a strong trigger for relapse. Nicotine stimulates the brain’s pleasure receptors, feeding the “need” for more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> No one says it’s easy to quit smoking and</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">drinking at the same time, but it’s often suggested to use the motivation and strategies used to stop drinking to also stop smoking. That means, for certain, not trying to do it on one’s own, but rather, being open to a variety of help from behavioral therapists to nicotine replacement therapies, to encouragement from friends and family, to online and in-person support from groups such as Nicotine Anonymous (https://www.nicotine-anonymous.org) and the American Lung Association (</span><a href="https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ideally, recovery from alcohol or other drugs means adopting a healthier lifestyle including exercise, proper nutrition and emotionally or spiritually rewarding behaviors. Smoking doesn’t qualify.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bob Gaydos is a freelance writer. rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></div>
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<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-76636645602223800622019-09-24T15:56:00.001-04:002019-09-24T15:56:28.854-04:00Smoking can lead to premature death<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Addiction and Recovery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTStT-XM6z7lHAfhbl6t95NrUclu_OhSeEvfT7EKbbTR9Jb-yjhANxBg_YVH1F1-8KT-JF2gu76mhBBCWOGwyucAGt9xG_G4dpxP696chTlohpfVOk0TLMJ5FMuHJfIF8uoMFafd0wpyz0/s1600/C4078C8F-245B-4DD2-AAE1-CA17CE9BA0D4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTStT-XM6z7lHAfhbl6t95NrUclu_OhSeEvfT7EKbbTR9Jb-yjhANxBg_YVH1F1-8KT-JF2gu76mhBBCWOGwyucAGt9xG_G4dpxP696chTlohpfVOk0TLMJ5FMuHJfIF8uoMFafd0wpyz0/s320/C4078C8F-245B-4DD2-AAE1-CA17CE9BA0D4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “The cigarette is a very efficient and highly engineered drug-delivery system.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The sentence appears on the web site of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. With its sheer bluntness, it says all you need to know about why more than 50 million Americans smoked a cigarette last month despite massive campaigns detailing the health risks of smoking, despite the fact that many of those risks are printed right on the cigarette pack, despite restrictions on smoking in public areas, and even despite the increasingly high cost of smoking because of taxes placed on tobacco products.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Nicotine delivers endorphins, euphoria, dopamine to the brain with each puff on the cigarette. A pack a day is about 200 “hits” of good feeling. Stop puffing, it goes away. The brain doesn’t like the change in mood. Withdrawal can be unpleasant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, and smoking is the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> That sentence also appears on the NIDA web site (</span><a href="http://www.drugabuse.gov/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.drugabuse.gov</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) and the two statements taken together are why it’s important not to ignore the addiction health threats staring us in the face — or assaulting the senses of non-smokers — amidst the daily serving of headlines on drunk drivers and drug overdoses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Nearly half a million deaths annually are still attributed to smoking and, despite significant progress in reducing the number of smokers, according to NIDA, “if current smoking rates continue, 5.6 million Americans who are currently younger than 18 will die prematurely from smoking-related disease.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Nicotine is addictive. Smoking kills people before their time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And yes, a lot of people have gotten the message. Surveys show smoking rates for people 18 and older continue to go down and the rate of smoking among those under 18 is at historically low levels. That latter is key because tobacco is often the first substance adolescents use to emulate adults and often leads to other substance use disorders. Research also suggests that nicotine has a strong impact on still-developing adolescent brains, making it more difficult for those who want to quit when they are older. And nearly everyone who smokes has tried to quit. Some succeed. Some have a hard time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The jury is still out on e-cigarettes as a replacement for cigarettes. They remove the chemicals that, when burned, are responsible for the various health risks attribute to cigarettes, leaving vapers to go for the nicotine rush. But some research suggests other possible risks, especially for young users, so it’s buyer beware.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Significantly, for the focus of this column, research shows a strong connection between smoking and persons with alcohol or other substance dependence and a prevalence of smoking (65 to 85 percent) among persons in treatment for all substance use disorders. Addictions often go together, but quitting one doesn’t always mean quitting others is easier. The next column will report on what some people with alcohol or other substance use disorders have experienced as they tried to quit smoking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bob Gaydos is a freelance writer. rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-52334997753219106992019-09-18T17:41:00.001-04:002019-09-18T17:41:40.777-04:00 I finally got to Woodstock. Peace. <div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<b>By Bob Gaydos</b></div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/C6F86639-1BCC-4995-9A46-FA826A4CC699.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/C6F86639-1BCC-4995-9A46-FA826A4CC699.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><img alt="Turning on the lights at the Woodstock 50 celebration." class="size-medium wp-image-14960" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/C6F86639-1BCC-4995-9A46-FA826A4CC699-300x185.jpeg" height="185" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/C6F86639-1BCC-4995-9A46-FA826A4CC699-300x185.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><strong style="-webkit-user-drag: none;">Turning on the lights at the Woodstock 50 celebration</strong>.</dd></dl>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">By the time I got to Woodstock, I was 78 years old and walking with a cane. I fit right in.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">And it was fun.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike the ill-fated Woodstock 50 concert that was apparently planned with the same “whatever-I-think-of-next” model Michael Lang used 50 years ago, the Woodstock 50 celebration at Bethel Woods, site of the original festival in 1969, was a well-organized, enjoyable tribute that attracted fans of all ages, although it definitely trended geriatric. The gray-haired easily outnumbered the tie-dyed, although some were both.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I missed the original festival of peace and love, even though I was within striking distance, working as city editor for The Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton at the time. It was about an hours’ drive away and I’ve kind of regretted the missed opportunity as the Woodstock mystique grew. As I vaguely recall, we didn’t think it was worth the time (and money) to send someone to a hippie fest on a farm for three days.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Anyhow, the Middletown paper had it covered and, as the fates would have it, I wound up working for that paper (for 29 years), living and retiring in Sullivan County, not far from Bethel and Yasgur’s farm and available as an emergency fill-in for a friend with an extra ticket who called and said, “Want to see Santana at Bethel Saturday?”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Which is a run-on sentence on how I got to Woodstock.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I said yes. Honestly, not because I’m a big Santana fan, but because of the history and the quiet hope that it would be an event to remember in the spirit of the original. It was</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The Doobie Brothers as an opening act did a great job of loosening the crowd of 15,000. Women danced, beach balls bounced, the Doobies rocked and everyone sang. The early rain stopped, the later lightning went away. No rain.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Also no arguing. No loud drunks. No fights. A faint aroma of pot from time to time. “A mellow Woodstock,” a tie-dyed Social Security recipient strolling by said to no in particular.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Which was what I was hoping for. We are not a mellow nation at the moment. Nor were we 50 years ago when nearly half a million mostly young, many stoned individuals brought traffic to a standstill, then enjoyed and eventually survived an utterly unprepared event thanks to the kindness of countless strangers. Peace and love.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">It’s what Santana talked about when he come to the front of the stage to welcome the crowd: “Unconditional love. Compassion. Peace.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3739CADA-6E0A-4831-BC48-EDE613FDD2A5.