A LITTLE INFO ON PTSD

Recently I came across an article in Science Daily on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):  Serotonin System Influences Vulnerability and Treatment. One factor that appears to contribute to the heritable vulnerability to PTSD is a variation in the gene that codes for the serotonin transporter, also known as the serotonin uptake site.  Serotonin is one of the four major neurotransmitters that singly or in combination are targeted by pharmacology research.  Prozac was one of the early drugs to prevent serotonin re-uptake by the body, thus disallowing the benefit of the 'calming' chemical your body has produced.

Listed among anxiety disorders, PTSD may or may not be more prevalent than in the past, but it is now more easily diagnosed.  Research has found brain changes in severe cases of long term abuse. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Approximately 7.7 million American adults age 18 and older, or about 3.5 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have PTSD.^{1, 2}
• PTSD can develop at any age, including childhood, but research shows that the median age of onset is 23 years.⁵
• About 19 percent of Vietnam veterans experienced PTSD at some point after the war.¹³ The disorder also frequently occurs after violent personal assaults such as rape, mugging, or domestic violence; terrorism; natural or human-caused disasters; and accidents.

A study now over a year old shows the work being done to understand the brain changes.  Click here.  Telling people not to be upset over things does not prevent their specific reactions.  While people need to be educated on these matters to prevent further suffering in those who have already developed the condition due to past suffering, many people seem loathe to accept reality, research results, and scientific proof.  (think of the deniers who refuse to accept there was a Holocaust in which Jews were gassed to death, the birthers who will not accept the irrefutable proof placed before them, and those who still believe that Elvis Presley is alive.

THE TEASE IN HEADLINES

This lady lost her home for which the mortgage had been paid up in 1984.  The city sold her tax lien rather than try to collect the money.  Some buyers are behemoths like JP Morgan Chase Co, some are local tax collectors.

The sum is that that most of these are not people who bought homes they could ill afford at the time, but rather, they got ensnared in the tax collector's devious tactics

Using a logic, read here,  that almost all the current ills on earth for mankind stem from over-population, Bill Ryerson has dedicated his life to the stabilization of human population numbers at a level that can be sustained by our ecosystem's resources.  He is the founder and president of the Population Media Center, a non-profit that seeks to improve the well-being of people by using -- believe it! -- melodramatic soap operas on radio and television throughout the developing world (and soon, the U.S.) to teach listeners and viewers important lessons relating to family planning, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and environmental preservation, as well as a thing or two about women's and children's rights.

Alan Greenspan swallowed Ayn Rand's opinions whole heartedly, much to the disaster of the economy of the United States.  He followed her in her denial of allowing regulatory bodies...and she is not around to take responsibility.  It is people who make their living along the Gulf Coast and the people caught up in sub-prime mortgages and all the goodies the rich have pulled on the poor (or the 'small' people as the Chairman of BP called us).

For those who want to read the accompanying article, click here.

The sign turned out to be the one on
 the right!





It makes me wonder if we are dealing with professional media persons, or TV marketers.  One can readily understand why ratings are important but like many other jobs, is it worth prostituting one's self for ratings?  The above examples have not gone that far, but in the interests of not adding my voice to the many complaints being made for those who are, I simply pose the question.
    after the city sold her debt to investors through a contentious and byzantine legal process called a “tax sale.” This little-known type of foreclosure can enrich investors as growing numbers of property owners struggle to pay their bills

WOULD THE COUNTRY RATHER HAVE A BULLY FOR PRESIDENT?

Would the country rather have a bully for President?  Why do people keep saying he is not acting like a Commander in Chief?  We had a loud mouth bully for eight years and I don't think Bush-43 was Presidential at all.  I, for one, think that Obama is doing a great job overall but I think he needs to fire his speech writers of late.  What he says is not what he has done or makes clear his intent and ability to help this country as he has been doing tactfully and, perhaps, too gently.  The man is damned if he does or doesn't do things.  He will be criticized regardless of what or how he does anything and whatever he does will be distorted and lied about, as it has been to date.  Above all, he should cut the recommendation that we all resort to prayer.  I really find that offensive.  He wasn't elected to use prayer as a solution and I know that, though he may personally pray, that is not his first choice as a solution to the country's problems.

Free speech is good.   Those who are using it to tell him what they would do if they were president know nothing about all the facts the president has or of the situations he is trying to handle. Of all those criticizing him, why is Sarah Palin allowed to give her advice on National TV?  The woman has no facts straight and is close to libeling the President as are many who speak out so publicly.  In fact, a headline and article on 6/2/10 wrote  "Obama uses bully pulpit to attack Republicans on the economy" The article was by Sam Youngman

While the Presidency is often referred to as a bully pulpit, I do not believe that the intention of the term 'bully' is as we use the term today.   Robert Reich spoke today about the President not expressing enough indignation. in his last speech.  When will people stop projecting what emotion they are feeling and assuming that it is appropriate for the President to behave as immaturely, seeming as out of control of his feelings.No one should ever deign to avow how another should express their emotions or what they should feel.  As a lawyer, the president has undoubtedly learned not to show emotions freely, if his early life had not trained him to do that first.

When will people allow the man to do his job before the revolution that seems to be happening becomes a bigger crisis than the economy, health care, the oil spill in the gulf of Mexico, and all the liars and sickos who think he is a Muslim, not a citizen, and not 'their' president.

