Openly Eccentric - Open Thread 6/12/2016

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I'm a heck of a lot younger than most people here. I totally get that. At the same time, I'm amazed at how different the life experiences can be and yet still bring people to the same place. I mean, how did I, with my vastly different life, get to the same point as so many others? I've lived a life I'm not always proud of, but wouldn't trade the knowledge gained, that I can pass on and help others with, for anything.

I guess I get to this point because I actually listen to people who disagree with me, and think over what they have to say. It makes it difficult on social media, because there's always somebody who disagrees with you, and will do their best to change your opinion. Sometimes they hurt to listen to, because they tell the truth. Sometimes they hurt to listen to, because it's the same lies you tell yourself. I sometimes wonder whether the ability to listen to others is a curse as much as it is a blessing.

I sometimes try to imagine myself without a conscience. It's really hard, because I just can't think how important I MUST BE. I look around at my kids, and the people who help me, and I never feel that I am worth much. I can't imagine how it must feel to think of yourself as so important that you destroy everyone around you. Perhaps that is my true egotism, that I can't stand to have folks think ill of me. And then that thought process reminds me of C.S. Lewis' writing, as much often does, about the desire to be humble, and to be thought of virtuous because of being humble... and here's where I laugh at myself and move on to things that matter...

I am glad to be returning to writing. Was very upset to miss last week, and want to thank hecate for giving me the opportunity to post what I had. It meant an awful lot to me, and I find that acknowledgement costs nothing, but means a lot, so...

I am a bit morose today. My mother sent me a collection of photographs from my Grandmother's house. (She Died last month) I honestly wish my folks would stop sending me things to erase a bit more of me from their lives. I already tried to make a clean break, and I'm sick of them twisting the knife a little every few weeks.

----

Germany's doing their best to address their past. Unfortunately, those that defend genocide are out in force. I find it quite sad that Turkey has decided to completely ignore their role, and even to attack those who point it out. Seems that Clinton would be quite at home over there.

Climate change is getting insane, and Canada, once again, is right in the middle of it. Yep, the same place that was overwhelmed by fire, is now drowning in a flood.

Here's one that's just sad to me. Apparently about 80% of North Americans can no longer see the Milky Way. I honestly have noticed more and more flashing lights as I get older... And I hadn't even thought about the fact I haven't seen the Milky Way in years. The last time I remember seeing it, I wasn't looking because I was scared for my life...

And here's something the US Military could desperately use. Apparently Australia has figured out that ART is therapy for those suffering from the scars of war. As an actor, and somebody who enjoys painting, this is not news for me, but lord knows the pentagon could sure use the memo.

And to finish off with some music, I just feel like something pleasant and goofy today. Hope nobody minds.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6oXW_YiV6g][video:https://www.youtube.c...

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Bisbonian's picture

You have probably heard of this, but just in case, I thought I would post it anyway:

What if PTSD is more Physical than Psychological

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

detroitmechworks's picture

There seems to be a conflation of TBI with PTSD. I do admit the two are often found together, but the treatment is far different...

A disturbing trend that I've found with treatment (Slightly off the subject) is the attempt to make "Cannabis Oil" or "Hemp Oil" the focus of study for treatment of conditions, and to attempt to focus only on extremely specific symptoms. While I get that science tries to boil down experimental variables, in this case, I think it's the wrong-headed approach, especially considering that rendered and concentrated extracts are patentable and exploitable by big Pharma, while Marijuana flowers are not...

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

enhydra lutris's picture

the FDA (the plant) under rules grandfathering trad supplements. They wouldn't but insisted on only approving a patentable extract.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

mimi's picture

new findings that one should definitely know about.

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Only connect. - E.M. Forster

mimi's picture

when I realized what it meant I was already too tired to start up my laptop to correct myself. Thanks anyway. I think those results are mind boggling. It would explain quite a bit.