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3739CADA-6E0A-4831-BC48-EDE613FDD2A5.jpeg"><img alt="3739CADA-6E0A-4831-BC48-EDE613FDD2A5" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-14962" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3739CADA-6E0A-4831-BC48-EDE613FDD2A5-300x267.jpeg" height="267" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3739CADA-6E0A-4831-BC48-EDE613FDD2A5-300x267.jpeg" style="float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 1em; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></a>That’s what this anniversary concert was about, he said, and in my mind I agreed with him that, at least that’s what this concert </span><i>ought</i><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> to be about.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">He had only gotten a few bars into “Turn Your Lights On,” when the hillside came alive with thousands of swaying lights, as cell phones added a new dimension to the song, which for me had a message of hope for trying times: “There's a monster living under my bed, whispering in my ear.” But also: "There's an angel with a hand on my head. She says I've got nothing to fear.” </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I used to doubt angels. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The moment was special, but it was his version of John Lennon’s “Imagine” that cinched the deal for me:</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">“You may say that I'm a dreamer </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">But I'm not the only one </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I hope someday you'll join us </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">And the world will be as one ...”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The words came easily and knowingly from thousands of voices, young and old, across the Bethel landscape and I uttered a silent, “Please” to myself.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Santana rocked on quite a bit longer, there was more dancing and there were fireworks to seal the deal, but my (good!) friend and I left early, more than satisfied with Woodstock’s golden birthday. Many others came early and stayed late, also happy to have been there. The people who run Bethel Woods had the event planned to the smallest detail. Traffic control, the biggest concern, was no problem.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Also no anger. No fighting. No name-calling. Just music, dancing, singing, peace, love and respect for all, for one night at least, on a hillside in Upstate New York. Just what I hoped it would be. Sure, you may say I’m a dreamer, but I did finally get to Woodstock.</span></div>
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<i>Bob Gaydos is a freelance writer. rjgaydos@gmail.com</i></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-78724845609184459662019-08-21T15:30:00.000-04:002019-08-26T21:30:04.631-04:00A vocabulary for the Trump era<div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
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<b>By Bob Gaydos</b></div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3B47707F-567E-44A2-A6B3-545CE31B9080.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3B47707F-567E-44A2-A6B3-545CE31B9080.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><img alt="Vidkun Quisling ... his name has been revived recently in the U.S." class="size-medium wp-image-14950" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3B47707F-567E-44A2-A6B3-545CE31B9080-189x300.jpeg" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3B47707F-567E-44A2-A6B3-545CE31B9080-189x300.jpeg" height="300" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="189" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">Vidkun Quisling ... his name has been revived recently in the U.S.</dd></dl>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> In the category of nothing is ever all good or all bad (I keep trying), have you noticed a marked improvement in your vocabulary since the man with “all the best words” moved in to the White House?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Seriously. It struck me the other day as I was reading the daily disaster report that people — not just reporters or TV and radio commentators — </span><i>regular</i><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> people were reading, hearing, using and even understanding words, many of which have never been routine in American conversation. It started with “narcissist” and “misogynist,” but the vocabulary lesson has expanded exponentially (see what I mean?) since the news cycle has become all Trump all the time. I mean, “quisling,” really?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> I started compiling a list of words that were previously not your normal fare in your daily paper, including some words I had to look up (using Wikipedia and various legitimate online dictionaries), and decided I might as well share them. Who knows, maybe an English teacher will see it and want to help some students better understand what the grownups have done to the world. If you feel daring, test your partner. Here’s my list (including examples), starting with the two aforementioned words, which are now household staples:</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Misogynist</strong>. From Wikipedia: “Misogyny is the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls. Misogyny manifests in numerous ways, including social exclusion, sex discrimination, hostility, androcentrism, patriarchy, male privilege, belittling of women, disenfranchisement of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification.” It’s Trump’s middle name and now the whole world is aware of what misogyny looks like in practice. That’s a good thing if steps are taken to combat it, which appears to be happening (#metoo).</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Narcissist</strong>. From Psychology Today: ”The hallmarks of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are grandiosity, a lack of empathy for other people, and a need for admiration. People with this condition are frequently described as arrogant, self-centered, manipulative, and demanding. They may also have grandiose fantasies and may be convinced that they deserve special treatment. These characteristics typically begin in early adulthood and must be consistently evident in multiple contexts, such as at work and in relationships. People with NPD … tend to seek excessive admiration and attention and have difficulty tolerating criticism or defeat.” Mussolini comes to mind or, well, you know.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Quisling</strong>. Turns out we’ve got a bunch of them in the USA. Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian military officer and politician who was head of the government of Norway during Nazi Germany’s occupation of the country during World War II. Actually, he was a figurehead who collaborated with the Nazis in every way, including the killing of Jews and others. After the war, he was tried and convicted of murder and treason and was executed. His name became synonymous for collaborator and traitor. Until recently, there hasn’t been much call for “quisling,” but Trump, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, and the guy Trump wanted to run the CIA, among others, have given new life to it. I could have lived my life without wanting to get the history of this word.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Sycophant</strong>. While we have Lindsey Graham available as a perfect example, why not give a dictionary description of a sycophant: “A person who acts obsequiously (I’ll get to that) toward someone important in order to gain advantage. Synonyms:</span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">toady, creep, crawler, fawner, flatterer, flunkey, truckler, groveller, doormat, lickspittle, kowtower, obsequious person, minion, hanger-on, leech, puppet, spaniel …” Add the entire Trump cabinet and staff and many Republicans in Congress.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Obsequious</strong>. Again, just dictionaries here: “Obsequious people are usually not being genuine; they resort to flattery and other fawning ways to stay in the good graces of authority figures. An obsequious person can be called a bootlicker, a brownnoser or a toady.” Our man Lindsay again and let’s add Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s acting chief of staff and bootlicker par excellence.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Nativist</strong>. “Relating to or supporting the policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants. Example. ‘He has made his nativist beliefs known through his divisive comments about immigrants.’” The Republican Party and MAGA hat wearers who are still waiting for the wall are perfect examples.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Xenophobe</strong>. “A person who fears or hates foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers. A person who fears or dislikes the customs, dress, etc., of people who are culturally different.” The same folks as above. Stephen Miller to be sure.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Asylum</strong>. Here’s one every American should learn. “The right of asylum is an ancient juridical concept, under which a person persecuted by one's own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, such as another country or church official, who in medieval times could offer sanctuary. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> “The United States recognizes the right of asylum of individuals as specified by international and federal law. A specified number of legally defined refugees who apply for refugee status overseas, as well as those applying for asylum after arriving in the U.S., are admitted annually. Since World War II, more refugees have found homes in the U.S. than any other nation and more than two million refugees have arrived in the U.S. since 1980.