THUGS.....AND WHY WE LOVE THEM..!!!!

MENTAL ILLNESS FOR DUMMIES

The time has come for me to try to educate the public on the topic of mental illness.

Mental illness is not a passing fad, nor is it to be dismissed as a slump in one’s thinking. Mental illness affects 1 out of every 6 persons, and can be temporary or long lasting. Mental illness can also be genetic, as well as a result of environmental variables such as physical and verbal abuse, or as a result of peer pressure leading to anorexia and bulimia. Mental illness can mild as well as severe and can affect one or many persons, like when a schizophrenic goes berserk and starts a shooting spree.

(A lot of you will believe in mental illness when staring down the barrel of a gun, right? Although some Christians will think only think the person is just evil and doing the work of the devil, but then again I believe religion is a form of severe mental illness but I digress….)

Mental illness is also attributed to chemical imbalances in one’s body that can result in altered states – just as how a lack of insulin causes diabetes, or a lack of certain vitamins can lead to scurvy or rickets.

Please note: mental illness is different from brain damage or mental retardation which are a result of physical influences and not mental illness.

Let me try to relate to you how mental illness is a real ailment and not “made-up’ by people:

When you feel ‘ill’ with no physical symptoms – how do you get the doctor to believe you and diagnose your illness? You tell him what you are feeling. So why should he believe you? Think about it – if you’re feeling severe pain in your arm of which there is not any physical evidence, you’re left to describe what you pain feels like to the doctor, when it occurs and what aggravated your pain. OR, if you are having a migraine – how is he to know or believe you? You’re just describing how your feeling – and he cannot find anything physically wrong. However you say you are in pain, you describe what you are going through, and based on your description the doctor will recommend or prescribe medication to alleviate your pain…or possibly lead to a cure.

We take for granted that doctors can diagnose non-visual physical symptoms, but for some inane reason the public cannot understand mental illness symptoms which uses the EXACT same process?

Why can’t you accept it?

Just like physical symptoms a person describes how they are thinking and feeling, what are their thoughts, what triggered a particular episode or incident, and what the resulting action was. Based on this input the physiatrist prescribes medication to alleviate the symptoms with medication and therapy.

Mental illness is not something that one can snap out of, no more than anyone can just snap out of recurring migraine headaches, recurring muscle cramps, nor snap out of recurring acid reflux or nausea.

And left untreated mental illness – just like physical illnesses – it can result in death.

Think about that instead.

Stop being ignorant and take some time to learn about mental illness – you just might be surprised at what you learn.

For more information on mental illnesses go here.

THE FACE OF ALL THAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA

He started the current "religious conservative" movement - and I will NEVER forgive him for that.

He implemented unbridled de-regulation of the markets that lead to the numerous 'bubbles' that keep plaguing our country and the mentality that "greed is good".

He's the one who said "we're gonna run this country like a corporation". Yeah, where the ones of the bottom rungs of the ladder were dispensable - usually minorities.

He's the one who planted the idea of "tickle-down economics" with tax cuts for the wealthy. He's now entrenched as the god and idol of the wealthy.

He's the one who came out against and planted the idea of how bad "socialized medicine" would be.

His economic policies were the contributing factors to the current federal deficit problems.

The only positive thing that came out of the Reagan's presidency was his foreign policies - which helped to bring an end to the Cold War.

The legacy he left behind is not one to be proud of. But again, love him or hate him - his presidency was a memorable one.

HEARD ON THE STREET

I love classical music, but it’s, like, over.

Last night, all I wanted to do was murder everyone. For reals.

I told you, love sores hurt good.

Kelly, I might as well tell you I tried cocaine on Fire Island.

I’m Google/Facebook stalking girls I used to have crushes on.

Tell all your hefty friends I don’t want them around me.

I have 31 male cousins and a brother, so yeah, I know how to wrestle.

Washing is not just rubbing it on your face.

Watching him make decisions is like watching a cow poop in the woods.

You actually did leave your panties in a bunch on my floor last night. I washed them for you, because I am a nice person.

Since when did you care about stains, Mr. Come?

Hit me. I’ve got nothing but time, kid. That and $3, some dirty underwear and an ugly wife.

I’d like to develop a sexting relationship with your mother. You down?

If you don’t go to Costa Rica once in your life, you are fucking retarded.

I figured I’d nice it up with ass-smoothies.

Dude, you’re never going to believe what I heard today: Mike got another girl pregnant.

That baby don’t even look like a baby. It look like an old-ass man.

I wish that heifer would say that to my face! I would run her over with this goddamned train!

Who the hell is L.A. guy?

I didn’t know what was going on until Megan Maced herself.

Are you asking me to marry you? We’ve been over this before.

(Courtesy of TimeOut Chicago.)

THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER

Have you ever wondered what a kid goes through when he joins the army? This set of over 50-odd pics in vivid clarity gives you a glimpse of days in the life of a young soldier joining, training, being deployed, the effect on his life at homes, etc. They say a picture is worth a thousand words – this is proof of that. .

Very well done – kudos to The Denver Post!!!!!

Click here to go directly to the feature.

(Time to play "sports lesbian" and do) AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHICAGO BEARS - they SUUUUUUUCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!

Look, I am loyal to my city’s sports teams and almost fanatically embrace the philosophy that “baseball dives Chicago; football unites us”, but the performance of the Chicago Bears this season has forced me to re-think my unquestioned devotion to the team.

The Chicago Bears were Super Bowl winners in the ‘80s, even creating the 80s lexicon ‘the Super Bowl Shuffle’. Up to January of 2007 the Bears again made it to the Super Bowl for that season, but lost after a hard-fought battle against the Indiana Colts. Even in 2008 the Bears played a good season losing a steady set of wins to the Minnesota Vikings. .

But this year? I have to use a well know acronym to describe what many in Chicago are asking: WTF?!

Not only have the Bears been losing, but they’re losing badly.

Two weekends ago they lost spectacularly to the Cincinnati Bengals in a game ending 45 to 10. To lose by 35 points was just……HARSH.

The following week the Bears – fortified in strength by the humiliating loss the week before to one Ohio team, took their frustration out against the other Ohio team – the Cleveland Browns – and won by 30 points (CIN 6, CHI 36).

Today, however, the team seems to have forgotten any winning strategy whatsoever, and are being solidly whipped by the Arizona Cardinals. In the first quarter the Cardinals lead 14 to 7, and by the end of the first half they had increased their score by – well – TOO MUCH: 28 to 7.

The game is now in the last quarter and a lot has happened. The team’s quarterback Jay Cutler has been thrown out temporarily, the opposing team has increased the gap to 34, leaving the Bears holding on to the single digit of 7. The Bears defense has been non-existent, and the offense has been too busy changing their tampons to fully participate in the game going on around them.

Do I sound bitter?

To quote my loathed nemesis Sarah Palin: “You betcha’!”

When Rex Grossman was leading the team in the 2006/2007 the city crucified him, and suggested that they switch quarterbacks in order to make it to the Super Bowl. The difference is that Grossman lead the team to a Super Bowl, while Culter now struggles in Grossman’s shadow.

Will the Bears make any sedge way toward the Super Bowl? At this time it seems extremely unlikely, but the future is oh so unpredictable.

Kinda like saying the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series…..one day……….

LADY GAGA DRESSES FOR HOLLOWEEN

Nice........

(Courtesy of Vogue.)

SLAG OF THE MONTH...NO, WAIT! SLAG OF THE YEAR.....

Today, The Adrian Spot announces it's first ever 'Slag of the Year' Award which is being handed out early this year to honor it's sole nominee and subsequent winner - alleged political pundit Liz Cheney.

Liz Cheney - devil spawn of former Vice President Dick Cheney and right hand to Mephistopheles - recently came out and criticized President Obama for going to Dover Air Force Base to meet and honor the bodies of patriotic Americans who died in the current war in Afghanistan.

During an interview late this week on Faux Radio (the mouthpiece of the now-sanctioned-right-wing-nutcase-strong Republican Party) she made the following comment:

"I think that what President Bush used to do is do it without the cameras. And I don't understand sort of showing up with the White House Press Pool with photographers and asking family members if you can take pictures. That's really hard for me to get my head around...It was a surprising way for the president to choose to do this."

Um, Honorary Slag-of-the-Year, neither 'Dubya' nor the monster that created the evil sperm that sullied an egg in your mother's lair to hatch you in the burning seas of sulfur ever bothered to make any such trips but instead publicly upheld a ban on the photographing of fallen soldiers that was implemented by...who?! NO WAY! Was it really 'Dubya's' father, failed number 41 himself - President 'H' Bush?

If it wasn't so sad and wrong it'd be funny.

President Obama is the first president in recent times to go at 3 am in the morning to meet and pay respect to our honorable fallen soldiers and their families, which makes me respect him even more as the leader of this great country.

And your actions is despicable not only as an unwanted public figure, but as an American.

It was you and your actions that qualified you as the winner of the 'Slag of the Year' award.

Please. Take it.

And put it in your place where the sun will never, ever shine.

HOT MEN

Haven't done this in a while.........enjoy!!!

POLITICAL CARTOONS

MOVIE RECOMMENDATION: "Precious"

I first heard about this movie one evening as the telly played “Entertainment Tonight” in the background. The presenter was describing this as the first real contender for the Oscars next year, so I turned around to watch the trailer.

HUGE MISTAKE. I don’t think I have the stamina to watch this guaranteed tear-jerker!!

