That’s a tough question to answer these days. There are so many choices, who knows what to watch anymore? Many of us just skip around the channels watching fragments of shows. Thank the Lord for DVR’s, TIVO and hard drives. This way we can be sure to catch every single episode of whatever piece of crap program we happen to be following. Trust me, I don’t care what program it is or how much you like it, it’s a piece of crap. Why am I being so hostile to television? Because television is no different than any other addiction, it robs you of your ambition, creativity and personality.
I admit that I watch TV way too often. I tune in for many of the ridiculous shows and classic reruns like Seinfeld or Home Improvement, you name it. I will even reluctantly admit to being a Trekker but, although it’s crap, I do believe that Star Trek has a positive message. How many new shows have a positive message? I had trouble finding any, that weren’t made for little children, and even then they were just lame...
“Lost” was a great show, right? They kept us hooked for 6 seasons not knowing what the hell was going on. I guess the finale was positive, I really don’t know… Did they die and go to Heaven? Are they all still lost in purgatory somewhere? Who knows? Who cares anymore? Personally I wanted to see “Smokey” toss them all right into the ocean! How about “The Sopranos,” there’s another great depiction of the American dream! Let’s look at something more current, like “Dexter.” Now there’s a positive message, vigilantism! Don’t get me wrong, I love Dexter. I actually believe there is a positive message in there somewhere. In essence, that our legal system is corrupt and citizens should take the law into their own hands. I like it! Lord knows there is no justice in our legal system, it’s simply a negotiation tool for criminals. I’m not saying that I support the death penalty because I don’t, BUT if the government can’t keep murderers off the street, give the job to whoever can.
(WARNING! - TANGENT AHEAD).
Our government claims that they create lots of laws for our own safety, such as seat belt laws and helmet laws for children, but is anyone any safer with “big mother” watching? Statistics may show that these laws save lives (you can find statistics to back up just about anything) but should the government really be telling us that we MUST wear our seatbelt or else be fined? To me it seems like a convenient way to pull people over to check them out and give them a ticket. The helmet laws might save one kid from cracking his head open but many other kids are getting hurt in other ways because they never learn from their mistakes. It gives some kids a false sense of security because with that little piece of plastic on their head, they’re going to build a ramp and try to jump over some obstacle with no sense of the actual danger. If the kid had fallen off his bike when he was younger and banged his head on the ground, he would know better. Sure, nobody can say that helmets aren’t a smart precaution, I just question whether or not it should be a law? Now back to bashing television…
Have you noticed lately that programs are taking things to greater and greater extremes? Mostly I’m talking about those fake reality shows but it’s evident in most forms of programming from bullshit news shows to cooking challenges. I certainly don’t stand against freedom of speech but where does it all end? Have you noticed the food channels lately? The ingredients are getting weirder, the cakes are getting bigger and bigger and the food challenges are becoming more “cut-throat” than ever. They have shows that show people eating hamburgers the size of manhole covers and pizza’s the size of the kitchen table! The newest show, which premiered in November, highlights slobs eating the biggest hamburgers and sandwiches anyone has ever seen! The producers certainly aren’t going to go backwards and show people eating tiny little sandwiches, who wants to see that? Maybe they’ll develop a program where little people have to eat the giant burgers! They can call it “Little People, Big Burgers!” that should boost the ratings for another few months! P.T. Barnum would have loved to be alive in this era. American television has become a circus side show! I just wish someone in Hollywood would have an original thought or idea once in a while. They constantly revamp the same old ideas, or even just re-create old shows and movies like, “The Karate Kid” or “Land of the Lost.” The remakes are never even as good as the originals! How many hungry and homeless people could be fed with the money it costs to make one of these piece of crap movies? Couldn’t we live without a remake of “Gilligan’s Island,” (trust me, it’s coming) especially if the money could be used to feed the poor and homeless? There are at least 10 movies that came out this year alone that nobody would miss for one minute. And now every movie seems to be made in 3D, so that everyone runs out and buys the DVD’s that they can watch on their new 3D televisions. (Personally, I would hold off on the 3D television because once they sell a shitload of them, they will introduce the new and improved model that doesn’t require the viewers to wear stupid glasses in their own home just to enjoy the thing.