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Oligarchy</strong>. “A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution. … Oligarchy is from the Greek word oligarkhes, and it means ‘few governing.’ Three of the most well-known countries with oligarchies are Russia, China, and Iran. Other examples are Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and apartheid South Africa. Trump leans to the Russian and Saudi versions, although he admires certain things about the others. He would probably have been comfortable with apartheid South Africa.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Plutocracy</strong>. "Government by the rich or the wealthy class. Oligarchy is not necessarily just the wealthy. If a system of plutocracy and oligarchy occurred at the same time (government by a few wealthy people), it would be termed a …</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Plutarchy</strong>. Again, I refer you to Trump’s cabinet, the Koch brothers, and various wealthy interests who have been able to buy power thanks to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Nepotism</strong>. “The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.” Especially for which they are unqualified. Trump is a master at keeping it in the family (his own and Fox News) in the White House. Ivanka, Jared, Larry Kudlow.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Emoluments</strong>. (Tell me you knew what this meant before Trump.) “The emoluments clause, also called the foreign emoluments clause, is a provision of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 8) that generally prohibits federal officeholders from receiving any gift, payment, or other thing of value from a foreign state or its rulers, officers, or representatives. It prohibits those holding offices of profit or trust under the United States from accepting ‘any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever’ from ‘any . . foreign State’ unless Congress consents.” Every stay at a Trump hotel, round of golf at a Trump golf course by the Saudis, the Russians, the Turks, the Chinese … goes into his bank account and he won’t share his income tax returns.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Exculpable</strong>. To exculpate is “to clear from a charge of guilt or fault; free from blame; vindicate.” The person is thus exculpable, something Trump claims Robert Mueller found him. Not true.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Propaganda</strong>. “Information that is intended to persuade an audience to accept a particular idea or cause, often by using biased material or by stirring up emotions — one of the most powerful tools the Nazis used to consolidate their power and cultivate an ‘Aryan national community’ in the mid-1930s. … the manipulation of the recipient's emotions in order to win an argument, especially in the absence of factual evidence.” Fox News and Trump and rightwing radio hosts spew it. Trump has even talked about setting up a government broadcast agency to counter the “fake news” of mainstream media.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Brainwash</strong>. More commonly known, but worth putting in context. “To make people believe only what you want them to believe by continually telling them that it is true and preventing any other information from reaching them: Could it be that we’re brainwashed to accept these things?”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Again, Fox News — 24 hours a day of fake news right out of George Orwell. Also, Trump’s pathological lying. Second definition: “A method for systematically changing attitudes or altering beliefs, originated in totalitarian countries, especially through the use of torture, drugs, or psychological-stress techniques.” The Manchurian Candidate, or, perhaps, Putin’s Puppet. Once a far-fetched idea.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Hypocrite</strong>. “1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. 2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.” Trump of course, but here we’re referring to evangelical Christian leaders who kiss Trump’s ring and conservative, family values-spouting Republicans who do likewise.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Penultimate</strong>. Nothing to do with Trump, just a word I like. “As both an adjective and a noun, penultimate means next to the last. (Penultimate is not more ultimate than ultimate.)” In other words, this lesson is almost over. Just one more paragraph and thanks for staying with me.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> — <strong>Dotard</strong>. Kim Jong-un’s name for Trump. “The insult is centuries old, appearing in medieval literature from the ninth century.” Searches for the term have spiked since Kim </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">resurrected it. Merriam-Webster: “A state or period of senile decay marked by decline of mental poise." Side note: Kim didn’t say the word. The North Korean state news agency, KCNA, offered it as the English translation of Kim’s spoken Korean insult, which literally is “old lunatic.” Works for me in any language.</span></div>
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<i>Bob Gaydos is a freelance writer. rjgaydos@gmail.com</i></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-69154405861961897332019-07-03T17:01:00.002-04:002019-07-03T17:01:30.859-04:00The sad truth: It’s all B.S.<div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<b>By</b> <b>Bob Gaydos</b></div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/482B766E-EB4C-4306-80D9-765246C07903.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/482B766E-EB4C-4306-80D9-765246C07903.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><img alt="Harry Frankfurt ... he knows B.S. when he hears it" class="size-full wp-image-14906" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/482B766E-EB4C-4306-80D9-765246C07903.jpeg" height="208" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/482B766E-EB4C-4306-80D9-765246C07903.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="220" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><b>Harry Frankfurt ... he knows B.S. when he hears it</b></dd></dl>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">There have been times, like now, when I saw little point in writing about what the pretend president is saying or doing because millions of Americans don’t seem to care. At those times, I often wondered how the scribes who get paid to inform the world of the latest news — and even moreso, those who get paid to have opinions about it — find the energy to cover Trump day after day. It has to be depressing, I thought to myself. I’m depressed and I don’t </span><i>have</i><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> to write about it. Does a paycheck work as an antidepressant?</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Maureen Dowd finally answered my question. I admit to not being a religious, or even semi-religious, reader of Dowd’s column in The New York Times up to now. That’s changed since I read her May 25 column that carried the headline, “Crazy Is As Crazy Does.” Yes, it was about Trump.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">She begins by describing her waking thoughts as another morning arrives. About the talents of an actress and an actor she admires and their TV shows. About a book she has apparently just read or is reading. And then, abruptly, reality sets in: “Once I’m completely awake, a gravitational pull takes hold and I am once more bedeviled by our preposterous president.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> “I flip on the TV and gird for the endless stream of vitriol coming from the White House, bracing for another day of overflowing, overlapping, overwrought news stories about Trump. I’m sapped before I arise. …</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> “My head hurts, puzzling over whether Trump is just a big blowhard … or a sinister genius …”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Me too, I sighed. Glad to know I’m not alone.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> I’m also not alone in my belief in synchronicity. Serendipity, if you prefer.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Coincidence? I’m with Carl Jung on that. The Swiss psychologist who gave us the word defined synchronicity as “a meaningful coincidence of two or more events where something other than the probability of chance is involved.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> As in, what are the chances that, being shamed into participating in a decluttering exercise at home, I would “stumble upon” a slim book I’d never heard of that instantly uncluttered my mind on how to explain what in the world was going on in Donald Trump’s mind.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> It’s “Bullshit.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Literally.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Some explanation is necessary.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> The house decluttering was precipitated by a prevailing notion that I had collected too much stuff (an occupational hazard, I believe) and some of it had to go, but we would find a safe resting place for the stuff that was worth keeping. One of the safe places was a lovely, old cabinet in which other stuff was resting. Old tapes, photos and books. Among the books was the aforementioned slim volume.