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Scientific American published a joint Israeli and American study, "Trauma can be Inherited", about the physical changes in the brains and bodies of Holocaust survivors. The survivor's brains were altered, and they had higher levels of cortisol stress hormones - the surprising thing is that their children did, too.

The difference being that the kids adapted and developed defenses against the stress hormones. As a child of a Holocaust survivor, I find this interesting. It has so many impacts for so many people today all over the world.

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lotlizard's picture

Why even after three generations, Palestinians’ trauma doesn’t go away either.

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WindDancer13's picture

There will be calls for more research, for drug trials, for better helmets and for expanded veteran care.

How about an end to war? Why isn't that the first thought?

(Rhetorical questions.)

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

riverlover's picture

Please put them in a box, and save them for your kids. It's their ggrandmother, who they may never have met, but it's their family line from you. They understand (I hope) your family break and your reasons for that. But those people are out there. My father never explained what caused his break with his father (my Pop-pop) who I think I saw twice, and went to his funeral and met that family line for the first time when I was 23. That grandmother died young, before I was born. Anyway, save them for your kids to do with whatever they decide later. They don't even have to be told of their existence, but probably should. Family secrets are everywhere, and when discovered are usually mystifying as to why someone thought that was awful.

As far as c99: I hope you see that age is nothing. It's beliefs that matter. Hope your day goes well.

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detroitmechworks's picture

Unfortunately, my mother sent me no photographs of my grandmother, just photographs of me as a child. I don't want to try to read too much into the motives, but combined with the sending back of all the gifts my children sent her, It feels like an attempt to hurt me.

And yes, I admit that I ramble a bit about being younger. Just different experiences, and so I sometimes lack the references of others.

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riverlover's picture

Most of us are interested in seeing the young parents, as children, before they met and produced us. Always funny or pensive.

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WindDancer13's picture

different or end up different. My feeling about why my parents continue to contact me is because they have a picture in their heads of them being these great and wonderful parents, and there is just something wrong with me.

Be wary of any letters or emails that suggest they are considering that maybe you have a different opinion, and they love you so much so won't you please explain to them what the problem is. Don't do it! I only mentioned a few high points to them. and they each wrote separate letters back to me letting me just what a horrible person I was for thinking they had ever done anything wrong. This included saying that I (as an 11 year old) had seduced my uncle.

I sincerely hope the best for you. I have found myself to be a lot saner since I cut off any and all contact with them. Any emails I receive from them now, I trash without opening.

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

cybrestrike's picture

...last night.

Breaking: Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting: About 20 dead in act of terrorism, police say

A gunman burst into Pulse, a gay (it's really LGBT technically) nightclub on South Orange Avenue, around 2am last night. Over 40 wounded, and at least 20 dead, in an incident the OPD are referring to as domestic terrorism. I saw this on my Facebook feed as it was going on, no one knew what was happening, and friends trying to find out if anyone they knew was in there. I've many friends who are regulars there, and some who didn't go last night. I've been there several times. Situation is crazy.

This situation, while horrible, could have been worse. Pulse is a ways further down on South Orange, in the SoDo (South Downtown) District. If this had taken place anywhere near where Orange intersects with Central Blvd (the downtown core, where the majority of nightclubs, bars, and pedestrians--they close the street for several blocks after 10pm or so--are located)...things would be down right 100 times worse.

I'm still in a bit of shock over the incident. These kind of things don't normally happen in Orlando. Yes, we're in Florida, and stuff gets weird with the bath salts zombie, giant gator, and the occasional high profile court cases...but nothing like this.

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Bisbonian's picture

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Alison Wunderland's picture

It's so disheartening that these massacres happen day after day after day. [[[[[cybrestrike]]]]], I hope none of your friends were involved.

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elenacarlena's picture

Have they caught anyone yet? If not, stay home and stay safe. Please keep us posted.

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cybrestrike's picture

He was shot and killed in the ensuing police response. U.S. Citizen, according to authorities.