I know my words are a bit harsh but all I’m really saying is to think twice before you spend your hard earned money. How many people went out and bought all their favorite movies on VHS tape? Just so they would have the ultimate video collection. Where are those VHS tapes now? In a box in the attic, or basement, right? I don’t have the heart to say anything about the poor suckers who bought them on Beta (oops!). Now we all re-buy the same crap movies on DVD when it’s obvious that they will all be replaced with downloads very soon. Many clever people are already downloading them right now, and for free! If you have the ability to do that, go ahead, while you still can! We live in a unique time; the technology is moving so fast that industry can’t keep up with it. It won’t take long for the powers that be to figure out a way to prevent people from downloading video and music completely. My guess is that they will slowly phase out desktop computers (and all of the accessories) and they will be replaced by your cell phone. Your cell phone will then connect to your home entertainment system similar to an I-Pod. Of course there’s a lot more to it, I’m merely speculating but trust me, it’s coming. Obviously the technology is already here, it’s just a matter of time before it evolves and industry finally grabs control of it.
One thing I must say is that when it comes to music and artistic expression, I support the artist’s right to protect their work. The difference is that when an artist (not mainstream Hollywood) makes a song or indie film, many of them want their message to get out to the public. Sure, it’s nice if they can get paid every time someone looks at, or listens to their work, but it’s not always the artist’s main goal to get rich off of it. It’s usually all the leaches that want to get rich off of the artist! Recently the semi-popular jam band, Phish, started making a free copy of a live show available to anyone who went to the concert. Sure, most Phish heads know how to find a free copy of it on-line anyway, even if they didn’t buy a ticket to the show, but it’s nice that people have the opportunity to get a great sounding, professionally recorded copy of the show that they went to. Industry tries to control mainstream products so tightly that it becomes a crime for you to obtain it in any other way than paying top dollar to own it. I know not everyone will agree with me but I feel that there are enough people willing to pay top dollar to have the premium quality, nice packaging and liner notes, that come with a store bought item, so if someone wants to download an inferior version of it, so be it. Who is it really hurting?
Thanks for reading…
1. The phrase "Big Mother" was taken from the recent Roger Waters, The Wall concerts. He did a parody on the phrase "Big Brother" during the projections.
2. The info regarding the free Phish downloads for concert goers was taken from "PHISHBILL" 10/31/10.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
The Thrill of it All
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have grown up in a loving family on Long Island. I have a Sister and two wonderful Parents. I had a normal childhood and there was nothing traumatizing that affected me in a negative way. Any choices I made were my decisions and were not because of some deep, underlying issue.
When I turned 15 I was having the time of my life smoking pot, drinking beers and hanging out with my friends every night, what more could a kid want? Eventually cutting classes and poor grades caught up with me and I had no choice but to drop out of High School. Back then my priorities were not what they should have been and I didn’t understand the value of education, plus with all the crazy things I was experiencing in school, I really wasn’t learning anything anyway. Eventually I did go back and earn a High School Diploma but this is all part of a different story. I just wanted to point out that a kid doesn’t have to have some past trauma or a horrible home life to start experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Often it’s merely because of peer-pressure and curiosity.
What was exciting for me back then was the thrill of getting away with something that I shouldn’t be doing; whether it was cutting class, ditching school or driving around town in someone’s car, (long before I actually had a driver’s license) I had fun doing things that I was told I wasn’t old enough to do. Smoking pot and drinking were the ultimate thrills because not only were they things that I shouldn’t be doing, they were illegal! I considered it a challenge, and an accomplishment not to get caught. In retrospect I realize that I really didn’t get away with too much of anything. Somehow my parents always found out whenever I tried to do something wrong. Sometimes they would catch me the first time I would do it (whatever it was). Other times they knew before I even attempted to do the thing! I guess you can call it a parent’s intuition.
The law says that a person under the age of 21 cannot drink alcohol. Not only is it illegal for an adult to serve alcohol to a minor, it’s illegal for the minor to drink it at all! How can a civilized, advanced country like America say that an 18 year old, who can vote for public officials, fight in wars to protect our country (or push the agenda of bureaucrats) and even join the police force to help uphold our laws, is not allowed to drink alcohol (FOR THREE MORE YEARS!)? Does that make sense? I certainly understand the logic of these laws but do laws like this actually “protect” anyone, or do they just create an exciting challange?
The restrictions American Law puts on drugs and alcohol seem somewhat ridiculous to me. Did America learn anything from prohibition? During prohibition organized crime took over the flow of alcohol in this country and people were going blind and dying from the low-grade alcohol that was flooding the speak-easy’s. Criminal organizations were prospering because this multi-million dollar industry was handed to them on a silver platter. If you take away something that people enjoy, they are going to find another way to get it. Plus, restricting the act obviously creates an underground market for criminals to provide these things to satisfy public demand. The day after prohibition was abolished, the criminals who were supplying the public with alcohol (such as the illustrious Kennedy family) were instantly out of business. If they legalized drugs in America the same thing would happen. The cheap, dangerous street drugs such as crack, crystal meth and crank, which are often made with fillers and even toxic chemicals, would cease to exist. All the crime which stems from the illegal drug market would decrease exponentially. Control would be back in the government’s hands and the gangs and criminals would instantly be out of business. (Of course the government would probably put age restrictions on the drugs anyway so punks and gangs would still be able to supply the drugs to schools). The answer is education, not restriction.