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> I read the title: “On Bullshit.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> The decluttering came to a momentary halt. Was this a joke? As it turns out, no. Oh, there is humor in this 67-page essay, but the author, Harry G. Frankfurt, it also turns out, is a distinguished philosopher, professor emeritus at Princeton University, which published the book. This was serious. In fact, the book was a New York Times best-seller in 2005 and Frankfurt discusses it on YouTube, which tells you something about my attention to literary news.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> But the point, and I’m finally getting to it, is that after months of trying to out-pundit everyone else writing about Trump and continuing to muse on why he does what he does, Frankfurt lays it out in a way that anyone, except maybe Trump, can understand — the man is a bullshit artist.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> It dawned on me as I read Frankfurt’s explanation of the difference between liars — which Trump has been crowned champion of all time by those who keep score — and bullshitters. (If the language offends you, I apologize, but Frankfurt says “humbug” is not the same. Also, the times have changed and I’ve already been labeled an enemy of the people for treating the truth with respect.)</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> As Frankfurt explains, the difference between liars and bullshitters is that liars are acquainted with the truth. They have to be to maintain their lies. There is a discipline involved. Bullshitters don’t care. They make stuff up as they go along, saying whatever seems necessary to them at the time to appear to know what’s going on. It isn’t a matter so much of bullshit being false, Frankfort says, as of it being phony. It’s meant to convey an impression. It’s like bluffing. And too much of it can carry over into a general laxity about how things really are.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> As Frankfurt writes, “The bullshitter is faking things.” It’s not a matter of concealing the truth, because sometimes the bullshitter will speak the truth. It is matter of concealing “what he is up to.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Indeed. And those who are good at it seem to have no trouble attracting gullible believers. But that’s a mystery for another day.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Frankfurt mentions patriotic politicians who, on the Fourth of July, give grand speeches extolling all the wonderful things this country represents, not that those things are false or lies or B.S., but because the speaker wants others to believe he believes in them and is a true patriot. There’s a good chance we’ll hear some of that this coming Independence Day, with Trump taking center stage at the Lincoln Memorial.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> I know in advance that I don’t necessarily have to write about it because it’s more of the same B.S. Instead, I can read what Dowd writes about it and focus instead on what synchronicity offers as a topic. Like the fact that Frankfurt and I share the same birthdate, May 29. Some stuff you just can’t make up.</span></div>
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<i>Bob Gaydos is a freelance writer, rjgaydos@gmail.com</i></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-50758159098738774302019-06-18T13:59:00.000-04:002019-06-18T13:59:12.759-04:00An addict by any other name, please<b style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Addiction and Recovery</b><br />
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<b>By Bob Gaydos</b></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>What’s in a name? Maybe, recovery.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new-me.jpg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new-me.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><img alt=""New" me, at 73." class="size-full wp-image-13702" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new-me.jpg" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new-me.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="200" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><strong style="-webkit-user-drag: none;">Bob Gaydos</strong></dd></dl>
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Addiction — to opioids, alcohol, heroin, other substances or behavior — is a medically recognized disease, something for which treatment is available and prescribed so that the person who suffers from it can be returned as a contributing member of society. That’s the official, appropriately concerned line put forth by government agencies, the medical community and those who work in the field.</div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Unofficially, which is to say, to much of society including members of the aforementioned groups, a person with the disease of addiction is commonly referred to as an addict. A drunk. A junkie. A cokehead or crackhead. An alkie. A pothead. A pill-popper. He or she is often regarded as someone who is weak-willed, immoral, untrustworthy, rather than someone suffering from a disease. A liar. A loser. Someone not worth the time or effort — or money — to associate with, never mind help.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> One of the major obstacles to persons seeking treatment for addiction is the stigma attached to the disease. It has been framed seemingly forever as a moral issue, a crime issue. Rarely — only recently — has it been framed as a health issue. We have waged a war on drugs as we tried to cure cancer or diabetes.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Words matter.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania lbast year released a study with the key recommendation to stop using the words “addict,” “alcoholic” and “substance abuser.” The study found the words carry a strong negative bias. Basically, the researchers said, they label the person, not the disease. Study participants not only displayed a reluctance to associate with persons described with those words in fictional vignettes, the researchers said participants also displayed “implicit bias” to the terms themselves when given a word-association task. They were subconsciously reacting negatively to the words.bbb</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> If just the words can stir negative bias in people, imagine what an actual person carrying the label “addict” can arouse.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> The Penn researchers said their study was consistent with previous research that found some doctors, even mental health professionals, less willing to help patients who were labeled “addicts” or “substance abusers.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> The researchers did not discount the fact that conscious bias against persons with addiction — for example, how involved one would want to be with the person described — is often based on personal negative experiences with “alcoholics” or “addicts.” Family members, friends, co-workers have experienced pain and suffering from their connection to persons with alcohol or substance use disorders and a resistance to not just “calling them what they are” may be understandable.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> But, the researchers said, over time, adopting what they call person-first language (referring to a person with a heroin addiction rather than a heroin addict) — especially by public officials and the media — could help reduce the negative bias and stigma that keeps people from seeking and getting help for their disease.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> In 2017, prior to this study, the Associated Press, which publishes a style guide used by most news organizations, adopted a new policy on reporting on addiction. It recommends that news organizations avoid terms such as “addict” and “alcoholic” in favor of person-first language — someone with an alcohol or substance use disorder or someone who was using opioids addictively, rather than a substance abuser or former addict. Someone in recovery, rather than someone who is “clean.” Shift the blame from the person to the disease.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> This doesn’t excuse or absolve the person who is addicted from any damage he or she may have done, and it may be considerable. But it does provide an identity beyond the addiction and makes the road to recovery more navigable. </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Earlier this year, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News adopted a policy similar to AP’s.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> The concept is simple: A person should not be defined solely by his or her disease. When mental health professionals stopped referring to patients as schizophrenics, society started referring to people with schizophrenia. Similarly, there are people with diabetes today who once were labeled diabetics. It is often argued that alcoholism or addiction are different from other diseases because the person chooses to use the substance. But experience tells us no one chooses to become addicted and the nature of the disease is being unable to stop — or at least feeling that stopping is not possible. Negative labels can’t help.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> Government agencies have begun using the new language, referring to persons with alcohol use or substance use disorders rather then alcoholics or addicts. Some who have managed to face their addiction and overcome it have abandoned the anonymity of 12-step programs and identify themselves publicly as persons in recovery. The opioid crisis has spawned a program called Hope Not Handcuffs, which steers the person who is addicted to treatment rather than incarceration.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> An exception to the change in language is recognized for those who are in 12-Step programs who identify themselves as alcoholics or addicts at their meetings. These are people who don’t see the terms as negatives, but rather as an honest admission of a fact in their lives. Members of Alcoholics Anonymous have been saying, “My name is xxxx, and I’m an alcoholic” at meetings for nearly 84 years. It’s tradition. There’s no stigma attached, but rather a common bond that holds out the hope there is something beyond being labeled a “drunken bum” or “hopeless addict.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> The groups recommending the language change say this is not merely “political correctness,” as some have said. Lives are obviously still being ravaged by addiction. If something has to change in approaching the disease, there is a growing feeling that how we talk about it might be a good place to start.</span></div>