Newspaper said that Mateen was from Port St. Lucie. I've been to Port St. Lucie. The people there, as generally on the Florida coasts, are the most chilled out people in this state besides anyone from the Keys. So far no one I know was there, but it's still early. Orlando is a big "small town" even though it looks like a city. Everyone knows everyone to some extent. Especially the nightlife community (service industry, bands, club/bar owners, and downtown regulars) are all interconnected in all sorts of ways.

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hecate's picture

"This had nothing to do with religion. We were in Downtown Miami, Bayside, people were playing music. And he saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and kid and he got very angry. They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said, 'Look at that. In front of my son they are doing that.' And 'we were in the men's bathroom and men were kissing each other.'"

A person of The Hairball. Kill the Other.

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hecate's picture

"he seemed like a normal human being."

However, "he beat me. He would just come home and start beating me up because the laundry wasn't finished or something like that."

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riverlover's picture

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/12/mass-shootings-conta...

There will be more. This country is blowing up before us. Crazy-time. We must go to old Euro-attitude about this crap, just Be Not Afraid. Now that illness is infecting them, too.

cybrestrike, many here feel your shock. I would hug you, but not tell you that things are all right.

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hecate's picture

Not afraid.
ap_paris_shooting_12_kb_150107_1_16x9_992.jpg

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detroitmechworks's picture

And very sad to see that this is a Afghani - American suspect already announced. Because you know this is going to send Trump supporters into a frenzy.

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

JayRaye's picture

Wish I could say or do more, can't even fathom what would be the right words to say what needs to be said.

Even trying to comfort at a terrible time like this seems like too little.

Just so sorry.

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Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons

cybrestrike's picture

50 dead, according to the Orlando Sentinel. I'm gonna step away from the computer for a while. Thanks for your thoughts and all of that...

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elenacarlena's picture

don't they? Good for you for divorcing yourself from a toxic situation.

Poor Fort McMurray! I hadn't heard the news.

For those who want to see the Milky Way, here's a light pollution map. But in general, go West during a new moon and get away from the big cities. I can sometimes see a denser band of stars here (Lexington KY), but not the whole phenomenon: http://www.youcanseethemilkyway.com/light-pollution/

Milky Way night-trees-nature-landscape-yosemite-national-park-milky-way-usa-half-dome-mountain-stars-1920x1080[1].jpg
Milky Way at Yosemite

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detroitmechworks's picture

I sometimes am very happy to reduce the technological when it results in views like that.

Am reminded of one of my favorite films... Sometimes it's nice to slow down and just enjoy what we really have.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1FIps--PGg]

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Lookout's picture

http://darksky.org/idsp/finder/

We went to Chaco Canyon last fall and I've never seen such stars.
CC night sky (1).jpg

CC night sky (1).png

CC night sky (2).jpg

So sorry to hear about the shootings in Orlando. Hate is a sickness!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

detroitmechworks's picture

Last time we did I got to see an Osprey up close for the first time. Beautiful birds.

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Lookout's picture

osprey.jpg
Pretty common in the east...fish hawks.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

detroitmechworks's picture

Not as common out west, I've only seen them in the Sierras. Birds have been a joy to me ever since I was a kid, and my family really enjoys talking about them every time we go out.

(Scrub Jays are a personal family favorite. Almost a "Lucky" bird for us, because they're so fun, cute and smart.)

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enhydra lutris's picture

common each year. I've seen them along the coast, especially near river mouths, decent inland lakes and reservoirs (Lake Chabot in the East Bay, for example), and adequate sized rivers (in the Colorado, near Blythe, CA, and in the Palouse). Half of it is being there when they go hunting, which doesn't seem to follow a regular pattern.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

elenacarlena's picture

we don't have to live in darkness to see the night sky; we can replace our lighting with dark-sky friendly lighting, http://darksky.org/lighting/lighting-basics/

As a frequent night walker, I have noted too that all those glaring light fixtures are not actually SAFE lighting. With light shining in your eyes, pupils constrict and you can't see anyone who might be lurking between you and the fixture. Only a light shining down to illuminate, rather than into your eyes, will allow you to actually see what's there.