Many kids in this country start experimenting with alcohol at an early age. When they finally do turn 21 they go out and celebrate at the bar with their friends simply because they are finally allowed to, it’s practically a rite of passage. If alcohol wasn’t restricted to begin with, would that 21 year old be just starting his (or her) party life at that age? In many other countries, where there is no age restriction on alcohol, people are more concerned with their future at the age of 21. They already had their experience with alcohol and are over it by then, or simply have no interest in it because it’s been there all along. Of course there are plenty of twenty-something’s going out drinking in those countries but I feel that many of them have a more responsible attitude about it. Since the drinking age in New York was changed to 21, many people consider younger persons “minors.” Many children these days don’t leave their parents homes until well after their 21st birthday. There seems to be a conflict here. On one hand the laws are conveying the message that people come of age at the age of 18, and on the other hand they say that you aren’t really an adult until you turn 21. When a young person is told that they are not mature, they often find ways of proving that they are mature by doing things that they are not old enough to do. I suppose it makes them feel more grown up and in control of their own lives.
I'm sorry if this post is a little confusing and if I strayed from the topic of addiction. The underlying message here is that many people get a thrill from getting away with something that they shouldn’t be doing. Many drug addicts start out as children just trying to feel more grown up. What scares me is that today’s teenagers don't want to do what their parents did, they want their own secret thing. If their parents smoked pot when they were young, there's no big thrill for them to do it too. Currently the big taboo’s are heroin, meth, cheese, the list goes on and on. The problem is that these drugs are hardcore and almost always lead to serious drug abuse and addiction. If the government was truly concerned about the safety and well being of its citizens, they would stop funding this ridiculous, artificial “war on drugs” and take control of the situation. The only reason I can think of for the government not taking control of the drug market is that there must be more profit and/or benefits in keeping them illegal. Plus the programs that are getting this funding (wherever they are?) want to keep getting it so it's not in their best interest to rid the world of drugs. It really makes me wonder who is at the top of the food chain of the drug world.
Remember, a population addicted to drugs is easy to control. People aren’t concerned with political or social issues when they are anxious to get home and kick back in front of the TV with their favorite drug, beer, wine, illicit pills, pharmaceuticals… you get the idea.
This is my last post about drugs and addiction for a little while but please feel free to comment on this, or any other post at any time.
Thanks for reading.
When I turned 15 I was having the time of my life smoking pot, drinking beers and hanging out with my friends every night, what more could a kid want? Eventually cutting classes and poor grades caught up with me and I had no choice but to drop out of High School. Back then my priorities were not what they should have been and I didn’t understand the value of education, plus with all the crazy things I was experiencing in school, I really wasn’t learning anything anyway. Eventually I did go back and earn a High School Diploma but this is all part of a different story. I just wanted to point out that a kid doesn’t have to have some past trauma or a horrible home life to start experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Often it’s merely because of peer-pressure and curiosity.
What was exciting for me back then was the thrill of getting away with something that I shouldn’t be doing; whether it was cutting class, ditching school or driving around town in someone’s car, (long before I actually had a driver’s license) I had fun doing things that I was told I wasn’t old enough to do. Smoking pot and drinking were the ultimate thrills because not only were they things that I shouldn’t be doing, they were illegal! I considered it a challenge, and an accomplishment not to get caught. In retrospect I realize that I really didn’t get away with too much of anything. Somehow my parents always found out whenever I tried to do something wrong. Sometimes they would catch me the first time I would do it (whatever it was). Other times they knew before I even attempted to do the thing! I guess you can call it a parent’s intuition.
The law says that a person under the age of 21 cannot drink alcohol. Not only is it illegal for an adult to serve alcohol to a minor, it’s illegal for the minor to drink it at all! How can a civilized, advanced country like America say that an 18 year old, who can vote for public officials, fight in wars to protect our country (or push the agenda of bureaucrats) and even join the police force to help uphold our laws, is not allowed to drink alcohol (FOR THREE MORE YEARS!)? Does that make sense? I certainly understand the logic of these laws but do laws like this actually “protect” anyone, or do they just create an exciting challange?