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<i>Bob Gaydos is a freelance writer. rjgaydos@gmail.com</i></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-43525691105513047422019-05-20T16:03:00.000-04:002019-05-20T16:03:39.245-04:00The countdown to Woodstock 50 and 2020<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span>
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Fans of Woodstock may have a choice of two 50th Anniversary concerts to choose from. Or maybe not.</span></dd></dl>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">By Bob Gaydos</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A look at the news, by the numbers:</span></div>
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<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">7: The percentage of the United States Senate that is running for president (so far) in 2020. All seven are Democrats and four of them are women. The latest count of Democratic presidential candidates stands at 20, I believe, but I could have missed a mayor or state senator or part-time legal clerk who decided that, what the heck, since 2016 proved that anybody really </span><i>can</i><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"> get elected president in America, why not me?</span></span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">53: The percentage of the United States Senate that is perfectly comfortable with having a president with no understanding of the Constitution or respect for the rule of law, not a modicum oe f empathy, who lies as naturally as others breathe, has the IQ of a hedgehog (sorry, hedgehogs) and the curiosity of a Big Mac, is totally consumed with his own image and how much money he and his family can wring out of the presidency before he bankrupts it like everything else he’s touched. All 53 are Republicans. The GOP, of course, used to be the party of law and order, the party that preached moral values and respect for the Constitution. Today, not so much.</span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">311: Reportedly, the number of grams of food per day Kim Jung-un, North Korea’s leader, says will be rationed to each citizen as the result of the latest food crisis to hit his nation. A bad harvest left the country 1.36 tons short of grain. The bad harvest came on top of dry spells, abnormally high temperatures and floods, which exacerbated limited supplies of fuel, fertilizer and spare parts, all of which was punctuated by economic sanctions against the country for its continued nuclear weapons buildup. For comparison, the average amount of food a healthy person eats daily in a non-rationed nation is four pounds. That’s about 1,800 grams. The North Korea ration diet is mostly rice and kimchi (cabbage), very little protein. About 10 million people — about 40 percent of North Korea’s population — are affected by the food shortage. Of course, not Kim and his friends, or those who have access to the black market.</span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">3 million: Number of North Koreans estimated to have died in that nation’s famine in the late 1990s, when the ration system collapsed. The question is whether Kim is willing to continue the family tradition of letting millions of countrymen and women die rather than abandon his nuclear (also chemical and biological) weapons, hoping that Russia or China will come to the rescue. Or, to put it another way — are the rest of the nations of the world willing to let tens of thousands of people die of starvation while they try to figure out how not to nuke each other to death? History is not on the side of hungry North Koreans.</span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">1: The number of times the winner of the Kentucky Derby has been disqualified for interference. This year’s 145th Run for the Roses saw the first-place finisher’s number taken down for interference, and not even for interference with the horse eventually declared winner. Maximum Security, the favorite and clearly the best horse in the field, drifted to the outside, preventing War of Will, a legitimate challenger, from moving forward. After watching a video of the race for 20 minutes, stewards stripped Maximum Security of the win and named Country House, a 65-1 shot, the winner. </span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">$132.40: Payoff on a $2 win bet on Country House. Nice.</span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">1: Number of days it took for Trump to say ignore what you see on the tape, forget the rules, the storyline called for Maximum Security to win, so the stewards’ decision was — here comes the buzzword, cultists — “political correctness.” “Bad decision.” To him, all the world is a reality TV show for which he writes the script. </span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">2: Number of Woodstock 50th Anniversary celebrations planned for August 15-16 this year. Michael Lang and Woodstock LLC,, had 50 years to plan the ultimate tribute to the iconic festival without the confusion of the original gathering, but just as the 1969 event got bounced around and suffered from a significant error in available crowd accommodation, Woodstock 50, planned for some reason for Watkins Glen, is a whirl of confusion. The event’s major financial backer, Dentsu Aegis Network’s Amplifi Live, said in a statement: “Despite our tremendous investment of time, effort and co mmitment, we don’t believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock Brand name while also ensuring the health and safety of the artists, partners and attendees.” Lang said his partners had no right to cancel the event and that it was still on, even though you couldn’t buy tickets on the web site. Jay-Z and Miley Cyrus are still coming, Lang assured. He’s suing Dentsu Aegis. Subsequent reports pointed out that, while Watkins Glen is noted for auto racing (the festival is planned for the racetrack), the community does not have hotel and bed and breakfast accommodations to handle the size crowd expected for Woodstock 50. Sound familiar? That means a lot of the space would have to be allotted for campers, which would then cut down on the allowable crowd space, which would then cut down on profits, which would then make Lang’s financial backers’ cold feet explanation more honest. Lang insists Woodstock 50 will be held in Watkins Glen, Aug. 16-18. Oh, that happens to conflict with another 50th celebration of Woodstock at the original site in Bethel. It’s called A Season of Song & Celebration and will be held Aug. 15-18 at Bethel Woods. Naturally, the state is planning major roadwork on the perennially clogged main road to that site during the time the concert is scheduled. Should be like old times.</span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Zero: Chances that folks who get to a concert at either of these sites will care about the mixups. Peace and love.</span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">50-50: Odds Trump will have something to tweet about Woodstock, which, of course, was his idea until Lang stole it. The 1969 crowd would’ve been huuuger if the Donald’s name was on it.</span></li>
<li data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="background-color: black; color: white;">30. It’s a journalism thing. Google it.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></div>