From ‘The Movie Insider’:

With sheer audacity and utter authenticity, director Lee Daniels tackles "Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire" and creates an unforgettable film that sets a new standard for cinema of its kind.

Precious Jones (Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe) is a high-school girl with nothing working in her favor. She is pregnant with her father's child - for the second time. She can't read or write, and her schoolmates tease her for being fat. Her home life is a horror, ruled by a mother (Mo'Nique) who keeps her imprisoned both emotionally and physically. Precious's instincts tell her one thing: if she's ever going to break from the chains of ignorance, she will have to dig deeply into her own resources.

Don't be misled - "Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire" is not a film wallowing in the stillness of depression; instead, it vibrates with the kind of energy derived only from anger and hope. The entire cast are amazing; they carry out a firestorm of raw emotion. Daniels has drawn from them inimitable performances that will rivet you to your seat and leave you too shocked to breathe.

If you passed Precious on the street, you probably wouldn't notice her. But when her story is revealed, as Daniels does in this courageous film, you are left with an indelible image of a young woman who - with creativity, humor, and ferocity - finds the strength to turn her life around.

So what, this is another tear jerker movie.

What gives?

Well, for starters, is a collaboration between Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. Oprah has money and can throw away 15 million and wouldn’t miss it, but Tyler Perry validated this movie – his movies always has a moral in the storyline.

Then there are the actors: Mariah Carey is getting RAVE reviews for her unglamorous role as a civil servant in the Welfare Office. Comedienne Mo’Nique seems to have put aside her notorious ego and tackled this head on. Lennie Kravitz plays a starring role also in this movie.

Already winning awards – the 2009 Sundance Film Festival Award – this is sure to be the talked about movie of the year!

Watch the trailer to see what I am talking about BUT BE WARNED: ya’ gonna need the Kleenex just to watch the trailer alone!!

WHITE HOUSE PHOTOS

Air Force One against the rising sun.

A place setting in the president's private dining room.

President Obama meets with Chris Lu in the Blue Room.

President Obama listens to his Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel.

First Lady Michelle Obama and members of the 2016 Chicago Olympic Bid team prior to take-off from Cophenhagen, Denmark.

The president's morning brief on the famed Oval Office desk.

The president and daughter Sasha at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington.

Cue settings for the heads of state during the recent G-20 summit in Pittsburgh.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama console Paul and Janet Monti, parents of Army Sgt. 1st. Class Jared C. Monti in the Blue Room following a Medal of Honor ceremony.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama help paint along with other volunteers at a Habitat for Humanity site in Washington.

The president playing basketball with members of staff during his vacation at Martha's Vineyard this summer.

C.R.A.Z.Y.: One of the best movies I've ever seen - ever, ever, ever, ever!

Simply blown away by this movie, not at all what I expected.

C.R.A.Z.Y. is the story of a family in Montreal set in the ‘60s and 70s. Zac, the fourth of five brothers, is born on Christmas Day in 1960, and at once his life starts in a turbulent way. The story focuses on the relationship between Zac, his brothers, and his father. All the boys are rough and rowdy, but Zac was special and born with a gift, his mother will tell anyone who listens. However, as they grow up Zac and his eldest brother change from boisterous kids to troubled young men, each with his own demon bent on controlling their lives.

It’s a story of growing up, self discovery, living up to expectations, living up to an image

From IMDb: “ It's a story of two love affairs. A father's love for his five sons. And one son's love for his father, a love so strong it compels him to live a lie. That son is Zac Beaulieu, born on the 25th of December 1960, different from all his brothers, but desperate to fit in. During the next 20 years, life takes Zac on a surprising and unexpected journey that ultimately leads him to accept his true nature and, even more importantly, leads his father to love him for who he really is. A mystical fable about a modern-day Christ-like figure, "C.R.A.Z.Y" exudes the beauty, the poetry and the madness of the human spirit in all its contradictions”.

The soundtrack to the movie perfectly aligns itself to the narrative of the story and features hits from Patsy Cline, David Bowie, Pink Floyd – just to name a few, woven into the storyline along classical orchestra music.

The visuals are stunning, the cinematography amazing, complete with just the right touch of symbolism without seeming too avant-garde or overpowering.

French (with subtitles), this is really a must see!

PICTURE OF THE EXTRERIOR OF MY LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH..

Can you say "making a point"?

Where do I start - that "babies" are not aborted - fetuses are?

That abortion is a woman's choice and the church should focus more time on prevention rather than religious rhetoric?

That if these 3300 "babies" were born, how would we care for them? We already have too many children in the system unable to find homes, who are kicked out on the streets at the age of 18 with no support and no money to help them survive on their own?

That if the church backed gay adoption we might be able to take care of SOME of of the children stuck in the system?

Let's just say I had to use all my resolve NOT to drive my car all over those crosses........idiots.....