The restrictions American Law puts on drugs and alcohol seem somewhat ridiculous to me. Did America learn anything from prohibition? During prohibition organized crime took over the flow of alcohol in this country and people were going blind and dying from the low-grade alcohol that was flooding the speak-easy’s. Criminal organizations were prospering because this multi-million dollar industry was handed to them on a silver platter. If you take away something that people enjoy, they are going to find another way to get it. Plus, restricting the act obviously creates an underground market for criminals to provide these things to satisfy public demand. The day after prohibition was abolished, the criminals who were supplying the public with alcohol (such as the illustrious Kennedy family) were instantly out of business. If they legalized drugs in America the same thing would happen. The cheap, dangerous street drugs such as crack, crystal meth and crank, which are often made with fillers and even toxic chemicals, would cease to exist. All the crime which stems from the illegal drug market would decrease exponentially. Control would be back in the government’s hands and the gangs and criminals would instantly be out of business. (Of course the government would probably put age restrictions on the drugs anyway so punks and gangs would still be able to supply the drugs to schools). The answer is education, not restriction.
Many kids in this country start experimenting with alcohol at an early age. When they finally do turn 21 they go out and celebrate at the bar with their friends simply because they are finally allowed to, it’s practically a rite of passage. If alcohol wasn’t restricted to begin with, would that 21 year old be just starting his (or her) party life at that age? In many other countries, where there is no age restriction on alcohol, people are more concerned with their future at the age of 21. They already had their experience with alcohol and are over it by then, or simply have no interest in it because it’s been there all along. Of course there are plenty of twenty-something’s going out drinking in those countries but I feel that many of them have a more responsible attitude about it. Since the drinking age in New York was changed to 21, many people consider younger persons “minors.” Many children these days don’t leave their parents homes until well after their 21st birthday. There seems to be a conflict here. On one hand the laws are conveying the message that people come of age at the age of 18, and on the other hand they say that you aren’t really an adult until you turn 21. When a young person is told that they are not mature, they often find ways of proving that they are mature by doing things that they are not old enough to do. I suppose it makes them feel more grown up and in control of their own lives.
I'm sorry if this post is a little confusing and if I strayed from the topic of addiction. The underlying message here is that many people get a thrill from getting away with something that they shouldn’t be doing. Many drug addicts start out as children just trying to feel more grown up. What scares me is that today’s teenagers don't want to do what their parents did, they want their own secret thing. If their parents smoked pot when they were young, there's no big thrill for them to do it too. Currently the big taboo’s are heroin, meth, cheese, the list goes on and on. The problem is that these drugs are hardcore and almost always lead to serious drug abuse and addiction. If the government was truly concerned about the safety and well being of its citizens, they would stop funding this ridiculous, artificial “war on drugs” and take control of the situation. The only reason I can think of for the government not taking control of the drug market is that there must be more profit and/or benefits in keeping them illegal. Plus the programs that are getting this funding (wherever they are?) want to keep getting it so it's not in their best interest to rid the world of drugs. It really makes me wonder who is at the top of the food chain of the drug world.
Remember, a population addicted to drugs is easy to control. People aren’t concerned with political or social issues when they are anxious to get home and kick back in front of the TV with their favorite drug, beer, wine, illicit pills, pharmaceuticals… you get the idea.
This is my last post about drugs and addiction for a little while but please feel free to comment on this, or any other post at any time.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Sorry, We Can't Help You...
One of the most popular illicit drugs being used and abused today is the same drug that has been destroying lives for many years, dope. People nowadays use that term to describe many different drugs but to a Heroin addict “dope” only means one thing. Heroin has made a big comeback at all levels over the past several years. I consider opiates to be the most horrible, life-draining addiction there is therefore this post will focus on opiates and heroin exclusively. (I have another post in the works that will discuss other substances and different types of addictions). The modern heroin addict isn’t some shabby, disheveled character that lurks in the shadows, it’s an innocent looking teenager playing ball in the park, a well groomed executive with a family and a beautiful house in the suburbs, maybe even the receptionist at your doctor’s office.
Many heroin addicts unknowingly and unintentionally get hooked by starting out with legal prescription drugs. They might take Oxycodone or Vicodin for a thrill or even to treat pain from an injury. All of these drugs are classified as “opiates” and they are all capable of destroying your life. At first the drugs seem harmless, enjoyable even. People don’t realize how fast those addiction “hooks” dig in and what’s going to happen when the prescription runs out. Now they are hooked and can’t get more of the pills (unless of course they have a crooked doctor). Inevitably they discover that what they are experiencing is opiate withdrawals and they will eventually end up using heroin just to make themselves feel better, just to get through the day. Heroin used to have a dark stigma attached to it because it was always associated with hypodermic needles. Today’s heroin can be ingested in other ways, it can be smoked or sniffed but many addicts ultimately end up using needles because it is the fastest, most intense way of feeling the effects of the drug.