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Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-66099724517024005292019-04-22T16:19:00.000-04:002019-04-22T16:19:31.156-04:00On influence and insensitivity<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-7ddc6442-7fff-3206-ce06-70185ac447cb" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kylie Jenner ... influencer par excellence</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It’s been awhile since I put my name on something I wrote, mostly because there’s really been only one one thing to write about. But other life goes on, so ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Last time out, I wrote about how I had recently come to the realization that, much as I chafed at the designation, given the 21st century dilution of the term and the relaxed admission standards that allow anyone with an attitude and an audience into the club, I was — am — for better or worse, a pundit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my defense, just being able to write that sentence should qualify me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But punditry, I have even more recently learned, is small potatoes (chicken feed, chump change, yesterday’s news) compared to the title to which anyone with any interest in the power of persuasion today should aspire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to be an influencer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Really. It’s a job. I just found out. Some pundi</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Influencer is such a legitimate thing that Forbes Magazine has initiated a list of the Top 10 Influencers for 2018 in a variety of categories. It’s starting with Beauty, Fitness and Home, capitalized I assume for influence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apparently one qualifies for this list by telling tens of thousands — even millions — of people who follow you on social media what beauty products you prefer, the type of fitness regimens, supplements, food, clothes you prefer or let them in on the type of furniture or decor you like to surround yourself with when relaxing at “home.” Then a lot of those people go out and buy the stuff. Companies pay you for your creative messaging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s kinda like being a shill. In fact, it’s exactly like being a shill. It just pays a lot better, if you’re, you know, influential.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you sense me being a bit flippant and sarcastic about this discovery it may at least in part be because I am not just a little bit envious of these people who have discovered a way to earn a good living by sitting home, posting photos and writing blurbs on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites and being paid by companies whose product they promote. You don’t even have to use it. All you really need is a ton of followers who believe you and apparently await your every posting to find out what they should really like, then buy it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For one thing, this says a lot about buying habits today, when so much shopping is done on the internet, with no opportunity to check out the merchandise firsthand. Well, heck, if Randi Jo Cutie Pie says those are cool candles or neat boots or dynamite hair products, they must be. Look, she’s got a million and a half followers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Forbes list was heavily female and mostly millennials, which would suggest that a male in his seventh decade might look for another line of work. It’s also prominently featured on Instagram, which I thought was mostly for sharing cellphone photos. So, on second thought, I’m going to stick to punditry, where I don’t have to worry about competing with Kylie Jenner or Cardi B. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Maybe it’s just me, but … if I’m going to get the news that I’m about to shake off the coils of my current mortal construct and rejoin the Greater Consciousness in some other form real soon, I want a living, breathing doctor standing next to my bed delivering the diagnosis as compassionately as possible, not a streaming image of someone, presumably a doctor, on a screen on a machine wheeled into my hospital room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ernest Quintana didn’t get that personal treatment at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Fremont, Calif. Instead, with his 33-year-old granddaughter standing by his bedside, the 78-year-old, who had been admitted to the hospital for the third time in 15 days because of difficulty breathing, heard the headset-wearing image on the screen say there was serious lung damage. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can treat very effectively,” the image said. He also said giving his “patient” morphine might help with pain, but would make breathing more difficult. He topped off his “On Demand” consultation by responding to a question about hospice care thusly: “I don’t know if he’s going to get home.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The grand daughter was mortified, as were Quintana’s wife and daughter, who had briefly left the hospital to go home and shower. They complained to the hospital, which was semi-apologetic. Quintana died two days later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They call it telemedicine and it presumably has its place, but a spokesperson for the AMA said delivering a death sentence electronically should be a doctor’s “last choice.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t they teach this stuff in med school?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Speaking of insensitivity, maybe it’s just me, but the State of Virginia would appear to have a serious race issue. The governor, Ralph Northam, is desperately trying to repair his image after a racist yearbook photo of him was published and he subsequently admitted to wearing blackface in his youth. The state’s attorney general admitted likewise. Both men are white. But get this, mere days after her husband pledged to devote the rest of his term to racial equity, his wife, Pam, leading a tour of the governor’s mansion, handed raw, prickly cotton to 13-and-14-year-old black pages and asked them, “Can you imagine being an enslaved person and having to pick this all day?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, they couldn’t and no, they weren’t happy with the hands-on history lesson. Neither were their parents. A former middle school teacher, Northam said she does the same with all the history tours she leads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe they need to re-evaluate that lesson in First Lady school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rjgaydos@gmail.com</span></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-79114791358908376172019-04-10T12:45:00.000-04:002019-04-10T12:54:56.857-04:00Maybe there‘s a little addiction, disorder in all of us<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-6fb6eb49-7fff-5716-b36f-e7ac85af268e" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Addiction and Recovery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Opioids and alcohol get most of the attention, although marijuana, currently undergoing a reputation rehabilitation, has been grabbing plenty of headlines lately. But if you spend any amount of time studying the issue, it doesn’t take long to wonder if there isn’t an addiction, compulsion, behavioral disorder — call it what you will — for every human on the planet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some conditions are more serious than others, but all </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7522992951009676226" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">either involve the brain’s reward system or relieve anxiety, stimulate compulsive use and bring with them an opportunity for negative consequences. Consider the following an inventory of sorts, a look at some of the substances people use or behaviors they engage in, perhaps to excess. Maybe someone you know shows some of the signs of trouble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Medically recognized substance use disorders</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alcohol Use Disorder:</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Alcohol is a depressant. Alcohol use disorder is more common among adult men than among women, but the gap is narrowing. It typically develops at a young age. Severe use is commonly referred to as alcoholism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Caffeine Intoxication: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heavy intake of caffeine resulting in symptoms including restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, gastrointestinal disturbance, rambling thoughts and speech, cardiac rhythm disturbances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cannabis Use Disorder:</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Highest among 18- to29-year-olds. Often the first drug used and often used with other drugs. Prevalence decreases with age.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hallucinogen Use Disorder: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These substances alter perception. Phencyclidine — “angel dust” or PCP — produces feelings of separation of mind from body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inhalant Use Disorder:</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Sniffing glue. Inhalant substances are volatile hydrocarbons, toxic gases that are released from glues, fuels and paints, that can have psychoactive effects. Occurs primarily among ages 12 to 17.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Opioid Use Disorder:</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Opioid drugs include heroin and prescription pain-relievers such as oxycodone, codeine, morphine, and fentanyl. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, opioid-related overdoses are now the leading cause of death in Americans under 50 years of age and prescribed opioids are the “overwhelming initial source” of addiction.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sedative, Hypnotic, or Anxiolytic Use Disorder:</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Addiction to sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medications (Valium, Xanax, Librium). These are brain depressants. Rates are highest among 18- to 29-year-olds.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stimulant Use Disorder:</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This group include amphetamines, Ritalin and cocaine. These drugs are commonly prescribed for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Cocaine use in the U.S. is highest among those aged 18 to 25.