WHERE DID THE 'U' IN 'UN' GO?

There is not much that is less effective than the UN, it would seem, in today's world.  For the amount of money spent (or owed to it) on the United Nations Organization, or at least those published, are pitiful.  A headline like this one is like the parent who says constantly, "If you do that again you will be punished", but the punishment never comes and the behavior continues. "UN urges halt to Kyrgyzstan clashes".  It seems we have another ethnic cleansing while the rest of the world stands by to watch helplessly.  Click here to read,   

Though the word 'peacekeeping does not appear in the UN Charter, a UN web site sees otherwise. Since the US media does not seem to cover achievements, as such, by the UN for the public to be able to clearly understand the UN role, Google steps in.  Click here.

 Not frequently highlighted in our consciousness is the work of UNESCO.  Somehow we have become a society demanding instant gratification.  We expect the impossible from our leaders.  In their attempt top bring peace into the minds of people, UNESCO has done some great work, hands on as well as educational.  However, media prefers to print the salacious, titillating, and that-which-sells news more of the time.  However, those interested might enjoy reading on the following site.

MAJOR REASONS FOR FAILING BID BY MANY POLITICAL INCUMBENTS

This year, the pundits with the crystal balls (I'm not sure those globes are on or off their person) claim that incumbents are vulnerable.  While I hear predictions and even some reference to things which seem negative, such as Specter changing party, but I do not hear that some people have just been self-serving, have made bad votes, have taking bribes, are too thick with those who financed their campaigns, are not people for whom one can have respect for their ethics, morality, or integrity.

Why is it hard too realize that people are just tired of electing people who go to Washington and totally ignore the wishes of their constituents.  Do they truly believe that all citizens have lost their short-term memory and don't remember campaign promises?. While we all know what liars and cheats many who are running campaigns, the many who adore Karl Rove and his tactics,  When candidates stop being fearful that they can go to Washington, help the country even if it means being a one-term elected official, we might start to have more admirable people in Washington.  I understand that not all voters are well-informed, not brainwashed, and ready to toss a vote to 'the other party' because of some perceived issue with someone not of their choosing.

It was appalling to me to hear a Southern 'gentleman' say of Obama, "He's not MY President".  Oh really?  I wonder when he stopped being an American citizen.  I thought it was expected sportsmanship to back whoever became the chosen  President, duly elected. Did I go wrong, or is it time that this country started to recognize all the forces working against it domestically?

MORE 'HAVES /HAVE-NOTS' DIVISION

It is never surprising that voting some not terribly bright people into Washington elected and appointed offices has them has them assuming powers never granted them.  They easily become the fox in the hen house.  The FCC has been a disgrace for many years, totally ignoring guidelines for the media.  They have allowed a Murdoch take-over that in a sense, censors what the public might wish to know and hear.

The latest bit of chutzpah is a planed to ration the Internet high speed.  Maggie Shiels, a tech writer fromSilicon Valley says:  "The Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group, formed by AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Google, Intel and Microsoft, will "develop consensus on broadband network management practices or other related technical issues that can affect users' internet experience".  Those of us old enough to have had years of only telephone dial-up for our Internet access shudder at the thought that there are such insensitive and arrogant people who think they can make decisions as to who should get the highest speeds.

In Baltimore recently, Director of Consumer Research John Horrigan, dekivered a speech last week for delivery at the event "High Speed Fiber and Baltimore's Future" in Baltimore spreading the word about the National Broadband Plan.

Not surprisingly they had to reformulate a plan when the Court decided they could not legally ration speeds at their will, The plan followed a court decision that the FCC had no authority to stop ISPs slowing traffic to some users The ruling was a blow to a central tenet of the agency's broadband plan. It does make my suspicion and wonder rise at how much money might have changed hands as some FCC decisions were being made  clearly outside of all previous practice.  To read Spiels article in its entirety, click here.

Retirement communities, apartment complexes and some places with multiple units do not allow a choice of service  providers.  Move in with a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) acceptance.  You see, we are far from really having total control of our lives or free choices.

 

OPPORTUNISTS STRIKE AGAIN

Whenever things start to look good in the markets, it can be expected somebody with no effort involved to date will try to cash in on the bonanza.  An article in BBC News writes:  "A new type of malware infects PCs using file-share sites and publishes the user's net history on a public website before demanding a fee for its removal."

Blackmail seems to be blackmail wherever it is practiced but, obviously, it is more difficult for some to withstand when it is job threatening.  It continues "The Japanese trojan virus installs itself on computers using a popular file-share service called Winny, used by up to 200m people."  One reported victim is a school headmaster in Japan."

The threat to porn site surfers  gets far more dangerous than ever before.  The Bible discourages Onanism (the do-it-yourself method), so many resorted to the vicarious pleasure of porn.  Now that, too, has become far more dangerous than your spouse finding you at it.  While it may be encouraged in the doctor's office for in vitro implantation of donor sperm it is hardly the heart and soul of porn.

The far right would take away any pleasures of flesh for their believers, but for those for whom it is not immoral, these blackmailers surely are causing grave and heart wrenching problems and debits...to say nothing of the fear of being found out with threats of making it all public!

It certainly suggests that sharing on a computer is not advisable.  Even choosing your friends can be risky, as many find out.  Friends aren't always what they would have you believe.  You can rest assured, that Internet 'friends' are even riskier.