Not too long ago local newspapers ran several weekly stories about the new heroin epidemic on Long Island. The stories were hard hitting and accurate but unfortunately it didn’t spark enough public concern. Recently a more powerful, cheaper form of Heroin has been gaining popularity, it’s called “CHEESE.” (Similar to what happened in the 80’s when crack was introduced to the world). Cheese is made with black tar heroin and Tylenol PM. Some heroin is white in color and resembles baking soda or Cocaine, this new version is somewhat darker, generally beige or brown in color and resembles Parmesan Cheese, hence the name, “Cheese.” Drug pushers are always looking for ways to make their product more affordable to children. They want the $5.00 you give Junior every day for lunch. They often target children because it ensures that their business will survive. As with any business, it’s important to secure the next generation of customers. Cheese is a potent form of heroin and it can kill instantly. An innocent kid who doesn’t realize the risk involved can die the first time he (or she) tries it. This heroin epidemic on Long Island is nothing new. It’s something that most of us try to ignore, or we pretend it doesn’t exist at all, until one of our family members is hooked.
Only through educating the children and the public at large will we ever be able to stop these drugs from destroying peoples lives. For some reason our community leaders think (or hope) this problem will go away by itself. It’s an issue that most politicians ignore because there is no profit in rehabilitating drug addicts. The big, “War on Drugs’ is a joke. If there is such a war it’s a war that America is losing. America has spent TRILLIONS of dollars and there have never been more illicit drugs available on the streets (or in schools) than there are today. Where does this money go? If you are addicted to heroin and want to get off of it, you will quickly discover how hard it is to get help. You will hear, Sorry, we can't help you four or five times before someone will actually listen to you. Clinics all over are not accepting new patients and some are closing their doors completely. Doctors will promise you amazing results with new miracle drugs, but in reality it’s just another way for pharmaceutical manufacturers to cash in on people’s problems. Most doctors will only accept (a lot of) cash, up front for these treatments. Insurance companies will not authorize the treatment and the pills cost an average of $10.00 a piece, and may or may not be covered by insurance! These “miracle drugs” might be helpful to a very mild addict, but if you have a substantial habit you are not likely to achieve positive results.
Please join me in examining this problem in depth and feel free to share your stories and comments. I am certainly not a person qualified to give medical advice but I can share with you what I have learned through my personal experiences. I’ve lost many friends to drugs over the years and feel that our world leaders have let us down. My next post will start at the beginning of the problem. Not the beginning of drug problems in America, the beginning of addiction, the beginning of an individual drug addict. Why does a person take drugs? What compels children, or even adults to try drugs in the first place? From there I will explore different theories and possibilities, and attempt to answer some of the most common questions. I can’t offer an instant solution but I can offer some new ways of looking at the problem and dealing with it. Before you jump off the roof, pull your hair out or give some doctor a wad of cash, please listen to what I have to say. Maybe together we, the people, can figure this thing out because our faithful leaders aren’t doing a damn thing about it.
I feel it’s important to mention that William Floyd High School and Daytop are planning to open the first in school clinic for student addicts. I first saw this story on News 12, Newsday has also run the story. The decision will have to be authorized by N.Y. State but if it is given approval to move forward, it will be the first of its kind in New York State. Personally I feel that this decision should be voted on by the community, not some bureaucratic, detached politician. I can only hope that this plan moves forward. I have personally witnessed some of the problems that teenagers who want to get help encounter and I feel that this program is a giant step in the right direction.
Some facts regarding “CHEESE” were retrieved from the following web sites:
http://www.us-winston.com/mexicans-ultra-pure-form-of-heroin-can-kill-instantly/
http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2010/05/18/the-new-designer-heroin-in-cheese-form/
Many heroin addicts unknowingly and unintentionally get hooked by starting out with legal prescription drugs. They might take Oxycodone or Vicodin for a thrill or even to treat pain from an injury. All of these drugs are classified as “opiates” and they are all capable of destroying your life. At first the drugs seem harmless, enjoyable even. People don’t realize how fast those addiction “hooks” dig in and what’s going to happen when the prescription runs out. Now they are hooked and can’t get more of the pills (unless of course they have a crooked doctor). Inevitably they discover that what they are experiencing is opiate withdrawals and they will eventually end up using heroin just to make themselves feel better, just to get through the day. Heroin used to have a dark stigma attached to it because it was always associated with hypodermic needles. Today’s heroin can be ingested in other ways, it can be smoked or sniffed but many addicts ultimately end up using needles because it is the fastest, most intense way of feeling the effects of the drug.