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tobacco Use Disorder:</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Nicotine in tobacco acts as a stimulant for the central nervous system. Studies show that 68 percent of adult smokers want to quit and 50 percent of smokers have tried.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Behavioral disorders</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Binge-eating disorder (overeating disorder): </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uncontrolled eating, often accompanied by purging (bulimia).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gambling disorder: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of the quick feedback, it can provide reward symptoms to the brain much like alcohol or cocaine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gaming disorder: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It has been recognized officially by the World Health Organization, but is still under study in the United States for classification as an addictive behavior. Other behaviors under study include smartphone use, Internet gambling, pornography, eating and shopping. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Compulsive behaviors</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> These can include such things as hoarding, shopping, sex, eating, gambling, exercise, even talking compulsively. While the behaviors may not provide the pleasure reward of an addiction, they serve to relieve anxiety and stress and, if unchecked, can have serious negative consequences in a person’s life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What else to know</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Simply put, an addiction is a repetitive use of a substance or engagement in a behavior because of the rewards message the substance or behavior transmits to the brain, despite numerous negative consequences the activity produces in the person’s life. Tolerance increases with time. The person may not even be aware of the damage being done by the behavior, or may continue in spite of it. At some point, the substance or behavior may dominate the addicted person’s daily life. It is highly likely that these conditions are accompanied by other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Science has been unable to come up with one cause of addiction, nor can it predict who will become addicted. However, there are numerous risk factors that can be recognized, some of which may be avoidable, some not. Genetics/family history play a significant role in determining vulnerability as do environmental factors, including growing up in a dysfunctional family and early exposure to substances or abuse. The presence of other mental health issues can also contribute to susceptibility to addictive behavior. Even physiology may play a role since men seem to be more susceptible to addiction than women.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That said, there are a number of conditions that can predict the presence of an addiction. The following list is adapted from one used by the Mayo Clinic. Substitute the specific substance or behavior for the word “drug.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Not meeting obligations and school, family or work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it's causing problems in your life or causing you physical or psychological harm.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Driving or engaging in other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from the effects of the drug.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Generally, two or three symptoms suggest a mild disorder, four or five a moderate one and anything more, a severe disorder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The good news is that there is a variety of treatment available for all these conditions. If a problem is suspected, don’t try to deal with it alone. Consult with a health professional (doctor, psychologist, social worker, addiction specialist) and begin the road to recovery.</span></div>
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Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-60083427003939069542019-03-16T14:04:00.000-04:002019-03-16T14:04:20.796-04:00Are you now or have you ever ...?<div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<b>By Bob Gaydos</b></div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><a data-mce-href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/92324DB5-BC1E-481E-B784-C8A03FA395E5.jpeg" href="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/92324DB5-BC1E-481E-B784-C8A03FA395E5.jpeg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none;"><img alt="Jeanine Pirro ... asked the question" class="size-medium wp-image-14860" data-mce-src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/92324DB5-BC1E-481E-B784-C8A03FA395E5-300x181.jpeg" src="http://zestoforange.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/92324DB5-BC1E-481E-B784-C8A03FA395E5-300x181.jpeg" height="181" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;"><strong style="-webkit-user-drag: none;">Jeanine Pirro</strong><br />
<strong style="-webkit-user-drag: none;">... asked the question</strong></dd></dl>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">It was at once the most astounding and easiest to answer question ever posed to an American president: “Are you now or have you ever worked for Russia, Mr. President?”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">That’s a yes or no answer, with “no” being the preferred option. Unless you’re Donald Trump, in which case you say, "I think it's the most insulting thing I’ve ever been asked. I think it's the most insulting article I’ve ever had written. And if you read the article, you'd see that they found absolutely nothing."</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">“They” was a reference to The New York Times which published an article reporting that the FBI had opened a counterintelligence investigation into Trump the day after he fired FBI Director James Comey. The article said the secret investigation was passed on to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who was appointed in the wake of Comey’s firing.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Back to the question. It was posed not in a challenging way and not by an antagonistic interviewer. Rather, it came from someone Trump picked himself, “Judge” Jeanine Pirro, who is not only his most vocal supporter at Fox News, but someone who gives the impression she would satisfy pretty much any favors the Donald would like in return for a position in his cabinet. Say attorney general. Even solicitor general.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">But in his eagerness to defend himself and insult the sources of the question, to engage in his usual deflection, Trump never just said the obvious: “No.” He got around to that a day later (“I never worked for Russia,” he said.) after virtually everyone on Twitter and some White House aides who have not been furloughed because he shut the government down pointed out the glaring omission.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">And so here we are. A TV commentator has, on the air, asked the president of the United States — a phrase I reluctantly attach to Trump for the sake of accuracy — if he is, in effect, a traitor.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Maybe it’s just me, but I think that is extraordinary. Even more extraordinary is that virtually no one in his political party seems to have an opinion on this — at least not publicly — and two days later the big story was Trump serving fast food burgers and fries at the White House to the national college football champions from Clemson University, because apparently that’s what he thinks finely tuned athletes, whose diets are monitored, eat routinely. Never mind the insult.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I write this, not in the hopes of convincing any suddenly awakening Trump supporters of the unrelenting awfulness of the man, never mind being the only president to ever be asked if he is a traitor. That time has passed. No, this is selfish. If it’s true that nothing ever disappears from the Internet, I want future browsers and historians to know that some of us saw what was going on and spoke out about it while others buried their heads in the sands of delusion or lined their pockets with the bitter fruits of enabling (Republicans) and exploitation (evangelicals).</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I also want the Greater Consciousness to know I did my part in promoting peace, love and understanding. And yes, I know it knows, but I somehow feel better putting it in writing.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">And, covering all bets, I want the Kirk Cameron “Left Behind” evangelicals waiting for the Rapture to know that my version of it has the guy with the MAGA bumper sticker who tosses beer cans on my lawn one day noticing a pile of clothes — wrinkled jeans, a black hoodie and a gray knit cap — lying in the driveway while I enjoy another balmy day in Heaven, watching reruns of the Trump impeachment hearings, eating tacos and listening to Sinatra.</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, it seems fitting to me if, many millennia from now, the dominant beings, whatever they might be, discover this ancient form of communication, decipher it, and conclude, “Once upon a time, a species known as human beings ruled Earth when it was abundant with riches. For some reason, they chose the most ignorant, ill-equipped, amoral person to be their leader. They were difficult times. Ugliness abounded. Only the persistent efforts of some outspoken humans saved the planet.”</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I may be angry and astounded, but I still prefer happy endings.</span></div>