You don't have to accept a light polluted sky either. See http://darksky.org/lighting/lighting-ordinances/ for how to enact and enforce a lighting ordinance in your community.

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hecate's picture

some people will think ill of you even if you're Jesus the Christ. That's just the way people are. So try not to let it gnaw at you.

And for sure try not to get rattled by anything said to you on the tubes. For those aren't even people. They're pixels.

As for your worth: you're raising children. Not simulacrums on some screen. But real, live, human beings. And that means you're worth a lot.

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detroitmechworks's picture

One thing I really do enjoy is meeting people in real life. The last meetup was a real joy to me, and hope I can do it again. I find it hard sometimes to go out because of the noise and uncertainty, but I'm working on it.

And thanks for the words on my kids. I'm personally really happy that they're succeeding this year with our move as much as they are. Not perfect, but no kid is. (Am very happy both are talking about college already and what they want to study. Daughter wants to study music and Biology, son wants to study fire prevention and general science.)

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hecate's picture

in the bible:

"Atticus, why he hadn't done any of those things . . . Atticus, he was real nice . . . "

His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me. "Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them."

He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.

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Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick deletes "reap what you sow" tweet after mass shooting at LGBT club

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Texas-Lt-Governor-Dan-Patrick-tweets-r...

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michelewln's picture

Found myself in an ambulance on the way to the hospital last night. Reid said he heard a crash and found me face down on the floor. They think I may have had a seizure. All I remember is coming to in the back of the ambulance. It took hours for my memory to come back. The computer system went down so I don't know the results yet of the CAT scan etc. but they think it was a single occurrence but till I can't drive for 6 months which is going to challenge me as a caregiver. I am black and blue, my lip is swollen, and I may have torn a muscle on my side. I wa going to publish the Street Prophets here but am going to have to go back to bed so I'll give the link. http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/6/12/1537498/-Different-Angles-Stre...

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A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. Oscar Wilde

detroitmechworks's picture

Medical emergencies that blindside you are always a serious challenge, and I congratulate you for doing this much, honestly.

Get better, and take all the time you need.

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snoopydawg's picture

Not being able to drive for 6 months and being a caregiver, is there some one who can help with that?
I am glad that your are back at home and now go back to bed and get some rest.
Let us know how you are doing, okay?

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Voting is like driving with a toy steering wheel.

Losing in Libya

Libyan government forces fighting to oust Islamic State from Sirte, its last stronghold in the north African nation, have taken the strategic port area and pinned militants into a small part of the city centre.

After capturing the airport last week and the seaport on Friday, troops loyal to the UN-backed unity government, mostly militias from Misrata in western Libya, were battling for control of the massive Ougadougou conference centre on Saturday. Artillery and mortar rounds have been hammering the building, with Isis snipers shooting back.

Units from Misrata have pushed Isis back more than 100 miles, last week entering Sirte itself, at a cost of 105 dead and more than 500 wounded.

US and UK forces are providing logistics and intelligence support in the battle for the city, the hometown of former ­dictator Muammar Gaddafi, where the militant fighters have collapsed far more quickly than expected.

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link

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s widely respected foreign minister, dropped a big one here last weekend. After an hour-long conversation with John Kerry, Lavrov asserted in nationally televised remarks that the American secretary of state told him he wanted Russian planes to stop bombing al-Nusra, the Syrian affiliate of al-Qaeda, in their air campaign against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. GlobalSecurity.org carried the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty account of the exchange; it is here and worth a read.

“They are telling us not to hit it [al–Nusra] because there is ‘normal’ opposition next…to it,” Lavrov explained very soon after the two put their telephones down.

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Lookout's picture

has had terrible effects...but they are they only ones covering the email scandal. I had never seen Judge Jeanine but I wish we were hearing more like this from the MSM. Google's algorithm pulled it up for me on youtube.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSqYMczAHlA]

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”