Not too long ago local newspapers ran several weekly stories about the new heroin epidemic on Long Island. The stories were hard hitting and accurate but unfortunately it didn’t spark enough public concern. Recently a more powerful, cheaper form of Heroin has been gaining popularity, it’s called “CHEESE.” (Similar to what happened in the 80’s when crack was introduced to the world). Cheese is made with black tar heroin and Tylenol PM. Some heroin is white in color and resembles baking soda or Cocaine, this new version is somewhat darker, generally beige or brown in color and resembles Parmesan Cheese, hence the name, “Cheese.” Drug pushers are always looking for ways to make their product more affordable to children. They want the $5.00 you give Junior every day for lunch. They often target children because it ensures that their business will survive. As with any business, it’s important to secure the next generation of customers. Cheese is a potent form of heroin and it can kill instantly. An innocent kid who doesn’t realize the risk involved can die the first time he (or she) tries it. This heroin epidemic on Long Island is nothing new. It’s something that most of us try to ignore, or we pretend it doesn’t exist at all, until one of our family members is hooked.
Only through educating the children and the public at large will we ever be able to stop these drugs from destroying peoples lives. For some reason our community leaders think (or hope) this problem will go away by itself. It’s an issue that most politicians ignore because there is no profit in rehabilitating drug addicts. The big, “War on Drugs’ is a joke. If there is such a war it’s a war that America is losing. America has spent TRILLIONS of dollars and there have never been more illicit drugs available on the streets (or in schools) than there are today. Where does this money go? If you are addicted to heroin and want to get off of it, you will quickly discover how hard it is to get help. You will hear, Sorry, we can't help you four or five times before someone will actually listen to you. Clinics all over are not accepting new patients and some are closing their doors completely. Doctors will promise you amazing results with new miracle drugs, but in reality it’s just another way for pharmaceutical manufacturers to cash in on people’s problems. Most doctors will only accept (a lot of) cash, up front for these treatments. Insurance companies will not authorize the treatment and the pills cost an average of $10.00 a piece, and may or may not be covered by insurance! These “miracle drugs” might be helpful to a very mild addict, but if you have a substantial habit you are not likely to achieve positive results.
Please join me in examining this problem in depth and feel free to share your stories and comments. I am certainly not a person qualified to give medical advice but I can share with you what I have learned through my personal experiences. I’ve lost many friends to drugs over the years and feel that our world leaders have let us down. My next post will start at the beginning of the problem. Not the beginning of drug problems in America, the beginning of addiction, the beginning of an individual drug addict. Why does a person take drugs? What compels children, or even adults to try drugs in the first place? From there I will explore different theories and possibilities, and attempt to answer some of the most common questions. I can’t offer an instant solution but I can offer some new ways of looking at the problem and dealing with it. Before you jump off the roof, pull your hair out or give some doctor a wad of cash, please listen to what I have to say. Maybe together we, the people, can figure this thing out because our faithful leaders aren’t doing a damn thing about it.
I feel it’s important to mention that William Floyd High School and Daytop are planning to open the first in school clinic for student addicts. I first saw this story on News 12, Newsday has also run the story. The decision will have to be authorized by N.Y. State but if it is given approval to move forward, it will be the first of its kind in New York State. Personally I feel that this decision should be voted on by the community, not some bureaucratic, detached politician. I can only hope that this plan moves forward. I have personally witnessed some of the problems that teenagers who want to get help encounter and I feel that this program is a giant step in the right direction.
Some facts regarding “CHEESE” were retrieved from the following web sites:
http://www.us-winston.com/mexicans-ultra-pure-form-of-heroin-can-kill-instantly/
http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2010/05/18/the-new-designer-heroin-in-cheese-form/
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Dreams 0001
“Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?” I suppose Edgar Allen Poe thought so. He originally asked the question, and answered it, in his poem, “A Dream within a Dream.” I have always been intrigued by dreams. My first journal was actually just a dream-log. It’s amazing what you discover when you study your dreams. I would try to remember as much as possible and then write it down. Even if I could only remember a little fragment of a dream, as I would write it down more and more details would come back to me. Later I would analyze and try to interpret what I wrote. I still look back at my old dreams occasionally and I'm amazed with what I find. I’ll discover elements of a dream which made no sense back then, makes perfect sense now. I’d dream about places I would visit or work at years before I actually got there! After a while standard journal entries, like daily thoughts and events, became more frequent and dream entries became less frequent. Lately I don’t write down and study dreams as often as I used to. As I got older I had too much trouble remembering my dreams and finding the time to devote to the cause. My dreams also became so suppressed that it would frustrate me. (I’ll get more into suppression later).