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Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522992951009676226.post-68303927540173671182019-02-26T21:04:00.000-05:002019-02-26T21:04:12.196-05:00Physical recovery is vital to sobriety<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-63f11282-7fff-ee04-5d47-386234b1081b" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Addiction and Recovery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Bob Gaydos</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOV7tH5brHIdR2y6sVF6A2NWkVm_jhK6kdjC2gbmconbL3y9bq9SoKg_TAkVAHCONSkgLp_s3h3GmAmd07q7nb24RJyc34joBRDMo41nAp5zUgAEYYCVEOl1BAWQZomMQtxqZOjY05mjWb/s1600/C6EBFCC1-A67A-4AB3-BEC2-A6A4A41E7F26.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="636" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOV7tH5brHIdR2y6sVF6A2NWkVm_jhK6kdjC2gbmconbL3y9bq9SoKg_TAkVAHCONSkgLp_s3h3GmAmd07q7nb24RJyc34joBRDMo41nAp5zUgAEYYCVEOl1BAWQZomMQtxqZOjY05mjWb/s320/C6EBFCC1-A67A-4AB3-BEC2-A6A4A41E7F26.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Alcoholism/drug addiction is often characterized as a threefold disease — mental, physical and spiritual. People in recovery hear a lot about the need for mental therapy and, especially in 12-step programs, the need for a spiritual awakening if they want to get and stay clea</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">n and sober.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Experience has shown both to be important, but the physical aspect of the disease is frequently overlooked in recovery, even though prolonged substance abuse can wreak more physical havoc on the body than any other disease.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Depending on their drug (or drugs) of choice, people who abuse substances can do damage to their brain, liver and other organs, as well as their circulatory, cardiovascular, digestive and immune systems. Skin and teeth may also be affected. It’s not just that alcohol or drugs directly affect the body, dependence on them creates and reinforces negative lifestyles. Eating regularly becomes less important. A healthful diet isn’t even in the equation. Exercise? How fast can I walk to the liquor store?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet all too often, persons in recovery, thrilled or scared to be living without drinking or using, carry on with the same unhealthful lifestyle that has become their norm. A diet of fast food or processed food. Little to no exercise. Smoking. They may feel lousy and wonder what was the purpose of getting sober. They also may resort to habit and do what used to make them feel better — reach for a drink or pop a pill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recovering physically is a critical hedge against relapse. It is a vital part of the recovery process and establishing new, healthy lifestyle habits can lay the groundwork for years of healthy sobriety.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is not to say it’s easy to all of a sudden start trying to eat healthfully and get exercise when the primary focus of one's life has become not drinking or using drugs. Quitting smoking may have to wait. Sobriety must come first. But it’s also possible — necessary — to begin to make changes in lifestyle. Start slowly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The best approach would be to get a physical checkup so that a health care provider can assess what shape the abused body is in and what nutrients may be lacking. Taking that information to a nutritionist should be next. In a perfect world, a healthful diet and exercise regimen is suggested and followed and, eventually, a new, healthy person is created. Success!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But since we’re dealing with alcoholics and drug addicts, there’s bound to be resistance. So addiction counselors suggest keeping it simple to start. Set regular mealtimes and keep them. Drink plenty of water between meals to avoid dehydration. Eat more healthful foods and snacks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a guide, there's the United States Department of Agriculture’s pyramid of six healthful food groups. It’s a simple and basic foundation for a new diet. Here’s the hard part to start: Eliminate (as much as possible) processed foods, sodas, cakes, candy and fast food from the diet. They may make you feel good temporarily (especially the sugars), but your body will thank you for removing them or reducing their presence in your diet. Stop shopping in the middle aisles of the supermarket or stopping at the drive-up window of the Golden Arches. Instead, select foods from the USDA list:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Fruits: apples, berries, melons, pears, grapes, avocados, bananas, grapefruit and oranges. Fresh is best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Vegetables: broccoli, squash, bell peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, other green, leafy vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions and asparagus. Be generous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Oils and fats: olive, safflower, corn. Avoid trans fats. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Healthy whole grains: oatmeal, 100 percent whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, tortillas, pasta.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Lean meat, poultry and fish: salmon, mackerel, shellfish, turkey and/or chicken (remove the skin), eggs (sparingly), dry beans, nuts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Milk and milk products: Try low fat or skim milk, nonfat cottage cheese, yogurt, high-fat cheeses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vitamin and mineral supplements may also be helpful.(The physical checkup should reveal deficiencies.) It’s not uncommon to be lacking in B-complex, zinc, vitamins A, C and. D.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, the way to maximize the positive effects of a healthier diet is to exercise. For those in recovery, it’s good to know that becoming more fit not only improves cardiovascular health, reduces weight, builds strength and stamina and rejuvenates the immune system, it can also help alleviate depression and even add brain cells. That's huge in recovery. Another benefit of sticking to a healthier diet and fitness regimen — it can lead to a more normal sleep schedule.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again, the key is to not be overwhelmed by the idea of exercising and at least do something within whatever physical limitations there may be. Walking regularly is a good start. Try gentle yoga. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joanna (not her real name), is a health care worker from Ulster County. When she decided to stop drinking, instead of going to rehab she focused on improving her physical health. She was overweight and felt lousy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She consulted doctors of osteopathic medicine locally and “wherever I could find them,” changed her diet and lifestyle, added the nutrients her body was lacking and started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. She lost 35 pounds, feels “great” and recently celebrated one year of recovery — mentally, spiritually and physically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The impact of drugs on nutrition:</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OPIATES (including codeine, oxycodone, heroin, and morphine) affect the gastrointestinal system. Constipation is a common symptom of substance use. Symptoms common during withdrawal include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms may lead to a lack of enough nutrients and an imbalance of electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, and chloride).</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— ALCOHOL use is one of the major causes of nutritional deficiency in the United States. The most common deficiencies are of the B vitamins. A lack of these nutrients causes anemia and nervous system problems. Alcohol use also damages the liver and the pancreas. The liver removes toxins from harmful substances. The pancreas regulates blood sugar and the absorption of fat. Damage to these two organs results in an imbalance of fluids, calories, protein, and electrolytes. Other complications include: Diabetes, high blood pressure, permanent liver damage (or cirrhosis), seizures, severe malnutrition, shortened life expectancy. A woman's poor diet when pregnant, especially if she drinks alcohol, can harm the baby's growth and development in the womb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— STIMULANTS use (such as crack, cocaine, and methamphetamine) reduces appetite and leads to weight loss and poor nutrition. Users of these drugs may stay up for days at a time. They may be dehydrated and have electrolyte imbalances during these episodes. Returning to a normal diet can be hard if a person has lost a lot of weight. Memory problems, which may be permanent, are a complication of long-term stimulant use.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— MARIJUANA can increase appetite. Some long-term users may be overweight and need to cut back on fat, sugar, and total calories.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the National Institutes of Health)</span></div>
Bob Gaydoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12991498716940432156noreply@blogger.com0