Sigmund Freud was considered an expert in dream interpretation. His book, “The interpretation of Dreams” first published in 1899 was one of his earliest, and favorite works. It helped set the stage for modern psychoanalytic theory and dream interpretation. Freud wrote, “Dreams are disguised fulfillment's of repressed wishes.” Many of Freud’s interpretations revolved around latent sexual desires and repressed memories. Some modern scientists believe that dreams are nothing more than a by-product of waking life or the “residue of the day” (Domhoff, 2001, 2003).
I wonder if a person making such a claim ever actually studied their own dreams? If they did I doubt they could seriously believe that is all dreams are?
Personally I have practiced memory techniques, dream control and waking up in dreams. I have also dabbled with astral projection a bit. I find all of these subjects fascinating. One of the biggest problems for people who are serious about studying their dreams is having the ability to wake up naturally and peacefully. Waking up naturally gives you a much better chance of remembering the content of your dreams and writing it down. Most of us wake up to a horrible alarm clock blaring in our ears which violently rips us right out of our dream making the memories slip away rapidly, as the alarm clock hits the wall! Another factor that can seriously affect our ability to remember dreams is suppression. Many of our favorite vices, such as alcohol and drugs, suppress dreams making them hardly noticeable or virtually non-existent. These substances can keep you in deep, non-REM sleep (stage 4) where you don’t dream at all. In fact stage 4 is where most sleep disorders exist. I believe that suppressing your dreams too much can cause stress, attitude problems and confusion. On the other hand, if you have quality, healthy REM sleep, you will have greater energy and more lucid thoughts.
These days who has the luxury of waking up naturally or the time to write down their dreams? Most of our lives are too chaotic with work, taking care of our families and hanging out with friends to worry about dreams. These things are set in reality and are very fulfilling so why should anyone waste time and energy concentrating on their dreams? Wouldn’t that be like trying to escape reality and living in a fantasy world?
The answer is both yes, and no. Dreams certainly can be an escape. You can live out your fantasies and do all the things you can’t do in real life. On the other hand, living out those fantasies and achieving your goals in the dreams might actually make it easier to accomplish those tasks in reality. The dreams can help build your confidence and add structure to your normal life in a profound way.
I’m not going to elaborate at this point but I will in future posts. If you are interested in learning more about dreams and dream control there are many good sources of information available. Freud’s book might be a good place to start. I wouldn’t say it’s the best dream book out there but it is where modern dream interpretation began! There are also tons of other good books out there and lots of information on the internet. Be cautious! There are also many books and publications that I would consider sub-par. Do some research and see where it goes. Just don’t move too fast. Start slow by simply writing down what you remember in the morning. If you have trouble getting started don’t get frustrated, just try to figure out what might be creating the block.
Thanks for reading.
Sigmund Freud was considered an expert in dream interpretation. His book, “The interpretation of Dreams” first published in 1899 was one of his earliest, and favorite works. It helped set the stage for modern psychoanalytic theory and dream interpretation. Freud wrote, “Dreams are disguised fulfillment's of repressed wishes.” Many of Freud’s interpretations revolved around latent sexual desires and repressed memories. Some modern scientists believe that dreams are nothing more than a by-product of waking life or the “residue of the day” (Domhoff, 2001, 2003).
I wonder if a person making such a claim ever actually studied their own dreams? If they did I doubt they could seriously believe that is all dreams are?
Personally I have practiced memory techniques, dream control and waking up in dreams. I have also dabbled with astral projection a bit. I find all of these subjects fascinating. One of the biggest problems for people who are serious about studying their dreams is having the ability to wake up naturally and peacefully. Waking up naturally gives you a much better chance of remembering the content of your dreams and writing it down. Most of us wake up to a horrible alarm clock blaring in our ears which violently rips us right out of our dream making the memories slip away rapidly, as the alarm clock hits the wall! Another factor that can seriously affect our ability to remember dreams is suppression. Many of our favorite vices, such as alcohol and drugs, suppress dreams making them hardly noticeable or virtually non-existent. These substances can keep you in deep, non-REM sleep (stage 4) where you don’t dream at all. In fact stage 4 is where most sleep disorders exist. I believe that suppressing your dreams too much can cause stress, attitude problems and confusion. On the other hand, if you have quality, healthy REM sleep, you will have greater energy and more lucid thoughts.
These days who has the luxury of waking up naturally or the time to write down their dreams? Most of our lives are too chaotic with work, taking care of our families and hanging out with friends to worry about dreams. These things are set in reality and are very fulfilling so why should anyone waste time and energy concentrating on their dreams? Wouldn’t that be like trying to escape reality and living in a fantasy world?
The answer is both yes, and no. Dreams certainly can be an escape. You can live out your fantasies and do all the things you can’t do in real life. On the other hand, living out those fantasies and achieving your goals in the dreams might actually make it easier to accomplish those tasks in reality. The dreams can help build your confidence and add structure to your normal life in a profound way.
I’m not going to elaborate at this point but I will in future posts. If you are interested in learning more about dreams and dream control there are many good sources of information available. Freud’s book might be a good place to start. I wouldn’t say it’s the best dream book out there but it is where modern dream interpretation began! There are also tons of other good books out there and lots of information on the internet. Be cautious! There are also many books and publications that I would consider sub-par. Do some research and see where it goes. Just don’t move too fast. Start slow by simply writing down what you remember in the morning. If you have trouble getting started don’t get frustrated, just try to figure out what might be creating the block.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Its Gotta Start Somewhere
Its gotta start somewhere so why not start here and now? Maybe it’s too late or maybe it isn’t but let’s hope it’s not. Ultimately that’s not for us to decide. Start what you ask? The blog for one thing, this is my first post. Secondly I am referring to a different way of thinking. Not some radical new system but simply thinking of the world as a whole and learning to co-exist with people who are like yourself, or who may be much different, tolerating those differences and respecting every person’s right to exist. Let me say right now that I am not political in any way and I am not very religious. I don’t believe in the “man in the sky” type of God who is watching our every move because that’s an archaic principle based on fear, (simply Santa Claus for adults). I do believe in God but at a somewhat different level. My view is that each of our minds is a piece of God. Every one of us is literally a child of God and all of our minds together (the universal mind) are God. For God to exist again we would all have to cease to exist. I know this sounds strange but I believe that all humans have the power to control their own destiny. I also believe we are all capable of tapping into that universal energy.
I don’t know about the rest of the world but lately I’ve been looking at the “big picture” and feeling like something has changed. I feel like people have given up on the system and adapted an “every man for himself” attitude. Much of this is probably related to the economic situation. Even though things seem like they may have leveled off, I think most people realize that we could still be in for a bumpy ride. Another big factor is that people have given up on the government. This country was formed around The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These great documents were designed to prevent a dictatorship from forming and taking over the government, to put the government in the hands of the people in order to insure our rights and freedom. The problem is that the two main political parties in this country have been running things for so long that the system is now corrupt and broken. It looks to me like there is only one party made up of two sub-parties, Democrats and Republicans. Is there any chance of an independent party actually breaking through? Some people have tried and have naturally failed. What if a third party did manage to break through and somehow get their candidate elected to the presidency? Wouldn’t the electoral votes overrule the popular vote? (We got a taste of that in 2000). I love this country and the principles it was founded on but I feel it's important to keep ourselves in check in order to maintain a true democracy. Every human being on Earth should have the right to lead their lives however they choose and to pursue happiness for themselves and their families.
This blog will explore many issues ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary. I will elaborate on some of the issues that I already mentioned and I will also introduce some new thoughts and ideas. This blog is not meant to preach at all, I am looking for answers too.
Thanks for reading…
Feel free to comment on anything.
I don’t know about the rest of the world but lately I’ve been looking at the “big picture” and feeling like something has changed. I feel like people have given up on the system and adapted an “every man for himself” attitude. Much of this is probably related to the economic situation. Even though things seem like they may have leveled off, I think most people realize that we could still be in for a bumpy ride. Another big factor is that people have given up on the government. This country was formed around The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These great documents were designed to prevent a dictatorship from forming and taking over the government, to put the government in the hands of the people in order to insure our rights and freedom. The problem is that the two main political parties in this country have been running things for so long that the system is now corrupt and broken. It looks to me like there is only one party made up of two sub-parties, Democrats and Republicans. Is there any chance of an independent party actually breaking through? Some people have tried and have naturally failed. What if a third party did manage to break through and somehow get their candidate elected to the presidency? Wouldn’t the electoral votes overrule the popular vote? (We got a taste of that in 2000). I love this country and the principles it was founded on but I feel it's important to keep ourselves in check in order to maintain a true democracy. Every human being on Earth should have the right to lead their lives however they choose and to pursue happiness for themselves and their families.
This blog will explore many issues ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary. I will elaborate on some of the issues that I already mentioned and I will also introduce some new thoughts and ideas. This blog is not meant to preach at all, I am looking for answers too.
Thanks for reading…
Feel free to comment on anything.
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